Written Answers of 27 October 1992

TRANSPORT

  Agricultural Vehicles
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of road traffic accidents involving agricultural vehicles between the hours of sunset and sunrise in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  During 1991, there were 92 reported injury road accidents during the hours of darkness involving vehicles whose body type could be identified from registration details as being an agricultural machine. During 1990, there were 100 such accidents. Comparable data for earlier years are not available.

  Computer Projects
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April(a) each tender issued by his Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies that were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies that submitted a bid without prior invitation by his Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.

  Mr. Norris
  This information is not held centrally and could only be given at disproportionate cost.

  Car Model Tests
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, as part of his quality service objectives, he will require the publication of the findings of each new car model test commissioned since 1988 using public money.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  All mass-produced new cars have to be type-approval tested against a range of standards before they can be registered. Although testing is supervised by the Vehicle Certification Agency, it is paid for by manufacturers, which are at liberty to make test results available voluntarily if they wish. Our principal concern is to confirm that type-approved vehicles meet key safety standards, rather than to record the extent by which they exceed those standards.

  We are nevertheless currently considering whether basic data about exhaust and noise emissions could be made available in future. Precise figures are recorded for these aspects of type-approval testing, and it may be possible to publish information like the official list on car fuel consumption, which has been published twice a year since 1983. Such a list may have to be compiled on an EC-wide basis as much type-approval testing of United Kingdom registered cars is undertaken elsewhere in the Community.

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions his Department has recently directed local planning authorities to refuse planning permission for the creation of access to side roads from trunk roads.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 23 October 1992]: Ninety-seven since 1 April 1992.

ENVIRONMENT

  Toxic Waste
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will put an end to the export of toxic wastes to third world countries by ensuring a complete EC ban on the export of all forms of toxic waste;

  (2) if he will ensure that the right to ban toxic waste trade is enshrined in new EC regulations;

  (3) if he will set a date for an end to the import and export of toxic waste into and out of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 26 October 1992]: The EC waste shipments regulation was agreed at the meeting of the Council of Environment Ministers on 20 October, chaired by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State. I represented the United Kingdom.

  The regulation will enable member states to ban imports for final disposal from other member states unless they produce hazardous waste in such a small quantity that it would be uneconomic to provide new specialised disposal facilities. Imports for disposal will also be permitted from developing countries which do not have and cannot acquire the technical capacity and necessary facilities in order to dispose of waste in an environmentally sound manner.

  Exports for disposal will only be permitted to European Free Trade Association countries which are parties to the Basel convention.

  Movements of waste for recovery, which provide valuable substitutes for raw materials, will continue between Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, subject to the environmental controls set out in an OECD decision. There will be strict controls on exports of hazardous wastes for recovery outside the OECD area. Exports will have to accord with the environmental safeguards included in the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. Exports will be prohibited where a third country refuses to accept them or if the exporting member state has reason to believe that the waste will not be managed on arrival in an environmentally sound way.

  The regulation is likely to come into operation in 1994.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy at the meeting under his presidency on 20 October to(a) ensure that the clause which will allow EC member states to bar waste imports is inserted into the final regulations, (b) set a date for an end to the import and export of toxic wastes and (c) ensure that the regulation will stop the export of all toxic wastes to non-Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave earlier today.

  Water Industry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the additional cost to the water industry in meeting European Community legislation on drinking and bathing water standards since 1980.

  Mr. Maclean
  There are no separate records for the whole period. However, of the £30 billion programme of improvements for the decade beginning in 1989, £12.1 billion is for water treatment and supply. This includes investment to meet our national requirements for drinking water which takes account of EC directives. The £30 billion also includes a £2 billion programme to meet EC standards for bathing waters.

  Radiation Monitoring
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to invite in European Commission inspectors to evaluate radiation monitoring standards under article 35 of the Euratom treaty, at British Nuclear Fuels plants at Sellafield, Springfields, Capenhurst and Chapelcross.

  Mr. Maclean
  United Kingdom officials have agreed with officials of the European Commission the procedures to be followed in carrying out under article 35 of the Euratom treaty verifications of the operation and efficiency of environmental monitoring facilities in the United Kingdom. It is for the Commission to indicate in which areas it would like to undertake such a verification visit. The United Kingdom has not yet received a formal request from the Commission in respect of any specific area.

  Smoke

  SO2

  Year commencing

  Median

  98th percentile

  Median

  98th percentile

  April 1980

  20 (29 per cent.)

  104 (49 percent.)

  52 (43 per cent.)

  163 (47 per cent.)

  April 1981

  20 (34 per cent.)

  86 (40 per cent.)

  57 (48 per cent.)

  195 (56 per cent.)

  April 1982

  9 (13 per cent.)

  43 (20 per cent.)

  65 (54 per cent.)

  141 (40 per cent.)

  April 1983

  8 (12 per cent.)

  58 (27 per cent.)

  50 (42 per cent.)

  180 (51 per cent.)

  April 1984

  15 (22 per cent.)

  38 (18 per cent.)

  44 (37 per cent.)

  140 (40 per cent.)

  April 1985

  16 (24 per cent.)

  57 (27 per cent.)

  55 (46 per cent.)

  125 (36 per cent.)

  April 1986

  13 (19 per cent.)

  44 (21 per cent.)

  50 (42 per cent.)

  110 (31 per cent.)

  April 1987

  18 (26 per cent.)

  73 (34 per cent.)

  46 (38 per cent.)

  94 (27 per cent.)

  Note: All values are in micrograms per cubic metre and the smoke concentrations are to the British standard calibration. The percentages in brackets relate to the relevant EC directive limit value.

  In 1986, diffusion tube measurements of nitrogen dioxide at the Stratford site gave an average concentration of 32.2ppb—parts per billion—for the period July to December. The average for the whole of Greater London for the same period was 27ppb. When the study was repeated in 1991, only two months of data were obtained for this site, and the average concentration for this limited period was found to be 35ppb.

  The London borough of Newham has agreed to participate in a new long-term study of nitrogen dioxide, using diffusion tube samplers, currently being organised by the Department in conjunction with local authorities. Four measurement sites will be established in the borough in January 1993 as part of this survey.

  "The UK Environment"
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many copies of his Department's publication entitled "The UK Environment" have been published; and what steps have been taken to promote its widespread distribution.

  Mr. Maclean
  Her Majesty's Stationery Office published "The UK Environment" on 14 October on behalf of the Department of the Environment. The initial print run was 4,500 copies. A press notice went to all correspondents dealing with environment, water, pollution, education and the House of Commons in the national media. The report will feature in HMSO's catalogues and bibliographic listings and in a mailing to educational establishments scheduled for November. Copies are available by mail order directly from HMSO books, as well as from HMSO bookshops and HMSO agents both in the United Kingdom and overseas and the general book trade.

  Pollution, Newham
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken by his Department to measure the extent of atmospheric pollution in the London borough of Newham; and what information is available on it.

  Mr. Maclean
  Continuously operated sulphur dioxide, SO2, and smoke monitoring was carried out at 383 Stratford high street, Newham between 1963 and 1988. The data for the past eight years of operation are given. The data were discontinued thereafter because the values recorded were consistently well below the air quality limit values for SO, and smoke prescribed in EC directive 80/779/EEC.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment what recent initiatives he has taken to improve public education on energy saving and energy efficiency.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government seek to promote the teaching of energy efficiency in primary and secondary schools through its involvement with CREATE—the Centre for Research, Education and Training in Energy —and is discussing with CREATE a number of new projects and improved funding arrangements.

  As part of its "Helping the Earth Begins at Home" Campaign, the Government are developing an education strategy to encourage school children and teachers to understand the link between the efficient use of energy, CO2 emissions and global warming.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent objections he has received over the environmental implications of the operation of the new thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department has received a number of representations from members of the public objecting to the proposals for discharges of radioactive waste resulting from the proposals to operate the new thermal. oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield. I understand that the chief inspector of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will shortly be consulting on the revised draft authorisations for the discharge of radioactive waste from Sellafield.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has regarding progress made by UK Nirex in locating a site to dispose of low and intermediate-level radioactive wastes.

  Mr. Maclean
  UK Nirex is continuing to carry out site investigation studies in the Sellafield area. The company announced its intention to construct a rock characterisation facility at Sellafield as part of these studies, and issued a consultation document setting out these proposals on 21 October.

  Mr. Flynn
  , To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how his Department participated in the special scientific programme on radioactive waste held at the International Atomic Energy Agency's annual general conference on 22 September.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 26 October 1992]: No Department of the Environment officials attended the meeting on 22 September. However, some officials from the Health and Safety Executive did do so.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the affordability of new housing association homes to households on low incomes if current presumptions continue to prevail; and if he will make a statement on what action the Government intend to take.

  Mr. Baldry
  Grant rates for housing associations are proposed by the Housing Corporation and approved by the Secretary of State in the light of all relevant factors, including outturn rents on completed schemes. We are currently considering the rates of housing association grant for 1993–94. Outturn rent levels are for associations to determine. The Government do not publish the underlying factors and assumptions implicit in the grant rate model, nor any general definition of affordability, since they do not wish to imply a view as to what constitutes an affordable rent in any particular case.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what change he expects to make in housing association grant rates for housing association developments, and what will be the average housing association grant rate in 1993–94;

  (2) what percentage change he expects to make in the total cost indicator levels applicable to housing association developments In 1993–94;
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  (3) when he expects to announce his decision on total cost indicator and grant rates for housing association development schemes in 1993–94.

  Mr. Baldry
  Final decisions on grant rates and total cost indicators are not yet available but will be communicated to associations as soon as they are announced.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 16 July,Official Report, column 1044, whether his Department has received any further evidence from the Housing Corporation on the affordability of new homes provided by housing associations; and if he will place in the Library reports of the main findings and supporting research which the Housing Corporation has made available to his Department in the past six months.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Housing Corporation has made available to the Department some of the results of its continuous monitoring of rents set for new housing association tenants. Information on these rents, contained in the National Federation of Housing Associations' continuous recording—CORE—quarterly bulletins, is already in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the output of(a) newly built and (b) rehabilitated housing associations homes in England, over the years 1975 to 1991, and his estimates of their expected output in 1992, 1993 and 1994.

  Mr. Baldry
  Estimates of housebuilding completions, and of renovations of dwellings, by housing associations in England are shown in tables 6.1(a) and 7.1 respectively of the annual publication "Housing and Construction Statistics". Figures for the years 1981 to 1991 will shortly be published in the 1981 to 1991 edition, and those for earlier years are shown in previous editions: viz for 1980 in the 1980 to 1990 edition, for 1979 in the 1979 to 1989 edition, etcetera. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

  The Department does not prepare forecasts of housebuilding completions, nor of conversions and renovations.

  Housing Management Services
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) tenants and (b) organisations representative of tenants were consulted by (i) his Department and (ii) the consultants engaged by his Department in the course of preparing the proposals for the extension of compulsory competitive tendering by housing management services, as outlined in his Department's White Paper, "Competing for Quality".

  Mr. Baldry
  None. Tenants and tenants' organisations were given the opportunity to consider and respond to the consultation paper. Over 100 tenants organisations have responded.

  Energy Conservation
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the continuation and development of the Green House programme to promote energy conservation in local authority housing; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Baldry
  An announcement on this will be made shortly.

  Council House Building
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the number of new council homes which will be(a) started and (b) completed in 1992, 1993 and 1994.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department does not prepare forecasts of housebuilding activity. Estimates of actual housebuilding starts and completions by local authorities are published in the annual and quarterly versions of "Housing and Construction Statistics". Copies of these publications are in the Library.

  UNCED Agenda 21
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 17 June,Official Report, column 562, to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood), if he will deposit two copies of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development Agenda 21 provisional document in the Library, pending the availability of official copies.

  Mr. Maclean
  Two copies of the provisional Agenda 21 document were deposited in the Library in July.

  Water Meters
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to ensure that where a house is sold or let with a water meter installed, the purchaser or tenant is informed of this fact at the time of the purchase or letting.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have no intention of doing so. It is for the prospective purchaser or tenant to make the appropriate inquiries.

  Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what decisions on waste reduction and packaging have been taken in recent meetings of the Environment Council.

  Mr. Maclean
  Waste reduction and packaging have not been on the agenda for recent meetings of the Environment Council.

  Government Premises
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how long former Department of Trade and Industry premises in Victoria street have been empty; how long he expects them to remain unoccupied; what proposals he has for the future use of these premises; and what is the weekly cost of keeping the premises unoccupied, including maintenance, insurance and security liabilities.

  Mr. Baldry
  The property was vacated in September 1991 because it needed major works to render it suitable for continued occupation. Some time beforehand, negotiations were opened with the landlords to agree to a package whereby the property would be refurbished at their expense and the Secretary of State would enter into a new lease at a modern rent.
  540
  With the dramatic downturn in the property market, the landlords were reluctant to commit themselves to substantial capital expenditure while rents continued to fall. However, significant progress has been made and subject to finalisation of the negotiations a 24-month contract period will deliver the building fully refurbished and ready for occupation. It is intended that the building will be re-occupied by a Government Department or Departments.

  We are still contractually liable, under the terms of a long lease, for rent plus costs for insurance, maintenance and security of £40,000, but this will be reduced to £12,000 when the building contract commences shortly.

  Auto Emissions 2000
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how his Department was represented at the Auto Emissions 2000 conference in Brussels organised by the European Commission on 20 and 21 September; and if he will deposit in the Library the papers prepared and presented to the conference.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department was represented at this conference. I am arranging for a set of the papers to be placed in the Library.

  Earth Summit
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the statement for climate change at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development will be submitted for ratification within the United Kingdom Parliament.

  Mr. Maclean
  The United Kingdom was party to the Munich summit communique of July 1992 which urged other countries to join the Group of Seven countries in a commitment to seek to ratify the United Nations framework convention on climate change by the end of 1993. We will continue to press for early ratification by a wide range of countries to ensure effective action to tackle this global problem.

  Mining Communities
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional resources he intends to make available to the Rural Development Commission to support mining communities.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Rural Development Commission's resources for future years are currently the subject of discussion in the public expenditure round. The commission already operates a range of economic and social programmes in two rural east midlands coalfield areas and has recently increased the range of assistance available in the more southerly area. The commission is examining urgently what further assistance it might provide in coalfield areas of rural England.

  Natural Resources
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to encourage the establishment of an EC-wide inventory of natural resources during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC.
  541
  Mr. Maclean
  The United Kingdom presidency is working for the early establishment of the European environment agency which will have as one of its priorities the development of a EC-wide inventory of sources of environmental data and information.

  Leasehold Enfranchisement
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will put out for consultation draft legislation on his Department's proposals for leasehold enfranchisement, before a Bill is presented to Parliament, in view of their complex and radical nature.

  Mr. Baldry
  No.

  Coastal Zone Planning
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek the establishment of an EC directive on coastal zone planning and management during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC.

  Mr. Maclean
  At present, the Commission has not published a proposed directive on coastal zone planning. Therefore, the United Kingdom cannot take this forward during the presidency.

  Historic London
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with English Heritage on its views on the impact of enfranchisement on historic parts of London.

  Sir George Young
  My officials have discussed the proposals, including in particular the arrangements for estate management schemes, with English Heritage.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to encourage the establishment of a sustainable development commission for Europe during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC.

  Mr. Maclean
  The United Kingdom presidency is taking the lead in encouraging the early establishment of the sustainable development commission which will have world-wide responsibilities.

  Environmental Policy
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC to secure that the implementation of subsidiarity will not lead to(a) weakening of member states' obligations on environmental policy, (b) loss of redress for EC citizens relating to environmental policy, or (c) diminution of the Commission's powers to intervene in environmental issues where member states do not meet obligations.

  Mr. Maclean
  Yes.

  Building Regulations
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he plans to bring forward proposals to change building regulations in light of the construction products and workplace directives; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Baldry
  The Building Regulations 1991. which came into force on 1 June 1992, contain appropriate references to the construction products directive, which was implemented in the United Kingdom through the Construction Products Regulations 1991. We are currently considering what further changes may be needed in the Building Regulations to make them consistent with regulations made to implement the workplace directive.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to bring forward proposals to bring United Kingdom standards for lead pollution of drinking water into line with the World Health Organisation guideline level of 10 migrograms per litre; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  We are continuing urgent consideration of what more should be done by the Government and water companies in the light of the World Health Organisation's guideline, which we expect to be promulgated early next year. The World Health Organisation recognises that it will take time and money for countries to meet the new guideline.

  Housing (Pregnant Women)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many pregnant women were successfully prosecuted in each of the last five years for fraudulent attempts to gain priority status on housing waiting lists in Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Southampton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Hull, Salford and Bristol.

  Mr. Baldry
  Such information is not held centrally.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority councillors were prosecuted in each of the last five years for fraudulently obtaining benefits while in receipt of council attendance allowances; and if he will give the political party which they represented.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My Department does not collect this information.

  Home Safety
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to making the promotion of home safety a statutory responsibility of local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  None. It is for local authorities to decide whether they wish to promote home safety, taking into account local circumstances.

  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will help those local authorities which have established home safety committees.

  Mr. Baldry
  No. Local authorities who have chosen to establish such committees will no doubt first have taken into account the resource implications of doing so.

  Environment Council
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 20 October.

  Mr. Howard
  I chaired the Environment Council which met in Luxembourg on 20 October. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council agreed a common position on a new regulation on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community. The Council has invited the European Parliament to co-operate in expediting the adoption of this regulation so that the next meeting of the Council in December can settle the date when the EC and the United Kingdom can ratify the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. The regulation could therefore come into operation in 1994. The Government will have powers under the regulation to ban imports for final disposal from all countries including member states of the EC unless they produce hazardous waste in such a small quantity that it would be uneconomic for them to provide their own disposal facilities. The regulation also contains strict controls on the international movement of recoverable wastes and will give legal effect to an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development decision on the movement of recoverables.

  The Council agreed to press for methyl bromide to be added to the list of controlled substances covered by the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer at next month's meeting of the parties in Copenhagen, with an initial control involving a freeze at 1991 levels by 1995. My hon. Friend indicated that the United Kingdom would have been willing to go further and accept a 25 per cent. cut in methyl bromide production and consumption by the year 2000 if other member states had been willing to do likewise. The Council also exchanged views on the controls on chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting substances that the Community should press for in Copenhagen and on other issues likely to arise there.

  The Council held a discussion on the fifth environmental action programme—"Towards Sustainability"—and gave initial consideration to a draft Council resolution endorsing the programme. Ministers envisaged the adoption of the resolution in December when the European Parliament's opinion has been received.

  The Council held a discussion about the European Environment Agency. Ministers expressed regret at the lack of a decision on the location of the agency which continues to prevent it from beginning its work. They expressed the hope that the European Council would, as a matter of urgency, reach a decision on this issue.

  The Council discussed informally climate change and follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. On the former, they agreed that the climate change convention should be ratified by the end of 1993; that member states should produce the national plans required under the convention by the same time; that member states' own plans for reducing CO2 emissions should be submitted to the Council by the end of this year; and that the Council will consider the Commission's proposals for monitoring
  544
  member states' CO2 emissions at its next meeting. On the latter, Ministers reaffirmed the plan agreed at the Lisbon European Council for follow-up action to Rio.

  The Council discussed the Commission's proposal for a regulation on eco-auditing, which would establish a voluntary scheme to encourage positive and effective environmental management of industrial operations and public reporting of the environmental impacts of their activities. Ministers endorsed the continuation of work aimed at the further refinement of the proposal to enable early agreement on it.

  The Council considered for the first time the Commission's proposal for a revision of controls on the wildlife trade—the "Convention on Trade in Endangered Species regulation". Other member states joined the United Kingdom in supporting a significant strengthening of current controls, while emphasising that any extension of controls beyond those species covered by CITES must be on a scientific basis. The Council agreed that any harmonised controls within member states must be sharply focused; that the Community must avoid needless bureaucracy; and that it was important to ensure that member states retained an appropriate level of discretion in operating the controls. Ministers invited the Committee of permanent representatives to continue their work on this issue.

  The Council took note of progress in preparing a directive which would extend to light-duty vehicles provisions on the control of exhaust pollutants which already apply to passenger cars and heavy commercial vehicles. Ministers hoped to reach a common position on the draft directive in December.

  Highway Signs
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines his Department issues to local authorities on highway signs in areas of outstanding natural beauty.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have been asked to reply.

  The visual appearance of traffic signs is required to comply with the traffic signs regulations and general directions 1981. Circular roads 7/75 gives advice on the ways of minimising the intrusion of traffic signs on highways in rural areas. Guidance on the provision of signs to tourists attractions is given in circular roads 1/91.

  Copies of these circulars are in the Library.

  Sludge Incinerators
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what planning applications for sewage sludge incinerators are currently being considered by planning authorities in England and Wales; and if he will name those which he has called in for public inquiry.

  Mr. Baldry
  [pursuant to his reply 22 October 1922, c. 351]: The Secretaries of State are not automatically informed of all planning applications for sewage sludge incinerators. However, the Town and Country Planning (Development Plans and Consultation) Direction 1992 requires local planning authorities to notify them of development proposals which would significantly prejudice implementation of a development plan. Through this mechanism, we are aware of two applications currently before local planning authorities—Crossness in the

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  London borough of Bexley and at Beckton in the London borough of Newham. Neither of these applications has been called in.

  In addition to these current applications, Northumbrian Water and Internal Technology Europe Ltd. have appealed to the Secretary of State in respect of their incinerator proposals at East Howden in north Tyneside and at Portrack in Stockton-on-Tees; a public inquiry has been held and the Secretary of State is considering the inspector's report.

  Fuel Supplies
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will relax the compulsory competitive tendering rules governing purchasing by local authorities to allow local authorities in England and Wales to identify the country of origin of fuel supplies.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The purchase of supplies by local authorities is not subject to the compulsory competitive tendering legislation. The Government have no plans to repeal part II of the Local Government Act 1988 which prohibits local authorities from introducing noncommercial considerations into the purchasing of supplies.

EDUCATION

  Grant-Maintained Schools
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if it is his intention to apply the same criteria to grant-maintained schools as to local education authority schools when considering the rationalisation of school places.

  Mr. Forth
  We are determined to reduce wasteful surplus capacity and will apply similar criteria to all proposals for the rationalisation of school places.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which grant-maintained schools were visited by Her Majesty's inspectors during the period January 1992 to July 1992 and what was the total costs of these inspections; in the case of each school,(a) how many visits have taken place, (b) what is the number of inspectors involved, (c) what is the total number of days involved and (d) what is the cost; and whether it is proposed to publish any report arising from these visits.

  Mr. Forth
  HMI visited 50 GM schools in the period mentioned. None of the visits was a formal inspection intended to lead to a published report. The information available is given in the table.

  School

  Number of Days

  Cost (£)

  Hendon

  2.0

  780

  Queen Elizabeth

  2.0

  780

  Queensbury

  4.0

  1,560

  Baverstock

  2.0

  780

  Small Heath

  4.0

  1,560

  St. James CE

  2.0

  780

  Old Swinford Hospital

  2.0

  780

  London Oratory

  4.0

  1,560

  Heckmondwike GS

  4.0

  1,560

  Kings School, Lincoln

  3.0

  1,170

  Wilson's School

  2.0

  780

  Audenshaw

  2.0

  780

  Bankfield HS

  2.0

  780

  St. Francis Xavier

  4.0

  1,560

  546

  School

  Number of Days

  Cost (£)

  Southlands

  1.0

  390

  Claremont HS

  2.0

  780

  Ribston Hall

  1.5

  585

  London Nautical

  21.0

  8,190

  Bridgewater Hall

  1.0

  390

  Ecclesbourne

  5.5

  2,145

  Marling

  1.0

  390

  Stroud HS

  1.0

  390

  Watford Boys' GS

  2.0

  780

  Longfield HS

  4.0

  1,560

  Wolverhampton HS for Girls

  2.0

  780

  Bullers Wood

  2.0

  780

  Handsworth GS

  5.5

  2,145

  Great Barr

  2.0

  780

  Crossley Heath

  2.0

  780

  North Halifax HS

  1.0

  390

  Wilmington Boys' GS

  2.0

  780

  Lancaster Girls' GS

  2.0

  780

  King Edward VI, Lincoln

  1.0

  390

  Stratford

  3.0

  1,170

  Watford Girls' GS

  1.0

  390

  Vyners

  1.0

  390

  Haydon

  1.0

  390

  Homewood

  1.5

  585

  Southlands

  1.0

  390

  Bourne County Primary

  2.0

  780

  Moulton Primary

  2.0

  780

  Kingswood

  1.0

  390

  Manor High

  1.5

  585

  Avon Valley

  1.0

  390

  Christs Hospital

  2.0

  780

  The Gartree Tattershal

  1.0

  390

  Salterlee Primary

  0.5

  195

  Bassingbown Village College

  1.0

  390

  Minster College

  1.0

  390

  Myton

  2.0

  780

  Total

  122.0

  47,580

  Assisted Places
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many assisted places remained unfilled in 1992 in each standard region.

  Mr. Forth
  At the end of the academic year 1991–92, the numbers of assisted places available, the numbers taken up and the numbers unfilled in each region are as shown in the table:

  Assisted places

  Region

  Available

  Taken-up

  Vacant

  North-east

  1,477

  873

  604

  North-west

  7,214

  6,408

  806

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,267

  1,794

  473

  East Midlands

  2,063

  1,846

  217

  West Midlands

  3,146

  2,721

  425

  East Anglia

  1,578

  1,340

  238

  South-west

  3,580

  3,246

  334

  South-east

  5,873

  4,403

  1,470

  Greater London

  6,114

  5,010

  1,104

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total number of assisted places; and how it has increased since the inception of the scheme.

  Mr. Forth
  The total number of assisted places available and the total number taken up since the scheme's inception in 1981 are given in the table:
  547

  Academic Year

  Places Available

  Places Taken Up

  1981–82

  5,446

  4,185

  1982–83

  11,058

  8,616

  1983–84

  15,866

  13,102

  1984–85

  20,699

  17,386

  1985–86

  25,210

  21,412

  1986–87

  29,295

  24,478

  1987–88

  33,228

  26,899

  1988–89

  33,217

  27,083

  1989–90

  33,280

  27,008

  1990–91

  33,302

  26,740

  1991–92

  33,312

  27,641

  The figures are for England only

  Problem Schools
  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will set out the basis for the assumption in his departmental White Paper, "Choice and Diversity: A New Framework for Schools," that problem schools will be in the local education authority sector rather than the grant maintained sector.

  Mr. Forth
  No such assumption has been made. Chapter 11 of the White Paper sets out the steps that will be taken to tackle failing schools in the local education authority sector. Chapter 3 includes details of the powers which my right hon. Friend will have to ensure that remedial action is taken where grant-maintained schools are failing to provide an adequate standard of education for their pupils.

  Expenditure, Birmingham
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the level of education underspend for the Birmingham local education authority for each of the past three years.

  Mr. Forth
  It is for the Birmingham local authority to determine its spending on education in the light of local circumstances and priorities. The Government do not set targets for spending on individual services. The Government do, however, calculate for each service what an authority would need to spend to provide a standard level of service—its standard spending assessment (SAA).

  The latest available figures showing the difference between Birmingham's estimated spending on education and the education component of its standard spending assessment are given in the table.

  Education SSA

  Estimated spending on education

  Difference

  Year

  £ million (rounded)

  £ million (rounded)

  £million (rounded)

  1990–91

  399

  352

  48

  1991–92

  457

  392

  64

  1992–93

  485

  428

  57

  Note: Information on estimated expenditure is taken from the authority's returns to the Department of the Environment on forms RA90/91–92/93 and RA(SG)90/91–92/93, repriced to outturn.

  Access Funds
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will consider increasing the access funds by an amount that takes into account the increase in the number of students since the inception of the funds.

  Mr. Forman
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 12 May,Official Report, column 63. The money allocated to access funds is not specifically related to the number of students overall but is intended to be targeted at those in real need.

  "A Hard Act to Follow"
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration his Department has given to the criticisms of the Education Act 1981 made in the report, "A Hard Act to Follow", published by the Spastics Society, if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  "A Hard Act to Follow" has been given very careful consideration. I met representatives of the Spastics Society and discussed the findings of the report on 24 September 1992. I have already publicly welcomed the document as a useful piece of research, and have noted that the findings will add stimulus to the current debate on special educational needs. In many respects, the report confirmed the need for the Government's new measures, which had already been announced in chapter 9 of the White Paper, "Choice and Diversity", and elsewhere.

  Expenditure, Manchester
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what study his Department has made of the city of Manchester's needs for capital expenditure for its education service in the financial year 1993–94, including basic need in schools; what help he expects to be available, in particular for the replacement of school premises which are in an unsafe condition; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  I discussed Manchester's capital plans briefly on a visit to the authority in July. Officials met representatives from Manchester local education authority to discuss their plans in more detail, prior ito preparation of their bid.

  I am meeting a delegation of officers and members from Manchester in early November to discuss their future needs, with particular reference to basic need in primary schools and surplus place removal projects in the secondary sector.

  I cannot yet say what resources will be available, but Manchester's needs will be carefully considered in accordance with the normal criteria, along with those from all other LEAs. Their capital allocation will be announced in December.

  London University
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from graduates of the university of London concerning the proposed break-up of the federal status of the university.

  Mr. Forman
  Generally, the future development of the federal university and the constitutional position of its
  549
  colleges are internal matters for the university and its constituent colleges. However, we have received some representations from the society "Graduate with Honours" about the future of the federal graduation ceremony.

  Computer Projects
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April(a) each tender issued by his Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies which were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies which submitted a bid without prior invitation by his Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.

  Mr. Forman
  The information requested is set out. In addition to these, there have been four single-tender procurements for enhancements to existing systems—for which competitive tendering was inappropriate—with a total value of £110,250.

  Tenders for hardware

  None.

  Tenders for software

  a. Supply of a payroll system for the Further Education Funding Council.

  Companies invited to bid: three

  Unsolicited bids submitted: none

  Successful company: Centrefile Ltd.

  Contract value: £20,194

  Period of contract: supply only plus one year's maintenance

  b. Supply of Accounting System for OFSTED

  Companies invited to bid: four Unsolicited bids submitted: none Successful company: Tate Bramald Ltd.

  Contract value: £12,095

  Period of contract: supply only

  c. TOPIC software for Policy Branch Information System Companies invited to bid: 15

  Unsolicited bids submitted: none

  Successful Company: Verity Ltd.

  Contract value: £22,007

  1987 £

  1989 £

  1990 £

  1991 £

  Cheshire (Including some mineral income in Derbyshire)

  480,614

  534,715

  562,587

  571,521

  Staffordshire

  448,514

  529,028

  537,137

  541,322

  Yorkshire

  544,391

  690,657

  754,726

  858,966

  Lancashire

  552,873

  485,988

  562,862

  750,475

  Bona Vacantia in the County Palatine of Lancaster

  979,027

  839,845

  804,977

  938,597

  Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire

  140,604

  157,223

  176,300

  161,424

  Greater London

  789,755

  1,299,000

  1,409,861

  1,473,881

  Miscellaneous (Lincolnshire, Mid-Glamorgan, Leicestershire, Sussex and elsewhere)

  97,452

  115,594

  85,297

  87,630

  TOTAL

  4,033,230

  4,652,050

  4,893,747

  5,383,816

  550
  Period of contract: supply and licence only

  All values quoted exclude VAT.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Appointments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list all the names of public appointments that he has made, giving the period for which the appointment was made, relevant qualifications of the appointees and what remuneration each currently receives.

  The Attorney-General
  I have not myself made any appointment to a public body, as yet.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Revenue
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list by(a) county and (b) location, the revenues received by the honours of the Duchy by year for the last five years.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The ancient possessions of the duchy of Lancaster include the honour and county of Lancaster, the honours of Leicester, Tutbury, Bolingbroke, Pickering, Tickhill, Halton, Knaresborough. However, receipt of duchy revenues is not restricted to possessions within these honours and accounting records by honour are not maintained.

  The hon. Member was given a list of all land holdings on 16 June 1992, Official Report, columns 360–61. To produce revenue figures for each individual holding for the past five years could only be done at disproportionate cost, and in some cases the revenue attributable would be insignificant. Duchy gross revenue—other than from investments and deposits—is analysed by county and is set out. All revenues are shown gross.

  During 1988, a new accounting system was introduced and the analysis for that year could only be done at disproportionate cost.

  Computer Projects
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April(a) each tender issued by his Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies which were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies which submitted a bid without prior invitation by his Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  This information is not held centrally and can only be supplied at disproportionate cost.

ACCOMMODATION AND WORKS COMMITTEE

  7 Old Palace Yard
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what has been the cost of the recent refurbishment of 7 Old Palace Yard.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Perth and Kinross (Sir N. Fairbairn) on 23 October,Official Report, column 399.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates have resigned or retired since 1 October; and how many magistrates have resigned or retired in October in each year since 1987.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The figures including those for the area within the responsibility of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster are:

  Number

  To 23 October 1992

  119

  October 1991

  156

  October 1990

  121

  October 1989

  145

  October 1988

  1104

  October 1987

  194

  1 Approximate.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Chernobyl
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance has been granted by her Department to(a) the victims of the Chernobyl disaster and (b) areas affected by the disaster; and how much money has been allocated to (a) purchase non-contaminated food and (b) purchase medical equipment for hospitals.
  552
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The know-how fund is financing two Chernobyl-related projects. We have allocated £400,000 to advise how to measure radiation concentration in foodstuffs produced in Kiev region and £220,000 to prioritise clean-up requirements and prepare follow-up project proposals.

  In 1991, we provided £2 million emergency medical aid —essential drugs and equipment—to the former Soviet Union—FSU—of which Ukraine received more than a third.

  The European Community has agreed a food and medical aid loan to the FSU. Ukraine's share is 130 mecu. We understand Ukraine intends to use 104 mecu on food and 26 mecu for medical products.

  Know-how Funds
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the know-how fund for central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union; and if he will give details on specific projects so far approved this year for each eligible country.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Further to my written answer of 29 June 1992,Official Report, column 371, the know-how fund is continuing well. The amount spent or committed has increased to £95 million to cover more than 650 projects.

  An updated list of the activities has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Somalia
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further assistance has been provided to alleviate the plight of the people of Somalia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our total humanitarian aid for Somalia in 1992 is almost £27 million, including our share of EC aid.

  It includes £1.5 million in response to the appeal of the International Committee of the Red Cross on 9 July. This is for the ICRC's food programme under which hot meals are provided via some 600 communal kitchens to over half a million beneficiaries. We also provided £1 million for the British Red Cross to use for its medical/health care programme in Somalia, as a national contribution towards ICRC's operations.

  On 15 September, my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development announced a further £7.5 million to support British and international non-governmental organisations and United Nations relief operations in Somalia. Priority is being given to providing seeds and tools, helping with transport and medical supplies, and rehabilitation services.

  South Africa
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the deployment of observers to South Africa in accordance with the terms of United Nations Security Council resolution 772.

  Mr. Hurd
  The United Nations, the EC, the Commonwealth and the Organisation of African Unity
  553
  are all sending groups of observers to South Africa. Their role will be to seek, by their presence in situations of potential conflict, to prevent violence, defuse tension and promote peace. They will be operating in close co-operation with each other, and with the National Peace Secretariat—as well as with the United Nations and observer teams from other international organisations.

  There will be 15 EC observers drawn from throughout the Community. The majority of participants have a police background. Two of them are British. They will arrive in South Africa on 29 October.

  The EC is also providing six police experts to be attached to Judge Goldstone's recently-established investigative task forces. A senior British police officer will act as the co-ordinator of the team. This officer arrived in South Africa on 7 October.

  The Commonwealth has recruited 20 observers to play a similar role to that of the EC group. One of the group is a United Kingdom police officer.

  The 50 United Nations observers are drawn from the staff of the United Nations secretariat. The composition of the OA U group is still under discussion.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make it his policy that there should be a level playing field for pools and a national lottery.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Government are considering a number of representations from the pools industry.

  Public Libraries
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many books were purchased for public libraries in(a) 1981, (b) 1985 and (c) 1991; how much money was allocated in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 26 October 1992]: Public libraries in England added 10.8 million, 11.1 million and 11.0 million books to their stock in 1980–81, 1984–85 and 1990–91 respectively. These figures include donations and free publications, as well as purchases. Their actual expenditure on books for the same years was £41.0 million, £56.8 million and £84.8 million. This represents an expenditure increase in real terms of almost 13 per cent. between 1980–81 and 1990–91.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  British Council Library, Bandung
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money has been saved by the British Government following the closure of the British Council library in Bandung.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There was no net saving to the Government.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on whose recommendation the British Council library in Bandung was closed.
  554
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The British Council recommended and made this closure in order to release resources to meet new, high priority requirements elsewhere.

  Bosnia
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the supply of arms or direct military support to the Serbian, Croat and Muslim forces in Bosnia in contravention of the arms embargo; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are a number of unconfirmed reports of arms supplies to Bosnia. An Iranian aircraft carrying arms was seized at Zagreb airport recently. The Western European Union/North Atlantic Treaty Organisation surveillance operation in the Adriatic has reported a number of ships suspected of violating the United Nation's trade and arms embargoes. But it is not clear whether these vessels are carrying goods destined for Bosnia.

  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on whether the Bosnian-Serbs are continuing to receive arms and military supplies from the rump Yugoslavia; and whether any form of monitoring is proposed of the border between Serbia and the Serbian-controlled area of Bosnia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have no firm evidence of whether Serbia is continuing to supply arms to the Bosnian Serbs. The Yugoslav authorities deny this. Moreover, the Bosnian Serbs are already well-equipped; further supplies from Serbia would be unlikely to have a significant effect on their military capability. The monitoring of Serbia's and Montenegro's borders with Bosnia-Herzegovina was agreed in principle at the London conference. But these borders run through mountainous terrain, and are highly permeable. Effective monitoring would absorb much personnel and equipment. The United Nations is thus according higher priority to using the resources available to ensure that the safe and rapid delivery of emergency relief supplies to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  Sir Russell Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs prior to the full deployment of British forces to Bosnia-Herzegovina, what assessment he has made of the number of foreign mercenaries active in the field, their origin and the factions they are fighting with; how confident he is that British forces will be at no risk from attack by mercenaries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There have been repeated reports of mercenaries fighting in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and some are clearly well-founded. No reliable estimate of the numbers involved has been made. Our assessment at present is that mercenaries do not as such increase the threat posed to British troops by the various armed groups in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has now secured agreement from the Bosnian-Muslim, Bosnian-Serb and Bosnian-Croat communities to allow free passage for British forces deployed in Bosnia-Herzegovina and to guarantee their safety from attack.
  555
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  All parties to the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina have confirmed their willingness to co-operate with United Nations Protection Forces—UNPROFOR—personnel deployed to that region in accordance with Security Council resolution 776 of 14 September.

  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will seek Security Council approval to identify and name forces who attack United Nations military and humanitarian personnel in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Security Council resolution 776 of 14 September reaffirms the determination of the Council to ensure the protection and security of UNPROFOR and United Nations personnel: there is no need to seek an explicit resolution on these lines. Furthermore, United Nations personnel deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina to facilitate and escort convoys of humanitarian aid will proceed only on the basis of negotiated safe passage.

  Macedonia
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries which have given diplomatic recognition to the independence of Macedonia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, Philippines, Russia, Slovenia and Turkey have been notified to us as having recognised the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia as an independent state.

  Kosovo
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the speech by Lord Owen representing the presidency of the EC in the debate on the former Yugoslavia in the plenary session of the Council of Europe on 3 October in which he excluded any possibility of independence for Kosovo represents Government policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We share Lord Owen's views. The Serbian authorities should grant the Kosovars genuine autonomy with full human rights, and the Kosovars should accept this. A special group on Kosovo is working intensively within the international conference.

  Overseas Missions
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the agreement within the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe on 18 September to send missions to Vojvodina, Kosovo and Sanjak have been implemented; how many persons are being deployed and from which countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  CSCE long-term missions have been in place since the end of September in Kosovo, Vojvodina and Sanjak under the leadership of Ambassador Bogh of Norway. Apart from Ambassador Bogh, there are eight mission participants involved from Norway, United States, Austria, Canada, France, Sweden and Switzerland.
  556
  We welcome the establishment of these missions and the valuable role they can play on behalf of the international community in monitoring developments and in helping to prevent conflict in these troubled regions.

  Yugoslavia
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list showing those countries which have contingents as part of the United Nations protection forces—UNPROFOR—in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, indicating their numbers and function and where they are based.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The following countries have contributed contingents to UNPROFOR. Numbers, function and location where known are also indicated. The table is divided into two parts to reflect countries commitments to UNPROFOR—first phase—and those agreed for UNPROFOR—second phase.

  UNPROFOR (1st Phase)

  Nationality

  Strength/Type

  Location

  Argentina

  900 Infantry Battalion

  Belgium

  620 Infantry Battalion

  Canada

  900 Infantry Battalion

  350 Engineer Battalion

  Czechoslovakia

  500 Infantry Battalion

  Denmark

  900 Infantry Battalion

  Egypt

  400 Infantry Battalion

  Sarajevo

  France

  410 Infantry Battalion

  Sarajevo

  143 HQ Company

  Sarajevo

  66 Airport Company

  Sarajeco

  600 Logistic Base

  Zagreb

  900 Infantry Battalion

  Finland

  300 Construction Battalion

  Zagreb

  Jordan

  900 Infantry Battalion

  Kenya

  900 Infantry Battalion

  Nepal

  900 Infantry Battalion

  Netherlands

  360 Signals Battalion

  Zagreb

  Nigeria

  900 Infantry Battalion

  Norway

  100 Movement Control Unit

  Zagreb

  Poland

  900 Infantry Battalion

  Russian Fed.

  900 Infantry Battalion

  Sweden

  100 HQ Company

  Zagreb

  Ukraine

  400 Infantry Battalion

  Sarajevo

  United Kingdom

  260 Medical Battalion

  Zagreb

  Various

  60 Military observers

  Sarajevo

  Various

  40 Civilian Police/Monitors

  Sarajevo

  Various

  100 Military Police Company

  Zagreb

  Luxembourg/ Belgium

  Composite Infantry Battalion (40 and 620 respectively)

  In addition to the above, UNPROFOR (1st phase) includes: 160 military observers from 29 countries; 650 civilian police monitors from 16 countries: deployed evenly to various sectors within Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  UNPROFOR (2nd Phase)

  Nationality

  Strength/ Type

  Location

  Belgium

  100 Transport

  Vitez

  16 HQ

  Kiseljach

  2 Support Unit

  Vitez

  Canada

  800 Infantry

  Banja Luka-Doboj

  20 HQ

  Kiseljach

  380 Support Unit

  Banja Luka-Doboj

  Denmark

  8HQ

  Kiseljach

  143 Support Unit

  Kiseljach

  France

  1382 Infantry

  Bihac

  199 Engineer Unit

  Bihac

  200 Helicopter Unit

  Bihac

  33HQ

  Kiseljach

  557

  Nationality

  Strength/Type

  Location

  Netherlands

  388 Transport

  Vitez

  99 Signals

  Vitez

  32 HQ

  Kiseljach

  8 Support Unit

  Vitez

  50 Engineer Unit

  Vitez

  Norway

  2 Engineer Unit

  33 HQ

  Kiseljach

  Portugal

  20 Surgical Team

  Spain

  710 Infantry

  Mostar

  16 HQ

  Kiseljach

  25 Support Unit

  Mostar

  United Kingdom

  883 Infantry

  Jajce-Vitez

  508 Engineer Unit

  Jajce-Vitez

  19 Support Element

  Jajce-Vitez

  42 HQ

  Kiseljach

  1206 Support Unit

  Jajce-Vitez

  United States

  400 Mobile Army Surgical Hospital

  15 HQ

  Kiseljach

  Headquarters will be based in three areas but with the main one in Kiseljach near Sarajevo.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 October,Official Report, columns 34–35, what information the United Kingdom authorities have received over the political responsibility for war crimes by Slobodan Milosevic and Radovan Karadzic.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  United Nations Security Council resolution 771 calls for the submission of substantiated information about violations of international humanitarian law in the former Yugoslavia. We have so far received no information relating to any named individual.

  Any substantiated information we receive will be submitted to the Security Council in line with UNSCR 771.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, for the last 12 months, the titles of papers published by the chief executive of each executive agency for which he is responsible.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to both Wilton Park under its chief executive, Geoffrey Denton, and to the Natural Resources Institute under its chief executive, Anthony Beattie. I have asked them to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Mr. G. Denton to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 22 October 1992:

  Thank you for your question about the papers published by the Chief Executive. The reply to your question is as follows:

  Geoffrey Denton; "Reconciliation and Reconstruction in South and Southern Africa", Wilton Park Papers, No. 47, HMSO, 1992.

  Letter from Mr. A. Beattie, to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 27 October 1992:

  Lady Chalker has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about papers published by chief executives of agencies.

  In the last 12 months I have contributed the foreword to two issues of NRI's newsletter 'Resource', which we distribute in Britain and overseas. The fourth issue was published in December 1991, the fifth earlier this month.

  Romania
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to the impact on the Romanian economy and on the progress of change of the implementation by Romania of sanctions against Yugoslavia; if he has discussed this with his European opposite numbers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The implementation of sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro presents problems for all neighbouring states. Romania has, however, been able to pursue its programme of reform with support from the international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World bank, as well as with G24 balance of payments support.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is in frequent consultation with European partners and with other interested governments on all aspects of the current crisis in former Yugoslavia.

  China
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the dates, programme and composition of the forthcoming delegation to visit the People's Republic of China to discuss human rights led by Lord Howe of Aberavon.

  Mr. Goodlad
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) on 23 October,Official Report, column 409, and to the response I made in the Adjournment debate on the same date, Official Report, columns 754–58.

  Computer Projects
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April(a) each tender issued by his Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies which were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies which submitted a bid without prior invitation by his Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The table sets out the requested information.Tenders issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 9 April 1992 for the supply of computer hardware and software:

  (i) Computer Hardware:

  1.

  (a) LEMUR Project

  (b) For the procurement of computer hardware and software

  (c) 10 companies invited to tender

  (d) No company submitted a bid without prior invitation

  (e) Olivetti was awarded the contract

  (f) The value was approximately £500,000

  (g) The contract will run for 12 months approximately

  2.

  (a) HESD Multi-user System Project

  (b) For UNIX system hardware and software

  (c) 3 companies invited to tender

  (d) No company submitted a bid without prior invitation

  559

  (e) Contract not yet awarded

  (f) Value likely to be around £35,000

  (g) Contract will run for 12 months

  (ii) Computer Softwared

  3.

  (a) UNIX Typing Tutor Project

  (b) For procurement of 230 licences

  (c) 3 companies invited to tender

  (d) No company submitted a bid without prior invitation

  (e) Contract not yet awarded

  (f) Value approximately £15,000

  (g) Contract will run for one year

  4.

  (a) Uniplex Word Processing Project

  (b) For the procurement of Uniplex word processing software

  (c) 7 companies invited to tender

  (d) No company submitted a bid without prior invitation

  (e) Contract not yet let

  (f) Value unlikely to exceed £100,000

  (g) Contract will run for 12 months

  Sinai
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answers of 12 June,Official Report, column 326, and 30 June, Official Report, column 507, whether a decision has been taken on the future of the United Kingdom's participation in the multinational force and observers in Sinai.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Having carefully considered the views of the signatories of the 1981 protocol establishing the multinational force and observers, we confirmed our decision to withdraw. The United Kingdom contingent left on 21 October 1992. This decision reflects the fact that over 13 years after the signature of a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel their border is stable and internationally recognised.

  International Atomic Energy Agency
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what attempts have been made by Her Majesty's Government to ameliorate the shortfall in payments to the International Atomic Energy Agency for nuclear safety research and safeguards implementation.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply. The United Kingdom has played an active part in ensuring that priority programmes in the areas of safety research and safeguards implementation are excluded from the effects of any shortfall in contributions. The Government have also made extra-budgetary contributions to meet particular needs for the acquisition of safeguards equipment and to assist the agency's programme on the safety of aging reactors.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom permanent representative to the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency voted for Libya to be elevated to the board.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  Elections to the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency are held by secret ballot. It is not Her Majesty's Government's practice to divulge its voting intentions or actions after the event on such matters.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Mining Industry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what meetings he has held with(a) the National Union of Mineworkers and (b) the Union of Democratic Mineworkers since 10 April.

  Mr. Eggar
  Since 10 April, my right hon. Friend has met with the Union of Democratic Mineworkers (UDM) on 4 June and addressed its annual conference on 9 June. I have met with it on 13 May and 22 July and also when it met with the Prime Minister on 30 September. Both my right hon. Friend and I also met the UDM on 19 October. I met with the National Union of Mineworkers on 7 July.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what matters were decided in the meeting he held with the chairman of British Coal on 3 June.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend and the chairman of British Coal discussed a wide range of issues affecting the future of the coal industry.

  Closed Coal Mines
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what evaluation has been made by his Department of the implications of water pollution from closed coal mines.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is an offence for a mine owner to cause pollution of watercourses. The body with statutory responsibility for regulation of water pollution is the National Rivers Authority. I understand that the NRA has been reviewing data on water pollution from abandoned mines of all kinds and intends to publish its assessment in the next few months.

  Industrial Strategy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number of companies(a) created, (b) expanded or (c) helped, by his industrial strategy in each principal category of industry.

  Mr. Heseltine
  This Government's industrial strategy is designed to benefit the long-term competitiveness of business generally.

  Coal Stocks
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what reserves of coal were estimated to be in each of British Coal's mines that were in operation in September; and how long those reserves of coal would have taken to be exhausted at the rate of extraction achieved in each mine over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Eggar
  The scale and potential duration of coal reserves at individual British Coal mines are matters for the corporation.

  Work Experience
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many of his staff have work experience(a) outside Government service, (b) of science and technology in industry or commerce and (c) of law and accountancy in industry or commerce.
  561
  Mr. Eggar
  This answer can only be given at disproportionate cost.

  Electricity
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had regarding the increase in electricity prices for large-scale manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department is in regular contact with large electricity users concerning electricity prices.

  Trentham Complex
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of profit and loss levels at Trentham colliery complex for the last full financial year.

  Mr. Eggar
  The issue which the hon. Member raises is a matter for British Coal.

  Parkside Colliery
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what have been the profits and losses at Parkside colliery over each of the past six years.

  Mr. Eggar
  The issue which the hon. Member raises is a matter for British Coal.

  Fuel Prices
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether long-term contracts for the supply of gas to power stations include a clause linking the price to that of oil or any other measure; and if the Government will ensure that the price of electricity is not increased to take into account any increase in the price of gas.

  Mr. Eggar
  The contractual agreements between suppliers of natural gas and customers engaged in electricity generation are a commercial matter for the companies concerned. Licence conditions, including the electricity price controls, are a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply.

  Standing Charges
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he w ill introduce the necessary regulations to abolish all standing charges for telephones, domestic electricity and gas bills for people over the state pension age for retirement; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is his estimate of the current cost of the abolition of all standing charges for telephones, domestic electricity and gas bills for people over the state pension age for retirement; and how the estimate was arrived at.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 26 October 1992]: This is primarily a matter for the utility companies, which may decide on the form and scale of their charges—including standing charges—within the constraints of their licences and relevant legislation. The utility regulators have an important role in agreeing the pricing levels and structures.

  Point of Ayr Colliery
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the viability of Point of Ayr colliery as a supplier of coal to Fiddler's Ferry power station; and if he will make a statement
  562
  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 26 October 1992]: The viability of Point of Ayr colliery will be considered as part of the review outlined by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 21 October. I should welcome any evidence or comments that the hon. Member may have on this issue to pass on to the review team.

  Miners (Hours of Work)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy on limiting the number of hours worked underground by miners; what is the effect of the proposed European working time directive on his policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 26 October 1992]: The Government took powers in the Coal Industry Act 1992 to repeal in due course the Coal Mines Regulation Act 1908, which restricts the hours miners can work underground. The Government have made it clear, however, that the Act will not be repealed until it is replaced either by the adoption of the proposed European Community directive on working time or the introduction of an alternative United Kingdom measure.

  Cabinet Committees
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if, further to his answer of 19 May to the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Hayes),Official Report, columns 110–18, concerning the constitution and responsibilities of Cabinet committees, he will name the relevant committee charged with the responsibility for natural energy policy and the names of its members.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 22 October 1992]: Issues of national energy policy requiring collective discussion would normally fall within the remit of the Committee on Industrial, Commercial and Consumer Affairs. Other Committees, such as the Committee on the Environment, may also discuss issues affecting energy policy as appropriate. The membership of these Committees was given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his answer of 19 May to the hon. Member for Harlow, Official Report, columns 110–18.

  Gas Reserves
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has on which countries, on present projections, will run out of gas reserves in the next 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 22 October 1992]: The rate at which gas reserves will be depleted depends on many factors including demand, development costs, prices, levels of imports and technological developments. My Department's latest assessment suggests that United Kingdom gas reserves will be sufficient to meet expected demand, including demand for power stations for at least this period. My Department does not carry out comparative assessments for other countries.

PRIME MINISTER

  Appointments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list all the names of public appointments that he has made, giving the period for which the appointment was made, relevant qualifications of the appointees and what remuneration each currently receives.

  The Prime Minister
  As I told the hon. Member on 13 June 1991,Official Report, column 663, in answer to a similar question, this information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  Housing Associations
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Prime Minister what response he has made to representations from the National Federation of Housing Associations about the retention of the £2 billion grant for housing associations; and if he will make it his policy that no cuts in expenditure will be made to the budget for the west midlands.

  The Prime Minister
  The hon. Member for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Ainsworth) wrote to me on 15 October, enclosing a letter which he had received from the chairman of the west midlands regional council of the National Federation of Housing Associations (NFHA). My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department of the Environment replied on my behalf.

  The Government cannot comment on the outcome of the public expenditure survey, which will be announced in my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's "Autumn Statement". The Government have shown their commitment to housing associations as the main providers of new social housing by increasing resources for the Housing Corporation from £935 million in 1989–90 to over £1,700 million in 1992–93.

  Next year resources will be allocated among the Housing Corporation's regions in accordance with the housing needs indicator, which is agreed by the Department of the Environment, the Housing Corporation and the NFHA.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 27 October.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 27 October.

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

  Pit Closures
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister in agreeing to the pit closures what account he took of the effect on competitiveness of the changes in exchange rate between the pound and the dollar; and if he will publish a table showing for each year since 1970(a) the relative unit value of United Kingdom exports compared with those of the United States of America in each year based on the second half of 1973 equals 100 and the fourth quarter of
  564
  1986 equals 100, (b) the world price of coal in terms of dollars and (c) an index of freight rates from (i) the United States of America, (ii) Australia and (iii) the contract price for United Kingdom coal delivered to power stations.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 23 October 1992]: The competitiveness of British-mined coal was considered at a range of pound:dollar exchange rates. The other information requested cannot be supplied in the time available and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will write to the hon. Member.

  Middle East
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy during his visit to Egypt on 23 October to raise with President Mubarak Israel's nuclear capability and the danger of nuclear proliferation throughout the middle east.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 26 October 1992]: I discussed a number of middle east security matters with President Mubarak. I did not discuss Israel's nuclear potential.

WALES

  Perifra
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what benefits have accrued to Wales from the European Community's Perifra I and II re-training schemes.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The EC Perifra programme is intended to part-finance small-scale measures in favour of peripheral regions and destabilised activities in the Community. In the case of defence industries, assistance is intended to alleviate the consequences of job losses by promoting the creation of alternative employment opportunities, and eligible activities include vocational training schemes.

  The Welsh Office submitted an application under Perifra I last year for the re-development of the Royal Navy armaments depot, Milford Haven. Unfortunately, that application was dependent upon the local authority purchasing the land, and this did not happen; the bid was therefore withdrawn.

  A further bid for £775,000 in grant support under Perifra II was prepared for the west Wales area in close collaboration with the west Wales task force and submitted to the European Commission in June this year. On 3 August, the Commission announced that west Wales would receive a reduced allocation of £140,000 for the training and employment in technology scheme sponsored by the west Wales training and enterprise council in partnership with the Employment Service and Welsh Development Agency. This will, of course, complement my own priority actions in the west Wales area. The size of the allocation is, however, disappointing and is considerably less than we had hoped for. My officials are seeking an urgent meeting with their Commission colleagues to discuss the whole issue.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional resources will be allocated to support the four new environmentally sensitive areas to which reference is made in chapter 18, paragraph 18.6 of "Britain's Environmental Strategy" (Cm 2068).

  Mr. David Hunt
  The provision for ESAs in future years will be determined in the context of the public expenditure survey now in progress. This year, I am making available £2.5 million to meet the cost of ESA's management agreements in Wales.

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to receive a copy of the study into the Caldicot levels impoundment for wading birds being carried out by Mason Pittendrigh with respect to design and management and David Bellamy Associates with respect to the environmental aspects as part of the mitigation works in relation to the proposed Cardiff bay barrage.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I anticipate receiving the report of the feasibility study into the creation of a bird reserve on the Gwent levels before the end of this year.

  Water Quality
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money has been allocated in the form of loans by the European investment bank to Welsh Water for the improvement of water quality in rivers and beaches, and the upgrading of drinking water supplies in each of the last two years.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not held centrally.

  Languages
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will grant funding to the Mercator project on European lesser-used languages at the University college of Wales, Aberystwyth.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  We have no plans to fund the Mercator project in Aberystwyth.

  A465
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will bring forward the upgrading of the A465 head of the valleys road to dual carriageway between Witworth and Abergavenny into the medium-term programme under "Roads in Wales".

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The need to complete engineering design and statutory procedures means that it is unlikely that the dualling of the A465 head of the valleys road from Abergavenny to Hirwaun will start before April 1998. The position will, however, be kept under review.

  Disabled Pupils
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many disabled pupils in(a) mainstream educational establishments and (b) special schools sat (i) GCSE
  566
  O-level examinations and (ii) GCSE A-level examinations in Wales for the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will indicate the numbers of disabled pupils obtaining (1) 10 or more passes at GCSE O-level, (2) five to 10 passes at O-level, (3) between one and five passes at O-level, (4) the number leaving school without any qualifications and (5) the number obtaining one or more passes at A-level.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information on the examination achievements of pupils with disabilities is not collected centrally.

  Visual Impairment
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many visually impaired children attend mainstream schools in each local education authority areas of Wales; and how many such children have received formal mobility training during their education.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information on mobility training for children with visual impairments is not collected centrally.

  The numbers of children in maintained primary and secondary schools who were blind or partially sighted and for whom the local education authority was maintaining a statement of special educational needs, in January 1991, are given in the table:

  Number

  Clwyd

  78

  Dyfed

  23

  Gwent

  19

  Gwynedd

  14

  Mid Glamorgan

  13

  Powys

  3

  South Glamorgan

  24

  West Glamorgan

  63

  Wales

  237

  These figures include children in both mainstream classes and special classes units, in maintained primary and secondary schools. The figure for Powys includes one pupil educated outside of that authority. There may be a number of children with visual impairments for whom the LEA does not maintain a statement of special educational needs.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children between the ages of five and 16 years are estimated to have visual impairment; and if he will publish the official local education authority estimates for totals of blind and partially sighted children.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Local education authority estimates of children with visual impairments are not held centrally. Information on the total numbers of children with visual impairments for whom LEAs maintain statements of special educational needs, by local education authority, is published in table 10.04, "Pupils with disabilities, by authority, 1990–91", of the Welsh Office publication "Statistics of Education in Wales: Schools, No. 5 1991", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Computer Projects
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April(a) each tender issued by his Department for

  567
  projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies which were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies which submitted a bid without prior invitation by his Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Since 9 April, my Department has conducted only one relevant tender exercise. Three companies were invited to tender for the design and programming of a software application. No bids were submitted without prior invitation. The contract was awarded to Softa and Company Ltd. for a period of four months. Information relating to the value of the contract is commercial-in-confidence.

  Quangos
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will update the information given in "Public Bodies 1991" (HMSO) on quangos in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  "Public Bodies 1992" is expected to be published by HMSO in January 1993 and the relevant information is now being updated.

  Health Costs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what source of information is available to Welsh health authorities as purchasers on comparative prices for standard orthopaedic operations; what guidelines are given to health authorities in relation to baseload and marginal prices in quotation and final accounting procedures both between health authorities and within health authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Providers routinely inform their purchasers of proposed prices to inform contract negotiations. On request, they also make in-year information on prices available to purchasers. Where the service is provided, tariffs include separately identified prices for orthopaedic procedures.

  Guidance on setting prices was issued to health authorities in October 1990. This emphasised that providers must price their services on the basis of full costs. Marginal costs should be used only when providers are able to offer additional services, in-year, making use of unplanned spare capacity. Activity purchased in this way should be reflected in a future year's contract on a full and not marginal cost basis.

  The detailed accounting requirements which health authorities should follow in completing their annual accounts and financial returns are given in the "Health Authority Manual for Accounts".

  Health Promotion Authority
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the relocation of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales from Brunel house, Fitzalan place, Cardiff; and what(a) financial and (b) policy considerations played a part in the decision on the site for relocation.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Health Promotion Authority for Wales moved to Brunel house in 1988 as a temporary 568
  measure while the authority's long-term accommodation needs were properly established. At that time the authority had between 50 and 60 staff. The authority's activities have expanded since that time and it is apparent that larger accommodation is now required.

  The authority has undertaken a comprehensive option appraisal of alternative premises to meet its long-term accommodation requirements. The lowest cost was selected from a short list of properties meeting the authority's requirements.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Livestock Auctioneers
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to prohibit the practice of livestock auctioneers keeping money for farmers from livestock sales at market on trust in bank accounts which are already overdrawn prior to the transaction.

  Mr. Curry
  This is not a matter for Government intervention.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to call for a world-wide ban on the use of organochlorine pesticides.

  Mr. Soames
  Given the diverse range of crops, pests and climatic conditions it is for each country to decide whether pesticides best meet its particular pest control and environmental needs. The use of persistent organochlorine pesticides is already prohibited throughout the European Community. The United Kingdom also protects the third world countries from the importation of hazardous pesticides by participating in the United Nations Environment Programme/Food and Agriculture Organisation's prior informed consent scheme.

  Genetically Engineered Food
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the foodstuffs that have been genetically engineered which are currently on sale to the public; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The following products, produced by or containing genetically modified organisms, have been examined by the relevant expert committees advising the Government in this area and cleared for use in foodstuffs —a yeast for use in baking and three different preparations of the enzyme, chymosin, which is used in cheese manufacture. Once cleared for use, the sale of the products is a matter for the manufacturers concerned and their customers.

  Data Centre for Beef
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to provide funding for the data centre for beef.

  Mr. Soames
  This important industry initiative has attracted considerable support. As a commercial venture with potential benefits for all producers, the board of the animal data centre should continue to look to the users for funds.

  Veterinary Investigation Centres
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of veterinary investigation centres, by county, in the United Kingdom in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Gummer
  In 1979 in England and Wales veterinary investigation centres were operating in Aberystwyth (Dyfed), Bangor (Gwynedd), Bristol (Somerset), Cambridge (Cambridgeshire), Cardiff (south Glamorgan), Carmarthen (Dyfed), Chester (Cheshire), Gloucester (Gloucestershire), Leeds (West Yorkshire), Lincoln (Lincolnshire), Liverpool (Lancashire), Newcastle (Tyne and Wear, Northampton (Northamptonshire), Norwich (Norfolk), Penrith (Curnbria), Reading (Berkshire), Shrewsbury (Shropshire), Starcross (Devon), Sutton Bonington (Nottinghamshire), Thirsk (North Yorkshire), Truro (Cornwall), Weybridge (Surrey), Winchester (Hampshire), Worcester (Worcestershire) and Wye (Kent).

  In 1980, the centre at Weybridge was closed and the area it covered was divided between the Reading and Wye centres. In 1985, the centre at Liverpool was relocated to Preston (Lancashire).

  In 1986, the centres at Cardiff and Northampton were closed. The areas they covered were taken over by Carmarthen and by Sutton Bonington respectively. The centres at Gloucester and Leeds were closed and the areas they covered were divided respectively between Worcester and Bristol and between Thirsk and Northallerton. In 1991, the centres at Bangor and Lincoln were closed. The areas they covered were divided respectively between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth and between Sutton Bonington and Thirsk. The centre at Wye was closed and its area was taken over by Winchester.

  This rationalisation of the service has allowed the centres to be continuously upgraded to meet the changing needs of the industry. Veterinary investigation centres in Scotland are attached to Scottish agricultural colleges and are not listed.

  Milk Marketing Board
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that copies of each of the replies to the consultation paper on the future of the Milk Marketing Board are placed in the Library.

  Mr. Gummer
  The consultation was carried out on the basis that the consultees' views confidential. Any who wish to make their views public can do so, or will have already done so.

  Computer Projects
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April(a) each tender issued by his Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies which were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies which submitted a bid without prior invitation by his Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.
  570
  Mr. Curry
  This Department has issued one invitation to tender for the supply of computer hardware and software in the period since 9 April 1992. The details are as follows: description of services—geographical information system; number of companies invited to tender—26; number of companies submitting an uninvited bid—nil; company awarded contract—ESRI (UK) Ltd.; period of contract—10 years.

  The value of the contract cannot be provided as the information is confidential.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Sherry
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy at the European Council of Finance Ministers to press for a reduction in the difference in excise duties between British sherry and Spanish sherry.

  Sir John Cope
  At the Council meeting on 19 October the United Kingdom and Spain reached an agreement on the duties to be charged on British and Spanish sherry. The agreement provides for duty differential between the two products, to be reduced to 25 per cent. by 1 January 1996, the name "British Sherry" being discontinued by the same date.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total amount of land, in hectares, affected by transfers under the conditional exemption system in each year since the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 in Wales.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The total area of land of outstanding scenic interest in Wales which has been conditionally exempted from inheritance tax or capital transfer tax since 1976 is estimated at 1,500 hectares. As there are only five cases benefiting from conditional exemption, the normal rules of taxpayer confidentiality prevent any further breakdown being made available.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to require the owner of land granted inheritance tax exemptions under the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 to make public the rights of access to the general public which have been granted as a result of the inheritance tax exemptions.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The owner of land that has been conditionally exempted from inheritance tax or capital transfer tax is required to publicise the agreed public access arrangements. In addition, the appropriate heritage advisory agency is able to supply information about public access to heritage land including conditionally exempt land, although land will not be identified as conditionally exempt.

  Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue forgone to income tax if MIRAS were available at a basic rate of 20 per cent. instead of the present 25 per cent., and the consequent saving.
  571
  Mr. Dorrell
  The cost of mortgage interest tax relief in 1992–93 is provisionally estimated to be £5.3 billion. If relief were available at 20 per cent. the cost would be about £4.2 billion, a reduction of £1.1 billion.

  Recession
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when is his estimate of the beginning of the recession in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the relative timing of the onset of the recession in the United Kingdom and other OECD countries.

  Mr. Nelson
  A recession is usually defined as a period of two or more successive quarters of falling output. Taking the first quarter in which output falls to be the onset of recession, following are the dates for the onset of the recessions in the United Kingdom and other OECD countries over the past two years.

  Country

  Date of onset of recession

  United Kingdom

  1990 Q3

  United States

  1990 Q3

  Canada

  1990 Q2

  Australia

  1990 Q2

  Denmark

  1990 Q4

  Finland

  1990 Q2

  Germany

  1991 Q2

  Greece

  1990 Q2

  Sweden

  1990 Q2

  Switzerland

  1991 Ql

  Source: OECD, CSO.

  Housing
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the market value and the replacement value of the private housing stock as a percentage of money gross domestic product, for each year since 1962.

  Mr. Portillo
  The most appropriate measure of the market value of the private housing stock for which data are available is the value of residential buildings, published in the personal sector balance sheet. The concept of replacement value of the housing stock is not clear. However, one indirect measure which might be considered is the personal sector net capital stock in dwellings at current replacement cost. Land is included in the balance sheet measure, but not in the capital stock measure. Latest estimates of these series are available on the CSO database which may be accessed through the House of Commons Library. The relevant database identifiers are:

  Market value

  ALLN

  Net capital stock

  EXGV

  "Money GDP"

  CAOB

  EC Budget
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the United Kingdom net contribution to the EC budget.

  Sir John Cope
  The latest estimate of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Community budget in 1992 is £2,599 million. This was published in the "Statement on the 1992 Community Budget" (Cm 1948).
  572
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of EC agricultural support budget is spent in(a) Germany, (b) France and (c) Italy, respectively.

  Sir John Cope
  The European Commission's financial report for 1991 on the guarantee section of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund shows the shares of agricultural market support receipts for(a) Germany, (b) France and (c) Italy to be 16.3 per cent., 19.8 per cent. and 16.2 per cent. respectively.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the savings to his Department of taxing invalidity benefit and the numbers of people who would be worse off expressed as a percentage of the total numbers of people on invalidity benefit.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate can be made of the number of people who would have an income tax liability whose sole income was invalidity benefit if invalidity benefit were liable to tax;

  (2) what would be the yield in a full year from making invalidity benefit liable to tax.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Provisional estimates are that the yield, at 1992–93 levels, from making invalidity benefit taxable would be about £450 million.

  Some 650,000 people or almost half of those receiving invalidity benefit would have an income tax liability. Of these about 70,000 would have invalidity benefit as their sole source of taxable income.

  Custom and Excise
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the reports for 1991–92 published by the executive units in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Sir John Cope
  The framework document "Next Steps: A Framework for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise" requires the heads of the Department's 30 executive units to provide the chairman of Customs and Excise with a report on its unit's performance annually, including against key targets, and to publish it in a suitable form. Reports for the year 1991–92 have now been published, and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Disabled Passengers Scheme
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to lay the appointed day order repealing the disabled passengers scheme; what assessment he has made of the effects of its abolition on disabled people; and if he will provide details of consultation between his Department and organisations representing disabled people prior to announcing these plans.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have been asked to reply.

  We shall make and lay the appointed day order repealing the disabled passengers scheme shortly.

  The order will ensure that current beneficiaries under the disabled passengers scheme will not lose their entitlement to exemption from vehicle excise duty as a result of the repeal.

  The repeal of the scheme was announced by my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General on 7 May, in an

  573
  answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) shortly before the publication of the Finance Bill 1992. The decision to repeal the disabled passenger scheme was taken because, as a result of new social security benefits introduced on 6 April this year, it was no longer possible to administer the scheme.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  London Parks (Policing)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the sums paid for the past 10 years by the Departments of the Environment and of National Heritage to the Metropolitan police for the policing of each of London's parks; what are the sums proposed for the next financial year; and if he will show the percentage increase, in real terms, for each year.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Hyde park is the only London park policed by the Metropolitan police service for which a charge is made to the Department of the Environment and in 1992 the Department of National Heritage. Charges are set out in the table.

  From 1 April 1993 the Royal parks police will assume responsibility for policing Hyde park.

  (1982–83= 100 per cent.)

  Financial year

  Amount received

  Real terms

  1982–83

  757,000

  100

  1983–84

  817,000

  103

  1984–85

  869,000

  104

  1985–86

  1,001,000

  114

  l986–87

  900,000

  99

  1987–88

  1,012,000

  105

  1988–89

  1,057,000

  103

  1989–90

  1,114,000

  102

  1990–91

  1,293,000

  109

  1991–92

  1,357,000

  107

  1992–93

  1,509,000

  114

  1993–94

  Nil

  —

  Asylum
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the refusal of the United Kingdom to grant asylum to two Chinese women democracy activists in September.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There is no provision for receiving applications for asylum from abroad, but we are prepared to consider granting entry clearance for the purpose of making an asylum application where a person falls within the definition of a refugee in article IA of the 1951 United

  Table showing the authorised establishment of police forces in England and Wales

  Force

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1990

  percentage change

  1 April 1991

  percentage change

  1 April 1992

  percentage change

  Avon and Somerset

  2,853

  3,080

  7.96

  3,081

  0.03

  3,087

  0.19

  Bedfordshire

  947

  1,072

  13.20

  1,085

  1.21

  1,178

  8.57

  Cambridgeshire

  1,090

  1,205

  10.55

  1,209

  0.33

  1,241

  2.65

  Cheshire

  1,805

  1,888

  4.60

  1,889

  0.05

  1,920

  1.64

  Cleveland

  1,411

  1,502

  6.45

  1,502

  0.00

  1,502

  0.00

  Cumbria

  1,088

  1,175

  8.00

  1,175

  0.00

  1,187

  1.02

  Derbyshire

  1,709

  1,793

  4.92

  1,812

  1.06

  1,850

  2.10

  Devon and Cornwall

  2,673

  2,863

  7.11

  2,865

  0.07

  2,928

  2.20

  Dorset

  1,164

  1,271

  9.19

  1,272

  0.08

  1,302

  2.36

  Durham

  1,349

  1,375

  1.93

  1,378

  0.22

  1,389

  0.80

  Dyfed-Powys

  934

  935

  0.11

  944

  0.96

  969

  2.65

  574
  Nations refugees convention and has close ties with the United Kingdom such as to make it the most appropriate country of refuge. On 28 August this year, Amnesty International wrote to the Home Office asylum division asking for the asylum applications of these two women, who were in Hong Kong, to be considered in the United Kingdom. The information provided by Amnesty International was carefully considered and the Hong Kong authorities were consulted. It was established that the applications had been fully considered by the Hong Kong authorities, who did not accept that either applicant would be at risk of persecution if returned to China. There were no grounds for taking a different view of the cases from the Hong Kong authorities, who had had the benefit of interviewing the applicants and hearing their representations at first hand. Neither applicant had any ties with the United Kingdom. Amnesty International was therefore informed on 4 September that there were no grounds for granting them asylum in the United Kingdom.

  Asylum Bill 1991
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals of his Department's staff worked on the Asylum Bill 1991(a) in Committee and (b) in the Home Office; and how many person-hours were used in each case.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Within the immigration and nationality department three members of staff worked on the Asylum Bill in 1991–92, for the greater part of their time, two over the period October 1991 to March 1992 and one over the period August 1991 to March 1992. This work included time spent in preparing the Bill and in attending the Committee. The Bill was in Committee for some 27 hours. Other members of the Department were consulted on aspects of the Bill as part of their normal duties. In addition, three members of the legal adviser's branch of the Home Office worked on the Asylum Bill for up to 50 per cent. of their time.

  Police Manpower
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a table showing for each police force area in England and Wales, and for the whole of England and Wales, the number of police officers in the authorised establishment at(a) 1 April 1979, (b) 1 April 1990, (c) 1 April 1991 and (d) 1 April 1992 and the percentage increase in each case.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is set out in the table.
  575

  Force

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1990

  percentage change

  1 April 1991

  percentage change

  1 April 1992

  percentage change

  Essex

  2,525

  2,859

  13.23

  2,875

  0.56

  2,950

  2.61

  Gloucestershire

  1,116

  1,164

  4.30

  1,164

  0.00

  1,184

  1.72

  Greater Manchester

  6,735

  7,042

  4.56

  7,021

  -0.30

  7,077

  0.80

  Gwent

  975

  1,009

  3.49

  1,009

  0.00

  1,010

  0.10

  Hampshire

  2,954

  3,173

  7.41

  3,175

  0.06

  3,269

  2.96

  Hertfordshire

  1,533

  1,669

  8.87

  1,669

  0.00

  1,684

  0.90

  Humberside

  1,939

  2,007

  3.51

  2,007

  0.00

  2,034

  1.35

  Kent 1

  2,820

  3,018

  7.02

  3,020

  0.07

  3,096

  2.52

  Lancashire

  3,118

  3,201

  2.66

  3,203

  0.06

  3,229

  0.81

  Leicestershire

  1,706

  1,813

  6.27

  1,814

  0.06

  1,853

  2.15

  Lincolnshire

  1,182

  1,197

  1.27

  1,198

  0.08

  1,206

  0.67

  Merseyside

  4,451

  4,701

  5.62

  4,701

  0.00

  4,706

  0.11

  Norfolk

  1,265

  1,408

  11.30

  1,409

  0.07

  1,446

  2.63

  Northants

  950

  1,141

  20.11

  1,142

  0.09

  1,190

  4.20

  Northumbria

  3,325

  3,552

  6.83

  3,560

  0.23

  3,613

  1.49

  North Wales

  1,279

  1,351

  5.63

  1,352

  0.07

  1,369

  1.26

  North Yorkshire

  1,328

  1,408

  6.02

  1,408

  0.00

  1,418

  0.71

  Nottinghamshire

  2,145

  2,344

  9.28

  2,344

  0.00

  2,344

  0.00

  South Wales

  3,069

  3,168

  3.23

  3,168

  0.00

  3,168

  0.00

  South Yorkshire

  2,752

  2,998

  8.94

  2,998

  0.00

  3,031

  1.10

  Staffordshire

  2,066

  2,202

  6.58

  2,203

  0.05

  2,215

  0.54

  Suffolk

  1,088

  1,204

  10.66

  1,205

  0.08

  1,233

  2.32

  Surrey

  1,599

  1,659

  3.75

  1,659

  0.00

  1,673

  0.84

  Sussex

  2,802

  2,963

  5.75

  2,964

  0.03

  3,014

  1.69

  Thames Valley

  2,997

  3,685

  22.96

  3,685

  0.00

  3,812

  3.45

  Warwickshire

  876

  1,007

  14.95

  1,008

  0.10

  1,020

  1.19

  West Mercia

  1,834

  2,023

  10.31

  2,024

  0.05

  2,053

  1.43

  West Midlands

  6,509

  6,893

  5.90

  6,895

  0.03

  6,977

  1.19

  West Yorkshire

  5,104

  5,279

  3.43

  5,281

  0.04

  5,295

  0.27

  Wiltshire

  1,022

  1,098

  7.44

  1,099

  0.09

  1,181

  7.46

  Metropolitan

  26,589

  28,565

  7.43

  28,524

  -0.14

  28,276

  -0.87

  City 2

  1,022

  798

  -21.92

  798

  0.00

  798

  0.00

  Total

  117,698

  125,758

  6.85

  125,794

  0.03

  126,977

  0.94

  1. The police establishment of the Kent constabulary will increase by 40 officers on 1 January 1993.

  2 The police establishment of the City of London police was reduced at the request of the police authority.

  Safe Cities
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to create any new safer cities areas; and what are his plans for the existing safer cities areas after 31 March 1994.

  Mr. Jack
  The safer cities programme was originally intended to create 20 local projects, all of which have now been established. We remain committed to doubling the number of safer cities projects to 40, when circumstances and resources enable us to do so.

  The first 16 projects to have been established have already been guaranteed funding until March 1994. No decision has been made concerning their futures beyond that date. The four most recently established projects—in Derby, Hammersmith and Fulham, Leicester and Middlesbrough—are planned to continue in 1994–95.

  Probation Service
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met representatives of(a) the Association of Chief Officers of Probation or (b) the National Association of Probation Officers; and what was the outcome of their discussions.

  Mr. Jack
  The Secretary of State last met representatives of the Association of Chief Officers of Probation in July 1992. The discussion covered a range of current topics relating to the changes in and expansion of probation work including the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, partnerships with the independent sector and the 576
  introduction of national standards. The Secretary of State has not met representatives of the National Association of Probation Officers this year.

  I have met representatives of the Association of Chief Officers of Probation on various occasions since my appointment. These meetings have covered a number of current topics about probation work. I met representatives of the National Association of Probation Officers in July; this meeting also covered a range of topics.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation staff by grade were in full-time employment during 1991 in England and Wales.

  Mr. Jack
  The number of full-time equivalent staff employed by the probation service, by grade and in post on 31 December 1991, was as follows:

  Number

  Chief Probation Officer

  55

  Deputy Chief Probation Officer

  24

  Assistant Chief Probation Officer

  210

  Senior Probation Officer

  1,163

  Main-grade Probation Officer

  5,702

  Probation Ancillary

  1,864

  Research and Information Officers

  64

  Other staff (Professional, Administrative, Clerical and Secretarial)

  5,250

  Car Crime
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the incidence of car crime in England and Wales in each year since 1982; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is set out in the table. Figures are for offences recorded by the police.

  Theft/unauthorized taking of a motor vehicle

  Theft from a motor vehicle

  1982

  351,230

  449,037

  1983

  325,699

  424,238

  1984

  344,806

  454,943

  1985

  367,426

  478,968

  1986

  411,060

  577,414

  1987

  389,576

  658,577

  1988

  366,713

  620,623

  1989

  393,399

  628,912

  1990

  494,209

  773,079

  1991

  582,300

  913,700

  Sentencing Policy
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice his Department is offering sentencers and others on the extent to which judges and magistrates are expected to take previous offences into account when determining the level of seriousness of an offence.

  Mr. Jack
  The criteria for determining the seriousness of an offence for the purpose of deciding on an appropriate sentence are set out in the Criminal Justice Act 1991. However, it is for the courts alone to interpret the provisions of the Act as they apply to individual cases in the light of all the circumstances of the offence and the offender and any guidance which the Court of Appeal may issue in due course. In addition, a substantial programme of training for sentencers on all matters relating to the Act has been provided under the auspices of the Judicial Studies Board.

  Public Houses (Violence)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the trend of violence against landlords and landladies in public houses; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many physical attacks on landlords or landladies of public houses were reported in 1991;

  (3) if he will make it his policy to encourage magistrates to exclude from licensed premises those who are found guilty of violence against landlords or landladies of public houses.

  Mr. Jack
  No central record is kept of crimes of violence against licensees and their staff on licensed premises. I am aware of concern about such violence, and that a number of steps have been taken by the licensed trade, in partnership with other agencies, against the problem. The Licensed Premises (Exclusion of Certain Persons) Act 1980 enables magistrates in England and Wales, when sentencing a person convicted of violence or threatened violence on licensed premises to make an "exclusion order" prohibiting him or her from entering 578
  those or any other specified premises for a period of between three months and two years without the express consent of the licensee. Sentencing in individual cases is entirely a matter for the courts in the light of all the circumstances of the offence and the offender.

  Drugs
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the drug prevention projects funded under his Department's drug prevention initiatives together with(a) the current level of annual funds of each, (b) the start date of each and (c) the date to which funds have been agreed in each case.

  Mr. Jack
  There have been 20 local drugs prevention teams established between October 1990 and March 1992 under the drugs prevention initiative. The annual fund for each team excluding salaries and running costs is £85,000. This comprises £75,000 to grant-aid local drugs prevention projects and £10,000 for publicity. An additional £15,000 to support activities undertaken during European Drug Prevention Week has been allocated to each team for this financial year 1992–93. Funds have been agreed initially for a period of three years in each case. Details on the individual teams are as follows:

  Local drugs prevention team

  Start date

  Fundy agreed until

  Brighton and Hove

  29 October 1990

  29 October 1993

  Lewisham

  19 November 1990

  19 November 1993

  Liverpool

  10 December 1990

  10 December 1993

  Birmingham

  7 January 1991

  7 January 1994

  Hackney

  14 January 1991

  14 January 1994

  Southwark

  18 February 1991

  18 February 1994

  Newham

  4 March 1991

  4 March 1994

  Bristol

  4 March 1991

  4 March 1994

  Lambeth

  22 April 1991

  22 April 1994

  Nottingham

  13 May 1991

  13 May 1994

  Wolverhampton

  20 May 1991

  20 May 1994

  Brent

  5 August 1991

  5 August 1994

  Wirral

  30 September 1991

  30 September 1994

  Bradford

  18 October 1991

  18 October 1994

  Dundee

  2 December 1991

  2 December 1994

  Manchester

  3 February 1992

  3 February 1995

  Salford

  19 February 1992

  19 February 1995

  Newcastle

  7 January 1991

  2 March 1995

  Glasgow

  23 March 1992

  23 March 1995

  West Glamorgan

  30 March 1992

  30 March 1995

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the projects that have been set up under the drugs prevention initiative and the cost of each of these projects; and how long he intends these projects to be operational.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 26 October 1992]: The 20 local drugs prevention teams were established between October 1990 and March 1992 for initial three-year terms. The position of the teams beyond that period is currently under active review. The effectiveness of the drug prevention initiative, including the work of the 20 teams, is being fully evaluated. A structural review has been commissioned to be carried out by the university of Bristol and a private sector consultancy. The results of the review will be available in June next year. The average annual cost of each team, including its grants and publicity budget, is approximately £200,000. Details are as follows:

  579

  Local Drugs Prevention Team

  Contracted until

  Brighton and Hove

  29 October 1993

  Lewisham

  19 November 1993

  Liverpool

  10 December 1993

  Birmingham

  7 January 1994

  Hackney

  14 January 1994

  Southwark

  18 February 1994

  Newham

  4 March 1994

  Bristol

  4 March 1994

  Lambeth

  22 April 1994

  Nottingham

  13 May 1994

  Wolverhampton

  20 May 1994

  Brent

  5 August 1994

  Wirral

  30 September 1994

  Bradford

  18 October 1994

  Dundee

  2 December 1994

  Manchester

  3 February 1994

  Salford

  19 February 1995

  Newcastle

  2 March 1995

  Glasgow

  23 March 1995

  West Glamorgan

  30 March 1995

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the case for introduction of an identity card scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Although we remain ready to consider any arguments which may be advanced in favour of introducing an identity card system, we are not at present persuaded that the case for such a system has been made.

  Her Majesty's Prison, Manchester
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is in a position to make a statement about the market testing of Her Majesty's prison, Manchester.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Work has now been completed on the specification for the operation of Manchester prison. This forms part of the invitation to tender issued to the prison service and potential contractors from the private sector. A copy has been placed in the Library. Following the evaluation process, we aim to announce a decision on the successful bidder in early spring 1993. It is our intention that the part of the prison that is currently being extensively refurbished shall be ready to accept prisoners from autumn 1993.

  Prisoners (Injuries)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken by the prison service to reduce the level of suicide and self-injury by prisoners.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The prison service's policies in this complex and important area were recently described in an information paper, "Caring for prisoners at risk of suicide and self-injury: the way forward", which was published on 20 August 1992. I have today arranged for a copy of the paper to be placed in the Library of the House. The paper outlines in detail the measures being taken across the prison service as a whole and gives examples of some local schemes. I very much support the efforts being made by the 580
  prison staff, working in partnership with voluntary agencies and increasingly with prisoners themselves, to tackle the problems associated with suicide and self-injury.

  Discretionary life Sentences
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rules he has made governing the proceedings of the parole board when considering the cases of discretionary life sentence prisoners who are eligible for consideration under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991; and how the board will be constituted when considering such cases.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The parole board rules 1992 were made on 31 August 1992 under section 32(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. They will come into force on 1 October. A copy of the rules has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  When considering these cases, the parole board will sit in panels of three. I have written to the chairman of the board asking him to bear in mind the following criteria when selecting panel members.

  Chairman
  Panels should be chaired by a High Court judge member of the Board where cases involve:
  terrorist offences;
  the attempted murder or wounding of a police or prison officer;
  the sexual assault or mutilation and killing of a child (ie in the same incident);
  serial rape;
  manslaughter following release from prison on a previous manslaughter sentence;
  offences giving rise to multiple life sentences.
  Otherwise, a circuit judge or recorder may take the chair.

  Second member
  The second member should generally be a psychiatrist.
  But, if there is conclusive medical evidence that no serious concern exists about the prisoner's state of mind at the time of the offence or subsequently during imprisonment, a psychologist or probation officer may be appointed.

  Third member
  The third member of the panel should be a lay member, a criminologist, or a psychologist or probation officer (where he or she is not already the second member).

  Prisoners
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 19 October,Official Report, columns 64–65, (1) how many of the 616 prisoners came from each police area responsible for initiating action towards prosecutions; and in each case how many were remand prisoners and how many convicted prisoners;

  (2) if he will show in respect of each police authority area how many of those held in police cells were remand prisoners and how many were convicted prisoners.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 23 October 1992]: The information collected centrally does not separate remand and convicted prisoners held in police cells, but most would have been held on remand. It is also not possible to apply the available data to the Crown prosecution service areas, but the table gives the prisoner in police cells position for 16 October by prison service establishment. This may give the hon. Member a clearer indication of the origin of the prisoners concerned.

  581

  Number of adults and young adults in police cell accommodation on 16 October, by prison service establishment

  Establishment

  Adults

  Young adults

  Total

  Bristol

  18

  7

  25

  Cardiff

  4

  25

  29

  Durham

  1

  0

  1

  Gloucester

  27

  9

  36

  Hindley

  0

  7

  7

  Lewes

  8

  0

  8

  Leicester

  8

  0

  8

  Liverpool

  2

  0

  2

  Manchester

  380

  88

  468

  Preston

  30

  0

  30

  Risley

  2

  0

  2

  Totals

  480

  136

  616

  Prison Service
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what his Department's estimates are for the potential redundancy costs of teaching staff currently employed by local education authorities arising from changes in the provision of educational services in Her Majesty's prison service;

  (2) who will have responsibility for redundancy payments of teaching staff in the event of changes in the provision of educational services in Her Majesty's prison service leading to existing contracts with further education colleges being changed;

  (3) what his Department's estimates are for the overall financial costs of the proposed changes in the provision of educational services in prison service establishments.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 26 October 1992]: The prison service has given notice that it intends to invite competitive tenders for the provision of education to inmates in prisons and young offender institutions in England and Wales, for which it is responsible, with effect from 1 April 1993. This is consequent upon changes in the further education responsibilities of local education authorities resulting from the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 and is consistent with the Government's policies on market testing, as set out in the White Paper "Competing for Quality" (Cm 1730).

  Competition between the public and private sector is directed to achieving better service and value for money. It will be possible to quantify the overall benefits in quality and cost only when the tendering exercise is complete.

  All existing providers are being invited to tender, and any possible consequential redundancy costs cannot therefore yet be accurately assessed. Such costs would fall to the employer of existing prison education staff, normally the local education authority or a college of further education. They would only arise if the existing provider was unseccessful in the competitive tender and it was not possible to avoid redundancy, for example, by redeployment of staff to other areas or agreed transfers to the new contractor.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what costs were incurred by his Department in employing outside consultants to advise on changes to be made in the provision of educational services in prison service establishments.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 26 October 1992]: Consultants were employed to provide advice to the prison
  582
  service on the implications for the provision of education in prisons in England and Wales of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. The cost was £27,500, exclusive of value added tax.

SCOTLAND

  Football Stadiums
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will circularise planning authorities urging them to give sympathetic consideration to applications for new football stadiums in greenfield sites, particularly in cases where there is no feasible alternative for football clubs to meet with the requirements and time scale of the Taylor report.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Certain of Scotland's football clubs are required to have all-seater stadiums by August 1994 in line with recommendations contained in the Taylor report. The planning system should not obstruct this requirement.

  The Government's policy, as set out in Scottish Development Department circular 17/1985, is that planning permission should always be granted, having regard to all material considerations, unless there are sound and clear cut reasons for refusal. A draft national planning policy guideline on sport and recreation, containing further guidance on the implications of the Taylor report, will be issued for public consultation in the spring.

  As with any other applications for planning permission, the football clubs may appeal to the Secretary of State if they are aggrieved at a planning authority's decision or if the planning authority fails to determine an application timeously.

  Water Authority Land
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total acreage of land presently belonging to Scotland's water authorities, broken down into each authority area.

  Sir Hector Monro
  This information is not held centrally.

  Scottish Nuclear
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any intention of privatising Scottish Nuclear.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

  Roads
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to introduce experimental traffic measures at Dairsie.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Traffic-calming measures for Dairsie have recently been approved by the Scottish Office roads directorate and the necessary signing/road marking authorisation and revised speed limit order are presently being processed. On completion of these procedures, the "village gateway" measures will be implemented as soon as is practical.
  583
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the progress of the Auchtermuchty bypass.

  Mr. James Douglas-Hamilton
  The preparation work for the Auchtermuchty bypass is at a stage where it could be quickly completed, but no funding opportunity has presently been identified for the scheme and therefore no further action is being taken at this time.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the capacity of the trunk roads which pass through Cupar and their ability to accommodate projected traffic flows by the year 2000.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A transportation study to address trunk road capacity and other matters in Cupar was recently carried out by the Scottish Office roads directorate and Fife regional council. This exercise included consideration of both a bypass and an inner relief road in relation to the medium and longer-term needs of the A91 trunk road. An evaluation of the findings of the report is currently under way to determine how best to meet the requirements of Cupar and the trunk road.

  Housing, East Lothian
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of housing to rent in East Lothian; and if he will make a supplementary housing capital allocation to East Lothian district council for the current year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is the responsibility of East Lothian district council to consider the housing needs of its area, including housing for rent. The Government took full account of East Lothian's needs, as set out in its housing plan and housing capital programme, when decisions were taken on East Lothian's housing capital allocations for 1992–93.

  All resources currently available for housing capital expenditure in Scotland in 1992–93 have been distributed. If further resources become available, the relative housing needs of East Lothian will continue to be taken fully into account.

  Haddington Sheriff Court
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the backlog of cases at Haddington sheriff court relative to other sheriff courts; and if he intends to take any steps to improve the efficiency and accommodation of the court in Haddington.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Ayr (Mr. Gallie) on 15 July 1992,Official Report, columns 708–10, setting out the waiting periods for civil proofs and summary criminal trials for each sheriff court in Scotland. Haddington is within the national average for each category. The speedy and efficient disposal of sheriff court business is a matter for sheriffs principal. Witness accommodation at Haddington has been improved over recent years and steps are being taken to provide better interview facilities for solicitors and their clients. The main courtroom will be refurbished when resources permit.

  Homelessness
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of homeless persons in Scotland and each local authority area for(a) the most recent date for which figures are available and (b) 1979–80.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 23 October 1992]: Table 2 of the statistical bulletin HSG/1992/3, "Operation of the Homeless Legislation in Scotland 1979/80 to 1990/91: District Analyses", shows the number of applicant households, by local authority district, for the years 1979–80 and 1990–91, the latest date for which this information is available. Copies of the bulletin are available in the House Library.

  Information on the number of persons in each applicant household is available only from 1990, in case returns supplied by authorities to the Department. The table gives for 1990–91, by district, the number of households for whom case returns have been received and the total number of persons in these households.

  Number of applicant households and number of persons in these households 1990–91

  Area

  Number of case returns received for households applying as homeless in 1990–911

  Number of persons

  SCOTLAND

  32,379

  67,965

  Borders

  Berwickshire

  16

  55

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  17

  40

  Roxburgh

  109

  230

  Tweeddale

  49

  119

  Central

  Clackmannan

  523

  1,035

  Falkirk

  1,300

  2,756

  Stirling

  575

  1,249

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Annandale and Eskdale

  97

  255

  Nithsdale

  600

  1,197

  Stewartry

  97

  259

  Wigtown

  107

  273

  Fife

  Dumfermline

  311

  788

  Kirkcaldy

  1,325

  3,049

  North East Fife

  476

  1,063

  Grampian

  Aberdeen

  1,485

  3,232

  Banff and Buchan

  225

  602

  Gordon

  290

  785

  Kincardine and Deeside

  45

  141

  Moray

  195

  543

  Highland

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  19

  58

  Caithness

  7

  22

  Inverness

  361

  899

  Lochabcr

  75

  182

  Nairn

  40

  104

  Ross and Cromarty

  107

  263

  Skye and Lochalsh

  68

  155

  Sutherland

  10

  36

  Lothian

  East Lothian

  960

  2,108

  Edinburgh

  2,633

  5,902

  Midlothian

  143

  344

  West Lothian

  532

  1,054

  585

  Area

  Number of case returns received for households ap-plying as homeless in 1990–911

  Number of persons

  Strathclyde

  Argyll and Bute

  330

  774

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  81

  202

  Clydebank

  655

  1,390

  Clydesdale

  446

  942

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  421

  1.107

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  67

  155

  Cunninghame

  445

  1,038

  Dumbarton

  1,705

  3,223

  East Kilbride

  521

  1,064

  Eastwood

  11

  28

  Glasgow

  8,565

  15,054

  Hamilton

  329

  837

  Inverelyde

  360

  796

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  440

  991

  Kyle and Carrick

  607

  1,202

  Monklands

  309

  574

  Motherwell

  988

  2,070

  Renfrew

  957

  1,965

  Strathkelvin

  318

  835

  Tayside

  Angus

  468

  1,174

  Dundee

  924

  2,084

  Perth and Kinross

  432

  1,234

  Islands Councils

  Orkney Islands

  19

  51

  Shetland Islands

  131

  265

  Western Isles

  53

  112

  1 The 32,379 case returns represent 94 per cent. of the 34,600 applications in 1990–91.

  Housing
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount of capital expenditure on housing for each of the financial years 1979–80 to 1991–92 inclusive in cash and real terms.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  Gross Capital Expenditure on housing in Scotland by local authorities, Scottish Homes and New Town Development Corporations

  £ million

  Cash terms

  1Real terms

  1979–80

  421.0

  1,021.0

  1980–81

  477.0

  977.6

  1981–82

  480.1

  897.2

  1982–83

  561–3

  979.3

  1983–84

  706.0

  1,177.1

  1984–85

  583.0

  925.8

  1985–86

  600.1

  903.1

  1986–87

  657.9

  958.5

  1987–88

  791.4

  1,093.6

  1988–89

  800.7

  1,031.9

  1989–90

  985.2

  1,191.2

  1990–91

  953.8

  1,066.4

  1991–92

  1,081.1

  1,127.0

  1 Expressed in 1992–93 prices.

  Recycling
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make supplementary credit approvals available as hypothecated local authority expenditure to enable local authorities to engage in recycling projects.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 26 October 1992]: No. As in previous years, local authorities in Scotland will each receive a capital consent allocation for its general services capital programme. Allocations will be determined in light of the proposals for capital expenditure contained in the detailed financial plans submitted by authorities. Thereafter, within the limits of their consent, it will be for local authorities to determine their own priorities for capital expenditure, including on recycling projects.

  Health Care
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what private psychiatric services are offered by Grampian Healthcare.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 26 October 1992]: None.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken and what further measures he proposes to promote organic farming in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 26 October 1992]: Through Food from Britain, the Government set up and now fund the United Kingdom register of organic food standards to determine national standards, codes of practice and provide credibility to certification procedures. The Government also fund a wide range of research relating to organic farming, from strategic research into production methods through to wider issues such as the environmental impact of organic farming systems.

  In addition, Scottish farmers of organic produce can benefit under a number of schemes open to farmers generally. These include the farm and conservation grant scheme; set-aside arrangements and the group marketing grant scheme. The need for any further measures will be considered in the context of the implementation of the European Community agriculture and environment regulations.

  Forth Valley Health Board
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much money has been spent on refurbishing Forth Valley health board headquarters over each of the past five years;

  (2) if he will give a detailed breakdown of the total expenditure on refurbishing Forth Valley health board headquarters over the past five years.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 26 October 1992]: The total expenditure on refurbishing Forth Valley health board's headquarters at 33 Spittal street and 9 Gladstone place, Stirling over the past five years is as follows:
  587

  1988–89 £

  1989–90 £

  1990–91 £

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 to date £

  Capital-backlog maintenance

  519

  9,330

  37,767

  15,601

  46,328

  Equipment

  127,411

  83,429

  95,108

  206,980

  43,863

  Maintenance

  21,800

  34,265

  25,436

  27,046

  35,535

  Total

  149,730

  127,024

  158,311

  249,627

  125,726

EMPLOYMENT

  Pit Closures
  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions she has had with(a) the chairman of British Coal, (b) members of the National Economic Development Council, (c) the director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, (d) the Major Energy Users Council, and (e) the coal industry trades unions on the implications of the coal industry pit closure plans.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Employment Ministers have not met representatives of these bodies to discuss the pit closures. There has been a meeting with the training enterprise councils involved to discuss what help can be given.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what day her Department first made preparations to deal with the impending pit closures.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 26 October 1992]: My Department has been aware for some months of possible future pit closures and has been involved in contingency planning.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions she has had with the European social affairs and regional Commissioners in regard to the implications for EC employment and regional aid programmes of the pit closure programme.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply. I have been in contact with Mr. Millan, the Commissioner with responsibility for regional policies, and discussions have begun at official level.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement on the level of resignations amongst directors of training and enterprise councils in the 12-month period to the end of June.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In the year to the end of June 1992, the turnover of TEC directors—excluding chairmen—was 19 per cent. Although information on the reasons for these moves is not held centrally, the common reasons are moves around the country, retirement or changes of job.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the present level of funding for TECs to meet current demand for training programmes for young people; and what estimate she has made of the effect of any budget cuts.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced to the House on 7 July,Official Report,
  588
  columns 171–72, new measures to establish a national system for monitoring the numbers of young people seeking training. There is currently no shortage of funds for TECs to meet the demand for youth training.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures she is taking to alleviate hardship resulting from concentrations of high unemployment.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The social security system provides comprehensive support for unemployed people in all parts of the country through unemployment benefit, income support and help with housing costs. The social fund provides a mixture of interest-free loans and non-repayable grants to meet the costs of specific items. To help unemployed people to find work as quickly as possible, we are now offering the widest range of help and advice ever made available to unemployed people.

  Medicopharma UK
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer of 22 May,Official Report, column 348, whether Medicopharma UK has now met all claims for redundancy payments; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Redundancy payments have been made to all entitled employees, initially by the company and, following the company's insolvency, by the Department's redundancy payments service. In addition, some claims in relation to protective awards made by an industrial tribunal are currently being processed.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if she intends to take any action to speed up the hearing of industrial tribunal cases at London, North;

  (2) how many industrial tribunals were lodged each year in the area covered by London, North industrial tribunals, Woburn place for the period 1987–1991; what proportion of these proceeded to hearing; what number are settled; and what number were withdrawn before hearing;

  (3) what is the average time between the lodgement of an industrial tribunal IT1 form, and its being heard at London, North tribunals each year for the period 1987 to 1991.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The listing of industrial tribunal cases for hearing depends on the availability of tribunal chairmen and I am informed that there has recently been a shortage of chairmen in the London, North region. Appointment of chairmen is the responsibility of my right
  589
  hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and in an effort to improve the situation, five new chairmen—one full time and four part time—have been appointed in the past six months. I understand that further appointments are under consideration. London, North has also adopted an intensive case listing policy in an effort to accelerate the throughput of cases.

  Tribunal statistics are held for financial rather than calendar years and the tables have been compiled on that basis. The number of applications lodged at London, North is shown in table 1. Table 2 shows the outcomes of cases dealt with. I regret that information on the waiting time between a claim being lodged and heard is not available in the precise form requested. The figures in table 3 show the percentage of applications coming to first hearing within six, eight, 10, 12, 20 and 26 weeks respectively of receipt of the application.

  Table 3

  Waiting time for cases to come to first hearing

  Percentage under (weeks)

  6

  8

  10

  12

  16

  20

  26

  1 April 1991–31 March 1992

  1

  2

  10

  17

  34

  53

  75

  1 April 1990–31 March 1991

  1

  6

  13

  23

  46

  61

  77

  1 April 1989–31 March 1990

  5

  19

  31

  44

  65

  75

  85

  1 April 1988–31 March 1989

  4

  15

  26

  36

  49

  79

  91

  1 April 1987–31 March 1988

  10

  26

  41

  54

  71

  83

  90

  Employment Service
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list for the last 12 months, the titles of papers published by the Employment Service.

  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. Martin Redmond, dated 27 October 1992:

  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about the papers published by the Employment Service in the la st 12 months. This is something which falls to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  I have attached to this letter an annex which sets out the details you have asked for. If there is a particular publication which you are interested in please let me know and I will ensure you receive a copy promptly.

  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  EMPLOYMENT SERVICE PUBLICATIONS
  General information about the Employment Service:
  This is the Employment Service (CORP 1 August 1992).
  Public Employment Services: Into the 1990s (article in the Employment Gazette October 1992).
  Performance and Accounts:
  Employment Service Annual Report and Accounts 1990–91
  Employment Service Annual Report and Accounts 1991–92
  590

  Table 1

  Applications lodged

  Number

  1 April 1991–31 March 1992

  5,667

  1 April 1990–31 March 1991

  4,308

  1 April 1989–31 March 1990

  4,007

  1 April 1988–31 March 1989

  2,405

  1 April 1987–31 March 1988

  2,661

  Table 2

  Outcome of applications

  Heard

  Settled

  Withdrawn

  1 April 1991–31 March 19921

  1,041

  919

  1,216

  1 April 1990–31 March 1991

  1,170

  688

  1,248

  1 April 1989–31 March 1990

  738

  1,008

  792

  1 April 1988–31 March 1989

  1,000

  660

  547

  1 April 1987–31 March 1988

  938

  978

  650

  1 1 April 1991–31 March 1992 figures are provisional.

  Employment Service Operational Plan 1992–1993.
  Advisory and information booklets and leaflets:
  Helping You Back to Work. Information for Claimants (UB40/UBL18 revised September 1991).
  Just the Job—New Edition (EMPL 45 revised September 1991).
  Jobseeker's Charter leaflet (JSCIL December 1991).
  Jobseeker's Charter. Help us to get it right…and how to complain if you think we have got it wrong (JSC3L December 1991).
  Restart Course leaflet No. 1 (RCL1 February 1992).
  How to be Better Off in Work (BOIWL1 September 1992).
  Job Search Seminar Leaflet (JSS L3).
  Guide for Managers/Executives/Professionals (EXJ1).
  Just for the Record Leaflet—Help for People with a Criminal Record (OFJ1).

  Working Abroad (OPU1).

  Working in Holland (OPU3).

  Working in the UK (OPU4).

  Working in France (OPUS).

  Working in Germany (OPU6).

  Working in Belgium (OPU7).

  Working in Spain (OPU8).

  Working in Portugal (OPU9).

  591

  Working in Italy (OPU10).

  Working in Ireland (OPU11).

  Working in Denmark (OPU12).

  Working in Greece (OPU13).

  Working in Luxembourg (OPU14).

  Employing People with Disabilities—Sources of Help (PEL2).
  Employing People with Disabilities—PACT Placing, Assessment and Counselling Team (PEL).
  PF1—Folder for A4 inserts entitled "Information on Disability and Employment".
  Information leaflet for people with severe disabilities on Sheltered Placement scheme (SPS1).
  Information leaflet for host companies about the Sheltered Placement Scheme (SPS2)
  Marketing Leaflet for Employers (EMPL46).
  Our New Computer System (NUBL1).
  Job Interview Guarantee scheme Client Wallet.
  Job Interview Guarantee scheme Employer Wallet.
  How to make the most of your Work Trial.
  Research and Evaluation:
  The Employment Service Research and Evaluation branch carries out internal studies and commissions studies by external contractors. With the exception of those produced by some contractors the reports of these studies are not published as on sale documents. Copies are placed in the House of Commons Library and sent to people who ask for them. The following lists the reports which have been issued in the past year and, where appropriate, the name of the external contractor concerned. The items marked * are available on sale.
  External Contractor Reports
  Evaluation of joblink—Qualitative study report (Research Services Limited November 1991).
  National Customer Satisfaction Survey—Report of Findings (Research International Limited January 1992).
  New Clients: A survey of new clients to the Employment Service and their response to New Client Advisor interview (Social Community Planning Research March 1992).
  Quality assessment and guidance in Job Review Workshops (Psychological and Statistical Services April 1992).
  Working with a disability: Barriers and facilitators (Social Community Planning Research May 19921).
  Job Interview Guarantee (JIG) Evaluation—Report on a survey of JIG employers (British Market Research Bureau May 1992).
  Attitudes to Employment Service Local Offices: Qualitative Survey (Ecotec Research and Consulting Limited June 1992).
  An evaluation of the Pilot Employment Initiatives for Disabled People scheme (Ecotec Research and Consulting Limited June 1992).
  Progression, Regression, Turnover, Quality and Support in Sheltered Employment (Policy Research Unit July 19921).
  Restart Cohort Study (Policy Studies Institute September 1992).
  Quality of Assessment and Guidance in Job Review Workshops (Psychological and Statistical Services October 1992).
  Internal Research Reports
  Actively Seeking Work—Evaluation (Report 68 November 1991).
  Survey of non-claiment users of ES local offices (Report 69 January 1992).
  Multifunctioning Pilots—an assessment of performance (Report 70 January 1992).
  Evaluation of ES461—the initial cliam form for unemployment benefit (Report 71 March 1992).
  Private Employment Agencies (Report 72 April 1992).
  Restart Course Follow-up Survey (Report 73 July 1992).
  The Effectiveness of the NCA (New Client Advisor) Interview (Report 74 October 1992).
  NUBS2 (National Unemployment Benefit computer System) Business Pilots Staff Views (Report 75 October 1992).
  Psychological Service Project Reports
  Critical Skills of Employment Service Advisors (Report No. 410 October 1991).
  Utility Analysis: A method of costing the impact of a training intervention (Report No. 407 November 1991).
  A Questionnaire Survey of Training Needs in Employment Department Corporate Services Branch (Report No. 402 December 1991).
  A Questionnaire Survey of Training Needs in Employment Department Estate Branch (Report No. 403 December 1991).
  An Evaluation of the training which equips newly appointed Adjudication Officers to deal with Doubtful claims to unemployment benefit (Report No. 411 January 1992).
  Exit Interviews with Psychologists (Report No. 404 January 1992).
  Job Interview Guarantee: An evolving Placement Programme (Report No. 408 March 1992).
  Do Prison Linked Jobclubs work and evaluation for initiatives at Pentonville and Holloway.
  PDCA in West Midlands—Evaluation Report (Report No. 409 March 1992).
  How Users assess the reception, post, messenger and typing services provided at 236 Grays Inn Road (Report No. 410 March 1992).
  Participant Observation of 3 day Occupational Assessment workshops for unemployed people in the North East Region (Report No. 412 May 1992).
  Outcomes for the first Employment Department Head Office PDPLINK programme (September 1991 to May 1992): a project-based approach to personal development using external placements (Report No. 413 July 1992).
  How participants and tutors rated the December 1991 SEO to Grade 7 Manager Development workshop (Report No. 141 April 1992).
  End of programme evalution of the first "Executive

  593
  Stretch": A personal development option for senior managers (Report No. 415 June 1992).
  Referrals to Sheltered Employment (Report No. 416 September 1992).
  Evaluating the Impact of the ES Stress Pack (Report No. 399 September 1992).
  Is there a gap in provision for people with special needs (Report No. 406/R September 1992).
  How People in the Employment Service view Travel and Subsistence, Development and Pay Issues (Report No. 417 October 1992).
  Training Disability Employment Advisors in assessing individual clients with the aid of psychological tests: An early evaluation of Enhanced Assessment Training (Report No. 418 October 1992).
  Improving the usability of information systems…a briefing for systems developers (Report No. 400).
  Adjudication:
  Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions for Quarter ending 31 December 1991.
  Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions for Quarter ending 31 March 1992.
  Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions for Year ending 31 March 1992.
  Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions for Quarter ending 30 June 1992.
  Personnel Related:
  Revised Administrative Assistant Interview Plan, Guidance, and Rating Form.
  Revised Administrative Officer Interview Plan, Guidance and Rating Form.
  Article on "Promotion Through Vacancy Advertising" (PVA) appeared in the Spring edition of "Equality Network".

  Financial Services
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will supply figures for the numbers employed in the financial services sector for each of the past three years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information is as follows.

  Employees in employment: Great Britain

  June of each year

  Thousands Banking, finance and auxilary activities1

  1990

  671.1

  1991

  648.7

  1992

  623.7

  1 Class 81 and Group 831 of the 1980 standard industrial classification (SIC 80).

  Doncaster Travel-to-work Area
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will outline the current travel-to-work area boundaries for the Doncaster area; and if her Department has any plans for reviewing them.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The current travel-to-work areas, TTWA, have been compiled from 1981 ward boundaries,594
  using data from the 1981 census of population. The wards for the Doncaster TTWA are as follows: Ardwick, Armthorpe, Askern, Balby, Bentley, Central, Bentley, North Road, Bessacarr, Central, Eddington and Warmsworth, Hatfield, Intake, Richmond, Rossington, South East, Southern Parks, Stainforth, Thorne, Town Field, Wheatley—which are all in the Doncaster local authority district—and Haxey, which is in the Boothferry local authority district.

  A travel-to-work area review is planned and will take into account any significant changes in commuting patterns in the United Kingdom. It will use the special workplace statistics from the 1991 census of population scheduled for release in November 1993. Draft TTWAs are expected to be available approximately six to nine months after that.

  Manufacturing Employment
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will publish a table showing the absolute and percentage change in the level of manufacturing employment in each Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country since October 1990; and if she will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relative performance according to this indicator.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Comparable information from the OECD is available only for the total of the energy, manufacturing and construction industries. Manufacturing is the lagest component but its share in the total differs between member states. Changes since September 1990 are shown in the table.

  Changes in civilian employment in production and construction industries between September 1990 and June 1992 Seasonally adjusted (thousands)

  Absolute change

  Percentage change

  Canada

  -284

  -9.2

  USA

  -1,578

  -5.1

  Japan

  761

  3.6

  Australia

  -164

  -8.2

  Austria1

  27

  2.2

  Finland

  -153

  -20.1

  France2

  -175

  -2.7

  West Germany

  47

  0.4

  Italy3

  -85

  -1.2

  Norway

  -32

  -6.5

  Portugal3

  -118

  -7.5

  Spain

  -128

  -3.0

  Sweden

  -173

  -13.2

  Switzerland

  -62

  -5.0

  United Kingdom4

  -767

  -11.6

  1 Latest data available is at December 1991.

  2 Figures available are not seasonally adjusted.

  3 Latest data available is at March 1992.

  4 Figures exclude participants in work related Government training programmes (for which separate industry estimates are not available).

  Source: OECD, except United Kingdom (Employment Department).

  The level of employment is not the only or the best indicator of the health of the country's manufacturing sector. It would be wrong to ignore improvements in productivity for instance. A better measure is provided by the ratio of manufacturing output to total gross domestic product. This has remained broadly constant in the United Kingdom over the past 10 years, as it has in a number of other countries including France, Italy and west Germany.

  Computer Projects
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April(a) each tender issued by her Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (B) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies who were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies who submitted a bid without prior invitation by her Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Employment Department group has issued a substantial number of tenders for the supply of computer hardware, software and associated services since 9 April 1992. Details of these in the form requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Benefit Disqualifications
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list by unemployment benefit under each paragraph of section 20(1) of the Social Security Act 1975 for the latest month for which information can be obtained for the Doncaster area(a) how many unemployed people were disqualified for unemployment benefit, (b) what were the reasons given by his office, (c) what was the length of disqualification imposed, (d) how many unemployed people appealed against his office's decision and (e) what was the result of the appeal.

  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. Martin Redmond, dated 27 October 1992:

  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question about the latest available information on the number and length of unemployment benefit disqualifications, and subsequent appeals under Section 20(1) of the Social Security Act in the Doncaster area. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  Unfortunately information is not available in the form you have requested. We compile information on disqualifications by region; the Doncaster area is included in our Yorkshire and Humberside region and quarterly rather than monthly intervals. A record is not kept of the length of disqualification periods imposed under Section 20(1) of the Social Security Act 1975. We collect information on the number of appeals made in each region broken down by the numbers reviewed and allowed by adjudication officers and the numbers submitted to social security appeal tribunals.

  During the quarter ending 30 June 1992 the number of people in Yorkshire and Humberside disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit under section 20(1) of the Social Security Act was as follows:—

  Leaving employment voluntarily without just cause

  4,002

  Employment lost due to misconduct

  1,746

  Refusal of employment without good cause

  14

  Neglect to avail oneself of an offer of employment

  26

  Refusal to comply with written instructions

  Nil

  Although voluntary termination of approved training without just cause, misconduct whilst on approved training, refusal of an offer of approved training without good cause
  596
  and neglect to avail oneself of approved training can also lead to disqualification under Section 20(1) a record is not kept of the number of disqualifications under these sub-heads. In this same period the number of appeals processed in Yorkshire and Humberside was as follows:—

  Total of all appeals received

  563

  Appeals reviewed and revised

  121

  Appeals submitted to Social Security Appeal Tribunal

  405

  I hope this is helpful.

  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Forensic Science Laboratory, Newtownbreda
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what plans he has to rebuild the forensic science laboratory at Newtownbreda following the recent bomb damage; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what plans he has to re-locate the forensic science laboratory from Newtownbreda; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mates
  The Northern Ireland forensic science laboratory is functioning from temporary premises. A full study is being carried out of the options for permanent accommodation for the laboratory.

  Firearms
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new firearms licences were issued in each of the past five years; how many applications were refused in each of these years; and how many were issued on appeal to the Secretary of State in each of those years.

  Mr. Mates
  Firearms licensing is the responsibility of the Chief Constable of the RUC. There is a statutory right of appeal from the Chief Constable's decision to the Secretary of State.

  The table sets out the total numbers of firearm licences issued, refused and issued on appeal to the Secretary of State. These figures relate to all licences—new licences, variations of licence and renewal of licences—since it is not possible to provide figures on new licences only without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Year

  Licences issued

  Licences refused

  Licences issued2 on appeal

  1987

  41,161

  781

  133

  1988

  33,815

  821

  122

  1989

  27,923

  948

  153

  1990

  39,810

  773

  112

  1991

  33,432

  343

  70

  11992

  19,630

  412

  43

  1 up to 30 September 1992

  2 includes those resolved by Chief Constable following submission of appeal

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for

  Northern Ireland what was the date of the terrorist bomb at the forensic science laboratory at Newtownbreda; and

  597
  how many owner/occupiers of homes have now received an interim compensation payment of £2,000 or more as a result of damage caused to their homes by this explosion.

  Mr. Mates
  The date was 23 September 1992. By 25 October, the Compensation Agency had authorised interim payments in all cases where it was possible to do so. The total number authorised in the case of owner/occupiers was 45, of which five amounted to £2,000 or more.

  Students' Unions
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the amount of public funds allocated to the students' unions in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; what proposals he has to abolish for students at the Queen's university of Belfast and the Ulster university, compulsory membership of the students' unions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Public funds are not allocated direct by Government to students' unions in Northern Ireland. However, the amounts which have been allocated by universities and colleges of education in Northern Ireland to students' unions were as follows:

  Live births

  Still births

  Hospital

  1987

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1987

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Ards

  1,069

  987

  950

  936

  959

  5

  6

  5

  4

  4

  Bangor

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ulster

  2,100

  2,059

  1,905

  1,988

  2,035

  21

  11

  7

  5

  12

  Local Government Staff Commission
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the reasons for the variance from year to year in the budget of the Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland; and what action he will take to avoid substantial increases in costs to local government authorities.

  Mr. Atkins
  The variance in the budget of the Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland in recent years can be attributed to the development of its role in assisting district councils and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in a range of services connected with the recruitment, training and terms and conditions of employment of officers.

  Approximately 14,000 people are employed by district councils and the NINE. Under the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1992, the staff commission has a statutory duty to, among other things, establish advisory appointment panels, draw up codes of procedure for recruitment and promotion; assist in the development of training of officers and monitor the fair employment practices of district councils.

  The staff commission carried out an organisational review in 1991 which identified a need for the commission to restructure and to take on additional staff in order to be able efficiently and effectively to discharge its statutory functions. This it has done: it now offers a comprehensive package of services delivered by a team of professionally qualified officers which assists councils and the NIHE in the full range of personnel services.
  598

  Universities £

  Colleges of Education £

  1987–88

  917,612

  62,293

  1988–89

  886,315

  65,915

  1989–90

  1,088,505

  69,350

  1990–91

  1,241,948

  73,500

  1991–92

  1,350,000

  77,900

  Information on the amounts paid by further education colleges is not available.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education recently announced that he is bringing forward proposals on the voluntary membership of students' unions and consideration is now being given to the options available for the implementation of those proposals.

  Births
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many babies were born at(a) Ards hospital, (b) Bangor hospital and (c) Ulster hospital in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is as follows:

  The increased costs of the staff commission therefore relate primarily to the remuneration of new staff, although the commission did move to new premises this year and the rental and furnishing costs associated with this are reflected in the current year's budget.

  Although the commission's budget has risen substantially over the past few years, I am entirely satisfied that it is necessary in order to ensure that it is in a position to help councils and the NIHE meet their statutory obligations and also to enable it to assist them to enhance and develop their reputation as good employers.

  Lough Foyle
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what damage to the environment has been caused by the recent leak from the Du Pont synthetics factory into Lough Foyle; what will be the cost of the clean-up; how far the company will be charged for the cost of cleaning up the pollution; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Scientists in the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland consider that the leak has not resulted in any significant damage to water quality or aquatic life in Lough Foyle. Samples of water and of shellfish taken after the spillage showed a slight increase in normal background levels but within a few days the levels had fallen and results were only slightly above or at the levels of detection.

  No subsequent clean-up operations were necessary.

  Belfast Institute
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many vice-principals there were in the three colleges merged to form the Belfast Institute; how many(a) vice-principals and (b) deputy directors were appointed to the new institute; how many of these were formerly vice-principals in the old structure; of the former vice-principals, how many have remained on vice-principal protected salaries; and what teaching duties these persons now perform.

  Mr. Hanley
  The management structure of the new institute provides for three deputy director posts—its nomenclature for vice-principal—of which two have been filled to date. One of these was a former vice-principal. Of the remaining four former vice-principals, three continue to be employed on protected salaries and none of these undertakes teaching duties. The other former vice-principal has retired.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to improve communication between the different sites of the Belfast Institute.

  Mr. Hanley
  This is a matter for the institute and the Belfast education and library board.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost of upgrading the Computerised Information Management of Further Education in Northern Ireland system, and the cost of(a) hardware and (b) software needed to cope with the needs of the Belfast Institute.

  Mr. Hanley
  A total of £201,326, comprising £85,523 for hardware and £115,803 for software, installation and training, was required to enhance the capability of the Computerised Information Management of Further Education in Northern Ireland System to meet the management information needs of the institute.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland where the central headquarters of the

  Further Education College

  Northern Ireland

  Republic of Ireland

  Great Britain

  Elsewhere

  Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education

  21,427

  37

  2

  2

  North West Institute of Further and Higher Education

  5,166

  734

  4

  5

  Fermanagh College of Further Education

  2,607

  175

  0

  0

  Limavady College of Further Education

  1,431

  0

  0

  5

  Omagh College of Further Education

  2,118

  13

  0

  0

  Antrim College of Further Education

  1,901

  0

  0

  0

  Ballymena College

  3,723

  0

  0

  0

  Newtownabbey College of Further Education

  3,544

  1

  0

  21

  New Technical College, Ballymoney

  1,378

  5

  0

  0

  Coleraine Technical College

  1,860

  4

  0

  0

  Magherafelt College of Further Education

  1,311

  0

  0

  0

  Larne College of Further Education

  1,201

  0

  0

  0

  Northern Ireland Hotel and Catering College, Portrush

  286

  6

  0

  0

  Lisburn College of Further Education

  3,230

  0

  0

  0

  Down College of Further Education

  2,952

  1

  0

  8

  Newcastle College of Further Education

  1,078

  0

  0

  32

  Castlereagh College of Further Education

  3,119

  2

  1

  0

  North Down and Ards College of Further Education

  5,815

  56

  0

  1

  Lurgan College of Further Education

  1,544

  17

  0

  0

  Portadown College of Further Education

  2,993

  3

  0

  0

  Armagh College of Further Education

  2,026

  23

  0

  0

  Banbridge College of Further Education

  1,496

  0

  0

  0

  East Tyrone College of Further Education

  2,422

  3

  0

  0

  Newry/Kilkeel College of Further Education

  4,000

  231

  0

  0

  Total

  78,628

  1,311

  7

  75

  600
  Belfast Institute is situated; what were the set-up costs; how many persons are employed in the central headquarters; what were the annual running costs.

  Mr. Hanley
  The central headquarters of the Belfast Institute is at Park house, 87–91 Great Victoria street, Belfast. The cost of adapting the premises was £101,000. Twenty-five institute staff are located there. The estimated annual running costs are £113,000.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many heads of department were appointed to the new Belfast Institute; and how many of the heads of department of the former colleges were not appointed and retain salaries; and what are the annual costs associated with such department status former heads of departments over the salaries payable for the posts they now occupy.

  Mr. Hanley
  All heads of department in the former colleges continue to be employed as heads of department in the new institute, with the exception of six who elected to retire on amalgamation.

  Students
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the number of students from(a) Northern Ireland, (b) the Irish Republic, (c) Great Britain and (d) elsewhere, in each further education college in Northern Ireland, in (i) total and (ii) full-time equivalents; and what is the cost to the United Kingdom taxpayer in respect of these students.

  Mr. Hanley
  The latest enrolment details are for the 1991–92 academic year and are set out in the table; however, full-time equivalent numbers are not yet compiled for that year. It is not possible to calculate costs. For information on the latest overall student unit costs I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 19 October,Official Report, column 104.
  601
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students from(a) the Irish Republic, (b) Great Britain, (c) elsewhere in the EEC and (d) elsewhere, attend each of the universities in Northern Ireland; and what is the cost of students from (i) the Irish Republic and (ii) the rest of the EEC to the United Kingdom taxpayer.

  Mr. Hanky
  Final enrolment figures are not yet available for 1992–93. However, the latest available estimates for 1992–93 non-Northern Ireland domiciled enrolments at each of the universities in Northern Ireland are as follows:

  Queen's University Belfast

  University of Ulster

  (a) Irish Republic

  637

  1,775

  (b) Great Britain

  329

  444

  (c) Elsewhere in EC

  50

  214

  (d) Elsewhere

  491

  133

  Information on the cost of students is not readily available in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, the estimated cost to public funds of tuition fees for eligible students from the EC in the 1992–93 academic year will be about £4.2 million.

  Assistance to Business
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of firms sponsored by(a) the Local Enterprise Development Unit, and (b) the Industrial Development Board in Northern Ireland, in each of the last two years, the total sums paid to the firms in each category in those years, the total costs relating to (i) the LEDU and (ii) the IDB and the number of persons now employed in these two groups of firms.

  Mr. Atkins
  The available information is as follows:

  Number of firms which have received offers of assistance

  Total amounts paid to these firms (£ million)

  1990–91

  IDB

  83

  28.79

  LEDU

  3,011

  9.6

  1991–92

  IDB

  59

  6.98

  LEDU

  2,072

  5.6

  There are currently 25,116 employees in IDB client companies which accepted of assistance in the past two years. It is not possible to provide a similar LEDU figure without disproportionate cost, but there are currently 31,550 employees in all LEDU client companies.

  Terrorism
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the sums paid for(a) criminal injuries and (b) criminal damage, which arose as a result of terrorist activity in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available and the amount estimated for such payments in the appropriation orders for those years; how any shortfall in the estimates was funded; what other
  602
  Northern Ireland programmes were reduced as a result of transfers to pay for such damage; and whether payments were sought and received from the contingency fund to cover higher than expected compensation payments.

  Mr. Mates
  The available information on the amounts paid for criminal injuries and criminal damage resulting from terrorist activity is as follows:

  Financial year

  Criminal damage £000

  Criminal injuries £000

  11988–89

  11,766

  3,466

  1989–90

  18,168

  6,489

  1990–91

  18,756

  7,965

  1991–92

  29,765

  10,878

  1 From 6 August 1988.

  The amounts exclude costs incurred by applicants in making their claims. In formulating estimates, no distinction is made between terrorist and non-terrorist compensation.

  Within the Northern Ireland block, the Secretary of State has flexibility to reallocate any savings in order to meeting increased requirements. In recent years the amount of such savings has generally been sufficient to cover new demands, including compensation costs, without the need for imposed reductions or access to the reserve. In 1991–92, exceptionally, it was necessary to introduce a brief moratorium on certain—mainly capital —expenditure as a result of substantial increased demands: these arose primarily in education and health rather than solely or mainly in relation to compensation costs.

  Racial Discrimination
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has on the level of racial discrimination in Northern Ireland; what are the racial divisions he intends to recognise in legislation to outlaw discrimination on grounds of race; and by what physical definition he intends to divide the population into its racial groups.

  Mr. Mates
  The former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in March 1992 agreed in principle to the publication of a consultative document which would examine the scope for legislation on racial discrimination and consider what additional action ought to be taken by the Government to promote equity of treatment for ethnic groups. This should be published later this year. Consideration of the content of possible legislation will he informed by the outcome of the consultative process.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken in each of the last five years to recover DSS payments made to support persons who were injured in road accidents from the compensation received by the injured party from insurance companies; and what sums were received by his Department in each of those years.

  Mr. Hanley
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. My noble Friend Lord Arran has asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  603
  Letter from M. A. Wylie to Mr. William Ross, dated 26 October 1992:

  Your recent Parliamentary Question on the recovery of compensation payments has been passed to me for reply as I am responsible for social security operational matters.

  I should explain that prior to September 1990 compensation payments were reduced by the amounts of social security benefits received and this was a matter between the compensator and the benefit claimant. No records of such payments are therefore available.

  In July 1989 a Compensation Recovery Scheme was introduced in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland following which a Compensation Recovery Unit was established. Under the Scheme compensation payments made on or after 3 September 1990, where an injury occurred on or after 1 January 1989, are reduced by an amount equal to the whole value of benefits received for the injury in question, but only up to the date of settlement or for a maximum period of five years.

  I regret that information relating to amounts recovered in respect of persons injured solely as a result of road accidents is not available. The total amounts recovered in respect of all accidents since the introduction of the Scheme for each year are as follows:

  £

  September 1990—March 1991

  581,505

  April 1991—March 1992

  2,830,102

  April 1992—September 1992

  2,036,921

  I hope this is helpful to you and I will be pleased to provide any further information you may require.

  Environmental Protection Act 1990
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he now expects the standards of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to be applied in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government intend to introduce in Northern Ireland provisions similar to those of the Act in due course.

  Chlorobutadine
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish his Department's assessment of the dangers to health if chlorobutadine is inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

  Mr. Hanley
  Danger to health from chlorobutadine depend on concentration and exposure time. At the levels encountered in industry it is of low toxicity. Exposure to the high levels can result in skin, eye and lung irritation and generalised toxic systemic effects. Gross overexposure, as in the case of many chemicals, can lead to fatalities. It should therefore be handled with care and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the chemical formula of the residues of the chlorobutadine spillage in the drainage system of the Du Pont site at Maydown, County Londonderry, and Lough Foyle; what effect such residues have on the environment; and whether they exceed environmental protection standards.

  Mr. Atkins
  The chemical formula of the compound is 2-chloro-1, 3-butadiene (C4 H5 C1) (Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) No. 31900–55–7).
  604
  The levels detected in samples collected in the week beginning 12 October 1992 were at or below the analytical detection limit. At such low levels it is considered that there has been no adverse effect, given that chlorobutadine is not known to bioaccumulate.

  The median tolerance limit (TLM96) for the compound is 234 milligrammes/litre—the test species is the blue gill sunfish. This is the concentration at which 50 per cent. of the test species survive. Levels detected in samples were of the order of 10,000 times lower than this value.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the warning equipment first denoted a fault in regard to the spillage of chlorobutadine at the Du Pont factory at Maydown, County Londonderry; what action was taken then; when the spillage was sealed off; when his Department was notified; and what steps he has taken to determine the extent of the damage and dangers to workers and persons resident near the plant and the environment.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department has been advised by Du Pont that the warning equipment at the Maydown factory first signalled a fault in the early hours on Tuesday 6 October 1992. This signal was misinterpreted by an employee as having been caused by fumes from a vat containing chlorobutadine which had been cleaned out. At 7 am it was discovered that a pump had failed and was allowing chlorobutadine to escape to the waste stream to Lough Foyle. A second alarm failed to go off because it was blocked by the substance.

  The processing was stopped at once but Du Pont has advised the Department that it did not at first appreciate the scale of the spillage. It was not until further analysis had been made of the routine samples from the waste stream and the recovery system had been checked that it was realised on Thursday afternoon, 8 October, that some two to three tonnes could have been spilled.

  The Department of the Environment was first advised by Du Pont of the spillage before lunchtime on Friday 9 October.

  Arrangements were made at once to take water and shellfish samples from Lough Foyle and the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) immediately issued a warning against consuming fish or shellfish from the Foyle system. Subsequent analysis of the samples showed an increase in normal background levels, but samples taken later showed that the levels had fallen, with most slightly above or at the level of detection. On 14 October, DHSS withdrew the advice against eating fish and shellfish.

  The Department of the Environment considers that the spillage has not resulted in any significant damage to water quality or aquatic life in Lough Foyle. Arrangements will be made for long-term monitoring but it is unlikely that any persistent effects will be found, as chlorobutadine is not known to bioaccumulate. The health and safety inspectorate of the Department of Economic Development has been inspecting the chemical plant to avoid a recurrence of this type of incident.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the exposure limits to the vapours of chlorobutadine; and whether those limits were exceeded in the recent spillage of chlorobutadine at the Du Pont factory at Maydown, County Londonderry.
  605
  Mr. Atkins
  Exposure limits to vapours of chlorobutadine have been assigned in United Kingdom and in the United States at 10 parts per million over an eight-hour working day/40-hour week. There is no evidence to suggest that these limits were exceeded.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the storage of chlorobutadine is covered by the regulations set out in Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland 1992 No. 401.

  Mr. Atkins
  No. These regulations—the Pollution of Waters by Dangerous Substances (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992—do not relate to storage. They implement the requirements of a series of European Community directives on pollution caused by dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment. Chlorobutadine is not one of these substances.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish his Department's assessment of the dangers to human health and to the environment of chlorobutadine and the adequacy of a long-term exposure limit of 10 parts per million for this substance.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Department believes that the normal use of chlorobutadine within industry does not pose a significant risk to human health or to the environment. In terms of occupational exposure, the internationally accepted standard concentration in the air of 10 parts per million, calculated on the basis of an eight-hour day over a working lifetime, is considered to be safe.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the inspection carried out by his Department of the spill of chlorobutadine at the Du Pont site at Maydown, County Londonderry.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department's officials have inspected the neoprene plant at Du Pont and have had discussions with the company's staff. The company has reviewed its alarm systems and has instructed its staff, if there is any suspicion whatsoever of a spillage, to stop processing immediately and divert the waste stream to an emergency holding facility.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of whether the storage and transport of dangerous substances at the Du Pont site at Londonderry meet the standards set out in current regulations.

  Mr. Atkins
  The health and safety inspectorate of the Department of Economic Development inspects this plant 606
  regularly and is satisfied that the storage and transport of chlorobutadine meet the requirements of the current health and safety legislation.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what surveys he has carried out to discover how many persons or animals suffered or appeared to suffer discomfort as a result of the spillage of chlorobutadine at Du Pont's site at Maydown, County Londonderry, in early October.

  Mr. Hanley
  No specific public health surveys have been carried out. However, the Western health and social services board was alerted to the spillage and the incident was widely publicised throughout Northern Ireland. To date, there have been no reports of discomfort or illness to humans or animals as a result of the incident.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of whether the precautions taken against static discharges of dangerous substances at the Du Pont site at Maydown, County Londonderry are adequate.

  Mr. Atkins
  Du Pont has a consent from the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland DOE NI) under section 7 of the Water Act (NI) 1972 to discharge its trade effluent to Lough Foyle. All the effluent from the factory is discharged through a single outfall.

  Prior to the recent incident, DOE (NI) had been reviewing the Du Pont discharge consent and was on the point of finalising new tighter consent conditions. Du Pont is an environmentally responsible company and has consistently complied with the consent conditions. Improvements over the years in the factory processes have made it possible to impose more stringent discharge standards.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of whether the storage and transport of dangerous substances at the Du Pont site at Maydown, County Londonderry, presently meet the standards set out in the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Atkins
  The provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 have not yet been extended to Northern Ireland. The storage and transport of dangerous substances at the Du Pont site meet the standards applicable under current legislation.

DEFENCE

  Empty Houses
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many empty houses are currently owned by his Department.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 30 September 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, 9,388 MOD-owned dwellings were vacant of which 9,167 were service married quarters. The majority of the vacant properties were either undergoing or awaiting major modernisation work, or allocated to incoming service families. A total of 1,807 dwellings were in the process of being sold, and a number of others were being considered for disposal.

  Armed Forces (Commitments)
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional commitments have been required of United Kingdom armed forces as a result of responses to international problems by the United Nations, the European Community, the Western European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation over the past 12 months.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In the past 12 months, the armed services have been asked to contribute personnel to United Nations operations in the former Yugoslavia and Cambodia, and the joint NATO/WEU sanctions monitoring operation in the Adriatic. Military personnel are also filling headquarters and support posts in the EC monitor mission in the former Yugoslavia during the period of the United Kingdom's EC presidency. At the same time, the United Kingdom contribution to the United Nations force in Cyprus and the multinational force and observers in Sinai are reducing.

  Yugoslavia
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's current contribution to peacekeeping in Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give an update on the level of the British commitment to the United Nations peacekeeping force in Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  A main party of about 1,800 personnel is expected to be operational in Bosnia by mid-November. In addition, 400 extra troops, mainly Royal Engineers, will be involved in order to assist in the initial stages of deployment. This brings the total number to be deployed initially to 2,400, including headquarters troops. We have also provided United Nations observers, a field ambulance and an RAF Hercules has been taking part in humanitarian airlift operations into Sarejevo.

  Forces in Europe
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the strength of British forces currently stationed in Europe, broken down by countries.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The total strength of British forces currently stationed in Europe outside of the United Kingdom as at 1 July 1992 was 62.643. The distribution by country was:

  Number

  Germany

  53,488

  Cyprus

  4,722

  Gibraltar

  1,045

  Belgium

  692

  Italy

  669

  Holland

  611

  Denmark

  366

  Norway

  344

  Former Yugoslavia

  305

  France

  206

  Portugal

  105

  Turkey

  59

  Switzerland

  31

  Trident
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the progress of the Trident programme.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Trident programme continues to progress to time and within budget towards its in-service date of the mid-1990s. The first Trident submarine, Vanguard, left Barrow-in-Furness for her contractor's sea trials on 23 October.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimate of the cost of Trident; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The currently estimated cost of the Trident procurement programme is £10,518 million at 1991–92 prices and £1 = $1.59.

  Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in arrangements for NATO forces to undertake a peacekeeping role for CSCE.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  NATO is considering ways in which it might support CSCE peacekeeping operations if called upon to do so. Allies have, in addition, provided valuable support to the United Nations deployment in the Balkans as well as deploying forces for sanctions monitoring in the Adriatic.

  Turkey
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on British forces deployment in eastern Turkey.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom contribution to the coalition deterrent force in south-east Turkey comprises eight Jaguar and two tanker aircraft plus ground support. These forces have played and continue to play a major part in helping to ensure the safety of Iraqi citizens in northern Iraq. The continuing presence of British coalition forces demonstrates our determination that renewed repression will not be tolerated.

  Eastern Europe
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to meet other NATO Defence Ministers to discuss NATO defence policy in relation to eastern Europe.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I will next see my alliance colleagues at meetings of European Ministers and the defence planning committee in Brussels from 9 to 11 December 1992. I expect our discussions to cover a range of current alliance business.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy regarding United Kingdom military assistance for Zimbabwe.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom provides a range of military training for the Zimbabwean armed forces, including places on defence-related courses in the
  609
  United Kingdom and the provision, since independence in 1980, of a resident British military advisory and training team (BMATT). The size and nature of our military assistance programme are kept under regular review.

  Defence Expenditure
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the level of 1991–92 defence expenditure spent(a) in the south-east region and (b) in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.

  Mr. Aitken
  Information on Ministry of Defence expenditure by standard United Kingdom region is only available for equipment expenditure. In 1990–91, the latest year available, we estimate that the Ministry of Defence spent £2,900 million in the south-east region and £150 million in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.

  Low Flying
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on changes in the occurrence of low-flying training since 1 January 1990; what changes he proposes in the near future; and what changes he proposes in the arrangements to inform the public and deal with complaints.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We expect to cut the amount of jet low flying in the United Kingdom by about 30 per cent. by the end of 1994. The appointment earlier this year of regional community relations officers for the Lake district and the Borders has provided the public in those areas with a focal point for their inquiries on low-flying matters. The management of the United Kingdom low-flying system is kept under constant review and changes are made when necessary.

  Nuclear Deterrence
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on nuclear deterrence.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Government intend that our independent nuclear deterrent should continue to provide the ultimate guarantee of our security in the decades ahead, as it has for decades past.

  Korean War
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the result of his inquiries into the position of British soldiers captured during the Korean war, who may have been held in the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No evidence has been received that supports allegations that British soldiers captured during the Korean war were held in the Soviet Union.

  Iraq
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made by the United Nations peacekeeping forces, with the involvement of United Kingdom troops, towards implementing the United Nations resolution relating to the disposal of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Significant progress has been made with substantial United Kingdom involvement.
  610
  Despite Iraqi obstruction much vital evidence has been uncovered, but more remains to be found. The process of destroying weapons and facilities is well advanced, with the majority of the proscribed items declared or discovered to date destroyed by the Iraqis under United Nations supervision.

  Naval Support Command
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the naval support command is to be situated.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Although some work remains to be completed, I hope to be able to announce the preferred location in the Bath area for the naval support command by around the end of the year.

  Allivane Ltd.
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all contracts signed between his Department's logistics executive and Allivane Ltd. in the export of military equipment since 1987.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department has no record of any contracts between the Army's logistic executive and Allivane Ltd. for the export of military equipment since 1987. One contract was signed in 1988 for the short-term storage in MOD facilities of ammunition subsequently exported by the company.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report all addresses of Allivan Ltd. and Allivane International Group as registered by his Department as authorised exporters of military equipment during the period 1985 to 1989.

  Mr. Aitken
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the letter of reply to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent of 23 July in response to the written question on hazardous waste control policies of his Department.

  Mr. Aitken
  The text of my reply of 23 July was as follows:I undertook to write to you in response to your recent Parliamentary question concerning our procedures for the minimisation and disposal of toxic and radioactive wastes.
  I should say at the outset that it is our overall policy to minimise or eliminate the use of toxic substances whenever this is practicable. Because discharges of such materials can occur at every stage of their manufacture, use and disposal the only method of reducing exposure to them is to restrict their use to essential applications or to phase them out altogether. Accordingly, special controls exist over the use of cadium, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), asbestos, arsenic, triorganotins and pesticides. The controls reflect the requirements of domestic legislation or EC Directives or both. They are outlined in the Department's Environment Manual together with information on minimisation of use and phasing out. Additional guidance on the use of toxic materials and disposal routes is contained in regulations issued by the Directorate of Defence Health and Safety and, also Health and Safety Executive Guidance notes. Waste residues containing such substances are defined as special waste and are subject to disposal procedures regulated by the Control of

  611
  Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1988. It is our policy that special waste will only be disposed of at a properly licensed disposal facility and that the transport of special waste will follow strictly the prenotification, consignment note and recording requirements stipulated by the Regulations.
  The Department's policy is to dispose of radioactive waste through nationally available disposal routes wherever possible, in conjunction with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution in England and Wales and Her Majesty's Industrial Pollution Inspectorate for Scotland. Very low and low level waste are transported in purpose built containers and by approved methods for disposal at an authorised site which, for low level waste, is the BNFL site at Drigg in Cumbria. There is at present no national disposal route for intermediate level wastes and MOD, like the civil nuclear operators in the United Kingdom, has to store such waste under secure controlled conditions at the site of origin, pending the availability of the deep depository planned by UK Nirex Ltd. to be in operation in 2005. The increasing costs associated with the available disposal routes is an additional incentive to minimise the amount of waste generated by our activities over and above the obvious health and safety and environmental considerations. Accordingly, radioactive waste minimisation is, and will remain, a key element in our operating procedures.
  I hope that this is helpful.

  Nuclear Defence Expenditure
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the letter of reply to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent of 22 July in response to his written question on nuclear defence expenditure.

  Mr. Aitken
  The text of my reply of 22 July was as follows:I said I would write in answer to your question on 16 July about nuclear expenditure and 13 Figure of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1992 (CM 1981).
  The figure shows in some detail how the Defence Budget is distributed to Top Level Budget Holders under the New Management Strategy. Expenditure on nuclear warhead testing and nuclear warhead design and development is included in the Chief of Defence Procurement's top level budget. A small amount is also included in the Chief Executive of the Defence Research Agency's top level budget.

  British Aerospace
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to meet the chairman of British Aerospace to discuss defence procurement.

  Mr. Aitken
  My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to do so.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the forces have to change their recruiting techniques both for officers and for other ranks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no plans to change recruiting techniques. Although the reduction in the size of the armed forces has resulted in lower recruiting targets, there will be a continued need for new recruits during the drawdown period in order to preserve an appropriate balance of age and skills.

  RAF Ascension Island
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, column 666, if the detailed investment appraisal of
  612
  the continuing charter of Maersk Ascension for bulk fuel storage for the RAF at Ascension island has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The investment appraisal on bulk fuel storage for the RAF at Ascension island has been completed. My Department is now considering whether to go ahead with the project.

  Plymouth Urban Development Corporation
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in determining the amount of(a) funds and (b) surplus land to be transferred from his Department's vote to the proposed Plymouth urban development corporation; what are the mechanics of the transfer; what progress has been made in determining the future of the Royal William Yard; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The MOD land identified for transfer to the proposed Plymouth urban development corporation (UDC) comprises Royal William Yard—and adjacent land at Western Kings—RAF Mountbatten and an area of Mount Wise. The precise nature of the intended conveyance remains to be resolved. In addition it is proposed that £20 million from MOD funds is made available to the proposed UDC through normal financial channels over a four-year period. The future of all the areas transferred will be a matter for the proposed UDC to determine.

  Nuclear Weapon Transporters
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 June,Official Report, column 530, what further progress has been made in the provision of armoured nuclear weapon transporters and containers to Russia.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) earlier today.

  Fishery Protection
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Navy has been able to meet the requirement for fishery protection in 1992–93; which ships are currently assigned to the coastal division of the fishery protection squadron; and what plans he has to fulfil the fishery protection requirement in 1993–94.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Royal Navy Fishery Protection Squadron is on target to meet the level of patrolling for 1992–93 agreed with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. HM ships Blackwater, Brinton, Sheraton, Berkeley and Brecon are currently assigned to the coastal division of the Fishery Protection Squadron. Plans for fishery protection in 1993–94 are still under consideration.

  "Options for Change"
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many battalions are now deployed in, or committed to, Northern Ireland; and how that figure varies from the assumptions underlying "Options for Change".
  613
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are currently 12 battalion-sized units deployed in Northern Ireland. Planning under "Options for Change" assumed that no less than 10 such units would be deployed but that the actual number would be revised from time to time in the light of the security situation.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the effect of the deployment of British forces with the United Nations in Bosnia on his Department's projections for military requirements under "Options for Change".

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The requirement to allow sufficient leeway to deal with the unexpected and to meet peacetime commitments without unacceptable strain was one of the major considerations underpinning our work on "Options for Change". The deployment of forces to Bosnia has had no impact upon our plans for the restructuring of the Army.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the projected interval between emergency tour deployments for infantry soldiers if current and planned deployments in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and elsewhere continue as well as amalgamations of battalions and cuts in infantry strength under "Options for Change"; and if he will make a statement on the attainability of his Department's target of 24-month intervals between emergency tours for infantry soldiers under present circumstances.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The effect of current and planned deployments to Northern Ireland, Bosnia and elsewhere will be to reduce the projected interval between emergency tours for infantry battalions, although the impact will vary from case to case. The projected intervals for the 17 battalions due to undertake emergency tours during 1993–94 will range from 17 to 82 months.

  It was always recognised that the non-availability of units undergoing amalgamation or redeployment would also affect tour intervals in the short term but once the restructuring process is complete, the target tour interval of 24 months will be achieved.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many infantry soldiers currently serving on emergency tours have returned to such duties after an interval of less than 24 months; what is the shortest interval for an individual soldier; and how many of those soldiers are involved in the amalgamation of battalions under "Options for Change".

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Of the infantry battalions currently serving on emergency tours none has returned to such duties after an interval of less than 24 months—this excludes deployment to the Gulf. Tour intervals for individual soldiers would usually reflect those of their parent unit unless they have been posted between battalions in the interim.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of applications for redundancy by officers, non-commissioned officers and private soldiers in each infantry battalion which is commencing the process of amalgamation under "Options for Change"; and how those figures relate to the reduction in personnel required under his plans.
  614
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The closing date for applications for the second phase of the Army redundancy programme is 30 October. I will write to the hon. Member once this period is over and my Department has had an opportunity to assess the response.

  Departmental Budget
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the impact on his Department's budget of the reduction in the value of sterling in relation to other European currencies and the dollar.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As explained in Supply Estimates 1992–93 (HC273-I), about 10 per cent. of the defence budget is to be spent in US dollars and deutschmarks during 1992–93. As in previous years, the MOD has bought forward the bulk of its estimated requirements for these two currencies through the Bank of England in accordance with government accounting practice. Recent changes in the pound's value should not therefore lead to significant additional expenditure in 1992–93. The requirement for other European currencies is less than 1 per cent. of the total defence budget and any effect of the change in the pound's value is likely to be small.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the feasibility of continuing with plans to produce the European fighter aircraft without participation by Germany, Italy or Spain.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Government are making every effort to ensure the continuation of EFA on a collaborative basis. If these are unsuccessful, the Government believe that it would be technically feasible for the United Kingdom to continue the project alone but we would need to consider the cost and other implications.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British armed services personnel are currently stationed in Indonesia.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  At 1 September 1992 there were three. One Navy officer and one Army officer as military attaches and one Army soldier as support staff.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military training Her Majesty's Government currently supply to the Government of Indonesia.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Her Majesty's Government provide training for members of the Indonesian armed forces covering a wide range of military topics, including officer development courses such as staff college, and technical instruction. Details of training provided are confidential between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Indonesia.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the provisions of the memorandum of understanding signed in September by the United Kingdom and Indonesian Governments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The two Governments signed a supplement to the existing defence equipment memorandum of
  615
  understanding. This will cover training arrangements in connection with a possible further sale of Hawk aircraft. The supplement will only become valid if a contract for the sale is concluded.

  Computer Projects
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April(a) each tender issued by his Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies which were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies which submitted a bid without prior invitation by his Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.

  Mr. Aitken
  The information the hon. Member requests is not held centrally and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Activity Bulletins
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to place regular bulletins on developments and activities in(a) Bosnia and (b) the Gulf, which affect the troops deployed there, in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I am considering how best to keep the House informed of developments and activities in Bosnia and the Gulf which affect British forces. I will inform the hon. Member of my conclusions.

  Cyprus
  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends to reduce the United Kingdom contingent in the United Nations force in Cyprus.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Following consultation with other troop contributors and the United Nations secretariat the Government have decided to reduce the United Kingdom's contribution to the United Nations force in Cyprus by 25 per cent. by the end of this year. This will mean a reduction of about 200 personnel and reflects the improved security situation in Cyprus. The other major troop contributors are also reducing their contributions to UNFICYP and the United Kingdom will continue to make the single largest contribution.

HEALTH

  Glaucoma
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will commission research into the variation in the levels of blindness caused by glaucoma in people of different ethnic origins.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  American research studies have found that Afro-Caribbeans have a higher risk of contracting glaucoma than Caucasians and that the condition occurs earlier. The results of a research study carried out in this country are expected to be published early next year.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if her Department will conduct a survey of the health effects on communities where significant unemployment is created by the closure of the main local industrial employer.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The effect of unemployment on health has already been well documented.

  Prescription Charges
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing the change in prescription charges in each year since 1976 in cash and real terms.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The requested information is in the table. Only one in five prescribed items dispensed in the national health service now attracts a charge at the point of dispensing, compared with one in three in 1979. In 1991, over 100 million more items were dispensed free of charge than in 1979. Although the prescription charge has increased, it continues to represent less than half the average total cost of a prescribed item to the national health service.

  Prescription charge increases 1 April 1976 to 1 April 1992, in cash and real terms

  Date

  Prescription charges £

  Cash change £

  Per cent. Change/cash

  Per cent. Change real terms

  1 April 1976

  0.20

  —

  —

  —

  1 April 1977

  0.20

  —

  —

  -12.0

  1 April 1978

  0.20

  —

  —

  -9.8

  16 July 1979

  0.45

  0.25

  125.0

  92.8

  1 April 1980

  0.70

  0.25

  55.6

  31.5

  1 December 1980

  1.00

  0.30

  42.9

  42.9

  1 April 1981

  1.00

  —

  —

  -8.8

  1 April 1982

  1.30

  0.30

  30.0

  21.4

  1 April 1983

  1.40

  0.10

  7.7

  2.9

  1 April 1984

  1.60

  0.20

  14.3

  8.8

  1 April 1985

  2.00

  0.40

  25.0

  18.5

  1 April 1986

  2.20

  0.20

  10.0

  6.5

  I April 1987

  2.40

  0.20

  9.1

  3.5

  1 April 1988

  2.60

  0.20

  8.3

  1.0

  1 April 1989

  2.80

  0.20

  7.7

  1.0

  1 April 1990

  3.05

  0.25

  8.9

  0.7

  1 April 1991

  3.40

  0.35

  11.5

  4.2

  I April 1992

  3.75

  0.35

  10.3

  5.5

  Social Work
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the statutory responsibilities of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work for training workers to meet the social rehabilitation needs of visually impaired people; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Under section 10 of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983 the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work has a responsibility to promote training in relevant social work. This responsibility includes promoting training in social work with visually impaired people.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in discussions with the
  617
  Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work to consider how deficiencies in training of workers with visually impaired people in the social care field can be improved.

  Mr. Yeo
  Officials will be meeting shortly with the training agencies in the visual impairment field together with representatives of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work and the Local Government Management Board in order to discuss how qualifications for workers with visually impaired people can be integrated into the emerging continuum of qualifications at vocational, professional and post-qualifying levels.

  Manpower Statistics South East Thames Region 30 September 1987–91

  1987 WTE

  1988 WTE

  1989 WTE

  1990 WTE

  1991 WTE

  Consultants

  1,048.0

  1,068.9

  1,097.2

  1,134.2

  11,166.0

  Other Medical Staff

  1,909.9

  1,967.1

  1,984.4

  2,043.8

  12,031.5

  Nursing and Midwifery

  29,650

  29,280

  29,350

  29,110

  28,280

  Ancillary

  9,570

  8,720

  8,310

  8,020

  6,470

  Administration and Clerical

  9,210

  9,590

  9,760

  10,030

  9,560

  1 Provisional figures

  Notes:

  1. Medical figures include permanent paid and honorary staff only.

  2. Figures for nursing and midwifery exclude agency staff.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to propose a European ban on tobacco advertising at the conference of European Community Health Ministers on 13 November.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will initiate a study into the relationship between the numbers waiting on the consultants' waiting list for longer than the maximum time specified under the patients charter and the numbers awaiting their initial out-patient appointment and length of that wait.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No. The patients charter requires health authorities to set and publish local guarantees for the length of time people wait for out-patient appointments. The NHS is therefore expected to deliver a balanced programme that progressively reduces the whole waiting experience.

  Surgery Costs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is collected from, held and disseminated to health authorities as(a) purchasers and (b) providers on comparative prices, both on base load and marginal costing principles, for operations in general surgery, and orthopaedic surgery.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Extra contractual referral (ECR) tariffs are collected by regional health authorities (RHAs) from providers in their regions. RHAs are responsible for publishing and distributing these tariffs to purchasers

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) consultants, (b) other medical staff, (c) nurses, (d) ancillary staff, (e) administrators and (f) accountants were employed within the South East Thames region in each of the years from 1987 to 1992; and how many are estimated to be employed in the region in 1993, 1994 and 1995.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The manpower statistics available centrally are set out in the table.

  Responsibility for manpower planning rests with the regional health authority. The hon. Member may like to write to Mr. Peter Barker, chairman of South East Thames regional health authority, for future manpower plans.

  within their region—including GP fund holders who request them—and to other RHAs, for distribution to their purchasers.

  Distribution of these tariffs to providers is not specifically required but providers may arrange with their local RHA for access.

  During the financial year a provider may agree to provide unplanned excess capacity at marginal cost. There is no national vehicle for providers to advertise marginal rates due to this being an in-year agreement. Typically this agreement would be with the local main purchaser or local GP fund holder.

  Community Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what criteria will be used to determine the allocation of community care funding to local authorities which have not reached agreement by 31 December with health authorities concerning discharge arrangements;

  (2) what arrangements have been made to protect the well-being of individuals who will be affected by the withholding of funding for community care when local authorities have not reached agreement by 31 December with health authorities concerning discharge arrangements;

  (3) what plans she has to exclude from the receipt of community care funding any local authority which does not by 31 December have agreements with health authorities concerning discharge arrangements;

  (4) what is her current estimate of the number of local authorities unlikely to have concluded the required discharge arrangements with health authorities by 31 December.
  619
  Mr. Yeo
  All authorities should he able to reach the required agreements. Consideration will be given in due course to the action which may be necessary if any authorities fail to do so by 31 December 1992.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates the Government have prepared of the cost of housing provision necessary to meet the requirements of the Government's community care plans; and whether she will publish these in a form which identifies the scale and timetable of such provision for the respective groups of people in need.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have been asked to reply. The new community care arrangements will be fully implemented from April 1993. Their impact on housing demand is expected to be gradual and progressive. It will be some time before a full picture of new housing requirements emerges.

  Number of tenders issued for:

  Description of the service required

  Number of companies invited to tender

  Number of companies submitting bid without priror invitation

  Which company was awarded the contract

  The value of the contract

  The length of the contract

  Computer hardware

  Computer software

  Telecommunications equipment

  None

  None

  One (1)

  A variety of telephone handsets and monitoring units

  Three (3)

  None

  ASCOM Ltd.

  £30,000

  Not applicable. The contract was for the "one off' supply of goods

  —

  —

  One (1)

  The supply, installation, and maintenance of local area network equipment to Leeds based offices

  Fourteen (14)

  None

  ACT Cablestream Ltd.

  £500,000 plus £50,000 pa maintenance for 5 years

  5 years

  One(l)

  One(l)

  —

  A broad range of IT products including hardware and software

  An initial 88 responses to the original OJEC advertisement, but only 13 subsequent proposals

  None

  Not yet awarded

  Not yet decided

  2.3 years

  Sorrento Maternity Hospital
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to reply to the letter of 3 June and the reminder of 17 August from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak regarding the proposed closure of the Sorrento maternity hospital.

  Mr. Sackville
  I replied to the hon. Member on 26 October. I regret that, due to an oversight, a reply was not sent sooner.

  Employment of Children
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has commissioned into the levels of illegal employment of school age children; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  None.

  Radionuclides
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the Radioactive Substances (Hospitals) Exemption Order 1990 prescribes a higher permitted level of megabecquerels per month for radionuclides, excepting Technetium-99, in human excreta than for media other than human excreta.

  Computer Projects
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April(a) each tender issued by her Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies which were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies which submitted a bid without prior invitation by her Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested, from 9 April 1992, is shown in the table:

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are two different categories of procedure involved covering, namely:

  (a) administration of radiopharmaceuticals to patients who then return to the exempted hospital, after treatment at another hospital, and who therefore pass a proportion of the administered activity to drain at the exempted hospital; and

  (b) the preparation of radiopharmaceuticals, and other "in vitro" laboratory uses of radioactive materials on the exempted hospital premises.

  From a radioactive waste management point of view, the significance of (b) can be greater than that of (a), per unit of activity discharged to drain. This is because (b) involves the manipulation of radioactive materials, and because some of the radionuclides used in a pathology laboratory, especially iodine-125, have both a relatively long half-live and a relatively high radiotoxicity compared with most diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals administered to patients.

  The order thus aims to ensure that there is adequate provision for patients who return to an exempted hospital, but that any hospital which undertakes radiotherapy work or diagnostic scanning on its premises, or which has substantial pathology laboratories, will not be exempt and will require an authorisation under S.6 of RSA60.

  Regional Health Authority Chairmen
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will announce the appointment of regional health authority chairmen.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [pursuant to her reply, 9 July 1992, c. 335]: I have today invited Sir William Stavely GCB to become chairman of North East Thames regional
  622
  health authority for a term of office beginning on 1 January 1993 and ending on 31 July 1995. He will replace Mr. Tim Chessells who has agreed to become chairman of the London implementation group.

  Sir William is currently chairman of the Royal London NHS Trust. I have invited Mr. Michael Haines to take over the chairmanship of the trust.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Family Credit
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the current level of expenditure on family credit on families whose main earner is in an occupation covered by one of the wages councils, by(a) all families and (b) couples where the main earner is (i) male, '(ii) female and (iii) single person families.

  Mr. Burt
  Information is not available in the form requested. An analysis of family credit recipients, by the occupation of the main earner, is contained in table A1.05 of "Social Security Statistics 1991", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, for the last 12 months, the titles of papers published by the chief executive of each executive agency for which he is responsible.

  Mr. Scott
  The following papers have been published in the last 12 months by the chief executives of the Department of Social Security's executive agencies. In addition, the Department publishes a wide range of explanatory leaflets on matters such as individual social security benefits.

  Benefits Agency

  Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Payments Guide

  Social Fund Administration Guide

  Social Fund Officer's Guide, Volume 1

  Social Fund Officer's Guide, Volume 2

  Cold Weather Payments Handbook

  Addendum to Social Fund Officer's Guide

  Social Fund Officer's Guide, Amendment 1

  Mortgage Interest Direct Handbook

  Income Support for 16–17 Year Olds Handbook

  Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Payments Guide, Amendment 1

  Social Fund Administration Guide, Amendment 1

  Annual Report of the Pensions Ombudsman 1991–92

  Homeless Customers Hostels Residential Care and Nursing Homes

  Income Support Uprating Handbook

  Social Fund Officer's Guide, Amendment 2

  The Customer Charter

  The Benefits Agency National Customer Survey

  Benefits Agency Service Delivery—A Discussion Paper—One Stop

  Benefits Agency Business Plan 1992–93

  The Benefits Agency—A Short Guide for Members of Parliament

  Introduction to DLA (Disability Living Allowance)

  Introduction to DWA (Disability Working Allowance)

  Resettlement Agency

  Business Plan 1992–93

  Annual Report and Accounts 1991–92

  Standards of Service under the Citizens Charter (in poster form)

  Contributions Agency

  Contributions Agency Business Plan 1992–93

  Information Technology Service Agency (ITSA)

  The ITSA 1990–91 Annual Report and Accounts (October 1991)

  The ITSA 1992–93 Annual Business Plan (June 1992)

  The ITSA 1991–92 Annual Report and Accounts (July 1992)

  "Children Come First"
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the organisations and individuals who responded to the Government's White Paper, "Children Come First."

  Mr. Burt
  Listed are the organisations that responded to the White Paper "Children Come First". In addition, comments were received from some 100 private individuals and 85 members.

  Association of County Court and District Registrars

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  Barnado's

  Basidon Council

  Building Societies Association

  British Bankers Association

  British Agencies/Adoption and Fostering

  Bradford University (Department of Applied Social Studies)

  Bristol University

  British Computer Society

  Campaign for Justice in Divorce

  Campaign for Work

  Catholic Family Care Society (Northern Ireland)

  Chelmsford Women's Aid

  Chief Adjudication Officer: Social Security Legislation

  Child Poverty Action Group

  Children's Legal Centre

  Children and Lone Parent Centre (Plymouth)

  Church Action on Poverty

  Citizens Advice Bureau (Scotland)

  Confederation of British Industry (Northern Ireland)

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  Council of Her Majesty's Circuit Judges

  County Councils Women's Forum

  Department of Economic Development (Northern Ireland)

  Disability Alliance

  Dudley Law Centre

  Gingerbread

  Gingerbread (Scotland)

  Families Need Fathers

  Family Charter Campaign

  Family Law Bar Association

  Family Welfare Association

  Forum of Private Businesses

  Hammersmith Unemployed Workers Group

  Hillingdon Women's Centre

  Justices' Clerks' Society

  Lambeth TUC Unemployed Branch

  Law Society

  Legal Action Group

  London Boroughs Association

  Magistrates Association

  Mencap

  Moorpark Lone Parent Group

  National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau

  National Association of Welsh Medium Nursery Schools & Playgroups

  National Childrens Home

  National Commission of Women in Great Britain

  National Council for One Parent Families

  National Council of Women of Great Britain

  Newcastle University

  North East Money Advice Centre

  Northern Ireland Resident Magistrates Association

  Northern Ireland Family Law Association

  North Yorkshire Welfare Benefits Unit

  Norwich City Council

  One Plus One Parent Families Strathclyde

  One Parent Families York

  Oxfordshire Welfare Rights

  Pay Day

  Payroll Alliance

  Portsmouth Women's Aid Support Group

  Principal Registry of Family Division

  Save the Children

  Scottish Council for Single Parents

  Scottish Family Conciliation Service

  Scottish Law Commission

  625

  Scottish Women's Aid

  Sheffield University

  Social Security Advisory Committee

  Social Security Medical Appeal Tribunals N.I.

  Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen Family Association

  Solicitors Family Law Association

  Spastics Society

  Stepfamily

  The Childrens' Society

  Thamesdown Law Centre

  TUC

  University College London

  Wages For Housework Campaign

  Wandsworth Social Services Department/Welfare Rights Unit

  Welsh Womens Aid Trust

  West Yorkshire Probation Service

  Womens National Commission

  Womens Aid Federation

  Wythenshawe Law Centre

  Benefit Statistics
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of households receiving the following benefits(a) housing benefit, (b) community charge benefit, (c) family credit and (d) income support; and if he will list the figures separately for those households in which the head of household is (i) in full-time employment and (ii) in part-time employment.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. The available information as at May 1991 is as follows:

  Housing benefit with income support

  Housing benefit without income support

  Region

  Weekly average benefit for local authority tenants £

  Weekly average benefit for private tenants £

  Weekly average benefit for local authority tenants £

  Weekly average benefit for private tenants £

  South East

  29.67

  40.18

  20.66

  26.72

  London

  35.87

  47.62

  28.83

  31.46

  North

  22.74

  30.18

  14.94

  20.46

  Wales

  26.14

  32.31

  17.86

  24.21

  Scotland

  23.05

  34.51

  16.09

  21.95

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  21.48

  30.76

  13.86

  23.44

  East Midlands

  23.04

  31.29

  14.98

  21.17

  East Anglia

  25.65

  37.46

  17.82

  26.01

  South West

  26.91

  37.56

  19.19

  29.24

  West Midlands

  25.23

  31.69

  18.10

  21.22

  North West

  24.28

  33.48

  16.70

  21.05

  Great Britain

  26.16

  37.20

  18.37

  24.98

  Note:The average weekly amount of housing benefit for housing association tenants is included in the amounts for private tenants.

  Disability
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to provide more reliable information about(a) the level of disposable household income of those currently receiving invalidity benefit, (b) the level of disposable income of those claiming, but not receiving, invalidity benefit and (c) the level of disposable income of those from whom entitlement to invalidity benefit has been withdrawn.

  Mr. Scott
  Information on the income of invalidity benefit claimants is not available as this information is not required to make a decision on the claim. Information on the income of invalidity benefit recipients—but not the other two groups identified by the hon. Member—is 626

  Number of households with earnings

  Thousands

  Housing Benefit

  330

  Community Charge Benefit

  641

  Income Support cases with earnings of claimant

  117

  Income Support cases with earnings of partner

  48

  Family Credit (as at July 1992)

  430

  Notes:

  1. Head of the household may not necessarily be the claimant.

  2. In income support cases, neither the claimant nor the partner could have been in employment for more than 24 hours a week.

  3. There will be considerable overlap between the benefits, e.g. the figures given for income support may also include housing benefit/community charge benefit.

  4. Information on earnings is collected separately for a claimant or partner in income support cases, although there may be some overlap.

  5. All figures arc rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average amount of housing benefit paid each week to(a) tenants receiving income support and (b) other housing benefit recipients not receiving income support, who are respectively (i) local authority tenants, (ii) housing association tenants and (iii) other tenants in Great Britain and in each region of Great Britain.

  Mr. Burt
  The latest information, for May 1991, is set out in the table.

  available from surveys such as the family expenditure survey (FES). The family resources survey, announced in July 1992, will have a larger sample size than the FES and will provide better information in due course.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his practice to provide a direct ministerial answer to letters sent to him by hon. Members relating to the ineffective working of the disability living allowance scheme, and not to transfer such letters to the Benefits Agency.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply by the then Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 6 June 1990, at column 615.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will issue new guidelines on the granting of social fund payments to appointed persons in residential homes to cover the funeral costs of deceased residents, to include recommended time scales for dealing with applications and appeals.

  Mr. Scott
  Everyone taking responsibility for funeral costs is entitled to a funeral payment from the social fund if they satisfy the eligibility criteria. There is no need for special provision for people in residential homes.

  The average clearance time for a funeral payment is just over eight days; but due to the complexity of some cases the Benefits Agency have no recommended time scales for dealing with applications or appeals.

  Contributions Records
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what sum of money is held at the Newcastle records office unattributed to the contributions record of the specific contributor.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The amount of moneys held at Newcastle but unattributed to specific contributors is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive of the Contributions Agency. She will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Miss A. Chant to Sir David Mitchell, dated 27 October 1992:

  As Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency I am responsible for answering questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State about monies held at Newcastle but unattributed to specific contributors.

  This Agency deals with nearly 59 million accounts and recording contributions is almost always done automatically. But we rely on employers and individuals to provide us with the correct identity details. If for some reason we are unable to allocate the individuals' contributions they are held while we make further inquiries. In some cases individual contributors query their National Insurance position and we enlist their help to allocate contributions.

  The records we hold of these unallocated contributions constantly shift day by day as items are traced and allocated and further items are added.

  I am sorry that the precise information you require is not available. It could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  I hope that the information I have provided is helpful but because it may not answer all your concerns I will be writing to you shortly to see if I can be of any further assistance.

  Contributors Charter and Employers Charter
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations were undertaken with service users in the course of the production of the contributors charter and the employers charter.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The consultations undertaken with service users in the course of production of the contributor's and employer's charters is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive of the Contributions Agency. She will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
  628
  Letter from Miss A. Chant to Ms. Marjorie Mowlam, dated 27 October 1992:

  As Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency I am responsible for answering questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State about the consultations that were undertaken with service users in the course of production of our Charters.

  The Contributions Agency produced a working draft of the Charters which was circulated to the 36 customer organisations with whom we had contact. They were given 2 months to comment and we asked them what they thought about both its style and content. From the replies we received we made several significant amendments and incorporated those in the first versions of the Charters.

  The 36 organisations represented accountants, payroll bureaux, large and small employers and the self-employed. The interests of individual contributors were represented by the National Association ofCitizen's Advice Bureaux, the TUC and the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions.

  Benefits Agency
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) to what extent Government forecasts of future demands on the staff of the Benefits Agency were wrong in relation to the disability living allowance; where and by whom the forecasts were made; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many hours of overtime have been worked by staff of the Benefits Agency in processing claims for the disability living allowance and the disability working allowance; and if he will indicate the equivalent in terms of additional staff;

  (3) what additional resources were made available to the Benefits Agency to deal with the backlog of cases involving claims for the disability living allowance, top-up claims and claims for attendance allowance for people aged over 65 years; what was the number of cases still awaiting clearance at the end of September; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from Mr. Michael Bichard to Mr. Alfred Morris, dated 26 October 1992:

  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about staff dealing with Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

  You asked first about the forecasting of future demands upon Benefits Agency staff in relation to DLA. I should explain that the implementation of DLA was planned within the Agency by a discrete Project team based at Fylde. Staffing levels were determined using forecast workloads prepared by the Government's Analytical Services Division, which in turn were built upon the benefit's original policy intentions and some assumptions as to likely take-up rates etc.

  From this basis it was calculated that around 2,000 staff would be required to administer claims to DLA and Attendance Allowance (AA) for the over 65s. However, the pleasing success of the advertising campaign and the widespread interest from disabled people, attracted a much larger number of applications in the early stages than was predicted.

  Whilst at first the take up of new claims to DLA was slow, the intake in March was more than double that forecast. In addition the "Top-Up" claims received by the end of April

  629
  had exceeded the total number forecast for the whole year (137,000) and by the end of September had reached 195,000, an increase of 35 per cent.

  At the same time the staff in the Disability Benefit Centres, where DLA claims are processed, experienced a surge in claims to AA. Over 55,000 more claims than originally forecast were received in the period February to April, representing an overall increase of 42 per cent. Indeed the total claims activity for DLA (including "Top-ups") and AA for those over 65 during the period February to April inclusive was an intake of 447,000 which represented an increase of 27 per cent. (94,000 claims) over the original estimate of just over 353,000. Consequently, the effects of both the numbers and the rate at which claims were received resulted in backlogs.

  As you will know from my recent letter to Members, we have as a result increased the number of staff devoted to handling DLA and AA claims by over 800.

  You also asked about overtime. Since the onset of the new benefits almost 420,000 hours of overtime have been worked by staff at the Disability Benefits Centres (DBCs) and the Fylde Unit which is equivalent to around 340 posts in terms of additional staff. I have also established a senior management task force to tackle the arrears and to optimise work flows.

  These measures have increased the throughput of new claims considerably, and we are on schedule to clear the backlog shortly.

  Your third question also asked about number of cases still awaiting clearance at the end of September. The table below gives details of outstanding claims for the months June to September inclusive:—

  New claims

  Top-ups

  AA

  June

  125,000

  123,000

  153,000

  July

  117,000

  104,000

  143,000

  August

  106,000

  79,000

  122,000

  September

  90,000

  58,000

  90,000

  All figures are provisional and may be subject to amendment.

  During the same period, the numbers of claims cleared rose steadily from 15,600 in April to 52,000 in September in the case of DLA claims with 22,700 and 70,500 respectively for AA cases. The clearance of top-up claims remained steady at around 7,000 per week during the months August and September.

  Of course there will always be a certain number of cases in action at any one time. We expect this normal on hand level for new claims to be in the region of 50,000 cases for DLA and just below 60,000 for AA.

  Finally you also asked how many hours of overtime had been worked by staff in processing claims for Disability Working Allowance. So far no overtime has been worked by staff in processing applications for this benefit.

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

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what criteria he plans to determine the award of performance-related pay to Michael Bichard, chief executive of the Benefits Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  Mr. Bichard's entitlement to performance bonus is largely dependent upon the achievement of a range of specific targets which include improving on the performance targets which we set the Benefits Agency each year. These are published in the "Benefits Agency's Business Plan", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Disability Allowances
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the disability and other organisations from which expressions of concern have been received about delays in processing claims for the disability living allowance.

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

  Letter from Mr. Michael Bichard to Mr. Alfred Morris, dated 26 October 1992:

  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking if he will list the disability and other organisations from which expressions of concern have been received about delays in processing claims for Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

  The organisations that have made general enquiries to the DLA Ministers Unit about the delays in processing DLA claims, as opposed to those that have made customer specific enquiries, are attached.

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

  Organisations/Representative bodies who have made general complaints about delays in the processing of DLA claims:

  Angus Citizens Advice Bureau

  Carers National Association

  Dartford Unemployed Group

  Hampshire County Council

  Isle of Wight Spastics Society

  Knowsley Care Society

  Manufacturing Science Finance Union

  Manningham Project

  Middlesbrough Law Centre

  Motor Neurone Disease Association

  Nantwich and District Citizens Advice Bureau

  Rugby Citizens Advice Bureau

  Shirley Citizens Advice Bureau

  Skye and Lochalsh Community Advice Service

  Solihull Citizens Advice Bureau

  Swansea Citizens Advice Bureau

  The Terrence Higgins Trust

  Wakefield Centre for the Unemployed

  Wear Valley Citizens Advice Bureau (Bishop Auckland)

  Wycombe Living Options in Practice

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many special rules claimants have died before receiving benefit from disability living allowance; and in how many such cases, payment was made after six months from the application.

  Mr. Scott
  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total expenditure for(a) disability living allowance, (b) disability working allowance, (c) mobility allowance and (d) attendance allowance from 1 April to 1 October.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not yet available.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how analysis of potential take-up benefit was undertaken prior to the introduction of disability living allowance.
  631
  Mr. Scott
  The analysis of potential take-up of disability living allowance lower rates was made using data produced in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys surveys of 1985–88. OPCS questions related to lack of independent mobility were used to produce estimates of the number of potential lower rate mobility beneficiaries. Questions relating to the extent of people's need for help with personal functions and with preparing food were used for the lower rate care component.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects the backlog of claims for disability living allowance benefit to be cleared; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from Mr. Michael Bichard to Mr. David Marshall, dated 26 October:

  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about when the backlog of claims for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will be cleared.

  I should explain that there are two categories of claims for DLA. Firstly there are claims from people who were not already in receipt of Attendance Allowance or Mobility Allowance when DLA was introduced. Secondly there are applications from people who were in receipt of one of these benefits but who may be entitled to an additional amount under the DLA entitlement rules. These latter applications are known as "top-up" claims. Since February, therefore, when applications began to be accepted for the new benefit, we have been dealing with claims made under the old scheme and processing the new-style claims at the same time.

  In the first eight months of live operation over 303,000 new claims and almost 195,000 "top-up" claims were registered.

  I wrote to all MPs on 19 October explaining how the backlog has arisen and detailing the measures introduced to deal with it. I am glad to say that these measures have already resulted in a substantial improvement in the speed of claims processing.

  At the end of September the number of claims still to be dealt with was approaching 90,000 new claims and 58,000 "top-up" claims. This compares with the outstanding figures of 125,000 new claims and 121,000 "top-up" claims in July. Most significantly, Disability Benefit Centres are now clearing 12,000 claims per week compared with approximately 6,000 per week in June and only about 3,000 per week in April. The clearance of "top-up" claims remained steady at around 7,000 per week during the months August and September.

  I am by no means complacent about the number of applications still to be processed and am currently monitoring the situation closely. I am confident, however, that we will have reached a steady state shortly for new claims and by the end of November for "top-up" claims.

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

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown by number and percentage of the total number of claims for disability working allowance received by his Department that were refused on the grounds that(a) the claimant was not in remunerative work, (b) the claimant's income was above the limit, (c) the claimant was not in receipt of a qualifying benefit, (d) the claimant was receiving family credit, (e) the joint income of the claimant and his or her partner exceeded the limit, (f) the claimant was working less than 16 hours a week or (g) for other reasons.
  632
  Mr. Scott
  By 16 October the total number and percentage of claims refused in each category was as follows:

  Percentage

  Not in work or working less than 16 hoursa week

  10,208

  59

  Income of claimant and partner exceeds DWA level

  1,929

  11

  No qualifying benefit

  4,455

  26

  Receiving family credit

  409

  2

  Other reasons

  425

  2

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures were taken by his Department, and when, to identify people receiving severe disablement allowance or with underlying entitlement to severe disablement allowance following their transfer to retirement pension who became eligible for the age-related addition introduced in December 1990; and if he will make it his policy that no one will lose out due to ignorance of their entitlement.

  Mr. Scott
  In August 1990 DSS local offices identified and arranged to pay, from 3 December 1990, all severe disablement allowance (SDA) recipients entitled to an age-related addition. A check of national insurance records was made in May 1992 to identify those retirement pension recipients, with an underlying entitlement to SDA, who had not received an age addition.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to publish the findings of research commissioned by his Department on invalidity benefit; what is the total cost of this research; and how he plans to use it.

  Mr. Scott
  The Department has commissioned a number of related research studies about invalidity benefit. The findings of an international comparative study of the growth in incapacity benefit caseloads were presented to the Beveridge anniversary conference in September. Fieldwork for some of the remaining studies is still in progress, and it is not yet known when the findings will be published. The research will cost £320,000. It is designed to explain the growth in invalidity benefit caseloads and to improve forecasts of the numbers receiving the benefit.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of appeals heard by disability appeal tribunals to date; and if he will provide a breakdown of these by(a) outstanding mobility allowance, (b) outstanding attendance allowance and (c) disability living allowance and attendance allowance, post-February 1992 appeals.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply to him given to him by my hon. Friend on 13 July at column 455.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers awarded the disability living allowance to date by(a) those awarded the higher rate of the care component, (b) those awarded the middle rate of the care component, (c) those awarded the lower rate of the care component, (d) those awarded the higher rate of the mobility component and (e) those awarded the lower rate of the mobility component.
  633
  Mr. Scott
  Following is the information requested.

  Number of awards of each component of disability living allowance made at 30 September

  Number

  (a) Higher rate care

  25,000

  (b) Middle rate care

  34,000

  (c) Lower rate care

  73,000

  (d) Higher rate mobility

  75,000

  (e) Lower rate mobility

  75,000

  These figures include new claims and "top up" claims from existing attendance allowance or mobility allowance beneficiaries.

  All figures are provisional and may be subject to amendment.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average award of invalidity benefit(a) for all claimants, (b) for single people, (c) for childless couples and (d) for couples and/or single parents with dependants.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average weekly payment of invalidity benefit for a single person and a married couple at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not available in the form requested. The average weekly payment of invalidity benefit as at 30 March 1991(1) was £67.40.

  Notes:

  1The latest date for which figures are available; information from a 1 per cent. sample of claimants.

  2Separate information is not available for single people and couples.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the number and percentage of recipients of invalidity benefit who are also in receipt of income support.

  Mr. Scott
  Available information is in the table:

  Number

  Number of invalidity benefit receipients on 30 March 19911

  1,306,000

  Number of income support claimants, in receipt of invalidity benefit, in May 19912

  104,000

  Number of income support claimant's partners in receipt of invalidity benefit, in May 19912

  7,000

  Notes:

  1Information from 1 per cent. sample claimants.

  2Information from the annual statistical enquiry.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the savings to his Department of freezing invalidity benefit and the numbers of people who would become eligible for income support as a result.

  Mr. Scott
  The answer would depend on the assumptions made by the hon. Member.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average income of people in receipt of invalidity benefit as a percentage of average full-time earnings among men and women employees.
  634
  Mr. Scott
  Information is not available in the form requested. The average gross weekly income of benefits units' in which there is at least one IVB recipient is £1552. This represents 65 per cent.3 of the average weekly earnings of adults in full time work.

  1A benefit unit is a single adult or a couple, together with any children dependent on the adult(s) who are entitled to claim benefit in their own right.

  2 Source: Family Expenditure Survey 1989.

  3 Source: New Earnings Survey 1989.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown of successful disability working allowance applicants by(a) average hourly earnings, (b) average hours worked, (e) average age, (d) sex, (e) marital status, (f) householder status and (g) qualifying benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  Information on the householder status of applicants is not available. The table provides estimated figures derived from an analysis of successful claims up to 31 August.

  Estimated figures

  Average hourly earnings

  £2.92

  Average hours worked a week

  30

  Average age

  37

  Number of awards to men

  1,089

  Number of awards to women

  765

  Number of awards to single people

  1,120

  Number of awards to couples

  734

  Qualifying benefits:1

  Invalidity benefit

  240

  Severe disablement allowance

  66

  Income support with disability premium

  128

  Housing benefit with disability premium

  20

  Community charge benefit with disability premium

  56

  Lower rate disability living allowance

  161

  Higher rate disability living allowance and attendance allowance

  1,183

  1 Applicants may have more than one qualifying benefit.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for attendance allowance and mobility allowance were made(a) in the six months priorto February 1992 and (b) in the six months prior toFebruary 1991.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is as follows:

  Attendance allowance

  Mobility allowance

  August 1991-January 1992

  283,000

  118,000

  August 1990-January 1991

  209,000

  85,000

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many invalidity benefit recipients there are by age, sex, household, and marital status.

  Mr. Scott
  Available information is in the table. This shows the number of invalidity recipients on 30 March 1991, the latest date for which information is available.
  635

  Age

  Men

  Women

  Married woman

  Other women

  All persons

  All ages

  976,100

  329,900

  225,600

  104,300

  1,306,000

  Under 20

  200

  200

  —

  200

  400

  20–29

  24,800

  28,400

  17,200

  11,200

  53,200

  30–39

  60,000

  49,700

  33,600

  16,100

  109,700

  40–49

  125,600

  75,100

  53,300

  21,800

  200,700

  50–59

  291,500

  139,500

  99,600

  39,900

  431,000

  60 and over

  474,000

  37,000

  21,900

  15,100

  511,000

  Note: Information from a 1 per cent. sample of claimants.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for the disability working allowance were received by his Department in each month since its introduction.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 19 October at column 173.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the current claim pack for disability living allowance is to be replaced by the revised version; and if he will provide details of his Department's plans to monitor the impact of the changes in the revised pack and state when and where the results of such monitoring will be published.

  Mr. Scott
  As part of our continuing efforts to meet the needs of customers, improved claim packs for disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) will be available in November. In monitoring the effectiveness of the claim packs we engage in an ongoing dialogue with disabled people themselves and their organisations.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent in total by his Department to date on publicity for disability living allowance and disability working allowance; and if he will publish a breakdown by type of medium used.

  Mr. Scott
  The Department has spent a total of £7,227,304 on publicity for disability living allowance and disability working allowance. The breakdown by medium is as shown:

  £

  Advertising

  3,288,149

  Exhibitions

  74,850

  Film/video

  562,816

  Marketing/response

  1,947,448

  Publications

  1,026,685

  Research

  327,356

  Total

  7,227,304

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for the disability working allowance have been received by the Department to date; and if he will provide a breakdown by(a) the number and percentage of these that resulted in an award, (b) the number and percentage of these that were refused and (c) the number and percentage of these that are awaiting a decision.

  Mr. Scott
  By 16 October 1992 the number of claims for disability working allowance received was 21,174; and the 636
  number of awards made was 2,401, 11 per cent; the number of claims refused was 17,426, 82 per cent. and the number of claims awaiting a decision because further information was needed to assess the claim was 619, 3 per cent.; the remainder of claims were withdrawn by the claimant before a decision was made.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the number and percentage of invalidity benefit recipients who are in receipt of other sources of income by source and average amount of such other income.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is not available in the form requested. Available information is shown in the table.

  Table: Benefit Unit with an IVB Recipient: Sources and Amount of Components of Gross Income, 1989

  Source of Income

  Percentage of benefit units with at least one member on IVB in receipt of other named source of in-come per cent.

  Average amount of income, for those in receipt of given source of income £

  IVB

  100

  59

  Occupational pensions

  43

  60

  Investment income

  62

  21

  Income support

  6

  23

  Housing benefit/rent rebate

  35

  16

  Community charge benefit (Scotland only)

  6

  6

  Other social security pensions and benefits

  18

  8

  Earnings

  24

  129

  Other income

  86

  20

  Gross income

  100

  155

  Source: Family Expenditure Survey, 1989.

  Notes:

  1. Gross income is income received by a benefit unit in which there is at least one IVB recipient, and includes all social security benefits and pensions. A benefit unit is a single adult or couple, together with any children dependent on the adult(s), who are entitled to claim benefit in their own right.

  2. Average amounts of income are gross of tax and NI contributions, and are rounded to the nearest £1.

  3. CCB was only applicable to Scotland in 1989.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people choose to remain on invalidity benefit after reaching retirement age; and if he will provide an estimate of the savings to his Department in each of the years up to and including 1997–98 if the right of invalidity benefit recipients to remain on invalidity after reaching retirement age were removed.
  637
  Mr. Scott
  The number of invalidity benefit recipients over retirement age on 31 March 1991—the latest date for which information is available—is:

  Number

  Men

  200,900

  Women

  37,000

  Total

  237,900

  There would be no savings to the Department if the right of invalidity benefit recipients to choose to remain on the benefit after reaching retirement age were removed. The rate of benefit payable to invalidity benefit recipients over retirement age is based on their entitlement to the retirement pension which would then be put into payment.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many awards of the higher rate mobility component made since 3 February were made(a) on the ground that the person was severely mentally impaired and displayed severe behavioural problems and (b) under the deaf-blind provisions.

  Mr. Scott
  Number of people awarded the higher rate mobility at 30 September:

  (a) On grounds of severe mental impairment and severe behavioural problems: 715

  (b) Under deaf-blind provisions: 62

  References to the regional medical services cleared between quarters ending March 1991 and March 1992.

  31 March 1991

  30 June 1991

  30 September 1991

  31 December 1991

  31 March 1992

  Incapable of work (without examination)

  135,750

  132,820

  156,842

  120,192

  127,745

  Claim terminated before examination—no opinion given

  1,840

  2,282

  3,625

  1,716

  3,571

  Failed to attend examination

  17,576

  14,062

  14,347

  17,045

  14,664

  Incapable of work (after examination)

  47,154

  41,125

  43,507

  40,182

  51,545

  Capable of work (after examination)

  10,188

  8,525

  9,008

  8,188

  9,332

  Capable of work within limits (after examination)

  14,024

  11,753

  12,920

  10,512

  14,785

  Total number of references cleared

  226,532

  210,567

  240,249

  197,835

  221,642

  Note: Information relates to references for all incapacity benefits.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average amount of benefit received by long-term sick and disabled people in each member state of the European Community expressed in pounds sterling.

  Mr. Scott
  Comparable information for each member state of the European Community is not available.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what number and percentage of(a) first claims (b) renewal claims and (c) requests for a review, of attendance allowance and mobility allowance received by his Department prior to 3 February remain outstanding; how many have been decided; and what number and percentage of reviews decided resulted in the award of the lower rate of (i) the care component, (ii) the mobility component and (iii) both components of the disability living allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not available.
  638
  Includes new claims and "top up" claims from existing attendance allowance and mobility allowance beneficiaries. All figures are provisional and may be subject to amendment.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown of successful disability working allowance applicants by(a) people already working and (b) people who started working shortly before making an application for benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is not available to say how many disability working allowance recipients were previously in employment. Of the 2,401 people who had claimed successfully up to 16 October, we estimate that 27 per cent. had received invalidity benefit, severe disablement allowance or a disability premium with income support, housing benefit or community charge benefit in the eight weeks before claiming disability working allowance.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for invalidity benefit and severe disablement allowance were referred to the regional medical services in each month since January 1991; how many of these cases resulted in medical examinations; and what were the outcome(a) where examinations took place and (b) where they did not.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for(a) mobility allowance and (b) attendance allowance were refused, annually, for each year since 1985.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is as follows:

  Mobility allowance

  Attendance allowance

  1985

  50,000

  71,000

  1986

  61,000

  76,000

  1987

  61,000

  92,000

  1988

  72,000

  111,000

  1989

  78,000

  101,000

  1990

  85,000

  93,000

  1991

  90,000

  108,000

  Figures rounded to nearest thousand
  639
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total expenditure for(a) mobility allowance and (b) attendance allowance from 1 April to October 1991.

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

  Estimated expenditure for each benefit in the 1991–92 financial year was:

  £million

  (a) Mobility allowance

  1,061

  (b) Attendance allowance

  1,706

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications have been received for disability working allowance; and how many, to date, have been successful.

  Mr. Scott
  Up to 16 October 21,174 applications for disability working allowance had been received and 2,401 awards made.

  John Gardner
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects that Mr. John Gardner of 115 Countisbury avenue, Llanrumney, Cardiff, will have a response to his application for mobility allowance, now being treated as an application for disabled living allowance.

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

  Miners' Redundancy Payments
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the age distribution of the miners to be made redundant; and how long their redundancy payments are likely to last before they qualify for social security.

  Mr. Burt
  Information on the age distribution of miners who are affected by redundancy is a matter for British Coal.

  The effect of redundancy payments on entitlement to social security benefits will depend on the nature of the payment and on the type of benefit claimed.

  Most social security benefits are not affected by statutory redundancy pay, or similar payments intended as compensation for loss of employment. However, in the income-related benefits, such payments are treated as capital and may affect entitlement.

  Fraudulent Claims
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated amount of money claimed fraudulently from his Department in 1991; what is the basis of the estimate; and what action he has taken to recover the estimated amount.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The total sum claimed fraudulently from the Department is not known. The Benefits Agency 640
  has a target which is based on detected fraud. In 1991–92 £427 million was estimated to have been saved. This estimate is derived from

  (1) the calculation of the weekly amount of benefit being claimed wrongfully when action by fraud investigators put a stop to the fraud or irregularity;

  (2) the conversion of this weekly amount to an estimated overall saving;

  (3) the actual value of benefit saved by the termination or prevention of an instrument of payment irregularity.

  The multiplier used for item 2 was 32. This was based on the estimated average number of weeks the fraud would have continued had fraud staff not stopped it.

  The Benefits Agency pursues vigorously the recovery of overpayments of benefit from those who cheat the system. In appropriate cases criminal or civil proceedings will be instituted.

  Terminal Illness
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations have been received by his Department from organisations working with terminally ill people on problems with the special rules procedures and the particular difficulties caused to people with terminal illness on account of the delays with the processing of disability living allowance claims; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  We receive a large volume of correspondence on disability benefits, some of which comes from organisations involved in the care of terminally ill people and refers to the special rules arrangements. Much of the correspondence applauds the rules, some contains suggestions on further improvements we might make to the procedures. We welcome these representations, which we actively consider.

  We have also received representations about delays in dealing with claims in respect of people with a limited life expectancy. Unfortunately, because of the massive influx of claims more generally on disability living allowance and attendance allowance, some delays have occurred in dealing with claims made under the special rules. The Benefits Agency is taking firm action to clear the backlogs and in doing so treat claims for people who are terminally ill as a top priority.

  Doctors' Fees
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the fees payable to doctors for each type of medical examination required for adjudication purposes for all social security benefits and for the disablement pension.

  Mr. Scott
  The fees payable to doctors for medical examinations required for all social security benefits are as follows:

  £

  Regional Medical Service

  Part-time referees

  88.40

  Sessional Rate

  War Pension Medical Board

  Consultant members

  One Case

  54.40

  Two Cases

  77.60

  Sessional Rate

  108.70

  641

  £

  Examination and Report necessitating a Domiciliary Visit

  Chairman and Member of Single Doctor Board:

  * up to and including 1.5 hours

  37.90

  * over 1.5 up to and including 2. hours

  56.90

  * over 2.5 hours

  88.40

  Second Member:

  * up to and including 1.5 hours

  33.00

  * over 1.5 up to and including 2.5 hours

  49.60

  * over 2.5 hours

  77.10

  Medical Board

  * per session (2.5 to 3.5 hours):

  Chairman

  88.40

  Members

  77.10

  single doctor acting as a board

  88.40

  * per case:

  Chairman

  31.60

  Members

  27.50

  single doctor acting as a board

  31.60

  Consultants

  * Work in NHS hospital:

  Examination and report or treatment

  Standard fee per case

  54.40

  Standard fee per case when hospital laboratory radiological or other technical facilities are used

  81.50

  Sessional fee

  108.70

  Sessional fee when hospital laboratory or radiological or other technical facilities are used

  163.10

  * Work in private consulting rooms

  Examination and report or treatment

  Standard fee per case

  69.90

  Per session (3.5 hours)

  163.10

  Examining Medical Pratitioner Examination for DLA and AA65+ Chairman and Member of single Doctor Board:

  * up to and including 1.5 hours

  37.90

  * over 1.5 up to and including 2.5 hours

  56.90

  * over 2.5 hours

  88.40

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were in receipt of the invalidity benefit from each year since 1983–84.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is in the table:

  Year

  Beneficiaries (in thousands)

  1983–84

  760

  1984–85

  825

  1985–86

  865

  1986–87

  935

  1987–88

  1,010

  642

  Year

  Beneficiaries (in thousands)

  1988–89

  1,100

  1989–90

  1,190

  1990–91

  1,265

  1991–92

  1,325

  Source: 1992 Departmental Report and earlier Public Expenditure White papers.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what his Department's expenditure on invalidity benefit has been, in cash and constant prices, for each year from 1983–84, until the latest year for which figures are available; and what is the expected outturn expenditure on invalidity benefit for 1992–93.

  Mr. Scott
  The table shows expenditure on invalidity benefit for Great Britain at cash and constant 1992–93 prices in each year from 1983–84 to 1992–93.

  Year

  Cash £ million

  1992–93 prices £ million

  1983–84

  1,972

  3,123

  1984–85

  2,142

  3,403

  1985–86

  2,249

  3,386

  1986–87

  2,673

  3,896

  1987–88

  2,968

  4,103

  1988–89

  3,359

  4,331

  1989–90

  3,837

  4,642

  1990–91

  4,431

  4,955

  11991–92

  5,255

  5,491

  21992–93

  5,695

  5,695

  1 Estimated outturn only.

  2 Planned expenditure.

  Computer Projects
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April(a) each tender issued by his Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies which were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies which submitted a bid without prior invitation by his Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.

  Miss Widdccombe
  The tenders issued by the Department for computer hardware and software since 9 April 1992 are as shown in the table. We have not supplied information on the value of the contracts as to do so could be a breach of commercial confidentiality.
  643

  a(i)(ii) Hardware (H/W) Software (S/W)

  (b) Description

  (e) Number of companies invited to tender

  (d) Bids from companies with-out invitation

  (e) Contract awarded to:

  (g) Length of contract

  S/W

  Contributions Agency—Civil recoveries system. Supply & development of bespoke software, with installation, training & maintenance.

  1

  None

  Linetime Ltd.

  Indefinite: Renewable annually

  S/W

  CD—ROM Project. This is a BA initiative involving computerisation of training material & instruction manuals.

  6

  None

  Future Office Systems

  Project Specific

  S/W

  Terminal Emulation s/w package able to run all STAP supplier unix platform. Initial requirement is for the FAMIS & CSA Projects. Future requirements not yet known.

  3

  None

  ICL

  To 1995

  H/W

  Provision of a networked & upgraded computer system for use within Private Office.

  2

  None

  ICL

  Project Specific

  H/W&S/W

  Provision of computer equipment and implementation to 7 computer centres for the Child Support Agency.

  3

  None

  IBM

  Project Specific

  Cabling

  Cabling of BA Offices for the FAMIS Project.

  3

  None

  ICL IBM Siemens Nixdorf

  1 Year

  Independent Living Fund
  Ms. Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what form the replacement for the independent living fund will take; what will be the size of its financing; and what criteria will apply for individual applicants receiving it.

  Mr. Scott
  Details of the arrangements will be announced in due course.

  Maxwell Pensioners
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress has been made by the special unit and the trust fund established to assist the Maxwell pensioners.

  Mr. Lilley
  On 8 June I announced a number of Government initiatives following the loss of assets from the Maxwell pension schemes. These included the provision of a £2.5 million emergency fund to help to keep pensions in payment in the short term, the setting up of the Maxwell pensions unit within my Department, and the establishment of the Maxwell Pensioners Trust.

  The unit has made grants amounting to just over £1 million to eight pension schemes. All pensions in payment in February 1992 are being paid, as are those due to people who have retired since then at the normal retirement age for their scheme. In addition, grants have been made in respect of people who have retired since February 1992 on grounds of ill health. Pension scheme members who have been contracted back into the state earnings-related pension scheme (SERPs) have that part of their pensions paid direct by my Department.

  The unit is also working with Sir John Cuckney, as chairman of the Maxwell Pensioners Trust and special adviser to the unit, to help in the recovery of missing assets, by encouraging out-of-court settlements wherever possible, reducing the time and cost of legal actions. The unit has established constructive working relationships
  644
  with pension scheme trustees, the liquidators and administrators dealing with the Maxwell companies, and the pensioners action groups.

  The Maxwell Pensioners Trust was formally constituted on 17 July to help secure Maxwell pensions in the longer term. Following an initial appeal, the trust has raised just under £6 million. And payments have already been made, or are being processed, to 86 ex gratia pensioners. This is a creditable achievement, but substantially more funds are needed if the justifiable anxiety felt by the pensioners about their future security is to be properly addressed.

  No Government could accept an obligation to use taxpayers' money to make good losses resulting from fraud. However, I believe it is right for the Government to exercise those responsibilities we do have in ways which actively assist the pensioners' position. I am announcing one further such step today.

  When pension scheme members who have been contracted out of SERPS are brought back into the state scheme, the pension scheme is required to pay state scheme premiums for each member to the national insurance fund. The amounts involved can be substantial. I have discretion to postpone collection of these premiums for as long as I am satisfied that it would not be in the interests of scheme members to enforce payment.

  I have decided to exercise this discretion, on a scheme by scheme basis, in the case of the Maxwell pensioners. This amounts to an interest-free loan to the trustees of the pension schemes of some £100 million. It is a major extension of Government assistance to securing pensioners' financial future, and it will give the schemes a breathing space while the remaining matters in dispute are resolved.

  This measure will not close the gap between the Maxwell schemes' assets and liabilities. For that, we still need substantial contributions to the trust. I hope that this further example of Government support will encourage those companies and institutions that have not so far felt able to contribute to the trust to reconsider its position.

  PEERS: INTRODUCTION PROCEDURE
  PEERS: INTRODUCTION PROCEDURE
  JUBILEE LINE EXTENSION PROPOSALS: COSTS
  JUBILEE LINE EXTENSION PROPOSALS: COSTS
  YOUTH TRAINING: NOTTINGHAM
  YOUTH TRAINING: NOTTINGHAM
  PAROLE BOARD PANELS: RULES
  PAROLE BOARD PANELS: RULES
  MANCHESTER PRISON
  MANCHESTER PRISON
  PEST BIRD CONTROL PROPOSALS
  PEST BIRD CONTROL PROPOSALS