Written Answers of 21 January 1993

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Uncorroborated Confessions
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General if the Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions intends to continue proceedings on the basis of evidence consisting wholly or mainly of uncorroborated confessions in police custody.

  The Attorney-General
  In Northern Ireland, as in England and Wales, there is no general requirement in law that a confession requires to be corroborated before reliance can be placed upon it. In cases where the evidence consists wholly or mainly of an uncorroborated admission or confession made in police custody, the director has regard to all the available facts and circumstances surrounding the making of such an admission or confession. Where the Director is satisfied that there is a reasonable prospect of the admission or confession being admitted in evidence and reliance being placed upon it, and that that evidence is sufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction, prosecution is directed or continued if the public interest so requires.

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Attorney-General how many public interest immunity certificates have been issued in criminal trials(a) since 1987 and (b) since 1990.

  The Attorney-General
  The information requested by the hon. Member is not collected centrally either by Government or individual prosecuting authorities. My answer is therefore confined to the three prosecuting authorities for which I have ministerial responsibility and is based on inquiries made of those officials likely to have the requisite knowledge. The number of cases so identified is as follows:

  CPS

  SFO

  DPP(NI)

  1987

  1

  —

  —

  1988

  —

  —

  —

  1989

  3

  1

  —

  1990

  1

  1

  —

  1991

  —

  1

  —

  1992

  2

  —

  1

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Romania
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for improving relations between the United Kingdom and Romania.
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  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We look forward to developing our relations with the new Government of Romania. My brief visit in December was a valuable first step.

  We shall continue to assist Romania's programme of economic and political reform, primarily through the know-how fund. We are currently considering with the Romanian authorities significant new know-how fund-supported projects in the areas of agriculture and privatisation. The reinstatement of a measure of ECGD medium-term cover demonstrates our determination encourage British companies to compete strongly in the market.

  The forthcoming signing of the EC association agreement with Romania will contribute to the strengthening of Romania's relationship with the Community and its member states.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  IRA Terrorists
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of controls on the movement of IRA activists to the British mainland.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The port checks conducted under schedule 5 to the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 continue to represent a valuable means of controlling the movement of terrorists.

  Gloucestershire Police
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to allow the chief constable of Gloucestershire constabulary to bring police staffing in the urban areas of Cheltenham and Gloucester city into line with neighbouring counties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Deployment of police officers is a matter for the chief constable.

  Tyre Dumps
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the tyre dumps notified to his office by fire authorities which provide cover to standards required by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Tyre dumps are notified to the Home Office. Fire authorities are required to be able to deal with all normal requirements, and brigades know the measures which are required to deal with the operational and environmental problems associated with tyre dump and other rubber-based fires.

  Police Budgets
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police authority, the standard spending assessment, the actual spending, the police establishment based on SSA and the actual establishment for the last year for which figures are available.
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  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information for 1991–92 on standard spending assessments, expenditure and force establishments is given in the table. Police establishments are not based on SSAs.

  The table excludes Welsh forces, because no separate police component is identified in SSAs for Welsh county councils.

  Police Authority

  Police SSA 1991–92 (£ million)

  Outturn Expend (£ million)

  Authorised Establishment 31 March 1992

  Avon and Somerset

  55·443

  111·509

  3,085

  Bedfordshire

  20·238

  39·148

  1,117

  Cambridgeshire

  21·691

  47·116

  1,231

  Cheshire

  33·986

  66·960

  1,900

  City of London

  20·639

  40·820

  798

  Cleveland

  27·037

  54·802

  1,502

  Cumbria

  21·151

  45·080

  1,183

  Derbyshire

  32·276

  66·048

  1,825

  Devon and Cornwall

  51·536

  117·436

  2,880

  Dorset

  22·879

  52·006

  1,287

  Durham

  24·751

  48·589

  1,389

  Essex

  54·851

  115·540

  2,892

  Gloucestershire

  20·953

  44·611

  1,183

  Greater Manchester

  115·636

  248·807

  7,057

  Hampshire

  59·904

  124·970

  3,202

  Hertfordshire

  32·973

  62·868

  1,680

  Humberside

  36·128

  77·396

  2,025

  Kent

  57·435

  128·734

  3,054

  Lancashire

  57·873

  122·019

  3,225

  Leicestershire

  32·636

  67·196

  1,827

  Lincolnshire

  21·547

  47·235

  1,206

  Merseyside

  84·622

  178·884

  4,706

  Metropolitan

  547·984

  1,339·605

  28,391

  Norfolk

  25·345

  54·100

  1,421

  Northamptonshire

  20·539

  45·499

  1,167

  Northumbria

  63·939

  132·826

  3,586

  North Yorkshire

  25·345

  51·679

  1,414

  Nottinghamshire

  42·194

  82·629

  2,344

  South Yorkshire

  53·967

  103·166

  3,016

  Staffordshire

  39·638

  82·163

  2,211

  Suffolk

  21·673

  48·069

  1,216

  Surrey

  33·255

  63·421

  1,670

  Sussex

  56·093

  106·178

  2,982

  Thames Valley

  70·893

  149·414

  3,725

  Warwickshire

  18·451

  39·842

  1,016

  West Mercia

  36·415

  77·230

  2,024

  West Midlands

  124·080

  250·816

  6,958

  West Yorkshire

  95·027

  197·226

  5,295

  Wiltshire

  21·115

  46·215

  1,114

  Correspondence
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to respond to the letter of 2 December 1992 from the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford regarding prison education.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 20 January.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 16 November (HO ref. No. 23833/98) concerning an application for United Kingdom citizenship.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 11 January 1993]: I wrote to the hon. Member on 14 December.

  HMP Blakenhurst
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects HMP Blakenhurst to open; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The contractor's proposals envisaged a six-month start-up period from contract signature on 3 December, but he is striving to open the prison earlier.

  HMP Manchester
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the application of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations to the proposed market-testing of HMP Manchester.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Legal advice is that TUPE would apply if a private sector company won the contract for operating HMP Manchester. We are currently considering the implications for both staff and the tendering exercise.

  Fines
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the crimes for which the maximum fine is determined by statute; and what is the level of the maximum in each case;

  (2) if he will list the crimes for which the maximum penalty is £50,000 or over.

  Mr. Jack
  There is no upper limit on the fine that the Crown court can impose for any offence triable on indictment for which the option of a fine is provided by statute.

  The maximum fine which a magistrates court can impose is limited according to the offence committed. Where an offence is triable either in the magistrates court or on indictment the maximum fine is usually £5,000—the maximum fine normally available to magistrates. For summary offences, the maximum fine is specified in statute. In recent legislation, maximum fines are expressed as a level on the standard scale. The current values of these levels are: level 1, £200; level 2, £500; level 3, £1,000; level 4, £2,500; and level 5, £5,000.

  Exceptionally, for a small number of offences, magistrates have the power to impose fines in excess of £5,000: the usual maximum for such offences is either £20,000 or £50,000 depending on the offence.

  A comprehensive list of offences that fall into the above categories is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Wolds Centre
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all the incidents and disturbances which have occurred at the Wolds centre since 1 December 1992; and if he will order an inquiry.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Twenty incidents at Wolds remand prison were reported to the incident management support unit at Prison Service headquarters between 1 December 1992 and 18 January 1993. Details are given in the table. The Home Office controller based at Wolds monitors the contractor's performance and provides full and regular reports. None of the reported incidents would merit a separate inquiry.
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  2 December 1992:
  Two prisoners who had been hand-cuffed together attempted to run away as they left the cellular vehicle to enter Doncaster Magistrates Court. They were unsuccessful.

  8 December 1992:
  Cannabis was found in a prisoner's cell during a cell search.

  11 December 1992:
  After being located in the Segregation Unit a prisoner smashed the sink in his cell. The prisoner threw a piece of piping from the sink at a Custody Officer which hit his knee causing bruising and a cut which was treated in the Health Care Centre.

  16 December 1992:
  A prisoner was strip-searched after a visit and found to be in possession of cannabis.

  17 December 1992:
  A prisoner assaulted another prisoner by striking him with his fists causing bleeding to the nose and bruising.

  18 December 1992:
  A prisoner claims that he was assaulted while seated watching TV. He cannot identify his assailant. The prisoner had recently been taken off Rule 43 at his own request.

  20 December 1992:
  A prisoner assaulted the Segregation Unit Supervisor while cleaning out his cell. The weapon used was a mop handle. The supervisor had bruises to his forearm.

  21 December 1992:

  (1) A prisoner punched another prisoner following a disagreement in the gymnasium.

  (2) While searching visitors prior to allowing them into the prison a PCO observed a piece of cannabis apparently fallen from a visitor's pocket when removing items from his trousers.

  23 December 1992:
  A prisoner began kicking his door for attention. When it was opened up he assaulted a supervisor by punching him in the face and ribs.

  25 December 1992:
  A prisoner was found in possession of a quantity of tablets not prescribed for him. Search took place after social visits. He became violent on discovery and control and restraint techniques were used to remove him to the segregation unit. Tablets were identified as Temazepam (sleeping tablets).

  28 December 1992:
  Following information received a search took place between the area from the main exercise yard and the segregation unit where a quantity of cannabis and four valium tablets were found in a sock which had been weighted with an orange. It is believed that this had been thrown from the exercise yard in an attempt to land it in the segregation unit exercise yard.

  31 December 1992:
  When in visits a prisoner three chairs and smashed a fish tank, then produced a wood stick with a nail in the end and assaulted the Duty Security Manager. The DSM was taken to outside hospital for his hand to be X-rayed, but apparently sustained no lasting injury.

  1 January 1993:
  Prisoners had been given an extension to 0015 hours on 1 January to see in the New Year. 16 Prisoners in F Unit refused to return to their cells and barricaded themselves in the TV room. Prisoners eventually returned to their cells at 0715 hours.

  2 January 1993:

  (1) A prisoner assaulted another prisoner by striking him with his fist.

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  (2) A prisoner was assaulted by other prisoners, assailants unknown. Prisoner sustained head injuries. Police were contacted but do not wish to proceed.

  4 January 1993:
  On arrival at Sheffield Crown Court a prisoner had to be removed from the cellular vehicle. During his removal he assaulted one officer and bit the hand of another officer. No lasting injuries to officers.

  7 January 1993:
  A prisoner who was the subject of a strip search after visits was found to be in possession of two syringes in his footwear.

  13 January 1993.

  (1) A prisoner assaulted an officer by grabbing his throat and attempting to kick him. No lasting injury to officer sustained.

  (2) A prisoner had been unlocked to use the bathroom. He refused to return to his cell. He spat at, head-butted and scratched an officer. No lasting injuries to the officer sustained.

  Juvenile Offenders
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had about introducing new legislation to deal with juvenile offenders; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  We have had a number of discussions with a wide range of individuals and organisations which have concerned, among other things, the scale of juvenile offending and what might be done about it. For the second part of his question, I refer the hon. Member to the anwer which I gave to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 14 January, at column 794.

  Bosnian Refugees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what advice has been given to local authorities and health authorities regarding co-ordination of services for arriving Bosnian refugees; and what additional finance has been allocated to help them cope with the added burden;

  (2) how many Bosnian refugees, either in this country already or expected to arrive in the next six months, have long-term accommodation provided for them;

  (3) what agency is taking responsibility for the allocation of Bosnian refugees to communities in the United Kingdom; and how this process is to be financed.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Refugee Council is taking the lead in arranging accommodation in the community for the Bosnian ex-detainees and their families which the Government have agreed to accept at the request of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It is receiving funds from the Home Office for this purpose. The accommodation will be financed through housing benefit payments.

  Discussions have been held with the local authority associations, the Housing Corporation and the National Federation of Housing Associations with a view to identifying possible suitable clusters of accommodation in various areas of the country where there is a voluntary organisation support network. No accommodation has as yet been provided under these arrangements, although we understand that some of the Bosnians have left the reception centres to join relatives or friends already living here.
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  The Government have no plans to provide additional resources to local authorities, but will be funding the Refugee Council to give advice and support to the Bosnians when they move into the community from the reception centres.

  The Refugee Council and the British Red Cross are in touch with local health services in the areas where the reception centres are located about possible needs. The Department of Health is considering whether any further advice to health authorities is necessary.

  Prisons (HIV)
  Mr. Hawksley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change in instructions has been given to governors of prisons concerning advising their staff as to which inmates are infected with the HIV/AIDS virus.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The last general instruction to governors was contained in circular instruction 30/1991 which was issued in November 1991. The recommended practice is that information about HIV status obtained in a clinical context should be available only to staff with responsibility for the prisoner's health care unless the prisoner consents to wider disclosure in his or her own interest or, exceptionally, such disclosure is deemed necessary to prevent the spread of infection.

  New Age Travellers
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will now make a statement of the Government's detailed intentions to implement the measures to tackle problems caused by new age travellers announced by him in October;

  (2) what conclusions he has reached from his consultations with chief officers of police and others on the desirability of amending section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend is currently considering proposals, including changes to the law, for tackling the problems presented by new age travellers and "ravers" and will make an announcement shortly.

  Immigration
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many clearance visas were granted to(a) women and (b) men for the purposes of joining a fiancé(e) or spouse in 1992.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Data on entry clearance applications and decisions by category of applicant are only available centrally for the Indian sub-continent. The data that are available for 1992 are given in the table.

  Applications granted1 for entry clearance to the United Kingdom by whether Spouse or Fiancé(e) in the Indian sub-continent 1992

  Number of applicants

  Applications granted

  Period

  Wives

  Fiancées

  Husbands

  Fiancés

  1992

  Ql

  1,553

  108

  513

  69

  Q2

  1,195

  76

  668

  56

  Q3

  1,287

  83

  1,376

  57

  Q4

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

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  n/a not yet available.

  1 Granted initially or on appeal.

  Car Insurance
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals for legislation to provide higher penalties for those car owners who do not have valid car insurance.

  Mr. Jack
  The existing maximum penalty for using a motor vehicle while uninsured against third party risks is a fine of £5,000 together with an obligatory endorsement of the driving licence with six to eight penalty points and a period of disqualification from driving with no upper limit, at the court's discretion. We have no plans to change these provisions which allows courts to impose sentences which reflect the culpability of those who commit this offence.

  Disclosure of Convictions
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from magistrates on the effect of the changes on the non-disclosure of previous convictions introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  There is nothing in the Criminal Justice Act 1991 that prevents the disclosure of previous convictions to a court which has convicted an individual of a particular offence; and the Court of Appeal has recently made it clear that it is appropriate for courts to continue to receive antecedent information in the same way as they did before the principal provisions of the Act came into force on 1 October 1992. A number of representations have been received, including some from individual magistrates, about section 29 of the Act which deals with the relevance of previous convictions to the current offence. These matters have recently been clarified in a series of guideline judgments from the Court of Appeal.

  Firearms
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licensed firearms are in private ownership within the Peterlee sub-division; and what were the numbers for each year since 1988.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information received from the Durham constabulary indicates that a total of 1,315 firearms were covered by certificates in force on 15 January 1993 in the Peterlee sub-division—200 firearms, which includes rifles, pistols, large magazine smooth bore guns and specially dangerous air weapons, and 1,115 shotguns.

  Information for earlier years is not available.

  Public Houses (Licensing)
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made into the review of the licensing system of public houses, announced by the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 10 July 1989 in his statement on the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the supply of beer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We hope shortly to publish a consultation document inviting comments on a number of
  333
  proposals for changes to the liquor licensing law of England and Wales, including possible reform of those aspects of the licensing system referred to in the statement made in July 1989.

  Channel Islands (Wartime Occupation)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he plans to take to bring to justice those British citizens who collaborated with the Nazi occupiers of the Channel Islands during the second world war in rounding up Jewish and other people for deportation to concentration camps; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 14 January 1993]: The Channel Islands are not part of the United Kingdom, but internally self-governing dependencies of the Crown with their own judicial systems. It is for the islands authorites to consider whether offences under their laws have been committed and to act accordingly.

  If evidence is forthcoming of conduct in the Channel Islands during the period of German occupation constituting an offence justiciable in the United Kingdom but not in the Channel Islands themselves, that will be referred to the prosecuting authorities here.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Saudi Arabia (Military Equipment)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he had during his recent visit to Saudia Arabia on the opportunities for the sale of United Kingdom manufactured military equipment to Saudi Arabia.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I had no such discussions.

  Coal Stocks
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what powers he has to set a strategic stock of coal; and what factors he takes into account in setting this level.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend has exercised the powers under section 34 of the Electricity Act 1989 to direct National Power and PowerGen to hold stocks of coal at power stations against interruptions in coal supplies. In determining the appropriate level of stocks, my right hon. Friend takes into account such matters as the diversity of fuels available for generation and the possible threat to supplies which may arise from one or a combination of factors.

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has on the total level and value of coal stocks held at power stations.

  Mr. Eggar
  Coal stocks at power stations at 3 January 1993 totalled 31.5 million tonnes. Valuation of coal stocks at power stations is a matter for the generating company concerned.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has on the percentage contribution of(a) the chemical industry and (b) the
  334
  engineering industry to the GDP of (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) France, (iii) Germany and (iv) Italy in each of the last 20 years.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information requested is published in National Accounts ESA, detailed tables by branch; EUROSTAT relevant copies are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Offshore Drilling
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 37, regarding environmental impact assessments prior to drilling in the Celtic sea, what special conditions he has plans to attach to any licences issued for blocks 103/2, 103/3, 103/6, 103/7, 106/25, 106/29, 107/21, 104/16, 104/17, 104/18, 104/19 and 104/21;

  (2) what advice he received from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Countryside Council for Wales prior to including each of blocks 103/2, 103/3, 103/6, 103/7, 106/25, 106/29, 107/21, 104/16, 104/17, 104/18, 104/19 and 104/21 in the 14th round of offshore drilling licensing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  In considering whether to offer blocks 103/2, 103/3, 103/6, 103/7, 106/25, 106/29, 107/21, 104/16, 104/17, 104/18, 104/19 and 104/21 in the 14th round, officials took account of the concerns of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee—JNCC—and the Countryside Council for Wales—CCW—regarding the ecological status of the area. On balance, the evidence did not justify the exclusion of these blocks from hydrocarbons exploration, but it was agreed that special conditions should be attached to each licence.

  These special conditions have been agreed with the Department of the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the JNCC, which has consulted the CCW. As part of the special conditions, licensees will be obliged to consult these organisations before undertaking any activity in these blocks. The conditions will reflect the concerns related to each block and to those elements of the environment potentially at risk.

  Coal Industry
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the access allowed to Alan Oakes and Associates, consultants hired by Clwyd county council, to visit the Point of Ayr colliery for the purpose of assessing the pit's viability.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a matter for British Coal.

  Consultancy Reports
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place copies of the consultancy reports from Caminus Energy, PIMS Associates Ltd. and Ernst and Young in the Library.

  Mr. Eggar
  The consultants' reports will be placed in the Library as soon as they are published.

  Atomic Energy Authority
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what external financing limit has been set for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority for 1993–94.
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  Mr. Eggar
  The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's external financing limit for 1993–94 will be minus £2.1 million.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on current employment in the coal mining industry.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 January 1993]: The total number of people employed by British Coal at the end of December 1992 was 48,700. The total work force at deep mines licensed by British Coal at 30 September 1992—the latest available figure—was 1,683. No figures are held centrally for employees of contractors working at British Coal's own pits and opencast sites or of employment at opencast sites licensed by British Coal.

  Electricity
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the criteria agreed in 1990 which triggers compensation payments to the regional electricity companies if they have to take dearer electricity.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 January 1993]: The operation of contracts for differences between regional electricity companies—RECs—and the generators, which hedge the RECs against increases in pool prices, is a commercial matter for the companies concerned.

  Public Houses
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 13 January,Official Report, column 738, if he will publish the information his Department holds on the purchasers of public houses under the Supply of Beer (Tied Estates) Order 1989 (S.I., 1989, No. 2390); and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: As I explained in my answer of 13 January, the statutory undertakings given by the national brewers to provide the Director General of Fair Trading with information to enable him to monitor compliance with the order do not require them to provide details of the purchasers of public houses that are sold. However, my Department is aware of trade press estimates—Publican, 11 January 1993—which suggest that since 1989 the number of pubs owned by independent retailers had increased by 8,000 while regional brewers have purchased a further 3,000 outlets.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  High Court Judges
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current establishment of High Court judges; and how many are currently in post.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Following a number of very recent promotions and retirements there are currently 83 High Court judges holding appointment out of a complement of 85, which is also the current statutory limit on their numbers. Steps are being taken to bring that number back to 85 as soon as is practicable.
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  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many sittings in the High Court there were in the last available week; how many were taken by(a) High Court judges, (b) deputy High Court judges and (c) circuit judges, excluding appellate and divisional court sittings.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In the royal courts of justice in London in the week commencing 11 January 1993 there were 253 sittings in the three divisions of the High Court. Of these sittings 147 were taken by High Court judges, 59 were taken by circuit judges sitting as judges of the High Court and 47 were taken by deputies. These figures do not, of course, take account of the substantial number of sittings on High Court business and serious crime undertaken by High Court judges on circuits, for which figures for the week commencing 11 January 1993 are not yet available.

  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress is being made by the Lord Chancellor's committee on the work deployment and number of High Court judges; when it is expected to report; and whether the report will be published.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The group of senior judges and officials which has been asked to advise the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice on the work, deployment and numbers of High Court judges met first on 5 October 1992 and has met several times since then. It is hoped that their advice will be received soon. It is unclear yet whether the advice will be in a form which could be published, but as parliamentary and Privy Council approval is required to increase the statutory limit on the number of High Court judges any changes proposed to be made as a result of it would come into the public domain.

  Possession Notices
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) possession notices and (b) suspended possession notices have been served in the latest period of 12 months for which figures are available in the Nottinghamshire area; and what were the corresponding figures for the previous period of 12 months.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Mortgage possession figures are collected by the number of actions entered, suspended orders and orders made. The table shows the information for each county court in Nottinghamshire during 1991 and 1992. The figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts as not all the orders will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession. At this stage, the 1992 figures are provisional and therefore liable to revision to take account of any late amendments. Figures on mortgage possession actions taken in each county court in England and Wales are published quarterly in an information bulletin which is placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. The figures covering the whole of 1991 and 1992 will be published on 27 January 1993.
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  Mortgage possession actions entered and orders made in Nottinghamshire county courts during 1991 and 1992

  Actions entered

  Suspended orders

  Orders made

  Court

  1991

  1992

  1991

  1992

  1991

  1992

  Mansfield

  922

  601

  327

  261

  297

  298

  Newark

  161

  124

  37

  44

  75

  60

  Nottingham

  2,235

  1,497

  693

  657

  790

  613

  Worksop

  445

  340

  142

  138

  203

  133

  Nottinghamshire County Total

  3,763

  2,562

  1,199

  1,100

  1,365

  1,104

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Maastricht Treaty
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress each of the 12 EC member states has made in reaching the convergence criteria of the Maastricht treaty.

  Mr. Nelson
  Article 109j of the Maastricht treaty gives to the Council the responsibility for determining whether or not a member state has met the necessary conditions for entry to stage 3 of economic and monetary union. The Council is required to make this judgment, taking into account reports from the Commission and European Monetary Institute on the extent to which a member state complies with criteria concerning the relative rate of inflation; the Government's fiscal position; observance of the normal fluctuation margins within the exchange rate mechanism—ERM; and long-term interest rates. In addition, the reports must take account of a number of other factors, including the development of the ecu, the integration of markets, current account positions, and unit labour costs and other price indices.

  A protocol attached to the treaty lays down figures for the convergence criteria regarding inflation and long-term interest rates. Another protocol sets out reference values for fiscal criteria which, if breached, might prompt a Commission report to the Council on the fiscal position of a member state—such a report being the basis on which the Council would judge whether or not an excessive deficit existed. However, definitions of the indicators of convergence have not yet been fully standardised and figures are therefore only indicative at this stage.

  The current position of each member state, in respect of the convergence criteria, is given in the table. The criterion on participation in the ERM is that a member state has respected the normal fluctuation margins without severe tensions for at least the last two years. In particular, the member state shall not have devalued its currency's bilateral central rate against any other member state's currency on its own initiative for the same period. The following member states have been in the narrow band for at least two years: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

  Latest inflation1

  Budget balance2

  General government debt3

  Longer bond yield4

  Belgium

  2·2

  –6·4

  132·2

  7·5

  Denmark

  1·4

  –2·0

  60·6

  8·5

  France

  2·1

  –2·2

  48·6

  7·8

  Germany5

  3·7

  –3·2

  41·8

  7·1

  Greece

  15·0

  –16·1

  82·9

  n/a

  Ireland

  2·3

  –1·9

  101 ·2

  49·4

  Italy

  4·9

  –10·2

  102·7

  13·4

  338

  Latest inflation1

  Budget balance2

  General government debt3

  Longer bond yield4

  Luxembourg

  2·9

  22·6

  36·3

  7·5

  Netherlands

  2·9

  –2·6

  77·0

  7·1

  Portugal

  8·6

  –6·1

  368·6

  49·9

  Spain

  5·1

  –4·9

  46·3

  12·1

  United Kingdom

  3·0

  –2·8

  36·5

  8·6

  1 November 1992; percentage change of consumer prices over previous 12 months.

  2 1991 general government financial balance (as a percentage of GDP).

  OECD Outlook (December 1992), except for Luxembourg (EC May 1992).

  3 1991 gross debt of general government (as a percentage of GDP). OECD Outlook (December 1992), except for Luxembourg and Portugal (EC May 1992).

  4 Yield on fixed interest government securities on 18 January 1993, except Ireland and Portugal (October 1992).

  5 Inflation and government debt figures are for western Germany.

  Source: OECD and Eurostat.

  Mortgage Repayments
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households in(a) Great Britain, (b) the Yorkshire-Humberside region and (c) the York area have been helped under the scheme announced by him on 19 December 1991 to provide funding on concessional terms to help borrowers who are not on income support, but who face serious problems in paying their mortgages; and what means have been used to assess the effectiveness of the scheme.

  Mr. Nelson
  I do not believe that it is possible to single out the specific effect of particular elements in the range of industry and Government measures which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced' following my meeting with the mortgage lenders—Official Report, 19 December 1991, column 453.

  As for the number of households helped by the package as a whole, one indicator is the latest published figures for possession actions in the county courts in England and Wales which indicate a fall of 16,563–32 per cent.—in the: number of actions entered in the third quarter of 1992 compared with the third quarter of 1991. Over the same period possession actions entered in the Yorkshire and Humberside region fell by 1,428–38 per cent.; and in the York and Malton area by 33–22 per cent.

  Third World Debt
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government are taking to encourage British banks to cancel a proportion of debts owed to them by third-world countries.
  339
  Mr. Nelson
  The Government welcome the significant progress made by banks in reaching voluntary arrangements on debt relief with developing countries. The United Kingdom is financing its share of the International Monetary Fund and World bank resources used in support of these arrangements.

  Drinks Duty
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has had on the harmonisation of drinks duties in the European Community; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what discussions he has had with (a) his European Community counterparts and (b) the Scotch whisky industry and others on the harmonisation of drinks duties in the European Community; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what discussions he has had with representatives of the Scotch whisky industry to discuss excise taxation; what representations he has received on the taxation of Scotch whisky; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  EC Finance Ministers have not discussed drinks duties since the adoption of the rates and structures directives last October. Treasury Ministers have since received many representations from the drinks trade on the subject of United Kingdom duties. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer met a delegation from the Scotch Whisky Association on 14 January to

  (i) Whisky1

  Volume of whisky (thousand hectoliters of pure alcohol)2

  Year-on-year percentage increase

  Total expenditure (current market prices) £ million

  Year-on-year percentage increase

  Total expenditure (constant 1985 prices) £ million

  Year-on-year percentage increase

  1984

  440.8

  1,561

  1,635

  1985

  461.6

  4.7

  1,711

  9.6

  1,711

  4.6

  1986

  456.2

  -1.2

  1,749

  2.3

  1,691

  -1.1

  1987

  446.0

  -2.2

  1,765

  0.9

  1,650

  -2.4

  1988

  451.8

  1.3

  1,858

  5.3

  1,669

  1.1

  1989

  430.2

  -4.8

  1,862

  0.2

  1,590

  -4.7

  1990

  413.5

  -3.9

  1,967

  5.6

  1,528

  -3.9

  1991

  382.6

  -7.5

  2,065

  5.0

  1,419

  -7.1

  1 Home produced mature whisky and whiskey.

  2 Released from bond for domestic market.

  (ii) Wine3

  Volume of imported wine (thousand hectoliters of pure alcohol)4

  Year-on-year percentage increase

  Total expenditure (current market prices) £ million

  Year-on-year percentage increase

  Total expenditure (constant 1985 prices) £ million

  Year-on-year percentage increase

  1984

  5,389.0

  2.473

  2,596

  1985

  5,642.7

  4.7

  2,701

  9.2

  2,701

  4.0

  1986

  5,901.7

  4.6

  2,834

  4.9

  2,788

  3.2

  1987

  6,278.3

  6.4

  3,131

  10.5

  2,962

  6.2

  1988

  6,482.5

  3.3

  3,343

  6.8

  3,067

  3.5

  1989

  6,669.5

  2.9

  3,613

  8.1

  3,166

  3.2

  1990

  6,636.3

  -0.5

  3,898

  7.9

  3,132

  -1.1

  1991

  6,653.3

  0.3

  4,207

  7.9

  3,105

  -0.8

  3 Heavy, light and sparkling wine.

  4 Released from bond for domestic market.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide details of the amount of taxation levied on Scotch whisky compared with that levied against wine for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.
  340
  discuss its request for no increase in or revalorisation of the duty on spirits, and a narrowing of the duty differential between spirits and beer and wine. All these representations will be considered in the review of indirect taxation in the run-up to the Budget.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his current estimate of the value of sales of Scotch whisky which would be lost in the event of the abolition of duty free; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  Intra-EC duty-free sales of Scotch whisky are estimated to be worth around £50 million a year. We have no details on the value of non-EC duty-free sales of Scotch whisky. No estimates are available for the value of sales that would be lost in the event of abolition of duty-free sales.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide details of(a) the amount and (b) the value of sales of (i) Scotch whisky and (ii) imported wine in cash and real terms in the United Kingdom for each year since 1979; and if he will list the percentage increase/decrease compared with the previous year.

  Sir John Cope
  Such information as is available is given in the table. The figures for whisky relate to home-produced mature whisky and whiskey. For wine, the figures relate to heavy, light and sparkling wine, the bulk of which is imported.

  Sir John Cope
  Firm data on duty receipts are only available for total spirits. Estimates can be made for all home-produced whisky and these are given in the table.
  341

  £ millions

  Estimated duty and consequential VAT on whisky/whiskey

  Duty and consequential VAT on wines

  1979–80

  647

  417

  1980–81

  664

  449

  1981–82

  717

  581

  1982–83

  549

  582

  1983–84

  941

  716

  1984–85

  679

  745

  1985–86

  822

  789

  1986–87

  767

  801

  1987–88

  803

  843

  1988–89

  784

  902

  1989–90

  748

  910

  1990–91

  835

  984

  1991–92

  856

  1,084

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show how the rate at which Scotch whisky is taxed has varied compared with the rate at which wine is taxed from 1979 to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  The information is as follows:—

  Percentage change in duty rate

  Year

  Whisky

  Wine of fresh grape 5.5 per cent. to not ex-ceeding 15 per cent. Strength

  1979

  0.0

  0.0

  1980

  13.7

  0.0

  1981

  14.6

  16.9

  1982

  6.4

  12.2

  1983

  5.0

  5.8

  1984

  1.9

  1—19.9

  1985

  1.9

  8.3

  1986

  0.0

  0.0

  1987

  0.0

  0.0

  1988

  0.0

  4.5

  1989

  0.0

  0.0

  1990

  10.0

  7.7

  1991

  9.3

  9.3

  1992

  4.5

  4.5

  1 Due to duty restructuring

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the level of duty on a bottle of Scotch whisky in each of the EC member states; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  Our latest information is for November 1992 and is as follows:

  Excise duty on a 70c1 bottle of Scotch whisky

  Member state

  National currency Cost per 70cl

  Sterling Duty per 70cl

  Belgium

  178·00

  3·50

  Denmark

  102·77

  10·77

  France

  21·85

  2·62

  Germany

  7·13

  2·89

  Greece

  388·22

  1·22

  Ireland

  5·63

  5·98

  Italy

  2,603·32

  1·20

  Luxembourg

  106·29

  2·09

  Netherlands

  8·90

  3·20

  Portugal

  335·82

  1·53

  Spain

  203·00

  1·17

  United Kingdom

  5·55

  5·55

  342
  Notes:

  1. Calculated using exchange rates as at 1 October 1992.

  2. In most cases VAT is also charged at the standard rate applicable in each member state.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the annual amount of revenue accruing to the Exchequer in(a) cash and (b) real terms from the levying of excise duty on Scotch whisky for each year since 1979.

  Sir John Cope
  Firm data on duty receipts are available only for total spirits. Estimates can be made for all home-produced whisky and these are given in the table:

  £ million

  Estimated duty and consequential VAT on whisky/whiskey

  In real terms at 1991–92 prices

  1979–80

  647

  1,475

  1980–81

  664

  1,301

  1981–82

  717

  1,259

  1982–83

  549

  901

  1983–84

  941

  1,476

  1984–85

  679

  1,014

  1985–86

  822

  1,158

  1986–87

  767

  1,047

  1987–88

  803

  1,055

  1988–89

  784

  971

  1989–90

  748

  859

  1990–91

  835

  875

  1991–92

  856

  856

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when a reply will be sent to the letter written on 1 December 1992 by the hon. Member for Walsall, North regarding a constituent.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I wrote to the hon. Member yesterday; I apologise for not being able to reply earlier.

  Retail Prices Index
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive a report from the Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee.

  Mr. Lamont
  I have today received a report from the Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee. It makes recommendations on the treatment in the RPI of council tax and holidays. The full report is being published this afternoon as Cm 2142 and copies are available in the Vote Office.

  In due course I will announce my response on the recommendations. The committee has not yet concluded its consideration of the treatment of owner-occupiers' housing costs and new cars.

  Non-residents (Tax)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchquer if he will make a statement on the application of the tax deduction at source arrangements to the payment of gross interest to non-residents by deposit-takers.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The tax deduction at source legislation provides, generally, that individuals who are not
  343
  ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, and who make a declaration to that effect, can receive their interest without deduction of tax. However under existing rules a deposit-taker which is not a bank or a building society is required to deduct tax even when a declaration has been made.

  We have decided to remove this inconsistency by including legislation in the next Finance Bill to allow these deposit-takers to pay gross interest on the same footing as banks and building societies.

  In the meantime, in anticipation of this legislation, and with my agreement, the Inland Revenue will not seek to recover tax from a deposit-taker which has paid gross interest to someone who is not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and has provided the necessary declaration.

  Germany (Coach Importation)
  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make representations through the European Commission regarding the tax on the temporary importation of coach vehicles to Germany via any border being imposed on vehicles of another EC member state.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 19 January 1993]: There is some uncertainty surrounding the approach being adopted by Germany to coaches since the abolition of fiscal frontiers on 1 January 1993. HM Customs and Excise are seeking clarification of the situation with the Commission and other member states.

  Income Statistics
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the increase in incomes since 1979 has gone to the top 1 per cent., 5 per cent., 10 per cent. and 20 per cent. of the population; and what are the comparable figures for the USA, Japan, Germany and France.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 11 January 1993]: The data requested in the question are not readily available. However, information for the United Kingdom on changes in income shares and real incomes was contained in replies my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Burt), the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security gave to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 2 December 1992 at column 100 and the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) on 7 December at column 506.

PRIME MINISTER

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's discussions with the Government of Jordan on the efficacy of military intervention in Iraq.

  The Prime Minister
  Since the invasion of Kuwait we have had frequent discussions with the Jordanians on the situation in Iraq. We have discussed the allies' latest military action in Iraq with Jordanian officials.

EDUCATION

  Education Spending
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list for each education authority, the amount per pupil spent on(a) under-fives, (b) primary, (c) 11 to 16 and (d) post-16 education for the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Forth
  Available expenditure data cover nursery and primary schools, or secondary schools, as a whole, and cannot be disaggregated between particular age ranges. The latest year for which information on actual expenditure by local education authorities is available is 1990–91. The tables indicate, for each local education authority in England, the average school-based expenditure per pupil in nursery and primary schools and in secondary schools in each year from 1988–89 to 1990–91.

  Net institutional expenditure per pupil in nursery and primary schools

  1988–89 £

  1989–90 £

  1990–91 £

  ILEA

  1,605

  1,835

  —

  City

  —

  —

  1,950

  Camden

  —

  —

  1,710

  Greenwich

  —

  —

  1,720

  Hackney

  —

  —

  1,900

  Hammersmith

  —

  —

  1,970

  Islington

  —

  —

  1,770

  Kensington

  —

  —

  2,060

  Lambeth

  —

  —

  1,840

  Lewisham

  —

  —

  1,710

  Southwark

  —

  —

  1,850

  Tower Hamlets

  —

  —

  1,940

  Wandsworth

  —

  —

  1,820

  Westminster

  —

  —

  2,110

  Barking

  1,255

  1,360

  1,460

  Barnet

  1,250

  1,370

  1,550

  Bexley

  1,100

  1,215

  1,260

  Brent

  1,375

  1,425

  1,670

  Bromley

  1,165

  1,290

  1,410

  Croydon

  1,180

  1,200

  1,440

  Ealing

  1,385

  1,485

  1,690

  Enfield

  1,110

  1,220

  1,430

  Haringey

  n/a

  n/a

  1,840

  Harrow

  1,115

  1,230

  1,480

  Havering

  1,095

  1,155

  1,290

  Hillingdon

  1,195

  1,305

  1,540

  Hounslow

  1,270

  n/a

  1,510

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  1,175

  1,265

  1,430

  Merton

  1,210

  1,345

  1,750

  Newham

  1,360

  1,445

  1,490

  Redbridge

  1,070

  1,150

  1,350

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,180

  1,375

  1,530

  Sutton

  1,090

  1,215

  1,360

  Waltham Forest

  1,250

  1,430

  1,570

  Birmingham

  1,040

  1,130

  1,260

  Coventry

  1,065

  1,195

  1,300

  Dudley

  1,020

  1,085

  1,230

  Sandwell

  1,175

  1,275

  1,450

  Solihull

  1,040

  1,160

  1,240

  Walsall

  1,200

  1,255

  1,510

  Wolverhampton

  1,190

  1,320

  1,390

  Knowsley

  1,165

  1,235

  1,390

  Liverpool

  1,150

  1,225

  1,290

  St. Helens

  1,050

  1,170

  1,210

  Sefton

  1,015

  1,110

  1,260

  Wirral

  1,070

  1,225

  1,280

  Bolton

  1,015

  1,130

  1,220

  Bury

  1,080

  1,190

  1,190

  Manchester

  n/a

  n/a

  1,320

  Oldham

  1,125

  1,295

  1,370

  Rochdale

  990

  1,170

  1,200

  Salford

  1,085

  1,200

  1,270

  345

  1988–89 £

  1989–90 £

  1990–91 £

  Stockport

  1,035

  1,095

  1,260

  Tameside

  1,115

  1,235

  1,320

  Trafford

  1,050

  1,130

  1,170

  Wigan

  1,025

  1,090

  1,140

  Barnsley

  1,065

  1,145

  1,260

  Doncaster

  1,175

  1,255

  1,250

  Rotherham

  1,125

  1,245

  1,340

  Sheffield

  1,230

  1,315

  1,390

  Bradford

  1,160

  1,275

  1,500

  Calderdale

  1,145

  1,140

  1,440

  Kirklees

  1,110

  1,205

  1,300

  Leeds

  1,155

  1,255

  1,430

  Wakefield

  n/a

  n/a

  1,340

  Gateshead

  1,180

  1,245

  1,390

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,225

  1,320

  1,520

  North Tyneside

  1,145

  n/a

  1,310

  South Tyneside

  1,150

  1,255

  1,290

  Sunderland

  1,005

  1,155

  1,280

  Avon

  1,050

  1,195

  1,320

  Bedfordshire

  1,115

  1,240

  1,380

  Berkshire

  1,030

  1,105

  1,340

  Buckinghamshire

  1,065

  1,170

  1,320

  Cambridgeshire

  1,005

  1,115

  1,260

  Cheshire

  960

  1,050

  1,260

  Cleveland

  1,075

  1,150

  1,230

  Cornwall

  1,010

  1,095

  1,190

  Cumbria

  1,140

  1,265

  1,340

  Derbyshire

  1,080

  1,235

  1,370

  Devon

  975

  1,095

  1,310

  Dorset

  1,020

  1,120

  1,290

  Durham

  1,130

  1,225

  1,370

  East Sussex

  1,025

  1,125

  1,240

  Essex

  1,050

  1,150

  1,240

  Gloucestershire

  1,010

  1,140

  1,200

  Hampshire

  1,040

  1,125

  1,260

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,000

  1,145

  1,360

  Hertfordshire

  1,130

  1,245

  1,340

  Humberside

  1,155

  1,265

  1,280

  Isle of Wight

  1,055

  1,120

  1,250

  Kent

  935

  1,030

  1,120

  Lancashire

  985

  1,090

  1,310

  Leicestershire

  1,085

  1,180

  1,290

  Lincolnshire

  1,005

  1,110

  1,210

  Norfolk

  1,070

  1,160

  1,280

  North Yorkshire

  1,030

  1,100

  1,230

  Northamptonshire

  1,005

  1,095

  1,230

  Northumberland

  1,090

  1,175

  1,320

  Nottinghamshire

  1,115

  1,255

  1,390

  Oxfordshire

  1,125

  1,205

  1,570

  Shropshire

  1,075

  1,160

  1,350

  Somerset

  1,025

  1,145

  1,230

  Staffordshire

  1,050

  1,155

  1,270

  Suffolk

  1,020

  1,120

  1,310

  Surrey

  1,050

  1,140

  1,340

  Warwickshire

  1,025

  1,140

  1,220

  West Sussex

  1,005

  1,145

  1,240

  Wiltshire

  1,045

  1,125

  1,260

  Net institutional expenditure per pupil in secondary schools

  1988–89 £

  1989–90 £

  1990–91 £

  ILEA

  2,505

  2,725

  —

  Camden

  —

  —

  2,290

  Greenwich

  —

  —

  2,390

  Hackney

  —

  —

  2,710

  Hammersmith

  —

  —

  2,670

  Islington

  —

  —

  2,440

  Kensington

  —

  —

  2,900

  Lambeth

  —

  —

  2,580

  Lewisham

  —

  —

  2,430

  Southwark

  —

  —

  2,350

  Tower Hamlets

  —

  —

  2,490

  Wandsworth

  —

  —

  2,520

  Westminster

  —

  —

  2,580

  346

  1988–89 £

  1989–90 £

  1990–91 £

  Barking

  1,970

  2,200

  2,300

  Barnet

  1,820

  1,925

  2,110

  Bexley

  1,685

  1,820

  1,970

  Brent

  2,305

  2,225

  2,360

  Bromley

  1,770

  1,955

  2,220

  Croydon

  2,040

  1,935

  2,080

  Ealing

  2,145

  2,345

  2,580

  Enfield

  1,715

  1,815

  2,080

  Haringey

  n/a

  n/a

  2,590

  Harrow

  1,740

  1,975

  2,320

  Havering

  1,860

  1,990

  2,140

  Hillingdon

  1,870

  2,005

  2,340

  Hounslow

  1,895

  n/a

  2,080

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  1,905

  2,120

  2,240

  Merton

  1,660

  1,925

  1,990

  Newham

  2,140

  2,310

  2,410

  Redbridge

  1,735

  1,855

  2,120

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,645

  1,790

  1,990

  Sutton

  1,630

  1,750

  2,080

  Waltham Forest

  2,435

  2,490

  2,650

  Birmingham

  1,640

  1,800

  2,050

  Coventry

  1,940

  2,180

  2,340

  Dudley

  1,840

  1,915

  2,100

  Sandwell

  1,885

  2,120

  2,300

  Solihull

  1,650

  1,835

  2,080

  Walsall

  1,885

  1,995

  2,260

  Wolverhampton

  1,745

  1,970

  2,120

  Knowsley

  1,990

  2,105

  2,230

  Liverpool

  1,905

  2,060

  2,250

  St. Helens

  1,710

  1,965

  1,960

  Sefton

  1,600

  1,715

  2,030

  Wirral

  1,750

  1,970

  2,110

  Bolton

  1,635

  1,795

  1,990

  Bury

  1,730

  1,860

  1,810

  Manchester

  n/a

  n/a

  2,150

  Oldham

  1,590

  1,760

  1,940

  Rochdale

  1,695

  2,050

  2,140

  Salford

  1,860

  2,140

  2,190

  Stockport

  1,730

  1,860

  2,030

  Tameside

  1,660

  1,770

  1,950

  Trafford

  1,710

  1,920

  2,080

  Wigan

  1,850

  2,000

  2,100

  Barnsley

  1,645

  1,795

  1,820

  Doncaster

  1,655

  1,805

  1,860

  Rotherham

  1,635

  1,810

  1,960

  Sheffield

  1,810

  1,920

  2,150

  Bradford

  1,605

  1,635

  1,780

  Calderdale

  1,665

  1,665

  2,090

  Kirklees

  1,620

  1,765

  1,920

  Leeds

  1,545

  1,715

  1,920

  Wakefield

  n/a

  n/a

  1,940

  Gateshead

  1,770

  1,865

  2,080

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,870

  1,980

  1,990

  North Tyneside

  1,785

  n/a

  1,940

  South Tyneside

  1,825

  2,010

  2,140

  Sunderland

  1,670

  1,845

  1,930

  Avon

  1,630

  1,795

  1,940

  Bedfordshire

  1,635

  1,815

  1,880

  Berkshire

  1,570

  1,735

  1,950

  Buckinghamshire

  1,715

  1,850

  2,050

  Cambridgeshire

  1,480

  1,640

  1,880

  Cheshire

  1,545

  1,715

  1,950

  Cleveland

  1,770

  1,915

  2,090

  Cornwall

  1,525

  1,690

  1,890

  Cumbria

  1,685

  1,845

  2,030

  Derbyshire

  1,755

  1,975

  2,110

  Devon

  1,535

  1,705

  1,950

  Dorset

  1,490

  1,630

  1,810

  Durham

  1,575

  1,735

  1,990

  East Sussex

  1,565

  1,765

  1,980

  Essex

  1,635

  1,800

  1,950

  Gloucestershire

  1,545

  1,735

  1,910

  Hampshire

  1,580

  1,790

  1,970

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  1,440

  1,635

  1,840

  Hertfordshire

  1,740

  1,900

  2,070

  Humberside

  1,690

  1,765

  1,910

  Isle of Wight

  1,495

  1,575

  1,760

  347

  1988–89 £

  1989–90 £

  1990–91 £

  Kent

  1,475

  1,565

  1,800

  Lancashire

  1,620

  1,810

  1,950

  Leicestershire

  1,770

  1,900

  2,090

  Lincolnshire

  1,505

  1,630

  1,910

  Norfolk

  1,585

  1,810

  1,990

  North Yorkshire

  1,595

  1,760

  2,020

  Northamptonshire

  1,545

  1,685

  1,800

  Northumberland

  1,630

  1,645

  1,810

  Nottinghamshire

  1,745

  1,960

  2,220

  Oxfordshire

  1,660

  1,810

  2,160

  Shropshire

  1,690

  1,855

  2,100

  Somerset

  1,570

  1,745

  1,850

  Staffordshire

  1,610

  1,790

  1,930

  Suffolk

  1,485

  1,820

  2,020

  Surrey

  1,635

  1,675

  2,100

  Warwickshire

  1,635

  1,765

  1,890

  West Sussex

  1,530

  1,745

  1,910

  Wiltshire

  1,555

  1,700

  1,890

  Notes to tables:

  1. Figures are derived from LEAs' returns of their spending to the Department of the Environment and of their pupil numbers to the Department for Education. They include school-based spending on salaries and wages, recurrent premises costs, books, equipment and other supplies and services. For 1990–91 they also include unspent balances held by schools at the year end under local management schemes. Figures exclude spending on home to school transport,

  Local education authority

  Net institutional expenditure per pupil £

  Net recurrent expenditure special education £'000s

  Net recurrent expenditure, special education as a percentage of all education Per cent.

  Camden

  13,230

  5,857

  8.9

  Greenwich

  15,190

  13,049

  12.7

  Hackney

  7,920

  6,369

  6.0

  Hammersmith

  13,590

  4,114

  7.2

  Islington

  11,290

  5,065

  6.1

  Kensington

  15,300

  2,088

  5.1

  Lambeth

  9,120

  12,518

  10.3

  Lewisham

  11,370

  8,342

  7.6

  Southwark

  12,900

  8,181

  7.9

  Tower Hamlets

  11,090

  7,575

  7.1

  Wandsworth

  14,950

  9,102

  8.8

  Westminster

  8,390

  4,956

  6.2

  Barking

  16,800

  3,828

  6.7

  Barnet

  8,590

  5,982

  6.2

  Bexley

  7,330

  4,796

  6.5

  Brent

  11,170

  7,165

  6.0

  Bromley

  8,680

  5,754

  6.6

  Croydon

  6,820

  4,058

  3.3

  Ealing

  8,820

  10,244

  7.9

  Enfield

  10,510

  7,822

  7.7

  Haringey

  9,140

  5,070

  4.9

  Harrow

  14,120

  5,582

  7.3

  Havering

  6,500

  3,519

  4.4

  Hillingdon

  9,340

  5,965

  7.0

  Hounslow

  8,460

  6,876

  8.5

  Kingston upon Thames

  7,520

  3,196

  6.7

  Merton

  9,450

  4,183

  7.0

  Newham

  11,350

  7,001

  6.7

  Redbridge

  7,760

  5,624

  7.4

  Richmond upon Thames

  8,440

  2,613

  5.4

  Sutton

  6,020

  3,811

  6.7

  Waltham Forest

  10,680

  6,219

  6.7

  Birmingham

  8,010

  25,526

  6.6

  Coventry

  9,040

  8,503

  6.4

  Dudley

  7,310

  6,456

  6.0

  Sandwell

  5,600

  6,699

  5.4

  Solihull

  12,080

  4,453

  6.3

  Walsall

  7,630

  4,941

  4.2

  Wolverhampton

  7,030

  4,588

  4.3

  Knowsley

  6,790

  5,091

  7.0

  Liverpool

  5,880

  12,648

  6.4

  St. Helens

  6,340

  5,124

  7.1

  348
  school meals, LEAs' central administration and financing costs of capital expenditure.

  2. "n/a" indicates that a return was not received from the LEA. Figures for 1988–89 and 1989–90 are rounded to the nearest £5, and for 1990–91 to the nearest £10.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list for each education authority, the amount per pupil spent on special needs education, the total spent on special needs education and the percentage this represents of the total education budget, for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Forth
  The latest year for which information on actual expenditure is available is 1990–91. The table indicates, for each local education authority in England, net institutional expenditure per pupil in maintained special schools or receiving education otherwise than at school provided by each local education authority; total net recurrent expenditure on special education; and the percentage this represents of the LEA's total net recurrent expenditure on education. The figures for special education exclude expenditure on pupils with special needs attending primary and secondary schools and on services such as child guidance and educational psychology, as the relevant data are not collected separately.
  349

  Local education authority

  Net institutional expenditure per pupil £

  Net recurrent expenditure special education £'000s

  Net recurrent expenditure special education as a percentage of all education Per cent.

  Sefton

  5,370

  4,892

  4.7

  Wirrall

  6,750

  8,316

  6.3

  Bolton

  6,550

  4,909

  5.0

  Bury

  6,130

  3,649

  5.5

  Manchester

  8,670

  14,738

  7.7

  Oldham

  5,990

  4,664

  5.5

  Rochdale

  6,990

  5,197

  6.0

  Salford

  7,800

  5,379

  6.1

  Stockport

  7,140

  6,404

  6.3

  Tameside

  8,250

  5,023

  6.4

  Trafford

  6,550

  3,709

  5.0

  Wigan

  7,070

  7,850

  6.6

  Barnsley

  9,750

  2,959

  4.0

  Doncaster

  4,240

  4,578

  4.2

  Rotherham

  7,260

  7,232

  7.6

  Sheffield

  11,470

  10,281

  5.5

  Bradford

  9,950

  10,716

  5.3

  Calderdale

  6,480

  2,491

  3.3

  Kirklees

  8,200

  7,270

  4.9

  Leeds

  6,380

  8,665

  3.4

  Wakefield

  5,630

  5,828

  5.2

  Gateshead

  8,110

  4,549

  6.2

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  9,430

  6,597

  6.2

  North Tyneside

  8,520

  5,363

  7.3

  South Tyneside

  6,560

  2,797

  4.4

  Sunderland

  5,740

  5,125

  4.8

  Avon

  7,590

  20,867

  6.5

  Bedfordshire

  6,700

  11,258

  5.6

  Berkshire

  6,880

  16,974

  6.7

  Buckinghamshire

  6,450

  15,866

  6.8

  Cambridgeshire

  8,890

  12,396

  5.4

  Cheshire

  9,570

  22,415

  6.5

  Cleveland

  6,390

  11,040

  4.7

  Cornwall

  7,040

  5,265

  3.4

  Cumbria

  9,050

  5,819

  3.3

  Derbyshire

  8,860

  19,722

  5.6

  Devon

  5,590

  17,405

  5.5

  Dorset

  4,960

  10,179

  5.3

  Durham

  8,470

  12,427

  5.8

  East Sussex

  7,650

  16,137

  8.2

  Essex

  7,010

  30,704

  6.1

  Gloucestershire

  7,590

  14,675

  8.0

  Hampshire

  6,250

  35,309

  7.1

  Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  5,040

  10,869

  4.9

  Hertfordshire

  8,760

  23,326

  6.5

  Humberside

  12,310

  18,764

  5.8

  Isle of Wight

  4,270

  2,062

  4.9

  Kent

  5,360

  31,992

  6.8

  Lancashire

  7,760

  40,346

  7.7

  Leicestershire

  7,940

  13,595

  4.1

  Lincolnshire

  9,250

  14,985

  8.0

  Norfolk

  9,480

  13,304

  5.7

  North Yorkshire

  8,950

  13,987

  5.9

  Northamptonshire

  8,620

  13,123

  6.4

  Northumberland

  7,820

  5,549

  5.0

  Nottinghamshire

  6,310

  17,382

  4.7

  Oxfordshire

  8,420

  9,362

  4.8

  Shropshire

  7,880

  7,776

  5.2

  Somerset

  13,890

  11,962

  7.3

  Staffordshire

  6,720

  17,723

  5.0

  Suffolk

  6,170

  8,817

  4.4

  Surrey

  6,690

  21,942

  7.2

  Warwickshire

  8,120

  13,263

  7.7

  West Sussex

  5,740

  13,193

  6.5

  Wiltshire

  6,610

  11,751

  5.9

  Note to table

  1. Figures are derived from LEAs' returns of their spending to the Department of the Environment and of their pupil numbers to the Department for Education.

  2. Net institutional expenditure covers the costs of salaries and wages, recurrent premises costs, books, equipment and other supplies and services. It excludes the costs of home to school transport, school meals, LEAs' central administration, and financing costs of capital expenditure.

  3. Net recurrent expenditure includes all expenditure other than on financing of capital expenditure, less income other than from specific
  350

  351
  grants.

  4. The variations in the figures between LEAs partly reflect the geographical distribution of different kinds of special schools and partly differences in policies of integration of pupils with special needs into ordinary schools.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list in rank order the latest available figures for the percentage of three and four-year-olds in nursery education for each local education authority in England.

  Mr. Forth
  Estimates of the percentage of three and four-year-olds in maintained nursery schools or nursery classes in maintained primary schools in each local education authority in England in January 1991 were published in column (xvii) of table 1 of statistical bulletin 5/92. A copy of this bulletin is available in the Library.

  However, data which have since become available from the 1991 census of population suggest that the estimates of the three and four-year-old population in each local education authority used in bulletin 5/92 are in need of revision in some cases, and therefore that the percentages in column (xvii) of table I also need to be revised. The percentages as they stand do not therefore provide a reliable basis for a listing of local education authorities in rank order.

  It is however not yet possible to re-calculate the percentages in bulletin 5/92 more accurately, or to update them to 1992, because not all of the population estimates required for this purpose are available on a post-census basis.

  Teacher Salaries
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will list, for each education authority not in receipt of area cost adjustment, the average teacher's salary for the last year that figures are available;

  (2) if he will list, for each education authority in receipt of area cost adjustment, the average teacher's salary for the last year that figures are available.

  Mr. Forth
  The most recent date for which figures are available is 31 March 1990.

  The area cost adjustment is designed to compensate local authorities in London and south-east England for additional employment costs incurred in that region. It is based on evidence of general market earnings levels drawn from the annual new earnings survey.

  Some care must be taken in drawing parallels between differentials in average teacher salaries and the area cost adjustment. First, in the field of education, the adjustment compensates for the additional labour costs which apply to all types of staff employed in educational work. While approximately three quarters of total local authority education expenditure is on labour costs, in the current year only half this total expenditure relates to teachers' pay.

  Secondly, the average salary figures given below do not necessarily fully reflect the higher costs of employing teachers in the south-east, since in order to attract teaching staff, authorities in that region have generally found it necessary to offer additional incentives, particularly to help with the costs of housing.

  With these qualifications, the average teacher's salary was, for education authorities which receive area cost adjustment:
  352

  £

  ILEA

  16,662

  Barking

  16,635

  Barnet

  16,075

  Bexley

  16,322

  Brent

  17,059

  Bromley

  16,581

  Croydon

  16,522

  Ealing

  16,781

  Enfield

  16,116

  Haringey

  16,692

  Harrow

  15,982

  Havering

  16,065

  Hillmgdon

  16,411

  Hounslow

  16,118

  Kingston

  16,236

  Merton

  17,137

  Newham

  17,233

  Redbridge

  16,163

  Richmond

  15,939

  Sutton

  16,312

  Waltham Forest

  16,182

  Bedfordshire

  15,501

  Berkshire

  15,581

  Buckinghamshire

  15,283

  East Sussex

  15,315

  Essex

  15,513

  Hampshire

  15,236

  Hertfordshire

  15,531

  Isle of Wight

  15,193

  Kent

  15,492

  Oxfordshire

  15,453

  Surrey

  15,639

  West Sussex

  15,252

  Isles of Scilly

  15,023

  The average teacher's salary was, for local education authorities which do not receive area cost adjustment:

  £

  Birmingham

  15,489

  Coventry

  15,520

  Dudley

  15,079

  Sandwell

  15,309

  Solihull

  15,380

  Walsall

  15,310

  Wolverhampton

  15,314

  Knowsley

  15,447

  Liverpool

  15,531

  St. Helens

  15,289

  Sefton

  15,577

  Wirral

  15,202

  Bolton

  15,034

  Bury

  15,373

  Manchester

  15,672

  Oldham

  14,898

  Rochdale

  15,272

  Salford

  15,348

  Stockport

  15,350

  Tameside

  15,256

  Trafford

  15,379

  Wigan

  15,526

  Barnsley

  15,201

  Doncaster

  15,369

  Rotherham

  15,198

  Sheffield

  15,706

  Bradford

  14,960

  Calderdale

  15,381

  Kirklees

  15,182

  Leeds

  15,421

  Wakefield

  15,390

  Gateshead

  15,592

  Newcastle

  15,428

  353

  £

  North Tyneside

  15,298

  South Tyneside

  15,236

  Sunderland

  15,175

  Avon

  15,477

  Cambridgeshire

  15,196

  Cheshire

  15,477

  Cleveland

  15,349

  Cornwall

  15,499

  Cumbria

  15,409

  Derbyshire

  15,349

  Devon

  15,245

  Dorset

  15,363

  Durham

  15,399

  Gloucestershire

  15,264

  Hereford

  15,496

  Humberside

  15,531

  Lancashire

  15,318

  Leicestershire

  15,434

  Lincolnshire

  15,484

  Norfolk

  15,432

  North Yorkshire

  15,352

  Northampton

  15,273

  Northumberland

  15,496

  Nottinghamshire

  15,472

  Shropshire

  15,441

  Somerset

  15,341

  Staffordshire

  15,530

  Suffolk

  15,220

  Warwickshire

  15,542

  Wiltshire

  15,198

  All these figures are average salaries of full-time teachers in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, including grant-maintained schools.

  Dronfield School, Derbyshire
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the cost of the services of the Electoral Reform Society in conducting the ballot on grant-maintained status at the Dronfield school in Derbyshire.

  Mr. Forth
  The cost of the services of the Electoral Reform Society in conducting the ballot on grant-maintained status at the Dronfield school was £350.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the cost for the printing and distribution of the pack of information relating to grant maintained conferences for heads and governors, midlands.

  Mr. Forth
  The conference material for the events to be held in Leicester in February and in Nottingham and Birmingham in March comprised a letter of invitation and a copy of the standard grant maintained information pack. Production costs for the information packs were approximately £5,500. The mailing of invitations and packs fell within the terms of the contract with the departmental dispatch centre and distribution costs cannot be identified separately.

  Teachers' Authority
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to the need for further legislation to clarify the legal basis of teachers' authority referred to in the Elton report on discipline in schools.
  354
  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend does not consider that further legislation would be appropriate.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish the terms of reference given to the GAH group of consultants for the report on the national lottery commissioned by his Department.

  Mr. Brooke
  All the firms invited to tender for the consultancy were sent the following terms of reference.

  The Commission ANNEX A

  1. The Secretary of State for National Heritage intends to introduce a National Lottery to raise funds for arts, sport, the heritage and charities, and for the Millennium Fund, which will finance projects which celebrate and commemorate the turn of the millennium. The Department of National Heritage will require advice on the key determinants of a successful National Lottery in the United Kingdom. To this end, the contractor is asked to provide a report which covers structure, administration and marketing issues, and includes consideration of the following:

  2. The determinants of a successful Game.

  Lotto/instant lotteries;

  On-line/off-line operations;

  Frequency of games;

  Size and range of prizes, and roll-over provision;

  Retailing strategy.

  3. The Secretary of State is concerned that there should be competition between providers of Lottery goods and services to ensure efficient practice. It is envisaged that one contract will be let to co-ordinate and run the National Lottery, but that a competitive environment will be created in the provision of games. The contractor is asked to provide a suitable model to promote competition and efficiency.

  4. Creating a competitive environment.

  Length of contract awarded to primary operator.

  Separation of services/games offered by sub-contractors.

  Administrative costs of complex/simple arrangements.

  5. Regulatory issues. The contractor is asked to bear in mind the balance to be struck between regulation, innovation, and yield.

  Identify where either on-line or off-line systems might present opportunities for fraud, and ways of avoiding or minimising those opportunities.

  Ways of minimising vulnerability to very large, big-spending syndicates.

  6. Assessing other economic effects. Some respondents to the consultation have claimed that the introduction of a Lottery will seriously damage the turnover of other industries. Some substitution to the Lottery will undoubtedly take place, but it would be helpful to have an estimate of:

  The extent to which the Lottery will tap into new markets. Insofar as existing markets are affected (particularly gambling and charitable giving), advice will be needed on possible changes to the current regimes for those activities, with quantified effects as far as possible. The contractor should for the purposes of this exercise assume no changes in the tax regimes for any of these markets.

  The Method

  7. Given the time constraints, it is not envisaged that the contractor will undertake specific market research for this project but will proceed by modelling, using information already available in the United Kingdom and abroad. Your presentation will need to make clear how you would intend to carry out the commission.

  Royal Armouries Museum
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the projected number of visitors to the royal armouries museum being built in Leeds; what is the projected break-even attendance figure; and what
  355
  commitment the Government have given to secure the future of the royal armouries in the event of the move not breaking even financially.

  Mr. Key
  A nationally recognised firm of market researchers has advised that the proposed museum in Leeds will attract well in excess of 1 million visitors per year, and has confirmed this advice recently.

  The projected break-even attendance figure is well below half the expected number of visitors.

  There is no question of the royal armouries not having a secure future.

  Windsor Castle
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Natioal Heritage how much of the £2.50 that members of the public are being charged to view the fire-damaged rooms at Windsor castle will go to its restoration fund; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  Visitors to the state apartments at Windsor castle are currently being charged a reduced admission fee of £2.50 instead of the normal adult charge of £4 because some rooms are temporarily removed from the public route as a result of the fire. Visitors view only in passing the areas damaged by fire. Admission fees continue to be used for the conservation, presentation and administration of the royal collection.

  KPMG Management Consultants
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to KPMG Management Consultants over the past 12 months.

  Mr. Key
  The Department of National Heritage, which came into being in April 1993, has not awarded any contracts to KPMG Management Consultants during the past 12 months. However, on 5 March 1992 the Department of Trade and Industry awarded a contract to KPMG Management Consultants to carry out a review of British Screen Finance Ltd. The Department of National Heritage inherited this contract when responsibility for film industry policy, including British Screen Finance, passed to this Department on 1 May 1992. The final report was delivered in May 1992.

  Welsh Television
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received regarding the reception of Welsh television services in north east Clwyd; and what has been his response.

  Mr. Brooke
  Since responsibility for broadcasting policy was transferred to the Department of National Heritage in April 1992, we have received representations about Welsh television services in north-east Clwyd only from the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones). We have offered advice on how to improve reception of Welsh programmes in some parts of the area.

TRANSPORT

  Public Transport Fares, London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will update the table of real fares and passenger mileage on London Transport underground and buses given in his answer to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock), 22 July 1991,Official Report, column 336.

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is given in the table. Figures for bus passenger miles, given in the answer referred to, were on a financial year basis from 1984. London Transport has revised its estimates of passenger miles for the years from 1987–88 to 1990–91, so these data are also shown.

  Real fares indices (1971=100)

  Year

  Million passenger miles London bus services

  Year

  London bus services

  London bus and under-ground

  1987–88

  2,646

  1991

  140

  142

  1988–89

  2,629

  1992

  146

  148

  1989–90

  2,588

  —

  —

  —

  1990–91

  2,573

  —

  —

  —

  1991–92

  2,483

  —

  —

  —

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a real fares index for child fares on(a) British Rail, (b) Network SouthEast, (c) London Underground, (d) London Buses and (e) London Transport bus and underground services combined for each year since 1971 expressed at 1971 prices.

  Mr. Steven Norris
  The information available for London Buses, London Underground, and London Transport bus and underground services combined is shown in the table. Comparable figures for British Rail and Network SouthEast are not readily available.

  The figures shown in the table are for child ordinary tickets only. They do not include the effect of changes in the price of child season tickets, travelcards and passes, as this information is not available. The figures shown for bus and all London Transport services start in 1976 because the age band covered by child tickets on buses changed during 1975, and consistent data for earlier years are not available.

  Real fares indices for child ordinary tickets (1976 = 100)

  Bus

  Underground

  London Transport Bus and Underground

  1971

  —

  101

  —

  1972

  —

  111

  —

  1973

  —

  106

  —

  1974

  —

  91

  —

  1975

  —

  96

  —

  1976

  100

  100

  100

  1977

  96

  85

  95

  1978

  90

  92

  90

  1979

  87

  96

  89

  1980

  109

  106

  111

  1981

  105

  98

  106

  1982

  102

  128

  111

  1983

  112

  131

  120

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  Bus

  Underground

  London Transport Bus and Underground

  1984

  107

  120

  113

  1985

  134

  123

  134

  1986

  129

  119

  129

  1987

  124

  138

  129

  1988

  141

  146

  145

  1989

  165

  158

  168

  1990

  152

  172

  161

  1991

  171

  193

  180

  1992

  189

  188

  194

  Ferries
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the incident threatening the safety of the Stena Sealink ferry Hibernia on the night of 16–17 January.

  Mr. Norris
  The incident is the subject of an investigation by the Department's marine accident investigation branch. The inspector appointed to carry out the investigation will in due course submit a report to the the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which ferries currently in service and operating from British ports are comparable in design or class to the Jan Heweliusz.

  Mr. Norris
  There is one ferry operating to British ports that can carry rail freight in a similar manner to the Jan Heweliusz. This is the French-registered ferry Nord Pas cle Calais.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what circumstances and under what powers the Irish or British authorities can intervene to prevent the sailing of ferries between Ireland and the United Kingdorn because of hazardous conditions.

  Mr. Norris
  Unless a vessel has weather restrictions placed on its operation, my Department has no powers to prevent the sailing of ferries because of hazardous weather conditions. The decision to sail is ultimately that of the ship's master.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which ferries currently in service and operating from British ports are comparable in design or class to the Stena Hibernia.

  Mr. Norris
  The Stena Hibernia is typical of the type of ro-ro passenger ferry in service between United Kingdom ports, continental Europe and Ireland, although the design will differ in detail.

  London Underground
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of investment in the London underground system made in 1992–93 and planned for 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Mr. Norris
  Total investment expenditure by London Underground in 1992–93 is currently forecast to be about £680 million. London Transport is still finalising its budget
  359
  plans for future years, in light of the autumn statement, but I expect London Underground investment, including provision for the Jubilee line extension and crossrail, to be in the region of £ 1 billion per annum over the next three years.

  Shipping Statistics
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is his best estimate of the number of vessels passing through the Bristol channel daily;

  (2) what is his estimate of the average number of vessels passing through St. George's channel each day.

  Mr. Norris
  My Department does not hold information on the number of vessels passing through the St. George's channel or the Bristol channel daily.

  Network SouthEast
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the investment made in Network SouthEast in 1992–93 and planned for 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Mr. Freeman
  Around £600 million is being invested in Network SouthEast in 1992–93. Rolling stock, including networkers for Kent link and turbos for Thames and Chiltern, accounts for over half this sum. Other major projects include resignalling schemes on the Great Eastern, London, Tilbury and Southend, Thames, Kent link and Kent coast lines, and Cambridge to King's Lynn electrification. Some of these projects will continue in 1993–94 including the delivery of more rolling stock for Kent link and Thames. However, British Rail has yet to be make final decisions on its detailed investment plans for 1993–94 to 1995–96.

  Oil Spills
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is, in both cash and constant prices, the amount of financial support his Department has given to fund research into oil spill clean-ups in each year since financial year 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The expenditure on research into oil spill clean-ups in the years specified was:

  Year

  Expenditure £

  Deflated to 1987–88 prices £

  1987–88

  988,938

  1988–89

  741,975

  691,621

  1989–90

  737,089

  644,687

  1990–91

  874,603

  708,410

  1991–92

  610,464

  462,506

  1992–93

  1830,000

  603,197

  1 Estimate.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration has been given to the use of napalm to tackle the oil slick resulting from the Braer disaster; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  My Department considers all available techniques when dealing with oil pollution at sea in oil spill 360
  incidents. Burning the slick would not have been appropriate in the Braer incident due to the location of the vessel and the weather conditions. My Department has also commissioned a research project to review burning as a response option.

  Transport Links
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations have been made by his Department to the European Commission's request that a full evaluation should be undertaken of all transport links between the United Kingdom and Ireland.

  Mr. Norris
  I am not aware of any such request from the Commission.

  Planning Appeal, Ealing
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy not to oppose the application or the continuation of the appeal proceedings in the matter of the planning appeal being heard at the Ealing town hall and relating to the access to Norbreck parade, London NW10, from the north circular road, on the grounds that the appellant may not in fact at present own the land in question.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department's grounds for opposing this application are set out in its proofs of evidence submitted to the public inquiry. These and all other evidence submitted are matters for the inspector to consider before making his recommendations to the Secretary of State for the Environment.

WALES

  Capital Receipts
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the level of(a) housing and (b) other capital receipts held by each Welsh district council at the end of the year 1991–92 which they are unable to spend.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  For the year in question under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the capital finance regulations made under the provisions of that Act, a proportion of capital receipts is available for the redemption of debt with the balance being available either for voluntary debt redemption or for new capital spending. Debt redemption, or the holding of receipts set aside for this purpose, reduces or offsets the interest charges that have to be borne by a local authority or its housing revenue account and there are no capital receipts that cannot be used either in that way or for new capital spending.

  Accident Trauma Specialists
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many accident trauma specialists have been employed within each health authority area of Wales during each of the last five years.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The available information, which relates to consultants in the specialty of traumatic and orthopaedic surgery, is given in the table. It is not known centrally how many of these consultants are accident trauma specialists.
  361

  Traumatic and orthopaedic surgery consultants in post as at 30 September (whole-time equivalents)1

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Clwyd

  4.0

  4.0

  4.1

  4.5

  3.9

  East Dyfed

  3.9

  3.9

  4.9

  4.9

  5.9

  Gwent

  5.8

  6.0

  5.9

  6.9

  6.9

  Gwynedd

  2.4

  2.5

  2.0

  3.0

  3.0

  Mid Glamorgan

  6.0

  6.8

  6.8

  6.8

  6.8

  Pembrokeshire

  2.0

  2.0

  2.0

  2.0

  2.0

  Powys

  0.3

  0.3

  0.3

  0.3

  0.3

  South Glamorgan

  4.8

  5.8

  4.9

  4.8

  4.8

  West Glamorgan

  7.0

  7.0

  6.9

  6.9

  7.6

  1 Excluding locums.

  Further Education
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to launch a review of further education provision for students with learning difficulties and physical disabilities in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Further education is currently a matter for the local education authorities. On 1 April, the Further Education Funding Council for Wales assumes responsibility for planning and funding the sector. In the Secretary of State's guidance letter of 27 May 1992 to the chairman of the funding council he asked that the council ensures that adequate arrangements are in place for assessing the needs of students with learning difficulties and disabilities and for identifying appropriate provision within further education.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated total number of people he has currently appointed to public bodies in Wales; and what is the estimated total annual amount paid to those members appointed by him to public bodies in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The total number of people I have currently appointed to public bodies in Wales is 1,195. Information on the total amount paid to those members appointed is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information on the level of remuneration for each appointment was given in the reply I gave the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 30 October 1992, at columns 866–908.

  Transport Links
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action has been taken to date by his Department in response to the European Commission's invitation to the United Kingdom to undertake a feasibility study as background to the pilot project on transport links between Holyhead and Dublin.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My officials have been discussing with colleagues in the Department of Transport possible terms of reference for a feasibility study into combined transport links between Great Britain and Ireland.

  Ramp Metering
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to introduce ramp metering on motorway and dual carriageway approach roads in Wales.
  362
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  None at this time.

  Alcohol Projects
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps will be taken to ring-fence money for residential alcohol projects in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Resources being transferred far residential facilities under the care in the community arrangements will be ring-fenced. The Department will continue to support individual projects aimed at combating alcohol misuse.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what charge is made for replacement hearing aids for adults and children by(a) South Glamorgan health authority and (b) other health authorities in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The National Health Service Act 1977 enables the making of regulations to provide for health authorities to recover the cost of lost or damaged equipment. The National Health Service (Charges for Appliances) Regulations 1974 make such provision. It is for individual health authorities to assess how much to charge for replacing appliances and information on charges made is not held centrally.

  Early Retirement
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many employees aged 55 years or over have retired early on grounds of ill-health in Wales in each year since 1985.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This information is not available centrally.

  Roadworks
  Mr. Llywd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to issue a code of practice on the reduction of traffic delays around roadworks in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Advice on reducing delays around roadworks is available to highway authorities in Wales.

  Special Needs Education
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much extra money will be allocated for the assessment of support services and placements for students with learning difficulties and physical disabilities in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The allocation of funds to the further education sector will become the responsibility of the Further Education Funding Council for Wales from 1 April. The Secretary of State announced on 15 December 1992 the planned funding for further education in Wales from 1993–94 to 1995–96. The Secretary of State has acknowledged that additional costs are involved in making provision for students with special needs and has asked that the funding council take this into account in distributing funds to the FE colleges.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to set a target time in which valuation tribunals in Wales will complete a council tax valuation appeal.
  363
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  When the number of appeals coming forward in 1993 is known, we will agree with the tribunal service and the Valuation Office agency a broad timetable for their disposal. The Government will keep under review the progress of tribunals in disposing of appeals. The time taken to clear individual appeals will vary with the particular circumstances of the appeal. It would not be practicable to set a time within which an individual appeal should be settled.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Official Information
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will list the statutory provisions restricting disclosure of official information, other than the Official Secrets Acts, which came into force after the publication of the list of provisions in appendix V of the Franks report, Cmnd 5104;

  (2) if he will publish a list of the clauses containing provisions bearing upon the disclosure of official information which appear in Government Bills published since 2 April 1990.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher) on 2 November 1992, at column 55.

ENVIRONMENT

  Tenants Cash Incentive Scheme
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the amount used by each local authority in the United Kingdom, as a percentage of its housing budget, to fund the tenants cash incentive scheme in the last financial year.

  Mr. Baldry
  The available information for authorities in England operating approved cash incentive schemes in 1991–92 is given in the table. Corresponding data for authorities in other parts of the United Kingdom are the responsibility of the Secretaries of State for the territorial Departments.

  Local authority expenditure on cash incentive schemes in England in 1991–92 as a proportion of total housing capital expenditure by local authority

  Local authority

  Percentage

  Yorkshire and Humberside Region

  Hambleton

  2

  East Midlands

  Daventry

  1

  East Northamptonshire

  4

  South Kesteven

  1

  Eastern

  Aylesbury Vale

  5

  Basildon

  5

  Castle Point

  19

  Colchester

  11

  Dacorum

  8

  East Hertfordshire

  8

  Huntingdonshire

  1

  Luton

  6

  North Hertfordshire

  1

  Peterborough

  2

  Rochford

  35

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  Local authority

  Percentage

  Southend-on-Sea

  6

  St. Albans

  6

  Stevenage

  5

  Three Rivers

  2

  Watford

  4

  Greater London

  Barnet

  4

  Brent

  11

  Bromley

  6

  Camden

  2

  Croydon

  13

  Ealing

  13

  Enfield

  13

  Hackney

  3

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  4

  Haringey

  5

  Harrow

  14

  Havering

  4

  Hillingdon

  13

  Hounslow

  12

  Islington

  8

  Kensington and Chelsea

  10

  Kingston upon Thames

  15

  Lambeth

  4

  Lewisham

  2

  Merton

  6

  Redbridge

  2

  Richmond upon Thames

  9

  Southwark

  2

  Sutton

  19

  Tower Hamlets

  1

  Waltham Forest

  5

  Wandsworth

  9

  Westminster

  9

  South East

  Adur

  8

  Arun

  2

  Bracknell Forest

  4

  Brighton

  4

  Canterbury

  3

  Cherwell

  3

  Chichester

  3

  Dartford

  7

  Dover

  8

  Eastbourne

  10

  East Hampshire

  2

  Eastleigh

  3

  Elmbridge

  6

  Fareham

  7

  Gillingham

  4

  Gosport

  6

  Gravesham

  —

  Guildford

  1

  Hart

  9

  Hastings

  5

  Havant

  6

  Horsham

  11

  Hove

  5

  Lewes

  1

  Maidstone

  7

  Mole Valley

  10

  New Forest

  3

  Oxford

  2

  Portsmouth

  8

  Reading

  6

  Reigate and Banstead

  5

  Rother

  5

  Rushmoor

  7

  Runnymede

  4

  Shepway

  2

  Slough

  8

  Southampton

  2

  Spelthorne

  5

  Tandridge

  9

  Test Valley

  4

  365

  Local authority

  Percentage

  Thanet

  4

  Tunbridge Wells

  4

  Vale of White Horse

  3

  Wealden

  2

  Woking

  7

  Wokingham

  13

  Worthing

  5

  South West

  Bournemouth

  2

  Carrick

  4

  Exeter

  1

  Kennet

  —

  Mendip

  2

  Poole

  1

  Restmorel

  —

  Stroud

  2

  Teignbridge

  1

  Woodspring

  1

  West Midlands

  Malvern Hills

  —

  Solihull

  —

  Stafford

  1

  Wyre Forest

  1

  Source: 1992 HIP2 returns submitted by local authorities

  '—' = less than ½ per cent.

  Disclosure of Information
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions have been carried out under section 206 of the Water Industry Act 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Neither my Department nor the Office of Water Services collect information about prosecutions under the provisions of section 206 of the Water Industry Act 1991. No such prosecutions have been otherwise brought to my attention.

  Construction Industry Inquiry
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure representation of client interests in the construction industry inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are having discussions with several bodies about the representation of public and private client interests in the proposed review. We hope to finalise the arrangements shortly.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the terms of reference of the inquiry into the construction industry will include retention money reform.

  Mr. Baldry
  The purpose of the proposed review is to consider and make recommendations to the Government, the construction industry and its clients on those matters that cause conflict in the shape of procurement and contracts. The question of retention money is one of many matters that we would expect to be included.

  Multi-occupied Houses
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what records local authorities are required to keep on the environmental standard of multi-occupied houses and, specifically, on whether such accommodation has adequate cooking facilities.

  Sir George Young
  There is no general requirement for local authorities to keep such records. However, a local authority must maintain a register of all notices served under section 352 of the Housing Act 1985, as amended by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. An authority may serve a notice under this section where it considers that the facilities in a house in multiple occupation—HMO—render the house unfit for occupation. The requirement includes adequate facilities for the storage, preparation and cooking of food.

  Local authorities have the power under section 346 of the Act to set up a registration scheme for the HMOs in their area. The Department's model scheme suggests that the register should contain details about each house, including the number of rooms in the house used exclusively as kitchens or sculleries and bathrooms, and the number of sanitary and washing facilities.

  Bosnian Refugees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Bosnian refugees have been housed in local authority accommodation; and how much money has been allocated to replacing that accommodation(a) nationally and (b) in the city of Nottingham.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department does not hold details of the national origins of people allocated accommodation under the homelessness legislation. As the Minister for Housing and Planning, my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young), announced on 16 November 1992, at column 54, the Government are making available a special grant for local authorities faced with exceptional costs arising from the influx of refugees from the former Yugoslav republic; the distribution of that grant has not yet been decided.

  Pollution Control
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to review the implementation and enforcement of the integrated pollution control system established through the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Integrated pollution control is being phased in between 1991 and 1996. We are satisfied that it is being properly implemented and enforced by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and that its introduction is proceeding according to timetable. It is our policy to keep this, and all other systems for which the Department is responsible, under review.

  Composting Units
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to provide financial assistance to(a) local authorities, (b) farmers and (c) private companies in the setting up of commercial composting units.
  367
  Mr. Maclean
  Local authorities, in partnership with the private sector where appropriate, are able to apply for supplementary credit approvals for recycling projects. Private companies which are developing new recycling technologies or processes may seek grants under the ETIS and DEMOS schemes. While my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has the responsibility for providing grants to farmers for works to prevent pollution from agricultural waste, he has no plans to extend these grants to businesses of this type.

  Packaging
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his targets for reducing the overall amount of packaging materials used to package goods under the EC directive on packaging and packaging waste.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Commission's proposal for a directive is still in its early stages. It is not yet clear what the final shape of any directive that is adopted may be. I consider therefore that it is premature for the United Kingdom to set targets now given that the current proposals may be changed substantially during negotiations between member states. We already have a target of recycling 25 per cent. of household waste, a substantial amount of the recyclable proportion of which is packaging materials.

  Bed-and-breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often bed-and-breakfast accommodation, occupied by homeless families, is required to be inspected by an environmental health officer; and what are the provisions under which such an inspection takes place.

  Sir George Young
  Section 605 of the Housing Act 1985, as amended, requires a local authority to consider the housing conditions in their district in this regard at least once a year. It is for each authority to decide on an inspection programme in the light of circumstances.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been undertaken to establish how many homeless households living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation have refused offers of permanent accommodation since 1989.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department has conducted no research on this matter in relation to the period in question.

  Local Authority Tendering
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he gives to local authorities involved in placing work out to tender with the private sector concerning the notification of changes by local authorities to the original specification once the original invitation to tender is issued and the tendering process is under way; and if he will list the relevant statutes.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not issued any guidance to local authorities on this specific aspect of tendering procedure.

  The statutes relevant to public purchasing are:

  —for compulsory competitive tendering:
  368

  The Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980

  The Local Government Act 1988

  The Local Government Act 1982

  and regulations made under those Acts.

  —for more general purchasing, regulations made to implement in the United Kingdom:

  (European Economic Community) Directive 71/305/EEC, as amended by 89/440/EEC. (Public Sector Works Directive)

  Directive 77/62/EEC, as amended by 88/295/EEC. (Supplies Directive)

  Directive 92/50/EEC. (Services Directive)

  Architects Registration Council
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to abolish the Architects Registration Council.

  Sir George Young
  The Department has received the report by Mr. John Warne CB of his review of the Architects (Registration) Acts 1931 to 1969. We are at present considering its recommendations and will make an announcement shortly.

  Tyre Dumps
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tyre dumps it is estimated will be subject to the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 when these are introduced on 1 April 1993; and what additional financial provision is to be made to the local waste regulation authorities by his Department.

  Mr. Maclean
  Under legislation in the Control of Pollution Act 1974, sites used for the deposit of waste tyres must be licensed for that purpose. This will continue to be the case after the introduction of the new waste management licensing system in the Environmental Protection Act 1990, scheduled for 1 April 1993; unless exempt, all waste tyre dumps will be subject to the requirements of this system. However, it is proposed that where the waste tyres are being kept in limited quantities prior to recycling, such storage should be exempted from the requirements.

  At the same time as the new licensing system is introduced, a scheme of fees and charges will be made, which will enable waste regulation authorities to recover their reasonable administrative costs incurred in considering licence applications and supervising licensed activities. Thus authorities will be provided with an income in respect of activities which for the most part they already carry out.

  Furthermore, resources of £12 million have been set aside for supplementary credit approvals to local authorities for landfill gas and contaminated land remedial works in the financial year 1993–94.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to set a target time in which valuation tribunals in England will complete a council tax band appeal.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  When the number of council tax appeals arising in 1993 is known, we will agree with the valuation tribunal service and the Valuation Office agency a broad timetable for disposing of them. We will then keep progress under review. Since the time taken to clear
  369
  individual appeals will vary with the particular circumstances of the case, it would not be practicable to set a specific deadline for each one.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received(a) in favour of and (b) against the decision, announced on 13 November 1992, to reduce the urban programme for 1993–94.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The 97 letters received up to and including 4 January 1993, to which I referred in my answer to the hon. Member of 11 January, at column 655, either sought clarification or expressed concern about the new arrangements for the urban programme. In reply, we have made clear that there will be a substantial urban programme in 1993–94 amounting to £176 million and that we have demonstrated our continuing commitment to urban regeneration by increasing planned resources for my Department's urban group of programmes for 1993–94 by over £90 million; total spending will be over £1 billion.

  RTB2 and S.125 delays monitoring exercise September 1992

  Monthly monitored boroughs

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  (4)

  (5)

  (6)

  RTB2 delays

  S.125 delays

  RTB2 and S.125 delays

  September 1992

  September 1992

  September 1991

  September 1992

  Difference between column 3 and 4

  Total sales figures 1991–92

  Hackney

  1

  43

  293

  44

  249

  615

  Lambeth

  11

  12

  869

  23

  864

  913

  Sub Total

  12

  55

  1,162

  67

  —

  1,528

  Average

  6

  28

  581

  34

  —

  764

  Non-monitored boroughs

  City

  2

  1

  1

  3

  (2)

  53

  Barking

  1

  3

  2

  4

  (2)

  431

  Barnet

  1

  1

  4

  2

  2

  1220

  Bexley

  0

  2

  5

  2

  3

  118

  Brent

  2

  7

  16

  9

  7

  1349

  Bromley

  0

  0

  4

  0

  4

  348

  Camden

  2

  6

  17

  8

  9

  1334

  Croydon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  372

  Ealing

  2

  17

  23

  19

  4

  1481

  Enfield

  2

  15

  12

  17

  (5)

  314

  Greenwich

  15

  69

  106

  84

  22

  369

  Hammersmith

  0

  77

  88

  77

  11

  242

  Haringey

  9

  7

  26

  16

  10

  1363

  Harrow

  0

  2

  58

  2

  56

  138

  Havering

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2249

  Hillingdon

  5

  39

  31

  44

  (13)

  2609

  Hounslow

  2

  45

  58

  47

  11

  353

  Islington

  64

  42

  149

  106

  43

  1403

  Kensington

  2

  46

  39

  48

  (9)

  1120

  Kingston

  0

  7

  20

  7

  13

  120

  Lewisham

  1

  18

  74

  19

  55

  546

  Merton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  214

  Newham

  33

  85

  79

  118

  (39)

  1340

  Redbridge

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  205

  Richmond

  0

  13

  13

  13

  0

  205

  Southwark

  55

  74

  128

  129

  (1)

  1582

  Sutton

  0

  13

  16

  13

  3

  148

  Tower Hamlets

  0

  0

  5

  0

  5

  1363

  Waltham Forest

  2

  26

  37

  28

  9

  189

  Wandsworth

  0

  1

  3

  1

  2

  1840

  Westminster

  0

  1

  16

  1

  15

  445

  Sub Total

  200

  617

  1,030

  817

  —

  10,063

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information is available on the recent right-to-buy performance of London authorities.

  Mr. Baldry
  The right-to-buy performance of London authorities has been monitored by my Department for a number of years. Annual monitoring is carried out of each authority's performance at the end of September, with poor performers submitting additional reports on a monthly basis. Data from the latest survey is given in the table.

  I am pleased to report that data for September 1992 show that the number of tenants whose applications are being unduly delayed continues to decline. Across London as a whole delays beyond statutory deadlines have fallen by 60 per cent. from 2,192 to 884. This compares with more than 15,000 delayed cases in March 1989 when the Government's "tenants sanctions" procedures came into effect.

  Only two authorities—Hackney and Lambeth—were monitored on a monthly basis in 1992. I am glad to say that the performance of both authorities is now very much better and it has been possible for me to agree that monthly monitoring of Lambeth should cease. Monthly monitoring of Hackney continues, but will also cease if Hackney's improved performance is maintained.
  371

  Monthly monitored boroughs

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  (4)

  (5)

  (6)

  RTB2 delays

  S.125 delays

  RTB2 and S.125 delays

  September 1992

  September 1992

  September 1991

  September 1992

  Difference between column 3 and 4

  Total sales figures 1991–92

  Average

  6

  20

  33

  26

  —

  325

  Totals

  212

  672

  2,192

  884

  —

  11,591

  London Average

  6

  20

  66

  27

  —

  351

  Note:

  Brent, Camden, Haringey, Hounslow, Islington, Lewisham, Newham, Richmond, Southwark and Tower Hamlets were monitored up to September 1991.

  1Incomplete Data. Annual estimates based on available quarterly figures.

  2Data from 1990–91 returns as figures for 1991–92 not available.

  Source: LRH7 monitoring exercise and Cartwright Tables produced by HDS.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why the sparsity indicator for standard spending assessments has increased in value against the grant-related expenditure allocation position.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: The allowance for sparsity within standard spending assessments follows extensive statistical analysis and the consideration of other evidence provided by local authority representatives. It reflects the Government's current view of the additional costs of providing local services associated with population sparsity.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how the standard level of service is defined for the purpose of standard spending assessments; and how this standard is arrived at.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 19 January 1993]: The standard level of service is that which is consistent with the Government's view of the appropriate total amount of revenue expenditure for all local authorities —that is, "total standard spending". This figure takes into account the various pressures on local authority services, any changes in local authority functions or new burdens, and the potential for improved efficiency in service delivery. It also reflects the Government's view of what taxpayers, both locally and nationally, can afford.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what economies of scale are identified within the standard spending assessment formulae.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 19 January 1993]: Standard spending assessments take account of a wide range of indicators of the physical, demographic, and social characteristics of local authorities. We have no evidence that expenditure needs are affected by the size of an authority in itself, over and above the extent to which size is already reflected in the existing indicators such as population.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account is taken of the distribution of low-paid groups, other than recipients of income support, in calculating standard spending assessments.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 19 January 1993]: There is no explicit reference within the calculation of standard spending assessments to the distribution of
  372
  low-paid groups, other than through indicators based on income support claimants. However, the use of the children's and all ages social indices within the calculation of the personal social services and all other services elements of the standard spending assessment reflects the fact that the costs of providing some services are higher in areas with poorer social conditions relative to those with above average social conditions.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each county, London and metropolitan borough the standard spending assessment per person for the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  A table containing the information requested has been placed in the Library. This also includes a column showing standard spending assessments per head for 1992–93 adjusted for changes in function which are consistent with those figures shown in the table placed in the Library in response to a question from the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw),fficial Report,1 December 1992, column 155.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) those authorities which have made representations about his local government finance proposals for 1993–94 (i) in writing and (ii) by way of a delegation to Ministers, (b) a summary of the points made by each authority, (c) the duration of each meeting and (d) any ministerial responses to the representations, including any promised changes in relevant notional amounts.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: The tables list authorities which have made representations to myself and other Ministers in my Department on my proposals for the local government finance settlement generally and specifically on my proposals for relevant notional amounts.

  I intend to present the settlement reports embodying my decisions to the House shortly. A summary of points made by each authority can only be prepared at disproportionate cost. Records are not made of the duration of meetings. As regards notional amounts, I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Evans) on 12 November 1992, at columns 962–63.
  Table A—local authorities in England from which representations were received on the proposed local government finance settlement for 1993–94 by the Secretary of

  373
  State for the Environment in writing between 26 November 1992 and 18 January 1993 other than those specifically on the subject of notional amounts.

  All purpose
  Isles of Scilly

  Single purpose authorities

  Merseyside Fire

  West MidlandsFire

  South Yorkshire Fire

  West Yorkshire Fire

  West Yorkshire Police

  West Mercia Police

  London

  Barnet

  Brent

  Bromley

  Camden

  Croydon

  Ealing

  Enfield

  Greenwich

  Hackney

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Haringey

  Harrow

  Havering

  Hillingdon

  Hounslow

  Islington

  Kingston upon Thames

  Lambeth

  Merton

  Newham

  Redbridge

  Richamond upon Thames

  Southwark

  Tower Hamlets

  Wandsworth

  Westminster

  Metropolitan Districts

  Barnsley

  Birmingham City

  Bradford City

  Bury

  Calderdale

  Coventry City

  Dudley

  Gateshead

  Kirklees

  Leeds City

  Liverpool City

  Manchester City

  North Tyneside

  Oldham

  Rochdale

  St. Helens

  Sandwell

  Sefton

  Sheffield City

  Solihull

  South Tyneside

  Stockport

  Sunderland

  Wakefield City

  Walsall

  Wolverhampton

  Shire Counties

  Avon

  Berkshire

  Buckinghamshire

  Cambridgeshire

  Cheshire

  Cleveland

  Cornwall

  Derbyshire

  374

  Devon

  Dorset

  Durham

  Gloucestershire

  Hampshire

  Hereford

  Hertfordshire

  Humberside

  Isle of Wight

  Kent

  Lancashire

  Leicestershire

  Lincolnshire

  Norfolk

  Northumberland

  North Yorkshire

  Nottinghamshire

  Oxfordshire

  Shropshire

  Somerset

  Staffordshire

  Suffolk

  Surrey

  Warwickshire

  West Sussex

  Shire districts

  Adur

  Alnwick

  Ashfield

  Basildon

  Bath City

  Beverley

  Blackburn

  Blackpool

  Blyth Valley

  Bolsover

  Bournemouth

  Braintree

  Brighton

  Bristol City

  Broadland

  Burnley

  Cambridge City

  Caradon

  Castle Morpeth

  Castle Point

  Chelmsford

  Cheltenham

  Chester City

  Chesterfield

  Chiltern

  Chorley

  Christchurch

  Colchester

  Congleton

  Copeland

  Crawley

  Dacorum

  Darlington

  Daventry

  Derby City

  Eastbourne

  East Devon

  East Dorset

  East Hertfordshire

  Eastleigh

  East Lindsey

  East Yorkshire

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  Epsom and Ewell

  Fylde

  Gedling

  Glanford

  Great Grimsby

  Great Yarmouth

  Halton

  Hambleton

  Harborough

  Harlow

  375

  Harrogate

  Hartlepool

  Havant

  Hertsmere

  Hinckley & Bosworth

  Holderness

  Hove

  Hyndburn

  Ipswich

  Kettering

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  Kingswood

  Lancaster

  Leicester City

  Lewes

  Luton

  Macclesfield

  Malvern Hills

  Mansfield

  Mid Bedfordshire

  Mid Suffolk

  Mid Sussex

  Milton Keynes

  Newark & Sherwood

  Northampton

  Northavon

  North Cornwall

  North Hertfordshire

  North Kesteven

  North Shropshire

  North Warwickshire

  Norwich City

  Nottingham City

  Nuneaton & Bedworth

  Oswestry

  Oxford City

  Pendle

  Penwith

  Plymouth City

  Poole

  Portsmouth City

  Purbeck

  Reading

  Ribble Valley

  Rochester-upon-Medway City

  Rochford

  Rossendale

  Rother

  Rugby

  Rushcliffe

  Ryedale

  Salisbury

  Selby

  Shepway

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  Slough

  Southampton

  South Derbyshire

  Southend-upon Sea

  South Lakeland

  South Norfolk

  South Northamptonshire

  South Ribble

  South Staffordshire

  South Wight

  Stafford

  Stoke-on-Trent

  Stratford-on-Avon

  Suffolk Coastal

  Surrey Heath

  Teignbridge

  Tendring

  Thamesdown

  Thanet

  Three Rivers

  Tonbridge & Mailing

  Uttlesford

  Wansdyke

  Warrington

  Watford

  376

  Wear Valley

  Welwyn Hatfield

  West Lancashire

  West Lindsey

  West Wiltshire

  Weymouth & Portland

  Windsor & Maidenhead

  Wokingham

  Woodspring

  Worcester City

  Wrekin

  Wyre

  Wyre Forest

  York City

  Table B—local authorities in England from which representations were received by the Secretary of State for the Environment specifically on relevant notional amounts for the local government finance settlement for 1993–94 in writing between 26 November 1992 and 18 January 1993

  Inner London

  City of London

  Camden

  Greenwich

  Hackney

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Lambeth

  Lewisham

  Southwark (late)

  Tower Hamlets

  Wandsworth

  Outer London

  Barking and Dagenham

  Barnet

  Brent

  Bromley

  Enfield

  Haringey

  Harrow

  Havering

  Hillingdon

  Merton

  Newham

  Richmond

  Metropolitan districts

  Bury

  Manchester

  Oldham

  Rochdale

  Salford

  Stockport

  Tameside

  Wigan

  Sefton

  St. Helens

  Barnsley

  Doncaster

  Sheffield

  Gateshead

  Sunderland

  Birmingham

  Coventry

  Sandwell

  Walsall

  Calderdale

  Leeds

  Wakefield

  Police authorities
  Northumbria

  Shire districts

  Allerdale

  Ashfield

  Ashford

  Blackpool

  Blyth Valley

  Bolsover

  Boothferry

  Braintree

  377

  Bridgnorth

  Broxtowe

  Canterbury

  Carlisle

  Castle Point

  Castle Morpeth

  Cherwell

  Chester-le-Street

  Chesterfield

  Chiltern

  Christchurch

  Colchester

  Crawley

  Dacorum

  Dartford

  Daventry

  East Hampshire

  East Lindsey

  East Devon

  East Hertfordshire

  Eastleigh

  Ellesmere Port

  Fenland

  Forest Heath

  Fylde

  Gosport

  Harborough

  Harlow

  Harrogate

  Hastings

  Kettering

  Kingston-upon-Hill

  Lancaster

  Leicester

  Leominster

  Maidstone

  Malvern Hills

  Mansfield

  Middlesbrough

  North East Derbyshire

  North Shropshire

  North Warwickshire

  New Forest

  Northampton

  Norwich

  Penwith

  Rochester-upon-Medway

  Rother

  Rushcliffe

  Ryedale

  Salisbury

  Scarborough

  Sevenoaks

  South Somerset

  St. Albans

  Stafford

  Tendring

  Thurrock

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  Uttlesford

  West Lindsey

  Warwick

  Watford

  Waveney

  Wealden

  Weymouth

  Worthing

  Wychavon

  Wyre

  Wyre Forest

  Counties

  Avon

  Buckinghamshire

  Cambridgeshire

  Cheshire

  Cleveland

  Cornwall

  Cumbria

  Derbyshire

  378

  Devon

  DorsetDurham

  Gloucestershire

  Hampshire

  Hereford and Worcester

  Hertfordshire

  Humberside

  Isle of Wight

  Kent

  Lancashire

  Lincolnshire

  Northamptonshire

  Northumberland

  North Yorkshire

  Nottinghamshire

  Oxfordshire

  Shropshire

  Somerset

  Staffordshire

  Suffolk

  Warwickshire

  West Sussex

  Table C—Local authorities in England from which representations were made on the proposed local government finance settlement for 1993–94 in person to the Secretary of State for the Environment and his Ministers.

  London Boroughs

  Barnet

  Brent

  Camden

  Enfield

  Greenwich

  Hackney

  Haringey

  Harrow

  Havering

  Hillingdon

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  Lambeth

  Lewisham

  Merton

  Newham

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  Sutton

  Metropolitan Districts

  Barnsley

  Birmingham

  Bury

  Coventry

  Manchester

  North

  Tyneside

  Salford

  St. Helens

  Sandwell

  Sheffield

  Solihull

  Wigan

  Liverpool city council

  Single Purpose Authorities

  Merseyside Fire and Civil Defence

  South Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence

  West Midlands Fire and Civil Defence

  West Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence

  West Yorkshire Police

  Shire counties

  Avon

  Berkshire

  Cambridgeshire

  Cleveland

  Cornwall

  Devon

  Dorset

  Derbyshire

  Gloucestershire

  Hertfordshire

  Isle of Wight

  Lancashire

  379

  Lincolnshire

  Northumberland

  Nottinghamshire

  Shropshire

  Staffordshire

  Surrey

  West Sussex

  Shire Districts

  Adur

  Blyth Valley

  Bournemouth

  Braintree

  Copeland

  Darlington

  Derby

  Eastbourne

  East Cambridgeshire

  East Dorset

  Harborough

  Harlow

  Havant

  Lancaster

  Lewes

  Luton

  Malvern Hills

  Middlesbrough

  Milton Keynes

  Northampton

  North Cornwall

  North Kesteven

  Nottingham

  Oswestry

  Pendle

  Portsmouth

  Ryedale

  South Wight

  Stoke-on-Trent

  Tendring

  Wansbeck

  Welwyn Hatfield

  Wrekin

  Glanford

  All Purpose Authority
  Scilly Isles

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the requirement of section 67(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for an authority to hold a full council meeting in order to calculate its tax base used in the section 33 calculation of the basic amount of council tax; how many authorities have been obliged to hold special council meetings for this purpose; and what plans he has to seek a change in the requirement.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: We have received several representations on this matter. We do not have information on each authority's arrangements for council meetings, which are matters for the authorities concerned. We have no plans to change the requirements for calculating tax bases.

  Tower Blocks, Enfield
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (I) what representations he has received from the London borough of Enfield following publication of the Building Research Establishment's report into unsafe tower blocks in Enfield;

  (2) what conclusions he has drawn from the report from the Building Research Establishment into the safety standards of tower blocks in Enfield; and if he will make a statement.
  380
  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 19 January 1993]: The London borough of Enfield has discussed the Building Research Establishment's initial assessment of consultants' reports with my Department. BRE's current work for the borough follows our long-standing recommendations on the appraisal of high-rise blocks. Any eventual findings will be taken into account when considering the borough's housing investment programme.

  Water Disconnections
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statistics he has for the number of disconnections of water supplied to inhabited domestic premises for the year 1990–91 and subsequently; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mrs. Jackson) on 4 November 1992, at columns 234–35.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the handling method for the proposed dumping of radioactive materials from RAF Sealand accords with the practice embodied in the licence for the tip at Arpley Meadows landfill site in Warrington; what precautions are being taken to prevent the radioactivity leaching into the River Mersey and the surrounding water table; and what measures will be taken to protect those people working at or near the site from possible contamination from radioactive materials.

  Mr. Maclean
  The draft approval document referred to the use of drums to contain this waste. However, at the request of Cheshire county council and the waste disposal contractor, the approval conditions will be amended to allow this waste to be deposited as a loose damp material. The Arpley Meadows site conditions will then be met.

  This site has previously been authorised to receive radioactive waste from other organisations. The very low level of radioactivity present in this waste and the low water solubility of the radioactivity of this waste means that this method of disposal should not present any additional environmental problems. The loose material will be damped down before being deposited to minimise dust emissions from the tipping operation.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what surveys and hazard assessments have been carried out prior to the dumping at the Arpley Meadows landfill site in Warrington and what were their results; and on what grounds authorisation was granted for the dumping of radioactive waste at the site.

  Mr. Maclean
  The radioactivity and radiological effects of this waste have been assessed as part of the approval procedure. The results of these assessments are that the total radioactivity contained in this waste is less than 100 MBq which is less than the radioactivity contained in the average garden or given off by granite rocks in Cornwall.

  Since the RAF, and therefore the Crown, is sending this material for disposal, approval and not authorisation is given for this disposal of waste. This approval has not yet been granted. The proposed grounds for approval are that the material will be deposited as a loose damp material,

  381
  that the material will be buried at least 1.5 metres below the surface of the site, that the waste is landfilled at an area within the site specified by the site operator and that the waste is accompanied by a competent person during the transit from the premises to the waste disposal site and during the tipping operation.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total level of radioactivity in the material from RAF Sealand proposed to be dumped at the Arpley Meadows landfill site in Warrington; if he will require the radioactive material to be dumped in sealed containers; how regularly the area will be checked for radioactive leakage and for excessive levels of radioactivity; and what will be considered the maximum safe level of radioactivity at the dump.

  Mr. David Maclean
  The waste from RAF Sealand contains less than 100 MBq of radioactivity which is expected to be present in building rubble and overalls and will be contained in at most two covered skips. In the draft approval document, reference was made to the use of sealed metal containers. The disposal of such containers can cause problems due to delayed compaction within the waste disposal site and is therefore not now standard practice for the Arpley Meadows site. The waste disposal contractor and the county council have requested that drums should not be used. Considering the level of radioactivy present in this waste, approval for dumping damp loose material from skips was proposed.

  It has been recommended that the monitoring of the leachate from this site be incorporated into the HMIP monitoring program for radioactive waste disposal sites. From the assessments which have been carried out, the site operator, the waste disposal contractor and HMIP consider that the proposed disposal of this material to this site is an acceptable and suitable disposal route and location.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the results of the tests on

  Numbers of claimants, partners and dependants receiving Income Support, by client group, 1989–91 and percentage of the total

  1989 000s

  Per cent.

  1990 000s

  Per cent.

  1991 000s

  Per cent.

  Unemployed

  2,176

  31

  1,864

  27

  2,393

  31

  of which:

  Claimants

  1,216

  1,063

  1,335

  Partners

  353

  298

  390

  Dependants

  607

  503

  668

  Pensioners

  1,868

  27

  1,953

  28

  1,820

  23

  of which:

  Claimants

  1,607

  1,675

  1,575

  Partners

  236

  250

  213

  Dependants

  25

  28

  32

  Disabled

  458

  7

  519

  7

  596

  8

  of which:

  Claimants

  290

  330

  375

  Partners

  73

  76

  90

  Dependants

  95

  113

  131

  Lone parents

  2,056

  29

  2,177

  31

  2,399

  31

  of which:

  Claimants

  756

  793

  871

  Partners

  —

  —

  —

  Dependants

  1,300

  1,384

  1,528

  Others

  465

  7

  509

  7

  539

  7

  of which:

  382
  radioactivity at the Arpley Meadows landfill site after the dumping of radioactive material from RAF Sealand; and if he will allow the testing of radioactivity levels by independent bodies at the site after the dumping of radioactive materials.

  Mr. David Maclean
  The results of tests on radioactivity at the site will be given to the Environmental Planning Department of Cheshire county council. The results from the site monitoring will be made public if the site is incorporated into the HMIP monitoring program— radioactive substances. The decision about testing by other bodies rests with the site operator who controls access to the site.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income Support
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information his Department has on the duration of the different client groups drawing of supplementary benefit/income support beyond that published in "Social Security Statistics 1992".

  Mr. Burt
  "Social Security Statistics 1992"—SSS 1992 —is based upon data from the May 1991 income support annual statistical enquiry—ASE—which is the most recent information available. Series 12 of the tables within the 1991 ASE give a more detailed analysis of durations of claims than that contained in SSS 1992. Copies of both publications are in the Library.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants and dependants dependent on supplementary benefit/income support there were in each year since 1989; and if he will break down this total of each of the main client groups and express these figures as a percentage of the total.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is in the table.
  383

  1989 000s

  Per cent.

  1990 000s

  Per cent.

  1991 000s

  Per cent.

  Claimants

  293

  319

  331

  Partners

  61

  67

  70

  Dependants

  111

  123

  138

  Totals

  7,023

  100

  7,022

  100

  7,747

  100

  of which:

  Claimants

  4,161

  4,180

  4,487

  Partners

  724

  691

  763

  Dependants

  2,138

  2,151

  2,497

  Notes:

  Source: Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiries May 1989–91.

  2. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  3. Figures, including percentages, may not sum due to rounding.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) pursuant to his answer of 30 November 1992,Official Report, column 70, what plans he has to extend the system of direct payments to water companies by DSS offices for claimants;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 30 November 1992, Official Report, column 70, if he will list those DSS offices which currently do not make direct payments for benefit claimants to water companies; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 30 November 1992,
  Official Report, column 70, if he will list those DSS offices which currently make direct payments for benefit claimants to water companies; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) pursuant to his answer of 30 November 1992, Official Report, column 70, if he will list for each DSS regional office the number of people who meet the criteria in paragraph 7 of schedule 9 of the Claims and Payments Regulations 1987 and have direct payments made to the water companies by the DSS.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 14 December 1992 at column 72.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the total value of war pensions paid to war pensioners living within the boundary of the Barnsley metropolitan borough council, together with a breakdown of the number of pensioners receiving pensions at the various rates.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Benefits Agency (Correspondence)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Benefits Agency replied to the letter of the hon. Member for Caernarfon, of 18 August 1992, addressed to him; what assessment he makes of the speed with which such letters are answered; and if he now makes it his practice to answer letters from hon. Members directly rather than referring them to the Benefits Agency.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The hon. Member wrote two letters on 18 August 1992 about the claims to disability living allowance—DLA—of his constituents. The chief executive 384
  of the Benefits Agency, Mr. Bichard, replied to one on 9 December 1992 and the other on 18 December 1992. The claims in both cases had been resolved in September 1992. While apologising for the delays in replying, Mr. Bichard explained that this was because of the high level of correspondence on DLA in recent months.

  Ministers have agreed with Mr. Bichard an average response rate of 20 working days from receipt of Members' letters and the agency has taken steps to achieve this target as soon as possible. Ministers will continue to refer Members' letters on social security benefits relating to operational matters to the relevant chief executive to reply under the arrangements which apply to all executive agencies.

  Benefit Reductions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to alter the reduction in social security benefits resulting from failure to pay contributions or receive credits for periods of four weeks or less.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: We have no plans to change the contribution conditions relating to the contributory social security benefits.

  Civil Servants (Bicycles)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the current conditions on which civil servants in his Department are granted salary advances to enable the purchase of bicycles for home-to-office travel; if he will make a statement on the current conditions in each agency of his Department; what plans he has to change the conditions; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: Staff in junior grades in the Department, including its executive agencies, may apply for an advance of salary up to a limit of £100, repayable over 12 months, for the purchase of a bicycle for home to office travel. Advances are available to officers with at least two months service, other than casual employees, up to and including the executive officer grade or its equivalent.

  The Department is currently considering how to take up the freedom, announced by my hon. Friend the Financial Security to the Treasury on 16 December 1992, at columns 285–86, to decide its own rules on the size of advance, eligibility and repayment.

  Disability Benefits
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims to date for the disability living allowance have been completed(a) with the assistance of telephone calls and (b) with the assistance of visits made by the forms completion service staff in the disability benefits centres.

  Mr. Scott
  [pursuant to his reply, 27 October 1992, c. 751–52]: The chief executive has written further to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Michael Richard to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated
  20 January 1993:
  I wrote to you on 27 October in reply to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social security concerning the number of people claiming Disability Living Allowance (DLA) who had help completing their claim forms either with a telephone call or a visit from the Forms Completion Service staff of the Disability Benefit Centres.
  I should explain that the figures provided include numbers for assistance given for DLA and Attendance Allowance. We are unable to provide the figure for DLA only as you requested.
  Please accept my apologies for any confusion that this may have caused. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report. A copy is also being placed in the Library.

HEALTH

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on how many NHS beds within all regional health authorities are funded by commercial sponsors, charitable and philanthropic organisations.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is not collected centrally. Successive Governments have encouraged voluntary financial support for the national health service at local levels. This can include bed sponsorship arrangements, but is often provided in ways which cannot be directly related to beds. The sums involved are welcomed as an additional source of revenue for the NHS but nationally are small in comparison with central funding.

  Drug Prescribing
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 17 December 1992,Official Report, column 412, what has been the annual increase, in percentage terms, of the cost of the indicative prescribing scheme for NHS doctors in 1991–92 compared with the previous year; and if she will give the figure in real terms, deflating by the price index for NHS medicines.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available because the indicative prescribing scheme for general practitioners only came into effect in April 1991.

  Overseas Adoption Helpline
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many inquiries have been received by the overseas adoption helpline since the statement of the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Suffolk, South (Mr. Yeo), on Bosnian orphans in early January; and if she will make a statement;
  386
  (2) what is the current response time on the overseas adoptions helpline; and if she will make a statement;

  (3) how many inquiries have been answered by the overseas adoption helpline since it was set up; and if she will make a statement;

  (4) what representations she has received about the level of service from the overseas adoption helpline.

  Mr. Yeo
  The overseas adoption helpline began operating on 11 May 1992. It had received 1,500 telephone calls by 13 January 1993, 450 of which were received between 4 and 13 January. Callers are currently being advised that a response may take two weeks. I have received no written representations about the level of service except for the letter from my hon. Friend of the 13 January which has recently been received in my office.

  Provider Units (Contracts)
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken by her Department to monitor the cessation of contracts with provider units from health authorities in England in the current financial year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The management of national health service contracts at local level is for district health authorities and provider units, with regional health authorities taking an overview.

  Laparoscopic Surgery
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what records are centrally held on laparoscopic surgery which has not been properly executed.

  Mr. Sackville
  Data are not collected centrally. We have, however, allocated £42 million to the hospital and community health services this year for medical audit and this is being used to improve and assure high standards of patient care. Some of this money is being used to support the Royal College of Surgeon's confidential comparative audit services which includes a study of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to announce her conclusions on the Bloomfield review on the future system for the remuneration of dentists.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Nigel Evans) on 18 January at column 98.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate her Department has made of the total fixed capital in the hands of the dentists in Cornwall and of the return on that capital over the last five years;

  (2) if she will publish the assumptions used by her Department when seeking to estimate the fixed costs of a dental practice in different parts of England.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have made no such estimates. Average national health service dental practice expenses in Great Britain are estimated each year by the Dental Rates. Study Group and full reimbursement of these costs to dentists on an average basis is included in dental fees.
  387
  The return on capital is one of the factors that the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration takes into account when recommending target average net income for dentists.

  Cystitis
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) men and (b) women in England and Wales were recorded as having suffered from cystitis in 1992.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The incidence of this condition is not routinely recorded centrally. In 1981–82 the third national morbidity survey showed that in England and Wales 8.5 men per thousand and 43.8 women per thousand received treatment for cystitis.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many mental illness hospitals in England and Wales are planned to be closed by 1997; and what will be the resulting loss of beds;

  (2) how many mental illness hospitals in England and Wales are planned to be closed in 1993; and how many bed spaces will thereby be lost.

  Mr. Yeo
  The information is not held centrally. The provision of services for the mentally ill in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places were provided in the community for schizophrenic patients in 1991 and 1992; and how many will be provided in 1993.

  Mr. Yeo
  This information is not available centrally.

  KPMG Management Consultants
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the contracts awarded by her Department to KPMG Management Consultants over the past 12 months.

  Mr. Sackville
  Five contracts have been awarded to KPMG Management Consultants by the Department in the past 12 months they are

  1. Personal Social Services Information Strategy Unit Costs;

  2. Market Testing Programme for Department of Health;

  3. Decision Support System for Departmental London Office Accommodation Strategy;

  4. Implementation of Community Care Act—independent sector involvement in community care planning;

  5. Third Wave Hospital Trusts—financial assessment.

  Romanian Adoption Committee
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the Romanian adoption committee is to close; and for what reason it is closing;

  (2) what effect the closure of the Romanian adoption committee will have on the processes of the adoption of Romanian orphans by British couples.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Romanian Committee for Adoptions has informed officials that there are no moves to close the operations of the committee.

  GP Fund Holders
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the names of those general practices which have indicated interest in becoming a third or fourth wave fund-holding practice in the Bexley and Greenwich health authority area and the Dartford and Gravesham health authority area; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The South East Thames regional health authority is responsible for the management of the general practitioner fund-holding scheme in these areas. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Mr. P. W. Barker, the RHA chairman, for details.

  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the general practices which are fund holding in the Hemsworth constituency.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The management of the general practitioner fund-holding scheme in Hemsworth is the responsibility of the Yorkshire regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman, Sir Bryan Askew, for details.

  Community Social Care
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those local authorities which bid successfully for funding to develop independent community social care initiatives, together with the initiatives proposed by each authority; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The social services authorities invited to take part in this initiative, together with an outline of their proposals, are:

  Barnsley
  The build up of a new range of independent care provision with the aim of securing at least a 20 per cent. share of the home care market within three years.

  Cambridgeshire
  The appointment of two Home Care Development Managers to help new providers assess the market and to test out new ideas.

  Camden
  Setting up an Independent Sector Development Team to develop a mixed economy of domiciliary care.

  Devon
  The establishment of Rural Outreach Projects to provide new services for younger people with physical or sensory disabilities who live in rural areas.

  Essex
  The build up of new services for older people from a range of existing bases in a rural area (the "Dengie project").

  Gloucestershire
  The appointment of a Development Officer to work with independent providers to establish new services for older people and for those with learning disabilities.

  Hatnmersmith and Fulham
  The development of a commercially sound community care agency to create, and deliver, a portfolio of services for black elders and their carers.
  389
  Lewisham
  A joint project with Lewisham College to introduce a course in domiciliary care and enterprise skills for those who want to establish themselves as small local community care businesses.

  Liverpool
  The development of secure links with the independent sector, and to oversee a range of new ideas for older people and those with learning disabilities.

  Newham
  The development of new community care services for ethnic minority communities.

  North Yorkshire
  The development of local non-residential care to complement the expected reduction in demand for residential and nursing home care.

  Richmond upon Thames
  The appointment of an independent Organisations Coordinator to develop opportunities for, and a range of, home and respite care.

  Rochdale
  The appointment of a Development Officer, to be based with local Age Concern, to establish a new 24 hour help service, based on a network of existing private care homes, for older persons who are mentally ill.

  Sandwell
  The development of practical support services in inner city areas for those with dementia and for black elders without live-in carers.

  Shropshire
  The establishment of a Social Care Enterprise Agency to help the independent sector develop to the point where it can provide the range and quality of services which statutory authorities need to purchase.

  The response to this initiative was encouraging—more than 100 bids which shows the importance authorities rightly attach to developing the range of day and domiciliary services available locally.

  Nicotine Patches
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will review the procedures for licensing tobacco substitute patches and other products to prevent them from being sold prior to the licence being granted; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I am satisfied with the licensingn arrangements in place for the licensing of medicinal products. Any unlicensed product on sale, which is brought to the attention of the Medicines Control Agency as making medicinal claims, will be investigated by its enforcement unit.

  Juveniles (Secure Units)
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average weekly cost of a juvenile stay(a) in care and (b) in a secure unit in 1992; and how the figure is calculated.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many secure places in children's homes are provided by each local authority.

  Mr. Yeo
  Information about the cost per week for children in care in England is set out in the table for the two main categories of placement.
  390
  The average cost is derived from the revenue expenditure 1990–91 divided by the average of the numbers of children in care at 31 March 1990 and 1991 under each accommodation heading.

  Information about the costs for children accommodated in secure units in the form requested is not collected centrally.

  Expenditure by local authorities in England on care 1990–91

  Accommodation

  Average cost per child per week £

  Foster placements

  102

  Community homes

  536

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's policy for providing secure accommodation for persistent juvenile offenders.

  Mr. Jack
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government are currently looking urgently at the adequacy of arrangements for dealing with a small minority of juvenile offenders who appear to be responsible for a disproportionate amount of recorded crime attributed to their age group. This review includes consideration of the need both for new powers for the courts and for new secure facilities.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bananas
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether it will be permissible under the proposed banana regime for retailers to import bananas directly;

  (2) to what extent the position of the independent distributor has been safeguarded in the proposed banana regime.

  Mr. Curry
  The Agriculture Council has agreed the main provisions of a common regime to govern banana imports. Further provisions, including the precise basis for the distribution of licences where these will be required, have yet to be determined.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when claim forms for hill livestock compensatory allowance payments will be made available to farmers in north Yorkshire.

  Mr. Curry
  Claim forms and explanatory notes for the 1993 hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme are currently being sent to farmers in north Yorkshire who applied under the 1992 scheme.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the ( a) actual and(b) real values of hill livestock compensatory amounts in each year since 1981.

  Mr. Curry
  This information is contained in tables 16 and 17 of the statistical data prepared for the 1992 "Autumn Review of the Economic Conditions in the Hills and Uplands" a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Wool
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the level of guaranteed price per kilo of wool in each of the last five years and the assessed level of guaranteed price per kilo of wool in each of the last five years and the assessed level of guaranteed price in the financial year 1992–93.

  Mr. Curry
  The wool guarantee price for the 1992 and five previous clip years was:

  Year

  Price p/kg

  1992

  117

  1991

  120

  1990

  125

  1989

  129

  1988

  129

  1987

  129

  Agricultural Training Board
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of the Agricultural Training Board.

  Mr. Curry
  The recent industry consultation on the future status and operation of the Agricultural Training Board produced no firm consensus in favour of either the new proposals or for retaining the status quo. Agriculture Ministers are considering, in consultation with the board, the best way to proceed taking into account the needs of the industry and the funding available. My right hon. Friend expects to make a statement during February.

  Set-aside Land
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration has been given by his Department to the possibility of using set-aside land for the purposes of producing vegetable-based biodiesel.

  Mr. Curry
  Oilseeds may be grown for biodiesel production both on arable land, with the benefit of the oilseed area payment and, where growers can contract to supply a processor, on set-aside land with the benefit of the lower set-aside payment.

  Agricultural Returns
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 23 November 1992,Official Report, column 531, if he will allow farmers to submit information to his Department in acres rather than hectares.

  Mr. Curry
  Most forms and returns submitted to this Department require the use of hectares. However, on certain returns, such as the agricultural and horticultural census return, information can be submitted in acres rather than hectares. This option is shown on the form or return concerned or in the explanatory note associated with it. Hectares are, however, gradually replacing acres as the only acceptable measurement on most such returns and there are no plans to reintroduce the use of acres for these purposes.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his best estimate of the number of fishing vessels daily fishing in the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas areas VIIa, VIIg and Vllf.

  Mr. Curry
  Surveillance aircraft record all fishing vessels seen in the area patrolled. Those records relate to all fishing vessels, of whatever nationality, spotted by the aircraft within British sea fisheries limits at the time of the patrol. The records do not necessarily include very small fishing boats working close inshore.

  The following shows the number of fishing vessels recorded in the areas listed on one day in each month during 1992:

  Month

  VIIa

  VIIf and g

  January

  206

  30

  February

  61

  37

  March

  101

  44

  April

  88

  76

  May

  95

  47

  June

  103

  61

  July

  128

  54

  August

  93

  66

  September

  104

  43

  October

  125

  48

  November

  52

  41

  December

  91

  49

  There are many factors which will affect the numbers of vessels fishing on any particular day. Such factors include availability of fish, weather and the seasonality of fisheries.

  Public Access
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many public access agreements have been concluded in England in each of the last three years in respect of Forestry Commission holdings sold to the private sector; and what percentage of total sales these figures represent.

  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: The arrangements for securing continued public access to woodlands sold by the Forestry Commission were introduced in October 1991. Seven of the woodland areas considered under these arrangements have been sold so far, of which one was subject to an access agreement. This represents 14 per cent. of the sales concerned.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  United States Government (Discussions)
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had about Northern Ireland with members of the incoming Clinton Administration.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has planned with representatives of President Clinton regarding the United States policy on Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  There have been no such meetings yet, but I hope to meet members of the new Administration in the coming months.

  Housing (Grant Application Form)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what examination has been given to the grant application form of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

  Mr. Atkins
  The design of the forms required for the renovation grants scheme is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive which is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the scheme.

  However, I understand from the chief executive that the initial grant application form, known as a preliminary inquiry form, has recently been redesigned as a feature of the new grants scheme introduced to Northern Ireland on 1 October 1992 under the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1992.

  Civil liberties
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations on civil liberties he has received from international human rights organisations; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I have received a number of representations from organisations with an interest in human rights, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. I am, of course, wholly committed to the protection of civil liberties throughout the community in Northern Ireland, where they have been inexcusably denied to so many people by the action of terrorists.

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

  Mr. Mates
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham).

  Unemployment
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current level of unemployment in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  At 17 December 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 105,420 unemployed claimants in Northern Ireland, representing 14.4 per cent. of the work force.

  Investment (Londonderry)
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are being taken to attract investment in Londonderry.

  Mr. Atkins
  The attraction of inward investment to high unemployment areas, including Londonderry, is a priority task for the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland, which, through its offices at home and overseas, ensures that the many advantages which such areas offer are brought to the attention of potential investors. The IDB is grateful for the valuable support it receives from local business men and other community 394
  leaders. The success of this partnership was evident in the announcement last month by Seagate Technology that it intends to establish a high-tech project which will create 500 new jobs in Londonderry. This very welcome news follows recent announcements of investment by other major international companies which will create in excess of 450 more jobs.

  Londonderry
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are being taken to regenerate the Londonderry economy.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Londonderry area benefits from the many measures currently being undertaken by Government to promote economic development throughout Northern Ireland. The Department of the Environment's Londonderry development officer provides a clear focus for all forms of regeneration in the area, including the Londonderry initiative. Furthermore, both the Industrial Development Board and the Local Enterprise Development Unit have Londonderry regional offices. The IDB has been successful in attracting 955 new jobs and £48 million in new investment to the area in 1992.

  Bangor Hospital
  Sir James Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to give the people of Bangor and surrounding areas the right to decide the future of Bangor hospital.

  Mr. Hanley
  Responsibility for the management of services at Bangor hospital rests with the Eastern health and social services board. In June 1992 the Eastern board issued for consultation a paper entitled "Framework for General (Acute) Hospital Services within the Eastern Board Area". Comments and representations were invited from a broad range of interested groups and individuals including local MPs, district councils and health and social services councils. Since the consultation period ended on 30 September the board has been considering all the responses it has received, including those representative of the views of the people of Bangor. The board will issue a "Statement of Purchasing Intent", taking account of all the views and comments expressed, in the very near future.

  Irish Republic (Discussions)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to meet representatives of the Government of the Irish Republic in the near future in order to discuss matters relating to the current economic, social and political circumstances of Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to meet the Irish Prime Minister to discuss co-operation between the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Falkirk, West (M r. Canavan) earlier today.

  Electricity Interconnector
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had regarding the electricity interconnector between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  Apart from my discussions with the hon. Member on 13 October, I have had discussions with Commissioner Millan and the chairman and board of NIE plc. In my discussions I stressed the strategic importance of securing European Community grant assistance.

  School Meals
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the administrative costs for the school meals programme.

  Mr. Hanley
  The administrative costs of the school meals service are included in the headquarters costs of education and library boards and are subject to annual assessment and review by the boards.

  Northern Ireland Electricity plc
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the flotation of Northern Ireland Electricity plc.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government are committed to the floatation of NIE plc at the earliest suitable opportunity.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what efforts are being made to promote investment from abroad; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) earlier today.

  Disabled People
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration has been given to the provision of financial support for disabled people below pensionable age in Northern Ireland so that they may benefit from the alarm call system provided for elderly disabled people.

  Mr. Hanley
  Where help with an alarm call system is not available from any other source, a non-repayable community care grant from the social fund may be made available to disabled and other vulnerable people receiving income support. Each case is decided on its merits by a social fund officer.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many 24-hour alarm call systems have been provided by health boards to disabled people below pensionable age in Northern Ireland; how many are planned for provision in the future; and what assessment has been made of how many such people might benefit from such a system.

  Mr. Hanley
  The total number of emergency alarm systems currently provided by health and social services boards to disabled people under pensionable age is 77. The 396
  number of people who might benefit from such a system and the number of alarms to be provided in the future will depend on assessments of the needs of individual disabled persons by health and social services boards.

  Travellers
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the extension of the Race Relations Act to Northern Ireland will cover Ireland's travelling people.

  Mr. Hanley
  On 16 December 1992 my right hon. and learned Friend published a consultative document which seeks views on the scope for legislation on racial discrimination and on any additional action which the Government might take to further promote equity of treatment for ethnic groups. The document also seeks views on whether the traditional Irish travelling community should be recognised as an ethnic group and specifically covered by any proposed race legislation for Northern Ireland.

  School Examinations
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he proposes to take to ensure that pupils in Northern Ireland are able to enjoy the same choice of public examination syllabuses as is available to pupils in England and Wales.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for South Down (Mr. McGrady) on 15 December 1992, at column 165.

  Further Education
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he intends to take to ensure that the Southern Education and Library Board complies with the recommendations of the Fair Employment Commission regarding recruitment practices for lecturers in institutions of further education.

  Mr. Hanley
  The board has reaffirmed its support for the principles and practices of fair employment and intends to review its procedures in relation to the recruitment of temporary and part-time staff in its further education colleges. It is expected that the board will soon reach agreement with the Fair Employment Commission on the terms of a voluntary written undertaking to this effect.

  Railways
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the condition of Northern Ireland's rail system; and what proposals he has for privatisation.

  Mr. Atkins
  Responsibility for the maintenance of railways in Northern Ireland rests with Northern Ireland Railways. I am advised by the managing director that, arising from several recent studies, the company has undertaken a complete review of the railway system including the permanent way, signalling and level crossings; bridge works; rolling stock and maintenance facilities; and stations and passenger amenities. Substantial improvements will flow from the two major
  397
  capital projects which are currently under way, namely the upgrading of the Belfast/Dublin rail link and the construction of the cross-harbour rail bridge in Belfast. The latter includes provision for new depot maintenance facilities. A programme to upgrade 22 level crossings on the Londonderry line is already well advanced and the company has comprehensive plans to upgrade the remainder of the rail system by the late 1990s. This will include replacement of rolling stock for use on short-haul services within Northern Ireland. Facilities for passengers at stations will also be improved to meet the company's obligations under its passengers charter launched in November 1992.

  In accordance with the commitment in the citizens charter for Northern Ireland, the Government commissioned a study into the scope for introducing a private

  (A) Local authorities

  Local authority

  Nature of allegation

  Tribunal decision

  Fermanagh District Council (DC)

  Dismissal

  Dismissed

  Banbridge District Council

  Non-appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Dungannon District Council

  Non-appointment

  Dismissed

  North Down Borough Council (BC)

  Non-promotion

  Allowed

  Moyle District Council

  Non-appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Castlereagh Borough Council

  Dismissal

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Castlereach Borough Council

  Non-promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Belfast City Council (CC)

  Non-promotion

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Belfast City Council

  Non-promotion

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Belfast City Council

  Non-promotion

  Allowed

  Belfast City Council

  Non-promotion

  Allowed

  Belfast City Council

  Non-promotion

  Allowed

  Belfast City Council

  Non-promotion

  Belfast City Council

  Non-promotion

  Allowed

  Belfast City Council

  Non-promotion

  Allowed

  Belfast City Council

  Non-promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Belfast City Council

  Non-promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Belfast City Council

  Non-promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Limavady Borough Council

  Dismissal

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Larne Borough Council

  Non-appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Limavady Borough Council

  Non-promotion

  Allowed

  Limavady Borough Council

  Non-appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Belfast City Council

  Non-appointment

  Dismissed

  Armagh

  Dismissal

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Dungannon DC

  Non-Appointment

  Settled

  Castlereagh BC

  Dismissal

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Belfast CC

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Belfast CC

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Ballymena BC

  Non-Promotion

  Allowed

  Newtownabbey BC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Belfast CC

  Harassment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Coleraine BC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Lisburn BC

  Dismissal

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Lisburn BC

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Belfast CC

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Cookstown DC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Magherafelt DC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Belfast CC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Limavady BC

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Belfast CC

  Dismissal

  Awaiting hearing

  Belfast CC

  Victimisation

  Awaiting hearing

  Belfast CC

  Victimisation

  Awaiting hearing

  Strabane DC

  Harassment

  Awaiting hearing

  Ballymena BC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Newtownabbey BC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Ards BC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Newry and Mourne DC

  Harassment

  Awaiting hearing

  Derry CC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Derry CC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Omagh DC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Ballymena BC

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Strabane DC

  Harassment

  Awaiting hearing

  Belfast CC

  Harassment

  Awaiting hearing.

  398
  element into the management and operation of Northern Ireland Railways. The report has been received and is under consideration.

  Fair Employment
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases have been brought against(a) local authorities and (b) other public bodies, alleging religious and political discrimination, since the establishment of the Fair Employment Tribunal, indicating the local authority and public body concerned, the nature of the allegation and the tribunal's decision.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 15 January 1993]: Since the establishment of the Fair Employment Tribunal until 31 December 1992, 52 cases have been brought against local authorities and 237 cases against other specified public authorities. The details, in chronological order of registration, are as follows:
  399

  (B) Other public authorities

  Public authority

  Nature of allegation

  Tribunal decision

  North Eastern Education and Library Board (NEELB)

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed

  Department of Agricultue for Northern Ireland (DANI)

  Dismissal

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Northern Ireland Civil Service Commission (NICSC)

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Post Office

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  British Broadcasting Commission (BBC)

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Ulsterbus Ltd.

  Non-Appointment

  At hearing

  Northern Health and Social Services Board (NHSSB)

  Non-Promotion

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Southern Health and Social Services Board (SHSSB)

  Non-Promotion

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE)

  Non-Promotion

  At hearing

  Department of the Environment (GB)

  Non-Promotion

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE)

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Northern Ireland Court Service

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  NHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Eastern Health and Social Services Board (EHSSB)

  Non-Appointment

  Allowed

  Commissioners of Customs and Excise

  Non-Promotion

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Post Office

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Fire Authority for Northern Ireland

  Harassment

  Dismissed

  NHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Settled

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  NIHE

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  NHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  NIHE

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  SHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Western Health and Social Services Board (WHSSB)

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Northern Ireland Railways

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  BBC

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Fire Authority for Northern Ireland

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  SHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  NEELB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Police Authority for Northern Ireland (PANI)

  Harassment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  EHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Victimisation

  Awaiting hearing

  Northern Ireland Railways

  Non-Promotion

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  NEELB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  NICSC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  NHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Settled

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Post Office

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland (DOE NI)

  Non-Promotion

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  WHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Northern Ireland Railways

  Non-Promotion

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Northern Ireland Railways

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Northern Ireland Railways

  Dismissal

  Dismissed

  Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS)

  Non-Promotion

  Dismissed

  NEELB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  NHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  NICSC

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  NHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Settled

  DHSS

  Non-Promotion

  Dismissed

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  NICSC

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Northern Ireland Airports Ltd

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  Harassment

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  NICSC

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Post Office

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Settled

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Settled

  Department of Economic Development (DED)

  Non-Promotion

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  SHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  DOE NI

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  DOE NI

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  DOE NI

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  DOE NI

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  WHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  NIE

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB)

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed

  Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB)

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Commissioners of Customs and Excise

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  DANI

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  DED

  Harassment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  BELB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  BELB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  400 401

  Public authority

  Nature of allegation

  Tribunal decision

  Fire Authority for Northern Ireland

  Dismissal

  Dismissed followed withdrawal

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  NEELB

  Harassment

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Post Office

  Dismissal

  Dismissed

  DED

  Refusal to provide funds

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  DED

  Refusal to provide funds

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  DED

  Refusal to provide funds

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  DED

  Refusal to provide funds

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  DED

  Refusal to provide funds

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  DED

  Refusal to provide funds

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  DED

  Refusal to provide funds

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  DED

  Refusal to provide funds

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  DED

  Refusal to provide funds

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  WHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  WHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  NICSC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  NHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  WHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  NIHE

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  NIHE

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  NEELB

  Victimisation

  Awaiting hearing

  SHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  SHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  SHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  NEELB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  NEELB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Board of Inland Revenue

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  DOE NI

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  WHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  WHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Post Office

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed

  NIHE

  Dismissal

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Northern Ireland Railways

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Southern Education and Library Board (SELB)

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Northern Ireland Railways

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Fire Authority for Northern Ireland

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  NIHE

  Dismissal

  Awaiting hearing

  BBC

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  WHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  WHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Northern Ireland Railways

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Western Education and Library Board (WELB)

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  BELB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  PANI

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Northern Ireland Railways

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  DOE NI

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  WHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  WHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  WHSBB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  SHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  SHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  DOE NI

  Dismissal

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  SELB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Arts Council for Northern Ireland

  Non-Promotion

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB)

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  NICSC

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed

  WHSSB

  Dismissal

  Awaiting hearing

  PANI

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  SELB

  Non-Promotion

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  DHSS

  Dismissal

  Settled

  DOE NI

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  NICSC and DHSS

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Milk Marketing Board for Northern Ireland

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Northern Ireland Railways

  Harassment

  Awaiting hearing

  NIHE

  Dismissal

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  DOE NI

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  NHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  DANI

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  DOE NI

  Discrimination in conferring a qualification

  Preliminary decision—allowed (case at Court of Appeal)

  DOE NI

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Local Enterprise Development Unit

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed

  402 403

  Public authority

  Nature of allegation

  Tribunal decision

  NIHE

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Fair Employment Commission

  Non-Promotion

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Arts Council for Northern Ireland

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  DOE NI

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Commissioners of Customs and Excise

  Dismissal

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Arts Council for Northern Ireland

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  NHSSB

  Dismissal

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  NEELB

  Dismissal

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  NIHE

  Dismissal

  Awaiting hearing

  WHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  EHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  WELB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  SEELB

  Dismissal

  Awaiting hearing

  NHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  WELB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  SHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  WELB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Post Office

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  NICSC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Dismissal

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Dismissal

  Awaiting hearing

  DOE NI

  Harassment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Post Office

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  WHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  NICSC

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Fire Authority for Northern Ireland

  Dismissal

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  NIHE

  Dismissal

  Awaiting hearing

  WELB

  Dismissal

  Awaiting hearing

  NIE

  Harassment

  Awaiting hearing

  NIE

  Dismissal

  Awaiting hearing

  SHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  SELB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  WELB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Ministry of Defence (MOD)

  Dismissal

  Awaiting hearing

  SELB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  Ulsterbus Ltd.

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  Post Office

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  SEELB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  SEELB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Harassment

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  SHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  DHSS

  Dismissal

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  NHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  NIE

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  DOE NI

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  WHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Dismissed following withdrawal

  DOE NI

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  BBC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland

  Dismissal

  Awaiting hearing

  NIE

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  DED

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  SHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  NIE

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  MOD

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  PANI

  Harassment

  Awaiting hearing

  NIE

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  DOE NI

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  DOE NI

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  DOE NI

  Non-Promotion

  Dismissed

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  PANI

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Northern Ireland Railways

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  NICSC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  WHSSB

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

  SHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  EHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  404 405

  Public authority

  Nature of allegation

  Tribunal decision

  NICSC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Arts Council for Northern Ireland

  Harassment

  Awaiting hearing

  WHSSB

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  SEELB

  Dismissal

  Awaiting hearing

  NICSC

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  MOD

  Non-Appointment

  Awaiting hearing

  Enterprise Ulster

  Non-Promotion

  Awaiting hearing

SCOTLAND

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish guidelines on how hon. Members should deal with constituency inquiries and complaints relating to a hospital trust; what changes he envisages from the arrangements prior to such hospitals becoming trusts; what rights of appeal are open to hon. Members who are dissatisfied with the initial responses; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It remains the responsibility of health boards to determine the health needs of those in their area, to secure services to meet those needs and to monitor the services provided. Inquiries on these issues should be raised with the health board concerned. Issues about specific services being provided by a trust should be raised with the chairman of the trust. While my right hon. Friend will continue to exercise close scrutiny of the NHS in Scotland through the management executive, we are confident that chairmen of both health boards and trusts will endeavour to be as helpful as possible to hon. Members with whom, I am sure, they will want to foster good relations. I hope this will be reciprocated.

  Legal Aid and Advice
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average legal aid cost of a Court of Session proof day.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is not available in the form requested. In 1991–92 the average legal aid cost of a case in the Court of Session was £2,834.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ayr (Mr. Gallie) on 16 November 1992,Official Report, column 780, what proportion of the population of Scotland he estimates will be eligible for legal aid from April;

  (2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ayr (Mr. Gallie) on 16 November 1992, Official Report, column 780, what proportion of the population of Scotland he estimates will be eligible for legal advice and assistance from April;

  (3) what proportion of the population of Scotland is currently eligible for legal advice and assistance;

  (4) what proportion of the population of Scotland is currently eligible for legal aid.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Given the variations over time in individual's circumstances it is not possible to estimate with any precision the proportion of the adult population eligible for legal aid.
  406
  Analysis of data from the family expenditure survey suggests that in Scotland the percentage of households which would be eligible for civil legal aid under the proposed changes to eligibility criteria would be in the range of 45 to 55 per cent. with between 20 to 30 per cent. free of contribution. Similar figures would apply to advice and assistance. This represents a reduction of between 5 and 10 per cent. of the households currently eligible in financial terms.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount he expects to be saved from the current legal advice and assistance budget, as a result of the proposed changes to the legal advice and assistance system in each of the next five financial years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The purpose of the proposed changes announced on 16 November is to ensure the continuation of reasonable access to legal aid for the most needy, while at the same time taking action to control the rate of growth in legal aid expenditure. The proposed changes are expected to reduce forecast expenditure on the legal advice and assistance system by around £3 million and £4 million in 1993–94 rising to around £5 million in 1997–98. Total expenditure on legal aid will, however, continue to increase and in financial year 1995–96 it is expected to be 40 per cent. higher than the planned expenditure for the current year.

  Health Service
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the members and chairpersons of each health board in Scotland and the annual scale of remuneration payable to each at 1 January.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested in respect of the health board chairpersons and members who receive remuneration for their membership is as follows:

  Annual remuneration £

  Argyll and Clyde Health Board Chairman

  Mr. R. R. Reid

  17,700

  Members

  Mr. N. M. Faccenda

  5,000

  Mrs. M. A. Foggie

  5,000

  Dr. J. Moffat

  5,000

  Mrs. E. S. Lander

  5,000

  Mrs. J. C. Le Roux

  5,000

  Mr. C. H. Parker

  5,000

  Ayrshire and Arran Health Board Chairman

  Mr. W. S. Fyfe

  14,835

  Members

  Mr. J. Cahill

  5,000

  407

  Annual remuneration £

  Mr. I. B. Valentine

  5,000

  Mr. J. W. G. Donaldson

  5,000

  Mrs. A. Dunbar

  5,000

  Dr. K. G. Fegan

  5,000

  Mr. J. H. Greene

  5,000

  Borders Health Board Chairman

  Dr. D. H. Pringle

  11,960

  Members

  Dr. D. W. Cameron

  5,000

  Lady Sanderson

  5,000

  Mr. R. A. Stewart

  5,000

  Mr. D. A. G. Kilshaw

  5,000

  Miss M. Marshall

  5,000

  Mr. J. P. Metcalfe

  5,000

  Dumfries and Galloway Health Board Chairman

  Mr. J. A. McIntyre

  11,960

  Members

  Mrs. V. M. I. Jardine-Paterson

  5,000

  Mr. W. Seright

  5,000

  Mr. W. I. Wilson

  5,000

  Mr. H. S. McFadzean

  5,000

  Mrs. J. D. Tulloch

  5,000

  Dr. A. P. D. Wilkinson

  5,000

  Fife Health Board Chairman

  Mrs. A. H. Ferguson

  14,835

  Members

  Mrs. S. L. Aitken

  5,000

  Dr. C. J. Ingram

  5,000

  Mrs. M. Steedman

  5,000

  Dr. A. C. A. Alexander

  5,000

  Mr. F. J. R. Craig

  5,000

  Mr. G. M. Thomson

  5,000

  Forth Valley Health Board Chairman

  Mrs. J. I. D. Isbister

  14,835

  Members

  Mr. K. Harding

  5,000

  Mr. P. A. Joynson

  5,000

  Mr. C. S. R. Stroyan

  5,000

  Mr. E. T. M. Bell-Scott

  5,000

  Dr. G. B. Hasting

  5,000

  Mrs. K. A. Smith

  5,000

  Grampian Health Board Chairman

  Dr. C. A. Macleod

  20,180

  Members

  Professor D. Ogston

  5,000

  Mr. N. Thornton-Kemsley

  5,000

  Mrs. J. G. A. Wisely

  5,000

  Mrs. C. A. Ferguson

  5,000

  Greater Glasgow Health Board Chairman

  Sir Thomas J. Thomson

  25,140

  Members

  Rev. R. D. M. Campbell

  5,000

  Mrs. A. Gilchrist

  5,000

  Professor R. M. Mackie

  5,000

  Mr. P. W. Holst

  5,000

  Mr. W. C. McCreath

  5,000

  Mr. A. Scobbie

  5,000

  408

  Annual remuneration £

  Highland Health Board Chairman

  Mr. J. D. M. Robertson

  14,835

  Members

  Mr. D. J. Mackay

  5,000

  Mr. C. Neilson

  5,000

  Mrs. S. G. H. Stone

  5,000

  Mr. J. G. Ligertwood

  5,000

  Mrs. A. MacPherson

  5,000

  Mrs. C. Thomson

  5,000

  Lanarkshire Health Board Chairman

  Mrs. B. M. Gunn

  17,700

  Members

  Mrs. A. S. Hinshalwood

  5,000

  Mr. R. J. Logan

  5,000

  Mr. J. Thomson

  5,000

  Dr. W. Criggie

  5,000

  Mr. I. L. Livingstone

  5,000

  Mr. J. P. Robison

  5,000

  Lothian Health Board Chairman

  Dr. J. W. Baynham

  22,660

  Members

  Professor R. C. B. Aitken

  5,000

  Mrs. G. Barton

  5,000

  Mr. G. S. Millar

  5,000

  Mr. J. A. Campbell

  5,000

  Mr. R. Findlay

  5,000

  Mrs. M. B. M. Knox

  5,000

  Orkney Health Board Chairman

  Mr. J. Leslie

  7,200

  Members

  Captain M. Gunn

  2,000

  Mrs. E. B. Kerr

  2,000

  Dr. J. S. Walker

  2,000

  Mr. J. Flett

  2,000

  Mr. E. M. Gibson

  2,000

  Mr. J. Rendall

  2,000

  Shetland Health Board Chairman

  Mrs. F. B. Grains

  7,200

  Members

  Mrs. T. A. Leslie

  2,000

  Dr. M. D. Hunter

  2,000

  Mr. J. Telford

  2,000

  Mrs. M. U. Colligan

  2,000

  Squadron Leader B. P. Gregson

  2,000

  Mr. R. L. Johnson

  2,000

  Tayside Health Board Chairman

  Mr. J. C. MacFarlane

  20,180

  Members

  Mrs. S. H. Fallon

  5,000

  Rev. L. E. Luscombe

  5,000

  Professor R. E. Olver

  5,000

  Rev. K. Campbell

  5,000

  Mr. D. W. M. Davidson

  5,000

  Mr. R. J. Jarvis

  5,000

  Western Isles Health Board Chairman

  Mrs. M. A. MacMillan

  7,200

  409

  Annual remuneration £

  Members

  Mr. J. H. Downie

  2,000

  Mr. A. W. Hay

  2,000

  Mr. A. Matheson

  2,000

  Dr. S. M. Brydon

  2,000

  Mrs. C. R. MacAskill

  2,000

  Mr. J. A. Harrison

  2,000

  MV Braer
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has finalised the arrangements for the bridging fund to assist local businesses in Shetland affected by the recent incident involving the MV Braer.

  Mr. Lang
  I am pleased to announce that agreement has been reached on the operation of the bridging fund which I announced in my statement to the House on 11 January.

  The bridging fund is designed to help in particular the farming, fishing and fish-farming industries in Shetland, and prevent economic hardship to primary producers facing temporary cash-flow difficulties pending the settlement of compensation claims. It is of course without prejudice to the Government's view that the polluter must pay.

  After consultation with Shetland Islands council, the shipowner's insurers the P and I Club—and the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund—IOPC fund—it has been agreed that requests for advances from the bridging fund should be made through the "single door" of the Braer claims office in Lerwick. Claims from businesses which qualify under this scheme and which are, in the view of the club and the IOPC fund, likely to receive compensation in due course will be passed to the islands council, which will make the payment from the bridging fund. The Scottish Office will now pay an initial grant of £1 million to the council to enable it to start meeting claims. Further payments to the council will be made as claims arise. In due course, when each compensation claim is settled, the amount of the advance will be paid back to the bridging fund.

  I currently intend that payments will be available until 31 March 1994, but this date may be varied, in particular if there is a continuing need for the scheme, or if it becomes clear that the flow of compensation settlements is sufficient to meet continuing needs.

  I am glad that the Government have been able to take steps to prevent the people of Shetland from suffering economic hardship at this very difficult time for them, and I am grateful for the co-operation of the council, the shipowner's insurers and the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund in putting together these arrangements so quickly.

  Royal Scottish Academy
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to review the 1910 agreements whereby the Royal Scottish Academy uses the Royal Scottish Heritage Building for its diploma show;

  (2) what representations he has had about better value for money in relation to funds disbursed by the Scottish Office to the Royal Scottish Academy, in relation to the building on the Mound;
  410
  (3) whether he will make arrangements for experts from the Scottish Office to examine and assess the state of the roof of the Royal Scottish Academy and the state of the fabric of the building;

  (4) whether he permits the use of Government indemnity for exhibits within the Royal Scottish Academy; and what assessment he has made of the security and environmental controls for pictures for which Her Majesty's Government are responsible, displayed in the Royal Scottish Academy;

  (5) how much public money from his vote went to the Royal Scottish Academy in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 11 January 1993]: No Scottish Office funds are paid direct to the Royal Scottish Academy. Responsibility for the management of the building rests, under the provisions of the National Galleries of Scotland Act 1906, with the trustees of the national galleries of Scotland who receive grant-in-aid from the Scottish Office to carry out their functions. Details of expenditure on individual buildings have been recorded only since the financial year 1990–91 since when the following sums have been spent by the national galleries of Scotland specifically on the Royal Scottish Academy building:

  £

  1990–91

  66,091

  1991–92

  153,194

  11992–93

  45,131

  1to date

  This expenditure has covered the costs of minor maintenance works; rates, heating and lighting and other running costs; and works related to exhibitions.

  My right hon. Friend has acknowledged for some time that the fabric of the building is in need of repair. Once the future shared use of the building has been clarified in the light of arrangements laid down in the National Galleries of Scotland (Appropriation of Buildings) Order 1910 and he has received firm proposals from the national galleries of Scotland on the exact nature of the works required, he will consider what resources can be provided and on what timescale. We would expect the national galleries of Scotland to base proposals for building works on a thorough examination of the building by appropriate professional advisers.

  The Government indemnity scheme enables the Government to underwrite the risk of loss of, or damage to, art objects loaned for the public benefit. Under section 16 of the National Heritage Act 1980, an indemnity is given only where appropriate arrangements are made for the safety of the object while it is on loan. These considerations would apply in the case of any painting to be exhibited in the Royal Scottish Academy for which an indemnity was sought.

  Defective Housing
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list houses and house types situated in the Burnfoot housing scheme in Hawick supplied to his Department by Roxburgh district council in March 1984 which had been identified by the local authority as being eligible for assistance under the Housing Defects Act 1984.
  411
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: In 1983 district and islands councils were asked by the Scottish Office to give details of the number of houses in their ownership belonging to types later designated as defective. They were not asked for the location of such houses within their districts. Roxburgh district council said that it owned 21 houses of the single-storey Orlit type, 50 Whitson-Fairhursts and 119 Crudens.

  The owners of such houses would be eligible for assistance under the housing defects legislation only if they were bought before 26 April 1984 or, in certain circumstances, in the 12 months thereafter.

  Angus Hospitals
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what consultations he, his colleagues or Scottish Office officials have had with Tayside health board on the future of(a) Stracathro hospital, (h) Arbroath infirmary and (c) other hospital services in Angus.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 December 1992]: Representatives of Tayside health board have met Scottish Office officials in order to discuss the board's local health strategy. As a matter of course during these discussions, the future of acute services in Tayside were talked about. However, it will only be when the board has the results of its review and public consultation that detailed discussion on individual hospitals will take place.

EMPLOYMENT

  Euroform Programme
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list details of(a) how many bids her Department has received for funding from the Euroform programme, (b) how many of these bids have been accepted, (c) how many have been refused, (d) the total value of the bids that have been refused and (e) the total value of funding allocated to the United Kingdom from the Euroform programme.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Employment Department has received 328 bids under the first two rounds of applications for the Euroform programme. Of these, 156 projects have been approved, while 172 projects were refused. The approximate cost of unsuccessful applications was £4.6 million.

  A further 211 bids have been received as a result of a third call for applications following the allocation funds by the European Commission.

  The Department has responsibility for Great Britain only, for which the total value of funding allocated under Euroform is £25.5 million. Northern Ireland has a separate allocation of funds.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria her Department uses when assessing bids for funding from the Euroform programme.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Under Euroform, projects are selected by a partnership committee comprising representatives from the sectors which apply for funding, the European Commission and the Employment Department.
  412
  Taking account of the priorities identified in the operational programme, the committee agreed a list of 10 key areas against which to score individual projects. These were:

  (i) the depth and quality of the transnational partnership(s);

  (ii) the contribution to be made by the project to less-developed regions;

  (iii) the innovatory nature of the project;

  (iv) whether the project would provide value for money;

  (v) the qualifications which would be developed and acquired;

  (vi) the relevance of the project to the needs of the labour market and whether the project would facilitate geographical and occupational mobility;

  (vii) whether systems were in place for the administration and management of the project;

  (viii) that the project could not have taken place without assistance from Euroform and that the outcomes could be developed for subsequent use in other contexts;

  (ix) whether the project built on links with other European Community programmes;

  (x) whether the project was clearly targeted had clearly stated and quantifiable objectives.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list for each month since January 1990 the provisional and revised figures for United Kingdom seasonally adjusted unemployment.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The following table gives the information requested.

  United Kingdom seasonally adjusted claimant unemployment

  (Thousands)

  Provisional

  Latest revised

  1990

  January

  1,611.4

  1,619.6

  February

  1,610.1

  1,616.5

  March

  1,603.6

  1,597.0

  April

  1,605.6

  1,596.0

  May

  1,611.0

  1,600.4

  June

  1,617.1

  1,611.0

  July

  1,629.1

  1,623.9

  August

  1,653.9

  1,651.8

  September

  1,666.7

  1,6817

  October

  1,702.7

  1,723.6

  November

  1,762.4

  1,777.2

  December

  1,843.5

  1,853.1

  1991

  January

  1,888.5

  1,893.6

  February

  1,977.2

  1,985.7

  March

  2,092.7

  2,089.2

  April

  2,175.1

  2,166.6

  May

  2,244.2

  2,232.2

  June

  2,301.0

  2,292.9

  July

  2,368.1

  2,362.5

  August

  2,428.2

  2,422.5

  September

  2,460.6

  2,458.1

  October

  2,472.9

  2,477.1

  November

  2,513.0

  2,517.7

  December

  2,546.0

  2,551.2

  1992

  January

  2,604.1

  2,607.1

  February

  2,647.3

  2,644.9

  March

  2,652.3

  2,652.7

  April

  2,695.3

  2,695.3

  May

  2,716.6

  2,715.7

  June

  2,722.7

  2,724.3

  July

  2,753.4

  2,760.1

  August

  2,807.5

  2,811.1

  September

  2,843.3

  2,843.4

  October

  2,867.6

  2,867.8

  November

  2,908.9

  2,912.7

  December

  2,973.5

  n/a

  Defence Employment, Hampshire
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in the defence industries in Hampshire in each year since 1987.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: Defence industries are not identifiable from the standard industrial classification used to compile employment statistics.

  Training Schemes, Hampshire
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were taking part in Government-sponsored training schemes in Hampshire in each year since 1987; and if she will express these figures as a proportion of the total number of people registered as unemployed in Hampshire in each of those years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: The information requested is not available. Detailed historical information about numbers on Government-sponsored training schemes is not held centrally. People on Government training schemes are not included in the monthly unemployment figures.

DEFENCE

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are currently stationed in Northern Ireland; and how many of these are currently serving in other countries.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are currently some 19,000 service men deployed in Northern Ireland. None of them is serving in other countries.

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Total

  Brawdy

  17

  13

  5

  9

  7

  6

  57

  Chivenor

  16

  14

  8

  7

  8

  6

  59

  Culdrose

  7

  1

  2

  3

  7

  5

  25

  Portland

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Valley

  2

  2

  7

  2

  4

  2

  19

  Other Royal Navy

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  Other

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Total

  43

  30

  24

  21

  26

  21

  165

  Other Royal Navy = Royal Navy helicoptor from HM Vessel.

  Other = Shannon Coastguard helicopter.

  Information on the location of each of the incidents could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Proof and Experimental Establishments
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's employees and permanent contractors currently work at Eskmeals, Shoeburyness and Pendine proof and experimental establishments.

  Mr. Aitken
  The figures for Ministry of Defence employees at the beginning of the year were as follows:

  Service

  Civilian

  Eskmeals

  12

  66

  Shoeburyness

  24

  92

  Pendine

  12

  56

  Fuel Cores
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the used fuel core currently stored at the naval reactor test establishment Dounreay was removed from the reactor; when it is planned to transport the used core to Sellafield; and by what means.

  Mr. Aitken
  The used fuel core at the naval reactor test establishment, Dounreay, comprises elements removed from three different naval reactors between 1984 and 1987. The material has been analysed as part of the continuing programme of used naval fuel post-irradiation examination. The core will be removed to Sellafield when a suitably licensed mode of transport is available.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where and how a used fuel core is currently stored within the naval reactor test establishment Dounreay.

  Mr. Aitken
  The used fuel core is held safely in a dedicated core pond within the establishment.

  Search and Rescue
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number and location of military incidents requiring search-and-rescue helicopter response in the area defined by longitudes 7° W and 3° W and latitudes 50° 25°V N and 53° N, together with the name of the military establishments which responded to each incident, since 1987.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The table gives the number of military incidents requiring search and rescue helicopter response, together with the name of the military establishment which responded, in the area defined for the period in question:

  The numbers employed by the contractors at these establishments are a matter for them.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the expenditure by his Department at each of the proof and experimental establishments at Eskmeals, Shoeburyness and Pendine in 1990–91, 1991–92 and projected for 1992–93.

  Mr. Aitken
  It is not possible to produce figures on a directly comparable basis for the three years in question because of changes in the Department's accounting practice.

  Subject to this proviso, the details are as follows:
  415

  £ million

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Eskmeals

  3.2

  5.5

  6.6

  Shoeburyness

  8.1

  11.7

  14.0

  Pendine

  3.6

  4.8

  7.3

  Sea Survival
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average sea surface temperature in each of the 12 months of the year in sea areas Lundy, Fastnet and Irish sea; and what is the estimated survival time of a normally clothed person immersed in water at each of those temperatures.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The readily available information is set out in the table:

  Month

  Temperature (C)

  Survival time (hours)

  Winter (February)

  8–9

  2.5

  Spring (May)

  9–11

  3.5

  In excess of

  Summer (August)

  14–16

  5

  Autumn (November)

  9–12

  3

  County

  Establishment

  Decision/Proposal

  Losses/Gains

  Financial years

  Avon

  Central Services Bath1

  Rundown

  121

  1994–95

  Naval Support Command

  Increase

  (500)

  1994–95

  Procurement Executive2

  Increase

  (4,100)

  1995–96

  Berkshire

  RAF Greenham Common/Welford

  Closure

  120

  1992–93

  Buckinghamshire

  USAFE Air Station

  Closure

  56

  1993–94

  Cambridgeshire

  RAF Hospital Ely

  Closure

  68

  1992–93

  RAF West Raynham

  Closure

  57

  1994–95

  RAF Wyton — Support Command

  Increase

  (1,000)

  1993–97

  Cheshire

  RPO/MRO Chester1

  Closure

  182

  1995–96

  Cumbria

  NATO Depot Broughton Moor

  Closure

  89

  1992–93

  Devon

  MRO/RPO Exeter1

  Closure

  260

  1995–96

  RNAD Ernesettle

  Rundown

  318

  1995–96

  Dorset

  Portland Naval Base1

  Closure

  475

  1995–96

  Durham

  RNSD Eaglescliffe

  Transfer out

  182

  1994–95

  Gloucestershire

  RAF Innsworth

  Increase

  (100)

  1994–95

  Greater Manchester

  APO Ashton Officers ACCS1

  Closure

  116

  1995–96

  Hampshire

  RNDRD Blackbrook Farm

  Closure

  96

  1991–92

  HMS Mercury — RN Signals

  Closure

  56

  1993–94

  FMRO Portsmouth1

  Reduction in capacity

  414

  1993–94

  Portsmouth — 2nd Sea Lord

  Increase

  (125)

  1994–95

  Hereford and Worcester

  RAF Hereford1

  Closure

  140

  1994–95

  Hertfordshire

  RAF Stanbridge

  Closure

  110

  1994–95

  Humberside

  RAF Church Fenton

  Closure

  52

  1992–93

  Kent

  Junior Leaders Regiment

  Closure

  106

  1991–92

  OASC Biggin Hill

  Closure

  58

  1992–93

  Junior Infantry Battalion

  Closure

  60

  1992–93

  33 EOD Regiment1

  Transfer Out

  60

  1993–94

  Leicestershire

  RPO/MRO Leicester1

  Closure

  179

  1995–96

  Job Losses
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of his Department's jobs lost as the result of closure or cut at his Department's bases and establishments in each of the counties of England and Wales and regional authorities in Scotland in 1990–91, 1991–92 and projected for 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 based on announcements made to date.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The number of Ministry of Defence United Kingdom-based civilians has reduced from 141,372 in April 1990 to 137,793 as at 1 December 1992; a reduction of 3,579 posts. Since the introduction of the new management strategy we no longer hold manpower details by establishments centrally. To produce a full listing to show every post would involve disproportionate cost and effort. Major changes—involving over 50 posts—announced to date, excluding the Defence Research Agency, include those listed. Numbers given for civilian post losses/gains do not mean that all those concerned will be made redundant as alternative defence uses may be found in the case of partial or full closure of units.
  417

  County

  Establishment

  Decision/Proposal

  Losses/Gains

  Financial years

  London

  Various units and locations

  Transfer out and closures

  6,000

  1992–96

  MS, PB, AODO Stanmore1

  Closure

  123

  1995–96

  Merseyside

  42 District Workshop

  Closure

  148

  1992–93

  Norfolk

  RAF Swanton Morley

  Closure

  210

  1994–95

  North Yorkshire

  41 District Workshop

  Closure

  182

  1992–93

  RAF Caterrick — Regiment Depot

  Transfer Out

  85

  1993–94

  11 Signal Regiment

  Closure

  51

  1993–94

  AA College Harrogate

  Closure

  122

  1993–94

  RAF Harrogate

  Closure

  1,000

  1994–96

  MRO/RPO York1

  Closure

  270

  1995–96

  Nottinghamshire

  RAF Newton1

  Partial closure

  139

  1994–95

  Oxfordshire

  RAF Abingdon Station HQ1

  Closure

  134

  1992–93

  Shropshire

  RAF Cosford — No.2 School1

  Increase

  (110)

  1994–95

  Somerset

  Yeovilton

  Increase

  (100)

  1993–94

  Suffolk

  RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge

  Closure

  307

  1993–94

  RAF Wattisham

  Partial closure

  141

  1993–94

  Warwickshire

  Junior Leaders RA Bramcote

  Closure

  90

  1993–94

  Wiltshire

  RAF Kemble

  Closure

  314

  1992–93

  RAF Hullavington

  Closure

  60

  1993–94

  RNSD Copenacre

  Rundown

  753

  1993–94

  HQDT Upavon1

  Transfer in

  (111)

  1993–94

  RAF Upavon — HQ 1 GP1

  Transfer out

  86

  1993–94

  RAF Chilmark — 11 MU

  Closure

  229

  1995–96

  A & AEE Boscombe Down

  Rundown

  177

  1995–96

  Scotland

  Naval Base Rosyth

  Rundown

  746

  1995–96

  APO/RPO Glasgow1

  Increase

  (700)

  1995–96

  Wales

  RAF Brawdy

  Closure

  82

  1992–93

  39 District Workshop

  Closure

  39

  1992–93

  AA College Chepstow

  Closure

  172

  1993–94

  RNAD Trecwn

  Closure

  436

  1995–96

  1 Still under consultation with the MOD trades unions.

  2 Staff relocating to North Bristol from various units and locations in London, Bath and along the South Coast.

  Trident
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimate of the cost of the Trident programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The current estimate of the total project cost of the Trident programme is £10,676 million, if all expenditure, including payments already made, is brought up to current prices and a common exchange rate of £1 = $1.74, as assumed in the long-term costing of the defence programme. If payments already made are expressed at the prices and exchange rates actually incurred, the equivalent estimate is now £9,596 million. Expenditure on the Trident programme to 31 August 1992 represented some 60 per cent. of the overall estimate.

  The revised estimate of £10,676 million represents a small real cost reduction of £18 million compared to that announced last year, after allowing for the effects of inflation and exchange rate variations. The increase in cash
  418
  terms is £158 million. The reduction in real terms since the original 1982 Trident II estimate, including the savings resulting from the decision to have United Kingdom missiles processed in the United States facility at Kings bay, Georgia, now stands at some £2–8 billion.

  The proportion of the programme to be undertaken in the United Kingdom has increased from 72 per cent. to 74 per cent.

  The Select Committee on Defence previously asked that when announcing the annual revised estimate, I should report on the state of the project as a whole. I am pleased to say that the Trident programme remains on schedule to enter service in the mid-1990s. There has been no slippage in the in-service date since the decision to purchase Trident II was announced in March 1982. I am, as in previous years, sending to the Chairmen of the Public Accounts Committee and of the Select Committee on Defence a more detailed report covering the points on which the Select Committee on Defence sought advice. I am also placing a copy of this report in the Library of the House.

  BR STAFF: PROTECTION OF CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL FACILITIES
  BR STAFF: PROTECTION OF CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL FACILITIES
  RAILWAYS PENSIONS
  RAILWAYS PENSIONS
  R v MOON: DEFENDANT'S ALLEGATIONS
  R v MOON: DEFENDANT'S ALLEGATIONS
  SUNDAY TRADING: RESEARCH PAPERS AND PROPOSALS
  SUNDAY TRADING: RESEARCH PAPERS AND PROPOSALS
  ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL: UK PRESIDENCY
  ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL: UK PRESIDENCY
  WEST MIDLANDS DISTRICT HEALTH AUTHORITIES: CONSULTATION REQUEST
  WEST MIDLANDS DISTRICT HEALTH AUTHORITIES: CONSULTATION REQUEST
  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL, 18th and 19th JANUARY
  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL, 18th and 19th JANUARY