Written Answers of 11 March 1992

ENVIRONMENT

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next expects to meet representatives of the Building Employers Federation to discuss the effects of the recession on the industry.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next expects to meet representatives of the construction industry to discuss the effects of the recession on the industry.

  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and Ministers in the Department have regular meetings with representatives of the construction industry to discuss matters of mutual interest.

  Planning Controls
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his final legislative proposals to increase local planning controls over the unnecessary demolition of dwelling houses by developers prior to any redevelopment activity.

  Mr. Yeo
  My hon. Friend will recall that we published proposals for public consultation in July last year. We have carefully considered the responses to the options we proposed. In the light of these responses, we have decided how to proceed. In about two months' time, we hope to make the instruments needed to commence the new controls, comprising a commencement order for the relevant parts of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991; a direction which makes clear which types of building are to be subjected to the new controls over demolition; and a general development amendment order, designed to ensure that the new controls operate in an efficient way, and without undue burden on either local authorities or potential developers.

  The main effect of the new system will be that those who wish to demolish a dwelling-house, or a building attached to a dwelling-house, will first need to notify the local planning authority and give 28 days for the authority to decide whether to call for details of the demolition, which it would then consider in the same way as a planning application—the right to demolish, subject to complying with the conditions, would not be removed or to make an article 4 direction, which would require a full planning application to be made, in which case there might be a requirement to pay the owner compensation. We do not expect the new system to result in a substantial number of planning applications for demolition, since in practice most of the details are likely to be sorted out in negotiation between the local planning authority and the developer in the context of his planning application for replacement buildings on any site.

  Devon County Structural Plan
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration was given to inviting Devon's hon. Members to participate and give evidence to the public examination of the Devon county structural plan on 24 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  It is normal practice to invite MPs to participate in an examination in public only if they had expressed an interest in the submitted proposals for alteration. Any request to participate will be considered by the panel chairman.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the criteria on which the participation list for the public examination of the Devon county structural plan on 24 March was drawn up; and who was consulted.

  Mr. Yeo
  In selecting participants for an examination in public, the basic criterion will be the significance of the contribution which, from their knowledge or the views they have expressed, they can be expected to make to the discussion of the matters to be examined. The examination is not directed to hearing objections, and it is not intended that all those who have objected should be invited to attend.

  The list of selected matters and invited participants was produced in consultation with the panel chairman, as is normal practice. It was advertised by Devon county council on 16 January. The four-week period during which representations could be made ended on 13 February.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration was given to including voluntary amenity and environmental groups from Devon localities in the public examination of Devon county structural plan; and if he will invite the South Hams Amenity Federation to give evidence.

  Mr. Yeo
  In drawing up the list of participants for an examination in public, the aim is to select particpants who between them represent a broad range of viewpoints. A number of local environmental and amenity groups, including the Council for the Protection of Rural England, Devon Green party, Devon Friends of the Earth and Devon Conservation Forum have been invited to participate. It was decided that those participants invited to the examination, along with the written representations already received—including those of the South Hams Amenity Federation—would provide sufficient information for a decision to be reached on the alteration proposals.

  No further representations were received from the South Hams Amenity Federation during the four-week period for comments to be made about the published draft list of selected matters and invited participants. However, the chairman of the panel has assured me that any late request by the federation will be treated sympathetically.

  Empty Property, Devon
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the number of empty(a) public and (b) private properties for each district of Devon.

  Mr. Yeo
  Local authorities report the number of their own dwellings which are empty and estimates of empty
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  dwellings owned by housing associations, by other public sector landlords, and by the private sector in their annual housing investment programme—HIP1—returns. "Other public sector" includes dewllings situated in the local authority area but owned by another local authority.

  The latest available figures, for April 1991, are in columns A71, A72, A73 and A74, respectively, of the "1991 HIP1 All Items Print". A copy is in the Library.

  Local Authority Debt
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the list of local authorities which have debts which are not taken account of in their standard spending assessment, with the amount of those debts individually.

  Mr. Key
  The capital financing element of standard spending assessments is based on an assessment of interest charges flowing from a notional debt figure. There are a number of reasons why notional debt may differ from actual debt. No records are kept of individual items of excluded capital expenditure.

  EC Directives
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to issue a consultation paper on the implementation of the urban waste water treatment directive and the nitrates directive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  We have today issued a consultation paper outlining the Government's proposals in England and Wales for criteria and procedures for identifying sensitive areas and less sensitive areas—urban waste water treatment directive—and "polluted waters"—nitrates directive. As far as I am aware the United Kingdom is the first member state to consult publicly on the way we intend to implement these directives. This, I believe, demonstrates the Government's commitment to openness in environmental decision making and to the proper implementation of these directives which will make an important contribution to improving our environment. A copy of the consultation paper has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any changes to announce to his Department's cash limits for 1991–92.

  Mr. Yeo
  Yes. I propose to make the following changes:

  (i) The non-voted cash limit for DOE/OES will be increased by £478,000 from £93,894,000 to £94,372,000. This results from the provision of additional supplementary credit approvals to enable local authorities to raise finance to fulfil their obligations to contribute part of the cost of certain roads built by the Commission for the New Towns and new town development corporations in England. The increase will be wholly offset by a counterbalancing new towns receipt (see (iii)(b) below).

  (ii) The non-voted cash limit for DOE/LACAP will be increased by £89,260,000 from £3,019,202,000 to £3,108,462,000. This results from the provision of additional supplementary credit approvals to enable Milton Keynes BC and The Wrekin DC to raise finance to purchase housing stock from Milton
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  Keynes Development Corporation and Telford Development Corporation respectively. This increase is also wholly offset by counterbalancing new town receipts (see (iii)(b) below).

  (iii) The non-voted cash limit for DOE/NT (New Towns) will be increased by £95,262,000 from minus £449,800,000 to minus £354,538,000. This net increase is the result of the following individual changes:

  (a) an increase of £185,000,000, reflecting the effect on receipts of the present state of the property market. This increase will be charged to the reserve and will therefore not add to the planned total of public expenditure;

  (b) reductions of £478,000 and £89,260,000 respectively resulting from additional receipts from local authorities financed by the cash limit increases described in (i) and (ii) above.

  (iv) The external finance limit for Letchworth Garden City Corporation will be increased by £231,000 from minus £500,000 to minus £269,000. This reflects changes in the corporation's financing profile as a result of the continuing depression in the property market.

  Manchester Concert Hall
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the proposed Manchester concert hall.

  Mr. Key
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today announced a grant of up to £22 million to Central Manchester development corporation towards the cost of the Manchester concert hall, which is part of the Great Bridgewater initiative. The concert hall will provide a much needed new home for the Hallé orchestra and is central to the Great Bridgewater regeneration initiative.

  Irish Sea (Science Co-ordinator)
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether agreement has been reached on the appointment of an Irish sea science co-ordinator.

  Mr. Baldry
  I am glad to report that my Department and the Departments of the Environment and of the Marine of the Republic of Ireland have agreed to commission EOLAS, the Irish Science and Technology Agency, to provide the services of Mr. Richard Boelens for three years as Irish sea science co-ordinator. Mr. Boelens will act as secretary of the co-ordination group to be set up to review existing and proposed monitoring and research programmes in the Irish sea and to assess priorities for further work to improve our knowledge of environmental issues affecting the Irish sea.

  In the course of this work he will prepare an inventory of Irish sea research and monitoring, identify gaps in these programmes and needs for co-ordination and prepare, in liaison with the relevant agencies, proposals for meeting these needs. Consideration will also be given to the timing, content and research requirements of a further quality status report on the Irish sea.

  CITES Controls
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government support proposals before the conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
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  of Wild Fauna and Flora—CITES—in Kyoto aimed at strengthening controls on trade in wild caught animals and birds.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government have made clear their determination to work within CITES to ensure that wildlife species are not exploited by trade. The United Kingdom delegation to the CITES conference has played a leading role in negotiating proposals aimed at improving consultation with wildlife exporting countries and providing for tough action to crack down on trade which is being conducted at unsustainable levels. These proposals have been supported by the conference.

  Charterhouse Estates Ltd.
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities will consider visiting the Liverpool 1 area to look at the Charterhouse Estates Ltd's involvement in the inner-city area.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 5 March 1992]: During my visit to Liverpool on 6 March, I met the managing director of Charterhouse Estates Ltd and toured the Liverpool 1 area with him.

  Mortgage Rescue Schemes
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the housing associations, building societies and local authorities within Derbyshire who are involved in negotiations with the Council of Mortgage Lenders to provide mortgage rescue schemes.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 10 March 1992]: Nine members of the Council of Mortgage Lenders have so far announced details of their mortgage rescue schemes, some of them involving agreements with housing associations; others are still being negotiated. I hope that borrowers in Derbyshire will benefit from these schemes, and from the other measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 19 December, as will borrowers in other parts of the country. I understand that Amber Valley district council is intending to introduce a mortgage rescue scheme in conjunction with Walbrook housing association. Derby city council has said that it regards the introduction of a mortgage rescue scheme as a priority.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) on 2 March,Official Report, columns 45–46, if he will produce three tables listing percentage figures for the 1992–93 settlement for (a) each district council, (b) each metropolitan district and (c) each shire county in England and Wales, based on the criteria used in that answer, in each case listing authorities in descending order according to the percentage size of the Government grants.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 10 March 1992]: The information requested is not available for individual authorities for 1992–93.

  Heritage and Archaeology
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many civil servants are employed in his Department on matters relating to(a) the heritage and (b) archaeology.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 10 March 1992]: The heritage division of my Department has 41 staff, 12 of whom deal with archaeology. They are supported by English Heritage who are my statutory advisers on conservation matters. My Department's conservation unit, which advises on the good management of the Government's own historic estate, has five staff. In addition, staff in this and other Departments who are engaged on building construction and maintenance programmes recognise and discharge responsibilities for heritage conservation.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what expenditure was made by his Department in the last financial year for which figures are available on(a) the heritage and (b) archaeology.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 10 March 1992]: The Department's expenditure on the heritage in 1990–91 was £148·4 million. The estimated outturn for 1991–92 is £176·5 million. Expenditure on archaeology, within the heritage total, is funded through English Heritage and the Royal Commission on the historical monuments of England, whose archaeology expenditure in 1990–91 was £8·1 million and £1·8 million respectively.

  Mentally Ill Homeless People
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what funds are being made available through the Housing Corporation in 1992–93 to provide revenue funding for housing associations providing permanent housing for mentally ill homeless people ready to move out of specialist short-term hostels in central London;

  (2) how many permanent places for mentally ill homeless people currently living in specialist short-term hostsels in central London will be provided by housing associations in 1992–93.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Department revenue funds the specialist short-term hostels set up under the homeless mentally ill initiative at the rate of £14,630 per place per annum—1992–93 costs. Permanent accommodation for those moving on from the hostels is being provided via the Housing Corporation. In 1992–93 it expects to make available 150 new units and 150 units from housing association relets. The corporation monitor this provision regularly. The social care of people moving on from the short-term hostels is the responsibility of local social services authorities. To ensure that the transition takes place smoothly the Department has included within the homeless mentally ill initiative £500,000 per annum for the three years 1992–93 to 1994–95 to provide resettlement support.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Part-time Students
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to restrict benefit entitlement for people who currently study part time under the 21-hour rule.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have no such plans.

  Independent Living Fund
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will evaluate the performance of the independent living fund since its inception in 1988.

  Mr. Scott
  We are proud of the many achievements of the ILF since it was founded nearly four years ago. It has played an important role in the run-up to community care and is currently helping nearly 12,000 people to live independently in their own homes.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review his decision to abolish the independent living fund in March 1993.

  Mr. Scott
  A successor body will be established to take over all the cases where beneficiaries of the independent living fund are receiving help at the end of March 1993. This new body will continue to make cash payments to its beneficiaries in the same way as the fund does now.

  It is planned that from April 1993, people needing such help will be dealt with under the mainstream arrangements for community care.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provision will be made available to the independent living fund for 1992–93.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if it remains his policy to ensure that the independent living fund can help existing beneficiaries and admit new people during 1992–93;

  (2) how much his Department has allocated for funding the independent living fund for 1992–93; and if he will take steps to ensure that the independent living fund has sufficient funds to meet new applications throughout 1992–93.

  Mr. Scott
  In addition to the £82 million already proposed for the independent living fund in 1992–93, the Government have decided to grant a further £15 million, bringing a total provision to £97 million. The trustees assure me that this will be sufficient—in conjunction with other steps they are taking—to enable the fund to continue operating until April 1993.

  Parliamentary approval for the additional sum, which will be met from the reserve without adding to the planning total for public expenditure, will be sought in the usual way.

  Youth Training Scheme
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many young people in(a) Coventry, (b) the west midlands and (c) nationally have had their benefit cut as a result of coming off the youth training scheme prematurely or because they refused a place when offered one.
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  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not available.

  Pensions
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the percentage increase since 1979 in the real value of(a) retirement pension, (b) invalidity benefit and (c) widows' pension; and if he will give the latest figures for the numbers of people receiving each benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Basic retirement pension, invalidity benefit and widows pension have each increased by 2·8 per cent., in real terms, after allowing for inflation between the two complete uprating years ending November 1979 and April 1990.

  The estimated average numbers of people, in thousands, in receipt of these benefits at any one time are in the table.

  '000

  Retirement pension

  10,000

  Invalidity benefit

  1,209

  Widows' pension

  285

  Note: The figures in the table are for Great Britain and are rounded to the nearest thousand; the source is "DSS Statistics". The retirement pension figure is based based on March 1991 data. The invalidity benefit figure is based on March 1990 data. The widows' pension figure is based on September 1990 data.

  Disabled People (Benefits)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes he has recently made to benefits for disabled people and their carers.

  Mr. Scott
  We have already issued a quarter of a million disability living allowance claim packs—to people who are currently not entitled to benefit and to those who can now claim extra benefit. Our extensive TV and press advertising campaign has resulted in over 250,000 inquiries from people who want information about the new benefits. To them we have issued a specially designed colour-coded guide which not only explains the two new benefits but also covers the many other benefits available to disabled people.

  We have also begun to take claims for the new benefit, disability working allowance which is aimed at disabled people who are able to work, but have limited earnings' potential. The first awards of the benefit have already been made.

  We are shortly to make several other changes which will help disabled people and their carers.

  We have today laid regulations that raise to £40 the limit on the weekly amount that a carer can earn without it affecting their entitlement to invalid care allowance. This means that the limit will have increased by over 200 per cent. in the last two years.

  We have also laid regulations which will, from April, raise from 12 to 21 the number of hours of study that someone claiming invalid care allowance can undertake without it affecting their entitlement to that benefit.

  Other regulations will be laid shortly to bring the residence and presence conditions for severe disability allowance into line, from April, with those which we have introduced for disability living allowance. This means the removal of the long-criticised "10 in 20 years" residence test.
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  I am also pleased to announce that I laid yesterday regulations which will allow disabled people, who receive either invalidity benefit or severe disability allowance, to serve for one day a week as members of the new disability appeal tribunals and receive the full fee for taking on that invaluable work—without it affecting their entitlement to those benefits.

  National Insurance
  Sir Timothy Raison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans for technical adjustments to the system of national insurance contributions and credits which would assist people to qualify for contributory benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  We propose to lay regulations shortly which will amend the Social Security (Credits) Regulations 1975 to provide that people who receive a payment in lieu of notice or certain other compensatory payments will no longer be prevented from obtaining unemployment credits for the period covered by the compensatory payment.

  This will assist people to qualify for contributory benefits by covering potential deficiencies in their contribution records.

  We are also laying the Social Security (Contributions) Amendment (No. 5) Regulations 1992, which will further assist people to qualify for contributory benefits by the reallocation of national insurance contributions—NICs —paid in one tax year to another tax year.

  Those who will benefit are employed earners who commence employment towards the end of the tax year and whose first payment of earnings from that employment is made in accordance with the employer's normal pay practice in the following tax year. If the NIC record in the first tax year is deficient for contributory benefits, the class 1—employed earners—NICs paid for the first payment of earnings can be treated as paid in respect of the tax year in which the employment began if that would enable the employee to satisfy the contribution conditions for benefit.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for attendance allowance were received in 1990–91.

  Mr. Scott
  In 1990–91, there were 445,000 claims for attendance allowance. This is a correction to the figure of 395,000 in table 10 of the "DSS Departmental Report", Cm 1914.

  Pensioners
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of(a) women and (b) men in 1980 and in the latest year for which the figures are available reached retirement age with entitlement to (i) the full basic state pension, (ii) some state earnings-related pension or additional pension, (iii) an occupational pension and (iv) a personal pension.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 12 February 1992]: information is not available in the precise form requested, however such information as is available is given in the tables:
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  Table 1

  Per cent.

  1. Percentage of men age 65 at 28 November 1980 in receipt of:

  1. Any state retirement pension

  84·35

  ii. Full rate basic pension

  79·47

  iii. Some additional pension (SERPS)

  55·14

  2. Percentage of men age 65 at 31 March 1991 in receipt of:

  i. Any state retirement pension

  79·77

  ii. Full rate basic pension

  69·45

  iii. Some additional pension (SERPS)

  71·49

  3. Percentage of women age 60 at 28 November 1980 in receipt of:

  i. Any state retirement pension

  63·10

  ii. Full rate basic pension (own contributions)

  20·01

  iii. Some additional pension (SERPS)

  10·16

  4. Percentage of women age 60 at 31 March 1991 in receipt of:

  i. Any state retirement pension

  67·44

  ii. Full rate basic pension (own contributions)

  15·04

  iii. Some additional pension (SERPS)

  28·04

  Table 2

  The percentage of recently retired in receipt of an Occupational Pension

  Year

  Percentage

  Men

  1979

  61

  1988

  69

  Women

  1979

  20

  1988

  40

  Notes for Table 2:

  (a) The "recently-retired" are defined as men aged 65–69 and women aged 60–64.

  (b) Estimates are for the United Kingdom and are based on the 1979 and 1987 Government Actuary's Department (GAD) Occupational Pensions Surveys and the 1979 and 1988 Family Expenditure Surveys.

TRANSPORT

  Coach Parking, London
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in meetings with representatives of the coach and tourist industries, London local authorities, the police and other Government Departments to alleviate coach parking problems in central London.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have today announced a series of initiatives which will help to improve the central London coach parking situation. The measures include the provision of more than 160 new coach parking spaces in or close to central London; the lifting of evening coach parking restrictions on the Victoria embankment and Park lane; the relaunch of the Bus and Coach Council code of conduct for the operating and parking of tourist coaches; arrangements for distribution of the revised code of conduct to coach drivers at continental channel ports and Dover; a new pay and park facility for coaches at the North Mall coach park; Sunday morning opening at the Tower of London; the freezing of charges at the Tower
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  coach park for a third consecutive year and a feasibility study for a radio call back experiment in the area close to Westminster abbey.

  Dial-a-Ride
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements have been made to fund the London dial-a-ride service.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am pleased to announce that the grant to London dial-a-ride services for 1992–93 will be £10·5 million. It has been most encouraging to see the rapid expansion of the scheme in recent years, and this announcement will allow London Transport to improve the services still further in 1992–93: increasing the number of dial-a-ride trips from some 740,000 in the present year to more than 800,000 next year. It will also enable the completion of the planned regionalisation of the service.

  Rail Passengers Charter
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the bonuses to be paid to British Rail board members in relation to the passengers charter performance standards.

  Mr. Freeman
  For 1990–91 BR board members could have earned a maximum 25 per cent. bonus on salary for meeting a series of targets, including up to 7 per cent. for quality of service. Members actually received a maximum of 4 per cent. which included 1 per cent. for quality of service.

  Details of a revised BR board bonus scheme for 1992–93, including quality of service targets based on the passengers charter, are currently being developed. On the basis of a possible maximum 10 per cent. bonus for quality, the actual bonus in 1991 would have been less than 2 per cent. of salary if the charter standards had applied, equivalent to around £4,000 for the chairman.

  Channel Tunnel Freight Services
  Mr. Grist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has yet approved any order for freight wagons to equip British Rail's proposed channel tunnel freight services.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have authorised British Rail to invest in initial builds of 450 intermodal wagons and up to 550 automotive wagons for channel tunnel freight services, at a total cost of up to £65 million. The intermodal wagons will be used to carry standard containers and swap bodies in terminal to terminal services between BR's network of regional freight terminals in Britain and key destinations on the continent. The fully enclosed automotive wagons will enable BR to offer high quality services for the delivery of finished cars for import and export, minimising the risk of damage to vehicles en route.

  Airedale Route Strategy
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the A650 Airedale route strategy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Airedale strategy will eventually provide a high standard dual carriageway road from Skipton in the north-west, via Bradford, to the M62. Good 528
  progress has been made on a number of sections. I am today announcing preferred routes for the Shipley eastern bypass, which would link to a tunnel on section 4, and for the Hard Ings road improvement, which improves a section of single carriageway in Keighley to dual two-lane carriageway standard.

  We are also pressing ahead with the preparation of main works for section 3 of the route, with advance works at Park road in Bingley currently out to tender and expected to start soon. We are well advanced in the preparation for inviting consultants to bid for the commission to carry out the preliminary design work for the tunnel option for section 4 and will invite bids soon.

  Vehicle Mileages (Clocking)
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he proposes to take to combat the clocking of vehicle mileages.

  Mr. Chope
  We are working closely with the private sector in the development of effective and practical proposals to combat this abuse. Some companies already offer mileage check information services for the public and the motor trade, and the introduction of more comprehensive schemes is being actively considered. To provide the fullest possible data to underpin these services a "mileage box" is to be included on the vehicle registration document. Vehicle mileages at both the time of sale and of purchase will be collected by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and passed to companies running mileage check services. I believe that this development will prove to be a significant step forward in our drive to stamp out the fraudulent alteration of vehicle odometers and will be welcomed by the motoring public and motor dealers alike.

  Airline Failures
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will introduce a scheme to compensate scheduled airline passengers for financial loss arising from the failure of an airline in the light of the Civil Aviation Authority's advice to him published in 1991.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have considered the Civil Aviation Authority's advice and have decided in principle that it would he desirable to introduce such a scheme, to provide financial protection for passengers who book tickets on United Kingdom airlines. I envisage that, in line with the CAA's advice, a fund would be set up from which any compensation would be paid, financed by a levy on United Kingdom airlines. I do not expect the levy to have a significant effect on fares. It would be of short duration —a matter of months—and should not exceed £1 per traveller. The scheme would complement the financial protection arrangements which already exist for people who hook charter holidays by air.

  I am asking the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority to develop detailed proposals along these lines, and to consult as appropriate. Primary legislation would be necessary to implement such proposals and an opportunity to introduce such legislation will be sought in due course.

  Red Routes
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will be in a position to make public the full analysis of the survey of the red route pilot scheme carried out last autumn; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I have today published the results of the autumn monitoring of the pilot scheme independently designed and assessed by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory. Copies are being placed in the Library, and I am writing to all London MPs about them. The report shows that red route measures bring shorter, more reliable journey times for existing traffic, notably for buses, ease the flow of traffic and greatly improve safety on and off the route. London Buses is planning to introduce a new, limited stop, bus service on the pilot route taking advantage of the benefits to buses being produced. The environment is enhanced through the reduction of stopping and starting on the route, the improvement of roadside conditions, and the attraction of traffic away from residential side roads. Improvements are being achieved in spite of an increase in the volume of traffic now using the route, nearly all of which appears to be coming from side-roads in the corridor. Variations in trading activity are recorded but they seem to depend more on the type of business being conducted and the economic climate than on red route measures.

  Traffic Management, London
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will issue his draft traffic management and parking guidance for London for consultation under the Road Traffic Act 1991.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have published draft traffic management and parking guidance for London for consultation, as required by the Road Traffic Act 1991. Copies are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses and are being sent to each London Member.

  The draft guidance explains London's transport needs and the Government's approach to meeting them. It refers to the Government's desire to maximise the use of public transport where it offers a realistic alternative to the car and to see a coherent approach to the management of traffic and parking, so that public and private transport can move efficiently, smoothly and reliably on the main routes and supporting action can improve conditions throughout London. In particular, it explains how the Government propose that the major traffic management initiatives in the Road Traffic Act 1991; red routes and the new system of local authority enforcement of "decriminalised" on-street parking controls, should contribute to the approach and tackle the problems of congestion in the short term. It will help the London traffic director to start planning the introduction of the red routes and the local authorities, the introduction of their new parking system.

  Comments on the draft have been invited by 12 June 1992.

  Railway Investment
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much Government financial assistance was given in relation to each train kilometre in(a) France and (b) Britain, over the last five years.
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  Mr. Freeman
  International comparisons of railway subsidy cannot be made with precision because of differences in accounting practice. For instance, past debt write offs mean that British Rail pays significantly less interest that SNCF. Comparative information is published by the International Union of Railways in "International Railway Statistics". I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.

  The following figures are available for Great Britain.

  £ per train kilometre

  BR (Great Britain)

  1985

  2·2

  1986

  2·0

  1987

  2·1

  1988

  1·3

  1989

  1·4

  1990

  1·5

  1 1991

  2·1

  1:Estimated.

  Notes:

  Train kilometres include all passenger and freight kilometres. There is no subsidy paid to BR for freight.

  Rail Stations (Security)
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail concerning the improvement of the design of railway stations with the aim of reducing injury in the event of a terrorist bomb.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. and learned Friend met the chairman of British Rail and London Transport and the chief constable of the British Transport police on 3 March to discuss security arrangements for BR and London Underground. The design of railway stations is primarily a matter for British Rail. I understand that BR has produced a code of practice for its architects, on future station design changes and security implications.

  Kent Rail Services
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has held with British Rail over improvements to Kent services and the placing of the order for the class 465 Networkers.

  Mr. Freeman
  I meet the chairman of BR regularly to discuss current issues, including improvements to Kent rail services. A total of 486 Kent link Networkers are already under construction at a cost of £364 million. BR is not yet in a position to say when the order for a further 188 Networkers will be placed.

  Docklands Light Railway
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce the results of the consultation on the proposal to direct London Transport to dispose of the Docklands light railway to the London Docklands development corporation.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Having considered the comments received in the consultation I have concluded that the strength of the case for uniting the DLR with the LDDC remains undiminished. I have, therefore, today directed London Regional Transport to dispose of the DLR to the LDDC for a nominal sum with effect from 1 April 1992.

  Worksop Bypass
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons his Department is withholding £330,000 in compensation and interest charges from Bassetlaw district council as the final payment for land for the A57 Worksop bypass; and when he expects the payment to be made.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 10 March 1992]: The Department is not withholding compensation and interest payments from Bassetlaw district council. Agreement was reached in March 1990 on the compensation due and in December 1990 a 90 per cent. advance payment was made to the council—this was the maximum allowed by the legislation in force at the time. Under the new provisions of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 payment of accrued interest is also required to be made, and a payment in respect of that amount will reach the council shortly. The outstanding balance and any further interest due will be paid on completion of the land ownership transfer procedures, in the usual way.

  Rail Investment
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out(a) the level of investment by Network SouthEast in each year since 1962 at current prices and (b) the total operating grant paid to (i) British Rail and (ii) Network SouthEast in each year since 1962 at current prices.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 6 March 1992]: The information is as follows:

  NSE Investment (£ million at 1991–92 prices) (Capital and revenue)

  £ million

  19821

  192

  1983

  181

  1984–852

  168

  1985–86

  162

  1986–87

  183

  1987–88

  305

  1988–89

  381

  1989–90

  414

  1990–91

  323

  1991–923

  380

  1 NSE was formed in 1986. Previous comparable figures are available only from 1982.

  2 1984–85 was a 15-month period. The figure quoted is the 12-month equivalent.

  3 Estimated.

  Source: NSE.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Gifted Children
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider the statementing of children of exceptional ability.

  Mr. Fallon
  It is for LEAs to make appropriate provisions for gifted children.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what proportion of the resources made available for children with special needs is made available for the education of gifted children;
  532
  (2) how many local education authorities have able child resource centres;

  (3) what proportion of the national educational budget is devoted to providing additional resources for children of exceptional ability.

  Mr. Fallon
  This information is not available centrally. It is for individual local authorities and schools to determine the deployment of their resources to meet additional educational needs, including the needs of exceptionally able pupils.

  HIV and AIDS
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what account he has taken of the Education Act 1986 and the European convention on human rights in considering implementation of the recommendations of his pamphlet, "HIV and AIDS: a Guide for the Education Service"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The purpose of my Department's publication "HIV and Aids: A Guide for the Education Service" is to present, for education professionals, the basic facts about HIV, draw attention to ways in which the education service can contribute to the dissemination of knowledge about HIV and AIDS, and give guidance on standard hygiene practices which educational institutions should adopt to guard against the risks of accidental transmission. My right hon. and learned Friend consistently made it clear, in line with section 46 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986, that sex education, including education about the sexual transmission of HIV, should be given in such a manner as to encourage pupils to have due regard to moral considerations and the value of family life; and that detailed decisions about how such education is delivered in the classroom should take full account of local circumstances, the particular needs of pupils, and the views of parents. This approach is consistent with the requirements of the European convention on human rights on the need to respect the right of parents to ensure that their children's education conforms with their own religious and philosophical convictions.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to confirm the Government's proposals for teachers' pay for 1992.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  After careful consideration of the representations I have received from associations representing teachers and their employers, I have decided to accept all the recommendations of the School Teachers' Review Body. The order I have signed today will bring into effect the provisions in the 1992 School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document from 1 April 1992. This will make it possible for all school teachers to receive the pay increases recommended by the review body in full and on time.

  Parents Charter
  Mr. Ground
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which local education authorities in England have distributed copies of the parents charter to parents in their areas; which local education authorities have refused to do so; and what alternative arrangements
  533
  have been made for distributing copies of the parents charter to parents in those areas where local education authorities are not doing so.

  Mr. Eggar
  Sample copies of the charter were sent to headteachers and chairmen of governors at every school, together with an order form for further copies. More than 16,400 schools—66 per cent.—requested some 4 million copies to distribute to parents. The charter was widely advertised in the national press with a freepost coupon or a freephone number for ordering copies. It is also available in public libraries and post offices. Some 1·9 million copies have now been distributed through these means.

  We are aware that a few local education authorities actively discouraged their schools from distributing copies of the charter, but we do not have comrehensive information about local authority attitudes. This is essentially a matter for schools, and the great majority have requested copies for distribution.

  Sex Education
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the provisions for the teaching of sex education in schools.

  Mr. Atkins
  School governing bodies are responsible, under the provisions of the Education (No 2) Act 1986, for deciding whether their schools should provide sex education beyond those aspects required by the national curriculum; and for maintaining a written record both of that decision and of their policy on the content and organisation of any six education they decide should be provided. Schools are required to ensure that any sex education they may provide encourages pupils to have due regard to moral considerations and the value of family life. The circular "Sex Education at School", issued by the Department in 1987, offers guidance on these provisions.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fishery Decommissioning Scheme
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 27 February,Official Report, columns 612–14, what proportion of funding for the proposed decommissioning scheme for the fishing industry has been allocated by (a) the European Community and (b) Her Majesty's Government over the period concerned, giving these sums both as a percentage and as a capital sum.

  Mr. Curry
  My right hon. Friend has explained that expenditure on decommissioning will be limited to £25 million. Assuming that all expenditure is eligible the Community will reimburse between 50 and 70 per cent. depending on the method of withdrawal. However, the EC budget is funded in such a way that the United Kingdom taxpayer will have to meet 73 per cent. of the Community contribution as well as all the national contribution. The net result of this is that the United Kingdom taxpayer will have to contribute about £20 million of the £25 million available for decommissioning or in percentage terms about 80 per cent. of the total.

  Crown Immunity
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to lift immunity of Crown premises for food safety; what progress has been made on implementing this provision; when he intends to issue the code of practice in connection with this measure; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Food Safety Act 1990 extends food safety law to Crown premises with effect from 1 April this year.

  Crown premises will need to be registered before 1 July 1992 in accordance with the Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991.

  A code of practice on the enforcement of the Food Safety Act 1990 in relation to Crown premises will be issued under section 40 of the Act later this month.

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what performance targets he has set for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The chief executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate—VMD—has submitted his proposals to me and I have agreed that the VMD should be set the following performance targets for 1992–93:

  full cost recovery for the three business activities of licensing, policy work and residues monitoring;

  100 per cent. of new licence applications to be issued within 210 clock days; 80 per cent. within 120 days;

  an overall efficiency gain of 2 per cent.

  These are challenging targets, which will build on the improvements already made in efficiency and quality of service by the directorate since its establishment as a next steps agency, and for which I commend the chief executive and his staff. In addition, I have agreed with the chief executive that the VMD's corporate plan 1992–93 to 1994–95 should be published. Copies are being placed in the Library of the House.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to make any changes to his Department's cash limits for 1991–92.

  Mr. Gummer
  Yes. The cash limit for Class III Vote 4 (other agricultural and food services, support for the fishing industry, arterial drainage, flood and coast protection) will be reduced by £2,000,000 from £267,044,000 to £265,044,000. Within this limit expenditure will be reduced by £1,900,000 on emergency and strategic food services reflecting a reduction in the size of the emergency food stockpile and by £100,000 on extensification to reflect a reduction in demand under these schemes.

  The reduced cash limit will offset an increase in the financial ceiling for United Kingdom hill livestock compensatory allowances.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Authorised Practitioner Scheme
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Attorney-General when the relevant provisions of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 will be implemented to establish the authorised practitioner scheme.

  The Attorney-General
  The consultation document on the draft Authorised Practitioner Regulations which was published last April produced a large number of responses representing a wide variety of views. Last December a further consultation was undertaken involving those bodies with a principal interest in the conveyancing market. Responses to the further consultation have confirmed that there is insufficient demand for authorisation to justify the implementation of the relevant provisions of the 1990 Act at the present time. In addition, the Law Commissioners and the Securities and Investments Board are presently reviewing aspects of the regulation of commissions in the financial services market, the outcome of which may affect the approach taken

  Public Record Office key performance targets—1992–93

  Indicator

  Target

  1. Efficiency

  Cost of selecting and accessioning records per unit quantity (foot-run).

  To establish a baseline cost for the year 1992–93 with a view to setting a target for 1993–94.

  Unit costs of providing record storage space, document productions and reader services.

  To increase the cost of providing records storage space per linear foot by no more that 5·5 per cent. from £0·90 to £0·951.

  To decrease the cost per cost per document produced to readers by 18 per cent. from £1·71 to £1·40.

  To decrease the total reader service costs per reader visit (Census microforms) by 10 per cent. from £2·18 to £1·96.

  To decrease the total reader service cost per reader visit (other records) by 8 per cent. from £6·85 to £6·28.

  Backlog of records awaiting review.

  To reduce the backlog of records over 30 years old which have not been reviewed, by 500 ft.

  Provision of acceptable storage conditions.

  The store 81 per cent. of records to an acceptable standard.

  Management efficiency in running services and projects.

  To establish systems to permit specific targets to be set for 1993–94.

  2. Quality of Service

  Hours during which the office is open to the public.

  To run a pilot scheme from 4 July 1992 to 31 December 1992 of opening the census reading rooms on a Saturday and to continue the service if customer demand is great enough.

  Provision of finding aids

  To produce a new edition of the "Current Guide' and to begin work on a single set of finding aids for all the records.

  Public availability of staff.

  On 90 per cent. of days on which the office is open to the public there will be a minimum of four staff available to assist the public at Kew, four staff in the census rooms and four staff in the other rooms at Chancery lane.

  Response time for answering correspondence

  Replies to letters requiring a response to stock letter will be sent within one week and those to other letters will be sent within three weeks.

  Speed of producing reprographic copies.

  Copies of records will be provided within the following periods:

  Electrostatic copies: Same day service: up to a stated maximum number of copies per person.

  Other orders: five working days.

  Prints from film (from existing microfilm): eight working days.

  Bromide prints: three weeks.

  A self-service copying service will be available at Kew and in the census rooms at all times.

  Quality of copies made.

  No more than 5 per cent. of copies to require to be re-taken.

  1 The cost of storage has been increased by the cost of installing the new records information system, which will enable longer term efficiency savings to be made.

  536
  towards the regulation of authorised practitioners in this respect. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor intends therefore to postpone implementation for the present. He will keep the position under review and will reassess the situation should there be a future increase in the demand for authorisation.

  Public Record Office
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Attorney-General when the Public Record Office is to be established as an agency.

  The Attorney-General
  Further to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel) on 23 January, at column 181, I am pleased to confirm that the Lord Chancellor will establish the Public Record Office as an executive agency on 1 April 1992. I will arrange for a copy of the Public Record Office's framework document to be placed in the Library.

  The table sets out the key performance targets that the Lord Chancellor has set for the Public Record Office for 1992–93.

  Personal Injury Claims
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Attorney-General whether the small claims procedure in the county courts will he extended to cover lower value personal injury claims.

  The Attorney-General
  The small claims arbitration procedure provides an accessible, informal and inexpensive means of resolving straightforward money claims through the county courts. The level at which claims are automatically referred to arbitration on receipt of a defence was doubled last year from £500 to £1,000. Plaintiffs claiming unspecified amounts, as is often the case where people claim compensation for personal injuries, are at present free to limit their claim to £1,000 if they wish to benefit from the advantages of the informal procedure. It is the intention of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor to encourage more personal injury litigants to benefit from these advantages, in a way which would safeguard equally the interests of both parties to a claim. The responses to a consultation paper published last year have suggested that provisions for costs should be part of the scheme. The Lord Chancellor is considering further what can be done to meet this suggestion.

SCOTLAND

  Environmental Grants
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement concerning the amount of grant aid being made available under the special grants (environmental) programme in 1992–93 to voluntary bodies in Scotland working in the environmental field.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am pleased to announce that grant aid totalling £303,125 has been offered to voluntary bodies to assist them in carrying out environmental conservation, improvement or educational work in Scotland. The special grants (environmental) programme offers two different types of funding: core funding to help organisations with their central

  Project funding has been allocated to 12 organisations as follows:

  Organisation

  Project

  Grant £

  Age Concern (Orkney)

  Inter-island glass recycling project

  3,225

  CSV Media Green Action

  Aberdeen media action video project

  3,700

  Council for Scottish Archaeology

  Archaeological action information packs

  3,000

  Friends of the Earth (Scotland)

  Consumer awareness information pack

  5,000

  Lothian and Edinburgh Environmental Partnership

  Edinburgh and Lothians car sharing project

  3,550

  Scottish Native Woods Campaign

  Growing up with trees project pack

  4,000

  Scottish Wildlife Trust

  Wildlife information network

  5,000

  Skye Forum

  Salmon ensilage project

  3,750

  Slide Workshop

  Model school grounds information dissemination project

  900

  Sustrans Scotland

  Rutherglen bridge project

  5,000

  538
  administrative costs, and project funding for distribution to projects designed to further government environmental policy aims as set out in the White Paper "This Common Inheritance". Core funding has been allocated to 39 organisations as follows:

  Organisation

  Grant £

  Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland

  2,000

  Ayr Architectural Heritage Trust

  5,000

  Buchan Countryside Group

  2,000

  Centre for Human Ecology

  6,500

  Council for Scottish Archaeology

  13,500

  Community Service Volunteers

  6,500

  Environment Centre

  4,500

  Friends of the Earth (Scotland)

  12,000

  Garden History Society

  4,500

  Habitat Scotland

  3,000

  Heartland Radio Association

  2,000

  Heritage Education Trust

  1,500

  Highland Forum

  11,000

  John Muir Trust

  4,000

  Locus Breadalbane

  2,500

  Mid Craigie Community Business Ltd.

  1,000

  National Society for Clean Air

  3,500

  Royal Zoological Society Scotland

  3,000

  Rural Forum

  14,000

  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

  9,000

  Scottish Conservation Projects

  25,000

  Scottish Ecological Design Association

  1,400

  Scottish Environmental Education Council

  24,000

  Scottish Environment News

  2,000

  Scottish Field School of Archaeology

  3,000

  Scottish Field Studies Association

  3,000

  Scottish Historic Buildings Trust

  11,700

  Scottish Native Woods Campaign

  5,500

  Scottish Rights of Way Society

  7,000

  Scottish Scenic Trust

  1,750

  Scottish Wildlife and Countryside Link

  9,000

  Scottish Wildlife Trust

  21,000

  Strathclyde Building Preservation Trust

  6,300

  Sustrans Scotland

  10,000

  Touchstone

  2,000

  Venture Scotland

  2,000

  Water of Leith Conservation Trust

  5,000

  West Galloway Fisheries Trust

  1,350

  Woodland Trust

  4,000

  TOTAL

  256,000

  539

  Organisation

  Project

  Grant £

  Touchstone

  Aldie Burn adventure trail

  5,000

  Water of Leith Conservation Trust

  Community environmental action

  5,000

  TOTAL

  £47,125

  Further sums are being held in reserve to support suitable proposals which may arise during the year. The experience of the scheme to date has been generally very good. I am satisfied that the grants now offered will greatly assist the voluntary organisations to increase their level of activity and do much useful work.

  EC Directives
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to issue a consultation paper on the implementation of the urban waste treatment directive and the nitrates directive.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We have today issued a Scottish consultation paper outlining the Government's proposals for the criteria and procedures to be used to identify sensitive areas and less sensitive areas in terms of the urban waste water treatment directive and "polluted waters" in terms of the nitrates directive. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Similar papers are being issued for England and Wales and for Northern Ireland.

  Traffic Offences (Fixed Penalties)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he proposes to make any changes to the extended fixed penalty system for road traffic offences.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In the light of consultation with representative organisations, my right hon. Friend proposes to increase fixed penalty levels to £20 for non-endorsable offences and £40 for endorsable offences from 1 April 1992.

  Schools Inspectorate
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are employed in Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools; and what increase or decrease is being proposed for Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 12 December 1991]: At the beginning of April, Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools in Scotland will consist of 107 professional and 65 support staff. Little change to these numbers is foreseen in the near future.

  Psychiatric Beds
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the average number of staffed beds for all NHS hospitals in Scotland was represented by psychiatric specialties in each year since 1980.
  540
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 6 March 1992]: The information requested is shown in the table. During this period the percentage of psychiatric beds fell as the Government's care in the community policy took effect.

  National health service hospitals in Scotland—available staffed beds; psychiatric specialties as a percentage of all specialties; for years ending 31 March

  per cent.

  1980

  29·4

  1981

  29·2

  1982

  28·9

  1983

  29·0

  1984

  28·7

  1985

  29·0

  1986

  28·9

  1987

  28·6

  1988

  28·5

  1989

  28·0

  1990

  27·6

  1991

  27·5

  Higher and Further Education
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to appoint a chief executive for the Scottish Higher and Further Educational Funding Council; and what civil service grade the successful applicant will have.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 2 March 1992]: We intend to commence the recruitment process, through open competition, as soon as the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Bill receives Royal Assent. The terms and conditions of service for the post will be announced later.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Departmental Spending
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give gross spending for his Department in(a) cash terms and (b) real terms using April 1979 as 100 both (i) as a percentage of gross domestic product and (ii) per 100,000 of the population for each year 1978–79 to the latest available year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is as follows:
  541

  Northern Ireland block

  Northern Ireland block as a percentage of United Kingdom gross domestic product

  Northern Ireland block expenditure per 100,000 population

  Financial year

  Cash terms

  Real terms (April 1979 = 100)

  Cash terms

  Real terms (April 1979 = 100)

  £ million

  £ million

  per cent.

  £ million

  £ million

  1978–79

  2,099

  2,099

  1·20

  138

  138

  1979–80

  2,451

  2,098

  1·17

  160

  137

  1980–81

  2,837

  2,051

  1·19

  185

  134

  1981–82

  3,158

  2,084

  1·21

  205

  136

  1982–83

  3,464

  2,133

  1·21

  225

  139

  1983–84

  3,710

  2,185

  1·20

  240

  142

  1984–85

  4,011

  2,248

  1·21

  259

  145

  1985–86

  4,209

  2,235

  1·16

  270

  144

  1986–87

  4,427

  2,277

  1·13

  283

  145

  1987–88

  4,758

  2,320

  1·10

  302

  147

  1988–89

  5,373

  2,444

  1·12

  340

  155

  1989–90

  5,645

  2,412

  1·08

  357

  152

  1990–91

  5,784

  2,279

  1·04

  364

  143

  Note:

  (i) Figures for 1978–79 to 1983–84 have been adjusted to the new planning total definition.

  (ii) Figures for 1988–89 and 1989–90 reflect the privatisation of Short Brothers and Harland.

  Social Security
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the cost of benefit expenditure on the unemployed and the administration costs of unemployment benefit arid redundancy payments in 1991–92.

  Mr. Hanky
  The information requested is as follows.

  Estimated Benefit Expenditure on Unemployed People—1991–1992

  Type

  Expenditure £ million

  Unemployment Benefit

  39·4

  Income Support

  189·0

  Redundancy Payments

  2·0

  Total

  230·4

  Estimated Administration Costs—1991–1992

  Benefits

  12·7

  Redundancy Payments

  0·2

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many offices, providing public access for the purpose of claiming benefit, including unemployment benefit, were in operation on 1 April 1979, and at the latest available date;

  (2) how many home visits, excluding specialist visits, including those for the purpose of investigating suspected fraud were made per 1,000 claimants in the latest available year; and how many were made in 1978–79.

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

  Criminal Injuries (Compensation)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to maintain the principle that all innocent victims of violence are entitled to fair compensation, within a reasonable time, following the introduction of new minimum levels of compensation for personal injury and mental injury or shock.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The existing statutory criminal injuries compensation scheme in Northern Ireland provides fair 542
  and reasonable compensation to the innocent victims of violence. The scheme contains two thresholds or lower limits on compensation—one in respect of physical injuries and the other in respect of mental injury.

  Thresholds have been a feature of the scheme for many years. Their purpose is to exclude lower value claims from compensation and to set a limit which the Government believe that it would be reasonable to expect those criminally injured to bear themselves.

  Voters
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of married women in Northern Ireland who would need to produce their marriage certificate as proof of identity in order to cast their ballot in the forthcoming general election.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of people in Northern Ireland who hold each of the documents necessary to identify themselves at the forthcoming general election.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, one of the documents concerned, the medical card issued by the Central Services Agency, is available to all electors in Northern Ireland free of charge. There is, therefore, no need for any elector to be without their vote.

  Household Statistics
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of households in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I understand from the chief electoral officer that the number of households in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland is approximately as follows:
  543

  Constituency

  Approximate number of households

  Belfast East

  29,800

  Belfast North

  24,200

  Belfast South

  32,800

  Belfast West

  33,300

  East Antrim

  34,500

  East Londonderry

  36,300

  Fermanagh and South Tyrone

  30,900

  Foyle

  32,500

  Lagan Valley

  36,200

  Mid Ulster

  30,100

  Newry and Armagh

  30,500

  North Antrim

  33,600

  North Down

  35,800

  Strangford

  35,000

  South Antrim

  34,200

  South Down

  35,400

  Upper Bann

  33,200

  TOTAL

  558,300

  Tourist Board
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the present term of appointment of the chairman of the Northern Ireland tourist board ends; and when he will announce the name of the chairman for the next period of office.

  Mr. Needham
  The NITB chairman's appointment ends on 30 June 1994; the name of a chairman for the next period will be announced at an appropriate time before that date.

  Ordnance Survey
  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide details about the launch of the Government's next steps agency administering the Ordnance Survey for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Ordnance Survey executive agency will be formally established on 1 April 1992.

  Its performance targets for the period 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 are as follows:

  To survey 33,175 house units in the continuous revision programme;

  to complete 756 data capture units representing 1,220 basic scale map sheets converted to digital format;

  to update the digital topographical database with 90 per cent. of the surveyed change within seven days of receipt of the field date;

  to despatch within seven working days 90 per cent. of orders for folded and basic scale maps; and

  to reduce unit costs so that the weighted mean percentage reduction of selected representative activities is 2 per cent.

  A framework document has been prepared for the agency and a copy has been placed in the Library.

  Driver and Vehicle Testing
  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide details about the launch of the Government's "next steps" agency for administering the vehicle inspection and driving test centres in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency will be formally established on 1 April 1992.

  The key performance targets set for the agency for 1992–93 are:
  544

  Throughput of drivers tested (per person per day)

  Target—7·;6 tests per person per day.

  Throughput of vehicles tested (per person per day)

  Target—15·75 vehicle tests per person per day.

  Waiting time for driver testing

  Target—80 per cent. to be tested by 8 weeks; 100 per cent. by 10 weeks.

  Waiting time for vehicle testing

  Target—80 per cent. to be tested within 4 weeks; 100 per cent. within 5 weeks.

  Error rates (percentage of faulty inspections)

  Target—faulty inspections will not exceed 0·5 per cent. of tests conducted.

  Unit cost of driver of vehicle tests

  Target—composite unit cost £16·16.

  Level of complaints

  Target—complaints about booking arrangements should be less than 1 per cent. of applications received; complaints about the conduct of tests should be less than 1 per cent. of tests conducted.

  Customer satisfaction levels

  Target—Greater than 92 per cent. satisfaction with booking arrangements; Greater than 96 per cent. satisfaction with testing procedures.

  A copy of the framework document setting out the terms within which the agency will operate will be placed in the Library shortly.

  Compensation Schemes
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about progress towards the establishment of a "next steps" agency in the Northern Ireland Office to administer the compensation schemes.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Compensation Agency will be formally established on 1 April 1992. I have made arrangements for copies of the agency's framework document to be placed in the Library. I have set a number of key performance targets for the agency to achieve in its first year. These are:

  Financial Targets
  To live within a running costs budget of £3·5 million, reflecting a 2·1 per cent. cash efficiency saving.
  To manage the agency's budget for demand-led expenditure within the financial limit approved by the Department, including in-year adjustments, while ensuring that expenditure is within a margin of 0·5 per cent. of the approved provision.
  To reduce the unit cost of processing each type of compensation claim by at least 4 per cent. in real terms.

  Claims Processing Targets

  Target

  Criminal Injuries Claims

  Criminal Damage Claims

  Emergency Provisions Claims

  Number of claims cleared:

  11,750

  4,500

  4,600

  To reduce the average time taken to reach a decision on an application by:

  4 weeks

  4 weeks

  3 days

  To reduce the number of claims over 3 years old1 where no decision has been reached by:

  25 per cent.

  25 per cent.

  25 per cent.

  1 Over one year old in the case of emergency provisions claims.

  EC Directives
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to issue a consultation paper on the implementation of the urban waste water treatment directive and nitrates directive.

  Mr. Needham
  We have today issued a consultation paper outlining the Government's proposals for Northern
  545
  Ireland for criteria and procedures for identifying sensitive areas and less sensitive areas—urban waste water treatment directives—and "polluted waters"—nitrates directive. As far as I am aware, the United Kingdom is the first member state to consult publicly on the way it is intended to implement these directives. This, I believe, demonstrates the Government's commitment to openness in environmental decision making and to the proper implementation of these directives which will make an important contribution to improving our environment.

WALES

  Job Losses, Clwyd
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have lost their jobs in Clwyd, South-West over the last(a) three months, (b) six months and (c) 12 months.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In the 12-month period to December 1991 there were 23 notified redundancies in Clwyd, South-West. None of these was in the last six months. These figures are the latest available and are still provisional.

  Elective Surgery
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will respond to the sixth report of the Welsh Affairs Committee, Session 1990–91, on elective surgery, House of Commons paper 390.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I am pleased to announce that the response has been published today as Command Paper 1863.

  Cancer Treatment
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to develop cancer treatment services for the people of north Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Having carefully reviewed all the options set out in the Deloitte, Haskins and Sells report I have decided that cancer patients in north Wales will best be served by the establishment of a dedicated cancer centre in north Wales itself. I have consequently, commissioned a detailed investment appraisal of this option. Provided the conclusions of this are satisfactory I am hopeful that a start on such a centre can be made in 1993.

  The remaining recommendations of the DHS report are primarily for health authorities in north Wales to consider in the light of their local strategies for health and the development of cancer services in the areas concerned.

  Neighbourhood Amenities
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to establish a community initiative fund to promote the development of neighbourhood facilities and amenities.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  [holding answer 26 February 1992]: EC Community initiatives and associated funding are the responsibility of the European Commission. The Commission's mid-term review of the last reform of the EC structural funds, which is to include a chapter on
  546
  "Guidelines for the Future", is expected to issue later this month. One of the issues under consideration is the case for modifying objective 2 areas—areas of industrial decline, in Wales, Industrial South Wales and Clwyd—to give greater emphasis to urban regeneration. During the review, we will be pressing for designation of as many eligible areas as possible within Wales.

  Both the EC RECHAR and LEADER programmes, for industrial south Wales and rural mid-Wales respectively, have recently received European Commission approval and will make European regional development and European social fund grant assistance available for a wide range of measures in coalfield and rural areas, including social infrastructure and local community based developments.

  The Community Development Foundation—CDF— has set up an office in Wales with the aim of promoting greater understanding of the value of community development and assisting specific community projects in the Principality. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales was pleased to launch this initiative formally in October 1990—one of the many community initiatives under the programme for the valleys—and provide urban programme aid to run two pilot schemes in Rhondda and Ogwr.

  The Welsh Development Agency is providing support for a community enterprise initiative within the valleys programme area, which is aimed at stimulating a range of community self-help projects offering economic benefit— for example, community businesses—encompassing the provision of advice as well as financial assistance. Some £200,000 per annum has been provided under this initiative by the WDA since the programme started.

  "Landscape Wales", the WDA's land reclamation and environmental programme, aimed at the restoration of the Welsh landscape, includes schemes which assist in the provision of local amenities—for example, sports fields, recreation facilities, country parks, picnic sites, cycle ways, the external improvement of redundant buildings in order to bring them into reuse for the benefit of the community, and so on. In 1991–92 the budget for Landscape Wales is £31 million.

  Last December, my right hon. Friend announced, as a further stage of the rural initiative, a fresh series of measures to strengthen and carry forward rural programmes across the economic, environmental and social fields. These measures include an annual competition of local authority capital projects designed for the benefit of rural communities. We are particularly keen that the community councils are allowed full opportunity to put forward proposals on behalf of their local communities, and that social as well as economic and environmental schemes are adequately represented. For 1992–93, the Secretary of State has allocated £6 million to fund the competition.

  The Development Board for Rural Wales is also actively involved in the social development of its area. In 1991–92, £1 million has been made available to launch the board's social development action programme, which covers youth, community, sports, arts and cultural development. Emphasis will also be placed on improving the environment, better entertainment and cultural provision, and enhancing activities which promote the Welsh language and culture.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Fiji
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid Britain currently gives to Fiji; and whether the United Kingdom's assistance has been reconsidered in the light of the Harare declaration.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our bilateral aid programme consists of technical co-operation in the form of the provision of expert manpower and advice from the United Kingdom together with the training of Fijians in areas where it is most needed.

  The Government keep their aid policy to Fiji, as elsewhere, under regular review.

  Withholding aid would not further the objective of a return to democracy. No useful purpose would be served, for example, by depriving the ordinary people of Fiji of medical services made possible by our aid. There has been no evidence recently of a pattern of regular or systematic abuse of basic human rights in Fiji.

  Angola
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about his recent visit to Angola; and what information he now has about the recent deaths of British tourists whilst in Angola.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My planned visit to Angola from I to 3 February had to be cancelled owing to ill health. An Angolan Government investigation is under way into the murder of the British tourists. Our embassy is in close touch with both the Government and UNITA on this investigation.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Nuclear Weapons
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the most recent United Kingdom owned and controlled nuclear weapons withdrawn from deployment, and dismantled, as a result of negotiations, pursuant to article VI of the 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom's nuclear defence requirements are reviewed on a regular basis and kept at the minimum necessary to ensure effective deterrence. Those weapons no longer required are taken out of service and dismantled. The Defence Secretary announced in October last year that we would be making substatial reductions in the United Kingdom's sub-strategic nuclear capability, including a reduction of about 50 per cent. in the number of our free-fall bombs.

  European Union
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effect from 1 January 1993 of ratification by all member states of the treaty on European union.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The treaty on European union will enter into force on 1 January 1993, if all member states 548
  have ratified it before that date. On entry into force member states will become subject to the obligations of the treaty.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effect ratification of the treaty on European union will have on the official name and description of what is now the European Community.

  Mr. Garel Jones
  The treaty on European union provides that, throughout the treaty establishing the European Economic Community, the term "European Economic Community" shall be replaced by the term "European Community".

  Diplomats (Offences)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many serious offences were allegedly committed in 1991 by persons entitled to diplomatic immunity; and how many foreign diplomats were withdrawn from their posts in Britain in that year following alleged offences.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Forty alleged serious offences by persons entitled to diplomatic immunity were drawn to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1991. "Serious offences" are defined in accordance with the Report to the Foreign Affairs Committee "The Abuse of Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges"—1985—as offences falling into a category which would in certain circumstances attract a maximum penalty of six months or more imprisonment. The majority involved drinking and driving, and shoplifting.

  Seven diplomats were withdrawn from their posts in Britain in 1991 following alleged offences, as against six in the previous year.

  Diplomats (Parking Fines)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish up-to-date figures recording the number of unpaid parking fines incurred by each diplomatic mission in London during 1991.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The information requested by my hon. Friend is given in the table, which also includes those international organisations which incurred unpaid fines. The figures may be reduced by late payment.

  The total of 1991–5,145—indicates a 22 per cent. reduction over the total 1990 figure—6,551—and is only 5 per cent. of the 1984 figure—108,932—the last to be published before the introduction in May 1985 of the Government's policy on parking by members of diplomatic missions. We welcome the further reduction in unpaid parking fines that has been achieved during 1991 and appreciate the co-operation of diplomatic missions since the introduction of the parking policy. We shall continue to monitor carefully the level of unpaid fines and bring pressure to bear on diplomatic missions to reduce this still further.

  Unpaid parking fines

  Diplomatic mission

  1991

  1990

  Saudi Arabia

  367

  346

  Russia (and former Soviet Union)

  363

  308

  Israel

  191

  131

  549

  Diplomatic mission

  1991

  1990

  Morocco

  165

  156

  Nigeria

  159

  70

  Greece

  155

  146

  Poland

  154

  531

  France

  144

  101

  China

  140

  92

  Canada

  135

  39

  Sudan

  132

  193

  Korea

  130

  152

  Turkey

  130

  76

  Qatar

  122

  83

  Cote d' Ivoire

  122

  183

  Egypt

  105

  105

  Jordan

  99

  71

  United Arab Emirates

  99

  185

  Pakistan

  97

  220

  Ghana

  84

  0

  Bulgaria

  81

  101

  Cameroon

  77

  191

  India

  73

  121

  Thailand

  72

  145

  Hungary

  68

  82

  Federal Republic of Germany

  66

  122

  Zambia

  64

  76

  Oman

  58

  70

  Uruguay

  57

  34

  Gambia

  56

  55

  Cyprus

  55

  110

  Barbados

  54

  48

  Spain

  50

  89

  Bangladesh

  49

  59

  Tanzania

  47

  24

  Portugal

  45

  69

  Tunisia

  43

  31

  Yugoslavia

  41

  101

  Zimbabwe

  38

  28

  Brazil

  38

  51

  Iraqi Interests Section

  38

  125

  Bahrain

  37

  18

  Italy

  35

  34

  Romania

  34

  60

  Gabon

  32

  43

  Brunei

  31

  63

  Sierra Leone

  28

  54

  Malaysia

  28

  84

  Guatemala

  27

  18

  Ethiopia

  27

  23

  Finland

  26

  16

  Yemen

  21

  71

  Malawi

  20

  8

  Liberia

  18

  38

  United States of America

  17

  15

  Venezuela

  17

  15

  Algeria

  16

  46

  Honduras

  16

  16

  Japan

  16

  22

  Guyana

  16

  39

  Syria

  16

  0

  Angola

  15

  86

  Panama

  14

  4

  Iran

  14

  0

  Vietnam

  13

  20

  Mauritius

  13

  21

  Cuba

  13

  20

  Eastern Caribbean States

  13

  7

  Jamaica

  12

  49

  Fiji

  10

  2

  Mexico

  9

  7

  Zaire

  9

  18

  Mongolia

  9

  12

  Lebanon

  9

  11

  Myanmar

  9

  14

  Bolivia

  9

  4

  Botswana

  8

  8

  Senegal

  8

  24

  Philippines

  8

  29

  Chile

  8

  20

  Sweden

  8

  6

  550

  Diplomatic mission

  1991

  1990

  Togo

  8

  8

  Lesotho

  7

  12

  Trinidad

  7

  10

  Nepal

  7

  2

  Kenya

  7

  18

  Peru

  7

  2

  Paraguay

  6

  11

  Czechoslovakia

  6

  30

  Belgium

  6

  18

  Ireland

  5

  0

  Somalia

  5

  18

  Iceland

  5

  12

  Australia

  5

  11

  Uganda

  5

  15

  Norway

  4

  15

  Bahamas

  4

  0

  Costa Rica

  4

  1

  Seychelles

  4

  25

  Austria

  3

  9

  Indonesia

  3

  22

  Singapore

  3

  6

  Netherlands

  3

  3

  Sri Lanka

  3

  7

  Mozambique

  3

  0

  Switzerland

  2

  0

  Swaziland

  2

  0

  South Africa

  2

  1

  Luxembourg

  2

  8

  Malta

  2

  1

  Papua New Guinea

  2

  0

  Argentina

  1

  0

  Ecuador

  1

  7

  El Salvador

  1

  1

  Benin

  1

  4

  Denmark

  1

  3

  Dominica

  1

  5

  Nicaragua

  1

  13

  Kuwait

  0

  218

  Afghanistan

  0

  3

  New Zealand

  0

  0

  Grenada

  0

  1

  Antigua and Barbuda

  0

  1

  Colombia

  0

  1

  International organizations

  Commonwealth Sec

  40

  49

  Cocoa

  5

  6

  INMARSAT

  3

  0

  Coffee

  2

  6

  EC

  2

  1

  IMO

  1

  0

  WEU

  1

  0

  UN

  0

  0

  Sugar

  0

  0

  5,145

  6,551

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Clearing Banks
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has held with chairmen of major clearing banks following his initiative last year on the treatment by banks of small businesses; what information he has on the measures taken to ensure that each bank has dealt satisfactorily with complaints, especially in relation to any compensation made to borrowers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I am pleased to say that seven banks—Midland, Lloyds, National Westminster, Barclays, TSB and the Bank of Scotland and the Royal Bank of Scotland—have now published codes of banking
  551
  practice for their business customers. The codes are well written, in plain English and they all reflect the seven principles I outlined in my statement on 17 July to the House Official Report, columns 181–83. In some cases they go beyond. All the codes explain how complaints may be pursued, and that would include any requests for compensation where errors have been made.

  The codes are, of course, only now being implemented. I have not held any further discussions with the chairmen of the banks. In the final analysis, it is the reaction of customers, not the Government, which matters, as the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee said in its report published on Monday. I warmly welcome the Committee's encouragement to small businesses to compare the different banks' codes and stimulate competition by letting the banks know if they do not feel the codes meet their requirements in any way. Four of the banks have said explicitly that they will be reviewing their codes so that further improvements can be made in the light of customer opinion. I hope that the others will do the same. I believe these codes are an important step in improving the relationship between banks and their small business customers. But I hope that small businesses will also play their part in building and maintaining effective relationships with their bankers by discussing with them, in advance, any problems or opportunities they may foresee.

  North Sea Oil and Gas
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what purposes the Government have used the revenues from North sea oil and gas production since 1979.

  Mr. Maples
  Revenues from individual taxes are not allocated to specific spending programmes.

  Retail Prices Index
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the retail price index following the abolition of the community charge and its replacement by the council tax.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [pursuant to his reply, 7 February 1992, c. 256]: I announced in my answer on 7 February my intention to reconvene the Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee. The membership of the RPIAC will be as follows:

  Membership of the retail prices index advisory committee 1992 Chairman

  Mr. W. P. McLennan (Director, Central Statistical Office)

  Members

  Mr. J. Astin (EUROSTAT, Luxembourg)

  Mr. S. Brittan (Financial Times)

  Professor D. Currie (London Business School)

  Professor M. C. Fleming (Loughborough University)

  Mr. K. H. B. Frere (Nominated by National Federation of Consumer Groups)

  Mr. S. G. B. Henry (Bank of England)

  Mr. T. Hoyes (Nominated by Age Concern)

  Mr. J. Hughes (Nominated by National Consumer Council)

  Mr. D. Lea OBE (Nominated by the Trades Union Congress)

  Miss R. Lea (The Mitsubishi Bank Ltd.)

  Dr. R. J. Maurice

  Mr. C. Mowl (Her Majesty's Treasury)

  Professor J. F. Pickering (Portsmouth Polytechnic)

  Professor G. Rhys (Cardiff Business School)

  Mrs. B. Rosewell (Business Strategies Ltd.)

  552

  Dr. P. Rowlatt (National Economic Research Associates)

  Mr. A. Sentance (Nominated by the Confederation of British Industry)

  Professor R. Turvey (London School of Economics)

  Mr. R. G. Ward (Central Statistical Office)

  Secretary

  Mr. D. J. Sellwood (Central Statistical Office)

  Assistant Secretary

  Mrs. M. S. Dolling (Central Statistical Office)

  One or two further members may be added later.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of exempting from corporation tax(a) the first £1,000 of profits and (b) the first £5,000 of profits in respect of (i) small limited companies and (ii) all limited companies; and if he will state the equivalent income tax cost for unincorporated businesses.

  Mr Maude
  [holding answer 6 March 1992]: On the assumption that a single exempt amount would be available to a company group and would be divided equally between the members of the group, the direct corporation tax cost is tentatively estimated to be:

  Exempt amount

  Companies liable at the small companies rate £ million

  All companies £ million

  1,000

  20

  30

  5,000

  100

  150

  The equivalent income tax cost in a full year for unincorporated businesses is of the order of £600 million for an exempt amount of £1,000 and £2·5 billion for an exempt amount of £5,000.

  These estimates are based on the existing distribution of taxable profits and therefore exclude probable behavioural changes. These cannot be quantified readily, but they are likely to increase the cost substantially.

  Income
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated(a) mean and (b) median, (i) original, (ii) gross, (iii) disposable and (iv) post-tax income in 1991–92 and 1992–93, in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  The estimates requested for 1991–92 and 1992–93 will not be available until data from the Family Expenditure Surveys for 1991 and 1992 have been analysed. The most recent estimates available, for 1989, were provided in the reply given to the hon. Member on 26 February, at column 501.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from business men about the impact of a minimum wage in other EC countries on British industrial competitiveness.
  553
  Mr. Lilley
  I am aware of the very widespread concern among business men of the harmful impact a minimum wage in Britain would have on our industrial competitiveness with the consequent loss of output and jobs.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what would be the aggregate costs to British industry of introducing a statutory minimum wage of(a) £3, (b) £3·40 and (c) £3.80 an hour assuming the maintenance of constant employment levels.

  Mr. Lilley
  On the basis of earnings distributions in the April 1991 "New Earnings Survey", the estimated impact cost to British industry of introducing a statutory minimum wage is:

  Minimum Wage

  Increase in Costs

  £3·00 per hour

  Around £1·0 billion a year

  £3·40 per hour

  Around £2·5 billion a year

  £3·80 per hour

  Around £5·0 billion a year

  These estimates take no account of attempts to maintain earnings differentials.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has recently received about manufacturing investment.

  Mr. Leigh
  In 1991, manufacturing investment was over one third higher than 10 years earlier.

  Industrial Policy
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet representatives of the North East regional CBI to discuss industrial policy.

  Mr. Radice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet representatives of the North East regional CBI to discuss industrial policy.

  Mr. Lilley
  I next expect to meet representatives of the North-East regional CBI on 18 September 1992.

  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet representatives of the West Midlands regional CBI to discuss industrial policy.

  Mr. Lilley
  I next expect to meet representatives of the West Midlands regional council of the CBI on 12 March 1992.

  Multi-fibre Arrangement
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the latest situation regarding the multi-fibre arrangement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The multi-fibre arrangement has been extended for a period of 17 months to 31 December 1992, pending the outcome of the GATT Uruguay round negotiations.

  Estate Agents
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he proposes to introduce regulations in respect of misrepresentation by estate agents.
  554
  Mr. Leigh
  Misrepresentation about offers received or prospective purchasers was made an undesirable practice by an order that came into effect last July under section 3 of the Estate Agents Act 1989.

  My Department is currently reviewing the outcome of consultation on a proposed order under the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991. The order would specify those aspects of property in respect of which misdescription would be an offence.

  ECGD
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average premium rate of the Export Credits Guarantee Department in(a) France, (b) the United Kingdom and (c) Germany.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The premium rates quoted by export credit agencies vary greatly according to such factors as the market, the buyer and the horizon of risk. The average premium rate will therefore reflect the risk of business insured. The average premium rate charged by ECGD on business insured to date in 1991–92 is 4·27 per cent. Similar information on the average rate charged by French and German export credit agencies is not available.

  Machine Tools
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet representatives of the Machine Tool Technologies Association to discuss the effects of the recession on the machine tool industry.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have no plans for such a meeting.

  World Trade
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the latest figures for the United Kingdom's share of world trade.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The United Kingdom share of total world trade (visible and invisible imports and exports) was 7·7 per cent. in 1990. Our share of the volume of world exports of manufactured goods is estimated to have risen in 1991 for the third successive year.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the latest figures of the United Kingdom's share of world trade.

  Mr. Lilley
  The United Kingdom share of world exports of total manufacturers was 6·4 per cent. in 1990.

  Fraud
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to review the procedures in his Department for handling fraud cases; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  As my hon. Friend will be aware, the handling of fraud cases imposes responsibility on a number of Ministers. My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General is responsible for the Serious Fraud Office and Crown prosecution service, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is responsible for matters of criminal procedure and my noble and learned Friend the
  555
  Lord Chancellor has responsibility for matters relating to the judiciary. The prosecutions for fraud handled by my Department are cases which are not large or complex enough to have been accepted for handling by the Serious Fraud Office or the fraud investigation group of the Crown prosecution service.

  My hon. Friend will be aware of the work being carried out by the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice in relation to the handling of fraud cases. The Government are keen to see rapid and successful pursuit and prosecution of fraud.

  Engineering Industry
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current output levels of the engineering industry.

  Mr. Leigh
  Output in 1991 was 24 per cent. higher than in 1981.

  EC Presidency
  32. Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement about the role of his Department during the British presidency of the EC later in the current year.

  Mr. Lilley
  Without doubt the Government will face a very busy presidency. To us will fall a number of important tasks:

  the completion of the single market;

  preparing the Community for enlargement;

  developing the Community's links with eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union;

  dealing with the outcome of the GATT talks, be it success or failure;

  reform of the CAP, and;

  depending on the progress under the Portuguese presidency, perhaps taking forward the review of the Community's finances.

  While undertaking these tasks we shall encourage our partners to place greater emphasis on several key themes:

  first, deregulation: the rigorous scrutiny of all directives to ensure they do not impose unnecessary burdens;

  secondly, the implementation and enforcement nationally of Community directives;

  thirdly, the phasing out of beggar-my-neighbour credit and trade support policies;

  fourthly, the maintenance of competitive rather than interventionist policies.

  My Department will have a key role to play in our presidency. My colleagues and I will chair five Councils: Internal Market, Telecommunications, Industry, Research and Consumer Affairs. We will also field trade policy issues in the Foreign Affairs Council.

  I gave further information about my Department's priorities to an audience at the Institute of Directors on 21 February. A copy of my speech has been placed in the Library.

  Quality Standards
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies in the United Kingdom have achieved the BS 5750 quality standard.

  Mr. Leigh
  Approximately 7,500 companies have been certified as complying with BS5750.

  Technological Innovation
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals his Department plans to put forward on technological innovation at the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department commissioned two reports looking at the role of technology transfer in the context of "Global Climate Change" and "Conservation of Biological Diversity" for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The reports were jointly funded with the Overseas Development Administration and the Department of the Environment respectively and have been well received by the international community. Copies of both reports are in the Library of the House.

  My Department is currently working with the Department of the Environment on producing case studies which examine technology co-operation that exists between the United Kingdom and the developing countries. These will be presented at the UNCED.

  During the UNCED in Rio de Janeiro there will also be an environmental technology exhibition in Sao Paulo, "ECOBRASIL 92". My Department is providing financial assistance to eligible British firms who wish to participate.

  My Department is actively promoting technological innovation by United Kingdom companies. The outcome of the UNCED may well lead to increased market opportunities for innovative environmental technology.

  Supervisory Bodies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) pursuant to his answer of 22 November,Official Report, column 346, what information he has on the duration of a visit by the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and the number of files which its compliance officers will examine during each visit;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 22 November, Official Report, column 346, what information he has about the number of client files which the supervisory bodies will examine during each visit.

  Mr. Redwood
  I understand that, including time spent on preparation, discussion of the findings with the firm, review, and reporting conclusions and recommendations, the length of time spent on monitoring visits by the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, in its capacity as a recognised supervisory body, will typically range from one and a half to four days.

  The association will monitor members of the Association of Authorised Public Accountants on the same basis under the terms of arrangement between those bodies.

  The number of files to be examined will vary according to the circumstances but will be sufficient for the compliance officer to determine whether the required standard of audit work has been attained.

  The joint monitoring unit of the three Institutes of Chartered Accountants will normally examine not less than three client files on each visit although in many cases the number of files to be examined will be considerably greater.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the cost
  557
  of the Ernst and Young staff seconded to his Department, the functions they are performing, and their supervision by his Department.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Department has one member of staff on secondment from Ernst and Young at an annual cost, including salary, national insurance and superannuation which is linked to the civil service grade 7 salary scale.

  The secondee's main functions, performed under the direct supervision of a civil servant, are the authorisation of new insurance companies and the provision of expert advice on the supervision of insurance companies.

  Inward Investment
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the level of inward investment in the United Kingdom and in the United Kingdom's European competitors.

  Mr. Lilley
  The United Kingdom has been the most successful country in Europe in attracting inward investment.

  Single Market
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he plans to make on the single market during the United Kingdom presidency of the EC; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  During the United Kingdom presidency, the Government intend to make progress on the remaining programme of measures, to ensure that the single market can be declared genuinely open for business on 1 January 1993.

  We shall be focusing on those measures which are central to the successful operation of the single market. The Government will also put particular emphasis on considering the quality, effectiveness and enforcement of legislation already in place.

  Making the single market work, rather than planning more new legislation, will be a central theme of our presidency.

  Monopolies and Mergers Commission
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Monopolies and Mergers Commission has a very important role under United Kingdom competition legislation as an independent investigative body.

  Car Exports
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the United States Government about the effect which the United States luxury tax is having upon British car manufacturers seeking to export to the United States; and what response he has received.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Vigorous representations have been made to the Administration on the adverse impact of the luxury tax on United Kingdom car exports. While a formal reply is awaited to my right hon. Friend's request 558
  to the United States Secretary of the Treasury that exemption for cars should be included in the budget, we are continuing to put over the case for repeal in tandem with our own industry to both the Administration and senior Members of Congress.

  British Shipbuilders
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on British Shipbuilders' external financing limit for 1992–93.

  Mr. Leigh
  British Shipbuilders' external financing limit for 1992–93 was set at minus £5·0 million as recorded in the Government's expenditure plans 1992–93 to 1994–95 published in January 1992 (Cm 1904). I am now able to announce a reduced EFL for 1992–93 of minus £6·85 million which amounts to an improvement of £1·85 million. This has been made possible by the inclusion in British Shipbuilders' internal resources of forecast receipts from RENAVAL funding and interest earned on accumulated cash balances.

  Greenhouse Gases
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the consultancy study commissioned by his Department on the implications for trade policy of measures to control greenhouse gas emissions.

  Mr. Lilley
  The study was commissioned jointly by my Department and the Department of the Environment. I have today placed a copy of its report in the Library of the House.

  Telephone Adaptations
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with licensed telephone operators about making telephones adaptable and accessible to people with hearing difficulties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 9 March 1992]: The licences issued to BT, Mercury, Kingston Communications and all the fixed link public telecommunications operators under the Telecommunications Act 1984 require them to ensure that telephones for the hearing impaired are available to meet all reasonable demands and to install facilities for the hearing impaired in all their public call boxes. The licences under which most private systems are run require that certain telephones installed for emergency use, such as those in lifts, can be coupled inductively to suitable hearing aids.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on available telecommunications systems in other countries to help people with hearing difficulties to use telephones; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 9 March 1992]: Comprehensive information on how other countries' telecommunications systems cater for people with hearing difficulties could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  In the USA, the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act (1988) has made mandatory the fitting of inductive couplers to

  559
  certain types of telephones. In Europe, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), in which the United Kingdom is a major participant, requested funds from the European Commission last month to study the possible development of pan-European standards in this area. In framing this proposal, ETSI's Human Factors Committee noted that only two national regulations, on inductively coupled telephones and amplification for the hard of hearing, existed in Europe, both from the United Kingdom.

  Media Expenditure
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what expenditure was made, in the last financial year for which figures are available, on(a) film, (b) video, (c) publishing, (d) the record industry and (e) the press.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 10 March 1992]: In the current financial year, my Department has provided support for film totalling £5·6 million. Overall Government support for film in the current financial year amounts to £25·9 million.

  There are no specific support schemes for video, publishing, the record industry or the press.

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many civil servants are responsible in his Department(a) part time and (b) full time for (i) film, (ii) publishing, (iii) video, (iv) the record industry and (v) the press.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 10 March 1992]: There are nine civil servants in my Department with full-time responsibility for issues relating to film and video.

  For the other sectors there are no staff with specific responsibility, but the Department's market intelligence unit handles issues relating to most individual industries and market sectors.

  CFCs
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the quantity of chlorofluorocarbons exported from the United Kingdom in 1991.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 10 March 1992]: This information is not published, for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

  British Technology Group
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the Government's plans for the sale of the British Technology Group.

  Mr. Lilley
  [pursuant to the reply, 4 March 1992,columns 183–84]: I am pleased to announce that an agreement for the sale of British Technology Group was entered into today, 11 March, following negotiations between Government and a management-led consortium. The initial proceeds will be £27·75 million.

  The consortium represents a balance between financial institutions, individuals, and organisations. The lead investor is CIN Venture Managers Limited (CIN Ven) the second largest European venture capital house. (CIN Ven
  560
  manage the unquoted securities portfolios of the pension funds of British Coal, British Rail and Barclays Bank). The consortium members include 10 other financial institutions, BTG management and staff, and up to 13 United Kingdom universities, under the aegis of the CVCP (the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals). A holding company has been formed to purchase the shares. Management and staff will participate in the company both directly, through individually subscribing for shares, and indirectly, through an employee share trust which will acquire up to 26 per cent. of the share capital. Apart from the trust, no individual member of the consortium will own more than 15 per cent. of the voting rights in the holding company.

  The consortium was selected as the preferred purchaser following a two-stage competitive bidding process against a number of criteria, which arose from the objectives for the sale of maximising proceeds consistent with a good prospect for the continuation of BTG's technology transfer activities. The Government are convinced that the consortium offers the best prospect that BTG's present activities will be continued as an independent organisation.

  The proceeds of the sale will be made up from two elements. The initial proceeds will be:

  £ million

  Initial consideration

  14·25

  Special dividend to be paid on completion

  12·00

  Dividend paid in February in respect of NEB

  1·50

  TOTAL

  27·75

  The initial consideration is dependent on certain working capital requirements being met at completion, which is due to take place on 31 March 1992 provided that certain conditions of the type commonly found in share purchase agreements are fulfilled by that date.

  Future proceeds will arise if over the next five years the business performs at a level in excess of the net revenues forecast by BTG management in its business plan. The Government will be entitled to 60 per cent. (less tax) of the sum by which aggregate net revenues exceed the target which has been agreed with the purchaser. Net revenues principally comprise the revenues from licences which accrue to the company less the payments which are made to inventors from those licence income streams. Further proceeds may also arise from clawback on the proceeds of sale of real property.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Vagrancy Act Prosecutions
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were(a) prosecuted and (b) convicted (i) of begging and (ii) sleeping out in north Yorkshire in 1979 and each year since then.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information for North Yorkshire police force area for the years 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990 (which is provisional) is given in the table. To produce further information for the other years requested would involve disproportionate cost.
  561

  Number of persons prosecuted and convicted of begging and sleeping out offences under the Vagrancy Act 1824 in the North Yorkshire police force area 1979 to 19901

  Begging

  Sleeping out

  Year

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  1979

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1981

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1983

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1985

  2

  2

  2

  2

  1987

  5

  5

  1

  1

  1988

  3

  3

  1

  1

  1989

  1

  1

  —

  —

  19901

  2

  2

  —

  —

  1 Provisional.

  Ethnic Minority Grants
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state, for England and Wales, the total expenditure under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966, for each year since 1982, identifying separately expenditure by training and enterprise councils in ethnic minority grants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The total amount of section 11 grant paid to local authorities in each financial year between 1982–83 and 1990–91 was as follows:

  £ million

  1982–83

  60·8

  1983–84

  76·2

  1984–85

  76·3

  1985–86

  63·4

  1986–87

  102·2

  1987–88

  93

  1988–89

  88·8

  1989–90

  114·8

  1990–91

  135·5

  The figure for 1991–92 is not yet available. The new, separate, ethnic minority grant, under which funds will be paid by this Department to TECs to support projects undertaken by voluntary organisations, comes into effect from 1 April 1992.

  PC Seymour
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the result of an appeal by former police constable Seymour which took place on 12 and 13 December in relation to events which took place in 1988 in Brixton.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend has allowed Mr. Seymour's appeal against finding. The parties to the appeal were notified by letter on 28 February.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) to what extent the community charge court workload has led to(a) delay in processing general criminal court business, (b) the postponement of magistrates court hearings and (c) the arrangement of extra court sittings in each petty session division in England and Wales;

  (2) what assessment has been made of the additional costs to the magistrates court system caused by the processing of community charge summonses in England and Wales.
  562
  Mr. John Patten
  It is not possible to make an overall assessment of the possible impact of community charge enforcement proceedings on delays in criminal proceedings, which are the product of the interplay of many factors, especially since in some areas additional sittings have been arranged to accommodate liability order applications. Neither the number of such additional sittings nor the number of postponed sittings is, however, collected. It follows that it is not possible to calculate the extent to which the total estimated costs of community charge enforcement proceedings between 1 April 1990 and 31 December 1991 of £6·2 million represent additional costs.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community charge summonses have been withdrawn in England and Wales for the latest date for which figures are available; and how many are currently outstanding.

  Mr. John Patten
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Prison Catering
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give his latest estimate for the annual wage and food costs in the catering service at(a) Her Majesty's prison, Durham and (b) Her Majesty's prison, Belmarsh and state whether the catering service expenditure at either prison is likely to exceed the projected annual budget for the current financial year.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 10 March 1992]: The estimated expenditure on wage and food costs in the catering service at Her Majesty's prison Durham for the financial year 1991–92 is:

  £

  Prison service staff

  161,000

  Inmates

  12,000

  Victualling

  363,000

  TOTAL

  536,000

  The catering service for Her Majesty's prison Belmarsh is supplied by contract, the details of which are confidential for commercial reasons. The estimated victualling costs in addition to the contract costs are £279,000 for the financial year 1991–92.

  The total cost of the catering service is not separately identified in each establishment's budget. Moreover, victualling costs are on a per capita basis and thus vary depending on the size of the inmate population.

  Prison Service Review
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has yet received the report of Sir Raymond Lygo's review of the management of the Prison Service.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  [pursuant to his reply, 16 December 1991, col. 13]: Sir Raymond Lygo submitted to me a report, published on 16 December 1991, which provided a cogent analysis of the problems of the management of the Prison Service in England and Wales, and offered a wide-ranging and coherent set of recommendations for tackling them. I am indebted to Sir Raymond, and to Lord Rayner who assisted in producing the report, for the speed and thoroughness with which the review was carried out. I am grateful for the wide range of comments on the report which have been received from both within and outside the Service—including from Lord Justice Woolf and His Honour Judge Tumim, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons. I was impressed by the general level of support for the great majority of Sir Raymond's recommendations.

  The central recommendation in Sir Raymond's report is for the Prison Service to move to executive agency status under the "next steps" initiative. I have concluded that this is indeed the way forward for the Prison Service and I intend that the service should become an agency as from 1 April 1993. Consultations with the trade unions and other interested parties will begin shortly.

  In line with Sir Raymond's recommendations, I intend to create a supervisory board, which would have responsibility for advising the Home Secretary on strategic, policy and resource questions affecting the service. I believe that the supervisory board should be chaired by the Home Office Minister responsible for prison matters. I do not share Sir Raymond's view that there is a role for a part-time non-executive chairman to head the management board. The chief executive, who will be appointed by open competition, and who will chair the management board, will be directly accountable to the Home Secretary.

  Sir Raymond's other recommendations cover a wide range of personnel and management issues; they will be followed up appropriately in the coming months. I strongly endorse his recommendation that the Prison Service should be prepared to recruit from outside to management posts at headquarters and establishments, and expect to see that objective progressed vigorously.

  One recommendation to which I am not attracted is the extension of the wearing of uniform to all governors in establishments. I share the concerns expressed by a number of commentators about the impact that would have on the future direction of the service. I await with interest the recommendations of the current internal review on modes of dress in the service.

  Sir Raymond's important report merits a vigorous and decisive response. I believe that the move of the Prison Service to executive agency status, with the other measures which I have announced, will provide the right framework for placing the management of the service on a more professional footing, providing the most positive environment for staff to work in and, above all, ensuring the delivery of an improved service both to the public and to those held in custody.

  Solicitors' Fees
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will refer the question of fixed fees for solicitors at magistrates courts to the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice.

  The Attorney-General
  I have been asked to reply.

  No. Fee structures are a matter for consultation with the legal professions. The Royal Commission is considering the question of standard fees in so far as it affects subjects within its remit, and has agreed to accept a submission from the Law Society. The Royal Commission's recommendations and any consequent changes to fee structures will be considered in due course.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  INFO 92
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee if he will make INFO 92 available to hon. Members and their staff.

  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  INFO 92 is a factual and bibliographical database on progress achieved towards the single market in line with the European Commission's White Paper on the implementation of measures for completing the internal market. The Library expects to have online access to this database shortly. It may also be available on CD-ROM disk. If hon. Members wished to use it in their offices they would have to take out their own contract with one of the online hosts for which there would be a charge.

EMPLOYMENT

  Jobcentre, Burnley
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the cost of the proposed removal of Burnley jobcentre; and what will happen to the existing furniture and equipment;

  (2) what representations and consultations he has received regarding the proposed removal of Burnley jobcentre; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give his initial estimate of the number of applications to industrial tribunals for the years 1990–91 and for the year 1991–92, the number of tribunals actually registered for 1990–91 and the most up to date figures for the year 1991–92, the original allocation for running costs in both these years and the final total.

  Mr. Forth
  The figures are as follows:

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Applications registered

  43,243

  161,762

  Cases heard

  11,864

  213,344

  Original allocation

  £11,402,160

  £12,320,232

  Total running cost expenditure

  £12,222,824

  565

  1 (to end of February).

  2 (to end of January).

  The total running cost expenditure for the industrial tribunals in 1991–92 will not be known until the end of the current financial year.

  Youth Training
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state for Great Britain as a whole, and separately for each region, the number of trainees

  Youth Training Starts with Training Providers 1991–92: Provisional Estimates1

  Region

  QTR 1

  QTR 2

  QTR 3

  (1 April-23 June)

  (24 June-15 September)

  (16 September-5 January)

  South East

  5,200

  11,200

  10,500

  London

  3,500

  5,800

  5,200

  South West

  2,400

  6,900

  6,700

  West Midlands

  6,400

  12,700

  6,600

  East Midlands

  6,100

  13,100

  8,200

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  8,100

  12,900

  7,300

  North West

  10,100

  19,400

  14,200

  Northern

  5,400

  9,200

  6,000

  Wales

  4,000

  6,200

  5,600

  England and Wales

  51,400

  97,300

  70,300

  Source: Osmosis.

  1 Figure subject to adjustment.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state for Great Britain as a whole, and separately for each region, the number of trainees entering youth training, who, under the terms of the training and enterprise councils operating agreement, are in the guarantee and extended guarantee groups for each quarter between April 1986 and the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is not available.

  TECs
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a list of the qualifications against which training and enterprise councils may claim an output-related funding bonus in youth training and employment training, and the numbers of output bonuses claimed against each qualification; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  There are over 700 vocational qualifications which are accepted by the Employment Department in payments to TECs for output-related funding (ORF) in youth training and employment training. I have arranged for a copy of the January 1992 edition of the Department's listings of acceptable vocational qualifications to be placed in the Library. In addition to these vocational qualifications, TECs may in some cases claim for the achievement of GCSEs, A/S levels and A levels.

  Figures for ORF payments against individual vocational qualifications are not collected, and it would not be cost effective to do so. Available figures are for payments by national vocational qualification (NVQ) (or equivalent) level. Payments for the numbers of trainees achieving NVQs on ET and YT in England and Wales during the 1991–92 financial year to 5 January 1992 are given in the following table.
  566
  entering youth training, both in total, and disaggregated by employee and trainee status, for each quarter between April 1991 and the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information about the number of entrants is given in the following table. A breakdown by employed and trainee status is not available.

  Numbers of payments to TECs for trainees in England and Wales achieving national vocational qualifications (1 April 1991 to 5 January 1992)

  Number

  Youth training (including credits)

  NVQ level 1

  3,015

  NVQ level 2

  34,221

  NVQ level 3 or above

  10,262

  Employment training

  NVQ level 1 or 2

  19,060

  NVQ level 3 or 4

  1,293

  NVQ level 2 (for skills shortage trainees and labour market returners who also gain employment)

  555

  NVQ level 3 or 4 (for skills shortage trainees and labour market returners who also gain employment)

  111

  Source: TEC invoice.

  Employment Training
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state for Great Britain as a whole, and separately for each region, the number of people entering employment training, both in total and disaggregated by employee and training status for each quarter between 1988 and the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is not available as requested. Information about the number of employment training entrants since 1988 is given in the following table. Information about the employment status of people entering employment training is not collected centrally. The number of trainees with employment status has risen since the programme began and it is estimated that currently about 3 per cent. of all those in training have employed status. Those trainees without employed status have trainee status.
  567

  Employment Training Number of Entrants 1988–89—1989–90

  1988–89

  1989–90

  SEPT

  Quarter 3

  Quarter 4

  Quarter 1

  Quarter 2

  Quarter 3

  Quarter 4

  South East

  1,500

  5,700

  6,800

  6,400

  9,700

  6,400

  8,700

  London

  2,500

  8,500

  11,000

  8,800

  10,500

  9,500

  12,500

  South West

  1,100

  5,500

  6,900

  5,600

  5,000

  4,900

  6,500

  West Midlands

  2,500

  10,800

  14,300

  11,200

  11,200

  10,400

  13,400

  East Midlands

  1,800

  7,800

  9,700

  8,300

  8,900

  7,600

  9,400

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  3,000

  14,400

  16,900

  13,500

  12,800

  13,100

  15,500

  North West

  3,000

  14,700

  19,000

  16,900

  16,100

  14,600

  18,400

  Northern

  2,400

  9,600

  13,100

  11,500

  11,300

  9,600

  12,300

  Wales

  1,400

  6,700

  9,800

  7,900

  8,600

  7,200

  9,100

  Scotland

  2,300

  11,400

  14,800

  13,100

  13,500

  13,300

  15,500

  Great Britain

  21,500

  95,000

  122,200

  103,200

  107,600

  98,000

  121,800

  Source: ET Telephone Census.

  Employment Training

  Number of Entrants 1990–91-1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92 (Provisional estimates)

  Quarter 1 (1 April-23 June)

  Quarter 2 (24 June-15 September)

  Quarter 3(16 September-5 January)

  South East

  24,500

  3,800

  5,200

  6,400

  London

  32,300

  4,300

  5,900

  10,400

  South West

  18,600

  2,300

  3,200

  4,400

  West Midlands

  32,100

  4,100

  6,700

  10,500

  East Midlands

  22,400

  3,400

  4,700

  7,400

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  39,800

  7,500

  8,900

  13,300

  North West

  46,100

  8,500

  10,500

  15,400

  Northern

  34,600

  5,300

  6,200

  8,500

  Wales

  22,900

  3,900

  5,100

  7,100

  Scotland

  47,700

  —

  —

  —

  TNPU1

  68,300

  —

  —

  —

  Great Britain2 England and Wales

  389,200

  43,100

  56,400

  83,500

  1 TECs and National Providers. Figures included in appropriate region in 1991–92.

  2 Information not available for Scotland for 1991–92.

  Source: OSMOSIS.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state for Great Britain as a whole, and for each region the number of trainees entering employment training who, under the terms of the training and enterprise councils operating agreement, are in the aim and guarantee groups for each quarter between 1988 and the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  As the information requested is contained in a number of tables I will write to the hon. Member.

  Tourism
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement about Government policy on tourism in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Howard
  I have published today, along with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, "Tourism in the UK—Realising the Potential". I have placed a copy in the Library.

  The document sets out the extent of the Government's support for the tourism industry, both financially and in creating an environment in which the industry can prosper. It describes activities and initiatives that directly or indirectly benefit tourism. It is an impressive record, which features the work of most Government Departments.
  568
  The document also announces a package of further measures to help the industry. They include:
  A major new foreign language initiative to improve the quality of service that the tourism industry can offer foreign visitors.
  The setting of standards for the times that visitors from abroad should expect to wait before being seen by a United Kingdom immigration officer.
  Consultation on possible changes to the liquor licensing laws in England and Wales which would provide for a system of children's certificates; for a new category of liquor licence specifically for cafe type premises; and possibly for other reforms, in order to make it easier for families to eat and drink together.
  Research into how the system of central Government grants to local authorities can best take account of the costs of serving day visitors.
  Measures to improve coach parking in London.
  The designation of 1993 as Industrial Heritage Year.
  A proposal by the United Kingdom Government to the European Commission for an initiative to ensure that all member states co-operate to give people with disabilities information on the tourist facilities available to them and to exchange best practice on this subject.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what the targets for the Employment Service will be in 1992–93.

  Mr. Jackson
  Targets for the Employment Service in 1992–93 will be announced later in the year.

HEALTH

  Plasma
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will permit the Bio Products Laboratory to offer for sale to national health service hospitals 8SM high purity factor VIII produced from plasma that has neither been tested nor screened for(a) hepatitis C or (b) ALT —alanine aminotransferase.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Bio Products Laboratory markets products in accordance with the requirements of the United Kingdom licensing authority and of the European Community. These requirements include screening for HCV antibody, which demonstrates the presence of Hepatitis C.

  ALT testing in this country has been considered by experts who advised us that it is unnecessary. There is currently no European Community requirement for ALT testing.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of small hospital units in areas where former hospitals have been closed, since 1979.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The reforms of the NHS have centred upon the importance of establishing the role of district and family health authorities as the purchasers of hospital, community health and primary care services and prevention. They have important functions in translating patients' needs and concerns into improved services. One of the main aims of the reforms is to bring all those involved in securing and delivering health care services closer together so that they are more aware of the needs and wishes of patients, including those concerning the location of facilities, and can therefore be more responsive to them.

  Consultants
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will hold discussions with the Trent regional health authority about the ratio of male to female consultants employed by the region.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department, through the Opportunty 2000 scheme launched by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, has set the NHS the goal of improving the ratio of male to female consultants to four to one by 1994. Regional health authorities will be required to monitor appointments procedures and to ensure that all appointments committees receive equal opportunities training. The Department will shortly be scrutinising Trent's action plan for meeting all the goals set by Opportunity 2000 and will contine to hold discussions with the authority about the action to be taken to improve opportunities for women in medicine.

  GP Prescriptions
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the difference between numbers of general practitioner prescriptions issued and those filled.
  570
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Unplanned Pregnancies and Sex Education
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what provisions exist for advising on unplanned pregnancies for the under-25s;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the provisions for the teaching of sex education for young people.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Long–standing guidance to the NHS draws attention to the need for separate, informal family planning services for young people, with staff experienced in dealing with the particular needs of this group and their problems. New guidelines on family planning service provision, issued by the NHS management executive in January, remind health authorities of the special needs of young people and draw on the findings of a study funded by the Department into the family planning and counselling needs of young people. NHS provision in this area is complemented by the work of a number of voluntary organisations, which receive financial support from public funds, such as the Family Planning Association and Brook Advisory Centres. These organisations produce a range of information material for young people. The provision of sex education in schools is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

  Dentists
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the figures from 1979 to 1992 inclusive for the amount collected by dentists for writing out prescriptions in England.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Dentists have been able to claim such a fee, in specified circumstances, since the introduction of the dental contract on 1 October 1990. The amount received by dentists in England and Wales for issuing prescriptions was as follows:

  1990—£39,639 (1 October 1990 to 31 December 1990)

  1991—£325,607 (1 January 1991 to 31 December 1991)

  Figures for England only are not available.

  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the details of circumstancess under winch dentists may charge for writing out a prescription.

  Mr. Dorrell
  A dentist may claim a fee for issuing a prescription where no other treatment is being given and no other fees are being claimed in a particular course of treatment. A dentist may, however, also claim a fee for a prescription issued when a patient has been visited at home and a claim is made for the associated fee for a domiciliary visit, or when the dentist has returned to and re-opened the surgery and a claim is made for the associated recalled attendance fee.

  Southern Derbyshire Health Authority
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give, for the Southern Derbyshire health authority, for the years 1986–87 and 1991–92 (estimate)(a) the number of nurses employed, (b) the number of doctors employed, (c) the number of professions ancillary to medicine and (d) the total staffing.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is in the table:
  571

  NHS directly employed staff in post by specific staff groups Southern Derbyshire district health authority

  Nursing and midwifery2 1

  Medical3 1

  Professions allied to medicine1

  Total staff1

  30 September 1986

  3,850

  190

  320

  7,510

  30 September 19915

  3,8004

  200

  400

  7,420

  Source: Department of Health (SM 13) annual census of medical and non-medical manpower.

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest ten (10) whole-time equivalent.

  2 Includes agency staff.

  3 Includes permanent paid, honorary and locum staff but excludes consultants and senior registrars whose contracts are held by Trent region.

  4 Some nurse manager and student posts are no longer included in this definition.

  5 These figures have not yet been validated centrally.

  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the level of spending in Southern Derbyshire health authority for the years 1986–87 and 1991–92 (estimated), showing the rate of growth in cash and real terms.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The total revenue expenditure of the Southern Derbyshire health authority was £93·6 million (cash) in 1986–87. The authority estimates its 1991–92 revenue expenditure at £164·7 million (cash). This represents an increase of 76 per cent. in cash terms and 26 per cent. in real terms, measured at 1991–92 prices.

  Appointment of DHA Chairmen
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the names of those people appointed to be chairmen of district health authorities with effect from 1 April.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I have today placed in the Library a list of those people appointed as chairmen of district health authorities with effect from 1 April 1992.

  Ward Closures
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of temporary ward closures and the number of beds involved, in each hospital in each London constituency since 1 November 1991, the occasions on which any hospital was unable to accept admissions from major incidents and the relevant times and dates.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Bone Marrow Transplants
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have died in each year since 1979 while waiting for bone marrow transplants to be carried out.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not available.

  Statistical Information
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to meet future needs for statistical information on population and housing of the type currently provided by periodic censuses.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have decided, together with my colleagues responsible for the census offices in Scotland and Northern Ireland, that there should be a review of the future needs for census-type information on population and housing in the United Kingdom and the options for providing it.

  Arrangements have therefore been made for the census offices of the United Kingdom—the Office of Population
  572
  Censuses and Surveys, the General Register Office (Scotland), and the Census Office (Northern Ireland)—to lead an evaluation and reappraisal of census policy in consultation with other Government Departments. This will cover what kind of information will be needed, how it is to be collected, how frequently it should be provided, and how it should be disseminated.

  The census offices will shortly begin to consult organisations and individuals with interests in the future of census-type information in the United Kingdom. This will include the national health service, local government, the academic community, commercial bodies, and the European Community.

  Copies of the paper on which the consultation will be based have been placed in the Library.

  Census Records
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether final approval has been given for the production and supply of the Economic and Social Research Council of samples of anonymised records from the 1991 census.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Hicks) on 1 February 1991 at column 682, I said that a final decision about producing and supplying samples of anonymised records (SARs) would be taken after the report of the technical assessor, Professor David Holt, once the confidentiality aspects had been considered.

  In his report, Professor Holt expressed his conclusions as follows.
  "As a reasonable statistical judgement, the risk of disclosure is negligible for the large majority of the population and thought to be extremely small for the remainder. International experience indicates that the levels of risk are consistent with a decision to go ahead with the release of SARs, and I so advise".

  Having considered the report, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, and I have given approval for the production by the registrars general of two samples of anonymised records.

  A copy of Professor Holt's report and the specifications of the two samples of anonymised records have been placed in the Library.

  Homelessness
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many units of permanent accommodation are to be provided in 1992–93 in central London for mentally ill homeless people moving out of specialist short-term hostels funded by his Department;

  (2) what resources his Department are to provide in 1992–93 to meet the needs of mentally ill homeless people

  573
  currently living in specialist hostels in central London once they are ready to move into more permanent accommodation;

  (3) what arrangements he has made to co-ordinate the provision of more permanent accommodation for mentally ill homeless people currently living in specialist short-term hostels in central London.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department revenue funds the specialist short-term hostels set up under the homeless mentally ill initiative at the rate of £14,630 per place per annum (1992–93 costs). Permanent accommodation for those moving on from the hostels is being provided via the Housing Corporation. In 1992–93 they expect to make available 150 new units and 150 units from Housing Association relets. The corporation monitor this provision regularly. The social care of people moving on from the short term hostels is the responsibility of local social services authorities. To ensure that the transition takes place smoothly the Department has included within the homeless mentally ill initiative £500,000 per annum for the three years 1992–93 to 1994–95 to provide resettlement support.

DEFENCE

  Gurkhas
  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the maximum levels of pensions payable in 1992–93 to Gurkha personnel specially or prematurely retired or discharged as part of the planned reduction in the Brigade of Gurkhas for(a) privates, (b) corporals, (c) sergeants, (d) warrant officers class I, (e) lieutenants, (f) captains and (g) majors with (i) six years' reckonable service, (ii) nine years' reckonable service and (iii) 12 years' reckonable service.

  Monthly rates of Gurkha addition—Hong Kong

  Effective Date—1 April 1991

  Rank

  Single unaccompanied

  Married accompanied

  Special Gurkha addition

  Rifleman

  470·10

  Less than 4 years service

  113·48

  186·43

  After 4 years service

  14418

  220·97

  After 5 years service

  159·94

  238·25

  After 6 years service

  174·91

  255·54

  After 7 years service

  190·29

  272·84

  After 10 years service

  198·24

  281·78

  After 12 years service

  206·09

  290·61

  Corporal

  219·71

  589·06

  320·81

  Sergeant

  224·80

  606·91

  328·76

  Warrant Officer Class I

  251·81

  687·00

  369·16

  Lieutenant (QGO)

  261·50

  714·37

  383·48

  Captain (QGO)

  288·56

  786·72

  422·97

  Major (QGO)

  318·48

  866·45

  466·60

  Monthly rates are £ Sterling at an exchange rate of HKS 12·60/£ as at 1 July 1991.

  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide figures for 1992–93 of the maximum levels of special grant payment to Gurkha personnel specially or prematurely retired or discharged as part of the planned reduction in the Brigade of Gurkhas for(a) privates, (b) corporals, (c) sergeants, (d) warrant officers Class I, (e)
  574
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Gurkhas' redundancy scheme provides for credit of service to be given to Gurkhas specially or prematurely retired or discharged before completing the normal maximum length of service for their rank. The effect is that the pensions shown in the table, which are the rates payable at their normal maximum length of service, will be paid to personnel made redundant with reckonable service within the bands listed. In addition privates and corporals made redundant with between four and 10 years service will receive a pension at the special rate of £15·34 per month at 1991–92 levels. Rates for 1992–93 are not yet available.

  Maximum Pensions Payable—April 1991

  Rank

  Reckonable Service on Redundancy

  Pension Rate

  Rifleman

  10—15 years

  20·46

  Corporal

  10—15 years

  22·08

  Sergeant

  12—18 years

  28·58

  Warrant Officer Class I

  15—22 years

  37·25

  Lieutenant—QGO

  17—24 years

  45·38

  Captain QGO

  21—28 years

  62·72

  Major—QGO

  21—28 years

  73·97

  QGO—Queen's Gurkha Officer.

  Monthly rates are in £ Sterling calculated at an exchange rate 34·50

  Indian Rupees/£.

  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify for 1992–93 the single and married levels of (i) the Hong Kong Gurkha addition and (ii) the special rate Gurkha addition payable as a component of the special capital payment to Gurkha personnel specially or prematurely retired or discharged as part of the planned reduction in the Brigade of Gurkhas.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The table shows the single and married accompanied levels of the Hong Kong Gurkha addition payable from 1 July 1991, and the rates of special Gurkha addition used in the calculation of special capital payments to Gurkhas made redundant. The rates of 1992–93 are not yet available.

  lieutenants, (f) captains and (g) majors with (i) six years' reckonable service, (ii) nine years' reckonable service and (iii) 12 years' reckonable service.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The table shows the levels of special capital payment payable to Gurkhas made redundant, against the years of service for each rank for
  575
  which redundancy is currently envisaged. This amount is shown in pounds sterling as calculated at August 1991. Rates for 1992–93 are not yet available.

  Payments in respect of soldiers are calculated for class I personnel on the lowest band.

  Special capital payments for Gurkhas made redundant

  Year of service

  Rifleman £

  Corporal £

  Sergeant £

  WOI £

  Lieutenant (QGO) £

  Captain (QGO) £

  Major (QGO) £

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  1,254

  1,763

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  1,680

  2,208

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  2,150

  2,653

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  2,931

  3,602

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8

  3,493

  4,590

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  9

  4,347

  5,584

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10

  5,674

  6,416

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11

  4,737

  5,357

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12

  3,903

  4,295

  5,531

  —

  —

  —

  —

  13

  2,927

  3,221

  5,531

  6,176

  6,487

  —

  —

  14

  1,951

  2,147

  5,531

  6,176

  6,487

  —

  —

  15

  Nil

  Nil

  4,425

  6,176

  6,487

  —

  —

  16

  —

  —

  3,318

  6,179

  6,487

  —

  —

  17

  —

  —

  2,212

  6,176

  6,487

  —

  —

  18

  —

  —

  Nil

  6,176

  6,487

  7,214

  —

  19

  —

  —

  —

  4,941

  6,487

  7,214

  —

  20

  —

  —

  —

  3,705

  6,487

  7,214

  —

  21

  —

  —

  —

  2,470

  5,189

  7,214

  —

  22

  —

  —

  —

  Nil

  3,892

  7,214

  —

  23

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,594

  7,214

  7,994

  24

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nil

  7,214

  7,994

  25

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5,771

  7,994

  26

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4,328

  7,994

  27

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,885

  7,994

  28

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nil

  7,994

  29

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6,395

  30

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4,796

  31

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3,197

  32

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nil

  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy for the rules governing Gurkhas' pensions always to be interpreted to provide the maximum theoretical entitlement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is the Department's policy that pensions are paid to Gurkhas at the rates to which they are entitled under the provisions of the appropriate code.
  576
  All figures take account of length of service increments, but not good service pay, which is calculated on an individual basis.

  Live Firing Ranges
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider removing some of the live firing ranges from national parks to areas of army training land which the National Audit Office has identified as under-utilised.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The live-firing facilities that the Ministry of Defence retains in certain national parks are mainly for field-firing of small arms, heavy calibre infantry or anti-tank weapons, or artillery. Alternative locations where this live-firing could be safely accommodated are already fully subscribed. Transfers are not a practical proposition at the present time.

  PRISON SERVICE MANAGEMENT REPORT: GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
  PRISON SERVICE MANAGEMENT REPORT: GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
  CZECH AND HUNGARIAN VISITORS: IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES
  CZECH AND HUNGARIAN VISITORS: IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES
  CZECH, POLISH AND HUNGARIAN VISITORS: INTERPRETERS
  CZECH, POLISH AND HUNGARIAN VISITORS: INTERPRETERS
  VAUXHALL CROSS: PURCHASE
  VAUXHALL CROSS: PURCHASE
  No. 2 MARSHAM STREET
  No. 2 MARSHAM STREET
  DOCK LANDS LIGHT RAILWAY: DISPOSAL
  DOCK LANDS LIGHT RAILWAY: DISPOSAL
  LONDON: TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND PARKING
  LONDON: TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND PARKING
  AIRLINE TICKETS: PASSENGER PROTECTION PROPOSAL
  AIRLINE TICKETS: PASSENGER PROTECTION PROPOSAL
  LONDON: RED ROUTE TRAFFIC SCHEME
  LONDON: RED ROUTE TRAFFIC SCHEME
  VEHICLE ODOMETERS: MILEAGE CHECK MEASURES
  VEHICLE ODOMETERS: MILEAGE CHECK MEASURES
  CHANNEL TUNNEL: FREIGHT WAGONS
  CHANNEL TUNNEL: FREIGHT WAGONS
  LONDON: COACH PARKING
  LONDON: COACH PARKING
  BRITISH TECHNOLOGY GROUP
  BRITISH TECHNOLOGY GROUP
  GAS ACT 1986: AUTHORISATION OF VISITING FORCES
  GAS ACT 1986: AUTHORISATION OF VISITING FORCES
  GAS ACT 1986: AUTHORISED PERSONS' CONTRIBUTION TO CONSOLIDATED FUND
  GAS ACT 1986: AUTHORISED PERSONS' CONTRIBUTION TO CONSOLIDATED FUND
  FOREIGN DIPLOMATS: ALLEGED FOREIGN DIPLOMATS: ALLEGED SERIOUS OFFENCES
  FOREIGN DIPLOMATS: ALLEGED FOREIGN DIPLOMATS: ALLEGED SERIOUS OFFENCES
  FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS: UNPAID PARKING FINES
  FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS: UNPAID PARKING FINES
  EC INSTITUTIONS: STAFF ESTABLISHMENT
  EC INSTITUTIONS: STAFF ESTABLISHMENT
  SMALL CLAIMS PROCEDURE
  SMALL CLAIMS PROCEDURE
  AUTHORISED PRACTITIONER SCHEME
  AUTHORISED PRACTITIONER SCHEME
  PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE: AGENCY STATUS
  PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE: AGENCY STATUS