Written Answers of 27 April 1993

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Personal Injury Claims
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many employer liability personal injury claims worth over £2,500 were settled in court in(a) 1989–90, (b) 1990–91, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1992–93 and (e) the first six months of 1992–93.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  These figures are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many personal injury claims worth over £2,500 were settled in court in(a) 1989–90, (b) 1990–91, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1992–93 and (e) the first six months of 1992–93.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The only figures available are those set out in tables 1 and 2. They show by respective year since 1989, the total number of personal injury cases disposed of by trial, in the case of the High Court, where the amount of the award was £5,000 or more; and in the county courts where the amount of the award was £2,000 or more.

  Table 1

  Personal injury cases in the high court during 1989–1992 where the amount of award was £5,000 or more

  Year

  1989

  1,823

  1990

  484

  1991

  625

  1992

  1,072

  Table 2

  Personal injury cases in the county court during 1989–1992 where the amount of award was £2,000 or more

  Year

  1989

  1,136

  1990

  2,658

  1991

  1,530

  1992

  4,106

  Duty Solicitors
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost of the duty solicitor scheme in the most recent year available; and whether that cost is included in the expenditure figures for legal aid.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In 1991–92, the last year for which figures are available, the cost of the duty solicitor schemes was £62 million. It is estimated that the scheme will have cost £72 million in 1992–93. The cost of the duty solicitor schemes is included in the expenditure figures for legal aid.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the amount of contributions to criminal legal aid paid for the most recent year available, and the number of defendants who have made those payments.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In the period from April 1991 to March 1992 a total of £3·6 million was paid in contributions towards the cost of legally aided criminal cases (£2 million in respect of proceedings in the magistrates courts and £1·6 million in respect of proceedings in courts other than the magistrates courts). In 1991 there were approximately 36,300 contributors in legally aided criminal cases.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total number of defendants granted legal aid and the net cost of that aid, for both civil and criminal legal aid in the most recent year available.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information sought is not available in the form requested. There were 3·03 million acts of assistance in 1991–92 at a net cost of £906 million, and it is estimated that there will have been 3·39 million acts of assistance in 1992–93. It is not possible to apportion the net cost between plaintiffs and defendants.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much VAT was paid on legal aid fees, and what was the cost of administering VAT on legal services to those aided, for both civil and criminal legal aid for the most recent available year.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information sought is not available. It is not possible to identify separately the total VAT element of legal aid bills.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost of the green form scheme in the most recent year available.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Net expenditure on green form legal advice and assistance in 1991–92 was £95 million. Final figures are not yet available for 1992–93, but it is estimated that expenditure on green form in 1992–93 was £122 million.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total cost of criminal legal aid both gross and net of contributions ordered and VAT in the most recent year available.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In 1991–92, the last year for which final figures are available, expenditure on criminal legal aid was £478 million gross (£474 million net). Expenditure on criminal legal aid 1992–93 is estimated at £535 million gross (£529 million net). It is not possible to identify the total amount of VAT paid in respect of legal services.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the number of legally aided defendants who have failed to make any payments as ordered in the most recent year available; what was the total amount involved; against how many people recovery proceedings have been commenced; and what is the amount involved.
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  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In the period from April 1991 to March 1992 a total of 4,239 civil legal aid certificates were revoked due to the non-payment of contributions at a cost to the legal aid fund of £1·9 million. In 1991 approximately 500 criminal cases had legal aid revoked due to the non-payment of contributions. Information on recovery proceedings for non-payment is not available centrally, nor is not possible to determine the costs involved.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the number of legally-aided defendants who are in arrears with their contributions as ordered at the most recent available date; and what is the total still outstanding, the number against whom recovery proceedings have been commenced and the amount involved, for both civil and criminal legal aid.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, in the period from April 1991 to March 1992 a total of 4,239 civil legal aid certificates were revoked as a result of contributions outstanding representing a sum of £1·9 million, compared with 3,598 and £1·6 million in the previous year. Statistics regarding the financial year just ended will become available in June when the Legal Aid Board is due to publish its annual report for 1992–93.

TRANSPORT

  Motor Cycles
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy towards the proposals of the European Commission to limit production of motor cycles to a maximum engine power producing 100 brake-horse power.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Government's view is that the current European Commission proposal is unsupported by statistical evidence. We are therefore attempting to broker a compromise on power that will be acceptable to United Kingdom motorcyclists. It is at present too early to anticipate the outcome.

  Air Services
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the role of his Department in the licensing of scheduled air services to any destination in balancing demand and provision.

  Mr. Norris
  The process of licensing airlines in the United Kingdom for the operation of scheduled air services is undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Within the EC, licensed carriers are entitled to provide services on the basis of their own commercial judgement.

  The Secretary of State also has a role in determining appeals on licensing decisions taken by the CAA, including those which involve the issue of scarce bilateral capacity.

  Radar Speed Cameras
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for road safety of reflective number plates designed to evade speed camera technology; and if he will make a statement.
  330
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Reflective number plates designed to evade speed camera technology do not work. Photographs of such plates taken by approved speed detection equipment show the number quite clearly and the offence can be followed up in the normal manner. Use of these plates is illegal and the photographs also provide evidence of this offence. So purchasers are not only wasting their money but are also making themselves liable to additional penalties.

  These number plates do not comply with the new British standard which is to be published shortly and it will then be made illegal to offer them for sale.

  Al2, Lowestoft
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for improvement of the Al2 serving Lowestoft; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My right hon. Friend announced in "Trunk Roads England into the 1990s" 10 separate schemes for improving sections of the A 12 between the M25 and Lowestoft, targeted with a grade separation of Capel St. Mary junction.

  The sections to be improved are:

  1. M12 motorway between M25 and Chelmsford bypass

  2. Chelmsford bypass widening

  3. Hatfield Peverel to Marks Tey

  4. Four Sisters to Stratford St. Mary

  5. Martlesham to Wickham Market

  6. Wickham Market to Saxmundham

  7. Saxmundham bypass widening

  8. Saxmundham to south of Wrentham

  9. South of Wrentham to Kessingland

  10. Lowestoft relief road

  The schemes are in the early stages of statutory procedures and our aim is to have at least selected preferred routes for them all by the end of 1994.

  Cars (Airbags)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to encourage the European Commission to initiate legislation to require all new cars to be fitted with airbags.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  None. The single most effective measure for reducing accident injury for car occupants is the wearing of seat belts. An airbag as a supplement to a seat belt can be provided only at considerable additional cost, and it is for the consumer to decide whether this is justified.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has held with groups representing disabled people on proposals in the Railways Bill to safeguard and improve facilities for access to rail travel for people with disabilities.

  Mr. Freeman
  I met the Joint Committee on Mobility of Blind and Partially Sighted People in January to discuss their concerns with regard to rail privatisation and I am in regular contact with DPTAC. Officials have recently met representatives of other disability groups including the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, MENCAP and the Royal National Institute for the Blind.
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  Bournemouth Transport Ltd.
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a decision on the proposed single tender sale by Bournemouth borough council of Bournemouth Transport Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  We are in correspondence with Bournemouth borough council about the sale of Bournemouth Transport Ltd. by open competitive tender. The council has been told that the Secretary of State will not consent to a single tender sale.

  Railway Pensions
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what dates he has met with(a) the Association of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, (b) the Railway, Maritime and Transport Union and (c) the Transport Salaried Staff Association to discuss the future of railway pensions since the publication of "New Opportunities for the Railways" (Cm. 2012).

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have discussed pensions with the trade unions as follows:

  (a) ASLEF 27 October 1992 and 24 February 1993.

  (b) RMT 13 October 1992 and a meeting is planned for later today.

  (c) TSSA 20 October 1992 and 9 March 1993.

  Municipal Buses
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy concerning municipal bus company privatisation.

  Mr. Freeman
  We are encouraging passenger transport authorities and local authorities who own bus companies to sell them voluntarily. If they do so before 31 December 1993 they will be able to devote 100 per cent. of the receipts to projects—after that date 50 per cent of the proceeds will have to be used for the reduction of debt. We intend to introduce legislation to require disposal. Each sale requires the consent of the Secretary of State under the Transport Act 1985. Consent is very unlikely to be given to sales other than by competitive tender except when it was given in principle before 1992.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation he proposes with the employees of municipal bus companies prior to a decision to seek privatised status in accordance with the Transport Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  None. This is a matter for the owning authorities.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many municipal bus companies there are in(a) Wales and (b) England; and what is his estimate of the number of employees engaged in such companies.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are three local authority owned bus companies remaining in Wales and 30 in England. I have no information about the numbers of employees engaged in these companies.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  House Building
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the members of the working group he has established to review restrictions affecting the domestic house building industry; and if he will detail the remit that has been given to the group.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central on 25 March,Official Report, column 703.

  The names of the members of the construction deregulation task force are as follows:

  Christopher Spackman, Chairman, Bovis Construction Ltd. (Chairman).

  David Summerfield, Chief Executive, How Group plc.

  Dr. Bernard Rimmer, General Manager (Construction), Slough Estates plc.

  Richard Saxon, Partner, Building Design Partnership.

  Peter Hulmes, Managing Director, Alfred MacAlpine Construction.

  Roger Humber, Director, House Builders Federation.

  Peter Warry, Chairman, Building Products Division, Norcros plc.

  Maurice Denyer, Fowler (Bros) Cowfold Ltd.

  Small Companies
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made on the Government's review of audit and accounting requirements for very small companies.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  My Department has today issued a consultative document seeking views on proposals offering very small companies relief from the compulsory audit requirement. This follows a review of audit and accounting requirements for such companies conducted by my Department in consultation with HM Treasury and the Inland Revenue.

  The Department is seeking views on proposals that very small companies may be exempted from audit if shareholders agree. Two alternative approaches have been identified and the Government will decide which option to adopt in the light of responses to the consultative document.

  Option A: Abolition
  Exemption from the audit requirement, with nothing to replace the auditor or audit report;
  or

  Option B: Replacement
  In place of the audit report, a company would be required to provide a compilation report, produced by a suitably qualified independent accountant, confirming that the annual accounts have been prepared from the company's accounting records in accordance with the relevant format and disclosure requirements of the Companies Act 1985. The compilation report would be filed along with the accounts at Companies House. The accounts would include a statement by the directors as to their statutory duties in preparing them.

  Option A offers a maximum deregulatory benefit to the companies themselves, while option B offers eligible companies a more limited measure of relief in order to address the concerns of users of accounts.

  Companies which would be eligible to take advantage of the audit exemption would be those:

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  with an annual turnover below the VAT registration threshold (which my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, recently proposed to increase to £37,600);
  whose balance sheet total does not exceed £100,000; whose shareholders have unanimously voted to take advantage of the audit exemption;
  which are not public limited companies, part of a group structure or subject to a statute-based regulatory regime, such as the Financial Services Act 1986.

  The exemption from the audit requirement would apply to a financial year for companies that, at the end of that year, satisfied all of the above criteria.

  A copy of the consultative document has been placed in the Library of the House. Comments should reach my Department by 30 June 1993.

  Fuel Industry
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guarantees he is providing to recipients of concessionary fuel and cash in lieu in the run up to and after the industry is privatised.

  Mr. Eggar
  I can assure present and past employees of British Coal with entitlements to concessionary fuel or cash in lieu of fuel, and their eligible dependants, that existing entitlements will be safeguarded before and following privatisation of the industry.

  Oil Exploration
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what circumstances oil companies with licences granted by his Department under previous United Kingdom continental shelf licensing rounds are able to withdraw unilaterally from any exploration and drilling commitments specified in such licences.

  Mr. Eggar
  There are no circumstances in which companies with licences granted under previous United Kingdom continental shelf licensing rounds are able to withdraw unilaterally from any exploration and drilling commitments specified in such licences. However, a licensee may, by giving to the Minister no less than six months' notice in writing, determine the licence. This right to determine the licence is without prejudice to any obligation or liability imposed or incurred under the terms of the licence.

  National Technology Acquisition Plan
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the national strategy technology acquisition plan for aeronautics submitted to him by his Department's aviation committee.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave on 24 March 1993,Official Report, column 613.

  Brown Book
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will be publishing "Development of the Oil and Gas Resources of the United Kingdom 1993", the Brown Book.

  Mr. Eggar
  The latest edition of the Brown Book will be published on Wednesday 28 April and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House and in the Vote Office.
  334

  Exports
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidelines there are on procedures for companies exporting controlled goods.

  Mr. Needham
  My Department has drawn up a code of practice on export control compliance which I will publish tomorrow and place in the Library of the House.

  Film Distribution Industry
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received about unfair trading practices in the film distribution industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 23 April 1993]: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has received two representations about the film distribution industry. The Office of Fair Trading, however, which is responsible for investigating alleged anti-competitive practices, has received a number of representations from small independent cinemas and is currently making inquiries into the supply of films for exhibition in cinemas.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer to the Director General of Fair Trading the points raised with him in correspondence by the hon. Member for Macclesfield relating to unfair trading practices in the film distribution industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 23 April 1993]: The points raised by my hon. Friend in his correspondence have been referred to the Director General of Fair Trading, who is currently investigating the supply of films for exhibition in cinemas. It would be inappropriate to make a statement until the DGFT has concluded his inquiries.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his policy on the encouragement of fair trading practices within the film distribution industry; and if he will list those regulations, in the United Kingdom and in Europe, which are designed to bring about such fair trading practices.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 23 April 1993]: Under United Kingdom legislation, investigation of allegedly anti-competitive or monopolistic behaviour is the responsibility of the Director General of Fair Trading. The DGFT may consider this behaviour under either the Fair Trading Act 1973 or the Competition Act 1980. Anti-competitive practices which affect trade between member states are handled by the European Commission under articles 85 and 86 of the treaty of Rome.

  British Geological Survey
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to market test areas of work that have historically been the prerogative of the British Geological Survey.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 26 April 1993]: The Department is preparing to seek competitive bids for work under the hydrocarbons programme, which has previously been let to the British Geological Survey.
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ENVIRONMENT

  Homelessness
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many persons were registered as homeless in the Greater Manchester area in 1979 and in 1992.

  Mr. Baldry
  Local, authorities report the number of households for whom they accept responsibility for securing permanent accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 and the Housing Act 1985 in their quarterly P1(E) returns.

  The numbers of households accepted as homeless in Greater Manchester in 1979 and 1992 were 3,370 and 14,120 respectively.

  A new reporting system was introduced for metropolitan authorities from the third quarter of 1982. In addition the definition of acceptances was altered from the second quarter of 1991 to exclude intentionally homeless households. For these reasons figures for 1979 are therefore not strictly comparable with those for 1992.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the council of the Isles of Scilly regarding the council tax; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My Department has received a number of letters and telephone calls from the Isles of Scilly Council about the council tax. In addition, I met my hon. Friend, together with a delegation from the Isles of Scilly Council, on 9 December 1992 and again on 27 April.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the weekly £10 premium paid to participants on training for work and on the community action programme will be disregarded for council tax purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  I have been asked to reply.

  The £10 a week training premium is fully disregarded in council tax benefit The £10 a week premium for people on the community action programme will be similarly disregarded when it is introduced later this year.

  Housing Management
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to introduce a national licensing scheme of persons managing houses in multiple occupation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department has no plans to introduce a national licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Local authorities already have sufficient powers under Part XI of the Housing Act 1985 to control standards in HMOs.

  Disabled Workers
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to prevent disabled workers being discriminated against within the terms of compulsory competitive tendering procedures.
  336
  Mr. Robin Squire
  It is this Government's intention that local authorities be given every encouragement to employ the disabled. Regulations governing the operation of compulsory competitive tendering, laid before the House on 29 March, allow local authorities to take into account, for the purposes of tender evaluation, the net additional costs of employing both the registered disabled and those eligible to register under the 1944 Act.

  Buying Agency
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what objectives and targets have been set for the Buying Agency for 1993.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have asked the new chief executive, Stephen Sage, to review the strategic direction of the Buying Agency over the next few months. As part of this, I have asked him to work to the following objectives arid targets for 1993:

  PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS 1993

  —to manage the Agency's operations efficiently and to give its customers best value for money;

  —to implement systems to identify more closely individual customers and their procurement requirements, within the public sector and particularly within central Government;

  —to develop better systems to monitor suppliers' delivery performance against direct call-off orders;

  —to continue to develop awareness within the public sector, particularly within central Government, of the benefits and services available from TBA;

  —through achieving these objectives, to develop and expand TBA's customer base and to monitor its progress in doing so.

  In support of these objectives I have set the agency challenging key targets for 1993:

  —an overall profit after interest in current cost terms of not less than 1·5 per cent. of the total sales value of goods and services procured;

  —an increase in the total attributable sales volume from £131 million in 1992 to £145 million for 1993;

  —at least 90 per cent. of orders which TBA handles directly on behalf of customer departments to be delivered by the due date;

  —to acknowledge all customer complaints within two working days of receipt, indicating a proposed course of action; thereafter, to keep the customer regularly informed of progress (no less frequently than every 10 working days); to resolve 75 per cent. of complaints within one month of receipt and the remainder within three months.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in privatising the PSA's building management businesses.

  Mr. Redwood
  A shortlist of bidders has been selected for each business from those making indicative bids. Shortlisted bidders include a Management Buyout (MBO) team for BM Scotland. In line with normal Government practice a contribution is being made to MBO teams' costs in preparing bids. Shortlisted bidders have until 1 June to make detailed practical bids. We hope to exchange contracts as soon as practicable thereafter. Staff will then have the opportunity to decide whether to transfer with their businesses into the private sector and we expect the sales to be completed about two months after exchange of contracts.

  Water Disconnections
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give figures for the number of disconnections in England of domestic water supply for each year since 1987.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 26 April 1993]: The information is set out in the following table. Information on disconnections prior to privatisation was only collected by the Department for water authorities as part of the water authorities' annual charges returns, and comprises total disconnections (domestic and non-domestic). Information on statutory water company disconnections was not collected by the Department prior to 1988–89.

  Number

  Water authorities only (domestic and non-domestic)

  1987–88

  7,447

  Domestic and non-domestic

  1988–89

  14,006

  1989–90

  7,070

  1990–91

  6,368

  1991–92

  18,331

  11992

  7,212

  1 April to September.

  Housing Capital Expenditure
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 14 December 1992,Official Report, columns 57–60, if he will update the table on housing capital spending by region for 1992–93.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 26 April 1993]: The available information, which covers the first three quarters of 1992–93 only, is given in the table. The latest estimate for local authority housing capital expenditure for the whole of 1992–93 is£2· billion.

  Local authority housing capital expenditure by region, April-December 1992.

  £ million

  Current prices

  11981 prices

  North (excluding Cumbria)

  81

  43

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  141

  75

  East Midlands

  96

  51

  Eastern

  138

  74

  Greater London

  317

  169

  South East

  177

  94

  South West

  114

  61

  West Midlands

  170

  91

  North West

  237

  126

  Unallocated

  61

  32

  1,532

  817

  1 Current price figures have been converted to 1981 prices by excluding the effect of general inflation as measured by the GDP market prices deflator.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Agencies
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will update the list of next steps agencies.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The information requested is as follows:338

  Next Steps Agencies established to date

  Agency

  Launch date

  Accounts Services Agency

  1 October 1991

  ADAS Agency

  1 April 1992

  Army Base Repair Organisation

  1 April 1993

  Building Research Establishment

  2 April 1990

  Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments)

  2 April 1991

  Central Office of Information

  5 April 1990

  Central Science Laboratory

  1 April 1992

  Central Statistical Office

  19 November 1991

  Central Veterinary Laboratory

  2 April 1990

  Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment

  2 April 1991

  Chessington Computer Centre

  1 April 1993

  Civil Service College

  6 June 1989

  Companies House

  3 October 1988

  Compensation Agency

  1 April 1992

  Defence Analytical Services Agency

  1 July 1992

  Defence Operational Analysis Centre

  1 July 1992

  Defence Postal and Courier Services

  1 July 1992

  Defence Research Agency

  2 April 1991

  Directorate General of Defence Accounts

  1 April 1991

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  2 April 1990

  Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency

  1 April 1992

  Driving Standards Agency

  2 April 1990

  Duke of York's Royal Military School

  1 April 1992

  DVOIT

  1 April 1992

  Employment Service

  2 April 1990

  Fire Service College

  1 April 1992

  Forensic Science Service

  1 April 1991

  Government Property Lawyers

  1 April 1993

  Historic Royal Palaces

  1 October 1989

  Historic Scotland

  2 April 1991

  Her Majesty's Prison Service

  1 April 1993

  HMSO

  14 December 1988

  Hydrographic Office

  6 April 1990

  Insolvency Service

  21 March 1990

  Intervention Board

  2 April 1990

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist

  30 October 1989

  Land Registry

  2 July 1990

  Medicines Control Agency

  11 July 1991

  Meteorological Office

  2 April 1990

  Military Survey

  2 April 1991

  National Physical Laboratory

  3 July 1990

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  18 April 1989

  Natural Resources Institute

  2 April 1990

  Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation

  1 April 1992

  NEL

  5 October 1990

  NHS Estates

  1 April 1991

  NHS Pensions Agency

  20 November 1992

  Northern Ireland Child Support Agency

  5 April 1993

  Occupational Health Service

  2 April 1990

  Ordnance Survey

  1 May 1990

  Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland

  1 April 1992

  Patent Office

  1 March 1990

  Paymaster General's Office

  1 April 1993

  Pesticides Safety Directorate

  1 April 1993

  Planning Inspectorate

  1 April 1992

  Public Record Office

  1 April 1992

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

  6 July 1989

  Queen Victoria School

  1 April 1992

  Radiocommunications Agency

  2 April 1990

  RAF Maintenance

  2 April 1991

  Rate Collection Agency

  1 April 1991

  Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency

  2 April 1991

  Registers of Scotland

  6 April 1990

  Royal Mint

  2 April 1990

  Royal Parks

  1 April 1993

  Scottish Agricultural Science Agency

  1 April 1992

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  12 April 1991

  Scottish Office Pensions Agency

  1 April 1993

  Scottish Prison Service

  1 April 1993

  Scottish Record Office

  1 April 1993

  Service Children's Schools (North West Europe)

  24 April 1991

  Social Security Agency (Northern Ireland)

  1 April 1992

  Social Security Benefits Agency

  2 April 1991

  Social Security Child Support Agency

  5 April 1993

  Social Security Contributions Agency

  2 April 1991

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  Agency

  Launch date

  Social Security Information Technology Services Agency

  2 April 1990

  Social Security Resettlement Agency

  24 May 1989

  Teachers' Pensions Agency

  1 April 1992

  The Buying Agency

  31 October 1991

  Training and Employment Agency (Northern Ireland)

  2 April 1990

  Transport Research Laboratory

  2 April 1992

  United Kingdom Passport Agency

  2 April 1991

  Valuation and Lands Agency

  1 April 1993

  Valuation Office

  30 September 1991

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  2 April 1990

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  1 August 1988

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate

  2 April 1990

  Warren Spring Laboratory

  20 April 1989

  Wilton Park Conference Centre

  1 September 1991

  HM Customs and Excise1 (30 Executive Units)

  1 April 1991

  Inland Revenue1 (34 Executive Offices)

  1 April 1992

  1 Departments operating fully on next steps lines.

  Food Research and Development
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list total Government expenditure on food research and development for each year from 1978–79 to 1992–93 in(a) cash and (b) constant prices and set out projected Government expenditure on food research and development for each year from 1993–94 to 1996–97 in (i) cash and (ii) constant prices.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  [holding answer 21 April 1993]: Government funding for food research and development is mainly directed through the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, the Agricultural and Food Research

  Agriculture and Food Research Council institute staffing 1979–19861

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Institute

  Science

  Non-science

  Science

  Non-science

  Science

  Non-science

  Science

  Non-science

  Science

  Non-science

  Science

  Non-science

  Science

  Non-science

  Science

  Non-science

  ABRO

  99

  113

  77

  138

  63

  131

  64

  130

  57

  119

  62

  92

  70

  79

  85

  78

  IRAD

  137

  189

  132

  191

  117

  175

  119

  175

  122

  165

  109

  140

  97

  127

  80

  115

  IAP

  152

  146

  188

  178

  189

  175

  191

  173

  187

  175

  174

  174

  165

  153

  199

  143

  FRI (IFR, N)

  109

  66

  126

  66

  140

  64

  154

  64

  168

  72

  207

  79

  195

  78

  —

  —

  MRI (IFR, B)

  124

  83

  125

  83

  115

  88

  122

  88

  128

  79

  137

  85

  143

  74

  —

  —

  PRC

  109

  114

  107

  114

  114

  102

  115

  101

  115

  97

  116

  94

  111

  83

  106

  68

  LL

  77

  37

  78

  37

  76

  45

  80

  44

  80

  43

  68

  36

  —

  —

  —

  —

  WRO

  95

  54

  91

  57

  84

  50

  88

  52

  86

  52

  75

  45

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Units

  160

  45

  123

  19

  136

  22

  132

  22

  129

  30

  135

  34

  141

  39

  122

  35

  AVRI

  126

  180

  131

  176

  111

  171

  110

  171

  110

  171

  110

  170

  95

  129

  88

  118

  EMRS

  180

  184

  174

  188

  164

  185

  161

  176

  162

  176

  153

  169

  141

  157

  —

  —

  GCRI

  141

  109

  140

  124

  138

  122

  138

  122

  137

  122

  133

  120

  123

  106

  —

  —

  GRI (AGRI)

  187

  114

  178

  110

  178

  111

  186

  124

  183

  124

  182

  119

  262

  186

  249

  173

  HRD

  8

  —

  8

  —

  6

  —

  7

  —

  7

  —

  6

  —

  5

  —

  —

  —

  HPRS

  90

  130

  88

  123

  91

  114

  90

  114

  90

  113

  90

  107

  90

  101

  92

  80

  JII

  84

  77

  84

  78

  86

  78

  85

  82

  85

  77

  78

  73

  86

  63

  120

  65

  LARS

  163

  114

  163

  115

  159

  114

  169

  119

  158

  115

  152

  116

  197

  143

  152

  101

  NIAE

  149

  267

  148

  271

  140

  256

  145

  270

  141

  273

  198

  264

  129

  268

  144

  245

  NIRD (IFR, R)

  271

  224

  261

  226

  261

  232

  266

  238

  262

  232

  261

  234

  121

  82

  —

  —

  NVRS

  140

  74

  139

  73

  135

  73

  146

  77

  144

  79

  144

  76

  129

  70

  —

  —

  PBI2

  169

  79

  157

  80

  163

  82

  162

  82

  159

  81

  151

  76

  139

  77

  160

  73

  RES

  426

  211

  421

  214

  415

  214

  420

  212

  391

  189

  373

  188

  371

  182

  347

  179

  SSLRC3

  65

  15

  65

  15

  63

  15

  63

  14

  62

  15

  63

  15

  60

  15

  34

  6

  WPBS

  156

  115

  156

  123

  154

  122

  158

  119

  153

  119

  149

  117

  132

  113

  125

  99

  IFR

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  534

  226

  IHR

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  360

  315

  Total

  3,417

  2,740

  3,360

  2,799

  3,298

  2,741

  3,371

  2,769

  3,316

  2,718

  3,326

  2,623

  3,002

  2,325

  2,997

  2,119

  1 Pre restructuring.

  2 Part of the PBI was transferred to Unilver plc from 1 October 1987.

  3 The SSLRC became part of the Cranfield Institute of Technology on 1 July 1987.

  340
  Council, the Scottish Office Agriculture and Food Department and the Department of Agriculture, Northern Ireland. The aggregated expenditure classified as food research and development from these sources in the past three years is as follows:

  £ million

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Cash prices

  33·4

  34·7

  38·6

  1992–93 Prices

  36·9

  35·9

  38·6

  Figures for years before 1990–91 and estimates of future expenditure are not held centrally.

  A number of other Government bodies fund research into food research but figures on their expenditure are not held centrally. Although comprehensive figures on Government funded research and development are published in the Annual Review of Government Funded Research and Development, food research and development is not a classification that is used.

  Agriculture and Food Research Council
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the total numbers of(a) science group staff and (b) non-science group staff employed at each of the Agriculture and Food Research Council institutes for each year since 1979; and if he will give estimates up until 1995.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  [holding answer 21 April 1993]: Figures given in the two tables show the institute structure prior to and after the major restructuring which took place in 1986–87.
  341
  Notes:

  1. Figures show staff in post and vacancies, as at 1 April each year.

  2. Figures exclude Agriculture and Food Research Council central office.

  3. Information was not maintained for externally-funded or short-term posts prior to 1987.

  Agriculture and Food Research Council institute staffing 1987–1995

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  11994

  11995

  Institute

  Science

  Non-science

  Science

  Non-science

  Science

  Non-science

  Science

  Non-science

  Science

  Non-science

  Science

  Non-science

  Science

  Non-science

  Science

  Non-science

  Science

  Non-science

  IAH

  296

  294

  302

  282

  285

  260

  318

  252

  348

  254

  373

  261

  350

  248

  343

  243

  343

  243

  IACR2

  540

  262

  495

  253

  483

  251

  464

  257

  467

  252

  458

  252

  449

  249

  440

  244

  440

  244

  IAPGR

  274

  237

  264

  235

  282

  233

  353

  250

  335

  235

  361

  233

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  BI

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  208

  130

  200

  130

  200

  130

  RI

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  150

  103

  151

  98

  151

  98

  IFR

  514

  222

  517

  213

  463

  207

  425

  180

  308

  133

  338

  136

  335

  136

  328

  133

  328

  133

  IGER

  408

  277

  400

  278

  383

  270

  329

  236

  303

  221

  252

  140

  248

  137

  243

  134

  243

  134

  IHR3

  310

  86

  300

  101

  289

  106

  266

  125

  284

  130

  298

  139

  305

  139

  299

  136

  299

  136

  SRI

  128

  218

  112

  217

  123

  217

  129

  207

  113

  180

  no

  163

  106

  160

  103

  155

  103

  155

  IPSR

  327

  300

  336

  282

  341

  263

  304

  288

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  2,797

  1,896

  2,726

  1,861

  2,649

  1,807

  2,588

  1,795

  2,158

  1,405

  2,190

  1,324

  2,151

  1,302

  2,107

  1,273

  2,107

  1,273

  1 Planned.

  2 Figures for IACR from 1990 include the Broom's Barn Experimental Station. Prior to that, Broom's Barn was not part of the Agriculture and Food Research Council complement.

  3 IHR became part of Horticulture Research International, a MAFF-controlled NDPB, from 1 April 1990.

  Notes:

  1. Figures show staff in post and vacancies, as at 1 April each year.

  2. Figures exclude Agriculture and Food Research Council central office.

  3. Information was not maintained for externally-funded or short-term posts prior to 1987.

  4. The SSLRC became part of the Cranfield Institute of Technology on 1 July 1987.

HEALTH

  Dentistry
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy that any patient unable to afford the patient's contribution under any new service arrangements for dentistry which are introduced following her consideration of the Bloomfield report will continue to be eligible for the full range of dental treatment.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We are consulting widely on the Bloomfield report and will announce our conclusions in due course.

  Deafness
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate she has of the number of elderly people in the United Kingdom who would benefit from hearing aids;

  (2) what plans she has to improve the availability of, and access to, hearing aids for the elderly.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Institute of Hearing Research estimates that the number of people who could benefit from a hearing aid is about 4·4 million. The majority of these are likely to be elderly people.

  Hearing aids are available through the national health service, normally on referral from hospital ear, nose and throat departments. We have funded a number of pilot projects for direct referral by general practitioners to audiology departments. The result of the projects will be available shortly.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she will take to ensure that war pensioners in the Newcastle area suffering from deafness have access to 342
  adequate ear, nose and throat facilities; and how meeting the present demand affects the NHS provisions for the general public who are hearing impaired or profoundly deaf.

  Mr. Yeo
  District health authorities are responsible for purchasing services, including ear, nose and throat services, to meet the health needs of their resident population. There is a long-standing arrangement whereby, subject to considerations of clinical need, war pensioners receive priority in examination and treatment in national health service hospitals, in connection with the condition(s) for which they receive a pension or gratuity. I understand that special clinics for war pensioners have. been set up at the Freeman NHS trust and there has been no reduction in the service offered to other patients.

  Mental Hospitals
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been since 1986 in the collection of figures on closures of mental hospitals and loss of beds in mental hospitals; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr Yeo
  In April 1987 a new system of data collection covering hospital activity and facilities was introduced followed the recommendations of the Korner committee. The new inquiry into available beds in England replaced an earlier inquiry discontinued after 1986. The new inquiry differed in being on a financial year basis and in classifying beds according to ward type, but figures for beds in mental illness wards continued to be separately collected.

  The information on the closure of mental hospitals has not been collected centrally on a routine basis since 1991.In order to carry forward its work, the mental health task force led by David King will in future need to collect information of this type.
  343

  Secure Accommodation (Juveniles)
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those dates in the last year where no secure accommodation was available for juveniles at the time the request was made.

  Mr. Yeo
  This information is not available centrally. Figures on the levels of occupancy of individual secure units throughout the year are published in "Children Accommodated in Secure Units, year ending 31 March England". A copy is available in the Library.

  Unemployment
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies she has undertaken to assess a possible association between ill-health and unemployment; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave him on 19 January at col 224.

  Administrative Staff
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed within the national health service in administration and management, by(a) hospitals and (b) family health service authorities in each of the years 1990, 1991 and 1992; and what the costs were in each year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information available is shown in the tables.

  Staff numbers in England at 30 September each year (whole-time equivalents)

  Administrative and clerical

  General and senior1 managers

  1990

  1991

  1990

  1991

  Hospitals and2 community health services

  111,640

  118,810

  8,990

  12,400

  Family health service authorities

  4,350

  4,650

  640

  820

  Source: Annual Census of Non-Medical Manpower.

  Notes:

  1 In 1991 administrative and clerical staff represented approximately 15·9 per cent. of the total NHS work force; general and senior managers approximately 1·7 per cent. General and senior manager figures include some redesignation between staff groups, for example from nursing and midwifery.

  2 Staff numbers solely for hospitals are not centrally available. The figures in the table include staff in regional and district health authority headquarters and the London postgraduate teaching hospitals but exclude staff in other special health authorities and the London ambulance service.

  3 Figures for 1991 include staff in NHS trusts.

  4 Figures for 1992 are not yet available.

  Staff salaries and wages costs in England for the financial years 1990–91 and 1991–92

  Administrative and Clerical (£000)

  General and Senior Managers (£000)

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Hospitals and1 community health services

  1,187,029

  1,382,758

  251,475

  383,380

  344

  Administrative and Management Grades2

  1990–91 (£000)

  1991–92 (£000)

  Family health service authorities

  66,253

  79,942

  Sources: Annual accounts (1990–91) and annual financial returns (1991–92) of family health service authorities and of regional and district health authorities in England and those of the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals. Annual financial returns of the first-wave NHS trusts (1991–92).

  1HCHS covers the total expenditure on salaries and wages by health authorities and NHS trusts including hospital, community health, patient transport (ie ambulances), blood transfusion and other services. The figures are for gross pay costs including employers' national insurance and superannuation contributions.

  2It is not possible to disaggregate the figures for administrative and clerical staff and general and senior managers in the family health service authority figures. The figures include the costs of a small number of nursing and other staff.

  Notes:

  (1) The figures for 1991–92 include costs for staff in NHS Trusts.

  (2) Figures for the 1992–93 financial year are not yet available.

  (3) In 1991–92, Administrative and Clerical pay costs represented approximately 11 per cent. of total HCHS staff costs and those for general and senior managers approximately 3 per cent.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in respect of whom 70 per cent. of salaries were reimbursed were employed by general practitioners in England and Wales at the most recent convenient date.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  At 1 April 1992 there were 79,092 whole and part-time staff employed by general practitioners in England, whose salary costs were reimbursed in whole or part by family health services authorities (FHSAs). From 1 April 1990 FHSAs have had discretion to vary the level of reimbursement taking account of all relevant factors. Information on practitioners' staff in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish figures showing the number of general practitioner trainers and the number of general practitioner trainees, together with the cost per annum, for each of the years since 1980.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is shown in the table.

  Year

  Trainers

  Trainees

  Grants to trainers

  Trainee salaries and expenses

  1980

  1,856

  1,353

  2,483,956·09

  9,917,847·78

  1981

  2,040

  1,561

  3,668,541·79

  15,338,492·27

  1982

  2,236

  1,577

  4,823,773·39

  19,313,059·64

  1983

  2,335

  1,624

  5,564,119·18

  21,286,172·31

  1984

  2,370

  1,703

  5,694,568·18

  23,767,572·27

  1985

  2,451

  1,758

  5,886,779·28

  26,475,607·37

  1986

  2,496

  1,654

  6,242,737·30

  28,517,366·98

  1987

  2,527

  1,710

  6,356,385·12

  30,669,887·79

  1988

  2,469

  1,685

  6,470,457·00

  33,358,905·00

  1989

  2,472

  1,735

  6,928,037·00

  36,449,935·00

  1990

  2,726

  1,562

  7,735,844·00

  40,457,508·00

  1991

  2,824

  1,639

  7,939,576·00

  42,264,385·00

  1992

  2,940

  1,613

  8,162,085·00

  46,083,103·00

  Notes:

  Financial data relates to the period ending 31 March each year and is taken from summarised accounts.

  Data relating to numbers is at 1 October each year and the 1992 figure is provisional.

  All data relates to England only.
  345
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions general practitioners provided maternity services, and what payments were made to them, in respect of(a) complete care, (b) ante-natal care only, (c) confinement only, (d) pre-natal care and (e) miscarriage, in each year since 1980.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information on maternity medical services is not available centrally at the level requested. The gross cost of maternity medical services in England since 1980 is shown in the table.

  General medical services—maternity medical services fees

  Maternity medical services (£000s)

  1979–80

  19,072

  1980–81

  25,643

  1981–82

  28,238

  1982–83

  30,423

  1983–84

  32,399

  1984–85

  36,868

  1985–86

  41,580

  1986–87

  42,948

  1987–88

  48,564

  1988–89

  53,733

  1989–90

  57,983

  1990–91

  65,945

  1991–92

  69,045

  Data taken from summarised accounts.

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many night visits were undertaken by general practitioners; and what expenditure was incurred by such visits in(a) the higher rates and (b) the lower rates for deputising services.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The cost and estimated number of night visits in each financial year since 1980 is shown in the table.

  General medical services—night visit fees

  Year

  Night visit payment £ million

  Night visit fee £ million

  Number of visits

  1979–80

  3,812

  6·75

  564,700

  1980–81

  6,059

  10·50

  577,032

  1981–82

  7,226

  11·80

  612,399

  1982–83

  8,278

  12·75

  649,292

  1983–84

  9,023

  13·24

  681,531

  1984–85

  10,510

  14·70

  714,941

  1985–86

  12,402

  15·55

  797,524

  1986–87

  12,282

  16·10

  762,828

  1987–88

  14,185

  17·20

  824,732

  1988–89

  16,922

  18·75

  902,480

  1989–90

  18,958

  20·25

  936,187

  1990–91

  Higher

  49,275

  45·00

  1,095,003

  Lower

  6,725

  15·00

  448,303

  1991–92

  Higher

  52,198

  45·00

  1,159,956

  Lower

  8,376

  15·00

  558,428

  1. Data taken from summarised accounts.

  2. In 1990 the new GP contract extended the period night visits fees could be claimed for by two hours, consequently the numbers of visits in 1989–90 and 1990–91 are not directly comparable.

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total expenditure incurred in each of the years 1990, 1991 and 1992 in respect of additional payments made to general practitioners for(a) meeting target
  346
  figures respectively, for immunisation and cervical smears, (b) health promotion clinics, (c) new patient check-ups, (d) minor surgery, (e) teaching medical students, (f) vaccination and immunisation fees and (g) contraception treatments, giving respectively, annual fees for ordinary and intra-uterine device treatment.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information for years 1990–91 and 1991–92 on an accruals basis is shown in the table. The 1992–93 data are not yet available.

  Expenditure on selected items All figures taken from the summarised accounts

  1990–91 £ million

  1991–92 £ million

  (a) Targets

  Childhood immunisation

  Higher

  35·602

  38·257

  Lower

  3·636

  1·556

  Pre-school boosters

  Higher

  11·108

  10·916

  Lower

  1·507

  0·860

  Cervical cytology

  Higher

  42·423

  46·262

  Lower

  6·543

  3·052

  (b) Health promotion

  44·309

  64·024

  (c) Registration (new patient checkups)

  15·264

  19·955

  (d) Minor surgery

  16·645

  21·324

  (e) Teaching students

  7·940

  8·162

  (f) Vaccination and immunisation

  33·746

  24·405

  (g) Contraception

  Ordinary (£12·75)1

  37·634

  39·923

  IUD (£42·75)1

  4·461

  4·343

  1 Annual fees 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the average income of a general practitioner in England and Wales for each year since 1980.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The average net income of general practitioners in Great Britain is listed together with the average gross income of general practitioners in England. Average net income for England and Wales separately is not available. Information on GPs in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Information on GP income 1979–80 to 1991–92

  Average income (England) including expenses £

  Average net income (GB) excluding expenses as reported by DDRB £

  1979–80

  19,942

  11,902

  1980–81

  28,306

  15,608

  1981–82

  31,775

  17,793

  1982–83

  35,075

  19,940

  1983–84

  37,092

  20,404

  1984–85

  41,483

  22,687

  1985–86

  44,241

  23,849

  1986–87

  46,221

  24,601

  1987–88

  50,148

  26,508

  1988–89

  55,380

  28,979

  1989–90

  61,266

  31,388

  1990–91

  76,045

  137,204

  1991–92

  187,873

  n/a

  1 Provisional figures.

  347
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner practices are now general practitioner fund holders; and how many individual general practitioners that figure embraces.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  At 31 March 1993 there were over 3,000 general practitioners in 585 GP practices in the GP fund holding scheme. Final figures are not yet available for 1993–94 but provisional figures show more than double this number of GP practices have been offered and have accepted budgets from 1 April 1993.

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has as to the range of surpluses accumulated by general practitioner fund-holding practices during the most convenient recent period.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In 1991–92 general practitioner fund holders nationally achieved surpluses on their budget of about four per cent. Regional averages ranged from 9·1 per cent. to 1·5 per cent.

  Prescription Charges (Students)
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will allow free prescriptions to students in receipt of income below the income support level and suffering from(a) cystic fibrosis, (b) ankylosing spondylitis or (c) other chronic illnesses not on the list of medical conditions which confer exemption from prescription charges; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Young people under 19 and in full-time education are exempt from national health service charges. Remission of NHS charges, including those for prescriptions, is available under the NHS low income scheme to students aged 19 or over who are of limited means and irrespective of their medical condition.

  Trust Hospitals
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is her Department's recommended procedure for hon. Members to meet chief executives of trust hospitals to discuss cases involving and affecting their constituents; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) what advice she has given chairmen and chief executives of trust hospitals on meeting hon. Members to discuss problems raised with them by constituents; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department encourages trusts to develop good communications with local Members of Parliament. The precise arrangements are matters for individual trust boards.

EDUCATION

  English
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will arrange for the key stage 3 English proposals of the Curriculum Council for Wales to be sent to all secondary schools in England.

  Mr. Forth
  No. The recommendations of the Curriculum Council for Wales (CCW) for the revision of 348
  the National Curriculum Order for English are addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. In most respects they are in agreement with the recommendations of the National Curriculum Council, which my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales adopted as the basis of the proposals which they published for consultation on 15 April. The CCW did, however, recommend certain differences which were indicated in my right hon. Friends' proposals. The chief of these were requirements relating to spoken standard English and the range of pupils' reading which were recommended by the CCW as more appropriate to pupils learning English in Wales. The CCW recommendations are therefore being circulated to all schools in Wales, to inform the consultation on my right hon. Friends' proposals in that country. Those proposals are for a single order, to apply to schools in England and Wales, but they raise the question whether the lists of required or recommended reading in the programmes of study should allow some variation for pupils in Wales to include appropriate representation of work in English by Welsh writers.

  Student Finances
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has to increase the value of student grants to take account of the Budget proposal to level VAT on domestic heating;

  (2) what estimate he has made of the impact on student indebtedness of the proposal in the Budget to levy VAT on domestic heating.

  Mr. Boswell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms Ruddock) on 24 March,Official Report, column 603.

  Pupil-Teacher Ratios
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the current pupil-teacher ratios(a) in England and (b) in the Greater Manchester area.

  Mr. Boswell
  The table shows the overall pupil-teacher ratios, at January 1992, for the maintained nursery, primary and secondary school sector in England and in the metropolitan districts of Greater Manchester (including self-governing state schools).

  LEA

  Overal PTR

  Bolton

  17·40

  Bury

  18·10

  Manchester

  17·40

  Oldham

  17·40

  Rochdale

  16·90

  Salford

  17·50

  Stockport

  18·30

  Tameside

  17·10

  Trafford

  18·50

  Wigan

  16·30

  Greater Manchester

  17·40

  England

  17·44

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the average class size in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools which are (i) county non-denominational, (ii) voluntary aided, (iii) voluntary controlled and (iv) special agreement for the last five academic years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Average sizes of one-teacher classes in maintained primary and secondary schools in England: 1988 to 1992

  Position in January of each year

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Primary

  county

  25·4

  25·7

  25·9

  26·4

  26·4

  voluntary aided

  25·9

  26·1

  26·4

  26·7

  26·8

  voluntary controlled

  24·8

  24·9

  25·0

  25·4

  25·5

  special agreement

  26·8

  28·3

  27·6

  29·7

  29·5

  Secondary

  county

  20·0

  19·9

  20·0

  20·4

  20·8

  voluntary aided

  19·6

  19·7

  19·7

  20·1

  20·2

  voluntary controlled

  19·3

  19·2

  19·3

  19·7

  19·9

  special agreement

  20·9

  20·9

  20·7

  21·5

  21·4

  School Leavers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answers of 16 March,Official Report, columns 136–37, when he expects to be able to update the tables with information about school leavers' destinations for 1991–92.

  Mr. Boswell
  The information about school leavers' destinations for 1991–92 will not be available until June.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Car Thefts (Fatalities)
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the maximum sentence where fatality follows as a result of car theft.

  Mr. Jack
  We have no plans at present to review the maximum penalties for offences under the Aggravated Vehicle-Taking Act 1992. We have, however, made clear our intention to raise the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous or drink driving to 10 years as soon as a suitable legislative opportunity is available.

  Prison Escort Services
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the circumstances of the delivery of a prisoner from Lindholme prison to Beverley Crown court on Monday 19 April in a private unmarked car rather than a secure van; if he will list all other cases where such transport has been used by Group 4; whether such deliveries break the terms of the contract with Group 4; and what action is being taken with respect to Group 4 in connection with this incident.

  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.
  350
  Letter from Mr. I Dunbar to Mr. Tony Blair, dated 27 April 1993:
  In the temporary absence of the Director General, Mr. Lewis, from the office, the Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary question about the use by Group 4 of an unmarked car in delivering a prisoner from Lindholme Prison to Beverley Crown Court on Monday 19 April and related matters.
  At present the Prison Service uses a considerable number of unmarked, unadapted vehicles—taxis, private hire minibuses and coaches—to move prisoners. It was thus decided that it would be wrong to impose a requirement on contractors that they use cellular vehicles. In their tender, Group 4 proposed to move most prisoners in cellular vehicles, which is what they are doing. As they expected, however, a small minority of prisoners are being moved in non-cellular vehicles, which does not conflict with the terms of their contract. There is no requirement on Group 4 to report to us the occasions on which non-cellular vehicles are used.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from prison service escorts in the east midlands and Humberside region last year(a) from taxis and (b) from prison service vans.

  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 Mr. I. Dunbar to Mr. Tony Blair, dated 27 April 1993:

  ESCAPES FROM PRISON SERVICE ESCORTS
  In the temporary absence of Mr. Lewis, the Director General, the Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners who escaped from Prison Service escorts in the East Midlands and Humberside region last year from taxis and from Prison Service vans.
  From 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1992 a total of 7 prisoners escaped from Prison Service escorts in the East Midlands and Humberside region. One inmate escaped from a taxi; 6 escaped from hired coaches or mini-buses. There were no escapes in this region from Prison Service vans.
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escapes have occurred in each court region in each of the last five years from private hire vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from Mr. I. Dunbar to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 27 April 1993:

  PRISONER ESCAPES FROM PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES
  In the temporary absence of Mr. Lewis, the Director General, from the office, the Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners, in each court region, who escaped from private hire vehicles over the last five years.
  Information on escapes has only been collated centrally since June 1988 but in any event it is recorded by prisons rather than court regions. The table below shows the number of escapes from vehicles used by the Prison Service on escort duties for each year from June 1988 to the end of December 1992. I am afraid we do not know which of these vehicles were owned by prisons and which were hired and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.

  Escapes from vehicles while under Prison Service escort

  Number

  11988

  24

  1989

  45

  1990

  34

  1991

  39

  1992

  50

  1 From June to December only.

  Police Statistics
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give for each police force in England and Wales in 1971, 1981 and 1991(a) the number of police officers in force, (b) the total number of officers recruited, (c) the total number of officers leaving the force, (d) the number retiring at the end of full service, (e) the number taking early retirement, (f) the number resigning, (g) the number dismissed for incompetence, (h) the number dismissed for criminal offences, (i) retirement on grounds of ill health due to service, and (j) retirement on grounds of ill health not due to service and (k) death while in service.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information on police strength, by force, can be found in the appendix to the annual reports of Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary, copies of which are in the Library. Information on items(e), (g), (i) and (j) are not held centrally. The other information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Police (Communications)
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken by his Department to encourage police forces in England and Wales to adopt compatible computer and radio communications systems.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Home Office has provided comprehensive guidance to forces on the procurement of computer systems, including advice on achieving compatibility within and between forces. A national information systems strategy for the police is being developed which will further assist moves towards common standards and compatibility between local force systems and those provided on a national basis as well as those operating elsewhere in the criminal justice system.

  As my right hon. and learned Friend announced in his statement on 20 April, Official Report, column 66, the Home Office has recently completed a review of radio communications in the police and fire service in England and Wales. The review identified, among other things, the importance of radio compatibility between individual forces and between the police and other public safety agencies.

  Police Staff
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the turnover of(a) police officers and (b) civilian staff for each police force in England and Wales in 1971, 1981 and 1991 expressed as a percentage of the total police force and civilian staff employed in each force.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  International Police Organisations
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the international police organisations to which the United Kingdom belongs and the main areas of co-operation covered by the organisations.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The International Criminal Police Organisation, Interpol, is the principal channel of communication between police forces throughout the world. Interpol provides an international telecommunications network to enable mutual co-operation between its members in crime and law enforcement activities. The United Kingdom police service is an active member and the Home Office contributes to Interpol's costs.

  Individual police officers from the United Kingdom, responsible for policing ports and airports, are members of the international and European associations of airport and sea port police. These organisations exist to enable officers from different countries to discuss issues of common interest.

  Non-EC Visitors (Speaking Engagements)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the conditions which must be complied with by non-EC visitors to fulfil a speaking engagement in the United Kingdom; and whether an application form for a work permit must be completed on arrival.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  People coming to fulfil speaking engagements in the United Kingdom, for example as participants in an international conference, may qualify as visitors under the immigration rules (HC251), but if the conference is being organised as a commercial venture, work permits are required for those providing services as speakers. A work permit must be obtained by the employer for the non-EC national before he or she arrives in the United Kingdom.

  Marriages (Leave to Remain)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for leave to remain in the United Kingdom following marriage to a British or Irish citizen have been made during the past 12 months; and how many have been granted.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information is that in 1992, 15,690 applications, made after entry to the United Kingdom, to remain for a probationary year prior to settlement as the spouse of a British citizen, were granted. Corresponding information on refusals of such applications by spouses of British citizens is not separately identified in the statistics: in total 1,790 after-entry spouse applications were refused prior to a probationary year. Information on the outcome of applications by spouses of citizens of the Irish Republic is not separately identified.

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has taken to increase levels of electoral registration among the black and Asian communities; and what plans he has for further measures.
  353
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We undertake an annual publicity campaign to promote electoral registration by all those eligible to vote, and in particular members of ethnic minorities. In addition, we have provided electoral registration officers (EROs) with model explanatory notes on the registration system in a number of ethnic minority languages for them to adapt according to local circumstances. The form and content of the 1993 campaign is being considered, but ethnic minorities will continue to be one of the key target audiences.

  Police Disciplinary Procedures
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received, and from whom, about the current police disciplinary procedures as they appear in the consultative document on police discipline procedures; and what plans he has to amend the document in the light of the representations.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend has asked for responses to the consultation paper by 14 May and he will consider all representations received before deciding what proposals to lay before Parliament. There has been only one response to date, from the deputy chief constable of Cambridgeshire constabulary.

  European Parliament Constituencies
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has decided on the mechanism to ensure fair distribution of constituencies for the 1994 European parliamentary election; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We are still considering this matter and will publish our proposals in due course.

  Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the annual cost of implementing the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information on the costs to the police, local authorities, the Crown prosecution service and the courts of operating the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is not available centrally.

  Police Batons
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 3 March to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby),Official Report, column 76, when the scientific evaluation of the wounding potential of an expandable baton will be completed; when it is expected that trials will begin; what current trials of the straight baton are taking place; who is conducting those trials; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Home Office police scientific development branch expects to report on the wounding potential of expandable batons soon. In the light of its conclusions, we will be discussing with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis possible future trials of the equipment. It is for individual chief officers of other forces to consider their position as to whether or not to test an expandable baton. Avon and Somerset constabulary and Merseyside police have decided to test expandable batons and are currently training officers in their use. Dorset 354
  police have issued a 22-inch straight baton to all officers and Northumbria police expect to do so in June, once training has been completed. The Metropolitan police also expect to test alternative straight batons shortly.

  Racist Organisations
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to restrict the activities of the group called Combat 18; what proposals he has to close the headquarters of organisations advocating violence; and if he will bring forward proposals to make racist violence and harassment a specific offence and to amend the provisions of the Public Order Act 1986 relating to incitement of racial hatred.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The views of racist organisations are unacceptable to the Government and to the public at large. An offence is committed under the Public Order Act 1986 if there is the intention or likelihood of stirring up racial hatred or if threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour takes place. It is for the police and the Crown prosecution service to determine whether proceedings should be brought in any particular case.

  The Commission for Racial Equality has made proposals relating to racial violence in its second review of the Race Relations Act 1976. All the recommendations of the review are currently under consideration.

  Fire Brigade Workshops
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford on his plans for market testing fire brigade workshops, due for answer on 14 April.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to her question on 15 April,Official Report, columns 725–6.

  Primates
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in discussions with other member states in establishing a target date after which the use of wild-caught primates in European research laboratories will be prohibited.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The United Kingdom has suggested to other EC member states that they consider setting target dates beyond which the use of specific breeds of primates would be confined to those which had been purpose bred. This matter will be discussed again later in the year at the group of EEC national competent authorities established under Directive 86/609/EEC.

  Prison Custody Officers
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison custody officers have been released for other duties as a result of the contracting out of the court escort service in the Humberside and east midlands regions; and what new tasks have been assigned to these officers.

  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.
  355
  Letter from Mr. I. Dunbar to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 27 April 1993:
  In the temporary absence of Mr. Lewis, the Director General, from the office, the Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the numbers of prison officers released for other duties as a result of the contracting out of the court escort service in the East Midlands and Humberside, and the new tasks assigned to these officers.
  Our best estimate is that the full time equivalent of 96 officers was freed up as a result of contracting out court escort work. Eighteen posts have been retained at establishments within the contract area and will contribute, as Governors think fit, to the improvement of regimes at those establishments. The remaining staff resources will be redeployed as necessary throughout the Service.

  Polling Stations
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what improvements in access to polling stations will have been carried out in Newbury by 6 May.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The acting returning officer has informed me that, since the general election, the location of seven polling stations within the Newbury constituency has been changed as buildings with better access arrangements have been found in the area.

  I have asked him to write to the hon. Member with details of these and other steps he has taken.

  Mr. Sherman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he has taken to improve access to polling stations since the general election;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to launch a programme of easier access for disabled people to polling stations.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is our long-term aim that all polling stations should be accessible to disabled electors. Councils have a statutory obligation to designate as polling places, wherever possible, only places which are accessible to disabled people. We have recently written to returning officers to remind them of their obligations and to circulate guidance produced by the Spastics Society on improving the accessibility of polling stations. One of the working 356
  groups set up as part of our post-election review is also looking at matters relating to access to polling stations. Where it is not possible to use a building affording easy access, we make grants available towards the cost of providing temporary ramps.

  Angling
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been in respect of the disruption of angling competitions in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not recorded centrally.

  Sex/Child Abuse
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on how the operation of the current system for granting bail for alleged sex/child abuse offenders operates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 26 April 1993]: Decisions regarding court bail, whatever the offence charged, are a matter for the courts in the exercise of their judicial discretion within the terms of the Bail Act 1976. That Act establishes a defendant's right to bail. It is for the prosecution to put forward arguments opposing bail, taking account of information provided by the police and, where appropriate, the probation service.

  The Probation Service strategy document "Supervision of sex offenders", issued in 1992 specifically stresses the high priority that must be given to checking information relevant to bail where a person is charged with sexual offences, particularly if the case involves potential child victims.

  The Government are determined that bail decisions taken at all levels should be based on the best possible information. That is why we have established five bail process projects which are designed to identify ways of improving the process and in the flow of information available to the courts.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Developing Countries
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the recommendations of the United Nations Development Programme on the proportion of developing countries' budgets which should be devoted directly to meeting the priority human needs of their people and the proportion of international aid for development which should directly support those needs.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Through our bilateral aid programmes, and our support for multilateral aid organisations including UNDP, we encourage developing countries to adopt effective poverty reduction strategies and to promote human development, including better education and health, and children by choice. These are two of our priority objectives.

  The proportion of international aid directed to meeting basic human needs varies from country to country. Rather than set sectoral spending targets we believe that needs should be assessed on a country basis which enables us to provide effective aid.

  Development Assistance
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the unweighted average official development assistance of(a) EC countries and (b) Development Assistance Committee countries, as a proportion of gross national product, in 1990, 1991 and 1992; how much the United Kingdom spent by the same measure; and by how much the United Kingdom would have needed to increase its assistance in cash terms in those years to reach (i) EC and (ii) DAC average expenditure.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Figures for 1990 and 1991 are as follows:

  1990

  1991

  (a) Unweighted average net oda as proportion of GNP

  EC average (per cent.)

  0·45

  0·46

  DAC average (per cent.)

  0·47

  0·49

  United Kingdom (per cent.)

  0·27

  0·32

  (b) Increase in United Kingdom oda in cash terms needed to reach EC average expenditure (£ million)

  950

  840

  Increase in cash terms needed to reach DAC average expenditure (£ million)

  1,050

  950

  Figures for 1992 are not yet available.

  Least Developed Countries
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much British aid was spent in the least developed countries in 1990, 1991 and 1992; how much this was as a proportion of gross national product; and by how much British official development assistance to the least-developed countries will have needed to increase in cash terms in those years in order to meet the level recommended by the "United Nations Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries" in 1990.
  358
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The information for 1990 and 1991 is as follows. Figures for 1992 are not yet available.

  1990

  1991

  Official development assistance (ODA) to the least developed countries (£ million)

  462

  545

  As a proportion of United Kingdom gross national product (per cent.)

  0·09

  0·10

  Increase in cash terms needed to meet United Nations target for aid to the least developed (0·15 per cent.). Figures rounded to nearest £10 million (£ million)

  360

  310

  The Overseas Development Assistance/gross national product ratios are shown to the nearest two decimal points, as published by the OECD development assistance committee. The cash increases required to meet the 0·15 per cent. target are calculated on a more detailed basis.

  Aid
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the average expenditure on official development assistance as a proportion of Government expenditure in(a) EC countries and (b) DAC countries in 1990, 1991 and 1992; what proportion the United Kingdom spent by the same measure; and by how much United Kingdom assistance would have had to increase in cash terms in those years to match (a) the EC and (b) the DAC average.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The information for 1990 is as follows. Comparable figures for 1991 and 1992 Government expenditure are not available.

  1990 Net ODA as a percentage of central Government expenditure

  Per cent.

  (a) EC average

  1·10

  (b) DAC average

  1·18

  (c) United Kingdom

  0·79

  £ million

  Increase in United Kingdom ODA in cash terms1 needed to reach EC average expenditure in 1990

  570

  Increase in United Kingdom ODA in cash terms1 needed to reach DAC average expenditure in 1990

  710

  1 The increases in cash terms are approximate estimates.

  Sudan
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the areas of Sudan to which international non-governmental organisations are denied access.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  It is almost impossible to obtain accurate information on areas where NGOs and UN agencies are prevented from operating. At present these include locations in southern Sudan and south Kordofan.

  Cuba
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the United States blockade of Cuba on the delivery of United Kingdom emergency aid to that country; and if he will make a statement.
  359
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United States trade embargo has had no practical effect on our emergency aid. We have sourced agricultural fertilisers in Jamaica and milk powder and vitamin tablets in the United Kingdom.

  European Development Fund
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures the ODA is taking to ensure that money spent by the European development fund is devoted to sustainable economic development.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Sustainable development is recognised as one of the central objectives of Community development policy in title XVII of the Maastricht treaty and in the declaration on development policy to the year 2000 adopted under the United Kingdom presidency.

  Guyana
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on future aid to Guyana.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Following the recent election, and in recognition of the sound economic policies being followed by the Government of Guyana, we have offered £15 million of aid for commitment, as far as possible, over the next three years. We have agreed with the Guyana Government that priorities for support will include public administration, water supplies, education, forestry and agriculture.

  In addition, we have agreed to convert our outstanding aid loans to Guyana to grants by retrospectively adjusting their terms, with effect from 1 August 1993, in recognition of Guyana's poverty, indebtedness and its continuing commitment to an International Monetary Fund reform programme. The total value of the retrospective terms adjustment package is £36·3 million in principal and £17·1 million in interest, bringing the overall aid to Guyana to over £68 million.

  Family Planning
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what details are given by the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the United Nations Population Fund, in submitting grant applications, including budgets, to his Department, of the particular purposes to which grants from Her Majesty's Government would be put;

  (2) what conditions are placed by Her Majesty's Government on sums given to the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the United Nations Population Fund for population control purposes.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answers 26 April 1993]: We make annual contributions to IPPF and UNFPA in support of their world-wide activities. Our aid programme gives high priority to enabling women and men to have better access to contraceptive services and reproductive health care. IPPF and UNFPA share these goals. The policies, programmes and budgets of IPPF and UNFPA are examined annually by ODA and other donor governments at the IPPF donors meeting and UNFPA governing council respectively.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has 360
  received from (a) the International Planned Parenthood Federation, (b) the United Nations Population Fund and (c) Her Majesty's Government's diplomatic missions in China regarding the use of coercive methods of population control in Tibet.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 26 April 1993]: We have received no such information from IPPF or UNFPA. We receive regular reports from our diplomatic missions in China on a number of issues of concern, including the situation in Tibet.

WALES

  A465
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the latest information he has on traffic flows for(a) all vehicles and (b) heavy goods vehicles on the A465 heads of the valleys road between Abergavenny and the M4 at Llandarcy.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Traffic flows on A465 between Llandarcy and Abergavenny are as follows:

  Section

  1992 annual average daily flow

  1992 goods vehicles

  Llandarcy-Aberdulais

  21,950

  1,750

  Aberdulais-Glynneath

  13,250

  2,050

  Glynneath BP

  9,350

  1,200

  Hirwaun

  13,600

  1,350

  Hirwaun-Baverstocks

  9,400

  1,200

  Baverstocks-Cefn Coed

  10,500

  1,350

  Cefn Coed-Merthyr Ind Est

  9,000

  1,050

  Merthyr Ind Est-Dowlais

  9,400

  1,100

  Dowlais-Rhymney

  18,150

  1,400

  Rhymney-Tredegar

  15,050

  1,700

  Tredegar-Dukestown

  13,450

  1,550

  Dukestown-Ebbw Vale

  14,850

  1,800

  Ebbw Vale-Clydach

  14,375

  1,750

  Clydach-Govilon (A4077)

  17,300

  2,400

  Cerebral Palsy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research is being conducted in Welsh hospitals and medical research centres into cerebral palsy; and what treatment is available in Wales for children suffering from cerebral palsy.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Among current research in Wales, the Cardiff institute of higher education is conducting research into several different aspects of cerebral palsy, including a project on access to communication aids and the evaluation of a movement therapy project for young children with cerebral palsy. In addition, the Welsh Office is funding an audit of cerebral palsy in children in Wales and the treatment they are receiving.

  With regard to treatment, the Welsh Office has recently agreed funding for seven centres to provide neonatal intensive care. These will provide early diagnosis and treatment for babies born with cerebral palsy or at risk following birth. The Welsh perinatal survey, which began in January this year, aims to follow up to the age of seven years babies who have received neonatal intensive care This should lead to early detection of handicaps and appropriate treatment plans. Conventional treatment is

  361
  based on multi-disciplinary care, usually involving paediatricians, therapists and psychologists, with support from the social services. Referral to an orthopaedic surgeon is made in appropriate cases.

  Children may also be referred to the gait analysis centre in Oswestry. The Bobath Cymru centre based at Whitchruch hospital, Cardiff also offers specialist therapy. Other establishments provide education combined with therapy. Individual health authorities would be able to supply fuller details of the treatment and services available in their areas.

  A494
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet Hawarden community council to discuss his plans for road widening on the A494.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The decision on the preferred route, for an improvement to the A494 trunk road from the River Dee to Ewloe was announced on 8 April 1993. A copy of the statement of results of the public consultation and the reasons for the choice of the preferred route for the improvement was sent to the hon. Member at that time and is available to others on request. That statement fully explains the reasons for the choice of route and therefore I can see no useful purpose in meeting with Hawarden community council.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish a public inquiry concerning proposals to widen the A494 Queensferry-Aston Hill carriageway; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The proposals for widening the A494 trunk road between the River Dee and Ewloe will follow the normal procedures for such road improvements. These procedures were described in the statement of results of the public consultation and reasons for the choice of the preferred route for the improvement, a copy of which has been sent to the hon. Member.

  Breast Screening
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to make arrangements for the breast screening programme in Wales to provide an appropriate level of service in Newport, Gwent.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Breast Test Wales provides a breast screening service throughout Wales. Detailed information about current and planned screening programmes is not held centrally. This is available from the director of Breast Test Wales who is responsible for the management and delivery of the service.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what services are available in Wales to provide support and counselling for children who have been the victims of physical or sexual abuse.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Precise information of the type requested is not held centrally. Guidance for dealing with cases of child abuse set out in "Working Together Under the Child Act 1989" seeks to ensure appropriate inter-agency working with a view to securing the most appropriate support for such children and their families, including counselling.

  Traffic Congestion Connah's Quay
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet Connah's Quay town council to discuss trunk road traffic congestion.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I can see no useful purpose in meeting Connah's Quay town council to discuss traffic congestion. The Department's publication "Roads in Wales—Progress and Plans for the 1990's," the 1993 supplement for which was issued in March of this year, details the plans for road improvements on trunk roads in Wales including north east Clwyd. One of the objectives of the roads programme is to reduce traffic congestion.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is proposing to help the long-term unemployed in Clwyd.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The North Wales training and enterprise councils and employment service offer a wide range of services which are designed to help the long-term unemployed.

  From 1 April, the largest ever range of measures is available under the training for work initiative. New initiatives including learning for work and the community action programme are also being introduced which will focus specifically on providing help to the long-term unemployed.

  My Department, the Welsh Development Agency and other Government agencies also operate a wide range of other measures aimed at combating unemployment in Clwyd and elsewhere in Wales.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many long-term unemployed there are in(a) Wales, (b) Clwyd and (c) Alyn and Deeside.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In January 1993 the number of claimants who had been unemployed for more than 52 weeks in Wales, Clwyd and Alyn and Deeside district were 46,019, 4,865 and 809, respectively.

  Training
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to ensure an increased number of training places in colleges; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Department has provided for a 28 per cent. increase in further education student numbers in Wales over the next three years. Funding for the Further Education Funding Council for Wales is intended to support an increase of 9·7 per cent. in student numbers to 48,000 full-time equivalents in 1993–94.

  The funding council has set aside £4 million to encourage growth in FE institutions to the given target. The new demand-led element provides funding of £250 per term for each full-time student enrolled at an institution and will enable institutions to gain additional funding for eligible students recruited above target.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to ensure an increase in apprenticeship training for school leavers; and if he will make a statement.
  363
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Government have always supported employers in their training of young people and believe that modern, flexible apprenticeship schemes have a vital role in securing and promoting vocational training. A number of TECs in Wales are now introducing training credit schemes which cover, inter alia, employer based training opportunities.

  The Government's guarantee of a training place to school leavers ensures that the full range of training opportunities is availble to all young people.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning training opportunities for the disabled in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The training and enterprise councils have a contractual obligation to provide suitable high quality training for people with disabilities.

  From 1 April, people with disabilities have been given priority access to a range of training opportunities under the training for work initiative.

  Provided they are eligible, people with disabilities will also have priority access to a place on learning for work.

  The Employment Service's disability employment advisors also provide a comprehensive range of services to people with disabilities through the local network of jobcentres.

  Youth Service
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his policy concerning the youth service;

  (2) by what amount he has increased or decreased. the youth budget for the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My policy for the youth service is to support the activities of the Wales Youth Agency and. the national voluntary youth organisations in order to extend the opportunities for young people to develop as individuals and to become active and responsible members of society.

  The 1993–94 current expenditure budget for the support of the agency and the national voluntary youth organisations is £736,000 compared with £728,000 for 1992–93.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many people are employed in the youth service(a) currently and (b) in 1983;

  (2) what is the percentage of part-time and voluntary workers employed in the youth service in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he has taken to encourage liaison between the youth service and police with the intent of combating youth crimes.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Welsh Office has for some years advocated the adoption of a multi-agency or partnership approach to crime prevention (Welsh Office circulars 1/84 and 28/90 refer). The collaborative arrangements which have been developed include representatives from the police and the youth service working together on crime prevention forums

  The initiative in setting up some of these forums was taken by the Welsh Office in providing funds over a
  364
  three-year period to the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders to bring together relevant agencies to tackle youth crime.

  The Department also sponsors the Wales Youth Agency, which provides training, information and curriculum development for those working with young people who might otherwise become involved in crime. Much of the contact between youth work organisations and the police takes place at local level.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the annual budget of the youth service in each of the counties of Wales in 1992 and 1982 at constant prices.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information on the amount budgeted for youth service in 1992 is not held centrally. Outturn information for the latest year available is given in the table.

  Local authority net current expenditure on youth services at constant 1991–92 prices1

  £000

  1990–91

  1981–82

  Clwyd

  1,402

  1,271

  Dyfed

  198

  201

  Gwent

  2,195

  1,238

  Gwynedd

  1,680

  703

  Mid Glamorgan

  3,613

  1,866

  Powys

  754

  625

  South Glamorgan

  1,954

  1,570

  West Glamorgan

  1,041

  892

  Total Counties

  12,837

  8,364

  1 Information taken from local education authority revenue outturn forms. Definitions changed in 1990–91; hence figures are not strictly comparable with those for 1981–82. Net current expenditure is defined as expenditure on employees and running expenses, less sales, fees, charges, internal recharges and other non-grant income but gross of specific government grants. Includes youth centres and residential youth centres.

  Road Schemes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those road schemes in Wales which in 1993–94 have been allocated urban programme grants in excess of £1 million; what are the criteria which determine the allocation of such grants; and what is the extent of funding by virtue of such grants.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Road schemes are eligible for urban programme support only where they form an integral part of wider economic regeneration schemes. In 1993–94 one road scheme attracted urban programme grant in excess of £1 million: the highway improvements to the A472/A467 junction at Crumlin, Gwent which is part of the Crumlin regeneration strategy. This project has, in principle, been allocated £1,770 million urban programme in 1993–94, including £0·770 million carried forward from the previous year.

  Ferry Road Refuse Site
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what determination he has made in relation to the application by the Cardiff Bay development corporation for a vesting order on the Ferry road municipal refuse disposal site.
  365
  Mr. David Hunt
  My discussions with the Cardiff Bay development corporation about their proposed acquisition of the Ferry road tip are continuing.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his proposals for reviewing the national curriculum and its assessment in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I have asked the chairman of the Curriculum Council for Wales to undertake a general examination of the manageability of the national curriculum in Wales. The broad aim of the review will be to examine the existing curriculum and provide advice on the scope for avoiding over-prescription while retaining clear teaching objectives which can lead to higher education standards. The key items which are to be examined are the scope for simplifying the national curriculum either through its coverage or by providing greater clarity and simplification within each of the orders; the arrangements for conducting a longer term rolling review of the curriculum in Wales; and the appropriate means of grading the attainment of individual pupils including formal testing. In carrying out the examination I have asked that the Curriculum Council for Wales should work closely with the review which is being conducted by Sir Ron Dearing at the request of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education.

  Sir Ron Dearing will be examining the arrangements in Wales as well as England in his initial review of the testing and assessment of the national curriculum. I have asked him to take into account, as part of that review, the specific considerations which apply to Welsh language subjects and the arrangements for conducting all tests through the medium of Welsh.

  The conclusions of both reviews will be taken into account by the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales when, subject to the approval of the Education Bill currently before Parliament, it is established in April next year. The first priority of the authority will be to take forward an evolutionary programme of review for the national curriculum in Wales and to develop stable assessment and testing arrangements.

  Mental Handicap Strategy
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial support is available to assist individuals with a mental handicap and their families in Wales and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Under the Welsh Office's very successful mental handicap strategy, a special allocation of £48 million has been made in 1993–94 to support the development of help for mentally handicapped individuals and their families in Wales. This is an increase of 15 per cent. on the 1992–93 allocation of £41·5 million, making a total of over £200 million since the strategy began in 1983.

  Special grants for 1993–94 have been made as follows:

  To the county teams

  £ million

  Clwyd

  5·564

  Dyfed

  4·028

  Gwent

  7·203

  Gwynedd

  5·525

  Mid Glamorgan

  7·104

  366

  £ million

  Powys

  1·941

  South Glamorgan

  5·987

  West Glamorgan

  5·583

  As direct funding to voluntary organisations

  £

  MENCAP

  84,000

  Catholic Children's Society

  8,000

  Standing Conference of Voluntary Organisations

  156,000

  Additionally, the balance of the special grant will be allocated to fund resettlement and new, innovative developments.

  I can confirm that the mental handicap strategy will continue as a vital part of community care. I am confident that the excellent achievements of the strategy provide a firm foundation for the years ahead.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Malawi
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government in Malawi with regard to respect for human rights.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Failure by the Malawian Government to address the international community's concern over human rights led the United Kingdom and other aid donors in May 1992 to suspend non-humanitarian assistance until there are clear signs of improvement. During our Presidency we initiated EC representations calling on the Malawian Government to address concerns over human rights. We continue to raise human rights issues regularly with the Malawian Government.

  The referendum on Malawi's future political system due on 14 June encapsulates many of the key issues in question.

  Britons Abroad (Financial Aid)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the accounting rules for diplomatic posts overseas relating to restrictions on the provision of financial assistance to Britons abroad who have got into serious financial difficulties.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Before financial assistance can be authorised the post must be satisfied that the applicant is destitute, has no funds in the United Kingdom, that his predicament is not of his own making, and that he cannot make use of a cheque card and cannot arrange for the rapid transfer of funds through commercial channels from relatives or friends.

  Additionally, a small loan of up to £20 can be made if a British national loses his funds or has them stolen to enable him to get to an airport or be provided with an emergency passport. We would expect the applicant to have

  reported the loss at a police station;

  called the consulate immediately after making the

  367

  police report;

  produced an air ticket;

  demonstrated that the air ticket is not transferable or refundable and has limited validity.

  In all cases of financial assistance and repatriation, a legally binding undertaking to repay must be signed by the applicant.

  Human Rights Conference
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the forthcoming UN world conference on human rights in Vienna on 14 to 25 June.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom is closely involved in the preparatory process leading to the world conference on human rights, due to be held in Vienna 14–25 June 1993. United Kingdom objectives at the conference will be to promote universal adherence to existing standards, to explore ways to improve their implementation, and to examine the relationship between human rights, democracy and development. The United Kingdom will also work to ensure that, among other issues, the conference addresses the rights of women, children and the disabled.

  Waco Siege
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent loss of life of British citizens at Waco in the United States of America.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 26 April 1993,Official Report, column 288.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the United States Government concerning the recent deaths of British citizens at Waco, Texas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We remain in close touch with the United States authorities about this tragedy and we are giving every assistance to relatives of the United Kingdom citizens affected. President Clinton has ordered an inquiry into the events at Waco. We await the outcome.

  Philippines
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Philippines Government about the killing of Mr. Chris Batan from the Bontoc office of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines on 23 February.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We are aware that this case has been highlighted by Amnesty International, and are seeking further information from the Philippine Government, who are investigating the circumstances of the murder.

  Far East
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries he visited on his recent visit to the far east; which ministers or 368
  Government officials he met; and what matters in regard to nuclear non-proliferation and arms exports were discussed.

  Mr. Goodlad
  During his visit to Indonesia my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had discussions with President Soeharto, Foreign Minister Alatas, and Economic and Finance minister Afiff; he also met other Ministers, the Sultan of Yogyakarta, and a number of officials and businessmen. In Japan he met the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, the Finance Minister and the Minister for International Trade and Industry, and in Korea the President, the Foreign Minister and the Minister for National Defence. The discussions in Japan and South Korea covered North Korea's announcement of its intention to withdraw from the non-proliferation treaty. Arms exports were not discussed during the visit.

  South Africa
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the South African authorities on the effect of Mr. Chris Hani's murder on the peace process; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have made every effort to help to minimise the effect of the tragic assassination of Chris Hani on the negotiating process in South Africa, including the provision of a senior police officer to help with the investigation.

  In the next few weeks, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary will be seeing Nelson Mandela and Chief Buthelezi to discuss the progress of negotiations. The Prime Minister is in regular contact with President de Klerk.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about rape camps in the former Yugoslavia; and what action he now intends to take.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have received many representations from members of this House and of the public. Evidence collected by the EC investigative mission into the abuse of women in former Yugoslavia points to rapes having taken place in small centres, such as schools and hotels, rather than large-scale detention of women in camps for the purpose of rape. In response to the mission's recommendations, we have promoted and jointly funded a project to counsel and help rape victims in Bosnia.

  Construction Contracts
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement of his policy on awarding contracts for construction and refurbishment work on the diplomatic estate, indicating, specifically, the steps which are taken to ensure that opportunities to tender are drawn to the attention of British companies.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The FCO's policy is to contract with British firms where competition establishes that they provide best value for money, and where their
  369
  participation is practicable in local circumstances. All major construction and refurbishment projects are advertised in the supplement to the Official Journal of the European Community, in accordance with our obligations under the EC Public Procurement Directive for Works. Information about a wider range of projects is also periodically sent to the Export Group for the Constructional Industries for circulation to its members.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent construction work has been undertaken on the proposed embassy in Berlin; to which companies major contracts have been awarded; what nationality are those companies; what is the value of the contracts; and what steps have been taken to ensure that British companies had the opportunity to tender for the work.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The proposed embassy in Berlin is still at pre-planning stages, and no construction work has yet been carried out. In due course, the project will be advertised in the supplement to the Official Journal of the European Community in accordance with our obligations under the EC Public Procurement Directive for Works and its details will be sent to the Export Group for the Constructional Industries.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent construction work has been undertaken on the high commission in Islamabad; to which companies the major contracts were awarded; what nationality were those companies; what was the value of the contracts; and what steps were first taken to ensure that British companies had the opportunity to tender for the work.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The construction of a new Immigration and Consular building, at a total contract value of about £4·8 million, is currently proceeding in Islamabad. Glauser International, a French contractor with an established operation in Pakistan, is the main contractor. The sub-contractor for the mechanical, electrical and services engineering work (valued at about £2·2 million) is the British firm Balfour Kilpatrick Ltd. This project was drawn to the attention of the Export Group for the Constructional Industries. Eight contractors, including five British, were invited to bid.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent construction work has been undertaken on the embassy in Kiev; to which companies the major contracts were awarded; what nationality were those companies; what was the value of the contracts; and what steps were first taken to ensure that British companies had the opportunity to tender for the work.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The recently-occupied embassy and residence building in Kiev is currently being refurbished at total contract cost of about £300,000. All the contracts were awarded to British companies: Rotary International, Kitchen World and Amity International Ltd. The tender lists were derived from contractors who had expressed an interest in the project.

SCOTLAND

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appeals have been made to him against the terms of records of needs for children with special needs under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 in the last four years; what are the average and maximum times taken to process such appeals; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In the four-year period from 1989 to 1992, 13 appeals were referred to the Secretary of State under section 64(1)(a) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. Of these, six appeals received in 1992 are still under consideration. The other seven appeals were determined on average within eight months but in one case processing took 12 months. The considerations involved in the appeals process are invariably complex, but steps are being taken to bring outstanding appeals to a conclusion as quickly as possible.

  Dentistry
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce a scheme in Scotland similar to that operating in England and Wales giving financial assistance towards the setting up or expansion of dental practices within family health service authorities.

  Mr. Stewart
  There are no plans at present to introduce a similar scheme in Scotland.

  Forth Road Bridge
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what forecast he has made of the likely level of tolls for the new Forth road bridge; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As the Government reported in February in our response document to the setting forth consultation, preliminary indications suggest that the additional bridge and associated roadworks identified in that consultation could be supported by a toll comparable in real terms to the toll on the present bridge when it opened in 1964. The 2/6d toll then would compare to around £1·25p now. The precise level of toll on any new bridge will not be known until the completion of a full competitive tender process should the Government decide to proceed with the project following the feasibility studies currently under way.

  Skye Bridge
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what force of impact the caissons on the Skye bridge are being constructed to withstand.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The caissons on the Skye bridge have been designed to withstand the impact from a 10,000 tonne dead weight vessel. This allows for all known shipping movements. This 10,000 tonne limit was agreed with Marine Directorate of the Department of Transport.

  Caledonian MacBrayne
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland under what statutory provisions he can override the commercial decisions of the directors of Caledonian MacBrayne.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend's powers and obligations in respect of Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. are defined in the terms of the Highlands and Islands Shipping Services Act 1960 and the undertaking of 15 August 1975 between the Secretary of State and the company. As controlling shareholder of the company, my right hon. Friend has certain other powers and responsibilites, which are defined in the company's articles of association.

  Kyle-Kyleakin Ferry
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the construction of the Skye bridge and its approach roads will result in any physical obstruction to the use of the Kyle-Kyleakin ferry slipways.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The construction of the Skye bridge and its approach roads will not result in any physical obstruction to the use of the Kyle-Kyleakin ferry slipways. HRC's complementary Kyle prospect enhancements, made possible by the bridge, take advantage of the released ferry marshalling area.

  Mr. Clarles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what Scottish Office grant aid was made available for the construction of the piers and slipways presently used by the Kyle-Kyleakin ferry; and what provisions cover the refund of such money.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None.

  White Fish
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what quantities of white fish were withdrawn from the market under intervention in each of the past 12 months at

  Withdrawals of whitefish (tonnes) by port of landing during the period 1 March 1992 to 31 March 1993

  Port

  April 1992

  May 1992

  June 1992

  July 1992

  August 1992

  September 1992

  October 1992

  November 1992

  December 1992

  January 1993

  February 1993

  March 1993

  Eyemouth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  1

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  Pittenweem

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Arbroath

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  Aberdeen

  4

  5

  25

  97

  46

  48

  —

  —

  —

  —

  57

  29

  Peterhead

  2

  89

  277

  493

  355

  309

  84

  —

  —

  30

  357

  113

  Fraserburgh

  —

  18

  3

  73

  58

  51

  32

  —

  —

  57

  119

  34

  Macduff

  —

  4

  1

  4

  2

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  Buckie

  —

  1

  4

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  10

  Lossiemouth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wick

  —

  19

  8

  10

  16

  12

  1

  —

  3

  9

  21

  19

  Shetland

  —

  1

  2

  13

  16

  15

  3

  —

  —

  9

  166

  54

  Kinlochbervie

  —

  23

  44

  58

  69

  19

  1

  —

  —

  —

  11

  20

  Stornoway

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  2

  1

  1

  25

  7

  8

  1

  Ullapool

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  —

  Mallaig

  —

  5

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  Oban

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Campbeltown

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ayr

  —

  —

  1

  2

  2

  5

  3

  3

  —

  —

  1

  5

  Lochinver

  2

  7

  27

  29

  27

  7

  4

  —

  —

  3

  8

  13

  Forestry
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 477, what comments his Department
  372
  each port; what was the total sum paid to fishermen in respect of these landings; and what quantities of this fish have gone for human consumption (a) abroad or (b) via domestic charities.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 23 April 1993]: None of the white fish withdrawn from the market under intervention has gone for human consumption either abroad or to charities. Full settlement to the producers organisations of compensation payable for fish withdrawn under the European Community's price support system for the year to end December 1992 has yet to take place, though advance payments have been made. Information on the quantities of white fish withdrawn from the market in Scotland under intervention in each of the 12 months to end March 1993, on the ports of landing and on the intervention sums paid so far is set out in the tables.

  Compensation paid to producers organisations in each of the 12 months to end March 1993 following the withdrawal of whitefish from the market

  £

  1992

  April

  12,900

  May

  68,700

  June

  166,600

  July

  51,200

  August

  168,100

  September

  160,400

  October

  45,600

  November

  121,300

  December

  13,800

  1993

  January

  —

  February

  —

  March

  —

  made to the Highland regional council on their draft indicative forestry strategy concerning Caithness; what consideration he has given to the Highland regional

  373
  council's Economic Review Issue No. 19, published in January; if the comments on page 15 accurately reflect his Department's views; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 20 April 1993]: The comments in the Economic Review relate to a letter of 23 October 1992 from the Scottish Office environment department to the regional council commenting that some of the agreements in the council's land use strategy for Caithness and Sutherland were not fully reflected in its draft indicative forestry strategy. The letter also pointed out that the draft omitted reference to the continuing programme of designation of sites of special scientific Interest in the area by Scottish Natural Heritage.

  These comments were made as technical assistance to the council's professional officers and were not formal

  1988 (February-April)

  1989 (February-April)

  1990 (February-April)

  1991 (February-April)

  1992 (February-April)

  1992 (September-December)

  Cormorants only applications

  6

  5

  12

  16

  12

  6

  licences granted

  6

  5

  12

  16

  12

  6

  Goosander and/or mergansers only applications

  12

  9

  12

  13

  2

  —

  licences granted

  12

  9

  12

  10

  2

  —

  Cormorants and goosander/mergansers applications

  23

  23

  18

  32

  20

  3

  licences granted

  23

  23

  18

  24

  20

  —

  Total number of applications submitted

  41

  37

  42

  61

  34

  9

  Total number of licences granted

  41

  37

  42

  50

  34

  6

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) cormorants, (b) goosander and (c) red-breasted merganser were killed under licence in (i) Scotland and (ii) the Tweed catchment, for each year since 1988, to prevent serious damage to fisheries.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 26 April 1993]: The details are as follows for the period 1988–1992.

  1 Birds reported killed under licence in Scotland (excluding the River Tweed)

  Cormorants

  Goosanders

  Mergansers

  1988 (February—April)

  221

  429

  204

  1989 (February—April)

  112

  383

  247

  1990 (February—April)

  335

  673

  421

  1991 (February—April)

  381

  504

  235

  1992 (February—April)

  141

  412

  148

  1992 (September—December)

  46

  —

  —

  2. Birds reported killed under licence in the River Tweed catchment

  Cormorants

  Goosanders

  1988

  50

  258

  1989

  5

  30

  1990

  17

  264

  1991

  26

  164

  1992

  28

  124

  374
  comments on an alteration or review in relation to the existing structure plan. No such alteration or review has been submitted to my right hon. Friend for his approval.

  Fisheries (Bird Killing Licences)
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many licences were applied for, and issued, under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to permit the killing of(a) cormorant, (b) goosander and (c) red-breasted merganser in Scotland for each year since 1988, to prevent serious damage to fisheries.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 26 April 1993]: The information is as follows:

  No application has been received to shoot mergansers in the Tweed catchment during this period.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what analysis has been carried out on the diet of(a) cormorants, (b) goosander and (c) red-breasted merganser killed under licence in (i) Scotland and (ii) the Tweed catchment; and what proportion of their diet was salmon; and what proportion was assessed to constitute serious damage to salmon fisheries.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 26 April 1993]: The Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department (SOAFD) commissioned research from the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (ITE) in 1987. The programme has been extended to 1994 and is designed to investigate the predatory activities of sawbill ducks (goosanders and mergansers) and other piscivorous birds, and their impact on salmonid populations in Scottish rivers, including the River Tweed. A major element of the programme is an analysis of the gut of birds shot under licence to determine the nature of their diet. Results of this research programme are expected to be available in 1994.

  Community Care
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for the issuing of guidelines to social work departments in relation to the discharging from
  375
  hospitals of psychiatric patients into the community by way of the community care programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 22 March 1993]: Guidance was issued to local authorities, health boards and others in February 1992. My noble and learned Friend the Minister of State is aware of the current review of treatment in the community for people with a mental disorder in England and will consider the need for any changes in Scotland arising from that review.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Third World Debt
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the United Kingdom will implement the Trinidad terms on remission of debt for the poorest countries as indicated by the Prime Minister in October 1991.

  Mr. Nelson
  The United Kingdom conduct their policy with regard to developing country debt issues through the Paris Club. This multilateral approach is shared by our creditor colleagues, and works to the benefit of both creditors and debtors. The United Kingdom Government have an excellent record on initiatives and action on developing country debt—including the Prime Minister's Trinidad terms. For full details, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave recently to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 26 April 1993,Official Report, c. 293.

  Bitumen (Tax)
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how a natural bitumen (CN2714) would be taxed in accordance with EC Council directive 92/81/EEC if such hydrocarbon is used as a fuel for power generation with a price and role similar to that of coal.

  Sir John Cope
  Natural bitumen classified under CN2714 is not specified in EC Council Directive 92/81/EEC and therefore not subject to mineral oils duty under the directive, whereas mixtures based on natural bitumen are classified under CN2715 and when used as a fuel for power generation are subject to duty under the Directive. Clause 10 of the current Finance Bill gives effect to this aspect of the directive.

  Company Cars
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Inland Revenue regards as business use cases where an employee is provided with a company car and uses it to drive, or to be driven, from home to the normal place of employment.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Home-to-work travel in a car made available by an employer is normally regarded as private use.

PRIME MINISTER

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he received on the dangers of plutonium proliferation from the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield during his most recent visit to Washington DC.
  376
  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Visually Impaired People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Prime Minister what action Government Departments have taken, or will be taking, to improve official communications with people who are visually impaired by providing more information in large print, braille or on tape; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  A number of Government publications have already been produced for people who are visually impaired. Examples are given in the following table:

  BRAILLE

  Cabinet Office

  The Citizen's Charter First Report: A Guide (also available in audio cassette version)

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food>

  New Microwave Labels (to be issued shortly—also available in audio cassette and large print versions)

  Employment

  Jobseeker's Charter

  P.A.C.T. (Placing, assessment and counselling teams)

  Environment

  Council Tax: A Guide to the New Tax for Local Governments (also available in audio cassette and large print versions)

  Council Tax: Liability, Discounts and Exemptions (also available in audio cassette and large print versions)

  Council Tax: Valuation and Banding (also available in audio cassette and large print versions)

  Council Tax: How to Appeal (also available in audio cassette and large print versions)

  Council Tax: Transitional Deduction Scheme (also available in audio cassette and large print versions)

  Health

  Patient's Charter (also available in audio cassette version)

  NHS Reforms and You (also available in Moon and audio cassette versions)

  Northern Ireland

  HPSS Charter for Patients and Clients

  Social Security

  Parents Who Live Apart (also available in audio cassette version)

  Guide for the Disabled

  AUDIO CASSETTE

  Cabinet Office

  The Citizen's Charter: A Guide

  Education

  Special Education Needs Charter

  Parent's Charter

  Your Child and the National Curriculum: A Parent's Guide

  Grants and Loans

  Testing 7 Year Olds

  Testing 14 Year Olds

  Children with Special Needs: A Guide for Parents

  Environment

  Council Tenant's Charter

  Health

  Health of the Nation

  While You Are Pregnant—Safe Eating

  Elderly Health

  377

  Community Care Changes in April 1993 (tapes also available in ethnic minority languages)

  Home Office

  Practical Ways to Crack Crime

  Prisoners Information Pack

  Fire Safety in the Home

  Social Security

  Disability Living Allowance (tapes also available in ethnic minority languages)

  Disability Working Allowance (tapes also available in ethnic minority languages)

  People with Learning Difficulties

  Care in the Community (tapes also available in ethnic minority languages)

  Transport

  Door to Door Transport—A Guide to Transport for People with Disabilities

  How To Use A Puffin

  LARGE PRINT

  Health

  Keep Warm, Keep Well (also available in audio cassette version)

  Community Care Changes in April 1993

  Home Office

  Fire Safety Advice

  Fire Safety Advice for Disabled People

  Social Security

  The Guide to New Benefits for the Disabled

  Care in the Community

  Moreover the citizens charter, which calls on public services to make sure information about services is easily accessible to all their users, is putting fresh emphasis on the need for effective communication with those who have special needs, including people who are visually impaired.

  Libya
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from Arab sources about the effect of sanctions on transport in Libya, with particular reference to the delay in the provision of non-banned medicines causing them to be ineffective.

  The Prime Minister
  So far as I am aware, I have received no representations.

  Engagements
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 27 April.

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

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates have been made as to the number of abattoirs in the United Kingdom which will be unable to meet the standards set out in the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992.

  Mr. Soames
  Nine abattoirs have been refused licences under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection)378
  Regulations 1992 because of serious hygiene deficiencies. Approximately 30 abattoirs have yet to agree a work plan to upgrade their premises to comply with the Regulations and have been given a time-limited licence to enable outstanding problems to be resolved. No further licences will be issued to these premises unless a work plan to remedy structure-related hygiene problems is agreed.

  Premises which are refused a licence may appeal to the meat hygiene appeals tribunal.

  Biofuels
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures his Department is taking to promote the production and use of biofuels.

  Mr. Curry
  The Department is sponsoring research on a number of topics relevant to biofuels and other non-food uses of crops, and is working closely with other departments, in particular the Department of Trade and Industry's energy technology support unit. We are also pressing for perennial crops such as short rotation coppice and miscanthus to be eligible under the non-rotational option for set-aside.

  Bovine Somatotropin
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has given to the 1990 report of the Veterinary Products Committee in deciding that BST should be licensed.

  Mr. Soames
  In 1990 the Veterinary Products Committee advised Ministers that, having assessed data on two BST products, it was satisfied that they were efficacious and that their use would not pose any health hazard to consumers of milk from treated animals. On the basis of the data before it, however, the committee was not completely satisfied with some aspects of the safety and welfare of treated animals if used commercially, and could not recommend that a licence be granted. In such circumstances, under the Medicines Act 1968, applicants have a right of appeal to the Medicines Commission before their application is determined. Additional scientific evidence can be generated and presented at such hearings. Both companies exercised that right and in January 1993, on the basis of the evidence then presented, the Medicines Commission advised that the Medicines Act criteria of safety, quality and efficacy were met.

  This advice was reflected by the United Kingdom delegation during the subsequent final scientific evaluations of the two BST products by the EC Committee on Veterinary Medicinal Products. However, no product licences under the Medicines Act may be issued so long as the licensing moratorium agreed by the European Community's Council of Ministers remains in force.

  Broiler Chickens
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to make changes to slaughterhouse practices and legislation in relation to the treatment of broiler chickens.

  Mr. Soames
  The Department initiated discussion on an EC proposal on the welfare of animals at slaughter, including poultry, during the United Kingdom presidency. Discussions are continuing and we will be seeking high
  379
  welfare standards to be implemented and enforced throughout the Community. Proposals to implement Council Directive 92/116/EEC on poultry meat hygiene are currently being prepared, in discussion with industry and enforcement interests, and will be issued for public consultation in due course.

  Integrated Administration and Control Scheme
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements have been made to pay any interest accrued where it is established through the integrated administration and control scheme that the applicant has been underpaid, erroneously, under any of the various CAP regimes established by the 1992 CAP reforms.

  Mr. Curry
  Cases involving erroneous underpayments would be dealt with on their merits, within the rules of Government accounting.

  Foot and Mouth Disease
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the cost to date of the measures taken to prevent an outbreak of foot and mouth disease since the presence of vaccinated stock in the United Kingdom first came to his attention.

  Mr. Gummer
  The measures taken include the tracing and testing of some 850 cattle in some 27 consignments imported into Great Britain since last August and which are now located throughout the country. Information on the cost of such measures, which are still continuing, is only available at disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the most recent figure for the number of cattle presently in the United Kingdom which are known to have been vaccinated against foot and mouth disease; from which country they originated; if the precise location of each vaccinated animal is known to the authorities; and what plans he has for removing vaccinated livestock from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Gummer
  So far, a total of 238 imported cattle have been tested positive for the presence of antibodies to foot and mouth disease (FMD). In the absence of clinical disease, the positive test results indicate that the animals in question may have previously been vaccinated against FMD. Most of the seropositive animals originated in the Czech Republic and a small number in Poland. All seropositive animals are currently under restriction on their holdings while the tracing and testing of remaining animals is completed. In view of the long-standing policy not to permit the presence in the United Kingdom of animals which have been vaccinated against FMD, and the fact that the animals were imported in contravention of Community import rules, the seropositive animals will have to be either returned to their countries of origin or slaughtered. My veterinary officials have been in touch with their counterparts in the Czech Republic and Poland to discuss possible arrangements for the re-export of the animals in question.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to compensate United Kingdom livestock farmers who came to be in possession of stock vaccinated against foot and mouth disease.
  380
  Mr. Gummer
  The resolution of the problem is a commercial matter between the exporters, the importers and the current owners. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is under no obligation to pay any form of compensation.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits (Capital Limits)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the full year cost of abolishing all the capital limits for all social security benefits.

  Mr. Burt
  Using data from the 1988, 1989 and 1990 Family Expenditure Surveys modelled at 1993–94 prices and benefit levels, we estimate that the cost would be approximately £1,590 million.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people would receive increased benefit payments if all the capital limits for social security benefits were abolished.

  Mr. Burt
  Using data from the 1988, 1989 and 1990 Family Expenditure Surveys modelled at 1993–94 prices and benefit levels, we estimate that the number of people who would receive increased payments (including those who currently receive no payment) would be as shown in the table.

  Benefit

  Gainers

  Income support

  800,000

  Housing benefit

  400,000

  Council tax benefit

  1,360,000

  Family credit

  50,000

  Training Schemes
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances participants in training for work, learning for work and the community action programme who receive income support as part of their participation allowance will be eligible for the £10 a week voluntary payments disregard; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  Participants in training for work and community action will receive an allowance equivalent to their benefit entitlement, plus £10 a week training premium. Participants in learning for work will receive an allowance equivalent to their benefit (without the £10 premium).

  Participants on any of these schemes will be eligible for the £10 a week voluntary payments disregard, subject to the usual conditions.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much end-of-training bonus training for work, learning for work and community action participants will be able to receive without its affecting their entitlement to income support; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  Any payment not exceeding £200 received as a training bonus will be disregarded.
  381

  Part-time Study
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the application of the 21-hour rule to unemployed income support claimants who wish to study courses of higher education, including undergraduate and post-graduate degree courses and higher national diploma courses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to her on 15 April at column 704.

  Social Fund
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action his Department has undertaken following the research it has commissioned on the social fund; and when a new system of entitlements to grants will be developed.

  Mr. Scott
  We are currently carefully considering the operation of the social fund, including grants provision, in response to the research commissioned from York university's social policy research unit, along with a number of other reports and our own close monitoring of the fund.

  Disability Benefits
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take steps to ensure that people in receipt of disability benefits who take up a place in the work activity element of training for work, or in the community action programme, will not have their subsequent eligibility for disability benefit challenged because of their participation in the programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Participation in a training for work or community action programme will not in itself automatically debar a person from disability benefits. A trainee in receipt of disability living allowance or attendance allowance may have their entitlement reviewed after six months to establish whether their needs have changed.

  Deafness Claims
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the occupational deafness disability benefit scheme contained in Cm. 817 and Cm. 1245; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council's recommendations have been carefully considered. A number of administrative changes have been introduced, and new arrangements for audiometric tests are currently being evaluated. A decision on extending the scheme will be taken once we have the results of this study.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to prevent delays in diagnosing and assessment of deafness claims by war pensioners in the Newcastle area.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Following a competitive tendering exercise a national contract for the provision of audiological testing will be awarded in May. This will provide a more efficient and speedier service, throughout the country.

  Retirement Pensions
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many retirement pensioners qualify for the additional payments available to those aged 80 years and over; and what percentage this represents of the overall total of retirement pensioners.

  Miss Widdecombe
  At September 1992 (the latest date in respect of which figures are available) 2,241,040, or 21·8 per cent. of, retirement pensioners were aged 80 or over and therefore qualified for an age addition of £0·25 to their pension.

  Note: The term "retirement pensioner" includes those receiving non-contributory retirement pension and/or graduated retirement benefit only and pensioners residing overseas.

  Retirement Age
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to announce proposals which equalise the retirement age of men and women; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government are committed to the equalisation of state pension age. No decisions have yet been made on what option should be adopted.

  We will announce our proposals for equalisation when we have fully considered the views expressed by both the public and interested organisations and its implications for related developments in the private pensions sector.

  Disabled (Car Insurance)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations the Minister for Disabled People has had from Artsline in regard to car insurance for vehicles driven by disabled people; what reply he is sending; what action he has taken; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  We have received a copy of a letter from Mr. Roger Robinson, director of Artsline, to the chief executive of the Association of British insurers about the costs of car insurance for disabled drivers. The issue of insurance policies and their terms are for the commercial judgment of insurance companies. In 1989, the Association of British Insurers produced a dossier of advice for disabled drivers and undertook to investigate individual cases of difficulty. We understand that it will be sending a full reply to this case and we have asked for a copy of its response, in the light of which we shall write to Mr. Robinson.

  Fostering
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will extend the home responsibility protection to foster carers who do not receive a financial reward from fostering; and if he will give reasons for his answer.

  Mr. Burt
  Eligibility for HRP is dependent on entitlement to certain benefits, primarily child benefit. To avoid double provision from public funds for the cost of child care, child benefit is not paid to foster carers who receive an allowance from the local authority. Consequently HRP is not available in these cases.

  Personal Injury Compensation
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how much in state benefits was recovered from legal damages in employer liability personal injury cases under section 22 of the Social Security Act 1989 in each quarter of 1990, 1991 and 1992;

  (2) how much in state benefits was recovered from legal damages in personal injury cases under section 22 of the Social Security Act 1989 in each quarter of 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The operation of the compensation recovery unit 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 Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 26 April 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is. my responsibility for answering questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how much in state benefits was recovered from legal damages in (i) personal injury cases and (ii) employer liability personal injury cases under section 22 of the Social Security Act 1989 in each quarter of 1990, 1991 and 1992.
  The Compensation Recovery Scheme became effective on personal injury claims settled on or after 3 September 1990. Details of all recoveries made since that date are shown at Annex A by quarter and details of all recoveries made in employer liability cases are shown similarly at Annex B.
  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.

  ANNEX A Recoveries on all personal injury claims

  Quarter ended

  Recoveries (£s)

  31 December 1990

  1,108,818·90

  31 March 1991

  2,619,996·10

  30 June 1991

  4,119,276·67

  30 September 1991

  5,559,042·77

  31 December 1991

  6,604,468·94

  31 March 1992

  9,034,568·47

  30 June 1992

  10,203,274·13

  30 September 1992

  10,972,265·31

  31 December 1992

  12,131,043·13

  ANNEX B Recoveries in employer liability cases

  Quarter ended

  Recoveries (£s)

  31 December 1990

  504,600·09

  31 March 1991

  1,206,281·02

  30 June 1991

  2,099,802·83

  30 September 1991

  2,630,944·11

  31 December 1991

  3,441,977·44

  31 March 1992

  5,020,164·86

  30 June 1992

  5,742,871·01

  30 September 1992

  5,913,562·40

  31 December 1992

  6,833,390·53

  Benefit Deductions
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of income support recipients are now having deductions made from benefits as a result of 384
  paying back social fund loans (a) nationally, (b) by territory, and (c) in each Department of Social Security-Benefits Agency district.

  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 the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 26 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, what percentage of Income Support recipients are now having deductions made from benefits as a result of paying back Social Fund loans (a) nationally, (b) by territory, and (c) in each Department of Social Security-Benefits Agency district.
  It is not possible to provide this information as it is not collected as a matter of routine; also records relate to applications rather than applicants. I can, however, advise you that at 31 March 1993, some 680,000 loans nationally were being repaid from various sources. In the main, this was by deduction from Income Support.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Mrs. D. Milford
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the application for attendance allowance submitted by Mrs. D. Milford (NI JB 091986 C) in May 1992 will be considered; and what reasons underlie the time taken in notifying Mrs. Milford.

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

  Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 26 April 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking when the application for attendance allowance submitted by Mrs. D. Milford in May 1992 will be considered and the reasons for the delay in notifying Mrs. Milford.
  Mrs. Milford has been in receipt of the lower rate of Attendance Allowance (AA) since 5 June 1989 and wrote to the Attendance Allowance Unit on 29 May 1992 requesting that she receive the higher rate of AA. Mrs. Milford's claim for the increased rate of AA has now been considered by the Adjudication Officer and she was notified of the result of the claim on 22 April 1993.
  Whilst the delay in arriving at the decision on this claim has taken longer than is usual for these types of cases, an examination of the papers show that the main reason for this was the difficulty encountered in trying to obtain the dates of Mrs. Milford's hospitalisation. It was imperative not only that these dates were obtained, but also verified, as they did have a material effect on the award and payment of the allowance.
  I thank you for the opportunity to explain this case. I hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

EMPLOYMENT

  Learning for Work
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many places have been provided on the learning for work scheme announced in the Budget.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Provision for 30,000 people to take part in learning for work will be available during the 1993–94 academic year starting in September in England and Wales and in August in Scotland.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what initiatives she has to decrease unemployment in mining areas.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  We are making available £75 million to training and enterprise councils and the Employment Service to help redundant miners and other unemployed people in areas affected by a pit closure.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures she is introducing to assist the long-term unemployed in East Anglia.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  New measures recently announced will provide an extra 100,000 opportunities nationally. Learning for work, community action and an expanded business start-up scheme will be available to long-term unemployed people in East Anglia as elsewhere. Additionally, a pilot scheme, north Norfolk action, will provide 100 opportunities for long-term unemployed people in Norfolk to participate in full-time community work.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate she has for the number of part-time or casual workers in(a) 1979 and (b) 1992; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Estimates from the Labour Force Survey show that the number of part-time employees in spring 1979 was almost 4 million, and in autumn 1992 it was over 5 million; 780,000 people were in casual, temporary and seasonal jobs in spring 1984, decreasing to 690,000 in autumn 1992.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in unemployment in the south-east since 1990.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In the South East region, seasonally adjusted claimant unemployment rose by 604,100 between March 1990 and March 1993.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures she is introducing to assist the long-term unemployed in the north of England.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  New measures announced in the Budget will provide an extra 100,000 opportunities nationally for long-term unemployed people. Learning for work, community action and an expanded business start-up scheme will be available to long-term unemployed people in the north of England, as elsewhere.

  Disabled People
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals she has for extending employment training opportunities for the disabled.
  386
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  From 1 April people with disabilities have had priority for a place on a wide range of employment and training programmes including training for work.

  In addition, people with disabilities will be given similar priority on learning for work and community action, where they are eligible.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps she is taking to enable trade unionists and unemployed persons to receive training in the establishment and running of small businesses.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Training in the establishment and running of small businesses is available under the business start-up scheme, youth training, training for work and through our support of the Prince's Youth Business Trust.

  Trade unionists who meet the appropriate eligibility conditions can participate in any of these programmes.

  Back Pain
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taken by the Health and Safety Executive to reduce the number of working days lost due to back pain.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I am informed that the Health and Safety Executive is working actively with industry and others to reduce the number of working days lost due to back pain. New regulations on manual handling of loads and the use of display screen equipment and the executive's current "Lighten the Load" campaign will all help to focus the attention of industry on the need to reduce the incidence of back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders and promote their prevention.

  Training
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of under 21-year-olds move directly on to permanent employment from training schemes.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In 1992, 35 per cent. of those leaving youth training moved directly into employment. In the same period, 19 per cent. of those aged under 21 leaving employment training found a job.

  For both programmes, regular follow-up surveys show that much greater proportions are in a job three months after leaving their training.

  "New horizons for Women"
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement on progress on the "new horizons for women" initiative.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  "New Horizons" events have so far been held in Manchester and Newcastle and I am very encouraged by the interest which they have generated. The next event will be held in Bristol on 10 May and further events are planned elsewhere in the country during the coming months.

  Youth Training Guarantee
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment she has made of how effectively the youth training guarantee is working.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department's contracts with TECs calls for regular monitoring and review, at a local level, of the numbers of young people covered by the youth training guarantee who are seeking a place. The review is conducted jointly by Departmental officials, TECs and other interested parties such as the careers service. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced to the House on 7 July last year,Official Report, cols 171–72, measures establishing a national system for monitoring the numbers of young people seeking training.

  We are confident that the TECs and careers services are working well together to ensure that sufficient places are available to meet demand.

  TEC Challenge Fund
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement on the TEC challenge fund.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I am delighted to announce that a prospectus inviting TECS to bid for TEC challenge funds was issued on 13 April. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  Departmental Working Conditions
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations she has received about working conditions in her office block in Tothill street, from staff working in the building.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend has received no direct representations from staff about working conditions in her office block in Tothill street. Such matter; are usually addressed at regular meetings between officials and staff representatives.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretaryn of State for Employment on what date she estimates that funds from the package of additonal assistance for redundant miners announced in October 1992 will begin to be released in the Nottinghamshire coalfield.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) on 31 March 1993,Official Report, column 254.

  We cannot make an estimate of when individual pit areas might be eligible for help. That will depend on decisions made by individuals employed at the pits concerned.

  Employment Legislation
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals she has for further legislation on terms and conditions of employment.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Bill currently before Parliament 388
  further strengthens the framework of statutory employment protection in relation to maternity, written particulars of employment and unfair dismissal. In general, however, terms and conditions of employment are a matter for agreement between employers and employees without Government intervention.

  Gas Safety
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals emerged from the review initiated by the Health and Safety Executive of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1984; and when she will publish these proposals.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Health and Safety Commission will consider proposals emerging from the review shortly.

DEFENCE

  Dockyard Redundancies
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is his intention to continue funding redundancies in the royal dockyard.

  Mr. Aitken
  Under the term contracts for the operation of the Royal dockyards, my Department has an obligation to reimburse the dockyard operators for the cost of redundancies among their employees arising from reductions in the naval refit programme (subject to their having achieved specified targets for commercial (non-MOD) work). Arrangements for the period after the present term contracts expire have yet to be determined.

  RAF Menwith Hill
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether a lost property system is operated at Menwith Hill RAF base near Harrogate with recorded acknowledgement of all items handed in; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Yes.

  Bosnia
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel have been killed or injured on active service with UNPROFOR II; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There has been one death, that of Lance Corporal Edwards, and five injuries to British soldiers sustained in the course of their duties while serving with UNPROFOR Bosnia-Herzegovina command.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment his Department has made of the possibility of extending the policy of safe havens from northern Iraq to Bosnia; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what consideration he has given to the military implications of the establishment of safe havens in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts regarding the military implications of the establishment of safe havens in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement.
  389
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We welcome the UNHCR's proposal to establish safe areas in Bosnia by agreement with the parties; the United Kingdom supported similar ideas last July. The position in Bosnia is however different to that in northern Iraq; the ethnic map, topography and triangular war make it impossible in the absence of an effective peace agreement to envisage the establishment of genuine safe areas without the deployment of huge numbers of heavily armed United Nations ground troops assisted by air power.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions British service personnel deployed with UNPROFOR II have sought to negotiate local ceasefires and other methods of preventing conflicts with local militia commanders; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Participating in negotiations to arrange local ceasefires to allow the passage of humanitarian aid and refugees, the evacuation of the sick and wounded and other tasks within the mandate of the UNPROFOR troops operating in Bosnia-Herzegovina is part of the British battalion group's day-to-day business. It is not possible to provide a precise figure.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts concerning an increase in the size of the British contribution to UNPROFOR II; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts concerning a general increase in the size of UNPROFOR II; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Participation in United Nations peacekeeping deployments in the former Yugoslavia is kept under constant review in concert with our NATO allies. These discussions naturally include the possible size and scope of future United Nations deployments in the former Yugoslavia.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what consideration he has given to the military consequences of implementing the Vance-Owen peace proposals in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts relating to the military consequences of implementing the Vance-Owen peace proposals in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Both within the United Nations and NATO, the possible size and scope of an operation to assist the parties to implement the Vance-Owen peace proposals is being kept under close review.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times British service personnel deployed with UNPROFOR II have been mentioned in dispatches.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Mentions in dispatches are awarded in operational theatres only. The former Yugoslavia has not been declared an operational theatre, although this is under review.

  Airwork Ltd.
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current value and type of contracts that his Department have with Airwork Ltd.; and what conditions relating to operations in the event of a conflict have been included in these contracts.

  Mr. Aitken
  Figures for the end of the 1992–93 financial year are still being finalised, but at the end of February my Department had 49 contracts with Airwork Ltd. The original value of these was some £91 million, but the value of the work still to be carried out is some £28·5 million.

  Airwork Ltd. provides my Department with a wide range of aircraft-related maintenance, repair and other support activities, as well as providing services such as catering and cleaning.

  Terms and conditions of individual contracts are regarded as commercially confidential, but I can confirm that our policy for contracting out support services takes account of the need for continued support in time of conflict.

  Meggitt Aerospace and Defence plc
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts currently exist between his Department and Meggitt Aerospace and Defence plc.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department holds no contracts directly with this company, but does hold a large number with its various subsidiaries. A total of 1,363 such contracts were active during the 1992–93 financial year.

  RAF St. Athan
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made as to the adequacy of the maintenance of aircraft at RAF St. Athan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  RAF St. Athan is accredited by my Department's directorate of quality assurance to an international quality standard and there is no cause to doubt the quality of the aircraft maintenance carried out there. Some problems have, however, been identified during a recent modification programme on Tornado aircraft, the cause of which is currently being examined.

  Army Recruitment
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a breakdown by individual Army recruiting offices of the recruitment by regiments or corps for 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have placed the available information for main Army careers information offices up to 6 March 1993 in the Library of the House.

  RAF Leeming (Aircraft Noise)
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total amount of noise compensation paid out by his Department to property owners in the vicinity of RAF Leeming since the stationing of Tornado aircraft at the base.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at the end of March 1993 my Department has paid out £8,903,000 in noise compensation to entitled claimants.

  RAF Wyton
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further consideration he has given to the future of RAF Wyton and the proposed location of the RAF logistics command headquarters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Royal Air Force's electronic warfare and reconnaissance assets and a number of other major and minor units are currently stationed at RAF Wyton. In order to exploit the benefits of estate rationalisation and because certain units are being market-tested, flying operations at RAF Wyton are planned to reduce to the point at which it would be uneconomic to retain the airfield, with its associated station support services, as a flying station.

  Subject to consultation with the trade unions I have concluded that the electronic warfare and reconnaissance assets should be relocated to RAF Waddington, and other units to RAF Marham and RAF Finningley. These relocations would be completed by mid 1996.

  I announced on 14 August that RAF Wyton, along with RAF Brampton, would form the centre for RAF logistics management, and that this would involve the concentration there of support activities situated now at several sites, including MOD Harrogate. It subsequently emerged from revised Army plans that Uniacke barracks at Pennypot, near Harrogate, might become available for other defence purposes, and I therefore commissioned a detailed study into its possible use for RAF logistics activities. This re-examination is now complete. The result is to confirm that the Brampton/Wyton option provides the best solution to RAF needs. RAF Logistic Command will therefore form on 1 April 1994 at Brampton and, on current plans, most of the logistic support services will move to Wyton in 1995 and 1996. MOD Harrogate, RAF Swanton Morley, and eventually RAF Stanbridge, will close as originally announced.

  I am happy to say that the Army apprentice college at Uniacke barracks at Pennypot will, however, remain open for longer than previously anticipated. Apprentice training for the Royal Signals will continue there for the time being and will move direct to Blandford where new facilities should be ready for occupation during 1995. Alternative long-term defence uses for the Pennypot site are tinder consideration.

  Food Distribution
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future arrangements for the purchase and distribution of food for the armed services.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Responsibility for the purchase and distribution of food to the armed services is currently split between the Director General of Supplies and Transport (Naval), the Royal Logistic Corps and the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI). Following a detailed study, I have concluded in principle that the task should be rationalised and that, subject to satisfactory terms being negotiated, a fixed-term contract should be awarded in the first instance to NAAFI. Once consolidation has been achieved, as much of the work as possible will be subjected to market testing. The responsibility for the policy and management of food supply will remain within the Ministry of Defence.

  We shall be consulting interested parties, in particular the Ministry of Defence trade unions, about the proposal in the normal way. I am placing a copy of the consultative document in the Library of the House.

  Maintenance Group Defence Agency
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish key management targets for the Maintenance Group Defence Agency.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Maintenance Group Defence Agency's key management targets for 1993–94 are as follows:

  (a) To achieve at least 98 per cent. of the specified maintenance and communications-electronics tasks to standard and on time.

  (b) To achieve the Joint Service Publication 336 Defence Supply Manual speed of issue arid pipeline targets for at least 95 per cent. of the depot supply task.

  (c) To keep within the group's allocated budget.

  (d) To reduce the cost per unit of output by 2·5 per cent.

  (e) To achieve the quality systems targets set in the group's management plan.

  (f) To install the new financial and management accounting system at all the group's major units by 31 March 1994.

  (g) To complete the warehouse and transportation management system full study by 12 October 1993, and to commence implementation by 1 November 1993.

  POLICE AUTHORITIES: MEMBERSHIP
  POLICE AUTHORITIES: MEMBERSHIP
  HEALTH AUTHORITIES: CHAIRMEN'S REMUNERATION
  HEALTH AUTHORITIES: CHAIRMEN'S REMUNERATION
  ROAD TRAFFIC: COST OF ACCIDENTS
  ROAD TRAFFIC: COST OF ACCIDENTS
  VERY SMALL COMPANIES: AUDIT REQUIREMENTS
  VERY SMALL COMPANIES: AUDIT REQUIREMENTS
  ARMED SERVICES: FOOD PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTION
  ARMED SERVICES: FOOD PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTION
  MAINTENANCE GROUP DEFENCE AGENCY: KEY TARGETS
  MAINTENANCE GROUP DEFENCE AGENCY: KEY TARGETS
  RAF LOGISTIC COMMAND
  RAF LOGISTIC COMMAND