Written Answers of 26 February 1993

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much the numbers of unemployed claimants have changed since June 1987 in(a) London constituencies and (b) constituencies where a colliery has closed in the past five years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information on colliery closures by parliamentary constituency is available only for the financial years from 1987–88 to 1991–92.

  In the London parliamentary constituencies claimant unemployment has risen by 109,603 since June 1987. This compares with a fall of 28,134 in the parliamentary constituencies where a colliery has closed.

  These figures are on the unadjusted basis and are therefore affected by both seasonal influences and by changes in the coverage of the count.

  Consultants
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the contracts awarded by her Department to(a) Coopers and Lybrand management consultants, (b) Touche Ross management consultants, (c) Price Waterhouse management consultants, (d) Ernst and Young management consultants, (e) Chrichton Roberts Ltd., (f) KPMG management consultants and (g) Leopold Joseph management consultants, with the total cost of the contracts with each contractor, for (i) the past 12 months and (ii) 1991–92.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information in the precise form requested is available only at disproportionate cost. However, I am able to provide some limited information relating to contracts for 1992–93.

  Coopers and Lybrand Management Consultants

  Two contracts for Management of Change seminars following a review of the Department's Training Enterprise and Education Directorate.

  Five contracts related to case studies and evaluation for learning initiatives and aspects of training.

  A socio-economic overview towards a co-ordinated strategy for the Department's Office for Wales.

  A review of the implications of contracting out to Careers Service providers.

  Three contracts related to market testing in some branches of the Department.

  Touche-Ross Management Consultants

  Advice on aspects of market testing for part of the Department

  Two contracts related to dissemination of information for flexible and open learning.

  Price Waterhouse Management Consultants

  Four Contracts related to some organisational issues in the Department's Training, Enterprise and Education Directorate, the Employment Service and Training Enterprise Councils (TECs).

  Consultancy on tax issues arising from budget proposals

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  Ernst and Young Management Consultants

  Three contracts related to strategy reviews and evaluation for information systems and TECs.

  Four contracts related to market testing in some branches of the Department.

  Chrichton Roberts Ltd.

  None.

  KPMG Management Consultants

  A review of the training development arrangements in the Department's Training, Enterprise and Education Directorate.

  A feasibility study on output related funding for TECs.

  Two contracts related to market testing in two divisions of the Department.

  A study of the distribution of the Health and Safety Executive publications.

  A review of the roles and functions SEOs/business managers in the Department.

  Two contracts for production and dissemination of extensions for manuals on key skills for the training of trainers.

  Presentation of a training workshop on agencies.

  Consultancy on a corporate plan for the Department's staff development branch.

  Leopold Joseph Management Consultants

  None.

  Details of costs cannot be disclosed for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many contracts for consultancies were awarded by his Department over(a) the last 12 months and (b) 1991–92.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is not available except at disproportionate cost.

  Restart Scheme
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed people have taken part in the Restart scheme in the Durham city area; and how many went on to full-time employment.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 26 February 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question about Restart. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  It may help if I explain the scope and purpose of the Restart programme which was launched nationally in 1986. All people who have been unemployed for six months or more are asked to attend regular, six monthly, interviews with one of my Client Advisers. The aim of the programme is to ensure that all long-term unemployed people know about and get access to the employment and training opportunities available locally to them.
  At each Restart interview the client will discuss with the adviser their individual situation and circumstances with the aim of reaching an agreement on the best way to return to work. This could be directly by submission to a job vacancy or else through a course of action which will improve their chances of finding work. For example training, a place in a Jobclub, the opportunity of self employment or a place on a Restart course which they can attend at any time. If people

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  remain unemployed for two years or more and decline or fail to take up an offer of help at a Restart interview they are then required to attend a Restart Course.
  We collect statistics on the number of Restart interviews and the outcomes of those interviews through our Area Offices. It is not, therefore possible to provide the figures you have requested for Durham City. However, for the period between April 1992 to January 1993 we conducted 28,525 Restart interviews in the County Durham Area and as a result 1,391 people subsequently started on a Restart Course.
  Restart Courses arc not simply about applying for jobs. Research has shown that many people suffer a loss of confidence and motivation after a long spell of unemployment. The Restart Course, which normally lasts one week, aims to help such people set new and realistic goals for themselves, to feel confident about achieving them and to develop an action plan. This will help them apply for jobs or other employment or training opportunities to help them back into work. A Restart Course should be seen as a stepping stone often a very necesary one towards more help.
  Restart Courses have a proven track record of helping people. During the year April 1992 to December 1992, some 78,000 people nationally completed a Restart Course and of these 70,000, 90 per cent. went on to apply for a job or were referred to another opportunity. The figures for people who attended courses in Durham City are not available. However, in the County Durham Area for the period April 1992 to January 1993 1,289 people completed a Restart Course and of these 1,211,94 per cent. applied for a job or were referred to another opportunity.
  We do not collect regular information on the numbers of people who subsequently start jobs. However, a recent national survey showed that 9.4 per cent. of the respondents were either in a job or waiting to start one. Many more had, of course, gone on to join another programme such as Jobclub or training.
  I hope this is helpful.
  As decided by the Administrative Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this reply in the Library of the House.

  1987–88 £

  1988–89 £

  1989–90 £

  1990–91 £

  1991–92 £

  England and Wales

  236

  269

  299

  342

  377

  Scotland

  234

  210

  237

  253

  268

  Northern Ireland

  181

  185

  178

  223

  246

  Separate figures for England and for Wales are not available.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Civil legal aid certificates

  England and Wales

  67·1

  63·8

  61·7

  69·2

  75·2

  Scotland

  57·2

  69·1

  69·3

  76·3

  69·4

  Northern Ireland

  74·0

  77·0

  78·0

  76·0

  85·0

  Criminal legal aid orders

  England and Wales

  91·6

  92·3

  92·7

  93·1

  92·8

  Scotland (summary proceedings only)

  86·7

  92·6

  88·7

  92·5

  91·2

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Northern Ireland (grants by magistrates' courts only)

  96·7

  96·8

  97·0

  97·6

  98·1

  Separate figures for England and for Wales are not available. Criminal legal aid in Scotland is granted in the first instance by the courts and in appeal cases by the Scottish Legal Aid Board. In Northern Ireland all criminal

  Summerfield Ltd.
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when Summerfield Ltd. was granted a licence as an employment agency.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Summerfield Limited has not applied for a licence to operate as an employment agency under the Employment Agencies Act 1973.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Divorce
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the timetable for the implementation of the Law Commission's proposals to reform the law on divorce.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor has no immediate plans for implementation of the Law Commission's recommendations for reform of divorce law. He continues to welcome views on these recommendations and will consult further before any measures on this subject are introduced.

  Legal Aid and Advice
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average payment for legal aid and advice during each of the last five years in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The average payment for legal aid and advice during each of the last five years was as follows:

  applications for legal aid were successful in each of the last five years in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The number of applications for legal aid granted in each of the last five years, in percentage terms, were as follows:

  legal aid is granted by the courts. The information requested is held centrally in Scotland and in Northern Ireland only in respect of applications and grants of legal aid at summary level.
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  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average expenditure per head of the population on legal aid in each of the last five years in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Average expenditure per head of the population on legal aid in each of the last five years was as follows:

  1987–88 £

  1988–89 £

  1989–90 £

  1990–91 £

  1991–92 £

  England and Wales

  8·85

  9·69

  11·51

  13·88

  18·50

  Scotland

  8·46

  10·61

  10·59

  12·59

  15·27

  Northern Ireland

  5·57

  7·77

  7·38

  8·24

  9·47

  Separate figures for England and for Wales are not available.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost of the legal aid granted in R.v. Ward; and what was the value of the overseas assets shown by Mr. Ward.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The cost to legal aid of this case has yet to be determined. Information as to personal means is confidential.

  County Court Judgments
  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to inform hon. Members and the general public of the conclusions he reaches after his evaluation of the question of county court judgments carrying interest has been completed.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  As is the usual practice of the Lord Chancellor's Department, any proposals arising out of the July 1991 initiatives to extend the provision of interest on county court judgments would be widely circulated and views sought from interested parties including the legal profession; county court user groups; advice agencies; business organisations and the judiciary. Again, following our usual practice, respondents to consultation would be informed directly of the outcome of the consultation exercise before implementation and there would be widespread general publicity.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Textiles
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what studies were carried out by his Department into the market for polyester textiles in the United Kingdom and the EC prior to authorisation of financial assistance for the Indonesian textile group Texmaco; and what were the conclusions of these studies.

  Mr. Atkins
  In February 1991 and again in February/March 1992, IDB carried out specific research into the European market for micro-denier polyester fabrics. These studies established that:

  1. the world textile market is expected to show consistent growth through to the year 2000; and

  2. there was an excess of imports over exports in the European Community market for micro denier polyester fabrics, the products which the company proposes to manufacture in Northern Ireland.

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  It was concluded, therefore, that with a competitive cost base in Northern Ireland the company could achieve its forcast share of the European Community market, primarily at the expense of imports.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of planning applications received in the last 12 months for each district council in Northern Ireland; how many of these were approved by the planning department; and how many were rejected.

  Mr. Atkins
  The available information relates to the number of applications received and the number determined in the period in question and is as follows:

  Period January 1992-December 1992

  District Council Area

  Number of applications received

  Number of applications approved

  Number of applications refused

  Antrim

  563

  503

  61

  Ards

  859

  782

  133

  Armagh

  818

  844

  49

  Ballymena

  750

  715

  53

  Ballymoney

  327

  336

  8

  Banbridge

  510

  471

  26

  Belfast

  1,777

  1,880

  142

  Carrickfergus

  284

  1269

  138

  Castlereagh

  390

  342

  42

  Coleraine

  757

  718

  31

  Cookstown

  509

  437

  42

  Craigavon

  809

  683

  88

  Derry

  932

  900

  60

  Down

  1,054

  906

  91

  Dungannon

  715

  632

  47

  Fermanagh

  1,152

  1,027

  69

  Lame

  336

  305

  34

  Limavady

  417

  388

  26

  Lisburn

  1,060

  932

  171

  Magherafelt

  635

  578

  74

  Moyle

  193

  210

  10

  Newry and Mourne

  1,278

  1,176

  58

  Newtownabbey

  533

  477

  40

  North Down

  643

  581

  62

  Omagh

  749

  688

  46

  Strabane

  469

  442

  41

  Total

  18,519

  117,222

  11,542

  1 Excludes December Figures.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many requests were received by the planning department for article 31 inquiries in the last 12 months for each district council in Northern Ireland; and how many of their requests were accepted.

  Mr. Atkins
  In 1992 six requests were received from Castlereagh borough council and in one instance article 31 was applied and one was received from Belfast city council which was refused.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many appeals were made to the planning directorate for each district council in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months; and on how many occasions the planning directorate supported the council's view.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information is as follows:
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  Period January 1992—December 1992

  District council area

  Number of appeals

  Number supporting councils view

  Antrim

  3

  1

  Ards

  6

  —

  Armagh

  2

  —

  Ballymena

  15

  —

  Ballymoney

  2

  —

  Banbridge

  1

  —

  Belfast

  2

  —

  Carrickfergus

  5

  —

  Castlereagh

  5

  2

  Coleraine

  —

  —

  Cookstown

  1

  —

  Craigavon

  2

  —

  Derry

  2

  —

  Down

  —

  —

  Dungannon

  8

  —

  Fermanagh

  10

  —

  Larne

  2

  —

  Limavady

  —

  —

  Lisburn

  15

  1

  Magherafelt

  21

  3

  Moyle

  1

  —

  Newry and Mourne

  1

  —

  Newtownabbey

  1

  —

  North Down

  7

  3

  Omagh

  12

  1

  Strabane

  3

  —

  TOTAL

  1127

  11

  1 A decision has yet to be made in respect of 23 of these appeals

  Electricity Disconnections
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of incidents where domestic electricity supply has been disconnected in each constituency in Northern Ireland, in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Atkins
  Northern Ireland Electricity does not hold information on electricity supply disconnections by parliamentary constituency.

  Water Disconnections
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of incidents where domestic water supply has been disconnected in each constituency in Northern Ireland, in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Atkins
  The water supplied to a property which is used solely for domestic purposes is not metered and is not subject to disconnection for non-payment of an account.

  The water supply to a property which has mixed domestic and other use may be metered and would be subject to disconnection where an account remains unpaid.

  A number of metered supplies which include a domestic content have been disconnected during 1992. Details are shown in the table.

  DOE (NI) water executive division and sub-division

  Number of disconnections

  Northern

  Coleraine

  4

  Ballymena

  6

  Cookstown

  1

  Antrim

  6

  Magherafelt

  1

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  DOE (NI) water executive division and sub-division

  Number of disconnections

  Total

  18

  Southern

  Armagh

  7

  Dungannon

  11

  Craigavon

  2

  Newry

  1

  Total

  21

  Eastern

  Lisburn

  7

  Downpatrick

  5

  Total

  12

  Western

  Enniskillen

  2

  Omagh

  16

  Total

  18

  Grant total

  69

  Information on disconnections is not held by parliamentary constituency and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Money Lenders
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to assess the extent of problems being created by the existence of illegal money lenders; and what steps are being taken to combat these problems.

  Mr. Atkins
  In Northern Ireland the Department of Economic Development's trading standards branch shares enforcement responsibility for the Consumer Credit Act 1974 with the Director General of Fair Trading.

  The branch actively enforces this Act throughout the Province and takes appropriate enforcement action where breaches of the legislation are detected and supporting evidence is available.

  Consultants
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contracts for consultancies were awarded by his Department over(a) the last 12 months and (b) 1991–92.

  Mr. Mates
  [holding answer 24 February 1993]: A total of 852 contracts for consultancies were awarded from April 1991 to March 1992 and 491, excluding figures for the Department of Economic Development which are not yet available, from April 1992 to date.

ENVIRONMENT

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many incidents involving the reportable release of radiation from British Nuclear Fuels' Sellafield site have taken place since 1979; and what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to improve(a) safety and (b) speed of reporting of accidents at Sellafield to the appropriate authorities.
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  Mr. Maclean
  Current criteria for reporting incidents at nuclear sites were most recently revised by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy on 30 April 1987,Official Report, column 203.

  Information about reportable incidents prior to November 1986 is not immediately available. Since then, my Department has recorded four reportable incidents involving off-site releases of radioactivity from the BNF Sellafield site. A statement of reportable incidents at nuclear sites is published quarterly by the nuclear installations inspectorate, and copies are held in the House Library.

  (a) Responsibility for the safety of nuclear licensed sites is a matter for the operator. The Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate ensures compliance with nuclear site licence conditions, and has a range of measures available to rectify and failure to meet the high standards of safety it requires.

  (b) The Goodlad criteria, which are reviewed periodically, stipulate that incidents shall be reported within 24 hours.

  Plague Pits
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the location of plague pits for buried corpses in urban areas.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England holds records on archaeological sites which include some details of burial sites of plague victims. Any such sites discovered in the course of archaeological excavations must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive.

  Community Charge
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost of administration in percentage terms of the community charge to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Charging authorities in England budgeted to collect about £23.5 billion of community charges in total for the years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93. The estimated cost to authorities of collecting this sum is about £1.4 billion, which is 6 per cent. of the estimated yield.

  Departmental Publicity
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the actual expenditure on departmental publicity to planning matters for each year since 1979.

  Sir George Young
  The information in respect of publicity relating to planning matters, excluding staff costs, is as follows:

  Year

  Expenditure £

  1987–88

  118,000

  1988–89

  51,000

  1989–90

  104,000

  1990–91

  65,000

  1991–92

  122,000

  1992–93

  1143,000

  1 Forecast.

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  It is not possible to identify related staff costs. Expenditure figures for 1979–80 to 1986–87 are not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

  Floating Helipads
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the provisions governing the granting of planning permission for floating helipads on rivers.

  Mr. Baldry
  There are no provisions governing the granting of planning permission which are specific only to floating helipads on rivers, as distinct from other development proposals.

  Partnership for Change Conference
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the partnership for change conference to be held in Manchester later this year.

  Mr. Howard
  We intend to hold an international conference, "Partnership for Change", in Manchester in September on the implementation of the earth summit agreements. I have invited a small number of eminent people to join an international advisory group to advise me on the preparations for the conference, and in particular on themes, outputs and participants. The group is chaired by Dr. Martin Holdgate, director general of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The members are: Mr. Delmar Blasco, Mr. Claude Fussier, Dr. Hiroya Ichikawa, Mrs. Yolanda Kakabadse, Dr. Ashok Khosla, Ms. Rachel Kyte, Mr. Warren Lindner, Mr. Michael Ndubiwa, Professor Michael Scoullos, Mr. Youba Sokona and Mr. Jan-Olaf Willums.

  The group held its first meeting on 8 and 9 February and I am considering its detailed recommendations. A report of the group's discussions is available from my Department.

  Manchester city council also intends to host a complementary international event, Global Forum, for all sectors concerned with sustainable development and the environment. Manchester city council and I have agreed that "Partnership for Change" should go ahead in September and that Global Forum should follow in the first half of next year, thus maximising the opportunities for an exchange of experience of the implementation of sustainable development.

  Partnership for change will be a working conference of invited participants primarily from the local government, business and voluntary sectors on 20–22 September. Global Forum will be an open-access event encompassing many different activities over several days. My Department and Manchester city council will be working together closely in planning the two events.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent eligibility for the single person discount for council tax purposes is affected by the receipt of income from the independent living fund.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 23 February 1993]: From 1 April 1993, payments to all those people who

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  currently receive money from the independent living fund will be made from a new body, the independent living (extension) fund. Receipt of income from the fund will not affect eligibility for a single person discount for council tax purposes. A discount will apply to any single adult dwelling regardless of the resident's income.

  Payments from the independent living (extension) fund will be fully disregarded for council tax benefit purposes.

DEFENCE

  Standing Orders
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the standing orders of each unit in all branches of the armed forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are over 2,000 ships and establishments within the armed forces and each is required to produce standing orders relevant to its own particular location and role. We have no objection in principle to publishing the standing orders for a specific ship or establishment, subject to security considerations, but to do so for every ship and establishment would entail disproportionate cost and effort.

  UNPROFOR II
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current number of British soldiers deployed with UNPROFOR II; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  On 23 February 1993 there were 2,426 British soldiers deployed with UNPROFOR Bosnia-Herzegovina command.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 February,Official Report, column 255–56, to the hon. Member for Upminster (Sir N. Bonsor), what is the total number of personnel who will be replacing the forces currently deployed as part of UNPROFOR II in May.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The total number of personnel who will be replacing the British units currently deployed with UNPROFOR Bosnia-Herzegovina command is 2,188.

  Government Contracts (Report)
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the report by the review board for Government contracts on its seventh general review of the profit formula for non-competitive government contracts.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Government have accepted the overall target rate of return on capital employed as recommended by the review board in its report. The new rate will be 19 per cent. compared with the current rate of 21 per cent., both on the basis of historic costs. It will be effective from 1 March this year. There are other points in the report which officials will be discussing with the CBI as part of our continuing drive to secure maximum value for money from our defence contracts. The report is now being printed and copies will be placed in the Library in due course.

  Secondary Medical Care
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the review of United Kingdom secondary medical care in the armed forces has now been completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The review of future requirements for secondary care in the armed forces has now been completed. It confirmed that the primary purpose of military hospital beds was to train armed forces medical services personnel for their roles in war. It concluded that around 1,500 hospital beds will be required in the United Kingdom. We aim to provide 1,100 to 1,200 of these in service hospitals and the remainder in wards staffed by armed forces personnel in NHS hospitals, subject to discussions with the NHS authorities concerned. There would then be a requirement for only four service hospitals in the United Kingdom.

  Our aim in these discussions will be to examine the feasibility of establishing wards manned by armed forces personnel in hospitals in Salisbury and East Anglia, and at Plymouth, where such discussions are already in hand. we shall also be exploring the possibility of co-operating with the NHS in Catterick. In the light of the outcome of these discussions, we would aim to modernise and possibly extend the existing facilities in the service hospitals at Gosport, Aldershot and Wroughton. We would no longer require the service hospitals at Woolwich and Halton; or at Plymouth where we are well on the way towards establishing the joint venture with the NHS.

  It is too soon to be certain of the implications for employment at the hospitals concerned but every effort will be made to reduce redundancies to a minimum and ensure offsetting employment wherever possible. We shall now consult the trades unions on details of our plans.

  Somalia
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom military contribution to the United States-led coalition operation in Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In the light of the significantly reduced requirement for relief flights, following the major improvement in the humanitarian situation in Somalia, it has been decided that the two RAF C130 aircraft deployed in support of the US-led humanitarian relief operation in Somalia should cease flying operations in theatre with effect from 28 February and return to the United Kingdom as soon as practicable thereafter. This decision reflects the scaling down of the US presence in Somalia in preparation for the formal handover to UNOSOM II and follows consultation with the US authorities. The RAF operation, which involved the delivery of some 3,000 tonnes of aid, was highly successful and played a key part in alleviating a major humanitarian problem. Those involved, both in theatre and in support, can be congratulated on the professionalism and effectiveness of the United Kingdom effort.

  Helicopter Support
  Sir Jim Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the management of defence helicopter support.
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  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Specialist offices providing support for the helicopters used by the armed forces are currently located in London, Yeovilton, Harrogate and Andover. Following consultation with the trades unions I have concluded that these should now be brought together at Yeovilton to form the Defence Helicopter Support Authority. The new authority, which will comprise some 170 staff, will be in operation by April 1994. This rationalisation will bring both operational and financial advantages and will place the authority within the area of main military helicopter activity and closer to the helicopter industry. Just under 80 civilian posts will move to Yeovilton from the other locations. We wish to retain skilled staff where possible and steps will be taken to avoid or minimise redundancies. Where these prove unavoidable staff affected will receive the appropriate compensation and will be eligible for the services provided by the MOD redundancy counselling and outplacement service.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what practices have been agreed by the immigration Ministers of the EC states on burden of proof and interpretation of particular articles of the Dublin convention in relation to asylum.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Immigration Ministers of the member states of the European Community meeting in London on 30 November 1992 noted a report from officials on work towards the implementation of the Dublin convention and asked that work on outstanding matters should be taken forward. In current work under the Danish presidency particular attention is being given to means of proof.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what agreement has been reached by the immigration Ministers of the member states of the European Community on the calculation of time periods under the Dublin convention in relation to asylum.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Immigration Ministers of the member states of the European Community meeting in Lisbon on 11 June 1992 agreed conclusions on the calculation of periods of time under the Dublin convention. These stipulate that Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are to be counted.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the address and the name of the director of the Centre for Information, Discussion and Exchange on Asylum; which persons will have access to information supplied by the United Kingdom to CIREA; what information is to be held by CIREA; and what assessment CIREA has prepared of countries of origin of asylum seekers.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  CIREA has no director. Its meetings are serviced by the General Secretariat of the Council. The information it receives is at present passed only to participants representing other member states of the European Community. Consideration is still being given to what information it should receive and circulate: it has concentrated initially on statistics and changes in 732
  national legislation. CIREA has not itself prepared any assessment of countries of origin of asylum seekers but will in due course discuss joint evaluations.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration has been given by EC immigration Ministers to the preparation of a manual of practice for applying the Dublin convention in relation to asylum; and what aspects such a manual is intended to cover.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Consideration is currently being given to the preparation of a manual covering a range of practical questions.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusions have been reached by the immigration Ministers of the member states of the European Community on the transfer of asylum applicants and their applications under the Dublin convention in relation to asylum.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Immigration Ministers of the member states of the European Community meeting in London on 30 November agreed conclusions on the transfer of asylum applicants and their applications. All transfers are to be carried out in accordance with national laws and procedures. An applicant who is liable to transfer to a second member state may travel on his own initiative or accompanied by an official of the first member state.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the document requested by the Strasbourg European Council of Home Affairs Ministers meeting on 8 and 9 December 1989, relating to the substantive law and procedural law of asylum in the EC states.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No. This was a working document not intended for publication, and some of its contents are now out of date.

  Bail Offenders
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the report to his Department by Patricia Morgan on offending while on bail; a survey of recent studies, in respect of the Northumbria police research into the subject; and what changes he proposes to make in Government policies as a result of the report.

  Mr. Jack
  The report referred to, published early in 1992 as paper 65 in the Home Office research and planning unit series, drew together and reviewed research into offending on bail carried out by a number of police forces, including Northumbria.

  The report referred to the desirability of establishing agreed methods of producing reliable data, on a national basis, about the incidence and extent of offending on bail. This point is currently being pursued by the Home Office in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers. The Northumbria police are also involved in this work.

  As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-West (Mr. Butcher) on 28 January at column 789, the incidence of offending on bail is, of course, a matter for concern and work is in hand to tackle the problem, including action research in five areas which

  733
  is designed to identify the scope for improving the bail decision-taking process, thus minimising the risk of offending on bail.

  Domestic Violence Units
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many domestic violence units there are in south Wales.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There are three family protection units covering the force area, which are responsible for both domestic violence and child abuse.

  Criminal Records
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress with the establishment of the national criminal records system; and when he proposes to publish the consultation document on the use of information to be held by the NCRS.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Progress is well in hand towards the implementation of the first phase of the national criminal records system—the updating and retrieval of criminal records on the police national computer—in the spring of 1994. My right hon. and learned Friend expects to publish by the summer of this year a consultation document on the use of criminal records for employment and related purposes.

  Firearms
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to establishing a national firearms board; and when he expects to reach a decision.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  A public consultation paper was issued last year proposing that firearms licensing should be administered by a new civilian firearms control board. My right hon. and learned Friend is currently in the process of consulting ministerial colleagues and will make an announcement as soon as possible.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Know-how Funds
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of the current application of the know-how funds by(a) cost, (b) purpose of each project, (c) country where funds are to be used and (d) the British firms or institutions involved.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  A regularly updated list of know-how fund activities by country, cost, purpose and project status is already available from the libraries of the House. To break this down further to include details on each participating British firm and institution would involve disproportionate cost.

  Privatisation Programmes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have received or will receive advice on privatisation programmes through the British aid programme.
  734
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Advice on privatisation is provided in response to Government requests and no central records are kept. However, the main beneficiaries of this advice have been and are likely to continue to be in eastern and central Europe and the former Soviet Union. Advice has been provided to Bulgaria, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia and Ukraine.

  Advice on privatisation to developing countries has been on a smaller scale. Countries benefiting in recent years include Guyana, Jamaica, Pakistan, Tanzania and Zambia.

  It is not possible to predict which countries will request advice in the future.

  Commonwealth Development Corporation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of his reply dated 16 February to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West concerning the auditing arrangements of the Commonwealth development corporation.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I am arranging for the letter to the hon. Member from my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Slovenia
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amounts of aid have been given to the Slovenian Government for the assistance of displaced people and refugees(a) as part of general European Community aid and (b) as direct British aid.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 23 February 1993]: Figures for direct European Community aid to the Slovenian Government for the assistance of displaced people are not readily available. The United Kingdom has not provided any direct aid to the Slovenian Government for the assistance of displaced people but we have instead provided support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees who co-ordinates the international community's response to the humanitarian crisis in the former Yugoslavia. In 1992 the UNHCR provided a total of US$10,137,464 for the assistance of displaced people and other victims of the conflict in Slovenia.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of displaced persons and refugees in Slovenia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 23 February 1993]: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is responsible for co-ordinating the international relief effort to the former Yugoslavia. Her most recent report, dated 10 February, shows that there are about 75,000 displaced people and refugees in Slovenia.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Cycling Holidays
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if his Department will establish a campaign to promote cycling holidays.
  735
  Mr. Key
  My Department does not fund promotional activities itself. However, boosted by Chris Boardman's gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics, cycling is growing rapidly as a sport and leisure activity. The Manchester velodrome and national cycling centre are under construction. It is for the English tourist board to decide how Government funding of promotional activities is allocated.

WALES

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his current estimate of the size of waiting lists in Wales for hospital treatments; and what it was at the equivalent period in 1990. 1991 and 1992, respectively.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The latest available information for waiting lists as at 31 March in each year is published in table 4.1 of "Welsh Hospital Waiting List Bulletin 1992 No. 2" a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  A similar table, giving figures as at 30 September was published in "Welsh Hospital Waiting List Bulletin 1993 No. 1" on 24 February 1993.

  Dentists
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairmen of the Welsh family health services authorities concerning requests for help and information in relation to access to NHS dentists from April; what information he has on the total number of requests received by Welsh family health services authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Secretary of State for Wales met chairmen of family health services authorities and district health authorities on 7 July 1992 when general dental services were discussed. A further meeting is planned for 15 April 1993.

  According to the fortnightly returns submitted by family health service authorities the number of people seeking assistance in finding dental treatment is as follows:

  Fortnight ending

  Number of Patients contacting FHSAs

  14 August 1992

  742

  28 August

  754

  11 September

  715

  25 September

  644

  9 October

  681

  23 October

  673

  6 November

  714

  20 November

  632

  4 December

  569

  18 December

  582

  1 January 1993

  183

  15 January

  766

  29 January

  777

  12 February

  733

  The information given in these fortnightly returns is intended for general managerial purposes and is not statistically validated.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the current levels of outstanding community charge payments for each authority in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The latest available information for arrears of community charges relates to the position at 31 March 1992, and is given in the table.

  Arrears of community charges at 31 March 19921

  £000

  Alyn and Deeside

  1,866

  Colwyn

  1,148

  Delyn

  983

  Glyndwr

  890

  Rhuddlan

  1,069

  Wrexham Maelor

  2,711

  Carmarthen

  467

  Ceredigion

  801

  Dinefwr

  393

  Llanelli

  978

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  439

  South Pembrokeshire

  521

  Blaenau Gwent

  1,395

  Islwyn

  1,046

  Monmouth

  1,229

  Newport

  3,734

  Torfaen

  1,115

  Aberconwy

  596

  Arfon

  1,117

  Dwyfor

  230

  Meirionnydd

  353

  Ynys Mon

  1,113

  Cynon Valley

  1,072

  Merthyr Tydfil

  547

  Ogwr

  1,130

  Rhondda

  498

  Rhymney Valley

  1,822

  Taff Ely

  1,676

  Brecknock

  279

  Montgomeryshire

  325

  Radnorshire

  113

  Cardiff

  6,560

  Vale of Glamorgan

  1,131

  Port Talbot

  704

  Lliw Valley

  449

  Neath

  804

  Swansea

  3,057

  1 Including arrears for 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the total cumulative sales of local authority dwellings for each authority in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on the number of sales, following the reorganisation of local authority boundaries in 1974, is given in the following table.

  Total Sales of local authority dwellings1

  Welsh Districts

  1974-September 1992

  Aberconwy

  1,778

  Alyn and Deeside

  2,048

  Arfon

  1,496

  Blaenau Gwent

  2,556

  Brecknock

  1,507

  Cardiff

  9,079

  Carmarthen

  1,464

  Ceredigion

  1,668

  Colwyn

  1,042

  Cynon Valley

  1,618

  737

  Welsh Districts

  1974-September 1992

  Delyn

  1,945

  Dinefwr

  960

  Dwyfor

  418

  Glyndwr

  1,292

  Islwyn

  3,813

  Llanelli

  3,562

  Lliw Valley

  2,020

  Meirionnydd

  957

  Merthyr Tydfil

  2,364

  Monmouth

  2,571

  Montgomeryshire

  1,636

  Neath

  2,620

  Newport

  5,387

  Ogwr

  4,827

  Port Talbot

  4,046

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  2,524

  Radnorshire

  603

  Rhondda

  810

  Rhuddlan

  972

  Rhymney Valley

  3,937

  South Pembrokeshire

  1,106

  Swansea

  4,628

  Taff-Ely

  4,256

  Torfaen

  4,044

  Vale of Glamorgan

  3,724

  Wrexham Maelor

  3,795

  Ynys Mon

  1,728

  Wales2

  94,852

  1 Excludes sales from New Towns.

  2 Includes 51 dwellings sold in 1977 which cannot be attributed to a district.

  Source: Welsh Office local authority returns.

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to use unemployment statistics from December in each year when making assessments associated with his Department's review of assisted area status in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Because seasonal factors have differing effects in travel-to-work areas, the unemployment statistics used in the review of assisted areas are annual averages.

  Contaminated Land
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many contaminated land sites identified by his Department will also appear on the proposed new register of contaminated land sites.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Government are currently considering the outcome of the consultation exercise on contaminated land registers which was undertaken last year. An announcement on the way forward will be made as soon as possible. In advance of this it would not be appropriate to attempt to provide the information sought.

  Rent Arrears
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the current levels of outstanding rents on council dwellings for each authority in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Local authorities' own forecasts of rent arrears for 31 March 1993 are as follows:
  738

  Local Authority

  Aberconwy Borough Council

  55,000

  Alyn and Deeside District Council

  210,000

  Arfon Borough Council

  97,000

  Blaenau Gwent Borough Council

  96,201

  Brecknock Borough Council

  65,400

  Cardiff County Council

  1,000,000

  Carmarthen District Council

  172,000

  Ceredigion District Council

  140,000

  Colwyn Borough Council

  95,000

  Cynon Valley Borough Council

  22,500

  Delyn Borough Council

  137,000

  Dinefwr Borough Council

  129,587

  Dwyfor District Council

  33,320

  Glyndwr District Council

  215,000

  Islwyn Borough Council

  110,000

  Llanelli Borough Council

  240,243

  Lliw Valley Borough Council

  174,000

  Meirionnydd District Council

  42,000

  Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council

  75,500

  Monmouth Borough Council

  185,000

  Montgomeryshire District Council

  80,000

  Neath Borough Council

  217,000

  Newport Borough Council

  620,000

  Ogwr Borough Council

  812,000

  Port Talbot Borough Council

  130,000

  Preseli Pembrokeshire District Council

  270,000

  Radnorshire District Council

  26,000

  Rhondda Borough Council

  281,000

  Rhuddlan Borough Council

  95,000

  Rhymney Valley District Council

  530,000

  South Pembrokeshire District Council

  177,000

  Swansea County Council

  1,299,915

  Taff Ely Borough Council

  427,000

  Torfaen Borough Council

  408,000

  Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council

  164,000

  Wrexham Maelor Borough Council

  292,000

  Ynys Mon Borough Council

  158,000

  Source: Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Second Advance Claim Forms 1992–93.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning council tax single occupancy discount; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I have received several representations.

  Council tax bills are determined by the valuation band of dwellings, based on their market value at 1 April 1991. Bills also take account of the number and status of adult residents. It is thus a property tax with a personal element.

  The personal element represents 50 per cent. of the full bill. If there are two adult residents, there is no reduction in the personal element. But if there is just one adult resident, there is a reduction of 50 per cent. in the personal element, which equates to 25 per cent. of the full bill.

  These arrangements are a considerable advance on those which existed under rates, where single adult households received no discount at all.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he has given to increasing the single occupancy discount for council tax.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None, since Parliament approved the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

  TECs
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the members of training and enterprise councils presented to him when TECs were originally set up.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  TEC members at the 'TECs operational dates are shown in the following table.

  North West Wales TEC

  Mr. Tefor Jones OBE

  Mr. Barry Baynham

  Mr. R. Hefin Davies MBE JP

  Mr. Geoff Drake

  Mr. Dilwyn Evans

  Mr. Gwilym Humphreys

  Mr. John R. Jones

  Mrs. Sioned Llywelyn

  Mr. Roy Luff LBE

  Mr. George Newson MBE

  Mr. loan Bowen Rees

  Mr. Dafydd Roberts

  Miss Enid H. Rowlands

  Mr. Hugh Williams MBE

  North East Wales TEC

  John Troth

  Kevin Lyden

  Roland Blackburn

  Pat Mansfield

  Godfrey Williams

  David Schwarz

  Bett Symonds

  Mike Pickering

  Mervyn Phillips

  Keith Evans

  Harvey Davies

  Charles Hogg

  Tim Harris

  Powys TEC

  David Margetts BA

  David Baird-Murray DL

  Alan Barnish BComm IFPA

  Mike Exton

  Trevor Jones

  Hon. Lindy Price

  Mike Smith

  Peter Swanson JP

  Bernard Wakely BA

  John Walker

  Cyril Whitehurst

  Roger Williams

  Clair Coats BA

  Gwent TEC

  Geoffrey Canning

  Geoffrey Drought

  Jeremy Hallett

  Steve Hoselitz

  Roger Leadbetter

  Allan Martin

  Michael Perry

  Pat Phillips

  Stan Jackson

  Bruce McDowell

  Roger Jones

  Alan Carr

  Don Corbett

  Leighton Quinn

  Mid Glamorgan TEC

  J. W. Phillips

  J. Cornwall

  D. W. Free

  D. Morgan R.

  J. Tree

  R. Webster

  R. Wilson

  H. Thomas

  Alderman R. Newman

  740

  E. Morgan

  D. Jessop

  W. Bailey

  E. Roberts

  Sir Donald Walters

  P. Morgan

  West Wales TEC

  Peter Allen

  Carl Hadley

  David Davies

  Wynfford James

  Peter Scott

  Bob Hastie

  Peter Hancock

  John Button

  Mike Davies

  Mike Rush

  John Foley

  Bob Donaldson

  Michael Reilly

  Huw Richards

  Beverley Pold

  Pamela David

  South Glamorgan TEC

  Roger Helliwell

  David Jenkins

  Barry Lane

  Geoff Metcalf

  John Soulsby

  Robert Watts

  Rita Austin

  Laurence James

  Michael Boyce

  Joachim Burkhardt

  Eric Crawford

  Steve Dolan

  Pupils (Expenditure)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the expenditure on each(a) primary school pupil, (b) secondary school pupil and (c) average for all pupils, for the last financial year for which information is available.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  In 1990–91 the expenditure on each nursery and primary school pupil in Wales was £1,308 and on each secondary school pupil was £1,953. The average expenditure on all pupils in nursery, primary and secondary schools was £1,570.

  School Orchestras
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has had about the future funding of school orchestras in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To date I have received 13 written representations from Members of Parliament and in excess of 500 from organisations and members of the public about the funding of the school music service in Wales.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  "One Girl's War"
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the current legal status of "One Girl's War" by Joan Millar; and what are the legal costs incurred to date by the Treasury Solicitor.

  The Attorney-General
  The injunctions granted in England on 28 November 1986 to prevent publication of
  741
  the book "One Girl's War" by Joan Millar were discharged by consent on 21 October 1992. In proceedings in the Republic of Ireland, although an injunction was originally granted against the publishers, it was discharged on 2 December 1986. The legal costs incurred to date by the Treasury Solicitor are estimated to be £35,000.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Allowances
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the turn-round of correspondence relating to disability allowance applications met his targets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The arrangements for replying to correspondence relating to operational questions on disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 25 February 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the targets for the turnround of correspondence on Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
  The Benefit Agency's published target is to respond to all letters from Members of Parliament on all subjects within an average of 20 working days of receipt. Whilst this target is generally being met for letters on matters other than DLA it is currently not being achieved on all letters about DLA and I accept that regrettably some very long delays have been experienced before a reply has been sent. I apologise for this. The delays are due to the backlog of correspondence that has built up in the DLA Unit following the greater than expected workload faced by the Unit in the early months of the DLA scheme.
  A recovery plan for clearing the backlog of correspondence is in operation at the DLA Unit and I am pleased to say significant progress is being made. The correspondence sections, both at the DLA Unit and centrally, have been strengthened and our aim is to complete the clearance of the backlog during early March. Thereafter it will be our intention to respond to all future correspondence on DLA within the Agency's target of 20 working days. We have been meeting this target for the majority of letters on DLA received since the start of the year, and I can assure you that I am monitoring the position very closely.
  I hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidelines he has established for the Benefits Agency to respond to requests for the release of medical records to unsuccessful applicants for disability living allowance and attendance allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  The information used to decide a claim for disability living allowance or attendance allowance is made available to the claimant on request. Only medical evidence that is considered, on the advice of a medical practitioner, to be harmful to a person is withheld.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to(a) reduce the number of consecutive days on which the temperature must be 0°C or below in order for severe cold weather payments to be made or (b) increase the ceiling on savings which can be held without disqualification for severe cold weather payments.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans to change any of the fundamental elements of the scheme.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Refreshment Facilities
  Sir Harold Walker
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee why the Smoking Room was excluded from the scope of the inquiry into the House's refreshment facilities conducted by Food Services Associates.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  The consultancy brief issued to Food Services Associates was"to examine food production and food service systems"

  and to
  "develop a strategic plan…for the re-organisation of food production and food service systems in the House of Commons".

  Bars, including the Smoking Room, were excluded from the scope of the study except where changes proposed by the consultants for food service areas impinged on areas used for bars.

  Sir Harold Walker
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing the proposals contained in the report of Food Services Associates to reform the refreshment facilities of the House.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  The Food Service Associates report, which the Committee is currently considering, estimated the cost of equipment at £2.8 million. Before the Committee reports to the House, an estimate will be required of the total cost of any proposals, including equipment, building works, electrical and mechanical works, installation and ventilation.

EDUCATION

  London Schools (Freehold Transfers)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for ensuring the transfer of the freeholds from the London residuary body to the dioceses of London and Southwark, of former voluntary maintained schools with the Inner London education authority whose freeholds transferred to the London residuary board on the abolition of the Inner London education authority.

  Mr. Forth
  Following the abolition of the Inner London education authority there was no general need to transfer land used for the purposes of voluntary schools since it would have remained in the hands of the appropriate voluntary school trustees.

  Disabled Students
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the latest statistics on the number of disabled students in further and higher education; and what future resources will be allocated to encourage more disabled people to enter these.

  Mr. Boswell
  A total of 42,000 students with learning difficulties and disabilities enrolled on further education courses on 1 November 1991. Information on the number of such students in higher education is not held centrally. My right hon. Friend's initial guidance to the further and higher education funding councils emphasised the need to facilitate access to further and higher education for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. Both the councils are taking account of the particular needs of these students in their allocation of resources to institutions.

  Pupil Exclusions
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of young people who are or have been excluded or suspended from school also have a statement of special educational needs; and of those, what proportion have statements which refer to emotional and behavioural difficulties.

  Mr. Forth
  Information on permanent exclusions has been collected by the Department over a two year period beginning with the summer term 1990 under the national exclusions reporting system (NERS). A preliminary analysis of year one returns showed that 12·5 per cent. of pupils permanently excluded had statements of special educational needs. We have no information as to how many of those statements refer to emotional and behavioural difficulties.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many of the young people who have been excluded or suspended from school and who are also statemented, have had to wait more than(a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months and (d) one year before appropriate placement and funding were provided.

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people, by local authority area have been(a) suspended and (b) excluded from school in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department has been monitoring permanent exclusions from English maintained schools over a two-year period beginning with the summer term 1990 under the national exclusions reporting system (NERS). A preliminary analysis of year one NERS data shows that some 3,000 permanent exclusions were reported. It is not possible to provide an area breakdown of the figure because of assurances given as to confidentiality. The Department does not collect information on temporary exclusions.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Disabled Civil Servants
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the employment of people with disabilities in the civil service.
  744
  Mr. Jackson
  The annual report on progress in the employment of people with disabilities in the civil service is presented in the magazine Independent published today.

  The report shows that during 1992, 8,336–1·5 per cent—registered disabled people were employed in civil service departments and agencies, an increase of 312 people over 1991. In addition to this, the civil service employs many more people with disabilities who choose not to register as disabled.

  I am arranging for copies of Independent to be placed in the Library of the House.

HEALTH

  Hospitals (Alcohol Sales)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of hospitals have bars on hospital premises which sell alcohol for consumption by doctors.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Psychiatric Patients
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the cost to each health authority in England and Wales of providing psychiatric patients with beds in the private sector; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) and the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 23 February at column 555. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Information concerning Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mesothelioma
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed as having mesothelioma in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The number of patients who were first diagnosed as having mesothelioma in each of the last five years for which statistics are available is shown in the table.

  The number of patients first diagnosed as having mesothelioma in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987, England and Wales.

  Year

  Number

  1983

  506

  1984

  567

  1985

  545

  1986

  642

  1987

  671

  Dentistry
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she will take to ensure that patients presenting themselves for treatment at dental surgeries are made aware of(a) the cost of the treatment prior to its commencement and (b) whether this treatment is available under the NHS.
  745
  Dr. Mawhinney
  General dental practitioners are already required by thier terms of service to provide a treatment plan to patients registered with them under continuing care of capitation arrangements when they examine them for the first time. This treatment plan includes any treatment to be undertaken, an estimate of any national health service charge and any proposals for private care and treatment, including the cost to the patient.

  The additionally required to provide a new or revised treatment plan when they propose to undertake complex treatment, the details of which are listed in regulations, and on any occasion when the patient so requests.

  Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Services
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been done to inform residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation services that they are included in local authority purchasing plans.

  Mr. Yeo
  It is the responsibility of each local authority to assess the needs of its population for community care services, including for residential services for problems associated with the misuse of alcohol and drugs and to enter into appropriate contractual arrangements with service providers.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation services she expects to close within the first four months of community care.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government and the local authorities have made clear the high priority they attach to the provision of services for people who misuse alcohol and drugs. The funds being made available to local authorities through the community care special transitional grant fully reflect existing levels of service provision and there is therefore no reason why services which appropriately meet the needs of this important client group should not be maintained. Special monitoring arrangements for independent sector residential services for people who misuse alcohol and drugs are being established in the first three months after the full implementation of the community care reforms on 1 April 1993.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what decision has been reached on fast track assessment by the working group convened to discuss residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation services.

  Mr. Yeo
  At our request, the local authority associations have convened a working party, on which independent sector service providers are represented, to prepare good practice guidance on fast track assessment and on out-of-area referrals, which will enable them to issue advice to their members. It is expected that this will be available during March.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment the authors of her Department's discussion document, "The Effect of Tobacco Advertising on Tobacco Consumption" came to in respect of the specific study of the effect of an advertising ban in the United Kingdom, as opposed to the review of studies from elsewhere in the world; and whether she will make a statement.
  746
  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department of Health's discussion document "Effect of Tobacco Advertising on Tobacco Consumption" did not make any estimate of the effect of an advertising ban in the United Kingdom.

  Anaemia
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidelines she has issued to health authorities and family health services on the monitoring and detection of iron deficiency anaemia in children;

  (2) what information she has on the number of children under the age of five years suffering from iron deficiency anaemia.

  Mr. Sackville
  No guidelines have been issued. Iron deficiency anaemia is a recognised risk in this age group but the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy, in considering dietary reference values for the population in 1991, reported that more information was needed on the iron status of different groups of the United Kingdom population, including infants and children.

  The Government have set up a national diet and nutrition survey to monitor the nutritional status of representative groups of the population in an eight year cycle. A survey of pre-school children is currently underway. An expert group on the weaning diet is now considering the nutritional needs of infants and young children and is expected to report by the end of 1993. We will then review the need for guidelines to the national health service.

  Respite Care
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the extent of charging by local councils for respite care; and if she will provide more funds for community care to councils so that they can provide this service free of charge.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not held centrally.

  The Government take the view that local authorities should seek to recover the economic cost of providing a service wherever this can be done without causing hardship to the service user. In residential settings local authorities are required, by section 22 of the National Assistance Act 1948, to make charges, including the discretion to make a reduced charge to residents for the first eight weeks of their admission. Where non-residential respite care is provided, local authorities have discretionary powers under section 17 of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983 to charge.

  We are making available in 1993–94 a ring-fenced special transitional grant of £565 million to local authorities. This also includes £140 million for authorities' new responsibilities which makes allowance for improved respite care services to support carers.

  Child Protection Services
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken on the recommendation of the second report of the Health Committee of Session 1990–91 on child protection services that her Department and local authorities should conduct an urgent review of the relationship between changing levels of need and of resources in London with a view to establishing the
  747
  validity of the standard spending assessment formula in relation to the capacity of London authorities to meet their responsibilities; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The standard spending assessment formulae are being reviewed with the help of the local authority associations to take into account new information derived from the 1991 census and data from other sources. The review will be completed by autumn 1993 and is likely to affect standard spending assessment formulae for the financial year 1994–95. The review will take into account the outcome of research sponsored by the Department into avoidable and unavoidable factors affecting unit costs in London.

  Suicide
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the five most common occupations of people committing suicide; what information she has on the number of farmers who have committed suicide in each year since 1979; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 23 February 1993]: The most recent information available from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys concerns the numbers of deaths which have occurred during the period 1979 to 1990, combined, and is shown in table 1. The numbers, however, are simply numbers of deaths where the stated occupation was of a particular type and consequently do not take any account of the actual numbers employed in those occupations. A large number of deaths in a particular occupation therefore may simply indicate that more people are employed in that occupation rather than that employment in that occupation may lead to an increased likelihood of suicide.

  As a consequence of the limitations of working with numbers of deaths, without reference to the numbers employed in the occupation group, or groups, of interest, the OPCS favours the use of proportional mortality ratios. A PMR gives an indication of how a particular occupation's mortality from a specific cause differs from the collective experience of all occupations for that specific cause. To cite the case of male farmers aged 16 to 64 years of age for the period 1979 to 1990, inclusive, the PMR of 187 suggests that the number of deaths was nearly twice that which would have been expected, 100 being taken as the experience of all males aged 16 to 64 regardless of occupation. Table 2 shows the five highest PMRS by occupation.

  In the case of both tables the information refers to males only aged 16 to 64 years. Information for both males and females, many of whom do not state a specific

  Number of deaths from suicide (E950 to E959) for each county in England and Wales, 1979 to 1985

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  ENGLAND AND WALES

  4,195

  4,321

  4,419

  4,279

  4,279

  4,315

  4,419

  Greater London

  648

  644

  707

  627

  652

  610

  585

  Greater Manchester

  269

  244

  281

  258

  251

  217

  257

  Merseyside

  110

  95

  131

  112

  125

  125

  87

  South Yorkshire

  83

  55

  68

  72

  97

  69

  94

  Tyne and Wear

  119

  85

  122

  103

  84

  81

  72

  West Midlands

  202

  221

  203

  235

  216

  215

  211

  West Yorkshire

  231

  219

  164

  184

  155

  172

  161

  Avon

  68

  66

  67

  67

  52

  61

  59

  Bedfordshire

  29

  28

  33

  40

  34

  35

  32

  Berkshire

  44

  59

  59

  46

  41

  64

  62

  748
  occupation, for the same period could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Both tables show the corresponding numbers of deaths and PMRs for comparative purposes.

  Table 1

  The five most common occupations (ranked according to the number of deaths) of males aged 16–64 years recorded as having committed suicide or where the death was undetermined (E950—E959 and E980—E989, 1979–90 (combined) England and Wales.

  Occupation

  Deaths

  PMR

  Clerk and cashier (not retail)

  1,342

  97

  Occupation not stated (to include those seeking employment)

  1,323

  136

  Driver of road goods vehicle

  1,029

  82

  Machine tool operator

  927

  106

  Metal working production fitter and fitter/machinist

  790

  82

  Table 2

  The five most common occupations (ranked according to Proportional Mortality Ratio) of males aged 16–64 years recorded as having committed suicide or where the death was undetermined (E950—E959 and E980—E989), 1979–90 (combined) England and Wales.

  Occupation

  PMR

  Deaths

  Vet

  364

  35

  Pharmacist

  217

  51

  Dental practitioner

  204

  38

  Farmer

  187

  526

  Medical practitioner

  184

  152

  Using data on occupational collected at death registration for the years 1979–90 the Proportional Mortality Ratios (PMRs) for men aged 16–64 years have been calculated. The PMR gives an indication of how a particular occupation's mortality from a specific cause (in this case E950—E959 and E980—E989) differs from the collective experience of the same age-group as a whole for that specific cause and regardless of occupation. Thus a PMR of 364 for Vets suggests that this particular occupation group experiences more than 3½ times the number of deaths from suicide and undetermined deaths (E950 —E959 and E980—E989) than would have been expected.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of registrations of deaths with a verdict of suicide ICD E950 to E959 in each county in England and Wales in each year since 1979; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 23 February 1993]: The exact information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the number of deaths from suicide—E950 to E959—is readily available by county of residence and is as follows.
  749

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  Buckinghamshire

  36

  47

  51

  52

  47

  54

  57

  Cambridgeshire

  49

  49

  51

  34

  46

  47

  59

  Cheshire

  82

  80

  79

  72

  72

  70

  88

  Cleveland

  42

  61

  33

  49

  41

  32

  43

  Cornwall and Isle of Scilly

  43

  35

  46

  41

  40

  50

  58

  Cumbria

  31

  44

  32

  45

  28

  44

  49

  Derbyshire

  56

  66

  48

  46

  67

  71

  70

  Devon

  85

  101

  89

  84

  98

  126

  97

  Dorset

  57

  64

  67

  57

  46

  72

  74

  Durham

  48

  62

  62

  49

  49

  54

  60

  East Sussex

  50

  67

  98

  75

  93

  85

  81

  Essex

  117

  124

  136

  140

  145

  123

  165

  Gloucestershire

  41

  36

  50

  43

  40

  38

  47

  Hampshire

  117

  122

  145

  144

  114

  130

  139

  Hereford and Worcester

  45

  61

  63

  49

  56

  56

  68

  Hertfordshire

  55

  71

  72

  75

  69

  66

  76

  Humberside

  66

  70

  73

  86

  71

  71

  86

  Isle of Wight

  10

  18

  15

  12

  12

  11

  6

  Kent

  109

  138

  128

  116

  132

  122

  133

  Lancashire

  151

  158

  139

  157

  133

  148

  135

  Leicestershire

  73

  59

  78

  66

  65

  81

  88

  Lincolnshire

  47

  43

  50

  50

  50

  56

  51

  Norfolk

  61

  66

  85

  72

  62

  76

  71

  Northamptonshire

  50

  52

  21

  13

  37

  60

  42

  Northumberland

  19

  24

  21

  27

  28

  20

  30

  North Yorkshire

  53

  61

  69

  57

  84

  60

  68

  Nottinghamshire

  93

  96

  91

  99

  88

  99

  102

  Oxfordshire

  33

  41

  39

  31

  38

  33

  41

  Shropshire

  27

  27

  35

  16

  34

  26

  35

  Somerset

  30

  35

  53

  36

  43

  47

  46

  Staffordshire

  89

  86

  59

  64

  71

  74

  87

  Suffolk

  51

  58

  51

  54

  61

  54

  70

  Surrey

  77

  64

  63

  69

  79

  85

  89

  Warwickshire

  41

  42

  52

  39

  50

  40

  49

  West Sussex

  64

  64

  57

  74

  62

  72

  81

  Wiltshire

  42

  62

  58

  49

  48

  53

  48

  Clwyd

  26

  41

  26

  40

  30

  35

  37

  Dyfed

  43

  35

  29

  41

  33

  32

  11

  Gwent

  31

  19

  27

  33

  31

  33

  23

  Gwynedd

  20

  18

  25

  20

  16

  22

  25

  Mid Glamorgan

  38

  43

  39

  47

  51

  40

  36

  Powys

  4

  10

  11

  10

  17

  13

  10

  South Glamorgan

  53

  44

  35

  45

  53

  50

  30

  West Glamorgan

  17

  26

  21

  35

  25

  24

  22

  Outside England and Wales1

  20

  15

  12

  22

  17

  11

  16

  1 Deaths of individuals not normally resident in England and Wales.

  Number of deaths from suicide (E950 to E959) for each county in England and Wales, 1986 to 1991

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  ENGLAND AND WALES

  4,126

  3,986

  4,220

  3,717

  3,950

  3,893

  Greater London

  526

  536

  564

  479

  506

  456

  Greater Manchester

  247

  224

  234

  204

  197

  243

  Merseyside

  115

  104

  124

  98

  106

  85

  South Yorkshire

  87

  76

  80

  75

  78

  97

  Tyne and Wear

  78

  58

  63

  68

  66

  65

  West Midlands

  214

  167

  222

  191

  192

  190

  West Yorkshire

  159

  167

  168

  147

  149

  161

  Avon

  50

  64

  70

  52

  59

  61

  Bedfordshire

  37

  31

  38

  34

  36

  44

  Berkshire

  54

  37

  46

  51

  60

  51

  Buckinghamshire

  43

  60

  48

  53

  42

  49

  Cambridgeshire

  70

  57

  63

  61

  53

  60

  Cheshire

  62

  61

  59

  60

  63

  66

  Cleveland

  40

  39

  62

  36

  31

  42

  Cornwall and Isle of Scilly

  37

  49

  53

  43

  51

  43

  Cumbria

  39

  48

  32

  29

  40

  40

  Derbyshire

  59

  74

  72

  66

  57

  77

  Devon

  115

  105

  103

  121

  88

  106

  Dorset

  59

  60

  42

  56

  70

  43

  Durham

  57

  49

  54

  50

  42

  38

  East Sussex

  88

  60

  70

  65

  78

  83

  Essex

  132

  129

  157

  121

  133

  124

  Gloucestershire

  36

  33

  61

  32

  44

  37

  Hampshire

  129

  122

  124

  110

  125

  146

  750 751

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Hereford and Worcester

  56

  63

  46

  56

  62

  52

  Hertfordshire

  78

  71

  58

  60

  53

  61

  Humberside

  86

  80

  92

  63

  66

  58

  Isle of Wight

  3

  8

  7

  7

  13

  6

  Kent

  116

  115

  108

  109

  136

  108

  Lancashire

  160

  140

  109

  108

  128

  122

  Leicestershire

  73

  63

  68

  76

  63

  63

  Lincolnshire

  42

  55

  61

  48

  59

  52

  Norfolk

  64

  74

  68

  59

  66

  64

  Northamptonshire

  43

  46

  54

  54

  69

  56

  Northumberland

  30

  14

  24

  23

  18

  12

  North Yorkshire

  59

  69

  55

  58

  55

  47

  Nottinghamshire

  76

  88

  98

  76

  72

  79

  Oxfordshire

  36

  29

  45

  54

  58

  38

  Shropshire

  41

  32

  34

  23

  27

  28

  Somerset

  49

  43

  37

  41

  61

  46

  Staffordshire

  66

  67

  65

  45

  65

  55

  Suffolk

  50

  52

  59

  46

  69

  53

  Surrey

  77

  82

  96

  75

  68

  82

  Warwickshire

  41

  45

  40

  46

  31

  33

  West Sussex

  55

  54

  86

  45

  52

  59

  Wiltshire

  43

  45

  49

  41

  53

  49

  Clwyd

  16

  31

  32

  30

  26

  45

  Dyfed

  32

  28

  25

  25

  32

  31

  Gwent

  31

  27

  30

  22

  27

  23

  Gwynedd

  25

  26

  13

  20

  26

  25

  Mid Glamorgan

  59

  46

  44

  33

  33

  43

  Powys

  17

  7

  14

  7

  19

  15

  South Glamorgan

  32

  34

  42

  35

  30

  38

  West Glamorgan

  22

  33

  41

  18

  28

  25

  Outside England and Wales'

  15

  9

  11

  12

  19

  18

  1 Deaths of individuals not normally resident in England and Wales.

TRANSPORT

  Disabled Drivers
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of road accidents involve disabled drivers; and what proportion of the overall driving population are disabled drivers.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Statistics are not available for disabled drivers.

  Cycle Helmets
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has commissioned on the safety benefits of cycle helmets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Transport Research Laboratory report, "Pedal Cycle Accidents—A Hospital Based Study", indicates that if helmets were universally worn over 4,000 casulaties would be prevented and the severity of over 3,000 serious casualties would be reduced. Child cyclists, in particular, would benefit from wearing helmets.

  The Department is also carrying out further research into the design of protective headgear for pedal cyclists and motorcyclists.

  Puffin Road Crossings
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the success of the experimental puffin road crossings scheme; what was 752
  the cost of establishing the scheme; how these costs were met; and what plans he has to extend the puffin road crossings scheme to other areas of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Assessments at two trial sites have shown puffin crossings to be successful in allowing more time for pedestrians to cross, particularly disabled and elderly people, without increasing delays to traffic. The Department is currently funding installations at 25 sites in England at an average cost of 8,800 each. They will begin to come into operation this spring. Further installations are expected later in the year and early next year. Regulations will be laid to enable local authorities to install puffins.

  Road Building
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the use of porous asphalt in road building; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Since I announced in July 1992 that the Department would be taking steps to reduce road noise, I have received many representations from local authorities, representatives and from the general public for the use of porous asphalt on road schemes. Assessments are being carried out to establish whether the conditions for the use of porous asphalt are suitable and the benefits outweigh the higher cost including the need for more expensive winter maintenance and more frequent surfacing.

  Minibuses
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how minibuses are treated as a category in the compilation of accident statistics; and if he will make a statement;
  753
  (2) if the Government will in future treat minibuses as a separate category in the compilation of accident statistics.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Since 1989, it has been possible to link the vehicle registration mark of vehicles involved in personal injury road accidents recorded by the police to vehicle data held at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority in Swansea. This link allows the identification of minibuses involved in road accidents according to vehicle construction definitions held at DVLA.

  Twyford Down (Private Detectives)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of hiring Bray private investigators to examine the background of persons protesting against the road through Twyford Down.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My Department has not employed Bray's Detective Agency (Southampton) Ltd. to examine the background of persons protesting against the M3 through Twyford Down. They have been employed to serve papers on people who have trespassed on the Department's land and to photograph trespassers. To date the agency has been paid approximately £7,000 for this work.

  A1 (M) Bypasses
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the operational costs of the bypasses for the A1(M) for(a) Bartley, (b) Chester le Street, (c) Darlington, (d) Durham and (e) Newton Aycliffe.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The 27-mile, 43 km, A1M from the North Yorkshire County Durham boundary to south of Tyneside was built as a single strategic route, not as a series of bypasses and opened in sections over the period between 1965 and 1969. The average annual route maintenance cost over the last five years was £0·5 million per year. The average major maintenance over the same period was £2 million per year.

  Driving Licences
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what charges are payable to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for renewing a personal driving licence; and when these charges were introduced.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Since 1 February 1992, the fee for the three-yearly renewal of an ordinary motor car driving licence from age 70 has been £6. The fee to renew large goods and passenger-carrying vehicle licences at age 45 and five-yearly thereafter up to age 60, when annual renewals are required is £21.

  There is no charge for licences renewed for medical reasons.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Valued Added Tax
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to revise VAT leaflet 701/10/85 explicitly to include printed educational matter designed to be stored on ring binder collections as one of the zero-rated items.
  754
  Sir John Cope
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has no such plans. Revision of VAT leaflets, including VAT Leaflet 701/10/85, is a matter for the Commissioners of Customs and Excise as part of their responsibilities for care and management of the tax. I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to his other question of today's date on the VAT liability of printed educational matter.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if VAT applies to printed educational matter designed to be stored on ring binder collections; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  Collections of printed matter including that of an educational nature supplied with ring binders in their complete state are zero-rated as loose-leaf books, but the relief has not hitherto extended to such items when supplied in instalments. Customs and Excise has recently reviewed the position and now considers that such products should be within the zero rate. It has taken administrative action by extra-statutory concession to allow this.

  Ministers' Cars
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the provisions of Inland Revenue booklet 480 of 1992 apply to Ministers of the Crown in respect of(a) availability of a car for private use, (b) provision of a chauffeur in connection with a car made available for private use and (c) provision of any amount of petrol for private use of a car; what steps are taken to ensure that such fringe benefits for Ministers of the Crown are correctly entered on P11D forms; what was the approximate aggregate yield for each available year since 1988–89 of each of those benefits; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Ministers of the Crown are subject to the same tax provisions as other employees. The rules for cars, chauffeurs and petrol apply to them in the same way as to others. It is the responsibility of each employer to give the Inland Revenue at the end of each tax year particulars of any benefits in kind provided to employees. Departments are aware of their obligations as employers. The Inland Revenue reviews their compliance with these obligations as it does with other employers. The yield from benefits in kind provided to Ministers of the Crown is not available.

  Sovereign Debts
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he proposes to the regulations used in determining the provisions allowable for tax purposes against sovereign debts held by banks.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The original regulation made in December 1990 which set out the rules to be used in arriving at the maximum tax deduction available for doubtful sovereign debt follow broadly the existing Bank of England guidelines, commonly known as the Bank of England matrix. The Bank intends to make certain improvements to the matrix to make it simpler and easier to operate; these changes are to have effect for periods ending on or after 30 June 1993. We have decided that similar changes should be made to the regulations used for tax purposes.

  The Inland Revenue is today making available in draft form the amending regulations. I am placing a copy in the

  755
  House of Commons Library. Further copies are available on request from the Inland Revenue, to which representations on the draft regulations should be sent by 8 April 1993.

  The amending regulations are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure and will be brought before the House in the usual way in due course.

  Economic Recovery
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has established a programme to utilise the additional Community funds for economic recovery agreed at the Edinburgh European Council; and if he will list the projects to be submitted for funding.

  Sir John Cope
  The Edinburgh declaration covered many national and Community measures, the cumulative effect of which is intended to boost confidence, growth and jobs, so as to promote recovery. Such recovery would bring with it many new projects, particularly in the private sector, but it is of course impossible separately to identify all those arising as a direct result of the proposals agreed at Edinburgh. One particular proposal agreed was the establishment of a special 5 billion ecu facility within the European investment bank to provide finance for infrastructure projects within the Community. The EIB has already approved a number of loans from this facility, including some projects in the United Kingdom.

  Agricultural Partnership Tenancies
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress the Inland Revenue has made in resolving the jurisdictional problems over the valuation of agricultural partnership tenancies and the role of the special commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the current practice of the Revenue in such cases.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue is awaiting the judgment from the lands tribunal on one such case. This judgment may help to clarify the question of jurisdiction. Meanwhile, the Inland Revenue is, when requested, deferring action on similar cases.

  A number of representations have been made about this issue and we are keeping the position under review.

  Consultants
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many contracts for consultancies were awarded by his Department over(a) the last 12 months and (b) 1991–92.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury introduced a new computerised system for purchasing goods and services during 1991–92. The records for that year are incomplete. Sixteen consultancy contracts are recorded as having been awarded in 1991–92; 47 have been awarded so far in 1992–93. Comprehensive information for 1991–92 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Savings Accounts
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements now exist for individuals to invest in savings accounts separate sums below £20.

  Mr. Nelson
  A large number of financial institutions offer savings accounts which allow customers to invest less than £20.

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

  Mr. Nelson
  The Council of Ministers has agreed that an intergovernmental conference should be called for the purpose of agreeing an amendment to the statute of the European investment bank which will enable the governors of the bank to establish the European investment fund. The statute of the European investment bank is a protocol to the treaty of Rome. Once agreed, the amendment will need to be ratified by member states.

  Currency Trading
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made about the percentage of currency trading in the London financial markets which is necessary for settling accounts in traded goods and services.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Bank of England has estimated, in the November Quarterly Bulletin, that daily turnover of foreign exchange trading in London is around $300 billion. However, it is not possible to estimate the value of trade in goods and services to which this is related because a large but indeterminate proportion of foreign exchange trading in London is connected with trade between third countries. Furthermore, it would be misleading to suggest that the only foreign exchange transactions necessary for trade in goods and services are those settling accounts; much trade would not take place at all were the foreign exchange markets not able to facilitate the hedging of currency risks associated with trade and with investment.

  White-collar Civil Servants
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is taking to control the growth in the number of white collar staff in Government Departments.

  Mr. Portillo
  Departments' use of staff resources is controlled through limits placed on their running costs expenditure. Running costs provision and staffing plans are set out in the statistical supplement to the 1992 autumn statement (Cm. 2219). These imply a fall from 569,000 civil servants in 1992–93 to 553,000 in 1995–96. The Government have also announced, in the "Citizen's Charter: First Report" (Cm. 2101), market-testing targets covering activities currently performed by over 40,000 civil servants.

  Family Incomes
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 11 January,Official Report, columns 545–58, concerning the proportion of households of different types within each quintile group of equivalised disposable income, if he will publish similar figures for decile groups.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 25 February 1993]: The figures are given in the table:
  757

  Percentage of household types within each decile group of equivalised disposable income, 1979 and 1989

  Decile groups of equivalised disposable income

  Household type

  Bottom

  2nd

  3rd

  4th

  5th

  6th

  7th

  8th

  9th

  Top

  All

  1979

  One adult with children

  7

  4

  4

  3

  3

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  3

  Two adults with children

  15

  16

  27

  37

  46

  40

  38

  28

  20

  16

  28

  Non-retired without children

  15

  8

  18

  28

  29

  36

  45

  56

  69

  76

  38

  Retired

  62

  69

  45

  21

  11

  10

  4

  5

  4

  3

  23

  Three or more adults with children

  2

  3

  6

  10

  11

  13

  11

  10

  6

  4

  8

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  1989

  One adult with children

  11

  10

  7

  5

  3

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1

  4

  Two adults with children

  18

  13

  12

  27

  34

  32

  31

  27

  23

  20

  24

  Non-retired without children

  21

  17

  18

  29

  37

  44

  51

  59

  63

  72

  41

  Retired

  47

  57

  59

  32

  21

  13

  10

  8

  9

  5

  26

  Three or more adults with children

  3

  4

  4

  7

  6

  9

  7

  6

  4

  2

  5

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  The figures in the table are rounded and may not add up to 100.

  Source: Central Statistical Office, based on Family Expenditure Survey.

  Family Expenditure
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average expenditure by a family with one earner and two children on(a) average earnings, (b) 50 per cent. of the average earnings and (c) 150 per cent. of the average earnings on (i) food, (ii) domestic fuel, (iii) newspapers and books, (iv) fares, (v) children's clothing and footwear and (vi) all items which are currently zero rated for VAT, giving the most recent available data.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 25 February 1993]: The estimates given in the table are derived from the 1991 family expenditure survey. The estimates are based upon a sample of 50 households grouped around each level of earnings. Because of the small sample size the figures are subject to considerable sampling variations. The figures are rounded to the nearest 10p.

  Average expenditure of households with one earner and two children from the 1991 family expenditure survey

  £ per week

  (a) Average earnings £

  (b)50 per cent of average earnings £

  (c)150 per cent of average earnings £

  i Food

  55·80

  41·50

  64·20

  ii Domestic Fuel

  11·70

  13·40

  13·20

  iii Newspapers and books

  1·60

  1·40

  6·40

  iv Fares

  1·00

  3·00

  2·20

  v Children's clothing and footwear

  6·80

  6·20

  8·40

  vi All items1 zero-rated

  79·70

  66·90

  97·30

  1 Item (vi) includes items (i-v), NHS prescription charges and payments for NHS medical appliances and Water and Sewerage. Expenditure on 'Construction of new dwellings' which is also zero-rated, is not included as no figures are available.

  Income Tax
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for how many(a) working and (b) non-working people who do not pay income tax in the United Kingdom.
  758
  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 25 February 1993]: The latest estimate is that about 21·2 million people over 16 do not pay income tax in 1992–93, of whom about 4·1 million have some earnings.

  Banks (Winding-up Orders)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to require banks to declare annually the number of winding-up orders they have obtained.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 23 February 1993]: I have no such proposals.

  Official Entertainment
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on official entertainment in his Department during 1991–92 and 1992–93 to date.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 24 February 1993]: Expenditure on official entertainment for 1991–92 was £86,162. For 1992–93 expenditure to date is £253,609. The large increase in 1992–93 results from a number of one-off events, including ECOFIN meetings during the United Kingdom presidency.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Consultants
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to(a) Coopers and Lybrand management consultants, (b) Touche Ross management consultants, (c) Price Waterhouse management consultants, (d) Ernst and Young management consultants, (e) Chrichton Roberts Ltd, (f) KPMG management consultants and (g) Leopold Joseph management consultants, with the total cost of the contracts with each contractor, for (i) the past 12 months and (ii) 1991–92.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The tables list the contract for consultancies awarded by the diplomatic and aid wings of the Department during 1991–92 and during 1992–93 up to 31 January 1993.

  Coopers and Lybrand

  (a) DIPLOMATIC WING

  1991–92

  Strategic Study—Value=£61,000
  759
  1992–93

  (i) Market Testing General

  (ii) Long Hours and Working Practices

  (iii) Market Testing Support on Information Systems

  Total Value in 1992–93 £71,000.

  (b) AID WING

  1991–92

  Former Soviet Union: St. Petersburg Free Enterprise Business Plan

  Ghana: Integrated Personnel/Management Payroll Database Study

  South Africa: Municipal Finance Consultant: World Bank Urban Sector Mission

  Anguilla: Annual Audit

  Guyana: Assistance to Divestment Programme

  Czechoslovakia: Advisory Assistance to Prague and Bratislava Stock Exchanges: Phase II

  Tanzania: Accounting Assistance

  Tanzania: Industrial Sector Credit: Privatisation Workshop

  Zambia: Accounts Team Phase II: Technical Assistance to the Bank of Zambia

  Czechoslovakia: Assistance to the Prague and Bratislava Stock Exchanges

  Poland: Study of Options for Tax Incentives

  Zambia: Technical Assistance to the Bank of Zambia

  Nepal: Civil Service Reform

  Hungary: Electricity Pricing, Regulation and Industry Restructuring Consultancy

  United Kingdom: Market Testing of ODA Headquarters

  Total Value in 1991–92=£1·71 million.

  1992–93

  Ghana: Health Sector Preparatory Consultancy: Human Resource Development

  Former Soviet Union: Property Privatisation Project: Supervisor: Russia

  Hungary: Phase II: Support for the Hungarian Electricity Sector

  Poland: Conduct of Council Business: Loan Government Assistance Project

  Egypt: Project Review: Egyptian National Institute of Transport

  Czechoslovakia: Advisory Assistance to Prague and Bratislava Stock Exchanges

  United Kingdom: Review of Office Services: Market Testing

  Kenya: Parastatal Reform: Preparation and Appraisal: Phases I, II and III

  Bangladesh: Short Term Consultancy: Project Support

  Bangladesh: Bangladesh Power Development Board Action Plan

  Turks and Caicos Islands: Review of Revenue Study

  United Kingdom: Privatisation Proposals.

  Ethiopia: Structural Adjustment Reform Programme: Public Sector Retrenchment

  Tanzania: Tanzania Railways: Information Technology Strategy Study

  Tanzania: Tanzania Railways: Asset Revaluation Study

  Tanzania: Tanzania Railways: Support to Finance and Supplies Department

  Poland: Financial Management for Local Government

  Tanzania: Personnel Control Study: Personnel Controls and Information Systems

  Tanzania: Chief Advisor: Parastatal Reform

  United Kingdom: Market Testing: Service Specification: Overseas Pensions Department

  Zambia: Assistance with the Establishment of a Revenue Board

  United Kingdom: Review of Crown Agents (I) and (II)

  Total Value is 1992–93=£6·0 million

  Touche Ross

  (a) DIPLOMATIC WING

  1991–92 Nil

  1992–93 Nil

  (b) AID WING

  1991–92
  760

  Hungary: Assistance to Budapest Stock Exchange in the Establishment of New Trading

  Zambia: Adviser: Privatisation of Public Enterprises

  Romania: Climate Change Study

  Global: Management and Operational Plan to Interim Multi Ozone Fund

  Total Value=£0·43 million

  1992–93 Nil

  Price Waterhouse

  (a) DIPLOMATIC WING

  1991–92 Finance Accounts System—Value=£0·27 million

  1992–93 Finance Accounts System—Value=£0·21 million

  (b) AID WING

  1991–92

  Czechoslovakia: Organisation and Business Review of Agrobank — Value=£39,000

  1992–93

  Malawi: Further Assistance to Department of Statutory Bodies

  Tanzania: Tanzania Railways: Review of Pensions

  Total Value=£0·33 million

  Ernst and Young

  (a) DIPLOMATIC WING

  1991–92

  Heavy Baggage Contract—Value=£20,000

  1992–93

  Overseas Estates Procurement—Value=£59,000

  (b) AID WING

  1991–92

  Czechoslovakia: Slovak National Insurance Co. Privatisation

  Czechoslovakia: Voucher Privatisation—Secondary Market Study: Consultant Advisor

  Czechoslovakia: Voucher Privatisation Programme

  Czechoslovakia: Assistance with Privatisation Policy: Stage 2

  Total Value=£1·74 million

  1992–93

  Czechoslovakia: Voucher Privatisation—Secondary Market Study II

  Total Value=£0·18 million

  Chrichton Roberts Ltd

  (a) DIPLOMATIC WING

  1991–92—Nil

  1992–93—Nil

  (b) AID WING

  1991–92—Nil

  1992–93—Nil

  KPMG Management Consultants

  (a) DIPLOMATIC WING

  1991–92—Review of Career Planning—Value=£0·35 million

  1992–93—Nil

  (b) Aid Wing

  1991–92

  Guyana: Public Service Review Phase III

  Ghana and Kenya: Country Studies: Climate Change

  Uganda: Civil Service Reform

  Guyana: Public Service Review Phase II

  Tanzania: Debt Reconciliation

  Czechoslovakia: Privatisation of the CESKA Insurance Company

  Poland: Assistance to Insurance Division of Ministry of Finance

  Total Value=£2·03 million

  1992–93

  Poland: Agricultural Development Fund

  St. Kitts: Offshore Financial Services Consultant

  761

  United Kingdom: Review of Services Provided by OACD

  Romania: Procurement Advice for Information Systems

  India: Singareni Colliery Spares Management/Incentive Study

  United Kingdom: Market Testing of Natural Resources Institute

  United Kingdom: Development of Costing Module at Natural Resources Institute

  Total Value=£0·38 million

  LEOPOLD JOSEPH MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

  (a) Diplomatic Wing

  1991–92 Nil

  1992–93 Nil

  (b) Aid Wing

  1991–92 Nil

  1992–93 Nil

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contracts for consultancies were awarded by his Department over(a) the last 12 months and (b) 1991–92.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The numbers of contracts for consultancies awarded by the diplomatic and aid wings of the Department in 1991–92 and 1992–93 to 31 January 1993 are as follows:

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Diplomatic wing

  396

  482

  Aid wing

  948

  883

  Total

  1,344

  1,365

  Haiti
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government in support of the restoration of human rights and democracy in Haiti.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We continue to support the efforts of the United Nations and the Organisation of American States to broker a settlement. Along with EC partners we issued a statement on 15 December 1992 condemning continued human rights abuses and demanding a return to constitutional order; and on 21 January 1993 issued a further statement in support of United Nations-Organisation of American States efforts and rejecting recent elections in Haiti as invalid and undemocratic.

  Iraq
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the time scale for the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the location of such weapons becomes known to the United Nations inspectors.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Nations Special Commission on Iraq and the International Atomic Energy Agency are charged with the elimination of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. They will continue to conduct inspections until they are satisfied that all prohibited weapons, components and facilities have been destroyed, removed or rendered harmless.

  The international community continues to press Iraq to comply with its obligation to make full declarations of all
  762
  WMD-related items. Individual Governments provide further information as to the possible location of such items.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Consultants
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many contracts for consultancies were awarded by his Department over(a) the last 12 months and (b) 1991–92.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is as follows:

  Period

  Number of consultancy contracts awarded

  1 March 1992–23 February 1993

  880

  1 April 1991–31 March 1992

  1,179

  Note: The figures do not include contracts issued by those executive agencies which have delegated authority to engage consultants.

  Airline Product Development Subsidies
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what provision in the US/EC agreement on limitation of airline product development subsidies is made for spillover effects from defence programmes; and what monitoring mechanisms for this agreement are in place.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The agreement limits all indirect Government support which benefits the development or production of civil aircraft, whether or not such support was originally directed towards military projects. These limits are 3 per cent. of annual commercial turnover of the civil aircraft industry, or 4 per cent. of the turnover of any one firm.

  The agreement provides for an annual exchange of information between the parties and twice-yearly meetings.

  Most-favoured Nations
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what countries have most-favoured nation status with the European Community; what trading advantages this provides; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Article I of the general agereement on tariffs and trade requires GATT contracting parties to apply their external trade regimes, including customs tariffs, to all other contracting parties in the same way and without discrimination. The advantages of this so-called most-favoured nation provision are clarity and certainty of rights and obligations in international trade. The European community grants basic most-favoured nation status to all countries, although a number of countries, particularly developing countries, enjoy preferential trading status with the Community under special arrangements for that purpose.

  Coal Research Establishment
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent discussions he has had about the future of the coal research establishment.

  Mr. Eggar
  Clean coal technology and the future role of the coal research establishment in developing this technology is under discussion as part of our work on the coal review. My Department's chief scientific adviser on science and technology has visited the coal research establishment.

  Leyland DAF
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his oral answer of 17 February,Official Report, column 313, when was the contact of the Minister of State with his Dutch opposite number to which he referred; which Dutch Minister he contacted; and if the contact was by meeting or by telephone.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 24 February 1993]: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry spoke to his opposite number, Mr. Koos Andriessen, the Dutch Economic Affairs Minister, by telephone on 4 February 1993.

  Mineworkers' Redundancy Payments
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the current mineworkers' redundancy terms will also apply to miners at the 21 pits in the coal review if any are made redundant after 27 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 24 February 1993]: As my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade made clear to the House on 20 January, the issue of redundancy after March 1993 will be dealt with in the White Paper.

  Textiles
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures he has taken to implement the RETEX scheme of European Community assistance to regions heavily dependent on textile and clothing employment.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 25 February 1993]: The United Kingdom has sent to the European Commission two programmes under the RETEX initiative for the eligible textile areas of Great Britain and Northern Ireland respectively. The Commission has not yet replied.

  A call for applications has already been made and once the Commission agrees the programme, projects will be considered by the RETEX programme monitoring committee for approval.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations his Department has received from the apparel and textile industry on export promotion issues; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 25 February 1993]: Ministers and officials have many contacts with a wide range of industry bodies which give rise to discussions on export promotion issues and we always take careful note of their views.
  764
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures are being taken by the European Community to combat fraudulent evasion of quotas on textiles; what estimates are available on the extent of fraudulent trade; what similar information is available on measures taken in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 25 February 1993]: The European Community has agreed, for the first time, a budget of 500,000 ecus to deal with suspected fraudulent trade in textiles and clothing. It will fund the activities of EC anti-fraud squads which will pursue cases on the basis of information supplied by member states to the Commission. In addition, the EC has agreed with certain supplier countries intensified monitoring of trade in goods where fraud is suspected. There are no official estimates of fraudulent textiles trade involving the European Community. As regards the USA, my Department has recently passed to Her Majesty's Customs and the European Commission an indication from the United States customs service that it would welcome co-operation in tackling fraudulent textiles trade.

  Spring Ram Factory, Bradford
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the first payment was made for the development of the Spring Ram factory in Bradford.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 25 February 1993]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 9 February 1993, Official Report, columns 568–69.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received concerning the impact of the European single market on the retail tobacco trade; what is his assessment of its impact; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 25 February 1993]: My right hon. Friend has not received any specific representations about the impact of the European single market on the retail tobacco trade. The Government are well aware of the concerns of the trade, and the United Kingdom producers, about the possible implications of the single market and are keeping a close watch for any abuses. However, it is too early to be sure what impact there may have been on the retail trade.

  Expo '92
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has received for the future use of the British trade pavilion used at the Expo '92 exhibition in Seville; and what decisions he has taken.

  Mr. Needham
  [pursuant to the reply, 16 February 1993, Official Report, col. 135]: I am pleased to announce that contracts to sell the pavilion were signed today, Friday 26 February 1993. The purchasers are Asiansky TV, who will dismantle the pavilion and relocate it in Brent as the key feature of an Asian centre development.

  Somerset University
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 9 February,Official Report, column 563, when he approved the use of the name

  765
  "Somerset University" under the Business Names Act 1985; and whether the statement submitted to him by the owner of that business stated that a written request for an opinion had been made to the Secretry of State for Education.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The use of the name was approved on 9 November 1988. The regulations which specified the 766
  word university as requiring the approval of the Secretary of State did not come into effect until 1 January 1983, and did not apply to names in use before that date. Since there was evidence that the name had been in use before that date there was no requirement for the owner of the business to submit a statement from the Department of Education and Science.