Written Answers of 21 April 1993

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Duty Solicitors (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what consideration he has given following the debate on the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order on 17 July 1989,Official Report, column 171, to introduce a statutory duty solicitor scheme in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Following the introduction of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order, the Law Society of Northern Ireland established panels of solicitors in all police divisions throughout the Province, who were prepared to offer their services to persons detained or attending voluntarily at police stations.

  In recognition of the PACE provisions and in order to ensure access to solicitors, regulations were made by the Lord Chancellor to coincide with the commencement of PACE, providing that persons detained or attending voluntarily at a police station should have legal advice and assistance without reference to their financial means and without contributions.

  In co-operation with the police and the Law Society, a survey was carried out by the Northern Ireland court service over the second six months of 1991, in respect of the availability of legal representation for persons detained or attending at police stations.

  The results of the research indicate that 34 per cent. of persons detained or attending police stations requested legal advice. Of these, 87 per cent. asked for a solicitor known to them; only 9 per cent.—or some 3 per cent. of the total—sought the services of a panel solicitor.

  This survey produced no evidence to suggest that there is a significant unmet demand for access to solicitors under the PACE Order. There is no present indication that a statutory scheme is required.

  High Court Judges
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of the recently proposed 10 new High Court judges will be women.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Once the necessary parliamentary approval has been obtained, the Lord Chancellor will make his recommendations on individual appointments to the Queen. He will be recommending those who are best qualified to fill each post regardless of sex. Women candidates are among those under consideration.

TRANSPORT

  Slough-Windsor Railway Line
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he is considering for privatisation of the Slough to Windsor railway branch line; and what steps he can take to protect the railway triangle at Slough for future rail use.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is our intention that all British Rail's passenger services will be franchised to private sector companies, including the Slough to Windsor branch line. We expect to make an announcement within the next few months about the form in which the remaining parts of the passenger rail network in Great Britain will be prepared for franchising. The area of land known as the Slough railway triangle is owned by British Rail. I understand that BR's plans for development on the triangle will not preclude possible future use if necessary in connection with a franchise of the Slough to Windsor line. A corridor of land will remain which would be sufficient for such purpose.

  Consultants
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those consultants currently engaged by his Department on projects related to rail privatisation, the nature of the projects and the cost thereof.

  Mr. Freeman
  The consultants and the nature of their work are:

  Linklaters and Paines—Legal issues

  Samuel Montagu and Co—Merchant Banking

  KPMG Peat Marwick—Accountancy

  Richard Ellis—Property matters

  Dewe Rogerson—Marketing

  Coopers and Lybrand—Access charges

  PJR—Management and organisation

  Most of these consultants are retained on hourly rates which must remain confidential for commercial reasons. The total costs, including completed and expected projects, for the financial years 1991–92, 1992–93 arid 1993–94 were given in my answer to the hon. Gentleman of Wednesday 24 February, Official Report, column 587. The final outturn for 1992–93 was £5·7 million.

  Aston Down
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work is currently being carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority at the former Royal Air Force station Aston Down; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The Civil Aviation Authority facilities at Aston Down are used for the storage of air traffic control equipment.

  London Travelcard
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects his Department's working group on the future of the London travelcard to complete its deliberations; and if he will publish the results.

  Mr. Norris
  The working group is exploring with transport operators in both the public and the private sector how the London travelcard is most likely to adapt over the next few years to changes in the provision of
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  public transport services, including the franchising of rail services and the privatisation and deregulation of bus services. The conclusions will no doubt be reflected in the announcements which will in due course be made, in the usual way, about changes in the operators' fares.

NATIONAL FINANC

  Charities
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to his answer of 17 February,Official Report, column 210, what consideration was given to the Charities Tax Reform Group proposals regarding the introduction of a value added tax refund scheme;

  (2) what plans the Government have to introduce a value added tax refund scheme for charities.

  Sir John Cope
  We considered this proposal very carefully. We concluded that it is better to foster a more favourable tax regime for charitable fund raising and charitable giving rather than introduce more reliefs based on charity spending. This policy provides the greatest benefit to charities perceived by givers to deserve most support rather than to those which happen to spend most on taxable goods and services in the United Kingdom. Total tax reliefs to charities now amount to almost £1 billion a year.

  Oil Taxation (Budget Confidentiality)
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence he has of breaches of Budget confidentiality in relation to changes to the oil taxation regime; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  None.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional provision for annual recurring public expenditure has been made as a result of rulings of the European Court of Justice in each year since the implementation of the Single European Act.

  Sir John Cope
  Information is not available on the financial consequences resulting from the rulings of the European Court of Justice or of any annual recurring public expenditure resulting from such rulings.

  Postal Services (VAT)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue he estimates would be raised if(a) Parcelforce and (b) the Royal Mail were subject to value added tax.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 20 April 1993]: Businesses may reclaim VAT charged. On this basis, the estimated revenue effects are:

  (a) negligible.

  (b) £180 million.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to permitting the Post Office to reclaim value added tax, following the imposition of value added tax on intra-Community transport costs; and what is his estimate of the cost to the Post Office of value added tax on these costs.
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  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 20 April 1993]: The Post Office is registered for VAT purposes and is able to reclaim VAT incurred on its purchases subject to the normal rules. On the ground of commercial confidentiality, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the additional costs incurred by the Post Office as a result of the recent VAT changes in the treatment of intra-EC freight transport service.

  Domestic Fuel (VAT)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much extra a family with two children on half average earnings will pay per week, when value added tax on domestic fuel is increased to 17·5 per cent.

  Sir John Cope
  A family with two children on three quarters average earnings would pay about £2·30 per week additional tax, assuming 1993–94 levels of real earnings. Estimates outside the range of 75 to 150 per cent. of average earnings are not available because of the large margins of error associated with small sample sizes and large variations in spending patterns.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the increase in annual expenditure due to the introduction of 17·5 per cent. VAT on fuel assuming no behavioural changes for(a) someone on mean earnings, (b) someone on 75 per cent. of mean earnings, (c) someone on 50 per cent. of mean earnings, (d) someone on 150 per cent. of mean earnings, (e) each income decile of the population, (f) each income decile of households and (g) each income decile of families.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 1 April 1993]: The available information is given in the tables. The figures make no allowance for changes to expenditure patterns due to the introduction of VAT on domestic fuel and power.

  Table 1: increase in expenditure on fuel and power by a single person due to imposition of VAT at 17·5 per cent, in 1993–94 prices

  Percentage of average earnings

  £ per week

  75

  1·75

  100

  1·90

  150

  2·30

  Notes to table 1:

  1. The estimates are based on an equation relating expenditure on fuel and power to total spending derived from the 1991 Family Expenditure Survey and applied to 1993–94 price earnings levels and the 1993–94 income tax and NICs systems on the illustrative assumption that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved.

  2. Average earnings are taken to be average gross weekly earnings of all full time males on adult rates. This is assumed to be £359·80 per week in 1993–94, based on the illustrative earnings growth assumption of 4 per cent. in 1993–94.

  3. Estimates are not available outside the earnings range shown due to the large margin of error associated with small sample sizes and large variations in spending patterns.

  Table 2: increase in average household expenditure on fuel and power due to imposition of VAT at 17·5 per cent, in 1993–94 prices

  Deciles of household income

  £ per week

  1st

  2·00

  2nd

  1·95

  3rd

  2·10

  4th

  2·25

  5th

  2·35

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  Deciles of household income

  £ per week

  6th

  2·40

  7th

  2·35

  8th

  2·40

  9th

  2·45

  10th

  2·70

  Notes to table 2:

  1. Figures are based on the last three Family Expenditure Surveys, 1989 to 1991, uprated to 1.993–94 prices in line with the growth in consumers' expenditure.

  2. Households have been allocated to deciles on the basis of their net income in the survey period adjusted to take account of differences in family composition.

  3. Data on expenditure on fuel and power is only available at the level of the household.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total amount paid into the Treasury in VAT on domestic fuel in 1994–95 and 1995–96 by each income decile of(a) the population as a whole, (b) households and (c) families.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 1 April 1993.]: Table 4.1 of the 1993–94 Financial Statement and Budget Report estimates the projected yield in 1994–95 and 1995–96 from applying VAT to domestic fuel and power as £950 million and £2,300 million respectively. These figures take into account changes in expenditure patterns. They are not available at a decile level.

  VAT
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total amount paid into the Treasury in VAT in 1987–88, 1992–93 1994–95 and 1995–96(a) by the whole population, (b) by each income decile of the population, (c) by each income decile of households and (d) by each income decile of families.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 1 April 1993.]: Total net receipts of VAT in 1987–88 were £24,066 million—HM Customs and Excise annual report 1991–92—and are estimated to be £37,400 million in 1992–93—table 1.2, Financial Statement and Budget Report 1993–94. Estimates of total VAT receipts for 1994–95 and 1995–96, consistent with published estimates for 1992–93, are not available. Figures giving a breakdown of total VAT payments in 1987 by decile group are published En the article on the effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in the May 1990 edition of Economic Trends. Similar figures for 1992–93 and later years are not available.

  Postal Services (VAT)
  Mr. Bowls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 29 October 1992,Official Report, c. 789 if he has yet held discussions with EC Finance Ministers or the Commission about the value added tax exemption for public postal services; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 20 April 1993]: There have been no such discussions and the reply of 29 October remains appropriate.

PRIME MINISTER

  Iran and Iraq (Weapons)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards export of lethal weapons for Iran and Iraq from 1979 to 1985; and if he will list each occasion on which changes in the policy were announced to the House.

  The Prime Minister
  Restrictions on the export of lethal weapons to Iran were introduced following the seizure of the American hostages in 1979. Restrictions were introduced on Iraq following the outbreak of the Iran/Iraq conflict in 1980. Guidelines applying to all deliveries of defence equipment to Iran and Iraq were introduced in December 1984. They were announced to the House on 29 October 1985 by my noble and learned Friend, Lord Howe of Aberavon, then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The guidelines were as follows:

  (i) we should maintain our consistent refusal to supply any lethal equipment to either side;

  (ii) subject to that overriding consideration, we should attempt to fulfil existing contracts and obligations;

  (iii) we should not, in future, approve orders for any defence equipment which, in our view, would significantly enhance the capability of either side to prolong or exacerbate the conflict;

  (iv) in line with this policy, we should continue to scrutinise rigorously all applications for export licences for the supply of defence equipment to Iran and Iraq.

  Liverpool
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit Liverpool in the near future.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him yesterday at column 178.

WALES

  Community Care
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many copies of his Department's report, "Community Care—Information Pack for the Voluntary and Private Sectors", have been published; to which organisations it has been distributed; and at what cost.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Three thousand copies of the Welsh Office information pack for the voluntary and private sectors have been published. Packs have been distributed to social services departments, health authorities, family health services authorities, voluntary organisations, and residential and nursing homes in Wales. The total costs of producing and distributing the pack have not yet been finalised, but are expected to be around £22,000.

EDUCATION

  Further Education (Special Needs)
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what arrangements there are to ensure that (i) support needs, (ii) transport needs and (iii) maintenance costs of students with disabilities and learning difficulties in further education will be met.
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  Mr. Boswell
  The duties on the further education funding councils and local education authorities to secure further education provision for students with disabilities and learning difficulties require them to take acount of their additional learning support needs. LEAs' duties and powers concerning the provision of transport now include students at colleges in the new further education sector. Students attending courses of further education may apply to their LEA for a discretionary award in respect of their maintenance costs, and full-time and sandwich students aged 19 or over may also seek assistance from the further education access funds.

  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many specialist independent colleges for students with disabilities and learning difficulties in England and Wales make further education provision.

  Mr. Boswell
  This information is not held centrally.

  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much was spent in England on provision for students with disabilities and learning difficulties in maintained further education colleges in 1992–93; and how much he estimates will be spent by (i) the Further Education Funding Council for England, (ii) training and enterprise councils, (iii) local education authorities and (iv) social services departments on such provision in 1993–94.

  Mr. Boswell
  It is for the various agencies involved in securing provision for students with learning difficulties and disabilities to determine what resources they should allocate to further education colleges for this purpose. It is not possible to estimate expenditure on such provision, given the discretion generally available to colleges over the use of resources.

  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much was spent on further provision for students with disabilities and learning difficulties from England in specialist independent colleges in 1993; and how much he estimates will be spent by (i) the Further Education Funding Council for England, (ii) training and enterprise councils, (iii) local education authorities and (iv) social services departments on such provision in 1993–94.

  Road scheme

  Roads which will benefit from each scheme

  Typical daily traffic figure

  (a) Comber By-Pass

  A22 Killinchy Road, Comber

  4,100

  A22 Belfast Road, Comber

  9,525

  A21 Newtownards Road, Comber

  14,700

  (b) Balloo Road, Bangor

  Balloo Road (Gransha end)

  14,925

  Stage 3

  Balloo Road (Rathgael end)

  10,300

  (c) A5 Burndennet

  Route A5

  7,100

  (d) Anne Street/Thomas Street Dungannon

  Market Street, Dungannon

  8,400

  (e) A5 Magheramason

  Route A5

  7,100

  (f) A5 Leckpatrick

  Route A5

  7,100

  (g) Antrim/Ballymena Stage 2

  Route A26

  18,500

  (h) Greenmount Link, Coleraine

  Dunhill Road

  15,325

  Castlerock Road

  5,400

  Strand Road

  10,500

  Laurel Hill/Killowen Street

  7,000

  (i) Omagh Through-Pass Stage 2

  Derry Road

  15,000

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  Mr. Boswell
  It is for the various agencies involved in securing provision for students with learning difficulties and disabilities to determine what resources they should allocate to specialist independent colleges for this purpose. Information on their funding of these institutions is not available centrally.

  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many further education students with disabilities and learning difficulties from England in 1992–93 were attending (i) maintained colleges and (ii) specialist independent colleges; and how many of each of these are expected in 1993–94 to be the responsibility of(a) the Further Education Funding Council and (b) local education authorities.

  Mr. Boswell
  In 1991–92, the latest year for which data are available, there were 42,000 further education students classified as having special educational needs attending maintained further education colleges. It is not possible to specify the proportion that will be the responsibility of the Further Education Funding Council or local education authorities from 1993–94.

  Information about specialist independent colleges is not available centrally.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Traffic Density
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the traffic density revealed in the latest traffic surveys for roads which will benefit from(a) the Comber bypass, (b) the Balloo road stage 3 Bangor, (c) the A5 Burndennett, (d) the Ann street/Thomas street, Dungannon, (e) the A5 Magheramason, (f) the A5 Leckpatrick, (g) the Antrim/Ballymena stage 2, (h) the Greenmount link, Coleraine, (i) the Omagh throughpass stage 2, (j) the Belfast urban area plan roads (95/96) and (k) the Belfast urban area plan roads (96/97) road schemes.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information is as follows:
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  Road scheme

  Roads which will benefit from each scheme

  Typical daily traffic figure

  (j) Purdysburn Road Stage 1

  Purdysburn Road

  9,000

  (k) (1) Ballymachonaghy Road

  Ballymaconaghy Road

  1,600

  (2) Forster Green Junction

  Total traffic using junction

  50,000

  (3) Balmoral Avenue/Malone Road Junction

  Total traffic using junction

  39,400

  Unemployment Schemes
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the schemes operated by Government Departments in Northern Ireland which are designed to alleviate unemployment amongst school leavers; how many benefited from each scheme since its inception; and how many obtained permanent employment as a result.

  Mr. Atkins
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. S. Crozier. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from J. S. Crozier to Mr. Peter Robinson, dated 16 April 1993:
  You asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he would list the schemes operated by government departments in Northern Ireland which are designed to alleviate unemployment amongst school leavers; how many benefited from each scheme since its inception; and how many obtained permanent employment as a result. The Secretary of State has passed your questions to me, as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, for reply.
  I take it that your question refers to labour market measures. The relevant schemes are the Youth Training Programme (YTP), the Job Training Programme (JTP) and the Action for Community Employment Programme (ACE). Through YTP, all 16 and 17 year olds who leave school and are unable to find employment are guaranteed a structured programme of directed and workplace training, lasting up to 2 years, to enable them to compete for available jobs. I have detailed below the average number who each year have benefited from YTP since its inception in 1982 and the number whose destinations are known and who left to take up employment.

  Average occupancy

  Leavers to employment

  1982–831

  8,035

  214

  1983–84

  7,242

  3,168

  1984–85

  7,381

  5,017

  1985–86

  8,079

  5,500

  1986–87

  8,658

  5,686

  1987–88

  8,776

  5,787

  1988–89

  8,880

  6,428

  1989–90

  9,818

  6,767

  1990–91

  12,914

  4,223

  1991–92

  15,480

  5,754

  1992–93

  13,793

  6,672

  109,056

  55,216

  1 September—March.

  Progression into full-time education is also considered a positive outcome for young people. In 1992–93 11% of trainees entered full-time education immediately after leaving YTP.
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  The Job Training Programme and Action for Community Employment also provide training and employment opportunities to school leavers who are 18 years of age or over and who have been unemployed for 6 months or more. Total participation in these programmes and employment placements were as follows:

  Job Training Programme

  Year

  Average Occupancy

  Leavers to Employment

  1988–989

  517

  119

  1989–990

  1,743

  600

  1990–991

  2,341

  1,543

  1991–992

  2,912

  1,813

  1992–993

  13,930

  11,940

  1 These are estimated outturn figures based on February 1993 figures.

  Action for Community Employment

  Year

  Average Occupancy

  Leavers to Employment

  1981–82

  430

  1—

  1982–83

  1,270

  1—

  1983–84

  2,525

  1—

  1984–85

  3,090

  1—

  1985–86

  3,890

  1—

  1986–87

  6,150

  1—

  1987–88

  6,200

  1—

  1988–89

  8,600

  2,494

  1989–90

  10,000

  3,420

  1990–91

  10,000

  2,750

  1991–92

  10,000

  2,800

  1992–93

  9,600

  2—

  1 No figures prior to 1989.

  2 Not yet available.

  Unfortunately our records do not differentiate between school leavers and other adult participants of these programmes and I am therefore unable to give you a breakdown of these figures.

  I hope that this information is of help.

  Water Executive
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations took place about the establishment of the Water Executive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The establishment of the Water Executive was simply an administrative change of title introduced following the Government's announcement of their intention to privatise water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland. Consultation was not therefore necessary.

  Disability (Grants) Bill
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how he intends to fund the Independent Living (Extension) Fund, the Independent Living (1993) Fund and Motability before the enactment of the Disability (Grants) Bill.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Disability (Grants) Bill currently before Parliament will allow the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland to make grants to certain named organisations that help disabled people lead a more independent life in the community. These organisations are the Independent Living (Extension) Fund, the Independent Living (1993) Fund and Motability.

  Parliamentary approval of expenditure on grant in aid to the Independent Living Funds will be sought in the 1993–94 main estimate for centrally administered social security (Department of Health and Social Services, vote 5).

  Approval for expenditure on a grant to Motability will be sought in the 1993–94 main estimate for administration and miscellaneous services (Department of Health and Social Services, vote 3).

  Pending approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £3,100,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Northern Ireland civil contingencies fund.

ENVIRONMENT

  Waste Management
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on responses received on his Department's Waste Management Paper 26A, published in December 1992.

  Mr. Maclean
  This paper was issued in draft as part of a second package of consultation documents concerning the new waste management licensing system to be introduced by regulations under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. When published, it will give guidance to waste regulation authorities on how to determine whether to accept the surrender of a licence for a landfill site.

  Responses to the draft focused on three main issues: the criteria against which the degree of completion of a site should be judged; the amount of analysis required to assess whether a site is complete and the consequent cost to industry; and problems related to liability after a completion certificate is issued by the authority. In the light of the responses, the Department is revising the paper prior to publication.

  Hazardous Chemicals
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the conditions under which planning consent for the storage of hazardous chemicals under the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 may become unnecessary if the responsible party managing the chemicals deems them to be a waste material.

  Mr. Baldry
  The controls in the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 do not apply to the presence of 104
  substances which are controlled wastes, as defined in section 75(4) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, or radioactive wastes, as defined in section 18(4) of the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. This is to avoid an unnecessary duplication of statutory control.

  Environmental Sustainability
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies on environmental sustainability he has commissioned since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

  Mr. Maclean
  Much of my Department's research programme relates to questions of environmental sustainability. In addition, we commissioned six background studies for a recent seminar on sustainable development at Green college, Oxford. I shall place copies of these studies, together with the record of the seminar, in the Library.

  Sewer Pipes
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to make water companies liable for flood damage from sewer pipes.

  Mr. Maclean
  Following proposals made by the Director General of Water Services, the Water Supply and Sewerage Services (Customer Service Standards) (Amendment) Regulations 1993, SI.1993 No. 500, which came into effect on 1 April 1993, extended the scope of the water industry's guaranteed standards scheme to provide, among other measures, for the refund of annual sewerage charges, up to a maximum of £1,000, paid by customers who suffer foul flooding of their property. I welcome these improvements to the generally good services that the water companies provide for their customers.

  Nuclear Power Industry
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what role his Department will be playing in the planned review of the nuclear power industry.

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will make an announcement about the planned review later in the year.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of local authority tenants not in receipt of housing benefit for each local authority in Northamptonshire.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department collects information on housing benefit caseload, and this gives an indication of the numbers of tenants not on housing benefit as summarised in the accompanying table. Any further queries concerning the data should be directed to the local authority concerned.
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  Average data for 1992–93

  (i) Local authority

  (ii) Estimate of tenants (dwellings minus vacancies)

  (iii) Housing benefit caseload

  (iv) Tenants not receiving housing benefit (ii)-(iii)

  Corby

  7,792

  3,696

  4,096

  Daventry

  4,085

  2,200

  1,885

  East Northants

  4,721

  2,450

  2,271

  Kettering

  4,940

  3,250

  1,690

  Northampton

  15,793

  9,245

  6,548

  South Northants

  3,802

  2,100

  1,702

  Wellingborough

  6,009

  3,365

  2,644

  Northamptonshire

  47,142

  26,306

  20,836

  Energy Savings Trust
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial contribution has been agreed from his Department for the work of the Energy Savings Trust.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 19 February 1993,Official Report, column 382.

  Nematodes
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of developments in biological control methods of nematodes to kill slugs.

  Mr. Maclean
  No formal assessment of the proposed use of indigenous nematodes to kill slugs has been made. Their use in biological control is not covered by the Control of Pesticides Regulations (1986). The release of non-indigenous species for this purpose would be controlled by the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).

  My Department is considering with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and other Departments whether there is a need for additional controls in this area.

  Aggregates
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made as to the accuracy of past forecasts of aggregate demand.

  Mr. Baldry
  The long-term projections of demand are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that they are as accurate as possible. The accuracy of the projection used as a basis for the present MPG6 was assessed in 1989.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration has been given to the use of economic instruments to raise the price of primary aggregates and lower the price of secondaries in order to provide substitution between them.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government have no plans at present to use economic instruments either to raise the price of primary aggregates or lower the price of secondaries.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost to his Department of all aggregates forecasts commissioned from ECOTEC in the last four years.
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  Mr. Baldry
  The work undertaken by ECOTEC over the four-year period cost £38,125. Additional work by Cambridge Econometrics on long-term economic projections cost £9,100.

  Minerals Planning
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration was given to the inclusion of an element of demand management in the proposed revision of minerals planning; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government's views on demand management for aggregates were set out in the policy issues paper, which was issued with the consultation draft of mineral planning guidance note 6 in January.

  Imports
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for which imports to industry, other than aggregates, policy is based on detailed 20-year forecasts of supply and demand.

  Mr. Baldry
  Long-term projections of demand are used to inform the preparation of planning guidance issued by my Department for the minerals used in cement making and for silica sand.

  Local Government Staff Commission
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to establish the local government reorganisation staff commission; whom he intends to appoint as its members; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. and learned Friend has today laid an order, made under section 23 of the Local Government Act 1992, to set up a staff commission. The commission, to be known as the Local Government Staff Commission (England), will be established formally on 13 May 1993.

  I am inviting the following people to serve as members of the Local Government Staff Commission (England):

  Alan Atherton

  Colin Jeynes

  Judith Lovelace

  I have asked Mr. Atherton to serve as chairman.

  This is a strong, independent commission whose members have a range of experience in local government and staffing matters.

  Environmental Health Officers
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of vacancies for environmental health officer posts in each year from 1979 to the latest available date.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not held centrally.

  Telecommunications Systems
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that applications for the siting of telecommunications
  107
  systems on public and private property are determined by relevant local authority planning committees with a right to refuse permission.

  Mr. Baldry
  Like other types of development, the installation of telecommunications equipment is subject to planning control. The degree of control depends on the scale of the development. Accordingly, major telecommunications developments require a full planning application and are subject to normal planning control. Other telecommunications developments benefit from a general permission granted by the Secretary of State under the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988, as amended, provided that they are carried out in accordance with conditions set out in that order. Local planning authorities may require a planning application to be made in respect of development that would otherwise be permitted, by serving a direction under article 4 of that order; they may be a resulting compensation liability.

  We published policy guidance on telecommunications development and an explanation of the operation of permitted development rights for telecommunications equipment, in planning policy guidance note 8, "Telecommunications". That note was published to coincide with the implementation of improved controls from 4 January this year, and following public consultation. We have no plans for any further review.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Chile
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since 1980(a) Mr. Carlos Cardoen and (b) Mr. Mark Thatcher visited the British embassy in Chile; and what was the date and purpose of each of those visits.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Mr. Carlos Cardoen has made two visits, each at his request. In May 1990, he expressed concern over media reports linking him to the death of Mr. Jonathan Moyle. In July 1992, he discussed his commercial relationship with British companies.

  We have no record of any visit by Mr. Mark Thatcher.

  British Manufacturing and Research Company
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the relationship between his Department and BMARC in the period from 1980 to 1992.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The answer to this question could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Hong Kong
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that the Governor's recent proposals regarding the future composition of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong remain available for consideration by the Legislative Council without amendment.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Governor's proposals for the 1994–95 electoral arrangement in Hong Kong, which the Government support, remain on the table.
  108
  It will in due course be up to the Hong Kong Legislative Council to pass the necessary legislation taking all relevant factors into account.

  We have said that if we succeed in reaching an acceptable understanding with China we would recommend it to the Legislative Council.

  An essential point for us, and for the Governor, is that these elections should be fair, open and acceptable to the people of Hong Kong.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 5 April.

  Mr. Hurd
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council on 5 April.

  The Council agreed a revised mandate for negotiations on a partnership and co-operation agreement with Russia. This holds out the prospect of a free trade area as a long-term objective. The Council adopted a negotiating mandate for association agreements with the Czech and Slovak Republics. The Council agreed to open accession negotiations with Norway. The negotiations were later launched in the margins of the Council. The Council also agreed a trade and co-operation agreement and financial protocol with Slovenia. Signature of both instruments, and of a transport agreement, took place in the margins.

  Sir Leon Brittan reported to the Council on the Commission's recent meetings with United States trade representative Kantor. The Council expressed its full support for the Commission's efforts to find negotiated solutions to individual trade disputes with the United States.

  Ministers discussed relations with the European Parliament. The presidency undertook to push for conclusion of an inter-institutional agreement on subsidiarity, and also to take forward work on the European ombudsman. Member states are now discussing the European Parliament's draft proposals on how the ombudsman might function when the treaty of Maastricht enters into force.

  The presidency and Commission reported on the troika visit to the middle east.

  Foreign Ministers discussed latest developments in the former Yugoslavia, following a briefing from Lord Owen. They underlined the importance of all three parties accepting, and implementing, the Vance-Owen plan. Its continued repudiation by the Bosnian Serbs would have the most severe consequences and lead to the total international isolation of Serbia-Montenegro. Ministers welcomed the United Nations Security Council's preparation of a draft resolution supporting the peace plan and strengthening the sanctions regime, and a decision by WEU Ministers earlier that day to tighten enforcement of the United Nations embargo on the Danube. The Community and its member states would continue to make sanctions more effective. Ministers issued a statement to this effect, which also emphasised their concern about the humanitarian situation in Bosnia and especially the importance of immediate free access for help to eastern Bosnia.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  EC Directive
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to implement article 27 of the Council directive 92/50/EEC in relation to his Department.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This article, along with the rest of the Council directive 92/50/EEC, comes into force on 1 July this year and will be fully implemented by the Home Office.

  Prostitution
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next expects to discuss with the chief constable of South Yorkshire the problems of prostitution in the county; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  I have no plans to do so at the moment. The investigation of offences is an operational matter for which the chief constable is responsible.

  Reason for temporary release

  Prisoner security category

  B

  C

  D

  Female

  Total

  Compassionate (funerals, visits to the terminally ill, marriage etc.)

  27

  386

  138

  32

  583

  Medical (outpatient treatment at outside hospital)

  140

  710

  222

  164

  1,236

  Education, training, work (including college courses, working out, job interviews)

  75

  3,174

  797

  684

  4,730

  Other

  10

  1,104

  575

  38

  1,727

  Total

  252

  5,374

  1,732

  918

  8,276

  Prison Service (Contracting Out)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated value of the contract of the warehousing and distribution function of the supply and transport division of the prison service.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 April 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to write to you in response to your Parliamentary Question about the value of the contract for the warehousing and distribution and function of the Supply and Transport Division of the Prison Service.
  As you will know, it was not possible to negotiate a satisfactory contract with Beck & Pollitzer, who were the contractors originally selected. A service level agreement was therefore awarded to the in-house operation, who were the next best bidders. The operating budget for the warehousing and distribution function is approximately £5·5 million over the 3-year life of the agreement.
  110

  Prisoners (Temporary Leave)
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of prisoners given temporary leave from prison, by category of reason for that leave, in the last full year when records were maintained; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Robert Spink, dated 20 April 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to write to you in response to your Parliamentary Question about the number of prisoners given temporary leave from prison establishments in England and Wales.
  The information which you have requested is not collected on a regular basis centrally at present. A three month survey of the numbers of temporary releases, other than for home leave, was however undertaken between 1 April and 30 June 1991. During this period, the number of temporary releases was 8,276, broken down as shown in the table below. The number of releases is not the same as the number of prisoners given temporary release, since the same prisoner may have been given temporary release on a number of occasions during the period; for example, for outpatient treatment or for job interviews.

  Doncaster Prison
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a prison service bid for Doncaster prison will be sought during the tendering exercise this spring.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No decision has yet been made.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance will be given to Home Office businesses which will be involved in in-house bids during the market testing period from September 1993 to March 1995.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  A variety of guidance notes are available, together with access to professional specialisms within the Home Office to enable in-house teams to construct their bids. In addition, limited funds are available to enable Home Office businesses to seek targeted external consultancy assistance where internal resources are unavailable.

  European Parliament
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the method he intends to adopt to define the boundaries of new seats for the European Parliament.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Yes, we intend to publish our proposals in due course.

  Prisoner Escort Service
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from(a) prison and (b) court escort in each court region per month in 1990, 1991 and 1992 and each month in 1993 to date.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 19 April 1993]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange a reply.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 April 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many prisoners escaped from (a) prison and (b) court escort in each court region per month in 1990, 1991, 1992 and each month in 1993.
  The number of prisoners who escaped from prison month by month in each of 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993 is as follows:

  Escapes from prison

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  January

  5

  18

  11

  12

  February

  3

  29

  29

  10

  March

  15

  6

  18

  19

  April

  22

  26

  25

  18

  May

  19

  29

  27

  —

  June

  11

  37

  24

  —

  July

  20

  32

  11

  —

  August

  18

  24

  13

  —

  September

  13

  27

  24

  —

  October

  17

  23

  31

  —

  November

  31

  30

  26

  —

  December

  21

  22

  15

  —

  Total

  195

  303

  254

  59

  I regret that the full information that you require in part (b) of your question is not readily available and could only be gathered at disproportionate cost. The information is recorded against individual prisons rather than court catchment areas and many prisons serve a number of court catchment areas. Information is not available centrally on escapes from court escorts staffed by the police.

  The total number of escapes from Prison Service escorts are as follows:

  Escapes from Escort

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  January

  12

  11

  14

  14

  February

  11

  7

  8

  13

  March

  11

  8

  15

  13

  April

  13

  18

  9

  11

  May

  10

  19

  6

  —

  June

  3

  3

  12

  —

  July

  6

  17

  12

  —

  August

  15

  9

  9

  —

  September

  3

  6

  13

  —

  October

  7

  14

  13

  —

  November

  12

  16

  20

  —

  December

  16

  16

  16

  —

  TOTAL

  119

  144

  147

  51

  112
  Within the above figures and from information available, the number of prisoners who escaped from court escorts are as follows:

  Escapes from court escort

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  January

  7

  6

  11

  8

  February

  5

  2

  3

  7

  March

  6

  3

  7

  3

  April

  6

  8

  5

  5

  May

  1

  14

  —

  —

  June

  2

  1

  6

  —

  July

  1

  10

  5

  —

  August

  6

  4

  3

  —

  September

  1

  4

  3

  —

  October

  3

  7

  8

  —

  November

  4

  9

  3

  —

  December

  8

  8

  3

  —

  Total

  50

  76

  60

  23

  The figures for 1993 are up to and including 16 April 1993.

  The above information is derived from incidents reported to the Incident Management Support Unit, a part of the Directorate of Custody.

  I hope the above information is of use to you.

  Mr. Don Treshman
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the arrest and detention without charge of Mr. Don Treshman.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 20 April 1993]: Mr. Treshman was served on 29 March with a notice of intention to deport him on the ground that his continued presence in the United Kingdom was not conducive to the public good. He was also detained by virtue of a detention order made under paragraph 2(2) of schedule 3 to the Immigration Act 1971. Mr. Treshman has appealed to the independent immigration appeal tribunal against the deportation decision, and applied to the tribunal for bail pending the hearing of the appeal. Bail was granted on 1 April subject to conditions.

  Maastricht Treaty
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in implementing declaration 17 on the right to access to information attached to the Maastricht treaty.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I have been asked to reply.

  We understand that the Commission intends to put a paper to the Copenhagen European Council in June containing recommendations to the Council on how to implement the Maastricht declaration on the right of access to information.

SCOTLAND

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the vessels holding pressure stock licences registered in each Scottish port of registration in each of the past four years, and at the latest convenient date in 1993.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Information on the licensing of individual vessels is commercial in confidence. The
  113
  number of vessels holding pressure stock licences in the years 1989 to 1992, and in 1993, as at 16 April, by Scottish port of registration, is shown in the table.

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993 (at 16 April)

  Aberdeen

  34

  33

  37

  29

  32

  Alloa

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Arbroath

  30

  30

  26

  22

  22

  Ayr

  8

  8

  10

  11

  22

  Ballantrae

  73

  71

  72

  77

  69

  Banff

  110

  108

  108

  114

  117

  Broadford

  16

  16

  16

  19

  17

  Buckie

  105

  104

  96

  94

  85

  Campbeltown

  38

  31

  37

  37

  25

  Castlebay

  6

  14

  14

  16

  16

  Dumfries

  1

  1

  2

  3

  2

  Dundee

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Fraserburgh

  110

  108

  136

  133

  136

  Inverness

  100

  105

  96

  91

  90

  Kirkcaldy

  48

  52

  49

  50

  48

  Kirkwall

  29

  30

  25

  28

  25

  Leith

  84

  82

  83

  81

  80

  Lerwick

  74

  73

  68

  67

  64

  Methil

  1

  1

  1

  2

  2

  Montrose

  8

  8

  8

  7

  8

  Oban

  54

  47

  60

  61

  59

  Peterhead

  126

  118

  117

  119

  121

  Rothesay

  4

  8

  7

  11

  10

  Stornoway

  3

  40

  45

  48

  53

  Tarbert

  23

  14

  26

  26

  26

  Troon

  1

  2

  1

  2

  2

  Ullapool

  22

  24

  26

  31

  31

  Wick

  35

  30

  32

  26

  26

  Total

  1,144

  1,158

  1,198

  1,206

  1,188

  Scottish Renewables Obligation
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish the Scottish renewables order; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  I hope to make an announcement about the question of a Scottish renewables obligation later in the year.

  Used Tyres (Incineration)
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment his Department carries out on the environmental impact of the waste-to-energy process involving the incineration of used tyres.

  Sir Hector Monro
  In determining any application made to him for authorisation in respect of a process involving the incineration of tyres for the production of energy the chief inspector of Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate would consider the environmental impact of the proposed process. Guidance on the criteria he would use in assessing an application is available in process guidance note IPR 1/6: "Combustion Processes —combustion of fuel manufactured from or comprised of tyres, tyre rubber or similar rubber waste in appliances with a net rated thermal input of 3 MW or more." The note is published by HMSO.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Travel Agents and Tour Operators
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further steps he is taking to ensure that travel agents and tour operators have sufficient funds to cover their commitments in the event of their ceasing to trade.

  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further steps he is taking to ensure that travel agents and tour operators have sufficient funds to cover the risk of collapse.

  Mr. Leigh
  No further steps are being taken. The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 require that organisers and/or retailers should at all times be able to provide sufficient evidence of security for the refund of money paid over and for the repatriation of the consumer in the event of insolvency.

  Post Office
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the planned change in the Post Office contribution to Government finances between(a) 1990–91 to 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94 to 1995–96.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wallasey (Ms Eagle) earlier today.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his plans to privatise the Post Office.

  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what his plans are for the future of the Post Office; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I refer the hon. Gentleman and my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) earlier today.

  Motor Car Industry
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a further statement on the state of the United Kingdom motor car industry.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There has been a major expansion in the production capacity of the car industry in the United Kingdom. Exports are holding up well in a difficult European market.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his oral answer of 17 March,Official Report, column 271, how many additional pages of evidence his Department has submitted to Lord Justice Scott's inquiry in relation to exports to Iraq.

  Mr. Heseltine
  My Department is continuing to supply material in response to ongoing requests from Lord Justice Scott.

  Post Offices (Pension Payments)
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the average turnover in rural post offices of retirement pension payments and benefits in the last year for which figures are available.
  115
  Mr. Heseltine
  Rural offices differ significantly in size. The payment value of pension and benefit transactions is estimated as ranging between £30,000 and £500,000 per annum.

  Red Tape
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his Department's seven private sector task forces for cutting the burden of red tape on industry.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The seven private sector task forces are now at work. More than 50 business men and women have committed themselves to giving half a day a week to identifying priority areas for the repeal or reform of regulations and making recommendations on how to ensure a continuing business voice in Government decision-making. The task forces are taking evidence from interested bodies and will be reporting regularly to Ministers during their six months period of operation.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to monitor the effect of EC regulations on small and medium-sized businesses.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The United Kingdom Government will continue to fight in Brussels to avoid unnecessary EC regulations. During our presidency, we secured agreement to a resolution which places pressure on the Commission to take full account of the impact on businesses, and particularly small and medium sized businesses, when drafting its proposals. We will build upon this foundation and ensure that all proposals listed in the European Commission's legislative programme likely to have a substantial impact upon United Kingdom business, are subjected to rigorous examination.

  The Government have established a scrutiny of the formulation, implementation and enforcement of EC law in the United Kingdom with the aim of minimising the burdens on United Kingdom businesses, including smaller businesses.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received about the need of reduce the burden of regulations on small firms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  My Department continues to receive, and act on, representations about regulatory burdens on small firms both from individual firms and representative bodies.

  As part of the deregulation initiative to reduce the burden of regulations on business, my Department has recently set up seven task forces of business men, organised on a sectoral basis. The task forces, which include representatives from small firms, will advise Ministers on priorities for repeal and simplification with special reference to the needs of small businesses.

  Post Offices (Closures)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many post offices closed in 1992; and how many he expects to close in 1993.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I understand from the Post Office that in the years 1991–92 and 1992–93 there were net reductions,116
  through closures, of 148 and 202 post offices respectively. The majority of closures occur when the subpostmaster or subpostmistress retires or resigns and Post Office Counters Ltd. is unable to find a suitable replacement.

  Textile Exports
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to promote the export of British textiles and clothing.

  Mr. Needham
  My Department, jointly with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, provides a wide range of export advice and support which is available to all sectors of United Kingdom industry. I am pleased to say that the clothing and textile industry are major users of our export services.

  Manufactured Goods
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his latest estimate of the deficit in trade of manufactured goods for the last 12 months in respect of which figures are available.

  Mr. Needham
  The United Kingdom had a deficit in trade of manufactured goods of £7·6 billion in 1992.

  With the completion of the single market at the end of 1992, routine border requirements and formalities were abolished for trade within the European Community and customs declarations—the source of trade statistics until December 1992—are no longer required. Therefore, at present, it is not possible to provide figures for trade with the European Community for January 1993 onwards.

  Detailed statistics on United Kingdom trade in manufactures are regularly published in the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics", which is available in the Library of the House.

  Japanese Inward Investment
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the factors influencing Japanese inward investment in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Many factors influence Japanese inward investment into the United Kingdom and worldwide. Britain's advantages include a strong industrial infrastructure, a large and sophisticated domestic market, a skilled and dedicated work force and a communication system geared for the modern trading world. These factors have contributed to Britain having almost 41 per cent. of the stock of Japanese foreign direct investment into Europe, according to Japanese Ministry of Finance figures.

  Petroleum Revenue Tax
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received on the impact of the new arrangements for petroleum revenue tax on the offshore industry in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Eggar
  Tax issues are a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but, to date, I have received around 50 separate representations, both written and oral, from companies, organisations and individuals in the oil and gas industry, mainly about the impact of the changes on exploration and appraisal activity and the future development of the North sea.

  Companies (Receivership)
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many companies have been placed into receivership since 1989 in the north-west region.

  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many companies have been placed into receivership since 1989 in the west midlands region.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  There is no regional breakdown of official statistics on companies placed into receivership. The total number of companies placed into receivership, in England and Wales, during the three years from 1 April 1989 was 16,096.

  Timeshare Contracts
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to outlaw downpayments on the signing of timeshare contracts following the meeting of the EC Consumer Council on 2 March.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have no such plans. A ban on clown payments in timeshare contracts before the end of any cooling-off period is, however, among the proposals being discussed in the context of the negotiation of the draft timeshare directive.

  Balance of Trade
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the President of the Boa rd of Trade what recent assessment he has made of movements in the United Kingdom's balance of trade during the past 14 years.

  Mr. Needham
  The United Kingdom current account deficit as a percentage of GDP has averaged 0·6 per cent. over the last 14 years.

  In 1992, the United Kingdom had a current account deficit of £11·8 billion, equivalent to 2·3 per cent. of GDP. The deficit has been falling since 1989, when it peaked at 4·9 per cent. of GDP.

  The recent sterling depreciation gives United Kingdom producers a competitive edge against foreign producers in both export and domestic markets, provided they keep costs down and continue to raise their quality.

  Coal Mine Licensing Regime
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met representatives of the coal industry to discuss the mine licensing regime currently operating.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend and I meet representatives of the coal industry as necessary to discuss a range of issues including coal mine licensing.

  Development Areas
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many representations he has received to date about the redrawing of the development area map; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is my intention to issue a complete list of those individuals and organisations which have put forward views under the consultation arrangements, when 118
  the announcement of the new assisted areas map is made. The only exceptions will be any views put forward to us in confidence. All representations received which are not confidential are available for inspection at specified offices in my Department and the Scottish and Welsh Offices.

  Biomass
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about using biomass for energy generation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Numerous representations have been made about biomass as a renewable energy source both directly and through the consultation process for the Renewable Energy Advisory Group.

  Aerospace Industry
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now publish the report of his Department's aerospace committee on the future of the United Kingdom aerospace industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The report on the future of the United Kingdom aerospace industry prepared by DTI's aviation committee—the national strategic technology acquisition plan for aeronautics—contains commercially sensitive information and is, therefore, not available for publication.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those companies in the Corby area which have qualified for regional selective assistance since 1 April 1991 and the value of regional selective assistance in the same period.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In this period 1 April 1991 to 31 March 1993, the following companies in the Corby travel-to-work area accepted offers of regional selective assistance:

  Eismann International Ltd.

  Solway Foods Ltd.

  TLC Distribution (Corby) Ltd.

  Unit Two Glass Ltd.

  Zeller Plastik UK Ltd.

  The list is limited to those companies where details of their projects were publicised in the Employment Gazette.

  The value of regional selective assistance accepted by companies in the Corby travel-to-work area since 1 April 1991 is as follows:

  Value of RSA accepted

  £'000

  1991–92

  803

  1992–93

  588

  National Welsh Omnibus Services Ltd.
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 8 March,Official Report, column 408, if he has received the additional information and clarification requested from the receivers of the national Welsh bus company; and what further responses or actions he proposes.
  119
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The information requested from the administration receivers of National Welsh Omnibus Services Limited was received on 19 April 1993 and is currently under consideration by the insolvency service.

  Adtec (Wales) Ltd.
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has received the receiver's report on the insolvency of Adtec (Wales) Ltd.; and what further proposals for action he has.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The joint administrative receivers' return under rule 4 of the Insolvent Companies (Reports on Conduct of Directors) No. 2 Rules 1986, received on 7 January 1992, did not contain information making it expedient in the public interest to seek an order disqualifying the company's directors.

  Shipbuilding Intervention Fund
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes he proposes to make to the rules governing the shipbuilding intervention fund.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  As a result of representations made by the Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers Association, I have examined the rules of the shipbuilding intervention fund. Since the inception of the scheme in 1977, shipbuilders have not been allowed to make a profit on such contracts, which had to be taken at break-even prices. However, where a shipbuilder could show that he had made a profit as a result of an improvement in efficiency, he was allowed to retain 50 per cent. of the profit, the remainder being clawed back by the Department. I have now decided that it is desirable that shipbuilders should benefit from any profit they make, and the rules of the scheme have been simplified to allow grant from the fund to be paid at the maximum permitted level for the size of ship, less 2 per cent. for shipbuilders relief. based on the actual final cost, provided that the sum does not exceed the amount specified in the offer letter. The change took effect on 1 April.

HEALTH

  Breast Cancer
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will supply numbers and comparative rates for deaths and registrations of deaths by health authority districts in England and Wales on female breast cancer since the present district health authority areas were established.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table. Deaths included are those with an underlying cause of malignant neoplasm of the female breast—ICD 174 ninth revision—and district health authorities as constituted in 1991. The death rates are based on the DHA population estimates for 1986, except for the DHAs indicated which are based on 1991.

  District Health Authority

  Deaths from female breast cancer, 1982–1991

  Annual death rate per 10,000 females

  Northern RHA

  Hartlepool DHA

  224

  4·82

  North Tees DHA

  362

  4·04

  120

  District Health Authority

  Deaths from female breast cancer, 1982–1991

  Annual death rate per 10,000 females

  South Tees DHA

  607

  4·10

  East Cumbria DHA

  436

  4·76

  South Cumbria DHA

  434

  4·87

  West Cumbria DHA

  332

  4·80

  Darlington DHA

  297

  4·68

  Durham DHA

  546

  4·53

  North West Durham DHA

  231

  5·20

  South West Durham DHA

  410

  5·24

  Northumberland DHA

  728

  4·73

  Gateshead DHA

  509

  4·78

  Newcastle DHA

  742

  5·11

  North Tyneside DHA

  559

  5·57

  South Tyneside DHA

  405

  5·04

  Sunderland DHA

  648

  4·23

  Yorkshire RHA

  Hull DHA

  762

  4·83

  East Yorkshire DHA

  594

  6·07

  Grimsby DHA

  423

  5·22

  Scunthorpe DHA

  546

  5·53

  Northallerton DHA

  266

  4·77

  York DHA

  629

  4·73

  Scarborough DHA

  436

  5·81

  Harrogate DHA

  388

  5·53

  Bradford DHA

  718

  4·16

  Airedale DHA

  453

  5·06

  Calderdale DHA

  487

  4·88

  Huddersfield DHA

  526

  4·81

  Dewsbury DHA

  362

  4·30

  Wakefield DHA

  336

  4·61

  Pontefract DHA

  384

  4·51

  Leeds DHA

  1,729

  4·72

  Trent RHA

  North Derbyshire DHA

  969

  5·27

  Southern Derbyshire DHA

  1,448

  5·43

  Leicestershire DHA

  2,129

  4·81

  North Lincolnshire DHA

  755

  5·55

  South Lincolnshire DHA

  855

  5·61

  Bassetlaw DHA

  316

  6·02

  Central Nottinghamshire DHA

  742

  5·14

  Nottingham DHA

  1,669

  5·31

  Barnsley DHA

  534

  4·74

  Doncaster DHA

  724

  4·94

  Rotherham DHA

  573

  4·48

  Sheffield DHA

  1,480

  5·39

  East Anglian RHA

  Cambridge DHA

  693

  5·05

  Peterborough DHA

  487

  4·71

  West Suffolk DHA

  557

  4·92

  East Suffolk DHA

  840

  5·17

  Norwich DHA

  1,326

  5·53

  Great Yarmouth DHA

  594

  5·90

  West Norfolk and Wisbech DHA

  558

  5·96

  Huntingdon DHA

  204

  3·14

  North West Thames RHA

  North Bedfordshire DHA

  593

  4·82

  South Bedfordshire DHA

  577

  4·18

  North Hertfordshire DHA

  507

  5·36

  East Hertfordshire DHA

  742

  5·01

  North West Hertfordshire DHA

  619

  4·65

  South West Hertfordshire DHA

  682

  5·43

  Barnet DHA

  870

  5·48

  Harrow DHA

  517

  4·96

  Hillingdon DHA

  625

  5·27

  Hounslow and Spelthorne DHA

  730

  5·07

  Ealing DHA

  678

  4·50

  Parkside DHA

  186

  15·65

  Riverside DHA

  720

  4·72

  North East Thames RHA

  Basildon and Thurrock DHA

  674

  4·73

  Mid Essex DHA

  687

  4·71

  121

  District Health Authority

  Deaths from female breast cancer, 1982–1991

  Annual death rate per 10,000 females

  North East Essex DHA

  965

  6·27

  West Essex DHA

  709

  5·51

  Southend DHA

  1,073

  6·43

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood DHA

  1,352

  5·76

  Hampstead DHA

  323

  5·59

  City and Hackney DHA

  440

  4·45

  Newham DHA

  507

  4·81

  Tower Hamlets DHA

  378

  4·95

  Enfield DHA

  703

  5·11

  Haringey DHA

  468

  4·65

  Redbridge DHA

  699

  5·93

  Waltham Forest DHA

  611

  5·45

  Bloomsbury and Islington DHA

  150

  13·97

  South East names RHA

  Brighton DHA

  1,043

  6·62

  Eastbourne DHA

  870

  7·04

  Hastings DHA

  674

  7·58

  South East Kent DHA

  852

  6·25

  Canterbury and Thanet DHA

  1,006

  6·36

  Dartford and Gravesham DHA

  586

  5·25

  Maidstone DHA

  484

  4·89

  Medway DHA

  794

  4·84

  Tunbridge Wells DHA

  594

  5·85

  Bexley DHA

  568

  5·04

  Greenwich DHA

  572

  5·05

  Bromley DHA

  870

  5·70

  West Lambeth DHA

  383

  4·57

  Camberwell DHA

  535

  4·85

  Lc wish am and North Southwark DHA

  862

  5·21

  South West Thames RHA

  North West Surrey DHA

  570

  5·37

  West Surrey and North East Hampshire DHA

  599

  4·34

  South West Surrey DHA

  520

  5·49

  Mid Surrey DHA

  549

  6·30

  East Surrey DHA

  592

  6·18

  Chichester DHA

  698

  7·36

  Mid Downs DHA

  764

  5·48

  Worthing DHA

  943

  7·15

  Croydon DHA

  780

  4·79

  Kingston and Esher DHA

  536

  5·79

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton DHA

  695

  5·74

  Wandsworth DHA

  462

  4·76

  Merton and Sutton DHA

  1,013

  5·83

  Wessex RHA

  East Dorset DHA

  1,654

  7·07

  West Dorset DHA

  611

  6·04

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire DHA

  1,349

  5·08

  Southampton and South West Hampshire DHA

  1,151

  5·41

  Winchester DHA

  560

  5·34

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire DHA

  466

  4·28

  Salisbury DHA

  343

  5·49

  Swindon DHA

  473

  4·07

  Bath DHA

  1,075

  5·31

  Isle of Wight DHA

  425

  6·50

  Oxford RHA

  East Berkshire DHA

  833

  4·58

  West Berkshire DHA

  999

  4·51

  Aylesbury Vale DHA

  324

  4·52

  Wycombe DHA

  709

  5·14

  Milton Keynes DHA

  278

  3·42

  Kettering DHA

  668

  5·16

  Northampton DHA

  731

  4·78

  Oxfordshire DHA

  1,225

  4·54

  122

  District Health Authority

  Deaths from female breast cancer, 1982–1991

  Annual death rate per 10,000 females

  South Western RHA

  Bristol and Weston DHA

  1,013

  5·35

  Frenchay DHA

  588

  5·23

  Southmead DHA

  612

  5·17

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly DHA

  1,406

  6·01

  Exeter DHA

  956

  6·06

  North Devon DHA

  380

  5·64

  Plymouth DHA

  815

  4·91

  Torbay DHA

  916

  7·26

  Cheltenham and District DHA

  583

  5·37

  Gloucester DHA

  895

  5·67

  Somerset DHA

  1,270

  6·20

  West Midlands RHA

  Bromsgrove and Redditch DHA

  380

  4·60

  Herefordshire DHA

  480

  6·16

  Kidderminster and District DHA

  242

  4·69

  Worcester and District DHA

  697

  5·76

  Shropshire DHA

  997

  5·03

  Mid Staffordshire DHA

  740

  4·77

  North Staffordshire DHA

  1,335

  5·69

  South East Staffordshire DHA

  632

  4·98

  South Warwickshire DHA

  623

  5·46

  East Birmingham DHA

  538

  5·37

  North Birmingham DHA

  498

  5·97

  West Birmingham DHA

  506

  4·74

  Coventry DHA

  739

  4·72

  Dudley DHA

  783

  5·14

  Sandwell DHA

  844

  5·48

  Solihull DHA

  512

  4·96

  Walsall DHA

  716

  5·42

  Wolverhampton DHA

  670

  5·27

  South Birmingham DHA

  1,186

  5·44

  North East Warwickshire DHA

  637

  4·92

  Mersey RHA

  Chester DHA

  482

  5·28

  Crewe DHA

  630

  5·02

  Halton DHA

  346

  4·78

  Macclesfield DHA

  499

  5·42

  Warrington DHA

  437

  4·76

  Liverpool DHA

  1,282

  5·12

  St. Helens and Knowsley DHA

  768

  4·26

  Southport and Formby DHA

  394

  6·27

  South Sefton DHA

  445

  4·77

  Wirral DHA

  994

  5·38

  North Western RHA

  Lancaster DHA

  363

  5·38

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde DHA

  1,049

  6·23

  Preston DHA

  305

  4·74

  Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley DHA

  654

  4·72

  Burnley Pendle and Rossendale DHA

  534

  4·54

  West Lancashire DHA

  252

  4·60

  Chorley and South Ribble DHA

  502

  5·12

  Bolton DHA

  632

  4·72

  Bury DHA

  499

  5·62

  North Manchester DHA

  391

  5·29

  Central Manchester DHA

  280

  4·54

  South Manchester DHA

  471

  5·01

  Oldham DHA

  580

  5·15

  Rochdale DHA

  509

  4·65

  Salford DHA

  678

  5·52

  Stockport DHA

  794

  5·29

  Tameside and Glossop DHA

  661

  5·25

  Trafford DHA

  586

  5·22

  Wigan DHA

  739

  4·72

  Wales

  Clwyd DHA

  1,225

  5·92

  East Dyfed DHA

  691

  5·86

  Pembrokeshire DHA

  278

  4·86

  Gwent DHA

  1,176

  5·21

  123

  District Health Authority

  Deaths from female breast cancer, 1982–1991

  Annual death rate per 10,000 females

  Gwynedd DHA

  754

  6·19

  Mid Glamorgan DHA

  1,404

  5·13

  Powys DHA

  321

  5·69

  South Glamorgan DHA

  1,042

  5·11

  West Glamorgan DHA

  996

  5·30

  1 Areas reconstituted in 1990 and mortality data available only for 1991.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect on the care for sufferers of Alzheimer's disease of the new community care programme; and what representations she has received from the Alzheimer's Disease Society.

  Mr. Yeo
  The new community care arrangements give local authorities an opportunity to improve support for all groups, including people with Alzheimer's disease.

  Prescriptions (Limited List)
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanism the Government proposes for the expansion of the limited list; and what effects he expects this expansion to have on the health of patients.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Government have identified 10 additional categories of drugs for the selected list scheme. Decisions on which individual drugs may no longer be available on national health service prescription will be taken on the advice of the independent Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs. This will ensure that drugs to meet real clinical needs can be provided as economically as possible under the NHS. The health of patients will not be adversely affected.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made on the effect of the United Kingdom pharmaceutical industry and the consequent effect on public expenditure of the limited list changes in respect of drugs active on the skin.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The selected list scheme is intended to help control the rise in the national health service drugs bill. The decision to extend the scheme to include additional categories of drugs, including drugs acting on the skin, will strengthen this objective and help to limit the growth of public expenditure. We cannot at this stage assess the specific effect of the selected list scheme separately from the many other factors influencing the pharmaceutical industry in the United Kingdom and other markets.

  Resource Management
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total cost to date of introducing resource management in England; and what is current annual cost benefit return on the investment.

  Mr. Sackville
  The total of funds made available in the years 1988–89 to 1993–94 to regional and special health authorities to introduce resource management will be £293·584 million.
  124
  The resource management programme aims to secure improvements in patient care through better management of resources at hospital level and is not concerned solely with financial benefits. Assessment of benefits is an integral part of resource management projects in individual hospitals, but there has been no comprehensive national survey of those assessments.

  Fire Certificates
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will consider holding centrally information on national health service premises which fail to hold a valid fire certificate.

  Mr. Sackville
  Local fire authorities are responsible for enforcing fire precautions in those parts of national health service premises designated under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 which require a fire certificate. It would be inappropriate for this information to be collected by the Department.

  For clinical areas and other parts of hospitals not requiring a fire certificate general managers and chief executives are required to confirm to the Department that their fire precaution arrangements have been agreed with the local fire authority.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the review team on mental illness in the community to report; and whether community treatment orders on schizophrenic patients will be considered by the review team.

  Mr. Yeo
  The terms of our review of the case for new legal powers relating to the care of mentally ill people in the community were announced in the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier) on 13 January, col.731. The team has been asked to complete its work by July. It will take account of the full range of views which have been submitted on this subject.

  Drugs Bill
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total cost of the national health service drugs bill, expressed in 1992–93 prices, in each year since 1982.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is shown in the table. The total national health service drugs bill comprises expenditure by the family health services and the hospital' and community health services.

  NHS Drugs Bill—England

  £ million

  Year

  FHS

  HCHS

  Total

  1982–83

  1,736

  421

  2,157

  1983–84

  1,859

  438

  2,297

  1984–85

  1,865

  436

  2,301

  1985–86

  1,892

  440

  2,332

  1986–87

  1,982

  458

  2,440

  1987–88

  2,094

  480

  2,574

  1988–89

  2,216

  483

  2,699

  1989–90

  2,316

  493

  2,809

  1990–91

  2,296

  508

  2,804

  1991–92

  2,398

  612

  3,010

  Note: 1992–93 figures are not yet available.

  Russia and Kazakhstan
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her recent visit to Russia and Kazakhstan.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There is much appreciation of the British health care system in both Russia and Kazakhstan. Both countries wish to take advantage of British know how in health care.

  In Moscow I had lengthy and very encouraging discussions with Colonel General Nechaev, the new Health Minister, who is head of both the military and civil health systems. We signed the new health co-operation agreement which provides a sound basis for future co-operation. There was also great interest in the operation of the national health service in the United Kingdom and the recent health reforms. I have therefore invited Colonel General Nechaev to London to see the operation of the NHS at first hand.

  Colonel General Nechaev accompanied me to Ekaterinburg in the Urals region of Sverdlovsk. This is the main centre of activity of the British Health Care Consortium which is offering the local government a complete health care package through an ingenious system of counter trade. The NHS, through NHS Overseas Enterprises, is also providing expert planning advice and training in health care management.

  I was delighted to be able to announce the extension of the know-how fund into health care management and Ekaterinburg as one of the areas to receive help. The activities I saw underline the importance of this development.

  In Almaty I had a 40-minute meeting with President Nazerbayev of Kazakhstan. The President is keen to put more substance into his country's relations with Britain and to see British industry involved in the health care sector. I had meetings with Mr. Devyatko, the Health Minister and signed a joint declaration on relations in the health care field. The consortium also signed a collaborative agreement with the Ministry of Health and Amersham International signed a protocol on vaccine production.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what national health service trusts allow community health councils to attend board meetings as observers;

  (2) which national health service trusts hold their regular board meetings in public.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  National health service trusts are obliged by law to hold at least one public meeting each year and local community health councils retain the right to visit trust facilities. We are aware that many trusts go beyond the legal requirements on public access. However, provided that the legal requirements are met, the frequency of public meetings and attendance at them is a matter for individual trusts and the detailed information requested is not available centrally.

  Youth Treatment Service
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will publish the report of the advisory group on the youth treatment service; and if she will make a statement.
  126
  Mr. Yeo
  The first annual report is being published today, and copies have been placed in the Library. I welcome the publication of this report and I am grateful to the chairman, Mrs. Winifred Tumim, and her group for producing a constructive and helpful summary of the issues.

  The report demonstrates that the youth treatment service has made good progress since the events which led to the setting up of the group. I am confident that under the new management arrangements for the service introduced last April, progress will continue. The Government are committed to ensuring that children and young people are treated properly wherever they live; and the recommendations in this report should help to ensure that the rights of young people in the youth treatment service continue to be adequately safeguarded. I have asked the chief executive of the service to implement the recommendations, and he has reflected this in his service annual plan for 1993–94, copies of which are also being placed in the Library.

  Medical Work Force
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will accept the recommendations of the medical manpower standing advisory committee contained in its report, "Planning the Medical Workforce".

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I am pleased to be able to announce that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has accepted this Committee's recommendations and has written to Professor Campbell, the chairman of the Medical Manpower Standing Advisory Committee, today to thank him and the committee for their helpful report. The target intake for medical students in the United Kingdom will be increased to 4,470 from October 1994.

  NHS Review
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 23 November 1992,Official Report, column 503, if she will now announce the results of the review of her Department's requirements for information from the NHS.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In order to reduce the burden of form-filling on the national health service, it has been decided that the Department will no longer require the NHS to provide the following returns:

  KH18 Maternity services: GP maternity clinics (only, relates to the few clinics held in hospitals).

  KP20 Summary of ward stays (provides an inappropriate measure of activity)

  KP72 Regular day and night admissions (this information is not used centrally)

  FR19 Purchase of health care from non-NHS bodies and grants to voluntary bodies (this information is not used centrally)

  FR26 Analysis of stocks (this information is not used centrally)

  FR27 Fixed Assets (this information is not used centrally) MAO1 Provider activity (this monthly information was collected on a trial basis and is no longer required for management purposes)

  It has also been agreed that the detailed content of other returns should continue to be reviewed to ensure that the burden on the NHS is fully justified. Changes to take effect in April 1994 will be announced in due course.

  Inheritances
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Registrar General will release personal information from the returns from censuses less than 100 years old to assist individuals establish their entitlement to an inheritance.

  Mr. Sackville
  Census returns for England and Wales which are less than 100 years old are closed to public inspection. Those from the 1921 and more recent censuses are in the custody of the Registrar General and are subject to the Census (Confidentiality) Act 1991. The Registrar General does not release any personal information from the returns for those censuses as long as they are in his custody.

  The returns from the 1901 and 1911 censuses have been deposited at the Public Records Office. There is statutory provision for a record held by the Public Records Office to be inspected if special authority is given.

  Under concessions previously announced to the House, information on an individual's age and place of birth is made available from the 1901 census on application to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and for a charge corresponding to the cost of supplying it. This is conditional on the consent of the person concerned or of a direct descendant in the case of a deceased person, or next of kin if the person died childless. This facility is also available to a public administrator trustee seeking a beneficiary under a will.

  The Registrar General has reviewed his practice. While he is not prepared to extend to the 1911 census returns the concession which applies to the 1901 census, he would be willing to consider particular applications for information to be extracted from those returns if it would enable the applicant to establish a legal entitlement such as an inheritance. Such authority would be given only where the information is not available from any other source and is clearly requisite for establishing the entitlement in question. The Registrar General would wish to be fully satisfied from documentary evidence as to the identity of the applicant. Where the desired information from the census form relates to a living person other than the applicant, that person's consent would be required before the information would be released.

  The same conditions would apply to applications for information from the 1901 census which went beyond the existing concession relating to age and birthplace.

  The applicant would be required to meet the cost of making the search and, where the search is successful, of supplying the information.
  128
  These arrangements do not constitute any diminution of the confidentiality accorded to the records in conformity with the assurances printed on the forms of return for the censuses in question.

  Knee Replacement Implants
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State of Health what plans she has to issue advice to patients regarding the most reliable knee replacement implants.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 16 April at column 745.

  Care and Adoption, Barnsley
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were(a) taken into care by Barnsley metropolitan borough council, (b) placed for adoption by that authority against the wishes of the parents and (c) placed for adoption during each year since 1990, and in the current year to date.

  Mr. Yeo
  In the year ending 31 March 1991, 197 children came into the care of Barnsley metropolitan borough council. A child may have more than one legal status in a year; in terms of the last legal status recorded, 132 children were received into care under section 2 of the Child Care Act 1980, 52 were committed to care by court order, and 13 remanded or detained in care.

  In respect of children placed for adoption, the information available centrally is the number of children who were in care and had been placed for adoption. At 31 March 1991, two children had been placed for adoption. Information is not available centrally on whether the children were placed for adoption against the wishes of the parents.

  Information about the children looked after by Barnsley metropolitan borough council for the period ending 31 March 1992 is still being processed; I will write to the hon. Member giving details when they are available. Information relating to the year ended 31 March 1993 is not due to be returned to the Department until 30 June 1993.

  At-risk Register, Barnsley
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children are currently on the at-risk register in Barnsley metropolitan borough.

  Mr. Yeo
  There were 373 children on the child protection register in Barnsley metropolitan borough at 31 March 1992. Information relating to 31 March 1993 is not, due to be returned to the Department until 31 May 1993.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was(a) the number and (b) percentage of persons out of work and eligible to claim benefit in the Cunninghame, North constituency in each month since June 1987.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Unemployment rates are not available for parlimentary constituencies. The smallest geographical areas for which unemployment rates are officially compiled are travel-to-work areas.

  Information on the number of persons in each month claiming unemployment related benefits in the Cunninghame, North constituency can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.

  These figures are on the unadjusted basis and therefore subject to seasonal influences and changes in the coverage of the count over the period.

  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been unemployed for more than one year.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In January 1993, the latest date for which figures are available, 1,030,283 claimants in the United Kingdom had been unemployed for over one year. These figures are on the unadjusted basis.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will bring forward proposals to prevent discrimination on grounds of age for those aged between 40 and 64 years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Employers who discriminate on the grounds of age miss out on the skills, experience and commitment which older people can bring to a job. Age, however, can affect different people's abilities to do different jobs in different ways. Legislation which attempted to provide for this would be difficult to draft and impossible to enforce. I am confident that the recently formed advisory group on older workers, which I chair, will help greatly in persuading employers who discriminate that it is in their own best interests to treat everyone on their merits, regardless of their age.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in the number of jobs in the construction industry over the last five-year period.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Between December 1987 and December 1992 the number of employees in the construction industry in the United Kingdom fell by 149,000.

  High Technology Training
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average weekly unit price of HTNT; and what was the average length of a course.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The planned average weekly unit cost of high technology national training payments to trainees, was £75 per trainee in 1992–93. The average length of a course in the same year was 49 weeks.
  130

  Careers Guidance (Diploma)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people are presently training for part I of the diploma for careers guidance, both full and part-time;

  (2) how many people currently on the part I diploma for careers guidance courses are (a) seconded by employers, (b) in receipt of local education authority awards, (c) in receipt of a local government management board training award and (d) self-financing.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The diploma in careers guidance is the responsibility of the local government management board, the advisory body to local authorities, although my Department makes a contribution towards funding some students. I have obtained from it the following information:

  Numbers

  Number of students, including part-time, currently taking part I of Diploma in Careers Guidance

  508

  Of these, the number

  (a) seconded by employers (LEAs)1

  138

  (b) in receipt of LEA grant

  158

  (c) in receipt of LGMB Training Award

  84

  (d) self-financing

  128

  1 Funding source may be LEA alone, or combined with LGMB or Employment Department.

  These figures apply to the United Kingdom and are for courses commenced in September/October 1992 and in January/February 1993. They are based on the registration forms completed by students.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when he expects to reply to the third report of the Select Committee on Procedure, Session 1990–91, on Parliamentary Questions (HC 178).

  Mr. Newton
  I hope to submit the Government's response in the near future.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Food Research Institutes
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the institutes of food research which have closed since 1979, with their respective dates of closure.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Bristol laboratory of the Institute of Food Research, formerly the AFRC Meat Research Institute, closed on 31 December 1990.

  Institute of Food Research
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list total Government expenditure on the Institute of Food Research for each year from 1978–79 to 1992–93 in(a) cash and (b) constant prices; and if he will set out projected Government expenditure on the Institute of Food Research for each year from 1993–94 to 1996–97 in (i) cash and (ii) constant prices.
  131
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  The Institute of Food Research did not come into being until the financial year 1985–86. Food research was previously carried out in the Meat Research Institute, Food Research Institute and the National Institute for Research in Dairying which were amalgamated into the Institute of Food Research. Recurrent science budget expenditure in the Institute of Food Research and its pre-cursors from 1978–79 is given in the table:

  Year

  Cash prices £ million

  Constant prices £ million

  1978–79

  5·4

  15·0

  1979–80

  6·3

  15·0

  1980–81

  8·0

  16·1

  1981–82

  9·5

  17·5

  1982–83

  10·3

  17·7

  1983–84

  10·8

  17·8

  1984–85

  11·6

  18·2

  1985–86

  9·6

  14·3

  1986–87

  10·7

  15·4

  1987–88

  10–9

  15·0

  1988–89

  11·4

  14·5

  1989–90

  11·4

  13·6

  1990–91

  11·3

  12–8

  1991–92

  10·9

  11·3

  1992–93

  11·8

  11–8

  11993–94

  11·7

  11·4

  1 Planned.

  Figures for the years 1994–95 to 1996–97 are not available.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Supplies
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will separately identify the nuclear supplies and services referred to at paragraph 2 of the introduction in his Department's Supply Estimates 1993–94, class I, vote 3; and if he will make a statement as to why those items have not been identified in the estimate.

  Mr. Aitken
  It would not be in the national interest to reveal the cost of the defence nuclear programme. For this reason such costs are not separately identified in supply estimates.

  Military Equipment
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the liability in relation to the supply of military equipment to an overseas Government referred to in paragraph 11(c) of the introduction to his Department's Supply Estimates 1993–94, class I, vote 3; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to the Command Paper (Cmnd 9746) of 26 February 1986, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Ozone-depleting Substances
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) of 15 March,Official Report, column 73, if he will list the critical applications of ozone-depleting substances considered essential to his
  132
  Department's work; what are the annual amounts of each substance involved in each application; and to what extent there are any losses to the atmosphere of process emissions.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department considers only those applications of ozone-depleting substances that meet the following UNEP halon technical options committee essential use criteria as critical:"A critical need must exist to minimise damage due to fire, explosions or extinguishing agent application, which would otherwise result in serious impairment of an essential service to society, or pose an unacceptable threat to life, the environment, or national security; and
  All other appropriate fire protection measures have been taken".

  These applications can be found in, inter alia, installed equipments on ships, aircraft and in armoured vehicles. This list is under continuous review. Some 252 tonnes of halons and 425 tonnes of CFCs will be banked to support these critical applications. To preserve these and stocks within systems stringent measures are in place to reduce emissions to the atmosphere.

  D-Notice Committee
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current membership of the D-Notice Committee; and what salary is paid to each member.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The membership of the Defence, Press and Broadcasting Committee is as follows:

  Chairman

  Sir Christopher France, KCB, Permanent Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence

  Vice-Chairman

  A. C. D. Stuart, Esq, former Editor-in-Chief, Thomson Regional Newspapers1

  Government representatives

  Sir Clive Whitmore, KCB, CVO, Permanent Under-Secretary of State, Home Office

  Moray Stewart, Esq, CB, Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence

  Sir Timothy Daunt, KCMG, Deputy Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Press and broadcasting representatives

  J. D. Bishop, Esq, Editor-in-Chief, Illustrated London News Group2

  G. Elliott, Esq, Editor, "The News", Portsmouth1

  R. Hutchinson, Esq, Publishing Director, Jane's Information Group2

  S. Kuttner, Esq, Managing Editor, "News of the World" 3

  E. J. Laird, Esq, Editor-in-Chief, "Daily Record & Sunday Mail", Glasgow4

  S. Purvis, Esq, Editor-in-Chief, Independent Television News

  B. Shrimsley, Esq, Associate Editor, "Daily Express"3

  D. Trelford, Esq, Editor, "The Observer"3

  C. T. Webb, Esq, Editor-in-Chief, The Press Association5

  To be nominated, British Broadcasting Corporation

  Secretary

  Rear Admiral D. M. Pulvertaft, CB

  Note: None of the representative members of the Committee receive any remuneration for the services to the Committee.

  Note:1 Representing The Newspaper Society.

  2 Representing The Periodical Publishers Association.

  3 Representing The Newspaper Publishers Association.
  133
  4 Representing The Scottish Daily Newspaper Society.

  5Representing The Press Association.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often the D-Notice Committee met in the past 12 months.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Defence, Press and Broadcasting Committee met twice in 1992; on 29 April and 20 October. I understand that its next meeting is scheduled for 6 May.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the review of the D-Notice Committee procedures to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I understand that the Defence, Press and Broadcasting Committee will be considering the progress of the D-notice review when it meets in early May.

  Civil Serviice Relocation
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it remains his policy to transfer 700 defence-related jobs from the south of England to Glasgow as part of the Government's civil service dispersal programme.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No final decision has yet been taken on the location of the Army personnel centre, but Glasgow remains a candidate to receive this work. If Glasgow is chosen, jobs will be relocated from the midlands and the north as well as the south of England.

  Guards Officers
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to exclude consideration of the socio-economic group of the parents of guardsmen when appointments to officer rank are made.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Commissions throughout the Army are awarded on the basis of merit. Selection for individual regiments is based upon the discretion of the regimental colonel, who may well take account of how well an individual applicant is likely to fit into the ethos of a particular regiment. In the case of the Guards, some 18 per cent. of the total number of officers have been commissioned from the ranks.

  RAF Hangar (Cosford)
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much it will cost to convert the RAF hangar at Cosford which at present contains the indoor running track for use as an aircraft technical training facility.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Conversion work is to be put out to contract and disclosure of estimated costs would comprise the tender process. A financial appraisal indicated however that the cost of converting the hangar would be less than half the cost of providing new functional accommodation.

  Telecommunications Aerials
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he has had with telecommunications companies concerning the erection of telecommunication aerials for use by organisations other than his Department;

  (2) how many telecommunication aerials have been constructed on his Department's property for use by private companies in the last five years; and where they are sited.

  Mr. Aitken
  It is our policy to encourage the use of our facilities by private companies where this is compatible with defence needs. Details of these numerous arrangements are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Airbus
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he proposes to purchase a version of the European airbus for the role of multi-role tanker transport; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will investigate the prospects of adapting the airbus series of jets for military roles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The RAF will need to replace its VC-10 tanker transport fleet early next century. A number of commercial passenger aircraft types, including Airbus variants, could be suitable for conversion. It will be some time, however, before the draft requirement is ready to be discussed with industry, and Airbus will then be fully considered.

  Service Children's Schools
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the key targets for 1993–94 which have been set for the Service Children's Schools (North West Europe) Defence Agency.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The chief executive of Service Children's Schools (North West Europe)—SCS (NWE) —has been set the following key targets for 1993–94, the agency's third year of operation:

  1. To continue the implementation, so far as is feasible in the British Forces Germany (BFG) situation, of the Education Reform Act to the statutory timetable laid down for England and Wales by:

  (a) Introducing the National Curriculum to SCS (NWE) by subject and Key Stage.

  (b) Introducing pupil assessment by subject and Key Stage.

  (c) Implementing Teacher Appraisal.

  2. To continue to implement the SCS (NWE) "Schools for the Future" Development Plan in line with BFG drawdown and to action the following:

  (a) Issue guidance regarding the admission of Non-Entitled pupils and adult learners.

  (b) Make provision for support services to schools during, and beyond the drawdown process.

  (c) Implement child protection procedures in all remaining schools.

  (d) Work towards improved provision for pre-school children with special needs.

  (e) Implement the Service Children's Education Authority policy and procedures for health and safety in schools.

  3. To produce Management and School Development Plans reflecting the introduction of Local Management of Schools

  135
  into SCS (NWE) to enable "taut" full cost financial and management planning within an agreed budget and to achieve annual efficiency savings of at least 3 per cent.

  4. To maintain the overall pass rate at GCSE (grades A-G) and to improve the proportion of students gaining 'A' level grades A-E by 2 percentage points, and to achieve an 80 per cent. pass rate in BTEC First Diploma courses, whilst extending the range of vocational courses available to post 16 students as alternatives to 'A' level courses, to attract a larger proportion of 16–19 and mature students.

  5. To ensure that all teachers meet at least 2 of the 4 qualification match criteria for their post with at least 95 per cent. meeting 3 and 90 per cent. all 4. The criteria are:

  (a) A recognised professional qualification.

  (b) Relevant specialist subject to phase qualifications.

  (c) Broad and relevant previous teaching experience.

  (d) Relevant post-entry in-service training.

  6. To continue to implement Parents Charter requirements for:

  (a) An annual progress report to parents.

  (b) A transfer report on change of school.

  (c) Keeping parents informed of relevant education developments.

  (d) Standard Attainment Test and external examination results reported to parents annually.

  (e) The introduction of parental choice of schools in SCS(NEW).

  7. To submit an application for a Charter Mark by 30 June 1993

  8. To develop the role of Schools Advisory Committees including training members in order to match their function with Governing Bodies of schools in United Kingdom.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Means-tested Benefits
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 March Official Report, column 420, showing the numbers and percentages of families receiving one or more means-tested benefit in 1979 and 1991, what are the comparable figures for single people without children; and whether the percentages in his reply refer to supplementary benefit/income support caseload or the specified demogrant groups.

  Mr. Burt
  Information in percentage terms cannot be given as there are no figures available for the total population of single people without children. Other information is in the table.

  Single people without children

  Recipients (000's)

  Benefit

  1979

  1991

  Supplementary Benefit (SB)/Income Support (IS) including those with Housing Benefit (HB) and Community Charge Benefit (CCB);.

  1,970

  2,826

  Housing Benefit including those with CCB but not those with IS.

  —

  1,156

  Community Charge Benefit not including those with IS or HB.

  —

  881

  All single people without children in receipt of one or more means-tested benefit.

  1,970

  4,863

  Notes:

  1. All figures rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. There are no overlaps between the categories of recipients shown.

  3. Housing Benefit and Community Charge did not exist in 1979.

  Source:

  Supplementary Benefits—Annual Statistical Enquiry May 1979.

  Income Support—Annual Statistical Enquiry May 1991.

  Housing Benefit/Community Charge Benefit—Management Information System (Annual 1 per cent. sample) May 1991.
  136

  Lost Giro Cheques
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average time for the replacement of a lost Giro cheque.

  Miss Widdecombe
  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.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the most recently available figure for the housing benefit live load in each district of Northamptonshire; and what are the costs involved.

  Mr. Burt
  The latest information available is as follows:

  Authority

  Caseload February 1993

  Benefit expenditure 1991–92 (£ thousand)

  Corby

  5,087

  4,865

  Daventry

  2,855

  2,826

  East Northamptonshire

  3,444

  3,223

  Kettering

  4,536

  5,423

  Northampton

  112,366

  17,665

  South Northamptonshire

  2,616

  3,010

  Wellingborough

  4,814

  5,257

  1 November 1992.

  Sources: Housing Benefit Management Information System 1991–92 Final Claims.

  Child Support Act 1991
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements he has made to exempt women resident in refuges for battered women from having to go through the Child Support Act 1991 procedures in order to give evidence that harm and undue distress may result from the fathers of their children being pursued for maintenance.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Bow and Poplar (Ms Gordon) on 11 March at column 697.

  Bronchitis and Emphysema
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to implement the Industrial Advisory Council recommendations with respect to chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 29 March 1993 at column 77.

  Ms Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when forms for claims for occupational health benefits for miners in respect of emphysema and bronchitis will be available in all DSS and Benefits Agency offices.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of social security 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.
  137
  Letter from Michael Bichard to Ms Helen Jackson, dated 20 April 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking when forms for claims for occupational health benefits for miners in respect of emphysema and bronchitis will be available in all DHSS and benefits agency offices.
  As announced in the House of Commons on 29 March, the Government propose to extend the list of prescribed diseases to include chronic bronchitis and emphysema in relation to underground coal miners. This change is intended to take effect from 13 September 1993. Claims can be made for disablement under the industrial injuries scheme at any time, but claims for these diseases made before the change takes effect will not be successful District Offices will have full instructions and claim forms will be available in good time for the start date.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also appear in the Library.

  SERPS
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the long-term savings which will arise as the result of the phasing out of the best 20 years rule for calculating SERPS pensions.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The best available estimate' is as follows:

  Savings £ billion2

  1993–94

  0

  2003–2004

  0

  2013–2014

  0

  2023–2024

  3

  2033–2034

  8

  2043–2044

  11

  2053–2054

  13

  1 Supplied by the Government Actuary's Department

  2 Approximate savings at April 1989 prices.

  Income Support
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 1 April,Official Report, column 419, if he will give a breakdown of the number of claimants and dependants on income support by standard region; and if he will give equivalent figures for the past three years.

  Mr. Burt
  Such information as is available is in the tables. The latest year for which regional figures are available is 1991.

  Income support recipients claimants, partners and dependants

  000s

  Region

  Claimants

  Partners

  Dependants

  1989

  North Eastern

  684

  133

  362

  London North

  607

  104

  319

  South Western

  268

  41

  111

  Wales

  246

  44

  123

  Midlands

  668

  130

  365

  North Western

  662

  115

  366

  Scotland

  486

  81

  232

  London South

  540

  77

  261

  138

  Region

  Claimants

  Partners

  Dependants

  Great Britain

  4,161

  724

  2,138

  1990

  North Eastern

  674

  122

  341

  London North

  638

  107

  348

  South Western

  274

  43

  115

  Wales

  248

  44

  133

  Midlands

  665

  123

  362

  North Western

  643

  105

  356

  Scotland

  481

  70

  226

  London South

  558

  78

  271

  Great Britain

  4,180

  691

  2,151

  1991

  North Eastern

  688

  121

  406

  London North

  735

  131

  424

  South Western

  310

  59

  155

  Wales

  257

  46

  138

  Midlands

  699

  131

  403

  North Western

  669

  105

  381

  Scotland

  487

  69

  249

  London South

  641

  101

  342

  Great Britain

  4,487

  763

  2,497

  Sources:

  Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiries, May 1989, 1990, 1991.

  Notes:

  1. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand, and so may not sum to the totals given.

  2. Information is not available for the standard statistical regions. Figures are therefore given by Social Security regions.

  3. "Partners" are people living with the claimant as a married couple.

  4. "Dependants" are young people aged under 19 who live in the parental home.

  Investigations
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 16 March,Official Report, column 214, how many of the cases of social security investigations in (a) England and (b) Yorkshire and Humberside resulted in identified overpayments (i) inclusive of prosecutions for fraud and (ii) exclusive of prosecutions for fraud.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The administration of benefit fraud is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. David Hinchliffe,. dated 20 April 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 1993, Official Report, column 214, how many of the cases of social security investigations in (a) England and (b) Yorkshire and Humberside resulted in identified overpayments (i) inclusive of prosecutions for fraud and (ii) exclusive of prosecutions for fraud.
  The last full year for which figures are available is the year ending 31 March 1992. The figures for the year ending 31 March 1993 will shortly be available and I will be pleased to write to you again with these details when I receive them. However, during the year ending 31 March 1992 a total of 40,674 investigations in England resulted in an identified

  139
  overpayment. Included in this figure are 5,685 identified overpayments in the Yorkshire and Humberside area. I am unable to provide details of those overpayment cases that resulted in prosecution for fraud as our statistics are not kept in this way.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what percentage of budgeting loans in Nottinghamshire in 1992–93 were refused because the applicant has not received income support for 26 weeks;

  (2) how many applications for (a) a local social fund review and (b) a social fund inspectorate review were made from claimants in North, West and East Nottinghamshire Benefit Agency offices during 1992–93; and what percentage in each case were successful;

  (3) how many applicants (a) for a community care grant were offered a budgeting loan instead and (b) for a social fund loan were offered a community care grant, in Nottinghamshire in 1992–93;

  (4) how many crisis loans and budgeting loans were allocated in Nottinghamshire during 1992–93.

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

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Alan Simpson, dated 20 April 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to four of your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the operation of the Social Fund in Nottinghamshire. All figures provided are for the period 1 April 1992 to 28 February 1993, the latest period for which information is available.
  The percentages of budgeting loan applications refused because the applicant had not been in receipt of Income Support for 26 weeks are 10·6% for East Nottinghamshire District, 13·9% for North Nottinghamshire District and 9·4% for West Nottinghamshire District.
  Figures relating to the number of applications for review and the percentage which resulted in an increased award are in Annex A.
  I am unable to answer the Question as to how many applicants for a community care grant were offered a budgeting loan as such information is not kept as a matter of course. However, I can advise you that 834 loan applications in the three Nottinghamshire Districts have resulted in the award of a grant.
  The total number of crisis loans awarded by the three Nottinghamshire Districts is 9,606 and that for budgeting loans is 12,737.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Annex A

  Data for the period 1 April 1992 to 28 February 1993

  East Notts.

  North Notts.

  West Notts.

  1. Applications for local review

  1,216

  654

  1,256

  Percentage where award increased at stage 1

  14·1

  12·1

  28·5

  Percentage where award increased at stage 2

  16·0

  11·0

  8·4

  2. Applications for SFI review

  140

  58

  109

  Percentage where award increased

  22·9

  19·0

  37·6

  140
  Notes:

  Stage 1. Review conducted in the office, usually by the officer who made the original decision.

  Stage 2. Reviews which do not result wholly in the applicant's favour are referred automatically to a higher grade officer, who determines the application afresh.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) which benefit agencies were able to pay crisis loans only towards the end of the 1992–93 financial year;

  (2) what is the administrative cost of (a) a crisis loan allocation and (b) a budgeting loan allocation;

  (3) what were the (a) percentage success rates for crisis loans and (b) average community care grants paid for (i) East Nottinghamshire benefit agency and (ii) North Nottinghamshire benefit agency for 1991–92; and what analysis has been made of the reasons underlying the differences;

  (4) what were the percentage success rates for (a) community care grants and (b) budgeting loans for 1991–92 for Nottinghamshire benefit agency offices; and what are the reasons for the difference.

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

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Alan Simpson, dated 20 April 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to four of your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Social Fund.
  Two of your questions relate to the national situation. Firstly, the latest available costings for processing applications for crisis loans and budgeting loans are £18·95 and £12·06 respectively. Applications include awards and refusals. You will appreciate that the costs of administering a discretionary scheme are high, as each application involves a comprehensive consideration of the applicant's individual circumstances.
  Secondly, you also asked about Benefits Agency Districts which were only paying crisis loans towards the end of the 1992–93 financial year. I can confirm that all Districts continued throughout the year to meet all the highest priority applications generally.
  Your other questions asked for information specific to Districts in Nottinghamshire. The average community care grant paid by East Nottinghamshire District in 1991–92 was £284. The figure for North Nottinghamshire was £255.
  Details of percentage success rates for crisis loans, community care grants and budgeting loans for the Nottinghamshire Districts during the 1991–92 financial year, are given in Annex A.
  It is inevitable that there will be some variation in numbers and amounts of awards in a discretionary scheme like the Social Fund. I should emphasise that the vast majority of community care grant refusals are because the application fails to meet the basic criteria for an award.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Annex A

  Percentage success rates for crisis loans, community care grants and budgeting loans for Nottinghamshire Districts in 1991–92

  Percentage

  District

  CL

  CCG

  BL

  East Nottinghamshire

  81

  22

  53

  North Nottinghamshire

  61

  23

  51

  West Nottinghamshire

  94

  26

  54

  141
  Notes:

  CL—Crisis loan.

  CCG—Community care grant.

  BL—Budgeting loan.

  Benefits
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures showing the numbers and percentages of families receiving one or more means-tested benefit in 1979 and the latest available year.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is in the table.

  000s Per cent.

  Benefit

  1979 Recipients (Note 2)

  1991 Recipients

  Supplementary Benefit (SB)/ Income Support (IS) (including those with Housing Benefit (HB) and Community Charge Benefit (CCB)) (Note 8)

  488 (6·8)

  1,320 (19·5)

  Family Income Supplement (FIS)/ Family Credit (FC) (including those with HB and CCB)

  79 (1·1)

  347 (5·1)

  Housing Benefit (HB) (including those with CCB but not those with IS or FC)

  —

  143 (2·1)

  Community Charge Benefit (not including those with IS or FC or HB)

  —

  99 (1·5)

  All families in receipt of one or more means-tested benefits

  567 (7·9)

  1,909 (28·2)

  Notes:

  1. For the purposes of the answer, families are defined as couples or single people with children.

  2. These figures represent the number in each category as a percentage of the total number of families in the population which is based on the number of Child Benefit recipients.

  3. There are no overlaps between the categories of recipients shown, except for a small element of double counting between the SB/IS and FIS/FC figures.

  4. There are no comparable statistics available for schemes similar to Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit that existed in 1979.

  5. The FIS figures for 1979 are for November of that year. All other figures are for May of the respective years.

  6. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  7. In 1988 Income Support replaced Supplementary Benefit and Family Credit replaced Family Income Supplement.

  8. This category includes a small number of people who were in remunerative work and receiving FC prior to being awarded IS. Family Credit will remain in payment until the end of the current award, but will not be renewed if IS remains in payment.

  Source:

  Supplementary Benefit—Annual Statistical Enquiry May 1979.

  Income Support—Annual Statistical Enquiry May 1991.

  Family Income Supplement—Table 32.05 Social Security Statistics 1980.

  Family Credit—Family Credit Statistical System May 1991.

  Housing Benefit/Community Charge Benefit—Management Information System (Annual 1 per cent. sample).

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  State Veterinary Service
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many state veterinary service staff there were on 1 January as(a) qualified veterinarians, (b) technical and scientific staff, (c) administrative staff and (d) others.
  142
  Mr. Gummer
  The following details relate to the veterinary field and veterinary investigation services and the veterinary staff of the Tolworth policy group.

  The administrative staff of the Tolworth policy group (306–5 staff) are not included.

  Number

  Qualified veterinary surgeons

  420

  Technical/scientific

  382

  Administrative

  488

  Other

  73·5

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the most recent estimates of closure dates of the veterinary investigation centres; and if he will list the closure dates of those that have already closed since 1979.

  Mr. Gummer
  A veterinary investigation centre located at the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Addlestone closed in December 1980. In November 1985 the Liverpool centre was relocated to a new purpose built centre at Barton hall, Preston. As a result of the recommendations of the efficiency study of the veterinary investigation service carried out in 1984–85, the Cardiff centre closed in March 1986, the Gloucester and Leeds centres closed in June 1986 and the Northampton centre in July 1986. A small laboratory at Chester was also closed in April 1986.

  As a result of the 1991 review of the veterinary investigation service, the Wye centre closed in July 1991 and the Bangor and Lincoln centres closed in September 1991.

  The Cambridge and Norwich centres closed on 30 January 1993 and 6 February 1993 respectively, when these two centres were amalgamated in a new purpose-built centre at Bury St. Edmunds. With the completion of the new purpose-built centre at Luddington, Warwickshire, the Worcester centre closed on 20 March 1993. The Reading and Winchester centres will be amalgamated on the Winchester site when the enhancement of the Winchester centre is completed in mid-1994.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many qualified veterinarians were employed by the state veterinary service in each year from 1979.

  Mr. Gummer
  Since 1980 the structure of the state veterinary service has changed several times. For example, the central veterinary laboratory (CVL), which formed part of the state veterinary service attained agency status in April 1990. The CVL figures are incorporated in this return for the years 1 January 1980-1 January 1990. As from I June 1990 the figures do not include the CVL.

  Qualified veterinary surgeons

  January

  Number

  1980

  580·5

  1981

  563·5

  1982

  557·0

  1983

  549·0

  1984

  539·5

  1985

  527·5

  1986

  506·5

  1987

  464·5

  1988

  444·5

  1989

  422·0

  1990

  430·5

  143

  January

  Number

  1991

  408·0

  1992

  414·5

  1993

  420·0

  Agriculture and Food Research Council
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the projected expenditure by his Department on the Agriculture and Food Research Council for each year from 1993–94 to 1996–97.

  Mr. Gummer
  MAFF's commission with the Agriculture and Food Research Council amounts to £34·8 million in 1993–94. The allocation of funds for 1994–95 to 1996–97 is still under consideration and the council will be notified as soon as decisions have been reached.

  Deregulation Initiative
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 16 March,Official Report, column 211, if he will list all the environmental, consumer and animal welfare organisations he (a) has consulted and (b) intends to consult about his deregulation initiative; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Since February 1992 I have been seeking the views of interested organisations on measures that impose a burden on businesses in the food and agriculture sectors. This process has culminated, as I announced on 2 February in my decision to prepare deregulation plans for each sector of my Department responsible for regulatory activity. A deregulation plan for the area of food law was published by my Department on 24 February 1993. It was sent to 240 organisations, including consumer bodies, for comment. A copy of the list of organisations has been placed in the Library of the House. I hope that any organisation inadvertently not approached will feel free to comment; I want to know the views of all groups with an interest. Deregulation plans for other key areas of my Department's work, including the areas of the environment and animal welfare, are to be completed very shortly. A decision will be taken then about arrangements for consultation.

  Food Bans
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to ensure that the Action Group for the Relief of Pain and Distress and the Society for the Promotion of Nutritional Therapy are in future consulted before decisions are taken to ban the sale of foods.

  Mr. Soames
  It is the policy of the Department to consult widely on the whole range of food safety issues. However I cannot give an unqualified guarantee which could hamper the Department's ability to take immediate action to protect consumers.

  Codex Alimentarius
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out his policy on the desirability of reforming the Codex Alimentarius.
  144
  Mr. Gummer
  The United Kingdom Government are in agreement with proposed changes to procedures to be discussed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission later this year.

  RAF Aston Down
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what work is currently being carried out by his Department at the former Royal Air Force station Aston Down; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  One wildlife unit is based at the station.

  Tobacco Quotas
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the policy he will be adopting at the meeting of agriculture Ministers on the allocation of tobacco quotas to Greece.

  Mr. Curry
  The Council of Agriculture Ministers in December 1992 requested the EC Commission to re-examine the distribution of quotas attributed to the various varieties of tobacco in Greece with a view to taking better account of the way the production of Virginia has developed on the basis of investments decided before 30 December 1991 and to report its conclusions as soon as possible. The Commission issued its report in March 1993, and indicated its intention to propose the following measures:

  20 million ecu (£16 million) of Community aid and 5 million ecu (£4 million) of national aid to assist Greek producers who invested before the end of 1991 in equipment to produce flue cured tobacco and whose investment was subsequently adversely affected by the imposition of quotas;

  Unutilised Greek quota from other varieties to be made available to Virginia producers;

  Discretionary powers to enable Member States to give preference to new producers when allocating national tobacco quotas.

  These measures were discussed at the March Agriculture Council and presented to the Tobacco Management Committee as Commission regulations where they were approved. This issue is not expected to be considered further by the Council.

  Butter
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the sale of butter at reduced prices to persons receiving social assistance.

  Mr. Curry
  In common with all EC member states, with. the exception of the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom has not implemented the discretionary EC scheme for sales of butter at reduced prices to persons receiving social assistance.

  Quantock Staghounds
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many formal meetings were held between Forestry Commission officials and hunt officials of the Quantock Staghounds in 1990, 1991 and 1992; and how many warden checks were carried out on Forestry Commission land to ensure the Quantock Staghounds adhere to the terms and conditions of their permit in 1990, 1991 and 1992.
  145
  Mr. Curry
  Forestry Commission officials and hunt officials of the Quantock Staghounds met formally once in 1990, twice in 1991 and once in 1992. In addition, a number of informal meetings were held each year, and Commission and hunt officials usually meet every two months as members of the Quantock deer management and conservation group.
  146
  Forestry Commission staff carry out random checks on hunt days to ensure that the conditions of the permits are being followed, but these routine inspections are not recorded.

  SERVICE CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS (NORTH WEST EUROPE)
  SERVICE CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS (NORTH WEST EUROPE)