Written Answers of 10 December 1993

EDUCATION

  Parental Choice, Wandsworth
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has to ensure that parents living within the London borough of Wandsworth will continue to have the right to choose the school of their choice for their children to attend; and what discussions he has had with the borough about this matter;

  (2) what discussions he is having with the London Borough of Wandsworth about selective entry schools in the borough; what plans he has to ensure that such schools will still take children of mixed ability; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Under section 8 of the Education Act 1944, local education authorities have a duty to ensure that there are sufficient schools to provide education for all pupils in their area taking account of their age, ability and aptitude. This will continue to be the case under the Education Act 1993 until the sole responsibility for ensuring a sufficiency of schools in the primary or secondary phase, as the case may be, passes to the Funding Agency for Schools under the provisions of section 12 of that Act.

  My right hon. Friend will continue to consider on their merits any proposals by Wandsworth council to implement its policy of diversity and choice in the borough's schools.

  Education Authorities (Capital Assets)
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the value of capital assets held by local education authorities; and which are held for the purposes of individual schools and which are occupied for other purposes.

  Mr. Forth
  The replacement capital value of local education authority school buildings in England is estimated to be £36·8 billion million. This includes the cost of furniture and equipment and building design fees. Additionally the land value of school sites is estimated to be £3·8 billion. Information is not held centrally on the extent to which schools are occupied for other purposes.

  Goods and Services (VAT)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 1 December,Official Report, column 571, if he will list the supply of goods and services incidental to the supply of education by sixth form colleges and further education colleges which are exempt from value added tax.

  Mr. Boswell
  Item 4 of group 6, schedule 6 to the Value Added Tax Act 1983, as amended, specifies that the supply of any goods or services incidental to the provision of any education or training provided by a college in the FEFC 372
  sector is exempt from VAT. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise VAT leaflet 701/30/87, which is available in the Library, gives examples of the type of incidental goods and services covered by this exemption. They include educational materials such as pens, ink and exercise books, most catering supplies and accommodation.

  Primary Schools (Class Sizes)
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the number of primary school children in(a) January 1992 and (b) January 1993, being taught: in classes of more than 30; and what was the percentage change.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  In January 1992 there were 1,075,000 pupils in classes of more than 30 in maintained primary schools in England compared with 1,142,000—provisional—in January 1993, a rise of 6 per cent.

  Nursery Education
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his latest estimate of the proportion of three-year-olds in local authority nursery education classes.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Latest figures show that in England 39 per cent. of children aged three at the beginning of the 1992–93 school year were being taught in maintained—local education authority and grant-maintained—nursery schools and nursery classes in January 1993 when the annual pupil count is conducted.

  Capital Credit Approval
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what amount has been requested by way of capital credit approval for each local education authority in 1994–95.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is in the table. The figures are taken from the capital plans for 1994–95 submitted by each local education authority to the Department.

  LEA

  Total capital bid 1994–95(£000)

  Barking

  5,409

  Barnet

  11,514

  Bexley

  6,881

  Brent

  4,675

  Bromley

  9,937

  Croydon

  7,613

  Ealing

  40,012

  Enfield

  6,656

  Haringey

  15,688

  Harrow

  11,156

  Havering

  8,665

  Hillingdon

  9,349

  Hounslow

  11,959

  Kingston

  1,747

  Merton

  10,050

  Newham

  11,379

  Redbridge

  3,733

  Richmond

  4,490

  Sutton

  5,049

  Waltham

  10,085

  City

  0

  Camden

  1,544

  Westminster

  475

  373

  LEA

  Total capital bid 1994–95(£000)

  Greenwich

  8,101

  Hackney

  8,438

  Hammersmith

  2,775

  Islington

  9,135

  Kensington

  2,919

  Lambeth

  9,703

  Lewisham

  23,049

  Southwark

  6,263

  Wandsworth

  11,856

  Tower Hamlets

  25,560

  Birmingham

  51,514

  Coventry

  4,087

  Dudley

  6,090

  Sandwell

  9,685

  Solihull

  5,325

  Walsall

  6,218

  Wolverhampton

  11,465

  Knowsley

  13,496

  Liverpool

  15,662

  St. Helens

  5,544

  Sefton

  3,445

  Wirral

  6,098

  Bolton

  4,180

  Bury

  3,536

  Manchester

  49,217

  Oldham

  7,815

  Rochdale

  14,464

  Salford

  13,104

  Stockport

  2,115

  Tameside

  11,031

  Trafford

  6,292

  Wigan

  5,055

  Barnsley

  4,198

  Doncaster

  6,178

  Rotherham

  2,792

  Sheffield

  36,617

  Bradford

  37,329

  Calderdale

  5,275

  Kirklees

  9,499

  Leeds

  26,671

  Wakefield

  27,991

  Gateshead

  5,488

  Newcastle

  29,483

  North Tyneside

  11,510

  South Tyneside

  7,000

  Sunderland

  6,373

  Isles of Scilly

  94

  Avon

  12,314

  Bedfordshire

  5,888

  Berkshire

  13,267

  Buckinghamshire

  14,981

  Cambridgeshire

  25,235

  Cheshire

  21,141

  Cleveland

  11,683

  Cornwall

  16,030

  Cumbria

  25,037

  Derybshire

  36,317

  Devon

  25,526

  Dorset

  22,612

  Durham

  53,165

  East Sussex

  38,458

  Essex

  58,195

  Gloucestershire

  32,281

  Hampshire

  50,728

  Hereford and Worcester

  14,432

  Hertfordshire

  9,806

  Humberside

  19,253

  Isle of Wight

  10,369

  374

  LEA

  Total capital bid 1994–95(£000)

  Kent

  40,464

  Lancashire

  40,633

  Leicestershire

  11,838

  Lincoln

  17,278

  Norfolk

  12,791

  North Yorkshire

  17,530

  Northamptonshire

  14,097

  Northumberland

  5,996

  Nottinghamshire

  17,045

  Oxfordshire

  21,641

  Shropshire

  8,448

  Somerset

  10,090

  Staffordshire

  16,119

  Suffolk

  19,715

  Surrey

  25,970

  Warwickshire

  5,384

  West Sussex

  16,087

  Wiltshire

  13,051

  Total

  1,608,696

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further progress has been made in appointing more women as members of public bodies.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Women have been appointed to some 40 per cent. of all new appointments made in the last 12 months. This is a further welcome improvement and demonstrates our continuing efforts to ensure that women can play their proper part in our public life. The percentage of public appointments held by women is now 28 per cent. which is a further increase of 2 per cent. since September 1992 on top of the 3 per cent. increase in the previous year. Full details will be published in due course in the 1993 edition of "Public Bodies".

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many public appointments are currently held by members of the ethnic minorities; and what plans the Government have to increase this number.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Following the introduction last year of ethnic monitoring of public appointees, the statistics collected showed that at 1 September 1992, 2 per cent. of all appointments to public bodies were held by members of the ethnic minorities. The latest figures, full details of which will be published shortly in "Public Bodies", show that this has now increased to 2·3 per cent.

  A few departments have already set their own goals for further increases but it is not practical for all departments to set such a goal. The Government aim progressively to increase the number of public appointments of members of ethnic minorities in order more closely to reflect their contribution to national life. Currently nearly 5 per cent. of the economically active population are members of the ethnic minorities.

TRANSPORT

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the Ministers in his Department who since June 1987 have visited(a) Saudi Arabia, (b) Malaysia, (c) Singapore and (d) South Africa on official business; and which such visits included party political activities in addition to official duties.

  Mr. Norris
  Since the election in April 1992, there has only been one visit by a Department of Transport Minister to the four countries named. This was by me to Singapore in October 1993. No party political activities were included in this visit. Owing to changes of Ministers and personnel, it would incur disproportionate cost to retrieve the information on visits before the last election.

  Drink Driving
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the maximum legal limit on blood alcohol levels for drivers in each EC country.

  Mr. Key
  The information requested, in milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, is as follows:

  milligrammes

  The Netherlands

  50

  Portugal

  50

  Belgium

  80

  Denmark

  80

  France

  80

  Germany

  1280

  Greece

  380

  Italy

  80

  Luxembourg

  80

  Spain

  80

  United Kingdom

  80

  Ireland

  100

  1 Germany has not adopted a common limit after unification.

  2 (0 in the former Democratic Republic).

  3 For the general drink/drive offence but the power exists to charge motorists at 50 mg/ml if an accident has taken place.

  Bicycle Helmets
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to make the wearing of bicycle helmets compulsory.

  Mr. Key
  None. Bicycle helmets have been proven to reduce significantly both the number and the severity of head injuries. We therefore encourage cyclists, particularly children, to wear them.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Welfare Adaptations
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will give the date of receipt of an application for welfare adaptations at 17 O'Reilly park, Killeen, Newry, and the dates when the application was referred to the occupational therapist; when an occupational therapist report was received; when an architect was appointed; and when work is due to be completed;
  376
  (2) if he will give details of the reasons for delays in processing the application for welfare adaptations for 17 O'Reilly park, Killeen, Newry.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I understand from the chief executive that a verbal application was received in early January 1993 and referred to the occupational therapist on 7 January 1993 whose report was received on 29 January 1993.

  A Housing Executive architect was appointed to carry out a feasibility study on 2 February 1993 and this was completed in May 1993. The scheme was passed to a consultant architect in June 1993 for detailed plans to be drawn up. These plans required amendments to incorporate comprehensive improvements to the dwelling which were brought forward to minimise disruption to the tenants.

  The detailed plans were completed on 22 November 1993 and were approved by the Housing Executive on 2 December 1993. The work is due to start in January 1994 and be completed by April 1994. The work should commence within the target timescale recently set by the Executive for carrying out major adaptations which involve an extension to a disabled person's home.

  Daisy Hill Hospital
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which organisations have been consulted over the membership of the proposed Daisy Hill hospital trust; and which organisations have been invited to nominate members to the trust.

  Mr. Ancram
  Apart from the period of public consultation on the application for trust status, my noble colleague, Lord Arran, advises me that he has not consulted on the membership of the Newry and Mourne health and social services trust, of which Daisy Hill hospital is a part.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the role of the lay helper in the creation of the Daisy Hill hospital trust.

  Mr. Ancram
  The position of lay helpers in any trust is formal, voluntary and unpaid. Their role is to assist in drawing up the formal application, giving potential trusts access to the types of skills and experience which non-executive members are expected to bring to the trust board, and to identify potential candidates for appointment as non-executive directors on the board of the trust.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations have taken place with the district councils in the Southern region, with members of the Southern health and social services board, or with hon. Members with constituencies covering parts of the Southern region, regarding the membership of the Daisy Hill hospital trust.

  Mr. Ancram
  None.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what appointments have been made to the board of the shadow Daisy Hill hospital trust.

  Mr. Ancram
  Mr. John McEvoy, former lay helper, has been appointed chairman of the Newry and Mourne health and social services trust for a period of four years from 23
  377
  November 1993. My noble colleague, Lord Arran, hopes to be able shortly to announce the names of the non-executive directors for the new trust.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations he or his colleagues had with the Southern health and social services board regarding the membership of the board of the proposed Daisy Hill hospital trust.

  Mr. Ancram
  None.

  Spina Bifida
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the incidence of spina bifida among newborn infants in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  In 1992 the incidence was 0·78 per 1,000 total registered births.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of spina bifida among newborn babies;

  (2) what information he has concerning the use of vitamin supplementation for women in their main child-bearing years as a means of reducing cases of spina bifida; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  An expert advisory group report on folic acid and the prevention of neural tube defects, published in December 1992, confirmed evidence that women who increase their intake of folic acid when planning a pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of having a baby with neural tube defect such as spina bifida. The report was immediately issued to all doctors, senior nurses, midwives and health visitors with a request that all women planning a pregnancy be advised to increase their consumption of folic acid. Health education material has been revised to incorporate this advice and a new public campaign using leaflets and posters was launched last month.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training, Birmingham
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the training providers providing training for work programmes funded by Birmingham training and enterprise council.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I understand that the hon. Member is to meet the chief executive of the Birmingham training and enterprise council on 13 December. The TEC has agreed to supply him then with the list which he seeks.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he takes to monitor the financial viability of training and enterprise councils; and what contingency plans he has in the event that a training and enterprise council becomes unable to meet its contractual obligations.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Training and enterprise councils are contractually required to provide the Department with regular financial information. This information is carefully 378
  analysed by qualified staff to assess the continuing financial viability of individual TECs. The Department is in a position to make suitable alternative arrangements if a TEC ceased to be financially viable.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people became unemployed in England each month since January 1991; and how many were re-employed within six months.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is only available for people whose claims are processed by computer—99 per cent. of the total. It can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library. Of those becoming claimant unemployed, about two thirds leave within six months. The majority leave to go into employment.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the unemployment figures for the Tooting constituency in each of the last 10 years as of 30 November of each year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is given in the table. The figure for November 1993 will be published on 16 December.

  Claimant unemployment, on the unadjusted basis, for each November in the Tooting constituency

  Year

  Total

  1983

  5,336

  1984

  5,630

  1985

  5,687

  1986

  5,657

  1987

  4,496

  1988

  3,534

  1989

  2,814

  1990

  3,367

  1991

  5,657

  1992

  6,791

  Suspension of Benefit
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria he applies in exercising his discretionary power to suspend benefit under regulation 37 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments Regulations); and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. David Lidington, dated 10 December 1993:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about Regulation 37 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations.
  Under Section 37(1)(c) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations the Secretary of State may direct that payment of benefit due as a result of a decision of a Social Security Appeal Tribunal (SSAT) may be suspended if the adjudication officer considers that a further appeal to a Commissioner may be appropriate.
  The power to suspend benefit is discretionary and is exercised on behalf of the Secretary of State by my officers. If, following a decision of an SSAT, the adjudication officer wishes to appeal to the Commissioner, my local office is requested not to implement the decision pending a further appeal.

  379
  An appeal to a Commissioner can only be made on a point of law. The adjudication officer must therefore consider that the decision of the SSAT is wrong in law before making an application for leave to appeal. The most common errors of law are; the misinterpretation of provisions of the Act or regulations; no facts are found, or no reasons are given for the decision; irrelevant considerations have been taken into account; relevant evidence has been ignored; the explanation of the decision discloses faulty reasoning.
  Although my officers, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, are not bound to comply with the adjudication officer's request to suspend the payment of benefit, my people in my local offices are not specifically trained to interpret Social Security law. They will, therefore, rely on the expertise of the adjudication officer where it is considered that an SSAT may have made an error in law. In practice, this means that benefit is always suspended in these cases unless there are good reasons, specific to the case, for not doing so.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the funding for each training and enterprise council in 1993–94, quantifying how much is to be spent on training for work, youth training, local initiative funds, administration and other projects.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms Short) on 3 December 1993,Official Report, column 821. This lists the funding for each training and enterprise council, including training for work, youth training, local initiative fund, administration—management fee—and other projects.

  Youth Training
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has had regarding the levels of allowance paid to those on youth training schemes; what plans there are to alter the allowance in any way; what prospects there are to increase the allowance or alter the payment structure; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have had a number of representations regarding the levels of the youth training —YT—allowance. There are no plans to increase minimum YT allowances. Minimum YT allowances are set at levels which reflect the fact that trainees are involved in the learning process and I believe current levels are sufficient to meet the normal requirements of trainees living in the parental home.

  Trainees who are employed are paid a wage by their employers. Employers benefit from considerable Government investment in the training of young people and are therefore encouraged to pay trainees more than the specified minimum rates of allowance wherever possible.

PRIME MINISTER

  Council of Europe Delegation
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will announce the composition of the United Kingdom delegation for the 1994 ordinary session of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe.

  The Prime Minister
  The 1994 ordinary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will be opened in Strasbourg on 24 January 1994. The delegation 380
  from the United Kingdom for the session will consist of 19 members of the Conservative party, 15 members of the Labour party and two members from the minority parties.

  The appointments of representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the parties concerned, in accordance with the resolution of this House on 22 May 1992 at column 682 and of the House of Lords on 18 June 1992 at columns 290-92.

  The same delegation will be representing the United Kingdom Parliament at the Assembly of the Western European Union, which next meets in Paris in June 1994.

  Representatives from the Government benches will be:

  My noble Friend, the Lord Finsberg—who will continue to act as leader of both delegations.

  My hon. Friends the Members for:

  Warwick and Leamington (Sir D. Smith)

  Calder Valley (Sir D. Thompson)

  Poole (Mr. J. Ward)

  Ashford (Sir K. Speed)

  Medway (Dame P. Fenner)

  Lewis (Mr. Rathbone)

  Bournemouth, East (Mr. D. Atkinson)

  Ravensbourne (Sir J. Hunt)

  Lord Newell

  Representatives from the Labour party will be:

  The hon. Members for:

  Wentworth (Mr. Hardy)

  Tooting (Mr. Cox)

  Wansbeck (Mr. Thompson)

  Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks)

  Don Valley (Mr. Redmond)

  Manchester, Central (Mr. Litherland)

  Lord Kirkhill

  The representative from the minority parties will be:

  The hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (Sir R. Johnston).

  The following substitutes have been appointed to act as necessary on behalf of the delegates.

  From the Government Benches:

  The hon. Members for:

  Reading, West (Sir T. Durant)

  Norfolk, North (Sir R. Howell)

  Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden)

  Wellingborough (Mr. Fry)

  Hayes and Harlington (Mr. Dicks)

  Bridlington (Mr. Townend)

  Newark (Mr. Alexander)

  Baroness Hooper

  Earl of Dundee

  From the Labour party:

  The hon. Members for:

  Pollok (Mr. Dunnachie)

  Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman)

  Newport, East (Mr. Hughes)

  Easington (Mr. Cummings)

  Leigh (Mr. Cunliffe)

  Leicester, South (Mr. Marshall)

  Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Davis)

  Baroness Lockwood

  From the minority parties:

  The Lord Mackie of Benshie

ENVIRONMENT

  Programme Expenditure
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a table showing for each standard region, with Greater London shown as a separate region, the total expenditure in 1992–93, and the budgeted expenditure in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96, in respect of(a) estates action, (b) housing action trusts, (c) city

  381
  challenge/urban programme, (d) urban regeneration agency/city grant/derelict land grant, (e) urban development corporations, (f) inner-city task forces and (g) city action teams.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 30 November 1993]: The total public expenditure under these programmes for

  Total public expenditure for 1992–93 and Provision for 1993–94

  Estate Action

  Housing Action Trusts

  City Challenge2 Urban Programme

  Region

  1992–93 outturn

  1993–94 forecast

  1992–93 outturn

  1993–94 forecast

  1992–93 outturn3

  1993–94 forecast

  North West

  59·4

  60·6

  —

  —

  49·9

  57·3

  Northern

  24·8

  28·6

  —

  —

  55·0

  54·2

  Eastern

  5·1

  5·9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South East

  2·1

  4·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South West

  11·6

  12·3

  —

  —

  2·0

  2·0

  London

  93·1

  89·8

  11·8

  —

  60·7

  85·6

  East Midlands

  26·6

  27·4

  —

  —

  16·5

  30·0

  Merseyside

  37·8

  39·2

  0·2

  —

  39·7

  43·1

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  42·8

  41·3

  14·6

  —

  39·7

  48·5

  West Midlands

  44·7

  46·3

  —

  —

  50·1

  57·3

  TOTAL

  348·0

  356·0

  26·6

  78·01

  313·6

  378·0

  1 1993–94 provision for distribution amongst Liverpool, Hull, Waltham Forest, Birmingham and Tower Hamlets HATs.

  2 Includes Housing Corporations support towards City Challenge expenditure.

  3 City Challenge expenditure provisional. Final figures will not be available until after receipt of authorities' 1992–93 final audited claims.

  Total public expenditure for 1992–93 and provision for 1993–94

  DLG; and City Grant to 10 November 1993

  Urban Development3Corporations

  Task Forces

  Region

  1992–93 outturn

  1993–941forecast

  1992–93 outturn

  1993–94 forecast

  1992–93 outturn

  1993–94 forecast

  North West

  35·7

  27·8

  80·8

  58·6

  2·5

  1·1

  Northern

  13·0

  16·5

  84·3

  75·5

  2·0

  1·8

  Eastern

  0·2

  1·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South East

  0·6

  1·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South West

  4·1

  4·3

  22·9

  16·3

  1·0

  0·7

  London

  4·0

  3·9

  4240·9

  4132·4

  6·7

  5·0

  East Midlands

  15·9

  15·1

  —

  —

  2·9

  2·2

  Merseyside

  16·9

  13·4

  —

  —

  2·5

  2·1

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  36·5

  28·9

  21·8

  16·0

  3·6

  2·3

  West Midlands

  32·5

  27·4

  65·1

  60·7

  3·1

  2·6

  Total

  159·4

  2139·4

  515·8

  339·5

  24·3

  17·8

  1 Excludes English Estates; resources include DLG receipts.

  2 City Grant regional breakdown to 10 November only. Total 1993–94 provision for DLG (including receipts)/City Grant/English Partnerships (excluding English Estates) is £172 million.

  3 Excludes receipts from own activities and from the ERDF.

  4 Includes provision for Docklands Light Railway.

  Total public expenditure for 1992–93 and provision for 1993–94

  City action teams

  Region

  1992–93 outturn

  1993–94 forecast

  North West

  0·5

  —

  Northern

  1·1

  —

  Eastern

  —

  —

  South East

  —

  —

  South West

  —

  —

  London

  0·9

  —

  East Midlands

  0·5

  —

  Merseyside

  0·6

  —

  York/Humberside

  0·5

  —

  West Midlands

  0·5

  —

  Total

  4·6

  11·2

  1 Breakdown of 1993–94 provision not yet available

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  1992–93 and the forecast for 1993–94 are shown, by region, in the following tables. For 1994–95 onwards, these programmes will transfer to the single regeneration budget, which will be administered by the integrated regional offices. A regional breakdown for 1994–95 and 1995–96 is not currently available.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total amount spent by his Department under the derelict land grant in 1992–93 in(a) the Northern region and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole;

  (2) what was the total amount spent by his Department under the city challenge scheme in 1992–93 in (a) the Northern region and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole;

  (3) what was the total budget allocated by his Department to the Urban Regeneration Agency in 1992–93 for expenditure in (a) the Northern region and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole;

  (4) what was the total amount spent by his Department under the city grant scheme in 1992–93 in (a) the Northern region and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole;

  (5) what was the total amount spent by his Department under the inner city task forces scheme in 1992–93 in (a) the Northern region and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole;
  383
  (6) what was the total budget in 1992–93 allocated by his Department to the city action teams in (a) Tyne and Wear and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) today. This contained programme information for each region in England. City challenge expenditure in England as a whole was £82·1 million in 1992–93 and in the northern region £14·99 million. Tyne and Wear city action team spent £494,000 in 1992–93 and Cleveland city action team spent £645,000.

  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland are responsible for programmes operating in other parts of the United Kingdom.

  Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

  £ millions

  Estate action

  Urban programme

  City Challenge

  Derelict land grant2

  Urban Development Corporations3

  Inner city task forces3

  1979–80

  —

  —

  —

  0·145

  —

  —

  1980–81

  —

  —

  —

  0·013

  —

  —

  1981–82

  —

  —

  —

  0·141

  —

  —

  1982–83

  —

  —

  —

  0·102

  —

  —

  1983–84

  —

  —

  —

  0·048

  —

  —

  1984–85

  —

  —

  —

  0·013

  —

  —

  1985–86

  —

  —

  —

  0·133

  —

  —

  1986–87

  —

  —

  —

  0·102

  —

  —

  1987–88

  —

  1·790

  —

  0·561

  —

  4—

  1988–89

  —

  1·913

  —

  0·237

  —

  4—

  1989–90

  —

  2·323

  —

  0·501

  —

  1·619

  1990–91

  —

  2·000

  —

  1·372

  —

  1·192

  1991–92

  2·160

  2·334

  —

  0·702

  —

  0·189

  1992–93

  2·920

  2·210

  1—

  1·829

  —

  —

  1993–94

  1·867

  1·288

  1—

  1·671

  —

  —

  1 Dearne Valley Partnership: Expenditure shared between Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham Metropolitan Councils.

  2 Local authority derelict land grant only.

  3 Not paid direct to local authorities.

  4 Figures for these years not readily available.

  Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  £ millions

  Estate action

  Urban programme

  City Challenge1

  Derelict land grant2

  Urban Development Corporations3

  Inner city task forces3

  1979–80

  —

  —

  —

  0·017

  —

  —

  1980–81

  —

  —

  —

  0·022

  —

  —

  1981–82

  —

  —

  —

  0·052

  —

  —

  1982–83

  —

  —

  —

  0·141

  —

  —

  1983–84

  —

  —

  —

  0·194

  —

  —

  1984–85

  —

  —

  —

  0·176

  —

  —

  1985–86

  —

  —

  —

  0·119

  —

  —

  1986–87

  —

  —

  —

  0·333

  —

  —

  1987–88

  0·019

  1·370

  —

  0·525

  —

  —

  1988–89

  1·662

  1·420

  —

  0·484

  —

  —

  1989–90

  3·849

  2·101

  —

  2·087

  —

  —

  1990–91

  1·752

  1·859

  —

  1·685

  —

  —

  1991–92

  2·479

  2·143

  —

  0·878

  —

  —

  1992–93

  4·230

  2·164

  7·500

  1·546

  —

  —

  1993–94

  4·599

  1·342

  15·000

  1·221

  —

  —

  1 Includes £7·5 million a year from 1992–93 for Deame Valley Partnership: expenditure shared between Barnsley Doncaster and Rotherham Metropolitan Councils.

  2 Local Authority DLG only.

  3 Not paid direct to local authorities.

  384
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the public expenditure provision for each of the four metropolitan borough councils in South Yorkshire for(a) estate action, (b) urban programme, (c) city challenge, (d) direct land grant, (e) city action teams, (f) the development corporation, (g) inner city task forces and (h) housing action trusts for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Baldry
  The total amount of public expenditure under these programmes in these local authority areas is set out below. None of these areas receives specific city action team or housing action trust funding.
  385

  Rotherham metropolitan borough council

  £million

  Estate action

  Urban programme

  City challenge

  Derelict land grant2

  Urban development corporation3

  Inner city task forces3

  1979–80

  —

  —

  —

  0·372

  —

  —

  1980–81

  —

  —

  —

  0·549

  —

  —

  1981–82

  —

  —

  —

  0·050

  —

  —

  1982–83

  —

  —

  —

  0·067

  —

  —

  1983–84

  —

  —

  —

  0·069

  —

  —

  1984–85

  —

  —

  —

  0·027

  —

  —

  1985–86

  —

  —

  —

  0·059

  —

  —

  1986–87

  —

  —

  —

  0·252

  —

  —

  1987–88

  0·252

  1·840

  —

  0·493

  —

  —

  1988–89

  0§280

  1·768

  —

  1·747

  —

  —

  1989–90

  0·436

  2·177

  —

  2·638

  —

  —

  1990–91

  0·005

  2·000

  —

  3·876

  —

  —

  1991–92

  0·309

  2·208

  —

  4·586

  —

  —

  1992–93

  0·682

  2·224

  —

  10·486

  —

  —

  1993–94

  —

  1·487

  1—

  5·913

  —

  —

  1 Dearne Valley Partnership: expenditure shared between Bamsley, Doncaster and Rotherham Metropolitan Councils.

  2 Local Authority DLG only.

  3 Not paid direct to local authorities.

  Sheffield City Council

  £ millions

  Estate action

  Urban programme

  City challenge

  Derelict land grant1

  Urban development corporations2

  Inner city task forces3

  1979–80

  —

  2·650

  —

  0·031

  —

  —

  1980–81

  —

  3·440

  —

  0·031

  —

  —

  1981–82

  —

  3·490

  —

  0·022

  —

  —

  1982–83

  —

  4·860

  —

  0·010

  —

  —

  1983–84

  —

  4·500

  —

  0·010

  —

  —

  1984–85

  —

  4·200

  ·

  0·071

  —

  —

  1985–86

  —

  4·510

  —

  0·592

  —

  —

  1986–87

  0·277

  5·460

  —

  0·091

  —

  —

  1987–88

  1·786

  5·630

  —

  0·514

  —

  —

  1988–89

  7·262

  5·519

  —

  1·078

  7·900

  —

  1989–90

  8·296

  5·739

  —

  0·053

  9·500

  —

  1990–91

  7·880

  6·614

  —

  0·134

  19·000

  —

  1991–92

  7·255

  10·907

  —

  0·636

  13·300

  —

  1992–93

  6·968

  5·566

  —

  0·265

  13·200

  —

  1993–94

  6·180

  3·940

  —

  1·060

  12·000

  —

  1 Local authority DLG only.

  2 Not paid direct to local authorities.

  Docklands Light Railway
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish the latest estimate available to his Department of the number of passengers expected to use the Cutty Sark station on the Docklands light railway extension;

  (2) if he will itemise and cost each of the savings made to reduce the cost of the Jubilee line extension to Greenwich and Lewisham.

  Mr. Baldry
  The London Docklands development corporation, the owners of the railway, have made projections of potential passenger traffic at stations along the new extension. Annual projected passenger movements for a station at Cutty Sark rise from 1·4 million when it opens in 1997–98 to 2·5 million in 2001. Forecasts indicate that if Cutty Sark were not to be provided, the majority of potential passengers would use the new Docklands light railway station at Greenwich instead. The Government 386
  have asked the London Docklands development corporation and the Docklands light railway to consult local interests on the deletion of these stations before a final decision is made.

  Provision of a new station at Cutty Sark would cost an estimated £13 million; at Island Gardens an estimated £4 million. The original estimate of costs also included £10 million for initial rolling stock which are now to be provided by Docklands light railway as operators of the extension. Other potential cost reductions may result from a fall in the land acquisition costs and from minor changes in the project's specifications.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria of viability he has applied to the future of the Island Gardens and Cutty Sark stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department, together with the owners of the railway, the London Docklands development corporation, and Docklands Light Railway Limited itself, has made an assessment of the financial viability of the extension to Lewisham in the light of independent merchant banking advice. The conclusion was that the
  387
  forecast incremental revenue from passengers on the extension could not finance the full project as previously costed—at £140 million. A review of the capital and operating costs of the project has indicated provisionally that the new stations proposed for Island Gardens and Cutty Sark will need to be deleted in order to make the project as a whole viable. These stations would be situated underground at each end of the new tunnel taking the railway under the Thames and would involve much higher costs of construction and operation than the ground level stations along the line. The forecast revenue from both stations would cover only the estimated running costs of those stations and would not be sufficient to contribute towards the capital costs of their construction.

  The Government have asked the London Docklands development corporation and Docklands Light Railway Limited to consult local interests including businesses before a final decision is made on whether to delete the stations.

  The Government have consistently supported this project on the condition that no Government grant or subsidy will be made available. That remains the position. Nevertheless, approval has been given for the project to proceed as a joint venture between the private and public sectors, with capital contributions being made by Lewisham council, South Thames training and enterprise council and Deptford city challenge.

  Integrated Sub-Office (Plymouth)
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will establish an integrated departmental sub-office in Plymouth to serve Devon and Cornwall as part of his programme of integrated regional offices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  We will consider how best the new office in the south west can deliver its services across the whole region in consultation with the senior regional director following his or her appointment.

  Environmental Protection Act 1990
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses were received to the consultation paper of March proposing amendments to the scope of part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and when he proposes to consult on draft amending regulations.

  Mr. Yeo
  Two hundred and fifty responses were received to the consultation paper. These have now been considered and I am most grateful to those who sent in their views.

  I have today issued a second consultation paper which contains a statistical summary of these responses and invites comments on draft regulations to amend the prescribed processes and substances regulations.

  I am pleased to say that a substantial proportion of the amendments should have the effect of lightening the burden on business. The regulations will continue to ensure that processes with the greatest pollution potential still come under the stringent controls introduced by part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. But we have identified cases where businesses had to meet more onerous requirements than were necessary, and opportunities for cutting red tape, for example by reducing the number of authorisations needed by certain processes.
  388
  A copy of the consultation paper has been placed in the Library of both Houses.

WALES

  Badgers
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many badgers were shot or gassed in each county in each of the last three years; and how many of these were subsequently shown to have tuberculosis.

  Mr. Redwood
  The number of badgers killed, following trapping during state veterinary service badger removal operations, in Wales since 1 January 1991 is as follows:

  Year

  Number of badgers killed

  Number positive

  1991

  22

  0

  1992

  —

  —

  11993

  10

  0

  1 Up to 6 December 1993.

  The figures relate to the county of Dyfed. No badgers have been killed by the state veterinary service in any other county in Wales in the last three years. The legal gassing of badgers ceased on 26 June 1982.

  Departmental Accounts
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State For Wales if he will make a statement on the discrepancies of his departmental approporiation accounts 1992–93, Paper 11-xi, identified by the Comptroller and Auditor General in his report of 2 December.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Comptroller and Auditor General—C and AG—reported and qualified his audit opinion on three of the Welsh Office's 1992–93 appropriation accounts within class XVI. On vote 4, he found that"erroneous payments to Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) continue to exist at significant levels following the transfer of responsibility from the Department of Employment"

  on 1 April 1992; an understatement, as a result mainly of the incorrect assessment of benefit entitlements, of certain payments made through the Employment Service Agency—ESA. He notes in paragraphs 16-18 and 26-27 the efforts which my Department, TECs and the ESA have devoted to putting these matters right. I recently met the chairmen of all the TECs in Wales, to stress my determination that fully effective systems should be maintained. They agree with me.

  On vote 5, the C and AG reported on the progress made in auditing the outstanding claims, brought to Parliament's attention when he qualified his opinion on the 1991–92 accounts, for payments made to highway authorities over the period from 1974 to 1990, and on clearance of claims relating to 1990–91. He has confirmed that the systems now in place have allowed the Welsh Office to record satisfactorily advances made since April 1990. Local authorities too should ensure they accurately record these sums and their use.

  On vote 11, an error in the method of calculating sums due to authorities in respect of community charge grant let to four overpayments in March 1993; the sums were all recovered by 30 September.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if it is necessary for appointment to a non-departmental public body in Wales that a candidate has been included in the register held by the Welsh Office for public appointments.

  Mr. Redwood
  No, although many names are drawn from the departmental register. Candidates for public appointments may also be nominated by organisations, Members of Parliament and the Cabinet Office public appointments unit. All candidates are considered on their merits irrespective of the source of nomination.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has reached a decision on the level of resources to be devoted to regional selective assistance, the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales in 1994–95.

  Mr. Redwood
  A demand for regional aid, from both Welsh companies and inward investors is still high and I am increasing the money available for regional selective assistance to £67 million to meet that demand.

  Grant in aid for the Welsh Development Agency will be increased by almost £10 million, a rise of nearly 16 per cent. The board believes overall expenditure of £167 million can be achieved for 1994–95, given its ability to sell assets. This will enable the agency to build on its success in attracting inward investment to Wales and to continue its support for our indigenous businesses.

  The budget of the Development Board for Rural Wales will also increase, to almost £17 million, bringing its expected overall expenditure in 1994–95 to over £27 million. This increase will enable the board to continue its business park developments at Penrhyndeudraeth and Cardigan, to develop its programmes for the western areas which suffer most from rural decline, and to continue to support the Wales tourist board's Tourism 2000 strategy.

HEALTH

  Brighton Health Care NHS Trust
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds are provided currently by the Brighton health care NHS trust; how many were proposed in the original redevelopment plan; and how many are proposed under the latest, revised plans drawn up by the trust.

  Dr. Mawinney
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. John Spiers, chairman of Brighton health care national health service trust for details.

  1 October 1989

  1 October 1990

  1 October 1991

  1 October 1992

  1 October 1993

  Numbers of GPs

  25,608

  25,622

  25,686

  25,968

  26,116

  Mersey Regional Health Authority
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many personnel are currently employed in administration and how many are employed in clinical services in Mersey regional health authority; and how many have been so employed for each of the last 10 years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is shown in the table.

  Administrators and Clinical Staff in Mersey Regional Health Authority 1982–92 (whole-time equivalent)

  Administrative and Clerical

  Direct Care1

  Medical and Dental

  1982

  5,350

  25,870

  2,050

  1983

  5,320

  25,780

  2,120

  1984

  5,450

  25,530

  2,120

  1985

  5,260

  25,970

  2,180

  1986

  5,280

  26,160

  2,170

  1987

  5,400

  26,000

  2,150

  1988

  5,560

  26,180

  2,170

  1989

  5,790

  26,180

  2,240

  1990

  5,810

  25,390

  2,350

  1991

  6,160

  24,510

  2,450

  1992

  6,240

  23,940

  2,530

  Notes

  1. Figures relate to national health service staff employed within Mersey region.

  2.1 Direct Care care includes nursing and midwifery, professions allied to medicine, professional and technical and scientific and professional. Figures since 1989 are affected by the regrading of some senior nurses to senior manager posts. Since 1990 figures have been affected by the exclusion of Project 2000 nurses.

  3. Figures exclude agency nursing staff and locum medical and dental staff.

  GP Fund-holders
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the population of Berkshire is registered at(a) fund-holding and (b) non-fund-holding general practices.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally. Regional health authorities are responsible for managing the general practitioner fund-holding scheme in their areas. Nationally 25 per cent. of the population is covered by GP fund-holders. In Oxford region this is 33 per cent.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of general practitioners, and the total number of secretaries, administrators, receptionists, and practice managers in general practice in each of the last five years.

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

  The date relate to England:
  391

  Staff type

  1 October 1989

  1 October 1990

  1 October 1991

  1 October 1992

  1 April 1993

  Management and administration

  n/a

  4,595

  5,679

  6,147

  6,147

  Secretary/clerical

  4,043

  30,576

  10,495

  11,166

  11,109

  Receptionist

  22,535

  —

  20,824

  21,331

  20,862

  1. The data relate to whole time equivalent staff in England.

  2. No data for management and administrative staff are available for 1989; the figure for 1990 relates only to practice managers.

  3. The figure for the secretary/clerical category for 1989 relates only to clerical staff; secretaries are included with receptionists. The 1990 figure for secretary/clerical category includes receptionists.

  4. The number of GPs in England has risen steadily since 1979 and now currently stands at an all-time high. The increase in administration staff employed by GPs enables them to delegate much of the day to day business of running a practice. This in turn provides the opportunity for GPs to devote more time to the delivery of clinical care to their patients. While the number of administration staff has increased it should be noted that the number of practice nurses has risen from 888 to 9,120 whole time equivalents an increase of over 900 per cent. between 1 October 1989 and 1 April 1993.

  NHS Users
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population using the national health service are(a) female and (b) members of an ethnic minority.

  Mr. Sackville
  Of all in-patient episodes recorded in England for 1989–90, the latest year for which information is available, 57·6 per cent. of cases were recorded as female. Of episodes with a diagnostic code other than complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, 52·1 per cent. of cases were recorded.

  Information is not collected centrally on patients' ethnic group, although we are currently consulting on the principle of doing so in respect of in-patients.

  Diseases
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of(a) dysentery, (b) typhoid, (c) paratyphoid, (d) malaria, (e) TB and (f) jaundice were reported for England and Wales in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  Notifications of selected infectious diseases reported in England and Wales 1988–92

  Disease

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Dysentery

  3,692

  3,278

  2,756

  9,935

  16,960

  Typhoid

  174

  164

  178

  182

  201

  Paratyphoid

  180

  88

  93

  99

  81

  Malaria

  1,271

  1,478

  1,493

  1,553

  1,189

  Tuberculosis

  5,164

  5,432

  5,204

  5,436

  5,799

  Viral hepatitis1

  5,063

  7,071

  9,005

  8,860

  8,993

  1 Infective jaundice was redesignated viral hepatitis on 1 October 1988.

  The rise in notifications of viral hepatitis seen between 1988 and 1990 was due to increased notifications of hepatitis A infection. This rise was consistent with the regular peaks in incidence of hepatitis A seen every seven to nine years.

  The rise in notification of dysentery in 1992 was seen in all major conurbations other than London. Trends in dysentery also exhibit a periodicity, with peaks every seven to eight years, although the peak in 1992 was higher than other peaks in the previous two decades.

  NHS Expenditure
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how she plans to spend the extra money for the NHS announced in the Budget; and what percentage of it will be spent on administration.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, announced allocations to regional health authorities for 1994–95 on 7 December at columns 198-200. Revenue allocations will rise by an average of 1·3 per cent. above inflation. In addition, health authorities have been given a 2·25 per cent. efficiency target, to ensure existing resources are used to improve patient services. Health authorities and trusts should reduce their administrative costs as far as they can, consistent with sound management of the £22 billion spent on the hospital and community health services. My right hon. Friend recently announced our proposals for streamlining the management structure of the national health service. This will result in further substantial savings in administrative costs so we can maximise the proportion of NHS expenditure devoted to direct patient care.

  It is for individual health authorities to determine their own purchasing priorities within the framework of the NHS Management Executive's planning and priorities guidance for 1994–95, EL(93)54 published in June, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Junior Doctors
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the figures from the returns for September showing how many junior doctors are contracted for an average of more than 83 hours per week, nationally and by region.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The number of junior doctors and dentists in England contracted for more than a maximum average of 83 hours a week, at 30 September, is as follows:

  Region

  Number

  Northern

  0

  Yorkshire

  5

  Trent

  0

  East Anglian

  4

  North West Thames

  1

  North East Thames

  32

  South East Thames

  5

  South West Thames

  2

  Wessex

  0

  Oxford

  0

  South Western

  0

  West Midlands

  42

  Mersey

  0

  393

  Region

  Number

  North Western

  0

  ENGLAND

  91

  Regional task forces are monitoring these remaining posts closely to ensure that they are eliminated as quickly as possible.

  Leukaemia
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to ensure that the national health service has adequate specialist beds for the treatment of leukaemia.

  Mr. Sackville
  We are not aware of any evidence to suggest that the clinical facilities currently available for the specialist treatment of patients with leukaemia are in any way inadequate.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many chairmen of health authorities in England received emoluments exceeding £500 per attendance in the last 12 months;

  (2) how many non-executive directors of health authorities in England received emoluments which exceeded £500 per attendance in the last 12 months.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Chairmen and non-executive members of health authorities receive an annual remuneration and are not paid on the basis of attendance.

  The amount of emoluments paid to individual chairmen and non-executive members of health authorities is not available centrally.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers(a) a district health authority/and (b) a family health services authority have to withold from publication any report on an agenda item to be considered in public session.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  District health authorities and family health services authorities are public bodies to which the provisions of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 apply. Unless a resolution has been passed by the board to exclude the public on grounds of confidentiality, the public would be entitled to attend meetings and to obtain relevant papers.

  NHS Management Executive
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to instruct the NHS Management Executive regional offices to hold meetings in public after the abolition of regional health authorities.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have no such plans. The abolition of regional health authorities is subject to the passage through Parliament of the proposed Bill.

  Printing Costs
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost to the NHS of printing and publishing, by each regional health authority, documents for the information of the public.
  394
  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to contact the chief executives of the regional health authorities for details.

  Spina Bifida
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the rate of spina bifida among newborn babies.

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1992, the rate per 10,000 total births—live and still—was 1·2 for spina bifida in England and Wales.

  NHS Patients (Repatriation)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been flown back from abroad in each year since 1990; and what was the cost to the NHS.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Neither United Kingdom nor European Community legislation contains any power allowing national health service funds to be used to defray repatriation costs incurred outside the United Kingdom by United Kingdom residents. There is no central record of numbers privately repatriated by air.

  Young People (Supervision)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the average monthly cost of keeping a young person in secure accommodation in the last year for which figures are available;

  (2) what was the average monthly cost of supervision under the Children and Young Persons Acts for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Random Breath Testing
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which EC countries have a policy of random breath testing by the police.

  Mr. Key
  I have been asked to reply.

  Police powers vary from country to country and information about precise breath testing procedures in each EC country is not available.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Government Car Service
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual cost to the Department of the car service for Ministers in 1990–91; and how many vehicles were involved.

  Sir John Cope
  Information relating to expenditure by the Treasury for the use of Government car service cars by Ministers in 1990–91 is not now readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The figure for 1991–92 was £260,355. Five cars were allocated to Treasury Ministers on long-term hire.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what are the most recent estimates of the number of people who are(a) under state retirement age

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  and (b) over state retirement age, and receiving a pension from a recognised scheme, giving in each case the number who are (i) non-taxpayers, (ii) basic rate taxpayers and (iii) higher rate taxpayers, in the United Kingdom;

  (2) what are the most recent estimates of the number of people who are (a) under state retirement age and (b) over state retirement age, and receiving (i) an occupational pension and (ii) a personal pension, giving in each case the number who are (1) non-taxpayers, (2) basic rate taxpayers and (3) higher rate taxpayers in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The latest estimates of the number of people in receipt of an occupational pension in 1993–94 are in the table. Information is not available on the number of people receiving personal pensions.

  Number in receipt of an occupational pension (thousands)

  Aged under 65

  Aged 65 or over

  Lower rate taxpayers

  400

  1,000

  Basic rate taxpayers

  900

  1,100

  Higher rate taxpayers

  70

  80

  Taxation
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average individual cumulative gain(a) in cash prices and (b) in 1993–94 prices to those earning (i) £5,000, (ii) £10,000, (ii) £15,000, (iv) £20,000, (v) £25,000, (vi) £30,000, (vii) £40,000, (viii) £50,000, (ix) £60,000 and (x) £100,000, as a result of each change in (1) income tax and (2) income tax and national insurrance, since 1979.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Latest estimates of the reduction in liability resulting from changes in national insurance and income tax rates, allowances and thresholds are in the table. The 1978–79 income tax regime has been indexed to 1993–94 levels by reference to the statutory formula and allowing for independent taxation.

  Comparison between 1993–94 and 1978–79 indexed regimes

  Average reduction (£) in:

  Range of individuals income in 1993–94(£)

  Income tax

  Income tax and national insurance contributions

  Under 5,000

  140

  170

  5,000 - 10,000

  380

  360

  10,000 - 15,000

  740

  630

  15,000 - 20,000

  1,080

  820

  20,000 - 25,000

  1,460

  960

  25,000 - 30,000

  1,860

  1,290

  30,000 - 40,000

  2,240

  1,670

  40,000 - 50,000

  3,380

  2,810

  50,000 - 60,000

  5,760

  5,210

  60,000 - 70,000

  8,700

  8,100

  70,000 - 80,000

  13,000

  12,400

  Over 80,000

  47,700

  47,200

  Average

  1,200

  1,010

  I regret that a reliable analysis incomes over £100,000 is not available.

  For the purposes of the calculations, of 1978–79 has been applied directly to the income base of
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  1993–94. In practice retention of the 1978–79 regime, indexed as appropriate, for the intervening years would have led to changes in the income base.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the reduction in income tax in 1993–94 compared with the 1978–79 indexed regime, broken down into the top 1 per cent., 5 per cent., 10 per cent. and bottom 50 per cent. of taxpayers, showing the total reduction and the average gain.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Latest estimates on the annual reduction in income tax liability for 1993–94 compared with the 1978–79 indexed regime are given in the table. The 1978–79 regime has been indexed by reference to the statutory formula and allowing for independent taxation. For the purpose of these calculations the indexed regime of 1978–79 is applied directly to the later income base of 1993–94. In practice, retention of the regime, indexed as appropriate, for the intervening years would have led to changes in the income base.

  Quantile group of taxpayers under the 1978–79 indexed regime

  Nos. of tax-payers

  Reduction in tax

  Average gain

  (Per cent)

  (Thousands)

  (£ million)

  (£)

  Top 1

  300

  9,600

  35,800

  Top 5

  1,300

  13,400

  10,000

  Top 10

  2,700

  16,000

  6,000

  Bottom 50

  13,300

  4,500

  340

  All taxpayers

  26,700

  31,800

  1,200

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the regional distribution of(a) the personal tax burden and (b) the overall tax burden.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table shows the amount of income tax payable by region for 1991–92, the latest year for which regional information is available. Regional information for taxes overall is not available.

  Region

  Amount of income tax liability of residents (£ million)

  North

  2,710

  Youkshire and Humberside

  4,840

  East Midlands

  6,360

  West Midland

  4,300

  East Anglia

  5,210

  South East

  28,800

  South West

  5,270

  Wales

  2,500

  Scotland

  5,170

  Northern Ireland

  1,050

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people and what percentage of all taxpayers in(a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland paid the top rate of income tax in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table provides estimates of the number of taxpayers in the United Kingdom liable to income tax at a higher rate—that is any rate above the basic rate. Prior to the introduction of independent taxation in 1990–91, married couples are counted as one unit. It is not possible for the Northern Ireland component to be reliably
  397
  distinguished for each of these years separately. However, for the years pre-independent taxation, 1980–81 to 1989–90, the number of higher rate taxpayers in Northern Ireland averaged about 20,000, about 4 per cent. of all taxpayers in Northern Ireland. It is estimated that there were 22,000 higher rate taxpaying individuals in Northern Ireland in 1991–92, which is around 4¼ per cent. of all taxpaying individuals in the province.

  Taxpayers liable at higher rate, 1978–79 to 1993–941

  Thousands

  As percentage of all taxpayers

  1978–79

  763

  3·6

  1979–80

  674

  3·1

  1980–81

  796

  3·8

  1981–82

  1,090

  5·2

  1982–83

  983

  4·7

  1983–84

  860

  4·2

  1984–85

  930

  4·6

  1985–86

  950

  4·7

  1986–87

  1,120

  5·5

  1987–88

  1,190

  5·7

  1988–89

  1,350

  6·4

  1989–90

  1,500

  7·0

  1990–91

  1,700

  6·5

  1991–92

  1,620

  6·2

  21992–93

  1,800

  7·1

  21993–94

  1,900

  7·5

  1 Single people and married couples for years up to and including 1989–90, individuals from 1990–91.

  2 Provisional estimates projected from the 1991–92 Survey of Personal Incomes.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each region of the United Kingdom(a) the number of higher rate taxpayers, (b) the number of basic rate taxpayers and (c) the number that pay no national insurance or income tax.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information shown in the table is the latest available on a regional basis and is for 1991–92.

  Thousands

  Region

  Taxpayers liable at higher rate

  Taxpayers liable only at basic rate

  Non-taxpayers aged over 16

  North

  50

  1,220

  1,190

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  93

  2,050

  1,810

  North West

  122

  2,620

  2,290

  East Midlands

  83

  1,760

  1,360

  West Midlands

  95

  2,160

  1,900

  East Anglia

  53

  975

  640

  South East

  832

  7,780

  5,480

  South West

  114

  2,160

  1,530

  Wales

  36

  1,210

  1,050

  Scotland

  108

  2,220

  1,760

  Northern Ireland

  22

  490

  670

  VAT
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much value added tax was paid per annum by a family consisting of a married man on half of average male earnings, his wife and two children in 1978–79; and what is the most recent estimate;

  (2) what estimate he has as to the average VAT paid per annum by a family consisting of a married man on (a) half
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  of, (b) three quarters of, (c) twice and (d) three times average male earnings, his wife and two children in 1978–79; and what is the most recent estimate.

  Sir John Cope
  Estimates of VAT payments outside the range of three quarters to one-and-a-half times average earnings are not available. It is estimated that a married couple with two children on three quarters average earnings will pay approximately £700 a year in VAT in 1993–94 and £1,700 a year in VAT in 1993–94 at one-and-a-half times average earnings. Figures for VAT payments by such a family in earlier years, including 1978–79 have been deposited in the Library. Estimates of VAT payments are subject to wide margins of error.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the changes to the VAT system in each year since 1978–79, including both changes in the rate of VAT and changes in classification of goods and services.

  Sir John Cope
  On 18 June 1979 the standard rate of VAT of 8 per cent. and the higher rate of 12½per cent. were unified at 15 per cent., which was raised to 17½ per cent. from 1 April 1991. A comprehensive list of all changes in the VAT system going back to 1978–79 could be made only at disproportionate cost, but the main changes to the VAT liability of goods and services have been the extension of the standard rate to:

  —hot take away food from 1 May 1984;

  —building alterations from 1 June 1984;

  —the publication of advertisements in newspapers etc., from 1 May 1985;

  —the construction and sale of new non-residential buildings from 1 April 1989; and

  —fuel and power supplied to business, and to water and sewerage supplied to manufacturing industry, from I July 1990.

  Landlords were given the option to tax non-residential rents and sales of used buildings from 1 August 1989. Supplies of stockbroking services, which were previously standard rated, were made exempt from 1 January 1990.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his most recent estimate of how much VAT is paid per annum by(a) an average family and (b) a married couple on average income; and how much they paid in 1978–79.

  Sir John Cope
  It is estimated that a family consisting of a married couple on average earnings with two children will pay approximately £1,010 a year in VAT, and a couple with no children £980 a year in VAT in 1993–94. Comparable figures for the same family types for 1978–79 have been deposited in the Library. Estimates of VAT payments are subject to wide margins of error.

  Exports
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value of the United Kingdom's exports for each of the last four quarters.

  Mr. Nelson
  The latest information is available on the CSO database, which can be accessed through the House of Commons Library; the indentifier is DJAZ.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest quarterly figure he has for the total level of export orders; and what the total was for the same period last year.
  399
  Mr. Portillo
  Quantitative data on the total level of export orders is not available.

  Excise Duty
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue the Treasury has forgone since January in lost excise duty from the cross-border sales of(a) wines, (b) spirits, (c) beers, (d) cigarettes and tobacco and (e) all of (c) and (d).

  Sir John Cope
  The table shows the estimated total revenue losses, covering both excise duty and VAT, arising from increased cross-border shopping for the whole of 1993. It is not possible to give reliable estimates for different types of alcoholic drink. The estimates have been derived from the results of household surveys conducted by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. They take account of the fact that the some cross-border shopping took place before 1993, also that some of the purchases abroad are likely to represent new consumption, rather than substituting for purchases in the United Kingdom.

  Revenue loss in 1993 (£m)

  Excise duty

  VAT

  Total

  Alcoholic drinks

  55

  20

  75

  Tobacco products

  80

  20

  100

  Total

  135

  40

  175

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the impact in 1994–95 on the retail prices index of raising £1 billion from(a) duty on tobacco products, (b) duty on beer, (c) duty on wine and spirits, (d) duty on petrol, (e) VAT and (f) vehicle excise duty.

  Sir John Cope
  The estimated impacts on the RPI excluding mortgage interest payments are as follows:

  £million

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Quota1

  1,104·3

  ESAF2

  17·0

  1·5

  1·5

  10·0

  20·0

  Net SDR charges3

  67·9

  69·8

  56·0

  58·3

  558·2

  Interest received on reserve tranche position4

  33·3

  27·8

  27·3

  22·2

  519·2

  1As a member of the International Monetary Fund, the United Kingdom pays a subscription, its quota, which was last increased in 1992. 25 per cent. of this increase was paid in special drawing rights from holdings in the exchange equalisation account. This did ot reduce the level of reserves as our reserve position with the fund—the amount the United Kingdom can draw on demand—was increased commensurately. The rest was paid from the National Loans Fund (NLF), in the form of sterling non-interest bearing notes which were placed on deposit at the Bank of England and returned to the NLF. These monetary transactions leave public expenditure and the PSBR unchanged.

  2 The United Kingdom makes an annual contribution to the interest subsidy account of the enhanced structural adjustment facility (ESAF), which is a trust fund administered by the IMF. This scores in the ODA's programme as public expenditure.

  3 There is a charge to pay on holdings by a member of special drawing rights. Interest is received by the member on its SDR holdings. As the United Kingdom currently holds fewer SDRs than its allocation, it makes a net payment to the fund from the exchange equalisation account which is recorded as a monetary transaction.

  4 The United Kingdom receives interest on its reserve tranche position in the IMF, when IMF holdings of sterling are less than the United Kingdom quota. If IMF holdings of sterling are greater than the UK quota, the United Kingdom is required to pay a charge via the exchange equalisation account. Transactions arising from the United Kingdom's reserve tranche position are monetary transactions that affect United Kingdom reserves.

  5 To end November 1993.

  400

  Per cent.

  Beer

  0·29

  Wine and spirits

  0·90

  Tobacco

  0·41

  Petrol

  0·21

  VED

  0·22

  These estimates assume that the increase in tax is fully passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. The estimates allow for behavioural changes according to the procedure described in annex A to chapter 4 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1994–95." Increases in petrol duty and VED fall partly on business, so the long run RPI effect for these items is likely to be greater as businesses pass the additional tax on to consumers.

  Advertising
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. Nelson
  Expenditure on press advertising by the Treasury is expected to be £57,000 in 1993–94. Expenditure in 1985–86 was £42,000. A comparable figure for 1979–80 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Treasury does not have any expenditure on television and radio advertising.

  International Monetary Fund
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all sources of British public funds allocated to the IMF in the last five years.

  Mr. Nelson
  The table summarises these transactions over the past five years:

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria are used to determine whether or not an address is considered a person's main residence in relation to regulation 5(2) of the Income Tax (Interest Relief) (Housing Associations) Regulations 1988.

  Mr. Dorrell
  There is no statutory definition of the term "main residence". It is a question of fact whether a dwelling is a person's main residence, and the Inland Revenue apply the same criteria for the purposes of regulation 5 as they do for the purposes of the mortgage interest relief legislation generally.

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when the Securities and Investments Board decided to review cases where personal pensions may have been mis-sold under the Financial Services Act 1986; how many cases are involved; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what steps the Securities and Investments Board proposes to take to ensure that any individual who was wrongly persuaded to buy a personal pension in contravention of the Securities and Investments Board rules and regulations is compensated in full.

  Mr. Nelson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 December 1993 at column 234.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if the Securities and Investments Board will publish details of its survey of the sale of personal pensions; and in how many cases the Securities and Investments Board believes that there was prima facie evidence of mis-selling;

  (2) if he will ask the Securities and Investments Board to publish the results of its examination of cases where personal pensions may have been mis-sold.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Securities and Investments Board will publish the results of its independent pilot study of pension transfers before Christmas. SIB is co-ordinating a full-scale study to establish the extent of mis-selling.

  Financial Services Act
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to review the Financial Services Act 1986.

  Mr. Nelson
  I have no proposals to review the Financial Services Act 1986.

  Departmental Spending Programme
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in the value of each departmental spending programme for 1994–95 measured by factor prices, where available, relative to 1993–94 outturn and 1992–93 figures.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information sought is not available. However, departmental spending figures were published in the November 1993 "Financial Statement and Budget Report" in cash and real terms in table 5B.3 and table 5B.4 respectively.

  Finance Bill
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the date for the publication of the Finance Bill.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 9 December at column 313.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Gennady Shtelman
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the case of Gennady Shtelman, a prisoner in Uzbekistan; and what action he has taken.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I am aware of the case of Gennady Shtelman and have received a number of representations on his behalf.

  During President Karimov's visit to London in November, I raised with him the importance of observing human rights, in line with his country's CSCE commitments and other international conventions. Mr. Shtelman's case was raised at official level. Our ambassador in Tashkent will continue to monitor his and other cases.

  Government Car Service
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the annual cost to the Department of the car service for Ministers in 1990–91; and how many vehicles were involved.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Official transport for Ministers was provided by the Government car service during 1990–91 at a cost of £328,050. Six vehicles were provided.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussion she has had with the Spanish Government about Gibraltar; and what issues were discussed.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, met Senor Solana to discuss Gibraltar on 1 March. They discussed possible ways of developing the Brussels process and the way ahead generally. Since March officials have met three times, and a further meeting is planned for 14 December. My right hon. Friend hopes to have further discussions with Senor Solana in the early part of next year.

  Manchester United Supporters
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, (1) pursuant to his answer of 2 December,Official Report, column 678, what response he received to his representations to the Turkish ambassador of 8 November concerning the treatment of Manchester United supporters;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 2 December, Official Report, column 678, whether the British ambassador in

  403
  Ankara has yet received a report, or other response to his representations to the Turkish authorities on the treatment of Manchester United supporters;

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 2 December, Official Report, column 678, in respect of how many Manchester United supporters allegations of maltreatment were sent to the Turkish ambassador.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The British ambassador in Ankara has not yet received a response to his representations to the Turkish authorities.

  The Turkish ambassador in London presented a report to us on 23 November. There was much in it to clarify about the treatment by the Turkish authorities of British football fans. On 2 December, we sent the ambassador a list of the 16 main allegations and asked for the Turkish authorities' comments.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many complaints have been received from the Turkish authorities relating to the treatment of Galatasaray supporters in Manchester.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No complaints have been received from the Turkish authorities about the treatment of Galatasaray supporters in Manchester.

  European Union
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out each provision of each treaty which applies to the European Community pillar and each provision of each treaty which applies to (a) the European Union collectively and (b) to each of the other pillars of the Union.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  As I made clear in my answer of 2 December at column 680, the Government use the terms European Community and European Union according to the subject matter under discussion. The treaty of Rome, the treaty of Paris and the EURATOM treaty, as amended by titles II, III and IV of the treaty on European Union apply to the "Community" pillar; title V of the Treaty on European Union applies to the CFSP pillar; title VI applies to the justice and home affairs pillar; and titles I and VII apply to the European Union collectively as well as to individual pillars. There are some cross-references to different pillars within each title.

  Anguilla
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what stage he has reached in resolving the dispute between Anguilla and Her Majesty's Government regarding sovereignty, internal affairs, building of prisons and other matters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There is no such dispute over sovereignty between Anguilla and Her Majesty's Government. We concluded a country policy plan with the Government of Anguilla in August 1993. The plan provides for a capital aid programme of £10·5 million over the next four years, including a new structure to replace the dilapidated prison.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects on nuclear non-proliferation of the partial ratification in the Ukrainian Parliament of the START I treaty.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have made clear to the Ukrainian Government that we do not consider the resolution on ratification of START I by the Ukrainian Parliament to be acceptable. The Ukrainian Government, however, have confirmed that they remain committed to Ukrainian non-nuclear weapons status. We will continue to urge the Ukrainian Government to secure Ukraine's full implementation of the START I treaty, and accession to the non-proliferation treaty as a non-nuclear weapons state, without further delay.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the reasons for the Government of St. Helena excluding Mr. Timmreck from returning to the island in advance of any exclusion order being made.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  This is a matter for the Government of St. Helena. It is in the hands of solicitors and is the subject of litigation.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Occupational Pensions
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on occupational pensions specific to pension funds of public industries that have been privatised.

  Mr. Hague
  The pension schemes of former public industries operate within the same legal framework as all private sector schemes.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the proposed full list of tests and points for assessing qualification for the categories of incapacity benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  The Government published a consultation document "A consultation on the medical assessment for incapacity benefit" on 1 December. This document, which is freely available, outlines the initial stages in the development of the proposed medical test and seeks comments on how incapacity for work is to be defined and scored. A copy has been placed in the Library. AD comments are most welcome. The results of the consultation and an evaluation exercise will determine how the test is finally framed.

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking to make personal pensions attractive across the age range; and if he will make a statement.
  405
  Mr. Hague
  I have today published a consultation paper on age-related rebates. The results of this exercise will help to formulate our detailed policy proposals. Copies of the paper have been placed in the Library. The consultation period will end on 15 January 1994.

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the result of the appeal hearing on 14 September attended by Mr. M., national insurance number RA 91 50 70 C, into his appeal against the decision of the Benefits Agency to refuse him mobility allowance; when Mr. M. will be notified of the decision on his appeal; and if he will make a statement on the interval between hearing and notification.

  Mr. Scott
  The responsibility for the administration of appeals is a matter for the president of the Independent Tribunal Service, his honour Judge Thorpe. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what account the Child Support Agency takes of existing maintenance payment made in respect of families living outside Britain when assessing liability for maintenance payments.

  Mr. Burt
  The formula which the Child Support Agency uses to assess maintenance does not take account of other maintenance arrangements, whether or not they involve persons living abroad.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines issued by his Department to Benefits Agency to advise their local offices on which categories of jobs might be suitable for disabled people in receipt of invalidity benefit; and what representations he has received in response.

  Mr. Scott
  Guidance issued to adjudication officers refers them to the "Standard Occupational Classification". This has been developed jointly by the Department of Employment and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. Both the "Standard Occupational Classification" and "The Adjudication Officers Guide" are in the Library.

  Girocheques
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many replacement girocheques were issued by his Department in each of the last five years; and what was their total value for each of these years;

  (2) what changes there have been in the criteria used by his Department for the issuing of replacement girocheques;

  (3) if he will make a statement about the criteria used by his Department for the issuing of replacement girocheques in cases where the original cheque has been lost or stolen; and if he will make a statement on what flexibility unemployment benefit offices have in administering this policy.

  Mr. Hague
  The administration of payment of benefit by girocheque 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.
  406
  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 9 December 1993:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about replacement girocheques issued by the Department of Social Security.
  The number of girocheques replaced after being reported missing or stolen, and the value of those replaced girocheques (based on average value of issues) in each of the last five years are as follows:

  Year

  Number replaced

  Value £ million

  1988–89

  45,765

  3·53

  1989–90

  53,636

  4·31

  1990–91

  58,802

  5·38

  1991–92

  67,265

  6·47

  1992–93

  90,933

  8·93

  Additionally, the Employment Service Agency acts as our agent in the provision of girocheques to those who are unemployed and claiming Income Support. Data relevant to those issues cannot be seperately identified and are, therefore, not included in the tables above.
  Since the formation of the Benefits Agency there has been no change in the criteria for the issuing of replacement girocheques.
  I am informed by Mike Fogden, the Chief Executive of the Employment Service Agency that the criteria they use in the issuing of replacement girocheques is the same as that of the Benefits Agency, namely:
  To issue a prompt replacement whenever a girocheque is reported as not received, lost, stolen or destroyed unless there is reason to doubt that the report is genuine.
  The reasons for doubt include:

  (a) an unreasonable delay in making the report.

  (b) incomplete or inconsistent answers on the report form.

  (c) Post Office confirmation that the girocheque has been cashed.

  (d) a previous history of loses.

  Decisions on replacing girocheques reported as lost or stolen are made by Executive Officers based in Employment Service Jobcentres or Benefit Agency offices, who take account of the individual circumstances of each case.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Disability
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about his Department's future plans for the disability living allowances Minister's hotline unit; and how many cases have been dealt with by the unit in each month since its establishment.

  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.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 9 December 1993.
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Hotline.
  The Hotline continues to operate at the DLA Unit in Blackpool and achieve a 48-hour call back service. There are presently no plans to alter this facility. However, as the performance for handling DLA claims is now being sustained at a high level we will have to consider at some point whether there remains a need for the service in the same form to be maintained in the future. Members will be advised of any changes if, and when we propose such changes.

  407
  As requested, I have provided details in the attached appendix of the number of cases that have been dealt with by the Ministers Hotline since its inception.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Cases dealt with by DLA Ministers Hotline

  Number of calls

  1992

  July

  417

  August

  733

  September

  690

  October

  1,132

  November

  885

  Decenmber

  513

  1993

  January

  858

  February

  707

  March

  609

  April

  469

  May

  250

  June

  193

  July

  178

  August

  108

  September

  100

  October

  88

  November

  78

  Fraud
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the basis of the calculation of sector fraud achievement of claimed savings of £491 million in weekly benefit and £25 million in instrument payment savings on page 15 of the document, "Fighting Fraud in 1992–93".

  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.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Bob Cryer, dated 9 November 1993:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the basis of sector fraud's savings as published in Fighting Fraud.
  With regard to the weekly benefit saving, a multiplier of 32 weeks is applied to the amount of weekly benefit savings recorded as a result of successful fraud investigations or interventions. This single multiplier is currently applied to all benefits payable by the Department and reflects the anticipated average period for which claims could be expected to continue in the absence of a successful fraud intervention.
  Instrument of Payment savings are not subject to any multiplier and all such savings are recorded at face value.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

SCOTLAND

  Kilgarth Tip, Coatbridge
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to take a decision about the application by City of Glasgow district council in respect of Kilgarth tip, Coatbridge.

  Mr. Lang
  The letters conveying the decision about the application by City of Glasgow district council were issued on Monday 6 December.

  Learning Difficulties
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what statutory provisions govern the voting rights of people with learning difficulties; what plans he has to ensure that people with learning disabilities are given better opportunities to vote; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The statutory provisions are contained in the representation of the people and the mental health legislation. To be entitled to vote all electors must satisfy criteria of eligibility and competence. Eligibility is governed by the registration process and it is the responsibility of electoral registration officers to determine whether or not an applicant satisfies the statutory conditions, including the common law requirement that an elector should not lack the capacity to vote because of profound learning difficulties. At an election the presiding officer also carries a responsibility to satisfy himself as to the elector's capacity to vote.

  The Scottish Office Home and Health Department will shortly be issuing revised guidance on these matters to electoral registration officers.

  Forestry
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the forestry review group's report.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 November 1993]: The advice of the review group is, and will remain, confidential to Ministers.

  A7
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be in a position to publish the route action plan covering the A7 trunk route south of Hawick; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 29 November 1993]: I expect to publish a leaflet setting out the details of the route action plan early in 1994.

  Set-aside Land
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what percentage of arable land on Scottish non-LFA farms will require to be taken out of production in 1994, on the basis of IACS figures, to avoid liability for penalties under the arable area payment scheme in 1995, showing(a) the standard set-aside requirement, (b) the penalty from 1993 and (c) any further area arising from the discrepancy between IACS statistics and previous census statistics submitted by the Department to the European Commission;

  (2) if he will estimate the reduction in production of spring-sown cereals in 1994 arising from the arable area payments scheme penalty for 1993 and any further reduction in cropping that may be required to avoid a further penalty in 1995; and if he will make a statement on the impact of that reduction on the Scottish maltsters, millers and other cereal using industries.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 6 December 1993]: No arable land requires to be taken out of production in 1994 or 1995, nor is there a discrepancy in the statistics.
  409
  The rules of the arable area payments scheme made clear that the total claimed arable area must not exceed the regional base area; and that any excess would result in penalties. The scheme is voluntary; and if farmers do apply there is no obligation to do so on all their arable land. They may therefore sow as much arable crops as they wish without setting aside any land.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Fraud
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the sentences available for fraud.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government are satisfied that the penalties for offences involving fraud are adequate. Fraudulent trading and false accounting both carry a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment; and obtaining property by deception has a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment.

  Prison Officers (Accommodation)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officer accommodation units at each of the London prisons were still owned by the Prison Department as of 1 December.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 10 December 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many prison officer's quarters were still owned by the Prison Service at each of the London prisons. The number as at 1 December 1993 were as follows:

  Number

  Belmarsh

  13

  Brixton

  120

  Feltham

  86

  Holloway

  150

  Latchmere House

  21

  Pentonville

  94

  Wandsworth

  114

  Wormwood Scrubs

  172

  770

  Firearms Certificates
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in England and Wales had been granted a firearms certificate as of 1 December; and for what uses such certificates have been granted.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The number of firearms certificates which were on issue in England and Wales as at 31 December 1992 was 136,810. Corresponding information for 1 December 1993 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The law requires that, before issuing a firearm certificate, the chief officer of police must satisfy himself
  410
  that the applicant has a good reason for requiring the firearm or ammunition in respect of which the certificate is sought. No central record is kept of the reasons for which certificates are granted.

  Dangerous Dogs
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation on dangerous dogs in the coming Session.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  None.

  Farriers (Registration) Act 1975
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many communications he has received during the consultation on deregulation of the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975; how many were in favour and how many against; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Department has received 16 responses to its consultative letter concerning the deregulation review of the Farriers (Registration) Acts 1975 and 1977. Eleven were in favour of retaining the present controls and five argued for deregulation.

  Riding Establishments Acts
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many communications he has received during the consultation on deregulation of the Riding Establishments Acts; how many were in favour and how many against; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Department has received 12 responses to its consultative letter on the deregulation review of the Riding Establishments Acts 1964 and 1970. All were in favour of retaining present controls.

  Sentencing
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what account he takes, in reaching decisions on tariff sentences upon those convicted of offences deemed political, of the individual offenders and mitigating factors such as age or nature of motivation;

  (2) what representations he has received from (a) Abdul Qayyum Raja, a prisoner at HMP Long Lartin, (b) his legal representatives and (c) other individuals and organisations about his case;

  (3) if he will reduce the sentence imposed under tariff arrangements on Abdul Qayyum Raja; when he intends to announce his decision in this case; and if he will disclose full information and explanation for the tariff sentence he finally decides upon in this case;

  (4) what representations he has received from (a) Mohammed Riaz, a prisoner at HMP Whitemoor, (b) his legal representatives and (c) other individuals and organisations on his case;

  (5) if he will reduce the sentence imposed under the tariff arrangements on Mohammed Riaz; when he intends to announce his decision in this case; and if he will disclose full information and explanation for the tariff sentence he finally decides upon in his case;

  (6) if he will disclose full information about each factor which he takes into account in reaching decisions concerning the tariff; and if he will make a statement on the effect of the judgment in the House of Lords in the case of Doody and Others in 1993.
  411
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The arrangements for determining the period which mandatory life sentence prisoners—including those convicted of politically motivated murders —should serve in custody in order to meet the requirements of retribution and deterrence are set out in my right hon. and learned Friend's replies of 27 July 1993 at columns 863-85 and 4 November 1993 at columns 376-78. The procedures for disclosing such decisions and related information to the prisoners concerned are also described.

  In deciding the period to be served in custody all available information, including advice from the judiciary, representations on the prisoners' behalf and any mitigating factors will be fully taken into account. The statement by the right hon. Sir Leon Brittan, as Secretary of State in 1983, that terrorists and certain other specified categories of murderer can normally expect to serve at least 20 years will also be relevant in some cases.

  As to the cases of Mr. Raja and Mr. Riaz, representations have been made on their behalf by their legal representatives, Members of both Houses of Parliament and members of the public. Mr. Riaz has also made representations direct. All these representations are being carefully considered and decisions will be taken shortly. Mr. Raja and Mr. Riaz will be informed separately of the period set in their case and each of them will be given reasons for the decision.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received supporting the view that tariff sentences should be set by the trial judge in open court upon hearing representations on behalf of the prisoner immediately upon conviction.

  Mr. Maclean
  From time to time, we receive representations supporting the view that when a mandatory life sentence is passed on a person convicted of the offence of murder the period necessary to satisfy the requirements of retribution and deterrence should be stated by the trial judge in open court after the offender has had an opportunity to make representations.

  Custody Costs
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average cost of custody per inmate month in the last year for which figures are available.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Alun Michael, dated 10 December 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the cost of custody per inmate month.
  The average monthly cost of holding an inmate in custody was £2,142 for 1992–93.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average monthly cost of a supervision order combined with intensive intermediate treatment or specified activities in the last year for which figures are available;

  (2) what was the average monthly cost of a probation order in the last year for which figures are available;

  (3) what was the average monthly cost of a community service order in the last year for which figures are available.
  412
  Mr. Maclean
  The latest information on the costs of probation and community service orders is set out in table 12.3 of "Probation Statistics, England and Wales, 1992", which is in the Library of the House.

  The average monthly costs of a probation order is estimated at £98 and the average monthly cost of a community service order is estimated at £95. The costs of supervision orders when combined with other requirements may vary greatly and the equivalent figures could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average cost of custody per inmate month in(a) open and (b) closed youth establishments in the last year for which figures are available.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Alun Michael, dated 10 December 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the cost of custody per inmate month in open and closed youth establishments.
  In 1992–93 the average monthly cost of holding an inmate in an open youth establishment and a closed youth establishment was £2,747 and £2,132 respectively.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average monthly cost of cautioning-plus schemes in the last year for which figures are available;

  (2) what was the average cost of administering a caution in the last year in which figures are available.

  Mr. Maclean
  No figures are available on the cost of administering a caution. Although it is not possible to calculate the average monthly cost of so called "caution-plus" schemes, information from two long established schemes suggests that the average cost of each supported caution is in the range £300-£1,100.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average monthly cost of bail support schemes in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Home Office probation supervision grant scheme currently makes grants to 11 projects solely or mainly for bail support; other projects may include some bail support work.

  The average monthly Home Office grant to these bail support projects in the financial year 1993–94 is £4,062. However, this may not fully reflect the cost of bail support projects as projects may well receive funding from other sources.

  Security Firms
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks his Department makes to ensure that security firms used by his Department do not employ staff who have criminal records.

  Mr. Maclean
  Staff from security firms employed by the Home Office undergo security checks, including criminal record checks, appropriate to the nature of their work and place of employment.

  Winston Silcott
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to take a decision in respect of the reference of the case of Winston Silcott to the Court of Appeal.

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend expects to be in a position to reach a decision shortly.

  Murder Sentences
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the shortest sentence served for murder in the last 30 years; and what were the circumstances.

  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 A. J. Butler to Ms Barbara Roche, dated 10 December 1993:
  Shortest sentence served for murder in the last 30 years
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the shortest sentence served for murder in the last 30 years and what the circumstances were.
  The shortest sentence served was one day. This occurred in two unrelated cases where the inmates died one day after reception.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average sentence served by those convicted of murder and later released.

  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 A. J. Butler to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 10 December 1993:
  Average sentence length for murder
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the average time served by inmates sentenced for murder and who have since been released.
  I attach a copy of a table showing the numbers of life sentenced prisoners released from 1981–91. This information is published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales" (Table 8.5 of the latest volume, for 1991, CM 2157), a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the findings of the independent inquiry into the mandatory life sentence chaired by Lord Lane; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect on victims and their families of knowing the sentence imposed on those convicted of murder, as recommended in the independent inquiry into the mandatory life sentence chaired by Lord Lane.

  Mr. Maclean
  I consider that the report of the Committee on the Penalty for Murder has usefully drawn together the arguments for a change in the existing law under which the mandatory penalty for murder is a sentence of life imprisonment. In considering the report's414
  conclusions, I will, of course, take into account the possible effects of any change on the families of murder vicitims. But I have not been persuaded by arguments I have so far heard that any change is necessary to the present law.

  Banking Services (Sundays)
  Sir Keith Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide that the services provided by bank and building societies to individuals such as automatic cash dispensers, telephone banking and cash and credit card transactions should be restricted on Sundays; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None. The Sunday Trading Bill contained on introduction three options for reform of the Sunday trading laws in England and Wales. A Committee of the whole House on 8 December chose the option of partial deregulation. If it becomes law this option would place no restriction on services provided by banks and building societies.

  Deportation Policies
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will annouce the outcome of his internal review of deportation policies and procedures following the death of Joy Gardner; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I had hoped to be able to announce the outcome of the review before the House rises, but the review is not yet quite complete. I shall make an announcement as soon as possible after the recess.

  Voluntary Repatriation
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inquiries have been received about voluntary repatriation schemes established under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971, in the past quarter and the same quarter last year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The voluntary repatriation scheme established under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971 is operated by the International Social Service of the United Kingdom (ISS) on behalf of the Home Office. In the quarter 1 September to 30 November 1993 a total of 103 inquiries about voluntary repatriation were received by ISS; 43 such inquiries were received in the same quarter last year.

  Immigration Advisory Service
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the criteria for the appointment of the directors of the organisation formerly known as UKIAS; how many candidates applied; how many(a) black and (b) Asian people were on the shortlist; what were the names of those who interviewed the candidates; and what are the salary and conditions of appointment of the successful candidate.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The appointment was a matter for the trustees of UKIAS's successor body, the immigration appeals advisory service, which is an independent body.

  Prison Rules
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his proposed changes to the prison rules.

  Mr. Howard
  I have laid prison and young offender institution amendment rules before Parliament to come into effect on 1 January 1994. First, the rules will extend the scope of confidentiality for prisoners' legal correspondence to all correspondence between prisoners and their legal advisers or a court, whether or not legal proceedings have been commenced. The rules set out the circumstances in which such correspondence may be opened, read or stopped. Secondly, the amendments will increase the maximum period of cellular confinement a governor may impose as a disciplinary punishment from three to 14 days for adult prisoners and from three to seven days for young offenders. This is a desirable strengthening in disciplinary powers, particularly in the light of the continuing trend in increased offending in prisons.

  Black and Asian staff in the Ministry of Defence

  Grades within the open structure and occupational groups

  Total Staff at 1 April 1993

  1Total Black Staff

  1Total Asian Staff

  Open Structure Grade 1 (include 1A)

  4

  —

  —

  Open Structure Grade 2

  9

  —

  —

  Open Structure Grade 3

  50

  —

  —

  Open Structure Grade 4

  34

  —

  —

  Open Structure Grade 5

  282

  —

  —

  Open Structure Grade 6

  730

  —

  —

  Open Structure Grade 7

  2,747

  <10

  16

  Senior Executive Officer

  1,211

  —

  <10

  Higher Executive Officer (D)

  19

  <10

  <10

  Higher Executive Officer

  3,033

  <10

  <10

  Administration Trainee

  6

  —

  <10

  Executive Officer

  5,771

  45

  46

  Administrative Officer

  14,921

  186

  173

  Administrative Assistant

  7,625

  123

  111

  Senior Economic Assistant

  1

  —

  —

  Senior Assistant Statistician

  2

  —

  —

  Assistant Statistician

  1

  —

  —

  Senior Information Officer

  29

  —

  —

  Information Officer

  53

  —

  —

  Assistant Information Officer

  2

  —

  —

  Senior Librarian

  16

  —

  —

  Librarian

  49

  —

  —

  Assistant Librarian

  48

  —

  —

  Museum Curatorial Group Grade D

  5

  —

  —

  Museum Curatorial Group Grade E

  6

  —

  —

  Museum Curatorial Group Grade F

  9

  —

  —

  Museum Curatorial Group Grade G

  6

  —

  —

  Museum Conservation Group Grade F

  1

  —

  —

  Chief Constable

  1

  —

  —

  Deputy Chief Constable

  2

  —

  —

  Assistant Chief Constable

  5

  —

  —

  Chief Superintendent

  12

  —

  —

  Superintendent

  27

  —

  —

  Chief Inspector

  66

  —

  <10

  Inspector

  149

  <10

  <10

  Sergeant

  655

  <10

  <10

  Constable

  3,506

  11

  <10

  Senior Professional and Technology Officer

  2,341

  <10

  16

  Higher Professional and Technology Officer

  4,009

  <10

  49

  Professional and Technology Officer

  5,439

  14

  17

  Professional and Technology Officer 4

  6

  —

  —

  Technical Grade 1

  406

  —

  <10

  Technical Grade 2

  32

  —

  <10

  Graduate Trainee

  143

  —

  <10

  Trainee Incorporated Engineer

  24

  —

  —

  Senior Mapping and Charting Officer

  120

  —

  —

  Higher Mapping and Charting Officer

  235

  <10

  <10

  Mapping and Charting Officer

  515

  <10

  <10

  Mapping and Charting Technical Grade 1

  218

  —

  —

  Mapping and Charting Technical Grade 2

  92

  <10

  <10

  Senior Graphics Officer

  13

  —

  —

DEFENCE

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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.

  Mr. Aitken
  The following table sets out, by grade, the total number of staff serving in my Department and the total number of black and Asian staff who have responded to the Department's ethnic minority origin survey. Response to the survey was voluntary, and where there are fewer than 10 ethnic minority staff listed in a particular grade, for reasons of personal confidentiality it is not our policy to define precise numbers.
  417

  Grades within the open structure and occupational groups

  1Total Staff at 1 April 1993

  1Total Black Staff

  1Total Asian Staff

  Higher Graphics Officer

  57

  —

  —

  Graphics Officer

  218

  <10

  <10

  Marine Service Officer Grade 1

  15

  —

  —

  Marine Service Officer Grade 2

  92

  —

  —

  Marine Service Officer Grade 3

  176

  —

  —

  Marine Service Officer Grade 4

  108

  —

  —

  Senior Research Officer (R)

  45

  —

  —

  Research Officer (R)

  20

  —

  —

  Chief Typing Manager

  16

  —

  —

  Typing Manager

  200

  <10

  —

  Senior Personal Secretary

  95

  <10

  <10

  Personal Secretary

  836

  <10

  <10

  Typist

  3,698

  86

  38

  Trainee Typist

  6

  —

  —

  Senior Scientific Officer

  1,678

  <10

  30

  Higher Scientific Officer

  1,686

  <10

  36

  Scientific Officer

  1,484

  10

  22

  Assistant Scientific Officer

  735

  10

  10

  Senior Instricutional Officer

  66

  —

  —

  Higher Instructional Officer

  297

  10

  —

  Instructional Officer 1

  1,082

  10

  10

  Instructional Officer 2

  235

  —

  —

  Catering Manager 3

  1

  —

  —

  Chef 1/Chief Cook 1

  12

  —

  —

  Chef 2/Chief Cook 2

  24

  10

  —

  Chief Fire Service Officer

  1

  —

  —

  Senior Fire Officer

  12

  —

  —

  Fire Service Officer 1

  34

  —

  —

  Fire Service Officer 2

  57

  —

  —

  Fire Service Officer 3

  59

  —

  —

  Senior Investigating Officer

  12

  —

  —

  Investigating Officer 1

  61

  —

  —

  Investigating Officer 2

  228

  —

  —

  Museum Technician Grade 2

  1

  —

  —

  Museum Technician Grade 3

  3

  —

  —

  Museum Support Grade 1

  1

  —

  —

  Museum Support Grade 2

  3

  —

  —

  Museum Support Grade 3

  23

  —

  10

  Museum Support Grade 4

  5

  —

  —

  Museum Support Grade 5

  7

  —

  —

  Senior Photographic Officer

  9

  —

  —

  Higher Photographic Officer

  55

  —

  10

  Photographic Officer

  165

  —

  10

  Process and Supervisory Group Grade A

  7

  —

  —

  Process and Supervisory Group Grade B

  33

  —

  —

  Process and Supervisory Group Grade C

  117

  —

  —

  Process and Supervisory Group Grade D

  311

  10

  10

  Process and Supervisory Group Grade E

  135

  —

  10

  Senior Psychologist

  21

  —

  10

  Higher Psychologist

  23

  —

  —

  Psychologist (Graduate Trainee)

  7

  —

  —

  Stores Officer Grade A

  20

  —

  —

  Stores Officer Grade B

  131

  —

  —

  Stores Officer Grade C

  371

  —

  10

  Stores Officer Grade D

  782

  10

  10

  Support Manager 1

  9

  —

  —

  Support Manager 2

  40

  —

  —

  Support Manager 3

  208

  10

  10

  Support Grade Band 1

  1,205

  14

  10

  Support Grade Band 2

  1,048

  37

  13

  Senior Telecommunication Technical Officer

  50

  —

  —

  Higher Telecommunication Technical Officer

  166

  —

  —

  Telecommunication Technical Officer

  391

  10

  —

  Assistant Telecommunication Technical Officer

  475

  10

  10

  Trainee Telecommunication Technical Officer

  53

  —

  —

  Communications Officer 1

  16

  10

  —

  Communications Officer 2

  47

  10

  —

  Communications Officer 3

  132

  10

  —

  Communications Officer 4

  366

  10

  10

  Total Staff in Open Structure and Occupational Groups

  74,468

  600

  658

  Departmental Grades

  14,168

  78

  55

  Industrial Grades

  42,121

  322

  204

  Totals

  131,757

  1,000

  917

  418 419
  Note:There are some 500 Departmental grades and some 850 Industrial grades used in the Ministry of Defence, most of which are managed locally. A detailed breakdown of these could be provided only at disproportionate cost and effort.

  1 Respondents to ethnic minority origin survey.

  United States Military Bases
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the United States military bases in the United Kingdom as of 1 December.

  Mr. Hanley
  As of 1 December 1993, bases and facilities were made available to the United States visiting forces at the following locations in the United Kingdom:

  Main Operating Bases

  RAF Alconbury

  RAF Lakenheath

  RAF Mildenhall

  RAF Upper Heyford

  Standby Deployment Base

  RAF Fairford

  Storage/Support Facilities

  RAF Brawdy

  Chilwell

  RAF Daws Hill

  Eastcote

  Felixstowe

  RAF Feltwell

  RAF Hythe

  London HQ USN Europe

  RAF Machrihanish

  Marchwood

  RAF Molesworth

  RAF Northwood

  Oakington

  RAF Spadeadam

  RAF St. Mawgan

  RAF Watton

  RAF Welford

  RAF West Ruislip

  West Ruislip

  Wartime Contingency Hospitals

  RAF Arbroath

  RAF Bicester

  RAF Little Rissington

  RAF Nocton Hall

  RAF Upwood

  NATO Ammunition Depot

  NAD Glen Douglas

  Communications Facilities

  RAF Barford St. John

  RAF Barkway Botley Hill

  Bovingdon

  RAF Chelveston

  RAF Chicksands

  Christmas Common

  Coldblow

  RAF Croughton

  RAF Daventry

  RAF Dunkirk

  RAF Edzell

  Menwith Hill Station

  RAF Oakhanger

  RAF Swingate

  RAF Uxbridge

  Departmental Objectives
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his departmental standing objectives.

  Mr. Hanley
  The current departmental standing objectives have been listed on page 2 of the MOD "Departmental Report 1993"—Cm 2201—a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether quantitative data are used in his assessment of the achievement of departmental standing objectives.

  Mr. Hanley
  Performance against departmental standing objectives is assessed on the basis of quantitative data where available and the judgment of military and civilian budget holders reports up the management chain.

  Performance Targets
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been established in his Department.

  Mr. Hanley
  Performance targets have been set at all levels in the Department, both in the management plans which set out what budget holders undertake to deliver for their delegated budgets and in job plans for individuals. They could be collated centrally only at disproportionate cost.

  Equipment
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are used to determine the figures provided in table 8, page 18 of Cm. 2201, relating to availability, reliability and maintainability of equipment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  Table 8 on page 18 of Cm 2201 gives figures for the percentage by value of contracts for new equipment projects over £1 million which have provisions for availability, reliability and maintainability. The criteria used to determine the figures are that reliability and maintainability requirements should form essential elements of the contract specification, wherever possible linking payment to the demonstration of satisfactory reliability and maintainability in service. Alternative approaches, including warranties and fixed-price support contracts are used where linkage of payment to demonstration is not practicable.

  Chief of the Air Staff
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 December,Official Report, columns 54-55, what is the number of occasions in each of the last 12 months on which the Chief of the Air Staff has given a personal briefing to (a) hon. Members, (b) academics and (c) members of the media; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Briefings by the Chief of the Air Staff were given as follows:
  421

  MPs

  Academics

  Media

  January

  —

  —

  —

  February

  —

  —

  4

  March

  1

  —

  3

  April

  —

  —

  —

  May

  1

  —

  —

  June

  —

  —

  —

  July

  —

  —

  —

  August

  —

  —

  1

  September

  —

  —

  —

  October

  1

  —

  —

  November

  —

  —

  —

  December

  —

  —

  —

  Mr. David Hart
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 December,Official Report, columns 54-55, whether Mr. David Hart was given a briefing by the Chief of the Air Staff as (a) an academic or (b) a member of the media; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Mr. David Hart was briefed on 27 May by Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Strike Command because he had published media articles on general defence issues and one particularly about the RAF.

  Maralinga
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the ex-gratia payment towards the clean-up of the Maralinga site will be made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  [pursuant to his answer, 1 December 1993, column 609]: The United Kingdom Government agreed in principle on 14 July to make an ex gratia payment of £20,000,000 to the Federal Government of Australia as a contribution to the cost of the further clean-up of the Maralinga site. A note giving effect to this agreement was signed today by the Australian High Commissioner and my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office. A copy of the note will be placed in the Library of the House. The payment will be phased over six years beginning on 1 January 1994.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Copyright Libraries
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the copyright libraries entitled to a copy of all books published within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sproat
  Under the Copyright Act 1911 publishers are required to deliver, at their own expense, a copy of any new publication to the British library. There are five other copyright libraries: the national libraries of Scotland and Wales; the Bodleian library, Oxford; Cambridge University library; and the library of Trinity college, Dublin. If any of them requests a copy the Copyright Licensing Agency may demand a free copy from the publisher on its behalf.

  Overseas Artifacts
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which artifacts and from which countries, previously held in Britain, have been returned to their countries of origin in the last 10 years; what requests(a) have been rejected and (b) are currently under consideration; and what is the value of the artifacts concerned.

  Mr. Brooke
  This information is not available centrally. The artifacts in question are the property of independent institutions and private owners and any requests for their return would normally be directed to them. The Government are not necessarily informed of such requests or their outcome. Even when we have been made aware of requests, the information required could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Laboratories
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many whole-time equivalent staff are currently employed at(a) the Warren Spring Laboratory, (b) the National Engineering Laboratory and (c) the National Physical Laboratory; how many were employed at each laboratory on 31 March 1992 and 31 March 1993; and how many he plans to employ on 31 March 1994.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The numbers for 31 March 1992 and 1993 and currently are:

  31 March 1992

  31 March 1993

  Current

  Warren Spring Laboratory

  321·0

  278·0

  224·5

  National Engineering Laboratory

  388·5

  363·5

  338·0

  National Physical Laboratory

  807·5

  770·0

  748·0

  Warren Spring Laboratory will be closing on 31 March to be replaced by the new National Environmental Technology Centre, to which a substantial number of its staff will be transferring.

  I am currently considering future plans for the other laboratories.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff at Warren Spring he presently proposes to transfer to AEA Technology; and which sections, teams or project groups have been named for closure since 1 April.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The House is aware that the National Environmental Technology Centre is being created in south Oxfordshire by the bringing together of Warren Spring Laboratory with the environmental technology services of the Atomic Energy Authority. This merger of the country's two major environmental research laboratories will form a single powerful centre of excellence in this field. The merger will take place on 1 April 1994. The turnover of the NETC will be about £20 million to £25 million, compared with £13.5 million at Warren Spring in 1992–93.

  The merger will take place in most of the business centres of Warren Spring, accounting for 87 per cent. of the laboratory's work in 1992–93. All the scientific staff

  423
  working in those business centres have been offered the opportunity to transfer. The numbers finally deciding to transfer from Warren Spring will depend on individual choice, but about 100 are expected to do so.

  The business centres which the AEA has decided not to transfer, and which will therefore close on or before 1 April 1994, are:

  Heavy Gas Dispersion,

  Environmental Advisory Unit

  Thermal Processing

  Chemical Analysis—quality assurance, inorganic analysis, dispersant evaluation

  Effluent treatment—mineral processing

  Information systems

  Ship Safety

  Process Technology—solid/liquid separation

  These account for 38 scientific staff. Support activities which will also close are:

  Directorate and senior management team

  Central services

  Finance

  Personnel

  Technical services

  Publications, photography and library.

  Technology Transfer
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received on the DTI funding mechanisms for technology transfer; and when he expects such mechanisms to be in place.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Government received around 800 representations during the preparation of the White Paper on Science and Technology—"Realising our Potential—A Strategy for Science Engineering and Technology" Cm. 2250. Following publication, I am using seminars to consult industry on the implementation of the new policies.

  These consultations are showing that in addition to the range of current technology transfer initiatives, there is scope for further activity, particularly involved business links to provide local delivery. Consultations are in progress on those new ideas, and announcements for pilots are likely in 1994.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how much he expects his Department to spend on research and development for each year from 1993 to 1997;

  (2) how much his Department spent on research and development in each year since 1980.

  .Mr. Heseltine
  The Department of Trade and Industry's expenditure on research and development is recorded in the annual review of Government-funded research and development, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House. The first such review, published in 1983, shows expenditure from 1977–78 onwards. The 1993 review shows planned expenditure up to 1995–96. Revised figures, including plans for 1996–97, will be prepared in light of this year's public expenditure survey and published in the 1994 "Forward Look of Science and Technology", which replaces the annual review.

  Trading Standards Officers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many trading standards officers there are in non-metropolitan areas of England.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There are about 796 qualified trading standards officers in post in England local authorities other than the London and Metropolitan boroughs.

  Peat
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what funds have been made available to support research into the development and promotion of alternatives to peat; and if he will list the companies, institutes and research establishments which have been supported by these funds.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department promotes the recyling of waste material, including the composting of its degradable fraction, and has recently funded two projects under DEMOS, the DTI's environmental management options scheme, providing:

  (i) A grant of over £400,000 to South West Water, Devon Waste Management and Focsa Services (UK) Ltd., to demonstrate the feasibility of co-composting of Municipal Solid Waste and Sewage Sludge.

  (ii) A grant of over £150,000 to Motherwell Bridge Envirotec, Environmental Energy and Newcastle university to demonstrate an anaerobic digestion plant for the treatment of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste.

  My Department is also seeking to overcome a major obstacle to increased use of composted materials—the lack of recognised standards—by funding a specialist from Warren Spring laboratory to participate in CEN work to develop European standards for soil conditioners arid growing media.

  All this work has the potential to result in the development of composted materials which could serve as alternatives to peat.

  I should add that the Department of the Environment has the lead on research into composting techniques in the context of waste management, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also supports some research into growing media.

  Textiles
  Mr. Gamier
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the Government's policy with regard to the multi-fibre arrangement in the event of the Uruguay round of the GATT not achieving adequate cuts in the high tariff and non-tariff barriers faced by British textile and clothing manufacturers in United Kingdom export markets in the third world and in the emerging economies of the developing world.

  Mr. Needham
  The Government are working for a balanced outcome to the Uruguay round negotiations as they affect the textile and clothing sector. We have been pressing in particular for a satisfactory outcome reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers as part of an overall settlement including the phase-out of the multi-fibre arrangement and strengthened GATT rules and disciplines.

  Ferranti
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information his Department holds on the trading activities of International Signal and Control from 1971 to its purchase by Ferranti in 1987.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Department does not monitor the commercial operations of international organisations, and the information it holds on the trading activities of International Signal and Control Group plc prior to its purchase by Ferranti plc in 1987 is that generally addressed to Ferranti shareholders in a circular dated 29 September 1989 from the chairman of that company.

  Ferranti subsequently provided additional information direct to the Serious Fraud Office, which conducted an investigation into the matters of concern outlined by the company.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what communication his Department has had with the office of defence trade control at the United States state department in regard to the collapse of Ferranti.

  Mr. Needham
  None.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if his Department took any action to block a bid by Thomson CSF for the Ferranti company.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Neither my Department, nor the Office of Fair Trading, was made aware of any proposal by Thomson CSF to bid for Ferranti International.

  Manufacturing
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table revising and updating table 2, "Large Fast Growing Sectors", in the world market economies published in 1989 in his Department's report on manufacturing into the late 1990s.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is in the table.

  Large fast growing commodity groups in the world market economies1

  $ billion

  Per cent. change

  Percentage UK share of world market2

  SITC

  1990

  1984–90

  1984

  1990

  761 Television receivers

  17

  250·4

  7·2

  6·7

  898 Musical instruments, pts

  19

  221·6

  10·7

  9·7

  896 Works of art etc

  14

  217·2

  15·9

  25·0

  893 Articles of plastic nes

  29

  215·8

  7·6

  8·6

  726 Printing, bookbinding, machinery, pts

  10

  199·3

  10·8

  10·4

  752 Automatic data processing equipment

  73

  194·4

  12·6

  10·4

  714 Engines and motors nes

  22

  184·

  17·7

  15·3

  736 Metalworking machine-tools

  21

  183·4

  5·9

  6·3

  894 Toys, sporting goods, etc

  27

  181·9

  6·7

  6·3

  792 Aircraft etc

  54

  180·5

  8·8

  8·6

  831 Travel goods, handbags

  10

  171·2

  6·0

  5·6

  845 Outerwear knit nonelastic

  26

  170·6

  6·1

  6·4

  034 Fish, fresh, chilled frozen

  16

  170·4

  4·9

  3·7

  821 Furniture, parts thereof

  31

  170·3

  7·0

  6·7

  426

  $ billion

  Per cent. change

  Percentage UK share of world market2

  SITC

  1990

  1984–90

  1984

  1990

  744 Mechanical handling equ

  21

  168·1

  6·5

  7·7

  872 Medical instruments nes

  10

  162·9

  6·9

  6·0

  843 Women's outerwear nonknit

  32

  159·5

  5·2

  6·1

  741 Heating, cooling equipment

  21

  156·7

  5·1

  5·4

  759 Office, ADP mch pts, acces

  46

  156·1

  10·6

  11·8

  533 Pigments, paints, etc

  11

  154·1

  4·9

  6·0

  764 Telecom, equipment, pts, acc nes

  54

  151·8

  5·0

  6·5

  842 Men's outerwear not knit

  20

  144·1

  7·5

  6·1

  773 Electrical distributing equipment

  14

  141·6

  4·7

  5·7

  745 Nonelec machinery, tools nes

  15

  136·6

  7·4

  7·4

  772 Switchgear etc, parts nes

  36

  135·9

  6·4

  6·4

  642 Paper, etc. precut, arts of

  13

  135·2

  8·4

  9·6

  541 Medicinal, pharmaceutical product

  35

  132·9

  4·8

  5·9

  1 Based on world imports; only commodity groups where import value exceeds $10 billion have been included.

  2 United Kingdom imports as a percentage share of world imports.

  Source: United Nations International Trade Statistics Yearbook vol 2, 1988 and 1990.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to review the deregulation of industry, with particular reference to the manufacture of fireworks.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  All regulations having an impact on business are under review as part of a Government-wide initiative to minimise regulatory burdens on business whilst maintaining effective and appropriate safeguards. The manufacture of fireworks is covered by the Explosives Act 1875, which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. I understand that the Act is currently under review by the Health and Safety Executive, in consultation with interested parties.

  Konver Programme
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list, by region,(a) the successful bids and their value and (b) the unsuccessful bids for Konver funding.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 8 December 1993]: Lists of both successful and unsuccessful applicants for Konver, European regional development fund and European social fund grants have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The total number of applications was 289. Following the amalgamation of certain projects the total number of applications assessed was 263.

  Data Rights
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to introduce data rights for research in the United Kingdom, equivalent to those made available by NASA and the Government of Japan.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 8 December 1993]: In relation to earth observation satellites, access for researchers at reasonable cost to data resulting from European Space Agency missions is guaranteed by the agency, of which the United Kingdom is a member. In addition, the British National Space Centre is participating in international negotiations to provide for the exchange of data for research purposes between European and non-European missions.

  Post Office Finance
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the difference between the planned external finance requirements of the Post Office for 1994–95 in the Financial Statement and Budget report of the previously announced figure; and what part of it represents proceeds from the proposed sale of Parcelforce as mentioned in paragraph 5.42 of the Financial Statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 9 December 1993]: The 1994–95 external financing limit for the Post Office was set at –£186 million in the 1992 autumn statement. This figure has been revised to –£226 million in the 1993 "Financial Statement and Budget Report." None of this increase represents proceeds from the proposed sale of Parcelforce.

AGRICULTURE

  Forestry Commission Land
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list, for each separate piece of land currently owned or leased by the Forestry Commission in East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight(a) its name and (b) its area in hectares; and if she will place a map in the Library which names and identifies each of these pieces of land.

  Mr. Jack
  The Forestry Commission manages the following areas of land in east Sussex, west Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

  County

  Area (hectares)

  East Sussex

  2,964

  Hampshire

  34,276

  Isle of Wight

  1,454

  West Sussex

  4,054

  I have made arrangements for a map showing the location of the individual areas to be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

  The more detailed information on the individual areas is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list, for each separate piece 428
  of land currently owned or leased by the Forestry Commission in Cleveland, Durham and Northumberland (a) its name and (b) its area in hectares; and whether she will place a map in the Library which names and identifies each of these pieces of land.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 7 December 1993]: The Forestry Commission manages the following areas of land in Cleveland, Durham and Northumberland:

  County

  Area (hectares)

  Cleveland

  493

  Durham

  3,260

  Northumberland

  59,249

  I have made arrangements for a map showing the location of the individual areas to be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

  The more detailed information requested on the individual areas is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list, for each separate piece of land currently owned or leased by the Forestry Commission in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk(a) its name and (b) its area in hectares; and whether she will place a map in the Library which names and identifies each of these pieces of land.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 6 December 1993]: The Forestry Commission manages the following areas of land in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk:

  County

  Area (hectares)

  Cambridgeshire

  682

  Essex

  775

  Norfolk

  14,330

  Suffolk

  9,820

  I have made arrangements for a map showing the location of the individual areas to be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

  The more detailed information requested on the individual areas is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list, for each separate piece of land currently owned or leased by the Forestry Commission in Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset(a) its name and (b) its area in hectares; and if she will place a map in the Library which names and identifies each of these pieces of land.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]: The Forestry Commission manages the following areas of land in Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset.

  County

  Area (hectares)

  Avon

  324

  Cornwall

  3,290

  Devon

  10,123

  Dorset

  7,030

  Somerset

  4,440

  429
  I have made arrangements for a map showing the location of the individual areas to be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

  The more detailed information requested in the individual areas is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Bananas
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the dispute between Geest and Fyffes and Jamaican Producers regarding banana licences and transportation arrangements.

  Mr. Jack
  Under the new EC banana regime, which came into force on 1 July 1993, the issuing of licences to import bananas into the Community to companies who apply in the United Kingdom is the responsibility of the Intervention Board executive agency. The board's officials have issued licences for the second half of this year entirely in accordance with the provisions of Council Regulation 404/93 and Commission Regulations 1442/93 and 1443/93. The dispute over licences between Geest and Fyffes and Jamaica Producers is a commercial matter which it is for the companies themselves to resolve.

  Beef Premium Payments
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how long farmers in(a) England and (b) Wales had to wait on average for payment of beef premium payments; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The EC rules do not allow beef premium payments until 1 November, when a 60 per cent. advance can be made. In England, payments under the beef special premium scheme began in November, and by 8 December, some 40 per cent. of claimants had been paid advances. In Wales, advance payments are expected to begin by early January at the very latest. In both. England and Wales, advance payments under the suckler cow premium scheme are expected to start in January.

  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when farmers in south-east Cornwall can expect to receive the initial payment of their special beef premium; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The EC rules do not allow advance payments of beef special premium to be made before 1 November. By 8 December, some 40 per cent. of claimants in England had been paid advances. In Devon and Cornwall, the proportion of claimants paid by 8 December was 43 per cent. which was more than the average. Remaining claimants will be paid as quickly as possible.