Written Answers of 17 February 1993

HEALTH

  Orthodontic Facilities
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what orthodontic facilities exist in the London borough of Newham.

  Mr. Sackville
  Newham health authority is responsible for commissioning services for local residents. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mrs. Rosemary Walters, chairman of Newham district health authority, for details.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average length of time taken by her Department to respond after an appeal is lodged following a Dental Practice Board recommendation.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Appeals to the Secretary of State, following complaints made under the National Health Service (Service Committees and Tribunal) Regulations 1992, are now handled by the family health services appeal unit at Yorkshire regional health authority under devolved powers. Appeals are given very careful consideration and the time taken to process them varies from case to case. Information about average times is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the capital allocation granted to each NHS trust in the northern region in 1992–93: and what allocation is proposed for 1993–94.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  NHS trust

  Allocated 1992–93

  Proposed allocation 1993–94

  £000

  £000

  The Freeman Group of Hospitals

  2,154

  3,505

  Newcastle Mental Health Services

  252

  288

  Northumbrian Ambulance

  2,210

  1,695

  Cleveland Ambulance

  496

  300

  North Tees Health

  2,508

  1,498

  Northgate

  2,172

  252

  The RVI Group of Hospitals

  15,081

  7,627

  Gateshead Community Health

  356

  1,084

  South Tees Acute Hospitals

  9,149

  5,730

  NHS Trusts
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to respond to the first report from the Health Committee of Session 1992–93, "NHS Trusts: Interim Conclusions and Proposals for Future Inquiries" —House of Commons Paper No. 321.
  198
  Dr. Mawhinney
  [pursuant to his reply, 16 February 1993]: We are publishing our response to the report today. Copies are available in the Library.

  Mentally Ill People
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to provide day care centres for the mentally ill in Lambeth.

  Mr. Yeo
  It is the responsibility of district health authorities and local authority social services departments to contract for or provide a comprehensive range of mental health services to meet the level of psychiatric need in their areas.

  Contracting Out
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide figures for the reduction in numbers of posts as a result of contracting out since 1979 in her Department and agencies for which she has responsibility.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health became a separate Government Department in 1989. Since then, the number of posts in the Department has been reduced by just under 30 as a result of contracting out.

  Schizophrenia
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were registered as suffering from schizophrenia in (a) 1986 and (b) 1991–92.

  Mr. Yeo
  There is no requirement to register patients suffering from schizophrenia. The table gives the number of admissions to hospitals in England in 1986 and 1989–90, the latest year for which the quality of information permits publication, where a diagnosis of schizophrenia was made.

  Number of hospital admissions in England for patients with schizophrenia 1986 (Mental Health Enquiry) and 1989–90 Hospital Episode Statistics)

  Admissions

  1986

  29,419

  1989–90

  38,180

  Mental Illness
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines her Department has issued to local authorities with regard to specific provision for the care of those in the 16 to 25 years age group suffering from mental illness.

  Mr. Yeo
  No guidance has been issued which specifically focuses on this age group. Services for disturbed adolescents—generally 12 to 19 years—were the subject of a report "Bridges over Troubled Waters" from the national health service health advisory service which the Department issued to health and local authorities in 1986. A copy will be placed in the Library.

  Psychiatric Patients
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psychiatric patients are(a) long-term and (b) acute.
  199
  Mr. Yeo
  The table gives the total number of residents in the mental illness specialty in England for(a) long-term —one year and over—and (b) acute—under one year—at 31 March 1992.

  Number

  Under one year

  25,500

  One year and over

  19,700

  Note: These figures are estimates based on data obtained directly from regional health authorities.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psychiatric patients are waiting for a bed.

  Region

  Number of GP practices

  Percentage ofGP practices

  Percentage of population served by GP

  Non-fundholding practice April 1992

  Non-fundholding April 1992

  Non-fundholding April 1992

  Northern

  479

  92·3

  84

  Yorkshire

  605

  90·2

  79

  Trent

  785

  92·9

  86

  East Anglia

  283

  95·6

  92

  North West Thames

  760

  93·9

  86

  North East Thames

  890

  97·7

  93

  South East Thames

  757

  96·2

  91

  South West Thames

  494

  92·7

  85

  Wessex

  405

  91·8

  85

  Oxford

  345

  87·8

  77

  South Western

  537

  92·9

  86

  West Midlands

  997

  94·4

  87

  Mersey

  396

  88·6

  81

  North Western

  847

  96·4

  91

  Note:

  1. The number of GP practices given above relates to the number of GP partnerships at I April 1992, including single handed partnerships.

  Community Care
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will publish the guidance note "Housing and Community Care Planning: The First Steps: A Review of Good Practice."

  Mr. Yeo
  The community care support force is aiming to complete and issue practical guidance on a range of issues concerned with housing and community care, by the end of March.

  General Practitioners
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will extend to non-fund-holding GPs the facility to hold two sessions a week to perform a range of diagnostic tests and extra minor surgery procedures to be paid at the clinical assistant rate.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Non-fund holding general practitioners may already provide these services under contract to district health authorities.

  Walthamstow GPs
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of patients per general practitioner in Walthamstow.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  200
  Mr. Yeo
  Information about the numbers waiting by specialty is given in the publication "Hospital Waiting List, In-Patients and Day Cases"—ISBN 1 85839 003 6—a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Fund-holding Practices
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP non-fund-holding practices there are in each region; what percentage this represents of the regional total of GP practices; and what percentage of the regional population they serve.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is given in the table:

  GP

  List Size

  GP

  List Size

  GP

  List Size

  1

  4,291

  17

  2,395

  33

  1,782

  2

  3,617

  18

  2,356

  34

  1,729

  3

  3,158

  19

  2,339

  35

  1,682

  4

  3,158

  20

  2,300

  36

  1,624

  5

  2,981

  21

  2,293

  37

  1,621

  6

  2,945

  22

  2,259

  38

  1,588

  7

  2,910

  23

  2,241

  39

  1,526

  8

  2,871

  24

  2,214

  4o

  1,415

  9

  2,796

  25

  2,204

  41

  1,346

  10

  2,769

  26

  2,194

  42

  1,323

  11

  2,740

  27

  2,135

  43

  1,046

  12

  2,673

  28

  1,990

  44

  694

  13

  2,557

  29

  1,980

  45

  628

  14

  2,433

  30

  1,907

  46

  619

  15

  2,418

  31

  1,898

  47

  258

  16

  2,401

  32

  1,853

  48

  1

  This includes one unfilled vacancy.

  Operations (Waiting Times)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what instructions the national health service management executive has given to hospitals in respect of telling patients how long they will have to wait for their operations; and if she will make a statement.

  (2) what action she is taking to reduce hospital waiting lists and to keep patients informed about the length of time they will have to wait for operations.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have made it a requirement under the patients charter that all hospitals must inform patients of the guaranteed date by which they will be admitted for
  201
  treatment. In addition, a national telephone health helpline has been established under the patients charter so that patients can inquire about local waiting times as well as a wide variety of other health matters.

  Since 1987 we have provided a waiting time fund of nearly £200 million to enable hundreds of thousands of additional patients to be treated from waiting lists. Waiting times for hospital treatment have improved dramatically and we are determined to build on this success.

  Nurse Training
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of enrolled nurses have the opportunity for training or professional development on conversion courses to achieve first level registration; what information she has on the different levels of opportunity in different health authority areas; and which health authorities provide(a) the best and (b) the worst training opportunities for enrolled nurses.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will introduce a national policy on training for enrolled nurses to ensure a consistent approach between regions; and if she will refund the costs of undertaking open and distance learning incurred by enrolled nurses.

  Mr. Sackville
  It is for regional health authorities, in consultation with employers, to plan for enrolled nurse conversion.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of enrolled nurses are from an ethnic minority; and what policies there are to increase training opportunities for this group.

  Mr. Sackville
  Data on the ethnic background of enrolled nurses are not held centrally. They will benefit from recent measures which have increased opportunities for conversion.

  NHS Facilities (Access)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy on the rights of access to NHS facilities of patients with guide dogs; and what guidance she has issued or intends to issue on this matter.

  Mr. Yeo
  The patients charter sets a national standard requiring arrangements to be made to ensure that everyone, including people with special needs, can use the services. This includes patients with guide dogs.

  NHS Management Audit
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to conduct an audit of management within the NHS; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I understand that, as part of its continuing programme of value-for money studies, the Audit Commission is undertaking a study of unit management in the national health service. I look forward to considering its report.

  Whistle Blowers
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the consultations on her draft guidance on the protection of the position of NHS employees who draw attention to malpractice and fraud; and when she expects to issue formal guidance.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Following the recent consultation exercise on the draft guidance on freedom of speech for national health service staff, we are currently considering the large number of comments received. We expect to be able to issue the final version shortly.

  Waiting List Initiative
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines she has given to purchasers and providers of health care concerning the use of marginal cost pricing for waiting list initiative expenditure; in what circumstances purchaser-provider arrangements for operations cart be based on marginal cost pricing; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Allocations to regional health authorities from the waiting time fund are tied to the achievement of waiting time targets and, in particular, national policy objectives. Standard pricing guidelines apply to the health care that these funds purchase. As marginal cost pricing should only be applied, in year, for unplanned spare capacity in excess of the assumed volume of service, waiting list initiative expenditure need not result in marginal cost pricing. It is therefore not appropriate to issue separate guidelines on marginal cost pricing of waiting list expenditure.

  Huntington's Chorea
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed with Huntington's chorea for each year since 1990; and what facilities for treatment are available.

  Mr. Yeo
  The latest year for which figures are held is 1989–90. In that year there were 725 admissions to national health service hospitals of patients whose diagnosis was Huntington's chorea. There is no known cure for this disease; the full range of NHS treatment and nursing and social care is available to people suffering from it. Because it is an inherited condition, genetic counselling is available to help with decisions about having children.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been commissioned into Huntington's chorea.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Department of Health has not commissioned any research into Huntington's chorea. The Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid through the Office of Science and Technology, is the main Government agency for the promotion of medical and related biological research in this country. I understand that in the financial year 1991–92, the council's expenditure on research relevant to Huntington's chorea was £99,000. Other basic research funded by the council may, in part, have some relevance to Huntington's chorea. Universities and medical schools may also be funding relevant research.

  GP Fund Holders
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the formula used to calculate the moneys(a) paid to GP fund holders, (b) the data collection methods used to inform the actual distribution of moneys and (c) any changes to either (a) or (b) she plans.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The methodology for setting general practitioner fund holders' 1993–94 budgets was published in EL 92(83) "General Practice Fundholding: Guidance on setting budgets for 1993–94", a copy of which is in the Library.

  The responsibility for setting budgets rests with regional health authorities who organise data collection locally. We have no immediate plans to change the way budgets are set but will keep this under review.

  Private Nurses
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified nurses were employed in(a) private hospitals, (b) private nursing homes and (c) private nursing agencies in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 8 February 1993]: The available information is given in the table. The Department does not collect information about the staffing levels in private nursing agencies.

  Qualified staff employed in private hospitals and nursing homes

  Hospitals

  Nursing homes

  Number

  W.T.E

  Number

  W.T.E

  1985

  7,746

  6,660

  17,259

  11,693

  1986

  8,210

  7,001

  21,825

  14,682

  1987–88

  8,252

  6,967

  27,801

  18,869

  1988–89

  8,907

  7,579

  32,044

  21,487

  1989–90

  9,103

  7.707

  36,678

  24,719

  1990–91

  9,048

  7,581

  43,865

  29,730

  Source: SBH 212. 1985–86.

  K036 1987–88–1990–91.

  W.T.E: Whole time equivalent number of staff based on contracted hours of employment in individual establishments.

PRIME MINISTER

  Sandringham
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his statement on 11 February,Official Report, column 1111, if Sandringham will be treated as a royal palace or as a private residence of Her Majesty the Queen.

  The Prime Minister
  Sandringham, which has official as well as private use, is a private asset of Her Majesty the Queen.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates have resigned before reaching retirement age in the last five years; and how many have offered as the reason for their decision the changes in the law and practice restricting their freedom of decision taking.
  204
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The number of resignations, other than on grounds of age, for the Lord Chancellor's area of responsibility in each of the last five years were:

  Year

  Number

  1992

  1,034

  1991

  820

  1990

  794

  1989

  799

  1988

  659

  No information is collected centrally on how many magistrates have resigned with the reason offered being changes in the law and practice restricting their freedom of decision taking. Over the period the number of magistrates has grown from 24,112 to 25,340.

  County Court Judgments
  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he proposes to arrange for county courts' judgments under £5,000 to carry interest; if he will authorise such interest to apply retrospectively; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department has recently conducted a wide-ranging public consultation to evaluate the scheme introduced in July 1991 which provides for interest on county court judgments over £5,000. Responses to this consultation are currently being evaluated. While it would not therefore be appropriate to make a statement about any extension of the scheme at this time, my officials will be writing to interested parties to inform them of the outcome of the evaluation during the spring. I can, however, confirm that any extension of the scheme would not provide for interest to apply retrospectively.

  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when his evaluation of the question of county court judgments carrying interest will be concluded.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department's evaluation of the changes introduced in July 1991, which included a provision for interest on judgment debts over £5,000, will be completed by the end of this month.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Public Sector Spending
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discount rate was adopted by Her Majesty's Government for public sector spending in the periods(a) 1979 to 1989 and (b) 1989 to the present; what considerations underpinned the change made in 1989; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's future plans for the discount rate.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Government specify a standard rate of discount for the public services. It is set on the basis of long-term factors, and is changed infrequently.

  The 1978 White Paper, "The Nationalised Industries", Cm 7131, introduced the concept of the required rate of return—RRR—a real return on the whole of each enterprise's investment programme. No discount rate was centrally specified for the enterprises, but in practice a rate

  205
  of 5 per cent. in real terms—the same as the RRR—or sometimes a higher rate, was used as a discount rate for investment appraisal.

  At the same time as Cm 7131 an announcement was made about the discount rates to be used in the public services—Official Report, 5 April 1978, columns 147–48. A discount rate of 5 per cent. in real terms was specified for appraisals of choice of techniques, and a rate of 7 per cent. for other appraisals. In practice 7 per cent. was used only for the appraisal of roads.

  A new regime was announced on 5 April 1989—Official Report, column 187. The RRR for public enterprises was raised from 5 to 8 per cent., and the discount rate for the public services from 5 to 6 per cent. However for central Government trading activities selling commercially into private markets the discount rate should usually be at least 8 per cent. Other special cases are listed in "Economic Appraisal in Central Government: A Technical Guide for Government Departments"—the "Green Book"—annex G, paragraph 12.

  The 1989 changes were a consequence of the long-term trend in the real rate of return on private sector assets between the late 1970s and late 1980s. The increase in the discount rate for the public sector services was more modest, reflecting the smaller increase in the cost of capital to a private sector company raising funds for low-risk purposes.

  The discount rate is intended to reflect long-term conditions, rather than cyclical factors.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made on the effect on public sector investment in energy technology projects of the current level of discount rates.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  My Department's investment in energy technology projects is for research or regulatory purposes, for which assessment on a discounting basis is not appropriate. All the programmes are, however, subject to regular review. The public sector energy industries, which operate in a commercial environment, assess their investment programmes according to the appropriate Treasury guidelines.

  Pornography
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures are being taken to stop the flow of illegal pornography from other European countries into the United Kingdom.

  Sir John Cope
  The importation of obscene material and indecent material featuring children into the United Kingdom from any country remains illegal. Routine frontier Customs controls on goods from EC countries ceased on 1 January 1993, but anti-smuggling checks better targeted in response to the known risks continue to prevent the importation of illegal goods. Routine checks also continue on goods from non-EC countries.

  Income Tax
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the annual cost of introducing a 35 per cent. income tax rate for all income(a) between £23,700 and £26,000, (b) between £23,700 and £30,000, and (c) between £23,700 and £35,000; and what would be
  206
  the annual revenue from introducing a 50 per cent. rate on (i) all income over £50,000, (ii) all income over £60,000 and (iii) all income over £70,000.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The latest estimates are as follows:

  Band of taxable income over which 35 per cent. Rate would be charged

  Revenue cost in full year at 1992–93 income levels

  £

  £million

  23,700 to 26,000

  170

  23,700 to 30,000

  400

  23,700 to 35,000

  600

  Level of taxable income above which 50 per cent. Rate would be charged

  Revenue yield in a full year at 1992–93 income levels

  £

  £ million

  50,000

  1,360

  60,000

  1,120

  70,000

  950

  The estimates do not allow for any behavioural effect that might result from such changes to the tax system and do not include capital gains tax.

  Charities (Taxation)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had from the Charities Tax Reform Group in regard to taxation on charities; what reply he is sending; what action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  The Charities' Tax Reform Group—CTRG—has suggested that charities could be compensated by grant in aid for their irrecoverable VAT on non-business expenditure incurred in carrying out their charitable objectives.

  I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget speech. I have replied to the CTRG along those lines. However, I am also expecting to meet the group shortly to receive further representations.

  Balance of Payments
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the measures he is taking to endeavour to reduce the United Kingdom balance of payments deficit.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Government can best assist traders by keeping inflation and interest rates low. Inflation is now at its lowest level for 25 years and below the European Community average. Interest rates are the lowest for 15 years, and are the lowest in the European Community. The extra support for the Export Credits Guarantee Department announced in the autumn statement will also benefit many exporters.

  The success of this approach is demonstrated by the number of overseas investors choosing to locate here. In 1991 the United Kingdom had over 40 per cent. of the stock of Japanese inward investment to the EC.
  207
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the net balance of trade in manufactured goods in the last month for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nelson
  The balance of trade in manufactured goods for December 1992 was published by the Central Statistical Office in the "UK Balance of Payments—Current Account in December" press notice which was published on 28 January 1993, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. The information is also available on the Central Statistical Office database which may be accessed by the House of Commons Library.

  European Co-operative Statute
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Government's policy on the European co-operative statute, passed by the European Parliament on 22 January.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government's views on the proposed European co-operative statute were set out in the explanatory memorandum on European Community legislation submitted to Parliament on 14 May 1992. The Government are analysing responses to a consultative document issued last year and will be reporting on their implications in a further explanatory memorandum later in the year.

  European Investment Fund
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to revise the terms of the Maastricht treaty and its protocols to take account of the decision at the Edinburgh European Council relating to a European investment fund; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  None.

  Tax Arrears
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will raise the income limits which govern the Inland Revenue's practice for remitting arrears of tax where information provided to the Revenue has not been used within a reasonable time.
  208
  Mr. Dorrell
  I am pleased to announce that the limits are to be increased from today.

  The Inland Revenue's practice of remitting tax in cases where the Department has not made timely use of information available is set out in the White Paper of July 1971—first report from the Select Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration: Session 1970–71: cmnd 4729. The proportion of arrears collected varies according to the size of the taxpayer's gross income; the balance of the arrear is remitted.

  The following new scale of limits will apply to arrears of tax, the actual or likely amount of which is first notified to the taxpayer or his agent on or after 17 February, 1993:

  Gross Income £

  Remission

  15,500 or less

  All

  15,501–18,000

  3/4

  18,001–22,000

  1/2

  22,001–26,000

  1/4

  26,001–40,000

  1/10

  40,001 or more

  None

  These figures apply to all taxpayers and exceed the previously separate scale for pensioners which is abolished from today.

  Quangos
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all those non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible which have the power to compel individuals, firms, companies or other institutions to carry out their instructions at the expense of the individuals, firms, companies or other institutions, and also to charge fees for the cost to the non-departmental public bodies of assessing the work which needed to be done.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: The Financial Services Tribunal.

EDUCATION

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals he has to obtain the power to sanction grant-maintained status to new schools established in(a) redundant local education authority premises and (b) redundant non-LEA premises.

  Mr. Forth
  It will be for promoters of new grant-maintained schools to provide premises. When determining such an application under the provisions of the Education Bill currently before the House, the Secretary of State will take into consideration the suitability of any premises. This would apply equally whether or not the premises were in LEA ownership.

  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals he has to obtain the power to award grant-maintained status to new schools whose intake is selected on the grounds of(a) academic ability or (b) artistic, sporting, scientific or other ability.

  Mr. Forth
  The Education Bill currently under consideration in the House will enable the Secretary of State to award grant-maintained status to new schools that select on the grounds of academic ability or selection by specialism.

  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals he has to obtain the power to allow an existing independent school company to establish a new grant-maintained school in(a) redundant local education authority premises and (b) non-LEA premises.

  Mr. Forth
  It would be for the promoters of an existing independent school company to provide the premises for a new grant-maintained school. If they wished to use the redundant LEA premises for their new GM school, this would be a matter between them and the local education authority. If they wished to establish the school in a non-LEA premises, they would be free to propose this.

  The Government are considering bringing forward an amendment to the Education Bill to make it clear that promoters of existing independent schools, as well as voluntary bodies, will be able to seek grant-maintained status.

  Secondary Schools
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 28 January,Official Report, column 807, what estimate he has made of the total number of places in secondary schools in England and Wales, the number he now believes are surplus to requirements and the number of the total, actual or estimated, that are currently located in temporary or mobile accommodation and the numbers located in laboratories, workshops or other specialist teaching space as defined in departmental circular 11/88 of 1988.

  Mr. Forth
  Questions about the level of surplus places in Welsh secondary schools are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. On the basis of the Department's survey of school capacity, we estimate that in 1991 there were some 3·5 million secondary school places in England, of which up to 210
  700,000 were surplus, although not all of these are practicably removable. It is not possible to say how many secondary school places were, or are, located in temporary or mobile accommodation, laboratories, workshops or other specialist teaching spaces.

  Schools (Space Requirements)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what criteria or evidence from practising teachers his Department took into account when formulating the space requirements for pupils in primary and secondary schools used in the content of Departmental circulars(a)11/88 and (b) 6/91.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department undertakes fieldwork to monitor the use of teaching accommodation, including discussions with practising teachers, and the results are fed into the formulation of space requirements.

  Special Needs Pupils
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to amend section 2 of the Education Act 1981 to place the onus upon local education authorities to justify segregation of special needs education pupils away from mainstream schools.

  Mr. Forth
  The Education Bill currently before Parliament will put a qualified duty on LEAs to integrate children with statements in ordinary schools unless that duty is incompatible with the wishes of the parent. The Bill will also establish an independent special educational needs tribunal. LEAs will be required to justify their decisions over a child's placement on an appeal by the parent to the tribunal.

  Further Education
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what action he is taking to assist towards improved success rates in further education and to increase motivation among those in the 16 to 19-year-old age groups who are involved.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Government's clear policy is to increase both the participation and attainment of 16 to 19-year-olds. Public expenditure plans already provide for a substantial expansion of provision. Within this framework, we are working with and through the new Further Education Funding Council, qualifications bodies and others to promote three high quality qualification pathways—GCE A-levels and AS, general national vocational qualifications and national vocational qualifications—and to help young people choose the courses which are best for them. We are also working to develop and publish indicators to demonstrate and encourage the improved performance that will follow this better match of provision to need.

  Seven-year-olds (Testing)
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a table covering a composite of English, mathematics, science and technology for the most recent standard assessment tests for seven-year-olds and ranking local education authorities according to level 3 attainment.
  211
  Mr. Forth
  The table shows the ranking of local education authorities in England according to attainment at level 3 and above in a composite of English, mathematics, science and technology for the 1992 standard assessment tests for seven year olds.

  Key stage 1 assessment 1992

  (as at 15 December 1992)

  Local education authority ranking

  Composite of English, mathematics, science and technology

  Local education authority

  Percentage at level 3 and above

  Bromley

  24

  Hackney

  24

  Harrow

  24

  Richmond upon Thames

  24

  Barnet

  23

  Camden

  22

  Hammersmith

  22

  Haringey

  22

  Hillingdon

  22

  Merton

  22

  Sutton

  22

  Hertfordshire

  21

  Islington

  21

  Redbridge

  21

  Westminster

  21

  Enneld

  20

  Isle of Wight

  20

  Tower Hamlets

  20

  Wandsworth

  20

  Ealing

  19

  Gloucestershire

  19

  Kensington and Chelsea

  19

  Lambeth

  19

  Lewisham

  19

  Trafford

  19

  West Sussex

  19

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  18

  South Tyneside

  18

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  17

  Derbyshire

  17

  East Sussex

  17

  Gateshead

  17

  North Yorkshire

  17

  Nottinghamshire

  17

  Oldham

  17

  Southwark

  17

  Tameside

  17

  Croydon

  16

  Dorset

  16

  Kirklees

  16

  Lincolnshire

  16

  Manchester

  16

  Waltham Forest

  16

  Warwickshire

  16

  Wiltshire

  16

  Wirral

  16

  Avon

  15

  Berkshire

  15

  Buckinghamshire

  15

  Cheshire

  15

  Cumbria

  15

  Doncaster

  15

  Greenwich

  15

  Hampshire

  15

  Kingston upon Thames

  15

  Leeds

  15

  212

  Local education authority

  Percentage at level 3 and above

  Shropshire

  15

  Somerset

  15

  Barking

  14

  Bexley

  14

  Brent

  14

  Calderdale

  14

  Devon

  14

  Essex

  14

  Havering

  14

  Hereford and Worcester

  14

  Kent

  14

  Norfolk

  14

  Northumberland

  14

  Rochdale

  14

  Solihull

  14

  Surrey

  14

  Wolverhampton

  14

  Bradford

  13

  Cambridgeshire

  13

  Durham

  13

  Hounslow

  13

  Leicestershire

  13

  Oxfordshire

  13

  Rotherham

  13

  Sandwell

  13

  Sefton

  13

  Sheffield

  13

  St. Helens

  13

  Stockport

  13

  Suffolk

  13

  Bedfordshire

  12

  Birmingham

  12

  Bury

  12

  Humberside

  12

  Liverpool

  12

  Wakefield

  12

  Bolton

  11

  Dudley

  11

  Knowsley

  11

  North Tyneside

  Northamptonshire

  11

  Salford

  11

  Sunderland

  1 1

  Walsall

  Lancashire

  10

  Newham

  10

  Staffordshire

  9

  Barnsley

  8

  Cleveland

  8

  Coventry

  8

  Wigan

  6

  ENGLAND

  15

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to reply to the letters dated 2 December and 2 February from Dr. D. Taylor, vice chairman of the governors at Churston grammar school, Brixham, South Devon, about the status of incremental enhancements in teachers' pay scales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Both letters were answered on 16 February.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Drug Misuse
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to health education and drug misuse to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 15 to 19 March 1993.

  European Court (Phone Calls)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will take steps to provide an abbreviated dialling code to allow hon. Members to make direct telephone calls from the House to the European Court of Justice.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I have arranged for the telephone numbers of the European Court of Justice and of the United Kingdom permanent representative to the EC to be included in the abbreviated dialling system.

  Members' Pay
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what are the average costs in salary and allowances of one hon. Member of Parliament.

  Mr. Newton
  At 31 March 1992 the full parliamentary salary was payable at the rate of £30,854 per annum and the ceiling figures for the office costs allowance—OCA —and additional costs allowance—ACA—were £28,986 and £10,786 respectively.

  For the year 1991–92 nearly all hon. Members claimed the permitted OCA maximum and most of the 621 hon. Members who were entitled to the ACA claimed the maximum.

  Given the wide variation of travel costs for individual hon. Members, it is not possible to give a meaningful average.

  Select Committees
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what proposals he has to strengthen the Select Committee system.

  Mr. Newton
  I have no particular plans to alter the workings of the Select Committee system, but am always ready to consider proposals from hon. and right hon. Members.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total cost, including an estimate for the time of civil servants involved, of the conference on market testing held at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre on 18 January.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The total cost of this conference was met by the subscription fees paid by delegates. The cost of 214
  the time of the civil servants involved cannot be identified separately: discussions with private sector companies are an integral part of their work to take forward market testing.

  Open Government
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to announce the results of his open government initiative.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  The results of the open government review will be announced in a White Paper later this year.

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chncellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of the report into the operation of freedom of information laws in Australia, Canada and New Zealand submitted to the Cabinet Office by Mr. Robert Hazell at the conclusion of his civil service Nuffield and Leverhulme travelling fellowship in 1986–87.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  This report was prepared on the basis that views expressed by the federal and provincial governments concerned were given in confidence. They would need to be consulted before the report was made generally available. However, an article by Mr. Hazell based on the reports was published in the summer 1989 issue of the quarterly journal of the Royal Institute of Public Administration.

TRANSPORT

  Seaborne Trade
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the tonnage of the United Kingdom's seaborne trade in each year since 1979; and how much of this trade was carried(a) in United Kingdom registered ships and (b) in ships carried by United Kingdom ship owners.

  Mr. Norris
  The total tonnage of the United Kingdom's seaborne trade in each year since 1979 and the share of this trade carried in United Kingdom registered ships are given in the table:

  Total(thousand tonnes)

  Percentage in United Kingdom ships

  1979

  251,276

  29

  1980

  230,982

  34

  1981

  242,654

  28

  1982

  242,292

  28

  1983

  247,108

  24

  1984

  274,078

  23

  1985

  286,070

  23

  1986

  298,356

  21

  1987

  297,940

  22

  1988

  289,014

  21

  1989

  287,324

  21

  1990

  300,475

  19

  1991

  299,601

  18

  No information is available on the basis of ship ownership.

  Tankers
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the statutory provisions which currently exist for the purposes of regulating moored tankers in Lyme Bay and other United Kingdom waters.

  Mr. Norris
  At the present time, articles 9 and 14 of the Convention on the Territorial Seas and Contiguous Zone 1958 govern the freedom of all ships to proceed through and anchor in this region during the normal course of a passage.

  Regulations have been drafted under section 35 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988, to govern ship-to-ship transfers of dangerous goods, marine pollutants, noxious liquid substances in bulk, oil fuel bunkers, crude oil and refined products, within United Kingdom territorial limits beyond port limits, including Lyme hay. These regulations will be laid before Parliament in the near future.

  In addition, United Kingdom regulations giving effect to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention 1972—SOLAS —and the Convention for Preventions of Pollution from Ships 1973–78—MARPOL—generally apply to non-United Kingdom ships within our territorial seas.

  Shetland Oil Spill
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the economic cost of the MV Braer oil incident including the economic effect on fisheries, tourism and the local community.

  Mr. Norris
  Shetland Islands council is undertaking an economic impact study of the Braer incident. It is likely to be some time before the results are available.

  Buses
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish a consultation document on possible amendments to the Transport Act 1985.

  Mr. Freeman
  I do not intend to alter the basic deregulatory regime set up by the Transport Act 1985. There may, however, be aspects of its working that could be improved and I intend to issue a consultation paper on them shortly.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action has been taken to implement commitment No. 77 in the "This Common Inheritance" second year report relating to the provision of better information to bus passengers and the development of measures for promoting the use of buses.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have allocated a further £15·5 million for measures to promote bus use in 1993–94, some of which relate to passenger information systems, and have also allocated funds to a trial of low-floor buses. I have commissioned research into the provision of information to bus passengers and will consider whether to issue guidelines in the light of this research.

  Radioactive Materials
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 9 February,Official Report, c. 584, to the hon. Member for Davyhulme (Mr. Churchill), what consideration his Department has given to keeping a data base of movements of radioactive material by road, rail or air.
  216
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It is not considered that the compilation of such a database would help the Department with its responsibilities for the safe transport of radioactive material.

  Rail freight
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British Rail employees were made redundant as a result of the ending of Trainload Freight seeking contracts on the West Highland line.

  Mr. Freeman
  None. British Rail will make every effort to redeploy displaced staff when this traffic ceases at the end of March.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many people were directly employed by Railfreight Distribution in each of the past five financial years;

  (2) how many people were directly employed by Trainload Freight in each of the past five financial years.

  Mr. Freeman
  Railway staffing is a matter for BR. Following is the information for Railfreight Distribution:

  Number

  1987–88

  1,394

  1988–89

  1,390

  1989–90

  1,579

  1990–91

  1,684

  1991–92

  2,898

  Train crew are not included, as they are brought in from the passenger sectors and Trainload Freight. The increase in the numbers of staff for 1991–92 reflects the changes brought by the initiative "Organising for Quality"; operational regions have been abolished, and their staff are now employed by RfD. Previous increases in staffing can be attributed in the main to preparations for channel tunnel freight services.

  Trainload Freight currently employs about 13,500 staff. Comparable historical data are not readily available.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on freight losses from the railways; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department has received several representations from hon. Members and private interests. During the Railways Bill Second Reading debate, my right hon. Friend proposed three new measures intended to assist the rail freight industry.

  British Airports Authority
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what statutory provisions and mechanisms exist to protect the customer and individual consumer of services provided by airports run by BAA.

  Mr. Norris
  All airports are governed by the Airports Act 1986, under which the Civil Aviation Authority can remedy or prevent unfair or discriminatory trade or pricing practices concerning the handling of aircraft, passengers and their baggage. In addition, at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports there is a statutory
  217
  five-yearly review of all activities affecting airport users. The Office of Fair Trading also has powers to investigate other commercial activities at all BAA's airports under consumer and competition legislation.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration the Government have given to the scope for competition in respect of airports operated by BAA plc; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The Government believe in free, open and fair competition in the air travel and airports markets and will continue to ensure that the interests of consumers and operators alike are protected against anti-competitive practices. Charges at BAA's airports are subject to regulation by the Civil Aviation Authority, which has powers to remedy any specific instance of conduct which unreasonably discriminates against airport users or unfairly exploits an airport's market strength.

  Public Transport
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of(a) bus services, (b) train services, (c) maritime ferry services and (d) other public transport services, in each year since 1981.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information on the number of public transport services in Scotland is not available. Figures that are available appear in the annual publications "Scottish

  Passenger journeys by public transport in Scotland

  Bus and coach travel on local (stage) services1

  Rail services passenger traffic originating in Scotland

  Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive— Underground

  Maritime ferry services2

  Air terminal passenger traffic to/ from Scottish airports3

  Year

  Million

  Year

  Million

  Year

  Thousand

  Year

  Thousand

  Year

  Thousand

  1981

  716

  1981

  57·8

  1981–82

  10,634

  1981

  4,270

  1981

  6,498·5

  1982

  694

  41982

  49–5

  1982–83

  11,792

  1982

  4,193

  1982

  6,369·9

  1983

  680

  1983

  55–7

  1983–84

  12,261

  1983

  4,511

  1983

  6,482·8

  1984

  669

  51984–85

  64·1

  1984–85

  12,693

  1984

  4,665

  1984

  6,985·1

  1985–86

  671

  1985–86

  57·1

  1985–86

  13,148

  1985

  4,668

  1985

  6,942·6

  1986–87

  644

  1986–87

  53·1

  1986–87

  13,700

  1986

  4,851

  1986

  7,241·3

  1987–88

  647

  1987–88

  54·1

  1987–88

  13,518

  1987

  5,346

  1987

  7,810·4

  1988–89

  647

  1988–89

  54·0

  1988–89

  13,591

  1988

  5,655

  1988

  8,507·2

  1989–90

  613

  41989–90

  51·8

  1989–90

  13,466

  1989

  6,176

  1989

  9,228·6

  1990–91

  585

  1990–91

  54·8

  1990–91

  13,670

  1990

  6,543

  1990

  9,861–4

  1991–92

  572

  1991–92

  —

  1991–92

  13,480

  1991

  6,800

  1991

  9,570·5

  1 Figures are approximate, as only a sample of the smaller bus and coach operators is surveyed.

  2 Covers Caledonian McBrayne and services to Orkney and Shetland.

  3 Includes double counting of flights within Scotland.

  4 Figures affected by industrial action.

  5 Figure refers to the 15 month period 1 January 1984 to 31 March 1985.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Whisky
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the result of the recent meeting of the Council of Ministers which reviewed the EC spirits definition regulations requiring a minimum alcoholic strength by volume for whisky.

  Mr. Curry
  The Council accepted a recommendation by the EC Commission that the minimum alcoholic strength of whisky should remain at 40 per cent. by volume.
  218
  Transport Statistics" and "Bus and Coach Statistics". The following table gives the number of vehicle kilometres on bus and coach services run by operators based in Scotland and by Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive—Underground.

  Vehicle kilometres by public transport

  Bus and coach services1 (million)

  Strathclyde Passenger

  Local (stage) services

  Other services

  All services

  Executive— Underground (thousand)

  1981

  294

  121

  416

  1981–82

  1,022

  1982

  287

  124

  411

  1982–83

  1,070

  1983

  290

  137

  427

  1983–84

  1,069

  1984

  286

  146

  432

  1984–85

  1,078

  1985–86

  286

  143

  429

  1985–86

  1,062

  1986–87

  303

  147

  449

  1986–87

  1,120

  1987–88

  329

  145

  474

  1987–88

  1,089

  1988–89

  326

  154

  480

  1988–89

  1,166

  1989–90

  336

  167

  503

  1989–90

  1,165

  1990–91

  335

  164

  499

  1990–91

  1,122

  1991–92

  355

  169

  524

  1991–92

  1,137

  1 Figures are approximate, as only a sample of the smaller bus and coach operators is surveyed.

  Figures for range of different modes of public transport are available only in terms of the number of passenger journeys, which are given in the following table.

  Linseed Crop
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to bring this season's linseed crop into the set-aside regime.

  Mr. Curry
  The European Commission's price-fixing proposals include the addition of linseed to the list of crops eligible for aid in 1993 under the arable area payments scheme, which includes provisions for set-aside. The timing of this proposal takes no account of farming practice and causes considerable difficulties for linseed producers. I am therefore opposing it.

  Inspectorate for Plant Health
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the powers of the inspectorate for plant health.
  219
  Mr. Curry
  The powers of the plant health and seeds inspectorate are set out in the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1987.

  The inspectorate is empowered to take appropriate action to ensure that a high plant health status is maintained, consistent with the necessity to allow the continuation of trade wherever possible. This will continue under the single market arrangements for plant health which are due to come into force on 1 June this year.

  Ruminant-based Protein
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research has been carried out under the auspices of his Department to ascertain whether it is safe to feed pigs and poultry with ruminant-based protein.

  Mr. Soames
  There is no evidence of a naturally occurring spongiform encephalopathy in these species. The Tyrrell committee has advised that there are no grounds for extending the ban on the use of ruminant protein to non-ruminants, provided that the specified bovine offals are excluded. Nevertheless, studies are in hand involving the feeding of brain material from confirmed cases of BSE to pigs and poultry, and epidemiological surveillance of pigs and poultry is maintained.

  Russian Food and Fish
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider taking anti-dumping action in relation to imports of Russian food and fish.

  Mr. Curry
  I am aware of the United Kingdom fishing industry's concern that the current weak market for some species may be caused in part by the importation of cheap Russian cod. The United Kingdom, along with other member states and the EC Commission, is urgently studying the situation on the Community market in relation to the reference prices and associated provisions set out in EC regulation 3759/92 on the common organisation of the market in fishery and aquaculture products.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what safeguards have been introduced to prevent the acquisition of days at sea entitlements by foreign-owned British-registered fishing vessels.

  Mr. Curry
  Days-at-sea conditions will be attached to the licences of all British registered fishing vessels of over 10 m in length, regardless of ownership.

  Sea Fish Conservation Bill
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were his estimates of the cost of enforcing and administering the Sea Fish Conservation Bill before the Bill was introduced; and what they are now.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on 2 February, column 133.

  Set-aside Land
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what area of agricultural land in Nottinghamshire is set aside under the common agricultural policy; and what is its annual value.

  Mr. Curry
  A total of 777 hectares of land are currently set aside in Nottinghamshire under the five-year set-aside scheme at an annual cost of around £146,000. Information on the land set aside under the new arable area payments scheme will not be available until growers have to declare the area later this year.

  Drainage Authorities
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how set-aside land is treated in the investment appraisal carried out by a drainage authority when seeking central Government grant aid;

  (2) which crops and livestock products are excluded from consideration as a cost or benefit in the investment appraisal carried out by a drainage authority when seeking central Government grant aid on the grounds that there are no net national costs or benefits due to supply control mechanisms.

  Mr. Curry
  The Ministry plans to publish next month revised and updated project appraisal guidelines on the investment appraisal of flood defence and coast protection capital works. The guidelines will contain specific instructions to drainage authorities covering these issues. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what guidance is given to drainage authorities on the maintenance of the original protection or drainage standard beyond the design life of an earlier scheme;

  (2) what guidance is given to drainage authorities on the maintenance of previously grant-aided works where within the design life of the scheme (a) land use changes have occurred that mean that greater economic benefits could be gained by no longer maintaining that scheme and (b) damage to a site of acknowledged environmental interest is occurring through continuing to maintain that scheme.

  Mr. Curry
  Maintenance work is essential to the sound management of flood defences and is the responsibility of local flood defence and land drainage authorities. The Ministry does not issue separate guidance on the economic appraisal of maintenance, as opposed to capital, work, but authorities are expected to achieve value for money by keeping their maintenance programmes under review throughout the design life of defences and beyond if they remain sustainable. The Ministry intends to produce guidance on post-project evaluation of defences for authorities later this year.

  The Ministry's publication "Conservation Guidelines for Drainage Authorities" advises that authorities should consult the statutory conservation bodies annually and in advance on their maintenance programmes for the following year. A separate Ministry guide, "Environmental Procedures for Inland Flood Defence Works", published last December jointly with English Nature and the National Rivers Authority, advises that the impact of defences on the environment should be

  221
  audited and that mitigating action may be required if the environmental or engineering objectives have not been achieved.

  Set-aside Land
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of rotational set-aside.

  Mr. Curry
  The Ministry has an ongoing programme of monitoring and research on the environmental effects of set-aside, including changes in botanical composition and impact on wildlife habitats, weeds, diseases, pests and nitrate leaching. We were able to draw on this and on advice from environmental organisations in establishing the rules for management of rotational set-aside under the new EC arable scheme last year. It is as yet too early to assess the impact of the rotational set-aside arrangements, which were introduced only last autumn, but we will be carrying out a full evaluation of both these and the non-rotational set-aside arrangements which are due to be introduced from this autumn.

SCOTLAND

  Hospitals
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet representatives of the British Medical Association to discuss(a) bed closures, (b) cancelled operating lists and (c) hospitals running out of money before the end of the financial year.

  Mr. Stewart
  Although my right hon. Friend meets representatives from the British Medical Association from time to time, he has no immediate plans for a further meeting at present.

  Heritage Sites
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional resources he will make available to Scottish Heritage to assist in the emergency preservation of architectural sites on the coasts of the Western Isles, Orkney Isles and Shetland Isles following the storms in January.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Although these storms did considerable damage, they were but one episode in a continuing problem which Historic Scotland is already addressing by monitoring, survey and excavation. I am satisfied that Historic Scotland has the resources it needs to continue this work.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on his proposed changes to eligibility for civil legal aid and advice and assistance.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has carefully considered the various representations he has received on the proposals to change the eligibility criteria for legal aid in Scotland as set out in my reply of 16 November 1992 to my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Mr. Robertson),Official Report, Vol. 214, col. 64.
  222
  Given the distinctive features of the Scottish legal system and in particular the interface between advice and assistance and full civil and criminal legal aid, my right hon. Friend has decided to retain a contributory band of advice and assistance. Those on income support or family credit or with a weekly disposable income of less than £61 will be eligible for free advice and assistance. Those whose weekly disosable income falls between £61 and £147 will receive advice and assistance subject to the payment of a contribution on a sliding scale set by reference to the level of the applicant's disposable income. The retention of contributory advice and assistance will ensure that those on moderate incomes above income support level will continue to benefit from advice and assistance.

  We intend to proceed with the changes to eligibility for civil legal aid as announced. The current eligibility criteria for criminal legal aid will remain unchanged.

  These changes will ensure the achievement of our Objective that reasonable access to legal aid continues to be provided for the most needy. Planned expenditure on legal aid is expected to rise by 40 per cent. over the next three years and more people than ever before are expected to be granted legal aid.

  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State has today written to all Scottish Members of Parliament explaining the revised proposals in more detail.

  Greenock Prison
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if there is to be a fatal accident inquiry concerning the recent death of a prisoner in Her Majesty's prison, Greenock; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: A fatal accident inquiry will be held into the death on 13 January 1993 of a prisoner in HM prison, Greenock although no date has yet been fixed. It would be improper to comment on the circumstances of the death until after the conclusion of the fatal accident inquiry.

  Wood Products
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been for each year since 1979(a) the cost of importing wood products and (b) the proportion of the total import costs represented by this figure.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 9 February 1993]: I have been asked to reply.

  The information is given in the following table.

  (a) Cost of importing wood products1 £million

  (b) Proportion of total visible imports per cent.

  1979

  1,411

  3·0

  1980

  1,282

  2·6

  1981

  1,343

  2·7

  1982

  1,435

  2·5

  1983

  1,922

  2·9

  1984

  2,119

  2·7

  1985

  2,050

  2·4

  1986

  2,306

  2·7

  1987

  2,665

  2·8

  1988

  3,004

  2·8

  1989

  3,141

  2·6

  1990

  3,109

  2·5

  1991

  2,562

  2·2

  223

  1 Wood products are defined as the principal products of class 46 less group 466 of the Standard Industrial Classification.

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the domestic consumption of wood products each year since 1979.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 9 February 1993]: I have been asked to reply.

  The available information is given in the following table. Comparable data for the years 1979 to 1981 are not available.

  Domestic consumption of wood products

  £billion

  1982

  5·4

  1983

  6·5

  1984

  7·2

  1985

  7·5

  1986

  8·2

  1987

  9·5

  1988

  11·1

  1989

  11·4

  1990

  11·1

  1991

  10·3

  Note: Wood products are defined as the principal products of class 46 less group 466 of the Standard Industrial Classification.

  Source: Business Monitors. PAS series: Central Statistical Office.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands continental shelf.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 16 February 1993, at column 119.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department has provided a letter of comfort to the Falkland Islands Government in respect of the seismic survey activity in the Falkland Islands continental shelf of Geco-Prakla and Spectrum Energy and Information Technology Ltd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on 10 February 1993, at column 618.

  Thailand
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Government have urged the Government of Thailand to bring to justice those who are responsible for aiding or facilitating forced prostitution of women and children in that country, including both locals and foreign tourists who engage the services of child and other forced prostitutes.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Her Majesty's ambassador in Bangkok recently raised our concern about the problem of forced 224
  prostitution in Thailand, particularly of children, with the Thai Government. We will continue to encourage Thailand to take effective measures to tackle the problem.

  Somalia and Kenya
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit by the Minister for Overseas Development to Somalia and Kenya.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In Somalia, my noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development had discussions in Mogadishu, Baidoa and Hargeisa on the future prospects for relief and rehabilitation. She met key United Nations and United States officials engaged in "Operation Restore Hope" and representatives of British non-governmental organisations.

  In Kenya, Baroness Chalker discussed political and economic issues with President Moi and other Kenyan leaders. She also visited a drought-affected district in the north-east to see relief and rehabilitation work.

  Angola
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the MPLA in Angola regarding the detention and alleged maltreatment of UNITA officials and supporters.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our embassy in Luanda has regularly raised this issue with the Angolan Government, and has taken it up with President dos Santos. The treatment and future of all detainees, including those held by UNITA, is one of several questions which can only be resolved by dialogue between the two parties. We have urged both sides to meet as a matter of urgency to continue the talks begun in Addis Ababa on 27 January.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Tools (Developing World)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much, in cash terms and as a percentage of the ODA budget, has been spent by the ODA in each of the last five years on tools for distribution to the developing world; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The supply of appropriate technology, including hand tools, forms an important part of many aid projects, both those we support directly and those managed by non-governmental organisations. Data about spending on hand tools are not collated centrally.

  European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the total budget of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the British contribution by financial year since its formation.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The European bank for reconstruction and development was inaugurated in April 1991. The information is as follows:
  225

  Budget (ecu million)

  1991

  106·2

  1992

  111·2

  1993

  139·9

  Members of the bank do not contribute directly to the budget; rather, they contribute to the bank's operating capital in direct proportion to their shareholding. The British shareholding is 8·5 per cent. worth 851·75 mecu, with a paid-in element of 30 per cent. over five years. Half is paid in cash and half in non-negotiable non-interest bearing promissory notes which are drawn down over three years. To date British capital subscription payments have been:

  Capital subscription

  Financial year

  £stg million

  1991–92

  21·6

  1992–93

  31·8

  As host country to the European bank for reconstruction and development, the British Government have additionally provided a grant of £40 million over three years to assist the European bank for reconstruction and development with the costs of establishing itself in London. This grant will be drawn down as follows:

  Recipient country

  Membership date

  Borrowings committed 1991 (mecu)

  Borrowings committed 1992 (mecu)

  Amounts disbursed 1992 (mecu)

  Albania

  18 December 1991

  8·26

  —

  Armenia

  7 December 1992

  —

  —

  Belarus

  10 June 1992

  —

  32·03

  0·32

  Bulgaria

  15 April 1991

  —

  107·51

  CSFR

  15 April 1991

  —

  227·08

  41·01

  Estonia

  28 February 1992

  —

  70·45

  Georgia

  26 May 1992

  —

  —

  Hungary

  15 April 1991

  98·21

  150·9

  65·08

  Kyrgyzstan

  5 June 1992

  —

  —

  Latvia

  18 March 1992

  —

  32·3

  Lithuania

  5 March 1992

  —

  15·86

  Moldova

  5 May 1992

  —

  —

  Poland

  15 April 1991

  90·58

  363·48

  16 13

  Romania

  15 April 1991

  165·00

  80·52

  0·75

  Russia

  9 April 1992

  14·32

  156·65

  2·89

  Turkmenistan

  1 June 1992

  —

  —

  Ukraine

  13 August 1992

  —

  2·89

  Uzbekistan

  30 April 1992

  —

  —

  Note: (a) No amounts were due for repayment up to the end of 1992.

  Know-how Fund
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the countries covered by the know-how fund, giving(a) the date on

  Countries

  Date eligible for assistance

  1989–90 (£000)

  1990–91 (£000)

  1991–92 (£000)

  Poland

  June 1989

  2,000

  10,900

  10,700

  Hungary

  October 1989

  —

  1,600

  6,300

  CSFR

  April 1990

  n/a

  2,000

  6,600

  Ex GDR

  April to October 1990

  n/a

  500

  n/a

  Bulgaria

  February 1991

  n/a

  —

  1,200

  Romania

  May 1991

  n/a

  n/a

  1,200

  226

  United Kingdom grant

  Financial year

  £stg million

  1991–92

  12·5

  1992–93

  15·0

  1993–94

  12·5

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all of the countries eligible to borrow from the European bank for reconstruction and development, giving(a) the date on which they became eligible, (b) the total borrowed in each subsequent financial year to the latest available date and (c) any repayments made by financial year.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The table shows the value of loans and investments signed by the European bank for reconstruction and development for 60 projects in its countries of operation in the last two financial years together with the amounts disbursed.

  Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan are not full members of the EBRD as yet. Membership procedures are currently under way for the following.

  Czech Republic

  Slovak Republic

  Croatia

  Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

  which they became eligible for assistance and (b) the total spend for each subsequent financial year to the latest available.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The know-how fund was launched in June 1989. The date on which countries became eligible for assistance and expenditure for these in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 are as follows.
  227

  Countries

  Date eligible for assistance

  1989–90 (£000)

  1990–91 (£000)

  1991–92 (£000)

  Slovenia

  July 1992

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Albania

  July 1992

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Estonia

  November 1990

  n/a

  —

  10

  Latvia

  November 1990

  n/a

  —

  —

  Lithuania

  November 1990

  n/a

  —

  15

  Kazakhstan

  November 1990

  n/a

  —

  10

  Uzbekistan

  November 1990

  n/a

  —

  —

  Armenia

  November 1990

  n/a

  —

  —

  Azerbaijan

  November 1990

  n/a

  —

  —

  Georgia

  November 1990

  n/a

  —

  —

  Belarus

  November 1990

  n/a

  —

  —

  Ukraine

  November 1990

  n/a

  —

  100

  Russia

  November 1990

  n/a

  1

  26,623

  Total spending on all know-how fund programmes for 1992–93 will not be available until later this year.

  Narmada Dam, India
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many people have been displaced by the Narmada dam project in India to date; and how many have been resettled;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the mechanism for payment of compensation to each displaced person in connection with the Narmada dam project, India; and what information he has on the relative differentials in compensation to people displaced in Gujarat and in Madhya Pradesh;

  (3) how much land each person displaced by the Narmada dam project and canal network receives; how many hectares of land have been allocated for displaced people; and if he will list the districts to which displaced people have been and will be located.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 4 February 1993]: A total of 5,500 families in Gujarat and Maharashtra have

  Force

  Average days sickness per officer due to assault 1990

  Average days sickness per officer non-assault 1990

  Average days sickness per officer due to assault 1991

  Average days sickness per officer non-assault 1991

  Avon and Somerset

  0·46

  9·71

  0·27

  9·89

  Bedfordshire

  0·55

  12·39

  0·76

  11·66

  Cambridgeshire

  0·18

  12·24

  0·48

  10·10

  Cheshire

  0·59

  10·04

  0·49

  11·82

  City of London

  0·05

  12·55

  0·01

  10·93

  Cleveland

  0·49

  19·01

  0·41

  15·83

  Cumbria

  0·14

  11·15

  0·30

  10·25

  Derbyshire

  0·37

  10·67

  0·67

  13·69

  Devon and Cornwall

  0·30

  9·19

  0·34

  9·78

  Dorset

  0·32

  7·27

  0·25

  10·72

  Durham

  0·87

  10·77

  0·82

  11·48

  Dyfed Powys

  0·66

  10·37

  0·24

  11·44

  Essex

  0·22

  12·42

  0·16

  11·28

  Gloucestershire

  0·22

  9·98

  0·29

  11·18

  Greater Manchester

  0·53

  13·69

  0·52

  12·46

  Gwent

  0·33

  10·60

  0·13

  13·68

  Hampshire

  0·69

  9·79

  0·29

  13·58

  Hertfordshire

  0·39

  13·06

  0·38

  13·49

  Humberside

  0·45

  13·13

  0·42

  9·96

  Kent

  0·18

  9·67

  0·06

  6·69

  Lancashire

  0·43

  15·97

  0·75

  14·81

  Leicestershire

  0·36

  13·22

  0·37

  13·52

  Lincolnshire

  0·56

  13·02

  0·63

  14·36

  Merseyside

  0·87

  16·09

  0·93

  18·93

  Norfolk

  0·27

  12·42

  0·11

  10·79

  North Wales

  0·47

  13·24

  0·60

  16·46

  North Yorkshire

  0·20

  11·64

  0·30

  13·71

  Northamptonshire

  0·12

  12·40

  0·06

  13·21

  Northumbria

  1·22

  9·07

  1·15

  8·75

  228
  been resettled to date. Compensation mechanisms have been established, but compensation formulae differ from state to state depending on eligibility criteria. About 11,300 hectares of land have been allocated so far to those who have been displaced. My noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development will write to the hon. Member in more detail about his questions; copies of her letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police (Sick Leave)
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 February,Official Report, columns 126–28, if he will give the figures for days lost in each police force in England and Wales due to (a) assault-related sick leave and (b) sick leave not due to assaults in 1990 and 1991 expressed as an average per officer employed in the force at these dates.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is as follows.
  229

  Force

  Average days sickness per officer due to assault 1990

  Average days sickness per officer non-assault 1990

  Average days sickness per officer due to assault 1991

  Average days sickness per officer non-assault 1991

  Nottinghamshire

  0·56

  11·54

  0·46

  11·54

  South Wales

  0·78

  13·11

  0·91

  14·92

  South Yorkshire

  0·43

  11·73

  0·20

  12·25

  Staffordshire

  0·51

  14·45

  0·50

  15·98

  Suffolk

  0·37

  7·44

  0·28

  7·19

  Surrey

  0·49

  8·83

  0·38

  11·10

  Sussex

  0·34

  9·76

  0·58

  13·11

  Thames Valley

  0·31

  6·97

  0·20

  9·60

  Warwickshire

  0·43

  11·81

  0·27

  13·78

  West Mercia

  0·24

  12·08

  0·20

  12·76

  West Midlands

  0·00

  7·09

  0·19

  9·37

  West Yorkshire

  0·46

  10·42

  0·56

  12·02

  Wiltshire

  0·39

  8·50

  0·33

  7·67

  Metropolitan police

  0·27

  12·39

  0·37

  10·91

  Calculated using authorised strength figures for 31 December 1990 and 1991

  Police Funding
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to change the revenue grant system for police forces in England and Wales to one based on the allocation of grant on assessment of relative need.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend is considering a range of issues connected with the police service, including future funding arrangements. How grant is allocated is clearly one aspect of this. He will announce his conclusions on funding in due course.

  Wolds Prison
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff of governor grade at the Wolds prison were previously employed at governor grade in the public prison sector.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A contracted-out prison is run by a director, not a governor. The director and the head of custody at Wolds remand prison were formerly employed by HM prison service in governor grades.

  Police, North Wales
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received relating to the establishment figure for the north Wales police; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received in the last 12 months six letters from hon. Members. My right hon. and noble Friend met a delegation last June to hear views about policing in Anglesey.

  The establishment of the North Wales police was increased in April 1992 by 17 officers, bringing the establishment of the force up to 1,369. In common with other forces, North Wales has not had an increase approved for 1993–94.

  Blakenhurst Prison
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects Blakenhurst prison to open.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock) on 21 January, at column 330.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the newly appointed governor and deputy governor of Blakenhurst prison were earlier employed at governor grade in the public prison sector.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A contracted-out prison is run by a director not a governor. The director and deputy director of Blakenhurst prison were formerly employed by Her Majesty's prison service.

  Police Numbers
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 862–63, if he will give the percentage of total employees in each police force in England and Wales in 1981 and 1991 that the figures for civilian staff represent.

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

  Civilian strength in England and Wales as at 31 December

  Civilian staff

  Percentage of total police service employees

  Force

  1981

  1991

  Avon and Somerset

  19·1

  22·8

  Bedfordshire

  22·8

  26·2

  Cambridgeshire

  21·6

  26·7

  Cheshire

  18·5

  21·5

  Cleveland

  14·9

  22·7

  Cumbria

  18·9

  25·4

  Derbyshire

  28·3

  22·2

  Devon and Cornwall

  23·1

  26·5

  Dorset

  21·0

  30·3

  Durham

  26·5

  27·9

  Dyfed Powys

  17·6

  20·9

  Essex

  21·6

  26·8

  Gloucestershire

  17·0

  23·8

  Greater Manchester

  17·9

  24·5

  Gwent

  18·2

  23·4

  Hampshire

  19·2

  24·6

  231

  Civilian staff

  Percentage of total police service employees

  Force

  1981

  1991

  Hertfordshire

  19·5

  24·7

  Humberside

  20·7

  25·1

  Kent

  23·3

  25·1

  Lancashire

  21·8

  25·5

  Leicestershire

  19·9

  27·2

  Lincolnshire

  22·0

  27·6

  Merseyside

  18·2

  25·4

  Norfolk

  17·5

  23·8

  Northamptonshire

  20·5

  26·6

  Northumbria

  20·0

  25·6

  North Wales

  20·0

  24·8

  North Yorkshire

  19·8

  24·1

  Nottinghamshire

  20·5

  23·2

  South Wales

  21·6

  25·6

  South Yorkshire

  18·1

  23·0

  Staffordshire

  22·9

  25·5

  Suffolk

  23·2

  29·4

  Surrey

  18·4

  25·2

  Sussex

  20·2

  23·4

  Thames Valley

  24·0

  27·5

  Warwickshire

  16·8

  24·3

  West Mercia

  21·9

  29·4

  West Midlands

  18·2

  24·8

  West Yorkshire

  20·1

  26·3

  Wiltshire

  19·8

  28·1

  City of London

  25·0

  26·7

  Metropolitan

  35·6

  33·4

  Total

  24·1

  27·3

  Chief Constables (Tendering)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances he would seek an independent inquiry into aspects of tendering procedures undertaken by chief constables.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In exceptional circumstances my right hon. and learned Friend may choose to exercise his residual power under section 32 of the Police Act 1964 to cause a local inquiry to be held. Anyone who believes that a police authority or a chief constable has acted improperly or unlawfully may bring legal action against them in the same way as they would against any other body.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which EC countries have enacted legislation based on the requirements of the Council of Europe convention on data protection, and have also applied the convention to manual files or have included requirements for obtaining the prior consent of data subjects to the use of their personal information.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  All EC countries with the exception of Greece have enacted legislation which meets the requirements of the Council of Europe convention for the protection of individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data. I understand that in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal, the legislation applies to manual files, as well as to computer files, either as a general rule or in some specific circumstances. I also understand that in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain the data subject's consent is required in relation to the use either of all data or of sensitive data.

  DNA Profiles
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation which would give a DNA profile the same status as a fingerprint for the purpose of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984; what consideration he has given to the comments on DNA profiles made by the Data Protection Registrar in his 1992 annual report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 29 October 1992, at column 765.

  British Overseas Citizens
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his Department's policy on the deportation or removal of British overseas citizens remaining in the United Kingdom as overstayers;

  (2) what instructions his Department has issued to immigration officials since 1974 specifically on the deportation or removal of British overseas citizens.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  British overseas citizens are subject to immigration control and the provisions of the immigration rules in the same way as any other national. I am not aware that any instructions relating specifically to the deportation or removal of British overseas citizens have been issued to immigration officials since 1974.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notices of intention to deport have been issued since 1974 under the 1971 Act on British overseas citizens who remained in the United Kingdom as overstayers; and how many of those British overseas citizens issued with notices of intention to deport have been deported or removed from the United Kingdom since 1974.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Between 1987–91 no notices of intention to deport were served on British overseas citizens. In 1992, five notices of intention to deport were served on British overseas citizens of which four were for overstaying; so far one of these has made a supervised departure. This information is not readily available before 1987 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Ecstasy
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount of the drug Ecstasy seized in each year since 1987.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is contained in table 1.1 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Statistics of drugs seizures and offenders dealt with, United Kingdom, 1991", a copy of which is in the Library. Seizures of Ecstasy—MDMA—were not separately recorded before 1989.

  Offenders, Waltham Forest
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of offenders appearing before the courts in the London borough of Waltham Forest were unemployed in each of the last three years for which figures are available;

  (2) what percentage of offenders in the London borough of Waltham Forest were under 21 years old in the last three years for which figures are available.
  233
  Mr. Jack
  Information is not collected centrally on the employment status of defendants appearing before the courts. The table shows the number and percentage of offenders by age convicted at Waltham Forest petty sessional division and at the Crown Court who were committed by Waltham Forest petty sessional division 1989 to 1991, which is provisional. Information on cautioning is available for police force areas.

  Number and percentage of offenders under 21 and all ages found guilty at Waltham Forest petty sessional division and at the Crown Court by committing Waltham Forest petty sessional division and type of offence 1989–19911

  Year/Type of offence

  Under 21

  All Ages

  No.

  Per cent.

  = 100 per cent.

  1989

  Indictable offences

  490

  38

  1,291

  Summary non-motoring offences

  233

  14

  1,661

  Summary motoring offences

  159

  12

  1,325

  All offences

  882

  21

  4,277

  1990

  Indictable offences

  468

  37

  1,281

  Summary non-motoring offences

  247

  10

  2,502

  Summary motoring offences

  114

  11

  1,077

  All offences

  829

  17

  4,860

  19911

  Indictable offences

  428

  33

  1,293

  Summary non-motoring offences

  207

  10

  2,115

  Summary motoring offences

  184

  7

  2,564

  All offences

  819

  14

  5,972

  1 Provisional

  Sheffield Community Literacy Team
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why no bids were invited from Sheffield local education authority in respect of section 11 grant for the community literacy team.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Sheffield city council successfully applied for section 11 grant for its community literacy team project on the last occasion on which local authorities were invited to submit applications. Sheffield's application on that occasion related to the continuation of activities already being funded under the grant. Approval previously given in December 1990 was on the clear understanding that, in the particular circumstances of the case, grant would not be paid beyond 31 March 1993.

  Vehicle Entry Devices
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 3 February,Official Report, column 198, if he will consider introducing a sale by licence system for vehicle entry devices so that only those who have legitimate use may purchase them.

  Mr. Jack
  As I explained in the answer that I gave to the question from the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Mr. Marshall) on 3 February, the Government have no plans at present to control the sale of vehicle entry devices, either through licensing their sale or otherwise. We will, however, keep the situation under review.

  Ram Raiding
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many robberies involving ram raiding have taken place in each police authority area for each year since 1987.

  Mr. Jack
  The requested information is not available centrally.

  Disabled Employees
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of employees in his Department are registered disabled.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  On 1 July 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, 185 members of staff in the Home Office were registered disabled, representing 0·4 per cent. of all staff. The Department employs many other people with disabilities who have chosen not to register, but no record has been kept of such staff.

  Contracting Out
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide figures for the reduction in numbers of posts as a result of contracting out since 1979 in his Department and agencies for which he has responsibility.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  It is estimated that since 1979 there has been a reduction of about 700 staff in the Home Office as a result of contracting out. There have not been any reductions on these grounds in staff of the executive agencies in the Department since they were established.

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

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The number of statutory instruments laid before Parliament by my Department in each of the years 1980 to 1992 is as follows:

  Number

  1980

  57

  1981

  36

  1982

  55

  1983

  52

  1984

  34

  1985

  61

  1986

  66

  1987

  61

  1988

  53

  1989

  51

  1990

  53

  1991

  59

  1992

  74

  Drug Offenders (Asset Seizures)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the value of(a) money and (b) assets that have been confiscated from people convicted by courts in England and Wales for drug offences in each of the last three years.
  235
  Mr. Jack
  The number of offenders ordered to pay confiscation orders under the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 and the total amount confiscated from 1989 to 1991—figures for 1991 are provisional—are given in the table. Information collected centrally shows only the value of orders made.

  Offenders ordered to pay confiscation orders under the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 by amount 1989 to 19911

  England and Wales

  1989

  1990

  11991

  Number of orders made

  802

  871

  1,005

  Total amount confiscated (£)

  7,851,900

  10,142,500

  5,504,495

  1 Provisional.

  Assaults
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of causing actual bodily harm and of common assault were recorded in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Jack
  For notifiable offence purposes, offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm are included within the "other wounding" offence classification which

  Number and percentage of offenders cautioned and prosecuted as a total of all cautions and prosecutions by type of offences 1989–19911

  England and Wales

  Number and percentages

  Year/Type of offence

  Cautions

  Prosecutions

  Total cautions and prosecutions

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  [= 100 per cent.]

  1989

  Indictable offences

  136,001

  23

  449,056

  77

  585,057

  Summary non-motoring offences

  102,030

  15

  568,469

  85

  670,499

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  238,031

  19

  1,017,525

  81

  1,255,556

  1990

  Indictable offences

  166,349

  26

  468,585

  74

  634,934

  Summary non-motoring offences

  102,763

  15

  576,977

  85

  679,740

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  269,112

  20

  1,045,562

  80

  1,314,674

  19911

  Indictable offences

  179,885

  27

  489,057

  73

  668,942

  Summary non-motoring offences

  98,910

  15

  573,331

  85

  672,241

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  278,795

  21

  1,062,388

  79

  1,341,183

  1 Provisional.

  Prisons (Utility Costs)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average weekly cost per inmate of providing gas, electricity and water at(a) local and (b) remand prisons.
  236
  generally includes all offences of wounding which do not endanger life. The number of offences in this classification for the last five years were as follows:

  Number

  1987

  129,193

  1988

  144,781

  1989

  162,843

  1990

  169,764

  1991

  174,245

  In addition, there were 686 notifiable offences of assault in 1987 and 503 in 1988. Following the Criminal Justice Act 1988, these assaults became summary offences and as such they are no longer collected centrally for the notifiable offence series.

  Prosecutions
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of(a) cautions as alternatives to prosecution and (b) prosecutions in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Jack
  Information for 1989 to 1991, which is provisional, is given in the table.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: The average weekly cost per inmate of providing gas, electricity and water in 1991–92 was as follows:

  £

  (a) Local prisons

  6·69

  (b) Remand centres1

  7·04

  1 The remand centre figure refers only to Hindley which holds exclusively remand prisoners.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: Market testing within the Home Office covers the following areas:

  Accommodation and Office Services

  Computing Services

  Internal Audit

  Pay Services

  Police Nationals Computer (Hendon Data Centre)

  Prison Service

  College, Training and facilities management

  Computing Services

  Notifiable offences of burglary recorded by the police, police strength and number of offences per officer

  England and Wales

  1979

  1980

  1991

  Police force area

  Recorded Offences

  Police strength

  Offences per officer

  Recorded Offences

  Police strength

  Offences per officer

  Recorded offences

  Police strength

  Offences per officer

  Avon and Somerset

  9,059

  2,861

  3·2

  11,484

  2,962

  3·9

  33,961

  3,072

  11·1

  Bedfordshire

  4,731

  923

  5·1

  5,604

  963

  5·8

  12,873

  1,090

  11·8

  Cambridgeshire

  4,182

  1,087

  3·8

  4,859

  1,086

  4·5

  11,897

  1,239

  9·6

  Cheshire

  6,679

  1,803

  3·7

  8,176

  1,833

  4·5

  16,537

  1,867

  8·9

  Cleveland

  7,902

  1,411

  5·6

  8,962

  1,454

  6·2

  17,278

  1,477

  11·7

  Cumbria

  3,801

  1,072

  3·5

  4,064

  1,104

  3·7

  10,826

  1,183

  9·2

  Derbyshire

  8,089

  1,757

  4·6

  9,087

  1,832

  5·0

  18,500

  1,706

  10·8

  Devon and Cornwall

  7,647

  2,639

  2·9

  8,850

  2,721

  3·3

  25,708

  2,876

  8·9

  Dorset

  3,998

  1,159

  3·4

  4,567

  1,167

  3·9

  9,287

  1,280

  7·3

  Durham

  6,017

  1,313

  4·6

  7,711

  1,345

  5·7

  13,565

  1,378

  9·8

  Essex

  10,296

  2,503

  4·1

  11,347

  2,609

  4·3

  24,980

  2,878

  8·7

  Gloucestershire

  3,009

  1,099

  2·7

  3,930

  1,119

  3·5

  12,601

  1,178

  10·7

  Greater Manchester

  39,124

  6,653

  5·9

  46,949

  6,923

  6·8

  97,715

  6,975

  14·0

  Hampshire

  12,518

  2,945

  4·3

  13,297

  3,058

  4·3

  32,003

  3,177

  10·1

  Hertfordshire

  4,603

  1,466

  3·1

  5,807

  1,518

  3·8

  10,890

  1,679

  6·5

  Humberside

  10,912

  1,879

  5·8

  12,710

  1,951

  6·5

  32,949

  2,016

  16·3

  Kent

  10,439

  2,808

  3·7

  10,429

  2,871

  3·6

  26,535

  3,039

  8·7

  Lancashire

  12,448

  3,089

  4·0

  12,728

  3,120

  4·1

  25,045

  3,205

  7·8

  Leicestershire

  5,701

  1,701

  3·4

  7,162

  1,720

  4·2

  21,526

  1,808

  11·9

  Lincolnshire

  3,281

  1,167

  2·8

  3,532

  1,183

  3·0

  8,991

  1,198

  7·5

  London, City of

  1,139

  834

  1·4

  1,071

  843

  1·3

  1,070

  809

  1·3

  Merseyside

  31,183

  4,469

  7·0

  34,801

  4,591

  7·6

  33,609

  4,605

  7·3

  Metropolitan Police District

  117,001

  22,528

  5·2

  125,944

  23,608

  5·3

  191,482

  28,126

  6·8

  Norfolk

  4,306

  1,237

  3·5

  5,273

  1,249

  4·2

  15,336

  1,419

  10·8

  Northamptonshire

  4,451

  926

  4·8

  6,048

  971

  6·2

  12,148

  1,156

  10·5

  Northumbria

  27,014

  3,339

  8·1

  31,068

  3,340

  9·3

  66,101

  3,460

  19·1

  North Yorkshire

  4,774

  1,338

  3·6

  5,283

  1,352

  3·9

  12,338

  1,382

  8·9

  Nottinghamshire

  16,494

  2,125

  7·8

  18,161

  2,209

  8·2

  30,568

  2,334

  13·1

  South Yorkshire

  12,601

  2,644

  4·8

  15,641

  2,842

  5·5

  35,261

  2,989

  11·8

  Staffordshire

  8,005

  2,015

  4·0

  8,750

  2,071

  4·2

  23,523

  2,185

  10·8

  Suffolk

  2,848

  1,105

  2·6

  3,223

  1,122

  2·9

  7,638

  1,203

  6·3

  Surrey

  4,790

  1,460

  3·3

  5,084

  1,589

  3·2

  11,437

  1,681

  6·8

  Sussex

  9,254

  2,777

  3·3

  9,970

  2,823

  3·5

  26,474

  2,969

  8·9

  Thames Valley

  13,858

  2,764

  5·0

  15,227

  3,043

  5·0

  34,065

  3,722

  9·2

  Warwickshire

  2,827

  883

  3·2

  3,289

  916

  3·6

  10,290

  1,005

  10·2

  West Mercia

  5,933

  1,837

  3·2

  7,096

  1,939

  3·7

  14,595

  2,028

  7·2

  West Midlands

  39,863

  6,160

  6·5

  49,783

  6,539

  7·6

  84,084

  6,893

  12·2

  West Yorkshire

  32,145

  4,799

  6·7

  35,303

  5,040

  7·0

  78,626

  5,143

  15·3

  Wiltshire

  3,526

  1,007

  3·5

  3,780

  1,032

  3·7

  8,158

  1,212

  6·7

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,714

  918

  1·9

  1,829

  929

  2·0

  4,696

  944

  5·0

  Gwent

  3,319

  958

  3·5

  3,967

  973

  4·1

  7,477

  995

  7·5

  North Wales

  4,656

  1,271

  3·7

  6,107

  1,290

  4·7

  10,184

  1,343

  7·6

  South Wales

  17,900

  3,025

  5·9

  20,437

  3,068

  6·7

  36,637

  3,142

  11·7

  England and Wales

  544,037

  111,754

  4·9

  618,390

  115,918

  5·3

  1,219,464

  125,066

  9·8

  238

  Dog Services

  Prison Establishments

  Canteens (prisoners' shops)

  Warehousing, Distribution and fleet management

  In addition the provision of prison education is the subject of competitive tender.

  Work on market testing these projects is under way, but has not been completed.

  Police Officers
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many uniformed police officers were in post, and what was the number of(a) reported incidents, (b) burglaries of all types and (c) offences of taking vehicles without the owner's consent per officer in each police authority in 1979, 1980, 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 2 February 1993]: The available information is given in the tables. Information for 1992 is not yet available. Statistics are not held separately on the number of uniformed officers.
  239

  Notifiable offences of theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle recorded by the police, police strength and number of offences per officer

  England and Wales

  1979

  1980

  1991

  Police force area

  Recorded Offences

  Police strength

  Offences per officer

  Recorded Offences

  Police strength

  Offences per officer

  Recorded offences

  Police strength

  Offences per officer

  Avon and Somerset

  7,320

  2,861

  2·6

  7,950

  2,962

  2·7

  19,903

  3,072

  6·5

  Bedfordshire

  3,701

  923

  4·0

  3,781

  963

  3·9

  8,292

  1,090

  7·6

  Cambridgeshire

  1,809

  1,087

  1·7

  1,760

  1,086

  1·6

  4,655

  1,239

  3·8

  Cheshire

  3,521

  1,803

  2·0

  3,911

  1,833

  2·1

  8,289

  1,867

  4·4

  Cleveland

  3,344

  1,411

  2·4

  3,046

  1,454

  2·1

  11,712

  1,477

  7·9

  Cumbria

  1,620

  1,072

  1·5

  1,305

  1,104

  1·2

  3,632

  1,183

  3·1

  Derbyshire

  3,253

  1,757

  1·9

  3,177

  1,832

  1·7

  7,410

  1,706

  4·3

  Devon and Cornwall

  3,726

  2,639

  1·4

  3,846

  2,721

  1·4

  7,923

  2,876

  2·8

  Dorset

  2,072

  1,159

  1·8

  2,037

  1,167

  1·7

  4,560

  1,280

  3·6

  Durham

  2,278

  1,313

  1·7

  2,414

  1,345

  1·8

  8,640

  1,378

  6·3

  Essex

  6,830

  2,503

  2·7

  6,622

  2,609

  2·5

  11,377

  2,878

  4·0

  Gloucestershire

  1,449

  1,099

  1·3

  1,456

  1,119

  1·3

  3,927

  1,178

  3·3

  Greater Manchester

  27,181

  6,653

  4·1

  27,776

  6,923

  4·0

  55,338

  6,975

  7·9

  Hampshire

  6,477

  2,945

  2·2

  6,502

  3,058

  2·1

  11,919

  3,177

  3·8

  Hertfordshire

  4,295

  1,466

  2·9

  4,378

  1,518

  2·9

  6,149

  1,679

  3·7

  Humberside

  3,261

  1,879

  1·7

  3,217

  1,951

  1·6

  8,506

  2,016

  4·2

  Kent

  8,212

  2,808

  2·9

  8,652

  2,871

  3·0

  17,962

  3,039

  5·9

  Lancashire

  6,619

  3,089

  2·1

  6,042

  3,120

  1·9

  11,042

  3,205

  3·4

  Leicestershire

  3,692

  1,701

  2·2

  4,025

  1,720

  2·3

  10,751

  1,808

  5·9

  Lincolnshire

  1,006

  1,167

  0·9

  1,020

  1,183

  0·9

  2,779

  1,198

  2·3

  London, City of

  536

  834

  0·6

  504

  843

  0·6

  239

  809

  0·3

  Merseyside

  16,865

  4,469

  3·8

  16,125

  4,591

  3·5

  16,983

  4,605

  3·7

  Metropolitan Police District

  76,188

  22,528

  3·4

  88,112

  23,608

  3·7

  81,173

  28,126

  2·9

  Norfolk

  1,659

  1,237

  1·3

  2,051

  1,249

  1·6

  5,510

  1,419

  3·9

  Northamptonshire

  2,789

  926

  3·0

  2,721

  971

  2·8

  6,514

  1,156

  5·6

  Northumbria

  13,515

  3,339

  4·0

  14,229

  3,340

  4·3

  30,356

  3,460

  8·8

  North Yorkshire

  1,615

  1,338

  1·2

  1,540

  1,352

  1·1

  4,999

  1,382

  3·6

  Nottinghamshire

  6,650

  2,125

  3·1

  6,850

  2,209

  3·1

  17,603

  2,334

  7·5

  South Yorkshire

  6,368

  2,644

  2·4

  7,115

  2,842

  2·5

  16,323

  2,989

  5·5

  Staffordshire

  2,876

  2,015

  1·4

  3,325

  2,071

  1·6

  9,290

  2,185

  4·3

  Suffolk

  1,213

  1,105

  1·1

  1,208

  1,122

  1·1

  2,721

  1,203

  2·3

  Surrey

  2,270

  1,460

  1·6

  2,283

  1,589

  1·4

  4,860

  1,681

  2·9

  Sussex

  3,685

  2,777

  1·3

  3,864

  2,823

  1·4

  9,251

  2,969

  3·1

  Thames Valley

  10,244

  2,764

  3·7

  9,454

  3,043

  3·1

  22,556

  3,722

  6·1

  Warwickshire

  1,400

  883

  1·6

  1,522

  916

  1·7

  4,700

  1,005

  4·7

  West Mercia

  2,940

  1,837

  1·6

  3,215

  1,939

  1·7

  8,652

  2,028

  4·3

  West Midlands

  25,658

  6,160

  4·2

  26,197

  6,539

  4·0

  41,415

  6,893

  6·0

  West Yorkshire

  14,571

  4,799

  3·0

  14,486

  5,040

  2·9

  40,235

  5,143

  7·8

  Wiltshire

  1,709

  1,007

  1·7

  1,426

  1,032

  1·4

  2,967

  1,212

  2·4

  Dyfed-Powys

  783

  918

  0·9

  823

  929

  0·9

  1,476

  944

  1·6

  Gwent

  2,057

  958

  2·1

  1,913

  973

  2·0

  3,240

  995

  3·3

  North Wales

  2,161

  1,271

  1·7

  2,164

  1,290

  1·7

  3,102

  1,343

  2·3

  South Wales

  9,827

  3,025

  3·2

  10,310

  3,068

  3·4

  22,970

  3,142

  7·3

  England and Wales

  309,245

  111,754

  2·8

  324,354

  115,918

  2·8

  581,901

  125,066

  4·7

  Total notifiable offences recorded by the police, police strength and number of offences per officer

  England and Wales

  1979

  1980

  1991

  Police force area

  Recorded Offences

  Police strength

  Offences per officer

  Recorded Offences

  Police strength

  Offences per officer

  Recorded offences

  Police strength

  Offences per officer

  Avon and Somerset

  51,333

  2,861

  17·9

  57,835

  2,962

  19·5

  153,770

  3,072

  50·1

  Bedfordshire

  28,097

  923

  30·4

  28,185

  963

  29·3

  57,121

  1,090

  52·4

  Cambridgeshire

  24,645

  1,087

  22·7

  29,793

  1,085

  27·4

  58,167

  1,239

  46·9

  Cheshire

  30,396

  1,803

  16·9

  34,280

  1,833

  18·7

  66,298

  1,867

  35·5

  Cleveland

  34,846

  1,411

  24·7

  37,018

  1,454

  25·5

  78,053

  1,477

  52·8

  Cumbria

  19,531

  1,072

  18·2

  18,314

  1,104

  16·6

  45,088

  1,183

  38·1

  Derbyshire

  38,640

  1,757

  22·0

  38,961

  1,832

  21·3

  75,636

  1,706

  44·3

  Devon and Cornwall

  43,480

  2,639

  16·5

  47,860

  2,721

  17·6

  108,208

  2,876

  37·6

  Dorset

  23,260

  1,159

  20·1

  24,763

  1,167

  21·2

  51,552

  1,280

  40·3

  Durham

  27,351

  1,313

  20·8

  30,527

  1,345

  22·7

  65,218

  1,378

  47·3

  Essex

  54,060

  2,503

  21·6

  55,644

  2,609

  21·3

  108,427

  2,878

  37·7

  Gloucestershire

  16,589

  1,099

  15·1

  19,085

  1,119

  17·1

  55,980

  1,178

  47·5

  Greater Manchester

  169,749

  6,653

  25·5

  189,121

  6,923

  27·3

  380,809

  6,975

  54·6

  Hampshire

  66,910

  2,945

  22·7

  66,866

  3,058

  21·9

  143,904

  3,177

  45·3

  Hertfordshire

  38,801

  1,466

  26·5

  35,405

  1,518

  23·3

  55,573

  1,679

  33·1

  Humberside

  48,195

  1,879

  25·6

  51,848

  1,951

  26·6

  118,830

  2,016

  58·9

  Kent

  55,370

  2,808

  19·7

  55,064

  2,871

  19·2

  138,435

  3,039

  45·6

  Lancashire

  57,105

  3,089

  18·5

  61,171

  3,120

  19·6

  122,474

  3,205

  38·2

  240 241

  1979

  1980

  1991

  Police force area

  Recorded Offences

  Police strength

  Offences per officer

  Recorded Offences

  Police strength

  Offences per officer

  Recorded offences

  Police strength

  Offences per officer

  Leicestershire

  30,351

  1,701

  17·8

  35,042

  1,720

  20·4

  89,754

  1,808

  49·6

  Lincolnshire

  17,539

  1,167

  15·0

  19,043

  1,183

  16·1

  44,860

  1,198

  37·4

  London, City of

  6,809

  834

  8·2

  6,459

  843

  7·7

  7,575

  809

  9·4

  Merseyside

  108,433

  4,469

  24·3

  115,906

  4,591

  25·2

  148,835

  4,605

  32·3

  Metropolitan Police District

  557,378

  22,528

  24·7

  584,137

  23,608

  24·7

  926,203

  28,126

  32·9

  Norfolk

  22,655

  1,237

  18·3

  25,919

  1,249

  20·8

  64,115

  1,419

  45·2

  Northamptonshire

  22,966

  926

  24·8

  25,241

  971

  26·0

  58,470

  1,156

  50·6

  Northumbria

  99,512

  3,339

  29·8

  108,303

  3,340

  32·4

  226,193

  3,460

  65·4

  North Yorkshire

  21,887

  1,338

  16·4

  21,699

  1,352

  16·0

  51,471

  1,382

  37·2

  Nottinghamshire

  72,659

  2,125

  34·2

  77,440

  2,209

  35·1

  150,551

  2,334

  64·5

  South Yorkshire

  56,340

  2,644

  21·3

  62,968

  2,842

  22·2

  125,559

  2,989

  42·0

  Staffordshire

  37,952

  2,015

  18·8

  37,988

  2,071

  18·3

  86,285

  2,185

  39·5

  Suffolk

  20,152

  1,105

  18·2

  19,767

  1,122

  17·6

  39,924

  1,203

  33·2

  Surrey

  26,965

  1,460

  18·5

  24,863

  1,589

  15·6

  50,083

  1,681

  29·8

  Sussex

  48,609

  2,777

  17·5

  48,064

  2,823

  17·0

  112,203

  2,969

  37·8

  Thames Valley

  75,740

  2,764

  27·4

  74,423

  3,043

  24·5

  187,185

  3,722

  50·3

  Warwickshire

  13,986

  883

  15·8

  14,606

  916

  15·9

  40,474

  1,005

  40·3

  West Mercia

  35,088

  1,837

  19·1

  37,597

  1,939

  19·4

  74,188

  2,028

  36·6

  West Midlands

  156,671

  6,160

  25·4

  176,580

  6,539

  27·0

  302,864

  6,893

  43·9

  West Yorkshire

  128,675

  4,799

  26·8

  137,390

  5,040

  27·3

  295,479

  5,143

  57·5

  Wiltshire

  20,545

  1,007

  20·4

  20,787

  1,032

  20·1

  39,321

  1,212

  32·4

  Dyfed-Powys

  11,752

  918

  12·8

  11,870

  929

  12·8

  25,970

  944

  27·5

  Gwent

  20,498

  958

  21·4

  20,070

  973

  20·6

  38,673

  995

  38·9

  North Wales

  23,589

  1,271

  18·6

  24,117

  1,290

  18·7

  44,418

  1,343

  33·1

  South Wales

  71,628

  3,025

  23·7

  76,215

  3,068

  24·8

  161,977

  3,142

  51·6

  England and Wales

  2,536,737

  111,754

  22·7

  2,688,235

  115,918

  23·2

  5,276,173

  125,066

  42·2

  Prisoners (Self-Injury)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attempted suicides took place in prisons in England and Wales in 1992.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 13 January 1993]: There were 2,920 incidents of deliberate self harm by prisoners in prisons in England and Wales in 1992. No distinction is made according to the degree of apparent suicidal intent.

  Quangos
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all those non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible, which have the power to compel individuals, firms, companies or other institutions to carry out their instructions at the expense of the individuals, firms, companies or other institutions, and also to charge fees for the cost to the non-departmental public bodies of assessing the work which needed to be done.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: None.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis the formula in paragraph 3 of appendix B to the special grant support report (No. 5) was arrived at; and whether this formula will be applied to expenditure by local authorities incurred and notified to his Department after 8 January.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I have been asked to reply.

  The formula for the payment of Yugoslav displaced persons grant in respect of 1992–93 expenditure is the same
  242
  as would apply under the Bellwin scheme of special financial assistance for emergencies. The threshold under the Bellwin scheme is calculated as an amount per head of relevant population (as defined in schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1988). Different thresholds apply for different classes of authority, reflecting their responsibilities for different services. Only those authorities named in the "Special Grant Report (No. 5)" will be eligible for grant and their entitlement will not exceed the amount specified in the report. A fresh scheme will apply for 1993–94.

  Blyth Valley
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of persons registered in Blyth Valley on an electoral register and community charge register.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I have been asked to reply.

  The latest information available to the Department is that there were 61,701 persons in Blyth valley on the electoral register in February 1992 and 58,459 persons on the community charge register in September 1991 who were subject to a personal community charge on 1 June 1991. The electoral register will include some people who were exempt from payment of the community charge.

  Yugoslav Displaced Persons Grant
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis Aylesbury Vale, Rochford and Uttlesford were awarded Yugoslav displaced persons grant; which authorities were turned down in their applications for such grants; how many refugees each authority accepted; and how much unreimbursed expenditure each incurred.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I have been asked to reply.
  243
  Yugoslav displaced persons grant is paid on qualifying expenditure above a threshold. Local authorities were invited to submit estimates of the expenditure they had incurred or expected to incur during 1992–93. Sixty-one local authorities did so, as listed in the table. The table also

  Yugoslav displaced persons

  Local authority estimates of 1992–93 expenditure and thresholds

  Expenditure

  Threshold

  Difference

  Aylesbury Vale

  61,500

  31,000

  30,500

  Rochford

  21,000

  17,000

  4,000

  Uttlesford

  72,049

  14,000

  58,049

  Barnet

  9,000

  424,000

  415,000

  Bedfordshire County Council

  13,000

  772,000

  759,000

  Berkshire County Council

  52,239

  1,096,000

  1,043,761

  Birmingham

  32,000

  1,466,000

  1,433,300

  Bolton

  1,964

  399,000

  397,036

  Brent

  66,400

  367,000

  300,600

  Brighton

  7,000

  31,000

  24,000

  Buckinghamshire County Council

  13,000

  926,000

  913,000

  Camden

  81,600

  272,000

  190,400

  Cleveland

  83,783

  822,000

  738,217

  Corporation of London

  4,000

  215,000

  211,000

  Croydon

  16,000

  476,000

  460,000

  Cumbria County Council

  63,000

  745,000

  682,000

  Devon County Council

  24,242

  1,561,000

  1,536,758

  Durham County Council

  13,000

  901,000

  888,000

  Ealing

  73,000

  419,000

  346,000

  East Hertfordshire

  7,000

  26,000

  19,000

  East Sussex County Council

  10,000

  1,055,000

  1,045,000

  Enfield

  32,900

  393,000

  360,100

  Essex County Council

  84,000

  2,330,000

  2,246,000

  Guildford

  12,000

  27,000

  15,000

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  149,000

  240,000

  41,000

  Hereford County Council

  2,000

  1,020,000

  1,018,000

  Hillingdon

  8,822

  355,000

  346,178

  Hounslow

  57,000

  301,000

  244,000

  Humberside County Council

  27,000

  1,297,000

  1,270,000

  Islington

  20,000

  251,000

  231,000

  Kensington and Chelsea

  13,060

  212,000

  198,940

  Kent County Council

  11,181

  2,279,000

  2,267,819

  Lancashire County Council

  7,000

  2,070,000

  2,063,000

  Leeds

  28,700

  1,066,000

  1,037,300

  Leicestershire County Council

  6,085

  1,294,000

  1,287,915

  Leicester

  4,917

  57,000

  52,083

  Lewisham

  25,000

  336,000

  311,000

  Manchester

  22,900

  602,000

  579,000

  Mansfield

  825

  22,000

  21,175

  Merton

  33,000

  261,000

  228,000

  Newham

  35,000

  312,000

  277,000

  Norfolk County Council

  31,000

  1,149,000

  1,118,000

  Northamptonshire County Council

  48,000

  856,000

  808,000

  Northampton

  8,235

  39,000

  30,765

  Nottinghamshire County Council

  20,000

  1,513,000

  1,493,000

  Oadby and Wigston

  3,403

  11,000

  7,597

  Richmond Upon Thames

  44,938

  246,000

  201,062

  Sandwell

  56,000

  458,000

  402,000

  Somerset County Council

  4,500

  708,000

  703,500

  South Lakeland

  6,000

  22,000

  16,000

  Southwark

  106,575

  340,000

  233,425

  Stockport

  63,000

  444,000

  381,000

  Three Rivers

  3,320

  17,000

  13,680

  Thurrock

  3,114

  28,000

  24,886

  Tower Hamlets

  10,000

  237,000

  227,000

  Waltham Forest

  8,808

  322,000

  313,192

  Wandsworth

  25,000

  378,000

  353,000

  244
  shows the threshold which applies in each case. Only Aylesbury Vale, Rochford and Uttlesford district councils exceeded their respective thresholds. No figures are available centrally on the numbers of refugees accepted by each authority.
  245

  Expenditure

  Threshold

  Difference

  Watford

  4,090

  17,000

  12,910

  Westminster

  56,048

  274,000

  217,952

  Wiltshire County Council

  87,500

  853,000

  765,500

  York

  830

  22,000

  21,170

EMPLOYMENT

  Disabled Employees
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of employees in her Department is registered disabled.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A total of 3·3 per cent. at 1 July 1992, the latest date for which figures are available. The Department also employs other people with disabilities who have chosen not to register.

  Disabled People (Employment)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will issue a Green Paper on employment for disabled people.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Exeter (Sir J. Hannam) on 26 January 1993,Official Report, column 659.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment under what circumstances it is her Department's policy to invoke prosecutions of employers under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State believes that every effort should be made to educate and persuade employers to adopt positive employment policies towards disabled people and thereby comply with the Act.

  Officials will therefore seek to resolve such matters by negotiation and advice wherever possible. Where this is unsuccessful or inappropriate, prosecution will be considered on the basis of the circumstances of the case, the strength of the evidence and the public policy interest.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) under what circumstances an employer would be refused an application for bulk permits to employ people not registered disabled;

  (2) how many applications for bulk permits to employ people not registered disabled have been refused in the last 15 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Eric Illsley, dated 17 February 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Questions to her about bulk
  246
  permits. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  A bulk permit would be refused if my local Disability Employment Adviser considered that sufficient suitably qualified registered disabled people are likely to be available to fill the employers vacancies.
  A bulk permit would also be refused where the employer fails to show they will take reasonable steps towards recruiting suitable registered disabled people. The permit is issued on the understanding the employer will notify vacancies to the Jobcentre and will consider sympathetically the engagement of any suitable registered disabled people.
  I regret I am unable to say how many bulk permits have been refused in the last fifteen years as such information is not held centrally.
  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many campaigns the Government have organised in the last 15 years to encourage disabled people to register their disabilities with her Department.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: We have not run any specific campaign to encourage disabled people to register under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944. However disability employment advisers in local jobcentres provide disabled people with information about registering as disabled.

  Sheltered Employment
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of funding allocated to the sheltered employment programme and the sheltered placement scheme for the next financial year; and if she will provide comparable figures for each of the last two years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The level of employment service funding for the sheltered employment programme, which includes Remploy is shown in the table:

  1991–92 (actual) £

  1992–93 (actual) £

  1993–94 (actual) £

  Total programme

  122,445,000

  137,870,000

  140,297,000

  Of which sheltered placement scheme

  18,763,000

  18,533,000

  19,635,000

  Sheltered Workshops
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees were in sheltered workshops, excluding Remploy Ltd., at the latest available date and at a year before that date.
  247
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 17 February 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about employees in sheltered workshops. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The latest available statistics providing numbers employed in sheltered workshops, excluding Remploy Ltd., that are supported by the Employment Service's Sheltered Employment Programme relate to the end of December 1992. The information you asked for is given in the attached annex.
  I hope this is helpful.
  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  Annex

  Employees in sheltered workshops

  December 1992

  December 1991

  People with severe disabilities

  4,922

  5,125

  Non-disabled people

  1,629

  1,602

  TOTALS

  6,551

  6,727

  Quangos
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list all those non-departmental public bodies, for which her Department is responsible, which have the power to compel individuals, firms, companies or other institutions to carry out their instructions at the expense of the individuals, firms, companies or other institutions, and also to charge fees for the cost to the non-departmental public bodies of assessing the work which needed to be done.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: The Health and Safety Executive is the only non-departmental public body for which my Department has responsibility that has the power to require compliance with legislation which may be at the cost of others. The HSE does not make any charges for the work it undertakes in securing compliance with the legislation by others. It does however charge under regulations for approvals, licences etc. and by agreement for publications and certain services.

  Transfer of Undertakings Regulations
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how the transfer of undertakings directive applies to takeovers by companies based in other EC countries of a British company.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 have the effect of
  248
  continuing certain statutory and contractual rights of employees when an undertaking is transferred from one employer to another. It is immaterial whether the employer in the United Kingdom is or becomes controlled by a company in another country within or outside the EC.

DEFENCE

  Warships
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the proportion of warship-building capacity that is state-owned in(a) France, (b) the Netherlands, (c) Belgium, (d) Italy and (e) Germany.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department does not maintain records on the ownership of defence industrial capacity in other countries. However, on the information available to me, I understand that almost all of the warshipbuilding capacity in France and Italy is, effectively, state owned, while that in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium is not.

  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on current Independent European Programme Group-Western European Union arrangements for reciprocal purchasing in the field of warship hulls.

  Mr. Aitken
  Efforts by the Independent European Programme Group nations, which now all participate in the Western European Union, to open progressively the European market for defence equipment have not extended to warship hulls.

  UNPROFOR II
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which major unit has been warned off to relieve 1st Battalion the Cheshire Regiment as part of UNPROFOR II; when that unit last undertook an emergency tour, and where; from which other units reinforcements to that battalion will be drawn; when they last completed an emergency tour and where; whether soldiers from reinforcing units are trained to operate with Warrior armoured vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  1 Prince of Wales Own Regiment from Osnabruck will replace I Cheshire Regiment, currently forming the basis of our battalion group in Bosnia, in May 1993. The Prince of Wales Own Regiment will be augmented by a platoon of Gordon Highlanders from Berlin; a platoon of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment from Berlin; and a platoon of 1 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders from Minden.

  Other units of the present battalion group will be replaced by a squadron of Light Dragoons from Hohne —to replace the squadron from 9/12 Lancers—and elements of 21 Engineer Regiment from Nienburg—to replace elements of 35 Engineer Regiment. Soldiers from units deploying are trained to work with Warrior armoured vehicles.

  It is not possible to say where the earmarked individuals and their sub-units undertook their last emergency tour, but the last emergency tour details of the regiments from which the units are drawn are as follows:
  249

  Last emergency tour When

  Regiment

  Where

  When

  1 Prince of Wales Own Regiment

  Belfast

  November 1991—May 1992

  Gordon Highlanders

  Northern Ireland

  January 1990—July 1990

  Queen's Lancashire Regiment

  Northern Ireland

  February 1987—August 1987

  1 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

  Northern Ireland

  March 1992—July 1992

  Light Dragoons:

  13/18th Hussars

  Cyprus

  August 1991—February 1992

  15/19th Hussars

  UNFICYP Roulement Regiment

  December 1991—January 1992

  21 Engineer Regiment

  Northern Ireland

  March 1992—September 1992

  HMS Calpe
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current role, annual cost and strength of the headquarters unit at HMS Calpe, Gibraltar; when he intends to close it; how and by whom its wartime task will be fulfilled henceforth; what role HMS Calpe played in the seatrain during Operation Granby; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The current rule of HMS Calpe is to provide Royal Naval Reserve personnel to undertake naval control of shipping duties. The unit also provides additional operational support to the Commander British Forces Gibraltar including some augmentation to the manning of the maritime headquarters in periods of tension and war. The annual cost of the unit is £180,000. The strength is 21 officers, 56 ratings and three civilians. HMS Calpe will close by 31 March 1993. In future, the naval control of shipping tasks will be undertaken by staff deployed from the United Kingdom should the need arise. Tasks previously undertaken by RNR personnel serving in the maritime headquarters will now be undertaken by service personnel using modern visual aids and computers. HMS Calpe was not involved in the seatrain during Operation Granby.

  Royal Naval Reserve
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the RNR sea training centre at HMS Graham, Glasgow is to close; at what annual savings; what is the current RNR strength; what was the rate of usage of HMS Dovey over the last full year for which figures are available; what plans he has for her future use; what seagoing alternatives are to be available for RNR volunteers from the west of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Subject to consultation with the trades unions, it is proposed that HMS Graham will close by 1 October 1993 with annual savings of £150,000. Its current Royal Naval Reserve strength is 90 officers and 200 ratings. The usage of HMS Dovery during the calendar year 1992 was as follows:

  Days

  Per cent.

  Time at Sea

  75

  20·5

  Planned Maintenance

  30

  8·2

  Unscheduled Maintenance

  70

  19·2

  Harbour Training

  22

  6·0

  250

  Days

  Per cent.

  Leave (RN personnel)

  42

  11·5

  Berthed

  126

  34·6

  Note: Total Distance Run–11,672 nautical miles

  HMS Dovey will be transferred to the RNR headquarters unit, HMS Dalriada, Greenock. Arrangements have been made for RNR volunteers from the west coast of Scotland to conduct their sea training activities from HMS Dalriada.

  Mercenary Soldiers
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he takes to prevent those known to have been mercenary soldiers enlisting in regular or territorial forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There is no specific bar to prevent anyone who has served as a mercenary from enlisting into the regular or reserve forces. Information about an applicant's service as a mercenary should normally be revealed during the selection process and each would be considered on its own merits.

  Electromagnetic Radiation
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the(a) make and (b) model of each type of equipment in use by the military in border areas of Northern Ireland which emits electromagnetic radiation; and if he will indicate details of emissions in each case.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 1 February,Official Report, column 26, if he will publish similar figures showing the value of the basic retirement pension and state earnings-related pension based on the assumption of earnings uprating, including estimates for 1993–94 (a) expressed as a proportion of average earnings and (b) showing what the monetary equivalents would be if the proportions were applied to estimated average earnings in 1993–94.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is given in the tables.
  251

  Retirement pension as a proportion of average earnings (per cent.)

  1993–94

  2015–16

  2025–26

  2035–36

  2045–46

  Basic pension

  16·9

  16·9

  16·9

  16·9

  16·9

  Average AP (women)

  10·6

  12·9

  11·5

  11·4

  11·4

  Average AP (men)

  17·0

  20·2

  17·9

  16·7

  16·7

  Proportions applied to 1993–94 average earnings (£ per week)

  1993–94

  2015–16

  2025–26

  2035–36

  2045–46

  Basic pension

  56·10

  56·10

  56·10

  56·10

  56·10

  Average AP (women)

  34·95

  42·80

  38·15

  37·90

  37·90

  Average AP (men)

  56·45

  67·00

  59·25

  55·45

  55·35

  Notes:

  1. Amounts rounded to nearest 5p.

  2. Assumes that LEL, UEL and Basic RP increase in line with earnings from April 1994.

  3. AP represents the Additional Pension of an individual on average earnings in each year of his working life.

  Carers
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what efforts are currently undertaken by his Department to consult carers and their representatives organisations concerning the income needs of carers.

  Mr. Scott
  We consider carefully all representations made from and on behalf of carers.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research work has been undertaken by his Department to date to evaluate the costs of caring.

  Mr. Scott
  This Department helps to sponsor a number of large-scale surveys that collect data about the financial circumstances of carers. These include:

  British Household Panel Study

  Family Resources Survey and

  General Household Survey.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to(a) raise the level of invalid care allowance to that of the basic state pension and (b) raise the level of income support carer premium to that of a pensioner premium for a person aged under 75 years; and if he will indicate the estimated costs of implementing both (a) and (b)

  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans to do so.

  The estimated costs, at 1992–93 prices and benefit levels are:

  (a) £156 million

  (b) £15 million1

  1 Figure rounded to the nearest £5 million and does not include housing benefit and community charge benefit costs.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy for the Benefits Agency to establish a dedicated advice line for carers.

  Mr. Scott
  Operational matters are a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Dafydd Wigley, dated 16 February 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational
  252
  matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking if the Agency will establish a dedicated advice line for carers.
  The Agency is committed to providing both an efficient and effective service accessible to all our customers. To this end, specific consideration has been given to people with disabilities and those who care for them, and a number of initiatives have been set up.
  With the success of the general Freeline service a number of similar services were introduced including the Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL). This provides advice and information to people with disabilities as well as to the people who care for them. It is also able to assist with the completion of claim forms over the telephone. At present, forms can be completed for visually impaired customers in braille or large print. However, as a development of the BEL, a full form completion service covering the full range of benefits for people with disabilities and their carers will be introduced in April this year. The benefits covered will include Disability Living Allowance, Disability Working Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance and Invalid Care Allowance.
  With carers being catered for by the Benefit Enquiry Line the Agency does not have any plans, at this stage, to establish a further advice line.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many statutory instruments were laid before Parliament by his Department in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Scott
  The available information is shown in the table. Information relating to previous years is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Statutory Instruments Laid

  1991

  79

  1992

  72

  Vibration White Finger
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for benefit in respect of vibration white finger were made in each of the past six years in(a) Benefits Agency offices in Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole; and how many of these applications led to the payment of such benefits.
  253
  Mr. Scott
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Asbestosis
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to allow persons suffering from asbestosis or related ailments who are in receipt of income support or other social security incomes, to be provided with independent medical examinations free of charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  An independent medical examination may be arranged, and paid for, by the Department where it is considered necessary for the purposes of determining entitlement to benefit. Reports of such examinations may be copied free of charge to claimants on request, to the extent that they do not contain harmful information. We have no plans to arrange other independent medical examinations free of charge.

  Mr. Black, Greenock
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when Mr. Black of Greenock, can expect to receive information concerning the reference back of his case, for second-tier adjudication, made by social security commissioner Douglas Reith on 19 October 1992—commissioner's file No. CSA/95/92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Following the commissioner's decision on 19 October 1992 Mr. Black's case has received second-tier adjudication and Mr. Black was advised of the outcome on 12 November 1992. Another copy of the findings have been sent to Mr. Black.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take steps to resolve the attendance allowance claim of Mrs. June Stanley—NI number YE 25 22 49 C—outstanding from February 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write shortly to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 16 February 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions raised about relevant operational matters. I am therfore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security, about when he will take steps to resolve the Attendance Allowance claim of Mrs. June Stanley which is outstanding from February 1992.
  A decision on Mrs. Stanley's Attendance Allowance claim was made on 21 January 1992 and a further review decision on 15 June 1992. Mrs. Stanley subsequently appealed on 1 September against the review decision and arrangements are now being made for a Disability Appeal Tribunal to consider her appeal. I have written to you separately and in greater detail about this matter.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Benefits Agency (Leeds)
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of replies from the Benefits Agency in Leeds to customer queries is within 20 working days; and what percentage of such replies have taken six months or over, during the past 12 month period.

  Mr. Burt
  The arrangements for reply to correspondence to the Benefits Agency is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Ms. Mildred Gordon, dated 15 February 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the time taken to respond to correspondence by the Benefits Agency in Leeds.
  You ask what percentage of letters in the past twelve month period have been cleared within 20 working days and what percentage took six months or over to reply. The information for 1992 is as follows:

  Per cent.

  Total replies to Members from Chief Executive:

  4,461

  (100)

  of which, Replied within 20 working days

  1,274

  (29)

  Reply took 6 months or more

  32

  (0·7)

  I very much regret that the Benefits Agency has not recently been meeting its target for responding to Members' letters and that some very long delays have occurred. As I explained in my letter to you of 27 January on an individual case you had raised, the delays are due to the backlog of correspondence that has built up in the Disability Living Allowance Unit following the greater than expected workload faced by the Unit in the early months of the DLA scheme.
  The delay in replying to Members' letters about DLA does not, of course, mean that action is not proceeding on a customer's claim. In fact in most cases where there is a long outstanding reply the claim will have been resolved much earlier. You will recall that in the case discussed in my letter of 27 January, full benefit entitlement was paid in September 1992. I understand this followed contact you had with the special Hotline telephone enquiry service for Members I have set up at the DLA Unit. But clearly you should have had a reply to your letter from me much sooner than you did and apologise for this.
  A recovery plan for clearing the backlog of correspondence at the DLA Unit is now in operation with a view to substantially reducing the number of letters awaiting reply by the end of this month. Once the backlog is cleared it will be our aim to respond to all future correspondence on DLA, within the Agency's target of twenty working days, as is already the case for correspondence about other subjects.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of regional assistance grants paid to businesses in Knowsley in each of the past three years.
  255
  Mr. Sainsbury
  In the three years to the end of March 1992 my Department supported in the Knowsley area 41 projects with regional selective assistance; 69 projects with regional development grants—the revised scheme — and 54 projects with regional enterprise grants.

  I will publish a more detailed breakdown of these grants in the Official Report.

  In addition, I am announcing this afternoon a grant of £799,000 to Kodak to extend its Acornfield road factory on the Knowsley industrial park.

  Number of projects in the local authority district of Knowsley supported by RSA, RDG, or REG 1989–90 to 1991–92

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  RSA project grants

  15

  13

  13

  Revised RDG

  48

  14

  7

  REG

  12

  20

  22

  Pâté de Foie Gras
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to ban the import of pâté de foie gras into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  No.

  Free Flight Offers
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further steps he has taken to regulate free flight offers which accompany the sale of goods or services.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further steps he has taken to regulate free flight offers which accompany the sale of goods or services.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have no evidence that such offers are other than bona fide sales promotions and have no plans for specific regulation of them.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how he proposes to monitor deregulation throughout Whitehall.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Progress under the deregulation initiative in all regulatory departments is co-ordinated and monitored by the central deregulation unit in my Department. As the Minister with particular responsibility, for the initiative, I take an active lead in liaising with deregulation Ministers in other Departments and monitoring their activities.

  Railway Rolling Stock
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what help his Department is giving British railway rolling stock manufacturing.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department supports the UK railway equipment manufacturers under its schemes of regional selective assistance, innovation and export promotion. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the autumn statement additional measures to release £150 million for rolling stock orders by British Rail. In addition, he announced the Government's continuing commitment to the Jubilee line extension.

  Coal Mines (Wales)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, on the basis of the latest information available to him, what are the prospects for each of the four remaining coal mines in Wales; and what discussions he has had with the NCB of plans for the sinking of new mines in Wales.

  Mr. Eggar
  Betws and Taff Merthyr are the subject of a consultation process currently being conducted by British Coal. Point of Ayr is being considered in the context of the coal review.

  We have had no discussions with British Coal about opening new mines in Wales.

  Japanese-owned Plants
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the benefits to United Kingdom industry of experience of working practices in Japanese-owned plants in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department keeps a watching brief on all relevant aspects of inward investment. I am particularly encouraged by the experience of Japanese investors in adapting their own working practices to UK circumstances. I have also noted that a number of UK companies have learnt from these practices.

  Ireland (Market Development Fund)
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what response he has received from the European Commission with regard to his representations on the Republic of Ireland's market development fund.

  Mr. Needham
  As a result of representations made to the European Commission a number of important changes were made to the initial proposal so as to minimise the potential impact on United Kingdom businesses. The scheme is confined to companies employing fewer than 250 people and whose turnover does not exceed 20 mecu. Companies which are more than one quarter owned by one or more larger companies are ineligible. The aid is limited for a maximum of six months and will end in March 1993. The scheme can also be suspended if the average rate of sterling against the Irish pound closes below parity within any working week. I understand the Commission has ruled out any extension.

  Pit Closures
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his latest proposals regarding coal mine closures.

  Mr. Heseltine
  We are engaged in a wide-ranging review of the prospects for 21 of the pits proposed for closure by British Coal, in the context of the Government's energy policy. We will shortly be publishing a White Paper setting out the results of that review, which will then be debated by the House.

  Steel Exports (USA)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to protect steel exports to the United States of America.
  257
  Mr. Heseltine
  I raised this subject with Barbara Franklin, the then United States Secretary of Commerce, by letter on 11 December. I have also written to her successor, Ron Brown, urging him to focus on these matters at the earliest opportunity.

  The issue was raised at the Foreign Affairs Council on 2 February, when the United Kingdom joined other member states in condemning the United States actions as unacceptable. As a result the Community has requested formal consultations with the United States in accordance with the GATT subsidies code.

  In addition, the EC fully supported Brazil in its denunciation of the United States decisions at the GATT Council on 9 February.

  Timeshare Companies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further steps he is taking to protect consumers against disreputable timeshare companies.

  Mr. Leigh
  The EC Commission has submitted a draft directive on timeshare to the Council of Ministers. The United Kingdom is seeking to secure the early adoption of this directive.

  Gas (Exempt Supplies) Act 1993
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the entry into force of the Gas (Exempt Supplies) Act 1993.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have made it clear that the Gas (Exempt Supplies) Act 1993 will not come into force until the Health and Safety Commission has had sufficient time to put appropriate safety arrangements in place. We therefore plan to bring the Act into force once revisions to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1984 are in place, probably early in 1994.

  One-stop Shops
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress his Department is making towards setting up one-stop shops.

  Mr. Heseltine
  A total of 57 partnerships have submitted bids for funding pilot one-stop shops. Many of these bids cover wide geographical areas and make proposals for establishing one-stop shops in more than one local area. This is an excellent response. I intend to announce the winning bids by the end of March.

  Steel Exports (USA)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government in relation to penal tariffs on the importation of steel into the United States of America.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I raised this with Barbara Franklin, the then United States Secretary of Commerce, by letter on 11 December. I have also written to her successor, Ron Brown, urging him to focus on these matters at the earliest opportunity.

  Post Office
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the current value of the assets of the Post Office.
  258
  Mr. Leigh
  The value of the Post Office's net assets at 27 September 1992, as reported in the 1992–93 half-year results, was £2,205 million.

  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many Crown post offices have been closed in each of the last five years; and what number of Crown post offices there are expected to be by the end of 1993.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: The figures requested are as follows:

  Year

  Number of Crown office closures

  1987–88

  4

  1988–89

  6

  1989–90

  154

  1990–91

  172

  1991–92

  148

  Up to 31 January 1993

  57

  Total

  541

  These outlets have been replaced by 529 new agency-operated outlets which offer the full range of transactions and in many cases extended hours of opening. The Post Office will continue to review the opportunities for conversion of Crown offices to agency status throughout 1993.

  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many(a) franchised post offices and (b) non-franchised sub-post offices there are expected to be by the end of 1993.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: There are at present 53 franchise post offices and 18,974 sub-post offices in operation. The Post Office will review opportunities for further franchise offices as they arise throughout 1993 and some modest increase can be expected. The number of sub-post offices is expected to be broadly similar at the end of 1993, although closures occur from time to time as a result of local circumstances. The Government are committed to the maintenance of a nationwide network of post offices.

  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many(a) crown post offices and (b) sub-post offices have become franchised sub-post offices in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: Since 1990 42 Crown offices have been converted to franchise status operating in major retail outlets such as supermarkets and newsagents. Five existing sub-post offices have been upgraded to franchise status. There have also been six openings of franchise offices in entirely new locations. No franchise offices were opened before 1990.

  Motor Industry (Energy Strategy)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to meet motor manufacturers to discuss the implications for the motor industry of his revised energy strategy.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to announce his plans for the future of the coal industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I hope to set out the Government's plans for the future of the coal industry in a White Paper to be published later this month.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the cost of continued pumping at pits in the Durham coalfield was taken into account(a) before the announcement of the proposed closures and (b) in the recent review of their viability.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: The factors which British Coal considered before making its announcement of proposed pit closures on 13 October are a matter for the corporation. The studies by John T. Boyd Company of pits proposed for closure have taken account of the costs of pumping at those pits.

  United States of America
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on trade with the United States of America.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The United States is our largest trading partner outside Europe and our trading relationship is therefore of the greatest significance. I have already conveyed to my counterparts in the new Administration the importance I attach to finding constructive solutions to the current EC-US bilateral issues, particularly in the steel and vehicles sector, and in bringing the Uruguay round to a successful conclusion. The position adopted by the EC Commission in its talks last week with the United States Administration on these matters has our full support.

  The reviving United States economy provides considerable opportunities for British companies in the United States. I hope shortly to announce a major new campaign to encourage our exporters to seize these opportunities.

  Postage Stamps (Royal Emblems)
  Ms. Hoey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given to the future use of royal emblems on postage stamps in connection with his proposals to privatise the Post Office.

  Mr. Leigh
  The review of Post Office organisation and structure is not yet complete. No decision has been taken to privatise the Post Office. Full consideration is being given to all relevant issues.

  Arms Conversion
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to consult the Secretary of the National Steering Committee of Nuclear Free Zone Local Authorities about arms conversion.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No.

  Laboratories (Expenditure)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the expenditure of(a) the Warren Spring Laboratory, (b) the National Engineering Laboratory,
  260
  (c) the National Physical Laboratory and (d) the Laboratory of the Government Chemist in each year since 1989; what is the projected expenditure for the next three years; and how much income was generated from (i) Government sources outside his Department and (ii) non-Government sources since 1989.

  Mr. Leigh
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the chief executives of the four agencies concerned. I have therefore asked Dr. Richard Worswick, Laboratory of Government Chemist; Mr. William Edgar, National Engineering Laboratory; Dr. Peter Clapham, National Physical Laboratory; and Dr. Doug Cormack, Warren Spring Laboratory, to arrange for replies to be given.

  Letter from Dr. D. Cormack to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 10 February 1993:
  I am replying to your question to the President of the Board of Trade in respect of Warren Spring Laboratory. The figures are as follows:

  Vote expenditure £ million

  1989–90

  10·3

  1990–91

  11·7

  1991–92

  12·7

  1992–93

  13·0

  1993–94

  13·0

  1994–95

  14·0

  1995–96

  14·0

  £ million

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  11992–93

  Vote income from:

  OGDs

  4·2

  5·4

  6·8

  6·4

  Non-Government

  1·8

  1·9

  3·0

  3·1

  1 The figures for 1992–93 are the latest forecast outturn.

  Letter from W. Edgar to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 12 February 1993:
  The information you asked for is as follows:

  Gross expenditure

  Income from Government sources ex-cluding DTI

  Income from non-Government sources

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Year to 31 March

  90—Actual

  19·6

  0·4

  4·0

  91—Actual

  18·2

  0·3

  4·3

  92—Actual

  17·8

  0·5

  6·1

  93—Forecast

  23·3

  0·5

  6·0

  94—Projected

  23·5

  95—Projected

  24·5

  96—Projected

  25·1

  I trust this meets your requirements.

  Letter from Peter Clapham to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 11 February 1993:
  I refer to your recent Parliamentary Question, asking the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the expenditure

  261
  of (a) the Warren Spring Laboratory, (b) the National Engineering Laboratory, (c) the National Physical Laboratory and (d) the Laboratory of the Government Chemist in each year since 1989; what is the projected expenditure for the next three years and how much income was generated from (i) government sources outside his Department and (ii) non government sources since 1989.
  I have been asked to reply in respect of the Agency for which I am responsible, the National Physical Laboratory.
  The historic information requested is as follows:

  £ million

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Expenditure

  35

  40

  44

  Income from

  (i)government sources outside DTI

  0·6

  0·7

  0·6

  (ii)non government sources

  4·2

  4·4

  62

  The latest published projections of gross expenditure for the current year and the next three years are as follows:

  £ million

  1992–93(estimated outturn)

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  47

  48

  53

  56

  However, it is likely that the projections for 1994–95 and beyond will need to be revised downwards in the light of reductions in the budgets available to our major customers.

  Letter from R. D. Worswick to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 12 February 1993:
  As Chief Executive I am replying to this question in respect of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC), an Executive Agency since 30 October 1989.
  From 1 April 1990 LGC has been subject to net running cost control. It is expected to finance current expenditure (including capital charges) from income from payments by customers, principally Government Departments (including the Department of Trade and Industry), for work commissioned. LGC undertakes work for customers on a full economic cost basis.
  Against this background, the details you requested about LGC's Vote Expenditure and Receipts are as follows:

  Table 1: Expenditure

  £ million

  1989–90

  10·2

  1990–91

  11·0

  1991–92

  12·8

  1992–93

  16·5

  1993–94

  16·7

  1994–95

  17·5

  1995–96

  17·3

  Table 2: Receipts

  Government sources outside DTI £ million

  Non-Government sources £ million

  1989–90

  7·0

  0·6

  1990–91

  7·8

  1·0

  1991–92

  7·1

  1·0

  1992–931

  7·2

  1·0

  Note:

  1 The figures for 1992–93 are based on the latest income forecasts for the present financial year.

  I hope this information is helpful.

  Coal Imports
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimates he has made of the change in the price of imported coal in 1992 due to currency fluctuations.

  Mr. Eggar
  Based on figures of spot purchases of coal delivered to Europe, published by the International Coal Report, the sterling price of imported coal declined from 93p per gigajoule in January 1992 to 74p per GJ in September, mainly due to a decline in the dollar price of imported coal. The price increased to 92p per GJ in December due to the exchange rate changes.

  Manufactures
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the manufactured products which have ceased to be manufactured in the United Kingdom since 1980.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There are a number of sources of information on manufacturing products, but none is sufficiently comprehensive to allow for an accurate answer.

  KissLine
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken in connection with the KissLine telephone service; and what steps are being taken to prevent such services from being advertised in children's comics.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services sets and reviews standards relating to premium rate telephone services through the ICSTIS code of practice. ICSTIS recognises that children are a vulnerable audience for premium rate services and the code of practice contains a number of measures which help to protect children and their parents. Children's services must not, for example, include references to practices that a reasonable parent would not wish his or her child to hear or learn about in this way.

  ICSTIS has considered the children's service entitled "Kissing: All the Secrets" and has decided that the content of the service was so mild that the appearance of an advertisement for it in a children's comic did not breach the ICSTIS code of practice.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received concerning the lack of staff representation on the interim creditor committee of BCCI.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Such representations have been received from the hon. Member for Leicester, East and from members of the BCCI campaign committee.

  Insolvency Act
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many individual voluntary arrangements under part VIII of the Insolvency Act 1986 have been notified to his Department in each of the last three years for which records are available; what is the total value of debt
  263
  written off in this fashion over this period; how many businesses have thereby been thus enabled to continue trading; and how many creditors have suffered irrecoverable losses as a result of the operation of this part of the Act.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The number of individual voluntary arrangements in each year are published on my Department's behalf in "Business Briefing" by the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, copies of which are available in the Library. The further information sought by the hon. Member is not maintained and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  European Structural Funds
  Mr. Coe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he considers that Cornwall should be eligible for grants from the European structural funds.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Yes. The Government believe that Northern Ireland, the highlands and islands, Merseyside, Devon and Cornwall, rural Wales and South Yorkshire should be eligible for grants under objective 1 of these funds.

  Industrial Strategy
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the Government's industrial strategy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 16 November 1992,Official Report, column 71, and the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry to my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 27 January 1993, Official Report, column 735.

  Dounreay
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the future of Dounreay.

  Mr. Eggar
  The prototype fast reactor at Dounreay is due to cease operation on 31 March 1994, after which decommissioning operations will commence. Other decomissioning and radioactive waste management operations already under way will continue for some time to come. Dounreay is also the base of the Atomic Energy Authority's fuel services business. Future commercial activities there are a matter for the AEA.

  Hospital Radio
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what discussions have taken place between his Department and the National Association of Hospital Broadcasting Organisations regarding the allocation of an FM frequency for hospital broadcasting services;

  (2) whether the use of a freely radiating FM frequency will be made available to hospital broadcasting services.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave on 9 February 1993, Official Report, column 569.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table of information showing for regions of the United Kingdom, with Greater London shown as a separate region, the number of VAT registrations and de-registrations for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: Regional estimates of VAT registratio:ns and deregistrations, for the years 1980 to 1991, were published in CSO bulletin (5/93) on 15 January 1993, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  International Atomic Energy Authority
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the IAEA meeting in Oslo from 1 to 5 February on dumping in the Kara and Barents seas.

  Mr. Curry
  I have been asked to reply.

  The meeting was held under the joint auspices of the International Atomic Energy Authority, the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority and the Federal Hydrometeorological Committee of Russia. Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and from the Ministry of Defence attended.

  The meeting launched "The International Arctic Seas Assessment Project (IASAP) 1993–95", a scientific programme designed to assess the implications for human health and the environment of radioactive wastes dumped in the Kara and Barents seas by the former Soviet Union and to consider any necessary remedial action. I welcome the co-operation being offered by the Russian authorities and look forward to seeing the results of this investigation.

WALES

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) which company won the contract for printing the brochure, "Grant-maintained Schools-Questions Staff Ask"; if the contract was open to competitive tender; and what was the total cost of production and distribution;

  (2) which company won the contract for printing the brochure, "Grant-maintained Schools-Questions Parents Ask"; if the contract was open to competitive tender; and what was the total cost of production and distribution;

  (3) which company won the contract for printing the brochure, "How to become a Grant-maintained School"; for school governors; if the contract was open to competitive tender; and what was the cost of production and distribution.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  These booklets were produced for the Welsh Office by the Central Office of Information and details relating to their production are a matter for the chief executive of COI. The production and distribution cost of each booklet cannot be separately identified as all three were produced together. The cost of producing and distributing all booklets was £23,900.

  Contracting Out
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide figures for the reduction in numbers of posts as a result of contracting out since 1979 in his Department and agencies for which he has responsibility.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action is currently undertaken by his Department to ensure that local authorities fulfil obligations outlined in section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  We expect local authorities to be well aware of their statutory duties under section 2(1) of the 1970 Act, to provide a range of services for disabled people, where they accept that there is an assessed need. Each case is assessed on its own merits and the decision as to the kind of assistance to be provided is for the local authority to make, being best placed to judge an individual's needs. The Department receives annual returns and, as appropriate, follows up specific cases referred to the Department, where it is alleged that a local authority is in breach of its statutory duties.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what new money and transitional funding he has allocated to each county in Wales in respect of the all-Wales mental illness strategy 1993–94; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will allocate extra funding to the all-Wales mental illness strategy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The allocation has been announced of an extra £1·2 million for 1993–94, in addition to what is required to maintain existing projects. The distribution of the allocation has yet to be decided. Discussions are continuing about the amount and duration of transitional funding needed to develop new services within each county.

  Energy Conservation
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he will take to boost energy conservation in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have already taken several initiatives to encourage the efficient use of energy. In December 1991 I launched the "Energy Plan for Wales for the 1990s", which outlines our approach to energy conservation. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. At the same time I wrote to all local authorities stressing the importance of energy conservation.

  Very recently I have supplemented this initiative by joining the corporate commitment campaign started by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. This campaign is aimed at top management of both the commercial and public sectors. I myself signed the commitment on behalf of the Welsh Office last December. Details of this campaign have also been placed in the Library of the House.
  266
  My officals are at present very active in promulgating this message throughout Wales.

  Community Care
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make available extra funding for community care in 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my announcement of 2 October that £35·9 million will be made available to local authorities in 1993–94 to meet the cost of their new responsibilities for community care. This includes the Department of Social Security transfer of £27·5 million, with a further £8·4 million for additional costs.

  Schools and Colleges
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) infant schools, (b) primary schools, (c) secondary schools and (d) colleges of further education there were in Wales in each year since 1979; and how many places were offered by each category.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The number of infant, primary and secondary schools and colleges of further education in Wales in each year since 1979 is shown in the following table together with the total number of full and part-time pupils in schools and the number of enrolments in further education colleges. Information on the number of places offered by each category is not collected centrally.

  Number of establishments

  Infant1

  Primary1

  Secondary1

  FE colleges2

  1979–80

  420

  1,505

  241

  45

  1980–81

  410

  1,498

  239

  45

  1981–82

  379

  1,494

  241

  45

  1982–83

  353

  1,491

  238

  46

  1983–84

  337

  1,484

  236

  44

  1984–85

  314

  1,482

  237

  43

  1985–86

  305

  1,469

  237

  39

  1986–87

  299

  1,463

  234

  39

  1987–88

  295

  1,458

  233

  39

  1988–89

  291

  1,452

  232

  39

  1989–90

  279

  1,450

  231

  36

  1990–91

  271

  1,446

  230

  37

  1991–92

  264

  1,440

  229

  34

  Number of students-pupils on roll

  Infant1

  Primary1

  Secondary1

  FE colleges2

  1979–80

  62,091

  233,136

  240,771

  62,207

  1980–81

  57,944

  225,491

  239,641

  61,973

  1981–82

  52,670

  220,532

  237,156

  64,081

  1982–83

  48,858

  213,711

  235,625

  63,671

  1983–84

  48,515

  210,127

  231,512

  67,548

  1984–85

  48,383

  208,912

  226,446

  65,477

  1985–86

  48,901

  207,897

  218,378

  65,870

  1986–87

  47,967

  210,032

  209,909

  70,546

  1987–88

  46,951

  214,750

  199,279

  73,942

  1988–89

  46,847

  221,641

  191,999

  79,534

  1989–90

  45,960

  228,648

  185,723

  84,144

  1990–91

  45,819

  231,016

  185,193

  85,755

  1991–92

  46,316

  232,341

  189,002

  90,860

  1 At January each year.

  2 At November each year. All colleges offering further education courses each year (both further education and higher education

  267
  colleges) are included in the table. The total number of further education enrolments is also shown irrespective of whether the course was run at a further education or higher education establishment.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average class size of(a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools, (c) sixth form colleges, (d) colleges of further education, (e) colleges of higher education and (f) infant schools in each year since 1979.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The average class size in primary and secondary schools and further and higher education courses in Wales since 1979 is shown in the following table. Figures are not available for further and higher education courses before 1982–83 and for secondary schools before 1986–87. Information on the average class size of infant schools and sixth form colleges is not collected separately. Information for the colleges of the University of Wales is not available.

  Primary

  Secondary1

  Further Education2

  Higher Education2

  1979–80

  24·3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1980–81

  23·9

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1981–82

  24·1

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1982–83

  23·9

  n/a

  13·5

  12·5

  1983–84

  23·7

  n/a

  13·5

  13·2

  1984–85

  24·1

  n/a

  14·0

  13·7

  1985–86

  24·3

  n/a

  13·3

  13·4

  1986–87

  24·4

  19·4

  13·2

  14·2

  1987–88

  24·5

  19·1

  13·5

  14·1

  1988–89

  24·8

  19·0

  314·0

  313·5

  1989–90

  24·8

  18·9

  14·0

  13·9

  1990–91

  23·1

  19·2

  14·3

  15·7

  1991–92

  25·4

  21·5

  n/a

  n/a

  1 Prior to 1986–87 information on the size of classes in secondary schools was collected on a different basis. These data, relating to the numbers of classes by size, are given in the Secondary Education section of 'Statistics of Education in Wales: Schools', copies of which are available in the Library.

  2 Average class sizes for Wales are calculated on a further education or higher education basis and the figures do include a small number of further education courses run at higher education establishments and higher education courses at further education establishments.

  3 Changes in methodology, introduced in 1988–89, may affect comparisons of indicators between 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Waiting List Initiative
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has given to purchasers and providers of health care concerning the use of marginal cost pricing for waiting list initiative expenditure; in what circumstances purchaser-provider arrangements for operations can be based on marginal cost pricing; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Negotiations between purchasers and providers, whether in respect of mainstream business, or specific initiatives such as that on waiting times, take place within the well-established ground rules for NHS contracting.

  Office Furniture
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to order office furniture before 31 March; and if he will make a statement.
  268
  Mr. David Hunt
  Orders to the value of approximatey £600 are waiting to be placed. Futher purchases may be made as required.

ENVIRONMENT

  Halon Bank
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for establishing a United Kingdom halon bank.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government do not plan to establish a Government-run United Kingdom halon bank. However, following discussions between Government halon users and the fire industry, I am pleased to announce the establishment of the project phase of the Halon Users' National Consortium (HUNC). HUNC is being set up by halon users and the fire industry with the aim of managing the United Kingdom installed bank of halons. It will act as a clearing house putting those who need to continue using halons in contact with those who do not. Unlike halon bank management proposals elsewhere in the world, HUNC will be a non-profit making organisation. It will be funded by members' subscriptions rather than from a levy on sales.

  As its contribution to HUNC, my Department is funding publicity which is being issued to UK halon users this week. The set up costs for HUNC are being met by halon users and the fire industry. This is an excellent example of Government and industry co-operation.

  Office of Water Services
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what plans he has to increase the transparency of Ofwat;

  (2) what plans he has to review the powers and accountability of Ofwat;

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

  Mr. Maclean
  The Director General of Water Services already operates an open regulatory regime, for example by consulting widely on issues such as future charging policy. The responses to these public consultations inform his decisions, which are published in press releases. Information notes are also available which explain Ofwat policy.

  The powers of the Director General were reviewed in preparation for the Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992, which enhanced his powers in certain respects, for example in the resolution of disputes.

  The Director General reports each year to the Secretary of State on the discharge of his duties. The Secretary of State lays a copy of the report before Parliament, and Select Committees may call the Director General to give evidence. Whilst my Department occasionally receives representations from consumers about the powers and accountability of the Director General, I have no current plans to review them further.

  Pay-when-paid Policy
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide details of the pay-when-paid policy of the Property Services Agency and of its
  269
  purpose and origins; and if he will make a statement on the application to this policy of the Government's requiring Departments to pay their private contractors as quickly as possible.

  Mr. Redwood
  New payment arrangements are being implemented by the PSA building management businesses, where they are acting as agents for the Ministry of Defence for payment purposes under MOD property management contracts, such that subcontractors are paid no later than seven days following receipt of payment from the client, MOD. There is an existing obligation on the MOD to pay promptly and this together with the new payment arrangements being adopted by the PSAS will ensure that subcontractors should be paid within 30 days from validation.

  The development of the appropriate systems and procedural changes is underway so that by 1 April 1993 the five BM businesses are operating on this new basis. As these arrangements are introduced, I am demanding better performance from PSA in reducing delays in payments to contractors by getting invoices to MOD more promptly.

  These arrangements create a contractual commitment on the managing contractor to make payment to subcontractors whose invoices have been accepted for payment by MOD and should be distinguished from other forms of "pay-when-paid" for capital works contracts whereby main contractors may withhold payments to subcontractors. This latter practice is inconsistent with the Government's prompt payment policy.

  While the building management businesses are still in Government ownership, and they retain the obligations of the Government's prompt payment policy in their own right, a safety net will be in place so that PSA can ensure prompt payment to its contractors even where MOD has not paid PSA.

  Landfill
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department intends to implement section 61 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend is still considering the appropriate time to implement section 61 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Lambeth Council
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of that part of Lambeth's current notional expenditure which consists of(a) interest charges and (b) debt write-off.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The relevant notional amount specified for Lambeth in "The Limitation of Council Tax and Precepts (Relevant Notional Amounts) Report (England) 1993–94" reflects the authority's own estimate of the amounts of interest charges and debt write-off which it made when setting its 1992–93 budget and community charges.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much Lambeth council is currently permitted to borrow excluding capital projects.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The limit on an authority's borrowing is its aggregate credit limit (ACL), or any lower 270
  limit the authority itself may have set. The ACL is determined by a formula. As the ACL can fluctuate from day to day, the ACL which is current at any time would have to be ascertained from the council.

  Housing Association Grant
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent discretion is used in determining the amount of housing association grant available in each local authority's area; and what performance indicators are used in the exercise of the discretion.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Housing Corporation allocates 80 per cent. of the resources to a particular local authority area, over a three year period, in accordance with housing need, as measured by the housing needs indicator (HNI). The remaining 20 per cent. is distributed in the light of particular local circumstances, including the value for money of projects submitted by housing associations. Local priorities are discussed between housing authorities and the regional offices of the Housing Corporation before decisions are taken.

  Water Disconnections
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to make it unlawful for water companies or others to cause a disconnection of a consumer's water supply.

  Mr. Maclean
  None. It is right that bills should be paid, but equally that companies should deal sympathetically with customers who are having difficulty meeting their bills. The Director General of Water Services is responsible for protecting customers' interests. He has expressed his concern over the level of disconnections, and issued guidance to water companies last year on the subject of debt and disconnection to ensure they take a consistent and fair approach towards customers with unpaid charges. The Director General is in addition proposing to carry out research to find out more about the reasons people are disconnected. The Government welcome the actions he is taking.

  Tenants Charter
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many copies of the full council tenants charter have been requested from his Department.

  Mr. Baldry
  Copies of the full tenants charter were sent to all local housing authorities, housing organisations, citizens advice bureaux and law centres. In addition, over 200,000 copies of the English and ethnic language versions of the full council tenants charter have been directly requested from my Department, mainly by tenants.

  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many copies of the full tenants charter were printed in each language; and at what cost.

  Mr. Baldry
  One million copies of the English language version of the full tenants charter have been printed at a cost of £123,176. Five thousand copies of each of the five ethnic language versions (Hindi, Greek, Vietnamese, Bengali and Urdu) have been printed at a cost of £41,422.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the legislation or regulations requiring that information regarding the quality of drinking water is made available to the public by the water companies.

  Mr. Maclean
  Regulation 30 of The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989, SI No. 1147, requires that a water undertaker shall make available for inspection by the public at all reasonable hours and free of charge, at such of its offices as are normally open to the public, and record maintained by it in accordance with regulation 29. This includes for each water supply zone, its name, the supplying water treatment works, its population, particulars of any relaxation granted or undertakings given in respect of the water supply in the zone and particulars of the result of analyses of samples taken in accordance with other parts of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations.

  In addition, regulation 31 requires water undertakers to prepare for publication an annual report in accordance with the terms of that regulation. A copy must be sent to the local authority for each area in which it supplies water.

  Direct Labour Organisations
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the methods used to monitor direct labour organisations and the publication of comparability studies showing performance indicators of efficiency, effectiveness, employment and value for money in respect of each local authority.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Local authorities carrying out work within an activity defined under the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980 or the Local Government Act 1988 are required to keep accounts and to meet a financial objective set by my right hon. and learned Friend. They are also required to submit annual reports on these matters to my right hon. and learned Friend who considers in each case whether there are grounds for exercising his sanction powers. The introduction of local government performance indicators is a key feature in this Government's determination to raise the standard of public services. I believe that the methods adopted by the Audit Commission will enable the citizen to judge the performance of their local council in comparison with those of a similar background.

  Tenants
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the responses received by his Department to the consultation paper "Compensation for Tenants' Improvements".

  Sir George Young
  Some 61 responses to the consultation paper have been received to date. A list of the respondents has been placed in the Library of the House. The responses will be held for six months in the Department's central library.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the ratio of expenditure on administration to total expenditure for(a) county councils and (b) shire district councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The budgeted ratio of expenditure on general administration (not allocated to other services) to total expenditure on services (both measured net of sales, fees and charges) in 1992–93 was 0·3 per cent. in county councils and 3 per cent. in shire district councils.

  Housing
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish responses to the consultation paper draft explanatory note on planning and affordable housing.

  Sir George Young
  We will place copies in the Library of the House of Commons once we have finished considering them and have issued a final version of the guidance.

  Council Leaseholders
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken to assist council leaseholders.

  Sir George Young
  The Government legislated in 1986 to meet concerns over high service charges on flats sold under the right to buy. Purchasers now have binding estimates of the maximum charges for repairs and improvements during the first five years of the lease, and the right to a loan for particularly high charges.

  Leaseholders have nevertheless reported difficulties over service charges and over resale. The Department is looking into these with landlords and the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

  Housing, Tower Hamlets
  Mr. Peter Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many public sector dwellings were started and completed by the Tower Hamlets local authority and by housing associations in Tower Hamlets in each year since 1986.

  Mr. Baldry
  Estimates of housebuilding starts and completions by sector in Tower Hamlets for each year from 1986 to 1991 and for the first half of 1992 are shown in the October 1992 edition of "Local Housing Statistics" (issue No. 103), tables 1(b) to 1(h). A copy of this publication is in the Library.

  Substandard Accommodation
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of(a) Asian and (b) white households live in substandard accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  This information is not available.

  Inner City Projects, Coventry
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total amount of grants for inner city projects in Coventry given in each of the last five years.

  (All figures given are in £ million)

  1992–93

  1991–92

  1990–91

  1989–90

  1988–89

  Urban Programme

  4·645

  4·772

  4·798

  4·575

  4·79

  City Grant

  0·580

  0·590

  —

  0·620

  1·630

  Task Force

  1·500

  1·273

  0·808

  0·881

  1·169

  6·725

  6·635

  5·606

  6–076

  7·589

  Derelict Land Grant

  0·109

  —

  —

  0·002

  0·002

  Energy Efficiency

  —

  0·020

  Section 73 Grants

  0·087

  0·079

  0·028

  Home Improvement Agencies (HIA)

  0·037

  0·038

  0·233

  0·162

  0·053

  0·002

  0·002

  6·958

  6·797

  5·659

  6·078

  7·595

  Estate Action (Total for period—£13 million)

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has received for schemes for inner city projects in Coventry which he does not propose to fund.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We have received a number of proposals from Coventry along with other local authorities of support for inner city projects which we have not been able to assist. Clearly we do not have unlimited funds. However it is open to local authorities to support such projects through use of their capital receipts and any private sector or other contributions.

  Inner City Policies
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library the reviews that have been undertaken by his Department on the operation of the Government's inner city policies.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My Department has carried out a number of evaluations of its various programmes for urban areas including, most recently, the achievements of three of the inner cities task forces; relevant reports are in the Library. Further details of my Department's urban policies and programmes are in the 1993 DOE annual report published 10 February.

  Local Government Commission
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will set out the full proposed timetable for the second tranche of the work of the Local Government Commission;

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that all local authorities are given adequate advance warning of the start time of the local government review in their area;

  (3) if he will make it his policy not to require the Local Government Commission to begin any review in the period immediately before or immediately after the 1993 local elections.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  In reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field), my
  274
  Mr. Robin Squire
  This Department has provided the following inner cities grants to Coventry in the last five years:

  hon. Friend the Minister of State for Local Government and Inner Cities announced on 4 February the timetable for the Local Government Commission's second tranche reviews, and placed a copy in the House Library.

  All local authorities in the areas in the second tranche were sent a copy of the announcement, together with the timetable. This gives them a minimum of three months to prepare their initial submissions to the commission.

  The Secretary of State intends to direct the commission to begin the first review in the second tranche on 10 May 1993, immediately after the county council elections. There is no need to delay the beginning of the reviews any further.

  Homelessness
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentages of(a) ethnic minorities and (b) white people are homeless in London.

  Mr. Baldry
  Local authorities report the number of households for whom they accept responsibility to secure permanent accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985 in their quarterly P1(E) return.

  In the quarter ending September 1992 only 17 out of 33 London boroughs provided the information classified by ethnic origin. On average in those boroughs 47 per cent. of households accepted as homeless were from ethnic minorities and 53 per cent. were white.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the Hambros report into the actuarial margin of risk of private sector borrowing by housing associations.

  Sir George Young
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Raynsford) on Monday 18 January at column 113.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the change
  275
  in the share of housing association programmes dedicated to rehabilitation of existing stock; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  The Department has commissioned research into the amount of rehabilitation work undertaken by housing associations. The first part of the research, undertaken by PIEDA plc in association with Rodney Dykes Housing Services Ltd, was published at the end of January. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

  The results show that there are a number of factors which have resulted in fewer dwellings being rehabilitated by housing associations than in the past. In addition to the changes brought about by the new financial regime, introduced by the Housing Act 1988, they include: the availability of cheaper land relative to the acquisition costs of properties in need of repair, which encourages new build; increasing opportunities for off-the-shelf purchases of new dwellings from private builders; and the drying up of suitable properties available for rehabilitation in some areas.

  The Department has recently let a contract for the second part of the research, which will examine the effects of the decline. The research will again be undertaken by PIEDA, which is due to report in December this year. In the meantime, I have asked the Housing Corporation to aim to maintain rehabat at least at its current level.

  Local Authority Housing
  Mr. Peter Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority dwellings were reported as vacant in the London borough of Tower Hamlets in 1992; what percentage of the local authority housing stock this figure respresents; and what is the comparable percentage in other London boroughs.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Local authorities report the numbers of their own dwellings that are vacant in their annual housing investment programme (HIP1) returns. At 1 April 1992 Tower Hamlets reported 1,703 of their dwellings as empty, 4·2 per cent. of their dwelling stock. The comparable percentage for the other London boroughs is 2·3 per cent.

  House Completions, Leicester
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses were completed in Leicester in 1979, 1989 and 1992 respectively.

  Mr. Baldry
  The total number of housebuilding completions in the city of Leicester local authority area in 1979 was 1,247, in 1989, 227 and for 1992, provisionally, 534.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the next uniform business rate revaluation is due to take place.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  New rating lists will be compiled on 1 April 1995 based on 1 April 1993 values.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the sum paid by British Coal in uniform business rates for 1992(a) in total and (b) in respect of the 31 pits due for closure.
  276
  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on the rates paid by British Coal is not held centrally by the Government.

  English Nature
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has given to English Nature concerning its obligation to disseminate to the public data and information on the state of the environment; and what steps are being taken by English Nature to advertise its new responsibilities relating to the provision of environmental information.

  Mr. Maclean
  English Nature already disseminates information on nature conservation as one of its key functions. My Department has provided guidance on the new Environmental Information Regulations which took effect in December and English Nature will be taking steps to inform its customers and partners of how it intends to meet its obligations under the regulations.

  Environmental Data
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will instruct the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to institute a system to ensure that enviornmental data or information disseminated by English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage or the Countryside Council for Wales are made available in a mutually consistent form.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. This is a matter for the committee to consider in consultation with the three councils.

  Parliament Square (Air Quality)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 10 January,Official Report, columns 654–55, what is the nearest point to Parliament square, Westminster, for which he has records of air quality; and if he will undertake a sample survey of air quality in Parliament square.

  Mr. Maclean
  The site nearest to Parliament square at which air quality is monitored is at Bridge place, Victoria. The Department has no plans to undertake air quality monitoring in Parliament square.

  Darwin Initiative
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Advisory Committee on the Darwin Initiative and indicate its membership.

  Mr. Howard
  The Prime Minister signed the convention on biological diversity in Rio de Janiero at the UN conference on environment and development. In order to support the aims of the convention he launched at that time the Darwin initiative for the survival of species. The initiative aims to deploy British scientific, managerial and commercial strengths in biodiversity to assist with the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and natural habitats.

  In December a consultation paper was issued to a wide variety of individuals, organisations and individuals seeking views on the scope of the initiative and ideas for projects which might meet the initiative's objectives. I announced at that time that I intended to establish an

  277
  advisory committee on the Darwin initiative. This committee will have regard to the work already in progress on biodiversity and the available resources, and will make recommendations on the areas on which the Darwin initiative should initially be targeted, the relative priority to be given to different programmes, and the financial support to be made available to them. Sir Crispin Tickell has agreed to be chairman of that committee, and I am pleased to announce that the other members of the committee are: Ms. Janet Barber, Dr. Brian Bayne FIBiol, Dr. Eileen Buttle FIBiol, Mr. Robin Herbert DL JP, David Horrobin, professor Robert May FRS and Sir David Smith FRS FRSE. The committee held its first meeting on 15 February.

  Olympic Bid
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the Manchester 2000 Olympic bid; and if he will make a statement on Government support.

  Mr. Howard
  The details of the formal bid submitted by the Manchester Olympic Bid Committee to the International Olympic Committee will be made public today. I am arranging for a copy of the candidature file and the executive summary to be placed in the Library of the House.

  My hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities previously announced on Tuesday 26 January—Official Report column 600—that the Government are providing up to £75 million to support the bid in advance of the IOC's decision on the nomination. In addition, the candidature file sets out the undertakings made by the Government if Manchester is successful. In particular, the Government will ensure that all the necessary facilities will be built, partly by private finance and partly by substantial public funding. We also intend to legislate at the earliest opportunity following the IOC's nomination of Manchester to ensure that the Organising Committee for the Games has the necessary powers to plan and implement this event. The Government are backing wholeheartedly Manchester's bid for the 2000 Olympic Games.

  London Boroughs (Debt)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance he proposes to make available to London boroughs and the Common Council during 1993–94 in respect of extra costs due to his decisions on housing revenue account subsidy in respect of debt inherited from the former Greater London Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  It is my right hon. Friend's firm intention to issue capitalisation directions and supplementary credit approvals (SCAs) to authorities facing during 1993–94 extra costs due to his decision that housing revenue account subsidy is not payable under the statute in respect of certain debts inherited from the former Greater London council. The court yesterday upheld this decision.

  Authorities which face such extra costs will be able to apply for capitalisation directions and SCAs during a period which my right hon. Friend intends to specify and which will not be shorter than six months from yesterday when the court gave its judgment.
  278
  In deciding the amount of a direction and SCA to issue to an authority, my right hon. Friend intends to have regard inter alia to the resources available to him under the Government's public expenditure plans, the authority's 1993–94 budget—in particular the scope for the authority to accommodate the extra costs within that budget, and to the financial reserves and useable capital receipts available to the authority. To the extent that costs are covered by directions and SCAs their impact on the council tax is spread over a number of years.

  I am arranging for London boroughs and the Common Council to be sent today the details of the scheme for issuing these directions and SCAs which my right hon. Friend intends to adopt. Authorities will need to take account of these intentions when setting their 1993–94 budgets.

  River Pollution
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the closure of pits in the Durham coalfield on the pollution of the River Wear and other local waterways;

  (2) what response he has made to the report on the probable environmental impact of the closure of Vane Tempest and Easington collieries by Dr. Paul Younger of Newcastle university; and what steps he is taking to avoid pollution of the River Wear.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: None. It is for British Coal and the National Rivers Authority, in the first place, to assess the environmental effects of pit closures and any relevant reports on the subject, and to consider what action may need to be taken to avoid pollution. My officials and the staff of the NRA have been in frequent contact about pollution from closed mines, and arrangements have been made between British Coal and the NRA for effective liaison over any proposed pit closures.

  Unified Housing Waiting Lists
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will hold talks with the National Federation of Housing Associations, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and the Association of district councils to discuss the establishment of unified housing waiting lists between local authorities and housing associations.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 12 February 1993]: My Department held a seminar which discussed the subject last year; attendance included representatives of the organisations mentioned. We are considering holding a further seminar to review developments.

  Audit Commission (Lambeth)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports he has received from the Audit Commission that arising out of the discharge of its own duties it has discovered substantial fraud, corruption or other crimes, or substantial ultra vires expenditure, in Lambeth.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: Neither the Audit Commission nor the auditor report to

  279
  my right hon. and learned Friend: they perform their duties independently. I understand, however, that Lambeth's auditor is preparing a report which will deal with allegations of fraud, corruption and related matters.

  Seven Estuary (Pollution)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total annual discharge into the Severn estuary from English counties of(a) ammonia, (b) cadmium, (c) lead, (d) copper, (e) chromium, )f) cyanide, (g) nickel, (h) mercury and (i) zince in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: The information requested is not held centrally. Details of maximum authorised loads contained in relevant discharge consents, and related water quality monitoring results for the Severn estuary, are available on public registers in the National Rivers Authority regions concerned.

  Minewater Pumping
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussion he has had with the National Rivers Authority about the consequences of stopping minewater pumping in the Tyneside area.

  Mr. MacLean
  [holding answer 19 January 1993]: My right hon. Friend and I have not discussed this specific matter with the National Rivers Authority. It is for British Coal and the NRA, in the first place, to assess any environmental consquences of stopping minewater pumping.

  Drivers (Criminal Convictions)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has conducted into the extent to which drivers seeking licences to drive hackney carriages and private hire carriages have failed to disclose information relating to(a) rape offences and (b) other criminal convictions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  No such research has been undertaken. Outside London, district councils issue licences to drive hackney carriages and private hire vehicles and since 1 April 1992 they have been able to request a police check of the possible criminal record of applicants for licences. Only each individual council, after obtaining criminal record details, would be able to gauge the extent to which licence holders had failed to disclose previous convictions. I do not believe there is any need to hold such information centrally.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to ensure that licences to drive hackney carriages and private hire vehicles are not issued to men with criminal records which include rape.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  Section 47 of the Road Traffic Act 1991 gives local authorities a power to check with the police if applicants for hackney carriage and PHV drivers' licences have any criminal convictions. A copy of the guidance issued to police and local authorities last year on how the vetting arrangements should operate was placed in the House of Commons Library.

  District councils must decide, on the basis of all the information at their disposal, whether an applicant is a fit and proper person to hold such a licence. They should not take into account any convictions which are "spent" by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

  LEGAL AID IN SCOTLAND
  LEGAL AID IN SCOTLAND
  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL, 9th AND 10th FEBRUARY
  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL, 9th AND 10th FEBRUARY
  SEA FISH (CONSERVATION) ACT 1992: IMPLEMENTATION
  SEA FISH (CONSERVATION) ACT 1992: IMPLEMENTATION
  LOCAL AUTHORITY CAR PARKS
  LOCAL AUTHORITY CAR PARKS
  NATIONAL CURRICULUM SET BOOKS
  NATIONAL CURRICULUM SET BOOKS
  GOOD PRACTICE COMPLIANCE: COST MEASUREMENT
  GOOD PRACTICE COMPLIANCE: COST MEASUREMENT
  SINGLE PARENTS IN THE ARMED FORCES
  SINGLE PARENTS IN THE ARMED FORCES