Written Answers of 6 December 1993

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Public Libraries (Hansard)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information he has received on the cancellation by public libraries of subscriptions to Hansard due to shortage of funds; and what steps he is taking to ensure the public access to the Official Report via public libraries is maintained with sufficient resources.

  Mr. Sproat
  I have received no information from library authorities, or from any other source, that public libraries have cancelled Hansard subscriptions. The responsibility for providing public library services, and for choosing their stock, rests with local library authorities, most of which provide an extensive range of official publications—among them, Hansard.

  Information Security
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. Sproat
  The security requirements for IT systems and services used by central Government Departments are stated in the HMG 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 HMG 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.

  NAO and PAC
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

  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
  2
  handling of relations between Departments and the NAO and PAC are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.

  There is no marking "Nor for PAC eyes".

  Film Industry
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list those London boroughs of which he is aware which(a) have fully dedicated personnel working to attract film production companies to locations and facilities in their area and (b) which do not have such facilities.

  Mr. Brooke
  I am informed that no London borough has personnel dedicated solely to this work, but all have staff who combine it with other tasks such as press, marketing, or sponsorship work.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps he is taking to ensure that overseas film producers have access to a single co-ordinating body which is specifically intended to give advice on film locations and facilities in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The British Film Commission, which is funded by my Department, is helping to finance a series of studies on the establishment of film commissioners in those areas of the United Kingdom, such as London, where no such bodies yet exist. As part of the research, business plans will be drawn up for use in raising funds for the establishment of commissions for London and elsewhere.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if he will make a statement setting out the background of representations he has received and made about the future of the Elstree film studios;

  (2) when he last met the owners of the Elstree film studios to discuss with them the current plans for the redevelopment of the site as a major retail outlet;

  (3) what plans he has to make it his policy to seek to intervene to initiate discussions between relevant parties in an attempt to preserve the Elstree film studios as an ongoing commercial venture; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The future use of Elstree studios is a matter for the commercial judgment of the owners, subject to any planning consent which may have to be obtained. Although I have received a number of representations about the matter, I have not met the owners of the studios and have no plans to intervene.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information he has concerning the financial and other incentives which are made available by the Republic of Ireland to attract investment by film production companies.

  Mr. Brooke
  This is not a matter for the United Kingdom Government, but the Irish authorities are happy to provide Members with the
  information sought and I will place it in the Library when it is received.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which consultants have been retained by the Director General of the National Lottery to evaluate the lottery franchise bids.

  Mr. Sproat
  This is an operational issue and therefore a matter for the director general. I shall ask him to write to the hon. Member and place copies of his letter in the Libraries of the House.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Computerised Criminal Records
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with the Police Complaints Authority or the Data Protection Registrar concerning computerised criminal records and their use by police officers.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Officials are in regular contact with the office of the Data Protection Registrar on these matters, but I am not aware of any similar discussions with the Police Complaints Authority.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions or dismissals of police officers for the persistent misuse of computerised criminal records have taken place in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not collected centrally.

  "Sunday TradingA—Guide to the Options for Reform"
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which bus company is portrayed in the photograph on page 18 of the White Paper "Sunday Trading—A Guide to the Options for Reform", Cm 2300.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Leaside bus company.

  Prison Ships
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what lessons his Department learned from the incident involving the MV Earl William in 1987; what account has been taken of such incidents in his consideration of the proposal for prison ships; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The incident involving the MV Earl William highlighted the importance of safety issues in using ships for purposes of detention.

  Health and safety issues are being fully taken into account in considering the option of using marine detention facilities to accommodate the rising prison population.

  This is only one option being considered; no final decision has been taken on its feasibility.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has of the number of electoral registration officers who have implemented the 4
  voluntary scheme described in Home Office circular RPA 356, which requires records to be retained by electoral registration officers detailing who has been sold copies of the electoral register; and what plans he has to make the scheme compulsory.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information on the number of electoral registration officers participating in the scheme set out in circular RPA 356 is not collected centrally. There are no plans to make the scheme compulsory.

  Advertising
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. Howard
  Figures for expenditure on television and press advertising for 1979–80 were given in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 25 May 1984, column 587 and those for 1984–85 were given in answer to another question from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on 19 December 1985, column 275.

  Figures for radio advertising for 1979–80 and 1984–85 were given in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 19 November 1986, column 203.

  During the current financial year—1993–94—advertising expenditure has been as follows:

  £

  Television advertising

  3,722,469

  Radio advertising

  120,450

  Press advertising

  478,129

  Estimate projected spent on advertising for the remainder of this financial year—1993–94—subject to confirmation is:

  £

  Television advertising

  —

  Radio advertising

  —

  Press advertising

  212,000

  Police Vests
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consideration is being given by the police security scientific development branch to the production of a standard for(a) a knife-proof vest and (b) a bullet-resistant vest; when he expects a standard to be adopted; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what offers his Department has received from manufacturers of knife-proof and bullet-resistant vests to pay for the testing and approval of such equipment; if he will make it his policy to take advantage of such offers to enable a testing programme to be carried out quickly; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The police scientific development branch—PSDB—has published standard procedures and criteria which it uses in assessing both types of vest.
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  No offers have been received from manufacturers to fund the testing of such equipment. It is primarily for chief officers of police and their police authorities to decide on the equipment to be used in an individual force. PSDB carries out tests on such equipment as part of its function as a research and development organisation and gives advice to police forces on the equipment's performance and characteristics. Charging manufacturers for testing products would compromise the PSDB's independence and reduce its capability to respond to the requirements of the police and the Home Office.

  Jack the Ripper Diaries
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what inquiries have been conducted by the Metropolitan police into the alleged diaries of Jack the Ripper; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if the report of the Metropolitan police on the Jack the Ripper diaries has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I understand from the Commissioner that the Metropolitan police have conducted inquiries into the origin and authenticity of the manuscript diary purporting to have been written by Jack the Ripper, and into the circumstances surrounding the publication of the manuscript. A report has been prepared and will be submitted shortly to the Crown Prosecution Service.

  North Wales Police
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional police officers were(a) sought by and (b) authorised for the North Wales police in each year since 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

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

  North Wales Police

  Number of posts applied for

  Number of posts approved

  1989–90

  31

  4

  1990–91

  21

  21

  1991–92

  0

  0

  1992–93

  30

  17

  1993–94

  58

  0

  1994–95

  58

  0

  My right hon. and noble Friend wrote to the hon. Member of 1 December, letting him know that there will be no establishment increases next year, and explaining a number of initiatives which will allow forces to increase their available operational resources during 1994–95. A copy of that letter has been placed in the Library.

  Forced Subject Access
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make forced subject access a criminal offence; and what estimate he has of the scale of the use of forced subject access.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The issue of enforced subject access is dealt with in the draft EU directive on data protection which is currently under negotiation in Brussels. The 6
  Government will review the position in the light of the outcome of that directive. No firm figures for the use of enforced subject access are available, but the Data Protection Registrar estimates that a substantial proportion of subject access requests in certain sectors may be instigated by third parties.

  Visa Application Interviews
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of(a) men and (b) women who were waiting for interview for (i) settlement, (ii) education and (iii) visitors' visas at Bombay, New Delhi, Karachi and Islamabad on 22 November.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The latest available information on settlement queues and non-settlement applications awaiting first interview for posts in Pakistan and India relates to 31 October 1993 and is given in the table. No information is available centrally on the gender of applicants.

  Number of applicants for Entry Clearance Visas waiting for first interview at 31 October 1993

  Bombay

  New Delhi

  Islamabad

  Settlement queues awaiting first interview

  Queue 11

  0

  0

  92

  Queue 22

  56

  337

  1,172

  Queue 33

  314

  218

  233

  Queue 44

  262

  137

  769

  Non-Settlement applications awaiting first interview

  Visitors

  1,124

  39

  231

  Students

  4

  0

  0

  1 Persons with a claim to the right of abode, dependent relatives over 70-years-old, special compassionate cases.

  2 Spouses, and children under 18-years-old.

  3 Fiance(e)s and others applying for the first time for resettlement.

  4 Re-applicants.

  Information on the number of applicants in Karachi is not available centrally but all applicants are expected to receive a first interview within three weeks.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of(a) men and (b)women remand prisoners being held in police cells in England and Wales as of 22 November.

  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 D. Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 6 December 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of remand prisoners held in police cells as at 22 November.
  A total of 17 prisoners, all male, were held in police cells on 22 November. All 17 were received into prison custody ihe following day.

  Home Leave
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many convicted criminals have failed to return from home leave in each of the last five years; and for what crimes they had been convicted;
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  (2) on what criteria convicted criminals are allowed home leave; and upon whose judgment home leave is granted;

  (3) in which year the system of home leave was instituted; and how many convicted criminals have committed further offences while on home leave since the system was introduced;

  (4) if he will indicate what representations he has received regarding the abuse by convicted criminals of home leave.

  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 D. Lewis to Mr. Bob Dunn, dated 6 December 1993
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the grant of home leave to offenders and the availability of statistics concerning prisoners who have committed offences or absconded whilst on home leave.
  It is understood that the home leave scheme was introduced in the 1950s as a means of enabling suitable prisoners to have an opportunity to prepare for release as part of their throughcare and reintegration into society. Since then, there has been little change to existing policy and practice, which is set out in Circular Instruction 43/92, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. This offers guidance on the operation of the scheme to governors who are responsible for deciding, in the light of all known available information about a particular offender and the risk which he or she may present to public safety, whether it would be right to sanction the privilege of home leave. The operation of the current scheme is currently being reviewed by a working party which is expected to report shortly.
  We are currently considering how statistics on offences which are committed by prisoners and other home leave failures can be best collated centrally. I regret to say that at present the information you request is not available.

  Security Cameras
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish crime figures for those local authorities which have taken steps to install security cameras for the 12 months prior to and after installation;

  (2) which local authorities have, or are considering the installation of, security cameras in their town centres, in association with the police.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not available.

  Illegal Weapons
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been arrested in Liverpool in connection with stockpiling of illegal weapons in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".
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  Mr. Howard
  There is no marking "Not for PAC eyes".

  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 PAC are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.

  Background Radiation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the locations of the nuclear(a) out-stations and (b) central control units funded by his Department that monitor background radiation; and what other types of monitoring they are responsible for.

  Mr. Yeo
  I have been asked to reply. Background radiation in terms of gamma radiation dose rates is monitored by the radioactive incident monitoring network —RIMNET—operated by the Department of the Environment. The system currently has monitoring stations at:

  Aberporth

  Leeming

  Aldergrove

  Lerwick

  Aviemore

  Leuchars

  Benbecula

  Lossiemouth

  Boulmer

  Lyneham

  Brize Norton

  Macrihanish

  Carlisle

  Manchester

  Coltishall

  Manston

  Coningsby

  Marham

  Clunie

  Mumbles Head

  Dalcross

  Newcastle

  Dyce

  Oban

  Elmdon

  Ronaldsway

  Eskdalemuir

  Shawbury

  Exeter

  Stansted

  Finningley

  Stornoway

  Gatwick

  St. Mawgan

  Heathrow

  Tiree

  Hurn

  Valley

  Herstmonceux

  Watnall

  Jersey

  Wick

  Kirkwall

  Wyton

  System upgrade work, nearing completion, will increase the total number of RIMNET monitoring stations to 92. Its control centre is located at the Department's headquarters in Marsham street, London.

ENVIRONMENT

  Bathing Water Quality
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the results of the current year's bathing water quality monitoring; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 1 December to my hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington),Official Report, columns 558-59.

  Water Charges
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether council tax bands will be used as the basis of assessment for water charges after the year 2000; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  It is for each water company to decide the basis on which it charges customers subject to the Director General of Water Services' powers in section 2 of the Water Industry Act 1991 to control discriminatory pricing. After 31 March 2000 companies may not use rateable value. During the passage of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, we gave a commitment to confine use of information on the council tax banding of individual properties to use for council tax purposes.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the water regulator about the charging for water by property bands standardised bills similar to the system used for the council tax.

  Mr. Yeo
  The basis of charging for water is a matter for the water companies. It is among the topics discussed at meetings between the Department and the Director General of Water Services.

  Packaging Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to discuss with the Chancellor of the Exchequer opportunities to introduce financial incentives in support of mandatory targets established for industry to meet in reducing packaging waste and to promote recycling of packaging wastes.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government believe that it should not be necessary to impose mandatory targets to achieve their objectives of reducing packaging waste and securing increased levels of recovery and recycling. In our producer responsibility initiative, we have given industry the task of devising the most cost-effective means of recovering between 50 and 75 per cent. of packaging waste by the year 2000. We expect industry to provide us by Christmas with a plan for achieving those targets.

  We have indicated that, wherever possible, we will use economic instruments to secure our environmental objectives rather than regulation. Producer responsibility is one such economic instrument. Another possibiility which we are considering is the idea of a landfill levy, which could provide an incentive to reduce waste and encourage higher levels of recovery, including recycling.

  Wedholme Flow
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the area, as a percentage of the peatland site of special scientific interest, of Wedholme Flow, covered by the agreement between English Nature and Fisons, where the commercial extraction of peat will be allowed to continue; and what assessment he has made of the effect on the level of biodiversity.

  Mr. Yeo
  One hundred and sixty hectares, some 21 per cent. of the Wedholme flow SSSI, will continue to be worked for peat extraction. In addition to the remaining uncut areas, English Nature has been actively managing 10
  103 hectares of previously worked land since early in 1992. Site management staff report that recolonisation of cut-over areas is proceeding rapidly, following restoration of water levels. Biodiversity levels appear to be increasing.

  Combined Heat and Power, Wales
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many combined heat and power plants are in operation in Wales; how many of these are of the combined-cycle type; and what proportion of delivered energy is provided by the plants.

  Mr. Yeo
  Latest estimates suggest there are now 59 combined heat and power—CHP—sites in Wales with a total installed capacity of approximately 190 MWe. Of these, none is believed to be of the combined-cycle type. It is estimated that, in 1992, on-site electricity generation from CHP plants in Wales was approximately 1,000 GWh. In addition to this, sales of electricity to consumers in Wales totalled 16,400 GWh. Therefore, over 5 per cent of electricity used in Wales is provided by CHP.

  On a national level, CHP meets about 4 per cent. of United Kingdom electricity demand.

  Recycled Materials
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is currently taking to establish new markets for recycled materials.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government are encouraging the development of new markets by providing industry with an incentive to make greater use of recycled materials. Our producer responsibility initiative, launched in July, provides such an incentive by, for example, giving industry the responsibility for meeting targets for the recovery of packaging waste and bearing the costs of meeting those targets. We have made it clear that the industry's plan, which we expect to receive shortly, must include a willingness to increase demand for recycled material where it meets the appropriate standards.

  The Government are also encouraging the development of new markets for recycled materials through the environmental technology innovation scheme, run jointly by my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry, and the DTI's environmental management options scheme and Euroenviron scheme. Grants awarded under these schemes include £835,120 to Anaplast to develop innovative technology for recycling mixed plastics and another of £638,218 to Bird Commercial Metals for a project which examines the potential markets for materials recovered from scrapped vehicles.

  Volumetric Meters
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many domestic properties in each region had a volumetric meter installed on 1 October.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Director General of Water Services has information on the extent of metering for water.

  Biodiversity
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to hold a review of policies to conserve biodiversity following the publication of the 1990 countryside survey.
  11
  Mr. Yeo
  Countryside survey 1990 reports on the 12-year period leading up to 1990. Since 1990 the Government have set in place a range of positive policy measures in the countryside. The United Kingdom has also strongly advocated the integration of environmental considerations in the reform of the common agricultural policy.

  In June 1992 the Prime Minister and over 150 other Heads of State or Government signed the convention on biological diversity at Rio de Janeiro. In response to the convention, the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan will be published in January. The results from countryside survey 1990 have played a part in setting priorities for that plan.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the reasons for the biodiversity losses recorded in the 1990 countryside survey.

  Mr. Yeo
  My Department is undertaking further scientific work to understand causes of changes reported by countryside survey. Examples are: in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, a project in Somerset levels to examine the effect of various fertiliser levels on plant diversity; in collaboration with the Economic and Social Research Council, a project at Wye college on the socio-economic factors that underlie the reported changes; and a project using a modelling approach to predict the effects of climate and policy changes on some of our rarer habitats.

  Car Boot Sales
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers are available to local authorities to control car boot sales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988—GDO—gives a general grant of planning permission for the temporary use of land for car boot sales for up to 14 days in any calendar year. More frequent use requires planning permission to which local authorities may attach conditions to protect amenity.

  Local authorities may make a direction under article 4 of the GDO to withdraw this permitted development. Where this is done, a specific planning application would be needed for any temporary market.

  Section 37 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 enables local authorities to require a month's notice of a car boot sale. This gives local authorities time to make any necessary provision to avoid disturbance or to make an article 4 direction; where it appears that there has been a breach of planning control —for example, where the 14-day period has been exceeded —the local authority may serve an enforcement notice requiring the breach to be remedied; at any time before an enforcement notice takes effect the local authority can serve a "stop notice" which has the effect of prohibiting any person on whom it is served from carrying out or continuing any specified operations on the land. Failure to comply with a "stop notice" is punishable in a magistrates court with a fine of up to £20,000.

  Local authorities have a wide range of other powers to help them. These include powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to control noise and litter, powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to regulate parking and powers under consumer protection legislation.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has concerning the total annual consumption by the United Kingdom construction industry of(a) corrugated roofing material and (b) man-made slates; and what is the total estimated value of that consumption;

  (2) if he will give a breakdown for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available of the percentage of (a) corrugated roofing materials and (b) man-made slates, used by the United Kingdom construction industry, and which were in each case made from (i) non-asbestos materials and (ii) materials including asbestos;

  (3) what information he has about the reasons for the increasing percentage of total corrugated roofing materials and man-made slates which are manufactured from asbestos products; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Information in the detail requested is not collected by the Department.

  Government Car Pool
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual cost of the Government car pool; what are the categories of expenditure; and how many cars and how many staff are in the pool.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government car service currently has 25 pool cars and 27 pool drivers, which include back-up for Ministers' drivers. The annual cost of the GCS pool service is estimated at some £750,000, staff costs account for about 75 per cent. and vehicle costs about 15 per cent. of the total annual cost.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration has been given to sites, other than Gosport, for the construction by Nirex of a low and intermediate-level radioactive waste repository.

  Mr. Yeo
  In the 1980s, Nirex investigated the use of a disused anhydrite mine at Billingham in Cleveland for the deep disposal of long-lived intermediate-level radioactive waste and sites at Bradwell, Elstow, Fulbeck and South Killingholme for the near-surface disposal of low-level radioactive waste.

  Investigations at Billingham ceased in 1985, when ICI, the owners of the mine, decided not to make it available to Nirex. Investigation of the other sites ended in 1987, when Nirex concluded that the economic advantages of separate near-surface disposal of low-level waste were not as great as had been thought and that it would be preferable to develop a multi-purpose deep site for low and intermediate-level waste.

  Dounreay in Caithness and a site near Sellafield in west Cumbria, neighbouring the village of Gosforth, have both been considered as possible sites for the multi-purpose repository. At present, Nirex is concentrating its investigations on Sellafield.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the earliest date he expects that a waste repository for heat-generating nuclear waste will be operational in the United Kingdom; and which sites have been considered for such a repository.
  13
  Mr. Yeo
  High-level radioactive waste is treated and stored at the surface for a period of at least 50 years, which will allow heat generated by the decay of radioactivity to reduce. Decisions about the subsequent management of the waste will be taken in due course.

  Environmental Organisations
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the expected outturn of expenditure in the current financial year on(a) the National Rivers Authority, (b) Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and (c) the Countryside Commission; and what is the budgeted figure for HMIP for 1994–95.

  Mr. Yeo
  The expected expenditure outturn for 1993–94 is £444 million for the National Rivers Authority, £27·4 million for Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and £44 million for the Countryside Commission. The budget for HMIP for 1994–95 is £29.4 million.

  Water Leaks
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of water supply was lost in each region through leakage through the water distribution system and what percentage from customer supply pipelines.

  Mr. Yeo
  The information requested can be found on page 27 of "The Cost of Water Delivered and Sewage Collected 1992–93", published in October 1993 by the Office of Water Services, a copy of which is in the Library.

  NAO and PAC
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

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

  Housing Action Trusts
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give the previous experience in the housing field of the current chairman of the Liverpool housing action trust; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what criteria are used in the selection of chairman of housing action trusts; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  Housing action trust chairmen are chosen for the personal qualities and experience they can bring to the job, within the framework set out in schedule 7 to the Housing Act 1988. I am pleased with the progress the housing action trust has made under her leadership since it started earlier this year.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the public expenditure figures for housing action trusts from 1991–92 onwards, at 1992–93 prices.
  14
  Sir George Young
  At 1992–93 prices, public expenditure on housing action trusts was £10·5 million in 1991–92 and £26·5 million in 1992–93.

  The public expenditure baseline for the current and the three subsequent years are, on the basis of the latest available GDP deflator:

  million

  1993–94

  84·1

  1994–95

  82·1

  1995–96

  80·8

  1996–97

  78·8

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the present posts held by the chairwoman of Liverpool housing action trust and the total salaries received.

  Sir George Young
  The chairman of the Liverpool housing action trust holds one other post within my right hon. Friend's area of responsibility, namely a board member of the Merseyside development corporation. Board membership of the MDC attracts an annual remuneration of £5,030. Details of earnings relating to the HAT chairmanship were given in my response to the hon. Gentleman on 2 November 1993,Official Report, column 101.

  Urban Development Corporation
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the public expenditure figures for urban development corporations from 1981–82 in 1992–93 prices in the same form as his answer of 3 November,Official Report, columns 208-9.

  Sir George Young
  Grant in aid paid to urban development corporations in England from 1981–82 to 1992–93 in 1992–93 prices, is set out in the table:

  Year

  £ million (at 1992–93 prices)

  1981–82

  68·5

  1982–83

  106·6

  1983–84

  156·0

  1984–85

  138·3

  1985–86

  121·6

  1986–87

  128·4

  1987–88

  1218·4

  1988–89

  323·7

  1989–90

  568·5

  1990–91

  670·7

  1991–92

  622·5

  1992–93

  515·8

  1 he figures include provision for the docklands light railway from 1987–88 onwards.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sites in England receiving imported toxic waste; and what was the level of toxic waste disposed of at each site for the year 1992–93.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]: The amount of hazardous waste imported for disposal1 at facilities in England in 1992–93 was as follows:
  15

  Consignee

  Totals(Tonnes)

  Biffa Waste Services Ltd., Bray, Berkshire

  240·9

  Cleanaway Ltd., Ellesmere Port, Cheshire

  21·9

  Cleanaway Ltd., Preston, Lancashire

  13·0

  Collier Industrial Waste Ltd., Trafford Park, Manchester

  1,075·3

  DP Effluent Treatment Ltd., Runcorn, Cheshire

  122·7

  Grosvenor Power Services, Carrington, Manchester

  84·9

  Grundon Waste Ltd., Colnbrook, Buckinghamshire

  342·2

  Lanstar Ltd., Salford, Manchester

  93·8

  Lanstar Waste Treatment, Cadishead, Manchester

  9,083·5

  Leigh Environmental Ltd., Birmingham

  5,977·0

  North London Waste Authority, Edmonton, London

  4,517·6

  Polymeric Treatment Ltd., Walsall, West Midlands

  3,344·9

  Progressive Waste Ltd., Trafford Park, Manchester

  235·6

  Rechem Ltd., Southampton

  5,989·4

  RF Winder Electrical Ltd., Stanningley, Leeds

  7·2

  Triton Transformers, Newark on Trent, Nottinghamshire

  303·1

  Whelan Environmental Services, Birmingham

  474·6

  Grand Total

  31,927·6

  1 Source: Consignment notes under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988.

  Housing
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of local authority housing tenancies available within(a) England, (b) each housing authority in England and (c) Yorkshire and Humberside for each year since 1980.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]: The information derived from local authorities' annual housing investment programme returns is given.

  Local authority dwellings either occupied or available for letting; at 1 April each year

  England (thousands)

  Yorkshire and Humberside(thousands)

  1980

  4,667

  582

  1981

  4,815

  588

  1982

  4,719

  580

  1983

  4,576

  559

  1984

  4,477

  550

  1985

  4,425

  544

  1986

  4,356

  537

  1987

  4,325

  531

  1988

  4,242

  520

  1989

  4,098

  505

  1990

  3,959

  485

  1991

  3,835

  473

  1992

  3,787

  467

  1993

  3,706

  460

  Notes:

  1. The information up to 1986 excludes local authority dwellings situated outside the authority's own area.

  2. The information up to 1982 does not include vacant local authority dwellings that are available for letting.

  3. The figures exclude nominations to housing associations.

  I have also today placed in the Library a table giving corresponding figures for each local authority in England.

  Desertification
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the next meeting of the intergovernmental negotiating committee for a convention to combat desertification is planned; when the draft resolution on desertification and regional instrument for Africa is expected to be finalised; and if he will make a statement.
  16
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  The next meeting of the intergovernmental negotiating committee—INC—will be in New York from 17 to 28 January 1994. The United Nations General Assembly has directed that the convention is to be completed by June 1994. The INC has agreed that a regional instrument for Africa will also be completed by that date.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Private Medical Insurance
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much per person granted tax relief it costs to administer tax relief on private medical insurance.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The annual cost to the Exchequer of administering the tax relief on premiums under private medical insurance contracts averages 42p for each person granted tax relief.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax relief, rebates or allowances are received by companies offering private medical insurance to their staff.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The general rule when calculating the trading profits of a business is that a deduction is allowed for expenses incurred wholly and exclusively for business purposes. If an employer incurs expenditure in offering private medical insurance to employees, the expenses would generally qualify as a deduction under this rule as part of the remuneration package.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the cost to the Treasury of tax relief on private medical insurance in(a) 1990, (b) 1991, (c) 1992 and (d) 1993;

  (2) what would be the total saving to the Exchequer of scrapping tax relief on private medical insurance.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The estimated costs in each year since 1990–91 are given in the table:

  Year

  Cost of tax relief on private medical insurance for those aged 60 or more(£ million)

  1990–91

  40

  1991–92

  60

  1992–93

  70

  1993–94

  80

  The estimated saving to the Exchequer if tax relief on premiums paid in 1994–95 was abolished is £85 million including administrative costs.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether private medical insurance premia will be liable to tax.

  Sir John Cope
  Under the proposals announced by my right hon. and learned Friend in his Budget statement, private medical insurance premia will be liable to insurance premium tax. Premia in respect of long-term insurance as defined in the Insurance Companies Act 1982 —which includes permanent health insurance and life assurance—will be exempt.

  Black Economy
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to tackle the black economy.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Details may be found in the chapter entitled "Compliance" in the annual report of the board of Inland Revenue—copies of which were laid before Parliament on 29 September 1993.

  Car Boot Sales
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if Inland Revenue officials routinely inspect the tax returns of those who trade frequently at car boot sales;

  (2) what is his estimate of the amount of revenue collected in respect of business done at car boot sales;

  (3) how many sellers at car boot sales are assessed for tax on their trading income.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue does not record data which relate specifically to car boot sales.

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

  Date

  Destination

  Purpose

  Cost of Chancellor's participation

  18 January

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  £55

  13 to 16 April

  Tokyo

  Meeting of G7 Foreign and Finance Ministers

  £7,759

  19 April

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN

  £296

  28 April to 1 May

  Washington

  G7 Finance Ministers' and Spring Meetings of IMF/IBRD

  £4,703

  21 to 23 May

  Billund, Denmark

  Informal ECOFIN

  £709

  6 to 7 June

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN

  £529+

  5 to 9 July

  Tokyo

  G7 Summit

  £4,346

  12 July

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  £176

  18 to 19 July

  Germany

  Meetings with Finance Minister; Bundesbank; and meetings with and speech to businessmen

  £1,072

  1 to 2 August

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  £70

  12 to 13 September

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  £272

  24 to 29 September

  Washington

  G7 Finance Ministers and annual meetings of IMF/IBRD

  £0

  8 to 10 October

  Genval, Belgium

  Informal ECOFIN

  £700

  24 to 25 October

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN

  £464

  21 to 22 November

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  £189

  The cost estimates provided take account of travel and subsistence and are net of refunds paid by the EC and the International Monetary Fund.

  In each case, the purpose of the visit was to promote and defend British interests in discussions with overseas Governments.
  18
  Mr. Nelson
  Nine press and publicity officers are currently employed in my Department.

  Information for the years 1979–85 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was capital spending as a proportion of gross domestic product for each year since 1970.

  Mr. Nelson
  The latest estimates of gross domestic fixed capital formation and gross domestic product at current and constant market prices are available on the CSO database which may be accessed by the House of Commons Library. The relevant database identifiers are DECR and CAOB at current prices and DECU and CAOO at constant 1990 prices.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many visits abroad the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has made during 1993; and what was(a) the cost to public funds and (b) the purpose of each visit.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My predecessor and I have made the following visits abroad this year:

  Financial Services
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what criteria are used in the selection of members of the board of the Securities and Investments Board who are to represent the interests of the public under the terms of the Financial Services Act 1986;

  (2) when he expects to announce the appointment of new members of the board of the Securities and Investments Board;
  19
  (3) what assessment he has made of the proper balance on the board of the Securities and Investments Board between members representing the interests of persons carrying on investment business and the interests of the public.

  Mr. Nelson
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the appointment to the board on 25 November of Lord Alexander of Weedon, QC, Mrs. Rosalind Gilmore, Mr. John Kennedy, Dr. Oonagh McDonald and Lord Stewartby and on 2 December of Mr. Andrew Winckler who has been appointed head of SIB's supervision division. My right hon. and learned Friend and the Governor of the Bank of England have taken this opportunity to restructure the board in line with the recommendations in Andrew Large's review of financial services regulation published last May "Making the Two Tier System Work". All board members are appointed in a personal capacity and do not serve as representatives of particular interests or associations.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he expects the Personal Investment Authority to take over the responsibilities of current self-regulatory organisations;

  (2) what action he is taking to rationalise the number of regulatory bodies governing the financial services industry;

  (3) what action he is taking to ensure the swift and successful setting up of the Personal Investment Authority.

  Mr. Nelson
  I understand that the PIA intends to apply to SIB for recognition in the next few months.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to monitor the performance of the investment funds associated with endowment mortgages; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury has no role in monitoring the performance of investment funds.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to instruct the relevant regulatory bodies to introduce a statutory qualification for(a) tied insurance salespeople and (b) independent financial advisers.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Securities and Investments Board, the regulatory body which is the designated agency under the Financial Services Act 1986, recently approved new training and competence requirements.

  Air Passenger Duty
  Mr. McDonald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the regular scheduled passenger flights to the Scottish islands he estimates will be exempted from the air passenger duty from 1 October 1994; and if he will make it his policy to provide a general exemption for all regular scheduled passenger flights to and from the Scottish islands, and within the Scottish islands, regardless of the number of passengers that can be carried.

  Sir John Cope
  Based on October 1993 timetables, it is estimated that about a quarter of flights to the Scottish islands from the mainland and about three quarters of inter-island flights will be exempt from air passenger duty. The exemption relates to criteria for Civil Airports Authority airline licensing requirements. It would be difficult to justify relieving all flights in one particular area but not elsewhere.

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Central Statistical Office will assess the costs and benefits of collecting, analysing and publishing a full geographical breakdown of invisible trade, country by country, on the same basis as that which is published on visible trade.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Central Statistical Office is currently reviewing with its data suppliers the need for, and the cost of, collecting more geographical detail on United Kingdom invisible trade. For some components of invisible trade, very detailed information is already available and published, for example, travel credits and debits. For other components, for example, financial services, such information would be expensive to collect and would impose a high burden on reporting businesses. In some cases, notably investment income, there are difficult conceptual problems—it is sometimes not clear who the foreign counterpart is for some types of transaction.

  Given these difficulties the Central Statistical Office has no current plans to collect a full geographical breakdown of invisible trade country by country. The Central Statistical Office, however, keeps such matters under review.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his future plans for publishing detailed statistics of visible United Kingdom trade with each of the present and future individual member states of the EC.

  Mr. Nelson
  Regular publication of statistics of trade with individual members of the European Union has now restarted following the introduction of a new statistical system on 1 January. Detailed monthly data are available through marketing agents appointed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. Summaries are published monthly in Business Monitor MM20A "Overseas Trade Statistics of the UK with the World". Details at commodity code level are published quarterly in Business Monitor MQ20, "Overseas Trade Statistics of the UK with countries within the EC". The Central Statistical Office will shortly begin publishing seasonally adjusted estimates of trade with individual members of the European Union-without any commodity detail—in its first releases and on their database, access to which is available through the Library of the House.

  Data are available for countries which are not members of the European Union from a similar range of publication and sources.

  NAO and PAC
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many files marked "Not for NAO eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for PAC eyes".

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by his Department.

  Mr. Nelson
  holding answer 3 December 1993]: Of the Treasury's 93,168 files dating from January 1987, 211 bear the marking "Not for NAO eyes".

  This marking is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office, under

  21
  which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NAO and PAC are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.

  There is no marking "Not for PAC eyes".

TRANSPORT

  London Underground (Power Failures)
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost to London Underground of the power failure on 24 November, including loss of income and the refund of fares, as well as costs directly attributable to the restoration of power supplies and the evacuation of passengers.

  Mr. Norris
  London Underground Ltd. currently estimates that the total costs which it will have incurred as a result of the power failure on 24 November, including loss of revenue, are likely to be around £2 million.

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

  Mr. Norris
  The number of press and publicity officers currently employed in the Department of Transport and employed in 1985 is as follows:

  Number

  Currently employed

  21

  Employed in 1985

  17

  Before 1984–85 the information division was a common service of the Department of Transport, Environment and Property Services Agency and information concerning the number of press and publicity officers working for the Department of Transport is not available.

  Information Security
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. Norris
  The security requirements for information technology systems and services used by Central Government Departments are stated in the HMG IT security policy document. This document is supported by use of the CCTA risk analysis and management method —CRAMM—and baseline security for IT systemsBSITS—risk analysis methods and by supporting advice and guidance published by the HMG 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.

  EC Transport Council
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what matters were discussed; what proposals were put forward by the United Kingdom; what decisions were taken; and what were the voting records of each member state at the European Transport Council on 29 to 30 November in Brussels.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My noble Friend Lord Caithness and I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council reached political agreement on a directive giving the force of Community law to provisions on crew training standards agreed in the International Maritime Organisation—IMO—and requiring enhanced standards of communication on board passenger ships and tankers. The Council also agreed the main points of a draft directive establishing common rules and standards for classification societies. My noble Friend emphasised the importance for maritime safety of setting both clear rules and demanding standards for these societies, and secured safeguards which will assist high quality societies such as Lloyd's Register to provide services throughout the Community. In response to concerns expressed by a number of member states, including the United Kingdom, the Commission undertook to make a statement for the minutes, making it clear that neither directive would affect the active participation of individual member states in the IMO.

  The Commission reported on its intentions for EUROS, the proposed Community shipping register. Significant difficulties remain. The Commission will be bringing forward new proposals in which proposed financial measures are likely to be restricted to employment, training and fleet modernisation.

  The Council agreed draft conclusions supporting a Commission fact-finding mission to west and central Africa to examine the existing system of unilaterally imposed cargo restrictions. The Commission is expected to bring forward, for future consideration by the Council, a new draft mandate for negotiations with the Governments of the countries concerned.

  The Commission undertook to present, by the middle of 1994, a report on key issues arising in the field of maritime competition policy. A draft Council resolution on this issue was therefore not pursued.

  The Council approved conclusions on the Commission's communication on road safety which pay due regard to the principle of subsidiarity. It also adopted a decision setting up a Community road safety database on which the United Kingdom and one other member state abstained. My noble Friend made it clear that the United Kingdom was not opposed to the principle of a Community road safety database, but was abstaining on the decision since we did not believe that the proposed Community data base would provide added value to existing national systems and would duplicate work being done in other international forums such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

  My noble Friend referred to the recent coach and minibus accidents in the United Kingdom and to national concern about the current lack of compulsion to fit seat belts in such vehicles. He explained that the United Kingdom was evaluating the lessons to be learned from the recent accidents to see what action might be taken. The Council agreed, in principle, that 1995 should be the year of young drivers.
  23
  The Council reached political agreement on a directive establishing the general principles for the investigation of air accidents. It received an interim report on the work of the committee looking at the aviation industry, which considered that some airlines were facing problems, but that any reversal of the single market in aviation adopted during the United Kingdom presidency should be resisted. My noble Friend recommended that there should be no going back on this "third package", which should be quickly implemented in full. He made clear the United Kingdom's view that state aids distorted competition and cushioned their recipients from economic reality. The Council failed to agree a set of conclusions, but the presidency issued its own.

  The Council reached political agreement on a draft directive which, from 1996, will harmonise the end-date of summer time at the end of October. This, in effect, will bring 10 member states into line with the current practice in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The United Kingdom expressed support for the substance of the directive, but entered a minutes statement to make it clear that, on grounds of subsidiarity, we would have preferred a recommendation to a directive.

  The Commission reported on its work on transport links with Greece. The Council will return to this matter at a subsequent meeting.

  A proposed mandate for aviation and road haulage negotiations with Switzerland was discussed. This will now be prepared for formal adoption by the Council in April at the latest, and if possible before.

  The Commission said that it would await the new Parliament before bringing forward a longer term legislative programme associated with the Transport White Paper, on which the Council agreed conclusions in June. The Commission also reported that proposals on the licensing of railway undertakings and access to railway infrastructure were nearing completion. The Council discussed transport and disabled people, transport intermediaries and inland waterways. The Commission agreed to a request by a number of member states, including the United Kingdom, to report on the transport of live animals. The Council was informed that Germany, Denmark and the Benelux countries had completed their work on a regional user charge to be imposed on lorries.

  The transport ministers of six central and eastern European countries joined the Council for a meeting over lunch.

  Only one formal vote was taken, on the adoption of a Community road safety database. As noted above, the United Kingdom abstained.

  Buses (Disabled Access)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of new buses brought into service have access for disabled people.

  Mr. Freeman
  Over 90 per cent. of all new buses bought in the United Kingdom are now complying completely, or in part, with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee specification to help large numbers of elderly and ambulant disabled people travel by bus. This specification, which covers a wide range of simple low-cost measures including lower steps, better handrails and the use of colour contrasts, is being revised and tightened up and will be reissued shortly.
  24
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now make it his policy to ensure that all new buses brought into service have access for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have no plans for this at the present time. We are, however, working closely with the European Commission on a draft construction directive for buses, which may provide for future generations of new buses to be more accessible. In the meantime, we are funding a low floor bus demonstration project in North Tyneside to encourage greater use of such vehicles. This is being monitored and the results will be made available to all operators. A similar trial involving 68 buses is being undertaken in London.

  Charter for Bus Services
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for a charter for bus services; what standards he considers should appertain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  We are beginning to consider with London Transport the quality-of-service objectives to apply to its bus services from April 1994. The standards embodied by those objectives will be a key element of the charter for bus passengers in London, which it is planned to publish next spring.

  Train Doors (Safety)
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when British Rail last undertook a comprehensive check of door locks on trains; how many were found to be defective; how much it has cost to rectify; how many are all now certified as safe; and how many incidents there have been of doors swinging open unexpectedly in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail undertakes comprehensive checks of coach door locks in a continuous cycle of maintenance and repair. If a lock is found to be defective, immediate action is taken to rectify it. Information relating to the number and cost of defective locks identified through the maintenance procedure is not collected centrally by BR. The average number of locks changed annually during normal maintenance is approximately 2,300 at an average cost, with labour, of £200 per lock.

  There is no record of the number of incidents of doors opening unexpectedly during the last 10 years. The Health and Safety Executive's annual "Report on Railway Safety" shows how often people fall out of trains, how many doors were found irregularly open and how many collisions there have been with open doors on adjacent tracks. Further information is contained in the report on an investigation by the HSE, "Passenger Falls from Train Doors". Copies of both reports are in the House Library.

  London Buses
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will explain the basis on which the sum to be made available to London Transport out of the anticipated receipts from the sale of the London Buses Subsidiary Companies was derived.

  Mr. Norris
  Our advisers have made an estimate of the London Buses Ltd. privatisation proceeds which has been
  25
  taken into account in the calculation of London Transport's grant settlement. For the present, that estimate must remain commercially confidential.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority to publish its fifth annual report.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority published its fifth annual report today. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 29 November,Official Report, column 348, if the total number of files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" include those held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the Driver, Vehicle and Operators and Information Technology agency; and how many such files are held by agencies accountable to his Department.

  Mr. Norris
  Yes. Seventy of the total are held by the Department's six executive agencies.

  Non-departmental Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state, for each of the executive non-departmental bodies sponsored by his Department, whether the public has a statutory right to attend all board or committee meetings and to inspect(a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the annual reports and (c) the annual accounts.

  Mr. Norris
  There is no statutory right for the public to attend board or committee meetings of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department or to inspect minutes of meetings. The Traffic Director for London is required by statute to submit an annual report and statement of accounts, a copy of which my right hon. Friend is required to lay before each House of Parliament. Copies are available on request from the Traffic Director. My right hon. Friend is responsible for producing the general lighthouse fund accounts. The fund's accounts consolidate the accounts of the three general lighthouse authorities; the Corporation of Trinity House, the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses and the Commissioners of Irish Lights. These accounts are laid before Parliament and are published by HMSO.

  Fishing Industry
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) fatalities and (b) injuries were suffered in the fishing industry in 1987, 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]: For United Kingdom fishing vessels the figures are:

  Number of deaths

  Number of reported injuries

  1987

  16

  94

  1990

  30

  98

  1991

  32

  133

  1992

  16

  117

  26
  For United Kingdom fish farms the figures relate to the fiscal year and are:

  Number of deaths

  Number of reported injuries

  1987–88

  Nil

  5

  1990–91

  2

  32

  1991–92

  2

  21

  1992–93

  1

  29

  A2
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what date emergency telephones will be installed from Swanscombe to the Danson interchange on the A2; how many there will be; and at what distance apart;

  (2) what consultations he plans with local authorities on the exact positions of emergency telephones along the A2 between Swanscombe and the Danson interchange.

  Mr. Key
  Tenders for the installation of emergency telephones on the A2 in Kent, from the M2—Three Crutches—westwards to the county boundary, were invited on 24 November. It is hoped to be able to start the work in mid-January, but full commissioning will not be possible until about a year later. The contract will provide for 14 telephones alongside each of the carriageways, 28 in total, spaced approximately one mile—1·6 km—apart.

  In line with usual practice, local authorities are not being consulted on the positioning of the telephones, which is determined by the Department's spacing specification and roadside conditions.

  We have no present plans to install emergency telephones along the length of the A2 within the London borough of Bexley between the county boundary and the Danson interchange.

PRIME MINISTER

  Information Systems
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Prime Minister in how many Departments the management information systems for Ministers—MINIS—has been in force since November 1990 and over what periods; and what were the setting up times and costs in each case.

  The Prime Minister
  The Department of the Environment adopted MINIS—the management information systems for Ministers—in 1979. The Department of Trade and Industry introduced MINIS in June 1992. MINIS was described as a good example for Departments to look at when the financial management initiative was launched in 1982 and elements have subsequently been incorporated into other Departments' top management systems. Estimates of the costs of running and developing individual departmental top management systems since November 1990 are not available.

  Security Services
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the delineation of the responsibility of each security service organisation for counter-proliferation; and if he will make a statement.
  27
  The Prime Minister
  Countering the threat from proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is a high priority task for the Secret Intelligence Service, Government Communications Headquarters and the Security Service and the resources of the agencies devoted to that task have been increased. I do not propose to go into any further detail about their work.

  Official Residences
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 30 November, if he will list the functions held at(a) No. 10 Downing street and (b) Chequers since November 1990, where the cost of refreshments was paid for by a political party; how many guests attended; how much expenditure was reimbursed in each case; and what charge was made for the hire of facilities.

  The Prime Minister
  Thirty-nine occasions have been held at 10 Downing street or Chequers where the cost of refreshments was paid for by the Conservative party. As under previous Administrations, no charge was made for the hire of facilities. Expenditure is billed directly to the organisation concerned and no central records kept.

  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 29 November,Official Report, column 325, regarding fuel costs of official residences, if he will provide the names of the chairs of trustees for (a) Chequers, (b) Dorneywood and (c) Chevening.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 2 December]: The Lord Privy Seal is the chairman of the board of trustees of both Chequers and Chevening. In the case of Dorneywood, the chairman is elected on an "ad hoc" basis at every meeting. The Lord Privy Seal is a member of the board of trustees and, in practice, it is customary for him to chair meetings if he is present.

  Information Security
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister 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.

  The Prime Minister
  The Prime Minister's records are reviewed for any continuing sensitivy 29 years after their creation. Approximately 42 linear feet of records are reviewed each year, by a part-time member of my staff, in accordance with the guidelines contained in chapter 9 of the "Open Government" White Paper—Cm 2290. About 4 per cent. of the records reviewed are retained and these are subject to regular re-review.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to discuss Irish responses to the consultation on THORP at his next meeting with his Irish counterpart.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what procedures are in place to ensure that special advisers attached to Ministers have no pecuniary or other interests that may conflict with their duties;
  28
  (2) if he will list the ways in which the rules applying to (a) the acceptance of outside appointments after resignation or retirement and (b) political activities by special advisers attached to Ministers differ from those applying to other civil servants.

  The Prime Minister
  Special advisers are subject to the same rules on conflict of interest as other civil servants. If a conflict arises in relation to their duties they must declare the interest. The business appointment rules on the acceptance of appointments after resignation or retirement do not apply to special advisers. Arrangements are made to ensure they do not have access to the kind of information, and they are not involved in the type of business, that would be likely to create suspicion of impropriety in relation to subsequent employment. Advisers are allowed more freedom of political activity than other civil servants to the extent that, with the approval of their Minister, they may attend party functions, including the party conference as an observer, may maintain contacts with party members and may take part in policy reviews conducted by the party.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total amount paid in salaries to special advisers attached to Ministers in each year since 1988 in(a) cash and (b) current prices.

  The Prime Minister
  The information requested is as follows:

  As at

  Paybill1£million

  1993–94 prices2 £ million

  June 1993

  1·37

  1·37

  September 1992

  1·3

  1·34

  September 1991

  1·1

  1·18

  July 1990

  0·95

  1·08

  June 1989

  0·93

  1·15

  September 1988

  0·74

  0·97

  1 Not including earnings-related national insurance contribution and other personnel overheads.

  2 Calculated using the GDP deflator.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list(a) the annual salaries paid to special advisers attached to Ministers in bands of £10,000 and (b) the number of advisers whose salary falls within each band.

  The Prime Minister
  The information requested is as follows:

  Salary band £

  Number of special advisers1

  0— 10,000

  2

  10— 20,000

  1

  20— 30,000

  10

  30— 40,000

  5

  40— 50,000

  8

  50— 60,000

  6

  60— 70,000

  —

  70— 80,000

  —

  80— 90,000

  2

  90–100,000

  1

  1 As at 1 November 1993.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department(a) the total number of people employed, (b) the total number of black people and (c) the total number of Asians.
  29
  The Prime Minister
  For recruitment purposes, my Office is part of the Cabinet Office. The figures for that Department, excluding its executive agencies and the CCTA—Government Centre for Information Systems—are set out. Ethnic monitoring in the civil service is carried out on a voluntary basis. Figures for Asian and black staff therefore only include those who have chosen so to describe themselves.

  Equivalent Grade

  Total

  Black

  Asian

  1

  3

  0

  0

  2

  17

  0

  0

  3

  19

  0

  0

  4

  0

  0

  0

  5

  41

  0

  0

  6

  27

  1

  0

  7

  109

  0·5

  0

  AT/HEO(D)

  16

  0

  0

  SEO

  49

  0

  0

  HEO

  85·5

  0

  0

  EO

  180·5

  5

  4·5

  AO

  243

  26

  9

  AA

  151

  15

  6·5

  Total

  941

  47·5

  20

  Full time equivalent staff in post figures as at 2 December 1993.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes."

  The Prime Minister
  No files marked "Not for NAO eyes" are held by my Department. There is no such classification as "Not for PAC eyes".

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Prime Minister how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by his Department.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]: None.

  Year of the Family
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Prime Minister what action is proposed by Her Majesty's Government to celebrate the UN Year of the Family 1994; and which Minister is responsible for its co-ordination and implementation.

  The Prime Minister
  Family policy bears on the responsibilities of a number of Government Departments, who in 1994 and beyond will be taking appropriate steps within their remits to strengthen our commitment to the family. We also support the United Kingdom Association for the International Year of the Family, which will be organising and overseeing activities within the United Kingdom during the year.

  During the International Year of the Family, domestic and international issues touching on the family will continue to be led and co-ordinated in the usual way, depending on the key departmental interest. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security will act as a liaison point for the co-ordination and exchange of information about and during the year.

  Redundancies and Closures
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list all hon. Members whom he has personally met concerning redundancies or closures in their constituencies, the dates of each of the meetings and the precise nature and numbers of redundancies involved;

  (2) what is his policy concerning meetings with hen. Members about redundancies or closures in their constituencies;

  (3) if he will now meet the Ayrshire hon. Members to discuss redundancies at Jetstream and the long-term threat to the plant.

  The Prime Minister
  I understand that my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry met a group of hon. Members to discuss Jetstream on 25 November.

  Ministers at the Department of Trade and Industry and I often discuss such matters with right hon. and hon. Members.

  Ex-service Men
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received calling for the setting up of a department of veterans' affairs to cover the needs of ex-service men; what consideration he is giving to dealing with such requests positively; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 2 December]: I have received a number of letters from right hon. and hon. Members and members of the public on this matter, but I do not believe that the establishment of a separate department for ex-service affairs would result in a better service for ex-service men and women. The facilities of the health service and social security system are available to all and provision for veterans is integrated with that for the population as a whole; a new department would simply add another tier of administration.

  We recognise, however, that some ex-service personnel may encounter difficulties on returning to civilian life. We are therefore committed to the provision of comprehensive resettlement advice and support. We also recognise the particular needs of disabled ex-service personnel; we have not only preserved the preferential provisions of the war pensions scheme, but have also done much to enhance it.

  Royal Marsden Hospital
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister when he received the petition opposing the closure of the Royal Marsden hospital and its institute of cancer research; and what response he has made.

  The Prime Minister
  The petition was received in my office on Thursday 25 November and has been passed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health for consideration.

EDUCATION

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils have attended Wolverhampton grammar school under the assisted places scheme since the scheme's inception; what was the cost to the state of those
  31
  places; and if he will give the usual place of residence of pupils attending the school under the APS listed by parliamentary constituency and local government ward.

  Mr. Forth
  Nearly 460 pupils have benefited from assisted places at Wolverhampton grammar school since the scheme was established in 1981. In 1992–93 there were 256 assisted pupils and the cost to public funds was £760,000. Schools participating in the scheme are not required to supply data concerning pupils' residence and the Department does not hold any such information centrally.

  Classroom Discipline
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he will take to encourage schools to insist the pupils treat the teaching staff with respect and call them by their surnames.

  Mr. Forth
  Head teachers are responsible for maintaining discipline within their schools and for encouraging pupils to have respect for others. How best to achieve that is a matter for local determination.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to offer guidelines on classroom discipline.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend plans to issue a circular of guidance on behaviour and discipline in spring 1994. We will be consulting widely on the terms of that guidance.

  Information Security
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education 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.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Department does not have a sensitive documents unit.

  Children (School Hours)
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the extent of variations of hours children spend in schools; whether there are regional differences or differences for grant-maintained schools; and what analysis has been carried out of the correlation with performance.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Provisional data for January 1993 for maintained schools in England show that, in primary education, 3 per cent. of pupils are receiving less than 21 hours' teaching a week whereas at the other end of the range 4 per cent. are receiving 26 hours or more. In secondary education, 2 per cent. of pupils are receiving less than 23 hours a week compared to 26 hours or more received by the 5 per cent. at the other end of the range. On average, pupils in primary education received 23·2 hours per week compared with 24·3 hours per week for pupils in secondary education. These figures refer to time during which children are actually being taught rather than time spent on school premises.

  There appear to be no significant differences between local education authorities maintained and self-governing
  32
  —GM—schools. There is some variation between regions: between an average of 22·9 hours per week in East Anglia and 23·5 hours per week in the north in primary education, and between an average of 24·1 hours per week in Yorkshire and Humberside and 24·5 hours per week in East Anglia and the south-west in secondary education.

  Initial work carried out in the Department indicates on average a small but statistically significant positive correlation between the length of the taught week and educational performance as measured by public examinations and national tests.

  Student Unions
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many representations he has received on making membership of student unions voluntary; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  Since the Government's plans for the reform of student unions were announced on 1 July, my right hon. Friend has received some 3,000 representations about the voluntary principle for student unions which our proposed reforms are intended to implement.

  EC Students
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the costs of education in England and Wales for EC students met by(a) his Department and (b) each local education authority; and what are the numbers of such students from each EC country, and in each level of institute of education.

  Mr. Boswell
  Students from other EC member states attending designated courses of higher education in the United Kingdom qualify for an award covering their course fees up to a specified maximum, where they satisfy basic eligibility conditions similar to those for students who live in the United Kingdom. In 1991–92 there were some 11,100 such award holders studying in England and Wales. In that year, mandatory awards expenditure by local authorities in England and Wales on students from other EC member states totalled £22·8 million; local authorities are fully reimbursed for this expenditure by the Department. In the same year, additional expenditure by the Department on awards to students from other EC member states attending part of a higher education course at an institution in England and Wales totalled £1·5 million. Copies of Department for Education statistical bulletins 21/93 and 22/93, which give details of students from abroad and student awards in England and Wales, are available in the Library.

  Other provision for students from other EC member states studying in England and Wales, which flows from the grant made annually to institutions by the higher education funding councils, is in the region of £80 million. Reciprocal rights apply to British nationals studying elsewhere in the EC.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

  Mr. Forth
  The Department has 39 files—out of a total of over 500,000—marked "Not for NAO eyes".
  33
  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 PAC are not automatically available to the NAO while they remain current.

  There is no such marking as "Not for PAC eyes".

  Opt-out Ballots
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from the Electoral Reform Society regarding documents published by his Department and sent out with opt-out ballot papers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Electoral Reform Society's company, Electoral Reform (Ballot Services) Ltd., wrote to the Department on 1 December about a leaflet sent to parents with their ballot papers. A reply will be sent shortly.

  Sixth Forms
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what action he intends to take following his statement at the annual conference of the Girls Schools Association on 25 November about the role of school sixth forms.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend intends shortly to publish, following consultation with the Further Education Funding Council and others, a framework of criteria in the light of which he will make future decisions on statutory proposals for new school sixth forms.

  University Grants Committee
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the total gross public spending for each year from 1983–84 to 1988–89, in 1992–93 prices, for the University Grants Committee.

  Mr. Boswell
  Figures for total capital and recurrent grant are shown below:

  £ million,1992–93 prices

  1983–84

  2,168

  1984–85

  2,119

  1985–86

  2,068

  1986–87

  2,080

  1987–88

  2,175

  1988–89

  2,203

  The figures do not include publicly funded tuition fees.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been, in 1992–93 prices, the total gross public spending for each year from 1991–92, and the projected expenditure for each year up to 1995–96 for grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Total spending to date on self-governing—grant-maintained—schools has been as follows:34

  1991–92 outturn £ million

  1992–93 outturn £ million

  Exchequer grant

  22

  50

  Annual maintenance grant

  167

  435

  The Government's spending plans for 1993–94 to 1995–96, at 1992–1993 prices, provide for total Exchequer grant as follows:

  1993–94 £ million

  1994–95 £ million

  1995–96 £ million

  150

  226

  398

  Provisional outturn spending on annual maintenance grant for 1993–94, at 1992–93 prices, is £950 million. Depending on the number and size of grant-maintained schools, total annual maintenance grant for 1994–95 and 1995–96 is projected to be around:

  1994–95 £ billion

  1995–96 £ billionl

  2

  4

  Note: Figures for exchequer grant include special purpose grants; capital grant; cost of GM ballots; the Grant Maintained Schools Centre; and the projected cost of the Funding Agency for Schools. They exclude other spending by local authorities, who remain responsible for some services to GM pupils, and DFE running costs.

  City Technology Colleges
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been, in 1992–93 prices, the total gross public spending for each year from 1987–88, and the projected expenditure for each year to 1995–96 for city technology colleges.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Total spending on city technology colleges by the Department since 1987–88 and projected expenditure to 1995–96 are shown in the following table. This includes both capital and recurrent expenditure.

  DFE Expenditure

  Financial year

  At 1992–93 prices £ million

  Cash £ million

  1987–88

  2

  1

  1988–89

  18

  14

  1989–90

  36

  30

  1990–91

  64

  58

  1991–92

  58

  56

  1992–93

  50

  50

  1993–94 (estimated outturn)

  48

  50

  1994–95 (plans)

  48

  52

  1995–96 (plans)

  51

  56

  Funding Councils
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the total gross public spending for each year from 1989–90, in 1992–93 prices, for(a) the Universities Funding Council and (b) the Polytechnic and Colleges Funding Council.

  Mr. Boswell
  Figures for total capital and recurrent grant to the funding councils are shown:
  35

  £ million, 1992–93 prices

  UFC

  PCFC

  1989–90

  2,209

  1,324

  1990–91

  2,027

  1,215

  1991–92

  1,850

  1,031

  1992–93

  1,804

  1,036

  The decline in grant from 1990–91 onwards relates to the transfer of funds to tuition fees reimbursed through mandatory awards. Recurrent funding for higher education taking account of tuition fees increased by more than 10 per cent. in real terms over the period.

  Student Loan Scheme
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a table showing the number of those in arrears on repayment of the student loan scheme by(a) educational institution and (b) county/borough of residence.

  Mr. Boswell
  This is a matter for the Student Loans Company. I will ask the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what procedures are in force for his Department to be notified of any approach to British Nuclear Fuels plc from any utility with a contract with British Nuclear Fuels plc for the use of THORP, to cancel or vary the contract or its terms.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department is in regular contact with British Nuclear Fuels plc on a wide range of issues.

  Leases
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation as part of his deregulative initiatives to make illegal anti-competitive abuses in commercial leases which allow only upward review of rents.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The measure described does not appear to be deregulatory and does not fall within the scope of the deregulation initiative. The Department of the Environment has, however, issued a consultation paper on certain aspects of commercial property leasing arrangements, including upward-only rent reviews. An announcement of the outcome of that exercise will be made in due course.

  Monopolies and Mergers Commission
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who appoints the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; who are the present members; what are their qualifications by examinations; what posts they currently hold; and when they were appointed.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Biographical details of members of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission are compiled by the commission for publication in its annual review. I36
  will write to the hon. Gentleman enclosing those biographical details, and relevant dates of appointment. Qualifications by examinations are not a factor in determining the suitability of potential MMC members and, as such, details of the current members' qualifications are not held. Collation of such details could be made only at disproportionate cost.

  Car Parking
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to establish an advisory panel to advise him on restrictive practices and monopolistic power in the provision of car parking in Britain.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I announced to the House on 14 April,Official Report, column 842-50, that when parliamentary time permits, proposals will be introduced to strengthen existing United Kingdom legislation concerning anti-competitive and exploitative behaviour following the Green Paper on abuse of market power. At the same time, a prohibition on restrictive trade practices will be introduced. As part of this package, the Fair Trading Act 1973 and the Competition Act 1980 will be extended to cover some limited situations where specific property rights are exercised in a way which damages competition. I am currently considering the property rights to which competition law should apply and the extension of the Fair Trading Act 1973 to temporary rights of access such as car parks is one option under consideration.

  Information Security
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department's sensitive documents unit arranges for the circulation of such documents to those officials cleared to see them. Its procedures are kept under review and amended from time to time. Two officials are employed in the unit full time and one half time. At present, it handles some 9,000 documents a year.

  Inconel 600
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many nuclear reactors in the United Kingdom have parts which contain the nickel-based alloy, Inconel 600; what assessment his Department has made as to its safety; what representations he has received; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I understand that Inconel 600 is used chiefly in Sizewell B, but the material is also found in minor components in certain other nuclear stations. Any implications for such plant arising from the use of a material are taken into account by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate—NII. The performance of materials—such as Inconel 600—is an integral part of the safety case assessment which is carried out before reactors are started up and which continues throughout their operation. Such safety cases are reviewed periodically and amended as necessary in light of new information. For its part, Nuclear Electric is undertaking a programme of inspections at Sizewell B which will ensure
  37
  early warning of any problems arising from the use of Inconel 600 and enable remedial action to be promptly implemented. Moreover, the NII would not allow any nuclear power station to commence or continue in operation if they were not satisfied that it was safe to do so. I have received two letters from hon. Members forwarding representations from their constituents about this matter.

  Budget Setting
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the date on which the budgets for each of his Department's laboratories and agencies were finalised for 1993–94.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Budgets for 1993–94 were set on 5 January 1993 for the following:

  Accounts Services Agency

  Radiocommunications Agency

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist

  National Physical Laboratory

  National Engineering Laboratory

  Warren Spring Laboratory

  Patent Office

  Companies House and on 1 April 1993 for the following:

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  Insolvency Service

  Nuclear Industry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the mass of spent fuel discharged from each Magnox reactor operated by Nuclear Electric in each financial year since 1983–84;

  (2) what commitment has been given by Nuclear Electric in relation to the reprocessing of spent fuel from pressurised water reactors.

  Mr. Eggar
  These are operational matters for Nuclear Electric plc.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what facilities exist in the United Kingdom for the conversion of plutonimum into californium.

  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Japan (Atomic Energy Agreement)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when Her Majesty's Government last sought assurance from the Japanese Government in regard to the commitments entered into under article III(a) of the United Kingdom/Japan agreement for co-operation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy (Cm 3853).

  Mr. Eggar
  Her Majesty's Government last sought assurance from the Japanese Government in July 1992.

  Nuclear Safeguards
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions since 1990 Her Majesty's Government have informed the appropriate safeguards authorities of its putting into effect clause 14 of the United Kingdom-EURATOM-International Atomic Agency trilateral safeguards agreement.

  Mr. Eggar
  In accordance with the arrangements under article 14 of the United Kingdom-Euratom-IAEA tripartite 38
  safeguards agreement, 46 advanced notifications of withdrawal of nuclear material from safeguards have been made since 1 January 1990.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the latest undiscounted cost estimate for the dumping of projected United Kingdom low level and intermediate level radioactive waste arising in the Nirex repository; the unit cost for the dumping of that waste; and the latest date for fully opening the repository for low level and intermediate level radioactive waste.

  Mr. Eggar
  These are management matters for UK Nirex Ltd.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes."

  Mr. Eggar
  No central record is kept by my Department of files marked "not for National Audit Office eyes". For each National Audit Office 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 National Audit Office 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 National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to the National Audit Office while they are current.

  There is no marking "not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

  Eco-labelling
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the letter sent to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Technology on 20 October by the Body Shop in connection with EC eco-labelling and animal welfare; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  I have been asked to reply.

  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in another place has replied to the letter from the Body Shop. Copies of her reply of 2 December have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Fireworks
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of fireworks sold in Britain was manufactured in Britain in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have been asked to reply The information requested is not available.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Bomb-proofing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what has been the cost, by location, of bomb-proofing the Department's premises.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  On security grounds, I do not propose to give this information.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

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

  The marking "Not for National Audit Office 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 National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to the National Audit Office while they are current.

  There is no marking "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

  Divorce Law
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans Her Majesty's Government have to bring forward reform to the law of divorce in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor has today laid before Parliament a consultation document, "Looking to the Future: Mediation and the Ground for Divorce", which canvasses a number of options for divorce law reform and the greater use of family mediation. The Lord Chancellor hopes that the document will stimulate a wide-ranging and informed debate about this important subject.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Security Services
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to seek power to issue a post-hoc warrant to cover any interference with property or wireless telegraph by a member or members of the security services.

  Mr. Hurd
  None.

  International Organisations
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost of United Kingdom subscriptions to international organisations in each of the last five years at constant prices.
  40
  Mr. Goodlad
  The total cost to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office—including the Overseas Development Administration—of United Kingdom subscriptions to international organisations at 1992–93 prices was:

  £ million

  1988–89

  830

  1989–90

  791

  1990–91

  758

  1991–92

  993

  1992–93

  1,035

  Intelligence and Security Committee
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration was given to including a Member of the European Parliament on the intelligence and security committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  The Intelligence Services Bill provides for the members of the intelligence and security committee to be appointed by the Prime Minister after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. Each Committee member shall be a member of either the House of Commons or the House of Lords, and none shall be a Minister of the Crown. There are no other restrictions on who the Prime Minister may appoint.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters, in regard to the implications for the environment, he intends to raise at the meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council special meeting on the general agreement on tariffs and trade.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The special Foreign Affairs Council on 2 December did not discuss the implications for the environment of the general agreement on tariffs and trade. The existing GATT system allows for trade-restrictive measures to protect the environment, under certain conditions. The proposed Uruguay round agreement would strengthen the ability of the international trading system to respond to environmental concerns.

  Turkey
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government will take on the eviction by the Turkish security forces of the villagers of Hassana in south-eastern Turkey; and if he will take steps to encourage the Turkish authorities to ensure that the villagers have sufficient food, clothing, warmth and shelter.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have made clear to the Turkish Government our concern about the conflict in south-east Turkey, and will continue to do so. It is appalling that innocent civilians should be caught up in the violence, and vital that human rights should be properly respected.

  Information Security
  Mr.Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office records are reviewed for any continuing sensitivity 29 or 30 years after their creation, by a team of up to nine part-time senior retired members of the diplomatic service, supervised and supported by seven permanent officials in the library and records department. Approximately 650 ft of records have been reviewed this year, in accordance with the guidelines contained in chapter 9 of the "Open Government" White paper—Cm. 2290—of July 1993.

  United Kingdom Overseas Visitors (Financial Assistance)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received(a) directly and (b) via consulates from United Kingdom citizens in respect of requests for financial assistance to help them get out of immediate difficulties abroad.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There are strict criteria which have to be met before financial assistance from the public purse can be authorised. The post must be satisfied that the applicant is destitute, has no funds in the United Kingdom, that his predicament is not of his own making, and that he cannot make use of a cheque card and cannot arrange for the rapid transfer of funds through commercial channels from relatives or friends. We occasionally receive representations, either directly or referred by Members of Parliament, from the public on posts abroad who have refused them financial assistance.

  United Nations Committee (Administrative and Budgetary Questions)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the vote on 15 November to re-elect the United Nations advisory committee on administrative and budgetary questions; and how the decision will affect the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom expert on the committee failed to gain re-election at the vote in the UN in New York on 15 November. The three candidates contesting the two vacant seats, received the following votes: Ms Eriksson Fogh—Sweden—132, Ms Shenwick —United States of America—102, Mr. Stitt—United Kingdom—91.

  The result was a disappointment. But the United Kingdom expert remains in New York dealing with UN financial questions and is our representative on the fifth committee of the General Assembly. It is the fifth committee that has the authority to take decisions on UN financial issues and is the body to which ACABQ reports.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

  Mr. Goodlad
  The information requested is not readily available. To provide it would require consultations with all overseas posts. This could only be done 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 PAC are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's internal audit unit regularly checks to ensure that the marking is not abused.
  There is no marking "Not for PAC eyes".

  World Summit on Children
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to publish the Government's action statement arising from the World Summit on Children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom published in July 1992 Command Paper No. 1984 entitled "Report on the United Kingdom Implementation of the Goals agreed by the World Summit on Children". A copy was placed in the Library of the House.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

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

  Mr. Newton
  The Privy Council Office meets the cost of a car and driver for each of its two Ministers. The total cost in 1992–93 was £132,692.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

  Mr. Newton
  The Privy Council Office holds no files with such markings.

WALES

  Welsh Energy Project
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what recent discussions he has had with the chairman and energy experts at the Welsh Development Agency on the Welsh energy project;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the information gathered, conclusions reached and policy proposals developed by the Welsh energy project.
  43
  Mr. Redwood
  I have had no discussions with the Welsh Development Agency about the Welsh energy project. This is an operational matter and I have therefore asked the chief executive of the agency to write to the hon. Gentleman and for a copy of his response to be placed in the Library of the House.

  A470
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to prioritise the road improvement scheme to the A470 Blaenau Ffestiniog to Betws-y-Coed road; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend is considering the scope to bring forward some of the more important schemes in the forward road programme. The draft orders for the first stage of the Lledr Valley improvement, between Cancoed and Minffordd, were published on 30 November.

  Schools
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much capital grant funding has been allocated to the schools in Wales which have decided to opt out; how much this is per school; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  There are two types of capital grant available to grant-maintained schools: a formula allocation for the purchase of equipment or small-scale capital works; and project allocations for specific capital work.
  44
  In 1993–94 11 grant-maintained schools have received £211,346 under the formula allocation, giving an average per school of £19,213. As regards specific project allocations, seven schools have had projects approved in principle and have been invited to submit firm estimates and tenders. The total outline estimate costs of the projects which have been approved in principle come to some £5·434 million.

  Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many schools to date have opted out; and if he will make a statement on the progress of the opt-out scheme for schools in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  At 1 September this year there were 11 grant-maintained schools. A further three schools have been approved to become grant-maintained from 1 January 1994. Applications from a further two schools are currently under consideration and a number of other schools are in the process of balloting parents.

  Aberconwy
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the efforts the Welsh Office has made to secure, via the Department of Trade and Industry, objective 5(b) status for the Aberconwy borough.

  Mr. Redwood
  Aberconwy is on the list of eligible objective 5(b) areas submitted by the Government to the European Commission which will make known its decisions in due course.

  Forest Enterprise
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received on public access rights and the privatisation of Forest Enterprise; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend and I have received 55 representations on these matters since the Forestry Review Group was established on 30 March 1993.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the total expenditure by the Welsh Development Agency on rural areas and initiatives in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93; and what is the projected expenditure in 1993–94;

  (2) what are the total receipts to date of sales of Welsh Development Agency property in the current financial year;

  (3) what proportion of the Welsh Development Agency's budget was allocated to rural areas and initiatives in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93; and what is the projected proportion in 1993–94;

  (4) which properties owned by the Welsh Development Agency have been sold in the current financial year; and which other properties are on the market;

  (5) how many members of staff of the Welsh Development Agency are employed on implementing the agency's rural policies;

  (6) what was the total annual rents charged on those properties sold by the Welsh Development Agency in the current year.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have arranged for the chief executive of the agency to write to the hon. Gentleman and for a copy of his response to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from individuals and organisations in Wales on the rural policy of the Welsh Development Agency in the current financial year.

  Mr. Redwood
  None.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the geographic boundaries of the Development Board for Rural Wales and the Welsh Development Agency were last reviewed.

  Mr. Redwood
  The position was reviewed at the time of the 1991 financial, management and policy review of the board.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which geographical areas in Wales are covered by the rural division of the Welsh Development Agency.

  Mr. Redwood
  The agency is responsible for all rural areas in Wales except for the county of Powys and the districts of Ceredigion in Dyfed and Meirionnydd in Gwynedd.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department last carried out a review of the rural policies of the Welsh Development Agency.

  Mr. Redwood
  The rural policies of the agency are a matter for the agency. They are kept under continual review.
  46
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultation his Department has had with local authorities, employer representative organisations and the Welsh Trades Union Congress over the future role of rural policy within the Welsh Development Agency.

  Mr. Redwood
  None. The agency's programmes for rural areas are compatible with overall rural policy in Wales. In drawing up its programmes, the agency consults widely.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much, in cash and percentage terms, of the Welsh Development Agency's total income was derived from(a) grant in aid, (b) capital receipts and (c) current income in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94; and what are the projected figures for 1994–95.

  Mr. Redwood
  The figures are as follows:

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94 (plans)

  (a) Grant in aid

  Cash (£ million)

  87·067

  74·866

  59·550

  Per cent.

  54·0

  44·9

  34·7

  (b) Capital receipts

  Cash (£ million)

  38·280

  59·050

  83·900

  Per cent.

  23·7

  35·4

  48·9

  (c) Current income

  Cash (£ million)

  31·406

  31·999

  25·950

  Per cent.

  19·4

  19b·2

  15·1

  I will shortly be announcing the agency's budget for 1994–95.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

  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 Departments and the NAO and PAC are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.

  There is no marking "Not for PAC eyes".

  Berse Horticultural Scheme
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of the Berse horticultural scheme, Wrexham.

  Mr. Redwood
  The future of the scheme is a matter for NACRO—New Careers Training—and North East Wales TEC.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times departmental ministers and officials have visited the Berse horticultural scheme.
  47
  Mr. Redwood
  There have been no visits by Welsh Office Ministers or officials to this scheme.

  Less-favoured Areas
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of the Budget Statement upon prospects for 1994 in the less-favoured areas of Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  I announced last week that direct Government support during 1994–95 for agriculture in Wales will be £233·9 million. This means an extra £18·6 million, 8·6 per cent., for Welsh agriculture, compared to planned provision for the current financial year. Despite the need to keep a firm control on public spending, this demonstrates the Government's continuing commitment to the agriculture industry in Wales. The agriculture industry in Wales is currently in a much healthier state, helped in part by much lower interest rates and very low inflation. These factors benefit hill farmers as much as other parts of the economy.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the grant-maintained schools and those schools seeking grant-maintained status in each of the less-favoured areas of Wales, giving the amount of extra cash grants for each of the grant-maintained schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The only formal designation of less-favoured areas is under European Community directives concerned with farming. There is no connection with education expenditure. However, in such areas in Wales there are six grant-maintained schools. They are:

  Cwmcarn Comprehensive, Gwent

  Bishop Vaughan Catholic Comprehensive, West Glamorgan

  Brynmawr Comprehensive, Gwent

  Caergeiliog Primary, Gwynedd

  Llanerfyl Church in Wales Primary, Powys; and

  Ysgol Derwen, Clwyd

  In addition, St. Albans comprehensive in Pontypool, Gwent which has been approved for grant-maintained status from 1 January 1994, lies in a less-favoured area.

  The funding of grant-maintained schools reflects the level of resources that a school would have received had it remained with its former local education authority. All grant-maintained schools, irrespective of whether they are in a less-favoured area, are eligible for transitional grants, special purpose grants, and capital grants over and above their annual maintenance grant.

  School Pupils
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce modular approach testing in future examinations for GCSE pupils.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I have no immediate plans to do so. Fair markings of GCSE grades are best maintained by a terminal examination and adherence to the specified limits on GCSE coursework.

  Cockle Dredging
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the number of fishing vessels that have been granted an authorisation covering the October to December period to suction-dredge for cockles in(a) the
  48
  North Wales and North West England Sea Fisheries Committee area and (b) elsewhere in Wales, if he will specify the catch limits and other harvesting conditions imposed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Such matters are the responsibility of sea fisheries committees. I understand that the North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee has issued 10 authorisations to suction dredge for cockles on Lavan sands for a limited period and that these are the only authorisations which have been issued in Wales.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had and what representations he has received in relation to the issuing of authorisations for cockle fishing by suction dredging in Traeth Lafan in Conwy bay.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I have received one letter from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to use his powers under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to issue an order banning the suction dredging of cockles in the Traeth Lafan area of the Conwy bay site of special scientific interest and special protection area.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None.

  Non-departmental Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will show for each of the executive non-departmental bodies sponsored by his Department, whether the public has a statutory right to attend all board or committee meetings and to inspect(a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the annual reports and (c) the annual accounts.

  Mr. Redwood
  There is no statutory right for the public to attend meetings, or to see minutes of meetings, for any of these bodies. The ordinances of the National Library provide for every meeting of the court of the Library to be public, unless a resolution to the contrary is carried by the members present, in respect of the full meeting or of specific items or portions of the business.

  The annual reports and accounts of the following executive non-departmental bodies are in the Library of the House and are publicly available.

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

  Countryside Council for Wales

  Curriculum Council for Wales

  Development Board for Rural Wales

  Further Education Funding Council

  Higher Education Funding Council

  Housing for Wales

  Land Authority for Wales

  National Library of Wales

  National Museum of Wales

  Sports Council for Wales

  Wales Tourist Board

  Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  Welsh Development Agency

  The Wales Youth Agency is a company limited by guarantee and its annual report and accounts for 1992–93 are deposited at Companies House, Cardiff; from 1993–94 its report and accounts will be placed in the Library of the House. The Royal Commission for Ancient and Historical Monuments is funded directly from the Welsh Office vote and its expenditure is accounted for in the annual Welsh Office appropriation accounts.

  Housing
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been, in 1992–93 prices, the gross public investment in Wales in the provision of housing, both new build and renovated, by(a) local authorities and (b) housing associations for each year since 1979–80; and what is the projected investment for both categories up to 1995–96.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as this information is available, and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

EMPLOYMENT

  Career Development Scheme
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications for loans under the career development scheme have been made in 1993–94 for each region and for Great Britain as a whole; how many have been rejected; how many women have been awarded loans; how many training for work-employment training participants have been awarded loans endorsed by their training and enterprise council or local enterprise company; what have been the successful course completion rates in each region; how much has been awarded in total for each region; how much has been recovered; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information by region on the number of loans approved under the career development loan scheme, numbers of applications rejected, number of loans approved for women, value of loans approved and the successful course completion rate are shown in the tables. The information given is for the period April 1993 to the end of October 1993.

  Details of the number of training for work and employment training participants and of the amount of money repaid are not available.

  Further information on career development loans can be found in the 1992–93 annual report, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Region

  Number of loans approved

  Rejected applications

  Number of loans for women

  Northern

  202

  101

  65

  Greater Manchester

  119

  102

  39

  North West

  331

  140

  125

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  467

  188

  185

  West Midlands

  432

  139

  154

  East Midlands

  407

  120

  145

  Eastern

  490

  190

  163

  south East

  843

  334

  331

  London

  1,509

  961

  576

  South West

  506

  127

  181

  Wales

  234

  58

  75

  Scotland

  659

  296

  220

  Great Britain

  6,199

  2,756

  2,259

  Region

  Value of loans (£)

  Course completion rate (Per cent.)

  Northern

  456,838

  57

  Greater Manchester

  280,651

  46

  North West

  837,531

  53

  50

  Region

  Value of loans(£)

  Course completion rate (Per cent.)

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  971,190

  81

  West Midlands

  1,152,446

  78

  East Midlands

  982,577

  71

  Eastern

  1,305,605

  73

  South East

  1,983,421

  77

  London

  4,125,676

  81

  South West

  1,172,845

  68

  Wales

  559,665

  79

  Scotland

  1,392,886

  68

  Great Britain

  15,221,330

  73

  Training for Work
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will remove the upper age limit for unemployed persons participating in training for work programmes.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I am pleased to tell the hon. Member that the upper age limit for training for work participants will be raised to 63 years from April 1994.

  Information Security
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The security requirements for information technology—IT—systems and services used by central Government Departments are stated in Her Majesty's Government IT security policy document. This document is supported by use of the Central Communications Telecommunications Agency risk analysis and management method—CRAMM—and the 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 HMG IT security authorities.

  These are reviewed regularly 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 Secretary of State for Employment 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.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We do not have a sensitive file unit.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give figures for the total adult unemployment in Warley, West on 1 January for each of the past five years.
  51
  Miss Widdecombe
  The number of unemployed claimants aged 18 years and over in the Warley, West constituency from 1989 onwards, in January of each year, was 3,374, 2,484, 2,862, 4,252 and 4,878.

  Youth Training Scheme
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many participants of the former youth training scheme found full-time employment as a result of joining the scheme; and what percentage of total entry this represents.

  Miss Widdecombe
  It is estimated that of all those who left the former youth training scheme in its last full year of operation—April 1989 to March 1990—in Great Britain, 63 per cent. went into full-time employment.

  Access to Work
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from individuals and organisations about proposals to change access to work, especially to oblige employers to contribute 50 per cent. of the cost of purchasing services such as personal readers and special aids to employment for people employed for more than six months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 30 November 1993]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my noble Friend Lord Henley have been in correspondence with and met a number of disability and employer organisations about details of access to work, which will help more disabled people, in a broader range of work, to obtain or retain jobs. My right hon. Friend will make an announcement when he has reached decisions on the details of the scheme.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is not held centrally and we regret that the information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  There is no marking "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

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

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]: The information is not held centrally and we regret that the information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

DEFENCE

  RAF Brawdy
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial compensation the RAF is to receive in return for RAF Brawdy being used by the Army from 1994 instead of being available for RAF use or sale.
  52
  Mr. Hanley
  The Army currently plans to use RAF Brawdy as temporary accommodation until 1996. Should occupation extend beyond this, an appropriate financial transfer will be made to the RAF to offset the land receipts assumed in the Air Force budget.

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

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

  Plutonium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) of 23 November 1993,Official Report,column 318, if he will set out the basis for his statement that it would take considerable expense and difficulty for plutonium arising from the thermal oxide reprocessing plant to be used in nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Aitken
  For reasons of national security it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on how to construct a nuclear device, or on the usefulness of various materials in making a nuclear device.

  Aldermaston
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies of the geology and hydrogeology of the atomic weapons establishment Aldermaston site have been carried out; and if he will place a copy of the results in the Library.

  Mr. Aitken
  Studies looking at various aspects of AWE operations are carried out periodically including recent surveys to support studies on water management systems at Aldermaston. Such studies are initiated locally and the reports written for internal management use. It would be inappropriate to place such documents in the Library.

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

  Mr. Hanley
  The annual total cost of the car service for Defence Department Ministers is some £175,000.

  Five vehicles are provided in London, including a reserve vehicle held in readiness for the Secretary of State. An arrangement exists for the use of a car supplied by the Scottish Office when the Secretary of State for Defence is in Scotland and the cost of this is reflected in the sum quoted.

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

  Mr. Hanley
  The number of personnel and civilians currently employed in complemented PR and PR support
  53
  posts in London and commands and districts at home and overseas is 175. The comparable figure for 1985-86 is 249£5. A figure for 1979 is not available.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all certificates of exemption which he has issued under the provisions of regulation 14 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992.

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has not granted any certificates of exemption under the provisions of regulation 14 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department was represented at the 39th ordinary session of the Western European Union in Paris from 29 November to 2 December; what proposals were put forward by the United Kingdom; what decisions were taken; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The last session of the WEU Assembly, which took place in Paris from 29 November to 2 December 1993, was attended by the Deputy United Kingdom Permanent Representative to NATO and other officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. There was no MOD representation on this occasion. A number of reports were presented, either singly or jointly, by United Kingdom Parliamentarians, on behalf of several of the Assembly's committees. Copies of those reports can be obtained from the WEU Assembly in Paris. Recommendations embodied in individual reports will be considered by the WEU Council in due course.

  International Military Services
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what subcontractors International Military Services Ltd. employed to carry out its functions, and act on its behalf and at which locations;

  (2) if he will give the objectives, yearly profits and years of business operation of IMS Iran Ltd.

  Mr. Aitken
  As International Military Services is a private limited company, the information requested relates to the trading operations of the company, is of a commercially confidential nature and is not the responsibility of my Department. The company publishes its accounts for public scrutiny in accordance with the requirements of company law.

  Ferranti
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what arrangements he is making to ensure the continued supply and maintenance of essential defence equipment provided by Ferranti;

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that orders placed with Ferranti will be supplied according to contract.

  Mr. Aitken
  Officials of my Department have held preliminary discussions with the receivers of Ferranti International, to see what can be done to minimise any 54

  disruption to the completion of our contracts. These discussions will continue. Longer-term arrangements for the supply and maintenance of equipment procured from Ferranti will be considered in the light of progress of the receivership.

  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implication of the entry into receivership of Ferranti for the ability of the United Kingdom armed forces to acquire equipment from domestic suppliers.

  Mr. Aitken
  For the immediate future, the receivers of Ferranti International have said that they wish to restore trading to near-normality as soon as possible. In the longer term, any effects on the availability of domestic suppliers of equipment for the armed forces will depend on the outcome of the receivership.

  Non-departmental Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will show, for each of the executive non-departmental bodies sponsored by his Department, whether the public has a statutory right to attend all board or committee meetings and to inspect(a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the annual reports and (c) the annual accounts.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested in respect of MOD executive non-departmental public bodies—NDPB's—is as follows:(a) and (b) the public does not have a statutory right to attend board meetings or committee meetings or to inspect the minutes of meetings of any of MOD's executive NDPBs.
  (c) there is a statutory right for the public to inspect the annual accounts for all the service museums and for the annual report and accounts in respect of the Services Sound and Vision Corporation.

  These documents are held by the Charities Commission and at Companies House respectively. In the case of the Oil and Pipelines Agency, the agency's annual report and accounts are laid before each House of Parliament.

  Mr. David Hart
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) of 23 November,Official Report,column 42, if he will arrange for the Chief of the Air Staff to give a briefing to an employee of the hon. Member for South Shields;

  (2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) of 23 November, Official Report, column 42, and his answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) of 29 November, Official Report, column 377, on what basis Mr. David Hart was given a briefing by the Chief of the Air Staff on a visit to RAF Strike Command on 27 May.

  Mr. Hanley
  Briefings on the RAF are given from time to time to Members of Parliament, academics and members of the media who have shown a special interest in defence matters. It was on this basis that Mr. Hart was given a briefing at Headquarters Strike Command on 27 May. I would be happy, similarly, to arrange a briefing for the hon. Member.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

  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 Department and the NAO and the PAC are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.

  There is no marking "Not for PAC eyes."

  RAF Greenham Common
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the(a) representations and (b) proposals he has received in respect of RAF station Greenham Common; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: Since the beginning of 1993 my Department has received representations and proposals concerning: the removal of the airfield perimeter fencing on Crookham common and its reinstatement as a common with public access; the establishment of a monument to the cold war; the preparation of a planning brief by the district council for the reuse of surplus property, which envisages the creation of open space on Greenham common; the long-term reuse of the former American school; and the short-term use of the various facilities. All of these are being considered.

  Our managing agents—Vail-Williams of Reading—have received over 200 inquiries and proposals for short-term lettings of the various facilities.

  These inquiries include the following uses:

  Equestrian facilities

  Temporary film studios

  Open storage for vehicles

  Indoor storage

  Offices

  Leisure activities

  The district council has consented to the principle of short-term lettings—subject to resolution of any planning issues—and planning applications have been made covering these proposals.

  The district council has now produced a draft planning brief for public consultation; once adopted this should assist with the planning and future use of the surplus property.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Technology Foresight
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the earliest date by which the technology foresight process will have an influence on the allocation of funds by the research councils.

  Mr. David Davis
  The first results of the technology foresight programme will become available in early 1995. The Director General of the Research Councils, and individual councils, will be able to take the results into account thereafter.

  HMSO
  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what savings have been made as a result of HMSO's market testing programme.

  Mr. David Davis
  The results of HMSO's market testing programme to date will save £2·4 million a year on a continuing basis.

  Scientific Research
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of money spent on scientific research is not defence related.

  Mr. David Davis
  In 1993–94, 57 per cent. of net Government expenditure on research and development will be spent on research objectives that are not related to defence.

  Competing for Quality
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment his Department has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Competing for Quality programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Davis
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave provisional results, including the estimated £100 million savings generated, in his statement on 4 November. More detailed figures will be published in the citizens charter second report early next year.

  Departmental Progress
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement summarising the progress made by his Department in the current year.

  Mr. David Davis
  Substantial progress has been made. In its first full year, the Office of Public Service and Science has:published key statements on public service reform through its White Papers on the citizens charter and open government;
  completed a market testing programme which had led to savings of £100 million across the civil service by 30 September;
  set out, in the White Paper "Realising Our Potential" the first Government-wide policy statement for over 20 years on science, engineering and technology.

  And within the next few days the Department will:
  run the second International Conference on "Service for the Citizen" which will underline the United Kingdom's role as one of the world's leading practitioners of public service reform; and publish a further White Paper, the 1993 review of next steps agencies in government.

  Citizens Charter
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to introduce new charters.

  Mr. David Davis
  The last week has seen the publication of the courts charter for Northern Ireland. This brings the total number of charters to 38. The Benefits Agency will also be publishing an updated and improved version of its customer charter in the near future and there are a number of new charters planned for 1994. This is a part of the citizens charter's dynamic programme to raise the standard of all public services.

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received about changes to magistrates court arrangements in Stockport and Tameside.

  Mr. David Davis
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Chancellor of the Duchy's responsibilities are for the appointment and removal of magistrates in Stockport and Tameside. He has not received any representations about changes to magistrates courts' arrangements in these two areas. Management of the courts is the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

  Passengers Charter
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations the citizens charter unit in his Department has received from the Central Transport Consultative Committee on the subject of the passengers charter.

  Mr. David Davis
  The citizens charter unit has received a number of representations from the Central Transport Consultative Committee on all aspects of the passengers charter, with particular reference to BR's standards and compensation arrangements. We appreciate the value of the CTCC's observations in ensuring that the passengers charter really does meet passengers' needs.

  Open Government
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made with the open government initiative.

  Mr. David Davis
  Preparations for implementing the code of practice on open government are going ahead in the light of consultation responses. Proposals for legislation on access to personal records and health and safety information are being developed. Over 6,500 public records have already been released under the openness initiative.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what intentions he has to reform recruitment to senior posts within the civil service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Davis
  I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath (Mr. Townsend) on 22 November, columns 7-8.

  NAO and PAC
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

  Mr. David Davis
  The marking "Not for National Audit Office eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit 58
  Office under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments, the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to the National Audit Office while they are current. A total of 122 Cabinet Office and OPSS files are so designated.

  There is no marking "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Mr. Tony Lundy
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Attorney-General when a decision will be made by the Director of Public Prosecutions concerning the allegations made against ex-Detective Superintendent Tony Lundy formerly of the Metropolitan police; when the matter was referred to her; and if he will make a statement.

  The Solicitor-General
  The Director of Public Prosecutions was first made aware of the present investigation during the summer of 1991. On 5 May 1992, leading and junior counsel were instructed to examine the reports, statements and documents then available from the South Yorkshire police, who were investigating this matter under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority.

  Between May 1992 and November 1993 further instructions were sent to counsel and they advised in consultation on a number of occasions. Counsel were preparing to submit their written advice to the Director in November 1993. However, fresh developments have required the police to open a new line of inquiry which they are pursuing as a matter of urgency. Until the results of this further inquiry are available, it is not possible to state when a final decision will be made.

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

  The Attorney-General
  The total cost to the Department of the Government car service for Ministers for the financial year 1992–93 was £129,700. Two vehicles were involved.

  NAO and PAC
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Attorney-General how many files marked not for National Audit Office eyes are held by the Department; and how many are marked not for Public Accounts Committee eyes.

  The Attorney-General
  There are 19 files in the Departments for which I am responsible marked "Not for NAO eyes".

  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 PAC are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.

  There is no marking "Not for PAC eyes".

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to establish any of his Departments as executive agencies.

  The Attorney-General
  Consideration is to be given to the question whether it would be appropriate for three of my departments, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Serious Fraud Office, and the Treasury Solicitor's Department, to become agencies in Government under the next steps programme. I shall be setting in hand studies of the appropriateness of agency status in each case and will reach a decision in the light of this further work.

  Notified cases of leptospirosis

  Eastern

  Northern

  Southern

  Western

  Total

  1990

  1

  1

  —

  —

  2

  1991

  1

  1

  —

  1

  3

  1992

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1993 (to 6 November)

  1

  1

  1

  —

  3

  Total

  3

  4

  1

  1

  9

  Strip Searching
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many female prisoners in Northern Ireland have been subjected to forcible strip searching since March 1992.

  Sir John Wheeler
  No female prisoners in Northern Ireland have been forcibly searched since 2 March 1992; on that date, 21 female prisoners had to be restrained in order to comply with a search.

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

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]: Ten responses were received to the consultation paper on the future of the Agricultural Wages Board in Northern Ireland. None was in favour of the abolition of the board.

HEALTH

  Medical Devices Directorate
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many safety warnings have been issued by the Medical Devices Directorate relating to(a) pacemakers and (b) artificial heart valves since the directorate was established.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Medical Devices Directorate of the Department of Health has issued 17 pacemaker technical notes and one hazard circular relating to pacemakers, and one safety warning letter related to heart valves, since it was established in August 1990.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Weil's Disease
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by regional health board for the last five years, and this year to date the number of people who have been infected by Weil's disease.

  Mr. Ancram
  Weil's disease is the more serious form of leptospirosis in humans but is not in itself notifiable. Leptospirosis has only been notifiable since April 1990 and the number of cases is as follows:

  Tilade
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will order an investigation into the prescribing of Tilade and the way it has been promoted.

  Mr. Sackville
  Recent allegations in the press regarding the methods used by the manufacturer to promote the prescribing of Tilade are currently under investigation by the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority under its guidelines on the promotion of medicines, copies of which are available in the Library. The production of Tilade is monitored routinely by the medicines inspectorate, as is the manufacture of all licensed medicinal products, we have no knowledge of any concerns which would justify a special investigation.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pharmacies in(a) Barnsley, (b) Doncaster, (c) Rotherham and (d) Sheffield dispose fewer than 1,700 prescriptions per month.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is in the table.

  Family Health Services Authority

  Total number of pharmacies

  Number dispensing less than 1,700 prescriptions per month

  Percentage

  Barnsley

  42

  3

  7

  Doncaster

  49

  2

  4

  Rotherham

  41

  3

  7

  Sheffield

  110

  9

  8

  1. The source of the data is the table C20 from the Prescription Pricing Authority and includes pharmacies that operated throughout the 1992–93 financial year with closures excluded and new openers annualised.

  2. The figures are based on the FHSA areas of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

  Funding Allocations
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients her Department assumes have private health assurance when adjusting funding allocations; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Assumptions about the incidence of private health insurance do not feature in our weighted capitation formula for allocating resources to regional health authorities.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the target percentage for registered disabled employees within the national health service; and what is the actual percentage of registered disabled employees.

  Mr. Sackville
  Although not bound by the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944, the Department which includes the national health service management executive has accepted the provision that 3 per cent. of employees should be registered disabled.

  At 1 December 1993, 1·4 per cent. of the Department's work force were registered disabled. In addition, there are other people with disabilities, who are not registered disabled.

  Advertising
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her 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. Sackville
  Information for the years 1979 and 1985 is not available in the form requested. Annual spend for the past five financial years is as follows:

  £ million

  1988–89

  Television

  1·662

  Radio

  0·205

  Press

  1·196

  1989–90

  Television

  3·549

  Radio

  0·127

  Press

  2·739

  1990–91

  Television

  1·900

  Radio

  0·005

  Press

  2·258

  1991–92

  Television

  4·489

  Radio

  0·015

  Press

  3·104

  1992–93

  Television

  2·773

  Radio

  0·020

  Press

  1·976

  "London, Making the Best Better"
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future of University College hospital in the light of the discussion of medical research contained in "London, Making the Best Better".

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Government's policy is not only to maintain but to enhance the quality of medical education and research. Any changes to the configuration of services within University College London hospitals will be considered with this objective in mind.

  Northumbria Ambulance Service
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing for each month from January 1992 the number of emergency calls responded to by the Northumbria ambulance service and the number and percentage responded to within(a) 14, (b) 20, (c) 25, (d) 30, (e) 40, (f) 50 and (g) more minutes.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. Information on response times within eight and within 19 minutes for the financial year 1992–93 for Northumbria ambulance service national health service trust is as follows:

  Per cent.

  Total number of emergency calls resulting in ambulance arriving at scene of incidents

  Response within 8 minutes

  Response within 19 minutes

  77,602

  68

  99

  Whipps Cross Hospital
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make resources available for facilities at Whipps Cross hospital for permanent pacemaker implantation and cardiac catheterisation work to be undertaken.

  Mr. Sackville
  I understand that Forest healthcare trust is investigating with Redbridge and Waltham Forest health authority the possibility of developing local cardiology services at Whipps Cross hospital. The hon. Member may wish to contact the trust chairman, Lord Jenkin of Roding, for details.

  Herbs
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all those organisations from which she has recently received representations calling for restrictions on the availability of herbs and herbal produce.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have received no such representations.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each civil service grade in her Department(a) the total number of people employed, (b) the total number of black people and (c) the total number of Asians.

  Mr. Sackvill
  The answer is:

  Grade

  Total Staff1

  Total Black2

  Total Asian2

  1

  2

  0

  0

  2

  4

  0

  0

  3

  26

  0

  0

  63

  Grade

  Total Staff1

  Total Black2

  Total Asian2

  4

  27

  0

  0

  5

  212

  4—

  8

  6

  112

  4—

  4—

  7

  557

  4—

  11

  SEO

  343

  4—

  12

  HEO

  678

  7

  18

  EO

  882

  42

  71

  AO

  955

  112

  71

  AA

  521

  100

  26

  AT

  13

  0

  0

  HEO(D)

  27

  0

  0

  SGB1

  57

  4—

  0

  SGB2

  146

  6

  4—

  SPES

  59

  4—

  4—

  PES

  338

  59

  10

  Total3

  4,959

  333

  234

  1Based on figures obtained from the Department's personnel computer system as at 2 December 1993. The figures exclude special hospitals, youth treatment centres, secondees into the Department, staff on loan and casual staff of all grades.

  2Based on the response to the Department's ethnic origin survey. An asterisk means the number is five or less and the exact information has not been given to preserve anonymity.

  3Totals include numbers excluded to preserve anonymity—see note 2.

  4Due to small numbers, under the Department's code of practice, this data cannot be reproduced for reasons of confidentiality.

  Dentists
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on remuneration for general dental practitioners in 1993–94.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Government announced on 6 April 1993 that general dental practitioners were to receive the full 1·5 per cent. pay increase allowed under the Government's policy of restraint in public sector pay. This meant that dentists' target average net income—TANI—increased to £36,352. The dental rates study group met in the spring to consider how this increase in TANI could be paid, and agreed that the increase would be achieved by leaving in place the present scale of fees for dentists.

  The group also agreed that should it appear that this fee scale was under or over-delivering TANI either the Government or the dental profession could ask that the group meet again. At a meeting of the dental rates study group held on 1 December, the group recommended that there should be an increase in the fees payable to dentists of, on average, 2·9 per cent. from January 1994. The Government have accepted this recommendation. This is to implement the pay increase of 1·5 per cent. already agreed, and does not alter the pay target of £36,352.

  England and Wales—Cumulative to June 1993

  Male data cumulative to June 1993

  Female data cumulative to June 1993

  Age Groups (years)

  Deaths in AIDS cases

  AIDS

  HIV1

  Deaths in AIDS cases

  AIDS

  HIV1

  No.

  Per cent.

  No.

  per cent.

  No.

  Per cent.

  No.

  Per cent.

  No.

  Per cent.

  No.

  Per cent.

  0-14

  33

  1

  65

  1

  303

  2

  21

  9

  46

  9

  87

  4

  15-24

  111

  3

  282

  4

  2,501

  16

  22

  10

  68

  14

  582

  29

  25-34

  1,314

  31

  2,519

  37

  6,845

  44

  100

  44

  235

  48

  1,022

  51

  35-44

  1,618

  38

  2,444

  36

  3,875

  25

  54

  24

  95

  19

  226

  11

  45-54

  817

  19

  1,045

  15

  1,432

  9

  21

  9

  31

  6

  61

  3

  55+

  339

  8

  389

  6

  462

  3

  11

  5

  13

  3

  29

  1

  Total 100 per cent.

  4,232

  —

  6,744

  —

  15,418

  —

  229

  —

  488

  —

  2,007

  —

  Not known

  22

  —

  12

  —

  423

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  58

  —

  1 42 HIV infection reports, age and sex not recorded, are not included.

  Death Rates
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to reduce regional variations in actual death rates.

  Mr. Sackville
  Concentrating effective action on reducing avoidable deaths in the five key areas of coronary heart disease and stroke, cancers, mental illness, sexual health, and accidents is a central plank of "The Health of the Nation" strategy. Within this strategy, the Government's approach to variations in health is set out in paragraphs 4.15 and 4.16 of the Green Paper—Cm 1523—and paragraph 2.5 of the White Paper—Cm 1986—copies of which are available in the Library.

  In the 17 months since the strategy was launched, there has already been encouraging evidence of activity, both within the national health service and more widely. Responding to geographical and other variations in death rates from specific causes is one of the important elements of local strategies, both in the implementation of "The Health of the Nation" and in other fields of health policy—notably, perinatal and infant mortality.

  Community Care Grant
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received regarding the requirement for local authorities to spend 85 per cent. of special transitional community care grant in the independent sector.

  Mr. Bowis
  The current requirement is for at least 85 per cent. of the social security transfer element of the special transitional grant to be used on community care services provided by the independent sector. We have received a number of representations from the independent sector, local authorities and others, all of which have been considered carefully. Details of the grant conditions for 1994–95 will be announced shortly.

  AIDS
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give a breakdown by age of the total number of known cases of(a) HIV infection, (b) AIDS cases and (c) AIDS deaths which have to date been registered by her Department among (i) males and (ii) females.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information for England and Wales is shown in the table based on reports to the public health laboratory service. The table gives age at testing for HIV infection, age at diagnosis of AIDS and age at death.

  Infant Formulae
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to meet representatives of the Royal College of Midwives to discuss the arrangements for the implementation of the European directive on the marketing of infant formulae.

  Mr. Sackville
  Draft regulations to implement this directive are the subject of a consultation document issued on 3 December by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which is being sent to the Royal College of Midwives, among others.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) on 3 December. There is no marking "Not for PAC eyes".

  NHS Supplies Authority
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of establishing the headquarters for the NHS Supplies Authority in Reading including (i) relocation of staff, (ii) furnishing of offices and (iii) landscaping.

  Mr. Sackville
  The cost of relocating National Health Service Supplies Authority staff to Reading was approximately £230,000. The accommodation was acquired as furnished by the previous tenants, so that only small items of furniture were purchased, at a cost of about £200. No landscaping costs have been incurred.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place a copy of the NHS Supplies Authority catalogue in the Library.

  Mr. Sackville
  The National Health Service Supplies Authority has catalogues for each of its six operating divisions. We are arranging for the copies to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the top 50 suppliers to the NHS as identified by the NHS Supplies Authority, the value of the contract and the goods provided.

  Mr. Sackville
  The top 50 suppliers whose importance is such that the National Health Service Supplies Authority manages them on a national basis are:

  Supplier and Product

  Annual spend 1992–93 £ million

  AAH—Medical and pharmaceutical distribution

  190

  BT—Telephone services

  120

  British Gas—Gas supply

  60

  Glaxo—Pharmaceuticals

  39

  Digital—1T hardware/software

  36

  ICL—IT hardware/software

  35

  66

  Supplier and Product

  Annual spend 1992–93 £ million

  Baxter—Medical and pharmaceutical

  33

  Hewlett-packard—Medical equipment, IT hardware and software

  32

  Ethicon—Sutures

  25

  Olympus Keymed—Medical equipment

  25

  Molnycke—Incontinence disposables

  24

  IGE—Medical equipment

  24

  Siemens—Medical equipment

  24

  Abbott—Medical and pharmaceutical

  21

  Wellcome—Pharmaceuticals

  21

  Philips—Medical equipment

  20

  Cow and Gate—Baby feeds

  20

  Johnson and Joneson—Medical consumables

  18

  Shell—Oil

  18

  Smith and Nephew—Medical consumables

  18

  BOC—Medical gases

  16

  SMA Wyeth—Baby feeds

  15

  Howmedica—Medical consumbles

  14

  Fresenius—Pharmaceuticals

  14

  London International Group (LRC)—Medical consumables

  14

  3M—Medical consumables

  13

  British Coal—Coal

  13

  Batchfords—Patients appliances

  12

  British Car Contracts—Vehicles

  12

  Camp—Orthotics

  12

  Esso—Oil

  12

  Ford Contract Motoring—Vehicles

  12

  Kodak—X-Ray film/equipment

  12

  Steeper—Patients appliances

  12

  Vernon Carus—Medical consumables

  12

  Dupont—X-Ray film/equipment

  11

  McDonnell Douglas—IT hardware/software

  11

  BP—Oil

  10

  IBM—IT hardware/software

  10

  HMSO—Stationery and printing

  9

  Intial Contract services—Hotel services

  9

  Becton Dickinson—Medical consumables

  8

  Jamont—Hand towels

  8

  Remploy—Patients appliances

  8

  The Buying Agency—Catering equipment

  8

  Toshiba—X-Ray film/equipment

  8

  Biomet—Medical consumables

  6

  Charringtons—Oil

  6

  Davis and Geck—Medical consumables

  6

  Kimberley Clark—Toilet tissue

  6

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the annual salary costs of(a) the six divisional directors of purchasing, (b) the staff in the divisional offices and (c) the members of the national purchasing unit of the NHS Supplies Authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  The 1993–94 total salary costs—including national insurance and superannuation contributions, overtime and allowances—are as follows:

  a. six divisional directors of purchasing

  £285,000

  b. all divisional staff, including warehouse staff

  £35·8 million

  c. all national purchasing unit staff

  £1·2 million

  NHS Supplies
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for health what were the salary costs of NHS employees engaged in supplies work at(a) regional, (b) district and (c) unit level for 1990–91.

  Mr. Sackville
  The nearest available information relates to January and February 1992. At that time, there
  67
  were around 5,000 supplies staff employed by over 70 different employing authorities. The staff costs were approximately £64 million a year, including national insurance, superannuation, overtime and allowances.

  NHS Expenditure
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been, in 1992–93 prices, total gross public spending for each year since 1991–92; and what is the projected expenditure for each year to 1995–96 for NHS trusts.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information for 1991–92 to 1993–94 is shown in the table. Forward estimates of these figures are not prepared.

  Year

  Public expenditure: NHS trusts1 £ million

  1991–92

  2,632

  1992–93

  6,635

  1993–94

  213,052

  1 This figure comprises NHS trust income from NHS purchasers of health care plus external finance. All figures are at 1992–93 prices.

  2 Forecast outturn.

  Regional Offices
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a map showing the new boundaries for the eight regional health authorities which are to replace the existing 14; and whether the proposed reorganisation of the NHS management executive will maintain these regional offices.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department is currently consulting on proposals to determine new national health service regions and establish new regional health authorities. The proposed boundaries of the eight new regions are described in the consultation document, copies of which have been sent to all hon. Members and are available in the Library. It is proposed that the regional health authorities would share common boundaries with the new regional offices which are to be created as part of the national health service management executive.

  Qualified nurses in each regional health authority September 1979 to 1992, England: Whole-time equivalents

  Region

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  Northern

  14,580

  14,880

  15,170

  15,320

  15,720

  16,040

  16,590

  Yorkshire

  15,180

  15,740

  16,250

  16,610

  16,810

  17,290

  17,880

  Trent

  18,180

  18,190

  18,830

  19,480

  19,800

  20,400

  21,370

  East Anglian

  7,220

  7,430

  7,580

  7,810

  8,020

  8,420

  8,820

  North West Thames

  15,390

  15,590

  16,490

  16,830

  16,250

  16,850

  16,870

  North East Thames

  16,690

  16,490

  16,420

  18,550

  19,180

  19,210

  19,580

  South East Thames

  16,560

  17,090

  17,040

  17,530

  17,780

  17,770

  18,030

  South West Thames

  13,730

  13,990

  13,970

  13,650

  14,160

  14,160

  14,260

  Wessex

  11,080

  11,330

  11,250

  11,750

  12,140

  12,430

  12,810

  Oxford

  8,580

  9,000

  9,070

  9,160

  9,320

  9,870

  10,110

  South Western

  13,200

  14,110

  14,550

  14,450

  14,560

  14,680

  15,220

  West Midlands

  19,850

  20,790

  21,360

  21,970

  22,560

  23,020

  23,820

  Mersey

  11,860

  12,130

  12,120

  12,240

  12,540

  12,570

  12,930

  North Western

  18,140

  19,270

  19,440

  20,400

  21,010

  21,810

  22,470

  SHAs

  2,790

  2,930

  2,990

  3,300

  3,480

  3,200

  3,360

  ENGLAND

  205,670

  212,500

  216,880

  219,300

  223,320

  227,720

  234,130

  Anorexia Nervosa
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data has been collected by her Department in relation to the prevalence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department does not collect information on prevalence of conditions. Arrangements for assessing and meeting the needs of sufferers from anorexia and bulimia nervosa are matters for health authorities locally.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what official guidance her Department has issued to general practitioners or health authorities regarding the recognition of, and treatment for, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

  Mr. Bowis
  Health authorities have been advised in the mental illness key area handbook to consider the need to provide access to specialist in-patient facilities for eating disorders on a sub-regional basis and making available family and cognitive therapy as part of their purchasing decisions. No specific further advice has been issued by the Department to general practitioners.

  Senior Nurse Managers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many senior nurse manager posts there were in each region in each year since 1989.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Nursing Staff
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses, who achieved their basic qualifications in the northern region before 30 September in each year since 1987, were in post in the national health service one year later.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified nursing staff were employed in each region in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.
  69

  Qualified nurses in each regional health authority September 1979 to 1992, England: Whole-time equivalents (cont.)

  Region

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Northern

  16,910

  17,280

  17,410

  17,260

  16,950

  16,880

  17,140

  Yorkshire

  18,060

  18,530

  18,700

  18,670

  18,540

  18,480

  18,160

  Trent

  21,830

  22,540

  22,840

  22,720

  23,090

  23,290

  23,610

  East Anglian

  8,970

  9,280

  9,550

  9,720

  9,760

  9,810

  9,820

  North West Thames

  16,740

  16,040

  16,060

  15,850

  15,590

  16,280

  15,770

  North East Thames

  19,560

  19,850

  20,000

  19,570

  19,800

  20,050

  20,020

  South East Thames

  18,430

  18,520

  18,880

  19,070

  18,740

  16,620

  17,360

  South West Thames

  14,060

  13,860

  14,090

  14,150

  13,760

  14,120

  14,960

  Wessex

  12,990

  13,190

  13,660

  13,660

  13,970

  14,130

  14,140

  Oxford

  10,250

  10,540

  10,690

  10,680

  11,030

  11,320

  11,620

  South Western

  15,460

  15,770

  15,730

  15,870

  16,320

  16,130

  16,770

  West Midlands

  24,380

  25,090

  24,770

  25,140

  25,460

  25,210

  26,470

  Mersey

  13,040

  12,910

  13,130

  13,260

  12,930

  12,620

  12,720

  North Western

  22,810

  22,770

  22,960

  23,160

  22,920

  23,230

  23,120

  SHAs

  3,310

  3,240

  3,450

  3,390

  3,390

  5,050

  4,850

  ENGLAND

  236,770

  239,360

  241,920

  242,190

  242,340

  243,250

  246,570

  Notes:

  Figures are independently rounded to the nearest 10 wte.

  Figures exclude agency staff.

  SHAs figures for 1991 and 1992 include the special hospital services authority.

  Community Day Care Services
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to require local authorities to charge for community day care services.

  Mr. Bowis
  Local authorities already have discretion to charge for day and domiciliary services and there are no plans to change this.

  Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the report prepared by Price Waterhouse to inform the London Implementation Group on the future of Hammersmith and Charing Cross hospitals.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No work has been carried out by Price Waterhouse for the London Implementation Group on this subject.

  Young People (Containment)
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what powers exist for her to impose a curfew, in selected and known areas, on young persons aged under 16 years after 10.30 pm; and if she will make as statement;

  (2) what powers exist to contain, restrain or apprehend persons aged under 16 who are clearly not under parental control and who might be judged at risk or in need; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no such powers. If a young person needs to be apprehended this would be a matter for the police. Under the Children Act 1989 an emergency protection order can be sought from the court if it is satisfied there is reasonable cause to believe the child would suffer significant harm.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average annual cost of employing(a) a senior manager, (b) a consultant, (c) a senior house officer, (d) a qualified nurse, (e) an ambulance driver, (f) a porter, (g) a
  70
  medical laboratory, scientific officer and (h) a cleaner in the national health service for each year since 1986–87 at (i) cash prices and (ii) 1986–87 prices.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 23 June, at columns 181-82. Final figures for 1992–93 are not yet available.

  RHAs (Capital Assets)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the total capital assets of the regional health authorities both in cash terms and in terms of development potential.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The total capital assets of regional health authorities in England in cash terms were, at 31 March 1993, £766,507,176.

  The 1992 revaluation of the national health service estate provided regional health authorities with estimates of the development potential of their land and buildings. These figures are not available centrally.

  Health Service Reform
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will happen to the realised and potential capital assets of the regional health authorities upon(a) a merger and (b) abolition.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Proceeds from the sale of capital assets released through the merger or abolition of regional health authorities will be used for the benefit of patients.

  Cars
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each year since 1990 the expenditure on cars for(a) regions, (b) districts and (c) trusts.

  Mr. Sackville
  The following information has been taken from the financial returns of regional health authorities, district health authorities and national health service trusts.
  71

  Expenditure on staff cars—leased and contract hire charges

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  Regional Health Authorities

  3,966,651

  5,385,946

  District Health Authorities

  44,369,828

  41,069, 621

  NHS Trusts

  5,363,110

  24,010,267

  Total

  53,699,589

  70,465,834

  Notes:

  1. Information for 1990–91 is not separately identifiable.

  2. The data supplied for 1992–93 are provisional only.

  3. The figures include the direct leasing/contract costs only.

  Community Care
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish guidelines on charging for community care.

  Mr. Bowis
  Guidance was issued in December 1992 about residential care and nursing homes. Further guidance was issued in May this year and more will be issued shortly.

  Repetitive Strain Injury
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the policy of her Department regarding the status of repetitive strain injury as a medically identifiable condition.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher) on 4 November, at column 451.

  NHS Managers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many senior managers in the national health service there were on each spinal point 1 to 30; what was the flat salary on each point; what was the annual cost of employment per whole-time equivalent on each point in each year since the introduction of these grades; and what was the number of unit general managers in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the number of district general managers in groups 1, 2 and 3, the salary range in each group and the annual cost of employment per whole-time equivalent in each group in each year since the introduction of these grades.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply the Under-Secretary of State—my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville)—gave him on 27 July at columns 835-39.

  NHS Administration
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the administrative costs in each of the national health service regions in each year since 1987–88 in(a) cash prices, (b) 1987–88 prices and (c) as a percentage of total expenditure.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the NHS budget was spent on administrative costs in each year since 1986.
  72
  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]: The percentage of total revenue expenditure for the national health service in England spent on pay and pay-related costs of all staff at headquarters level, and their office costs and overheads, together with the total costs of the Dental Practice Board and the Prescription Pricing Authority is shown in the table.

  Administration as a percentage of Total Revenue Expenditure for the National Health Service in England

  Per cent. expenditure on administration

  1986–87

  3·7

  1987–88

  3·8

  1988–89

  3·4

  1989–90

  4·0

  1990–91

  4·6

  1991–92

  3·6

  1992–93

  3·4

  Source:

  Summarised accounts of the district health authorities, special health authorities, regional health authorities, family health services authorities, the Prescription Pricing Authority and the Dental Practice Board for England.

  Notes:

  1. The figures for 1992–93 do not include the Prescription Pricing Authority or Dental Practice Board as this information is not available.

  2. The figures for 1992–93 are provisional.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide a table showing the number of hospital beds available by specialty in each region in each year since 1979–80.

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information has been published and copies of the national and regional summaries are available in the Library. The data for the years 1979 to 1986 are contained in the publication "Hospital Statistics—Form SH3", which records bed availability at individual specialty level. The data for the years 1987–88 to 1991–92 are contained in the "Summary of Bed Availability—Form KHO3". These data are classified by broad ward category, recognising the more flexible use of bed facilities. The summaries for 1992–93 are to be published shortly and copies will be placed in the Library.

  Hospital Managers
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what bonuses are payable to hospital managers; and whether the successful completion of a hospital closure is a matter for bonus payments.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]: National health service general and senior managers are entitled to performance-related pay linked to individual success in achieving their authorities' objectives. NHS trusts determine the remuneration of their executive directors.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Fuel Poverty Assistance
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by the Overseas Development Administration to provide fuel poverty assistance to states of the former Yugoslavia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Albania, Georgia and Iraq.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We provide humanitarian aid to all the countries mentioned, including Albania, in ways which take account of their overall needs and the responses of other donors. Our contributions specifically designed to help meet the energy requirements of refugees and other displaced people this winter are as follows:

  £ million

  Bilateral

  UK Share of EC

  Former Yugoslavia

  10·7

  n/a

  Iraq

  3

  3·1

  Georgia

  4·7

  Azerbaijan

  6·2

  Armenia

  6·6

  13·7

  20·6

  Structural Adjustment Programmes
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much bilateral aid money has been spent in support of structural adjustment programmes in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  £ million

  1983

  43·1

  1984

  32·3

  1985

  45·8

  1986

  60·3

  1987–88

  101·3

  1988–89

  118·3

  1989–90

  155·9

  1990–91

  145·7

  1991–92

  114·7

  1992–93

  133·1

  The figures given for the first four years are on a calendar year basis. Thereafter, the amounts are presented for financial years.

  Total gross bilateral aid to British dependencies 1979—1992–931 2

  £000

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Anguilla

  1,060

  991

  1,296

  1,059

  1,426

  1,026

  1,086

  1,589

  1,536

  1,550

  1,784

  1,728

  820

  2,225

  2,080

  Bermuda

  15

  28

  12

  —

  33

  17

  17

  30

  68

  59

  32

  16

  17

  2

  12

  British Virgin Islands

  781

  1,232

  1,241

  1,471

  1,161

  718

  1,172

  831

  566

  2,489

  2,211

  4,399

  1,214

  1,857

  1,213

  Cayman Islands

  283

  443

  199

  34

  2

  —

  470

  1,649

  —

  309

  2,593

  1,126

  4,183

  1,774

  119

  Falkland Islands3

  915

  1.015

  1.058

  4,025

  9,053

  6,016

  10,700

  10,252

  8,165

  6,735

  3,389

  2,487

  1,430

  1,286

  58

  Gibraltar

  3,214

  4,948

  4,010

  1,898

  2,352

  8,163

  22,452

  14,299

  9,029

  6,932

  8,685

  343

  970

  1,078

  1,676

  Hong Kong

  185

  376

  245

  199

  203

  125

  312

  195

  217

  249

  216

  217

  312

  404

  359

  Nuclear Safety
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the EC's technical assistance in the Commonwealth independent states programme for nuclear safety; and what is the United Kingdom's contribution.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In the three years from the start of the TACIS programme in 1991, a total of 236 mecu—around £180 million—has been committed for work on nuclear safety in the former Soviet Union. The work has covered three main areas; plant operational safety, design safety and support to the regulatory authorities.

  For 1993, the total budget for nuclear safety is 103 mecu or £80 million—which is allocated as follows:

  Mecu

  £ million

  Russia

  48

  37

  Ukraine

  32

  25

  Regional

  8

  6

  EBRD (contribution to Multi-lateral fund)

  15

  12

  Total

  103

  80

  The regional programme will mainly cover Russia, Ukraine and Belarus with limited assistance being provided to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Comparable figures for earlier years are not readily available.

  The UK currently contributes around 16·5 per cent. to the total cost of the assistance provided by TACIS.

  Environment Conference (Addis Ababa)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information the Overseas Development Administration has received on the outcome of the African ministerial conference on the environment, held in Addis Ababa, on 26 to 27 November, in regard to the effect of decisions upon aid programmes sponsored by his Department.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are seeking to obtain a report of the meeting and will consider its implications.

  Dependencies (Aid)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the annual aid allocated for each year since 1979 to(a) Anguilla, (b) Bermuda, (c) British Antarctic Territory, (d) British Virgin islands, (e) the Cayman islands, (f) Diego Garcia, (g) the Falklands Islands, (h) Gibraltar, (i) Hong Kong, (j) Montserrat, (k) Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno islands, (l) St. Helena, (m) St. Helena dependencies, (n) South Georgia and South Sandwich islands and (o) the Turks and Caicos islands; what was the population of each dependency in 1979; and what it is today.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The information is as follows:
  75

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Montserrat

  528

  1,209

  1,127

  1,823

  1,041

  1,268

  1,223

  2,015

  1,309

  1,866

  2,164

  5,382

  4,139

  2,969

  3,271

  Pitcairn Islands

  —

  47

  —

  —

  4

  41

  187

  137

  22

  106

  —

  4

  52

  41

  56

  St. Helena and Dep

  3,935

  3,795

  4,062

  5,834

  6,533

  7,471

  9,354

  9,202

  12,241

  11,057

  20,524

  24,239

  11,759

  9,136

  9,060

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  1,015

  1,274

  3,362

  5,716

  4,217

  3,923

  3,588

  5,387

  5,356

  4,258

  5,647

  4,424

  4,981

  9,957

  8,009

  >1 British Aid Statistics are complied by financial year from 1987–88 onwards.

  >2 No aid was given to British Antarctic Territory and Diego Garcia.

  3 Includes South Georgia.

  Estimated population of United Kingdom dependent territories

  1979(000)

  1991(000)

  Anguilla

  7

  9

  Bermuda

  54

  60

  British Virgin Islands

  11

  17

  Cayman Islands

  17

  27

  Falklands Islands

  2

  2

  Gibraltar

  26

  27

  Hong Kong

  4,930

  5,859

  Montserrat

  11

  12

  St. Helena and dependencies

  6

  6

  Turks and Caicos

  7

  13

  Notes:

  The populations of British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory—Diego Garcia—and South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands are zero.

  The population of the Pitcairn island group has been stable since 1978 at between 50 and 60.

  Sources:

  Where possible national census figures and estimates have been quoted. Where these are not available figures have been taken from the UN Demographic Yearbook, the Caribbean development bank and the Commonwealth Yearbook.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for which of the overseas dependency states of EU member states the Development Council has agreed to finance environmental projects.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Development Council does not discuss individual projects. No EC-financed projects concerned solely with the environment are currently under way in the EC overseas countries and territories programme, although a regional environmental project for British Caribbean dependent territories is under consideration.

  World Bank
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom executive director of the World bank voted in favour of the document "Expanding Access to World Bank Information" when this matter was discussed by the executive directors of the World bank; and if he will place a copy of the instructions to the executive director in the Library.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply he received from the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad), on 1 December at column 576.

  European Development Council
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed and what decisions taken at the European Development Council in Brussels on 2 December; and what proposals were put forward by the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]: My noble Friend Baroness Chalker of Wallasey attended the Development Council at which the main items were the mid-term review of the Lomé convention; follow-up to the 1992 resolution on development co-operation to the year 2000, including the adoption of a resolution on poverty alleviation; and agreement on a resolution on rehabilitation in countries emerging from crisis. All this work forms part of a long-term agreed work programme to which we are making a prominent and positive contribution.

SCOTLAND

  Health Service Administration
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to reduce the management costs of health boards and NHS trusts.

  Mr. Stewart
  The NHS management executive monitors the management costs of health boards and NHS trusts and is finalising revised arrangements appropriate to the new roles of boards and trusts.

  Forestry Commission
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the future of the Forestry Commission.

  Sir Hector Munro
  Around 3,000 individuals and 300 organisations have written to Ministers and to the Secretary and members of the Forestry Review Group, setting out their views on the work of the group.

  NHS Trusts
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue guidelines to NHS trust hospitals concerning the practice of publicly advertising the private use of such hospitals on behalf of commercial organisations.

  Mr. Stewart
  No. It is for NHS trusts to decide how to make the best use of capacity over and above that required for NHS purposes. Income from non-NHS services is used to enhance benefits for all patients.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines he has issued to NHS trusts concerning the salaries of senior managers and others; and if he will make a statement.
  77
  Mr. Stewart
  On 12 November 1992 and 29 January 1993, chairmen of NHS trusts were informed that the increase in salaries of senior managers and other staff in 1992–93 should not exceed 1·5 per cent. Revised arrangements for the pay of general and senior managers have been commended to trusts in NHS circular MEL(1993)114 of 30 August 1993. I have deposited a copy of this circular in the Library.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how the start-up grant for each NHS trust is calculated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: Grants of up to £175,000 have been set aside for new NHS trusts. These are intended for one off expenditure in the run-up to the trusts becoming operational. Additional funds have been specifically secured and earmarked for this purpose.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the turnover of each NHS trust.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: The information available for 1993–94 is as follows:

  Trust

  Forecast Income £000

  Aberdeen Royal Hospital

  111,165

  Caithness and Sutherland

  13,549

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals

  102,346

  Grampian Healthcare

  130,375

  Moray Health Services

  21,595

  Raigmore Hospital

  49,102

  West Lothian

  61,915

  Ayrshire and Arran Community

  53,995

  Monklands and Bellshill

  50,471

  North Ayrshire and Arran

  68,449

  Royal Alexandra Hospital

  42,561

  Royal Scottish National Hospital

  19,777

  South Ayr Hospital

  43,512

  Southern General Hospital

  75,568

  Stirling Royal Infirmary

  38,155

  Victoria Infirmary

  53,484

  Yorkhill

  49,696

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what training chairmen and non-executive directors receive on corporate governance following their appointments to NHS trust boards.

  Mr. Stewart
  Chairmen and non-executive directors attend induction conferences that include corporate governance among the subjects covered. In consultation with boards and trusts, the NHS management executive is developing additional opportunities for training in this and other areas.

  NHS in Scotland employees1, number in post; by health board and type of contract: at 30 September

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  19932

  WT

  PT

  WT

  PT

  WT

  PT

  WT

  PT

  Wt

  PT

  Argyll and Clyde

  5,856

  4,897

  5,662

  4,988

  5,655

  5,138

  5,525

  5,037

  5,479

  5,094

  Ayrshire and Arran

  4,391

  3,588

  4,388

  3,672

  4,574

  3,724

  4,494

  3,788

  4,428

  3,763

  Borders

  1,409

  1,063

  1,373

  1,068

  1,355

  1,103

  1,348

  1,137

  1,338

  1,140

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2,066

  2,030

  2,036

  2,095

  2,046

  2,149

  2,018

  2,209

  1,968

  2,217

  Fife

  4,469

  2,660

  4,410

  2,776

  4,315

  2,973

  4,123

  3,145

  3,930

  3,145

  Forth Valley

  4,244

  3,005

  4,296

  3,320

  4,199

  3,403

  4,124

  3,649

  4,111

  3,640

  Grampian

  8,272

  5,043

  8,006

  5,235

  7,961

  5,581

  7,958

  5,906

  7,825

  5,349

  Greater Glasgow

  21,833

  10,991

  20,256

  11,090

  19,592

  11,030

  18,844

  11,087

  18,361

  11,016

  78
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the total accumulated receipts of NHS trusts that have achieved a 6 per cent. return on assets.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information is available only in respect of the two first-wave NHS trusts whose audited accounts have been published. The total receipts for these trusts in 1992–93 was £157,014,000. Both exceeded the 6 per cent. return on their assets.

  NHS Staff
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to publish statistics for the numbers of whole-time equivalent staff in the NHS using the same breakdown as that adopted by the Greater Glasgow health board.

  Mr. Stewart
  Detailed statistics for staff employed by the NHS in Scotland are published each year in "Scottish Health Statistics". The 1993 edition is due for publication next month. The only extra feature of the data published in the 1991–92 annual report of Greater Glasgow health board is a breakdown into community and hospital categories. "Scottish Health Statistics" includes such a breakdown for nursing, medical and dental staff.

  The classification of other staff in this way would require extra coding to be undertaken by the health authorities in order to provide the data centrally. A consultation exercise concluded earlier this month revealed that health boards, directly managed units and NHS trusts sought no increase in the level of data they are required to provide.

  There are no plans to collect data splitting staff into the hospital and community categories at present.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has issued to national health service employers concerning the payment of unsocial hours allowances for staff.

  Mr. Stewart
  For staff whose pay and conditions are determined nationally a variety of agreements has been reached for different staff groups as part of their overall pay and conditions of service package. Details of such agreements are contained in handbooks.

  NHS Staff
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time NHS employees there were in each health board area in each of the past live years.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: The information requested is detailed in the table.
  79

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  19932

  WT

  PT

  WT

  PT

  WT

  PT

  WT

  PT

  WT

  PT

  Highland

  3,141

  2,143

  3,150

  2,198

  3,251

  2,235

  3,170

  2,342

  3,072

  2,360

  Lanarkshire

  7,096

  4,513

  6,817

  4,835

  6,469

  4,735

  6,104

  4,739

  5,983

  4,766

  Lothian

  13,129

  7,926

  12,343

  8,004

  11,965

  8,191

  11,709

  8,472

  11,424

  8,798

  Orkney

  228

  156

  236

  189

  230

  207

  236

  213

  237

  231

  Shetland

  290

  179

  305

  170

  315

  173

  259

  130

  265

  134

  Tayside

  8,549

  4,689

  8,560

  4,763

  8,330

  4,605

  8,152

  4,614

  7,790

  4,577

  Western Isles

  337

  353

  347

  419

  357

  414

  369

  408

  393

  431

  Notes:

  1 Excludes general medical practitioners and general dental practitioners. Includes employees of NHS trusts and health boards.

  2At 31 March 1993 except medical and dental which are at 30 September 1992.

  3Whole-time includes consultants with maximum part-time contracts. Part-time includes honorary medical and dental appointments.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost in each of the past five years of salaries paid to NHS employees suspended on full pay.

  Mr. Stewart
  This information is not available centrally.

  Murder
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) men and (b) women have been convicted for murder each year since the abolition of capital punishment;

  Male Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in Scotland since 1 January 19661

  Number of years served by prisoners before release on life licence

  Year of conviction

  Number of prisoners convicted

  Less than 7 Years

  7 Years+

  8 Years+

  9 Years+

  10 Years+

  11 Years+

  12 Years+

  13 Years+

  14 Years+

  15 Years+

  16 Years+

  17 Years+

  18 Years+

  19 Years+

  20 Years+

  21 Years+

  22 Years+

  23 Years+

  Number of prisoners still in custody

  1966

  19

  —

  —

  3

  8

  4

  2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1967

  23

  —

  1

  5

  5

  4

  1

  2

  2

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1968

  24

  —

  2

  —

  3

  5

  5

  5

  2

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  0

  1969

  20

  —

  —

  4

  3

  4

  3

  3

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1970

  22

  —

  —

  1

  6

  6

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  4

  1971

  37

  —

  —

  4

  7

  17

  4

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1972

  32

  —

  1

  1

  14

  7

  4

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1973

  31

  —

  —

  1

  10

  7

  3

  2

  1

  —

  3

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  1974

  29

  —

  —

  2

  7

  7

  3

  2

  1

  —

  2

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  1975

  36

  —

  1

  2

  6

  11

  3

  1

  2

  2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  1976

  35

  —

  1

  5

  5

  5

  3

  2

  6

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  1977

  46

  2

  1

  3

  2

  5

  5

  6

  2

  4

  3

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11

  1978

  28

  1

  1

  1

  2

  2

  6

  5

  1

  3

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  1979

  29

  1

  —

  —

  —

  6

  4

  5

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11

  1980

  24

  —

  —

  —

  2

  6

  6

  3

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  1981

  27

  —

  —

  —

  4

  3

  4

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  13

  1982

  39

  —

  —

  —

  2

  3

  7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  27

  1983

  35

  —

  —

  —

  2

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  27

  1984

  36

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  34

  1985

  25

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  25

  1986

  27

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  27

  1987

  27

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  27

  1988

  38

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  38

  1989

  27

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  27

  1990

  22

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22

  1991

  22

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22

  1992

  41

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  41

  1993

  35

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  35

  1 Excludes prisoners who died in custody or were transferred out of the scottish prison service, e.g.to England, While still serving their sentence.

  Source:Departmental records.

  Female Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in Scotland since 1 January 19661

  Number of years served by prisoners before release on life lincence

  Year of convication

  Number of prisoners convicted

  Less than 7 years

  7 Years+

  8 Years+

  9 Years+

  10 Years+

  11 Years+

  12 Years+

  13 Years+

  14 Years+

  15 Years+

  16 Years+

  17 Years+

  18 Years+

  19 Years+

  20 Years+

  21 Years+

  22 Years+

  23 Years+

  Number of prisoners still in custody

  1966

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1967

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1968

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1969

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1970

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1971

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1972

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1973

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1974

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1975

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1976

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1977

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1978

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1979

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1980

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1981

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1982

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1983

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1984

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1985

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1986

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1987

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1988

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1989

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1990

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1991

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1992

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  1993

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1 Excludes prisoners who died in custody or were transferred out of the Scottish Prison Service, e.g.to England, Whild still serving their sentence.

  Source: Departmental records.
  80
  if he will present in tabular form the number of years each of these persons served before being released, classifying it by the year of conviction; and if he will indicate those (i) men and (ii) women who are still imprisoned by year of conviction.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is set out in the tables.
  81
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the average amount of time spent in prison by(a) males and (b) females who were sentenced to imprisonment for murder and have since been released during the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: The information is set out in the table.

  Year of release

  Male

  Female

  1984

  10 years 4 months

  10 years1

  1985

  10 years 6 months

  —

  1986

  10 years 6 months

  —

  1987

  11 years

  9 years 7 months2

  1988

  10 years 5 months

  —

  1989

  12 years 4 months

  —

  1990

  11 years 10 months

  12 years1

  1991

  13 years 6 months

  —

  1992

  12 years 6 months

  10 years1

  1993

  11 years 2 months

  11 years1

  11 prisoner.

  22 prisoners.

  Source: Departmental records.

  Life Sentences
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) men and (b) women prisoners were serving a life sentence on 1 December.

  Mr. Lang
  I have asked Mr. E. Frizzell, the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to arrange for a reply to be given to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Mr. E. Frizzell to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 6 December 1993:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of men and women prisoners serving a life sentence on 1 December.
  On that date the number of male and female prisoners serving life sentences, detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure (HMP) or detained Without Limit of Time (WLT) in Scotland was as follows:

  All discharges for patients with Weil's for each Health Board of Treatment for the years 1988-August 1993

  Health Board of Treatment

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Jan-Aug 1993

  Grampian

  0

  0

  3

  0

  0

  0

  Greater Glasgow

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Highland

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lothian

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Tayside

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Scotland

  2

  2

  3

  2

  0

  1

  Note:

  Figures refer to consultant episodes.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of the system 3 poll commissioned by Scottish Homes to ascertain the attitudes of tenants to stock transfers.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Scottish Homes has conducted a number of surveys in Scotland using system 3.
  82

  Male

  Female

  Life

  422

  6

  HMP

  13

  0

  WLT

  23

  1

  458

  7

  Forestry
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the chairman and members of the Forestry Review Group; on what date he expects to receive their report; and whether the group will go out to public consultation.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Forestry Review Group consists of the following officials:

  Mr. H. H. Mills, Secretary, The Scottish Office Environment Department (Chairman);

  Mr. T. R. Cutler, Director General, Forestry Commission;

  Mr. D. S. Grundy, Commissioner, Forestry Commission

  Dr. S. Harding, Forestry Commission;

  Mr. M. L. Williams, HM Treasury;

  Mr. K. Cosgriff, HM Treasury;

  Mr. T. J. Osmond, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food;

  Mr. L. K. Walford, Welsh Office;

  Dr. R. Shaw, Department of the Environment;

  Mr. D. Green, Prime Minister's Policy Unit;

  Mr. S. Hampson, The Scottish Office Environment Department;

  Mr. A. Cameron, The Scottish Office Environment Department;

  Mr. G. S. Pearson, The Scottish Office Environment Department (Secretary).

  I expect to receive the group's advice in the new year. This advice is, and will remain, confidential to Ministers.

  Weil's Disease
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by regional health board for the last five years and the current year to date the number of people who have been infected by Weil's disease.

  Mr. Stewart
  The number of discharges for patients in NHS hospitals with a diagnosis of Weil's disease from 1988 to August 1993 is shown in the table.

  The survey undertaken in the east end of Glasgow was commissioned, following a competitive process, at a cost of £3,800.

  New Towns
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of each of the Scottish new towns what is(a) the value of assets sold in each of the last five years, (b) the

  83
  value of assets sold to date in the current financial year and (c) the financial targets set for the sale of assets in the current financial year.

  £million

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Sold to date

  Target

  Cumbernauld2

  16·393

  16·136

  18·686

  18·970

  15·476

  16·177

  21·023

  East Kilbride

  15·865

  31·434

  24·653

  21·293

  20·222

  29·331

  55·616

  Glenrothes

  10·058

  12·009

  18·698

  14·585

  8·880

  15·691

  25·054

  Irvine

  9·126

  7·294

  6·125

  5·033

  3·677

  2·827

  5·150

  Livingston

  8·413

  15·841

  21·542

  13·877

  19·227

  12·088

  15·957

  1 The figures are expressed in cash.

  2 The figures cover receipts from housing, industrial, commercial and land sales.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many employees there were as at 30 November of each of the Scottish new town development corporations.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information is in the table below:

  Number of permanent staff, including manual Workers

  Number of temporary staff, including staff on fixed terms contracts

  Total

  East Kilbride

  394

  69

  463

  Glenrothes

  148

  26

  174

  Cumbernauld

  348

  44

  392

  Livingston

  409

  56

  465

  Irvine

  268

  15

  283

  Health Board Contracts
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether the successful bid for the urology contract with the Ayrshire and Arran health board was the cheapest bid made for the contract;

  (2) on how many occasions the NHS management executive has intervened in tendering processes for contracts awarded by each health board during the last 18 months;

  (3) if he will ask the NHS management executive to look again at the basis on which Ayrshire and Arran health board have awarded the contract for urology services to the South Ayrshire trust;

  (4) what consideration was given by the NHS management executive to the urology contract awarded by Ayrshire and Arran health board to the South Ayrshire NHS trust after the executive had ordered a re-run of the tendering process;

  (5) whether the purpose-built facilities for urology services within the North Ayrshire and Arran NHS trust will now be used; whether South Ayrshire NHS trust will have to build new facilities for the urology unit; how much the new urology facilities at the South Ayrshire NHS trust will cost; and how much the new urology facilities in the North Ayrshire and Arran NHS trust cost to build; (6) if he will make a statement outlining the procedure adopted by Ayrshire and Arran health board in awarding a contract for urology services to the South Ayrshire NHS trust;

  (7) if he will make a statement on the NHS management executive's remit as regards scrutiny of the award of health board contracts;

  (8) on whose instructions the NHS management executive ordered a re-run of the tendering process for
  84
  Mr. Stewart
  Information about the value of the assets sold is not available centrally. The actual receipts from the sale of assets are shown in the table.

  urology services in Ayrshire and Arran health board; and whether this was supported by Ayrshire and Arran health board.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 23 November 1993]: The role of the NHS management executive in relation to contracting between health boards and NHS trusts is to ensure fair play and that contracts are awarded so as to improve patient care within available resources.

  Following representations, the then chief executive of the NHSME asked Ayrshire and Arran health board to explain the background to its decision to award the area urology contract to the North Ayrshire NHS trust. From the information subsequently provided, it appeared that the tenders had not been prepared on a comparable basis. The health board accepted the NHSME's view that the two trusts should be invited to resubmit bids based upon a detailed specification.

  The subsequent decision to award the contract to the South Ayr trust was a matter for the health board as purchaser and did not require further reference to the NHSME. The board's decision does not affect the viability of the day surgery unit at Crosshouse hospital which opened on 4 October 1993 at a cost of almost £1 million. The South Ayrshire NHS trust plans to open new day surgery facilities, estimated to cost £3 million, at the Ayr hospital in January 1995.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the competing NHS trusts were given access to the original bids of the other NHS trusts bidding for the contract during the re-run of the tendering process for the urology contract in Ayrshire and Arran; and what is the standard practice in this matter.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 23 November 1993] : Specific guidance on conducting a tendering exercise for healthcare has not been issued centrally, but a paper on openness in the NHS—MEL(1993)38—was issued by the Scottish Office Home and Health Department. This paper set out a framework for those involved in contracting in which it was emphasised that a lack of openness within the negotiation process was damaging to long-term relationships. In the re-run of the tendering process for Ayrshire and Arran urology contract, each trust agreed to allow the other trust sight of its bid under the original tendering exercise.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland ( 1 ) what plans he has to commission an epidemiological survey into the incidence of myalgic encephalomyelitis; and if he will make a statement;
  85
  (2) if myalgic encephalomyelitis is recognised by his Department as a disease; how it is categorised; what special funding he has made available for its treatment; how much his Department is spending on research; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what advice he has issued to health boards on myalgic encephalomyelitis; what further advice he intends to issue; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 December 19931]: Myalgic encephalomyelitis—ME — is widely recognised as a post-viral or chronic fatigue condition, although it is not at present included by the World Health Organisation in the international classification of diseases.

  The Department has not issued any guidance to health boards on ME and no special funding has been made available for treatment. There is, as yet, no consensus on the form that treatment should take. The uncertainties associated with the diagnosis of ME would make it difficult to mount an epidemiological survey and the Department has no present plans to mount such a study.

  The chief scientist office of the Scottish Office Home and Health Department is not currently funding any research related to ME, but is always prepared to receive and evaluate individual proposals for such research.

  Hospices
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the provision of financial assistance to hospices in each of the past five years; when the provision of matching funding to hospices started and ended; how much in both capital and revenue terms was made available to hospices under this scheme; what financial support is now available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: The 13 voluntary sector hospices in Scotland have benefited since 1 April 1990 from the Government's funding initiative under which at least 50 per cent. of their running costs are met from public funds. This initiative, which initially ran for three years, but has been extended until 31 March 1995, is a transitional measure designed to enable the hospices and health boards to work together to construct a sound basis for contractual relationships and future development. Public funding in the current financial year amounts to some £6 million. The initiative does not extend to capital costs.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he has taken to support the campaign for children's hospices in Scotland.

  Mr Stewart
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]: Since the campaign was first drawn to our attention, the Government have consistently acknowledged the case for the establishment of a national children's hospice in Scotland but have taken the view that the voluntary sector was best placed to take this initiative forward. We have accordingly recognised the Children's Hospice Association Scotland—CHAS—as the national body responsible for the project and have awarded it a grant of £25,000 per annum towards their core administrative costs.

  The Government's decision to make a contribution to the running costs of the children's hospice itself was announced on 26 November, Official Report, column 272. CHAS is receiving a special grant of £250,000 in each of
  86
  the current and two subsequent financial years, making a total Government contribution to running costs of £750,000.

  Domestic Violence Refuges
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many domestic violence refuges there are in Scotland; what plans he has to increase the total; what assessment he has made of the need for an increase in the number of such units; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: There are 42 women's refuges in Scotland. We believe that local authorities are best placed to assess the local requirements for refuges and to develop services accordingly. However, the Scottish Office is providing grant under sections 9 and 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to Scottish Women's Aid to enable it to develop services and possible information and advice. The grant for the current year is £115,000.

  Witness Protection
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to establish a witness protection scheme in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: My right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce a national witness protection scheme. Provision already exists in law to take action against people who threaten or injure witnesses. Decisions about the level of protection to provide for witnesses in individual cases are an operational matter for the police.

  Councillors Allowances
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing what the daily attendance allowance for elected members of local authorities in Scotland(a) was and (b) would have been in each year since 1974, had the system of payments (i) remained unaltered and (ii) been index linked; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: Details of the allowances paid to individual local authority members are not held centrally.

  Prior to 1991, each local authority was required to pay an attendance allowance but had discretion to determine the actual rate paid to elected members within the prescribed maximum specified in the Local Government (Allowances) (Scotland) Regulations 1975, as amended.

  Since April 1991, each authority has determined its own arrangements within the requirements of the Local Authorities Etc. (Allowances) (Scotland) Regulations 1991, as amended. The regulations no longer require authorities to pay an attendance allowance.

  The prescribed maximum amount of attendance allowance for a period of 24 hours between 16 May 1975 and 31 March 1991 is shown in the table. The table also illustrates, for the period until 1993-94, the effect which application of the annual GDP deflator would have had on the prescribed maximum of £10 payable in 1975.
  87

  Prescribed Maximum

  With effect from

  £

  16 May 1975

  10·00

  30 November 1977

  11·00

  10 January 1979

  12·14

  29 December 1979

  13·28

  14 March 1981

  14·00

  8 March 1982

  14·56

  14 May 1983

  15·07

  12 June 1984

  15·52

  8 April 1985

  16·00

  24 April 1986

  16·70

  1 September 1987

  17·55

  1 April 1988

  18·25

  1 April 1989

  19·50

  1 September 1990

  21·00

  Uprated by GDP Deflator

  Year

  £

  1976–77

  11·35

  1977–78

  12·90

  1978–79

  14·30

  1979–80

  16·69

  1980–81

  19·75

  1981–82

  21·66

  1982–83

  23·20

  1983–84

  24·27

  1984–85

  25·50

  1985–86

  26·89

  1986–87

  27·76

  1987–88

  29·29

  1988–89

  31·42

  1989–90

  33·48

  1990–91

  36·16

  1991–92

  38·57

  1992–93

  39·92

  1993–94

  41·02

  Disabled People
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies his Department is currently funding, supporting or participating in which have direct relevance to people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: The Scottish Office is currently funding 28 such studies to a total of £1.5 million. This demonstrates the Government's continuing commitment to their policy of encouraging people with disabilities to live independent lives fully integrated into the community. The studies are listed in the table.

  Department and Study

  Scottish Office Home and Health Department.

  Chief Scientist Office.

  1. The Development of a computerised compartmental pressure monitoring system for routine clinical use in management of long bone fractures.

  2. Observational studies of individuals with profound mental handicap and physical and/or sensory disabilities in White Top Centre, University of Dundee.

  3. Distortion characteristics sound quality and speech. Intelligibility for hearing aids.

  4. The effect of long-term intermittent self-catherisation on bladder and renal function in the neuropathic bladder.

  5. Interactive strategies of users of augmentative communication systems and their partners.

  6. The determination of optimum wheel configurations for wheelchair users.

  7. Enhancing the communicative competence of adult persons with severe learning difficulties (mental handicap).

  8. Communication disorders in patients with dominant hemispheric intracranial neoplasms.

  88

  9. Resettlement of severely disabled people in independent living units.

  10. Measuring communication needs in children with profound mental handicap.

  11. A comparison of neuropsychological and functional outcome following severe and moderate head injury; access to and uptake of rehabilitation services.

  12. Objective assessment of central visual function in multiply handicapped children.

  13. Measuring disfunction of basic movement control in cerebral palsy.

  14. The development of language screening instruments for use with young children who may be language delayed.

  15. Sustaining a fractured neck of femur and implications for more efficient use of health resources.

  16. A randomised controlled trial of the effect of an exercise programme on the bone mass of elderly women.

  17. Management of sub acute back pain; the validation of a "fear avoidance" questionnaire and an early behavioural intervention.

  18. Evaluation of the functional independence measure (fim) as a measure of health care outcome for elderly acute hospital in-patients.

  19. Evaluation of whole gut levage treatment of severe constipation.

  20. A method of visual field analysis using digital signal processing of visual evoked potentials.

  Central Research Unit

  21. Information services for people with disabilities, their carers and service providers.

  22. Assessment, plannning and resources in supported accommodation for adults with learning difficulties.

  23. The costs and quality of care for disabled people in the community care framework.

  Health Policy and Public Health Directorate

  24. Volunteer Development Scotland project to test ways of involving volunteers with people with severe physical and mental handicaps in long-stay wards.

  Scottish Office Education Department

  25. Scottish Higher Education Funding Council project to support a database of services and facilities available to disabled students in the higher education sector.

  26. Transition to Adulthood for Young People with Special Educational Needs:

  27. Health Education in Scottish Schools: Meeting Special Educational Needs.

  Scottish Office Environment Department

  28. Construction Industry Research and Information Association study on design guidance for improving existing buildings, to which the public are admitted, for disabled people.

  Canniesburn Hospital
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ask Greater Glasgow health board to consider which of its patients could be transferred to general surgical care under the Canniesburn hospital waiting list initiative.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: No. All the patients for whom treatment has been secured under the initiative involving the Bon Secours Health System, Glasgow have been asked by Greater Glasgow health board if they are willing to receive treatment in the private sector. Those who have indicated that they do not wish to be treated in the private sector have already been offered treatment at Canniesburn hospital.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for Greater Glasgow health board the number of patients under the Canniesburn hospital waiting list initative who have agreed to surgery in(a) the private sector within the west of Scotland, (b) the private

  89
  sector within Scotland outwith the west of Scotland, (c) the private sector in England, (d) the NHS in Scotland, excluding the west of Scotland and (e) the NHS in England; and if he will also give the cost in each category for (i) the operation and escort and (ii) accommodation.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: There are two waiting list initiatives which Greater Glasgow health board has been leading on behalf of other, predominantly west of Scotland, health boards which are designed to secure treatment for a number of long wait plastic surgery patients.

  The first initiative is to secure treatment for 800 patients at Canniesburn hospital where an additional consultant plastic surgeon has been recruited.

  The second initiative has taken the form of a contract award, following a full competitive tendering exercise, to the Bon Secours Health System, Glasgow. Under the terms of the contract up to 572 patients are being offered treatment. To date, 23 have indicated that they do not wish to be treated under this initiative. These patients have been offered treatment under the initiative at Canniesburn hospital.

  The contract with Bon Secours will cost around £500,000. This covers pre-operative assessment, treatment, accommodation and all necessary follow-up work for a mix of major, intermediate and minor procedures.

  Raymond Gilmour
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of consideration of the application by Raymond Gilmour seeking the prerogative of mercy under the terms of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: The petitions submitted on behalf of Mr. Raymond Gilmour on 8 January, 12 March and 27 May this year are the subject of detailed inquiries which are not yet complete. The hon. Member will be informed as soon as a decision has been reached on his constituent's case.

  Influenza Vaccine
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when influenza vaccine will be available for all who require it.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: Vaccine shortage arose as a result of the influenza outbreak occurring earlier than expected and the failure of one manufacturer's product to meet the required standard. Other manufacturers have increased production and the supply position is now improving. Sufficient supplies should he available to meet the needs of those groups identified in the Chief Medical Officer's letter of 8 October as being at risk by early December.

  Anaesthetists
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate how often anaesthetists are required to work alone.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 2 December 1993]: This information is not held centrally.
  90
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the staffing levels of anaesthetists in NHS hospitals.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 2 December 1993]: The number of anaesthetists, whole-time equivalent, employed in NHS hospitals at 30 September 1992, the latest date for which information is available centrally, is shown in the table.

  Numbers

  All (whole-time equivalents)

  618

  Consultant

  303

  Other career grades

  28

  Senior Registrar

  42

  Registrar

  89

  Senior House Officer

  143

  Other

  13

  While some NHS employers have recently experienced difficulty in recruiting anaesthetists, the number of senior registrars is greater than the service's forecast demand for new consultants in the next few years.

  Intensive Care
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to ensure that surgeons, gynaecologists and anaesthetists have immediate access to recovery rooms, and high dependency and intensive care units, 24 hours a day.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 2 December 1993]: It is a matter for health boards as purchasers of care and the relevant unit or trust as the provider to make the necessary arrangements for access to recovery rooms and high dependency and intensive care units.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many, and what percentage, of paediatric intensive care units have nurse staffing of 6.4 whole-time equivalent or more per open bed.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: The detailed information required to respond is not held centrally. What information is held, however, indicates that no paediatric intensive care units in Scotland have 6.4 whole-time equivalent nursing staff per occupied bed.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of nurses in adult intensive care units are RSCN; and what percentage have had paediatric intensive care training.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: The information requested is not held centrally.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve intensive care facilities.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 2 December 1993]: It is a matter for health boards as purchasers of care and units or trusts as providers to ensure an appropriate standard and distribution of intensive care facilities.

  Surgery
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to ensure that no urgent operations are delayed until regular operating lists are completed.
  91
  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 2 December 1993]: Officials of the Scottish Office Home and Health Department issued detailed guidance in a letter of 31 January 1992 updated in the form of a management executive letter of 18 May 1993. The guidance set out the roles and responsibilities of managers and clinicians in the management of waiting lists and times and delivery of waiting time guarantees. It is for clinicians to assess the relative needs of each individual patient they take on to a waiting list in determining the priority for treatment.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how often emergency operations are being performed at night by doctors in training grades without supervision.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 2 December 1993]: This information is not held centrally. The training grades of doctors, which range from pre-registration house officer to senior registrar, have access to trained staff at all times.

  Perioperative Deaths
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will carry out an inquiry into perioperative deaths similar to that carried out in NHS hospitals in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 2 December 1993]: Studies of perioperative mortality have been carried out in Scotland for some years. From 1 January 1994 the whole of Scotland will be covered when the Glasgow audit of surgical deaths is merged with the Scottish mortality study to become the Scottish audit of surgical mortality.

  This audit is funded by the clinical resource and audit group, part of the Scottish Office Home and Health Department.

  Hypothermia
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many men aged 65 years and over and women aged 60 years and over have died from hypothermia in Scotland in each year since 1987.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 26 November 1993]: The figures requested are shown in the table.

  Deaths with any mention of hypothermia on the death certificate 1987–93

  Year

  Men aged 65 and over

  Women aged 60 and over

  1987

  52

  65

  1988

  34

  72

  1989

  44

  79

  1990

  47

  72

  1991

  31

  50

  1992

  44

  47

  19931

  23

  46

  1 Provisional figures for events registered to 6 November 1993.

  Superannuation Contributions
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements have been made for superannuation contributions transferred into trusts; and whether a trust may use any of the money for any other purpose.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]: Employees of national health service trusts have the same
  92
  rights to membership of the statutory national health service superannuation scheme as other NHS employees. Their contribution to the scheme, and those of their employers, are payable to the Exchequer to fund superannuation benefits, and cannot be used for any other purpose.

  Health Service Workers
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the results of the survey of health service workers will be published; and if he will make it his policy to ensure that the state of morale among health service workers will be recorded in the published text.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]: The results of the survey of approximately 40,500 NHS staff in Scotland were published on 29 November 1993. The report "What Those who Work Within the NHS in Scotland Think 1993" addresses the issue of staff morale.

  A copy of the report has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Nurses (Teaching)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his target for the number of nurse teaching posts; and what estimate he has made of the number of nurse teaching posts which will be lost in(a) Scotland and (b) Glasgow in each year until the target is reached.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]: The number of nurse teacher posts is dependent on the number of nurses who require to be trained. Retention of nurses has improved markedly over the last few years. As a result there has been a reduction in the number of student nurses in line with the number of job opportunities available. The effect of this is that the number of teaching posts in colleges of nursing and midwifery is being reduced. The management executive advised health boards in March 1993 of their view that colleges should seek to achieve a student:teacher ratio of 15:1 for preregistration nursing programmes by 1 April 1994. The number of teachers then required will depend on the assessments being carried out by health boards of the number of students required to enter training in 1994-95.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he is giving as to how nursing teachers will be chosen for redundancy; what terms they will be offered; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]: No guidance will be issued to health boards on the redundancy of nursing teachers. This is a matter for individual health boards as employers to determine in the light of local circumstances.

  Local Government Finance
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will specify for each local authority the amount of accumulated capital receipts.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 29 November 1993]: The arrangements operated in Scotland for the control of local authority capital expenditure differ from those operated in England and Wales. In Scotland local authorities must spend their capital receipts in the same year as they are

  93
  raised if the receipts are to confer additional spending power. The system in Scotland does not, therefore, lend itself to the accumulation of capital receipts.

  Sheriffs
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sheriffs there are; and how many are women.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 30 November 1993]: There are 99 sheriffs in post, of whom 92 are men and seven are women. Of 114 temporary sheriffs, 109 are men and five are women.

  Private Patiients
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many private patients have been using national health service paid beds in Strathclyde for the first 10 months of 1993.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 30 November 1993]: Only provisional figures for the period January to August 1993 are available. One hundred and thirty-one private patients have been discharged from NHS hospitals in Strathclyde region. This compares with 313,803 NHS patients discharged for the same period.

  Judges
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many judges there are; and how many are women.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 30 November 1993]: There are currently 25 judges of the Court of Session; all are men. In addition, there are eight temporary judges, of whom one is a woman.

  Health Service Administration
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take in order to reduce bureaucracy within NHS hospitals and trusts.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 30 November 1993]: In negotiating contracts with NHS trusts, health boards are responsible for ensuring value for money. In addition, the NHS management executive is finalising new arrangements for monitoring management costs.

  Committee of the Regions
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list his appointments to the European Union's Committee of the Regions by(a) name, (b) age, (c) occupation and (d) political affiliation; and what recent representations he has received concerning these appointments.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 30 November 1993]: Details of Scottish members and alternate members nominated for the Committee of the Regions of the European Communities are as follows:
  94

  Member's Name and Council and Political Affiliation

  Current Age

  Charles Gray:

  Strathclyde Region—

  Labour

  64

  Rosemary McKenna:

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth District—

  Labour

  52

  Brian Meek:

  Edinburgh District—

  Conservative

  54

  Duncan McPherson:

  Highland Region—

  Independent

  63

  Daniel Coffey:

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun District—

  SNP

  39

  Alternative Members Name and Council and Political Affiliation

  Current Age

  Keith Geddes:

  Lothian Region—

  Labour

  41

  Jean McFadden:

  Glasgow District—

  Labour

  52

  Marcus Humphrey:

  Grampian Region—

  Conservative

  55

  Peter Peacock:

  Highland Region—

  Independent

  41

  Clive Sneddon:

  North East Fife District—

  Liberal Democrat

  48

  Occupation was not a consideration in putting these names forward and such details are not centrally held.

  My right hon. Friend has received no recent representations concerning these nominations.

  Income Statistics
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average per capita income in Greenock and Port Glasgow compared with(a) the Scottish average, (b) the United Kingdom average and (c) the European average in cash and percentage terms for the latest available year.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 30 November 1993]: Information relating to household income is not available below the level of Scottish regions.

  Police (Rapid Response Cars)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police forces operate rapid response police cars; what is the normal size of such police crews; and what are their main functions and activities.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 30 November 1993]: One Scottish force currently operates armed response vehicles on a full-time basis. Two vehicles, each manned by two firearms officers, operate within the force area on a 24-hour basis. Their primary function is to provide a rapid response to any incident which involves the use, or alleged use, of firearms and to provide initial containment until any necessary additional resources can be mobilised with a view to bringing the situation to a satisfactory conclusion.

  Advocates
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many advocates there are in practice at the present moment; and how many are women.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 30 November 1993]: There are 323 advocates currently in practice, 54 of whom are women.

  Administrative staff in post in NHS in Scotland at 31 March

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  wte

  Per cent. of all staff

  wte

  Per cent. of all staff

  wte

  Per cent. of all staff

  wte

  Per cent. of all staff

  wte

  Per cent. of all staff

  wte

  Per cent. of all staff

  Scotland

  2,871·9

  2·2

  2,996·2

  2·4

  3,341·4

  2·7

  3,643·3

  3·0

  3,853·2

  3·1

  4,123·5

  3·4

  Argyll and Clyde

  269·3

  2·9

  294·9

  3·2

  322·0

  3·6

  329·2

  3·6

  351·8

  3·8

  369·6

  4·1

  Ayrshire and Arran

  142·0

  2·1

  149·7

  2·2

  159·6

  2·3

  177·1

  2·6

  182·8

  2·4

  192·9

  2·8

  Borders

  41·6

  2·0

  45·0

  2·1

  52·5

  2·5

  54·3

  2·6

  59·6

  2·8

  62·9

  2·9

  Dumfries and Galloway

  68·6

  2·0

  73·5

  2·1

  73·9

  2·2

  86·4

  2·5

  87·2

  2·5

  102·9

  3·0

  Fife

  139·2

  2·1

  147·2

  2·3

  165·5

  2·5

  170·4

  2·6

  175·6

  2·7

  188·9

  3·0

  Forth Valley

  114·2

  1·8

  111·9

  1·8

  129·8

  2·1

  142·6

  2·3

  162·8

  2·6

  178·3

  2·8

  Grampian

  256·2

  2·3

  274·4

  2·4

  301·1

  2·7

  331·0

  2·9

  348·7

  3·0

  385·2

  3·4

  Greater Glasgow

  606·4

  1·9

  559·6

  1·9

  631·2

  2·3

  688·2

  2·5

  705·4

  2·7

  767·9

  3·0

  Highland

  97·9

  2·1

  103·2

  2·3

  112·9

  2·5

  126·7

  2·7

  129·3

  2·7

  136·4

  2·9

  Lanarkshire

  154·1

  1·5

  167·4

  1·6

  177·3

  1·3

  189·1

  1·9

  188·4

  2·0

  206·0

  2·2

  Lothian

  410·3

  2·1

  467·8

  2·5

  519·9

  2·9

  551·8

  3·1

  561·2

  3·2

  595·6

  3·4

  Orkney

  7·0

  2·1

  9·0

  2·7

  9·0

  2·5

  8·0

  2·1

  12·0

  3·1

  13·5

  3·3

  Shetland

  7·0

  1·7

  6·0

  1·4

  7·0

  1·6

  11·0

  2·6

  14·3

  3·3

  17·8

  4·8

  Tayside

  266·6

  2·3

  260·3

  2·7

  1308·1

  2·6

  330·5

  2·8

  348·8

  3·1

  363·2

  3·3

  Western Isles

  18·1

  3·0

  18·1

  3·1

  17·9

  3·0

  19·3

  3·2

  20·9

  3·4

  24·3

  3·5

  CSA

  273·5

  6·0

  308·2

  6·8

  353·7

  7·8

  427·8

  9·1

  500·3

  9·7

  513·8

  9·7

  State Hospital

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  4·2

  1·0

  4·2

  1·0

  1 Non-medical and dental staff numbers relate to 30 September 1990.

  Notes:

  1. Excludes management and clerical grades.

  2. Includes the following grades: scale 1 to 17 administrative and clerical staff for 1988-89 and grade 4 to 6 administrative and clerical staff for 1990–93.

  3. Staff described as "administrative" include many groups of staff whose nature of work may not be strictly administrative eg computer programmers, system analysts, accountants and information specialists.

  4. Calculations of percentages are based on total staff which include medical and dental staff at 30 September and all other staff at 31 March of each year.

  Health Boards
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each health board(a) the current annual account and (b) the present number of managerial employees.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: The revenue allocation for each health board for 1993–94 and the managerial employees engaged by them at 31 March 1993 and detailed in the table.

  NHS in Scotland: Revenue allocations and managerial employees

  1993–94 Revenue allocation £ million

  Number2

  Whole-time equivalent2

  Scotland

  2,809·0

  1,509

  1,490·7

  Argyll and Clyde

  232·0

  115

  113·9

  Ayrshire and Arran

  186·0

  105

  104·1

  Borders

  58·8

  23

  22·9

  Dumfries and Galloway

  82·3

  52

  50·5

  Fife

  171·9

  81

  79·2

  Forth Valley

  140·7

  81

  80·4

  Grampian

  270·7

  196

  191·2

  Greater Glasgow

  588·3

  294

  290·6

  Health Boards
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many health board employees, in respect of each health board area in Scotland, each year since 1988 were engaged in administration; and what percentage they represented of the total number of persons employed by that health board in each of those years.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: The information requested is given, in whole-time equivalent terms, in the table.

  1993–94 Revenue allocation £ million

  Number2

  Whole-time equivalent2

  Highland

  114·0

  81

  81·0

  Lanarkshire

  259·8

  91

  90·4

  Lothian

  409·3

  22·2

  218·8

  Orkney

  12·3

  7

  7·0

  Shetland

  14·5

  8

  8·0

  Tayside

  245·0

  135

  135·0

  Western Isles

  23·1

  18

  17·8

  1 Managerial employees include administrative and clerical grades 7 and above, senior and general managers, a small number of staff on protected grades and some professional staff who have transferred to senior manager grades.

  2 At 31 March 1993.

  Domiciliary Care
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proposals he has to implement monitoring measures in relation to the requirement to spend 85 per cent. of the special transitional grant in the independent sector on domiciliary care; and if he will make a statement;
  97
  (2) what procedures he has introduced in order to monitor local authority compliance with the requirement to spend 85 per cent. of the special transitional grant for domiciliary care in the independent sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: There is no special transitional grant in Scotland. The necessary statutory powers are not available in Scottish legislation. My noble and learned Friend the Minister of State met representatives of local authorities on 13 August 1993 and made it clear that if necessary the Secretary of State would seek equivalent powers to those available in England and would if necessary ensure the success of our policy of promoting a flourishing mixed economy of care in Scotland. Arrangements for monitoring the community care reforms in Scotland are set out in circular SW 16/1993. A copy is in the House Library.

  Residential Care homes (outturn)

  1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992

  1 April to 31 March 19993

  1 April 1993 to 29 November 1993

  Private

  14

  6

  9

  Voluntary sector

  11

  9

  17

  Corresponding information on Private nursing homes is not held centrally.

  Domestic Fires
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fires occurred in private dwellings in(a) Strathclyde and (b) the rest of Scotland in each of the past 10 years; how many fatalities where such fires took place occurred among (i) children aged under 14 years and (ii) other persons; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: Based on reports from local authority fire brigades on fires attended, the numbers of fires and of fatal casualties in dwellings in Strathclyde, in other parts of Scotland and in Scotland as a whole in each of the years 1983-1992 are as set out in the table. An analysis of fatal casualties by age groups is being prepared and I will write to the hon. Member when this information is available.

  Strathclyde

  Other parts of Scotland

  Total Scotland

  Year

  Fires

  Fatal casualties

  Fires

  Fatal casualties

  Fires

  Fatal casualties

  1983

  4,060

  62

  4,675

  74

  8,735

  136

  1984

  4,446

  67

  4,966

  61

  9,412

  128

  1985

  4,461

  80

  5,307

  64

  9,768

  144

  1986

  4,528

  70

  5,195

  62

  9,723

  132

  1987

  4,368

  77

  4,887

  61

  9,255

  138

  1988

  4,687

  65

  4,825

  81

  9,512

  146

  1989

  4,818

  48

  4,965

  40

  9,783

  88

  1990

  4,832

  64

  4,979

  51

  9,811

  115

  1991

  4,928

  62

  4,871

  55

  9,799

  117

  1 1992

  4,817

  38

  4,795

  44

  9,612

  82

  1 Provisional figures.

  Registered Homes
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many registered homes have lost their registration in each of the past four years; how many of these were(a) private care homes, (b) private nursing homes, (c) charitable homes or nursing homes and (d) other; and under which provisions of the legislation the deregister took place.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: Outturn details for adult residential care homes, including cancellation, are available only for the two financial years ending 31 March 1993. The table also gives details for the period 1 April to 29 November of the current year. Regional and islands council social work authorities have powers to refuse or cancel registration under section 62 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, as amended by the Registered Establishments (Scotland) Act 1987. Cancellation has occurred in only one case, and the others represent homes that have closed or reclassified as no longer requiring registration.

  The Government continue to seek reductions in fatalities by means of publicity and education initiatives and, as part of those campaigns, continue to promote the installation and maintenance of smoke alarms.

  River Clyde (Dredging)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the annual cost of the dredging of the River Clyde; which organisations and other parties make a contribution to this operation; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 December 1993]: I refer the hon. Member to the information on the past annual costs incurred by the Clyde port authority in dredging the River Clyde given in my reply to him of 15 April 1993.

  It is the Government's policy that port authorities, including Clydeport Ltd. should manage their businesses on a commercial basis; and that the costs of dredging should be met by charges to the users of ports or by other parties who benefit from the dredging.

  I understand that Clydeport Ltd. is discussing the cost of dredging the River Clyde with the principal users and beneficiaries of the river at this time. These discussions are commercially confidential.

  Prisons
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what new money is to be made available for(a) the construction of new prisons and (b) the renovation of existing prisons; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 2 December 1993]: There are no plans for the construction of any new prison establishment in Scotland. However, planning is being taken forward for the provision of a new 50 prisoner place houseblock at HM prison, Greenock.

  99
  Subject to planning consent and other necessary approvals, construction work is provisionally scheduled to start in the latter part of 1994-95.

  The estates strategy for the service is contained at chapter 9 of, and annex B to, the Scottish Prison Service corporate plan, a copy of which was deposited in the Library in August this year.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  London Convention
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will now publish the official position of Her Majesty's Government in relation to the issues considered at the London convention in early November.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 25 November, at column 118.

  Information Security
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement about the operation of her Department's sensitive documents unit; how many staff are employed in its operation; and approximately how many documents per annum come within its purview.

  Mr. Jack
  My Department has no such unit. Documents generated by my Department which are given security markings are kept under routine review by the originating units, which must ensure that such documents are declassified or downgraded as necessary.

  Hastings Shingle Bank
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will undertake a survey of the Hastings shingle bank to ascertain the impact on it of the aggregate dredging so far and the implications on the fishery of future dredging proposals.

  Mr. Jack
  The Ministry's directorate of fisheries research is conducting regular studies of the sediments and benthos in the area of the Hastings shingle bank. Although periodic studies of fish stocks in the English channel do not provide conclusive information about specific areas such as the shingle bank, catch statistics in the area appear to lend some support to the concerns expressed by local fishermen about crabs and sole.

  A new survey programme will be starting in January using scallop dredgers in order to establish the distribution of overwintering crabs and to assess the significance of the shingle bank to the eastern channel crab fishery. In addition MAFF scientists are setting up a study to monitor the migration of sole across the bank to the shallow inshore waters. This survey work will cover the period of spawning migration next spring.

  We will be weighing the implications of this work very carefully in formulating our advice under the Government view procedure.

  Live Animals (Transport)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 24 November 1993 to the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Tyler)Official Report, column 65, what explanations he received from the Commission for its differing conclusions on the enforceability of journey limits for livestock as opposed to compulsory feeding and watering times.

  Mr. Soames
  The proposals for amendments to directive 91/628/EEC on protection of animals during transport were deposited in the Library of the House on 22 September 1993, reference 8441/93. The Commission's explanatory memorandum referred to the conclusions of the Scientific Veterinary Committee, which the Commission accepted, on the question of journey limits. They pointed out in particular that it would be simple to evade a journey limit by using intermediate places of destination.

  Badgers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what method is used by her wildlife unit at Royal Air Force station, Aston Down in badger removal operations; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The wildlife unit surveys farms which have had a cattle tuberculosis breakdown for evidence of badgers. Where removal operations are sanctioned, it traps badgers live in cages and humanely destroys them.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations she has received in the last six months about the export of live animals; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The public response to campaigns from animal welfare organisations on transport of animals results in large numbers of representations to the Government. During the last six months, the Government have received over 23,000 pieces of correspondence and 136 petitions, representing approximately 8,000 signatures, on this issue. Proposals from the Commission to amend directive 91/628 on the welfare of animals during transport were sent to over 500 interested organisations and individuals for comment this summer. We received 86 replies.

  In the negotiations, the Government are seeking Community rules which are properly enforceable and will provide strong welfare safeguards for all categories of animals during transport.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when her Department intends to review the current ban on the export of live cattle from the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The export of cattle over six months of age from the United Kingdom to other member states is prohibited under European Commission decision 89/469/ EEC. This is because of the position on bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The EC Scientific Veterinary Committee in conducting a scientific evaluation on BSE in September
  101
  1993 endorsed the Community control measures on BSE. The position will be kept under review in the light of the improving disease situation.

  The position in relation to third-country trade varies depending upon the import policies of the countries concerned. We are working hard to ensure that the relevant authorities of important potential overseas markets are aware of the improving BSE situation in the United Kingdom and that their import policies fully reflect this.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she will be able to provide figures for live animals exported to other EC member states since 1 January; and what will be the sources of her information.

  Mr. Soames
  Initial data recently released by the Central Statistical Office indicate that the value of exports of live animals to other EC member states for the first half of 1993 amounted to £83.1 million. However, this figure is

  Cereal Production ('000s tonnes)

  Change from 1992 to 1993

  1992

  1993

  '000s tonnes

  as a percentage

  EC Total

  168,059·6

  163,999·0

  -4060·6

  -2·42

  Belgium

  1,998·0

  2,048·5

  50·5

  2·53

  Denmark

  6,954·3

  8,524·0

  1,567·7

  22·57

  Germany

  34,758·5

  35,717·2

  958·7

  2·76

  Greece

  4,946·4

  4,950·0

  3·6

  0·07

  Spain

  13,867·2

  16,838·1

  2,970·9

  21·42

  France

  60,449·5

  55,376·0

  -5,073·5

  -8·39

  Ireland

  2,016·0

  1,606·1

  -409·9

  -20·33

  Italy

  18,413·2

  16,625·0

  -1,788·2

  -9·71

  Luxembourg

  152·5

  152·2

  -0·3

  -0·20

  Netherlands

  1,349·6

  1,337·7

  -11·9

  -0·88

  Portugal

  1,091·0

  1,217·5

  126·5

  11·59

  United Kingdom

  22,063·4

  19,606·7

  -2,456·7

  -11·13

  Source: Eurostat (October 1993) & MAFF

  Agricultural Production
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the value, in each year since 1979 of(a) the overall agricultural production in the United Kingdom, (b) overall food imports, (c) cereal and cereal substitutes imported into the United Kingdom and (d) cereal exports; and if she will express each figure as a percentage of the amount needed for self-sufficiency.

  Food and Agriculture

  Cereals

  Agricultural output £ million

  Imports of food, feed and drink1 £ million

  Level of United Kingdom self-sufficiency in Food and Feed per cent.

  Imports of Cereals £million

  Exports of cereals £ million

  Production as per cent. of total new supply for use in United Kingdom

  1979

  3,801

  6,653

  53·3

  565

  80

  77

  1980

  4,238

  6,341

  59·0

  496

  274

  88

  1981

  4,775

  6,781

  61·1

  438

  476

  103

  1982

  5,362

  7,321

  61·5

  401

  531

  105

  1983

  5,118

  7,982

  61·2

  420

  466

  103

  1984

  6,108

  9,097

  62·9

  410

  711

  114

  1985

  5,402

  9,482

  57·7

  468

  539

  108

  1986

  5,801

  10,070

  56·5

  500

  882

  123

  1987

  5,868

  10,276

  56·8

  469

  524

  121

  1988

  5,701

  10,602

  53·9

  452

  352

  107

  1989

  6,577

  11,420

  58·5

  361

  579

  121

  1990

  6,918

  12,288

  56·5

  375

  633

  121

  102
  subject to revision under the new arrangements provided by the INTRASTAT system. No details are yet available for the actual number of animals involved.

  Further details can be found in the CSO's "Business Monitor MM20A: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom with the World (including data for countries within the European Community: Intrastat)." A copy of this can be found in the House of Commons Library.

  Cereals
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the change in cereal production between 1992 and 1993 expressed as a tonnage and in percentage terms in each European Union country and in the European Union as a whole.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is given in the table. It should be emphasised that 1993 figures in particular are only provisional at this stage.

  Mr. Jack
  The table shows figures for agricultural gross product; the total imports to the United Kingdom of food, feed and drink, and the percentage of self-sufficiency of the United Kingdom in food and feed. The value of both imports and exports of cereals is also shown, but it has not been possible to include the element for imports of cereal substitutes in this reply. I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly with further details.

  No statistics are available on self-sufficiency in cereal and cereal substitutes, but usage of cereals is known, and statistics on this are included in the final column of the table.
  103

  Food and Agriculture

  Cereals

  Agricultural out £ million

  Imports of food, feed and drink1 £ million

  Level of United Kingdom self-sufficiency in food and feed per cent.

  Imports of cereals £ million

  Exports of cereals £ million

  Production as per cent. of total new supply for use in United Kingdom

  1991

  6,909

  12,262

  57·9

  356

  626

  119

  1992

  7,132

  13,407

  56·5

  463

  631

  115

  1 Food, feed and drink cover Divisions 01-09, 11, 22 and Section 4 of the SITC system details of which can be found in the Central Statistical Office publication "Guide to the classifiction of Overseas Trade Statistics", MA 21.

  Mink
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is her estimate of the number of mink presently in the wild in the United Kingdom; and in which regions are they most prevalent.

  Mr. Soames
  The control of wild mink is the responsibility of occupiers of land the Ministry has not collected details of their numbers or distribution.

  However, data published by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology show that wild mink are widespread, with particular concentrations in mid and lowland Scotland and south-west England.

  Fur farms
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the minimum statutory size of a cage in which(a) Arctic fox and (b) mink may be kept on fur farms.

  Mr. Soames
  There is no legislation governing the minimum cage size for Arctic fox or mink.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will give details of the licensing arrangements necessary for the establishment and operation of a mink farm.

  Mr. Soames
  To qualify for a licence to keep mink, the farmer must comply with the conditions of the Mink (Keeping) regulations 1975 (as amended). These specify that mink must be kept in escape-proof cages or other containers and, except when they are in transit, within an enclosure or building which satisfies the requirements of the regulations. These requirements specify the height of the enclosures, the materials to be used to construct them and the measures which must be taken to prevent escapes. Additionally, every enclosure must have an appropriate number of cage traps, in case mink should escape from their cages.

  Before a licence can be renewed, the farm is inspected by ADAS, the Ministry's advisers on wildlife, to ensure the farmer complies with the requirements of the legislation.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fox farms there are in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Soames
  The keeping of fox species is not subject to control in England, Wales and Scotland and information is not, therefore, collected on the number of farms keeping this animal. In Northern Ireland, the keeping of one species of fox, the Arctic fox, is subject to licensing under the Arctic Fox (Importation and Keeping) Regulations 1988. No licences have been issued in Northern Ireland to keep this animal since the regulations came into force.
  104
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps she takes to ensure the proper qualifications of those involved in the killing of farmed fur-bearing animals; and what records are kept of such persons.

  Mr. Soames
  In monitoring welfare standards on fur farms, the state veterinary services operates to the guidelines laid down in the relevant recommendation adopted by the Council of Europe. That recommendation specifies that the killing of farmed fur-bearing animals must be carried out by a competent person. It does not require records of such persons to be kept.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the minimum acceptable specifications for the perimeter guard fences of mink farms.

  Mr. Soames
  The minimum acceptable specifications for the perimeter guard fences of mink farms are set out in schedule 2 to the Mink (Keeping) Regulations 1975, as amended. A copy of the regulations is in the House of Commons library.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions since 1984 an application for a licence for a mink farm has been refused; and what was the reason for each refusal.

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is readily available only from 1987 onwards. Since then, no applications for licences to keep mink in a mink farm have been refused.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment she has made of the environmental and welfare needs of farmed fur-bearing animals; and what plans she has to make provision for such needs.

  Mr. Soames
  The Farm Animal Welfare Council's review of fur farming considered the environmental and welfare needs of farmed mink and fox. It concluded that there was insufficient evidence to make specific recommendations on the keeping of fur-bearing animals and recommended that the industry should carry out further research. Research is being carried out in other countries such as Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands, whose industries are large enough to bear the costs involved. We will be pressing for the best possible welfare standards on a European Community basis.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is her policy on offering free veterinary advice to fur farmers.

  Mr. Soames
  The state veterinary service provides fur farmers with free advice on animal welfare matters.
  105
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in each year since 1984 her officials or the state veterinary service have visited mink farms for the purpose of(a) assessing welfare and (b) inspecting slaughter methods.

  Mr. Soames
  Records of veterinary visits to mink farms dating back to 1984 are not available. There are currently 15 mink farms in Great Britain, each of which is visited by the state veterinary service on an annual basis.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is her Department's policy towards the farming of Arctic foxes within the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  We are seeking the best possible welfare standards for all types of fur farming on a European Community basis.

  Infant Formulae
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) by what date she is hoping to implement the provisions of the European directive on the marketing of infant formulae;

  (2) if she will make a statement summarising the provisions of the European Community directive on the marketing of infant formulae;

  (3) if she will make a statement setting out the arrangements which will be adopted for consultation about the provisions of the European directive on the marketing of infant formulae; and when that consultation will begin.

  Mr. Soames
  The Commission directive 91/321/EEC on infant formulae and follow-on formulae requires member states to introduce national laws by 1 June 1994. We will be seeking to meet that deadline.

  Directive 91/321 lays down compositional and labelling requirements for infant formulae and follow-on formulae. Among these are requirements that the labelling of infant formula contains a statement concerning the superiority of breast feeding, and the use of any term that suggests that infant formula is equivalent or superior to breast milk is prohibited. Pictures of infants and other imagery that might idealise the product are also prohibited. The advertising of infant formula is permitted only in certain professional magazines and can contain only information of a scientific or factual nature. The directive prohibits manufacturers from supplying free or subsidised supplies.

  Draft proposals for GB regulations implementing the directive have been prepared and were issued for consultation to interested parties in the normal way on Friday, 3 December 1993.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by her Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

  Mr. Jack
  The marking "Not for NAO eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office, under which current documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NAO are not automatically available.
  106
  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.

  There is no marking "Not for PAC eyes".

  Surplus Beef
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if she will make a statement as to how surplus beef released by the European Commission is being distributed in Nottinghamshire;

  (2) if she will outline the mechanisms adopted by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce for the distribution of surplus beef released by the European Commission into the United Kingdom; and if she will list the local authority areas in which the distribution is being undertaken by (a) local authorities, (b) voluntary organisations and (c) individuals.

  Mr. Jack
  The distribution of produce to eligible recipients under the EC surplus food scheme is carried out through charitable or non-profit making organisations. This year, 1,055 organisations have been designated by Agriculture Departments in the United Kingdom to distribute 12,200 tonnes of beef released from intervention for processing and canning. The Intervention Board executive agency is currently co-ordinating deliveries of the beef to designated organisations which will then make their own arrangements to distribute the produce locally.

  A list of designated organisations, including those in Nottinghamshire, has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Non-departmental Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for each of the executive non-departmental bodies sponsored by her Department, whether the public has a statutory right to attend all board or committee meetings and to inspect(a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the annual reports and (c) the annual accounts.

  Mr. Jack
  The public do not have a statutory right to attend board or committee meetings of executive non-departmental bodies; nor do they have the right to inspect the minutes of meetings.

  In nearly all cases, legislation requires that the annual report and accounts are published and laid before Parliament. The exceptions are the Agricultural Wages Board and the agricultural wages committees, whose reports do not include the accounts because the costs of running the board and committees are met directly from MAFF and Welsh Office funds. Neither the board nor the committees control funds.

  The annual reports and annual accounts of the bodies are available to the public, either free or at reasonable cost, except for the AWC and AWB, for which annual accounts are not prepared as noted above.

  Ministerial Car Service
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual cost to the Department of the car service for Ministers; and how many vehicles are involved.
  107
  Mr. Jack
  The cost of providing a car service to the Ministers in this Department was £232,931 in the 1992-93 financial year. Four vehicles are involved.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Private Care Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what, representations he has received regarding the financial difficulties facing people who have been in private care or nursing homes since before 1 April.

  Mr. Scott
  We have received several representations recently, both from individuals and representative bodies, about the income support limits for people in residential care and nursing homes.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the work of the Child Support Agency since its operation began; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  Ministers keep the operations of the Child Support Agency under regular review, as they do the operations of other next steps agencies. The Child Support Agency is still very new, but it has made a determined start on its important task of ensuring that more children receive more maintenance, more reliably.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last met the chief executive of the Child Support Agency to discuss its assessment of absent parents already making contributions towards the upkeep of their children.

  Mr. Burt
  I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly meet the chief executive of the Child Support Agency to discuss a wide range of operational matters. The most recent of these meetings was on 16 November.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received from hon. Members regarding the working of the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  Since the agency began its operations in April 1993, this Department has received in the region of 3,700 representations from hon. Members, covering a range of views.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress is being made currently with the review of the operation of the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The Child Support Agency was set up to secure more maintenance, more reliably, for more children and that is what it is doing. We believe that the basic principles of the scheme stand up to scrutiny and are supported by the vast majority of people in this country. We have been looking very carefully at the comments and concerns being raised about the Child Support Agency and testing them against the basic structure and principles which are in place and which were endorsed by Members from all parties. If, after examination, we think we can make the scheme better still, we will do so.
  108
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what statutory basis the Child Support Agency reveals to a former partner full financial details of the person he or she has divorced together with those of that person's second partner.

  Mr. Burt
  Regulation 10 of the Child Support (Maintenance Assessment Procedure) Regulations 1992 provides for a maintenance assessment notification, which is sent both to the parent with care and the absent parent, to show the details of protected income calculations which include the income of an absent parent's new partner. The intention is that sufficient information should be provided to both the parent with care and the absent parent to enable them to exercise their statutory right to seek a review or to appeal.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes he plans to the way in which the Child Support Agency is administering the collection of child maintenance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The Child Support Agency has a range of collection and enforcement powers to ensure that it is able to meet its objective of obtaining maintenance for children. The Government have no plans to change these powers, though they keep all aspects of the Child Support Agency under review.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether clean-break settlements are to be taken into account in the formula used by the Child Support Agency for assessing maintenance payments from absent parents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  The maintenance assessment formula already reflects the practical consequences of a capital or property transfer, commonly referred to as a clean break settlement between spouses, by allowing for the current housing costs of the absent parent and taking account of the parent with care's income including that from capital.

  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to amend the Child Support Act 1991.

  Mr. Burt
  The Child Support Act introduced a new way of assessing maintenance for children and ensuring that this would be paid. It reflects the Government's view that both parents are responsible for supporting their children where they are able to do so, even if their own relationship has broken down. The Government have no plans to amend the Act.

  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy towards replying to letters from hon. Members about child support where the Member has raised a matter of Government policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  Letters to Ministers from hon. Members, about child support policy will receive a ministerial reply. Letters about operational matters or individual assessments will, in general, be passed to the chief executive of the Child Support Agency unless substantive policy issues have also been raised.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many absent parents who were already
  109
  paying child support under previously agreed arrangements are appealing against the additional payments assessed by the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  The Child Support Agency does not currently collect information in the form requested. To the end of October, under 1 per cent. of assessments made had resulted in appeals.

  Work-related Injuries
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much of his Department's budget is used in social security payments connected with injuries sustained(a) in war and (b) at work.

  Mr. Scott
  In 1991-92, the latest year for which final figures are available, benefit expenditure on war disablement and war widows pensions totalled £842 million. This represented 1.4 per cent. of the Department's total benefit spending of £61,819 million.

  In the same year, expenditure on industrial injuries disablement and death benefits totalled £655 million, or 1.1 per cent. of the Department's total spending.

  Support for the Elderly
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures his Department has taken to maintain support for the elderly.

  Numbers and percentage of pensioners in the bottom decile, 1979 and 1990–91.

  Pensioners in the bottom decile

  1979

  1990–91

  BHC

  AHC

  BHC

  AHC

  Number (millions)

  1·9

  1·7

  1·2

  0·6

  As a percentage of all pensioners

  22

  19

  12

  6

  As a percentage of all in the bottom decile

  35

  31

  21

  11

  Source:

  1979,1990 and 1991 Family Expenditure Surveys and Households Below Average Income 1979– 1990–91.1990–91 is the years 1990 and 1991 combined.

  Notes:

  1. Numbers and percentages relate to individuals in benefit units headed by a person over state pension age.

  2. Individuals are located on the income distribution according to their equivalised household disposable income.

  Pensioners' Incomes
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of(a) single pensioners and b) pensioner couples had incomes below one half of average household income each year since 1979.

  Mr. Hague
  An answer covering each year since 1979 could he supplied only at disproportionate cost. The available information is published in tables F1(BHC) and Fl (AFC) of "Households Below Average Income 1979–1990/91", copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average gross weekly income of(a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples in the lastest year for which figures are available; and what has been the average growth in income of each group since 1979.

  Mr. Hague
  In 1990–91, information from the family expenditure survey shows that the average gross weekly income of(a) single pensioners was £110·20 and (b) pensioner couples was £214·80. This represents an average growth in income since 1979 of (a) 42 per cent. for single pensioners and (b) 41 per cent. for pensioner couples.
  Note 1: Pensioner couples are couples where the husband is over state pension age.
  110
  Mr. Hague
  Since 1979, my Department has more than maintained the real value of the basic retirement pension; improved choice and flexibility in pension provision; and targeted additional resources to poorer pensioners. Spending on benefits for the elderly has increased in real terms by 40 per cent. since 1979—to nearly £34·5 billion in 1992–93. Also, as announced in the Budget last week, increases on the income-related benefits over and above the normal uprating will amount to 50p for single pensioners and 70p for couples in April 1994. The basic state pension rate will also be increased by 50p on top of the normal uprating plus an additional 20p for couples as part of the package of help for VAT on domestic fuel.

  Pensioners' Incomes
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner households were in the bottom decile of the income distribution in 1979, and in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Hague
  The most recent information is given in the table. The figures are counts of pensioners, not pensioner households, with a pensioner couple counting as two. Figures are given both in terms of before housing costs—BHC—and after housing costs—AHC.

  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of pensioners received at least 50 per cent. of their income from state benefits in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Hague
  The percentage of pensioners receiving 50 per cent. or more of their income from state benefits is as follows:

  Pensioner couples: 61 per cent.

  Single pensioners: 76 per cent.

  All pensioners: 70 per cent.

  Source: Information from combined 1990 and 1991 Family Expenditure Surveys covering period 1990-91.

  Note 1: "Pensioner couples" are couples where the husband is over state pension age.

  Note 2: "All pensioners" are single people over state pension age and couples where the husband is over state pension age.

  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the value of the basic state retirement pension for(a) a single pensioner and (b) a pensioner couple in 1979 and at each uprating since 1979; and what it would have been if it had been uprated in line with whichever was the higher of average earnings or prices.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is in the table.
  111

  Rate of basic retirement pension

  Actual rates

  If increased by the higher of earnings/prices

  Single £ per week

  Couple £ per week

  Single £ per week

  Couple £ per week

  November 1979

  23·30

  37·30

  —

  —

  November 1980

  27·15

  43·45

  27·60

  44·20

  November 1981

  29·60

  47·35

  30·90

  49·50

  November 1982

  32·85

  52·55

  33·50

  53·65

  November 1983

  34·05

  54·50

  36·40

  58·30

  November 1984

  35·80

  57·30

  38·25

  61·25

  November 1985

  38·30

  61·30

  41·60

  66·60

  July 1986

  38·70

  61·95

  43·45

  69·55

  April 1987

  39·50

  63·25

  45·90

  73·45

  April 1988

  41·15

  65·90

  49·50

  79·20

  April 1989

  43·60

  69·80

  54·15

  86·65

  April 1990

  46·90

  75·10

  59·40

  95·05

  April 1991

  52·00

  83·25

  65·85

  105·40

  April 1992

  54·15

  86·70

  71·05

  113·70

  April 1993

  56·10

  89·80

  74·55

  119·30

  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much the state pension for(a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples would have been in April had the pension been uprated in line with the higher of retail prices index or earnings since 1980.

  Mr. Hague
  (a) £74·55 for single pensioners and (b) £119·30 for pensioner couples at April 1993.

  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his best estimate of the number and

  Thousands

  £ per week

  Up to 100

  100-150

  150-200

  200-250

  250-350

  Over 350

  Pensioner couples

  Number

  285

  9,655

  470

  309

  270

  318

  Pensioner Couples-Proportions

  Percentage

  11

  37

  18

  12

  10

  12

  Thousands

  £ per week

  Up to 100

  100-150

  150-200

  200-300

  Over 300

  Single Pensioners

  Number

  3,023

  692

  296

  233

  173

  Percentage

  68

  16

  7

  5

  4

  Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Source: Combined 1990 and 1991 Family Expenditure Surveys.

  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was(a) the mean and (b) the median income of (i) single pensioners and (ii) pensioner couples, before and after housing costs, in 1990–91.

  Mean net income £ per week

  Median net income £ per week

  Single pensioners

  Pensioner couples

  Single pensioners

  Pensioner couples

  Before Housing costs

  94·80

  181·20

  75·20

  138·60

  After Housing costs

  82·50

  170·90

  54·40

  123·20

  Note: Pensioner couples consist of couples where the husband is over state pension age.

  Source: Combined 1990 and 1991 Family Expenditure Surveys covering period 1990–91.
  112
  proportion of (a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples who have total gross weekly incomes of (i) £0 to £50, (ii) £50 to £100, (iii) £100 to £150, (iv) £150 to £200, (v) £200 to £250, (vi) £250 to £300, (vii) £300 to £350, (viii) £350 to £400, (ix) £400 to £450, (x) £450 to £500 and (xi) £500 and above.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is in the tables. To allow a reliable number of sample cases to be taken into account certain ranges of the distribution have been merged in order to ensure estimates are based on at least 100 cases. The estimates are liable to error.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is in the table.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the annual spending on family credit, and what was the spending on family income supplement in 1979.
  113
  Mr. Burt
  Family credit expenditure is expected to be £965 million in 1993–94. This is 14 times more in real terms than the £24 million spent on family income support in 1978–79.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures his Department is taking to encourage local authorities to stop fraudulent claims of housing benefit.

  Mr. Burt
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently announced improved incentives which will encourage local authorities to increase their efforts against fraud. Local authorities will now be able to share to a greater extent in the savings produced through the detection of fraud. Subsidy reductions, next year, will be targeted at authorities that do little or nothing to uncover fraud.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was paid in housing benefit(a) nationally and (b) in the London borough of Ealing in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The available information is in the table.

  Housing benefit paid nationally

  Housing benefit paid in the London borough of Ealing

  £ million

  £ million

  1989–90

  n/a

  36

  1990–91

  4,941

  42

  1991–92

  6,058

  69

  1992–93

  17,348

  Not yet available

  1 Estimated outturn.

  Personal Pensions
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the results of his Department's policies to encourage personal pensions.

  Mr. Hague
  The Government are committed to encouraging choice and flexibility in pension provision, and has already introduced two new options for contracting out of the state earnings-related pension scheme—appropriate personal pensions and contracted-out money purchase occupational pension schemes. It is clear that individuals wish to take advantage of the choices available to make provision for their own retirement—more than 5 million people have used personal pensions to contract out of the state earnings-related scheme since the option was introduced in 1988. A 1 per cent. additional rebate for appropriate personal pension holders aged 30 and over was introduced from April 1993, fulfilling our manifesto commitment and ensuring that personal pension holders continue to find it worth while to maintain their pensions. The Government are considering measures to ensure that personal pensions remain attractive across the age range.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to give additional support to lone mothers and lone fathers.
  114
  Mr. Burt
  We have already improved the incentives to work in the social security system so that lone parents are currently £30 a week better off in work and receiving family credit than out of work and on income support.

  From October 1994, we will provide additional support for both lone parents and couples through a £40 disregard of child care costs. This will provide a powerful incentive for families to move back into work with family credit and make themselves better off.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to give greater support to single parent families.

  Mr. Lilley
  We have already improved the incentives to work in the social security system so that lone parents are currently £30 a week better off in work and receiving family credit than out of work and on income support.

  From October 1994, we will provide additional support for both lone parents and couples through a £40 disregard of child care costs. This will provide a powerful incentive for families to move back into work with family credit and make themselves better off.

  Maxwell Pensions Unit
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a further statement on the work of the Maxwell pensions unit.

  Mr. Hague
  In addition to its continuing work with those engaged in the recovery of pension scheme assets, the unit is providing substantial administrative assistance to the Maxwell Pensioners Trust. The Government fully support the trust's initiative to promote an overall settlement of disputes relating to missing Maxwell scheme assets as an alternative to prolonged and costly litigation.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress his Department has taken to reduce the level of fraudulent claims for social security benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  We are placing a greater emphasis on fraud
  prevention by increasing staff training and making more use of information technology. A range of other initiatives currently under way include a one-stop service, research into strengthening identity requirements and better verification details for claims and payments of benefits.

  Last year, our investigators caught more than 270,000 people cheating the system, making record savings of £558 million.

  Social Security Expenditure
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research he has commissioned into the long-term levels of resources to be devoted to social security expenditure by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  The Department has an active research programme, drawing on internal and external research. The results of the most recent research were published in July in the Department's report "The Growth of Social Security", which was intended to stimulate and inform public debate on the social security programme.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes he proposes to the payment of invalidity benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made to the House on 1 December,Official Report, column 1037.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the effect of the assessment he has made of proposed changes in invalidity benefit and pension age on the appeal against the social security commissioners' decision which concerned the IVB rules linked to state pension age.

  Mr. Scott
  The appeal has been listed for hearing by the Court of Appeal on either 14 or 15 February 1994. The proposals which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 1 December 1993 do not affect the decision to proceed with this appeal.

  Pensioners' Benefits
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much more than inflation benefits for poor pensioners have been increased since 1989.

  Mr. Hague
  The total extra help above normal upratings made available to pensioners on income-related benefits since 1989 is now worth around £1 billion a year.

  State Earnings-related Pension Scheme
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of people(a) male and (b) female covered by SERPS; and what percentage of the work force this is in each case.

  Mr. Hague
  The answer is in the table.

  1Number (millions)

  2Percentage of work force

  Total

  9·7

  43·7

  All men

  4·5

  38·8

  All women

  5·2

  49·1

  1Source: 1 per cent. sample of National Insurance contributors.

  2Source: Labour Force Survey—Employment Gazette. United Kingdom 1990–91 (excluding self-employed persons, Her Majesty's Forces and persons on work related government training schemes).

  The figures are based on the number of people who paid class 1 contributions at the not-contracted out rate; excluding those people with appropriate personal pensions.

  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many men with earnings above the lower earnings limit were not contracted out of SERPS during the latest year for which figures are available;

  (2) how many women with earnings above the lower earnings limit were not contracted out of SERPs during the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Hague
  In 1990–91, the numbers of(a) men, and (b) women, in the United Kingdom who paid class 1 national insurance contributions and were not contracted
  116
  out of SERPS, or were not holders of an appropriate personal pension in place of SERPS, were (a) 4·54 million and (b) 5·25 million.

  Source: 1 per rent. sample of National Insurance contributors.

  Disabled Children
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to increase benefits for families of children with disabilities.

  Mr. Scott
  Families with disabled children have access to a wide range of social security benefits, including, for example, invalid care allowance, disability living allowance and child benefit. On 1 December 1993 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that all major benefits would be increased in April 1994 fully in line with inflation, with additional help to meet the cost of VAT on fuel for more than 15 million people.

  Brain Damage
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many awards have been made under the Vaccine Damage Act 1979 for brain damage sustained in each year between 1976 and 1992; and how many of these awards were for damage following injections of triple and/or pertussis vaccines.

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Social Fund Commissioner
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what decision he has made about the appointment of a new social fund commissioner; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I am pleased to announce that Mrs. Rosalind Mackworth has agreed to serve as the Social Fund Commissioner for Great Britain for a further period of 18 months from 1 December 1993. I understand that Mrs. Mackworth has also agreed to act as Social Fund Commissioner for Northern Ireland.

  Since taking up the post of Social Fund Commissioner in December 1987, Mrs. Mackworth has been instrumental in establishing the social fund inspectorate as a respected and independent source of review. I am sure that I can rely on Mrs. Mackworth to maintain and even improve upon her excellent record.

  Pensions
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking to ensure that those choosing to opt out of the state earnings-related pension are informed of the risks to their pension due to the loss of the guaranteed returns offered by SERPS.

  Mr. Hague
  Some 15 million people are contracted out of the state earnings-related pension schemes— SERPS. Around 10 million of these are members of their employer's pension scheme and 5 million have a personal pension. Members of salary-related occupational schemes will receive a guaranteed minimum pension—GMP—at state pension age from their employers, provided as a condition of contracting-out of SERPS. There is no risk that an individual's pension entitlement will be lower than that offered within SERPS.
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  Individuals with a personal pension build up their own fund based on contributions made by themselves, their employer and the Government. The Government's contribution reflects the level of investment required to provide a pension equivalent to a GMP. These contributions and the return on their investment form "protected rights" guaranteeing a minimum value for the fund. An occupational money purchase scheme works in a similar way with the Government's contribution being provided through a rebate in the amount of national insurance contributions payable.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking to monitor the performance of the investment funds associated with the personal pension plans of those who have opted out of SERPS; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  It is for individual scheme members, in conjunction with their financial advisers, to monitor the performance of their chosen pension scheme. In order to help them to do so, the trustees of personal pension schemes are required to provide to members, at least once in every period of 12 months, written details of the value of the member's protected rights under the scheme and the value of the member's accrued rights, other than protected rights.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the number of those taking out personal pensions and who(a) have and (b) have not opted out of SERPS who have allowed their policy to lapse after (i) one year, (ii) two years, (iii) three years, (iv) four years and (v) five years;

  (2) what is his estimate of the total sum lost by policy holders who have allowed personal pension plans to lapse (a) after one year, (b) after two years, (c) after three years, (d) after four years, (e) after five years. and (f) in total.

  Mr. Hague
  Personal pensions used for opting out of SERPS do not lapse. Membership continues until cancelled either by the individual concerned or by the trustees or managers of the scheme. Personal pensions not used for opting out of SERPS become paid up when the member ceases to make payments into the scheme. In both cases, those contributions which have already been paid into the schemes continue to be invested to produce benefits for the contributor.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the total sum charged in commission on the personal pension plans of those who have opted out of SERPS and who make additional contributions to their plans for the last year for which figures are available;

  (2) what is his estimate of the total sum charged in commission on the personal pension plans of those who have not opted out of SERPS for the last year for which figures are available;

  (3) what is his estimate of the total sum of charges other than commission made on the personal pension plans of those who have opted out of SERPS and who make additional contributions to their plans for the last year for which figures are available;

  (4) what is his estimate of the total sum of charges other than commission made on the personal pension plans of those who have not opted out of SERPS for the last year for which figures are available.
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  Mr. Hague
  The data requested are not collected. Consideration of the level of charges and commissions associated with personal pensions is a matter for individual investors in their choice of scheme. The Financial Services Act 1986 governs the disclosure to investors of charges and commissions associated with life insurance based products. My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has recently directed the Securities and Investments Board to come forward with new rules and proposals to make the costs associated with life insurance based investment products, including most personal pensions, more transparent.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the total sum charged in commission on appropriate pension plans for the last year for which figures are available;

  (2) what is his estimate of the total sum of charges other than commission made on appropriate pension plans for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Hague
  The data requested are not collected.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking to ensure that the state earnings-related pension can operate in such a way as to provide an alternative to private provision for those who wish to make full provision for their retirement.

  Mr. Hague
  The state earnings-related pension is already one of several alternatives available to individuals choosing how best to make provision for their retirement.

  Benefit Statistics
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what will be the saving in the whole range of social security benefits, including exemption from prescription charges and other associated benefits, if everybody was deemed to have earned £100 per week between the ages of 18 to 65 years who was fit and able to work.

  Mr. Scott
  I shall let my hon. Friend have such information as is available as soon as possible.

  Income Support
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people received income support transitional protection in 1988 in(a) Newham and (b) nationally; how many in each of the same areas received no income support increase due to transitional protection in each successive year; and how many of these had (i) pensioner premia and (ii) disability premium.

  Mr. Burt
  The figures for those receiving income support transitional addition in Great Britain are in table 1. It is not possible to provide reliable figures for Newham. Those with a transitional addition in May of each year would not have received an increase at the uprating in the April of that year. However, the following increases over and above normal uprating were made available on top of transitional additions:October 1989—new rate of pensioner premium introduced for those aged 75-79 and special increase in higher pensioner premium—worth £2·50 a week for a single person and £3·50 for a couple.
  October 1991—increase in family premium, child personal allowances and under age 25 single personal allowances.
  October 1992.all pensioners premiums increased by £2 for a single person and £3 for a couple.
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  Table 2 shows the numbers receiving a special transitional addition in Great Britain. All will have

  Table 1

  Income Support Claimants in Receipt of a Transitional Addition

  May 1988

  May 1989

  May 1990

  May 1991

  May 1992

  Total Cases with TA1

  1,585,000

  497,000

  134,000

  29,000

  10,000

  Higher Pensioner Premium

  220,000

  73,000

  15,000

  2,000

  Under 1000

  Enhanced Pensioner Premium

  Nil

  Nil

  14,000

  1,000

  NIL

  Pensioner Premium

  491,000

  168,000

  23,000

  2,000

  1,000

  Disability Premium

  63,000

  27,000

  9,000

  3,000

  1,000

  1 Transitional Addition

  Table 2

  Income Support Claimants in Receipt of a Special Transitional Addition

  May 1988

  May 1989

  May 1990

  May 1991

  May 1992

  Total Cases with STA1

  2,000

  2,000

  1,000

  1,000

  1,000

  Higher Pensioner Premium

  1,000

  1,000

  Under 1,000

  Under 1,000

  Under 1,000

  Enhanced Pensioner Premium

  NIL

  NIL

  NIL

  Under 1,000

  Under 1,000

  Pensioner Premium

  Under 1,000

  Under 1,000

  Under 1,000

  NII

  Nil

  Disability Premium

  Under 1,000

  1,000

  Under 1,000

  Under 1,000

  Under 1,000

  1 Special Transitional Addition

  1. Source: Income Support Statistical Enquiries 1988-1992

  2. Figures given in both tables are rounded to the nearest thousand

  3. Enhanced Pensioner Premium was introduced in October 1989

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) on 3 December 1993. There is no marking "Not for PAC eyes".

  Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications have been assessed for the disability allowance for chronic bronchitis and emphysema; and, of those assessed, how many have been successful.

  Mr. Scott
  As at 28 November 1993, about 9,000 cases had had all necessary employment and medical inquiries completed, and of these about 1,100 will receive an award of industrial injuries disablement benefit.

  "Fighting Fraud in 1992–93"
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total cost of producing the report "Fighting Fraud in 1992–93"; how many copies were printed; and how many have been circulated to date.

  Mr. Hague
  The administration of benefit fraud is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
  120
  benefited from upratings as special transitional additions are increased by the normal uprating factor used for income support.

  Letter from Michael Richard to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 3 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 what was the cost of producing the report Fighting Fraud in 1992/93; how many copies were printed; and how many have been circulated to date.
  I am able to tell you that the total cost of producing the report was £3,679·43. A total of 1,800 copies were printed and as at 26 November, 1,446 have been circulated.
  I hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will appear in the Library.

  Claimants, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in the Doncaster area were receiving invalidity benefit for each year ended April in(a) 1990, (b) 1991, (c) 1992, (d) 1993 and (e) 1993–94 to date.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of invalidity benefit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 3 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 were receiving Invalidity Benefit for each year ended April in (a) 1990, (b) 1991, (c) 1992, (d) 1993 and (e) 1993–94 to date.

  121
  The information is not available in the format requested. This is because separate statistics were not kept for Invalidity Benefit (IVB) claimants until May 1991 and a yearly count of recipients is not maintained. I should also explain that, because Agency District boundaries do not correspond with county or borough boundaries, a small part of the Doncaster area falls within that of the Mexborough Benefit Office within the Agency's Rother and Dearne District.
  Statistics covering the small number of Mexborough customers who live in the Doncaster area could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, I have provided details for the area covered by Doncaster District only. The latest available figures show that on the last working day of October 1993, 14,370 people were claiming IVB.
  On the last working day of May 1991, the figure was 12,558 and on the last working days of April 1992 and April 1993, 11,662 and 12,953 respectively.
  The statistics include some customers who have claimed but are not actually receiving IVB. This is because there are circumstances in which although there is underlying entitlement to IVB, because a higher overlapping benefit is in payment, no IVB is actually paid. These figures were obtained from a 100 per cent. clerical count of cases in the District Office.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the increased use of doctors to make assessments for disability living allowance claims.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
  122
  Letter from Michael Bichard to Ms Kate Hoey, dated 3 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 if he will make a statement on the increased use of doctors to make assessments for disability living allowance claims.
  Decisions on Disability Living Allowance continue to be made by independent adjudicating officers. Wherever possible, these are based on information provided by the customer on the claim form and on guidance in the Disability Handbook. In some cases other evidence is needed, perhaps in the form of a medical examination. Of course, a person may ask for a medical examination rather than supplying additional supporting information.
  It is true that the number of medical examinations has increased this year, reaching a peak in August 1993 when 28% of cases were decided following a report by an Examining Medical Practitioner (EMP). This compares with 20% of cases in April 1993. However, numbers are now decreasing again and in October 1993, 25% of cases were referred to an EMP.
  A number of factors have contributed to this increase:
  a large proportion of customers are requesting a visit from an EMP in preference to completing the self-assessment part of the claim form.
  as Adjudication Officers gain in experience they recognise more readily the cases which would be more effectively dealt with by an EMP's visit. For example, because a customer may be understating their needs.
  Self assessment has been widely welcomed. However, we would not want to reduce the element of choice by discouraging anyone from asking for a medical examination if that is what they prefer.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will be placed in the Library.

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