Written Answers of 12 November 1992

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Irish Language
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to promote the Irish language in education, including nursery, primary, secondary and university levels.

  Mr. Hanley
  Government do not directly promote the teaching of the Irish language but has, through the Education Reform (NI) Order 1989, provided a statutory curriculum for grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland within which any school may offer teaching of the Irish language if it so chooses.

  The Department of Education also grant-aids two voluntary maintained primary schools in Belfast in which teaching is conducted through the medium of Irish. There is also an Irish-medium unit at Steeltown primary school, Londonderry.

  The Department has not funded the provision of Irish-medium nursery schools, in the light of the financial priority which has had to be accorded to nursery education in general and the number of outstanding proposals for nursery schools.

  In addition, the Department of Education has:
  introduced a prescribed programme of study for Irish for pupils receiving their primary education through the medium of Irish; provided for the development by the Northern Ireland Schools Examinations and Assessment Council of assessment materials in Irish for pupils receiving their primary education through the medium of Irish; and
  provided for the development by the Northern Ireland Schools Examinations and Assessment Council of a special Irish GCSE examination for pupils who have received their primary education through the medium of Irish.

  Universities are autonomous and independent institutions and are, as such, entirely responsible for both the range and the content of courses provided by them including those involving Irish language.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many meetings of the Council of Ministers he has attended during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council of Ministers.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  None.

  Public Record Office
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many papers his Department has currently withdrawn from the Public Record Office; if he will list their titles; and when he estimates that they will be returned.

  Mr. Mates
  None. The Northern Ireland Office has been creating records only since 1972—hence no papers 850
  have been transferred to the Public Records Office. The Northern Ireland Departments transfer their records to the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.

SCOTLAND

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings of the Council of Ministers he has attended during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has not attended any meetings of the Council of Ministers but my hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland has attended two Councils; the Fisheries Council on 19 October as head of the United Kingdom delegation; and the Agriculture Council on 26 October. On the occasions where Scottish Office Ministers do not personally attend they are represented at all EC Council meetings by senior officials or by their colleagues in the United Kingdom Government.

  Domestic Water Supply
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many domestic water disconnections have taken place in Scotland in each of the past 20 years;

  (2) if he will specify the authority under which water authorities in Scotland are empowered to seek domestic disconnections.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Scottish water authorities have no statutory authority to seek permanent domestic disconnections. Water supplies to domestic consumers may be disconnected only for short term operational reasons, for example to undertake repairs, make connections or plumbing alterations. Information on the number of such disconnections is not held centrally.

  Ernst and Young
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what tendering procedures were carried out by Highlands and Islands Enterprise prior to the awarding of a contract to Ernst and Young, to perform the former functions of Highlands and Islands Enterprise's management unit.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Highlands and Islands Enterprise carefully considered the experience of locally established firms and concluded that negotiations concentrating on value for money would be more appropriate than tendering. Discussions with Ernst and Young were conducted on this basis.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, broken down by road user group and age category, the numbers of people(a) slightly injured, (b) seriously injured and (c) killed on (i) motorways, (ii) built up roads and (iii) non-built up roads in each local authority area in Scotland in each of the last five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested amounts to 220 pages and I am therefore arranging that it be lodged in the House of Commons Library.

  Warrant Sales
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many warrant sales have been conducted in Scotland, in each of the past five years by sheriffdom.

  Sheriffdom

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Glasgow and Strathkelvin

  63

  69

  43

  44

  41

  Lothian and Borders

  82

  135

  37

  49

  38

  North Strathclyde

  77

  123

  19

  27

  59

  South Strathclyde

  110

  116

  68

  26

  62

  Tayside, Central and Fife

  142

  115

  31

  45

  48

  Grampian

  227

  156

  81

  42

  75

  TOTAL

  701

  714

  279

  233

  323

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes he intends to make to the cash limits for 1992–93 within his responsibility.

  Mr. Lang
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates I intend to make changes to two cash limits:a. The cash limit for class XV, vote 3, training programmes, roads and transport services and industrial support, Scotland will be increased by £948,000 from £712,741,000 to £713,689,000. The increase takes account of a £200,000 increase in provision for Scottish Enterprise in respect of European Community projects supported by the RECHAR programme; and to carry forward the £748,000 capital underspend on roads and transport in respect of end-year flexibility arrangements as announced by the Chief Secretary on 15 July 1992, Official Report, cols 698–702.
  b. The cash limit for class XV, vote 13, education and arts and libraries, Scotland will be increased by £2,341,000 from £260,274,000 to £262,615,000. The increase reflects the full uptake of end-year flexibility as announced by the Chief Secretary on 15 July 1992, Official Report, cols 698–702.

  All the increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce details of the 1993–94 Scottish local government finance settlement.

  Mr. Lang
  In considering the settlement for next year I have taken account of the representations made to me by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities; the additional burdens facing local authorities next year, particularly care in the community; the scope for authorities to make further efficiency savings; and the Government's policy on public sector pay.

  I propose that aggregate external finance (AEF) should be set for 1993–94 at a total level of £5,147·3 million. This represents an increase in the 1992–93 provision for AEF of 3·2 per cent. after adjusting for:

  (a) the transfer of responsibility for further education colleges to central Government; and

  (b) the inclusion within the above total of £60·6 million to finance the full implementation of care in the community from 1 April 1993; and

  (c) £3·8 million to meet the cost of grants for rates rebates on premises within enterprise zones and £2·8 million to meet the additional cost of grants for rates rebates on premises for disabled persons. From 1993–94 both of these grants will be treated as specific grants within AEF.

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  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Provisional figures for numbers of warrant sales reported to the Sheriff Courts from 1987 to 1991 are set out by sheriffdom in the table:

  I propose that Government supported expenditure (GSE) for 1993–94 should be set at a level of £5,748 million, an increase of 2·75 per cent. on the 1992–93 figure after adjusting for the further education transfer and the inclusion of provision of £60·6 million within GSE for care in the community. I estimate that capital financing will require £725 million next year, leaving a residual amount for grant-aided expenditure (GAE)—excluding the above amount for care in the community—of £5,023 million, an increase of 2·6 per cent. over the adjusted 1992–93 GAE figure.

  In determining the above AEF figure, I have assumed that local authorities will contribute £12 million to the next stage of unified business rate policy. Details of the total reduction which I plan to make in Scottish business rates next year are being announced separately.

  I have the power to cap a Scottish local authority either where I consider that its planned expenditure is excessive or where there is an excessive increase in its planned expenditure as compared with the previous year. For 1993–94, my intended capping principles are:

  1. Any increase in budget between 1992–93 and 1993–94 of more than 2·25 per cent. will be an excessive increase if the resulting budget is above the local authority's grant-aided expenditure (GAE) assessment for 1993–94;

  2. Any increase in budget between 1992–93 and 1993–94 of more than 1·5 per cent. will be an resulting budget is over 1 per cent. above the local authority's GAE assessment for 1993–94;

  3. Any increase in budget between 1992–93 and 1993–94 of more than 1·0 per cent. will be an excessive increase if the resulting budget is over 5 percent. above the local authority's GAE assessment for 1993–94;

  4. Any increase in budget between 1992–93 and 1993–94 of more than 0·5 per cent. will be an excessive increase if the resulting budget is over 10 percent. above the local authority's GAE assessment for 1993–94; and

  5. Any budget for 1993–94 more than 12·5 per cent. above the local authority's GAE assessment will be excessive.

  These principles are necessarily provisional. Before taking my decisions on capping, I will, of course, take into account all appropriate considerations.

  This represents a realistic settlement, especially in view of the need to control public expenditure. If local authorities ensure that pay settlements are as near as possible to zero in the coming year and they maximise efficiency savings, there will be scope for real increases in service provision. If authorities do not budget responsibly, I shall not hesitate to use the capping powers available to me.
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  The settlement should also enable authorities to set council taxes at reasonable levels. I intend to introduce a council tax transitional relief scheme to ensure that households do not face large increases in their bills next year as a result of the change from the community charge to the council tax.

  East Fortune Hospital
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the sale of the site and buildings of East Fortune hospital; and what undertakings are being given to prospective buyers about the relocation of the remaining patients and staff from the hospital.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 4 November 1992]: Several expressions of interest in the hospital land and buildings at East Fortune have been received. No undertakings have been given to prospective purchasers on the relocation of those patients and staff remaining at the hospital; only when appropriate alternative accommodation is available, and the NHS has no further use for these facilities, will a sale be progressed.

  Forestry
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the proportion of broadleaves of the total planting in Scotland by (i) the Forestry Commission and (ii) private sector companies in the years 1988 to 1992, (b) the hectarage of non-surplus plantations, buildings and plantable land sold and the sum raised by the sales since 1985, (c) the hectarage of non-surplus plantations sold and the sum raised by the sales since 1985 and (d) the hectarage of land sold by the Forestry Commission whether surplus or non-surplus where public access has been preserved by agreement since 1985.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 11 November 1992]: Between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1992, some 7 per cent.

  £'000s

  Year ended 31 March

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Planting grants paid to the private forestry sector in Scotland

  5,910

  (7,300)

  6,545

  (7,599)

  7,708

  (8,248)

  7,908

  Forest Recreation and Amenity Subsidies

  North Scotland

  710

  (877)

  870

  (1,010)

  1,131

  (1,210)

  1,053

  Mid Scotland

  899

  (1,110)

  1,045

  (1,213)

  1,310

  (1,402)

  1,297

  South Scotland

  706

  (872)

  838

  (973)

  1,087

  (1,163)

  1,097

  Scotland (Total)

  2,315

  (2,859)

  2,753

  (3,196)

  3,528

  (3,775)

  3,447

  England and Wales

  5,748

  (7,100)

  6,564

  (7,621)

  8,431

  (9,022)

  8,660

  Expenditure on Visitor Facilities

  North Scotland

  267

  (330)

  395

  (458)

  508

  (544)

  504

  Mid Scotland

  413

  (510)

  541

  (628)

  810

  (867)

  680

  South Scotland

  390

  (481)

  396

  (460)

  701

  (750)

  657

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the Forestry Commission's industrial labour force and (b) the numbers employed by contractors, in each year since 1988.
  854
  (1,943 hectares) of the Forestry Commission's total planting in Scotland was with broadleaves. The equivalent figure for grant-aided planting by the private sector was 20 per cent. (12,862 hectares).

  The Forestry Commission's plantations are not classified as surplus or non-surplus. The total area of land sold by the commission between 1 April 1985 and 31 March 1992, including plantations, buildings and plantable land, was 66,323 hectares, of which 34,767 hectares comprised plantations. The total sum realised was £96·7 million, of which £53·0 million came from the sale of 41,807 hectares of forest land, including plantations, plantable land, and associated land. The sum realised from the sale of plantations is not recorded separately.

  Public rights of way over land sold by the Forestry Commission are, of course, legally protected. Arrangements for preserving more general public access to such land were put in place in October 1991. Under these arrangements the commission offers to enter into an access agreement with the appropriate local authority before individual woodlands which have enjoyed unencumbered public access are put up for sale. Two such access agreements have been entered into to date, involving a total area of 68·4 hectares, but the sale of only one of these has so far been completed, covering an area of 21·4 hectares. Other agreements are being negotiated.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the value of the planting grants made to the private forestry sector in Scotland, (b) the amount of forest recreation and amenity subsidy made to the Forestry Commission in Scotland and in England and Wales, (c) the amount of forest recreation and amenity subsidy made to each Scottish conservancy of the Forestry Commission and (d) the sums spent on visitor facilities in each of the conservancies in Scotland, in each year since 31 March 1988, in each case giving also the figures adjusted for inflation.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 11 November 1992]: The information is given in the tables, with the figures updated to 1992 prices being shown in brackets.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 11 November 1992]: The information is as follows:
  855

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Number of industrial workers employed by the Forestry Commission on 31 March

  3,032

  2,781

  2,615

  2,447

  Approximate number of contractors employed directly or indirectly by the Forestry Commission during the year ended 31 March

  1,200

  1,300

  1,300

  1,300

  Approximate number of contractors working on Forestry Commission land for purchasers of standing timber during the year ended 31 March

  1,500

  1,400

  1,400

  1,300

  Further and Higher Education
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the extent of the market research commissioned by his Department to sample the views of students, potential students and people in the wider community in respect of further and higher education in Scotland; and if he will make available the questions to be asked and the results; and who within the wider community will be consulted.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 9 November 1992]: As part of the process of preparation of the Scottish further and higher education charter, the Scottish Office Education Department has commissioned market research. It will seek the views of a representative sample of almost 1,000 people in Scotland, approximately half of whom will be current or potential students in further and higher education, and the others a cross-section of the population including parents of students and others in the wider community.

  The aim of the research is to ascertain what consumers expect of futher and higher education services, what aspects of such provision they regard as most essential, and what they would expect to see in a charter for further and higher education.

  The findings will be used to inform the preparation of the charter. No decision has yet been made about the separate publication of the findings or of the questions asked.

  In addition to the research, widespread consultation with a range of educational, employment and student bodies has already been undertaken; further consultation on the development of the charter will be carried out.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he is giving to the 10 micrograms of lead per litre of water recommended by the World Health Organisation; what level is recommended by the EC drinking water directive; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 9 November 1992]: It is expected that the World Health Organisation will recommend a new guideline for lead in drinking water in mid-1993. My right hon. Friend is considering this carefully as part of the review of public exposure to lead in drinking water announced in "Scotland's Health—A challenge to us all" published in July this year.

  The EC Drinking Water Directive sets a maximum admissible concentration of lead of 50 micrograms per litre in running water. Where lead pipes are present the
  856
  directive recommends that the lead content should not exceed 50 micrograms per litre in a sample taken after flushing. The directive also recommends that if the sample is taken either directly or after flushing and the lead content either frequently or to an appreciable extent exceeds 100 micrograms per litre, suitable measures must be taken to reduce the exposure to lead on the part of the consumer. The United Kingdom regulatory standard of 50 micrograms per litre in any sample is tighter than that in the directive.

  Domestic Rates
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appeals are still outstanding relating to bills received under the old domestic rating system.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 9 November 1992]: There are no such valuation appeals outstanding.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appeals were still outstanding on 1 November relating to bills received under business rates.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 9 November 1992]: There were 6,973 valuation appeals outstanding from the 1990 revaluation.

  Science Education
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to review the teaching of science in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in view of the findings of the science assessment of achievement programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 10 November 1992]: National guidelines on environmental studies from age five to 14 will be published in the next few months. These contain advice on the teaching of science in primary schools and the first two years of secondary schools. They will take account of the findings of the science assessment of achievement programme. We expect the guidelines to enhance the quality of science teaching, and the progress which pupils make in this subject up to the age of 14.

  Any review of the teaching of science in the later years of secondary schooling will be in the context of the Government's response to the proposals on which we are currently consulting for the 14 to 18 curriculum.

  Hake
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps are taken to ensure non-sector boats keep within hake quota limits within west of Scotland waters;

  (2) what measures are taken to monitor boats fishing for hake in west of Scotland waters.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 11 November 1992]: All vessels fishing in the waters off the west coast of Scotland are subject to inspection by officers of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. In 1991, 1,130 fishing vessels were inspected by the agency's fishery protection vessels in west coast waters and over 35,000 landings of whitefish were inspected at Scottish ports. These control measures apply to hake and other species. They are designed to ensure that vessels catch and land only the species for which they are licensed and that the quantities landed by vessels fishing against non-sector allocations do not exceed their quotas. All landings are individually recorded on a computer system to show the quantities and species landed by each vessel.

  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what quota arrangements currently exist for hake as applicable to the west coast of Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 11 November 1992]: Quotas for Western hake this year have been managed by two Scottish producer organisations (the Scottish Fishermen's Organisation and the North East of Scotland PO), the two Irish Producer Organisations (NIFPO and ANIFPO), and two English Producer Organisations (Fleetwood and Cornish). A copy of the rules on the quota management arrangements for white fish stocks in 1992 has been placed in the Library. Almost 54 per cent. of this year's quota is allocated to the rest of the fleet and is managed by Fisheries Departments which set monthly limits on vessel's landings, following consultation with relevant fishing interests.

  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent Scottish Producers Organisation hake quotas were reduced part way through the quota year for west of Scotland waters; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 11 November 1992]: The methodology for allocating the United Kingdom quota of Western hake, and area VII anglers and megrim, to producer organisations and vessels in the non-sector was adjusted this year to take account of vessels which were de-registered in 1989, under the Merchant Shipping Act 1988, and which subsequently rejoined the United Kingdom fleet.

  In accordance with the timetable for issue of allocations, agreed with the industry, producer organisations were advised o n 9 March of their provision allocation and had two weeks to make representations. No representations were received from the Scottish producers organisations and final allocations were issued on 15 April.

  Fishing Boats
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what restrictions exist to limit numbers of boats registered in the ports of Ayr, Troon and Girvan.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 11 November 1992]: Fishing vessel numbers are restricted through the licensing
  858
  scheme established under the terms of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967. Questions relating to the registration of vessels, including fishing vessels, are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport.

  Health Boards
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last considered the relevance and appropriateness of the criteria employed in the recruitment and selection of persons for health boards in accordance with the procedure in paragraph 52 of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers".

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 11 November 1992]: My right hon. Friend keeps the relevance and appropriateness of the criteria for selection of non-executive members of health boards under review, and this year has widened the base of selection for appointments currently under consideration through press advertisements and approaches to a greatly increased number of organisations.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the current ratios of members of health boards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 11 November 1992]: Current health board member ratios, approximately, are:

  Male:female =3:1

  Non-executive:executive =3:2

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Mortgage Repossessions
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many court actions for mortgage repossessions were made at Nelson county court in each year since 1987.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The table shows the total number of mortgage possession actions entered in Nelson county court for each year from 1987. At this stage the 1992 figure is provisional and therefore liable to revision in the future.

  Mortgage possession actions entered in Nelson county court 1987–1992

  Number

  1987

  136

  1988

  207

  1989

  201

  1990

  238

  1991

  286

  11992

  228

  1Quarter 1 to quarter 3.

  Trial Delays
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average length of time between committal and trial in courts in England and Wales for each of the last four quarters.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The table shows the average waiting time between committal to the crown court and start of hearing.
  859

  Waiting times—committals for trial England and Wales

  Weeks

  Quarter 4 1991

  13·17

  Quarter 1 1992

  13·81

  Quarter 2 1992

  13·25

  Quarter 3 1992

  13·74

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what date Mr. J. I. Disley was appointed an adjudicator for the conduct of immigration appeal tribunal hearings; how many complaints of alleged unfair treatment by appellants or sponsors have been made about Mr. Disley's conduct of proceedings; and how many have been found to be(a) substantiated and (b) unsubstantiated.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Mr. J. R. Disley (sic) was appointed as an adjudicator of immigration appeals on 1 May 1991. Most appellants complain about the conduct of proceedings by an adjudicator by appealing to the immigration appeal tribunal. No statistics are maintained of the number of cases determined by individual adjudicators and taken to the tribunal. Complaints are also sometimes made to the chief adjudicator. There has been one such complaint in relation to proceedings conducted by Mr. Disley but it was sub judice at the time and the matter was dealt with as part of the appeal by the tribunal which ultimately dismissed the appeal. The chief adjudicator sees every tribunal determination and where necessarry he or the appropriate regional adjudicator brings the matter to the attention of the adjudicator concerned.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many complaints of alleged unfair treatment by an adjudicator at immigration appeal hearings have been lodged with the chief adjudicator of immigration appeals, in each of the last five years; and how many have been found to be(a) substantiated and (b) unsubstantiated.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No statistics have been maintained as to complaints made directly to the chief adjudicator.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the workload expected to be undertaken by persons appointed to be adjudicators at immigration appeal tribunal hearings.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Adjudicators of immigration appeals (as opposed to immigration appeal tribunal members) who are full time normally sit for five days each week as and when required, including, where necessary, weekends and public holidays. They are allowed 30 days leave a year plus 10½ days public holidays and privilege days (or days in lieu of these). Part-time adjudicators sit for a seven-hour day. The Lord Chancellor expects part-time adjudicators to sit for at least 20 days but not more than 50 days a year (unless the person concerned is retired or a consultant in which case the maximum can be relaxed to 70 days). The precise number of days sat will vary within these parameters.
  860
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current remuneration of adjudicators at immigration appeal tribunal hearings, including any expenses; and what was the level from which it was last raised.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The current remuneration of full-time adjudicators of immigration appeals (as opposed to immigration appeal tribunal members) is £52,520 a year. Part-time adjudicators are paid a daily fee of £215. These figures were raised in April 1992 from £50,500 and £207 respectively. Since full-time adjudicators are allocated to a particular hearing centre the question of expenses does not usually arise. Part-time adjudicators are entitled to a first class rail fare to and from the hearing centre (or a mileage allowance if a private car is used). Where their total time exceeds seven hours they are entitled to claim additional expenses for writing up determinations pro rata to their daily fee.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current number of immigration appeal tribunal adjudicators; and if he will give details of sex, age, ethnic background and professional or other qualification.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The relevant information relating to immigration adjudicators (who are not part of the immigration appeal tribunal which deals with appeals from decisions of the adjudicators) is as follows.

  There are 17 full-time adjudicators. They are all men. Their ages are 41, 47, 50, 57 (two adjudicators), 59, (two adjudicators), 60 (four adjudicators), 61, 62, 65 (two adjudicators), 67 and 68. Two of them are known to be from the ethnic minorities. Eight are barristers, seven are solicitors, one is a Scottish advocate and one is an experienced civil servant with a history degree.

  There are 81 part-time adjudicators: 63 are men and 18 are women. Their ages are 36, 37 (two adjudicators), 39 (two adjudicators), 40 (four adjudicators), 41 (two adjudicators), 42 (six adjudicators), 43, 44 (three adjudicators), 46 (three adjudicators), 47 (seven adjudicators), 48 (three adjudicators), 49 (two adjudicators), 52 (four adjudicators), 53, 54 (four adjudicators), 55 (three adjudicators), 56, 57 (three adjudicators), 58, 60 (three adjudicators), 61 (four adjudicators), 62 (five adjudicators), 62 (two adjudicators), 64 (two adjudicators), 65, 66 (four adjudicators), 67 (two adjudicators), 68, 69, 70 (two adjudicators) and 71. Four are known to be from the ethnic minorities. Twenty-nine are barristers, 50 are solicitors, one is an academic lawyer and one is a non-law graduate.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many immigration appeal tribunal adjudicators have been removed in each of the last five years following complaints of alleged unfair treatment by appellants or sponsors about the adjudicator which have been found to be substantiated.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Adjudicators of immigration appeals are not part of the immigration appeal tribunal which has appellate jurisdiction over decisions of the adjudicators. No adjudicator has been removed in any of the last five years.
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  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action the chief adjudicator of immigration appeals takes when a complaint of alleged unfair treatment at an immigration appeal hearing by an adjudicator is found to be substantiated.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Most appellants complain about the conduct of proceedings by an adjudicator by appealing to the immigration appeal tribunal. The chief adjudicator sees every tribunal determination and where necessary he or the appropriate regional adjudicator bring the matter to the attention of the adjudicator concerned. Where there is a direct complaint to the chief adjudicator he refers the matter to that adjudicator and, where he feels it sufficiently serious, to the Lord Chancellor.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether those making complaints of alleged unfair treatment by an adjudicator at immigration appeal hearings to the chief adjudicator are interviewed to obtain precise details of such complaints.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  If complainants seek an interview with the chief adjudicator it is never refused.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department by what process the chief adjudicator of immigration appeals investigates complaints of alleged unfairness in the conduct of appeal hearings by an adjudicator.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Most appellants complain about the proceedings by an adjudicator by appealing to the immigration appeal tribunal. The chief adjudicator sees all determinations by the tribunal and where necessary he or the appropriate regional adjudicator bring the matter to the attention of the adjudicator concerned. Complaints may also be made directly to the chief adjudicator who will investigate the complaint, seek the comments of the adjudicator concerned and respond as he thinks appropriate.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures he is proposing to take to restrain the rate of growth in legal aid expenditure.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government's plans for legal aid expenditure over the next three years have been published today. They provide for the net cost of legal aid in England and Wales to grow to £1,284 million in 1993–94, £1,406 million in 1994–95 and £1,528 million in 1995–96. Five years ago spending was £426 million. Legal aid spending will continue to grow rapidly during the next three years, on average by 10 per cent. a year from present levels. A number of measures will be necessary to ensure that legal aid spending does not rise even faster.

  As far as financial eligibility is concerned, the Government's objective is to strengthen the legally aided client's financial interest in the progress of the case, and to bring the means assessment for legal aid more closely into line with that used for other means-tested benefits. The Lord Chancellor intends to lay regulations to provide that, from 1 April 1993, the lower income limit for civil legal aid (ie the limit of disposable income below which an applicant for legal aid pays no contribution) will be reduced to the
  862
  equivalent income support limit. This means that, on current figures, the limit will be reduced from £3,060 per annum to £2,213 per annum.

  The Lord Chancellor also intends to lay regulations providing that, from 1 April 1993, dependants allowances for civil legal aid will be reduced to income support levels.

  Equivalent changes will be made to the financial eligibility regimes for criminal legal aid and advice and assistance.

  The upper eligibility limits for civil legal aid (ie the limits of disposable income above which an applicant for civil legal aid ceases to be eligible for assistance) will not be increased in April 1993.

  The Lord Chancellor intends to lay regulations providing that, from 1 April 1993, all those granted civil legal aid will be required to pay a contribution of one-third of their disposable income above the lower limit and that such contributions should continue for the life of the case. Equivalent provisions will be made in respect of criminal legal aid, and assistance by way of representation.

  The Lord Chancellor also intends to lay regulations providing that only those who would qualify for assistance free of contribution shall, in future, be able to receive advice and assistance under the green form scheme.

  In respect of remuneration, as he has already announced, the Lord Chancellor intends to introduce standard fees in the magistrates courts at the beginning of next year.

  The Lord Chancellor will then be taking steps to extend the existing standard fee scheme in the Crown Court to cover more cases. He will also be introducing a fixed hourly rate of payment for solicitors in civil non-matrimonial cases which are legally aided, and taking corresponding steps to gain control over legal aid payments made to barristers in those cases. He intends in setting these rates and fee levels to have regard to whatever rate would attract sufficient firms or barristers to do the work, while maintaining appropriate levels of quality.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Know-how Funds
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring procedures of the maintenance of human rights accompanies the payment of moneys under the terms of the know-how fund; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The know-how fund provides British expertise to the relevant countries rather than making payments of money. The purpose of the fund is to promote progress towards the market economy and democracy, including human rights. The human rights situation is monitored both bilaterally and through multilateral bodies such as CSCE and the Council of Europe.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have been made in the 1992–93 cash limit for expenditure by the Overseas Development Administration.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit on
  863
  the external assistance vote (class II vote 5) will be increased by £54,184,000 from £1,743,015,000 to £1,797,199,000. Included in this amount are additional resources of £14,091,000 for the United Kingdom subscription costs to the European bank of reconstruction and development; £2,966,000 for the finacial sector scheme for the former Soviet Union (FSU); £315,000 to cover transport costs of the delivery of the United Kingdom share of emergency EC food aid to the FSU last winter and a transfer of £150,000 from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for assistance to the FSU food sector. Also included is a further transfer of £450,000 from the Department of the Environment for conservation work in Africa. The balance of the increase is for rollover of underspend against 1991–92 EC attribution provision, £15 million of which has been allocated for additional humanitarian relief for former Yugoslavia. The running costs limit for the ODA has been increased by £432,000 from £46,922,000 to £47,354,000. This includes £224,000 in respect of end of year flexibility arrangements, a transfer of £58,000 from Property Holdings and £150,000 from existing resources to cover additional costs of administering the programme of assistance to eastern Europe and the FSU. All the increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

  Disabled People
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what efforts are being made to ensure that people with disabilities can gain access to the Palace of Westminster while lobbying Parliament.

  Mr. Martin
  The provisions which exist within the Palace of Westminster for the assistance of disabled people are set out in the leaflet "Arrangements for the Assistance of Disabled Visitors". I am arranging for a copy to be sent to the hon. Member. In the event of mass lobbies involving disabled people, special arrangements are made for their reception and admission to Westminster Hall and additional seating, heating and lavatories are provided. Special arrangements are also made when disabled persons need to reach other parts of the building.

  A stairlift was installed on the staircase leading to the Grand Committee Room earlier this year and handrails have been fitted to the steps down to the "W" rooms off Westminster Hall to assist those attending meetings. A comprehensive study by consultants has been commissioned to look at additional means of improving access for disabled people to the main public areas. Its recommendations will be considered by my Committee at the earliest opportunity.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police (Equality of Service)
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect he expects the application of the citizens charter to the police to have on equality of service in response times to emergency and other inquiries.
  864
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  A comprehensive set of performance indicators for the police service will be introduced at the end of this year. From April 1993, every police force will be required to set and publish standards of performance for responding to emergencies and telephone enquiries, and publish the achievement of these standards. This fulfils the commitment in the citizens charter that all police forces are expected to set and publish target times for answering telephone calls and arriving at the scene of incidents which require rapid reaction. Work is currently underway in police forces to implement the service's own quality of service initiative by setting standards for the quality of service to be delivered to the public. Every member of the community will know the level of service which they are entitled to expect from their local police.

  Primates
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the differences between the minimum standards for primates set out in the Home Office code of practice for the housing and care of animals used in scientific procedures and those applicable to premises in which primates are held for other purposes, including zoos.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Home Office code of practice for the housing and care of animals used in scientific procedures is similar in content to the Laboratory Animals Breeders Association guidelines in relation to primates.

  The Home Office code of practice is also broadly similar in content and range to section 9 of the "Standards of Modern Zoo Practice", issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, although the Home Office code is more detailed with regard to the temperatures, lighting, ventilation, noise, humidity and space requirements for the housing of animals, and deals separately with the particular needs of primates. The "Standards of Modern Zoos Practice" contain additional requirements relating to hazards from machinery, supervision of controlled drugs, post mortem facilities and safety of the public.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider consulting a range of independent primatologists and to establish what standards of housing and care are suitable for primates used in research as part of a wider review on the care and use of laboratory primates.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Home Office animals (scientific procedures) inspectorate has regular contacts with experts in the field of primate care, and draws on the knowledge thus gained in assessing and monitoring projects involving the use of primates. Such contacts have also informed the review of facilities for large primates which the inspectorate is currently carrying out, and will contribute to the consideration being given to a possible code of practice for breeding establishments.

  I understand that the animal procedures committee may also consult other experts in the course of the review of laboratory primates which it is conducting.

  Prisoners' Release Dates
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is provided to prisoners of changes in their release dates.
  865
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  When prisoners' release dates change. they are advised of their existing dates of release, the number of days by which these have altered, the reasons for the changes and their new dates of release.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances prisoners can be detained once their sentence expiry date has passed.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Prisoners may be detained on the expiry of their sentences where a court has directed this in respect of other proceedings or if they have been ordered to he detained under the immigration Act 1971.

  Visas
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of refusals of visas broken down by country of application for 1991; and what is the current waiting time for refusal in each case.

  Applications from all countries for all types of entry clearance to the United Kingdom in 1991

  Number of applicants and percentages

  Country where application made

  Settlement1

  Non-settlement

  Granted2

  Refused initially3

  Proportion refused4

  Granted2

  Refused initially3

  Proportion refused4

  Afghanistan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Algeria

  31

  8

  21

  6,471

  3,931

  37

  Angola

  6

  —

  0

  1,106

  27

  2

  Argentina

  46

  —

  0

  102

  1

  1

  Ascension Island

  —

  —

  —

  70

  —

  —

  Australia

  3,597

  44

  1

  7,563

  75

  1

  Austria

  52

  2

  4

  2,322

  17

  1

  Bahamas

  29

  —

  0

  139

  2

  1

  Bahrain

  25

  —

  0

  3,455

  50

  1

  Bangladesh

  3,143

  1,012

  24

  10,676

  2,554

  19

  Barbados

  93

  9

  9

  634

  137

  18

  Belgium

  37

  1

  3

  3,783

  96

  2

  Belize

  20

  3

  13

  29

  2

  6

  Bermuda

  5

  —

  0

  219

  —

  0

  Bolivia

  4

  —

  —

  23

  1

  4

  Botswana

  25

  —

  0

  687

  1

  0

  Brazil

  112

  3

  3

  887

  4

  0

  Brunei

  17

  —

  0

  1,129

  3

  0

  Bulgaria

  38

  —

  0

  5,938

  457

  7

  Burma

  5

  8

  62

  485

  14

  3

  Cameroon

  6

  1

  14

  1,007

  18

  2

  Canada

  1,309

  6

  0

  7,601

  65

  1

  Chile

  18

  —

  0

  184

  —

  0

  China

  64

  46

  42

  10,861

  2,534

  19

  Colombia

  56

  8

  13

  103

  2

  2

  Congo

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Costa Rica

  —

  —

  —

  53

  1

  2

  Cote D'Ivoire

  1

  —

  0

  646

  46

  7

  Cuba

  2

  1

  33

  597

  —

  0

  Cyprus

  213

  17

  7

  4,884

  421

  8

  Czechoslovakia

  12

  —

  0

  754

  10

  1

  Denmark

  16

  5

  24

  2,402

  88

  4

  Ecuador

  10

  —

  0

  89

  —

  0

  Egypt

  91

  12

  12

  20,317

  1,222

  6

  Ethiopia

  377

  6

  2

  3,241

  456

  12

  Fiji

  48

  3

  6

  356

  13

  4

  Finland

  78

  5

  6

  1,116

  12

  1

  France

  180

  17

  9

  20,701

  532

  3

  Gabon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gambia

  10

  3

  23

  836

  118

  12

  Germany

  88

  29

  25

  17,660

  325

  2

  Ghana

  362

  113

  24

  14,854

  4,486

  23

  Gibraltar

  1

  —

  0

  176

  —

  0

  Greece

  32

  1

  3

  1,018

  24

  2

  Guatemala

  0

  —

  —

  22

  —

  0

  866
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of applicants from(a) Third world countries and (b) the United States of America were refused short stay visas to enter the United Kingdom in the first six months of 1992.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The latest information by country of application for grants and refusals of visa applications to enter the United Kingdom. both for settlement and non-settlement is for 1991 and is given in the table. There is no visa requirement for citizens of the United States of America. The information on waiting times for refusal is not held centrally.
  867

  Country where application made

  Settlement1

  Non-settlement

  Granted2

  Refused initially3

  Proportion refused4

  Granted2

  Refused initially3

  Proportion refused4

  Guyana

  65

  16

  20

  603

  97

  14

  Holy See

  —

  —

  —

  26

  —

  0

  Honduras

  7

  3

  30

  11

  —

  0

  Hong Kong

  1,943

  85

  4

  20,564

  47

  0

  Hungary

  32

  —

  0

  665

  73

  10

  Iceland

  9

  —

  0

  110

  1

  1

  India

  3,327

  1,098

  25

  89,812

  9,828

  10

  Indonesia

  105

  3

  3

  12,260

  9

  0

  Iran

  2

  —

  0

  1,578

  —

  0

  Iraq

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ireland

  346

  2

  1

  2,350

  32

  1

  Israel

  134

  —

  0

  947

  2

  0

  Italy

  69

  3

  4

  4,660

  410

  8

  Jamaica

  418

  152

  27

  2,517

  680

  21

  Japan

  231

  —

  0

  5,022

  64

  1

  Jerusalem

  25

  —

  0

  1,223

  9

  1

  Jordan

  137

  —

  0

  8,996

  730

  8

  Kenya

  595

  58

  9

  1,507

  117

  7

  Korea

  16

  —

  0

  524

  8

  2

  Kuwait

  22

  —

  0

  1,504

  17

  1

  Lebanon

  19

  1

  5

  4,291

  318

  7

  Lesotho

  5

  —

  0

  59

  1

  2

  Liberia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Libya

  —

  —

  —

  798

  7

  1

  Luxembourg

  —

  —

  —

  223

  2

  1

  Madagascar

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Malawi

  55

  1

  2

  322

  5

  2

  Malaysia

  330

  17

  5

  5,725

  180

  3

  Malta

  218

  1

  0

  3,665

  25

  1

  Mauritius

  88

  6

  6

  1,197

  129

  10

  Mexico

  56

  1

  2

  539

  —

  0

  Mongolia

  1

  —

  0

  152

  —

  0

  Morocco

  72

  19

  21

  5,101

  2,101

  29

  Mozambique

  4

  —

  0

  667

  16

  2

  Namibia

  6

  —

  0

  42

  5

  11

  Nepal

  27

  0

  0

  1,343

  127

  9

  Netherlands

  98

  10

  9

  6,141

  84

  1

  New Zealand

  3,229

  3

  0

  1,225

  29

  2

  Nigeria

  1,142

  311

  21

  49,301

  14,728

  23

  Norway

  142

  1

  1

  2,767

  184

  6

  Oman

  10

  —

  0

  5,958

  75

  1

  Pakistan

  6,331

  2,604

  30

  51,586

  16,055

  24

  Panama

  —

  —

  —

  75

  1

  1

  Papua New Guinea

  15

  —

  0

  264

  —

  0

  Peru

  45

  —

  0

  229

  1

  0

  Philippines

  80S

  374

  32

  9,766

  787

  7

  Poland

  214

  —

  0

  44,487

  2,462

  5

  Portugal

  41

  1

  2

  498

  13

  3

  Qatar

  4

  8

  67

  2,823

  135

  5

  Romania

  210

  28

  12

  9,935

  574

  5

  Saudi Arabia

  107

  15

  12

  38,570

  701

  2

  St. Helena

  1

  —

  0

  132

  —

  0

  Senegal

  7

  —

  0

  635

  22

  3

  Seychelles

  9

  —

  0

  158

  2

  1

  Sierra Leone

  20

  14

  41

  863

  363

  30

  Singapore

  163

  5

  3

  1,777

  36

  2

  Solomon Islands

  2

  —

  0

  18

  —

  0

  Somalia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Africa

  651

  29

  4

  922

  37

  4

  Soviet Union

  114

  —

  0

  56,619

  1,087

  2

  Spain

  104

  2

  2

  1,849

  48

  3

  Sri Lanka

  181

  68

  27

  6,882

  1,143

  14

  Sudan

  30

  6

  17

  8,030

  42

  1

  Swaziland

  3

  —

  0

  30

  3

  9

  868 869

  Country where application made

  Settlement1

  Non-settlement

  Granted2

  Refused initially3

  Proportion refused4

  Granted2

  Refused initially3

  Proportion refused4

  Sweden

  193

  1

  0

  4,363

  155

  3

  Switzerland

  134

  1

  1

  6,266

  50

  1

  Syria

  56

  —

  0

  4,759

  413

  8

  Tanzania

  95

  18

  16

  1,093

  37

  3

  Thailand

  602

  113

  16

  21,256

  809

  4

  Tonga

  —

  —

  —

  16

  —

  0

  Trinidad and Tobago

  112

  19

  15

  1,586

  122

  7

  Tunisia

  31

  14

  31

  3,094

  172

  5

  Turkey

  727

  269

  27

  36,290

  2,322

  6

  Uganda

  28

  6

  18

  3,283

  516

  14

  United Arab Emirates

  57

  11

  16

  12,109

  888

  7

  United States

  2,838

  35

  1

  42,180

  154

  0

  Uruguay

  8

  —

  0

  58

  —

  0

  Vanuatu

  1

  —

  0

  29

  —

  0

  Venezuela

  26

  1

  4

  309

  5

  2

  Vietnam

  4

  —

  0

  340

  2

  1

  Yemen (North)

  —

  —

  —

  2,667

  138

  5

  Yemen (South)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yugoslavia

  54

  6

  10

  414

  57

  12

  Zaire

  17

  —

  0

  661

  32

  5

  Zambia

  93

  12

  11

  1,423

  31

  2

  Zimbabwe

  185

  8

  4

  640

  76

  11

  1 Includes certificate of entitlement

  2 Granted initially or on appeal

  3 Some of these will be subsequently granted on appeal

  4 Calculate as: refusals/(grants-refusals) *100

  — no application received or none granted/refused

  Aggravated Vehicle Taking Act
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been convicted of offences specified in the Aggravated Vehicle Taking Act 1992 since it received Royal Assent; what assessment he has made of whether the Act is deterring the taking away of vehicles without consent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Court proceedings data under the Aggravated Vehicle Taking Act 1992, which did not come

  Table of probation officers in post by police force area (whole-time equivalent) Figures relate to end of years and mid-1992

  Police force area

  Dec. 1987

  June 1988

  Dec. 1988

  June 1989

  Dec. 1989

  June 1990

  Dec. 1990

  June 1991

  Dec. 1991

  June 1992

  Avon and Somerset

  156·0

  153·5

  159·5

  162·0

  165·0

  171·0

  175·5

  173·5

  181·5

  178·0

  Bedfordshire

  65·8

  66·3

  66·8

  66·3

  65·8

  65·8

  66·1

  67·3

  69·9

  69·2

  Cambridgeshire

  64·0

  62·0

  65·0

  65·0

  62·5

  65·0

  69·0

  67·5

  74·0

  73·5

  Cheshire

  99·5

  101·5

  105·2

  101·1

  100·1

  102·1

  104·0

  105·1

  113·1

  108·1

  Cleveland

  89·0

  91·0

  96·0

  96·0

  103·0

  101·0

  107·5

  99·3

  108·0

  108·0

  Cumbria

  56·5

  60·5

  58·0

  61·5

  59·0

  49·0

  59·5

  59·0

  64·0

  65·5

  Derbyshire

  96·7

  98·6

  103·7

  106·7

  112·2

  107·7

  117·0

  115·8

  117·5

  117·5

  Devon and Cornwall

  150·1

  150·9

  155·6

  153·1

  161·3

  161·7

  167·2

  165·4

  168·2

  173·7

  Dorset

  71·5

  73·5

  78·0

  78·0

  80·0

  85·0

  87·0

  87·5

  88·6

  87·5

  Durham

  79·0

  79·0

  81·0

  81·5

  83·5

  85·5

  89·0

  90·8

  92·5

  91·0

  Essex

  132·2

  129·8

  139·8

  137·2

  137·7

  136·8

  143·2

  144·4

  146·6

  142·0

  Gloucestershire

  53·0

  56·0

  55·0

  55·0

  56·2

  57·0

  62·5

  62·0

  64·0

  63·5

  Greater Manchester

  407·0

  401·0

  413·9

  409·5

  419·0

  415·0

  425·7

  421·0

  445·5

  442·2

  Hampshire

  194·0

  191·0

  194·0

  191·4

  196·4

  190·9

  190·8

  186·5

  200·4

  206·6

  Hertfordshire

  94·6

  91·4

  93·9

  91·8

  98·5

  94·5

  101·7

  102·5

  103·6

  101·6

  Humberside

  116·0

  115·0

  118·0

  118·0

  133·0

  136·5

  133·5

  133·5

  138·5

  137·0

  Kent

  157·5

  152·9

  160·4

  166·4

  167·4

  171·6

  163·2

  164·2

  170·6

  169·8

  Lancashire

  188·5

  190·5

  197·0

  197·5

  197·5

  197·5

  201·0

  204·0

  201·3

  205·0

  Leicestershire

  112·5

  111·5

  115·5

  117·5

  116·5

  117·5

  125·5

  125·0

  124·0

  122·0

  870
  into force until April 1992, will not be available until autumn 1993. It is therefore too early to say what effect the Act may have in deterring the taking away of vehicles without consent.

  Probation Service
  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by police authority area, the number of probation officers employed for each year since 1987.

  Mr. Jack
  The numbers are as follows:
  871

  Police force area

  Dec. 1987

  June 1988

  Dec. 1988

  June 1989

  Dec. 1989

  June 1990

  Dec. 1990

  June 1991

  Dec. 1991

  June 1992

  Lincolnshire

  65·0

  64·0

  69·0

  71·0

  71·0

  69·0

  71·0

  68·0

  72·0

  77·0

  London City of

  4·0

  5·0

  4·0

  4·0

  4·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  293·9

  296·4

  298·3

  296·4

  290·1

  287·1

  297·2

  291·0

  306·2

  311·2

  Metropolitan

  1.043·3

  1,035·9

  1,050·8

  1,036·2

  1,066·0

  1,058·9

  1,054·3

  1,074·6

  1,127·2

  1,145·4

  Norfolk

  62·5

  61·5

  65·5

  69·5

  74·0

  75·0

  82·5

  79·5

  82·5

  81·5

  Northamptonshire

  62·0

  65·0

  63·5

  63·5

  63·5

  59·5

  63·5

  69·5

  71·0

  71·5

  Northumbria

  208·5

  206·0

  210·5

  217·5

  222·0

  222·5

  237·0

  235·0

  237·5

  239·0

  North Yorkshire

  53·0

  53·0

  53·0

  52·0

  55·0

  53·0

  54·0

  54·0

  55·7

  58·0

  Nottinghamshire

  174·9

  175·8

  160·9

  166·9

  167·7

  174·5

  180·5

  175·9

  176·3

  182·9

  South Yorkshire

  195·5

  196·0

  202·0

  198·0

  202·5

  203·5

  204·5

  202·0

  221·5

  222·5

  Staffordshire

  161·0

  163·0

  164·9

  164·9

  160·5

  162·5

  169·1

  166·7

  169·5

  168·6

  Suffolk

  76·0

  75·4

  80·8

  79·8

  82·0

  81·0

  85·0

  85·0

  84·5

  85·0

  Surrey

  83·1

  81·7

  86·8

  90·0

  93·0

  84·5

  86·6

  85·0

  89·5

  91·0

  Sussex

  117·3

  119·8

  119·3

  117·0

  117·0

  113·5

  120·5

  127·8

  130·0

  131·0

  Thames Valley

  228·8

  224·5

  228·5

  228·5

  232·0

  219·6

  228·9

  227·4

  233·4

  240·0

  Warwickshire

  59·0

  58·5

  58·0

  56·5

  55·5

  58·5

  61·5

  61·5

  60·5

  61·0

  West Mercia

  137·0

  140·5

  141·5

  136·0

  140·5

  136·6

  144·2

  140·6

  148·0

  144·1

  West Midlands

  385·2

  385·7

  391·2

  399·4

  420·8

  401·4

  444·0

  426·7

  458·5

  454·1

  West Yorkshire

  311·0

  306·0

  307·5

  307·5

  310·5

  319·0

  321·0

  327·5

  319·0

  329·0

  Wiltshire

  57·0

  54·5

  57·5

  57·0

  60·0

  55·0

  61·0

  59·5

  62·5

  61·5

  Dyfed Powys

  41·0

  40·0

  43·0

  43·0

  42·0

  41·0

  42·0

  45·6

  46·0

  48·3

  Gwent

  48·0

  47·0

  47·0

  47·0

  49·0

  50·0

  51·0

  53·0

  54·0

  50·0

  North Wales

  56·0

  58·0

  59·6

  62·8

  66·4

  65·9

  67·9

  65·8

  69·6

  68·6

  South Wales

  182·0

  184·5

  181·5

  183·0

  183·5

  187·0

  193·0

  200·5

  206·1

  201·0

  England and Wales

  6,488·3

  6,473·5

  6,600·9

  6,602·4

  6,743·2

  6,689·5

  6,909·3

  6,896·2

  7,152·7

  7,183·9

  Some probation areas have small areas not falling within the one police force area (eg the Metropolitan police covers part of Hertfordshire).

  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional funding has been provided for the probation service, in each police authority area, as at 1 October, to reflect the demands imposed by the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

  Area

  1990–91 outturn

  Formula provision

  Hypothecated grant (BIS)

  1992–93 cash limit

  Percentage increase

  Avon

  3,539,782

  4,415,552

  71,014

  4,486,566

  26·7

  Bedfordshire

  2,043,678

  2,534,184

  52,472

  2,586,656

  26·6

  Berkshire

  3,138,288

  3,891,513

  129,462

  4,020,975

  28·1

  Buckinghamshire

  2,449,242

  2,990,295

  47,118

  3,037,413

  24·0

  Cambridgeshire

  2,201,759

  2,748,260

  —

  2,748,260

  24·8

  Cheshire

  3,240,943

  4,018,807

  23,202

  4,042,009

  24·7

  Cleveland

  2,824,295

  3,471,882

  47,448

  3,519,330

  24·6

  Cornwall

  1,387,532

  1,746,588

  —

  1,746,588

  25·9

  Cumbria

  2,324,443

  2,856,081

  77,905

  2,933,986

  26·2

  Derbyshire

  2,888,693

  3,572,137

  37,108

  3,609,245

  24·9

  Devon

  4,012,354

  4,975,365

  96,807

  5,072,172

  26·4

  Dorset

  2,465,674

  3,021,058

  59,446

  3,080,504

  24·9

  Durham

  2,556,783

  3,126,310

  25,958

  3,152,268

  23·3

  Essex

  5,074,777

  6,292,782

  16,062

  6,308,844

  24·3

  Gloucestershire

  2,130,777

  2,642,188

  —

  2,642,188

  24·0

  Hampshire

  5,015,854

  6,330,972

  38,538

  6,369,510

  27·0

  Hereford and Worcester

  2,536,313

  3,109,325

  45,609

  3,154,934

  24·4

  Hertfordshire

  3,264,506

  4,028,037

  36,275

  4,064,312

  24·5

  Humberside

  3,476,194

  4,310,521

  65,073

  4,375,594

  25·9

  Kent

  5,398,108

  6,711,112

  —

  6,711,112

  24·3

  Lancashire

  5,061,772

  6,276,656

  26,985

  6,303,641

  24·5

  Leicestershire

  3,018,982

  3,743,572

  51,356

  3,794,928

  25·7

  Lincolnshire

  2,151,318

  2,667,659

  55,824

  2,723,483

  26·6

  Greater Manchester

  13,473,050

  16,706,737

  196,702

  16,903,439

  25·5

  Merseyside

  9,041,311

  11,037,793

  238,994

  11,276,787

  24·7

  Norfolk

  2,136,926

  2,686,449

  88,616

  2,775,065

  29·9

  Northamptonshire

  1,879,072

  2,330,071

  —

  2,330,071

  24·0

  Northumbria

  6,861,946

  8,508,892

  118,462

  8,627,354

  25·7

  Nottinghamshire

  4,973,540

  6,167,247

  —

  6,167,247

  24·0

  Oxfordshire

  2,041,161

  2,509,837

  27,632

  2,537,469

  24·3

  Shropshire

  1,420,021

  1,760,842

  77,842

  1,838,684

  29·5

  Somerset

  2,384,044

  2,892,907

  34,200

  2,927,107

  22·8

  Staffordshire

  4,415,682

  5,365,018

  74,289

  5,439,307

  23·2

  Suffolk

  2,027,942

  2,494,900

  37,461

  2,532,361

  24·9

  Surrey

  3,054,273

  3,839,281

  30,598

  3,869,879

  26·7

  East Sussex

  2,234,020

  2,816,819

  76,443

  2,893,262

  29·5

  872
  Mr. Jack
  In 1992–93 current grant support of £276 million has been allocated to probation areas as set out in the following table. This total provides for 560 additional probation staff to take account of the estimated first-year demands placed on area services by the Criminal Justice Act 1991. The information requested cannot be broken down by police area.
  873

  Area

  1990–91 outturn

  Formula provision

  Hypothecated grant (BIS)

  1992–93 cash limit

  Percentage increase

  West Sussex

  1,657,289

  2,092,069

  67,181

  2,159,250

  30·3

  Warwickshire

  1,995,645

  2,424,131

  23,928

  2,448,059

  22·7

  West Midlands

  14,073,724

  17,451,580

  322,184

  17,773,764

  26·3

  Wiltshire

  1,880,029

  2,331,258

  25,678

  2,356,936

  25·4

  North Yorkshire

  1,723,677

  2,165,394

  —

  2,165,394

  25·6

  South Yorkshire

  6,922,146

  8,510,388

  99,851

  8,610,239

  24·4

  West Yorkshire

  10,721,366

  13,294,617

  166,907

  13,461,524

  25·6

  Dyfed

  1,056,002

  1,309,455

  22,265

  1,331,720

  26·1

  Gwent

  1,497,241

  1,874,253

  —

  1,874,253

  25·2

  North Wales

  1,907,830

  2,386,566

  20,746

  2,407,312

  26·2

  Powys

  425,395

  513,721

  —

  513,721

  20·8

  South Glamorgan

  2,130,779

  2,642,191

  36,352

  2,678,543

  25·7

  Mid Glamorgan

  2,274,378

  2,820,255

  —

  2,820,255

  24·0

  West Glamorgan

  1,820,796

  2,257,808

  51,697

  2,309,505

  26·8

  Inner London

  21,525,437

  26,809,665

  457,172

  27,266,837

  26·7

  North East London

  5,081,522

  6,385,496

  27,831

  6,413,327

  26·2

  South East London

  3,205,182

  4,079,642

  48,283

  4,127,925

  28·8

  South West London

  2,480,301

  3,139,042

  14,959

  3,154,001

  27·2

  Middlesex

  9,123,613

  11,502,075

  111,198

  11,613,273

  27·3

  Total

  219,647,407

  272,587,255

  3,501,133

  276,088,388

  25·7

  Asylum
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number of asylum seekers have sought judicial review of their cases in each of the past three years.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I understand from the Lord Chancellor's Department that in 1990 there were 102 asylum-related applications for leave to move for judicial review; in 1991 the figure was 95 and in the first half of 1992, 68. The information before 1990 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number of cases of exceptional leave to remain given to asylum applicants have been terminated in the past three years; and under what circumstances.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information, which may not be fully reliable, is given in the table.

  Exceptional leave is given to certain asylum applicants who are found not to be refugees under the 1951 United Nations convention if it would be unreasonable or impracticable in all the circumstances of the case to seek to enforce their return to the country of origin. Leave is usually given initially for a year but applicants may apply for extensions, and for settlement after seven years with exceptional leave status. The decision as to whether to grant an extension is based on the individual circumstances of the case including where relevant, the practicability of removal at that stage.

  Refusals of applications for an extension of a grant of exceptional leave made to an asylum applicant, excluding dependants

  Number

  1989

  10

  1990

  3

  1991

  3

  Police Authorities
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received from the Association of Metropolitan Authorities about maintaining the present composition of local police authorities;

  (2) what representations he has received from the Association of County Councils about maintaining the present composition of local police authorities;

  (3) what representations he has received from the Association of Chief Police Officers about maintaining the present composition of local police authorities;

  (4) what representations he has received from the Police Federation about maintaining the present composition of local police authorities.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Ministers and officials have discussed this subject on several occasions with various representatives of those bodies. My right hon. and learned Friend is due to meet the chairmen of the local authority associations on 7 December to hear their views about the future development of the police service.

  Drug Traffickers (Assets)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a table showing for each police area in England and Wales for each year since the power was introduced(a) the number of applications for an order for the confiscation of the assets of drug traffickers, (b) the number of applications approved and (c) the value of assets seized in that year.

  Mr. Jack
  Information is not available by police area, nor in the form requested at(a). As regards (b), details of the confiscation orders made under the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 between 1987 and 1990 are given in the table.
  875

  Offenders ordered to pay confiscation orders under the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 by amount1 England and Wales

  Offenders sentenced at Crown Court for drug trafficking

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Total2

  3,372

  3,231

  3,665

  3,713

  No order made

  3,169

  2,692

  2,863

  2,842

  Under £1,000

  135

  339

  528

  568

  £1,000 and under £3,000

  39

  98

  133

  149

  3,000 and under £10,000

  15

  47

  81

  77

  £10,000 and under £30,000

  8

  18

  36

  48

  £30,000 and under £100,000

  —

  8

  14

  13

  £100,000 and under £300,000

  6

  21

  7

  10

  £300,000 and under £1 million

  —

  8

  1

  4

  £1 million and over

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Total amount ordered to be confiscated (£)

  1,177,000

  8,096,700

  7,851,900

  10,142,500

  1 Source—"Criminal Statistics England and Wales 1990" Cm. 1935.

  2 Excludes offenders committed for sentence or where the sentence could have been awarded at the magistrates' court.

  As regards (c), the amount of money actually realised was £1·1 million in 1989–90 and £1·45 million in 1990–91. Recent estimates show that a cumulative total of £35 million had been ordered to be confiscated under the 1986 Act up to May 1992, of which £15 million has either been realised or is subject to receivership. I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for South Hams (Mr. Steen) on 20 October, Official Report, columns 262–63.

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the shortfall between the estimated population eligible for inclusion in electoral registers and those who are on current electoral registers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson) on 9 November,Official Report, column 630.

  Police Overtime
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what constraints he has placed on police overtime in England and Wales during the last three months; and what circulars or instructions have been issued to police committees on the subject of expenditure since April 1992.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  It is the responsibility of a police authority to allocate its resources so as to provide an efficient service. The use of police overtime is a matter for individual police authorities.

  The following Home Office circulars which bear on the subject of expenditure have been issued since April 1992:

  Circular

  Title

  41/92

  The Police (Amendment) Regulation 1990

  50/92

  Capital Expenditure etc

  55/92

  Amendment to Circular 41/92, The Police (Amendment) Regulation 1990

  68/92

  Financing of the Common Police Services

  77/92

  Police Pension Scheme

  89/92

  Special Constables Sick Pay

  92/92

  Revision of Management of Police Building Programme etc

  97/92

  Charges for Road Traffic Reports etc

  98/92

  Pay of Chief Constables etc

  Prisoners
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a table showing the total number of persons sentenced to custody in England and Wales during August, September and October 1992, and for the same months in 1991; and if he will provide the figures for each police authority in each month of 1992 to date.

  Mr. Jack
  Provisional 1991 sentencing data will not be available until the end of 1992. 1992 data will not be available until autumn 1993.

  Immigration (Carriers Liability)
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the value of outstanding charges levied on carriers under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987; and what steps are being taken to recover this money from the carriers concerned.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  On 6 November 1992, a total of £24,114,000 was unpaid. Payments are demanded as and when charges are incurred. The immigration service has recently written to 133 carriers with unpaid charges which arose before 1 July 1992 requesting payment.

  Cash Limits
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for changes to the 1992–93 cash limits within his responsibilities and to his Department's running costs limit.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for Home Office administration, immigration and police support services, England and Wales (class IX, vote 3) will be reduced by £1,281,000 from £1,243,473,000 to £1,242,192,000 to reflect the following transfers of responsibility:

  (i) magistrates courts to the Lord Chancellor's Department;

  (ii) social work training to the Department of Education;

  (iii) juvenile remand accommodation to the Welsh Office;

  (iv) dog byelaw administration to the Department of the Environment; and

  877

  (v) broadcasting and sports ground safety to the Department of National Heritage.

  The Home Office running costs limit is similarly reduced, by £944,000 from £1,450,020,000 to £1,449,076,000.

  Forensic Science Service
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the annual report for the forensic science service; and if he will make a statement about the financial targets for 1992–93.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have today placed copies of the forensic science service's annual report and accounts for 1991–92 in the Library of the House. Further copies can be obtained from FSS headquarters.

  I announced on 14 May at column 207 financial and service level targets for the forensic science service for 1992–93 based on a forecast out-turn for 1991–92. The actual out-turn for 1991–92 was better than originally forecast, meaning that the unit cost and associated unit cost efficiency targets were not sufficiently challenging. I have, therefore, agreed that the unit cost target should be £456·86, with a unit cost productivity gain of 1·8 per cent. These targets are more exacting than those originally set. The other performance targets remain the same.

  Criminal Welfare
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions were brought by the police relating to criminal welfare; and how many were successful.

  Mr. Jack
  The information is given in the table. Provisional 1991 data will be available by the end of 1992.

  Number of prosecutions brought by the police for offences relating to animal welfare by result, 1990

  England and Wales

  Offence

  Police prosecutions

  Convictions

  Cruelty to animals

  502

  374

  Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, Sec 22(3), 23 and 25(3)

  4

  4

  Protection of Animals Act, 1911 (as amended)

  388

  290

  Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, Sec 8

  5

  5

  Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925

  —

  —

  Protection of Animals (Cruelty to dogs) Act, 1933

  16

  11

  Protection of Animals Act, 1934

  1

  1

  Pet Animals Act, 1951

  2

  2

  Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1954

  5

  5

  Animal Health Act, 1981, Sees 40–42, 46, 49 and Orders under Sees 8, 9, 37, 38, 39 and 43

  13

  11

  Slaughterhouses Act 1974

  2

  —

  Abandonment of Animals Act, 1960, Sec 1

  19

  13

  Animal Boarding Establishments Act, 1963

  2

  1

  Riding Establishments Acts, 1964 and 1970

  —

  —

  Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1968, Sees 1, 2 and 6

  3

  2

  Badgers Act, 1973

  35

  22

  Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, Sec 9

  3

  3

  878

  Offence

  Police prosecutions

  Convictions

  Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, Sec 11

  1

  1

  Other

  3

  3

  Diseases of animals Act

  50

  47

  Wild Birds Protection Acts

  74

  49

  Vehicle Marking
  Mrs. Chaplin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces have adopted vehicle marking schemes.

  Mr. Jack
  [pursuant to his answer, 22 October 1992, column 374]: I wish to advise that vehicle watch schemes —some force-wide, some more local—are now operating in 27 police force areas in England; the four Welsh force areas are covered by the all-Wales vehicle watch scheme. A proprietary scheme called "Match Up" has been introduced in five police force areas in England; two of these forces also operate vehicle watch schemes.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Green Issues
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Lord President of the Council who in his Department has been appointed to oversee and develop green issues; how many civil servants have been allocated new or additional responsibilities to deal with the management and development of green issues; and what additional allocation of resources has been made to support programmes related to green issues in his Department.

  Mr. Newton
  The Privy Council Office participates in initiatives on recycling and energy conservation. Given its size (32 staff), it would be inappropriate to devote particular posts or resources to issues of this kind.

  Public Record Office
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many papers his Department has currently withdrawn from the Public Record Office; if he will list their titles; and when he estimates that they will be returned.

  Mr. Newton
  The Privy Council Office currently holds three volumes of Council papers dating from the early 18th century and a small number of papers relating to chartered corporations founded in the 19th century, for purposes of research. All will be returned to the Public Record Office in due course.

DEFENCE

  Trident
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when testing of the warheads for missiles on the Trident submarine will be complete.

  Mr. Aitken
  The underground testing programme for development of our Trident warhead is complete, and the warhead is now in production.

  Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear tests have been allocated to Britain in the new limited programme in the United States for 1993 to 1996; and what financial arrangements now exist between Britain and the United States of America to enable tests to continue.

  Mr. Aitken
  United States legislation provides for the United Kingdom to carry out three tests between 1 July 1993 and 30 September 1996. United Kingdom nuclear tests are carried out at the Nevada test site under the 1958 agreement between the United Kingdom and United States Governments for co-operation on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defence purposes.

  Tactical Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether work has started at the atomic weapons establishment at Aldermaston on the design of a new tactical warhead; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  Preliminary work has begun on the design of a warhead that could be suitable for a replacement for the WE177 free-fall bomb.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what options, other than a tactical air-to-surface missile, are being studied for the replacement of the WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb.

  Mr. Aitken
  We are continuing to study a range of possible options for the eventual replacement of the WE177. No decision has yet been taken.

  Challenger II
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will authorise the release by his Department of a Challenger II prototype to take part in the contest for the Swedish requirement of 200 tanks.

  Mr. Aitken
  It is a matter for Vicker's commercial judgment to decide the allocation of priorities for the Challenger 2 prototypes.

  Defence Research Agency
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) of 27 October,Official Report, column 852, if he will make a further statement on the links between the Chilean military and the British Defence Research Agency.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Aberporth range referred to by the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) in his question of 27 October is no longer the responsibility of the Defence Research Agency (DRA). It was transferred to the newly-formed directorate general of test and evaluation (DGT&E) on 1 April 1992. Neither whilst Aberporth belonged to the DRA, nor since then, has the DRA had any formal or direct links with the Chilean military. One Chilean officer visited the site two years ago.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on procedures used in the measurement and categorisation of radioactive waste at the atomic weapons establishment Aldermaston.

  Mr. Aitken
  The procedures used in the measurement and categorisation of radioactive wastes at AWE Aldermaston are very similar to and of equivalent quality to the procedures used elsewhere in the United Kingdom nuclear industry.

  Public Record Office
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many papers his Department has currently withdrawn from the Public Record Office; if he will list their titles; and when he estimates that they will be returned.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 6 November 1992, some 1,697 pieces were on loan to the Ministry of Defence. It is not possible to list the title of each without disproportionate cost.

  The MOD, like all Government Departments, has a statutory right, under the Public Records Act, to retrieve records temporarily from the Public Record Office for its own administrative use. Records which are in the public domain but on loan to the MOD are returned as soon as departmental action has been completed. There are well established procedures to ensure that the public continues to have access whilst the records are on loan.

  RAF Bands (Sponsorship)
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the sponsorship by Superkings cigarettes of the recent concert tour of the massed bands of the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The concert tour—which this year was held between 24 October and 1 November—is organised and sponsored annually on behalf of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund by the fund's commercial arm, the international air tattoo. Neither the fund nor the tattoo have any formal links with the Ministry of Defence, and make their own sponsorship arrangement for the concert tour. The international air tattoo has negotiated with 11 commercial firms for financial and other assistance to offset their costs in arranging the concert tour, which provides excellent public relations for the RAF and makes an invaluable contribution to the RAF Benevolent Fund's charitable efforts.

  Amphibious Forces
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the provisions for amphibious forces announced by the Minister of State for Defence Procurement in the House on 13 February.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 11 November,Official Report, column 823.

  Fleet Maintenance and Repair Organisation
  Mr. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has yet reached a decision on the future of the fleet maintenance and repair organisation, Portsmouth.
  881
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As part of our continuing efforts to find the most cost-effective arrangements for the support of the Fleet, we propose to cease all ship refits at the Fleet Maintenance and Repair Organisation (FMRO) in Portsmouth. Such work will in future be undertaken in the Royal dockyards and industry. The FMRO will continue to undertake repair, maintenance and enhancement work for ships based at Portsmouth, and unprogrammed work in respect of defects in operational ships. We expect that some 400 civilian staff would be affected by this proposal. Every effort will be made to find alternative employment in the Ministry of Defence or other Government Departments, but some redundancies may be unavoidable. Where that is the case, staff will be eligible for compensation under the relevant pension scheme and for counselling on alternative employment prospects.

  This proposal is the subject of consultation with the trade unions and final decisions will be taken in the light of any representations made by interested parties. A copy of the consultative document has been placed in the Library of the House.

  We also plan to market test the FMRO. This will he the subject of separate consultation with the trade unions.

  Sea Training
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of operational sea training for the Royal Navy and Portland naval base.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As part of our continuing work to achieve the best balance between the front line and support we are proposing to transfer the Royal Navy's operational sea training (OST) base from Portland to Devonport and to close Portland naval base by April 1996.

  This proposal will save some £70 million over the next ten years and some £11 million per annum thereafter. Some 550 service and 475 civilian personnel will be affected by the proposal. While every effort will be made to redeploy civilian staff within the Ministry of Defence or with other Government Departments, some redundancies may be unavoidable. Where that is the case, staff will be eligible for compensation under the relevant pension scheme and for counselling on alternative employment prospects.

  Some 1,200 naval personnel and 200 MOD civilians will continue to be based at the royal naval air station at Portland, which will remain in operation.

  This proposal is the subject of consultation with the trade unions and final decisions will be taken in the light of any representations made by interested parties. A copy of the consultative document has been placed in the Library of the House.

PRIME MINISTER

  Maastricht Treaty
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister what consideration has been given to publishing an explanatory booklet on Maastricht for general distribution to all United Kingdom households.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government's pamphlet on the European Community and the Maastricht treaty was published on 10 November. It will not be sent to every 882
  household, but copies are being distributed to all right hon. and hon. Members, public libraries and other institutions and are available free on request. Freepost and freephone facilities are being provided.

  The freepost address is PO Box 1992, Burgess hill, West Sussex. The freephone number is 0800 778866.

  Government Publications
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list for each of the past 20 years the booklets or leaflets published by the Government and distributed free of charge to all households in the United Kingdom giving the publication costs in each case in 1992 prices.

  The Prime Minister
  This information is not available centrally.

  Pay Fixing
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister what statutory bases there are for pay fixing, other than wages councils; and what plans there are for their abolition in each case.

  The Prime Minister
  The Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) has statutory powers under the Agricultural Wages Act 1948 to set wages for agricultural workers in England and Wales. Separate legislation and boards exist for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Wages orders made by the AWB enable the United Kingdom to fulfil two conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and these cannot legally be reviewed until the second half of next year and 1994. Decisions on the future of agricultural wages legislation will be taken when we are able to review our ILO commitments.

  Engagements
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 12 November.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 12 November.

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 12 November.

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

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals there are to change the 1992–93 cash limit or running costs limit for the Cabinet Office: other services vote.

  The Prime Minister
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Cabinet Office: other services vote (class XIX vote 2) will be increased by £2,000,000 from £23,647,000 to £25,647,000. This increase reflects take-up under the end year flexibility arrangements for capital expenditure as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 15 July 1992 (Official Report, columns 698–702). Also, the

  883
  running costs limit for this vote will be reduced by £120,000 from £20,410,000 to £20,290,000, reflecting the transfer of certain administrative functions following the machinery of Government changes announced after the general election. All the changes are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

  Meetings
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister what advice he gives to Ministers in respect of the time within which a request from an hon. Member for a meeting should be acknowledged and replied to.

  The Prime Minister
  It is for Ministers in each Department to decide how such requests are handled.

  Political Parties (Funding)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to make funding available to political parties for security costs associated with the annual party conferences.

  The Prime Minister
  Central funding for this purpose has been available to all parties since 1986. The scheme, which was extended this year to include part of the cost of issuing photographic security passes, provides for political parties to be reimbursed for specified security costs, where the chief constable concerned certifies that the expenditure was incurred on security measures which were necessary and in line with the assessed threat.

WALES

  Clinical Scientific Services
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish an information guide for area health authorities and fund-holding general practitioners on the availability of specialist clinical scientific services outside their own geographical boundaries.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I have no plans to do so.

  Warrant Sales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many warrant sales have been conducted in each of the last five years in each of the borough and district councils of Clwyd.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Animals (Transport)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to improve the welfare of live animals transported(a) within the United Kingdom and (b) to the rest of the European Community.

  Mr. David Hunt
  A new EC directive on the protection of animals during transport is due to be implemented across the Community by 1 January 1993. The Commission is to table proposals for further detailed rules to supplement the directive and during negotiations the Government will be seeking the highest possible safeguards for all animals.
  884
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the transportation of live animals.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Several.

  Mardy Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his estimate is of the captial cost of establishing the elderly mentally infirm unit at the Mardy hospital, Merthyr Tydfil; and under what budget this expenditure was incurred.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The capital cost of establishing the elderly mentally infirm unit at Mardy hospital, amount to £456,000, was met by Mid Glamorgan health authority from its discretionary allocation.

  Home Helps
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the percentage change in the number of home helps in Wales from 1979 to 1992.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The number of home helps—whole-time equivalent—increased by 51 per cent. from 1979 to 1991, the latest date for which information is available.

  Local Government
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to make a statement on the future organisation of local government in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my statement on 3 March 1992, at column 171.

  Emergency Ambulances
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of emergency ambulances in Wales, since April 1992, arrived within(a) 14 minutes in an urban area, (b) 18 minutes in a rural area or (c) 21 minutes in a sparsely populated area.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The latest available information relates to the quarter ended 30 June 1992 and is as follows:

  Urban areas—91 per cent. arrived within 14 minutes

  Rural areas—97 per cent. arrived within 18 minutes

  Sparsely populated areas—92 per cent. arrived within 21 minutes

  Health Promotion Authority
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for what remaining period he expects his grade 7 official to remain on secondment with the Health Promotion Authority for Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The grade 7 official referred to is expected to complete his agreed period of secondment in March 1993.

  Fluoride
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what powers he has to require the fluoridation of water supplies.
  885
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None. Section 87(1) of the Water Industry Act 1991 provides only that water undertakers may increase the fluoride content of water supplies at the request of a health authority.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has issued to hospital managers to cover their operations in the period between approval as NHS trusts and commencement of actual operations as trusts.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  A wide range of advice has already been issued to support the preparation for formal operation as an NHS trust. The order establishing each NHS trust specifies the functions of the trust, both before and after its operational date.

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received relating to the establishment of an opt-out trust at the Wrexham Maelor hospital.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Up to and including 29 October, the number of representations received are as follows:

  Number

  In support

  9

  Opposed

  10

  Undeclared

  10

  Total

  29

  NHS trusts are, and will remain, an integral part of the national health service.

  Deeside Industrial Park
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 29 October,Official Report, column 778, and his speech of 21 October, Official Report, columns 527–28, what was the source of the figure of 10,000 people employed on the Deeside industrial park.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Census of employment figures.

  Cardiff Bay Opera House
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total cost of the Cardiff Bay opera house feasibility study; and how much and what percentage of the total cost was spent on each of the studies by(a) Comedia on the demand, size and scope plus artistic profile, (b) Symonds and Co. on quantity surveying, (c) Ahrends, Burton and Koralek on the architectural brief, (d) Veryard and Partners on civil engineering, (e) KPMG management consultancy on economic appraisal, (f) Cooke and Arkwright on the betterment analysis, and (g) AEA on project funding.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The total cost of the Cardiff Bay opera house feasibility study was £105,225·72, broken down as follows:

  £

  per cent.

  Comedia

  21,824·02

  20·7

  Ahrends Burton and Koralek

  2,460·00

  2·3

  Veryard and Partners

  7,550·00

  7·2

  886

  £

  per cent.

  KPMG Management Consulting

  31,244·40

  29·7

  AEA

  37,297·30

  35·4

  A sum of £4,850—4·6 per cent.—was paid to Grant Thornton as commissioning costs for the inception study. Symonds and Cooke and Arkwright supplied information direct to the Comedia and KPMG Management Consulting; they received no direct payment from Cardiff Bay development corporation.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the engineering and infrastructure study carried out under paragraph (b) of the terms of reference of the feasibility study on the proposed Cardiff Bay opera house.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I arranged for the executive summary to be placed in the Library of the House on 4 November. I have no plans to publish any further documents relating to the feasibility study on the proposed opera house.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation concerning the feasibility study of the opera house; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The chairman of Cardiff Bay development corporation and I have discussed the proposed Cardiff Bay opera house and I look forward to receiving further advice on this matter from the corporation in due course.

  St. Lawrence Hospital, Chepstow
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions the regional burns unit for Wales at St. Lawrence hospital, Chepstow, has been closed to admissions from(a) 1 April 1991 to 1 April 1992 and (b) since 1 April 1992.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The operational responsibility for the burns unit at St. Lawrence hospital is a matter for the unit's management. However, I understand that the burns unit has not been closed in the period 1 April 1991 to present, although on one occasion the dependency of patients on the burns unit was such that for a 24-hour period—2 November—arrangements were made for resuscitation cases to be taken to the Frenchay burns unit at Bristol.

  General Practitioner Fund Holders
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has issued on the parity of access to hospital treatment for non-emergency surgery and procedures between fund holding general practitioners and non-fund holding general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The National Health Service Management Executive for England and the joint consultants committee of the British Medical Association has issued guidance on general practitioner fund holding on EL(91)84. This sets out the criteria for acceptable contracts to be agreed between general practitioner fund
  887
  holders and all national health service hospitals. It clearly states that hospitals should not offer contracts to fund holders which would disadvantage patients of other purchasers. This guidance has been issued to general practitioner fund holders in Wales.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will undertake a study into the side effects on the Welsh economy of the Severn bridge toll increases over the period 1992 to the year 2000; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Evidence produced for inquiries into toll increases on the existing bridge, and research undertaken by the Planning, Industrial and Economic Development Advisers on the economic impact of the second Severn crossing, does not indicate a detrimental effect on the Welsh economy.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for changes to the cash limits for his Department in the current financial year.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit on class XVI, vote 5 will be increased by £4,690,000 from £496,482,000 to £501,172,000; the cash limit on class XVI, vote 8 will be increased by £6,389.000 from £1,270,525,000 to £1,276,914,000; the cash limit on class XVI, vote 9 will be reduced by £1,174,000 from £60,297,000 to £59,123,000; and the cash limit for class XVI, vote 10 will be reduced by £2,960,000 from £2,172,936,000 to £2,169,976,000. In addition, a new cash limited vote has been introduced, class XVI, vote 12—provision for which has been set at £1,832,000. The urban block cash limitWO/UA—will be increased by £3,694,000 from £78,315,000 to £82,009,000, the local authority capital cash limit—WO/LACAP—will be reduced by £5,900,000 from £457,234,000 to £451,334,000, the running costs limit for the Department will be reduced by £1,273,000 from £74,361,000 to £73,088,000 and a new running costs limit of £1,819,000 has been introduced in respect of the office of Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools, in Wales.

  The increase in the cash limit for vote 5 represents the net effect of: (a) increases in respect of (i) the take-up of end-year flexibility entitlement of £60,000 for running costs expenditure; (ii) a transfer of £9,000 from class VIII vote 7 to cover additional maintenance costs; (iii) an increase of £70,000 to cover the residual costs of water privatisation; (iv) a transfer of £4,220,000 from class XVI, vote 10 in respect of the annual maintenance grants of grant maintained schools; (v) a transfer of £223,000 from class XVI, vote 8 to cover the costs of medical course organisers; (vi) a transfer of £150,000 from class XI, vote 3 in respect of secure accommodation; and (vii) additional provision of £59,000 following the 1992 report of the review bodies for nursing staff, midwives, health visitors and professions allied to medicine; and (b) reductions in respect of (i) a transfer of £59,000 to class XVI, vote 12 to cover publicity and other costs to be incurred by the new office of Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools in Wales (OHMCI); and (ii) a transfer of £42,000 to class XI, vote 2 in respect of social work funds.

  The increase in the cash limit for vote 8 comprises the take-up of both capital, £6,352,000, and current £200,000,
  888
  end-year flexibility entitlement, and a transfer from class XVI, vote 7, £60,000, for the safe disposal of medicines; partly offset by a transfer, £223,000, to class XVI, vote 5 to cover the costs of medical course organisers.

  The reduction in the cash limit for vote 9 represents the net effect of: (a) increases in respect of (i) the take-up of both running costs, £234,000, and capital £181,000, end-year flexibility entitlement; and (ii) a transfer of £184,000 from class VIII, vote 7 to cover additional accommodation costs;

  and (b) a transfer to class XVI, vote 12 to cover (i) the running costs expenditure, £1,760,000, and (ii) the capital expenditure, £13,000, of OHMCI.

  The net reduction in the cash limit for vote 10 takes account of the transfer of £4,220,000 to class XVI, vote 5 in respect of grant maintained schools, partly offset by an increase of £1,260,000 in respect of rating work services.

  The cash limit for vote 12 comprises transfers from class XVI, vote 5 of £59,000 and vote 9 of £1,773,000 in respect of the administration and associated costs of OHMCI.

  The increase in the WO/UA cash limit represents the take-up of capital end-year flexibility entitlement from 1991–92 of £3,694,000.

  The WO/LACAP cash limit will be reduced by £5,900,000 because provision which was made for prior-year capital grant adjustments is no longer required.

  The entitlements to end-year flexibility for WO/UA and votes 8 and 9 were announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 15 July, Official Report, columns 698–702. So also was the increase in the Department's running costs limit which features in both vote 5, £60,000, and vote 9, £234,000.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his current estimate of the date of publication of the Welsh Development Agency's annual report and accounts for 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Arrangements are being made for the agency's annual report to be laid before the House on 20 November together with the statement of accounts and the Comptroller and Auditor General's report thereon. The annual report and accounts will be published the same day.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his proposals are for local government revenue spending in 1993–94.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I propose to set a level of £2,598 million for total standard spending (TSS) in Wales in 1993–94. This figure comprises an increase of 3·1 per cent. on the TSS for 1992–93, adjusted for functional transfers, and £35·9 million in additional resources for county authorities' new responsibilities for care in the community from 1 April 1993, as announced to the House by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State on 2 October. I propose to set central Government support for TSS through aggregate external finance (AEF) at £2,343 million. This comprises a 1·7 per cent. increase on the comparable level of AEF for 1992–93 and 100 per cent. funding for the £35·9 million community care spending.
  889
  I am still considering whether there is need for transitional arrangements to accompany the introduction of the council tax. I will announce my decision in due course. Any transitional arrangements would be funded from within AEF.

  The levels of TSS and AEF I propose take account of other changes in local government functions which take effect on 1 April 1993. Responsibility for the majority of further education services will transfer to the Further Education Funding Council and similarly residual higher education services will transfer to the Higher Education Funding Council. The phased transfer of responsibility for school inspection to the office of Her Majesty's chief inspector for Wales also begins in 1993–94. I consider that £126 million is an appropriate level of funding to transfer from local authorities to these bodies in 1993–94. I have adjusted the levels of TSS and AEF accordingly.

  I consider my proposals to be realistic in the current economic climate. They give a level of settlement increase above projected inflation.

  I recognise that local government in Wales will have to make hard choices about spending priorities if authorities are to stay within my plans. They are not alone in this. The Government have had to take very tough public expenditure decisions for 1993–94. It is essential to economic recovery that we continue to keep inflation and public expenditure down. Local government must play its full part in this and Welsh local authorities will need rigorously to examine their budgetary priorities and pursue efficiency savings.

  I shall be announcing provisional standard spending assessments and council tax-capping criteria for 1993–94 in due course to help local authorities with their budgeting.

  I intend to consult the Welsh local authority associations on my settlement proposals later this month and I will announce final settlement details to the House early in the new year.

  Finally, I propose to raise the non-domestic rate poundage for 1993–94 to 44p from its 1992–93 level of 42·5p. This is an increase of 3·5 per cent. in line with the change in the retail prices index over the 12 months to September 1992. It is consistent with the statutory requirement to limit increases to the rate of inflation.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what changes will be made to his Department's cash limit or running costs limit for 1992–93.

  Mr. Brooke
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made:

  (i) The cash limit for class VIII, vote 6 (Royal Palaces, Royal Parks, historic buildings, etc) will be increased by £28,000 from £190,596,000 to £190,624,000. The increase is required to cover the cost of new charges by Property Holdings for services provided to the Royal Commission on Historic Monuments for England. This increase is offset by equivalent transfers of provision from class VIII, vote 7 (Department of the Environment (Property Holdings and Central Support Services)).

  (ii) The cash limit for class XII, vote 2 (Arts) will be increased by £458,000 from £252,903,000 to £253,361,000. The increase is to meet the balance of
  890
  Government support for the European Arts Festival in 1992. A corresponding saving is being made on class XII vote 1.

  (iii) The cash limit for class XII, vote 4 (Administration) will be increased by £9,218,000 from £2,446,000 to £11,664,000 and the running costs limit increased by £4,878,000 from £5,574,000 to £10,452,000. The increase is to provide additional provision for the administration costs associated with the creation of the Department of National Heritage. A combined offsetting saving of £9,218,000 is being made on class XII, vote 1 and vote 3.

  (iv) The departmental running cost limit will be increased from £13,930,000 to £18,731,000 as a result of the reallocation of resources to meet the needs of the new department (£4,878,000 on class XII, vote 4). This increase is offset by savings of £77,000 made in the programme of consultancies which provides specialist advice to the Royal Parks division (class VIII, vote 6). There is no change to the net running cost control of the Historic Royal Palaces Agency.

  All the changes are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many(a) public libraries, (b) galleries and (c) museums he has visited in an official capacity since taking up his appointment.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 10 November 1992]: The information is as follows:

  (a) I have not visited any public libraries since taking up my appointment as Secretary of State.

  (b) The Yorkshire sculpture park. I am due to visit the Tate gallery shortly.

  (c) The Royal Pavilion, Brighton, the natural history museum and the opening of the Joseph E Hotung gallery of oriental antiquities by Her Majesty the Queen at the British museum. I have also met representatives from the science museum to discuss their future plans and I have incidentally visited the pathology museum at St. Bartholomew's hospital.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on what dates he met the chairman of(a) the Arts Council, (b) the Library Association, (c) the Publishers Association, (d) the Museums and Galleries Commission, (e) English Heritage, (f) the Royal Fine Art Commission, (g) the Radio Authority and (h) the Independent Television Commission, in an official capacity since taking up his appointment.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 10 November 1992]: So far, I have met the chairmen of the Arts Council (on several occasions), the Radio Authority and English Heritage, and I shall shortly be meeting a delegation from the Library Association which will include its president and its chief executive. I have met informally the chairmen of the Museums and Galleries Commission and the Independent Television Commission. I look forward to meeting the chairman of the other bodies referred to by the hon. Member as soon as my diary allows.

EDUCATION

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many formal complaints he has received from parents alleging misconduct by a local education authority during the holding of a parental ballot on grant-maintained status;

  (2) how many formal complaints he has received alleging misconduct by a headteacher or governing body during the holding of a parental ballot on grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not available centrally. Complaints about misconduct during GM ballots are received in various quarters. Some are made to the local authority, some to the school, some to us at the Department and some to the grant-maintained schools centre. My right hon. Friend has made clear that any complaints made to the Department will receive full consideration and, where necessary, he will call for a report from the local authority concerned.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals there are for changes to the cash limits on votes within his responsibility for 1992–93.

  Mr. Patten
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limits for class XI, vote 1, schools, research and miscellaneous services, vote 2, higher and further education and vote 4, administration, will be increased. The cash limit changes are as follows:

  Class and vote

  Current cash limit £

  Change £

  Revised cash limit £

  XI.1

  766,535,000

  +1,831,000

  768,366,000

  XI.2

  3,034,485,000

  +2,505,000

  3,036,990,000

  XI.4

  108,427,000

  +1,566,000

  109,993,000

  The increase on class XI, vote 1 includes the take-up of £1,977,000 capital end-year flexibility entitlement announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 15 July 1992 at columns 698–702. It also takes account of a reduction of £ 146,000 to offset in full an increase to the cash limit on the higher and further education vote, class XI, vote 2.

  The increase on class XI, vote 2 includes the take up of £839,000 capital end-year flexibility entitlement. It also takes account of an increase of £1,392,000 in provision for the costs of extended and upgraded courses in social work, offset in full by transfers of funding from the Home Office, the Department of Health and the Welsh Office; an increase of £146,000 to the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council following the transfer of responsibility for the funding of the YMCA National College, offset in full by a reduction to provision for youth services on Class XI, Vote 1; and an increase of £128,000 in provision for grant-in-aid for the running costs of the Further Education Funding Council, offset in full by a reduction on the administration vote, class XI, vote 4.

  The increase on class XI, vote 4 includes the take-up of £1,543,000 capital and running costs end year flexibility
  892
  entitlement and a transfer of £151,000 from Property Holdings. It is net of the transfer of £128,000 to class XI, vote 2. The Department's running costs limit has been reduced by £7,933,000 to £95,597,000 principally as a result of transfers to the new vote for the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector (class XI, vote 7) and to the Office of Public Services and Science (class XIX, vote 4).

  All the increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement today.

  Advertising Expenditure
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the actual expenditure in the financial year 1991–92 by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material; and what is his latest estimate for 1992–93.

  Mr. Forman
  The actual expenditure figures for advertising and other promotional materials by this Department for the financial year 1991–92 and the latest estimate for 1992–93 are given in the table.

  £000s 1991–92

  £000s 1992–93 (estimate)

  Television advertising

  800·0

  —

  Radio advertising

  —

  —

  Newspaper advertising

  2,237·9

  718·0

  Other promotional material

  5,842·7

  5,822·0

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement about his Department's expenditure plans for the financial years 1993–94 to 1995–96.

  Mr. Patten
  The information is as follows:

  1. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his statement today, the Department for Education's spending programme in 1993–94 will total £9,523 million. That total is £523 million or 5·8 per cent. higher than equivalent expenditure in 1992–93.

  2. Total expenditure in 1994–95 is planned to be £10,115 million and in 1995–96 £10,497 million.

  3. Within these totals the Government have given high priority to the launch of the new further education sector so as to build up the supply of those with technical and other skills, where this country still falls short of its main competitors such as Germany and Japan. The staying-on rate at age 16 and 17 has increased sharply in the last few years. With the co-operation of the colleges, the Government's plans should over the next three years lift us towards the top of the international league table for participation in education among 16·19 year olds. The Government have also given priority to the funding of the rapidly expanding grant-maintained schools programe, and to enabling higher education participation to continue at its present record level. Against the background of the exceptionally demanding Public Expenditure Survey the Government are planning for continuing growth in their expenditure on education.
  893
  Grant-maintained schools

  4. There are currently 342 grant-maintained schools open or approved. That number is projected on present trends to rise to some 500 by next April. The Government's spending plans provide for the number of GM schools to grow to 1,500 in April 1994.

  5. The great hulk of recurrent funding for GM schools is found from within the totals for local authority expenditure. Central Government expenditure on recurrent and capital grants to GM schools is planned to rise substantially over the next three years as the number of GM schools grows. Total central Government expenditure on GM schools is planned to total £61 million in 1992–93 and £157 million, £294 million and £446 million in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96. Capital expenditure alone will total £501 million over the next three years. The funding plans include provision for the running costs of the proposed funding agency for schools.

  Further education

  6. From 1 April 1993 further education and sixth form colleges will he funded direct by the new Further Education Funding Council, set up under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. The plans provide for the launch of the newly independent sector. Total recurrent spending is planned at £2,549 million, £2,734 million and £2,943 million in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96. That increase in funding will allow for an assumed 25 per cent. increase in student numbers between 1992–93 and 1995–96:

  Financial year

  FT student numbers (thousand)

  1992–93

  899

  1993–94

  970

  1994–95

  1,038

  1995–96

  1,121

  7. The priority being given to this expansion in numbers will be a direct contribution to enhancing the skills of the nation: those skills will be increasingly in demand to sustain and improve our competitiveness.

  8. In order to encourage efficiency in the achievement of these increased student numbers, part of the provision to be made available to the Further Education Funding Council will be directly related to actual student numbers. This funding approach will encourage institutions to compete for students and will enable the sector as a whole to improve its efficiency.

  9. Capital expenditure on FE is planned to be £152 million, £157 million and £159 million in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96. The current level of capital spending on colleges will be sustained and the new sector will be able to begin to improve the state of its accommodation and stock of its equipment.

  Higher Education

  10. The number of students on full-time and sandwich courses in higher education has expanded even faster than the rapid rate of growth envisaged as recently as in the Government's Higher Education White Paper (Cm 1541) of May 1991, on which the Government's previous expenditure plans were based. The numbers of young people entering higher education in 1992 are already between one in four and one in three.
  894
  11. The Government have provided substantial additional funding for further education to enable the country's needs for skills to be met. Given the need to strike a balance with the rate of expansion of further education, the government envisages a period of consolidation in higher education after its recent very rapid growth beyond the levels projected as recently as May 1991. The figures underlying the expenditure plans announced today accordingly assume that the proportion of young people entering higher education will remain broadly steady in the next three years, and increase to the level of one in three at the end of the decade which has long been assumed in our forward projections.

  12. The expenditure plans provide for total FTE student numbers in higher education to rise by 13 per cent between 1992–93 and 1995–96:

  Financial year

  FTE student numbers (thousand)

  1992–93

  776

  1993–94

  842

  1994–95

  877

  1995–96

  880

  13. Total recurrent funding for teaching and research in universities and colleges in England—including grant paid by the HE Funding Council for England and related tuition fees—is planned at £3,824 million, £3,995 million and £4,024 million in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96. I shall be inviting the Funding Council to consider its approach to funding in the light of these revised assumptions about growth.

  14. Provision for capital spending through the Funding Council will be £319 million, £322 million and £329 million in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96. In addition the Government are ending the prohibition of borrowing by HE institutions against the security of Exchequer funded assets: this will be widely welcomed in the university world.

  15. Some of the increase above projected numbers of total students flows from the increasing proportion of students on longer courses. I have already asked the Funding Council to develop funding incentives for two year diploma vocational courses. In order to enable universities and colleges to admit as many young people as possible within the total numbers assumed, I am also asking the Funding Council to advise me on what action it can take to deter any trend towards longer courses.

  16. Many of the new vocational diploma courses will be in engineering and technology. In addition, I am encouraging the Funding Council to promote continuing expansion at all levels in engineering and technology, where recruitment in recent years has continued to be disappointing. The Government's commitment to high quality research in the humanities is reflected in an increase of 11 per cent. in the grant to the British Academy.

  Pay

  17. The Department's spending plans assume that pay settlements in 1993–94 will fall within the range 0 to 11 per cent. in line with the terms of the Chancellor's statement. I shall direct the School Teachers' Review Body to have regard to this policy. I shall hold back £50 million of the planned provision for the Further Education Funding Council and £50 million from the Higher Education

  895
  Funding Council for England against the delivery of pay settlements within this range for all of the staff of the institutions within their sectors.

  Student Support

  18. The spending plans allow for total expenditure on student maintenance in England and Wales of £1,206 million, £1,311 million and £1,360 million in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96. The level of student loans will be increased in the academic year 1993–94 so that the average value of student support in grants and loans rises by 2–75 per cent. in line with the assumed increase in the GDP deflator. Spending on the access funds will be sustained in 1993–94.

  Capital Expenditure on Schools

  19. Total central Government provision for capital expenditure on grant-maintained and LEA-maintained schools is £598 million, £613 million and £624 million in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96. Local education authorities will in addition be able to take advantage of the change which the Chancellor has announced on the permitted use of capital receipts. Taking account of that and other flexibilities, gross capital spending on schools in real terms should be at least equal to the total in 1992–93, which will reflect the 15 per cent. increase in central Government provision announced last year by my predecessor. Further details of annual capital guidelines and allocations to voluntary aided and grant-maintained schools will be announced later.

  Students (Funding)
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what changes he intends to make to the arrangements through which validation fees for higher education courses are met from student awards.

  Mr. Forman
  Following consultation with the higher education sector, I have decided that, for publicly-funded institutions, the costs of external validation by institutions with degree awarding powers for colleges without degree-awarding powers should be met by those colleges from funds made available to them, rather than through fees paid with the student award. This arrangement will enable the charge for validation and related services to be negotiated, within the public funds available, in a way which more closely reflects the range and cost of the services provided. The change will come into effect for the 1993–94 academic year. Appropriate transfers will be made

  Number of establishments in London which

  During the year

  Failed to post notices

  Percentage of total checks

  Failed to keep adequate records of wages paid

  Percentage of total checks

  Failed to keep adequate records of hours worked

  Percentage of total checks

  Were the subject of criminal prosecution under the wages act

  Percentage of total checks

  1979

  955

  2·65

  589

  16·4

  2,229

  61·9

  3

  0·08

  1980

  977

  32·7

  499

  16·7

  1,954

  65·4

  0

  0

  1981

  690

  25·2

  308

  11·3

  1,397

  51·04

  1

  0·04

  1982

  758

  33·2

  216

  9·5

  1,278

  56·0

  0

  0

  1983

  609

  27·9

  276

  12·7

  1,367

  62·7

  0

  0

  1984

  804

  28·3

  204

  7·2

  1,311

  46·1

  0

  0

  1985

  726

  33·6

  174

  8·0

  1,178

  54·5

  0

  0

  1986

  700

  24·5

  128

  4·5

  899

  31·5

  0

  0

  1987

  480

  12·7

  47

  1·3

  430

  11·4

  0

  0

  1988

  540

  14·5

  32

  0·9

  269

  7·2

  0

  0

  1989

  304

  11·9

  18

  0·7

  111

  4·4

  0

  0

  896
  for this purpose from the planned public expenditure provision for mandatory awards to that for the Higher Education Funding Councils for England and for Wales. These will be reflected in the relevant supply estimates for 1993–94 to be laid before Parliament in due course. The Mandatory Award Regulations will be amended for 1993–94 on account of the change.

  The arrangements for meeting the costs of validation fees for mandatory award holders at privately funded institutions will remain unchanged for the time being.

EMPLOYMENT

  Wages Councils
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many checks were carried out by wages councils in London which found workers underpaid in each year since 1979.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information for the wages inspectorate's London division is as follows:

  Year

  Number of checks which found workers underpaid

  Percentage of total checks

  1979

  680

  18·9

  1980

  754

  25·2

  1981

  710

  25·9

  1982

  685

  30·0

  1983

  780

  35·8

  1984

  678

  23·9

  1985

  655

  30·3

  1986

  608

  21·3

  1987

  270

  7·2

  1988

  317

  8·5

  1989

  229

  9·0

  1990

  172

  7·3

  1991

  294

  5·5

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many establishments in London were (i) found failing to post wages council notices, (ii) found failing to keep adequate records of wages paid, (iii) found failing to keep adequate records of hours worked and (iv) the subject of criminal prosecutions against employers under the Wages Acts, for each year since 1979.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information for the wages inspectorate's London division is as follows:
  897

  During the year

  Failed to post notices

  Percentage of total checks

  Failed to keep adequate records of wages paid

  Percentage of total checks

  Failed to keep adequate records of hours worked

  Percentage of total checks

  Were the subject of criminal prosecution under the wages act

  Percentage of total checks

  1990

  371

  15·6

  20

  0·8

  151

  6·4

  0

  0

  1991

  672

  12·7

  73

  1·4

  310

  5·9

  1

  0·02

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment she has made of the level of bureaucracy added to the labour market or to burdens on business by the wages councils.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Employers are required to maintain records, keep them for three years, make sure they are available for inspection on request, display notices of proposals made by wages councils, display notices of orders made by wages councils and provide any other information to do with the enforcement of a wages order requested by a wages inspector. When negotiating pay employers are constrained by existing minimum rates and the likely timing and magnitude of wages council increases for the different councils which may affect their businesses. Administration and wages inspection cost taxpayers some £2,500,000 per year and occupies about 130 civil servants.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will estimate the employment elasticity for(a) each main wages council industry and (b) all employees in the public sector.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The margins for error in estimating employing elasticities are far greater for individual industries than for the economy as a whole, and it is not possible to provide reliable estimates for particular industries. However, it is clear that the repeal of legislation, which prevents employers from offering jobs below specified minimum rates, should lead to additional opportunities for employment.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been(a) nominal and (b) real change in (i) wages council rates and (ii) rates agreed by Government for their own employees, since 1979.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Since 1979, the responsibilities of wages councils have changed and a number of councils have merged. It is not possible to calculate changes in rates on a comprehensive basis but the following figures are based on the average minimum rates set by six of the largest councils.

  Changes in rates of pay: 1979–92

  Minimum rates set by Wages Councils

  (a) nominal change of some 170 per cent.,

  (b) real percentage growth of about 16 per cent.;

  Pay rates of non-industrial civil servants

  (a) nominal change of 128 per cent.,

  (b) real change of minus 3 per cent.

  I regret that information on industrial grades is not available.

  16 to 18-year-olds
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of 16 to 18-year-olds are in education and training in(a) the United Kingdom. (b) Germany. (c) Japan and (d) the USA.
  898
  Mr. McLoughlin
  Latest estimates of the percentage of 16 to 18-year-olds in education and training in the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and the USA are given in the following table.

  Participation in education and training1 of 16 to 18-year-olds

  percentages

  All full and part-time2

  United Kingdom3

  1988

  69

  1989

  70

  Germany (Federal Republic)4

  1988

  92

  Japan5

  1988

  87

  USA5

  1987

  81

  1 Includes apprenticeships, YTS and similar schemes.

  2 Includes higher education for some 18-year-olds.

  3 Includes estimates for those studying only in the evening and for private sector further and higher education, including training courses with employers.

  4 Includes compulsory part-time education for 16 and 17-year-olds.

  5 Includes private sector higher education.

  Source: Department for Education.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently in work; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The work force in employment in the United Kingdom stood at 25,361,000 in June 1992—1,798,000 higher than in March 1983, the low-point in employment during the last recession.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of those leaving employment training(a) entered further education or training, (b) entered a job club, (c) found voluntary work and (d) became self-employed in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Employment Training Great Britain: January—December 1991 leavers outcomes—3 months after leaving

  per cent, of all respondents

  Entered other Government training programme or full-time education/training

  4

  Entered a job club

  2

  Found voluntary work

  3

  Self-employed (including EAS)

  6

  Source: ET National follow-up survey

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the job entry rates for those leaving employment action at(a) three months and (b) six months in the latest period for which figures are available.
  899
  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information about employment action outcomes is not yet available.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of those attending a job interview guarantee got the job in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. Fogden to Mr. Tony Lloyd, dated 12 November 1992:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question about the Job Interview Guarantee. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.You asked what percentage of those attending a Job Interview Guarantee got the job in the latest year for which figures are available. In 1991/92, 20% of people who went forward for an interview under this initiative were placed into jobs.I hope this is helpful.As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what percentage of those leaving employment training gained a vocational credit in the latest year for which figures are available;

  (2) what percentage of those leaving employment training gained a vocational qualification in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Employment training

  Great Britain: January to December 1991 leavers gained a qualification or credit

  (Per cent, of all respondents)

  January to May 1991

  June to December 1991

  Gained a full qualification

  129

  26

  Gained a credit towards a qualification

  7

  Awaiting results

  2

  2

  900

  1 Information not available separately for credits and full qualifications.

  Source: ET national follow-up survey.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of those leaving employment training found employment(a) immediately, (b) within three months and (c) within six months, excluding those who started self-employment, in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Employment training Great Britain: January—December 1991 leavers outcomes

  (Per cent, of notified leavers)

  Leavers in full-time and part-time work

  Immediately on leaving

  119

  Three months after leaving

  224

  Six months after leaving

  325

  1 Base for calculating percentages excludes not stateds (5 per cent, of all leavers) and leavers whose destination was not known (14 per cent, of all leavers).

  2 Base for calculating percentages excludes not stateds (15 per cent, of all leavers).

  3 Base for calculating percentages excludes not stateds (4 per cent, of all leavers).

  Sources:

  Immediate destinations—ET leavers database based on training provider returns.

  Three and six month activity—ET National follow-up survey based on questionnaire responses.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of those leaving employment training remained unemployed(a) three months later and (b) six months later in the most recent period for which figures are available.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Employment training Great Britain: January—December 1991 leavers outcomes, three months after leaving

  (Per cent, of all respondents)

  1 Respondents who were unemployed

  Three months after leaving

  61

  Six months after leaving

  57

  1 Unemployed and claiming benefit, unemployed and not claiming benefit and at a job club.

  Source: ET national follow-up survey

  Sunday Working
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement on the role of the wages councils in determining rates of pay for Sunday working.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The wages councils have no such role. Their powers to set special rates for Sundays were removed in 1986.

  Training Review
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether she has completed her review of her Department's employment and training measures for unemployed people; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have concluded my review and am today announcing a new framework of employment and training measures to help unemployed people back to work. This will operate from April 1993 onwards.

  As a result of these changes, there will be half a million more opportunities on our programmes in 1993–94 than we are providing this year. The extra opportunities will be concentrated on long-term unemployed people and those who face particular difficulties in the labour market, such as people with disabilities. These are the people who are most in need of special assistance to get back to work.

  TEC-delivered programmes

  Training for Work, a new adult training and work programme, to be run by training and enterprise councils (TECs) in England and Wales and local enterprise companies (LECs) in Scotland, will replace employment training and employment action. TECs and LECs will have important new flexibilities to develop programmes of skills training, temporary work and job preparation to meet the needs of local unemployed people and local circumstances. TECs and LECs will be encouraged to use these flexibilities to make best use of their resources, for example by developing training credit schemes and expanding useful temporary work in our public services. I expect the new programme to provide 320,000 opportunities in 1993–94.

  In order to help improve performance, the funding regime will be developed to offer a progressively higher proportion of payment for results, including payments for participants gaining jobs or qualifications. This will strengthen the incentives for TECs to deliver programmes that best help individuals and meet labour market needs.

  Today's announcement incorporates most of the recommendations made by the TEC adult training working group, including the merger of employment training and employment action and the development of a new payment system based on starts and outputs.

  Employment Service Measures

  There will be a further expansion of the successful job club and job interview guarantee programmes. We will also be developing work trials of up to three weeks with employers, which give unemployed people the opportunity to prove themselves in a job, without their benefits being affected. In all, these employment service measures are expected to provide an extra 180,000 opportunities in 1993–94.

  A major point of entry into other opportunities will be the new jobplan workshops to be run by the employment service. These will advise and assess the needs of people
  902
  unemployed for a year or more, principally those who have not taken up other offers of help open to them. The successful experience of existing Restart courses and job review workshops will be drawn on, but the new workshops will offer more intensive support from workshop leaders, including one-to-one advice and guidance, new computer-aided guidance and an enhanced action plan. Those completing workshops will have priority access to other programmes. It is expected that around 300,000 people will pass through the programme in 1993–94.

  Employment service advisers will offer places in job plan workshops to all those out of work for a year who have not taken up an offer of help back to work. As is currently the case with Restart courses offered to people unemployed for two years those who do not take up places offered to them may lose their benefit for a period of time. The social security advisory committee will be consulted shortly about the benefit for non-attendance in these circumstances.

  Eligibility

  All those unemployed for over six months, including lone parents, will be eligible for these programmes, with earlier access available to all of them for people with disabilities, ex-service personnel, ex-detainees, labour market returners, people who need help with literacy, numeracy or basic English and those unemployed as a result of major redundancies.

  Unemployed people with disabilities and those leaving the new job plan workshops will have priority access to these programmes. These priorities will replace the current aim and guarantee which were designed to help certain groups of unemployed people in rather different labour market circumstances.

  Other measures

  All unemployed people will of course remain entitled to the full range of jobcentre services to help them back to work as soon as possible. There will also be an extra 10 thousand places in job review workshops for short-term unemployed people and more career development loans will be made available to enable more unemployed people to invest in their own training.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Social Fund
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the social fund budget in total and for(a) crisis loans, (b) community care grants and (c) budgeting loans for each social security or Benefits Agency office in each year since 1988–89, in cash and real terms.

  Mr. Scott
  Expenditure on crisis and budgeting loans comes from a single loans budget. Information on expenditure on grants and loans for the years 1988–89 to 1991–92 has been placed in the Library.

  Real term figures have been calculated using the current GDP deflator and may alter.

  Motability
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will give details of the extent of the computer breakdown dealing with Motability claims;
  903
  (2) how many claimants from Stoke-on-Trent, North have had their Motability claims delayed; how soon he expects to deal with this backlog; what emergency arrangements have been made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the scheme is a matter for Motability which is an independent organisation. Any questions on the issue should be directed to Mr. K. Keen, director of Motability.

  Cash Limits
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to change the cash limits or running costs limit of his Department for 1992–93.

  Mr. Scott
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XIV, vote 3 (housing benefit administration, payments into the social fund in respect of discretionary expenditure and other grants) will be increased by £4,250,000 from £365,972,000 to £370,222,000. The cash limit for class XIV, vote 4 (administration and miscellaneous services) will be increased by £1,922,000 from £2,270,076,000 to £2,271,998,000.

  The revision for vote 3 takes account of a grant to make repayable sums available to pension funds linked to the former companies of Robert Maxwell to assist in the payment of pensions (£2,500,000) and subsidies to housing and local authorities toward the costs of administering the housing benefit scheme and to charging and levying authorities towards the costs of administering the community charge benefit scheme (£1,750,000).

  Vote 4 revisions take account of the additional administrative expenditure arising from higher unemployment (£9,472,000), of which £6,496,000 is running costs, an increase of £16,528,000 (of which £10,795,000 is running costs) in respect of end year flexibility arrangements, a transfer from Department of the Environment (property holdings and central support services): civil accommodation and administration etc., class VIII, vote 7 of £2,015,000 (running costs) an increase of £60,000 towards the administration costs of the Maxwell Pensioners Trust, a transfer from Department of Health and Social Security (Northern Ireland) vote 3 of £437,000 (running costs) a transfer to Department of Employment: programmes and central services, class VI, vote 1 of £58,000 (running costs) and a reduction of £35,000 following the transfer of responsibility for the departmental records officer to the Department of Health. The additional requirements are partially offset by an increase in receipts of £26,497,000 and the balance (£1,922,000) totally represents transfers from other Departments.

  In addition to the running costs changes included above there is also a reduction of £2,906,000 to take account of expenditure previously classified running costs now being reclassified as capital and other current.

  As a result of these changes the running costs limit of the Department of Social Security will be increased by £16,779,000 from £2,521,125,000 to £2,537,904,000.

  All these increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

  Income Support
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he has had over the proposed income support regulations concerning unemployed people not actively seeking work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Following consultation with the social security advisory committee, we have today laid regulations which will remove entitlement to income support from most unemployed single people and childless couples who fail actively to seek work. Accompanying the regulations, as Cd 2099, are the social security advisory committee's report and my response. Pregnant women, the disabled and people responsible for the care of a child or young person will remain eligible for a reduced rate of income support if they would otherwise suffer hardship.

  Benefits Expenditure
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the latest plans for expenditure on the social security programme including details on the new rates of benefits proposed for April 1993.

  Mr. Lilley
  Economic recovery means keeping public expenditure under control, while preserving capital programmes. Spending on social security, therefore, which comprises one third of total Government spending, must play its part in this. In his autumn statement to the House today my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer reported that expenditure on social security would be £79·8 billion in 1993–94, £82·9 billion in 1994–95 and £87 billion in 1995–96. These plans reflect the Government's manifesto commitments on retirement pension and child benefit. I have also made it a high priority to protect less well-off people by increasing all major benefits in line with prices, but I have also rigorously scrutinised my programme for areas where value for money can be improved.

  Social security fraud

  Efforts to tackle fraud and abuse of benefits will be stepped up. DSS fraud teams are already saving significant sums—nearly £500 million this year—and they will be improving their efficiency. Increasing use of computer technology will weed out false claims and ensure money goes only to bona fide recipients, who make up the vast majority.

  These measures should save some £80 million extra from fraud in the first year, rising to £120 million by 1995–96. In addition, consultations will begin with the local authority associations about fresh incentives for local authorities to investigate fraud affecting housing benefit and the new council tax benefit.

  From next April, I intend that local authorities will receive direct financial reward for their increased efforts to prevent payment of benefits to those not entitled to them. These incentives will benefit local finances, and also save the taxpayer as much as £180 million next year, on top of the fraud savings already made by local authorities. By taking these measures I hope the total of fraud identified and stopped will increase to nearly £1 billion each year.
  905
  Operational resources

  There will be continued investment in information technology and further improvements in the Department's offices around the country. The public will receive a standard of service which continues to reflect my Department's full commitment to the aims of the citizens charter. Capital spending will increase by some £159 million over the next three years, bringing capital spending to over £1 billion in that period.

  My programme to ensure best use of operational resources includes action to extend and encourage the use of automated credit transfer for the payment of benefits. This will improve the method of payment on offer and also save resources. In addition, my Department will be working with the Post Office to improve efficiency and to reduce theft and fraud involving order books and giros.

  Uprating

  The uprating of social security benefits will take place for most benefits, as usual, in the first full week of the tax year—which in 1993 will he the week beginning 12 April. I have reviewed social security benefits in accordance with section 150 of the 1992 Administration Act and my proposals are set out below. The statutory instruments to implement them will he laid before both Houses for debate. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland proposes to introduce similar changes for Northern Ireland. All the proposed new benefit rates are in the schedule.

  The normal basis for uprating most benefits is the annual increase in the retail prices index up to September which this yeaer is 3·6 per cent.

  Retirement pensions

  Retirement pension, which is received by 10 million people, will rise next April in line with the RPI. The basic pension for a single person will be increased by £1·95 per week to £56·10 and for couples by £3·10 to £89·80. This uprating alone will cost the national insurance fund almost £1 billion next year. Public service pensions will be increased across the hoard by 3·6 per cent.

  War pensions

  War pensions will be uprated fully in line with prices.

  The special Ministry of Defence payments to pre-1973 war widows, which are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, will rise in line with the RPI from £46·18 to £47·84 per week.

  There are two other proposals affecting the war pensions scheme.

  I propose to introduce a threshold for claims for noise induced hearing loss, bringing the war pensions rules more into line with those for industrial injury awards. The effect will be that those with less than 20 per cent. disablement in respect of noise induced hearing loss will in future receive no award. We propose to use savings from that change to remove rank differentials in war disablement pensions.

  As a result of these changes, almost 200,000 severely disabled ex-service men will gain up to an extra £5 per week. No existing war pensioner will suffer a reduction in the cash he or she is receiving.

  The Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions will be consulted on the proposed changes.
  906
  Other benefits

  All national insurance benefits will be increased by 3·6 per cent. Unemployment benefit for a single person will therefore rise from £43·10 to £44·65 per week and the rate for couples will rise from £69·70 to £72·20.

  All disability benefits will also he uprated in line with prices. For example the disability living allowance care component at the higher rate will go up in April from £43·35 to £44·90 per week.

  Child benefit will also be fully uprated in line with prices. The new rates of child benefit will be £10 for the first or eldest eligible child, and £8·10 for each subsequent child. One-parent benefit will also be increased to £6·05. The lower rate of statutory maternity pay will be increased from £46·30 to £47·95.

  Sickness benefit and invalidity benefit will also be uprated by prices. For example, invalidity benefit for a single person will go up from £54·15 to £56·10 and for a couple from £86·70 to £89·80. I have been considering the operation of the statutory sick pay scheme—which now covers most short term sickness. The lower rate of statutory sick pay will rise in line with the RPI from £45·30 to £46·95. I judge however that an increase in the higher rate, which goes to employees earning more than £195 per week, would not be a sensible use of scarce resources, especially as most of these employees will already be working for employers who operate occupational sick pay schemes. I therefore propose to make no change in the higher rate of statutory sick pay next year.

  Changes to invalidity benefit

  There has been a significant increase in expenditure on invalidity benefit and in the numbers receiving it.

  Since 1978–79, the caseload has more than doubled and the costs have risen by nearly 140 per cent. in real terms. By 1995–96, invalidity benefit will he costing well over £7 billion.

  Against this background, in order to ensure that the benefit is focused on those for whom Parliament intended it, I plan to tighten up the administrative and medical control procedures from April 1993, operated by my Department. This will ensure that medical examinations are better targeted and that more effective action will be taken when people fail to attend for examination or are found capable of work. These changes are expected to reduce expenditure by £240 million over the survey period.

  A major research study into IVB was launched in August 1991. Some results have been received and others will be received during 1993. I will consider these results carefully as they become available.

  Income-Related benefits

  Income-related benefits are normally uprated by the retail prices index less certain housing costs—the so-called Rossi index. This year the September—September increase in the Rossi index was the same as for the RPI, that is 3·6 per cent.

  Premiums for income-related benefits for elderly people have been uprated twice in the past year as part of our policy to target benefits on the most vulnerable groups in society. From next April all the relevant income-related benefit allowances and premiums (eg for income support. housing benefit, family credit and disability working allowance) will rise by 3·6 per cent.: for council tax benefit the rates will be set at these new levels. This means for

  907
  example that a pensioner couple aged 75 or more will receive an increase in income support from £94·60 per week to £98·00 and benefit for a single person over 25 will go up from £42·45 to £44·00

  Earlier this year the Government introduced improvements to the arrangements in respect of non-dependant deductions which apply both to housing benefit and housing costs in income support. This year the three earnings thresholds which determine the appropriate level of deduction will increase by £5. However, the three lowest rates of deduction will not rise pro-rata but will remain at their present level, which will provide extra help to 295,000 households with lower paid non-dependants. The top rate deduction will increase by £3 a week from £18 to £21, which means a fairer contribution from those non-dependents with the most substantial income.

  I have also taken the opportunity to raise the levels of the earnings thresholds for non-dependant deductions and second adult rebates in council tax benefit. This will bring further small gains to around 3,000 people liable to pay the council tax.

  As foreshadowed in the social security benefits (uprating) statement made in October 1991, we will not reduce benefits to compensate for the removal of the minimum contribution to local taxes. This means a real increase in the disposable income of the least well off. For example, a single person aged 25 or over on income support will benefit by £1·60 per week, and a couple by £2·80 per week.

  Social fund

  Following my recent announcement of the allocation of an additional £8 million to the social fund discretionary budget in the current year, there will be a further substantial increase next year when I expect this budget to increase to around £340 million. This further large increase means that the budget will be 12 per cent. higher than at April 1992 and nearly 50 per cent. above its 1991 level.

  These increases have been made possible largely by the success of the loans system introduced in 1988 which enables more help to go to more people than would be possible if the same amount of taxpayers' money were only used for grants.

  Residential care and nursing homes

  From the 1 April next year, new residents requiring help with their care needs will be assessed by local authorities under the new community care arrangements. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced on 2 October the funding for the new arrangements including the transfer of funds from the Department of Social Security. The new limits I propose will therefore apply only to existing income support recipients in residential care and nursing homes, that is to say those with preserved rights to support under the present arrangements.

  All the limits in residential care homes will he increased by £10 a week, including those for elderly people, mental illness, mental handicap and drug and alcohol abuse. This is well above the amount which a straight inflation increase would produce. I am also able to improve the relative amount given to the lowest limit—that for elderly people. I have done this in recognition of the increasing age and frailty at which people enter care.
  908
  I also propose to increase almost all the limits for nursing homes by £10 a week. The only exception is the limit referred to as the terminal illness limit. I propose instead to steer additional help to hospices.

  Last year, my predecessor announced that additional funds of £1 million a year would be transferred from the social security budget to the NHS for the direct funding of hospices for each of the three survey years. I am pleased to announce a further £1 million transfer in 1993–94.

  The personal expenses allowance will be increased fully in line with inflation to £12·65. The total annual cost of the increases will be over £100 million. This significant increase reflects this Government's continuing commitment to elderly and disabled people in residential or nursing care.

  Other proposals

  There are also some proposals for changes which involve only relatively small amounts of money, but will be welcomed by those helped. These fall into three main categories: measures which help disabled people; those for carers; and measures which mainly affect orphans.

  First, disabled people. In income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit the severe disability premium is at present only available where the recipient is a disabled person on disability living allowance (DLA) or attendance allowance (AA) who is living independently or with someone who is also getting DLA/AA. From next year, I intend to extend eligibility to those who cannot get it now because they live with a person, and that person is registered blind.

  More resources will be given to Motability, the charity which arranges the provision of vehicles for disabled people. Their success has meant a 15 per cent. increase in business in the last year and this trend is projected to increase into the future. My Department will increase its core funding for Motability's administrative costs in line with this expansion—taking our total funding to £2.8 million in 1995–96. In addition I intend to increase on an ongoing basis the Mobility Equipment Fund which allows Motability to make charitable donations to customers who require very expensive vehicle adaptations which they cannot afford. From April 1 intend to double the amount of money available to £2 million and place the grant on a three year basis thereby replacing the existing arrangement where our funding is re-considered every year. This will assist their financial planning.

  I intend to give £45,000 per annum to the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association to assist them with the provision of specialised car components, eg gearboxes, for arm amputee war pensioners.

  For carers, I intend to introduce two measures next April. The first would increase from £40 to £50 the amount which recipients of invalid care allowance can earn before losing their benefit. This is further to last year's increase which raised the ceiling from £30 to £40. The second will introduce into income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit a carers' earnings disregard of £15. Those people who presently qualify for an earnings disregard of less than £15 and who are entitled to the carer premium will now be able to earn up to £15 a week without losing any of their income related benefit. Both of these measures will help many carers who wish to keep in touch with the world of work, as well as giving them valuable additional cash.
  909
  Finally, I am pleased to announce changes which will provide significant extra help for two groups of people who, in difficult personal circumstances, take responsibility for bringing up children whose parents have died.

  Guardian's allowance will be ignored in family credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and disability working allowance.

  Those who have to bring up a child on their own will be able to receive one-parent benefit in addition to guardian's allowance. At present—following a commissioner's decision—these benefits can only be paid together if the child whose parents have died is not the eldest child in the new family. Both these changes will be implemented from 1993.

  Schedule of main proposed Social Security Benefit Rates from April 1993

  (weekly rates unless otherwise shown)

  Attendance Allowance

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Higher rate

  43·35

  44·90

  Lower rate

  28·95

  30·00

  Child Benefit

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Only, elder or eldest for whom child benefit is payable

  9·65

  10·00

  Each subsequent child

  7·80

  8·10

  Child's Special Allowance

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  See note on Child Dependency Increase

  10·85

  10·95

  Council tax benefit

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Personal allowances

  single

  18 to 24

  33·60

  34·80

  25 or over

  42·45

  44·00

  lone parent—18 or over

  42·45

  44·00

  couple—one or both over 18

  66·60

  69·00

  dependent children

  under 11

  14·55

  15·05

  11 to 15

  21·40

  22·15

  16 to 17

  25·55

  26·45

  18

  33·60

  34·80

  Premiums

  family

  9·30

  9·65

  lone parent

  10·60

  10·95

  pensioner

  single

  16·70

  17·30

  couple

  25·35

  26·25

  pensioner (enhanced)

  single

  18·65

  19·30

  couple

  28·00

  29·00

  pensioner (higher)

  single

  22·75

  23·55

  couple

  32·55

  33·70

  disability

  single

  17·80

  18·45

  910

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  couple

  25·55

  26·45

  severe disability

  single

  32·55

  33·70

  couple (one qualifies)

  32·55

  33·70

  couple (both qualify)

  65·10

  67·40

  disabled child

  17·80

  18·45

  carer

  11·55

  11·95

  Allowance for personal expenses for claimants in hospital

  higher rate

  13·55

  14·05

  lower rate

  10·85

  11·20

  Non-dependent deductions aged 18 or over and in remunerative work

  gross income: £105·00 or more

  2·00

  2·00

  gross income: up to £104·99

  1·00

  1·00

  others, aged 18 or over

  1·00

  1·00

  Alternative maximum council tax benefit

  second adult on Income Support (per cent.)

  25

  second adult's gross income:

  up to £105 (per cent.)

  15

  £105·01 to £135 (percent.)

  7·5

  Capital

  upper limit

  16,000·00

  16,000·00

  amount disregarded

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  child's limit

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  Tariff income

  £1 for every complete £250 or part thereof between amount of capital disregarded and capital upper limit

  Earnings disregards

  where disability premium awarded

  15·00

  15·00

  various specified employments

  15·00

  15·00

  lone parent

  25·00

  25·00

  where the claimant has a partner

  10·00

  10·00

  single claimant

  5·00

  5·00

  where carer premium awarded

  0·00

  15·00

  Other income disregards

  maintenance disregard

  15·00

  15·00

  war disablement pension and war widow's pension

  10·00

  10·00

  voluntary and charitable payments

  10·00

  10·00

  student loan

  10·00

  10·00

  student's covenanted income

  5·00

  5·00

  income from boarders:

  disregard the fixed amount (£20) plus 50 per cent, of the balance of the charge

  20·00

  20·00

  Expenses for subtenants

  furnished or unfurnished

  4·00

  4·00

  where heating is included, additional

  8·60

  8·60

  Dependency increases

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Adult Dependency Increases

  For spouse or person looking after children, with:

  retirement pension on own insurance, invalidity pension, unemployability supplement and, if beneficiary over pension age, unemployment benefit

  32·55

  33·70

  non-contributory retirement pension, invalid care allowance and severe disablement allowance

  19·45

  20·15

  sickness benefit if beneficiary over pension age

  31·20

  32·30

  911

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  unemployment benefit

  26·60

  27·55

  maternity allowance/sickness benefit

  25·50

  26·40

  Child Dependency Increases For each child, with:

  retirement pension, widows benefit, invalidity benefit, invalid care allowance, severe disablement allowance, higher rate industrial death benefit, unemployability supplement and sickness/ unemployment benefit if beneficiary over pension age

  10·85

  10·95

  Note: The Overlapping Benefits Regulations provide for the rate of child dependency increases, guardinan's allowance and child special allowance to be adjusted where the increase or allowance is payable for the eldest eligible child for whom child benefit is also payable. The weekly rate of the increase or allowance is reduced by the differential (less the 75p derived from the October increase in child benefit) between the rate of child benefit payable for the oldest eligible child and that payable for a subsequent child.

  Disability Living Allowance

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Care component

  Highest

  43·35

  44·90

  Middle

  28·95

  30·00

  Lowest

  11·55

  11·95

  Mobility component

  Higher

  30·30

  31·40

  Lower

  11·55

  11·95

  Disability Working Allowance

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Adult allowance

  Single people

  42·40

  43·95

  Couples/Lone parents

  58·80

  60·95

  Child allowance

  Under 11

  10·40

  10·75

  11 to 15

  17·25

  17·85

  16 to 17

  21·45

  22·20

  18

  29·90

  31·00

  Applicable amount (ie taper threshold)

  Single people

  39·95

  41·40

  Couples/Lone parents

  66·60

  69·000

  Capital

  Upper limit

  16,000·00

  16,000·00

  Amount disregarded

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  Child's limit

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  Tariff income

  £1 for every complete £250 or part thereof between amount of capital disregarded and capital upper limit

  Disregards

  Maintenance disregard

  15·00

  15·00

  War disablement pension and war widow's pension

  10·00

  10·00

  Voluntary and charitable payments

  10·00

  10·00

  Student loan

  10·00

  10·00

  Student's covenanted income

  5·00

  5·00

  912

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Income from boarders:

  Disregard the fixed amount (£20) plus 50 per cent, of the balance of the charge

  20·00

  20·00

  Expenses for subtenants

  Furnished or unfurnished

  4·00

  4·00

  Where heating is included, additional

  8·60

  8·60

  Earnings Rules

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Invalid Care Allowance

  40·00

  50·00

  Unemployment Benefit (daily rate)

  2·00

  2·00

  Unemployment Benefit (maximum weekly amount)

  54·00

  56·00

  Therapeutic earnings limit

  40·50

  42·00

  Industrial injuries unemployability supplement permitted earnings level (annual amount)

  2,106·00

  2,184·00

  War pensioners' unemployability supplement permitted earnings level (annual amount)

  2,106·00

  2,184·00

  Adult dependency increases with sickness benefit where claimant is

  (a) under pension age

  25·50

  26·40

  (b) over pension age

  31·20

  32·30

  maternity allowance

  25·50

  26·40

  unemployment benefit where claimant is

  (a) under pension age

  26·60

  27·55

  (b) over pension age

  32·25

  33·70

  retirement pension, invalidity pension, severe disablement allowance, unemployability supplement where dependant

  (a) is living with claimant

  43·10

  44·65

  (b) still qualifies for the tapered earnings rule

  45·09

  45·09

  retirement pension, invalidity pension and unemployability supplement where dependant not living with claimant

  32·55

  33·70

  severe disablement allowance where dependant not living with claimant

  19·45

  20·15

  invalid care allowance

  19·45

  20·15

  Child dependency increases

  level at which CDIs payable with long-term benefits are affected by earnings of claimant's spouse or partner

  for first child

  115·00

  120·00

  for each subsequent child

  15·00

  16·00

  913

  Family credit

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Adult credit

  41·00

  42·50

  Child credit

  under 11

  10·40

  10·75

  11 to 15

  17·25

  17·85

  16 to 17

  21·45

  22·20

  18

  29·90

  31·00

  Applicable amount (ie taper threshold)

  66·60

  69·00

  Capital

  upper limit

  8,000·00

  8,000·00

  amount disregarded

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  child's limit

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  Tariff income

  £1 for every complete £250 or part thereof between amount of capital disregarded and capital upper limit

  Disregards

  maintenance disregard

  15·00

  15·00

  war disablement pension and war widow's pension

  10·00

  10·00

  voluntary and charitable payments

  10·00

  10·00

  student loan

  10·00

  10·00

  student's covenanted income

  5·00

  5·00

  income from boarders:

  disregard the fixed amount (£20) plus 50 per cent, of the balance of the charge

  20·00

  20·00

  Expenses for subtenants furnished or unfurnished

  4·00

  4·00

  where heating is included, additional

  8·60

  8·60

  Guardian's allowance

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  See note on Child Dependency Increase

  10·85

  10·95

  Hospital downrating

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  20 per cent, rate

  10·85

  11·20

  40 per cent, rate

  21·70

  22·40

  Housing Benefit

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Personal allowances

  single

  16 to 24

  33·60

  34·80

  25 or over

  42·45

  44·00

  lone parent

  under 18

  33·60

  34·80

  18 or over

  42·45

  44·00

  couple

  both under 18

  50·60

  52·40

  one or both over 18

  66·60

  69·00

  dependent children

  under 11

  14·55

  15·05

  11 to 15

  21·40

  22·15

  16 to 17

  25·55

  26·45

  18

  33·60

  34·80

  914

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Premiums

  family

  9·30

  9·65

  lone parent

  10·60

  10·95

  pensioner

  single

  16·70

  17·30

  couple

  25·35

  26·25

  pensioner (enhanced)

  single

  18·65

  19·30

  couple

  28·00

  29·00

  pensioner (higher)

  single

  22·75

  23·55

  couple

  32·55

  33·70

  disability

  single

  17·80

  18·45

  couple

  25·55

  26·45

  severe disability

  single

  32·55

  33·70

  couple (one qualifies)

  32·55

  33·70

  couple (both qualify)

  65·10

  67·40

  disabled child

  17·80

  18·45

  carer

  11·55

  11·95

  Allowance for personal expenses for claimants in hospital

  higher rate

  13·55

  14·05

  lower rate

  10·85

  11·20

  Non-dependant deductions rent rebates and allowances aged 25 and over, in receipt of Income Support aged 18 or over, not in work or gross income under £70

  4·00

  4·00

  gross income: £70 to £104·99

  8·00

  8·00

  gross income: £105 to £134·99

  12·00

  12·00

  gross income: £135 or more

  18·00

  21·00

  Service charges for fuel

  heating

  8·60

  8·60

  hot water

  1·05

  1·05

  lighting

  ·70

  ·70

  cooking

  1·05

  1·05

  Amount ineligible for meals three or more meals a day single claimant

  15·20

  15·75

  each person in family aged 16 or over

  15·20

  15·75

  each child under 16

  7·65

  7·95

  less than three meals a day single claimant

  10·10

  10·45

  each person in family aged 16 or over

  10·10

  10·45

  each child under 16

  5·05

  5·25

  breakfast only—claimant and each member of family

  1·85

  1·90

  Capital

  upper limit

  16,000·00

  16,000·00

  amount disregarded

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  child's limit

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  Tariff income

  £1 for every complete £250 or part thereof between amount of capital disregarded and capital upper limit

  915

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Earnings disregards

  where disability premium awarded

  15·00

  15·00

  various specified employments

  15·00

  15·00

  lone parent—not in receipt of IS

  25·00

  25·00

  where the claimant has a partner

  10·00

  10·00

  single claimant

  5·00

  5·00

  where carer premium awarded

  ·00

  15·00

  Other income disregards maintenance disregard

  15·00

  15·00

  war disablement pension and war widow's pension

  10·00

  10·00

  voluntary and charitable payments

  10·00

  10·00

  student loan

  10·00

  10·00

  student's covenanted income

  5·00

  5·00

  income from boarders:

  disregard the fixed amount (£20) plus 50 per cent, of the balance of the charge

  20·00

  20·00

  Expenses for subtenants furnished or unfurnished

  4·00

  4·00

  where heating is included, additional

  8·60

  8·60

  Income support

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Personal allowances

  single

  under 18—usual rate

  25·55

  26·45

  under 18—higher rate payable in specific circumstances

  33·60

  34·80

  18 to 24

  33·60

  34·80

  25 or over

  42·45

  44·00

  lone parent

  under 18—usual rate

  25·55

  26·45

  under 18—higher rate payable in specific circumstances

  33·60

  34·80

  18 or over

  42·45

  44·00

  couple

  both under 18

  50·60

  52·40

  one or both over 18

  66·60

  69·00

  dependent children

  under 11

  14·55

  15·05

  11 to 15

  21·40

  22·15

  16 to 17

  25·55

  26·45

  18

  33·60

  34·80

  Premiums

  family

  9·30

  9·65

  lone parent

  4·75

  4·90

  pensioner

  single

  16·70

  17·30

  couple

  25·35

  26·25

  pensioner (enhanced)

  single

  18·65

  19·30

  couple

  28·00

  29·00

  pensioner (higher)

  single

  22·75

  23·55

  couple

  32·55

  33·70

  916

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  disability

  single

  17·80

  18·45

  couple

  25·55

  26·45

  severe disability

  single

  32·55

  33·70

  couple (one qualifies)

  32·55

  33·70

  couple (both qualify)

  65·10

  67·40

  disabled child

  17·80

  18·45

  carer

  11·55

  11·95

  Maximum amounts for accommodation and meals in residential care homes old age

  175·00

  185·00

  very dependent elderly

  205·00

  215·00

  mental disorder (not handicap)

  185·00

  195·00

  drug/alcohol dependence

  185·00

  195·00

  mental handicap

  215·00

  225·00

  physical disablement

  (a) (under pension age)

  245·00

  255·00

  (b) (over pension age)

  175·00

  185·00

  others

  175·00

  185·00

  maximum Greater London increase

  25·00

  25·00

  nursing homes

  mental disorder (not handicap)

  270·00

  280·00

  drug/alcohol dependence

  270·00

  280·00

  mental handicap

  275·00

  285·00

  terminal illness

  280·00

  280·00

  physical disablement

  (a) (under pension age)

  305·00

  315·00

  (b) (over pension age)

  270·00

  280·00

  others (including elderly)

  270·00

  280·00

  maximum Greater London increase

  35·00

  35·00

  Amounts for meals where these cannot be purchased within the accommodation (Daily Rate)

  breakfast

  1·10

  1·10

  midday meal

  1·55

  1·55

  evening meal

  1·55

  1·55

  Allowances for personal expenses for claimants in

  private and voluntary residential care and nursing homes personal expenses

  12·20

  12·65

  dependent children

  (a) under 11

  5·00

  5·20

  (b) 11 to 15

  7·35

  7·60

  (c) 16 to 17

  8·50

  8·80

  (d) age 18

  12·20

  12·65

  hospital

  higher rate

  13·55

  14·05

  lower rate

  10·85

  11·20

  local authority (Pt III)

  accommodation

  10·85

  11·20

  the Polish home Ilford Park max amount for accommodation and meals

  175·00

  185·00

  personal expenses for claimant

  16·15

  16·75

  personal expenses for partner

  16·15

  16·75

  personal expenses for dep children

  (a) under 11

  5·00

  5·20

  (b)11 to 15

  7·35

  7·60

  (c) 16 to 17

  8·50

  8·80

  (d) 18

  14·50

  15·00

  917

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Housing costs

  Deduction for non-dependants aged 25 and over, in receipt of income support aged 18 or over, not in work or

  gross income under £70

  4·00

  4·00

  gross income: £70 to £104·99

  8·00

  8·00

  gross income: £105 to £134·99

  12·00

  12·00

  gross income: £135 or more

  18·00

  21·00

  Deduction for direct payments arrears of housing, fuel and water costs and fines default

  2·15

  2·20

  arrears of community charge court order against claimant

  2·15

  2·20

  court order against couple

  3·35

  3·45

  Child maintenance and arrears of

  Council Tax (planned from April 1993)

  —

  2·20

  Maximum rates for recovery of overpayments

  ordinary overpayments

  6·45

  6·60

  where claimant convicted of fraud

  8·60

  8·80

  Reduction in benefit for strikers

  22·50

  23·50

  Capital

  upper limit

  8,000·00

  8,000·00

  amount disregarded

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  child's limit

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  Tariff income

  £1 for every complete £250 or part thereof between amount of capital disregarded and capital upper limit

  Disregards

  standard earnings

  5·00

  5·00

  higher earnings

  15·00

  15·00

  war disablement pension and war widow's pension

  10·00

  10·00

  voluntary and charitable payments

  10·00

  10·00

  student loan

  10·00

  10·00

  student's covenanted income

  5·00

  5·00

  income from boarders:

  disregard the fixed amount (£20)plus 50 per cent, of the balance of the charge

  20·00

  20·00

  Expenses for subtenants

  furnished or unfurnished

  4·00

  4·00

  where heating is included, additional

  8·60

  8·60

  Industrial death benefit

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Widow's pension

  higher rate

  54·15

  56·10

  lower rate

  16·25

  16·83

  Industrial disablement pension

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  18 and over, or under 18 with dependants

  100 per cent.

  88·40

  91·60

  90 per cent.

  79·56

  82·44

  80 per cent.

  70·72

  73·28

  70 per cent.

  61·88

  64·12

  60 per cent.

  53·04

  54·96

  50 per cent.

  44·20

  45·80

  40 per cent.

  35·36

  36·64

  30 per cent.

  26·52

  27·48

  20 per cent.

  17·68

  18·32

  918

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Under 18

  100 per cent.

  54·15

  56·10

  90 per cent.

  48·74

  50·49

  80 per cent.

  43·32

  44·88

  70 per cent.

  37·91

  39·27

  60 per cent.

  32·49

  33·66

  50 per cent.

  27·08

  28·05

  40 per cent.

  21·66

  22·4

  30 per cent.

  16·5

  16·3

  20 per cent.

  10·3

  11·2

  Maximum life gratuity (lump sum)

  5,870·00

  6,080·00

  Unemployability Supplement

  54·15

  56·10

  plus where appropriate an increase for early incapacity

  higher rate

  11·55

  11·95

  middle rate

  7·20

  7·50

  lower rate

  3·60

  37·5

  Maximum reduced earnings allowance

  35·36

  36·64

  Maximum retirement allowance

  8·84

  9·16

  Constant attendance allowance

  exceptional rate

  70·80

  73·40

  intermediate rate

  53·10

  55·05

  normal maximum rate

  35·40

  36·70

  part-time rate

  17·70

  18·35

  Exceptionally severe disablement allowance

  35·40

  36·70

  Invalidity allowances and benefits

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Invalid care allowance

  32·55

  33·70

  Invalidity benefit

  Invalidity pension

  54·15

  56·10

  Invalidity allowance

  higher rate

  11·55

  11·95

  middle rate

  7·20

  7·50

  lower rate

  3·60

  3·75

  Maternity and parent benefits

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Maternity allowance

  42·25

  43·75

  One parent benefit

  5·85

  6·05

  Pneumoconiosis, byssinosis, workmen's compensation (supplementation) and other schemes

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Total disablement allowance and major incapacity allowance (maximum)

  88·40

  91·60

  Partial disablement allowance

  32·55

  33·70

  Unemployability supplement

  54·15

  56·10

  plus where appropriate increases for early incapacity

  higher rate

  11·55

  11·95

  middle rate

  7·20

  7·50

  lower rate

  3·0

  3·5

  919

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Constant attendance allowance

  exceptional rate

  70·80

  73·40

  intermediate rate

  53·10

  55·05

  normal maximum rate

  35·40

  36·70

  part-time rate

  17·70

  18·35

  Exceptionally severe disablement allowance

  35·40

  36·70

  Lesser incapacity allowance

  maximum rate of allowance

  32·55

  33·70

  based on loss of earnings over

  43·35

  44·90

  Retirement Pension

  Old Rates 1992

  New Rates 1993

  Category A or B

  54·15

  56·10

  Category B (lower)—husband's insurance

  32·55

  33·70

  Category C or D—non-contributory

  32·55

  33·70

  Category C (lower)—non-contributory

  19·45

  20·15

  Additional pension

  —

  —

  Increments to basic and additional pension, contracted out deductions (from pre April 1988 earnings) and graduated retirement benefit

  —

  —

  Contracted out deductions (CODS) and increments to CODS (from post April 1988 earnings) (3 per cent. paid by scheme, RPI minus 3 per cent. by state)

  —

  —

  Graduated retirement benefit (unit) (pence)

  7·09

  7·35

  Addition at age 80

  0·25

  0·25

  Severe disablement allowance

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Basic rate

  32·55

  33·70

  Age-related addition (from December 1990)

  Higher rate

  11·55

  11·95

  Middle rate

  7·20

  7·50

  Lower rate

  3·60

  3·75

  Sickness benefit

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Over pension age

  51·95

  53·80

  Under pension age

  41·20

  42·70

  Social fund

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Maternity payment

  100·00

  100·00

  Capital limit

  aged under 60

  500·00

  500·00

  aged 60 and over

  1,000·00

  1,000·00

  920

  Statutory maternity pay

  Old rates 1992

  New rales 1993

  Earnings threshold

  54·00

  56·00

  Lower rate

  46·30

  47·95

  Statutory sick pay

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Earnings threshold

  54·00

  56·00

  Standard rate threshold

  190·00

  195·00

  Lower rate

  45·30

  46·95

  Standard rate

  52·50

  52·50

  Unemployment Benefit

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Over pension age

  54·15

  56·10

  Under pension age

  43·10

  44·65

  Occupational pension abatement

  35·00

  35·00

  War pensions

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Disablement pension (100 per cent. rates)

  private or equivalent

  89·00

  92·20

  non-commissioned officer

  ·00

  93·00

  officer (£ per annum)

  4,650·00

  5,081·00

  Note.—Under the further package of changes, which are to be discussed with the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions the rates would be:—

  private or equivalent

  89·00

  97·20

  officer (£ per annum)

  4,650·00

  5,072·00

  Age allowances

  40–50 per cent.

  6·25

  6·50

  over 50 but not over 70 per cent.

  9·65

  10·00

  over 70 but not over 90 per cent.

  13·80

  14·30

  over 90 per cent.

  19·30

  20·00

  Disablement gratuity (base figures for calculation purposes only)

  specified minor injury

  5,870·00

  6,080·00

  unspecified minor injury

  3,228·50

  3,344·00

  Unemployability allowance

  personal

  57·50

  59·55

  adult dependency increase

  32·55

  33·70

  (a) increase for first child

  9·75

  9·80

  (b) increase for subsequent children

  10·85

  10·95

  Invalidity allowance

  higher rate

  11·55

  11·95

  middle rate

  7·20

  7·50

  lower rate

  3·60

  3·75

  Constant attendance allowance

  exceptional rate

  70·80

  73·40

  intermediate rate

  53·10

  55·05

  normal maximum rate

  35·40

  36·70

  part-time rate

  17·70

  18·35

  Comforts allowance

  higher rate

  15·20

  15·70

  lower rate

  7·60

  7·85

  921

  Old rates 1992

  New rates 1993

  Mobility supplement

  33·70

  34·90

  Allowance for lowered standard of occupation (maximum)

  35·36

  36·64

  Exceptionally severe disablement allowance

  35·40

  36·70

  Severe disablement occupational allowance

  17·70

  18·35

  Clothing allowance (£ per annum)

  higher rate

  120·00

  124·00

  lower rate

  76·00

  79·00

  Education allowance (£ per annum) (maximum)

  120·00

  120·00

  War widow's pension (private)

  widow

  70·35

  72·90

  childless widow under 40

  16·25

  16·83

  age allowance

  (a) age 65 to 69

  8·05

  8·35

  (b) age 70 to 79

  15·55

  16·10

  (c) age 80 and over

  23·10

  23·95

  children's allowance

  (a) increase for first child (adjusted for child benefit increase)

  13·75

  13·85

  (b) increase for subsequent children

  14·85

  15·00

  Orphan's pension

  (a) increase for first child (adjusted for child benefit increase)

  15·30

  15·45

  (b) increase for subsequent children

  16·40

  16·60

  Unmarried dependant living as spouse (maximum)

  68·30

  70·85

  Rent allowance (maximum)

  26·80

  27·75

  Adult orphan's pension (maximum)

  54·15

  56·10

  Widower's pension (maximum)

  70·35

  72·90

  Widow's Benefit

  Old Rates 1992

  New Rates 1993

  Widow's payment (lump sum)

  1,000·00

  1,000·00

  Widowed mother's allowance

  54·15

  56·10

  Widow's pension standard rate

  54·15

  56·10

  age-related

  age 54 (49)

  50·36

  52·17

  age 53 (48)

  46·57

  48·25

  age 52 (47)

  42·78

  44·32

  age 51 (46)

  38·99

  40·39

  age 50 (45)

  35·20

  36·47

  age 49 (44)

  31·41

  32·54

  age 48 (43)

  27·62

  28·61

  age 47 (42)

  23·83

  24·68

  age 46 (41)

  20·04

  20·76

  age 45 (40)

  16·25

  16·83

  Note: For deaths occurring before 11 April 1988 refer to age-points shown in brackets.

  National Insurance
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has yet completed his review of national insurance contributions for 1993–94.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have completed the annual review under section 141 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. My proposals will take effect from 6 April 1993. The levels of contributory benefit expenditure I am maintaining will mean a shortfall in the national insurance fund between income and outgoings. I propose to meet this shortfall by introducing legislation to make an Exchequer grant available; in 1993–94, the first year, this would be up to 20 per cent. of contributory benefit expenditure. This legislation will also introduce the 1 per cent. additional rebate for appropriate personal pension holders aged 30 and over.

  Employers and employees

  There will be no change to the standard rates of contributions for either employees or employers, which remain at 9 per cent. and 10.4 per cent. respectively.

  In line with the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, the lower earnings limit for class 1 contributions is to be raised to £56 a week, which is the nearest whole pound to the basic retirement pension rate for a single person from April 1993. The upper earnings limit is to be raised to £420 a week, which is slightly less than seven and a half times the new basic pension rate as provided by the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act. These new earnings limits will replace the current ones of £54 and £405 respectively.

  Under the current structure employees whose earnings reach the lower earnings limit will continue to pay an initial contribution of 2 per cent. of that limit and standard rate contributions of 9 per cent. on that portion of their earnings which exceeds the lower but not the upper earnings limit. For employers the reduced contribution rates of 4·6 per cent., 6·6 per cent. and 8·6 per cent. for the lower paid will continue unchanged. However, the thresholds for these rates will be raised so that from April 1993 they apply to weekly earnings which fall below the ceilings of £95, £140 and £195 respectively, compared with £90, £135 and £190 at present.

  Not contracted-out employees and their employers

  Neither the employee nor his employer will have to pay any contributions if earnings are less than £56 a week. Those whose earnings do not exceed £405 (the former upper earnings limit) will pay 14 pence a week less in contributions than at present. This is because a further £2 of their weekly earnings will be subject to a deduction of 2 per cent. rather than 9 per cent. For employees with earnings above £405 a week the maximum possible increase will be £1·21 a week. Employers' contributions will generally be unchanged although some will pay less where employees' earnings which were above the former thresholds fall below the new thresholds. There will be no increase for employers of the higher paid since there is no upper earnings limit for employers' contributions.

  Contracted-out employees and their employers

  The statutory review of the contracted-out rebate for employees and employers, the result of which was announced last February, resulted in a reduction in the rebate from April 1993. Although the main rates of

  923
  contributions remain unchanged the effect of the reduced rebate is that many employees will pay a little more. Those with earnings between £110 and £405 (the former upper earnings limit) will pay up to 59p a week more. Those who earn more than £405 will pay contributions on the next £15 of earnings from next April (ie up to £420 a week, the proposed upper earnings limit), a maximum increase of £1·67 a week. Contracted-out employees who earn £110 or less will pay the same or slightly less.

  Because of the fall in the rebate employers will generally pay more although some will pay less where employees' earnings which were above the former thresholds fall below the new thresholds.

  Self-employed people

  The flat rate class 2 contribution will be raised by 20p to £5·55 a week.

  There will be no increase in the rate of class 4 contributions, currently 6·3 per cent. The annual limits of profits between which class 4 contributions are paid will be raised to £6,340 and £21,840 from £6,120 and £21,060 respectively. Self-employed people who pay only class 2 contributions will pay an extra £10·40 a year in 1993–94.

  For people with profits between £6,340 and £21,060 (the former upper profits limit) class 4 contributions will be reduced by £13·86 per year assuming an unaltered level of profits. For those self-employed people with profits at or above the new upper profits limit the annual charge for class 4 contributions will be £35·28 higher.

  Class 3 (voluntary) contributions

  The rate of class 3 contributions will be raised by 20p to £5·45 a week.

  National health service allocation

  The allocation to the national health service, currently 1·05 per cent. from employees and 0·9 per cent. from employers, remains unchanged.

  As usual, I shall be laying a draft order before Parliament together with a report by the Government actuary describing the effects of my proposals.

  Maternity Grants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security further to his answer of 30 October,Official Report, columns 924–27, if he will list by Benefits Agency district office the number of maternity grants paid in 1990 and 1989.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 6 November 1992]: For 1989–90 information by office is not available. However, the number of maternity payments in the year was 173,600. As the Benefits Agency was formed in April 1991, information for 1990–91 is shown in the table by DSS local office.

  Local Office

  Payments

  Aberdare

  357

  Aberdeen North

  378

  Aberdeen South

  236

  Abertillery

  162

  Aberystwth

  167

  Accrington

  442

  Airdrie

  273

  Aldershot

  370

  Ammanford

  107

  Andover

  155

  Anglesey

  296

  Arbroath

  252

  924

  Local Office

  Payments

  Ashford

  231

  Ashington

  366

  Ashton-under-Lyne

  502

  Aylesbury

  242

  Ayr

  610

  Banbury

  224

  Bargoed

  201

  Barking

  538

  Barnet

  147

  Barnsley East

  584

  Barnsley West

  334

  Barnstaple

  297

  Barrow in Furness

  333

  Barry

  325

  Basildon

  643

  Basingstoke

  212

  Bath

  364

  Bathgate

  563

  Bedford

  438

  Bellshill

  222

  Berwick on Tweed

  59

  Bexley

  533

  Birkenhead North

  766

  Birkenhead South

  429

  Birmingham Edgebaston

  750

  Birmingham Erdington

  687

  Birmingham Handsworth

  1,000

  Birmingham Ladywood

  817

  Birmingham Northfield

  693

  Birmingham Perry Barr

  508

  Birmingham Ravenhurst

  574

  Birmingham South Yardley

  803

  Birmingham Sparkhill

  421

  Birmingham Washwood Heath

  686

  Bishop Auckland

  548

  Blackburn

  1,005

  Blackpool North

  721

  Blackpool South

  282

  Blackwood

  196

  Blyth

  390

  Bognor Regis

  198

  Bolton

  1,006

  Boston

  260

  Bournemouth

  463

  Bracknell

  216

  Bradford East

  860

  Bradford South

  707

  Bradford West

  718

  Braintree

  256

  Bridgend

  476

  Bridgwater

  267

  Bridlington

  215

  Brighton

  470

  Bristol Central

  390

  Bristol East

  538

  Bristol Horfield

  248

  Bristol South

  622

  Bristol West

  148

  Bromley

  186

  Burnley

  985

  Burton on Trent

  292

  Bury

  589

  Bury St. Edmunds

  305

  Buxton

  62

  Caernarfon

  265

  Caerphilly

  291

  Cambridge

  411

  Campbeltown

  37

  Cannock

  369

  Canterbury

  303

  Cardiff Central

  370

  Cardiff East

  712

  Cardiff West

  569

  Carlisle

  376

  Carmarthen

  134

  Castleford

  273

  Chatham

  596

  Chelmsford

  260

  925

  Local Office

  Payments

  Cheltenham

  390

  Chester

  394

  Chesterfield

  644

  Chester le Street

  262

  Chichester

  127

  Chippenham

  197

  Clacton-on-Sea

  240

  Clydebank

  295

  Coatbridge

  247

  Colchester

  425

  Colwyn Bay

  309

  Corby

  235

  Coventry East

  893

  Coventry West

  515

  Cowdenbeath

  223

  Crawley

  267

  Crewe

  453

  Croydon

  683

  Cumbernauld

  359

  Cwmbran

  499

  Darlington

  615

  Dartford

  242

  Deeside

  234

  Derby Beckett Street

  467

  Derby Heritage Gate

  245

  Derby London Road

  710

  Dewsbury

  827

  Diss

  76

  Doncaster East

  507

  Doncaster West

  703

  Dover

  260

  Dudley North

  630

  Dudley South

  298

  Dumbarton

  269

  Dumfries

  329

  Dundee East

  432

  Dundee West

  453

  Dunfermline

  316

  Dunstable

  177

  Durham

  243

  Eastbourne

  319

  East Kilbride

  177

  Ebbw Vale

  285

  Edgeware

  222

  Edinburgh East

  473

  Edinburgh City

  254

  Edinburgh North

  354

  Edinburgh South

  474

  Edinburgh West

  415

  Elgin

  231

  Ellesmere Port

  316

  Epsom

  99

  Eston

  491

  Exeter

  654

  Falkirk

  495

  Fareham

  350

  Farnworth

  543

  Folkestone

  215

  Fort William

  84

  Galashiels

  222

  Gateshead

  816

  Glasgow Anniesland

  386

  Glasgow Bridgeton

  277

  Glasgow City

  223

  Glasgow Craigton

  396

  Glasgow Cranstonhill

  4

  Glasgow Laurieston

  335

  Glasgow Maryhill

  314

  Glasgow Partick

  166

  Glasgow Provan

  649

  Glasgow Rutherglen

  496

  Glasgow Shettleston

  373

  Glasgow Southside

  494

  Glasgow Springburn

  487

  Gloucester

  537

  Goole

  165

  Grantham

  234

  Gravesend

  239

  926

  Local Office

  Payments

  Grays

  370

  Greenock

  387

  Grimsby

  1,073

  Great Yarmouth

  300

  Guildford

  240

  Halifax

  773

  Hamilton

  517

  Harlow

  276

  Harrogate

  202

  Harrow

  277

  Hartlepool

  582

  Hastings

  445

  Havant

  304

  Haverfordwest

  244

  Hemel Hempstead

  203

  Hemsworth

  244

  Hereford

  365

  Hertford

  214

  Hexham

  98

  High Wycombe

  279

  Houghton Le Spring

  230

  Hounslow

  513

  Hove

  184

  Huddersfield

  782

  Hull East

  1,235

  Hull West

  934

  Hyde

  497

  Ilford

  444

  Ilkeston

  355

  Inverness

  385

  Ipswich

  609

  Irvine

  589

  Isle of Wight

  386

  Jarrow

  306

  Johnstone

  264

  Keighley

  414

  Kendal

  89

  Kidderminster

  359

  Kilmarnock

  373

  King's Lynn

  533

  Kingston

  172

  Kirkcaldy

  511

  Lancaster

  440

  Launceston

  160

  Leamington Spa

  345

  Leeds East

  809

  Leeds North

  729

  Leeds North West

  555

  Leeds South

  431

  Leeds West

  499

  Leicester Burleys Way

  329

  Leicester Lower Hill Street

  581

  Leicester Norton Street

  517

  Leicester Yeoman Street

  761

  Leigh

  430

  Lerwick

  35

  Leven

  203

  Lewes

  202

  Lichfield

  501

  Lincoln Newland

  418

  Lincoln Orchard Street

  533

  Liverpool Belle Vale

  370

  Liverpool Bootle

  611

  Liverpool Breckfield

  689

  Liverpool City

  295

  Liverpool Crosby

  442

  Liverpool Edgehill

  567

  Liverpool Garston

  371

  Liverpool Huyton

  777

  Liverpool Kirkby

  748

  Liverpool Norris Green

  379

  Liverpool Toxteth

  550

  Liverpool West Derby

  175

  Llanelli

  308

  London Balham

  418

  London Battersea

  403

  London Bloomsbury

  154

  London Brixton

  421

  927

  Local Office

  Payments

  London Camberwell

  506

  London Canning Town

  277

  London Chelsea

  172

  London City

  108

  London Cricklewood

  205

  London Crystal Palace

  466

  London Ealing

  1,359

  London Edmonton

  505

  London Euston

  930

  London Finsbury Park

  482

  London Fulham

  124

  London Greenwich Park

  218

  London Hackney

  585

  London Harlesden

  451

  London Hendon

  274

  London Highgate

  265

  London Hither Green

  34

  London Hoxton

  404

  London Kennington Park

  375

  London Kensington

  136

  London Lewisham

  762

  London Leytonstone

  484

  London Mitcham

  239

  London Neasden

  454

  London Oval

  248

  London Paddington

  106

  London Peckham

  370

  London Plaistow

  474

  London Poplar

  586

  London Shoreditch

  403

  London Southwark

  440

  London Stepney

  514

  London Stoke Newington

  341

  London Streatham

  321

  London Thames South

  3

  London Tottenham

  665

  London Walthamstow

  470

  London Wandsworth

  194

  London Westminster

  130

  London Wimbledon

  256

  London Woodgrange Park

  636

  London Wood Green

  394

  London Woolwich

  877

  Loughborough

  383

  Lowestoft

  277

  Luton

  672

  Macclesfield

  140

  Maidstone

  337

  Manchester Central

  182

  Manchester Cheetham

  645

  Manchester Chorlton

  405

  Manchester Failsworth

  620

  Manchester Longsight

  655

  Manchester Middleton

  439

  Manchester Openshaw

  608

  Manchester Rusholme

  505

  Manchester Sale

  562

  Manchester Wythenshawe

  724

  Mansfield

  660

  Merthyr Tydfil

  431

  Middlesbrough

  1,117

  Milton Keynes

  572

  Morriston

  320

  Motherwell

  446

  Neath

  224

  New Forest

  248

  New Malden

  102

  Newbury

  159

  Newcastle East

  540

  Newcastle St. James

  623

  Newcastle West

  516

  Newcastle Staffs

  351

  Newport Gwent

  878

  Newtown

  197

  Northampton

  741

  North Shields

  335

  Northallerton

  172

  Northwich

  342

  928

  Local Office

  Payments

  Norwich Chantry

  371

  Norwich Mountergate

  547

  Nottingham Castlegate

  587

  Nottingham David Lane

  695

  Nottingham Shakespeare Street

  793

  Nottingham Station Street

  701

  Nuneaton

  502

  Oban

  48

  Oldham

  1,002

  Orpington

  175

  Oxford

  655

  Paisley

  597

  Pembroke Dock

  185

  Penrith

  62

  Penzance

  256

  Perth

  352

  Peterborough

  892

  Peterhead

  170

  Peterlee

  451

  Plymouth

  541

  Plymouth Crownhill

  581

  Pontefract

  311

  Pontypridd

  281

  Poole

  382

  Port Glasgow

  160

  Portsmouth North

  471

  Portsmouth South

  344

  Port Talbot

  212

  Porth

  221

  Porthmadog

  177

  Preston North

  743

  Preston South

  580

  Reading

  428

  Redcar

  367

  Redditch

  436

  Redhill

  196

  Rhyl

  488

  Rochdale

  745

  Romford

  308

  Rossendale

  234

  Rotherham North

  278

  Rotherham South

  879

  Rugby

  187

  Salford North

  578

  Salford South

  515

  Salisbury

  254

  Scarborough

  340

  Scunthorpe

  547

  Seaham

  205

  Sheffield North East

  244

  Sheffield North West

  630

  Sheffield South East

  466

  Sheffield South West

  410

  Shrewsbury

  475

  Sittinghbourne

  336

  Skegness

  159

  Skelmersdale

  516

  Skipton

  50

  Slough

  405

  Smethwick

  772

  Southampton

  941

  Southend on Sea

  527

  Southport

  192

  South Shields

  495

  Stafford

  237

  St. Albans

  244

  Stanley

  418

  St. Austell

  399

  Stevenage

  414

  St. Helens

  893

  Stirling

  462

  Stockport North

  450

  Stockport South

  374

  Stockton

  946

  Stoke on Trent North

  717

  Stoke on Trent South

  558

  Stornoway

  58

  Stranraer

  113

  929

  Local Office

  Payments

  Stroud

  253

  Sunderland North

  1,006

  Sunderland South

  671

  Sutton

  201

  Sutton in Ashfield

  442

  Swansea

  672

  Swindon

  511

  Taunton

  346

  Telford

  695

  Thanet

  507

  Tonypandy

  253

  Torbay

  629

  Trowbridge

  207

  Truro

  506

  Tunbridge Wells

  214

  Twickenham

  114

  Uxbridge

  389

  Wakefield

  500

  Wallasey

  387

  Wallsend

  320

  Walsall East

  547

  Walsall West

  762

  Warrington

  730

  Watford

  240

  Wath on Dearne

  440

  Wellingborough

  457

  West Bromwich

  815

  Weston super Mare

  223

  Weymouth

  334

  Whitehaven

  229

  Wick

  153

  Widnes

  828

  Wigan

  785

  Wilmslow

  72

  Winchester

  176

  Woking

  228

  Wolverhampton North

  880

  Wolverhampton South

  619

  Worcester

  521

  Workington

  217

  Worksop

  432

  Worthing

  312

  Wrexham

  606

  Yeovil

  262

  York

  586

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Treaties
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the treaties which Her Majesty's Government have either ratified or signed since 1962 published with the side heading "Refugees".

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Treaties under the side heading "Refugees" either signed or ratified by Her Majesty's Government since 1 January 1962 are listed. Command Paper references are given for ease of reference.

  REFUGEES
  Multilateral agreement

  European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees

  Signed at Strasbourg on 20 April 1959

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 032/1969 Cmnd 3922

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on the Reducation of Statelessness

  Signed at New York on 30 August 1961 and 31 May 1962

  930

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 158/1975 Cmnd 6364

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees

  Signed at New York on 31 January 1967

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 015/1969 Cmnd 3906

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol relating to Refugee Seamen

  Signed at The Hague on 12 June 1973

  Definitive date of entry into force on 30 March 1975

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: The Netherlands Government

  Published text: Misc. Series No. 018/1973 Cmnd 5381

  Treaty Series/Command No. 038/1975 Cmnd 6035

  Multilateral agreement

  European Agreement on Transfer of Responsibility for Refugees

  Signed at Strasbourg on 16 October 1980

  Definitive date of entry into force on 1 December 1980

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Council of Europe

  Published text: Misc 003/1981 Cmnd 8127

  Treaty Series/Command No. 050/1987 Cmnd 222

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list the treaties Her Majesty's Government either ratified or signed since 1962 published with the side heading "Conservation";

  (2) if he will list the treaties Her Majesty's Government either ratified or signed since 1962 published with the side heading "Animals".

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Treaties under the side heading "Conservation" and "Animals" either signed or ratified by Her Majesty's Government since 1 January 1962 are listed. Current indexing practice combines "Animal" and "Conservation" side headings. Command Paper references are given for ease of reference.

  ANIMALS AND CONSERVATION
  Multilateral agreement

  European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport

  Signed at Paris on 13 December 1968

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 031/1974 Cmnd 5613

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

  Signed at Washington on 3 March 1976

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 101/1976 Cmnd 6647

  Multilateral agreement

  Revised Appendices I, II and III to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

  Adopted in March 1979

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 033/1980 Cmnd 7857

  Multilateral agreement

  Revised Appendices I, II and III to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

  Adopted in March 1981

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 077/1981 Cmnd 8395

  ANIMALS AND CONSERVATION
  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat

  Adopted at Ramsar on 2 February 1971

  Definitive date of entry into force on 21 December 1975

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: UNESCO

  Published text: Misc 027/1973 Cmnd 5483

  Treaty Series/Command No. TS 034/1976 Cmnd 6465

  Multilateral agreement

  European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes

  Signed at Strasbourg on 10 March 1976

  Definitive date of entry into force on 10 September 1978

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Council of Europe

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 028/1976 Cmnd 6614

  Treaty Series/Command No. 070/1979 Cmnd 7684

  Multilateral agreement

  European convention for the Protection of Animals for Slaughter

  Signed at Strasbourg on 10 May 1979

  Definitive date of entry into force on 11 June 1982

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Council of Europe

  Published text: Misc No. 002/1980 Cmnd 7776

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals

  Signed at Bonn on 23 June 1979, closed on 22 June 1980

  Definitive date of entry into force on 1 November 1983

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Federal Republic of Germany

  Published text: Misc Series No. 11 (1980) Cmnd 7888

  Treaty Series/Command No. 087/1990 Cmnd1332

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats

  Signed at Berne on 19 September 1979

  Definitive date of entry into force on 1 June 1982

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Council of Europe

  Published text: Misc Series No. 003/1980 Cmnd 7809

  Treaty Series/Command No. 056/1982 Cmnd 8738

  Multilateral agreement

  Additional Protocol to the European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport

  Signed at Strasbourg on 10 May 1979

  Definitive date of entry into force on 7 November 1989

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Council of Europe

  Published text: Misc Series No. 22 (1980) Cmnd 8040

  Treaty Series/Command No. 034/1991 Cmnd 1540

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol to amend the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat

  Adopted at Paris on 3 December 1982

  Signed at Paris on 3 December 1982

  Definitive date of entry into force on 1 October 1986

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositories: UNESCO

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 001/1984 Cmnd 9113

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol concerning Co-operation in Combating Oil Spills in the Wider Caribbean Region

  Signed at Cartagena de Indias on 24 March 1983

  Definitive date of entry into force on 11 October 1986

  932

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Government of the Republic of Colombia

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 019/1983 Cmnd 9022

  Treaty Series/Command No. 038/1988 Cm 399

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region

  Signed at Cartagena de Indias on 24 March 1983

  Definitive date of entry into force on 11 October 1986

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Government of the Republic of Colombia

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 019/1983 Cmnd 9022

  Treaty Series/Command No. 038/1988 Cm 399

  Multilateral agreement

  Agreement establishing an International Foot and Mouth disease Vaccine Bank

  Signed at London on 26 June 1985

  Definitive date of entry into force on 26 June 1985

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Kingdom

  Treaty Series/Command no. 043/1985 Cmnd 9602

  Multilateral agreement

  European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes

  Signed at Strasbourg on 18 March 1986

  Definitive date of entry into force on 1 January 1991

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Council of Europe

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 004/1986 Cmnd 9884

  Multilateral agreement

  Agreement on the Conservation of Bats in Europe

  Signed at London on 4 December 1991

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositories: Government of the United Kingdom

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series 001/1992 Cm 1830

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on the Protection and the Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

  Signed at Helsinki on 17 March 1992

  closed on 18 September 1992

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United NationsPublished text: Miscellaneous Series publication in hand

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents

  Signed at Helsinki on 17 March 1992

  closed on 18 September 1992

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Finnish Government

  Published text: Certified copy of the Convention awaited

  Multilateral agreement

  Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas

  Signed at New York on 17 March 1992

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series publication in hand

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on Biological Diversity

  Adopted at Nairobi on 11 May 1992

  Signed at Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992

  closed on 14 June 1992

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Nations

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series publication in hand.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the treaties
  933
  which Her Majesty's Government have either ratified or signed since 1962 published with the side heading "'Human Rights".

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Treaties under the side heading "Human Rights" either signed or ratified by Her Majesty's Government since 1 January 1962 are listed. Command Paper references are given for ease of reference.

  HUMAN RIGHTS
  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on the Political Rights of Women

  Signed at New York on 31 March 1953

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 101/1967 Cmnd 3449

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol No. 2 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, conferring upon the European Court of Human rights competence to give Advisory Opinions

  Signed at Strasbourg on 6 May 1963

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 104/1970 Cmnd 4551

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol No. 3 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, amending Article 29, 30 and 34 of the Convention

  Signed at Strasbourg on 6 May 1963

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 106/1970 Cmnd 4552

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol No. 4 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, signed at Rome on 4 November 1950

  Signed at Strasbourg on 16 September 1963

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Miscellaneous Series No. 006/1964 Cmnd 2309

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol No. 5 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, amending Articles 22 and 40 of the Convention

  Signed at Strasbourg on 20 January 1966

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 048/1972 Cmnd 4963

  Multilateral agreement

  International Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

  Signed at New York on 7 March 1966

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 077/1969 Cmnd 4108

  Multilateral agreement

  International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

  Signed at New York on 19 December 1966

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 006/1977 Cmnd 6702

  Multilateral agreement

  European Agreement relating to Persons participating in Proceedings of the European Commission and Court of Human Rights

  Signed at London on 6 May 1969

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 044/1971 Cmnd 4699

  Multilateral agreement
  934

  Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

  Adopted at New York (UN) on 18 December 1979

  Signed at New York (UN) on 1 March 1980

  Definitive date of entry into force on 3 September 1981

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Nations Secretary General

  Published text: Miscellaneous No. 001/1982 Cmnd 8444

  Treaty Series/Command No. 002/1989 Cm 643

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (Council of Europe No. 108)

  Signed at Strasbourg on 28 January 1981

  Definitive date of entry into force on 1 October 1985

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Secretary General of the Council of Europe

  Published text: Miscellaneous No. 019/1981 Cmnd 8341

  Treaty Series/Command No. 086/1990 Cm 1329

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

  Adopted at New York (UN) on 10 December 1984

  Signed at New York on 4 February 1985

  Definitive date of entry into force on 26 June 1987

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Nations (UN)

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 012/1985 Cmnd 9593

  Treaty Series/Command No. 107/1991 Cm 1775

  Multilateral agreement

  European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment [ETS No. 126]

  Signed at Strasbourg on 26 November 1987

  Definitive date of entry into force on 1 February 1989

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Council of Europe

  Published text: Misc. No. 005/1988 Cmnd 339

  Treaty Series/Command No. 054/1991 Cmnd 1634

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on the Rights of the Child

  Adopted at New York (UNGA) on 20 November 1989

  Definitive date of entry into force on 2 September 1990

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Nations

  Published text: Misc. Series 017/1991 Cmnd 1668

  Treaty Series/Command No. 044/1992 Cmnd 1976

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol No. 8 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 4 November 1950

  Signed at Vienna on 19 March 1985

  Definitive date of entry into force on 1 January 1990

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Council of Europe

  Published text: Misc. No. 009/1985 Cmnd 9556

  Treaty Series/Command No. 051/1990 Cmnd 1136

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol amending the European Social Charter

  Signed at Turin on 21 October 1991 closed on 22 October 1991

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Council of Europe

  Published text: Misc. Series 005/1992 Cmnd 1940

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life at Local Level

  Signed at Strasbourg on 5 February 1992

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Council of Europe

  Published text: Misc. Series No. 008/1992 Cmnd 1964

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol No. 10 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

  Signed at Strasbourg on 25 March 1992

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Council of Europe

  Published text: Misc. Series No. 012/1992 Cmnd 2031

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the treaties Her Majesty's Government either ratified or signed since 1962 published with the side heading "Disarmament".

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Treaties under the side heading "Disarmament" either signed or ratified by Her Majesty's Government since 1 January 1962 are listed. Command Paper references are given for ease of reference.

  DISARMAMENT
  Multilateral agreement

  Treaty banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water

  Signed at Moscow on 5 August 1963

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 003/1964 Cmnd 2245

  Multilateral agreement

  Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

  Signed at London on 1 July 1968

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 088/1970 Cmnd 4474

  Multilateral agreement

  Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof

  Signed at London on 11 February 1971

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 013/1973 Cmnd 5266

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

  Signed at London on 10 April 1972

  Definitive date of entry into force on 26 March 1975

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Kingdom [Multidepositary]

  Published text: Miscellaneous No. 025/1972 Cmnd 5053

  Treaty Series/Command No. 011/1976 Cmnd 6397

  Multilateral agreement

  Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water

  Signed at Moscow on 5 August 1963

  Definitive date of entry into force on 10 September 1963

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Kingdom [Multidepositary]

  Published text: Miscellaneous No. 010/1963 Cmnd 2118

  Treaty Series/Command No. 003/1964 Cmnd 2245

  Multilateral agreement

  Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (With Final Recommendations of the Helsinki Consultations agreed on 8 June 1973)

  Signed at Helsinki on 1 August 1975

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Government of Finland

  Published text: Prime Minister Cmnd 6198

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on the Prohibition of Military or any other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (ENMOD)

  Signed at Geneva on 18 May 1977

  Closed on 31 May 1977

  936

  Definitive date of entry into force on 5 September 1978

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Nations

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 021/1977 Cmnd 6985

  Treaty Series/Command No. 024/1979 Cmnd 7469

  Multilateral agreement
  Agreement among the United States of America and the Kingdom of Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Italy, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland regarding Inspections relating to the Treaty between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles

  Signed at Brussels on 11 December 1987

  Definitive date of entry into force on 1 June 1988

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United States of America

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 004/1988 Cm 312

  Treaty Series/Command No. 031/1991 Cm 1535

  Bilateral agreement with Soviet Union
  Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on Inspection Rights relating to the Treaty between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles

  Signed at London on 21 December 1987

  Definitive date of entry into force on 1 June 1988

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text: Soviet Union No. 001/1988 Cm 311

  Treaty Series/Command No. 030/1991 Cm 1534

  Multilateral agreement

  Charter of Paris for a New Europe (with Joint Declaration of Twenty-Two States)

  Signed at Paris on 21 November 1990

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Government of the French Republic

  Treaty Series/Command No. Cmnd 1464

  Multilateral agreement

  Treaty on Open Skies

  Signed at Helsinki on 24 March 1992

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Governments of Canada and Hungary

  Published text: Misc. Series No. 013/1992 Cmnd 2067

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects

  Approved at Geneva on 10 October 1980

  Signed at New York on 10 April 1981

  closed on 10 April 1982

  Definitive date of entry into force on 2 December 1983

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Nations

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 23/1981 Cmnd 8370

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the treaties which Her Majesty's Government have either ratified or signed since 1962 published with the side heading "Pollution".

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Treaties under the side heading "Pollution" either signed or ratified by Her Majesty's Government since 1 January 1962 are listed. Command Paper references are given for ease of reference.
  937

  POLLUTION
  Multilateral agreement

  Amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1954

  Signed at London on 21 October 1969

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 021/1978 Cmnd 7094

  Multilateral agreement

  International Convention relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties

  Signed at Brussels on 29 November 1969 and 31 December 1970

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series Command No. 077/1975 Cmnd 6056

  Multilateral agreement

  International Convention on the establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage

  Signed at Brussels on 18 December 1971

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text:

  Treaty Series/Command No. 095/1978 Cmnd 7383

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973

  Signed at London on 1 June 1978 and 31 May 1979

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 027/1978 Cmnd 7347

  Multilateral agreement

  Agreement for Co-operation in dealing with Pollution of the North Sea by Oil.

  Signed at Bonn on 9 june 1969

  Definitive date of entry into force on 9 August 1969

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Federal Republic of Germany

  Treaty Series/Command No. 078 (1969) Cmnd 4205

  Multilateral agreement

  International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage

  Signed at Brussels on 29 November 1969

  closed on 31 December 1970

  Definitive date of entry into force on 19 June 1975

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: IMCO

  Published text: Misc. No. 8 (1970) Cmnd 4403

  Treaty Series/Command No. 106 (1975) Cmnd 6183

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft

  Signed at Oslo on 15 February 1972

  closed on 15 August 1972

  Definitive date of entry into force on 7 April 1974

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Norwegian Government

  Published text: 021/1972 Cmnd 4984

  Treaty Series/Command No. 119/1975 Cmnd 6228

  Multilateral agreement

  Final Act of the Inter-governmental Conference on the Convention on the Dumping of Wastes at Sea

  Adopted at London on 13 November 1972

  Signed at

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Kingdom [Multidepositary]

  Published text: Misc. No. 054/1972 Cmnd 5169

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter

  Adopted at London on 13 November 1972

  938

  Signed at London on 29 December 1972

  closed on 31 December 1973

  Definitive date of entry into force on 30 August 1975

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Kingdom [Multidepositary]

  Published text: Miscellaneous No. 054/1972 Cmnd 5169

  Treaty Series/Command No. 043/1976 Cmnd 6486

  Multilateral agreement

  Resolution to amend Articles XI, XIV and XV of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter of 29 December 1972 (adopted by the Third Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties at London on 12 December 1978)

  Adopted at London on 12 October 1978

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries : International Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO)

  Published text: Misc. No. 011/1979 Cmnd 7570

  Multilateral agreement

  Amendments to Annexes I and II to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and other Matter (concerning Incineration at Sea)

  Approved at London on 12 October 1978

  Definitive date of entry into force on 11 March 1979

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositories: IMCO

  Treaty Series/Command No. 071/1979 Cmnd 7656

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Long-Term Financing of the Co-operative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-Range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP)

  Adopted at Geneva on 28 September 1984

  Open for signing on

  Definitive date of entry into force on 28 January 1985

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Nations (UN)

  Published text: Miscellaneous No. 008/1985 Cmnd 9537

  Treaty Series/Command No. 075/1988 Cmnd 521

  Multilateral agreement

  Amendments to Annexes I and II to the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft, done at Oslo on 15 February 1972

  Adopted at Mariehamn on 13 June 1985

  Definitive date of entry into force on 11 May 1990

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Government of Norway

  Treaty Series/Command No. 081/1990 Cmnd 1315

  Multilateral agreement

  Decision concerning amendments to the Agreement for Co-operation in dealing with Pollution of the North Sea by Oil and other Harmful Substances, 1983

  Adopted at BONN on 22 September 1989

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Government of the Federal German Republic

  Multilateral agreement

  Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer done at Montreal 16 September 1987

  Adopted at LONDON on 29 June 1990

  Definitive date of entry into force on 10 August 1992

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: UNITED NATIONS

  Terminated? No

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 012/1991 Cmnd. 1567

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or their Transboundary Fluxes

  939

  Adopted at GENEVA on 18 November 1991

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: UNITED NATIONS

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 010/1992 Cmnd 1970

  Multilateral agreement

  Final Act of the International Conference on Marine Pollution 1973 including International Convention for The Prevention of Pollution by Substances other than Oil, 1973 and Resolutions of the Conference.

  Signed at London on 8 October 1973 closed on 2 November 1973

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: IMCO

  Published text: Misc. Series 026 (1974) Cmnd. 5748

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Pollution by Substances other than Oil, 1973

  Signed at London on 2 November 1973 closed on 31 December 1974

  Definitive date of entry into force on 30 March 1983

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: IMCO

  Published text: Misc Series 012/1975 Cmnd. 6038

  Treaty Series/Command No. 027/1983 Cmnd. 8924

  Multilateral agreement

  International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 with Final Act of the Conference (MARPOL)

  Adopted at London on 2 November 1973

  Signed at London on 14 January 1974 closed on 31 December 1974

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: IMO

  Published text: Misc 026/1974 Cmnd. 5748

  Bilateral agreement with Soviet Union

  Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on Co-operation in the Field of Environmental Protection

  Signed at London on 21 May 1974

  Definitive date of entry into force on 21 May 1974

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Treaty Series/Command No. 058/1974 Cmnd. 5778

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Land-Based Sources

  Signed at Paris on 4 June 1974 closed on 30 June 1975

  Definitive date of entry into force on 6 May 1978

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: French Government

  Published text: Misc Series 001/1975 Cmnd. 5803

  Treaty Series/Command No. 064/1978 Cmnd. 7251

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol to the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969, with Final Act of the Conference.

  Signed at London on 19 November 1976

  Definitive date of entry into force on 8 April 1981

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: IMCO

  Published text: Misc. Series No. 026/1977 Cmnd. 7028

  Treaty Series/Command No. 026/1981 Cmnd. 8238

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol to the International Convention on the Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971

  Adopted at London on 19 November 1976

  Signed at London on 1 February 1977

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: IMO

  940

  Published text: Misc. No. 027/1977 Cmnd 7029

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage resulting from Exploration for and Exploitation of Seabed

  Mineral Resources (with Final Act of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage from Offshore Operations 20–31 October 1975 and 13–17 December 1976)

  Signed at London on 1 May 1977, closed on 30 April 1978

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Kingdom

  Published text:

  Misc. Series No. 008/1977 Cmnd 6791

  Multilateral agreement

  Optional Annex V to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto

  Signed at London on 1 June 1978, closed on 31 May 1979

  Definitive date of entry into force on 31 December 1988

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: IMO

  Published text:

  Misc. Series No. 027/1978 Cmnd 7347

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (MARPROT: XIX 1069)

  Signed at London on 1 June 1978, closed on 31 May 1979

  Definitive date of entry into force on 2 October 1983

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: IMCO

  Published text: Misc. Series No. 027/1978 Cmnd 7347

  Multilateral agreement

  Optional Annex III to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto.

  Signed at London on 1 June 1978, closed on 31 May 1979

  Definitive date of entry into force on 1 July 1992

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: IMO

  Published text: Misc. Series No. 027/1978 Cmnd 7347

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context.

  Adopted at Espoo (Finland) on 25 February 1991

  Signed at Espoo/New York on 25 February 1991, closed on 2 September 1991

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Multilateral agreement

  Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

  Signed at Geneva on 13 November 1979 closed on 16 November 1979

  Definitive date of entry into force on 16 March on 1983

  UK signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Nations

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 010/1980 Cmnd 7885

  Treaty Series/Command No. 057/1983 Cmnd 9034

  Multilateral agreement

  Amendments to Annexes I and II to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and other Matter concerning Lists of Substances

  Approved at London on 24 September 1980

  Signed at Approved at London on 24 September 1980

  Definitive date of entry into force on 11 March 1981

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: IMCO

  Treaty Series/Command No. 20 (1982) Cmnd 8555

  Multilateral agreement

  941

  Agreement for Co-operation in dealing with Pollution of the North Sea by Oil and Other Harmful Substances

  Signed at Bonn on 13 September 1983

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Government of the Federal Republic of Germany

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 026/1983 Cmnd 9104

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol Amending the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft

  Signed at Oslo on 2 March 1983

  Definitive date of entry into force on 1 September 1989

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Norwegian Government

  Published text: Miscellaneous No. 12/1983 Cmnd 8942

  Treaty Series/Command No. 059/1989 Cm 889

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol of 1984 to amend the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971

  Adopted at London on 25 May 1984

  Signed at London on 1 December 1984

  closed on 30 November 1985

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

  Published text: Miscellaneous No. 007/1986, Cmnd 9926

  Multilateral agreement

  Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

  Adopted at Vienna on 22 March 1985

  Signed at Vienna and New York on 22 March 1985 closed on 21 March 1986

  Definitive date of entry into force on 22 September 1988

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Nations (UN)

  Published text: Miscellaneous No. 013/1985 Cmnd 9652

  Treaty Series/Command No. 001/1990 Cm 910

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol of 1984 to amend the International Conventaion on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969

  Adopted at London on 25 May 1985

  Signed at London on 1 December 1985

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

  Published text: Miscellaneous No. 008/1986, Cmnd 9927

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol Amending the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Land-Based Sources

  Signed at Paris on 26 March 1986

  closed on 30 June 1986

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: French Government

  Published text: Misc No. 003/1987 Cm 87

  Multilateral agreement

  Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

  Adopted at Montreal on 16 September 1987

  Signed at Montreal on 16 September 1987

  Definitive date of entry into force on 1 January 1989

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Nations

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 001/1988 Cm 283 Treaty Series/Command No. 019/1990 Cm 977

  Multilateral agreement

  Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal

  Adopted at Basel on 22 March 1989

  Signed at Berne/New York on 23 March 1989

  closed on 22 March 1990

  Definitive date of entry into force on 5 May 1992

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Nations

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 004/1990 Cm 984

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol [further] amending the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft, done at Oslo on 15 February 1972

  Signed at Oslo on 5 December 1989

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: Government of Norway

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 010/1990 Cm 1039

  Multilateral agreement

  Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or their Transboundary Fluxes

  Signed at Sofia/New York on 31 October 1988

  closed on 5 March 1989

  Definitive date of entry into force on 14 February 1991

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: United Nations

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series 016/1989 Cm 885Treaty Series/Command No. 001/1992 Cm 1787

  Multilateral agreement

  Optional Annex V to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto

  Signed at London on 1 June 1978

  closed 31 May 1979

  Definitive date of entry into force on 31 December 1988

  UK Signatory? Yes

  Depositaries: International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

  Published text: Miscellaneous Series No. 027/1978 Cmnd 7347

  Dependent Territories
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he intends to put forward for the future government of the dependent territories; and when they will be implemented.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Wells) to his question of 29 October,Official Report, column 793, which referred to the Caribbean dependent territories. Implementation of these changes has already started. No other changes are planned.

  Ahmadi Muslims
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the persecution of the Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have on several occasions expressed to the Pakistani Government our concerns about discrimination against Ahmadis. In 1984 a presidential ordinance made it a criminal offence for an Ahmadi to call himself a Muslim or to preach and propagate his faith. Members of the Ahmadi community have individually suffered from discrimination, although many in the community have prospered in business arid the professions. We believe that a recent decision by the Pakistani Government that a citizen's identity card should indicate his religion could make discrimination against Ahmadis and other minority religious groups easier. We have expressed our concern to the Pakistani Government.

  Iran
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps in concert with Her Majesty's Government and their partners in the EC to include on the agenda of the current session of the United Nations General Assembly proposals for concrete measures to exert pressure on the Iranian Government to improve human rights.

  Mr. Hurd
  In my speech of 22 September at the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of the European Community and its member states, I made it clear that Iran's human rights record will affect the extent to which closer relations with and confidence in Iran can be developed. The United Nations Secretary-General's special representative on human rights in Iran, Mr. Galindo-Pohl, will present a report to the United Nations General Assembly later this month. Together with our EC partners, we will work to ensure that his report's findings are fully reflected in any resolution adopted at the General Assembly.

  Abu Dhabi
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact he or his Department has had with the head of the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi's private office.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Our ambassador in Abu Dhabi had a meeting with the chairman of Sheikh Zayed's private department on 30 January 1992.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi concerning the 17 British citizens who have been detained there concerning the Bank of Credit and Commerce International issue; and if he will make a statement on the conditions under which they are currently being held.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have made numerous representations to senior officials in Abu Dhabi asking for the detainees to be charged or released. Eight detainees entered Abu Dhabi on British passports. There are a further two dual United Kingdom/Pakistan citizens and one Canadian citizen whom we are helping. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised their case with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates on 16 May 1992.

  They are being held at the police club, which is comfortable and air-conditioned. They are housed two to a room and have the run of one wing. Food is brought in daily from a nearby hotel. The detainees are visited regularly by a doctor.

  Nagorno-Karabakh
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Her Majesty's Government are doing to urge the Azerbaijani authorities to agree to a negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  When he met President Elchibei during his recent visit to Baku, the President of the Board of Trade expressed British support for a general ceasefire 944
  which would enable the Rome talks to reconvene. He gave President Elchibei a letter from my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister which also made this point. Separately, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has been in touch with the Turkish Foreign Minister to suggest that Turkey use its influence in the region to help bring about a peaceful settlement.

  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Her Majesty's Government are doing to alleviate the suffering caused by the continuing dispute in Nagorno-Karabakh.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Government are concerned at the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh where humanitarian needs during the forthcoming winter will be considerable. The Government therefore are contributing £250,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross which has representatives in Nagorno-Karabakh and is distributing aid there. This money will be used to help Armenian and Azeri victims of the conflict alike.

  Indian Ocean
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's security interests in the Indian ocean outside the Gulf.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, we have a general interest in peace and security in the Indian ocean region. More specifically, we retain sovereignty over British Indian ocean territory in which military facilities are located in Diego Garcia.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Public Record Office
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many papers his Department has currently withdrawn from the Public Record Office; if he will list their titles; and when he estimates that they will be returned.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  About 140 items are on loan to the Cabinet Office and Cabinet Office (OPSS) under the provision of the Public Records Act 1958, section 4(6) of which gives Government Departments a statutory right to retrieve records temporarily from the Public Record Office for their own administrative use. This number changes from day to day as records are returned as soon as departmental action has been completed.

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list, for each local authority area in south Yorkshire, how many residential properties are currently owned by his Department; and if he will list, by location, those residential properties which are empty, giving the type of accommodation available, the length of time each property has been vacant, and its intended future use.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  The Office of Public Service and Science does not own any residential properties in south Yorkshire.

  Charter Marks
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken to encourage public organisations to apply for the charter mark awards.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The charter mark scheme was publicised in both the local and the national press following its launch in January this year. Interested organisations were invited to contact a freefone number to obtain further details of the scheme. Additionally, the scheme was brought to the attention of the relevant bodies by Departments.

  We are currently conducting a review of all aspects of the charter mark scheme, and have commissioned some research which will, amongst other things, identify the best ways of publicising the scheme in future years.

  Science Budget
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the text of his letter to Sir David Phillips, chairman of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils, seeking the board's advice on the allocation of the science budget in 1993–94 and later years.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The following is the text of my letter: Sir David Phillips KBE FRS

  Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils PROVISION FOR SCIENCE 1993–94 to 1995–96
  I am writing to let you know the outcome of this years' Public Expenditure survey, and to seek the Board's help in allocating the funds now available for the science budget for 1993–94 and later years.
  As you know, this has been an exceptionally difficult survey. All existing plans for public expenditure have been reviewed to ensure that we meet our over-riding economic objectives. The resulting provision for the science budget will be £1,164·6m in 1993–94, £1,231·5m in 1994–95 and £1,264·7m in 1995–96.
  These figures are lower than the previous planning figures announced last November. They take account of the reduction since then in the expected level of inflation, as measured by the reduction in the GDP deflator. After allowing for the dual support transfer, the revised figures provide for at least level funding in real terms throughout the planning period. In the circumstances, I believe that they represent a good settlement for science.
  I nevertheless recognise that the lower level of provision now available will require a reassessment of priorities as compared with previous plans. There have also been changes since the Board's advice was submitted last May which affect the position of individual funded bodies.
  Before deciding on the distribution of the funds available for 1993–94 and later years, I would find it most helpful to have the Board's assessment of the impact of such changes on individual funded bodies, and its judgment of what our priorities should now be. I am asking the Chief Scientific Adviser, as my representative on the Board, and my officials in the Office of Public Service and Science to work with you to this end.
  Since the Science Budget is a matter of considerable Parliamentary and public interest, I propose to follow precedent by publishing the text of this letter in the fonn of a Parliamentary Answer.

  Office of Public Service and Science
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what expenditure will be incurred by the Office of Public Service and Science in the period 1993–94 to 1995–96.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Spending on the areas covered by the new Office of Public Service and Science (OPSS) will rise 946
  in real terms next year. The programme totals will be £1,255 million in 1993–94, £1,321 million in 1994–95 and £1,349 million in 1995–96.

  Planned expenditure on public service functions is £85 million in 1993–94, £84 million in 1994–95 and £78 million in 1995–96.

  Provision for science, including expenditure financed by EC receipts, is £1,170 million in 1993–94, £1,237 million in 1994–95 and £1,271 million in 1995–96.

  These figures include sums transferred from higher education funding of £125 million, £154 million and £157 million respectively, to cover the additional responsibilities of the research councils for the projects which they support in higher education institutions.

  Within these totals, the sums available for distribution on the advice of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils will be £1,165 million, £1,231 million and £1,265 million. Total science provision for each year will be 3·7 per cent., 7·5 per cent. and 10·5 per cent. higher in cash terms than the estimated outturn in 1992–93, excluding the sums transferred.

  I am inviting the Advisory Board for the Research Councils to work with the chief scientific adviser and my officials to consider how these sums should be distributed so as to achieve the best value from the resources available.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has to change the 1992–93 cash limit or running costs limit for the Office of Public Service and Science.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for the Office of Public Service and Science (class XIX, vote 1) will be increased by £3,293,000 from £38,459,000 to £41,752,000. The Department's running costs limit will be increased by £15,046,000 from £49,098,000 to £64,144,000.

  A total of £2,774,000 of the increase in cash limit is required to take forward the work of the citizens charter and £519,000 is required to meet certain costs arising from the creation of the new Department. The additional running costs reflect the transfer of certain functions from HM Treasury (class XVIII, vote 1) to the Office of Public Service and Science and, also, covers additional provision for the transfer of functions which resulted from the machinery of government changes announced after the general election. All the changes are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Cash Limits
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes he intends to make to his Department's cash limits for 1992–93.

  Mr. Gummer
  The cash limit for class III vote 4 (agricultural, food and fishing services) will be reduced by £18,200,000 from £368,256,000 to £350,056,000. Within this limit expenditure will be reduced by £16,871,000 on agricultural schemes and by £600,000 on sea fishery support. These reductions reflect a predicted decrease in demand and delay in implementation in further areas of these schemes. Expenditure on civil defence will be reduced by £529,000 reflecting a further reduction in the size of the
  947
  emergency food stockpile. The remaining reduction (£200,000) reflects two transfers of funds to other Government Departments, to ODA £150,000 as part of the United Kingdom Aid to the St. Petersburg seed potato project and to the Cabinet Office £50,000 as part of the United Kingdom support for science in the CIS.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of cases of birds, by species, whose cause of death was from ingesting grain which had been treated with pesticides in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested, based on confirmed incidents in England and Wales reported through the wildlife incident investigation scheme is as follows:

  Cases

  Feral pigeon

  1985

  3

  1986

  4

  1987

  2

  1988

  4

  1989

  3

  1990

  4

  1991

  5

  Wood pigeon

  1986

  2

  1987

  3

  1988

  1

  1990

  1

  1991

  1

  Collared Dove

  1986

  1

  Pheasant

  1986

  3

  1987

  1

  1988

  1

  1989

  2

  1990

  2

  1991

  2

  Red-legged Partridge

  1986

  1

  Mallard

  1986

  1

  1987

  1

  1989

  3

  1990

  1

  Greylag Goose

  1986

  1

  Bewick's Swan

  1985

  1

  Moorhen

  1989

  1

  Magpie

  1985

  1

  1987

  1

  Jay

  1986

  1

  1991

  1

  Jackdaw

  1985

  1

  1986

  1

  948

  Cases

  1990

  1

  Rook

  1986

  1

  1990

  4

  Blackbird

  1986

  2

  1987

  1

  1989

  1

  Robin

  1986

  1

  1987

  1

  Blue Tit

  1988

  1

  House Sparrow

  1986

  3

  1987

  1

  1989

  1

  Greenfinch

  1987

  1

  Chaffinch

  1988

  1

  Corn Bunting

  1986

  1

  Yellowhammer

  1986

  1

  1988

  1

  Domestic Fowl

  1986

  1

  1988

  1

HEALTH

  Dewsbury Health Authority
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many executive directors and non-executive directors will be paid, and at what remuneration, as members of the Dewsbury health authority for the year 1993–94; and if she will specify their precise responsibilities.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  All district health authorities comprise a chairman and up to five non-executive members and five executive members. The non-executive members currently receive annual remuneration of £5,000. Details of the remuneration of executive members and the precise responsibilities of both executive and non-executive members are matters for the health authority itself.

  Staff Relocation
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what costs will be incurred by her Department from the relocation of staff working for the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, Sheffield, to Victory house, London, including(a) the additional salary costs and (b) additional business rate payments;

  (2) what plans she has to move national health service staff from regional locations to Victory house, Tottenham Court road, London; and if she will make a statement.
  949
  Mr. Sackville
  No costs would be incurred by the Department. The proposals are being considered by the English national board as part of a cost savings programme and would involve only employees of the ENB.

  Dentists, Coventry
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in the Coventry family health services authority have withdrawn from NHS services for adults and for children.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No dentists in the Coventry family health services authority's (FHSA's) area have asked for their name to be removed from the FHSA's dental list.

  Hospital Waiting Lists, York
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long on average a patient in the York health authority area has to wait from the date of referral to the date of being seen by a hospital specialist in each specialty at(a) the latest date for which figures are available and (b) 12 months earlier.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 29 October 1992 at column 848.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients in the York health authority area had been waiting for an ordinary admission in each specialty for 0 to 11 months, for one to two years, and for more than two years at(a) the latest date for which figures are available and (b) 12 months earlier;

  (2) how many patients in the York health authority area had been waiting for day surgery in each specialty for 0 to 11 months, for one to two years, and for more than two years at (a) the latest date for which figures are available and (b) 12 months earlier.

  Mr. Sackville
  Waiting time information by district health authority is published in "Hospital Waiting List, In-patients and Day Cases", copies of which are available in the Library. Day case figures were first published in September 1991.

  Homeless People (Psychiatric Treatment)
  Ms. Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many homeless people, including street homeless in London, have received psychiatric treatment within each of the last five years; and what proportion this represented in each year of the total population of homeless people in London.

  Mr. Yeo
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Child Psychotherapy
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many child psychotherapists are in practice in the United Kingdom.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  At 30 September 1991, 198·06 whole-time equivalent child psychotherapists were employed within the national health service in England.950
  Information about the number of child psychotherapists in practice outside the national health service is not collected centrally. Information relating to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  NHS Waiting Lists
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were on national health service waiting lists in March 1990; and what is the current figure.

  Mr. Sackville
  Provisional figures for September 1992 show that there was a total of 939,846 people on national health service waiting lists compared with 958,976 in March 1990, a reduction of 2 per cent. More significantly, the number of patients waiting 12 months or more fell by more than 80,000 to 7·5 per cent. over the same period.

  Departmental Spending
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes will be made to the cash limits and running cost limit of her Department in 1992–93.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The cash limit for class XIII vote 1 (hospital, community health, family health services (part) and related services, England) will be reduced by £54,991,000 (from £18,564,499,000 to £18,509,508,000). This decrease allows for transfers to class XIII, vote 4 (family health services (part) and national health service trusts external financing etc., England) of £37,399,000 reflecting an increase in the NHS trusts' aggregate external financing limit and £18,492,000 for the unallocated element of the original estimate of GP fundholders' drug budget requirements. These reductions are partly offset by a transfer from class XIII, vote 2 (family health (part) and other services, England) of £900,000 for the safe disposal of drugs. The cash limit for class XIII, vote 3 (Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health services and personal social services, England) will be reduced by £958,000 (from £822,481,000 to £821,523,000). This reduction allows for a transfer of £735,000 to class XI, vote 2 (Department for Education higher and further education) and £223,000 to class XI, vote 3 (Department of Education student awards, loans and compensation payments) for the conversion of social work training courses.

  Pay Review Body
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will be presenting evidence to the pay review body for nurses, midwives and health visitors.

  Mr. Sackville
  Written evidence was submitted on 18 September.

  West Midlands Health Authority
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 3 November,Official Report, column 185, on meetings with the chairman of the West Midlands regional health authority, which other members of her ministerial team met Sir James Ackers on 28 October; and what matters were discussed.
  951
  Dr. Mawhinney
  A meeting of the NHS policy board was held on 28 October, at which a wide range of matters concerning the NHS were discussed. The meeting was attended by, amongst others, the Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State for Health my hon. Friends the Members for Suffolk, South (Mr. Yeo) and for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville).

  London Ambulance Service
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what restrictions have been made in the funding of voluntary overtime offered by the crews of the London ambulance service(a) from January to October and (b) since 1 November last.

  Mr. Sackville
  The London ambulance service (LAS) must provide its services within the resources agreed with the South West Thames regional health authority. In common with all ambulance services the LAS manages staff expenditure including overtime within their annual budget. The LAS have therefore established a unit to co-ordinate overtime against expected demand on a pan-London basis.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers she has to instruct the South West Thames regional health authority to cease budget capping of emergency ambulance crews of the London ambulance service; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The London ambulance service (LAS) must provide its services within the resources agreed with the South West Thames regional health authority. In common with all ambulance services the LAS manages staff expenditure including overtime within their annual budget. The emergency service which is provided by the LAS must be managed from within the total budget available to the service. My relationship to the management of the LAS is no different than with any other directly managed unit within the NHS. We have asked the chairman of the South West Thames regional health authority, the accountable management authority, to take immediate action on a number of matters to improve the performance of the LAS.

  GP Fund Holders
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will issue guidelines on the parity of access to hospital treatment for waiting list surgery between fund holding and non-fund holding general practices; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  In June last year, the national health service management executive and the joint consultants committee of the British Medical Association issued guidance on GP fundholding in EL(91)84, a copy of which is available in the Library. This sets out the criteria for acceptable contracts to be agreed between GP fundholders and all NHS hospitals. It clearly states that hospitals should not offer contracts to fundholders which would disadvantage patients of other purchasers.

  Victory House, London
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much office space for which her Department is responsible was empty in Victory house, Tottenham Court road, London on 31 October.
  952
  Mr. Sackville
  None. Victory house is occupied solely by the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting—a non-departmental public body.

  Audit Commission Reports
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what powers she holds to require a regional health authority to publish the reports it has commissioned into a district health authority;

  (2) what powers she holds to require a regional health authority to publish reports it has commissioned from the Audit Commission.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has power to give directions to regional health authorities concerning the functions that they discharge on her behalf. This would include the power to direct the publication of a report commissioned by an authority into its exercise of those functions.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 5 November,Official Report, column 348, to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield, if she will list the major reports commissioned from the Audit Commission or outside consultants in respect of the West Midlands health authority or its constituent districts which have (a) been completed and (b) been received in draft.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  West Midlands regional health authority referred the matter of its regional supplies organisation to its independent statutory auditor who reported in July 1992 under section 15 of the Local Government Finance Act 1982. The findings were published on 10 September 1992. The statutory auditor has also decided to carry out audits of West Midlands RHA on Healthtrac and the maangement buy-out of the Management Information Services Division by Qa Business Services. The timetable for completion of this work is a matter for the Audit Commission. Details of reports carried out by outside consultants on behalf of West Midlands RHA or its constituent districts are a matter for the RHA and the hon. Member may wish to contact Sir James Ackers, the chairman of West Midlands RHA, For details.

ENVIRONMENT

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make it his policy to seek the amendment of article 3 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species' regulations so that species are included in annex B in instances when trade is deemed incompatible with species survival;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to seek the amendment of article 4 of the CITES regulations to allow imports only when benefits to conservation have been proven.

  Mr. Maclean
  Good progress is being made under the United Kingdom presidency in discussion of the proposed EC CITES regulation. One of our key objectives is to strengthen protection for species in which any trade would be incompatible with their survival. Our policy is that such species should be listed in annex A so that they can be given the highest level of protection. Annex B, which
  953
  affords less protection, should, however, include species whose survival would be threatened only in certain places or by trade at particular levels.

  Imports of annex A specimens should be allowed only in exceptional circumstances, generally when they would be of conservation benefit. Such strict restrictions would not be appropriate for species listed on other annexes in which trade is not incompatible with their survival.

  The general approach of the Government to this proposal was set out by my noble friend the Lord Strathclyde in his letter of 14 September to the Lord Moran. The letter is available in the Library of the House together with copies of representations received by the Department in response to a consultation exercise carried out earlier this year.

  Right-to-Buy Scheme
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on how many of those homes repossessed because of mortgage arrears in the last three years were bought under the right-to-buy scheme.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department does not collect this information.

  Housing Waiting Lists
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people in England and Wales are at present on council waiting lists for housing.

  Mr. Baldry
  Local authorities in England report the number of households on their council housing waiting lists in their annual housing investment programme (HIP1) returns.

  The figures, as at 1 April 1992, are in column B5 of the "1992 HIP1 All Items Print", a copy of which is in the Library.

  For information about Wales, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the research report commissioned by the Housing Corporation into the level of rehabilitation activity by housing associations.

  Mr. Baldry
  The research in question was commissioned by the Department of the Environment. The report is due to be published next month, and copies will be placed in the Library at that time.

  Local Government Pensions
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to reply to the hon. Member for Swansea, West's request for a meeting about pensions for retired local government officers.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. and learned Friend will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  "Competing for Quality in Housing"
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses have been received by his Department to the consultation paper "Competing for 954
  Quality in Housing"; and how many were (a) against and (b) in favour of proposals to amend section 105 of the Housing Act 1985.

  Mr. Baldry
  A total of 431 responses have now been received to the consultation paper "Competing for Quality in Housing". The majority of those which referred to the proposal to amend section 105 of the Housing Act 1985 were not in favour. However, that was before respondents had the opportunity to consider the detailed provisions now included in the Housing and Urban Development Bill, which give tenants enhanced powers to influence practically and constructively the ways in which their houses are managed.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has concerning the number of former council properties that have been re-sold following purchase under the right-to-buy legislation.

  Mr. Baldry
  An estimated 200,000 households owned different accommodation in 1991 having previously bought a dwelling from a local authority as sitting tenants, whether through voluntary sales by the local authority or under the right-to-buy legislation. Purchasers from a local authority who were no longer owner occupiers are not covered by this estimate.

  This figure is the most recently available and is from the 1991 Labour Force Survey housing trailer. The LFS is a sample survey and so the estimate is subject to sampling error.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) houses and (b) flats have been sold by councils under the right-to-buy legislation in each London borough, in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Baldry
  Tables showing the available information on total right-to-buy sales for each English local authority for every financial year since 1980 and a cumulative total to June 1992 were recently placed in the Library. In addition, the tables give data on total sales and on the number of flats sold.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the level of finance available for those seeking to purchase their council properties;

  (2)what meetings officials from his Department have had with representatives of lenders and lending institutions concerning lending practices with regard to former council property;

  (3)what information he has concerning the availability of mortgage finance for the purchase of former council property in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Council tenants exercising their right to buy have at present the right to a mortgage from the landlord. Most tenants, however, prefer to take out a private loan. Currently only 4 per cent. of sales by value are financed through a mortgage from the landlord.

  When a right-to-buy property is resold, subsequent buyers do not have the right to a mortgage from the landlord but must obtain private finance. Following reports that some prospective purchasers of ex-council

  955
  flats were having difficulty obtaining mortgages, I met representatives of the Council of Mortgage Lenders and some of the major building societies. They assure me that it is their policy to consider every mortgage application, including those for former council properties, on its merits.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the number of former council properties awaiting sale.

  Mr. Baldry
  No information is held by the Department on the number of former council properties awaiting sale.

  Stockton-on-Tees
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet considered Stockton-on-Tees borough council's response to the notice served on the authority on 12 August under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. and learned Friend has given careful consideration to the response which Stockton-on-Tees borough council has made to the notice served on the authority on 12 August 1992, and has today given a direction under section 14 of the Local Government Act 1988 in respect of refuse collection work. The direction requires the council to retender the contract and to seek the Secretary of State's consent before awarding the work to its direct service organisation.

  Housing Revenue Account
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his proposals for housing revenue account subsidy entitlement for 1993–94.

  Sir George Young
  My Department is tomorrow consulting local authorities about my proposal for the management and maintenance allowances and rent guidelines to be used in calculating authorities' entitlement to housing revenue account subsidy next year. I will place the consultation papers in the Library with a list of proposed guidelines and allowances for each authority.

  I propose an average increase in guideline rents of £2·12 a week within a range of £1·50 to £3·00, giving a new average guideline rent of £29·40 a week; at 5 per cent. above inflation, this is a smaller increase in cash terms than for 1992–93.

  On management and maintenance, I propose an overall increase of 1 per cent. above inflation, enabling further progress to be made towards targeting allowances according to relative need. For 1994–95 and 1995–96, I am proposing further increases in guideline rents of 5 per cent. above the underlying rate of inflation in each year, and in the overall national management and maintenance allowance of 1 per cent. above the underlying rate of inflation in each year. I will review these guidelines and allowances each year after taking into account the relevant matters known to me at the time.

  2 Marsham Street
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to vacate 2 Marsham street; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  On 2 June I announced that the Government proposed to relocate some 2,000 staff of the 956
  Department of the Environment to docklands. I did so in the light of advice that exceptional value for money was available there. I made it clear that I intended to secure fully commercial terms giving value for money to the taxpayer. I fully expected to be able to do so.

  Subsequently, it emerged that rents elsewhere in London were falling rapidly and sharply. In pursuit of value for money my Department commissioned a further study to look at other locations, including the future availability of sites on the existing Government estate. Steps were also taken to establish the feasibility of remaining in Marsham street beyond the end of 1993 and precisely how much it would cost.

  The further work led us to conclude that taking account of falling rents and the considerable and continuing staff related costs involved in a move to docklands, such a move did not now represent best value for money for the Department. Nor, given the present severe constraints on public spending, could I now justify the substantial one-off costs of a move in 1993–94. The study of 2 Marsham street has shown that it is both safe and affordable to remain there for a period although the building will, in due course, have to be pulled down.

  The Government has therefore decided that the Department of the Environment should remain in Marsham street for about three years, and use the intervening period to find the most suitable accommodation at the best value for money for the taxpayer.

  Poll Tax Arrears
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the current poll tax arrears for each local authority in England.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 10 November 1992]: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given on 6 November to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones), Official Report, column 370.

  Street Lighting
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines are currently provided for the improvement of street lighting in the interests of safety for women.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 9 November 1992]: I have been asked to reply.

  Road lighting is generally installed to conform with British Standard codes of practice. Earlier this year the BS published BS 5489: Part 3: 1992 code of practice for lighting subsidiary roads and associated pedestrian areas. This code requires an assessment to be made whether the crime risk is high, average or low. The recommended lighting design is then related to the crime risk.

  Public Record Office
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many papers his Department has currently withdrawn from the Public Record Office; if he will list their titles; and when he estimates that they will be returned.

  Mr. Howard
  Government Departments have a statutory right under the Public Record Acts to retrieve records temporarily from the Public Record Office for
  957
  their own administrative use. My Department currently has 28 records out on loan, as listed. Some of these are with the Department of National Heritage, for whom my Department continues to provide a records management service. Records are returned as soon as departmental action has been completed.

  File Titles of Records temporarily withdrawn from Public Record Office

  1. Caravan sites; Certificates of exemptions; policy.

  2. Interdepartmental committee on atomic health and safety.

  3. Stanton Drew: Acquisition or preservation.

  4. St. John's Lodge: Proposals for future use.

  5. St. John's Lodge: Lease of Bedford College.

  6. Duck Island Lodge: Works.

  7. Longford River: Diversion.

  8. Temporary Cenotaph: Disposal of original model.

  9. Scope of Metropolitan Statues Act.

  10. Green Park: Three plans by Barry.

  11. Procedure in the event of death of Sir Winston Churchill.

  12. St. Just, Cornwall.

  13. Silchester, Hampshire.

  14. Dewsbury, Yorks: Moot Hall.

  15. Tower of London: Crown Jewels (two records).

  16. Tower of London: Jewel House Site.

  17. Aycliffe Development Corporation.

  18. Hatfield: Town Centre revised development proposals.

  19. Dawley (Telford DC) Development Corporation: Appointment of members.

  20. Letchworth Garden City Development Corporation: Appointment of members.

  21. Water Undertakings: Welsh National Water Development Authority.

  22. Town and Country Planning Act 1947: Mineral Regulations (two records).

  23. Dolomite: Doncaster.

  24. Extension of existing spoil heaps.

  25. Wellington museum (two records).

  Tree Preservation Orders
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the current statutes and regulations governing tree preservation orders in England and the dates on which they took effect.

  Mr. Howard
  The information requested is as follows:

  Came into force

  Primary legislation

  Town and Country Planning Act 1990

  24 August 1990

  Planning and Compensation Act 1991, section 23

  6 January 1992

  Regulations

  Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation Order) Regulations 1969

  10 February 1969

  Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation Order) (Amendment) and (Trees in Conservation Areas) (Exempted Cases) Regulations 1975

  12 March 1975

  Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation Order) (Amendment) Regulations 1981

  13 January 1981

  Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation Order) (Amendment) Regulations 1988

  30 June 1988

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each local authority area in South Yorkshire, how many residential properties are currently owned by his Department; and if he will list, by 958
  location, those residential properties which are empty, giving the type of accommodation available, the length of time each property has been vacant, and its intended future use.

  Mr. Howard
  None.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to change his Department's cash limits and running costs limit for 1992–93.

  Mr. Howard
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made:

  (i) the cash limit for class VIII, vote 2 (miscellaneous housing administration and grants) will be reduced by £11,090,000 from £285,894,000 to £274,804,000. This decrease reflects a reduced requirement for expenditure on Housing Action Trusts (HATs) as a result of delays in the programmes for the four prospective HATs (Liverpool, Birmingham, Brent and Tower Hamlets) and slippage and economies in the programmes of the two established HATs (North Hull and Waltham Forest).

  (ii) the cash limit for class VIII, vote 5 (central environmental services etc.) will be increased by £1,855,000 from £315,272,000 to £317,127,000. The increase includes provision for the new UK Ecolabelling Board; additional grant-in-aid to the Countryside Commission resulting from the partial take up of the end year flexibility entitlement, as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 15 July 1992 (Official Report, columns 698–702); additional grant-in-aid to English Nature; increased expenditure on international contributions; and increased grant for water supply and sewerage in assisted areas. These increases are partially offset by reductions made elsewhere on the vote. The cash limit change also reflects certain other minor adjustments to subheads within the Vote and makes provision for transfers to class VIII, vote 4 and the Overseas Development Administration to fund African elephant conservation projects.

  (iii) the cash limit for class VIII, vote 8 (Department of the Environment: administration) will be reduced by £600,000 from £211,622,000 to £211,022,000 and the Department's running costs limit will be increased by £283,000 from £201,616,000 to £201,899,000. The changes include various inter departmental transfers; the start-up costs of the relocation unit which is being funded from within existing provision; savings resulting from the dissolution of the Local Government Boundary Commission and reduced receipts from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. It is the Department's intention to seek Parliamentary approval for these changes in a spring Supplementary Estimate for class VIII, vote 8.

  (iv) the cash limit for class VIII, vote 9 (revenue support grant, payment of non-domestic rates, valuation office rating services, etc., England) will be decreased by £7,037,000 from £29,530,333,000 to £29,523,296,000. The decrease reflects a change in the timing of payments of the council tax preparation grant; 66 per cent. will now be paid in 1992–93 with the balance paid in 1993–94.

  (v) The DoE/UA non-voted cash limit will be increased by £28,354,000 from £989,095,000 to £1,017,449,000. This includes an increase of £12,100,000 for Olympic preparations; it also includes increased grant-in-aid of £15,555,000 to the London Docklands development corporation for work on extensions to the Docklands light railway and associated administration costs. This will he offset in part by a reduction of £1,900,000 in the

  959
  Department of Transport's cash limit for class VII, vote 2. A further £14,190,000 is required for the Bristol spine road, land purchase in Leeds, reclamation and workspace provision in Merseyside and to increase the resources for local authority sector derelict land grant. £3,800,000 is being made available for assistance following colliery closures. There have been savings of £11,391,000 from city grant and derelict land grant as well as a £4,000,000 increase in derelict land grant receipts.

  (vi) the Doe/HC non-voted cash limit will be increased by £700,000 from £1,706,500,000 to £1,707,200,000. This increase results from the full take-up of end year flexibility entitlement as announced by the Chief Secretary on 15 July 1992 (Official Report, cols 698–702).

  (vii) the DoE/LACAP non-voted cash limit will be increased by £6,540,000 from £2,908,289,000 to £2,914,829,000. This increase reflects the transfer to the Estate Action programme of £6,294,000 of the savings on Housing Action Trusts; £1,403,000 full take-up of end year flexibility entitlement as announced by the Chief Secretary on 15 July 1992 (Official Report. cols. 698–702); and an increase of £310,000 in estate action grant. It also reflects savings of £1,467,000 in the revenue element of slum clearance and renovation grants.

  (viii) the DoE/OES non-voted cash limit will be reduced by £40,117,000 from £149,133,000 to 109,016,000. The reduction reflects lower than expected take-up by local authorities of supplementary credit approvals for certain waste initiatives and takes account of an increase in payments on class VIII, vote 4.

  (ix) the national loans fund cash limit for housing action trusts (HATs) will be reduced by £2,004,000 from £2,004,000 to zero. This decrease reflects a reduced requirement on HATs as a result of delays in the programmes for the four prospective HATs (Liverpool, Birmingham, Brent and Tower Hamlets) and slippage and economies in the programmes of the two established HATs (North Hull and Waltham Forest).

  These changes are reflected in the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes to make to the cash limit on the Property Services Agency services vote in 1992–93.

  Mr. Redwood
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limt for class VIII, vote 12 will be increased by £55,109,000 from £128,885,000 to £183,994,000. The increase will not constitute a claim on the Reserve as it will be netted of the proceeds from the Government's privatisation programme.

  The estimate is sought to secure provision, mainly for the subscription of shares, so that the sale of PSA Projects may proceed as planned in December 1992. The cash asset reflects the currently estimated net liabilities of PSA Projects at end November 1992. These are £5,331,000 greater than those on which all prospective purchasers based their bids in the knowledge that, in the event of any under-or over-estimation, the sale consideration would be adjusted pound for pound. The impact is to increase the negative consideration payable at completion to £55,109,000. A completion statement will be prepared to quantify the actual liabilities at the date of sale and the sale consideration will be subject to further adjustment for any
  960
  difference between the estimated and actual net liabilities whether in favour of the vendor or purchaser. Parliament will be advised of the final position at that time.

  The consideration will also be subject to adjustment depending on the number of transferred staff in the business a year after the sale.

  Expenditure on advisors fees incurred in preparing for the BM sales and in completing the Projects sale may be subject to revision in a spring supplementary estimate depending on progress of work and bills tendered.

  The increase in this cash limit is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his proposals for the appropriate level of aggregate local authority spending in 1993–94; and what is the level of central support for that spending.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will issue the consultation paper on the Government proposals for revenue support grant for 1993–94.

  Mr. Howard
  I propose that total standard spending for 1993–94 should be £41.142 billion for England. This represents an increase of £1.224 billion (3·1 per cent.) compared with this year's figure after adjustments for changes in local authority functions, including the transfer of most responsibilities for further education from authorities to the Further Education Funding Council on 1 April 1993. The total also includes the amount of £539 million for the transitional community care special grant announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health on 2 October.

  This is a realistic increase when account is taken of falling inflation, public sector pay restraint in line with the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor today, and the extensive opportunities which authorities have to improve efficiency and value for money.

  I propose that the level of aggregate external finance distributed to local authorities in 1993–94 should be £33·518 billion. This represents an increase of £1·167 billion (3·7 per cent.) after allowing for functional changes. It also includes the special grant for community care. This level of aggregate external finance means that the amount which authorities need to raise from local taxpayers in 1993–94 should be less in real terms than is being raised by the community charge this year.

  I also propose that the national non-domestic rate multiplier for 1993–94 in England should rise by 3·5 per cent. to 0·416, in line with the rate of inflation. This will ensure that once again businesses will benefit from the Government's success in reducing inflation.

  I shall announce proposals for the distribution of Government grants in 1993–94 later this month. At the same time, I intend to announce my capping proposals. I shall also set out my proposals for a scheme of transitional assistance to those households which face a significant increase in their local tax bills following the introduction of the council tax.

  In the present difficult economic climate, both central and local government need to play their part in restraining expenditure to a level that the country can afford. Against that background, these proposals for total standard

  961
  spending, aggregate external finance and the national non-domestic rate multiplier provide a sound framework for the funding of local authority services in 1993–94. Provided that authorities act responsibly, this settlement should allow them to maintain the services they provide next year.

TRANSPORT

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will extend the consultation period for the vehicle inspectorate beyond 30 November and extend the list of organisations consulted to include all those concerned with road safety and traffic-related environmental issues.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No. The consultation paper on options for the future of the vehicle inspectorate (VI) allowed ample time—11 weeks—for comment, and was sent to a broad range of road safety and environmental interests.

  Okehampton Bypass
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many acres of land have been obtained, and at what cost, as public open space to compensate the loss to the public of open space as a result of the compulsory purchase order and the building of the Okehampton bypass.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  A total of 5·2 acres of land is being acquired under compulsory purchase powers in exchange for open space land at Bluebell Woods taken for the construction of the bypass. The purchase price is confidential between the Department and the vendor.

  My Department has also used its best endeavours to make other purchases of land in mitigation of the effects of the bypass, but has no compulsory powers to do this; 6·2 acres of land have been purchased from British Rail, near Okehampton station; this land is now known as Station Wood and is available to the public. Negotiations with another landowner concerning land near Okehampton castle have proved unsuccessful.

  2 Marsham Street
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes that his Department should vacate 2 Marsham street; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John MacGregor
  I have decided on value for money grounds that my Department will remain in 2 Marsham street for around the next three years. This decision follows a study of the options for relocation conducted during the summer.

  My decision takes account both of the constraints on public expenditure and the results of a study by consultants which concluded that 2 Marsham street could continue to provide affordable and safe working conditions for several more years.

  In the longer term, the building will have to be demolished and my Department will therefore be seeking suitable accommodation when a move becomes necessary.

  Clapham Junction Accident
  Sir Anthony Durant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the recommendations in the Hidden report into the rail accident at Clapham junction have now been implemented.

  Mr. Freeman
  All the recommendations for British Rail and the British Transport Police have either been or are being implemented. The board's 1992 safety plan demonstrates the current safety initiatives underway, and the considerable resources BR is devoting to maintaining and improving its good safety record. Copies of the safety plan are available in the Library of the House.

  Civil Aviation Authority
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current external financing limit for the Civil Aviation Authority.

  Mr. Norris
  The CAA's EFL for 1992–93 has been reduced by £1·1 million to £65·6 million. This is a technical adjustment reflecting the receipt of a European regional development fund (ERDF) grant for £1·1 million. The funds available to the CAA for investment will not be affected by this change.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider making an exemption from toll charges of disabled drivers crossing the Severn bridge.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Section 8(5) of the Severn Bridges Act 1992 already exempts from tolls at the Severn bridge vehicles registered for use by disabled persons and exempt from vehicle excise duty, and vehicles being driven by disabled persons, or being used for their carriage, on which a current orange badge is displayed.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the factors affecting the permitted increase in the Severn bridge tolls from 1 January 1993; and what is their relationship to the retail prices index.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Section 9 of the Severn Bridges Act 1992 sets out the method by which the tolls at the Severn bridge are to be fixed, including the adjustments to be made in respect of changes in the retail prices index.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had in relation to the increase in the level of tolls on the Severn bridge from 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  We have received a number of representations from hon. Members.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the companies that have expressed an interest in his rail privatisation proposals; and if he will make a statement on the extent of private sector interest in his proposals.

  Mr. Freeman
  Before the issue of the consultation document on 12 October we had received expressions of
  963
  interest about running franchised passenger railway services from around 50 companies. These approaches and subsequent ones arising from the consultation document are being treated as confidential. It would be inappropriate for me to list the companies or indicate the extent of their specific interests at this stage.

  Chelsea-Hackney Railway Line
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the route of the Chelsea-Hackney line has been safeguarded; and when progress will be made on building it.

  Mr. Norris
  Safeguarding directions for the line were issued by the Secretary of State for Transport in exercise of the powers conferred by articles 14(1), 18(3) and 30 of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988. Initial directions were issued on 7 February 1991 and revised directions issued on 12 November 1991.

  I cannot say when the line will be built. Decisions will be taken in the context of future public expenditure rounds.

  Jubilee Line
  Ms. Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the proposed Jubilee line extension.

  Mr. Norris
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement made today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  London Transport
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on changes to the capital programmes of London Transport following the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Norris
  London Transport will have to reassess its investment plans in the light of the funding announced in the autumn statement. Subject to that, I believe the settlement is sufficient to allow London Transport to invest £1·75 billion in the existing bus and underground system over the coming three years. This is some £0·5 billion higher, in real terms, than investment over the past three years. The funding is also sufficient to allow preparatory work on Crossrail to continue. And provision has been made for the Jubilee line extension, so that it can go ahead if the administrators of Olympia and York can meet our conditions on the provision of private finance by them.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he proposes to make to the cash limit and running costs limit for his Department for 1992–93.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the cash limits in class VII will be changed as follows:

  Class and Vote

  Current Cash Limit

  Changes

  Revised Cash Limit

  VII, 1

  2,124,258,000

  121,000

  2,124,259,000

  2

  211,882,000

  133,323,0O0

  215,205,000

  4

  171,657,000

  4112,000

  171,769,000

  5

  438,781,000

  11,070,000

  439,851,000

  964

  1 Take up of entitlement under the end year flexibility arrangements announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 15 July 1992 (Official Report, columns 698–702).

  2 Increases of £914,000 in respect of certain customer budgets from class VII, vote 2, £180,000 from property holdings (class VIII, vote 7) for repayment services and an additional £2,819,000 for the design and building costs of motorway service areas. These increases are offset by the transfer of £817,000 to class VII, vote 2 in relation to some running cost functions and transfer of additional maintenance costs and by the transfer of £4,000,000 to the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Crown Prosecution service to facilitate the implementation of the Road Traffic Act (£1,750,000 to class X, vote 1, £750,000 to class X, vote 2, £320,000 to class X, vote 5 and £1,180,000 to class X, vote 6). The running cost limit has been increased by £600,000 to allow my Department to bring in house certain consultancy work on the design and build of motorways and trunk roads.

  3Increases of £220,000 in respect of repayment services from property holdings (class VIII, vote 7), £196,000 from Department of Environment (class VIII, vote 8) and £350,000 in respect of the privatisation of British Rail, partially offset by reductions following the transfer of small ships register responsibilities to class VII, vote 4 (£38,000) and of Docklands light railway sponsorship to Department of Enviroment class VIII, vote 8 (£26,000).

  4 Including an increase of £74,000 arising from the transfer of repayment services from property holdings (class VIII, vote 7).

  My Department's gross running costs limit has been increased by £2,381,000 from £391,077,000 to £393,458,000.

  All the increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Public Sector Borrowing Requirement
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the level of public sector borrowing for the current financial year.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the public sector borrowing requirement in the current year.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be giving a new forecast in his autumn statement later today.

  Autumn Statement
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what preparations he has made for bringing together the autumn statement with the Budget for 1993.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Preparations for the first unified Budget in December 1993 are well in hand. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor will make further announcements on this important change in his spring Budget statement.

  Whisky
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the level of duty on British whisky in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other EC countries; and how much it has gone up in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) other EC countries since 1988.

  Sir John Cope
  In seven states the duty has remained nearly static, in four states, including the UK, the duty hs gone up at around the rate of inflation. Greece has put up duty more substantially.
  965

  Current EC whisky duty rates and percentage change since 19881

  Pence per 70cl bottle at 40 per cent. abv2 3

  Percentage change since 1988

  Belgium

  337

  12·1

  Denmark

  1,036

  1·2

  France

  250

  0·2

  Germany

  278

  15·2

  Greece

  35

  4533·0

  Ireland

  574

  2·8

  Italy

  44

  -1·7

  Luxembourg

  202

  0·1

  Netherlands

  309

  0·1

  Portugal

  62

  43·1

  Spain

  89

  -0·2

  United Kingdom

  554

  25·6

  1 Rescaled from 75cl bottle (EC regulations no longer permit the use of 75cl bottles).

  2 Rates of exchange as at 10.10.92.

  3 abv-alcohol by volume.

  4 A range of taxes is applied to spirits in Greece. This increase relates to the excise duty element only and the VAT element has been significantly reducd to offset this.

  Economic Policy
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes there have been in economic policy since 20 October in the current year.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave earlier today to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Menzies Campbell).

  Financial Services
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to consider reforms in the area of financial services compliance in the short or medium-term future.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have no plans to reform the current system of professional regulation within a statutory framework, with a strong practitioner input.

  Pound Sterling
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what review he has undertaken of the effectiveness of measures to protect the pound by intervention in the financial markets.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The effectiveness of market operations is kept under review.

  Pit Closures
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings he has had, and what studies he has commissioned, to evaluate the full cost-benefit financial effects to the United Kingdom economy of closing coal mines.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have had a number of meetings with ministerial colleagues to discuss a wide range of issues relating to the future of the coal industry.

  Unit Wage Costs
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has about the rate of unit wage cost growth in the United Kingdom; and what is the corresponding information on Japan and Germany.
  966
  Mr. Dorrell
  In 1992 Q2 unit wage costs in manufacturing in the United Kingdom were only 1·4 per cent. higher than a year earlier. The corresponding figures for Japan and Germany are 8·6 per cent. and 3·8 per cent. respectively.

  Mortgage Interest
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the financial effect on a household with a typical mortgage of the changes in mortgage interest rates over the last two years.

  Sir John Cope
  When the latest base rate cut feeds through to mortgage rates on 1 December, interest payments on an average £33,000 mortgage will have fallen by over £110 a month, compared with payments two years ago, and by over £130 a month compared with the mid-1990 peak.

  Social Security Payments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received calling for protection of social security payments in the current public expenditure round; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of such representations.

  Fixed Capital Formation
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a table showing gross domestic fixed capital formation by region on(a) vehicles, ships and aircraft, (b) plant and machinery, (c) dwellings, (d) other new building work and (e) in total, for each year from 1989 at 1989 prices.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The latest information available relates to 1989, and was published in the November 1991 issue of Economic Trends, which is available in the House of Commons Library. Estimates for 1990 on a current price basis, together with any revisions for 1989, will be published in the December 1992 issue of Economic Trends.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a table showing United Kingdom gross domestic fixed capital formation on(a) vehicles, ships and aircraft, (b) plant and machinery and (c) in total for each year from 1989 at 1989 prices.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The series requested are available at constant (1985) prices, or at current prices, but not at 1989 prices. The latest estimates are available on the CSO database which may be accessed by the House of Commons Library. The relevant database identifiers are:

  Constant (1985) prices

  Current prices

  (a) Vehicles, ships and aircraft

  DFEH

  DFEJ

  (b) Plant and Machinery

  DFCY

  DFCX

  (c) Total1

  DFDM

  DFDC

  1Total gross domestic fixed capital formation includes expenditure on new dwellings and other new buildings and works.

  Manufactured Goods
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total trade deficit in manufactured goods since May 1979 at current prices.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information on the balance for manufactured goods is published regularly in the Central Statistical Office's "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics" and is available on a monthly basis since 1980, and on a quarterly basis for 1979 on the Central Statistical Office databank which may be accessed through the Library of the House.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a table showing annual growth in gross domestic product for(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the European Community and (c) the OECD for each year since 1989.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Volume index numbers of gross domestic product, from which these growth rates can be derived, are available on page 11 of the October edition of "Main Economic Indicators" published by OECD.

  Copies of this publication are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Retail Financial Services
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the introduction of statutory regulation for retail financial services.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Financial Services Act 1986 provides a statutory framework for the regulation of retail and other financial services.

  Personal Investment Authority
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received from the clearing banks concerning the proposed formation of the personal investment authority;

  (2) what representations he has received concerning the formation of the proposed personal investment authority.

  Mr. Nelson
  The recognition of self-regulating organisations under the Financial Services Act is primarily a matter for the Securities and Investments Board.

  Securities and Investments Board
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to give the Securities and Investments Board the power to exact civil penalties as an alternative to criminal prosecutions;

  (2) what plans he has to modify the powers of the Securities and Investments Board.

  Mr. Nelson
  None. A wide range of powers has been transferred to the Securities and Investments Board under the Financial Services Act. These include powers to institute civil proceedings where appropriate.

  IMF and World Bank
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to ensure that the voting records of the United Kingdom directors of the International Monetary Fund and the World bank are made publicly available.

  Sir John Cope
  The proceedings of the IMF and the World bank are confidential so as not to inhibit full and frank discussion. Within this constraint, the United Kingdom welcomes the greater openness recently shown by these institutions.

  Company Car Tax
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of responses to his consultation paper on reforming company car tax were broadly in favour of the Government's proposed price banding system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The consultation period does not end until 13 November and a detailed analysis of the representations is therefore not yet available.

  Treasury
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals he has for changes in the running costs limits of the Treasury in 1992–93.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury's running costs limit for 1992–93 is being reduced by £11,312,000 from £92,203,000 to £80,891,000 following the transfer of CCTA—the Government centre for information systems—and Chessington computer centre to the Office of Public Service and Science. The change will be reflected in a token supplementary estimate which will be presented for parliamentary approval in due course.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for changes in the cash limit and running costs limit for 1992–93 for the Department for National Savings.

  Mr. Nelson
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XVIII, vote 10 (expenditure of the Department for National Savings on administration, publicity costs and certain other expenses) will be increased by £2,611,000 from £195,066,000 to £197,677,000. The increase comprises of £1,616,000 take-up under the end-year flexibility arrangements for capital expenditure, £814,000 take-up of end-year flexibility for running costs (as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 15 July 1992(Official Report columns 698–702)), and £181,000 for sums payable to the Department of the Environment (Property Holdings) in respect of buildings maintenance.

  As a result of these changes, the running costs limit for the Department for National Savings will be increased by £995,000 from £184,714,000 to £185,709,000.

  The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
  969
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for changes in the cash limit and running costs limit for Customs and Excise for 1992–93.

  Sir John Cope
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XVIII, vote 5 will be increased by £6,856,000 from £815,159,000 to £822,015,000 and the running cost limit by £2,458,000 from £697,352,000 to £699,810,000. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

  The increase in the running cost limit arises from the full take-up of entitlement to end-year flexibility as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 15 July 1992 Official Report, columns 698–702, and additional maintenance provision transferred from Property Holdings. The increase in the cash limit also includes the full take-up of end-year flexibility entitlement on capital expenditure.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for changes in the cash limit and running costs limit for 1992–93 for the Inland Revenue.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The cash limit for class XVIII, vote 6 (Inland Revenue administration) is being reduced by £43,300,000 from £1,615,071,000 to £1,571,771,000. The running cost limit is also being reduced by £25,300,000 from £1,526,077,000 to £1,500,777,000. The reduction is being made to reflect a lower expectation of the number of repayment claims following the abolition of composite rate tax, reduced provision for pay and slippage on some capital projects. The reductions are partially offset by extra work arising from the 1992 Finance Act and take up of end-year flexibility for running costs.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Government were first informed of the costs of the liquidation of BCCI.

  Mr. Nelson
  I was first informed of the costs of the liquidation on 5 November.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Economic Secretary to the Treasury last met Mr. Brian Smouha of the liquidator of BCCI; and what was the purpose of the meeting.

  Mr. Nelson
  I met Mr. Smouha on 5 November. The purpose of the meeting was to acquaint myself with developments on the liquidation of BCCI in advance of the debate in the House on 6 November,Official Report, columns 523–94.

  National Savings
  Mr. Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the minimum deposit or purchase for national savings products.

  Mr. Nelson
  Small value transactions are expensive to administer so we regularly review the minimum deposit or purchase levels. As part of the survey of public expenditure priorities for the next three years I have decided that the following changes should be made:

  Ordinary account minimum for each deposit—from £5 to £10.

  970

  Investment account minimum for each deposit—from £5 to £20.

  Premium bond minimum purchase for children under 16—from £10 to £100.

  Amendments to regulations to effect these changes will be brought before Parliament shortly.

  I propose that these changes will come into effect from 1 February 1993.

  The changes are expected to produce running cost savings on the Department for National Savings budget of just under £5 million in a full year.

  Investors' Compensation
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer(1) what action he will take to help those persons who receive compensation from the investors compensation scheme in cases where this compensation does not meet the debts incurred from interest rates and legal cost, following the quantification date; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what additional assistance he can offer to clients of Fisher Prew-Smith Ltd. who have not received compensation under the Financial Services Act 1986 sufficient to cover their mortgage debts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 10 November 1992]: The rules of the investors compensation scheme are a matter for the Securities and Investment Board.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that the clients of Fisher Prew-Smith Ltd. do not lose their homes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 10 November 1992]: Borrowers should contact their building society to discuss interest and repayment arrangements as the societies have made clear that they want to enable borrowers to stay in their homes.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will investigate the involvement of the West Bromwich Building Society in the affairs of Fisher Prew-Smith Ltd.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 10 November 1992]: The prudential supervision of building societies is a matter for the Building Societies Commission.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will undertake an investigation into the conduct of Fisher Prew-Smith Ltd.; what action he will take to assist persons who have lost money as a result of home income plans; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will investigate the conduct of Ruben Walter Investment Management Ltd. in their handling of investments following the collapse of Fisher Prew-Smith Ltd.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 10 November 1992]: The regulation of investment businesses is a matter for the Securities and Investments Board and the recognised bodies under the Financial Services Act. Where the investors compensation scheme has declared firms in default, private investors may be eligible for compensation in respect of their losses arising from investment business conducted by the firm.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Coal
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much financial support Her Majesty's Government have given to the coal industry in each year since 1979, indicating what proportion in each year was to fund assistance for redundancies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Grant aid made available to the coal industry from 1979–80 to 1991–92 inclusive is set out in the table which follows. All payments under the RMPS and about 90 per cent. of restructuring grant payments can be classified as assistance with redundancies.

  £ millions

  Financial Year

  RMPS1

  Restructuring grant

  Other grants

  Total grants

  1979–80

  15

  251

  266

  1980–81

  15

  254

  269

  1981–82

  48

  575

  623

  1982–83

  80

  520

  600

  1983–84

  190

  1,145

  1,335

  1984–85

  200

  2,414

  2,614

  1985–86

  563

  563

  1,126

  1986–87

  610

  882

  1,492

  1987–88

  295

  435

  242

  972

  1988–89

  171

  255

  42

  468

  1989–90

  128

  619

  6,624

  7,371

  1990–91

  93

  141

  0

  234

  1991–92

  69

  457

  0

  526

  Total

  2,477

  1,907

  13,512

  17,896

  1 Redundant mineworkers payments scheme.

  In addition to Government financial support, British Coal has been benefiting from the high margins, over and above world market prices, that the electricity generators pay for their coal supplies from the corporation. Under present contracts, which have been operating since April 1990, this assistance amounts to about £1 billion annually.

  Pit Closures
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what will be Lord Walker's salary for administering assistance measures to areas affected by colliery closures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements have been made for the remuneration of Lord Walker for his work in connection with pit closures; and what are the full terms and conditions of Lord Walker's contract.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his statement on 21 October, if he will announce the terms and conditions of the appointment of Lord Walker to assist and advise on the creation of alternative job creation in pit closure areas; and what relationship it will have with his appointment, and the terms and conditions thereof, as chairman-elect of the urban regeneration agency.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will indicate the relevant experience and qualities of Lord Walker leading to his appointment as the person to lead the review of the impact on the mining communities of the proposed pit closures.
  972
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what terms, including salary, he has appointed Lord Walker to co-ordinate action to regenerate areas where coal mines are to be closed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his statement of 19 October,Official Report, column 207, if Lord Walker's post as adviser to his Department is to be remunerated.

  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what salary will be paid to Lord Walker for his work in overseeing the Government's proposed aid to the coal mining areas.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what salary, per diem, or other emoluments Lord Walker will receive whilst fulfilling his duties in respect of assistance to the communities affected by coal closures.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answers 22, 23 and 29 October 1992]: The Government intend to see that measures of assistance for coal closure areas are effectively targeted and that any wasteful duplication is avoided. Lord Walker will be an adviser to me and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. I see his role as being wide-ranging and will want him to look at any issues relating to the facilitation and co-ordination of the regeneration of the coalfield areas. In addition I have asked him to advise me on the broader implications of this for the delivery of my Department's regional policy and inward investment measures. He will liaise closely with bodies promoting regeneration and will advise me and my right hon. Friend on any measures which could be taken to promote economic revival of the areas. Lord Walker will carry out his work on coalfield regeneration in addition to his role as chairman designate of the urban regeneration agency. He will do this work without remuneration.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what office staff and transport facilities will be provided for Lord Walker for his duties as co-ordinator for the coal fields; and what is the estimated annual cost of staff and office costs for this purpose.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 23 October 1992]: My Department and the Welsh Office will provide all the back-up support which Lord Walker may need. Other Departments concerned will also be closely involved in this work. This support will be provided from within existing resources.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will now introduce legislation to reverse the Caparo judgment.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  We have no plans to do so.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes will be made to his Department's cash limits and running costs limit for 1992–93.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class IV, vote 2 (support for industry, international trade,
  973
  statutory and regulatory work, consumer protection and administration) will be increased by £25,707,000 from £778,524,000 to £804,231,100. The cash limit for class V, vote 3 (administration) will be reduced by £23,789,000 from £43,295,000 to £19,506,000. Following a transfer from Property Holdings for building maintenance, the running costs limit for the Department of Trade and Industry is being increased by £311,000 from £305,362,000 to £305,673,000.

  The supplementary estimate for £25,707,000 on class IV, vote 2 includes an increase of £1,657,000 in departmental and research establishments' capital expenditure as a result of take-up under the end-year flexibility arrangements announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 15 July 1992, Official Report, columns 698–702.

  A transfer of administrative expenditure and receipts totalling £23,789,000 from class V, vote 3 is being made, mainly following amalgamation of central divisions previously on that vote. The remaining net adjustments include the £311,000 property holdings transfer referred to above and a transfer to the Office of Science and Technology of £50,000 as a contribution to the Royal Society's programme of support for CIS scientists.

  There is a rise of £3,173,000 in gross provision for consumer and investor protection, reflecting increased expenditure on company investigations and £1,900,000 in gross provision for the consultancy initiatives as a result of higher than expected demand for the scheme. These increases are wholly offset by reductions in gross provision and increases in appropriations in aid elsewhere on the Vote. There are adjustments to inter-departmental payments following machinery of government changes to the Department of Environment (class VIII, vote 8), HM Treasury (class XVIII, vote V) and Department of National Heritage (class XII, vote 5).

  There are some other changes in the allocation of provision. These include adjustments made between measurement and technolgoy support and the National Physical laboratory in respect of depreciation policy and Warren Spring laboratory for repositioning. All the changes are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to meet a delegation of creditors and ex-employees to discuss BCCI.
  974
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 10 November 1992,Official Report, column 734.

  Office of Gas Supply
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what changes are proposed in the 1992–93 cash limit and running costs limit for the Office of Gas Supply.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit on the office of Gas Supply vote (class V vote 8) will be increased by £262,000 to £3,203,000. The increase provides for the estimated additional costs incurred by the Office in overseeing the development and implementation of a new gas transportation and storage regime, in the referral of British Gas to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and in the urgent relocation of the Office of Gas Supply to larger premises. In addition receipts under section 8 of the Gas Act 1986 have been reclassified from appropriations in aid to extra receipts payable to the Consolidated Fund. As a consequence of this the running costs limit has increased by £88,000 to £2,783,000. These increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement.

  EC Coal Subsidy
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if, in his capacity as President of the EC Industry Council, he intends to initiate a Council discussion on differing levels of coal subsidy in the EC.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 3 November 1992]: I expect there to be a discussion at the next meeting of the Energy Council on 30 of this month of the coal industry throughout the Community.

  Home Equity Share Losses
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action is being taken by his Department to speed up the payment of compensation by insurance companies in respect of home equity share losses.

  Mr. Nelson
  I have been asked to reply. The regulation of investment business carried on by life insurance companies is a matter for the Securities and Investments Board and the Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Organisation. They and the other bodies helping to obtain appropriate redress for clients of unsuitable home income schemes are aware of the need to deal with cases as quickly as they can.

  FOOD PRICE SUPPORT
  FOOD PRICE SUPPORT
  DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT: COSTS
  DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT: COSTS
  VAT RATES IN THE EC
  VAT RATES IN THE EC
  INLAND REVENUE P11D SYSTEM
  INLAND REVENUE P11D SYSTEM
  CAA: EXTERNAL FINANCE LIMIT
  CAA: EXTERNAL FINANCE LIMIT
  BR: SAFETY
  BR: SAFETY
  NORTH ATLANTIC ASSEMBLY: UK REPRESENTATIVES
  NORTH ATLANTIC ASSEMBLY: UK REPRESENTATIVES
  COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY
  COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY
  NAGORNO-KARABAKH: AID
  NAGORNO-KARABAKH: AID
  NAGORNO-KARABAKH DISPUTE
  NAGORNO-KARABAKH DISPUTE
  LEGAL AID EXPENDITURE
  LEGAL AID EXPENDITURE
  CFCs: REFRIGERATION AND AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT
  CFCs: REFRIGERATION AND AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT
  EARTH SUMMIT AGREEMENTS: NGO CONFERENCE
  EARTH SUMMIT AGREEMENTS: NGO CONFERENCE
  SCHOOL BOOKS: PURCHASE GRANTS
  SCHOOL BOOKS: PURCHASE GRANTS
  HIGHER EDUCATION: LIBRARY FUNDING
  HIGHER EDUCATION: LIBRARY FUNDING
  STUDENTS: BOOK SPENDING
  STUDENTS: BOOK SPENDING
  SCHOOL BOOKS AND EQUIPMENT: EXPENDITURE
  SCHOOL BOOKS AND EQUIPMENT: EXPENDITURE
  HIGHER EDUCATION BOOKS AND EQUIPMENT: EXPENDITURE
  HIGHER EDUCATION BOOKS AND EQUIPMENT: EXPENDITURE