Written Answers of 20 October 1992

TRANSPORT

  Motorways (Toilets)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new initiatives he intends to introduce to increase the number of toilets on motorways.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  We announced on 6 August a substantial deregulation in the provision of motorway service areas—MSAs. This followed on from the commitment we gave in the citizens charter for more MSAs more quickly. In future MSAs may be more frequent—every 15 miles instead of around 30 miles; and the private sector, not the Department of Transport, will take the initiative in finding and acquiring sites and obtaining planning permission for the development of MSAs. We believe that the surest solution is to free the market to provide.

  British Rail Provincial Business
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the publication of British Rail's final response to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the provincial business sector.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have placed a copy of British Rail's response in the Library of the House. BR accepted all 41 recommendations that were addressed to it. Many have already been fully implemented, and BR has set out the action that it is taking, or intends to take, to implement the remainder. One recommendation, concerning the role of local authorities in supporting rail services, and the scope for creation of new passenger transport authorities, is a matter for the Government. Under the Government's proposals for the privatisation of British Rail, passenger transport authorities will continue their responsibilities for local services in their areas, and other local authorities will continue to have powers to contribute to enhanced rail services.

  Our White Paper on the privatisation of BR sets out in detail our proposals for the future structure and financing of rail services; these proposals will lead to a fundamental reform of the railway, under which the private sector will progressively take over the operation of passenger services. We believe that the involvement of the private sector will bring a greater focus on the passenger and, therefore, lead to a more attractive and efficient network of passenger services. It would not be sensible to contemplate major changes in the role of local authorities until experience has been gained of the operation of the new franchising regime.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends publishing the paper on upgrading the railway network to continental freight loading gauge,238
  referred to in the Government's response to the Transport Select Committee's report on preparations for the opening of the channel tunnel, second report, Session 1991–92.

  Mr. Freeman
  A paper setting out the practical and other problems associated with upgrading to a large continental loading gauge was published yesterday. I have placed copies in the Library of the House.

  Ports
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken within Government to consider issues relating to health and safety and training within British ports following the winding-up of the British Ports Federation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  Steps are being taken within the industry to enable the health and safety and training activities currently being undertaken by the British Ports Federation to continue after the winding up of the federation later this year. These are currently still under discussion, but it is hoped that a positive outcome can be announced shortly.

  Traffic Accidents
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children(a) under the age of five years and (b) between the age of five years and 16 years were involved in road traffic accidents within each United Kingdom region in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The table shows the number of reported road accident casualties aged under 16 by age group in each United Kingdom region in each year from 1985 to 1991.

  Child1 casualties—by region and age group: United Kingdom 1985–1991

  Region

  Year

  0–4

  5–15

  Total

  England

  North

  1985

  413

  2,295

  2,708

  1986

  447

  2,208

  2,655

  1987

  437

  2,090

  2,527

  1988

  416

  2,100

  2,516

  1989

  474

  2,206

  2,680

  1990

  511

  2,214

  2,725

  1991

  465

  2,126

  2,591

  North West

  1985

  1,039

  5,677

  6,716

  1986

  1,058

  5,358

  6,416

  1987

  1,024

  5,394

  6,418

  1988

  1,181

  5,423

  6,604

  1989

  1,253

  5,586

  6,839

  1990

  1,292

  5,810

  7,102

  1991

  1,225

  5,329

  6,554

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1985

  696

  3,723

  4,419

  1986

  649

  3,591

  4,240

  1987

  622

  3,534

  4,156

  1988

  702

  3,496

  4,198

  1989

  785

  3,771

  4,556

  1990

  759

  3,858

  4,617

  1991

  677

  3,553

  4,230

  East Midlands

  1985

  443

  2,918

  3,361

  1986

  444

  2,728

  3,172

  1987

  444

  2,582

  3,026

  1988

  515

  2,729

  3,244

  1989

  539

  2,871

  3,410

  1990

  503

  2,931

  3,434

  1991

  485

  2,720

  3,205

  239

  Region

  Year

  0–4

  5–15

  Total

  West Midlands

  1985

  620

  3,925

  4,545

  1986

  572

  3,706

  4,278

  1987

  568

  3,491

  4,059

  1988

  599

  3,578

  4,177

  1989

  637

  3,682

  4,319

  1990

  682

  4,019

  4,701

  1991

  650

  3,653

  4,303

  East Anglia

  1985

  242

  1,314

  1,556

  1986

  187

  1,315

  1,502

  1987

  195

  1,338

  1,533

  1988

  273

  1,380

  1,653

  1989

  236

  1,418

  1,654

  1990

  264

  1,416

  1,680

  1991

  250

  1,307

  1,557

  South East

  1985

  1,973

  12,959

  14,932

  1986

  2,016

  12,416

  14,432

  1987

  2,065

  11,763

  13,828

  1988

  2,111

  11,825

  13,936

  1989

  2,239

  12,249

  14,488

  1990

  2,192

  12,130

  14,322

  1991

  1,984

  10,814

  12,798

  South West

  1985

  409

  2,864

  3,273

  1986

  379

  2,646

  3,025

  1987

  386

  2,420

  2,806

  1988

  396

  2,562

  2,958

  1989

  420

  2,553

  2,973

  1990

  423

  2,567

  2,990

  1991

  668

  2,186

  2,854

  England total2

  1985

  5,835

  35,675

  41,510

  1986

  5,752

  33,968

  39,720

  1987

  5,741

  32,612

  38,353

  1988

  6,194

  33,119

  39,313

  1989

  6,583

  34,336

  40,919

  1990

  6,626

  34,945

  41,571

  1991

  6,404

  31,688

  38,092

  Wales

  1985

  363

  1,849

  2,212

  1986

  365

  1,816

  2,181

  1987

  356

  1,799

  2,155

  1988

  404

  1,883

  2,287

  1989

  436

  2,071

  2,507

  1990

  415

  2,045

  2,460

  1991

  411

  1,932

  2,343

  Scotland

  1985

  772

  4,284

  5,056

  1986

  759

  3,883

  4,642

  1987

  699

  3,745

  4,444

  1988

  733

  3,579

  4,312

  1989

  731

  3,750

  4,481

  1990

  795

  3,814

  4,609

  1991

  735

  3,421

  4,156

  Northern Ireland

  31985

  —

  —

  —

  1986

  273

  1,220

  1,493

  1987

  292

  1,246

  1,538

  1988

  305

  1,321

  1,626

  1989

  371

  1,333

  1,704

  1990

  355

  1,424

  1,779

  1991

  315

  1,220

  1,535

  United Kingdom2

  31985

  —

  —

  —

  1986

  7,149

  40,887

  48,036

  1987

  7,088

  39,402

  46,490

  1988

  7,636

  39,902

  47,538

  1989

  8,121

  41,490

  49,611

  1990

  8,191

  42,228

  50,419

  1991

  7,865

  38,261

  46,126

  1 Aged under 16. Does not include age not reported.

  2 Includes region not reported.

  3 1985 data for Northern Ireland not available.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the result of his Department's research into the incidence and causes of tyre failures among heavy goods vehicles on motorways.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  A survey of tyre tread debris left by 157 tyres on the M4 motorway was carried out between June and October 1991. The debris consisted of 72–46 per cent.—new—first used—tyres and 84–54 per cent. retreads. Only one piece of debris was of unknown type.

  Tyre failure by heavy goods vehicles on motorways is almost invariably the result of tyres overheating. This can be a consequence of overloading, under-inflation—or both—running under-inflated following a penetration or running for long periods at higher speeds than those for which the tyres were designed at their maximum load.

  I have arranged for a copy of the Transport Research Laboratory's working paper—Ref.: WP/VS/222—to be placed in the Library.

  Transport Infrastructure
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he estimates the value of regeneration benefits of transport infrastructure improvements.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Regeneration benefits, unlike the other benefits of a transport scheme, are predominantly benefits to the locality often achieved at the cost of less activity elsewhere. They are, therefore, counted "below the line" in a scheme appraisal, not as part of the gains to the national economy. This is standard Government practice in the appraisal of industrial and regional assistance.

  Attempts at valuation generally focus on forecast increases in the value of commercial and industrial land in the immediate area. In any valuation, care must be taken to avoid double counting of benefits included in the transport appraisal and to allow for the fact that some activity may well be diverted from elsewhere in the local area.

  Public Transport
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research is currently undertaken or sponsored by his Department into improved transport for women and children.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My Department has a long-standing programme of research into the transport needs of people with mobility problems, including women, children, elderly people and those with disabilities.

  Current projects include work on the design and operation of fully accessible low floor buses, the development of design standards for bus and coach stations—jointly funded with the passenger transport executives—and the use of unstaffed railway stations by people with mobility problems—jointly funded with British Rail. My Department is also conducting research into the incidence of assaults on bus passengers.

  Schemes (EC Funding)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of transport schemes which have attracted EC funding since 1979.
  241
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  These schemes include projects by the Department of Transport, nationalised industries, local authorities and the private sector, and details could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Cycling
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will carry out a study of the Dutch Government's bicycles first master plan and publish an assessment of what lessons apply to strategic transport planning in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have seen the Dutch bicycle master plan, which forms part of a range of traffic and transport policies.

  The bicycle master plan contains a considerable number of proposals aimed at increasing cycle usage. These are not all new. Indeed, some reflect current United Kingdom policy and practice, such as measures to increase safety, and to improve the range and quality of facilities for cyclists.

  I have no plans to publish an assessment of the bicycle master plan, but its contents will clearly influence our ideas on how cycling should develop in the United Kingdom.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list details of all his Department's expenditure in 1992–93 designed to improve safety for cyclists.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Although no separate figures are available, much of my Department's expenditure on road safety will improve safety for cyclists, for example that on publicity aimed at preventing drinking and driving, and on new technology to help catch and prosecute bad drivers. Every trunk road bypass that the Department funds and every local road bypass that they support through transport supplementary grant improves road safety for all vulnerable road users, including cyclists.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will instigate a public information campaign on the dangers of and penalties for riding a bicycle across a pedestrian crossing and through red traffic lights.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: The Highway Code includes good advice for cyclists on road behaviour and the need to obey the law. This advice will be expanded in the revised edition of the code and I shall draw particular attention to this when it is published early next year.

  Street Works
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to require highway authorities to inform residents or traders of impending street works.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The flow of information will be improved by the relevant provisions of the New Roads. and Street Works Act 1991, which will come into force on 1 January 1993. They will require street authorities—normally the local highway authorities—to co-ordinate undertakers' street works and works for their own road purposes, and will impose a duty of co-operation on the undertakers. We shall shortly be publishing a code of practice giving practical guidance on the carrying out of these duties. The code will draw the attention of the promoting undertaker of works to the importance of 242
  giving advance information and warning to affected frontagers not only about disruption to their services but if their access is to be affected for any length of time.

  A12
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what figures on volume and weight of traffic using the A12 at Wrentham he is using since the 1984 figures; how the figures have changed up to August 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: Current traffic information is compiled from roadside interviews, traffic counts and journey time surveys carried out in October 1990. A permanent automatic count of traffic is also taken on the A12 south of Wrentham.

  Traffic figures available in 1984 on the A12 south of Wrentham were in excess of 6,000 vehicles per day. A comparable figure for August 1992 is in excess of 10,000 vehicles per day. These are the highest daily flows of the year. The present A12 is capable of carrying these levels of traffic.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the likely time scale for a public consultation exercise on the proposed bypass of Wrentham on the A12.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: The present programmed date for public consultation about the options for improving the A12 from south of Wrentham to Kessingland, including a bypass of Wrentham, is early next year.

ENVIRONMENT

  Housing Associations
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what actions Her Majesty's Government have taken to reduce the incidence of housing associations leaving homes unjustifiably empty for long periods.

  Mr. Baldry
  There has been a steady decrease over the past five years in the incidence of empty property owned by housing associations. The supervision of the management of associations is the statutory responsibility of the Housing Corporation and I will ask the corporation to write to the hon. Member with further information.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals Her Majesty's Government have to ensure secure tenancies for all housing association tenants.

  Mr. Baldry
  The majority of the tenants of housing associations are secure tenants. For those taking up a tenancy since 1989, the status is normally that of assured tenants. These assured tenants of housing associations have rights conferred by statute and additional contractual rights by virtue of the Housing Corporation's "Tenants' Guarantee", which give them security of tenure broadly similar to that enjoyed by secure tenants. There are no plans to change this framework.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the ways in which tenants are represented on housing association boards of management.
  243
  Mr. Baldry
  The supervision of the management of registered housing associations is the statutory responsibility of the Housing Corporation, which has an active strategy for increasing the participation of tenants in the management of their associations. I will ask the Housing Corporation to write to the hon. Member with further information.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  House Purchase
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he proposes to take to assist borrowers with negative equity who wish to move house.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government propose to remove two potential legal and tax obstacles to borrowers with negative equity who wish to move.

  First, the Building Societies Commission, with the consent of the Treasury, is to raise the limit which building societies can lend unsecured from £10,000 to £25,000 per person. This will enable societies, in appropriate cases, to advance top-up necessary loans to borrowers with substantial negative equity. The necessary secondary legislation will be laid before the House at the earliest opportunity.

  Secondly, changes are proposed to allow the security of one property to be exchanged for another against the original mortgage loan, without the loss of mortgage interest relief. The Inland Revenue hopes to give effect to the proposed changes within the next few weeks.

  Preliminary Draft Budget1

  Draft Budget

  mecu

  £ million2

  mecu

  £ million

  Commitment appropriations

  1. Agricultural Guarantee

  34,062

  26,820

  34,042

  26,805

  2. Structural Operations

  22,046

  17,359

  20,119

  15,842

  3. Internal policies, including R & D

  4,440

  3,496

  3,375

  2,657

  4. External Policies, including aid

  4,150

  3,267

  3,818

  3,006

  5. Administration

  3,577

  2,816

  3,349

  2,637

  6. Monetary Reserve

  1,000

  787

  1,000

  787

  Total: Commitment appropriations

  69,274

  54,456

  65,704

  51,735

  of which:

  compulsory

  36,505

  28,744

  36,459

  28,708

  non-compulsory

  32,769

  25,802

  29,245

  23,028

  Total: Payment appropriations

  66,309

  52,212

  62,926

  49,548

  of which:

  compulsory

  36,458

  28,707

  36,406

  28,666

  non-compulsory

  29,851

  23,505

  26,520

  20,882

  1 including letter of amendment No. 1 to the PDB for 1993.

  2 Throughout this reply the rate of £1 = 1.2700 ecu has been used for conversions relating to 1993 expenditure (the rate notified in the Official Journal as prevailing on the last working day of last month (30 September)). The rate of £1= 1.396 ecu has been used for 1992 expenditure (the rate set for United Kingdom contributions from VAT and the Fourth Resource in 1992).

  The Budget Council also adopted the supplementary and amending budget No. 3 for 1992. An explanatory memorandum was submitted to the House on 14 September. This supplementary budget gives budgetary effect to the decision to revise the financial perspective on which an explanatory memorandum was submitted on 9 July. It covers increased payment appropriations for the structural funds in the new German Länder and four programmes under the third research framework

  EC Budget Council
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of European Ministers at the Budget Council in July.

  Sir John Cope
  The Budget Council met in Brussels on 23 July. As President of the Budget Council I chaired the meeting, and the Economic Secretary represented the United Kingdom. The Council established a first reading draft budget for 1993 totalling 65.7 billion ecu—£51.7 billion—in commitment appropriations and 62.9 billion ecu—£49.5 billion—in payment appropriations. The latter represents 1.07 per cent. of Community GNP, compared with the own resources ceiling of 1.2 per cent.

  The draft budget established by the Council constrained the increase in non-compulsory expenditure to 3.79 per cent. for commitments and to 7.2 per cent.—the "maximum rate"—for payments. This involved reductions of 3,570 million ecu—£2,811 million—in commitments and 3,383 million ecu—£2,664 million—in payments of the proposals put forward by the Commission in its preliminary draft budget. The provision for agriculture takes full account of CAP reform; and is 2.6 billion ecu—£2.05 billion—below the agriculture guideline. Financial provision was not made for the cohesion fund agreed at Maastricht, which the Lisbon European Council agreed should be set up early in 1993, pending a decision on the amount which is expected to be taken at the European Council in Edinburgh.

  An explanatory memorandum on the Council's draft budget was submitted to the House on 9 October.

  The summary table compares the outcome of the Budget Council to the proposals in the Commission's preliminary draft budget by reference to the main areas of spending:

  programme. The supplementary budget also makes provision to return to a member state a significant proportion of the expected surplus in the agriculture budget. In the proposed supplementary budget the agricultural budget is reduced by 2,875 million ecu—£2,059 million—with 2,175 million ecu—£1,558 million—of that money being returned to member states through a reduction in contributions; the remainder is utilised for other Community policies.
  245
  The European Parliament will consider the draft budget for 1993 at its plenary in late October—the 26th to 30th. The Parliament's amendments and modifications will be considered at the second Budget Council on 17 November. The European Parliament's second reading is set for mid-December.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which EC countries currently fulfil the requirements for convergence set out in the Maastricht treaty protocols; in what ways the others fail; and how far the United Kingdom is away from each of the criteria.

  Mr. Nelson
  Article 109j of the Maastricht treaty gives to the Council the responsibility for determining whether a member state has met the necessary conditions for the adoption of a single currency. The Council is required to make this judgment, taking into account reports from the Commission and the European Monetary Institute on the

  Latest inflation1

  Budget balance2

  General government debt3

  Long term bond yield4

  ERM narrow band5

  Belgium

  2.1

  -6.2

  129.7

  8.9

  Yes

  Denmark

  2.1

  -2.0

  71.7

  9.0

  Yes

  France

  2.7

  -1.7

  48.4

  9.1

  Yes

  Germany6

  3.5

  -3.1

  44.9

  8.3

  Yes

  Greece

  15.3

  -16.5

  103.3

  n/a

  No

  Ireland

  2.8

  -2.3

  99.8

  8.9

  Yes

  Italy

  5.2

  -10.2

  101.7

  11.9

  No

  Luxembourg

  3.1

  2.5

  6.3

  7.9

  Yes

  Netherlands

  3.5

  -3.9

  79.7

  8.4

  Yes

  Portugal

  9.2

  -6.4

  68.6

  11.5

  No

  Spain

  5.7

  -4.4

  45.6

  11.7

  No

  United Kingdom

  3.6

  -2.0

  39.9

  9.0

  No

  1 August 1992; percentage change of consumer prices over previous 12 months.

  2 1991 General government financial balance (as a percentage of GDP).

  3 1991 Gross debt of general government (as a percentage of GDP).

  4 June 1992; yield on fixed interest government securities.

  5 Membership of the narrow band of the ERM for at least two years, without devaluing on own initiative.

  6 Inflation and government debt figures are for western Germany.

  Source: OECD and Eurostat.

DEFENCE

  Queen Victoria School
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Queen Victoria school will be established as an executive agency.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Queen Victoria school began to operate as an executive agency with effect from 1 April 1992. The framework document has been printed and copies will be placed in the Library of both Houses. The targets which have been set for the school in its first year of operation as an agency are as follows:

  Academic and Curriculum

  1. Annually, to achieve:

  (a) for S4 pupils, at least three standard grade passes at grade 1 to 3 for 90 per cent. of pupils; and

  (b) at least five standard grade passes at grade 1 to 3 for 60 per cent. of pupils;

  (c) for S5/6 pupils, at least three higher grade passes at grade A to C for 60 per cent. of pupils or Scottish Vocational Education Council (Scotvec) equivalent.

  2. By 31 August 1992, to develop a "5 to 14 Development Programme" in line with the Scottish Office Education Department—SOED—recommendations including a system for parental response on quality and choice.

  246
  extent to which a member state complies with criteria concerning the rate of inflation; the Government's fiscal position; observance of the normal fluctuation margins within the ERM; and long-term interest rate levels. In addition, the reports must take account of the number of other factors, including the developments of the ecu, the integration of markets, balance of payments on current account, and the development of unit labour costs and other price indices.

  The protocol on the convergence criteria, attached to the treaty, sets out figures for the convergence criteria regarding inflation and long-term interest rates. In addition, the protocol on the excessive deficit procedure, sets out reference values for fiscal criteria, which, if breached, would prompt a Commission report to the Council on the fiscal position of a member state—such a report being the basis on which the Council would judge whether an excessive deficit existed. The position of each member state, in respect of the figures and reference values set out in the protocols, is given in the table.

  Pastoral
  3. To respond to recommendations of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools on pastoral provision and organisation with six months of receipt of that report.

  Extra Curricular Provision
  4. To maintain and enrich at least 50 extra curricular activities, both physical and cultural, involving pupils aged 10 to 15 in at least three per week and those aged 16 to 18 in at least two

  Management
  5. By March 1993, to assess and report on pay and grading structures in the school and associated allowances and rents.
  6. To implement teacher appraisal and development procedures in line with SOED guidelines and timetable, including a pastoral element.
  7. By April 1993, to develop management and financial information systems, including baseline pupil per capita costs, that satisfy all management and accounting requirements.
  8. By April 1993, to identify areas for efficiency savings in order to:—

  (a) reduce pupil per capita costs by 2 per cent. in financial year 1993–94 while at least maintaining present standards.

  (b) set targets for future years.

  247
  9. By June 1993, to examine the feasibility of admitting girls and fee-paying pupils, and the extent of provision required for them.

  10. By June 1993, to develop and implement a strategy for income generation using the school's facilities.

  Statistical Services
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future management of statistical and related services within his Department.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A review of Defence Statistics has been completed, and I am pleased to announce its establishment as a defence support agency from I July 1992, with the title the Defence Analytical Service Agency—DASA.

  The DASA provides a variety of professional statistical and other analytical services which are essential to the conduct of the Ministry of Defence's business operations. As well as producing many of my Department's statistics, including those to Parliament, the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and the Top Salaries Review Body, it offers advice and assistance to a wide range of customers in my Department on areas such as manpower planning, financial management, logistic projects and personnel surveys.

  The DASA is part of the Government statistical service. The chief executive is the head of profession for staff in the statistical grades in the Ministry of Defence, and chief statistical adviser to my Department. The first chief executive is Mr. Paul Altobell. The key targets that have been set for the agency in its first year of operation are as follows. I have arranged for copies of the framework document to be placed in the Library of both Houses.

  Level and quality of service
  1. About three-quarters of the agency's business is suitable by service level agreements—SLAs—with customers, which set out targets and standards for the level of service, timeliness and quality of work. For this part of the business key targets are:—

  a. To introduce, in 1992–93, SLAs for 45 per cent. of this work and to increase this coverage to 75 per cent. and 100 per cent. in the following two years.

  b. In 1992–93, to meet 95 per cent. of the targets set in the established SLAs.

  2. For the remaining parts of the business—that for which SLAs are not appropriate—the key target is:—
  To establish, by April 1993, project control mechanisms which will include objectives, programmes and targets.3. To extend to all branches of the agency by October
  1992 the measurement of perceived customer satisfaction, through the use of customer assessment questionnaires, and to establish customer satisfaction targets for future years.

  Efficiency and use of resources
  4. To implement the PROSPECT reductions in manpower of 10 per cent. in 1992–93 and 10 per cent. in 1993–94 with minimum reduction in output.
  5. To increase efficiency in the production of regular statistical reports by 5 per cent. in 1992–93 and a further 10 per cent. over the next two years.

  Management systems
  6. To develop by April 1993 a task costing system to measure the resources used to produce the various outputs of the agency.
  7. To complete by April 1993 a feasibility study to determine the potential for market testing and to establish a timetable for future work.

  Duke of York's Royal Military School
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Duke of York's royal military school will be established as an executive agency.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Duke of York's royal military school began to operate as an executive agency with effect from 1 April 1992. The framework document has been printed and copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The targets which have been set for the school in its first year of operation are as follows:

  Academic and Curriculum

  1. (a) Annually, at 16 plus, to achieve at least six General Certificates of Secondary Education passes at grades A to C for 70 per cent. of pupils;

  (b) Annually, at 18 plus, to achieve at least three A-level passes for 90 per cent. of pupils with 40 per cent. of all passes at grades A or B; for Business and Technology Education Council—BTEC—national diploma courses, 100 per cent. award rate.

  2. By April 1993, to complete a curriculum review.

  Pastoral
  3. By September 1994, to define and introduce a set of common guidelines of boarding provisions, as recommended by Her Majesty's inspectors of schools.
  4. To ensure continuing compliance with the provisions of the Children Act 1989, and to respond to the local authority social services department inspection within six months of receipt of that report.

  Management and Development
  5. By April 1993, to develop management and financial information systems, including baseline pupil per capita costs, that satisfy all management and accounting requirements;
  6. By 1 April 1993, to achieve savings equivalent to 1.5 per cent. of the gross budgetary allocation and to establish future targets in specified areas of expenditure and revenue;
  7. By September 1993, to complete policy reviews and implementation plans for co-education and other extensions to the pupil catchment area;
  8. By April 1993, to review the school pay/grading structures for teaching and non-teaching staff, and to make proposals;
  9. By April 1993, to produce an agreed teacher appraisal scheme for implementation in financial year 1993–94.

  Isle of Rona
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current programme being carried out by his Department's establishment at the Isle of Rona, Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  This is a matter delegated to the Defence Research Agency under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive of the Defence Research Agency to reply direct to the hon. Member.In today's written answer the Minister of State for Defence Procurement informed you that I would be replying directly to the following question:
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current programme being carried out by his Department's establishment at the Isle of Rona, Scotland, and if he will make a statement.
  The Defence Research Agency uses the facilities on Rona to measure the noise generated by ships and submarines as they move through the water. This is a continuous programme since vessels are measured as they are brought into service and checked periodically throughout their lives.

  Research Establishments
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the establishment of each of the defence research establishments in 1990 and 1991; and what is the current establishment of each and that projected for 1993 and 1994.

  Mr. Aitken
  This is a matter delegated to the Defence Research Agency under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  In his written reply on 19 October the Secretary of State for Defence informed you that I would be replying directly to the question:
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the establishment of each of the Defence Research Establishments in 1990 and 1991 and what is the current establishment of each and that projected for 1993 and 1994.

  On 1 April 1990 the total number of staff employed in the four establishments which later formed the Defence Research Agency was 11,912. The Defence Research Agency was set up on 1 April 1991 and on that day its staff numbered 12,027.
  Since 1 April 1991 a number of DRA staff have transferred to the new Test and Evaluation organisation and some of the MOD's Quality Assurance staff have joined the DRA. I also released a number of staff through a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme earlier this year. At present the DRA establishment is 11,267.
  As you know I have recently announced a rationalisation strategy for the DRA which, if given Ministerial approval, could result in a further reduction in DRA staff numbers of some 2,000 by 1994–95.

  Contracts
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the extent and nature of all contracts between the Ministry of Defence and SERCO.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department has let some 183 contracts with SERCO since 1982 with a total value of more than £350 million. SERCO provides my Department with a wide range of technical services, including running communications facilities, technical training and the operation of the ballistic missile early warning system at Fylingdales.

  Electro-magnetic Gun
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for of Defence what is the nature of the work being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence establishment at Dundrennan involving research into an electro-magnetic gun; for whom the work is being carried out; and under what contractual arrangements.

  Mr. Aitken
  This is a matter delegated to the Defence Research Agency under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  In his written answer today the Minister of State for Defence Procurement said that I would be replying directly to the following question:
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the nature of the work being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence establishment at Dundrennan involving research into an electromagnetic gun; for whom the work is being carried out; and under what contractual arrangements.

  The Defence Research Agency is in the process of establishing a research electromagnetic gun range at the MOD trials site at Kirkcudbright, Kirkcudbrightshire. This
  250
  facility is being constructed as part of a research programme to assess the feasibility of using electromagnetic propulsion to enhance the armour penetrating performance of tank gunnery.
  The research programme is being carried out for the Master General of the Ordnance to enable him to assess more precisely the potential military value of any future tank gunnery system based upon electromagnetic propulsion.
  The installation work at Kirkcudbright which is jointly funded with the US Government is being carried out by Marconi Radar & Control Systems on a fixed priced contract. Work started in 1989 and is expected to be complete by mid 1993.

  Military Exercises
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the nature, purpose, duration and extent of all military exercises undertaken in south-west Scotland during 1992 up to the current date; and what percentage this represents of all those carried out in the United Kingdom for the same period.

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

  Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the meeting of the Defence Ministers of the nations collaborating in the European fighter aircraft programme on 4 August.

  Mr. Aitken
  My right hon. and learned Friend met his Spanish, Italian and German counterparts in Madrid on 4 August. Studies were set in hand to consider ways of reducing costs in the EFA programme and to review the operational requirement in the light of the recent changes in the international security situation. Both studies are due to be completed by the end of October, and the Ministers plan to meet again in December to discuss the results.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the total cost to all four participating countries in pounds sterling of the development programe of the European fighter aircraft programme; how much of that figure has already been spent; and if he will give a breakdown by participating country.

  Mr. Aitken
  The total cost to the four partner nations of developing EFA is estimated at about £8.5 billion, of which the United Kingdom share is about £2.7 billion. Virtually all of this is now contractually committed. Bills paid to date by the United Kingdom amount to a little over £1 billion.

  We do not maintain records of the progress of expenditure by our partners. Work was allocated at the start of development in the ratio: United Kingdom 33 per cent., Germany 33 per cent., Italy 21 per cent., Spain 13 per cent. Each nation meets the cost of common work performed by its industry and the whole cost of any national-specific requirements.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to meet his counterparts from Germany, Italy and Spain to discuss the future of the European fighter aircraft.

  Mr. Aitken
  My right. hon. and learned Friend plans to meet his German, Italian and Spanish counterparts in December to discuss the results of the studies they
  251
  commissioned on 4 August. It is possible that they may have some preliminary discussions when they meet on other bilateral or multilateral occasions.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the engineering facilities in the United Kingdom, giving the name of the company and the geographical location where over 50 people are working on the development of the European fighter aircraft.

  Mr. Aitken
  The three main British companies involved in the development of EFA are British Aerospace—principally, the Warton facility—Rolls—Royce—Bristol—and GEC—principally, the Rochester, Edinburgh and Stanmore facilities. There are approaching 300 companies in the United Kingdom acting as sub-contractors or suppliers. It would not be possible without disproportionate cost to identify the facilities of those companies with over 50 people engaged on work connected with EFA.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British jobs are currently dependent on the European fighter aircraft development programme.

  Mr. Aitken
  Approximately 9,400 people in the United Kingdom are directly employed on work connected with the development of EFA. When EFA enters the production phase, we estimate that this number will rise to around 28,000.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agricultural Training Board
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if authority for staff grading changes within the Agricultural Training Board has removed the need for his Department's approval.

  Mr. Curry
  When approving staff grading changes the chief executive of the Agricultural Training Board is required to abide by the normal rules on maintenance on national civil service grading standards and the need for economy. Where the creation of a new post is involved the procedures described in the reply given to my hon. Friend on 19 October,Official Report, column 95, also have to be followed.

  EC Fisheries Council
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 19 October; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I chaired this meeting of the Council. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council agreed, subject to the opinion of the European Parliament, to a regulation revising the regime for the common organisation of the market in fishery products. A satisfactory balance was achieved between constraining Community expenditure on market suport and the need to protect fishermen from excessive price fluctuations.

  The Council further agreed a regulation to prohibit EC vessels anywhere from undertaking fisheries involving encirclements with purse seine nets on marine mammals when aiming to catch tuna and other species of fish.
  252
  The Council also discussed the Commission's proposals for future multi-annual guidance programmes, agreeing the need to set realistic targets for the reduction in member states' fishing and to allow member states flexibility in how they achieve them.

  The Council had its first discussion on the important draft regulations intended to replace the basic common fisheries policy regulation and control regulation. These regulations have been proposed by the Commission following Council discussion of the mid-term review of the CFP. The Council also agreed that a further proposal for a Community licensing system for waters in the North-West Atlantic Fisheries Convention Organisation area should be considered in taking account of discussion on the two major proposals.

  The United Kingdom pressed for Community action on the rules for the minimum landings size for lobsters.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Overseas Representation
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries in which there is no British embassy or high commission.

  Mr. Goodlad
  There is no British embassy, high commission or other resident representation staffed from the United Kingdom in the following countries, although members of the diplomatic service are accredited to and visit the majority of them:
  Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Georgia, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Iraq, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Liberia, Lichtenstein, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Island, Mauritania, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Nauru, Niger, Rwanda, St. Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, Surinam, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan and Western Samoa.
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take the necessary action to close the embassy in London of the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. There are good reasons for maintaining contact with the authorities in Belgrade.

  Vietnamese Migrants
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Vietnamese migrants.

  Mr. Goodlad
  A further 118 Vietnamese illegal immigrants were repatriated from Hong Kong under the orderly repatriation programme on two flights, 60 on 4 August and 58 on 10 October. All had undergone the UN High Commissioner for Refugees approved screening and appeal procedures and found not to be refugees.

  The UNHCR's voluntary repatriation programme is proving most successful. More than 28,000 have already been repatriated under this system from the region without a single substantiated report of persecution. We hope that all non-refugees now in Hong Kong will decide to follow

  253
  them. The clearing of the Hong Kong camps will enable genuine refugees to be properly looked after and resettled as appropriate.

  Deaths Abroad
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the criteria for refusing the burial or cremation of United Kingdom nationals whose bodies are returned following death abroad; and if he will give the number of such refusals in each year from 1986.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have been asked to reply.

  Whether or not a body repatriated from abroad is accepted for burial or cremation is ultimately a matter for the burial or cremation authority, which will need to be satisfied that the prescribed documentation has been supplied. Such refusals do not have to be reported, so their numbers are unknown.

  Spain
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are available to relatives of United Kingdom nationals who die in Spain to secure an examination by British doctors.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have been asked to reply.

  In the case of United Kingdom nationals whose bodies are returned to this country following death in Spain, it is at the discretion of the relatives whether to arrange an examination by British doctors. When a body is repatriated to England and Wales, the coroner has a duty to investigate cases where the death was violent, unnatural, or sudden and unknown cause. To assist him in his inquiries the coroner has powers to arrange a post-mortem examination. These duties and powers do not apply in other parts of the United Kingdom.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Crime Costs
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the estimated cost of crime to the community in the last year for which figures are available.

  Refusals1 of applications for asylum in the United Kingdom, and removals1 or voluntary departures1 of asylum applicants, excluding dependents, 1990 to 1992

  Refusals

  Removals2 and voluntary departures2

  Total refused

  Refused asylum and exceptional leave after determination

  Refused on safe third country grounds

  Refused under paragraph 101 of Immigration Rules3

  Port asylum applicants: removals

  Port asylum applicants: voluntary departures4

  In country asylum applicants removed under enforcement powers, or departing voluntarily following enforcement action5

  1990

  710

  710

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  1991

  3,240

  2,185

  270

  785

  6

  6

  6

  1992

  11,865

  1,975

  415

  9,475

  395

  145

  305

  January-September

  1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5.

  2 Removals and voluntary departures do not necessarily relate to decisions in the same time period.

  3 For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to two invitations to interview to establish identity.

  4 Includes any voluntary departure up to and including notification of the decision on the asylum application but excludes any subsequent departure.

  5 May understate. Figures exclude voluntary departures other than in enforcement cases.

  6 Not available.

  254
  Mr. Jack
  There is no reliable annual assessment of the total cost of crime to England and Wales. Estimated expenditure in 1990–91 by criminal justice agencies in England and Wales including the police, the Forensic Science Service agency, the Crown prosecution service, criminal legal aid, the Crown court, magistrates' courts, and the prison and probation service was £7.5 billion.

  Parents' Accountability
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on proposals to make parents more accountable for the behaviour of their children.

  Mr. Jack
  Powers for courts to involve parents when their children offend were strengthened by changes introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 1991 on 1 October. We shall monitor the new arrangements carefully.

  Illegal Immigration
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which department of the Metropolitan police now undertakes the work done between 1974 and 1989 by the national illegal immigration intelligence unit of the Metropolitan police.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There is no unit within the Metropolitan police which gathers information on illegal immigration. That function rests with the Home Office immigration department.

  Asylum
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number of asylum refusals(a) leave the United Kingdom voluntarily, (b) are deported and (c) remain.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Readily available information is given in the table. Fuller information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  255
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum claims have been rejected under paragraph 101 of the Immigration Rules each month since the introduction of that paragraph, expressed as a number of rejections and as a percentage of total claims received in that month.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  A provision that an application for variation of leave may be refused on the ground of failure to provide within a reasonable period of time evidence to establish the claim under the Immigration Rules has been in force since 1 March 1980—currently paragraph 101 of HC 251. Figures for asylum applications refused under this provision were not separately identifiable prior to December 1991. Information from that date is given in the table.
  256

  Refusals1 2 under paragraph 101 of the Immigration Rules of applications for asylum in the United Kingdom, and such refusals as a percentage of applications2 received, excluding dependants, December 1991 to September 1992

  Refusals under Para 101 of Immigration Rules

  Refusals under Para 101 of Immigration Rules as percentage of asylum applications received in the same month Per cent.

  December 1991

  785

  36

  January 1992

  1,210

  56

  February 1992

  1,120

  79

  March 1992

  1,615

  101

  April 1992

  935

  65

  May 1992

  735

  54

  June 1992

  1,025

  63

  July 1992

  1,010

  46

  August 1992

  840

  47

  September 1992

  985

  38

  1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5, percentages rounded to the nearest whole per cent.

  2 Refusals do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same month.

  Asylum
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many amendments were proposed to the 1991–92 Asylum Bill(a) by the Government and (b) by the Opposition: and what percentage was agreed to by the Committee.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Including new clauses, a total of 154 amendments to the Asylum Bill were tabled between its introduction and Third Reading. One hundred and fifteen were selected. Of these, six were Government amendments. No amendments were made during the Committee stage.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest monthly figure for the number of asylum applicants; and what was the comparable number for the same month in 1991.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information is given in the table.

  Applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants September 1991 to September 1992

  Applications

  1991

  September

  3,525

  October

  4,375

  November

  3,790

  Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and decisions,1 2 3 by nationality, 1 April 1991–30 September 1992.

  Nationality

  Applications

  Decisions

  Granted asylum

  Granted exceptional leave

  Total refused

  Refused asylum and exceptional leave after determination

  Refused on safe third country grounds

  Refused under para 101 of Immigration Rules4

  Total Decisions

  EUROPE AND AMERICAS

  Bulgaria

  390

  *

  5

  45

  30

  —

  15

  55

  Colombia

  265

  15

  25

  30

  20

  5

  5

  65

  Romania

  620

  5

  15

  110

  80

  5

  25

  135

  Turkey

  2,685

  305

  730

  520

  135

  75

  310

  1,555

  USSR

  375

  15

  30

  25

  10

  5

  5

  65

  Others

  3,315

  15

  15

  180

  45

  75

  65

  205

  Total

  7,650

  350

  820

  910

  320

  165

  425

  2,080

  AFRICA

  Angola

  4,550

  10

  10

  2,605

  365

  25

  2,215

  2,625

  Congo

  315

  *

  —

  180

  30

  5

  150

  185

  Ethiopia

  1,640

  55

  1,375

  155

  15

  25

  115

  1,585

  Ghana

  2,930

  10

  30

  965

  245

  30

  685

  1,005

  Nigeria

  655

  *

  *

  160

  55

  10

  95

  165

  Somalia

  2,445

  45

  1,910

  295

  15

  60

  220

  2,250

  Sudan

  1,455

  75

  40

  120

  5

  5

  110

  240

  Togo/Ivory Coast

  1,930

  —

  —

  965

  25

  5

  935

  965

  Uganda

  815

  15

  245

  280

  140

  10

  130

  545

  Zaire

  6,260

  10

  10

  3,470

  665

  120

  2,690

  3,495

  Others

  3,805

  10

  70

  1,880

  125

  25

  1,725

  1,960

  Total

  26,805

  310

  3,695

  11,080

  1,685

  320

  9,075

  15,085

  MIDDLE EAST

  Iran

  645

  95

  150

  45

  20

  5

  20

  290

  Iraq

  1,160

  125

  265

  40

  10

  10

  20

  430

  Lebanon

  520

  15

  170

  55

  30

  15

  10

  245

  Others

  650

  25

  70

  90

  40

  20

  30

  185

  Total

  2,970

  260

  650

  230

  100

  50

  80

  1,145

  ASIA

  China

  665

  25

  55

  30

  15

  —

  20

  115

  India

  2,600

  *

  515

  1,160

  780

  75

  300

  1,675

  Pakistan

  3,565

  5

  400

  980

  505

  10

  265

  1,390

  258

  Applications

  December

  2,210

  1992

  January

  2,165

  February

  1,420

  March

  1,595

  April

  1,440

  May

  1,370

  June

  1,615

  July

  2,180

  August

  1,790

  September

  2,590

  1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish detailed information on asylum applicants to the United Kingdom in the past 18 months, which indicate the number of applications, their countries of origin, the number granted refugee status, exceptional leave to remain, refusals, and the nationalities of those refused.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information is given in the table.
  259

  Nationality

  Applications

  Decisions

  Granted asylum

  Granted exceptional leave

  Total refused

  Refused asylum and exceptional leave after determination

  Refused on safe third country grounds

  Refused under para 101 of Immigration Rules4

  Total Decisions

  Sri Lanka

  3,805

  45

  2,940

  90

  15

  30

  45

  3,075

  Others

  1,160

  20

  280

  230

  175

  5

  50

  530

  Total

  11,795

  100

  4,205

  2,495

  1,695

  120

  670

  6,795

  Other and Nationality not recorded

  —

  5

  5

  20

  15

  *

  —

  30

  Grand Total

  49,225

  1,030

  9,375

  14,730

  3,815

  660

  10,260

  25,135

  1 Provisional figures, rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2.

  2 Decision figures are likely to understate because of delays in recording.

  3 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period.

  4 For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to two invitations to interview to establish identity. These refusals are separately identifiable from 1 December 1991. Earlier refusals are included in the column "Refused asylum and exceptional leave after determination".

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been returned to safe third countries under the provisions of the Dublin convention; and if he will publish a table of the nationalities of those removed from the United Kingdom, their countries of origin and the countries to which they were removed.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Dublin convention will not come into force until it has been ratified by all EC member states.

  Information on the total number of asylum applicants at ports removed on safe third country grounds in the period March to August 1992 is given in the table. The countries to which they were removed were other EC countries, Sweden, Austria, USA, Switzerland, Turkey, Guinea, Australia and Kenya. All decisions on third country removals are taken in the light of the circumstances of the individual case.

  Asylum applicants at ports removed on safe third country grounds, 1 March 1992 to 31 August 1992, by nationality

  Number

  Albania

  1

  Algeria

  1

  Angola

  3

  China

  1

  Colombia

  3

  Czechoslovakia

  3

  Ethiopia

  4

  Ghana

  12

  India

  5

  Iran

  1

  Iraq

  2

  Ivory Coast

  3

  Lebanon

  4

  Liberia

  2

  Nigeria

  3

  Pakistan

  3

  Romania

  6

  Sierra Leone

  2

  Somalia

  13

  South Africa

  1

  Sri Lanka

  5

  Sudan

  1

  Togo

  1

  Turkey

  27

  Uganda

  2

  260

  Number

  USSR (former)

  2

  Yugoslavia (former)

  29

  Zaire

  30

  Other and nationality uncertain

  5

  Total

  175

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum are outstanding; and if he will publish the same figure for each month for the past 36 months.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The readily available information is given in the table. The figures are maxima which overstate because of earlier under-recording of decisions.

  Number of asylum applications, excluding dependants, outstanding1

  Date

  Total

  As at:

  31 December 1988

  8,650

  31 December 1989

  12,240

  31 December 1990

  29,870

  31 March 1991

  40,120

  30 June 1991

  51,410

  30 September 1991

  61,260

  31 December 1991

  69,330

  31 January 1992

  69,420

  29 February 1992

  68,920

  31 March 1992

  67,950

  30 April 1992

  67,690

  31 May 1992

  69,480

  30 June 1992

  66,950

  31 July 1992

  65,910

  31 August 1992

  64,670

  30 September 1992

  64,330

  1 Estimated figures, rounded to the nearest 10.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will provide the latest statistics to update his answer to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 6 July,Official Report columns 41–42 on asylum application;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the trends in grants of asylum, exceptional leave to remain and applications for asylum.
  261
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information is given in the table.

  Applications for asylum increased substantially between 1988 and 1991. The monthly rate halved in late

  Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by location of application, and decisions1 1988 to 1992

  Number of principal applicants

  Applications received

  Decisions1

  Year

  Total applications

  Applied at port2

  Applied in country3

  Total decisions

  Granted asylum

  Granted exceptional leave

  Total refused

  Refused asylum and exceptional leave after determination

  Refused on safe third country-grounds

  Refused under para. 101 of Immigration Rules4

  Applications outstanding at end of quarter5

  1988

  3,998

  858

  3,140

  2,702

  628

  1,578

  496

  496

  N/a

  N/a

  8,650

  19896

  11,640

  6,200

  5,440

  6,955

  2,210

  3,860

  890

  890

  N/a

  N/a

  12,240

  19906 7

  22,000

  9,005

  13,000

  4,015

  900

  2,400

  710

  710

  N/a

  N/a

  29,870

  19916 7

  44,840

  9,030

  35,815

  5,965

  505

  2,230

  3,240

  2,185

  270

  785

  69,330

  19916 7

  Quarter 1

  11,790

  3,490

  8,300

  1,435

  155

  910

  375

  350

  20

  N/a

  40,120

  Quarter 2

  12,075

  2,040

  10,035

  720

  110

  235

  380

  330

  50

  N/a

  51,410

  Quarter 3

  10,600

  1,970

  8,630

  845

  105

  265

  480

  415

  60

  N/a

  61,260

  Quarter 4

  10,375

  1,525

  8,850

  2,960

  140

  810

  2,010

  1,095

  135

  785

  69,330

  1992

  Quarter 1

  5,185

  1,335

  3,845

  6,330

  165

  1,500

  4,665

  565

  150

  3,945

  67,950

  Quarter 2

  4,425

  1,160

  3,265

  5,225

  135

  1,755

  3,335

  495

  150

  2,695

  66,950

  Quarter 3

  6,560

  2,255

  4,305

  8,975

  300

  4,810

  3,865

  915

  115

  2,835

  64,330

  1 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period.

  2 Figures include certain in-country applications made in illegal entrant cases.

  3 In country figures include a small number of applications recorded as having been made overseas and referred to the Home Office for a decision. These cases may be under recorded.

  4 For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period.

  5 Figures are maxima which overstate because of earlier under recording of decisions. Figures are approximate and rounded to the nearest 10.

  6 In addition, certain applications by nationals of Afghanistan and Liberia to the British High Commissioners in New Delhi and Lagos, respectively, were processed locally.

  7 Figures rounded to the nearest 5. 1990 application figures and 1991 decision figures may understate because of delays in recording. N/a—Not available.

  Mr. Allen:
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how long the average asylum application takes to determine;

  (2) what is the latest figure for the average length of time taken to determine applications for asylum (a) as a whole, (b) for new applicants and (c) for applicants from the existing backlog.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information is of the estimated average length of time between the receipt of an asylum application and the decision, for cases which have been decided. For decisions in the period January to September 1992 as a whole, excluding those under paragraph 101 of the Immigration Rules for failure to provide evidence in support of the asylum claim, this average decision time was twenty and a half months. This figure reflects the recent increase in staffing which has enabled work to commence on the resolution of older and more complex cases.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the projected total number of asylum seekers expected for the whole of 1992 on the basis of current trends.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  It is not possible to provide a precise forecast in view of the uncertainties involved. In the first six months of 1992, asylum applications totalled 9,600. In the period January to September as a whole, 16,200 applications have been received.
  262
  1991 following measures to deter multiple and other fraudulent applications. The number of applications increased somewhat in the third quarter of 1992.

  The recent increase in the number of decisions mainly reflects additional staff resources in the asylum division.

  Drug Trafficking
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to secure the £33.55 million out of the £35 million ordered by the courts to be confiscated from those convicted of drug trafficking offences which has still not been paid.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: Responsibility for the enforcement of confiscation orders made after convictions in the Crown court for drug trafficking offences rests with magistrates courts. I am pleased to say that it is now known that, of the £35 million ordered to be confiscated under the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986—DTOA—up to May 1992, £15 million had either been realised or was subject to receivership. The realisation of confiscation orders is often necessarily a lengthy and complex process, involving for example the realisation of tangible property. Moreover, orders cannot be enforced when they are subject of appeal. We will shortly be bringing forward legislative proposals intended to improve the confiscation procedures of the DTOA, and additional guidance to the courts is also planned.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Royal Parks Constabulary
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will set out in tabular form the annual salary scales for the Royal Parks constabulary
  263
  ranks of constable to chief officer with effect from 1 September; if he will show for each rank and scale point any other allowances payable; and what is the current actual establishment of the constabulary and its total annual cost.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: The revised salary scales for members of the Royal Parks Constabulary, effective from 1 September 1992 are as follows. These rates are conditional upon the passing of the statutory instrument amending Home Office pay rates, to which RPC pay rates are related, being laid and approved.

  RPC (England) Actual rates of pay

  £

  Constable

  10,412

  11,135

  13,110

  13,418

  13,860

  14,340

  14,793

  15,252

  15,701

  16,623

  17,377

  Sergeant

  16,623

  17,376

  17,989

  18,583

  19,068

  Inspector

  19,068

  19,664

  20,432

  21,039

  21,648

  Chief Inspector

  21,648

  22,255

  22,859

  23,470

  24,082

  Superintendent

  29,571

  30,325

  31,074

  32,108

  Chief Superintendent

  32,877

  33,348

  34,094

  34,909

  Allowances

  Crown Sergeant Allowance—£253 p.a. Currently paid to one officer only, a Sergeant.

  Dog Handler Allowances—£858 p.a. (1 September 1991 rate). Currently paid to 13 Constables.

  London Weighting Allowance—£1,344 p.a. (1 July 1991 rate). Paid to all ranks.

  Housing Allowance (paid to those eligible)

  Rank

  Half Rate

  Standard Rate

  £

  £

  Chief Officer

  2,805.19

  5,610.38

  All other ranks

  2,418.26

  4,836.51

  The Housing Allowance= the 1 April 1991 rate. The next uprating is not due until 1993.
  264
  Boot and Shoe Allowance. Paid to all ranks.

  The Preasent 1 April 1991 rate is:

  £65.30 on appointment.

  £32.29 on 1 April annually thereafter

  Current Actual Establishment of Constabulary

  As at 1 October 1992 the actual establishment of the RPC is:

  1 Chief Officer

  1 Deputy Chief Officer

  7 Inspectors

  19 Sergeants (including 1 Crown Sergeant)

  137 Constables

  165 Total

  Total Annual Cost

  £4,375,237

  Television License Fees
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will review his decision not to allow concessionary television licence fees in warden assisted homes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  This is a matter for which the Department of National Heritage now has responsibility. We have no plans to review the regulations governing the concessionary licence scheme.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security who will be eligible for cold weather payments this winter; what weather conditions will trigger payment; what payment will be made; how payment will be made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The principles of operation of the cold weather payments scheme remain unchanged from last year. The Cold Weather Payment (No. 2) Regulations, which come into force on 1 November, make minor improvements to the links between weather stations and local areas.

EDUCATION

  Teacher Vacancies
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what figures he has for the overall vacancy rate for teachers in the two most recent available years.

  Mr. Forth
  Maintained schools in England had an unfilled vacancy rate of 1.5 per cent. in January 1991, and 0.5 per cent. in January 1992. Numbers of vacancies were 5,222 in 1991 and 1,898 in 1992, a reduction of 63 per cent.

  Pre-school Education
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what measures he intends to introduce to assist local authorities to provide an adequate number of nursery places to meet the demands of all those parents who wish such a place for their children.

  Mr. Forth
  As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn), earlier today, it is for local
  265
  authorities to determine the scale and form of provision for the under-fives. But the House would wish to be reminded that 175,000 more under-fives attended maintained schools in England in 1991 than in 1979; and that 90 per cent. of three- and four-year-olds now enjoy education or group child care or both.

  School Inspections
  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress he has to report regarding implementing the new arrangements for school inspection.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with parent organisations regarding progress in implementing the new arrangements for school inspection.

  Mr. Patten
  OFSTED—the Office for Standards in Education—opened on 1 September 1992. Her Majesty's chief inspector, Professor Stewart Sutherland, and his staff are now preparing for the first round of second school inspections to start in September 1993.

  I shall soon be consulting with interested bodies, including organisations which represent parents, on a draft circular and regulations which will give effect to the four-year inspection cycle and secure wide distribution of inspection reports.

  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the response to his Department's national advertising campaign to attract registered school inspectors.

  Mr. Forth
  As a result of the campaign some 41,000 people asked for the leaflet "Are you interested in becoming a school inspector?" and so far some 25,000 have gone on to request further information and application forms. I understand that OFSTED, the office of Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools in England, has received almost 5,000 applications from prospective registered inspectors and more than 6,000 from prospective inspection team members.

  First Degree Awards
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total number of first degrees awarded in the latest year for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure for 1980.

  Mr. Forman
  In 1990, 137,000 first degrees were awarded in universities, polytechnics and colleges in Great Britain, compared with 102,000 in 1980.

  This 34 per cent. increase illustrates the rapid expansion of higher education over the last decade. It highlights the remarkable achievements of our higher education institutions and the success of this Government's education policies.

  Parents Charter
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what additional information will be made available to parents from the autumn term this year as a result of the measures contained in the parents charter.

  Mr. Forth
  For the first time, comparative tables of public examination results will be published this 266
  November for each local education authority area. They will cover all maintained schools and those independent schools which are participating this year on a voluntary basis, alongside local and national average figures.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many Cheshire schools have applied for grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Forth
  Five schools in Cheshire have applied for grant-maintained status to date. Of these, two have been approved, and one is under consideration.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many ballots were pending for grant-maintained status in September 1989; and how many ballots are currently pending.

  Mr. Forth
  On September 29 1989, there were 18 schools operating, nine approved but not yet operating, and 21 in the process of applying for GM status. Seven ballots were pending.

  On October 19 1992, 278 GM schools were operational, 30 were approved or "minded to approve" but not yet operating and 179 were in the process of applying for GM status. Sixty-seven ballots were pending.

  Teacher Redundancies
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the level of teacher redundancies which have taken effect since June and the number expected in December.

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not collected centrally.

  School Funding, Essex and Kent
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will meet representatives of teachers from Essex and Kent in order to discuss the funding of their schools.

  Mr. Forth
  No. The funding of schools in particular areas is primarily a matter for the local education authority.

  Local Education Authorities
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received regarding the future role of local education authorities.

  Mr. Forth
  Most of the 850 responses to the White Paper have commented in one way or another on the future role of local education authorities. We are considering those along with all other responses to the White Paper.

  School Repairs
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement about the cost of school repairs.

  Mr. Forth
  We are allocating over £700 million to support capital spending on school buildings in 1992–93, up nearly 15 per cent. on last year. Provision to support the
  267
  recurrent costs of school repairs is also available within total standard spending, which in 1992–93 totals £18.7 billion.

  It is for local authorities and schools to decide what priority and what funds to allocate to school repairs from the resources available to them.

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many grammar schools there are in England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  In September 1992 there were at least 110 grammar schools maintained by 24 of the 109 local education authorities in England, with a further 46 grammar schools in the grant-maintained sector.

  Further Education Colleges
  Ms. Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how the preparations for the transfer of further education colleges to the Further Education Funding Council are progressing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forman
  Preparations are proceeding according to plan. In particular, further education corporations were established on 30 September for the purpose of conducting further education and sixth-form colleges from 1 April 1993 when they transfer out of local authority control to the new further education sector.

  Student Incomes
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement about student incomes.

  Mr. Forman
  I announced recently that a new survey of student income and expenditure will be conducted in the academic year 1992–93. This will enable the facts about student income to be established.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of primary school children are in classes of more than 30 children.

  Mr. Forth
  In January 1992 about 25 per cent. of pupils in maintained primary schools in England, were in classes of more than 30 pupils taught by one teacher.

  Student Unions
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the future of student unions and the National Union of Students.

  Mr. Forman
  My right hon. Friend has said that the Government will bring forward proposals to establish the voluntary principle as the basis for student union membership. I shall be having further discussions with representatives of the educational institutions and other interested parties about how this will be achieved.

  Science Teaching
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what action he is taking to promote the teaching of science in schools.
  268
  Mr. Forth
  The introduction of the national curriculum for science means that, for the first time, all schools must offer a broad and balanced science curriculum for all pupils from age five to 16.

  Adult Education
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what resources he estimates to be going into adult education in real and money terms(a) now and (b) five, 10 and 15 years ago; how many people were on adult education courses at the same periods; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forman
  The table shows recurrent expenditure on adult education centres by authorities in England up to 1990–91, the latest year for which information is available, together with numbers of enrolments at these centres. The figures include students below the age of 19.

  Adult education centres

  1975–76

  1980–81

  1985–86

  1990–91

  Cash expenditure (£ million)

  32

  61

  102

  1401

  Real terms expenditure (£ million at 1990–91 prices)

  117

  112

  137

  1401

  Enrolments (000s)

  1,847

  1,543

  1,418

  1,352

  1 provisional figure.

  Expenditure by local education authorities on adults in further education colleges is not separately identifiable and enrolment data for 1975–76 were not collected on a basis consistent with later data, but there has been a clear and very welcome increase during the last decade in total further education enrolments of people aged 19 and over, taking together adult centres and other colleges providing further education. Between 1980–81 and 1990–91 these enrolments increased by 27 per cent. overall. Outside adult centres, the increase was 62 per cent.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 October.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 October.

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

  Overseas Aid
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister if it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to increase the United Kingdom overseas aid budget.

  The Prime Minister
  The outcome of this year's public expenditure survey will be announced, as is usual, during the autumn statement of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  Turkey
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will press the Turkish Government to exert influence on the representatives of the Turkish community in northern Cyprus, to negotiate positively in the forthcoming round of talks to be held under the auspices of the United Nations, and not to obstruct the search for a just, viable and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  We share entirely the concern that all involved in the Cyprus problem should work for a fair settlement on the lines of the "set of ideas" published by the United Nations Secretary-General and endorsed in United Nations Security Council resolution 774.

  European Parliament (Elections)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has to harmonise the British electoral system for European parliamentary elections with those of the other EC member states; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  We have no proposals at present to change the way in which members of the European Parliament are elected in Great Britain or in Northern Ireland. Any proposals which the European Parliament puts forward for a uniform electoral procedure will be considered on their merits.

  European Community Legislation
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Prime Minister what changes he proposes to make to the process and time scale tinder which Commission proposals for legislation will be presented to the House consequent on the declaration on the role of national parliaments in the European union.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government will continue to ensure that legislative proposals by the Commission are deposited in the House as soon as possible, in accordance with the existing scrutiny procedures.

  GATT
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will provide details of how the figure of $90 billion, referred to in his statement on the economic summit as the amount of additional income to be gained by developing and former communist countries through completion of the GATT talks was calculated; which countries are likely to benefit from this additional income; and which sectors of the developing countries are likely to benefit from the completion of the GATT talks.

  The Prime Minister
  The figure comes from a report for the OECD development centre by Ian Goldin and Dominique van der Mensbrugghe entitled "Trade Liberalisation: What's at Stake?" It is available in the House of Commons Library, and should provide the further information requested.

  Cyprus
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has met the Greek Cypriot leader during the past 12 months; whether he has met the Turkish Cypriot leader in the same period; and what is his policy on meeting foreign political leaders who are not in government.
  270
  The Prime Minister
  I have met President Vassiliou twice in the last 12 months. I have not met Mr. Denktash who claims to be the head of state which the United Kingdom does not recognise, though United Kingdom representatives have regular contact with him.

  I and other members of the Government decide whether to meet foreign political leaders on the basis of a judgment in each case.

  Common Currency
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister on what date he expects the United Kingdom to have a common currency with EC nations.

  The Prime Minister
  Under the protocol to the Maastricht treaty which we negotiated it will be for the Government and Parliament to decide whether the United Kingdom will join a single currency at all.

  Neo-Nazi Activities
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what decisions have been taken during his presidency of the EC regarding the neo-Nazi activities against migrants in the former East Germany.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government deplore and condemn racist attacks wherever they occur. So do the German Government. President von Weizsacker, Chancellor Kohl and other political leaders in Germany have condemned the neo-Nazi attacks and have pledged unrelenting efforts to identify and prosecute those responsible.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions have taken place between the Governments of the United Kingdom and India to decide appropriate assistance from the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the United Nations to assist Kashmir overcome the flooding disaster.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: The Government of India have not sought any emergency assistance from the United Kingdom for the flooding in Kashmir.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister what forecasts have been received by Her Majesty's Government of the numbers of refugees likely to die in Bosnia and other former Yugoslavian states in the coming winter; what estimates have been received of the numbers of people who will be displaced from their homes or detention camps this winter; and what arrangements have been made by Her Majesty's Government, in conjuction with the EC and the United Nations, for the international community to receive refugees over this winter.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: According to the UN High Commission for Refugees hundreds of thousands are at risk. A total of 1.6 million are already displaced; up to 12,000 are in detention centres. The UNHCR believes that the best policy is for displaced people to stay as close to their homes as possible. We agree and have so far contributed over £55 million to humanitarian relief operations.
  271
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations have been received by Her Majesty's Government for armed action to be taken against those attacking UN-sponsored humanitarian relief in Bosnia and other former Yugoslavian states and for armed retaliation against air attacks on Bosnia made by Serbian aircraft or Serbian-sponsored aircraft in Bosnia.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: Of the several thousand letters received from members of the public concerning the former Yugoslavia, a significant number have advocated military action. The purpose of the 2,400 troops we are providing is the protection of humanitarian convoys in central Bosnia. The Bosnian Serbs have undertaken to remove their combat aircraft to Serbia. The UN is working urgently to ensure that this happens.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations have been received by Her Majesty's Government for arms from those in Bosnia fighting aggression from Serbia or sponsored by Serbia; on what dates such requests were made; what types of arms were requested; what was the response of Her Majesty's Government; and whether any requests for arms are being considered by Her Majesty's Government.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: United Nations Security Council resolution 713 of 25 September 1991 established an arms embargo on all the territory of former Yugoslavia, including Bosnia-Hercegovina. There is no question of any consideration being given to requests for arms.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister what financial assistance has been given by Her Majesty's Government, to date, to relieve suffering caused by flooding in Pakistan; what other assistance has been given by Her Majesty's Government, to date, to Pakistan, to provide clean water, medical supplies, food, temporary shelter and clothing; and on what date the Government of Pakistan requested formally Her Majesty's Government to assist in relieving hardship caused by flooding.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: Although the Government of Pakistan have made no formal request to the international donor community for relief assistance following the recent flooding, the Government have provided £475,088 for relief aid because of the magnitude of the disaster.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister what action he has taken through the EC, the Commonwealth and the United Nations to co-ordinate international assistance to relieve hardship caused by flooding in Pakistan.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: The United Nations, in co-Operation with the Government of Pakistan, has set up a committee of donors to co-ordinate relief efforts. The United Kingdom and its European Community partners, together with the European Commission, have participated in this committee through representatives in Islamabad.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions have taken place between representatives of Her Majesty's Government and the Government of 272
  Pakistan about help and assistance from the United Kingdom to provide short, medium and long-term aid to Pakistan to rebuild the country following the flooding disaster; and if he will give dates of when such meetings took place and the designation of officials participating.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: Disastrous floods struck northern Pakistan on the night of 10 to 11 September. Senior officials of the British high aid commission in Islamabad, led by the economic and counsellor had discussed relief aid requirements with federal Government officials on 12 September. A first contribution for emergency relief was made the same day. There have since been weekly meetings between the British high commission and federal Government officials through the forum of the UN Disaster Relief Organisation Programme UN Development—chaired special coordinating committee for flood relief—on 14 and 24 September and 6 October.

  On several occasions following the emergency, the British high commissioner has discussed relief requirements with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, notably during a call on the Prime Minister on 21 September, and other senior ministers.

  On 17 September the economic aid counsellor in the British high commission—BHC—had discussions with the Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab to determine further relief needs. As a result, we responded with a supply of tents and blankets which arrived in Lahore on 22 September, on a flight met by the same BHC official and the provincial Minister of Revenue.

  On 23 September the economic aid counsellor held discussions with senior officials in the Government of Punjab.

  On 27 September the first secretary (aid) visited Lahore for further discussions with senior provincial Government officials on relief distribution and further needs. On 6 October the same official visited Jhelum to monitor the delivery and further distribution of relief goods supplied under British aid, where he met district officials.

  In addition, the British deputy high commissioner in Karachi and his staff have held regular contacts with Government of Sindh about emergency needs in the province.

  The authorities in Pakistan have stressed the need for self reliance in terms of longer-term rehabilitation, and have therefore made no official request for aid for this purpose. However, we will continue to keep in touch with the Government of Pakistan about longer-term requirements in the context of our bilateral aid programme.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Fishing Fleet
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fishing boats are tied up at present at Portavogie, Kilkeel and Ardglass harbours; and if he will make a statement on the size of the Northern Ireland fishing fleet which is still actively involved in the fishing industry.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is understood that there are, in total, 20 fishing vessels of over 10 m in length which are at present tied up at Portavogie, Kilkeel and Ardglass harbours. As with other member states, the future size of the United Kingdom fishing fleet, which includes that of Northern
  273
  Ireland, is the subject of continuing examination and consultation with the Commission in multi-annual guidance programme targets.

  Students' Unions
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amount of public funds is allocated per annum to the students' unions in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  In the 1991–92 academic year payments—largely from public funds—by universities and colleges of education in Northern Ireland to their respective students unions amounted to £1,427,900. Information in relation to students unions in further education colleges is not readily available.

SCOTLAND

  Consultants
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the occasions when his Department has employed Quayle Munro as consultants in the last three years, with details of the projects concerned.

  Mr. Lang
  Details of the projects undertaken by Quayle Munro on behalf of The Scottish Office in the last three years are as follows:—

  Details of Project

  Contract Period

  Advisers to Secretary of State on privatisation of the Scottish Bus Group.

  1988–1991

  Advising on proposals for the direct labour organisation of Scottish Homes.

  1990

  Advising on the sale of Scottish public transport companies by local authorities.

  1991 (ongoing)

  Advising on the funding arrangements for the Skye Crossing, including the tender competition and tender clarifications with the Concessionaire.

  1990–1992

  Advising on the options for the future organisation of water and sewerage services in Scotland.

  1992

  Lockerbie Air Crash
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officers of(a) the Scottish police and (b) other police forces are currently engaged on the investigation of the bombing of Pan Am 103; and which countries have been visited by British police officers in connection with the Lockerbie disaster.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Seven officers of the Dumfries and Galloway constabulary are currently directly engaged in the Lockerbie investigation. No other police force in the United Kingdom is presently involved. Inquiries have been conducted in 70 countries. It would not be helpful to identify each of the countries visited.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  British Aerospace
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with British Aerospace about the joint venture for regional aircraft with Taiwan.
  274
  Mr. Sainsbury
  The joint venture is a commercial matter between British Aerospace and the Taiwanese Aerospace Corporation. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has, however, been kept informed of progress. He met John Cahill, chairman of British Aerospace and Earle Ho, chairman of the Taiwanese Aerospace Corporation, on 29 July, during the latter's visit to the United Kingdom.

  Toys (Safety)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement as to the grounds on which the EC has banned birthday cards which have an age badge attached for children under three years old; and what action his Department is taking.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department is not aware of any action by the EC or any member state to ban such items.

  Recycling
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the reasons for the recent fall in the United Kingdom's recycling rate for paper.

  Mr. Eggar
  The recycling rate for paper can he measured in two ways: the proportion of waste paper used in the production of paper and board in the United Kingdom or the amount of waste paper recovered as a proportion of paper consumed in the United Kingdom.

  The most recent figures available to my Department show that the proportion of waste paper used in production in the first half of 1992 was, at 59.7 per cent., identical to the rate one year earlier. This was in a period in which United Kingdom production of paper and hoard increased by 2.8 per cent. Recovery tonnages also increased over the period from 1,585,000 tonnes in the first half of 1991 to 1,616,000 tonnes in the first half of 1992. However, since United Kingdom consumption in the period increased at a faster rate than United Kingdom production, the recovery rate fell from 33.7 per cent. to 32.5 per cent.

  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has met representatives of the paper and board industry to discuss the pattern of trade and, in particular, the impact of changing environmental legislation in other member states of the European Community.

  Postal Services
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement concerning the application of the principle of subsidiarity to the purposes, and proposals made in the communication of the European Commission (7390/92) concerning policies for postal services, indicating which proposal for improvements could not be achieved by national postal authorities or by co-operation within the international postal union.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: The range, quality, reliability and pricing of postal services varies considerably throughout the European Community. The EC Commission has taken the view that postal services form an essential part of the social and business infrastructure of the EC, and that individuals and organisations are entitled to certain minimum standards. The Commission's proposals in its Green Paper on postal

  275
  services are to achieve their objective essentially through a combination of harmonisation and market opening measures, and the elimination of harmful cross-subsidies. The principle of subsidiarity will be reflected in that member states will remain free to provide postal services to a higher standard than the minima decreed by the Commission, to adopt more liberal regimes, to organise their regulatory structures and generally to tailor their services to meet the specific needs of local circumstances.

  Microelectronics
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will publish tables showing the total of payments under the investment support for fibre optics and opto-electronics programme by 31 March 1992, the total payments to projects in each region and any payments during 1991–92 in total and for each region;

  (2) if he will publish tables showing the total of payments under the microelectronics industry support programme II by 31 March 1992, the total payments to projects in each region and any payments during 1991–1992 in total and for each region;

  (3) if he will publish tables showing the total of payments under the microelectronics industry support programme I by 31 March 1992, the total payments to the projects in each region and any payments during 1991–92 in total and for each region.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: Details of financial assistance under these three programmes are contained in the "Industrial Development Act 1982 Annual Report". Copies of the most recent report for the year ended 31 March 1992 are available in the Library.

  Electricity Generating Plants
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the installed capacities of electricity generating plants in the United Kingdom of the generating and regional companies using gas for steam and gas turbines respectively; and what capacity of the former was initially installed for burning coal.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: There are at present two combined cycle gas-fired stations in operation in England and Wales:

  Organisation

  Location

  Estimated capacity (MW)

  Lakeland Power

  Roosecote, Cumbria

  235

  PowerGen plc

  Killingholme, South Humberside

  450 (1st unit)

  One—Roosecote—is on the site of an earlier coal-fired station.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what instruction, advice or guidance he has given to the main electricity generating undertakings, and regional electricity companies respectively, concerning the short or long-term sources of their fuel supplies, since the privatisation of the electricity production and supply industry.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: I am not in a position to give instructions to private sector
  276
  companies. I have made clear to all concerned the importance I attach to seeing contracts put in place as soon as possible which will provide stability to the coal industry over the next few years and bring benefits to electricity customers.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the number and total installed capacity of power stations converted or built to use gas as a fuel since the abolition of the Central Electricity Generating Board, stating in broad terms the number and capacity installed by each of the new national and regional electricity undertakings, and others respectively, and the range of gas price per gigajoule paid.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: Gas-fired power stations—above 50MW—in England and Wales, commissioned since 31 March 1990 were:

  Organisation

  Location

  Estimated capacity (MW)

  Lakeland Power

  Roosecote, Cumbria

  235

  PowerGen plc

  Killingholme, South Humberside

  450 (1st unit)

  Gas prices are a commercial matter for the companies concerned.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total capacity of those coal-fired power stations due to be closed by the main generating undertakings, consequent to their planned reductions in coal burn for 1993, giving the capital cost per megawatt, and fuel cost per gigajoule respectively, for the most efficient coal and gas-fired power stations now available for construction at current gas and United Kingdom produced coal prices respectively.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: These are commercial matters for the generating companies.

  Agencies and Trading Funds
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the outturn income and receipts for 1990–91 and 1991–92, projected outturns for 1992–93, and plans for subsequent years for the agencies and trading funds responsible to his Department.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: Details that the hon. Gentleman has asked to be published can be found in table 16 on page 20 of the publication entitled "Trade and Industry—The Government's Expenditure Plans 1992–93 to 1994–95", Cm 1904, dated February 1992. A copy of this publication, which is updated annually, is in the House's Library.

  SPUR Scheme
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the total of applications, offers and payments made under the SPUR scheme as at 1 October 1992, the same information for each region and each region's share of the total.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: Applications, offers and payments made under the Support for Products under Research—SPUR—scheme as at 1 October 1992 were as follows:

  277

  Applications

  Offers

  Payments

  Region

  Number

  Per cent. of total

  Number

  Value £ million

  Per cent. of total by value

  Value £ million

  Per cent. of total

  East

  25

  6.5

  12

  1.40

  7.8

  0.08

  6.0

  East Midlands

  19

  4.9

  14

  1.15

  6.4

  0.13

  9.8

  North East

  10

  2.6

  7

  0.60

  3.3

  0.04

  3.0

  North West

  90

  23.4

  46

  3.32

  18.5

  0.17

  12.8

  South East

  60

  15.6

  31

  3.38

  18.8

  0.21

  15.8

  South West

  41

  10.6

  14

  1.26

  7.0

  0.11

  8.3

  West Midlands

  32

  8.3

  24

  1.40

  7.8

  0.10

  7.5

  Yorks/Humberside

  52

  13.5

  27

  1.74

  9.7

  0.20

  15.0

  Wales

  25

  6.5

  14

  1.15

  6.4

  0.04

  3.0

  Scotland

  31

  8.1

  23

  2.54

  14.2

  0.25

  18.8

  Total

  385

  —

  212

  17.94

  —

  1.33

  —

  Enterprise Initiative
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the president of the Boa rd of Trade if he will publish tables showing the total of payments under the enterprise initiative programme by 31 March 1992, the total payments to projects in each region, and payments during 1991–92 in total and for each region, together with the projected outturn total spend for 1992–93.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: Total payments on enterprise initiative consultancy projects from the launch of the scheme in 1988 up to the end of March 1992 amounted to £142.3 million. In the 1991–92 financial year payments reached a total of £52.1 million, and the current forecast for 1992–93 is £57.1 million. Regional breakdowns of project payments for the period to 31 March 1992, and for 1991–92, are as follows. An accurate regional breakdown for 1992–93 will not be available until the end of the current financial year.

  Table 1

  Project payments 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1992

  DTI region

  £ million

  North East

  7.8

  North West

  22.8

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  16.3

  West Midlands

  17.8

  East Midlands

  9.4

  South West

  10.1

  East

  8.1

  South East

  28.6

  Scotland

  12.7

  Wales

  8.7

  TOTAL

  142.3

  Table 2

  Project payments 1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992

  DTI region

  £ million

  North East

  3.1

  North West

  6.9

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  6.0

  West Midlands

  6.9

  East Midlands

  3.7

  South West

  3.8

  East

  3.2

  South East

  11.2

  Scotland

  4.2

  Wales

  3.1

  TOTAL

  52.1

  Coal Mining
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will summarise the use made by any Government of a member state of the European Community of any provision they make for national support for the coal mining industry, stating the approximate price and percentage assistance per tonne, and per gigajoule respectively.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: The amount of subsidy for current caol production in 1990 for relevant European Community member states was as follows:

  £ per tonne

  Belgium

  55

  France

  10

  Germany

  39

  Spain

  19

  Source: European Commission.

  The United Kingdom does not provide subsidies for current production. Agreed Community policy is to restructure the coal industries towards economic viability and to eliminate such subsidies.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the articles in any treaty of the European Communities and any regulation or directive applied in this respect which permit any national supports for the deep coal mining industry, or public support for any form of electricity generation.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 October 1992]: Article 4 of the treaty of Paris, which established the European Coal and Steel Community treaty, declared that aid to member states' coal industries was incompatible with the common market in coal. Nevertheless, a series of decisions of the Council have recognised that in order to adapt the level of production it was necessary to allow such aid, and laid down the conditions which should be satisfied, which included the authorisation of the Commission. The current decision—2064/86/ECSC—stipulates that for aid to be authorised by the Commission, it must help to achieve one or more of the following objectives:

  Improvement of competitivity of the coal industry, which contributes to assure a better security of supply.

  Creating new capacities provided that they are economically viable.

  Solving the social and regional problems related to developments in the coal industry.

EMPLOYMENT

  Young People at Work
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if she intends to preside in her capacity as president in office of the Social Affairs Council over a discussion on the proposed Council directive on the protection of young people at work;

  (2) if she will make a statement about Government policy towards the proposed EC Council directive on the protection of young people at work;

  (3) what is her view on the European Commission's proposals in the draft directive on the protection of young people at work as it concerns (a) night work, (b) rest time, (c) rest period and (d) paid leave.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Discussion of this directive is still at a very early stage. The European Parliament has not yet delivered its opinion and the Commission's proposals may be revised before they are considered by the Council. The agenda for the Social Affairs Council in December has not yet been finalised.

  The Government question on the ground of subsidiarity the need for EC legislation on young people's employment. In the United Kingdom the health and safety and educational interests of children below the minimum school leaving age are protected by existing legislation. Young employees above the minimum school leaving age are in general covered by the same legislation as adults in the same occupations. Specific health and safety protection for young employees in the United Kingdom is based on factors distinguishing them from adults. The Government also question whether the Commission's current proposal on night work, rest time, rest periods and paid leave are justified on these grounds.

  Social Fund Grants
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the procedure by which colleges of further and higher education should in future apply for European social fund grants once these cease to come through local education authorities; and if she will make it her policy that existing ESF funded courses will continue to be so funded.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Local authorities have offered to continue to handle applications for European social fund grants for courses at colleges of further education for the whole of 1993. Arrangements for applications thereafter will depend upon the results of the forthcoming Community-level review of the EC structural funds, which are due to take effect from January 1994 onwards. The Government will consult closely with all concerned as to arrangements to apply then.

  Labour Statistics
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is her estimate of the number of young people seeking a youth training place in Birmingham for the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the current number of job 280
  vacancies in the travel-to-work areas which include the coal mines which British Coal has announced will close; and if she will make a statement.

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

  Letter from Mr M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Max Madden dated 20 October
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about the number of current job vacancies within the travel to work areas for the coal mines which British Coal has announced will close. This is something which falls within the responsibilities she has delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  I attach a table showing the number of vacancies unfilled at Jobcentres on 2nd October 1992, the last statistical count date, for each of the relevant travel to work areas. All of the travel to work areas are included as requested although following the statement by the President of the Board of Trade on 19 October only 8 of these areas have a colliery now designated for closure after the statutory consultation period has been completed.
  It is not possible to provide information on the total number of job vacancies available in the labour market but it is estimated that about one third of all vacancies are notified to Jobcentres.
  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 also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  Colliery

  Travel to Work Area

  Number of unfilled vacancies at local Jobcentres on 2 October 1992

  Easington Vane Tempest

  Durham

  313

  Wearmouth

  Sunderland

  603

  Westoe

  South Tyneside

  146

  Parkside

  Wigan and St. Helens

  742

  Prince of Wales Sharlston Frickley

  Wakefield and Dewsbury

  705

  Rossington Bentley Hatfield/Thorne Markham Main Houghton Main Grimethorpe

  Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Mexborough

  879

  Maltby Kiveton

  Rotherham and Mexborough Sheffield

  1,190

  Silverhill Bevercotes Bilsthorpe Clipstone Rufford

  Worksop, Alfreton and Ashfield, Retford, Mansfield

  551

  Cotgrave Calverton

  Nottingham

  465

  Bolsover Markham Shirebrook

  Chesterfield

  352

  Trentham Silverdale

  Stoke

  571

  281

  Colliery

  Travel to Work Area

  Number of unfilled vacancies at local Jobcentres on 2 October 1992

  Betws Drift

  Llanelli

  351

  Point of Ayr

  Shotton, Flint and Rhyl

  574

  Taff Merthyr

  Merthyr and Rhymney

  452

WALES

  Road Safety
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the local road safety schemes supported by his Department in Wales; and how much money has been allocated to each scheme in the current year.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The table lists the Department's road safety engineering schemes programmed for the current year.

  £

  Clwyd

  A494—Tafarn y Gelyn Visibility improvement

  25,000

  A494/A55—Ewloe interchange Cycleway and safety fence

  25,000

  A55—Brookside junction, Northop Hall Closure of central reservation gaps

  13,500

  A55—Llanddulas, Glan Conway Closure of emergency crossing points

  70,000

  A55—Pont Dafydd Closure of central reservation gaps

  25,000

  A55—Traveller's Inn Closure of central reservation gaps

  6,000

  Dyfed

  A44—Llanbadarn Fawr Splitter island

  15,000

  A40—Arnolds Hill Traffic calming

  90,000

  A40—Letterston Cross Improvement to crossroads

  ;20,000

  A4076—St. Peter's Road, Johnston Demolition and footway widening

  5,000

  A487—Hill Terrace, Fishguard Safety fence

  70,000

  A40—Bethany Row, Haverfordwest Traffic calming

  40,000

  A40—Abbey Mead Traffic calming

  3,500

  A44—Lovesgrove junction, Aberystwyth Junction improvement

  283,000

  Gwynedd

  A5—Dalar crossroads, Anglesey Bus bay

  30,000

  A5—Pont y Pair hotel, Betws y Coed Footway

  5,000

  A5—Padog bends Signing

  7,000

  A470—Church street, Glan Conway Junction improvement

  10,000

  A470—Tollgate cottage, Pen Loyn, Tan Lan Widening

  20,000

  A470—Dolgellau bypass Signing

  10,000

  A487—Little Market, Porthmadog Pelican crossing

  35,000

  282

  £

  Powys

  A470/A44—Llangurig roundabout Signing

  1,000

  A470—Minhafron, Llandinam Footway widening

  5,000

  A489—Newtown Footway widening

  3,000

  A487—Glaspwll, Machynlleth Signing

  1,000

  A487—Cwmbach Signing

  9,000

  A470—Llanwrthal junction, Near Doldowlod Junction improvement

  13,500

  A479—Tretower Kerbs and footway

  5,000

  A470/A40—Brecon roundabout Reconstruction of central island and signing

  5,000

  A40—Pont y Bryn Hurt Road realignment

  605,000

  A470—Tan House Bridge, Rhayader Widening and visibility improvement

  255,000

  A470—Carno road, Caersws Footway, widening and visibility improvement

  209,000

  West Glamorgan

  M4—Kenfig Wind indicator

  30,000

  A48—Briton ferry Safety fence

  5,000

  Dentists
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will announce measures to alleviate the shortage of manpower in dentistry in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Department has recently reminded family health services authorities in Wales that they can apply for permission to employ salaried dentists in areas where there is a serious shortage of general dental practitioners. One FHSA has already been given permission to employ salaried dentists and one other application is under consideration.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total number of sites of special scientific interest in Wales and the number of these that have been(a) partially and (b) wholly damaged.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  There are 845 sites of special scientific interest in Wales. Since 1985, when formal monitoring began, 137 SSSIs have at some time been damaged and one SSSI has been lost.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes in response to recent developments affecting the coal industry in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I recognise that the closures of Betws and Taff Merthyr will have a severe impact on the local economies affected and I am determined that the maximum possible help will be made available to the individuals and communities involved.

  The Government have already announced a comprehensive range of services for those affected by the closures, covering in particular their counselling and

  283
  retraining needs and the assistance they will need to find secure new employment. The training and enterprise councils have a key role to play here.

  I have already met the chairmen of the West Wales and Mid Glamorgan TECs and asked them to let me have within two weeks action plans covering all unemployed people in the closure areas and any redundant miners who live outside them. I expect the action plans to address not only the labour market issues but also, in conjunction with the Welsh Development Agency, proposals for business development and the creation of new jobs.

  Although the Government have announced a moratorium on the proposed closure of Point of Ayr, I have met the chairman of the North East Wales TEC and asked his TEC to prepare a contingency plan for that area.

  To assist implementation of these plans, I have arranged for up to £4.8 million for employment and training measures to be made available over the next 18 months.

  I am also concerned to tackle the regeneration of the areas affected and secure their economic, social and environmental development. In particular:
  I am making a special allocation of £2.5 million in 1992–93 under the urban programme and I am inviting the local authorities to let me have urgent proposals on how these funds can most effectively be used;

  European funding has an important contribution to make. I hope shortly to announce agreement to 80 projects including European Regional development fund grants of over £15 million in the areas affected. In addition, a further £2.8 million is available under the ERDF and, in the light of recent decisions, I shall be exploring with local authorities and other partners how these funds can best be deployed.

  In Wales we have the Welsh Development Agency which, with its record budget of £167 million, is already heavily engaged in these areas.

  I have discussed with the chairman of the agency its plans taking account of current developments. Overall decisions on the future budget of the WDA have still to be taken as part of the public expenditure round, but I can announce now that the WDA will be spending £33 million over the next 18 months on a range of measures which will assist economic development in the areas concerned. This will include about £16 million on land reclamation and urban property development, and nearly £5 million on business support services and £10 million on urban renewal joint venture schemes.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Questions
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the numbers of written answers given to each of the top 30 hon. Members in rank order of number of questions tabled(a) during the 1991–92 session and (b) in the 1992–93 session up to 16 July.

  Mr. Newton
  The Members receiving the most answers to written questions in session 1991–92, as recorded on the House of Commons Library's POLIS database, were as follows:
  284

  Number

  1. The hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn)

  441

  2. The hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen)

  272

  3. The hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan)

  268

  4. The hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms. Walley)

  241

  5. The hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Austin Mitchell)

  239

  6. = The hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson)

  233

  6. = The hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher)

  233

  8. The hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. D. Clark)

  211

  9. The hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley)

  194

  10. The hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. S. Hughes)

  192

  11. The hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill)

  190

  12. The hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins)

  183

  13. The hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen)

  180

  14. The hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz)

  168

  15. The hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes)

  159

  16. The hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael)

  158

  17. The hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. McAllion)

  151

  18. The hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe)

  149

  19. The former hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn)

  137

  20. The hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. R. Davies)

  135

  21. The former hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist)

  134

  22. The hon. Member for South Down (Mr. McGrady)

  130

  23. The hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden)

  126

  24. The hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. B. Jones)

  122

  25. The hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox)

  120

  26. = The hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. T. Banks)

  114

  26. = The hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett)

  114

  28. = The hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer)

  110

  28.=The hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman)

  110

  30. The hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle)

  108

  The Members receiving the most answers to written questions in Session 1992–93, up to and including 16 July 1992, as recorded on the House of Commons Library's POLIS database, were as follows:

  Number

  1 The hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. L. Smith)

  271

  2. The hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn)

  228

  3. The hon Member for Ceredigion and Pembroke, North (Mr.Dafis)

  217

  4. The hon Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. S. Hughes)

  177

  5. The hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe)

  171

  285

  Number

  6 The hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. B. Jones)

  168

  7. The hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond)

  167

  8. The hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen)

  160

  9 The hon. Member for Paisley, South (Mr. McMaster)

  156

  10=. The hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. B. Field)

  149

  10=. The hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Austin Mitchell)

  149

  12=. The hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson)

  146

  12=. The hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan)

  146

  14. The hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell)

  139

  15. The hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. W. Griffiths)

  134

  16. The hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay)

  125

  17. The hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile)

  122

  18. The hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. D. Clark)

  111

  19. The hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner)

  109

  20. The hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne,Central (Mr. Cousins)

  108

  21. The hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton)

  102

  22. The hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. T. Banks)

  100

  23. The hon. Member for Harwich (Mr. Sproat)

  99

  24. The hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn)

  98

  25 The hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael)

  91

  26. The hon. Member for Dover (Mr. D. Shaw)

  81

  27. The hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood)

  79

  28. The hon. Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek)

  78

  29=. The hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. R. Davies)

  75

  29=. The hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms.Walley)

  75

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many debates took place(a) on the Floor of the House and (b) in a Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments in each Session since 1983–84 in pursuance of motions to annul a statutory instrument.

  Mr. Newton
  The information is as follows:

  A Debates on the floor of the House

  Year

  Number

  1983–84

  123

  1984–85

  12

  1985–86

  10

  1986–87

  26

  1987–88

  18

  1988–89

  317

  1989–90

  414

  1990–91

  58

  1991–92

  62

  1992–93

  0

  [to Summer Adjournment '92]

  1 (5 with motions to approve statutory instruments)

  2 (1 with motion to approve statutory instrument)

  3 (2 with motions to approve statutory instruments)

  4 (4 with motions to approve statutory instruments)

  5 (1 with motions to approve statutory instruments)

  6 (1 with motions lo approve statutory instruments)

  Note:—On occasion, motions to annul a statutory instrument were debated along with motions to approve other statutory instruments on related topics. Questions are not always put on motions included in debate.
  286

  B Debates in Standing Committees on Statutory Instruments

  Number

  1983–84

  20

  1984–85

  26

  1985–86

  9

  1986–87

  12

  1987–88

  12

  1988–89

  12

  1989–90

  11

  1990–91

  9

  1991–92

  8

  1992–93

  11

  1 To Summer Adjournment 1992.

  Note: One debate, either on the Floor or in Standing Committee,
  may deal with more than one motion to annul an Instrument. (See Supplementary Information.)

  Supplementary Information

  A Number of Statutory Instruments subject to Negative Resolution debated on the Floor of the House

  Number

  1983–84

  41

  1984–85

  20

  1985–86

  17

  1986–87

  15

  1987–88

  28

  1988–89

  54

  1989–90

  24

  1990–91

  13

  1991–92

  4

  1992–93

  10

  1 To Summer Adjournment 1992.

  B Number of Statutory Instruments subject to Negative Resolution debated in Standing Committee

  Number

  1983–84

  21

  1984–85

  29

  1985–86

  9

  1986–87

  19

  1987–88

  27

  1988–89

  18

  1989–90

  16

  1990–91

  18

  1991–92

  8

  1992–93

  11

  1 To Summer Adjournment 1992.

  Agencies (Letters to Members)
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how the Government intend to respond to the decision of the Administration Committee that letters sent to hon. Members by agency chief executives in response to parliamentary questions should be printed among the written answers in the daily Official Report.

  Mr. Newton
  The Government welcome the Administration Committee's decision, which was set out by the Committee's Chairman in a previous written answer,Official Report 16 July 1992, column 941. The decision meets the Government's aim that replies from agency chief executives should be more readily accessible. while recognising the direct operational responsibilities of chief executives.
  287
  Officials from the Office of Public Service and Science have been discussing the practical implications with the Official Report and with Departments and agencies. Guidance has been issued to allow the new arrangements to come into effect as from the beginning of the new term. The Government will keep the working of the new arrangements under review.
  288
  The arrangements apply to questions tabled on operational matters for which responsibility has been delegated by Ministers to agency chief executives. It remains open to hon. Members to write to chief executives direct on such matters and I would encourage them to do so wherever they judge it appropriate.

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