Written Answers of 22 January 1993

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Service
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 January,Official Report, column 693, what are the criteria on which

  Police strength1—Wales—1979 to 1992

  Year As at December

  Dyfed-Powys Numbers of officers

  Gwent Numbers of officers

  North Wales Numbers of officers

  South Wales Numbers of officers

  1979

  918

  958

  1,271

  3,025

  1980

  929

  973

  1,290

  3,068

  1981

  925

  963

  1,288

  3,082

  1982

  930

  969

  1,303

  3,096

  1983

  924

  962

  1,275

  3,082

  1984

  922

  957

  1,281

  3,106

  1985

  924

  971

  1,251

  3,064

  1986

  929

  973

  1,268

  3,099

  1987

  929

  977

  1,307

  3,120

  1988

  927

  989

  1,304

  3,114

  1989

  934

  1,000

  1,332

  3,118

  1990

  936

  1,001

  1,339

  3,123

  1991

  944

  995

  1,343

  3,142

  1992 (October)

  966

  1,008

  1,369

  3,182

  1 Police strength varies from year to year according to wastage and recruitment patterns.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to include the recent proposals of high street retailers in his consultations on, the reform of Sunday trading laws; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend is referring to the proposals for reform which have been drawn up by Marks and Spencer plc and other leading high street retailers. I met representatives of the traders on 3 November 1992 to discuss the proposals. At this stage we have no plans to include the model as one of the options to be put before the House.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from high street retailers on the reform of Sunday trading legislation.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Since 20 October 1992, we have received 83 written representations from retailers on this issue.

  Police Force (Civilian Employees)
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civilians have been employed by each police authority in Wales for each year since 1979.
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  the performance of the chief executive of the prison service agency will be assessed for eligibility for the performance bonus.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  For the period up to 31 March 1993 the performance of the director general will be assessed wholly on a qualitative basis. Thereafter, when the agency comes into being, his performance will be assessed on the basis of both qualitative and quantitative measures, the nature and balance of which are still to be settled.

  Uniformed Police Officers
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many uniformed police officers were employed by each police authority in Wales for each year since 1979.

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

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

  Strength of Civilians in Wales 1979 to 1992

  Year as at 31 December

  Dyfed Powys

  Gwent

  North Wales

  South Wales

  1979

  194

  206

  319

  866

  1980

  194

  213

  320

  855

  1981

  195

  214

  325

  855

  1982

  198

  216

  328

  888

  1983

  204

  228

  351

  892

  1984

  208

  233

  373

  899

  1985

  210

  232

  401

  905

  1986

  198

  236

  382

  956

  1987

  209

  241

  385

  1,009

  1988

  215

  252

  388

  1,015

  1989

  234

  250

  423

  1,082

  1990

  243

  290

  439

  1,111

  1991

  250

  304

  444

  1,079

  19921

  268

  318

  459

  1,076

  1 Until October.

  Unlicensed Drivers
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people over the age of 17 years have been caught driving without having passed a recognised driving test within each police authority area during each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Jack
  The following table sets out the number of prosecutions for offences of "driving without licence or
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  causing or permitting to drive without licence" and "provisional licence holders not accompanied by qualified person" committed by persons 17 years old and above in

  Number of prosecutions for offences committed by persons aged 17 years and over

  England and Wales

  Number of offences

  Driving without licence or causing or permitting to drive without licence or provisional licence holder not accompanied by qualified person

  Police force

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Avon and Somerset

  3,896

  4,471

  4,485

  4,749

  6,040

  Bedfordshire

  1,933

  2,056

  1,842

  2,110

  1,834

  Cambridgeshire

  1,492

  1,476

  1,536

  1,795

  1,621

  Cheshire

  2,086

  2,113

  2,116

  2,402

  2,381

  Cleveland

  1,795

  1,828

  1,854

  1,950

  2,319

  Cumbria

  1,555

  1,634

  1,328

  1,290

  1,815

  Derbyshire

  2,683

  2,523

  2,525

  2,700

  2,189

  Devon and Cornwall

  3,647

  3,571

  3,582

  3,742

  4,292

  Dorset

  1,514

  1,644

  1,928

  1,993

  2,092

  Durham

  1,886

  1,784

  1,839

  2,272

  2,116

  Essex

  3,165

  3,370

  3,506

  3,153

  3,539

  Gloucestershire

  1,665

  1,886

  1,641

  1,639

  2,001

  Greater Manchester

  7,842

  8,936

  9,256

  10,242

  11,306

  Hampshire

  3,870

  4,471

  4,573

  4,158

  4,241

  Hertfordshire

  1,653

  1,659

  1,884

  2,111

  2,382

  Humberside

  1,765

  2,160

  2,185

  2,154

  2,080

  Kent

  3,248

  3,576

  3,998

  3,577

  3,125

  Lancashire

  4,588

  4,834

  5,413

  5,059

  5,067

  Leicestershire

  2,956

  3,210

  3,030

  3,209

  4,236

  Lincolnshire

  1,274

  1,383

  1,547

  1,663

  1,184

  London, City

  383

  535

  536

  461

  486

  Merseyside

  4,742

  4,940

  5,985

  6,437

  7,939

  Metropolitan

  11,129

  11,592

  10,614

  8,653

  19,605

  Norfolk

  1,296

  1,184

  1,279

  1,151

  1,094

  Northamptonshire

  1,401

  1,661

  1,913

  2,058

  2,483

  Northumbria

  4,139

  4,075

  4,385

  6,232

  8,050

  North Yorkshire

  1,184

  1,323

  1,381

  1,424

  1,772

  Nottinghamshire

  2,914

  2,704

  2,882

  3,210

  3,245

  South Yorkshire

  4,802

  4,343

  4,126

  3,856

  3,943

  Staffordshire

  2,327

  2,530

  3,053

  3,193

  3,164

  Suffolk

  1,218

  1,236

  1,361

  1,335

  1,464

  Surrey

  1,446

  1,605

  1,800

  1,777

  2,087

  Sussex

  3,356

  4,496

  4,868

  4,913

  4,984

  Thames Valley

  3,702

  4,340

  4,376

  5,658

  5,867

  Warwickshire

  1,126

  1,290

  1,652

  1,483

  1,352

  West Mercia

  2,730

  2,870

  3,155

  3,465

  3,327

  West Midlands

  9,080

  10,704

  11,034

  11,192

  12,539

  West Yorkshire

  6,151

  5,829

  5,831

  7,036

  6,831

  Wiltshire

  894

  1,004

  1,149

  1,314

  1,577

  Dyfed Powys

  845

  820

  1,041

  1,058

  1,317

  Gwent

  1,829

  1,747

  1,606

  1,581

  1,493

  North Wales

  1,910

  2,058

  2,397

  2,396

  2,521

  South Wales

  5,899

  7,174

  6,749

  7,002

  6,812

  Total

  129,016

  138,645

  143,241

  148,853

  169,812

  Ainsty Lodge, Wetherby
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many convictions for(a) burglary, (b) assault, (c) offences against property, (d) taking vehicles without the owner's consent, (e) driving without a licence and (f) dangerous driving have been recorded in each of the last five years against residents of Ainsty Lodge, Wetherby;

  (2) in respect of how many offences residents of Ainsty Lodge, Wetherby have been (a) charged and (b) convicted in each of the last five years;

  (3) what proportion of crimes suspected to have been committed in England by juveniles in each of the last five years are suspected to have been committed by persons in the care of local authorities;
  422
  each police force area in England and Wales for each of the years 1987 to 1991. Similar information for earlier years is not readily available.

  (4) how many offences residents of Ainsty Lodge in Leeds have committed while on bail in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not collected.

  Criminal Justice System (Costs)
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason it was decided to provide each member of every justices' bench in England and Wales with a copy of the relevant volume of his Department's analysis of the costs of the criminal justice system, 1992; and what were the costs of this exercise including the cost of multi-colour printing.

  Mr. Jack
  Section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 requires the Home Secretary to publish information annually to assist those engaged in the administration of criminal justice to become aware of the financial
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  implications of their decisions. It was decided to provide magistrates with individual volumes to ensure that they had personal access to this important information.

  The total cost of printing, producing and distributing the volumes was £124,290, or £2.54 per copy.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list, by county, in England and Wales the number of confirmed cases of BSE for the month of December 1992.

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is available in the Library of the House.

  Farmers (Medicines)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines are used by his Ministry when determining whether a vet can sell medicine to a farmer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The Medicines Act 1968 and its subordinate legislation sets the legal framework for the sale of and supply of medicines. This provides for a veterinary surgeon to prescribe medicines for use on animals under his or her care. Within those requirements, decisions on whether to sell medicines to farmers are a matter for the judgment of the individual veterinary surgeon.

  BST Products
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received from the Medicines Commission concerning BST products.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Medicines Commission has advised me that the BST products manufactured by the companies, Lilly Industries Ltd. and Monsanto SA/NV, meet the medicines licensing criteria of safety, quality and efficacy. I have told the companies that the United Kingdom position in forthcoming Committee on Veterinary Medicinal Products discussions will reflect this advice. However, no product licences under the Medicines Act may be issued so long as the licensing moratorium agreed by the European Community's Council of Ministers remains in force.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress to establish new environmentally sensitive areas; and what management commitments and financial remuneration he is proposing.

  Mr. Gummer
  Pursuant to the answer given on 2 December 1992 at columns 224–25, I am today laying before both Houses of Parliament the six designation orders providing for the introduction of six new environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) in England. These new ESAs are:

  Avon Valley;

  Exmoor;

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  Lake District;

  North Kent Marshes;

  South Wessex Downs; and

  South West Peak.

  Information packs giving details of the areas covered, scheme conditions and payment rates are being placed in the Libraries.

  I am delighted to be able to introduce these new ESAs which will add some 426,000 hectares to the 387,000 hectares currently within ESAs in England. The new areas contain some of our most beautiful countryside and important wildlife areas. I am confident that like the existing schemes, they will play a significant part in the conservation and enhancement of landscapes, special habitats and features of historic interest.

  Details of the new schemes are being sent to farmers in each area and applications to join them should be lodged with the Ministry's regional service centres before 31 March.

  I will shortly be issuing for consultation our proposals for the introduction of a further six new ESAs which we plan to launch next winter. I will also be announcing the conclusions of my review of the existing schemes in the Breckland, Clun, North Peak, Suffolk river valleys and the Test valley.

  Fallen Stock
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers in Wales have developed small-scale incinerators and waste disposal units to deal with fallen stock in each year since 1990; and what financial assistance was granted by his Department for such schemes in each year.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have been asked to reply.

  My Department does not provide financial assistance for the provision of incinerators and waste disposal units. No information as to the numbers of such facilities is held centrally.

EDUCATION

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will outline the maximum numbers of pupils per classroom laid down by his Department in accordance with best practice policy in(a) infant schools, (b) primary schools and (c) secondary schools, in England and Wales.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department does not issue guidance on the maximum number of pupils per classroom. The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981 prescribe the overall minimum teaching areas to be provided for maintained and grant-maintained schools in England and Wales. These areas are based on the total number of registered pupils at the school and their age range. The apportionment of teaching space within the overall area available is a matter for local determination.

  National Union of Students
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what changes he proposes to make to the status of the National Union of Students; and if he will make a statement.
  425
  Mr. Boswell
  In the light of the Department's consultations on student unionism, my right hon. Friend is considering proposals for reform, which he plans to announce in the near future.

  Schools Capacity
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will outline the criteria by which his Department currently calculates the total pupil capacity in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England.

  Mr. Forth
  Our recent survey of the capacity of primary and secondary schools was calculated on the basis of two different measures: for primary schools capacity was calculated(a) using the more open enrolment (MOE) formula set out in annex D of the Department's circular 6/91, and (b) by multiplying the standard admission number of the school by the number of year groups. For secondary schools the capacity was calculated (a) by using the more open enrolement (MOE) formula set out in annex A of the Department's circular 11/88, and (b) (for pupils aged under 16) by multiplying the standard number by the number of year groups. Both circulars are available in the Library.

  Careers Officers
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many university and polytechnic careers officers there were in(a) 1979 and (b) 1985; and how many there are today.

  Mr. Boswell
  Information on careers officers in the former polytechnics is not held centrally. The table shows numbers of careers and appointments officers employed by institutions within the Universities Funding Council sector.

  Year

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  19801

  252

  13

  265

  1985

  230

  1

  231

  19892

  217

  29

  246

  1 The first year for which this information was collected.

  2 The latest year for which this information is available.

  Pupil Exclusions
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will give for each grant-maintained school the number of permanent pupil exclusions in the academic year 1991–92 and for each previous year back to and including the final academic year in which the school was local authority maintained.

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to him on 5 November 1992 at col.345.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement about future levels of recruitment to teacher training courses.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend is pleased to note the buoyant level of recruitment to initial teacher training courses in 1991 and 1992. He is however concerned that if 426
  the present pattern of recruitment continues it is likely to lead to an over-supply of teachers trained for primary schools, whereas secondary schools may face teacher shortages as pupil numbers rise during the 1990s. In advising the Higher Education Funding Council for England of intake targets for initial teacher training for the period 1993–1996 the Department has therefore proposed that they should fund a reducing number of places for primary school training and increasing numbers for secondary education. He has also asked the council to consider how it might help to tilt the balance of recruitment to primary school training towards applicants holding science, technology and mathematics qualifications, while containing overall numbers.

  A copy of the official letter to the council dated 7 January has been placed in the Library of the House. I understand that the Welsh Office has written in similar terms to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales.

SOCIAL SECURITY

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

  Miss Widdecombe
  The following contracts have been awarded to KPMG Management Consultants by the Department of Social Security during the 1992–93 financial year:Development of the Contributions Agency's Customer Education Project—(6 January 1992 to 30 June 1992).
  Review of the Contributions Agency Performance Appraisal System—(21 April 1992 to 30 September 1992).
  Development of the Contributions Agency's Customer Education Pilot Projects—(15 October 1992 to July 1993).
  Promotion to Grade 5 Job Analysis Project—(25 November 1991 to 31 May 1992).

  Service Delivery Market Testing Project in the Information Technology Services Agency—(21 January 1993 to 21 April 1993).
  Market Testing Project in the Information Technology Services Agency
  Methodologies Evaluation in the Information Technology Services Agency—(1 April 1992 to 31 July 1992).
  Market Testing Project in the Information Technology Services Agency—(6 January 1993 to 30 September 1993).

  War Pensions
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the local authorities which operate(a) a total disregard, (b) a partial disregard and (c) no disregard, other than the statutory minimum of war pensions for housing and community charge benefit.
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  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested, as reported by local authorities in the financial year 1990–91, is in the following tables.

  Local authorities operating a total disregard scheme for both war disablement and war widows' pensions

  Aberconwy

  Aberdeen1

  Allerdale

  Amber Valley3

  Angus1

  Annandale1

  Arfon

  Argyll-Bute1

  Arun

  Ashfield

  Ashford

  Badenoch1

  Banff and Buchan1

  Basingstoke

  Bassetlaw

  Bearsden and Milngavie1

  Berwickshire1

  Birmingham

  Blackpool

  Blaenau Gwent

  Borders2

  Boston

  Bracknell

  Bradford

  Braintree

  Brent

  Brentwood

  Brighton

  Broxbourne

  Broxtowe

  Burnley

  Caithness1

  Calderdale

  Cardiff

  Carlisle

  Carrick

  Castle Point

  Central2

  Ceredigion

  Charnwood

  Chelmsford

  Cheltenham

  Cherwell

  Chesterfield

  Chiltern

  Christchurch

  Clackmannan1

  Clydebank1

  Clydesdale1

  Colwyn

  Congleton

  Copeland

  Cotswold

  Coventry

  Craven

  Crewe and Nantwich

  Cumbernauld (D.C.)1

  Cumbernauld (Kils.)1

  Cumnock and Doon1

  Cunninghame1

  Dacorum

  Dartford

  Daventry

  Delyn

  Dumbarton1

  Dumfries and Galloway2

  Dundee1

  Dunfermline1

  Ealing

  East Cambridgeshire

  East Devon

  East Dorset (Wimb.)

  East Hertfordshire

  East Kilbride1

  East Kilbride (D.C.)1

  Eastleigh

  East Lothian1

  Eastwood1

  East Yorkshire

  Eden

  Edinburgh1

  Ellesmere Port

  Elmbridge

  Epping Forest

  Epsom and Ewell

  Erewash

  Ettrick and Lauderdale1

  Falkirk1

  Fife2

  Forest Heath

  Forest of Dean

  Gedling

  Gillingham

  Glanford

  Glasgow1

  Glenrothes1

  Gloucester

  Glyndwr

  Gordon1

  Gosport

  Grampian2

  Great Yarmouth

  Guildford

  Hackney

  Halton

  Hamilton1

  Hammersmith

  Harborough

  Harlow

  Harrow3

  Hartlepool

  Hereford

  Hertsmere

  Highland2

  Hinchley and Bosworth

  Horsham

  Hounslow

  Hove

  Huntingdon

  Hyndburn

  Inverclyde1

  Inverness1

  Ipswich

  Irvine (D.C.)1

  Isle of Scilly

  Islington

  Islwyn

  Kennet

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Kilmarnock1

  Kincardine and Deeside1

  Kingswood

  Kirklees

  Kyle and Carrick1

  Lambeth

  Lancaster

  Langbaurgh

  Leicester

  Lewes

  Lewisham3

  Lichfield

  Liverpool

  Livingston (D.C.)1

  Llanelli

  Lochaber1

  Lothian2

  Luton

  Macclesfield

  428

  Maidstone

  Maldon

  Mansfield

  Medina

  Melton

  Mendip

  Merton

  Mid Bedfordshire

  Midlothian1

  Mid Suffolk

  Mid Sussex

  Milton Keynes

  Mole Valley

  Monklands1

  Montgomery

  Moray1

  Motherwell1

  Nairn1

  Neath

  Newark

  Newbury

  Newcastle-under-Lyme

  Nithsdale1

  Northampton

  Northavon

  North Bedfordshire

  North Cornwall

  North East Derby

  North East Fife1

  North Hertfordshire

  North Kesteven

  North Shropshire3

  North Tyneside

  North Warwickshire

  North West Leicestershire

  North Wiltshire

  Nottingham

  Nuneaton

  Ogwr

  Orkney

  Perth and Kinross1

  Peterborough

  Purbeck

  Radnor

  Redbridge

  Redditch

  Reigate and Banstead

  Renfrew1

  Rhuddlan

  Richmondshire

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  Rochester on Medway

  Rochford

  Ross and Cromarty1

  Rossendale3

  Rother

  Roxburgh1

  Rugby

  Rushcliffe

  Rushmoor

  Rutland

  Salford

  Sandwell

  Scottish Homes1

  Scunthorpe

  Sedgefield

  Sefton

  Selby

  Sevenoaks

  Shetland

  Skye and Lochalsh1

  Slough

  Solihull

  South Bedfordshire

  South Bucks

  South Cambridgeshire

  South Derbyshire

  Southend on Sea

  South Holland

  South Kesteven4

  South Lakeland

  South Northants

  South Oxfordshire

  South Ribble

  South Shropshire

  South Staffordshire

  South Tyneside

  Southwark

  South Wight

  Spelthorne

  Staffs. Moorlands

  St. Albans

  Stewartry1

  St. Helens

  Stirling1

  Stockport

  Stoke on Trent

  Stratford on Avon

  Strathkelvin1

  Stroud

  Suffolk Coastal

  Sutherland1

  Sutton

  Swale

  Tameside

  Tamworth

  Tandridge

  Tayside2

  Tendring

  Test Valley

  Tewesbury

  Thanet

  The Wrekin

  Three Rivers

  Tower Hamlets

  Trafford

  Tweeddale1

  Vale of White Horse

  Wakefield

  Walsall

  Waltham Forest

  Wandsworth

  Wansbeck

  Wansdyke

  Watford

  Waverley

  Wellingborough4

  Western Isles

  West Lothian1

  Westminster

  West Oxfordshire

  West Wiltshire

  Wigtown1

  Winchester

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  Wirral

  Wokingham

  Wolverhampton

  Woodspring

  Worthing

  Wycombe

  Local authorities operating a total disregard scheme for war disablement pensions only

  Bath

  Blaby

  Blackburn5

  Bolton

  Bromley

  Bury

  Cambridge

  Corby

  Doncaster

  Dudley5

  429

  East Staffordshire

  Exeter

  Grimsby

  Hambleton

  Havering

  Middlesbrough

  Newport

  Oldham

  Ribble Valley5

  Southampton5

  South Somerset5

  Stevenage

  Stockton on Tees

  Torbay

  Torfaen

  Tunbridge Wells

  Vale Royal5

  York

  Local authorities operating a total disregard scheme for war widows' pensions only

  Castle Morpeth

  Chester

  Kirkaldy1 6

  Monmouth6

  Thurrock6

  Local authorities operating a partial disregard scheme for war pensions

  Adur

  Aylesbury Vale

  Barking8

  Barnet

  Beverley

  Bournemouth

  Breckland

  Bromsgrove

  Camden

  Canterbury

  Chichester

  Chorley

  Crawley

  Darlington7

  Derby7

  Derbyshire Dales

  Dover

  East Hampshire

  Fareham

  Fenland

  Hastings10

  Havant

  Holderness

  Kingston upon Thames

  Knowsley

  Lincoln

  Lliw Valley

  Malvern Hills

  Meirrionnydd

  New Forest

  North Dorset

  Penwith9

  Poole

  Portsmouth

  Preseli

  Preston

  Reading

  Rochdale

  Rhondda

  Salisbury

  Scarborough

  South Norfolk

  South Pembrokeshire

  Swansea

  Teignbridge

  Thamesdown7

  Tonbridge and Malling7

  Vale of Glamorgan

  Wealden

  West Norfolk

  Wigan

  Worcester

  Local authorities not operating a local scheme for war disablement and war widows' pensions

  Alnwick

  Alyn and Deeside

  Babergh

  Barnsley

  Barrow-in-Furness

  Basildon

  Basildon (D.C.)1

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  Bexley

  Blythe Valley

  Bolsover

  Boothferry

  Brecknock

  Bridgnorth

  Bristol

  Broadland

  Cannock Chase

  Caradon

  Carmarthen

  Chester-le-Street

  City of London

  Cleethorpes

  Colchester

  Corby New Town1

  Croydon

  Cynon Valley

  Derwentside

  Dinefwr

  Durham

  Dwfor

  Easington

  Eastbourne

  East Lindsey

  East Northampton

  Enfield

  Fylde

  Gateshead

  Gravesham

  Greenwich

  Haringey

  Harrogate

  Hart

  High Peak

  Hillingdon

  Kerrier

  Kettering

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  Leeds

  Leominster

  Manchester

  Merthyr Tydfil

  Mid Devon

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  Newham

  North Devon

  North Norfolk

  Norwich

  Oadby and Wigston

  430

  Oswestry

  Oxford

  Pendle

  Plymouth

  Port Talbot

  Restormel

  Rhymney Valley

  Rotherham

  Runnymede

  Rural Wales1

  Ryedale

  Sedgemoor

  Sheffield

  Shepway

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  South Hams

  South Herefordshire

  Stafford

  St. Edmundsbury

  Strathclyde2

  Sunderland

  Surrey Heath

  Taff-Ely

  Taunton Deane

  Teesdale

  Telford1

  Torridge

  Tynedale

  Uttlesford

  Warrington

  Warrington (D.C.)1

  Warwick

  Waveney

  Wear Valley

  Welwyn Hatfield

  West Devon

  West Dorset

  West Lancashire

  West Lindsey

  West Somerset

  Weymouth and Portland

  Woking

  Wrexham Maelor

  Wychavon

  Wyre

  Wyre Forrest

  Ynys Môn

  1 Denotes those authorities responsible for Housing Benefit only.

  2 Denotes those authorities responsible for Community Charge Benefit only.

  3 Denotes those authorities responsible for both benefits but who operate a scheme for Housing Benefit only.

  4 Denotes those authorities responsible for both benefits but who operate a scheme for Community Charge Benefit only.

  5 Denotes those authorities who operate a scheme to fully disregard war disablement pension and part of war widows' pension.

  6 Denotes those authorities who operate a scheme to fully disregard war widows' pension and part of war disablement pension.

  7 Denotes those authorities who operate a scheme to partially disregard war disablement pension only.

  8 Denotes an authority which operates a scheme to partially disregard war pensions for Housing Benefit only.

  9 Denotes an authority which operates a scheme to fully disregard war pensions for Housing Benefit rent rebates and partially disregard war pensions for Community Charge Benefit.

  10 Denotes an authority which operates a scheme to fully disregard war pensions for Community Charge Benefit and partially disregard war pensions in Housing Benefit.

  Migrants, Greater London
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) by borough, (b) by district health authority and (c) by country of origin, the number of migrants from Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan currently resident in Greater London and claiming any type of social security benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency that details of the country of origin of benefit recipients are not recorded routinely and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Matters concerning district health authorities are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Sir John Hunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many unsuccessful claims were made for invalid care allowances in the past 12 months, and if he will publish a breakdown of refusals according to(a)

  431
  non-receipt of the appropriate benefits by the cared for person, (b) claimant earning ore than the weekly ICA earnings limit, (c) claimant caring for less than 35 hours a week, (d) claimant over 65 years of age and (e) claimant in receipt of an overlapping benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  In the 12 months to 31 December 1992 there were 20,840 unsuccessful claims to invalid care allowance.

  The breakdown of refusals requested is in the table.

  Category

  Number

  (a)

  11,339

  (b)

  1,388

  (c)

  56

  (d)

  1,972

  (e)

  2,569

  The balance of refusals were for reasons other than those mentioned by my hon. Friend.

  Disability Allowances
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to reply to the application by Mr. Keith Pownall of 20 August 1992 on behalf of his wife Valerie Pownall for invalid care allowance and the higher rate of attendance allowance.

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

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Bob Cryer, dated 21 January 1993.
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Mr. Keith Pownall's applications for Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) and for higher rate Attendance Allowance (AA) made on behalf of his wife Mrs. Valerie Pownall.
  I can confirm that decisions were made on 17 August 1992 on Mr. Pownall's ICA claim and on 19 January 1993 on his wife's AA claim. Mr. and Mrs. Pownall have been notified of both decisions. I have replied to you separately and in greater detail about the case.

  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Young People (Benefits)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people aged 16 and 17 years in Birmingham not in employment, not on a youth training scheme and not in full-time education are receiving benefit.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of benefits is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 21 January 1993.
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for
  432
  Social Security asking how many people aged 16 and 17 years in Birmingham not in employment, not on a YT scheme and not in full time-education are receiving benefit.
  The complete range of information you requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I have, however, detailed below the number of successful applications as a result of the hardship provisions, and these are outlined below. It should be noted that a direction to pay in these cases normally lasts for an eight week period, therefore, some of the applications successful in November may no longer be currently receiving benefit.

  District

  November 1992

  December 1992

  Birmingham Chamberlain

  13

  12

  Birmingham North West

  19

  10

  Birmingham Heartlands

  16

  16

  Birmingham South East

  9

  12

  Birmingham South West

  31

  19

  Totals

  88

  69

  The number of successful applications do not equate to the number of customers as some customers may have made more than one application. The above information has been supplied by the Severe Hardship Claims Unit.

  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report. A copy is also being placed in the Library.

  Income Support
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are on income support within the Seaham and Peterlee agency areas; and what were the comparable numbers each year since 1988.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. John Cummings, dated 20 January 1993.
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many people are on Income Support within the Seaham and Peterlee agency areas; and what were the comparable numbers each year since 1988.
  The complete range of information you requested is not available. This is because statistics of a local nature are destroyed at regular intervals in accordance with standing instructions. I have listed below the latest available data which shows the number of recipients at a given point in time rather than for a given period.

  Date

  Seaham

  Peterlee

  November 1989

  3,040

  6,782

  November 1990

  3,300

  7,111

  November 1991

  3,143

  7,348

  November 1992

  3,518

  8,003

  This information has been obtained from the Income Support Management Information System.

  I hope you find this reply helpful. Copies of this letter will be placed in the library.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Advance Corporation Tax
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the effects of advance corporation tax on British overseas investment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have received a number of representations about advance corporation tax. My right hon. Friend drew attention to the issue in his last Budget statement.

  Tobacco Industry
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money the United Kingdom contributed to the European tobacco-growing industry in the last financial year.

  Sir John Cope
  Member states" contributions go to fund the EC budget as a whole; no breakdown can be given of contributions to individual sections of the budget.

  Written Questions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the advisory cost limit for answering written parliamentary questions in each year since 1980; what was the percentage increase in(a) constant and (b) actual terms in each year; when he next plans to uprate the limit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table is as follows:

  Advisory cost limit for answering written parliamentary questions

  Year

  Percentage increase since preceding change

  £

  (a) At constant prices1 Per cent.

  (b) Actual Per cent.

  19802

  50

  —

  —

  1981

  50

  —

  —

  1982

  200

  53·0

  300·0

  1983

  200

  —

  —

  Tax on excise products in November 1992 based on exchange rate on 1 October 19921

  Beer

  Wine

  Spirits

  Cigarettes

  Member state

  VAT rate per cent.

  Duty per pint £

  VAT rate per cent.

  Duty per 75cl bottle £

  VAT rate per cent.

  Duty per 70cl bottle £

  VAT rate per cent.

  Duty MPPC packet of 20 £

  Total tax on MPPC £

  MPPC price £

  Belgium

  19·5

  0·08

  19·5

  0·22

  19·5

  3·50

  12·0

  1·23

  1·43

  1·85

  Denmark

  25·0

  0·19

  25·0

  0·51

  25·0

  10·77

  25·0

  1·88

  2·46

  2·88

  France

  18·6

  0·01

  18·6

  0·02

  18·6

  2·62

  22·0

  0·84

  1·11

  1·48

  Germany

  14·0

  0·03

  14·0

  nil

  14·0

  2·89

  14·0

  1·15

  1·39

  1·92

  Greece

  18·0

  0·05

  18·0

  nil

  18·0

  1·22

  18·0

  0·28

  0·38

  0·63

  Ireland

  21·0

  0·52

  21·0

  1·63

  21·0

  5·98

  21·0

  1·42

  1·85

  2·45

  Italy

  19·0

  0·09

  9·0

  nil

  19·0

  1·20

  19·0

  0·63

  0·81

  1·13

  Luxembourg

  15·0

  0·02

  6·0

  0·09

  15·0

  2·09

  15·0

  0·85

  1·03

  1·40

  Netherlands

  17·5

  0·09

  17·5

  0·22

  17·5

  3·20

  17·5

  0·80

  1·02

  1·47

  Portugal

  16·0

  0·06

  5·0

  nil

  16·0

  1·53

  16·0

  0·73

  0·88

  1·12

  Spain

  15·0

  0·02

  15·0

  nil

  15·0

  1·17

  15·0

  0·20

  0·25

  0·40

  United Kingdom

  17·5

  0·24

  17·5

  0·94

  17·5

  5·55

  17·5

  1·35

  1·70

  2·27

  1 The date used as reference point for exchange rates in European community Directives.

  434

  Year

  Percentage increase since preceding change

  £

  (a) At constant prices1 Per cent.

  (b) Actual Per cent.

  1984

  200

  —

  —

  1985

  200

  —

  —

  1986

  200

  —

  —

  1987

  200

  —

  —

  1988

  250

  20·0

  25·0

  1989

  250

  —

  —

  1990

  250

  —

  —

  1991

  250

  —

  —

  1992

  400

  45·0

  60·0

  1 Indexed by GDP deflator.

  2 Unchanged since 1965.

  The advisory cost limit was last increased on 14 January 1992 at column 546 and this followed a major review of costs in 1991.

  The current level of £400 was fixed as a multiple of eight times the average marginal cost so that only cases of exceptionally high cost might be affected and to avoid the need for frequent small increases.

  The limit may be increased from time to time in future when costs or policy suggest the need for a change.

  VAT and Excise Duty
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the combined level of VAT and excise duty on beer, wine, spirits and cigarettes in each member state of the European Community.

  Sir John Cope
  The following table sets out details of the VAT rate and duty rate applied by each member state to typical excise products in November 1992. The combined level of VAT and excise duty can be calculated only with reference to the retail price. Information is available on the retail price of the most popular price category of cigarettes in the different member states and this has been used to calculate the total tax on cigarettes. It is not possible to arrive at an equivalent price for the main types of alcoholic drinks however, since neither average prices for most popular price category prices are available.

  Personal Wealth
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the most recent estimates of personal wealth per capita in each region and nation within the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In 1990, the most recent year available, the average marketable wealth as defined in section 11 of Inland Revenue Statistics 1992, for the United Kingdom adult population, was £38,100 per head. I regret that more disaggregated figures are not available.

  Treasury Running Costs
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure under sub-head Al of the vote for class XVIII, vote 1, HM Treasury running costs, for 1991–92.

  Mr. Nelson
  The main elements of expenditure under subhead Al of class XVIII vote 1 for 1991–92 is as follows:

  £

  Pay and related expenditure

  32,669,000

  Accommodation

  12,116,000

  Other

  8,792,000

  53,577,000

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

  Mr. Lamont
  I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Economic and Finance Council of the European Community in Brussels on 18 January.

  The Council discussed the economic situation in the Community and national measures to promote recovery in its biannual multilateral surveillance exercise. Ministers agreed that, with the EC economy now in recession, member states should step up their efforts to promote growth and reduce unemployment and that they should strengthen the co-ordination of their economic policies. Wage restraint and healthier public finances with an increased emphasis on investment would help to create the conditions for lower interest rates across Europe. These principles are all consistent with measures I announced in my autumn statement.

  The Commission will be contacting member states to discuss their economic plans in order to offer a general picture of the action member states are taking at the next meeting of ECOFIN.

  The Council was given a brief presentation by the Commission and the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) of their plans to follow up the conclusions of the Edinburgh European Council by establishing the new European investment fund and EIB lending facility. All member states stressed the need to bring both new facilities into operation as soon as possible.

  The Council adopted a proposal for a balance of payments loan for Italy of 8 billion ecu (approximately
  436
  £6·3 billion). This loan will be paid in four tranches conditional upon Italy's meeting its targets for reducing its budget deficit.

  The Council also made a statement welcoming the decision of the new Irish Government to maintain the existing parities of the Irish punt within the ERM.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people aged between 16 and 18 years in the Walsall travel-to-work area are unemployed.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In October 1992 there were 973 unemployed claimants aged between 16 and 18 years in the Walsall travel-to-work area.

  Changes to the benefit regulations in September 1988 coincided with the extension of a guaranteed YTS, now YT, place to all those aged under 18 not in full-time education or employment, which meant that those who declined an offer of a YTS place were no longer entitled to benefit. However, there are still a small number of under 18–year-olds entitled to benefit due to special circumstances, such as severe hardship or by virtue of their being orphans.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people now registered as unemployed in the Greater London area have been out of work for periods of up to three months, six months, nine months, one year, two years and three years or longer.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is contained in the following table and can also be obtained from the NOM IS database system in the Library.

  Duration of unemployment in the Greater London region (October 1992)

  Duration of unemployment

  Number of claimant unemployed

  Up to 3 months

  126,008

  Up to 6 months

  197,933

  Up to 9 months

  255,145

  Up to 1 year

  292,619

  Up to 2 years

  390,604

  Up to 3 years

  421,186

  Over 3 years

  26,445

  Note: Claimant unemployment figures by duration are available on a quarterly basis for the months of January, April, July and October and are not adjusted for seasonal influences.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) men and (b) women were registered as unemployed in the Tooting constituency on 11 January.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  On 12 November 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 4,893 male and 1,898 female unemployed claimants in the Tooting parliamentary constituency. These figures are on the unadjusted basis.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the registered job vacancies at employment centres in the Tooting constituency on 11 January.
  437
  Mr. McLoughlin
  On 6 November 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 76 unfilled vacancies at jobcentres covering Tooting parliamentary constituency.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in part-time work in the United Kingdom, and as a percentage of the working population, in 1979, 1985 and at the most recent available date.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The available information is as follows:

  Part-time workforce in employment in Great Britain seasonally adjusted

  Part-time work force in employment (000"s)

  Part-time workforce in employment as percentage of the work force Per cent.

  June 1978

  4,632

  18

  September 1985

  5,526

  20

  September 1992

  6,633

  24

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) men and (b) women under the age of 21 years were registered as unemployed in the London borough of Wandsworth on 12 January.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Unemployment figures by age are available only on a quarterly basis and are based on particular age bands. In January 1992, the latest available date, there were 561 male and 301 female unemployed claimants aged under 20 years in the London borough of Wandsworth.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of(a) men of 65 years and (b) women of the age of 60 years in full-time employment in the United Kingdom at the latest available date.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Results from the spring—March to May—1992 labour force survey show that in the United Kingdom 23,000 men aged 65 years and 40,000 women aged 60 years were in full-time employment.

  Technical and Vocational Education Initiative
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are his Department's plans for the future of TVEI and its future funding.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The technical and vocational education initiative is a 10–year programme, running from 1987 to 1997, in which education authorities participate for up to seven years. The Department is working closely with authorities on the development of their plans for assimilating the lessons of TVEI as they leave the programme. The impetus of the initiative will be further carried forward through the implementation of the national curriculum, the introduction of general national vocational qualifications and the impact of training and enterprise councils on education.

  Health and Safety Inspectors
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many health and safety inspectors are currently employed in permanent duties in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The number of inspectors permanently employed by the Health and Safety Executive based in Scotland at 1 January 1993 was 156.

  Note:Figure given is for full time equivalent staff.

  Trainees
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of trainees on employment training, including those on employment action for each month since the beginning of the programme.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is given in the following tables.

  Table 1 Employment Training — in Training— September 1988—March 1990

  Great Britain

  1988

  September1

  48,000

  October1

  67,000

  November1

  92,000

  December1

  108,000

  1989

  January1

  131,000

  February1

  158,000

  March1

  176,000

  April

  185,000

  May

  189,000

  June

  194,000

  July

  203,000

  August

  204,000

  September

  208,000

  October

  209,000

  November

  212,000

  December

  208,000

  1990

  January

  207,000

  February

  209,000

  March

  210,000

  1 Excluding trainees transferred from Community Programme who continued to receive CP wages.

  Source: ET Telephone Census.

  Table 2 Employment training—in training April 1990 to December 1992

  Great Britain

  1990

  April

  210,000

  May

  208,000

  June

  199,000

  July

  191,000

  August

  185,000

  September

  184,000

  October

  190,000

  November

  194,000

  December

  199,000

  1991

  January

  197,000

  February

  203,000

  March

  197,000

  439

  Great Britain

  April

  171,000

  May

  157,000

  June

  146,000

  July

  137,000

  August

  131,000

  September

  128,000

  October

  134,000

  November

  139,000

  December

  142,000

  1992

  January

  139,000

  February

  146,000

  March

  149,000

  April

  140,000

  May

  130,000

  June

  127,000

  July

  120,000

  August

  113,000

  September

  113,000

  October

  122,000

  November

  129,000

  December

  129,000

  Source: Employment Service.

  Table 3 Employment Action October 1991 to December 1992

  Great Britain

  1991

  October

  210

  November

  2,324

  December

  4,710

  1992

  January

  5,797

  February

  10,609

  March

  14,444

  April

  17,576

  May

  19,772

  June

  21,446

  July

  23,296

  August

  24,602

  September

  25,787

  October

  28,116

  November

  29,703

  December

  30,614

  Source: Employment Service.

  Workplace Safety
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps she is taking to implement the requirements of European Council directive 92–57 of 24 June 1992 concerning safety and health requirements at temporary or mobile work sites; what requirements are laid down for regulatory action; and what further parliamentary action may be necessary.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Health and Safety Commission has already published a consultative document on proposed new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and an approved code of practice to implement the main requirements of the temporary or mobile construction sites directive. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. A further consultative document will be issued later this year to implement the technical requirements of annex IV of the directive. These documents effectively set out the requirements for regulatory action.
  440
  Both sets of implementing regulations proposed by the HSC would be made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and laid before the House and in the usual way subject to negative resolution. My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary will be responsible for implementation of the fire safety aspects of the directive.

  Employment Action
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the money allocated for employment action for 1991–92 was spent; and what is the estimate for 1992–93.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In 1991–92 32 per cent. of the money allocated for employment action was spent. Current Departmental forecasts estimate that 85 per cent. of the 1992–93 provision will be spent and it is planned to reduce the cash limit accordingly in the spring supplementary estimate due to be published at the end of January 1993.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much it will cost to refurbish the Health and Safety Executive head office at Baynards House; what the cost would be of relocating staff to(a) east London, (b) Bootle or (c) any other new location away from London which has been considered; and if she will make it her policy that the refurbished building should meet the highest possible health and safety standards.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Health and Safety Executive is considering relocating its London head office in 1994, when the leases on its existing London headquarters buildings expire. A study of the scope for relocation out of London was carried out in 1988. This concluded that those headquarters functions based in London need to remain there. Various London options are now under consideration. Information on each of these and their costs is commercially sensitive and therefore confidential. Any building chosen will have to meet fully the standards of current health and safety legislation.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the terms of reference of the study team on market testing in relation to the functions of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive; if she wilt list the members of the study team and their remuneration in each case; whether any members of the study team have outside interests inconsistent with this role; and what will be the total cost of the study.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State asked the Health and Safety Commission to consider the feasibility of applying market testing to those areas of the Health and Safety Executive's activities not covered by their existing market testing programme, but not including advice and assistance to the Commission.

  A study is being undertaken by the director general of the Health and Safety Executive. The other members of the study team were a consultant from Touche Ross and an assistant secretary from HSE. The director general and the assistant secretary are remunerated at civil service rates. I regard the consultant's remuneration as commercial in confidence.

  I am confident that there are no conflicts of interest involved. I cannot give the total cost because at this stage the eventual extent of the study is uncertain.

  Mr. A. J. Linehan
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the question from the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish of 9 December 1992,Official Report, column 730, whether the role of Mr. A. J. Linehan has now been clarified; and whether it conforms to civil service guidelines.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  An application has been received under the normal civil service rules and is being considered. It is not the practice to give information about the outcome of individual cases.

  Job Creation
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what specific proposals she has for stimulating job creation in rural areas.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Government work primarily through the Rural Development Commission to promote enterprise, economic diversity and employment in rural areas in England. Acting through the employment service and training and enterprise councils, my Department has a range of facilities and programmes available to people in rural areas, to help equip them for work and increase their skills.

  Social Workers
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of qualified social workers(a) in employment and (b) unemployed, for the last three years for which figures are available;

  Foreign nationals: in employment by whether working full/part time, and ILO unemployed by whether claiming benefit: United Kingdom, spring 1992 (not seasonally adjusted).

  Thousands

  In employment

  ILO unemployed1

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total2

  Claiming benefit

  Not claiming benefit

  Total3

  EC Nationals

  322

  95

  418

  29

  19

  51

  Commonwealth nationals

  240

  60

  304

  30

  26

  55

  Non-Commonwealth nationals

  161

  41

  203

  23

  15

  38

  1 Unemployed based on the internationally agreed ILO definition. Such respondents are also classified in the LFS according to whether or not they reported receiving unemployment related benefits. Note these estimates are not available from the Employment Department's monthly claimant count.

  2 Includes a small number of persons in employment who did not state whether their employment was full or part time.

  3 Includes a small number of ILO unemployed persons who did not state in the survey whether or not they were claiming benefit.

  Source: Labour Force Survey.

  Young People, Birmingham
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of people aged 16 and 17 years in Birmingham are(a) on a youth training scheme, (b) in full-time education and (c) in employment.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A total of 20.6 per cent. of people aged 16 and 17 years are currently on a YT scheme in Birmingham. 54.1 per cent. are in full-time education and 24.8 per cent. are in employment.
  442
  Mr. McLoughlin
  The labour force survey provides estimates by occupation according to the standard occupational classification in which social workers are grouped with probation officers. The numbers in employment in this group in spring 1991, spring 1992 and summer 1992 were estimated respectively to be 96,000, 125,000 and 125,000, not seasonally adjusted.

  Estimates at these periods for the numbers previously employed in this group who were unemployed, according to the International Labour Organisation definition, are all below 10,000. No comparable information for this occupational group is available for earlier years.

  Foreign Workers
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information she has on the numbers of(a) non-United Kingdom EC nationals, (b) non-EC nationals from commonwealth countries and (c) non-EC nationals from non-commonwealth countries which are
  (i) currently working in the United Kingdom part-time,(ii) currently working in the United Kingdom full-time,(iii) currently unemployed and not claiming benefit and(iv) currently registered as unemployed and claiming benefit.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The latest available estimates for the United Kingdom are given in the following table.

  Psychiatric Nurses
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of qualified psychiatric nurses,(a) in employment and (b) unemployed for the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I regret that estimates of numbers of people in this specific occupation are not available.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what efforts are currently made by her Department to inform disabled people of their rights under section 9 of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.
  443
  Mr. McLoughlin
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. Fogden to Mr. Dafydd Wigley, dated 22 January 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about the information provided to disabled people about section 9 of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.
  Under section 9 of the 1994 Act an employer (with twenty or more employees) has a duty to employ a quota (3%) of registered disabled people. It is not an offence to be below Quota but in such circumstances employers must obtain a permit before engaging someone who is not registered as disabled. In addition under section 9 of the Act, an employer (with twenty or more employees) may not discharge a registered disabled person without reasonable cause if immediately after the dismissal, the employer does not employ a Quota (3%) of registered disabled people. Registration as a disabled person is voluntary.
  Disabled jobseekers may be made aware of the registration provisions of the Act and their consequent rights in the course of interviews with my people or through the leaflet 'Advice on Joining the Disabled Persons Register' which is available in all my Jobcentres. I enclose a copy of the leaflet for your information.
  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Oflicial Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  Working Conditions
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what discussions she has had with representatives of EC member states and the European Commission on the proposed Council directive on the application of the laws of the member states relating to certain employment relationships with regard to working conditions; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) what discussions she has had with representatives of the EC member states and the European Commission on the proposed Council directive relating to certain employment contracts and employment relationships involving distortions of competition; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There have been no discussions on this draft directive since January 1991.

  Post-graduate Training
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money has been invested in post-graduate training in each year since 1979.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  This information is not available in the form requested.

  Graduates (Unemployment)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the rate of unemployment among graduates in each year since 1979; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Results from the labour force survey show that, for graduates of working age in Great Britain, unemployment rates on the internationally agreed ILO definition, were as follows:
  444

  Spring of each year

  ILO unemployment rate per cent.

  1984

  4·1

  1985

  3·8

  1986

  4·1

  1987

  3·6

  1988

  2·9

  1989

  2·3

  1990

  2·2

  1991

  3·4

  1992

  4·0

  Note: Consistent estimates are not available for years prior to 1984.

  Employment Definitions
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current definitions of(a) part-time employee and (b) temporary worker used by his Department; what changes have been made in this definition since 1979; and what plans she has to change this definition.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 19 January 1993]: The most widely used employment definitions occur in the context of the Department's statistical surveys.

  The employer-based surveys classify part-time employees as those who normally work thirty hours a week or less. These surveys do not distinguish between temporary workers and other categories of employee.

  The household-based labour force survey has two methods by which part-time employees can be defined. The usual way is by whether or not the respondents consider themselves to be in part-time employment. The alternative classifies as part-time those working 30 hours or less per week. For the purposes of this survey, temporary workers are those who have an understanding with their employer that their jobs are of fixed duration or that their employment will cease when another condition —for example, the return of an employee who has been temporarily replaced—is met.

  The definitions have not changed since 1979 and there are no plans to alter them.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of those referred to employment training by the Department of Employment did not arrive; and what percentage of those who start a scheme completed their training in (i) Wales, (ii) the valleys programme area and (iii) the United Kingdom, for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information about the percentage of those referred to employment training by the Employment Department who did not arrive is not available in the form requested. The total number of people who took part in and subsequently completed employment training for Great Britain, Wales and the valleys initiative area is shown in the following table. The table also shows the percentage of those people referred by the employment service who actually started on employment training for Wales and Great Britain in the year ended March 1992. Some people referred will have withdrawn their application, for example because they have taken up a job; others will have been advised to seek
  445
  alternative help after assessment. These people will have arrived but not started. Information on the referral to start ratio for the Valleys Programme area is not readily available in the form requested and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Employment training Great Britain, Wales and Valleys Initiative Area April 1991 to March 1992 leavers who completed agreed training

  Per cent.

  Great Britain

  55

  Wales

  55

  Valleys initiative area

  47

  Percentage of those referred by the employment service to ET who actually started April 1991 to March 1992

  Per cent.

  Great Britain

  32

  Wales

  38

WALES

  Old People
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the activities arranged in Wales to date by his Department to mark the European Year of Older People and Solidarity between Generations in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department has commissioned and supported Age Concern Wales to arrange a programme of events to mark the Year, which was formally launched on 11 January. A steering group has been set up to act as the focal point for discussion of ideas, consideration of proposals for events and activities and recommendation of projects and priorities for Wales during the Year. Further information is available from Age Concern Wales.

  Consultant Mineralogist
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now take steps to appoint a consultant mineralogist for Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There is no present intention to make such an appointment.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has concerning the number and estimated cost of bids made by Welsh local authorities for European regional development fund support for projects during 1993–94; and what provision he has made for supplementary credit approval for them.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The invitation to bid for European regional development fund support under the Welsh structural funds programmes for the calendar years 1992 and 1993 attracted a total of 1,200 outline applications from all potential sponsors, including local authorities, with an estimated grant potential of some £290 million. These bids represented a considerable overbid against the 446
  total resources of some £120 million available to the Welsh programmes, and the monitoring committees charged with implementing the programmes are undertaking a selection process to identify those projects which should be supported from the funds available.

  I will be making the necessary provisions to enable SCAs to be issued to match in full that element of an authority's expenditure from 1 April 1993 which is reimbursed by European regional development fund grants.

  Mental Handicap Nurses
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his current estimates for(a) the number of mental handicap nurses in Wales who will retrain in 1993–94 as general or psychiatric nurses and (b) the level of resources allocated by his Department to assist in this process.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The employing health authority or trust has responsibility for ensuring that any such retraining needs are met. No specific central funding is available for this purpose.

  Environmental Education
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to require schools in Wales to publish information on the teaching of environmental education.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I have no plans to require schools to publish such information. The Office of Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools in Wales published "Environmental Education in the Schools of Wales 1992" on 11 January. I understand that local education authorities have been sent sufficient copies to distribute to all schools.

  Local Government
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what studies he has undertaken to establish the cost-effectiveness of a unitary system of local government in Wales; and if he will publish as much information as he has.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I commissioned Touche Ross Management Consultants to produce a report on the financial implications of a move to a system of unitary authorities. The report was published in March 1992 and a copy is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what investigation he has undertaken to establish the transitional costs of the reorganisation of Welsh local government; and what plans he has to publish his findings.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have commissioned Touche Ross Management Consultants to undertake a study of the transitional costs of Welsh local government reorganisation.

  I plan to publish the report and place a copy in the Library of the House.

  Hearing-impaired Children
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement upon the future development of specialist educational provisions for hearing-impaired children under the unitary authorities in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Special education, including provision for children with hearing impairment, will continue to be treated as a matter of high priority tinder the new structure of local government. Local education authorities will retain responsibility for identifying and assessing children with special educational needs and making and maintaining statutory statements, as necessary, and for arranging the special educational provision specified. It is anticipated that it will be open to authorities to join together to share specialised services, such as those for hearing-impaired children, if they wish.

  Mental Handicap Nurses
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has, for each health authority in Wales for 1993–94, for the number of(a) mental handicap nurses staying in their current roles, (b) mental handicap nurses transferring to general or psychiatric nursing and (c) mental handicap nurses leaving the profession.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Responsibility for identifying future needs for mental handicap nurses within the NHS rests with employing authorities and trusts. This should be done through the workforce planning system in conjunction with the county joint planning teams set up under the auspices of the mental handicap strategy.

  KPMG management consultants
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to KPMG management consultants over the past 12 months.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department has awarded the following contracts to KPMG management consultants over the past 12 months.Financial and risk appraisal on applications for NHS Trust status.
  Review of new production and process Research and Development in Wales.
  Assessment of the future of the in-house computer bureau. Evaluation of the agent authority (roads) accounts database.

  National Garden Festival
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide figures to show the outturn at(a) 1988–89 prices, (b) 1991–92 prices and (c) cash prices for the urban programme in the valleys programme area, excluding expenditure on National Garden Festival, for each year from 1988–89 to 1992–93.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Urban programme outturn expenditure (in £ million) in the valleys programme area, excluding the National Garden Festival, since 1988–89 at(a) 1988–89 prices, (b) 1991–92 prices and (c) cash prices is:
  448

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  1988–89

  11·44

  14·07

  11·44

  1989–90

  12·57

  15·47

  13·40

  1990–91

  12·47

  15·34

  14·35

  1991–92

  11·12

  13·68

  13·68

  1992–93

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  Accident Treatment Service
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to launch a review of accident treatment service in the national health service in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None at present, though health authorities are assessing these services as they develop their local strategies for health.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to issue new guidelines to Welsh health authorities concerning the application of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 to compulsory competitive tendering.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Guidance will be issued as soon as practicable following consideration of legal advice on this issue.

  Special Needs Education
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to ring-fence all funding for special needs education in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Resources to local authorities are not hypothecated to particular services. It is for authorities themselves to decide how much to direct to education, including special education, in the light of local priorities and circumstances. Specific grant is available to local education authorities under the grants for education support and training programme (GEST) for the training of teachers of children with sensory impairments and severe learning difficulties and other support for children with special needs. Special purpose grant for development is available to fund grant maintained schools for all activities supported at LEA level by the GEST programme.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the percentage of children aged under five years attending maintained nursery schools or classes in each Welsh county in each year since 1979.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The percentage of children attending maintained nursery schools or nursery classes in each local education authority is shown in the table.
  449

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  1979–80

  23

  23

  26

  25

  39

  17

  26

  51

  1980–81

  26

  24

  29

  22

  38

  20

  27

  52

  1981–82

  27

  26

  29

  21

  43

  20

  30

  54

  1982–83

  33

  27

  31

  24

  42

  17

  30

  53

  1983–84

  36

  25

  32

  21

  39

  20

  28

  53

  1984–85

  36

  25

  32

  18

  40

  23

  26

  49

  1985–86

  36

  26

  32

  16

  39

  18

  29

  48

  1986–87

  42

  26

  34

  27

  45

  32

  30

  55

  1987–88

  42

  26

  35

  23

  45

  28

  30

  57

  1988–89

  44

  28

  36

  18

  43

  32

  30

  56

  1989–90

  43

  27

  36

  22

  44

  29

  30

  55

  1990–91

  45

  27

  37

  16

  43

  26

  30

  53

  1991–92

  46

  28

  35

  15

  40

  23

  30

  60

  Archive Service
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has regarding the future funding and organisation of the archive service in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My plans for the archives service will be set out in the White Paper which I shall be publishing shortly.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the future and status of the archive service in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have received a number of such representations; copies of these, together with representations on other matters, are in the Library of the House. I am giving careful consideration to the points put to me.

  Welsh Language Bill
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much extra finance the Government expect to give to Welsh local authorities to implement the provisions outlined in the Welsh Language Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The financial implications of the Welsh Language Bill will be taken into account in determining the local government revenue settlement in future years.

  Criggion Quarry
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the future of Criggion quarry on Breidden hill, Montgomeryshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None.

  Oil Pollution, Cardigan Bay
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many incidents of oil pollution off Cardigan bay have been reported in each year since 1973; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Figures relating specifically to Cardigan bay are not held centrally. Since 1980, details of all reported oil spills around the United Kingdom 450
  coastline have been provided, on a regional basis, in the annual reports of the Advisory Committee on Pollution of the Sea (ACOPS). Copies of the reports are held in the Library of the House.

  Printing Costs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 November 1992,Official Report, columns 323–24, on how many occasions since 1988 disciplinary action has been taken against civil servants responsible for his departmental printing expenditure; in which financial year; and on how many occasions and on what dates such disciplinary action has involved (a) suspension on full pay, (b) suspension without pay, (c) summary dismissal and (d) criminal charges.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There has been one such case of disciplinary action. The officer was suspended on full pay on 6 March 1992, without pay on 11 March 1992 and dismissed on 30 April 1992. Criminal charges are a matter for the police.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 November 1992,Official Report, columns 323–24, for what proportion of Welsh Office policy printing work inclusive of typesetting and graphic design the Central Office of Information is now responsible; and if he will make a statement on the changes in the relationship between HMSO, the Central Office of Information and the Welsh Office introduced since March 1992 in the responsibility for placing contracts.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Approximately two thirds.

  In 1991 the Welsh Office, in reorganising its systems for handling paid publicity and in the interests of value for money, transferred much of this work to the Central Office of Information; in 1992 it transferred the rest.

  The Central Office of Information's relationship with HMSO is a matter for them. The relationship between the Welsh Office and HMSO is subject to similar value for money considerations as its paid publicity handling, and since 1991 it has been the same as that between the Welsh Office and any other contractor.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 November 1992,Official Report, columns 323–24, what estimate he has made of the proportion and amount of his Department's total annual contract expenditure on printing, publicity and stationery placed with firms outside Wales in each full financial year since 1988, and for the first half of 1992–93.
  451
  Mr. David Hunt
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 November 1992,Official Report, columns 323–24, for what proportion of his Department's general stationery and miscellaneous printing contract work, inclusive of typesetting and graphic design, the Central Office of Information is currently responsible; and if he will make a statement on the changes in the responsibility for Welsh Office printing contracts between his Department, HMSO and the Central Office of Information in the last 12 months.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Central Office of Information is not responsible for the Department's general stationery and miscellaneous printing contract work including typesetting and graphic design. There have been no changes in the relationship between the Department, HMSO and the Central Office of Information regarding printing contracts in the last 12 months.

  Since September 1991 the Department's printing contracts have been awarded entirely on the basis of competitive tendering.

ENVIRONMENT

  Nitrous Oxide
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the total amount of nitrous oxide emitted from(a) coal-fired power stations and (b) gas-fired power stations, in the latest available year.

  Mr. Maclean
  In 1991, the latest year for which the information is available, emissions of oxides of nitrogen from coal-fired power stations in England and Wales totalled 620 kilotonnes. Similar figures for gas-fired power stations are not available.

  Derelict Land
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what figures he has for the amount of derelict land in England; and what studies he has made into the cost of reclaiming it.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The 1988 survey of derelict land in England recorded 40,500 hectares of derelict land as at 1 April 1988.

  Ove Arup consultants are currently researching the cost effectiveness of a sample of hard end use derelict land grant schemes for the Department.

  The cost effectiveness of derelict land grant schemes intended for environmental/recreational end uses has already been studied and is reported in the 1989 HMSO publication "Cost Effective Management of Reclaimed Derelict Sites".

  Ecolabelling
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are being made in the United Kingdom for the launch in June of the EC-wide ecolabel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The European Commission recently announced that the Community ecolabelling scheme 452
  would be formally launched in June. The United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board is responsible for administering and promoting the scheme nationally and I have therefore asked the board to reply to the hon. Member direct with more information on the arrangements they will be making for the launch.

  Urban Regeneration Agency
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff are intended to be employed by the urban regeneration agency; and what is its budget for the first three years.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  It will be for the agency to assess the staff resources it requires to deliver its work programme. The agency's budget will incorporate the existing resources of the three programmes it is taking over, including the additional resources for English Estates' work in the coalfields which were announced by the President of the Board of Trade on 19 October. We anticipate that these elements will total to £268 million in 1993–94, rising to about £300 million in 1995–96. These figures depend in part upon the level of receipts raised from the sale of assets.

  Children (Temporary Accommodation)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the numbers of children currently living in temporary accommodation, broken down by age and accommodation type.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not available centrally.

  Aggregates
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which is the base forecast used in the preparation of the tables option I and option II on pages 19 to 20 respectively of his Department's report "Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England and Wales-Revision of MPG6 Policy Issues Paper".

  Mr. Baldry
  Option 1 in the policy issues paper is derived from the views expressed about future demand by the regional aggregates working parties (RAWPs) in their regional commentaries which were published in 1992. The RAWPs took into account the long term projections of primary aggregates demand produced in 1991 by ECOTEC Research and Consulting Ltd. Option II reflects the Government view that between 6,500 million tonnes and 7,000 million tonnes of aggregates may be needed between 1992 and 2011 and was informed by the long term projections of demand for primary aggregates prepared by ECOTEC last year.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the statistical basis for the statement on page 20 of his Department's report "Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England and Wales-Revision of MPG6 Policy Issues Paper" that option II envisages that land won resources in England and Wales identified in the regional commentaries are reduced by an overall level of 20 per cent. during the period of the guidelines.

  Mr. Baldry
  The option was prepared on the basis of a judgment about the level of supply from land won sources
  453
  of primary aggregates that would be consistent with meeting the Government's objectives for a sustainable aggregates policy.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what efforts have been made by his Department to date to enforce section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Maclean
  The offence in section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 of treating, keeping or disposing of controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health was brought into force on 1 April 1992.

  Enforcement of this section is a matter for others, principally waste regulation authorities.

  Combe Down Mines
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effect of the forthcoming EC landfill directive on the remedial works in the Combe Down mines, Bath.

  Mr. Maclean
  The latest draft of the EC directive on the landfill of waste is currently being substantially revised by the European Commission to take account of amendments considered by the European Parliament at its October plenary session. The proposal will be subject to detailed consideration by the Council of Ministers once it is given priority by a member state holding the presidency. The directive is unlikely to be adopted for a considerable time and it is too early to anticipate what impact its provisions will have on the proposals for remedial works in the Combe Down mines, Bath.

  Interim Development Orders
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the areas of the United Kingdom still subject to interim development orders granted before 1970; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Interim Development Order mineral permissions were granted between July 1943 and I July 1948 and preserved by successive planning acts. In relation to the area they cover in England and Wales I refer the hon. Member to my replies on 16 December to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith). The position in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to give local planning authorities the power to revoke interim development grants without having to pay compensation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government took steps in the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 to deal with interim development order permissions. These can be updated by the imposition of modern environmental conditions which do not attract compensation provided they are consistent with the guidance in MPG9. I have no plans for further measures to deal with such permissions. My Department has recently completed a wide ranging consultation 454
  exercise on options for dealing with the problems of old mineral permissions generally and I hope to consult on detailed proposals for change later this year.

  THORP
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what communications and correspondence his Department has received since November 1992 on the new thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield.

  David Maclean
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: Since November 1992 my Department has received approximately 55,000 items of correspondence concerning the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional criteria for standard spending assessments are being considered; and what consultation he will introduce to improve the standard spending assessment system.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Standard spending assessments (SSAs) already include a wide range of indicators which are updated and refined every year in the light of new data and evidence. In preparation for the 1994–95 settlement, a number of indicators and formulae will be looked at again in the light of the full results from the 1991 census. These include the indicator for additional educational needs and the all ages social index. We will also be considering the possibility of introducing measures of sparsity and density based on census enumeration districts, and of including a factor to represent day visitors. All of this analysis will be fully discussed with local authority representatives. We consider that the present arrangements provide the opportunity for full and widespread consultation and there are no plans for change.

TRANSPORT

  Route Guidance Systems
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department proposes to utilise route guidance systems for drivers on the motorway and trunk road systems in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Part II of the Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 provides enabling powers under which commercial operators may seek licences for such systems.

  Travel Information
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is currently undertaken by his Department to enable improved dissemination of information between the motorway and non-motorway network management authorities to travel information centres and the media's travel information service.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The computerised national lane closure bulletin, which is distributed fortnightly to motoring organisations and the media, provides accurate and timely information about planned lane closures on the strategic network of motorways and other trunk roads.
  455
  This system and the information it contains will be developed further as demands for information are identified. Under the EC collaborative programme (DRIVE), the Department is sponsoring research into driver information technology.

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

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My Department, including agencies, awarded the following commissions to KPMG Management Consultants:Trial of project management software for Road Programme Directorate.
  Assistance in formulating the Department's data communications needs.
  Development of an implementation Strategy for Pavement Management.
  Development of an information Strategy for the Vehicle Inspectorate.
  Options study for locating data on trunk roads network. Advice on DVOIT privatisation.

  Year

  Car and Motorcycle

  Heavy Goods Vehicles and Buses

  Applications Received

  Tests Conducted

  Pass Rate per cent.

  Applications Received

  Tests Conducted

  Pass Rate per cent.

  1982–83

  1,783,700

  1,966,909

  48

  42,256

  42,991

  55

  1983–84

  1,905,035

  1,867,244

  49

  43,714

  42,674

  55

  1984–85

  1,944,019

  1,723,232

  49

  47,985

  47,109

  56

  1985–86

  2,026,972

  1,910,103

  49

  53,841

  53,195

  55

  1986–87

  2,091,450

  2,015,386

  49

  67,402

  65,725

  53

  1987–88

  2,017,759

  2,036,465

  51

  78,756

  76,461

  54

  1988–89

  1,956,238

  2,050,064

  52

  92,695

  88,704

  53

  1989–90

  1,953,386

  2,030,473

  53

  106,147

  99,183

  51

  1990–91

  1,984,355

  1,975,879

  53

  95,526

  96,514

  51

  1991–92

  1,862,382

  1,886,146

  53

  80,039

  71,704

  51

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total amount of revenue generated from driving test charges in the United Kingdom during each of the last 10 years.

  Financial year

  Heavy goods vehicles and buses (£000)

  Cars and motorcycles (£000)

  Total (£000)

  1982–83

  1,912

  24,846

  26,758

  1983–84

  Not available

  Not available

  130,332

  1984–85

  2,945

  28,972

  31,917

  1985–86

  3,314

  29,365

  32,679

  1986–87

  Not available

  Not available

  135,857

  1987–88

  3,294

  31,801

  35,095

  1988–89

  3,900

  34,269

  38,169

  1989–90

  4,638

  38,306

  42,944

  1990–91

  4,684

  38,450

  43,134

  1991–92

  3,596

  39,805

  43,401

  1The financial information on tests was not separately analysed for 1983–84 and 1986–87.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many applications have been made for driving tests in each police authority area in Wales in each of the last 10 years;

  Driving Tests
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assistance is currently provided by his Department to help those with reading and/or writing difficulties to complete the written part of the driving test.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Current driving tests do not include a written examination. I shall shortly be considering a broad range of options for testing drivers' knowledge, including the possibility of a written theoretical test, in the light of responses to a consultation paper issued recently by the Driving Standards Agency on the implementation of the second EC driving licence directive. If a written test were to be introduced, the requirements of those with reading or writing difficulties would be taken into account.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) applications and (b) actual driving tests were taken in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years; and if he will indicate the proportion of successfully completed driving tests in each instance.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The number of applications received, tests conducted, and the proportion successfully completed for car, motorcycle, heavy goods vehicle and bus tests in Great Britain for the last 10 years are shown in the table.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The total revenue generated from driving test fees in Great Britain during each of the last 10 years is shown in the following table.

  (2) how many people took driving tests in each police authority area in Wales in each of the last 10 years; and how many tests were successfully completed in each instance, in numbers and as a proportion.
  457
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Statistics for driving tests are not collected by police authority area and it is therefore not possible to provide the information requested.

  Section 56 Grants
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the date, amount awarded and brief descriptions of each project where application for a section 56 grant under the Transport Act 1968 has been successful; if he will list each unsuccessful application; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Since 1985, when such grants became available for large new public transport infrastructure projects, the following grants have been awarded.

  Project

  Date approved

  Grant £ million

  Merseyrail safety work

  March 1989

  0·3

  Manchester Metrolink light rail scheme

  October 1989

  53·0

  South Yorkshire Supertram light rail scheme

  December 1990

  165·0

  Ivanhoe Line heavy rail restoration scheme

  January 1992

  15·0

  1 Provisional figure.

  In addition grant of £0.75m was approved in October 1991 for development work on the plans for Midland Metro Line One, a proposed light rail scheme.

  Five unsuccessful applications have been made: Merseyside centralised signalling system, Manchester to Blackpool electrification, trolleybuses in West Yorkshire, Halifax bus station, and the extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro to Newcastle airport. Credit approvals were however provided for three of these projects.

  We are prepared to grant-aid worthwhile schemes subject to the availability of resources.

  Railways (Severe Weather Damage)
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial assistance will be available to British Rail to help with the cost of repairing damage to Scottish railway lines caused by the recent severe weather.

  Mr. Freeman
  The cost will qualify for support through the public service obligation grant.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how often ships carrying radioactive waste will be passing Cardigan bay and the west Wales coast in 1993; how many ships are involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  We have no information to suggest that there have been any such shipments in 1993 to date or that there will be any during the remainder of this year.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current regulations regarding tankers carrying radioactive waste off Cardigan bay; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  Radioactive waste must be carried in accordance with the requirements of the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1990.

  Oil Tankers
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to implement new safety regulations for oil tankers travelling off Cardigan bay; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department has no plans to implement new and further safety regulations for oil tankers travelling off Cardigan bay. However these matters are within the terms of reference of the Lord Donaldson inquiry announced by my right hon. Friend to the House on 11 January. In the meantime, we are exploring the possibility of introducing interim measures for tanker operations around the United Kingdom.

  A5 Bypass
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when in 1993 the public inquiry into the A5 bypass of Dunstable will begin; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 14 January 1993]: The need for a public inquiry will depend on the weight and nature of objections to the draft orders which we are aiming to publish this autumn. Any inquiry would be held during 1994.

  Motoring Offences (Unadopted Roads)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the(a) motoring offences which apply on unadopted highways and (b) motoring offences which apply only on adopted highways;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to seek to amend the law to ensure that all drink driving legislation applies in circumstances where the road is unadopted.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 21 January 1993]: The definition of "road" used in the Road Traffic Act 1988, in relation to England and Wales, includes any highway and any other road to which the public has access. Road traffic offences, including the drink-drive offences, therefore apply on all highways, whether adopted or not, and on certain other roads. The drink-drive offences and the offences involving dangerous or careless driving also extend to public places other than roads.

  Motorway Lighting
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of motorway there are in the United Kingdom and what percentage is illuminated by overhead lights.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 21 January 1993]: There are 1,996 miles of motorway in the United Kingdom of which 1,692 miles are in England. Approximately 30 per cent. of the length of motorway in England is lit.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Thai Boxing
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many representations he has received to ban Thai boxing; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.
  459
  Mr. Brooke
  I have not received any representations from sporting or other authorities to ban Thai boxing. The Sports Council has however met representatives of various Thai boxing and kick boxing bodies to discuss possible recognition of the activity. They are currently awaiting a unified response from these bodies before considering the issue further. At present, Thai boxing and kick boxing are not recognised by the Sports Council for purposes of grant aid or other services.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what opportunities were given by his Department or the GAH group of consultants to(a) individuals, (b) private companies and (c) foreign Governments to express their willingness to have the information supplied to him published; and what number of each category indicated such willingness;

  (2) how many invitations his Department or the GAH group issued to (a) individuals, (h) private companies and (c) foreign Governments requesting information towards his Department's report on the national lottery which were declined; and what was the reason given in each case;

  (3) if he will publish a table showing the total number of (a) individuals, (b) private companies and (c) foreign Governments supplying information to the GAH report which he has contacted requesting permission to publish (i) those parts of the report which do not contain commercially sensitive information and (ii) the report in full; on what dates, and by which method, each request was made; and what further action he intends to take with remaining numbers in each category to pursue permission to publish (1) those parts of the report which do not contain commercially sensitive information and (2) the report in full;

  (4) how many (a) individuals, (b) private companies and (c) foreign Governments were consulted by the GAH group of consultants or his Department in compiling his Department's report on the national lottery; and how many in each category requested to him in advance of supplying information that their evidence be treated as commercial in confidence.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 21 January 1993]: The GAH group consulted publicly available documents and reports from lotteries throughout the world, and sought supplementary information by means of a questionnaire, after promising that both the approach and the answers would remain confidential, and that the ensuing report would not be published. Twenty-seven state lotteries responded to the confidential questionnaire. In one instance the assurance of confidentiality was not considered sufficient for the lottery operator to venture any information at all. Much of the information provided is commercially confidential to the operators concerned.

  I have not contacted the respondents to re-open the original assurance of confidentiality. Unanimous consent would be necessary for the report to be published, and in many cases the respondents have made it clear from the start that they would under no circumstances allow the information they provided to be made public.

DEFENCt

  Hawk Aircraft (Indonesia)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 January,Official Report, column 749, to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon), whether the details of the sale of Hawk aircraft to Indonesia will be included in the UN register of arms sales; and if the entries in the register will be available for inspection in the Library.

  Mr. Aitken
  A sale of Hawk aircraft to Indonesia would be included in the UN register of conventional arms transfers. The British contribution to the register will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Private Rented Accommodation
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF personnel at(a) RAF Valley and (b) RAF Chivenor were accommodated in rented private sector property in December 1992; and what was the total cost to his Department of that accommodation in each case.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The numbers of RAF personnel accommodated in rented private sector property at RAF Valley and RAF Chivenor and the total costs of that accommodation to the Department were as follows:

  (a) RAF Valley

  (i) December 1991—Nil.

  (ii) December 1992–26 airmen and 10 officers, at a cost of £7,425.

  A modernisation programme of officers' married quarters at RAF Valley will be completed in August 1993, after which there will be no need for officers to be in rented private sector property.

  (b) RAF Chivenor

  (i) December 1991–6 Officers, at a cost of £2,650.

  (ii) December 1992–40 airmen and I 1 officers, at a cost of £20,959.

  Provision of married quarters to accommodate the above numbers at RAF Chivenor is currently being investigated.

  Flight Training
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many days were lost due to poor weather conditions in each year since 1987 at(a) RAF Valley, (b) RAF Chivenor, (c) RAF Brawdy and (d) Pembrey weapons range.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The percentage of training time lost when weather conditions were unfit for flying training at RAF Valley, RAF Brawdy and RAF Chivenor during these periods is as follows:

  RAF Valley per cent.

  RAF Brawdy per cent.

  RAF Chivenor per cent.

  1987

  26·5

  12·7

  8·7

  1988

  20·8

  8·8

  5·6

  1989

  16·5

  8·9

  4·1

  1990

  16·8

  7·1

  6·9

  1991

  24·0

  10·0

  6·9

  461
  Similar information for RAF Pembrey Sands is recorded as per cent. of range time lost due to weather conditions, as follows:

  per cent.

  1987

  20

  1988

  16

  1989

  11

  1990

  11

  1991

  16

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department's internal audit committee completed its review of the ending of flight training at Brawdy.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No audit into the ending of flight training at RAF Brawdy has been undertaken. The station was, however, visited as part of a wider audit of the management controls governing the closure of Ministry of Defence establishments, and this work is expected to be completed in the spring.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF pilots based at RAF Valley for advanced weapon training have had to carry out part of that training at RAF St. Evel in 1992.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  United States Naval Facility
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the annual costs to his Department of the support and servicing of the United States naval facility at Brawdy in(a) 1989–90, (b) 1990–91 and (c) 1991–92 and the estimated costs for (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94 and (iii) 1994–95.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Until the end of flying training at Brawdy in August 1992 support for the United States naval facility at RAF Brawdy was included in the overall running costs of the station. Figures for 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The cost for 1993–94 is estimated to be £4.6 million. It is not yet possible to provide an estimate for 1994–95.

  Allowances
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the levels of allowances paid to military personnel serving in(a) Germany, (b) former Yugoslavia and (c) Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The allowances paid to military personnel depend not only on their location but on their rank, job and personal circumstances, including whether they are married or not. It is our general policy that normal rules on allowances apply wherever personnel are serving. These rules include the payment of local overseas allowance to personnel deployed outside the United Kingdom to cover, where appropriate, the additional costs associated with living in the country concerned. Troops deployed from Germany to the former Yugoslavia continue to receive a significant element of the LOA, 70 per cent. for married personnel and 40 per cent. for single personnel, in recognition of their continuing financial 462
  commitments in Germany. In recognition of the conditions under which they are serving we have introduced a special welfare package which includes free two-way aerogrammes and an allowance towards the cost of telephone calls for all troops based in the former Yugoslavia. Personnel deployed to Northern Ireland also receive a number of special allowances, for example, in respect of meals and telephone calls.

  Exercise Long Summer
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 11 January,Official Report, columns 630–31, if he will give details of the outsize load required to be moved for Exercise Long Summer in 1992, and the type of civil aircraft chartered for this purpose.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The payload consisted of two Chinook helicopters, associated equipment and spares. The task was carried out by an Antonov aircraft chartered through Heavylift Cargo Airlines Ltd.

  Air Charter Budget
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 11 January,Official Report, columns 630–31, if he will set out the total sum allocated in Supply Estimates in 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, and to be allocated in 1993–94 to the air charter budget, and the arrangements for its central management.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The total sums allocated to air charter in supply estimates were as follows:

  £ Million

  1990–91

  13·415

  1991–92

  13·212

  1992–93

  16·096

  The figure for 1993–94 has yet to be agreed. Operations and finance for air charter are centrally managed by a group captain, the deputy director of movements (RAF), based in London. Contracts are placed competitively by contracts staff based in Glasgow.

  Exercise Medman
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 11 January,Official Report, columns 630–31, if he will set out the nature of Exercise Medman in 1990, 1991 and 1992, and the reasons for its change in prioritisation within the Air Charter budget.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Exercise Medman is an all-arms battlegroup exercise, using live ammunition, held at the British Army training unit, Suffield, Canada. The units due to take part in the exercises in 1990 and 1991 were those most likely to be subsequently deployed in support of operations in the Gulf. It was considered essential that the forces in question train in Canada and, as the RAF air transport force was already fully committed, central funding for air charter was provided.

  "Capture of Rudolf Hess"
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the oral answer by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of 3 June 1992,
  463
  Official Report, column 823, if he will release for public perusal the files bearing the title "Capture of Rudolf Hess" between May and July 1941 ref.no. WO 199/3288A and B.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Both files are already available for perusal at the Public Record Office. File WO 199/3288A was released to the public domain in 1977 and WO 199/3288B in January 1992.

  Search and Rescue Helicopters
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the operating costs of providing Sea King search and rescue helicopter coverage at RAF Boulmer and RAF Leconfield for the years 1990–91 and 1991–92; and what are the estimated costs for 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Tankers
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what monitoring has been carried out by his Department of tanker traffic passing through the Minches; what results are available from that monitoring; what resources and facilities are utilised; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence agreed in 1991 that MOD support vessels operating in the area would report to the Stornoway coastguard on an opportunity basis sightings of laden tankers transitting the Minches. Records have not been kept of any reports made under this arrangement.

  Rayo Rocket System
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about sales of the Rayo rocket system developed by Royal Ordnance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  I have received a number of representations on this matter. Royal Ordnance's participation in the RAYO project continues to be subject to very careful scrutiny under the normal export licensing disciplines.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what defence research agency establishment the Rayo multiple launch rocket system has been tested.

  Mr. Aitken
  For reasons of commercial confidentiality we do not release details of tests by manufacturers at MOD ranges.

  Gulf Trust Fund
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his broad estimate as to the numbers of potential beneficiaries, including widows and dependent children, who might be eligible to apply for help from the Gulf trust fund.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Those who are entitled to be beneficiaries of the Gulf trust fund are defined in the trust deed as members of Her Majesty's armed forces involved in military and other operations relating to or in connection with the Gulf conflict, the civilian personnel attached to or accompanying such members of Her 464
  Majesty's armed forces and their respective dependants. On this basis the number of potential beneficiaries from those who served in theatre alone is some 43,500 service and civilian personnel as well as their dependants. Those who have already received assistance from the fund may require further financial help and stress and trauma-related cases may not emerge for a number of years.

  Service Pensions
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will review his policy with regard to the provision of pensions for all widows of service men, where their marriage took place after service in the forces;

  (2) what consideration has been given to the provision of pensions for all widows of service men who fought in the second world war but married after leaving service.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Pension entitlements for service men and their widows are determined according to the terms applicable to the date on which service ends and, where appropriate, on the duration of that service.

  The terms of the armed forces pension scheme include provision for a pension to be awarded to the eligible widow of a service man who marries after leaving service provided that some part of his service was given on or after 6 April 1978 and that he qualified for retired pay or pension.

  There are no plans to change these arrangements.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Amnesty International
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy regarding consultation with Amnesty International; how many times he has met representatives of the organisation in the past 12 months; what action he has taken following those representations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Consultations with Amnesty International are valued by us. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last met representatives of Amnesty in September 1992; in addition I addressed representatives of non-governmental organisations (including Amnesty) on 18 January, and Amnesty had a general discussion with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 20 January. I attended that meeting. Information received from Amnesty complements Government monitoring of human rights abuse, and therefore contributes to the formulation of policy.

  Turkey
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the human rights implications of the killing of journalists in Turkey since 1991.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The Turkish Government are well aware of our concern about human rights in Turkey. We welcome Prime Minister Demirel's recognition of a Kurdish identity and his Government's intention to make human rights improvements a priority. Prime Minister Demirel has pledged to bring to justice those responsible for the killing of journalists in south east Turkey.

  Vietnam
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his most recent assessment of the economic and political situation in Vietnam.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The new constitution adopted on 15 April 1992 retained the primacy of the Communist party of Vietnam, but modified the Government structure to make it more accountable to the National Assembly, elections for which were held on 19 July 1992. Since 1986, Vietnam has pursued a programme of economic restructuring, aimed at moving to a free-market system. The IMF consider this an exemplary effort at economic reform.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people, in total, have appealed against repatriation from Hong Kong to Vietnam; and how many of these appeals have been successful.

  Mr. Goodlad
  As at 31 December 1992, 30,971 appeals had been heard by the Refugee Status review board. Of these 1,855 were successful.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring has taken place to date of those Vietnamese boat people who have been repatriated from Hong Kong to Vietnam to ensure that they do not face persecution on being returned to Vietnam; if such monitoring is continuing; and what the results of the monitoring reveal.

  Mr. Goodland
  Monitoring has been and will continue to be carried out by the staff of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the British embassy in Hanoi and non-governmental organisations working in Vietnam.

  There has been no evidence of ill-treatment by the Vietnamese authorities in more than 31,000 cases, including returns from first asylum countries in the region other than Hong Kong.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of relations between the United Kingdom and Vietnam.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The development of our relations with Vietnam has been given greater impetus by progress towards a political settlement in Cambodia and a solution of the problem of Vietnamese migrants in Hong Kong. Our aid programme to Vietnam was resumed in 1990. Bilateral trade is increasing rapidly and the United Kingdom is now the fifth largest foreign investor in Vietnam. The Vietnamese Foreign Minister paid a successful visit to the United Kingdom in June 1992, and Sir George Young, Lord Caithness and I all visited Vietnam last year. We are also at the forefront of efforts to expand relations between the EC and Vietnam, and to normalise Vietnam's relations with the international financial institutions.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people have, in total to date, been repatriated from Hong Kong to Vietnam.

  Mr. Goodlad
  As at 31 December 1992, 26,753 Vietnamese migrants had been repatriated.
  466
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people currently remain in Hong Kong awaiting repatriation to Vietnam.

  Mr. Goodlad
  As at 31 December 1992, 22,118 Vietnamese migrants had been found not to be refugees and were awaiting repatriation. A further 20,599 were awaiting refugee status determination.

  Iran
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding Iran's military build-up and the removal by the Iranian Government of non-Iranians from Abu Musa island in the Gulf.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We accept the right of countries to acquire the means to defend themselves, but are concerned that Iran's arms procurement should not pose a threat to regional stability. Iranian actions on Abu Musa in the course of last year were a cause for concern in terms of regional stability. We and our European Community partners have urged Iran and the United Arab Emirates to work for a peaceful resolution of their differences.

  Denmark
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the provisions of international law governing the extent to which the International Court of Justice may adjudicate on the intergovernmental decision taken in Edinburgh concerning Denmark.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The provisions of international law governing the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice to adjudicate on questions arising on international agreements, such as the decision concerning Denmark agreed at the Edinburgh European Council, are set out in the statute of the International Court of Justice, annexed to the UN charter and in particular chapter II.

  Mr. Mansoor Hussain Qureshi
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 January concerning Mansoor Hussain Qureshi—Ref: K051037—Official Report, column 157, when Mr. Qureshi was refused entry clearance to join his wife in the United Kingdom; what representations have been received at the British post in Karachi by Mr. Qureshi's representatives; what is the average time taken by the post in Karachi in preparing explanatory statements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Mr. Qureshi was refused entry clearance to join his wife on 15 April 1992.

  The Deputy High Commission in Karachi received representations from Chans and Co., immigration consultants, in February 1992; from Bradford law centre on 19 November 1992 and 14 January 1993; and from Ruth Budney and Co, in December 1992.

  The average time taken by the deputy high commission in Karachi in preparing explanatory statements is, 12 weeks from receipt of the completed appeal forms.

  As the hon. Member may know, it has only recently come to light that Mr. Qureshi's appeal forms never

  467
  reached the post in Karachi. However, now that they have received proof of posting from Bradford law centre, they have agreed to act as if the appeal had been submitted in time.

  Laws of War
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the additional protocols to the Geneva convention on the laws of war have been signed and ratified by Her Majesty's Government; which have been signed but not ratified; which have not been signed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  [pursuant to the reply 15 December 1992 c. 87]: The date given was incorrect. The United Kingdom signed both additional protocols on 12 December 1977. It has not yet ratified them.

  Edinburgh Summit
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government intend to register with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, pursuant to article 102 of the United Nations charter, the decision of the head of state and Government meeting within the European Council held at Edinburgh on 12 December 1992 concerning certain problems raised by Denmark.

  Mr. Garet-Jones
  [pursuant to his reply 13 January 1993 c. 758]: The decision is registrable with the United Nations secretariat and will be registered. But the question does not arise until the entry into force of the decision on Denmark, which by virtue of section E is linked to that of the Maastricht treaty itself.

HEALTH

  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 was the percentage increase in the cost of publishing the British National Formulary in 1991–92 compared with 1990–91; and what the figure was in real terms using (a) the price index for NHS medicines and (b) the retail prices index.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There is no prices index for national health service medicines. The remaining information requested is in the table.

  1990–91 Expenditure £

  1991–92 Expenditure £

  Percentage increase

  Percentage increase deflated by the RPI

  1,191,169

  1,296,320

  8·83

  4·64

  Note: The Retail Prices Index ( RPI) for the 12 months to March 1992 is 4 per cent.

  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 17 December 1992,Official Report, column 412, what was the percentage increase in the cost of servicing the prescribing research
  468
  centre at Leeds university in 1991–92 compared with 1990–91; and what the figure was in real terms using (a) the prices index for national health service medicines and (b) the retail prices index.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There is no prices index for national health service medicines. The remaining information requested is in the table.

  1990–91 expenditure £

  1991–92 expenditure £

  Increase Per cent.

  Increase deflated by the RPI Per cent.

  328,550

  377,984

  15·05

  10·62

  Note: The retail prices index (RPI) for the 12 months to March 1992 is 4 per cent.

  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 17 December 1992,Official Report, column 412, what was the percentage increase in the cost of the medicines resources centre in 1991–92 compared with the previous year; and what the figure was in real terms using (a) the prices index for national health service medicines and (b) the retail prices index.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There is no prices index for national health service medicines. The remaining information requested is in the table.

  1990–91 expenditure £

  1991–92 expenditure £

  Increase Per cent.

  Increase deflated by the RPI Per cent.

  250,000

  275,000

  10·00

  5·77

  Note: The retail prices index (RPI) for the 12 months to March 1992 is 4 per cent.

  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 17 December 1992,Official Report, column 412, what was the percentage increase in the cost of supporting the publication and distribution of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin in 1991–92 compared with the previous year in cash and in real terms.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is in the table.

  1990–91 expenditure £

  1991–92 expenditure £

  Per cent. increase

  Real terms per cent. increase

  750,863

  827,305

  10·18

  5·94

  Notes:

  1. The expenditure figure for 1990–91 includes an amount for the Adverse Drugs Reactions Bulletin which was discontinued in June 1990.

  2. The real terms figure takes into account the RPI figure for the 12 months to March 1992 which is 4 per cent.

  Small Rural Hospitals
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been carried out by, or under the auspices of her Department into the medical value and community role of small hospitals in rural areas.
  469
  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of government funding will be provided for medical research into epilepsy in 1993.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Health Departments' recent research expenditure in this field amounts to some £70,000 on a number of projects, of which a small part is to be spent during 1993.

  The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology under the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. In 1991–92 the MRC spent £381,000 on research into epilepsy. The MRC is always willing to consider scientifically sound proposals for research in competition with other applications. Any change in the level of spending during subsequent years will depend on the nature of applications received.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is planning to maintain the current level of NHS dental services in Cornwall; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is the responsibility of the family health services authority (FHSA) to ensure that local services remain accessible. FHSAs may apply for permission to employ salaried dentists if they consider it necessary to maintain services locally. Approval has recently been given to the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly FHSA to employ two salaried dentists, who will work from a mobile clinic serving a number of areas in the locality. Anyone who needs help in obtaining national health service dental treatment should contact the FHSA.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many courses of dental treatment were undertaken in Cornwall in each of the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Courses of Dental Treatment in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Family Health Services Authority

  Year

  Adults

  Children

  Total

  1987–88

  229,290

  97,290

  326,580

  1988–89

  241,450

  98,220

  339,670

  1989–90

  238,716

  101,631

  340,347

  1990–91

  237,047

  82,423

  319,470

  1991–92

  262,771

  26,810

  289,581

  Note:

  The data for each year are not fully comparable. Changes introduced by the new contract for general dental practitioners on 1 October 1990, mean that most treatment for under 18s is given under capitation arrangements and is therefore no longer separately identified.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received about the provision of national health service dental treatment in Cornwall; and if she will make a statement.
  470
  Dr. Mawhinney
  Since July last year we have received 18 letters from hon. Members about national health service dental treatment in Cornwall and a number from members of the public.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing the amount paid to dental practitioners in Cornwall in each of the past five years at constant prices together with the planned level of remuneration for the next three years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Gross payments to general dental practitioners (GDPs) in contract with Cornwall and Isle of Scilly family health services authority

  Financial Year

  Cash1 £ million

  At 1991–92 prices2 £ million

  1987–88

  6·778

  8·946

  1988–89

  7·822

  9·623

  1989–90

  8·432

  9·734

  1990–91

  9·608

  10·272

  1991–92

  12·051

  12·051

  Notes:

  1Based on the total of treatment and registration fees (including charges paid by patients) authorised for payment to GDPs, but excluding additional earnings such as seniority payments, vocational training allowances, and the direct reimbursement of business rates. Data for 1987–88 to 1990–91 are taken from Financial Information System returns and those for 1991–92 are taken from payments scheduled by the Dental Practice Board.

  2Adjustment using the gross domestic product deflator.

  Levels of GDP remuneration are forecast at national level. For 1992–93, we expect that the average GDP in Great Britain will have a gross income of about £88,000. The levels of gross remuneration for GDPs for 1993–94 and 1994–95 have yet to be determined.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the basis on which payments for courses of dental treatment, materials and laboratory fees are calculated.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Dentists' remuneration for national health service work is set in a process of several stages. The Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration (DDRB) recommends a target average net income (TANI) which it considers dentists should earn from providing NHS general dental services, and the Government decide to accept or amend the recommendation and sets the TANI.

  The dental rates study group (DRSG) then forecasts the level of dentists' expenses (including materials and laboratory costs) for the coming year and adds this figure to the TANI to produce target average gross income (TAGI). TAGI is modified, if necessary, to take account of under or over.payments of net income arising from an earlier year to produce the sum due to the average dentist. Finally, the DRSG forecasts the amount of NHS work that dentists will undertake in the coming year and sets the scale of individual payments and fees, taking account of the report of its laboratory and materials joint working party, that will, given the forecast amount of work, deliver the TAGI sum due to the average dentist.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary'of State for Health how many dental practices in Cornwall have(a) restricted the number of new NHS patients they will take on or (b) opted out of NHS dental treatment in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.
  471
  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information about the number of dental practices restricting the numbers of new national health service patients is not available centrally. Dentists are independent contractors and, as such, are free to accept or refuse patients for NHS treatment. They may also practise privately, wholly or in part, if they wish. Since July 1992, one dentist out of a total of 1451 dentists as at 30 June 1992 in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly FHSA, has asked for their name to be removed from the dental list.
  1Includes dentists who may also have a contract with another FHSA in addition to Cornwall and Isles of Scilly FHSA.

  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase the number of children registered with general dental practitioners.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is for family health services authorities, working with district health authorities, to take action to encourage children to be registered with a dentist. The dental contract, introduced in 1990, encourages raised awareness and a more preventative approach to dentistry. As at November 1992, there were 7·3 million children in England registered with a General Dental Practitioner—two thirds of all children in England.

  Dentistry
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many nursing mothers received dental treatment in 1990–91 and 1991–92; and what was the average cost per patient;

  (2) how many pregnant women received dental treatment in 1990–91 and 1991–92; and what was the average cost per patient.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The number of courses of dental treatment for nursing mothers in England in 1991–92 was 666,816, with an average cost per course of treatment of £46.01. The number of courses of dental treatment for pregnant women in 1991–92 was 453,467, with an average cost per course of treatment was £33·78.

  Figures for 1990–91 are not available.

  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average cost per adult patient for each course of dental treatment in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The average cost per adult patient for each course of national health service treatment in 1990–91 was £35·58 and in 1991–92 it was £36·11.

  Brockhall Hospital
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps were taken to set aside the terms of the lease of land at Brockhall hospital in East Lancashire which stipulated that the land and everything on it would revert to the freeholder in the event of Brockhall hospital being closed.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Secretary of State has no power to override the restrictive covenant attached to the leasehold interest in this land which comprises residential property, attached to Brockhall hospital. Following counsel's opinion, the regional health authority has reached a negotiated settlement with the freeholder giving security of tenure to the tenants and the health authority a full share in any redevelopment.

  Hospital Freehold
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list(a) those hospitals in England where the freehold title lies other than with the NHS and (b) those hospitals that will revert to the freeholder when they are no longer used for health purposes.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not held centrally. National health service property is managed by NHS trusts, or by health authorities on behalf of the Secretary of State.

  Migrants (Mental Health)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is held by his Department concerning the incidence of mental health problems amongst migrants, particularly refugees and asylum seekers from the Horn of Africa, who are settled in Greater London.

  Mr. Yeo
  District health authorities are responsible for assessing the mental health needs of their populations, including immigrants, and for providing necessary services. The Department does not, therefore, routinely collect statistics or other information on the incidence of mental disorders among immigrant populations.

  Departmental officials are in discussion with the Somali counselling project about its work among the Somalian community.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been allocated by her Department to date in publicising the Children Act 1989 and the relevant guidance notes amongst organisations of and for disabled people.

  Mr. Yeo
  Expenditure on publicising the Children Act 1989 and associated guides was:

  £

  1989–90

  3,863

  1990–91

  86,007

  1991–92

  806,271

  1992–93

  185,756

  1 Estimated.

  Information on publicity material that may have been sent to or requested by disabled people or organisations for the disabled is not available centrally.

  Breast and Cervical Cancer
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ensure that more resources are allocated for mobile units for the screening of breast and cervical cancer; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The bulk of cervical screening is performed in general practitioner surgeries or community and family planning clinics. Special facilities are therefore not necessary.

  Between 1987 and 1990, the Government provided £70 million in the United Kingdom (£55 million in England) to set up and run the breast screening programme including

  473
  the purchase of equipment. Current funding to meet the costs of the breast screening programme is built into health authority allocations and they should implement their breast screening programmes within the overall money allocated to them. It is for health authorities to determine whether additional resources should be made available for screening services in the light of local needs and priorities.

  Abortion
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has regarding the prevalence of the practice of screening women prior to abortion for chlamydia.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information about levels of chlamydia screening is not available centrally. The decision whether or not to offer such screening prior to abortion is one for the doctor concerned.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many cases of abortion, in the last year for which figures are available, it was necessary to provide blood transfusions to the mother.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Care Beds
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many district health authorities have no continuing care beds.

  Mr. Yeo
  Information collected by the Department on numbers of geriatric beds does not separately identify those used for continuing care. Health authorities are responsible for purchasing services to meet the needs of frail elderly patients, including continuing care for those who require it.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many district health authorities are providing incontinence services for people in residential care homes on the same basis as people living in their own homes; and whether a charge is made.

  Mr. Yeo
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Elderly People (Housing Transfers)
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which local authorities have transferred or propose to transfer all or some of their elderly persons homes to a housing trust or association; how many homes are involved out of the total number in each local authority; and to which housing trusts or associations the homes have been or are proposed to be transferred.

  Mr. Yeo
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Voluntary Organisations (Assistance)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what funding under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 will be made available through 474
  Liverpool health authority in 1993–94 to agencies dealing with psychiatric patients, mentally ill patients and mental handicap patients;

  (2) if she will list the Liverpool agencies which under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 were funded in 1992–93; how much each received; how many patients they care for; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Grants made by the Department under the section 64 general scheme are almost entirely to assist with the central administrative costs of, or to support a national project run by, a national voluntary organisation.

  Health authorities also have powers to make grants under section 64. Information on such grants is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Liverpool health authority for details.

  Dentures
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of dentures supplied in the most recent year for which figures are available; what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years; and what figures she has for upper and lower dentures.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Synthetic dentures

  Year

  Upper

  Lower

  Total

  Metal dentures total

  1981

  998,390

  730,000

  1,728,390

  113,740

  1982

  1,052,330

  780,280

  1,832,610

  136,550

  1983

  1,038,180

  769,860

  1,808,040

  143,230

  1984

  1,028,130

  756,960

  1,785,090

  154,330

  1985

  1,058,050

  789,300

  1,847,350

  172,040

  1986–87

  1,007,900

  742,170

  1,750,070

  200,210

  1987–88

  1,010,130

  736,670

  1,746,800

  199,400

  1988–89

  1,037,700

  760,560

  1,798,260

  206,830

  1989–90

  883,680

  625,890

  1,509,570

  193,700

  1990–91

  —

  —

  1,457,648

  195,814

  1991–92

  —

  —

  1,536,286

  199,958

  Notes:

  Data for 1981 to 1985 are given in calendar years. Data for 1986–87 to 1991–92 are given in financial years.

  Separate figures for upper and lower synthetic dentures are not available for 1990–91 and 1991–92. Separate figures for upper and lower metal dentures are not available for any of the years quoted.

  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice and suggestions her Department has given to those managing community care in local authorities as to how best to appraise the effectiveness and efficiency of the services they provide.

  Mr. Yeo
  Local authorities and their senior social services are responsible for monitoring the services they provide. This has been strengthened with the introduction of arms-length inspection units and statutory complaints procedures both of which can contribute to quality control. They also draw on the advice, guidance and help offered by the Department. In particular, the social services inspectorate makes available its inspection reports to the authorities concerned and offers guidance on good practice. The Audit Commission has an important role in assessing the cost effectiveness of local authority provision and in drawing the attention of individual authorities to their responsibilities that need to be managed more
  475
  effectively. Also, the local authority performance indicator package issued by the Audit Commission on 15 December 1992 should ensure that the public will increasingly be able to judge the effectiveness and efficiency of a wide range of local authority services.

  NHS Drugs
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated cost to the national health service of prescribed but unused drugs.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not collected.

  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration she has given to the introduction of a triple prescription form as a means of preventing wastage of prescribed drugs.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This matter is still under consideration.

  DHA Mergers
  Mr. David Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many applications for amalgamation she has received from district health authorities; and if she will list them.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department has received 14 applications from regional health authorities to merge the following district health authorities:

  Hull and East Yorkshire district health authorities

  Grimsby and Scunthorpe district health authorities

  Calderdale, Dewsbury and Huddersfield district health authorities

  Pontefract and Wakefield district health authorities

  West Suffolk and East Suffolk district health authorities

  North East Essex, Mid Essex and West Essex district health authorities

  Bloomsbury and Islington and Hampstead district health authorities

  Southend, Basildon and Thurrock and Brentwood (part of Barking, Havering and Brentwood) district health authorities

  Enfield and Haringey district health authorities

  Lewisham and North Southwark, Camberwell and West Lambeth district health authorities

  Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings district health authorities

  Aylesbury Vale, Wycombe and Milton Keynes district health authorities

  Kingston and Esher and Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton health authorities

  North East Warwickshire and South Warwickshire health authorities.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to reply to the letter sent to her on 27 August 1992 by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill, about the killing of Lee and Nicholas Evans.

  Mr. Sackville
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 12 October 1992.

  Patients (Transport)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the criteria on which calls received by the London ambulance service are transferred to the patients transport service, after 8 pm Monday to Friday and at weekends; how many calls were transferred; how many calls were taken up by patient transport services; how many calls were of an urgent and non-urgent nature over the past three months; and over what period such statistics are available.

  Mr. Sackville
  Only in exceptional circumstances should calls for emergency ambulances be passed to the patient transport service. There are no records held centrally of when this may have occurred in the London ambulance service. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. James Harris, chairman of the London ambulance service, for details.

  Electromagnetic Radiation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been undertaken by Her Department into the effects of electromagnetic radiation on the uptake of calcium ions by human cells.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 15 January 1993]: No such studies have been undertaken by the Department, nor any other body so far as we are aware. Studies in the United States involving animal cells have raised the possibility of an effect of electromagnetic radiation on the uptake of calcium ions. However, subsequent work undertaken by the National Radiological Protection Board does not suggest an adverse effect. This work has recently been submitted for publication.

  Premature Births
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many babies were born prematurely in the United Kingdom in the last two years; and how many of these(a) contracted advanced retinopathy, (b) received treatment for advanced retinopathy in the United Kingdom, (c) received treatment for advanced retinopathy outside the United Kingdom and (d) responded to such treatment.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: This information is not available in the form requested.

  Babies who are very premature are prone to a condition known as retinopathy of prematurity, the most severe cases tending to occur in babies weighing less than 1,500 g or of 31 weeks gestation or less. In 1990 in England and Wales, the latest year for which figures are available, there were 4,827 babies of less than 1,500 g who survived the first year of life. The number affected by retinopathy of prematurity is not known, though research studies which have been carried out suggest that more than half of those weighing less than 1,500 g experience some form of retinopathy. In most cases of retinopathy of prematurity, the condition improves without recourse to treatment.

  Details of the number of low birthweight babies receiving treatment for severe retinopathy either in this country or overseas are not collected centrally; nor is information collected centrally on the outcome of such treatment.
  477
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans her Department has to sponsor or conduct research into the cause and treatment of advanced retinopathy in premature babies.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: The British Association of Perinatal Medicine and the College of Ophthalmologists have produced joint professional guidelines on the care of retinopathy of prematurity. The Department is currently discussing with the professional bodies concerned what further research studies are required to find out the extent to which this knowledge is being applied in practice.

SCOTLAND

  Renfrewshire (Lords-Lieutenant)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the(a) names, (b) occupations and (c) places of residence of (i) the vice lord-lieutenant and (ii) the deputy lords-lieutenant of the county of Renfrewshire; if he plans to make any further nominations; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 January]: Vice lord-lieutenants and deputy lieutenants are appointed by the lord-lieutenant, subject to Her Majesty's approbation. Current information about their occupations is not held centrally. The names and places of residence of the deputy lieutenants for Renfrewshire are as follows:—

  RENFREWSHIRE
  Vice Lord-Lieutenant

  Colonel Sir Houston Shaw Stewart of Greenock and Blackhall Bt MC: Inverkip

  Deputy Lieutenants

  Commander Henry C. Abram VRD OStJ: Kilmacolm

  Lt Col A Leonard Aitkenhead MBE TD: Giffnock

  Brigadier John Brown OBE MM TD: Newton Mearns

  G W N H Clark Esq: Inverkip

  Sir Ian Denholm CBE: Lochwinnoch

  Alan R. Devereux Esq CBE: Giffnock

  The Right Hon. The Lord Goold CA: Clarkston

  Captain William H Hunter CBE: Kilmalcolm

  Captain David A Kerr MC TD: Greenock

  Mrs. Helen M. Laird OBE PhD: Blanefield

  Sir William J Lithgow Bt of Ormsary: Langbank

  Wing Commander C Hector MacLean AE: Kilmacolm

  Sir Robert A Maclean KBE LLD: Bridge of Weir

  The Right Hon. The Lord Maclay: Kilmacolm

  George G MacMillan of MacMillan and Knap: Langbank

  James R Minto Esq OBE PhD: Kilbarchan

  Group Captain George C Pinkerton OBE DFC AE: Houston

  Major John G. Stewart TD: Houston

  Sir Eric G Yarrow Bt MBE: Kilmacolm

  Sir Simpson Stevenson LLD: Gourock

  European Forests
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contribution Her Majesty's Government made to the fourth annual report on Europe's forests by the European Commission.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 20 January 19931: The 1992 report on forest condition in Europe, which was produced jointly by the Commission of the European Communities and the United Nations economic commission for Europe, was based on the results of forest health
  478
  surveys carried out in 1991 by the forest services of 33 European countries. In Britain, the survey was carried out by the Forestry Commission which submitted the results to the compilers of the report.

  Hill Livestock
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many producers are entitled to hill livestock compensation allowances in Scotland; and what proportion of those are located in(a) severely disadvantaged and (b) disadvantaged areas.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 18 January 19931: My Department's information relates to the number of producers receiving hill livestock compensatory allowances. Under the 1992 scheme 17,706 producers have received HLCAs of whom 16,927 are situated in severely disadvantaged areas and 779 in the disadvantaged areas.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will investigate the discrepancy between the low farm gate prices available to Scottish hill livestock producers and the high retail prices paid by consumers in the shops.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: I have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement setting out the reasons for reducing levels of hill livestock compensatory allowances; and what assistance he will give the Scottish hill livestock farmers to make up the reduction in income they will sustain as a result.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 18 January 19931: We took the decision to reduce HLCA sheep rates after a careful examination of the economic circumstances of farmers in the hills and uplands. This showed that the incomes of specialist sheep producers had risen substantially over the last two years. The reduction in HLCAs will be substantially more than offset by increases in the 1992 sheep annual premium.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many employees were engaged by Scottish hill livestock farming businesses over each of the last five years for which figures are available;

  (2) what percentage of the total labour force engaged in hill livestock farming in Scotland lost their jobs over the last five years for which figures are available.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: The number of employees engaged by Scottish hill livestock businesses in each of the last five years is set out in the following table. Information is collected only on levels of employment.

  Year

  Number of Employees

  Percentage Change

  1988

  6,880

  —

  1989

  6,874

  -0·1

  1990

  6,978

  +1·5

  1991

  6,830

  -2·1

  1992

  6,704

  -1·8

  Notes:

  Employees include family and hired workers, full-time and part-time workers and casual/seasonal workers. Farmers and

  479
  spouses are excluded.

  2. All figures relate to main holdings classified as Less Favoured Areas (LFA) mainly sheep, LFA mainly cattle or LFA cattle and sheep from Scottish June 1992 census data.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish details of state-financed social payments, subsidies and other schemes to provide a supplement to income, within the common agricultural policy available to hill farmers in other EC member states.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: The information is not readily available.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the net farm income figures for Scottish hill livestock farming businesses over the past five years for which figures are available at constant prices shown as a percentage of average full time manual earnings for the same period.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: Information on net farm incomes of hill livestock farm businesses and average full-time manual earnings, in money and real terms, over the last five years is set out in the following table. Net farm income is not a measure of the direct cash earnings that farmers receive and hence is not comparable with average manual earnings.

  Net farm income All hill livestock farms1 (£ per farm)

  Average full-time manual earnings (male) (£ per male worker)

  Money terms

  Deflated by RPI2

  Money terms

  Deflated by RPI2

  1987–88

  8,685

  8,685

  9,344

  9,344

  1988–89

  11,029

  10,514

  10,135

  9,662

  1989–90

  8,865

  7,838

  10,915

  9,651

  1990–91

  8,583

  6,933

  12,048

  9,732

  31991–92

  8,207

  6,265

  13,057

  9,967

  1 Average of net farm income for less favoured area (LFA) mainly sheep, LFA mainly cattle and LFA cattle and sheep farms.

  21987–88=100.

  Source: The Scottish Abstract of Statistics.

  Scotland

  Within LFA boundary

  Within LFA boundary as a percentage of Scotland per cent.

  Land (hectares)

  5,296,038

  4,612,270

  87

  Occupiers

  20,724

  15,562

  75

  Source: June Agricultural Census 1992. (Occupiers of main holdings only).

  Road Traffic Accidents
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many people have been charged by Scottish police forces for failing to report and stop at the scene of a road traffic accident, in each of the last five years; and if he will give a regional breakdown of these figures;

  (2) how many people have been prosecuted for failing to report and stop at the scene of a road traffic accident, in each of the last five years; and if he will give a regional breakdown of these figures.
  480
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number and proportion of farmers in Scotland who receive hill livestock compensatory allowance payments.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: Under the 1992 HLCA scheme a total of 17,706 producers received payments. That represents 85 per cent. of occupiers of main holdings in Scotland from the June 1992 agricultural census.

  Livestock Producers
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the level of average net farm income available to Scottish livestock producers in 1993 and 1994.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: We will shortly be announcing net farm income figures for 1992–93. The level of net farm incomes in 1993 and 1994 cannot be predicted since it will depend on a number of factors, including market returns in those years.

  Land
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what hectarage of land in Scotland is in(a) less-favoured areas, (b) severly disadvantaged areas and (c) disadvantaged areas; what proportion of land in Scotland each figure represents; and how many farmers are involved.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: Information on agricultural land within the less favoured area is in the following table. The agricultural census collects information on occupiers of main holdings rather than on farmers. Information is not collected separately for severely disadvantaged and disadvantaged areas because of the small number of main holdings in the latter category.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 January 1993]: The information is not available in the form requested. Table (i) gives the total number of offences under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and corresponding earlier legislation, which were cleared up by Scottish police forces. Table (ii) gives the number of offences under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and corresponding earlier legislation, which were proceeded against. Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 includes both failing to stop or report a road traffic accident and also failing to provide proof of insurance.
  481

  Failing to stop or report a road traffic accident,or give information or insurance documents, by region, Scotland 1987 to 1991

  (i) Number of offences cleared-up

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Borders

  207

  213

  195

  174

  144

  Central

  290

  346

  334

  334

  295

  Dumfries and Galloway

  359

  417

  496

  403

  471

  Fife

  625

  501

  524

  605

  476

  Grampian

  1,388

  1,277

  1,270

  1,313

  1,286

  Highland

  370

  340

  305

  310

  380

  Lothian

  1,879

  1,850

  1,578

  1,718

  2,058

  Strathclyde

  3,035

  2,932

  2,865

  2,831

  2,794

  Tayside

  709

  595

  666

  688

  584

  Orkney

  26

  37

  26

  37

  18

  Shetland

  40

  32

  43

  33

  34

  Western Isles

  32

  27

  40

  25

  50

  SCOTLAND

  8,960

  8,567

  8,342

  8,471

  8,590

  (ii) Offences proceeded against by court location

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Borders

  84

  82

  101

  99

  81

  Central

  241

  251

  244

  238

  229

  Dumfries and Galloway

  191

  265

  346

  354

  266

  Fife

  234

  199

  185

  198

  202

  Grampian

  686

  977

  777

  896

  977

  Highland

  233

  193

  165

  193

  216

  Lothian

  1,476

  1,255

  1,075

  1,206

  1,097

  Strathclyde

  1,418

  1,581

  1,389

  1,406

  1,380

  Tayside

  571

  528

  563

  509

  461

  Orkney

  38

  22

  18

  31

  13

  Shetland

  57

  20

  14

  14

  26

  Western Isles

  25

  18

  23

  38

  36

  High Court

  5

  4

  2

  7

  4

  Proceedings discharged before court appearance

  75

  66

  59

  41

  3

  SCOTLAND

  5,334

  5,461

  4,961

  5,230

  4,991

  Scottish Homes (Rents)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what would the average Scottish Homes rent have been if rents had increased only by the rate of inflation in every year since the establishment of Scottish Homes; and what is average rent of Scottish Homes for 1992–93;

  (2) what is the amount in cash and real terms by which Scottish Homes has raised its average rents since its establishment;

  Scottish Homes Rents

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  Annual rent rise

  Year

  Average rent increase1

  Inflation rate based on RPI percentage

  Cash

  Constant prices3

  Average rent from 1989–90 increased by inflation rate at column 3

  Percentage of tenants on housing benefit

  1989–90

  £20·65

  (29·7)

  7·8

  1·63

  1·88

  20·65

  54·86

  1990–91

  £23·35

  (14·0)

  9·6

  2·70

  2·89

  22·26

  57·98

  1991–92

  £26·51

  (14·5)

  4·8

  3·16

  3·16

  24·40

  60·09

  1992–93

  £29·14

  (9·0)

  n/a

  2·63

  2·52

  25·57

  62·86

  1993–94

  £31·76

  (9·0)

  n/a

  2·62

  2·45

  n/a

  n/a

  1 Different rent rises apply to different properties—average percentage increase does not necessarily apply to the average weekly rent.

  2 Percentage increase over previous year.

  3 Calculated by applying GDP deflator using 1991–92 as base year.

  482
  (3) what percentage of Scottish Homes tenants received housing benefit in each year since the establishment of Scottish Homes;

  (4) what is the percentage amount by which Scottish Homes has raised rents in each year since its establishment; and what was the rate of inflation in each of those years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 January 1993]: The information is set out in the table.

  Mental Hospitals
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds in mental hospitals were(a) closed and (b) negotiated to close in 1992 in each health board area.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 January 1993]: From a total of 17,631 mental health beds in Scotland, 1,336 were closed in 1992. Some of these will have been replaced by contracts with private or voluntary sector providers, but precise information is not held centrally. Health boards are constantly reviewing their assessment of need, consequently separate figures for negotiated closures are not available.

  Mental health beds closed in 1992

  Number

  Argyll and Clyde Health Board

  16

  Ayrshire and Arran Health Board

  —

  Borders Health Board

  8

  Dumfries and Galloway Health Board

  17

  Fife Health Board

  170

  Forth Valley Health Board

  120

  Grampian Health Board

  109

  Greater Glasgow Health Board

  487

  Highland Health Board

  45

  Lanarkshire Health Board

  95

  Lothian Health Board

  102

  Tayside Health Board

  167

  Orkney Health Board

  —

  Shetland Health Board

  —

  Western Isles Health Board

  —

  Total

  1,336

  Table 1: Approved expenditure under urban programme1

  Residential

  Non-residential

  Year

  Total £

  Capital £

  Current £

  Total £

  Capital £

  Current £

  Alcohol misuse

  1987–88

  23,616

  —

  23,616

  376,960

  —

  376,960

  1988–89

  25,482

  —

  25,482

  314,385

  1,350

  313,035

  1989–90

  52,188

  12,456

  39,732

  309,221

  62,885

  246,336

  1990–91

  24,351

  —

  24,351

  234,774

  12,402

  222,372

  1991–92

  62,905

  3,999

  58,906

  270,090

  19,071

  251,019

  1992–93

  202,933

  37,831

  165,102

  409,990

  11,193

  398,797

  Drugs

  1987–88

  —

  —

  —

  172,950

  7,500

  165,450

  1988–89

  —

  —

  —

  164,860

  12,950

  151,910

  1989–90

  —

  —

  —

  468,813

  42,929

  425,884

  1990–91

  —

  —

  —

  1,133,051

  136,584

  996,467

  1991–92

  17,635

  17,635

  —

  1,484,137

  38,218

  1,445,919

  1992–93

  106,605

  106,605

  —

  1,583,118

  59,417

  1,523,701

  1Grant amounting to 75 per cent. of approved Urban programme Expenditure is paid to sponsoring local authorities.

  Table 2:Grants awarded under Section 10 of the Social work (Scotland) Act 1968

  Residential

  Non-Residential

  Year

  Total £

  Residential Capital £

  Current £

  Total £

  Capital £

  Current £

  Alcohol Misuse

  1987–88

  57,309

  —

  57,309

  39,921

  4,789

  35,133

  1988–89

  4,100

  —

  4,100

  76,473

  —

  76,473

  1989–90

  17,271

  17,271

  —

  75,254

  14,426

  60,828

  1990–91

  153,349

  150,000

  3,349

  49,003

  10,625

  38,378

  1991–92

  97,132

  —

  97,132

  56,157

  —

  57,157

  1992–93

  101,562

  —

  101,562

  76,000

  8,000

  68,000

  Drugs

  1987–88

  105,746

  —

  105,746

  3,759

  —

  3,759

  1988–89

  48,603

  —

  48,603

  —

  —

  —

  1989–90

  2,485

  —

  2,485

  3,000

  3,000

  —

  Alcohol and Drug Abuse
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish a table showing the total grant available from his Department(a) in total, (b) in revenue and (c) in capital towards the provision of (1) residential facilities and (2) non-residential facilities for (i) people with alcohol problems and (ii) people with drug problems in 1992–93 and 1993–94;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing the total grant paid by his Department (a) in total, (b) in revenue and (c) in capital towards the provision of (1) residential facilities and (2) non-residential facilities for (i) people with alcohol problems and (ii) people with drug problems in each of the past five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: Funding is provided directly and indirectly by the Scottish Office for alcohol and drug misuse projects in a number of ways. Many projects are funded by health boards either from their general allocations or the funds, totalling £2·4 million in 1992–93, specifically allocated for drug misuse. Other projects are funded by local authorities. Details of funding from all sources could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, information, as set out in the tables, is available on funding by the Scottish Office for residential and non-residential facilities provided by voluntary sector organisations under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and under the urban programme for the years 1987–88 to 1992–93. Figures for 1993–94 are not yet available.
  485

  Residential

  Non-Residential

  Year

  Total £

  Capital £

  Current £

  Total £

  Capital £

  Current £

  1990–91

  200,000

  200,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1991–92

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1992–93

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Shetlands (Oil Pollution)
  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
  [pursuant to his answer, of 21 January 1993, c. 411–12.]: The bridging fund scheme is a new service for which parliamentary approval will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the local environmental services and housing, Scotland vote—class XV, vote 6. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £3 million will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund.

PRIME MINISTER

  Disabled People
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to introduce legislation to outlaw discrimination against disabled people in access to employment, training, education, leisure, transport, public buildings and shops; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  We have no plans to introduce generalised anti-discrimination legislation because we foresee problems in both approach and implementation. However, as I have made clear in the past, we are continuing to work to eliminate unjustified discrimination against people on the ground of their disability. We believe that this is best achieved by education and persuasion backed up by targeted legislation to address specific problems.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made by Departments in implementing the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; what plans he has to implement the outstanding sections; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Most of the major provisions of the Act have now been implemented, bringing substantial benefits to disabled people and their carers. The requirements of the non-implemented sections of the Act are now, to a very large extent, reflected in the Department of Health's new and wide-ranging reforms of community care, which demonstrate our commitment to high quality care responsive to the needs and wishes of service users and carers. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health will review the need to implement these sections in the light of several years' experience of the community care arrangements.

  Scottish Constitution
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 14 January,Official Report, column 790, if he will list those individuals and organisations that he has consulted when taking stock of the governance of Scotland since April 1992.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) on 11 January 1993 at column 552.

  Iraq
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions Her Majesty's Government held with the Governments of(a) Egypt and (b) Syria on the efficacy of military intervention in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Since the invasion of Kuwait we have had frequent discussions with the Egyptians and Syrians on the situation in Iraq. We have discussed the allies' latest military action in Iraq with Egyptian and Syrian officials.

  Ministerial Residences
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 of each of the official country residences owned by the Government broken down into(a) housekeeping, (b) catering/hospitality, (c) maintenance and (d) other costs; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: Chequers, Dorneywood and Chevening are not owned by the Government.

  Chequers is administered as an independent trust, which receives an annual grant from public funds towards the maintenance of Chequers. In the three years concerned the grant has been:

  £

  1990–91

  238,000

  1991–92

  244,000

  1992–93

  260,000

  The Government also contribute to the costs of household staff at Chequers, but this information is not separately identifiable.

  The maintenance and staff expenses of Chevening house are met by the Chevening trust. The total cost to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for housekeeping, catering/hospitality and other costs in the three years concerned has been:

  £

  1990–91

  4,374

  1991–92

  7,984

  1992–93

  9,451

  487
  In addition, other Government Departments use Chevening from time to time for meetings or seminars, for which they pay separately.

  Dorneywood is administered by a trust fund. Its upkeep does not involve any cost to the Treasury.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Tobacco Industry
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of people directly employed in the tobacco industry in Northern Ireland at the latest date; and what proportion of manufacturing jobs this represents in the province.

  Mr. Atkins
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Holiday Accommodation
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will meet the Association of British Travel Agents to discuss dangerous holiday accommodation abroad.

  Mr. Leigh
  I see no need for such a meeting. The Association of British Travel Agents already offers comprehensive advice to its members regarding the maintenance of high standards of safety in holiday accommodation.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with United Kingdom tour operators about the safety of foreign accommodation offered to package holidaymakers.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have had no such discussions. There is already comprehensive guidance for tour operators in this area.

  Chambers of Commerce
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had with the Association of British Chambers of Commerce regarding the proposed setting up of core chambers of commerce; what time scale he is proposing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has consulted extensively with representatives of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce (ABCC) regarding its proposals to set up core chambers of commerce.

  The Government support the objectives of the ABCC as set out in its development strategy. Chambers provide a valuable focus for information and support for business. However, coverage is currently patchy and there is considerable untapped potential for chambers to achieve economies of scale. I believe that the establishment of core chambers, and their closer co-operation with other business support organisations to develop one-stop shop business advice centres in each area, will lead to a major improvement in the quality of the support provided to companies.
  488
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria he has agreed with the Association of British Chambers of Commerce for financial contributions from his departmental funds towards the cost of development executives; and for what length of time such contributions will be available.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Government support the objectives of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce (ABCC) to set up a coherent network of chambers, as set out in their development strategy. In each case for which funding is required, the President of the Board of Trade will expect to be satisfied that the proposal is consistent with realising this strategy.

  Subject to this condition, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has agreed with the ABCC that he is prepared to fund half the cost of a development officer in each of the core chambers for up two years. The chambers have to fund the remaining 50 per cent. of the cost, and the whole of any continuing cost after the initial two-year appointment.

  Trading Standards Service
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what proposals he has to alter the basis of funding the trading standards service;

  (2) if he will institute an inquiry into the extent to which the trading standards service is fulfilling the functions for which it was set up;

  (3) if he will make a statement on increasing central co-ordination of the trading standards service;

  Mr. Leigh
  I keep the funding and performance of the trading standards service under review and, together with the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for the Environment, have given, and will continue to give, careful consideration to the service in the context of the review of local government. There are at present no proposals for action on the lines suggested by the hon. Member. However, if he has any concerns about the service, the noble Baroness Denton of Wakefield, the Minister for Consumer Affairs, will be pleased to consider them.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to publish a charter for the trading standards service.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have been asked to reply.

  I keep the funding and performance of the trading standards service under review and, together with the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for the Environment, have given, and will continue to give, careful consideration to the service in the context of the review of local government. There are at present no proposals for action on the lines suggested by the hon. Member. However, if he has any concerns about the service, the Noble Baroness Denton of Wakefield, the Minister for Consumer Affairs, will be pleased to consider them.

  Supergun Launcher Systems
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the peaceful uses of supergun launcher systems in delivering satellites into earth orbit.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department is aware of work being performed in the United States of America, which is aimed
  489
  at demonstrating that small payloads can be put into Earth orbit using a supergun launcher and of European patent applications of a similar nature. However, my Department has not made a detailed study of the viability of these proposals. Any assessment in this field would be carried out in conjunction with our partners within the European Space Agency.

  Patent Law
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what efforts he is making to bring about greater harmonisation of international patent law.

  Mr. Leigh
  There is already considerable harmonisation of substantive patent law in Europe. In a wider arena, my officials have been very active in the negotiations for an international treaty on patent law harmonisation which have taken place under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organisation and will take a committed part in the diplomatic conference to be held in July this year in order to reach agreement on the treaty. They have also taken an active part in discussions at Community level on a directive to harmonise the legal protection of biotechnological inventions.

  Post Office
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when his review of the future organisation and structure of the Post Office will be complete; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The review will be completed in due course. We will then be in a position to make a statement to the House.

  Price Marking Order 1991
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to amend the 1991 Price Marking Order, implemented under European Community directive 88/314/EEC.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department is currently discussing the way forward with interested parties.

  Girobank
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he was consulted about Girobank's recent withdrawal of a small firms export credit support scheme: whether this, or similar matters, was set out as a service obligation in the sale of Girobank; and what those service obligations now are.

  Mr. Leigh
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade was not consulted about Girobank's provision of export credit schemes, nor would he expect to be. The sale agreement between the Post Office and the Alliance and Leicester Building Society in respect of Girobank did not specify the future of particular Girobank services. Subject only to regulation under the Banking Act 1987, the provision of services by Girobank, as any other bank, is a matter for its commercial judgment.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what financial assistance his Department gives to manufacturing industry.
  490
  Mr. Leigh
  My Department runs or supports a wide range of schemes and services providing assistance to manufacturing businesses. The majority of these involve direct financial assistance.

  Together the full range of services provide a comprehensive package for business, including help with the provision of expert advice in key management areas such as quality or manufacturing systems; help towards the cost of consultancy to assist businesses plan their use of advanced manufacturing technology; grant support to develop innovative ideas; help with exporting; and special financial assistance for businesses in assisted areas and urban programme areas.

  Small Firms
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance is available from his Department to help companies with fewer than 100 employees.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department operates the following measures of support for small and medium-sized firms:

  the Enterprise Initiative Consultancy Scheme;

  the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme;

  the Small Firms Merit Award for Research and Technology;

  Support for Products Under Research;

  Regional Enterprise Grants (Investment);

  Regional Enterprise Grants (Innovation);

  Export Marketing Research Scheme;

  Your Business Success;

  Graduate Enterprise;

  The criteria for determining the eligibility of a company to take advantage of each of these forms of assistance varies from scheme to scheme.

  My Department also provides funding for development work which aims to benefit small firms and produces a wide range of publications aimed at small businesses.

  During 1993 my Department will start support for up to 15 pilot schemes which will provide businesses with a single point of access to information and advice.

  From April 1993 my Department will take over responsibility from the Employment Department for funding training and enterprise councils (TECs) to provide a wide range of business support services to help small businesses.

  In addition, small businesses can, of course, take advantage of other business support programmes provided for firms of all sizes.

  Leg Irons
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his current policy on the manufacture of leg irons in the United Kingdom and the export of such products; if any prosecutions are pending for such practices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  I have no plans relating to the manufacture of leg irons: they are not used by the police and prison services in the United Kingdom, and my Department, which tightened export controls in this area last year, will not issue a licence for their export under the Export of Goods (Control) Order. I am not aware of any breach of the order in respect of leg irons nor of any prosecution involving their export.

  Sovereign Debt
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if doubtful sovereign debt held by the Export Credits Guarantee Department is provisioned in accordance with guidelines established by the Bank of England.

  Mr. Needham
  I can confirm that the provisions for unrecovered claims in respect of political risk in ECGD's trading accounts are assessed using the Bank of England provisioning matrix. ECGD's 1991–92 trading accounts are due to be laid before the House on 28 January.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide details regarding levels of sovereign debt held by the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

  Mr. Needham
  The Export Credits Guarantee Department's 1991–92 annual report, which is due to be laid before the House on 28 January, provides a detailed breakdown of its sovereign debt.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide details regarding sovereign debt held by the Export Credits Guarantee Department offered for sale in the secondary debt market.

  Mr. Needham
  The agreement amongst Paris club group of creditors currently allows the Export Credits Guarantee Department to consider sales of sovereign debt in the following markets:

  Benin

  Bolivia

  Cameroon

  Congo

  Cote D'Ivoire

  Ecuador

  Egypt

  Ethiopia

  Guinea Republic

  Jamaica

  Jordan

  Mali

  Morocco

  Nicaragua

  Niger

  Nigeria

  Peru

  Phillipines

  Poland

  Senegal

  Sierra Leone

  Tanzania

  Togo

  Uganda

  Zambia

  Rescheduled Debt
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide details on the proportion of rescheduled official bilateral debt that may be sold on the secondary debt market by the Export Credits Guarantee Department under the auspices of the Trinidad terms.

  Mr. Needham
  The agreement amongst Paris club group of creditors allows for either US $10 million or 10 per cent. of a creditors exposure, whichever is the greater, to be sold or swapped for local investment.

  EC Regulations
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what will be the terms of reference for the scrutiny into the way in which EC regulations impact upon business.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The terms of reference are as follows:

  To investigate the formulation, implementation and enforcement of EC law with the aim of securing legislation which is necessary and proportionate and;

  —minimises the burdens on British business and sustains its international competitiveness; and

  mdash;is least intrusive in the lives of British citizens.

  Specific areas to be addressed will include:

  —whether the burden for business is kept to the minimum necessary to comply with EC requirements;

  —the difficulties in interpreting EC law;

  —the timing and content of implementing legislation;

  —whether the views of business are properly taken into account;

  —whether the views of United Kingdom enforcement agencies are taken into account;

  —whether Ministers are kept fully aware of implementation and enforcement issues; and

  —the proportionally of enforcement practice.

  These issues will be examined in the context of at least the following case studies:

  —Meat hygiene (as implemented by the 1990 Food Safety Act)

  —Health and Safety (Framework and Subordinate directives)

  —Personal Protective Equipment directive.

  The scrutiny will recommend improvements procedures to be followed in negotiating EC law, in implementing EC legislation in United Kingdom law, and in enforcing the United Kingdom law.

  The scrutiny will report to Ministers within the 90 working days which are allowed under efficiency scrutiny guidelines.

  I will be the supervising Minister for the scrutiny. The scrutiny team will be advised by a steering group which will include private sector members.

  Electricity Generators
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the recent report by OFFER on electricity purchasing with respect to the treatment of(a) the actual costs of generating and (b) the position of coal-fired generators; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The contents of OFFER's report will be taken into account in the Government's coal review along with other evidence and submissions.

  Coal Review
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to publish the consultants' reports commissioned as part of the coal review.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I announced on 20 November that I had appointed consultants to report as part of the coal review. John T. Boyds was to examine the viability of each of the 21 pits proposed for closure last October, and not subject to the statutory consultation process being undertaken by British Coal; Ernst & Young was to investigate the competitiveness of British Coal as an organisation; Caminus Energy Ltd. was to investigate the markets for coal; and PIMS Associates Ltd. was to examine British
  493
  Coal's costs and productivity in comparison with international benchmarks. Caminus and Boyds have, in addition, jointly produced a summary of their reports.

  I sent copies of all these reports and the summary to the Chairman of the Trade and Industry Select Committee yesterday, and am arranging for them to be published today. I have placed a copy of my letter together with copies of the reports and the summary in the Library.

  Computer Games (Epilepsy)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what consultations he has had with toys and games retailers and manufacturers concerning the dangers of photo-sensitive epilepsy induced by computer games;

  (2) what representations he has received in relation to the dangers of photo-sensitive epilepsy in children induced by use of computer games;

  (3) what proposals he has to introduce a compulsory health warning on the dangers of photo-sensitive epilepsy on the packaging of computer games.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 13 January 1993]: My Department is aware of recent cases of children reported to have suffered epileptic seizures while playing with computer games. We are holding urgent discussions with industry representatives and others to ascertain what information and advice should be made available to consumers and how best this might be achieved.

  One-stop Shops
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make a statement on one-stop shops for business and technology information dissemination; what proposals he has to grant aid such one-stop shops; and what arrangements he will make to monitor and evaluate their progress;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the local dissemination of business and technology information; and when he expects to announce pilot projects to further such local dissemination.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 14 January 1993]: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade made a statement in the House on 3 December 1992 announcing the publication of a prospectus seeking competitive bids for the establishment of up to 15 pilot one-stop shops in England.

  I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, who has responsibility for Welsh matters, is separately considering the business enterprise and support arrangements in Wales.

  One-stop shop bids will be submitted to DTI by 29 January 1993 and I will be announcing the pilot areas in mid-March 1993.

  DTI will provide grant aid as a contribution towards meeting the additional costs of establishing pilot shops for a period of up to three financial years.

  The progress of the pilots will be closely monitored and will be the subject of a detailed evaluation. If the initial pilots are as successful as I expect, a further round of bids will take place in 1993–94 and a national network of one-stop shops will be established as quickly as possible.

  Staff Documents
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what procedures his Department has to alert staff to the existence of documents which affect their work but are not circulated for security reasons.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 14 January 1993]: My Department distributes such documents to the appropriate officials, who are alerted by telephone in urgent cases.

  Warren Spring Laboratory
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many persons of all grades, scientific and non-scientific, worked in marine pollution-related activities at Warren Spring laboratory in 1979, 1985, 1990, 1991 and 1992; and if he will give conveniently available figures on the public expenditure on such work during those years.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 14 January 1993]: The information requested is as follows:

  Number of persons

  Total cost of work (£ thousands)

  £ Thousand

  1979–80

  12

  385

  1985–86

  17

  830

  1990–91

  13

  1,075

  1991–92

  8

  670

  11992–93

  8

  770

  1 Forecast

  Royal Family
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if, following the planned privatisation of Parcelforce, members of the royal family will continue to receive free use of its services.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: Following my right hon. Friend's announcement on 15 July of his intention to privatise Parcelforce, the arrangements for parcels services for the royal family is one of the many issues which will be studied carefully.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total annual cost of free postage provided(a) to Her Majesty the Queen and (b) to each other individual member of the royal family so entitled.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: The provision of free postage services to members of the royal family is primarily to enable the royal household to deal with mail from the public, congratulatory messages to mark diamond weddings and one hundredth birthdays, and to maintain communications when Her Majesty the Queen is out of London.

  The Post Office has no statistics on the annual cost of these services which are provided, to a varying extent, to Her Majesty the Queen and 15 other members of the royal family.

  Microwave Frequency Transmissions
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what publicly funded research has been carried out regarding the biological effects of microwave
  495
  frequency transmissions; if he will fund a study into the type of equipment being installed on or near high-rise residential blocks in Wolverhampton; and if he will publish the results of any such research;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact of biological penetration from personal communication network range frequencies on all life-forms which have come into close proximity with such equipment; and if he will publish his conclusions.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) has responsibility for advising United Kingdom Government Departments on standards of protection for exposure to non-ionising radiation. Recent reports from that body indicate that, at the lower frequencies associated with these installations, there is no firm epidemiological evidence of the existence of a carcinogenic hazard. My Department is currently helping to fund a joint research study, managed by the NRPB, into the possible effects of exposure to mobile telephone transmissions.

  Parcelforce
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what provision he has made to ensure that free postal and parcel services for literature and tapes for the visually impaired are retained following the sale of Parcelforce.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 19 January 1993]: Both Royal Mail and Parcelforce provide certain free postal and parcel services for the visually impaired. Such provision will continue in the future although the details of how this will be done have yet to be settled.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the criteria to be employed by Boyds in assessing the viability of the 10 pits listed for immediate closure; and if he will list the criteria employed by Boyds in respect of the other 21 pits listed for closure.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 21 January 1993]: Boyds is required to consider for each of the 10 pits whether the criteria for closure announced on 19 October (currently loss-making and no prospect of viability in the foreseeable future) are met. Its conclusions will be based on an inspection of each of the 10 pits and evaluation in respect of each mine of:

  (i) financial information for the current financial year;

  496

  (ii)available coal reserve base;

  (iii) near-term capital requirements;

  (iv) estimated future operating costs;

  (v) estimated future income.

  A copy of the full terms of reference of the Boyds' study of the 10 pits is available in the Library of the House.

  In respect of the 21 pits, I refer to the reply my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, gave to my hon. Friend for Waveney (Mr. Porter) on 20 November at column 433.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was(a) the total sum of money paid out in legal aid and (b) the sum paid out in respect of each category of offence for each of the last five years.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Net expediture on all forms of legal aid in the last five years was as follows:

  £ million

  1987–88

  434

  1988–89

  475

  1989–90

  564

  1990–91

  682

  1991–92

  906

  In respect of each category of offence, figures are available only for the proportion of expenditure accounted for by each category in higher court cases (i.e. those in the Crown Court or the Court of Appeal) for the past four years. This has been set out in the tables:

  Payments made to solicitors

  1988–89 per cent.

  1989–90 per cent.

  1990–91 per cent.

  1991–92 per cent.

  Violence against the person

  21·58

  22·09

  20·48

  21·75

  Sexual offences

  6·46

  6·84

  7·05

  7·16

  Burglary

  13·64

  12·37

  11·77

  12·39

  Robbery

  5·46

  5·18

  5·62

  5·40

  Theft and handling

  22·18

  22·17

  21·45

  20·43

  Fraud and forgery

  4·57

  4·14

  5·93

  6·81

  Criminal damage

  2·32

  1·93

  1·79

  2·00

  Indictable motoring offences

  2·58

  1·68

  1·48

  1·65

  Appeals etc

  4·70

  4·40

  4·47

  4·85

  Other offences

  16·51

  19·20

  19·96

  17·56

  497

  Payments made to barristers

  1988–89 per cent·

  1989–90 per cent·

  1990–91 per cent·

  1991–92 per cent·

  Violence against the person

  21·64

  20·99

  19·40

  20·94

  Sexual offences

  6·22

  6·32

  6·42

  6·87

  Burglary

  8·81

  7·64

  7·12

  8·26

  Robbery

  5·51

  5·62

  5·74

  6·14

  Theft and handling

  20·41

  20·34

  18·60

  17·78

  Fraud and forgery

  7·90

  8·56

  11·35

  12·02

  Criminal damage

  1·82

  1·25

  1·68

  1·34

  Indictable motoring offences

  1·69

  0·93

  0·88

  1·04

  Appeals etc·

  1·74

  2·19

  2·11

  2·73

  Other offences

  24·26

  26·16

  26·70

  22·88

  The total net expenditure on legal aid in the higher criminal courts for the past four years was as follows:
  498

  £ million

  1988–89

  118

  1989–90

  134

  1990–91

  157

  1991–92

  186