Written Answers of 23 November 1992

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Access to Children
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to improve the operation of access to children by their fathers where mothers and children have moved away from the area where the families lived before divorce; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The law relating to access to children was comprehensively reformed in the Children Act 1989 and the Government have no current plans for further change. The arrangements enabling children to see a parent who lives in another area are primarily matters to be worked out by those concerned.

ACCOMMODATION AND WORKS COMMITTEE

  Department of the Official Report
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee at what level the expenditure on(a) new carpets, (b) new lighting and (c) new desks and chairs was approved for the rooms occupied by the Department of the Official Report; what was the cost; and which company in which EC country was the manufacturer and supplier.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  Detailed operational responsibility for these matters lies with the Director of Works. I shall ask him to write to the hon. Member.

ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

  Glasses
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will make a statement on the reasons for the purchase of French-made glasses for use in Standing Committee rooms.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  This is a matter for the Serjeant at Arms. I shall ask him to write to the hon. Member.

EDUCATION

  School Governors
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the percentage of school governors nationally from the ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Forth
  A survey carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research in 1990 found that 446
  just over 1 per cent. of school governors were from ethnic minority groups. A further survey is currently being carried out, the results of which should be available in March.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what measures he has taken to increase the percentage of school governors from ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Forth
  Throughout this year's "Schools Need Governors" campaign we have made clear that we would like people from the ethnic minorities to put themselves forward to be school governors. Our publicity leaflet and poster were translated into eight ethnic minority languages. Of the six individual governors featured in the leaflet, two were from the ethnic minorities.

  Textiles and Home Economics
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what provisions will be made under the national curriculum to ensure that textiles and home economics will be taught.

  Mr. Forth
  Aspects of home economics are covered in a number of national curriculum subjects, including mathematics, science and technology. My right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for Education and for Wales are currently considering the recommendations of the National Curriculum technology review group and will make a full statement when their joint proposals are published for consultation towards the end of the year. There are no changes proposed to the national curriculum mathematics or science orders.

  School Field Trips
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the number of school field trips by local education authority for each year since 1985 and the number of pupils/students that have attended them; and what assessment he has made of the effects charges have had upon school field trips.

  Mr. Forth
  Information on the number of school trips and the number of pupils attending them is not collected centrally. The Government have, however, been monitor-ing the effects of the legislation on charging contained in the Education Reform Act 1988. A survey of schools undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research, published in 1991 showed that the law had riot led to any significant change in the number of school field trips.

  Language Teachers
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the general availability of language teachers in the United Kingdom; and what measures he will take to increase their number.

  Mr. Forth
  For England and Wales, in January 1992 secondary schools reported that only 1·2 per cent.—162—of teaching posts in modern foreign languages were vacant.

  A £1,500 tax-free bursary has been offered since 1990 to encourage graduates to undertake initial teacher training in modern foreign languages. Recruitment to such training rose in 1990 and 1991 by 30·3 per cent. and 35·2 per cent. respectively, and 1992 is expected to show a further increase.
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  Information in respect of Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  School Governors (Interviews)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will issue guidelines to school governors on interviewing practice in respect of interviewing disabled applicants.

  Mr. Forth
  No. Governor training is an LEA responsibility and most provide training on appointing staff, which will include interviewing skills.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will make it his policy to amend the draft medical questionnaire distributed to initial teacher trainees so as to reflect a more positive attitude to disablement and disabled people;

  (2) if he will consult the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation in connection with the draft medical questionnaire sent out to prospective teachers;

  (3) if he will make it his policy to issue guidelines to local education authorities to secure the retention of disabled teachers.

  Mr. Forth
  Officials from the Department have recently met representatives from the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation to discuss these matters. Further representations from RADAR have been invited. I shall consider them carefully.

  "Choice and Diversity"
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which teacher unions he or his Ministers met to discuss the White Paper "Choice and Diversity"; and which organisations otherwise representing teachers were consulted.

  Mr. Forth
  The main teacher unions and organisations representing teachers were invited to comment on the White Paper. Their comments along with close to 1,000 other responses received, were carefully considered. My noble Friend the Minister of State addressed a conference for the Professional Association of Teachers on the subject of the White Paper.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the criteria used to determine the spending levels on education for grant-maintained(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools; what was the total spending in each category for each of the last two years; and if he will divide these figures by region.

  Mr. Forth
  Grant-maintained schools receive the bulk of recurrent funding in annual maintenance grant-AMG. This is based on the levels of funding that schools could have expected to have received if still maintained by the relevant local education authority, including elements for spending on central services and school meals. The level of AMG for each school reflects spending decisions by individual local education authorities, from whom the grants are recouped.
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  Grant-maintained schools are eligible to receive transitional, special purpose and capital grants direct from the Department. The level of these grants is fixed each year, taking account of the level of funding schools need to meet their particular responsibilities as self-governing schools. Most of this funding is allocated on a simple formula basis with no differentiation between primary and secondary schools. Allocations for major capital projects are based on an assessment of school bids against a set of priorities notified to schools in advance.

  Total spending on grant-maintained primary schools was nil in 1990–91 and £3 million in 1991–92. Total spending on grant-maintained secondary schools was £68 million in 1990–91 and £179 million in 1991–92. The table shows how these totals break down by region:

  £ million

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  North

  0·0

  0·0

  1·4

  North West

  11·7

  0·4

  14·0

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2·3

  0·1

  7·3

  West Midlands

  7·5

  0·0

  18·8

  East Midlands

  9·2

  1·2

  21·1

  East Anglia

  0·5

  0·8

  2·3

  South East

  29·2

  0·6

  97·1

  South West

  8·1

  0·0

  16·6

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many letters of complaint he has received from parents in Nottinghamshire about the county council's approach to opt-out ballots.

  Mr. Forth
  Nottinghamshire county council has made plain its opposition to parents seeking grant-maintained status for their children's schools, including through letters to parents which may be misleading. The Department has not so far received letters of complaint from parents about the council's approach to ballots, though informal complaints are made through a number of channels including in correspondence with hon. Members.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his reply of 12 November,Official Report, column 893, what was the number of formal complaints made to his Department from parents alleging misconduct by a headteacher or a governing body during the holding of a parental ballot on grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Forth
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what level of grant was given in 1991–92 to the Grant Maintained Schools Trust.

  Mr. Forth
  No grant has been given to the Grant Maintained Schools Trust. Grant of £600,000 was paid to the Grant Maintained Schools Centre in 1991–92.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his reply of 12 November,Official Report, column 893, how many formal complaints have been made to his Department from parents alleging misconduct by a local education authority during the holding of a parental ballot on grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Forth
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Hearing-impaired Children
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps are currently being undertaken by his Department to encourage more young people to become qualified teachers of hearing-impaired children.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department assists local education authorities in England with the costs of training qualified teachers to become teachers of pupils with special educational needs. It does this through the grants for education support and training programme which supports the training of hearing-impaired pupils. The amount of LEA expenditure to be supported for this training is being raised from £7·2 million in 1992–93 to £10 million in 1993–94.

  Police Vetting
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance has been issued during the past 12 months to local education authorities who because of staff shortages may need to employ persons not yet cleared by the established police vetting procedure.

  Mr. Forth
  None.

  Rising-Fives
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list those local education authorities in England and Wales which have a policy of once a year entry to school for rising five-year-olds; what entry procedures the remaining authorities employ; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Information on Welsh practice is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales. The term "rising fives" usually relates to children who are still four at the outset of a school term but will reach five before the term is over. A policy of admitting "rising fives" is thus one involving termly admissions to primary school. This practice has been widespread in England for years. We are aware that, more recently, numbers of local education authorities have adopted, or moved towards, a single entry date at the start of the school year in which a child becomes five, but records of individual authorities' practices are not kept centrally.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance he gives to local education authorities about the timing of entry into schools of rising five-year-olds; and if he has any plans to change the current arrangements.

  Mr. Forth
  Local education authorities are required to secure that all children receive schooling from the start of the term following their fifth birthday. The admission of younger children is a matter for local discretion. My right hon. Friend has issued no guidance on the arrangements that might be made in this discretionary area and has no plans to do so.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what measures he is taking to ensure the viability of enlarged in-school initial training for teachers in small primary schools;
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  (2) what information he has received on the effect of his proposals for changes in teacher education for the primary sector on teacher supply.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has made no proposals for changes in the training of primary school teachers. He intends to introduce changes to primary training, to improve its quality by making it more school-based and more closely related to what schools will need to achieve the higher standards envisaged in "Choice and Diversity", by no later than September 1994.

  Sandwich Courses
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to collect information in respect of students undertaking sandwich courses in higher education who are having difficulty in securing the required industrial placements.

  Mr. Forman
  I am aware of the difficulty higher education institutions are having at present in securing industrial placements for some of their sandwich course students. This is essentially a matter for the institutions themselves, in conjunction with employers.

  Undergraduates (Fees)
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total expenditure in respect of tuition fees for undergraduate courses in universities and polytechnics in the latest year for which figures are available; and how much of this was for students not qualifying for a mandatory maintenance grant on grounds of high parental income.

  Mr. Forman
  Tuition fee expenditure on mandatory awards for first degree students in universities, polytech-nics and colleges in England and Wales was £680 million in the academic year 1990–91. Information on fee expenditure for students receiving a nil maintenance grant because of high parental or other income is not available. However, 27·4 per cent. of students in receipt of mandatory awards received nil maintenance.

  Discretionary Awards
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will set out for each local education authority in rank order the expenditure on major discretionary awards per head of adult population for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Forman
  The available information is given in the table and excludes awards made to students by the London residuary body. Trafford and Isles of Scilly, included with Cornwall, made no full value awards.

  Local authority

  Total expenditure on full value discretionary awards per head of the adult population1 1990–91 (£)

  North Yorkshire

  13·63

  Knowsley

  9·97

  Wandsworth

  9·83

  Liverpool

  7·82

  Powys

  7·53

  Cheshire

  6·96

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  Local authority

  Total expenditure on full value discretionary awards per head of the adult population1 1990–91 (£)

  Leicestershire

  6·91

  Walsall

  6·45

  Wirral

  6·41

  Cumbria

  6·38

  Suffolk

  5·78

  Devon

  5·56

  Humberside

  5·52

  Gloucestershire

  5·33

  Kirklees

  5·26

  Lambeth

  5·21

  Hampshire

  5·19

  Dorset

  5·16

  Barnsley

  5·13

  Redbridge

  4·83

  Shropshire

  4·75

  Lancashire

  4·73

  City of London

  4·67

  Lewisham

  4·50

  Hackney

  4·37

  South Glamorgan

  4·34

  Gateshead

  4·30

  Bradford

  4·26

  Somerset

  4·17

  Richmond

  4·12

  Bolton

  4·08

  Clwyd

  4·06

  Southwark

  4·06

  Brent

  4·05

  Cleveland

  4·05

  Durham

  3·94

  Sefton

  3·89

  Kingston

  3·85

  Kent

  3·83

  South Tyneside

  3·80

  Ealing

  3·74

  North Tyneside

  3·70

  West Glamorgan

  3·58

  Waltham Forest

  3·50

  Norfolk

  3·49

  Isle of Wight

  3·39

  Bury

  3·36

  Nottinghamshire

  3·35

  Cambridgeshire

  3·33

  Tower Hamlets

  3·33

  Kensington

  3·31

  Wakefield

  3·22

  Calderdale

  3·19

  Bromley

  3·11

  Lincolnshire

  3·03

  Wiltshire

  2·89

  Cornwall/Isles of Scilly2

  2·83

  Newham

  2·79

  Northumberland

  2·68

  Hereford and Worcester

  2·66

  Leeds

  2·66

  Oxfordshire

  2·63

  Northamptonshire

  2·56

  Hammersmith

  2·49

  Harrow

  2·39

  Havering

  2·35

  Sandwell

  2·34

  Buckinghamshire

  2·33

  Gwent

  2·32

  Birmingham

  2·31

  Rochdale

  2·25

  Essex

  2·21

  Barking

  2·15

  Enfield

  2·15

  Bexley

  2·09

  Greenwich

  2·09

  Croydon

  2·04

  Doncaster

  1·96

  Sutton

  1·91

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  Local authority

  Total expenditure on full value discretionary awards per head of the adult population1 1990–91 (£)

  Mid Glamorgan

  1·91

  Newcastle

  1·81

  Staffordshire

  1·81

  Bedfordshire

  1·80

  Solihull

  1·76

  Hertfordshire

  1·70

  Hillingdon

  1·68

  Westminster

  1·64

  Oldham

  1·64

  Surrey

  1·62

  Derbyshire

  1·56

  Merton

  1·55

  Stockport

  1·51

  Dyfed

  1·50

  Warwickshire

  1·42

  East Sussex

  1·40

  St. Helens

  1·39

  Tameside

  1·39

  Rotherham

  1·29

  Hounslow

  1·28

  Manchester

  1·21

  Wolverhampton

  1·14

  Dudley

  1·12

  Wigan

  1·07

  Coventry

  1·05

  West Sussex

  1·01

  Sheffield

  1·00

  Salford

  0·84

  Haringey

  0·72

  Barnet

  0·56

  Islington

  0·41

  Gwynedd

  0·21

  Trafford

  0·00

  Sunderland3

  n/a

  Camden3

  n/a

  Berkshire3

  n/a

  Avon3

  n/a

  Notes:

  1 Mid 1989 projections of mid 1991 population aged 16 and over.

  2 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly combined because separate population data not available (Isles of Scilly made no full value awards during 1990–91).

  3 LEAs unable to supply appropriate information.

  Choice in Education
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what official contact Ministers and officials in his Department have had with Choice in Education in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Forth
  Officials from the Department meet representatives of Choice in Education from time to time. Choice in Education receives no grant from the Government.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Private Detectives
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what use the Church Commissioners have made of private detectives in each of the last five years; at what cost; and if he will list the firms involved.

  Mr. Michael Alison
  The Commissioners have used private detectives over the last five years to trace and to
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  serve legal documents on debtors. Information on the cost in each case is held on a case by case basis and the total cost is not, therefore, readily calculable. The firms involved are Andersons; Barrington Investigations; D-Tech; Finlay's Bureau of Investigations Ltd.; Lewis and Elliott; MacNab and Co; Madagans; M. J. Kane and Associates; Nicholas Linden and Pinkertons.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Agencies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those agencies in his Department which are being considered for privatisation or contractorisation.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The scope for privatisation or contractorisation of Wilton Park and the Natural Resources Institute is considered as part of each agency's three-year review. The three-year review of the Natural Resources Institute is currently being undertaken. It will consider, inter alia, the strategic options.

  Iran
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will lodge a formal complaint with the Iranian Government over recent breaches of human rights in Iran.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The abuse of human rights in Iran continues to cause us deep concern. We have made this clear on many occasions, both bilaterally and together with our EC partners, and will continue to do so.

  Iraq
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what United Kingdom origin equipment or material was found by the United Nations special inspection team in Iraq at(a) the Al-Musayyib high explosive test site, (b) the Al-Atheer facility for manufacture of implosion bomb detonation devices, (c) the Al-Furat centrifuge factory for uranium enrichment or (d) the Akaswat phosphate mine and uranium extraction plants.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence those monitoring the United Nations sanctions against Iraq found of United Kingdom-manufactured computer equipment playing any part in Iraqi nuclear, chemical or biological weapon plans.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are aware that the inspections in Iraq by the United Nations special commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency have revealed the names of many companies around the world which have traded with Iraq, including some from Britain. It is possible that more names will be revealed as time goes on. It is not our practice to comment in detail on the information given to us by the IAEA or UNSCOM.

  Any evidence of wrongdoing will be urgently investigated and, if appropriate, will be a matter for the courts. However, it would be quite wrong to conclude, without further analysis, that the companies named have
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  behaved wrongfully. Until the invasion of Kuwait, trade with Iraq was not illegal provided strategic export controls were not breached.

  UNESCO
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent in monitoring the progress of UNESCO since the United Kingdom's withdrawal from membership.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It would involve disproportionate cost to detail all the costs incurred in following developments at UNESCO since 1985. The main charges are those of a first secretary in Paris and another in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 50 per cent. of whose duties are devoted to UNESCO; and a locally-engaged member of staff in Paris. The estimated 1991–92 cost of these staff is £143,630.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking towards curtailing the activities of armed Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in breach of the 1991 peace accord.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The United Kingdom has provided 120 personnel to the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia—UNTAC—military component, including military observers and a mine clearance training unit. We, together with our partners in the United Nations Security Council, will shortly be considering what steps should be taken in the light of the Khmer Rouge's refusal to co-operate with UNTAC.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to initiate legal or diplomatic action in relation to infringements by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge of international law.

  Mr. Goodlad
  No international criminal court now exists with jurisdiction over the offences in question. Under the terms of the Genocide convention, the only national courts with jurisdiction over Pol Pot would be those in Cambodia. If the new, legitimate Cambodian Government formed after elections next year wished to bring Pol Pot and his associates to trial, we would have no regrets.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy with regard to the continued participation of the Khmer Rouge in the peace process in Cambodia.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Our aim is to see the agreements on a comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodia conflict implemented fully. The United Nations Security Council will again be addressing this question shortly. If the Khmer Rouge exclude themselves from the free and fair elections due to take place in April/May 1993, that is their choice.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on compliance with the Cambodian peace accord of October 1991.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We deplore the refusal of the Khmer Rouge to cooperate with the United Nations Transitional
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  Authority in Cambodia—UNTAC—and to respect its obligations under the Paris agreements. There has been considerable progress towards the implementation of the comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodia conflict. Despite occasional ceasefire violations, peace has returned to most of Cambodia. More than 170,000 refugees formerly in the camps on the Thai-Cambodian border have returned to Cambodia without a single fatality as a result of mines; and preparations are well in hand for the holding of free and fair elections in April/May 1993, with more than 1·5 million Cambodians now registered.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each month from January 1991 the number of(a) visa applications, (b) successful visa applications and (c) unsuccessful visa applications made by citizens of each republic of the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Nationals of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia have required visas for the United Kingdom only since 7 November 1992. To obtain the information required for the period of 7 November to date would require a special exercise to consult all visa-issuing posts overseas and would result in dispropor-tionate cost.

  I will, however, ensure that the hon. Member receives the information he requires when it is to hand.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visa applications from citizens of each of the former Yugoslav republics have been refused on the ground that the applicant does not have leave of absence from an employer.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The information is not at present available. Such statistics are normally provided monthly by posts abroad: since the visa regime was not applied on former Yugoslavia until earlier this month, to obtain them now would involve disproportionate cost.

  I will, however, ensure that the hon. Member receives the information he requires when it is to hand.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the fees charged to visa applicants from the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Visa applicants from the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are required to pay the same fees as all other visa applicants. Current visa fees are listed in the Consular Fees Order 1989—SI (1989) 152—a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Kurdish People
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart on the treatment of Kurds in north Kurdistan, and the denial of parliamentary rights to Kurdish Members of Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garet-Jones
  The Turkish Government are well aware of our concern about the human rights situation in Turkey. We welcome Prime Minister Demirel's commit-ment to introducing further human rights reforms.
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  It is not the case that the parliamentary rights of any Members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly of Kurdish origin have been withdrawn. But the public prosecutor has requested the removal of parliamentary immunity from some members of the People's Labour Party—HEP—so that they can be tried for charges arising out of alleged co-operation with terrorist organisations. The request for removal of immunity is currently under review by the parliamentary justice committee.

  The HEP members concerned are all of ethnic Kurdish origin. There is no question of lifting the immunity of other Kurdish members of the Grand National Assembly. We are following this issue closely.

  Bosnia and Slovenia
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the posts in Bosnia and Slovenia where visa applications can be made for entry to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There are none.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of visa applications that have been refused from Bosnian citizens who are(a) parents, (b) grandparents, (c) siblings and (d) other relatives of people in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The information is not at present available. Such statistics are normally provided monthly by posts abroad: since the visa regime was not applied to Bosnian citizens until earlier this month, to obtain them now would involve disproportionate cost.

  I will, however, ensure that the hon. Member receives the information he requires when it is to hand.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with the provision of humanitarian assistance to the former Yugoslavia since the Birmingham summit.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Good progress has been made in a number of areas. We have now committed more than £70 million in humanitarian assistance to the former Yugoslavia: approximately £41 million as our share of the EC's relief programme and over £29·5 million bilaterally.

  We have played a leading role in establishing the European Community task force, an initiative which stems from the Birmingham summit. We have been the first member state to provide trucks and staff—including the leader for the task force. As also envisaged at Birmingham, member states have now appointed special representatives to oversee their humanitarian assistance to the former Yugoslavia: they meet shortly under the chairmanship of the United Kingdom special representative, Tim Lankester, the Permanent Secretary of the Overseas Development Administration.

  In the meantime, we have also gone forward with direct action mainly in central Bosnia where the suffering is greatest. There are now 43 British trucks together with trailers, support vehicles and maintenance back up working on relief convoys. There are 75 British civilian

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  personnel working on the convoys or seconded as technical experts to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. They will be joined by another 20 construction workers this week who will work on a major shelter programme designed to make existing buildings weather proof for around 20,000 people this winter in some of the worst affected areas. This is in addition to our substantial financial support for UN HCR, the World Health Organisation, the Red Cross and other non-governmental organisations. It is also in addition to the cost of providing 2,400 British troops for the UN protection force.

  Commonwealth
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider raising with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, and the member states, the possibility of an invitation to join the Commonwealth being extended to the Irish Republic, on the same basis enjoyed by other members of the Commonwealth that are republics.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No. We do not intend to approach the Commonwealth Secretary-General or other Commonwealth members of this matter; it is for the' Irish Republic to apply if it wishes.

  Somalia
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much assistance was given by the United Kingdom to Somalia in each of the last 10 years(a) in humanitarian aid whether by cash grant or in kind, (b) in development aid whether by cash grant or in kind, (c) in loans and (d) in any other form.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The table sets out figures showing United Kingdom gross bilateral development and humanitarian assistance to Somalia for each of the past 10 years. We have made no loans or given any other form of aid to Somalia during this period.

  Somalia: Untied Kingdom bilateral aid

  Year

  Development Aid (£.000)

  Humanitarian Aid (£.000)

  1981

  1,117

  1,324

  1982

  1,492

  1,036

  1983

  2,400

  86

  1984

  2,011

  47

  1985

  1,728

  9

  1986

  3,686

  255

  1987

  6,859

  433

  1988

  6,490

  124

  1989

  5,143

  152

  1990

  1,678

  —

  1991

  707

  1,988

  Chakufwa Chihana
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for an official from the United Kingdom mission in Malawi to attend the trial of Chakufwa Chihana on charges of sedition and publish a report of the proceedings.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Chakufwa Chihana's trail ended on 12 November. The judge has now withdrawn to consider 458
  the evidence. Members of the high commission staff together with representatives from other diplomatic embassies in Lilongwe took it in turns to ensure a continuous diplomatic presence at the trial. Transcripts of the proceeding are expected to be available through the high court in Blantyre. We do not propose to prepare an independent report of the proceedings.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government about the imprisonment and criminal charges brought against Chakufwa Chihana in Malawi; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We made formal representations in April and August this year calling on the Malawian Government to release Mr. Chihana pending formal committal proceedings. We have told them that we considered his arrest and subsequent indictment to be a flagrant violation to his right to freedom of speech.

PRIME MINISTER

  Disabled People
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what is his policy towards introducing comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation in favour of the rights of disabled people;

  (2) what plans he has to prohibit discrimination on the ground of physical disability; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  We continue to work to eliminate discrimination against disabled people on the ground of their disability. We believe that this is best achieved by a combination of legislation targeted on clearly identified needs and a programme of education and encouragement.

  Additionality and Transparency
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions Her Majesty's Government have had with the EC in the last three years in relation to the definition, interpretation or implementation of the principles of additionality and transparency; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  There have been a number of discussions at ministerial and official level. An announce-ment was made by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 17 February. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry on 30 June at columns 525–26.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister how Her Majesty's Government currently define and interpret the principles of(a) additionality and (b) transparency in relation to EC funding; in which ways these differ from those used by each of the other member states; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Article 9 of regulation 4253/88 requires that the structural funds have an additional economic impact in the regions concerned; and result in at least an equivalent increase in the amount of official structural aid in the member state concerned. The
  459
  Government fully support these principles, which are reflected in our public expenditure arrangements, details of which were set out in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry on 30 June.

  How other member states interpret the additionality and transparency requirement is a matter for the member state concerned and the Commission.

  Import and Export Control Act 1990
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans Her Majesty's Government have to bring forward legislation to amend the Import and Export Control Act 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  Her Majesty's Government have no plans to amend the Import and Export Control Act 1990 which repealed section 9(3) of the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939. The Government intend, however, to introduce a new Export of Goods (Control) Order in the near future.

  China
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his meeting with the Vice-Premier of the People's Republic of China.

  The Prime Minister
  My meeting with the Vice-Premier offered an important opportunity to reaffirm to the Chinese leadership the Government's strong support for the Governor's proposals for constitutional development in Hong Kong and to urge the Chinese to proceed through constructive discussion rather than confrontation. I also discussed commercial issues and human rights, including the visit of Lord Howe's delegation to China in December.

  Iraq
  Mr. Bendall
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the cost of the inquiry by Lord Justice Scott into the sales of equipment to Iraq.

  The Prime Minister
  It is not possible at this stage to make such an assessment.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister what specific measures have been taken to prevent the unauthorised removal, destruction of and tampering with all documents relating to the sale of arms and components to Iraq, held within Government Departments and elsewhere, which might be required by Lord Justice Scott's inquiry.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 November 1992]: Instructions have been issued to ensure that all papers relevant to Lord Justice Scott's inquiry are kept in safe custody and are made available to the inquiry when required.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about his response to firms other than Matrix Churchill about the conditions of arms sales to Iraq.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 18 November 1992]: Arms sales to Iraq were considered under Her Majesty's Government's guidelines for the sale of defence equipment to Iran and Iraq until August 1990, when the United Nations embargo on trade with Iraq, including all arms sales, came into effect.
  460

  European Central Bank
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to pursuade his EC colleagues that the European central bank be situated in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have consistently drawn the attention of my EC colleagues to the advantages for the Community in establishing the new monetary institutions in the United Kingdom. I shall continue to do so.

  Child Labour, Colombia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will be in a position to reply to the letter of 26 October from the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby in respect of child labour in the Colombian coal mines.

  The Prime Minister
  I will respond to the hon. Member's letter shortly.

  Militarily Sensitive Equipment
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what armaments and military sensitive equipment, and in what quantity, were licensed by Her Majesty's Government for export to(a) Iraq and (b) Yugoslavia since 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 20 November 1992]: Details of export licence applications for Iraq were included in a Department of Trade and Industry memorandum supplied to the Trade and Industry Select Committee and published in the minutes of evidence, 26 November 1991, pages 37–106. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will write to the hon. Member about exports licensed for supply to Yugoslavia.

  Party Conferences (Security)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister what amounts have been claimed from central funds by each political party for security costs associated with conferences in each of the last three years.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 20 November 1992]: Claims have been made only by the Conservative and Labour parties. The figures are as follows:

  Conservative party £

  Labour party £

  1989

  274,500

  70,500

  1990

  270,500

  76,900

  1991

  330,000

  90,500

  On each occasion the expenditure was certified by the chief constable concerned as being necessary in the light of the assessed threat.

  Drug and Alcohol Services
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Prime Minister what review Ministers have made of the effects of the ending of Government funding for health education co-ordination and of ring fencing of funding for residential drug and alcohol services; and if he will review the working of the Cabinet sub-Committee on drugs misuse.
  461
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 20 November 1992]: Support for drugs and health education has received specific grant funding for seven years and aspects of health education are now included in the national curriculum; schools and local education authorities now have a firm basis on which to build their provision for preventative health education.

  The community care special transitional grant of £539 million in 1993–94 will ring fence resources for the whole of community care; within this local authorities will be expected to allocate an amount for alcohol and drug services appropriate to their needs.

  The establishment of a special ministerial sub-committee reflects our firm commitment to tackling drugs misuse. We will continue to co-ordinate, and keep under review, our strategy in this area.

  Staff References
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to provide new guidelines to all Welsh non-departmental public bodies concerning the obligation to insist on a minimum of two references from previous employers for all applicants for senior appointments and for each reference to be taken up and checked before any appointee commences employment; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 November 1992]: Welsh non-departmental public bodies have been sent the "Practitioners Guide for Civil Service Recruitment" as guidance; it includes a range of pre-appointment checks to be undertaken before a permanent appointment is made. It is the responsibility of the individual bodies to decide on the most suitable processes for making these checks.

  Ministerial Appointments
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to amend paragraph 52 of the guidelines on public appointments set out in "Questions of Procedure" for Ministers so as to debar Ministers from appointing their own employees to be members of the boards of public bodies for which they are responsible.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 12 November 1992]: Under paragraph 52 of the guidelines set out in "Questions of Procedure", Ministers, having made such inquiries as they think appropriate, may, subject to public accountability and the requirements of the law, appoint those considered best qualified for each appointment. I have no plans to change the paragraph in question, which seems to me to be adequate and appropriate for its purpose.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Violent Crimes (Compensation)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the arrangements for compensating the victims of violent crimes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Government are anxious to improve services to all victims of crime. For those seeking compensation under the criminal injuries compensation 462
  scheme we shall be making available an additional £180 million to meet compensation claims over the next three years. These resources are over and above the current substantial provision of £530 million. In addition we wish to improve and speed up the service to those making claims, especially in the light of the increasing volume of applications.

  Some of the main barriers to progress in this area were outlined in last year's wide ranging management review of the CIB. Copies of the report entitled "Management Review of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board—Home Office Management Advisory Services with Capita Management Consultancy: June 1991", were placed in the Library of the House. Against that background and after careful consideration we have decided that a simplified procedure based on a tariff structure offers the best prospect of providing quicker payments to claimants through a means that is fair, straightforward and understandable.

  Further work is needed to develop the practical aspects of these new arrangements. This work should be completed by the first half of next year when a White Paper will be published setting out the details of the proposed new arrangements. We would expect these to come into operation early in 1994.

  Claims already lodged, and those submitted before the new tariff scheme takes effect, will be dealt with by the board under the existing arrangements.

  Drug-related Offences
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests in connection with drugs-related offences were made in Blyth Valley in each year since 1981.

  Mr. Jack
  Information on arrests is not collected centrally. The table shows the number of prosecutions at Blyth Valley petty sessional division for drug-related offences from 1981 to 1991, which is provisional.

  Number of prosecutions at Blyth Valley magistrates' court for drug related offences 1981–9l1

  Drug offences

  Indictable

  Summary

  1981

  3

  —

  1982

  3

  —

  1983

  2

  —

  1984

  3

  —

  1985

  4

  —

  1986

  3

  —

  1987

  6

  —

  1988

  4

  —

  1989

  6

  —

  1990

  14

  —

  11991

  23

  —

  1 Provisional.

  Prison Officers' Accommodation
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present number of prison officers working at each of the London prisons who are listed as waiting to be allocated a prison officer quarter.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Since the introduction of the fresh start agreement in 1987, prison officers are not entitled to
  463
  the provision of a prison service quarter. Consequently there are no records kept at any of the London prisons for officers waiting to be allocated a prison service quarter.

  This is because when official quarters become available, they are advertised by the governor within the establishment. All applications are considered by him, and factors such as the length of service, seniority and compassionate grounds, are taken into account in making an allocation.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what survey has been undertaken by his Department as to how prison officers newly posted to work in London prisons find suitable affordable accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No survey has been undertaken by the prison service as to how prison officers newly posted to London prisons find suitable accommodation. Since fresh start, prison officers are no longer quarters entitled.

  However, in recognition of the difficulties experienced by new prison officers, whose first posting, like that of other newly recruited civil servants, does not constitute a public expense transfer, officers who are purchasing property in high cost areas, and those posted to establishments in the south-east of England, including London, have since 1989 been able to claim up to £5,000 relocation expenses.

  Officers who are transferred to London prisons on permanent compulsory transfer terms are entitled to reimbursement of the expenses incurred in moving home. If they own a property, its sale at the current market value is guaranteed through a Home Office scheme operated by the Black Horse Relocation Company. Financial assistance to officers transferring at public expense from a cheaper to a more expensive area and whose outgoings have necessarily increased is available in the form of additional housing cost allowance. Officers may apply for an advance of salary for house purchase which is repayable, free of interest, over a 10-year period.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total amount of revenue received by his Department from the sale of prison officers' quarters in England and Wales in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The total amount of receipts from the sale of prison officers quarters in England and Wales in each of the past 10 years were as follows:

  Receipts £ million

  1982–83

  6·8

  1983–84

  16·1

  1984–85

  16·6

  1985–86

  11·1

  1986–87

  12·1

  1987–88

  6·7

  1988–89

  61·0

  1989–90

  44·0

  1990–91

  22·0

  1991–92

  16·8

  11992–93

  5·6

  Total

  218·8

  1 (To date).

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers' quarters have been 464
  purchased or built for prison officers (a) in Greater London and (b) in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The numbers of quarters built or purchased in each of the last 10 years were as follows:

  Year

  Built

  Purchased

  1982–83

  —

  —

  1983–84

  —

  —

  1984–85

  —

  160

  1985–86

  100

  —

  1986–87

  —

  —

  1987–88

  80

  —

  1988–89

  58

  —

  1989–90

  —

  13

  1990–91

  —

  13

  1991–92

  —

  16

  1991–93 (to date)

  —

  6

  Totals

  238

  208

  Following the introduction of fresh start in 1987, prison officers were no longer entitled to quarters and quarters purchased since then have been for chaplains, farm managers and agricultural workers at the new prisons. The only quarters provided in the Greater London area were seven purchased for HM prison Belmarsh, Woolwich, in 1990–91.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of prison officers' quarters that have been sold in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The total number of prison officers quarters sold in each of the last 10 years were as follows:

  Number sold

  1982–83

  463

  1983–84

  779

  1984–85

  739

  1985–86

  441

  1986–87

  455

  1987–88

  250

  1988–89

  2,260

  1989–90

  1,502

  1990–91

  698

  1991–92

  538

  11992–93

  152

  Total

  8,277

  1 to date

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officer quarters at each of the London prisons are still owned by his Department.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of prison officers' quarters owned by the Department at each of the London prisons is as follows:

  Number

  Belmarsh

  9

  Brixton

  172

  Feltham

  91

  Holloway

  150

  Latchmere House

  22

  Pentonville

  92

  Wandsworth

  144

  465

  Number

  Wormwood Scrubs

  182

  Total

  862

  Prison Chaplains
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison chaplains were working within prisons in England and Wales on 16 November.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  On 16 November 1992 there were 397 chaplains working in prisons in England and Wales. These comprised:—

  Number

  Anglican

  Full-time

  109

  Part-time

  56

  Methodist

  129

  Roman Catholic

  103

  In addition, the prison service employs 114 substitutes who stand in as required, when a full-time chaplain is on leave or undertaking training. 567 visiting ministers have also been appointed under section 10 of the Prison Act 1952 to meet the needs of prisoners of other faiths.

  Genital Mutilation
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how may prosecutions were brought against medical practitioners who carried out illegal female genital mutilation operations in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Jack
  Records available centrally show no prosecutions in England and Wales from 1986 to 1991 —provisional—under the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985.

  Race Relations Act 1976
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposals from the Commission for Racial Equality for changes to the Race Relations Act 1976.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Commission for Racial Equality has put forward wide-ranging recommendations in its second review of the Race Relations Act 1976. The Government are now giving these careful consideration.

  Prison Officers (Assaults)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults on prison officers took place between June and November; and at what prisons they occurred.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available information relates to offences of assault and attempted assault on a prison officer which were punished under the prison discipline system and is given in the table. Data for offences punished in October and November arc not yet available.
  466

  Offences1 of assaulting a prison officer proved at adjudications in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales in June to September 1992: by establishment at which punished

  Establishment at which punished

  Assault

  Offence Attempted assault2

  Total

  ALL ESTABLISHMENTS

  591

  56

  647

  All male establishments

  538

  53

  591

  Remand Centres

  59

  12

  71

  Brinsford

  6

  1

  7

  Cardiff

  1

  —

  1

  Dorchester

  1

  —

  1

  Exeter

  1

  1

  2

  Feltham

  18

  2

  20

  Glen Parva

  4

  1

  5

  Hindley

  3

  3

  6

  Moorland

  16

  1

  17

  Stoke Heath

  1

  1

  2

  Swansea

  1

  —

  1

  Local prisons

  205

  17

  222

  Bedford

  3

  —

  3

  Belmarsh

  23

  4

  27

  Birmingham

  22

  3

  25

  Bristol

  1

  —

  1

  Brixton

  6

  —

  6

  Bullingdon

  8

  —

  8

  Canterbury

  4

  —

  4

  Cardiff

  6

  1

  7

  Chelmsford

  8

  1

  9

  Durham

  10

  —

  10

  Elmley

  6

  —

  6

  Exeter

  2

  —

  2

  Gloucester

  1

  —

  1

  Hull

  3

  —

  3

  Leeds

  13

  —

  13

  Leicester

  2

  2

  4

  Lincoln

  8

  —

  8

  Liverpool

  6

  —

  6

  Manchester

  4

  —

  4

  Norwich

  3

  —

  3

  Pentonville

  15

  1

  16

  Preston

  3

  1

  4

  Reading

  4

  —

  4

  Shrewsbury

  3

  —

  3

  Swansea

  2

  —

  2

  Wandsworth

  8

  3

  11

  Winchester

  16

  —

  16

  Wolds

  4

  —

  4

  Wormwood Scrubs

  11

  1

  12

  Open Prisons

  6

  1

  7

  North Sea Camp

  2

  —

  2

  Standford Hill

  1

  1

  2

  Sudbury

  3

  —

  3

  Closed Training Prisons

  192

  16

  208

  Acklington

  5

  —

  5

  Albany

  4

  1

  5

  Blundeston

  17

  1

  18

  Camp Hill

  3

  —

  3

  Channings Wood

  1

  —

  1

  Coldingley

  5

  —

  5

  Dartmoor

  10

  1

  11

  Erlestoke

  2

  —

  2

  Featherstone

  1

  1

  2

  Frankland

  5

  1

  6

  Full Sutton

  33

  1

  34

  467

  Establishment at which punished

  Assault

  Offence Attempted assault2

  Total

  Garth

  13

  —

  13

  Haverigg

  2

  —

  2

  Highpoint

  2

  —

  2

  Lancaster

  1

  —

  1

  Lindholme

  3

  —

  3

  Littlehey

  1

  —

  1

  Long Lartin

  10

  1

  11

  Maidstone

  4

  —

  4

  Norwich (Britannia)

  1

  —

  1

  Nottingham

  4

  —

  4

  Parkhurst

  2

  —

  2

  Portsmouth (Kingston)

  1

  —

  1

  Risley

  1

  —

  1

  Rochester

  1

  —

  1

  Shepton Mallett

  4

  —

  4

  Stafford

  13

  1

  14

  Stocken

  5

  —

  5

  Swaleside

  14

  1

  15

  The Verne

  1

  —

  1

  Wakefield

  3

  1

  4

  Wayland

  4

  —

  4

  Wellingborough

  1

  —

  1

  Whitemoor

  12

  6

  18

  Wymott

  3

  —

  3

  Closed young offender institutions

  71

  7

  78

  Aylesbury

  13

  2

  15

  Castington

  8

  —

  8

  Deeerbolt

  3

  1

  4

  Dover

  7

  —

  7

  Feltham

  9

  1

  10

  Glen Parva

  6

  1

  7

  Hollesley Bay

  3

  —

  3

  Moorland

  7

  —

  7

  Northallerton

  3

  —

  3

  Onley

  7

  1

  8

  Stoke Heath

  5

  1

  6

  Short sentenced institutions

  3

  —

  3

  Hollesley Bay

  1

  —

  1

  Werrington

  2

  —

  2

  Juvenile institutions

  2

  —

  2

  Onley

  2

  —

  2

  All female establishments

  53

  3

  56

  Local prisons

  37

  3

  40

  Holloway

  15

  —

  15

  Low Newton

  1

  —

  1

  New Hall

  2

  —

  2

  Pucklechurch

  3

  2

  5

  Risley

  16

  1

  17

  Closed prisons

  9

  —

  9

  Bullwood Hall

  2

  —

  2

  Cookham Wood

  1

  —

  1

  Styal

  6

  —

  6

  Closed young offender institutions

  7

  —

  7

  Bullwood Hall

  5

  —

  5

  Styal

  2

  —

  2

  468
  1Provisional figures.

  2Including attempting, inciting or assisting.

  Vehicle Crime
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) thefts of a motor vehicle, (b) unauthorised takings of a motor vehicle, (c) thefts from a motor vehicle and (d) total vehicle crimes were committed in each police force area in each calendar year since 1979 inclusive, and in the 12 months ending June 1992.

  Mr. Jack
  The available information is for offences recorded by the police and is given in the tables. It is not possible to separate offences of unauthorised taking from thefts of a motor vehicle.

  Notifiable offences of vehicle crime by police force area England and Wales 1979

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Avon and Somerset

  7,320

  5,373

  12,693

  Bedfordshire

  3,701

  2,360

  6,061

  Cambridgeshire

  1,809

  2,620

  4,429

  Cheshire

  3,521

  2,909

  6,430

  Cleveland

  3,344

  2,932

  6,276

  Cumbria

  1,620

  2,060

  3,680

  Derbyshire

  3,253

  3,796

  7,049

  Devon and Cornwall

  3,726

  3,395

  7,121

  Dorset

  2,072

  2,613

  4,685

  Durham

  2,278

  3,231

  5,509

  Essex

  6,830

  6,838

  13,668

  Gloucestershire

  1,449

  1,813

  3,262

  Greater Manchester

  27,181

  17,613

  44,794

  Hampshire

  6,477

  6,567

  13,044

  Hertfordshire

  4,295

  4,752

  9,047

  Humberside

  3,261

  3,816

  7,077

  Kent

  8,212

  5,574

  13,786

  Lancashire

  6,619

  5,440

  12,059

  Leicestershire

  3,692

  3,031

  6,723

  Lincolnshire

  1,006

  1,404

  2,410

  City of London

  536

  623

  1,159

  Merseyside

  16,865

  11,283

  28,148

  Metropolitan Police District

  76,188

  77,402

  153,590

  Norfolk

  1,659

  2,662

  4,321

  Northamptonshire

  2,789

  2,007

  4,796

  Northumbria

  13,515

  11,186

  24,701

  North Yorkshire

  1,615

  2,190

  3,805

  Nottinghamshire

  6,650

  6,399

  13,049

  South Yorkshire

  6,368

  5,478

  11,846

  Staffordshire

  2,876

  4,415

  7,291

  Suffolk

  1,213

  1,853

  3,066

  Surrey

  2,270

  2,993

  5,263

  Sussex

  3,685

  4,144

  7,829

  Thames Valley

  10,244

  7,945

  18,189

  Warwickshire

  1,400

  1,508

  2,908

  West Mercia

  2,940

  3,408

  6,348

  West Midlands

  25,658

  15,713

  41,371

  West Yorkshire

  14,571

  13,619

  28,190

  Wiltshire

  1,709

  2,287

  3,996

  Dyfed-Powys

  783

  1,087

  1,870

  Gwent

  2,057

  2,183

  4,240

  North Wales

  2,161

  2,059

  4,220

  South Wales

  9,827

  7,768

  17,595

  Total

  309,245

  278,349

  587,594

  469

  Notifiable offences of vehicle crime by police force area England and Wales 1980

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Avon and Somerset

  7,950

  6,706

  14,656

  Bedfordshire

  3,781

  2,682

  6,463

  Cambridgeshire

  1,760

  2,891

  4,651

  Cheshire

  3,911

  3,571

  7.482

  Cleveland

  3,046

  3,434

  6,480

  Cumbria

  1,305

  2,075

  3,380

  Derbyshire

  3,177

  4,175

  7,352

  Devon and Cornwall

  3,846

  4,128

  7,974

  Dorset

  2,037

  2,799

  4,836

  Durham

  2,414

  4,004

  6,418

  Essex

  6,622

  7,307

  13,929

  Gloucestershire

  1,456

  1,901

  3,357

  Greater Manchester

  27,776

  21,538

  49,314

  Hampshire

  6,502

  6,939

  13,441

  Hertfordshire

  4,378

  4,115

  8,493

  Humberside

  3,217

  4,281

  7,498

  Kent

  8,652

  6,121

  14,773

  Lancashire

  6,042

  5,010

  11,052

  Leicestershire

  4,025

  3,498

  7.523

  Lincolnshire

  1,020

  1,639

  2,659

  City of London

  504

  543

  1,047

  Merseyside

  16,125

  12,918

  29,043

  Metropolitan Police District

  88,112

  69,033

  157,145

  Norfolk

  2,051

  2,983

  5,034

  Northamptonshire

  2,721

  2,216

  4,937

  Northumbria

  14,229

  13,955

  28,184

  North Yorkshire

  1,540

  2,258

  3,798

  Nottinghamshire

  6,850

  7,674

  14,524

  South Yorkshire

  7,115

  6,328

  13,443

  Staffordshire

  3,325

  4,186

  7,511

  Suffolk

  1,208

  1,757

  2,965

  Surrey

  2,283

  2,967

  5,250

  Sussex

  3,864

  4,302

  8,166

  Thames Valley

  9,454

  7,975

  17,429

  Warwickshire

  1,522

  1,740

  3,262

  West Mercia

  3,215

  4,245

  7,460

  West Midlands

  26,197

  19,308

  45,505

  West Yorkshire

  14,486

  15,523

  30,009

  Wiltshire

  1,426

  2,474

  3,900

  Dyfed-Powys

  823

  1,143

  1,966

  Gwent

  1,913

  2,330

  4,243

  North Wales

  2,164

  2,243

  4,407

  South Wales

  10,310

  8,033

  18,343

  Total

  324,354

  294,948

  619,302

  Notifiable offences of vehicle crime by police force area England and Wales 1981

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Avon and Somerset

  7,874

  9,216

  17,090

  Bedfordshire

  3,765

  3,560

  7,325

  Cambridgeshire

  1,863

  3,678

  5,541

  Cheshire

  4,021

  4,872

  8,893

  Cleveland

  2,887

  4,694

  7,581

  Cumbria

  1,314

  2,764

  4,078

  Derbyshire

  3,387

  5,869

  9,256

  Devon and Cornwall

  3,901

  6,415

  10,316

  Dorset

  2,150

  3,206

  5,356

  Durham

  2,173

  4,810

  6,983

  Essex

  6,269

  8,810

  15,079

  Gloucestershire

  1,548

  2,412

  3,960

  Greater Manchester

  28,203

  26,610

  54,813

  Hampshire

  6,950

  9,626

  16,576

  Hertfordshire

  4,190

  5,331

  9,521

  Humberside

  3,203

  5,965

  9,168

  Kent

  7,449

  6,632

  14,081

  Lancashire

  5,909

  7,200

  13,109

  Leicestershire

  4,103

  4,761

  8,864

  Lincolnshire

  960

  2,503

  3,463

  470

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  City of London

  498

  641

  1,139

  Merseyside

  18,308

  16,897

  35,205

  Metropolitan Police District

  94,064

  84,258

  178,322

  Norfolk

  2,377

  4,260

  6,637

  Northamptonshire

  2,538

  2.897

  5,435

  Northumbria

  15,069

  16,442

  31,511

  North Yorkshire

  1,530

  3,317

  4,847

  Nottinghamshire

  7,252

  10,548

  17,800

  South Yorkshire

  6,634

  8,305

  14,939

  Staffordshire

  3,248

  5,968

  9,216

  Suffolk

  1,188

  2,333

  3,521

  Surrey

  2,222

  3,192

  5,414

  Sussex

  3.717

  5,162

  8,879

  Thames Valley

  8,848

  11,093

  19,941

  Warwickshire

  1,495

  2,367

  3,862

  West Mercia

  3,182

  6,038

  9,220

  West Midlands

  28,191

  25,951

  54,142

  West Yorkshire

  14,753

  19,651

  34,404

  Wiltshire

  1,626

  3,114

  4,740

  Dyfed-Powys

  626

  1,479

  2,105

  Gwent

  1,813

  2,798

  4,602

  North Wales

  2,144

  3,698

  5,842

  South Wales

  9,148

  10,306

  19,454

  Total

  332,590

  379,640

  712,230

  Notifiable offences of vehicle crime by police force area England and Wales 1982

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Avon and Somerset

  8,994

  10,353

  19.347

  Bedfordshire

  4,149

  4,084

  8,233

  Cambridgeshire

  2,234

  4,210

  6,444

  Cheshire

  3,962

  4,968

  8,930

  Cleveland

  3,162

  5,732

  8,894

  Cumbria

  1,379

  2,769

  4,148

  Derbyshire

  3,415

  6,399

  9,814

  Devon and Cornwall

  3,785

  8,337

  12,122

  Dorset

  2,620

  4,263

  6,883

  Durham

  2,473

  4,833

  7,306

  Essex

  6,618

  10,779

  17.397

  Gloucestershire

  1,664

  3,269

  4,933

  Greater Manchester

  28,979

  28,790

  57.769

  Hampshire

  7,333

  11,801

  19.134

  Hertfordshire

  4,134

  6,134

  10.268

  Humberside

  3,828

  6,660

  10,488

  Kent

  8,267

  9,631

  17.898

  Lancashire

  6,122

  8,051

  14.173

  Leicestershire

  4,107

  5,168

  9,275

  Lincolnshire

  1,140

  2,736

  3,876

  City of London

  476

  679

  1,155

  Merseyside

  18,472

  18,260

  36,732

  Metropolitan Police District

  98,099

  104,504

  202,603

  Norfolk

  2,807

  5,604

  8,411

  Northamptonshire

  3,082

  4,219

  7,301

  Northumbria

  17,867

  19,079

  36,946

  North Yorkshire

  2,070

  3,874

  5,944

  Nottinghamshire

  6,765

  10,261

  17,026

  South Yorkshire

  7,083

  9,548

  16,631

  Staffordshire

  3,130

  5,842

  8,972

  Suffolk

  1,351

  2,944

  4,295

  Surrey

  2,477

  3,850

  6,327

  Sussex

  4,157

  7,278

  11.435

  Thames Valley

  9,583

  13,831

  23,414

  Warwickshire

  1,703

  3,010

  4,713

  West Mercia

  3,457

  7,260

  10,717

  West Midlands

  28,262

  31,423

  59,685

  West Yorkshire

  15,894

  22,958

  38,852

  Wiltshire

  1,485

  3,874

  5,359

  Dyfed-Powys

  790

  1,675

  2,465

  Gwent

  1,783

  3,163

  4,946

  North Wales

  2,074

  3,832

  5,906

  471

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  South Wales

  9,998

  13,102

  23,100

  Total

  351,230

  449,037

  800,267

  Notifiable offences of vehicle crime by police force area England and Wales 1983

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Avon and Somerset

  7,723

  9,688

  17,411

  Bedfordshire

  4,187

  3,924

  8,111

  Cambridgeshire

  2,210

  4,034

  6,244

  Cheshire

  3,774

  5,107

  8,881

  Cleveland

  2,832

  5,539

  8,371

  Cumbria

  1,363

  3,080

  4,443

  Derbyshire

  2,887

  5,925

  8,812

  Devon and Cornwall

  3,873

  7,637

  11,510

  Dorset

  2,557

  4,212

  6,769

  Durham

  2,296

  4,456

  6,752

  Essex

  6,178

  10,132

  16,310

  Gloucestershire

  1,583

  3,168

  4,751

  Greater Manchester

  29,451

  27,430

  56,881

  Hampshire

  7,276

  11,478

  18,754

  Hertfordshire

  3,598

  5,100

  8,698

  Humberside

  3,265

  6,415

  9,680

  Kent

  7,544

  8,694

  16,238

  Lancashire

  5,745

  8,063

  13,808

  Leicestershire

  3,784

  4,981

  8,765

  Lincolnshire

  1,160

  2,726

  3,886

  City of London

  451

  714

  1,165

  Merseyside

  15,737

  17,283

  33,020

  Metropolitan Police District

  86,465

  96,342

  182,807

  Norfolk

  2,473

  5,023

  7,496

  Northamptonshire

  3,145

  3,981

  7,126

  Northumbria

  17,572

  18,559

  36,131

  North Yorkshire

  1,998

  3,522

  5,520

  Nottinghamshire

  5,785

  9,812

  15,597

  South Yorkshire

  6,784

  9,933

  16,717

  Staffordshire

  3,224

  6,082

  9,306

  Suffolk

  1,338

  3,184

  4,522

  Surrey

  2,527

  3,932

  6,459

  Sussex

  3,729

  7,363

  11,092

  Thames Valley

  9,451

  13,576

  23,027

  Warwickshire

  1,711

  2,893

  4,604

  West Mercia

  2,803

  6,506

  9,309

  West Midlands

  27.343

  29,405

  56,748

  West Yorkshire

  14,398

  19,740

  34,138

  Wiltshire

  1,638

  3,616

  5,254

  Dyfed-Powys

  694

  1,478

  2,172

  Gwent

  1,793

  3,139

  4,932

  North Wales

  1,724

  3,864

  5,588

  South Wales

  9,630

  12,502

  22,132

  Total

  325,699

  424,238

  749,937

  Notifiable offences of vehicle crime by police force area England and Wales 1984

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Avon and Somerset

  8.244

  10,640

  18,884

  Bedfordshire

  4,415

  3,960

  8,375

  Cambridgeshire

  1,950

  4,302

  6,252

  Cheshire

  3,696

  4,849

  8,545

  Cleveland

  3,390

  6,707

  10,097

  Cumbria

  1,265

  3,237

  4,502

  Derbyhire

  2,853

  5,964

  8,817

  Devon and Cornwall

  4,231

  7,642

  11,873

  Dorset

  2,831

  4,422

  7,253

  Durham

  2,447

  5,370

  7,817

  472

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Essex

  6,394

  9,784

  16,178

  Gloucestershire

  1,673

  3,416

  5,089

  Greater Manchester

  32,424

  30,006

  62,430

  Hampshire

  7,316

  12,263

  19,579

  Hertfordshire

  4,183

  4,645

  8,828

  Humberside

  3,323

  6,139

  9,462

  Kent

  8,112

  8,962

  17,074

  Lancashire

  5,614

  7,527

  13,141

  Leicestershire

  4,046

  5,473

  9,519

  Lincolnshire

  1,212

  2,982

  4,194

  City of London

  413

  762

  1,175

  Merseyside

  17,253

  19,631

  36,884

  Metropolitan Police District

  87,563

  105,637

  193,200

  Norfolk

  2,640

  5,235

  7,875

  Northamptonshire

  3,078

  4,287

  7,365

  Northumbria

  19,379

  20,893

  40,272

  North Yorkshire

  1,972

  3,570

  5,542

  Nottinghamshire

  6,399

  11,785

  18,184

  South Yorkshire

  7,905

  11,611

  19,516

  Staffordshire

  3,081

  6,181

  9,262

  Suffolk

  1,284

  3,255

  4,539

  Surrey

  2,508

  3,932

  6,440

  Sussex

  4,686

  7,716

  12,402

  Thames Valley

  10,004

  15,113

  25,117

  Warwickshire

  1,946

  3,025

  4,971

  West Mercia

  3,073

  6,293

  9,366

  West Midlands

  29,745

  30,009

  59,754

  West Yorkshire

  15,475

  21,622

  37,097

  Wiltshire

  1,654

  3,756

  5,410

  Dyfed-Powys

  621

  1,758

  2,379

  Gwent

  1,845

  3,190

  5,035

  North Wales

  1,969

  3,660

  5,629

  South Wales

  10,694

  13,732

  24,426

  Total

  344,806

  454,943

  799,749

  Notifiable offences of vehicle crime by police force area England and Wales 1985

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Avon and Somerset

  8,972

  11,753

  20,725

  Bedfordshire

  4,143

  4,433

  8,576

  Cambridgeshire

  2,328

  4,310

  6,638

  Cheshire

  4,241

  5,307

  9,548

  Cleveland

  3,520

  6,304

  9,824

  Cumbria

  1,387

  3,000

  4,387

  Derbyshire

  2,927

  5,873

  8,800

  Devon and Cornwall

  4,477

  8,566

  13,043

  Dorset

  3,193

  4,491

  7,684

  Durham

  2,911

  5,748

  8,659

  Essex

  7,028

  9,395

  16,423

  Gloucestershire

  2,131

  3,734

  5,865

  Greater Manchester

  37,703

  32,921

  70,624

  Hampshire

  7,636

  12,521

  20,157

  Hertfordshire

  3,725

  4,920

  8,645

  Humberside

  4,229

  7,398

  11,627

  Kent

  8,966

  9,472

  18,438

  Lancashire

  6,429

  7,564

  13,993

  Leicestershire

  4,991

  6,509

  11,500

  Lincolnshire

  1,492

  3,376

  4,868

  City of London

  420

  660

  1,080

  Merseyside

  18,131

  20,178

  38,309

  Metropolitan Police District

  88,076

  111,701

  199,777

  Norfolk

  3,127

  5,570

  8,697

  Northamptonshire

  3,937

  5,264

  9,201

  Northumbria

  19,310

  22,213

  41,523

  North Yorkshire

  2,103

  4,431

  6,534

  Nottinghamshire

  6,282

  11,829

  18,111

  South Yorkshire

  7,384

  10,407

  17,791

  Staffordshire

  3,394

  6,423

  9,817

  Suffolk

  1,440

  3,273

  4,713

  Surrey

  2,613

  4,239

  6,852

  473

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Sussex

  5,009

  8,238

  13,247

  Thames Valley

  11,178

  15,986

  27,164

  Warwickshire

  1,845

  3,062

  4,907

  West Mercia

  3,244

  6,924

  10,168

  West Midlands

  32,954

  33,966

  66,920

  West Yorkshire

  16,099

  21,000

  37,099

  Wiltshire

  1,833

  3,481

  5,314

  Dyfed-Powys

  773

  1,777

  2,550

  Gwcnt

  1.894

  3,365

  5,259

  North Wales

  2,040

  3,667

  5,707

  South Wales

  11,911

  13,719

  25,630

  Total

  367,426

  478,968

  846,394

  Notifiable offences of vehicle crime by police force area England and Wales 1986

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Avon and Somerset

  11,244

  16,444

  27,688

  Bedfordshire

  5,352

  6,403

  11,755

  Cambridgeshire

  2,439

  4,299

  6,738

  Cheshire

  4,725

  6,756

  11,481

  Cleveland

  5,549

  7,238

  12,787

  Cumbria

  1,728

  4,037

  5,765

  Derbyshire

  3,171

  5,795

  8,966

  Devon and Cornwall

  5,400

  10,674

  16,074

  Dorset

  3,838

  5,111

  8,949

  Durham

  3,874

  5,114

  8,988

  Essex

  8,579

  11,762

  20,341

  Gloucestershire

  2,348

  4,646

  6,994

  Greater Manchester

  43,200

  47,277

  90,477

  Hampshire

  8,566

  14,270

  22,836

  Hertfordshire

  4,303

  5,875

  10,178

  Humberside

  4,762

  8,242

  13,004

  Kent

  9,959

  10,116

  20,075

  Lancashire

  7,868

  9,145

  17,013

  Leicestershire

  5,325

  6,915

  12,240

  Lincolnshire

  1,790

  3,659

  5,449

  City of London

  351

  1,033

  1,384

  Merseyside

  18,312

  27,416

  45,728

  Metropolitan Police District

  91,331

  134,458

  225,789

  Norfolk

  3,605

  6,037

  9,642

  Northamptonshire

  4,931

  5,597

  10,528

  Northumbria

  19,693

  27,105

  46,798

  North Yorkshire

  2,599

  4,486

  7,085

  Nottinghamshire

  6,638

  12,892

  19,530

  South Yorkshire

  9,477

  12,230

  21,707

  Staffordshire

  4,640

  7,386

  12,026

  Suffolk

  1,629

  4,028

  5,657

  Surrey

  2,854

  5,119

  7,973

  Sussex

  5,290

  8,870

  14,160

  Thames Valley

  13,365

  18,065

  31,430

  Warwickshire

  2,149

  3,449

  5,598

  West Mercia

  3,982

  7,385

  11,367

  West Midlands

  37,322

  42,537

  79,859

  West Yorkshire

  16,727

  25,059

  41,786

  Wiltshire

  1,991

  3,911

  5,902

  Dyfed-Powys

  888

  1,803

  2,691

  Gwent

  2,012

  3,336

  5,348

  North Wales

  2,526

  4,315

  6,841

  South Wales

  14,728

  17,119

  31,847

  Total

  411,060

  577,414

  988,474

  474

  Notifiable offences of vehicle crime by police force area England and Wales 1987

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Avon and Somerset

  10,945

  21,457

  32,402

  Bedfordshire

  5,068

  7,996

  13,064

  Cambridgeshire

  2,512

  4,746

  7,258

  Cheshire

  5,441

  7,818

  13,259

  Cleveland

  5,832

  7,247

  13,079

  Cumbria

  1,603

  4,062

  5,665

  Derbyshire

  2.967

  6,731

  9,698

  Devon and Cornwall

  5,073

  11,356

  16,429

  Dorset

  4,037

  6,091

  10,128

  Durham

  4,311

  5,260

  9,571

  Essex

  8,404

  14,125

  22,529

  Gloucestershire

  2,539

  5,443

  7,982

  Greater Manchester

  37,936

  57,319

  95,255

  Hampshire

  8,453

  16,074

  24,527

  Hertfordshire

  4,017

  6,904

  10,921

  Humberside

  5,396

  9,902

  15,298

  Kent

  9,248

  11,887

  21,135

  Lancashire

  7,867

  12,906

  20,773

  Leicestershire

  4,931

  8,318

  13,249

  Lincolnshire

  1,929

  4,322

  6,251

  City of London

  296

  807

  1,103

  Merseyside

  18,873

  28,735

  47,608

  Metropolitan Police District

  77,642

  133,033

  210,675

  Norfolk

  3,964

  6,896

  10,860

  Northamptonshire

  4,821

  6,582

  11,403

  Northumbria

  19,488

  31,961

  51,449

  North Yorkshire

  2,817

  5,278

  8,095

  Nottinghamshire

  7,038

  15,885

  22,923

  South Yorkshire

  9,312

  13,821

  23,133

  Staffordshire

  4,376

  8,333

  12,709

  Suffolk

  1,863

  4,455

  6,318

  Surrey

  2,922

  5,485

  8,407

  Sussex

  5,262

  9,167

  14,429

  Thames Valley

  13,996

  20,785

  34,781

  Warwickshire

  2,638

  4,899

  7,537

  West Mercia

  3,875

  8,340

  12,215

  West Midlands

  34,206

  57,461

  91,667

  West Yorkshire

  16,363

  31,268

  47,631

  Wiltshire

  1,916

  4,011

  5,927

  Dyfed-Powys

  994

  2,122

  3,116

  Gwent

  2,134

  4,212

  6,346

  North Wales

  2,275

  4,845

  7,120

  South Wales

  13,996

  20,232

  34,228

  Total

  389,576

  658,577

  1,048,153

  Notifiable offences of vehicle crime by by police force area England and Wales 1988

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Avon and Somerset

  10,189

  18,653

  28,842

  Bedfordshire

  5,046

  7,379

  12,425

  Cambridgeshire

  2,812

  4,911

  7,723

  Cheshire

  5,342

  6,548

  11,890

  Cleveland

  5,846

  8,701

  14,547

  Cumbria

  1,372

  4,050

  5,422

  Derbyshire

  2,851

  6,822

  9,673

  Devon and Cornwall

  5,318

  11,574

  16,892

  Dorset

  3,261

  5,672

  8,933

  Durham

  4,091

  5,931

  10,022

  Essex

  7,607

  13,095

  20,702

  Gloucestershire

  2,388

  6,225

  8,613

  Greater Manchester

  38,196

  48,171

  86,367

  Hampshire

  7,543

  15,038

  22,581

  Hertfordshire

  4,103

  6,407

  10,510

  Humberside

  5,565

  10,950

  16,515

  Kent

  8,919

  12,233

  21,152

  Lancashire

  8,100

  13,178

  21,278

  Leicestershire

  4,745

  8,979

  13,724

  Lincolnshire

  2,055

  3,949

  6,004

  475

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  City of London

  217

  634

  851

  Merseyside

  17,033

  22,260

  39,293

  Metropolitan Police District

  67,968

  124,575

  192,543

  Norfolk

  3,955

  7,682

  11,637

  Northamptonshire

  4,816

  6,210

  11,026

  Northumbria

  18,726

  29,261

  47,987

  North Yorkshire

  2,615

  5,342

  7,957

  Nottinghamshire

  6,739

  15,849

  22,588

  South Yorkshire

  8,503

  14,033

  22,536

  Staffordshire

  4,859

  9,287

  14,146

  Suffolk

  1,779

  3,965

  5,744

  Surrey

  2,493

  5,002

  7,495

  Sussex

  5,497

  10,065

  15,562

  Thames Valley

  11,659

  19,310

  30,969

  Warwickshire

  2,525

  3,679

  6,204

  West mercia

  3,933

  7,859

  11,792

  West Midlands

  28,802

  48,007

  76,809

  West Yorkshire

  16,058

  29,597

  45,655

  Wiltshire

  1,919

  3,886

  5,805

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,119

  2,260

  3,379

  Gwent

  1,864

  3,856

  5,720

  North Wales

  2,260

  4,360

  6,620

  South Wales

  16,025

  25,178

  41,203

  Total

  366,713

  620,623

  987,336

  Notifiable offences of vehicle crime by police force area England and Wales 1989

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Avon and Somerset

  12,373

  16,891

  29,264

  Bedfordshire

  5,360

  7,190

  12,550

  Cambridgeshire

  3,007

  4,920

  7,927

  Cheshire

  5,840

  6,131

  11,971

  Cleveland

  7,190

  9,135

  16,325

  Cumbria

  1,815

  3,877

  5,692

  Derbyshire

  3,690

  8,035

  11,725

  Devon and Cornwall

  5,250

  12,424

  17,674

  Dorset

  3,886

  6,527

  10,413

  Durham

  4,678

  5,680

  10,358

  Essex

  8,209

  13,885

  22,094

  Gloucestershire

  2,756

  6,451

  9,207

  Greater Manchester

  39,933

  48,202

  88,135

  Hampshire

  8,206

  15,305

  23,511

  Hertfordshire

  4,022

  5,709

  9,731

  Humberside

  6,144

  11,825

  17,969

  Kent

  10,418

  12,216

  22,634

  Lancashire

  8,229

  14,202

  22,431

  Leicestershire

  5,933

  9,386

  15,319

  Lincolnshire

  2,035

  4,124

  6,159

  City of London

  214

  794

  1,008

  Merseyside

  15,915

  20,850

  36,765

  Metropolitan Police District

  66,895

  126,578

  193,473

  Norfolk

  4,136

  7,694

  11,830

  Northamptonshire

  4,604

  6,618

  11,222

  Northumbria

  21,475

  33,117

  54,592

  North Yorkshire

  2,798

  5,066

  7,864

  Nottinghamshire

  9,116

  17,855

  26,971

  South Yorkshire

  9,418

  16,055

  25,473

  Staffordshire

  5,960

  8,946

  14,906

  Suffolk

  1,938

  3,820

  5,758

  Surrey

  2,779

  5,185

  7,964

  Sussex

  6,226

  11,051

  17,277

  Thames Valley

  14,905

  19,764

  34,669

  Warwickshire

  2,895

  4,464

  7,359

  West Mercia

  4,516

  7,624

  12,140

  West Midlands

  28,794

  42,497

  71,291

  West Yorkshire

  19,006

  32,878

  51,884

  Wiltshire

  2,006

  3,524

  5,530

  Dyfed-Powys

  966

  1,772

  2,738

  Gwent

  2,026

  4,078

  6,104

  North Wales

  2,161

  4,026

  6,187

  476

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  South Wales

  15,676

  22,541

  38,217

  Total

  393,399

  628,912

  1,022,311

  Notifiable offences of vehicle crime by police force area England and Wales 1990

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Avon and Somerset

  16,435

  23,366

  39,801

  Bedfordshire

  8,378

  11,470

  19,848

  Cambridgeshire

  3,630

  6,199

  9,829

  Cheshire

  6,817

  7,789

  14,606

  Cleveland

  10,219

  13,362

  23,581

  Cumbria

  2,254

  4,900

  7,154

  Derbyshire

  5,559

  10,470

  16,029

  Devon and Cornwall

  6,703

  15,785

  22,488

  Dorset

  4,728

  8,359

  13,087

  Durham

  6,944

  7,355

  14,299

  Essex

  10,926

  17,907

  28,833

  Gloucestershire

  3,077

  8,215

  11,292

  Greater Manchester

  48,735

  55,139

  103,874

  Hampshire

  9,875

  20,298

  30,173

  Hertfordshire

  4,933

  7,857

  12,790

  Humberside

  7,516

  15,544

  23,060

  Kent

  13,898

  16,568

  30,466

  Lancashire

  10,294

  18,675

  28,969

  Leicestershire

  8,499

  13,687

  22,186

  Lincolnshire

  2,638

  4,781

  7,419

  City of London

  200

  803

  1,003

  Merseyside

  16,702

  21,003

  37,705

  Metropolitan Police District

  73,936

  135,447

  209,383

  Norfolk

  4,798

  10,823

  15,621

  Northamptonshire

  5,630

  8,103

  13,733

  Northumbria

  27,981

  34,452

  62,433

  North Yorkshire

  3,992

  6,976

  10,968

  Nottinghamshire

  15,074

  24,922

  39,996

  South Yorkshire

  12,499

  19,315

  31,814

  Staffordshire

  7,077

  12,601

  19,678

  Suffolk

  2,709

  4,842

  7,551

  Surrey

  3,874

  6,832

  10,706

  Sussex

  7,210

  15,465

  22,675

  Thames Valley

  18,266

  28,000

  46,266

  Warwickshire

  3,950

  6,557

  10,507

  West Mercia

  5,933

  9,453

  15,386

  West Midlands

  34,236

  50,085

  84,321

  West Yorkshire

  29,045

  44,587

  73,632

  Wiltshire

  2,496

  4,804

  7,300

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,254

  2,405

  3,659

  Gwent

  2,622

  5,430

  8,052

  North Wales

  2,534

  5,702

  8,236

  South Wales

  20,133

  26,746

  46,879

  Total

  494,209

  773,079

  1,267,288

  Notifiable offences of vehicle crime by police force area England and Wales 1991

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Avon and Somerset

  19,903

  30,181

  50,084

  Bedfordshire

  8,292

  12,035

  20,327

  Cambridgeshire

  4,655

  8,998

  13,653

  Cheshire

  8,289

  9,485

  17,774

  Cleveland

  11,712

  12,369

  24,081

  Cumbria

  3,632

  6,627

  10,259

  Derbyshire

  7,410

  13,621

  21,031

  Devon and Cornwall

  7,923

  19,526

  27,449

  Dorset

  4,560

  8,618

  13,178

  Durham

  8,640

  10,053

  18,693

  477

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Essex

  11,377

  20,610

  31,987

  Gloucestershire

  3,927

  11,432

  15,359

  Greater Manchester

  55,338

  60,461

  115,799

  Hampshire

  11,919

  26,720

  38,639

  Hertfordshire

  6,149

  10,548

  16,697

  Humberside

  8,506

  17,909

  26,415

  Kent

  17,962

  23,558

  41,520

  Lancashire

  11,042

  21,687

  32,729

  Leicestershire

  10,751

  16,104

  26,855

  Lincolnshire

  2,779

  4,958

  7,737

  City of London

  239

  839

  1,078

  Merseyside

  16,983

  22,156

  39,139

  Metropolitan Police District

  81,173

  154,453

  235,626

  Norfolk

  5,510

  12,780

  18,290

  Northamptonshire

  6,514

  10,466

  16,980

  Northumbria

  30,356

  32,680

  63,036

  North Yorkshire

  4,999

  8,312

  13,311

  Nottinghamshire

  17,603

  27,884

  45,487

  South Yorkshire

  16,323

  21,848

  38,171

  Staffordshire

  9,290

  15,382

  24,672

  Suffolk

  2,721

  6,037

  8,758

  Surrey

  4,860

  9,851

  14,711

  Sussex

  9,251

  21,020

  30,271

  Thames Valley

  22,556

  40,302

  62,858

  Warwickshire

  4,700

  8,244

  12,944

  West Mercia

  8,652

  11,937

  20,589

  West Midlands

  41,415

  54,360

  95,775

  West Yorkshire

  40,235

  55,425

  95,660

  Wiltshire

  2,967

  5,900

  8,867

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,476

  3,029

  4,505

  Gwent

  3,240

  6,786

  10,026

  North Wales

  3,102

  6,970

  10,072

  South Wales

  22,970

  31,115

  54,085

  Total

  581,901

  913,276

  1,495,177

  Notifiable offences of vehicle crime by by police force area England and Wales—12 months ending June 1992

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Avon and Somerset

  17,907

  30,590

  48,497

  Bedfordshire

  7,586

  10,630

  18,216

  Cambridgeshire

  5,096

  9,621

  14,717

  Cheshire

  8,488

  10,913

  19,401

  Cleveland

  12,002

  12,394

  24,396

  Cumbria

  3,371

  6,989

  10,360

  Derbyshire

  8,205

  16,408

  24,613

  Devon and Cornwall

  7,427

  20,362

  27,789

  Dorset

  3,972

  7,935

  11,907

  Durham

  8,164

  10,030

  18,194

  Essex

  11,429

  21,020

  32,449

  Gloucestershire

  4,708

  13,294

  18,002

  Greater Manchester

  54,716

  58,640

  113,356

  Hampshire

  11,579

  27,669

  39,248

  Hertfordshire

  6,512

  11,299

  17,811

  Humberside

  8,618

  18,444

  27,062

  Kent

  18,289

  24,604

  42,893

  Lancashire

  11,272

  22,432

  33,704

  Receptions of untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners into prison service establishments in England and Wales: by nationality, sex and year of initial reception, 1989–91

  Number of persons

  Nationality

  1989

  1990

  11991

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  United Kingdom

  27,559

  1,039

  32,986

  1,630

  48,762

  2,541

  Nigeria

  305

  64

  180

  65

  256

  67

  Other West African

  46

  13

  59

  6

  72

  10

  Colombian

  20

  6

  19

  2

  50

  5

  Pakistani

  118

  2

  138

  3

  219

  7

  Other

  1,359

  134

  1,784

  178

  2,983

  229

  Not recorded/refused

  32,863

  2,377

  21,801

  1,323

  7,080

  323

  478

  Police force area

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Total vehicle crime

  Leicestershire

  10,495

  16,756

  27,251

  Lincolnshire

  2,991

  5,650

  8,641

  City of London

  203

  877

  1,080

  Merseyside

  16,425

  22,124

  38,549

  Metropolitan Police District

  80,837

  157,463

  238,300

  Norfolk

  5,145

  13,215

  18,360

  Northamptonshire

  6,645

  9,425

  16,070

  Northumbria

  28,149

  30,063

  58,212

  North Yorkshire

  4,758

  8,806

  13,564

  Nottinghamshire

  17,025

  27,213

  44,238

  South Yorkshire

  17,220

  22,473

  39,693

  Staffordshire

  9,854

  15,816

  25,670

  Suffolk

  2,593

  6,406

  8,999

  Surrey

  4,816

  10,771

  15,587

  Sussex

  9,214

  21,561

  30,775

  Thames Valley

  22,531

  44,527

  67,058

  Warwickshire

  4,604

  8,381

  12,985

  West Mercia

  8,536

  13,004

  21,540

  West Midlands

  38,905

  55,362

  94,267

  West Yorkshire

  37,691

  54,241

  91,932

  Wiltshire

  2,889

  6,177

  9,066

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,591

  3,434

  5,025

  Gwent

  3,465

  6,574

  10,039

  North Wales

  3,418

  7,452

  10,870

  South Wales

  22,855

  30,242

  53,097

  Total

  572,196

  931,287

  1,503,483

  Gambling
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on stimulating the demand for gambling.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is the Government's policy that the demand for gambling should not be unduly encouraged, because of the damage it can cause if taken to excess. This principle is applied in different degrees to different forms of gambling. The greater the scope for abuse and commercial exploitation the more rigorously it is applied.

  Bail
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-United Kingdom(a) men and (b) women were granted bail and how many remanded in custody for each of the last five years; and of those, how many were from (i) Nigeria, (ii) other West African countries, (iii) Colombia and (iv) Pakistan.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The nationality of persons remanded on bail is not recorded centrally. Information for prisoners remanded into prison service establishments in each of the years 1989–91 is given in the table. Data for earlier years are not readily available.
  479

  Nationality

  1989

  1990

  l1991

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  All nationalities

  62,270

  3,635

  56,967

  3,207

  59,422

  3,182

  1 Provisional.

  Prison Education Services
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will make the decision to award a contract for prison education services after tenders have been submitted; and what is his policy in respect of treating each prison on a case by case basis.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The contracts for the provision of education services to inmates in prisons in England and Wales from 1 April 1993 will be let between the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the successful tenderers. As with other contracts of this value, the responsible organisation—in this case, the prison service —will make recommendations to the Home Office procurement unit. Decisions on which contractor to recommend will be made in the operational line by the governor, or, if appropriate, by the responsible area manager, operational director or by the director-general.

  In each case, the governor has prepared a specification of the educational services which the prison or young offender institution will require. Some contracts may be let for individual prisons on the recommendation of the governor. In other cases, tenderers are bidding to provide educational services for a number of prisons. In these circumstances, recommendations will be made at the appropriate operational level to accept those bids which represent the best combination of quality and price to meet the needs of the prison service.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will reconsider the decision to put the prison education service out to competitive tender; and if he will make it his policy that the prison education service should continue to be provided by its current staff.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. The present arrangements cannot be continued because of the changes in local education authorities' responsibilities for further education from 1 April 1993. Competition is the best means of ensuring quality and value for money in the future provision of education services to prisoners.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the report from the staff college at Coombe Lodge on the prison education service.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 20 November 1992]: The staff college at Coombe Lodge was asked to provide advice to the prison service on the implications for the provision of education in prisons in England and Wales of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. The report contained commercially sensitive material and, in consequence, the prison service prepared and distributed widely in September 1992 a full summary of the report, together with comments on its findings. The text of the summary was agreed with the staff college and incorporated all of the report's principal recommenda-tions. I am placing copies of this summary in the Library of the House.
  480

  Foreign Prisoners
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which section or officers in his Department have special responsibilities for policy matters regarding foreign prisoners.

  Mr. Jack
  The Home Office has a number of policy responsibilities which relate to foreign prisoners. The prison service has the primary responsibility for foreign national prisoners held here and the maintenance of their family ties, and co-ordinates the interests of other Departments of the Home Office; the criminal department has responsibility for extradition and for the policy relating to the repatriation of prisoners; and the immigration service has certain responsibilities for prisoners subject to a deportation order.

  Deportation
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times he has used his power contained in section 46 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 to authorise the early release of convicted deportees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  By 13 November, my right hon. and learned Friend, the Home Secretary had authorised the early release of 93 convicted deportees.

  Racial Equality Councils
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many racial equality councils have had funding withdrawn in the past year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In this financial year funding has been withdawn by the Commission for Racial Equality from two racial equality councils, Gravesham and Birmingham, after effectiveness reviews. A third, Oldham, has been given notice that its funding will also be withdrawn following a similar review.

  As I explained in my letter to the hon. Member of 16 November last, although funded by grant in aid by the Home Office, the Commission for Racial Equality is an independent statutory body, and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on decisions in individual cases such as these.

  Holloway Prison
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available resources to build the new visitors' centre at Her Majesty's prison Holloway; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A visitors centre at Her Majesty's prison Holloway is being considered for a place in the 1995–96 major capital works building programme.

  Prisoner Transfers
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the report of the interdepartmental review of the provisions governing the transfer of prisoners between United kingdom jurisdictions.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have considered the report of this review in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Secretary of State for Scotland. A copy of the report is being placed in the Library; copies are also being sent to interested organisations.

  We have decided to accept in full the report's recommendations, including the need to consider how the existing legislation might be amended to overcome the present obstacles to the permanent transfer to Northern Ireland of prisoners who have their family links there but who have been convicted of serious offences in Great Britain. In the meantime we shall implement the recommendation that greater use should be made of temporary transfers, usually for extended periods, and that the criteria for considering requests should be amended.

  In future, any request by a prisoner in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to be transferred to one of the other jurisdictions either permanently, to serve the rest of his or her sentence, or temporarily to foster family ties, will normally be approved, provided that (1) the prisoner would have at least six months left to serve in the receiving jurisdiction before his or her date of release at the time of making the request; (2) the prisoner was ordinarily resident in the receiving jurisdiction prior to the current sentence; or his or her close family currently reside there and there are reasonable grounds for believing that it is the prisoner's firm intention to take up residence there on release or to receive visits and (3) both Departments concerned are reasonably satisfied that the prisoner will not, if transferred, disrupt or attempt to disrupt any prison establishment, or otherwise pose an unacceptable risk to security. A request that does not meet these conditions may nevertheless be granted where there are strong ompassionate or other compelling grounds for transfer.

  A permanent transfer may however be refused if it is considered that the prisoner's crimes were so serious as to make it inappropriate that he or she should benefit from a substantial reduction in time left to serve, if that would be a consequence of transfer.

  Requests will continue to be considered on an individual basis. To facilitate the orderly movement of small numbers of prisoners between jurisdictions, the timing of each transfer will be subject to operational and security considerations in the sentencing and receiving jurisdictions.

  Temporary transfer, where granted, may be for a period of up to 12 months, with requests for extension of this period considered on a similar basis. Temporarily transferred prisoners will be expected to comply fully with such regime requirements as the receiving Secretary of State may stipulate. Failure to agree to do so either in making the request or after transfer will normally justify refusal of the request or the immediate return of the prisoner to the sentencing jurisdiction.
  482
  My colleagues and I hope that the extended use of temporary transfer will help to alleviate the difficulties experienced by families in visiting prisoners in other jurisdictions.

  Drug Offences
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a table showing, for each police force area in England and Wales, the number of notifiable drug offences in(a) 1979–80, (b) 1985–86, i(c) 1990–91 and (d) 1991–92 and the percentage increase between 1979–80 and 1991–92, between 1985–86 and 1991–92 and between 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 19 November 1992]: The figures given in the tables are for offences of trafficking in controlled drugs which is the only drug-related offence which is notifiable. These figures were not collected separately until 1983 so it is not possible to provide any information for earlier years.

  Notifiable offences of trafficking in controlled drugs recorded by the police by police force area

  Number of offences and percentage change

  Police force area

  April 1990 to March 1991

  April 1991 to March 1992

  Percentage change

  Avon and Somerset

  257

  278

  8

  Bedfordshire

  48

  55

  15

  Cambridgeshire

  110

  81

  -26

  Cheshire

  251

  310

  24

  Cleveland

  73

  76

  4

  Cumbria

  65

  143

  120

  Derbyshire

  98

  153

  56

  Devon and Cornwall

  175

  233

  33

  Dorset

  188

  197

  5

  Durham

  78

  72

  -8

  Essex

  247

  241

  -2

  Gloucestershire

  64

  200

  213

  Greater Manchester

  746

  925

  24

  Hampshire

  327

  405

  24

  Hertfordshire

  156

  180

  15

  Humberside

  146

  248

  70

  Kent

  479

  631

  32

  Lancashire

  357

  377

  6

  Leicestershire

  39

  80

  105

  Lincolnshire

  116

  137

  18

  City of London

  18

  15

  -17

  Merseyside

  498

  498

  —

  Metropolitan Police District

  2,174

  2,178

  —

  Norfolk

  168

  235

  40

  Northamptonshire

  81

  103

  27

  Northumbria

  142

  185

  30

  North Yorkshire

  131

  105

  -20

  Nottinghamshire

  90

  116

  29

  South Yorkshire

  165

  272

  65

  Staffordshire

  79

  123

  56

  Suffolk

  265

  256

  -3

  Surrey

  135

  97

  -28

  Sussex

  487

  542

  11

  Thames Valley

  244

  331

  36

  Warwickshire

  71

  86

  21

  West Mercia

  145

  173

  19

  West Midlands

  284

  302

  6

  West Yorkshire

  466

  916

  97

  Wiltshire

  71

  81

  14

  Dyfed-Powys

  90

  111

  23

  Gwent

  103

  92

  —11

  North Wales

  114

  137

  20

  South Wales

  238

  278

  17

  483

  Police force area

  April 1990 to March 1991

  April 1991 to March 1992

  Percentage change

  England and Wales

  10,279

  12,254

  19

  Notifiable offences of trafficking in controlled drugs recorded by the police by police force area

  Number of offences and percentage change

  Police force area

  April 1985 to March 1986

  April 1991 to March 1992

  Percentage change

  Avon and Somerset

  286

  278

  -3

  Bedfordshire

  39

  55

  41

  Cambridgeshire

  80

  81

  1

  Cheshire

  240

  310

  29

  Cleveland

  33

  76

  130

  Cumbria

  89

  143

  61

  Derbyshire

  58

  153

  164

  Devon and Cornwall

  339

  233

  -31

  Dorset

  218

  197

  -10

  Durham

  29

  72

  148

  Essex

  193

  241

  25

  Gloucestershire

  191

  200

  5

  Greater Manchester

  360

  925

  157

  Hampshire

  232

  405

  75

  Hertfordshire

  165

  180

  9

  Humberside

  100

  248

  148

  Kent

  361

  631

  75

  Lancashire

  183

  377

  106

  Leicestershire

  55

  80

  45

  Lincolnshire

  17

  137

  706

  City of London

  3

  15

  400

  Merseyside

  264

  498

  89

  Metropolitan Police District

  2,112

  2,178

  3

  Norfolk

  101

  235

  133

  Northamptonshire

  49

  103

  110

  Northumbria

  82

  185

  126

  North Yorkshire

  55

  105

  91

  Nottinghamshire

  110

  116

  5

  South Yorkshire

  117

  272

  132

  Staffordshire

  65

  123

  89

  Suffolk

  86

  256

  198

  Surrey

  86

  97

  13

  Sussex

  328

  542

  65

  Thames Valley

  174

  331

  90

  Warwickshire

  15

  86

  473

  West Mercia

  97

  173

  78

  West Midlands

  219

  302

  38

  West Yorkshire

  135

  916

  579

  Wiltshire

  54

  81

  50

  Dyfed-Powys

  100

  111

  11

  Gwent

  55

  92

  67

  North Wales

  96

  137

  43

  South Wales

  158

  278

  76

  Total England and Wales

  7,829

  12,254

  57

  Murder Charges
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were charged with murder or attempted murder in each of the last five years; of those, how many were granted bail; and of those granted bail(a) how many were male and how many female, (b) how many were white and (c) how many were from ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 19 November 1992]: Information on the number of people charged is not collected centrally. Reliable information about the
  484
  breakdown of remands into bail and custody according to offence is also not available centrally. The information that is collected does not include ethnic origin data.

  The table shows the number of people prosecuted for the offences of murder and attempted murder from 1987 to 1991, provisional.

  Number of persons prosecuted for offences of murder and attempted murder by sex 1987 to 19911

  England and Wales

  Offence

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  11991

  Murder

  Male

  458

  479

  451

  421

  528

  Female

  38

  71

  55

  63

  56

  Attempted murder

  Male

  147

  208

  214

  258

  250

  Female

  19

  19

  15

  23

  23

  1 Provisional.

  Birmingham Six
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent reports he has had from the Director of Public Prosecutions into further forensic examination by West Midlands police of evidence used in the case of the Birmingham six.

  The Attorney-General
  I have been asked to reply.

  The West Midlands police are continuing the reinvestigation announced on 20 March 1991 into the bombings which occurred in Birmingham on 21 November 1974. Some of the original exhibits have been submitted for further scientific examination. The Director of Public Prosecutions is being kept informed of the progress of the reinvestigation; it is her policy not to make public information gathered during the course of current criminal investigations.

  Mentally Disordered Offenders
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for the latest year available, how many persons were removed by the police under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 to a place of safety in England and Wales.

  Mr. Yeo
  During the year ending 31 March 1990—the latest information held centrally—1,032 persons were removed from a public place by the police to a place of safety under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983. Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

WALES

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish his White Paper on Welsh local government reform.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the proposed(a) timetable for and (b) boundaries of local government reorganisation in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my statement on 3 March 1992, at column 171.
  485
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place the result of consultation on local government reform in Wales in the Library.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have already placed copies of responses to my statement of 3 March 1992, together with advice submitted to the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government, in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from Welsh local authorities, their respective associations and others in relation to his latest proposals for the boundaries of proposed unitary local authorities.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Copies of responses to my statement of 3 March 1992, together with advice submitted to the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government, are already in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 17 November,Official Report, column 145, if he will itemise in full the financial details of the changes in local government functions for 1993–94.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The adjustments to the 1993–94 provisional local government revenue settlement for Wales to reflect changes in local authority functions are as follows:

  £ million

  School inspection responsibilities transferring to the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector (Wales)

  -0·9

  Further and residual higher education responsibilities transferring to the Further Education Funding Council (Wales) and Higher Education Funding Council (Wales) respectively

  -125·2

  Transfer from Department of Social Security for care in the community

  + 35·9

  Farmers (Diversification Grants)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been allocated by his Department in diversification grants to farmers in Wales in each of the last five years; and how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time jobs have been created as a direct result of such diversification grants.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The grant paid since the inception of the scheme is as follows:

  £ million

  Grant paid

  1988–89

  0·042

  1989–90

  0·315

  1990–91

  0·414

  1991–92

  0·442

  1992–93

  10·380

  1 Estimate.

  It is estimated that the projects will create 182·5 new jobs. Information is not available on the breakdown between full-time and part-time jobs.

  Leasehold Properties
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, for each Welsh district the total number of leasehold properties.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Estimates from the 1986 Welsh intercensal survey are shown in the table.

  Estimated number of owner-occupied leasehold properties

  Alyn and Deeside

  210

  Colwyn

  360

  Delyn

  120

  Glyndwr

  80

  Rhuddlan

  560

  Wrexham Maelor

  50

  Carmarthen

  140

  Ceredigion

  130

  Dinefwr

  170

  Llanelli

  1,200

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  220

  South Pembrokshire

  330

  Blaenau Gwent

  2,400

  Islwyn

  3,220

  Monmouth

  1,440

  Newport

  7,140

  Torfaen

  4,130

  Aberconwy

  1,280

  Arfon

  120

  Dwyfor

  140

  Meirionnydd

  70

  Ynys Mon

  170

  Cynon Valley

  1,580

  Merthyr Tydfil

  1,730

  Ogwr

  7,660

  Rhondda

  1,160

  Rhymney Valley

  5,010

  Taff-Ely

  4,220

  Brecknock

  230

  Montgomeryshire

  20

  Radnorshire

  50

  Cardiff

  15,110

  Vale of Glamorgan

  7,240

  Port Talbot

  2,070

  Lliw Valley

  2,860

  Neath

  3,230

  Swansea

  11,080

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the present financial situation of each of the proposed health trusts and the expected situation at the end of the financial year; and what measures the new trusts intend to take to maintain their financial viability and service position.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Department does not, as a matter of routine, receive information about the financial position of individual district health authority-managed units at the level of detail requested. However, one of the key criteria for NHS trust status is financial soundness; and the financial position of applicants was therefore considered carefully prior to my right hon. Friend's recent decision to establish a further 13 NHS trusts in Wales with an operational date of 1 April 1993. In the meantime, the respective health authorities retain full responsibility for the proper financial management of the units concerned.
  487
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what system of communication he has in place with the recently announced health trusts to ensure that no problems arise in the transition out of health authority administration with regard to the level of patient treatment and financial viability.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Officials will continue to maintain close contact with the newly established NHS trusts which become formally operational on 1 April 1993. In the meantime, the respective health authorities retain responsibility for financial management and patient care services.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the South Glamorgan health authority concerning the possible closure of(a) St. Mary's day hospital, Llandough, (b) the West 2 ward at Llandough hospital and (c) Powys ward at Sully hospital.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None.

  Business Development Centre
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 17 November,Official Report, column 144–45, if he will ensure that the new business development centre will be self-financing and not require any public subsidy.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The business development centre will include, inter alia, accommodation for staff from the Welsh Development Agency and from the North East Wales training and enterprise council to provide a range of services to businesses in the area. Some services will be provided as part of Government support for business and training and changes will be levied for other services.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish the report of the All-Wales Forum on Teacher Training for the National Curriculum in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I have today published the report of the forum entitled "Strategy for In-Service Teacher Training in Wales". I am grateful to the forum for its work and have accepted its advice in full. A copy of the report is being sent to all those involved in the in-service training of teachers in Wales and I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House. I will be taking a keen interest in the action taken on the report recommendations.

  The forum has recommended working group arrange-ments to take forward its work on the exchange of ideas and co-ordination of proposals for in-service training. The work of the forum advisory group is therefore complete and it has been dissolved.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Regional Growth
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the average annual regional growth rates by standard region for the period 1979 to the present date.
  488
  Mr. Portillo
  The information is not available in the form requested. Growth rates are normally calculated on the basis of estimates of gross domestic product at constant prices, but regional GDP figures are calculated only at current prices since there are no regional price deflators available.

  The November 1991 edition of "Economic Trends" contained the latest estimates of regional GDP for the years 1980–90, and estimates for earlier years are available from the House of Commons Library.

  Quotas
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the United Kingdom has subscribed the increase in its quota with the International Monetary Fund under its ninth general review of quotas.

  Mr. Nelson
  Yes. The ninth quota review recommended an increase in the United Kingdom quota from 6,194·0 million to 7,414·6 million special drawing rights, as part of a general increase in quotas to allow the IMF to continue its essential work in assisting countries with balance of payments problems, particularly in the developing world and, increasingly now, eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, to undertake economic adjustment to contribute both to their own growth and to the successful functioning of the international monetary system.

  The quota increases under this review have been delayed for some time, but the United Kingdom was one of the first countries to vote in favour of them, in 1990. The subscription of an extra 1,220·6 million special drawing rights to the United Kingdom quota, in accordance with the International Monetary Fund (Increase in Subscription) Order 1990, has today been paid from the National Loans Fund. Subscribing a quota increase to the IMF is not public expenditure. The transactions result in a credit position with the IMF as part of our reserves.

  Group Relief
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria the Inland Revenue applies when deciding whether to accept a late claim for group relief.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue has applied criteria set out in a reply given by the then Financial Secretary on 10 December 1985 at column 592. These criteria covered both claims for group relief and elections for continuation treatment on a change in partnership. This has given rise to some uncertainty in practice. From today, a late claim for group relief will be accepted where it can be shown that:
  —the Inland Revenue contributed materially to the failure to submit a timely claim, for example by misleading the claimant and failing to rectify the error before the statutory time limit expired; or
  —for reasons beyond his or her control, for example due to a debilitating illness, a person vitally concerned in the making of a claim was not available at a crucial time; or
  —for reasons beyond the claimant company's control or its agent's control, the need for the claim could not have been perceived before the time limit expired.

  In each case, a claim will only be accepted where it can be shown that, although late, it was made as soon as reasonably possible in all the circumstances. A late claim will not be accepted where the delay is attributable to:
  —oversight or negligence on the part of a claimant company or its agent; or
  —failure, without good reason, to compute the necessary figure; or

  489
  —the desire to avoid commitment pending clarification of the effects of making a claim.

  A claimant company wishing to have a late claim considered under these guidelines should apply to the inspector of taxes dealing with its affairs as soon as reasonably possible in the circumstances.

  Late Elections
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the circumstances in which the Board of Inland Revenue will be prepared to consider accepting late elections under the provisions of section 113(2) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.

  Mr. Dorrell
  As explained in the reply given by the then Financial Secretary on 10 December 1985, at column 592, in cases where no statutory discretion is given to the Board of Inland Revenue to extend a time limit for a claim or election, it must be assumed that Parliament's intention is that the limit should be applied strictly. The number of cases in which it would be appropriate to exercise discretion under the board's powers of care and management, provided in the Taxes Management Act 1970, is correspondingly limited.

  Every such case has to be considered on its own merits, and in the light of the factors relevant to the circumstances in which the claim was made late. However, there would be a presumption in favour of admitting an election under section 113(2) of the 1988 Act which is made as soon as is reasonably possible in all the circumstances, but after the statutory time limit has expired, if the reason for the election being late was one of the following:-
  some relevant and uncorrected error on the part of the Inland Revenue has had the effect of misleading the partners or their agent about whether the requirements of the legislation had been met; or

  £ million

  Year

  Gross contribution before abatement or refunds and public sector receipts

  Negotiated refunds

  Abatement

  Net contribution after abatement refunds and public sector receipts

  1973

  181

  —

  —

  102

  1974

  179

  —

  —

  29

  1975

  342

  —

  —

  -56

  1976

  463

  —

  —

  167

  1977

  737

  —

  —

  369

  1978

  1,348

  —

  —

  822

  1979

  1,606

  —

  —

  947

  1980

  1,767

  98

  —

  706

  1981

  2,174

  693

  —

  397

  1982

  2,863

  1,019

  —

  606

  1983

  2,976

  807

  —

  647

  1984

  3,201

  528

  —

  656

  1985

  3,940

  61

  166

  1,808

  1986

  4,493

  —

  1,701

  572

  1987

  5,202

  —

  1,153

  1,721

  1988

  5,138

  —

  1,594

  1,362

  1989

  5,585

  —

  1,154

  2,315

  1990

  6,355

  —

  1,697

  2,475

  1991

  5,806

  —

  2,497

  545

  Unemployment Benefits
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the public expenditure total has been spent on benefits related to unemployment for each financial year from 1979–80; and what is the latest estimate for 1992–93 and the expenditure forecast for 1993–94.
  490
  at a crucial time, one of the required signatories was not available for unforeseeable reasons (eg because of serious illness); or the agent of a signatory was similarly not available and there was no one else who could reasonably be expected to stand in the agent's shoes: or

  there was some other difficulty about obtaining all the required signatures to the election within the time limit, and the Inland Revenue had, before the time limit expired, both been clearly notified that each of the signatories had individually decided to make an election; and been given the reasons why the election could not be made within the time limit.

  The board will not admit elections if they were made after the expiry of the time limit because of oversight or negligence on the part of a partner or his or her agent; or because one of the parties to the election temporarily refused to sign it; or because there was a deliberate decision to delay the making of the election because its effect on the taxation liabilities of the relevant parties was not clear by the time the time limit expired.

  European Community
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the sums paid by the United Kingdom to the EC, the rebate and the net cost to the United Kingdom for each year since 1973.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 17 November 1992]: Details of the United Kingdom's gross contribution, the refunds and abatement and of the net contribution after public sector receipts on the European Community Budget, for the years 1973 to 1989 were contained in a written answer given by the Financial Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk. North (Mr. Howell) on 20 March 1991, at columns 110–12. Details for 1990 and 1991 were published in June 1992 in the "Statement on the 1992 Community Budget", Cm. 1948. The table reproduces the information.

  Mr. Portillo
  [pursuant to his reply, 16 November 1992, c. 31–32]: The figure for social security benefits to the unemployed for 1984–85 should have been £6,320 million, and not £5,320 million as previously stated.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Fish Statistics
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) salmon and (b) grilse were removed from the River Bush by his Department in each year since his Department first leased the fishery; what the sale of these fish realised in each year; and what effect their removal had on the number of smelts descending the river in subsequent years.

  Mr. Hanley
  Separate figures for the number of salmon and grilse removed from the River Bush are not available. The available information is as follows:

  Number and value of salmon and grilse removed from River Bush

  Year

  Number offish removed from river

  Number sold commercially

  Value £

  Wild origin

  Hatchery origin

  £

  1972

  Not available

  1,917

  6,536

  1973

  Not available

  492

  1,830

  1974

  Not available

  226

  685

  1975

  Not available

  403

  1,711

  1976

  Not available

  377

  2,345

  1977

  Not available

  2,321

  4,636

  1978

  Not available

  219

  1,889

  1979

  Not available

  300

  3,393

  1980

  Not available

  839

  5,178

  1981

  Not available

  311

  2,536

  1982

  Not available

  32

  246

  1983

  Not available

  —

  —

  1984

  195

  20

  3

  33

  1985

  557

  73

  —

  —

  Numbers of salmon and grilse landed by commercial fishermen in the Foyle Fisheries Commission area (both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland)

  Type of engine

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  11992

  Drift Nets

  12,587

  17,321

  55,108

  33,850

  20,379

  34,034

  Draft Nets

  5,434

  16,176

  31,090

  10,199

  5,437

  8,223

  Fixed Engines

  47

  79

  330

  371

  —

  —

  Londonderry Fishery

  415

  763

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  18,483

  34,339

  86,528

  44,420

  25,816

  42,257

  1 To date.

  Total number of salmon and grilse landed by commercial fishermen in the Fisheries Conservancy Board area

  Type of engine

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  11992

  Boxes and Fixed Estuary and Tidal Draft Nets

  4,653

  6,828

  5,167

  5,265

  2,091

  413

  Tidal Draft Nets

  69

  114

  74

  12

  2

  32

  Tidal Drift Nets

  248

  675

  812

  252

  838

  1,524

  Tidal Bag Nets

  5,924

  6,140

  12,197

  4,685

  4,582

  5,957

  Total

  10,894

  13,757

  18,250

  10.214

  7,513

  7,926

  1 To date.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland over what period of year is there are available to him records of the numbers of salmon, grilse and sea trout caught in Northern Ireland waters; and where such records are available for inspection or purchase.

  Mr. Hanley
  In the Foyle Fisheries Commission area, records are available since 1960. The information may be inspected in the Commission's offices at 8 Victoria road, Londonderry BT47 2AB.
  492

  Year

  Number offish removed from river

  Number sold commercially

  Value

  Wild origin

  Hatchery origin

  £

  1986

  101

  778

  —

  —

  1987

  81

  674

  —

  —

  1988

  10

  990

  —

  —

  1989

  102

  309

  —

  —

  1990

  93

  413

  —

  —

  1991

  329

  1,060

  —

  —

  1992

  212

  701

  153

  188

  1 Grilse of hatchery origin which, after scientific examination, were found to be of marketable quality.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many salmon and grilse have been taken by commercial nets of each type, in Northern Ireland waters in each of the last five years and the current year to date; how many such fish taken by commercial fishermen, and sea netted fish, were landed in(a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Irish Republic; and of all fish taken, how many were taken from the Foyle system.

  Mr. Hanley
  The following tables give the available information. No figures are available for landings in the Republic of Ireland, except that for statistical purposes, half of what is taken in the Foyle Fisheries Commission area is assumed to have been landed in Northern Ireland and half in the Republic of Ireland.

  In the Fisheries Conservancy Board area records exist from 1968 and may be inspected at the offices of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries Division, Hut 5, Castle Grounds, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3PW.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what investigations he has carried out to determine the number and percentage of salmon and grilse entering each of the(a) Foyle river system, (b) the Bush system and (c) other rivers in Northern Ireland which support runs of such fish are (i) one sea winter fish, (ii) two sea winter fish and (iii) three or more sea winter fish.
  493
  Mr. Hanley
  The only investigations of this type are carried out on the River Bush, and the fish are divided into two classes—grilse which are one sea winter fish; and salmon which are two or more sea winter fish. Examination of samples of fish from the River Bush over the last 10 years indicates the following proportions of salmon to grilse:

  Smolt year

  Per cent, returning to river as:

  Class

  Grilse

  Salmon

  1980

  90

  10

  1981

  91

  9

  1982

  90

  10

  1983

  1

  1

  1984

  81

  19

  1985

  80

  20

  1986

  83

  17

  1987

  96

  4

  1988

  82

  18

  1989

  87

  13

  1 Incomplete due to electric barrier breakdown.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Department of Agriculture's original lease for the angling on the River Bush began; when it was renewed; when the lease ends; and if he will publish a list of the papers and reports published, and where they may be purchased or examined, of the work on this fishery carried out by the Department.

  Mr. Hanley
  The lease began on 1 March 1972, for a period of 30 years and is therefore not due for renewal until 1 March 2003.

  A list of publications is as follows. These are available for examination at the DANI Fisheries research laboratory, 38 Castleroe road, Coleraine.

  CROZIER, W. W. 1986. Enhancement of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in the River Bush. Royal Irish Academy, National Committee for Biology, Hydrobiology Sub-Committee, Annual Conference of the Freshwater Research Group, Dublin 25–26 March 1986.

  CROZIER, W. W. 1988. Difference in the proportion of microtagged and finclipped Atlantic salmon released from and returned to the R. Bush, N. Ireland. ICES C. M. 1988/M:5 (mimeo).

  CROZIER, W. W. 1989. Homewater exploitation rates on microtagged salmon returning to the R. Bush in 1988. ICES C. M.1989/M2 (mimeo).

  CROZIER, W. W. 1990. DANI Freshwater and Environmental Research. The Ulster Angler, 10: 5–6.

  CROZIER, W. W. 1990. Report on the Workshop on the effects of Restocking and Cage Escapees on Resident. Wild Salmon Stocks, held at Sherkin Island Marine Station, Cork, 23–25 May 1990. Sherkin Comment, 5 (1990).

  CROZIER, W. W. 1990. The effects of restocking and cage escapees on resident wild salmon stocks. Ecological concerns. Paper at Conference on the Effects of Restocking and Cage Escapees on Resident Wild Salmon Stocks. Sherkin Island Marine Station, Cork, 23–26 May 1990.

  CROZIER, W. W. 1990. Electrofishing and Stock Assessment. Paper at the Institute of Fisheries Management (NI Branch) Training Course at Movanagher Fish Farm.30 March 1990.

  CROZIER, W. W. 1990. Homewater exploitation rates on microtagged salmon returning to the R. Bush in 1989. ICES C.M. 1990/M:19 (mimeo).

  CROZIER, W. W. 1991. The identification of fish farm escapees in N. Ireland fisheries. Methods currently in use and future development of techniques. ICES Workshop on Identification of Fish Farm Escapees and Wild Salmon, Norway, ICES C.M. 1991/M:3 (mimeo).

  CROZIER, W. W. 1991. Homewater exploitation on microtagged salmon returning to the R. Bush in 1990. ICES C.M. 1991/M:20 (mimeo).
  494
  CROZIER, W. W. and KENNEDY G. J. A. 1987. Marine survival and exploitation of R. Bush hatchery salmon (Salmo salar L.) as assessed by microtag returns to 1986. ICES C.M. 1097/M:39 (mimeo).

  CROZIER, W. W. and KENNEDY G. J. A. 1988. Marine survival and homewater exploitation of R. Bush wild and hatchery-reared salmon (Salmo salar L.) derived from microtag returns in 1987. ICES C.M. 1988/M:4 (mimeo).

  CROZIER, W. W. and KENNEDY G. J. A. 1989. The River Bush as an index river. ICES C.M. 1989/M:3 (mimeo).

  CROZIER, W.W. and KENNEDY, G. J. A. 1991. What proportion of stocks are caught by commercial fisheries: Exploitation of R. Bush salmon. Working paper for the Joint Atlantic Salmon Trust' Royal Irish Academy Workshop on "The Measurement and Evaluation of the Exploitation of Atlantic Salmon". Dublin April 8–10, 1991.

  CROZIER, W. W. and KENNEDY, G. J. A. 1991. Salmon research on the R. Bush. In: Steer, M. W. (ed) 1991 Irish Rivers: Biology and Management, pp 29–46 Royal Irish Academy, Dublin.

  CROZIER, W. W. and MOFFETT, I. J. J. 1989. Amount and distribution of biochemical-genetic variation among wild populations and a hatchery stock of Atlantic salmon Sulmo salar L., from north-east Ireland. Journal of Fish Biology, 34:665–677.

  CROZIER, W. W. and MOFFETT, I. J. J. 1990. Inheritance of allozymes in Atlantic Salmon (Sahno salar L.) Aquaculture, 88: 253–262.

  CROZIER, W. W. and MOFFETT, I. J. J. 1991. Application of genetic marking to assess supplementary stockings of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in a Northern Ireland stream. Poster paper at the Fisheries Society of the British Isles Symposium on Biochemical Genetics and Taxonomy of Fish, Queen's University, Belfast, 22–26 July 1991.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. (1981a). The reliability of quantitative juvenile salmon estimates using electro-fishing techniques. Proc. Atlantic Sal. Trust Workshop, Windermere, 1981, 11pp.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. (1981b). Some observations on the inter-relationships of juvenile salmon (Salmo salar L.) and trout (Salmo trutta L.). Proc. 2nd Brit. Freshw. Fish. Conf. 1981, 143–149.

  KENNEDY G. J. A. (1983). Some observations on Salmonid ecology in upland streams. Series (a), No. 23, 20–23. Irish Fisheries Investigations.

  KENNEDY G. J. A. (1984a). Factors affecting the survival and distribution of salmon (Salmo salar L.) stocked in upland trout (Salmo trutta L.) streams in Northern Ireland. Symposium on Stock Enhancement in the Management of Freshwater Fisheries, EIFAC, Budapest 1982, EIFAC Tech. Pap. (42), Suppl. Vol. I, 227–242.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. (1984b). Evaluation of techniques for classifying habitats for juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Atlantic Salmon Trust Workshop on Stock Enhancement. University of Surrey, 9–11 April, 1984, 23p.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. (1984b). The ecology of salrnonid habitat re-instatement following river drainage schemes. Institute of Fisheries Management (N.I. Branch) Study Course, Publ. Institute of Continuing Education, University of Ulster, 1–13.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. (1985). River pollution—How much does it cost fisheries? DANI Advisers and Lecturers Conference, Loughry College of Agriculture and Food Technology, 14 pp.

  KENNEDY G. J. A. (1986). Silage effluent pollution—costs and prevention. Agriculture in Northern Ireland, Vol. 60 (12), 402–406.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. (1987). Predation by cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo L.) on wild and hatchery salmon smolts (Salmo salar L.). ICES C. M. 1987/M41.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. 1988. Stock enhancement of Atlantic salmon. In: Atlantic Sahnon: Planning for the Future. (Eds D. Mills and D. Piggins). Proceedings of the Third International Atlantic Salmon Symposium, Biarritz, France, 21–23 October 1986, 345–372.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. and CROZIER, W. W. 1988. Scientifically based approaches to management in the context of existing fisheries: Use of the R. Bush as an index river to provide input data for modelling. ICES C. M. 1988/M:3 (mimeo).

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. and CROZIER, W. W. 1989. Salmon enhancement on the River Bush. Proceedings of the Institute

  495
  of Fisheries Management, 20th Annual Study Course at Galway Regional Technical College, Galway, 12–14 September 1989.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. and CROZIER, W. W. 1991. Stock-recruitment data from the River Bush. Working paper for the Joint Atlantic Salmon Trust' Royal Irish Academy Workshop on "The Measurement and Evaluation of the Exploitation of Atlantic Salmon", Dublin, April 8–10, 1991.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. and CROZIER, W. W. 1991. Strategies for the rehabilitation of salmon rivers: post-project appraisal. In: Mills, D. (ed) 1991. Strategies for the rehabilitation of salmon rivers. pp 46–62. Atlantic Salmon Trust, The Institute of Fisheries Management, and the Linnean Society of London.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. and CROZIER, W. W. 1991. Juvenile Atlantic Salmon-Production and Prediction. International Symposium on the Production of Juvenile Atlantic Salmon in Natural Waters, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, St. John's Newfoundland, Canada, 25–27 June, 1991.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. and J. E. GREER 1988. Predation by cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo L.) on the salmonid populations of an Irish river. Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, 19: 159–170.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. and P. M. JOHNSTON, 1986. A review of salmon (Salmo salar L.) research on the River Bush. Proceedings of the Institute of Fisheries Management 17th Annual Study Course. University of Ulster, 9–11 September 1986. 49–69.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. and STRANGE, C. D. (1980). Population changes after two years of salmon (Salmo salar L.) stocking in upland trout (Salmo trutta L.) streams. J. Fish. Biol. 17, 577–586.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. and STRANGE, C. D. (1981a). Comparative survival from salmon (Salmo salar L.) stocking with eyed and green ova in an upland stream. Fish. Mgmt. 12, 43–48.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. and STRANGE, C. D. (1981b). Efficiency of Electric Fishing for salmonids in relation to river width. Fish. Mgmt. 12, 55–60.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. and STRANGE, C. D. (1982). The distribution of salmonids in upland streams in relation to depth and gradient. J. Fish. Biol. 20, 579–591.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. and STRANGE, C. D. (1986). The effects of Intra and Inter-specific competition on the survival and growth of stocked juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) and resident trout (Salmo trutta L.) in an upland stream. J. Fish. Biol. 28, 479–489.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. and STRANGE, C. D. (1986a). The effects of Intra and Inter-specific competition on the distribution of stocked juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in relation to depth and gradient in an upland trout (Salmo trutta L.) stream. J. Fish. Biol. 29, 199–214.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A., STRANGE, C. D. and JOHNSTON, P. M. 1991. Evaluation of Carlin tagging as a mark-recapture technique for estimating total river runs of salmon smolts, Salmo salar L. Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, 22: 363–368.

  MOFFETT, I. J. J. and CROZIER, W. W. 1991. Genetic marker identification in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) by electrophoretic analysis of low risk tissues. Journal of Fish Biology, 39: 609–611.

  STIRLING, J. and KENNEDY, G. J. A. 1987. Preliminary investigations on fin sizes in wild and ranched salmon as a discriminate factor in R. Bush stocks. ICES C. M. 1987/M40.

  STRANGE, C. D. and KENNEDY, G. J. A. 1981. Stomach flushing of salmonids: A simple and effective technique for the removal of the stomach contents. Fisheries Management, 12: 9–15.

  STRANGE, C. D. and KENNEDY, G. J. A. 1982. Evaluation of fluorescent pigment marking of brown trout (Salmi) trutta L.) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Fisheries Management 13:89–95.

  Publications in press, submitted, or in preparation:

  CROZIER, W. W. (in press). Maintenance of genetic variation in hatchery stocks of Atlantic salmon: Experiences from the R. Bush. Aquaculture and Fisheries Management.

  CROZIER, W. W. and KENNEDY, G. J. A. (in press). Marine survival of wild and hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon from the
  496
  R. Bush, Northern Ireland. 4th International Atlantic Salmon Symposium, St. Andrews, Canada. Blackwell Scientific Publications.

  CROZIER, W. W. and KENNEDY, G. J. A. (in prep). Marine exploitation of Atlantic salmon from the R. Bush, Northern Ireland. Fisheries Research.

  CROZIER, W. W. and MOFFATT, I. J. J. (submitted). Application of genetic marking to assess supplementary stocking of Atlantic salmon in a Northern Irish stream. Journal of Fish Biology.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. (in prep). Evaluation of production from nursery habitat in the British Isles. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy.

  KENNEDY, G. J. A. and CROZIER, W. W. (in prep). River management in relation to salmonid recruitment. National Rivers Authority Conference, University of Leicester, 1993.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what evidence he has that(a) increasing numbers, (b) an increasing percentage of salmon and grilse are entering the (i) Foyle system, (ii) the Bush system and (iii) other rivers in Northern Ireland which support runs of these fish.

  Mr. Hanley
  Records of the numbers of wild salmon entering rivers are available only for the Mourne system, River Faughan and River Bush and are as follows. It is not possible to provide figures indicating the percentage of the total run.

  Year

  Mourne system (Sion Mills)

  River Faughan (Campsie)

  River Bush

  1973

  n/a

  n/a

  2,614

  1974

  n/a

  n/a

  3,438

  1975

  n/a

  n/a

  3,366

  1976

  2,259

  2,040

  3,124

  1977

  2,419

  2,625

  1,775

  1978

  5,057

  2,587

  1,621

  1979

  2,226

  3,262

  1,820

  1980

  3,146

  3,288

  2,863

  1981

  2,399

  3,772

  1,539

  1982

  4,755

  2,909

  1,571

  1983

  1,271

  2,410

  1,030

  1984

  1,877

  2,116

  1—

  1985

  8,149

  9,077

  2,443

  1986

  6,295

  4,915

  2,930

  1987

  2,322

  1—

  2,530

  1988

  7,171

  3,220

  2,832

  1989

  8,526

  8,919

  1,029

  1990

  11,899

  6,883

  1,850

  1991

  7,250

  4,843

  2,358

  1 Incomplete due to electric barrier breakdown.

  Benefits
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show for the last 12 months for which figures are available, the number of claims for benefit which were(a) sent to a social fund inspector for review, (b) upheld at the review stage and (c) sent back for review; and if he will also show how many decisions were overturned.

  Mr. Hanley
  The figures for the period 1 October 1991 to 30 September 1992, which have been provided by the Office of the Social Fund Commissioner, are as follows:

  Number

  (a) applications for review by inspectors

  1,693

  (b) numbers upheld

  1,013

  (c) numbers referred back to social fund officers

  611

  (d) decisions substituted by inspectors

  424

  497
  The figures at (b), (c) and (d) include a number of cases in which the application for review were received before 1 October 1991.

  Expenditure
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he now expects to make a detailed statement of the changes in Government expenditure in Northern Ireland which will result from the autumn statement.

  Mr. Mates
  A statement will be made soon as the distribution of resources among services has been determined. This should be no later than the week beginning 7 December.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Bournemouth Central Station
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what grant aid is to be available to restore Bournemouth central station; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Government's grant schemes for historic buildings are administered by English Heritage. It is able to grant aid works to outstanding historic buildings (which for all practical purposes are those listed as grade I or grade II*) and to other buildings in conservation areas. As Bournemouth central station is listed grade II, and is not a conservation area, it is not eligible for assistance. English Heritage has reviewed the listing of the station but has concluded that upgrading would not be justified.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will state the qualifications of the GAH Group to carry out the consultant's report on a national lottery; and if he will describe the process by which it was selected from the tenders received.

  Mr. Brooke
  The GAH group was the best qualified in terms of experience, expertise and cost. Sealed tenders were received on 3 August 1992. Each consultancy made a presentation to a tender board, which scrutinised the bids and made the final decision.

  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 16 November,Official Report, column 43, how many firms were invited to tender for the contract of advising him on the impact of a national lottery on the football pools industry and charitable donations.

  Mr. Brooke
  Five firms were invited to tender.

  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 16 November,Official Report, column 43, what policy considerations he used on which to base his choice of firms to be invited to tender for the contract of advising him on the impact of a national lottery on the football pools industry and charitable donations.

  Mr. Brooke
  The five firms invited to tender were chosen for their expertise and experience. In addition, the Department ensured that none of them was already advising any other client on the national lottery.

EMPLOYMENT

  Transfer ad Redundancy Right
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals she has to apply the provisions of clause 26 of the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Bill to(a) local authorities, (b) compulsory competitive tendering, (c) existing contracts and (d) casual contracts.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Dr. Twinn) on 19 November 1992 at columns 338–39.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will set out in a table the employment change for Great Britain, and by region, between June 1979 to June 1991 with, in separate columns, the(a) percentage change in employees, (1)) percentage change in employees and the self-employed together and (c) total change.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information is as follows:

  Changes in employment in standard regions June 1979 to June 1992

  Per cent.

  Employees in employment

  Employees and self-employed

  Civilian workforce in employment

  South East1

  -5

  -1

  0

  East Anglia

  + 11

  + 17

  + 18

  South West

  + 7

  + 15

  + 16

  West Midlands

  -13

  -8

  -7

  East Midlands

  -1

  + 4

  + 5

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  -8

  -3

  -1

  North West

  -13

  -9

  -8

  North

  -14

  -10

  -8

  Wales

  -8

  -3

  -1

  Scotland

  -6

  -2

  0

  Great Britain

  -6

  -1

  0

  1 Including Greater London which became a separately identifiable standard region in September 1981. A comparison cannot therefore be made between 1979 and the current date.

  Job Clubs
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what access to job vacancies exists for people attending job clubs in the Liverpool travel-to-work area.

  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. E. G. Fogden to Mrs. Jane Kennedy, dated 23 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 to her about what access to job vacancies exists for people attending Jobclubs in the Liverpool travel to work area. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Until recently Jobclubs in the Liverpool travel to work area received copies of vacancies from Jobcentres in their locality as well as providing access to job vacancy advertisements in local newspapers. Jobclub members are also

  499
  encouraged to make speculative approaches to employers and most people find jobs this way. The circulation of vacancies from the Jobcentres ceased at the beginning of November because very few Jobclub members were finding work by this method.
  However, following representations from local people it has been agreed that the service will be reinstated where a Jobclub specifically requests it.
  I hope this is helpful.
  As decided by the Administrative 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.

DEFENCE

  Operation Granby
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department's fraud squad completed its investigations concerning the chartering of merchant vessels in support of Operation Granby; what conclusions were reached; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Papers were passed to the Crown prosecution service on 6 November 1992. Investigations continue into certain aspects however and further comment would not be appropriate at this time.

  Vanguard
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what problems with welds related to the nuclear reactor were reported in the two weeks before the submarine Vanguard left VSEL Barrow on 23 October for contractor's sea trials; what action was taken by the contractor and his Department; and on what date the members of the Nuclear Powered Warship Safety Committee were informed of the situation.

  Mr. Aitken
  It is not our practice to comment on the detailed material condition of individual nuclear submarines. I can confirm, however, that as part of normal safety procedures, Vanguard underwent a rigorous safety assessment and a thorough quality assurance audit prior to being cleared for departure on sea trials. The Government place the highest priority on nuclear safety and no submarine would be permitted to go to sea unless we were satisfied that it was safe to do so.

  Iraqi Defence Industry
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer on the Iraqi defence industry to the hon. Member for South Shields on 18 November,Official Report, column 251, if he will make a statement about the conclusions of his Department's study into the Iraqi defence industry and its military procurement activity; when this study was concluded; and whether he intends to publish it.

  Mr. Aitken
  Iraq's defence industry and military procurement activity are subjects of continuing study in my Department. The large scale of Iraq's military production capability and the extensive nature of its international procurement activity have been revealed in the studies we have undertaken. Security considerations preclude the publication of such studies.
  500

  Eaglescliffe Royal Naval Stores Depot
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the names and grades of all officials who accompanied the Minister of State for the Armed Forces at his meeting with trade union representatives at RNSD Eaglescliffe on 18 November.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Apart from my private secretary and representatives of local management at the depot, three departmental officials were present during my meeting with trade union representatives at the Royal Naval stores depot Eaglescliffe on 18 November: Mr. G. E. Miller (grade 4), principal director of supplies and transport (stores and victualling), Mr. J. Read (grade 5), director Naval support command implementation and Mr. B. P. Neale (grade 6), head of management strategy, secretariat (fleet support).

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date, by whom, and in what form the request was made by trade union representatives at RNSD Eaglescliffe that hon. and right hon. Members and representatives of local councils should not be present in the depot during the visit on 18 November by the Minister of State for the Armed Forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Defence Contracts (Payment)
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to expedite the settlement and payment of defence contracts, so as to enable contractors to make prompt payment to their subcontractors; and what is his latest estimate of the amounts outstanding on unsettled accounts for work done.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department has a long-standing policy of paying its bills promptly. We normally settle our contract payments within 30 days of receiving invoices, and we will soon be introducing a two-week billing cycle with payment by the bankers automated clearing service.

  Payment arrangements and details of outstanding amounts between contractors and their subcontractors are a matter for the companies concerned. However, since my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement of 10 March, Official Report, column 753, we have included a clause in all new defence contracts requiring prime contractors to pay their subcontractors within a specified period from receipt of a valid invoice.

  On Monday 26 October my Department's central bill-paying organisation held valid bills for some £210 million. We expect these to be paid by 2 November.

HEALTH

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her latest estimate of the cost to date of implementing the NHS reforms.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Details of the sums provided to date are given in the table. Figures for the practice fund management allowance in 1991–92 and 1992–93 correct those published in the departmental report earlier this year (Cm. 1913).
  501

  NHS review expenditure

  £ million

  1989–90

  1990–91

  11991–92

  11992–93

  HCHS Revenue

  100 Consultants initiative

  3

  27

  37

  36

  Resource management initiative, clinical audit and IT

  21

  65

  87

  103

  Enhancement of personnel, finance and other key staff functions and training

  18

  67

  87

  93

  NHS Trusts—mainly consultation and start up costs

  —

  13

  22

  34

  Family Health Service Authorities' Administration

  —

  29

  36

  36

  Other—mainly quality initiatives, pilot projects and capital charges

  17

  30

  34

  37

  Total Revenue

  —

  229

  303

  339

  HCHS capital

  Resource management initiative, medical audit and IT

  13

  55

  65

  28

  Quality initiative

  —

  5

  5

  5

  Total Capital

  13

  —

  70

  33

  FHS

  Practice funds management allowance

  —

  6

  14

  27

  Total FHS

  —

  6

  14

  27

  CFS/DH Admin

  DH staff and consultancy costs related to the Review

  7

  —

  —

  —

  Prescription Pricing Authority

  —

  9

  4

  4

  Post Royal Assent Publicity

  —

  3

  —

  —

  Total CFS/DH Admin/FHS Admin

  7

  12

  4

  4

  Total NHS Review

  79

  306

  391

  403

  1Figures for 1991–92 are provisional and figures for 1992–93 are estimates.

  Staff Recruitment
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the utility of personality questionnaires in the recruitment of senior NHS staff.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Selection criteria for the recruitment of senior staff in the national health service are a matter for each individual NHS employer.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring is carried out by her Department of overspending in the current year by health service authorities.

  Mr. Sackville
  Internal monitoring information is collected to assist in the management of the national health service. This includes information on current spending against plans and centrally laid down objectives. Information collected in respect of district health authorities is generally aggregated to a regional level.

  Prescription Budgets
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the final out-turn figures for indicative prescription budgets in 1991–92 in each family health service authority area and NHS region; if she will also express those figures as a percentage of the projected budget; what are the indicative budgets for 1992–93 in each FHSA area and NHS region; and if she will express those figures as percentages of(a) the projected budget and (b) the out-turn budgets for 1991–92.
  502
  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Ultra-violet Radiation
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide a breakdown of her Department's expenditure by medium on advice on the dangers of over-exposure to UV radiation for the current financial year.

  Mr. Sackville
  Expenditure by the Health Education Authority, which is funded by the Department, on the dangers of over-exposure to existing levels of UV radiation for the current financial year was as follows:

  £

  Leaflets and promotional material

  32,500

  Posters, factcards and feature articles

  6,900

  Public Information Booklet

  4,100

  General support costs estimates at 25 per cent. (This includes staff time, responding to enquiries etc)

  10,875

  TOTAL

  54,375

  In addition, the Department issued an information note to health professionals in respect of which no separate costing is available.

  Abortion
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (I) what information she has concerning the extent of the use in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) overseas in products used in the United Kingdom, of cell-lines front the tissue of aborted babies in the production of (i) polio vaccine, (ii) rubella vaccine, (iii) other vaccines and (iv) other medical and pharmaceutical products;
  503
  (2) what guidance is issued by her Department concerning the use of cell lines from the tissue of aborted babies in the production of vaccines and other medical products;

  (3) if she will give a breakdown by country of manufacture of those medical, pharmaceutical and other products which are currently approved for use in the United Kingdom and which have been produced using cell lines from the tissue of aborted babies.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Human cell lines are used in the manufacture of polio, rubella and hepatitis A vaccines. The cell line MRCS developed by the Medical Research Council was isolated in the early 1970s from the lungs of a single foetus. Our understanding is that all current needs, and those for the foreseeable future, will be met from this one isolation.

  The vaccines may be manufactured in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, France or the United States of America. We are not aware of other licensed products using human cell lines.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and which NHS hospitals in England providing day-care abortion services are offering early medical abortion services in the first nine weeks of pregnancy with mifepristone and prostaglandin.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information in the form requested is not collected centrally. Abortion notifications between July, when the drug was licensed, and December 1991, the latest period for which figures are available, show that the mifepristone and prostaglandin method was used in 19 national health service hospitals in England and Wales. Identifying information derived from the notification form, including the names of the hospitals concerned, may not be generally disclosed, except in the circumstances specified in regulation 5 of the Abortion Regulations 1991.

  Police Vetting
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued during the past 12 months to local authorities' social service departments who because of staff shortages may need to employ persons not yet cleared by the established police vetting procedure.

  Mr. Yeo
  None.

  Incontinence
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration was given to the inclusion of treatment of incontinence in the establishment of health targets in "The Health of the Nation" document.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In reaching the decision, after careful consideration, to select five key areas at this time, it was recognised that there were other strong candidates for key area status. However, in the Government's view they required further development and research before national targets could be set—rehabilitation services for people with a physical disability, embracing continence services, was an example. The strategy will be kept under review and further key areas may be added in due course.

  Adoption
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adopted people have applied for help in tracing their birth parents since 1976.
  504
  Mr. Yeo
  Since November 1976, 47,668 adopted persons have applied to the Registrar General under the provisions of section 51 of the Adoption Act 1976 for access to their original birth records. Since May 1991 the Adoption Contact register has been available for adopted persons seeking to trace their natural relatives, by entry on the register. On 17 November 1992 a total of 1,804 adopted persons have had their names entered.

  Talking Books
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her Department's policy on support for the talking book services for the blind.

  Mr. Yeo
  Talking book services for visually impaired people are largely provided by voluntary organisations, although some social services departments may provide this service or assist a person to obtain it. Audio-cassettes are now available in many local authority libraries.

  Older People
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what involvement her Department will take during the 1993 European year of older people and solidarity between generations; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Department, in co-operation with the Department of Social Security has overall co-ordinating responsibility for the European Year in the United Kingdom and we are now well advanced with our plans. Following consultation with a wide range of national voluntary and professional bodies, statutory authorities and other relevant Government Departments, a group has been set up to advise on the conduct, promotion and evaluation of the programme. The group involves representatives of organisations reflecting the interests of older people, including the National Pensioners' Convention, and will take direct account wherever possible of the views and preferences of older people themselves. The programme in the United Kingdom will focus on four major themes:

  Combatting 'ageism' and promoting positive images of ageing;

  Volunteering;

  Health promotion and active leisure, including remaining mentally active;

  Social integration, including problems of isolation and loneliness, information needs, housing, transport and community care issues.

  Four task groups have also been set up to examine each of these themes and put forward specific proposals, and to implement them once agreed, with particular reference to intergenerational and multicultural aspects.

  There will be two elements to the year in the United Kingdom: a core programme involving high profile national events focusing on the four themes, including cultural and sporting events, exhibitions and conferences; and a general programme, consisting of activities being organised by individual organisations, but not co-ordinated through the official structure.

  The Department is providing funds for the cost of a secretariat to co-ordinate the core programme and to disseminate news and information, and has already committed £81,000 in the current year.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be launching the European Year in the United Kingdom at the age resource awards, which will be presented in

  505
  London on 17 December by HRH The Prince of Wales, one of a wide range of special events marking the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Council. This project highlights the creative potential and social participation of older people.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. HeppeII
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring the Government do of the voluntary agreements in tobacco advertising.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The voluntary agreement is monitored by the Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship. The terms of reference of the committee are set out in appendix 7 of the voluntary agreement. This and its annual reports are in the Library.

  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the breaches of United Kingdom voluntary agreements on tobacco advertising reported in the fifth annual report of the Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship were reported by Dr. Mindell, either personally or on behalf of organisations.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Ninety per cent. (28 out of 31 breaches), equally divided between breaches for which tobacco manufacturers were responsible and breaches by shopkeepers and other third parties ("inadvertent breaches").

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those health authorities in England that have requested water undertakers to increase the fluoride content of water supplies, indicating (i) those that have had their request met, (ii) those whose applications are pending and (iii) those that have been refused.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not held centrally.

  Cot Deaths
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the survey by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys of the annual rates of cot deaths for 1990 and 1991.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The latest annual figures published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys show that the rate of sudden infant death (or cot death) in England and Wales fell from 1·93 per 1,000 live births in 1989 to 1·70 in 1990, and again to 1·44 in 1991.

  Towards the end of last year, the Government ran a successful media campaign to reduce the risk of cot death. Called the "Back to Sleep" campaign, it highlighted new evidence that the risk of cot death can be reduced if babies are laid to sleep on their back or sides, rather than on their stomachs.

  It is a measure of the success of the Government's campaign that the number of cot deaths which occurred in the month of December 1991 was about half the number which occurred in the previous December.

  A nationwide confidential enquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy has been established. It will help us find out more about why some babies die and make us better able to prevent this happening in the future.

  Disabled Children
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has had from the disabilities study unit in regard to the report entitled "Relationships of Children with their Disabled Brothers and Sisters", a copy of which has been sent to her; what reply she is sending; what action she proposes to take; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  We have received the report together with a request that the Department assists with the costs of its dissemination. We are considering this request.

  GPs (Job Evaluation)
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated cost of introducing job evaluation schemes for general practitioners in Birmingham and the west midlands.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We are not aware of any plans to introduce such schemes.

  Ondine's Syndrome
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many research and specialist establishments exist within the United Kingdom for research and development into the treatment and cure of Ondine's syndrome;

  (2) how many persons presently suffering from Ondine's syndrome are presently living within the United Kingdom.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available for England. Responsibility for Ondine's syndrome in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is respectively a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to health authorities in cases where a patient, requiring treatment for Ondine's syndrome, lives within their area.

  Mr. Sackville
  As with other disorders, provision of health care for those suffering from Ondine's syndrome, is made by district health authorities who are responsible for assessing the health needs of their resident populations and purchasing services to meet those needs.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of expenditure was devoted to research into Ondine's syndrome for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sackville
  I am not aware of any expenditure being devoted to research specifically into Ondine's syndrome. The main agency through which the Government support medical research in the United Kingdom is the Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Public Service and Science. The MRC is always willing to consider scientifically sound proposals for research in competition with other applications.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of Ondine's syndrome have been detected annually in the years 1982 to 1992 inclusive.
  507
  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not held centrally.

  Bone Marrow Donors
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to identify and encourage bone marrow donors.

  Mr. Sackville
  Public awareness of bone marrow transplantation as a treatment for leukaemia has increased in recent years. This had led to an increase in the number of people volunteering to become donors, for those situations where a patient does not have a matched sibling donor.

  There are two bone marrow donor registers in the United Kingdom. The Anthony Nolan trust is a charity and relies on publicity for its success. The British Bone Marrow and Platelet Donor Panel (BBMPDP) recruits from blood donors directly through the blood transfusion service and does not advertise its work other than at regional transfusion centres. The two United Kingdom registers are working closely to ensure greater coordination of effort. This should be of benefit to patients. The Government contribute to the BBMPDP's running costs.

  Government support is not limited to the United Kingdom. One of the measures included in the 1990–94 action plan under the "Europe Against Cancer" initiative is a feasibility study on co-operation between European bone marrow donor banks.

  NHS Wages Bill
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the cost of increment drift for the NHS wages bill for 1990–91 and 1991–92; and the projected figures for 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not held centrally.

  NHS Review
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 11 November,Official Report, column 850, if she will list (a) the terms of reference of the current review of her Department's requirements for information from the NHS, (b) the role of the management consultants used, (c) the timescale for completion of the review and (d) the date for reporting the results of the review to Parliament.

  Mr. Sackville
  The purpose of the review is to ensure that the burden on the national health service of completing central returns is fully justified by the uses to which the information is put centrally. Management consultants were employed to identify with the NHS those returns representing a significant burden beyond what is required for local operational purposes. The results of the review should be announced early next year.

  Parkinson's Disease
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to introduce free prescriptions for the sufferers of Parkinson's disease.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Hospital Advertising
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy that patients and relatives may be shielded from televisions and video advertising displays located in accident and emergency and out-patient departments if that is their wish; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Responsibility for managing advertis-ing in hospitals is for local managers who will have regard to the interests of patients and visitors when making arrangements.

  Royal College of Nursing Conference
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assurances she gave on the independence of pay review bodies at the Royal College of Nursing annual conference in 1991; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I did not attend the Royal College of Nursing annual conference in 1991.

  Creuzfeldt Jakob Disease
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of how Creuzfeldt Jakob disease may be acquired, other than through accidental injection; and what information she has on the nature of the disease-causing agent.

  Mr. Yeo
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 29 June at column 441.

  Information on the incidence of Creuzfeldt Jakob disease in the United Kingdom is set out in annual Creuzfeldt Jakob disease surveillance unit report by Dr. Will, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Extensive epidemiological information on Creuzfeldt Jakob disease cases collected by the unit does not reveal an association between the disease and particular activities. Neither is there any indication that the pattern or incidence of Creuzfeldt Jakob disease has changed over the last two decades.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been produced to assist patients who may be contaminated with Creuzfeldt Jakob disease in the event that they(a) have children, (b) intend to donate blood or other organs and (c) wish to undertake tattoos.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Creuzfeldt Jakob disease surveillance unit has produced patient information on Creuzfeldt Jakob disease which is provided on a doctor-to-patient basis—a copy is in the Library. This makes no specific reference to the children of Creuzfeldt Jakob disease patients as there is no evidence to suggest Creuzfeldt Jakob disease can be passed between family members either through normal contact or in pregnancy. Neither does it refer to tattoos as there is no evidence of peripheral inoculation transmitting the infection.

  For guidance in respect of potential blood and organ donors I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave him on 29 June at column 443.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been undertaken to quantify the
  509
  proportion of persons, showing no symptoms of disease, who may be carrying the infectious agent causing Creuzfeldt Jakob disease.

  Mr. Yeo
  As yet there is no test to identify asymptomatic infection in humans. It is not therefore possible to identify those who may be carrying the Creuzfeldt Jakob disease agent.

  Hospices
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's policy on the development of hospices; and what is the level of financial support earmarked for this purpose for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government greatly appreciate the contribution of the voluntary hospice movement and of national health service units, to the provision of specialised care and support for terminally ill people and their families. Any individual or group considering developing a hospice or hospice-type services should discuss their ideas with the local health authority to ensure that services match local needs.

  Since 1990–91, the Government have allocated funds annually to regional health authorities in England specifically to enable them to increase the support they give to voluntary hospices. The sums allocated have been:

  £ million

  1990–91

  8

  1991–92

  17

  1992–93

  32

  Renal Patients
  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will introduce into the patients charter a specified time limit within which renal patients will be guaranteed the disconnect system.

  Mr. Sackville
  Under the patients charter patients are guaranteed admission for treatment within a maximum of two years from the time they are placed on the waiting list. However, patients suffering from end-stage renal failure are not placed on waiting lists. As emergencies they are treated immediately by means of dialysis or kidney transplant.

  NHS Pay Policy
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the NHS executive statement and guidelines on the 1·5 per cent. pay policy in the NHS; and if she will list those who were sent this advice.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I have written to the chairmen of all health service employing bodies setting out the arrangements for implementing the policy of restricting public sector pay settlements to a maximum of 1·5 per cent. in the coming year. The chief executive of the NHS Management Executive also wrote to general managers and chief executives setting out the key figures for public expenditure on health and priorities for use of those resources.

  Copies of both letters have been placed in the Library.

  Clinical Grading
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current number of clinical grading cases remaining to be heard under section 32 of the Whitley Council agreement at(a) regional health authority level and when they are expected to be concluded and (b) at national level and when they are expected to be concluded; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 16 November 1992]: At 30 September 1992 there were 19,908 appeals outstanding at regional health authority level and 2,138 at national level. Initiatives are being taken to bring the process to the earliest possible conclusion. Due to the introduction of new appeals procedures the number of national appeals heard in the six months up to 31 October 1992 was almost twice the number heard in the 18 months prior to that date.

  Disease Statistics
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current incidence of(a) Lyme's disease, (b) leptospirosis, (c) trichanella spiralis, (d) Q fever and (e) toxoplasmosis.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 16 November 1992]: Laboratory reports to the Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre for England and Wales for these infections are as follows. It should be noted that the data are provisional and do not differentiate between indigenous and imported cases.

  Disease

  Laboratory reports 1991

  (a) lyme disease

  39

  (b) leptospirosis

  30

  (c) trichinosis

  0

  (d) Q fever

  74

  (e) toxoplasmosis1

  635

  1 A British Paediatric Surveillance Unit survey on congenital toxoplasmosis—the serious form of this condition—showed 14 symptomatic babies (0·1 year) in England and Wales for a 12 month period in 1989–90.

  NHS Capital Schemes
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what capital projects costing £1 million or more are currently scheduled by each regional health authority; what is the anticipated date of completion for each project; what was the original projected completion date for each project; and how many projects and at what total value, have been removed from the 1992–93 capital programme in each regional health authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 20 November 1992]: The latest information available on capital schemes costing over £ 1 million under construction in each regional health authority area is shown in the table. Management of the capital programme is a matter for individual regional health authorities, and information on schemes in planning or removed from the programme is not held centrally. In total, some 400 schemes each costing more than £1 million are at various stages of planning, design and construction throughout the NHS in England.
  511

  Schemes £1 million and over which are under construction

  Authority and Scheme

  Contract target completion date

  Latest estimated completion date

  Northern RHA

  Furness General Scheme 3 Phase 1 (Mental Illness)

  16 January 1993

  3 February 1993

  Royal Victoria Infirmary Ante-Natal Clinic

  25 September 1993

  25 September 1993

  RVI-Unification of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

  31 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Sunderland General Scheme 2 Phase 2 (ward block)

  28 July 1993

  4 August 1993

  W. Cumberland GH rationalisation maternity/geriatric

  15 May 1994

  15 May 1994

  Wansbeck General Hospital Scheme 1 Phase 1 (Nucleus)

  29 May 1992

  11 December 1992

  Yorkshire RHA

  Chapel Allerton (Newton Green Wing additions)

  24 December 1993

  24 December 1993

  Harrogate DGH Acute Geriatric Improvements Scunthorpe DGH Phase 4A(3) Path. 2 and Hydro

  16 January 1995 13 February 1994

  16 January 1995 13 February 1994

  St. James Redevelopment Phase 4 (Nucleus)

  9 May 1994

  9 May 1994

  St. Lukes Development Phase 1A (Nucleus)

  25 February 1993

  25 February 1993

  Trent RHA

  Bassetlaw DGH Phase 2A

  12 March 1993

  12 March 1993

  Clay Cross Community Hospital

  28 February 1994

  28 February 1994

  Derby City Hospital Mental Illness Unit

  16 January 1994

  28 June 1993

  Glenfield DGH Phase 3 Cardiothoric Dept.

  27 August 1993

  27 August 1993

  Kings Mill DGH OPD & GU Clinic

  4 October 1992

  30 October 1992

  Leicester Health Authority Cook/Chill

  0 May 1992

  30 October 1992

  Lincoln County Phase 2

  2 October 1992

  30 November 1992

  Mansfield Community 2 new wards

  26 March 1993

  26 March 1993

  Notts City Renal/ Radiotherapy

  30 November 1992

  8 May 1993

  Rotherham DGH Phase 3B Geriatric Unit

  24 June 1994

  24 June 1994

  East Anglia RHA

  Ipswich HRW—pathology extension PHI

  30 November 1992

  1 December 1992

  Risbridge facilities for mentally handicapped

  4 March 1993

  4 March 1993

  UEA School of Physio+ O/T

  6 November 1993

  6 November 1993

  Waveney Hospital—ESMI Unit

  18 December 1992

  18 December 1992

  North West Thames RHA

  Central Middlesex Acute

  Secure Unit/Mother and Baby Unit

  28 May 1993

  28 May 1993

  Charing Cross Hospital

  Linear Accident and new building

  26 October 1992

  26 October 1992

  Vincent Square Health Care Centre (W and C)

  17 February 1993

  17 February 1993

  Westminster and Chelsea Hospital

  9 June 1992

  30 November 1992

  North East Thames RHA

  Chase Farm Regional Secure Unit

  12 October 1992

  2 November 1992

  512

  Authority and Scheme

  Contract target completion date

  Latest estimated completion date

  Daleham Gardens

  Intensive Rehabilitation Unit/Health Clinic

  7 February 1993

  7 February 1993

  Goodmayes DGH

  10 November 1992

  10 November 1992

  South East Thames RHA

  Guys Phase 3 Stage Superstructure

  16 May 1993

  19 December 1993

  Kings College Hospital— Theatres

  27 August 1993

  17 September 1993

  Knights Hill—ESMI Unit

  2 November 1992

  9 November 1992

  Mid Kent Radiotherapy

  3 October 1992

  21 December 1992

  RSCH Tower Block Internal/External Refurbishment

  18 March 1993

  18 March 1993

  St. Martin's Hospital Phase 1—MH1

  21 May 1993

  21 May 1993

  St. Martin's Hospital Phase 2

  Office Kitchen Block

  22 January 1993

  22 January 1993

  St. Thomas' Hospital—A and E Upgrade/ Extension

  24 January 1994

  24 January 1994

  Thanet Mental Health Development

  7 May 1993

  7 May 1993

  Uckfield Community Hospital

  29 October 1993

  29 October 1993

  William Harvey Hospital

  1A Rehabilitation and NI Unit

  20 January 1993

  6 September 1993

  South West Thames RHA

  Barnes ESMI Phase 2 (Nucleus)

  5 January 1993

  5 January 1993

  Frimley Park Hospital Phases 1 and 2

  12 February 1993

  12 February 1993

  St. John's Twickenham Redevelopment Phase 1

  7 February 1993

  7 February 1993

  Tolworth Hospital—New Ward Unit

  6 June 1993

  6 June 1993

  Woking Hospital Development—Phase 1

  Rehab Centre

  11 December 1993

  11 December 1993

  Wessex RHA

  Alton Community Hospital/LMT

  Redevelopment Phase 1

  4 January 1991

  30 November 1992

  Gosport Community Hospital Phase 1A

  30 April 1993

  30 November 1992

  Queen Alexandra Ophthalmology Department

  16 July 1993

  16 July 1993

  Royal United Hospital— Bath and Wessex Replacement

  23 June 1993

  23 June 1993

  Southampton General East Wing Window Replacement

  18 February 1993

  18 February 1993

  St. Andrew's Hospital— Chippenham Catering

  00 August 1993

  00 August 1993

  St. Mary's Portsmouth Phase 2A and 2B

  26 June 1994

  26 June 1994

  Oxford RHA

  Amersham—Dermatology Unit

  8 November 1993

  8 November 1993

  Ashurst—Phase 1

  10 August 1993

  10 August 1993

  Central Area—CPU

  13 October 1992

  13 November 1992

  Southern Area—CPU

  1 March 1993

  1 March 1993

  Wexham Park—Post Graduate Medical Centre

  2 August 1993

  2 August 1993

  South Western RHA

  Bridgewater EPD 18 beds

  18 day places

  1 April 1993

  1 April 1993

  513

  Authority and Scheme

  Contract target completion date 27 April 1994

  Latest estimated completion date

  Cheltenham Acute Mental Illness

  27 April 1994

  Derriford DGH Phase 2

  14 December 1992

  3 February 1993

  Derriford DGH Phase 3A Maternity Unit

  29 October 1993

  29 October 1993

  Derriford Fire Precautions Work

  00 December 1992

  00 December 1992

  Frenchay DGH Phase 1A

  4 December 1992

  4 December 1992

  Gloucester Royal Pathology

  23 October 1992

  14 December 1992

  Gloucester Royal Waste Disposal Complex

  00 May 1992

  00 August 1992

  Lyngford House Taunton Phase 11

  21 January 1993

  21 January 1993

  Manor Park Hospital New Mental Illness Unit

  19 September 1992

  19 September 1992

  Watford Gardens Newcourt Hospital Replacement

  11 December 1992

  11 December 1992

  Royal Devon and Exeter (Wonford) Priority 2 (Nucleus)

  21 July 1995

  21 July 1995

  Royal Devon and Exeter (Wonford) Support Services

  11 March 1994

  11 March 1994

  Southmead Hospital— Orthopaedic Unit (Nucleus)

  29 November 1992

  29 November 1992

  Southmead Hospital Mental Illness Unit

  4 October 1992

  16 November 1992

  Taunton and Somerset Hospital Phase 2

  26 March 1995

  31 August 1994

  Torbay DGH Surgical Services (Part only)

  31 May 1993

  31 May 1993

  Totnes Community Hospital

  20 June 1993

  20 June 1993

  West Cornwall Penzance New Ward Block

  9 September 1993

  9 September 1993

  West Midlands RHA

  Burton DGH Phase 2.4 main hospital

  15 February 1993

  15 February 1993

  Conversion of surgical square to medical beds

  18 December 1992

  18 December 1992

  Dudley DGH Mental Health Development

  31 July 1993

  31 July 1993

  East Birmingham— Maternity/ENT Theatres/Pathology

  4 September 1992

  1 October 1992

  George Eliot Nuneaton Phase 3 (Nucleus)

  9 July 1993

  18 July 1993

  Hollymoor Hospital Community Unit

  28 September 1992

  11 January 1993

  Kidderminster DGH Phase 6 (Nucleus)

  24 July 1995

  24 July 1995

  Rowley Regis Community Hospital Sandwell

  10 December 1993

  27 January 1994

  Solihull DGH Phase 2 Contract 1 (Nucleus)

  10 April 1994

  10 April 1994

  514

  Authority and Scheme

  Contract target completion date

  Latest estimated completion date

  St. Cross Rugby Phase 3

  (Nucleus)

  14 September 1992

  3 November 1992

  Warwick DGH Phase 2

  3 October 1993

  3 October 1993

  Mersey RHA

  Clatterbridge Hospital Redevelopment Phase 2

  6 December 1993

  6 December 1993

  Fazakerley Hospital A&E Department

  16 April 1993

  16 May 1993

  Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynaecology

  20 Janaury 1995

  20 January 1995

  Warrington DGH Phase C Whiston Phase I Regional Burns and Plastic Unit

  30 September 1993 8 October 1993

  13 September 1993 8 October 1993

  North Western RHA

  Birch Hill Hospital-

  Mental Illness Unit

  24 January 1993

  24 January 1993

  Calderstones Hospital— Replacement Kitchen

  5 February 1993

  5 February 1993

  Chorley DGH Phase 3A

  12 March 1995

  12 March 1995

  Manchester Royal Infirmary—Mental Illness Unit

  22 June 1993

  22 June 1993

  Manchester Royal Infirmary—Pathology

  and Mortuary

  1 January 1995

  1 January 1995

  Manchester Royal Infirmary— Phase 2 Ass. Works

  PHB

  28 September 1993

  29 September 1993

  Manchester Royal

  Infirmary—School of Physiotherapy

  12 January 1993

  12 January 1993

  North Manchester General—Cook Chill

  Catering Development North Manchester General—

  7 September 1992

  23 October 1992

  F and G Block (Main Phase)

  March 1994

  March 1994

  North Manchester General—Phase 1

  23 May 1993

  23 May 1993

  Ormskirk District General Hospital Phase 1

  9 March 1993

  9 March 1993

  Post Graduate Medical Centre

  2 July 1993

  2 July 1993

  Prestwich Mental Health Centre for Deaf People

  1 February 1993

  30 January 1993

  Queens Park—PH3 Maternity and Gynaecology

  25 July 1994

  25 July 1994

  Royal Lancaster Infirmary —Phase 3

  18 August 1995

  18 August 1995

  Wythenshawe Integrated Thoracic Medicine

  9 November 1992

  23 November 1992

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he will arrange for officials from his Department to meet representatives of the Graphics Company, Ivybridge, Devon, to discuss the application for regional selective assistance made by the company last August;

  (2) what plans he has to make a decision on the application for regional selective assistance submitted in August by the Graphics Company, Ivybridge, South Devon.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Officials of my Department met the Graphics Company on 18 November. A decision on the company's application for regional selective assistance is expected by the end of November.

  Export Licences
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to provide to Parliament such information on export licences as is provided to the inquiry conducted by Lord Justice Scott.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of all applications for export licences to Iraq in respect of machine tools, equipment and arms that were either approved or rejeted under the rules laid down by his predecessor in 1985 that were submitted by Marconi, GEC, BAC, Colchester Lathes or any subsidiary companies; and if he will make a statement about the extent of those applications from subsidiary companies over the same period.

  Mr. Needham
  No. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, it has been the practice of successive Administrations not to disclose such information. However, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Minutes of Evidence to the Trade and Industry Select Committee, 26 November 1991, pp 37–106.

  Policy Initiatives
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the initiatives taken on industrial policy by him during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Since the beginning of the United Kingdom presidency, we have made further significant progress towards completion of the single market programme—the free trade principles of which will assist the development of business within the Community. The United Kingdom presidency has also achieved a key objective with the adoption by the Internal Market Council on 10 November of a resolution on "Making the Single Market Work". This resolution should help to ensure that single market legislation is implemented effectively and enforced evenly throughout the Community.

  As well as taking forward work in hand in the Council of Ministers, the United Kingdom presidency has promoted two initiatives: on industrial competitiveness and evironmental protection and on administrative simplification. The former should ensure the proper integration of environmental and industrial policies at
  516
  Community level and the close involvement of industy in the development of policies designed to achieve the Community's environmental objectives. The latter should ensure that new legislation at Community level does not add unnecessary burdens to business.

  The Industry Council which I shall be chairing on 24 November will have a substantial agenda covering many aspects of EC industrial policy, including draft resolutions on the initiatives referred to above.

  Betws Mine, Ammanford
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will direct the British Coal Corporation immediately to desist from blocking access to coal reserves at the Betws mine, Ammanford; and forthwith to seek bids by public tender from potential operators with a view to continuing mining operations as from 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 16 November 1992]: Ministers have no powers to give specific directions about the conduct of its business to British Coal.

  The corporation has assured me that it will continue to discharge responsibly its duty to consider applications from responsible organisations seeking licences to mine coal. British Coal has also given me an assurance that when coaling ceases at Betws it will ensure that the fabric of the pit is preserved so that, if at the end of the statutory consultation period it is decided to keep it open, that will be possible.

  Pit Closures
  Mr. Kim Howells
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many British Coal staff have been disciplined or dismissed for releasing to commercial organisations lists of names of British Coal employees likely to be in receipt of lump sum redundancy payments during the present round of pit closures.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 18 November 19921]: This is a matter for British Coal.

  Iraq
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will update his answer of 17 January 1992,Official Report, column 716, with respect to the trading operations of the Technology and Development Group based in London, in connection with the procurement of military usable technology for Iraq.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 19 November 1992]: I have nothing to add to the earlier answer given by my right hon. Friend.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much cover was provided by the Export Credit Guarantee Department for exports to Iraq in the period from 1985 to the outbreak of hostilities; and how much of it is outstanding.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 20 November 19921]: A total of £615 million medium-term credit was made available to Iraq in the form of a series of financial protocols between 1985 and the outbreak of hostilities. In addition ECGD also insured cash and short-term credit transactions of £725 million over the same period. At present £830 million remains outstanding for payment, of which, as at 31 October 1992, £463 million represented unrecovered claims paid by ECGD.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current amount of coal produced from opencast mining in tonnes and as a percentage of current coal production.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 November 1992]: Total production of opencast coal in 1991–92 from British Coal Opencast and licensed private sector producers was 19 million tonnes, 21 per cent. of the total United Kingdom coal production.

  Energy Enterprises
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the application of the 1·5 per cent. pay rise ceiling to each of(a) those energy enterprises which are still nationalised and (b) those energy enterprises now privatised in which the Government maintain a substantial minority shareholding.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 November 1992]: In the autumn statement the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that pay settlements in the public sector and related bodies will be restricted to the range 0–1·5 per cent. in the coming year. This policy applies to energy enterprises which are publicly owned, namely: British Coal Corporation, Nuclear Electric plc. British Nuclear Fuels plc, the UK Atomic Energy Authority and Scottish Nuclear Ltd. The policy does not apply to energy enterprises in which the Government have a minority shareholding.

  Second-hand Gas Appliances
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps will he take to extend safety standards to second-hand gas appliances, beyond 1 January 1996.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 19 November 1992]: A high standard of safety is already required for second hand gas cookers under the Gas Cooking Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1989. The regulation of these products after 1 January 1996 will be maintained and I am also considering the possibility of extending the same level of consumer protection to a wider range of second hand gas appliances.

  Office of Electricity Regulation
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many contracts have been put out to consultancies by the Office of Electricity Regulation; what are their subjects, cost and completion dates; and which ones have been or will be published.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 November 1992]: This is a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply. I have passed the question to the director general and he will write to give the information and place it in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many whole-time equivalent staff work for the Office of Electricity Regulation; and what are their grades, functions and location.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 November 1992]: This is a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply. I
  518
  have passed the question to the director general and he will write to give the information and place it in the House of Commons Library.

  Assisted Area Status
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will extend the areas eligible for assisted area status to north Staffordshire as part of his review of assisted area status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 20 November 1992]: The needs and circumstances of all areas including north Staffordshire will be carefully considered in the review.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the submission of intent for assisted area status presented by the city of Stoke on Trent on 13 November.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 20 November 1992]: My Department has received a submission which the city of Stoke on Trent made jointly with other Staffordshire organisations in September. To date, the further submission dated 13 November referred to has not been received. I shall be considering the needs and circumstances of all areas and all the representations received as part of the present assisted areas map review.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Charters
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many new charters are scheduled for publication in the next six months.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Twenty-seven charters have been published to date. Six more charters will be published over the next six months.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on private sector funding of scientific research.

  Mr. Jackson
  Private sector funding for scientific research is buoyant. Such funding almost doubled in real terms over the 1985–1990 period.

  Justices of the Peace (Stockport)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to appoint new Stockport JPs who live in north Reddish and south Reddish or Brinnington wards; and when he expects to appoint new Tameside JPs who live in the Denton, North-East ward.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My advisory committee in Stockport is currently processing 51 applications, two of which are from the wards concerned. In Tameside my advisory committee has recently recommended the names of 10 prospective justices of which four are from Denton, one of them from Denton, North-East ward.

  Citizens Charter
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many representations he has received since 9 April from members of the public about the citizens charter programme; and if he will make a statement.
  519
  Mr. Jackson
  We have since 9 April received nearly 1,500 letters from members of the public referring to the citizens charter. This is a clear indication of the charter's success in encouraging people to demand better, more responsive services.

  Candidate Name

  Parent Department

  Staff1

  Army Logistics (Including Army Base Repair Organisation)2 3

  Defence

  12,000

  Chessington Computer Centre

  Cabinet Office

  440

  Child Support Agency4

  Northern Ireland

  —4

  Defence Central Services2

  Defence

  1,400

  Defence Animal Centre2

  Defence

  220

  Directorate Information Technology Bureau Services2

  Defence

  120

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  Northern Ireland

  250

  Equipment Test and Evaluation2

  Defence

  2,220

  Fuel Suppliers Branch

  Environment

  20

  Her Majesty's Prison Service

  Home Office

  37,900

  Human Factors Research2

  Defence

  390

  Meat Hygiene Service5

  Agriculture

  —5

  Ministry of Defence Police2

  Defence

  5,100

  Naval Training2

  Defence

  5,200

  National Health Service Superannuation Branch

  Health

  630

  Office of Population Censuses and Surveys6

  Health

  2,100

  Paymaster General's Office

  Treasury

  850

  Pesticide Safety Directorate

  Agriculture

  150

  Property Division

  Treasury Solicitor

  120

  Property Holdings Portfolio Management

  Environment

  460

  Royal Air Force Training2

  Defence

  9,200

  Royal Parks

  National Heritage

  270

  Scottish Office Superannuation

  Scottish Office

  160

  Scottish Prison Service

  Scottish Office

  4,230

  Social Security Child Support Agency7

  Social Security

  —7

  Transport and Security Services Division

  Environment

  1,235

  Valuation and Lands Office

  Northern Ireland

  350

  Youth Treatment Service

  Health

  220

  28 in number

  1 April 1992 figures for Civil Servants and Armed Forces Personnel. Casuals are excluded. Part time staff are counted as half units.

  2 May be launched as a Defence Support Agency. All figures subject to revision due to major reorganisation. Figures include 7,300 Armed Forces personnel.

  3 Excludes 500 staff in Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency launched 1 July 1992.

  4 Estimated to require 550 staff by April 1993. Of these 120 will come from the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency.

  5 Estimated to require 1,800 staff, drawn from a variety of sources.

  6 Independent Government Department. Responsible Minister: Secretary of State for Health.

  7 DSS estimate the Agency at launch will comprise 4,500 staff, 1,500 of which will come from the Social Security Benefits Agency.

  Many other areas are under internal consideration for executive agency status.

  Health and Safety Policies (Agencies)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place a copy in the Library of the health and safety policy of each of the agencies within his Department.

  Mr. Jackson
  The chief executives of the Central Office of Information, the Civil Service college, her Majesty's Stationery Office, the Occupational Health Service and the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency are responsible for health and safety policy within their agencies.

  I am placing in the Library copies of the health and safety policies applying in the Central Office of Information and Her Majesty's Stationery Office. I am also placing in the Library a copy of volume IV of the

  Agencies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all units of central Government currently under consideration for executive agency status, their parent Department and the number of staff employed in each case in full-time equivalents.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  The current list of activities announced by Departments as under consideration for executive agency status, together with their parent department and staff employed is as follows:

  Cabinet Office staff handbook, which contains the Cabinet Office's health and safety policy. This will continue to apply in the Civil Service college, the Occupational Health Service and the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency until separate health and safety policies have been developed and put in place.

SCOTLAND

  National Monuments
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many ancient and historic monuments in Scotland were added to the national monuments record in each year since 1989;

  (2) if he will list the reported instances of damage to scheduled ancient and historical monuments in Scotland from 1989 to 1992; and what action was taken on the discovery of the damage;
  521
  (3) how many ancient and historical monuments in Historic Scotland aims to schedule from 1992 to 1995;

  (4) how many management agreements for national monuments were made in 1991.

  Mr. Lang
  I have passed the hon. Member's questions to the chief executive of Historic Scotland and asked him to reply direct.

  Letter from G. Munro to Mr. Nigel Griffiths, dated 22 November 1992:
  The Secretary of State for Scotland has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about ancient and historical monuments in Scotland.
  Firstly, you asked how many ancient and historical monuments were added to the National Monuments Record of Scotland (NMRS) in each of the years from 1989 to 1992. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) is responsible for maintaining a comprehensive archive and database in the form of the NMRS. I have therefore contacted the RCAHMS who informed me that they added the following number of monuments to the NMRS:—

  Number

  1989–90

  2,430

  1990–91

  2,586

  1991–92

  2,050

  The Commission inform me that the figure for 1991–92 will be increased by air photographs of sites discovered in that period which have yet to be fully incorporated into the NMRS. In addition 1991–92 was the year in which the whole national archive was moved to new premises.
  Secondly, you asked the Secretary of State if he would list the reported instances of damage to scheduled ancient and historical monuments in Scotland from 1989 to 1992; and what action was taken on the discovery of the damage. No central record of such cases is maintained but we are aware of 35 cases during the period. In such cases we would normally write to the owner of the monument, or the person who had carried out the work which had damaged the monument, seeking an explanation for the unauthorised works. This could result in remedial action being taken or in extreme cases the matter being referred to the Procurator Fiscal for possible prosecution.
  Thirdly, you asked how many ancient and historical monuments in Scotland Historic Scotland aim to schedule from 1992 to 1995. As shown in Annex A to our Corporate Plan for 1992–95, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library, we aim to schedule 900 monuments in this period—300 per year.
  Finally, you asked how many management agreements for national monuments were made in 1991. The answer to that question is eight.

  Green Policies
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how the Departmental Green Minister has promoted protection of the ozone layer with specific policy measures and which possible measures have been considered and rejected and on what grounds.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 19 November 1992]: The Government's policy on the protection of the ozone layer is set out in the 1990 White Paper "This Common Inheritance" and the subsequent yearly reports. It is to control and eliminate as quickly as possible the production and supply of ozone-depleting substances. This will be reflected in the Scottish Office's green housekeeping strategy, currently in the course of preparation, which will include a presumption against the purchase of any
  522
  products which cause significant damage to the environment during manufacture, use or disposal, if a suitable alternative is available.

  Domiciliary Family Planning
  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those health authorities which provided domiciliary family planning services in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 19 November 1992]: Since 1985, five health boards—Forth Valley. Grampian, Greater Glasgow, Lothian and Tayside—have provided continuous domiciliary family planning services.

  Listed Buildings
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to increase the funds available to local authorities for the maintenance of listed buildings owned by themselves; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 19 November 1992]: Local authority current expenditure is supported by aggregate external finance which, with the exception of specific grants, is not hypothecated to particular services. So far as capital expenditure is concerned, each authority receives annually a block capital consent allocation which it is free to augment by revenue contributions and capital receipts. Within the total levels of support available to them, authorities are free to set their own current and capital expenditure priorities.

  University Research
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the amount of research funding to universities in Scotland from agencies funded by his Department.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 16 November 1992]: Financial allocations for programmes, including higher education, within the Scottish block will be announced in the near future.

  Single-tier Councils
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of the costs of the consultation exercise in relation to the proposals for single-tier councils in Scotland, indicating how many consultation documents, videos and leaflets have been distributed and at what cost.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 November 1992]: The information requested is as follows:

  Number produced to date

  Cost1 (£)

  Number distributed to date

  Consultation paper

  22,500

  72,000

  17,000

  Video

  900

  27,500

  785

  Leaflets

  110,000

  31,000

  75,000

  1 Costs shown are production costs and do not include postage.

  Private Nursing Homes
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial contribution will be made to local authorities for supplementation to private nursing homes for the year beginning 1 April 1993.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 November 1992]: My right hon. Friend announced on 2 October that he was making available £40·6 million to local authorities in 1993–94, being the transfer of resources from the Department of Social Security and a further £20 million for other costs associated with implementation of our community care reforms. These sums are not hypothecated to expenditure on particular types of services but we expect authorities to devote a significant part of these resources to supporting new residents of nursing homes in the private sector.

  Police (Court Appearances)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many citations to appear in court were issued to police officers in(a) Dundee and (b) Scotland in each of the past five years for which figures are available; and how many were withdrawn prior to the date of the trial in each year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 November 1992]: This information is not recorded.

  Sheep Annual Premiums
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of sheep annual premium application forms for the current year received so far from sheep producers in the Western Isles have been wrongly completed; what the percentages of false completion were in the previous three years; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 14 November 1992]: A total of 0·74 per cent. of applications for the 1992 sheep annual premium from sheep producers in the Western Isles have been wrongly completed and rejected for payment. The information for earlier years is not readily available.

TRANSPORT

  Road Pricing
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy towards road pricing.

  Mr. MacGregor
  We are undertaking a major three year study of congestion in London. This is to inform debate on road pricing in towns and cities. No decisions have been taken. As the Chancellor indicated in his autumn statement, I will publish a Green Paper early next year on the scope for motorway charging.

  Networker Trains (Kent)
  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the prospects for the introduction of the proposed Networker express trains for east Kent and the Kent coastal service.

  Mr. Freeman
  In the autumn statement the Government announced an increase in BR's external 524
  finance. British Rail will be allowed to order up to £150 million of rolling stock on leases over the next three years. BR has not yet decided which rolling stock orders would be suitable for leases but is considering this matter at present.

  Rail Access (Disabled People)
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he gives British Rail about making provision for access by the disabled.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail takes account of the needs of people with disabilities in the provision of its services and facilities.

  The Department is represented on BR's advisory group on disability, which includes people with a wide range of disabilities. The Department's disability unit also works closely with BR on these issues.

  Cones
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further measures he will take to reduce the number of cones on roads.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  We are actively pursuing measures to reduce the number of cones on the national road network to the minimum consistent with safety, and with the smooth flow of traffic through roadworks. These include: the development of improved road materials which require less maintenance, increased use of incentive contracts to reduce contract periods, and use of moving vehicles instead of cones to close lanes for routine maintenance.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss rail links to the channel tunnel.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I meet regularly with the chairman of British Rail and channel tunnel issues are often discussed.

  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive from British Rail its proposals for a specific route for a new rail link between King's Cross and Folkestone.

  Mr. Freeman
  I expect a report by the end of December containing a reference case route and associated options.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his best estimate of the difference in cost between building the proposed channel tunnel rail link to the largest European gauge and the gauge measurements favoured by Union Railways.

  Mr. Freeman
  Union Railways' costed proposals and options will be submitted to Government by the end of the year. Its report will include proposals for the gauge of the link.

  Road Crashes
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress in the reduction of deaths and serious injuries from road crashes.
  525
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The provisional figures for the 12 months ending in June 1992 are: 4,585 deaths, 50,695 serious injuries and 312,278 slight injuries. These figures show that, for deaths and serious injuries, the Government have already almost achieved their target of reducing road casualties by one-third by the year 2000.

  Coal Mining Areas
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to draw up a transport policy to create a more appropriate infrastructure for traditional coal mining areas.

  Mr. Macgregor
  The Government fully recognise the importance of good transport infrastructure in promoting economic regeneration. The Government will continue their policy of promoting a high level of investment in transport infrastructure in all modes, both in traditional mining areas and elsewhere. Major transport policies in south Yorkshire which will assist coal mining areas include the £29 million Dearne towns link road—supported by transport supplementary grant—and the channel tunnel rail freight terminal at Wakefield.

  Ports (Trade)
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the proportion of trade coming to British ports at weekends as opposed to weekdays.

  Mr. Norris
  Although no overall assessment can he made of the proportion of trade coming to British ports at weekends from the available information, most British major ports are open at weekends and there are indications of significant weekend demand at some ports.

  London-Leicester Line
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what future plans he has for the electrification of the London-Leicester line.

  Mr. Freeman
  At present, it is for British Rail to come forward with investment proposals it considers worthwhile and in the light of available resources. I understand that electrification will be one of the options considered when the existing rolling stock reaches the end of its economic life.

  Railways (Leaf Fall)
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what success British Rail has had in dealing with the autumn leaf fall on to rail lines.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail has implemented a range of measures to deal with the perennial leaf problem. These have included the spreading of sandite paste on the track at noted trouble spots, special driver training, and the management of lineside vegetation. I believe that these measures have helped to minimise delays.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when work will start on the east London river crossing.
  526
  Mr. Norris
  We hope to be able to start work soon on this important scheme. However, construction cannot begin until the current High Court challenges and the question of the EC infraction proceedings have been resolved. In the meantime, we are pressing on with detailed design and other advance work.

  Environmental Impact
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he plans to introduce to reduce the environmental impact of transport.

  Mr. MacGregor
  From the end of this year most new cars will require catalytic converters to meet tighter EC emissions standards. The United Kingdom Government continue to press for even tighter emissions and noise standards for vehicles and to discuss with other member states and the Commission measures to improve the fuel efficiency of new cars.

  From 1 August 1993, certain existing vehicles over 16 tonnes will be required to have speed limiters. This measure complements the introduction of speed limiters for new heavy goods vehicles on 1 August 1992 and will improve fuel consumption and reduce emissions.

  The MOT emissions check introduced for cars in November 1991 is helping to reduce exhaust emissions. Since 1 September there has been a metered smoke test in the annual test for heavy diesels. A similar test for light vans and diesel cars shortly will be included for the first time in the MOT test from 1 January 1993.

  We are working on a number of other initiatives for 1992–93, including the publication of an updated manual of environmental appraisal. The White Paper "This Common Inheritance—The Second Year Report" gives further information about our work to reduce the impact of transport on the environment.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his plans for the privatisation of British Rail's island assets.

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department is now analysing the responses to the consultation document on franchising issued on 12 October. We hope to be able to announce early next year the first services or groups of services that will be prepared for franchising. We are considering whether the Isle of Wight services will be included in that announcement.

  Red Routes
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to instigate an independent review to determine how the pilot red routes have been operating.

  Mr. Norris
  Independent monitoring of the pilot red route scheme by the transport research laboratory has already shown how well it has been operating.

  River Travel (London)
  Ms. Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he has taken to improve travel in London by river.
  527
  Mr. Norris
  Since the Marchioness Disaster in 1989, my Department immediately accepted all the recommendations in the Marine Accident Investigation Branch's report into the loss of the Marchioness and took immediate action to implement them as quickly as possible. All but five of the 27 recommendations have been fully implemented and action on the outstanding recommendations should be completed by the end of the year. Action is now in hand on all 22 recommendations in the Hayes report of the inquiry into river safety.

  For the future, I wish to explore further the potential for both passenger and freight traffic on the River Thames and I hope to make an announcement about this shortly.

  Third Aviation Package
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made towards the implementation of the third aviation package; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  Good progress has been made in preparations to make the appropriate changes to existing United Kingdom legislation. The necessary statutory instruments will be laid before the House shortly so that these changes can be in place by the end of the year.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about traffic flows on the Severn bridge since the last change in tolls.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  About 4¼ million vehicles have travelled westbound over the Severn bridge since 26 April when the concessionaires, Severn River Crossing plc, introduced a new one-way toll. This is about 6 per cent. less than the figure for the same period in 1991. No figures are available for eastbound, non-tolled, traffic.

  Penzance-Exeter Line
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will come to a decision on the proposal for electrification of the British Rail South West main line from Penzance to Exeter.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail has not put forward any proposals for electrification of the Great Western main line. Electrification will be one of the options considered by British Rail to replace infrastructure and rolling stock when they reach the end of their economic lives.

  Bus Users
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to expand regional transport users' consultative committees to cover bus users.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. It would be inappropriate to expand the role of the transport users consultative committees to cover buses which operate in a competitive environment.

  Hayes Bypass
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he is undertaking into the effects upon pedestrians and vehicular traffic in Northolt following the opening of the Hayes bypass; and if he will make a statement.
  528
  Mr. Norris
  None. The roads in question are the responsibility of the London borough of Ealing.

  Duty-free Goods
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that aircraft and ships are not overloaded as a result of the changes in duty-free and duty-paid concessions from 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Norris
  The proposed changes in duty-free and duty-paid concessions from 1 January 1993 will not have any effect on the loading of goods on aircraft and ships.

  It is, and will remain, the duty of the commander of the ship and aircraft to ensure he is satisfied that all goods loaded onto the vessel or aircraft are stowed, distributed, secured and segregated so as to ensure that the load may be carried safely on the voyage or flight. Such loading would be in accordance with the design and performance characteristics of the vessel or aircraft. Monitoring, by a process of ongoing inspections by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for aircraft and the Surveyor General's Organisation (SGO) for marine vessels, ensure that safety standards are not compromised.

  London Underground
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects the Jubilee line extension to come into operation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  I cannot offer a precise date. There is planned to be a 53-months' construction period, which would start after the conclusion of a formal agreement with the administrators of Olympia and York Canary Wharf on the terms of its contribution to the cost of the extension.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the occasions in November on which he held discussions with London Underground; what matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  I discuss matters affecting the underground regularly with the chairman of London Transport and I have done so on a number of occasions during November; the topics covered include the public expenditure settlement, the Jubilee line and industrial relations.

  Rail Services (Disabled People)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the importance of(a) local rail services and (b) the national rail network to disabled people.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Secretary of State and I are well aware of the importance of rail services to disabled passengers as is British Rail. That is why the Department of Transport is represented on BR's advisory group on disability, which includes people with a wide range of disabilities. The Department's disability unit also works closely with BR on these issues and I know that British Rail does take account of the needs of people with disabilities in the provision of services and facilities.

  Bus Companies
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of local authority-owned bus companies.

  Mr. Macgregor
  Following the autumn statement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I would like to remind local authorities that if they sell their public transport companies (PTCs) by 31 December 1993, they will be able to devote the proceeds to projects such as the improvement of public transport. After that date 50 per cent. of the proceeds will have to be used for the reduction of their debt. I trust this will encourage the sale of the remaining PTCs before we fulfil our manifesto commitment to make their sale compulsory.

  Although I expect that future sales of PTCs will be by competitive tender, I am pleased to say that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has agreed that the time limit previously announced in relation to pension arrangements for those PTCs where sales to buy-out teams have already been agreed in principle, will be extended to 30 June 1993. The staff concerned will be able to remain within the local government superannuation scheme if the sales are completed by that date, and I would urge all concerned to meet this deadline.

  I have today issued a direction to the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, the sole shareholder of Greater Manchester Buses Ltd., to produce a plan to divide the company into separate smaller companies. The direction is issued in accordance with section 61 of the Transport Act 1985 and the plan must be submitted to me by 30 March 1993.

  I have taken this step to bring the full benefits of bus deregulation to bus passengers in Greater Manchester. The very size of Greater Manchester Buses has tended to inhibit competition between operators and I am convinced that dividing the company into smaller units will bring better services to passengers. I look to the PTA, using its expertise on public transport matters and local knowledge, to produce a workable plan to achieve the division of Greater Manchester Buses.

  Shipping Records
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints have been made(a) in each of the past three years an (b) so far this year (i) by his Department and (ii) by the contractor at the relevant time in respect of the operation of the Small Ships Register.

  Mr. Norris
  I am not aware of any complaint about the day-to-day running of the register.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the importance of the General Register and Record Office of Shipping and Seamen to modern historians of British and Commonwealth merchant shipping and seamen.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend is aware that the services of the registry are valued by modern historians undertaking research, some of whom have written letters of support for the registry. We will want to ensure that the registry continues to provide this service following the market testing.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agencies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those agencies in his Department which are being considered for privatisation or contractorisation.

  Mr. Gummer
  Before an agency is created, there is a thorough assessment of alternative options, including privatisation and contractorisation. Each agency is reviewed after three years in operation and privatisation and contractorisation are again considered.

  When I announced on 25 July 1990 that ADAS was to become an agency I said that privatisation could, in the longer run, be the logical development. Any change of status for a MAFF agency would be announced at the appropriate time.

  Foreign Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to amend regulations currently allowing foreign-owned super-trawlers to register under British registration and prevent them from fishing British waters.

  Mr. Curry
  As a result of the European Court ruling given in the Factortame case last year, non-British EC nationals may register fishing vessels in the United Kingdom provided those vessels are to be operated, managed and controlled from here. Beam trawlers like other fishing vessels are subject to United Kingdom licensing and quota management rules, but any restriction on grounds of nationality would be discriminatory and contrary to Community law. Fisheries Departments operate a restrictive licensing policy so that any newly registered beam trawler will need to have transferred onto it a licence which has been issued to an existing vessel. This arrangement restricts access of beam trawlers in order to protect stocks. It has applied in the North sea since August this year and was an extension of the arrangements which existed in area VII since 1985.

  Shellfish
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to offer full compensation to shellfish producers who operate within shellfish fisheries where they are adversely affected by the pumping of sewage into the sea.

  Mr. Curry
  As part of the discussions now underway we are helping shellfishermen to overcome problems arising from the microbiological status of the water. Responsibility in relation to the discharge of sewage or treated sewage effluent lies with the National Rivers Authority, which applies controls by means of consents issued under the Water Resources Act 1991.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is being undertaken by his Department to carry out tests on contamination of shellfish fisheries with(a) sewage and (b) heavy metals and other chemicals.

  Mr. Curry
  With the co-operation of the local authorities concerned, my Department has undertaken a
  531
  comprehensive survey of the microbiological status of all known shellfish-growing waters in England and Wales. The preliminary results of this survey were published for comment in July. A revised survey will be published following discussions with shellfish growers and others now in progress. Monitoring will continue and classifications will be reviewed regularly. The aquatic environment is regularly monitored for levels of heavy metals and other chemicals and reports are published. The latest report, "Aquatic Environment Monitoring Report Number 30" (ISSN 0142–2499), was published in October. A copy is available in the Library of the House. The National Rivers Authority undertakes similar monitoring.

  Agri-environmental Measures
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make representations to the EC to ensure that a substantial proportion of the common agricultural policy budget is allocated to the agri-environment programme.

  Mr. Curry
  The level of funds to be attributed to agri-environment programmes will be decided annually along with the rest of the EC budget. It will depend on a range of factors, including uptake by member states. The Government's view will depend on the balance of such factors when each year's budget is set.

  Genetic Resources
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is currently undertaken by his Department to extend long-term protection to the crops that are poorly represented in long-term gene banks and to their wild relatives.

  Mr. Curry
  The Department currently funds a number of plant genetic resource collections, including the vegetable gene bank at Wellesbourne, Warwickshire and the collections of wild species at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Wakehurst Place. Earlier this year the Department, in collaboration with the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department, completed a review of United Kingdom policy in this area, taking account of present collections, international developments, and future requirements. The findings of that review were made publicly available and its recommendations are now being implemented with a view to improved coverage and co-ordination, value for money, and utilisation of collections.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is currently undertaken by his Department to comply with the Food and Agriculture Organisation code of conduct on the distribution and use of pesticides.

  Mr. Soames
  The Department complies with this code principally through the strict controls under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 which require that only approved pesticides may be advertised, sold, supplied, stored or used. In addition the new EC Regulation 2455/92 on the Import and Export of Certain Dangerous Chemicals incorporates the prior informed consent 532
  procedure, which is based on the principles in the FAO code. The Health and Safety Commission and Exectutive is the designated national authority for the regulation.

  Grazing Management
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to introduce an incentive scheme for sheep farmers in less-favoured areas to establish grazing management schemes which include consideration for the hiring of grazing and the conservation of habitats.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government plan to introduce, under the Agri-environment Regulation, a scheme which will provide for an environmentally favourable extensification of sheep farming. This will include appropriate grazing conditions aimed at the conservation of habitats. The new scheme will supplement the beneficial effects of the environmentally sensitive areas scheme on grazing management in the less favoured areas.

  Vegetation and Wildlife
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research work and monitoring is currently being carried out by his Department on the effects of extensification upon vegetation and wildlife populations.

  Mr. Curry
  The Department's environmental research and development programme includes a number of projects which examine the effects of different forms of more extensive management practices upon both vegetation and wildlife. In addition the monitoring of schemes such as set-a-side, extensification and, particularly, environmentally sensitive areas assesses the vegetation changes and the effects on wildlife populations.

  Heather Regeneration
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to offer financial incentives to livestock farmers in less-favoured areas to fence-off certain areas of land in order to promote heather regeneration.

  Mr. Curry
  It is already our policy to promote heather regeneration within the less favoured areas: 50 per cent. grants are available under the farm and conservation grant scheme to meet the cost of fencing off moor and heathland to exclude stock and for ancillary operations to encourage heather regeneration in the fenced off areas. Our environmentally sensitive areas (ESA) scheme also encourages appropriate heather management, including in some cases the use of temporary fencing to exclude stock. Heather regeneration will be further promoted with the extension of our ESAs and the development of a new scheme to reduce livestock numbers where this will be environmentally beneficial.

  Cattle (Transport)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements have been made with the Dutch Government concerning the sealing of lorries carrying British cattle in transit to Holland before and after 1 January 1993; and what steps have been taken to protect the welfare of the animals concerned.
  533
  Mr. Soames
  We have received no formal request from the Dutch authorities about the sating of lorries carrying British cattle in transit to Holland and cattle for export are not sealed in transporters.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what specific criteria are used to confirm a case of BSE.

  Mr. Soames
  Diagnosis of BSE is principally by histophathological examination of brain tissue. For the majority of animals, examination is confined to a single section of the brain stem. For animals born after I8 July 1988, histopathological examination has been supplemented by examination for scrapie—associated fibrils (SAFs) from cervical spinal cord. Where suspects are the offspring of confirmed cases, diagnosis currently involves histopathological examination of whole brain and SAF extraction.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 29 October,Official Report, column 781, how many positive cases of BSE were in (a) cows and (b) male cattle.

  Mr. Soames
  Up to 30 October 1992 in Great Britain, 72,031 cases of BSE have been confirmed in female cattle and 201 in male cattle.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the cattle offspring, born of BSE-infected mothers, as stated in the Southwood report, developed BSE.

  Mr. Soames
  The monitoring study described in paragraph 8.1 of the Southwood report has not produced any results yet as it is being conducted as a blind experiment. Field evidence derived from the BSE epidemic as a whole shows that to 9 November 1992 there are 190 confirmed BSE cases in animals which were offspring of previously confirmed cases. This incidence is the same as the incidence in cattle whose dams are unaffected.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 29 October,Official Report, column 781, if he will publish geographical details of confirmed BSE cases.

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 22 October,Official Report, column 354. Some of these cases will have been clinically suspected before the period.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 29 October,Official Report, column 781, when the study into the amount of infected material required to be eaten to cause BSE in cattle commenced; when it will be completed; how many animals are involved in the study; what results he has available for the number of cattle developing BSE from oral challenge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  This study began in January 1992. It involves four groups of 10 cattle, each group being exposed to a different dose of infected material. Its completion is dependent on the length of time before the presentation of clinical symptoms (particularly in the 534
  group receiving the smallest challenge dose, where the incubation period is expected to be the longest). So far. no cattle in the study have shown symptoms of the disease.

  Harwich Fishermen
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much notice was given to Harwich fishermen using vessels of 10 m and over of the prohibition, as from midnight of 17 November, on their catching any more sole, cod or spratts, for the rest of the month; what will happen, and for what size of vessels, in this respect in December 1992 and in January 1993; what length of notice he usually gives to fishermen on such occasions; and whether he is satisfied with the way in which Harwich fishermen were informed of the prohibition.

  Mr. Curry
  United Kingdom quotas are divided between various industry groups in accordance with a methodology agreed with the industry. In order to ensure that fish landed do not exceed the United Kingdom quota allocations, and other groups are not prejudiced, when it becomes clear that a group's allocation of any stock has been exhausted, Departments close the fishery to that group. It became clear to Departments on Monday 16 November that these closures would be necessary. Immediate action was set in train to issue licence variations suspending fishing from midnight on 17 November for these stocks until the end of 1992 by over 10 m boats. Those variations were despatched by the Department to Harwich fishermen on Wednesday 18 November. It is the Department's normal practice to notify fishermen of such changes as soon as practicable given the circumstances relating to a particular closure. Because fisheries are not closed until it is absolutely necessary to do so, it is not possible to give advance warning of such closures in every case. I am satisfied that given the circumstances Harwich fishermen were informed properly of these closures. So far as January 1993 is concerned, the current licences issued to fishermen are valid for the 1992 calendar year. New licences and new quota management arrangements will be in place for the 1993 calendar year, and fishermen will be notified in due course of the arrangements which will pertain to that year.

  Cattle
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what new restrictions on trading cattle, calves or beef from the United Kingdom, have been introduced by other European countries during 1992.

  Mr. Soames
  This information is not yet available. I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Bacteria
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what grants have been made to the national collections of industrial and marine bacteria in each year since 1988; what grant is proposed to be made for 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Under a five-year agreement made in 1988, this Department has made the following contributions towards the work of the National Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria (NCIMB) Ltd:
  535

  £

  January-March 1988

  39,897

  1988–89

  142,983

  1989–90

  154,100

  1990–91

  167,708

  1991–92

  184,279

  1992–93

  197–325

  The possibility of providing further support for an additional year is currently under consideration.

  Agricultural Returns
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the requests he has received from within the United Kingdom for agricultural returns to be set out in hectares rather than acres; and if he will make a statement on the application of the principle of subsidiarity in considering a change from acres to hectares.

  Mr. Curry
  All agricultural census and survey returns, grant application and claim forms sent out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are already set out in hectares. Requests for these returns to be sent out in hectares rather than acres would be redundant.

  Sea Defences
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the prospects for sea defence, coast protection and land drainage schemes in Suffolk and Norfolk in 1993–94 in the light of the autumn statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Previous plans for coast protection and the National Rivers Authority's flood defence works in England have been maintained, indicating the Government's continuing commitment to reduce risks to life and to the environment. Minor reductions have been made to bring plans for local authority and internal drainage board flood defence more closely in line with actual spending in recent years.

  An allocation for capital works of £7·0 million is being made to the National Rivers Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk. The basic rate of grant remains at 55 per cent., with a 20 per cent. supplement for tidal and sea defence work.

  Provision is also available for grants to local authorities, internal drainage boards and maritime district councils in England for flood and coastal defence works. Schemes proposed by such authorities in Norfolk and Suffolk will be considered for approval and grant aid by the Department in the normal way.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Derek Strain
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the case of Mr. Derek Strain's application for a disability living allowance was first raised with the disability living allowance unit; and when the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford, can expect a reply from the Benefits Agency's correspondence section.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief 536
  executive of the Benefits Agency. As the claim is a personal and confidential matter, he will reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Independent Living Fund
  Ms. Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the amount of money to be transferred from his Department to local authorities to compensate disabled people for the loss of the independent living fund in April 1993.

  Mr. Scott
  There are no funds to transfer to local authorities from this Department for this purpose.

  European Court
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases in the European Court of Justice have been won by his Department in the last five years.

  Mr. Burt
  In the last years only two cases against the Secretary of State for Social Security have been referred to the European Court of Justice. Judgment was given this year in both cases and in each the court ruled in favour of this Department.

  Charter Safeguards
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what extra charter safeguards he envisages to protect the dignity of those who receive state benefits.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We do not plan any extra charter safeguards. The Benefits Agency customer charter gives a commitment to treat all customers courteously and with respect as well as delivering benefits speedily and accurately. A refurbishment programme to upgrade public caller areas to provide increased privacy, comfort and convenience is under way. More than half of the offices will have been upgraded by the spring.

  Claimants in Hospital
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the basis for the setting of the benefit level for people with no dependents after one year in hospital at £10·85 per week; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  For recipients of most social security benefits who have no dependents and have been in hospital for more than one year, the amount paid is equivalent to 20 per cent. of the basic rate of retirement pension.

  We consider this amount to be sufficent to meet the personal needs of long-stay hospital in-patients for minor items not provided by the hospital such as newspapers and confectionery.

  Claimants of No Fixed Abode
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of(a) sickness benefit, (b) invalidity benefit and (c) income support are receiving giro cheques over office counters because they are of no fixed abode.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not available.

ENVIRONMENT

  Consultants
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all of the reports his Department has commissioned from external consultants in each of the last three years; for each of the last three years, how many reports from external consultants to his Department led to further consultancy work being commissioned, stating for each of these who were the original and subsequent consultants and briefly describing the subject matter of the consultancy work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  My Department commissioned 320 reports from external consultants in 1989–90; 391 in 1990–91 and 457 in 1991–92. For the convenience of the hon. Member, I have placed in the Library of the House separate lists of the reports for each of these years. Information concerning subsequent work commissioned as a result of these reports could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Halons
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will establish halon banks to assist in the recovery and recycling of halon.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government are working closely with the fire industry and halon users on ways in which halon banking in the United Kingdom can be facilitated and are also playing an active role both within the EC and internationally on discussions on banking.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ban the production and import of halons into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  The parties to the Montreal protocol are currently meeting in Copenhagen to discuss the phase out of ozone-depleting substances, including halons. The United Kingdom, together with its EC partners, is calling for production of halons to be phased out by the end of 1994 at the latest except for continued production for essential use.

  Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has made to the Government of Greece concerning membership of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

  Mr. Maclean
  We and other EC partners have regularly urged the Greek Government to become a party to CITES. I am pleased to say, however, that the Greek Government have passed a law enabling Greece to ratify CITES, and formally become a party to the convention on 6 January 1993.

  Ultra-violet Radiation
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the current system of UVB monitoring; and what plans he has for improvements.
  538
  Mr. Maclean
  The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) has carried out continuous monitoring of ultraviolet radiation in the United Kingdom for three and a half years.

  The Department of the Environment has supported the spectral measurement of ultraviolet radiation at Reading university for two and a half years. It is planned to continue this programme.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to enable the National Radiological Protection Board to purchase equipment that is capable of detecting the levels of UVB increase resulting from present ozone depletion.

  Mr. Maclean
  Spectral radiometers have the potential for detection of increases in UVB that may result from ozone depletion. The Department of the Environment has supported the spectral measurement of UVB at Reading university since 1989 and will continue to do so. There is no plan at the moment to support the purchase of identical equipment for the National Radiological Protection Board.

  UN Conventions
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make representations to the Secretary General of the United Nations seeking clarification on the compliance arrangements and verification procedures for(a) the framework convention on climate change and (b) the convention on biological diversity.

  Mr. Maclean
  The intergovernmental negotiating committee will resume its work next month to elaborate the framework convention on climate change and prepare for decisions at the first meeting of its parties.

  Subject to approval by the United Nations Environment Programme's Governing Council in May 1993, an intergovernmental committee on the convention on biology diversity will be established. In the interim, UNEP will establish official level working groups to take forward the necessary further work on the convention.

  Packaging
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been undertaken by his Department to date upon the implementation of(a) waste-reducing packaging design and (b) the introduction of landfill and packaging taxation.

  Mr. Maclean
  (a) None. The Government believe that it is in industry's own commercial interest to undertake research and introduce techniques and technologies to minimise the quantity of packaging and other material which ends up as waste.

  (b) The Government have commissioned studies on the use of economic instruments for recycling and on landfill charges.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it hs policy to ensure that the proceeds from council house sales, including capital receipts currently set aside, are earmarked for the development of new social housing within each local authority area.
  539
  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his autumn statement a relaxation of the rules governing the use by local authorities of their capital receipts. In consequence, authorities are able to spend 100 per cent. of most capital receipts generated between 13 November 1992 and 31 December 1993.

  This initiative will proceed in conjunction with our plans for a capital partnership in England between central and local government to enhance the value for money from these substantial extra resources. These proposals represent an opportunity for the provision of additional new social housing, particularly through the sponsorship by local authorities of housing association development, as well as for substantial new expenditure on the renovation of existing housing.

  Recycling
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to oblige shops and offices to collect their waste paper and cardboard for recycling.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have no plans to do so at present.

  Solid Waste
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will establish targets for the reduction of solid waste production within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government advise industry on how to reduce and minimise waste; however, we have no plans to set targets at present.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his original estimates for local authorities' capital receipts, showing for each authority both gross receipts and usable receipts and showing separately housing receipts for(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94.

  Mr. Howard
  I have not made any estimates of these receipts at the level of individual local authorities. Local authorities have provided their own forecasts of the receipts they expect to receive during 1992–93. I am arranging for this information to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his latest estimate for each local authority of(a) the gross receipts from (i) housing and (ii) other assets from 1 April to 12 November, (b) the gross receipts from (i) housing and (ii) other assets from 13 November to 31 March 1993, (c) the gross receipts from (i) housing and (ii) other assets from 1 April 1993 to 31 December 1993 and (d) the gross receipts from (i) housing and (ii) other asets from 1 January 1994 to 31 March 1994.

  Mr. Howard
  I have not made any estimates of these receipts at the level of individual local authorities.

  Caravan Sites
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many applications for gipsy sites have been turned down since the Caravan Sites Act 1968 became law;

  (2) if he will list the locations of the gipsy sites established since 1968, indicating (a) which were subject to public inquiries and (b) in which ones the local authority concerned- applied for outline planning permission first before applying for detailed planning permission;

  (3) how many gipsy sites have been established in England and Wales since the Caravan Sites act 1968 became law.

  Mr. Baldry
  Information is not available in the form requested. In January 1992 there were 306 local authority gipsy sites in England and Wales acommodating nearly 6,000 gipsy caravans, and nearly 3,000 caravans on authroised private sites. I have placed in the Library a copy of the Department's list of local authority gipsy sites in England, as at January 1992, compiled from data supplied by local authorities.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total number of occupied caravan sites by local authority area, which would be affected by legislation implementing the proposals of the 1992 consultation paper on the Caravan Sites Act 1968.

  Mr. Baldry
  The consultation paper states that the Government expect existing gipsy caravan sites to continue in being.

  North-East Atlantic (Discharges)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps the Government are taking to ensure the new levels of discharges, agreed in Paris in the new convention to protect the north-east Atlantic, can be met.

  Mr. Maclean
  The new convention to protect the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic does not itself set any "new levels of discharges". The Government and the regulatory authorities will be using the powers at their disposal to fulfil obligations established under the convention and its predecessors.

  Land Quality Statements
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ensure that all planning applications are accompanied by land quality statements.

  Mr. Baldry
  The relationship between a proposed development and the quality of land affected can be material to decisions on planning applications, and local planning authorities have powers to ensure they obtain all the information they need to take proper decisions.

  Water Supplies (Contamination)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the incidence of bacterial contamination of water supplies in each of the last five years in each of the areas covered by the present water companies.
  541
  Mr. Maclean
  Information on drinking water quality in England and Wales during 1990 and 1991 is contained in the annual reports of the chief inspector, the drinking water inspectorate, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Information on earlier years is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  Castle Vale Housing Action Trust
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce a decision on the future of the proposed Castle Vale housing action trust, Birmingham.

  Mr. Baldry
  An announcement on the proposal for a housing action trust on the Castle Vale estate in Birmingham will be made once the assessment of the feasibility work is complete.

  Water Companies (Safeguards)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the memorandum on safeguards in the operation and management of public waterworks still applies to the privatised water companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The memorandum has been replaced by "Operational Guidelines for the Protection of Drinking Water Supplies", published in 1988 by, and obtainable from, the Water Services Association. The advice given is not mandatory. It complements the legal requirement to provide wholesome water.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has carried out in the last five years into the possibility of cross contamination in the water industry.

  Mr. Maclean
  During the last five years, the Department has commissioned two research projects about backflow which could lead to contamination of water supplies. The first, which started in 1988, is to evaluate the degree of protection afforded by a range of mechanical devices designed to prevent backflow. The second, which started recently, is to study information on events which might lead to backflow. Both are due for completion in March 1993.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on the method of basing water charges on the rateable value of properties.

  Mr. Maclean
  Following the publication of my right hon. Friend's paper, "Using Water Wisely", we have received numerous representations about the possible bases for calculating water charges, including on the use of property values.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigations his Department has carried out into the possible methods of charging for water and sewerage services.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department has co-funded with the water industry 11 of the national water metering trials.542
  Following widespread consultation, the Director General of Water Services has issued guidance to water companies about the development of their charging strategies. It is now for each water company to decide on its preferred method of charging in the light of the circumstances in its area, subject to legal limitations such as the obligation to avoid discriminatory charges and the prohibition on using rateable values after the year 2000.

  Leasehold Properties
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each housing authority in England the total number of leasehold properties.

  Mr. Baldry
  No information is held centrally on the total number of leasehold properties in each local authority area.

  Local Government (Legislation)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the public Acts of Parliament passed since the general election of 1979 which have affected the duties, powers and responsibilities of local government.

  Mr. Squire
  Public General Acts of Parliament between June 1979 and the end of the last Session of Parliament which affect local authorities in England include those on the following list:

  Charter Trustees Act 1985

  Further Education Act 1985

  Food and Environment Protection Act 1985

  Representation of the People Act 1985

  Local government Act 1985

  Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1985

  Wildlife and Countryside (Service of Notices) Act 1985

  Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985

  Transport Act 1985

  Housing Act 1985+

  Housing (Consequential Provisions) Act 1985+

  Housing Associations Act 19851

  Weights and Measures Act 19851

  Highways (Amendment) Act 1985

  Education (Amendment) Act 1986

  Museum of London Act 1986

  Local Government Act 1986

  Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1986

  Drainage Rates (Disabled Persons) Act 1986

  Civil Protection in Peacetime Act 1986

  Health Service Joint Consultative Committees (Access to Information) Act 1986

  Road Traffic Regulation (Parking) Act 1986

  Children and Young Persons (Amendment) Act 1986

  Airports Act 1986

  Disabled Persons (services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986

  Education Act 1986

  Rate Support Grants Act 1986

  Education (No. 2) Act 1986

  Housing and Planning Act 1986

  Public Order Act 1986

  Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1987

  Rate Support Grants Act 1987

  Local Government Finance Act 1987

  Reverter of Sites Act 1987

  Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987

  Local Government Act 1987

  Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988

  Local Government Act 1988

  Coroners Act 1988+

  Environment and Safety Information Act 1988

  Education Reform Act 1988

  Local Government Finance Act 1988

  Housing Act 1988

  543

  Rate Support Grants Act 1988

  Road Traffic Act 1988

  Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988

  School Teachers Pay and Conditions No. 2 Act 1988

  Water Act 1989

  Dangerous Dogs Act 1989

  Children Act 1989+

  Local Government and Housing Act 1989

  Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 19901

  Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 19901

  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990+

  Town and Country Planning Act 19901

  Environmental Protection Act 1990 Food Safety Act 1990

  National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990

  Caravans (Standard Community Charge and Rating) Act 1991

  Community Charges (General Reduction) Act 1991

  Community Charges (Substitute Setting) Act 1991

  Local Government Finance and Valuation Act 1991

  Planning and Compensation Act 1991

  Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

  New Roads and Street Works Act 1991

  Road Traffic Act 1991

  Deer Act 19911

  Land Drainage Act 19911

  Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 19911

  Education Act 1979

  Justices of the Peace Act 19791

  Representation of the People Act 1980 Child Care Act 1980

  Foster Children Act 19801

  Residential Homes Act 19801

  Police Negotating Board Act 1980

  Education Act 1980

  Transport Act 1980

  Coroners Act 1980

  Magistrates Courts Act 19801

  Housing Act 1980

  Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980

  Highways Act 19801

  European Assembly Elections Act 1981 Water Act 1981

  Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981

  Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1981

  Animal Health Act 1981

  Food and Drugs (Amendment) Act 1981

  Fisheries Act 1981

  Representation of the People Act 1981

  Town and Country Planning (Minerals) Act 1981

  Zoo Licensing Act 1981

  Local Government and Planning (Amendment) Act 1981

  Education Act 1981

  New Towns Act 19811

  Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 19811

  Acquisition of Land Act 19811

  Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

  Travel Concessions (London) Act 1982

  Fire Service College Board (Abolition) Act 1982

  Children's Homes Act 1982

  Planning Inquiries (Attendance of the Public) Act 1982

  Social Security and Housing Benefits Act 1982

  Food and Drugs (Amendment) Act 1982

  Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982

  Local Government Finance Act 1982

  Derelict Land Act 1982

  Representation of the People Act 19831

  Water Act 1983

  Level Crossing Act 1983

  Miscellaneous Financial Provisions Act 1983

  Mobile Homes Act 1983

  Litter Act 1983

  Social Security and Housing Benefits Act 1983

  Education (Fees and Awards) Act 1983

  Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983

  Local Authorities (Expenditure Powers) Act 1983

  Town and Country Planning Act 1984

  Education (Grants and Awards) Act 1984

  544

  Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 19841

  Registered Homes Act 1984

  Road Traffic Regulation Act 19841

  Housing and Building Control Act 1984 Food Act 19841

  London Regional Transport Act 1984 Rates Act 1984

  Cycle Tracks Act 1984

  Animal Health and Welfare Act 1984

  Housing Defects Act 1984

  Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984

  Building Act 19841

  New Towns and Urban Development Corporations Act 1985

  London Regional Transport (Amendment) Act 1985

  Mineral Workings Act 1985

  Cinemas Act 19851

  Town and Country Planning (Compensation) Act 1985

  Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985

  Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985

  Further and Higher Education Act 1992

  Local Government Act 1992

  Local Government Finance Act 1992

  Severn Bridges Act 1992

  Traffic Calming Act 1992

  1Consolidation Act

  Note: Not all the foregoing Acts were based on Bills introduced by the Government.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what comparisons he is able to make, nationally and district by district, between levels of council tax and the levels which would have been necessary for domestic rates for 1993–94.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 20 November 1992]: The average domestic rate bill in England for 1993–94, based on 1989–90 rate bills uprated by the GDP deflator, would have been £637. But I intend to make no predictions of council tax levels for 1993–94. These are a matter for individual local authorities.

  Derelict Land
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of England's population live in(a) derelict land clearance areas and (b) assisted areas.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 16 November 1992]: This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the travel-to-work areas that are derelict land clearance areas but not assisted areas.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 16 November 1992]: Derelict land clearance areas are not defined by travel to work area. The following travel to work areas include areas which have been designated as derelict land clearance areas and which are not assisted areas.

  Alfreton and Ashfield

  Keighley

  Barrow in Furnees

  Lancaster and Morecambe

  Berwick

  Leeds

  Burnley

  Leek

  Buxton

  London

  Calderdale

  Macclesfield

  Carlisle

  Manchester

  Castleford and Pontefract

  Mansfield

  Chesterfield

  Matlock

  Clitheroe

  Newark

  Crewe

  Northwich

  Derby

  Nottingham

  Goole and Selby

  Pendle

  Huddersfield

  Preston

  545

  Retford

  Uttoxeter and Ashbourne

  St Austell

  Wakefield and Dewsbury

  Stafford

  Warrington

  Stoke

  Whitehaven

  Truro

  Climate Change
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ceredigion and Pembroke, North (Mr. Dafis) of 27 October,Official Report, column 540, when he now
  546
  expects the United Kingdom to ratify the treaty on climate change agreed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 18 November 1992]: The position has not changed since my answer to the hon. Member for Ceredigion and Pembroke, North (Mr. Dafis) on 27 October, Official Report, column 540.

  REPROCESSED PLUTONIUM: WEAPONS USE
  REPROCESSED PLUTONIUM: WEAPONS USE
  FREE-FALL NUCLEAR WEAPON
  FREE-FALL NUCLEAR WEAPON
  US NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN UK
  US NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN UK
  BALLISTIC MISSILE RISK
  BALLISTIC MISSILE RISK
  TRIDENT II
  TRIDENT II
  HMS "REVENGE": POLARIS FORCE
  HMS "REVENGE": POLARIS FORCE
  NHS LAND AND PROPERTY: SALE PROCEEDS
  NHS LAND AND PROPERTY: SALE PROCEEDS
  ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION: STAGES 2 AND 3
  ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION: STAGES 2 AND 3
  MAASTRICHT TREATY: UK PROTOCOL (PARAS. 3 TO 9)
  MAASTRICHT TREATY: UK PROTOCOL (PARAS. 3 TO 9)
  KING'S CROSS—THAMESLINK PROJECTS: FUNDING
  KING'S CROSS—THAMESLINK PROJECTS: FUNDING
  PERU SUPPORT GROUP
  PERU SUPPORT GROUP
  EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
  EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
  CHILDREN: ABDUCTION FROM UK
  CHILDREN: ABDUCTION FROM UK
  HONG KONG SEAT BELT LAW: PENALTY
  HONG KONG SEAT BELT LAW: PENALTY
  MACEDONIA
  MACEDONIA
  TREATY OF ROME: ARTICLE 138a OF MAASTRICHT TREATY
  TREATY OF ROME: ARTICLE 138a OF MAASTRICHT TREATY
  NUCLEAR TESTING
  NUCLEAR TESTING
  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL, 16th–17th NOVEMBER
  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL, 16th–17th NOVEMBER
  WAR CRIMES ALLEGATIONS: PROCEEDINGS
  WAR CRIMES ALLEGATIONS: PROCEEDINGS
  RIOT (DAMAGES) ACT 1886
  RIOT (DAMAGES) ACT 1886
  BRISTOL INCIDENTS, 16th–17th JULY: COMPENSATION CLAIM
  BRISTOL INCIDENTS, 16th–17th JULY: COMPENSATION CLAIM
  PRISONERS' TRANSFERS: REPORT
  PRISONERS' TRANSFERS: REPORT
  VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME: COMPENSATION
  VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME: COMPENSATION