Written Answers of 18 February 1993

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Justices of the Peace
  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities have been appointed as justices of the peace in Nottinghamshire since 1989.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Since 1989, 151 persons have been appointed as justices of the peace in Nottinghamshire. Of that number there were 74 females and eight members of ethnic minorities—four males and four females.

  Statutory Instruments
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many statutory instruments were laid before Parliament by his Department in each year since 1980.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Palestine Liberation Organisation
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to continue to decline to hold meetings at ministerial level with the leaders of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galloway) on 10 February, at column 680.

  Ozone-depleting Substances
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many chlorofluorocarbon and hydrochlorofluorocarbon installations are contained within his Department's buildings.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Four hundred and thirty nine.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding has been allocated or spent specifically to deal with measures to reduce his Department's consumption of ozone-depleting substances.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Department has allocated £75,000 in the 1993–94 financial year for absorption chiller plant to reduce its use of CFCs/HCFCs, and £157,000 on high-frequency lighting to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
  282
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many refrigeration and air conditioning system in the Department are equipped with automatic leak detection systems.

  Mr. Goodlad
  None.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the departmental green Minister has promoted protection of the ozone layer with specific policy measures; which possible measures have been considered and rejected; and on what grounds.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The green Ministers for the Department continue to promote protection of the ozone layer through active FCO involvement in international environmental policy, the planned reduction of energy consumption in the Department and the reduction of use of ozone-depleting substances.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which current uses of ozone-depleting chemicals by his Department are considered essential.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Department is advised that the only ozone-depleting chemicals considered essential are those in inhalants supplied to posts overseas for medicinal purposes.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what date his Department's use of ozone-depleting chemicals will conform to EC regulations on limits on these chemicals.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Department is advised that it is only the production and supply of new ozone-depleting substances which must conform to EC Regulations. The Department will, however, reduce its use of ozone-depleting substances as soon as practicable.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what targets have been set for the recycling of ozone-depleting chemicals within Departmental buildings.

  Mr. Goodlad
  None. Information is currently being compiled to enable targets to be set.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many chlorofluorocarbon domestic fridges are contained within his Department's buildings.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Three hundred and sixty-seven.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many catastrophic leaks of ozone-depleting substances have occurred within his Department's buildings on the last five years.

  Mr. Goodlad
  None.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures have been taken to ensure that ozone-destroying substances in use by his Department identified as controlled waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 do not reach the atmosphere.
  283
  Mr. Goodlad
  Equipment containing ozone-depleting substances is returned to the manufacturers for recycling.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give an undertaking to purchase only ozone-friendly fridges that do not contain chlorofluorocarbons or hydrochlorofluorocarbons for his Department.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Department does not purchase fridges containing CFCs or HCFCs where acceptable alternatives offering value for money are available.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance has been sought and received on alternatives or substitutes to the ozone-destroying chemicals in use by his Department.

  Mr. Goodlad
  In 1992, the Department appointed a firm of consultants to carry out a programme of environmental audits of its home estate. A primary purpose of the audits was to seek advice on alternatives or substitutes to the ozone-destroying chemicals in use in the Department. The consultants are due to report shortly.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commowealth Affairs how many portable halon fire extinguishers are contained within Departmental buildings; and what measures are being taken to ensure their recycling and replacement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  One hundred and forty-five. They will be replaced this year and returned to the manufacturers for recycling.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a United Kingdom Government Minister last visited the Indian-controlled area of Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I am not aware that any official visits have been made by United Kingdom Government Ministers to Kashmir in recent years.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he has had with the Pakistan Government as to possible aid from Her Majesty's Government to help resettle Kashmiri people who have fled from the Indian-controlled area of Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have had no discussion with the Pakistan Government about helping to resettle Kashmiris.

  Birmingham Summit
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 5 February,official Report, column 393, what subheads of what votes will be used to meet the cost of the Birmingham summit; and how these costs were apportioned.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The costs of the Birmingham European summit were met as follows:

  £ million

  FCO vote 1, subhead A 1 (1)

  2.3

  Home Office vote 1, subhead D1. Specific grant at 51 per cent, of the additional policing costs

  0.8

  Eastern Europe
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to open new posts in the independent states of the former Soviet Union and in eastern Europe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  I am pleased to announce that we shall be opening three new embassies in the former Soviet Union and eastern Europe. They will be in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan; Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan; and Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. All of these countries are going through an important and difficult process of political and economic change. We want to be in the best position to help and encourage the development of democratic societies pursuing liberal economic policies and to promote trade and investment. In the case of both Baku and Tashkent, we are responding to direct requests from British industry to open embassies in each place.

  This decision has been made possible by savings in support areas at home and overseas.

DEFENCE

  Radiation Workers
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to introduce a no fault compensation scheme for radiation workers employed by or contracted to his Department similar to the scheme adopted by British Nuclear Fuels and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

  Mr. Aitken
  Consideration is being given to the introduction of radiation compensation arrangements similar in effect to those of the civil nuclear industry. The possibility of my Department's membership of, or association with, the BNFL/AEA scheme is under discussion with the industry and the trade unions.

  Mr. Rudi Molinari
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on legal fees for participation in the court case involving the claim for compensation by Mr. Rudi Molinari, a former employee at the royal dockyard at Chatham, against his Department for damage claimed to have been received from radiation exposure at the shipyard.

  Mr. Aitken
  This case is the subject of continuing legal proceedings and the costs are not yet known.

  Helicopter Carrier Ship
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the programme for the procurement of the helicopter carrier ship.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 February,Official Report, column 574.

  Statutory Instruments
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many statutory instruments were laid before Parliament by his Department in each year since 1980.
  285
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1980

  13

  1981

  7

  1982

  13

  1983

  15

  1984

  6

  1985

  10

  1986

  29

  1987

  11

  1988

  5

  1989

  10

  1990

  7

  1991

  9

  1992

  7

  Contracting Out
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Aitken
  We estimate that, since 1979, competition for defence support services has resulted in a reduction of 18,000 posts in my Department and in the agencies for which we are responsible.

  Armed Forces (Sexual Behaviour)
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for the regulation of inappropriate sexual behaviour between heterosexual members of the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Service personnel are made aware of the standards of behaviour required and that inappropriate sexual behaviour of any kind can lead to administrative or disciplinary action. Inappropriate sexual conduct of a heterosexual nature by members of the armed forces is dealt with under existing service regulations.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals governing the conduct of British troops serving with homosexual armed forces personnel in combined NATO or UN peacekeeping forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  British Armed Forces personnel are well aware of the standards of behaviour expected of them and the consequences of any misconduct, heterosexual, homosexual or otherwise. We have no plans, therefore, to introduce regulations specific to those serving with NATO or UN peace-keeping forces alongside homosexual personnel of other armed forces.

  MFV Pescado
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will deploy Royal Navy facilities to raise the MFV Pescado.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The raising of the MFV Pescado is a matter for the civil authorities. Any request for assistance would, however, be given careful consideration.

TRANSPORT

  Traffic Calming
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when consultation on regulations under the Traffic Calming Act 1992 is to start.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Commencing today, the Department of Transport and the Welsh Office are consulting widely on draft regulations with the local authority associations and other interested parties. We aim to draw the consultation to a close before Easter.

  MV Goldeneye
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the reasons for awarding MV Goldeneye a load line exemption certificate; what is the registration of MV Goldeneye; and if he will carry out a port state control inspection of MV Goldeneye.

  Mr. Norris
  The owners of the unregistered salvage vessel Goldeneye applied for a load line exemption certificate which was issued after survey by a Department surveyor.

  The ship is subject to inspection at any time arid arrangements will be made accordingly within the inspection programme.

  Unseaworthy Vessels
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of foreign ships inspected in British ports in each of the last five years under the provisions of the 1982 memorandum of understanding to secure compliance of ships with international standards; how many ships were found to have deficiencies; under which flag those ships with deficiencies were sailing and what was the amount of deficiencies per individual country; how many ships were detained pending the correction of deficiencies; and what financial penalties were imposed.

  Mr. Norris
  The numbers of foreign flag ships inspected under the provisions of the memorandum of understanding on port state control 1982 and the number found to have at least one deficiency were as follows:

  Year

  Number

  Number with deficiencies

  1988

  1839

  915

  1989

  1,692

  1,003

  1990

  2,118

  1,272

  1991

  2,500

  1,647

  1992

  12,105

  11,439

  1 Provisional figure

  Deficiencies were found on ships flying the following flags during 1991 and 1992:

  Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Canada, Chile, China, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Faeroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico,

  287
  Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Netherland Antilles, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudia Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Togo, Turkey, Tunisia, Tuvalu, USA, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yugoslavia.

  The average numbers of deficiencies per ship inspection for the port state control region as a whole were:

  Year

  Number

  1988

  1·35

  1989

  1·49

  1990

  1·62

  1991

  1·80

  1992

  1—

  1 Not yet available.

  Individual figures for the United Kingdom are not readily available; nor are figures for individual flags.

  The numbers of foreign ships detained were:

  Year

  Number

  1988

  37

  1989

  44

  1990

  79

  1991

  116

  1992

  124

  Financial penalties cannot readily be measured, but usually comprise three main elements: the often considerable loss of revenue arising from delays in sailing, the cost of rectifying deficiencies found and the cost of any further inspection to ensure that these deficiencies have been satisfactorily rectified.

  Railway Privatisation
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the date by which comments were sought on his Department's consultative document "Railway Privatisation: A Voice for the Passengers"; and when copies of this document were made available in the Vote Office;

  (2) how many copies of his Department's consultative document "Railway Privatisation: A Voice for the Passenger" were printed; and how and when these documents were made available to British Rail passengers.

  Mr. Freeman
  The document was published on 16 December 1992 and 2,000 copies were printed. It was placed in the Vote Office the same day and copies were sent to bodies likely to have an interest in the future of the consultative committees. The availability of the document was publicised in a press notice and copies have been provided free of charge on request. The requested reply date for comments was 22 January 1993.

  Zebra Crossings
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pedestrians have been hit by a motor vehicle while crossing a zebra crossing in England and Wales during the year 1992.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Data are not yet available for 1992. There were 1,673 pedestrians injured by motor vehicles on zebra crossings in 1991 in England and Wales.

  Oil Tankers
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what immediate steps he proposes to take to improve safety regulations on oil tankers within British waters.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 12 February 1993]: Regulations governing tankers are under constant review within the International Maritime Organisation. The Department is at the forefront of these discussions and developments.

  In addition, an initiative has been taken by national and international organisations concerned with tanker operations to develop a voluntary code with regard to tanker routeing around the United Kingdom coast. They have also given an undertaking to re-emphasise to masters the need to pay greater attention to passage planning and to provide early advice to coastal states when tankers are experiencing problems which affect their navigation.

  Radio Transponders
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions since 1 January 1988 Ministers and officials of his Department have taken part in meetings of the International Maritime Organisation or its committees to discuss the subject of fitting radio transponders on vessels.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: Department officials have taken part in four meetings of the sub-committee on safety of navigation and one meeting of the sub-committee on radiocommunications at the International Maritime Organisation since 1 January 1988 with regard to developing radio transponders for use on vessels.

  Vessel Inspections
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many port state inspections of vessels have been undertaken by officials of his Department at(a) Sullom Voe and (b) Flotta in each year since 1990 and in January 1993; and what percentage of vessels visiting these respective ports the numbers constitute.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 16 February 1993: The directors of marine at Sullom Voe and Flotta carry out their own vetting procedure of visiting ships and alert the Department if they are concerned by the condition of a visiting ship.

  In addition the number of port state control inspections undertaken at Sullom Voe and Flotta for the years in question is given in the table.

  Number of Inspections

  Year

  Sullom Voe

  Flotta

  1990

  15

  Nil

  1991

  9

  3

  1992

  4

  1

  January 1993

  Nil

  Nil

  These inspections constituted the following percentages of individual foreign ships which visited these ports.
  289

  Year

  Sullom Voe

  Flotta

  1990

  10

  Nil

  1991

  5

  4

  1992

  2

  1

  January 1993

  Nil

  Nil

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Overseas Political Organisations
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances he would take steps to prevent political organisations of other countries from maintaining offices in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Jack
  People in this country are free to engage in what political activities they like, including working for foreign political organisations, provided of course that their activities remain within the law.

  Devon and Cornwall Police
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, column 439, how many recruits began service with the Devon and Cornwall constabulary on 7 December 1992.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Sixteen recruits began service with the Devon and Cornwall constabulary on 7 December 1992.

  Royal Commission on Criminal Justice
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the report of the Royal Commission on criminal justice is due to be completed; and when he expects to publish it.

  Mr. Jack
  The Royal Commission on criminal justice hopes to complete its report by the end of June. The report will be published as soon thereafter as printing schedules allow.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Council for Europe convention on data protection provides a framework for harmonisation of European Community data protection laws.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Council of Europe convention for the protection of individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data prescribes the basic principles which have to be observed in handling personal data within states party to the convention. Accession to the convention by all European Community member states, and the enactment of the necessary domestic legislation to give effect to the convention's requirements, would thus provide for a consistent data protection regime within the Community.

  Children's Rights
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (I) if he will introduce legislation to give United Kingdom courts jurisdiction to try British nationals and residents for sexual offences against children abroad; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what measures the British Government are taking to comply with article 34 of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child.

  Mr. Jack
  The Government wholly support the principles set out in the United Nations convention on the rights of the child, which we ratified in 1991. Our law against the sexual abuse and exploitation of children is rightly severe.

  We have no plans, however, to extend the largely territorial jurisdiction of our courts to deal with offences committed abroad against children; nor is there any requirement for us to do so in order to fulfil our obligations under article 34 of the convention. Where such offences have been committed abroad it is for the country concerned to enforce its own law. We are always ready, however, to assist through extradition and by giving legal assistance under the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990.

  Sex Tourism
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the British Government have taken to discourage the promotion of sex tourism through holiday brochures, magazines and other forms of mass communications in this country.

  Mr. Jack
  While the Government have no power to ban or censor publications, anyone publishing brochures promoting sex tourism could risk prosecution under the Obscene Publications Act 1959, or for an offence of conspiracy to corrupt public morals at common law. It would, however, be for the courts to decide whether an offence had been committed in any individual case.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of notifiableoffences were cleared up in(a) 1990, (b) 1991 and (c) July 1991 to June 1992, in each offence category and for each police force region.

  Mr. Jack
  The requested information for 1990 is published in table 2·22 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1990," a copy of which is available in the Library. Information for 1991 is published in the table. Information for the 12 months to June 1992 is not available.
  291

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police: clear-up rate by offence group and police force area

  England and Wales 1991

  Percentages

  Police force area

  Total1

  Violence against the Person

  Sexual offences

  Robbery

  Burglary

  Theft and handling goods

  Fraud and forgery

  Criminal damage1

  Other

  Avon and Somerset

  24

  78

  78

  27

  15

  20

  61

  19

  95

  Bedfordshire

  19

  78

  60

  18

  12

  18

  42

  13

  96

  Cambridgeshire

  36

  85

  75

  40

  29

  35

  59

  23

  97

  Cheshire

  41

  91

  96

  52

  29

  37

  87

  41

  100

  Cleveland

  33

  75

  82

  42

  37

  31

  47

  19

  2110

  Cumbria

  40

  87

  87

  68

  32

  4o

  70

  31

  97

  Derbyshire

  28

  85

  89

  33

  22

  25

  53

  19

  95

  Devon and Cornwall

  29

  84

  83

  40

  20

  27

  70

  21

  99

  Dorset

  41

  85

  90

  45

  33

  36

  88

  28

  97

  Durham

  30

  84

  92

  47

  25

  26

  76

  22

  99

  Essex

  32

  79

  79

  32

  26

  33

  45

  16

  94

  Gloucestershire

  35

  87

  88

  46

  21

  37

  57

  24

  92

  Greater Manchester

  36

  76

  76

  29

  33

  35

  72

  21

  99

  Hampshire

  28

  81

  81

  39

  20

  26

  68

  22

  97

  Hertfordshire

  33

  92

  93

  37

  24

  33

  63

  22

  100

  Humberside

  32

  78

  66

  41

  26

  31

  54

  20

  94

  Kent

  23

  75

  85

  42

  16

  21

  42

  17

  98

  Lancashire

  40

  81

  89

  55

  39

  36

  79

  37

  99

  Leicestershire

  29

  81

  84

  34

  25

  26

  58

  19

  100

  Lincolnshire

  46

  92

  2101

  53

  35

  48

  71

  25

  2103

  London, City of

  20

  80

  85

  28

  19

  IS

  4o

  28

  90

  Merseyside

  45

  67

  75

  21

  41

  47

  71

  21

  96

  Metropolitan Police District

  17

  63

  54

  12

  11

  13

  44

  10

  92

  Norfolk

  37

  85

  91

  47

  29

  38

  60

  20

  99

  Northamptonshire

  31

  81

  81

  28

  28

  32

  47

  16

  92

  Northumbria

  35

  76

  78

  27

  29

  37

  44

  33

  100

  North Yorkshire

  36

  90

  90

  50

  20

  37

  68

  34

  2107

  Nottinghamshire

  27

  76

  71

  33

  22

  24

  42

  18

  98

  South Yorkshire

  36

  84

  81

  36

  27

  37

  67

  26

  97

  Staffordshire

  37

  86

  74

  46

  33

  35

  50

  26

  94

  Suffolk

  37

  85

  85

  50

  20

  37

  64

  27

  91

  Surrey

  23

  82

  75

  33

  15

  20

  49

  19

  97

  Sussex

  23

  71

  62

  28

  12

  22

  47

  18

  89

  Thames Valley

  22

  75

  73

  29

  14

  21

  49

  13

  94

  Warwickshire

  24

  81

  87

  35

  22

  21

  52

  16

  100

  West Mercia

  35

  89

  89

  53

  33

  32

  59

  26

  96

  West Midlands

  31

  76

  73

  31

  28

  30

  42

  18

  97

  West Yorkshire

  28

  82

  81

  31

  22

  27

  56

  17

  92

  Wiltshire

  40

  2106

  2114

  40

  25

  35

  75

  34

  2115

  ENGLAND

  29

  77

  75

  23

  23

  27

  55

  19

  96

  Dyfed-Powys

  50

  92

  92

  50

  42

  46

  70

  39

  95

  Gwent

  47

  92

  95

  58

  40

  44

  78

  37

  100

  North Wales

  36

  91

  93

  54

  27

  32

  77

  27

  100

  South Wales

  29

  84

  93

  43

  21

  30

  48

  19

  99

  WALES

  35

  88

  93

  48

  26

  34

  62

  24

  99

  ENGLAND AND WALES

  29

  77

  76

  23

  23

  28

  55

  19

  96

  1 Excluding offences of "other criminal damage" of value £20 and under.

  2 Offences cleared up in current year may have been initially recorded in an earlier year.

  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the police manpower levels, crime statistics and clear-up rates of police forces in(a) England and Wales and (h) other EC countries.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The police forces of England and Wales provide monthly statistical returns of strength for police officers and civilian support staff. Information on notifiable offences recorded by the police and clear-up 292
  rates is collected on a regular basis and the statistics are published half-yearly in a Home Office statistical bulletin and annually in the Command Paper "Criminal Statistics: England and Wales".

  Comparable statistical data on police service complementing or crime rates for member states of the EC are not available.

  Obscenity
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 February to the hon. Member for Castle Point (Dr. Spink)Official Report, column 350, if he will indicate the precise terms in which he is currently consulting about the subject of obscenity; if he will make it his policy to include an invitation to comment on the provisions of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 as distinct from the means of its enforcement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  I have asked my officials to consider, in consultation with other parties, whether improvements might be made in the enforcement of the Obscene Publications Acts 1959 and 1964, and other legislation relating to obscenity. I have not asked them to invite wider comment on the provisions of the Obscene Publications Act 1959, although as I indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point, 1 am receiving representations relating to the Act, which I keep under review.

  Ecstasy
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have died from the use of the drug Ecstasy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Ram Raiding
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to alert businesses to the threat of ram raiding.

  Mr. Jack
  In areas where ram raiding is a problem, the local police are able to alert businesses to the risks and, drawing on their own experience and the expertise of the Home Office crime prevention centre at Stafford, they are always ready to give specialist advice on what measures the owners can take to protect their premises against this type of offence.

  Bosnian Refugees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refugees from Bosnia have arrived in each EC country; and how many are expected in the next six months.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In the period January 1992 to January 1993 inclusive around 5,900 nationals of the former Yugoslavia, excluding dependants, have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. The large majority of these applications are still under consideration and the applicants are being allowed to stay in the meantime. More detailed data on the origin of the applicants are not available.

  In addition, as I announced to the House on 30 November 1992, we are willing to accept 1,000 ex-detainees from Bosnia and other parts of the former Yugoslavia, together with their dependants, totalling perhaps 4,000 in all. The first two groups have already arrived.

  The available information on applicants to other EC member states is given in the table.
  294
  It is not feasible to make a forecast of future applications, in view of the uncertainties.

  Asylum applications1 2 by nationals of the former Yugoslavia to certain other EC member states from around mid 1991 to the latter part of 1992

  Applications

  Belgium

  2,000

  Denmark

  6,400

  France

  2,400

  Germany

  171,000

  Greece

  10

  Irish Republic

  —

  Italy

  100

  Luxembourg

  —

  Netherlands

  6,900

  Spain

  120

  1 Including dependants.

  2 Source: Inter-Governmental Consultations Group on Asylum. Refugee and Migration Policies in Europe, North America and Australia.

  Deaths in Custody
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take on the suggestion in the report of the Ashworth special hospital inquiry 1992, chaired by Sir Louis Blom Cooper, that the Government should make a modest contribution annually to the organisation Inquest to allow it to represent those who die in legal custody.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: The Government have no plans to contribute to the funding of the organisation Inquest.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Research and Development
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the expenditure on(a) the second framework research and development programme 1987 to 1991 and (b) the third framework research and development programme from 1990 to1994 in total and broken down by programme area; what is the share of spend in each programme by the United Kingdom and Germany in total and for each programme area; and if he will express the figures in pound sterling and in ecus.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The second EC framework programme, adopted on 28 September 1987, amounted to 5·396 billion ecu—£4·088 billion at current exchange rates—and was distributed between the main programme areas as set out in table A.

  The third EC framework programme, adopted on 23 April 1990, amounted to 5·7 billion ecu—£4·318 billion —and the Council reached a common orientation for a supplement of 900 million ecu—£682 million—on 31 December 1992. The funds will be allocated between the main areas of research as set out in table B.

  EC research programmes under the overlapping frameworks are managed mainly by directorates general XII and XIII of the European Commission. Information on the share of funds awarded to research organisations in member states, in the form of shared cost contracts, has been derived from Commission statistics for the period 1987–1991. For this purpose the Commission has grouped

  295
  the specific research programmes of the second framework programme in the same format as the third framework programme, and its analysis includes all contracts awarded after 1986, including some made under the first framework programme of 1984–87.

  The difference between total contract expenditure of 3,038·78 million ecu in table C and the overall amount agreed for the second framework programme of 5,396 million ecu in table A includes expenditure on other mechanisms for developing Community research, such as concerted actions, conferences, workshops, publications, direct research activities at the joint research centre, fusion research, and sums yet to be committed.

  The funds under the first and second framework programmes awarded to United Kingdom and German research organisations between 1987–1991 are summarised by programme, according to Commission statistics, in table C. A full statistical table showing funds awarded to all member states will be placed in the Library.

  Because of delays in implementation, only preliminary statistics are available for the third framework programme. These are set out in table D.

  Table A

  Second framework programme of community activities on research and development (1987–1991)

  Breakdown of the amount deemed necessary between the various activities

  (million ecu)

  (£million)

  Health

  80

  61

  Radiation protection

  34

  26

  Environment

  261

  198

  Information technologies

  1,600

  1,212

  Table B

  Third framework programme of community activities on research and development 1990–94

  Breakdown of the amount deemed necessary between the various activities

  Previous breakdown of FP3

  Breakdown of supplement

  Revised sums

  Million ecu

  £ million

  Million ecu

  £ million

  Million mecu

  £ million

  Information technology

  1,352

  1,024

  180

  136

  1,532

  1,161

  Communication technology

  489

  370

  65

  49

  554

  420

  Telematics

  380

  288

  50

  39

  430

  326

  Industrial and materials

  748

  567

  100

  76

  848

  642

  Measurement and testing

  140

  106

  19

  14

  159

  120

  Environment

  414

  314

  55

  42

  469

  355

  Marine sciences and technology

  104

  79

  14

  11

  118

  89

  Biotechnology

  164

  124

  22

  17

  186

  141

  Agri and agro-industrial

  333

  252

  44

  33

  377

  286

  Biomedicine and health

  133

  101

  18

  14

  151

  114

  Life sciences for development

  111

  84

  15

  II

  126

  95

  Non-nuclear energies

  157

  119

  60

  45

  217

  164

  Nuclear fission

  199

  151

  29

  22

  228

  173

  Fusion

  458

  347

  110

  83

  568

  430

  Human capital and mobility

  518

  392

  69

  52

  587

  445

  TOTAL

  5,700

  4,318

  1900

  1682

  16,600

  15,000

  1 50 mecu in reserve with priority for non-nuclear energy: conversion from ecu to £ sterling =1·32:1 (sterling figures rounded to nearest £ million).

  296

  (million ecu)

  (£ million)

  Telecommunications

  550

  416

  New services of common interest (including transport)

  125

  95

  Manufacturing industry

  400

  303

  Advanced materials

  220

  167

  Raw materials and recycling

  45

  34

  Technical standards, measurement, and ref. materials

  180

  136

  Biotechnology

  120

  91

  Agro-industrial research

  105

  79

  Competitiveness of agriculture and management of resources

  55

  42

  Nuclear fission safety

  440

  333

  Controlled nuclear fusion

  611

  463

  Non-nuclear energies and rational use of energies

  122

  92

  Science and technology for development

  80

  61

  Marine sciences and technology

  50

  38

  Fisheries

  30

  23

  Stimulation, enhancement and use of human resources

  180

  136

  Use of major installation

  30

  23

  Forecasting and assessment and statistics

  23

  17

  Dissemination and utilisation of S&T research results

  55

  42

  Total

  5,396

  4,088

  297

  Table C

  The Second Framework Programme for European Community Research and Development (1987·91)

  Programme

  Germany mecu

  Germany £million

  UK mecu

  UK £million

  Total EC funding mecu

  Total EC funding £million

  Information technologies

  316·047

  239·429

  252·728

  191·461

  1,408·662

  1,067·168

  Communication technologies

  88·975

  67·405

  69·098

  52·347

  346·673

  262·631

  Telematics

  15·691

  11·887

  17·440

  13·212

  83·520

  63·273

  Industrial materials technologies

  75·499

  57·196

  73·788

  55·900

  380·786

  288·474

  Measurement and testing

  10·196

  7·724

  9·835

  7·451

  44·088

  33·400

  Environment

  16·068

  12·173

  18·535

  14·042

  87·990

  66·659

  Marine sciences and technology

  3, ·308

  2·506

  4·916

  3·724

  22·558

  17·089

  Biotechnology

  12·001

  9·092

  11·875

  8·996

  68·427

  51·839

  Agro-industrial technology

  1·273

  ·964

  5·749

  4·355

  29·239

  22·151

  Biomedicine and health

  4·760

  3·606

  10·899

  8·257

  45·636

  34·573

  Life sciences for development

  5·497

  4·164

  9·644

  7·306

  53·939

  40·863

  Non-nuclear energies

  37·549

  28·446

  26·888

  20·370

  192·895

  146·133

  Controlled nuclear fission

  33·289

  25·219

  27·042

  20·486

  131·411

  99·554

  Human capital and mobility

  18·398

  13·938

  30·492

  23·100

  122·090

  92·492

  Central dissemination of results

  ·738

  ·559

  4·587

  3·475

  15·413

  11·677

  Monitor

  ·937

  ·710

  1·085

  ·822

  5·454

  4·132

  Total (nearest 50,000)

  640·23

  485·02

  574·60

  435·30

  3,038·78

  2,302·11

  Source: Commission of the European Communities. (note: figures also include contracts awarded since 1986 under the first Framework Programme; excludes fusion and JRC statistics).

  Table D

  The Third Framework Programme for European Community Research and Development (1990–94)

  Programme

  Germany mecu

  Germany £million

  UK mecu

  UK £million

  Total EC funding mecu

  Total EC funding £million

  Communication technologies

  8·283

  6·275

  7·356

  5·573

  42·847

  32·460

  Telematics

  3·224

  2·442

  4·652

  3·524

  25·787

  19·536

  Environment

  1·207

  ·914

  ·289

  ·219

  2·048

  1·5:52

  Total (nearest 50,000)

  12·71

  9·63

  12·30

  9·32

  70·68

  53·5:5

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

  Mr. Waldegrave
  This information is not available except at disproportionate cost.

  Public Record Office
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has recently received about the release of specific retained documents by the Public Record Office; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  In response to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy's invitation to historians in June 1992 to inform him of blocks of closed records that should now be considered for release, he has received more than 50 representations relating to the release of such records.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Apple Juice
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will name the brands of apple juice containing high levels of patulin which have been on sale in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Soames
  It is not the Department's general policy to publish details of the brands of products examined in the course of food surveillance unless there is a particular need to do so. In this case I believe it would not be helpful to publish the brands involved. The evidence we have is that, as with any naturally occurring toxicant, there is likely to be a good deal of variation in contamination levels between batches of apple juice regardless of the producer. Furthermore, the manufacturers involved have now taken steps to avoid a recurrence of the problem.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the danger of(a) cancer and (b) birth defects resulting from consumption of apple juice containing high levels of patulin.

  Mr. Soames
  There is no evidence linking the consumption of apple juice containing patulin with any cases of cancer or birth defects. However, the Department of Health has advised me that patulin has been shown to be a mutagen in both in vitro and in vivo studies in animals and should be regarded as a potential carcinogen. The
  299
  Department's committee on toxicity has therefore advised that patulin levels in food should be reduced to the lowest level that is technologically achievable.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Authorities (Employees' Remuneration)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will require each local authority to publish annually the level of salary and the total remuneration package, including pension arrangements, payable to the authority's chief executive and directors.

  Mr. Redwood
  There is a strong case for local authorities to publish details of the pay of their senior staff in broadly the same way as companies are required to publish details of the pay of their senior employees. However, I am also keen to keep new obligations on local authorities under control.

  My Department will consider what information it would be appropriate for local authorities to publish and the best way for the local authorities to be encouraged to make that information public. Of course, no new stipulations would be introduced without consultation with the local authority associations.

  Environmental Technology Innovation Scheme
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the initial three-year budget of his Department's environmental technology innovation scheme launched in October 1990; and how much has been spent to date.

  Mr. Maclean
  The initial budget for the environmental technology innovation scheme—ETIS—was £12 million divided equally between my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry. Of the £4·6 million so far committed by the DOE on approved projects, £1·25 million has been spent to date. These two figures include grants to projects initially submitted under DOE's predecessor scheme which was subsumed into ETIS in October 1990.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to finalise the environmental technology innovation scheme budget for the next financial year.

  Mr. Maclean
  Provision for my Department's expenditure on grants under the scheme will be included in the main supply estimates which will be published next month.

  Noise Pollution
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates his Department has made of the level of noise pollution generated by seismic survey activity; and what studies his Department has made of the effect of noise pollution on marine life in United Kingdom coastal water.

  Mr. Maclean
  Seismic survey activity is usually undertaken to support oil and gas exploration and is therefore a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. My Department has recently 300
  established a working group on acoustic disturbance to small cetaceans, under the chairmanship of the Natural Environment Research Council's sea mammals research unit.

  Waste Shipments
  Mr. Carttiss
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress was made during the United Kingdom presidency of the EC in regulating transfrontier shipments of waste.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Environment Council reached agreement on the waste shipments regulation and on a decision on the conclusion, by the Community and its member states, of the United Nations Environment Programme's Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms. Walley) on 27 October 1992, Official Report, column 534 and the answer my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Mr. Thomason) on 17 December, Official Report, column 506.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a detailed breakdown of the increase from 1991–92 to 1992–93 for the energy efficiency office as listed at figures 8 and 20 of his Department's annual report 1993, Cm. 2207; and if he will make a statement on the effects upon the office of transfer to his Department.

  Mr. Maclean
  A breakdown of expenditure by the Energy Efficiency Office by programme area is given in figure 20 of the Department's annual report. This lists annual expenditure and future plans for the period 1987–88 to 1995–96.

  The Government remain fully committed to the work of the EEO, which was transferred to the Department of the Environment in view of the environmental importance of energy efficiency. The EEO continues to offer and develop a wide range of programmes designed to encourage cost-effective improvements in energy efficiency in industry, commerce and the public sector and in the home.

  Planning, South-East
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the draft regional planning guidance for the south-east will be published.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department expects to publish new draft regional planning guidance for the south-east shortly.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans his Department has to publish draft planning guidance for regions of the United Kingdom other than the south-east; and what account these will take of the plans for the south-east.

  Mr. Baldry
  Regional planning guidance was published for East Anglia in July 1991. Draft regional planning
  301
  guidance for the northern region was issued for consultation on 10 February 1993. Regional planning guidance will be issued for all other English regions by the end of 1993 or as early as possible thereafter. All regional planning guidance will take account of planning policies in other regions. Planning policies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the respective Secretaries of State.

  Business Rate
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's estimate of the extent of the practice whereby buildings and property are stripped to avoid liability under the uniform business rate.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We know of some cases where preliminary refurbishment or redevelopment work may have been brought forward to avoid rates. However, we are not aware of any empty properties that have been made unusable simply in order to avoid them.

  West End Scheme, Bradford
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current position regarding the application by 3Ds Ltd. for city grant for the west end scheme in Bradford.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  An application has been made in respect of a first phase of the project. The appraisal was completed in November, but no decision has been taken because the applicants have yet to confirm whether they wish to proceed with the project.

  Home Improvement Agencies
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total allocation, for each region, to home improvement agencies in England in 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Sir George Young
  The total regional allocations in respect of home improvement agencies—HIAs—in 1991–92 and 1992–93 are set out in the table. In addition, we have allocated £290,000 in 1991–92 and £361,995 in 1992–93 to Care and Repair Ltd. as the national co-ordinating body for HIAs with responsibility for monitoring performance, providing training and specialist advice to agencies and undertaking scheme development.

  Region

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  North

  131,853

  182,233

  North West

  459,279

  539,342

  Yorks/Humberside

  206,562

  275,947

  East Midlands

  309,514

  372,827

  West Midlands

  330,995

  327,271

  East Anglia

  242,017

  378,497

  South East

  531,241

  635,328

  South West

  138,347

  204,876

  Greater London

  374,943

  542,805

  England

  2,724,751

  3,459,126

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total value of the bids for funding of home improvement agencies in England, in each region, in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94.
  302
  Sir George Young
  The total values of the bids for funding of home improvement agencies in England, by region in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 are as follows:

  Region

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  North

  405,933

  205,439

  188,974

  North West

  952,973

  712,820

  735,614

  Yorkshire/Humberside

  409,690

  335,608

  279,522

  East Midlands

  428,982

  414,346

  401,357

  West Midlands

  650,537

  419,330

  395,874

  East Anglia

  585,868

  445,742

  472,815

  South East

  764,895

  635,328

  654,094

  South West

  311,461

  257,037

  299,277

  Greater London

  1,016,326

  646,001

  673,142

  England

  5,526,665

  4,071,651

  4,100,669

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of applications from local authorities in respect of home improvements agencies in each region for the years 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Sir George Young
  The total numbers of applications from local authorities in respect of home improvement agencies by region in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 are as follows:

  Region

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  North

  9

  9

  8

  North West

  31

  26

  28

  Yorks/Humberside

  15

  10

  9

  East Midlands

  14

  14

  13

  West Midlands

  23

  17

  16

  East Anglia

  20

  16

  16

  South East

  26

  22

  23

  South West

  10

  9

  10

  Greater London

  23

  18

  18

  England

  171

  141

  141

  Urban Partnership Fund
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities will receive assistance from the urban partnership fund; and if he will make a statement on the progress of the capital partnership programme.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [pursuant to the reply, 12 February 1993, c.834–25.]: An amended list of proposed projects for which we have offered support from the urban partnership fund has been placed in the Library today.

  Capital Receipts
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library on disk, and publish as soon as possible, a table showing for each local authority(a) its original estimate of capital receipts in 1992–93 and (b) its revised estimate capital receipts in 1992–93 recently supplied to his Department.

  Mr. Howard
  I have today placed in the Library a table showing the estimates of capital receipts in 1992–93 provided by each local authority on each of the three statistical returns received so far. All the estimates were
  303
  made before the relaxation in the rules governing the use of capital receipts by local authorities which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his autumn statement.

  Credit Liabilities
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library on disk, and publish as soon as it is available, a table showing for each local authority and for each region the amount set aside by local authorities as provision for credit liabilities at 31 March 1992.

  Mr. Howard
  Yes, when the full set of data from authorities is available. In previous years this has been about 15 months after the date to which the information relates.

  Police Areas (Populations)
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the resident population of each police force area in England in 1981 and 1991; and what was the day-time working population for the City of London police force area in 1981 and 1991.

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  Estimated resident populations of the police force areas in England in 1981 and 1991 are shown in the table. The day-time working population of the City of London was about 300,000 in 1981. The results from the 1991 census of population, which are required to provide a corresponding figure for that year, are expected later this year.

  Police force area population estimates mid 1981 and mid 1991

  Thousands

  Police force area

  Persons all ages

  1981

  1991

  Avon and Somerset

  1,359.9

  1,431.4

  Bedfordshire

  510.3

  534.3

  Cambridgeshire

  591.3

  669.9

  Cheshire

  932.4

  966.5

  Cleveland

  570.3

  557.5

  Cumbria

  481.2

  489.7

  Derbyshire

  914.3

  939.8

  Devon and Cornwall

  1,392.1

  1,515.2

  Dorset

  598.6

  662.9

  Durham

  611.4

  604.3

  Essex1

  1,411.8

  1,477.4

  Gloucestershire

  505.7

  538.8

  Greater Manchester

  2,619.1

  2,561.6

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  1,606.5

  1,705.3

  Hertfordshire1

  819.7

  842.5

  Humberside

  857.7

  874.4

  Kent

  1,484.4

  1,538.8

  Lancashire

  1,385.5

  1,408.3

  Leicestershire

  858.8

  890.8

  Lincolnshire

  552.7

  592.6

  Merseyside

  1,522.2

  1,441.1

  Norfolk

  701.7

  759.4

  North Yorkshire

  676.7

  720.9

  Northamptonshire

  532.5

  587.1

  Northumbria

  1,454.5

  1,432.7

  Nottinghamshire

  994.4

  1,015.5

  South Yorkshire

  1,317.1

  1,292.7

  Staffordshire

  1,019.1

  1,047.4

  Suffolk

  601.6

  661.9

  Surrey1

  748.8

  768.2

  Sussex

  1,331.6

  1,430.1

  Thames Valley

  1,807.4

  1,972.3

  Warwickshire

  477.2

  489.9

  West Mercia

  1.017.1

  1,098.6

  West Midlands

  2,673.1

  2,619.0

  304

  Police force area

  Persons all ages

  1981

  1991

  West Yorkshire

  2,066.9

  2,066.2

  Wiltshire

  525.1

  575.1

  Metropolitan Police District

  7,284.7

  7,284.6

  City of London

  5.4

  4.1

  1 Does not coincide exactly with the geographical county as part of the county is included in the Metropolitan police district.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Security Service
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what inquiries are made from the security services before appointments are made at Officer level in the House.

  Mr. Beith
  The security clearance procedures which apply to all staff of the House of Commons, whether Officers of the House or not, are directly analogous to those which apply to public servants. These were described in detail by the then Prime Minister on 24 July 1990 at columns 159–61.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many Adjournment debates on aspects of the security service took place in the Parliaments beginning in 1983 and 1987.

  Mr. Newton
  Three: on 4 April 1985, 3 December 1986 and 23 November 1988.

EDUCATION

  School Meals (Newcastle)
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list for each school in the city of Newcastle education authority area the percentage of children receiving free school meals.

  Mr. Forth
  The percentages of day pupils taking a free school meal in each maintained school in Newcastle local education authority on 16 January 1992 are shown in the table.

  Percentages of day pupils taking a free school meal in maintained schools in Newcastle LEA on 16 January 1992

  School

  Percentage of day-pupils taking a free school meal

  Archbishop Runcie C of E First School

  2.0

  Archibald First School

  4.2

  Ashfield Nursery School

  48.5

  Atkinson Road Primary School

  49.6

  Atkinson Road Nursery School

  60.0

  Benfield School

  20.2

  Benton Park Primary School

  11.4

  Blakelaw School

  30.4

  Bolam Street Primary School

  45.3

  Broadway East First School

  3.9

  Broadwood Infant School

  34.7

  Broadwood Junior School

  33.2

  Brunswick Beech School

  53.7

  Canning Street Primary School

  37.6

  Castle Dene School

  47.4

  305

  School

  Percentage of day-pupils taking a free school meal

  Chapel House Middle School

  8.0

  Chapel Park Middle School

  13.4

  Cheviot First School

  48.1

  Chevyside Middle School

  45.2

  Chillingham Road Primary School

  27.7

  Christ Church Primary School

  44.7

  Cowgate Primary School

  53.3

  Cragside Primary School

  11.8

  Cruddas Park Nursery School

  55.1

  Delaval Primary School

  87.9

  Denton Road Infant School

  72.1

  Denton Road Junior School

  68.4

  Denton Park Middle School

  33.1

  Dinnington Village First School

  9.4

  English Martyrs' R C Primary School

  21.4

  Farne First School

  36.4

  Gosforth East Middle School

  4.9

  Gosforth Central Middle School

  7.6

  Gosforth High School

  3.8

  Gosforth Park First School

  5.1

  Gosforth West Middle School

  19.7

  Grange First School

  17.2

  Hawthorn Primary School

  65.4

  Heaton Manor Comprehensive School

  10.5

  Hillsview Primary School

  41.8

  Hilton Primary School

  43.6

  Hotspur Primary School

  26.8

  Jesmond Dene House School

  0.0

  Kenton Bar Primary School

  39.9

  Kenton Lodge Residential Middle School

  0.0

  Kenton School

  14.0

  Kingston Park Primary School

  7.0

  Knoplaw First School

  5.0

  Lemington First School

  40.1

  Lemington Middle School

  22.6

  Linhope First School

  47.3

  Mary Trevelyan Primary School

  69.7

  Milecastle First School

  10.5

  Monkchester Road Nursery School

  43.1

  Montagu Primary School

  68.8

  Moorside Community Primary School

  40.9

  Mountfield Infant School

  41.1

  Mountfield Junior School

  39.5

  Newburn Manor First School

  40.6

  Newburn Manor Nursery School

  33.3

  North Fawdon Primary School

  35.5

  Oakfield College

  35.0

  Our Lady and St. Anne's Primary School

  44.4

  Parkway School

  43.3

  Pendower Hall School

  47.4

  Pendower Primary School

  50.8

  Raby Street Primary School

  55.8

  Ravenswood Primary School

  12.6

  Redewood School

  37.0

  Regent Farm First School

  17.3

  Rutherford School

  23.6

  Sacred Heart Comprehensive

  14.0

  Sacred Heart Primary School

  6 1

  St. Alban's Roman Catholic Primary School

  20.0

  St. Anthony's Church of England School

  56.3

  St. Bede's Roman Catholic Primary School

  22.6

  St. Catherine's Roman Catholic Primary School

  9.9

  St. Charles' Roman Catholic Primary School

  5.9

  St. Cuthbert's Roman Catholic Primary School, Drayton Road

  26.9

  St. Cuthbert's High School

  10.7

  St. Cuthbert's Roman Catholic School, Walbottle Village

  15.8

  St. George's R C Primary School

  20.6

  St. John Vianney R C Primary School

  8.9

  St. Joseph's R C Primary School

  51.0

  St. Lawrence's R C Primary School

  34.2

  St. Mark's R C Primary School

  43.6

  St. Mary's R C Comprehensive School

  14.1

  St. Michael's Infant School

  60.7

  306

  School

  Percentage of day-pupils taking a free school meal

  St. Michael's R C Junior School

  52.4

  St. Oswald's R C Primary School

  5.0

  St. Paul's C of E Primary School

  63.5

  St. Peter's School

  52.2

  St. Teresa's R C Primary School

  13.4

  St. Vincent's R C Primary School

  42.4

  Simonside First School

  43.0

  South Benwell Primary School

  61.9

  South Gosforth First School

  5.7

  Stocksfield Avenue Primary School

  16.5

  Thomas Walling Primary School

  38.2

  Throckley First School

  32.6

  Throckley Middle School

  24.9

  Tyneview Primary School

  33.3

  Valley View Nursery School

  78.8

  Walbottle High School

  9.7

  Walbottle Village First School

  14.8

  Walker School

  24.3

  Walkerdene School

  3.9

  Walkergate Infant School

  24.8

  Walkergate Junior School

  30.9

  Walkergate Nursery School

  25.8

  Waverley First School

  15.1

  Welbeck Primary School

  49.6

  West Denton High School

  12.9

  West Denton First School

  25.6

  West Jesmond Infant School

  2.2

  West Jesmond Junior School

  2.4

  West Walker Primary School

  56.4

  Westerhope First School

  10.0

  Westgate Hill Primary School

  41.6

  Westlands School

  58.6

  Wharrier Street Primary School

  59.3

  Wingrove Infant School

  18.9

  Wingrove Junior School

  22.6

  Wyndham Primary School

  22.3

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals he has to permit an existing independent school to seek grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Forth
  It is the Government's intention to enable an existing independent school to propose that it be established as a new grant-maintained school, once the funding authority has a parallel responsibility for the provision of school places in the relevant area.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  World Summit for Children
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect the goals agreed at the world summit for children have had on public expenditure for 1993–94.

  Mr. Portillo
  The outcome of the world summit for children was one of many factors taken into account in setting the public expenditure plans for 1993–94.

  Bus Fares (VAT)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had about the impact of VAT on bus fares; and if he will make a statement.
  307
  Sir John Cope
  I have received a number of such representations in recent weeks, all of which are considered carefully.

  Rugby Union Players
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 15 February,Official Report, column 23, what steps the Inland Revenue takes to ascertain the taxable income or benefits received by rugby union players as a result of their sporting activities.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue ascertains the taxable income or benefits received by rugby union players in the same way as for sums received by other sportsmen or women. Amounts shown on a player's tax return are taken into account in calculating any tax due. As with any other taxpayer, if there is any information, either in the tax return or received from other sources, which suggests that income may have been omitted, the Inland Revenue makes appropriate inquiries.

  Parliamentary Questions (Cost)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to raise the advisory cost limit of £400 for answering parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The advisory cost limit was last increased in 1992—Official Report, 14 January 1992, column 546 —and is to be further increased to £450 from today. This increase has been rounded up to the nearest £50 for convenience of application.

  The average cost of preparing answers to a parliamentary question—PQ—was last published in 1991 following a survey conducted by Treasury in that year—Official Report, 10 December 1991, column 369. These costs have been updated and are now assessed as £94 for a written PQ and £218 for an oral PQ. The 1991 comparative figures were £87 and £202 respectively.

  The purpose and application of the advisory cost limit remain unchanged from 1992. It is intended to act as a threshold for disproportionate cost PQs. Any written PQ where the marginal cost of preparing the answer is considered likely to exceed the threshold may be referred to the appropriate Minister and an answer may be refused in whole or in part on the ground of disproportionate cost. Alternatively the Minister may decide that the PQ is to be answered irrespective of cost. There is no advisory limit for oral PQs.

  The advisory limit continues to be around eight times the average marginal cost for written PQs, which is now £55.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the practice of the Valuation Office in the valuation of land where planning permission for the use of land for opencast extraction has been applied for but not been granted; and if he will make a statement on how those principles have been applied to Pwll Du.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: The ownership of coal passed to the National Coal Board in
  308
  1946, and although the British Coal Corporation-Opencast may make a compulsory rights order it is the corporation's policy to purchase land by agreement whenever possible.

  The Valuation Office agency provides valuable advice to the corporation on many matters, including the purchase and management of land for opencast extraction.

  Because the coal is already owned by the corporation, the granting of a planning permission for opencast extraction does not materially increase the value of the surface owner's interest, but he will normally be aware of the commercial realities of the situation and this may be reflected in the agreement between the parties.

  The value of the vendor's interest is assessed by the local district valuer, and he will have full regard to the circumstances of the purchase, to any conditions to be imposed, to the planning position, and to the relative bargaining strengths of the parties concerned.

  Manufacturing Output
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the latest quarterly figures for manufacturing output.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: The index of manufacturing output at 1985 prices, seasonally adjusted, for the fourth quarter of 1992 was 111·2. It was 0·2 per cent. lower than in the previous quarter, but 0·2 per cent. higher than in the fourth quarter of 1991.

  Unified Budget
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to introduce the first unified Budget; and what statutory changes he proposes to make as a consequence of the move to the new timetable.

  Mr. Lamont
  The White Paper on budgetary reform published in March 1992—Cm 1867—suggested that the unified Budget should be introduced in early December 1993. In order to allow more time for departments, local authorities and other bodies to translate the programme totals into management budgets the Government are planning on the basis that the Budget will be no later than the last week of November. The precise date will be announced nearer the time. Following the introduction of the new public expenditure procedures, the Government now believe that the annual local authority grant settlement proposals should be announced as soon as possible after the Budget. Discussions on this will take place with the local authority associations shortly. The Government will bring forward in the forthcoming Finance Bill two legislative changes needed as a consequence of the move to a unified Budget. Firstly, there is at present statutory provision for income tax personal allowances, the lower rate limit, the basic rate limit, the capital gains tax exempt amount, the inheritance tax threshold and the earnings cap for pensions to be raised in line with the retail prices index increase in the 12 months to December, unless Parliament decides otherwise. But the December RPI is not published until mid-January, so legislation is necessary to specify an indexation date which is known before the Budget. The Government propose to use the September RPI, published in mid-October, as the base month for statutory indexation from the 1994–95 tax year. The September RPI, is already used for uprating social security benefits. As now, Parliament will be able to
  309
  override the statutory indexation provisions in the Finance Bill if it wishes. Secondly, the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act currently sets 5 August as the deadline for Royal Assent to the Finance Bill. As the Budget is moving forward by somewhat more than three months, the Government propose to amend this Act to move the deadline for Royal Assent forward by three months as well, to 5 May.

  Economic and Finance Council
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

  Sir John Cope
  The Economic and Finance Council of the European Community met in Brussels on 15 February. I represented the United Kingdom.

  Following the conclusions of the Edinburgh European Council that openness in the Community should be increased, ECOFIN held its first open session, which was televised. Discussion focused on the need to promote economic recovery which included taking forward the package of measures to promote growth which had been agreed at the Edinburgh European Council. This initiative followed the announcement of measures to promote recovery in the Chancellor's autumn statement.

  The Council later held a short discussion of measures taken by member states to promote recovery and concluded that these should be discussed more thoroughly at the next meeting on 15 March after further examination by the Monetary Commission.

  Meanwhile consideration should be given to extending all convergence programmes to cover the period to 1996. (The Maastricht treaty provides for a Council assessment of convergence to take place no later than 31 December 1996.)

  ECOFIN also considered two aspects of the future financing review: a progress report from the Danish presidency on negotiations with the European Parliament on a new inter-institutional agreement; and a presentation by the Commission of its legislative proposals to implement the Edinburgh future financing agreement.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  "Dispatches"
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 1 February,Official Report, column 32, what proceedings have now been initiated following the Channel 4 "Dispatches" programme entitled "The Committee."

  The Attorney-General
  No criminal proceedings have been initiated in Northern Ireland by the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary is preparing a police investigation file for submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.

  During the course of investigation into the matters raised in the programme an order was obtained by the Metropolitan police under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 requiring Channel 4 Television Limited and Box Productions Limited to produce certain documents. The companies declined and
  310
  the Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales brought proceedings for contempt of court before the Divisional Court. Both companies were found to be in contempt and a fine of £75,000 was imposed. The Metropolitan police subsequently carried out a further investigation into the veracity of statements made in an affidavit by Ben Hamilton and filed in the contempt proceedings. Ben Hamilton was charged with perjury on 29 September 1992. Those proceedings were discontinued by the Crown prosecution service on 23 November 1992.

  Contracting Out
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Attorney-General 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.

  The Attorney-General
  There has been a reduction of six posts in the Departments for which I am responsible as a result of contracting out.

  Pride of the Road
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Attorney-General when he expects the Crown prosecution service to be able to announce whether it will take action as a result of the information provided to it by South Yorkshire police in relation to the Pride of the Road bus company.

  The Attorney-General
  The file submitted by the South Yorkshire police is being considered by the Crown prosecution service in consultation with counsel. It is expected that a decision whether to institute criminal proceedings will be made shortly.

HEALTH

  Cardiac Operations
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of cardiac operations performed at hospitals within the Greater London area during the year 1992; and if he will list the hospitals performing this operation.

  Mr. Sackville
  Reliable estimates are not available for individual procedures at district health authority level, but data from the hospital episodes system suggest that about 28,500 heart operations were performed in Greater London in 1989–90. More recent information is not yet available.

  Mental Health
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people have been received into guardianship under section 7 of the Mental Health Act 1983;

  (2) in how many cases patients have failed to comply with the conditions of the guardianship under section 7 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

  Mr. Yeo
  The table shows the number of cases in which patients were received into guardianship in England under section 7 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in each year from 1984–85. Information on the number of patients failing to comply with the conditions of guardianship is riot collected centrally.
  311

  Table. Patients received into guardianship under Section 7 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

  Year ending 31 March

  Number of cases

  1985

  89

  1986

  88

  1987

  114

  1988

  102

  1989

  130

  1990

  164

  1991

  180

  11992

  223

  1 provisional.

  Contraception Pill
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will estimate the number of women taking the oral contraception pill.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not collected centrally. However, the general household survey, conducted by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, indicates that in 1991, the most recent year for which figures are available, an estimated 23 per cent. of women aged 16 to 49 in Great Britain were taking an oral contraceptive pill.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 5 February,Official Report, columns 376–77, to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms. Primarolo), if she will list the over the counter price for a month's supply of each brand of contraceptive pill; and if she will indicate the take-up of prescriptions for each convenient range of products according to hormone dosage.

  Mr. Sackville
  The contraceptive pill is not available over the counter. It is a prescription-only medicine. There are three main hormone dosage categories under which oral contraceptives are prescribed. The number of prescriptions issued for each of these categories in England in 1991 is given in the table.

  Oral contraceptive precriptions by hormone dose England 1991

  Prescriptions (thousands)

  Total for 50 micrograms of oestrogen

  290.1

  Total for under 50 micrograms of oestrogen

  6,526.6

  Total for progestrogen only

  699.2

  Psychiatric Patients
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average discharge rate from hospital for psychiatric patients.

  Mr. Yeo
  The table shows the estimated number of discharges of psychiatric patients by duration of stay from national health service hospitals in England from 1987–88 to 1989–90. The figures do not represent the number of patients as a person can be discharged more than once during a year.
  312

  Discharges by duration of stay 1987–88 to 1989–90—England

  Duration of Stay

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Persons All durations

  181,350

  188,560

  183,249

  Under 1 month

  117,960

  121,550

  118,155

  1–3 months

  45,250

  46,700

  45,347

  3–12 months

  14,250

  15,140

  15,049

  1–2 years

  1,590

  1,830

  1,628

  2–3 years

  550

  550

  580

  3–5 years

  400

  540

  591

  5–10 years

  430

  670

  525

  10–15 years

  180

  320

  287

  15 years and over

  750

  1,240

  1,086

  Note:

  The figures are estimates of finished district spells taken from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) System. A spell is a continuous stay of a patient in a hospital or hospitals in the district or special health authority. Each spell may be composed of one or more consultant episodes. Finished episodes are not identical to discharges since the latter includes transfers from one hospital to another.

  Figures do not sum to the total due to rounding.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is made for emergency care in the case of patients suffering from schizophrenia.

  Mr. Yeo
  Health authorities, working with local authorities and the independent sector, should provide a comprehensive range of local services including sufficient in-patient provision for those who require emergency admission to hospital.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will consider the need for further measures to deal with mental illness within the community care programme, with particular reference to schizophrenia.

  Mr. Yeo
  We are considering whether new powers are needed to ensure that mentally ill people in the community, including those suffering from schizophrenia, receive the care they need, and whether the present powers are being used effectively.

  The Department of Health and regional health authorities are monitoring implementation of the care programme approach for people with a severe mental illness which was introduced in April 1991.

  Hospital Waste
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate she has made of the cost of updating all waste incinerators in trust hospitals that do not meet the current EC directives on waste incineration;

  (2) how many trust hospitals have incinerators that do not meet the up-to-date standards of the EC directives on incineration;

  (3) if she will hold talks with the trust authorities on their plans to bring hospital incinerators up to date with current EC directives on incineration; and what progress has been made thus far in that direction.

  Mr. Sackville
  Trusts and other health authorities are responsible for meeting relevant environmental legislation. The Department has issued strategic guidance alerting trusts to the legislation concerning the disposal of clinical waste and outlining the options for meeting it cost effectively.

  All trusts and other health authorities have strategies for complying with current EC directives, implemented in the United Kingdom by the 1990 Environmental

  313
  Protection Act, and progress is being monitored. In 1989, at prevailing prices, the cost of achieving the standards which come into force in 1995 was estimated to be £50 million for the national health service as a whole.

  Information on incinerators operated by trust hospitals is not available centrally. All trusts have however reported compliance with the interim standards and 26 trusts have reported compliance with the 1995 standards. Plans being developed involve options such as incineration at plants operated by local authorities or private contractors, including jointly financed schemes.

  Community Care
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will include representatives of local authority associations in the community care support force.

  Mr. Yeo
  The community care support force will be finishing its work at the end of March. At this stage, it would not be appropriate to change its membership.

  Toxic Substances
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of deaths in the last five years from sniffing toxic substances; and what was the age range of those who died.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The most recent figures available for deaths from solvent and volatile substance abuse are those for 1990. Publication of figures for 1991 is expected in March this year. The information is as follows:

  Age

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  9

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  10

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  11

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  12

  1

  0

  2

  0

  4

  13

  8

  6

  6

  2

  4

  14

  6

  15

  14

  12

  16

  15

  19

  11

  21

  14

  21

  16

  11

  21

  26

  14

  28

  17

  9

  12

  17

  18

  26

  18

  16

  9

  3

  8

  12

  19

  4

  6

  9

  4

  7

  20–24

  13

  18

  20

  21

  25

  25–34

  4

  9

  10

  11

  2

  35–44

  2

  3

  4

  4

  2

  45–54

  1

  0

  1

  0

  2

  55–64

  1

  3

  1

  1

  0

  65–74

  0

  1

  0

  2

  0

  Over 75

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  97

  114

  135

  113

  149

  Child Care, Lambeth
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she is now satisfied with the management arrangements for child care cases in Lambeth following the social services inspectorate report of April 1992.

  Mr. Yeo
  No. Following the social services inspectorate report of April 1992, Lambeth was asked to provide a report in September 1992. Lambeth's report showed that whilst a service improvement plan, including reorganisation of the department, had been developed and some progress made in implementing it, the level of unallocated casework remains unacceptably high. Lambeth has been asked to send a further report by 1 March 1993.

  Dental Charges
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to introduce dental charges for pregnant women and nursing mothers who are currently exempt from making a contribution;

  (2) what assessment she has made of the way in which pregnant women and nursing mothers benefit from receiving free dental health.

  Mr. Sackville
  The removal of the exemption from dental charges for pregnant women and nursing mothers was one option raised by Sir Kenneth Bloomfield in his fundamental review of dental remuneration.

  The Government are undertaking wide consultation on the report and no decisions of any of the options have yet been made. At present pregnant women and nursing mothers benefit from not paying national health service dental charges, although some will be exempt on other grounds also.

  "Making London Better"
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set out her objectives in establishing the specialty reviews outlined in the document, "Making London Better"; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The aim of the specialty reviews is to achieve a more sensible distribution of six specialist services, providing a stronger service for patients and an improved academic base whilst avoiding unwarranted duplication.

  The reviews will be conducted separately, but in parallel, and are to be completed by the end of May 1993. They will make recommendations for the future organisation of the six specialty services in London. They will also indicate the likely financial impact of their proposals and present their supporting evidence, analyses and judgment. Their reports will then be subject to review by Ministers before formal consultation on any significant proposals and final decisions by the autumn.

  The reviews will be co-ordinated by the London implementation group. Each is being led by a distinguished clinician and a senior national health service manager of a purchasing authority, as follows:

  CANCER SERVICES

  Dr. Christopher Paine - Consultant Radiotherapist, Churchill Hospital, Oxford and President, Royal College of Radiologists.

  Mr. Michael Bellamy - Ealing Hammersmith and Hounslow Commissioning Agency

  CARDIAC SERVICES

  Prof. Geoffrey Smith — Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Sheffield

  Mr. John James - Parkside Health Authority

  NEUROSCIENCES

  Mr. Thomas Hide - Consultant, South General Hospital, Glasgow

  Ms. Victoria Hardman - Bloomsbury and Islington Health Authority

  PLASTICS

  Mr. Philip Sykes - Consultant, St. Lawrence Hospital, Chepstow

  Ms. Mary Whitty - Brent and Harrow Health Authority

  RENAL SERVICES

  Prof. Netar Mallick - Department of Renal Medicine, Manchester Royal Infirmary

  Mr. Peter Coe - Tower Hamlets Health Authority

  315
  SPECIALITY CHILDREN'S SERVICES

  Prof. Sir David Hull - Department of Child Health, University of Nottingham and President of British Paediatric Association

  Mr. Martin Roberts - Wandsworth Health Authority

  Gene Therapy
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to be in position to respond to the report of the committee on the ethics of gene therapy.

  Mr. Sackville
  Following careful consideration of the responses to wide-ranging consultation on the report of the committee on the ethics of gene therapy, the Government accept, in principle, the committee's recommendation.

  The committee recommended that gene therapy research directed to the alleviation of genetic disease in individual patients should continue. However, it considered that genetic modification of the germ line, which would affect future generations, should not yet be attempted. The Government accept these recommendations.

  The committee also recommended that, initially, gene therapy should be regarded as research and governed by the same exacting requirements which already apply in the United Kingdom to research involving human subjects. We accept this recommendation. The Government also agree with the committee that proposals to conduct gene therapy should be subject to independent peer review and that, if approved, the use of gene therapy in human subjects should be carefully monitored. These are important safeguards for the patient.

  We intend setting up a new body, the gene therapy advisory committee. This committee will consider proposals to apply gene therapy to patients. In considering applications, it will work closely with the Medicines Control Agency and the other bodies which already have statutory responsibilities in the field of genetic modification. The gene therapy advisory committee will give particular attention to the ethical issues surrounding this important subject. The committee on the ethics of gene therapy recommended that this new body be non-statutory. The Government believe that this is right, but will, however, keep the need for statutory controls under review. The terms of reference and membership of the gene therapy advisory committee will be announced later.

  The chairman, Sir Cecil Clothier, and the members of the committee on the ethics of gene therapy are to be congratulated for the important work they have done in producing their report. The Government are particularly grateful to the committee for the role it is currently undertaking in which it has already considered and approved the first proposal in the United Kingdom to use gene therapy on a patient. The committee has agreed to continue in being until the gene therapy advisory committee is established.

  Gina Ditchman
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investigations were made into the death of Gina Ditchman at Horton hospital; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Riverside health authority conducted an internal inquiry which was concluded in October 1990. I316
  understand that certain aspects of the case have been raised with the Mental Health Act Commission which is currently considering them.

  Female Circumcision
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken by the Government following the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985 as to(a) education, (b) prevention of female circumcision and (c) prosecution under the Act; and what level of funding has been allocated to the above since the Act came into force.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 14 January 1993 at column 807.

  We have provided funding to FORWARD—the Foundation for Women's Health Research and Development—for several years, and for 1992–93 we have provided grants totalling £30,000.

  NHS Performance Indicators
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her plans to introduce performance indicators for the national health service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department of Health publishes a wide range of comparative information about national health service performance and, over the past 10 years, a pack on health services indicators. Copies are available in the Library. The Department continues to develop and improve the ways in which it manages NHS performance.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what records her Department keeps of the value of land, buildings and other assets transferred to national health service trusts; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) what arrangements she makes to apply uniform criteria to establish the value of land, buildings and other assets before they are transferred to a national health service trust; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The values of land, buildings and other assets transferred to a national health service trust are determined in order to form the originating capital debt of that trust. These values are audited and provided to the Department for use in the statutory instrument which is laid before the House for each wave of trusts. Thereafter the values are recorded in the annual accounts of the trusts.

  Valuations of all property assets—land and buildings being transferred to NHS trusts are prepared by the Valuation Office agency. This ensures a co-ordinated national approach to the valuation of these assets. The value of other assets transferred such as equipment is taken from the asset register maintained by health authorities in accordance with departmental guidelines.

  Pathology Services
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to make pathology services subject to privatisation; and if she will list all instances of such services being privatised in the last two years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is for the hospitals and other national health service users of pathology services to
  317
  decide the best means of obtaining services which provide quality and value for money. Information is not held centrally about the arrangements for the provision of pathology services.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Offshore Oil and Gas
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what considerations underlay the decision to allow oil companies to nominate areas that they wished to see offered in the 14th round of offshore licensing.

  Mr. Eggar
  A major aim of the 14th round of licensing is to encourage activity in little explored areas of the United Kingdom continental shelf. Exploration in little understood areas is risky. It makes sense for those who take the risks to have a say in the choice of acreage to be offered.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what account his Department took of the United Kingdom's international commitments on oil pollution standards and marine conservation in the 14th round of offshore licensing.

  Mr. Eggar
  The United Kingdom is fully committed to its international obligations relating to oil pollution standards and marine conservation. Special conditions applied to licences reflect this commitment.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide publicly available the environmental statements provided by oil companies as part of their licence applications for the 14th round of offshore licensing.

  Mr. Eggar
  The environmental policy statements from individual companies form part of their licence applications and are commercially confidential.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to improve public scrutiny of the offshore licensing process.

  Mr. Eggar
  Each licensing round is considered separately. Extensive consultations take place before each offshore round. As onshore licensees are subject to the planning regime, prior consultation is not necessary.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how the changes in regulations on oil and gas field development and production, announced by the Minister for Energy on 22 October 1992, will apply to the environmental safeguards contained in the licensing application process; and whether those changes will apply to the monitoring of oil companies' compliance with the environmental safeguards in their licence conditions.

  Mr. Eggar
  None of the measures to be introduced to streamline my Department's procedures for regulating oil and gas development and production will involve any change to the arrangements currently applied for safeguarding the environment.

  Environmental Technology
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the initial three-year budget of his Department's environmental technology innovation scheme in October 1990; and how much has been spent to date;

  (2) when he expects to finalise the environmental technology innovation scheme budget for the next financial year.

  Mr. Eggar
  The initial budget for the environmental technology innovation scheme—ETIS—was £12 million divided equally between my Department and the Department of the Environment. Of the £2·96 million my Department has committed on approved projects £570,935 has been spent to date.

  With regard to the budget for the next financial year, allocations under the Department's innovation budget will be made in the light of the priorities for the Department's science and technology expenditure, and the public expenditure outturn figures for 1992–93. For these reasons, the exact timing for a decision on the ETIS budget for the next financial year is not settled at this stage.

  Electricity Supply
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from trade and industry expressing concern about the potential postponement of the present franchise to electricity users in the 1Mw to 100Kw bracket; and if he will seek consultation with the British Retail Consortium on this issue.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have received a number of representations on this issue. These are being considered as part of the coal review.

  Oil Transhipment
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what environmental impact assessment he has made of the transhipment of oil by BP by pipeline from the Seillean to oil tanks in waters off Scapa Flow; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The transhipment referred to relates to a ship-to-ship transfer of oil within the sheltered waters of Scapa Flow. This was authorised by the Orkney Islands council, as the harbour authority, after consultation with the oil pollution liaison committee on which Scottish National Heritage and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds are represented. The transhipments were only permitted in good weather and with pollution prevention vessels in attendance. Vessels were escorted in and out of Scapa Flow by two tugs. Neither the Department of Transport nor the Department of Trade and Industry requires an environmental impact assessment for these operations.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidelines he has issued or intends to issue to British Coal on the acquisition and sale of property by British Coal where planning permission for opencast coal extraction has been applied for but not given.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: I have no proposals for such guidelines. Acquisition or sale of

  319
  property by British Coal in connection with coal extraction or in connection with proposals for such extraction is an operational matter for the corporation.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how the radiologically significant materials extracted by the enhanced actinide removal plant at Sellafield, mentioned at page 33 of his Department's annual report 1993, Cm. 2204, will be disposed of.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: The radiologically significant materials, which British Nuclear Fuels plc proposes to remove from Sellafield's sea discharges by use of the site's enhanced actinide removal plant, will be in the form of an intermediate level waste sludge. This will be encapsulated within stainless steel drums for storage and eventual disposal in Nirex's proposed deep underground disposal facility.

  European Regional Funding
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what representations he has had about certain regions of the United Kingdom qualifying for objective 1 status in European funding regimes;

  (2), pursuant to the oral statement of the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities on 10 February, Official Report, column 1009, which regions of the United Kingdom he now considers poor enough to qualify for objective 1 status for European funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: The Government have received representations from several hon. Members, local authorities, and others. Qualification for objective 1 does not only depend on gross domestic product. Other factors may be taken into account, such as peripherality.

  Concerning the regions that the Government believe should become eligible for objective 1 grants, I refer the hon. Member to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Coe) on 17 February.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to have discussions with the European Commission about redrawing the regional map of Europe with regard to funding criteria for EC structural funds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: I understand that the European Commission hopes to adopt its proposals for revised structural funds regulations soon. The Council of Ministers will consider the proposals in the late spring or summer.

  Decisions on eligibility under the objectives of the funds must await the adoption of the regulations by the Council of Ministers.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 18 February.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 18 February.
  320
  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on(a) the structure, (b) the number and civil service rank of personnel on the staff and (c) the timing of the inquiry under Lord Justice Scott.

  The Prime Minister
  Lord Justice Scott is supported by a team of eight of which the civil service members comprise:

  1 Assistant Solicitor (Grade 5)

  1 Press Officer (Part Time) (Grade 6)

  1 Grade 7

  1 Executive Officer

  1 Administrative Officer

  1 Personal Secretary

  The timing and structure of the inquiry is a matter for Lord Justice Scott. He has made it clear that he wishes to report to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade as soon as possible.

  Salman Rushdie
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 12 February, by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,Official Report, column 841–42, what plans he has to meet Mr. Salman Rushdie; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, met Mr. Rushdie on 4 February. He underlined our full support for Mr. Rushdie's fundamental rights. The fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini and reaffirmed by senior figures in Iran is a serious violation of international law. The continuing failure of the Iranian authorities to repudiate this incitement to murder inevitably prevents the establishment of full and friendly relations with Iran.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister in what circumstances British citizens living in the United Kingdom are asked to contribute to the cost of police security when their lives are threatened by terrorists.

  The Prime Minister
  It is for the chief officer of police to decide whether it is appropriate to provide police officers to protect individuals. The individuals concerned would not be asked to contribute to the cost of these officers.

  Housing Corporation
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had concerning the future of the Housing Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I regularly discuss with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment the delivery of the Government's housing policy, in which the Housing Corporation continues to play an important part.

  Chemical Warfare
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the export of materials and equipment which could be or is thought to be suitable for making chemical weapons; what monitoring takes place; what assessment is made of end-user certificates in such circumstances; and if he will lay before Parliament regulations for the export of such items.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 12 February 1993]: The 54 chemical weapon precursor chemicals and the dual use chemical plant and equipment identified as of proliferation concern are specified in and controlled under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1992. In addition, other, unlisted items, though normally of no proliferation concern, do require a licence if the exporter knows or suspects that they are intended or likely to be used in connection with weapons of mass destruction. All export licence applications are carefully considered: information on destinations and end users is always taken into account. Compliance by exporters with these controls is monitored by the compliance unit of the Department of Trade and Industry.

SCOTLAND

  Public Appointments
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of his appointees to public bodies are women; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: Figures in "Public Bodies"—published on 29 January 1993; copy available in the Library—show that at 1 September 1992, 36 per cent. of those appointed to public bodies under the auspices of the Scottish Office were women. Of those appointments directly controlled by the Secretary of State —that is, leaving aside those members nominated or appointed by other organizations–40 per cent. were held by women. The Government aim to increase the number of public appointments held by women, while continuing to make all appointments on the basis of aptitude and merit.

WALES

  Certificate of Education
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he held with educational bodies and schools in Wales over his proposal to withdraw the certificate of education.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The decision to phase out the certificate of education was based on advice received from the School Examinations and Assessment Council (SEAC) on the national curriculum statutory arrangements for GCSE and other assessments for 16-year-old pupils at end of key stage 4. SEAC advised that the certificate of education would not meet the national curriculum requirements. The statutory annual consultation with LEAs and examining groups on the list of approved qualifications for use in schools will take place later this month.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of firms in Wales employing 20 or more employees have(a) employed a 3 per cent. quota of registered disabled people and (b) been issued bulk exemption permits under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944, for each year from 1979 to the present.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested, where available, is given in the following table. The data cover employers with headquarters in Wales and those with establishments only in Wales.

  Percentage of Percentage of employers with 20 or more workers who employed at least 3 per cent registered disabled people on 1 June

  Percentage of employers with 20 or more workers issued with bulk permits during the 12 months to 1 June1

  1979

  45.1

  36.7

  1980

  43.9

  38.0

  1981

  43.2

  38.5

  1982

  45.6

  39.4

  1983

  34.1

  28.7

  1984

  448

  42.2

  1985

  n/a

  n/a

  1986

  32.9

  456

  1987

  33.1

  43.3

  1988

  29.3

  40.0

  1989

  26.8

  39.9

  1990

  26.0

  38.1

  1991

  26.9

  39.4

  Source: Employment Service

  1 The issue of a bulk permit does not exempt the employer from their duties and obligations under the 1944 Act. Bulk permits are issued in accordance with the Act. They enable an employer who is below quota to engage a specified number of people who are not registered as disabled, during a period of up to 6 months, and remain within the law. Employers who are below quota, and who have not been issued with permits, are not necessarily breaking the law.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of senior administrative positions in each of the health authorities of Wales are held by women; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is given in the following table. The figures are based on staff on senior manager pay scales (general managers, senior managers and managers) in the administrative and clerical staff group.

  Percentage of staff as at 30 September 1992 on senior manager pay scales who were women

  Health authority/trust

  Family health services authority

  Clwyd

  34.4

  40.0

  East Dyfed/Dyfed

  31.0

  50.0

  Gwent

  42.9

  42.9

  Gwynedd

  34.6

  42.9

  Mid Glamorgan

  31.9

  30.8

  Pembrokeshire

  33.3

  1—

  Powys

  48.4

  25.0

  South Glamorgan

  37.3

  14.3

  West Glamorgan

  38.1

  20.0

  Common Services Authority

  29.1

  2—

  323

  1 Dyfed FHSA covers East Dyfed and Pembrokeshire.

  2 There is no FHSA.

  NHS (Wales) has joined the Opportunity 2000 campaign promoted by Business in the Community which aims to improve the quality and quantity of women in the work force. Targets for improving the balance of women in NHS management will be published during 1993.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 4 February,Official Report, column 341, what proposals he has to provide assistance comparable to that given by the independent living fund to those of pensionable age with Alzheimer's and other similar conditions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Under the community care arrangements which will operate from 1 April 1993, it will be for local authorities to assess the needs of those requiring care and make appropriate arrangements in conjunction with other agencies, the individuals concerned and their families. The development of services for people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia is the responsibility of joint county planning teams established under the mental illness strategy.

  Further Education Colleges (Equipment)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he will take to replace out-of-date practical equipment in further education colleges; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Further Education Funding Council for Wales has commissioned a survey of further education colleges' equipment needs. The information obtained from the survey has been taken into account by the council in deciding what part of its funding for capital expenditure it should allocate for equipment. The council has identified resources of £1.5 million for allocation to the colleges for equipment purchases in the financial year 1993–94.

  Community Education
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he proposes to increase participation in community education in each of the local education authorities in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Unrestricted General Medical Practitioners1

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  1979

  164

  166

  198

  130

  240

  69

  203

  169

  1,339

  1980

  172

  169

  201

  133

  253

  69

  203

  172

  1,372

  1981

  179

  172

  206

  132

  260

  69

  203

  176

  1,397

  1982

  191

  180

  212

  134

  264

  67

  208

  175

  1,431

  1983

  194

  182

  222

  137

  271

  70

  211

  178

  1,465

  1984

  197

  188

  226

  139

  274

  72

  216

  180

  1,492

  1985

  200

  194

  237

  139

  276

  72

  219

  186

  1,523

  1986

  211

  197

  236

  139

  280

  76

  222

  188

  1,549

  1987

  214

  205

  240

  143

  291

  75

  225

  194

  1,587

  1988

  214

  206

  241

  147

  295

  76

  226

  194

  1,599

  1989

  221

  214

  243

  148

  299

  79

  229

  198

  1,631

  1990

  224

  212

  243

  152

  296

  79

  234

  195

  1,635

  1991

  223

  216

  239

  153

  301

  79

  233

  203

  1,647

  1992

  223

  222

  236

  152

  301

  78

  237

  204

  1,653

  1 As at 1 October except for 1992 which is at 1 April (latest available information).

  324
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The provisions of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 divide the responsibility for providing further education, including community education, between the Further Education Funding Council for Wales (FEFCW) and the local education authorities. From 1 April 1993 the FEFCW will be responsible for ensuring that there is adequate provision of the types of course listed in schedule 2 of the Act; and the local education authorities will continue to have a duty to provide other types of courses—mainly leisure and recreational courses. The local education authorities have retained the resources for non-schedule 2 courses and have full discretion to decide for themselves what provision they make in their own areas.

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to narrow the gap between vocational and academic studies consequent upon the introduction of national vocational qualifications.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Accreditations from the National Council for Vocational Qualifications (NCVQ) now cover over 80 per cent. of the work force and all occupational groups at NVQ levels 1 to 4. The NCVQ is also developing a more broadly-based vocational qualification, the general national vocational qualification (GNVQ). A number of schools and colleges are piloting GNVQs during this academic year. GNVQs are being designed to provide a vocational qualification representing an achievement which is equivalent to two 'A' levels. Current NCVQ plans are that 14 GNVQs should be generally available by September 1995, when they should have equal status with 'A' levels.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioners there were in each county and in total in Wales in each year since 1979.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is given in the following table.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hospital beds there were in each specialty in each county and in the whole of Wales in each year since 1979.

  Average daily available beds Year ending 31 March 1992. Provisional

  Clwyd

  East Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Pembroke-shire

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  General surgery

  206·5

  178·7

  260·7

  153·8

  289·9

  71·3

  —

  252·0

  211·8

  1,624·6

  Urology

  45·9

  —

  391

  —

  23·1

  —

  —

  56·8

  46·5

  211·3

  Traumatic and orthopaedic surgery

  135·2

  113·3

  151·8

  74·9

  268·5

  39·5

  —

  217·4

  171·2

  1,171·7

  Ear, nose and throat

  53·4

  31·6

  44·2

  17·6

  56·6

  —

  —

  45·3

  40·7

  289·4

  Ophthalmology

  36·0

  27·0

  34·0

  25·1

  51 6

  0·4

  —

  19·7

  280

  221·8

  Oral surgery

  15 7

  0 1

  14·4

  5·4

  19·2

  —

  —

  11·9

  14·2

  80·9

  Neurosurgery

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·3

  —

  —

  39·9

  46·3

  86·5

  Plastic surgery

  —

  —

  90·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  90·1

  Burns surgery

  —

  —

  35·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  35·0

  Cardiac surgery

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  27·3

  —

  27·3

  Thoracic surgery

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20·1

  —

  20·1

  Paediatric surgery

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  23·0

  —

  23·0

  Anaesthetics

  4·2

  0·8

  —

  1·8

  3·0

  1·5

  —

  4·9

  0·5

  16·6

  General medicine

  219·0

  164·7

  294·9

  164·7

  387·0

  58·1

  15·0

  255·6

  248·7

  1,807·7

  Haematology (clinical)

  10·7

  2·4

  9·9

  12·4

  —

  2·3

  —

  31·0

  12·6

  81·2

  Clinical phsyiology

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·6

  —

  1·6

  Rehabilitation

  38·7

  —

  —

  —

  38·9

  —

  —

  18·5

  9·5

  105·6

  Palliative medicine

  0·8

  —

  20

  4·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20·5

  27·3

  Cardiology

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  55·1

  —

  55·1

  Dermatology

  13·1

  7·9

  17·6

  6·0

  7·6

  —

  —

  18·8

  22·1

  93·1

  Thoracic medicine

  24·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  85·5

  —

  109·6

  Infectious diseases

  —

  2·1

  1·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3·1

  Genito-urinary medicine

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2·0

  2·0

  Nephrology

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  15·9

  15·9

  Nuclear medicine

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·3

  Spinal injuries

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  32·5

  —

  32·5

  Other neurology

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  32·2

  35·5

  67·7

  Rheumatology

  7·2

  —

  11·8

  —

  37·5

  —

  —

  15·1

  15·4

  87·1

  Paediatrics

  81·5

  37·4

  91·4

  55·3

  115·6

  24·7

  —

  133·8

  113·5

  653·2

  Paediatric neurology

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3·2

  —

  3·2

  Geriatric medicine

  471·4

  361·2

  566·1

  354·9

  805·1

  114·9

  195·4

  438·9

  441·8

  3,749·5

  Obstetrics

  100·5

  48·0

  126·8

  61·0

  189·5

  31·5

  —

  136·5

  128·5

  822·3

  Gynaecology

  70·7

  41·3

  98·4

  35·2

  135·5

  20·4

  —

  790

  106·5

  587·1

  GP maternity

  15·5

  —

  19·0

  14·3

  3·8

  8·4

  33·3

  —

  —

  94·2

  GP other

  307·8

  61·6

  128·2

  93·3

  170·7

  43·4

  185·1

  34·7

  —

  1,024·8

  Mental handicap

  43·8

  28·0

  207·3

  224·8

  352·0

  21·5

  159·0

  317·5

  59·0

  1,412·8

  Mental illness

  276·3

  257·5

  268·2

  46·4

  417·4

  —

  159·0

  350·0

  217·0

  1,991·7

  Child and adolescent psychiatry

  18·0

  —

  28·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10·5

  —

  56–5

  Forensic psychiatry

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·8

  —

  —

  15·3

  —

  17·2

  Old age psychiatry

  94·2

  137·2

  338·9

  75·4

  449·8

  —

  101·3

  229·0

  235·8

  1,661·5

  Radiotherapy

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  97·7

  45·2

  143·0

  Radiology

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·1

  —

  —·

  —

  —

  0·1

  Chemical pathology

  —

  0·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·1

  Accident and emergency

  13·7

  6·0

  10·0

  —

  1·2

  4·8

  —

  —

  —

  35·7

  Total

  2,303·7

  1,506·9

  2,888·7

  1,426·2

  3,825·7

  442·7

  848·0

  3,110·2

  2,288·4

  18,640·5

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the figure for male unemployment in Newport, Gwent at the latest available date.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In January 1993 there were 8,009 male unemployed claimants in the Newport travel-to-work area, and 6,360 men unemployed in the borough of Newport.
  326
  Mr. David Hunt
  Information on the number of beds (average daily available) in each health authority of Wales by specialty for the calendar years 1979 to 1987 and the financial years 1984–85 to 1990–91 has been published on an annual basis in "Hospital Bed Use Statistics" copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  Information for 1991–92 is given in the following table.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Tribunals
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current time lag in the hearing of appeals by the independent tribunal service.

  Mr. Burt
  In 1991, the last year for which complete figures are available, the average appeals clearance time from lodgment to the date of hearing were:

  Weeks

  Social Security Appeals Tribunals:

  24

  Medical Appeals Tribunals:

  35·2

  Absent Fathers
  Ms. Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the operational guidelines for DSS officials to use when assessing whether, under regulations relating to the Child Support Act 1991, a mother or her children would face harm or undue distress if she were required to disclose details of an absent father.

  Mr. Burt
  Yes. The guidelines will be published before the launch of the agency on 5 April 1993.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total spending during each year since 1979–80 on income support and supplementary benefit payments towards the cost of residential or nursing care, including estimates for the current financial year; and if he will set out the percentage change since 1979–80 deflated by the change in numbers of (i) people of pensionable age and (ii) those over 75 years of age.

  Mr. Burt
  Such information as is available is in the table.

  Income support expenditure Residential care and nursing homes

  year

  Annual equivalent expenditure Year£million

  December 1979

  10

  December 1980

  18

  December 1981

  23

  December 1982

  39

  December 1983

  104

  December 1984

  200

  December 1985

  348

  February 1986

  459

  May 1987

  671

  May 1988

  878

  May 1989

  1,105

  May 1990

  1,270

  May 1991

  1,872

  May 1992

  2,460

  Source: Quarterly Statistical Enquiries.

  Reliable data on an age basis is not available.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the likely total expenditure on income support payments towards the costs of care in residential or nursing homes during the current financial year.

  Mr. Burt
  The latest estimate given in the departmental report for 1992–93 is £2,530 million.

  Carers
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the proportion of the total social security budget which will be spent on the invalid care allowance and the carer premium in 1992–93.

  Mr. Scott
  Our present estimate is 0·5 per cent.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy that take-up campaign 328
  information for carers' benefits should be available in (a) the Welsh language, (b) languages of ethnic minority communities within the United Kingdom and (c) Braille.

  Mr. Scott
  The publicity of carers' benefits 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 Mr. Dafydd Wigley, dated 17 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 the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security regarding the availability of publicity information on carer's benefits in (a) the Welsh language, (b) languages of the ethnic minority communities within the United Kingdom and (c) in Braille.
  The Benefits Agency currently provides publicity information on the main benefit for carers, Invalid Care Allowance (ICA), in eleven ethnic languages—Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Somali, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese. This information is also available in the Welsh language and in Braille.
  Although there are no plans at present for the main carers leaflet FB31 "Caring for someone?" to be translated into the other languages listed above, there will be an April 1993 edition in Welsh. The leaflet is also being considered for translation into Braille from April 1993 when a new edition of the leaflet is published.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Farmers
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the numbers of full and part-time farmers.

  Mr. Hanley
  In the June 1992 agricultural census in Northern Ireland 22,215 farmers, partners and directors were identified as full-time and 12,309 as part-time.

  Security Forces (Manpower)
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on current manpower levels for the security forces in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mates
  At 31 December 1992 there were 13,071 police, and 18,741 members of the armed forces operating in their support, in Northern Ireland. These manpower levels are kept under constant review.

  Widgery Tribunal
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will order a re-examination of the findings of the Widgery tribunal.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  No. I have nothing to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) on 21 January at col.483.

  Aldergrove Airport
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals for privatising Aldergrove airport.

  Mr. Atkins
  On 20 November 1991, my predecessor announced the Government's plans to sell Northern Ireland Airports Limited, the publicly owned company which operates Belfast international airport. Legislation is in hand to give effect to privatisation and a draft order will be published in May of this year. The timetable envisages the order being made early in 1994 with the sale of the company taking place later that year.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average detention period being served by remand prisoners in Crumlin Road prison.

  Mr. Mates
  Figures are not available in the form sought. However the Government are concerned about the length of time some prisoners spend on remand and have introduced a number of measures to deal with the problem, including the target time limits scheme announced by my right hon. and learned Friend on 10 June 1992.

  Homelessness
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he proposes to alleviate homelessness in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Housing Executive has statutory responsibility for dealing with homelessness, and arranges both temporary and permanent accommodation throughout Northern Ireland. Its housing selection scheme gives top priority particularly to families accepted as homeless. In addition, the Executive and other local bodies provide extensive advice to those who are homeless, or are threatened with homelessness. I am satisfied that these arrangements are appropriate in dealing with homelessness in Northern Ireland.

  Quangos
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many quasi-autonomous non-governmental bodies existed in Northern Ireland(a) in 1991, (b) in 1992 and (c) at present.

  Mr. Mates
  In 1991 and 1992 there were 121 non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland and this figure remains unchanged.

  Inter-party Discussions
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the present status of the inter-party discussions on the future of Northern Ireland.

  Political Initiatives
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what new political initiatives he has in respect of Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
  330
  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  When the talks ended in November last year, all the participants agreed that further dialogue was both necessary and desirable. Accordingly, every effort is being made to create conditions under which further talks can take place at an early date. To this end, contacts are being maintained with all the participants at various levels.

  EC Funding
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made to the European Commission regarding funding of projects in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mates
  My right hon. and learned Friend and ministerial colleagues are in contact with the Commission as and when the interests of Northern Ireland require it. I myself shall be meeting Commissioner Milian next week to discuss support from the Community's structural funds for Northern Ireland during the next round of funding.

  Rented Housing
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the number of houses made available for rent in Northern Ireland for each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Atkins
  The number of houses made available for rent in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and by registered housing associations is as follows:

  13,304 houses in 1982–83; 13,972 in 1983–84; 13,466 in 1984–85; 13,486 in 1985–86; 12,701 in 1986–87; 11,971 in 1987–88; 12,158 in 1988–89; 11,559 in 1989–90; 14,180 in 1990–91 and 14,269 in 1991–92.

  The figures comprise new build completions and relets for both the Housing Executive and registered housing associations except in the case of associations where relet figures are not available prior to 1990–91.

  Figures relating to the private rented sector are not available.

  Northern Ireland Railways
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the future of Northern Ireland Railways.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government have demonstrated their commitment to the future of railways in Northern Ireland through schemes for a cross-harbour rail link in Belfast, the accelerated upgrading of the Belfast to Dublin railway and the provision of a new railway station at Great Victoria street, Belfast.

  In addition we are currently examining the consultant's report about the scope for introducing a private element into the management and operation of Northern Ireland Railways.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received about the level of unemployment in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I receive representations from time to time from a variety of interested organisations and individuals.
  331
  The Government's economic development strategy for Northern Ireland aims to help industry become more competitive so that it can achieve soundly based growth and provide more good quality jobs. A wide range of assistance is available to this end. Figures released today show that the level of seasonally adjusted unemployment in Northern Ireland remained unchanged (at 107,000) in January and has declined by an average of 200 over the past three months.

  Security
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were charged with terrorist murders in Northern Ireland in 1992.

  Mr. Mates
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Bexleyheath (Mr. Townsend).

  Mr. Molyneaux
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mates
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath (Mr. Townsend).

  Small Firms
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next plans to meet representatives of the small firms sector to discuss lifting burdens on business.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am in regular contact with the business community which enables me to gain its views on all matters affecting the competitiveness of Northern Ireland companies. I will be raising the specific issue of the burden of regulations with key business people over the next few months.

  Education
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received on proposed changes in education.

  Mr. Hanky
  Representations have been made by the education and library boards, school boards of governers, teachers and their representatives and some parents. I have also met a number of groups on reforms-related matters. They have covered a wide range of issues related to the reforms, but have centered mainly on the pressures on teachers and schools resulting from the curriculum and assessment changes and I have taken measures where necessary to ease the pressures.

  Health and Personal Social Services
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the implementation of the Government's regional strategy document for Northern Ireland health and personal social services for 1992 to 1997; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Following the publication in November 1991 of the 1992–1997 regional strategy each board produced an area strategy which endorsed the priorities 332
  and targets it contained. Since then the Eastern and Southern boards have undertaken major reviews of the acute hospital services required by their population. They are currently consulting widely on their proposals for the future of these important services before making final decisions.

  The annual management plan, issued by the HPSS management executive, sets a range of interim objectives and targets based on those in the regional strategy. The boards' purchasing prospectuses in turn reflect the content of the management plan and specify the level of services that boards wish to purchase in pursuit of strategic goals.

  In addition to those targets which boards can act on immediately, there are a number of objectives and targets in the regional strategy where collaborative work would be of value. The regional strategy advisory group, under the chairmanship of the HPSS chief executive, has been established to take forward work in these areas.

  The regional strategy also recognises the important role that other government Departments have to play in improving the health and social well-being of the population. An inter-departmental group on health issues has been established under the chairmanship of the permanent secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services.

  Anglo-Irish Agreement
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect on security co-operation with the Republic of Ireland of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Mr. Mates
  Since the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, there have been significant enhancements in cross border security co-operation, and the Government will continue to work closely with the Government of the Republic to achieve further improvements. Both Governments recognise the importance of keeping existing measures under review and making further progress whenever possible.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he proposes to take to reduce unemployment in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  Reducing unemployment in Northern Ireland depends on the achievement of higher levels of economic growth and on Northern Ireland industry becoming more internationally competitive. The main features of the Government's strategy to achieve this include identifying and removing obstacles to growth; encouraging inward investment; building up management and work force skills; developing an enterprise culture and supporting innovation and research and development. Help is available in each of these areas for activities which will improve business performance.

  Miscarriages of Justice
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will consider setting up an independent body in Northern Ireland to consider cases of miscarriages of justice.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The Royal Commission on Criminal Justice is currently examining the arrangements
  333
  in England and Wales for considering and investigating alleged miscarriages of justice when appeal rights have been exhausted. When the Royal Commission's recommendations are made known I shall give careful consideration to what application they may have in the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland.

  Constitutional Discussions
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Government of the Republic of Ireland about constitutional matters; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North East (Mr. Barnes).

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

  Mr. Mates
  There are no registered disabled staff in the small cadre of home civil servants employed in the Northern Ireland Office.

  On 13 January 1993, 1·6 per cent. of the Northern Ireland civil service (NICS) were registered disabled. In addition, 60 registered disabled people were working in the NICS under the sheltered placement scheme.

  Contracting Out
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. Mates
  Including the Northern Ireland Departments, 575 full-time and 434 part-time posts have been contracted out.

  English Teaching
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the teaching of English in the schools of the Province.

  Mr. Hanley
  The teaching of English in schools in Northern Ireland is now based on the programmes of study for English which reflect the best practice in our classrooms. These give appropriate prominence to the teaching of grammar, spelling and writing and promote from the earliest years reading for pleasure and information from a wide variety of texts. The Northern Ireland Curriculum Council has set in place arrangements to monitor the introduction of the new programmes of study and these will be reviewed and updated as necessary in the light of the council's findings.

  Fair Employment Act
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the certificates that have been issued by him under section 42 of the Fair Employment Act 1976 in the past 10 years, indicating the person or body the 334
  certificate related to and whether the certificate was issued on the ground of (a) national security, (b) public safety or (c) public order.

  Mr. Atkins
  In the past 10 years 18 section 42 certificates have been signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Seven cases involved either the Northern Ireland Office or Northern Ireland Departments while the other 11 involved public bodies in Northern Ireland.

  Information on the ground on which each certificate was issued is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have received advice from the Fair Employment Commission under section 29(1) of the Fair Employment Act 1976.

  Mr. Atkins
  A total of 2,041 from 1 January 1990 until 31 January 1993.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been refused assistance under section 29(2) of the Fair Employment Act 1976 by the Fair Employment Commission, showing in each case the perceived religious affiliation of those refused and the grounds on which assistance was refused.

  Mr. Atkins
  During the period 1 January 1990 until 31 January 1993 assistance or further assistance under section 29(2) has been refusesd to 47 persons, of whom 33 were Roman Catholic and 14 were Protestant. Assistance was refused where (i) the investigation of the complaint had revealed no sustainable case, (ii) assistance to pursue the complaint would have conflicted with the commission's statutory functions, (iii) the complainant failed to co-operate or keep in contact with the commission or (iv) the complainant had approached the commission at such an advanced stage that the giving of assistance was impracticable. It is not appropriate to state the grounds on which such refusal was based in individual instances.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have received assistance from the Fair Employment Commission under section 29(2) of the Fair Employment Act 1976.

  Mr. Atkins
  A total of 768 from 1 January 1990 until 31 January 1993.

  Mr. Seamus McElwaine
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the terrorist activities of Seamus McElwaine and the circumstances of his death.

  Mr. Mates
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: The circumstances surrounding the death of Seamus McElwaine in an encounter with the security forces on 26 April 1986 near Rosslea, County Fermanagh, were investigated by the police. The Director of Public Prosecutions considered the police investigation report, and directed no prosectuion of any of the soldiers involved. Following the inquest held on 11–12 January 1993 the director has asked for a further report from the police in light of the inquest jury's findings. It would, therefore, be inappropriate for me to comment further.

EMPLOYMENT

  TECs
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the budget for each of the training and enterprise councils in 1992–93; and what the budget will be for each TEC for 1993–94.

  TEC budgets 1992–93

  £million

  Total

  VT and credits

  WRFE

  Compacts

  EBPs

  TPS

  Careers partners

  Careers libraries

  Employ training ex. allows

  HTNT

  Employ action

  Business enterprise support

  LlF

  National devel project

  Research

  Youth devel project

  TEC MGMT fee

  Essex

  32·95

  16·02

  2·87

  0·00

  0·03

  0·07

  0·03

  0·12

  7·79

  0·25

  2·03

  2·69

  0·98

  0·06

  0·00

  0·01

  2·54

  Hampshire

  32·06

  17·54

  3·49

  0·04

  0·03

  0·07

  0·03

  0·17

  5·37

  0·34

  0·93

  3·12

  0·88

  0·05

  0·00

  0·00

  2·07

  Heart of England

  10·86

  5·70

  0·88

  0·04

  0·03

  0·03

  0·03

  0·07

  1·74

  0·05

  0·36

  1·20

  0·61

  0·12

  0·00

  0·00

  1·32

  Hertfordshire

  23·02

  13·19

  1·87

  0·00

  0·03

  0·05

  0·00

  0·13

  3·06

  0·40

  0·56

  3·00

  0·35

  0·38

  0·00

  0·00

  1·79

  Isle of Wight

  3·66

  1·86

  0·30

  0·00

  0·03

  0·01

  0·00

  0·02

  0·55

  0·00

  0·26

  0·49

  0·06

  0·06

  0·00

  0·02

  0·60

  Kent

  33·08

  18·00

  2·84

  0·00

  0·03

  0·07

  0·02

  0·18

  5·27

  0·55

  1·90

  2·75

  1·27

  0·18

  0·00

  0·02

  2·05

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  7·19

  3·99

  0·39

  0·00

  0·03

  0·01

  0·00

  0·02

  1·23

  0·00

  0·35

  0·76

  0·35

  0·06

  0·00

  0·00

  0·85

  Surrey

  12·38

  4·40

  1·84

  0·00

  0·03

  0·05

  0·03

  0·12

  1·50

  0·53

  0·33

  1·85

  0·78

  0·92

  0·00

  0·00

  1·45

  Sussex

  25·10

  11·26

  2·26

  0·02

  0·06

  0·06

  0·04

  0·21

  5·05

  0·26

  0·96

  3·98

  0·93

  0·01

  0·00

  0·00

  2·06

  Thames Valley Enterprise

  18·93

  9·23

  2·70

  0·03

  0·05

  0·06

  0·00

  0·13

  2·09

  0·30

  0·89

  2·40

  0·90

  0·15

  0·00

  0·00

  2·28

  South East Total

  199·23

  101·19

  19·44

  0·13

  0·35

  0·48

  0·18

  1·17

  33·65

  2·68

  8·57

  22·24

  7·11

  1·99

  0·00

  0·05

  17·01

  AZTEC

  10·55

  3·62

  1·36

  0·10

  0·02

  0·02

  0·00

  0·07

  1·65

  0·85

  0·87

  1·46

  0·34

  0·19

  0·00

  0·00

  1·18

  CENTEC

  21·48

  6·54

  1·35

  0·10

  0·02

  0·03

  0·04

  0·07

  6·59

  0·39

  1·44

  4·18

  0·70

  0·03

  0·00

  0·00

  2·76

  CILNTEC

  20·46

  7·25

  1·37

  0·20

  0·01

  0·01

  0·04

  0·04

  5·93

  0·16

  1·33

  2·82

  1·11

  0·19

  0·00

  0·00

  2·16

  LETEC

  32·66

  12·54

  3·07

  0·15

  0·05

  0·05

  0·08

  0·12

  9·80

  0·52

  2·70

  2·75

  0·71

  0·12

  0·00

  0·00

  3·24

  North London

  16·94

  4·14

  1·89

  0·10

  0·03

  0·03

  0·00

  0·08

  4·99

  0·86

  1·35

  2·56

  0·58

  0·32

  0·01

  0·00

  1·98

  North West London

  8·74

  2·46

  1·66

  0·06

  0·01

  0·02

  0·00

  0·04

  2·83

  0·00

  0·00

  1·34

  0·28

  0·01

  0·03

  0·00

  1·29

  SOLOTEC

  18·15

  9·09

  1·84

  0·02

  0·03

  0·03

  0·00

  0·10

  3·30

  0·10

  0·82

  1·98

  0·58

  0·26

  0·00

  0·00

  1·97

  South Thames

  30·18

  9·15

  2·82

  0·20

  0·03

  0·04

  0·04

  0·10

  9·13

  1·14

  2·63

  3·36

  1·17

  0·37

  0·00

  0·00

  2·74

  West London

  15·39

  6·56

  2·17

  0·00

  0·08

  0·03

  0·04

  0·08

  2·52

  0·86

  0·00

  1·92

  0·85

  0·18

  0·10

  0·00

  1·88

  London Total

  174·55

  61·35

  17·35

  0·93

  0·28

  0·26

  0·24

  0·70

  46·74

  4·88

  11·14

  22·37

  6·32

  1·67

  0·14

  0·00

  19·20

  Avon

  26·35

  11·81

  1·65

  0·10

  0·03

  0·04

  0·04

  0·11

  6·12

  0·63

  1·25

  3·60

  0·70

  0·27

  0·00

  0·00

  2·49

  Devon/Cornwall

  48·61

  26·31

  3·40

  0·10

  0·05

  0·06

  0·04

  0·18

  9·00

  0·17

  2·07

  5·44

  1·62

  0·17

  0·00

  0·00

  3·86

  Dorset

  15·15

  7·30

  1·19

  0·02

  0·02

  0·03

  0·04

  0·08

  2·33

  0·58

  0·67

  2·10

  0·49

  0·30

  0·00

  0·00

  1·38

  Gloucestershire

  12·71

  6·58

  1·00

  0·03

  0·02

  0·03

  0·01

  0·07

  2·00

  0·10

  0·44

  1·80

  0·39

  0·24

  0·00

  0·00

  1·21

  Somerset

  12·57

  6·39

  1·19

  0·00

  0·02

  0·02

  0·02

  0·05

  2·10

  0·21

  0·50

  1·80

  0·20

  0·07

  0·00

  0·00

  1·18

  Wiltshire

  13·45

  6·76

  1·29

  0·00

  0·02

  0·03

  0·02

  0·07

  2·13

  0·12

  0·43

  1·90

  0·45

  0·23

  0·00

  0·00

  1·21

  South West Total

  128·84

  65·15

  9·72

  0·25

  0·16

  0·21

  0·17

  0·56

  23·68

  1·81

  5·36

  16·64

  3·85

  1·28

  0·00

  0·00

  11·33

  Birmingham

  46·97

  20·64

  2·38

  0·10

  0·02

  0·05

  0·04

  0·12

  15·61

  0·87

  2·12

  3·91

  0·59

  0·48

  0·00

  0·04

  2·80

  Central England

  10·65

  5·11

  0·95

  0·05

  0·02

  0·02

  0·02

  0·05

  1·82

  0·07

  0·89

  1·36

  0·29

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  1·06

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  23·50

  11·86

  1·76

  0·10

  0·04

  0·04

  0·04

  0·11

  4·95

  0·36

  1·10

  2·65

  0·33

  0·15

  0·01

  0·00

  1·88

  Dudley

  10·71

  5·20

  0·76

  0·10

  0·02

  0·01

  0·04

  0·04

  2·51

  0·12

  0·48

  0·97

  0·26

  0·17

  0·00

  0·03

  1·01

  HAWTEC

  10·83

  5·47

  0·80

  0·00

  0·02

  0·02

  0·02

  0·07

  1·84

  0·08

  0·49

  1·53

  0·34

  0·15

  0·00

  0·00

  0·98

  Sandwell

  10·91

  5·46

  0·64

  0·00

  0·02

  0·02

  0·00

  0·04

  2·63

  0·10

  0·60

  1·01

  0·30

  0·08

  0·01

  0·00

  1·08

  Shropshire

  13·53

  7·66

  0·86

  0·10

  0·02

  0·02

  0·02

  0·08

  2·41

  0·08

  0·46

  1·43

  0·28

  0·11

  0·00

  0·00

  1·15

  Staffordshire

  33·39

  20·57

  2·02

  0·00

  0·02

  0·05

  0·03

  0·14

  5·38

  0·38

  0·95

  3·17

  0·62

  0·06

  0·00

  0·00

  2·21

  Walsall

  9·05

  4·32

  0·52

  0·10

  0·02

  0·01

  0·00

  0·03

  2·31

  0·00

  0·50

  0·87

  0·26

  0·11

  0·00

  0·00

  0·94

  Wolverhampton

  11·03

  5·24

  0·61

  0·10

  0·02

  0·02

  0·00

  0·03

  2·50

  0·26

  0·60

  1·00

  0·49

  0·16

  0·00

  0·00

  1·09

  West Midlands Total

  180·57

  91·53

  11·30

  0·65

  0·22

  0·26

  0·21

  0·71

  41·96

  2·32

  8·19

  17·90

  3·76

  1·47

  0·02

  0·07

  14·20

  Bedfordshire

  10·77

  5·30

  1·10

  0·00

  0·03

  0·03

  0·03

  0·08

  1·51

  0·66

  0·56

  1·11

  0·36

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·95

  CAMBSTEC

  5·59

  2·64

  0·63

  0·03

  0·02

  0·02

  0·00

  0·06

  0·64

  0·05

  0·33

  0·88

  0·23

  0·03

  0·00

  0·03

  0·78

  North Derbyshire

  9·66

  5·09

  0·73

  0·00

  0·02

  0·02

  0·02

  0·05

  2·21

  0·09

  0·00

  1·11

  0·26

  0·06

  0·00

  0·00

  0·92

  South Derbyshire

  17·08

  8·63

  1·16

  0·10

  0·02

  0·03

  0·02

  0·08

  3·89

  0·14

  0·57

  1·75

  0·58

  0·11

  0·00

  0·00

  1·25

  Leicestershire

  24·39

  13·34

  1·57

  0·10

  0·03

  0·04

  0·03

  0·14

  4·02

  0·38

  0·73

  2·90

  0·79

  0·32

  0·00

  0·00

  1·82

  Lincolnshire

  19·20

  10·19

  1·22

  0·00

  0·02

  0·02

  0·03

  0·08

  3·71

  0·15

  1·41

  1·95

  0·28

  0·10

  0·00

  0·04

  1·50

  Norfolk/Waveney

  20·96

  10·73

  1·65

  0·00

  0·03

  0·04

  0·03

  0·11

  4·82

  0·00

  0·75

  2·16

  0·64

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  1·61

  Northamptonshire

  12·53

  6·75

  1·17

  0·00

  0·03

  0·03

  0·00

  0·10

  1·69

  0·09

  0·54

  1·60

  0·53

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  1·23

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  19·60

  9·66

  1·40

  0·02

  0·02

  0·03

  0·04

  0·89

  4·11

  0·32

  0·92

  1·80

  0·34

  0·03

  0·00

  0·00

  1·38

  North Nottinghamshire

  16·01

  7·37

  0·76

  0·00

  0·02

  0·02

  0·04

  0·07

  5·39

  0·00

  0·45

  1·46

  0·32

  0·11

  0·00

  0·00

  1·11

  Greater Peterborough

  8·38

  4·50

  0·68

  0·05

  0·01

  0·01

  0·00

  0·04

  1·77

  0·00

  0·45

  0·60

  0·27

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·92

  Suffolk

  14·34

  9·53

  0·75

  0·05

  0·03

  0·03

  0·03

  0·08

  1·66

  0·00

  0·45

  1·36

  0·37

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  1·20

  East Midlands Total

  178·51

  93·73

  12·82

  0·35

  0·28

  0·32

  0·27

  1·78

  35·42

  1·88

  7·16

  18·68

  4·97

  0·76

  0·00

  0·07

  14·67

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  23·38

  12·90

  0·90

  0·20

  0·03

  0·03

  0·04

  0·10

  5·50

  0·70

  0·90

  1·50

  0·50

  0·08

  0·00

  0·00

  1·70

  Bradford and District

  19·25

  10·60

  0·80

  0·10

  0·02

  0·03

  0·00

  0·10

  4·20

  0·10

  0·70

  1·80

  0·50

  0·30

  0·00

  0·00

  1·50

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  19·89

  9·70

  1·30

  0·10

  0·03

  0·03

  0·03

  0·10

  5·00

  0·20

  0·80

  2·00

  0·40

  0·20

  0·00

  0·00

  1·50

  Humberside

  35·07

  17·90

  1·60

  0·10

  0·02

  0·05

  0·00

  0·10

  8·50

  1·00

  1·40

  3·20

  1·00

  0·20

  0·00

  0·00

  2·70

  Leeds

  19·34

  8·80

  1·30

  0·00

  0·02

  0·02

  0·00

  0·10

  5·20

  0·70

  0·00

  2·30

  0·70

  0·20

  0·00

  0·00

  2·00

  North Yorkshire

  16·16

  8·00

  1·50

  0·00

  0·02

  0·02

  0·02

  0·10

  3·20

  0·10

  0·30

  2·20

  0·60

  0·10

  0·00

  0·00

  1·40

  Rotherham

  11·44

  5·60

  0·50

  0·10

  0·02

  0·02

  0·00

  0·10

  2·70

  0·40

  0·40

  1·10

  0·40

  0·10

  0·00

  0·00

  1·10

  Sheffield

  21·28

  9·50

  1·40

  0·10

  0·02

  0·03

  0·03

  0·10

  6·20

  0·80

  0·00

  2·20

  0·70

  0·20

  0·00

  0·00

  2·10

  Wakefield

  11·24

  5·30

  0·60

  0·00

  0·02

  0·02

  0·00

  0·10

  3·00

  0·20

  0·50

  1·20

  0·20

  0·10

  0·00

  0·00

  1·30

  336
  Mr. McLoughlin
  Details of TEC budgets for 1992–93 are given in the tables. The £2·1 billion planned expenditure for programmes operated by TECs and LECs is over £ 100 million more than was spent in 1991–92.

  The information for TEC budgets for 1993–94 is not yet available. We are currently in negotiations with TECs on targets and funding for 1993–94.
  337

  Total

  YT and credits

  WRFE

  Compacts

  EBPs

  TPS

  Careers partners

  Careers libraries

  Employ training ex. allows

  HTNT

  Employ action

  Business enterprise support

  LlF

  National devel project

  Research

  Youth devel project

  TEC MGMT fee

  Yorkshire and Humberside Total

  177·05

  88·30

  9·90

  0·70

  0·20

  0·25

  0·12

  0·90

  43·50

  4·20

  5·00

  17·50

  5·00

  1·48

  0·00

  0·00

  15·30

  Bolton/Bury

  13·40

  6·88

  1·03

  0·10

  0·02

  0·02

  0·03

  0·05

  2·12

  021

  0·71

  1·53

  0·27

  0·45

  0·00

  0·00

  0·97

  Manchester

  35·82

  16·41

  2·59

  020

  0·04

  0·06

  0·05

  0·13

  8·71

  0·85

  1·68

  4·32

  0·45

  0·34

  0·00

  0·00

  3·50

  METROTEC

  10·45

  5·31

  0·73

  0·10

  0·01

  0·02

  0·03

  0·03

  2·18

  0·20

  0·43

  1·15

  0·25

  0·01

  0·00

  0·00

  0·84

  Oldham

  8·43

  4·83

  0·41

  0·10

  0·01

  0·01

  0·03

  0·02

  1·54

  0·07

  0·29

  0·78

  0·27

  0·06

  0·00

  0·00

  0·76

  Rochdale

  8·13

  3·77

  0·53

  0·10

  0·01

  0·01

  0·03

  0·02

  2·13

  0·00

  0·45

  0·74

  0·27

  0·06

  0·00

  0·00

  0·74

  South and East Cheshire

  12·02

  6·48

  0·68

  0·02

  0·01

  0·01

  0·02

  0·03

  1·92

  0·06

  0·70

  1·36

  0·27

  0·45

  0·01

  0·00

  0·81

  Stockport

  9·51

  4·73

  0·67

  0·02

  0·01

  0·02

  0·04

  0·04

  1·59

  0·13

  0·23

  1·52

  0·34

  0·17

  0·00

  0·00

  0·96

  North West (GM) Total

  97·77

  48·41

  6·63

  0·64

  0·12

  0·15

  0·21

  0·33

  20·20

  1·52

  4·49

  11·40

  2·12

  1·54

  0·01

  0·00

  8·59

  CEWTEC

  19·31

  9·46

  0·99

  0·10

  0·02

  0·03

  0·00

  0·06

  4·98

  0·40

  0·52

  2·40

  0·27

  0·08

  0·00

  0·00

  1·65

  Cumbria

  16·24

  9·65

  0·77

  0·02

  0·02

  0·02

  0·03

  0·07

  2·39

  0·30

  0·66

  1·60

  0·30

  0·41

  0·00

  0·00

  1·44

  ELTEC

  17·52

  9·31

  1·61

  0·02

  0·02

  0·02

  0·02

  0·07

  3·45

  0·00

  0·46

  1·89

  0·30

  0·33

  0·02

  0·00

  1·28

  LAWTEC

  26·30

  12·79

  2·39

  0·10

  0·03

  0·04

  0·02

  0·10

  4·89

  1·26

  1·19

  2·76

  0·44

  0·26

  0·03

  0·00

  2·05

  Merseyside

  47·40

  22·75

  2·21

  0·30

  0·04

  0·05

  0·00

  0·11

  13·19

  0·51

  3·03

  4·30

  0·41

  0·50

  0·00

  0·00

  3·60

  NORMID

  13·30

  7·17

  0·96

  0·10

  0·02

  0·02

  0·02

  0·05

  2·71

  0·00

  0·34

  1·45

  0·72

  0·19

  0·00

  0·00

  1·27

  QUALITEC

  9·05

  5·07

  0·42

  0·10

  0·01

  0·01

  0·03

  0·02

  1·95

  0·06

  0·41

  0·62

  0·27

  0·08

  0·00

  0·00

  0·78

  North West (W) Total

  129·81

  76·20

  9·35

  0·74

  0·16

  0·19

  0·12

  0·48

  33·56

  2·53

  6·61

  15·02

  2·26

  1·85

  0·05

  0·00

  12·07

  Durham

  27·55

  12·99

  1·05

  0·05

  0·02

  0·03

  0·03

  0·09

  8·45

  0·36

  0·49

  2·48

  1·33

  0·12

  0·00

  0·06

  2·54

  Northumberland

  13·93

  7·75

  0·41

  0·00

  0·01

  0·01

  0·02

  0·05

  2·89

  0·00

  0·68

  1·30

  0·35

  0·46

  0·00

  0·00

  1·35

  Teeside

  30·65

  15·66

  1·02

  0·10

  0·02

  0·03

  0·00

  0·09

  9·18

  0·33

  1·29

  2·38

  0·44

  0·11

  0·00

  0·00

  2·83

  Tyneside

  3·737

  17·04

  1·48

  0·40

  0·04

  0·05

  0·06

  0·11

  10·71

  0·79

  1·64

  3·49

  1·00

  0·43

  0·00

  0·13

  3·08

  Wearside

  16·89

  7·35

  0·73

  0·10

  0·01

  0·01

  0·01

  0·05

  5·17

  0·65

  0·82

  1·29

  0·52

  0·18

  0·00

  0·00

  1·58

  Northern Total

  126·39

  60·79

  4·69

  0·65

  0·10

  0·13

  0·12

  0·39

  36·40

  2·13

  4·92

  10·94

  3·64

  1·30

  0·00

  0·19

  11·38

  Industrial Tribunals
  Ms. Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases were brought before industrial tribunals in each year since 1979 under(a) the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978, provisions relating to (1) unfair dismissal, (2) redundancy pay, (3) contract of employment, (4) trade union activities and (5) other provisions, (b) the Equal Pay Act 3970, (c) the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, (d) the Race Relations Act 1976, (e) the Employment Act 1980, (f) the Employment Act 1988 and (g) the Wages Act 1986 and (h) the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The following tables show the information available on applications in Great Britain. Before 1 April 1985 the information was collected in

  EqPA

  SDA

  RRA

  EA80

  EA88

  WA

  TUPE

  1991–92

  887

  2,684

  1,375

  1

  11

  9,691

  17

  1990–91

  612

  1,936

  1,178

  10

  15

  6,237

  32

  1989–90

  1,195

  1,029

  1,084

  19

  212

  5,416

  20

  1988–89

  583

  903

  1,025

  11

  —

  2,628

  14

  1987–88

  1,823

  679

  762

  8

  —

  1,782

  7

  1986–87

  614

  612

  681

  12

  —

  34

  6

  1985–86

  1,708

  430

  649

  15

  —

  —

  7

  11985

  76

  96

  182

  6

  —

  —

  —

  1984

  350

  376

  2,950

  20

  —

  —

  n/a

  1983

  1,258

  353

  540

  n/a

  —

  —

  n/a

  1982

  788

  406

  550

  n/a

  —

  —

  n/a

  1981

  92

  296

  525

  n/a

  —

  —

  n/a

  1980

  81

  486

  474

  n/a

  —

  —

  n/a

  1979

  191

  277

  622

  n/a

  —

  —

  n/a

  1 January to March.

  Note:jurisdiction codes are as follows:

  UD—unfiar dismissal,

  RP—redundancy payment,

  TU Activities—trade union activities,

  EPCA Others—other provisions of the Employment. Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978,
  338
  calendar years. Since then it has been collected in financial years. The industrial tribunals do not currently have the Industrial Tribunals jurisdiction to hear contract of employment claims.

  Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978

  Unfair dismissal

  Redundancy pay

  Trade union activities

  EPCA others

  1991–92

  40,403

  8,505

  775

  2,043

  1990–91

  25,525

  4,575

  849

  1,563

  1989–90

  19,846

  3,203

  470

  1,627

  1988–89

  19,336

  2,431

  387

  1,636

  1987–88

  19,911

  2,674

  550

  1,692

  1986–87

  25,298

  3,236

  5,213

  1,733

  1985–86

  25,718

  3,732

  917

  1,736

  11985

  7,186

  865

  183

  426

  1984

  30,326

  3,685

  N/a

  3,526

  1983

  31,541

  3,778

  N/a

  2,213

  1982

  34,960

  3,898

  N/a

  2,601

  1981

  37,398

  3,713

  N/a

  2,514

  1980

  33,585

  4,303

  N/a

  2,206

  1979

  35,255

  2,366

  N/a

  2,255

  1 January—March

  339
  EqPA—Equal Pay Act 1970,

  SDA—Sex Discrimination Act 1975,

  RRA—Race Relations Act 1976,

  EA80—Employment Act 1980,

  EA88—Employment Act 1988,

  WA—Wages Act 1986,

  TUPE—Transfer of Undertakings Regulations (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981.

  n/a denotes that the information is not available.

  Wages Councils
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of firms inspected by wages councils in 1990–91 were prosecuted for illegal rates of pay.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In 1990–91, the time and wage records of 33,032 employers' establishments were inspected by wages inspectors. The great majority were found to be complying with the law. Of the firms prosecuted, four were prosecuted for failing to pay not less than the statutory minimum remuneration required by wages orders.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) on 4 November,Official Report, columns 298–99, which of the studies listed she assesses as showing a positive link between the existence of statutory minimum pay rates and the loss of or failure to create jobs.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The main studies in the United Kingdom which provide supporting evidence are as follows:

  —Her Majesty's Treasury, (1985). "The relationship between employment and wages". London: HMSO.

  —Wells, W. (1983). "The relative pay and employment of young people", Department of Employment research paper No. 42.

  —Bazen, S. (1990). "On the employment effects of introducing a National Minimum Wage in the UK", British Journal of Industrial Relations, 1990.

  —Dennison, S. R. and Forrest, D. (1984). "Low pay or no pay; a review of the theory and practice of minimum wage laws" Institute of Economic Affairs, Hobart Paper No. 101.

  —Gregg, P. (1992). "National minimum wage", in the National Institute Economic Review, February 1992.

  —Minford, P. (1989). "The effects in the UK of EEC wage proposals in the social charter", in the Liverpool Quarterly Economic Bulletin, December 1989.

  —UBS Phillips and Drew (1991). Economic Briefing, June 1991.

  —Kaufman, R. (1989): "The effects on statutory minimum rates of pay on employment in Great Britain", Economic Journal, December 1989.

  —Morgan, P. Paterson, D. and Barrie, R. (1986). "Wage floors in the clothing industry 1950–81", Department of Employment research paper No. 52.

  —Neuburger, H. (1984). "From the dole queue to the sweatshop", London: Low Pay Unit.

  There are also other studies in the United Kingdom which contain some supporting evidence, though the results are less clear cut. They include:
  340

  —Canning, D. and Tarling, R. (1985). "A report on the Department of Employment's study 'Wages floors in the clothing industry 1950–1981'", Department of Applied Economics, Cambridge, 1985.

  —Craig, C. and Wilkinson, F. (1986). "Pay and employment in four retail trades", Department of Employment research paper No. 51.

  —Lund, P. Morris, T. Temple, J. Watson, J. (1982). "Wages and employment in agriculture 1960–1980", GES working paper No. 52.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many constituencies in the United Kingdom have higher registered unemployment at the present time than in April 1979.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Unemployment data for parliamentary constituencies are available from June 1983 only, and on the unadjusted basis, and can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.

  Benefit Statistics
  Mrs. Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are in receipt of unemployment benefit while working or studying for more than 24 hours per week in the constituency of Paisley, North.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  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 Mrs. Irene Adams, dated 18 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 the number of people in receipt of unemployment benefit while working or studying for more than 24 hours per week in the constituency of Paisley North. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Unfortunately, I am unable to provide the information you have requested as data about the number of people who are in receipt of unemployment benefit while working or studying for more than 24 hours per week is not collated or published.
  I am sorry I cannot be of help on this occasion.
  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.

  LEGAL AID ELIGIBILITY: ALLOWANCES
  LEGAL AID ELIGIBILITY: ALLOWANCES
  DANGEROUS DOGS ACT 1991
  DANGEROUS DOGS ACT 1991
  A.1 COCKBURNSPATH BYPASS: WIND DANGER TO HIGH-SIDED VEHICLES
  A.1 COCKBURNSPATH BYPASS: WIND DANGER TO HIGH-SIDED VEHICLES
  QUANGOS: FUNDING
  QUANGOS: FUNDING
  CITY CENTRE TRAFFIC AND AIR POLLUTION
  CITY CENTRE TRAFFIC AND AIR POLLUTION
  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS: COST LIMIT
  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS: COST LIMIT
  NORTHERN IRELAND, WALES AND SCOTLAND: DEPARTMENTAL EXPENDITURE
  NORTHERN IRELAND, WALES AND SCOTLAND: DEPARTMENTAL EXPENDITURE
  ORGANOPHOSPHATE SHEEP DIP: INDUSTRIAL INJURY BENEFIT AWARDS
  ORGANOPHOSPHATE SHEEP DIP: INDUSTRIAL INJURY BENEFIT AWARDS