Written Answers of 27 November 1992

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Company Debts (Writs)
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to monitor the rate of progress through the courts of cases involving writs for non-payment of debts owed by one company to another.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The conduct of cases for non-payment of debts issued in the Queen's Bench division of the High Court is largely a matter for the parties themselves. Where cases are disputed, waiting times for trial are monitored.

  High Court
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many deputy High Court judges sat in the High Court during the week commencing 16 November; and of these how many were circuit judges.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There were 313 sittings in the High Court in London during the week commencing 16 November. Of these, 66 sittings were undertaken by deputy High Court judges, and 52 by circuit judges.

  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many High Court judges were available for sitting, and sat, in the High Court in the week commencing 16 November.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It has not been possible to obtain the information requested in the time available. I will write to the right hon. and learned Gentleman.

  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has for the appointment of more High Court judges.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In recognition of the importance of ensuring that there are sufficient judges, the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice have asked a group of senior judges, with officials of the Lord Chancellor's Department, to advise them on the work, deployment and numbers of High Court judges. Until that advice has been received, it would be premature to reach a view about the size of the High Court bench in present circumstances.

PRIME MINISTER

  Wild Birds
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will bring forward proposals for making the power to impose licensing regulation over the shooting of wild birds, including pigeons, crows and sparrows, a matter for individual member states of the EC.
  850
  The Prime Minister
  We shall continue to seek the support of member states for an amendment to the EC directive on the conservation of wild birds (79/409/EEC), to recognise specifically the need for member states to exercise year-round control of pest.

  Member states may, under the provisions of the directive, derogate from the general prohibition on the killing of birds by issuing licences for controlling species which cause damage or threaten public health or safety. We intend to amend the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to enable us to bring in a licensing system. The other member states have already introduced licensing systems.

  Matrix Churchill
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what account he took of the minute of August 1990, about the implications of the invasion for trade with Iraq, referred to in his letter of 23 November to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, in making statements in 1992 relating to legal proceedings involving the directors of Matrix Churchill.

  The Prime Minister
  In all my correspondence and other replies I have taken into account the advice and information which was available to me.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Asylum and Immigration Appeals Bill
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will attend sittings of the Standing Committee on the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Bill.

  The Attorney-General
  I have no intention at present to attend sittings of this Committee.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Computers
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to encourage procurement from the private sector in the field of computer software and information systems for the provision of functions currently carried out in-house.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  The citizens charter White Paper (Cm 2101), published on 25 November, gives details of Departments' plans for market testing to September 1993. A number of Departments list all or part of their information systems/information technology functions as candidates for market testing to September 1993.

  Through the market-testing process, Departments will buy in support services wherever they offer better value for money.

  Agencies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidelines are issued to next steps agencies on the distinction between policy and administration in relation to the delegation of responsibility to chief executives of executive agencies.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  The allocation of responsibilities between a Minister and the chief executive of an agency is set out in the agency's framework document and varies in
  851
  each case. This does not necessarily provide an absolute distinction between policy and administration. In its reply to the seventh report from the Treasury and Civil Service Committee, session 1990–91 (Cm 1761), the Government noted that managers
  "should contribute to the formulation of the policy which they have to execute, just as those offering policy advice to Ministers need to appreciate the practicalities of policy delivery."

  My office has issued guidance from time to time on the arrangements for dealing with parliamentary questions and letters from Members of Parliament on matters delegated to agencies, with the suggestion that the allocation of responsibilities in the agency's framework document should normally be used as the basis for deciding whether the chief executive or the Minister should reply.

EDUCATION

  Special Needs Education
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the average time taken by each local education authority to assess a child as special needs from the initial application to the issue of a statement of special needs.

  Mr. Forth
  Information for each authority is not available centrally. However, the Audit Commission/HMI study "Getting in on the Act", published in June 1992, presented data for a sample of 12 local education authorities, and discovered that the median length of time taken to complete an assessment in these authorities is 12 months. The new Education Bill envisages that regulations may provide that, where a local education authority is under a duty to make an assessment, the duty must, subject to prescribed exceptions, be performed within a prescribed period.

  Examinations League Table
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what action he is taking to correct errors in the list of examination results obtained in secondary schools published by his Department; and what discussions he has held with schools whose results have been adversely reported.

  Mr. Forth
  All allegations of incorrect information in the comparative tables are being investigated individually. Where significant errors have been proved to be the fault of the Department or its contractors, amendment slips have been issued. To date, only six such errors have been found—two errors in school names and four errors in examination results. In each case, an amendment slip has been issued. All schools alleging errors will receive notification in writing of the results of the Department's inquiries into their cases.

  Special Schools (Examination Results)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy for future years not to publish the examination results obtained in special schools.

  Mr. Forth
  The decision to publish the examination results of special schools in the comparative tables was 852
  reached after detailed consultations with representatives of special needs organisations. It is entirely right that special schools, as all other schools, should receive credit for the results they achieve.

  Swimming
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make the teaching of water safety compulsory in all schools.

  Mr. Forth
  The statutory order for physical education in the national curriculum requires that, from August 1994, all pupils should, by the age of 11, be able to swim unaided at least 25 m and demonstrate an understanding of water safety.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which schools(a) have swimming pools on site and (b) employ (i) swimming instructors and (ii) specialist teachers to teach swimming, life-saving and water safety; what hours are worked; and what information he has about the award of swimming proficiency certificates at each school.

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the implications of local management of schools and grant-maintained status on the ability of schools to maintain current levels of swimming instruction; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Local management of schools and grant-maintained status do not affect the ability of schools to maintain current levels of swimming instruction. It is open to local education authorities in their local management of schools schemes to decide whether to delegate provision for swimming to school level or to retain it centrally. Annual maintenance grant for a grant-maintained school replicates the local management of schools formula of the local education authority in which that school is located, as well as including a share of the funds local education authorities spend centrally on their schools.

  Environmental Education
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the provision of training for teachers for the delivery of cross-curricular themes, with particular reference to the theme of environmental education.

  Mr. Forth
  A number of national curriculum subjects include studies relevant to environmental education. My right hon. Friend seeks to ensure, through his criteria for the approval of courses, that initial training gives thorough preparation for teaching the national curriculum. He also provides specific grant to support national curriculum-related training for serving teachers. It is essentially for schools and local education authorities to determine what priority to give to particular subject areas.

  Pupil Exclusions
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the Government's policy towards pupil exclusions; and if he will make a statement.
  853
  Mr. Forth
  The Government are concerned that too many children are being excluded from school, either permanently or temporarily. My right hon. Friend is anxious to remedy this situation and will shortly be publishing a discussions paper on exclusions, inviting comments from interested parties. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list all current employment training schemes currently available to those out of work; what is the rate of allowance in each case; and how many male and females were taking part in each scheme at 1 November.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Employment training is the training programme for unemployed people. At October 1992, the latest date for which information is available, there were about 122,000 people in training in Great Britain. The allowance paid to trainees is equivalent to their benefit entitlement immediately before joining the programme plus £10 a week. During April-July 1992, the latest period available, 68 per cent. of employment training entrants were men and 32 per cent. women.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police (Housing)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 11 November,Official Report, column 781, if he will list by location how much revenue his Department expects to

  Home Office Grant (£)

  Year

  HQ

  Local schemes1

  HQ staff

  Project staff

  Scheme co-ordinators

  Volunteer visitors

  19792

  5,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1980

  10,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1981

  17,850

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1982

  16,075

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1983

  37,933

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1984–853

  62,124

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1985–86

  126,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1986–874

  150,000

  136,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1987–88

  163,000

  1,600,000

  17

  6

  180

  5,900

  1988–89

  190,000

  2,550,000

  18

  6

  227

  6,300

  1989–90

  210,000

  3,700,000

  21

  12

  292

  6,700

  1990–91

  235,000

  4,500,000

  23

  12

  388

  7,200

  1991–92

  270,000

  5,400,000

  27

  7

  427

  8,260

  1992–93

  352,000

  6,908,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 A small proportion of the local schemes grant is used to support the work of the national office.

  2 1979 to 1983 are calendar years.

  3 1984–85 ran from 1 January 1984 to 5 April 1985.

  4 In its first year the local funding grant covered contingencies only.

  Underground Emergency Facilities
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the uses that would be permitted or encouraged in underground facilities for use in wartime or emergency.
  854
  raise for each of the five prison officer houses in south Yorkshire that have been identified as being put on the housing market; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The five remaining properties, formerly prison officers' houses, are in Brierholme close, Hatfield, south Yorkshire, and are on the market for sale with a local agent. Four of the houses have asking prices of £37,500 and one house has an asking price of £40,000.

  Alcohol Sales (Minors)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to halt the sale of alcohol to minors.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 30 October to a question from the hon. Member for Clwyd, North-West (Mr. Richards) at columns 908–9.

  Victim Support
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish details of the funding provided to victim support in each year since public funds were provided for this purpose together with any information he has concerning the number of persons employed(a) full time and (b) part time by this organisation for each year.

  Mr. Jack
  The table shows Home Office grant to victim support since funding began in 1979. Many local schemes also receive support from their local authority, but details are not recorded centrally. The figures for staff numbers relate to posts, not persons, and it is not now possible to distinguish between full and part-time employees for earlier years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Since the sites are to be disposed of we have no plans to permit their use for other purposes.

  Bosnian Refugees
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial resources are being made to provide support, maintenance and accommodation to the 150 Bosnian refugees and their dependants to
  855
  arrive in the United Kingdom; from which departmental budgets resources are being provided; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Home Office is providing funding for the reception and initial accommodation in this country for the 150 Bosnian refugees. They and any dependants who join them will then be found accommodation in the community where they will be entitled to the range of statutory benefits and services available to the rest of the population. The Home Office will also provide funds for some continued support.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the 150 Bosnian refugees and their dependants to arrive in the United Kingdom; what arrangements he has made for them to be received into the United Kingdom; what organisation is responsible for their support, maintenance and accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I am awaiting arrival details from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

  I have asked the Refugee Council and the British Red Cross to make arrangements for their reception and initial accommodation. More permanent accommodation in the community and further support will be arranged by the Refugee Council.

  Visitors (Absconders)
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visitors from(a) Jamaica, (b) Columbia, (c) Australia, (d) New Zealand, (e) India, (f) Pakistan, (g) Sri Lanka, (h) Nigeria, (i) Ghana, (j) Guyana, (k) Trinidad and Tobago, (l) Canada and (m) the United States of America have absconded after having been given leave to enter the United Kingdom as visitors in each year since 1986.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Comprehensive reliable information on the total number of persons from these countries given leave to enter the United Kingdom as visitors who have then remained here after their leave has expired is not available.

  Mr. Colin Wallace
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 24 November relating to the conviction of Mr. Colin Wallace,Official Report, column 544; what consideration was given to the submission made by his solicitor, Mr. Jim Nichol, and delivered by hand to his Department on 14 November.

  Mr. Jack
  I can now confirm that the Secretary of State has received the submission delivered by hand to this Department on 14 November and it is now being considered in order to see whether it discloses grounds for any action by the Secretary of State in connection with Mr. Wallace's conviction.

  Fact Finding Visits (Cost)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 3 November,Official Report, columns 129–30, what has been the cost to the Exchequer of (a) the chief executive of the Fire Service College's visits to (i) the United States and (ii)
  856
  the Netherlands and (b) the deputy commandant of the college's visits to (i) Europe, (ii) the middle east, (iii) the far east and (iv) Africa, during the last 12 months.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This is a matter for which the Fire Service College is responsible and I have asked the chief executive to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Mrs. H. Kinsey to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 26 November 1992.

  Cost of Fact Finding Visits
  The Secretary of State has asked the Fire Service College to write to you directly in reply to your Parliamentary Question about the cost to the Exchequer of the fact finding visits which the Commandant Chief Executive and the Deputy Commandant have made during the last twelve months. I am replying on the Commandant Chief Executive's behalf because he is currently on holiday.
  There has been no cost to the Exchequer arising from these visits since April because the College now operates as a trading fund. We cover our expenditure from the income we earn. However, the cost to the Exchequer of the Commandant's visit to Europe last year was £417 and the cost to the College of the visits to America and Europe since April have been £3,335 and £4,129 respectively.
  The costs to the Exchequer of the Deputy Commandant's visits to the Middle East and Europe prior to April were £7,043 and £187 respectively. The cost to the College of his visits to the Far East and Europe since April have been £3,609 and £1,285 respectively.
  I hope this is helpful.
  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will be published in the Official Report. I will now place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

WALES

  Dolphins
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the welfare of dolphins off the Welsh coast.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Thirty-two representations have been received in the last 12 months from a number of sources, including Members of the House, the general public and conservation bodies.

  Cardiac Services
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the originally expected date for publication of the Touche Ross report into cardiology and cardiac surgery in Wales; when he now expects the report to be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend originally anticipated the appraisal being completed by mid-1992, but this has been extended in the light of the considerable amount of work and extensive consultation necessary to ensure a comprehensive assessment. My right hon. Friend now expects the report to be with him before the end of the year.

  General Practitioners
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average number of applicants for vacancies for general practitioner posts in Wales every year since 1989.
  857
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The combined figures for England and Wales are shown in the table. Separate figures for Wales are not available. The figures are based on records kept by the Medical Practices Committee only in relation to GP vacancies advertised by the family health services authorities, which are 11 per cent. of the total. These relate only to new practices or to vacancies for single-handed GPs. The selection of candidates to fill other vacancies arising in established practice partnerships is a matter for the partnership concerned. Statistics in relation to these are not collected centrally.

  Date

  Average number of applicants for each vacancy

  30 October 1989

  32

  30 October 1990

  33

  30 October 1991

  25

  Tourist Information Centres
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many tourists visited tourist information centres in Wales each year since 1989; and what were the numbers of such tourists who came from outside the United Kingdom.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Between January and the end of September 1992, 2,970,000 tourists visited tourist information centres in Wales. Of these, 401,970 came from outside the United Kingdom. Information was not compiled on a comparable basis prior to 1992.

  National Parks
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the national parks review panel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  A statement outlining the Government's proposals for implementing relevant recommendations made in the report of the national parks review panel was issued in January 1992. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Discarded Car Tyres
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what surveys his Department has carried out into the number of tyres discarded from cars in Wales in the latest year for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the number that were(a) remoulded and (b) dumped.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  A 1990 report commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry estimated that around 30 million used tyres are removed annually from vehicles in the United Kingdom; of these, around 10 per cent. are retreaded, and 70 per cent. landfilled, dumped or stockpiled. No separate figures are available for Wales. The Department of the Environment has commissioned a survey of existing dumps of tyres throughout the United Kingdom, and the results will be available in the new year.

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to limit drug abuse in Wales.
  858
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Clwyd, North-West (Mr. Richards) on 2 November 1992 at column 8.

  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what support is available to local authorities in Wales for anti-drug and drug awareness campaigns.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Resources totalling some £3 million are allocated annually to meet the costs of drug prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, of which £450,000 is allocated to local education authorities and £200,000 for the employment of health education/ promotion officers (drugs) in each health authority. Other projects also undertake prevention work, but it is not possible to separate costs.

  Road Schemes
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the wildlife sites, (b) sites of special scientific interest, (c) ancient woodlands, (d) archaeological sites and (e) National Trust areas that are threatened with damage by the targeted road improvement and road building schemes put forward by his Department from now until the year 2000 indicating both the location of the site affected and the road improvement or road building scheme involved.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  In order to protect the species concerned, it is not departmental policy to disclose the location of wildlife sites. The remaining information applicable to proposed major road schemes in Wales where a preferred route has been announced is as follows:

  Scheme name

  Site affected

  Location

  Short term

  M4 Second Severn Crossing approach road, Gwent

  Site of special scientific interest

  Gwent Levels Severn estuary

  Archaeological

  Caldicot

  A5 Bethesda Bypass

  Ancient woodlands

  Bryn Meurig

  A5 Glyn Bends

  Site of special scientific interest

  Pont Glyn Diffwys

  A465 Glynneath- Aberdulais

  Ancient woodlands

  Wern-y-Gared

  National Trust

  Aberdulais Falls

  Medium Term

  A470 Blaenau Ffestiniog—Betws y Coed

  Site of special scientific interest

  Fairy Glen

  Ancient woodlands

  Pont-y-Pant

  Long Term

  A5 Anglesey Stage III

  Site of special scientific interest

  Inland sea east of Holyhead

  Every effort will be made to minimise and mitigate the effects of road schemes on such sites.

  Time bands and schemes indicated are those which accord with the 1992 supplement to "Roads in Wales: Progress and Plans for the 1990s".

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the designated wildlife sites, (b) sites of special

  859
  scientific interest, (c) ancient woodlands, (d) archaeological sites and (e) National Trust areas that have been damaged by road improvement and road building projects in Wales during the last five years, indicating the location of the site and the road scheme involved.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  In order to protect the species concerned, it is not departmental policy to disclose the location of wildlife sites. The remaining information for major road schemes carried out in Wales in the last five years is as follows:

  Scheme name

  Site affected

  Location

  A483 Welshpool bypass

  Archaeological

  Sarn-y-Bryn Caled Castle Mound

  A494 Mold bypass

  Ancient Woodlands

  Trebeirdd Woods Bryn Coch Bach

  Every effort is made to minimise and mitigate the effects of road construction on such sites.

  Child Psychotherapists
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) pursuant to his answer of 16 November,Official Report, column 90, if he will make it his policy to increase the number of child psychotherapists employed within the NHS in Wales to 20;

  (2) what is his target for the number of child psychotherapists in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is for employers to determine the staff required to meet the health care objectives of health authority and family health service authority health plans.

  Skillcentres
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many skillcentres have been closed in each of the counties of Wales; and how many skillcentres remain open in each of the counties of Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Skillcentres were privatised in 1990 and became the responsibility of the companies which purchased them. There are skillcentres in Clwyd (Wrexham), Gwent (Newport), south Glamorgan (Cardiff) and west Glamorgan (Port Talbot).

  Freight Transport
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the relative efficiencies of freight transport modes in Wales in terms of megajoules per tonne kilometre of(a) light goods vehicles using diesel, (b) light goods vehicles using petrol, (c) medium goods vehicles, (d) heavy goods vehicles, (e) rail bulk loads and (f) rail, general merchandise.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This information is not collected centrally. Figures on United Kingdom energy consumption by transport mode are given in "Transport Statistics: Great Britain 1992", a copy of which is held in the Library of the House.

  Tourism
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money has been made available for projects in Wales in the current financial year under section 4 of the 860
  Development of Tourism Act 1969; how many projects have benefited; and how many jobs have been (i) created and (ii) preserved.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Wales tourist board has received £3.8 million in the current financial year to assist tourism schemes in Wales. During this year 227 projects have benefited, creating 142 jobs. In addition, 423 existing jobs are now more secure as a result of this year's assistance.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue a consultation paper on the possibility of uniting area health authorities and family health service authorites in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so at present. The merger of health authorities and family health services authorities in Wales would require primary legislation. However we encourage health authorities and family health services authorities to work together wherever possible, and there is already significant evidence of such co-operation, particularly in respect of strategic planning.

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to order the installation of speed cameras in the Wrexham area; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This is a matter for consultation between the police, courts, the Crown prosecution service and the appropriate highway authority. The Department has no plans at present to install speed cameras on trunk roads in the Wrexham area.

  Environmental Education
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the provision of training for teachers for the delivery of cross-curricular themes, with particular reference to the theme of environmental education.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  A number of national curriculum subjects include studies relevant to environmental education. We seek to ensure, through the criteria for the approval of courses, that initial training gives thorough preparation for teaching the national curriculum. We also provide specific grant to support national curriculum-related training for serving teachers. It is essentially for schools and local education authorities to determine what priority to give to particular subject areas.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the funding provided by Government Departments for the support of information services for environmental education.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Welsh Office supports information services for environmental education by a variety of means: directly by the Department through non-departmental public bodies with environmental responsibilities; and by supporting voluntary organisations through grant aid. Specific funding for information services is not separately identified.

  Recycling
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he intends to take to promote actively the market in recycled products and to help local authorities, and others concerned, with meeting Government recycling targets.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The steps being taken are described in chapter 13 of "This Common Inheritance: The Second Year Report" (Cm 2068) a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to provide specific grants to local authorities to enable them to implement their recycling plans designed to meet the Government's target of recycling 25 per cent. of all household waste by the year 2000.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No. There are long-standing arrangements agreed with the local authority associations in Wales under which they assess the level of provision needed to support a range of services, including recycling of waste, provided by local government. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State takes account of that assessment when deciding how much central Government support should be made available, in total, to local

  Council Tax Valuations: Percentage of Hereditaments by Band—Draft List

  Authority

  Band A

  Band B

  Band C

  Band D

  Band E

  Band F

  Band G

  Band H

  Total

  Alyn and Deeside

  9.94

  17.75

  33.02

  18.85

  13.60

  4.86

  1.95

  0.03

  100.00

  Colwyn

  12.43

  17.60

  23.75

  23.40

  15.16

  4.37

  3.03

  0.26

  100.00

  Delyn

  7.95

  25.18

  26.03

  17.13

  14.31

  5.98

  3.23

  0.18

  100.00

  Glyndwr

  13.85

  21.83

  18.97

  17.62

  15.43

  6.95

  4.81

  0.55

  100.00

  Rhuddlan

  8.39

  22.86

  32.44

  21.70

  9.25

  3.42

  1.84

  0.10

  100.00

  Wrexham

  20.28

  30.61

  18.01

  15.54

  9.23

  4.07

  2.17

  0.09

  100.00

  Carmarthen

  13.57

  19.58

  18.45

  19.05

  21.28

  6.54

  1.46

  0.09

  100.00

  Ceredigion

  10.44

  15.89

  19.62

  23.77

  23.68

  4.96

  1.50

  0.14

  100.00

  Dinefwr

  19.21

  21.43

  20.01

  16.97

  14.21

  6.90

  1.10

  0.17

  100.00

  Llanelli

  27.27

  35.77

  16.65

  11.69

  5.74

  1.65

  1.15

  0.09

  100.00

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  14.82

  24.09

  17.01

  18.79

  17.91

  5.41

  1.89

  0.07

  100.00

  South Pembrokeshire

  16.17

  16.91

  22.65

  17.13

  18.96

  5.62

  2.34

  0.21

  100.00

  Blaenau Gwent

  54.37

  26.99

  9.25

  4.98

  3.32

  0.75

  0.26

  0.06

  100.00

  Islwyn

  15.82

  54.93

  14.69

  7.57

  5.00

  1.58

  0.36

  0.06

  100.00

  Monmouth

  2.65

  9.69

  23.10

  18.27

  18.16

  14.55

  12.43

  1.14

  100.00

  Newport

  14.94

  32.79

  20.30

  16.35

  8.50

  3.72

  2.91

  0.48

  100.00

  Torfaen

  21.30

  35.26

  23.77

  9.36

  7.15

  2.23

  0.83

  0.09

  100.00

  Aberconwy

  13.74

  19.73

  22.08

  19.94

  15.01

  5.62

  3.48

  0.40

  100.00

  Arfon

  25.64

  29.27

  21.03

  12.75

  7.18

  2.94

  1.10

  0.09

  100.00

  Dwyfor

  13.90

  22.27

  18.91

  19.99

  19.25

  3.77

  1.88

  0.01

  100.00

  Meirionnydd

  29.21

  24.35

  16.19

  12.08

  12.01

  3.99

  2.05

  0.12

  100.00

  Ynys Môn

  18.50

  22.77

  15.00

  21.23

  16.04

  3.49

  2.76

  0.21

  100.00

  Cynon Valley

  60.46

  19.68

  7.74

  7.09

  4.03

  0.78

  0.23

  —

  100.00

  Merthyr Tydfil

  57.04

  25.48

  6.75

  6.00

  3.80

  0.77

  0.16

  0.02

  100.00

  Ogwr

  20.56

  25.71

  19.33

  15.33

  11.85

  4.27

  2.66

  0.29

  100.00

  Rhondda

  63.75

  26.76

  5.79

  1.86

  1.50

  0.26

  0.05

  0.03

  100.00

  Rhymney Valley

  34.21

  33.25

  16.94

  8.52

  4.80

  1.57

  0.63

  0.09

  100.00

  Taff Ely

  23.59

  29.43

  20.35

  11.39

  8.36

  3.99

  2.68

  0.22

  100.00

  Brecknock

  15.33

  14.54

  19.65

  15.07

  19.48

  9.16

  6.12

  0.65

  100.00

  Montgomeryshire

  11.46

  22.33

  19.05

  16.47

  21.46

  6.23

  2.82

  0.19

  100.00

  Radnorshire

  12.86

  16.55

  16.39

  18.13

  25.89

  6.66

  3.21

  0.30

  100.00

  Cardiff

  7.63

  24.28

  27.24

  16.23

  14.85

  4.60

  4.57

  0.60

  100.00

  Vale of Glamorgan

  6.47

  21.19

  20.75

  17.32

  15.56

  7.04

  10.32

  1.36

  100.00

  Lliw Valley

  19.49

  26.96

  23.48

  18.47

  8.60

  2.32

  0.61

  0.08

  100.00

  Neath

  20.17

  40.33

  19.97

  10.89

  6.64

  1.41

  0.54

  0.05

  100.00

  Port Talbot

  21.57

  43.41

  19.54

  9.50

  4.29

  1.22

  0.43

  0.04

  100.00

  Swansea

  22.19

  24.47

  18.07

  13.47

  12.23

  5.25

  4.00

  0.32

  100.00

  Wales

  20.42

  25.97

  19.77

  14.67

  11.79

  4.23

  2.84

  0.29

  100.00

  862
  authorities. Most of that support, both revenue and capital, is distributed to authorities on the basis of formulae agreed with the Welsh local authority associations.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the issue of draft valuation lists for council tax purposes.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Billing authorities in Wales have today received copies of the council tax draft valuation lists from the Valuation Office Agency. The valuation lists include valuations for some 1,212,230 dwellings. The number and distribution of dwellings between each council tax band is summarised by billing authority in the tables.

  Valuations have been made on the basis of the price, subject to certain assumptions, which dwellings could have fetched had they been sold on 1 April 1991. The valuations were carried out between December 1991 and July 1992. The Valuation Office Agency which was responsible for the valuation exercise, was assisted in its task by private sector valuers.

  Members of the public will be able to inspect the valuation list for their district at district council offices.
  863

  Council Tax Valuations: Hereditaments—Draft List

  Authority

  Band A

  Band B

  Band C

  Band D

  Band E

  Band F

  Band G

  Band H

  Total

  Alyn and Deeside

  2,960

  5,287

  9,834

  5,613

  4,050

  1,447

  581

  10

  29,782

  Colwyn

  3,122

  4,420

  5,962

  5,875

  3,805

  1,097

  761

  65

  25,107

  Delyn

  2,191

  6,941

  7,177

  4,723

  3,945

  1,650

  891

  51

  27,569

  Glyndwr

  2,535

  3,996

  3,472

  3,225

  2,825

  1,273

  881

  100

  18,307

  Rhuddlan

  2,030

  5,531

  7,848

  5,250

  2,238

  828

  444

  25

  24,194

  Wrexham

  9,606

  14,504

  8,532

  7,362

  4,374

  1,927

  1,027

  44

  47,376

  Carmarthen

  3,279

  4,730

  4,457

  4,602

  5,141

  1,581

  352

  21

  24,163

  Ceredigion

  3,129

  4,764

  5,883

  7,125

  7,099

  1,488

  450

  43

  29,981

  Dinefwr

  3,252

  3,627

  3,387

  2,872

  2,405

  1,168

  187

  28

  16,926

  Llanelli

  8,737

  11,460

  5,333

  3,746

  1,838

  528

  368

  29

  32,039

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  4,629

  7,524

  5,313

  5,869

  5,592

  1,690

  590

  21

  31,228

  South Pembrokeshire

  3,196

  3,343

  4,477

  3,386

  3,748

  1,110

  463

  42

  19,765

  Blaenau Gwent

  17,569

  8,722

  2,989

  1,609

  1,074

  243

  84

  21

  32,311

  Islwyn

  4,237

  14,714

  3,936

  2,027

  1,339

  442

  96

  17

  26,788

  Monmouth

  840

  3,073

  7,324

  5,793

  5,758

  4,614

  3,939

  360

  31,701

  Newport

  8,237

  18,078

  11,191

  9,013

  4,687

  2,049

  1,604

  266

  55,125

  Torfaen

  8,010

  13,258

  8,936

  3,519

  2,689

  840

  312

  33

  37,597

  Aberconwy

  3,418

  4,910

  5,495

  4,963

  3,735

  1,398

  866

  100

  24,885

  Arfon

  6,163

  7,037

  5,057

  3,065

  1,726

  708

  264

  21

  24,041

  Dwyfor

  2,007

  3,215

  2,730

  2,886

  2,778

  544

  272

  2

  14,434

  Meironnydd

  5,209

  4,342

  2,887

  2,155

  2,141

  712

  366

  22

  17,834

  Ynys Mon

  5,786

  7,123

  4,694

  6,643

  5,017

  1,092

  863

  66

  31,284

  Cynon Valley

  16,576

  5,397

  2,121

  1,943

  1,104

  213

  63

  1

  27,418

  Merthyr Tydfil

  14,151

  6,321

  1,674

  1,488

  942

  191

  39

  5

  24,811

  Ogwr

  11,134

  13,918

  10,465

  8,298

  6,416

  2,312

  1,441

  159

  54,143

  Rhondda

  21,036

  8,830

  1,911

  613

  495

  86

  17

  10

  32,998

  Rhymney Valley

  14,050

  13,655

  6,955

  3,497

  1,973

  644

  257

  35

  41,066

  Taff Ely

  9,076

  11,326

  7,831

  4,382

  3,216

  1,534

  1,031

  85

  38,481

  Brecknock

  2,795

  2,651

  3,581

  2,747

  3,550

  1,670

  1,115

  118

  18,227

  Montgomeryshire

  2,651

  5,167

  4,408

  3,811

  4,965

  1,441

  653

  45

  23,141

  Radnorshire

  1,413

  1,818

  1,800

  1,9992

  2,844

  732

  353

  33

  10,985

  Cardiff

  9,102

  28,972

  32,512

  19,371

  17,723

  5,489

  5,456

  715

  119,340

  Vale of Glamorgan

  3,019

  9,888

  9,685

  8,082

  7,260

  3,286

  4,818

  634

  46,672

  Lliw Valley

  5,154

  7,132

  6,210

  4,885

  2,274

  614

  162

  20

  26,451

  Neath

  5,511

  11,021

  5,457

  2,976

  1,814

  384

  148

  14

  27,325

  Port Talbot

  4,551

  9,158

  4,122

  2,005

  906

  258

  90

  8

  21,098

  Swansea

  17,227

  19,000

  14,029

  10,458

  9,492

  4,074

  3,106

  251

  77,637

  Wales Total

  247,588

  314,853

  239,675

  177,869

  142,978

  51,337

  34,410

  3,520

  1,212,230

  Cadw
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secreatary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 28 October,Official Report column 70, what has been the cost to the Exchequer of the chief executive of Cadw's visits to (a) the United States in December 1991, and (b) Romania in September 1992.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to Cadw—Welsh Historic Monuments—under its chief executive, Mr. John Carr. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from E. A. J. Carr to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 25 November 1992.

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question which asked what costs there had been to the Exchequer of my visits to the United States and Romania in 1991 and 1992 respectively.

  My visit to the United States was associated with a Wales Tourist Board marketing initiative—"Wise Wales". The cost of my participation in this was £457.

  My visit to Romania was as the UK representative at a Council of Europe seminar designed to offer advice to the Romanian authorities on measures to conserve and present the remains of that country's built heritage. The cost of this visit was £470.00 which was met by the Council of Europe.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the main measures increasing regulation in any area for which his Department has responsibility, which his Department has caused to be put into effect since 9 April.

  Mr. Atkins
  The following are the main measures increasing regulation which have been put into effect since the general election:

  DED

  Road Traffic (Training of Drivers of Vehicles Carrying Dangerous Goods) Regulations (N.I.) 1992 No. 262.

  Offshore and Pipelines Safety (N.I.) Order 1992 (S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17))

  Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (N.I.) 1992 No. 459.

  Export of Dangerous Chemicals Regulations (N.I.) 1992 No. 460.

  Companies (Single Member Private Limited companies) Regulations (N.I.) 1992.

  Companies (1986 Order) (Bank Accounts) Regulations (N.I.) 1992

  Companies (Disclosure of Interests in Shares) Orders (Imposing Restrictions on Shares) Regulations (N.I.) 1992.

  Price Indications (Bureaux de Change) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992.
  865
  DENI

  The Education (Student Loans) (Amendment) Regulations (N.I.) 1992 No. 193.

  Curriculum (Programmes of Study and Attainment Targets in Science) Order (N.I.) 1992 No. 205.

  Curriculum (Programmes of Study and Attainment Targets in Mathematics) Order (N I) 1992 No. 233.

  The Education (Student Loans) Regulations (N.I.) 1992 No. 279.

  Curriculum (Programmes of Study and Attainment Targets in Art and Design) Order (N.I.) 1992 No. 286.

  Curriculum (Educational Themes) Order (N.I.) 1992 No. 287.

  Curriculum (Programmes of Study and Attainment Targets in Music) Order (N.I.) 1992 No. 288.

  Curriculum (Programmes of Study and Attainment Targets in French, German, Italian, Spanish and Irish Order (N.I.) 1992 No. 289.

  Curriculum (Programmes of Study and Attainment Targets in Technology and Design) Order (N.I.) 1992 No. 290.

  Secondary Schools (Admissions Criteria) (Amendment) Regulations (N.I.) 1992 No. 332.

  Student Awards Regulations (NI) 1992 No. 363.

  Education (School Information and Prospectuses) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 1992 No. 450.

  Curriculum (Complaints Tribunals) Regulations (NI) 1992 No. 457.

  DANI

  The Oilseeds Producers (Support System) Regulations (NI) 1992 No. 190.

  The Fertilisers (Sampling and Analysis) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 235.

  The Feedingstuffs Regulations (NI) 1992 No. 270.

  The Fertilisers Regulations (NI) 1992 No. 187.

  Zootechnical Standards Regulations (NI) 1992 No. 438.

  DHSS1

  The Income-Related Benefits and Social Security (Recoupment) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 201.

  The Social Security Revaluation of Earnings Factors Order (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 203.

  The Income Support (General) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 236.

  The Social Security (Australia) Order (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 269.

  The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 271.

  The Child Support (1991 Order) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 278 (C. 13).

  The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 280.

  The Income-Related Benefits (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 284.

  The Social Security (1990 Order) (Commencement No. 5) Order (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 285 (C. 14).

  The Occupational Pension Schemes (Deficiency on Winding Up etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 300.

  The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 304.

  The Social Security (Widows Benefit and Retirement Pensions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 318.

  The Income-Related Benefits (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 327.

  The Social Security (Jersey and Guernsey) Order (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 328.

  The Social Security Benefit (Persons Abroad) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 330.

  The Child Support (Information, Evidence and Disclosure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 339.

  The Child Support (Maintenance Assessment Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 340.

  The Child Support (Maintenance Assessments and Special Cases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 341.

  The Child Support (Arrears, Interest and Adjustment of Maintenance Assessments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 342.

  The Child Support (1991 Order) (Commencement No. 2)
  866
  Order (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 347 (C. 16).

  The Child Support (Collection and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 390.

  The Social Fund (Maternity and Funeral Expenses) (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 394.

  The Income-Related Benefits (Amendment No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 403.

  The Housing Benefit (General) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 404.

  The Income-Related Benefit (Amendment No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 435.

  The Housing Benefit (General) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 444.

  The Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 453.

  The Child Support (Collection and Enforcement of Other Forms of Maintenance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 465.

  The Child Support (Maintenance Arrangements and Jurisdiction) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 466.

  The Child Support (1991 Order) (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 467 (C. 20).

  The Social Fund (Cold Weather Payments) (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 470.

  The Income Support (General) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 No. 471.

  1 Most of the regulations made by DHSS since the last General Election are amendment or technical regulations which do not increase the total regulatory burden on business.

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the main measures of deregulation, or simplification of regulation, which his Department has carried out, or caused to be carried out, since 9 April.

  Mr. Atkins
  The impact on business and members of the public is taken into account in assessing any proposals for changes in policy and procedures. Moreover, the scope for deregulation and simplication is kept under constant review in Northern Ireland Departments. The following are the main measures of deregulation or simplication of regulation which have been carried out in Northern Ireland since the last general election:

  DED.

  Quarries (Metrication) Regulations (NI) 1992 No. 216 Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Factories Metrication etc.) Regulations (NI) 1992 No. 461.

  DANI.

  The Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (Consequential Modifications) Order (NI) 1992.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was(a) the number of establishments covered by wages councils and (b) the number of employees covered by each wages council, giving the information for the latest available date.

  Mr. Atkins
  The numbers of establishments and employees covered by each wages council in Northern Ireland at 31 December 1991 are as follows:

  Wages council

  Number of establishments

  Number of employees

  Baking

  283

  863

  Boot and shoe repairing

  90

  43

  Catering

  4,944

  15,240

  Clothing manufacturing

  149

  9,334

  Laundry

  16

  306

  867

  Wages council

  Number of establishments

  Number of employees

  Linen and cotton handkerchief and household

  1,127

  goods and linen piece goods

  45

  Paper box

  15

  725

  Road haulage

  1,812

  6,506

  Sugar confectionery and food preserving

  20

  166

  Totals

  7,374

  34,310

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for 1991, how many establishments were checked in which underpayments were found in wages council trades; how many checks were carried out and underpayments found by the Northern Ireland wages inspectorate; how many workers were covered by wages councils and what were the results of the checks; how many workers' pay was checked by the Northern Ireland wages inspectorate; and how many establishments were found to be failing to post wages council notices and failing to keep adequate records of wages paid and of hours worked.

  Mr. Atkins
  The requested information is as follows:

  Number

  Establishments checked where underpayments were found

  18

  Workers found underpaid

  545

  Checks carried out by Wages Inspectorate

  1,476

  Workers covered by Wages Councils

  34,310

  Workers whose pay was checked

  10,458

  Establishments failing to post Wages Council notices

  94

  Establishments failing to keep adequate records of

  (a) wages paid

  Nil

  (b) hours worked

  58

  Recycling
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to encourage the newspaper and textile industries to promote and participate in recycling schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The newspaper industry in Northern Ireland already uses recycled material in its production and places newspaper material into the recycling stream. In 1991, following discussions with the Government, the Newspaper Publishers Association agreed to aim to increase the proportion of waste paper used in newsprint consumed in the United Kingdom to at least 40 per cent. by the year 2000.

  Plans are in hand to promote recycling and the use of recycled materials amongst business and industry in Northern Ireland and I intend to announce new legislative proposals next year.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iraq
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to raise, as president of European political co-operation, the status of European Community member states' sensitive technology exports to Iraq at the next EPC meeting.
  868
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The member states of the European Community in political co-operation regularly discuss issues concerning the control of exports of sensitive technologies. They do not make such exports to Iraq which is under comprehensive, mandatory sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council.

  Western Sahara
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the continued occupation by Morocco of western Sahara.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The UN Secretary-General's special representative is continuing his talks on the implementation of the UN settlement plan for the western Sahara. We are giving our full support to those efforts.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the United Nations proposals for a referendum in western Sahara.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Although some progress has been made, there are still differences over eligibility to vote in the referendum. The UN Secretary-General's special representative has arranged a meeting with tribal chiefs of the western Sahara in Geneva on 30 November to 1 December to see if some of these problems can be overcome.

  UNESCO
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the United Kingdom has to make an application to rejoin UNESCO.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We continue to monitor carefully progress at UNESCO. There are no plans at present to apply to rejoin the organisation, but we shall keep the situation under review.

  Saharaic Arab Democratic Republic
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to meet Mohammed Abdelaziz, president of the Saharaic Arab Democratic Republic during his visit to London.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. Mr. Mohammed Abdelaziz will meet a senior official at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Tunisia
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 9 November,Official Report, column 546, what was the substance of the discussions between his Department and representatives of the Tunisian Government on the question of human rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The most recent occasion on which we have discussed human rights with the Tunisian Government was in October when our ambassador in Tunis led an EC troika delegation at a meeting with the Tunisian deputy Foreign Minister. This was an
  869
  opportunity for a wide-ranging discussion on human rights and democracy. The troika drew attention to the declaration issued at the Lisbon European Council on relations with the Maghreb. This declaration underlines the importance the EC attaches to respect for human rights.

  Hong Kong
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the exchange of letters between the British Government and the Chinese Government prior to the adoption by the Chinese National People's Congress of the Basic Law for Hong Kong.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The relevant exchange of letters was published by the British and Chinese Governments on 28 October. A copy of the exchange has been deposited in the Library of the House.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 23 November,Official Report, column 452, if he will list the posts closest to Bosnia and Slovenia where visa applications can be made for entry to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our embassy at Belgrade provides a limited visa-issuing service—for example, to those seeking entry to the United Kingdom on urgent medical or compassionate grounds, and spouses and close family of British citizens.

  We plan to provide a visa service at our embassy in Zagreb in Croatia as soon as practical problems including accommodation have been sorted out. As our enbassy in Ljubljana in Slovenia is currently operating out of an hotel, we have no plans, at present, to provide a visa service there.

  Our posts in Budapest, Vienna, Sofia, Rome, Florence and Milan all provide visa services. Applications can be made by mail.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received concerning the 18-month-old constituent of the hon. Member for Woolwich who is HIV positive with AIDS-related symptoms, for whom an attendance allowance claim was made on 20 January.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of attendance allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter to Mr. John Austin-Walker from Mr. Michael Bichard, dated 26 November 1992.

  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the representations received concerning your 18 month old constituent for whom an Attendance Allowance (AA) claim was made on 20 January.
  870
  I can confirm that an adjudication officer on the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Unit has now considered your constituent's claim and the decision was notified to the child's mother on 24 October. I replied on 24 November to your letter of 1 October to the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People and this explains the position in greater detail.

  I offer my sincere apologies and regret for the delay your constituent has experienced and clearly on this occasion the family have not received the standard of service which they have every right to expect from the Benefits Agency.

  As you are aware, from 6 April DLA replaced and extended both AA and Mobility Allowance for people disabled before the age of 65. I wrote to all MPs on 19 October explaining in detail the significant problems encountered with the launch of DLA and the measures introduced to deal with the backlog which resulted.

  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report. Copies are also being placed in the Library.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to ensure that a member of staff within the main disability living allowance unit in Blackpool is able to deal with inquiries from Welsh speakers in the Welsh language.

  Mr. Scott
  The provision of customer service at the disability living allowance unit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd from Mr. Michael Bichard, dated 26 November 1992:

  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking whether it will become policy to ensure that a member of staff within the main Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Unit in Blackpool is able to deal with enquiries from Welsh Speakers in the Welsh language.

  There are no arrangements for a specific member of staff in the DLA unit in Blackpool to deal with such enquiries. However, there are alternatives which ensure that Welsh speaking customers are given a service which ensures that they can use the Welsh language if they choose.

  The Cardiff Disability Benefits Centre (DBC) deals with initial DLA claims from Welsh customers and has a Welsh speaker in its Customer Service Section. There is a telephone freeline available in Welsh which can provide free advice and help on all benefit matters including DLA. Within Wales all Districts operate a bilingual policy and the Agency has a Welsh Language and Media Unit.

  If a customer contacts the DLA Unit in Blackpool we are able to offer a Welsh translation service for written communications. Telephone inquiries cannot be handled in Welsh but the customer can be referred to the Welsh Free Line, as can enquirers of the free Benefit Enquiry Line. Welsh Language versions of the DLA claim pack and a leaflet covering DLA are available and both are updated regularly.

  Should there he a particular case which is causing you concern, please let me know and I will be happy to look into it further.

  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. Copies are also being placed in the Library.

  Social Fund, Newcastle
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the definitions of the high, medium and low-priority groups in use in the Newcastle area for grants and loans within the social fund in April and at the latest available date.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter to Mr. Jim Cousins from Mr. Michael Bichard, dated 26 November 1992:

  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Social Fund priorities in Newcastle.

  Social Fund Officers (SFOs) decide the overall priority of individual applications by looking at all the circumstances of the case. They are obliged to take account of guidance issued by the Secretary of State for Social Security, and by the District Manager acting as Area Social Fund Officer (ASFO).

  Guidance on priorities issued by the Secretary of State is in the Social Fund Guide which is in the Library.

  The ASFO is required to provide guidance as to what priority should generally be afforded to certain categories of items, or in the case of grants, circumstances. The guidance is drafted so as not to interfere with the SFO's duty to consider the priority of individual items in light of the particular circumstances of the applicant. As the ASFO only suggests levels of priority in his guidance, it follows that there can be no definition of priorities as such.

  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report. Copies are also being placed in the Library.

  Occupational Pensions
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to promote new EC legislation on the transferability of occupational pensions during the Government's presidency of the European Commission.

  Miss Widdecombe
  During the United Kingdom presidency of the Council of Ministers we have tabled a resolution which, if adopted by the Council, seeks the implementation of measures which recognise that workers should be able to move between member states without undue loss of occupational pension rights. The resolution gives as examples of methods by which rights may be protected, both preservation and revaluation in the member's existing scheme, and transfers to a scheme in the other member state.

  The resolution calls on member states to investigate whether other obstacles to the mobility of workers existing in the occupational pensions field and, if so, how they can be removed. It calls on the Commission to report on measures taken by member states and to consider whether further action is required.

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made for the take-up and cost to the Exchequer of the proposed 1 per cent. additional rebate for personal pension holders in 1993–94 872
  and for subsequent years; and if he will publish figures separately for (a) people who already have an appropriate personal pension, (b) people newly contracting out into a personal pension scheme, (c) men and (d) women.

  Miss Widdecombe
  This measure, which will cost the national insurance fund an estimated £165 million in 1994–95 will benefit in the region of 2 million appropriate personal pension holders aged 30 and over. There is nil cost in 1993–94 because payments are made after the end of the relevant tax year. The 2 million holders are estimated to comprise 1.5 million men at a cost of £135 million and 0.5 million women at a cost of £30 million. The cost and split between men and women are estimated to be broadly similar in subsequent years until a new rebate structure is implemented. This is expected to be in 1996–97.

  The measure is designed to ensure that appropriate personal pensions remain attractive across the age range for the majority of current holders. We anticipate that in the relevant years there will continue to be about 5 million appropriate personal pension holders.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of social security expenditure was met by national insurance contributions for each year since 1979; what are the planned figures for 1992–93 and 1993–94; and if he will make a statement about future trends.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The available information is in the table.

  Year

  Per cent.

  1978–79

  67.5

  1979–80

  65.7

  1980–81

  66.2

  1981–82

  63.0

  1982–83

  59.8

  1983–84

  58.6

  1984–85

  54.6

  1985–86

  53.9

  1986–87

  53.6

  1987–88

  53.2

  1988–89

  53.9

  1989–90

  54.4

  1990–91

  55.0

  1991–92

  54.5

  1992–93

  52.9

  1993–94

  52.3

  1994–95

  51.7

  Notes:

  1. The percentages refer to expenditure met from the National Insurance Fund.

  2. Figures for 1978–79 to 1990–91 are outturn; 1991–92 is estimated; 1992–93 onwards are plans contained in the Departmental Report 1992 (Cm 1914).

  3. Income to the National Insurance Fund comes from several sources, predominantly employers' and employees' National Insurance Contributions, investment income and in certain years a Treasury Supplement.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the surplus or deficit in the national insurance fund for each financial year since 1979; and what is his estimate for the current year and for 1993–94.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is given in the table.
  873

  Year

  Surplus £'000

  Deficit £'000

  1979–80

  535,302

  —

  1980–81

  411,698

  —

  1981–82

  —

  991,008

  1982–83

  —

  23,004

  1983–84

  580,379

  —

  1984–85

  373,674

  —

  1985–86

  315,514

  —

  1986–87

  413,942

  —

  1987–88

  1,580,654

  —

  1988–89

  3,081,188

  —

  1989–90

  —

  61,669

  1990–91

  1,484,717

  —

  1991–92

  —

  3,455,556

  1992–93

  —

  4,659,000

  1993–94

  —

  4,827,000

  Notes:

  1. All figures represent the difference between income and outgo within the year.

  2. Figures for 1992–93 and 1993–94 are estimated.

  Source: Government Actuary's Department.

  1. Year

  2. Industrial injuries benefits

  3. Percentage of the national insurance fund

  4. Statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay

  5. Percentage of the national insurance fund

  1990–91

  584,622

  1.70

  1,268,000

  3.68

  1991–92

  675,300

  1.95

  1,055,000

  3.04

  1992–93

  677,000

  2

  1,071,000

  3

  1993–94

  700,000

  2

  1,093,000

  3

  Notes:

  1. The figures in columns (2) and (4) are expressed as percentages of total receipts to the National Insurance Fund.

  2. Figures for 1992–93 and 1993–94 are estimated.

  Sources: Government Actuary's Report on the Social Security Bill 1992 (Cm 2097) and the Government's Expenditure Plans 1992–93–1993–94 (Cm 1914).

  3. The figures shown in column (5) in respect of Statutory Sick pay and Statutory Maternity Pay are equivalent to the amounts of reimbursement from the Consolidated Fund to the National Insurance Fund.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what sums have ben paid for each of the years since 1979 from general taxation into the national insurance fund, expressed in cash terms and as a percentage of the national insurance fund, and for what reasons in each case.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is in the table.

  Year

  Sum paid into NI fund in £000

  As a percentage of the NI fund

  Reason

  1979–80

  2,343,000

  17.62

  1—

  1980–81

  2,848,000

  17.79

  1—

  1981–82

  2,433,000

  14.27

  1—

  1982–83

  2,591,000

  13.36

  1—

  1983–84

  2,807,000

  13.31

  1—

  1984–85

  2,597,000

  11.74

  1—

  1985–86

  2,163,000

  9.21

  1—

  1986–87

  2,412,000

  9.52

  1—

  1987–88

  2,135,000

  7.81

  1—

  1988–89

  1,653,000

  5.54

  1—

  1989–90

  —

  —

  —

  1990–91

  1,268,000

  3.68

  2—

  1991–92

  1,055,000

  3.04

  2—

  1992–93

  1,071,000

  3.00

  2—

  1993–94

  1,093,000

  3.00

  2—

  1 Treasury Supplement.

  2 Reimbursement of the costs of Statutory Sick Pay and Statutory Maternity Pay.

  874
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which benefits have been transferred since 1979 to the consolidated fund from the national insurance fund.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Expenditure on industrial injuries benefits was transferred to the consolidated fund from 1 April 1990. Additionally, from that date new arrangements were introduced whereby the costs of statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay were reimbursed to the national insurance fund from the consolidated fund.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what saving for the national insurance fund has been achieved by transferring out expenditure on each benefit transferred to the consolidated fund, in each year since 1979 in cash terms and as a percentage of the national insurance fund; and what are the corresponding estimates for 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is in the table:

  Note: The figures for years 1992–93 and 1993–94 are based on estimates.

  Source: GAD.

  Christmas Bonus
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 November, to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace)Official Report, columns 367–68, on the subject of the Christmas bonus, what are the differences in calculation resulting in different figures in his answer and in a letter to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecoombe), dated 23 November.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The figures quoted in my reply of 19 November to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) at columns 367–68, reflected the level of the Christmas bonus if it had been increased annually in line with prices since 1974. The figures given in my letter to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford reflected the level if the bonus had been increased annually in line with prices since 1972.

HEALTH

  Column Ozone
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research work is currently undertaken by her Department on the effect of sustained decreases of total column ozone upon levels of non-melanoma skin cancers and eye cataracts.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 19 October at column 80. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) monitoring undertaken by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) has indicated no significant departures from the expected norms since measurements began in 1988. The Medical Research Council is currently conducting basic research into the mechanisms of UV related carcinogenesis. In addition, the NRPB has established an advisory group to examine the scientific literature on health hazards from UV. The Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) proposes to give advice on further research needs once the NRPB advisory group has reported.

  St. George's Hospital, Tooting
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many registered general nurses have recently passed their examinations at St. George's hospital, Tooting; and how many have been offered employment as nurses at that hospital;

  (2) what was the number of nursing vacancies at St. George's hospital, Tooting, on 16 November.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Dr. Enid Vincent, the chairman of Wandsworth health authority, for details.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list the main measures increasing regulation in any area for which her Department has responsibility, which her Department has caused to be put into effect since 9 April;

  (2) if she will list the main measures of deregulation, or simplification of regulation, which her Department has carried out, or caused to be carried out, since 9 April;

  (3) which Minister in her Department is responsible for the oversight of deregulation of regulatory matters which fall within the responsibility of her Department.

  Mr. Sackville
  I have responsibility for the oversight of deregulation issues.

  From April 1992, a new simplified application procedure for the change of ownership of a medicinal product licence has been in place. Although there have been no other significant deregulatory measures, in considering new proposals, the Department—where appropriate—reviews the regulatory burdens that might be placed on businesses to ensure that they are strictly proportionate in perceived risks.

  There have been no measures increasing the regulatory burden on businesses since April.

  Clinical Performance
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the variation in clinical performance in relation to a range of treatments among different hospitals, units and clinicians; and whether she will make available the evidence for publication.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Each year the Department publishes a set of health service indicators which provide comparative information on a wide range of health service activities within each health authority in England. The indicator set contains data on a selected range of clinical treatments within each authority and this information is discussed with regional health authorities in the context of preparing and implementing the annual corporate contracts. The health service indicators are made available free to every health authority and a set is placed each year in the Library.

  Community Health Councils
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to undertake a review of the role of community health councils.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Community health councils have been given an important role in enabling the public interest to be represented in relation to local national health service services. How that role can best be fulfilled continues to be the subject of consideration at local, regional, and national level.

  Medicines Control Agency
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 30 October,Official Report, columns 943–44, what has been the cost to the Exchequer of the director and chief executive of the Medicines Control Agency's visit to Washington, USA on 18 May.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The administration of the Medicines Control Agency is a matter for its chief executive, Dr. Keith Jones. I have asked the chief executive to reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter to Mr. Martin Redmond from Dr. K. Jones, dated 27 November 1992.

  The Secretary of State for Health will have advised that your recent Parliamentary Question will be answered directly by the Chief Executive of the relevant agency. I give below the response for the Medicines Control Agency:

  PQ 2082 Page 2129

  The Medicines Control Agency is funded by fees paid by applicants for product and other licences and from current licence holders. There was, therefore, no cost to the exchequer from my visit to Washington in May.

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the contributions made in the public consultation exercise run by Yorkshire regional health authority concerning the proposed merger of Kirklees, Dewsbury and Calderdale health authorities into one new health authority.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have no plans to do so. We shall however take all comments into account before reaching a decision on this proposal and when this is announced set out fully the reasons for the conclusions.

  Youth Care Services
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment the Government have made of the quality of services provided to young people in the care of local authorities;

  (2) what monitoring work is being undertaken on provision made under sections 20 to 26 of the Children Act 1989.

  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's report on the first year of the Children Act 1989 is due to be presented to Parliament early in 1993 and will refer to services under sections 20 to 26.

  As part of our strategy for monitoring the Act, we are collecting information covering children looked after by local authorities under section 20.

  The Department's research programme includes studies covering the implementation of the requirements of section 20 regarding provision of accommodation and section 24 on preparing children for leaving care and supporting them after they have left. The studies will identify policies and practices which are supportive to young people leaving care.

  The social services inspectorate is currently planning inspections of services for children in need and children with disabilities, and on representations and complaints procedures.

  Mentally Disordered Offenders
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about the interdepartmental review of health and social services for mentally disordered offenders and others requiring similar services.

  Mr. Yeo
  The steering committee, chaired by Dr. John Reed, completed the review on schedule in July 1992. Earlier progress reports were made by my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Dorrell) in his reply of 13 November 1991 at columns 583–84 to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-East (M r. Paice) and in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 2 June 1992 at columns 453–54.

  We have already published nine consultation documents from the steering committee about the various issues considered in the review. The general direction proposed in these has been widely supported. The steering committee's final summary report, setting out the main conclusions it has reached, is published today and has been placed in the Library. The earlier consultative reports will be published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in four volumes next month. The Departments are also making widely available a digest of some of the issues and initiatives identified during visits to local services.

  In parallel with the final summary report we are issuing for consultation the report of an official working group on services for offenders with learning disabilities or autism and a discussion paper on racial and cultural issues. These are also available in the Library.

  In the course of the review, the Government have reaffirmed that mentally disordered offenders who need care and treatment should receive it from health and personal social services rather than in the criminal justice system. We have also endorsed a series of guiding principles which point in particular to services being
  878
  provided, as far as is compatible with public safety, in more local and less institutional settings. As the final report makes clear, one of the keys to achieving this is joint working between the different agencies concerned at all levels.

  Progress in many places has been stimulated both by the review itself and by the earlier Home Office circular 66/90 which gave advice on practical ways of diverting mentally disordered people from the criminal justice system and avoiding prosecution. We have identified mental illness as a key area in the White Paper "The Health of the Nation" (Cm 1986). This requires health authorities to include mentally disordered offenders in their strategic and purchasing plans. Regional directors of public health have now carried out initial assessments of needs and these will be developed in subsequent years. We are also spending £18 million this year on capital development of medium secure psychiatric units, against only £3 million in 1991–92.

  We shall be considering carefully the recommendations set out in the final report, including their resource implications and other factors bearing on the possible pace of development. Much progress can be achieved by better use of existing services and resources and improved co-ordination between the responsible agencies. The protection afforded to health services for mentally disordered offenders, including those for patients with special needs, by NHS management executive letter (92)6 remains in force at least until March 1993. We are considering what steps should be taken to ensure an adequate level of services beyond that date.

  To help in following up the review, and in maintaining the good co-operation between agencies which it has fostered, we are establishing a new advisory committee on mentally disordered offenders. This is being formed for three years with the following terms of reference:
  To advise the Department of Health and the Home Office on matters referred to it in connection with the provision and co-ordination of services for mentally disordered offenders and others requiring similar services, with particular reference to follow up action on the report of the joint departmental review of services; and to provide advice to the two departments on related issues which are referred to it.

  The membership of the committee will be announced shortly.

  We have already announced the establishment of two further advisory groups, also under Dr. Reed's chairmanship, to look at high security and related psychiatric provision and at the needs of people with psychopathic or personality disorder. These groups will be reporting in the early part of 1993.

  My right hon. and hon. Friends and I believe that this review has made a major contribution to raising the service profile of mentally disordered offenders. We should like to renew our thanks to Dr. Reed and all those who have worked with him.

  NHS Blood Services
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has reached a decision on the future management structure for the NHS blood services.

  Mr. Sackville
  Following a review we have decided to bring together responsibility for managing all parts of the national health service blood services in England into a single national blood authority (NBA). I shall lay an order in due course to establish the new authority. From 1 April
  879
  1993 it will replace the existing Central Blood Laboratories Authority and the National Directorate of the National Blood Transfusion Service; and subsequently will assume responsibility for managing the regional transfusion centres at the earliest opportunity.

  The key objectives of the NBA will be:

  to maintain and promote blood and blood product supply based on our outstanding system of voluntary unpaid donors;

  to implement a cost-effective national strategy for ensuring an adequate supply of blood and blood products to meet national needs;

  to ensure that high standards of safety and quality in the blood supply are maintained throughout the blood services;

  to ensure that blood products meet a consistent standard of safety and quality;

  to ensure the cost efficient operation of the Transfusion Centres and the Bio Products Laboratory both individually and together as parts of the national service.

  Our blood supply is of high quality and among the safest in the world. We believe that the new management structure will enable the blood service to maintain and improve on those high standards and to enhance its operations so that the blood freely donated by our volunteer donors can be used most effectively in the interests of patients.

  I am pleased to announce that Sir Colin Walker, deputy chairman Central Blood Laboratories Authority, has agreed to serve also as the chairman of the new national blood authority when it is set up. Further appointments will be announced later.

  Coventry Ambulance Service
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 6 November,Official Report, column 451–52, if she will now give figures for (a) total emergency cases, (b) the percentage where the response was within eight minutes and (c) the percentage where the response was within 20 minutes, for the ambulance service in Coventry for each year since 1987–88.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information by district in the west midlands is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir James Ackers, the chairman of West Midlands regional health authority, for details.

  NHS Review
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 23 November,Official Report, column 503, what is the name of the management consultants being used in the current review of her Department's requirement for information from the NHS.

  Mr. Sackville
  Touche Ross management consultants.

  Spending per head Hospital and Community Health Services 1990–91

  All ages

  Births

  0 to 4

  5 to 15

  16 to 64

  65 to 74

  75 and over

  £'s Cash

  310

  1,440

  220

  110

  185

  590

  1,255

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a copy of the KPMG Peat Marwick report on the proposal to close hospitals in the South Birmingham health authority.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Publication of the KPMG Peat Marwick report is a matter for West Midlands regional health authority.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she was informed of the proposed establishment of financial information packages from West Midlands regional health authority; and what advice her Department gave about the framework for the new company.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This Department and West Midlands regional health authority jointly funded what was known as the financial information project during the 1980s. The Department was not involved in the arrangements in 1990 by the West Midlands regional health authority to evolve the project into FIP health or in the association of that company with a charitable body known as the health management trust other than to advise on the granting of licences of the crown copyright systems software.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will cut the payments made to financial information packages by West Midlands regional health authority.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The question of payments to Financial Information Project Systems Ltd. is currently under investigation.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was per capita spending on health and personal social services in cash terms and at current prices for each year since 1979 for(a) all ages, (b) births, (c) zero to four years, (d) five to 15 years, (e) 16 to 64 years, (f) 65 to 74 years and (g) 75 years and over; and how much in each case was spent on (i) hospital and community health services, (ii) family practitioner services, (iii) personal social services and (iv) in total in England.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 11 November 1992]: Estimates of spending per head by age group for the personal social services and for the family health services are not now produced every year. The latest available are shown in the table.

  Estimates for the hospital and community health services are still produced annually, but as a result of changes in data sources, definitions and the methodology used, comparable figures for a series of years cannot be produced. The latest estimates are also shown in the table.
  881

  Family Health Services 1989–90

  All ages

  Births

  0 to 4

  5 to 15

  16 to 64

  65 to 74

  75 and over

  £'s Cash

  105

  120

  80

  60

  95

  170

  240

  1990–91 Prices

  155

  130

  85

  65

  100

  185

  225

  Personal Social Services 1989–90

  All ages

  Births

  0 to 4

  5 to 15

  16 to 64

  65 to 74

  75 and over

  £'s Cash

  85

  35

  115

  115

  30

  110

  475

  1990–91 Prides

  95

  35

  125

  125

  35

  120

  515

  Health Services (Demand)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the most recently available estimates of the percentage changes in demand on the hospital and community health services due to demographic change for each year from 1972–73 to 1996–97.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 11 November 1992]: The table estimates the change in the level of resources required each year, as a result of changes in the age structure of the population of England, to maintain hospital and community health services at constant levels per head. Figures prior to 1975–76 are not available. The figure for 1993–94, 0.5 per cent., compares with the estimated increase of at least 2.5 per cent. in hospital and community health activity which we expect the national health service to achieve as a result of the additional funding announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  Estimated percentage change in demand on the hospital and community health services due to demographic changes

  Year

  Increase over previous year Per cent.

  1975–76

  0.1

  1976–77

  0.2

  1977–78

  0.3

  1978–79

  1.0

  1979–80

  1.3

  1980–81

  1.1

  1981–82

  0.4

  1982–83

  0.4

  1983–84

  0.5

  1984–85

  0.6

  1985–86

  1.3

  1986–87

  0.9

  1987–88

  1.4

  1988–89

  1.0

  1989–90

  0.9

  11990–91

  0.7

  21991–92

  0.6

  21992–93

  0.7

  21993–94

  0.5

  21994–95

  0.5

  21995–96

  0.9

  21996–97

  0.7

  1 Estimated.

  2 Projected.

TRANSPORT

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Minister in his Department is responsible for the oversight of deregulation of regulatory matters which fall within the responsibility of his Department.

  Mr. Norris
  I am.

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the main measures of deregulation, or simplification of regulation, which his Department has carried out, or caused to be carried out, since the last general election.

  Mr. Norris
  Since the general election, we have carried out a number of measures of deregulation, including the deregulation of motorway service areas; and European Community measures on liberalising international coach services, international road haulage and road passenger cabotage services.

  In air transport, the Government have been enthusiastic supporters of the EC's third package of aviation measures, establishing a single market in aviation form 1 January 1993. From that date, airlines meeting safety, common financial fitness and EC nationality and effective control criteria will be entitled to an operating licence giving unrestricted access to most intra-Community routes; and there will be free setting of air fares, subject to safeguards against predatory and excessive pricing.

  Agreement has also been reached in principle on a regulation liberalising shipping cabotage services throughout the European Community.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has recently announced proposals which would give local authorities greater discretion in setting speed limits on local roads. In particular, it is proposed that local authorities would no longer need the Secretary of State's consent before establishing a speed limit on a principal road.

  We intend shortly to lay regulations before Parliament to allow right of access to the railway network to certain international services, in order to implement EC directive 91/440; and to introduce legislation at the earliest practicable opportunity to extend the benefits of deregulation to bus services in London.

  Jubilee Line
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is now the expected timescale for the commencement of work on the extension of the Jubilee line.
  883
  Mr. Norris
  I cannot speculate on the time scale in advance of the conclusion of a formal agreement on the terms on which the administrators of Olympia and York is to make its contribution.

  Ozone Depletion
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce a leakage prevention programme for all refrigeration and air conditioning equipment owned and operated by his Department; if he will publish targets for reductions in leakages; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  My Department's property managers are advised to ensure that all plant and equipment is properly maintained and regularly serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's specification, legal requirements and professional advice on best practice. This includes air conditioning and refrigeration equipment.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will implement a refrigerant recycling and reclaim policy covering all departmental equipment currently using chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochloro-fluorocarbons; if he will publish targets for departmental reuse and recycling; if he will implement an equipment conversion and replacement programme for all departmental uses of CFCs and HCFCs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  Plant and equipment in my Department are managed locally. The Department is appointing a network of professional advisers to help property managers check plant and equipment and to draw up forward maintenance programmes. This will include measures to replace ozone-depleting substances as soon as possible, having regard to legal requirements and advice on best practice. Property managers will be encouraged to set and monitor targets locally, taking account of the actual equipment and substances in use, the alternatives available and the opportunities for recycling.

  Women Passengers
  Ms. Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures have been taken within the last five years to improve the safety of women using public transport in London.

  Mr. Norris
  Safety for all their customers is the top priority of British Rail and London Transport. Over the last five years they have introduced a number of measures to make services safer and more secure. On BR and London Underground these include the provision of closed circuit television and improved lighting at stations, in subways and at station car parks, mirrors to see around corners and helppoints on underground platforms. London Buses Ltd. has introduced two-way radios and assault klaxons and it is in the process of installing video cameras. BR and London Underground Ltd. work in close liaison with the British Transport police, and London Buses Ltd. with the Metropolitan police, whose officers make regular patrols of premises and vehicles. In conjunction with the Suzy Lamplugh trust, an organisation dedicated to reducing risks to the personal safety of women, transport operators and the British Transport police, my Department has published a leaflet entitled "Travel Safely by Public Transport".

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for the future of British Rail's strategy entitled "Organising for Quality" following privatisation.

  Mr. Freeman
  "Organising for Quality" has brought a more commercial approach to the organisation and management of the railway but within the constraints of a nationalised industry. The Government's proposals in "New Opportunities for the Railways" (Cm 2012) will take this process further by introducing more competition, greater efficiency and a wider choice of services more closely tailored to what customers want.

  Freight Transport
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what specific targets have been established by his Department for the development of combined freight transport schemes in the United Kingdom up until the year 2000.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 23 November, at column 562. The Department does not set such targets. The development of combined freight transport is a commercial matter for individual operators.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  VAT
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for South Hams of early November, about the VAT surcharge levied on Western Approaches Yachts; and what instructions his officials have with regard to penalties for small businesses.

  Sir John Cope
  Customs has been asked to look into the points my hon. Friend raised in his letter of 10 November and a reply will be sent as soon as its inquiries are completed.

  Customs applies the law on VAT penalties, subject in appropriate cases to appeal to VAT tribunals or the courts, and with due regard to the reports of the Public Accounts Committee.

  EC Economic and Finance Council
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

  Mr. Lamont
  The Economic and Finance Council of the European Community met in Brussels under my chairmanship on 23 November. The Paymaster General represented the United Kingdom.

  A national programme for economic convergence submitted by Belgium was discussed. The Council commended Belgium's record of price and monetary stability but concluded that fiscal consolidation was the key requirement in the conduct of Belgium's economic policy. The Council therefore welcomed the multi-annual measures which the Belgian Government have set in place and their new commitment to continue to reduce their debt ratio after 1996.
  885
  The Council held a useful discussion about the future financing of the Community. Along with the United Kingdom, many member states continued to argue that the Commission's compromise proposals still involved unacceptable increases in expenditure. We also made it clear that the United Kingdom would not accept any adverse change to the abatement.

  Sir Leon Brittan gave the Council a short outline of the Commission's proposals for changes in the EC legislative framework for banking supervision in the light of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International case.

  Over lunch, the Council discussed the economic situation in the Community. I announced that there would be a full discussion of economic issues at the European Council and that consideration should be given to the measures which member states can take, both individually and collectively, to hasten economic recovery.

  The Council also reached a political agreement on the investment services directive, the remaining financial services measure from the single market programme. All the Government's negotiating objectives were met concerning the outstanding issues which were discussed. The directive will offer worthwhile opportunities for the British financial services sector.

  The report of the high-level group on fraud, set up at the United Kingdom's initiative, was also adopted and welcomed as containing useful proposals which would improve the effectiveness of measures to counter fraud in the Community.

  Subject to reserves from Denmark and Germany, the Council also agreed to increase travellers' allowances so that travellers arriving from outside the Community will be able to bring in goods to a value of 175 ecu without incurring further tax; and that the amount for goods that tax-free shops can sell VAT free to travellers within the EC is restricted to the value of 90 ecu. Again, this was the welcome result of a United Kingdom initiative.

  The excise simplification directive was also agreed subject to a German scrutiny reserve and final modifications to the text in the jurist/linguists group. Officials were urged to resolve the remaining issues for agreement in the VAT simplification directive. It was agreed that the 7th VAT directive should be discussed at the next meeting of ECOFIN on 14 December. Meanwhile the United Kingdom made it clear that we could not agree to the current proposals for VAT on works of art at import.

  The taxation of road transport was also discussed as part of a package of proposals to liberalise road transport which will also be discussed at the Transport Council on 7 December. It was agreed that ECOFIN should return to this issue on 14 December.

  Finally, the Council agreed, without further discussion, balance of payments loans to the Baltic states and Council conclusions on the Ruding report on corporate taxation. The latter emphasised importance of subsidiarity in this area and also identified a number of further criteria which need to be considered before any action is proposed.

  These conclusions are a valuable step forward and establish an acceptable framework for future consideration of corporate tax issues in the Community.

  Windsor Castle
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimate of(a) the annual cost of insuring Windsor castle against fire, (b) the annual cost of insuring the contents of Windsor castle against fire damage, (c) the cost of insuring all Government-owned buildings against fire damage, (d) the cost of insuring the contents of all Government-owned buildings against fire damage and (e) what was the cost of (i) repairing such buildings and (ii) repairing and replacing the contents of such buildings in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lamont
  Estimates of the insurance costs are not available. There is no central record of losses but the value of losses due to fire reported by Departments to the Treasury during a review of Government insurance arrangements in 1991 was:

  £ million

  Year

  Value

  1985–86

  14.4

  1986–87

  3.4

  1987–88

  181.3

  1988–89

  0.8

  1989–90

  4.7

  The 1987–88 figure includes a sum of £180.1 million relating to a single major fire at a Ministry of Defence depot. The figures do not include losses in respect of incidents costing less than £100,000 at Ministry of Defence establishments.

  Tropical Timber
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue the Government derived from VAT on imported tropical timber in 1991.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 26 November 1992]: Not all tropical timbers are separately identified in the Customs tariff which is the basis of available statistics.

  Calculations based on the value of imports of identifiable tropical timber recorded during 1991 show that the amount of VAT payable was approximately £25 million.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has for proceeds from the national lottery to be made available to community sports programmes.

  Mr. Brooke
  As the White Paper "A National Lottery: Raising Money for Good Causes" stated, it is intended that the proceeds of the national lottery will benefit a number of areas, including sport. Responsibilities and arrangements for the distribution of national lottery proceeds will be set out in the Bill which I hope to introduce soon.

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will estimate how much it would cost to extend the television licensing concessionary
  887
  scheme to make all housing schemes reserved for the exclusive use of retired tenants eligible for the concessionary licence rate.

  Mr. Brooke
  The cost of extending the concessaionry television licence scheme to all housing schemes provided specifically for retired tenants is estimated to be around £25 million in lost licence fee revenue.

  Hampton Court
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the total cost to public funds arising from the restoration of Hampton Court; and what percentage this represented in terms of the total cost of restoration.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have asked the chief executive of the Historic Royal Palaces agency, Mr. David Beeton, to reply to the hon. Member and I shall place a copy of his reply in the Library.

  Letter to Mr. Tony Banks from Mr. David Beeton, dated 26 November 1992:

  The Secretary of State for National Heritage has asked me to reply to your Written Parliamentary Question asking the total cost to public funds arising from the restoration of Hampton Court Palace; and what percentage this represented in terms of the total cost of restoration.

  The total cost of rebuilding the damaged part of Hampton Court Palace following the fire in 1986 was £10.4 million. A further £1.1 million was spent on redecorating and representing the restored interior. The latter sum was a commercial investment with a forecast return in excess of 8 per cent. per annum. In the four months since the State Apartments re-opened, that investment has yielded a return substantially in excess of 8 per cent.

  The total cost of both elements was met from public funds.

  Windsor Castle
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his estimate of the cost to Government funds arising from his undertaking to restore fully Windsor castle following the recent fire.

  Mr. Brooke
  An estimate will not be available until the damaged areas have been surveyed and plans for restoration have been prepared.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when fire safety precautions were last inspected at Windsor castle by authorities reporting to his office.

  Mr. Brooke
  The fire officer of PSA Building Management completed a report for the Department of the Environment on 7 January 1991 on those parts of Windsor castle not then subject to rewiring.

  York Minster
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the total cost to public funds arising from the restoration of York Minster following the fire; and what proportion this represented in terms of the total cost of restoration.

  Mr. Brooke
  The total cost of the restoration work to York Minster was £2.25 million. This was met in full by insurance, so there was no need for public expenditure.

ENVIRONMENT

  Accountancy Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the contracts which since 1990 have been awarded to accountancy firms criticised by the Department of Trade and Industry inspectors.

  Mr. Howard
  The three contracts let by my Department to the accountancy arms of firms criticised by Department of Trade and Industry inspectors in reports published since the beginning of 1990 were awarded to Coopers and Lybrand or its successor Coopers Lybrand Deloitte. The work involved was as follows:

  External audit of the Housing Corporation

  Advice on privatisation of the PSA

  External audit of the National Rivers Authority

  Plutonium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the implications for plutonium and spent fuel shipments of the environmental protection imperatives included in the "Agenda 21" document agreed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

  Mr. Maclean
  Plutonium and spent fuel shipments are made only subject to stringent and internationally agreed standards. Such practice is wholly in accordance with the "Agenda 21" document agreed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the main measures of deregulation, or simplification of regulation, which his Department has carried out, or caused to be carried out, since 9 April;

  (2) if he will list the main measures increasing regulation in any area for which his Department has responsibility, which his Department has caused to be put into effect since 9 April.

  Mr. Redwood
  Following a major review, new building regulations came into force on 1 June which completed the change from rigid mandatory rules to broad functional requirements. This, together with the revision of the associated technical guidance, allows greater freedom and a more flexible approach for designers and building control authorities. We have also issued, jointly with the Home Office, a new guide for fire safety and building regulations as part of a deregulation initiative to simplify procedures for building work to which the separate systems of building control and fire regulations apply.

  A number of planning regulations have been introduced since the last general election to implement the Planning and Compensation Act 1991; they have replaced or updated previous controls or were broadly neutral in the mix of new controls and deregulation. In addition, two new regulations have been introduced—The Town and Planning (Demolition of Buildings) Direction 1992 and the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 1992—and a new deregulation measure—the Town and Planning (Simplified Planning Zones) Regulations 1992.
  889
  New statutory instruments are being made mainly in the course of implementing the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and in particular establishing the new council tax system. It is of course hoped that the new system will be simpler for authorities and for the public than the community charge system.

  The Local Authorities (Capital Finance) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 1992 give temporary permission for local authorities to spend the whole of the capital receipts which they obtain between 13 November 1992 and 31 December 1993, subject to a few exceptions.

  New licensing regulations governing the release of barn owls into the wild have been laid and will come into effect on 1 January 1993.

  In addition, the Government have announced a change of approach with a new general presumption in favour of the use of economic instruments rather than the traditional regulation to deliver environmental goals.

  Diesel Emissions
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been undertaken by his Department upon the effect of diesel emissions on the soiling of building exteriors within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department has commissioned research at Queen's university, Belfast and Middlesex university on the sources and mechanisms of soiling of building exteriors. Diesel smoke is recognised as a major contributory factor.

  HCFCs and CFCs
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the latest information he has on the phasing out of the use of chlorofluorocarbons; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what proposals Her Majesty's Government have to speed up the phasing out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The fourth meeting of parties to the Montreal protocol agreed on 25 November in Copenhagen to phase out CFCs by 1 January 1996, with an interim cut of 75 per cent. by 1 January 1994. It also agreed to freeze HCFC consumption from 1 January 1995 at a level of 3.1 per cent. of 11989 CFC consumption plus HCFC consumption in that year. This freeze will be followed by a 35 per cent. cut of that level by 1 January 2004; a 65 per cent. cut by 2010; a 90 per cent. cut by 2015; a 99.5 per cent. cut by 1 January 2020; and phase-out by 2030. A legal framework for control of applications of HCFCs was also agreed. The meeting also agreed to phase out carbon tetrachloride by 1 January 1996 with a 50 per cent. cut by 1 January 1995; methyl chloroform by 1 January 1996 with a 50 per cent. cut by 1 January 1994; and halons by 1 January 1994. Methyl bromide will be frozen at 1991 levels by 1 January 1995.

  This agreement is good news for the ozone layer and, indeed, good news for the environment more generally. Industry has been given a clear signal. On CFCs and halons, companies which make or use refrigerators, solvents, air-conditioning and fire-fighting equipment must move fast, as the new controls will have a major impact in only 13 months time. I intend to take steps to ensure that the industry is aware of what needs to be done.
  890
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what uses of CFCs will be granted exemption and continued use permitted; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Under the Montreal protocol as revised in Copenhagen this week, any essential use exemption for CFCs can be granted only on the basis of agreement by the parties to the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, at its meeting in 1994.

  Peat
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration has been given to inviting non-governmental organisations that have knowledge of the issues involved to be represented on his Department's working group on peat extraction and related matters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary announced on 7 July 1992 in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson),Official Report, column 158, the working group includes representatives drawn from the statutory nature and countryside conservation bodies in Great Britain, mineral planning authorities, the peat industry and Government Departments; and it has at its disposal a comprehensive range of expertise. I recognise the knowledge of some of the non-governmental organisations on peat matters. They have been invited to submit views to the group and will be further consulted as the work progresses.

  Water Quality
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of water quality samples in each of the EC member states passed(a) EC and (b) World Health Organisation standards for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Maclean
  A total of 98.6 per cent. of tests carried out in the United Kingdom in 1991 complied with legal standards. These standards take account of WHO guidelines and the requirements of the EC drinking water directive. We do not hold information on compliance by other EC member states.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish and place in the Library in hard copy and in machine-readable form, as soon as possible after issuing his provisional capping criteria for 1993–94, a table showing for each authority its 1992–93 budget with and without adjustments for local authority functions the maximum possible 1993–94 budget permitted by his provisional capping criteria and the percentage changes between both versions of the 1992–93 budget and the maximum 1993–94 budget.

  Mr. Howard
  I shall shortly be placing in the Library in hard copy and machine-readable form a table showing each authority:

  (a) its 1992–93 budget on the basis of the latest information available to me;

  (b) the notional amount (ie the base from which to measure the budget increase for capping purposes) which I have proposed for it;

  891

  (c) an illustrative exemplification, on the basis of my proposals for notional amounts and the exemplifications of the proposed standard spending assessments (SSAs) which I have published in my consultation paper on the Settlement, showing the maximum 1993–94 budget which would not be excessive or represent an excessive increase under my provisional capping criteria; and

  (d) comparisons between this maximum and its 1992–93 budget and proposed notional amount respectively.

  It is not possible to calculate the maximum possible 1993–94 budgets permitted by my provisional criteria until final notional amounts have been specified and final standard spending assessments have been calculated, which will necessarily be after the notional amounts and the local government finance reports have been made and approved by the House.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish and place in the Library in hard copy and in machine-readable form, as soon as possible after issuing his proposals for transitional relief for 1993–94 council tax payers, a table showing for each authority the transitional relief scheme council tax liability for a property in band D with no discounts to be used to calculate the entitlement to transitional relief.

  Draft council tax valuation lists sent to billing authorities on 27 November

  Band A

  Band B

  Band C

  Band D

  Band E

  Band F

  Band G

  Band H

  Total

  North

  749,060

  188,646

  181,822

  90,794

  47,485

  23,517

  14,238

  1,528

  1,297,090

  North West

  1,184,400

  490,086

  456,529

  231,590

  129,822

  68,029

  51,143

  5,221

  2,616,820

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  972,765

  397,069

  333,972

  159,199

  98,617

  52,074

  33,686

  3,022

  2,050,404

  West Midlands

  707,881

  529,040

  407,514

  212,792

  129,358

  72,861

  48,347

  5,457

  2,113,250

  East Midlands

  659,261

  377,404

  305,742

  158,200

  86,676

  44,739

  31,247

  3,056

  1,666,325

  East Anglia

  199,948

  246,103

  203,179

  111,613

  62,410

  32,584

  20,915

  2,434

  879,186

  South West

  330,495

  491,891

  476,080

  309,839

  205,519

  112,592

  75,118

  7,778

  2,009,312

  South East

  355,771

  722,972

  1,221,178

  891,405

  581,694

  343,170

  276,697

  38,870

  4,431,757

  London

  85,794

  384,389

  791,263

  746,103

  471,029

  233,020

  196,288

  53,336

  2,961,222

  England

  5,245,375

  3,827,600

  4,377,279

  2,911,535

  1,812,610

  982,586

  747,679

  120,702

  20,025,366

  Source: Valuation Office agency.

  Environmental Education
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the funding provided by Government Departments for the support of information services for environmental education.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department supports information services for environmental education by a variety of means: directly by the Department; through non-departmental public bodies with environmental responsibilities; and by supporting voluntary organisations through grant aid. Specific funding for information services is not separately identified.

  Ordnance Survey
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the Ordnance Survey corporate plan for 1993 to 1997.

  Mr. Howard
  I have approved the Ordnance Survey corporate plan for 1993–97 and have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of both Houses.
  892
  Mr. Howard
  Scheme council taxes will be calculated by each billing authority depending on authorities' actual budget requirements. At this stage, no figures are therefore held centrally.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the draft valuation lists sent to billing authorities in England on 27 November.

  Mr. Redwood
  The draft valuation lists sent to billing authorities in England show the bandings of the 20,025,366 dwellings in England. The number of dwellings in each council tax band is given in the table. Information about the number of dwellings in each billing authority area and their distribution between bands has been placed in the Library.

  Local taxpayers will be able to inspect draft lists at the principal office of billing authorities from next week. The lists will also be available for inspection at local offices of the Valuation Office agency.

  The bandings are based on the capital value of dwellings had they been sold on 1 April 1991. The Valuation Office agency was responsible for the supervision of the valuation exercise and was assisted by private sector valuers. The valuation exercise was largely complete by July 1992, since when addresses have been validated by local authorities.

  Departmental Relocation
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make available to the trade union side of the Department of Environment (Central) Whitley council a copy of the "Survey of Staff Travel, Times and Costs" relating to the proposed move to docklands, which has been compiled by his Department.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 25 November 1992]: As my right hon. and learned Friend announced on 12 November at column 958, the Department of the Environment will remain in Marsham street for at least the next three years. The Department's consultants have yet to submit their final report on staff travel. When it is available, the results will be discussed with the trade union side.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Pesticides
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those companies which are licensed to manufacture or sell 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D in the United Kingdom.
  893
  Mr. Soames
  Under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 (COPR), approval is given for the sale, supply, storage, advertisement and use of formulated pesticide products. Approval is not required for manufacture.

  The following companies hold approval under COPR in respect of products containing 2,4-D:

  Agrichem Ltd.

  A. H. Marks and Co. Ltd.

  Anteco Ltd.

  Asda Stores Ltd.

  Atlas Interlates Ltd.

  AZKO Chemicals Ltd.

  B and Q plc

  BASF plc

  Battle Hayward and Bower Ltd.

  BP Chemicals Ltd.

  BP Oil Ltd.

  Burts and Harvey

  Certified Laboratories Ltd.

  Chemie Linz UK Ltd.

  Chemsearch

  Chipman Ltd.

  Doff Portland Ltd.

  Dow Chemical Co. Ltd.

  Dow Elanco Ltd.

  Farm Protection Ltd.

  Farmers Crop Chemicals Ltd.

  Fisons plc

  Fisons plc Horticulture Division

  Focus DIY Ltd.

  Gem Gardening (Division of Joseph Metcalf)

  H. and T. Proctor (Division of Willett and Son. Bristol Ltd.)

  Humber Fertilisers plc

  Imperial Chemical Industries plc

  J. Arthur Bowers Garden Care Products

  J. D. Campbell and Sons Ltd.

  Joseph Metcalf Ltd.

  May and Baker Garden Care

  Mirfield Sales Services Ltd.

  Murphy Home and Garden Products

  Nomix Chipman Ltd.

  Nottcutts Garden Centres Ltd.

  Pan Britannica Industries plc

  Rentokil Ltd.

  Rhone Poulenc Agriculture Ltd.

  Rhone Poulenc Environmental Products

  Richardsons Fertilisers Ltd.

  Rigby Taylor Ltd.

  Rite Feed Ltd.

  Shell Chemicals UK Ltd.

  Sinclair Horticulture and Leisure plc

  Smyth Morris Chemicals

  Spraydex Ltd.

  Steetley Chemicals Ltd.

  Synchemicals Ltd.

  T Parker and Sons (Turf Management) Ltd.

  Tesco Stores Ltd.

  The Boots Company plc

  Thomas Elliot Ltd.

  TriTrade Ltd.

  Universal Crop Protection Ltd.

  Vitagrow (Fertilisers) Ltd.

  Vitax Ltd.

  Wilkinson Home and Garden Stores

  There are a large number of distributors and retailers who may sell agricultural pesticides if the sale is carried out by a person holding a certificate of competence recognised by Ministers. These are not listed, but may sell pesticide products containing 2,4-D to the end user.

  All pesticide products containing 2,4,5-T are in the process of being revoked. No such product may be used after 28 February 1993.
  894
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will specify the restrictions governing the sale and distribution of the pesticides 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Soames
  The sale and distribution of pesticide products containing 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D are subject to the general conditions which must be met when pesticides are advertised, sold, supplied, stored and used. These are consents made under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. The consents have been published in "Pesticides 1992" which is held in the House Library.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which Minister in his Department is responsible for oversight of deregulation of regulatory matters which fall within the responsibility of his Department.

  Mr. Curry
  The Parliamentary Secretary, the Earl Howe.

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the main measures of deregulation, or simplification of regulation, which his Department has carried out, or caused to be carried out, since 9 April.

  Mr. Curry
  The main measures of deregulation which my Department has carried out since the last general election are as follows:

  Sheep Scab (Revocation) Order.

  Restricting certification requirements for imports of medicated feedingstuffs only to those containing prescription only medicines.

  Exemption for pet shopowners from the need to register their premises for the sale of medicated feed in retail pack sizes of 5 kg. or less.

  Publication of Medicines Act Veterinary Information Services (MAVIS) newsletter.

  Cattle (Transport)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 23 November,Official Report, column 528–29, regarding the transport of cattle, what informal requests have been made by the Dutch authorities for the sealing of lorries carrying British cattle to Holland.

  Mr. Soames
  An informal approach has been made by the Dutch authorities for the sealing of vehicles transporting calves from Great Britain to Holland. No further consideration will be given to the request until it has been confirmed in writing.

  CAP Pound
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the common agricultural policy pound to be devalued in line with the open market traded pound; and what effect he expects the transition to have on the price of butter measured from current levels.

  Mr. Curry
  New agrimonetary arrangements compatible with the single market are due to be put in place on 1 January 1993. Under the new system, the green exchange rates used to convert CAP support prices into sterling will
  895
  be kept in line with market exchange rates. If the present exchange rate for sterling continues until the end of the year, a further green pound devaluation will be necessary, in addition to the 7 per cent. devaluation agreed at the Agriculture Council and the automatic devaluation of 2 per cent. resulting from the realignment within the exchange rate mechanism of 22 November. While the support price for butter will rise in line with these devaluations, the effect on the retail price for butter is likely to be much smaller. This is because retail prices will ultimately be determined by supply and demand conditions in the market and these will depend on the use of intervention, the relatively high level of commercial stocks and the fact that packaging and handling costs will not be directly affected by the devaluations.

  Meat Trade
  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
  [holding answer 23 November 1992]: During 1992 Poland and Czechoslovakia have notified new conditions coverning a wide range of animal and public health guarantees for the importation of meat and meat products, including beef from Great Britain. In both cases, the conditions exceed those recommended by the Office Internationale des Epizooties and as such are restricting trade. Officials are currently negotiating with the veterinary authorities concerned to agree alternative conditions which will enable trade to resume.

DEFENCE

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the main measures of deregulation, or simplification of regulation, which his Department has carried out, or caused to be carried out, since 9 April.

  Mr. Aitken
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State does not generally have responsibility for regulations which impact on the business community. However, a number of procedures within the Department have been revised to reduce the administrative burden on companies. In addition, we have recently undertaken, in consultation with the defence industry, an extensive review of our contracts procedures and a number of measures will be implemented which will have the same effect.

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Minister in his Department is responsible for the oversight of deregulation of regulatory matters which fall within the responsibility of his Department.

  Mr. Aitken
  I am.

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the main measures increasing regulation in any area for which his Department has responsibility, which his Department has caused to be put into effect since 9 April.

  Mr. Aitken
  No such measures have been put into effect.

  Allivane International
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he possesses in regard to the sale of advanced 155 mm shells by Allivane International to the Yugoslavian Federal Directorate of Supply and Procurements in 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Aitken
  It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on individual export licence applications.

  National Parks
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all land in national parks where his Ministry has extended or significantly intensified military activity in each of the last five years; in which cases he has consulted with the local planning authority, Countryside Commission and national park authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State will write to the hon. Member.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all land in national parks surplus to defence requirements which has been released in each of the last five years; in each case if he will indicate what improvements there have been to public access; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State will write to the hon. Member.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ameliorate the effects of military activity in national parks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence attaches great importance to its declaration of commitment to the national parks and endeavours to promote the objectives of the park authorities wherever these are compatible with the needs of national defence.

  Land and Buildings
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money was spent on purchasing land and buildings by his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The amount spent by the Ministry of Defence on the purchase of land and buildings in each of the last five years was:

  FY

  £m

  1991–92

  21.201

  1990–91

  7.555

  1989–90

  29.266

  1988–89

  6.069

  1987–88

  6.032

  Brecon Beacons National Park
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what agreement he has negotiated, or is currently negotiating, with the Cnewr estate in the Brecon
  897
  Beacons national park for the use of the land; whether the national park authority was consulted about these negotiations concerning that land; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what plans he has for the use of the Cnewr estate in the Brecon Beacons national park; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Army has been using the Cnewr estate for adventurous training on an informal basis since 1976. The local defence land agent was approached by the trustees of the estate on 31 July 1992 with a view to putting arrangements on a more formal basis. These discussions are still at an early stage. The national park officer was informed on 22 September, when it was proposed that a meeting should take place between MOD, the national park and the estate.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for allowing public access to the Cnewr estate in the Brecon Beacons national park, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Cnewr estate is privately owned and public access is not, therefore, a matter for the Ministry of Defence.

  Ministry Land (Access)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations in each of the last five years where his Ministry has improved public access to his Ministry's land, giving the location, timing and nature of the improvement in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State will write to the hon. Member.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what liaison he has with(a) the Countryside Commission and (b) the Ramblers Association at a national, regional and local level concerning improving the right of access to land owned and leased by his Ministry.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence encourages public access to its land whenever possible. There is a well-established system of consultation with local parties interested in the countryside. We also have national level liaison with the Countryside Commission on a wide range of issues.

  Land Sales
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list on a county basis in England, Scotland and Wales the land that his Department has sold, giving the name of the site, the number of hectares, to whom the land was sold and for how much, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  This information is not maintained in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Landscape Preservation and Access
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes he proposes to his policy on landscape preservation and access as outlined in chapter 19 of his Ministry's document entitled "Environment Manual"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The policy on landscape preservation and acciss is kept under review. Chapter 19 of the MOD "Environment Manual" is changed as necessary.

  Ministry Land
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the land that his Department has bought, giving the name in each county of England, Scotland and Wales of the site, the number of hectares, and for how much the land was bought, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the future requirements of his Ministry of land required for military training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We continually assess our requirement for training land to ensure that we retain only that which is essential to meet our operational and training requirements.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many copies of his leaflet "Walks on Ministry of Defence Lands" have been published; at what cost; how they have been distributed to the public; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Since its launch on 21 May 1992, just over 155,000 copies of the leaflet "Walks on Ministry of Defence Lands" have been published at a total cost of £28,500, or 18p each.

  Copies have been distributed to tourist information centres throughout the United Kingdom, public libraries, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Youth Hostels Association, national parks, tourist information offices, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, the National Council of YMCAs, the National Trust, the Royal Society for Nature Conservation, the Countryside Council, the Countryside Council for Wales, English Nature and the Ramblers Association. A further 48,000 copies of the leaflet were distributed with the August edition of the magazine "Country Walking". Copies were also distributed by the "Defence Into the 90s" exhibition tour and the Ministry of Defence stand "Defending the Environment" at the Royal show in Stoneleigh.

  In addition, 8,000 leaflets have been despatched in response to specific requests. Finally, copies of the leaflet have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Defence Estimates
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about progress he has made concerning his Department's contribution to the citizens charter following the publication of the Statement on Defence Estimates 1992.
  899
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As was explained in the Statement on the Defence Estimates (Cm 1981, paragraphs 336 to 337), the Ministry of Defence does not provide any service direct to the public. The Department's principal response to the citizens charter is therefore the continued provision of a high standard of defence capability giving value for money to the tax payer. The performance and quality disciplines inherent in the new management strategy and in the formation of next steps agencies are however valuable tools through which the Department is seeking to improve the standard of the service it provides.

  For examples of where the work of the Department is relevant to the citizens charter I refer the hon. Gentleman to the White Paper "Citizen's Charter First Report 1992" (Cm 2101), published on Wednesday 25 November 1992.

  Reactor Cores
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current locations of the reactor cores from (i) HMS Sovereign, (ii) HMS Swiftsure and (iii) HMS Revenge.

  Mr. Aitken
  The reactor cores of HMS Sovereign and HMS Revenge remain contained on board the submarines. The core removed from HMS Swiftsure is stored ashore in containers authorised for this purpose.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the last reactor core was moved to Sellafield; and from where it was moved.

  Mr. Aitken
  The last nuclear reactor core moved to Sellafield was transferred from Rosyth. As the core was unirradiated, individual module transport containers, fully licensed by the Department of Transport, were able to be used for this transfer, which took place between July and September 1992.

  Forces in Germany
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what respects the legal basis for stationing British forces in Germany has changed since German unification.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  Ordnance Board
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the responsibilities of the Ordnance Board with regard to nuclear weapons; and what consideration he has given to changes in these responsibilities.

  Mr. Aitken
  The role of the Ordnance Board in respect of nuclear weapons is described in the MOD's chief scientific adviser's report on the safety of United Kingdom nuclear weapons, a copy of which is available in the Library. The hon. Member will be aware that the Ministry of Defence has accepted all of the recommendations in this report and is proceeding with their implementation.

  Trident Safety Committee
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the role and function of the Trident safety committee; when it was established; how many personnel are assigned to it; and what is its annual budget.
  900
  Mr. Aitken
  The Trident safety committee is an internal committee which supports the director general strategic weapon systems in discharging his specific responsibilities in relation to the safety of the Trident II strategic weapon system. It was established in its present form in 1988. The committee has two full-time staff and draws on about 15 others. The total annual staff costs associated with the committee's work are in the order of £400,000.

  Polaris
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies his Department has commissioned in the United States of America in the last five years on the disposal of Polaris missiles and their components.

  Mr. Aitken
  As part of normal business under the Polaris sales agreement, my Department obtains advice and guidance from the United States authorities on all aspects of the disposal of Polaris missiles and their components.

  Rosyth Dry Dock
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when RD46 dry dock at Rosyth is expected to become operational.

  Mr. Aitken
  RD46 became operational on 24 November 1992.

  Defence Contractors
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former officials of his Department have taken up gainful employment with defence contractors during the past three years.

  Mr. Aitken
  A total of 285 serving or former civil servants have applied, under the Government's business appointment rules, to take up paid employment with defence contractors since January 1990. In the same period 268 members of the armed forces have similarly applied under the rules. Applicants are not required to advise whether, in the event, employment was taken up.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what record is kept of former members of the armed services taking up gainful employment with companies supplying his Department.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Records are maintained of all applications received from members of the armed forces and civil servants wishing to take up paid employment outside Crown service under the Government's business appointment rules. The rules do not require applicants to advise whether, in the event, employment was taken up.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Video Duplication
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures the Government are taking to stop the infringement of copyright by illegal video duplication.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988) provides for significant criminal penalties for those
  901
  who make or sell unauthorised copies of audiovisual works, and makes it clear that this is also a civil offence. It is for the police themselves to determine the priority they give to the investigation of particular criminal offences. It is open to copyright owners to take civil action to enforce their rights. The Patent Office is active in the creation of awareness of the existence of rights subsisting in these works by widespread dissemination of promotional literature and the marketing of an audiovisual aid.

  Intellectual Property Contracts
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will bring forward proposals for legislation to restrict the powers of United Kingdom companies to enter into intellectual property contracts with offshore companies and to increase the level of supervision of such contracts.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have no plans to bring forward proposals for legislation to restrict the powers of United Kingdom companies to enter into contracts concerning intellectual property, or to supervise such contracts.

  Mr. Miller
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what monitoring his Department carries out of intellectual property contracts with offshore companies entered into by United Kingdom companies; what estimate he has made of the effect of such contracts on the conduct of pension funds and life assurance funds; what provisions exist as to the role of auditors in such cases; if he will list companies known to have been involved; and if he will make a statement on the role of supervisory bodies in these circumstances.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department does not monitor contracts concerning intellectual property entered into by United Kingdom companies or their effects on pension and life assurance funds. Auditors' activities are governed by company law.

  Pit Closures
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what terms of reference were given to J. T. Boyd Company for its present consultancy work; when work commenced; when he expects it will be completed; at what estimated cost; if he will place a copy of the completed report in the Library; and if the consultancy work was put out to tender.

  Mr. Eggar
  Regarding the terms of reference, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Porter) on 20 November at column 433. Boyds commenced work on 28 October 1992 and is expected to submit its final report early in the new year. The completed report will be published and a copy will be placed in the Library. On the remaining points, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Cummings) on 24 November at column 611.

  Post Bus Services
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many post bus services have existed, and what route mileage they have covered, in each year since 1989.

  Mr. Leigh
  The number of post bus services and their route mileage in each year since 1989 are as follows:902

  As at

  Routes

  Miles (millions)

  April 1989

  170

  3.40

  April 1990

  172

  3.45

  April 1991

  173

  3.50

  April 1992

  179

  3.75

  Pension Funds
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many instances of alleged irregularities in the administration of company pension funds have been drawn to the attention of his Department in the last 12 months; what investigations in respect of these allegations are in progress; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  There have been four instances in the past 12 months where complaints have included such allegations, but I cannot provide any further detail for reasons of confidentiality. I should make it clear, however, that my Department's powers under the Companies Act are confined to the investigation of companies themselves—they do not extend to examining the affairs of any pension funds administered by trustees on behalf of employees, which is a matter for other regulatory and investigatory bodies with whom my Department liaises where appropriate.

  Funeral Costs
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received requesting an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading into coffin prices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have received no such representations.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken over representations received from the National Death Centre asking him to make changes in the arrangements for consumer protection in the field of funeral expenses; and what plans he has to meet the National Association of Funeral Directors to discuss the matter.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have received one such representation and I am considering it. I have no current plans to meet the National Association of Funeral Directors.

  Bankruptcies
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number of companies which have gone bankrupt in each local authority in England and Wales in each year since 1987.

  Mr. Neil Hampton
  There are two types of company insolvencies: compulsory liquidations and creditors' voluntary liquidations. No geographical information on creditors' voluntary liquidations is available. For compulsory liquidations the only geographical information available is by the court in which the order was made. This is not a good basis for analysing company location, since many cases in England and Wales are dealt with in London regardless of the company's location, and work may be moved between courts according to differing workloads.

  Coal Consumption
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the levels of the United Kingdom coal consumption for each month of the last 12 months.

  Mr. Eggar
  The total monthly consumption of coal in the United Kingdom in each of the last 12 months was as follows:

  Coal consumption (thousand tonnes)

  1991

  October

  8,143

  November

  9,073

  December

  11,302

  1992

  January

  9,035

  February

  9,384

  March

  10,323

  April

  7,985

  May

  6,963

  June

  8,782

  July

  7,071

  August

  6,411

  September

  8,432

  Coal Stores
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total maximum storage capacity for coal(a) at British Coal sites and (b) in total for the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Eggar
  Questions about the storage capacity for coal at British Coal sites are a matter for the corporation. Figures are not held centrally for the total storage capacity for coal in the United Kingdom.

  Companies House and Radiocommunications Agency
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 9 November,Official Report, columns 603–5, what has been the cost to the Exchequer during the last 12 months of the visit by the chief executives of Companies House to the United States and Canada.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The chief executive's costs were just under £4,100. These were met from Companies House running costs, which are funded by fees and charges to customers.

  Coal Products Ltd.
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the current financing arrangements of Coal Products Ltd. as a wholly owned subsidiary of British Coal.

  Mr. Eggar
  Following a financial restructuring of Coal Products Ltd. (CPL) involving a write-off of £120 million of loans and cancellation of £22.5 million of preference share capital, the then Secretary of State for Energy said in a parliamentary answer on 17 March 1988 at column 641 that it was intended that no further financial assistance should be given to the company by the Government or via British Coal, whether in the form of loans or guarantees. This year, however, the banks who had been financing
  904
  CPL's operations indicated that they were no longer willing to extend their loans to the company without guarantees or letters of comfort being given by the Government or British Coal. In this situation, and given the difficult circumstances that the coal industry was facing, it was decided in August that British Coal should be authorised to finance repayment of the outstanding commercial loans.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the employment impact of his Department's schemes of regional financial assistance since 1984 in(a) each region and (b) each travel-to-work area.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 18 November 1992]: Of the regional financial assistance schemes run by my Department only regional selective assistance, available in the assisted areas of England, is conditional on employment being either created or safeguarded. From April 1984 to end October 1992 the following employment by region was either created or safeguarded.

  Created

  Safeguarded

  Total

  East Midlands

  3,753

  419

  4,172

  North East

  30,467

  8,319

  38,786

  North West

  30,566

  13,215

  43,781

  South West

  7,664

  1,393

  9,057

  West Midlands

  39,249

  13,189

  52,438

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  18,232

  6,190

  24,422

  England

  129,931

  42,725

  172,656

  The revised regional development grants scheme which was introduced in development areas in November 1984 and was closed to new applications in March 1988, also had a jobs link. No grant was paid to undertakings employing more than 200 people unless their projects created employment. Up to the end of October 1992 these projects created the following jobs.

  Jobs

  East Midlands

  8,240

  North East

  51,823

  North West

  41,223

  South West

  5,896

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  15,042

  England

  122,224

  Information by travel-to-work area is available only at disproportionate cost.

  My Department also provides assistance under the regional enterprise grants scheme. Projects supported by this scheme have created employment; however, as grant was not directly linked to job creation, employment data were not collected.

  Assisted Area Status
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list(a) the area, (b) the amount of grant aid and (c) the purpose to which additional funding was put for all additional resources throughout the country granted under the assisted area programme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 20 November 1992]: Information about applications for regional grants, that is

  905
  regional selective assistance (RSA) and regional enterprise grants (REG) and the purposes to which they are put, are matters of commercial confidentiality between applicants and the Department concerned. Some RSA grant details where offers are of £75,000 or more are, however, published quarterly in the Employment Gazette. In any event, information in the form requested is not readily available and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  North East

  76

  179

  209

  208

  164

  North West

  156

  275

  380

  395

  271

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  107

  211

  250

  253

  171

  West Midlands

  95

  187

  249

  230

  193

  East Midlands

  75

  144

  171

  206

  301

  London and the South East

  377

  715

  1201

  1354

  1073

  South West

  151

  213

  360

  395

  477

  Scotland

  81

  127

  152

  141

  131

  Wales

  75

  182

  208

  184

  154

  Northern Ireland

  29

  33

  24

  27

  14

  Total

  1222

  2266

  3204

  3393

  2949

  £ million

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  North East

  2.4

  4.46

  5.19

  4.64

  3.61

  North West

  5.62

  6.76

  10.13

  8.66

  5.43

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4.24

  5.25

  7.47

  5.13

  3.36

  West Midlands

  3.08

  4.95

  6.32

  5.93

  4.76

  East Midlands

  2.84

  3.85

  4.85

  5.53

  7.17

  London and the South East

  15.08

  22.01

  41.62

  36.97

  27.63

  South West

  5.39

  5.62

  9.89

  9.13

  9.92

  Scotland

  3.24

  4.14

  7.67

  4.44

  4.29

  Wales

  2.86

  5.45

  5.34

  3.47

  3.41

  Northern Ireland

  0.77

  1.12

  0.92

  1.21

  0.58

  Total

  45.52

  63.61

  99.40

  85.11

  70.16

  Post Office
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to allow the Post Office or any of its subsidiaries to raise loan capital in the market using the methods outlined in the Chancellor's autumn statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 24 November 1992]: There was no proposal in the autumn statement to change the rules governing nationalised industries' access to loan capital in the market.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what form the Post Office and its subsidiaries are required to hold their financial reserves; when that requirement was made; and what proposals he has to review the requirement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 24 November 1992]: Under the provisions of the Post Office Act 1969 and the British Telecommunications Act 1981, the liquid funds of the Post Office not required to finance its day-to-day activities are invested within the public sector according to Her Majesty's Treasury guidelines. These guidelines were most recently revised on 27 July 1991 and currently provide for nationalised industries' surplus funds to be invested in the public sector by deposits with the following bodies:

  Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many loans have been made under the small firms loan guarantee scheme in each of the last five years in each region; and what was the actual amount given in each region.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 23 November 1992]: Information on the scheme is held by financial year. The number of loans, by region, in the last five years has been:

  The amount lent under the scheme, by region, in the last five years has been:

  The National Loans Fund

  Gilt Edged Securities

  Local Authorities

  Nationalised Industries and their subsidiary companies Other public corporations and public authorities

  There are no current plans to review this requirement.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what factors he took into account in setting the external financing limit for the Post Office in 1993–94 and subsequent years.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 24 November 1992]: The external financing limit takes into account a wide range of factors including the interests of the Post Office, its customers and the taxpayer.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the external financing limit planned, and that achieved, for the Post Office each year since 1984.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 24 November 1992]: The planned and achieved external financing limits for the Post Office in each year since 1984 are as follows:

  Planned £ million

  Achieved £ million

  1983–84

  51

  61.5

  1984–85

  60

  99.5

  1985–86

  70

  74.7

  907

  Planned £ million

  Achieved £ million

  1986–87

  93

  93.1

  1987–88

  57

  80.0

  1988–89

  97

  102.0

  1989–90

  91

  101.9

  1990–91

  nil

  nil

  1991–92

  65

  74.0

  Parcelforce
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on those activities of Parcelforce which he regards as part of the universal service obligation and those activities outside it.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 24 November 1992]: The definition of the universal service obligation for parcels forms part of our examination of the method and timing of sale of Parcelforce. As the President of the Board of Trade said in his statement to the House on 15 July—the provision of a universal service at a uniform and affordable tariff is not negotiable.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the representations he has received on the sale of Parcelforce.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 24 November 1992]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I provided on 18 November at column 226, in respect of representations received on the Post Office. Most of the discussions that have already been held with the bodies listed therein have also covered the privatisation of Parcelforce. Additionally, our advisers have been contacting other players in the industry, on a confidential basis, for their views.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the year-end size of loans outstanding from the Post Office group to Parcelforce in each of the last five complete financial years.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 24 November 1992]: Details of loans from the Post Office to Parcelforce are publicly available for the years 1990–91 and 1991–92. These loans were £44 million and £147 million at year end 1990–91 and 1991–92 respectively, as disclosed in the Post Office report and accounts for 1991–92. In previous years the accounts of Parcelforce and the Royal Mail were presented together; figures for year end loans to Parcelforce alone are therefore not available for those years.

  Technology Transfer
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidance he offers to companies receiving state aids about technology transfer to enterprises based in other countries; how such guidance distinguishes between direct sale and participation in joint ventures; and how it distinguishes between other countries of the EC and elsewhere.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 24 November 1992]: Organisations which receive financial assistance from the Department of Trade and Industry for research and development, and for technology transfer, are encouraged to exploit the results in the United Kingdom or the
  908
  remainder of the European Community. This is achieved by means of a clause in grant letters which restricts exploitation to the European Community for a period of five years after completion of the project. By this means the interests of the United Kingdom and European Community industry sectors which—normally contribute their own resources to the work—are promoted, competitive advantage is gained through technical innovation and the build-up of knowhow, and value for taxpayers' money is maximised. Exceptions are permitted. Whilst no distinction is drawn between direct sale of the results or participation in joint ventures, each case is considered on its merits with a view to maximising net benefits to the United Kingdom and European Community sectors involved. The views of any United Kingdom collaborators are also taken into account in forming a judgment.

  EC Package Travel Directive
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to introduce legislation to implement the EC package travel directive.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 24 November 1992]: Regulations implementing the EC directive on package travel, package holidays and package tours (90/314/EEC) were laid before Parliament on 23 November. They will be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.

  Support Programmes
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the expenditure, number of formal applications and number of applicants funded in 1991–92 under the support for programmes under research scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 25 November 1992]: During 1991–92 expenditure on the support for products under research (SPUR) scheme was £318,000. There were 288 applications under the scheme and 148 grants, worth £12.4 million, were offered.

  Consultancies
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if, for the enterprise initiative consultancy scheme, he will state outturn figures for 1991–92 for(a) expenditure and (b) number of consultancies in total, and sub-divided for (i) assisted areas, (ii) urban programme areas and (iii) elsewhere.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 25 November 1992]: Total DTI expenditure on the enterprise initiative consultancy scheme in 1991–92 was £64,400,000. A total of 14,387 cases were completed, 51.2 per cent. of which were in assisted areas and urban programme areas. A further breakdown of expenditure is not available.

  Research and Technology Awards
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the expenditure, number of applications for the first stage competition and number of successful applicants funded in 1991–92 under the small firms merit awards for research and technology; and if he will make a statement.
  909
  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 25 November 1992]: During 1991–92 expenditure on the small firms merit award for research and technology (SMART) scheme was £11.99 million. There were 1,422 entries for the SMART stage 1 competition resulting in 180 grants worth £7.73 million, being offered.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on expenditure by his Department on(a) advanced technology programmes and (b) general industrial collaborative projects in 1991–92.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 26 November 1992]: Expenditure by the Department of Trade and Industry for 1991–92 for advanced technology programmes and general industrial collaborative projects was £20,233,787 and £19,622,702 respectively. These figures represent total expenditure under each scheme for that financial year.

  Teaching Company Scheme
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his Department's role in the teaching company scheme; and if he will set out the expenditure on the programme for the current year.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 26 November 1992]: My Department is a major source of funding for the teaching company scheme and has £5.6 million available for the scheme in this financial year. The other sponsors are the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC), Department of Economic Development Northern Ireland (DED/NI), MAFF, the Economic and Social Research Council (ERSC) and the Department of the Environment (DOE). Total public funding for the teaching company scheme in 1992–93 is budgeted at approximately £14 million. My Department, in collaboration with the other sponsors, decides strategic policy for the scheme and monitors its operation and administration by the teaching company directorate. In addition, my Department is involved in the process of appraising individual teaching company programme proposals prior to approval for grant funding via SERC.

  Post Office
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the level of investment by the Post Office authorised for 1993–94 underlying the external financing limit announced in the autumn statement; and what investment total was originally requested by the Post Office.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 26 November 1992]: Discussions between the Post Office and the Department of Trade and Industry about the Post Office's capital investment programme are a matter of commercial confidentiality. The capital investment limit for the Post Office for 1993–94 has now been set at £321 million.

  Telephone Selling
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made towards the establishment of a register to combat the problem of unsolicited telephone selling; and if he will make a statement.
  910
  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 26 November 1992]: The telecommunication services licence and the self-provision licence, both issued under the terms of the Telecommunications Act 1984, provide for the establishment of a register on which people who do not wish to receive unsolicited telephone sales calls can place their numbers. Once this register is in place, anyone who makes such a call to a number on the list will be in breach of the licence and, ultimately, the Director General of Telecommunications can remove the right to operate under the licences from persistent offenders, making them unable to use their telephone systems. Oftel is discussing the arrangements for the register with interested parties. These discussions have proved more difficult than at first expected. Oftel will, however, announce its conclusions as soon as it is able to do so.

SCOTLAND

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the main measures of deregulation, or simplification of regulation, which his Department has carried out, or caused to be carried out, since the last general election.

  Mr. Lang
  Since the last general election, deregulation measures have been implemented under the following:

  "The Building (Self-Certification of Structural Design) (Scotland) Regulations 1992"

  "The Control of Pollution (Licensing of Waste Disposal) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1992"

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the main measures increasing regulation in any area for which his Department has responsibility, which his Department has caused to be put into effect since the last general election.

  Mr. Lang
  Since the last general election, the following measures have been introduced:

  "Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 1992".

  "The Salmon (Definition of Methods of Net Fishing and Construction of Nets) (Scotland) Regulations 1992".

  "Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of Fishing for Cockles) (Scotland) Order 1992".

  "The Road Works (Qualifications of Supervisors and Operatives) (Scotland) Regulations 1992".

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which Minister in his Department is responsible for the oversight of deregulation of regulatory matters which fall within the responsibility of his Department.

  Mr. Stewart
  I have responsibility for the oversight of deregulation of those regulatory matters, falling within the responsibility of the Scottish Office, which impact on businesses.

  Telephone Metering
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he intends to issue to the police about the practice of telephone metering; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I have been reviewing the arrangements currently in place whereby the police obtain information
  911
  from the telecommunications operators about use of the network. This information concerns the destination, timing and duration of calls, but does not involve listening to conversations. I am satisfied that the statutory requirements are being met and that there is no need for legislative change. Nevertheless, there are sensitivities involved in providing access to this information, disclosure of which is generally an offence except when made to help prevent or detect crime or for the purposes of criminal proceedings. I have, therefore, approved the issue of operating guidelines to police forces in Scotland. A circular issued today covers such issues as the seriousness of the offence to justify the approach for information; the level of police rank required to authorise an application; and the safeguarding of the information obtained. The circular also requires chief constables to make an annual return to my Department on the number of occasions on which such information is sought; and to confirm that the guidance was adhered to in every case.

  £ million

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  ESF>1

  2—

  1—

  15.2

  16.1

  17.1

  17.6

  ERDF

  95

  68

  84

  133.8

  82.5

  78.7

  EAGGF (Guidance)

  18.2

  15.9

  18.5

  21.9

  3—

  3—

  EAGGF4 (Guarantee)

  48.3

  50.9

  70.6

  93.9

  3—

  3—

  1 Figures for objectives 2 and 5b only. Figures for objectives 3 and 4 could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  2 Not available—ESF figures not held on a regional basis before 1990.

  3 Information not yet available.

  4 Relates to schemes operated by the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department. Further schemes operated on a United Kingdom basis by the Intervention Board executive agency have an unidentified Scottish share.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing, in descending order,(a) the aggregate external finance and (b)

  Table 1–1990–91

  (1) Total AEF (£ million)

  (2) Total AEF per community charge payer (£)

  (3) Total GSE (£ million)

  (4) Total GSE per community charge payer (£)

  Highland

  169.945

  1,153.43

  202.229

  1,372.55

  Borders

  72.411

  934.35

  89.092

  1,149.59

  Strathclyde

  1,573.105

  907.18

  1,884.127

  1,086.55

  Dumfries and Galloway

  99.765

  898.05

  123.62

  1,112.79

  Tayside

  251.285

  868.28

  308.819

  1,067.08

  Grampian

  321.217

  865.19

  393.21

  1,059.10

  Central

  162.240

  798.48

  202.673

  997.48

  Fife

  211.341

  795.15

  263.369

  990.91

  Lothian

  424.342

  721.92

  539.766

  918.28

  Glasgow City

  132.331

  241.38

  148.908

  271.62

  Clydebank

  6.837

  193.20

  8.863

  250.45

  Argyll and Bute

  7.386

  157.42

  9.664

  205.97

  Sutherland

  1.577

  156.56

  2.004

  198.

  Dundee City

  19.571

  151.41

  2.6109

  202.00

  Ross and Cromarty

  5.101

  148.98

  6.415

  187.36

  Aberdeen City

  23.628

  147.50

  32.836

  204.99

  Stirling

  8.865

  147.08

  12.403

  205.77

  Monklands

  11.038

  144.98

  15.080

  198.08

  Inverclyde

  10.065

  144.96

  13.901

  200.21

  Edinburgh City

  48.336

  136.82

  68.318

  193.39

  Skye and Lochalsh

  1.160

  136.72

  1.508

  177.74

  Cunninghame

  13.879

  136.42

  18.836

  185.14

  Motherwell

  14.422

  135.83

  20.523

  193.29

  912
  A copy of the circular has been placed in the Library of the House.

  EC Funding
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the resources attracted to Scotland from each European Community fund(a) in the past five financial years and (b) projected for the next three financial years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  The European Commission allocates moneys on a calendar year basis. The Community budget beyond 1993 is likely to decided at the Edinburgh summit. It is not therefore possible to forecast what funds may be available for Scotland beyond 1993. The table sets out the information available on awards to Scotland under the main funds since 1988. There are other smaller EC funds which are of benefit to Scotland but figures for these are not held by the Scottish Office.

  Government-supported expenditure for each local authority area by (i) region, (ii) district and (iii) on a per capita basis for each of the past five financial years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information requested, from 1990–91, the year in which aggregate external finance (AEF) was introduced, to 1992–93 is given in tables 1 to 3 in descending order of AEF per community charge payer.
  913

  (1) Total AEF (£ million)

  (2) Total AEF per community charge payer (£)

  (3) Total GSE (£ million)

  (4) Total GSE per community charge payer (£)

  Lochaber

  1.894

  135.75

  2.432

  174.31

  Strathkelvin

  8.015

  129.65

  11.896

  192.43

  Renfrew

  19.221

  126.16

  28.055

  184.14

  Dumbarton

  7.115

  124.56

  10.455

  183.04

  Hamilton

  9.402

  120.16

  14.004

  178.97

  Perth and Kinross

  10.694

  117–77

  16.297

  179.47

  Clackmannan

  4.105

  115.87

  6.284

  177.38

  Clydesdale

  4.834

  115.59

  7.444

  177.99

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  3.770

  115.50

  5.726

  175.43

  Kyle and Carrick

  10.004

  115.27

  15.292

  176.20

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  6.930

  113.57

  10.291

  168.65

  Midlothian

  6.852

  113.43

  10.400

  172.17

  Falkirk

  12.063

  112.23

  18.614

  173.18

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  4.892

  109.88

  7.711

  173.19

  Banff and Buchan

  6.545

  107.64

  10.258

  168.70

  East Lothian

  7.095

  107.03

  11.186

  168.75

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  3.093

  106.54

  4.954

  170.65

  Caithness

  2.037

  104.29

  2.841

  145.45

  Dunfermline

  10.103

  104.00

  15.951

  164.20

  Inverness

  4.630

  102.82

  6.553

  145.53

  Roxburgh

  2.750

  102.79

  3.982

  148.84

  Moray

  6.399

  102.27

  10.278

  164.27

  West Lothian

  10.994

  101.95

  17.607

  163.28

  Angus

  6.977

  100.61

  11.247

  162.18

  North East Fife

  5.374

  100.52

  8.683

  162.41

  Kincardine and Deeside

  3.495

  98.42

  5.717

  160.99

  Nairn

  0.749

  98.20

  1.071

  140.41

  Kirkcaldy

  11.065

  96.07

  18.114

  157.27

  Gordon

  4.999

  95.77

  8.295

  158.92

  Wigtown

  2.153

  94.81

  3.176

  139.86

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  2.308

  91.69

  3.468

  137.78

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  0.766

  91.18

  1.122

  133.56

  Tweeddale

  1.017

  89.64

  1.545

  136.19

  Nithsdale

  3.810

  89.25

  5.773

  135.24

  East Kilbride

  5.392

  88.20

  9.231

  151.00

  Berwickshire

  1.243

  87.35

  1.887

  132.61

  Eastwood

  3.599

  82.67

  6.379

  146.53

  Annandale and Eskdale

  2.246

  80.85

  3.503

  126.10

  Stewartry

  1.304

  72.79

  2.137

  119.28

  Table 2–1991–92

  (1) Total AEF (£ million)

  (2) Total AEF per community charge payer (£)

  (3) Total GSE (£ million)

  (4) Total GSE per community charge payer (£)

  Highland

  200.862,

  1,359.95

  221.781

  1,501.58

  Borders

  88.105

  1,130.89

  99.428

  1,276.23

  Dumfries and Galloway

  124.439

  1,120.01

  140.256

  1,262.38

  Strathclyde

  1,862.317

  1,094.30

  2,067.966

  1,215.14

  Tayside

  310.674

  1,091.49

  346.334

  1,216.77

  Fife

  267.963

  1,051.26

  299.541

  1,175.15

  Grampian

  383.563

  1,051.15

  429.941

  1,178.24

  Central

  202.335

  1,017.65

  227.567

  1,144.55

  Lothian

  534.999

  951.61

  607.218

  1,080.07

  Glasgow City

  149.055

  280.22

  162.355

  305.19

  Argyll and Bute

  11.75

  249.45

  13.431

  285.13

  Skye and Lochalsh

  1.967

  232.26

  2.063

  243.55

  Clydebank

  7.812

  225.25

  9.208

  265.52

  Dundee City

  26.818

  215.15

  30.986

  248.59

  Edinburgh City

  68.401

  204.96

  81.436

  244.02

  Monklands

  14.993

  198.41

  17.578

  232.61

  Ross and Cromarty

  6.8

  197.87

  7.575

  220.41

  Aberdeen City

  30.409

  195.85

  37.011

  238.38

  Stirling

  11.32

  194.18

  13.669

  234.47

  Lochaber

  2.659

  191.08

  2.954

  212.30

  Inverclyde

  12.713

  187.81

  15.301

  226.05

  Motherwell

  18.902

  180.17

  23.409

  223.13

  Sutherland

  1.793

  178.75

  2.014

  200.79

  Renfrew

  26.059

  177.67

  32.747

  223.27

  914 915

  (1) Total AEF (£ million)

  (2) Total AEF per community charge payer (£)

  (3) Total GSE (£ million)

  (4) Total GSE per community charge payer (£)

  Clackmannan

  6.062

  174.22

  7.545

  216.85

  Strathkelvin

  10.519

  173.08

  13.345

  219.59

  Cunninghame

  17.453

  172.59

  21.514

  212.76

  Clydesdale

  6.889

  166.04

  8.804

  212.19

  East Lothian

  10.493

  164.71

  13.510

  212.08

  Hamilton

  12.666

  163.97

  16.010

  207.25

  Perth and Kinross

  14.439

  158.91

  18.625

  204.98

  Dumbarton

  8.988

  158.33

  11.497

  202.54

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  5.097

  156.09

  6.575

  201.33

  North East Fife

  7.869

  156.07

  10.111

  200.53

  Falkirk

  16.299

  154.15

  21.074

  199.31

  Kyle and Carrick

  13.132

  153.73

  16.960

  198.55

  Dunfermline

  14.322

  153.20

  18.308

  194.56

  Caithness

  2.903

  150.78

  3.362

  174.64

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  4.352

  150.45

  5.757

  199.03

  West Lothian

  15.771

  149.27

  20.702

  195.94

  Midlothian

  8.755

  148.09

  11.440

  193.52

  Banff and Buchan

  8.917

  147.25

  11.738

  193.83

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  8.883

  146.38

  11.572

  190.69

  Roxburgh

  3.908

  146.21

  4.608

  172.41

  Gordon

  7.587

  145.74

  10.021

  192.49

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  1.214

  145.69

  1.383

  165.99

  Moray

  8.9

  144.98

  11.726

  191.01

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  6.437

  144.61

  8.637

  194.04

  Angus

  9.99

  144.53

  13.177

  190.64

  Wigtown

  3.321

  142.45

  3.790

  167.09

  Kirkcaldy

  15.516

  140.57

  20.317

  184.06

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  3.535

  138.98

  4.208

  165.45

  Inverness

  6.314

  138.32

  7.373

  161.52

  Tweeddale

  1.563

  136.81

  1.848

  161.72

  Kincardine and Deeside

  4.811

  135.03

  6.507

  182.64

  Berwickshire

  1.911

  133.46

  2.273

  158.74

  Nairn

  1.016

  132.26

  1.206

  156.98

  Nithsdale

  5.559

  130.66

  6.716

  157.85

  Eastwood

  5.539

  128.94

  7.630

  177.62

  East Kilbride

  7.349

  121.01

  10.397

  171.20

  Annandale and Eskdale

  3.352

  120.29

  4.106

  147.36

  Stewartry

  2.149

  119.32

  2.646

  146.94

  Table 3–1992–93

  (1) Total AEF (£ million)

  (2) Total AEF per community charge payer (£)

  (3) Total GSE (£ million)

  (4) Total GSE per community charge payer (£)

  Highland

  210.723

  1,430.09

  232.604

  1,578.59

  Borders

  93.832

  1,209.91

  105.212

  1,356.65

  Dumfries and Galloway

  132.251

  1,195.18

  148.367

  1,340.82

  Tayside

  333.489

  1,175.50

  372.312

  1,312.35

  Strathclyde

  1,961.399

  1,156.95

  2,186.296

  1,289.61

  Grampian

  409.162

  1,106.66

  460.327

  1,245.05

  Fife

  282.804

  1,106.65

  318.296

  1,245.54

  Central

  214.672

  1,073.34

  242.042

  1,210.19

  Lothian

  577.102

  1,033.32

  652.833

  1,168.92

  Glasgow City

  155.696

  298.96

  169.774

  325.99

  Argyll and Bute

  12.774

  266.57

  14.850

  309.89

  Skye and Lochalsh

  2.049

  242.17

  2.338

  276.33

  Clydebank

  8.219

  241.71

  9.481

  278.83

  Dundee City

  29.342

  239.04

  33.191

  270.40

  Edinburgh City

  75.134

  226.61

  87.909

  265.14

  Monklands

  16.771

  221.40

  19.400

  256.11

  Stirling

  12.412

  212.13

  14.931

  255.19

  Ross and Cromarty

  7.241

  209.77

  8.646

  250.47

  Inverclyde

  13.880

  209.47

  16.410

  247.65

  Aberdeen City

  32.271

  206.99

  39.178

  251.29

  Motherwell

  21.102

  200.19

  25.240

  239.45

  Renfrew

  28.301

  192.72

  34.896

  237.63

  Lochaber

  2.667

  191.72

  3.225

  231.83

  Cunninghame

  19.463

  191.46

  23.724

  233.37

  916 917

  (1) Total AEF (£ million)

  (2) Total AEF per community charge payer (£)

  (3) Total GSE (£ million)

  (4) Total GSE per community charge payer (£)

  Sutherland

  1.911

  190.64

  2.325

  231.94

  Clackmannan

  6.664

  189.06

  8.122

  230.42

  East Lothian

  11.529

  182.27

  14.473

  228.81

  Dumbarton

  10.193

  179.51

  12.649

  222.76

  Hamilton

  13.811

  177.35

  17.074

  219.25

  Clydesdale

  7.488

  177.25

  9.501

  224.90

  Strathkelvin

  10.853

  174.92

  13.847

  223.18

  North East Fife

  8.626

  170.90

  11.056

  219.04

  West Lothian

  18.044

  170.87

  22.909

  216.94

  Midlothian

  9.831

  169.27

  12.527

  215.69

  Kyle and Carrick

  14.350

  167.96

  18.270

  213.84

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  5.497

  167.79

  6.969

  212.72

  Falkirk

  17.758

  167.14

  22.526

  212.02

  Dunfermline

  15.626

  165.21

  19.745

  208.76

  Perth and Kinross

  15.166

  164.80

  19.535

  212.28

  Moray

  10.125

  164.12

  130.15

  210.97

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  4.650

  159.59

  6.182

  212.16

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  9.645

  158.86

  12.238

  201.56

  Caithness

  3.024

  158.25

  3.804

  199.07

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  7.077

  157.71

  9.347

  208.30

  Kirkcaldy

  17.174

  155.43

  22.084

  199.87

  Angus

  10.711

  155.40

  13.943

  202.29

  Banff and Buchan

  9.530

  154.41

  12.513

  202.74

  Gordon

  8.157

  152.50

  10.886

  203.52

  Wigtown

  3.414

  151.50

  4.279

  189.88

  Roxburgh

  3.922

  147.00

  4.992

  187.11

  Nithsdale

  6.196

  146.48

  7.960

  188.18

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  3.622

  143.68

  4.680

  185.66

  Inverness

  6.485

  143.16

  8.179

  180.55

  Tweeddale

  1.604

  141.55

  2.061

  181.87

  Kincardine and Deeside

  5.220

  141.39

  7.116

  192.75

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  1.174

  140.80

  1.510

  181.10

  Berwickshire

  2.007

  140.03

  2.596

  181.12

  Nairn

  1.056

  137.37

  1.370

  178.22

  Eastwood

  5.780

  133.70

  8.064

  186.54

  East Kilbride

  8.072

  131.11

  11.347

  184.31

  Annandale and Eskdale

  3.440

  123.09

  4.632

  165.75

  Stewartry

  2.161

  120.90

  2.932

  164.04

  Notes:

  AEF figures revenue support grant, non-domestic rate income and specific grants (except urban programme specific grant, figures for which are not readily available). Community charge grant is also included for 1991–92.

  2. Government support expenditure (GSE) consists of grant aided expenditure and loan and leasing charges.

  3. The per capita figures have been calculated using the number of community charge payers on which AEF was originally distributed for each of the years.

  4. The GSE per capita figures are in broadly the same descending order as those for AEF but not in every case. This is because some expenditure which is supported by AEF is not included within GSE (eg. urban programme expenditure).

  Waste Heat
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies have been carried out into the development of utilising waste heat from whisky distilleries as a source of energy for the production of glasshouse crops in Scotland; what plans he has to promote such schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  A study to examine the potential for the economic recovery and use of waste heat arising from distillery processes, was undertaken at the Glengarrioch distillery in 1985. The study was supported under the Energy Efficiency Office's former energy efficiency demonstration scheme.

  The Energy Efficiency Office promotes and commissions a wide range of such studies, exemplifying the energy savings available over a wide range of industrial and commercial techniques and technologies. A programme of seminars, run by the energy technology support unit and the building research and energy conservation support
  918
  unit on behalf of the Energy Efficiency Office, also promotes these techniques and technologies direct to both industry and commerce.

  Training
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much funding has been allocated to Scotland for training purposes in(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94.

  Mr. Stewart
  Government funding in Scotland for training purposes forms part of the budgets of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Details of 1992–93 provision are published in the supply estimates. Planned training provision for Scotland in 1993–94 will be included in the respective budgets for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, details of which will be announced later.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places have been allocated to Scotland(a) in 1992–93 for (i) employment action and (ii) employment training and (b) in 1993–94 for training for work.
  919
  Mr. Stewart
  In 1992–93, the employment service contracted for the provision of up to 3,600 places on the employment action programme in Scotland. Information about employment training places for 1992–93 is not available in the form requested. Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise contract with local enterprise companies in terms of trainee weeks rather than training places; and there is no standard basis for converting volumes of trainee weeks into training places because the time spent by individuals in training varies. Figures for training for work for 1993–94 in Scotland will not be known until nearer the start of the contracting year.

  Special Needs Education
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve the provision of special needs education in the(a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) tertiary sectors of education; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Provision for special educational needs in primary and secondary education is the responsibility of education authorities under the terms of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. Every child or young person with special educational needs who attends school must be offered an adequate and efficient education suitable for his or her individual requirements. Funding for this is contained in the annual aggregate external finance settlement.

  The Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 gives the Secretary of State a new duty from 1 April 1993 to secure the adequate and efficient provision of further education in Scotland, and in doing so to have regard to the requirements of those over school age with learning difficulties. Boards of management of further education colleges will be given guidance on ways in which they can continue to widen opportunities for students with learning difficulties.

  The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, established under the 1992 Act, is required by the Secretary of State to consider how access to higher education for students with particular needs, including those with special educational needs, can be facilitated.

  Scotcare Rehabilitation Unit
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all grants and other moneys given by his office to the Scotcare brain injury rehabilitation unit in Uddingston since its inception.

  Mr. Stewart
  No grants or other moneys have been given directly by the Scottish Office to the Scotcare brain injury rehabilitation unit.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients were referred from each health board to the Scotcare, brain injury rehabilitation unit in Uddingston since its inception; and what was the total cost to each health board.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information requested on patients referred to Scotcare brain injury rehabilitation unit since it became a national service in June 1991 is as follows:920

  Health Board

  Number of referrals

  Total cost to Health Board

  Greater Glasgow

  35

  235,691

  Lanarkshire

  17

  84,310

  Argyll and Clyde

  9

  33,188

  Grampian

  6

  78,144

  Highland

  5

  13,896

  Dumfries and Galloway

  4

  15,016

  Fife

  3

  37,260

  Lothian

  1

  820

  Forth Valley

  6

  27,780

  Tayside

  4

  69,360

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the Government-funded organisations expected to take part in support of Scottish Nuclear's proposals to build a dry store for nuclear waste at Torness at the public inquiry beginning on 1 December.

  Mr. Stewart
  Officials from Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate, Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate and the Scottish Office Environment Department have been invited to give evidence at the inquiry into SNL's proposed spent fuel storage facility.

  Homelessness
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the number of households regarded as homeless in Scotland during each of the last 10 years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The figures for households applying to housing authorities under the homeless legislation who were assessed by authorities as either homeless or potentially homeless can be found in table 1 of the Scottish Office statistical bulletin "Operation of the Homeless Persons Legislation, Scotland 1980–81–1991–92", which was published on 26 November. Copies of the bulletin have been placed in the Library.

  Higher Education
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has in place to promote the development of creche facilities in further and higher educational institutions in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Provision of creche facilities in further education institutions is currently the responsibility of education authorities, and in higher education institutions of the institutions themselves.

  From 1 April 1993 the boards of management of further education colleges will assume similar powers to provide facilities as presently enjoyed by their higher education counterparts.

  Housing
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on dampness and condensation in public sector housing in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is for local authorities, Scottish Homes, and the new town
  921
  development corporations to deal with dampness and condensation in their housing from the substantial resources at their disposal. Over £927 million has been made available for gross public capital investment in Scottish housing in 1992–93.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the meeting between his Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for housing and the hon. Member for Paisley, South in relation to the development of the rivers area of Foxbar in Paisley.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I had a useful meeting with the hon. Member and representatives of Renfrew district council, Strathclyde regional council and the local community on 10 September about the Foxbar rivers area of Paisley.

  Following the meeting, officials in the Scottish Office have put Renfrew district council in touch with the Forgewood initiative, as an example of a successful non-Scottish Office led urban regeneration initiative which would be of interest to those involved in the Foxbar rivers proposals. Officials in the Scottish Office await an invitation to a special meeting of the Foxbar rivers steering group, following the suggestion, at the meeting, that the Scottish Office could offer advice on the partnership approach to urban regeneration.

  I am pleased that Renfrew district council is one of the authorities to benefit from the additional resources I announced on 23 November and has received a housing revenue account supplementary allocation of £0.700 million. This brings the resources available to Renfrew for investment in its own stock in 1992–93 to 19.139 million and will enable the council to make progress in Foxbar this year provided it attaches sufficient priority to this.

  Applications for the urban programme resources available in 1993–94 will be received from Strathclyde region and Renfrew district councils by the end of this month. The representations the hon. Gentleman has made will be taken into account in considering applications from the Foxbar rivers area.

  I shall also take full account of the council's proposals for expenditure in Foxbar together with the relative housing needs of Renfrew, when making decisions about provisional allocations for 1993–94.

  I have written to the hon. Member about Scottish Homes' proposals for the regeneration of the Foxbar rivers area. Scottish Homes is committed to the regeneration of the Foxbar rivers area. It has been designated as an approved area for investment by Scottish Homes in the context of the recently signed strategic agreement between Scottish Homes and Renfrew district council. Scottish Homes will therefore be considering suitable projects from both housing associations and private developers which could involve up to £4.5 million being invested in the area over the next three to four years.

  Health Boards
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria he applies when appointing the chairpersons and members of health boards in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend appoints health board members for the personal qualities they have and their ability to make an effective contribution, individually 922
  and collectively, to the board's work, and selects chairpersons for the leadership they can provide to the board.

  Horticulture
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the state of the horticultural industry in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Scottish raspberry sector stands to benefit substantially from an EC measure to support groups of growers producing raspberries for processing. Under this scheme, adopted in summer 1992, raspberry producer groups will be eligible for EC and United Kingdom funding to support a development programme intended to improve their competitive position. Eligible measures include replanting with new varieties and harvest mechanisation.

  The ornamental sector of the industry—hardy nursery stock and bedding plant groups—is currently enjoying buoyant conditions. This was demonstrated recently when the increasingly successful and prestigious Scotgrow exhibition was again staged by this confident sector of the industry.

  Ernst and Young
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the contracts, and value thereof, awarded by his Department and its agencies to Ernst and Young in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 13 November 1992]: The contracts in the last five years undertaken by Ernst and Young, on behalf of my Department and its agencies, are listed. Details of the value of these contracts cannot be given as that information is commercially confidential.

  USE OF ERNST YOUNG (CONSULTANTS) (AND PREVIOUSLY A. YOUNG SINCE 1987)

  Financial year and Project

  1987–88

  Search for suitable candidates for appointment to the Highlands and Islands Development Baord.

  1988–89

  Study of input of "Customer Views" to the NHS in Scotland.

  1989–89

  Recruitment of Chief Executive, Scottish Homes.

  1988–89

  Recruitment of Director of Technical Services, Scottish Homes.

  1988–89

  Recruitment of Director of Corporate Services, Scottish Homes.

  1988–89

  Recruitment of Financial Controller, Scottish Homes.

  1989–90

  Advice on the future Financial Structure of Caledonian MacBrayne.

  1990

  Privatisation Flotation of Scottish Power plc and Scottish Hydro-Electric plc.

  923

  1990–91

  Scottish Natural Heritage.

  1990–92

  Business Review of Financial Information Systems.

  1991–91

  PES Feasibility Study.

  924

  1991–92

  PES Design Support.

  1991–92

  Recruitment advice—Head of Financial Systems Unit.

  1992–93

  PES Phototype Development.