Written Answers of 3 December 1993

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Immigration Appeals Office
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the establishment of the immigration appeals office in London and(a) in each of the past five years and (b) in the current year; what plans there are to increase the staff establishment and the number of adjudicators in (i) London and (ii) Leeds.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Staff establishment levels in past years at the immigration appellate authorities—IAA—are available only for the IAA as a whole and not for individual centres. The figures in each of the past five years were as follows:

  Numbers

  1989–90

  77

  1990–91

  94½

  1991–92

  97

  1992–93

  95½

  1993–94

  117

  The number of staff allocated to the centre at Thanet house in London for the year 1993–94 is 63.

  There are currently no plans to increase either the staff establishment or the number of adjudicators at either Thanet house in London or in Leeds, although these will be kept under review in light of the current and projected workloads.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the total number of appeals awaiting processing by the immigration appeals office in London; what is the average time taken between the receipt of papers from British overseas posts and the listing of appeals before adjudictors, in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Leeds: what action he is taking to expedite the hearing of appeals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  As of 31 October 1993 there were 19,074 appeals outstanding before the adjudicators within the IAA as a whole. As of 26 November 1993, there were 324 appeals which had been received at Thanet house in London and had not yet been processed.

  Figures are not available for the average time taken between the receipt of papers from British overseas posts and the listing of appeals before adjudicators. However, upon receipt of the explanatory statement and notice of appeal from the post overseas, the IAA normally dispatches copies of the case papers to to the parties' representatives in the country within five days. The parties must then prepare the case for the hearing. The current average time between the IAA receiving a certificate of readiness from a party to the date of the hearing for (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Leeds is as follows:
  742

  Short appointment

  Long appointment

  (a) 12 Weeks

  13½ Weeks

  (b) 9 Weeks

  12 Weeks

  Where an earlier hearing date is available at a different IAA centre, appellants are offered a hearing at that centre.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many files marked "not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by his Department.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There are 45 files in the Lord Chancellor's Department—out of a total of 90,974 files —marked "not for NAO eyes". These refer to individual file parts. For each NAO study a number of divisions may be involved and each may possess a file with a number of parts.

  The marking "not for NAO eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NAO and Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.

EDUCATION

  Advertising
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spends annually on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising and (c) press advertising; and what were the corresponding figures for 1985 and 1979.

  Mr. Forth
  The latest estimate of expenditure on advertising in the current financial year and the corresponding figures for 1985–86 and 1979–80 are as follows:

  £000s 1993–94 (estimated)

  £000s 1985–86

  £1979–80

  Television advertising

  0

  0

  0

  Radio advertising

  29·2

  0

  0

  Press advertising

  1,105·8

  14·8

  91·6

  Press and Publicity Officers
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many press and publicity officers are currently employed in his Department; and how many were employed in(a) 1985 and (b)

  Mr. Forth
  The Department currently employs 27 permanent press and publicity officers. The comparable figures for 1985–86 and 1979–80 are 23 and 22.

  Information Security
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has incorporated the code of practice for information security management, published by the British Standards Institution, into relevant contracts with information technology suppliers.
  743
  Mr. Forth
  The code of practice for information security management was developed by and established for use by commercial organisations and does not specifically address the requirements for the protection of official information. The security requirements for IT systems and services used by central Government Departments are stated in the Government's IT security policy document. The IT security policy is supported by use of the CCTA risk analysis and management method·CRAMM·and baseline security for IT systems·BSITS·risk analysis methods and by supporting advice and guidance published by the Government IT security authorities. These are regularly reviewed to ensure best practice, have been developed specifically for use within government and have been in operation for some time.

  The Department for Education's IS security policy is in line with the Government's IT security policy and all major contracts with information technology suppliers follow the guidelines in Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency·CCTA·model agreements.

  Teachers (Dress)
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidelines he plans to offer to teachers about their form of dress.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend expects teachers to set a good example to their pupils in everything they do. How best to achieve that is for local determination. He has no plans to issue national guidelines.

  School Meals Service
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the future of the school meals service.

  Mr. Forth
  Local education authorities and, where appropriate, governing bodies of self-governing·grantmaintained·schools have responsibility for providing school meals, and determine the appropriate level of service in the light of local priorities.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many files marked "not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by his Department.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department has 39 files·out of a total of over 500,000·marked "not for NAO eyes".

  This marking is used in accordance with the agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NAO and Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to the NAO while they remain current.

  Fitzherbert School, Brighton
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the total cost of providing security at the former Fitzherbert school site in Brighton during the period it was in the ownership of the City Technology Colleges Trust and the Michael Faraday Trust.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The cost of providing security at the former Fitzherbert school site in Brighton during the said period was some £233,000.

  Student Loans Company
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the cost of acquiring the Student Loans Company from its previous owners.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government acquired the Student Loans Company in December 1989 at a cost of £10.

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education for each city technology college, what is the amount of Government grant received each year since establishment, the pupil roll for each year and the amount of private sector sponsorship received each year.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Grants approved for payment by the Department to each city technology college for recurrent funding purposes in the current academic year are shown in the table, together with the numbers of funded pupils.

  Amounts of grant include provision for diseconomies of scale during the build up of colleges to full capacity and for services provided by local education authorities to their schools.

  As for all other schools, any additional funding by private sector sponsors for recurrent expenditure purposes is a matter for the schools and sponsors concerned.

  1993–94

  College

  Recurrent grant £million

  Funded numbers

  1 Kingshurst

  3,604

  1,250

  2 Djanogly

  2,565

  844

  3 Macmillan

  2,826

  912

  4 Emmanuel

  1,929

  600

  5 Dixons

  2,456

  730

  6 Leigh

  3,361

  1,140

  7 Harris

  3,187

  1,000

  8 Britschool

  2,914

  686

  9 Bacons

  3,926

  1,050

  10 Haberdashers

  4,806

  1,150

  11 Thomas Telford

  2,485

  664

  12 Brooke Weston

  2,448

  735

  13 ADT

  2,770

  600

  14 Landau Forte

  1,958

  450

  15 John Cabot

  1,292

  150

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Incitement to Racial Hatred
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Attorney-General how many cases of incitement to racial hatred under the Public Order Act 1986 were referred to him by the Crown Prosecution Service in each year since 1987; how many were not proceeded with(a) through insufficient evidence, (b) because prosecution was judged not to be in the public interest and (c) for other reasons.

  The Solicitor-General
  I am causing inquiries to be made into the matters raised by the right hon. Member and I will reply as soon as possible.

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Mates
  To ask the Attorney-General if he has anything to add to his statement to the House on 30 June concerning the Serious Fraud Office.
  745
  The Attorney-General
  Shortly after my statement to the House about the Serious Fraud Office on 30 June 1993 at column 965, Mr. Asil Nadir's former solicitor, Mr. Peter Knight of Vizards, wrote in response to a general invitation from the director of the Serious Fraud Office that those concerned about the working of the office should bring specific anxieties to his attention. Mr. Knight wanted the Serious Fraud Office to give further consideration, among other things, to its handling of privileged papers during the preparation of its case against Mr. Nadir.

  The director has therefore looked into this matter again, in great detail, and has now written to Mr. Knight. I am placing the exchange of letters in the Library. The director's findings show that my statement, responding to the personal statement by my hon. Friend the Member for East Hampshire (Mr. Mates) on 29 June at column 823, was incomplete on the issue of privileged papers and therefore misleading. I am taking the earliest opportunity to correct this.

  In April 1991 the Serious Fraud Office acknowledged to Mr. Nadir's solicitors that two sealed bags of documents subject to a claim for privilege had been opened in January and February in breach of an undertaking given to the solicitors on 5 December 1990. Documents, which the Serious Fraud Office understood and still believes were not privileged, had been copied to the administrators of Polly Peck International Plc—PPI. This breach of the Serious Fraud Office's undertaking, which it regretted, was acknowledged in my statement and in my predecessor's letter to my hon. Friend the Member for East Hampshire dated 20 October 1991 which is already in the Library.

  However, it now appears that copies of privileged documents were circulated to the prosecution team on two occasions. The first occasion was on 26 November 1990, before the giving of the undertaking but after a general claim for privilege had been made by Mr. Nadir's solicitors. In error, copies of these privileged documents formed a small part of a very large distribution of documents routinely copied and circulated to the prosecution team after the search at PPI. The administrators of the company were entitled to access to the vast majority of these documents and were therefore given access to the circulated copy documents, including—apparently because the mistake was not then recognised —access to and copies of certain privileged material. The second occasion was on 10 January 1991 when copies of documents seized from Mr. Nadir on his arrest were circulated to the prosecution team in the apparent belief that the documents in question could not from their description be privileged, despite the fact that a claim had been made by Mr. Nadir's solicitors.

  I regret that the fact that copies of privileged documents had been circulated was not acknowledged by the then case controller to Mr. Nadir's solicitors, and that no decisive attempt was made to retrieve them until December 1991, despite Vizards' frequently expressed concern about the matter and the fact that the then case controller appears to have recognised at least by January 1991 that copies of potentially privileged documents had been circulated. The reason is being pursued further by the director of the Serious Fraud Office. It is, however, right to say that the director of the Serious Fraud Office is not aware of any attempt to use the documents in conscious breach of privilege when preparing the prosecution case, although on two occasions privileged documents were used, apparently inadvertently.
  746
  A thorough check has been made of files of the prosecution team to seek to ensure that all copies of the privileged documents have now been retrieved. Remaining copy documents found on two master files have been secured. However, by reason of the system agreed between the parties, only Mr. Nadir's former solicitors knew precisely which documents had been adjudged by independent counsel to be privileged. Mr. Nadir's former solicitors are therefore being invited, at the Crown's expense, to provide full details to an independent counsel of all privileged documents taken from PPI and Mr. Nadir. The counsel will then be given full access to papers under the Serious Fraud Office's control to ensure that no privileged documents have been overlooked. The administrators will also be asked to co-operate in giving access to their documents.

  Should Mr. Nadir believe that he has suffered prejudice as a result of what has occurred, he can raise this with the trial judge at the appropriate time. The prosecution would in any event bring the matter to the judge's attention.

  Since my statement no futher evidence has come to light to substantiate any of the other allegations which have been made about the Serious Fraud Office's handling of Mr. Nadir's prosecution. I do not believe that the facts disclosed today, although regrettable, justify the independent investigation called for by my hon. Friend the Member for East Hampshire last June. Moreover, as I said in response to his personal statement there is no precedent for an independent inquiry in parallel to a trial. Mr. Nadir has already made the handling of his case by the authorities an issue in the case and the trial process itself is designed to deal with this. The right course remains for Mr. Nadir to return to this country to face trial; and, should he wish to make any complaints about the prosecution's handling of his case, to raise them with the trial judge.

TRANSPORT

  Ashford International Station
  Sir Keith Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the up-to-date funding position for Ashford international station.

  Mr. Freeman
  The position remains that we have made provision for expenditure by British Rail to cover the track, signalling, platform and other railway works which were inaugurated by the hon. Member on 20 October. The station buildings, car parking and other facilities will be provided by the private sector; British Rail has received bids and is now evaluating these. It hopes to make a statement shortly.

  Public Sector Projects
  Sir Keith Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the public sector transport projects where he is looking to private sector funding in whole or part and their estimated cost.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend has announced that the following projects are being considered for private sector funding in whole or in part. Private sector funding has already been secured for a number of major transport projects.
  747

  Project

  Estimated cost £ million

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link

  3,000

  Crossrail

  3,000

  Upgrading of west coast main line

  400-600

  Birmingham western orbital route

  500

  Croydon Tramlink

  135

  Midland Metro Line One

  130

  New Tamar crossing

  100

  Lower Thames crossing

  1—

  Mersey crossing

  100

  New Scottish air traffic control centre

  200

  1 No estimate available.

  Seat Belts (Buses)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received on fitting compulsory seat belts in buses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The Department has received more than 200 letters from hon. Members and members of the public in the last three months calling for seat belts to be fitted in buses, coaches and minibuses. The Department is currently reviewing the full technical and cost implications of the compulsory fitment of seat belts in minibuses and coaches. It would not be right to take any decisions before we have considered the full reports of the recent tragic accidents and this work has been completed.

  Coaches
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the effects of the 17-tonne gross vehicle weight limit on passenger coach manufacturers and operators in the United Kingdom; and when he plans to raise coach limit to 18 tonnes to conform with that of other EU countries.

  Mr. Key
  I have received a number of representations requesting an increase to the maximum permitted weight for coaches to 18 tonnes. Unfortunately, it is not practical to increase the gross weight without allowing for a higher weight on the drive axle. The Department is at present engaged on an exercise to assess and upgrade all the bridges in the United Kingdom to accept a heavier axle load. When this assessment is complete I shall be in a position to consider such an increase.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals(a) he and (b) the EC has to introduce seat belts in all new coaches as a legal requirement; what is his estimate of when such a new law is likely to be applied; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The Department is currently reviewing the full technical and cost implications of the compulsory fitment of seat belts in new coaches. Until this work has been completed and we have considered the full reports of the recent accidents we do not feel that it would be right to take any decisions on this question.

  To date, there has not been the support necessary from member states for the EC to make seat belt fitment on all seats a mandatory requirement.

  Spofforth Bypass
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether tenders have been submitted for the construction of the Spofforth bypass, near Harrogate; and when he expects the work to commence.

  Mr. Key
  These are matters for the highway authority concerned—North Yorkshire county council.

  Port of London Authority
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he has made for the financial reconstruction of the Port of London authority following the privatisation of the port of Tilbury.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have concluded with the Port of London authority—PLA—an agreement under which the PLA has paid my Department £1·851 million from its capital reserve. PLA will in addition make further payments to my Department, at the end of each financial year ending on 31 December, of sums representing both the profits of the PLA's property management company, Port of London Properties Ltd.—POLP—and the net proceeds from their disposal of specified properties owned by the PLA and its subsidiaries. These properties were valued at some £35 million at December 1992. A sum of £951,000 has been paid to my Department in respect of the year ending 31 December 1992.

  These payments will be taken in payment of the repayable grants totalling some £147 million made to the PLA under the Ports (Financial Assistance) Acts of 1980 and 1981. The PLA's outstanding liability in respect of these repayable grants will be progressively reduced as these payments are made to my Department. When all of the specified properties have been disposed of, POLP will be wound up and the Department will relinquish its rights to any remaining repayable grants.

  This agreement has advantages for both parties over the previous arrangements for the repayment of the repayable grants. For the Government, it has provided a more certain prospect of substantial receipts than under the time-limited conditions attached to those arrangements. For the PLA, it has removed a substantial contingent liability, which was a disincentive to sound financial management of the business.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Family Credit
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the extent of the delays currently affecting applications for family credit; and if he will take steps to ensure that all outstanding claims can be dealt with and completed before Christmas.

  Mr. Ancram
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Mr. A. Wylie to Mr. Seamus Mallon, dated 30 November 1993:

  749
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about delays affecting Family Credit claims and if the outstanding claims can be cleared before Christmas.
  From April 1993 to October 1993 some 34,000 claims to Family Credit were received of which 89% were successful. The number of claims represents an increase of 21% over the same period last year. At the same time a new computer system for processing claims was introduced which brings a certain amount of disruption to the work and inevitably causes a slowdown in output during the first few months.
  A recovery programme has been introduced to deal with the outstanding claims and I am confident that by 31 January 1994 we will have brought the situation back to normal.
  I hope this explains the position for you and I am sorry for any inconvenience that has been caused to our customers.

  Prison Officers
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to review the employment status of prison officers in Northern Ireland.

  Sir John Wheeler
  I have reviewed the employment status of prison officers in Northern Ireland in the light of the temporary injunction granted to the Home Secretary against the calling of industrial action in the Prison Service in England and Wales. I have concluded that the employment status of prison officers in Northern Ireland should match that in England and Wales.

  Legislation will therefore be introduced this Session confirming that it is unlawful for organisations representing prison officers in Northern Ireland to call for industrial action. This will also apply to organisations representing prison officers in the rest of the United Kingdom. At the same time the legislation will extend normal trade union status to organisations representing prison officers in Northern Ireland. It will also extend to prison officers the appropriate elements of employment protection legislation, including access to industrial tribunals, on a basis comparable to that for other workers. There will also be provision for regulations to be made to establish procedures for settling the remuneration of the staff concerned.

  My officials will be in discussion with representatives of prison officers in Northern Ireland about these provisions.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many files marked "not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by his Department.

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department, which was established in April 1992, has not yet reviewed the full range of files inherited from former parent Departments and it is not possible to give a figure for those bearing a marking "not for NAO eyes". Since April 1992 DNH has opened a very small number of new files with this marking.

  The marking "not for NAO eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NAO and Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.

WALES

  Government Car Service
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the annual cost to the Department of the car service for Ministers; and how many vehicles are involved.

  Mr. Redwood
  The estimated cost of providing a car service for Ministers during the 1993–94 financial year is £161,000. There are four official cars, including two based in Cardiff.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing for each year since 1979 the number of operating deep-mine coal pits, the annual output of mined coal, and the amount of coal exported from and imported into Wales; and if he will estimate the total value to the Welsh economy of the coal mined from deep pits over the period since 1979.

  Mr. Redwood
  The number of deep-mine coal pits and their annual output for each year since 1979 is shown in the following table.

  The remainder of the information is not readily available.

  Year (to 31 March)

  Number of deep mines in Wales

  Output (thousand tonnes)

  1979

  39

  8,415

  1980

  38

  8,304

  1981

  36

  8,356

  1982

  35

  8,240

  1983

  35

  7,625

  1984

  30

  7,237

  1985

  30

  628

  1986

  19

  7,310

  1987

  15

  7,062

  1988

  12

  5,460

  1989

  10

  5,530

  1990

  6

  4,040

  1991

  5

  3,740

  1992

  4

  2,300

  1993

  2

  n/a

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the persons currently serving on non-departmental public bodies in Wales as appointed by him had not been included in the register held by the Welsh Office for public appointments.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information is not collected centrally and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  Direct Service/Labour Organisations
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many contracts awarded to Welsh local authority direct service/labour organisations have not been subject to the issuing of a section 13 or 14 notice, alleging anti-competitive behaviour under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988; and on how many occasions such actions have been taken.
  751
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on the total number of contracts awarded is not held centrally. Only one authority has received a section 13 notice and section 14 direction. One other authority has received a section 13 notice.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many local authority direct service/labour organisations operating contracts in Wales under the terms of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 have achieved the required rate of return since 1988;

  (2) if he will list, by authority, the surplus achieved since 1988 on trading accounts for (a) refuse collection, (b) street cleaning, (c) building cleaning, (d) schools and welfare catering, (e) other catering, (f) vehicle maintenance, (g) grounds maintenance and (h) sports and leisure management services delivered by direct service/labour organisations, under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988;

  (3) if he will list, by authority, the surplus achieved since 1988 on trading accounts for (a) general highways work, (b) construction and maintenance of sewers, (c) works of new construction and (d) maintenance work delivered by direct service/labour organisations in Wales under the terms of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980;

  (4) if he will list by authority and service area, as defined by the Local Government Act 1988, the surpluses achieved by local authority direct service/labour organisations in Wales;

  (5) if he will list by authoity and service area, as defined by the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, the surpluses achieved by local authority direct service/labour organisations in Wales since 1988;

  (6) how many local authority direct service/labour organisations, operating contracts in Wales under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988, have achieved the required rate of return since 1988.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many contracts awarded to Welsh local authority direct service/labour organisations have not been subject to the issuing of a section 19A or 19B notice, alleging anti-competitive behaviour under the terms of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980; and on how many occasions such actions were taken.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on the total number of contracts awarded is not held centrally. Only one authority has received a section 19A notice and section 19B direction.

  Local Government Administration
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the authorities that have been challenged by his Department, in relation to their internal arrangements for establishing client-contractor splits in order to meet the requirements of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None.

  Surcharged Councillors
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many councillors in Wales have been surcharged or prosecuted as a consequence of taking decisions in relation to the Local Government Act 1988;

  (2) how many councillors in Wales have been surcharged or prosecuted as a consequence of taking decisions in relation to the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None to my knowledge.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many files marked "not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by his Department.

  Mr. Redwood
  There are 97 files in my Department marked "not for NAO eyes". These figures refer to individual jackets—file parts. For each NAO study a number of divisions may be involved and each may possess a file with a number of parts.

  The marking "not for NAO eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office, under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Department and the NAO and Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Press and Publicity Officers
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many press and publicity officers are currently employed in his Department; and how many were employed in(a) 1985 and (b)

  Mr. David Davis
  The Office of Public Services and Science employs seven members of the Government information service in its information division. The Department did not exist in any comparable form before 1992. Figures for earlier years are not therefore available.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many files marked "not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by his Department.

  Mr. Davis
  The marking "not for NAO eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office—NAO—under which documents relating to the handling of relations between departments, the NAO and the Public Accounts Committee —PAC—are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current; 122 Cabinet Office and Office of Public Service and Science files are so designated.

ENVIRONMENT

  Housing
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in the last three years in relation to housing problems in England(a) from local authorities, (b) from housing associations and (c) from other sources; and if he will make a statement.
  753
  Sir George Young
  My Department regularly discusses housing problems and successes with local authorities, housing associations and others. We value their contribution to policy development. Local housing authorities discuss their strategies and expenditure priorities each year with Ministers and with departmental officials as part of the annual housing investment programme resource allocation process; developing housing associations have similar discusions with the Housing Corporation. Twice a year I discuss local authority housing issues with representatives of the local authority associations in the Housing Consultative Council. In addition, we receive responses to consultation papers, and there is a wide range of formal and informal contact with local authorities and housing associations, and with Members of Parliament, members of the public, voluntary organisations and the private sector.

  Green Belt
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions since 1960 he has used his powers under section 5(1) of the Green Belt (London and Home Counties) Act 1938 to refuse his consent to the disposal by a local authority or parish council of green belt land to which the section applies; and what are his criteria for refusing consent in the future.

  Mr. Baldry
  This information is not avilable, except at disproportionate cost. Consent has been refused on one occasion since January 1991. In that case the land was not designated as metropolitan green belt in a development plan. My right hon. Friend's primary concern in determining applications is to ensure that the land continues to fulfil the objectives of the 1938 Act and of green belt policy as set out in planning policy guidance note 2.

  Council Tax Arrears
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under what circumstances an attachment of earnings order for the recovery of council tax or community charge arrears can be served on an organisation which provides a training programme funded by the European social fund requiring the organisation to make deductions from(a) a training allowance paid to the trainee or (b) a wage paid to the trainee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  A billing authority may serve an attachment of earnings order in respect of arrears of community charge or council tax on an employer following the issue of a liability order by a magistrates court. Deductions may be made from the net earnings as defined in regulation 32 of the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 and regulation 27 of the Community Charge (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989.

  Market Franchise Rights, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had from Doncaster metropolitan district council in regard to proposals on market franchise rights; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.
  754
  Mr. Baldry
  We have received representations from the council objecting to our proposal. All representations, both for and against the proposal, will be fully considered before any decision is made.

  Bomb-proofing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost, by location, of bomb-proofing the Department's premises.

  Mr. Gummer
  On security grounds, this information is not available.

  Housing Revenue Accounts
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye (Mrs. Lait) of 19 November 1993,Official Report, column 1, what considerations led to his proposal to increase housing revenue account subsidy guideline rents by 7.5 per cent. and management and maintenance allowance by 4 per cent.

  Sir George Young
  My right hon. Friend took into account a number of considerations including the constraints on public expenditure; the need to move gradually towards income-related subsidies and a more market-related pattern of local authority rents which better reflects the value of accommodation provided in different parts of the country; the need to make further progress on the targeting of management and maintenance allowances by guaranteeing all authorities at least 95 per cent. of their target scores; and general movements in prices and earnings. The proposals are subject to consultation.

  Housing Investment
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the gross aid net level of investment in housing proposed by his Department for 1994–95.

  Sir George Young
  Information on the Government's public expenditure plans for housing is contained in the Financial Statement and Budget Report, copies of which are available in the Library. More detailed information will be contained in my Department's annual report, to be published in the new year.

  Peat Bogs
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the locations of raised peat bogs in England; and if he will make a statement as to their protection.

  Mr. Baldry
  A list of raised peat bogs in England is being prepared by Scottish Natural Heritage as part of work on a national peatlands resource inventory. This inventory will also summarise information on those sites designated as sites of special scientific interest—SSSIs. It is expected to be published during 1994 and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Government Car Service
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the response to date of advertisements placed in British and overseas journals in
  755
  respect of bids to take over the financial management of the Government car service; what classified information on the location of classified bids was given in these advertisements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The market test relates to the routine book-keeping work provided for the Government car service—GCS—and the Interdespatch service—IDS. Financial management will remain the responsibility of the GCS and IDS management.

  Eight firms responded to the advertisement placed in the European Journal for the market-tested work. No classified information was given in this advertisement. Two tenders have been received and are now being evaluated. The decision should be announced shortly.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual cost to the Department of the car service for Ministers; and how many vehicles are involved.

  Mr. Gummer
  The annual cost to the Department of Environment for their Ministers' car service was estimated at £265,00 in 1992–93. Six cars are provided by the Government car service with drivers and full back-up service.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual cost of the Government car service in each of the last three years; what was the comparable cost in 1979–80; how many vehicles form the Government car service; and what were the categories of cost in 1992–93.

  Mr. Gummer
  The current cost of the Government car service—GCS—for the last three financial years is:

  £ million

  1990–91

  6·95

  1991–92

  6·99

  1992–93

  7·19

  The 1990–91 figure includes an estimate for pension contributions that were paid centrally at that time. These contributions are included in the 1991–92 and 1992–93 figures.

  Information on the comparable cost in 1979–80 is not available.

  There are currently 190 vehicles in the Government car service fleet.

  In 1992–93 approximately 75 per cent. of costs were staff and 15 per cent. were vehicle costs.

  "London, Making the Best Better"
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tenders for the publication of "London, Making the Best Better" were received from Asian businesses.

  Mr. Gummer
  It is neither possible nor desirable to group tenders according to the ethnic origin of their owners.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what day, date and times the two photographs that appear on page 10 of "London, Making the Best Better" were taken.
  756
  Mr. Gummer
  Both photographs were taken between 2 pm and 3 pm on Thursday afternoons. The precise dates are not known but the "before" photograph was taken in late November or early December 1990 and the "after" photograph in late October or early November 1991.

  London Boroughs
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the full range of activities for which London boroughs(a) are currently responsible and (b) were responsible in 1979.

  Mr. Baldry
  The statutory activities of London Boroughs are described in the document entitled "The Functions of Local Authorities in England" published by my Department last year. As this was the first occasion on which a comprehensive review had been carried out, I regret that there is no equivalent for 1979.

  Press and Publicity Officers
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many press and publicity officers are currently employed in his Department; and how many were employed in(a) 1985 and (b)

  Mr. Gummer
  There are currently 31 press and publicity officers employed by the Department of the Environment's information directorate.

  Before 1989, the information directorate of this Department was part of the common services of DOE and Department of Transport and separate figures for the resources for each Department are not available. Global information for this period is published each year within the management information system for Ministers—MINIS—dating back to 1979 and is available in the Library.

  Durham (Boundaries)
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost(a) overall, (b) to the Local Government Commission, (c) to Durham county council and (d) to the district councils of Durham to date of the inquiry into local government boundaries in the county of Durham.

  Mr. Baldry
  Expenditure by the Local Government Commission and by local authorities in the area is a matter for them.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he is issuing regarding a timetable for the reconsideration of the Boundary Commission's final proposal regarding local government boundaries in the county of Durham.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend has directed the Local Government Commission to start its further review of County Durham on 13 December 1993 and to report to him by 30 December 1994. The review will be conducted in accordance with the revised procedure guidance issued to the commission on 22 November. We will agree a target date for the report with the commission.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 29 November 1993 to the hon. Member for Erewash (Mrs. Knight),Official

  757
  Report, column 380, whether he envisages that the same organisations and individuals will be consulted in the new review of County Durham as in the original review.

  Mr. Baldry
  On 22 November my right hon. Friend issued revised procedure guidance to the Local Government Commission for England. Annexe A to this revised guidance sets out the organisations which the commission is required to consult in conducting its review of an area. Except for the addition of the chief inspector, magistrates courts service, and the Lords Lieutenant for the area, this list is unchanged from that annexed to the procedure guidance issued to the commission in July 1992. The commission should also consult representative local organisations, including voluntary organisations. Others will be welcome to express their views, which will be taken fully into account by the commission.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 29 November 1993 to the hon. Member for Erewash (Mrs. Knight),Official Report, column 380, which local authorities in County Durham made representations about fresh proposals on the basis of the new guidance.

  Mr. Baldry
  Four district councils—Derwentside, Easington, Sedgefield and Wear Valley—have asked for the revised policy guidance issued to the Local Government Commission on 2 November to be applied to County Durham and have indicated their willingness to consider fresh options for change.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 29 November 1993 to the hon. Member for Erewash (Mrs. Knight),Official Report, column 380, what weight he will now give to local views in determining the future structure of local government in Darlington.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is for the Local Government Commission to conduct a further review of County Durham and make recommendations to my right hon. Friend. The Government have said that they attach great importance to local consensus and that the commission will wish to measure proposals from local authorities against expressed views from those outside local government. Once the final report has been published, there will be an opportunity for interested parties to make representations before we take decisions about the implementation of any recommendations for change.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 29 November 1993 to the hon. Member for Erewash (Mrs. Knight),Official Report, column 380, what has been the cost to date of the Local Government Commission's review of local government in County Durham.

  Mr. Baldry
  Expenditure on the review of County Durham is a matter for the Local Government Commission.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 29 November to the hon. Member for Erewash (Mrs. Knight),Official Report, column 380, whether the same commissioners will be reviewing County Durham.

  Mr. Baldry
  This is a matter for the Local Government Commission.
  758
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 29 November 1993 to the hon. Member for Erewash (Mrs. Knight), what are the expected costs of his decision further to review County Durham.

  Mr. Baldry
  The resources which we are making available to the commission, £5·124 million in 1993–94 and £8·300 million in 1994–95, should be adequate to enable it to complete all the reviews of local government structure in the shire counties of England by the end of 1994.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 29 November 1993 to the hon. Member for Erewash (Mrs. Knight), if he will make a statement on his reasons for not exempfing Darlington from further review.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend has directed the Local Government Commission, under section 15(6) of the Local Government Act 1992, to conduct a further review of County Durham because he is not at present satisfied that the commission's recommendations for the area meet the criteria in section 13(5) of that Act. He did not want to limit the possible options available for consideration in the further review, and there would also have been difficulties in implementing changes for part of the county in advance of the remainder. He therefore concluded that it would not be right to exclude Darlington from the area to be covered by the further review.

  Surcharged Councillors
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many councillors in England have been surcharged or prosecuted as a consequence of taking decisions in relation to the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980;

  (2) how many councillors in England have been surcharged or prosecuted as a consequence of taking decisions in relation to the Local Government Act 1988.

  Mr. Gummer
  None, to my knowledge. The Department does not keep records of such actions.

  Direct Labour Organisations
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total number of contracts awarded to English local authority direct service or labour organisations which have not been subject to the issuing of a section 19A or 19B notice, alleging anti-competitive behaviour under the terms of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980; and on how many occasions such actions were taken;

  (2) what was the total number of contracts awarded to English local authority direct service or labour organisations which have not been subject to the issuing of a section 13 or 14 notice, alleging anti-competitive behaviour under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988; and on how many occasions such actions have been taken.

  Mr. Gummer
  To date, 55 notices and 28 directions relating to anti-competitive behaviour have been issued under sections 19A and 19B of the 1980 Act or sections 13 and 14 of the 1988 Act. Information on the total number of contracts is not held centrally.
  759
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many local authority direct service or labour organisations, operating contracts in England under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988, have achieved the required rate of return since 1988;

  (2) how many local authority direct service or labour organisations, operating contracts in England under the terms of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, have achieved the required rate of return since 1988.

  Mr. Gummer
  For the financial year 1990–91, my Department recorded just over 2,000 accounts for direct service or labour organisations under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and Local Government Act 1988, 1,670 of these accounts—83·5 per cent.—recorded that the DLO or DSO had met the statutory financial objective.

  For 1991–92, 2,260 accounts were recorded of which 1925—85·2 per cent.—recorded that the financial objectives had been met.

  Information on accounts for 1992–93 is not yet complete. Information on accounts for 1988–89 and 1989–90 is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the authorities that have been challenged by his Department in relation to their internal arrangements for establishing client-contractor splits in order to meet the requirements of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988.

  Mr. Gummer
  To date, none of the statutory notices or directions given to local authorities under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 or the Local Government Act 1988 has concerned internal arrangements for establishing client-contractor splits.

  Mineral Planning
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to conclude his consultations on changes to mineral planning guidance note 3; when he expects to announce any changes to MPG 3; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 25 March Official Report, columns 714-15, that we intended to proceed to consultation on revised planning guidelines as soon as possible. This is still our intention.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many files marked "not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by his Department.

  Mr. Gummer
  The only category of files not available for NAO view are those which relate to relations between the Department and the NAO and the Public Accounts Committee. This is fully in accordance with the standing agreement between the Treasury and the NAO. This applies to 214 files out of 1·4 million.

  Docklands Light Railway
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what Government contribution will be made towards the joint venture proposals for the extension to the 760
  docklands light railway to Lewisham, announced in his Budget speech; and what help Ministers will give in assembling the private finance needed for the project.

  Mr. Baldry
  No Government grant or subsidy will be made towards the costs of the extension to Lewisham of the docklands light railway. The joint venture will be taken forward by the London Docklands development corporation—owners of the railway—and Docklands Light Railway Ltd. My Department's private finance unit will provide advise and expertise where necessary to support their work.

  Climate Change Convention
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about ratification by the United Kingdom of the climate change convention.

  Mr. Yeo
  The United Kingdom's instrument of ratification will be deposited with the United Nations very shortly. This will fulfil our commitment to ratify the framework convention of climate change by the end of this year.

  Following the Budget statement by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and in particular the commitment to future real terms increases in transport fuel duties, we now have in place all the elements to complete the United Kingdom's national programme under the convention. The programme, which includes measures aimed at returning United Kingdom emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2000, will be published early in the new year. Publication of this programme will put the United Kingdom at the forefront of global efforts to implement the convention, which was signed by the Prime Minister at the Earth summit in Rio last year.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  English Industrial Estates Corporation
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total budget allocated by his Department to the English Industrial Estates Corporation for expenditure in 1992–93 in(a) the northern region and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Total capital expenditure by English Estates in the northern region in 1992–93 was £17·5 million out of a total capital expenditure in England of £54·3 million.

  Press and Publicity Officers
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many press and publicity officers are currently employed in his Department; and how many were employed in(a) 1985 and (b)

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department's information division employs 19 press officers and 24 publicity officers. The figures do not include administrative support staff. Comparable details for 1985 and 1979 are not available.

  Advertising
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much his Department spends annually on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising and (c) press advertising; and what were the corresponding figures for 1985 and 1979.

  Mr. Eggar
  The details are as follows:

  £000's

  1979–80

  1985–86

  1992–93

  Television advertising

  20

  2,212

  —

  Radio advertising

  5

  —

  1

  Press advertising

  1,529

  2,805

  1,138

  The figures relate to centrally managed budgets and include expenditure by the former Department of Energy.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total amount spent by his Department on(a) regional enterprise grants (b) enterprise initiative schemes, (c) regional development grants and (d) regional selective assistance in 1992–93 in (i) the northern region and (ii) the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The total amount spent by my Department on these schemes in 1992–93 is set out below together with the amount spent in the northern region.

  DTI expenditure in 1992–93

  £ million

  Northern region

  Total expenditure

  Regional enterprise grants

  1·5

  5·8

  Enterprise initiative (including the SMART and SPUR schemes)

  2·4

  58·6

  Regional development grants

  8·3

  11·0

  Regional selective assistance

  28·1

  71·1

  Expenditure on the enterprise initiative covers the whole of the United Kingdom whereas DTI expenditure on the other three schemes was paid in support of projects in England only.

  Angling Products
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of the manufacture of angling products in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years, the number of persons employed in such manufacture, the number of persons engaged in the sale of angling products in the United Kingdom, and the value of the retail sales of such products in those years; and if he will divide his figures into income for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The value of sales of fishing reels, rods and tackle—including hooks—by manufacturers in the United Kingdom was £13·5 million in 1990, £17·8 million in 1991 and £14 million in 1992. The other information requested is not available.

  Nuclear Reactors
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the nuclear reactors designated for inspection, and the period of inspection in each case, under 762
  the terms of the United Kingdom/Euratom/International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards agreement—Cmnd. 6730—since it came into force.

  Mr. Eggar
  The prototype fast reactor at Dounreay was designated and subject to joint International Atomic Energy Agency/Euratom inspections from 1980 until 1982 under the terms of the United Kingdom/Euratom/IAEA safeguards agreement.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which United Kingdom nuclear facility was the latest to be designated by the International Atomic Energy Agency for safeguards inspection under the terms of the United Kingdom/Euratom/IAEA safeguards agreement—Cmnd. 6730.

  Mr. Eggar
  The most recent United Kingdom nuclear facility to be designated by the IAEA for inspection, under the United Kingdom/Euratom/IAEA tripartite safeguards agreement, was the thermal oxide reprocessing plant receipt and storage pond at Sellafield; the facility was designated on 1 January 1993.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many files marked "not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by his Department.

  Mr. Eggar
  No central record is kept by my Department of files marked "not for NAO eyes". For each NAO study, a number of divisions in different locations may be involved and each may possess in its registries a file with a number of parts—that is, individual jackets. The information requested is therefore not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The marking "not for NAO eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office, under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NAO and Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what figures he has on the costs per gigajoule of coal imports into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 30 November 1993]: The average prices of coal imported into the United Kingdom from January to September 1993—based on prices at the port of entry—are estimated from data available for Customs and Excise. This data provide information in £ per tonne and this has been converted to £ per gigajoule using a conversion factor of 26 gigajoules per tonne. The resulting prices of all coal imports and steam coal imports are as follows:

  Coal type

  Cost per gigajoule (£)

  Steam coal imports

  1·31

  All coal imports

  1·44

  These prices are averages for coal of different grades and different calorific values with a variety of industrial and domestic uses. They include cost of transhipment from

  763
  other EC ports. The data cannot be used to distinguish the price of imports to power stations. But in the European Community as a whole the overall price of imports to power stations from extra-EC countries was £1·08/gigajoule for the first quarter of 1993.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Petrol
  Sir Malcolm Thornton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the net gain to the Exchequer of increasing the excise duty on unleaded petrol so as to eliminate the differential between leaded and unleaded petrol.

  Sir John Cope
  Had my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer increased the excise duty on unleaded petrol in the Budget to eliminate the differential with leaded petrol this would have raised a further £1,050 million in 1994–95 beyond the figures shown in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Information Security
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has incorporated the code of practice for information security management, published by the British Standards Institution, into relevant contracts with information technology suppliers.

  Sir John Cope
  The security requirements for IT systems and services used by central Government Departments are stated in the Government IT security policy document. This document is supported by use of the CCTA risk analysis and management method—CRAMM —and baseline security for IT systems—BSITS—risk analysis methods and by supporting advice and guidance published by the Government security authorities. These are regularly reviewed to ensure best practice, have been developed specifically for use within government and have been in operation for some time. The code of practice for information security management was developed by and established for use by commercial organisations and does not specifically address the requirements for the protection of official information.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the operation of his Department's sensitive documents unit; how many staff are employed in its operation; and approximately how many documents per annum come within its purview.

  Sir John Cope
  The Treasury does not have a sensitive documents unit. Sensitivity checks are carried out on records being considered for release to the Public Record Office. In the period from October 1992 to October 1993, 97 linear feet of records were checked for sensitivity by 3·5 staff.

  Customs Searches
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were stopped and searched by customs officers at each port of entry during 1992, broken down by ethnic origin.
  764
  Sir John Cope
  The information requested is not available. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has recorded the ethnic grouping of persons selected for search of their person only since 1 January 1993.

  Customs Local Offices
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 29 November,Official Report, column 338-40, if he will list the counties covered by each customs local office.

  Sir John Cope
  Customs group local offices to form collections. The counties covered by each collection are as follows:

  Collection and Counties

  Belfast

  Northern Ireland

  Birmingham

  Staffordshire

  West Midlands

  Warwickshire

  Dover

  Kent

  East Sussex

  East Anglia

  Norfolk

  Suffolk

  Essex

  East Midlands

  Derbyshire

  Lincolnshire

  Nottinghamshire

  South Humberside

  Edinburgh

  Grampian

  Tayside

  Borders

  Central

  Shetland

  Fife

  Lothian

  Glasgow

  Highland

  Orkney

  Western Isles

  Stratchclyde

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Leeds

  West Yorkshire

  South Yorkshire

  North Humberside

  North Yorkshire

  Liverpool

  Merseyside

  Cheshire

  Lancashire

  Clwyd

  Gwynedd

  London Central

  Greater London

  London North and West

  Bedfordshire

  Hertfordshire

  London Port

  Greater London

  Essex

  London South

  Greater London

  Surrey

  Kent

  Manchester

  Greater Manchester

  Lancashire

  Cheshire

  Northampton

  Bedfordshire

  Northamptonshire

  765

  Hertfordshire

  Cambridge

  Leicester

  Northern England

  Northumberland

  Tyne and Wear

  North Yorkshire

  Durham

  Cumbria

  Cleveland

  Southampton

  Dorset

  Hampshire

  West Sussex

  Isle of Wight

  South Wales and Borders

  Dyfed

  Mid Glamorgan

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Gloucestershire

  Hereford and Worcester

  Gwent

  Powys

  Registrations

  Collections

  October 1987 to September 1988

  October 1988 to September 1989

  October 1989 to September 1990

  October 1990 to September 1991

  October 1991 to September 1992

  October 1992 to September 1993

  Belfast

  3,935

  3,935

  4,412

  3,765

  3,578

  4,090

  Birmingham

  16,519

  17,850

  16,818

  14,305

  13,503

  14,766

  Dover

  7,774

  7,582

  7,171

  6,725

  5,930

  6,535

  East Anglia

  9,273

  9,408

  9,073

  8,468

  8,120

  8,691

  East Midlands

  12,567

  14,091

  12,994

  10,614

  9,808

  10,403

  Edinburgh

  7,898

  7,975

  8,193

  7,023

  6,452

  7,007

  Glasgow

  6,662

  7,775

  7,747

  6,939

  6,293

  6,536

  Leeds

  12,910

  13,578

  13,107

  11,418

  10,324

  10,194

  Liverpool

  11,929

  12,753

  13,041

  10,997

  10,050

  10,084

  London Central

  5,762

  5,212

  5,448

  4,783

  4,612

  5,672

  London North and West

  13,537

  15,633

  14,534

  12,329

  10,731

  11,547

  London Port

  9,011

  10,012

  8,897

  7,032

  6,667

  7,065

  London South

  14,566

  15,674

  16,124

  12,973

  11,680

  13,687

  Manchester

  12,351

  14,004

  13,929

  12,214

  11,398

  11,615

  Northampton

  18,312

  18,243

  18,595

  13,931

  12,365

  12,847

  Northern England

  7,869

  8,127

  7,694

  6,339

  5,697

  5,818

  Southampton

  13,640

  15,955

  13,992

  10,827

  9,987

  10,691

  South Wales and Borders

  13,362

  14,283

  13,720

  10,889

  9,732

  10,080

  South West England

  16,478

  16,645

  14,733

  12,257

  11,027

  11,984

  Thames Valley

  19,097

  20,206

  21,254

  18,764

  16,687

  17,064

  Deregistrations

  Collections

  October 1987 to September 1988

  October 1988 to September 1989

  October 1989 to September 1990

  October 1990 to September 1991

  October 1991 to September 1992

  October 1992 to September 1993

  Belfast

  9,845

  3,210

  3,265

  3,766

  3,479

  3,268

  Birmingham

  24,694

  12,848

  12,291

  16,524

  16,293

  15,667

  Dover

  9,814

  4,827

  5,767

  9,334

  8,636

  7,728

  East Anglia

  15,760

  6,231

  7,226

  11,217

  10,707

  10,329

  East midlands

  20,177

  9,758

  9,848

  12,947

  11,804

  11,484

  Edinburgh

  14,587

  6,004

  6,266

  7,363

  6,449

  7,053

  Glasgow

  11,126

  5,995

  6,153

  7,561

  7,327

  6,609

  Leeds

  18,228

  10,321

  10,189

  13,154

  12,305

  11,744

  Liverpool

  18,676

  9,969

  10,076

  12,890

  12,229

  11,882

  London Central

  9,685

  4,239

  4,457

  4,494

  4,914

  5,334

  london North and West

  18,140

  9,730

  10,578

  13,174

  15,118

  13,549

  London Port

  13,058

  6,759

  5,794

  9,692

  9,733

  9,288

  London South

  19,247

  10,017

  11,440

  14,200

  14,376

  13,583

  Manchester

  18,958

  10,469

  9,781

  12,656

  13,399

  12,487

  Northampton

  25,340

  12,078

  12,454

  16,170

  15,164

  13,155

  Northern England

  12,399

  6,040

  6,212

  7,707

  6,899

  6,978

  Southampton

  20,436

  10,473

  9,996

  13,667

  13,376

  13,039

  South Wales and Borders

  23,443

  10,346

  10,230

  13,901

  11,174

  12,705

  South West England

  26,001

  11,566

  11,554

  15,951

  14,808

  14,140

  Thames Valley

  25,151

  12,736

  13,918

  19,270

  19,804

  18,401

  766

  Shropshire

  South West England

  Avon

  Somerset

  Wiltshire

  Cornwall

  Devon

  Thames Valley

  Berkshire

  Surrey

  Oxford

  Buckinghamshire

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 29 November,Official Report, columns 338-40, if he will adjust the figures on VAT registrations and deregistrations to run from September each year.

  Sir John Cope
  As Customs only holds such information for calendar quarters, revised registration and deregistration figures, by year, from October 1987 to September 1993 are:

SCOTLAND

  Government Car Service
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the annual cost to the Department of the car service for Ministers; and how many vehicles are involved.

  Mr. Lang
  The cost to the Scottish Office of the car service for Ministers in 1992–93 was £224,163. The number of vehicles involved is three in London and four—part-time—in Scotland.

  Bomb-proofing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the cost, by location, of bomb-proofing the Department's premises.

  Mr. Lang
  On security grounds, I do not propose to give this information.

  Training Schemes
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were participating in(a) training for work—employment training/employment action—(b) community action, (c) learning for work, (d) the business start-up allowance and (e) youth training in each month since March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information relating to the community action programme is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. The learning for work programme started in August and consequently it is too early for reliable management information to be available. Information on the numbers of people participating in training for work, the business start-up scheme and youth training in Scotland in each month since March, based on the latest returns available for publication, is set out in the table:

  Training for Work1

  Business Start-up scheme

  Youth training2

  1993

  March

  18,267

  4,782

  35,198

  April

  15,585

  4,311

  34,045

  May

  15,202

  4,298

  32,897

  June

  14,482

  4,202

  33,651

  July

  13,908

  4,167

  32,724

  August

  13,058

  3,812

  31,232

  1 Training for work replaced employment training and employment action on 1 April 1993; the March 1993 training for work figure comprises figures for employment action (3,407) and employment training (14,860).

  2 Youth training figures include participants on youth credits schemes.

  Wrongful Arrest
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the wrongful arrest of Lorraine Alison Brown of Marske-by-the-Sea, Cleveland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Miss Brown was arrested upon a warrant issued by the sheriff at Kirkcaldy 768
  in relation to certain road traffic offences, and escorted by the police from Redcar to Kirkcaldy to answer the charges against her. It was then discovered, however, that her case had already been dealt with. Miss Brown had earlier been fined. The warrant should have been withdrawn on that previous occasion. Miss Brown was accordingly released without any further appearance in court.

  The procurator fiscal at Kirkcaldy has written to Miss Brown's solicitors, apologising for the error. He paid all the expenses of her unnecessary appearance, and the Crown Office has accepted that compensation should be paid.

  Enterprise Companies
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many parliamentary questions he has referred for answer to the chief executives of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise; how many of these questions have then been passed on to individual local enterprise companies; how many questions in each category have subsequently received replies; how long those replies have taken; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  It is not my right hon. Friend's practice to refer parliamentary questions to the chief executives of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. It is the intention that all questions are answered by the chairmen, although in one instance a question was passed on by Scottish Enterprise to an individual local enterprise company. Since the responsibility for ensuring that questions are answered rests with the enterprise bodies I have asked the chairmen to respond to the hon. Member on the relevant aspects of her question.

  Scottish Agricultural Wages Board
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library the responses to the consultation on the future of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Yes.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many submissions he has received to the consultation on the future of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board; and how many of those were in favour of the abolition of the board.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Fifty-two. Four favoured abolition.

  Farmed Salmon
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of his most recent recommendation to the European Commission on the reference price for farmed salmon.

  Sir Hector Monro
  It is the responsibility of the European commission to set a reference price for salmon, based on criteria set out in article 23 of regulation 3759/92. The Scottish Office has submitted background information to the Commission on production costs and prices over the last three years.

  Sheep
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications there have been for sheep quotas from the national reserve; if he will give the number
  769
  of successful applications as a proportion of all applications; and if he will provide a breakdown of the statistics for each region in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  An announcement will be made shortly giving details of the category of producer eligible to apply for an allocation of sheep annual premium quota from the national reserve. The announcement will also explain how and when producers should apply. Until applications have been received and processed it will not be possible to say how many have been successful.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the administration and operation of the national sheep reserve of sheep quotas; what discussions have taken place regarding altering or estending the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  We carried out an extensive public consultation exercise earlier this year concerning the operation of the sheep quota system and received representations from a broad cross section of the industry. Discussions have continued since then and we shall make an announcement shortly explaining how producers eligible for an allocation of quota from the national reserve can submit their application.

  Prison Officers
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to alter the status of prison officers in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  The precise legal position of Scottish prison officers and governors is different from that of similar staff in England and Wales. I consider it appropriate that as they carry out similar duties to those in England and Wales they should have the same status.

  I therefore intend to legislate this Session to place Scottish prison officers and governors on the same footing as those in the rest of the United Kingdom: they should have in substance the same powers, within the Scottish legal framework, and the position of the trade unions which represent them should be the same. As it will in consequence be unlawful for those trade unions to call industrial action, appropriate procedures will be established for settling the remuneration of the staff concerned.

  My officials will be in discussion with the Scottish Prison Officers Association and others affected.

  Health Service Salaries
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total salary costs for(a) administrative and clerical staff, (b) managerial staff and (c) nursing and midwifery staff employed in the NHS in each year since 1989.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: The information is set out in the table. Details have been taken from health boards' annual accounts. General and senior managers costs are not separately identified but are included within the administration and clerical staff category. Costs are at outturn level and therefore increases are explained in part by annual pay awards. The figures for 1992–93 are provisional.
  770

  Year

  Administration and clerical (£000's)1

  Nursing and midwifery (£000's)

  1989–90

  130,055

  778,921

  1990–91

  152,546

  834,093

  1991–92

  175,718

  910,326

  1992–93

  191,979

  925,130

  1This figure includes those senior nurses and clinicians who have transferred to general/senior manager pay scales, particular in latter years.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisoners (Escapes)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list for the West Yorkshire police area for the past 12 months(a) the number of prison movements to and from courts and (b) the number of prisoner escapes from (i) the police, (ii) the Prison Service, (iii) Group 4 custody in transit to and from courts and from custody at court, (c) the number of deaths, including suicides, by prisoners at court or in transit from court, (d) the number of assaults on (iv) the police, (v) the Prison Service and (vi) Group 4 officers while escorting prisoners to and from courts and (e) the number of prisoners arriving at court more than one hour late while in the care of (vii) the police, (viii) the Prison Service and (ix) Group 4 officers;

  (2) if he will list for the North Yorkshire police area for the past 12 months (a) the number of prison movements to and from courts, (b) the number of prisoner escapes from (i) the police, (ii) the Prison Service and (iii) Group 4 custody in transit to and from courts and from custody at court, (c) the number of deaths, including suicides, by prisoners at court or in transit from court, (d) the number of assaults on (iv) the police, (v) the Prison Service and (vi) Group 4 officers while escorting prisoners to and from courts and (e) the number of prisoners arriving at court more than one hour late while in the care of (vii) the police, (viii) the Prison Service and (ix) Group 4 officers;

  (3) if he will list for the Humberside police area for the past 12 months (a) the number of prison movements to and from courts and (b) the number of prisoner escapes from (i) the police, (ii) the Prison Service and (iii) Group 4 custody in transit to and from courts and from custody at court, (c) the number of deaths, including suicides, by prisoners at court or in transit from court, (d) the number of assaults on (iv) the police, (v) the Prison Service and (vi) Group 4 officers while escorting prisoners to and from courts and (e) the number of prisoners arriving at court more than one hour late while in the care of (vii) the police, (viii) the Prison Service and (ix) Group 4 officers;

  (4) if he will list for the South Yorkshire police area for the past 12 months (a) the number of prison movements to and from courts and (b) the number of prisoner escapes from (i) the police, (ii) the Prison Service and (iii) Group 4 custody in transit to and from courts and from custody at court, (c) the number of deaths, including suicides, by prisoners at court or in transit from court, (d) the number of assaults on (iv) the police, (v) the Prison Service and (vi) Group 4 officers while escorting prisoners to and from courts and (e) the number of prisoners arriving at court more than one hour late while in the care of (vii) the police, (viii) the Prison Service and (ix) Group 4 officers.
  771
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for these matters 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. D. Lewis to Mr. Martin Redwood, dated 3 December 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about court escort work in the South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Humberside force areas.
  Little of the information requested is routinely collected. Of that which is collected much is not in the format you requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The information which is readily available relates mainly to the East Midlands and Humberside area, where responsibility for prisoner escort and court custody work has largely been contracted out to Group 4. The area covered by the contract with Group 4, known as Area 7, covers the police force areas of Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Humberside, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, South Yorkshire and part of North Yorkshire. Group 4 have been operating the contract since 5 April 1993.
  Between that date and 31 October 1993 Group 4 were responsible for a total of 61,459 prisoner movements. This includes taking prisoners to court, guarding them at court and taking them to prison from court. 2,152 prisoners delivered by Group 4 arrived at court after the start of court business, including those delivered to courts outside the contract area where the length of the journey precludes timely delivery.
  Between 1 November 1992 and 31 October 1993 in the Prison Service areas which are equivalent to the police force areas covered by your Questions and in Area 7 there were a total of 38 escapes from Prison Service or Group 4 custody and a total of 8 assaults on Prison Service or Group 4 staff by prisoners in transit to or from court. Specifically within Area 7 there were 26 escapes from Group 4 custody and 7 assaults on their staff between the start of the contract and 31 October. These figures are not comparable, since the majority of the work taken on by Group 4 was previously performed by the police. The great majority of the escapes from Group 4 custody have been from escorts which would previously have been carried out by the police. Police forces in the area have been unable to provide any data on escapes from escort and assaults during escort.
  772
  Between 1 November 1992 and 31 October 1993 there were no deaths of prisoners whilst at court or in transit to or from court whilst in the custody of the Prison Service or the police forces in the areas covered by your Questions. There has been one such death within Area 7 since the start of the contract with Group 4.

  Prison Service
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current year's budget for the Prison Service; what proportion(a) was earmarked for and (b) will have been spent on projects in each London prison; 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. D. Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 3 December 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the Prison Service budget and projects in London prisons.
  The Prison Service budget for the financial year 1993–94 is £1,524·5 million.
  Expenditure on major capital works and building repair projects at London prisons in 1993–94 is as follows:

  Prison

  Planned expenditure £'000

  Current forecast of actual expenditure £'000

  Belmarsh

  300

  334

  Brixton

  5,096

  3,002

  Holloway

  712

  249

  Pentonville

  2,608

  2,563

  Wandsworth

  2,561

  2,358

  Wormwood Scrubs

  20,124

  18,375

  Crime (Clear-up Rates) Per cent.
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary Home Department if he will list in rank clear-up rates for each police authority in 10 years, and the current year to date.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The requested contained in the table.

  Clear up rates by police force area 1983–1992

  England and Wales 1983

  Per cent.

  Dyfed-Powys

  57

  Gwent

  55

  Cheshire

  51

  North Wales

  51

  Derbyshire

  49

  Hertfordshire

  49

  Lincolnshire

  49

  South Yorkshire

  49

  Northumbria

  48

  West Mercia

  48

  Lancashire

  47

  Leicestershire

  47

  South Wales

  47

  Staffordshire

  47

  West Yorkshire

  47

  Cleveland

  45

  Devon and Cornwall

  45

  Northamptonshire

  45

  Cumbria

  44

  Suffolk

  44

  Wiltshire

  43

  Durham

  42

  Kent

  42

  Merseyside

  42

  Essex

  41

  Gloucestershire

  41

  Humberside

  41

  Norfolk

  41

  North Yorkshire

  41

  Thames Valley

  41

  Cambridgeshire

  40

  Sussex

  40

  Avon and Somerset

  39

  Bedfordshire

  39

  Dorset

  38

  Nottinghamshire

  38

  Warwickshire

  38

  Greater Manchester

  36

  West Midlands

  36

  Surrey

  34

  Hampshire

  33

  London, City of

  18

  MFD

  17

  1984

  Per cent.

  Dyfed-Powys

  58

  Derbyshire

  54

  Gwent

  53

  Hertfordshire

  51

  Cheshire

  49

  Cumbria

  49

  Staffordshire

  48

  Lancashire

  47

  Suffolk

  47

  North Wales

  46

  Northumbria

  45

  West Mercia

  45

  Devon and Cornwall

  44

  Leicestershire

  44

  South Wales

  43

  774

  Per cent.

  West Yorkshire

  42

  Wiltshire

  42

  Merseyside

  41

  Norfolk

  41

  Northamptonshire

  41

  South Yorkshire

  41

  Thames Valley

  41

  Dorset

  40

  Essex

  40

  Kent

  40

  Cambridgeshire

  39

  Durham

  39

  Humberside

  39

  Avon and Somerset

  38

  Befordshire

  38

  North Yorkshire

  38

  Sussex

  38

  Cleveland

  37

  Gloucestershire

  37

  Warwickshire

  36

  Hampshire

  35

  Lincolnshire

  35

  Surrey

  33

  Nottinghamshire

  30

  West Midlands

  30

  Greater Manchester

  27

  London, City of

  18

  MPD

  17

  1985

  Per cent.

  Derbyshire

  55

  Dyfed-Powys

  55

  Gwent

  55

  Hertfordshire

  52

  Staffordshire

  52

  Cumbria

  49

  South Yorkshire

  48

  Lancashire

  47

  Cheshire

  46

  Devon and Cornwall

  46

  Northumbria

  46

  Durham

  45

  Leicestershire

  45

  North Wales

  45

  Suffolk

  45

  West Mercia

  45

  South Wales

  44

  Essex

  43

  Lincolnshire

  42

  West Yorkshire

  42

  Norfolk

  41

  Cambridgeshire

  40

  Dorset

  40

  Humberside

  40

  Thames Valley

  40

  Kent

  39

  Northamptonshire

  39

  Wiltshire

  39

  Warwickshire

  38

  Bedfordshire

  37

  Cleveland

  37

  Hampshire

  37

  Avon and Somerset

  36

  Sussex

  36

  Gloucestershire

  35

  Merseyside

  35

  Nottinghamshire

  35

  Surrey

  34

  Greater Manchester

  32

  North Yorkshire

  31

  West Midlands

  30

  MPD

  18

  London, City of

  17

  775

  1986

  Per cent.

  Dyfed-Powys

  51

  Gwent

  50

  Derbyshire

  48

  Hertfordshire

  46

  Lancashire

  45

  Leicestershire

  44

  Staffordshire

  44

  Cheshire

  43

  South Yorkshire

  43

  Cumbria

  42

  Suffolk

  41

  West Mercia

  41

  Devon and Cornwall

  40

  Northumbria

  40

  Durham

  39

  South Wales

  39

  Merseyside

  38

  West Yorkshire

  38

  Cambridgeshire

  37

  Essex

  37

  Lincolnshire

  36

  Norfolk

  36

  Warwickshire

  36

  Wiltshire

  36

  Thames Valley

  35

  Cleveland

  34

  Dorset

  34

  Kent

  34

  Surrey

  34

  Hampshire

  33

  Nottinghamshire

  33

  North Wales

  32

  North Yorkshire

  32

  Northamptonshire

  31

  Sussex

  31

  Gloucestershire

  30

  Humberside

  30

  Avon and Somerset

  29

  Bedfordshire

  29

  West Midlands

  29

  Greater Manchester

  27

  MPD

  16

  London, City of

  13

  1987

  Per cent.

  Gwent

  53

  Dyfed-Powys

  51

  Cumbria

  46

  Lancashire

  46

  Derbyshire

  45

  Leicestershire

  45

  Suffolk

  45

  Hertfordshire

  44

  Northumbria

  44

  Merseyside

  43

  North Wales

  43

  South Yorkshire

  43

  Durham

  42

  Staffordshire

  42

  West Mercia

  42

  Northamptonshire

  41

  Cheshire

  40

  Devon and Cornwall

  39

  South Wales

  39

  West Yorkshire

  39

  Gloucestershire

  38

  incolnshire

  37

  Dorset

  36

  Norfolk

  36

  West Midlands

  36

  Wiltshire

  36

  Cambridgeshire

  35

  776

  Per cent.

  Essex

  35

  Cleveland

  34

  Hampshire

  34

  North Yorkshire

  34

  Nottinghamshire

  34

  Surrey

  34

  Warwickshire

  34

  Kent

  33

  Humberside

  32

  Sussex

  32

  Thames Valley

  31

  Avon and Somerset

  30

  Bedfordshire

  29

  Greater Manchester

  27

  London, City of

  19

  MPD

  16

  1988

  Per cent.

  Gwent

  54

  Dyfed-Powys

  53

  Cumbria

  51

  Cheshire

  50

  Lancashire

  50

  South Yorkshire

  47

  Northamptonshire

  46

  Merseyside

  45

  Staffordshire

  45

  West Mercia

  45

  Durham

  44

  Northumbria

  44

  Suffolk

  44

  Hertfordshire

  43

  Leicestershire

  43

  West Yorkshire

  43

  Lincolnshire

  42

  North Wales

  42

  West Midlands

  42

  Norfolk

  40

  Bedfordshire

  39

  Dorset

  39

  Gloucestershire

  39

  North Yorkshire

  39

  Warwickshire

  39

  Derbyshire

  38

  Devon and Cornwall

  38

  Nottinghamshire

  38

  Cleveland

  37

  South Wales

  37

  Wiltshire

  37

  Avon and Somerset

  36

  Humberside

  36

  Kent

  36

  Cambridgeshire

  34

  Hampshire

  34

  Surrey

  34

  Thames Valley

  34

  Essex

  32

  Sussex

  30

  Greater manchester

  29

  London, City of

  25

  MPD

  17

  1989

  Per cent.

  Gwent

  54

  Cheshire

  52

  Dyfed-powys

  52

  Cumbria

  49

  Wiltshire

  46

  Merseyside

  45

  Hertfordshire

  44

  North Wales

  44

  777

  Per cent.

  Northamptonshire

  43

  South Yorkshire

  43

  Staffordshire

  43

  Suffolk

  43

  Dorset

  43

  Durham

  42

  Lincolnshire

  42

  Lancashire

  40

  Leicestershire

  40

  Norfolk

  40

  Northumbria

  40

  South Wales

  39

  West Mercia

  39

  West Midlands

  39

  Cambridgeshire

  38

  West Yorkshire

  38

  Derbyshire

  37

  Cleveland

  36

  Devon and Cornwall

  36

  Gloucestershire

  36

  Humberside

  35

  North Yorkshire

  35

  Nottinghamshire

  35

  Warwickshire

  35

  Bedfordshire

  34

  Avon and Somerset

  33

  Surrey

  33

  Thames Valley

  33

  Essex

  32

  Hampshire

  32

  Kent

  32

  Sussex

  31

  Greater Manchester

  30

  London, City of

  20

  MPD

  17

  1990

  Per cent.

  Gwent

  51

  Cheshire

  50

  Dyfed Powys

  50

  West Mercia

  46

  Lancashire

  44

  Merseyside

  44

  South Yorkshire

  44

  Wiltshire

  44

  Cumbria

  43

  Lincolnshire

  43

  Suffolk

  41

  Northumbria

  40

  North Wales

  40

  North Yorkshire

  40

  Staffordshire

  39

  Cambridgeshire

  38

  Humberside

  37

  Norfolk

  37

  Leicestershire

  36

  South Wales

  36

  West Midlands

  36

  Dorset

  35

  Northamptonshire

  35

  Nottinghamshire

  35

  Durham

  34

  West Yorkshire

  34

  Gloucestershire

  33

  Derbyshire

  32

  Devon and Cornwall

  32

  Greater Manchester

  32

  Hampshire

  32

  Hertfordshire

  30

  Avon and Somerset

  29

  Essex

  29

  Warwickshire

  29

  Surrey

  27

  Sussex

  26

  778

  per cent.

  Thames Valley

  26

  Cleveland

  25

  Kent

  25

  London, City of

  21

  Bedfordshire

  19

  MPD

  17

  1991

  Per cent.

  Dyfed-Powys

  50

  Gwent

  47

  Lincolnshire

  46

  Merseyside

  45

  Cheshire

  41

  Dorset

  41

  Cumbria

  40

  Lancashire

  40

  wiltshire

  40

  Norfolk

  37

  Staffordshire

  37

  Suffolk

  37

  Cambridgeshire

  36

  Greater Manchester

  36

  North Wales

  36

  North Yorkshire

  36

  Gloucestershire

  35

  Northumbria

  35

  West Mercia

  35

  Cleveland

  33

  Hertfordshire

  33

  Essex

  32

  Humberside

  32

  Northamptonshire

  31

  West Midlands

  31

  Durham

  30

  Devon and Cornwall

  29

  Leicestershire

  29

  South Wales

  29

  Derbyshire

  28

  Hampshire

  28

  West Yorkshire

  28

  Nottinghamshire

  27

  Avon and Somerset

  24

  Warwickshire

  24

  Kent

  23

  Surrey

  23

  Sussex

  23

  Thames Valley

  22

  London, City of

  20

  Bedfordshire

  19

  MPD

  17

  1992

  Per cent.

  Dyfed-Powys

  53

  Gwent

  44

  Merseyside

  42

  Lincolnshire

  39

  Suffolk

  39

  Cumbria

  37

  Lancashire

  37

  Wiltshire

  37

  Greater Manchester

  35

  Norfolk

  34

  West Mercia

  34

  North Wales

  33

  North Yorkshire

  33

  Cleveland

  32

  Dorset

  32

  Durham

  30

  Leicestershire

  30

  Northamptonshire

  30

  South Walwes

  30

  779

  Per cent.

  Staffordshire

  30

  Cheshire

  29

  Essex

  29

  Cambridgeshire

  27

  Kent

  27

  West Midlands

  27

  Hampshire

  26

  Hertfordshire

  26

  Nottinghamshire

  26

  South Yorkshire

  26

  West Yorkshire

  25

  Gloucestershire

  24

  Humberside

  23

  Sussex

  23

  Warwickshire

  23

  Derbyshire

  22

  Surrey

  22

  Bedfordshire

  20

  London, City of

  20

  Thames Valley

  19

  Devon and Cornwall

  18

  Avon and Somerset

  17

  Northumbria

  17

  MPD

  16

  MPD = Metropolitan Police District

  Government Car Service
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual cost to the Department of the car service for Ministers; and how many vehicles are involved.

  Mr. Michael Howard
  The Home Secretary has three cars supplied by the Home Office. The average annual cost, inclusive of maintenance, is £98,000. Other Home Office Ministers use four cars supplied by the Government car service. In addition, the GCS supplies cars for the transport of ministerial dispatch boxes. The estimated cost of these cars for 1993–94 is £247,000.

  Prisons
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the Government's prison building programme.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) on 25 November at column 574.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the status of the current discussions on the data protection directive, and in particular the current state of agreement or disagreement between member states on articles 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 as published in COM(92)4.22.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Council working group has completed its first reading of the revised text of the draft directive. A second reading has started. It would not be right for me to disclose the extent of agreement or disagreement on any particular article. In general, the range of views expressed is very wide.

  Information Security
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has incorporated the code of practice for information security management, published by the British Standards Institution, into relevant contracts with information technology suppliers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The security requirements for IT systems and services used by central Government Departments are stated in the Government IT security policy document. This document is supported by use of the CCTA risk analysis and management method—CRAMM—and Baseline Security for IT systems—BSITS—risk analysis methods, by the Communications Electronic Security Group—CESG—memorandum No. 10 where appropriate and by supporting advice and guidance published by the Government IT security authorities. These are regularly reviewed to ensure best practice, have been developed specifically for use within government and have been in operation for some time. The code of practice for information security management was developed by and established for use by commercial organisations. It is currently not a British standard, and does not specifically address the requirements for the protection of official information.

  Mr. Amanullah Khan
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply of 26 November,Official Report, column 230, what consideration was given to complying with the request from the Indian national central bureau of Interpol that Mr. Amanullah Khan be arrested on the occasion of his arrival at Manchester airport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  None. Mr. Khan was not seeking admission to the United Kingdom at Manchester airport on 15 October 1993. He was in transit to another country. The police officers who spoke to him were not aware of the request from the Indian national central bureau of Interpol that he be arrested with a view to extradition.

  Work Permits
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will notify Billingham Bombers Ltd. that Igor Slavinsky, Ref. S80 79 56, can now have a work permit to play ice hockey;

  (2) if he will approve a work permit for Igor Slavinsky, Ref. 9320830/FHY, to play ice hockey for Billingham Bombers.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I wrote to my hon. Friend on 30 November informing him that I had decided to grant Mr. Slavinsky's application to remain and work exceptionally outside the immigration rules.

  Prison Accommodation
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to use any floating facility on Humberside to accommodate prisoners.

  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.
  781
  Letter from Mr. D. Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 3 December 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the use of a floating facility on Humberside to accommodate prisoners.
  The use of floating vessels to accommodate prisoners is one option being considered as part of our contingency plans to deal with increases in the prison population. No final decisions have been taken to use this option or on possible locations.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many files marked "not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by his Department.

  Mr. Howard
  No central record of files marked "not for NAO eyes" is maintained. The information could be obtained only by examining individually each of the 1·5 million extant files in my Department, and could therefore only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  The marking "not for NAO eyes" is used rarely and in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office, under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NAO and Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.

  Police Cells
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are detained in police cells(a) nationally and (b) in the north-west; at what locations; and for how long they have been there.

  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. D. Lewis to Mr. Doug Hoyle, dated 3 December 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about prisoners detained in police cells (a) nationally and (b) in the North West; and what locations; and for how long they have been there.
  On Tuesday 30 November, the latest date for which complete information is available, a national total of ten prisoners were detained in police cells, all in Manchester. They arrived there on that day and were received into prison custody on the following day.

  Criminal Justice Act 1993
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to implement the remaining provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1993.

  Mr. Howard
  The following miscellaneous provisions brought into force on 1 December by means of commencement order No. 3: sections 20 to 23, 34 and 35, 44 to 46, and 73.

  A further announcement about the implementation of the remainder of the Act will be made in due course.

  Police (Performance Indicators)
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will select and make known a first set of objectives and performance indicators for policing, as proposed in the White Paper on police reform.

  Mr. Howard
  The following is the text of a letter which I am sending today to all police authority chairmen and chief constables. I am writing in similar terms to the commissioners of the Metropolitan and City of London police forces, and to the chairman of the City of London police committee.

  Key objectives for policing 1994–95
  The White Paper on Police Reform contains a commitment that the Home Secretary will publish each year a brief statement of key objectives for the police service. This will explain the tasks which the Government consider that the police should be tackling as matters of priority across the country. The key objectives, which are centred on the principles of the citizens charter, will provide a framework for the assessment of police performance.
  I am writing now to set out the Government's key objectives for policing in 1994–95. These are based on the objectives provisionally set out in the White Paper, refined in discussion with the police, with local authority associations and with Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary. The objectives will be further refined in the light of experience gained during the coming year.
  I intend to treat 1994–95 as a trial run. This should provide useful experience which will help to ensure that the system of setting objectives and measuring progress is soundly based. Once the necessary legislation is in place, police authorities and chief constables will be required by statute to have regard to the key objectives for policing.
  In setting particular objectives the Government is well aware of the wide nature of the police role. This is encapsulated in the guidelines laid down by the first joint Commissioners of the Metropolitan Police:
  "The primary object of an efficient police is the prevention of crime; the next that of detection and punishment of offenders if crime is committed. To these ends, all the efforts of the police should be directed. The protection of life and property, the preservation of public tranquility, and the absence of crime, will alone prove whether these efforts have been successful, and whether the objects for which the police were appointed have been attained."
  While proposing that particular effort should be directed towards improving the performance of certain tasks, the Government reaffirms the importance which it attaches to other essential policing duties such as the maintenance of public order, the fight against drugs and terrorism and the prevention of crimes against children. In certain areas theft of and from vehicles is a major probem requiring action by the police as well as others. You are, I know, already contributing towards wider Government objectives such as the reduction of the number of road traffic accident casualties by one-third by the year 2000. All these tasks, together with others which I have not mentioned, remain important.
  It is precisely because the role of the police is so varied that the Government believes that performance can best be improved by focusing more sharply each year on a small number of areas of concern to the public. The aim of the key objectives is to encourage progress in these areas in addition to maintaining the good levels of service which the police are providing in response to other demands.
  The key objectives for 1994–95 will be:

  1. to maintain and if possible increase the number of detections for violent crimes;

  2. to increase the number of detections for burglaries of people's homes;

  3. to target and prevent crimes which are a particular local problem in partnership with the public and other local agencies;

  4. to provide high visibility policing so as to reassure the public;

  5. to respond promptly to emergency calls from the public. Progress towards each of these objectives will be measured by

  783
  the key performance indicators set out in the Appendix to this letter. In all cases this information is already being gathered by the police for other purposes, such as the Audit Commissioner's performance indicators. They should therefore not add to the paperwork burden on the police. I expect Chief Constables to publish the information collected for the full range of performance indicators in their Annual Reports.

  In future years police authorities and Chief Constables will be required to set targets for making progress towards the key objectives. You may, in 1994–95, wish to experiment with setting local targets related to the various key objectives.
  I would encourage the publication of the key objectives locally in the context of the Citizen's Charter initiative and in tandem with any existing local policing charters or statements of service standards.
  The Association of Chief Police Officers has already undertaken considerable work in defining national standards for the police. The Government welcomes this work which complements the proposals for setting key objectives and targets set out in the White Paper on Police Reform.

  APPENDIX

  Key performance indicators are:

  1. The number of violent crimes detected per 100 officers.

  2. The number of burglaries of dwellings detected per 100 officers.

  3. No high level indicator is currently available. Work on developing such an indicator for 1995–96 will be taken forward over the next year, aimed at measuring the effectiveness of crime prevention initiatives.

  4. Public satisfaction with levels of foot and mobile patrols.

  5. (i) The percentage of 999 calls answered within the local target time.
  (ii) The percentage of responses within the local target time to incidents requiring immediate response.

  Prison Officers (Industrial Action)
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he now intends to take following the injunction he obtained against the calling of industrial action by the Prison Officers Association.

  Mr. Howard
  On 18 November the High Court issued an interim injunction requiring the general secretary of the Prison Officers Association to call off its planned industrial action which would have resulted in some 1,700 prisoners being held in police cells. The court made it clear that the calling of industrial action by the POA was unlawful.

  I recognise that matters cannot be left there. I intend to introduce legislation this Session which, while maintaining the position that it is unlawful for the POA to call industrial action, also extends normal trade union status to organisations representing staff who currently have the powers of a constable.

  The legislation will also extend to prison officers the appropriate elements of employment protection legislation, including access to industrial tribunals, and enable regulations to be made to establish procedures for setting the remuneration of the staff concerned. There will need to be discussions with the POA and others about those provisions.

  These measures will provide a much needed and firm foundation for the development of constructive industrial relations in the special context of the Prison Service.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Information Security
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has incorporated the code of practice for information security management, published by the British Standards Institution, into relevant contracts with information technology suppliers.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The security requirements for IT services and systems used by central Government Departments are stated in the Government IT security policy document. This document is supported by use of the CCTA risk analysis and management method—CRAMM—and baseline security for IT systems—BSITS—risk analysis methods and by supporting advice and guidance published by the Government IT security authorities. These are regularly reviewed to ensure best practice, have been developed specifically for use within government and have been in operation for some time. The code of practice for information security management was developed by and established for use by commercial organisations and does not specifically address the requirements for the protection of official information.

  Publicity
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spends annually on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising and (c) press advertising; and what were the corresponding figures for 1985 and 1979.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Total expenditure by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on advertising in 1992–93, the last financial year for which information is available, was:

  FCO Diplomatic Wing £

  FCO ODA Wing £

  TV advertising

  nil

  nil

  Radio advertising

  nil

  nil

  Press advertising

  72,000

  283,033

  The 1979 and 1985 figures cannot be disaggregated between television, radio and press advertising and other promotional material without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many press and publicity officers are currently employed in his Department; and how many were employed in(a) 1985 and (b)

  Mr. Goodlad
  The number of press officers employed in the FCO news department for the years in question is:

  Year

  Number

  1979

  11

  1985

  11

  1993

  9

  The Overseas Development Administration operates a separate information service. The number of information officers employed by the ODA is as follows:

  785

  Year

  Number

  1979

  9

  1985

  12

  1993

  7

  Secondments
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each of the last five years the number of secondments(a) into and (b) out of his Department; and if he will give details of which Departments were involved.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Tables I to V contain details of inward and outward secondments between other Government Departments and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office over the last five years. Secondments between the Overseas Development Administration and the diplomatic wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are shown separately in these tables, as are secondments to the Cabinet Office. Overseas Development Administration exchanges to and from other Government Departments are listed separately at table VI.

  In addition to exchanges with other Whitehall departments, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has an interchange programme with the private sector and other foreign ministries. The Overseas Development Administration also has officers on secondment to the World bank and regional development banks.

  Table I Part (a)

  Number of Ds officers on loan to the home civil service at 31 December 1992

  Receiving department

  Numbers

  DTI

  9

  MOD

  2

  Law Officers Department

  1

  Cabinet Office

  6

  ODA

  2

  Home Office

  1

  No. 10

  1

  Civil Service Selection Board

  1

  23

  Table I Part (b)

  Number of home civil service officers on loan to the FCO at 31 December 1992

  Parent department

  Numbers

  DTI

  26

  MAFF

  10

  Employment

  13

  Home Office

  88

  Treasury

  5

  DOE

  2

  NIO

  4

  Scottish Office

  4

  CAA

  1

  Customs and Excise

  3

  ODA

  21

  Transport

  7

  Cabinet Office

  1

  Department of Health

  1

  Department of Social Security

  1

  189

  786

  Table II Part (a)

  Number of DS officers on loan to the home civil service at 31 December 1991

  Receiving department

  Number

  DTI

  8

  NIO

  1

  MOD

  4

  Law Officers Department

  1

  Cabinet Office

  9

  ODA

  5

  Home Office

  1

  Civil Service Selection Board

  1

  Civil Service College

  1

  Others

  2

  33

  Table 11 Part (b)

  Number of home civil service officers on loan to the FCO at 31 December 1991

  Parent Department

  Number

  DTI

  23

  MAFF

  11

  MOD

  14

  Employment

  2

  Home Office

  84

  Treasury

  4

  DOE

  2

  NIO

  4

  Scottish Office

  2

  CAA

  1

  Energy

  1

  Customs and Excise

  3

  ODA

  20

  Transport

  5

  Cabinet Office

  1

  Department of Social Security

  1

  178

  Table III Part (a)

  Number of DS officers on loan to the home civil service at 31 December 1990

  Receiving department

  Numbers

  Treasury

  1

  MAFF

  1

  DTI

  9

  NIO

  1

  MOD

  8

  Office of Fair Trading

  1

  Law Officers Department

  1

  Cabinet Office

  12

  ODA

  1

  Home Office

  1

  Privy Council Office

  1

  Other

  4

  41

  Table III Part (b)

  Number of home civil service officers on loan to the FCO at 31 December 1990

  Parent department

  Numbers

  DTI

  28

  MAFF

  11

  MOD

  23

  Employment

  5

  Home Office

  93

  Treasury

  7

  Northern Ireland CS

  2

  787

  Parent department

  Numbers

  NIO

  4

  Scottish Office

  1

  CAA

  1

  Energy

  1

  Customs and Excise

  11

  ODA

  23

  Transport

  3

  Cabinet Office

  1

  Department of Health

  2

  216

  Table IV Part (a)

  Number of DS officers on loan to the home civil service at 31 December 1989

  Receiving department

  Numbers

  Treasury

  1

  MAFF

  1

  ECGD

  1

  DTI

  7

  NIO

  2

  MOD

  8

  Office of Fair Trading

  1

  Law Officers Department

  1

  Cabinet Office

  11

  ODA

  5

  Other

  1

  39

  Table IV Part (b)

  Number of home civil service officers on loan to the FCO at 31 December 1989

  Parent department

  Numbers

  DTI

  26

  MAFF

  10

  MOD

  22

  Employment

  6

  Home Office

  70

  Treasury

  8

  DOE

  1

  Northern Ireland CS

  2

  NIO

  4

  Scottish Office

  1

  CAA

  1

  Energy

  1

  Customs and Excise

  9

  ODA

  26

  Transport

  3

  Cabinet Office

  1

  Department of Health

  2

  193

  Table V part (a)

  Number of DS officers on loan to the Home Civil Service at 31 December 1988

  Receiving department

  Numbers

  ECGD

  1

  DTI

  10

  NIO

  2

  MOD

  4

  MPO

  3

  Office of Fair Trading

  1

  Law Officers Department

  1

  Cabinet Office

  10

  ODA

  4

  Home Office

  1

  Treasury

  1

  788

  Receiving department

  Numbers

  —

  38

  Table V Part (b)

  Number of Home Civil Service Officers on loan to the DS at 31 December 1988

  Parent Department

  Numbers

  DTI

  23

  MAFF

  11

  MOD

  22

  Employment

  8

  Home Office

  73

  Treasury

  6

  DOE

  1

  N Ireland CS

  3

  NIO

  4

  Scottish Office

  1

  CAA

  2

  Energy

  2

  Customs and Excise

  10

  ODA

  23

  Transport

  3

  Cabinet Office

  1

  193

  Table VI

  ODA secondments to and from other Government Departments (excluding FCO)

  Year

  Outward

  Inward

  1988

  Treasury (1)

  Treasury (2)

  1989

  Treasury (1)

  Treasury (1)

  1990

  Treasury (1)

  Treasury (1)

  Civil Service

  College (1)

  1991

  Treasury (1)

  Nil

  Civil Service

  College (1)

  1992

  Nil

  Nil

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many files marked "not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by his Department.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The information requested is not readily available. To provide it would require consultation with all overseas posts. This could be done only at disproportionate cost. The marking "not for NAO eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office, under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NAO and Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to te NAO while tey are current. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's internal audit unit regularly checks to ensre that the marking is not abused.

  There is no marking "not for PAC eyes".

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a statement on the forthcoming business in the European Community's Council of Ministers.
  789
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information is as follows:

  Council of Ministers' business for December 1993
  1. The following meetings are planned.
  2 December: Special Foreign Affairs Council.
  2 December: Development Council.
  2-3 December: Environment Council.
  5 December: Special ECOFIN Council.
  6 December: Research Council.
  6-7 December: Foreign Affairs Council.
  7 December: Telecommunications Council.
  10 December: Energy Council.
  10-11 December: European Council.
  13-16 December: Agriculture Council.
  13-14 December: ECOFIN Council.
  13 December: Health Council.
  16 December: Internal Market Council.
  17 December: Industry Council.
  20-21 December: Foreign Affairs Council.
  20-21 December: Fisheries Council.
  22 December: Social Affairs Council.

  2. The following subjects are likely to be discussed.

  (a) 2 December. Foreign Affairs Council
  Uruguay Round
  GATT
  Commercial Defence Instruments

  (b) 2-3 December: Development Council
  Development Co-operation policy in the run-up to 2000
  Rehabilitation Aid
  Mid-term review of Lomé IV
  Democracy, human rights and development
  Follow-up to UNCED
  Relations with South Africa
  Projects concerning tropical forests

  (c) 2-3 December: Environment Council
  Car emissions
  Packaging
  Ozone Layer Regulation
  Copenhagen Amendment Ratification Decision
  Amendment to Hazardous Waste Directive
  Amendment to Birds Directive
  Climate change (including Convention Ratification Decision) Landfill
  PCBS/PCTS
  Civil liability Green Paper
  UNCED follow-up
  Implementation and enforcement of EC law

  (d) 5 December: Special ECOFIN Council
  Preparation for European Council 10-11 December
  Broad economic guidelines (article 103(2) of Treaty on European Union)

  (e) 6 December: Research Council
  Fourth Framework Programme—adoption of common position (Poss)
  Council Resolution on Material Test Reactors—adoption (Poss) Negotiate Mandate for ITER Protocol 2—adoption (Poss) Sprint—extension—adoption.

  (f)6-7 December: Foreign Affairs Council
  Preparation of 10-11 December European Council
  Publication of votes (Poss)
  Access to information
  Revision of Council Rules of Procedure
  Right to vote and stand in EP elections (Poss)
  Accession negotiations
  Institutional aspects of enlargement
  Relations with Morocco (Poss)
  Negotiating mandate for new agreement
  Relations with Tunisia (Poss)
  Negotiating mandate for new agreement
  Relations with Israel (Poss)
  Negotiating mandate for new agreement
  Relations with Russia (Poss)
  PCA
  Uruguay round
  Member State participation in MTO
  Dual-use Goods (Poss)
  790
  Ex-Yugoslavia
  South Africa: joint action (Poss)
  Middle East: joint action (Poss)
  Appointment of European Observer for Cyprus problem
  European Energy Charter
  Anti-dumping (Poss)
  Dead-burned magnesite from China

  (g) 7 December: Telecommunications Council
  Agenda available.

  (h) 10 December: Energy Council
  Hydrocarbons Licensing Directive
  Coal State Aids Decision
  Internal Energy Market
  Commission Communications on
  Thermie
  Energy Objectives to the year 2005
  Trans-European Energy Networks
  Energy Charter Treaty
  Energy Safety in Eastern Europe/FSU

  (i) 10-11 December: European Council
  White Book on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment Article 103 broad economic policy guidelines
  GATT
  Enlargement, including institutional issues
  Subsidiarity
  Ballardur Stability Pact
  Former Yugoslavia
  Justice/Home Affairs Co-operation

  (j) 13-16 December: Agriculture Council
  Set-aside
  Oilseeds
  Agrimoney
  Sugar
  New Zealand butter
  New Zealand sheepmeat
  Pesticides
  Plant breeders rights
  Animal feeding stuffs (enzymes)
  Inspection fees
  Welfare at slaughter
  Welfare in transport
  Poultry/poultry meat
  Beef market (poss)
  Sheep market (poss)

  (k) 13-14 December: ECOFIN Council
  Follow-up to European Council 10-11 December 1993 (adoption of Council recommendation on broad economic policy guidelines).
  Report on progress with economic and monetary convergence and with the implementation of Community law concerning the Single Market.
  Interest rate subsidies for EIB loans to small and medium-sized enterprises.
  Progress with ratification of the European Investment Fund.
  Preparation of the second stage of EMU.
  Listing particulars directive (document 4199/93, COM (92)566).
  (Poss) Amending directive on the co-ordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) (document 4901/93. COM(93)226)
  (Poss) Withholding tax on savings.
  Carbon/Energy Tax (document 7018/92, COM(92)226) 7th VAT directive.
  (Poss) Excise duties on mineral oils.
  (Poss) Interest and Royalties Directive.
  Portuguese Convergence Programme
  Taxation of Savings
  (Poss) Interest and Royalties Directive

  (l) 13 December: Health Council
  Draft Resolution on Europe Against Cancer Programme (4832/93)
  Draft Resolution on the Extension of Europe against AIDS Programme into 1994 (9397/93)
  Draft Conclusions on Blood and Blood Products (4593/93)
  Draft Conclusions on a European Epidemiological Network (9400/93)

  791
  Draft Council Directive on Tobacco Advertising (COM(92)196 final).
  Any other business.

  (m) 16 December: Internal Market Council
  (Poss) Data Protection
  (Poss) Recreational Craft
  (poss) Motor Cycle Power
  (poss) Economie Sociale
  (poss) Trademarks
  (poss) European Pharmacopoeia
  (poss) Legal Protection of Biotechnological Inventions
  (poss) Pension Funds
  (poss) 14th amendment to Marketing and Use of Dangerous Substances Directive
  (poss) Food Labelling
  (poss) Additives other than sweeteners and colours

  (n) 17 December: Industry Council
  agenda unavailable

  (o) 20/21 December: Foreign Affairs Council
  Enlargement negotiations in the margins.

  (p) 20/21 December: Fisheries Council
  TACS and Quotas (all elements)
  Structures
  Spain and Portugal
  Third country landings licensing
  Restructuring of fishing fleets

  (q) 22 December: Social Affairs Council
  agenda unavailable

  Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom will contribute to the enhanced structural adjustment facility operated by the International Monetary Fund.

  Mr. Hurd
  The United Kingdom will contribute £50 million to the next phase of the enhanced structural adjustment facility of the International Monetary Fund. ESAF supports economic reform programmes in low-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This brings the United Kingdom contribution to about 11 per cent. of the total fund.

  Our new contribution will be made in 1994–95 from resources released by an underspending of EC aid. It will not add to planned levels of public expenditure. ESAF adds to the effectiveness of our bilateral aid programme and complements our Trinidad terms initiative to relieve the debt burdens of the poorest countries pursuing economic reform. Our new contribution underlines Britain's position at the heart of the international effort to promote sustainable recovery and growth in the developing world.

  China
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government are doing to enforce the law forbidding the import of products of forced prison labour from China.

  Sir John Cope
  I have been asked to reply.

  The prohibition on the importation of foreign prison made goods is enforced by HM Customs and Excise. Under the provisions of the Foreign Prison-Made Goods Act 1897 the prohibition can only be enforced when evidence is supplied to customs proving the foreign prison-made origin of the goods. Customs has received no evidence to date which would prove import into the United Kingdom of specific goods made in Chinese prisons, but it is willing to act upon any adequate evidence supplied to it.

DEFENCE

  Vitez Garage, Bosnia
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by which units the site known as Vitez garage, Bosnia, is currently being used for accommodation purposes; how many personnel are involved; whether improvements planned to be made to facilities, including the provision of ablution and sanitation units, have been effected; whether the 35 four-man accommodation units on an adjacent site have yet been commissioned and occupied; what plans he has for expanding or improving accommodation on these sites; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The site is currently being used for accommodation purposes by part of the logistic support element of 1 Coldstream Guards, a light aid detachment of REME, a forward recovery group of REME and a forward ordnance team of Royal Logistic Corps, a total of 131 personnel. Occupied and in use are 39 four-man accommodation units, two rest rooms, three shower blocks, three toilet blocks and one laundry block. In addition, there are three toilets in the existing garage. One fire-damaged portacabin is to be replaced and there are plans to provide portacabin kitchen facilities to enable the present kitchen area to revert to its original use.

  Low Flying
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his oral answer of 23 November,Official Report, column 314, if he will place in the Library details of the intensity of low flying in each affected area.

  Mr. Hanley
  For administrative purposes, the United Kingdom is divided into a number of low-flying areas. Records are maintained of the amount of low flying conducted in each LFA but it is not my Department's practice to release this detailed information. Information is not available on the amount of low flying conducted within LFAs over particular locations, such as national parks. Low flying is conducted in areas of low population but, consistent with our policy of dispersing the activity as widely as possible, national parks are not specifically targeted for low flying.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will supply the hon. Member for Don Valley with a current copy of the map showing the structure of the(a) day and (b) night low-flying system.

  Mr. Hanley
  I have arranged for a copy of the map showing the structure of the day low-flying system to be placed in the Library. A copy of the map showing the structure of the night low-flying system is already in the Library.

  Radar Surveillance
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations and dates where radar surveillance of transit areas has been carried out during the last five years; and what are the current requirements before his Ministry carries out such operations.

  Mr. Hanley
  Locations for Skyguard low-flying monitoring are decided having regard to a number of
  793
  factors, including exercise activity and reports of disturbance. Priority is given to locations where flying down to 250 ft may take place. There have been no deployments to monitor low flying in transit areas during the last five years.

  Search and Rescue
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many operational incidents the RAF's search and rescue helicopters have been called out to deal with from each search and rescue base during 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Hanley
  The total number of callouts from RAF stations was:

  1992

  11993

  Boulmer

  134

  135

  Brawdy

  158

  115

  Chivenor

  174

  123

  Coltishall

  106

  76

  Leconfield

  160

  119

  Leuchars2

  131

  43

  Lossiemouth

  241

  201

  Manston

  162

  128

  Valley

  187

  168

  Aldergrove

  22

  14

  Total

  1,475

  1,122

  1Up to and including 31 October 1993.

  2Flight disbanded 1 April 1993.

  Pilot Training
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the prospects of increasing the pilot flying training undertaken by the RAF in the United Kingdom for air forces of other countries.

  Mr. Hanley
  In line with normal policy, the provision of pilot flying training in the United Kingdom for air forces of overseas countries is dictated by the availability of surplus training capacity within the RAF. Opportunities presently exist for such training and potential customers have been informed accordingly.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to initiate a nuclear weapons convention along the lines of the chemical weapons convention with the aim of a verifiable global plan on the design, manufacture and deployment of nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Hanley
  The United Kingdom's nuclear policy was set out in my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence's speech to the centre for defence studies on 16 November, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Iraq
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he possesses on the role of the Ibn Al Haytham centre in Iraq.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Ibn Al Haytham missile research and development centre was established by the Iraqis in March 794
  1992 and is located 15 km north-east of Baghdad. Its primary purpose is to conduct research and development on missiles with ranges of up to 150 km. This work is permitted under UN SCR 687 (1991). The establishment has been visited by six UNSCOM inspections.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many experts his Department has contributed to the United Nations special commission missions to Iraq since May 1991.

  Mr. Hanley
  Some 50 personnel from my Department have participated in support of United Nations special commission missions to Iraq since May 1991.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has that British military equipment transported in 1990–91 for use in the Gulf war was subsequently directly or indirectly purveyed to the warring parties in Sri Lanka.

  Mr. Hanley
  I am not aware that any British military equipment transported in 1990–91 for use in the Gulf conflict was subsequently transferred to the warring parties in Sri Lanka.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many files marked "not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by his Department.

  Mr. Hanley
  The precise number of files held by my Department marked "not for NAO eyes" could be established only at disproportionate cost.

  The marking "not for NAO eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office, under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NAO and the Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the political advisers employed in his Department during 1993.

  Mr. Hanley
  During 1993 Mr. Perry Miller was employed as special adviser to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence from 1 January to 14 February and Mr. Crispin Blunt has been employed since then.

HEALTH

  Prescription Budgets
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library tables showing (a) indicative prescription budgets and(b) the prescription element of general practitioner fund-holder budgets for 1991–92 and 1992–93 in each family health services authority area and for each NHS region showing (i) planned expenditure, outturn expenditure in cash terms and standard price terms, (ii) the percentage expenditure, (iii)

  795
  actual expenditure per head of population served each year both in cash and standard price terms and (iv) the percentage increase between years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The available information will be placed in the Library. Information for actual expenditure per head of population and the percentage increase between the years is not available centrally.

  Administration Expenditure
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing the total amount spent on administration by(a) regional health authorities, (b)

  Expenditure on Adminstration

  1989–90 £000s

  1990–91 £000s

  1991–92 £000s

  1992–93 £000s

  1993–94 £000s current allocation

  Regional Health Authorities12

  144,135

  177,626

  312,037

  327,349

  4—

  District Health Authorities12

  469,603

  573,028

  327,036

  387,387

  4—

  Family Health Services Authorities

  66,508

  103,880

  136,332

  161,881

  4—

  Department of Health3

  174,681

  216,785

  240,267

  276,280

  264,608

  1These figures cover the total revenue expenditure on the pay and accommodation costs of staff of all disciplines and their support staff employed at health authority headquarters level together with the costs of the purchaser function. They exclude administrative support in the hospital departments and at other local levels which is regarded as operational.

  2 The figures for 1989–90 and 1990–91 are not comparable with the figures for 1991–92. This is because of the introduction of capital charges and changes to accounting policies following the introduction of the internal market.

  3Costs for the national health service management executive are included in the Department of Health figures.

  4Not available.

  Source: Annual accounts of regional and district health authorities, family health services authorities and the Department of Health.

  Hospital Services
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list, for 1992–93, by regional health authority(a) the average daily number of beds available and (b) new accident and emergency cases during the year;

  NHS hospitals and trusts, England 1992–93

  Average number of daily available beds

  Average number of daily available beds per 1,000 population

  New accident and emergency cases

  New accident and emergency cases per 1,000 population

  England total1

  231,363

  4·8

  10,993,202

  227·2

  Northern

  18,704

  6·0

  712,704

  230·0

  Yorkshire

  18,583

  5·0

  851,205

  230·2

  Trent

  20,869

  4·4

  926,631

  195·3

  East Anglian

  9,944

  4·8

  338,875

  162·2

  North West Thames

  16,307

  4·5

  771,198

  214·6

  North East Thames

  18,348

  4·8

  964,819

  254·0

  South East Thames

  15,273

  4·1

  918,914

  247·5

  South West Thames

  15,287

  5·0

  617,496

  202·9

  Wessex

  13,232

  4·4

  564,475

  188·6

  Oxford

  9,313

  3·6

  453,362

  175·6

  South Western

  15,851

  4·8

  663,641

  200·1

  West Midlands

  23,445

  4·4

  1,333,724

  252·7

  Mersey

  11,552

  4·8

  702,597

  291·2

  North Western

  22,150

  5·5

  1,086,088

  270·3

  1Figure includes special health authorities.

  Influenza Vaccine
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement as to the reasons given by the National Institute of Biological Standards and control for rejecting supplies of the influenza vaccine from the company Duphar; and what alternative arrangements have been made for this coming winter.
  796
  district health authorities, (c) family health service authorities and (d) the Department of Health/NHS management executive, in (i) 1989–90, (ii) 1990–91, (iii) 1991–92 and (iv) 1992–93 and her expectation of expenditure in those categories for 1993–94.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Administration expenditure is shown in the table.

  The information requested for 1993–94 is not available for regional and district health authorities and family health services authorities.

  (2) if she will list, for 1992–93, by regional health authority per 1,000 population (a) the average daily number of beds available and (b) new accident and emergency cases during the year.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  Mr. Sackville
  The decision which prevented the marketing of the Duphar vaccine was made by the Medicines Control Agency—MCA—of the Department of Health after receiving advice from specialist advisers and the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control.

  Duphar was originally granted a product licence for influenza vaccine in early August 1993. During late September the company applied to the MCA to make a major change to its manufacturing process.
  797
  Information provided by Duphar, however, gave inadequate reassurance of the safety and efficacy of the product proposed for marketing since clinical studies being carried out by the company were far from complete.

  Other manufacturers have stepped in to fill the gap caused by the loss of Duphar influenza vaccine this year, and already more vaccine has beeń distributed than in previous years.

  Mental Health
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of medium and long-stay beds available in NHS psychiatric hospitals and trusts in England and by region in each year from 1984–85 to 1991–92.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) short-stay, (b) medium-stay and (c) long-stay psychiatric beds were available in each region in each year from 1982.

  Mr. Bowis
  The available information will be placed in the Library. Beds are classified as either short stay or long stay, and are shown in total prior to 1987–88. Information for 1992–93 is provisional.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many short and long-stay beds are provided for patients in private and NHS other hospitals illustrated in figure 2 of the Yates report.

  Mr. Bowis
  The breakdown between long and short-stay beds is not available for the private sector. In 1991–92 there were 12,600 mental illness beds in privately registered nursing homes or hospitals and 22,000 short-stay and 27,000 long-stay beds in mental illness wards in national health service hospitals in England.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response she has given to the Royal College of Psychiatrists recommendation that the closure of mental hospitals should not go ahead until alternative services are in place.

  Mr. Bowis
  This is in line with Government policy.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines exist on levels of community provision for people with mental health problems required in an area before a mental hospital can be closed.

  Mr. Bowis
  The mental illness key area handbook gives guidance on the range of service provision needed for adult psychiatric services in the community, copies of which are available in the Library.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she issues to NHS trusts about the salaries of chief executives; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 5 November at column 535.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the NHS status of trust hospitals and where their ownership lies.
  798
  Dr. Mawhinney
  Trusts remain fully part of the national health service. They are accountable through the NHS management executive to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. They are also accountable to NHS purchasers through contracts for service delivery. Each NHS trust is a body corporate and has ownership of its land, buildings and other property.

  Pacemakers
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the interval between her Department's receipt of a warning from Siemens in respect of certain pacemakers and the issue of pacemaker technical note No. 48; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Twenty-five working days elapsed between the Department of Health first being advised of the Siemens pacemaker lead problem and the issue of pacemaker technical note No. 48.

  The pacemaker technical note was a follow-up to the medical advisory notice issued by Siemens on 4 February 1993 to all relevant clinicians notifying them of the problem. The action was dependent on Siemens advising the Department of the publication of its advisory notice. Eleven working days elapsed between receipt of this information and the publication of the pacemaker technical note. Copies of both documents are available in the Library.

  Community Health Councils
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to change the role of management of community health councils.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Community health councils have an important role in representing the views of users and we support a strong role for them now and in the future. The future arrangements for establishing and funding CHCs will need to be considered in the context of the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the House on 21 October at columns 398-412.

  Orthodontics
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what limits there are to providing orthodontic care for children under the national health service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The national health service provides all the treatment necessary to secure and maintain oral health.

  Maternity Services
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if her Department has currently set up a review committee reviewing maternity services; when her Department last set up a committee reviewing maternity services; what was its conclusions; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  A review of national health service maternity care during childbirth has recently been completed by the expert maternity group. The group was established as part of the Government's response to the House of Commons Health Select Committee report on maternity services, published in 1992.

  The expert group's report, "Changing Childbirth," was published on 5 August. A consultation period, to enable

  799
  interested parties to comment on the report, ended on 29 October. Ministers are currently considering the comments received before deciding on future action. Guidelines will be issued to the NHS in due course.

  Earlier reviews of particular aspects of NHS maternity care have been conducted on behalf of the Department by the maternity services advisory committee. Three reports were published between 1982 and 1985, covering antenatal care, care during childbirth, and care of the mother and baby.

  Copies of these documents and reports are available in the Library.

  St. Bartholomew's Hospital
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future of St. Bartholomew's hospital, London.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The St. Bartholomew's/Royal London/London Chest Trust application is currently out to consultation. A decision on this will be made in the new year.

  Winter Deaths
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement relating to the excess winter deaths in the west midlands region.

  Mr. Bowis
  The number of excess deaths in the west midlands region during the winter of 1991–92—the latest available figures—was 3,373.

  Doncaster Health Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement setting out the current conditions of service and remuneration of(a) executive and (b) non-executive directors of Doncaster health authority.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The current conditions of service for executive members of Doncaster health authority are those of all other national health service general and senior managers. The chief executive is paid within the range set for district general manager grade 2—£45,710 to £66,030. Executive members of health authorities are paid on the senior manager pay spine, which ranges from £14,940 to £46,600 per year.

  Non-executive members of health authorities hold a statutory office under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, and their appointment and tenure of office is governed by the National Health Service Regional and District Health Authorities (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 1990. Non-executive members of health authorities receive an annual remuneration of £5,000.

  Low Birthweights
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has funded in response to the proposals of the Audit Commission report "Children First" on data about the outcome of health care in childhood and the prevalence of disability among very low birthweight babies who survive into childhood; and if she will make a statement.
  800
  Mr. Sackville
  The publication, earlier this year, of the report of the Audit Commission's study into hospital services for children was welcomed by the Government, particularly the emphasis which it placed on monitoring health outcomes. The vital importance placed by the Government on evaluating both the short-term and long-term impact of neonatal intensive care interventions had been acknowledged at paragraph 2.7.10 of their response to the second report from the Health Committee, 1991–92—Cm 2018—in July 1992. This also referred to a number of population-based studies which had been commissioned to look into the long-term effects on survivors of care.

  Since then, the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has helped to fund a study of the outcomes for babies weighing less than 1,500 gm at a number of different hospitals and examining a range of different risk factors, including birthweight, which make up the clinical risk index for babies. This study is being extended on a national basis and the results are expected later next year.

  The national perinatal epidemiology unit, a centrally funded Department of Health research unit based in Oxford, has done some preliminary pilot work with Action Research into the detection of trends in morbidity and disability in seven-year-old children of different birth-weights. The Department has been closely involved in this exercise which may lead to the development of a national monitoring system.

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hackney
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future of Queen Elizabeth hospital, Hackney.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  East London and City health authority is currently reviewing the future provision of children's services in east London. Its findings will be considered alongside the outcome of consultation by North East Thames regional health authority on the "Making London Better" proposal that the management of the Queen Elizabeth and the Homerton hospitals should merge.

  Death Statistics
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the total number of deaths for each year since 1990, and the current year to date from(a) tuberculosis, (b) malignant neoplasm of the cervix, (c) Hodgkin's disease, (d) chronic rheumatic heart disease, (e) all respiratory diseases, (f) asthma, (g) appendicitis, (h) abdominal hernia, (i) cholelithiases and cholecistitis and also (j) maternal deaths, for each regional health authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information will be placed in the Library.

  Health Charges
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will announce changes in prescription, sight test or dental examination charges for the coming financial year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Judgments are made each year about how finite health resources can be best targeted for
  801
  maximum health gain. Prescription and dental charges are one aspect of these considerations. Any announcements will be made at the appropriate time. Patients are not charged for national health service sight tests.

  NHS Trusts (Salaries)
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table setting out the total estimated salary bill for each trust within the Greater London area, identifying separately the totals for(a) management and administrative staff, (b) medical staff, (c) nursing staff and (d) ancillary staff, in the current financial year, and indicating the percentage change over the previous 12 months.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available until national health service trusts submit their accounts after the end of the financial year.

  Medical Records
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health why the non-statutory code of practice concerning the confidentiality of medical records, promised after the draft National Health Service Functions (Preservation of Confidentiality) Regulations were withdrawn in 1987, has yet to be published.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department is firmly committed to producing guidance on the confidentiality, use and disclosure of personal health information and intends to do so as soon as possible. We are seeking clarification of the law in relation to confidentiality, and as soon as this has been resolved, draft guidance will be issued for consultation.

  Waltham Forest District Health Authority
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the proposed new larger regional health authority will restore the funding cut to Waltham Forest district health authority made by the current regional health authority; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Under the weighted capitation funding system, health authorities are funded for their resident population. Departmental guidance gives regional health authorities discretion to use their judgment about the precise distribution of funds which suits their districts' needs, based on the analysis of local information. The present allocation for Redbridge and Waltham Forest health authority is a matter for North East Thames regional health authority and the hon. Member may wish to contact Sir William Stavely, the chairman, for details.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each local authority the maximum payments made towards the cost of(a) residential care and (b) nursing care.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has to amend current legislation to give a statutory right to community health councils to visit nursing and residential homes and to provide additional resources to community health councils to carry out this role; and if she will make a statement.
  802
  Dr. Mawhinney
  Community health councils already have a statutory right under the law to visit premises controlled by district health authorities. We have no plans to introduce legislation to give CHCs the statutory right to visit residential homes.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the current guidelines to local authorities for the provision of residential care when an elderly relative lives in a different local authority to his or her family and wishes to be located in accommodation within that family's local authority area.

  Mr. Bowis
  We have issued a statutory direction requiring local authorities to place people in the home of their choice in England and Wales subject to certain practical limitations such as costs, suitability and availability. The original direction was contained in circular LAC (92) 27 which was issued on 23 December 1992. Circular LAC (93) 18, was issued in August 1993. Copies of the two circulars are available in the Library.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from the Audit Commission concerning payments made by health authorities and trusts to private nursing and residential care homes relating to the provision of nursing and care to former hospital in-patients.

  Mr. Sackville
  Earlier this year the Audit Commission brought to the attention of the national health service management executive concerns raised by a number of appointed auditors that payments made by some health bodies may not be in accordance with their legal powers. Those cases are being investigated, and where appropriate the executive will ensure that the position is regularised.

  Industrial Relations
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines exist governing the conduct of industrial relations in NHS trusts.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  National health service trusts are expected to follow good industrial relations practice, for example as outlined by the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service and in guidance issued by the NHS management executive. Additionally, Whitley council agreements should be observed for those staff employed on centrally agreed conditions.

  Regional Funding
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will estimate the difference in funding health services in each region as a result of the change from RAWP to weighted capitation.

  Mr. Sackville
  The use of resource allocation working party (RAWP) targets was discontinued in 1990, when weighted capitation was introduced. Consequently, no RAWP targets are currently available for comparison with weighted capitation shares. Comparisons would not be meaningful. Under the old system, health authorities were funded for their "catchment population", whereas now they are purchasers of services for their resident population, with cross-boundary flows of patients being covered by payments under national health service contracts.

  Health Service Staff
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide the latest available figures on NHS staff numbers by region in the form of her answer of 4 November,Official Report, column 457.

  All NHS Staff gróups by Region in England at 30 September 1992 in Whole Time Equivalents

  Medical & Dental

  Nursing & Midwifery

  Professional & Technical

  PAMs

  Scientific/Professional

  Gen/Senior Managers

  Admin & Clerical

  Northern

  3,140

  25,120

  2,080

  2,260

  740

  710

  7,590

  Yorkshire

  3,630

  27,560

  2,670

  2,890

  870

  1,350

  9,000

  Trent

  4,170

  35,790

  3,540

  3,830

  1,220

  1,040

  10,910

  East Anglian

  1,860

  15,390

  1,400

  1,810

  500

  650

  4,290

  North West Thames

  3,390

  24,770

  2,010

  2,380

  930

  940

  9,520

  North East Thames

  4,230

  31,250

  3,110

  3,120

  1,390

  1,560

  10,370

  South East Thames

  3,710

  28,570

  2,700

  2,810

  1,560

  1,090

  9,880

  South West Thames

  2,620

  22,380

  1,870

  2,390

  750

  520

  7,470

  Wessex

  2,570

  22,170

  1,790

  2,350

  670

  970

  6,540

  Oxford

  2,160

  16,370

  1,470

  1,880

  640

  770

  5,910

  South Western

  2,750

  26,160

  2,200

  2,680

  930

  850

  8,360

  West Midlands

  4,740

  41,320

  4,140

  4,410

  1,350

  1,730

  13,010

  Mersey

  2,530

  19,390

  1,980

  2,000

  560

  860

  6,240

  North Western

  4,360

  35,290

  3,060

  3,590

  1,120

  1,250

  11,200

  SHAs

  1,320

  7,210

  780

  780

  410

  460

  2,600

  Others

  50

  50

  2,140

  10

  420

  1,940

  12,120

  England

  47,220

  378,790

  36,940

  39,200

  14,080

  16,690

  135,010

  Ancillary

  Ambulance Inc Officers

  Works

  Maintenance

  Others

  Total

  Northern

  6,860

  1,330

  290

  1,220

  440

  51,800

  Yorkshire

  6,610

  1,510

  260

  1,120

  320

  57,800

  Trent

  9,730

  1,820

  390

  1,320

  160

  73,910

  East Anglian

  3,650

  790

  150

  600

  40

  31,120

  North West Thames

  2,980

  630

  150

  780

  850

  49,330

  North East Thames

  3,300

  530

  190

  1,230

  3,160

  63,420

  South East Thames

  5,720

  920

  220

  960

  390

  58,520

  South West Thames

  4,510

  690

  160

  950

  490

  44,800

  Wessex

  4,190

  950

  170

  760

  90

  43,230

  Oxford

  1,990

  830

  170

  640

  30

  32,860

  South Western

  5,460

  1,470

  210

  800

  540

  52,410

  West Midlands

  10,120

  1,900

  460

  1,750

  220

  85,160

  Mersey

  3,850

  790

  150

  730

  270

  39,370

  North Western

  7,310

  1,470

  330

  1,360

  70

  70,400

  SHAs

  1,360

  0

  40

  230

  0

  15,200

  Others

  1,360

  2,220

  10

  120

  220

  20,670

  ENGLAND

  79,000

  17,840

  3,340

  14,570

  7,310

  789,990

  Sources: Department of Health form KM49

  Department of Health non-medical work force census

  Department of Health medical and dental work force census

  Notes:

  1. All figures are independently rounded to the nearest 10 whole-time equivalents.

  2. The decrease in nursing and midwifery numbers is almost entirely due to Project 2000 learners who are not included in the work force.

  3. Nursery and midwifery figures exclude agency nurses and medical and dental figures exclude locum doctors.

  4. The increase in general and senior managers is mainly due to the extension of those terms and conditions to other staff groups.

  5. The increase in administrative and clerical staff is largely due to the strengthening of administrative functions, and increased support for clinical services.

  6. The figures for all regions include both directly managed units and NHS trusts.

  7. The figures for others include the London ambulance service, family health service authorities and other statutory authorities.

  8. Some totals differ from those given in my reply to the hon. Member on 4 November at column 457 where figures for the South Yorkshire paramedical services have been transferred from the Yorkshire to Trent region and NW Thames and RHA figures have been adjusted to include the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire ambulance service.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many files marked "not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by her Department.

  Mr. Sackville
  The marking "not for NAO eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the
  804
  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is shown in the table.

  Treasury and the National Audit Office, under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NAO and Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.

  The usual practice in the Department is to assign the marking to individual documents rather than to files. Information on the number of documents so marked could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Nicotine Patches
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing the numbers of prescriptions, the expenditure and the expenditure per head on nicotine patches in each family health service authority area and NHS region in 1992.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 30 November 1993]: This information will be placed in the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Claimants, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in the Doncaster area are currently receiving(a) income support, (b) family credit and (c) housing benefit; what percentage of the Doncaster population this represents; and what were the figures (i) 12, (ii) 24, (iii) 36 and (iv) 48 months ago.

  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.

  Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 2 December 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 how many people in the Doncaster area are currently receiving (a) Income Support (b) Family Credit and (c) Housing Benefit; what percentage of the Doncaster population this represents; and what were the figures (i) 12 (ii) 24 (iii) 36 and (iv) 48 months ago.
  Regrettably, all of this information is not readily available. This is because some Income Support (IS) records for 1989 and 1990 have been destroyed in accordance with routine procedures. Also Agency District boundaries do not correspond with those of local authorities. In fact a small part of the Doncaster area is covered by the Mexborough Benefit Office within the Agency's Rother and Dearne District. Family Credit (FC) is administered centrally from Blackpool and Housing Benefit (HB) by Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council.
  I am therefore able to provide some information on IS customers of the Agency's Doncaster District—to obtain details of those covered at Mexborough would incur disproportionate cost. FC and HB details, however, relate to the Doncaster area as a whole. The details provided are covered in the attached appendixes and have been obtained from The Office of Population and Censuses, Family Credit Unit, the Analytical Services Division and the IS Management Information Statistics.
  For the purpose of calculating relevant percentages, Doncaster has been defined as the Metropolitan District of Doncaster. The Office of Population and Census advise that the latest figure available for the population was 288, 854 at April 1991. For the reasons given above, it is not possible to provide a percentage figure related to IS.
  I hope this information is helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Income Support

  May 1989

  22,513

  May 1990

  22,332

  November 1991

  26,216

  November 1992

  28,771

  August 1993

  29,241

  806

  Housing benefit

  Percentage

  1988–89

  24,500

  8·4

  1989–90

  24,000

  8·3

  1990–91

  23,000

  7·9

  1991–92

  22,500

  7·7

  1992–93

  24,000

  8·3

  It should be noted that these figures are averages of the quarterly counts for each year quoted and have been rounded to the nearest 500. Some of the recipients of Housing Benefit may also be in receipt of Family Credit or Income Support.

  Family Credit

  Percentage

  24 November 1989

  1,491

  0·5

  2 November 1990

  1,657

  0·5

  31 October 1991

  1,769

  0·6

  30 October 1992

  2,415

  0·8

  29 October 1993

  2,888

  0·9

  It should be noted that the above percentages show claimants as a percentage of the Doncaster population in receipt of each benefit. Dependants are not included in the calculation.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those meteorological stations which have registered an average of 0 deg C for(a) three nights, (b) four nights, (c) five nights, (d) six nights and (e) seven nights during 1993; and if he will list the total amounts of severe weather payments triggered by area as a result of recorded temperatures during 1993.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the cold weather payments scheme is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Mrs. Margaret Ewing, dated 2 December 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 about Cold Weather Payments.
  Data provided by the Meteorological Office does not include information on those meteorological stations which have registered an average of 0 degrees Centigrade for three, four, five and six nights. The regulations relating to Cold Weather Payments define a period of cold weather as a consecutive period of seven days during which the average mean daily temperature is 0 degrees Centigrade or less.
  Information relating to Cold Weather Payments made up to the end of March 1993 is held in the Library. Payments made since that date are shown by Benefits Agency District, arid are attached as Annex A.
  A list of those weather stations which have averaged 0 degrees Centigrade for seven consecutive days during the period from the end of March 1993 to 27 November 1993 is also attached as Annex B.
  I hope you find this helpful. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Annex A

  Cold weather payment statistics 1 April 1993 to 27 November 1993

  Office

  Number of payments

  Total amount (£)

  Barnsley

  376

  2,256·000

  Birmingham North West

  18,209

  109,254·00

  Bristol Brunel

  53

  318·00

  807

  Office

  Number of payments

  Total amount (£)

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  13,902

  83,412·00

  Cambridgeshire

  205

  1,230·00

  Channel

  65

  390·00

  East Yorkshire

  693

  4,158·00

  East Sussex

  161

  966·00

  Glasgow West

  9,848

  59,088·00

  Hereford and Worcester

  21,545

  129,270·00

  Leeds Riding

  204

  1,224·00

  Lomond and Argyll

  8,245

  49,470·00

  Mid Wales and Maelor

  11,237

  67,422·00

  North Tyneside

  5,024

  30,144·00

  Oldham

  353

  2,118·00

  Renfrew

  11,692

  70,15200

  Sale/East Cheshire

  289

  1,734·00

  Shropshire

  18,888

  113,328·00

  South Downs

  25

  150·00

  South East Hampshire and Wight

  169

  1,014·00

  West Kent

  6,410

  38,460·00

  Wiltshire

  15,011

  90,066·00

  Annex B

  Weather stations which averaged 0 degrees centigrade or less for seven consecutive days between 1 April 1993 and 27 November 1993

  Aviemore

  Bedford Royal Aircraft Establishment

  Birmingham Airport

  Carlisle

  Dumfries (Drungans)

  Easthampstead Airport

  Edinburgh Airport

  Eskdalemuir

  Gatwick Airport

  Glasgow Airport

  Kinloss

  Leeming

  Leuchars

  Lyneham

  Shawbury

  Tulloch Bridge

  Wilsden

  Child Support Agency
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) in how many cases of the total number of cases where the Child Support Agency have assessed maintenance as payable maintenance has been collected; and how many of those cases where maintenance has been collected were transferred to the CSA from the liable relatives section of his Department;

  (2) what is his latest estimate of the number of parents with care who have requested that the Child Support Agency collect maintenance on their behalf; and what percentage of these have had maintenance successfully collected;

  Retirement pension/widows benefit

  November 1978

  March 1983

  March 1989

  March 1993

  Retirement pension

  basic

  8,602,000

  9,232.000

  9,791,000

  10,055,000

  net additional pension

  not available

  792,000

  2,533,000

  3,801,000

  Widows benefit

  458,000

  409,000

  373,000

  337,000

  Statistics are from: the Retirement Pension/Widows Benefit Bi-Annual Inquiry, and are grossed up from a 10 per cent. sample.

  The net additional pension reflects the pension after contracted-out deductions.

  808
  (3) what percentage of the total number of maintenance assessments made by the Child Support Agency in the first six months of its operation, excluding those cases inherited from the liable relatives section of his Department, have resulted in maintenance payable by the absent parent;

  (4) how many maintenance assessments were made by the Child Support Agency in the first six months of its operation, excluding those cases inherited from the liable relatives section of his Department; and how many of these are for parents with care who are working and not in receipt of income support, family credit or disability working allowance.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ms R. Hepplewhite to Mrs. Jane Kennedy, dated 2 December 1993:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking various questions about the Agency's operations.
  The Agency does not collect information that identifies maintenance assessments according to the status of the parent with care, nor whether an assessment relates to an existing case which was previously dealt with under the liable relatives provisions before taken on by the Agency. In relation to the total number of cases assessed in the first six months of operations, the absent parent was assessed as liable to pay more than the statutory minimum in over 26,000 cases. By the end of October 1993, a total of 57,000 assessments had been completed, and 40,000 were for more than the statutory minimum.
  You also asked about the collection of maintenance. Information on maintenance being collected is not currently available, but will be later in the financial year.
  I hope you will find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Benefit Statistics
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table similar to table 9a in "The Growth of Social Security", but showing claimant numbers instead of expenditure in 1978–79, 1982–83, 1988–89 and 1992–93, for each of retirement pension basic, retirement pension earnings related, widow's benefit, unemployment benefit, sickness benefit, statutory sick pay, invalidity benefit age 65 years plus, invalidity benefit age 60 to 64 years, invalidity benefit age under 60 years, supplementary benefit/income support age 65 years plus, supplementary benefit/income support age 60 to 64 years, supplementary benefit/income support age under 60 years, child benefit, one-parent benefit, family income supplement/family credit, rate rebate, rent allowance, rent rebate and community charge benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is in the tables.
  809

  November 1978

  November 1982

  November 1988

  November 1992

  Unemployment benefit

  492,000

  975,000

  500,000

  654,000

  Statistics are from the Quarterly Analysis of Unemployed Claimants, and are based on a 100 per cent. sample.

  2 June 1979

  2 April 1983

  1 April 1989

  11992–93

  Sickness benefit

  430,000

  338,000

  109,000

  135,000

  1Statistics are based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants apart from 1992–93 which is taken direct from the Departmental Report (Cm 2213).

  1978–79

  1982–83

  11988–89

  11992–93

  Statutory sick pay

  not available

  not available

  365,000

  330,000

  1This information is taken from the Departmental Report (Cm 2213).

  Statutory Sick Pay was introduced from 1April 1983.

  Invalidity bebefit

  2 June 1979

  2 April 1983

  1 April 1989

  4 April 1992

  Age 65 and over

  38,000

  55,000

  151,000

  219,000

  Age 60 to 64

  173,000

  217,000

  286,000

  330,000

  Age under 60

  399,000

  465,000

  689,000

  890,000

  Statistics are based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants.

  Supplementary benefit/income support

  November 1978

  December 1982

  May 1988

  May 1992

  65 and over

  1,610,000

  1,662,000

  1,433,000

  1,368,000

  60 to 64

  202,000

  249,000

  280,000

  263,000

  Age under 60

  1,121,000

  2,355,000

  2,638,000

  3,456,000

  Statistics are from the Suplementary Benefit/Income Support Annual Inquiries, and are grossed up from a 1 per cent. sample.

  31 December 1978

  31 December 1982

  31 December 1988

  31 December 1992

  Child benefit

  7,178,000

  7,045,000

  6,706,000

  6,857,000

  Statistics are from the Annual Child Benefit statistics, and are grossed up from a 4 per cent. sample.

  31 December 1978

  31 December 1982

  31 December 1988

  31 December 1992

  One parent benefit

  311,000

  508,000

  708,000

  855,000

  Statistics are from the Annual One Parent Benefit statistics and are grossed up from a 4 per cent. sample.

  Family income supplement/family credit

  1978–79

  1982–83

  1988–89

  1992–93

  Family income supplement

  85,000

  165,000

  —

  —

  Family credit

  —

  —

  280,000

  442,000

  The Family credit statistics are based on a 5 per cent. sample of awards.

  Housing benefit/community charge benefit

  11978–79

  11982–83

  11988–89

  11992–93

  Rent rebate

  1,210,000

  3,050,000

  3,125,000

  3,105,000

  Rent allowance

  225,000

  260,000

  965,000

  1,210,000

  Rent rebate

  3,055,000

  5,320,000

  5,150,000

  —

  Community charge benefit

  —

  —

  —

  6,655,000

  1These figures are underlying the expenditure information given in table 9a of the Growth of Social Security Expenditure. They reflect average numbers of beneficiaries in receipt of Housing Benefit/Community Charge Benefit: Domestic rates were abolished and Community Charge introduced in Scotland in 1989 and the rest of Great Britain in 1990.

  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will amend the figures for child benefit expenditure and expenditure on families in tables 9a, 9b, 10, 11a, llb and 12 of "The Growth of Social Security," so that the cost of residual child tax allowances in 1978–79 is included; and if in table 12 he will also distinguish between the growth in expenditure on two-parent families and one-parent families.
  810
  Mr. Burt
  The amended figures are as follows:

  £ million

  Table 9a:

  Child Benefit expenditure 1978–79 (cash)

  2,226

  Table 9b:

  Child Benefit expenditure 1978–79 (92-93) prices

  6,213

  811

  £ million

  Table 10:

  Average annual real increase in Child Benefit expenditure

  1978–79 to 1992–93

  -0·53 per cent.

  1978–79 to 1983–84

  1·09 per cent.

  Table 12:

  Average annual real increase in benefit expenditure

  Percentages

  1978–79 to 1992–93

  1978–79 to 1983–84

  1983–84 to 1986–87

  1986–87 to 1989–90

  1989–90 to 1992–93

  All Families

  3·07

  3·06

  5·06

  -1·38

  5·69

  Two parent families

  0·39

  2·89

  3·65

  -7·54

  1·32

  Lone parent families

  7·20

  3·46

  8·21

  9·21

  10·63

  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table tabulating the costs of administering the social security benefit system in 1978–79, 1982–83, 1986–87, 1990–91 and the latest year for which figures are available, at current and constant prices, and as percentages of benefit expenditure; and what were the costs of administering(a) basic retirement pension, (b)

  Cost of administering social security benefits

  1978–79

  1982–83

  1986–87

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Cost of administering Social Security Benefits

  Outturn prices

  764

  1,514

  2,074

  3,201

  3,564

  Constant 1991–92 prices

  2,004

  2,520

  2,876

  3,373

  3,564

  Administration cost as a percentage of benefit expenditure

  4·9

  4·8

  4·6

  5·7

  5·5

  Cost of administering Retirement Pension

  Outturn prices

  108

  205

  235

  354

  329

  Constant 1991–92 prices

  283

  341

  326

  373

  329

  Administration cost as a percentage of RP benefit expenditure (see notes)

  1·4

  1·5

  1·3

  1·6

  1·3

  Cost of administering Child Benefit

  Outturn prices

  56

  97

  102

  107

  118

  Constant 1991–92 prices

  147

  161

  141

  113

  118

  Administration cost as a percentage of Child Benefit expenditure

  3·1

  2·6

  2·2

  2·2

  2·2

  Cost of administering Unemployment Benefit/IS

  Outturn prices

  67

  132

  179

  182

  322

  Constant 1991–92 prices

  176

  220

  248

  192

  322

  Administration cost as a percentage of UB expenditure

  10·6

  8·8

  10·4

  20·9

  20·1

  Cost of administering Supplementary Benefit/1S

  Outturn prices

  208

  593

  929

  1,348

  1,378

  Constant 1991–92 prices

  735

  987

  1,288

  1,420

  1,373

  Administration cost as a percentage of Supplementary Benefit/IS expenditure

  12·4

  9·3

  11·6

  15·2

  11·8

  Notes:

  1Prices are in millions.

  2GDP deflator used to calculate prices.

  3Figures cover all components of Retirement Pension (RP).

  Bomb-Proofing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the cost, by location, of bomb-proofing the Department's premises.

  Mr. Scott
  On security grounds, I do not propose to provide this information.
  812

  £ millon

  Table 11a:

  Benefit expenditure—Family 1978–79 (cash)

  3,033

  Table 11b:

  Benefit expenditure—Family 1978–79 (92-93) prices

  8,466

  earnings-related retirement pension, (c) child benefit, (d) unemployment benefit and (e) supplementary benefit/ income support in the same years at current and constant prices and as percentages of relevant benefit expenditure.

  Mr. Scott
  The available information is in the table. Information on earnings-related and basic retirement pension is not held in the form requested.

  Government Car Service
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the annual cost to the Department of the car service for Ministers; and how many vehicles are involved.

  Mr. Hague
  There are five cars and the projected annual cost for the current financial year is £209,196.

  Occupational Pensions
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he is yet in a position to publish the discussion papers on occupational pensions issues to which he referred in his statement to the House on 3 November,Official Report, columns 354-65.

  Mr. Hague
  The first five papers in a series of discussion papers on non-state pensions have been published today as a basis for detailed discussions with interested parties. The results of this exercise will help to formulate our detailed policy proposals. Copies of the papers have been placed in the Library.

  Benefits
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the most recently available figures to show the cost of benefits paid to unemployed persons(a) male and over 60 years, (b) male aged 55 to 60 years and (c) female aged 55 to 60 years.

  Mr. Hague
  Unemployed people may receive any or all of the following major benefits: unemployment benefit, income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit and family' credit. They may also receive help with NHS charges. The amount of all benefits paid to unemployed people is not kept according to age grouping and cannot be obtained.

  The latest statistics relating to the numbers of claimants for the two most common of the major benefits—UB and IS—for the age and sex groups specified in the question, are given in the tables.

  Claimants receiving benefit as at 13 May 1993

  Number receiving benefit

  Unemployed males aged 60 and over

  Number receiving

  UB and IS

  4,060

  Number receiving

  UB only

  26,140

  Number receiving

  IS only

  8,732

  Unemployed males aged 55-59

  Number receiving

  UB and IS

  3,786

  DLA mobility components in payment at 31 August 1993 (rounded)

  Higher rate

  Lower rate

  Female

  Male

  Total

  Female

  Male

  Total

  5-09

  6,000

  8,000

  14,000

  5,000

  9,000

  13,000

  10-14

  5,000

  7,000

  12,000

  4,000

  7,000

  12,000

  15-19

  5,000

  6,000

  11,000

  4,000

  6,000

  10,000

  20-24

  8,000

  10,000

  19,000

  6,000

  8,000

  14,000

  25·29

  11,000

  13,000

  24,000

  7,000

  9,000

  15,000

  30-34

  14,000

  15,000

  30,000

  7,000

  8,000

  15,000

  35-39

  19,000

  18,000

  37,000

  6,000

  8,000

  14,000

  40-44

  26,000

  24,000

  50,000

  6,000

  7,000

  13,000

  45-49

  38,000

  34,000

  72,000

  6,000

  7,000

  13,000

  50-54

  47,000

  45,000

  91,000

  6,000

  7,000

  12,000

  55-59

  69,000

  68,000

  137,000

  6,000

  6,000

  12,000

  60-64

  86,000

  94,000

  180,000

  7,000

  7,000

  13,000

  65-69

  73,000

  81,000

  154,000

  2,000

  2,000

  5,000

  70-74

  32,000

  33,000

  66,000

  0

  0

  0

  75-79

  6,000

  6,000

  13,000

  0

  0

  0

  80+

  1,000

  1,000

  2,000

  0

  0

  0

  TOTAL

  448,000

  462,000

  911,000

  73,000

  90,000

  163,000

  1. Source is 5 per cent. sample.

  2. All figures provisional and may be subject to amendment.

  814

  Number receiving bebefit

  Number receiving

  UB only

  28,871

  Number receiving

  IS only

  70,339

  Unemployed females aged 55-59

  Number receiving

  UB and IS

  404

  Number receiving

  UB only

  12,032

  Number receiving

  IS only

  16,377

  Occupational pension Schemes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the proportion of women in employment who are within occupational pension schemes.

  Mr. Hague
  In 1991, the latest year for which figures are available, 37 per cent. of all women in employment—including those in part-time employment—were members of occupational pension schemes.

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people currently receive mobility allowance;

  (2) how many people receive the mobility component of the living allowance at (a) the higher rate and (b) the lower rate; and if he will break the figures down by (i) age, (ii) sex, (iii) whether the recipient holds a driving licence and (iv) whether payment is made to an appointee.

  Mr. Scott
  Mobility allowance was replaced from April 1992 by the mobility component of disability living allowance.

  Information is not available about recipients of the mobility component who hold a driving licence. Information about payments to appointees could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Data about the two rates of mobility component broken down by age and sex are shown in the table.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many files marked "not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by his Department.

  Mr. Scott
  The marking "not for NAO eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office, under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NAO and Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.

  To provide information on the number of files marked "not for NAO eyes" which are held by this Department would involve a large trawl exercise which could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what new training initiatives will be announced in the near future.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In his Budget speech, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the Government's plans to introduce modern apprenticeships.

  By offering young people high-quality work-based training leading to technician, supervisor and similar level qualifications, modern apprenticeships will have the potential to make a significant contribution to our economic competitiveness. We aim to increase to over 40,000 the number of young people achieving national vocational qualifications at level 3 through training in England—roughly tripling the current number.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed persons on the training for work programme achieved recognised qualifications in the latest period for which figures are available.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Training for work replaced employment training in April 1993 and it is still too early to say how many leavers have gained a qualification. The latest period for which figures are available is April 1992 to December 1992. In that period 36 per cent. of all employment training leavers in Great Britain gained a qualification or credit towards one.

  Stonemasons and Woodcarvers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to fund the training of apprentices to ensure sufficient stonemasons and woodcarvers are available to maintain buildings of the National Heritage.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The prime responsibility for ensuring sufficient availability of vocational skills rests with employers in a particular sector, and training and enterprise councils enable employers to manage Government training initiatives in a way which supports local priorities. Funding from youth training and youth credits already supports some apprenticeships which might not otherwise exist, and the modern apprenticeships 816
  announced in the Budget will be an opportunity for a major increase in the number of apprenticeships available across the economy as a whole.

  Employers of stonemasons are in scope to the Construction Industry Training Board—CITB—a statutory body which is empowered to levy employers to enable collective funding of training. From its income, the CITB disburses training grants to employers to ensure that high-quality training takes place.

  Career Development Loans
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people(a) are currently on a course which has been supported by a career development loan, (b) are repaying a career development loan, (c) have had recovery action taken against them because they have defaulted on the loan and (d) have had to defer repayments on their career development loan because of hardship for each region and for Great Britain as a whole; what is the average amount of loan taken out; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information by region on the number of people currently in training supported by a career development loan—CDL—and the number of people currently repaying a loan is shown in the table.

  Details of the number of people who have had recovery action taken against them because they defaulted on the loan are not available.

  No information is held on the number of trainees who have had to defer repayment on loans due to hardship.

  At the end of October 1993, the average loan amount for loans taken out in the current financial year was £2,812.

  Region

  Number Currently in Training

  Number Currently Repaying Loans

  Northern

  173

  769

  Greater Manchester

  113

  635

  North West

  321

  884

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  427

  1,484

  West Midlands

  365

  1,057

  East Midlands

  481

  1,765

  Eastern

  772

  2,291

  South East

  1,378

  3,988

  London

  475

  1,861

  South West

  213

  647

  Wales

  594

  1,681

  Scotland

  594

  1,681

  Great Britain

  5,702

  18,139

  Social Fund
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the contribution from the European social fund and the proportion of programme expenditure that represented to(a) youth training/youth training scheme, (b) training for work/employment training/ employment action and the previous programmes they replaced, (c) business start-up allowance/enterprise allowance scheme, (d) non-advanced further education, (e) high technology national training, (f) employment rehabilitation centres and (g) jobstart allowances and other employment subsidy schemes in each year since 1987; what amount of support the ESF will be providing to each programme in 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.
  817
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information available about European social fund—ESF—support for Government training programmes between 1990 and 1993 is provided in the table. European Commission regulations do not require information about individual programmes to be retained after three years from the date of the final claim. Information is no longer available pribr to 1990 for specific programmes. The total amount claimed for the three-year

  TFW/ET/HTNT

  YT

  EAS/BSU

  Jobplan interviews

  Restart

  ESF support £ million

  Per cent.

  ESF support £ million

  Per cent.

  ESF support £ million

  Per cent

  ESF support £ million

  Per cent.

  ESF support £ million

  Per cent.

  19905

  126·36

  111·63

  8·85

  11·00

  29·91

  120·99

  —

  —

  —

  —

  19915

  156·62

  218·72

  15·81

  22·06

  20·85

  218·59

  —

  —

  —

  —

  19926

  141·17

  318·47

  14·78

  32·28

  12·98

  315·80

  —

  —

  —

  —

  19936

  152·07

  419·55

  31·26

  44·54

  8·96

  48·93

  10·23

  433·80

  2·98

  439·60

  1Outturn derived from 1989–90 and 1990–91 financial years.

  2Outtum derived from 1990–91 and 1991–92 financial years.

  3Outturn derived from 1991–92 and 1992–93 financial years.

  4Outturn estimated from 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  5Amounts provided are final ESF claim totals.

  6Amounts provided are ESF application totals.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the outturn expenditure given to each training and enterprise council in England in 1992–93 at 1993–94 prices; and what is the budget for each TEC in 1993–94 in total and broken down in the same way as given in his answer of 18 February to the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter),Official Report, column 341.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Total 1993–94 budgets for each training and enterprise council—TEC—broken down by programme and management fee are shown in the table.

  I will write to the hon. Member about the outturn expenditure given to each TEC in England.

  Youth training

  £

  Hampshire

  16,047,985

  Heart of England

  5,242,274

  Isle of Wight

  1,742,460

  Kent

  18,062,061

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  5,140,633

  Surrey

  4,405,432

  Sussex

  10,287,749

  Thames Valley Ent

  12,602,202

  South East Total

  73,530,796

  AZTEC

  3,692,164

  CENTEC

  7,430,302

  CILNTEC

  8,037,943

  LETEC

  14,169,207

  North London

  3,888,513

  North West London

  2,896,199

  SOLOTEC

  8,513,285

  South Thames

  11,757,361

  West London

  7,406,653

  London Total

  67,791,627

  Bedfordshire

  5,604,888

  Cambridgeshire

  3,196,782

  Essex

  16,534,219

  Greater Peterborough

  4,691,786

  Hertfordshire

  13,125,126

  Norfolk/Waveney

  10,297,504

  818
  period is £558·62 million. The information in the period 1987 to 1991 inclusive relates to ESF support for programmes operating in Great Britain, for 1992 in England and Wales and for 1993 in England.

  Government programmes designed to give the young and long-term unemployed the skills they need to compete for jobs have received a valuable contribution from the ESF.

  £

  Suffolk

  9,450,401

  Eastern Total

  62,900,706

  Avon

  11,986,489

  Devon/Cornwall

  23,830,082

  Dorset

  6,664,970

  Gloucestershire

  6,411,555

  Somerset

  5,788,739

  Wiltshire

  5,926,164

  South West Total

  60,607,999

  Birmingham

  18,558,199

  Central England

  4,158,285

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  11,845,007

  Dudley

  4,955,104

  HAWTEC

  5,568,011

  Sandwell

  5,006,485

  Shropshire

  6,299,786

  Staffordshire

  20,619,930

  Walsall

  3,7'78,373

  Wolverhampton

  5,059,768

  West Midlands Total

  85,848,948

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  9,261,085

  Leicester

  12,979,065

  Lincolnshire

  10,730,363

  North Derby

  4,962,627

  North Nottinghamshire

  7,423,985

  Northamptonshire

  7,481,478

  South Derby

  8,417,026

  East Midlands Total

  61,255,629

  Humberside

  16,226,497

  North Yorkshire

  7,258,191

  Wakefield

  4,891,686

  Sheffield

  9,562,261

  Rotherham

  5,709,086

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  12,833,878

  Leeds

  7,646,213

  Bradford

  10,693,263

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  12,535,694

  Yorkshire and Humberside Total

  87,356,769

  Bolton/Bury

  6,863,992

  Manchester

  16,208,606

  819

  £

  METROTEC

  5,352,625

  Oldham

  4,713,622

  Rochdale

  4,038,291

  South and East Cheshire

  7,279,469

  Stockport

  5,299,155

  North West (Greater Manchester) Total

  49,755,760

  CEWTEC

  9,249,995

  Cumbria

  9,735,130

  ELTEC

  9,616,309

  LAWTEC

  13,247,988

  Merseyside

  27,637,344

  NORMID

  7,719,985

  QUALITEC

  5,616,592

  North West (W) Total

  82,823,343

  Durham

  12,861,366

  Northumberland

  7,519,133

  Teeside

  13,745,206

  Tyneside

  18,334,040

  Wearside

  7,782,659

  Northern Total

  60,242,404

  Work-related further education

  £

  Hampshire

  3,545,140

  Heart of England

  890,673

  Isle of Wight

  302,807

  Kent

  2,876,925

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  395,229

  Surrey

  1,865,131

  Sussex

  2,296,433

  Thames Valley Ent

  2,743,048

  South East Total

  14,915,386

  AZTEC

  1,383,791

  LAWTEC

  2,431,361

  CENTEC

  1,371,847

  CILNTEC

  1,388,733

  LETEC

  3,111,983

  North London

  1,914,141

  North West London

  1,686,598

  South Thames

  2,863,643

  West London

  2,200,576

  London Total

  17,784,383

  Bedfordshire

  1,060,803

  Cambridgeshire

  635,860

  Essex

  2,916,051

  Greater Peterborough

  811,130

  Hertfordshire

  1,901,768

  Norfolk/Waveney

  1,672,635

  Suffolk

  765,679

  Eastern Total

  9,763,926

  Avon

  1,673,934

  Devon/Cornwall

  3,451,753

  Dorset

  1,208,862

  Gloucestershire

  1,015,500

  Somerset

  1,203,301

  Wiltshire

  1,304,511

  South West Total

  9,857,861

  Birmingham

  2,411,852

  Central England

  862,187

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  1,787,808

  Dudley

  766,542

  HAWTEC

  906,058

  820

  £

  Sandwell

  647,417

  Shropshire

  867,855

  Staffordshire

  2,008,829

  Walsal

  523,864

  Wolverhampton

  662,175

  West Midlands Total

  11,444,587

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  1,435,361

  Leicester

  1,596,264

  Lincolnshire

  1,234,413

  North Derby

  741,942

  North Nottinghamshire

  761,200

  Northamptonshire

  1,186,321

  South Derby

  1,174,671

  East Midlands Total

  8,130,163

  Humberside

  1,673,110

  North Yorkshire

  1,538,541

  Wakefield

  618,484

  Sheffield

  1,371,436

  Rotherham

  480,208

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  982,861

  Leeds

  1,335,090

  Bradford

  786,207

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  1,299,055

  Yorkshire and Humberside Total

  10,084,992

  Bolton/Bury

  1,046,800

  Manchester

  2,623,333

  METROTEC

  740,802

  Oldham

  413,181

  Rochdale

  542,808

  South and East Cheshire

  687,027

  Stockport

  676,753

  North West (Greater Manchester) Total

  6,730,704

  CEWTEC

  1,008,843

  Cumbria

  780,029

  ELTEC

  1,625,906

  LAWTEC

  1,625,906

  Merseyside

  2,240,840

  NORMID

  977,192

  QUALITEC

  426,359

  North West (w) Total

  9,490,530

  Durham

  1,061,832

  Northumberland

  419,980

  Teeside

  1,031,871

  Tyneside

  1,500,033

  Wearside

  744,199

  Northern Total

  4,757,915

  Education business links

  £

  Hampshire

  129,177

  Heart of England

  89,416

  Isle of Wight

  32,755

  Kent

  134,686

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  71,205

  Surrey

  113,132

  Sussex

  126,113

  Thames Valley Ent

  157,735

  South East Total

  854,219

  AZTEC

  71,000

  CENTEC

  140,000

  CILNTEC

  128,022

  LETEC

  234,334

  821

  £

  North London

  157,000

  North West London

  145,904

  SOLOTEC

  100,580

  South Thames

  234,000

  West London

  96,842

  London Total

  1,407,682

  Bedfordshire

  88,602

  Cambridgeshire

  77,432

  Essex

  115,011

  Greater Peterborough

  69,348

  Hertfordshire

  98,916

  Norfolk/Waveney

  55,345

  Suffolk

  88,043

  Eastern Total

  592,697

  Avon

  135,684

  Devon/Cornwall

  239,404

  Dorset

  82,690

  Gloucestershire

  82,557

  Somerset

  44,831

  Wiltshire

  79,533

  South West Total

  664,699

  Birmingham

  130,727

  Central England

  94,931

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  120,174

  Dudley

  99,341

  HAWTEC

  92,691

  Sandwell

  80,551

  Shropshire

  105,299

  Walsall

  102,776

  Wolverhampton

  101,942

  West Midlands Total

  1,000,686

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  149,910

  Leicester

  115,854

  Lincolnshire

  40,477

  North Derby

  75,871

  North Nottinghamshire

  93,924

  Northants

  77,310

  South Derby

  149,649

  East Midlands Total

  702,995

  Humberside

  128,038

  North Yorkshire

  84,906

  Wakefield

  58,397

  Sheffield

  96,119

  Rotherham

  126,162

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  207,352

  Leeds

  50,952

  Bradford

  142,800

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  108,075

  Yorkshire and Humberside Total

  1,002,801

  Bolton/Bury

  108,100

  Manchester

  235,300

  METROTEC

  133,000

  Oldham

  128,300

  Rochdale

  71,300

  South and East Cheshire

  50,000

  Stockport

  49,800

  North West (Greater Manchester) Total

  775,800

  CEWTEC

  147,000

  Cumbria

  77,000

  ELTEC

  195,000

  LAWTEC

  169,000

  Merseyside

  338,000

  NORMID

  140,000

  822

  £

  QUALITEC

  120,000

  North West (W) Total

  1,186,000

  Durham

  120,711

  Northumberland

  80,162

  Teeside

  119,674

  Tyneside

  491,730

  Wearside

  130,151

  Northern Total

  942,428

  Careers partnerships

  £

  Hampshire

  15,000

  Heart of England

  15,000

  Isle of Wight

  25,000

  Kent

  10,000

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  25,000

  Surrey

  15,000

  Sussex

  10,000

  Thames Valley Ent

  30,000

  South Eest Total

  145,000

  AZTEC

  40,000

  CENTEC

  24,000

  CILNTEC

  26,681

  LETEC

  40,000

  North London

  40,000

  North West London

  40,000

  SOLOTEC

  25,000

  South Thames

  30,000

  West London

  21,683

  London Total

  287,364

  Bedfordshire

  15,000

  Cambridgeshire

  30,000

  Essex

  15,000

  Greater Peterborough

  0

  Hertfordshire

  30,000

  Norfolk/Waveney

  15,000

  Suffolk

  15,000

  Eastern Total

  120,000

  Avon

  17,000

  Devon/Cornwall

  28,000

  Dorset

  1,7,000

  Gloucestershire

  24,000

  Somerset

  17,000

  Wiltshire

  17,000

  South West Total

  120,000

  Birmingham

  10,000

  Central England

  10,000

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  10,000

  Dudley

  19,000

  HAWTEC

  10,000

  Sandwell

  24,000

  Shropshire

  10,000

  Staffordshire

  10,000

  Walsall

  24,000

  Wolverhampton

  24,000

  West Midlands Total

  151,000

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  0

  Leicester

  15,000

  Lincolnshire

  15,000

  North Derby

  8,000

  North Nottinghamshire

  20,000

  Northamptonshire

  30,000

  823

  £

  South Derby

  12,000

  East Midlands Total

  100,000

  Humberside

  30,000

  North Yorkshire

  15,000

  Wakefield

  30,000

  Sheffield

  15,000

  Rotherham

  30,000

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  15,000

  Leeds

  0

  Bradford

  0

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  15,000

  Yorkshire and Humberside Total

  150,000

  Bolton/Bury

  38,000

  Manchester

  47.000

  METROTEC

  13,000

  Oldham

  15,000

  Rochdale

  15,000

  South and East Cheshire

  15,000

  Stockport

  15,000

  North West (Greater Manchester) Total

  158,000

  CEWTEC

  35,000

  Cumbria

  15,000

  ELTEC

  13,000

  LAWTEC

  13,000

  Merseyside

  45,000

  NORMID

  13,000

  QUALITEC

  13,000

  North West (W) Total

  147,000

  Durham

  15,000

  Northumberland

  13,000

  Teeside

  33,000

  Tyneside

  31,000

  Wearside

  13,000

  Northern Total

  105,000

  Careers libraries

  £

  Hampshire

  186,224

  Heart of England

  79,552

  Isle of Wight

  25,312

  Kent

  204,304

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  21,696

  Surrey

  136,504

  Sussex

  232,328

  Thames Valley Ent

  143,736

  South East Total

  1,029,656

  AZTEC

  73,500

  CENTEC

  79,750

  CILNTEC

  44,250

  LETEC

  129,550

  North London

  80,250

  North West London

  47,650

  SOLOTEC

  113,700

  South Thames

  112,000

  West London

  91,300

  London Total

  771,950

  Bedfordshire

  25,000

  Cambridgeshire

  52,000

  Essex

  227,597

  Greater Peterborough

  37,000

  Hertfordshire

  194,584

  Norfolk/Waveney

  88,000

  824

  £

  Suffolk

  37,400

  Eastern Total

  661,581

  Avon

  132,016

  Devon/Cornwall

  181,958

  Dorset

  84,178

  Gloucestershire

  85,590

  Somerset

  70,374

  Wiltshire

  79,884

  South West Total

  634,000

  Birmingham

  109,625

  Central England

  45,673

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  99,576

  Dudley

  31,973

  HAWTEC

  65,778

  Sandwell

  36,544

  Shropshire

  68,516

  Staffordshire

  119,673

  Walsall

  29,234

  Wolverhampton

  27,408

  West Midlands Total

  634,000

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  78,257

  Leicester

  121,668

  Lincolnshire

  70,011

  North Derby

  46,124

  North Nottinghamshire

  59,000

  Northamptonshire

  84,535

  South Derby

  72,405

  East Midlands Total

  532,000

  Humberside

  81,510

  North Yorkshire

  99,420

  Wakefield

  51,054

  Sheffield

  50,160

  Rotherham

  24,185

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  58,220

  Leeds

  115,542

  Bradford

  95,837

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  68,072

  Yorkshire and Humberside Total

  644,000

  Bolton/Bury

  47,800

  Manchester

  127,800

  METROTEC

  31,900

  Oldham

  23,800

  Rochdale

  20,900

  South and East Cheshire

  33,800

  Stockport

  39,000

  North West (Greater Manchester) Total

  325,000

  CEWTEC

  61,997

  Cumbria

  72,992

  ELTEC

  64,991

  LAWTEC

  96,995

  Merseyside

  110,900

  NORMID

  53,000

  QUALITEC

  19,000

  North West (W) Total

  479,875

  Durham

  88,980

  Northumberland

  44,440

  Teeside

  88,980

  Tyneside

  105,160

  Wearside

  44,000

  Northern Total

  371,560

  825

  Training for work

  £

  Hampshire

  11,665,618

  Heart of England

  3,858,212

  Isle of Wight

  1,379,369

  Kent

  14,232,343

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  2,829,713

  Surrey

  5,057,271

  Sussex

  11,042,127

  Thames Valley Ent

  8,482,205

  South East Total

  58,546,858

  AZTEC

  6,825,503

  CENTEC

  15,613,383

  CILNTEC

  14,456,709

  LETEC

  24,000,588

  North London

  13,156,694

  North West London

  7,135,522

  SOLOTEC

  8,240,523

  South Thames

  25,166,155

  West London

  7,399,737

  London Total

  121,994,814

  Bedfordshire

  5,285,187

  Cambridgeshire

  2,302,357

  Essex

  12,668,893

  Greater Peterborough

  4,588,012

  Hertfordshire

  7,156,808

  Norfolk/Waveney

  11,288,618

  Suffolk

  4,651,158

  Eastern Total

  47,941,033

  Avon

  14,971,534

  Devon/Cornwall

  25,533,963

  Dorset

  6,703,318

  Gloucestershire

  5,068,345

  Somerset

  5,255,668

  Wiltshire

  5,622,688

  South West Total

  63,155,516

  Birmingham

  22,328,234

  Central England

  5,078,153

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  13,158,154

  Dudley

  5,788,085

  HAWTEC

  4,867481

  Sandwell

  6,423,583

  Shropshire

  5,523,999

  Walsall

  4,830,477

  Wolverhampton

  5,442,464

  West Midlands Total

  85,352,355

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  10,314,638

  Leicester

  8,877,929

  Lincolnshire

  11,783,913

  North Derby

  5,013,978

  North Nottinghamshire

  7,464,456

  Northamptonshire

  3,840,188

  South Derby

  7,739,104

  East Midlands Total

  55,034,206

  Humberside

  17,748,578

  North Yorkshire

  6,763,131

  Wakefield

  6,879,885

  Rotherham

  6,106,957

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  13,740,141

  Leeds

  13,379,984

  Bradford

  8,345,142

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  10,800,160

  Yorkshire and Humberside Total

  98,032,276

  Bolton/Bury

  5,473,743

  826

  £

  Manchester

  18,170,265

  METROTEC

  4,722,238

  Oldham

  3,698,127

  Rochdale

  4,688,477

  South and East Cheshire

  4,358,567

  Stockport

  3,812,332

  North West (Greater Manchester) Total

  44,923,749

  CEWTEC

  11,025,720

  Cumbria

  6,376,747

  ELTEC

  7,421,013

  LAWTEC

  12,373,434

  Merseyside

  30,041,270

  NORMID

  5,512,679

  QUALITEC

  4,719,713

  North West (W) Total

  77,470,576

  Durham

  16,791,889

  Northumberland

  6,670,090

  Teeside

  18,308,303

  Tyneside

  25,145,755

  Wearside

  12,558,651

  Northern Total

  79,474,688

  Local initiative fund

  £

  Hampshire

  435,751

  Heart of England

  435,229

  Isle of Wight

  174,033

  Kent

  455,281

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  481,000

  Surrey

  638,000

  Sussex

  900,000

  Thames Valley Ent

  1,097,409

  South East Total

  4,616,703

  AZTEC

  451,729

  CENTEC

  713,129

  CILNTEC

  634,670

  LETEC

  696,380

  North London

  456,335

  North West London

  403,793

  SOLOTEC

  490,000

  South Thames

  680,000

  West London

  935,056

  London Total

  5,461,092

  Bedfordshire

  270,000

  Cambridgeshire

  398,000

  Essex

  799,423

  Greater Peterborough

  188,274

  Hertfordshire

  514,000

  Norfolk/Waveney

  375,000

  Suffolk

  300,000

  Eastern Total

  2,844,697

  Avon

  535,000

  Devon/Cornwall

  1,014,662

  Dorset

  1,742,602

  Gloucestershire

  451,000

  Somerset

  448,180

  Wiltshire

  407,000

  South West Total

  4,598,444

  Birmingham

  661,306

  Central England

  181,600

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  571,220

  Dudley

  313,093

  827

  £

  HAWTEC

  626,157

  Sandwell

  176,202

  Shropshire

  543,192

  Staffordshire

  171,581

  Walsall

  192,952

  Wolverhampton

  258,701

  West Midlands Total

  3,696,400

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  557,000

  Leicester

  660,000

  Lincolnshire

  1,105,000

  North Derby

  140,000

  North Nottinghamshire

  163,000

  Northants

  209,000

  South Derby

  311,000

  East Midlands Total

  3,145,000

  Humberside

  481,711

  North Yorkshire

  1,056,126

  Wakefield

  453,253

  Sheffield

  1,075,471

  Rotherham

  365,507

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  1,885,689

  Leeds

  458,028

  Bradford

  542,878

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  2,239,937

  Yorkshire and d Humberside Total

  8,558,600

  Bolton/Bury

  956,095

  Manchester

  659,750

  METROTEC

  89,341

  Oldham

  104,334

  Rochdale

  204,644

  South and East Cheshire

  706,660

  Stockport

  674,300

  North West (Greater Manchester) Total

  3,395,124

  CEWTEC

  285,000

  Cumbria

  290,000

  ELTEC

  910,000

  LAWTEC

  345,000

  Merseyside

  345,000

  NORMID

  285,000

  QUALITEC

  280,000

  North West (W) Total

  2,740,000

  Durham

  305,964

  Northumberland

  201,000

  Teesside

  2,427,791

  Tyneside

  426,373

  Wearside

  206,120

  Northern Total

  3,567,248

  Business start-up scheme

  £

  Hampshire

  2,040,800

  Heart of England

  364,250

  Isle of Wight

  310,000

  Kent

  2,342,290

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  356,550

  Surrey

  858,630

  Sussex

  1,177,000

  Thames Valley Ent

  1,130,290

  South East Total

  8,579,810

  AZTEC

  762,629

  CENTEC

  1,235,739

  CILNTEC

  1,799,591

  828

  £

  LETEC

  1,064,189

  North London

  1,384,045

  North West London

  662,336

  SOLOTEC

  1,889,159

  South Thames

  1,806,800

  West London

  947,800

  London Total

  11,552,288

  Bedfordshire

  449,530

  Cambridgeshire

  344,400

  Essex

  1,052,600

  Greater Peterborough

  300,530

  Hertfordshire

  1,401,917

  Norfolk/Waveney

  1,300,452

  Suffolk

  869,925

  Eastern Total

  5,719,354

  Avon

  1,548,379

  Devon/Cornwall

  3,274,300

  Dorset

  743,250

  Gloucestershire

  1,591,850

  Somerset

  581,300

  Wiltshire

  1,603,523

  South West Total

  9,342,602

  Birmingham l

  2,278, 900

  Central England

  972,836

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  1,518,320

  Dudley

  555,710

  HAWTEC

  921,759

  Sandwell

  538,208

  shropsire

  836,648

  Staffordshire

  1,367,918

  Walsall

  381,350

  Wolverhampton

  559,240

  West Midlands Total

  9,930,889

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  1,372,890

  Leicester

  1,929,850

  Lincolnshire

  1,229,450

  North Derby

  573,699

  North Nottinghamshire

  897,277

  Northamptonshire

  900,716

  South Derby

  514,170

  East Midlands Total

  7,418,052

  Humberside

  1,768,900

  North Yorkshire

  1,630,200

  Wakefield

  748,011

  Sheffield

  1,035,005

  Rotherham

  682,000

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  1,161,350

  Leeds

  1,444,850

  Bradford

  1,201,860

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  1,527,000

  Yorkshire and Humberside Total

  11,199,176

  Bolton/Bury

  974,287

  Manchester

  2,813,367

  METROTEC

  762,750

  Oldham

  457,090

  Rochdale

  265,346

  South and East Cheshire

  568,875

  Stockport

  840,570

  North West (Greater Manchester) Total

  6,682,285

  CEWTEC

  1,210,317

  Cumbria

  1,120,991

  ELTEC

  1,086,860

  LAWTEC

  1,124,456

  Merseyside

  2,348,590

  829

  £

  NORMID

  784,550

  QUALITEC

  437,580

  North West (W) Total

  8,113,344

  Durham

  1,476,115

  Northumberland

  661,824

  Teeside

  1,389,360

  Tyneside

  1,266,866

  Wearside

  496,344

  Northern Total

  5,290,509

  Employer investment in people

  £

  Hampshire

  819,134

  Heart of England

  550,065

  Isle of Wight

  334,985

  Kent

  662,135

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  478,208

  Surrey

  868,968

  Sussex

  871,988

  Thames Valley Ent

  910,705

  South East Total

  5,496,188

  AZTEC

  515,164

  CENTEC

  1,675,794

  CILNTEC

  309,773

  LETEC

  891,861

  North London

  671,820

  North West London

  405,849

  SOLOTEC

  410,504

  South Thames

  1,008,529

  West London

  363,139

  London Total

  6,252,433

  Bedfordshire

  323,499

  Cambridgeshire

  370,470

  Essex

  461,799

  Greater Peterborough

  305,525

  Hertfordshire

  464,767

  Norfolk/Waveney

  576,462

  Suffolk

  470,500

  Eastern Total

  2,973,022

  Avon

  988,340

  Devon/Cornwall

  1,320,661

  Dorset

  1,526,840

  Gloucestershire

  308,000

  Somerset

  615,000

  Wiltshire

  333,657

  South West Total

  5,102,498

  Birmingham

  1,046,645

  Central England

  283,981

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  757,776

  Dudley

  286,915

  HAWTEC

  433,665

  Sandwell

  333,991

  Shropshire

  419,195

  Staffordshire

  1,298,090

  Walsall

  454,033

  Wolverhampton

  183,772

  West Midlands Total

  5,498,063

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  478,125

  Leicester

  698,649

  Lincolnshire

  399,363

  North Derby

  350,595

  North Nottinghamshire

  401,568

  830

  £

  Northamptonshire

  519,131

  South Derby

  738,232

  East Midlands Total

  3,585,663

  Humberside

  1,044,174

  North Yorkshire

  304,980

  Wakefield

  319,630

  Sheffield

  855,136

  Rotherham

  262,758

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  324,230

  Leeds

  598,023

  Bradford

  400,524

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  260,204

  Yorkshire and Humberside Total

  4,369,659

  Bolton/Bury

  383,656

  Manchester

  1,183,250

  METROTEC

  248,554

  Oldham

  183,375

  Rochdale

  343,862

  South and East Cheshire

  687,850

  Stockport

  313,485

  North West (Greater Manchester) Total

  3,359,032

  CEWTEC

  880,183

  Cumbria

  301,264

  ELTEC

  590,337

  LAWTEC

  1,389,970

  Merseyside

  1,314,784

  NORMID

  482,250

  QUALITEC

  123,820

  North West (W) Total

  5,082,608

  Durham

  554,900

  Northumberland

  323,450

  Teeside

  752,241

  Tyneside

  946,714

  Wearside

  421,976

  Northern Total

  3,004,281

  National Development Projects

  £

  Hampshire

  80,000

  Heart of England

  285,282

  Isle of Wight

  8,000

  Kent

  244,227

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  284,250

  Surrey

  116,001

  Sussex

  3,500

  Thames Valley Ent

  50,109

  South East Total

  1,071,369

  AZTEC

  18,741

  CENTEC

  97,372

  CILNTEC

  235,163

  LETEC

  0

  North London

  164,199

  North West London

  57,001

  SOLOTEC

  2911,002

  South Thames

  349,569

  West London

  325,290

  London Total

  1,545,337

  Bedfordshire

  191,460

  Cambridgeshire

  57,000

  Essex

  308,346

  Greater Peterborough

  67,669

  Hertfordshire

  186,500

  831

  £

  Norfolk/Waveney

  109,000

  Suffolk

  278,356

  Eastern Total

  1,198,331

  Avon

  144,909

  Devon/Cornwall

  120,455

  Dorset

  57,117

  Gloucestershire

  150,972

  Somerset

  54,000

  Wiltshire

  92,000

  South West Total

  619,453

  Birmingham

  304,000

  Central England

  70,000

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  85,000

  Dudley

  104,000

  HAWTEC

  101,900

  Sandwell

  171,550

  Shropshire

  198,966

  Staffordshire

  75,450

  Walsall

  150,000

  Wolverhampton

  199,750

  West Midlands Total

  1,460,616

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  115,400

  Leicester

  0

  Lincolnshire

  263,800

  North Derby

  49,900

  North Nottinghamshire

  45,000

  Northamptonshire

  121,912

  South Derby

  74,985

  East Midlands Total

  670,997

  Humberside

  226,154

  North Yorkshire

  0

  Wakefield

  0

  Sheffield

  387,169

  Rotherham

  119,702

  Barnley/Doncaster

  0

  Leeds

  333,805

  Bradford

  0

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  241,035

  Yorkshire and Humberside Total

  1,307,865

  Bolton/Bury

  0

  Manchester

  310,475

  METROTEC

  0

  Oldham

  60,001

  Rochdale

  79,999

  South and East Cheshire

  176,754

  Stockport

  135,375

  North West (Greater Manchester) Total

  762,604

  CEWTEC

  245,505

  Cumbria

  0

  ELTEC

  272,435

  LAWTEC

  318,125

  Merseyside

  376,102

  NORMID

  150,901

  QUALITEC

  138,101

  North West (W) Total

  1,501,169

  Durham

  226,372

  Northumberland

  196,529

  Teeside

  251,038

  Tyneside

  522,507

  Wearside

  110,890

  Northern Total

  1,307,336

  832

  Skill choice

  £

  Hampshire

  465,300

  Heart of England

  0

  Isle of Wight

  0

  Kent

  0

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  0

  Surrey

  0

  Sussex

  0

  Thames Valley Ent

  0

  South East Total

  465,300

  AZTEC

  442,875

  CENTEC

  0

  CILNTEC

  0

  LETEC

  0

  North London

  0

  North West London

  0

  SOLOTEC

  0

  South Thames

  0

  West London

  0

  London Total

  442,875

  Bedfordshire

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  400,684

  Essex

  0

  Greater Peterborough

  0

  Hertfordshire

  801,500

  Norfolk/Waveney

  0

  Suffolk

  0

  Eastern Total

  1,202,184

  Avon

  0

  Devon/Cornwall

  0

  Dorset

  449,460

  Gloucestershire

  0

  Somerset

  0

  Wiltshire

  434,000

  South West Total

  883,460

  Birmingham

  1,149,250

  Central England

  0

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  696,000

  Dudley

  0

  HAWTEC

  0

  Sandwell

  0

  Shropshire

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  Walsall

  0

  Wolverhampton

  0

  West Midlands Total

  1,845,250

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  546,000

  Leicester

  0

  Lincolnshire

  0

  North Derby

  0

  North Nottinghamshire

  0

  Northamptonshire

  0

  South Derby

  0

  East Midlands Total

  546,000

  Humberside

  0

  North Yorkshire

  0

  Wakefield

  0

  Sheffield

  0

  Rotherham

  0

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  0

  Leeds

  0

  Bradford

  0

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  0

  Yorkshire and Humberside Total

  0

  833

  £

  Bolton/Bury

  0

  Manchester

  0

  METROTEC

  0

  Oldham

  0

  Rochdale

  0

  South and East Cheshire

  661,250

  Stockport

  0

  North West (Greater Manchester) Total

  661,250

  CEWTEC

  544,200

  Cumbria

  0

  ELTEC

  0

  LAWTEC

  0

  Merseyside

  0

  NORMID

  0

  QUALITEC

  0

  North West (W) Total

  544,200

  Durham

  0

  Northumberland

  560,000

  Teeside

  0

  Tyneside

  542,500

  Wearside

  0

  Northern Total

  1,102,500

  Open Learning Credits

  £

  Hampshire

  200,000

  Heart of England

  0

  Isle of Wight

  0

  Kent

  0

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  0

  Surrey

  0

  Sussex

  0

  Thames Valley Ent

  0

  South East Total

  200,000

  AZTEC

  0

  CENTEC

  200,000

  CILNTEC

  0

  LETEC

  0

  North London

  0

  North West London

  0

  SOLOTEC

  0

  South Thames

  0

  West London

  0

  London Total

  200,000

  Bedfordshire

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  Essex

  0

  Greater Peterborough

  0

  Hertfordshire

  200,001

  Norfolk/Waveney

  0

  Suffolk

  0

  Eastern Total

  200,001

  Avon

  0

  Devon/Cornwall

  200,000

  Dorset

  0

  Gloucestershire

  14,130

  Somerset

  0

  Wiltshire

  0

  South West Total

  214,130

  Birmingham

  0

  Central England

  0

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  200,000

  834

  £

  Dudley

  0

  HAWTEC

  0

  Sandwell

  0

  Shropshire

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  Walsall

  0

  Wolverhampton

  0

  West Midlands Total

  200,000

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  0

  Leicester

  0

  Lincolnshire

  0

  North Derby

  0

  North Nottinghamshire

  200,000

  Northamptonshire

  0

  South Derby

  0

  East Midlands Total

  200,000

  Humberside

  200,000

  North Yorkshire

  0

  Wakefield

  0

  Sheffield

  0

  Rotherham

  0

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  0

  Leeds

  50,000

  Bradford

  0

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  0

  Yorkshire and Humberside Total

  250,000

  Bolton/Bury

  0

  Manchester

  200,000

  METROTEC

  0

  Oldham

  0

  Rochdale

  0

  South and East Cheshire

  0

  Stockport

  0

  North West (Greater Manchester) Total

  200,000

  CEWTEC

  0

  Cumbria

  0

  ELTEC

  0

  LAWTEC

  0

  Merseyside

  0

  NORMID

  200,000

  QUALITEC

  0

  North West (W) Total

  200,000

  Durham

  0

  Northumberland

  0

  Teeside

  0

  Tyneside

  100,000

  Wearside

  100,000

  Northern Total

  200,000

  Out of school childcare

  £

  Hampshire

  0

  Heart of England

  75,220

  Isle of Wight

  0

  Kent

  134,186

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  40,601

  Surrey

  0

  Sussex

  0

  Thames Valley Ent

  100,000

  South East Total

  350,007

  AZTEC

  69,956

  CENTEC

  0

  835

  £

  CILNTEC

  0

  LETEC

  80,140

  North London

  71,015

  North West London

  0

  SOLOTEC

  0

  South Thames

  53,364

  West London

  0

  London Total

  274,475

  Bedfordshire

  82,319

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  Essex

  0

  Greater Peterborough

  0

  Hertfordshire

  79,481

  Norfolk/Waveney

  65,000

  Suffolk

  0

  Eastern Total

  226,800

  Avon

  68,895

  Devon/Cornwall

  126,000

  Dorset

  0

  Gloucestershire

  10,000

  Somerset

  0

  Wiltshire

  0

  South West Total

  204,895

  Birmingham

  0

  Central England

  50,000

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  60,000

  Dudley

  0

  HAWTEC

  46,000

  Sandwell

  0

  Shropshire

  40,000

  Staffordshire

  0

  Walsall

  50,000

  Wolverhampton

  0

  West Midlands Total

  246,000

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  53,000

  Leicester

  53,200

  Lincolnshire

  15,000

  North Derby

  0

  North Nottinghamshire

  53,000

  Northamptonshire

  0

  South Derby

  0

  East Midlands Total

  174,200

  Humberside

  74,150

  North Yorkshire

  0

  Wakefield

  0

  Sheffield

  50,000

  Rotherham

  48,050

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  0

  Leeds

  0

  Bradford

  0

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  58,800

  Yorkshire and Humberside Total

  231,000

  Bolton/Bury

  0

  Manchester

  0

  METROTEC

  33,000

  Oldham

  0

  Rochdale

  47,250

  South and East Cheshire

  47,750

  Stockport

  0

  North West (Greater Manchester) Total

  128,000

  CEWTEC

  57,000

  Cumbria

  53,913

  ELTEC

  57,000

  LAWTEC

  0

  836

  £

  Merseyside

  0

  NORMID

  0

  QUALITEC

  0

  North West (W) Total

  167,913

  Durham

  20,000

  Northumberland

  25,001

  Teeside

  40,002

  Tyneside

  61,000

  Wearside

  0

  Northern Total

  146,003

  Management Fee £

  Hampshire

  1,552,979

  Heart of England

  1,004,362

  Isle of Wight

  459,306

  Kent

  1,813,678

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  613,356

  Surrey

  1,103,275

  Sussex

  1,571,399

  Thames Valley Ent

  1,769,501

  South East Total

  9,887,856

  AZTEC

  1,310,523

  CENTEC

  2,729,136

  CILNTEC

  2,182,386

  LETEC

  3,312,440

  North London

  1,970,663

  North West London

  1,335,653

  SOLOTEC

  2,176,115

  South Thames

  3,198,219

  West London

  1,920,322

  London Total

  20,126,457

  Bedfordshire

  977,672

  Cambridgeshire

  794,959

  Essex

  2,551,120

  Greater Peterborough

  950,206

  Hertfordshire

  1,819,754

  Norfolk/Waveney

  1,637,008

  Suffolk

  1,227,324

  Eastern Total

  9,958,043

  Avon

  2,049,246

  Devon/Comwall

  3,821,053

  Dorset

  1,434,413

  Gloucestershire

  1,277,621

  Somerset

  1,276,647

  Wiltshire

  1,316,089

  South West Total

  11,175,069

  Birmingham

  2,904,048

  Central England

  1,092,988

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  1,966,031

  Dudley

  1,045,807

  HAWTEC

  1,016,420

  Sandwell

  1,082,684

  Shropshire

  1,124,207

  Staffordshire

  2,381,460

  Walsall

  970,775

  Wolverhampton

  1,073,675

  West Midlands Total

  14,658,095

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  1,278,065

  Leicester

  1,789,460

  Lincolnshire

  1,571,308

  837

  Management Fee £

  North Derby

  960,167

  North Nottinghamshire

  1,156,983

  Northamptonshire

  1,084,507

  South Derby

  1,293,524

  East Midlands Total

  9,134,014

  Humberside

  2,713,015

  North Yorkshire

  1,460,995

  Wakefield

  1,342,539

  Sheffield

  2,131,804

  Rotherham

  1,157,943

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  1,800,073

  Leeds

  2,063,229

  Bradford

  1,558,130

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  1,592,970

  Yorkshire and Humberside Total

  15,820,698

  Bolton/Bury

  1,002,700

  Manchester

  3,416,666

  METROTEC

  883,457

  Oldham

  793,998

  Rochdale

  765,003

  South and East Cheshire

  844,999

  Stockport

  961,710

  North West (Greater Manchester) Total

  8,668,533

  CEWTEC

  1,701,649

  Cumbria

  1,509,880

  ELTEC

  1,329,777

  LAWTEC

  2,183,805

  Merseyside

  3,690,016

  NORMID

  1,308,900

  QUALITEC

  820,254

  North West (W) Total

  12,544,281

  Durham

  2,509,460

  Northumberland

  1,364,519

  Teeside

  2,809,819

  Tyneside

  2,985,225

  Wearside

  1,617,715

  Northern Total

  11,286,738

  Total £

  Hampshire

  37,183,108

  Heart of England

  12,889,535

  Isle of Wight

  4,794,027

  Kent

  41,172,116

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  10,737,441

  Surrey

  15,177,344

  Sussex

  28,518,637

  Thames Valley Ent

  29,216,940

  South East Total

  179,689,148

  AZTEC

  15,757,575

  CENTEC

  31,301,452

  CILNTEC

  29,243,921

  LETEC

  47,730,672

  North London

  23,954,675

  North West London

  14,816,505

  SOLOTEC

  24,119,939

  South Thames

  47,259,640

  West London

  21,708,398

  London Total

  255,892,777

  Bedfordshire

  14,373,960

  Cambridgeshire

  8,659,944

  838

  Total £

  Essex

  37,650,059

  Greater Peterborough

  12,009,480

  Hertfordshire

  27,975,122

  Norfolk/Waveney

  27,480,024

  Suffolk

  18,153,786

  Eastern Total

  146,302,375

  Avon

  34,261,426

  Devon/Cornwall

  63,142,291

  Dorset

  20,714,700

  Gloucestershire

  16,491,120

  Somerset

  15,355,040

  Wiltshire

  17,216,049

  South West Total

  167,180,626

  Birmingham

  51,892,786

  Central England

  12,900,634

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  32,875,066

  Dudley

  13,965,570

  HAWTEC

  14,656,120

  Sandwell

  14,521,215

  Shropshire

  16,037,663

  Staffordshire

  40,036,710

  Walsall

  11,487,834

  Wolverhampton

  13,592,895

  West Midlands Total

  221,966,493

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  25,639,731

  Leicester

  28,836,939

  Lincolnshire

  28,458,098

  North Derby

  12,922,903

  North Nottinghamshire

  18,739,393

  Northamptonshire

  15,535,089

  South Derby

  20,496,766

  East Midlands Total

  150,628,919

  Humberside

  42,395,837

  North Yorkshire

  20,211,490

  Wakefield

  15,392,939

  Sheffield

  30,897,859

  Rotherham

  15,112,558

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  33,008,794

  Leeds

  27,475,716

  Bradford

  23,766,641

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  30,746,002

  Yorkshire and Humberside Total

  239,007,836

  Bolton/Bury

  16,895,173

  Manchester

  45,995,812

  METROTEC

  13,010,667

  Oldham

  10,595,828

  Rochdale

  11,087,880

  South and East Cheshire

  16,118,001

  Stockport

  12,822,480

  North West (Greater Manchester) Total

  126,525,841

  CEWTEC

  26,452,409

  Cumbria

  20,332,946

  ELTEC

  23,182,693

  LAWTEC

  33,693,134

  Merseyside

  68,487,846

  NORMID

  17,627,457

  QUALITEC

  12,714,419

  North West (W) Total

  202,490,839

  Durham

  36,032,589

  Northumberland

  18,084,128

  Teeside

  40,997,285

  Tyneside

  52,458,903

  Wearside

  24,225,705

  839

  Total £

  Northern Total

  171,798,610

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total budget allocated by his Department during 1992–93 to(a) Cumbria TEC, (b) Durham TEC, (c) Northumberland TEC, (d) Teesside TEC, (e) Tyneside TEC and (f) Wearside TEC; and what was the total amount spent by his Department on training and enterprise councils in the United Kingdom as a whole for the same period.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 6 November 1992,Official Report, column 434. This provides details of the total budget allocated to each training and enterprise council—TEC—including Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland, Teesside, Tyneside and Wearside.

  The total amount spent on TECs in England during 1992–93 was £1·291 billion.

  Expenditure relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the respective Secretaries of State.

  Bomb-proofing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the cost, by location, of bomb-proofing the Department's premises.

  Miss Widdecombe
  On security grounds, I do not propose to give this information.

  Departmental Papers
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for the last 12 months the titles of papers published by his Department and by the Employment Service.

  Miss Widdecombe
  As the reply consists of a long list of information, I will write to the hon. Member.

  Advertising
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much his Department spends annually on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising and (c) press advertising; and what were the corresponding figures for 1985 and 1979.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department's overall advertising and publicity budget for 1993–94 is £10·8 million. Breakdown by media category will not be available until the end of the financial year. In 1992–93 expenditure by media category was as follows:

  £ million

  Television

  Nil

  Press/Radio

  4·3

  Other Promotional

  3·9

  Expenditure on advertising and promotional material by the Department in 1985–86 was £1·2 million and in
  840
  1979–80 £70,000. Figures for television, radio and newspaper advertising and other promotional material are not available separately for those years. The figures for 1985–86 and 1979–80 refer only to Employment Department expenditure. They do not cover expenditure by the former Manpower Services Commission.

  Press and Publicity Officers
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many press and publicity officers are currently employed in his Department; and how many were employed in(a) 1985 and (b)

  Miss Widdecombe
  A total of 90·5 press and publicity staff are currently in post in the Employment Department's information branch. Available figures do not go back further than 1989 when the information branch was formed by the merger of the Employment Department's information division and the Training Agency's information services branch.

  Figures for information branch staff in post since 1989 are as follows:

  Number

  1989–90

  118

  1990–91

  120

  1991–92

  119

  1992–93

  104·5

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many industrial tribunal members are allocated to(a) Nottingham and (b) Leicester.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Nottingham region has 128 lay members. Of these, 76 mainly sit at Nottingham and 52 at Leicester. There are also four full-time chairmen, of whom three normally sit at Nottingham and one at Leicester. In addition, there are eight part-time chairmen who may sit in more than one location.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the additional travelling costs of applicants to industrial tribunals following the transfer of the industrial tribunal to Nottingham from Leicester.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The location of the industrial tribunals is a matter for the president and I understand that estimates of the savings and costs, including travelling cost, of the various accommodation options are not yet available.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received in relation to the proposals to move the industrial tribunal from Leicester to Nottingham.

  Miss Widdecombe
  None. This is a matter for the President of the Industrial Tribunals (England and Wales).

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whom he has consulted about the proposed relocation of the industrial tribunal from Leicester to Nottingham.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The location of the industrial tribunals is a matter for the President of the Industrial Tribunals to determine.
  841
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the estimated costs for the relocation of the industrial tribunal from Leicester to Nottingham.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I understand that no decision has yet been taken to relocate the Leicester office and that an estimate of possible costs is not yet available.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to move the industrial tribunal office in Leicester to Nottingham; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Under the regulations governing the industrial tribunals, it is for the President of the Industrial Tribunals to determine where tribunals shall sit. However, I understand that the existing accommodation in both Nottingham and Leicester is unsatisfactory and that the president is considering a number of options for the future provision of tribunal facilities in the Nottingham region.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases the industrial tribunals in(a) Nottingham and (b) Leicester have heard in each of the last 10 years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I regret that figures are only available for 1985 onwards. The details are as follows:

  Nottingham

  Leicester

  1985–86

  357

  304

  1986–87

  358

  324

  1987–88

  412

  290

  1988–89

  362

  314

  1989–90

  346

  298

  1990–91

  412

  475

  1991–92

  624

  520

  1992–93

  1,006

  684

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons were registered as unemployed, on the last available date, who were(a) male and over 60 years, (b) male aged 55 to 60 years and (c) female aged 55 to 60 years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In October 1993 unadjusted unemployment among men aged over 60 years was 43,794. For men and women aged 55 to 59 years, the figures were 153,248 and 47,166 respectively.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of men aged 60 years and over were in(a) full-time employment, (b) part-time employment and(c) unemployed on 1 November in each year from 1983 and at the latest available date.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Available information for Great Britain based on estimates from the labour force survey—LFS—is given in the table:

  Proportions of men aged 60 years and over in

  Spring each year

  Full-time employment Per cent.

  Part-time employment Per cent.

  ILO unemployment Per cent.

  1984

  17·0

  4·8

  2·4

  1985

  16·1

  4·7

  2·3

  1986

  15·1

  4·4

  2·1

  1987

  14·7

  4·7

  2·3

  842

  Spring each year

  Full-time employment Per cent.

  Part-time employment Per cent.

  ILO unemployment Per cent.

  1988

  14·5

  5·1

  2·0

  1989

  14·6

  5·5

  1·9

  1990

  14·0

  5·8

  1·7

  1991

  14·1

  5·3

  1·8

  1992

  13·5

  5·7

  1·8

  1993

  12·0

  5·3

  2·3

  Source: LFS. Not seasonally adjusted.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has of the proportion of women of working age who are currently in employment.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Estimates from the labour force survey—not seasonally adjusted—show that, in Great Britain at spring 1993, 65 per cent. of women of working age were in employment. A detailed analysis of the characteristics of women in employment is provided in an article in the November 1993 Employment Gazette—pages 483-502—entitled "Women in the Labour Market", a copy of which is held in the Library.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how an employer's contribution of 50 per cent. for access for work services is expected to affect employers' willingness to recruit disabled persons.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Access to work will increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities through helping more people with disabilities to obtain and retain jobs and making a much wider range of help available. We are currently finalising details of the changes with these aims in mind.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Burundi
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on committing United Kingdom Government funds to the UN voluntary fund for the Organisation of African Unity's peacekeeping mission to Burundi.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We have no plans to contribute to the UN voluntary fund for an Organisation of African Unity peacekeeping mission to Burundi. We have already committed $1 million to the UN trust fund for Liberia and we anticipate that other European partners, which did not contribute to that fund, will take the lead on Burundi.

  British assistance in Burundi is focused on the appalling problem of refugees and displaced persons. We have already contributed £350,000 to a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees appeal and £100,000 to the International Red Cross. In addition, we are considering urgently other non-governmental organisations requests for humanitarian assistance to refugees within Burundi. We support discussions between the OAU and the European Union on ways in which more systematic help can be given to African conflict resolution mechanisms.

  Somali Refugees
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Kenyan Government on the subject of assistance for the refugees from Somalia who are now in Kenya.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We have advised the Government of Kenya that we are prepared to continue to help them to cope with the refugees in the north, more than 85 per cent. of whom are Somalis. My noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development hopes to discuss this issue with President Moi during her forthcoming visit to Kenya in early January.

  Aid Projects
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made with other aid donors in agreeing economic and social indicators against which the progress of aid projects can be judged.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development—OECD—provides a forum for co-ordination between aid donors. Following discussions in the Development Assistance Committee, the OECD published in 1992 a manual, "DAC Principles for Effective Aid", copies of which are in the House of Commons Library. These principles cover, among other things, economic and social issues relating to the appraisal of aid projects. They are being incorporated into the Overseas Development Administration's procedures for managing aid projects.

  Nepal
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the expected environmental impact of the proposed World bank-funded Arun II dam project in Nepal.

  Mr. Goodlad
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) on 29 November, at columns 313-14.

  The World bank's ongoing discussions with non-governmental organisations and other interested parties include consideration of the environmental impact of the proposed project. We shall consider the environmental aspects of the project when the World bank has completed its appraisal.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all bilateral aid projects located in the Arun valley of Nepal.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The following United Kingdom bilateral aid projects are located in the Arun Valley of Nepal:

  1. Pakhribas agricultural centre;

  2. Koshi hills seeds and vegetable project;

  3. Community forestry project;

  4. Eastern region road maintenance project; and

  5. Eastern region primary health care project.

  In addition, some work is carried out in the Arun valley under the forestry research project and the Gurkha Welfare Trust scheme.

  Uganda
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the involvement of the United Kingdom Government in the Uganda forestry rehabilitation programme, initiated by the World bank in 1987.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The forestry rehabilitation programme in Uganda is being co-financed by the World bank and the European Community. We are not providing any support for the project through our bilateral assistance programme to Uganda.

  Privatisation Advice
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his officials are currently advising east European countries on privatisation policies.

  Mr. Goodlad
  None.

  Know-how Funds
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the total amount of money allocated to the Government know-how fund since its introduction.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Expenditure under the fund from 1989 to March 1993 was £112,262,000. The expenditure for this financial year is expected to be approximately £53 million.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the current advisory board members of each of the United Kingdom know-how funds.

  Mr. Goodlad
  A list has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Kenya
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy towards aids projects to Kenya; and if he will list the projects and the amount of financial help given as of 22 November.

  Mr. Goodlad
  At the consultative group meeting on 22 and 23 November Britain pledged programme aid grants up to a possible £15 million in support of Kenya's economic recovery. This new assistance acknowledges the economic and political reforms undertaken since November 1991 and will help support the further economic reform programme to be agreed with the World bank and the International Monetary Fund.

  The first £5 million will be made available when spending arrangements have been agreed: the further £10 million will be dependent on a satisfactory review by the IMF in mid-1994 of the new economic reform agenda, and the further development of an overall acceptable political environment. We will be looking particularly for effective action to improve open and accountable government including action to deal with corruption, to reduce tribal tensions and strengthen law and order in the affected areas, and to enhance press freedom.

  Our longer-term development assistance programme continues; provisional bilateral expenditure for 1992–93

  845
  was over £32 million. I have placed a list of current projects, involving financial assistance and know-how in the Libraries of the House.

  World Bank
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the World bank will engage in official celebrations for its 50th anniversary.

  Mr. Goodlad
  A conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the Bretton Woods institutions to be held jointly by the World bank and the IMF, is planned to be held in Madrid on 29 and 30 September 1994, immediately before the annual meetings of the World bank and the International Monetary Fund.

  Base Area (ha)

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Three-Year average

  Cereals

  3,280,95

  3,109,432

  2,967,283

  3,122,222

  Sweetcorn

  1,303

  1,322

  1,530

  1,378

  Oilseeds

  283,479

  343,052

  388,308

  388,280

  Proteins

  209,063

  210,730

  198,437

  206,077

  Set-aside

  38,577

  80,537

  104,280

  74,465

  The figure for oilseeds is mostly oilseed rape but includes small areas planted to sunflowers and other minor crops. The figure for protein crops has been revised to exclude the area planted to vining peas following its withdrawal from the list of eligible crops. For the purposes of determining the base area for the arable area payments scheme, the set-aside areas submitted to the EC Commission were based on actual set-aside agreements for the years 1989, 1990 and 1991.

  Woodlands
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list each privately owned wood in Yorkshire that has received special management grants to provide for public access under the woodland grant scheme; and what is the area of each of these woods and the size of the grant.

  Mr. Jack
  Special management grants are paid for work in those woodlands which are of special value for nature conservation, landscape, public recreation or a combination of these. The provision of public access, by itself, does not qualify for payment of a grant.

  Special management grants have been paid in respect of 20 woodlands or estates in Yorkshire the owners of which have indicated that facilities for public recreation or public access would be provided. These are as follows:

  Woodland

  Area (hectares)

  Grant £

  Amenity Trust Woodland

  37·2

  1,435

  Bella Wood

  23·2

  812

  Bilton Beck and Rudding Bottoms

  10·7

  375

  Broad Lane Wood

  1·9

  67

  Cliff Wood

  38·6

  1,351

  Cod Beck Reservoir

  87·3

  3,056

  Escrick Estate

  9·3

  382

  Haw Park Wood

  57·2

  2,002

  Newmillerdam Country Park

  89·7

  3,140

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Essex Coast Environmentally Sensitive Area
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she expects to implement the Essex Coast ESA; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  We plan to launch this ESA in March of next year.

  Land Statistics
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will publish in the Official Report the figures in hectares for (a) set-aside, (b) pulses, (c) oil seed rape and (d) cereals for 1989, 1990 and 1991 which were used to calculate the base area in England.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 29 November 1993]: The figures used to calculate the base area in England are as follows:

  Woodland

  Area (hectares)

  Grant

  Notton Wood

  38·8

  1,356

  Shibden Park

  69

  311

  Skipton Wood

  15·4

  539

  Skipwith Common

  168·0

  5,873

  Spoilbank Wood

  4·2

  191

  Stanley Marsh

  3·2

  146

  Studley Royal (North)

  62·5

  2,300

  Sutton Park

  10·7

  385

  Tong Garden Centre

  1·3

  59

  Washburn Valley

  298·0

  11,083

  Wentworth Estate Woodlands

  32·7

  1,150

  Diseased Cattle
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the safeguards instituted under the EC single market against the import of diseased cattle, with particular reference to warble fly, brucellosis and foot and mouth disease; and what representations she has had saying that cattle imported into the United Kingdom should now be cleared by her Department's veterinary officers before any movement is permitted on to farms or to dealers.

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. and learned Member for Burton (Sir I. Lawrence) on 1 December at column 590.

  Warble Fly
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has had about the safety of the use of organo-phosphorus based products to treat warble fly infections; and if she will make a statement.
  847
  Mr. Soames
  I have received a small number of representations about the safety of use of organo-phosphorus—OP—products to treat warble fly infections, and I understand that some farmers are reluctant to treat their animals using these products. Provided the label instructions are carefully followed, the use of such warblecides poses no hazard to human health. If, however, anyone is in doubt as to how the product should be used, they should seek expert advice from their veterinary surgeon or the manufacturer. OP products should not be used for this purpose between 30 November and 15 March.

  Farmers who have cattle which may have been exposed to warble fly infestation, including those within the 3 km treatment zones of known affected premises, may choose to have blood samples from their cattle tested for signs of infestation. Anyone wishing to pursue this possibility should contact his local divisional veterinary officer for details of the arrangements. Where results are negative, treatment of cattle will not be required.

  Wildlife Units
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the locations of her wildlife units that are currently based at Ministry of Defence establishments; what is the nature of the work being conducted by each unit; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The work of the only wildlife unit based at a Ministry of Defence establishment was outlined in the answer given to the hon. Member on 26 October at column 564.

  Food Surpluses
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tonnes of beef and butter were supplied to pensioners and those on benefits throughout the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Jack
  In the United Kingdom, the following amounts of produce were distributed to eligible groups, including those pensioners that meet the qualifying criteria, under the EC surplus food scheme:

  Butter (tonnes)

  Beef (tonnes)

  1989–90

  3,000

  3,000

  1990–91

  3,800

  3,000

  1991–92

  3,800

  3,000

  1992–93

  3,700

  3,000

  For 1993–94, 12,200 tonnes of beef is being made available.

  Wages
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the minimum agricultural wages applied to those working for agricultural gangmasters in each year since 1991.

  Mr. Jack
  Yes, provided that the work undertaken is within the statutory definition of agriculture.

  Potatoes
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she expects the Council of Agriculture Ministers to discuss the proposed European Community potato regime; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The Commission's draft proposal was last before the Agriculture Council in May. It has not been on the agenda since then, nor is it on the agenda for December.

  Badgers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what results have been achieved to date by her wildlife unit at royal air station, Aston Down in its investigations of badgers spreading bovine tuberculosis to cattle; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The wildlife unit has an operational, not a research, role.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations her Department has had with interested parties about the inclusion of riverside buffer zones in the set-aside scheme; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The management conditions for set-aside under the arable area payments scheme were the subject of a consultation document issued in March 1993. The 1993–94 arable area payments guide advises that set-aside placed next to sites such as rivers and streams can act as a buffer to protect those areas and help reduce run-off of fertilisers and pesticides.

  Another consultation document issued in March 1993 contained proposals to create or improve a range of wildlife habitats by taking them out of production for 20 years. Water fringes are one of the targeted habitats, with the objective of protecting the water and its flora and fauna, as well as creating a wildlife habitat on the waterside banks. Our decision to go ahead with this new habitat scheme was announced on 10 August 1993 and the scheme will open for applications in 1994.

  Sheep Quota
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications there have been for sheep quotas from the national reserve; if she will give the number of successful applications as a proportion of all applications; and if she will provide a breakdown of the statistics for the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Jack
  Before applications to the national reserves can be invited, the necessary legislation must be laid before Parliament. This will be done shortly. At the same time, I shall give details about the arrangements for making applications.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many files marked "not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by her Department.

  Mr. Jack
  The marking "not for NAO eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and
  849
  the National Audit Office, under which current documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NAO are not automatically available to the NAO.

  There are unlikely to be a great number of such files but no central file record is kept in MAFF, and to obtain this information by a departmental inquiry to all the various registries would be very time consuming and costly.

  Wages Board
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many submissions she has received to the consultation on the future of the Agricultural Wages Board; and how many of those were in favour of the abolition of the board.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  When the consultation period closed on 1 November 1993, some 3,566 responses had been received and 14 petitions. A further 32 responses have been received since the end of the consultation period. The vast majority were in favour of retention of the board.