Written Answers of 19 February 1993

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assumptions were made in the public expenditure survey figures published on 12 November 1992 for the average cost of criminal legal aid bills in the magistrates courts to be paid in 1993–94.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is estimated that the average cost of criminal legal aid bills in the magistrates courts in 1993–94 would be £484 if the current rates and levels of fees were maintained.

  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will provide a detailed breakdown of savings to be achieved from his proposed changes to legal aid eligibility.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is estimated that the measures announced by the Lord Chancellor on 12 November 1992 will reduce legal aid expenditure by £43 million in 1993–94, £110 million in 1994–95, and £173 million in 1995–96. It is not possible to provide separate figures for all the individual proposals, since most of them are interdependent and can only be costed together.

  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the estimate for the average cost of criminal legal aid bills in the magistrates courts paid in 1992–93.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  On the latest information, the average cost of a criminal legal aid bill in the magistrates courts in 1992–93 is estimated to be £459.

  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what was the cost to legal aid in each case prosecuted by the Metropolitan police fraud investigation group in which the legal bills were determined after 1 April 1992;

  (2) what was the cost to legal aid for each case prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office in which the legal aid bills were paid after 1 April 1992.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is not possible to identify individual cases prosecuted by the Metropolitan police fraud investigation group and the Serious Fraud Office from information held centrally by my Department. It is therefore not possible to identify the total amount paid from legal aid from 1 April 1992 in cases being brought by the Metropolitan police fraud investigation group or Serious Fraud Office.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will state for each magistrates court in England and Wales what percentage of applications for criminal legal aid was refused on merit in the latest year for which figures are available.
  342
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Information on the grant of criminal legal aid in magistrates courts for 1991, which is the latest year for which figures are available, was published on 4 August 1992. Copies are available in the Library. The figures do not distinguish between refusals on grounds of merits and on means.

  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the effect on costs to the court system of changes in the numbers of litigants in person appearing before the civil and criminal courts resulting from the proposed changes in arrangements in legal aid elegibility.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Very little effect is expected on criminal legal aid as a result of the eligibility changes. So far as civil legal aid is concerned, the Department does not envisage that there will be any significant increase in the number of unrepresented litigants.

  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will publish the advice tendered to the Lord Chancellor by his advisory committee on legal aid about the proposed changes to the arrangements for legal aid eligibility.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The legal aid advisory committee has already made public its advice to the Lord Chancellor on the proposed eligibility changes and the Lord, Chancellor's response to its advice. I have placed copies of the correspondence in the Library.

  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what was the number of grants of criminal legal aid for magistrates courts in(a) 1991 and (b) 1992;

  (2) how many legal aid orders were granted for each magistrates court for which information is available (a) between October and December 1991 and (b) between October and December 1992.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The number of grants of criminal legal aid for magistrates courts in 1991, as published in the Lord Chancellor's Department "Judicial Statistics" (1991 edition, table 10.2), was 514,000. The figure for 1992 is not yet available, but is estimated to be 513,000.

  The number of legal aid orders granted for each magistrates' court for which information is available, from 355 courts, between October and December 1991 was as follows:

  Number

  Bristol

  1,363

  Long Ashton

  57

  Weston-Super-Mare

  184

  North Avon

  490

  Bath and Wandyke

  291

  Ampthill

  24

  Bedford

  265

  Biggleswade

  46

  Forest

  151

  Slough

  215

  Windsor

  95

  West Berkshire

  245

  Reading and Sonning

  726

  Burnham

  85

  Aylesbury

  173

  Buckingham

  18

  Wycombe

  182

  Chiltern

  69

  343

  Number

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  0

  Halton

  310

  Warrington

  506

  Hartlepool

  308

  Langbaurgh

  124

  Teesside

  1,373

  East Penwith

  62

  East Powder

  128

  Pydar

  33

  Bodmin

  0

  South East Cornwall

  0

  Truro and South Power

  78

  Falmouth and kerrier

  64

  Dunheved and Stratton

  89

  Carlisle

  356

  keswick

  309

  North Lonsdale

  0

  Whitehaven

  0

  Wigton

  22

  West Allerdale

  0

  Barrow with Bootle

  180

  South Lakes

  14

  Kendal and Lonsdale

  43

  Appleby

  1

  Penrith and Alston

  26

  Norwich

  893

  Diss

  0

  Wymondham

  0

  Great Yarmouth

  279

  Cromer

  48

  Thetford

  213

  North Walsham

  38

  Chesterfield

  420

  Glossop

  74

  High Peak

  102

  Ilkeston

  374

  Alfreton and Belper

  137

  Derby and South Derbyshire

  916

  West Derbyshire

  82

  Norwich

  0

  Axminster

  0

  Cullompter

  0

  Exeter

  533

  Exmouth

  0

  Honiton

  0

  Kingsbridge

  18

  Okehampton

  50

  Plymouth

  632

  Plympton

  17

  Tavistock

  0

  Teignbridge

  157

  Tiverton

  0

  Torbay

  310

  Totnes

  28

  Wonford

  0

  Bournemouth

  624

  Bridport

  34

  Christchurch

  70

  Dorchester

  16

  Poole

  315

  Sherborne

  16

  Wareham

  72

  Weymouth and Portland

  216

  Wimborne

  83

  Blandford and Sturminster

  25

  Shaftesbury

  25

  Chester-le-Street

  122

  Darlington

  190

  Derwentside

  171

  Durham

  165

  Easington

  279

  Sedgefield

  278

  Battle and Rye

  46

  Bexhill

  65

  Brighton

  556

  Crowborough

  44

  Eastbourne

  259

  Hailsham

  47

  344

  Number

  Hastings

  294

  Lewes

  116

  Basildon

  296

  Brentwood

  102

  Dunmow

  33

  Freshwell and South Hinckford

  49

  Harlow

  170

  Harwich

  74

  Saffron Walden

  37

  Tendring

  171

  Thurrock

  241

  Halstead and Hedingham

  19

  Rochford and Southend

  839

  Maldon and Witham

  101

  Cheltenham

  391

  Tewkesbury

  31

  Gloucester

  433

  South Gloucestershire

  188

  North Cotswold

  35

  Forest of Dean

  92

  Bolton

  846

  Bury

  426

  Manchester

  1,740

  Oldham

  541

  Middleton and Heywood

  154

  Rochdale

  553

  Eccles

  161

  Salford

  510

  Stockport

  731

  Trafford

  422

  Leigh

  242

  Wigan

  375

  Havant

  344

  Odiham (Aldershot)

  248

  Portsmouth

  782

  Southampton

  717

  Alton and Petersfield

  100

  Havering

  394

  Bromsgrove

  108

  Redditch

  201

  Mid-Worcestershire

  189

  Worcester-City

  213

  Docorum

  150

  South Mimms

  0

  Watford

  339

  Barton-upon-Humber

  6

  Brigg

  11

  Epworth and Goole

  77

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  1,083

  Middle Holderness

  4

  Scunthorpe

  326

  South Holderness

  7

  Grimsby and Cleethorpes

  599

  Canterbury and St. Augustine

  177

  Dartford

  118

  Gravesham

  0

  Maidstone

  164

  Margate

  132

  Medway

  520

  Ramsgate

  106

  Sevenoaks

  78

  Tonbridge and Malling

  137

  Tunbridge Wells and Cranbrook

  139

  Faversham and Sittingbourne

  225

  Blackpool

  527

  Burnley

  289

  Lancaster

  241

  Ormskirk

  226

  Preston

  458

  Rossendale

  161

  South Ribble

  222

  Hyndburn

  215

  Ashy-de-la-Zouch

  58

  Leicester (City)

  657

  Market Bosworth

  102

  Caistor

  6

  Gainsborough

  126

  345

  Number

  Elloes

  104

  Wolds

  57

  Lincoln District

  385

  Sleaford

  36

  Market Rasen

  11

  Spilsby and Skegness

  294

  Knowsley

  515

  Liverpool

  2,604

  St. Helens

  564

  North Sefton

  451

  South Sefton

  68

  Corby

  164

  Daventry

  50

  Kettering

  179

  Northampton

  434

  Towcester

  42

  Wellingborough

  206

  Morpeth Ward

  96

  Wansbeck

  192

  Tynedale

  100

  Coquetdale

  74

  Berwick upon Tweed

  42

  Scarborough

  174

  Selby

  109

  Staincliffe

  74

  York

  341

  Northallerton

  106

  Easingwold

  34

  Richmond

  66

  Ryedale

  47

  East Retford

  73

  Worksop

  181

  Mansfield

  550

  Newark and Southwell

  187

  Nottingham

  1,670

  Guildhall

  277

  Bow Street MC

  661

  Clerkenwell MC

  734

  Marlborough Street MC

  542

  Marylebone MC

  653

  Old Street MC

  399

  South Western MC

  851

  Thames MC

  552

  Tower Bridge MC

  656

  West London MC (Southcombe S)

  492

  Woolwich MC

  410

  Camberwell Green MC

  1,147

  Walton Street MC (West London)

  8

  Horseferry Road MC

  759

  Highbury Corner MC

  1,129

  Bicester

  62

  Oxford

  382

  Abingdon

  88

  Woodstock

  20

  North Oxford and Chipping Norton

  124

  Witney

  47

  Sedgemoor

  206

  Taunton Deane

  162

  West Somerset

  25

  Mendip

  114

  East Oxfordshire

  49

  Didcot and Wantage

  52

  Stratford MC (Newham)

  682

  Barnet

  161

  Bromley

  552

  Bexley

  343

  Croydon

  713

  Sutton

  393

  Ealing MC

  870

  Hampstead MC

  52

  Edmonton/Tottenham (Enfield)

  601

  Harrow MC

  303

  Willesden MC

  651

  Uxbridge

  559

  Richmond upon Thames

  266

  346

  Number

  Barnsley

  601

  Doncaster

  563

  Sheffield

  2,282

  Burton-upon-Trent

  246

  Cheadle

  121

  Eccleshall

  0

  Leek

  0

  Lichfield

  119

  Newcastle-under-Lyme

  276

  Pirehill North

  0

  Stafford

  260

  Stoke-on-Trent

  888

  Stone

  0

  Tamworth

  131

  Uttoxeter

  0

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  418

  Barking

  299

  Beccles

  318

  Felixstowe

  45

  Mildenhall (Lackford)

  51

  Lowestoft

  0

  Newmarket

  31

  Risbridge

  56

  Sudbury and Cosford

  61

  Woodbridge

  19

  Ipswich

  423

  Saxmundham

  0

  St. Edmundsbury

  116

  Stow

  51

  Dorking

  104

  Epsom

  103

  Guildford

  314

  Staines and Sunbury

  153

  Gateshead

  516

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  650

  North Tyneside

  489

  South Tyneside

  487

  Houghton-le-Spring

  180

  Sunderland

  704

  Rugby

  142

  South Warwickshire

  91

  Mid-Warwickshire

  201

  Birmingham

  2,563

  Sutton Coldfield

  325

  Coventry

  1,203

  Dudley

  533

  Halesowen

  81

  Stourbridge

  88

  Warley

  390

  West Bromwich

  311

  Solihull

  584

  Aldridge and Brownhills

  188

  Wolverhampton

  631

  Horsham

  102

  Mid Sussex

  169

  Steyning

  302

  Worthing

  0

  Bradford

  1,043

  Keighley

  315

  Brighouse

  44

  Todmorden

  43

  Calder

  434

  Huddersfield

  486

  Leeds

  1,874

  Morley

  0

  Pudsey and Otley

  0

  Skyrack and Wetherby

  0

  Pontefract

  330

  Wakefield

  361

  Batley and Dewsbury

  328

  Salisbury

  203

  West Wiltshire

  193

  Berwyn

  37

  Colwyn

  98

  Dyffryn Clwyd

  46

  Rhuddlan

  222

  Wrexham Maelor

  256

  Llanelli

  229

  347

  Number

  Ceredigion Ganol

  35

  Gogledd Ceredigion

  65

  De Ceredigion

  21

  Dinefwr

  85

  Bedwellty

  255

  Newport

  389

  East Gwent

  235

  Bangor

  0

  Eifionydd

  0

  North Anglesey

  0

  Pwllheli

  0

  South Anglesey

  128

  Caernarfon and Gwyrfai

  228

  Cynon Valley

  293

  Lower Rhymney Valley

  190

  Merthyr Tydfil

  347

  Miskin

  663

  Upper Rhymney Valley

  26

  Drayton

  60

  Oswestry

  70

  Shrewsbury

  240

  Machynlleth

  99

  Welshpool

  0

  Vale of Glamorgan

  253

  Newtown

  0

  Port Talbot

  146

  Lliw Valley

  139

  Swansea

  675

  Total

  96,863

  The number of legal aid orders granted for each magistrates court for which information is available, from 219 courts, between October and December 1992 was as follows:—

  Number

  Bristol

  1,279

  Bath and Wandyke

  253

  Woodspring

  214

  Ampthill

  26

  Bedford

  195

  Biggleswade

  45

  West Berkshire

  202

  Reading and Sonning

  642

  Burnham

  75

  Aylesbury

  186

  Buckingham

  27

  Chiltern

  68

  Huntingdonshire

  248

  Halton

  294

  Warrington

  422

  Hartlepool

  302

  Langbaurgh

  107

  Teesside

  1,363

  East Penwith

  82

  Truro and South Powder

  47

  Falmouth and Kerrier

  53

  Carlisle

  243

  Whitehaven

  220

  Wigton

  16

  South Lakes

  17

  Kendal and Lonsdale

  72

  Appleby

  3

  Penrith and Alston

  40

  Chesterfield

  582

  Glossop

  47

  High Peak

  84

  West Derbyshire

  78

  Central Norfolk

  0

  Norwich

  688

  South Norfolk

  163

  Plymouth

  558

  Teignbridge

  110

  Torbay

  205

  Bournemouth

  695

  348

  Number

  Bridport

  34

  Christchurch

  62

  Dorchester

  31

  Poole

  236

  Sherborne

  9

  Wareham

  40

  Weymouth and Portland

  162

  Wimborne

  55

  Blandford and Sturminster

  52

  Shaftesbury

  18

  Chester-le-Street

  91

  Darlington

  259

  Durham

  216

  Easington

  297

  Sedgefield

  289

  Teesdale and Wear Valley

  257

  Brighton

  361

  Crowborough

  45

  Eastbourne

  177

  Hailsham

  51

  Hove

  85

  Lewes

  93

  Basildon

  192

  Brentwood

  54

  Thurrock

  198

  Rochford and Southend

  822

  Cheltenham

  411

  Tewkesbury

  31

  South Gloucestershire

  150

  North Cotswold

  37

  Forest of Dean

  90

  Manchester

  1,409

  Oldham

  678

  Rochdale

  343

  Salford

  400

  Leigh

  150

  Wigan

  254

  Odiham (Aldershot)

  210

  Portsmouth

  779

  Alton and Petersfield

  108

  Dacorum

  138

  Watford

  275

  South and Middle Holderness

  7

  Scunthorpe Brigg and Barton Division

  257

  Epworth and Goole

  80

  Grimsby and Cleethorpes

  433

  Maidstone

  229

  Margate

  82

  Ramsgate

  74

  Tunbridge Wells and Cranbrook

  130

  Faversham and Sittingbourne

  162

  Burnley

  344

  Lancaster

  153

  Ormskirk

  142

  Preston

  289

  Hyndburn

  218

  Ashby-de-la-Zouch

  64

  Leicester

  658

  Market Bosworth

  106

  Market Harborough and Lutter

  28

  Caistor

  9

  Gainsborough

  122

  Wolds

  60

  Lincoln District

  345

  Market Rasen

  7

  Spilsdy and Skegness

  227

  Knowsley

  312

  Liverpool

  2,464

  St. Helens

  454

  North Sefton

  396

  South Sefton

  240

  Daventry

  66

  349

  Number

  Kettering

  161

  Northampton

  359

  Towcester

  36

  Wellingborough

  163

  Morpeth Ward

  87

  Berwick upon Tweed

  59

  Scarborough

  162

  Selby

  43

  Staincliffe

  72

  York

  210

  Northallerton

  124

  Easingwold

  37

  Richmond

  49

  Ryedale

  36

  East Retford

  65

  Worksop

  154

  Mansfield

  523

  Newark and Southwell

  140

  Nottingham

  1,654

  Bow Street MC

  493

  Clerkenwell MC

  525

  Marylebone MC

  380

  Old Street MC

  500

  South Western MC

  772

  Thames MC

  572

  Tower Bridge MC

  547

  West London MC(Southcombe S)

  367

  Woolwich MC

  380

  Camberwell Green MC

  849

  Walton Street MC (West London)

  9

  Horseferry Road MC

  481

  Henley

  61

  Oxford

  271

  Abingdon

  89

  Witney

  42

  Sedgemoor

  130

  Mendip

  113

  Didcot and Wantage

  63

  Stratford MC (Newham)

  473

  West Ham MC

  0

  Bromley

  380

  Bexley

  186

  Croydon

  726

  Sutton

  229

  Ealing MC

  631

  Hampstead MC

  84

  Harrow MC

  253

  Uxbridge

  352

  Richmond upon Thames

  274

  Barnsley

  674

  Doncaster

  544

  Sheffield

  1,828

  Mid-Staffordshire

  265

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  107

  Newcastle-under-Lyme and Pirehill

  224

  Barking

  223

  Mildenhall (Lackford)

  43

  Newmarket

  32

  Risbridge

  28

  Sudbury and Cosford

  59

  St. Edmundsbury

  75

  Stow

  21

  Dorking

  99

  Epsom

  95

  Esher and Walton

  78

  Guildford

  201

  Staines and Sunbury

  120

  Gateshead

  543

  North Tyneside

  432

  Birmingham

  1,899

  Sutton Coldfield

  336

  Coventry

  871

  Dudley

  411

  Halesowen

  76

  Stourbridge

  72

  350

  Number

  Warley

  296

  West Bromwich

  194

  Solihull

  475

  Horsham

  65

  Bradford

  994

  Keighley

  250

  Brighouse

  38

  Todmorden

  32

  Calder

  337

  Huddersfield

  448

  Pontefract

  250

  Wakefield

  347

  Batley and Dewsbury

  292

  Salisbury

  671

  West Wiltshire

  178

  Berwyn

  17

  Rhuddlan

  189

  Wrexham Maelor

  207

  Gogledd Preseli

  16

  South Pembrokeshire

  101

  Bedwellty

  221

  East Gwent

  203

  Caernarfon and Gwyrfai

  203

  Cynon Valley

  159

  Lower Rhymney Valley

  204

  Merthyr Tydfil

  270

  Miskin

  663

  Newcastle and Ogmore

  311

  Upper Rhymney Valley

  28

  Oswestry

  58

  Shrewsbury

  201

  Lliw Valley

  0

  Swansea

  790

  TOTAL

  60,188

  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his Department's estimate of the number of(a) contributory civil legal aid certificates and (b) non-contributory civil legal aid certificates to be issued in 1993–94 if (i) the financial conditions remain unchanged and (ii) the Lord Chancellor's proposals announced on 12 November are introduced.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is estimated that in 1993–94 283,000 civil legal aid certificates will be issued of which 198,000 will be non-contributory and 85,000 contributory. If eligibility conditions had not been changed, it is estimated that 410,000 certificates would have been issued in 1993–94 of which about 330,000 would have been non-contributory and 80,000 contributory.

  Women Judges
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) Lords of Appeal, (b) heads of division, (c) High Court, for each of its three divisions, (d) Crown court, (e) circuit and (f) district judges and stipendiry magistrates there are in total; and how many in each category are women.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The total number and the number of women in these categories as at 1 February 1993 were as follows:

  Men

  Women

  Total

  Lords of Appeal in Ordinary

  10

  0

  10

  Lords Justices of Appeal

  27

  1

  28

  Heads of divisions(excluding the Lord Chancellor)

  4

  0

  4

  351

  Men

  Women

  Total

  High court judges

  79

  4

  83

  of whom: Chancery Division

  13

  0

  13

  Family Division

  13

  2

  15

  Queen's Bench Division

  53

  2

  55

  Circuit judges

  463

  24

  487

  District judges

  250

  19

  269

  Metropolitan stipendiary magistrates

  41

  7

  48

  Provincial stipendiary magistrates

  28

  2

  30

  Circuit judges sit in both county courts and the crown court.

  Tribunals
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action he intends to take to ensure that more people from ethnic minority communities in the London borough of Waltham Forest are appointed to all tribunals under the independent tribunal service; and what is the present composition of all tribunals serving Waltham Forest.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To encourage more ethnic minority practitioners to come forward for consideration, the Lord Chancellor has made widely available to ethnic minority practitioners and representative groups the booklet which sets out the requirements for each appointment and describes the judicial appointments system generally.

  The Lord Chancellor's policy is to appoint to judicial office those best qualified, regardless of sex, ethnic origin, political affiliation or religion and appointments must be justified on merit. The Lord Chancellor appoints only the legal chairmen of the tribunals under the independent tribunal service.

  Information held on the ethnic origin of 18 members of the social security appeal tribunal in Walthamstow, which serves Waltham Forest, shows that three out of the 18 are from ethnic minorities.

  Figures are not kept separately for that area for the other tribunals under the service. For the whole South Eastern region, one out of 105 members of the medical appeal tribunals/vaccine damage tribunals and 66 out of 454 members of the disability appeal tribunals are from the ethnic minorities.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Royal Family (Publicity)
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what, for the latest available year, was the cost to his Department of expenditure in support of the royal family in respect of publicity services.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers given on 11 December 1992,Official Report, column 801, and 14 January 1993, Official Report, columns 767–78. The cost of work undertaken for the royal household by the Central Office of Information in 1991–92 for press facilities totalled £318,260, excluding VAT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Recycling
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what proportion of waste from the Houses of Parliament is currently recycled; and what plans he has to improve that proportion.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  It is not possible to say precisely what proportion of total waste from the Houses of Parliament, which includes kitchen refuse, is recycled, but all paper and glass is collected by a contractor and recycled. Arrangements have been made during the past year for metal cans to be collected and sorted off site so that they, too, can be recycled. The Parliamentary Works Department also retains reusable timber and metal from building projects. Proposals are currently being sought for the collection and recycling of plastics, although it is too early to say whether any of these will prove viable.

  Stationery
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what arrangements are in hand to secure the supply of stationery to hon. and right hon. Members following the receivership of one of the suppliers.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  This is a matter for the Serjeant at Arms.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training Expenditure
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what has been the expenditure on participants in(a) employment action and (b) employment training in each year of operation;

  (2) what has been the expenditure on providers in (a) employment action and (b) employment training in each year of operation;

  (3) what has been the total expenditure, including administrative costs, on (a) employment action and (b) employment training, in each year of operation.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information is not available in the form requested. The Department contracts with training and enterprise councils (TECs) to provide agreed numbers of training weeks for employment action and employment training and outputs for employment training at agreed unit prices.

  Total expenditure on both programmes, excluding administrative costs, in each year of operation is shown in the following table. The Department does not record separate administrative costs on a programme basis.

  Expenditure on employment training and employment action Great Britain

  £ million

  Year

  Employment training

  Employment action

  1988–89

  425

  —

  1989–90

  1,107

  —

  1990–91

  1,076

  —

  1991–92

  842

  16

  1992–931

  807

  178

  1 Figures for 1992–93 show planned provision.

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

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A healthy tourism sector is vital to the United Kingdom economy. The Employment Department, TECs, industry training organisations and the National Council for Vocational Qualifications are working together to ensure that individuals have the necessary skills to support the industry's needs.

  National vocational qualifications and Scottish vocational qualifications are now available for most occupations in the tourism and leisure sector. Following the introduction of general national vocational qualifications (GNVQs) last year 56 centres are now offering the GNVQ in tourism and leisure with 19 per cent. of all candidates undertaking the Leisure and Tourism option. A tourism and leisure consortium was formed in April 1992 with representatives from a wide range of organisations and this group is considering industrywide approaches to qualifications in the sector and how their implementation might best be achieved.

  Voluntary Sector
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been employed in the voluntary sector in the United Kingdom in each year since 1979.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Neither the Employment Department nor the Home Office, which is generally responsible for liaison with the voluntary sector, records data on the number of waged people employed in voluntary organisations.

  Construction Industry Training Board
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when she will reach a decision regarding the future of the construction industry training board; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Wages
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many companies in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole have been found to be paying below minimum rates set by wages councils in each of the past seven years; and what is the amount of money calculated to be owed to employees in each of these years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: Separate statistics for Strathclyde are not available. The information for Scotland is provided in the table:
  354

  Part 2 of Wages Act 1986: Wages inspectorate statistics Scotland

  Year

  Number of establishments underpaying

  Amount of arrears assessed £

  1985

  849

  238,422

  1986

  656

  187,914

  1987

  323

  86,872

  1988

  509

  128,514

  1989

  547

  166,578

  1990

  619

  175,993

  1991

  737

  184,001

PRIME MINISTER

  Cayman Islands
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Prime Minister what are the statutory and administrative links between the Bank of England and the monetary authority for the Cayman Islands.

  The Prime Minister
  There are no statutory links. Administratively, the Cayman Islands has since 1962 invited one of the Bank of England's London-based staff to serve as a member of its board of commissioners of currency. The Cayman Islands inspectorate of banks and trust companies has also since 1978 engaged a succession of International Monetary Fund secondees who all have been employees of the Bank. Some training has also been given.

  Publicity
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 2 June 1992 to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson),Official Report, column 390, what is the Cabinet Office's (a) current outturn estimate for publicity expenditure for 1992–93 and (b) budgeted publicity expenditure for 1993–94.

  The Prime Minister
  The current estimate for press and public relations expenditure by the Cabinet Office for 1992–93 is £366,000. In addition, it is expected that expenditure on publicity and public information associated with the citizens charter in 1992–93 will he some £700,000. Budgets for 1993–94 have not yet been finalised.

  Unincorporated Bodies (Accounts)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will bring forward proposals to require unincorporated bodies to produce audited accounts; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Charities Act 1992 requires the accounts of unincorporated registered charities with an income of over £100,000 per annum to be audited. I have no plans for extending to unincorporated bodies generally the Companies Act requirement to prepare audited accounts.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps he proposes to take to ensure that all bodies in the United Kingdom, with turnover over £5 million, produce full audited accounts.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to take such steps.
  355
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to ensure that all external funds received by unincorporated bodies in the United Kingdom from abroad are fully taxed; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Inland Revenue takes all reasonable steps to ensure that, where appropriate, funds received from abroad by unincorporated bodies are properly taxed.

  Political Parties (Finance)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what steps he will take to investigate the origin of overseas funds paid to United Kingdom political parties; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will introduce legislation to require all political parties to account for (a) all donations over £500 and (b) donations received from abroad;

  (3) if he will introduce legislation to require political parties to disclose to the public the full extent of overseas donations received; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) if he will introduce legislation to require all political parties in the United Kingdom to produce full audited accounts; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to take any such steps.

  Disabled Employees
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Prime Minister what percentage of employees in his Office are registered disabled.

  The Prime Minister
  None. For recruitment purposes, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. The percentage of registered disabled persons employed by the Cabinet Office is 1.1 per cent. The Cabinet Office is an equal opportunities employer and seeks to encourage the employment of people with disabilities.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Land Mines
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact he has had with the United States Government regarding the United States moratorium on the export of land mines.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with the United States Government on this issue.

  Mr. Faisal Mahmood
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will arrange for instructions to be sent to the post in Karachi concerning the entry clearance application made by Mr. Faisal Mahmood, born on 23 August 1969, to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Mr. Faisal Mahmood was refused entry clearance on 31 December 1992 by the deputy high commission in Karachi as the entry clearance officer was not satisfied, as he is required to be under the immigration 356
  rules, that the primary purpose of the marriage was not to gain entry to the United Kingdom. Notice of the refusal was sent to Mr. Mahmood at the address given on his visa application form.

  Royal Family
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what, for the latest available year, was the cost to his Department of expenditure on support of the royal family in respect of(a) the marshal of the diplomatic service and (b) overseas visits at the request of Government Departments.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to him on 1 February,Official Report, column 31. The cost to the Foreign Office was £67,000 in 1991–92.

  The cost to the Foreign Office of royal visits overseas at the request of Government Departments in 1991–92 was £620,000.

  Mr. Mordechai Vanunu
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent representations he has received regarding the case of Mordechai Vanunu: and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Israeli Government regarding the case of Mordechai Vanunu; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We continue to receive some expressions of public concern. We have raised humanitarian aspects of this case privately with the Israelis, but we have no formal locus.

  EC Social Protocol
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his statement of 15 February,Official Report, columns 27–28, why he considers it desirable for the social protocol to be incorporated into domestic law, other than for reasons of completeness and tidiness.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The social protocol is an annex to the treaty of Rome, and is therefore an integral part of that treaty. It has been the United Kingdom's consistent legislative practice to incorporate all amendments to the Community treaties into domestic law. This avoids unnecessary complexity in the implementation of our Community obligations.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his statement of 15 February,Official Report, columns 27–28, why he decided to seek legal advice from the Law Officer on the impact of amendment No. 27 to the European Communities (Amendment) Bill.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The decision to consult the Law Officers on the impact of amendment No. 27 was taken in the light of discussion in the House of Commons and elsewhere which highlighted the importance of this question.

  Maastricht Treaty
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those parts of the treaty which can be deleted from the European Communities (Amendment) Bill without inhibiting the Government's(a) prerogative powers of ratification and (b) intention to ratify the treaty.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The potential effect of amending the Bill in any way will be considered in the Committee stage, as is the standard practice.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Industrial Diseases
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library the evidence submitted by Professor Morgan of the University of Ontario to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council inquiry into bronchitis and emphysema.

  Mr. Scott
  A number of organisations and individuals, including Professor Morgan, submitted written evidence to the council which informed its report, "Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema" [Cm. 2091]. The council, which is an independent body, often receives unpublished information which it treats in confidence. This is, therefore, a matter for the council and for the individual organisations and persons concerned.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what communication he has made to the central advisory committee on war pensions in regard to arrears that may be payable to those awarded a war pension as a result of schizophrenia; if he will publish the text; and what response he has had from the committee.

  Miss Widdecombe
  A letter on the subject was sent to all members of the central advisory committee on war pensions on 25 November 1992; a copy of the letter has been placed in the Library. The committee undertook to publicise the matter.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what reply is being sent by the war pensions directorate to the letter sent to it on 10 November 1992 by the legal director of MIND in regard to war pension entitlements; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The particular case referred to in the letter is being reviewed. A full reply to the legal director of MIND is being sent today.

DEFENCE

  TA55
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to the time taken between the start of construction of the TA55 facility at Los Alamos and its being declared operational.

  Mr. Aitken
  This is a matter for the United States authorities.

  Trident
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 898, whether the bus being purchased from the United States for the United Kingdom Trident system will be the Mark IV, the Mark V bus, or a combination of the two.

  Mr. Aitken
  It will be the Mark IV bus.

  Armed Forces (Sexual Offences)
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will introduce the proposed legislation to repeal the relevant provisions of the Sexual Offences Act relating to the armed forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The necessary amendment to section 1(5) of the Sexual Offences Act 1967 to decriminalise homosexual acts illegal under service law but legal in civilian law will be introduced as soon as the legislative programme allows.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been discharged for inappropriate sexual conduct since 1 January 1991; and of those how many were(a) women, (b) men and (c) discharged for homosexual conduct.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In 1991, the latest year for which figures are available, 25 male personnel were dismissed from the services following conviction for sexual offences of a non-homosexual nature and eight for sexual offences of a homosexual nature. No female personnel were convicted of sexual offences in 1991. Between 1 January 1991 and 15 February 1993, 58 male personnel and 46 female personnel were administratively discharged for being homosexual or engaging in homosexual activities. Information is not held centrally in respect of personnel administratively discharged following sexual misconduct of any other nature and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Services Training
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current average cost per person of basic training for a member of(a) the Army, (b) the Navy and (c) the RAF.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The average cost per person of basic training for members of each of the armed services is as follows:

  Officers £

  Other ranks £

  Royal Navy

  19,375

  6,531

  Army

  25,696

  5,080

  Royal Air Force

  14,190

  1,898

  The figures for the Navy and Army are for 1991–92, but the latest figures available for the RAF are for 1990–91. All figures exclude trainee and pay and allowances.

  Royal Family
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to his Department of expenditure in support of the royal family in respect of
  359
  (a) the royal yacht, (b) the Queen's flight, (c) royal flights in civil aircraft and (d) equerries, for the latest available year.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Expenditure in support of the royal family borne by the Ministry of Defence in 1991–92 was as follows:

  £000

  (a) Royal yacht

  12,458

  (b) Queen's flight

  7,080

  (c) Royal flights in civil aircraft

  732

  (d) Equerries

  135

  Royal Marines Deaths (Norway)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the naphtha-fuelled stove used by the two Royal Marines from 45 Commando who died while on a training exercise in southern Norway was service issue; if preliminary investigations have shown the stove to be faulty; and what plans there are to withdraw similar stoves from armed forces use.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The naphtha-fuelled stove is service issue and its use is subject to the standing instructions for winter deployments by 3 Commando Brigade. The stove in question is now held by the Norwegian authorities as part of their investigations. There are no plans to withdraw similar stoves.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Department
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect the applicability of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 has had on(a) the time taken to implement the privatisation of, and (b) the amount of compensation to be paid to the private contractor awarded the contract for, the transport and supplies department of the prison service.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The warehousing and distribution function of the supply and transport department was market-tested in 1991 and approval given to contract out,he function from 1 April 1993. No contract has yet been signed. The implications of recent legal advice that the

  31 December 1981

  31 December 1991

  30 September 1992

  Chief probation officer

  55

  55

  55

  Deputy chief probation officer

  181

  24

  23

  Assistant chief probation officer

  —

  210

  229

  Senior probation officer

  964

  1,163

  1,193

  Main-grade probation officer

  4,453

  5,702

  5,922

  Ancillary

  11990

  1,864

  1,851

  Others

  115,897

  5,314

  5,396

  1 These figures include 990 part-time ancillary staff and 2,823 part-time other staff and so no direct comparison is possible with the 1991 and 1992 figures which arc for full-time equivalent staff.

  360
  Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations are applicable to the contracting out of this function are being considered.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison inmates serving a life sentence were over the age of(a) 60, (b) 70 and (c) 80 years in prisons in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland on 1 February.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The latest available information is for 30 June 1992 when there were 128 life sentence prisoners aged 60 or more in prison service establishments in England and Wales, of whom 16 were aged 70 or more and one of these was aged over 80. Prison inmates in Scotland and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, respectively.

  Breach of the Peace
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the application of bail and appeal procedures to breach of the peace.

  Mr. Jack
  A person ordered to enter into a recognizance to keep the peace may appeal to the crown court under section 1 of the Magistrates' Court (Appeals from Binding-over Orders) Act 1956. Alternatively, he or she may appeal on a point of law by way of case-stated from either a magistrates court or the Crown court, to the High Court. If the person is in custody for refusing to be bound over, the magistrates court or the Crown court, as the case may be, may grant bail pending appeal under section 113 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 or section 81 of the Supreme Court Act, or in either case, the High Court may do so.

  Probation Service
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed by the probation service in England and Wales, by grade in(a) 1981 and (b)

  Mr. Jack
  The number of staff employed by probation committees in England and Wales, by grade and in post on 31 December 1981 and 30 September 1992, was as follows:

  Lynfield Mount Hospital, Bradford
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the West Yorkshire police as to(a) how many complaints were made to the police in each of the last five years, to date, concerning patients at Lynfield Mount hospital and (b) in how many cases (i) inquiries were made and (ii) charges were laid; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No. Operational matters are for the chief officer of the force concerned. I understand, however, that information is not held in a form which would identify such individuals.

  Security Service
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make arrangements for hon. Members other than members of the Home Affairs Committee to meet the director of the Security Service.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  It is open to the director general of the Security Service to make such arrangements for meetings on an informal and private basis as she may wish. Hon. Members will however understand the Government's position on accountability of the service as set out in my letter of 13 November 1992 to the Chairman of the Home Affairs Committee.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will conduct a study of the way in which parliamentary accountability exists for their security services in other EC countries.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I am aware that other countries have approached the issue of the accountability of their security services in a different way from that reflected for the United Kingdom in the Security Service Act 1989. However, given the different constitutional, legal and administrative systems in place in other countries I do not consider that a study of the kind proposed would be of any particular value.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the civil service grade of the director of the Security Service.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The post of director general of the Security Service is the equivalent of that of a grade 1A in the civil service.

  Greenwich Police
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last received a communication from the chairman or secretary of the Greenwich police/community consultative group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The chairman and secretary of the Greenwich police/community consultative group wrote to my right hon. and learned Friend on 27 January. My right hon. and noble Friend Lord Ferrers will be replying shortly.

  Prison Education
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from what date it is now his intention that new contracts for prison education should come into 362
  force; who will bear the cost of the delay in commencing the contracts for prison education for the period from 1 April until the actual commencement date; what provision will be made to the cost of compensation and redundancy for staff made redundant during that period; what advice he has given on the contractual position regarding prison education under the Protection of Employment (Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 1981, during that period; if he will vary the arrangements for the tendering process for prison education that is now under way; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 18 February 1992]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock) on 11 February, Official Report, column 1098. The present suppliers were not prepared to extend the existing arrangements beyond 31 March in respect of 16 prison establishments. To secure the continuation of education in these prisons it was necessary to let contracts from 1 April. Where agreement to continue the existing arrangements was achieved, reimbursement of actual costs plus 5 per cent. in respect of administrative costs will be made by the Home Office as before until the new contracts are let and become effective. The Home Office considers that any costs resulting from redundancy remain, as previously, to be resolved between the employers and employees. As to the application of "TUPE" and the EEC Acquired Rights Directive 77/87, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stretford on 8 December 1992, Official Report, column 555. Subject to the outcome of the judicial review, I do not propose any other variations to the arrangements for the tendering process already announced.

  Bruche Police Training College
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department owes to Planned Maintenance Ltd. for maintenance work at the Bruche police training college, Warrington; for how long each invoice has been outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 18 February 1993]: I will write to my hon. Friend.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Haddock
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what efforts he is making to restrict the landing of North sea haddock to avoid early closure of the fishery;

  (2) if he will ensure that the organisations responsible for the management of quotas act to reduce the present glut of haddock.

  Mr. Curry
  We are concerned that the early closure of the North sea haddock fishery should be avoided. With the increase in the total allowable catch for this fishery, we warned the industry, including product organisations, that it must act reasonably if it is to avoid disrupting the market and any repeat of the early closures which occurred in 1992. Discussions are taking place with the producer organisations about ways of improving quotas management and we shall be monitoring the situation very closely.
  363
  It is not for the Government to arrange the day-to-day catches of the industry. That is precisely what the producer organisations ought to be doing. If they are not able to do so, they should be addressing their management weaknesses and seeking effective and self-interested discipline for their members.

  MV Braer
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what monitoring activity is being undertaken in United Kingdom coastal waters following on from the grounding of the MV Braer on 5 January; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: I have been asked to reply.

  On the basis of sampling already undertaken in the sea around Shetland, there is no requirement for monitoring United Kingdom waters outside Shetland.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Relocation
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what European regulations govern industries relocating within the European Community in receipt of European grants; and what domestic regulations govern such industries in respect of United Kingdom national grants.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There are no European Community or domestic regulations governing industries relocating within the Community, whether or not they are in receipt of Community or national funds. Relocation is a commercial decision for the company involved. The European Commission does, however, enforce maximum levels of grant available in different regions of the Community.

  There are restrictions on the movement of firms which have received assistance in the United Kingdom. The contractual terms and conditions of regional selective assistance, for example, allow grant to be clawed back from firms which close down a project or reduce the scale of investment and/or jobs involved, within a stated period. This varies, but is normally within three years of completion of payment grant.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reason his Department's annual report on plutonium production and stockpile figures gives data only up to31 March 1992; and what steps he is taking to publish more up-to-date figures in his next report.

  Mr. Eggar
  The annual plutonium figures give data on a financial year basis. Figures in respect of 1992–93 will be published as soon as they have been compiled, and I have asked my officials to see if the information can be put together more quickly.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much of the plutonium listed in section 2(d)
  364
  (ii) and (iii) in his press notice P/93/51 of 4 February, the annual production and stockpile figures, has been notified for withdrawal from safeguards under article 14 Provisions of the 1978 Tripartite Safeguards treaty between the United Kingdom, Euratom and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Small Loans Guarantee Scheme
  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures the banks are taking to support the Government's small loans guarantee scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The main high street banks fully support the changes to the small loans guarantee scheme, already announced to enhance its cost-effectiveness and are ensuring that appropriate information, training and systems are in place for its start on 1 April 1993.

  Clean Energy Strategy
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will publish the programme and future strategy for the United Kingdom clean energy fuel cell advisory group; and if he will make a statement

  Mr. Eggar
  I expect to publish a strategy for my Department's advanced fuel cell research and development programme, prepared in consultation with the fuel cell advisory panel, in the summer.

  Owners Abroad (Takeover)
  Sir George Gardiner
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about the bid for Owners Abroad by Airtours.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have received a number of representations concerning this bid. These have been seen by the Director General of Fair Trading so that he can take them into account in his advice to me.

  Colliery Reserves
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to require British Coal to provide information about colliery reserves to the relevant trade unions.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: I have no plans to do so.

  Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 2 February,Official Report, column 143, regarding the regional development fund, if he will give the figures for each financial year from 1984–85 (a) at current prices and (b) at 1984 prices.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: Since the European Community's financial years are calendar years, it is not possible to give a precise figure.

  Industrial Research
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his work on methods of promoting research in industry, pending the next round of inward investment.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: The Government seek to encourage companies to invest more in research and development by creating the right climate, for example, by reducing the tax burden on business. The main rate of corporation tax, at 33 per cent., is now the lowest in any G7 or EC country. In addition, the Government provide over £200 million per annum to United Kingdom companies through a variety of schemes designed to stimulate expenditure on research and development, for example, the LINK and advanced technology programmes and, specifically to help smaller companies, SMART and SPUR.

  Companies investing in the United Kingdom are fully eligible to participate in these schemes, providing subsequent exploitation benefits the United Kingdom.

  Telephone Metering
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to introduce legislation to regulate telephone metering in England and Wales.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: My Department has lead reponsibility for telecommunications matters. The licences of all public telecommunications operators in the United Kingdom require the operators to have their telephone meters independently approved under section 24 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 and to ensure that their bills to customers are accurate. The Director General of Telecommunications has powers to independently verify that operators are complying with these requirements, and if necessary, to take enforcement action against an operator who is not in compliance with the requirements.

  Offshore Oil
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many blocks were initially nominated by oil companies for offer under the 14th round of offshore licensing; and how many of these blocks the Government finally decided should not be issued after consultation with the statutory and non-statutory bodies.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 18 February 1993]: Some 700 blocks were nominated for inclusion in the round; a total of 484 were offered. Of the remaining 200 or so the majority were not offered as a result of consultation, although in some cases the nomination was not maintained.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Printed Matter (Subsidy)
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the range of Government subsidies, including postal, which currently apply to newspapers, books and magazines in each EC member state.

  Mr. Brooke
  The British publishing industry receives no direct subsidies from Government. Value added tax is,366
  however, zero rated on the income from sales of newspapers, books and periodicals. In addition, the Post Office operates a long-standing concession under which registered newspapers are given first-class service at second-class postage rates; and special facilities are available to those posting large numbers of newspapers and magazines under the Post Office's Postream service. Information relating to the position in other EC member states could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Art Collections
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what additional measures he is considering to increase public access to the royal art collection.

  Mr. Brooke
  I am responsible for public access to the historic royal palaces, namely the Banqueting house Whitehall, Hampton Court palace, Kensington palace, Kew palace and the Tower of London, where items from the royal collection are on display. These palaces, which contain about a third of the paintings in the royal collection, receive more than 2 million visitors per year. Important schemes to improve and increase the display of the collection in those palaces, such as the opening of the state apartments at Hampton Court palace, have recently been completed and further schemes are in hand. In addition, Osborne house, for which I am responsible and which receives some 185,000 visitors per year, also contains items from the royal collection.

  Public access to items from the royal collection displayed in the occupied royal palaces, namely, Windsor castle, Buckingham palace, St. James's palace and elsewhere, is a matter for the royal household.

  English Heritage
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received from the Council for British Archaeology in January relating to his plans for the future of English Heritage; what reply he has sent; if he will publish the representations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  I understand that the only representations by the Council for British Archaeology in January about English Heritage's forward strategy were, in fact, made to the National Heritage Select Committee. Representations to my Department by the council were made in November last year and it would be for the council to decide whether to publish its comments and my reply.

  I have absorbed the anxieties expressed by a number of organisations and individuals about the proposals in the strategy and hope that the responses from my Department and English Heritage have helped to reassure them that the proposals will ensure greater, not lesser, protection for the built heritage. The benefits of the strategy, in terms of a clearer focusing of priorities, are already apparent. Despite constraints on funding, English Heritage expects to be able to spend £6 million more next year on restoration of properties in its care and on grants to owners of historic buildings.

WALES

  Deprived Areas
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the population of each local authority area in Wales live in officially recognised deprived wards; and if he will publish the equivalent figures for each year since 1989.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The list of wards recognised as deprived for urban programme purposes was published in Welsh Office circular No. 25/91. The latest population figures for these wards were published in the census 1991. Ward population figures are not available for 1989, 1990 and 1992. Copies of these publications are available in the Library of the House.

  Cancer Treatment
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on behalf of cancer sufferers in Gwynedd with regard to the possibility of networking the radiotherapy treatment available at Clatterbridge, to Ysbyty Gwynedd and to Ysbyty Clwyd.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Representations have been received from the hon. Member for Ynys Mon (Mr. Jones) and from a number of clinicians and representative organisations in Gwynedd about a networked radiotherapy treatment arrangement between the Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology NHS trust and Ysbyty Gwynedd and Ysbyty Clwyd. These are being considered in connection with proposals to improve cancer treatment services in north Wales.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what provisions he plans to make to ensure that cancer patients in Gwynedd can have access to cancer screening and radiotherapy treatment in Bangor; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend announced in March last year that patients would best be served by establishing a dedicated cancer treatment centre with radiotherapy facilities in north Wales. An investment appraisal of location, need, content, cost and management arrangements was commissioned. My right hon. Friend is currently considering that report and hopes to make an announcement in the near future.

  Playing Fields
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many designated playing fields have been lost to development in each local authority area in Wales during each of the last three years.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This information is not held centrally.

  I will be considering with the Sports Council for Wales whether the register of playing fields presently being compiled in England should be extended to Wales.

  M4 Link
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the companies which tendered for the M4 link in Wales to the second Severn crossing.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The firms invited to tender for the M4 second Severn crossing approach roads project were, in alphabetical order:368

  1. Christiani and Neilsen/Alfred McAlpine Construction Joint Venture

  2. Costain Building and Civil Engineering Ltd.

  3. Laing GTM

  4. Norwest Holst Civil Engineering Limited

  5. E. Nuttall Limited

  6. Trafalgar House.

  Wind Power
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement regarding applications for wind turbine power stations in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Applications for planning permission for wind turbines should be considered in the light of the planning policy guidance note on "Renewable Energy" which was published on 3 February by the Welsh Office and the Department of the Environment.

  Social Housing
  Mr. Alex Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many council houses have been renovated in Wales in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is available only from 1984 onwards. This is given in the following table:

  Local Authority Dwellings Renovated

  Number

  1984

  12,690

  1985

  14,608

  1986

  22,875

  1987

  24,503

  1988

  30,804

  1989

  32,812

  1990

  24,605

  1991

  25,707

  Source: Welsh Office local authority returns.

  Mr. Alex Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many homes were in social use in Wales in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information has been published in table 1.3 of Welsh Housing Statistics No. 12, 1992, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Cancer
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will supply details of the incidence by sex and crude age-specific rate by sex of(a) cancer of the bone, (b) leukaemia, (c) maligant neoplasm of the female breast and (d) malignant neoplasm of the stomach in (i) Wales in total and (ii) each district health authority area in each year since 1986;

  (2) if he will supply details of the incidence according to sex and five-year age category of cancer of the bone for (a) Wales in total and (b) each district health authority area for each year since 1971.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on the incidence and incidence rate for specific cancers is presented in the Welsh Office publications "Cancer Registration in Wales, 1974–84" and "Cancer Registration in Wales, 1984–86". Copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
  369
  1974 is the earliest year for which reliable data are available. Data relating to years up to 1988 will be published later this year.

  As the number of specific cancers in a given district health authority, age group and year can be very small, annual incidence rates at the level requested presented in isolation would be very difficult to interpret and could be misleading. Consequently the published figures cover incidence rates by health authority and age-specific rates for Wales over a three-year or five-year period.

  Nursing and Midwifery Staff in Post as at 30 September (whole-time equivalents)

  Clwyd

  East Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Pembrokeshire

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  1Total

  1979

  2,991

  2,350

  3,663

  1,710

  4,438

  1..

  963

  4,211

  2,705

  23,031

  1980

  3,231

  2,478

  3,964

  1,809

  4,604

  1..

  1,041

  4,387

  2,852

  24,366

  1981

  3,427

  2,507

  4,061

  1,918

  4,834

  1..

  1,014

  4,523

  3,078

  25,362

  1982

  3,503

  1,966

  4,141

  1,890

  4,918

  631

  1,092

  4,607

  3,161

  25,909

  1983

  3,498

  2,042

  4,221

  1,862

  4,904

  615

  1,149

  4,490

  3,200

  25,981

  1984

  3,528

  2,106

  4,312

  1,946

  5,032

  640

  1,121

  4,565

  3,198

  26,448

  1985

  3,618

  2,081

  4,351

  2,092

  5,127

  661

  1,127

  4,640

  3,317

  27,014

  1986

  3,671

  2,170

  4,354

  2,031

  5,160

  676

  1,104

  4,596

  3,425

  27,187

  1987

  3,673

  2,194

  4,337

  2,088

  5,413

  679

  1,125

  4,752

  3,503

  27,764

  1988

  3,687

  2,156

  4,310

  2,100

  5,435

  706

  1,154

  4,902

  3,468

  27,918

  1989

  3,635

  2,151

  4,412

  2,113

  5,392

  743

  1,144

  4,946

  3,495

  28,031

  1990

  3,580

  2,253

  4,378

  2,142

  5,403

  733

  1,112

  4,937

  3,545

  28,083

  19913

  3,566

  2,226

  4,290

  2,085

  5,412

  742

  1,134

  4,875

  3,560

  27,890

  19924

  3,517

  2,190

  4,103

  2,067

  5,461

  742

  1,078

  4,833

  3,519

  27,510

  1..Figures included with East Dyfed.

  2 Excludes staff who are employed by WHCSA as they are not hospital nurses.

  3 Staff working for the Blood Transfusion Service were transferred to the Common Services Authority with effect from 1 April 1991.

  4 The implementation of the Project 2000 nursing education reforms in 1992 has led to the reclassification of some student nurses as students.

  Precise estimates of this effect are not readily available centrally but overall in 1992 about 1,000 nurses have been reclassified. Those in the student intake prior to 30 September 1992 have been excluded from the 1992 count. Due to the use of local payscales the figures for 1992 may slightly underestimate the true position as these staff can not be placed in a particular staff group. This particularly applies to Pembrokeshire NHS Trust who have, therefore, supplied the figure for 1992.

  Hospital Medical Staff in Post as at 30 September (whole-time equivlalents)1

  Clwyd

  East Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Pembrokeshire

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  1979

  197

  177

  248

  99

  287

  3..

  15

  522

  241

  1,786

  1980

  197

  184

  255

  107

  311

  ..

  16

  505

  251

  1,825

  1981

  222

  193

  259

  113

  309

  ..

  15

  537

  256

  1,904

  1982

  221

  146

  270

  117

  315

  48

  16

  555

  257

  1,944

  1983

  235

  153

  272

  120

  316

  56

  16

  568

  260

  1,997

  1984

  228

  160

  277

  130

  325

  55

  17

  561

  266

  2,019

  1985

  241

  162

  276

  129

  328

  62

  18

  577

  279

  2,073

  1986

  238

  166

  280

  131

  329

  58

  15

  579

  268

  2,062

  1987

  228

  165

  297

  134

  336

  56

  15

  567

  284

  2,082

  1988

  236

  171

  299

  136

  348

  62

  15

  587

  280

  2,133

  1989

  255

  176

  308

  140

  351

  66

  17

  588

  304

  2,205

  1990

  265

  193

  316

  144

  357

  70

  20

  617

  304

  2,286

  19912

  271

  193

  331

  147

  358

  72

  16

  627

  312

  2,326

  1 Excluding locums, hospital practitioners and clinical assistants.

  2 Provisional.

  3 Figures are included with East Dyfed.

  Drugs Projects
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the continuation of the Drugaid Cardiff and the Vale drugs project after 31 July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I have received one representation, direct from Drugaid, regarding the continuation of its Cardiff and Vale project after 31 July 1993. Continued

  Hospital Staff
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hospital nurses and hospital doctors there were in each county and in total in Wales in each year since 1979.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information on hospital medical staff is given in the following table:

  Information on nursing staff is available only on the total staff in post for all nursing and midwifery staff. Breakdowns of these staff into occupation category are not considered reliable. The available information is given in the following table.

  funding beyond 31 July 1993 is, in the first place, a matter for South Glamorgan county social services department and South Glamorgan health authority.

  Rail Services
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had from Brian Scott, manager of great western division of InterCity, in relation to the viability of his track and service purchase-provider split proposals.
  371
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  None.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons he interviewed for the post of chairman of the Welsh Development Agency, prior to the placing of the job advertisement on 27 January; and how many applications he has received so far.

  Mr. David Hunt
  As yet I have not interviewed any applicants; 77 applications have been received.

  Cardiff De-watering Study
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has received the interim report of the Cardiff pilot dewatering study; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend has received the report and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  These preliminary results are encouraging and indicate that a system of dewatering wells could be a feasible method of controlling groundwater levels after the Cardiff Bay barrage is built.

  A final report is expected in the next few weeks. My right hon. Friend will want to give that report careful consideration before deciding whether to ask Cardiff Bay development corporation to proceed with a full dewatering system.

ENVIRONMENT

  Contracting Out
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Howard
  This information is not available except at disproportionate cost.

  Statutory Instruments
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many statutory instruments were laid before Parliament by his Department in each of the years 1980 to 1992.

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

  Number

  1980

  93

  1981

  106

  1982

  66

  1983

  85

  1984

  68

  1985

  81

  1986

  98

  1987

  86

  1988

  102

  1989

  160

  1990

  159

  1991

  149

  1992

  181

  London Boroughs (Audited Accounts)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many London boroughs have gone for more than six years without producing unqualified and completed audited accounts; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on whether accounts have been qualified is not held centrally by the Audit Commission for years prior to 1989–90. For each of the years 1989–90 to 1991–92 the following London boroughs have either not produced their accounts, have had no audit opinion on their accounts or have had their accounts qualified:

  Brent

  Camden

  Greenwich

  Hackney

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Haringey

  Hillingdon

  Islington

  Lambeth

  Lewisham

  Newham

  Richmond upon Thames

  Southwark

  Tower Hamlets

  Westminster

  Audits are still in progress in some cases.

  Packaging Council
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many inquiries have been received by the Packaging Council from the general public; and if the Council will issue a report.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand that the Packaging Standards Council, formerly the Packaging Council, has, received 12 inquiries about the social, functional and environmental aspects of packaging in its first six months, as well as numerous requests for information. The council intends to publish its first report later this month.

  The Hermitage, Swindon
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about his decision to preserve the Hermitage in Swindon.

  Mr. Baldry
  On 9 October 1992 Thamesdown borough council applied to my right hon. and learned Friend for consent to demolish the Hermitage, an unlisted building in the Swindon old town conservation area. The borough council was advised on 18 January 1993 that my right hon. and learned Friend was minded to refuse consent since he did not consider that, on the evidence available, demolition would either preserve or enhance the conservation area. However, the borough council was offered the opportunity of being heard at a public local inquiry; it has still to respond formally to this offer.

  Management Information
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish results from his Department's management information system for Ministers.
  373
  Mr. Howard
  I will be taking decisions on my Department's priorities and the disposition of its resources next month and expect to publish in late May or early June the MINIS 14 returns which will reflect those decisions.

  Pollution Control
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in respect of floating incinerators moored off United Kingdom shores or in ports and rivers, what is the present position regarding pollution control; what is the present legal requirement to obtain planning permission; what are the opportunities for the community to have their views taken into account in respect of a proposed development; what proposals he has to change the law on planning permission and pollution control; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Incineration of waste material at sea is controlled internationally by the Oslo convention, to which the United Kingdom is a party. In 1987 a North sea ministerial conference agreed that all marine incineration should be phased out by 31 December 1994, and in March 1990 the Government announced that no more United Kingdom waste would be licensed for marine incineration after the end of that year.

  The pollution controls established under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 extend to prescribed processes which might take place on water, including United Kingdom territorial waters, and the release of prescribed substances into such waters. The provision of permanent moorings for a vessel generally involves a material change of use of land, for which planning permission is required.

  Advertisement and notification of applications is required under both the planning and pollution control systems to give local people and organisations an opportunity to express their views; and relevant views must be taken into account in the determination of a planning application or an application for authorisation under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  I am satisfied that these arrangements are adequate to ensure appropriate regulation of any floating incinerator moored off United Kingdom shores or in ports and rivers.

  Electricity Companies
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Director General of Electricity Supply since November 1992 on the inclusion of energy efficiency investment as part of the normal business costs of regional electricity companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Amendments to the price controls are a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply. The director general's announcement in November that he would take energy efficiency into account in a similar way to other business costs when reviewing the price control is to be welcomed.

  Energy Saving Trust
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Energy Saving Trust to commence its work.
  374
  Mr. Maclean
  The Energy Saving Trust is an independent body and its operation is a matter for its chairman and board of directors. I understand that the chairman will be writing to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects OFGAS to approve the initial pilot schemes which are to be supported by the Government's Energy Saving Trust; what they will be; by whom they will be operated; and when they will be launched.

  Mr. Maclean
  This is a matter between British Gas, which has proposed three pilot schemes designed to encourage the efficient use of gas, and OFGAS, which has been asked to authorise the expenditure.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to make a financial contribution towards the work of the new Energy Saving Trust; and what this will cover.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department has already made a considerable contribution in kind, in the form of staff effort and time, towards the establishment of the trust. It has also provided the trust with a member of staff on secondment for two years.

  The Energy Efficiency Office is also assisting the trust with the development and funding of a proposed pilot scheme of local information centres which will provide domestic and small business consumers with independent advice on energy efficiency. Planned expenditure on this scheme by the EEO is £1.8 million in 1993–94 and £2 million in each of 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish a report prepared by the Building Research Establishment concerning the effectiveness of the home energy efficiency scheme.

  Mr. Maclean
  The building research energy conservation support unit (BRECSU) has carried out an interim evaluation of the home energy efficiency scheme (HEES) on behalf of the Energy Efficiency Office. The data for that evaluation have come principally from interview surveys and energy audits. BRECSU is currently refining the data using fuel bill information. I hope to make the final report available to interested parties and to place copies in the Library of the House within the next three months.

  Heathrow Airport (Fifth Terminal)
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call in the planning application for a fifth terminal at Heathrow airport submitted by BAA plc on 17 February.

  Mr. Baldry
  Yes.

  United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish a management statement for the United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board.

  Mr. Maclean
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment has today issued a management statement for the United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board.

  Flats Over Shops
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who will receive grant aid under the flats over shops initiative for 1993–94; and at what levels.

  Sir George Young
  I have placed in the Library a list of 132 local authorities in England to receive flats over shops allocations totalling £10 million for 1993–94.

  Hire Car Licences
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in how many cases local authority decisions not to issue a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle driver's licence have been(a) overturned by magistrates courts and (b) the subject of further appeal.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Dangerous Vessels
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many ships have been apprehended by harbour masters for violations in entering and leaving port under the Dangerous Vessels (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Atkins
  None.

  Assessment Centres
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to establish assessment centres for business and industrial training in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from J. Crozier to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 18 February 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans we have to establish assessment centres for business and industrial training in Northern Ireland.
  The establishment of Assessment Centres is a matter for employers to work out with Awarding Bodies (which are responsible for approving arrangements for the assessment of national vocational qualifications (NVQs).
  Some employer bodies have well advanced plans for the development of NVQs in their sectors including the provision of Assessment Centres. The Training and Employment Agency (Northern Ireland) (T&EA) takes a close interest in such developments, but is not involved in the running of the Centres.

  Quangos
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all those non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible which have the power to compel individuals, firms, companies or other 376
  institutions to carry out their instructions at the expense of the individuals, firms, companies or other institutions, and also to charge fees for the cost to the non-departmental public bodies of assessing the work which needed to be done.

  Mr. Mates
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: The non-departmental bodies in Northern Ireland which fall into this category are:

  The area health and social services boards

  The Northern Ireland Housing Executive

  The Fire Authority for Northern Ireland

TRANSPORT

  Oil Transhipment
  Mr. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals for permission to be necessary for the transhipment of oil.

  Mr. Norris
  My Department is consulting on draft regulations under section 35 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988 covering the transfer of oil between ships in United Kingdom waters.

  A27
  Sir Terence Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what authority he has placed contracts for ground investigation works on the Worthing to Lancing section of the A27, including tunnels under Salvington and Lancing Ring, before a public inquiry has recommended that route; what was the advertised figure for the cost of the works and what is his current estimate; what the maximum loss to public funds is estimated to be if a different route is eventually chosen and on what vote this would fall; and what procedures were followed for the authorisation of the contracts and the advertising.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Authority to undertake surveys of land in connection with a highway authority's functions is given by section 289 of the Highways Act 1980. The award of a ground investigation contract for the A27 Worthing-Lancing scheme to Exploration Associates Ltd. was announced on 24 July 1991. The 20-week contract was let in accordance with my Department's normal procedures to provide information on soil conditions required for design and assessment work prior to the publication of draft orders. The investigation included the collection of information on the blue and red routes for comparison with the preferred route. The value of the accepted tender was £149,992. The final outturn cost is not yet known. The cost of the contract is being met from the roads vote.

  TransPennine Routes
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 12 February,Official Report, column 866, if the consultants responsible for the TransPennine study strategy report were made aware, at the time they were commissioned, that the Government were considering extending the M65 westwards from Blackburn to the M6.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Yes.
  377
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of the TransPennine study strategy report.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The whole study, including roadside interviews and data collection, cost about £900,000.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many transport consultancy organisations tendered for the TransPennine study strategy commissioned by his Department.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Four.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the TransPennine study strategy report was commissioned; when it was due to report; when it reported; and if he will make a statement on the delay in publication.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 3 July 1992 at column 726. The study was commissioned in January 1990 and expected to be completed in spring 1991. The scope of the work was extended and the study completed in spring 1992. The strategy report was published in September 1992.

  The study was wide ranging and addressed complex issues. Our consideration of the consultants' findings took longer than expected.

  A1
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, columns 670–71, what is his estimate of the extra length of journey it would take if the proposed route of the new A1 went to the east of Knottingley.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  About three quarters of a mile.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, columns 670–71, what is the estimated annual cost of the new A1 bypassing Knottingley; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The present prediction of the annual cost in operational terms of the proposed A1 motorway between Redhouse and Hook Moor is £80 million. The similar cost of a route to the east of Knottingley would be £100 million.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the public inquiry to take place on the new A1 proposals for Ferrybridge in West Yorkshire.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  A public inquiry would be held following the publication of draft orders. The timing of an inquiry depends upon the weight and nature of objections to the orders, but typically would be in two to three years from now.

  Road Haulage
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to seek to amend the Transport Act 1968 to allow licensing authorities to accept a wide range of representations on behalf of a community's residents regarding any plans by road hauliers for new or expanded operations within that community.
  378
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  County and district councils, which are locally elected representative bodies, have a statutory right of objection to a licensing authority in respect of applications for, or major variations to, goods vehicle operator licences. In addition, owners or occupiers of property in the vicinity of an operating centre involved in such an application have a right of representation to the licensing authority on the grounds of adverse environmental effect on their property.

  Reviews of the goods vehicle operator licensing provisions in 1986 and 1989 concluded that, in addition, parish/community councils should have a right of representation, on general environmental grounds, but that the provisions otherwise strike a fair balance between the interests of people affected by operating centres and those of the road haulage industry. I am satisfied that this remains the case.

  Royal Family
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what, for the latest available year, was the cost to his Department of expenditure in support of the royal family in respect of(a) official travel by train including maintenance of the royal train and (b) the royal train renewal programme.

  Mr. Freeman
  In 1991–92 expenditure on(a) was £2.440 million and on (b) £0.126 million.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Alcohol Imports
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his latest estimate of the levels of receipts from duty on beer lost to the Exchequer arising from duty-paid imports of beer from elsewhere in the single market;

  (2) what is his latest estimate of the level of duty-paid imports of beer from elsewhere in the EC as a percentage of the take-home beer market.

  Sir John Cope
  The revenue loss arising from personal importations of duty-paid beer is difficult to estimate as it depends upon the quantity of beer that would otherwise have been purchased in the United Kingdom. The Brewers Society's latest statistics suggest that since 1 January 1993 personal imports of duty-paid beer account for 9.4 per cent. of the take-home trade compared with 8.4 per cent. a year ago. Take home sales represent one fifth of the United Kingdom beer market. Customs are studying the figures in consultation with the Brewers Society.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of VAT is levied on(a) newspapers, (b) paid-for magazines, (c) free magazines and (d) books in each EC member state.

  Sir John Cope
  The information available for each EC member state for VAT levied on the sales of newspapers, paid-for magazines and books is set out in the tables. I am not aware of any circumstances under which VAT is levied on free magazines in these countries, but sale of advertising space would normally be taxable.
  379

  VAT rates on magazines, newspapers and books in EC member states

  Percentages

  Country

  Magazines

  Newspapers

  Books

  Belgium

  6

  6

  6

  Denmark

  0

  0

  25

  France

  2·1

  2·1

  5·5

  Germany

  7

  7

  7

  Greece

  4

  4

  4

  Ireland

  10

  10

  0

  Italy

  14

  4

  4

  Luxembourg

  12

  12

  12

  Netherlands

  6

  6

  6

  Portugal

  5

  5

  25,30

  Spain

  3

  3

  3

  United Kingdom

  0

  0

  0

  1 A rate of 12 per cent. has been introduced in Italy. We do not currently have any information about its coverage, and so the rate shown is that applied before its introduction.

  2 Portugal applies a higher rate of books of an obscene or pornographic nature.

  Source: VAT in Europe (International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation) according to information available as at 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the VAT collected on advertisements in(a) newspapers, (b) paid-for magazines and (c) free magazines.

  Sir John Cope
  Detail about the receipts from VAT on specific items of expenditure is not collected on VAT returns. An estimate of the total revenue yield from advertisements in newspapers, journals and periodicals was made in 1985 when the zero-rating was withdrawn. The equivalent figure now is about £100 million.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of imposing VAT on bus fares.

  Sir John Cope
  Table D1 of the statistical supplement to the 1992 autumn statement shows the estimated cost of zero-rating domestic passenger transport in 1992–93 is £1,100 million. This estimate makes no allowance for the behavioural response to applying the standard rate of VAT to this category, so the actual yield would probably be less. Bus fares account for around 44 per cent. of the total.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many central London-based administrative civil servants of assistant principal rank and above have been made redundant, or warned of redundancy, in the past 18 months.

  Mr. Portillo
  During the period 1 April 1991 to 1 October 1992, 62 central London-based administrative civil servants of administration trainee (AT) grade and above were made redundant. The AT grade is equivalent to assistant principal which ceased to exist in 1971.

  These figures relate to the home civil service and are the latest available. Figures covering the period 1 July 1992 to 1 October 1992 are provisional.

  Central London has been defined as covering the inner London weighting area, that is, within a five-mile radius of Charing Cross.

  No records are available of numbers warned for redundancy.

  Firearms
  Mr. James Hill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many anti-smuggling checks have been made to prevent firearms and other weapons from being illegally imported from EC member states through British ports and airports since 1 January.

  Sir John Cope
  Customs perform a range of checks at United Kingdom ports and airports to enforce all prohibitions and restrictions. Customs records to not provide a separate account of the number of checks specifically targeted on firearms and other weapons.

  Manufacturing Output
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has about the level of(a) industrial production and (b) manufacturing output in (i) October, (ii) November and (iii) December 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  Indices of industrial production and manufacturing output may be found on the CSO databank which can be accessed by the House of Commons Library. Information is currently available for months up to December 1992.

  Intrastat Classification
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the practice of Customs and Excise governing the distribution of the Intrastat classification nomenclature; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  A free copy of the Intrastat classification nomenclature has been distributed to traders whose trade during 1991–92 exceeded the Intrastat threshold and who are therefore required to submit monthly supplementary statistical declarations. It assists them in identifying the codes required to complete the statistical declarations accurately.

  Additional copies may be obtained at a charge of £7 each, inclusive of delivery.

  To date, approximately 33,000 free copies have been issued, and orders received for a further 3,700. The Customs and Excise single market liaison officers also answer classification queries.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of distributing the Intrastat classification nomenclature for the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  This is the first year of distribution of the Intrastat classification nomenclature and the total printing and distribution cost so far is approximately £225,000.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to send only the relevant parts of the Intrastat classification nomenclature to appropriate firms; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  No. In order to supply only the relevant parts of the Intrastat classification nomenclature it would have been necessary to ascertain, for each of the 33,000 traders involved, which parts of it would cover their trading activities. This could have been achieved only by
  381
  asking traders to supply the necessary information. This would have created an unnecessary burden on traders. This course was therefore rejected.

  Central Statistical Office
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the arrangements for the release of statistics by the Central Statistical Office.

  Mr. Lamont
  When the Central Statistical Office (CSO) was launched as an agency a little over a year ago I made clear the Government's commitment to the arrangements adopted to ensure the integrity and validity of United Kingdom official statistics and to sustain public confidence in them. I have now agreed some improved practices for the release of CSO statistics which demonstrates that commitment.

  The improved practices, and their effect, are as follows:

  (i) all statistics will be published as early as possible, with many being released much more quickly than currently—improving decision-making and enhancing openness;

  (ii) data will be available to all users at the same time, but Ministers, and where appropriate the Governor of the Bank of England, and some officials (on a strict need-to-know basis) will receive copies of key statistical releases 1½ days in advance½promoting transparency; and

  (iii) the CSO will be entirely responsible for the contents of its press releases, subject to advance consultation with me on changes in format-demonstrating the integrity of the statistics.

  The CSO is publishing today a document setting out its release practices in detail, and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  These changes emphasise my determination to promote openness and transparency in the Government's economic decision making, enhance the reputation of Government statistics, and promote public confidence in their integrity.

HEALTH

  Elderly People (Home Care)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will establish provisions for home help care for discharged elderly patients that include continuing daily visits to people known to be at risk, irrespective of charging policies;

  (2) if she will establish a review and evaluation policy for home help organisers or care managers responsible for those elderly discharged from hospital who have had their home help discontinued or severely reduced;

  (3) if she will lay down guidelines for assessment, when an eldery person is to be discharged into the care of another elderly person, of the health and social care needs of the household, couple or group, in addition to that of the patient;

  (4) if she will lay down guidelines on basic minimal standards of service for elderly patients discharged into community care.

  (5) if she will conduct regular review assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of the services being received by elderly patients who have been discharged into community care.

  Mr. Yeo
  Provision of home care services to elderly people discharged from hospital is the responsibility of local authorities. They are best placed to determine 382
  individual needs and how they can best be met. Detailed guidance has been issued to authorities about the assessment process, including the need for periodic reviews of needs. The way in which local authorities carry out their responsibilities is monitored by the social services inspectorate, which also advises authorities on good practice. Examples of relevant good practice material include:

  Publication

  HMSO number

  Care Management and Assessment:

  Managers' Guide

  HMSO ISBN 0–11 321 464 2

  Practitioners' Guide

  HMSO ISBN 0–11 321 463 4

  Inspecting Home Care Services, A Guide to the SSI method

  HMSO ISBN 0–11 321 325 5

  Copies are available in the Library.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 17 December,Official Report, columns 421–22, regarding NHS staff if she will provide comparable figures for 30 September 1992.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is currently being processed, and will be available later this year.

  Drug Prescribing
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations she had with the Royal College of General Practitioners prior to her announcement of the extension of the limited list to further therapeutic categories.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No such consultations took place as the changes do not affect the basic structure of the selected list scheme which has been in operation since 1985.

  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to publish her proposals regarding the limited cost of drugs to be used in the NHS.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The timing of the publication of proposals for removing particular drugs in the new categories from national health service prescription will depend on when we receive advice from the advisory committee on NHS drugs.

  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what savings to the NHS medicines bill were achieved in each of the therapeutic categories covered by the limited list of 1985(a) in the first year and (b) in each year since 1985;

  (2) what savings in the NHS medicines bill she expects to achieve by the extension of the limited list to further therapeutic categories in the years 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is estimated that the selected list scheme saved £75 million on the drugs bill in 1985–86. The estimated savings in each of the seven therapeutic groups were:

  £ million

  Coughs and cold remedies

  22

  Analgesics for mild to moderate pain

  19

  Indigestion remedies

  8

  383

  £ million

  Vitamins

  7·5

  Laxatives

  2

  Tonics

  1

  Benzodiazepine sedatives and tranquillisers

  15·5

  It is not possible to make meaningful estimates for subsequent years, but we have every reason to believe that the scheme has resulted in continuing downward pressure on the drugs bill. We cannot predict what savings will be made as a result of the recently announced extension to the scheme. This will depend on the recommendations of the independent advisory committee on national health service drugs.

  Cancer
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to publish updated cancer incidence statistics; what assessment she has made of the causes of delays in publication; and what proposals she has to improve the speed of publication.

  Mr. Sackville
  The national cancer registration scheme was reviewed recently by a working group of the registrar general's medical advisory committee. The 17 recommendations in its report1 covered funding, improvements to notification, managerial control, access, confidentiality, and training. All the recommendations have been acted upon. The Department has established a steering committee, chaired by the deputy chief medical officer, to oversee the system. The Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) is currently redeveloping its computer system, as are several of the regional cancer registries, with the aim of improving the timeliness—without sacrificing the high ascertainment and quality—of the information. Following wide consultation, a minimum data set for cancer registration should be introduced by I July 1993 at the latest; the supply of the information to the regional cancer registries and onwards to OPCS will be mandatory. The annual reference volume for 1987, which will be published in mid-March, will contain a revised and expanded commentary on the results; it will also include estimates of cancer registrations for 1988 to 1991 inclusive.

  1 Review of the national cancer registration system. OPCS Series MB 1 No. 17. HMSO, 1990. A copy is available in the Library.

  "Day In—day Out"
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration her Department has given to the recommendations on respite care of the Royal College of Nursing and the Spastics Society in the report entitled "Day In—Day Out", a copy of which has been sent to her; what action she will be taking in response to the recommendations; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Improved respite care services and support for carers are key objectives of our community care reforms. The reforms will give authorities increased incentives to provide respite care, particularly as the residential allowance will be payable to people in respite as well as long-term care. Our preparations have stressed improved health and social services collaboration which lie at the heart of many of the recommendations in the report.

  Secure Accommodation
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations she has received about a proposal to establish a secure unit at Lynfield Mount hospital in Bradford; in what circumstances she would be asked to decide whether the unit be established; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) what information has been received from Bradford community health trust about a proposal to establish a secure unit at Lynfield Mount hospital in Bradford; who would fund such a unit; and what is the estimated cost; and what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the consultative document issued by the trust and Bradford health authority concerning this unit with respect to enabling the public to form a judgment.

  Mr. Yeo
  My Department has provisionally approved a proposal submitted by the Yorkshire regional health authority to establish a 22-place secure ward at Lynfield Mount hospital. The estimated capital cost of £329,000 has been made available to the trust as part of its external finance limit. Any new building will require planning permission from the local authority and the application would be available for public scrutiny under the planning procedures. The hon. Member may wish to raise any questions about the consultative document in the first instance with Bradford health authority.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what powers are available to refer persons suffering from mental illness to secure accommodation; and how far these powers vary according to whether the person is(a) a voluntary patient and (b) a sectioned patient;

  (2) if she will list the secure units located in Yorkshire to which people suffering from mental illness are referred; who has powers to refer persons to such units; which such persons or bodies have the power to refer in cases where the medical management of a secure unit may believe such referral is medically inappropriate; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Yorkshire regional health authority has available within its boundary 44 medium secure places at Newton Lodge, Wakefield; 28 interim medium secure places at De La Pole hospital, Hull; 16 interim medium secure places at High Royds hospital, Ilkley, and 14 places in a locked facility at Storthes Hall, Huddersfield.

  Patients may be referred to such units from a variety of sources. Patients in medium secure units will usually be detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, although it is possible for a unit to accept a patient who is not detained.

  Section 2 of the Mental Health Act 1983 allows a person to be detained for up to 28 days for assessment. Section 3 of the Act provides for detention for treatment for a mental disorder. The application for admission for assessment or treatment under these sections must be made either by an approved social worker or the nearest relative and supported by the written recommendation of two registered medical practitioners.

  A court may make a hospital order under section 37 of the Act and may impose restrictions on discharge under section 41. Courts may also remand a suspected offender to hospital for assessment (section 35) or medical treatment (section 36), or make an interim hospital order (section 38) so that a person's response to treatment can be assessed before the court makes a final decision. In all

  385
  these cases, the court's decision would be based on the recommendation of two medical practitioners, one of whom must be approved by the Secretary of State under section 12 of the Act.

  If a person is serving a sentence of imprisonment and is considered to need treatment in hospital, the Home Secretary may, on the recommendation of two medical practitioners, direct transfer to hospital under section 47 of the Act. Section 48 provides similarly for the transfer of remand and certain other prisoners. The Home Secretary may also, if he thinks fit, direct that a transferred prisoner be subject to restrictions on discharge under section 49 of the Act.

  "Sectioned" is a colloquial term for patients who are compulsorily admitted to hospital under the Act. Voluntary patients, unlike those who are detained, are free to leave hospital as they choose.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for health how much Bradford health authority has spent in each of the past five years, to date, in referring patients to secure units(a) within Yorkshire and (b) in other places; and what difficulty the authority has experienced in finding suitable places.

  Mr. Yeo
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals have been received from Bradford health authority for the establishment of a secure unit at Westwood hospital in Bradford.

  Mr. Yeo
  I am aware of proposals to close Westwood hospital and transfer the majority of its residents to places in the community. I understand that the proposals include the provision of a newly converted building on the hospital site for the few remaining residents. I am not aware of any proposals to establish a secure unit on the site.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have been held with Yorkshire regional health authority about the number of secure unit places for those suffering from mental illness in Yorkshire.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Department has held periodic discussions with Yorkshire regional health authority on its future plans for psychiatric provision in the region and related issues. In addition, all regions were required last year to produce an assessment of need for secure services for their populations. A further assessment of needs is being conducted this year.

  Total number of ordinary admissions and day cases to hospitals in the Thames regional health authorities–1982 to 1991–92

  North West Thames

  North East Thames

  South East Thames

  South West Thames

  ORDINARY ADMISSIONS

  Discharges and deaths

  1982

  394,415

  512,655

  461,394

  315,210

  1983

  408,474

  526,398

  477,283

  329,334

  1984

  415,559

  534,760

  487,772

  338,587

  1985

  418,753

  541,080

  501,557

  344,430

  1986

  419,008

  530,372

  495,246

  347,089

  1987–88

  421,582

  527,585

  504,666

  351,932

  1988–89

  416,153

  521,291

  487,815

  344,259

  Finished consultant episodes1

  1988–89

  462,539

  588,983

  546,047

  394,860

  1989–90

  473,930

  606,278

  541,962

  387,551

  1990–91

  451,470

  601,136

  542,829

  384,618

  1991–92

  463,146

  622,399

  562,614

  411,081

  Adoption
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers she has to prevent a British child from being taken out of the United Kingdom by a local authority social services department for adoption by a family in Canada.

  Mr. Yeo
  Depending on the circumstances, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has power to issue directions under section 7A of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 in respect of local authority adoption functions. This power would be used only exceptionally and not normally in respect of an individual case. It is not our function to review local authority practice in relation to individual cases nor to act as an appellate body. However, if my hon. Friend has concerns about a particular case he may wish to contact me directly with the details.

  Community Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has issued regarding assessments for community care needs being undertaken by social workers employed by voluntary organisations(a) where the organisation concerned is a direct provider of care and (b) where the organisation concerned is not a direct provider of care; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The guidance we have issued has made clear that voluntary organisations, whether direct care providers or not, may have a role in providing expert advice in assessments. It may also be appropriate in some cases for social services authorities to make arrangements with such organisations to carry out assessments of people with specialist needs on their behalf. In all cases overall responsibility for decisions about service provision remains with the social services authority.

  In-patient Admissions
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of in-patient admissions to hospitals in each of the Thames region health authorities in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information is given in the table.
  387

  North West Thames

  North East Thames

  South East Thames

  South West Thames

  DAY CASE ADMISSIONS

  Discharges and deaths

  1982

  43,330

  48,744

  49,717

  32,836

  1983

  49,494

  51,725

  59,983

  33,676

  1984

  58,558

  57,850

  72,702

  39,613

  1985

  63,170

  67,472

  66,323

  45,395

  1986

  67,766

  70,304

  71,323

  56,449

  1987–88

  50,091

  51,924

  48,855

  53,391

  1988–89

  69,414

  60,489

  70,906

  48,677

  Finished consultant episodes1

  1989–90

  77,887

  82,543

  84,113

  66,736

  1990–91

  84,733

  94,143

  86,421

  72,982

  1991–92

  113,568

  124,234

  110,454

  89,497

  1 Including well babies.

SCOTLAND

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes there have been to plans by the Scottish ambulance service to expand and develop the Haddington ambulance station; and how the numbers of vehicles and staff deployed at Haddington have changed.

  Mr. Stewart
  The service provided from the Haddington station was expanded over the last two years to take account of the change at Roodlands hospital and there are no plans to further develop this station. The number of staff was increased from 22 to 44, but two have since been transferred to Musselburgh which also provides cover to East Lothian.

  Until January 1993, there were five accident and emergency vehicles available for use at Haddington during weekday day shifts, but as demand did not require five crewed vehicles there are now four vehicles.

  It should be noted that the numbers of vehicles used can vary at the time of day according to demand and that there has been a significant improvement in response times to emergency calls with the introduction of the techniques of deploying vehicles to key points adjacent to population centres where demand is known to be high instead of requiring all vehicles to return to station.

  Women's Aid
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department's contribution to Scottish women's aid was in each of the last three years; and what it will be in 1993–94.

  Mr. Lang
  Approved funding under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 has been £72,000, £84,911 and £86,642 in the years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 respectively. Provision of £87,942 has been approved for 1993–94.

  Approved funding under section 9 has been £26,000, £25,000 and £26,130 in the years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 respectively. The provision for 1993–94 has not yet been decided.

  Doctors (Treatment Prescribing)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to ensure that the financial arrangements associated with the health service reforms do not in practice lead to restraints in doctors' freedom to prescribe treatment according to their clinical judgment.

  Mr. Stewart
  The new financial arrangements are designed to improve the efficiency of the health service. They will not reduce doctors' freedom to prescribe treatment according to their clinical judgment.

  Community Charge Leaflets
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he issues to community charge registration officers and other relevant regional officials concerning the issuing of community charge registration forms and related explanatory leaflets in ethnic minority languages; what such leaflets are issued in respect of the Gaelic language; whether he has any plans to alter existing provisions with the introduction of the council tax; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: The form and content of community charge registration inquiry forms and the related explanatory notes are prescribed in The Community Charges (Registration) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988 No. 1539 (s. 152)). Whether and what supplementary guidance is issued by community charge registration officers or levying authorities is a matter for those officers and authorities.

  In administering the council tax, there will be greater variety in the precise information that assessors and levying authorities need to collect in individual cases. They will therefore have discretion as to the details they seek and the manner in which they seek them. Questions relating to the production of forms and explanatory notes should therefore be addressed to individual regional and islands councils as regards their own areas.

  The Scottish Office is producing a series of general information leaflets concerning the introduction of the council tax. The principal leaflet, "The Council Tax—A guide to the new tax for local government in Scotland", has been translated into Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi and Cantonese and these translations have been distributed to regional and islands councils for them to use as required. It is for individual levying authorities to consider what additional guidance they wish to provide to meet local or operational requirements. This might include guidance in Gaelic.

  Ferries
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to establish sea ferry links between Scotland and EC member states; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 18 February 1993]: My right hon. Friend has no such plans, although Scottish Enterprise has commissioned consultants to estimate the financial, economic and environmental impacts of developing new east coast port facilities, in response to potential market interest. Any decision on the establishment of a service, and on the choice of departure port, would, however, be a matter ultimately for the ferry operator.

  A8 (Upgrading)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by what date he expects the A8 between Baillieston and Newhouse to be upgraded to motorway standard.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 February 1993]: The report, Roads, Traffic and Safety, published by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland in March last year outlined our plans for upgrading this section of the A8. In the light of developments in north Lanarkshire and the recommendations of the Lanarkshire working party for early upgrading, a complete reappraisal of the design was urgently commissioned from Strathclyde regional council and consulting engineers leading to proposals for a new off-line M8 and retention of the existing A8 as a high-quality collector/distributor road. These proposals are now being taken forward in three phases. While the timetable is ambitious, the upgrading has already been identified as one of the schemes on which we expect construction to be able to start in 1994–95 and for which financial provision has been made.

  Shetland Oil Spill
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of all interim compensation payments to date made to salmon farmers affected by the Shetland oil spill; and if compensation will be available to supply industries to the Shetland salmon farming sectors who have suffered loss of income as a result of the Shetland oil spill.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 26 January 1993]: On the basis of the established principle that the polluter pays, responsibility for compensation rests with the international oil pollution compensation fund and the MV Braer's own insurers. Decisions on compensation payments will be a matter for those two parties in light of the international conventions under which they operate. In addition, however, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland made an initial payment of £1 million to Shetland Islands council for the special bridging fund which he announced on 11 January.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the preliminary assessment of the impact of the Braer disaster on the inter-tidal and benthic communities of Shetland and on the sea-bed biomass.
  390
  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: Sediment samples form part of our comprehensive programme for monitoring the marine environment around Shetland. The analysis of the results will take time. When available they will assist our assessment of the extent and scale of impact on the benthic communities and the sea-bed biomass.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library copies of the first reports from divers inspecting the sub-tidal impacts of the Braer spill.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: Adverse conditions have limited the extent of divers' inspection of the sea bed. Oral reports by amateur divers undertaking dives in the area have suggested that, in selected areas such as the Bay of Spiggie, few or no benthic species appeared to have survived; in others such as East Voe of Scalloway there was no evidence of mortality. Arrangements for the marine nature conservation review team of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to undertake diving inspections around Shetland are currently being made.

  Water
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the sites proposed to him for classification as sensitive areas under the EC directive on urban waste water treatment, including the proposing body, by reason of(a) eutrophication and (b) inland water with a nitrate concentration greater than 50 mg/l.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: The urban waste water treatment directive requires member states to identify sensitive areas, in accordance with criteria set out in the directive, by 31 December 1993. The river purification authorities are jointly compiling a list of "candidate" sensitive areas in Scotland which they will submit to the Scottish Office Environment Department for consideration. Similar exercises are being carried out in the remainder of the United Kingdom. An announcement of the areas to be formally identified as sensitive will be made before the directive's deadline.

  Energy
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the state aid to the energy sector within Scotland as notified to the European Commission.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 15 February 1993]: A Debt Extinguishment Order was laid before Parliament on 9 March 1990, extinguishing £1,368 million of debt in Scottish Nuclear Ltd. The company was also provided with financial assurances by the Government, to enable it to meet its liabilities from the resources it inherited, under schedule 12 of the Electricity Act 1989. This schedule 12 agreement, for a total of £716 million, was announced on 4 April 1990 by means of a written answer.

  The amount of debt in Scottish Power and Scottish Hydro-Electric written off in net terms by the Government amounted to £418 million.

  The above matters were notified to the European Commission.

  Tied Housing
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce legislation in Scotland(a) to facilitate the improvement of the physical condition of tied housing, (b) to clarify farmers' repossession of tied housing and to prevent avoidance of using legal action to remove tenants in tied houses and (c) to improve local authorities' ability to meet the housing requirements of farm and estate workers who previously lived in tied housing; and what representations and discussions he has had in regard to these matters.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: Improvement of the condition of tied houses is the responsibility of the owner in each case, and grant may be available. The owner can obtain possession of the tied house only by recourse to a court order when a tenancy under an employment contract is ended. If a tied tenant is evicted, he can apply to his housing authority, which in assessing the household's needs would take account of the code of guidance on homelessness issued in April 1991 by the Scottish Office.

  I have received very few representations on this matter apart from those of the hon. Member.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations and discussions he has had with regard to introducing legislation in Scotland to grant security of tenure to estate and farm workers living in tied houses; what plans he has to introduce such legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: I have received very few representations. Housing provision in these cases is linked to the individual employment contract and any security of tenure would have to be included in such contracts by agreement between the employer and employee. I have no plans to amend existing legislation.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to publicise the alternative housing options open to those estate and farm workers living in tied housing when they retire or are made redundant.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: Exploration of the available housing options is a matter for the individuals concerned. If necessary, they can seek advice from the local housing authority.

  Council Housing
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current stock of council houses in rural areas in each of the local authorities in Scotland; and what was the stock in each year since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 February 1993]: The information requested is not available.

  Court Procedures
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 2 February, c.177, when he hopes to complete his consideration of proposals to save police time in court and of the problem of counter-notices.
  392
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: Consideration of the use of police time at court is only part of a continuing and wider consideration of the operation of current procedures for criminal trials. The Government are determined to maintain, and where possible, improve the high standard of the criminal justice system in Scotland. A number of initiatives has already been taken, including the provision of police witness statements to defence solicitors, which has reduced the demands on police time in the preparation for trial. A review of court programming conducted by Sheriff Principal Nicholson and Sheriff Cox to establish measures for improving court efficiency and providing the best possible service to court users is nearing completion. We are reviewing the scope for changes to the laws of procedure and evidence to secure further improvements. A standing committee on criminal procedure chaired by Lord MacLean has been reviewing the operation of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975. Proposals arising from these reviews will be brought forward for consultation later in the year.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to reduce the amount of police time and resources caused by unnecessary attendance at court for the purpose of giving evidence; and what financial assessment he has made of the cost at the time and resources involved.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: Several steps are being taken. The provision of police witness statements to defence solicitors has already saved police time in the pre-trial period. A review of court programming conducted by Sheriff Principal Nicholson to establish measures for improving efficiency and provide the best possible service for all court users is nearing completion. We are reviewing the scope for changes to the laws of evidence and procedure to secure further improvements. A Standing Committee on Criminal Procedure chaired by Lord MacLean has been reviewing the operation of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975. Proposals arising from these reviews will be brought forward for public consultation later in the year.

  The Scottish Office has not undertaken a separate assessment of the costs of police attendance at court. The recent report by the Commission for Local Authority Accounts in Scotland on police waiting time at court included an estimate that the cost of police discharging their statutory duty to attend court to give evidence is some £7·8 million per year.

  Prison Officers
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prison officers are employed in prisons within which the prisoners are of the opposite sex.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: This month there are approximately 70 female officers in uniformed grades in male prison establishments and 24 male uniformed staff at the women's prison in Cornton Vale.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prison officers now wear name badges; and when the staff in all the prisons will be required to wear name badges.
  393
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: Staff in all Scottish prisons are required to wear name badges and are now doing so. Particular exceptions can however be made where wearing name badges would jeopardise staff safety.

  Council Tax
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of disabled persons in each council tax band B to H inclusive who are likely to be eligible for a disabled person's discount; what is the estimated cost of this discount for each band B to H; what it is in total for the whole country; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: No such estimates have been made by my Department.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of council tax payers eligible for a second home discount in each band in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole; what is the estimated cost of the discount for each band and in total; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: There are no council tax provisions requiring the identification of properties used as second homes. Such properties will be among those regarded as being empty or no one's sole or main residence for the purposes of determining entitlement to exemption or discount.

  The table shows for Strathclyde, and for Scotland as a whole, the estimated number of dwellings which are exempt or subject to discount because they are empty or are no one's sole or main residence. These estimates were made following consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities for the purposes of distributing aggregate external finance (AEF) for 1993–94.

  Local authorities will be required, later this year, to supply information on the numbers of bills subject to discount and of exempt properties by category. This information will be used in deciding whether a redetermination of the distribution of AEF for 1993–94 will be necessary, and in distributing AEF for 1994–95.

  Number of dwellings

  Scotland

  Strathclyde

  101,350

  36,230

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the council tax disability reduction scheme applies to(a) residential care homes belonging to housing associations, (b) those owned by churches and other non-profit making voluntary associations, (c) privately owned and managed residential care homes and (d) such dwellings owned and managed by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 18 February 1993]: The Council Tax (Reductions for Disabilities) (Scotland) Regulations 1992 provide that reductions are available in respect of all dwellings, regardless of ownership, which meet the criteria prescribed, which include a requirement that they are the sole or main residence of a person who is substantially and permanently disabled. The Council Tax
  394
  (Dwellings and Part Residential Subjects) (Scotland) Regulations 1992 provide, however, that except for parts constituting staff accommodation residential care homes in Scotland will not be treated as dwellings for council tax purposes.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of disabled persons living in houses valued in council tax band A who would be eligible for a discount if their houses were valued in any other band; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: No such estimate has been made. Since dwellings in band A already attract the minimum bill, they are not attracting a higher bill than they would otherwise have done because of the presence of facilities to meet the needs of disabled persons.

  Police Restructuring
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has held or proposes to hold with the police authorities regarding the proposals to restructure police forces and police authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: The consultation paper on the structure of local government in Scotland, which was issued in October 1992 and sent to all local authorities, invited views on whether changes might be made in the structure and number of police forces and authorities. I do not yet have proposals to put forward on these matters; when I do, there will be an opportunity for police authorities to comment on them.

  Legal Aid
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring forward proposals to provide that, where a claimant suffering from asbestosis or related ailments is in receipt of legal aid but dies before his case is heard, that assistance will be given to this next-of-kin so that the case can proceed through the courts; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State at the Scottish Office, who has ministerial responsibility for legal aid matters, will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Prisons
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for scotland how many persons detained in Her Majesty's prisons sought leave to take a case to the European Commission of Human Rights in each of the past five years; which of those applications led to changes in the standing orders of prisons or in any other prison regulations; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: Persons detained in penal establishments in Scotland do not require to obtain the Secretary of State's consent to lodge an application with the European Commission of Human Rights and accordingly information on the number of applications made is not held centrally.
  395
  However, I can confirm that in the last five years one such application led to changes in the Scottish prison service standing orders. As a result of implementation of revised procedures following a judgment delivered by the European Court of Human Rights in March 1992, correspondence between prisoners and their legal advisers now normally passes unopened.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that in each prison there is an adequate number of leaflets concerning the right of a prisoner to make application to the European Commission of Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: Yes. They will be made available in every prison library.

  Housing Association Grant
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent discretion is exercised in the determination of the amount of housing association grant available in each district council area; and what performance criteria are used in the exercise.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: My right hon. Friend approves Scottish Homes' total expenditure programme each year. It is for Scottish Homes to decide on the allocation of funds to specific areas and projects. In determining the amount of housing association grant made available to specific areas and consequently to individual housing associations, Scottish Homes will take into account a range of factors. These include detailed background to projects in respect of associations' aims and objectives; ensuring value for money and the effective use of public resources; target client groups and any partnership arrangements, for example with local authorities, the details of which will normally be included in business plans and programme agreements with individual associations.

  In-vitro Fertilisation
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the availability of in-vitro fertilisation services within the national health service in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: In-vitro fertilisation services are not available within the national health service in Scotland. However, there are four centres attached to the teaching hospitals in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow which offer these services. The arrangements vary in each centre as do the funding regimes.

  Unemployment
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in(a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland have been unemployed for (i) more than six months, (ii) more than 12 months and (iii) more than two years.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: The table shows information relating to the numbers of unemployed in Inverclyde, Strathclyde and Scotland, by duration of unemployment, and relates to October 1992:
  396

  Numbers unemployed by duration of unemployment

  More than six months

  More than 12 months

  More than two years

  Inverclyde

  2,857

  1,952

  999

  Strathclyde

  72,092

  48,554

  24,442

  Scotland

  125,082

  81,019

  39,482

  Police Stations
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by region the locations of(a) full-time manned and (b) part-time manned police stations.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: Police officers are on call throughout Scotland 24 hours a day irrespective of the opening hours of particular police stations. In the circumstances forces do not, as a general rule, categorise stations in the manner specified by the hon. Member. The information sought is not, therefore, available in the form requested.

  Census
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what procedure was used by the General Registrar's Office to determine geographical distribution of those missed by the census.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: It is estimated that a total of 89,000 people resident in Scotland, or 1.7 per cent. of the population, were not enumerated in the 1991 census. Census figures are not themselves adjusted. However, the estimated under-enumeration has been taken into account in producing the Registrar General's provisional population estimates for Scotland for mid-1991.

  The geographical distribution of this under-enumeration was based on comparisons with various administrative sources, most important of which were birth registrations and the national health service central register. In general, the evidence pointed to larger shortfalls in the cities and other urban areas than in rural areas. In preparing the provisional estimates, a relatively simple weighting system was used to take this into account.

  Nursing Homes
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many privately owned and managed nursing homes were registered in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 18 February 1993]: The information on private nursing homes1 is as follows:

  Year (at 31 March)

  Strathclyde2

  Scotland

  1988

  98

  215

  1989

  125

  270

  1990

  141

  316

  1991

  156

  355

  1992

  176

  388

  1 Establishments registered by Health Boards under the Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Act 1938 (as amended).

  2 Area covered by Health Boards for Argyll and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran, Lanarkshire and Greater Glasgow.

  Adoption
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from voluntary associations, other interested groups and individuals concerning the adoption of babies born to Muslim women in Bosnia who have been raped; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 February 1993]: None, apart from a few inquiries from individual members of the public.

  Student Accommodation
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations and discussions he has had about reversing the decision of Scottish Homes to withdraw funding from student housing.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 February 1993]: None. Scottish Homes has not made a decision to withdraw funding from student housing.

  Murders
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of murders committed in each police force area in each of the past six years; how many of these led to convictions in the High Court; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 February 1993]: The table below gives the number of victims in murder cases, and the number of persons convicted of murder in the High Court in these cases for each police force area. The latest available information is for 1991.

  Persons accused

  Police-force area

  Number of murder victims

  convicted in high court

  no conviction1

  1986

  Northern

  1

  1

  —

  Grampian

  2

  1

  1

  Tayside

  1

  1

  —

  Fife

  1

  1

  —

  Lothian and Borders

  8

  6

  1

  Central

  —

  —

  —

  Strathclyde

  34

  24

  21

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1

  1

  —

  Total

  48

  35

  23

  1987

  Northern

  2

  1

  1

  Grampian

  1

  1

  —

  Tayside

  1

  1

  —

  Fife

  1

  —

  1

  Lothian and Borders

  6

  4

  2

  Central

  3

  5

  —

  Strathclyde

  32

  21

  30

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2

  2

  2

  Total

  48

  35

  36

  398

  Persons accused

  Police-force area

  Number of murder victims

  convicted in high court

  no conviction1

  1988

  Northern

  —

  —

  —

  Grampian

  2

  2

  —

  Tayside

  1

  1

  —

  Fife

  2

  3

  —

  Lothian and Borders

  5

  5

  4

  Central

  1

  —

  1

  Strathclyde

  23

  18

  7

  Dumfries and Galloway2

  1

  1

  1

  Total

  35

  30

  13

  1989

  Northern

  3

  1

  2

  Grampian

  1

  1

  —

  Tayside

  4

  4

  —

  Fife

  —

  —

  —

  Lothian and Borders

  3

  3

  —

  Central

  —

  —

  —

  Strathclyde

  29

  21

  19

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1

  1

  —

  Total

  41

  31

  23

  1990

  Northern

  2

  1

  1

  Grampian

  1

  1

  —

  Tayside

  3

  1

  2

  Fife

  1

  1

  —

  Lothian and Borders

  8

  6

  3

  Central

  1

  1

  —

  Strathclyde

  21

  12

  15

  Dumfries and Galloway

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  37

  23

  21

  1991

  Northern

  1

  —

  1

  Grampian

  2

  2

  —

  Tayside

  4

  1

  2

  Fife

  3

  2

  —

  Lothian and Borders

  12

  12

  7

  Central

  1

  —

  1

  Strathclyde

  32

  10

  23

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1

  1

  1

  Total

  56

  28

  35

  1 No conviction includes; no proceedings, proceedings dropped, death of suspect, aquitted, and case pending.

  2 The 270 victims of the Lockerbie disaster are excluded from this figure.

  Police (Sexual Harassment)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints concerning allegations of sexual harassment by male police officers have been made by women police officers in each police force in each of the past six years; how many of these led to disciplinary proceedings against the alleged perpetrators; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 February 1993]: On the basis of records held by individual police forces the information asked for is as follows:
  399

  Number of Complaints

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Central

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Fife

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Grampian

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Lothian and Borders

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Northern

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Strathclyde

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Tayside

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Disciplinary proceedings were initiated in all but one of these cases.

  GP Fund Holders
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total income currently derived from general practitioner fund holders in each health board area.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: Allocations made to GP fund holders are not income to the GPs, but funds which they administer to secure treatment for their patients.

  GP Referrals
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that no general practitioners are required to cease non-emergency extra-contractual referrals if ECR budgets become overspent.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: Health boards are required to ensure that patients are treated within the time scales referred to in the patients charter. From monitoring information provided to the Department, there is no evidence to suggest that health boards are restricting non-emergency extra-contractual referrals due to budget constraints.

  Hospitals
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure elective work is not deferred until a new financial year if provider units overspend.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: Health boards and NHS trusts are required to ensure that patients are treated within the time scales referred to in the patients charter. Providers are required to deliver the contracted level of care from within their contract income. Where this is at risk they should advise their purchasers. The Department is not aware of any significant overspends which could lead to elective work being deferred until the next financial year.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he is giving to hospitals which find they have treated more patients than the number specified in their contracts.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: National health service trusts and health boards' directly managed units have been advised to work closely with their purchasers and to share information on activity levels in year. Providers must recognise the need for health boards to manage their resources within their cash limits. Early warning to purchasers of projected variances will provide opportunities to redeploy funds to ensure that patient care is delivered in line with local health strategies.

  Health Service Treatment Costs
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what account will be taken of fixed overheads such as capital costs when calculating the costs of treatment(a) as a matter of routine in all cases or (b) as a matter of local discretion; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 February 1993]: The procedural manual on contracting requires that contract and extra-contractual referral prices are based on full costs with fixed overheads and capital charges allocated to different services on a fair and reasonable basis. The only exception to this requirement is where contracts relate to utilising spare capacity in year where the fixed costs have already been recovered against planned activity. Waiting list initiatives could fall into this category and could be priced on marginal cost. Health boards and NHS trusts do not have any discretion to deviate from these requirements.

EDUCATION

  Fridges and Freezers
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what are the latest available annual figures for his Department's purchase of domestic fridges and freezers;

  (2) how many domestic fridges and freezers his Department intends to purchase in 1993;

  (3) if his Department will make it its policy to purchase domestic fridges and freezers that do not contain ozone-depleting substances.

  Mr. Forth
  In 1992 the Department purchased 13 domestic fridges and two freezers. We do not expect to make any further purchases in the current year. When the need to purchase more or replacement equipment arises, we will wherever possible purchase a type which does not contain ozone-depleting substances.

  The Department's purchasing policy is to avoid buying materials and equipment which rely on ozone-depleting substances in their use or manufacture, unless suitable alternative products are unavailable. A reduction in the amount of ozone-depleting chemicals used in its premises will automatically follow as a result of the implementation of this policy.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the names of grant-maintained schools within each local education authority area in England.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is as follows:
  401
  OPERATING GM SCHOOLS

  Avon LEA

  Beechen Cliff School

  Oldfield School

  Barnet LEA

  Mill Hill County High School

  Queen Elizabeth's GM School For Boys

  Hendon School

  Bedfordshire LEA

  Manshead School Grant Maintained

  Sharnbrook Upper School

  Thomas Whitehead CE School

  Queensbury School

  Berkshire LEA

  Reading School

  Langley Grammar School

  Denefield School

  The Downs School

  Desborough Comprehensive School

  St. Bartholomew's School

  Holy Family RC School

  Cippenham Middle School (Grant Maintained)

  Herschel Grammar School

  Southlands School

  Upton Grammar School

  Priory School

  Bexley LEA

  Barnehurst Junior Grant-Maintained School

  Barnehurst Infant Grant-Maintained School

  Birmingham LEA

  Baverstock Grant-Maintained School

  Small Heath School

  Handsworth Grammar School for Boys

  Great Barr Grant-Maintained School

  Bolton LEA

  Crompton Fold Primary School

  St. James' CE School

  Bradford LEA

  Bingley Grammar School

  Brent LEA

  Claremont High School (Grant-Maintained)

  Copland Community School and Technology Centre

  Bromley LEA

  St. Olave's and St. Saviour's Grammar School

  Coopers School

  Holy Innocents Roman Catholic Primary School

  Charles Darwin School

  Kelsey Park School

  Langley Park School for Boys

  St. John Rigby School

  Beaverwood School for Girls

  Ravens Wood School for Boys

  Hayes School

  Crofton Junior School

  Newstead Wood School for Girls (GM)

  Butlers Wood School for Girls

  Buckinghamshire LEA

  Bridgewater Hall School

  Beaconsfield High School

  Brookmead School

  Brindley Hall School

  Overstone Grant Maintained Combined School

  The Chalfonts Community College (GM)

  Calderdale LEA

  The Crossley Heath School

  Salterlee Primary School

  The North Halifax High School

  402
  Cambridgeshire LEA

  Wheatfields Junior School

  Jack Hunt School, Peterborough

  Sawtry Village College GM School

  The King's School (Peterborough Cathedral Sc)

  Bassingbourn GM Village College

  St. Helen's Primary School

  Crosshall Junior School

  Crosshall Infant School

  The Park Lane Primary School

  The Queen's School

  Gamlingay (Grant-Maintained) Village College

  Cheshire LEA

  Kettleshulme St. James CE GM Primary School

  Bankfield High School (GM)

  Croydon LEA

  Riddlesdown Grant-Maintained School

  Cumbria LEA

  St. Aidan's County High School

  Hayton CE Grant-Maintained School

  Trinity School, Carlisle Kirkbie Kendal School

  Queen Elizabeth Grammar School

  The Queen Katherine School

  Scotby CE Grant-Maintained Primary School

  Derbyshire LEA

  Chellaston School

  Borrow Wood Junior School

  Belmont Primary School

  Netherthorpe School

  The Merrill Community School

  The Ecclesbourne School

  Devon LEA

  Colyton Grammar School

  Torquay Boys' Grammar School

  Dorset LEA

  Highcliffe Comprehensive School

  Bournemouth School

  Avonbourne School

  Budmouth School

  Parkstone Grammar School

  The Woodroffe School

  Bournemouth School for Girls

  Dudley LEA

  Old Swinford Hospital

  Ealing LEA

  The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls

  Brentside High School

  Greenford High School

  Drayton Manor High School

  Wood End Middle School

  Northolt High School

  Wood End First School

  Essex LEA

  West Hatch High School

  The Plume School

  King Harold Grant-Maintained School

  The Rickstones School

  Saffron Walden County High School

  Westcliff High School for Girls

  Katherines Primary School

  Great Totham Primary School, Essex

  Chalvedon School

  Castle View School

  Beauchamps Grant-Maintained School

  Furtherwick Park School

  North Crescent Primary School

  The Cornelius Vermuyden School

  The Fitzwimarc School, Rayleigh

  Westborough County Primary School

  Westcliff High School for Boys

  403

  Newlands Spring Grant-Maintained School

  Thurstable School

  Northlands Grant-Maintained Junior School

  Chelmsford County High School for Girls

  The King John School

  The Philip Morant School

  The Appleton School

  The Hedley Walter High School (GM)

  The King Edmund School

  Torells Grant-Maintained School

  The Elmwood Primary School

  The Deanes School

  King Edward VI Grammar School (GM)

  Bromfords School, Wickford

  The Boswells School

  Eastwood County High School and Sixth Form Centre

  Gloucestershire LEA

  The Rednock School

  Tewkesbury Grant-Maintained School

  Katharine Lady Berkeley's School

  Chipping Campden School

  Balcarras School

  Saintbridge GM Technology School

  Robinswood Primary School

  Ribston Hall High School

  Pate's Grant Maintained Grammar School

  The Cotswold School

  Stroud High School

  Newent Community School

  Marling School

  Churchdown Grant-Maintained School

  The Crypt School

  Chosen Hill School, Gloucester

  The Catholic School of St. Gregory the Great

  Hammersmith LEA

  London Oratory School

  Hampshire LEA

  Testwood School

  Hardley School (Grant-Maintained)

  Ringwood School (GM Comprehensive)

  Burgate School

  Front Lawn Middle School

  Abbotswood Grant Maintained Middle School

  The Priory County Primary School

  Crofton School, Fareham

  The City of Portsmouth Boys' School

  The Arnewood School

  Hertfordshire LEA

  St. Mary's Catholic Primary School

  Hertingfordbury Cowper JMI School

  Christ Church CE School

  Rickmansworth School

  Parmiters School

  Parkside First School

  Francis Bacon School

  Watford Grammar School for Girls

  Watford Grammar School for Boys

  The Bishop's Stortford High School

  Hillingdon LEA

  Bishopshalt School

  Haydon School

  Queensmead School

  Oak Farm Junior Mixed School (GM)

  Oak Farm Infant School (Grant-Maintained)

  Northwood School

  Vyners School

  Uxbridge High School

  Mellow Lane School

  The Hayes Manor School

  The Douay Martyrs School

  Humberside LEA

  Wold Newton Grant-Maintained Primary School

  Kensington LEA

  Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School

  Kent LEA

  Thamesview School

  404

  Homewood School

  St. Simon Stock School

  Holy Trinity CE Primary School

  St. George's Church of England School

  Wrotham School

  Southlands Comprehensive School

  Borough Green Primary School

  Snodland CE Primary School

  Sir Roger Manwood's School

  Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys

  The Skinners' School, Tunbridge Wells

  Senacre Technology School

  Sandown Court Community College

  Chatham Grammar School for Girls

  Rainham Mark Grammar School

  Aylesford School

  Fulston Manor School

  Oldborough Manor Community College

  Oakwood Park Grammar School

  Wilmington Grammar School for Boys

  Minster College

  The Robert Napier Grant-Maintained School

  Meopham School Grant-Maintained School

  Dartford Grammar School for Girls

  Dartford Grammar School

  The Maplesden Noakes School

  The Mailing School

  The Hugh Christie School

  Angley School

  The Grammar School for Girls Wilmington

  The Cornwallis School

  Cranbrook School

  The Canterbury High School

  The Bradbourne School

  The Archbishop's CE Grant Maintained School

  Kingston-upon-Thames LEA

  Tiffin School

  Kirklees LEA

  Heckmondwike Grammar School

  Castle Hall Grant-Maintained School

  Lambeth LEA

  St. Bernadette RC Junior Mixed School

  La Retraite RC Girls (GM) School

  Lancashire LEA

  Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

  Baines School

  Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School

  Newton Bluecoat C of E GM Primary School

  Lancaster Royal Grammar School

  Lancaster Girls Grammar School

  Leicestershire LEA

  Long Field GM High School

  Lewisham LEA

  Turnham Primary with Nursery GM School

  Lincolnshire LEA

  The Ancaster High School, Lincoln

  Bourne Abbey Primary School

  St. George's Grant-Maintained School

  Skegness Grammar School

  Robert Pattinson Grant-Maintained School

  Rauceby School CE GM

  Queen Elizabeth's GM Grammar School

  Gleed Girls Grant Maintained School

  Carre's Grammar School

  Caistor Grammar School

  Ermine Junior Grant Maintained School

  Yarborough High School

  North Kesteven Grant-Maintained School

  William Farr CE Comprehensive School

  William Alvey CE Junior School

  Monks' Dyke High School

  The Magdalen School

  The Kings School Grantham

  The Gartree Grant Maintained School

  405

  Lincoln Christ's Hospital School

  The Castle Hills GM School, Gainsborough

  King Edward VI School

  Liverpool LEA

  St. Francis Xavier's College

  Newham LEA

  Stratford School

  Norfolk LEA

  South Wootton Grant-Maintained Junior School

  Heacham Middle School (GM)

  Sheringham High School

  Robert Kett Grant-Maintained Middle School

  Gresham Village School (Grant-Maintained)

  Redgate Grant-Maintained Middle School

  Norwich Road School

  Acle High School

  Wymondham College (GMS)

  Downham Market High School—Grant-Maintained

  West Flegg Middle School (GM)

  Dereham Church CE Grant-Maintained School

  Marshland High School

  Loddon Middle Grant-Maintained School

  Cromer High School—Grant-Maintained

  Costessey High School, Grant-Maintained

  Northamptonshire LEA

  Southfield School For Girls

  Sir Christopher Hatton School

  Wrenn School

  Northampton (GM) School for Boys

  Weavers School

  Moulton Primary School (Grant-Maintained)

  Montagu School

  The Windmill County GM Primary School

  Manor School, Northamptonshire

  The King John School

  Lodge Park School

  Kingswood School

  Kingsley Park Middle School

  Nottinghamshire LEA

  Ravensdale Middle School

  Rochdale LEA

  Crossgates Primary School

  Sandwell LEA

  Manor High School, Sandwell

  Sheffield LEA

  Clifford CE Grant-Maintained School

  Shropshire LEA

  Adams' Grammar School

  Solihull LEA

  Hatchford Grant-Maintained Primary School

  Somerset LEA

  Sexey's School

  Bruton Primary School

  Southwark LEA

  London Nautical School

  Staffordshire LEA

  St. Thomas More RC High School

  Surrey LEA

  Thamesmead School

  Collingwood Grant-Maintained School

  Stoneleigh First School (Grant-Maintained)

  St. John the Baptist School

  Heathside Secondary School

  Send C of E First School (Grant-Maintained)

  Hawkedale First School

  Rosebery School

  Guildford County School

  Gordon's Grant Maintained School

  Glyn School

  Epsom and Ewell High School

  406

  de Stafford School

  The Manor County First School

  The Beacon School

  Sutton LEA

  Sutton Grammar School for Boys

  Cheam High School

  Wilsons School

  Nonsuch High School for Girls

  The John Fisher School

  Tameside LEA

  Audenshaw High School

  Tower Hamlets LEA

  Raines Foundation School

  Walsall LEA

  Streetly School

  St. Thomas More RC Comprehensive GM School

  Waltham Forest LEA

  Highams Park School

  Wandsworth LEA

  Salesian College

  Graveney School

  Ethelburga Primary School (Grant-Maintained)

  Elliott School (GM)

  Burntwood School

  Warwickshire LEA

  Hartshill Grant Maintained School

  Queen Elizabeth Upper Atherstone GM School

  Queen Elizabeth Lower Atherstone GM School

  Myton School

  Ash Green Grant-Maintained School

  The Avon Valley Grant-Maintained School

  Wiltshire LEA

  Highbury Secondary Boys' School

  St. Augustine RC (GM) Comprehensive School

  Aloeric Grant-Maintained School

  Lavington Comprehensive School

  Wolverhampton LEA

  Wolverhampton Girls High School

  Moseley Park GM School

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what payments have been made by the Grant-Maintained Schools Centre to Choice in Education, and for what purpose, during the last two years; and if he will make a statement on the financial relationship between the two bodies.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government pay grant to the Grant-Maintained Schools Centre Ltd. for specific purposes. The purposes to which the Grant Maintained Schools Centre Ltd. puts its other income is a matter for the directors of the company. The Government do not pay grant to Choice in Education Ltd.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what accounts his Department receives from the Grant-Maintained Schools Centre; and if he will place each year's accounts in the Library.

  Mr. Forth
  The Grant-Maintained Schools Centre Ltd. is required to provide to the Department an audited income and expenditure account, balance sheet and supporting notes in respect of its activities during that year. The accounts for the financial year ending March 31 1989, and for all subsequent years, have been placed in the Library.

  Textbooks
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what surveys he is conducting about shortages of textbooks in schools.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend is not conducting any survey of the availability of textbooks in schools, although he is continuing to monitor the use made of specific grant funding to support books, equipment and training for the national curriculum. The office for standards in education will ensure that reports of school inspections continue to address the question of resources for the curriculum.

  Nursery Education
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding will be available for the in-service training of nursery school staff in 1993–94.

  Mr. Forth
  It is for local education authorities to determine what provision might be made for in-service training for nursery school staff in 1993–94 in the light of their priorities and the overall resources available to them.

  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to improve the quality and quantity of nursery education in England and Wales.

  Mr. Forth
  Nursery education in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. It is for local authorities to determine the scope and form of provision for the under-fives in collaboration with other local providers. Within this frame the numbers of under-fives attending maintained schools in England have risen by 200,000 over the period of the present Government, including a rise of 26,000 between 1991 and 1992. Quality issues have been addressed in reports by Her Majestys inspectorate and the report of the Rumbold committee, which informed the educational 408
  content of guidance under the Children Act, and training for under-fives workers has been a priority within the grants for education support and training scheme for the last four years. It is for schools to ensure that the quality of their nursery provision receives appropriate attention within their overall planning.

  English Tests
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education on which date the Schools Examinations and Assessment Council informed schools about which Shakespeare plays had been chosen for the key stage 3 English tests for June 1993.

  Mr. Forth
  The Schools Examinations and Assessment Council sent out guidance on the 1993 tests to schools in the second week of September 1992. This guidance included information about the three Shakespeare plays from which teachers could choose one for their pupils to answer questions on as part of the English tests for 14-year-olds in June 1993. Schools would have received the information in the second or third week of September.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the publishers who were told which Shakespeare plays had been selected for the key stage 3 English tests in June 1993, and the date on which each was informed.

  Mr. Forth
  No publishers were so informed. I understand that at least two publishers have sufficient stocks of the Shakespeare plays selected for the English tests for 14-year-olds in June 1993. The selected plays were chosen partly on the basis that most schools had sufficient copies readily available. For those which do not, the Department's grants for education support and training programme support expenditure on buying additional copies.