Written Answers of 15 December 1993

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Advertising
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the cost of advertising by his Department has been for each year since 1979 and for each of the last 12 months.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Expenditure on advertising prior to 1987–88 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Expenditure on advertising for each year from 1987–88 is as follows:

  £

  1987–88

  4,978

  1988–89

  3,888

  1989–90

  5,483

  1990–91

  5,174

  1991–92

  22,698

  1992–93

  15,962

  Expenditure for each of the past 12 months is as follows:

  £

  1992

  November

  328

  December

  375

  1993

  January

  —

  Febryary

  —

  March

  14,901

  April

  352

  May

  —

  June

  1,439

  July

  2,617

  August

  302

  September

  1,056

  October

  989

  Magistrates
  Mr. James Hill
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to ensure independence of justices' clerks when advising magistrates, other than in individual cases.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor and I are entirely committed to protecting the independence of justices' clerks when advising magistrates. The legislation which with Parliament's approval will implement the White Paper, "A New Framework for Local Justice", will establish a framework within which the respective roles and responsibilities of justices' clerks and their magistrates courts committees can be clarified. The legislation will also make clear that justices' clerks are not liable to direction in respect of the legal advice given to magistrates in court.
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  Mr. James Hill
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will now publish the text of the proposed statutory provisions regarding the judicial independence of magistrates and the independence of legal advice given to magistrates by their clerks in individual cases.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Bill which will implement the White Paper, "A New Framework for Local Justice", is expected to be introduced to the House before the Christmas recess, after which the full text will be published in accordance with the usual procedure.

  Efficiency Commission
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the implications of the recommendations of the Efficiency Commission on the cost of legal aid.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Efficiency Commission has, since it was set up in 1986, made a number of recommendations designed to improve the operation of the criminal legal aid system. It is not possible to produce a precise figure for the implications which those recommendations which have been accepted have had on the cost of legal aid. It is, however, likely that the resulting savings have been small relative to total expenditure on criminal legal aid.

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current time scale for the work of the Efficiency Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There is currently no timetable assigned to the work of the Standing Commission on Efficiency.

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which proposals of the Efficiency Commission have been implemented since its establishment.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Standing Commission on Efficiency is made up of senior representatives from the Bar, the Law Society, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Lord Chancellor's Department. It has provided a forum for the formulation and discussion of ways of enhancing communication between the legal profession and the courts and thereby improving the disposal of criminal business. The commission has considered a large number of papers on a wide range of topics with the common aim of speeding up or streamlining both pre-trial processes and in-court procedures. In 1990 each of the members of the Efficiency Commission published a "Guide to Good Practice", which drew together the discussions of the group and provided reference documents in which each agency set out how it would discharge its responsibility to provide an efficient and effective service. The best practices set out there inform the practical operation of a wide range of services carried out by practitioners and courts. The commission has also been instrumental in devising a form for the provision of information by defence solicitors to assist courts when making listing decisions. A research project into the causes of delay in criminal proceedings was commissioned earlier this year. The findings of that research were submitted to the Royal Commission on
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  criminal justice, and consideration and implementation of any of its recommendations will take place in the context of the discussion of the wide-reaching proposals of the Royal Commission.

  Costs
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what complaints he has received about delays in the taxing and payment of(a) expedited costs and (b) other costs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In relation to costs in civil proceedings in the High Court and the county courts, I have received no more than 20 written complaints about delays in taxation over the last 12 months. Payment of costs in civil proceedings is a matter for the parties. The courts provide a range of procedures which can be used to enforce an order for costs, but it is for the parties to decide whether they want to use them.

  With regard to the delays in the taxing and payment of costs in criminal proceedings, the information is not recorded under this particular definition. The best available information shows that I have received nine complaints from Members of Parliament and 12 complaints from members of the public this year.

  No central record is kept of the number of complaints which may be received by the courts direct.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to improve the efficiency of the administration of justice in respect of the prompt taxing and payment of costs awarded by(a) the High Court and (b) other courts.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Delays in respect of civil taxations have been reduced generally over the last eighteen months. The situation is being kept under review and remedial steps will be taken, if necessary. On the question of payment of costs in civil proceedings, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to an earlier, related question.

  In respect of improving efficiency in the payment of costs in criminal proceedings, targets are in place for the payment of those costs which are being met nationally. Some problems have been experienced by the south-eastern circuit taxing teams and additional resources have been provided to assist them in meeting the targets set. Additionally, my officials are currently looking at how the standard fee system in the Crown court may be extended.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to award Rainbow the management of the national lottery.

  Mr. Sproat
  None. The licence to run the national lottery will be awarded by the director general after a competitive process.

  BBC Northern Ireland
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many redundancies have been effected in all grades in BBC Northern Ireland in each year from 1 April 1983 to 31 March 1993.

  Mr. Brooke
  I understand from the BBC that the information is not readily available before 1991. The total number of redundancies in BBC Northern Ireland in each of the last three years is as follows:

  Number

  1991

  105

  1992

  4

  1993

  37

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many people were employed in BBC Northern Ireland in all grades in each year from 1 April 1983 to 31 March 1993.

  Mr. Brooke
  I understand from the BBC that the information is not readily available before 1987. The total number of people employed in BBC Northern Ireland in each of the last seven years, in December, is as follows:

  Numbers

  1987

  701

  1988

  675

  1989

  697

  1990

  671

  1991

  566

  1992

  570

  1993

  533

  Radio Stations
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list radio stations which are wholly or mainly aimed at serving ethnic minority listeners.

  Mr. Brooke
  The following radio stations are wholly or mainly aimed at serving ethnic minority listeners:

  Choice FM (South London)

  Harmony Radio (Coventry)

  London Greek Radio{North London)

  Spectrum Radio(Londonwide)

  Sunrise East Midlands (Leicester)

  Sunrise FM (Bradford)

  Sunrise Radio (West London1)

  WNK Radio (North London)

  1 Londonwide from 1 January 1994).

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many radio stations serve each of the cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield.

  Mr. Brooke
  The table lists the number of services which are specifically designed to serve the whole of each named city.
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  BBC

  Independent

  National

  Local/Regional

  National

  Local/Regional

  Glasgow

  5

  1

  2

  13

  Edinburgh

  5

  1

  2

  13

  Aberdeen

  5

  1

  2

  12

  Dundee

  5

  1

  2

  12

  Birmingham

  5

  1

  2

  13

  Manchester

  5

  1

  2

  15

  Liverpool

  5

  1

  2

  13

  Sheffield

  5

  1

  2

  2

  1 Includes services which are licensed but not yet on air.

  In addition, there are services which can be heard in part of each city or received from neighbouring areas.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which major British cities have a radio station licensed to serve the entire metropolitan area.

  Mr. Brooke
  Every major British city has at least one licensed local radio service.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his policy on the provision of small community radio stations.

  Mr. Brooke
  Under the Broadcasting Act 1990, the Radio Authority licenses independent radio stations, including stations to serve small communities. It is for the authority to decide how to carry out its responsibilities.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Research and Development
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the distribution of funds between countries and projects in the fourth framework programme for research and development of the European Union.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The fourth framework programme has not yet been adopted. Statistical information on the distribution of funds will not be available until individual programmes within the overall framework have been implemented and operational for some time.

  Acts of Parliament
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for how long published copies of individaul Acts of Parliament are available; and whether he will consider more extensive publication as an initiative under the citizens charter.

  Mr. Davis
  HMSO aims as a minimum to keep all Acts of Parliament in print for at least three years. Thereafter individual acts are normally reprinted, provided there is sufficient demand. Where an Act goes out of print, HMSO can supply photocopies. In addition, HMSO can supply copies of any unrepealed Act in the version appearing in "Statutes in Force."

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Works of Art
  Mr. Cormack
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed (Mr. Beith), representing the House of Commons Commission, what changes have been made to the membership of the Advisory Committee on Works of Art.

  Mr. Beith
  I understand that Madam Speaker has appointed to the Advisory Committee on Works of Art the right hon. Member for Horsham (Sir Peter Hordern) in place of the right hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Channon).

  Overnight Sleeping Accommodation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith), representing the House of Commons Commission, what is his policy on the provision of overnight sleeping accommodation for staff; what is the annual cost of providing overnight sleeping accommodation for staff; and what alternatives have been considered for(a) uses of the allocated sleeping accommodation and (b) arranging overnight staff accommodation in local hotels.

  Mr. Beith
  Overnight sleeping accommodation is provided for essential staff of the House who are required to be on duty at late hours. The only costs arising directly from this provision are those for laundry, which at present cannot readily be separately identified. There is no plan to alter existing arrangements.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will outline the procedures governing the use of public interest immunity certificates.

  The Attorney-General
  Public interest immunity is a rule of evidence developed by the courts which is designed to prevent documents being disclosed in criminal or civil litigation if harm would result to the operation of the public service. It applies equally to all parties to litigation, irrespective of whether production would help or hinder their case. A claim for public interest immunity cannot be waived and in the case of the Crown is usually made by way of ministerial certificate. Such a certificate is not conclusive. Each claim is considered by the court which may, and in a criminal case must, inspect the documents. The court considers first whether the claim is in principle a valid one and, if so, must then go on to consider whether
  637
  the interests of justice in the particular case require that the public interest in maintaining confidentiality be overridden. The decision whether or not to override the public interest in maintaining confidentiality is for the court to make; it is not for the party claiming immunity.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  World Food Programme
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the budget of the world food programme in 1993.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The overall turnover of the world food programme in 1993 will be some US$2 billion. This includes both the programme support and administration budget, project spending, contributions in cash to trust funds and contributions in kind, which will provide some 4·5 million tonnes of food commodities.

  Somalia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy initiatives he is urging upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations to promote the long-term recovery of Somalia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  All donors had a full opportunity to express their views on the rehabilitation of Somalia at the humanitarian conference organised by the United Nations in Addis Ababa from 29 November to 1 December. We now await the report from the Secretary-General called for in Security Council resolution 886 of 18 November.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the value of the ODA and EC aid and development programme in Somalia, excluding the area of the former British Somalia, in the current financial year;

  (2) what is the ODA and EC aid and development programme in the former British Somalia—Somaliland—in the current financial year.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Britain's bilateral development programme to Somalia was terminated in 1991, since when there has been residual expenditure only. In November 1993, the EC approved a rehabilitation programme for the whole of Somalia worth about £29 million. The UK share will be £4·7 million.

  Both Britain and the EC have provided substantial amounts of humanitarian assistance to Somalia this year. Since January 1993, Britain has committed more than £9·5 million in bilateral humanitarian assistance to Somalia, of which more than £1 million has so far been allocated to activities in the north-west. The EC has provided £9·2 million in emergency assistance to Somalia, of which the UK share is £1·5 million. EC expenditure by region is not available.

  EC Development Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) of 6 December,Official Report, column 76, what were the voting figures recorded in the meeting of the European Community's Development Council held on 2 December.
  638
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The resolutions of the Development Council on 2 December were adopted by consensus, as is the normal practice.

PRIME MINISTER

  Former Members
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list by ministerial department how many former hon. Members have been appointed to salaried positions in Government bodies since 1979, giving details in each case.

  The Prime Minister
  This information is not held centrally.

  European Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of the European Council of 10 and 11 December indicating the voting record of each member of state on each item and where no formal votes were taken.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement I made following the European Council on 13 December. The task of the European Council, as set out in the treaty on European union, is to provide the union with the necessary impetus for its development and to define general political guidelines. It does not vote; its decisions are taken by consensus. Legislative decisions under the treaties are taken by the Council of Ministers.

  Advertising
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister what the cost of advertising by his office has been for each year since 1979 and for each of the last 12 months.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Honours Review
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the outcome of the review of honours numbers which he announced in his statement on honours of 4 March,Official Report, columns 453–63.

  The Prime Minister
  The review has been completed, and the outcome has been graciously approved by the Queen. The review considered the number of honours required for my list, the diplomatic service and overseas list and the defence services list, at each half-year for six years, 1994 to 1999 inclusive. As a result of the review, the number of awards available for the recognition of all forms of voluntary service will be increased by about 100 in my list, and by 20 in the diplomatic service and overseas list. The increase will be broadly matched by a reduction in the number of awards to state servants, largely reflecting the reductions in the size of the civil service and of the armed forces.

  Ex-Ministers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list those who have resigned, retired or been dismissed from ministerial office in the past 10 years and the severance pay in (i) cash and (ii) current prices paid to each one.
  639
  The Prime Minister
  [pursuant to his answer of 7 December 1993, columns 142-43]: Severance payment shown as having been authorised with effect from 5 May 1992 for the Chairman of Committees, House of Lords and the Principal Deputy Chairman of Committees, House of Lords were not made since both the individuals concerned were disqualified, on grounds of age, under the terms of the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will establish a hotline for hon. Members to contact the Child SupportAgency on behalf ofconstituents on similar lines to the hotline for the disability living allowance.

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

  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Dr. Tony Wright, dated 14 December 1993:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking for a hotline to be established to enable Members of Parliament to contact the Child Support Agency on behalf of their constituents.
  I am pleased to be able to tell you that I have put arrangements in place, and have written to all Members individually on this and other matters relating to their correspondence with the Agency.
  I hope you will find this reply helpful.

  Young People
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many 16 and 17-year-olds received severe hardship payments in(a) Dundee and (b) Scotland in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from Tony Laurance to Mr. John McAllion, dated 4 December 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is the responsibility of Mr. Michael Bichard to answer questions about relevant operational matters. However, as Mr. Bichard is away on annual leave at the moment, I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security. This was about the number of 16 and 17-year-olds who have received Severe Hardship Payments in (a) Dundee and (b) Scotland in each of the past five years.
  Regrettably, the information required is not available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. This is because the statistics kept cover the number of applications, rather than the number of individuals who have claimed. Some customers may have made more than one application.
  However,I have provided figures from the earliestdate available, 1990, in the attached appendix relating to successful applications for Severe Hardship Payments. I should point out that the statistics relate to Benefits Agency Districts and are not routinely collected to show the number of claims specific to a town. The statistics given for Dundee relate to the Benefits Agency's Dundee East and West offices for the period January 1990 unitl March 1991. From the inception of the Benefits Agency in April 1991, the figures quoted are for the Tayside District Office, which also includes the Arbroath and Perth Branch Offices.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.
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  Successful Severe Hardship Claims

  Numbers

  Dundee

  1990

  75

  1991

  421

  1992

  1,168

  11993

  1,631

  Scotland

  1990

  10,787

  1991

  10,983

  1992

  18,360

  11993

  20,587

  1The figures for 1993 show the position up until the end of October.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many 16 and 17-year-olds had an automatic right to income support in(a) Dundee and (b) Scotland in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from Tony Laurance to Mr. John McAllion, dared 14 December 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is the responsibility of Mr. Michael Bichard to answer questions about relevant operational matters. However, as Mr. Bichard is away on annual leave at the moment, I am replying to your Parliamentary uestion to the Secretary of State for Social Security. This was about the number of 16 and 17-year-olds who had an automatic right to Income Support in (a) Dundee and (b) Scotland in each of the past five years.
  The information requested relating to Dundee is not routinely collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  However, the table below gives data from the Annual Statistical Inquiry for the total number of 16 and 17-year-olds in Scotland on Income Support. This includes those who areautomatically entitled to Income Support and those paid under the special hardship rules. To obtain separate figures would incur disproportionate cost. The figures quoted show the number of customers at the end of May 1992, the last year for which figures are available, and have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  16 and 17-year-olds in receipt of Income Support in Scotland

  Numbers

  May 1988

  16,000

  May 1989

  2,000

  May 1990

  3,000

  May 1991

  2,000

  May 1992

  4,000

  The figures for the Annual Statistical Inquiry are based on a 1 per cent. sample of Income Support cases at the time of inquiry.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Industrial Injuries
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for industrial injuries disablement benefit his Department dealt with last year; and what proportion of those claims were successful.

  Mr. Scott
  The number of claims to industrial injuries disablement benefit received during the 1992 calendar year was about 70,000. The result of these claims is not readily available, but we would normally expect about one quarter to be successful.

  Contributions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what consideration he is giving to employees being offered the option of better benefits in return for higher contributions; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will consider combining an improved contributory system for those in employment with a participation income for (a) unpaid carers and (b) people active in voluntary work; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will consider abolishing the contributory principle and replace contributory benefits with non-means tested, non-contributory benefits paid out of taxation, to cover unemployment, sickness, maternity and retirement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  I have no plans to do so.

  Domestic Fuel (VAT)
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people on low incomes and below pension age he estimates will be worse off as a result of his announcement in the Budget to retain the imposition of VAT on domestic fuel and power; and what plans he has to compensate them beyond the automatic increases of benefits in line with inflation.

  Mr. Burt
  The effect of the introduction of VAT on domestic fuel is uncertain since it is difficult to estimate trends in fuel prices and the effect of VAT on consumers expenditure. We have announced details of extra help for people receiving social security benefits. The help above normal uprating will be worth £l·5 billion over three years and more than 15 million people will gain from these measures.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has recently considered the operation of the social fund review process.

  Mr. Scott
  I am pleased to announce that I will be making improvements to the social fund review process from April 1994. These changes will improve the speed and efficiency with which social fund review requests are handled within Benefits Agency district offices.

  Improvements will be achieved through the appointment of specially trained social fund review officers. These expert officers will be responsible for ensuring that social fund review requests are considered as speedily and effectively as possible in district offices. In addition there will be some changes designed to streamline procedures.

  Applicants will, of course, retain the right of an independent review by a social fund inspector.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing in 1992–93 prices, the gross public spending for each year since 642
  1990–91 and the projected expenditure for each year to 1995–96 for each executive non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department, as listed in "Public Bodies 1992".

  Mr. Hague
  The executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Social Security, as listed in "Public Bodies 1992," is the Occupational Pensions Board. The gross public spending figures at 1992–93 prices are in the table.

  Gross public spending1

  millions

  £

  1990–91

  2·451

  1991–92

  2·337

  1992–93

  2·695

  1993–94

  2·664

  1994–95

  2·538

  1995–96

  2·542

  1 Figures in millions, using GDP deflator.

  Note: All figures exclude the costs of the Occupational Pensions Advisory Service (OPAS) which were included in the entry for the OPB in Public Bodies in 1992. OPAS is not an executive non-departmental public body.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those responsible for making appointments of(a) chairs and (b) members of the boards to each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department.

  Mr. Hague
  The appointment of the president, regional chairman and other full-time chairmen of the independent tribunal service is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor. Otherwise, appointments of chairs and members of the boards of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by this Department are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Inland Revenue
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of morale within the Inland Revenue; what redundancies have been made and for what reasons; what is the current backlog in dealing with tax cases and the corresponding figure for the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  There has been no general survey of morale recently. Two surveys by the industrial society carried out in 1992 found evidence of low morale in a number of parts of the Inland Revenue.

  In 1992–93 there were 355 voluntary early retirements. In 1993–94 to the end of October there have been 191 voluntary early retirements, and four compulsory redundancies.

  Key indicators of work state in the Inland Revenue are as follows:
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  Per cent

  November 1993

  1992–93

  1991–92

  1990–91

  Post dealt with in 28 days

  99·0

  98·0

  1—

  1—

  Employee cases cleared within two years of the end of the relevant tax year large/complex cases

  95·3

  96·9

  90·0

  80·2

  other cases

  98·8

  99·6

  99·0

  98·0

  Assessments on the self-employed made to meet the due date

  297·5

  97·5

  97·5

  98·3

  1 New target in 1992–93.

  2 The programme ends in December. It is currently on course to meet the 97·5 per cent. target.

  Taxation
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest estimates of(a) original, (b) gross, (c) disposable and (d) post-tax income, by decile, in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nelson
  The latest figures on the basis requested are for 1991 and were published in the May 1993 edition of Economic Trends. Estimates for 1993 will be published in due course when the 1993 Family Expenditure Survey is completed and processed.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated(a) mean and (b) median, (i) original, (ii) gross, (iii) disposable and (iv) post-tax income in 1993–94 in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nelson
  The latest estimates of original, gross, disposable, and post-tax income, by decile group, are for 1991 and were published in the May 1993 edition of Economic Trends. Estimates for 1992 will be published in the January 1994 edition of Economic Trends.

  The estimates are derived from the Family Expenditure Survey.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people he estimates will be made unemployed in the construction industry following his decision to reduce the annual allocation to the Housing Corporation by more than £300 million; how many planned building projects he estimates will be cancelled; and what plans he has to compensate the construction industry.

  Mr. Portillo
  The construction industry's main requirements are for continuing low interest rates and increasing economic confidence. My right hon. and learned Friend's Budget offers decisive action to reduce public sector borrowing. My right hon. and learned Friend has also announced several important new potential projects under the private finance initiative which can provide a boost for construction employment.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates the revenue from the uniform business rate will fall in real terms, following the announcement in November's Budget to maintain the 33 per cent. main rate and 25 per cent. lower rate of corporation tax.
  644
  Mr. Dorrell
  There is no connection between the revenue from the uniform businesss rate and the rates set for corporation tax. Forecasts of cash revenues from the uniform business rate in 1993–94 and 1994–95 are set out in table 6.5 of the 1994–95 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  C. J. How
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on behalf of investors in C. J. How; and if he will make a statement on their prospects for compensation.

  Mr. Nelson
  A number of representations have been received on behalf of investors. C. J. How was never authorised to conduct investment business under the Financial Services Act and investors are not therefore eligible for compensation under the investors compensation scheme. I understand that in certain cases where holdings in unit trusts beneficially owned by investors were improperly redeemed by C. J. How, the unit trust firms have made ex gratia payments to individual clients of C. J. How.

  Public Sector Pay
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates public sector pay will fall in real terms over the next three years; and how many public sector jobs he estimates will be lost.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In the climate of low inflation, it is necessary to change the expectation of pay increases which come automatically every year, regardless of performance. Pay rises have to be earned. This principle has increasingly been adopted in the private sector, and the public sector has to follow suit. We are confident that all areas of the public sector can make the efficiency savings necessary to fund pay settlements.

  The Government do not directly control manpower numbers in substantial parts of the public sector and so cannot give projections. But as in the private sector, in controlling pay costs, the Government cannot rule out job losses. The way to safeguard jobs is to keep wages at affordable levels.

  Income Support
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates the public sector borrowing requirement will fall in 1996–97 as a direct result of his decision to limit the availability of means-tested income support benefit for the unemployed to only six months; and how many people he estimates will be affected.
  645
  Mr. Portillo
  No such decision has been taken.

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

  Mr. Portillo
  [pursuant to his answer, 7 December 1993, c. 133]: I also visited Madrid from 24 to 27 September, where I delivered a speech to the British Hispanic Foundation about growth, competitiveness, unemployment, and United Kingdom attitudes to the EC. The cost to the taxpayer of this visit was £480.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Roads
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of EC structural funds have been used in 1993–94 for capital investment programmes to upgrade roads in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The proportion of EC structural funds to be used in 1993–94 to upgrade roads in Northern Ireland is 1·4 per cent.

  Residential Homes:
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients have been admitted to each residential home in the area administered by the Armagh and Dungannon unit of management since 1 April.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested is set out in the following tables for the period 1 April to 30 September 1993, the latest date for which figures are available. The figures do not include those people who have made their own arrangements to enter homes and pay for their care.

  Persons admitted to residential/nursing home care: by home April—September 1993

  Private nursing home

  Permanent resident

  Temporary resident

  Sandown, Dungannon

  2

  Castledillon

  1

  1

  Castle Manor

  1

  Chestnut Lodge

  1

  1

  Copperfields

  2

  Greenpark

  10

  1

  Hockley Lodge

  1

  2

  Hockley Mews

  1

  Manor Court

  3

  6

  The Meadows

  1

  Nightingale

  2

  5

  Sanville

  1

  Bawn Cottage

  4

  6

  Gillbrook

  2

  The Haven

  8

  8

  Harold McAuley

  1

  ToTal

  33

  38

  Private Residential Care Home

  Permanent Resident

  Temporarry Resident

  Corkhill Lodge

  1

  3

  Drumorgan Lodge

  —

  —

  Fairlaws

  —

  1

  646

  Private residential care Home

  Permanent Resident

  Temporary Residet

  Glenview

  —

  4

  Hebron House

  —

  —

  Monique

  —

  1

  Roughan House

  —

  1

  St. McCartan's

  2

  1

  Sunnymeade

  2

  1

  Seaforte

  —

  2

  Christian Disabled Fellowship

  —

  1

  Total

  5

  15

  statutory Residential Home

  Permanent Resident

  Temporary Resident

  Lisanally

  —

  (emergency)1

  Roxborough House

  2

  10

  Total

  2

  11

  Apprentices
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many apprentices entered training in colleges of further education in Northern Ireland in(a) 1990, (b) 1991, (c) 1992 and (d) 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. S. Crozier. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Mr. J. Crozier to Mr Roger Stott, dated 14 May:
  You asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many apprentices entered training in Colleges of Further Education in Northern Ireland in each of the years from 1990 to 1993.
  As Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, which is responsible for the training and employment functions of Government in Northern Ireland, I have been asked to reply.
  We have interpreted the word "apprentices" in your question to mean young people attracting skill level funding towards national vocational qualification (NVQ) level 3 in the youth training programme (YTP) who attend further education Colleges (FECs). The table shows the number of YTP trainees attracting skill level funding who were pursuing NVQ level 3 courses together with the total number of YTP trainees in further education colleges for the years 1990–91 to 1993–94 (to 31 October 1993).

  YTP trainees pursuing NVQ Level 3 courses and total YTP trainees in FECs

  Year end at 31 March

  Trainees at NVQ Level 3

  Total number of YTP trainees in FECs

  1990–91

  1,009

  4,626

  1991–92

  1,088

  4,685

  1992–93

  1,208

  4,579

  1993–941

  1,174

  4,028

  1 At 31 October 1993.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Agricultural Wages Board
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library the responses to the consultation on the future of the agricultural wages board in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 3 December]: I have no plans to do so but copies will be available in the Library of the Department of Agriculture in Belfast.

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

  Sir John Wheeler
  Data on staff employed as press and publicity officers in 1985 and 1979 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The number of people currently employed in the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Civil Service as press and publicity officers is 37.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Neighbourhood Watch
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations he envisages will govern the activities of neighbourhood watch patrols; and if he will make it his policy that no pressure should be put on neighbourhood watch groups to institute patrols.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to compensate members of the public for injury and wrongful arrest by members of his proposed extended neighbourhood watch scheme;

  (2) what plans he has to ensure that convicted criminals are screened out of his proposed extended neighbourhood watch scheme;

  (3) what plans he has to require members of his proposed extended neighbourhood watch scheme to wear numbered armbands or other means of personal identification.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In England and Wales there are over 115,000 neighbourhood watch schemes covering more than 5 million households. These are voluntary organisations run by local residents with the support of the police, and whose activities are geared to dealing with local crime prevention issues. Arrangements for membership is entirely a matter for individual schemes and internal arrangements including dress code and any screening of members is a local decision in consultation with the local police.

  With the sanction of the local police, a number of schemes have chosen to undertake patrolling in their neighbourhood. In recognition of local initiatives and support of this growing trend, my right hon. and learned Friend announced at the neighbourhood watch conference on 4 December that a code of practice would be drawn up in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers. There will be no requirement for neighbourhood watch schemes to patrol. The matters which could be covered in the code of practice will include the need for the
  648
  agreement of the local police before schemes undertake patrols, information on what scheme members should do on seeing something suspicious, and the need to stay completely within the law.

  Local Elections
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the percentage of electors voting in local government elections for each county council, metropolitan borough council and London borough council since 1974.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is contained in a number of different publications which are available in the Library. The main ones are:

  1974–79

  Office of Population Censuses and Surveys "Electoral Statistics" series

  1980–87

  Publications by Parliamentary Research Services, Chichester, Sussex

  1988 onwards

  Publications by the Local Government Chronicle Elections Centre, University of Plymouth (formerly Plymouth Polytechnic) in the Local Elections Handbook series

  1990

  London Borough elections data published by the London Research Centre, 81 Black Prince Road, London SE1 7SZ ("London Borough Council Elections, 3 May 1990").

  Chestnut Tree, Wanstead
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of policing the demonstration protesting against the felling of a 250-year-old chestnut tree at George Green, Wanstead, on 7 December.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer the hon. Member to reply given to the hon. Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Gapes) on 14 December at column 531.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when, and in what manner, the warnings to leave were issued to protesters dwelling in the 250-year-old chestnut tree at George Green, Wanstead, before it was felled.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the warnings were not given by his officers but by the under-sheriff of Greater London.

  Gunshot Wounds
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fatalities arose from gunshot wounds recorded in the years 1990, 1991 and 1992 in the United Kingdom; and what analysis has been made in his Department of how many such incidents involved assailants suffering from the ingestion of drugs.

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information, for England and Wales, which relates to offences currently recorded as homicide where the method of killing was recorded as shooting were as follows:

  Numbers

  1990

  58

  1991

  50

  1992

  52

  649
  No information is available centrally as to whether the assailants were suffering from the ingestion of drugs.

  Figures for Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and figures for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing, in 1992–93 prices, the gross public spending for each year since

  Home Office funding to Executive, etc. bodies for 1990–91 to 1995–96 expressed in 1992–93 prices

  (£'000)

  Name of body

  1990–91 Outturn

  1991–92 Outturn

  1992–93 Outturn

  1993–94 Forecast Outturn

  1994–95 plans

  1995–96 Plans

  Alcohol Education and Research Council

  Not funded by Home Office

  Commission for Racial Equality

  14,919

  14,615

  14,996

  14,577

  14,444

  14,537

  community Development Foundation

  1,010

  995

  1,014

  1,000

  Not decided yet

  Fire Service Examinations Board

  Not funded by Home Office

  Fire Service Research and Training Trust

  Not funded by Home Office

  Gaming Board for Great Britain

  2,686

  2,839

  2,957

  2,830

  2,829

  2,883

  Horserace Betting Levy Board

  Not funded by Home Office

  Horserace Totalisator Board

  Not funded by Home Office

  Office of the Data Protection Registrar

  3,481

  3,554

  3,744

  3,321

  3,588

  3,560

  Police Complaints Authority

  3,603

  3,569

  3,653

  3,665

  3,533

  3,563

  Police Promotion Examinations Board

  728

  1,267

  1,792

  1,292

  1,071

  1,056

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Board1

  131,724

  164,190

  174,271

  171,776

  200,806

  205,437

  1 Tribunal with executive functions. Figures are gross and include contributions from the Scottish Office Home and Health Department.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those responsible for making appointments of(a) chairs and (b) members of the boards to each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department.

  Mr. Howard
  For the following executive non-departmental bodies the Home Secretary is responsible for appointing both the chairman and the board members. These are:

  Alcohol Education and Research Council

  Commission for Racial Equality

  Community Development Foundation

  Gaming Board

  Horserace Totalisator Board

  Fire Services Research and Training Trust

  For the remaining executive non-departmental bodies, the position is as follows:

  Office of the Data Protection Registrar
  The registrar is a Crown appointment.
  There are no members.

  Police Complaints Authority
  The chairman is a Crown appointment.
  Board members are appointed by the Home Secretary.

  Police Promotions Examinations Board
  The chairman is appointed by the Home Secretary.
  Members are nominated by the local authority and staff associations represented on the board.

  Fire Services Examination Board
  The chairman is appointed by the Home Secretary.
  Four members are appointed by the Home Secretary.
  The remaining members are appointed by the local authority and staff associations represented on the board.

  Horserace Betting Levy Board
  The chairman is appointed by the Home Secretary.
  Two independent members are appointed by the Home Secretary.
  The remainder of the board comprises representatives of the racing and betting industries: three British Horseracing Board appointees, the chairman of the Horserace Totalisator Board and the chairman of the Bookmakers Committee.
  650
  1990–91, and the projected expenditure for each year to 1995–96 for each executive non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department, as listed in "Public Bodies 1992."

  Mr. Howard
  Payments made, or planned to be made, from the Home Office Vote to the executive etc. bodies listed in "Public Bodies 1992"—adjusted to 1992–93 prices—are set out in the table:

  Advertising
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of advertising by his Department has been for each year since 1979 and for each of the last 12 months.

  Mr. Howard
  Figures for advertising expenditure since 1979
  are as follows:

  £

  1979–80

  2,904,671

  1980–81

  1,649,605

  1981–82

  1,834,476

  1982–83

  1,957,304

  1983–84

  2,760,681

  1984–85

  3,262,700

  1985–86

  3,306,391

  1986–87

  5,000,000

  1987–88

  4,700,000

  1988–89

  5,400,000

  1989–90

  5,500,000

  1990–91

  5,728,000

  1991–92

  7,275,940

  1992–93

  7,344,635

  It is not possible to provide an accurate month by month breakdown of advertising expenditure for each of the last 12 months because campaigns are not booked monthly. Total expenditure for the financial year to date is £4,321,048.

  Home Affairs Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North of 7 December,Official Report, columns 167-68, what was the voting record of each member state on all items agreed and adopted at the

  651
  meeting of the European Community's Home Affairs Council held on 29 to 30 November; and if he will make it his practice automatically to record in future answers all such votes, including where no formal votes have been taken.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  All the items agreed by the Interior and Justice Council fell under title VI of the Maastricht treaty and were adopted by unanimity. In future the Government will inform Parliament of all votes published by the Council; for title VI matters, publication of votes requires unanimous agreement. This was not sought by the Presidency on this occasion. If the Interior and Justice Council were to adopt Community legislation under the treaty of Rome, its votes would be published automatically unless a majority of the Council was opposed.

  Embarkation Checks
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to alter the embarkation checks on passengers leaving the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  From 1 February passports will not normally be checked on departure from ferry ports and small airports for EC destinations. At the main airport terminals and on departure elsewhere for destinations outside the EC, the passports of non-EC nationals will continue to be examined; EC nationals will, as now, be expected to present their documents, but the closer examination of a 10 per cent. sample will cease.

  These changes should freqe staff resources for work which contributes more directly to the effectiveness of the immigration control. The immigration officer's power to examine the passport of any departing passenger will however remain, and it will still be possible to mount ad hoc checks where, for example, there is reason to believe that someone of interest to the police in connection with serious crime is likely to leave the country by a particular route. Police powers under the Prevention of Terrorism legislation are unaffected.

  Criminal Cases Review Authority
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made towards establishing the proposed criminal cases review authority recommended by the Royal Commission on Crimi0nal Justice.

  Mr. Howard
  The Government have decided to establish a Criminal Cases Review Authority to review alleged miscarriages of justice. We have put in hand the etailed preparatory work which will be necessary before any new arrangements can be put in place. We shall be issuing a consultation paper early next year which will set out the issues, put forward our proposals for dealing with them and identify any practical problems which still need to be settled. I am sure that the paper will be of interest to many people and I look forward to receiving their views on what it has to say.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the White Paper setting out more detailed proposals for changing the criminal injuries compensation scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  I have today published the White Paper. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  The Secretary of State for Scotland and I are jointly responsible for the criminal injuries compensation scheme and for the new arrangements.

  The main features of those arrangements are that compensation will no longer be assessed on a basis comparable to common law damages. Instead, payment will be made from a tariff (or scale) of awards for injuries of comparable severity. All eligible applicants with a similar injury will be treated in the same way. This will make the new scheme more straightforward and simpler to administer. It should also be easier for claimants to understand, and they should now have a much better idea when they apply what award they might expect to receive.

  The tariff levels have been set by reference to awards made in the recent past by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. The lower limit will remain unchanged at £1,000, and there will be 25 tariff levels ranging from that threshold to £¼ million for the most serious category of injury. The basic rules of eligibility will remain broadly the same as under the present scheme.

  The tariff scheme will be run by a non-departmental public body, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). There will also be a new independent appeals panel to which those dissatisfied with the authority's decision will be able to appeal.

  Our compensation scheme is one of the most generous schemes in the world, and will remain so when the tariff scheme is introduced. We believe the new tariff scheme should enable us to provide a better service to the blameless victims of violent crime.

  Immigration
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will review the workings of the immigration section of his Department to ensure that no racial prejudice is demonstrated against Thai citizens seeking to enter the United Kingdom as legal spouses of a British citizens;

  (2) if he will review the workings of his entry visa system to ensure that United Kingdom citizens who have married a spouse in Thailand are allowed to bring that spouse back to reside in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  A Thai citizen who wishes to enter the United Kingdom as the spouse of a British citizen must meet the requirements of the immigration rules in the same way as any other foreign national seeking entry on this basis. I see no need for reviews of the kind that the hon. Member has in mind, but if he has a particular case in mind which has caused concern I shall be glad to enquire into it. Under the immigration rules, officials are required to carry out their duties without regard to race, colour or religion.

  Stolen Vehicles
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what figures he has on the use of stolen motor vehicles in the course of other criminal offences in the latest available year.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is not collected centrally.

  M11 Link Road
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Metropolitan Commissioner on the cost of policing so far incurred in relation to demonstrations against the M11 link road in Wanstead.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Gapes) on 14 December at col.531 concerning the cost of policing the demonstration on 7 December. Information on the total cost of police operations in connection with the M11 link road is not available.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Metropolitan Commissioner as to the reasons for the procedures adopted by police officers in relation to demonstrations against the M11 link road in Wanstead; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I understand from the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis that his officers were assisting the under sheriff of Greater London to execute an order of the High Court for possession of the land.

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the recommendations of the firearms consultative committee that have been implemented nationally, from each of its annual reports.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Implementation of a considerable number of the Firearms Consultative Committee's (FCC) recommendations will require primary legislation to amend the Firearms Acts. I am unable to say when parliamentary time might be available for legislation on firearms matters. Other recommendations which have already been implemented by means of subordinate legislation or through administrative action are listed. Work is in hand towards the implementation of a number of other recommendations of the committee.

  FIRST ANNUAL REPORT

  Approved Rifle and Pistol Clubs
  The changes to the revised criteria for club approval which the committee recommended were incorporated in the final list of revised approval criteria and have been in place since January 1990.

  Countersignatures
  I understand from the committee's recommendations that no class of person should be automatically excluded from being accepted as a countersignatory to a firearm or shot gun certificate application; that flexibility should be applied in interpretation of the definition of a countersignatory; and that any inconsistency should be reported to chief officers of police have been promulgated to forces by the Association of Chief Police Officers.
  654
  Visitor's Permit Scheme
  I understand that police forces are following the committee's recommendations that British visitor's permits should in general be issued for the full twelve months allowed in law and that applications should be supplied in English.

  SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

  European Commission Proposal for a Council Directive on the Acquisition and Possession of Weapons
  The regulations which transposed the directive's provisions into our domestic legislation (Firearms Acts (Amendment) Regulations 1992—SI 1992 No. 2823) retained the British visitor's permit scheme and also made the issue of European firearms passes a police responsibility.

  Control of Explosives Regulations
  A number of the committee's recommendations were given effect in the final version of the regulations (SI 1991 No. 1531) which it had seen in draft. To minimise bureaucracy the regulations provided for explosives certificates to be issued coterminously with an existing firearm or shot gun certificate. Limits on the quantitites of explosives which can be kept for private use were also increased.

  THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

  Definition of antique weapons and Collecting of firearms
  Revised guidance to police on which weapons should be considered as antiques was issued in November 1992.
  Provision was made in the Firearms Acts (Amendment) Regulations 1992 allowing the continued private possession by collectors of certain items which are prohibited from general public possession by virtue of the EC Weapons Directive.

  Carrier of Prohibited Weapons
  The Home Office issued an addendum to its guidance to carriers of prohibited weapons covering the carriage of weapons to and from the gun barrel proof houses.

  Leaflet on the Security of Firearms and Shot Guns
  The Home Office published a leaflet on firearm and shot gun security in October 1992.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise police forces to stop the practice of stamping envelopes containing correspondence to firearms and shotgun holders information to the effect that if the envelope is found it should be returned to the firearms unit of the force concerned.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The administration of the firearms licensing system is the responsibility of individual chief officers of police. We have no plans to issue guidance to the police on this subject but the matter has been brought to the attention of the Association of Chief Police Officers for any action which it considers necessary.

  Tracker Security Devices
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which police forces have equipment that enables them to recover stolen vehicles that are fitted with Tracker security devices;

  (2) what his Department is doing to encourage the fitting of Tracker devices to help locate stolen vehicles;

  (3) what assessment he has made of the use of Tracker devices in the recovery of stolen cars (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in other countries.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  All mainland United Kingdom police forces are equipped to pick up signals from Tracker devices.
  While concealed tracking devices can provide a valuable weapon in the fight against vehicle crime, it is not appropriate for the Home Office to endorse or promote individual tracking systems.655
  The Home Office has made no assessment of the operational value of tracking devices. It has, however, carried out a technical assessment of the available equipment on behalf of the police.

  Police Establishment
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the(a) authorised establishment, (b) actual strength and (c) number of vacancies for the police services establishment of the Metropolitan police in each month of 1993;

  (2) what was the authorised establishment of police service officers in England and Wales, in each constabulary including the Metropolitan police, on 1 January;

  (3) if he will list the constabularies in England and Wales which are under strength; and if he will set out in each case the numbers under strength and the percentage under strength in each establishment (a) at 1 January 1993 and (b) for the latest month available.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Police Authorities (Budget)
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total budget for the police authorities in England and Wales for(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94; and what is the planned budget for 1994–95.

  Mr Charles Wardle
  The latest estimates by police authorities indicate total expenditure as £5,797 million in 1992–93 and £6,114 million in 1993–94. No figure for 1994–95 is yet available.

  Election Leaflets
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 December,Official Report, column 627, if he will examine the feasibility of bringing forward amendments to the Representation of the People Acts to outlaw the production of fraudulent election leaflets purporting to come from a rival political party.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have no immediate plans to do so. The issue may arise in discussions with the political parties next year and I shall consider any representations which might then be made on this issue.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received calling for a review of the Homicide Act 1957 and the criminal justice system with regard to reforming the definition of provocation to include prolonged domestic violence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have received many letters on this subject from parliamentary colleagues and from members of the public.

  The Government's position is set out in our response to the recent Report of the Home Affairs Select Committee on Domestic Violence (Cm 2269), a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The Government do not accept that the case has been made for a change in the law. In our view,
  656
  the present law on provocation reflects a proper balance between a reluctance on the one hand to exonerate pre-meditated revenge killing and a desire on the other to leave a judgment on the facts of the individual case to the jury. Nevertheless, the law in this area is kept under careful review.

  Deportation
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women who were initially granted entry permits in order to join their husbands have been deported from Britain in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to her on 1 December at column 627.

  Director General of Prison Service
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current salary paid to Mr. Derek Lewis, the director general of the prison service.

  Mr. Howard
  Mr. Lewis's salary is £125,000 a year. He is also eligible for a performance bonus of up to 35 per cent. of basic salary.

  Prisoner Escape
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the circumstances which allowed the escape of a high-security prisoner, from his escort in or in the vicinity of the Bell public house, Pokesdown, Bournemouth on Friday 3 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 Mr. D. Lewis to Mr. David Atkinson, dated 15 December 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the circumstances which allowed the escape of a high security prisoner, from his escort in the vicinity of the Bell public house, Pokesdown, Bournemouth on Friday 3 December.
  Richard James Tyres was granted temporary release from HMP Albany under Rule 6 of the Prison Rules. This provides for prisoners to be released outside the custody or control of a prison officer for any special purpose which will assist them in their transition from prison life to freedom.
  Mr. Tyres was not a high security prisoner; he had been recategorised to category C (low risk) in October 1993 as a result of his behaviour and progress in prison and in consequence was considered a suitable risk for temporary release. He was accompanied, but not escorted, by his personal case officer who had been working closely with Mr. Tyres and the Probation Service to develop realistic resettlement plans for his eventual release.
  The purpose of this release was to attend an interview in Bournemouth with the community drug team. Following the Community Care Act it is now necessary to have a needs assessment completed before the local authority will agree to recommend the funding of a place in a residential drug unit on release.
  Following the interview there was an interval before the afternoon ferry booking. Both the officer and inmate went into a pub where the officer drank orange juice and the prisoner brown ale. No specific instructions had been given about this. Had the prisoner been released, as normal, without an officer accompanying him, it would have been a matter over which we would have had no control.

  657
  On leaving the public house Mr. Tyres ran off. The officer immediately alerted the police who had been informed, in advance, of Mr. Tyres presence in the area.
  Although Mr. Tyres had been sentenced to five years imprisonment in May 1992, he was eligible for release on licence in August 1993, taking into account time spent on remand. His first application was not successful and he was due to be reviewed again in May 1994. If he were to have any realistic chance of success in this review it would be essential for him to demonstrate satisfactory release plans were in place.
  Mr. Tyres was recaptured by the police on 9 December. The governor is conducting a full inquiry into the incident to establish whether there were any weaknesses in the procedures which led to the decision to release Mr. Tyres.

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

  Mr. Howard
  In 1990–91, the Home Secretary's three cars cost £75,700, including £2,700 for maintenance. The current costs given in my reply to the hon. Member's earlier question on 3 December at column 783 included a provision of £25,000 for maintenance which is unlikey to be fully taken up.

  Other Home Office Ministers used four cars supplied by the Government car service. In addition, cars were supplied for the transportation of ministerial despatch boxes. The total cost of these cars in 1990–91 was £191,000. The increased cost since then is attributed to price increases (18 per cent.), an increase in VAT (2·5 per cent.) and an increase in usage of the service (8·5 per cent.).

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hong Kong
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of talks on future of democracy in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We have sought agreement with China on the electoral arrangements for 1994 and 1995 in Hong Kong. But after seventeen Rounds of talks, the pressures of the legislative timetable have obliged the Governor to introduce draft legislation today into the Legislative Council covering the more urgent issues. Our aim was to gain a little more time to continue talks with China on the remaining electoral issues. We remain ready for further talks. Co-operation between Britain and China is the best way of securing a smooth transition for Hong Kong in 1997.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the Governor of Hong Kong's proposals to advance democracy in the Crown Colony.

  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in the talks between the United Kingdom and China with regard to the future of Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We have sought agreement with China on the electoral arrangements for 1994 and 1995 in Hong 658
  Kong. But after seventeen Rounds of talks, the pressures of the legislative timetable have obliged the Governor to introduce draft legislation today into the Legislative Council covering the more urgent issues. Our aim was to gain a little more time to continue talks with China on the remaining electoral issues. We remain ready for further talks. Co-operaton between Britain and China is the best way of securing a smooth transition for Hong Kong in 1997.

  Angola
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sanctions he will now propose in the UN Security Council against UNITA of Angola.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  It would not be sensible to propose additional sanctions against UNITA at a time when the organisation is holding direct talks with the Government.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest situation in Angola; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennnox-Boyd
  Fighting in Angola has diminished since UNITA announced a unilateral ceasefire on 20 September, but sporadic fighting continues in some parts of the country. The United Nations Secretary General's special representative, Mr. Beye, has been chairing talks in Lusaka between the Government of Angola and UNITA. The Secretary General is due to report on the outcome to the Security Council on 15 December. We understand that progress has been made in the negotiations, but there are still many issues to be resolved.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current Government policy towards Angola.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have been active in the Security Council, bilaterally with the Angolan Government and UNITA.

  Libya
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in negotations with Libya over the trial of the two Libyan nationals suspected of involvement in the Lockerbie bombing.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Libyan Government are aware of the demands of the United Nations Security Council, and in particular that it must ensure the appearance of those charged with the Lockerbie bombing for trial in the appropriate United Kingdom or United States court and satisfy the French judicial authorities over the bombing of flight UTA 772.

  European Community Enlargement
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards the enlargement of the European Community.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Good progress has been made during the Belgian Presidency in the negotiations with the
  659
  four EFTA applicants for Community membership, Norway, Sweden, Austria and Finland. But some difficult issues remain to be settled, notably agriculture and regional policy. Decisive progress is needed in the next few months if the target of entry of these four applicants into the Community by 1 January 1995 is to be met.

  Far East (Exports)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts his Department is making to promote British exports to the far east; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  All FCO posts in the far east have export promotion as a top priority. They seek out export opportunities, advise British companies on the business to be won in their markets, lobby on their behalf for major contracts and against discrimination, organise visits by ministers and trade missions with the specific object of winning business amongst other tasks. I am happy to say that our exports to China are 90 per cent. up this year, to the Philipines 59 per cent., to Thailand 43 per cent., to South Korea 25 per cent., to Malaysia 51 per cent., to Hong Kong 33 per cent., to Singapore 25 per cent. and to Taiwan 20 per cent.

  General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress on talks to bring the GATT round to a successful conclusion.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave earlier to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Milligan).

  Election Observers
  Sir Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely demand for parliamentary support in observing elections in newly emerging democracies in 1994.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We hope that there will be several elections in emerging democracies in 1994 to which missions of international observers will be invited. The most notable is the election in South Africa, but there will be elections in Ukraine, Moldova and Kazakhstan, and possibly in Mozambique, Malawi, Belarus and the Occupied Territories. The numbers of observers required will depend on how each observer mission is organised. The United Kingdom hopes to send observers as appropriate either bilaterally or through missions organised by the United Nations, Commonwealth or European Union.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he intends to take, through the United Nations, to secure the reopening of Tusla airport in central Bosnia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is urgently 660
  considering options for re-opening Tuzla airport. Much depends upon the cooperation of the warring parties to ensure the security of relief flights. Progress has been made in talks between UNPROFOR and the local Bosnian authorities, but agreement has yet to be reached with the Bosnian Serb army, whose artillery is within range of the airport.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with his European Community counterparts on efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  At their meeting with the parties in Geneva on 29 November, European Union Foreign Ministers stressed the importance of a peace settlement if a humanitarian disaster is to be avoided. The subsequent peace talks made some progress in clarifying positions. The European Council on 10-11 December agreed to urge the parties to continue negotiating, and to maintain pressure on the Serbs to make further territorial concessions on the scale demanded by the Bosnian Government.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had recently with the Indian Government regarding human rights violations in Kashmir.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have repeatedly impressed on the Indian Government our concerns about human rights abuses in Kashmir.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to visit Zimbabwe to discuss bilateral relations.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans at present to visit Zimbabwe.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to President Mugabe about the continued imprisonment in Zimbabwe of Michael Smith, Kevin Woods, Barry Bawden, Philip Conjwayo and Charles Beahan and seek a reprieve of their death sentences on humanitarian grounds.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  On 10 December, the Zimbabwe Supreme Court commuted the death sentences on Woods, Conjwayo and Smith—a British citizen—to life imprisonment. They had been found guilty of murder. We have no plans to make representations on their behalf, or on behalf of Bawden and Beahan—also a British citizen—who were imprisoned for attempting to rescue the others.

  Councils of Ministers
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has made, following the decisions of the European Councils in Edinburgh 1992 and Brussels 1993, to increase the transparency and accountability of decision-making, including the recording of votes of each member state, at
  661
  meetings of European Community Councils of Ministers at which his Department is represented; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Foreign Affairs Council on 6 December agreed that votes on legislative decisions would be published automatically unless a majority of the Council opposed this. This is a more automatic procedure than that agreed on 4 October, and fully consistent with the conclusions of the Edinburgh European Council last December. Voting details are now published by the Council secretariat after Council meetings. We shall ensure that this information is provided to Parliament.

  Transcaucasus States
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to meet leaders of the Transcaucasus states of the former Soviet Union; and if he will make a statement about developments in that region.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, has no current plans to meet leaders of the Transcaucasus although I hope there will be opportunities for meetings in the near future.

  We attach great importance to encouraging peace and stability in the Transcaucasus and fully support the efforts currently being made to resolve disputes by negotiation. We welcome the start of talks between the Abkhaz and the Georgians under United Nations auspices. We also support the CSCE's continuing efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as its contribution to resolution of the political problems in South Ossetia.

  South Africa
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what help Her Majesty's Government intend to give in the coming year to South Africa.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We will continue to give South Africa as much moral and practical support as we can. This includes a growing aid programme, which last year totalled over £l1·5 million, with a similar sum as our share of EC aid.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with other representatives of the Security Council of the United Nations concerning the upcoming general election in South Africa.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are in close contact with Security Council partners, the Secretary-General, the Secretariat and the United Nations observer mission already in South Africa (UNOMSA)—as we are with our European Union and Commonwealth partners—about international assistance in support of the election process in South Africa.

  India
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indian Government regarding the incidence of abortion of female foetuses and infanticide of new-born females.
  662
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  India acceded to the convention on the rights of the child in December 1992 and is bound by its provisions. The Indian Government also attended the world conference on human rights this year, when the conference called upon states to repeal laws and remove practices which discriminate against and cause harm to the girl child. We are encouraging all states, including India, to implement these measures.

  Northern Ireland
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the involvement of the United States Administration in the peace process in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hurd
  President Clinton has several times expressed his firm support for the efforts of the British and Irish Governments to promote talks on the future of Northern Ireland. I much welcome this.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's latest policy towards the conflict in former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We continue to support the co-chairmen of the International Conference on the former Yugoslavia in their efforts to secure peaceful settlements in Bosnia and Croatia. The European Union Foreign Ministers' meeting with the parties on 29 November has helped to restart negotiations on Bosnia. The European Union is meanwhile committed through the winter to continue and enhance its efforts to provide humanitarian aid. The United Kingdom remains one of the largest donors, having given over £152 million.

  Russia
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's view on the progress of reform in Russia and the impact on United Kingdom policy.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The largest democratic consultation in the history of Russia took place on 12 December, involving multi-party elections and a referendum on a new constitution. It demonstrates how far democratic reform has progressed in post-Soviet Russia. We welcome the adoption by the Russian people of a constitution which provides for democracy and human rights. This process will further strengthen our bilateral relations.

  Serbia
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he recently had about sanctions in Serbia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Sanctions were discussed by European Union Foreign Ministers during their meeting with the parties in Geneva on 29 November, and by European Union Heads of Government at the European Council on 10–11 December.

  Sub-Saharan Africa
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he intends to take to assist moves towards democracy in sub-Saharan Africa.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We will continue, with our European partners, to encourage democracy and democratic values in sub-Saharan Africa in political contacts, through our aid programme and, where possible, in providing support for elections.

  Cuba
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the reason for Her Majesty's Government's abstention on the vote at the United Nations calling for the lifting by the United States of America of its financial and trade blockade on Cuba.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  With the majority of European Union member states, we abstained because we believe the United States embargo against Cuba is primarily a bilateral matter for those two governments.

  Sudan
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when was the last time that a British Foreign Office Minister visited Sudan; and when he plans to visit Khartoum to stimulate a peace initiative.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The then Foreign Secretary visited Sudan in September 1988. We continue to look closely at all possible ways of helping bring about an end to the civil war in Sudan, and have welcomed the peace initiative of the Kenyan, Ugandan, Ethiopian and Eritrean Presidents. There are no firm plans for a visit to Sudan by a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister at present, but we do not rule out this option.

  Korean Peninsula
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest decision of the Security Council of the United Nations concerning the situation on the Korean peninsula; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 11 May the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution, SCR 825, calling on North Korea to reconsider its stated intention to withdraw from the Nuclear non-proliferation treaty and to honour all its obligations under that treaty, including complying with its safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Council also decided to remain seized of the matter and to consider further action as necessary.

  United Nations Members
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the member states of the United Nations with populations of fewer than 2·8 million, with their current population and gross national product per head in each case for the latest available year.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information is as follows:664

  Country

  Population '000 (1991)

  GNP per capita US$(1991)

  Andorra

  50

  n/a

  Antigua and Barbuda

  80

  4,770

  Bahamas

  256

  11,720

  Bahrain

  518

  6,910

  Barbados

  258

  6,630

  Belize

  193

  2,050

  Bhutan

  1,467

  180

  Botswana

  1,289

  2,590

  Brunei

  264

  n/a

  Cape Verde

  383

  750

  Comoros

  492

  500

  Congo

  2,351

  1,120

  Cyprus

  708

  8,640

  Djibouti

  441

  n/a

  Dominica

  72

  2,440

  Equatorial Guinea

  426

  330

  Estonia

  1,591

  3,830

  Fiji

  751

  1,830

  Gabon

  1,168

  3,780

  Gambia

  901

  360

  Grenada

  91

  2,180

  Guinea-Bissau

  999

  190

  Guyana

  802

  290

  Iceland

  258

  22,580

  Jamaica

  2,440

  1,380

  Kuwait

  2,212

  n/a

  Latvia

  2,693

  3,410

  Lesotho

  1,816

  580

  Liberia

  2,639

  n/a

  Liechtenstein

  28

  n/a

  Luxembourg

  378

  31,080

  Maldives

  221

  460

  Marshall Islands

  48

  n/a

  Malta

  356

  6,850

  Mauritania

  2,023

  510

  Mauritius

  1,083

  2,420

  Micronesia

  102

  n/a

  Monaco

  28

  n/a

  Mongolia

  2,184

  n/a

  Namibia

  1,834

  1,120

  Oman

  1,618

  n/a

  Panama

  2,460

  2,180

  Qatar

  452

  n/a

  Saint Kitts and Nevis

  39

  3,960

  Saint Lucia

  152

  2,500

  Saint Vincent

  108

  1,730

  San Marino

  20

  n/a

  Sao Tomé and Principe

  120

  350

  Seychelles

  69

  5,110

  Solomon Islands

  326

  560

  Suriname

  457

  3,610

  Swaziland

  825

  1,060

  Trinidad and Tobago

  1,249

  3,620

  United Arab Emirates

  1,630

  n/a

  Vanuatu

  156

  1,120

  Western Samoa

  168

  930

  Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

  1·9 million

  1—

  Slovenia

  1·8 million

  1—

  1— No data for 1991, but the per capita GNP of the former Yugoslavia in 1990 US$ 2,940.

  Somalia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits have been made by Foreign Office staff to Somalia in the current year; where they went; and what were the lessons from their visits.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Foreign Office staff from London, the British embassy in Addis Ababa and the British High Commission in Nairobi have made a total of 15 visits to
  665
  Somalia this year. They visited Mogadishu, Kismayo, Baidoa, Hargeisa, Belet Huen, Berbera and Bossasso. The visits were made in order to assess the humanitarian and political situation on the ground.

  Seeds (Intellectual Property Rights)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made on behalf of the Government, within European Union discussions about the general agreement on tariffs and trade, concerning the potential impact on farmers in Commonwealth countries of proposals made within the GATT negotiations for the enforcement of intellectual property rights over varieties of seeds.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No specific representations have been necessary. The trade-related intellectual

  Statistics are available only from 1 April 1990 (1 April 1991 for Hanslope Park) when the FCO assume responsibility for the payment of utility charges from the Property Services Agency

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  FCO London

  Old Public Offices, Whitehall

  8,899·31

  6,471·83

  7,341·94

  4887·35

  Old Admiralty Building

  2,887·82

  4,916·52

  4,136·92

  41,169·17

  2/3/4 Matthew Parker street

  15,127·87

  17,218·43

  15,677·95

  33,988·42

  Cromwell house, Millbank

  7,865·21

  7,049·86

  5,391·35

  41,997·38

  Clive house, Petty France

  5,148·88

  5,495·93

  3,545·11

  31,576·53

  20 Victoria street

  1—

  8,770·37

  11,425·95

  33,858·84

  8 Cleveland Row

  n/a

  n/a

  808·41

  6198·40

  1 Carlton Gardens

  2,929·87

  7,960·15

  7,105·69

  61,720·70

  Buckinghamshire

  Hanslope Park complex

  n/a

  73,262·37

  2116,438·04

  431,332·58

  ODA

  London

  94 Victoria street

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  East Kilbride

  Abercrombie house

  14,515·00

  18,979·00

  18,863·00

  47,899·00

  1Not occupied by FCO in 1990–91.

  2Includes accounts for part of 1991–92 paid in following year and not readily identifiable.

  3Cost of utilities included in common service charges and not readily identifiable.

  4November.

  5October.

  6September.

WALES

  Sheep Quota Scheme
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions officers from the agricultural section of his Department have met Mr. or Mrs. G. E. Lockett of Ty Loch, Betws Garnon, Caernarfon, to discuss the difficulties facing them because of the rules of the new sheep quota scheme; and if he will find a method to alleviate their difficulties.

  Mr. Redwood
  One meeting and six telephone calls have taken place. Mr. and Mrs. Lockett should by now have received a letter from the divisional office explaining that, as first-time claimants in 1992, they are eligible to apply for quota from "the pool".

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales at what date the national reserve will be made available and distributed to sheep farmers who have been so far denied a quota under the new scheme.
  666
  property agreement (TRIPs) in the GATT Uruguay round is a good one. It aims to establish minimum property rights for new products, including new varieties of plants. It is compatible with, and complementary to, the international convention for the protection of new varieties of plants (UPOV convention).

  Departmental Offices (Heating Bills)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, by location, the annual heating fuel bills for each of his Department's offices for the last four years, and for this year to date.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The information is as follows:

  Mr. Redwood
  The statutory instrument giving details of the national reserve for sheep quota came into force on 7 December. The deadline for receipt of applications for categories 1 and 2 is 7 January 1994. Quota allocations will then be made as soon as possible. Applications to the remaining categories of the 1993 sheep quota national reserve will be invited after we have dealt with categories 1 and 2.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 7 December,Official Report, column 179, what is the exact number of representations he has received on the question of the operation of the siphon in the context of sheep quota where it applies to changes in existing partnerships; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have received representations from 10 Members of Parliament and both farming unions in Wales. My officials have also received inquiries from a number of individuals and other interested organisations.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now take immediate and urgent steps to reverse the cuts in hill livestock compensatory allowance payments and restore these to their original value.

  Mr. Redwood
  No.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the reduction in farm incomes in Wales resulting from the recent reductions in hill livestock compensatory allowance payments; and what is his estimate of the maximum likely loss of income to any individual farming unit.

  Mr. Redwood
  Based on expected eligible livestock numbers it is estimated that total payments of hill livestock compensatory allowances to Welsh producers under the 1994 scheme will be £5·5 million lower than under the 1993 scheme. Figures are not available for the maximum reduction in payment to any individual farming unit. The reduced 1994 payments should be seen in the context of rising overall farm incomes in the less-favoured areas and an overall increase in subsidy resulting from changes in other agricultural support.

  Home Improvement Grants
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the average waiting time between application and completion of work involving mandatory home improvement grants for the whole of Wales, and for each district council in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  School Inspections
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the financing of school inspections; what amount will be lost to each education authority's inspection and advisory services; and whether each education authority will receive a rebate if the actual cost of inspections is less than the estimate made at the start of the financial year.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The responsibility for school inspections rests with the office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales. Resources have been transferred from local to central Government for this purpose at the all-Wales level and in consultation with the Assembly of Welsh Counties. They amount to £0·933 million, £3·283 million and £4·651 in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 respectively. The overall transfer sum remains appropriate and there is no question of it being revisited.

  Arable Aid and Payments
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by how much payments to Welsh arable farmers will be increased under the arable aid payments scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I am consulting the industry about the regionalisation proposals I announced on 29 October. Payment levels will depend on the terms of the final plan 668
  for the 1993–94 planting year which I shall announce as soon as possible after 17 December, which is the closing date for comments on my proposals.

  Home Renovation Grants
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the number of applications received by each district council in Wales for home renovation grants, together with the percentage of these applications as a proportion of the total number of houses in each district, and the total number of such applications received for Wales as a whole.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the proposed 10 per cent. reduction in student grants.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend has received two letters on this subject.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the timing of the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering for unitary authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I have received several representations and hope to make an announcement soon about the timetable for extending competitive tendering in Wales.

  District Council Elections
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that no elections will be held during 1994 in those Welsh district councils which retain elections by thirds.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. The elections due in May 1994 will go ahead.

  Badgers
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether, following publication of the new five-year programme, badger culling will now cease in Wales;

  (2) if there will be a suspension of badger culling following the announcement of the revised procedure.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced the Government's revised approach regarding badgers and tuberculosis on 8 December. This gave details of the action programme which it has been decided to set in place, which includes a trial of a new badger control strategy to run for at least five years based on the application of the test for tuberculosis in the live badger in areas of the south-west of England. In areas outside those proposed for the trial the existing arrangements will continue, which will mean that no action will be taken against badgers on any farm in those areas where there has been a tuberculosis breakdown unless it has been specifically sanctioned by a sub-committee of the consultative panel on badgers and bovine tuberculosis.

  Local Authorities
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will issue guidelines for the listing of the assets of local authorities prior to their transfer to the new unitary councils and the residual authority.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Draft guidance was issued to local authorities on 31 August 1993.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date Welsh local authorities were advised of the proposed draft electoral wards which will be introduced for the unitary planning authorities.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is my intention to consult Welsh local authorities on proposed electoral wards soon, taking account of my right hon. Friend's recent announcement that there should be about 1,250 councillors in the proposed unitary authorities.

  Local Government (Powys Model)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he received regarding the proposed Powys model structure of local government; if he will list those organisations making such representations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I have received representations from about 40 organisations and individuals, including the following:

  Council of Welsh Districts

  Assembly of Welsh Counties

  Campaign for Mongomeryshire

  Montgomeryshire Conservative Association

  Powys County Council

  Brecknock Borough Council

  Clwyd County Council

  Gwynedd County Council

  Montgomeryshire District Council

  Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council

  Aberconwy Borough Council

  Ynys Mon Borough Council

  Blaenau Gwent Borough Council

  Cardiff City Council

  Swansea City Council

  Meirionnydd Campaign Committee

  Carreghofa Community Council

  Arfon Borough Council

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those responsible for making appointments of(a) chairs and (b) members of the boards to each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department.

  Mr. Redwood
  Responsibility for appointing(a) chairs and (b) members of the boards of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Welsh Office rests with the Secretary of State for Wales, with the exception of the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments whose appointments are made under royal warrant. My ministerial colleagues and senior officials assist in interviewing and selecting suitable candidates.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many council tax appeals have been received in Wales.
  670
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  As at 30 November 53,623 proposals for the alteration of the valuation list had been received by the Valuation Office Agency. This represents 4·4 per cent. of all dwellings in the valuation lists. Of these 10,600 had already been settled. The Welsh Office is considering the arrangements for dealing with outstanding appeals with the agency and representatives of the valuation tribunal service.

  Appointments (Women)
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the appointments made by him are held by women.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  An updated list of appointments at 1 December 1993 has been placed in the Library of the House. Women hold 200—25 per cent.—appointments out of a total of 784; there are 14 vacancies.

EDUCATION

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library tables showing in respect of each local education authority the number of school pupils of primary and secondary age who are resident within the local education authority area but who are educated in maintained schools outside the local education authority area, and the numbers of pupils educated in maintained schools within the local education authority area who are resident outside the area with the resident and receivintg local education authority area specified in each case.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested will be placed in the Library, together with an explanatory guide. The data are provisional and based on the position at January 1993.

  Head Teachers
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the current average salaries for primary school head teachers, secondary school head teachers, primary school teachers and secondary school teachers.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The new earnings survey recorded the average salary of all primary school teachers, including head teachers, in Great Britain at 1 April 1993 as £19,760 and of all secondary school teachers, including head teachers, as £21,663. The average salary of a primary school head teacher is estimated as £26,316 and a secondary school head teacher as £35,891.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a table showing, in 1992–93 prices, the gross public spending for each year since 1990–91 and the projected expenditure for each year to 1995–96 for each executive non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department, as listed in "Public Bodies 1992".

  Mr. Boswell
  Details of the Department's funding for these bodies, in 1992–93 prices, are shown in the table. Planning allocations for 1995–96 will be announced as soon as possible.
  671

  £'000s

  1990–91 outturn

  1991–92 outturn

  1992–93 outturn

  1993–94 current Estimates Provision

  1994–95 Plans

  Business and Technology Education Council

  Self funding. Became wholly independent and cased to be NDPB sponsored by DFE 1 October 1993

  Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges

  3,336

  3,632

  3,848

  3,955

  3,896

  Merged with British Council 1 December 1993: FCO now sponsor but DFE pays grant

  Council for Information on Language Teaching and Research

  591

  677

  949

  782

  775

  Council for National Academic Awards

  Self-funding. Wound up 31 March 1993

  —

  —

  Education Assets Board

  609

  519

  858

  2,609

  2,516

  Further Education Unit

  4,274

  3,249

  3,545

  Funding responsibility transferred to Further Education Funding Council 1 April 1993

  National Council for Educational Technology

  5,145

  5,151

  5,658

  4,790

  4,563

  National Curriculum Council

  8,104

  7,994

  8,135

  2,954

  —

  Wound up 30 September 1993

  National Youth Agency

  Established

  1,911

  1,495

  1,304

  1,298

  1 Apri 1991

  Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council

  1,219,255

  1,031,285

  1,034,601

  Wound up 31 March 1993

  School Examinations and Assessment Council

  8,535

  10,936

  12,383

  4,010

  —

  Wound up 30 September 1993

  Teaching as a Career Unit

  1,642

  1,456

  1,407

  1,145

  1,112

  Universities Funding Council

  2,027,988

  1,850,557

  1,806,426

  Wound up 31 March 1993

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list those responsible for making appointments of(a) chairs and (b) members of the boards of governors of higher education corporations.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Secretary of State makes the initial appointments of members of boards of governors of higher education corporations. Subsequent appointments are for the boards themselves to determine. In certain circumstances the appointment of independent members may be made by the existing independent members of the board. Chairs of boards, in relation to either initial or subsequent appointments, are appointed by the boards of governors from among their members.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list those responsible for making appointments of(a) chairs and (b) members of the boards of governors for grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Chairmen of self-governing (grant-maintained) schools are elected by the governing body as a whole at the first meeting of every school year. Every governing body must include parent governors, teacher governors, the head teacher and either first governors (in the case of former county schools) or foundation governors (in the case of former voluntary schools).

  Parent and teacher governors are elected respectively by parents of registered pupils at, and teachers employed by, the school. First governors are appointed by the governing body, while foundation governors continue to be appointed by those so entitled when the school had voluntary status.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list those responsible for making appointments of(a) chairs and (b) members of the boards to each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department.

  Mr. Boswell
  The information required is as follows:

  Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges
  672

  Chairman and members appointed by the Secretary of State for Education.

  Centre for Information on Language Teaching
  Chairman and 10 members appointed by the Secretary of State for Education.
  One member appointed by the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Education Assets Board
  Chairman and members appointed by the Secretary of State for Education.
  (Appointment to the post of chief executive will in future be made by the board subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for Education.)

  Further Education Funding Council for England
  Chairman and members appointed by the Secretary of State for Education after consultation with the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Higher Education Funding Council, England
  Chairman and members appointed by the Secretary of State for Education.

  National Council for Educational Technology
  Twelve appointments made by the Secretary of State for Education.
  One appointment made by the Secretary of State for Wales.
  One appointment made by the Secretary of State for Scotland.
  One appointment made by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  National Youth Agency Management Committee
  Chairman and members appointed by the Secretary of State for Education.

  Schools Curriculum and Assessment Authority
  Chairman and members appointed by the Secretary of State for Education.

  Teaching as a Career Unit Board
  Director and members appointed by the Secretary of State for Education.
  673
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list those responsible for making appointments of(a) chairs and (b) members of the boards of governors of further education corporations.

  Mr. Boswell
  The members of each further education corporation are responsible for appointing a chairman from among their number. Initial appointments were made by virtue of the instruments of government in the case of FE corporations to conduct former FE colleges and by the Secretary of State in the case of corporations to conduct former sixth form colleges. New or additional members are normally appointed by the corporation.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list those responsible for making appointments of(a) chairs and (b) members of the boards of governors of city technology colleges.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  City technology colleges are charitable companies and under the model scheme of government the members of the companies are responsible for appointing the chairs and members of the boards of governors.

  Student Loans
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education from which European Community countries students enrolled in United Kingdom universities qualify for the students loans schemes.

  Mr. Boswell
  European Community students may be eligible for a student loan if they have been ordinarily resident in the British islands for three years before the start of their course; or are refugees; or have established migrant worker status.

  Student Grants
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received indicating that students falsely claim elements of grant for living

  Fuel heating costs for DFE in financial years and by location

  £000s

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  11993–94

  Sanctuary Buildings, SW12 (occupied December 1991)

  —

  —

  19·1

  30·4

  16·7

  Elizabeth House, SE1 (vacated March 1993)

  38·7

  60·1

  36·0

  30·5

  —

  Lading House, WC2

  2·3

  2·2

  2·5

  3·0

  2·0

  Canons Park, Middlesex (minimal occupation from April 1992)

  8·0

  9·5

  10·4

  —

  —

  Orange Street, WC22 (vacated 1992–93)

  3·3

  2·5

  2·0

  —

  —

  Mowden Hall, Darlington

  11·3

  18·8

  18·6

  23·0

  7·4

  Vincent House, Darlington (occupied December 1991)

  —

  —

  0·3

  2·4

  4·5

  Corporation House, Darlington (occupied April 1990)

  —

  6·0

  5·2

  5·7

  1·0

  Enterprise House, Darlington

  0·6

  1·3

  1·2

  1·1

  0·2

  Stead House, Darlington (occupied 1992)

  —

  —

  Space taken within Inland Revenue building

  HMI local offices (transferred to OFSTED April 1992)

  18·6

  15·6

  24·4

  —

  —

  1Data covers main gas and oil heating only except for Lading House which is electrically heated.

  2Electricity consumption by air-conditioning systems (where installed) cannot be separated from consumption on other plant, equipment and lighting and is therefore not included.

  674
  away from home; what estimates he has of the amounts of money involved; and if he will make a statement on the measures he has in place to check this fraud.

  Mr. Boswell
  Mandatory awards are paid by local education authorities. The responsibility for ensuring that adequate controls and systems are in place, and operate satisfactorily, rests with them. Authorities receive grant from my right hon. Friend on their lawful expenditure on mandatory awards, and their annual certificates of expenditure must be endorsed by independent auditors. My right hon. Friend has received no representations of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers.

  Schools Funding
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will review the system of funding for all primary and secondary schools to take account of their age and structural condition.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

  Stratford School
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how Mr. Mark Prisk became a governor of Stratford school; who nominated him; what are his local qualifications; when he was made a governor; and when he became chairman of the governors.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  All questions concerning the appointment of individual governors at Stratford school are a matter for the governing body.

  Departmental Offices (Heating Bills)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list by location the annual fuel heating bills for each of his Department's offices for the last four years, and for this year to date.

  Mr. Boswell
  The information is set out in the table:

  Teachers (Citizenship)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list by local education authority the number of teachers employed who are not EU citizens; and if he will set out their nationality, qualifications and type of post occupied.
  675
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is not centrally available.

  Theological Colleges
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what public funding is made available for theological colleges in England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  Fees are payable under the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations for eligible students holding mandatory awards attending designated courses at theological colleges. Fees are paid at varying rates for students at colleges which are part of publicly funded universities. Designated courses at other theological colleges attract fees of £715 per student.

  Final Examinations (Deferment)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what means of publicly funded support are available to students who defer final examinations due to illness or personal circumstances.

  Mr. Boswell
  The financial support available to students who defer final examinations will depend on the arrangements made by individual institutions for students to take their examinations.

  When the student holds a mandatory award and is absent from the course for a short period the local authority which bestowed the award has power to continue to make such payments of the award as they consider appropriate. If the student has to repeat some or all of the final year of the course he may receive payments of the award, at the discretion of the LEA, and a student loan, depending on the amount of time he is in attendance at the institution; and he can apply for help from the access funds. After 28 weeks of certified sickness a student may claim income support and housing benefit.

  RAF Chivenor
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what additional support he intends to allocate to Devon county council and schools in Braunton to cope with the funding implications of the Government's announcement that it proposes to run RAF Chivenor down to a care maintenance regime.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Government set the framework for the distribution of resources through the standard spending assessment (SSA) system in a way which takes account of the number of pupils for whom local authorities are financially responsible. Allowing for local authority changes of function, the underlying increase in Devon's provisional education SSA for 1994–95 is 3·3 per cent. —a higher than average increase. Devon county council is responsible for determining its spending priorities and for allocating resources to schools through its scheme of local management. It will be free to take account of changes at RAF Chivenor.

  Expenditure
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list for each local authority for the last five years(a) the education component per pupil of the
  676
  standard spending assessment, (b) net institutional expenditure per pupil and (c) the relationship of one figure to the other expressed as a percentage.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information is not available in the form requested. I will write to the hon. Member.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Price Marking Order
  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current status of the Price Marking (Bargain Offers) Order.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Price Marking (Bargain Offers) Orders 1979 was revoked in 1989. Its provisions were replaced by the provisions of part III of the Consumer Protection Act 1987, which make it an offence to give a misleading price indication by any means, and the code of practice for traders on price indications issued under section 25 of that Act.

  Milk Marketing Board
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will immediately refer for examination by the Office of Fair Trading the methods employed by the Milk Marketing Board in seeking to establish Milk Marque as its private monopolistic successor.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Office of Fair Trading has been consulted on the reorganisation scheme which the Milk Marketing Board has submitted to my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales. My right hon. Friends have recently completed public consultation on the scheme. They will have regard to whether the scheme takes account of the interests of consumers and producers of milk and to whether the structure of the new arrangements contemplated by the scheme is such as to allow for the development of competition in milk marketing in deciding whether to approve it.

  The wholesale supply of milk is at present excluded from the monopoly reference powers of the Director General of Fair Trading under the provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973, but I propose to make an order withdrawing this exclusion from the date reorganisation takes place. The Director General of Fair Trading will then have a responsibility to monitor developments in the milk market and will be able to make a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission if he deems it appropriate.

  EC Programmes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will discuss with the European Commission what measures should be introduced to replace the integrated operations and RECHAR programmes after 31 December; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 9 December,Official Report, column 348,

  Vehicle Tracker Devices
  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many(a) United Kingdom manufacturers and (b) United Kingdom suppliers of vehicle tracker devices are known to his Department.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We know of no United Kingdom manufacturers and only one supplier of this imported device.

  Thorp
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when Her Majesty's Government first provided Euratom with a full set of design details of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant to assist in the preparations of safeguards and nuclear materials security arrangements.

  Mr. Eggar
  Such information is supplied to Euratom by the plant operator, BNFL, in confidence. However, a general description of the interaction of BNFL with Euratom on this subject is given in the paper "THORP: The route to a safeguardable plant", presented in May 1993 at the European Safeguards Research and Development Association, 15th annual symposium on safeguards and nuclear materials management held in Rome, Italy.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost to Her Majesty's Government for the assistance afforded to Euratom in its design verification of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant and attendant facilities in preparing its nuclear safeguards arrangements for THORP.

  Mr. Eggar
  The cost of undertaking design verification of the THORP plant was met by the Euratom safeguards directorate and BNFL.

  Departmental Offices (Heating Bills)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list by location the annual heating fuel bills for each of his Department's offices for the last four years, and for this year to date.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Accounts Services Agency
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures he is planning to take to retain the Accounts Services Agency in the public sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 December,Official Report, column 493.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Garrett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library the report by Stoy Hayward, "Options for the Insolvency Service".

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I am currently considering what further work needs to be done following the Stoy Hayward review and shall announce to the House in due course what the next steps will be, including any plans for making public the contents of Stoy Hayward's report.

  Advertising
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what the cost of advertising by his Department has been for each year since 1979 and for each of the last 12 months.

  Mr. Eggar
  Expenditure in each of the last 12 months was as follows:

  £000

  1992

  December

  12

  1993

  January

  14

  February

  31

  March

  781

  April

  15

  May

  8

  June

  4

  July

  11

  August

  155

  September

  28

  October

  11

  November

  3

  For expenditure in earlier years I refer the hon. Member to previous answers:
  To the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Grocott) on 3 December 1993, Official Report, column 765, which contains the details for 1992–93; and to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 2 June 1992, Official Report, column 496-97, which has figures for 1991–92 and references to Official Report answers containing information for the earlier years.

  Brewers
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what investigation his Department has carried out to find out whether the minimum purchasing limit is being implemented by brewers in line with his Department's policy as set out in the Beer Orders; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Beer Orders require brewers owning more than 2,000 pubs to permit their tenants to purchase a guest beer. Imposition by the brewers of minimum purchase orders for their own beer is not necessarily incompatible with that requirement. The Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for monitoring compliance with the Beer Orders and anyone who believes they have evidence of a breach of the orders should write to him.

  Business Link Projects
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out for each business link project(a) the amount of public sector money scheduled to be spent in 1993–94 and (b) the amount of private sector funding which has been attracted.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department has made formal offers of, on average, £984,233 pump-priming grant to three business link companies payable over three years. The level of each offer depends upon the level of assistance the business link needs to help business in its area. Each business link company may also receive public sector funds from other sources such as local authorities or via TECs. The total DTI pump-priming grant to business links
  679
  in the current financial year is expected to be about £2.9 million. Business links are private sector companies. It would therefore be improper for me to disclose financial information on private sector contributions to each business link project.

  Atomic Energy Authority
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what external financing limit has been set for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority for 1994–95.

  Mr. Eggar
  the UKAEA's external financing limit for 1994–95 will be minus £8·8 million.

  Telecommunications Council
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Telecommunications Council on 7 December.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Council reached agreement on three resolutions. The first of these, on postal services, sets out a framework for future Community measures and major policy goals for liberalisation. It invites the Commission to bring forward proposals defining universal postal services and an appropriate area of reserved services, setting out quality standards and establishing technical standards by July 1994. It stresses the need to make progress on the reform of the terminal dues system and the necessity of a cost-related and quality-related approach, inviting the Commission to report to the Council by 1 March 1994 if further action is necessary.

  The second resolution concerned universal service in the telecommunications sector. This sets out a general approach to the provision of universal service for basic voice telephony. I was successful in negotiating a text which takes account of the Government's view, both of the importance of universal service and that the market would provide this service in the majority of cases. The Council agreed a redrafted text which left to member states, rather than the Commission, the appropriate definition of universal service, but set out general criteria for the application of access charges and other financial support to a universal service provider. These will play an important role in ensuring open and fair competition.

  The Council also agreed a resolution on the introduction
  of satellite personal communication services in the Community. This notes the importance of the planned use of satellites in personal communications and stresses the importance of developing a Community policy. It invites member states to make efforts to develop such a policy and invites the Commission to investigate the significance of satellite personal communications, define an effective policy to improve the competitive position of European space and telecommunication industries and to monitor international developments.

  There were short general debates on transeuropean networks, interchange of data between administrations and the electronic exchange of commercial statistics. It was agreed that a full evaluation of the needs of member states for IDA would be conducted before the issue was brought before the Council again. The Council adopted conclusions on radio frequencies, inviting the Commission to sign a memorandum of understanding with the European Radiocommunications Committee on frequency matters.

  The Commission presented a proposal for a directive on standards for the transmission of television signals and a
  680
  communication on digital video broadcasting. Council conclusions were agreed supporting the initiative of the European project for digital video broadcasting, stressing the importance of common standards and conditional access systems based on standards that ensure fair and open competition.

  No formal votes were taken at the Council.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints the Insolvency Service Agency received about the conduct of independent practitioners during each year since 1990 and so far in 1993.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Insolvency Service Agency does not keep a record specifically relating to complaints about the conduct of insolvency practitioners, but receives a range of correspondence relating to the administration of insolvencies.

  Mr. Peter Joyce, the agency's chief executive, answered letters, some of which contained criticism of practitioners, totalling 26 in 1991, 85 in 1992 and 50 to 31 October 1993.

  In addition, I and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade have responded to letters from hon. Members concerning specific insolvencies totalling 399 in 1991, 355 in 1992 and 314 to 31 October 1993. Officials have answered on our behalf 207 letters in 1992 and 147 to 31 October 1993. Information on how many of these letters contained complaints about independent practitioners could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  No central record is kept of complaints about the conduct of insolvency practitioners made direct to official receivers.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many investigations the Insolvency Service Agency has conducted into independent practitioners during each year since 1990 and so far in 1993.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Insolvency Service undertakes routine monitoring visits to practitioners to test their compliance with the legislation. Detailed special inspections are carried out where the facts of the case suggest that this is merited. The following figures are on a financial year basis: detailed records were not maintained prior to 1991–92.

  Number

  Monitoring visits:

  1991–92

  31

  1992–93

  147

  1993–94 (to date)

  135

  Special inspections:

  1991–92

  2

  1992–93

  9

  1993–94 (to date)

  5

  Energy Council
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the matters discussed and decisions taken at the EU Energy Council) on 10 December.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC
  681
  Energy Council of 10 December indicating the voting record of each member state on each item and where no formal votes were taken.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 13 December 1993]The Council considered several major issues and received reports from the Commission on other matters of interest. I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council reached unanimous political agreement on a directive harmonising hydrocarbons licensing. This important internal energy market measure will ensure that all member states' licensing procedures for hydrocarbons are transparent, non-discriminatory and competitive. A formal common position should follow at an early date.

  Unanimous political agreement was also reached on the Council's assent for a new Commission decision on coal state aids. This will take effect from 1 January 1994. The decision provides for tighter Community rules for state aid to the coal industry until the expiry of the ECSC treaty in 2002. Formal adoption of the Council's assent will take place at an early date.

  A new stage was reached in the progress of the two directives on liberalisation of the gas and electricity markets. The Commission presented modified proposals, which took account of the recent opinion of the European Parliament and which it had prepared at the invitation of the Energy Council of 30 November 1992.

  The Commission presented a paper on nuclear safety in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The Council confirmed the need to give priority to nuclear safety in assistance programmes.

  The Commission outlined its ideas for developing guidelines for a Community energy policy. The Council invited the Commission to continue its work under the next Presidency.

  The Commission reported to the Council on progress on the European energy charter and on its proposals for trans-European energy networks and cohesion. The Council also considered a mid-term review of the Thermie demonstration and dissemination programme and invited the Commission to come forward with a proposal on minimum standards for refrigerators and freezers.

  No formal votes were taken by the Council.

  Nuclear Reprocessing
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether spent nuclear fuel and its constituent parts imported prior to 1976 for reprocessing at Sellafield, without obligation of return of nuclear materials to the country of origin, is subject to the ownership conditions set out in articles 86 and 197 of the Euratom treaty.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 30 November 1993]Article 86 of the Euratom treaty states that special fissile materials shall be the property of the Community and that the Community's right of ownership shall extend to all special fissile materials, as defined in article 197, which are produced or imported by a member state, a person or an undertaking and are subject to Euratom safeguards.

  Equally, article 87 qualifies that right of ownership by providing that member states, persons or undertakings have unlimited right of use and consumption of these materials, subject to the obligations imposed on them by the treaty.

  Article 75 states that the provisions of chapter VIII of the treaty, including articles 86 and 87, shall not apply to
  682
  special fissile materials covered by commitments entered into by a person or undertaking with an international organisation or a national of a third state, where the material is to be processed inside the Community and then returned either to the original organisation or national or to any other consignee likewise outside the Community designated by such organisation or national.

  The question of whether any particular special fissile material, which is introduced into the United Kingdom for processing, is subject to articles 86 and 87, depends therefore on whether it is contemplated by the commercial arrangement in question that the special fissile material will be returned after processing to the original organisation or national outside the Community or any other designated consignee outside the Community.

  Granby Street Post Office, Liverpool
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will ask for a full report from the Post Office before he sanctions the closure of the Granby street post office; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 14 December 1993]The decision to close Granby street sub-post office is an operational matter for Post Office Counters Ltd. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is fully aware of the factors which have led to this decision, and he understands that POCL are planning adequate steps to maintain full post office facilities in the vicinity, at larger premises in Lodge lane.

  Aliens
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to obtain a report of the European Parliament Trade and Research Technology Committee's conclusion that the theory that aliens are present in the asteroid belt cannot be ruled out; and what are the implications of this conclusion for public policy.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 14 December 1993]My officials have seen the report to which my hon. Friend refers by the European Parliament's Committee on Energy, Research and Technology. It has no implications for public policy.

  Konver Programme
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how approved Konver-funded schemes will be financed after the expiration of the Konver initiative;

  (2) what is his policy towards securing continuing EU support for defence diversification programmes when Konver funding expires; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what is the period for which Konver funding for approved schemes will last; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 13 December 1993]Successful Konver applications will be able to obtain grant for expenditure incurred until May 1995 from the European regional development fund and December 1994 from the European social fund.

  It is too early to say whether there will be a second Konver initiative. Detailed proposals from the European Commission for the future of structural funds Community initiatives are awaited.

SCOTLAND

  Young People
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds continued in full-time education in (i) Dundee and (ii) Scotland in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information for Scotland for the years 1988-92 is set out in the following table. Figures for 1993 are not yet available. Similar figures for Dundee are not available.

  16 and 17-year-olds in full-time education in Scotland, January Age at 30 August of preceding year

  Thousands

  Age 16

  Age 17

  1992

  Full-time education in: schools

  26·6

  13·4

  further education1

  8·5

  13·5

  1991

  Full-time education in: schools

  26·4

  12·7

  further education1

  6·2

  12·4

  1990

  Full-time education in: schools

  26·4

  12·5

  further education1

  5·3

  12·0

  1989

  Full-time education in: schools

  28·3

  13·0

  further education1

  4·6

  11·6

  1988

  Full-time education in: schools2

  45·8

  20·6

  further education1

  3·2

  8·2

  1Non-advanced and advanced further education, teacher training and higher education.

  2 Not on a comparable basis. The destination is recorded in Autumn rather than January and age is recorded as at December rather than as at August. Autumn counts for full-time education would be higher than those recorded in January because they would include pupils who left school at the end of the first term in S5 and students who entered further education but subsequently left the course.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the numbers of 16 and 17-year-olds who entered full-time employment in(a) Dundee and (b) Scotland in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Scottish Young People's Survey provides, bi-ennially, information relating to the destination of school leavers in April after the academic session of leaving school. The table shows estimates of the number of leavers in full-time employment in the following April after the academic year of leaving secondary stages S4 and S5, which broadly equate to 16 and 17-year-olds respectively. Information is not available for Dundee.

  Secondary school leavers in full-time employment in April after session of leaving school

  Thousands

  Leavers from S41

  Leavers from S52

  1983

  15

  14

  1985

  12

  14

  1987

  9

  11

  1989

  7

  11

  1991

  7

  10

  1Approximately 16-year-olds.

  2 Approximately 17-year-olds.

  Source: Scottish Young People's Survey.

  Structural Funds
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for the future administration of European structural funds in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I am currently responsible for expenditure under objectives 2 and 5b of the European structural funds financed by the European regional development fund and the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund. While my Department also has a co-ordinating role in relation to the Community support frameworks for the areas of Scotland designated under these objectives, the Department of Employment has hitherto administered European social fund expenditure in these areas.

  I have agreed with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment that I should now assume responsibility for European social fund expenditure in Scotland under objectives 1, 2 and 5b of the new regulations. The responsibility for winding up ESF actions under the current programmes for objectives 2 and 5b in Scotland remains with my right hon. Friend, as does responsibility for the administration of Great Britain-wide programmes under objectives 3 and 4.

  Legal Services
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made towards the extension of compulsory competitive tendering to legal services.

  Mr. Stewart
  Since we announced in November 1992 our intention to further extend CCT we have been in discussion with local authority associations about the details of implementation. We are now in a position to consult more widely and have today issued a consultation paper on the Government's implementation plans. Comments are invited by 18 March on a detailed package of measures which will bring the benefits of CCT to local authority legal services. Copies of the consultation paper will be placed in the House Library.

  Montrose Bridge
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has of the expected life span of the Montrose new bridge; and what improvements are required for it.

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  The Montrose new bridge is not a trunk road structure and is therefore the responsibility of Tayside regional council which is the local roads authority.

  Ministerial Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the name and job description of each special ministerial adviser employed in his Department showing any particular outputs for which each adviser is responsible.

  Mr. Lang
  I have two full-time special advisers appointed to my Department—Mr. Gregor Mackay and Mr. Alan Young. As special advisers, both are outwith the normal Departmental hierarchy and are engaged on duties
  685
  laid down by me which include contributing to the preparation of speeches and supporting my ministerial colleagues in the Scottish Office as far as time permits.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the political and other advisers employed by his Department; and what remuneration each receives and the previous occupation of each recruited in the last three years.

  Mr. Lang
  I have two full-time special advisers, Mr. Alan Young and Mr. Gregor Mackay. Both were recruited as graduates in December 1990 and February 1992 respectively and subsequently reappointed in May 1992.

  In addition, there are currently two part-time advisers in the Scottish Office. They are Dr. Kenneth Benington and Professor David Tedford who were appointed in August 1988 and October 1992 respectively. They act as advisers to the Scottish Office Industry Department.

  It is not our practice to divulge the remuneration of individual advisers.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are made to ensure that special advisers to Ministers in his Department do not have access to the kind of information, and are not involved in the type of business, that would be likely to create suspicion of impropriety in relation to subsequent employment.

  Mr. Lang
  I have two full-time special advisers employed in my Department. The conditions under which they are employed are fully detailed in their appointment letter and are in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance. That guidance requires that they do not have access to the kind of information and are not involved in the kind of business which would create any suspicion of impropriety in relation to subsequent employment.

  Written Questions
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions since 18 November he has not answered, other than with a holding answer, a parliamentary question for written answer on a named day within 10 days of it being tabled; on what subjects; and what is his normal length of time for replying to hon. Members following a holding answer to their written questions for named days.

  Mr. Lang
  As at 15 December there have been 217 questions tabled for written answer on a named day since 18 November of which 31 did not receive a substantive reply within 10 working days. The questions covered the subjects of the health service, forestry, transport issues and local authority matters. My ministerial colleagues and I ensure that wherever possible all questions receive substantive replies within the timescale set down by the House authorities.

  Cormorants
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications his Department has received in the last 12 months for licences to control cormorant numbers on Scottish fisheries; and how many of these have been approved.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 13 December 1993]Details of the number of applications made and 686
  licences issued in the last 12 months by my Department to shoot cormorants in order to prevent serious damage to fisheries are as follows:

  1992 September to December

  1993 February to April

  Cormorants only applications

  6

  8

  Licences granted

  6

  7

  Cormorants and sawbill duck applications

  3

  17

  Licences granted

  0

  14

  Licence information for autumn 1993—September to December—is not yet available.

  Rams
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will continue the supply of rams in crofting areas under the livestock improvement schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 13 December 1993]In August my Department invited applications from crofting townships for the supply of rams for 1993–94. Some 1,460 rams have since been supplied to over 200 townships.

  My Department is currently reviewing all the livestock improvement schemes for crofters following a consultation exercise undertaken earlier this year. I hope to announce a decision soon on the future operation of these schemes.

  Mr. Laurence Peterken
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the officials present at a meeting held on or between 20 and 23 August to consider the terms of the reply received from Her Majesty's Treasury to a letter sent on 6 August by the acting chief executive of the health service in Scotland regarding the former general manager of the Greater Glasgow health board, Mr. Laurence Peterken.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 14 December 1993]No such meeting took place on or between 20 and 23 August. However, there was a meeting on 30 August involving officials of the Scottish Office NHS Management Executive, Finance Group and Solicitor's Office.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter sent on 6 August by the acting chief executive of the health service in Scotland to the Treasury regarding the former general manager of the Greater Glasgow health board, Mr. Laurence Peterken.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 14 December 1993]No. The document concerned relates to the private affairs of an individual and it is long-established Government policy not to disclose such documents.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 25 November,Official Report, column 180, on what date his views were sought on the appointment of Mr. Laurence Peterken to the post of special projects director with the national health service management executive.
  687
  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 2 December 1993]On 5 November 1993.

  Health Boards (Expenditure)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to review the procedures whereby he is informed of representations made to Her Majesty's Treasury by senior officials in his Department in respect of proposed expenditure by health boards in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 14 December 1993]Yes. As my noble and learned Friend the Minister of State indicated to the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs, this is already happening.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those responsible for making appointments of(a) chairs and (b) members of the boards to each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department.

  Mr. Lang
  I am responsible for making all the appointments to the following bodies:

  Commission for Local Authority Accounts in Scotland

  Crofters Commission

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  Macaulay Land Use Research Institute

  National Galleries of Scotland National Museums of Scotland

  National Board for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting in

  Scotland

  New Town Development Corporations (5)

  Red Deer Commission Royal Botanic Garden

  Scottish Crop Research Institute

  Scottish Enterprise

  Scottish Examination Board

  Scottish Higher Education Funding Council

  Scottish Homes

  Scottish Hospital Endowment Research Trust

  Scottish Legal Aid Board

  Scottish Medical Practices Committee

  Scottish Natural Heritage

  Scottish Seed Potato Development Council

  Scottish Sports Council

  Scottish Tourist Board

  The responsibility, other than my own, for making appointments to the remaining executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department is shown below; the number of members I appoint and whether or not I appoint the chair is shown in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies", the 1993 edition of which will be available shortly.

  Appointing responsibility other than the Secretary of State
  Animal Diseases Research Association
  In accordance with the rules of the Association which is a specially authorised Friendly Society.
  Edinburgh New Town Conservation Committee By the Committee itself.
  General Teaching Council for Scotland
  Elected members and members appointed by COSLA, Directors of Education in Scotland, Scottish universities, governing bodies of institutions in the higher education sector (other than universities) which are not relevant institutions (ie., colleges of education), the Education Committee of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Scottish hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church.
  Hannah Research Institute
  Glasgow University, Scottish Agricultural College and the Board itself.
  688
  National Library of Scotland
  The Crown on the recommendation of the Scottish Universities, CSLL, COSLA.
  Police (Scotland) Examination Board ACPOS, ASPS, SPF.
  River Purification Boards (7)
  50 per cent. of membership appointed by Local Authorities.
  Rowett Research Institute
  Aberdeen University, NFU(S), Scottish Agricultural College, the Royal Society or similar learned institution, the CBI or similar society.
  Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
  The Crown on my sole recommendation.
  Scottish Agricultural Wages Board NFU(S), TGWU.
  Scottish Community Education Council The Board.
  Scottish Council for Educational Technology COSLA.
  Scottish Film Council
  By co-option by the Board.
  Scottish Vocational Education Council
  COSLA, the Board.

  Forestry
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make it his policy to inform the public when a definitive date is known for the submission of the report of the interdepartmental forestry review group to Ministers;

  (2) what parliamentary procedure he will adopt to enact the conclusions of the interdepartmental forestry review group once they have been presented to Ministers.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Once the forestry review group has submitted its confidential advice, early next year, Ministers will require some time to consider it and decide what action, if any, should be taken.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for public and parliamentary consultation on the final report by the forestry review group before a decision is taken by Ministers.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 November 1993]I expect to receive the review group's report in the new year. This report will remain confidential to Ministers. There will be full consultation of the general public and interested bodies on the options preferred by Ministers before matters are taken forward. The form and timing of consultation will depend on the advice which the review group offers Ministers and what conclusions Ministers draw from that advice.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what specific access agreements have been negotiated in respect of areas of Forestry Commission land in each of the last five years.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 13 December 1993]The arrangements for securing continued access to woodlands sold by the Forestry Commission, by means of
  689
  agreements entered into between the Commission and local authorities before their sale, were introduced in October 1991. The Commission has since concluded access agreements with local authorities for the following woodlands:

  County/Region and Woodland

  Area (hectares)

  England

  North Yorkshire

  Gateforth East

  28

  Hazelwood

  107

  Moreby Wood

  33

  Sutton Wood

  33

  Scotland

  Grampian

  White Cow

  444

  Wales

  Clwyd

  Nant y Ffrith (lot 2)

  52

  Nant y Ffrith (lot 3)

  24

  Dyfed

  Allt y Gwydre

  14

  Court Wood

  19

  Factory Wood

  3

  Penfarch

  24

  Taldrum Wood

  5

  Tan y Lan

  32

  Ty'r Dopa

  14

  Gwent

  Coed y Nant

  8

  Graig Syddi

  28

  Powys

  Tir y Gof

  47

  West Glamorgan

  Dewy Wood

  15

  Nantystalwyn

  44

  Negotiations are still taking place in a number of other cases.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy in respect of the continuation of the right to roam on publicly owned forestry land in the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 13 December 1993]Our policy is to allow the public "freedom to roam" on all forestry land managed by the Forestry Commission, subject only to considerations of safety, conservation and any legal constraints. We have no plans to change that policy.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision regarding freedom to roam has been attached to the offer for sale of public woodland between Glasgow and Loch Lomond; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 13 December 1993]I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the proposed sale of Forestry Commission woodlands in the Kilpatrick hills which have been selected for sale as part of the Commission's current disposals programme. Consideration was given to securing continued public access to these woodlands after sale, by means of a prior agreement entered into between the Commission and the 690
  local authority under the arrangements introduced in October 1991. This did not prove possible, however, as the access routes to the woodlands are across land belonging to third parties, none of whom wished to participate in an agreement.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

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

  Mr. Jack
  The cost of providing a car service to the Ministers in this Department was £186,375 in the 1990–91 financial year. Four vehicles were involved.

  Forestry Commission
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list all the woods owned by the Forestry Commission in East Anglia.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) on 10 December 1993,Official Report, column 432.

  Fishing Fleets
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the size of each of the 11 EC fishing fleets; and what is the percentage difference in size between the United Kingdom and Spanish fleets.

  Mr. Jack
  The following figures on fleet sizes as at 1 January 1992 are derived from member states' MAGP decisions dated 21 December 1992, as amended.

  Number of vessels

  Total gross registered tonnage

  Total engine power (in Kilowatts)

  Belgium

  205

  27,089

  79,816

  Denmark

  2,749

  114,926

  488,278

  France

  7,393

  211,240

  1,189,849

  Germany

  Not given

  78,341

  190,273

  Greece

  21,777

  129,313

  710,062

  Ireland

  Not given

  52,912

  186,054

  Italy

  16,670

  267,471

  1,536,518

  Netherlands

  520

  140,460

  441,953

  Portugal1

  15,920

  187,993

  504,067

  Spain

  20,518

  657,680

  1,978,036

  United Kingdom

  11,411

  214,733

  1,228,922

  1Includes Azores and Madeira.

  The Spanish fleet, which includes vessels fishing in the Mediterranean and those fishing in third country waters and international waters, thus has 80 per cent. more vessels than the United Kingdom fleet.

  Fur Farms
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans she has to introduce a ban on fur factory farms.

  Mr. Soames
  We are seeking the best possible welfare standards for all types of fur farming on a European Community basis.

  Vitamin supplements
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans she has to restrict the sale of vitamin supplements.

  Mr. Soames
  I have no plans at present to restrict the sale of vitamin supplements.

  EC Surplus Food Scheme
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evaluation and monitoring is undertaken of charitable and non-profit making organisations involved in the distribution of produce to eligible recipients under the EC surplus food scheme.

  Mr. Jack
  Intervention Board executive agency officers annually inspect designated organisations' records and up to 30 per cent. of all organisations are visited by MAFF officers to check that produce is being distributed in accordance with the scheme's rules.

  Brucellosis
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 25 November,Official Report, columns 120-22, if she will provide the most recent figures she has available giving the total number of cattle testing positive for brucellosis; how many contracted the disease outside the United Kingdom and from which countries; how many were sero-positive before being imported into the United Kingdom and if any of those originate from herds officially declared to be brucellosis free; if the cattle testing sero-positive were subject to tests for the disease within 30 days of their export to this country; if the certification which accompanied each consignment of infected cattle provided an accurate account of the health of each animal in the consignments bound for the United Kingdom; and if the certification was fully compliant with the EC rules in other respects.

  Mr. Soames
  I wish to take this opportunity to correct the information I gave in my reply of 25 November. The number of cattle which had reacted positively to serological tests for brucellosis at the time the answer was given was 29 not 21. There have been no further positive reactions since then.

  As indicated in my earlier reply detailed epidemiological investigations to determine the source of infection are continuing. It is not therefore possible to say if any of the cattle contracted the disease outside the United Kingdom. All the imported animals were accompanied by certification confirming that they originated from officially brucellosis-free herds and had been tested negative for brucellosis within the 30 days prior to export. We have no reason to doubt the accuracy of the certification, which complied fully with EC rules.

  Ewe Premium Quota
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the countries in the EC which have not used up their full allocation of ewe premium quota and list the number of unused units in each case; and what steps she has taken, or is taking, to raise with the Commission the possibility of transferring the unused units of quota to the United Kingdom.
  692
  Mr. Jack
  Quotas operate for the first time under the 1993 sheep annual premium scheme. Payment details are not yet available for that scheme. I regret it is not possible to provide the information requested. More than one year's figures will be needed before conclusions can be drawn as to the long-term quota position in member states.

  Farm Incomes
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of livestock farmers in the less-favoured areas producing(a) a net farm income and (b) cash income of (i) less than zero, (ii) less than £5,000, (iii) £5,000 to less than £10,000, (iv) £10,000 to less than £15,000, (v) £15,000 to less than £20,000 and (vi) £20,000 and over at the latest available date.

  Mr. Jack
  The latest available information, which is in the Library of the House, relating to survey results for 1991–92, is published in table 1·17 of "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom 1991–92". Data for 1992–93 are being analysed and will be published at the end of March 1994 in "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom 1992–93", a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Marine Ecosystem
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action she will take to ensure that the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan will take account of the need to protect marine ecosystems and wildlife.

  Mr. Jack
  The Ministry aims to build on the steps it has already taken to protect the marine esosystem and wildlife, for example by extending the powers of sea fisheries committees to give them a firmer basis for taking account of environmental needs, and by phasing out the dumping of industrial and other wastes at sea. This and other policies of the Ministry will be reflected in the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will consult her ministerial colleagues to make sure that the national sustainable strategy will include a sustainable management system for marine fisheries.

  Mr. Jack
  Marine fisheries is one of the subjects addressed in the United Kingdom national sustainability strategy which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment proposes to publish in January 1994.

  Sheep Quotas
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what legislation is being proposed to assist producers in applying for an allocation of sheep quotas from the national reserve.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]The legislation governing the national reserve came into force on 7 December. Producers asking for an application form will be sent an accompanying explanatory leaflet that gives detailed guidance about how to fill in the application form. Further explanatory leaflets and notes for guidance will be prepared in due course. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will be making separate arrangements in Scotland.
  693
  The text of a letter sent to sheep producers in England which provides further guidance is available in the Library of the House.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has had concerning the administration and operation of the national reserve of sheep quotas; what plans she has to extend the national reserve; and what information she has in respect of the systems in force in each other European Union country.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 3 December 1993]I have received a number of representations on this subject from both organisations and individual producers. The methodology for calculating the size of the national reserves is fixed under Community legislation which also sets out a number of categories of producers who have access to the reserves. The 1993 national reserve of sheep quota comprises some 380,000 units of quota. In addition, some 400,000 units of quota will be available for producers who claimed premium for the first time under the 1992 scheme. The reserves for 1994 and subsequent years will be made up almost entirely of siphoned quota. Each member state is bound by the terms of the Community legislation and is obliged to implement the arrangements accordingly.

  Salmon Prices
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action her Department is taking to ensure that the reference price for salmon to be introduced by the European Commission on 1 January 1994 is realistic.

  Sir Hector Monro
  I have been asked to reply.

  Scottish Office officials have submitted detailed information on market prices and production costs to contribute to the Commission's decision on a reference price for salmon. They have met Commission officials to discuss that information in detail and have made representations that the reference price should be significantly higher than the recently imposed minimum import price.

TRANSPORT

  British Transport Police
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he intends to make for the future organisation of the British Transport police from April 1994; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The British Transport Police will continue, as a unified public force, to police Britain's rail network, including services to the London Underground and the docklands light railway.

  Police services will be provided to all railway operators, who will be obliged, through licence conditions, to use and pay for all law and order functions that require the use of professional police resources. Current functions include a range of activities in the prevention, investigation and detection of crime on the rail network, including safety, anti-terrorism, crime prevention and detection, public order, protecting public space and supporting the victims of crime.
  694
  Operators will be consulted about the level of resources required, and will have discretion, as now, to use non-BTP resources for ancillary tasks such as the static guarding of premises, supervision of car parks and the escort of high value loads.

  The British Railways Board will remain the employer of the BTP for the time being. We intend to seek parliamentary approval at the earliest opportunity of the necessary legislation for Railtrack to become the employer of the BTP, until such time as Railtrack is privatised, when the BTP committee will become the employer.

  The employer of the BTP will remain responsible for its funding, and will recover costs from other operators by charging. It will be for the employer to ensure that all the appropriate charges are collected.

  While BR remains the employer of the BTP, it will retain the responsibility for appointing the chairman and members of the BTP committee.

  To enable the BR Board to provide services to other users of the police on a repayment basis, we shall lay before Parliament in the spring some amendments to the existing secondary legislation—the British Transport Police Force Scheme (Amendment) Order 1992.

  Merchant Fleet
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to assist the future development of the British merchant fleet; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Government's economic and fiscal policies, which have produced low interest rates, low inflation and low taxation, have benefited industry as a whole, including shipping. However, where I can, I am keen to bring forward additional measures which help the shipping industry.

  Accordingly, following extensive public consultation, new regulations governing the registration of ships in the United Kingdom were made today and will shortly be laid before Parliament in accordance with section 3 of the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993. These regulations represent a considerable simplification and consolidation of the existing mix of primary and secondary legislation which deals with the registration of merchant ships, small ships and fishing vessels, as well as the approval of names. I have no doubt that they will be welcomed by all who have to use them.

  In addition the new regulations will, for the first time, allow bareboat chartered vessels to be brought on to the United Kingdom register for the duration of the charter period. I hope that this flexibility will encourage more British shipowners to fly the Red Ensign.

  It is my intention that these regulations should come into force on 21 March 1994.

  Secondly, I will shortly be consulting on changes to the current merchant navy office nationality rules. Under the new proposal the intention is that there should be no officer nationality requirements for United Kingdom registered ships except for certain "strategic" ships which will still be required to have a British, British Commonwealth, NATO or EC national as master.

  I recognise that in allowing shipowners the option of employing non-United Kingdom officers, appropriate measures will be required to ensure that safety is not compromised. The proposed relaxation will, therefore, be accompanied by a scheme of licensing to ensure that all

  695
  non-United Kingdom officers are not only professionally competent but have a good command of the English language and that masters have an appropriate level of understanding of British maritime law. A licence will be pre-requisite both to initial employment and to continuing employment on board a British flagged ship.

  When these two measures are introduced—which, subject to the consultation, should be no later than spring 1994—the Government will have given effect to all the recommendations of the 1990 joint working party on British shipping.

  This Government have a strong commitment to the training of British seafarers which, we recognise, is of vital importance to the long-term health of the industry and to associated onshore maritime businesses.

  The present Government assistance for training scheme is a very successful form of support for our merchant shipping industry. The scheme, which has its origins in the 1988 Merchant Shipping Act, allows financial support to be given towards the cost of training officers and ratings to the standard of a first certificate of competency for service in merchant ships. Since its inception almost 2,000 cadets have benefited from the scheme at the aggregate cost of £11·6 million.

  But I recognise that it is now appropriate to offer additional help to encourage the introduction of NVQ/SVQ training for those at sea while at the same time creating a pool of British officers with a career structure which will take them from cadet to senior officer level. I have, therefore, decided to extend training support to British junior officers while they are studying for their higher certificates of competency. With on-board assessment it should be possible for trainees to reach class 2 levels of competency within 12-18 months.

  The new scheme will initially be for a trial period of three years. Assistance will take the form of a per capita cash contribution. The £1·5 million which will be made available in the first year will be targeted at helping those cadets who have been through the GAFF scheme and who, therefore, hold a first certificate of competency. Priority will be given to junior officers employed on ships on the British register.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has not only been able to confirm his willingness to continue to support the GAFT scheme but has also been able to commit resources to ensure the successful launch and ongoing assessment of this NVQ/SVQ initiative.

  I believe that this package of measures represents further evidence of the Government's continuing commitment to the United Kingdom merchant fleet.

  Capital Expenditure
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will announce the allocation of the transport supplementary grant and credit approvals for capital expenditure on local roads and transport in England for 1994–95.

  Mr. MacGregor
  This year we are taking all local expenditure together, in accordance with the new package approach to funding. A total of £1,008 million is to be allocated to local highway authorities and passenger transport authorities in England for capital expenditure on their local transport infrastructure in 1994–95. This consists of £329 million in transport supplementary grant 696
  —TSG—plus £666 million in annual capital guideline— ACG—and supplementary credit approval—SCA, and £13 million in public transport facilities grant. With the help of capital reserves and developer contributions we therefore expect authorities to be able to spend considerably over £1,000 million in total.

  Tables 1, 2 and 3 deal with the roads element of the settlement. Table 1 sets out the national totals for different types of expenditure. Table 2 shows the total amounts of TSG, credit approval and gross approved expenditure for each of the 108 local highway authorities. The Department's regional offices are notifying them today of their allocations.

  The Government resources available for local roads are some 11 per cent. less than in 1993–94, but are comparable with those for 1992–93. I am glad to announce that authorities will be able to make a start on 35 important road schemes. Thirty-one will be accepted for TSG and four will be supported with only credit approvals.

  The new major schemes will, like the 234 others that continue to receive support, relieve communities from the burden of heavy through traffic, and help economic regeneration in towns.

  Road safety remains a high priority. Within the reduced overall total, the level of funding for local safety schemes has been maintained at the record 1993–94 level of £50 million. Local authorities continue to make good use of the funds. The 1994–95 allocation should finance schemes with potential to save over 60 lives and prevent about 750 serious injuries and some 4,000 other casualties in a 12-month period.

  The £137 million accepted expenditure for bridge maintenance—the same level as last year—should allow authorities to keep up the momentum of this vital work. It has not yet been possible to establish a satisfactory way to help British Rail fund their share of the cost of assessing their road bridges. To avoid further delay on this important work it has been decided that in 1994–95 it should be funded from allocations to local highway authorities. Within the unchanged total for bridges, the distribution of allocations for 1994–95 takes account of this extra responsibility.

  This is the first year in which urban transport packages have featured in the local transport settlement. The submission of packages has been optional in this settlement: but from next year packages are expected to become the norm for urban areas. In submitting a package bid, authorities are required to base proposals on a coherent transport strategy which covers all relevant modes of transport.

  The settlement will allow a number of packages to get off to a strong start. Two packages submitted this year for metropolitan areas—the West Midlands and Leeds—have been allocated significant levels of funding. In addition, we are giving substantial support to a number of shire town packages.

  The public transport settlement makes £103·577 million available, in addition to the funds provided for packages, and cover for ERDF. The Government's substantial commitment to the South Yorkshire Supertram continues, and there is continued funding for the Leeds/Bradford electrification. New starts include the next phase of the Robin Hood Line in Nottinghamshire and renewal of the electrical and traction equipment of the Blackpool tramway.

  697

  Table 1

  £ million

  Existing commitments

  391·305

  New major TSG schemes

  46·954

  Maintenance of principal roads

  151·000

  Bridges

  137·000

  Non-grant-aided

  Local safety scheme SCA

  50·000

  Block SCA for minor works

  60·254

  Package SCA

  10·000

  Scheme-specific SCA

  20·675

  IDA

  8·700

  ERDF SCA

  18·600

  TOTAL

  894·488

  Table 2

  Local authority capital expenditure on roads 1994–95

  £million

  Government grant (TSG)

  Total borrowing approval

  Gross approved spending

  Counties

  Avon

  7·320

  10·230

  18·750

  Bedfordshire

  1·910

  3·127

  5·037

  Berkshire

  2·426

  5·699

  10·203

  Buckinghamshire

  0·945

  2·311

  3·256

  Cambridgeshire

  2·244

  4·362

  6·716

  Cheshire

  8·794

  11·433

  21·989

  Cleveland

  4·216

  6·710

  12·702

  Cornwall

  5·036

  6·202

  11·260

  Cumbria

  1·803

  2·946

  4·927

  Derbyshire

  1·811

  3·115

  5·175

  Devon

  4·066

  5·854

  9·920

  Dorset

  2·258

  3·700

  5·958

  Durham

  4·607

  5·921

  11·203

  East Sussex

  3·154

  4·676

  8·260

  Essex

  7·757

  11·561

  19·318

  Gloucestershire

  2·595

  4·542

  8·302

  Hampshire

  10·192

  16·236

  28·264

  Hereford and Worcester

  1·179

  2·328

  3·647

  Hertfordshire

  5·019

  6·984

  12·011

  Humberside

  5·822

  9·749

  17·385

  Isle of Wight

  0·363

  2·619

  2·982

  Kent

  43·616

  48·157

  94·074

  Lancashire

  9·550

  14·368

  26·351

  Leicestershire

  1·257

  4·635

  7·603

  Lincolnshire

  2·611

  4·821

  7·432

  Norfolk

  4·902

  8·256

  14·275

  Northamptonshire

  2·457

  3·678

  6·135

  Northumberland

  3·569

  4·207

  7·776

  North Yorkshire

  4·298

  8·904

  15·614

  Nottinghamshire

  4·326

  6·292

  10·715

  Oxfordshire

  0·000

  3·096

  5·167

  Shropshire

  1·262

  2·940

  4·481

  Somerset

  3·271

  5·615

  10·460

  Staffordshire

  5·861

  8·555

  14·416

  Suffolk

  3·579

  5·758

  9·337

  Surrey

  10·863

  14·282

  26·095

  Warwickshire

  1·611

  2·893

  4·504

  West Sussex

  2·625

  4·043

  7·013

  Wiltshire

  0·705

  2·518

  4·000

  Metropolitan Districts

  Bolton

  1·424

  2·032

  3·694

  Bury

  0·860

  1·406

  2·266

  Manchester

  9·654

  14·013

  24·684

  Oldham

  1·360

  2·881

  5·115

  Rochdale

  0·874

  1·546

  2·420

  698

  Government grant (TSG)

  Total borrowing approval

  Gross approved spending

  Salford

  1·032

  1·917

  2·949

  Stockport

  2·141

  2·606

  4·834

  Tameside

  0·712

  1·214

  1·929

  Trafford

  3·827

  5·857

  11·399

  Wigan

  0·336

  0·904

  1·414

  Knowsley

  3·764

  10·130

  19·498

  Liverpool

  2·572

  3·446

  6·018

  St. Helens

  0·209

  0·513

  0·722

  Sefton

  0·274

  0·848

  1·122

  Wirral

  0·963

  1·980

  3·083

  Barnsley

  2·674

  3·619

  6·667

  Doncaster

  2·437

  3·428

  6·248

  Rotherham

  1·613

  2·606

  4·802

  Sheffield

  5·286

  10·369

  20·146

  Gateshead

  0·000

  0·939

  1·351

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  3·442

  4·801

  9·255

  North Tyneside

  0·529

  1·163

  1·692

  South Tyneside

  0·350

  0·880

  1·319

  Sunderland

  0·569

  2·144

  3·733

  Birmingham

  15·749

  18·912

  36·093

  Conventry

  3·835

  7·462

  14·401

  Dudley

  4·408

  5·441

  9·849

  Sandwell

  2·288

  2·792

  5·080

  Solihull

  1·428

  1·773

  3·201

  Walsall

  7·854

  8·742

  17·034

  Wolverhampton

  7·483

  9·790

  18·857

  Bradford

  2·817

  4·230

  7·215

  Calderdale

  1·442

  1·970

  3·412

  Kirklees

  1·857

  5·222

  7·079

  Leeds

  6·981

  10·647

  18·507

  Wakefield

  1·344

  2·077

  3·421

  London Boroughs

  City of London

  0·305

  1·444

  1·749

  Barking and Dagenham

  0·269

  0·863

  1·132

  Barnet

  0·330

  2·272

  2·602

  Bexley

  3·342

  4·322

  8·022

  Brent

  0·829

  1·914

  2·743

  Bromley

  0·556

  1·339

  1·895

  Camden

  1·542

  2·522

  4·064

  Croydon

  1·859

  3·184

  5·045

  Ealing

  0·000

  2·234

  3·269

  Enfield

  1·909

  3·077

  5·507

  Greenwich

  0·948

  1·590

  2·613

  Hackney

  0·648

  2·059

  3·347

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1·457

  4·059

  5·516

  Haringey

  0·718

  2·441

  3·159

  Harrow

  1·760

  4·462

  8·594

  Havering

  0·154

  0·714

  0·868

  Hillingdon

  0·000

  3·223

  5·129

  Hounslow

  2·103

  3·462

  5·599

  Islington

  0·703

  2·424

  3·127

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0·061

  0·798

  1·153

  Kingston upon Thames

  1·251

  2·104

  3·505

  Lambeth

  0·501

  1·227

  1·728

  Lewisham

  1·675

  5·553

  9·877

  Merton

  0·000

  1·345

  1·727

  Newham

  4·033

  6·368

  11·174

  Redbridge

  0·546

  1·143

  1·689

  Richmond upon Thames

  0·331

  1·605

  1·936

  Southwark

  1·282

  2·551

  3·842

  Sutton

  0·373

  1·836

  2·318

  Tower Hamlets

  1·927

  3·446

  5·373

  Waltham Forest

  0·455

  1·746

  2·510

  Wandsworth

  2·132

  4·269

  6·401

  Westminster

  1·166

  2·316

  3·709

  Note: Gross approved expenditure exceeds the sum of grant and borrowing approval if an authority holds unused grant from previous years.
  699

  Table 3

  Authority

  Scheme

  New TSG major schemes

  East Sussex

  A22 new route (Dittons to Seaside), Eastbourne

  Kent

  A289 Gillingham northern link

  Kent

  A289 Wainscott northern bypass

  Avon

  Avon ring road stage 2(B4465 Shortwood to A420 Warmley)

  Cornwall

  A390 Probus bypass

  Devon

  A386 Hatherleigh bypass

  Somerset

  A39-A371 Wells relief road

  Wiltshire

  A350 East Knoyle bypass

  Birmingham

  A34-A435 South Brimingham improvements (Phase 1)

  Staffordshire

  A50 Uttoxeter bypass (Phases 1 and 2)

  Cheshire

  A533 Devenham bypass

  Salford

  A5063 Trafford road (The Quays-White City)

  Trafford

  A5063 Trafford road improvement

  Cleveland

  A173-A174 Skelton and Brotton bypass

  Durham

  A691 Witton Gilbert bypass

  Northumberland

  A189 Kitty Brewster bridge duplication

  Doncaster

  A630 Wheatley Hall road dualling

  Leeds

  Leeds city centre loop road (Phase 3)

  Wakefield

  A628 Hemsworth bypass

  Derbyshire

  A6 London road diversion, Derby

  Northamptonshire

  A45-A605 dualling, Higham Ferrers-Stanwick

  Nottinghamshire

  A6096 Awsworth and Cossal bypass

  Nottinghamshire

  A6117 Mansfield eastern outer ring road (Phase 2)

  Bedfordshire

  A507 Arlesey-Stotfold bypass

  Cambridgeshire

  A1123 Needingworth bypass

  Hertfordshire

  A121 Cheshunt link road

  Norfolk

  A143 Brockdish-Needham bypass

  Suffolk

  A143 Rickinghall-Botesdale bypass

  Greenwich

  A206 Woolwich road improvement

  Harrow

  A409 Sheepcote road widening

  Kingston

  A240 north-south corridor improvements, Kingston

  Other schemes (non TSG)

  Essex

  A134 Colchester eastern approaches (stage 1)

  Essex

  B1013 access road to Southend

  Lincolnshire

  A16 Gosberton link to Spalding bypass

  Staffordshire

  A50 Victoria place link, Stoke on Trent

  Table 4

  £million

  West Midlands

  193·579

  Leeds/West Yorkshire PTA

  93·628

  Bournemouth and Poole

  20·5

  Brighton

  0·5

  Exeter

  0·4

  Oxford

  0·8

  Shrewsbury

  0·6

  Staines

  0·3

  Swindon

  0·6

  Winchester

  0·6

  Hull

  0·1

  Canterbury

  0·05

  Ipswich

  0·05

  1 The figures for the West Midlands and Leeds packages include existing commitments to major schemes in the package area.

  2 Figures for shire town packages are in addition to the normal allocations for the relevant shires, as shown in Table 2.

  700

  Table 5

  Local authority capital expenditure on Public transport Metropolitan Districts and Passenger Transport Authorities

  Scheme

  Approved expenditure £ million

  Greater Manchester

  Bury

  bus priority

  0·050

  Manchester

  Victoria Arena—transport aspects

  0·750

  Salford

  bus priority

  0·075

  Stockport

  bus priority

  0·100

  Trafford

  bus priority

  0·150

  PTA

  new signalling centre

  1·000

  other works

  3·400

  Merseyside

  Knowsley

  bus priority

  0·330

  Wirral

  bus priority

  0·040

  701

  Scheme

  Approved expenditure £million

  PTA

  New signalling centre

  1·800

  City Challenge-related work

  2·500

  other works

  2·537

  South Yorkshire

  Doncaster

  bus priority

  0·070

  PTA

  South Yorkshire Supertram

  54·712

  other works

  2·500

  Tyne and Wear

  Gateshead

  bus priority

  0·075

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  bus priority

  0·003

  PTA

  general works

  2·539

  West Midlands

  package1

  West Yorkshire

  Leeds

  package1

  PTA

  West Yorks electrification

  11·810

  Class 308 refurbishment

  2·030

  other works

  2·500

  County councils

  Avon

  bus priority

  0·230

  Cleveland

  bus priority

  0·825

  Cornwall

  minor projects

  0·085

  Derbyshire

  Ivanhoe rail re-opening

  0·110

  Devon

  bus priority

  0·008

  package1

  Dorset

  package1

  East Sussex

  package1

  Hampshire

  bus priority

  0·080

  package1

  Humberside

  package1

  Kent

  noise measures

  0·600

  bus priority

  0·300

  package1

  Lancashire

  Blackpool Tramway re-cabling

  1·460

  bus priority

  0·420

  Leicestershire

  Ivanhoe rail re-opening

  2·684

  Nottinghamshire

  Robin Hood rail re-opening2

  6·500

  bus priority

  0·225

  Oxfordshire

  bus priority

  0·085

  minor projects

  0·024

  package1

  Shropshire

  bus priority

  0·100

  package1

  Suffolk

  bus priority

  0·850

  package1

  702

  Scheme

  Approved expenditure £million

  Surrey

  package1

  Wiltshire

  package1

  1 See table 4.

  2 Provisional.

  Marchioness
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has anything to add to the oral ministerial statement of 9 July 1992,Official Report, column 699, that there was no case for an inquiry into the Marchioness disaster since it was clear that all the facts had been established.

  Mr. Norris
  No

  Lorries(Loads)
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce a requirement for lorries carrying minerals, stone, sand, grit and excavated materials on public roads to have such loads securely sheeted.

  Mr. Key
  The safety of loads on vehicles used on the roads is controlled by the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. Regulation 100(2) requires that any load carried by a vehicle be secured, if necessary, by additional restraints so that it is not likely to cause danger or nuisance by moving, falling or blowing off the vehicle. This would cover the sheeting of loads.

  In addition, regulations have recently been introduced under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 specifically to require lorries working in quarries to sheet their loads to prevent dust. While these regulations do not apply on a public road, vehicles will need to be sheeted before entering a quarry and to remain sheeted after loading as far as the exit from the site. Drivers are unlikely to deliberately remove the sheeting once on the road.

  Road Safety Report
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the next road safety report will be published.

  Mr. Key
  We plan to issue a new road safety report in about a year's time.

  Advertising
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of advertising by his Department has been for each year since 1979 and for each of the last 12 months.

  Mr. Norris
  The cost of advertising for publicity campaigns by my Department for each year since 1979 is as follows:

  £'000s

  1979–80

  5,840

  1980–81

  5,704

  1981–82

  5,488

  1982–83

  4,648

  703

  £'000s

  1983–84

  6,499

  1984–85

  5,279

  1985–86

  5,788

  1986–87

  5,819

  1987–88

  5,510

  1988–89

  5,709

  1989–90

  6,434

  1990–91

  8,062

  1991–92

  9,522

  1992–93

  9,831

  11993–94

  9,555

  1 estimated

  Cost of advertising for each of last 12 months cannot be readily calculated since advertising campaigns are planned, researched and executed over a period of months with expenditure being incurred over a similar period. Therefore only the total annual cost of campaigns has been given.

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be able to announce details of his Department's expenditure on trunk roads for 1994–95.

  Mr. Key
  I expect to make an announcement about my plans for national roads early in the new year.

  Klondyker Ships
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to ensure the safety of Klondyker ships in United Kingdom territorial waters but outside the Lerwick harbour boundary; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of any ship rests with the flag state.

  As the Klondykers are engaging in a commercial activity they require a licence, in this case from the Secretary of State for Scotland. Section 27 of Merchant Shipping Act 1979 allows the inspection of any such foreign ship in United Kingdom territorial waters. My right hon. Friend has implemented an intensive programme of inspections of Klondyker ships around the Shetland Islands.

  A code of practice for Klondykers is being prepared. This will apply to vessels within United Kingdom territorial limits.

  The Government will take appropriate action where there is a threat to human life or to the environment.

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

  Mr. MacGregor
  The annual cost to the Department of the car service for Ministers in 1990–91 was £186,000. Five vehicles were involved. These charges did not cover the full cost of the car service and rates have since been raised to reflect this.

  Air Safety
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the titles, names of contractors and dates of all external research contracts on air safety commissioned by his Department since 1985.

  Mr. Norris
  Following an examination of the Department's records I can inform the hon. Member that the only external safety-related research directly commissioned by the Department are the following:

  1. Impact Modelling Programme commissioned with the University of Cranfield's Impact Centre in 1991, and;

  2. Explosion/Decompression Signature Identification Research Programme, commissioned with the University of Southampton in 1993.

  These are both in support of the Department's air accident investigation branch.

  The responsibility for the safety regulation of civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority. As a consequence research aimed at improving safety standards is commissioned by the Authority. Occasionally the Department has contributed funds for specific projects managed by the CAA.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice is given to civil pilots concerning the actions to be taken to maximise safety when entering an area known to be subject to directional flow control for military low flying.

  Mr. Norris
  In the interest of mutual flight safety civilian pilots have been given advice and information on military low flying operations and the directional flow control for military low flying in the following recent publications and circulars:

  1. June 1993—Information Circular AIC 89/1993.

  2. August 1993—The United Kingdom Aeronautical Information Publication (the United Kingdom Air Pilot) section RAC 5-0-1.1.

  3. August 1993—The Civil Aviation Authority's General Aviation Safety Information Leaflet.

  I have made arrangements with the Civil Aviation Authority for the hon. Member to receive copies of the documents mentioned.

  MV Braer
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the report of the Donaldson inquiry into the Braer incident at Orkney will be published.

  Mr. Norris
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) on 24 November, column 64.

  Thameslink
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State For Transport what provision has been made in the Government's public spending plans for 1994–95, 1995-96 and 1996-97 for expenditure on improvements to Thameslink including those that British Rail and London Underground have advised will be required for the King's Cross-St. Pancras interchange and the Victoria and Piccadilly lines to be able to cope with commuters using the channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Norris
  No provision has been made as yet. We are giving careful consideration to the 29 October report from Union Railways and to the comments which we have received from London Transport.
  705
  It is too early to say what provision might be required.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call off DVLA's review into its local offices until the trail of automated direct registration has been completed; and how the DVLA's review can come to any conclusions before the direct registration trail has been completed.

  Mr. Key
  No. The review will provide the agency with a range of options for the future. Estimates of the effect of automated first registration on local offices have been built into the business case for the project and the consultants carrying out the review will take these into account in framing their proposals.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many roadside checks Touche Ross consultants attended while carrying out the review for DVLA on the work of inquiry officers in London;

  (2) on how many occasions Touche Ross consultants accompanied inquiry officers on duty whilst compiling its report on the work of DVLA inquiry officers in London;

  (3) what were the costs of the recent review of inquiry officers' work in DVLA enforcement offices in Sidcup and Great Marlborough street, London.

  Mr. Key
  Touche Ross has not carried out any investigation into the work of these officers. It has been advising the agency on its overall market testing strategy for 1993–94, of which the LEO inquiry officers are only one element.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of new DVLA stationery bearing the charter mark; and whether DVLA has scrapped all existing non-charter mark stationery.

  Mr. Key
  There is no additional cost. The charter mark logo is being incorporated into new stationery as it is reprinted in the normal course of business with old stocks being used up first.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of producing the DVLA staff magazine "Licence" for the year 1992–93 and for the current financial year to date.

  Mr. Key
  The cost of producing "Licence" for 1992–93 was £40,000. The cost so far for the current financial year is £25,000.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what were the total number and value of returned cheques passed to the DVLA staff magazine Licence for the financial year 1992–93 and for the current financial year to date;

  (2) what were the total number and value of returned cheques passed to DVLA for the financial year 1992–93 and for the current financial year to date.

  Mr. Key
  Since April 1992 Post Office Counters Ltd. has been responsible for recover, but not prosecution, action on cheques accepted by them in payment for vehicle excise licences. The numbers and value are:

  April 1992 to March 1993

  April 1993 to November 1993

  Number

  132,000

  81,000

  Value

  £13 million

  £9 million

  706
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if Touche Ross consultants have carried out a review of inquiry officers' work in the DVLA: and whether consultants visited the enforcement offices concerned.

  Mr. Key
  No such review has taken place.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if staff employed by DVLA have been issued with instructions not to answer questions from National Audit Office staff carrying out a study into vehicle excise duty collection-enforcement, unless a manager is present.

  Mr. Key
  The guidance notes issued to DVLA staff are designed to help the NAO to carry out their work as efficiently as possible. To avoid any misunderstandings an account of all NAO interviews will be kept by a designated staff member. All staff interviewed are asked to give honest, factual and considered answers. This arrangement is in accordance with standard procedures and was agreed with the NAO team involved in this study.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the amount of unpaid vehicle excise duty in the United Kingdom for each year from 1987–88;

  (2) if he will estimate for the financial year 1992–93 the amount of unpaid vehicle excise duty in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Key
  The figures for Great Britain with the revenue recovered from fines and penalties are as follows:

  £ million

  Unpaid VED

  Revenue from fines and penalties

  1987–88

  95

  23·6

  1988–89

  100

  25·7

  1989–90

  105

  26

  1990–91

  105

  27·6

  1991–92

  115

  34·4

  1992–93

  130

  37·5

  In addition, in 1992–93 an extra £14 million in revenue was raised through evaders relicensing vehicles as a direct result of enforcement action. Corresponding figures are not available for earlier years.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by vehicle registration office, the number, grades and salary costs of staff employed on vehicle excise duty enforcement and the total amount of revenue collected by those staff in 1992–93.

  Mr. Key
  The information requested is as follows:

  Staff In Posts and Salaries 1992–93

  (£000s)

  VRO by Region

  Executive staff

  Clerical staff

  Salary costs

  Scottish

  Aberdeen

  —

  4

  40

  Carlisle

  1

  4

  53

  Dundee

  —

  4

  33

  707

  VRO by Region

  Executive staff

  Clerical staff

  Salary costs

  Edinburgh

  1

  11

  140

  Glasgow

  2

  25

  262

  Inverness

  —

  3

  23

  Middlesborough

  2

  12

  104

  Newcastle

  3

  18

  197

  Total

  852

  North England and North Wales

  Bangor

  2

  7

  86

  Chester

  1

  8

  91

  Huddersfield

  1

  7

  93

  Hull

  2

  7

  95

  Leeds

  4

  20

  234

  Liverpool

  3

  21

  252

  Manchester

  4

  21

  278

  Preston

  2

  14

  135

  Sheffield

  2

  14

  155

  Total

  1,419

  Midlands

  Birmingham

  5

  24

  326

  Coventry

  1

  12

  120

  Dudley

  1

  9

  99

  Leicester

  1

  13

  114

  Lincoln

  2

  10

  130

  Northampton

  1

  11

  148

  Nottingham

  1

  15

  152

  Peterborough

  1

  9

  106

  Shrewsbury

  —

  5

  37

  Stoke

  1

  8

  85

  Total

  1,317

  Southwest England and South Wales

  Bristol

  4

  23

  270

  Cardiff

  4

  20

  205

  Exeter

  4

  17

  179

  Gloucester

  2

  10

  130

  Haverfordwest

  1

  3

  17

  Swansea

  2

  9

  75

  Taunton

  2

  7

  91

  Truro

  2

  5

  100

  Worcester

  2

  8

  110

  Total

  1,177

  London and Eastern

  Chelmsford

  5

  24

  310

  Ipswich

  2

  9

  115

  Luton

  6

  30

  397

  Norwich

  2

  10

  101

  Total

  923

  Southern

  Bournemouth

  3

  12

  163

  Brighton

  4

  24

  274

  Guildford

  3

  14

  179

  Maidstone

  4

  20

  288

  Oxford

  1

  11

  105

  Portsmouth

  3

  15

  177

  Reading

  2

  16

  201

  Swindon

  1

  7

  76

  Total

  1,463

  London Enforcement Office

  37

  207

  3,391

  The total salary costs for 1992–93 was £10.5 million.

  The revenue recovered for 1992–93 was as follows:
  708

  £ million

  Out of court settlements paid

  10·5

  Prosecution

  27

  Total

  37·5

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each no further steps code the number of vehicle excise duty offence reports written off for the financial year 1992–93.

  Mr. Key
  VED offence reports are written off as "no further steps" when enforcement action has had to be discontinued for a specified reason. The figures for 1992–93 were:

  Number

  NFS 1 (unable to trace the offender or prove liability for the offence)

  408,000

  NFS 2 (time expired for court action)

  1,200

  NFS 3 (insufficient staff resource)

  1,200

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle excise duty offence reports(a) were settled out of court or (b) resulted in a prosecution and fines, in 1992–93 and in the current financial year.

  Mr. Key
  The number of VED enforcement cases brought to a successful conclusion in 1992–93 and between April and November 1993 were:

  1992–93 April-March

  1993–94 April-November

  By out of court settlement

  242,000

  157,000

  By prosecution

  193,000

  140,000

  In addition, in 1992–93 180,000 motorists were induced to take out a licence as a direct result of enforcement action. To November this year the figure stands at 137,000.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many vehicle excise offences reports have been generated so far this financial year;

  (2) how many vehicle excise offences reports were received by DVLA in 1992–93.

  Mr. Key
  The number of vehicles reported to DVLA for alleged VED offences in 1992–93 was 1·8 million and 1·2 million for this financial year to November.

  Child Road Deaths
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by year since 1979 the number of children below 16 years of age killed as a result of road traffic accidents(a) between 7 am and 10 am and (b) between 2 pm and 6 pm when clocks were set at (i) GMT and (ii) BST.

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

  The data indicate that:

  (a) there are more child road deaths in the summer than in the winter and that especially in the summer many more deaths occur in the afternoon, when children are out and about more; arid

  (b) very significant progress has been made over this period in reducing child road casualties but more needs to be done.

  709

  Child fatalities, morning and afternoon periods, during BST and GMT1 1979–92

  Clocks set at GMT

  Clocks set at BST

  Year

  Morning (7-10 am)

  Afternoon (2-6 pm)

  Morning (7-10 am)

  Afternoon (2-6 pm)

  1979

  26

  101

  36

  234

  1980

  28

  96

  34

  193

  1981

  25

  105

  56

  197

  1982

  28

  89

  34

  170

  1983

  24

  114

  40

  203

  1984

  23

  92

  33

  194

  1985

  26

  91

  22

  166

  1986

  30

  87

  33

  144

  1987

  20

  66

  43

  154

  1988

  25

  82

  31

  142

  1989

  19

  68

  32

  153

  1990

  18

  54

  29

  139

  1991

  11

  66

  23

  135

  1992

  16

  60

  13

  86

  Total

  319

  1,171

  459

  2,310

  1 Clocks are set at BST for approximately seven months of the year and at GMT for approximately five months.

  Catalytic Converters
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been undertaken to evaluate the performance of catalytic converters in a typical urban driving situation in Britain; and whether the reductions in emissions have been quantified.

  Mr. Key
  The Department has a number of research programmes on vehicles emissions which include analysis of catalyst cars. Recent unpublished work at the Warren Spring Laboratory, has compared the emission performance of catalyst-equipped cars against non-catalyst cars, for an equal mix of hot start and normal ambient cold start operation, over actual urban road driving and over dynamometer driving cycles that simulate typical urban driving. The results show, on average, that a catalyst equipped car reduces carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen by 76 per cent., 81 per cent., and 77 per cent. respectively over an equivalent non-catalyst car over a typical journey length of 4 km. Similar research carried out under the EU Drive programme, but under hot starting conditions only, shows reductions of 77 per cent., 90 per cent. and 85 per cent. respectively for the same pollutants.

  Heavy Vehicles
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate has been made of the volume of heavy goods vehicle traffic that will transfer from the M6 to the proposed Birmingham northern relief road; and what percentage this is of through and overall HGV traffic.

  Mr. Key
  The BNRR concessionaire, Midland Expressway Ltd., currently estimates that by the design year of 2011 the HGV traffic on BNRR would be as follows, about 55 per cent.—or approximately 7,000 vehicles per day—of the through trips which otherwise would have used M6 between junctions 4 and 11 are predicted to transfer. These figures represent up to about 20 per cent. of the total HGV traffic along this section of M6.

  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what authority has been given or licences issued by his Department to Collins Road Services or to CRS to operate or park heavy vehicles on land known as Chaney's,710
  Hubbards farm, West Drayton road, Hillingdon, Middlesex; what consultations have taken place with the London borough of Hillingdon on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 14 December 1993]: Decisions on individual operator licences are the responsibility of the traffic commissioners. I have asked the traffic commissioner for the south-eastern and metropolitan traffic area to write to my hon. Friend.

  Trunk Road Assessment
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the report of the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment on how far new roads generate traffic will be published; and what were the reasons for delay in publication.

  Mr. Key
  The standing committee on trunk road assessment is still looking into the question of generated traffic and has not yet reported its findings to my Department.

HEALTH

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list each contract made with NHS trusts by(a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) regional health authorities for the current year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The readily available information is shown in the table. More detailed information could only be provided at disproportionate cost. A list of contracts made by trusts with regional health authorities is not available centrally.

  Supra-regional services

  Choriocarcinoma
  Weston Park Hospital NHS Trust, Sheffield

  Fulminant liver failure
  King's College Hospital NHS Trust, London

  Heart transplantation
  Harefield Hospital NHS Trust (in association with Royal Brompton Hospital)
  Northern General Hospital NHS Trust, Sheffield
  Papworth Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge
  St. George's Hospital NHS Trust, London
  Freeman Hospital NHS Trust, Newcastle
  711
  Liver transplantation
  St. James's University Hospital NHS Trust, Leeds
  King's College Hospital NHS Trust, London
  Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust, London
  Addenbrooke's Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge
  Freeman Hospital NHS Trust, Newcastle

  Neonatal and infant cardiac surgery
  Freeman Hospital NHS Trust, Newcastle
  Guy's Hospital NHS Trust, London
  Harefield Hospital NHS Trust
  Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children NHS Trust
  Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital NHS Trust (Alder Hey)
  Southampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  Paediatric liver services and Complex hepatobiliary surgery
  King's College Hospital NHS Trust, London

  Proton therapy for large uveal melanomas
  Mersey Centre for Radiotherapy and Oncology Clatterbridge
  Hospital NHS Trust, Wirral

  Managed through Centrally Commissioned R&D programme

  Vitamin K a possible risk for childhood cancer (Welsh Office)
  Llandough Hospital NHS Trust, Penarth, Glamorgan

  Nottingham heart attack register
  University Hospital Nottingham NHS Trust

  The patterns of delay in mental health review tribunals
  King's College Hospital NHS Trust, London

  Managed as part of the NHS R and D programme

  Development of a transport incubator support system
  King's Healthcare NHS Trust, (care of King's College Hospital NHS Trust, Denmark Hill site, London)

  Development of a novel pneumatic driver for a paracorporeal ventricular assist device
  Harefield Hospital NHS Trust

  Development of a supra-pubic urine collection system
  Southmead Health Services NHS Trust, Bristol

  Development of a neo-anal system
  The Royal London Hospital NHS Trust

  Poisons Information Services
  Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospital NHS Trust, London
  United Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  High Security Infectious Diseases Unit
  Coppetts Wood Hospital (managed by the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust)

  Minimally Invasive Therapy Project
  Minimally invasive therapy project, United Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  EC Health Statistics
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list, for each EC country for the latest available year,(a) the life expectancy for men and women and (b) the death rate from (i) asthma, (ii) heart disease, (iii) breast cancer, (iv) lung cancer and (v) suicide, (c) the deaths from road traffic accidents per head of population,

  Table 2: Death rates per 100,000 population for selected causes of death for each EEC country for the latest available year

  Bronchitis, chronic and unspecified emphysema and asthma

  Diseases of the circulatory system

  Malignant neoplasm of breast cancer

  Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung

  Suicide and self inflicted injury

  Motor vehicle traffic accidents

  (ICD 490-493)

  (ICD 390-459)

  (ICD 174-175)

  (ICD 162)

  (ICD E950-E959)

  (ICD E800-E819

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Belgium

  1987

  39·6

  15·8

  406·4

  451·5

  n/a

  45·5

  119·2

  14·1

  32·0

  13·8

  29·1

  10·6

  Denmark

  1991

  57·6

  40·7

  511·7

  508·6

  0·3

  50·4

  79·4

  45·5

  30·0

  15·1

  16·8

  6·5

  France

  1990

  16·5

  12·8

  287·3

  327·0

  n/a

  34·9

  68·1

  9·7

  29·6

  11·1

  26·5

  9·2

  Germany

  1990

  42·9

  22·4

  503·.8

  657·5

  n/a

  42·7

  71·6

  16·5

  24·9

  10·7

  19·5

  7·6

  Greece

  1990

  4·1

  2·3

  474·6

  498·0

  n/a

  24·8

  81·2

  13·9

  5·5

  1·5

  33·9

  11·0

  Ireland

  1990

  21·5

  13·8

  437·0

  380·2

  n/a

  34·4

  59·7

  27·7

  14·4

  4·7

  19·2

  6·9

  Italy

  1989

  43·6

  19·8

  387·2

  416·9

  n/a

  36·8

  89·9

  14·6

  11·2

  4·1

  24·4

  6·4

  Luxembourg

  1991

  34·2

  15·2

  412·0

  462·2

  n/a

  45·6

  80·6

  15·7

  28·5

  11·7

  31·1

  11·7

  Netherlands

  1990

  30·9

  10·2

  350·3

  340·3

  n/a

  43·5

  94·9

  16·3

  12·3

  7·2

  12·2

  5·1

  Portugal

  1991

  19·8

  10·3

  451·5

  489·1

  n/a

  29·3

  38·5

  8·6

  14·9

  4·6

  47·7

  12·3

  Spain

  1989

  14·3

  7·5

  317·6

  371·1

  n/a

  26·7

  64·8

  6·4

  11·6

  3·9

  32·9

  9·8

  United Kingdom

  1991

  20·2

  12·5

  508·1

  525·4

  n/a

  52·2

  94·5

  42·7

  12·4

  3·6

  12·7

  5·2

  Source: 1992 World Health Statistics Annual.
  712
  (d) the number of under-16 pregnancies per 1,000 population, (e) the number of 11 to 15-year-old boys and girls smoking per 1,000 girls and boys and (f) the number of (1) nurses and (2) midwives per head of population.

  Mr. Sackville
  The life expectancy for men and women in each European Economic Community country for the latest available year is shown in Table 1. Table 2 shows death rates per 100,000 population for various causes of deaths.

  The number of under 16 pregnancies per 1,000 population for each EEC country is not available centrally. This information is collected for England and Wales. For the latest available year, 1991, the pregnancy rate is 9·3 per 1,000 girls in the 13-15 age group. Comparable data are not available for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  The number of 11 to 15-year-old boys and girls smoking per 1,000 population is not available centrally. However, a report on the European position on smoking amongst 11 to 15-year-old children in 1990 was published by the European Bureau for Action on Smoking Prevention (BASP). The survey was based on a small sample of only 9,312 young people (4,778 boys and 4,534 girls) representing about 800 young people per country (250 in Luxembourg) and the results are shown in table 3.

  Information on the number of nurses and midwives per head of population for each EEC country is not available centrally.

  Table 1

  The life expectancy for men and women in each EEC country for the latest available year

  Males

  Females

  Belgium

  1987

  72·0

  78·9

  Denmark

  1991

  72·6

  78·2

  France

  1990

  73·4

  81·8

  Germany

  1990

  72·0

  78·6

  Greece

  1990

  74·6

  79·8

  Ireland

  1990

  72·0

  77·7

  Italy

  1989

  73·6

  80·4

  Luxembourg

  1991

  71·8

  79·2

  Netherlands

  1990

  73·9

  80·3

  Portugal

  1991

  69·8

  77·3

  Spain

  1989

  73·4

  80·5

  United Kingdom

  1991

  73·3

  78·3

  Source: 1992 World Health Statistics Annual.
  713

  Table 3

  Regular smokers, occasional smokers and non smokers aged 11-15 by EEC country

  Per Cent.

  Regular Smokers

  Occasional Smokers

  Non Smokers

  Belgium

  5

  2

  93

  Denmark

  6

  2

  92

  France

  6

  2

  92

  Germany

  7

  5

  88

  Greece

  4

  1

  96

  Ireland

  4

  2

  94

  Italy

  3

  1

  96

  Luxembourg

  5

  2

  93

  Netherlands

  6

  2

  92

  Portugal

  5

  2

  93

  Spain

  7

  5

  88

  United Kingdom

  6

  2

  92

  EEC

  6

  3

  91

  Figures may not add to 100 per cent. due to rounding.

  Source: BASP—European Bureau For Action on Smoking Prevention. Survey undertaken 1990.

  Zantac
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the health risks of the colouring matter in the drug Zantac.

  Mr. Sackville
  Zantac is a licensed product. Before any medicinal product may be marketed in the United Kingdom a full assessment of the safety, quality and efficacy is carried out to enable a product licence to be granted by the licensing authority. This assessment also includes consideration of any excipients. All drugs by necessity contain excipients, these are products which must be present for a defined purpose and which must not be of unacceptable toxicity. Colouring agents in medicines are examples of excipients. The colouring in Zantac is one of those permitted by an European Community directive which states that the use of only certain colours in medicinal products is allowed.

  Health Service Gifts
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what gifts or hospitality officers or directors of health authorities and trusts may accept; and whether such acceptance is required to be recorded.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Guidance on the acceptance of gifts and hospitality is contained in HSG(93)5, copies of which are available in the Library.

  NHS Staffing
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed in the national health service for the year 1993 in(a) nursing and midwifery, (b) medical and dental and (c) others, to include professional/technical, ancillary, administration/clerical, maintenance, managers, ambulance, staff and others.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The latest available information is shown in the table.

  National health service staff groups in England at 30 September 1992 in whole-time equivalents in the hospital and community health service.
  714

  Numbers

  NHS Staff Group

  Nursing and Midwifery

  378,790

  Medical and Dental

  47,220

  Others

  363,980

  Total

  789,990

  Notes:

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

  2. Figures exclude general medical and dental practice staff.

  Acute Beds
  Mr. Raymond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will publish a table showing the number of acute beds available in each accident and emergency department in hospitals within the Greater London area in each year since 1989;

  (2) if she will estimate how many acute beds will be available in each accident and emergency department in hospitals in the Greater London area in the first week on January 1994.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. Each authority or trust decides the number of beds to be designated as accident and emergency beds in the light of local needs and experience.

  Neurosurgery
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what neurosurgical advice is being made available to her on the future location of the regional neurosurgery now carried out at the Brook Hospital;

  (2) if proposals for the future location of the South East Thames regional neurosciences will be based on (a) advice from a professor of psychiatry, (b) advice from the Brook team or (c) others.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have received advice from a number of sources, including the South East Thames regional health authority review of regional neurosciences, the neurosciences specialty review and the special health authority research review. All advice will be considered carefully alongside proposals for the development of a neurosciences centre from the Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital Trust, and from King's Healthcare Trust and the Maudsley hospital.

  NHS Trusts (Cars)
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing the number and average cost of cars made available by trusts in the Greater London area to(a) chief executives, (b) senior managers, (c) doctors, (d) nurses, (e) midwives and (f) other staff.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Every health authority and national health service trust is required to complete an annual financial return giving details of total expenditure on leased and contract car hire charges. This includes the cost of charges passed on to staff. Detailed information about the number of cars and their allocation is not available centrally.

  Rights of the Child
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for health what consideration her Department has given to articles 9 and 18.2 of the UN convention on the rights of the child in relation to the costs to parents of visiting children in hospital; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  Consistent with articles 9 and 18.2, we attach particular importance in involving parents in the care and treatment of their children. Under the hospital travel costs scheme, financial assistance is available to parents on low incomes to accompany their children to and from hospital where this is medically necessary. Most national health service hospitals also provide accommodation for parents to enable them to stay overnight at the hospital whilst their children receive treatment. Additional financial help is available from the social fund to enable parents in receipt of income support to visit their children in hospital.

  NHS Trusts Budget
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total budget for NHS trusts for(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94; and what is the planned budget for 1994–95.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested for 1992–93 and 1993–94 is shown in the table. The information for 1994–95 will be available in April 1994 following the submission of trust business plans for that year.

  Total expenditure: NHS trusts1

  Year

  £ million

  1992–93

  7,416

  1993–94

  213,721

  1 This figure comprises NHS trust income plus external finance.

  2 Forecast outturn.

  NHS Public Bodies
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total budget for NHS public bodies for(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94; and what is the planned budget for 1994–95.

  Mr. Sackville
  Gross national health service expenditure was £29,413 million in 1992–93. It is forecast to be £30,253 million in 1993–94, and planned to rise to £31,937 in 1994–95.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will publish the report of the Advisory Group on Medical Aspects of Air Pollution Episodes on Nitrogen Dioxide.

  Mr. Sackville
  Oxides of Nitrogen: 3rd report by the Advisory Group on the Medical Aspects of Air Pollution Episodes was published on Monday 13 December. Copies are available in the Library.

  Royal Marsden Hospital
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from charitable donors concerning the loss of the new facilities 716
  to which they contributed at the Royal Marsden hospital since the publication of the special review report on cancer services.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Since the publication of the speciality review report on cancer services in London, we have received 28 such representations, both from organisations and from individuals.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations she has received from the general public in connection with the future of the Royal Marsden hospital.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Up to 14 December we had received representations from 1,450 hon. Members and members of the public and two petitions.

  Hospices
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretry of State for Health what assessment she has made of the future demand for hospices in Lancashire and the north-west.

  Mr. Sackville
  It is for health authorities to assess the palliative and other health care needs of their resident populations and ensure that appropriate services are provided, within available resources and reflecting national priorities. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Bruce Martin, chairman of North Western regional health authority, for information on assessments made by that authority.

  London Hospitals (Assaults)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital staff have been assaulted by patients or the general public at hospitals in the four regional health authorities that cover the Greater London area during the last 12 months.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the individual regional health authorities for details.

  Heart Pacemakers
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents there have been, nationwide, where the cause of death of a patient fitted with Siemens pacemaker lead models 1010T, 1050T and prototype T93 has been related to the pacemaker lead.

  Mr. Sackville
  According to information held by the National Pacemaker Database there are no recorded incidents. This is a correction to the answer I provided in my reply to the hon. Member for Lewisham, East (Ms Prentice) on 4 November 1993 at column 452.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to make improvements to the London ambulance service.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In the last year the London ambulance service (LAS) has made progress both towards improving its response times and in implementing the recommendations of the inquiry into its performance set up
  717
  last autumn. The management of the service has been re-structured and lines of management accountability strengthened. These moves complement the substantial investment which the Government have made in the service. For example, the number of fully trained paramedics has risen in the last three years from three to 400.

  I am pleased to announce today that a further £14·8 million will be invested in the LAS next year. This will make a significant contribution to improving services further, especially by enabling the LAS to replace its older vehicles with 120 new accident and emergency ambulances, over one third of its current fleet, by the summer.

  Of the new money, £6·8 million in revenue will be provided by the four Thames Regions. In addition to this, the Government will provide an extra £8 million. £4 million extra capital investment will buy the further 120 new accident and emergency vehicles. The remaining £4 million in revenue funding will be used to increase front line ambulance crews and to train more staff to the required level of paramedic skills.

  The Government are determined that this substantial extra investment is well spent and that it produces significant improvements in patient services. For this reason the extra money will be tied to firm targets for improving ambulance performance. The LAS remains below the standard set out in the patients charter with around 60 per cent. of 999 calls currently answered within 14 minutes. We have agreed with the LAS that this should rise to 80 per cent. by next September and to 85 per cent. by April 1995. The Government will keep the LAS under close scrutiny to ensure that these targets are met.

  "Making London Better"
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she next intends to meet the chairman of the North East Thames regional health authority to discuss progress implementing "Making London Better".

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I am writing today to Sir William Staveley, Chairman of the North East Thames regional health authority, to inform him of decisions which I have taken relating to health services in north-east London. These will bring an end to uncertainty in the health service in this part of London and will enable us to take a decisive step forward towards better patient care. I intend to make a further announcement in the new year relating to services in other parts of the capital.

  A copy of my letter to Sir William, and a further more detailed letter to his regional general manager, will be placed in the Library.

  "Making London Better" made clear the strategic need to retain an accident and emergency (A and E) department at University College hospital/Middlesex in order to serve a part of London with a significant local resident population and heavy concentration of visitors, shoppers and commuters. The Government remain committed to this policy, as they do to retaining University College London hospitals (UCLH) as a world-class centre of medical teaching and research. The Government will therefore ensure that UCLH has a secure future.

  UCLH will need to make further progress to improve its efficiency. We welcome the fact that, after pressure from its main purchaser, the Camden and Islington health authority, it has already taken steps to do so. In order to
  718
  ensure that some local acute services are retained at UCLH, discussions are in progress at local level. In addition, we shall accept the advice of the independent specialty reviews to develop the UCLH as the major centre for cancer and cardiac specialty services for this part of London. However, we are not persuaded that renal transplantation work should move from the Royal Free hospital.

  As UCLH has itself made clear, its continuing ability to provide high quality patient care and achieve economies will be enhanced by consolidating its services into fewer buildings. I await its detailed proposals for doing so. In the meantime, transitional funding will be available, against an agreed programme of change.

  "Making London Better" made clear the need to develop the Homerton Hospital to improve local acute services for the people of Hackney. To achieve this, we will undertake a major redevelopment of the Homerton over the next five years, at an estimated cost of around £25 million subject to formal appraisal.

  As part of the Homerton development we will speed up the expansion and improvement of the hospital's accident and emergency department, and the in-patient facilities that support it. This work is in addition to improvements to local primary care facilities which, among other things, will help relieve pressure on local accident and emergency services.

  The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel is already the main accident and emergency centre in East London. It has seen substantial investment recently in the accident and emergency department. We intend to add to this by completing a new 28-bed admissions ward adjacent to the A and E department.

  In the light of the improvements to A and E services at the Homerton and the Royal London, our firm commitment to retaining the A and E at UCLH, and new projects to improve local primary care, I have decided that it is both safe and sensible to close the small accident and emergency department at the Smithfield site.

  Expert professional advice is that the needs of local residents, and those who work in the City during the day, can be properly met by the alternative services we will be providing. I am also announcing today new investment in the London ambulance service which will enable it to put new emergency vehicles on the road and further improve the service it provides.

  Almost half of the patients attending the A and E department at St. Bartholomew's have relatively minor injuries or conditions which do not need to be treated in an accident and emergency department. Their needs will be met by a new national health service facility at St. Bartholomew's specially geared to treating minor injuries and conditions. I welcome the interest the City has shown in this proposal and we will be exploring what positive and practical contribution they can make to its development. In addition, a permanent ambulance base, staffed by paramedics, will be located at Smithfield.

  The St. Bartholomew's A and E will not close until the additional facilities at the Homerton and the new facility at Smithfield are ready. We anticipate this happening by October 1994.

  The decisions I have announced today are consistent with the long term strategy being developed by the Royal London/St. Bartholomew's/London Chest project team for a phased concentration of services at Whitechapel. This offers the greatest potential for improving patient care.

  719
  Detailed proposals for the first phase of the development of the Whitechapel site will come forward shortly. A number of specialist patient services, including cancer, will be retained at Smithfield for some years to come. Medical research and education will continue at Charterhouse square.

  Family Guidance Clinics
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many child and family guidance clinics were in existence in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing in 1992–93 prices, the gross public spending for each year since 1990–91 and the

  £'000

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work

  17,698

  22,893

  26,901

  30,391

  n/a3

  English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting1

  136,316

  143,185

  147,726

  15,791

  5,871

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

  —

  684

  810

  1,052

  n/a3

  Medical Practices Committee

  300

  313

  384

  346

  346

  National Biological Standards Board

  8,147

  9,687

  9,592

  9,259

  n/a3

  National Radiological Protection Board

  5,940

  6,142

  6,294

  6,218

  n/a3

  Public Health Laboratory Service Board

  68,481

  80,332

  75,130

  109,430

  n/a3

  Standing Committee on Post Graduate Medical Education

  310

  357

  370

  424

  424

  United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting2

  272

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 The functions of the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting were altered as a result of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1992.

  2 The United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting is largely self financing. The contribution from the Department has reduced over a number of years to nil.

  3 Not available.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those responsible for making appointments of(a) chairs and (b) members of the boards to each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department sponsors nine executive non-departmental public bodies as listed in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Appointments to the National Biological Standards board, the Public Health Laboratory Service Board and the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting are made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Appointments to both the National Radiological Protection Board and the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work are appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State after consultation with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health makes all the appointments to the Medical Practices Committee except one member who is appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health makes all the appointments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and also appoints members on
  720
  projected expenditure for each year to 1995–96 for each executive non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department, as listed in "Public Bodies 1992."

  Mr. Sackville
  Gross expenditure at 1992–93 prices, as measured by movements in the gross domestic product, for the financial years 1990–91 to 1993–94 for executive non-departmental bodies sponsored by the Department of Health is shown in the table. Planned expenditure for the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, Medical Practices Committee and Standing Committee on Post Graduate Medical Education in 1994–95 (at 1992–93 prices) is also shown in the table. Allocations for 1994–95 for the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, National Biological Standards Board, National Radiological Protection Board and Public Health Laboratory Service Board have yet to be agreed. Allocations for 1995–96 will be decided after the 1994 Public Expenditure Survey.

  behalf of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Forty per cent. of the members of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting are elected from the professions and 20 per cent. are directly appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State who also formally appoints elected members. The body has a president, not a chairman, who is elected by the members from amongst their own number.

  The chairman and members of the Standing Committee on Postgraduate Medical Education are appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State after consultation and on the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer.

  Community Care Grant
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each local authority what the indicative allocation of social security transfer reviews of social community care grants for 1993–94 would have been if the formula being applied for the composition and distribution of the grant in 1994–95 had previously been applied; and if she will indicate(a) the actual increase or decrease in overall funding to each authority that would have occurred, (b) the impact upon grant per pensioner, (c) the impact upon grant per over-75 and (d) the overall ranking in terms of grant per pensioner.

  Mr. Bowis
  The information will be placed in the Library.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the latest estimates by the Registrar General of Populations of those aged 17 years and over, plus 63 per cent. of those aged 16 years, for each district council area and parliamentary constituency in England and Wales, together in each case with the equivalent year's registration figures.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Registrar General's mid-1992 estimates of residents aged 17 years and over plus 63 per cent. of those aged 16 years in each local authority area of England and Wales have been compared with roughly corresponding 1993 electorate figures and copies will be placed in the Library. There are no similar population estimates for parliamentary constituencies.

  EC Health Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Health Council of 13 December indicating the voting record of each member state on each item and where no formal votes were taken.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Council adopted resolutions on future guidelines for the "Europe against Cancer" programme and on the extension to the end of 1994 of actions under the "Europe against AIDS" programme. It agreed conclusions on blood self-sufficiency and on, setting up an epidemiological network in the Community, and a declaration on European drug prevention week. The Commission presented its Communication on the framework for action in the field of public health, detailed discussion of which is expected at the next Council meeting, under the Greek Presidency. The Council referred back for further consideration by the Committee of Permanent Representatives the subject of reducing tobacco consumption, specifically the Commission's amended proposal for a directive on the approximation of laws on advertising for tobacco products. No formal votes were taken.

  Health Service Executives
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the salaries of the chief executives of(a) Warrington Hospital Trust, (b) Warrington Community national health service trust and (c) North Cheshire area health authority.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally.

  Asthma
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to promote compliance with the British Thoracic Society's guidelines on the treatment and care of asthma sufferers.

  Mr. Sackville
  The national health service management executive is considering how it can best promote the use of professionally developed clinical guidelines, such as those of the British Thoracic Society, to improve services to patients.

  The NHS management executive recognises the importance of improving the services for people with
  722
  asthma. It has recently introduced a specific payment for general practitioners who organise chronic disease management programmes for the care of patients with asthma which we expect will result in many more GPs using these guidelines. Ninety per cent. of GPs have been approved for this initiative.

  Domiciliary Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what safeguards exist to monitor the quality of domiciliary care purchased privately by elderly or disabled persons.

  Mr. Bowis
  Reputable agencies are developing codes of practice to ensure that the quality of care they provide is satisfactory. Local authorities who purchase domiciliary care services are able to incorporate quality standards and assurances in their contracts with providers and to monitor compliance. A number of authorities are also inspecting, on a voluntary basis, other independent providers.

  The social services inspectorate has recently produced a report "Developing Quality Standards for Home Support Services", which has been sent to all social services authorities and made available to independent providers. In due course more detailed guidance on standards is to be produced after further consultations with interested groups. Copies of the report are available in the Library.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of patients are seen and assessed for treatment within five minutes of arriving in accident and emergency departments;

  (2) how many patients are not admitted within a month of their second cancelled operation;

  (3) what percentage of patients are seen within 30 minutes of their out-patient appointment time.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In the quarter ending 30 September 1993, 80 per cent. (estimated based on samples) of patients attending accident and emergency departments were assessed immediately, only 117 patients failed to be admitted to hospital within one month of their second cancelled operation (most health authorities met this standard in full) and 78 per cent. (estimated based on samples) of patients were seen within 30 minutes of their specified appointment time in out-patient clinics.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of elective episodes, waiting list and booked, by specialty, do not require an overnight stay.

  Mr. Sackville
  In the first six months of 1993–94 national health service hospitals treated some 47 per cent. of elective episodes in the general and acute sector as day cases. The percentages by specialty are not yet available.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of NHS patients, by specialty, are admitted within(a) three months and (b) 12 months of being put on a waiting list.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The data are shown in the table. The latest year for which figures are available is 1989–90. The figures show, for patients who were admitted, the percentage of those who had been on the waiting list for up to three months, and up to 12 months (including those up to three months).
  723

  Percentage of admissions which took place (a) within three months; (b) within 12 months, of being put on a waiting list

  England 1989–90

  Up to three months (as per cent. of all in specialty

  Up to one year (as per cent. of all in specialty)

  Specialty

  General Surgery

  78·3

  96·2

  Urology

  73·9

  95·9

  T and O

  63·8

  92·0

  ENT

  61·2

  92·6

  Ophthalmology

  57·2

  91·2

  Oral Surgery

  65·1

  93·0

  Restorative Dentistry

  73·9

  100·0

  Paediatric Dentistry

  87·5

  99·4

  Orthodontics

  59·0

  90·2

  Neurosurgery

  89·8

  99·0

  Plastic Surgery

  68·3

  88·3

  Cardothoracic Surgery

  85·2

  98·2

  Paediatric Surgery

  78·4

  95·5

  Accident and Emergency

  80·3

  98·6

  Anaesthetics

  92·3

  99·1

  General Medicine

  95·9

  99·6

  Gastroenterology

  94·2

  99·5

  Endocrinology

  95·2

  99·4

  Clinical Haematology

  96·3

  99·7

  Clinical Physiology

  100·0

  100·0

  Clinical Pharmacology

  99·.2

  100·0

  Audiological Medicine

  100·0

  100·0

  Clinical Genetics

  100·0

  100·0

  Palliative Medicine

  96·2

  96·2

  Cardiology

  83·1

  98·9

  Dermatology

  93·3

  99·2

  Thoracic Medicine

  94·6

  99·6

  Infectious Diseases

  82·8

  99·4

  Genito-urinary Medicine

  100·0

  100·0

  Nephrology

  97·6

  99·8

  Medical Oncology

  99·7

  100·0

  Nuclear Medicine

  100·0

  100·0

  Neurology

  94·4

  99·5

  Clinical Neurophysiology

  97·0

  99·0

  Rheumatology

  90·8

  98·7

  Paediatrics

  96·6

  99·6

  Paediatric neurology

  95·2

  99·7

  Geriatric Medicine

  95·2

  99·3

  Obstetrics and Gynaecology

  95·6

  100·0

  Obstetrics (delivery)

  62·6

  99·4

  Gynaecology

  81·6

  97·9

  General Practice

  88·9

  94·4

  Maternity function

  50·2

  100·0

  GP (other than maternity)

  89·2

  98·9

  Mental handicap

  93·5

  99·9

  Mental illness

  97·2

  99·2

  Child/adolescent psychiatry

  90·8

  99·5

  Forensic psychiatry

  100·0

  100·0

  Psychotherapy

  100·0

  100·0

  Old age psychiatry

  94·9

  96·9

  Radiotherapy

  99·1

  99·8

  Radiology

  95·1

  99·3

  General pathology

  98·6

  100·0

  Blood transfusion1

  —

  —

  Chemical pathology

  87·2

  99·3

  Haematology

  98·4

  99·7

  Histopathology

  100·0

  100·0

  Immunopathology

  100·0

  100·0

  Medical microbiology1

  —

  —

  Neuropathology1

  —

  —

  Community Medicine

  100·0

  100·0

  Occupational Medicine

  88·9

  100·0

  Other Maternity Event1

  —

  —

  or specialty code invalid

  80·4

  95·8

  1 No elective episodes were recorded for these specialties.

  Source: Hospital Episode System, England, 1989–90

  Notes:

  1. Those episodes with a waiting time under three months are also contained in the figure for waiting times under 12 months.

  2. Specialties are shown as listed at 31 March 1990.

ENVIRONMENT

  Beaches
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the beaches to be monitored by the National Rivers Authority for pollution levels in 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  Mr. Yeo
  Bathing waters, within the scope of the bathing water directive, which were monitored by the National Rivers Authority in 1993–94 are listed in the Department's News Release No. 818. Copies have been placed in the Library. The same waters and any additional waters identified as within the scope of the directive will be monitored next year. Information on the monitoring of waters outside the scope of the directive is available from the NRA.

  Docklands Light Railway
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environmental, pursuant to his answer of 30 November,Official Report, column 497, when in 1994 he expects the extension to Beckton will open; how long the delays in start up have been to date; what penalties Alcatel has incurred for late delivery of operating software; and whether the service will also operate in evenings and at weekends.

  Mr. Baldry
  The opening of the extension of the docklands light railway to Beckton will take place next March. The original completion date for the extension was the end of 1992; that date was revised to October 1993 when the docklands light railway appointed a prime contractor to take overall responsibility for delivering the Beckton extension and for the switchover of the existing railway to the new SELTRAC automatic train control system manufactured by Alcatel. The prime contractor is paid once the extension is fully tested and proven reliable. Alcatel is now liable to substantial liquidated damages for each week's delay in delivering the automatic train control system. Next year docklands light railway intends to return to a full-time schedule similar to that of London Underground, with trains running at evenings and weekends across its network.

  Prompt Payment Policy
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what progress had been made on implementing the Government's prompt payment policy in the construction industry;

  (2) what advice he gives to specialist sub-contractors when experiencing payment delays on securing implementation of the Government's policy on prompt payment;

  (3) when he will be able to implement the prompt payment clauses in Government construction contracts following the issue of guidelines to Government Departments in July.

  Mr. Baldry
  Government Departments are implementing the policy on prompt payment announced in 1992. My Department has already undertaken a first stage of consultation with the construction industry on the further advice to be given to Departments on incorporation of more specific prompt payment clauses than those currently used in Government works and construction contracts. Our
  725
  intention is to provide model amendments to standard forms of contract which will give sub-contractors a right to prompt payment by the main contractor, enforceable through the courts. In the light of comments from industry organisations, our proposals are being revised and a further set will be issued for consultation shortly.

  Sprinkler Systems
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans his Department has to make the installation of sprinkler systems compulsory in newly constructed homes.

  Mr. Baldry
  There are no plans at present to make the installation of sprinkler systems compulsory in newly constructed houses in England or Wales, although this will be kept under review.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities in County Durham requested that he direct the Local Government Commission to conduct a further review in accordance with the revised guidelines both before and after the publication of the Commission's final report.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 3 December,Official Report, column 761.

  Commercial Leaseholds
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses he has received to the consultation paper on commercial leaseholds; and if he will list the people or organisations concerned.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have placed in the Library of the House a list of 246 individuals or organisations who have responded to the consultation. A further 13 respondents have asked that their replies remain confidential.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in relation to dispute resolution procedures for commercial leasehold valuations.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department held discussions with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors before issuing our consultation paper on commercial property leases on 27 May 1993. The paper discusses arrangements for dispute resolution procedures, among other issues. The Institution has responded to the paper; we are paying careful attention to its views, as well as to those of the many other respondents.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the results of his consultations on commercial leaseholders.

  Mr. Baldry
  We hope to make an announcement before Easter.

  National Sustainability Strategy
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the national sustainability strategy will include a national coastal strategy to integrate wildlife,726
  land claim, marina developments, fisheries and recreation; and if the biodiversity national plan will include targets to protect threatened flora and farms in the coastal zone.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government's proposals for managing the coast and the control of development below the low water mark were set out in the consultation documents issued on 18 October 1993; the responses are under consideration. A sustainable development strategy and the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan will be published in January, after the House returns.

  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how the national sustainability strategy will help to protect the threatened wildlife of lowland raised bogs.

  Mr. Yeo
  The sustainable development strategy will contain a section on wildlife and habitats but the main strategy and programmes for the conservation of species and habitats will be explained in the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan. Both the sustainable development strategy and the biodiversity action plan are due to be published after the House returns in January.

  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what measures will be included in the United Kingdom action plan to safeguard lowland raised bogs;

  (2) if the threatened wildlife of lowland raised bogs including the Baltic bog moss, the fen violet, the large heath butterfly and the rosy marsh moth will be listed as priorities in the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan.

  Mr. Yeo
  A strategy for the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity, including species and habitats will be contained in the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan, which is due to be published after the House returns in January.

  Local Government Review
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received calling for the reform of local government in Warwickshire.

  Mr. Baldry
  Representations are not recorded in this way, so the information could be discovered only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Local Government Commission's review of Lancashire to be concluded.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Local Government Commission proposes to submit its final recommendations on the structure of local government in Lancashire to my right hon. Friend by the end of July 1994.

  Forests
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, within the newly designated community forest areas, the planting of trees and the provision of public access will be entirely a matter of voluntary agreement between landowners and farmers on the one side and the authorities responsible for the community forests on the other.
  727
  Mr. Yeo
  Both planting and public access will be voluntary in community forests. We are encouraging landowners to make voluntary agreements on new access arrangements through the community woodland supplement which is part of the woodland grant scheme.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the designation of community forest areas confers a more restrictive planning designation upon those areas than existed before.

  Mr. Yeo
  No. Local planning authority decisions on individual planning decisions must take account of the development plan, national policy guidance and other material considerations. Applications must be decided in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Community forest plans should be taken into account in the preparation of development plans.

  Smoke Detectors
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring regulations he has introduced in relation to the installation of mains-operated smoke detectors in new-built homes.

  Mr. Baldry
  The current building regulations, which came into effect on 1 June 1992, call for mains-operated smoke detectors in new homes. There are no regulations requiring the monitoring of detectors over the life of the dwelling. The fire research station periodically investigates local authority and fire service experience of domestic detectors, under a research contract with my Department.

  Planning Inspectorate
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what circumstances he takes into consideration in deciding to reverse a decision of the Planning Inspectorate;

  (2) how often he has used his powers to overrule a decision reached by the Planning Inspectorate since its inception as an executive agency.

  Mr. Baldry
  I assume the question relates to planning appeal cases recovered for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment's own decision, where the inspectorate's recommendation is not accepted. Each case is decided on its merits, taking into account the available evidence, which includes relevant development plan policies and all other material considerations. The only information available relates to planning appeals involving local public inquiries. In 1992–93, nine of the 166 decisions issued by my right hon. Friend in respect of such cases were contrary to inspectors' recommendations. Between April and September 1993, four of the 66 appeal decisions issued by my right hon. Friend fell into this category.

  Habitats
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary State for the Environment what plans he has to protect those areas of the sea that are important for wildlife under the Habitats and Species directive.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government's plans for implementation of the EC habitats directive were set out in their public 728
  consultation paper issued on 4 October 1993, a copy of which is in the House library. The document includes proposals for conservation of marine areas which will be selected under the directive.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to make the proposals for implementation of the new Habitats directive complement the Government's biodiversity action plan and national sustainability strategy.

  Mr. Yeo
  Yes.

  Housing Association
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those responsible for making appointments of(a) chairs and (b) members of the boards to housing associations.

  Mr. Baldry
  The position for an individual housing association depends on the particular form of its constitution. For associations which are charities, the position on appointments is determined by the terms of their trusts or governing instruments. For associations which are constituted as industrial and provident societies, appointments may be made by election at an annual general meeting. The Housing Corporation, as part of its statutory function of supervising the performance of registered housing associations, monitors the membership of its management committees and expects them to have an appropriate range of skills and experience.

  European Environmental Bureau
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 30 November,Official Report, column 497, if he will make a statement on his meeting with United Kingdom members of the European Environmental Bureau held on 6 December.

  Mr. Yeo
  I met United Kingdom representatives of the EEB on 6 December. We discussed the outcome of the Environment Council held on 2 and 3 December and other issues including the European Environment Agency, the fifth action programme, enlargement and subsidiarity.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will clarify the powers of local authorities to borrow by the issue of stock; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I am aware that some local authorities are contemplating borrowing by the issue of stock. I am also aware that authorities' powers to borrow in this way are not considered clear. The Government have no objection to the issue of stock by authorities. My right hon. Friend has therefore today given an approval, with the consent of the Treasury, to this form of borrowing. I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has issued a similar approval today in respect of local authorities in Wales.

  It remains the Government's policy that the great majority of local authorities' requirements for borrowing should be met by the Public Works Loan Board.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many proposals to amend the council tax valuation list have been made in the current year; and how many have already been settled.

  Mr. Curry
  As at 30 November 1993, 860,305 proposals for the alteration of the valuation list in England had been received by the Valuation Office Agency. This represents 4·28 per cent. of the total number of dwellings in the valuation lists. Of these, 146,400 had already been settled. My Department is considering the arrangements for dealing with outstanding appeals with the agency and representatives of the valuation tribunal service.

  Housing Management
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to amend the implementation timetable for introducing compulsory competitive tendering for housing management in the light of his decision to accelerate the programme for reviewing the structure of English counties and districts.

  Sir George Young
  I have given careful consideration to the timetable for implementing compulsory competitive tendering for housing management in the light of the acceleration of the programme for reviewing the structure of counties and districts in England. I consider that a distinction can be drawn between housing management, as a front-line, locally delivered service and other white-collar services when considering the implementation timetable. The preparatory work for CCT for housing management and supporting white-collar services will not be wasted if an authority is subsequently reorganised and will stand authorities and tenants in good stead. Housing managers are already making good progress in preparing for CCT. I am keen that they should press ahead as soon as possible.

  I recognise, however, that new authorities will need some additional time to complete the competition process. The arrangements for temporary exemptions from CCT for authorities being restructured as a result of the review, announced on 29 March 1993, Official Report, column 56, for white-collar services generally, will therefore continue to apply to housing management. These will allow authorities 18 months following reorganisation to complete the first round of competitive tendering.

  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has today made a separate announcement about CCT for other white-collar services and for manual services already subject to CCT.

  Officials will write to the secretaries of the Association of District Councils and the Association of County Councils with further details of the arrangements which my hon. Friend and I have announced today. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  Legal Services
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his proposals for extending compulsory competitive tendering to local authority legal services.

  Mr. Baldry
  On 10 November 1992 my right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State for the 730
  Environment announced to the House the Government's decisions on proposals to extend compulsory competitive tendering to local authority white-collar corporate and professional services, including legal services, Official Report, column 744. He undertook that the Government would discuss details of implementing these decisions with representatives of local government and other interested parties.

  Since then, my officials have had very useful discussions with the local authority associations, the Audit Commission and CIPFA in several joint working groups. Following this we are today issuing a consultation document inviting comments on detailed proposals for extending CCT to local authority legal services. Early next year, we intend to consult on detailed proposals for CCT for construction-related services—that is, architecture, engineering and property management—followed by IT, finance, personnel and corporate and administrative services.

  The consultation document, copies of which I will place in the Library, includes a definition of legal services, indicates how much legal work authorities will be required to subject to CCT and gives details of modifications which we intend to make to the statutory framework for competitive tendering to ensure that authorities will continue to be able to deliver services in a way which meets their own objectives and local peoples' aspirations.

  We propose that local authorities be permitted to carry out up to 55 per cent., by value, of all legal work using their own staff without going through competition, subject to smaller authorities being able to retain a minimum of £300,000 worth of work. This recognises that certain work must be retained in-house both to enable an authority to fulfil its democratic responsibilities and to act as an intelligent client for bought in services.

  An authority will not be able to award any of the remaining 45 per cent. of work to their own staff unless they have won it in fair and open competition. Experience with the manual services already subject to CCT has shown that competition bring not only financial savings, but also significant improvements in the management, efficiency and quality of public services. I have no reason to doubt that it will bring the same benefits for legal and other white-collar work.

  Following consideration of comments received on the proposals included in this consultation document, I will submit to the House the statutory instruments required under the Local Government Act 1988 to give effect to our proposals. I anticipate CCT will take effect from 1 October 1995 in metropolitan districts and in London.

  In shire counties and districts which are subject to review by the Local Government Commission, the implementation timetable for legal and other white-collar services requires some modification to reflect the acceleration of the Commission's review programme announced recently.

  Our objective is that authorities should, wherever possible, continue to subject services to the pressures of competition which can bring so many benefits. We also hope to see the same benefits realised for corporate and construction-related services as soon as possible.

  An authority's approach to organising these services is determined by the way in which its front-line services are delivered. We would not wish to see new authorities tied to inappropriate arrangements made by their predecessors

  731
  and I have therefore concluded we should not require authorities to implement CCT for their core white-collar functions when a reorganisation is expected in their area.

  I have concluded that the CCT timetable should be modified so that no county or district, or their successor authorities, will be required to implement competition for the new services before reorganisation has taken place in their area, or the decision has been taken that they will remain unchanged. New services will be introduced to the regime in a phased programme thereafter.

  This timeable will apply to all new authorities which come into being in April 1995 or April 1996 and to any areas where there is to be no change from the existing two-tier structure. Authorities reorganised at a later date will continue to benefit from the exemptions already announced.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing, Inner Cities and Construction has today made a separate announcement about the implementation timetable for CCT for housing management services.

  My officials will write to the secretaries of the Association of County Councils and Association of District Councils giving further details of these modifications. I will place a copy of that letter in the Library.

  Energy Efficiency Committee
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Energy Efficiency Committee was created; how many times it has met; what issues were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 14 December 1993]: An interdepartmental energy efficiency steering group at senior official level was set up earlier this year and has met twice since then. It reviews progress on the Government estate 15 per cent. energy efficiency target at a strategic level.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to surcharge employers who do not employ a minimum percentage of registered disabled and to provide funds to employers employing above the minimum percentage of registered disabled people.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to introduce such a system. The idea of a levy on employers who do not meet a requirement to employ a quota of disabled persons, with the money raised being used for schemes of assistance to people with disabilities, was one of a number of legislative alternatives to the quota scheme discussed in the consultative document published by the Department in 1990, "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities". Responses to the consultative document on these issues were inconclusive and following that exercise we decided to retain the quota but keep the position under review. That remains the situation.

  UB40 Card
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider, when the job seeker's allowance is introduced in April 1996, amending the UB40 card used by employment benefit claimants for identification purposes to incorporate a photograph.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The UB40/UBL18 booklet "Helping You Back to Work: Information for Clients" is issued to new clients when they make a claim to unemployment benefits and is not primarily a means of identifying a client. It is a source of information to clients on their obligations and entitlements.

  We are, however, aware of issues around the identification of clients and the employment service is considering ways in which they can improve the safeguards they provide to clients about the confidentiality of the information they provide them with, and reduce the possibilty of mistaken identity and wrong or inaccurate payments.

  Graduate Employment
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many graduates were unable to secure employment by the end of 1992 for(a) the United Kingdom and (b) each standard region.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Surveys co-ordinated out by the central services unit on behalf of the higher education institutions show that out of a total of 148,037 people who graduated with first degrees in 1992, 16,763 were unemployed at the end of the year. Figures by standard region are not available.

  European Social Fund
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to include homeless people as a specific group for application of the European social fund in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The primary purpose of the European social fund (ESF) is to help unemployed people back to work through vocational training and guidance and other labour market measures. Unemployed people who are also homeless may therefore benefit from ESF support, but there are no plans for a special priority category for them.

  Departmental Offices (Heating Bills)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list by location the annual fuel heating bills for each of his Department's offices for the last four years, and for this year to date.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing, in 1992–93 prices, the gross public spending for each year since 1990–01 and the projected expenditure for each year to 1995–96 for each executive non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department, as listed in "Public Bodies 1992".
  733
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The figures set out in the following table show in 1992–93 prices the Employment Department's spend from 1990–91 to 1992–93 and published expenditure plans for 1993–94 to 1995–96 in respect of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department, as listed in Public Bodies 1992.

  Executive non-departmental public bodies (Public Bodies 1992)1

  (£thousand)

  Spend

  Plans

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service

  16,091

  18,965

  22,622

  23,431

  24,976

  27,200

  Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members

  238

  280

  431

  539

  574

  609

  Equal Opportunities Commission (a)

  24,147

  34,671

  4,746

  5,982

  6,388

  6,846

  National Council for Vocational Qualifications (b) (c)

  4,989

  5,791

  8,743

  3,706

  2,070

  —

  Remploy Ltd.

  65,360

  72,560

  83,995

  92,099

  98,878

  104,902

  Wages Councils (d)

  91

  96

  128

  43

  —

  —

  Women's National Commission (e) (f) (g)

  2138

  3138

  4150

  231

  241

  250

  Health and Safety Commission (h)

  296

  358

  410

  —

  —

  —

  Health and Safety Executive (h)

  173,512

  201,380

  211,381

  224,890

  226,925

  225,338

  Notes:

  (a) Transferred from the Home Office to Employment Department on 1 May 1992.

  (b) NCVQ becomes self financing from 1995–96.

  (c) Figures relate to net expenditure reflecting the actual departmental contribution.

  (d) Wound up August 1993.

  (e) Transferred from Cabinet Office to Employment Department on 1 June 1992.

  (f) Figures for 1993–94 to 1995–96 are provisional and subject to change.

  (g) Although listed in Public Bodies 1992 as an executive body, in previous years the Women's National Commission was listed by the Cabinet Office as an advisory body.

  (h) Disaggregation of HSC/HSE costs undertaken at the end of each financial year.

  1 Information relating to Industrial Training Boards is not included. Some residual costs are recorded for 1991–92 in the table in Public Bodies 1992 but these bodies ceased to receive direct funding prior to 1990–91.

  2 Figures from Public Bodies 1991.

  3 Figures from Public Bodies 1992.

  4 Planned expenditure.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those responsbile for making appointments of(a) chairs and (b) members of the boards to each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for appointing the chairmen and members of all the boards of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Employment Department.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those responsible for making appointments of(a) chairs and (b) members of the boards to training and enterprise councils.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Eligibility for training and enterprise council (TEC) board directors is set by the TEC operating agreement. TECs are private companies. The board is appointed in accordance with company law by the members of the TEC. The chairman is elected from the board.

DEFENCE

  Police Study
  Sir Jim Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Sir John Blelloch and his team will begin their study of the Ministry of Defence police; and when the team is due to report.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Ministry of Defence study team, comprising Sir John Blelloch and three other members,
  734
  Details of any revisions to planned expenditure for 1994–95 and 1995–96 following Financial Statement and Budget Report will be published in the departmental report in spring 1994.

  began work on 1 December this year with the principal aim of reviewing the future role, aims, objectives, structure and pay of the Ministry of Defence police. The team has been requested to present its report to the Chairman of the Ministry of Defence police committee by 1 June 1994. The study was commissioned before the major study of defence costs, announced on 1 December. Sir John's work will be of relevance to the wider study and he will be making his findings available to the Ministry of Defence as his review proceeds.

  RAF Support and Maintenance Tasks
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for RAF support and maintenance tasks.

  Mr. Hanley
  Work continues to be undertaken in the support area to ensure the appropriate balance is maintained with the front line and that tasks are undertaken in the most cost-effective manner. The maintenance group element of RAF support command became a defence agency (MGDA) on 1 April 1991 as part of that process. We are now starting an overall review of the MGDA, to evaluate the agency's past performance and look at options for the future, including abolition, privatisation and contractorisation, in whole or in part, in addition to maintaining the status quo. The review will include representatives from the OPSS and the Treasury as well as outside consultants. It will take full accoount of the findings of the feasibility study currently under way into the scope for market testing at RAF Sealand. The trade unions have been informed about the review, which is to be
  735
  completed by 30 June 1994. A copy of the terms of reference of the review has been placed in the Library of the House.

  In the meantime, we have been looking at the potential for undertaking specific support and maintenance tasks more efficiently and cost-effectively in the light of the changing requirement.

  A study has been completed into the equipment supply depots located at RAF Carlisle, RAF Quedgeley (near Gloucester) and RAF Stafford. There is already excess storage capacity overall at these depots and this will increase as our requirement to hold spares decreases. Our studies have concluded that significant savings of some £85 million over 10 years could be achieved by concentrating technical storage at RAF Stafford, which would mean the closure of RAF Carlisle by 31 March 1997 and the progressive run-down and closure of RAF Quedgeley by 31 March 1998 at the latest. Formal consultation with the Trades Unions and other interested parties will now begin and final decisions will be taken in the light of representations made.

  A further study has been completed into the avionics communications-electronics servicing and maintenance depots. This has concluded that appreciable savings could be achieved by transferring the engineering and maintenance tasks currently undertaken at RAF North Luffenham to RAF Sealand. RAF North Luffenham would close by 1 October 1996. I propose to accept this recommendation as the basis for informal consultation with the Trades Unions and other interested parties, subject to any more cost-effective solution than RAF Sealand being identified by the MGDA review.

  I am placing a copy of both consultation documents in the Library of the House.

  Submarine Operations
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the subfacts scheme for providing fishermen with advance notice of dived submarine operations will be extended to cover the Minches and the Sea of Hebrides; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The extension of SUBFACTS into the Minches and Sea of Hebrides will take place on 10 January 1994. On the same date there will be changes in the arrangements for broadcasting SUBFACTS information in the northern parts of the Irish sea and in waters to the west of Scotland. British Telecom marine radio service will transmit SUBFACTS information six times a day, on both VHF and MF, for the entire Clyde subordinate sea area, from Cape Wrath to the Calf of Man. In addition, the Clyde Coastguard will transmit SUBFACTS information six times a day over the Inner Clyde exercise areas, out to a line extending from the Mull of Kintyre to Corsewall Point. Throughout the Clyde subordinate sea area, fishermen will at any time be able to obtain SUBFACTS information on request from HM Coastguard. These revised broadcasting arrangements have been worked out in consultation with the fishing industry safety group, and will be reviewed by the group after 12 months.

  Following the extension of SUBFACTS into the Plymouth and Portland exercise areas earlier this year, this latest extension of SUBFACTS meets the Government's commitment to operate the scheme in all regularly used submarine exercise areas around the coast of the United Kingdom. Together with the operational procedures set out
  736
  in the code of practice for submarines which was published in October, it represents an important step forward in maritime safety and will help to minimise the risk of any further incidents between dived submarines and fishing vessels.

  Support Costs
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the areas which will be examined with a view to reducing support costs in preparation for the study entitled "Front Line First".

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 7 December at column 176.

  International Military Services Ltd.
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how he exercised his controlling share holding in International Military Services Ltd.; and how often he asked for, or was given, reports on the activities of this company;

  (2) how he, or his predecessors, exercised their shareholding in International Military Services Ltd.; and what reports of its activities were asked for, or given.

  Mr. Aitken
  My right hon. and learned Friend and his predecessors have exercised their controlling shareholding in International Military Services Ltd. in the normal commercial way by attending, or being represented at, the annual general meeting of the Company. To facilitate this they have been provided with the statutory consolidated financial statements.

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

  Mr. Hanley
  Five vehicles, including a reserve vehicle for the Secretary of State, were provided for Defence Department Ministers in 1990–91 at a cost to the defence budget of some £4,200,000.

  Emergency Landings, Newcastle Airport
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates, aircraft types and nature of the emergency for all emergency or precautionary landings by military aircraft at Newcastle airport during 1992; and which of those aircraft were armed with live weapons.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Aircraft Accidents
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates, aircraft types and circumstances of all(a) Army and (b) Royal Navy helicopter major accidents in 1987.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information for all aircraft types is as follows:
  737

  Date

  Aircraft

  Accident

  24 February 1987

  Sea king (RN)

  Falmouth Bay. Cause not determined.

  18 March 1987

  Lynx (A)

  Germany. Six minutes into sortie the rotor gear box seized.

  16 July 1987

  Gazelle(A)

  Canada. During unauthorised manoeuvre the tail struck the ground braking off the tail boom. A crewman on the ground was fatally injured.

  23 September 1987

  Sea King (RN)

  Culdrose. Tail rotor failure during final approach. Crashed on runway.

  15 October 1987

  Sea Harrier (RN)

  North West coast of Scotland. Aircraft suffered birdstrike during low level sortie.

  16 October 1987

  Wessex (RN)

  Cornwall. Engine failure during winching exercise.

  23 October 1987

  Gazelle (A)

  Middle Wallop. During sloping ground practice, the aircraft slid backwards causing the port skid to dig into the ground.

  25 November 1987

  Gazelle (RN)

  Predannack. Loss of yaw control during turn.

  Jaguar Incident, Solway Firth
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the military aircraft accident summary on the accident to a Royal Air Force Jaguar in the Solway firth on 12 September 1990 was released.

  Mr. Hanley
  On 21 October 1992.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what altitude the accident aircraft's leader was flying at the time of the crash of a Royal Air Force Jaguar in the Solway firth on 12 September 1990.

  Mr. Hanley
  The aircraft was slightly above 250 ft.

  Low flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the outcome of the Royal Air Force inspectorate of flight safety's review in 1990 of the potential safety benefits, in respect of bird strike hazards, of introducing speed limits on fast jets operating at low level.

  Mr. Hanley
  The outcome of the RAF inspectorate of flight safety's review was that speeds during low-level flight should be constrained to that required to achieve the objective of each low-level sortie. No specified limits were either recommended or imposed. In practice, the speed of aircraft operating in the United Kingdom low flying system (UKLFS) is regulated in order to limit noise disturbance to those on the ground. The normal maximum cruising speed overland in the UKLFS is 450 knots.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to restricting low flying during peak bird migration months.

  Mr. Hanley
  The United Kingdom Military Low Flying Handbook contains seasonal information on areas of high bird concentration, and some specific locations are granted permanent or seasonal avoidances. My Department is conscious of the need to keep low-flying military aircraft clear of such concentrations and measures to achieve this are kept under continuous review.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the minimum weather requirements for low-level flight at night by fast jet aircraft not equipped with terrain-following radar or electro-optical navigation equipment.
  738
  Mr. Hanley
  The minimum weather requirements for low level flight at night by fast jet aircraft not equipped with terrain following radar or electro-optical navigational equipment are the normal visual flight rules for fast jets operating in the United Kingdom low flying system, namely: flight visibility of five kilometres, and 1,500 metres horizontal and 500 feet vertical separation from cloud.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the reason for the increase in the minimum authorised altitude for night low flying over the United Kingdom by US Air Force F111 aircraft from October 1992, from 400 to 1,000 ft.

  Mr. Hanley
  The decision to increase to 1,000 ft the authorised minimum altitude for USAF F111 aircraft flying at night in the United Kingdom was taken by the USAF in the light of a reassessment of the training needs of the aircrew concerned.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current minimum authorised altitude for Royal Air Force Tornado aircraft conducting terrain following radar flight in daylight visual meteorological conditions in the United Kingdom low-flying system.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is 300 ft.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the requests made to his Department for authorisation of low-level jet flying between the hours of 2300 and 0700 since 1988, listing in each case the date of the request, the unit submitting the request, the nature of the flying for which authorisation was sought, and his Department's response to the request.

  Mr. Hanley
  Such requests and the responses to them are held on departmental files but separate records are not kept. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. It is most unlikely however, that such training would have been authorised other than in a very small number of exceptional cases.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what methods are used by military aircrew to ensure accurate adherence to minimum authorised altitudes during low flying in aircraft not equipped with radar altimeters.

  Mr. Hanley
  Those training aircraft which are not equipped with radar altimeters make use of the barometric altimeter, which indicates the altitude of the aircraft above mean sea level. From the initial stages of flying training
  739
  students are taught to recognise and maintain their minimum authorised height above the ground; they will also spend a greater proportion of their time at higher than their authorised minimum levels until they graduate to squadron service.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the purpose of the low flying avoidance area around Milford Haven.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is not my Department's practice to release specific details of the United Kingdom low flying system.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the fast jet types which are authorised to conduct night low flying in the United Kingdom low flying system.

  Mr. Hanley
  The fast jet types normally authorised to operate in the United Kingdom night low flying system are: Buccaneer, Canberra, F-15, Harrier, Jaguar and Tornado.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sources of information are made available to military pilots on the location and timing of activities on the ground involving gatherings of large numbers of people, to enable them to observe the regulations concerning overflight of such activities; and what definition of large number of people is used in applying these regulations.

  Mr. Hanley
  Temporary avoidances of gatherings of large numbers of people are promulgated by notices to airmen. In this context, a large number of people is defined as 10,000 although temporary avoidances are frequently arranged for events involving significantly fewer people.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the distance from the shore of the United Kingdom beyond which military aircraft operating at less than 2,000ft are not required to book into the low flying system.

  Mr. Hanley
  Aircraft are not required to book into the United Kingdom low flying system if the low flying element of a sortie takes place over the sea more than three nautical miles from the coastline (half a nautical mile in the case of helicopters and light fixed wing aircraft).

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the planned route of the United States Air Force F-111 aircraft involved in the aircraft proximity hazard incidents at Plymouth airport on 15 October 1992 and 21 October 1992 was a fixed low flying route in use by the unit concerned; and what changes were made to the route following these incidents.

  Mr. Hanley
  The aircraft involved in the two incidents were operating on a standard route. Both RAF and United States air force air crew use standard routes as little as possible which are in any case replaced at regular intervals.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sorties are conducted for each student on the Royal Air Force advanced flying training courses at RAF Chivenor and RAF Valley, in which the student is required to navigate at low level to a set of turning points whose locations are not known until after the student boards the aircraft.
  740
  Mr. Hanley
  There are two distinct types of exercises which are flown by students.

  Handling exercises (in which the student can either fly as a singleton or as part of a formation) are not flown to a pre-planned route, but are dependent on weather conditions, terrain, distance from base and possible flying restrictions. Suitable general areas for flying would however be decided upon before such exercises commenced. A student would fly a total of six sorties of this type.

  Navigation exercises (again either as a singleton or as part of a formation) are generally flown to a pre-planned set route. During such exercises however students are required to deviate from the planned route to practice self-navigation to a prominent point or to simulate unexpected weather avoidance or a change of tactical planning. On these occasions particular emphasis is placed on avoiding restricted or built-up areas. Students would fly a total of 13 singleton sorties, whilst 11 would be flown as part of a formation.

  Mr. Llywd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to authorise the reduction of the minimum altitude at which Royal Air Force Tornado aircraft are permitted to fly on automatic terrain following radar in inclement meteorological conditions to less than 500 ft.

  Mr. Hanley
  The restrictions placed on low flying training are kept under review.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the eastward directional flow control for low-flying aircrew was introduced in the Clywd valley north of Denbigh.

  Mr. Hanley
  On 10 August 1992.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Harrier pilots trained at the US Marine Corps air station at Yuma, Arizona, retain their qualification to fly at 200 ft at night following completion of the training course.

  Mr. Hanley
  Any low level qualification gained as part of the overall training at Yuma will last for 90 days. Pilots who do not fly a night sortie in that period have to fly two simulator sorties plus two night time low level sorties to regain their night time low level currency. The minimum height at which Harrier GR7 aircraft would be authorised to fly at night in the United Kingdom would be 250 ft.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regulations are contained in the group air staff orders of No. 1 RAF Strike Command, which supplement the instructions in the UK military low-flying handbook concerning use of the United Kingdom low-flying system.

  Mr. Hanley
  Headquarters No. 1 group's air staff orders contain regulations governing low flying which are specific to aircraft of that group and which amplify the regulations set out in the United Kingdom military low flying handbook.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests have been received from foreign air forces since 1990 for permission to fly at less than 250 ft over the United Kingdom; and what response was given to each request.

  Mr. Hanley
  A request was received for a small number of USAF aircrew based in the United Kingdom to be
  741
  permitted to carry out a limited amount of Operational Low Flying training in the Welsh tactical training area during December 1990 in preparation for deployment to the Gulf. The request was approved but, in the event, no such training took place. No further requests have been received from foreign air forces since that time.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of complaints about low flying in 1992 were withdrawn after the complainant had been interviewed by RAF Provost and Security Service investigators.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the hon. Member might wish to know that only a very small number of complaints are withdrawn, although a significantly greater number are not pursued further, at the instigation of the complainant, in the light of information provided during the interview with the RAF Provost and security service investigator.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average time taken by Secretariat (Air Staff) 2b to send initial responses to public complaints about low flying in each year since 1985; and what is the current target for the timeliness of such responses.

  Mr. Hanley
  Such statistics are not maintained and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In line with the provisions of the citizens charter, the air staff secretariat introduced in July 1991 a target time of four weeks for initial response to complaints from members of the public about low flying. This target has been met in all but exceptional circumstances.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what restrictions are placed on the types and locations of simulated targets for mock attacks by Harrier GR7 aircraft during night low-level electro-optical sorties.

  Mr. Hanley
  The restrictions placed on types and locations of simulated targets for mock attacks by Harrier GR7 aircraft during night low level sorties are the same as those which apply to sorties flown during the day. Targets are carefully selected and account is taken of the location of nearby habitation and the environmental and safety factors involved.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the standing instructions to RAF Provost and Security Service flying complaints flight personnel concerning the aims and conduct of their interviews with complainants about low flying.

  Mr. Hanley
  The documents requested are either classified or protected by a privacy marking and cannot be released.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average time taken from receipt of the complaint by his Department to the final response to the complainant for all complaints about low flying which resulted in a full investigation of the circumstances, in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Hanley
  Such statistics are not maintained and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  742
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to devolve the investigation of low flying complaints to regional units of the RAF Provost and Security Service.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department has no such plans.

  Aircraft Repair Costs
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current cost threshold used to determine whether an aircraft damaged in an accident is worth repairing; and if he will list the changes made in that threshold figure since 1985.

  Mr. Hanley
  There is no cost threshold used to determine whether an aircraft damaged in an accident is worth repairing. The assessment and categorisation of a damaged aircraft, and the subsequent decision to repair it or not, is based on a number of financial, engineering and operational factors which are applied on a case by case basis. These include the unexpired fatigue life of the aircraft concerned, the overall availability and future in-service life of the aircraft type, any special equipment that may be fitted, the costs of materials and manpower, and the availability of funds.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of repairs to military aircraft damaged by bird strikes in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Hanley
  This information is not recorded separately and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Simulated Attack Targets
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes were made to the measures for monitoring United States 3 Air Force compliance with the provisions of the RAF Strike Command approved list of simulated targets for toss or dive attack, following the report on the accident to an F111 near Lauder on 28 July 1987.

  Mr. Hanley
  United States air force aircraft based in the United Kingdom are subject to the same regulations governing simulated toss and dive attacks as other military aircraft based here. This situation has not changed since 1987.

  WE177 Bomb
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to(a) extend or (b) shorten the service life of the WE177 bomb; and what effect the cancellation of the tactical air-to-surface missile has had on the planned service life of the WE177 bomb.

  Mr. Hanley
  The announcement that we do not plan in current circumstances to procure a tactical air-to-surface missile does not affect the planned service life of the WE177 bomb.

  Tornado Incident, Dalmellington
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the incident in which a Royal Air Force Tornado struck electricity cables near Dalmellington on 26 November 1990 occurred during a run-in between an intitial point and a simulated target; and what was the estimated speed at which the aircraft hit the cable.
  743
  Mr. Hanley
  The incident occurred before the aircraft had reached the initial point. It was flying at an estimated speed of 435 knots when it struck the cable.

  Trident
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the procedures required for co-ordination or targeting, air tasking and airspace deconfliction between naval and air force commands when the substrategic nuclear role is transferred to the Trident system.

  Mr. Hanley
  These factors have been taken fully into account.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the requirement for visible deployments of Trident submarines to foreign ports in order to demonstrate credibility and commitment in the substrategic role.

  Mr. Hanley
  The credibility of a submarine-launched deterrent has never been judged to rely on visits to foreign ports.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated additional expenditure required on the Trident programme to adapt the weapon to perform the tactical or theatre nuclear roles currently performed by tactical aircraft; and if he will provide a breakdown of the estimated additional expenditure into(a) missile, (b) warhead, including nuclear testing, (c) submarine, (d) command and control systems, (e) shore construction and (f) operating costs.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is not our practice to provide details of these costs separately. The adaptation of the Trident system to meet our sub-strategic requirements will not require any additional nuclear tests, and the overall additional cost will be small.

  "Panorama"
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what opportunities were given to his Department to vet the script of the BBC "Panorama" programme on the Secret Intelligence Service, broadcast on 22 November; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Government were aware in advance of the contents of the "Panorama" programme on 22 November, but the responsibility for its contents was that of the BBC alone.

  Airborne Nuclear Capability
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated saving in the annual budget of the Royal Air Force as a result of the withdrawal of airborne nuclear capability.

  Mr. Hanley
  The airborne nuclear capability has not been withdrawn.

  Flying Hours
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated overall effect on defence expenditure of a reduction of 10 per cent. in the number of hours flown per year by military aircraft.
  744
  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all changes over the past five years in (a) the Supreme Allied Commander Europe-recommended number of flying hours per year and (b) the SACEUR-recommended minimum number of flying hours per year for front-line tactical fighter aircrew.

  Mr. Hanley
  There have been no such changes in the past five years.

  RAF Fast Jet Aircrew
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the current total number of combat-ready strike/attack/reconnaissance fast jet aircrew in the Royal Air Force;

  (2) what was the turnover rate of combat-ready fast jet strike/attack/reconnaissance aircrew in the Royal Air Force in 1992, expressed as a proportion of the total number of such aircrew.

  Mr. Hanley
  The turnover rate of combat ready fast jet strike/attack/reconnaissance aircrew in the Royal Air Force in Financial Year 1992–93, expressed as a proportion of the total number of such aircrew (505), was 26 per cent. Personnel left the strike/attack/reconnaissance force on promotion, for training for another role or on leaving the Service. Replacement aircrew were trained or promoted to replace them.

  Controlled Airspace
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the date, location, aircraft involved and circumstances of each of the incidences of unauthorised penetration of controlled and/or restricted airspace since 1987.

  Mr. Hanley
  This information is classified.

  Tornado
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use has been made of the highlands restricted area by Tornado aircraft from(a) the German air force, (b) the German navy and (c) the Italian air force.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department has no record of German air force, German navy or Italian air force Tornado aircraft being authorised to use the Highlands restricted area.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the reason for the increase in the minimum authorised height for trinational Tornado training establishment crews in 1991.

  Mr. Hanley
  The minimum authorised height for tri-national Tornado training establishment crews prior to 1991 was 250 feet for instructors only. This was increased to 500 ft in 1991 following a reassessment of the need for these personnel to operate below this height during their tour at RAF Cottesmore.

  Sea King Incident
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the serial number, location and circumstances of the accident to a Royal Navy Sea King on 19 January
  745
  1991, listed in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1992, table 3·9; and what are the reasons for the omission of this accident from the list in the answer of 6 May 1993, columns 243-46.

  Mr. Hanley
  The accident referred to involved a Royal Navy Sea King Mk 4, tail number ZA312, which was operating approximately 29·5nm outside Al Jubayl airfield in Saudi Arabia. The helicopter was preparing to land when the tail rotor blade struck the ground. There were no injuries. An administrative error resulted in the omission of this accident from the list contained in the answer given on 6 May at columns 243-46.

  Condor System
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents were reported under the Royal Air Force Condor system in each year since 1979; if he will provide a breakdown of these figures into categories of incident; and what changes have been made to the Condor system since its introduction.

  Mr. Hanley
  There are no categories of incident under the CONDOR system. As reports submitted under the Condor system are in confidence, long term database records are not maintained. Records available are as follows:

  Year

  Number of Condor reports

  1989

  25

  1990

  22

  1991

  25

  1992

  27

  1993

  121

  1Up to 9 December 1993.

  Since the introduction of the CONDOR system, a confidential telephone answering machine has been added to supplement written submissions.

  Defence Service Employees
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he is planning to take to ensure alternative employment for former and current employees in the defence service in Wales.

  Mr. Hanley
  Wherever practicable, employees under notice of redundancy are offered alternative jobs within MOD or other Government Departments in the area. Where this is not possible, the MOD offers up to eight weeks paid leave for job-search and approved re-training, and also provides a counselling and outplacement service which liaises closely with local offices of the employment service and training and enterprise councils (TECs) to help with job-search and vocational training.

  The employment service and the TECs also provide a range of programmes and services designed to take account of special local circumstances to help former employees of any industry, including defence, to help them find alternative employment.

  Harriers
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which domestic RAF bases will be considered as potential headquarters for the German-based Harriers in the event of their being brought back to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Hanley
  There are no current plans to return the Harriers based in Germany to the United Kingdom.

  RAF Personnel (Commercial Recruitment)
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the levels of recruitment of retiring RAF personnel by the commercial air sector, and its implications for the intro-productive service figures for the foreseeable future.

  Mr. Hanley
  The RAF's personnel planning takes account of many factors, including an assessment of the numbers likely to be lost to the civil air sector. Because of the length of training and the need to make the most efficient and economical use of scarce and expensive training resources however, the RAF does not make large changes to its recruiting and training targets from year to year. The aim is to balance recruitment and outflow to achieve stability in the service.

  Harrier Crash (Iraq)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action to date has been taken to retrieve sensitive equipment that was aboard the Harrier aircraft that crashed in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq on 23 November; what was the cause of the accident; if he will send to the hon. Member for Don Valley a copy of the accident report inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The recoverable wreckage from the accident has been transported to Incirlik, Turkey for onward shipment to the UK. The cause of the accident is still under investigation by the RAF board of inquiry. A summary of its findings will be produced in the normal way and a copy will be sent to the hon. Member. Copies will also be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Western European Union Defence Corps
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the development of the Western European Union defence corps.

  Mr. Hanley
  There is no such formation as the WEU defence corps. The WEU Petersberg declaration of June 1992 announced that military units for WEU missions would be drawn on a case-by-case basis from forces with national and NATO roles. The WEU planning cell in Brussels has been given responsibility for compiling a list of units which could be made available for potential WEU operations. Multinational units which have already been declared available include the European corps, the multinational division (central) and the UK/NL amphibious force.

  Nitro-cellulose and Nitro-glycerine
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 December,Official Report, column 289, what production capabilities in the United Kingdom he regards as strategic necessities; and if he will make a statement.
  747
  Mr. Aitken
  The importance of particular production capabilities for defence alters over time. Such matters are kept under review, but we do not categorise particular production capabilities as being essential to maintain at all costs whatever the circumstances.

  Racial Discrimination
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 December,Official Report, column 295, what was the nature of the complaint relating to racial discrimination in the Army which has been resolved and how it was resolved.

  Mr. Hanley
  The complaint in the army involved racial abuse. The matter was investigated under the normal redress of grievance procedures and resolved to the satisfaction of the victim by means of a public apology.

  Ammunition
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 December,Official Report, column 292, what commitments he has received from the firms mentioned in his answer relating to the suipply of ammunition in a time of crisis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  No such commitments are required. Provision of ammunition for a time of crisis is managed by the maintenance of reserve stocks, not by any arrangement with industry, either in the United Kingdom or abroad.

  Reserve Forces
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 December,Official Report, column 296, what consideration he has given to deleting the private addresses and service affiliations from the responses he has received to his consultative document on the reserves; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Simply to delete the address and signature block would not in all cases serve to prevent the identity of the respondent being established. Moreover, to delete all references to service connections would in many cases reduce the value of the letter by removing the context and background experience against which the comments were made. Rather than publish the letters complete, therefore, I consider it appropriate to release a factual summary of the responses, supported by extracts from the replies.

  Advertising
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of advertising by his Department has been for each year since 1979 and for each of the last 12 months.

  Mr. Hanley
  Centrally controlled expenditure by my Department on advertising in the financial year 1979–80 to 1992–93 was as follows:

  Financial year

  Expenditure £ million

  1979–80

  8·07

  1980–81

  6·81

  1981–82

  4·25

  1982–83

  3·98

  748

  Financial year

  Expenditure £ million

  1983–84

  5·37

  1984–85

  7·37

  1985–86

  8·66

  1986–87

  9·02

  1987–88

  8·26

  1988–89

  12·60

  1989–90

  17·80

  1990–91

  12·31

  1991–92

  11·47

  1992–93

  8·70

  It is not possible to provide the details of expenditure on advertising for each of the last 12 months without disproportionate cost. Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1993–94 is, however, £8·78 million.

  Hercules C130
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from hon. Members and British industry in support of the Hercules C130 J programme.

  Mr. Hanley
  We have received a variety of representations from hon. Members and British industry regarding the Hercules rolling replacement programme, including a number supporting the C-130J.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost of operating and maintaining the existing C130 K Hercules fleet of transport aircraft in Royal Air Force service including the personnel cost of both the associated air and ground crews.

  Mr. Hanley
  The average annual operating and maintenance cost (at 1993–94 outturn prices) of the RAF C130 K Hercules fleet (CMk 1, CMk3 and CMk1K)) is approximately £140,000,000. This includes personnel costs but excludes depreciation, interest on capital, station and administration costs.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when(a) the first and (b) the last C130 K Hercules aircraft entered squadron service with the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Aitken
  The first C130K entered squadron service on 1 August 1967 while the last aircraft entered service in 1970.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what modifications have been made to the C130 K Hercules fleet since it entered service; when these modifications were carried out; and what numbers of aricraft were involved.

  Mr. Aitken
  A total of 433 modifications has been embodied in the C-130 fleet since its introduction in service. One hundred and five are considered to be significant from both a cost and operational point of view. The most notable of these are as follows:1972—Introduce W MK2 Met aircraft. One aircraft embodied.
  1976—To introduce a new centre wing structure. 100 per cent. fleet embodied.
  1976—To introduce reconditioned outer wing. Applied to 95 per cent. of the fleet. Fully embodied.
  1979—Convert MK1 to MK3 (15ft extn). Applied to 50 per cent. of the fleet. Fully embodied.
  1982—Introduce full modification to enable use as tanker. Applicable to only six aircraft. Fully embodied.

  749
  1982—Introduce in-flight refuelling facility. 100 per cent. fleet embodied.
  1983—Introduce Station Keeping Equipment. Applied to 34 per cent. of the fleet. Fully embodied.
  1985—Introduce flight deck lighting compatible with night vision goggles. Applicable to 10 aircraft for use with technical squadrons. Fully embodied.
  1993—Introduce flight deck protective armour. Fitted to three aircraft in response to an Urgent Operational Requirement in support of Operation Cheshire. Fully embodied.

  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Hercules rolling replacement programme.

  Mr. Aitken
  As announced in the Defence White Paper in July, we intend to undertake a rolling programme to replace or refurbish our C-130 Hercules aircraft, starting with about half the fleet by the end of the century. In order to determine whether refurbishment or replacement offers the best value for money we have placed a contract for studies to establish the costs and risk of refurbishment. It has now been decided that we will issue an invitation to Lockheed Aerospace Systems Corporation to tender for the 750
  provision of a replacement aircraft. We shall also—as part of the front line first study—be exploring options for greater use of leasing of cargo aircraft, as my right hon. and learned Friend announced to the Defence Committee on 1 December.

  The issue of an invitation to tender does not constitute a commitment to purchase any replacement aircraft. It will, however, provide essential data on price from which we can make a valid assessment of all the options. Following comparison of the results of the studies and prices for new aircraft we hope to be in a position to reach a decision by the end of 1994.

  Defence Imports
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the importing of one battle tank from the Russian Federation as listed in the United Nations register of conventional arms.

  Mr. Aitken
  The tank was imported for defence research and development purposes.

  BRITISH NATIONALS RESIDENT OVERSEAS
  BRITISH NATIONALS RESIDENT OVERSEAS
  RUSSIA: LAND OWNERSHIP
  RUSSIA: LAND OWNERSHIP
  RUSSIA: ECONOMIC REFORMS
  RUSSIA: ECONOMIC REFORMS
  FAMILIES AND THE BUDGET
  FAMILIES AND THE BUDGET
  RAF SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE
  RAF SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE
  ROEHAMPTON BURNS UNIT
  ROEHAMPTON BURNS UNIT
  REGISTRATION SERVICE: REFORM PROPOSALS
  REGISTRATION SERVICE: REFORM PROPOSALS
  WEST CROMWELL ROAD: WORKS
  WEST CROMWELL ROAD: WORKS
  GREAT WEST ROAD: WORKS
  GREAT WEST ROAD: WORKS
  ROAD PRICING RESEARCH: REPORT
  ROAD PRICING RESEARCH: REPORT
  CRIMINAL CASES REVIEW AUTHORITY
  CRIMINAL CASES REVIEW AUTHORITY
  PAROLE BOARD: FULL-TIME MEMBERS
  PAROLE BOARD: FULL-TIME MEMBERS
  CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME
  CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME
  Mr. JOSEPH ELLIOT
  Mr. JOSEPH ELLIOT
  IDENTITY CARDS
  IDENTITY CARDS
  MARINE FISHERIES: SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
  MARINE FISHERIES: SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
  BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY
  BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY
  MILK MARKETING BOARD AND EC LAW
  MILK MARKETING BOARD AND EC LAW
  MILK MARQUE LIMITED
  MILK MARQUE LIMITED
  BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN: MARINE WILDLIFE
  BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN: MARINE WILDLIFE
  ENVIRONMENT AGENCY: COASTAL AGENCIES
  ENVIRONMENT AGENCY: COASTAL AGENCIES
  BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN: SEA ANEMONES
  BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN: SEA ANEMONES
  WHATLEY QUARRY, MELLS: APPLICATION
  WHATLEY QUARRY, MELLS: APPLICATION
  MINERALS PLANNING GUIDANCE NOTE 6
  MINERALS PLANNING GUIDANCE NOTE 6