Written Answers of 11 February 1993

ENVIRONMENT

  Attercliffe Study
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what alternative sources of funding are available for the initiation of the Attercliffe study, following the ending of the urban programme.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Urban programme and urban development corporation resources have been used to fund the Attercliffe study. The study is now complete and the recommendations are being considered by Sheffield city council and its partners.

  Derelict land grant, city grant—both to be absorbed into the proposed urban regeneration agency—urban development corporation and European regional development fund resources may be available for those schemes which meet the relevant grant criteria and also have sufficient priority when considered alongside other schemes.

  In addition, the recent relaxations on use of capital receipts should enable Sheffield city council to assist such schemes from its own resources.

  Deposit Bond Bank Schemes
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many deposit bond bank schemes are currently in operation in England and Wales; and what is their location.

  Mr. Baldry
  This information is not held by the Department.

  Refugees (London)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each London borough the latest actual and budget figures he has for expenditure on(a) housing, (b) education and (c) social services resulting from the acceptance by that borough of refugees to the United Kingdom; and if he will also list for each London borough the amount of specific grant allowed by his Department for this purpose.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information on actual and budgeted expenditure is not available centrally. Details of a special grant payable in 1992–93 to local authorities in respect of displaced persons from the former Yugoslavia are set out in the "Special Grant Report (No. 5)" which the House approved on 3 February.

  Disabled People (Council Tax)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what estimate he has made of the number of disabled persons in each council tax band B to H702
  inclusive who are likely to be eligible for a disabled person's discount; and what is the estimated cost of this discount for each band B to H, and in total for England;

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of disabled persons living in dwellings valued in council tax band A who would be eligible for a discount if their dwelling were valued in any other band.

  Mr. Howard
  Figures are not available for the number of dwellings in each band likely to benefit from the reductions for disabilities scheme.

  Urban Priority Areas
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 4 February,Official Report, column 243, if he will name the external researchers referred to in his answer; and if he will give a full timetable for consultations on the methodology to be used for the review of urban priority areas.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The external researchers are the Centre for Urban Policy Studies, Manchester university. We will circulate shortly a paper by the researchers proposing a methodology to be used in analysing census data to the local authority associations and voluntary organisations. Given the technical complexity of the subject, we will seek to give as much time as possible for them to respond.

  Special Needs Housing
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the funding of special needs projects currently funded by the Housing Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Expenditure plans for 1993–94 include provision of £96·6 million for the revenue funding of special needs projects by the Housing Corporation. Most of this provision relates to projects which are currently receiving funding from the corporation.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ring-fence the current financial regime governing special needs projects; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Revenue funding for special needs projects is provided by my Department through the special needs management allowance paid to housing associations by the Housing Corporation. Provision for this programme in 1992–93 is £95 million, specifically for supporting the housing management costs of associations operating in the field of special needs accommodation. Funding for 1993–94 will include provision for an additional 3,000 SNMA bedspaces, the majority of which will receive capital funding from the corporation's approved development programme. In addition, the ADP will provide funds for 1,500 units of special needs accommodation not requiring support from SNMA.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to encourage special housing authorities being formed and run by disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to encourage the formation of such organisations.
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  The Housing Corporation currently supports about 250 housing associations which provide accommodation for a range of special needs, including the needs of disabled people.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the number of council tax payers eligible for a second homes discount in each band, and in total, for England; and what is the estimated cost of the discount for each band and in total.

  Mr. Howard
  The table shows the estimated number of dwellings which may be subject to two council tax discounts. The majority of these will be second homes. Local authorities will not be setting their council taxes until the spring; we have no estimate of the cost of the discounts that might apply to second homes.

  Band

  Number of dwellings ('000s)

  A

  126

  B

  78

  C

  88

  D

  59

  E

  40

  F

  25

  G

  25

  H

  9

  Total for England

  450

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he intends to adopt to allow local authorities continued borrowing during 1993–94 to cover the collection of outstanding arrears of 1990–91 and 1991–92 community charges; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  During this year community charge collection has improved significantly, and it is essential that authorities continue to make every effort to collect all outstanding unpaid community charges. To assist authorities we are prepared to consider, in response to an application by an authority, granting an increase in its aggregate credit limit for 1993–94 to cover those unpaid 1990–91 and 1991–92 community charges which it expects to collect during 1993–94. This will enable such an authority to continue to borrow to cover these debts pending their collection during the course of next year.

  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the 16 local authorities he referred to on 3 February,Official Report, column 342 which will receive a special grant to compensate them since their standard spending assessment is more than 5 per cent. lower than under the old basis of estimating; and if he will quantify the money each of the 16 local authorities will receive.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 9 February 1993]: The "Special Grant Report (No.5)", which was laid before the House on 28 January 1993, sets out the authorities to which population loss grants are to be paid, and the amount of each grant. These are listed:
  704

  £

  Bracknell Forest

  690,257

  Richmondshire

  426,440

  Wokingham

  321,846

  Rutland

  189,768

  West Oxfordshire

  160,569

  Three Rivers

  139,901

  Colchester

  135,501

  Purbeck

  131,493

  North Kesteven

  118,575

  North Shropshire

  80,988

  Milton Keynes

  69,099

  Tendring

  66,819

  City of Oxford

  48,818

  East Yorkshire

  38,250

  Wealden

  35,790

  Surrey Heath

  20,050

  Local Authority Housing Investment
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further conclusions he has reached following his consultation exercise on the development of the local authority housing investment programme process.

  Sir George Young
  Last May, my Department launched a major consultation exercise on the further development of the local authority housing investment programme process. The consultation paper made proposals designed to improve the way in which housing resources are used and to stimulate the involvement of local people in this process. It was suggested that local authorities should prepare new strategies covering the full range of housing activities in their area. It was also proposed that decisions on the initial allocation of Housing Corporation funding should be co-ordinated with local authorities' housing strategies for each area and recent trends in the allocation of HIP resources, designed to promote better value for the money spent through housing capital programmes, should be developed.

  Interim decisions on these matters, covering points which it was necessary to settle in time for the 1992 HIP round, were issued in July, Official Report, 10 July 1992, column 384. We have now reached conclusions on the framework for the HIP process in 1993 and later years.

  Our view is that the HIP process should develop progressively in a flexible manner, which allows scope for the differing circumstances of authorities and the developing housing policies of both local and central Government. To facilitate this, we intend to invite all housing authorities to draw up annual housing strategy statements in which each authority describes the needs and resources for housing in their area, and the plans and programmes which the authority has for addressing them. Housing strategies should be developed in consultation with the Housing Corporation, housing associations, the private housing sector, both rental and owner occupied, house builders, the voluntary sector, tenants groups and other interested parties. They should encompass all relevant functions and resources of the authority in a corporate approach.

  Alongside this, we intend to build on this year's success in co-ordinating the arrangements for the HIP and the Housing Corporation's approved development programme processes. We have reaffirmed our view that there is a role for a significant element of discretion in the

  705
  allocation of HIP resources, including a primary allocation criterion based on the efficiency and effectiveness of authorities in meeting housing need. And in particular we have reached the view that the statistical index used in the allocation of HIP resources—the generalised needs index or GNI—should be comprehensively reviewed, with special reference to the year-on-year stability of the index.

  In the spring, the Department will issue guidance to local authorities on the preparation of housing strategy statements and the submission of HIP bids for 1994–95.

  I have now asked officials to take forward discussions on the practical implications of these decisions with the local authority associations, the Housing Corporation, the National Federation of Housing Associations and other interested parties, as appropriate.

  I have placed in the Libraries of the House copies of a note which gives more detail of the decisions we have taken.

  Sheltered Housing
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in respect of his Department's consultation document to local housing authorities proposing the transfer of the care element of the warden service in sheltered housing from housing revenue accounts to social service budgets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 10 February 1993]: Last September my Department issued a consultation document proposing temporary legislation, to be included in the Housing and Urban Development Bill, enabling local housing authorities to provide welfare services for their tenants and to account for the costs in their housing revenue accounts if they wish. These powers would avoid disruption and uncertainty in the wake of the Ealing judgment. The consultation document explained that the powers were intended to be temporary because it is the Government's intention that the housing revenue account should be a landlord account, and that welfare services should be accounted for elsewhere.

  My Department received approximately 130 representations widely welcoming these powers, but many suggested that welfare services should continue to be provided by housing authorities as part of the housing service, or at least until local government reorganisation was complete. We have made it clear that no decisions will be taken on whether or when to withdraw these powers until a further, full consultation exercise has taken place.

  I am issuing this further consultation paper today, and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the House Libraries. The paper is being sent to all local authorities and other interested parties, setting out proposals for the longer-term funding and provision of welfare services for tenants of local housing authorities. The paper proposes that housing authorities should retain the temporary powers, at present being considered as part of the Housing and Urban Development Bill, to provide these services for their tenants, until the current review of local government is completed. It also sets out options on which services might be excluded from the housing revenue account and on timing. We will take no decisions until we have considered what consultees have to say. Whatever
  706
  longer-term arrangements are then decided on, we will ensure that there will be no disruption to services for tenants.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales will also be issuing a consultation paper on these issues shortly.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Blepharospasm
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provision his Department makes for sufferers of the condition blepharospasm; and of he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  A wide range of benefits is available to sick and disabled people, including sufferers of blepharospasm, provided that they meet the conditions of entitlement. Information about benefits is available from the Benefits Agency in leaflets and through confidential free telephone advice lines.

  Pensions
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures estimating the cost of reintroducing earnings uprating for the retirement pension and other linked benefits beginning in April 1996, giving annual figures in 1992–93 prices over a 10-year period.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, a comparison between the cost of earnings uprating of benefits and that of prices uprating of benefits from 1990–91 to 2050–51 can be made by referring to tables 13 and 14 of the "National Insurance Fund Long Term Financial Estimates—Report of the Government Actuary on the Second Quinquennial review under Section 137 of the Social Security Act 1975" published in July 1990 as HC 582.

  Disability Benefits
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take steps to ensure that the hon. Member for East Lothian receives a reply to his letter of 4 November 1992 about the case of Mr. Mark Moffat, which was subsequently referred by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Bury, North (Mr. Burt), to the chief executive of the Benefits Agency.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. I understand that Mr. Bichard has already replied to the hon. Member about this case.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each housing authority, for the latest year for which figures are available, the number of housing benefit claimants who live in(a) council housing, (b) other public sector housing and (c) private rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is in the table. "Other public sector housing" is taken to refer to
  707
  accommodation provided by housing associations. The information relates to averages of the quarterly caseload counts, from the housing benefit management information system statistics for May and August 1992.

  Claimants of Housing Benefit by type of accommodation.

  Local authority

  Local authority tenants

  Housing associations

  Other private rented

  Aberconwy

  1,733

  95

  1,331

  Aberdeen

  13,882

  636

  1,527

  Adur

  2,196

  48

  744

  Allerdale

  3,277

  2,489

  912

  Alnwick

  1,541

  261

  345

  Alyn and Deeside

  2,991

  304

  629

  Amber Valley

  4,024

  312

  1,202

  Angus

  5,402

  158

  1,055

  Annandale and Eskdale

  2,019

  42

  337

  Arfon

  3,253

  41

  1,478

  Argyll-Bute

  3,513

  534

  810

  Arun

  3,225

  627

  2,955

  Ashfield

  5,733

  328

  1,242

  Ashford

  4,606

  170

  995

  Aylesbury Vale

  4,998

  4

  1,387

  Babergh

  3,096

  108

  982

  Badenoch

  443

  75

  211

  Banff and Buchan

  4,597

  151

  506

  Barking

  14,118

  41

  1,075

  Barnet

  9,377

  515

  6,584

  Barnsley

  18,050

  787

  2,962

  Barrow in Furness

  2,957

  6

  1,713

  Basildon

  3,770

  40

  1,678

  Basildon(DC)

  6,928

  0

  0

  Basingstoke

  4,811

  549

  1,213

  Bassetlaw

  5,715

  217

  1,194

  Bath

  4,382

  483

  2,177

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  805

  22

  77

  Berwickshire

  970

  144

  195

  Berwick-upun-Tweed

  1,425

  59

  357

  Beverley

  2,618

  221

  831

  Bexley

  5,309

  387

  3,974

  Birmingham

  76,660

  8,754

  19,185

  Blaby

  1,244

  197

  420

  Blackburn

  8,661

  1,345

  1,422

  Blackpool

  5,039

  626

  6,293

  Blaenau Gwent

  6,696

  741

  787

  Blyth Valley

  5,390

  1,124

  697

  Bolsover

  4,226

  168

  1,075

  Bolton

  16,543

  1,386

  3,461

  Boothferry

  2,682

  106

  665

  Boston

  3,271

  80

  526

  Bournemouth

  4,635

  119

  8,751

  Bracknell

  3,974

  496

  864

  Bradford

  22,643

  7,264

  5,746

  Braintree

  6,283

  122

  1,219

  Breckland

  4,149

  277

  1,162

  Brecknock

  1,408

  143

  420

  Brent

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Brentwood

  2,165

  125

  460

  Bridgnorth

  1,860

  56

  536

  Brighton

  8,194

  1,385

  7,451

  Bristol

  23,178

  2,277

  10,833

  Broadland

  12

  2,237

  1,138

  Bromley

  415

  11,164

  2,900

  Bromsgrove

  2,179

  85

  503

  Broxbourne

  2,780

  218

  692

  Broxtowe

  3,817

  301

  1,486

  Burnley

  4,654

  536

  1,752

  Bury

  6,897

  883

  1,818

  Caithness

  1,641

  65

  230

  Calderdale

  9,640

  656

  3,053

  Cambridge

  5,288

  822

  1,870

  Camden

  17,896

  4,166

  8,558

  Cannock Chase

  4,883

  132

  814

  Canterbury

  4,476

  621

  2,513

  Caradon

  2,557

  81

  1,293

  Cardiff

  14,232

  3,343

  7,464

  Carlisle

  5,728

  196

  1,538

  Carmarthen

  1,890

  190

  837

  708

  Local authority

  Local authority tenants

  Housing associations

  Other private rented

  Carrick

  3,050

  27

  2,023

  Castle Morpeth

  2,065

  133

  335

  Castle Point

  1,408

  99

  697

  Ceredigion

  1,759

  143

  1,443

  Charnwood

  4,321

  366

  1,233

  Chelmsford

  5,001

  303

  1,030

  Cheltenham

  4,209

  447

  2,043

  Cherwell

  3,981

  345

  1,581

  Chester

  4,926

  53

  2,102

  Chester le Street

  3,842

  114

  323

  Chesterfield

  7,218

  407

  1,392

  Chichester

  3,537

  290

  1,303

  Chiltern

  0

  776

  2,068

  Chorley

  2,396

  1,350

  782

  Christchurch

  0

  1,191

  619

  City of London

  994

  0

  101

  Clackmannan

  6,388

  195

  328

  Cleethorpes

  2,029

  99

  1,370

  Clydebank

  5,694

  319

  604

  Clydesdale

  4,101

  100

  194

  Colchester

  5,417

  482

  2,268

  Colwyn

  1,720

  365

  1,538

  Congleton

  2,502

  80

  422

  Copeland

  2,925

  513

  1,752

  Corby

  3,724

  0

  1,010

  Cotswold

  2,736

  149

  1,070

  Coventry

  16,214

  3,065

  6,212

  Craven

  1,194

  63

  703

  Crawley

  4,840

  401

  687

  Crewe and Nantwich

  4,343

  201

  1,238

  Croydon

  12,541

  2,374

  7,047

  Cumbernauld

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Cumbernauld (DC)

  3,258

  0

  0

  Cumnock & Doon

  4,855

  87

  191

  Cunninghame

  11,320

  145

  1,384

  Cynon Valley

  3,649

  600

  1,074

  Dacorum

  6,168

  769

  648

  Darlington

  4,811

  486

  1,697

  Dartford

  3,174

  182

  878

  Daventry

  2,213

  0

  480

  Delyn

  3,050

  223

  727

  Derby

  11,077

  2,225

  4,331

  Derbyshire Dales

  1,931

  19

  624

  Derwentside

  7,737

  471

  832

  Dinefwr

  1,448

  96

  615

  Doncaster

  19,220

  357

  4,013

  Dover

  4,158

  535

  2,256

  Dudley

  20,713

  1,477

  1,487

  Dumbarton

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Dundee

  18,557

  1,591

  2,613

  Dunfermline

  9,247

  1

  1,492

  Durham

  5,566

  331

  792

  Dwyfor

  843

  77

  591

  Ealing

  11,127

  2,926

  7,152

  Easington

  9,907

  763

  846

  East Cambridgeshire

  2,342

  76

  688

  East Devon

  3,079

  217

  1,914

  East Dorset

  15

  1,514

  987

  East Hampshire

  2,625

  135

  998

  East Hertfordshire

  3,696

  91

  757

  East Kilbride

  585

  29

  435

  East Kilbride (DC)

  5,230

  0

  0

  East Lindsey

  3,526

  142

  2,894

  East Lothian

  6,023

  311

  633

  East Northampton

  2,510

  81

  639

  East Staffordshire

  3,288

  269

  925

  East Yorkshire

  2,760

  130

  2,218

  Eastbourne

  3,333

  740

  2,801

  Eastleigh

  2,749

  204

  1,244

  Eastwood

  833

  49

  243

  Eden

  1,017

  129

  564

  Edinburgh

  25,236

  922

  13,432

  Ellesmere Port

  3,763

  248

  551

  Elmbridge

  2,985

  79

  1,557

  Enfield

  11,484

  813

  5,127

  Epping Forest

  4,903

  295

  872

  709

  Local authority

  Local authority tenants

  Housing associations

  Other private rented

  Epsom and Ewell

  1,093

  181

  567

  Erewash

  4,549

  290

  1,398

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  1,494

  417

  263

  Exeter

  3,996

  974

  2,734

  Falkirk

  13,208

  254

  857

  Fareham

  2,035

  125

  829

  Fenland

  3,175

  96

  1,306

  Forest Heath

  1,965

  138

  532

  Forest of Dean

  2,675

  276

  503

  Fylde

  1,378

  70

  1,412

  Gateshead

  20,209

  1,123

  4,200

  Gedling

  2,744

  312

  1,690

  Gillingham

  2,442

  234

  1,608

  Glanford

  2,010

  205

  680

  Glasgow

  101,048

  5,599

  15,875

  Glenrothes (DC)

  3,253

  0

  0

  Gloucester

  4,209

  581

  2,048

  Glyndwr

  1,607

  198

  475

  Gordon

  2,104

  109

  368

  Gosport

  3,279

  328

  1,141

  Gravesham

  4,610

  165

  1,234

  Great Yarmouth

  4,574

  333

  2,011

  Greenwich

  16,658

  1,916

  4,107

  Grimsby

  5,386

  591

  2,299

  Guildford

  3,745

  29

  1,715

  Hackney

  23,875

  2,365

  8,914

  Halton

  5,491

  1,963

  4,532

  Hambleton

  2,293

  1

  755

  Hamilton

  10,602

  268

  324

  Hammersmith

  10,792

  3,247

  6,265

  Harborough

  1,637

  27

  459

  Haringey

  18,340

  2,822

  17,846

  Harlow

  6,644

  263

  731

  Harrogate

  3,209

  461

  2,280

  Harrow

  5,400

  326

  3,309

  Hart

  1,366

  93

  587

  Hartlepool

  7,272

  1,165

  1,712

  Hastings

  3,280

  965

  3,347

  Havant

  2,405

  283

  996

  Havering

  12,620

  157

  2,208

  Hereford

  2,645

  281

  1,163

  Hertsmere

  3,626

  189

  644

  High Peak

  3,091

  271

  1,060

  Hillingdon

  9,631

  313

  3,072

  Hinckley and Bosworth

  2,575

  68

  678

  Holderness

  1,385

  21

  637

  Horsham

  3,119

  57

  1,218

  Hounslow

  7,520

  719

  3,322

  Hove

  2,572

  660

  4,861

  Huntingdon

  4,243

  91

  1,491

  Hyndburn

  3,025

  168

  1,491

  Inverclyde

  9,796

  362

  840

  Inverness

  4,632

  184

  866

  Ipswich

  6,512

  1,230

  2,404

  Irvine (DC)

  1,904

  0

  0

  Isles of Scilly

  41

  9

  29

  Islington

  19,785

  1,547

  6,417

  Islwyn

  3,868

  467

  582

  Kennet

  2,623

  86

  738

  Kensington and Chelsea

  5,489

  4,662

  4,363

  Kerrier

  2,943

  51

  2,481

  Kettering

  3,196

  100

  1,045

  Kilmarnock

  7,927

  186

  648

  Kincardine and Deeside

  1,124

  129

  244

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  26,581

  2,017

  7,129

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  4,307

  1,042

  1,318

  Kingswood

  2,728

  311

  631

  Kirkcaldy

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Kirklees

  19,804

  1,305

  4,745

  Knowsley

  18,373

  503

  3,234

  Kyle and Carrick

  8,145

  61

  1,180

  Lambeth

  23,729

  3,852

  8,773

  Lancaster

  3,365

  300

  4,396

  Langbaurgh

  9,905

  1,015

  1,985

  Leeds

  51,887

  3,855

  14,702

  Leicester

  20,671

  547

  7,270

  710

  Local authority

  Local authority tenants

  Housing associations

  Other private rented

  Leominster

  1,163

  78

  512

  Lewes

  2,481

  338

  1,465

  Lewisham

  20,435

  3,654

  8,324

  Lichfield

  2,917

  184

  615

  Lincoln

  6,342

  202

  2,230

  Liverpool

  40,991

  13,086

  17,041

  Livingston (DC)

  3,654

  0

  0

  Llanelli

  4,796

  297

  1,177

  Lliw Valley

  3,236

  261

  624

  Lochaber

  1,007

  82

  206

  Luton

  6,944

  619

  3,552

  Macclesfield

  4,007

  327

  1,447

  Maidstsone

  4,858

  265

  1,472

  Maldon

  1,460

  92

  646

  Malvern Hills

  2,937

  27

  883

  Manchester

  62,613

  6,413

  17,761

  Mansfield

  6,265

  690

  1,735

  Medina

  71

  2,303

  2,919

  Meirionnydd

  1,130

  62

  626

  Melton

  1,309

  0

  489

  Mendip

  3,310

  201

  1,668

  Merthyr Tydfil

  4,957

  12

  1,721

  Merton

  6,814

  1,216

  3,619

  Mid Bedfordshire

  3,467

  72

  672

  Mid Devon

  2,360

  218

  950

  Mid Suffolk

  2,523

  151

  612

  Mid Sussex

  52

  2,438

  1,308

  Middlesbrough

  12,793

  1,574

  3,096

  Midlothian

  3,645

  254

  893

  Milton Keynes

  8,220

  1,460

  2,154

  Mole Valley

  2,037

  41

  775

  Monklands

  12,986

  0

  319

  Monmouth

  2,820

  235

  594

  Montgomery

  1,426

  348

  622

  Moray

  4,181

  261

  803

  Motherwell

  16,944

  193

  654

  Nairn

  532

  32

  107

  Neath

  3,812

  505

  709

  New Forest

  4,560

  849

  1,654

  Newark

  4,238

  283

  1,446

  Newbury

  34

  3,274

  1,627

  Newcastle under Lyme

  5,681

  144

  1,193

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  28,697

  4,064

  5,927

  Newham

  18,921

  3,149

  12,328

  Newport

  9,317

  963

  2,797

  Nithsdale

  3,365

  177

  602

  North Bedfordshire

  0

  5,585

  1,850

  North Cornwall

  2,620

  290

  1,406

  North Devon

  2,330

  474

  2,310

  North Dorset

  1,688

  177

  516

  North East Derby

  5,803

  88

  629

  North East Fife

  2,927

  118

  594

  North Hertfordshire

  5,406

  725

  1,107

  North Kesteven

  2,875

  0

  769

  North Norfolk

  3,300

  89

  1,562

  North Shropshire

  1,750

  148

  613

  North Tyneside

  15,064

  2,284

  3,643

  North Warwickshire

  2,369

  110

  568

  North West Leicester

  2,954

  392

  679

  North Wiltshire

  3,850

  92,

  1,042

  Northampton

  9,822

  401

  2,899

  Northavon

  3,335

  274

  940

  Norwich

  12,692

  912

  3,630

  Nottingham

  25,849

  1,729

  10,215

  Nuneaton

  5,460

  285

  1,454

  Oadby and Wigston

  920

  69

  437

  Ogwr

  6,825

  653

  1,843

  Oldham

  15,075

  1,459

  2,864

  Orkney

  571

  60

  240

  Oswestry

  1,423

  9

  584

  Oxford

  5,967

  652

  4,061

  Pendle

  3,317

  190

  1,385

  Penwith

  2,399

  82

  1,781

  Perth and Kinross

  5,938

  299

  1,745

  Peterborough

  8,176

  1,930

  3,700

  Plymouth

  12,231

  1,841

  7,948

  711

  Local authority

  Local authority tenants

  Housing associations

  Other private rented

  Poole

  3,778

  556

  2,378

  Port Talbot

  3,664

  325

  632

  Portsmouth

  12,888

  2,234

  4,647

  Preseli

  3,413

  227

  953

  Preston

  7,071

  2,017

  1,650

  Purbeck

  1,181

  178

  639

  Radnor

  529

  96

  592

  Reading

  5,879

  869

  3,421

  Redbridge

  6,794

  523

  4,804

  Redditch

  4,837

  193

  506

  Reigate and Banstead

  3,447

  287

  1,050

  Renfrew

  17,606

  578

  1,223

  Restormel

  2,664

  108

  2,307

  Rhondda

  3,851

  669

  1,317

  Rhuddlan

  1,711

  222

  2,095

  Rhymney Valley

  8,101

  852

  1,081

  Ribble Valley

  863

  66

  360

  Richmondshire

  1,275

  69

  317

  Richmond upon Thames

  5,002

  463

  3,125

  Rochdale

  12,447

  1,345

  2,637

  Rochester on Medway

  18

  0

  8,803

  Rochford

  1,483

  116

  819

  Ross and Cromarty

  2,939

  140

  399

  Rossendale

  3,569

  356

  697

  Rother

  2,196

  278

  1,540

  Rotherham

  17,853

  1,200

  2,617

  Roxburgh

  2,308

  536

  239

  Rugby

  3,043

  472

  890

  Runnymede

  2,215

  165

  862

  Rural Wales

  468

  0

  0

  Rushcliffe

  2,257

  190

  1,382

  Rushmoor

  2,793

  174

  1,160

  Rutland

  881

  12

  256

  Ryedale

  0

  2,006

  888

  Salford

  23,735

  2,628

  4,967

  Salisbury

  3,924

  68

  1,835

  Sandwell

  31,516

  2,037

  2,248

  Scarborough

  4,139

  24

  2,785

  Scottish Homes

  36,448

  0

  0

  Scunthorpe

  4,763

  133

  1,177

  Sedgefield

  8,173

  751

  491

  Sedgemoor

  3,691

  252

  1,758

  Sefton

  11,286

  3,053

  5,965

  Selby

  2,520

  181

  850

  Sevenoaks

  27

  3,348

  1,196

  Sheffield

  51,877

  4,835

  6,278

  Shepway

  2,902

  144

  3,351

  Shetland

  882

  50

  72

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  3,618

  186

  1,183

  Skye and Lochalsh

  518

  49

  184

  Slough

  5,552

  234

  2,014

  Solihull

  9,347

  678

  956

  South Bedfordshire

  4,175

  323

  1,045

  South Bucks

  60

  2,005

  378

  South Cambridgeshire

  3,477

  173

  816

  South Derbyshire

  2,492

  33

  718

  South Hams

  2,338

  207

  1,288

  South Herefordshire

  1,298

  103

  586

  South Holland

  2,678

  11

  563

  South Kesteven

  4,844

  142

  1,637

  South Lakeland

  2,498

  64

  1,363

  South Norfolk

  3,161

  197

  928

  South Northants

  1,911

  40

  450

  South Oxfordshire

  3,331

  94

  1,297

  South Pembrokeshire

  1,835

  125

  982

  South Ribble

  2,372

  511

  514

  South Shropshire

  1,122

  134

  554

  South Somerset

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  South Staffordshire

  3,720

  331

  523

  South Tyneside

  16,860

  1,325

  2,542

  South Wight

  48

  1,717

  1,371

  Southampton

  11,797

  1,690

  6,762

  Southend on sea

  5,901

  945

  4,647

  Southwark

  26,969

  3,033

  3,598

  Spelthorne

  2,343

  7

  1,092

  St. Albans

  3,688

  238

  1,283

  712

  Local authority

  Local authority tenants

  Housing associations

  Other private rented

  St. Edmundsbury

  3,629

  168

  986

  St. Helens

  12,507

  2,002

  1,240

  Stafford

  3,868

  313

  938

  Staffs. Moorlands

  2,031

  141

  477

  Stevenage

  6,174

  288

  936

  Stewartry

  1,084

  67

  225

  Stirling

  5,798

  197

  525

  Stockport

  9,702

  1,944

  2,645

  Stockton on Tees

  11,410

  1,462

  1,754

  Stoke on Trent

  16,299

  905

  3,708

  Stratford-on-Avon

  3,514

  80

  1,097

  Strathkelvin

  3,711

  162

  287

  Stroud

  3,947

  21

  1,442

  Suffolk Coastal

  23

  2,480

  1,843

  Sunderland

  27,591

  2,703

  3,620

  Surrey Heath

  1,703

  83

  531

  Sutherland

  794

  63

  61

  Sutton

  6,441

  1,568

  1,445

  Swale

  19

  4,609

  2,043

  Swansea

  11,682

  1,074

  4,162

  Taff-Ely

  4,969

  264

  1,078

  Tameside

  13,282

  652

  3,430

  Tamworth

  4,319

  456

  537

  Tandridge

  1,768

  38

  506

  Taunton Deane

  3,951

  176

  1,844

  Teesdale

  651

  118

  395

  Teignbridge

  2,644

  126

  2,302

  Tendring

  2,822

  730

  2,972

  Test Valley

  3,756

  209

  823

  Tewkesbury

  2,200

  349

  647

  Thamesdown

  7,405

  701

  2,427

  Thanet

  4,588

  428

  5,366

  The Wrekin

  9,500

  787

  1,472

  Three Rivers

  3,009

  166

  516

  Thurrock

  7,680

  228

  1,138

  Tonbridge and Malling

  25

  3,728

  1,010

  Torbay

  2,551

  647

  5,442

  Torfaen

  8,067

  186

  736

  Torridge

  1,303

  128

  1,387

  Tower Hamlets

  24,736

  2,458

  2,775

  Trafford

  7,437

  1,390

  2,712

  Tunbridge Wells

  45

  3,206

  1,353

  Tweeddale

  585

  201

  142

  Tynedale

  2,038

  90

  555

  Uttlesford

  2,049

  26

  631

  Vale of Glamorgan

  3,961

  496

  2,394

  Vale of White Horse

  2,896

  64

  1,045

  Vale Royal

  4,498

  309

  571

  Wakefield

  24,687

  482

  3,595

  Walsall

  21,471

  1,653

  1,792

  Waltham Forest

  12,188

  1,211

  6,378

  Wandsworth

  15,818

  912

  12,247

  Wansbeck

  5,227

  267

  834

  Wansdyke

  2,629

  135

  524

  Warrington

  7,803

  0

  3,646

  Warwick

  4,298

  865

  1,361

  Watford

  3,321

  109

  1,615

  Waveney

  3,812

  239

  3,807

  Waverley

  3,561

  98

  1,068

  Wealden

  2,492

  210

  1,351

  Wear Valley

  4,846

  981

  650

  Wellingborough

  3,405

  37

  1,126

  Welwyn Hatfield

  5,479

  231

  632

  West Devon

  1,023

  160

  951

  West Dorset

  3,054

  171

  1,136

  West Lancashire

  6,514

  195

  859

  West Lindsey

  2,722

  125

  1,002

  West Lothian

  8,372

  536

  497

  West Norfolk

  5,530

  486

  1,843

  West Oxfordshire

  2,459

  137

  1,124

  West Somerset

  1,295

  142

  805

  West Wiltshire

  3,654

  55

  1,729

  Western Isles

  1,406

  54

  183

  Westminster

  9,082

  3,184

  7,271

  Weymouth and Portland

  2,336

  0

  2,088

  Wigan

  20,183

  1,097

  2,122

  713

  Local authority

  Local authority tenants

  Housing associations

  Other private rented

  Wigtown

  2,441

  144

  486

  Winchester

  3,392

  325

  1,051

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  3,778

  123

  1,169

  Wirral

  16,281

  3,018

  7,827

  Woking

  2,601

  301

  741

  Wokingham

  2,060

  200

  725

  Wolverhampton

  23,703

  1,612

  2,708

  Woodspring

  5,351

  359

  3,239

  Worcester

  3,773

  607

  1,317

  Worthing

  1,916

  155

  2,952

  Wrexham Maelor

  8,694

  425

  938

  Wychavon

  3,826

  81

  750

  Wycombe

  4,943

  204

  1,329

  Wyre

  2,127

  133

  1,373

  Wyre Forest

  4,379

  175

  957

  Ynys Mon

  3,893

  380

  1,203

  York

  5,803

  495

  2,023

  N/a—No returns received from the authority.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Rape (War Crime)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to place on the agenda at the human rights conference in Vienna and the G7 meeting in Tokyo the violation of women as a war crime.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. Neither of these meetings would be the most appropriate forum in which to discuss the recognition of the violation of women as a war crime. The topic would be most suitably discussed under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross as guardians of the Geneva conventions. The ICRC plans to hold an international conference this summer which will review all aspects of the protection of victims of war.

  Iraq (British Prisoners)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made recently towards the release of Paul Ride and Michael Wainwright from prison in Baghdad; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We continue to press for the release of Mr. Ride and Mr. Wainwright at every opportunity. The sentences imposed on the two men were grotesque. The Iraqi Government can be in no doubt that they stand to gain nothing from their continued detention.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the possible release of Michael Wainwright and Paul Ride.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have urged the Iraqis at every opportunity to release Mr. Ride and Mr. Wainwright without further delay. Their continued detention is a manifest injustice.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Government have submitted evidence to the United Nations Secretary General of war crimes in the conflict in the former Yugoslavia; and what proposal Her Majesty's Government now have to submit evidence.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  To date Bosnia Herzegovina, USA, Venezuela, Australia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Russia, Colombia, Croatia, France, Turkey, Belgium, Italy, Slovenia, Albania, Canada, Mauritania, Sweden, United Arab Emirates and Denmark have submitted. We propose to submit substantiated evidence in the near future.

  Departmental Budget
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the percentage change in(a) real terms and (b) cash terms of his Department's budget from 1992–93 to 1993–94 (i) in total and (ii) separately for the diplomatic and aid wings.

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 3 February 1993]: The figures are as follows:

  £ billion

  Aid wing

  1992–93

  2·152

  1993–94

  2.267

  difference in cash terms +5·3 per cent.

  difference in real terms +2·5 per cent.

  Diplomatic wing

  1992–93

  1·159

  1993–94

  1·220

  difference in cash terms +5·3 per cent.

  difference in real terms +2·4 per cent.

  Total for FCO

  1992–93

  3·311

  1993–94

  3·487

  difference in cash terms +5·3 per cent.

  difference in real terms +2·5 per cent.

  International Events
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the major international events in the United Kingdom and overseas in which Her Majesty's Government will participate in 1993; and which Minister will attend in each case.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [pursuant to his reply 29 January 1993]: I should like to add to the list of major international events in which Her Majesty's Government will participate, the world conference on human rights, attended by the Foreign Secretary or the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

  Debt (Developing Countries)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of developing country debt was scheduled to be cancelled at the outset of the Trinidad terms; and what proportion of total debt has been cancelled to date.
  715
  Mr. Nelson
  I have been asked to reply.

  At the Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting in Trinidad and Tobago in September 1990, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, then Chancellor, proposed a reduction in the stock of eligible debt of two thirds. In December 1991, the Paris Club of creditor countries agreed to allow creditors to provide the equivalent of 50 per cent. cancellation of eligible debts consolidated under each agreement. These terms also include an undertaking by creditors to consider a reduction in the stock of eligible debt after a period of proven financial and economic responsibility of three to four years. For some of the most desperately indebted countries this may not prove sufficient, and we therefore take every opportunity to build consensus with our Paris Club colleagues to improve the terms on offer.

  Specifically we are eager to see an increase in the amount of debt reduction available where necessary, and earlier action on the stock of eligible debt for debtors who already have a good track record.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the total amount of bilateral debt that has been cancelled to date under the Trinidad terms;

  (2) if he will list the countries which have benefited to date from the cancelling of bilateral debt under the Trinidad terms, indicating the level of debt cancellation (a) in total and (b) as a percentage of each country's total level of foreign debt.

  Mr. Nelson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Fourteen countries have so far benefited from the Trinidad terms. The countries are Benin, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Republic, Honduras, Mali, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia. (a) Trinidad terms involve the equivalent of cancellation of up to half the eligible debt consolidated under the agreements. We estimate that the agreements so far reached will result in the equivalent of the cancellation of about US$1½ billion of claims over the lives of the agreements. The agreements also commit creditors to take action on the whole stock of eligible debt after a period of three to four years financial and economic responsibility. The amount of debt cancelled will therefore increase as these agreements mature. Unfortunately, answering (b) would entail disclosing confidential details of debtor countries' obligations to their creditors, and is not in any event a useful comparison to make.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the value of the British output of unmanned aerial vehicles and the balance of payments for such products.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Figures for unmanned aerial vehicles are not separately identifiable in official trade statistics.

  Aviation Committee
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the members of his Department's aviation committee and the number of times it has met since 10 April 1992.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Aviation Committee has met three times since 10 April 1992.

  The current membership of the Aviation Committee is as follows:

  Chairman

  Professor J. L. Stollery

  College of Aeronautics

  Cranfield Institute of Technology

  Members

  N. V. Barber Esq.

  Chairman

  Aerospace and Defence Group

  Smiths Industries Plc.

  D. L. Bernstein Esq.

  Joint Managing Director

  Monarch Airlines

  R. H. L. Clark Esq.

  Managing Director

  Flight Refuelling Ltd.

  K. H. Coates Esq.

  Executive Chairman

  Meggitt Plc.

  A. C. D. Cumming Esq.

  Engineering Director

  British Airways Plc.

  C. C. Gustar Esq.

  Managing Director

  Westland Aerospace Ltd.

  L. A. Edwards Esq.

  Chief Executive, Dowty

  TI Group Plc.

  Professor K. Hayward

  Senior Course Tutor

  School of Social Sciences

  Staffordshire University

  Mrs. L. Lynn

  Vice President

  Airlines and Aerospace Department

  Citibank, NA

  R. M. McKinlay Esq.

  Chairman

  British Aerospace

  Airbus Ltd.

  R. W. R. McNulty Esq.

  President

  Short Brothers Plc.

  J. E. V. Rose Esq.

  Director—Corporate Development

  Rolls-Royce Plc.

  B. G. S. Tucker Esq.

  Director of Programmes

  GEC-Marconi Avionics Ltd.

  F. Turner Esq.

  Managing Director

  Lucas Aerospace Ltd.

  Cooker and Gas Fire Manufacturers
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the sector of industry which makes cookers and gas fires; how many such companies are known to his Department in the west midlands; and how many people are employed in the sector.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  United Kingdom production of cookers and gas fires in 1991 was £355 million. Of this, about 9 per cent. was exported. Firms in these sub-sectors have been adversely affected by the downturn in the housing market and in consumer demand.

  Twelve firms in the west midlands are known to make cookers or gas fires. These employ 3,700 people.

  Ship Building
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the gross tonnage of new merchant ships built in(a) United Kingdom shipyards and (b) EC countries in (a) 1974, (b) 1979 and (c)

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The total gross tonnage of merchant ships of 100 gross tonnes and over constructed in the United Kingdom and EC countries in 1974, 1979 and 1991 is as follows:

  Gross tonnage of merchant ships completed

  1974

  1979

  1991

  United Kingdom

  1,198,255

  691,404

  185,470

  EC total

  7,614,263

  2,777,757

  2,229,256

  Source: Lloyd's Register of Shipping.

  Notes:

  1. Only the EC members of 1974 have been included in the EC total, in order to provide a comparable series.

  2. From 1990 gross tonnage statistics for the Federal Republic of Germany have included the former German Democratic Republic. Hence the former German Democratic Republic is also included in the 1991 EC total.

  3. Figures for the gross tonnage of merchant ships in 1992 are not yet available. 1991 figures have been provided.

  BS 5750
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will carry out an independent evaluation of the costs and benefits of BS 5750; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Government have no plans to carry out an independent evaluation of BS 5750. BS 5750 is a voluntary quality management standard drawn up by industry to meet its own requirements and published by the British Standards Institution. The BSI established last week a new policy committee for small businesses to address needs of small businesses in all areas of BSI's activities. In the light of recent press coverage of the costs to small firms of complying with BS 5750, this new committee will look, as an early priority, into the application and promotion of that particular standard.

  Liaison with Industry
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what liaison he has created within his Department and other concerned bodies charged with supervision of areas of concern to industry.
  718
  Mr. Heseltine
  I have established a number of new divisions in my Department with the task of developing a dialogue with individual sectors of industry. In addition, as I announced on 2 February, we intend to set up seven business task forces to review all regulations which affect business.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to modify the audit requirements of small companies.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Government are nearing the end of their review of audit and accounting requirements for very small companies and I hope to announce the outcome soon.

  Regulators
  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what plans he has to review the powers and accountability of(a) Ofgas, (b) Oftel and (c) Offer;

  (2) what representations he has received concerning the powers and accountability of Offer; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what representations he has received concerning the powers and accountability of Oftel; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what representations he has received concerning the powers and accountability of Ofgas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  My Department receives representations from time to time concerning Offer, Ofgas and Oftel.

  The coal review has received a number of items of evidence which have a bearing on the working of Offer and Ofgas, and will take into account all the recommendations made regarding these bodies in the Trade and Industry Select Committee report.

  With regard to Oftel, some argue that its powers should be reduced, and some that they are inadequate. I believe that Oftel's powers are broadly right and there are no current plans to amend them.

  The regulators are accountable for the discharge of their statutory duties. Each presents an annual report to Parliament. Select Committees may—and do—call the regulators to give evidence. If a regulator's proposal for a licence modification is not agreed by the licensee, the issue may be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for its view on the public interest. Ultimately, regulators' decisions may be subject to judicial review.

  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to increase the transparency of(a) Ofgas, (b) Oftel and (c) Offer.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  With Government encouragement, the regulators already take great care to consult widely before reaching decisions on any issue, and to publicise their decisions and the reasoning behind them.

  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the regulators of the privatised utilities.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 provided additional powers where
  719
  necessary to enable regulators to set and monitor standards of service. The regulators have used their powers effectively to promote competition, to secure fair prices, and to promote better service standards for customers.

  Bicycles
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance his Department is giving the British bicycle manufacturing industry; and what efforts have been made to promote the British bicycle abroad.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  British bicycle companies are entitled to make full use of the many services including export advice from overseas trade services offered to United Kingdom industry by my Department, and the DTI vehicles division is specifically responsible for sponsoring the industry.

  The Bicycle Association of Great Britain is actively involved in British Overseas Trade Board activities and regularly sponsors a group of bicycle companies at a major overseas trade fair in Cologne.

  Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been(a) the range of estimated annual costs and (b) his Department's estimate of the cost to a typical self-catering accommodation business made by the consultees to his draft Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 consultation document; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 2 February 1993]: Consultees variously estimated the overall cost of purchasing new furniture to be in the range of £1,000 to £3,000, but gave no information on the basis of their estimates. The Department's estimate of the cost of purchasing new furniture to replace non-complying furniture is £850 for a self-catering unit accommodating four persons and is fully set out in the compliance cost assessment which was made available to all consultees.

  Leyland DAF
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take the necessary action to ensure that all designs and patents for the Leyland DAF product lines currently operating within the United Kingdom form part of the assets being handled by the receiver appointed for these operations.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 9 February 1993]: All drawings and designs which are at the premises of the United Kingdom companies in receivership are under the day-to-day control of the receivers and are being examined with a view to ensuring that a complete set is available in respect of current products. The receivers' solicitors have been instructed to advise them upon the ownership of intellectual property used in the companies and are currently assessing the position.

  Glass Curtain Walling
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of whether the criteria used to test the quality and strength of British glass curtain walling in France and Germany are discriminatory and a barrier to trade; and if he will make a statement.
  720
  Mr. Baldry
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have no information that the criteria being used to test the quality and strength of British glass curtain walling in France or Germany are discriminatory against products from other member states and a barrier to trade. If I receive evidence of any discrimination or barriers to trade, in consultation with DTI colleagues, I shall take appropriate action to safeguard United Kingdom interests.

  Construction Projects
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what decisions he has made during the course of 1992 for or against major construction projects within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have been asked to reply.

  I will write to the hon. Member once the information is available.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Aid Loans
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement outlining the form taken by relief from repayment of old aid loans by the United Kingdom Government.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Since 1979 we have consistently pursued a policy of commuting to grants through retrospective terms adjustment the outstanding aid loans of the poorest countries and rescheduling other aid loans for other debt-distressed countries. We consider eligible countries on a case-by-case basis.

  The main criteria for RTA are poverty—the current threshold is countries with a per capita income of $545 or less—and firm evidence of commitment to IMF/IBRD-approved economic reform programmes. In the case of India, we provide equivalent measures, in the form of local cost aid to offset India's repayment of past aid loans.

  Forestry Aid
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much forestry aid is currently paid in fees to(a) British consultants and (b) educational establishments within the United Kingdom; and if he will list each educational establishment in receipt of such funding, indicating the amount granted in each instance.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We do not keep central records of fees paid to British consultants and educational institutions. Fees are negotiated contract by contract according to the tasks to be performed. The British institutions used in our forestry programmes include the University college of Wales (Bangor), the universities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Oxford and Reading and many other educational establishments and consultancy firms.

  Commercial Bank Debt
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much United Kingdom commercial bank debt has been cancelled under the Brady plan; and what is the cancelled debt as a percentage of outstanding third-world debt.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Direct figures of United Kingdom commercial bank debt cancelled under the Brady plan are not available. However, in 1990 and 1991, United Kingdom banks' holdings of debt reduction instruments ("Brady bonds") rose by £2,930 million and £850 million respectively, or £3,780 million over the two years. It is estimated that these holdings replaced nearly £6 billion of loans outstanding, and therefore accounted for around £2 billion of write-offs. These £2 billion of write-offs may he considered as estimates for the amount of debt reduction, or cancellation, involved, and represent around 11 per cent. of all United Kingdom bank debt outstanding to developing countries as at end 1991. Total write-offs for 1989–91 are estimated to have been £4,160 million.

  Debt (Developing Countries)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the level of debt repayments from developing countries received by the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years; and what was the level of new loans, investment, export credits and aid from Government and charities in each of those years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  On the level of official debt repayments, I refer the hon. Member to the letter my noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development wrote to him on 26 January, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. Provision of information on debt repayment poses the same problem as does information on interest alone. The United Kingdom net official and private flows to developing countries 1989–91 as published in the "British Aid Statistics" are as follows:

  Official development assistance

  Official export credits

  Project loans1

  Voluntary agencies

  1989

  1,584

  209

  71

  150

  1990

  1,503

  259

  88

  170

  1991

  1,814

  192

  101

  215

  1 Project loans is the definition for loan money actually spent in any given year rather than loan money committed in that year.

  Figures for the seven years prior to 1989 are not immediately available. My noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development will write to the hon. Member with this information in due course.

  Debt Relief
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of British aid in 1991 was included as debt relief according to the new directives announced by the OECD.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The amount of United Kingdom debt forgiveness counting as bilateral official development assistance, in accordance with directives agreed by the OECD, was £31 million in 1991. This includes debt covered by the Paris club's Toronto terms, plus ODA 722
  retrospective terms adjustment—the converting of old aid debts into grants—and normal debt rescheduling. No debt relief was granted by the Government under Trinidad terms in 1991 as it was only in December 1991 that the first two countries received these terms. Thus the debt relief granted in this form amounted to 1·71 per cent. of Britain's total official development assistance, or £1,814 million.

  EC Aid
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the impact on the United Kingdom aid programme of the increase in EC aid agreed at the Edinburgh summit.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our contributions to European Community aid programmes, both through the European development fund and through the EC budget, are part of our overall aid effort and are met from within the agreed PES provision for ODA's external assistance programmes.

  The agreement reached at Edinburgh on future financing provides for considerable growth in the aid programme funded from the EC budget up to 1999. For the period up to 1995–96 covered in the autumn statement of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer it is expected that the proportion of the ODA's budget going through the EC will increase based on existing plans. Since we cannot anticipate decisions on the overall size of ODA's budget beyond 1995–96, we cannot anticipate the share which will go through the EC.

  Tropical Forests
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures have been established to monitor the effectiveness of the tropical forest action plan.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We monitor the tropical forestry action programme through attendance at international meetings such as the tropical forestry advisers' group and through the national forestry planning processes in countries where we have significant aid programmes in the forestry sector.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the relationship between the commitment in the forest principles to unrestricted trade and the policy of limiting trade to sustainably produced timber.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There is no conflict between the forest principles agreed at UNCED and the International Tropical Timber Organisation's target of the year 2000 for all internationally traded tropical timber to come from sustainably managed sources. Both the UNCED principles and ITTO aim to promote the sustainable management of tropical forests and preclude unilateral and discriminatory restrictions contrary to internationally agreed rules.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the United Kingdom's tropical timber imports are derived from sustainable sources.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There is no reliable way of determining whether or not timber entering the United Kingdom has come from a sustainable source.
  723
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the International Timber Trade Organisation concerning the report on threatened timber species produced in May 1991.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are in frequent contact with the International Tropical Timber Organisation about how best to develop and build upon the work to which the hon. Member refers. We have offered to help meet the costs of expanding this work and of hosting an ITTO workshop, due to be held in March, to consider and, if necessary, refine, the scientific methodologies used to assess the extent to which individual timber species may be put at risk by the international timber trade.

  World Bank
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account has been taken of the report on(a) the Pelosi amendment and (b) the portfolio management task force on World bank projects in deciding future United Kingdom funding arrangements for the World bank.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The so-called Pelosi amendment, which affected the United States position on environmental issues in multilateral development banks, is a matter for the United States Government. In the recently completed negotiations on the 10th replenishment of the International Development Association donors recommended to the bank's executive directors that once a borrower has made information on environmental assessments publicly available in the borrowing country, the same information should also be made publicly available at bank headquarters and in field offices in member countries.

  IDA donors, including the United Kingdom, welcomed the report by the bank's task force on portfolio management aimed at improving the quality of project design and implementation and called on the bank to bring forward detailed proposals to make them effective. The bank's board of directors has subsequently discussed the report and asked the bank's management to prepare an action plan in the near future.

  Deforestation
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what studies have been made of the link between deforestation and population growth in the third world.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 4 December at column 427.

  Adjustment Lending
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what processes are employed by the Overseas Development Administration in seeking to assess and minimise the environmental impacts of adjustment lending.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We welcome the recognition that the multilateral institutions which are responsible for structural adjustment lending are giving to assessing the 724
  likely environmental consequences of such programmes and the assistance to developing countries to apply policies conducive to the protection of the environment. We support the World bank's position that more work needs to be done to identify the environmental impacts of adjustment lending. Where we are directly involved in adjustment programmes the processes set out in ODA's "Manual of Environmental Appraisal" apply, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

WALES

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make it his policy to establish a permanent commission on the Welsh language;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to develop a national Welsh language planning unit in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Welsh Language Bill would establish a new, statutory Welsh language board. The board will have a very wide remit extending to all matters relating to the Welsh language.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to bring forward a comprehensive strategy for the maintenance and promotion of the Welsh language in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Government have a comprehensive strategy for the maintenance and promotion of the Welsh language of which the Welsh Language Bill is but the latest part. S4C has been a great success and remains one of the most visible and important manifestations of the Government's commitment to the language. The central place of the language in our education policies is demonstrated by the status of Welsh as a foundation subject under the national curriculum and, most recently, by our proposal to establish Awdurdod Cwricwlwm ac Asesu Cymru. Many other Welsh organisations, both statutory and voluntary, also serve to promote the language through its use in their various activities.

  This strategy can only be enhanced by our proposal to establish a statutory Welsh language board.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to issue guidelines to local authorities in Wales encouraging the establishment of Welsh language learning centres in each local authority area in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Local authorities are best placed to decide how to meet the needs of Welsh language learners in their areas. The Department has helped to fund the centres at Nant Gwrtheyrn and Canolfan Iaith Clwyd and also local authority Welsh for adults courses.

  Variable Message Signs
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many variable message signs there are on each motorway and key trunk roads in Wales; and how many signs on each road have been placed within the last two years.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Excluding lane control and matrix signs there are 11 electrically operated variable message signs on the motorway, 27 on the A55 and 14 on the A5 and Menai bridge; of these one, seven and zero respectively have been put in place in the last two years.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he has given to the recommendations relating to opencast mining made by the Trade and Industry Committee in its first report on British energy policy and the market for coal, HC (1992–93) 237, in relation to opencast mining in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Government have stated that they will take account of the Trade and Industry Committee's report before coming forward with their coal review White Paper which will be published shortly.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he approved offers of regional selective assistance to(a) Hoya Lens UK Ltd., (b) Ringshore Ltd., (c) W. A. Turner Ltd. and (d) Chartered Trust Ltd ; what public statements he has made on each of those approvals; and whether each of the grants has now been paid in full as offered.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information about RSA offers to the companies concerned together with the current position on grant payments is as follows:

  Company

  RSA assistance offered £ million

  Public statement

  Hoya Lens UK Ltd.

  0·950

  7 October 1988

  Ringshare Ltd.

  3·4

  1July 1992

  W. A. Turner Ltd.

  2·0

  28 February 1991

  Chartered Trust Plc

  0·990

  14 February 1990

  0·250

  13 June 1990

  1 Employment Gazette

  Note:

  None of the grants have yet been paid in full. Other details about projects are matters of commercial confidentiality.

  Consultants
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the firms of consultants used by his Department as part of the market testing programme since November 1991 together with the total cost; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Three different consultancies have been engaged to help the Department both in drawing up and undertaking its current market testing programme. They are Coopers and Lybrand, Touche Ross and Price Waterhouse. The total cost to date is £25,000.

  Potatoes
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many potato producers there are in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Potatoes were grown on 1,519 main agricultural holdings in Wales in 1992 according to the June agricultural census.

  Nicotine Patches
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he is making for nicotine patches to be prescribable in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None.

  Generally a doctor may prescribe under the national health service any medicines which are needed for the treatment of his or her patients. The exceptions are those drugs and other substances which have been listed in schedule 10 of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992 on the advice of the Advisory Committee on Drugs or the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances (ACBS). These items may not be prescribed by GPs for supply under NHS pharmaceutical services, but may be prescribed privately and in some cases may be purchased without a prescription.

  One patch has been included in schedule 10 on the advice of the ACBS, but the product is available on private prescription or over-the-counter from pharmacies. It is open to the committee to review the availability on GP prescription of any similar products.

  Tourism
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations of "Tourism in the UK: Realising the Potential" as it applies to his Department's responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Issues relating to tourism in Wales highlighted in the document "Tourism in the UK—Realising the Potential" are subject to continuing review. In particular:a. The Wales tourist board was granted powers on 16 March 1992 under the Overseas Promotion (Wales) Act 1992 to market the Principality independently abroad. I approved the WTB's overseas marketing plan on 5 February 1993 following consultation with the British Tourist Authority.
  b. The board has committed itself to the principles of the citizens charter which are fully represented in its current 1992–93 corporate plan.

  More generally, the WTB is at present developing a new tourism strategy which will address other issues raised within the document.

  Radioactive Contamination
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the sites within North Wales where his Department undertakes official radiation monitoring of coast contamination levels.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  On behalf of the Welsh Office, the directorate of fisheries research of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food undertakes regular monitoring of radioactivity in the surface and coastal waters of Wales. Details of this monitoring, including the sampling locations, are given in the annual aquatic environment monitoring reports, copies of which are held in the Library of the House.

  Housing
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the local authorities in Wales which have launched a review of private sector housing provision in their area as a result of the publication of "Agenda for Action on Housing in Wales".

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Against the background of the "Agenda for Action", all Welsh housing authorities have reviewed private sector housing provision in the context of their annual housing strategies and operational plans.

  Female Appointees
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of appointees to all of his quangos is female; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  At present 18 per cent. of appointees to the public bodies in Wales are female.

  I am seeking to increase the number of women holding public appointment in Wales and I am taking every opportunity to do this. My target is that by September 1996, 30 per cent. of public appointments in Wales will be held by women.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he intends to appoint some female members to the Welsh Economic Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I will announce my decision on the composition of the Welsh Economic Council in due course.

  Pharmacists
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will review the fees paid to pharmacists for dispensing expensive items; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Discussions with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee are taking place as part of the 1993–94 pay negotiations.

  Numbers of pupils in classes taught by one teacher: Maintained primary schools in England January 1992

  Local education authority

  Classes of size 1 to 30

  Classes of size 31 to 35

  Classes of size 36 to 40

  Classes of size 41 and over

  City

  107

  —

  —

  —

  Camden

  7,786

  541

  —

  —

  Greenwich

  15,405

  1,305

  —

  —

  Hackney

  11,483

  219

  —

  —

  Hammersmith

  6,289

  565

  36

  48

  Islington

  10,691

  756

  —

  —

  Kensington and Chelsea

  4,761

  130

  —

  —

  Lambeth

  15,237

  630

  —

  —

  Lewisham

  15,632

  1,943

  74

  —

  Southwark

  15,363

  1,326

  77

  —

  Tower Hamlets

  11,483

  475

  77

  44

  Wandsworth

  12,530

  697

  38

  83

  Westminster

  6,459

  252

  40

  —

  Barking

  12,234

  1,297

  234

  —

  Barnet

  17,665

  1,806

  79

  101

  Bexley

  11,836

  4,913

  108

  —

  Brent

  15,930

  1,375

  75

  —

  Bromley

  12,941

  6,381

  36

  —

  Croydon

  18,159

  3,264

  36

  253

  Ealing

  18,672

  3,219

  110

  41

  Enfield

  13,684

  5,147

  38

  —

  Haringey

  16,060

  441

  40

  —

  Harrow

  11,162

  4,140

  —

  —

  Havering

  15,207

  2,585

  —

  —

  Hillingdon

  12,302

  4,306

  439

  —

  Hounslow

  9,966

  4,894

  450

  90

EDUCATION

  Conductive Education
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he will publish the Birmingham university report on the effectiveness of treatment at the Institute for Conductive Education in Birmingham; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  It is intended that the full report, containing a description of the methodology of the research by Birmingham university and details of all its findings, will be published by HMSO on behalf of the Department in May 1993.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to publish specified assessment and statementing timetables for special education needs applications to local education authorities.

  Mr. Forth
  Statutory timescales for the making of assessments and statements by LEAs would be embodied in regulations under the Education Bill. We propose to consult on a draft of those regulations later this year.

  Primary School Classes
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list for each local education authority the number of primary school pupils in class sizes of(a) 1 to 30, (b) 31 to 35, (c) 36 to 40 and (d) 41 and over in January 1992.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested for single-teacher classes in maintained primary schools in England is given in the table.
  729

  Local education authority

  Classes of size 1 to 30

  Classes of size 31 to 35

  Classes of size 36 to 40

  Classes of size 41 and over

  Kingston upon Thames

  3,985

  4,486

  219

  —

  Merton

  9,669

  1,726

  113

  43

  Newham

  19,159

  1,000

  38

  256

  Redbridge

  6,512

  8,331

  145

  —

  Richmond upon Thames

  7,773

  1,316

  37

  —

  Sutton

  7,102

  3,359

  181

  —

  Waltham Forest

  13,450

  2,763

  154

  41

  Birmingham

  71,712

  22,873

  868

  —

  Coventry

  20,086

  5,253

  505

  —

  Dudley

  16,571

  3,852

  116

  479

  Sandwell

  17,176

  7,549

  917

  105

  Solihull

  11,951

  4,637

  396

  44

  Walsall

  16,548

  3,606

  561

  146

  Wolverhampton

  17,206

  2,491

  192

  82

  Knowsley

  11,606

  3,568

  301

  238

  Liverpool

  35,624

  9,939

  511

  155

  St. Helens

  9,717

  4,467

  633

  —

  Sefton

  16,343

  7,586

  441

  —

  Wirral

  23,840

  3,170

  144

  —

  Bolton

  13,381

  6,879

  992

  398

  Bury

  9,606

  4,792

  521

  —

  Manchester

  31,572

  6,933

  678

  750

  Oldham

  11,617

  7,136

  667

  135

  Rochdale

  10,848

  5,969

  402

  —

  Salford

  16,199

  4,470

  191

  277

  Stockport

  16,815

  5,722

  930

  83

  Tameside

  12,096

  7,702

  365

  —

  Trafford

  9,179

  6,661

  987

  681

  Wigan

  16,198

  6,905

  1,692

  87

  Barnsley

  16,099

  3,099

  258

  125

  Doncaster

  19,539

  5,611

  799

  47

  Rotherham

  19,272

  2,362

  197

  411

  Sheffield

  33,145

  4,412

  1,497

  —

  Bradford

  25,451

  3,506

  73

  —

  Calderdale

  12,854

  3,763

  151

  —

  Kirklees

  22,097

  6,648

  613

  172

  Leeds

  31,747

  8,962

  2,179

  476

  Wakefield

  16,622

  7,130

  1,192

  —

  Gateshead

  14,919

  963

  77

  54

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  14,379

  4,593

  535

  112

  North Tyneside

  11,550

  2,478

  115

  335

  South Tyneside

  11,972

  1,940

  146

  53

  Sunderland

  21,534

  4,260

  72

  44

  Isles of Scilly

  134

  31

  —

  —

  Avon

  51,121

  19,247

  1,050

  —

  Bedfordshire

  26,717

  5,993

  1,235

  239

  Berkshire

  39,284

  13,063

  928

  100

  Buckinghamshire

  38,580

  15,001

  1,690

  450

  Cambridgeshire

  38,675

  12,993

  734

  41

  Cheshire

  50,103

  27,427

  3,725

  134

  Cleveland

  43,169

  10,344

  2,843

  47

  Cornwall

  23,833

  12,138

  1,212

  152

  Cumbria

  28,902

  7,164

  628

  102

  Derbyshire

  47,649

  22,117

  2,376

  86

  Devon

  52,754

  18,191

  1,887

  152

  Dorset

  23,516

  13,384

  1,069

  100

  Durham

  38,020

  11,146

  636

  185

  East Sussex

  28,550

  16,200

  182

  —

  Essex

  88,141

  27,344

  330

  —

  Gloucestershire

  30,707

  8,696

  146

  41

  Hampshire

  83,956

  33,788

  1,174

  181

  Hereford and Worcester

  36,571

  7,886

  551

  —

  Hertfordshire

  53,524

  17,985

  437

  —

  Humberside

  56,244

  13,976

  2,368

  260

  Isle of Wight

  5,281

  1,251

  74

  152

  Kent

  79,897

  35,803

  887

  227

  Lancashire

  67,412

  38,148

  6,256

  244

  Leicestershire

  56,514

  12,631

  788

  637

  Lincolnshire

  34,244

  9,839

  932

  —

  Norfolk

  46,131

  9,902

  225

  41

  North Yorkshire

  41,502

  10,693

  553

  —

  Northamptonshire

  35,474

  8,260

  294

  —

  Northumberland

  11,964

  5,565

  1,051

  94

  Nottinghamshire

  62,957

  12,826

  2,660

  170

  Oxfordshire

  30,860

  4,828

  306

  168

  Shropshire

  26,140

  5,256

  400

  153

  Somerset

  22,436

  9,290

  365

  —

  730 731

  Local education authority

  Classes of size 1 to 30

  Classes of size 31 to 35

  Classes of size 36 to 40

  Classes of size 41 and over

  Staffordshire

  61,668

  18,441

  1,938

  446

  Suffolk

  33,850

  4,712

  116

  50

  Surrey

  54,057

  12,387

  671

  50

  Warwickshire

  26,308

  11,817

  1,005

  —

  West Sussex

  37,320

  11,250

  218

  95

  Wiltshire

  32,664

  7,993

  405

  —

  ENGLAND

  2,720,594

  822,481

  68,133

  11,286

  Technical Qualifications
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what action he is taking to improve awareness among employers of the value of technical qualifications as compared with A-levels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend is working closely with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, the National Council for Vocational Qualifications and the awarding bodies to explain our reforms of vocational qualifications to young people, their parents, schools, colleges, employers and higher education institutions.

  The new general national vocational qualifications and national vocational qualifications are designed to exacting criteria and will offer routes to employment or higher level study, alongside A-levels and AS examinations. We intend that many young people will consider GNVQs in particular as an alternative or an addition to A-level study.

  Central Administrative Staff
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many of the current administrative staff at the Department for Education and Office for Standards in Education of principal level and above have had experience in schools, colleges, universities or local government education administration; and what proportion this is of the total for each grade.

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 8 February 1993]: According to the information currently available to the Department, the approximate proportions of current administrative staff at the Department for Education at these grades who have had previous experience as teachers in schools, further education, universities or in local government education administration are as follows:

  Total staff in grade

  Grade 3—17 per cent.

  12

  Grade 5—28 per cent.

  43

  Grade 6—33 per cent.

  9

  Grade 7—25 per cent.

  131

  The figure for OFSTED is:

  Grade 7—38 per cent.

  8

PRIME MINISTER

  Definition of Regions
  Mr. Radice
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has to co-ordinate the definitions of regions used by Government Departments.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps are being taken by his Government to ensure that Government Departments use a standard definition of the English regions.

  The Prime Minister
  There is a standard definition of the regions which many Departments use, particularly for statistical purposes. The structures they use for administrative purposes are often based on that definition, while also taking account of the regional pattern which is best suited to managing the services for which each is responsible.

  Pensions and Benefits
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will set up arrangements for(a) the targeted non means-tested retirement pensions and the child cash allowances and (b) the income support measures to be considered in a new department subordinate to the Chancellor of the Exchequer equivalent to the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise systems.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Trident
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Prime Minister what conclusions he has reached on the decision for the Trident refitting contract.

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing to add to the replies given on 9 February,Official Report, columns 571–72, by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to the hon. Members for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) and for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Mr. McKelvey) respectively.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 February.

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 February.

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

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Public Expenditure Scrutiny
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the oral statement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 8 February,Official Report, column 681, at what stage in the process of scrutiny of public expenditure the expenditure of the Northern Ireland Office will be examined.

  Mr. Mates
  The process of scrutiny to which the Chief Secretary referred will cover the activities of range of Great Britain programmes which, in Northern Ireland, are covered by the regional block. While my right hon. and learned Friend has a measure of discretion in the allocation of resources within the block, territorial expenditure is also subject to Treasury scrutiny and the implications of the Great Britain reviews will be taken into account.

  Government spend1

  Private sector spend2

  Science base3

  Government spend/Private sector spend

  Private sector spend/Science base

  Government spend/GDP

  Private sector spend/GDP

  Cash £ million

  Real terms4 £ million

  Cash £ million

  Real terms4 £ million

  Cash £ million

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  1981–82

  639·6

  1,067·9

  77·6

  129·6

  923·4

  69·3

  8·4

  0·25

  0·03

  1982–83

  697·8

  1,087·6

  92·1

  143·5

  1,003·7

  69·5

  9·2

  0·25

  0·03

  1983–84

  730·0

  1,087·4

  112·1

  167·0

  1,054·2

  69·2

  10·6

  0·24

  0·04

  1984–85

  774·4

  1,097·9

  141·8

  201·0

  1,099·4

  70·4

  12·9

  0·24

  0·04

  1985–86

  839·7

  1,128·9

  177·9

  239·2

  1,180·0

  71·2

  15·1

  0·23

  0·05

  1986–87

  938·9

  1,222·9

  217·9

  283·8

  1,257·7

  74·7

  17·3

  0·24

  0·06

  1987–88

  1,055·9

  1,303·6

  257·1

  317·4

  1,353·2

  78·0

  19·0

  0·25

  0·06

  1988–89

  1,107·9

  1,275·2

  317·8

  365·7

  1,431·3

  77·4

  22·2

  0·23

  0·07

  1989–90

  1,149·6

  1,241·4

  392·4

  423·7

  1,544·4

  74·4

  25·4

  0·22

  0·08

  1990–91

  1,230·8

  1,230·8

  466·1

  466·1

  1,665·0

  73·9

  28·0

  0·22

  0·08

  1 Figures derived from Cabinet Office "Government Spend on Research and Development" and include research funded in Universities by Government Departments and the Research Councils and the Universities Funding Council. The latter figure is an estimate by Universities Funding Council of universities' spend on research from their block grants and fee income, to an accuracy of plus or minus 10 per cent. N.B. The method of estimating research expenditure incurred by universities changed from 1989–90 onwards.

  2 Figures taken from Universities Statistics—Volume 3 and include funding for research contracts from industry, charities, overseas and other sources.

  3 Total spend on the Science Budget and the Universities Funding Council estimates of spend on research from universities' block grant and fee income.

  41990–91 prices.

  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what was the proportion of research and development expenditure on fundamental science and technology as a percentage of gross domestic product for each year since 1981; and what is the Government's share of that expenditure for each given year;

  (2) what was the proportion of research and development expenditure on fundamental science and technology as a percentage of gross domestic product in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) France and (c) Germany in each year since 1981.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information is not available in the terms requested. Government expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product on basic research, as defined by the

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions more than one public interest immunity certificate has been issued in criminal proceedings.

  The Attorney-General
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 1 February,Official Report, columns 17–18. In none of those criminal proceedings was more than one public interest immunity certificate issued.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Research Funding
  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much in cash terms, in real terms and as a percentage of the science budget and that of the Universities Funding Council has been spent(a) by Government and (b) by the private sector on university research funding in each year since 1981; and what proportion of the gross domestic product those budgets amounted to in each of those years.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is as follows:

  OECD, from 1984–85 to 1991–92 is listed in the table, together with available comparable information for France and Germany.

  Year

  United Kingdom

  France

  Germany

  1984–85

  0·24

  —

  —

  1985–86

  0·21

  —

  0·46

  1986–87

  0·20

  0·24

  —

  1987–88

  0·19

  0·24

  —

  1988–89

  0·20

  —

  0·46

  1989–90

  0·24

  —

  —

  1990–91

  0·23

  —

  —

  1991–92

  0·26

  —

  —

  Consultants
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the firms of consultants used by his Department as part of the market testing programme since November 1991 together with the total cost; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The consultants used by my Department as part of the market testing programme since November 1991 are:

  Chris Goodall Associates

  DMW

  Ernst and Young

  PA Consulting

  Price Waterhouse

  Shreeveport

  Symonds Facilities Management

  Touche Ross

  The total cost of consultancy support is £323,477.

  International Organisations (Funding)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what account he has taken of changes in the exchange rate in the resource allocations of research councils that contribute to international agencies; and what effect he expects changes in the exchange rate to have on resources available within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The distribution of the science budget to the research councils which I announced on 10 February,Official Report, columns 630–31, was based on the advice received from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils, which took full account of the changes in the relevant exchange rates.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the international organisations and agencies whose subscriptions are funded from research council resources; and if he will give the value of these subscriptions in pounds sterling for 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Details of the expected expenditure by research councils on international subscriptions of over £100,000 in the financial years in question are as follows:

  Group of taxpayers1

  Top 1 per cent.

  Top 5 per cent.

  Top 10 per cent.

  Top 25 per cent.

  Bottom 70 per cent.

  All taxpayers

  Year

  Amount £ billion

  Share per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  Share per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  Share per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  Share per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  Share per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  Gross Incomes before tax

  1978–79

  5·0

  5

  14·9

  15

  24·3

  24

  45·9

  45

  51·0

  50

  102·8

  1983–84

  9·7

  6

  28·3

  16

  45·0

  26

  81·7

  47

  82·0

  47

  173·7

  1984–85

  10·9

  6

  31·4

  17

  49·6

  26

  89·3

  47

  88·8

  47

  188·8

  1985–86

  12·9

  6

  35·7

  17

  55·9

  26

  100·5

  47

  100·0

  47

  212·6

  1986–87

  14·6

  6

  40·3

  17

  62·8

  27

  112·2

  48

  108·2

  46

  233·5

  1987–88

  16·4

  6

  45·3

  18

  70·1

  28

  124·2

  49

  116·2

  46

  255·1

  1988–89

  21·2

  7

  53·8

  18

  82·2

  28

  142·4

  49

  129·3

  45

  288·0

  1989–90

  24·2

  7

  61·7

  19

  93·4

  29

  160·8

  50

  145·1

  45

  323·4

  1990–91

  28·3

  8

  68·7

  19

  102·8

  29

  177·0

  49

  161·4

  45

  358·3

  1991–922

  29·2

  8

  71·2

  19

  106·6

  29

  183·7

  50

  165·2

  45

  369·7

  1992–932

  28·6

  8

  70·1

  19

  105·2

  29

  182·6

  50

  164·0

  45

  367·4

  Income tax liabilities

  1978–79

  2·3

  11

  4·9

  24

  7·0

  34

  11·5

  57

  7·6

  38

  20·2

  1983–84

  2·8

  11

  8·5

  26

  12·2

  36

  19·5

  58

  12·5

  38

  33·4

  1984–85

  4·2

  12

  9·3

  26

  13·3

  38

  21·1

  60

  12·4

  35

  35·4

  1985–86

  5·0

  13

  10·6

  27

  14·8

  38

  23·2

  60

  13·6

  35

  38·8

  736

  £ million

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Science and Engineering Research Council

  European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN)

  55·613

  54·685

  European Space Agency

  28·080

  31·998

  Institute Laue-Langevin

  9·690

  10·860

  European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

  5·637

  6·780

  Anglo Australian Telescope

  1·512

  1·398

  European Incoherent Scatter Facility

  0·578

  0·655

  European Science Foundation

  0·324

  0·372

  (For all the Research Councils)

  Medical Research Council

  European Molecular Biology Laboratory

  3·000

  3·800

  European Molecular Biology Conference

  0·700

  0·900

  International Agency for Research on Cancer

  0·700

  0·700

  Natural Environment Research Council

  Ocean Drilling Program

  1·925

  2·010

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Income Distribution
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the information given in his answer to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith), 13 February,Official Report, columns 123–24, on income distribution.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The latest estimates are given in the tables. Estimates of income are based on information reported to tax offices and collected through annual surveys of personal incomes. For years before 1985–86, estimates exclude employees' contributions to occupational pension schemes and some investment income on which tax is deducted at source. For years up to and including 1989–90, married couples are counted as one taxpayer and their incomes are combined. Following the introduction of independent taxation, for 1990–91 onwards, husbands and wives are counted separately. Estimates are based on the surveys of personal incomes for years up to 1990–91 and projections of the 1990–91 survey for subsequent years; the latter are therefore provisional.
  737

  Group of taxpayers1

  Top 1 per cent.

  Top 5 per cent.

  Top 10 per cent.

  Top 25 per cent.

  Bottom 70 per cent.

  All taxpayers

  Year

  Amount £ billion

  Share per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  Share per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  Share per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  Share per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  Share per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  1986–87

  5·8

  14

  12·3

  29

  16·9

  39

  26·0

  61

  14·5

  34

  42·8

  1987–88

  6·6

  15

  13·7

  30

  18·5

  41

  28·0

  62

  14·9

  33

  45·4

  1988–89

  6·8

  15

  14·3

  31

  19·4

  42

  29·1

  63

  14·9

  32

  46·5

  1989–90

  7·8

  15

  16·6

  31

  22·6

  42

  34·0

  64

  16·7

  31

  53·4

  1990–91

  9·2

  15

  18·9

  31

  25·4

  42

  38·6

  64

  18·7

  31

  60·4

  1991–922

  9·6

  15

  19·8

  31

  26·6

  42

  40·3

  64

  19·4

  31

  63·1

  1992–932

  9·3

  15

  19·3

  32

  26·1

  43

  39·5

  65

  17·9

  30

  60·6

  1 Married couples and single people for years prior to 1990–91.

  2 Provisional.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the amount and share of income going to(a) the top 1 per cent., (b) the next 2 to 5 per cent., (c) the next 6 to 10 per cent. and (d) the next 10 to 20 per cent. and subsequent deciles; of tax units for each year since 1978–79, revalued at 1978–79 prices;

  (2) if he will list the tax take for (a) the top 1 per cent., (b) the next 2 to 5 per cent., (c) the next 6 to 10 per cent. and (d) the next 10 to 20 per cent. and subsequent deciles; of income groups for each year since 1978–79, revalued at 1978–79 prices.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Readily available estimates are in the income table. For 1978–79 and 1989–90, married couples counted as one taxpayer and their incomes are combined. Following the introduction of independent taxation, for 1990–91 onwards, husbands and wives are counted separately. The estimates of total income relate to income subject to income tax and excludes non-taxable income such as certain social security benefits.

  1978–79

  Quantile group of taxpayers1

  Tax liability

  Total income

  Percentage of total income

  Per cent.

  £ million

  £ million

  Top 1

  2,300

  500

  5

  1–5

  2,600

  9,900

  10

  5–10

  2,100

  9,300

  9

  10–20

  3,200

  15,000

  15

  20–30

  2,500

  12,600

  12

  30–40

  2,100

  11,000

  11

  40–50

  1,700

  9,600

  9

  50–60

  1,400

  8,500

  8

  60–70

  1,100

  7,300

  7

  70–80

  780

  6,000

  6

  80–90

  430

  4,900

  5

  Bottom 10

  130

  3,700

  4

  All taxpayers

  20,300

  102,800

  100

  1989–902

  Quantile group of taxpayers1 (Per cent.)

  Tax liability (£ million)

  Total income (£ million)

  Percentage of total income

  Top 1

  3,400

  10,500

  8

  1–5

  3,800

  16,300

  12

  5–10

  2,600

  13,800

  9

  10–20

  3,600

  20,900

  15

  20–30

  2,600

  16,000

  11

  30–40

  2,000

  13,700

  10

  40–50

  1,600

  11,800

  8

  50–60

  1,300

  10,200

  7

  60–70

  1,000

  8,800

  6

  70–80

  760

  7,700

  5

  738

  Quantile group of taxpayers1 (per cent.)

  Tax liability (£ million)

  Total income (£ million)

  Percentage of total income

  80–90

  470

  6,200

  4

  Bottom 10

  170

  4,800

  3

  All taxpayers

  23,300

  140,800

  100

  1990–912

  Quantile group of taxpayers1

  Tax liability

  Total income

  Percentage of total income

  Per cent.

  £ million

  £ million

  Top 1

  3,700

  11,300

  8

  1–5

  3,800

  16,000

  11

  5–10

  2,600

  13,500

  10

  10–20

  3,800

  20,900

  15

  20–30

  2,700

  16,500

  12

  30–40

  2,100

  14,100

  10

  40–50

  1,700

  12,000

  9

  50–60

  1,300

  10,400

  7

  60–70

  1,000

  9,000

  6

  70–80

  710

  7,600

  5

  80–90

  410

  6,100

  4

  Bottom 10

  130

  4,800

  3

  All taxpayers

  24,000

  142,300

  100

  1991–922

  Quantile group of taxpayers1

  Tax liability

  Total income

  Percentage of total income

  Percentage

  £ million

  £ million

  top 1

  3,600

  11,100

  8

  1–5

  3,900

  15,900

  11

  5–10

  2,600

  13,400

  10

  10–20

  3,700

  20,600

  15

  20–30

  2,700

  16,500

  12

  30–40

  2,100

  13,900

  10

  40–50

  1,700

  11,800

  9

  50–60

  1,300

  10,200

  7

  60–70

  1,000

  8,700

  6

  70–80

  700

  7,300

  5

  80–90

  400

  5,900

  4

  Bottom 10

  130

  4,700

  3

  All taxpayers

  23,900

  140,000

  100

  1 Tax units for years prior to 1990–91.

  2 In 78–79 prices.

  739

  1992–932

  Quantile group of taxpayers1

  Tax liability

  Total income

  Percentage of total income

  Per cent.

  £ million

  £ million

  Top 1

  3,400

  10,500

  8

  1–5

  3,700

  15,200

  11

  5–10

  2,500

  12,900

  10

  10–20

  3,600

  20,900

  15

  20–30

  2,600

  16,000

  12

  30–40

  2,000

  13,500

  10

  40–50

  1,500

  11,400

  9

  50–60

  1,200

  9,800

  7

  60–70

  870

  8,400

  6

  70–80

  580

  7,000

  5

  80–90

  300

  5,600

  4

  Bottom 10

  100

  4,500

  3

  All taxpayers

  22,200

  134,800

  100

  Percentage of total tax liability Quantile group of taxpayers1

  Year

  Top 1 Per cent.

  1–5 Per cent.

  5–10 Per cent.

  10–20 Per cent.

  20–30 Per cent.

  30–40 Per cent.

  40–50 Per cent.

  50–60 Per cent.

  60–70 Per cent.

  70–80 Per cent.

  80–90 Per cent.

  Bottom 10 Per cent.

  1977–78

  12

  13

  10

  15

  12

  10

  8

  7

  6

  4

  3

  1

  1978–79

  11

  13

  11

  16

  12

  10

  9

  7

  5

  4

  2

  1

  1979–80

  10

  13

  10

  16

  12

  10

  9

  7

  6

  4

  2

  1

  1980–81

  11

  14

  10

  16

  12

  10

  9

  7

  5

  3

  2

  1

  1981–82

  11

  14

  11

  16

  12

  10

  8

  7

  5

  4

  2

  1

  1982–83

  12

  14

  11

  16

  12

  10

  8

  7

  5

  4

  2

  1

  1983–84

  11

  14

  11

  16

  13

  10

  8

  6

  5

  4

  2

  1

  1984–85

  12

  15

  11

  16

  12

  10

  8

  6

  5

  4

  2

  1

  1985–86

  13

  14

  11

  15

  12

  10

  8

  6

  5

  4

  2

  1

  1986–87

  14

  15

  11

  15

  12

  9

  8

  6

  5

  3

  2

  1

  1987–88

  15

  16

  10

  15

  11

  9

  7

  6

  5

  3

  2

  1

  1988–89

  15

  16

  11

  15

  11

  9

  7

  6

  5

  3

  2

  1

  1989–90

  15

  17

  11

  15

  11

  9

  7

  6

  4

  3

  2

  1

  1990–91

  15

  16

  11

  16

  11

  9

  7

  6

  4

  3

  2

  1

  21991–92

  15

  16

  11

  16

  11

  9

  7

  6

  4

  3

  2

  1

  21992–93

  15

  17

  11

  16

  12

  9

  7

  5

  4

  3

  1

  0

  1 Tax units for years prior to 1990–91.

  2 Provisional.

  Concessionary Benefits (Taxation)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 869, from the Secretary of State for Transport, how many persons in each of those categories are subject to taxation of the concessionary benefits; and what was the total income received from the taxation of this benefit for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Pensioners of British Rail and British transport police are not liable to tax on their travel concessions.

  Employees are generally liable to tax on the expense incurred in providing benefits for them, their families and dependants. However, the case known as Pepper v. Hart established that the relevant expense for in-house benefit is the marginal, or direct additional cost. This is nil or negligible for British Rail employees, the British Transport police, and former employees of the British Transport Docks Board, Sealink and Wightlink. The Inland Revenue is repaying any excess tax collected in the current and past years, estimated to be around £4 million a year, on request from employees and as tax offices identify the need to do so.

  Former employees of British Transport hotels who are still in employment and whose employers pay for their
  740
  1 Tax units for years prior to 1990–91.

  2 In 1978–79 prices.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage shares of income tax paid for each year since 1977–78, by(a) the top 1 per cent. of taxpayers, (b) the next 2 to 5 per cent., (c) the next 6 to 10 per cent. and (d) the next 10 to 20 per cent. and subsequent deciles.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Estimates are given in the table. For years up to and including 1989–90, married couples are counted as one taxpayer and their incomes are combined. Following the introduction of independent taxation, for 1990–91 onwards, husbands and wives are counted separately. The figures in the table have been rounded to the nearest one per cent. and may not sum to 100 for each year.

  travel concessions are liable to tax on the cost to their employer. The total tax received in respect of these employees is not readily available.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the market tests that have taken place in his Department since November 1991; whether the result was the maintenance of in-house provision or whether the service was contracted out; what was the name of the successful contractor where appropriate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury's 1992–93 market testing programme was set out in "The Citizens Charter, First report: 1992 (Cm. 2101)". It comprises nine services: economic model building and development; internal audit; the Library; recruitment; training; reprographics; stationery; consultancy inspection services activities; and Treasury security guard. The inclusion of the Treasury security guard is dependant upon the completion of a review currently being undertaken by Cabinet Office. The programme is due to be completed by September 1993. Work has started on a number of areas but none has yet reached the stage of competitive tender.

  Public Transport (Tax Relief)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received suggesting that there should be tax reliefs available to those who use public transport as a means of getting to and from work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am not aware of any such representations.

  Charities (VAT)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much value added tax was paid by charities in the latest financial year for which figures are available; and to how much this amount is equivalent in terms of(a) an increase in the standard rate of income tax and (b) an increase in the current rate of value added tax.

  Sir John Cope
  Information about the amount of VAT borne by charities is not collated centrally, but it has been recently estimated that charities pay up to £300 million in VAT each year. This amount is equivalent to approximately 0·2p on the basic rate of income tax or a change of 0·1 percentage point in the standard rate of VAT.

  Public Expenditure Review
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy for any new proposals arising from the public expenditure review, announced on 8 February, relating to(a) entitlement to pensions or (b) entitlement to benefit not to be implemented within the current Parliament.

  Mr. Portillo
  It would be premature to comment on the outcome of the review before it has started. The hon. Member will be aware of the commitments contained in the Conservative party's election manifesto.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral statement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 8 February,Official Report, column 681, when he expects the public expenditure review to be completed.

  Mr. Portillo
  The full programme of reviews is expected to be completed by the end of this Parliament, although preliminary conclusions from the four reviews started this year should help to inform the next spending round that begins in the summer.

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the value of mortgage interest relief at the standard rate(a) currently and (b) at the time in the last five years at which interest rates were at their peak level.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The cost of mortgage interest relief at the basic rate is about £5·2 billion for 1992–93 compared with £7·2 billion for the basic rate component of the relief in 1990–91.

  Tax Allowances
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue forgone by the Exchequer in respect of each main tax allowance.
  742
  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is given in appendix D of the "Autumn Statement Statistical Supplement" (Cm 2219) published in January 1993.

  Personal Allowances
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the extra revenue if personal allowances relieved tax at(a) 20 per cent. and (b) 25 per cent.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The latest estimates are in the reply given to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 13 January 1993, at columns 746–47.

  Statutory Instruments
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many statutory instruments were laid before Parliament by his Department in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Nelson
  The number of statutory instruments laid before Parliament by the Treasury for Departments responsible to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is given in the table.

  Number

  1980

  86

  1981

  64

  1982

  73

  1983

  69

  1984

  98

  1985

  83

  1986

  84

  1987

  97

  1988

  96

  1989

  52

  1990

  43

  1991

  77

  1992

  98

  Banks (Customers' Personal Data)
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will call for a report from the Governor of the Bank of England on the circumstances in which banks are requiring from new customers an agreement for their personal financial data being disclosed to third parties; and on whether such information has been discolosed without the knowledge or consent of the customer.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 8 February 1993]: No. Alleged breaches of the Data Protection Act 1984 are for the Data Protection Registrar, not the Governor of the Bank of England to investigate. Nor has the governor any specific responsibility for monitoring compliance with the common law duty of confidence which banks owe their customers. If proceedings are brought by customers, the courts will adjudicate on any alleged breach of duty.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to amend the Banking Act 1987 to ensure that personal financial data relating to bank and other financial institution customers cannot be disclosed to third parties without the customer's express consent.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 8 February 1993]: None. Banks owe their customers a duty of confidence under the common law in respect of all personal information, and

  743
  the confidentiality of computerised personal information held by banks is covered by the Data Protection Act 1984. The common law duty is set out in the code of banking practice—"Good Banking"—issued by the banks and building societies. Customers who believe that the code has been breached can take this up with the banking ombudsman. An independent code of banking practice review committee is responsible for reviewing the code. The enforcement of the 1984 Act is the responsibility of the Data Protection Registrar.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he will take to ensure that the Bank of England requires banks regulated by it to take adequate precautions to prevent unauthorised disclosure of personal financial data to third parties.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 8 February 1993]: The Bank of England has no specific responsibility for this matter, which falls to the banks themselves, the banking ombudsman and the Data Protection Registrar. If proceedings are brought by customers, the courts will adjudicate on any alleged breach of duty.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will discuss with the Governor of the Bank of England and the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board means of ensuring that banks and financial institutions

  Exchequer cost1, £ million

  Deductions

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Expenditure2

  1,800

  2,600

  3,200

  3,100

  2,800

  2,700

  2,400

  3,100

  3,900

  3,400

  of which:

  —Uplift on qualifying capital expenditure

  440

  330

  530

  720

  850

  550

  60

  85

  75

  neg

  —Relief for exploration and appraisal expenditure

  110

  420

  430

  370

  300

  360

  500

  600

  750

  700

  —Relief for research expenditure

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  15

  20

  20

  —Cross field allowance for 10 per cent, of development expenditure on certain new fields

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  5

  10

  25

  65

  75

  Other deductions

  Oil allowance

  180

  340

  390

  170

  280

  230

  220

  230

  170

  280

  Oil allowance for advance petroleum revenue tax

  320

  310

  180

  50

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Safeguard: a protection for return on capital cost

  280

  400

  380

  500

  840

  575

  55

  45

  45

  95

  Tariff receipts allowance

  5

  20

  40

  40

  80

  70

  70

  70

  60

  80

  Exemption for gas sold to British Gas under pre-July 1975 contracts

  130

  150

  200

  200

  200

  170

  150

  140

  170

  190

  1 For each deduction the marginal cost is shown and therefore the costs are not additive.

  2 Including operating and capital expenditure.

  Government Shareholdings
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the quoted shareholdings together with their value, and the percentage of the issued share capital, owned by Her Majesty's Government; whether in each case the holding is associated with the right to appoint directors, or a golden share; and which Department has the power of appointment or of the powers of the golden share.
  744
  regulated and supervised by them do not disclose personal financial data to third parties without their express consent.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 8 February 1993]: I see no need to do so. The Governor of the Bank of England does not have any specific responsibility for the protection of personal financial data. This is the responsibility of the banks themselves, the banking ombudsman and the Data Protection Registrar. The Securities and Investments Board and the self-regulating organisations are already able to deal with complaints made to them about breach of fiduciary obligations owed to investment business customers.

  Petroleum Revenue Tax
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the cost to the Exchequer of offsets against petroleum revenue tax, in each sector of the United Kingdom continental shelf, in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 10 February 1993]: The figures required for the United Kingdom and United Kingdom continental shelf are included in the table. A breakdown by sector of the continental shelf is not available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 10 February 1993]: The table shows the ordinary shares held by the Government, their market valuation and the percentage of the issued share capital that they represent. Where a special ("golden") share is held, this is shown together with the department exercising the rights attached and the expiry date, if applicable, on or before which the special share may be redeemed. Where the powers attached to a special share include the appointment of directors, this is shown.
  745

  Government ordinary shareholders in private sector companies

  Company

  Number of shares (millions)

  Market valuation (£ million)1

  Proportion of issued capital per cent.

  Special share

  Expiry date

  Department

  BAA

  14·7

  115·7

  3·0

  Yes

  DTp

  British Airways

  3·2

  9·5

  0·4

  No

  British Gas

  0·1

  0·2

  2—

  Yes

  DTI

  British Petroleum

  101·2

  270·3

  1·9

  No

  British Steel

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Yes

  31 December 1993

  DTI

  BT

  1,352·6

  5,627·0

  21·9

  3Yes

  DTI

  Mersey Docks and Harbour Co.

  12·4

  35·0

  20·7

  No

  Anglian Water

  2·6

  12·8

  0·9

  Yes

  31 December 1994

  DOE

  Northumbrian Water

  0·3

  1·5

  0·4

  Yes

  31 December 1994

  DOE

  North West Water

  2·7

  13·4

  0·8

  Yes

  31 December 1994

  DOE

  Severn Trent

  3·6

  17·2

  1·0

  Yes

  31 December 1994

  DOE

  Southern Water

  1·2

  5·9

  0·7

  Yes

  31 December 1994

  DOE

  South West Water

  0·1

  0·6

  0·1

  Yes

  31 December 1994

  DOE

  Thames Water

  3·6

  18·2

  0·9

  Yes

  31 December 1994

  DOE

  Welsh Water

  1·1

  5·7

  0·7

  Yes

  31 December 1994

  WO

  Wessex Water

  0·6

  3·7

  0·5

  Yes

  31 December 1994

  DOE

  Yorkshire Water

  1·6

  8·3

  0·8

  Yes

  31 December 1994

  DOE

  Eastern Electricity

  4·8

  20·6

  1·8

  Yes

  31 March 1995

  DTI

  East Midlands Electricity

  2·5

  10·6

  1·1

  Yes

  31 March 1995

  DTI

  London Electricity

  2·5

  11·0

  1·1

  Yes

  31 March 1995

  DTI

  Manweb

  2·2

  10·8

  1·8

  Yes

  31 March 1995

  DTI

  Midlands Electricity

  3·1

  14·6

  1·5

  Yes

  31 March 1995

  DTI

  Northern Electric

  2·0

  9·9

  1·7

  Yes

  31 March 1995

  DTI

  Norweb

  2·7

  13·1

  1·6

  Yes

  31 March 1995

  DTI

  Seeboard

  2·6

  12·1

  2·0

  Yes

  31 March 1995

  DTI

  Southern Electric

  3·4

  14·7

  1·2

  Yes

  31 March 1995

  DTI

  South Wales Electricity

  1·4

  7·1

  1·4

  Yes

  31 March 1995

  DTI

  South Western Electricity

  2·5

  11·7

  2·0

  Yes

  31 March 1995

  DTI

  Yorkshire Electricity

  2·7

  13·5

  1·3

  Yes

  31 March 1995

  DTI

  National Power

  500·2

  1,495·7

  39·2

  Yes

  DTI

  PowerGen

  317·9

  963·3

  40·7

  Yes

  DTI

  Scottish Hydro-Electric

  13·3

  41·7

  3·5

  Yes

  SO

  Scottish Power

  29·4

  87·1

  3·6

  Yes

  SO

  8,882·7

  1 Close, 8 February

  2 Negligible

  3 Powers include the appointment of a director or directors

  British Telecom
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for how long the Government intend to retain part of their equity stake in British Telecom; and in which financial years he plans to make any further disposals of BT shares.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 10 February 1993]: On the 18 November 1992 my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the Government's intention to sell part of their residual holding of shares in British Telecommunications plc in 1993–94. No decisions have been taken on the size, timing or structure of the sale.

  Written Questions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the advisory cost limit for answering written parliamentary questions in each year since 1980; what was the percentage increase in(a) constant and (b) actual terms in each year; when he next plans to uprate the limit; and if he will make a statement.
  746
  Mr. Dorrell
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 January 1993, cols. 437–38]: The percentage increases shown at constant prices were incorrect. For completeness the amended answer is restated as follows:

  Percentage increase since preceding change

  Year

  Advisory cost limit for answering written parliamentary questions £

  (a) At constant prices (indexed by GDP deflator)

  (b) Actual

  11980

  50

  —

  —

  1981

  50

  —

  —

  1982

  200

  -32

  +300

  1983

  200

  —

  —

  1984

  200

  —

  —

  1985

  200

  —

  —

  1986

  200

  —

  —

  1987

  200

  —

  —

  1988

  250

  -1

  +25

  1989

  250

  —

  —

  1990

  250

  —

  —

  1991

  250

  —

  —

  1992

  400

  +21

  +60

  1 (Unchanged since 1965).

  747
  The advisory cost limit was last increased on 1992 and this followed a major review of costs in 1991.

  The current level of £400 was fixed as a multiple of eight times the average marginal cost so that only cases of exceptional high cost might be affected and to avoid the need for frequent small increases.

  The limit may be increased from time to time in future when costs or policy suggest the need for a change.

HEALTH

  Schizophrenia
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients with schizophrenia were discharged from hospital in each year since 1986; and how many of these in each year were discharged(a) in less than one month, (b) in less than three months, (c) in less than six months and (d) in less than 12 months.

  Mr. Yeo
  The table gives the number of discharges from hospitals in England where a diagnosis of schizophrenia was made. 1989–90 is the only year where the quality of the information permits publication.

  Thames Regional Health Authorities Ordinary admissions (in-patients and day cases) and total number of average daily available beds: 1981—1990–91

  North West Thames RHA activity beds

  North East Thames RHA activity beds

  South East Thames RHA activity beds

  South West Thames RHA activity beds

  1981

  462,363

  26,947

  521,966

  28,357

  507,356

  27,217

  362,550

  25,267

  1982

  437,745

  25,852

  561,399

  29,298

  511,111

  26,816

  348,046

  24,021

  1983

  457,968

  25,342

  578,123

  28,741

  537,266

  26,356

  363,010

  23,719

  1984

  474,117

  24,529

  592,610

  27,951

  560,674

  25,260

  378,200

  22,994

  1985

  481,923

  23,816

  608,552

  26,854

  567,880

  24,297

  389,825

  22,210

  1986

  486,774

  22,905

  600,676

  25,982

  566,569

  23,096

  403,538

  21,141

  1987–88

  471,673

  21,119

  579,509

  24,369

  553,521

  21,250

  405,323

  20,140

  1988–89

  485,567

  20,145

  581,780

  23,290

  558,721

  19,552

  392,936

  19,073

  1989–90

  531,953

  —

  649,472

  —

  616,953

  —

  443,537

  —

  1989–90

  551,817

  19,221

  688,821

  22,199

  626,075

  18,461

  454,287

  17,888

  1990–91

  536,203

  18,105

  695,279

  20,608

  629,250

  17,333

  457,600

  16,596

  Notes:

  1. From 1981 to 1988–89 Activity figures are for in-patients (discharges and deaths) plus day cases.

  2. From 1988–89 to date Activity figures are for in-patients (finished consultant episodes) plus day cases.

  Source: SH3 return 1981–86: KP70 return 1987–88—1990–91.

  Thames regional health authorities Total number of average daily available beds—1981 to 1990–91

  North West Thames RHA

  North East Thames RHA

  South East Thames RHA

  South West Thames RHA

  1981

  26,947

  28,357

  27,217

  25,267

  1982

  25,852

  29,298

  26,816

  24,021

  1983

  25,342

  28,741

  26,356

  23,719

  1984

  24,529

  27,951

  25,260

  22,994

  1985

  23,816

  26,854

  24,297

  22,210

  1986

  22,905

  25,982

  23,096

  21,141

  1987–88

  21,119

  24,369

  21,250

  20,140

  1988–89

  20,145

  23,290

  19,552

  19,073

  1989–90

  19,221

  22,199

  18,461

  17,888

  1990–91

  18,105

  20,608

  17,333

  16,596

  Source: KH03.

  NHS Staff Statistics
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community psychiatric nurses, psychiatric social workers, health visitors, district nurses and practice nurses were employed by the national health service in the last five years.
  748

  Discharges with a diagnosis of schizophrenia from hospitals in England for 1989–90 (HES)

  Number

  Less than 1 month

  19,205

  Less than 3 months

  27,822

  Less than 6 months

  30,459

  Less than 12 months

  32,118

  Total for year

  38,047

  Hospital Beds
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of beds available in each Thames regional health authority in each of the last 10 years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  More important than the number of beds is the number of patients treated each year; this has increased by over a third since 1979. The information available is given in the tables.

  Mr. Sackville
  The figures for psychiatric social workers are not centrally collected. The other information requested is in the table.

  Whole-time Equivalent for Community Psychiatric Nurses, Health Visitors, District Nurses and Practice Nurses in England 1987 to 1991

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Community Psychiatric Nurses

  2,770

  3,080

  3,380

  3,600

  3,760

  Health Visitors

  10,730

  10,680

  10,050

  10,480

  10,380

  District Nurses

  9,500

  9,390

  10,160

  10,380

  9,900

  Practice Nurses

  2,770

  3,480

  4,630

  7,700

  8,780

  Source: Non Medical Manpower Census, form ANC4.

  Note: All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  GP Fund Holders
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will review her Department's guidelines on the prevention of queue-jumping by general practitioner fund holders

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The joint guidance issued to hospital consultants on general practitioner fund holding on 11
  749
  June 1991 by the Department of Health and the Joint Consultants Committee, (Circular EL (91)84), is still valid and a review is not required. It states that:

  (i) common waiting lists should be used by provider units for urgent and seriously ill patients, and for highly specialised diagnosis and treatment;

  (ii) contract portfolios should be flexible and be worked out in close consultation with the hospital clinicians who have to deliver them;

  (iii) provider units should not offer contracts subject to (i) and (ii) which would disadvantage the patients of other purchasers.

  Copies of the circular EL(91)84 are available in the Library.

  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients registered with fund-holding practices are over pensionable age; and what is the corresponding proportion in the general population.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Provisional figures for England in 1991, the latest available, from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys show that 13·08 per cent. of males and 23·55 per cent. of females in the general population are over pension age. Comparable figures for fund-holding practices are not available centrally.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements she has made to monitor the financial procedures and health care quality of fund-holding general practitioner practices; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, regional health authorities have primary responsibility for the management and monitoring of the scheme. Regulations require fund holders to manage the fund efficiently and effectively and to submit income and expenditure returns regularly to family health service authorities. Their accounts are subject to external audit by the Audit Commission.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fund-holding general practitioner practices(a) are running and (b) have approval from her Department in (i) Cheltenham and (ii) Gloucestershire; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The South Western regional health authority is responsible for the management of the general practitioner fundholding scheme in these areas. The hon. Member may wish to contact Ms. Rennie Fritchie, the RHA chairman, for details.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what public appointments she has made since 1 November 1992; and what information she has on the political affiliations of those appointed.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Since 1 November 1992, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have made the following appointments.

  Executive Bodies

  English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting—1 appointment (Chairmen)

  Tribunals

  Mental Health Review Tribunals—2 appointments

  Registered Homes Tribunal—3 appointments (Chairmen)

  750
  Advisory Bodies

  Committee on Dental and Surgical Materials—6 appointments

  Committee on the Safety of Medicines—13 appointments

  Expert Advisory Group on Aids—6 appointments

  Standing Medical Advisory Committee—1 appointment

  Committee on the Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food—1 appointment

  Committee on the Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food—1 appointment

  Joint Planning Advisory Committee—2 appointments

  Joint Action for Implementation group—3 appointments

  Advisory Group on Rehabilitation—6 appointments

  National Disability Information Project Steering Group—1 appointment

  NHS Authorities

  Dental Practice Board—1 appointment (Chairman)

  Health Education Authority—2 appointments

  Prescription Pricing Authority—3 appointments

  Regional Health Authorities

  West Midlands RHA—1 appointment (Chairman)

  Yorkshire RHA—2 appointments

  North East Thames RHA—1 appointment (Chairman), 4 appointments (Members)

  Mersey RHA—1 appointment (Chairman)

  South Western RHA—5 appointments

  District Health Authorities—All appointments as chairpersons

  Northumberland DHA

  North Yorkshire DHA

  Bradford DHA

  Rotherham DHA

  Harrow DHA

  Hounslow and Spelthorne DHA

  North Bedfordshire DHA

  Bloomsbury and Islington DHA

  West Berkshire DHA

  Isle of Wight DHA

  Liverpool DHA

  Macclesfield DHA

  NHS Trusts

  NORTHERN REGION

  Newcastle Mental Health—2 appointments

  Northumbria Ambulance Service 1 appointment (Chairman), 1 appointment (Member)

  Freeman Group of Hospitals—2 appointments

  YORKSHIRE REGION

  St. James' University Hospital—1 appointment

  Bradford Hospitals—1 appointment

  Leeds General Infirmary—1 appointment

  TRENT REGION

  Northern General—3 appointments

  Lincolnshire Ambulance and Health Transport Service—3 appointments

  Doncaster Royal Infirmary and the Montague Hospital—3 appointments

  EAST ANGLIAN REGION

  Norfolk Ambulance—2 appointments

  Anglian Harbours—2 appointments

  NORTH WEST THAMES REGION

  Central Middlesex Hospital—1 appointment

  Mount Vernon Hospital—1 appointment

  Hillingdon Hospital—2 appointments

  North Hertfordshire—2 appointments

  NORTH EAST THAMES REGION

  Royal London Hospital—1 appointment (Chairman), 1 appointment (Non-Executive Director)

  Royal Free Hospital—1 appointment

  Southend Health Care—1 appointment

  North Middlesex Hospital—1 appointment

  Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital—2 appointments

  751
  SOUTH EAST THAMES REGION

  Guys and Lewisham Hospital—1 appointment

  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital—1 appointment

  SOUTH WEST THAMES REGION

  Homewood—2 appointments

  Lifecare—2 appointments

  St. Helier—2 appointments

  Royal Surrey County and St. Luke's Hospital—1 appointment

  Croydon Community—3 appointments

  Kingston Hospital—1 appointment

  WESSEX REGION

  West Dorset Mental Health—1 appointment (Chairman); 2 appointments (Non-Executive Directors)

  West Dorset Community—1 appointment (Chairman)

  Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases—2 appointments

  West Dorset General Hospitals—2 appointments

  OXFORD REGION

  Nuffield Orthopaedic—2 appointments

  SOUTH WESTERN REGION

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Mental Handicap—1 appointment

  East Gloucestershire—1 appointment

  Weston Area—1 appointment

  Taunton and Somerset—1 appointment

  WEST MIDLANDS REGION

  First Community Health—1 appointment

  Mental Health Foundation of Mid-Staffordshire—2 appointments

  Rugby—2 appointments

  Walsall Hospitals—3 appointments

  MERSEY REGION

  Wirral Hospital—1 appointment (Chairman)

  St. Helen's and Knowsley Hospital—1 appointment (Chairman); 2 appointments (Non-Executive Directors)

  Royal Liverpool University Hospital—1 appointment (Chairman); 1 appointment (Non-Executive Director)

  Aintree Hospital—1 appointment

  Wrightlington Hospital—1 appointment

  NORTH WESTERN REGION

  Mid Cheshire Hospitals—1 appointment

  Christie Hospital—1 appointment (Chairman); 1 appointment (Non-Executive Director)

  Manchester Central Hospitals and Community Care—1 appointment (Chairman); 2 appointments (Non-Executive Directors)

  For information on third wave trusts I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 2 February at column 153. Information on the political affiliation of appointees is not collected.

  Nurses
  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many bank nurses are currently employed, by regional health authority area, in the national health service; and what this number represents as a percentage of the total number of qualified nurses employed in the national health service in each regional health authority area.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  752

  NHS qualified nursing and midwifery staff (excluding agency) and bank staff, by RHA at September 1991

  Qualified nursing and midwifery staff2

  Bank nurses2

  Percentage

  Northern

  16,880

  410

  2·4

  Yorkshire

  18,480

  270

  1·4

  Trent

  23,290

  490

  2·1

  East Anglia

  9,810

  490

  5·0

  North West Thames

  16,280

  590

  3·6

  North East Thames

  20,050

  950

  4·7

  South East Thames

  16,620

  720

  4·3

  South West Thames

  14,120

  1,050

  7·4

  Wessex

  14,130

  560

  3·9

  Oxford

  11,320

  730

  6·5

  South Western

  16,130

  780

  4·9

  West Midlands

  25,210

  500

  2·0

  Mersey

  12,620

  480

  3·8

  North Western

  23,230

  470

  2·0

  Special Health Authorities

  5,050

  50

  0·9

  England1

  243,250

  8,540

  3·5

  Source: Non Medical Manpower Census, HAP(STATS)B, NHSME.

  1 England total includes figures for family health service authorities and other statutory authorities.

  2 Figures are whole time equivalents and rounded to the nearest ten.

  NHS Monitoring
  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to monitor standards and service delivery in the national health service; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Patients charter and general standards of service are monitored at local level by district health authorities, general practitioner fund holders and family health service authorities. Regional health authorities take an overview of services in their regions and are accountable to the national health service management executive.

  All regional health authorities have established programmes of medical audit—covering both primary and secondary care—and are now extending this into wider areas including nursing audit. In addition, the clinical standards advisory group has been set up under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 to advise United Kingdom Health Ministers on specific issues.

  Consultants
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the firms of consultants used by her Department as part of the market testing programme since November 1991 together with the total cost; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department has used a number of consultants to assist in preparing the market testing programme, to support in-house bids, to advise market test managers and prepare specification. Between November 1991 and the end of March 1993 the Department has spent or is committed to spend about £375,000. The following consultants have been used:

  Coopers and Lybrand

  CSL

  Doctus Consulting Europe

  753

  Ernst and Young

  Kermon Ltd

  KPMG

  PE International Plc

  Procord Ltd

  Shreeveport Ltd

  Symonds Facilities Management Plc

  Touche Ross

  Community Care
  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the representations she has received in respect of the Government's proposals for community care; and how many of those opposed, and how many were in favour of, the Government's proposals.

  Mr. Yeo
  The aims of the Government's community care policy enjoy wide cross-party support. The details of its implementation have been the subject of wide consultation and we have received many representations.

  Children (Secure Accommodation)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the weekly charges to local authorities for the use of secure accommodation for children in the last three years and the number of children placed in such accommodation by each local social services authority in the last three years.

  Mr. Yeo
  Information about charges in the form requested is not collected centrally. Information about the number of admissions to secure units in England for the last three years is published in "Children Accommodated in Secure Units During the Year Ending 31 March 1991 England". A copy is available in the Library.

  Oral Contraceptives
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to limit the prescription of oral contraceptives.

  Mr. Sackville
  I have asked the Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs to review the range of contraceptives available on national health service prescription. They will ensure that all clinical need continues to be met.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she will publish a list showing the prescribed brands of oral contraceptive, their dose of hormones, and the price of a month's supply.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 8 February 1993]: The information requested is as follows.

  Brand and Active Constituents

  Price per month

  Combined oral contraceptives

  Binovum

  7 tablets of norethisterone 500 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 35 micrograms; 14 tablets of norethisterone 1mg and ethinyloestradiol 35 micrograms

  74·7p

  Brevinor

  norethisterone 500 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 35 micrograms

  57·3p

  Cilest

  norgestimate 250 micrograms, ethinyloestradiol 35 micrograms

  £1·90

  Conova 30

  ethynodiol diacetate 2mg, ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms

  80p

  Eugynon 30

  levonorgestrel 250 micrograms, ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms

  69p

  Femodene

  gestodene 75 micrograms, ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms

  £1·90

  Femodene ED

  (as for Femodene but with 7 additional placebo tablets)

  £1·90

  Loestrin 20

  norethisterone acetate 1mg, ethinyloestradiol 20 micrograms

  86p

  756

  Brand and Active Constituents

  Price per month

  Loestrin 30

  norethisterone acetate 1·5mg, ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms

  £1·26

  Logynon

  6 tablets of levonorgestrel 50 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms; 5 tablets of levonorgestrel 75 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 40 micrograms; 10 tablets of levonorgestrel 125 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms

  95p

  Logynon ED

  (as for Logynon but with 7 additional placebo tablets)

  —

  Marvelon

  desogestrel 150 micrograms, ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms

  £1·48

  Mercilon

  desogestrel 150 micrograms, ethinyloestradiol 20 micrograms

  £2·40

  Microgynon 30

  levonorgestrel 150 micrograms, ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms

  60p

  Minulet

  gestodene 75 micrograms, ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms

  £1·90

  Neocon 1/35

  norethisterone 1 mg, ethinyloestradiol 35 micrograms Norimin norethisterone 1 mg, ethnyloestradiol 35 micrograms

  65p

  Norinyl-1

  norethisterone 1 mg, mestranol 50 micrograme

  63p

  Ortho-Novin 1/50

  norethisterone 1 mg, mestranol 50 micrograms

  78p

  Ovran

  levonorgestrel 250 micrograms, ethinyloestradiol 50 micrograms

  37p

  Ovran 30

  levonorgestrel 250 micrograms, ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms

  57p

  Ovranette

  levonorgestrel 150 micrograms, ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms

  62p

  Ovysmen

  norethisterone 500 micrograms, ethinyloestradiol 35 micrograms

  57p

  Synphase

  7 tablets of norethisterone 500 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 35 micrograms; 9 tablets of norethisterone 1 milligram and ethinyloestradiol 35 micrograms; 5 tablets of norethisterone 500 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 35 micrograms

  £1·11

  Triadene

  6 tablets of gestodene 50 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms; 5 tablets of gestodene 70 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 40 micrograms; 10 tablets of gestodene 100 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms

  £2·65

  757

  Brand and Active Constituents

  Price per month

  Tri-Minulet

  6 tablets of gestodene 50 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms; 5 tablets of gestodene 70 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 40 micrograms; 10 tablets of gestodene 100 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms

  £2·65

  Trinordiol

  6 tablets of levonorgestrel 50 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms; 5 tablets of levonorgestrel 75 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 40 micrograms; 10 tablets of levonorgestrel 125 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 30 micrograms

  £1·09

  TriNovum

  7 tablets of norethisterone 500 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 35 micrograms; 7 tablets of norethisterone 750 micrograms and ethinyloestradiol 35 micrograms; 7 tablets of norethisterone 1 milligram and ethinyloestradiol 35 micrograms

  94p

  TriNovum ED

  (as for TriNovum but with 7 additional placebo tablets)

  98p

  Emergency contraception

  Schering PC4

  levonorgestrel 250 micrograms, ethinyloestradiol 50 micrograms

  1£1·40

  Preogesterone-only contraceptives

  Femulen

  ethynodiol diacetate 500 micrograms

  94p

  Micronor

  norethisterone 350 micrograms

  63p

  Microval

  levonorgestrel 30 micrograms

  £1·00

  Neogest

  norgestrel 75 micrograms

  78p

  Norgeston

  levonorgestrel 30 micrograms

  78p

  Noriday

  norethisterone 350 micrograms

  60p

  1 (for 4 tablets, ie one course)

  Source: British National Formulary no. 24 (1992)

  Funding
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent her Department takes account of(a) activity levels and (b) information on outcomes in assessing its funding requirements.

  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account she takes in determining the total expenditure on health care of international comparisons of health care spending as a proportion of gross domestic product; and what guidance she gives on the appropriate percentage that should be spent on medical and nursing salaries, administration salaries and costs, building maintenance and pharmaceuticals.

  Mr. Sackville
  A number of factors are taken into account in setting the overall level of funding available to the national health service, including the health benefits of 758
  increased activity, other developments and affordability. We will continue to achieve the best possible value from the record sums of money now spent in the NHS; spending in other countries with different health care systems is not relevant to decisions on funding the NHS.

  It is the responsibility of health care providers within the NHS to determine how best to deploy the resources which they earn from NHS contracts, to meet the requirements of purchasers and to achieve the maximum benefit for patients.

  Dentistry
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the women's organisations that were consulted by her Department or Sir Kenneth Bloomfield in respect of the Bloomfield report proposals to remove pregnant women and mothers with children under the age of one year from the exempt category for NHS dental charges.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Sir Kenneth conducted his review independently.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of salaried dentists, orthodontists, dental nurses and dental hygenists for each district health authority, family health service authority and trust in England for each of the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The number of salaried dentists employed by family health services authorities in England during the last five years is shown in the table. The information is not recorded for district health authorities or trusts.

  Total number of salaried dentists as at 30 September

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Northumberland

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  Derbyshire

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  2

  3

  3

  3

  5

  Essex

  3

  2

  1

  2

  2

  Camden and Islington

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  City and East London

  7

  7

  6

  6

  7

  Kent

  3

  2

  1

  0

  3

  Greenwich and Bexley

  8

  8

  7

  7

  7

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  2

  2

  2

  2

  29

  West Sussex

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Hampshire

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Buckinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Somerset

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  Sandwell

  5

  5

  5

  1

  0

  Liverpool

  2

  2

  4

  2

  2

  Salford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  TOTAL

  38

  36

  33

  27

  65

  No separate record is maintained of dentists who specialise in orthodontics. It is estimated that there are some 28,000 dental nurses.

  The number of salaried dental hygienists for each of the last five years is set out in the table. Figures are not yet

  759
  available for the year ended December 1992. This information is not collected centrally for district health authorities, family health services authorities or trusts.

  Year ended 31 December

  Number

  1987

  2,330

  1988

  2,450

  1989

  2,648

  1990

  2,808

  1991

  2,953

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many family health services authorities have used their capital reserves to maintain dental services since July 1992; and if she will publish the amounts in each case.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 9 February at column 619.

  Family Planning Clinics
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was(a) the number of first contacts with people using family planning clinics and (b) the percentage of the female population seen at family planning clinics for each year since 1988–89.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information for 1991–92 is not yet available. For other years the information for England is as follows:

  First contacts at family planning clinics (thousands)

  Total

  Male

  Female1

  Female contacts seen1 as percentage of population aged 15 to 49

  1988–89

  1,147·6

  32·4

  1,115·2

  9·5

  1989–90

  1,148·2

  32·7

  1,115·5

  9·5

  1990–91

  1,091·6

  31·9

  1,059·8

  9·0

  1 Whilst the great majority of first contacts will fall within the ages 15 to 49, there may be some above or below those ages.

  NHS Administration Costs
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what management studies by outside consultants are planned by her Department to make recommendations

  Available bed days on acute wards in the four Thames regions and special health authorities, 1991–92

  Wards open night and day (ie 24 hours)

  Wards open day only

  Total

  District Health Authority

  Bed days

  Daily average

  Bed days

  Daily average

  Bed days

  Daily average

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  2,542,148

  6,946

  87,091

  238

  2,629,239

  7,184

  E01

  North Bedfordshire

  117,914

  322

  1,620

  4

  119,534

  327

  E02

  South Bedfordshire

  144,378

  394

  6,520

  18

  160,898

  412

  E04

  East Hertfordshire

  110,050

  301

  4,364

  12

  114,414

  313

  E05

  North West Hertfordshire

  135,842

  371

  0

  0

  135,842

  371

  E06

  South West Hertfordshire

  108,095

  295

  6,155

  14

  113,250

  309

  E07

  Barnet

  233,596

  638

  7,434

  20

  241,030

  659

  E08

  Harrow

  162,205

  443

  11,500

  31

  173,705

  475

  E09

  Hillingdon

  48,390

  132

  0

  0

  48,390

  132

  E10

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  229,613

  627

  7,502

  20

  237,115

  648

  E11

  Ealing

  114,447

  313

  4,680

  13

  119,127

  325

  E14

  Riverside

  394,248

  1,077

  9,330

  25

  403,578

  1,103

  E17

  Parkside

  242,654

  663

  13,407

  37

  256,061

  700

  RAQ

  North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

  151,481

  414

  4,160

  11

  155,641

  425

  RAR

  Mount Vernon Hospital NHS Trust

  132,106

  361

  0

  0

  132,106

  361

  RAS

  The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust

  107,826

  295

  4,465

  12

  112,291

  307

  RAU

  Central Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust

  109,303

  299

  6,954

  19

  116,257

  318

  760
  on how administration costs can be saved and redirected to more effective provision of patient care within the national health service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None. It is the responsibility of health authorities and national health service trusts to ensure that administrative costs are kept to the minimum consistent with good management.

  Computer Services
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will remove Sir Robin Buchanan from the posts of chairman of Wessex regional health authority and chairman of the NHS Supplies Authority during investigations into the privatisation of computer services.

  Mr. Sackville
  No. I have every confidence in Sir Robin Buchanan as chairman of the Wessex regional health authority and of the National Health Service Supplies Authority. He has fully encouraged and supported the extensive action taken by management of the Wessex RHA to rectify the organisational problems associated with RISP.

  The district auditor commended the actions of the RHA in his report on the RISP project.

  Sir Robin was selected as the most appropriate chairman for the NHS Supplies Authority because of his wide knowledge and experience of supplies issues. Under his chairmanship, NHS Supplies is already demonstrating the savings that it can make in purchasing goods and services for the NHS, which leaves the NHS with more money for direct patient care.

  Acute Beds
  Ms. Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many bed days were available on wards classified as acute, in each of the districts in the four Thames regions and special health authorities(a) during the financial year which ended 31 March 1992 and (b) during the first six months of the financial year 1992–93.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information for 1991–92 is given in the table. Information for 1992–93 is not yet centrally available.
  761

  Wards open night and day (ie 24 hours)

  Wards open day only

  Total

  District Health Authority

  Bed days

  Daily average

  Bed days

  Daily average

  Bed days

  Daily average

  North East Thames Regional Health Authority

  3,388,769

  9,259

  125,125

  342

  3,513,894

  9,601

  F01

  Basildon and Thurrock

  213,055

  582

  4,800

  13

  217,855

  595

  F02

  Mid Essex

  210,011

  574

  8,580

  23

  218,591

  597

  F03

  North East Essex

  171,928

  470

  8,317

  23

  180,245

  492

  F04

  West Essex

  190,390

  520

  3,528

  10

  183,916

  530

  F05

  Southend

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  F06

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  385,787

  1,054

  13,265

  36

  399,052

  1,090

  F07

  Hampstead

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  F10

  City and Hackney

  293,166

  801

  16,470

  45

  309,636

  846

  F11

  Newham

  133,816

  366

  4,750

  13

  138,566

  376

  F13

  Enfield

  137,525

  376

  3,978

  11

  141,503

  387

  F14

  Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  F15

  Redbridge

  113,577

  310

  4,771

  13

  118,348

  323

  F16

  Waltham Forest

  198,369

  544

  0

  0

  198,969

  544

  F22

  Bloomsbury and Islington

  447,997

  1,224

  14,298

  39

  462,296

  1,263

  RAJ

  Southend Health Care NHS Trust Royal London Hospital and Ass.

  190,991

  522

  14,740

  40

  205,731

  562

  RAK

  Community Services NHS Trust

  239,794

  655

  7,784

  21

  247,578

  676

  RAL

  Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital

  232,601

  636

  12,538

  34

  245,139

  670

  RAM

  NHS Trust Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital

  16,892

  46

  0

  0

  16,892

  46

  RAN

  NHS Trust

  75,948

  208

  1,116

  3

  77,062

  211

  RAP

  North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust

  136,324

  372

  6,192

  17

  142,516

  389

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority

  3,112,041

  8,503

  93,842

  256

  3,206,883

  8,759

  G01

  Brighton

  262,706

  718

  12,681

  35

  275,387

  752

  G02

  Eastbourne

  163,953

  448

  0

  0

  163,953

  448

  G03

  Hastings

  124,262

  340

  3,177

  9

  127,439

  348

  G04

  South East Kent

  197,856

  541

  6,390

  17

  204,346

  558

  G05

  Canterbury and Thanet

  273,734

  748

  6,144

  17

  279,878

  765

  G06

  Dartford and Gravesham

  168,504

  455

  6,682

  18

  173,186

  473

  G07

  Maidstone

  113,996

  311

  3,715

  10

  117,711

  322

  G08

  Medway

  196,547

  537

  2,072

  6

  198,619

  543

  G09

  Tunbridge Wells

  258,167

  705

  7,338

  20

  265,505

  725

  G10

  Bexley

  89,232

  244

  1,976

  5

  91,208

  249

  G11

  Greenwich

  274,000

  748

  7,531

  21

  281,731

  770

  G12

  Bromley

  182,110

  498

  8,180

  22

  190,290

  520

  G13

  West Lambeth

  276,298

  618

  0

  0

  226,298

  618

  G14

  Camberwell

  230,567

  630

  11,670

  32

  242,237

  662

  G15

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  RAV

  Guy's and Lewisham NHS Trust

  351,809

  961

  16,286

  44

  368,095

  1,006

  South West Thames Regional Health Authority

  2,237,531

  6,113

  44,743

  122

  2,282,274

  6,236

  H01

  North West Surrey

  141,279

  386

  0

  0

  141,279

  386

  H02

  West Surrey and North East Hampshire

  177,883

  486

  325

  1

  178,208

  487

  H03

  South West Surrey

  29,811

  81

  0

  0

  29,811

  81

  H04

  Mid Surrey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  H05

  East Surrey

  142,428

  389

  4,398

  12

  146,826

  401

  H06

  Chichester

  142,960

  391

  1

  0

  142,961

  381

  H07

  Mid Downs

  190,516

  521

  806

  2

  191,322

  523

  H08

  Worthing

  177,465

  485

  2,797

  8

  180,262

  493

  H09

  Croydon

  205,756

  562

  906

  2

  206,662

  565

  H10

  Kingston and Esher

  840

  2

  0

  0

  840

  2

  H11

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  115,440

  315

  10,212

  28

  125,652

  343

  H12

  Wandsworth

  311,543

  851

  2,078

  6

  313,622

  857

  H13

  Merton and Sutton

  28,057

  77

  552

  2

  28,609

  78

  RA1

  Epsom Health Care NHS Trust Royal Surrey County & St. Lukes Hospital NHS

  131,640

  360

  1,783

  5

  133,433

  365

  RA2

  Trust

  145,001

  396

  6,120

  17

  151,121

  413

  RAW

  Lifecare NHS Trust

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  RAX

  Kingston Hospital NHS Trust

  136,518

  373

  5.,856

  16

  142,374

  389

  RAY

  Homewood NHS Trust

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  RAZ

  St. Helier NHS Trust

  160,394

  438

  8,898

  24

  169,292

  463

  Special Health Authorities

  T01

  The Hospital for Sick Children The National Hospital for Neurology &

  129,109

  353

  4,570

  12

  133,679

  365

  T02

  Neurosurgery

  92,857

  254

  0

  0

  92,857

  254

  T03

  Moorfields Eye Hospital The Bethlem Royal Hospital & Maudsley

  38,742

  106

  2,940

  8

  41,682

  114

  T04

  Hospital Royal Brompton National Heart & Lung

  17,666

  48

  0

  0

  17,665

  48

  T05

  Hospital

  113,693

  311

  5,856

  16

  119,549

  327

  762 763

  Wards open night and day (ie 24 hours)

  Wards open day only

  Total

  District Health Authority

  Bed days

  Daily average

  Bed days

  Daily average

  Bed days

  Daily average

  T06

  The Royal Marsden Hospital

  111,979

  306

  0

  0

  111,979

  306

  T07

  Hammersmith & Queen Charlotte Hospital

  161,575

  441

  10,138

  28

  171,713

  469

  T09

  The Eastman Dental Hospital

  0

  0

  2,560

  7

  2,560

  7

  Source: KH03

  Regional Health Authorities
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what directions she has given to regional health authorities, in respect of the release of information already collected by them in relation to the operation of the health service; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) what guidance she has given on which tier of management should take responsibility for decisions on the release of information to hon. Members within regional and district health authorities; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have issued no directions or formal guidance to health authorities on the release of information to hon. Members. The patients charter however has set out important new commitments to publishing information. Beyond that, national health service authorities are responsible for deciding whether any further information should be made public.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her statement in respect of access to information by hon. Members of 26 January,Official Report, column 903, what directions she has given to the Yorkshire regional health authority to provide information already collected by that region in respect of statistical data relating to the normal operation of the health service within the Yorkshire region; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None. Provisional waiting time information is collected for management purposes and is published on a quarterly basis. Provisional waiting list figures for 31 December 1992 were published on 9 February in press release H93/547 a copy of which is available in the Library.

  St. Thomas's Hospital
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the claim for central funding of the soft tissue tumour unit based at St. Thomas's hospital, London.

  Mr. Sackville
  The charitable moneys which currently are used to fund this service are to be withdrawn on 31 March 1993. From 1 April 1993 the unit will be brought into the national health service internal market. St. Thomas's hospital is working with the staff of the unit to help cost its work and charge referring hospitals for its services. The position of the unit will be kept under review as part of the national review of specialist services which is being carried out by the NHS management executive.

  GDP (Health Care)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of gross domestic product was spent on health in each year since 1984 in each European 764
  Community member state; and if she will give the percentage change in each case since (a) 1963, (b) 1970 and (c)

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: Total national health service expenditure in the United Kingdom as a percentage of gross domestic product in each year since 1984 is given in the table, together with the percentage real terms changes in total NHS expenditure compared with 1979–80. Figures for earlier years are not available on a similar basis, but show an increase in Government spending on health from 3·5 per cent. of GDP in 1963 to 3·7 per cent. in 1970.

  Figures for other EC countries are not available on a comparable basis.

  United Kingdom NHS expenditure as a percentage of GDP

  Year

  Gross expenditure as a percentage of GDP

  United Kingdom NHS expenditure percentage real terms change since 1979–80

  1983–84

  5·3

  16·1

  1984–85

  5·4

  18·7

  1985–86

  5·2

  19·1

  1986–87

  5·2

  24·0

  1987–88

  5·1

  29·1

  1988–89

  5·1

  33·7

  1989–90

  5·1

  35·4

  1990–91

  5·3

  39·9

  1991–92

  5·7

  48·0

  1992–931

  6·0

  55·4

  1 Estimate.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish figures showing health expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  [pursuant to his reply, 29 January column 889]: I regret that there was an error in my previous reply.

  The estimated gross expenditure as a percentage of GDP for 1992–93 should read 6·0. The corrected table is as follows:

  United Kingdom national health service expenditure as a percentage of GDP

  Gross expenditure as a percentage of GDP

  1983–84

  5·3

  1984–85

  5·4

  1985–86

  5·2

  1986–87

  5·2

  1987–88

  5·1

  1988–89

  5·1

  1989–90

  5·1

  1990–91

  5·3

  765

  Gross expenditure as a percentage of GDP

  1991–92

  5·7

  1992–931

  6·0

  1 Estimate.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Drugs
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new strategies he intends to provide to tackle drug problems in England and Wales.

  Mr. Jack
  In addition to developing the drugs prevention initiatives, whose lives were recently extended until 1995, we are implementing the EC directive on precursor chemical control, and putting through the House the Criminal Justice Act. Finally, at a national level, we are committed to bringing forward proposals to ensure that the control of drug misuse is co-ordinated more effectively.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new strategies he intends to promote to tackle drug problems in Blyth Valley.

  Mr. Jack
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 30 November 1992 about some of the projects in the north-east in which the drugs prevention team based in Newcastle has been involved and offered my assistance on any related matters he wished to raise including how these ideas might apply to Blyth. That offer still stands.

  Visa Nationals
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make arrangements during 1993 to reduce the maximum period for which a visa national may visit the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have no plans to reduce the maximum period for a visit specified in the immigration rules, but I will consider in due course whether any changes are called for in connection with the draft external frontiers convention when action is needed to ratify it.

  Stabbing
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many victims there have been of crimes of stabbing in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Jack
  We do not know the total number of victims of stabbings, which are not recorded as a separate offence category by the police. We do know that the number of homicides in England and Wales where the method of killing was by a sharp instrument were 182 in 1989; 184 in 1990; and 223 in 1991.

  Young Offenders
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he proposes to tackle youth crime.
  766
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Government have introduced a wide range of measures which aim to prevent young people from committing crime. We have also considerably strengthened the powers of the courts to deal with those who do. I am now preparing proposals for new measures which will increase the powers of the courts to provide care and training in secure accommodation for juveniles who persistently re-offend.

  Racist Organisations
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes in the law he is considering in relation to racist organisations.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The views of racist organisations are repugnant to the Government and to the public at large and an offence is committed under the Public Order Act 1986 if there is the intention or likelihood of stirring up racial hatred, or if threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour takes place. The Government have no present plans to change the law.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the size of the prison population; and what the figure was three years ago.

  Mr. Peter Loyd
  On 31 December 1992 the prison population in England and Wales was 40,600. Three years earlier it was 45,900.

  Community Service Orders
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the current use of community service orders.

  Mr. Jack
  The courts are making increasing use of community service orders. In 1991, 41,200 community service orders were started, an 8 per cent. increase over 1990.

  Police (Civilian Staff)
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civilians now work in the police force; and what change there has been in this figure since 1979.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There were 49,085 civilian staff employed by the police service in England and Wales at the end of November 1992. This is an increase of 14,455, or 42 per cent., since the Government first took office in 1979.

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he proposes to take to improve the current system of electoral registration; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have set up a working group of Home Office officials and representatives of electoral registration officers and local authorities to look at all aspects of electoral registration. We shall consider the working group's findings once it has concluded its work.

  Car Crime
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had recently with the Northumbria police authority about car crimes in the force area.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State met representatives of Northumbria police authority on 10 December 1992 to discuss matters of concern to them. Car crime in the force area was not raised specifically.

  Police (Restructuring)
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is yet in a position to make a statement on the future organisation of the police force.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend is considering what reforms may be needed and will announce his proposals as soon as possible. The interested parties will be consulted before final decisions are reached.

  Crime Prevention Board
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had from Crime Concern over the establishment of a new national crime prevention board; and what representations he has made.

  Mr. Jack
  The chairman of Crime Concern wrote to me last month welcoming the setting up of a National Board for Crime Prevention and seeking discussions on the relationship between it and the board. I have invited Crime Concern to come and discuss these matters with me once separate discussions between its representatives and senior officials on the ways in which they can contribute to the new developments on crime prevention have been completed. I have no doubt that Crime Concern will have a valuable contribution to make in assisting the work of the board.

  Asylum and Immigration Appeals Bill
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those organisations which have written to him to register their opposition to the proposals contained in the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Bill.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have arranged for a list of the main organisations who have written to us to be placed in the Library.

  Refugees (Detention Centres)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans Her Majesty's Government have to build new detention centres for refugees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We plan to provide about 300 additional detention places in phases from 1993 to 1995 to accommodate those detained under immigration powers, including asylum applicants. These plans have not yet been finalised.

  Wheel Clamping
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish his consultation paper on wheel clamping on private property.

  Mr. Jack
  A consultation paper on wheel clamping on private land will be published later this month.

  Police (SSAs)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing the standard spending assessment in respect of the police service for each local authority in 1992–93 and 1993–94; and if he will estimate the effect of this standard spending assessment if(a) the 1987 system of needs assessment and (b) the safety net arrangements introduced in 1988 had still been in place.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Police elements of English local authorities' standard spending assessments for 1992–93 and 1993–94 are given in the table. No figures are shown for Wales because Welsh local authorities' standard spending assessments do not identify separate elements for individual services such as police.

  Information on what current police standard spending assessments would be if they were calculated by reference to the distribution formula which was discontinued in 1987 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  £ million

  Police authority

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Avon and Somerset1

  63·999

  66·489

  Bedfordshire

  25·127

  26·498

  Cambridgeshire

  26·516

  27·547

  Cheshire

  39·805

  41,·353

  City of London

  23·187

  26·570

  Cleveland

  31·139

  32·350

  Cumbria

  24·609

  25·566

  Derbyshire

  38·354

  39·846

  Devon and Corwall1

  60·620

  62·929

  Dorset

  26·993

  28·043

  Durham

  28·796

  29·917

  Essex

  64·662

  67·767

  Greater Manchester

  144·376

  149·884

  Gloucestershire

  24·546

  25·501

  Hampshire1

  71·551

  75·453

  Hertfordshire

  38·803

  40·290

  Humberside

  42·168

  43·809

  Kent

  68·381

  72·419

  Lancashire

  66·943

  69·547

  Leicestershire

  38·416

  39·910

  Lincolnshire

  25·002

  25·975

  Merseyside

  97·563

  101·359

  Metropolitan Police

  729·511

  761·712

  Norfolk

  29·978

  31·144

  Northamptonshire

  24·671

  25·630

  Northumbria

  74·676

  77·581

  North Yorkshire

  29·398

  30·541

  Nottinghamshire

  48·595

  50·485

  South Yorkshire

  62·838

  65·282

  Staffordshire

  45·921

  47·707

  Suffolk

  25·562

  26·557

  Surrey

  39·239

  40·503

  Sussex 1

  60·754

  64·003

  Thames Valley1

  85·179

  90·575

  Warwickshire

  21·520

  22·443

  West Mercia 1

  42,562

  44·218

  West Midlands

  143·090

  148·656

  West Yorkshire

  109·774

  114·045

  Wiltshire

  26·495

  27·763

  1 Combined police authority. Figures shown are the sums of police elements of constituent county councils' SSAs.

  Juvenile Crime
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to discourage crime by juveniles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The Government have already introduced a wide range of measures to discourage young people from committing crime. In the Criminal Justice Act 1991, implemented on 1 October 1992, we have recently strengthened the powers of the court in relation to defendants under the age of 18.

  Both in absolute terms, and as a proportion of all known offenders, the number of known juvenile offenders has declined in recent years. But the Government are not complacent. We are currently considering what additional measures it might be appropriate to introduce in order to deal more effectively with the small number of juveniles who persistently re-offend and for whom existing arrangements appear to be inadequate.

  Parliamentary Boundaries Commission
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the Parliamentary Boundaries Commission.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that the four boundary commissions for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are making satisfactory progress with their programmes of work to review the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies in the United Kingdom.

  Youth Crime, Manchester
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he proposes to tackle youth crime in Greater Manchester.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 10 February 1993 at column 625.

  Operation Container
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of Operation Container; and what recent consultation he has had with the Greater Manchester police authority about its effects on policing in the conurbation.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The prison service expects Operation Container to end shortly, although this will depend on the prison population, especially the numbers remanded and committed to custody in the north-west.

  The prison service has weekly meetings with the Greater Manchester police on Operation Container. In addition, on 5 February, the prison service area manager for the trans-Pennine area—which includes Manchester prison—discussed the management of plans to reduce numbers in police cells with the senior headquarters officers concerned. The implications of police cell usage on police operations was discussed at that meeting. It was explained that the police had successfully been able to confine the operation largely to rest day working in order to minimise the effect on normal police operations.

  HMP Doncaster
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now made a decision on whether he will allow the prison service to make an in-house bid for the management of Her Majesty's prison, Doncaster; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No.

  Terrorism and Drug Importers
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes in legislation will be required to permit the security service to develop its role in combating threats from terrorism and drug importers.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Security Service Act 1989 defines the functions of the service as being the protection of national security and the safeguarding of the economic well-being of the United Kingdom against threats from overseas.

  The security service may conduct investigations only into areas which satisfy one or both of these criteria. Terrorism is referred to in the Act as a particular threat to national security and therefore falls within the criteria. The scale of drugs trafficking and other types of organised crime is not such that there is a current threat to national security. The security service therefore has no role in investigating these criminal matters and, contrary to recent press allegations, is not seeking one. The Government have no plans to amend the Act to redefine the functions of the service in this respect.

  Police Complaints Authority
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent new appointments he has made to the Police Complaints Authority.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Miss Linda Haye, formerly head of the youth and community department of Hertfordshire county council, has accepted my invitation to serve as a member of the Police Complaints Authority. She will take up her post on 15 February.

TRANSPORT

  ATOLs
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of package air travel operators who do not hold an air transport operator's licence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  It is an offence under the Civil Aviation (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing) Regulations 1972 for those who are required to hold an ATOL not to do so. It is not readily possible to estimate how many package holiday operators are in breach of that requirement at any one time; but the Civil Aviation Authority will, where appropriate, prosecute operators apparently guilty of such an offence and it is open to anyone who believes that an offence has been committed to report the matter to the authority.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider placing a legal responsibility on airlines
  771
  to ensure that operators of packaged air travel, whose reservations are accepted by them, are in possession of a valid air transport operator's licence and comply with relevant EC directives.

  Mr. Norris
  Such a responsibility has been placed on United Kingdom airlines by regulation 11(1)(a) of the Licensing of Air Carriers Regulations 1992.

  Cyclists, London
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will conduct a survey of the number of cyclists in central London who ride their machines after lighting-up time without any lights; if he will assess the risks to road safety resulting from unlit cycles; and what action he is taking to encourage them to ensure that they display adequate lighting.

  Mr. Norris
  Only about one fifth of all reported cycle accidents happen during the hours of darkness. It is not possible to estimate what proportion of these accidents is caused by the bicycle being unlit. The proposed survey would not permit this to be determined.

  The law requires front and rear lights to be used between sunset and sunrise. Advice to cyclists about this requirement is contained in the highway code and that message is reinforced in road safety campaigns, such as the "Cycle Safe" campaign which is to be run later this year.

  Road and Rail Freight
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportions of freight were carried by rail and by road in 1991, 1979 and 1967 in Great Britain, Germany and Japan.

  Mr. Freeman
  The most recent statistics readily available are for 1990, published, with 1980, in "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1992", tables 8.9 and 8.10. Statistics for 1970 onwards, with definitions and more detailed comparisons, are published in the transport statistics report "International Comparisons of Transport Statistics Part 1: Intermodal". Both publications are in the House of Commons Library. Reliable comparisons are not available for years prior to 1970.

  Piracy
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department's merchant shipping notice on piracy and armed robbery will be published.

  Mr. Norris
  Merchant shipping notice No. M 1517 "Piracy and Armed Robbery" is being distributed to shipowners, masters and crews. A copy of the merchant shipping notice has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Airline Competition
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to discuss airline competition with chairmen of British-owned airlines; and which chairmen he proposes to meet.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend regularly meets chairmen of United Kingdom airlines to discuss matters of mutual interest.
  772
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will instigate an Office of Fair Trading investigation of competition and fare structures in the airline industry.

  Mr. Norris
  No. Within the EC, Community legislation covers these issues. Elsewhere, the Civil Aviation Authority already has appropriate powers.

  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what action the Civl Aviation Authority is taking to allow greater competition between British airlines on Atlantic routes with particular reference to the London to San Francisco service;

  (2) if he will use his powers to direct the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure greater consumer choice between British airlines serving Atlantic routes with particular reference to the London to San Francisco service.

  Mr. Norris
  We understand that cases concerning competitive aspects of north Atlantic routes, including competition on the London-San Francisco route, are before the Civil Aviation Authority. In view of the Secretary of State's appellate role, it would be inappropriate to comment.

  British Airways Board
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what continuing financial or related interest in British Airways the Government have following privatisation relating to the structure and composition of the board of directors.

  Mr. Norris
  The Government retained a small shareholding in British Airways following privatisation in order to meet entitlements which were expected to arise under the loyalty bonus arrangements forming part of the offer for sale. The holding currently amounts to about 3·2 million shares, or 0·4 per cent. of total shareholdings in the company.

  Heathrow Airport
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will use his reserve powers to ensure the fair allocation at Heathrow airport of take-off and landing slots for large and small British airlines.

  Mr. Norris
  No. Slot allocation at Heathrow is a matter for the airport co-ordinator, working within industry guidelines and European Community legislation.

  Rail Subsidy
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will guarantee continuing levels of subsidy to prospective private sector railway franchisees for the full length of their franchise.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 9 February 1993]: It will be for the franchising director to negotiate contracts with private sector franchisees, and to make any subsidy payments necessary under them from within his budget. In doing so he will be in no different a position to any other public sector body in entering into contracts which run beyond the normal three-year public expenditure planning cycle.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what limit he will place on the amount of subsidy to be
  773
  offered to prospective rail freight operators under the arrangements announced by the Government for the next 15 years; and what estimate he has made of the total amount to be guaranteed.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 9 February 1993]: The Government have not set a specific time limit on the new scheme—we have said that it will be reviewed after a period of operation. The amount of funds available will depend on the level of demand for the scheme, objective assessment of its benefits, and competing demands for public expenditure.

DEFENCE

  Aldermaston (Accidents)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department expects to reply to the letter from Greenpeace to Mr. Allen, senior administration officer at Aldermaston, concerning accidents at AWE Aldermaston.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Department will reply to the Greenpeace letter of 26 January 1993 concerning accidents at AWE Aldermaston as soon as possible.

  Bands
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the establishment of pipe bands of Scottish regiments, broken down by specialisation as appropriate; how they are funded; what are their annual costs; what training facilities for military piping are available, and at what annual cost; what is the annual income obtained from public or private performances of Scottish military pipe bands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Pipe bands are not separately established in Scottish regiments, but a regiment could have 15 pipes, six side drums, two tenor drums and a base drum. There is currently a piping school within the Household Division, a Guards Depot piping school and a piping and drumming wing of the Scottish Division and an Army school of piping. Central records are not held for the annual cost, the training cost or the annual income of pipe bands.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the establishment, annual cost and training arrangements for the pipe bands of the Royal Irish Regiment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no separate establishments for pipe bands in the regiment. The maximum number of instruments likely to be available to any regiment are 15 pipes, six side drums, two tenor drums and a base drum. Central records are not held for the annual costs of the bands. Pipers are trained at the Army school of piping in Edinburgh.

  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which ways the initial and subsequent training of band personnel varies between each of the services; and in each case what is the length of the full-time training undertaken.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The principal differences between the training of musicians in the services are due to different 774
  standards of musical competence on entry. The length and nature of training is affected by the degree of integration of musical and military training. In the Royal Marines these are fully integrated, whilst at the Royal Military School of Music and the Royal Air Force School of Music the training is predominantly musical, with military training being provided elsewhere. The lengths of training of personnel in the three services prior to joining a band are as follows:

  Royal Marines
  Musicians undergo eight terms of 15 weeks each. Buglers undergo five terms of 15 weeks each.

  Army
  10 weeks Common Military Syllabus (Recruits) and up to 44 weeks musical training, followed by three weeks on the Bandsmen Medical Assistants Course.

  Royal Air Force
  7 weeks initial recruit training; up to a year's musical training for non-graduates or, for graduates a shorter familiarisation course of between six weeks and four months (the length depends on individual capability); and three weeks and two days training as medical assistants.

  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to publish in full the review by the Commandant of the Royal Military School of Music of the future organisation, structure and geographical location of Army bands in the light of the restructuring of the Army.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  This is an internal review, and I do not therefore intend to publish it in full. No decision has yet been made on the recommendations put forward by the review, but an announcement will be made in due course once any decisions are taken.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what equivalent level of civilian paramedical expertise Army band personnel are trained; and where, when and how often they are trained in these skills.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Army band personnel are trained to medical assistant rather than full paramedic standards. On completion of music training they attend a medical assistant course at the Royal Army Medical Corps training centre and thereafter receive regular refresher training in their units by qualified instructors. This enables them to undertake mobilisation roles in direct support of medical units in war.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role is played by the bands of regiments deployed(a) on emergency tours to Northern Ireland and Belize and (b) on residential tours outside Great Britain.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The precise role of a band in any given theatre can vary, depending on the requirements of the unit commanding officer. On emergency tours to Northern Ireland and Belize bands deploy with units at the commanding officer's discretion, where they would typically man medical centres, deploy on patrol, as medical staff, and give concerts. When a unit has an integral band it would normally accompany the unit on residential tours outside Great Britain to BAOR, Cyprus, Hong Kong or Northern Ireland. Similar roles to those carried out on emergency tours are undertaken including taking part in ceremonial duties.
  775
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the rules governing the use of funds received by bands as a result of public engagements; what has been the total income in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will publish details of the level and nature of current commercial sponsorship of military bands.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In return for a contribution to public funds service bands are permitted to carry out fee-paying engagements. The total income, in the last financial year for which figures are available, 1991–92, was £113,000. There were fewer engagements that year as a knock-on effect of Operation Granby. Details of commercial sponsorship are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. It is not, however, believed to be significant in scale.

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the(a) military operations and (b) operations in support of civil authorities in which Army band personnel have participated in the past 10 years, showing in each case the numbers participating and the nature of their activities.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Army band personnel may deploy, usually as medics, with the parent unit to any operational theatre, or on any operation in support of the civil authorities.

  Guatemala
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what charges will be raised by his Department for the flights currently being undertaken by an RAF C-130 in Guatemala; how many flights were undertaken; and from which agency the request for assistance originated.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The RAF C-130 flew nine sorties totalling 11 hours 20 minutes, in response to a request from the Overseas Development Administration. The flying charge, based on extra cost, will amount to some £16,500.

  Channel Tunnel (Challenger Tanks)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the arrangements which will apply to the transit of British and NATO military material through France via the channel tunnel; and if the railways in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the European mainland and (c) the channel tunnel can carry Challenger tanks.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No decisions have been made on the military use of the tunnel in peacetime. Cost will be a major factor in any decision to use the tunnel for routine movements. The dimensions of the Challenger tank, and the absence of suitable rolling stock, currently preclude it from movement on the railways in the United Kingdom. Challenger tanks are routinely moved by rail in Germany. The tunnel is physically capable of taking the Challenger tank although a number of technical aspects as well as commercial and safety aspects would have to be resolved first.

  TA Officers (Official Secrets Acts)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army officers have been charged under the Official Secrets Acts in each year since 1970; in 776
  how many of those cases the accused was kept in custody between arrest and trial, and for how long in each case; what was the outcome of each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Readily available records cover only the period since 1985. The information requested prior to that could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Since 1985 one Territorial officer has been charged under the Official Secrets Act—in 1992. That case is ongoing and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.

  Military Training
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what basic military training is undertaken by(a) Army, (b) Royal Marine and (c) Royal Air Force band personnel.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Royal Marine musicians and buglers are trained in a range of basic military skills, to enable them to fulful their peace and war roles, including medical support. For new entrants, this training is provided concurrently with musical training, and in the first 15-week term of their courses some 80 per cent. of the time is spent on basic military training. The proportion of time devoted to musical training increases in subsequent terms. Musicians and buglers undertake seven or more days military training each year following the completion of initial training.

  In common with all other recruits to the Army, Army musicians undergo the 10-week common military syllabus (recruits) course on entry, prior to joining the Royal Military School of Music for the musicians' foundation course. On completion of this, they attend a course for bandsmen medical assistants.

  Recruits undergo a seven-week initial training course, mostly in drill, at RAF Swinderby, before joining the RAF School of Music. On completion of musical training, trainees attend a medical training course, three weeks and two days long, to equip them for their role as medical assistants.

  Warship Refits
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy concerning competitive tenders for refitting of naval warships.

  Mr. Aitken
  It remains our policy that, wherever possible, and in the interests of providing overall best value for money, competitive tenders will continue to be invited for that portion of the naval refitting programme not allocated to the two royal dockyards as part of their core programme.

  HMS Gloucester
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his officials have discussed details of Devonport's offer to refit HMS Gloucester with(a) Babcock Thorn Ltd. or (b) other persons or bodies connected with Rosyth naval dockyard.

  Mr. Aitken
  I can confirm that no officials from my Department have discussed details of Devonport's offer with either Babcock Thorn Limited or other non-MOD bodies connected with Rosyth royal dockyard.
  777
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the 1990 decision to allocate HMS Gloucester to be refitted at Devonport was changed to a tender process; and for what reason the refit was allocated to Rosyth in 1992.

  Mr. Aitken
  HMS Gloucester was provisionally planned, in 1990, to be refitted at Devonport, but not formally allocated. For overall policy and value for money reasons, at that time it was decided to compete the refit. In 1992 the refit of HMS Gloucester was allocated to Rosyth in order to balance the naval workload there following the decision not to proceed with the planned refit of HMS Revenge.

  Search and Rescue Helicopters
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the rescue missions flown by SAR helicopters based at(a) RAF Chivenor and (b) RAF Brawdy since 1986 have been to incidents in (i) Wales, (ii) the Bristol channel and (iii) Devon.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is not held in the format required.

  Departmental Housing
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will give details on the level of demand for, and level of provision of, his Department's housing in Scotland;

  (2) if he will give details of the level of demand for, and the level of provision of, married quarters for armed forces personnel stationed in Scotland; and if he will break these figures down for each branch of the armed forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 31 December 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, the Ministry of Defence owned 6,821 housing properties in Scotland of which 5,903 were occupied. A total of 6,519 of these were service married quarters of which 5,702 were occupied, broken down by service as follows:

  Married quarter stock

  Married quarters occupied

  Royal Navy

  2,058

  1,742

  Army

  1,566

  1,220

  Royal Air Force

  2,895

  2,740

  Total

  6,519

  5,702

  In addition 52 service families—10 RN, seven Army and 35 RAF—were being paid an allowance to rent private accommodation because of insufficient quarters at their place of duty. The number of families on waiting lists for quarters in Scotland and accommodated temporarily elsewhere could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The majority of the vacant married quarters owned by MOD were either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation or were already allotted to service families who were due to move in shortly. In addition, 171 surplus married quarters were in the process of being sold.

  Three hundred and two properties were MOD civilian houses of which 201 were occupied. Fifty-two vacant properties have since been handed back to Dumbarton
  778
  district council and the handback of a further tranche of 34 vacant properties is under negotiation. In addition, 42 houses were in the process of being sold, mostly to sitting tenants.

  Forces Personnel (Scotland)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of how many armed forces personnel are currently stationed in Scotland; and if he will break these figures down by branch of the armed services.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 1 January 1993 the number of armed forces personnel in Scotland were, in each service:

  Number

  Royal Navy and Royal Marines

  19,998

  Army

  2,185

  Royal Air Force

  7,532

  TOTAL

  19,715

  1 Including sea service personnel docked in Scottish waters.

  The figures include all personnel—male and female, officers and other ranks, trained and untrained.

  Barracks
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers(a) are, and (b) can be accommodated in barracks which are curently in use in Scotland; and which barracks these are.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Fifty-eight officers and 966 soldiers of the regular Army are accommodated in barracks currently in use in Scotland. These figures fluctuate daily owing to postings, enlistments and discharges. Barrack accommodation is available for 163 officers and 2,022 soldiers in Edinburgh at Craigiehall, the Castle, Dreghorn and Glencorse; in Inverness; in Fort George; and in the Hebrides at Benbecula and St. Kilda.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how many days per annum barracks not currently used by the Regular Army are used by the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve; which barracks are used by the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve; and if he will give similar information for Royal Navy quarters, Royal Air Force quarters and Royal Marine barracks.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member.

  Army Trucks
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sources of supply of 4 x 4 Army trucks there are in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  We currently purchase 4 x 4 Army trucks from three companies in the United Kingdom. A number of other such companies have the capability to bid for any future orders.

  Royal Flight
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many crew, and at what cost, are permanently attached to the royal flight.
  779
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Two hundred personnel are permanently attached to the Queen's Flight, of which 21 officers crew the aircraft. The flight's personnel costs amounted to £3.776 million in financial year 1991–92.

  Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to seek the establishment of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty before the expiry of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have always accepted the long-term goal of a comprehensive test ban to be achieved on a step-by-step basis. The case for extension of the non-proliferation treaty stands irrespective of the state of progress towards a comprehensive test ban.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Leptospira Hardjo
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he will take to eradicate leptospira hardjo infection from the national dairy herd; and what action is being taken to warn dairy farmers and the public about the dangers of this disease.

  Mr. Soames
  Leptospira hardjo is not a notifiable disease and there are no plans to introduce eradication measures. Vaccination and treatment are effective in protecting herds. The disease represents a potential hazard to those in direct contact with cattle, but is not a risk to the general public. In discussion with veterinary organisations, the Department has produced an advisory document, agreed with the Health and Safety Executive, which contains advice on avoidance and dealing with the disease and which is being published and circulated by the British Cattle Veterinary Association.

  High Tides
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his Department is taking in respect of the high tide levels predicted for March this year.

  Mr. Gummer
  I am aware that unusually high tides are predicted around some parts of the coast on 10–11 March as a result of a combination of factors, including the closeness of the moon's approach to the earth and the approaching equinox. In itself, this does not pose a flood risk since coastal defences are designed to provide a margin over highest astronomical tide levels. However, much will depend on weather conditions at the time. The Meteorological Office's storm tide warning service, which is funded by this Department, will continue to monitor the situation closely and pass any necessary warnings to the National Rivers Authority. In addition, officials in the Department have written to local flood emergency contacts drawing their attention to the possibility of high tides in early March so as to enable the local services involved to be ready to respond to any flood warnings received.

EMPLOYMENT

  Check-off Deductions
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will estimate the number of consents that would be required under the proposed requirement that employers seek renewed consent to check-off deductions.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Green Paper "Industrial relations in the 1990s", published in July 1991, quoted a 1989 survey which suggested that some 7 million employees are currently covered by check-off arrangements. Under provisions contained in the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Bill every employee who wishes to pay union subscriptions through check-off will need to give written consent before deductions are made, and to renew that consent every three years. Where employees are covered by check-off arrangements when these provisions come into effect, employers will have one year during which to seek their written consent that they wish to continue to pay their subscriptions in this way.

  Strikes
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many days were lost due to strikes in the north-west of England in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  It is provisionally estimated that in the twelve months to November 1992, the latest period for which data are available, 33,000 working days were lost in the north-west of England. Working days lost in the previous 10 calendar years are given in the following table:

  Working days lost in strikes in the North West region

  Calendar year

  (thousands)

  1982

  989

  1983

  765

  1984

  1,381

  1985

  403

  1986

  390

  1987

  374

  1988

  459

  1989

  730

  1990

  722

  1991

  245

  Wages
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms in the east midlands have been found to be paying below minimum rates set by wages councils in each of the last 10 years; and what is the amount of money calculated to be owed to employees in each of these years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Following the merger of the east and west midlands in 1986 to form the midlands division of the wages inspectorate, separate records for the east midlands were no longer kept. The available information is provided in the tables.
  781

  Midlands (east)—Wages inspectorate 1982–1985

  Year

  Number of establishments underpaying

  Amount of arrears assessed £

  1982

  532

  160,400

  1983

  573

  167,449

  1984

  534

  184,673

  1985

  430

  142,417

  Midlands (east and west)—Wages inspectorate 1986–1991

  Year

  Number of establishments underpaying

  Amount of arrears assessed £

  1986

  943

  302,947

  1987

  525

  199,584

  1988

  747

  190,698

  1989

  822

  160,827

  1990

  749

  197,916

  1991

  835

  179,478

  Prince's Trust
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what support the Government are currently giving to the Prince's Trust in its work to help the unemployed.

  Mr. Jack
  I have been asked to reply.

  The work of the Prince's Trust assists both employed and unemployed young people. It is therefore not possible to identify support specifically for the unemployed.

  In the current year, the Home Office and DHSS (Northern Ireland) contributed £67,780 to the Prince's Trust volunteers. The Department of Employment
  782
  contributed £4·375 million to the associated Prince's Youth Business Trust. Further support from public funds has been provided locally through training and enterprise councils.

SCOTLAND

  Children's Hospice
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the establishment of a children's hospice in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  The statement which my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Local Government made on 2 December 1992 indicated that we accepted there was sufficient evidence of demand to support the establishment of a children's hospice in Scotland. We also believe that, having taken the initiative, the voluntary sector, as is the case with adult hospices, is best placed to develop such a project. While we remain convinced of the advantages of a combined effort by all those interested in taking this matter forward, we also believe that such an effort will be enhanced if there is a clear national focus for the activity. We have therefore decided to support the Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) in its proposal to provide a children's hospice suitably located to meet the demand from all parts of Scotland. I strongly urge all those with an interest in this development to add their efforts to those of CHAS. The Government are showing their support of CHAS in a tangible way by awarding them a grant under section 16B of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 as a contribution towards their core administrative costs.

  OUTPUT PER PERSON: STATISTICS
  OUTPUT PER PERSON: STATISTICS
  MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE: ACHIEVEMENT OF SERVICE TARGETS
  MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE: ACHIEVEMENT OF SERVICE TARGETS
  ORGANOPHOSPHOROUS PRODUCTS: LABELLING
  ORGANOPHOSPHOROUS PRODUCTS: LABELLING
  FLOOD PREDICTIONS, MARCH EQUINOX
  FLOOD PREDICTIONS, MARCH EQUINOX
  HM PRISON WOLDS: RACE RELATIONS POLICY
  HM PRISON WOLDS: RACE RELATIONS POLICY
  DTI DEREGULATION UNIT: AIMS AND COMPLIANCE COSTS
  DTI DEREGULATION UNIT: AIMS AND COMPLIANCE COSTS
  AIRPORTS: SUPPLEMENTARY CREDIT APPROVALS
  AIRPORTS: SUPPLEMENTARY CREDIT APPROVALS
  ROYAL NATIONAL THROAT, NOSE AND EAR HOSPITAL
  ROYAL NATIONAL THROAT, NOSE AND EAR HOSPITAL
  DISPENSING APPLICATIONS: APPEALS
  DISPENSING APPLICATIONS: APPEALS
  CARDIOLOGY AND CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY
  CARDIOLOGY AND CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY