Written Answers of 22 April 1993

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Khmer Rouge
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has of the number of(a) civilian and (b) UN personnel killed by the Khmer Rouge in March.

  Mr. Goodlad
  One member of the United Nations transition authority in Cambodia's—UNTAC—military component was killed by the Khmer Rouge in March. UNTAC has no figures for civilian casualties throughout Cambodia. In view of the difficulties involved in identifying the culprits, it is not possible to specify which murders were perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge, although there is a strong likelihood that they were involved in the recent attacks on ethnic Vietnamese.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reconsideration the Government have undertaken of their views on the inclusion of the Khmer Rouge in the Cambodia peace process.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Our views on the inclusion of the Khmer Rouge in the peace process remain unchanged. The civil war in Cambodia could not have been brought to an end if the comprehensive political settlement had excluded any of the main parties to the dispute. To have done so would only have prolonged the conflict and condemned the Cambodian people to indefinite misery. We deplore the failure of the Khmer Rouge to live up to its commitments under the Paris agreements.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has of the percentage of Cambodian territory controlled by the Khmer Rouge(a) at the commencement of the UN mandate and (b) at present.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Because of the dispositions of the factions in Cambodia, it is difficult to determine precisely how much territory is held by each. We do not believe, however, that the Khmer Rouge since October 1991 has been able to extend to any marked degree the villages and territory under its control.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what current estimate he has made of the military threat posed by the Khmer Rouge to the peace process in Cambodia; and what will be the British contribution to resisting it.

  Mr. Goodlad
  UNTAC estimates that the current strength of the Khmer Rouge armed forces is somewhere in the region of 12,000 front-line troops. They have shown their ability to carry out guerrilla operations, but their strength lies in the western and north western provinces.148
  The United Kingdom has contributed 122 personnel to UNTAC's military component to enable it to implement its mandate under the terms of the Paris agreements.

  Whaling
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to making further discussions with Norway on EC membership conditional on that country reversing its decision to resume the killing of great whales.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Norway would be expected to respect the terms and conditions of existing Community legislation on whales should she accede to the Community. This policy has been made clear to the Norwegians.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the EC, Japan and the United States of America regarding international help to Cambodia after the proposed elections in May.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The main forum for international assistance to Cambodia will be the International Conference on the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Cambodia—ICORC. The framework for ICORC was agreed at the ministerial conference in Tokyo in June 1992 at which member states of the European Community, Japan and the United States of America were present. A follow-up meeting was held at official level in Phnom Penh on 25 February 1993. The Japanese Government will be arranging further meetings after the May elections.

  Many United Nations agencies and programmes, including the United Nations Development Programme, will retain personnel in Cambodia after the end of the UNTAC mandate in August.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the number of mine-clearing units operating under the UN mandate in Cambodia; and how many mines have been lifted as a result of those operations.

  Mr. Goodlad
  On the basis of the most recent UNTAC figures, 12 mine clearance training teams and 16 supervisory teams were operating in Cambodia. UNTAC's mandate does not include the actual lifting of mines. This is to be done by Cambodians trained by UNTAC. The clearing of mines is being co-ordinated by the Cambodian mine action centre which is, in part, funded by UNTAC.

ENVIRONMENT

  Radioactive Substances
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has made this year under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960; and if he will give details of the outcome of each prosecution.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information on prosecutions taken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 from 1 April 1992 to 16 April 1993 is set out in the table.
  149

  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution RSA 1960 prosecutions

  1 April 1992 to date

  Division

  Name

  Act

  Offence

  Date of hearing

  Verdict

  Fine £

  Cost £

  East

  Esselte Letraset

  RSA 1960

  Failure to comply with condition of registration to prevent unauthorised access to a radioactive source

  29 June 1992

  G

  100

  1,000

  West

  Xidex (UK) Ltd.

  RSA 1960

  Breach of conditions relating to storage of radioactive material

  7 September 1992

  G

  6,000

  5,000

  West

  British Coal

  RSA 1960

  Breach of conditions relating to storage of radioactive material

  12 October 1992

  G

  20,000

  6,410

  West

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority

  RSA 1960

  Breaching 17 offences under Section 13(1)(c) of the RSA

  18 December 1992

  G

  51,000

  8,000

  Anglian

  Nichols Institute Diagnostics

  RSA 1960

  Breach of conditions relating to accumulation of radioactive waste without authorisation

  6 April 1993

  G

  10,000

  2,726

  Southern and HMNII

  United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

  RSA 1960

  Failure to use BPM to limit the activity of radioactive waste released and to make a record of the means employed

  16 April 1993

  G

  5,000

  N/a

  Cotgrave Colliery
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what planning applications he has received in respect of the future use of Cotgrave colliery and the use of the pit shafts themselves; and if he will make a statement on the environmental considerations which will be made about future site use.

  Mr. Baldry
  Planning applications are made to the relevant local planning authorities in the first instance, not to the Secretary of State. However, I understand that neither of the local planning authorities has received any planning applications in respect of this site. If any applications are received the local planning authorities will be expected to take into account all material environmental considerations.

  Housing Statistics
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of homes owned by each local authority in Northamptonshire on 31 March for each year since 1978.

  Mr. Baldry
  Local authorities report the numbers of dwellings they own in their annual housing investment programme returns—HIP1. The figures for 1 April 1978 and 1979 are listed in column B11 of the "HIP1 All Items Print" for those years. For 1 April 1980 and all subsequent years up to 1 April 1992, the latest available, the information is shown in column A11 of each year's "HIP1 All Items Print". Copies of the "HIP1 All Items Print" for each year are in the Library.

  Squirrel Monkeys
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what laws govern the use by zoo operators engaging in street photography using squirrel monkeys as props.
  150
  Mr. Maclean
  Under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, zoo operators must have a valid zoo licence and any animal removed from zoo must be in their personal possession or that of competent persons acting on their behalf. All zoo licences require the operator to notify the local licensing authority before removing a squirrel monkey, or any other animal listed in the schedule to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. The operator must provide details of the destination and method of transportation of the animal and the arrangements for its well-being and public safety.

  A zoo keeper would also be bound by the provisions of the Protection of Animals Act 1911 which makes it an offence to cause or, in the case of an owner, permit any unnecessary suffering to a captive animal.

  Orimulsion
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the measures Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will take to ensure the control of emissions from power stations burning orimulsion.

  Mr. Maclean
  The burning of orimulsion or any other fuel in power stations is subject to control by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under integrated pollution control—IPC—legislation. All IPC authorisations require the operator to use the best available techniques not entailing excessive cost—BATNEEC—to prevent or minimise and render harmless the release of prescribed substances to any environmental medium.

  The chief inspector of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is currently considering two applications from PowerGen to burn orimulsion at Ince power station in Cheshire and Richborough power station in Kent. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has agreed with PowerGen an extension to the determination period for

  151
  both applications until the end of July allowing further time for consideration of the economic and environmental impact of this new fuel.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each district authority in Northamptonshire the total discounted value of houses and flats sold in each year since 1988–89.

  £ thousand

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Corby

  9,036

  6,764

  2,508

  2,421

  Daventry

  4,651

  3,437

  1,425

  1,242

  East Northamptonshire

  4,160

  1,404

  979

  1,042

  Kettering

  5,300

  1,869

  923

  1,020

  Northampton

  16,530

  11,595

  3,521

  4,197

  South Northamptonshire

  5,471

  2,467

  767

  1,109

  Wellingborough

  6,311

  2,937

  2,232

  1,480

  Business Rates
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the estimated increase in business rates for firms in the west midlands as a result of the 1995 rating revaluation.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  It is too early to speculate about the outcome of the 1995 revaluation, the results of which will not be available until next year.

  Mineral Workings
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to issue the updated version of the minerals planning guidance note on the reclamation of mineral workings.

  Mr. Baldry
  Revision of the minerals planning guidance note on the reclamation of mineral workings is in hand. A consultation draft will be available at the end of this year, with publication of a revised version in 1994.

  Opencast Coal Mining
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce changes in planning guidance relating to opencast coal mining in the light of the recent White Paper on coal.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Mrs. Knight) on 25 March,Official Report, columns 714–15.

  Rent Reviews
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding upward-only rent reviews; and what action his Department is proposing to take.

  Mr. Baldry
  Representations have been received from a number of individuals and interested bodies. My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning announced on 31 March, in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Mr. Thomason)—Official
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  Mr. Baldry
  The total discounted values of dwellings sold by local authorities in Northamptonshire in the years 1988–89 to 1991–92 are given in the table. Actual cash receipts in any year will depend on the extent to which sales were financed by loans from the authorities. Figures for 1992–93 are not yet available.

  Report columns 293–94—that the Government will consult widely on this aspect of commercial leasing and carefully consider the outcome in relation to new leases.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many hours officials at his Department are expected to spend in reviewing the method of calculation of standard spending assessments; and what staff levels will be involved.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department is at present planning to devote about 10 man years to work on the SSA review in this financial year. Officials in other Government Departments will also be involved. The amount of work will depend, in part, on the representations made to us by local authorities and others.

  Green Belt
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what time limits exist for local authorities to take enforcement action against non-conforming uses within the green belt, from the time that the alleged non-conforming use commenced.

  Mr. Baldry
  Section 171B of the Town and Country Planning Act—inserted by section 4(1) of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991—effectively provides that, where a breach of planning control involves a "material" change of use of land, no enforcement action may be taken after the end of the 10-year period from the date of the breach. Where the breach of control involves the change of use of any building to use as a single dwellinghouse, section 171B(2) of the 1990 Act provides that no enforcement action may be taken after the end of the four-year period from the date of the breach. These provisions apply regardless of whether the land is in a green belt.

  House Building
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the number of houses built for(a) local authorities, (b) housing associations and (c) private enterprise in the west midlands in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Baldry
  Permanent dwellings completed in the last three years are:
  153

  1990

  1991

  11992

  Private enterprise

  13,123

  13,383

  12,418

  Housing associations

  2,118

  1,517

  2,324

  Local authorities and new towns

  1,133

  979

  377

  All

  16.374

  15,879

  15,119

  1 Provisional.

  No breakdown between local authorities and new towns is held for individual regions.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a table showing by region(a) the number of house building starts and completions and (b) the number per head of population for each year since 1980.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 9 March 1993]: Estimates of housebuilding starts and completions by region and by number per head of population are shown in the publication "Housing and Construction Statistics". Figures for 1980 for starts and completions by region are in table 6.4, and figures per thousand population are in table 6.6 of the 1980 to 1990 edition and revised figures for 1981 to 1991 are in the same tables in the 1981 to 1991 edition. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

  Hadrian's Wall
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is to meet ramblers or their representatives to discuss the proposed footpath along the length of Hadrian's wall; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. The Countryside Commission submitted the report which details the results of its consultation, on 31 March, and I shall be considering this as soon as possible.

  Open Spaces Society
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much notice the Open Spaces Society received of the reduction in its grant for 1993–94; what were the reasons for the reduction; and which of its activities will be reduced or abandoned.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Open Spaces Society was advised in January 1992 that future funding for its urban project should be found from outside Government sources and that 1992–93 was the last year of agreed funding for their rural work.

  Given the large number of worthy voluntary groups eligible for support from the fund, it would not be right for any one group to expect full support for an unlimited period. However, the society's work in protecting common land and town and village greens is highly regarded by the Department and I have therefore decided that the society should receive some further support for another three years towards its work in this area. This will amount to £15,000 in 1993–94 reducing to around £10,000 in 1995–96, giving time for the society to seek alternative sources of funding after that.

  The society received formal notice of this on 19 March.

  Empty Properties
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken by the task force on vacant Government-owned dwellings.
  154
  Mr. Howard
  The task force on Government Departments' empty houses has held two meetings, and is due to meet again on 28 April. It has commissioned detailed information from Departments on actual numbers of surplus and empty residential property. It is currently negotiating with Departments firm targets for disposal or occupation, to deliver its remit of helping to bring this property back into housing use.

  Waste Water Treatment
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to issue for public consultation a draft of the implementing regulations for the EC urban waste water treatment directive.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have today issued for consultation a draft of the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1993. My right hon. and learned Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales consider that it will be useful, particularly for the National Rivers Authority and for the water service companies and other dischargers, to have available to them some guidance on the implementation and interpretation of these regulations. A draft of a proposed guidance note to accompany them has therefore also been published for consultation today.

EDUCATION

  College Fees
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what role his Department exercises in the setting of college fees in respect of undergraduates at collegiate universities; and if he will set out the total payments for college fees made by his Department to each college in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Boswell
  The level of fees set for the constituent colleges of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge is determined through discussions between the Department and representatives of the colleges. The negotiations take account of the change in the unit of public funding of student places in higher education. The Department does not currently exercise any role in the setting of college fees for other collegiate universities.

  The total payment of college fees was £38 million in 1990–91 in respect of Oxford and Cambridge colleges, and £8 million in respect of colleges in other collegiate universities. Information on the total payment of fees in respect of each college is not available centrally.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 19 January,Official Report, column 154, if he will publish the current level of college fees agreed with his Department in respect of undergraduates in each college at the universities listed in his answer.

  Mr. Boswell
  The current level of fees set for each college is as follows:

  College

  £

  Cambridge

  Christ's

  2,553

  Churchill

  2,529

  Clare

  2,556

  155

  College

  £

  Clare Hall

  2,484

  Corpus Christi

  2,637

  Darwin

  2,616

  Downing

  2,727

  Emmanuel

  2,586

  Fitzwilliam

  2,733

  Girton

  2,634

  Gonville and Caius

  2,589

  Hughes Hall

  2,448

  Jesus

  2,616

  King's

  2,553

  Lucy Cavendish

  2,631

  Magdalene

  2,730

  New Hall

  2,727

  Newnham

  2,724

  Pembroke

  2,709

  Peterhouse

  2,547

  Queens'

  2,667

  Robinson

  2,682

  St. Catharine's

  2,622

  St. Edmund's

  2,445

  St. John's

  2,502

  Selwyn

  2,721

  Sidney Sussex

  2,724

  Trinity

  2,487

  Trinity Hall

  2,658

  Wesley House

  2,652

  Wolfson

  2,508

  Durham

  University

  177

  Hatfield

  177

  Grey

  177

  Van Mildert

  177

  Collingwood

  177

  St. Hild and St. Bede

  177

  St. Cuthbert's

  177

  St. Mary's

  177

  St. Aidan's

  177

  Trevelyan

  177

  St. Chad's

  936

  St. John's

  936

  Ushaw

  936

  Kent

  Darwen

  153

  Eliot

  153

  Rutherford

  153

  Keynes

  153

  Lancaster

  Bowland

  134

  Cartmel

  134

  The County

  134

  Furness

  134

  Fylde

  134

  Grizedale

  134

  Londsdale

  134

  Pendle

  134

  Oxford

  Balliol

  2,966

  Blackfriars

  2,848

  Brasenose

  2,985

  Campion Hall

  3,161

  Christ Church

  2,983

  Corpus Christi

  2,976

  Exeter

  3,017

  Greyfriars

  3,038

  Hertford

  3,147

  Jesus

  2,989

  Keble

  3,216

  Lady Margaret Hall

  3,140

  Lincoln

  2,933

  Magdalen

  3,016

  Manchester

  3,042

  Mansfield

  3,330

  Merton

  2,900

  156

  College

  £

  New College

  3,008

  Oriel

  3,140

  Pembroke

  2,993

  Queen's

  2,951

  Regent's Park

  3,147

  Ripon College

  3,803

  St. Anne's

  3,126

  St. Benet's Hall

  3,107

  St. Catherine's

  3,041

  St. Edmund Hall

  3,101

  St. Hilda's

  3,094

  St. Hugh's

  3,128

  St. John's

  2,948

  St. Peter's

  3,195

  St. Stephen's House

  3,041

  Somerville

  3,099

  Trinity

  2,969

  University

  3,003

  Wadham

  3,061

  Worcester

  3,052

  Wycliffe Hall

  3,041

  York

  Alcuin

  151

  Derwent

  151

  Goodricke

  151

  Langwith

  151

  Vanburgh

  151

  Wentworth

  151

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his policy towards institutions of higher education wishing to reorganise on a collegiate basis in respect of payment of college fees from public funds.

  Mr. Boswell
  The internal organisation of universities and colleges is a matter for the institutions alone to decide. My right hon. Friend does not intend to extend the list of institutions in the mandatory awards regulations for which local education authorities are obliged to meet college fees.

  Contracted-out Services
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if it is his Department's policy not to allow in-house bids when a service which has already been contracted out is retendered.

  Mr. Boswell
  It is the Department's general policy not to allow in-house bids when contracted out services are retendered. The Department would consider such a bid only when it could be made as part of a larger in-house bid, in a market test also covering services currently done in-house.

  Education, Greater Manchester
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on participation rates in further and higher education in the Greater Manchester area.

  Mr. Boswell
  Data on participation in higher education by those domiciled in Greater Manchester are not readily available. A statistical bulletin will be published in May, covering participation in education at ages 16 and 17.

  For Greater Manchester the figures are as follows:

  157

  Percentage of Age-group in Education: 1991–92

  Number

  Age 161

  School

  34

  Full-time further education

  25

  Part-time further education

  11

  Total

  70

  Age 171

  School

  26

  Full-time further education

  19

  Part-time further education

  15

  Total

  60

  1 Age as at 31 May 1991

  Sex Education
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has any plans to update the guidance on sex education in schools contained in circular 11/87.

  Mr. Patten
  I am today issuing for consultation a draft revised circular on sex education and have placed copies in the Library of the House.

  We are clear that all sex education should take place within a framework which encourages pupils to consider the moral dimension of their actions. They should recognise the value of family life and understand the importance of loving relationships and mutual respect.

  This draft advice seeks to guide and support headteachers and other classroom teachers in a sensitive, but important, aspect of children's education. It rightly recognises that parents are the key figures in helping their children to cope with the physical and emotional aspects of growing up and in preparing them for the challenges and responsibilities which sexual maturity brings. The teaching offered by schools should be complementary and supportive to the role of parents.

  The circular also explains how the provisions for sex education in the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 work together with those in the Education Reform Act 1988. This requires all pupils to study aspects of sex education within national curriculum science.

  Our new draft guidance will offer appropriate advice to teachers, governors and others who are responsible for providing such education.

  Universities (Child Care)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of state for Education what statutory provisions govern the use of public funds by universities to support child care facilities for university students and staff.

  Mr. Boswell
  Public funds for universities in England are administered by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Section 65(2) of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 defines the activities eligible for funding. This definition does not exclude the funding of child care facilities.

  Universities are autonomous bodies and it is for them to decide their own priorities, including any provision or support of child care facilities for staff and students, from within the resources available to them.

WALES

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will undertake a survey of all local education authorities in Wales to determine which of them, on being responded to provide an assessment under section 5 of the Education Act 1981, responded by providing an informal assessment, rather than a statutory assessment for those children who hitherto have not been statemented.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  No. The provision for parents to request an assessment of their child's needs, where the child does not already have a statement, does not differentiate between a formal or an informal assessment. The Education Bill makes it clear that parents may ask a local education authority to arrange a statutory assessment.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to ensure that local education authorities do not refuse a statement for a child of statutory secondary school age, whose statutory assessment has indicated special educational needs, on the grounds that the funding of such statementing is the responsibility of individual schools under the system of local management of schools.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Local education authorities have a statutory duty to prepare a statement, if following a formal assessment of needs, they conclude that they should determine the special educational provision that should be made for a child. LEAs have a further duty to maintain a statement and to ensure that the provision it specifies is delivered. Local management of schools' arrangements do not affect LEAs' statutory duty in that respect.

  Parents have a right of appeal to my right hon. Friend if, following a formal assessment, LEAs decide not to issue a statement. They may also make a complaint to him if they consider that an LEA is defaulting on a statutory duty.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many out-county places are provided by each local education authority in Wales for(a) children with special educational needs, and (b) for children suffering from dyslexia.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information is available only in respect of children with statements of special educational needs. Information on statemented pupils by the authority where they are registered and place of education at January 1992 is given in table 12.01 of the Welsh Office publication "Statistics of Education and Training in Wales: Schools, No. 1 1993".

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what review he has undertaken of the additional educational facilities in each local education authority in Wales required to meet the special educational needs of children who are being educated bilingually;

  (2) if he will carry out a survey of the number of children in all local education authority in Wales who have been identified by the local education authority as having a specific learning difficulty in numeracy; and if he will arrange for these figures to be published.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend has not undertaken a review and does not propose any survey. It
  159
  is the responsibility of the local education authority to identify children with special educational needs, including those with specific learning difficulties, and to make appropriate provision for them.

  Tourism
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the tourism-related(a) reclamation and (b) environmental schemes (i) completed and (ii) in programme but not completed by the Welsh Development Agency in each year since 1987 indicating the cost of each project.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information for tourism-related reclamation schemes is set out in the table. Information on environmental schemes is not readily available and I have asked the chief executive of the agency to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Year and Project

  Project Cost £'000

  Completed

  1987–88

  Caernarfon Disused Baths Hafna Nant Uchaf, Site Investigation

  47

  1988–89

  Angle Airfield, Preseli

  106

  Cefn Coed Museum

  7

  Gilfach Ddu, Llanberis

  112

  Heol Senni Quarry

  2

  Hetty Colliery

  290

  Rhos-on-Sea Baths

  34

  1989–90

  Barry Toilet Block

  5

  Big Pit 2

  173

  Caernarfon Railway Station 2

  145

  Canal 2, Allt-yr-yn, Newport

  179

  Grosvenor Chater Pool

  135

  Kings Hall, Aberystwyth

  168

  Lewis Merthyr, Llwyncelyn Tips

  225

  Pwllheli Goods Yard

  46

  Talbenny Airfield

  271

  Rath Swimming Pool

  53

  Victoria Tips, South End

  6,647

  Victoria Tips, Garden Festival

  14,804

  Breakwater Quarry 1

  211

  Glynrhonwy, Llanberis

  618

  1990–91

  Nine Wells Camp, Preseli

  5

  Beaumaris Activity Centre

  14

  Pwllheli Harbour

  1,312

  Salthouse, Port Eynon

  78

  1991–92

  Breakwater Quarry 2

  228

  Canal 2, Cwmbran

  227

  Cyffty, Betws-y-Coed

  123

  Friars Point Rooms

  16

  Glynrhonwy, Llanberis 2

  513

  Hafna Nant Uchaf 1

  524

  Lewis Merthyr Colliery 2

  1,254

  Minera Lead Wastes

  2,257

  Roet Quarry

  82

  1992–93

  Caernarfon Railway Cutting

  150

  In progress

  Rhos-on-Sea Baths

  40

  Quay Hill Arches, Site Investigation

  14

  Cyfarthfa Lake Feeder Silo Investigation

  25

  160

  Year and Project

  Project Cost £'000

  Bedford Ironworks Study

  10

  River Tawe Quays and Jetties

  2,750

  Programmed

  Flint Castle Moat

  210

  Rhyl Promenade

  95

  Wilderness Tip

  414

  Minera, Phase 3

  191

  Minera, Phase 4

  237

  Penglais Quarry

  300

  Band of Hope Colliery

  183

  St. Catherine's Fort

  25

  Martello Tower, Front Street

  110

  Bosherton Quarry

  75

  Rock Hollybush Railway

  252

  Cwmcarn After Management

  25

  Kays and Kears 2, Stage 2

  1,170

  Canal Masons Bridge

  292

  Prince Llewellyn Quarry

  85

  Aberllyn Lead Mine Site Investigation

  4

  New Pandora

  131

  Coed Mawr Pool Mine

  58

  Cae Coch Gwyndwr Forest Site Investigation

  20

  Twll Ballast and Dorethea

  4,500

  Pare Quarry 2

  100

  Bethesda Bypass

  300

  Princes Pier, Menai

  535

  Holyhead Cattle Lairages

  275

  Dare Valley Country Park

  425

  Hirwaun Iron Works

  1,110

  Pantycafnau

  2,500

  Ynysfach Furnaces

  36

  Morlais Castle Quarries

  143

  Barry Marine

  12,900

  Tawe Quay Walls

  339

  Heads of the Valleys Road
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) planned improvements to the A465 heads of the valleys road between Abergavenny and the M4 at Llandarcy, (b) the next key stage in the preparation of each improvement and (c) the date he expects that stage to be completed.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Improvements to the A465 trunk road are planned between Abergavenny and Hirwaun and Glynneath and Aberdulais. The respective key stages in preparation involve public consultation on improvement proposals and invitations to tender. These stages are programmed to enable construction to start in accordance with the 1993 supplement to "Roads in Wales".

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to achieve his objective, announced in May 1991, of completing the dualling of the A465 heads of the valleys road between Abergavenny and the M4 at Llandarcy.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Plans for the sections to be improved are set out in the "1993 Supplement to Roads in Wales".

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what accident statistics he has for the A465 heads of the valleys road between Abergavenny and the M4 at Llandarcy for the latest convenient period; and what are the corresponding accident rates for other trunk roads within Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The numbers and rates of accidents involving personal injury on the stretch of the A465
  161
  between Abergavenny, junction with A4042, and Llandarcy, junction with A48, and also rates on all trunk roads in Wales, including the above stretch, in 1991 are given in the tables:

  Number of accidents on the A465

  Number of accidents per km of A465

  Number of accidents per km of all trunk roads

  Fatal

  5

  0·07

  0·03

  Serious

  13

  0·19

  0·25

  Slight

  76

  1·12

  0·78

  All accidents1

  94

  1·38

  1·07

  1Excluding those where there was no personal injury—for which no information is available.

  Number of accidents per 100 million vehicle kilometres on A4651

  Number of accidents per 100 million vehicle kilometres on all trunk roads2

  Fatal

  1·52

  1·09

  Serious

  3·95

  8·20

  Slight

  23·10

  25·29

  All accidents3

  28·57

  34·57

  1These traffic volume figures involve some estimation.

  2Calculated using provisional traffic volume figures.

  3Excluding those where there was no personal injury—for which no information is available.

  Community Care
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures will be taken to provide support and direction for those Welsh councils that have difficulty in implementing their responsibilities outlined in the community care reforms.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office has given considerable guidance and support to local councils in Wales to help them prepare for the implementation of community care. An additional £37·5 million for community care has been made available through revenue support grant in 1993–94, much more than would have been spent by the Department of Social Security on new admissions of individual's to residential or nursing home care. The onus is now on local councils to manage the implementation, but we will monitor progress closely and will continue to offer guidance and direction as is considered necessary.

  Hearing-impaired Support Groups
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had from hearing-impaired support groups; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Such groups may approach any policy division in the Welsh Office according to the point they wish to raise. No central record is held of such approaches.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Welsh Development Agency concerning the High Court writ served against the agency by NALGO on 22 March, and the agency's response.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Welsh Development Agency concerning the tendering procedure to be adopted for the sale of industrial estates by the agency during the present financial year.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None. The agency follows the procedures for the disposal of land and buildings set out in "Government Accounting".

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the five Welsh constituencies that have recorded the largest increases in unemployment figures in the year 1992–93; and if he will list the percentage changes involved.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The constituencies that have recorded the largest percentage increases in unemployment are listed in the table:

  Constituency

  Percentage change

  Monmouth

  22·4

  Newport West

  16·0

  Brecon and Radnor

  14·8

  Alyn and Deeside

  12·0

  Cardiff North

  11·6

  Source: Employment Department.

  PCB Contamination, Panteg
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will publish the report by the University of East Anglia on contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls in the Panteg area.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have today published the report into PCB contamination in the Panteg area which I commissioned from the environmental risk assessment unit of the university of East Anglia. I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.

  I commissioned the study in January 1991 at a contracted cost of £432,000 and, in the two years during which it has been in progess, three interim reports have been produced and published.

  The main conclusion of the study is that with the exception of a localised area close to the eastern boundary of the ReChem site, the measured concentrations of PCBs and dioxins in the Panteg area are not unusual or significantly different from those encountered in similar areas elsewhere in the United Kingdom. According to currently accepted criteria and guidance on health effects for these compounds, such levels should not generally give rise to concern.

  The report also concludes that the distribution and gradation or PCBs and dioxins in the Panteg area suggests

  163
  a common localised source or sources, possibly at or close to ground level within the ReChem plant. However, the report has not identified any specific source within the plant.

  The study has found no evidence of significantly elevated levels of PCBs and dioxins in foodstuffs, including locally produced milk, in the Panteg area. The only exception is in relation to duck eggs at Pontyfelin House, which is immediately adjacent to the ReChem plant, where guidelines limits for human intake of dioxins could be exceeded if the eggs were consumed. The Government advised the occupants of this property in 1989 that their duck eggs should not be consumed and this advice still stands.

  The report has been considered by the Government's expert advisers and I have also consulted the regulators of the plant—the Health and Safety Executive and Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. I have received an assessment of the report from my independent adviser, Professor Lewis Roberts, which I have also published today.

  In the light of the advice I have received, I am satisfied that the report is comprehensive and thorough and shows no evidence of widespread contamination by PCBs and dioxins in the area. Although elevated concentrations were found close to the ReChem plant, with the exception of the duck eggs I have already referred to, these are not considered to pose any significant risk to public health or the food chain.

  The report makes a number of recommendations for further work to clarify some remaining uncertaintes in relation to the small area of el0evated PCB/dioxin concentrations near the ReChem plant, and to provide public reassurance. These recommendations have been endorsed by Professor Roberts and I accept them.

  Work on four of the recommendations, for further testing of soil and air samples in the vicinity of the ReChem plant and more testing of grass and local egg samples, is already under way. Work is also in progress on the fifth recommendation for analysis of vegetables and meat from fowl in the small area of higher contamination.

  All this supplementary work will be undertaken by the university of East Anglia and I will publish its results when they are available.

  The report also recommends that there should be further investigation of the ReChem site to identify and quantify all current sources of emissions which may be contributing to off-site contamination. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and the Health and Safety Executive will be pursuing this matter with ReChem International Ltd. as quickly as possible. Their inquiries will also include the extent to which the PCB/dioxin levels found are due to past rather than current operational factors on the ReChem site.

  The final recommendation is that there should be continued monitoring of the environment in the vicinity of the site and that this might usefully be developed from the joint survey carried out at present by Torfaen borough council and ReChem International Ltd. This is primarily a matter for Torfaen district council as the local environmental health authority. I commend the recommendation to it.

  The work of the study has been overseen by a technical steering group on which Torfaen borough council, ReChem Ltd. and the European Commission have been represented. I have asked the group to study the final
  164
  report and my statement in more detail and, once the results of the supplementary work are available, to give me their further views.

  I hope that the publication of this report will help to relieve public anxiety and uncertainty about PCB and dioxin contamination in the Panteg area of Pontypool. It provides an opportunity for a fresh start in the relationships between the local authority, the local community and the company; one I hope that all will be willing to take. I am aware that past proposals for the establishment of a liaison committee have not progressed. I hope that the community and the company will give renewed thought to this as a forum for local debate and consultation.

  Finally, I should like to express my thanks to the university of East Anglia for the meticulous and exhaustive manner in which it has undertaken this formidable and complex task; to Professor Lewis Roberts for the help and guidance he has given to my Department and the university team during the conduct of the study; and to the technical steering group which has overseen this work.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  South Africa
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make it his practice to list all nuclear trade, including technology and nuclear materials, conducted with the Republic of South Africa since 1973.

  Mr. Eggar
  Detailed information of this kind is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy in relation to the issue of end-user certificates for arms exports; and if he will place in the Library the instructions given to his civil servants.

  Mr. Needham
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers I gave to the House on 8 July 1992,Official Report, columns 333–34, and to the hon. Members for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) and for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on various occasions since then. Desk instructions to staff processing export licence applications indicate the circumstances in which an end-user certificate is required from the applicant in support of the application, and require the precise wording to be checked.

  Clean Coal
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the reasons for his Department's refusal of a loan to ABB for the development of a clean coal project in Britain.

  Mr. Eggar
  The project being promoted by ABB was one of several potential clear coal projects discussed informally with my Department during the coal review. The Government conclusion that support from public funds for a clean coal demonstration plant could not be justified at the present time was announced in the coal White Paper—Cm 2235, paragraph 15.18.

  Tropical Timber
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received on controls on the import of tropical timber; and from whom.

  Mr. Needham
  I have received representations on this subject from hon. Members, organisations such as Friends of the Earth and members of the public.

  Nuclear Power Industry
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To as the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for the future privatisation of the nuclear power industry.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government currently have no plans to privatise either Nuclear Electric or British Nuclear Fuels. As regards the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, I announced in my reply of 1 April 1993,Official Report, column 407, to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Hayes) that, as a first step, I was commissioning independent consultants to consider the practicability of privatising the authority and to advise on the main options. Scottish Nuclear Ltd. is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Wales-Ireland Electricity Link
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 15 April,Official Report, column 718, when he expects the further studies to establish the viability of the Wales-Ireland electricity grid link-up to begin.

  Mr. Eggar
  Studies to establish the feasibility and commercial viability of the proposed Wales-Ireland electricity link are a commercial matter for the National Grid Company. I understand that studies are going ahead on a continuing basis.

  New Houses (Structural Warranties)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action is being taken to implement the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on structural warranty services for new homes.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The report on structural warranty services for new homes was published in March 1991 and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission—MMC—found that rule 12 of the rules of the National House Building Council—NHBC—operated against the public interest and was hindering the growth of competition in the market. The rule requires builders who are members of the NHBC to register all their new homes for cover under the NHBC structural warranty scheme. The MMC recommended that rule 12 should be amended to permit NHBC builders to use a comparable alternative warranty scheme. Therefore, I have today written to Sir Bryan Carsberg, requesting him, under section 88(1) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 to consult NHBC with a view to obtaining an undertaking to amend rule 12 in line with the MMC's recommendation.

  The MMC also recommended changes to the rules on leaving and rejoining the NHBC scheme to make it easier for builders to transfer between schemes.
  166
  Action to implement the report has been delayed while NHBC sought judicial review of the MMC's findings on rule 12. The judgment delivered on 1 October 1992 upheld the MMC's findings on rule 12. Judicial review did not relate to the MMC's other recommendations concerning aspects of the rules on withdrawal and transfer from the NHBC scheme. Terms of undertakings on these recommendations are already being negotiated by Sir Bryan Carsberg, the Director General of Fair Trading—DGFT—and he will advise me of the outcome in due course.

  The NHBC has lodged an appeal challenging the MMC's findings on rule 12, although no date has yet been set for the appeal. To avoid any further delay I have asked the DGFT to convene negotiations with NHBC with a view to obtaining the appropriate undertaking within three months.

  I consider that the proposed amendment would open up a degree of competition, while providing consumer protection, in that competing house warranty schemes would conform to a broadly comparable standard, in terms of technical specifications, inspections and reserves set aside against future liabilities, to that established by the NHBC.

  Used Tyres (Incineration)
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what reports he has commissioned on the waste-to-energy process involving the incineration of used tyres; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 21 April 1993]: In March 1990, my Department published a study it had commissioned from KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock entitled "The Recycling and Disposal of Tyres" which discussed, among other things, the prospects for scrap tyre incineration. A copy was placed in the Library of the House. The energy technology support unit earlier this year published an emissions audit of a chain grate stoker burning shredded tyres—report reference ETSU B1313-P6. Tyres-to-energy plants, using suitable incineration technology, can be an environmentally acceptable way of recovering value from this difficult waste.

TRANSPORT

  Jubilee Line Extension
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had with the European investment bank in relation to the terms for providing the loan towards the cost of constructing the Jubilee line extension to Canary Wharf; and if he will place a copy of such terms in the Library.

  Mr. Norris
  Discussions with the European investment bank, like those with the other banks concerned with private sector contributions to the Jubilee line extension, are commercially confidential.

  London Transport Pension Fund
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the future of the London Transport pension fund; and if he will make a statement.
  167
  Mr. Norris
  We have received a small number of representations including an approach from the Transport and General Workers Union.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current value of the London Transport pension fund; and what proportion of its value is attributed to London Buses.

  Mr. Norris
  The value of the LRT pension fund as at 31 March 1993 was £2,022 million. Assets of the fund are not attributed to particular groups of employees.

  M12
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the consultants' report on the proposed M12 to(a) be completed, (b) be published and made public and (c) a public inquiry to be held.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  We expect our consultants to report later this year and their findings will be available when we consult the public on options early next year. Any public inquiry would be into objections to draft schemes and orders under the Highways Act. These would be published only when the need for a motorway has been established and a preferred route selected. An inquiry is therefore unlikely to take place before 1996.

  Fuel-conditioning Devices
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation he has made of the effects on vehicle emissions of in-line fuel-conditioning devices based on tin alloys or magnetic cores; and what advice he is issuing to the public about the effectiveness of such products in reducing fuel consumption and emissions of regulated pollutants.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Department has not carried out any evaluations of in-line fuel-conditioning devices and does not endorse, approve or otherwise accept any product that claims to offer improvements in fuel economy and/or reductions in pollution. It is for the manufacturers to satisfy themselves that the product meets legal requirements.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  European Neutron Source
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has for persuading Britain's partners to agree to the siting of the proposed European neutron source in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  Planning for a European pulsed neutron source is at a very early stage. Results of a feasibility study to examine requirements will be presented to an assessment panel of the European Commission on 24 April. Only if planning proceeds to the outline design stage will the question of a site for the source arise.

HEALTH

  Mental Handicap
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average total cost per patient per week of providing in-patient care to residents of long-stay mental handicap hospitals in England.

  Mr. Yeo
  Information in the precise form requested is not available centrally. Specialty cost returns submitted to the Department by health authorities and national health service trusts for 1991–92 indicate the average cost per patient week for the mental handicap specialty was £665. This figure, which is provisional, is inclusive of treatment, accommodation and overhead costs.

  Low-income Health Benefits Scheme
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what her Department is doing to draw attention to the NHS low-income health benefits scheme;

  (2) whether a survey has been conducted to determine how many general practitioners know about the NHS low-income health benefits scheme;

  (3) what measures she is taking to ensure that all general practitioners are informed of the NHS low-income health benefits scheme.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Explanatory leaflets about the national health service low-income scheme are freely available to the public from post offices, doctors and dentists' surgeries, hospital out-patient departments, opticians and offices of the social security Benefits Agency. Information about the low-income scheme can also be found in leaflets about social security benefits published by the Benefits Agency. All general practitioners are informed of the scheme by means of circulars issued to them through family health services authorities. These circulars also draw general practitioners' attention to the availability of leaflets and posters about the scheme and ask them to display these prominently. In view of the wide availability of information, no survey has been deemed necessary.

  Industrial Diseases
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has of the number of people who died in 1992–93 from emphysema or bronchitis caused by pneumoconiosis or silicosis.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information for 1992 will not be available until July 1993.

  GP Fund Holders
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her Department's policy regarding the grouping of general practitioner fund holders.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Guidance on general practitioners forming fund-holding consortia was issued in December 1992. A copy of this guidance—EL(92)92—is available in the Library.

  Peripheral Nerve Damage
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by year for the last 10 years and by(a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority the number of patients treated for peripheral nerve damage; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  GP Lists
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics are kept for the numbers of patients struck off general practitioners' lists, both on an individual basis and by area; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally.

  Doctors (Penalties)
  Mr. Boyce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 25 February,Official Report, column 679, what steps are taken to ensure that the Medical Advisory Committee is in possession of all relevant information when advising on a penalty to be imposed on a doctor.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State passes to the Medical Advisory Committee the evidence that was available to the committee which heard the complaint, the recommendations of that committee and the reasoned decision of the family health services authority, any further information presented on appeal and where appropriate the report of the findings of the persons appointed to hold an oral hearing.

  Health Promotion
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish the Family Health Service Authority guidelines for health promotion.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Guidance for national health service regions and family health service authorities on implementation of the new general practitioner contract health promotion arrangements, which take effect from 1 July 1993, was issued on 12 January 1993 under cover of FHSL(93)3, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Advisory Committee on Drugs
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the terms of reference of the extended advisory committee on drugs.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The terms of reference for the Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs announced by the Secretary of State for Health on 21 December 1992 are:"To advise the UK Health Ministers about the composition of Schedules 10 and 11 of the NHS (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992, and the corresponding Schedules in the Regulations in Scotland and Northern Ireland (except those items which are in such Schedules because the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances has advised that they should not be treated as drugs for the purpose of the GMS Regulations) in order that drugs to meet
  170
  all real clinical needs can be provided as economically as possible under the NHS for the following categories and purposes:

  mild to moderate pain-killers

  indigestion remedies

  laxatives

  cough and cold remedies

  vitamins

  tonics

  benzodiazepine sedatives and tranquillisers

  anti-diarrhoeal drugs

  drugs for allergic disorders

  hypnotics and anxiolytics

  appetite suppressants

  drugs for vaginal and vulval conditions

  contraceptives

  drugs used in anaemia

  topical anti-rheumatics

  drugs acting on the ear and nose

  drugs acting on the skin

  For these purposes a drug will be treated as falling within one of those categories according to the purpose for which it is, or will be, prescribed even if the drug is not licensed for those purposes."

  Departmental Plans
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are her plans for the work of her Department in 1993–94 and beyond.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I have agreed a statement of the aims, goals and priorities for my Department for 1993–94 and the following three years. It covers the whole range of the Department's work relating to health and social services, European Community and other international issues, and internal management. It includes our specific priorities for the national health service management executive, which are taken forward in more detail in the management executive's statement, "The Goal and Strategies of the Chief Executive and the Management Executive of the NHS and their Objectives for 1993–94", approved by the NHS policy board. Copies of both statements have been placed in the Library.

  Skin Disease
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 16 February,Official Report, column 159, if she will place in the Library the list of the 1,776 drugs that are currently available on the national health service for the treatment of skin complaints.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A list of the drugs dispensed for the treatment of skin complaints, by community pharmacists, dispensing doctors and prescribing doctors for personal administration, in England in 1991, has been placed in the Library.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received about the proposed selected list for prescribable medications used in the treatment of skin disease; and what consultations are taking place with clinicians.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A number of representations have been received from patients and organisations representing those who suffer with skin diseases. This information will be available to the independent advisory committee that provides advice on which drugs should not be prescribable by general practitioners under the National Health Service. The committee, whose members include experienced clincians, is free to seek whatever advice it wishes.

  Breast Cancer
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has commissioned into the effectiveness of three-yearly breast scans for women aged over 50 years; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1985 the Government commissioned a working group chaired by Professor Sir Patrick Forrest to consider evidence of the effectiveness of breast screening by mammography. The group's report concluded that three yearly screening for women aged 50 to 64 would have a substantial impact on mortality; the national screening programme was established on the basis of the Forrest recommendations.

  In the financial year 1990–91, the Department spent approximately £370,000 on research into breast cancer screening including the funding of the cancer screening evaluation unit which is currently measuring the extent to which population based programmes of screening and education can reduce mortality from breast cancer.

  The Department is also funding with the Medical Research Council, the health Departments and the major charities, the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee for Cancer Research five-year programme of breast screening trials. This programme includes a multi-randomised trial of yearly versus three-yearly breast screening for women aged 50 to 64.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to change the interval between breast scans for women aged over 50 years; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no such current plans. The Department is contributing to a randomised five-year trial, begun in 1990, of some 100,000 women aged between 50 to 64, to look at the potential benefits of yearly versus three-yearly breast screening mammography. When the study is concluded, the results will be considered against the current screening policy.

  Drug Addicts
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on guidance presently given to general practitioners on treatment of drug addicts.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In December 1991 the Health Departments issued "Guidelines on Clinical Management of Drug Misuse and Dependence" to all doctors, including general practitioners. The guidelines highlight the importance of the role of the non-specialist doctor in the treatment and care of drug misusers. A copy is available in the Library.

  Vacant Dwellings
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 11 January,Official Report, column 615, if she will list the full address of each site with 20 or more dwellings which are vacant.

  Mr. Sackville
  Analysis of the December 1992 survey that covered some 75 per cent. of the national health 172
  service showed only one site with 20 or more vacant dwellings. All but four of those dwellings have since been put to use, and there is a waiting list for the four, which are being redecorated.

  From the survey we estimate that across the national health service 1,800 dwellings are vacant. This figure, which excludes places in hostels for nurses and other staff, indicates an average of our four vacant dwellings for each health authority and trust.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  East Timor
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conditions were attached to the recently announced aid to Indonesia for a power project in relation to improvements in human rights or agreement to abide by United Nations resolutions on East Timor.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The most effective approach to influencing Indonesia on human rights at the present time is through constructive dialogue, rather than through attaching particular conditions to our aid.

  Eastern Europe (Food Production)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the changes in the last 12 months of food production in the Baltic states, the Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Khazakhstan, Georgia, Mongolia and Romania; and what effect these changes will have on the operation of British aid programmes, including the know-how fund.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 20 April 1993]: Food production has declined throughout the region due to drought, changes in land ownership, loss of guaranteed markets and subsidies, currency depreciation, inflation and the worldwide farming recession. The severity of the situation varies from country to country. In the long term, they all have considerable agricultural potential.

  The know-how fund will continue to assist the region where practicable in reorganising its food industries along modern, market-oriented lines.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Taxation
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer of 15 December 1992,Official Report, column 120, to provide similar estimates of the burden of direct and indirect taxes for 1993–94.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested in given in the table.
  173

  Income tax, National Insurance contributions and indirect tax payments at multiples of average earnings 1993–94

  Amounts, £ per week

  Multiples of average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1,000

  2,000

  Single

  Income tax

  26·01

  48·50

  70·98

  118·61

  190·57

  334·49

  478·41

  622·33

  910·17

  1,341·93

  2,781·12

  NICs

  12·27

  20·37

  28·46

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  Income tax and NICs

  38·28

  68·86

  99·45

  152·49

  224·45

  368·37

  512·29

  656·21

  944·05

  1,375·81

  2,815·01

  VAT

  —

  14·64

  19·55

  30·04

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  19·84

  24·40

  34·13

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  103·35

  143·40

  216·66

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  14·5

  18·0

  19·7

  22·0

  26·5

  31·0

  33·2

  34·6

  36·1

  37·3

  38·6

  NICs

  6·8

  7·5

  7·9

  6·3

  4·7

  3·1

  2·4

  1·9

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  Income tax and NICs

  21·3

  25·5

  27·6

  28·3

  31·2

  34·1

  35·6

  36·5

  37·5

  38·2

  39·1

  VAT

  —

  5·4

  5·4

  5·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  7·4

  6·8

  6·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  38·3

  39·9

  40·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Married, no children

  Income tax

  17·74

  40·23

  62·71

  107·69

  177·34

  321·26

  465·18

  609·10

  896·94

  1,328·70

  2,767·90

  NICs

  12·27

  20·37

  28·46

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  Income tax and NICs

  30·01

  60·59

  91·18

  141·57

  211·22

  355·14

  499·06

  642·98

  930·82

  1,362·58

  2,801·78

  VAT

  —

  13·41

  18·75

  30·41

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  22·28

  26·95

  37·13

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  96·28

  136·88

  209·11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  9·9

  14·9

  17·4

  20·0

  24·6

  29·8

  32·3

  33·9

  35·6

  36·9

  38·5

  NICs

  6·8

  7·5

  7·9

  6·3

  4·7

  3·1

  2·4

  1·9

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  Income tax and NICs

  16·7

  22·5

  25·3

  26·2

  29·4

  32·9

  34·7

  35·7

  37·0

  37·9

  38·9

  VAT

  —

  5·0

  5·2

  5·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·3

  7·5

  6·9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  35·7

  38·0

  38·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Married, 2 children

  Income tax

  -0·36

  22·13

  44·61

  89·59

  159·24

  303·16

  447·08

  591·00

  878·84

  1,310·60

  2,749·80

  NICs

  12·27

  20·37

  28·46

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  Income tax and NICs

  11·91

  42·49

  73·08

  123·47

  193·12

  337·04

  480·96

  624·88

  912·72

  1,344·48

  2,783·68

  VAT

  —

  13·26

  19·31

  32·51

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  22·10

  25·76

  33·76

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  77·85

  118·15

  189·74

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  -0·2

  8·2

  12·4

  16·6

  22·1

  28·1

  31·0

  32·8

  34·9

  36·5

  38·0

  NICs

  6·8

  7·5

  7·9

  6·3

  4·7

  3·1

  2·4

  1·9

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  Income tax and NICs

  6·6

  15·7

  20·3

  22·9

  26·8

  31·2

  33·4

  34·7

  36·2

  37·4

  38·7

  VAT

  —

  4·9

  5·4

  6·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·2

  7·2

  6·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  28·8

  32·8

  35·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Married, both working, no children

  Income tax

  2·86

  21·58

  43·75

  88·72

  133·70

  237·53

  367·91

  511·83

  799·67

  1,231·43

  2,670·63

  NICs

  8·35

  16·45

  24·54

  40·73

  55·87

  67·76

  67·76

  67·76

  67·76

  67·76

  67·76

  Income tax and NICs

  11·22

  38·03

  68·29

  129·46

  189·56

  305·29

  435·67

  579·59

  867·43

  1,299·19

  2,738·39

  VAT

  —

  15·45

  21·28

  32·87

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  25·91

  29·92

  37·89

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  79·38

  119·48

  200·22

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  1·6

  8·0

  12·2

  16·4

  18·6

  22·0

  25·6

  28·5

  31·8

  34·2

  37·1

  NICs

  4·6

  6·1

  6·8

  7·5

  7·8

  6·3

  4·7

  3·8

  2·7

  1·9

  0·9

  Income tax and NICs

  6·2

  14·1

  19·0

  24·0

  26·3

  28·3

  30·3

  32·2

  34·4

  36·1

  38·1

  VAT

  —

  5·7

  5·9

  6·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  9·6

  8·3

  7·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  29·4

  33·2

  37·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Notes:

  1. Income tax payments are calculated on the assumption that the households receive no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances and only have income from
  174
  employment All earners, including wives, are assumed to pay Class I National Insurance contributions at the contracted-in rate.

  2. Since 1990–91, husbands and wives have been taxed independently. Previously the tax liability of couples

  175
  depended on their joint income. To permit comparisons with earlier years, the table therefore shows income tax and National Insurance Contributions paid by a married couple as a proportion of their joint income, assuming, as in the earlier years, that where both partners are earners, the husband and wife share the relevant multiple of earnings in the ratio 60:40.

  3. In order to provide comparability with 1978–79, when support for children was given partly through child tax allowance, child benefit is treated as a negative income tax for the married couple with two children.

  4. Average earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. 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.

  5. The estimates of indirect taxes apart from the Community Charge are based on equations derived from the 1985 Family Expenditure Survey, uprated to later years using forecasts of aggregate tax receipts. They are based on the illustrative assumption that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved. There are wide variations in spending patterns between households with the same composition and similar incomes

  Income tax, National Insurance contributions and indirect tax payments at multiples of average earnings

  Amounts, £ per week

  Multiples of average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1,000

  2,000

  Single

  Income tax

  25·53

  48·02

  70·50

  118·13

  190·09

  334·01

  477·93

  621·85

  909·69

  1,341·45

  2,780·65

  NICs

  13·51

  22·51

  31·50

  37·52

  37·52

  37·52

  27·52

  37·52

  37·52

  37·52

  37·52

  Income tax and NICs

  39·04

  70·52

  102·00

  155·65

  227·61

  371·53

  515·45

  657·37

  947·21

  1,378·97

  2,818·17

  VAT

  —

  15·21

  20·10

  30·65

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  19·86

  24·40

  34·21

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  105·59

  146·50

  220·51

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  14·2

  17·8

  19·6

  21·9

  26·4

  30·9

  33·2

  34·6

  36·1

  37·3

  38·6

  NICs

  7·5

  8·3

  8·8

  7·0

  5·2

  3·5

  2·6

  2·1

  1·5

  1·0

  0·5

  Income tax and NICs

  21·7

  26·1

  28·3

  28·9

  31·6

  34·4

  35·8

  36·7

  37·6

  38·3

  39·1

  VAT

  —

  5·6

  5·6

  5·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  7·4

  6·8

  6·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  39·1

  40·7

  40·9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Married, no children

  Income tax

  18·91

  41·40

  63·89

  111·51

  183·47

  327·39

  471·31

  615·23

  903·07

  1,334·83

  2,774·03

  NICs

  13·51

  22·51

  31·50

  37·52

  37·52

  37·52

  37·52

  37·52

  37·52

  37·52

  37·52

  Income tax and NICs

  32·42

  63·91

  95·39

  149·03

  220·99

  364·91

  508·83

  652·75

  940·59

  1,372·35

  2,811·55

  VAT

  —

  14·11

  19·42

  30·90

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  22·17

  26·81

  36·83

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  100·19

  141·62

  216·76

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  10·5

  15·3

  17·8

  20·7

  25·5

  30·3

  32·7

  34·2

  35·9

  37·1

  38·5

  NICs

  7·5

  8·3

  8·8

  7·0

  5·2

  3·5

  2·6

  2·1

  1·5

  1·0

  0·5

  Income tax and NICs

  18·0

  23·7

  26·5

  27·6

  30·7

  33·8

  35·4

  36·3

  37·4

  38·1

  39·0

  VAT

  —

  5·2

  5·4

  5·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·2

  7·5

  6·8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  37·1

  39·4

  40·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Married, 2 children

  Income tax

  0·81

  23·30

  45·79

  93·41

  165·37

  309·29

  453·21

  597·13

  884·97

  1,316·73

  2,755·93

  NICs

  13·51

  22·51

  31·50

  37·52

  37·52

  37·52

  37·52

  37·52

  37·52

  37·52

  37·52

  Income tax and NICs

  14·32

  45·81

  77·29

  130·93

  202·89

  346·81

  490·73

  634·65

  922·49

  1,354·25

  2,793·45

  VAT

  —

  13·92

  19·94

  32·92

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  22·03

  25·69

  33·60

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  81·76

  122·92

  197·45

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  0·5

  8·6

  12·7

  17·3

  23·0

  28·7

  31·5

  33·2

  35·1

  36·6

  38·3

  NICs

  7·5

  8·3

  8·8

  7·0

  5·2

  3·5

  2·6

  2·1

  1·5

  1·0

  0·5

  Income tax and NICs

  8·0

  16·9

  21·5

  24·3

  28·2

  32·2

  34·1

  35·3

  36·6

  37·6

  38·8

  VAT

  —

  5·2

  5·5

  6·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  176
  and estimated payments of VAT and other indirect taxes are therefore approximate, even within the income range for which figures are shown. Outside this range, the margin of error is even higher and reliable estimates cannot be made. Because of sampling variation, there can be substantial differences between estimates obtained from Family Expenditure Surveys for different years.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer of 15 December 1992,Official Report, column 120, to provide similar estimates of the burden of direct and indirect taxes for 1994–95, based on the assumptions contained in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1993–94.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Figures illustrating the hypothetical tax burdens that would take effect in 1993–94 if the tax rates announced for 1994–95 applied in 1993–94 are given in the table. The actual burden of tax in 1994–95 will depend on decisions taken on tax rates, allowances and thresholds in the November 1993 Budget as well as on changes in prices and earnings levels.
  177

  Multiples of average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1,000

  2,000

  Other indirect

  —

  8·2

  7·1

  6·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  30·3

  34·1

  36·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Married, both working, no children

  Income tax

  2·86

  22·75

  44·44

  89·41

  134·39

  243·18

  373·56

  517·48

  805·32

  1,237·08

  2,676·28

  NICs

  9·3

  18·3

  27·2

  45·1

  61·82

  75·04

  75·04

  75·04

  75·04

  75·04

  75·04

  Income tax and NICs

  11·89

  40·78

  71·46

  134·42

  196·21

  318·22

  448·60

  592·52

  880·36

  1,312·12

  2,751·32

  VAT

  —

  16·15

  21·99

  33·51

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  25·91

  29·93

  37·87

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  82·84

  123·38

  205·80

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  1·6

  8·4

  12·4

  16·6

  18·7

  22·5

  26·0

  28·8

  32·0

  34·4

  37·2

  NICs

  5·0

  6·7

  7·5

  8·3

  8·6

  7·0

  5·2

  4·2

  3·0

  2·1

  1·0

  Income tax and NICs

  6·6

  15·1

  19·9

  24·9

  27·3

  29·5

  31·2

  33·0

  35·0

  36·5

  38·2

  VAT

  —

  6·0

  6·1

  6·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  9·6

  8·3

  7·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  30·7

  34·3

  38·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Notes:

  1. Income tax payments are calculated on the assumption that the households receive no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances and only have income from employment. All earners, including wives, are assumed to pay Class 1 NI contributions at the contracted-in rate.

  2. Since 1990–91, husbands and wives have been taxed independently. Previously the tax liability of couples depended on their joint income. To permit comparisons with earlier years, the table therefore shows income tax and National Insurance Contributions paid by a married couple as a proportion of their joint income, assuming, as in the earlier years, that where both partners are earners, the husband and wife share the relevant multiple of earnings in the ratio 60:40.

  3. In order to provide comparability with 1978–79, when support for children was given partly through child tax allowance, child benefit is treated as a negative income tax for the married couple with two children.

  4. Estimates have been provided on the illustrative basis that measures for 1994–95 announced in the Budget—the extension of the 20p income tax band to £3,000, an increase of 1 per cent. in employee NICs, restricting the rate of relief for married couples' allowance to 20 per cent., the introduction of VAT at 8 per cent. on domestic fuel and power and a real increase in fuel duties of 3 per cent.—are implemented in 1993–94, on the basis of 1993–94 levels of earnings and prices and with tax allowances, thresholds etc at their 1993–94 levels.

  5. Average earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence and are assumed to be £359·80 per week, based on the illustrative earnings growth assumption of 4 per cent. in 1993–94.

  6. The estimates of indirect taxes apart from VAT on fuel and power are based on equations derived from the 1985 Family Expenditure Survey, uprated using forecasts of aggregate tax receipts. Estimates of VAT on fuel and power are based on an equation relating expenditure on fuel and power to total expenditure derived from the 1991 Family Expenditure Survey, uprated using forecasts of receipts of VAT on domestic fuel and power. The estimates of tax burdens do not include an estimate of the burden of the Council Tax. The estimates are based on the illustrative assumption that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved.

  7. There are wide variations in spending patterns between households with the same composition and similar incomes and estimated payments of VAT and other indirect taxes are therefore approximate, even within the income range for which figures are shown. Outside this range, the margin of error is even higher and reliable estimates cannot be made. Because of sampling variation, there can be substantial difference between estimates obtained from Family Expenditure Surveys for different years.
  178
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much extra a married couple with one earner will have to pay in tax from April 1994, if they earn(a) £14,000, (b) £19,000 and (c) £28,000; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  A one-earner married couple with no children, aged under 65, claiming the personal allowance and married couple's allowance would pay about £3·90 more per week in direct and indirect tax with earnings of £14,000 per annum; about £4·80 per week more in tax with earnings of £19,000 per annum and about £7·50 per week more in tax with earnings of £28,000 per annum. These estimates are on the standard specimen household basis, assuming households have no other income besides earnings and receive no tax reliefs other than standard allowances. The estimates are at 1993–94 prices and are based on the hypothetical assumption that the measures announced in the Budget for 1994–95 take effect in 1993–94.

  Higher Rate Taxpayers
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of additional higher rate taxpayers in 1993–94 and 1994–95 as a result of changes announced in the Budget.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In 1993–94, it is estimated that there will be 120,000 more higher rate taxpayers under the Budget proposals compared with statutory indexation of allowances and the basic rate limit. Restricting the married couple's allowance to 20 per cent., as proposed for 1994–95, would increase the number by a further 210,000 at 1993–94 levels of income.

  Animal Skins
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will conduct an inquiry into the disposal and sale of skins of dead farm animals which do not pass through slaughterhouses.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No central inquiry is planned, but the Inland Revenue is conducting a number of inquiries at local office level into possible failures to declare income from the sale of animal skins.

  Venture Capital
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 6 July,Official Report, column 10, if he will update the table on venture capital by region for 1992.

  Mr. Nelson
  The figures are available in the British Venture Capital Association report on investment activity 1992—table 5—a copy of which is available in the House Library.

  Empty Properties
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department collects on the number of vacant dwellings owned by Government Departments, agencies and public bodies.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Treasury conducts an annual survey of surplus land and dwellings owned by Government. This identifies vacant dwellings under the control of central Government Departments, executive agencies, the national health service, the Metropolitan police and local police authorities but excludes local authorities and non-departmental public bodies.

  Intra-community Trade
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the compliance rate to date of traders in statistical submissions for intra-community transactions in January and February; and what percentage was received by the due date.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 14 April 1993]: To date, about 75 per cent. of the total returns expected for January and 68 per cent. of those for February have been received. In both months, about half the returns expected were received by the due date with a further substantial amount in the week following.

  NHS Borrowing
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether borrowing by the NHS from private sources will be counted in the public sector borrowing requirement.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 19 April 1993]: The PSBR is defined to include borrowing from private sector sources by all organisations classified to the public sector, including the NHS.

  VAT (Fuel)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the proportion of the expected revenue from the imposition of VAT at(a) 8 per cent. and (b) 17·5 per cent. on domestic fuel which will be raised from standing charges paid by retirement pensioners for gas and electricity.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 18 April 1993]: It is estimated that standing charges paid by retirement pensioners on electricity and gas account for around 3 per cent. of total expenditure on domestic fuel and power.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Jim Robinson (HMP Gartree)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long Mr. Jim Robinson has been on the roof of HMP Gartree; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General for the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from I. Dunbar to Mr. Chris Mullin, dated 22 April 1993:
  In the absence of Mr. Lewis, the Director General, the Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Mr. Jim Robinson's roof top protest at Gartree prison.Mr. Robinson has been on the roof of the central corridor building at Gartree since 23 February. He says that he is protesting about the Home Secretary's decision not to refer his case to the Court of Appeal. Staff are in daily contact with him and continue to monitor his state of health and well being.The protest is entirely peaceful and, I understand, is not aired against staff at Gartree prison or conditions there: no damage has been caused to the building. Staff who are skilled in negotiating in such incidents are in touch with Mr. Robinson. I very much hope that he will be persuaded to end his protest.

  Mr. Leslie Green
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to reopen the case of Leslie Green, hanged for the murder of Alice Wiltshaw; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Mr. Green was convicted of the murder of Mrs. Wiltshaw on 5 December 1952. The jury made no recommendation as to mercy, and no appeal was lodged. There is no trace of any recent representations having been made to the Home Office concerning the safety of Mr. Green's conviction, and neither has any new evidence been presented to us which might bear on the matter. Accordingly, there are no current grounds for reopening the case.

  Reginald Dudley and Robert Maynard
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration has been given to the safety of the convictions of Reginald Dudley and Robert Maynard; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Our consideration of the safety of these convictions is at a fairly advanced stage. A final decision will be taken in the light of a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal—not yet available—which it is thought may have a bearing on the new linguistic evidence submitted by solicitors representing Mr. Dudley and Mr. Maynard.

  Bosnian Refugees
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Bosnian refugees are being cared for by the Scottish Refugee Council in North Berwick; when they arrived there; what funding arrangement has been made by his Department to provide
  181
  for these people and to pay the staff at the temporary hostel; for what reasons no money has yet been paid; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Nine ex-detainees from the camps in Bosnia and their families—a total of 27 people—are being cared for by the Scottish Refugee Council in a reception centre in North Berwick. They are part of a group who arrived on 31 March under the Government-sponsored scheme to bring to the United Kingdom up to 1000 ex-detainees and their families. The Scottish Refugee Council is being funded by the Home Office to run the reception centre. The council was notified on 6 April that an interim payment of £75,000 would be made pending the outcome of discussions on the budgets. A payable order was dispatched on 16 April. As this had not arrived by 20 April, and in view of the financial difficulties being faced by the Scottish Refugee Council, arrangements have been made for the money to be paid directly into the council's bank account in North Berwick.

  Coroners Courts (Jurors)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is given to the coroners' courts on selection, challenges and declarations of intent by jurors and potential jurors.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The only applicable guidance is Home Office Circular 108/1983 on the Coroners' Juries Act 1983 (Commencement) Order 1983—SI 1983 No. 1454 (c43)—and the Coroners (Amendment) Rules 1983—SI 1983 No. 1539. This referred, among other matters, to the selection of coroners' juries, which since 1 January 1984, has been made by the same machinery as the selection of jurors for other courts.

  European Parliament
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken to enable EC nationals resident in the United Kingdom to vote in the 1994 European Parliament Elections under the terms of the Maastricht treaty.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Once the Maastricht treaty has been ratified in all the member states of the Community, we will bring forward legislative proposals to give effect to the new voting rights.

  Fire Brigades (Pay)
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he intends to maintain the fire brigades pay formula in the next reassessment of the pay for firemen;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact upon the morale of fire service officers of the departure from fire brigade pay formula during the forthcoming pay negotiations.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government are not a party to the firefighters' pay agreement, and have no role in the negotiation of firefighters' pay. My right hon. and learned Friend has however made it clear that he expects the council to comply with the Government's policy on public sector pay that any increases in the 1993 pay round should 182
  not exceed 1·5 per cent. and the increase in the fire service's share of total local authority standard spending for the current year has been based on that assumption. It would in our view be manifestly unfair to treat fire service employees differently from other public sector employees in respect of the policy.

  Wolds Prison (Director's Salary)
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the director's salary at the Wolds prison.

  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 Mr. Andrew Robathan, dated 20 April 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to write to you in response to your Parliamentary Question about the salary of the Director at Wolds prison.I am unable to supply the information requested as this is a matter between the Director and his employer.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made on the effect of the proposed cuts in section 11 funding on the educational standards achieved by all pupils in schools.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Grant will continue to be available to support all projects approved for funding. The assessment of local needs is primarily a matter for local authorities, but we are in close touch with local authorities and others in order to ensure that the available funding achieves maximum benefit for members of ethnic minorities.

  Child Sexual Abuse
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) allegations to the police of, (b) prosecutions for and (c) convictions for child sexual abuse there have been in each year since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Information is not collected centrally on the number of allegations of child sexual abuse. A special survey carried out in May 1988—see Home Office statistical bulletin 42/89 "Criminal proceedings for offences involving violence against children, May 1988"—copy available in the Library—showed that about 7 per cent. of all prosecutions for offences of violence against the person or sexual offences were against children aged 16 or under.

  The available information on the number of prosecutions and convictions for sexual offences against children in England and Wales for the years 1980 to 1991 is given in the tables. 1992 data will not be available until the autumn. It is not possible from the information held centrally to identify all sex offenders where the victim is known to be aged 16 years or under.
  183

  Table A Number of persons prosecuted for child sex offences 1980–1991 England and Wales

  Offence

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal

  199

  192

  139

  200

  172

  181

  176

  245

  320

  281

  327

  300

  Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal

  9

  10

  5

  8

  12

  14

  20

  21

  28

  32

  25

  24

  Indecent assault on a male aged under 16 years

  610

  571

  613

  597

  592

  581

  511

  549

  559

  553

  570

  522

  Indecent assault on a female aged under 16 years

  1,869

  1,624

  1,694

  1,573

  1,531

  1,708

  1,653

  2,037

  2,159

  2,169

  2,285

  2,138

  Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl aged under 13 years

  104

  87

  87

  126

  115

  138

  129

  155

  165

  139

  146

  155

  Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl aged under 16 years

  571

  500

  449

  425

  434

  407

  368

  360

  345

  290

  292

  254

  Incest with a girl under 13 years

  62

  37

  54

  38

  54

  55

  74

  104

  105

  88

  111

  80

  Inciting girl under 16 years to have incestuous sexual intercourse

  5

  8

  8

  3

  —

  1

  1

  5

  3

  3

  1

  1

  Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 years

  5

  7

  9

  7

  11

  5

  4

  7

  10

  6

  7

  3

  Person responsible for girl aged under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution, etc.

  4

  4

  5

  1

  3

  —

  1

  4

  —

  2

  —

  2

  Abduction of unmarried girl aged under 16 years

  16

  10

  11

  12

  11

  11

  13

  13

  20

  16

  12

  20

  Gross indecency with children

  292

  246

  269

  243

  232

  265

  263

  284

  226

  277

  317

  239

  Table B Number of persons convicted1 of child sex offences 1980–1991 England and Wales

  Offence

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal

  147

  147

  126

  149

  118

  150

  147

  195

  232

  183

  189

  168

  Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal

  15

  10

  5

  12

  22

  17

  20

  20

  31

  26

  18

  26

  Indecent assault on a male aged under 16 years

  562

  509

  506

  533

  511

  528

  410

  430

  460

  406

  421

  351

  Indecent assault on a female aged under 16 years

  1,685

  1,458

  1,492

  1,356

  1,281

  1,446

  1,327

  1,556

  1,650

  1,657

  1,537

  1,469

  Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl aged under 13 years

  102

  81

  71

  103

  83

  110

  100

  102

  135

  96

  110

  105

  Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl aged under 16 years

  566

  487

  419

  422

  414

  395

  341

  346

  340

  262

  304

  223

  Incest with a girl under 13 years

  52

  32

  45

  40

  49

  57

  77

  89

  104

  100

  84

  68

  Inciting girl under 16 years to have incestuous sexual intercourse

  6

  7

  7

  7

  —

  3

  3

  4

  2

  5

  3

  3

  184 185

  Offence

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 years

  5

  7

  7

  3

  6

  3

  2

  6

  1

  3

  5

  1

  Person responsible for girl aged under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution, etc.

  3

  4

  3

  4

  3

  —

  3

  3

  1

  1

  2

  2

  Abduction of unmarried girl aged under 16 years

  11

  8

  9

  6

  8

  11

  12

  7

  8

  13

  8

  8

  Gross indecency with children

  264

  229

  231

  220

  237

  266

  243

  248

  246

  219

  276

  219

  1 Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years or for other offences.

  Escaped Prisoners
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners on temporary leave from prison have escaped in each of the last five years.

  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 asking how many prisoners on temporary leave from prison have escaped in each of the last five years.
  Prisoners who are released temporarily on the authority of the governor under Prison Rule 6 are deemed to be lawfully at large. If they fail to return to the prison at the time stipulated by the governor they are then unlawfully at large and classified as temporary release failures but are not considered to have escaped, which requires overcoming physical or mechanical restraint or overpowering escorting staff.
  I regret that information on the number of prisoners who are temporary release failures was not recorded centrally prior to 1 January 1990. Information derived from the number of incidents reported to the Incident Management Support Unit, a part of the Directorate of Custody, indicates the following number of prisoners who failed to return from approved temporary release:-

  Numbers

  1990

  1,544

  1991

  2,290

  1992

  3,280

  11993

  791

  1 To 31 March 1993.

  The majority of temporary release failures either return to custody or are apprehended.

  Prisoner Escort Services
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision has been made for private sector employees undertaking court escort duties to be subject to the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; what training is given in the duties and by whom; and what ratio of staff to prisoner Group 4 provides when escorting prisoners to and from court.
  186
  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:
  Court escort: Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; Training given; Ratio of prisoner custody officer staff to prisoners.The Secretary of State has asked me to write to you directly in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what provision has been made for private sector employees undertaking court escort duties to be subject to the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; what training is given in the duties and by whom; and what ratio of staff to prisoner Group 4 provides when escorting prisoners to and from court.Prisoner Custody Officers (PCOs) are required to be certified as such by the Home Secretary as provided by Section 89 of, and Schedule 10 to, the Criminal Justice Act 1991. PCOs are exempt from the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and therefore, like Prison Officers, all previous convictions are taken into consideration in assessing their fitness for certification.Schedule 3 of the Court Escort Service Operational Specification, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House, sets out the requirement for the training of Prisoner Custody Officers. In the East Midlands and Humberside training has been overseen by the Prisoner Escort Monitor and his deputy.In general, prisoners are transported in cellular vehicles. As for the Prison Service, the staffing normally consists of a driver, and an escort who is located in the cells area of the vehicle and is able to monitor the prisoners during the journey.This basic staffing level is the same regardless of vehicle size but can be increased should intelligence deem it necessary. Where non-cellular vehicles are employed, a minimum of one PCO to each pair of prisoners or singleton prisoner, plus one additional PCO must be used.
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what requirement there is for those tendering for transporting prisoners or managing prisons to declare(a) contributions to political parties, (b) relationships of directors to members of the Government and (c) membership of directors of organisations which could be construed to be subversive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Tenders are sought from companies which have the required capabilities, facilities and resources to deliver the required services. Evaluation is carried out by a panel consisting of officials and outside experts co-opted for the purpose. Tenderers are not required to declare any information about contributions to political parties, as this does not form part of any
  187
  evaluation process; it would be against the public interest for the level of contributions to be a factor in the evaluation process.

  Similarly, the quality of both personnel and management of tenderers is evaluated on the merits of their experience and skills, and the matter of relationships to members of the Government whether of directors or other staff is irrelevant to the evaluation process, and the information is not sought.

  Prior to the issue of invitations to tender, pre-qualification assessment is carried out on potential bidders. During this process, reference is made to a range of sources and agencies for financial, security and commercial aspects.

  Prisoners (Drug Offences)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison inmates at each prison in Britain have been put on report for drugs offences in(a) 1991, (b) 1992 and (c) 1993 up to the latest available date.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General for 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:

  Drugs offences in prisons
  The Secretary of State has asked me to write to you directly in reply to your Parliamentary Question about drugs offences in prisons. The available information for each prison in England and Wales is in the enclosed table and is published annually in "Statistics of offences against prison discipline and punishments, England and Wales" (Tables 9-11 of the 1991 issue, Cm 2066). It relates to actual and attempted drugs offences which were punished under the prison discipline system during 1991, 1992 and the first quarter of 1993. The data for 1992 and 1993 are provisional and subject to revision.

  Drugs offences1 proved at adjudications in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales, 1991 to March 1993: by establishment at which punished.

  Establishment where punished

  1991

  19922

  19933

  All Establishments

  2,840

  2,064

  389

  Male Prisons and Remand Centres

  2,285

  1,588

  277

  Remand Centres

  323

  278

  60

  Brinsford

  1

  23

  0

  Brockhill

  30

  0

  0

  Cardiff

  40

  0

  0

  Exeter

  8

  0

  1

  Feltham

  73

  85

  25

  Glen Parva

  30

  43

  9

  Hindley

  35

  25

  4

  Holme House

  0

  4

  1

  Low Newton

  24

  22

  2

  Moorland

  14

  48

  11

  Norwich

  18

  1

  0

  Reading

  0

  1

  0

  Rochester

  16

  13

  0

  Stoke Heath

  14

  11

  6

  Swansea

  20

  2

  1

  Male Local Prisons

  1,268

  795

  133

  Bedford

  14

  5

  1

  Bellmarsh

  16

  64

  1

  Birmingham

  65

  45

  1

  Bristol

  25

  12

  1

  Brixton

  206

  77

  11

  Canterbury

  14

  10

  0

  Cardiff

  38

  1

  0

  188

  Establishment where punished

  1991

  19922

  19933

  Chelmsford

  14

  4

  0

  Dorchester

  1

  0

  0

  Durham

  44

  23

  0

  Elmley

  0

  8

  1

  Exeter

  10

  1

  3

  Gloucester

  0

  0

  1

  Highdown

  0

  2

  0

  Holme House

  0

  3

  1

  Hull

  8

  15

  1

  Latchmere House

  1

  0

  0

  Leeds

  24

  33

  12

  Leicester

  26

  61

  7

  Lewes

  72

  22

  0

  Lincoln

  0

  5

  0

  Liverpool

  113

  60

  21

  Manchester

  24

  15

  10

  Norwich

  21

  8

  0

  Oxford

  2

  1

  0

  Pentonville

  77

  67

  15

  Preston

  40

  14

  0

  Risley

  0

  0

  1

  Reading

  29

  14

  0

  Shrewsbury

  40

  16

  0

  Swansea

  9

  1

  0

  Wandsworth

  138

  74

  35

  Winchester

  34

  24

  0

  Wolds

  0

  1

  0

  Wormwood Scrubs

  163

  109

  10

  Male Closed Training Prisons

  573

  428

  66

  Acklington

  36

  11

  3

  Albany

  7

  4

  0

  Aldington

  3

  3

  0

  Ashwell

  19

  10

  0

  Blantyre House

  1

  0

  0

  Blundeston

  11

  4

  0

  Brockhill

  0

  7

  0

  Camp Hill

  13

  1

  0

  Channings Wood

  23

  7

  0

  Coldingley

  13

  9

  0

  Dartmoor

  24

  17

  0

  Down view

  6

  14

  0

  Erlestoke

  1

  19

  10

  Elmley

  0

  1

  0

  Everthorp

  0

  4

  0

  Featherstone

  9

  14

  2

  Frankland

  4

  2

  0

  Full Sutton

  7

  6

  0

  Garth

  12

  3

  0

  Gartree

  27

  8

  4

  Grendon

  1

  1

  0

  Haverigg

  16

  7

  0

  Highpoint

  41

  28

  12

  Kingston (Portsmouth)

  0

  0

  1

  Lancaster

  8

  1

  0

  Latchmere House

  0

  1

  0

  Lindholme

  16

  34

  0

  Littlehey

  30

  11

  0

  Long Lartin

  6

  4

  0

  Maidstone

  16

  7

  3

  Mount (The)

  14

  13

  0

  Northeye

  22

  3

  0

  Norwich (Britannia)

  15

  1

  0

  Nottingham

  2

  3

  0

  Parkhurst

  11

  6

  4

  Ranby

  12

  3

  0

  Risley

  5

  15

  1

  Rochester

  1

  2

  0

  Send

  5

  2

  0

  Shepton Mallet

  14

  4

  0

  Stafford

  22

  20

  0

  Stocken

  18

  10

  2

  Swaleside

  22

  17

  2

  Thorpe Arch

  4

  1

  0

  Verne (The)

  21

  8

  1

  Wakefield

  12

  4

  3

  Wayland

  9

  44

  1

  Wellingborough

  4

  5

  3

  189

  Establishment where punished

  1991

  19922

  19933

  Whitemoor

  0

  4

  0

  Wymott

  20

  25

  4

  Male Open Prisons

  121

  87

  18

  Ford

  63

  57

  8

  Hewell Grange

  0

  1

  0

  Highpoint

  0

  2

  0

  Kirkham

  3

  4

  1

  Leyhill

  6

  0

  3

  Morton Hall

  13

  8

  5

  North Sea Camp

  2

  2

  1

  Rudgate

  6

  5

  0

  Spring Hill

  1

  0

  0

  Stanford Hill

  14

  4

  0

  Sudbury

  13

  4

  0

  All Male Young Offender Institutions

  462

  415

  102

  Male Closed Young Offender Institutions

  286

  272

  52

  Aylesbury

  17

  10

  5

  Castington

  8

  13

  0

  Deerbolt

  11

  13

  0

  Dover

  19

  17

  8

  Everthorpe

  4

  0

  0

  Feltham

  41

  44

  7

  Glen Parva

  33

  38

  8

  Hollesley Bay

  25

  12

  1

  Huntercombe

  23

  15

  1

  Moorland

  4

  13

  0

  Mount (The)

  2

  0

  0

  Northallerton

  7

  8

  1

  Onley

  19

  14

  2

  Portland

  18

  19

  10

  Stoke Heath

  37

  50

  9

  Swinfen Hall

  6

  3

  0

  Wetherby

  12

  3

  0

  Male Open Young Offenders Institutions

  116

  91

  36

  Finnamore Wood

  20

  8

  8

  Guys Marsh

  11

  1

  1

  Hatfield

  9

  7

  0

  Hewell Grange

  8

  0

  0

  Hollesley Bay

  10

  1

  0

  Lowdham Grange

  3

  0

  0

  Thorn Cross

  48

  69

  25

  Usk

  7

  5

  2

  Male short sentenced institutions

  16

  22

  2

  Eastwood Park

  3

  7

  0

  Hollesley Bay

  10

  3

  0

  Lowdham Grange

  1

  0

  0

  Werrington

  2

  2

  2

  Wetherby

  0

  10

  2

  Male juvenile institutions

  44

  30

  12

  Feltham

  9

  15

  9

  Kirklevington

  23

  2

  0

  Onley

  3

  10

  3

  Werrington

  9

  3

  0

  All female establishments

  93

  61

  10

  Female local prisons

  60

  52

  9

  Holloway

  48

  35

  1

  Low Newton

  3

  1

  0

  New Hall

  2

  6

  0

  Pucklechurch

  1

  4

  0

  Risley

  6

  6

  8

  Female closed training prisons

  17

  4

  1

  Bullwood Hall

  1

  1

  0

  Cookham Wood

  13

  1

  1

  Styal

  3

  2

  0

  Female open prisons

  13

  4

  0

  Askham Grange

  2

  0

  0

  Drake Hall

  7

  4

  0

  East Sutton Park

  4

  0

  0

  190

  Establishment where punished

  1991

  19922

  19933

  Female open young offender institutions

  2

  1

  0

  Drake Hall

  1

  1

  0

  East Sutton Park

  1

  0

  0

  Female closed young offender institutions

  1

  0

  0

  Styal

  1

  0

  0

  1 Includes attempts, incitements and assisting.

  2 Data are provisional.

  3 Data are provisional and relate to the first quarter only.

  Gwent Police
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received up to 17 April(a) in favour of and (b) against the amalgamation of the Gwent police force with another force.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 20 April 1993]: Up to 17 April, my right hon. and learned Friend received 13 representations about the future of Gwent constabulary. All these were against its amalgamation with another force. My right hon. and learned Friend made a statement about the future of the police service in England and Wales on 23 March. As he said then, he has no plans at present for any amalgamations.

DEFENCE

  Blue Circle Cement
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he was first told of the radioactive contamination of the Blue Circle Cement headquarters at Aldermaston house arising from the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston; and what action he has taken over the contamination.

  Mr. Aitken
  Ministers were first told of the contamination of land at Aldermaston court in April 1991. The contamination is well below levels which could cause any harm to individuals, but the Ministry of Defence is making arrangements with the owner of the land to remove the affected soil.

  Russian Forces
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the number of Russian forces stationed in(a) Germany, (b) Poland, (c) the Baltic Republics and (d) Georgia.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is estimated that there are approximately 97,000 Russian personnel in Germany, fewer than 4,000 in Poland, 42,000 in the Baltic republics and 20,000 in Georgia. This is a major reduction over the last 12 months.

  Ports and Airports
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those ports and airports, or portions of ports and airports, in the United Kingdom over which he has jurisdiction.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The ports in the United Kingdom that are subject to dockyard port orders and are
  191
  administered by the Secretary of State for Defence are: Portsmouth, Plymouth, Pembroke Dock, Clyde—Holy Loch/Gareloch and Loch Long—Cromarty and Rosyth.

  Commercial airport-type operations are conducted at the following military airfields in the United Kingdom for which the Secretary of State for Defence has authority:

  RAF Machrihanish (Campbeltown Airport)

  RAF Manston (Kent International Airport)

  RAF St. Mawgan (Newquay International Airport)

  RAF Stornoway (Stornoway Airport)

  Munitions Shipments
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements were made by his Department's agencies, or third parties acting on his Department's behalf, for shipping munitions in the eastern Mediterranean in each year from 1981 to 1989.

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

  Departmental Properties (Sales)
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many houses owned by his Department are eligible to be bought by their occupants; how many sales have taken place; how many applications are being processed; what proportion of the total these figures represent; and if he will make a statement on his Department's plans for increasing the number sold.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As part of a continuous programme, all Ministry of Defence civilian houses that are surplus to requirements and are not within a secure area may normally be purchased by their occupants. In the last financial year, 360 such sales were completed and 190 further sales are currently under negotiation. The remaining 700 properties are currently being retained to house key staff. The possibility of future sales is being kept under review.

  In addition, my Department operates a scheme for selling surplus and vacant married quarters to service personnel at a discount.

  Aston Down
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 March,Official Report, column 110, what work is currently being carried out by his Department's six civil servants at his Department's establishment at Aston Down; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The six civil servants at Aston Down control and monitor the depot operating contract to ensure that the required standards are maintained by the contractor. They also manage the depot budget and associated buildings and estate matters.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military personnel are based in Cambodia; and for what reason.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are currently 122 British service men based in Cambodia. All are serving with the United Nations as part of the United Nations transitional authority in Cambodia.
  192
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution the United Kingdom is making to mine-clearing operations in Cambodia; where and with which faction the British unit is based; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom is providing 14 mine clearance training experts as part of the United Nations transitional authority in Cambodia—UNTAC—including the overall commander of the UNTAC mine clearance training unit—MCTU. The headquarters of the MCTU is in Phnom Penh and British mine clearance training personnel are located at a number of different locations in Cambodia.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many mines have been lifted in Cambodia by the British mine-clearing unit since it commenced its operations.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  United Kingdom personnel are not directly involved in mine clearance in Cambodia. They provide training for indigenous personnel and an element of supervision of mine clearance operations.

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 11 January,Official Report, column 633, if he will list the full address of each site with 20 or more dwellings which are vacant.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested could be provided only at disprortionate cost.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the empty Ministry of Defence houses in Mantle gardens, Barne Barton, Plymouth.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The sale of the surplus married quarters at Mantle Gardens to the Devon and Cornwall housing association has been agreed. We hope to complete the sale shortly.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the discussions with Devon and Cornwall housing association to acquire empty Ministry of Defence dwellings at Raglan barracks, Mount Wise, Plymouth.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The sale of the former married quarters estate at Raglan barracks has been agreed in principle but the Devon and Cornwall housing association—DCHA—has been unable to secure the necessary funding for completing the purchase. In order to ensure that the empty properties are brought back into early use and with DCHA agreement, the properties have now been placed on the open market.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dwellings owned by his Ministry are currently unoccupied.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 31 March 1993, a total of 9,291 Ministry of Defence-owned houses and fiats were unoccupied, of which 9,166 were service married quarters. Of these, 2,153 were either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation, 2,493 were already
  193
  allocated to service families who were due to move in shortly and 870 were being held for agreed deployment or deployments under study. In addition, some 2,433 vacant service married quarters and 265 civilian houses, most of which were occupied, were in the process of being sold.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lichfield
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Prime Minister when he next plans to pay an official visit to Lichfield and its cathedral.

  The Prime Minister
  I am making plans for a series of visits to all parts of the country and hope to include Staffordshire among them.

  Mr. Stephen Kock
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Prime Minister what the official duties of Mr. Stephen Adolphus Kock have been since 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Incomes Policy
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to introduce an incomes policy.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have no such plans.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 22 April.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 22 April.

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

  Serbia (Sanctions)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister to what extent the new sanctions against Serbia Montenegro prevent or limit British nationals, or public relations consultancies based in the United Kingdom, from promoting or representing in the United Kingdom the interests of(a) the Government of Yugoslavia, (b) the Government of Montenegro, (c) the Government of Serbia and (d) the Bosnian Serb leadership.

  The Prime Minister
  United Nations Security Council resolution 820 of 17 April 1993 prevents British nationals or public relations consultancies based in the United Kingdom from promoting or representing in the United Kingdom the interests of the Governments of Serbia and Montenegro.

  Western Goals Institute
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Prime Minister which Downing street policy advisers have spoken at meetings of the Western Goals Institute(a) from 1979 to 1990 and (b)
  194
  since 1990; and what meetings Government Ministers have had with officers of the Western Goals Institute since 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  The activities of the Western Goals Institute are wholly incompatible with the policies of the Government and the Conservative party. I am not aware of any contacts between Government Ministers or officials and the Western Goals Institute.

  South African Conservative Party
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions Ministers have had with representatives of the South African Conservative party since 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited South Africa in September 1992 as leader of the EC troika. He met leaders of all major groups including the Conservative party. The Government have kept in contact with all the main parties in South Africa in the context of encouraging progress towards a democratic, non-racial constitution.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his current assessment of the results of the London accord on Bosnia of last summer; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The statement on Bosnia resulting from the London conference on the former Yugoslavia in August 1992 set out a number of provisions to be included in a peace settlement and called upon the parties to resume negotiations. The international conference on the former Yugoslavia, under the co-chairmanship of Lord Owen and Mr. Vance, has since worked tirelessly to establish a peace plan building on these principles. The Bosnian Muslims and Croats have signed all the elements of the peace plan. But the Bosnian Serbs continue to refuse to agree the interim government arrangements and the maps. The United Nations Security Council has now adopted a further resolution setting out extremely tough sanctions which will be imposed on the Serbs if they remain intransigent.

  B. Dixon-Bate Ltd.
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will visit the company headquarters of B. Dixon-Bate Ltd.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Mr. Ghazanfer Ali
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister what further information he has received about court proceedings in Pakistan concerning Mr. Ghazanfer Ali.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 21 April 1993]: The two murder charges facing Mr. Ghazanfer Ali were heard on 13 and 14 March and adjourned until 8 and 12 April. We have been informed that they have been further adjourned until 27 April and 10 May.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Frogs' Legs
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what position his Department has taken on the meeting of agriculture Ministers regarding the importation of frogs' legs, with particular reference to Indonesia.

  Mr. Curry
  EC Council directive 92/118/EEC lays down animal health and public health requires governing trade in and imports into the Community of a wide range of animal products. The directive provides for specific health conditions applicable to trade in, and import of, frogs' legs to be established by the EC standing veterinary committee by 1 January 1994. The Commission has not yet presented a proposal.

  Sheep Dips
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library full details of the research supplied by the manufacturers(a) Battle, Hayward and Brewer, (b) Ciba Agriculture, (c) the Cross Vetpharm Group Deosan, (d) Grampian Pharmaceuticals and (e) Pitman-Moore when they applied to his Department to sell sheep dips based on organophosphorus compounds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  No. Under section 118 of the Medicines Act 1968, all data supplied by pharmaceutical companies in support of applications for product licences are classified commercial in confidence and cannot be disclosed by the licensing authority.

  Integrated Administration and Control System
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will simplify the annual June returns in view of the amount of information provided by farmers on the IACS form.

  Mr. Curry
  As my right hon. Friend the Minister made clear in the letter that accompanied the IACS documentation, we are reviewing the forms that farmers are required to complete, including those required for the agricultural census, to see whether they can be made shorter and easier for farmers in future years.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when he expects the European Commission to complete its report on the application of the integrated administration and control system in the various member states of the European Community;

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the European Commission's report on the application of the integrated administration and control system in the various member states of the European Community, as soon as it is available.

  Mr. Curry
  The European Commission is undertaking a series of visits to examine how the integrated administration and control system is being applied in each EC member state. The visits will not be completed until about the end of July. I intend to press the Commission to provide a report of its findings.
  196
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library copies of the forms and related documents sent to farmers and others by other member states of the European Community under the integrated administration and control system.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler) on 2 April 1993,Official Report, col. 456.

  Comfrey Products
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which alkaloids with known toxicity have been found in samples of comfrey products sold in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Soames
  The following Pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been found in samples of comfrey products sold in the United Kingdom:—

  lycopsamine/intermedine;

  acetyl lycopsamine/acetyl intermedine;

  symphytine/symlandine and;

  echimidine isomers.

  Chemically similar alkaloids were determined together as indicated. Symphytine has been shown to be positive in carcinogenicity and mutagenicity studies.

  International Whaling Commission
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral statement of 2 April,Official Report, column 810, what information he has on the attempts being made by some members of the International Whaling Commission to influence the voting in the Commission of some of its less important members; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I am aware of reports, including those from published sources produced by various non-governmental organisations, that suggest that certain members of the Commission have been seeking to unfairly influence others. The Government deplore any action designed to subvert democratic discussion and decision making within international fora such as the International Whaling Commission.

  Lambs (Embryotomy)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to enforce the law outlawing embryotomy on lambs in the womb; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Embryotomy is sometimes performed on dead lambs in the womb in the welfare interest of the ewe. However, the Department is not aware of any evidence to suggest that embryotomy is performed on live lambs.

  Should anyone have such evidence, it should be reported immediately to the state veterinary service.

  Whales
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to support the French proposal to declare the entire southern ocean south of 40 deg S as a sanctuary for whales.

  Mr. Curry
  As I made clear to the hon. Member in my statement on 2 April 1993,Official Report, column 811, we

  197
  are keenly interested in the proposal for an Antarctic whale sanctuary south of 40 deg S. This is due for detailed consideration by the International Whaling Commission when it meets in Japan next month. We have put forward a strong case for twinning this proposal with the as yet unquantified but very important issue of environmental changes, such as global warming, ozone depletion and pollution, and how these may impact on whale stocks. We intend playing a full part in the Commission's further deliberations on this basis.

  Veterinary Investigation Centres
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many veterinary investigation centres were in operation in 1979; what is the current number; and how many are projected for 1996.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 21 April 1993]: Since 1979, the veterinary investigation service has undergone two very thorough and carefully considered reviews which were designed to produce significant improvements in the quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the service and to reflect changes in national requirements and methods of operation of the veterinary investigation service. Advances in diagnostic technology, automated analytical equipment, information technology and improvements in road transport systems have meant that a larger proportion of

  Commissions with the Agriculture and Food Research Council

  Total research and development expenditure

  Year

  Cash £ million

  Constant prices1 £ million

  Cash £ million

  Constant prices £ million

  1978–79

  n/a

  —

  n/a

  —

  1979–80

  30·4

  70·2

  n/a

  —

  1980–81

  37·4

  73·0

  n/a

  —

  1981–82

  44·3

  79·0

  106·8

  190·4

  1982–83

  48·6

  80·9

  113·9

  189·5

  1983–84

  51·3

  81·6

  118·6

  188·6

  1984–85

  52·8

  79·9

  119·4

  180·6

  1985–86

  51·8

  74·3

  118·4

  169·9

  1986–87

  47·9

  66·5

  118·3

  164·3

  1987–88

  44·2

  58·2

  113·8

  149·9

  1988–89

  46·4

  57·0

  113·4

  139·3

  1989–90

  46·0

  53·0

  110·2

  127·0

  1990–91

  45·6

  48·6

  117·6

  125·4

  1991–92

  34·5

  34·5

  119·6

  119·6

  1992–93

  34·8

  33·6

  132·2

  127·7

  1 Using the GDP deflator (1991–92 = 100).

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what specific steps he is taking to assist manufacturing industry in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  Government provide a wide range of assistance, financial and other, to manufacturing industry in Northern Ireland through the Department of Economic Development and its businesses. The various programmes of assistance are designed to encourage inward investment, to promote the competitiveness of local industry, to build up management and work force skills and to support innovation.
  198
  services provided by the veterinary investigation service can now be carried out more efficiently in a reduced number of locations.

  As a result of the reviews there are currently 14 full veterinary investigation centres in operation and following the amalgamation of Reading and Winchester centres on the Winchester site in mid-1994 it is expected that 13 full veterinary investigation centres will be in operation in 1996. The position of the veterinary investigation service unit at Truro will be reviewed in the interim period. In 1979 there were 25 veterinary investigation centres in operation.

  Agriculture and Food Research Council
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the amounts spent by his Department on the Agriculture and Food Research Council for each year since 1978–79 to 1992–93 in(a) cash and (b) constant prices.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 21 April 1993]: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food commissions with the Agriculture and Food Research Council, together with my Department's total expenditure on research and development, in both cash and constant prices, are set out in the table.

  Talks
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest position over talks regarding Northern Ireland.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The Government trust that further political talks will commence as soon as practicable, and I am in contact with the other talks participants about that. A fair and widely acceptable political accommodation in relation to Northern Ireland would bring very substantial benefits to all the people of Northern Ireland, and more generally.

  Electricity
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to assist electricity users in the Province; and if he will make a statement.
  199
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further steps he intends to take to reduce the cost of electricity in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 25 March that he had agreed to additional relief on prices for monthly billed industrial users.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount of public expenditure incurred in 1992–93 in Northern Ireland; and what proportion of this was spent through the Northern Ireland Office.

  Mr. Mates
  The estimated outturn for 1992–93 is £7,092 million. Of this total, the Northern Ireland Office estimated outturn is £857 million.

  Race Relations Legislation
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend race relations legislation to cover Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  On 16 December 1992, my right hon. and learned Friend published a consultative document which seeks views on the scope for legislation on racial discrimination and on any additional action which the Government might take to promote equity of treatment for ethnic groups in Northern Ireland. The consultation period ends on 30 April and Government will then consider carefully the various views expressed and will publish their findings.

  "Making Londonderry Work"
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department is spending on the "Making Londonderry Work" campaign; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department is spending £3·064 million on the "Making Londonderry Work" campaign in the 1993–94 financial year. This involves an intensified town centre development programme to restore the built environment, a community action programme to improve the social, economic and environmental conditions of people in the most disadvantaged areas of the city and a promotional strategy emphasising the more positive aspects of life in Londonderry. By the end of March 1994, a total of almost £15 million will have been spent on this initiative.

  Security
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on security in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  Since my hon. Friend answered a similar question on 18 March seven murders have occured in circumstances to which my hon. Friend's question relates. All the victims were civilians.
  200
  The security forces will continue to oppose all terrorism implacably, with the full support of the Government. It is our overriding purpose to defeat and eradicate all terrorism, and we shall do all in our power to encourage the practical help of the public, who undoubtedly share our concern.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received about the future security of Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mates
  I frequently receive representations from a wide range of bodies and individuals on the security of Northern Ireland. These representations are carefully considered.

  Our security policy is founded on the maintenance of the rule of law, the defence of democratic principles against those who try to promote political objectives by violence or threat of violence, and the creation of conditions in Northern Ireland in which a just, peaceful and prosperous society can develop. It is our first priority to eradicate terrorism from whatever quarter it comes; for so long as violence continues, it will be met with a firm and resolute response.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the latest numbers of people who are homeless in Northern Ireland; and what action his Department is taking.

  Mr. Atkins
  It is not possible to give a figure for the total number of homeless people in Northern Ireland at any specific point in time. However, I am advised by the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that at 6 April 1993 the number of households living in temporary accommodation secured for them under the homeless provisions of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 was 327.

  The Housing Executive has statutory responsibility for dealing with homelessness and arranges both temporary and permanent accommodation throughout Northern Ireland. Its housing selection scheme gives top priority particularly to families accepted as homeless. In addition, the Housing Executive and other local bodies provide extensive advice to those who are homeless, or are threatened with homelessness.

  Standard Assessment Tasks
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of SATs at key stages 1 to 4.

  Mr. Hanley
  At key stages 1 to 3 assessment will be, as in England and Wales, by a combination of teacher assessment and external tests. In Northern Ireland these tests are called common assessment instruments. Assessments at key stages 2, aged 11, and 3 (aged 14) are being piloted this year. The key stage 2 pilot CAIs, in English, mathematics and Irish in Irish-medium schools, were administered in mid-February; the key stage 3 pilot CAIs, in English, mathematics and science, will be administered in May. The pilot arrangements this year are being fully evaluated by NISEAC, and whilst the findings
  201
  are not yet available early feedback indicates that schools did not find the key stage 2 CAIs to be as onerous as expected.

  The key stage 1 CAIs, in English, mathematics and Irish in Irish-medium schools, will be piloted next year. Assessment at key stage 4 will be mainly via GCSE: the first year of the new arrangements at key stage 4 will be in 1995.

  Republic (Relations)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any plans to meet representatives of the Irish Government to discuss the relationship between the Province and the Republic.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I am in frequent contact with Irish Ministers, and expect to meet them again shortly at a meeting of the intergovernmental conference.

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he intends to introduce domestic water meter trials in any areas of Northern Ireland prior to the Government's privatisation of water services.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department of the Environment has since 1992 been installing meters in randomly selected domestic properties in Northern Ireland. This is a sampling exercise to obtain an assessment of the rate of domestic water consumption. The assessment will be used as a basis for estimating future domestic needs as part of an overall water resource strategy for Northern Ireland. There are no plans to introduce other domestic water meter trials.

  Northern Ireland Sports Council
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to reform the Northern Ireland Sports Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Belfast, East (Mr. Robinson) on 14 April,Official Report, columns 635–36.

  Northern Ireland Care Homes Association
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he or his colleagues have met recently representatives of the Northern Ireland Care Homes Association; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Senior officials in the Department of Health and Social Services have met representatives of the association on several occasions, most recently on 10 March 1993 at the request of my noble Friend Lord Arran.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current level of unemployment in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  At 11 March 1993, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 106,016 unemployed claimants in Northern Ireland, representing 14·1 per cent. of the work force.

  Political Parties (Meetings)
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent meeting he has had with representatives of political parties in Ireland regarding the future of Northern Ireland.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I am in frequent contact with representatives of the main constitutional parties in Northern Ireland, and with the Irish Government, over the prospects for future political talks.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the exercise designed to identify all those women whose invalidity benefit was reduced at the age of 60 years has been completed; what is the estimated number of such women; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The exercise to identify women whose invalidity benefit was reduced at age 60 has been completed. The estimated number of such women is 2,700. A case involving the payment of invalidity benefit to women aged 60 to 64 is at present with the Court of Appeal in England, but no date has been set for the hearing. The Department of Health and Social Services will give full consideration to the judgment of the Court of Appeal when it is delivered.

  Irish Constitution
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Irish Government about the repeal of articles 2 and 3 of the Irish constitution.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I have met the Irish Tanaiste, Foreign Minister, Mr. Spring, several times since his taking office, and on each occasion constitutional issues were among the subjects we discussed.

  Rural Development Council
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at which locations there are projects in which the Rural Development Council is involved; and at which locations the Rural Development Council is considering future projects.

  Mr. Hanley
  Projects which have been approved by the Rural Development Council through its administration of the EC LEADER programme are located as follows:

  Mid-Ulster Enterprises (Creggan Ltd.), Omagh, Co. Tyrone.

  The Seeconnel Initiative, Castlewellan, Co. Down.

  South West Fermanagh Development Organisation Ltd.

  Further applications under the LEADER programme are being considered by the council, but no final decisions have yet been taken.

  The Rural Development Council is also assisting 120 projects under the farm diversification action research programme which it operates in South Armagh and West Fermanagh on behalf of the International Fund for Ireland.

  Terrorists
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons wanted by the police in Northern Ireland in connection with(a) terrorist

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  murders and (b) other terrorist offences are now reported to be in the Republic of Ireland; how many in other foreign countries; what requests for extradition have been made; and what proceedings have been started under the criminal law jurisdiction legislation.

  Mr. Mates
  It is not possible to give meaningful figures in relation to the first part of the question. We are currently seeking the extradition of three persons from the United States to Northern. Ireland and one person from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland. There are two prosecutions proceeding under the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act.

  Armed Robberies
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many armed robberies took place in Northern Ireland in each year since 1990; and what was the total amount stolen in each year.

  Mr. Mates
  The information is as follows:

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Number of armed robberies1

  579

  686

  866

  Amount stolen2 (£ million)

  1·5

  1·7

  2·7

  1 Including attempted armed robberies.

  2 Approximately.

  Stolen Cars
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cars were stolen in Northern Ireland in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Mates
  Police statistics on vehicle theft do not distinguish between cars and other vehicles. The total number of vehicles stolen was 7,026 in 1990, 8,565 in 1991 and 9,175 in 1992.

  University Funding
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the annual cost to the Government of funding for(a) Queen's university, Belfast and (b) the University of Ulster.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Newry and Armagh (Mr. Mallon) on 14 April 1993,Official Report, columns 658–60.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the size of Northern Ireland civil service on 1 January in each year since 1981.

  Mr. Mates
  Northern Ireland civil service staff in post figures at 1 April for the years 1981–93 are as follows:

  Year

  Staff in post

  Non-industrial

  Industrial

  1981

  23,367

  7,324

  1982

  22,720

  6,804

  1983

  22,640

  6,327

  1984

  22,471

  6,091

  1985

  22,598

  5,948

  1986

  23,013

  5,881

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  Year

  Staff in post

  Non-industrial

  Industrial

  1987

  23,248

  5,737

  1988

  23,546

  5,459

  1989

  23,240

  5,321

  1990

  23,336

  5,258

  1991

  23,790

  4,694

  1992

  24,256

  4,852

  1993

  24,900

  14,576

  1As at 1 March 1993.

  Public Debt
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current size of public debt in Northern Ireland; and by how much it has increased or decreased since May 1991.

  Mr. Mates
  Provisional figures for the main areas of public sector debt—housing, rates, water, electricity and gas supplies—currently put the level of such debt at some £29·6 million. This represents a decrease of £4·1 million from 31 March 1991. Information for May 1991 is not available.

  Health and Social Services Boards
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the budgetary allocation to each of the health and social services boards in Northern Ireland for the 1993–94 financial year.

  Mr. Hanley
  For the 1993–94 financial year the allocation to each of the health and social services boards is:

  £

  Northern board

  Hospital, community health and personal social services

  198,812,000

  Family health services

  59,318,000

  General practice fund holding

  9,350,000

  Southern board

  Hospital, community health and personal social services

  163,657

  Family health services

  49,978,000

  Eastern board

  Hospital, community health and personal social services

  393,619,000

  Family health services

  104,896,000

  General practice fund holding

  18,540,000

  Western board

  Hospital, community health and personal social services

  142,154,000

  Family health services

  43,322,000

  General practice fund holding

  3,637,000

  These allocations may be increased in-year to fund service developments and other priorities.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Elderly People
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the consequences for retirement pensioners of the United Kingdom's opt-out from the social chapter.
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  Miss Widdecombe
  Assuming the Maastricht treaty is ratified, the protocol on social policy which has annexed to it an agreement on social policy—also known as the social chapter—between the other 11 member states of the European Community will come into effect. The United Kingdom's negotiated exclusion from this agreement is not expected to result in any direct consequences for retirement pensioners.

  European Court Judgment
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans there are to seek an early listing of Commissioners' decision C. S. 27/91 (Mrs. Graham) at the Court of Appeal following the European Court of Justice judgment in case C328/91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Officials of the Court of Appeal have already contacted the Department with a view to arranging the listing of this case.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether, in the case of Mrs. Vera Vogel, on behalf of the late Mrs. Ivy Garrett, ZP 379254 C(a) the letter from Mrs. S. Scholfield dated 9 March or (b) the letter dated 12 March from the attendance allowance unit represents the correct position.

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

  Letter from David Riggs to Mr. Robert Jones, dated 2 April 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is the responsibility of Mr. Michael Bichard to answer questions about relevant operational matters. However, as Mr. Bichard is away at the moment I am replying on his behalf to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking whether, in the case of Mrs. Vera Vogel, acting on behalf of the late Mrs. Ivy Garrett, ZP379254C (a) the letter from Mrs. S. Scholfield dated 9 March or (b) the letter dated 12 March from the Attendance Allowance Unit represents the correct position.Following Mrs. Garrett's death, Mrs. Vogel who is Mrs. Garrett's daughter has been in correspondence with the Attendance Allowance Unit in Blackpool to determine whether her late mother could establish either statutory or extra-statutory title payment to Attendance Allowance (AA).The letters to which you mention were with regard to this subject but were for entirely different purposes. Due to the confidential nature of this matter I have written to you separately and in greater detail about it.I hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Income Support
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the most recently available figure for the income support live load of each of his Department's offices in Northamptonshire; and what are the costs involved.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.
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  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. William Powell, 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 if he will list the most recently available figure for the Income Support live load of each of his Department's offices in Northamptonshire; and what are the costs involved.The Benefits Agency offices covering Northamptonshire are Corby, Northampton and Wellingborough. I have given below the latest figures for the Income Support live load by office. The information has been provided by the Income Support Management Information Statistics. Information regarding the costs of benefit involved are not available. This is because information if only held on a National basis and it is not possible to estimate costs for local areas.

  Office

  Live Load

  Corby

  6,051

  Northampton

  25,576

  Wellingborough

  16,057

  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.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the Benefits Agency has now completed its exercise to identify those women in receipt of invalidity benefit whose benefit was reduced at age 60 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of invalidity benefit 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 Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 21 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 if the Benefits Agency has now completed its exercise to identify those women in receipt of Invalidity Benefit whose benefit was reduced at age 60 years.On 1 April 1992 the Social Security Commissioner decided that Invalidity Benefit rules linked to pension age breach the EC Equal Treatment Directive; that women aged 60–64 should receive standard rate invalidity Benefit instead of the Retirement Pension rate; and that women should receive Invalidity Allowance if incapacity begins between 55 and 59 years of age.The Chief Adjudication Officer and Secretary of State (jointly) have appealed against this decision to the Court of Appeal. Meanwhile payment of any additional benefit resulting from the Commissioner's decision is being suspended by the Secretary of State until this appeal has been resolved.Instructions have been issued to District Offices to identify the women affected by the Commissioner's decision. This will enable the Agency to act promptly once the decision of the Court of Appeal is known. The Agency's initial estimate of the numbers of cases involved is a maximum of 82,500. The exercise to identify the cases and establish a more accurate figure is continuing but should be concluded shortly.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.

EMPLOYMENT

  Social Affairs and Labour Council
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what matters will be discussed at the next meeting of the EC Social Affairs and Labour Council; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The agenda for the next meeting of the EC Labour and Social Affairs Council on 1 June has not yet been fixed.

  However, at the last meeting on 6 April, the Danish presidency indicated that it hoped to bring the proposals for directives on European works councils, on the protection of young people at work, and on working time to that meeting.

  Employment Creation
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment her Department has made as to a link between improved environmental protection and employment creation.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Department has made no such assessment.

  May Day Holiday
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what representations she has received on the Government's proposals to end the May day holiday;

  (2) when she expects to introduce legislation to end the May day holiday.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  An announcement will be made in due course.

  Unemployment Benefit Disqualification
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list for each standard region and for the United Kingdom as a whole, for the quarter to December 1992, the number of claimants subject to unemployment benefit disqualification broken down on the same basis as in the answer of 26 March,Official Report, columns 849–51.

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

  Letter from Mr. M. Fogden to Ms Angela Eagle, dated 22 April 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about the number of claimants subject to unemployment benefit
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  disqualifications listed for the quarter to December 1992 for each standard region and for the United Kingdom as a whole. This is something which falls within the responsibilities she has delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The tables attached to my reply of 26 March showing the number of claimants subject to unemployment benefit disqualification were compiled in the form requested by means of a special exercise. This information is, in fact, available in a published document, the "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions", copies of which are held in the Library. The analysis for the quarter ending 31 December 1992, for each standard region and for Great Britain as whole, has been published and, as indicated in Mr. Turner's reply of 2 April, copies were sent to the Library on 29 March.
  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  Explosives
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the implications of the European directive on explosives for civil uses for individuals who make their own ammunition for sporting or recreational purposes.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Health and Safety Commission is considering how to implement this directive with a view to putting proposals to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in the summer.

  This directive is primarily concerned with the safety of explosives for civil uses. It also covers controls on the movement of explosives which require the recipient to obtain prior approval from a competent authority. This provision was originally intended to address the loss of systematic checks of imports, previously undertaken by Customs and Excise, following the abolition of border controls on 31 December 1992.

  As finally agreed, the directive also applies to movements of explosives within member states, and it does not exempt individuals acquiring components of small arms ammunition for sporting and recreational purposes. However, the Government do not believe that transfer of components of small arms ammunition to and by individuals for their own sporting or recreational purposes was intended to be covered by this directive.

  As soon as the United Kingdom identified this problem it was brought to the attention of the European Commission, which has since agreed, in a minutes statement made when the directive was finally adopted at the Internal Market Council on 5 April 1993, that it will urgently consider what measures can be adopted to resolve the problem. In the meantime the United Kingdom will be seeking the support of other member states.

  Taking the minutes statement made by the Commission into account, and subject to HSC's advice, the Government are not at present proposing to apply the approval to transfer requirements to such individuals in Great Britain.

  THE CROWN AGENTS
  THE CROWN AGENTS
  NHS TRUST HOSPITALS: TREATMENT OF PRIVATE PATIENTS
  NHS TRUST HOSPITALS: TREATMENT OF PRIVATE PATIENTS
  WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION: ESSENTIAL DRUGS PROGRAMME
  WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION: ESSENTIAL DRUGS PROGRAMME
  WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION: ALLEGED FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES
  WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION: ALLEGED FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES