Written Answers of 5 July 1993

HEALTH

  Folic Acid
  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in educating the public and health professionals about the importance of folic acid in the diets of women of child-bearing age to reduce the risk of their children being born with spina bifida.

  Mr. Sackville
  Guidance has been issued to all doctors, senior nursing staff, midwives and health visitors and pharmacists as well as key professional organisations. Copies of the guidance will be placed in the Library.

  NW

  NE

  SE

  SW

  SH As

  Thames

  Thames

  Thames

  Thames

  Neurosciences

  18·2

  36·3

  20·9

  19·0

  28·8

  Cardiac

  11·1

  16·1

  27·1

  14·4

  35·4

  Renal

  17·2

  31·5

  28·8

  16·1

  8·4

  Cancer

  21·4

  24·0

  20·7

  7·9

  12·9

  Plastics and Burns

  8·9

  7·4

  7·8

  2·

  0·9

  Children

  78·1

  87·3

  91·5

  69·3

  44·5

  The future number of consultants will depend upon the pattern of provision of these services in the Thames regions which will be determined by a number of factors, including the strategic intentions of purchasers, the findings of the specialty reviews and those of the research reviews of the special health authorities.

  Waterborne Diseases
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 8 June,Official Report, column 238, if she will list the infectious diseases associated with poor water supply and sewage disposal and the incidence of those diseases in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  There are many diseases which can be associated with poor water supply and sewerage disposal, few of which are commonly found in this country.

  GP Fund Holding
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the total cost of general practitioner fund holding in 1991–92 to all parts of the national health service.

  Number of NHS sight tests paid for, analysed by regional health authority

  Thousands

  Regional health authority

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–901

  1990–911

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Northern

  592·1

  600·0

  627·6

  698·0

  740·4

  336·8

  275·6

  314·7

  —

  Yorkshire

  722·7

  730·4

  752·3

  843·2

  906·1

  403·5

  311·6

  368·2

  —

  Trent

  912·6

  950·0

  980·9

  1,095·3

  1,166·7

  515·0

  406·8

  483·6

  —

  East Anglia

  380·6

  408·8

  422·0

  468·7

  493·1

  191·5

  159·9

  194·3

  —

  North West Thames

  828·7

  853·4

  862·3

  943·7

  1,016·6

  384·4

  290·2

  354·3

  —

  2
  Manufacturers have been asked to increase the range of supplements and fortified foods available. The Health Education Authority has already begun to update its publications to include the new advice. Plans are under way to issue further public education materials this summer to raise women's awareness of the importance of taking folic acid when pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

  Specialties
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) specialty beds and (b) specialists there were at the latest available date in each London region for (i) neurosciences, (ii) cardiac, (iii) renal, (iv) cancer, (v) plastics and burns and (vi) children; and what are the forecast numbers in each of those categories for each of the next five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 24 June at columns 248–49. The whole-time equivalent number of consultants employed by each of the Thames regional health authorities and the special health authorities, by specialty, as at 30 September 1991, is shown in the table.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 26 March at column 751.

  Specialty Reviews, London
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what assumptions she is proceeding in her review of London hospitals about the number of beds and specialists needed per head of population in each specialty.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is for local providers working with purchasers to maximise bed usage and to determine the number of consultants and the specialities they represent in order to meet their contractual commitments.

  Eye Tests
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service eye examinations have been undertaken since 1985 in each regional health authority and in England.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The number of national health service sight tests paid for by family health services authorities in each financial year is shown in the table.
  3

  Regional health authority

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–901

  1990–911

  1991–92

  1992–93

  North East Thames

  894·5

  914·4

  943·4

  1,028·0

  1,055·0

  468·2

  361·4

  440·3

  —

  South East Thames

  734·6

  761·8

  803·6

  875·1

  927·8

  385·6

  296·9

  359·9

  —

  South West Thames

  625·8

  648·7

  652·9

  710·6

  735·3

  283·0

  220·4

  267·8

  —

  Wessex

  619·2

  645·9

  697·7

  739·4

  806·3

  343·2

  258·0

  312·0

  —

  Oxford

  489·6

  515·6

  546·1

  607·9

  657·3

  221·5

  205·7

  247·5

  —

  South Western

  761·6

  785·9

  826·6

  917·2

  1,017·5

  418·1

  324·5

  402·9

  —

  West Midlands

  1,096·6

  1,154·8

  1,188·8

  1,314·2

  1,438·4

  634·0

  488·2

  574·0

  —

  Mersey

  449·8

  465·7

  473·6

  531·6

  562·1

  259·8

  204·9

  246·3

  —

  North Western

  773·8

  810·6

  837·5

  922·0

  970·3

  435·3

  349·7

  413·6

  —

  England2

  9,882·2

  10,245·8

  10,615·4

  11,694·8

  12,492·8

  5,279·8

  4,153·7

  4,979·4

  35,527·6

  1 From 1 April 1989, NHS sight tests were restricted to certain eligible groups in the population. The figures for 1989–90 included 1·63 million sight tests paid for in 1989–90 but conducted in 1988–89 under the previous scheme.

  The remaining 3·65 million were conducted and paid for in 1989–90 but do not constitute a full twelve months of the scheme. The figures for 1990–91 which do represent 12 months under the new scheme, are not therefore directly comparable with those for 1989–90.

  2 Due to rounding, the sum of the components may not equal the total.

  3 Provisional figure. An analysis by regional health authority is not yet available.

  Mr. Jonathan Zito
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will order a public inquiry into the circumstances which led to the death of Jonathan Zito and its implications for community care policies.

  Mr. Bowis
  The two regional health authorities concerned, South and North East Thames, are jointly holding an inquiry into the events which led to the death of Jonathan Zito. Any further action is dependent upon the report of the inquiry.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future of the rules governing free dental treatment.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's review of the remuneration of general dental practitioners set out a number of options for changing the way in which we deliver general dental services. We have consulted widely on his report and shall announce our proposals in due course.

  Abortions
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions have now been performed in total under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967 in the whole of the United Kingdom; and how many and what percentage of those abortions were performed in emergency to save the life of the mother.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave her on 5 May at column 44 for the total number of legal abortions and the number and percentage of those performed in emergency "to save the life of the pregnant woman", notified to the Chief Medical Officers of England and Wales under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967.

  Information relating to Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. Northern Ireland is not covered by the Abortion Act 1967.

  Nurses and Midwives
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the numbers of whole-time equivalent NHS nursing and midwifery staff employed on 4
  each grade and pay point of the clinical grades, educational grades and senior nursing and midwifery pay spine in (a) 1990, (b) 1991 and (c)

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 23 June 1993]: Figures for 1992 are not yet available. The information for 1990 and 1991 will be placed in the Library.

ENVIRONMENT

  Council Tax
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how long it is expected it will take to settle outstanding disputes over council tax banding valuations in the Chelmsford parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Circencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Clifton-Brown) by my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Planning on 29 June 1993 at column 416.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his proposals for a review of procurement and contracting arrangements in the construction industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have today chaired a meeting of representatives of the construction industry at which it was unanimously agreed to appoint Sir Machael Latham to undertake a review of procurement and contracting arrangements in the construction industry. We want less litigation and conflict and more productivity in the construction industry.

  Sir Michael will begin work later this month and complete the review within 12 months. An interim report will be produced by the end of the year. Sir Michael will be assisted by a number of specialist assessors who will channel the views of their respective organisations. Where appropriate, groups of client and contracting organisations will stand behind the assessors and provide representative opinion on key issues.

  The review will be jointly funded by the Department of the Environment, the Construction Industry Council, the Construction Industry Employers Council, the National Specialist Contractors Council and the Specialist

  5
  Engineering Contractors Group. It will be closely supported by a number of other bodies, in particular the British Property Federation and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

  The terms of reference of the review, which have been placed in the Library, require Sir Michael to consider the current procurement and contractual arrangements, and the roles and responsibilities of all participants in a contract. Sir Michael's objective will be to present recommendations to Government and other bodies about practical reforms to reduce conflict and litigation and to encourage productivity and competitiveness.

TRANSPORT

  Market Testing
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the market-testing programme has cost his Department since November 1992.

  Mr. Norris
  The approximate cost of market testing since November 1992 is £430,000 including consultancies.

  Woolwich Tunnel
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which railway organisations have responsibility for considering the benefits and costs of a rail tunnel under the Thames at Woolwich.

  Mr. Norris
  London Transport, with the London Dockland development corporation, and consulting British Rail, are conducting further studies of the costs and benefits of a rail tunnel at Woolwich. In addition Union Railways has invited comments on its proposals for a "Union Metro", which would incorporate a rail tunnel at Woolwich.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider a rail tunnel at Woolwich.

  Mr. Norris
  I shall certainly consider any well-founded investment proposal for a rail tunnel at Woolwich, and I look forward to seeing comments on the Union Metro proposal.

  InterCity Trains
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures British Rail will be introducing to improve the locking mechanisms on InterCity trains; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail is implementing the main recommendations of the "Slam Door" report issued by the Health and Safety Executive, which included the redesign and replacement of primary door locks.

  In addition InterCity has recently awarded a £17 million contract to ABB Transportation Ltd. to fit secondary door locks to the InterCity fleet of slam-door coaches.

  Jubilee Line Extension
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent consideration he has given to the Jubilee line extension.
  6
  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend keeps in close touch with the negotiations on the private sector contribution to the funding of the extension.

  Passenger Service Franchises
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which part of European Community law governs the submission of bids to run passenger service franchises by the boards of nationalised railways and their subsidiaries.

  Mr. Freeman
  There is no Community legislation which directly deals with the role of nationalised industries in bidding for passenger rail franchises.

  British Rail Maintenance Ltd.
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the report by McKinsey on the future of British Rail Maintenance Ltd.

  Mr. Freeman
  This is an internal BR report that was prepared in confidence for the British Railways Board. I will be making an announcement on the future of British Rail Maintenance Ltd. as soon as possible.

  Passenger Rail Vehicles
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new passenger rail vehicles including locomotives, rolling stock and multiple units are scheduled for delivery to the British Railways Board during the financial years(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96.

  Mr. Freeman
  In addition to the answer I gave the right hon. Member in the Official Report on 12 March at column 768, delivery of new leased rolling stock is planned for 1995 and 1996 using the £150 million facility announced in the autumn statement. The number of leased vehicles will depend on which of the supplier's bids currently being assessed by BR is successful. In addition BR may undertake fuller operating leases for, rail vehicles subject to recent guidance issued by HM Treasury.

  BR Staff (Working Hours)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the average hours worked per week by British Railways Board train drivers during the latest period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Freeman
  During the week ending 26 June 1993, BRB train drivers, excluding those absent through sickness or other reason for all or part of the week, worked an average of 47·8 hours.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the average hours worked per week by British Railways Board signalmen during the latest period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Freeman
  During the week ending 26 June 1993, BRB staff operating signals, excluding those absent through sickness or other reason for all or part of the week, worked an average of 50·8 hours.

  BR Staff (Maintenance)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British Railways personnel are employed on the maintenance of locomotives and rolling stock.
  7
  Mr. Freeman
  On 26 June 1993, BRB had in its employment 17,146 personnel on the maintenance of locomotives and rolling stock.

  Shipping Companies (State Aid)
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral answer of 28 June,Official Report, column 643, if he will set a target date for the diminution of state aid to shipping companies in all European Community member states; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  It is not in our power to set a target date. This is primarily in the hands of the Commission. But we shall continue to take every opportunity within the Community to press for the early removal of state aids which distort competition among shipowners.

  Search and Rescue
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with the establishment of local coastal search and rescue committees since his announcement of 9 March 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The chief coastguard has now reached agreement with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, on the guidelines for the establishment of what will be called local search and rescue (SAR) committees. It is hoped that a similar agreement will soon be reached with the association for Scotland.

  The committees, jointly chaired by HM coastguard and police, will provide a consultative body to consider co-ordination problems on the shoreline, improved liaison between interested authorities, and to assess the availability, readiness, and effectiveness of rescue resources. Such requirements are already embodied within a memorandum of understanding between HM coastguard and the police.

  As far as practicable the jurisdiction of the committees will align with police force boundaries. Membership will comprise representatives of the emergency services, Royal National Lifeboat Institution—RNLI—Ministry of Defence helicopter bases, county and district council officials, harbour and port authorities, and recognised voluntary rescue services such as the Royal Life Saving Society—RLSS—and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents—RoSPA. Additional members may be co-opted from time to time as necessary.

  Local search and rescue committees will be independent of my Department's district marine safety committees but will liaise as necessary with them on matters of mutual interest and concern.

  A copy of the joint coastguard and police document, "Guidelines for the Establishment of Local Search and Rescue Committees" will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Railways (Disabled Passengers)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to make provisions for disabled passengers in the code of practice to be issued to the new railway operators; and if he will make a statement.
  8
  Mr. Freeman
  We have introduced an amendment to the Railways Bill, currently before the House of Lords, which will place a duty on the regulator to prepare and promote a code of practice for protecting the interests of disabled passengers, and to consult the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee—DPTAC—in preparing or revising the code. This will be a published code of practice available to all new railway operators.

  Pilots
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the maximum age at which a pilot is permitted to fly an aircraft for a commercial flight in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Norris
  Under schedule 8 of the Air Navigation Order 1989, the holder of an airline transport pilot's licence shall not at any time after he attains the age of 60 years, act as pilot in command or co-pilot of any aeroplane for the purpose of public transport, if the aeroplane's maximum total weight authorised exceeds 20,000 kg.

  For aeroplanes below that weight, the licence holder may continue to fly an aircraft after he attains the age of 60 years, up to a maximum of 65 years, if the aeroplane is fitted with dual controls and carries a second pilot who holds an appropriate licence entitling him to act as pilot in command or co-pilot of that aeroplane.

  M27 Aircraft Crash
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the age of the pilot who flew the aircraft which crashed on the M27 motorway on Wednesday 26 May.

  Mr. Norris
  I understand that the pilot is 63 years of age.

  Sheehy Committee
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent he envisages that the recommendations of the Sheehy committee will apply to the British Transport police.

  Mr. Freeman
  As my hon. Friend is aware the terms of reference of the Sheehy inquiry did not extend to non-Home Department forces, but we nevertheless await the Home Secretary's response with interest. In the meantime we will study the report carefully and consider its recommendations in the context of the British transport police. I look forward to a further meeting in due course with my hon. Friend and representatives of the British Transport Police Federation to discuss this matter.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to invite British Rail to bid for all franchises.

  Mr. Freeman
  Under clause 22 of the Railways Bill, British Rail could not be a franchisee; under clause 23(3) the franchising director could not therefore invite it to tender.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Palace of Westminster (Fire Safety)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 24 June,Official Report, column 259, if he will make available the report of Her Majesty's fire service inspectorate following its visits to the Palace of Westminster to monitor progress on the agreed programme of work over the past 10 years; and if he will list the specific points which have required the other visits to which he refers.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The record of visits to monitor progress on the programme of works leading to fire certification is not kept in the form of a report. The other visits have been numerous, usually to provide advice on a variety of fire safety matters such as the enclosure of stairways, fire doors, signs, and the appointment of in-house fire safety specialists. In both cases the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Police Complaints Authority
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were disciplined by the Police Complaints Authority in 1992.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  None. Responsibility for discipline lies with chief officers. The Police Complaints Authority may recommend that disciplinary charges are brought and did so in relation to 56 charges in 1992.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were dealt with by the Police Complaints Authority in 1992.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information on the different categories of cases dealt with by the Police Complaints Authority in 1992 is contained in chapter 10 of its annual report for 1992, available in the Library.

  Prisoner Transfers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what criteria are followed by his Department in approving the transfer of a prison inmate from a closed prison establishment to an open prison establishment; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many prison inmates in prisons in England and Wales requested a transfer to a prison nearer their home during the last six months for which figures are available; and how many such requests were granted.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 4 July 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the criteria for the transfer of prisoners from closed to open prisons, and the number of prisoners who requested transfers to a prison nearer their home during the last six months.
  The principles which apply to the decision whether to downgrade an inmate's security categorisation are set out in
  10
  Circular Instruction 7/1988, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. Account is taken of a number of factors including time left to serve, attitude, positions of trust held and behaviour in any periods of temporary release. Any prisoner who has successfully completed a period of home leave is considered for transfer to an open establishment.
  Requests made by prisoners seeking transfers to establishments nearer their homes are dealt with locally and information is not collected centrally.

  Police Batons
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether officers of the North Wales police force will be equipped with side-handled extendable batons for the purpose of testing their effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 21 June at column 2.

  Housing Estates (Crime)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the delays in enforcing the law concerning criminal behaviour on housing estates.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  As far as I can ascertain, no representations on this subject have been received recently. The deployment of resources to investigate crime is an operational matter and is therefore the responsibility of chief officers of police.

  Police
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many copies of the Sheehy inquiry report will be distributed to branches of(a) the Police Federation and (b) the Police Superintendents Association.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Sheehy inquiry secretariat supplied two copies of the report to the Police Federation and Police Superintendents Associations headquarters. In addition, the Home Office distributed 60 copies to the Police Superintendents Association.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had since 28 April with bodies representing London borough councils concerning his proposals for policing in London as contained in Cm 2281.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend met with the Association of Metropolitan Authorities on 17 June and again on 28 June. Copies of my right hon. and learned Friend's statement of 28 June and that of his predecessor, announcing the Government's intentions, and copies of the White Paper were sent to the local authority associations, including the Association of London Authorities, the London Boroughs Association and the Outer London Districts Metropolitan Police Consultative Association.

  Asylum
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been denied access to the United Kingdom's asylum procedures on third country grounds in the past 12 months and been
  11
  subsequently removed from this country; and how many of these were subsequently returned by the third country to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In 1992, 441 port asylum applicants—excluding dependants—were removed from the United Kingdom following refusal of their application on the ground that they had arrived from a safe third country. Information on cases subsequently returned by the third country is not recorded.

  Pepper Sprays
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to evaluate the use of pepper sprays for police purposes.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We are assessing the information which is available about these products, in relation to their possible use by the police against dogs.

  Central European Time
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has reached a decision with regard to moving the United Kingdom to central European time; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 24 June to a question from the hon. Member for Cannock and Burntwood (Dr. Wright), columns 255–56).

PRIME MINISTER

  No. 10 Downing Street
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister what charges are made for the use of 10 Downing street for charitable or other fund-raising events; and what use is made of the catering and other facilities of 10 Downing street at such events.

  The Prime Minister
  Where charitable or other non-official events are held at No. 10 Downing street, the organisers are responsible for all catering and staff costs, as well as other miscellaneous direct costs. Organisers may use the kitchens or other facilities at No. 10 Downing street.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what are the rules governing the use of No. 10 Downing street for non-official purposes;

  (2) if he will give details of the rules governing the use of 10 Downing street for the purposes of fund raising for political parties.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 June 1993]: Ministers under this and previous administrations have been allowed—at their own or party expense—to host non-official or party receptions or functions in Downing street. All catering, staff and other direct expenses must be met by the organisers of the event. Appropriate arrangements are required for security clearance.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister how many functions to raise money for political parties have been held at No. 10 Downing street since 1980.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 June 1993]: Under this and previous Administrations, a variety of
  12
  functions have been held at No. 10 Downing street where the costs have been met by political parties. The purpose of such functions is not a matter for the Government, but I can confirm that since November 1990, there have been no functions at 10 Downing street at which funds have been raised for political parties, or for which tickets have been sold for the benefit of political parties.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister what charities benefited from functions organised in No. 10 Downing street in each year since 1984.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answers 22 and. 23 June 1993]: Since November 1990, there have been a total of 25 receptions, dinners or other functions at No. 10 Downing street for charities or voluntary bodies. The organizations concerned have been:

  NSPCC

  Surrey County Cricket Club Youth Trust

  Lords Taverners

  MENCAP

  Age Concern

  EUREKA

  Wordsworth Trust

  Huntington's Disease Association

  Action Research

  Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust

  National Council of Hospice and Specialist Palliative

  Care Crossroads Care1

  Animal Health Trust

  ORT

  Youth Clubs (UK) ChildLine

  Silver Trust

  Marie Curie Cancer Care

  Excalibur Scheme Motability

  Westminster Foundation for Democracy

  London Community Cricket Association

  International Spinal Research Trust

  Cambridge Arts Theatre Trust

  1 two functions

  Mr. Asil Nadir
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will give details of the functions attended by Mr. Asil Nadir in No. 10 Downing street since 1984.

  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Prime Minister how many times in the last 10 years Mr. Asil Nadir has attended functions in No. 10 Downing street.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 June 1993]: I understand that Mr. Nadir attended six functions in No. 10 Downing street between 1984 and 1989. These were a dinner and a reception for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; a reception for the Harold MacMillan Trust; a lunch for the President of Turkey; and two lunches for industrialists.

  Vietnam
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise the issues of the extent of religious freedom in Vietnam, and the continued imprisonment of persons in that country for their faith, with the Prime Minister of Vietnam during his forthcoming visit.

  The Prime Minister
  I intend to raise our concerns about human rights in Vietnam with the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Mr. Vo Van Kiet, during his forthcoming visit to the United Kingdom.

  Plaques
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Prime Minister if inscriptions on plaques which are unveiled in the course of visits by foreign Heads of State are viewed in advance by representatives of Her Majesty's Government.

  The Prime Minister
  We would agree in advance any inscriptions on plaques unveiled at official engagements. We would not expect to be consulted about private engagements.

  Republic of Ireland President
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Prime Minister if proposals by the person holding the position of President of the Irish Republic to visit the United Kingdom are communicated to Her Majesty's Government by the office of the President of the Irish Republic.

  The Prime Minister
  Proposals for visits to the United Kingdom by the President of the Irish Republic are communicated to Her Majesty's Government by the Government of the Irish Republic.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Prime Minister what information he receives from the office of the President of the Irish Republic on thanks received in respect of visits by the person holding the position of President of the Irish Republic.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Heads of State
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the private visits to Northern Ireland by foreign Heads of State in each of the last three years.

  The Prime Minister
  The information is as follows:

  16 December 1990—President Robinson

  4 February 1992—President Robinson

  22 May 1992—President Robinson

  6–7 September 1992—President Robinson

  18–19 June 1993—President Robinson

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Prime Minister what criteria are used to distinguish between private and official visits to the United Kingdom by foreign Heads of State.

  The Prime Minister
  Official visits are those undertaken at the invitation of the British Government.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the public engagements which have been fulfilled by Heads of State during private visits to Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

  The Prime Minister
  The information is as follows:16 December 1990
  President Robinson attended the Installation of Archbishop Daly at Armagh and visited the Armagh Observatory.
  4 February 1992
  President Robinson met women's groups at the EOC Offices in Belfast; had lunch with the Law Society; met voluntary groups and cultural traditions groups in the Linenhall library; and attended a reception in Stormont castle.
  22 May 1992
  14
  President Robinson, as part of "Impact 92" in Londonderry, lunched with Church leaders, visited Foyle day care centre, opened "The Craft Village", visited community groups, and attended a civic reception and pageant.
  6–7 September 1992
  President Robinson attended the "Beyond Hate Conference" in Londonderry; opened Belcoo enterprise unit; lunched with Enniskillen Rotary; and met community groups in Enniskillen library.
  18–19 June 1993
  President Robinson visited the Northern, Ireland Voluntary Trust, Down museum, and West Belfast community groups; attended the Solicitors' Association annual dinner; and visited Coalisland enterprise centre and Ballance house, Glenavy.

  All the above visits were private. President Robinson attended each engagement at the invitation of the organisers.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Prime Minister which of the undertakings given by the Federal Yugoslav Government at the London conference on 26 and 27 August 1992 have been fulfilled; what assessment he has made of changes in their policy and actions towards the crisis in the former Yugoslavia; what changes he considers to be still required; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The London conference established principles and a negotiating structure as the basis for a settlement of the problems of the former Yugoslavia and set out specific steps to secure an effective and durable cessation of hostilities. The Yugoslav authorities have failed to co-operate satisfactorily with the efforts of the international community to achieve peace in Bosnia and to resolve the problems of minorities in Croatia and Serbia. The international community is committed to the rigorous enforcement of United Nations sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro until the conditions for their lifting have been met.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Prime Minister when the question of sanctions against the Republic of Croatia was last considered by Her Majesty's Government; and what plans he has to raise this matter again with the international community in the future.

  The Prime Minister
  Policy towards Croatia is regularly reviewed in the light of Croatian Government cooperation with the efforts of the international community both to ensure a peaceful resolution of the problems in the Krajinas and to achieve a lasting and equitable peace in Bosnia. Croatia was put on notice by the 8 June meeting of EC Foreign Ministers that restrictive measures would be initiated against Croatia if the situation so requires.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Prime Minister to what extent the Croatian Government have complied with its obligations, as outlined in the London conference; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The London conference established principles and a negotiating structure as the basis for a settlement of the problems of the former Yugoslavia and set out specific steps to secure an effective and durable cessation of hostilities. The Croatian Government are expected to do more to co-operate with efforts to achieve
  15
  peace in Bosnia. Croatia was put on notice by the 8 June meeting of EC Foreign Ministers that restrictive measures would be initiated against Croatia if the situation so requires.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Prime Minister which of the undertakings made by the Serbian Government at the London conference on 26 and 27 August 1992 have been fulfilled; to what extent there have been changes in their policy and actions towards the crisis in the former Yugoslavia; if he will list the changes still required; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The London conference established principles and a negotiating structure as the basis for a settlement of the problems of the former Yugoslavia and set out specific steps to secure an effective and durable cessation of hostilities. The Belgrade leadership has failed to co-operate satisfactorily with the efforts of the international community to achieve peace in Bosnia and to resolve the problems of minorities in Croatia and Serbia. The international community is committed to the rigorous enforcement of United Nations sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro until the conditions for their lifting have been met.

  Unemployment, Liverpool
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside and the deputation representing the unemployed in Liverpool.

  The Prime Minister
  I met the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside with a number of other people from the area on 16 June. I will be writing to him shortly about points raised at the meeting.

  Mr. Shabir Shan and Mr. Yasin Malik
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 27 May,Official Report, column 663, what further information he has received about the detention in India of Mr. Shabir Shah and Mr. Yasin Malik; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Our high commission in New Delhi is in regular touch with the Indian Ministries concerned, but have received no further information on the cases of Shabir Shah and Yasin Malik since receiving the aide memoire from the Indian Home Ministry which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs forwarded to the hon. Gentleman under cover of his letter of 30 June.

  Table showing the proportion of the potential schools budget (PSB) delegated to schools: 1990–94

  (1) Local education authority (LEA)

  (2) Proportion of potential schools budget included in schools' budget shares

  1993–94

  1992–93

  1991–92

  1990–91

  Percentage

  Percentage

  Rank order number

  Percentage

  Rank order number

  Percentage

  Rank order number

  All LEAs where LMS in operation before April 1992

  1. Hertfordshire

  91·1

  87·1

  16

  86·2

  18

  n/a

  —

  2. Dudley

  90·5

  85·1

  59

  84·5

  54

  84·0

  35

  3. Solihull

  90·1

  85·8

  34

  85·6

  28

  85·3

  18

  4. Leicestershire

  90·0

  85·4

  48

  84·3

  58

  n/a

  —

  5. Wolverhampton

  89·9

  80·9

  97

  81·6

  93

  81·8

  69

  6. Brent

  89·8

  86·9

  20

  83·5

  72

  83·6

  38

  Mr. Gazanfer Ali
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 8 June,Official Report, column 226, what further information he has received about court proceedings in Pakistan relating to Mr. Gazanfer Ali; and if he make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs wrote to the hon. Member for Bradford, West on 24 June with information on the two cases involving murder charges against Mr. Gazanfer Ali. Both cases have been further adjourned.

EDUCATION

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what were the class sizes in January in Lancashire in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The average sizes of single teacher classes in maintained primary and secondary schools in Lancashire local education authority for the years 1983 to 1992 are given in the table.

  Average sizes of classes taught by one teacher in maintained primary and secondary schools in Lancashire Local Education Authority1 1983–92 (Position as at January each year)

  Primary Schools

  Secondary Schools

  1983

  26·4

  20·9

  1984

  25·9

  20·8

  1985

  26·5

  21·1

  1986

  26·9

  20·8

  1987

  27·0

  20·3

  1988

  26·7

  20·2

  1989

  27·2

  20·0

  1990

  27·5

  20·2

  1991

  27·7

  20·7

  1992

  27·76

  20·7

  1Figures for 1990, 1991 and 1992 include self-governing schools.

  Delegated Funding
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will show, for each local education authority and for each year since 1989 for which information is available, the proportion of the potential schools budget delegated to schools, listing local education authorities by rank order of the proportion delegated in the most recent year for which information is available and showing the rank order in each year.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is as follows:
  17

  (1) Local education authority (LEA)

  (2) Proportion of potential schools budget included in schools'
  budget shares

  1993–94

  1992–93

  1991–92

  1990–91

  Percentage

  Percentage

  Rank order number

  Percentage

  Rank order number

  Percentage

  Rank order number

  7. Manchester

  89·1

  87·2

  14

  88·0

  6

  n/a

  —

  8.Leeds

  88·8

  86·8

  22

  86·3

  17

  86·1

  10

  9.Rochdale

  88·7

  88·3

  6

  88·5

  2

  85·7

  13

  10.Cheshire

  88·7

  88·3

  8

  87·4

  12

  84–3

  31

  11.Sefton

  88·4

  88·8

  2

  87·9

  7

  87·4

  4

  12.Cumbria

  88·4

  86·7

  23

  85·4

  34

  82·5

  60

  13.Westminster

  88·4

  85·6

  38

  84·9

  44

  78·0

  87

  14.Berkshire

  8·3

  89·1

  1

  87·7

  8

  87·7

  2

  15.Barking and Dagenham

  88·3

  87·8

  9

  85·2

  37

  87·0

  5

  16.Walsall

  88·1

  85·7

  37

  85·5

  29

  85·7

  14

  17.Oxfordshire

  88·1

  85·9

  32

  84·7

  48

  81·4

  76

  18.Northumberland

  87·9

  87·2

  15

  88·2

  5

  86·5

  8

  19.Lincolnshire

  87·8

  86·3

  26

  85·5

  32

  85·1

  20

  20.Bexley

  87·8

  88·3

  7

  81·3

  94

  81·3

  77

  21.Hounslow

  87·8

  84·8

  64

  83·3

  77

  81·6

  73

  22.Sunderland

  87·7

  88–3

  5

  88·4

  3

  86·9

  6

  23.Suffolk

  87·6

  87·0

  19

  97·6

  10

  85·7

  15

  24.Northamptonshire

  87·6

  87·6

  10

  86·0

  22

  84·7

  24

  24.Croydon

  87·5

  86·8

  21

  81·0

  95

  n/a

  —

  24.Stockport

  87·5

  88·3

  4

  88·7

  1

  n/a

  —

  27.Birmingham

  87·4

  84·3

  83

  83·4

  73

  83·0

  52

  28.Hereford and Worcester

  87·4

  85·5

  44

  84·0

  61

  n/a

  —

  29.Bury

  87·3

  87·1

  17

  85·3

  36

  81·9

  65

  30.Devon

  87·3

  87·3

  12

  87·1

  13

  83·1

  51

  31.Wiltshire

  87·2

  84·4

  77

  83·3

  76

  82·4

  62

  32.Bedfordshire

  87·2

  85·2

  52

  83·3

  75

  84·0

  34

  33.Essex

  87·1

  85·1

  57

  85·1

  41

  84·0

  33

  34.Enfield

  87·0

  86·4

  25

  84·7

  47

  81·5

  75

  35.Bolton

  86·9

  88·5

  3

  88·3

  4

  89·1

  1

  36.West Sussex

  86·8

  87·4

  11

  87·7

  9

  87·5

  3

  37.Ealing

  86·7

  86·1

  29

  82·9

  83

  81·7

  71

  38.Wirral

  86·7

  85·7

  35

  85·7

  27

  n/a

  —

  39.Merton

  86·7

  84·3

  81

  84·9

  45

  79·8

  82

  40.Staffordshire

  86·7

  85·4

  45

  84·8

  46

  84·6

  25

  41.Harrow

  86·6

  82·8

  94

  82·5

  90

  81·5

  74

  42.K nowlsey

  86·6

  84·4

  78

  83·2

  78

  81·9

  66

  43.Dorset

  86·5

  84·2

  85

  85·2

  38

  81·9

  68

  44.Trafford

  86·5

  84·7

  71

  83·9

  65

  84·4

  28

  45.Cleveland

  86·4

  84·4

  76

  83·4

  74

  83·6

  39

  46.Havering

  86·4

  86·1

  30

  85·1

  40

  83·9

  36

  47.Nottinghamshire

  86·3

  85·1

  58

  84·0

  63

  82·7

  55

  48.Redbridge

  86·2

  85·0

  61

  83·1

  81

  82·7

  56

  49.Shropshire

  86·2

  86·3

  27

  86·1

  20

  84·6

  26

  50.Sandwell

  86·1

  85·6

  42

  82·7

  87

  83·2

  49

  51.Bradford

  86·1

  84·7

  68

  86·7

  15

  86·0

  11

  52.Newcastle

  86·1

  84·9

  63

  82·4

  91

  79·8

  83

  53.Warwickshire

  86·1

  87·0

  18

  86·7

  14

  85·2

  19

  54.Coventry

  86·1

  83·0

  93

  82·8

  86

  80·9

  78

  55.South Tyneside

  86·1

  86·0

  31

  85·9

  23

  83·8

  37

  56.Calderdale

  86·1

  85·6

  40

  85·5

  31

  81·9

  67

  57.Salford

  86·0

  84·7

  66

  86·0

  21

  84·4

  29

  58.Barnet

  86·0

  85·2

  54

  83·7

  71

  84·4

  30

  59. Haringey

  86·0

  83·8

  90

  83·8

  69

  79·4

  85

  60. Cumbridgeshire

  86·0

  87·2

  13

  87·5

  11

  80·8

  79

  61. Hampshire

  85·9

  86·6

  24

  86·1

  19

  85·8

  12

  62.Durham

  85·8

  85·3

  49

  82·2

  92

  83·1

  50

  63. Avon

  85·8

  83·6

  91

  82·8

  85

  82·3

  64

  64. Doncaster

  85·8

  84·2

  84

  84·0

  60

  85·5

  17

  65. Waltham Forest

  85·8

  82·1

  95

  80·2

  96

  79·7

  84

  66. East Sussex

  85·7

  85·2

  53

  85·4

  35

  84·1

  32

  67. Sutton

  85·6

  84·7

  70

  85·2

  39

  83·4

  42

  68. Wigan

  85·6

  84·1

  86

  83·0

  82

  83·3

  47·

  69. Bromley

  85·6

  84·7

  72

  84·9

  43

  80·7

  80

  70. Richmond

  85·6

  85·0

  60

  82·6

  89

  80·0

  81

  71. Isles of Scilly

  85·5

  85·1

  56

  83·2

  79

  n/a

  —

  72. Surrey

  85·5

  85·7

  36

  84·6

  49

  85·6

  16

  73. Kent

  85·5

  84·5

  73

  85·8

  26

  84·9

  23·

  74. Barnsley

  85·4

  85·3

  51

  85·9

  25

  83·4

  43·

  74. Somerset

  85·4

  85·6

  39

  85·5

  30

  82·9

  53

  76. Gateshead

  85·4

  83·9

  89

  83·9

  66

  83·3

  46·

  74. Derbyshire

  85·4

  84·5

  75

  84·0

  62

  83·4

  45

  78. Sheffield

  85·3

  84·1

  87

  85·9

  24

  82·6

  59

  79. Oldham

  85·3

  84·3

  82

  83·1

  8·0

  816

  72

  80. Buckinghamshire

  85·3

  85·3

  50

  86·6

  16

  84·9

  22

  18

  19

  (1) Local education authority (LEA)

  (2) Proportion of potential schools budget included in schools'
  budget shares

  1993–94

  1992–93

  1991–92

  1990–91

  Percentage

  Percentage

  Rank order number

  Percentage

  Rank order number

  Percentage

  Rank order number

  81. Cornwall

  85·3

  85·0

  62

  84·0

  64

  83·6

  41

  82.Norfolk

  85·2

  86·2

  28

  84·4

  55

  83·6

  40

  83. Tameside

  85·2

  84·7

  67

  83·8

  68

  84·4

  27

  84. Rotherham

  85·2

  84·7

  69

  85·4

  33

  86·1

  9

  85. St. Helens

  85·2

  85·4

  47

  84·5

  52

  83·3

  48

  86. Kirklees

  85·2

  85·5

  43

  85·0

  42

  83·4

  44

  87. Humberside

  85·1

  85·2

  55

  84·6

  50

  81·7

  70

  88. Hillingdon

  85·1

  84·4

  79

  83·9

  67

  n/a

  —

  89. Wakefield

  85·1

  84·0

  88

  84·3

  57

  82·9

  54

  90. Newham

  85·1

  82·1

  96

  79·5

  97

  n/a

  —

  91. North Tyneside

  85·1

  84·8

  65

  84·6

  51

  82·3

  63

  92. Kingston upon Thames

  85·0

  85·6

  41

  84·4

  56

  78·5

  86

  93. Isle of Wight

  85·0

  85·8

  33

  83·8

  70

  82·5

  61

  94. Liverpool

  85·0

  84·5

  74

  82·9

  84

  84·9

  21

  95. Gloucestershire

  85·0

  83·2

  92

  84·5

  53

  86·8

  7

  96. Lancashire

  85·0

  84·3

  80

  82·7

  88

  82·7

  57

  97. North Yorkshire

  n/a

  85·4

  46

  84·2

  59

  82·6

  58

  Averages

  86·7

  85·6

  84·9

  83·8

  Inner London LEAs where LMS in operation from April 1992

  1. Islington

  92·6

  85·2

  2

  2. Corporation of London

  86·5

  87·0

  1

  3. Greenwich

  86·3

  79·6

  9

  4. Tower Hamlets

  85·9

  77·2

  11

  5. Camden

  85·0

  83·2

  4

  6. Hammersmith and Fulham

  84·6

  81·7

  5

  7. Lewisham

  83·8

  81·1

  6

  8. Lambeth

  83·6

  79·7

  8

  9. Southwark

  83·3

  79·1

  10

  10. Kensington and Chelsea

  81·7

  76·1

  12

  11. Wandsworth

  80·8

  84·2

  3

  12. Hackney

  n/a

  79·8

  7

  Averages

  85·0

  80·6

  National averages

  86·6

  85·3

  84·9

  83·8

  Notes

  1. All 109 local education authorities (LEAs) in England have local management schemes in operation and are required to publish budget statements showing planned expenditure, under section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988. The figures above are derived from those statements. The LEAs are ranked according to the percentage of funds included in schools' budget shares in 1993–94, with those including most at the top of the list. All percentages are rounded to one decimal place; where more than one LEA is shown as having the same percentage, the rank order takes account of the unrounded percentage. In the case of the inner London LEAs (other than Westminster), the introduction of statutory local management schemes was deferred until April 1992; the 12 LEAs concerned are listed separately.

  2. The potential schools budget (PSB) in each LEA consists of the general schools budget (GSB)—ie all planned spending on schools—less planned spending on certain excepted or centrally held items: capital expenditure; expenditure supported by central government and EC grants; and expenditure on home to school transport, school meals, cleaning and grounds maintenance, and other transitional exceptions. With effect from April 1993 (April 1995 in the case of the 12 inner London LEAs shown separately), the total of schools' budget shares must account for at least 85 per cent. of each LEA's PSB. Where figures for 1993–94 are said to be not available (n/a), the LEA's budget statement had not been received in the Department by the end of June 1993; in relation to 1990–91, n/a indicates that no statutory local management scheme was yet in operation for the LEA concerned. Percentages and ranking order numbers are given for previous years.

  NB The percentages shown above may differ from those calculated by individual LEAs because of the effects of rounding.

  Education Assets Board
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many recommendations from the Education Assets Board are awaiting a decision by his Department; and if he will list them and the time they have been with his Department.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  There are 14 cases awaiting final determination by my right hon. Friend. These are:

  Institution

  Date received

  Grant Maintained Schools

  Dartford Grammar School for Girls, Kent

  December 1992

  Epsom and Ewell High School, Surrey

  March 1993

  Great Barr School, Birmingham

  August 1992

  Kingsley Park School, Northamptonshire

  September 1992

  20

  Institution

  Date received

  Pate's Grammar School, Gloucestershire

  November 1991

  Reading School, Berkshire

  April 1993

  Stratford School, London

  May 1992

  Thamesview School, Kent

  March 1993

  Wilsons School, Sutton

  June 1993

  Wymondham College, Norfolk

  December 1992

  Higher Education Institutions

  Falmouth College of Art and Design

  September 1991

  University of Greenwich

  September 1991

  University of West of England; Bath College of HE

  November 1991

  Further Education Institutions

  Somerset College of Arts and Technology

  June 1993

  Disabled Students
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the number of disabled people, in(a) full-time and (b) part-time education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  There were 11,000 full-time and 32,000 part-time students with learning difficulties and disabilities in further education colleges in England in 1991–92. Approximately 165,000 children had statements of special education needs maintained by local education authorities in England in 1991–92. Numbers of people with disabilities and learning difficulties in other sectors of education are not collected centrally.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to allow part-time disabled students to claim disabled students' allowance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  Disabled students' allowances are payable as part of a mandatory award. The Education Act 1962 restricts mandatory awards to designated full-time courses, and to certain part-time initial teacher training courses. Local education authorities can make discretionary awards for other part-time courses, including such allowances as they think fit.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will update the table given in his answer of 6 November 1992,Official Report, column 513, giving the number of copies distributed and the cost in each case of the booklets (a) "School Governors, How to Become a Grant-maintained School", (b) "Grant-maintained Schools—Questions Parents Ask", (c) "Grant-maintained Schools—What it Means for Stafl'', (d) "Grant-maintained Schools—Questions Staff Ask", (e) "Grant-maintained Schools—Experiences During the First Year" and (f) "Education into the Next Century".

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The total numbers of booklets which have been printed to fulfil expected demand and the current costs of producing each booklet are as follows:

  Total printed

  Current cost per booklet

  £

  (a) 300,000 since April 1992

  0·23

  (b) 1,635,005 since March 1990

  0·08

  (c) 193,000 November 1990—September 1992

  20·09

  (d) 225,000 since September 1992

  0·07

  (e) 470,000 since June 1991

  0·09

  (f) 2,750,000 since August 1992

  10·0592

  1 Estimate

  2 Booklet is no longer produced; it has been superseded by (d). This was the cost when it was last produced.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list, for each local education authority, the date when his Department received a local management of schools budget statement made under section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988 for the purpose of calculating grant-maintained schools' budgets for the financial year 1993–94, the date when an 22
  acknowledgement was sent, if that budget statement formed a satisfactory basis for the calculation of annual maintenance grant for the grant-maintained schools in the authority's area, and the date by which he expects that his Department will have informed (a) 30 per cent., (b) 40 per cent., (c) 50 per cent., (d) 60 per cent., (e) 70 per cent., (f) 80 per cent., (g) 90 per cent. and (h) 100 per cent. of grant-maintained schools of their final annual maintenance grant budget figure.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table shows the date the section 42 statement was received from LEAs with grant-maintained schools within their area and the date receipt was acknowledged by the LMS unit of the Department. LEAs were advised in February that provided they submitted complete and final budget details by 31 March such data would be used to calculate annual maintenance grant. Information from the following LEAs did not meet the required standard:

  Bromley

  Hounslow

  Humberside

  Liverpool

  Newham

  Oxfordshire

  Somerset

  Tameside

  Warwickshire

  Certain points on Leicestershire's budget statement remain to be clarified before a decision can be taken on whether it provides a satisfactory basis on which to determine annual maintenance grant.

  By 30 June 61 per cent. of grants had been finalised. I expect 70 per cent. to have been finalised by 23 July; 80 per cent. by 31 July; 95 per cent. by the end of August; and the remainder in September, although it is possible that one or two exceptional cases might take a little longer.

  Local Education Authority

  Date Section 42 Budget Statement Received

  Date Receipt Acknowledged

  Avon

  31 March 1993

  7 April 1993

  Barnet

  29 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Bedfordshire

  31 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Berkshire

  *31 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Bexley

  30 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Birmingham

  25 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Bolton

  12 March 1993

  29 March 1993

  Bradford

  31 March 1993

  14 April 1993

  Brent

  10 March 1993

  29 March 1993

  Bromley

  *31 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Buckinghamshire

  26 March 1993

  19 April 1993

  Calderdale

  29 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Cambridgeshire

  1 March 1993

  29 March 1993

  Cheshire

  29 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Croydon

  *31 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Cumbria

  30 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Derbyshire

  26 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Devon

  31 March 1993

  19 April 1993

  Dorset

  29 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Dudley

  *24 March 1993

  29 March 1993

  Ealing

  25 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Essex

  31 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Gloucestershire

  31 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  31 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Hampshire

  31 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Havering

  *29 March 1993

  18 May 1993

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  30 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Hertfordshire

  *31 March 1993

  5 April 1993

  Hillingdon

  31 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Hounslow

  1 April 1993

  7 May 1993

  Humberside

  *30 April 1993

  11 May 1993

  Kensington and Chelsea

  *30 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Kent

  *31 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  23

  Local Education Authority

  Date Section 42 Budget Statement Received

  Date Receipt Acknowledged

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  *29 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Kirklees

  31 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Lambeth

  *31 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Lancashire

  26 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Leicestershire

  *29 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Lewisham

  31 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Lincolnshire

  26 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Liverpool

  27 May 1993

  28 May 1993

  Newham

  5 April 1993

  7 May 1993

  Norfolk

  31 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Northamptonshire

  31 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Nottinghamshire

  25 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Oxfordshire

  5 April 1993

  14 April 1993

  Rochdale

  30 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Sandwell

  29 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Sheffield

  29 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Shropshire

  24 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Solihull

  30 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Somerset

  *13 April 1993

  30 April 1993

  Southwark

  31 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Staffordshire

  29 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Surrey

  31 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Sutton

  30 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Tameside

  14 May 1993

  17 May 1993

  Tower Hamlets

  31 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Trafford

  29 March 1993

  30 March 1993

  Walsall

  29 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  Waltham Forest

  29 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Wandsworth

  *31 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Warwickshire

  7 April 1993

  15 April 1993

  Wiltshire

  29 March 1993

  7 May 1993

  Wirral

  *31 March 1993

  14 May 1993

  Wolverhampton

  29 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  * The date of receipt given in each case is the date when a budget statement was first received. Where these dates are marked with an asterisk, revised statements or parts of statements have been received subsequently.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Know-how Funds
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the most recent analysis of the Government's know-how funds.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  A review of the know-how fund covering activities in 1992–3 is being prepared and will be published later in the year. A copy will be placed in the Library in due course.

  PHARE Funds
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries are currently eligible for PHARE funds.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Countries currently eligible are Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia also receives assistance from the PHARE programme.

  Technical Assistance Funds
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what have been the priority areas of technical assistance under the PHARE and TACIS funds; and what proposals there are to change these.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  PHARE priorities and programmes are described in an EC publication summarising PHARE activities in 1992 already placed in the Library. Member states agreed revised guidelines in December 1992 for the period 1993–97; a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. A revised TACIS regulation for 1993 and beyond was agreed in March, subject to the views of the European Parliament which are still awaited. The full texts are available in the Library, but in summary they cover:

  PHARE:

  Restructuring and privatisation of state enterprise in industry and agriculture

  Support for the private sector

  Modernisation of the financial system

  Development of a social safety net

  Nuclear safety

  Regional co-operation

  TACIS

  Human Resources Development

  Enterprise restructuring and development

  Infrastructure

  Energy, including nuclear safety

  Food production, processing and distribution

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the EC about improvements in the administration of the PHARE and TACIS funds.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for Overseas Development have discussed the question of improvements with Sir Leon Brittan. We welcome the programme of improvements which Sir Leon announced on 9 June, and I have placed a copy of his speech in the Library.

  Aid and Trade Provision
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer on aid and trade provision to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) of 17 June,Official Report, column 679, which creditworthy low-income countries will now qualify and which countries which have benefited during the last five years will be disqualified.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Creditworthy low-income countries which are currently eligible for aid and trade provision support are China, Indonesia, India, Ghana, Lesotho, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

  Countries which have benefited over the last five years from the ATP but which are not included in those listed above are Botswana, Colombia, Egypt, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Swaziland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey and Yemen.

  Commonwealth Development Corporation
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what authorisation has been given to the Commonwealth Development Corporation to operate in additional countries.
  25
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Following a request from the corporation, approval has been given for the CDC to operate in Vietnam. It expects to give priority to promoting private sector development.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Colombia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what human rights issues he plans to raise with President Gaviria of Colombia when he visits Britain in July.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will raise with him the concern felt in this country about human rights in Colombia and the overall level of violence there.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department gives to the Colombian security services.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Since Colombia's appeal in 1989 for help in combatting drugs, the Department has provided assistance worth £9·1 million, with a further £0·3 million planned for this financial year. This has covered non-lethal equipment technical expertise and training to the Colombian law enforcement authorities. Areas of assistance have included bomb search and disposal, protection of VIPs, communications and riverine patrolling.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of legislation introduced to deal with drugs and terrorism in Colombia on human rights and freedom of expression.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Such legislation is necessary to defend the democratic rights and freedoms of Colombian citizens and should be impartially implemented and enforced.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to deny entry visas to Colombian military officers suspected of serious human rights violations.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Colombian citizens do not need visas to enter the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of activities by the Colombian security servies on human rights.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We remain concerned by reports of human rights abuses in Colombia. We have urged the Colombian Government to bring to justice those responsible. We support the Colombian Government's efforts to promote greater understanding of, and respect for human rights, within the security forces, whose efforts to combat drug trafficking and terrorism make a major contribution to the protection of the human rights of the majority of Colombians.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures the 26
  British Government will be taking to ensure that British investment in Colombia does not contribute to environmental damage and social unrest in Colombia.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  British investors are required to observe the relevant Colombian legislation relating to environmental protection. Investment in Colombia should encourage economic and social development.

  Conventional Arms Transfer Register
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about returns, in addition to that by the United Kingdom, to the United Nations conventional arms transfer register; if he will place a copy of such information in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  To date, we understand that 62 countries have submitted data to the United Nations register of conventional arms. The United Nations Secretary General will report to the United Nations General Assembly in the autumn on the returns received. A copy of this report will be placed in the Library of the House in due course.

  Bosnia
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the dates of interception of the violations of the United Nations no-fly zones in Bosnia since October 1992.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  NATO enforcement of the no-fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina began on 12 April. Between then and 23 June—the latest date for which United Nations reports are available—NATO fighters intercepted 28 violators in total, on the following dates —one violator on each date unless otherwise indicated:

  13 April

  30 April (2)

  13 May (2)

  18 May

  25 May (2)

  26 May (2)

  30 May

  7 June (2)

  8 June (2)

  13 June (2)

  14 June

  15 June (2)

  16 June

  17 June

  21 June

  22 June (3)

  23 June

  Diplomatic Service (School Fees)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the cost to public funds of school fees for children of persons working in the diplomatic service in each year for the last 10 years.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The cost to public funds of boarding school fees in the United Kingdom, and day school fees at posts overseas, for children of diplomatic service officers in each year since 1983–84 has been:

  £ million

  1983–84

  6·94

  1984–85

  7·46

  1985–86

  7·63

  27

  £ million

  1986–87

  8·11

  1987–88

  8·53

  1988–89

  8·61

  1989–90

  8·69

  1990–91

  9·19

  1991–92

  9·45

  1992–93

  9·82

  Nigeria
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent election in Nigeria.

  Presidential election: 12 June 1993

  State number

  State name

  NRC votes cast

  Per cent.

  SDP votes cast

  Per cent.

  Voter turn-out Per cent.

  1

  Abia1

  151,227

  59

  105,273

  41

  26

  2

  Adamawa

  178,865

  53

  155,625

  47

  35

  3

  Akwa-Ibom1

  199,342

  48

  214,787

  52

  40

  4

  Anambra1

  159,258

  43

  212,024

  57

  29

  5

  Bauchi

  513,077

  61

  334,197

  39

  40

  6

  Benue

  186,302

  43

  216,830

  57

  33

  7

  Borno1

  128,684

  46

  153,496

  54

  23

  8

  Cross River

  153,452

  48

  189,303

  52

  39

  9

  Delta

  145,001

  31

  327,277

  69

  41

  10

  Edo1

  103,572

  33·5

  205,470

  66·5

  34

  11

  Enugu

  233,281

  55

  193,969

  45

  33

  12

  Imo

  193,202

  55

  156,700

  45

  31

  13

  Jigawa

  89,836

  39

  138,552

  61

  19

  14

  Kaduna1

  336,860

  46

  389,713

  54

  45

  15

  Kano1

  154,809

  48

  169,619

  52

  12·5

  16

  Katsina

  271,000

  61

  171,169

  39

  26

  17

  Kebbi

  209,872

  73

  77,102

  27

  35

  18

  Kogi1

  256,732

  54

  222,760

  46

  49

  19

  Kwara1

  80,209

  23

  272,270

  77

  53

  20

  Lagos1

  149,432

  14·5

  883,965

  85·5

  43

  21

  Niger1

  221,437

  62

  136,350

  38

  36

  22

  Ogun1

  59,246

  12

  425,725

  88

  52

  23

  Ondo

  160,994

  17

  802,024

  83

  55

  24

  Osun

  72,068

  16·5

  365,266

  83·5

  41

  25

  Oyo1

  105,788

  16·5

  536,011

  83·5

  40

  26

  Plateau1

  259,394

  38

  417,565

  62

  45

  27

  Rivers

  646,952

  63

  379,872

  37

  54

  28

  Sokoto

  372,260

  79

  97,726

  21

  29

  292

  Taraba

  89,836

  39

  138,557

  60

  30

  Yobe

  65,133

  37

  110,921

  63

  26

  31

  Abuja, Fct1

  18,313

  48

  19,968

  52

  25

  1 Published by the Nigerian National Electoral Commission.

  2 Provisional.

  Other results were collated and agreed by the National Electoral Commission and political parties but not officially released before the elections were annulled by military decree on 23 June.

  South Africa
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the South African Government following the recent outbreaks of right-wing extremism; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  On 26 June the European Community and its member states issued a statement condemning the attack on 25 June on the world trade centre in Johannesburg.
  28
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 1 July at column 589, to my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter).

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the information held by his Department(a) on the results in each state of the Nigerian presidential election on 12 June 1992 and (b) on the turnout figures.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The results and turnout figures for each state of the Nigerian presidential election held on 12 June 1993 have been published in Nigeria and are as follows:

  The South African Government are well aware of our total support for the negotiation process, and of our view that it represents the only possibility of achieving a peaceful transition to democracy. We have frequently expressed our total condemnation of violence, and our conviction that those who use violence in an attempt to derail the negotiation process must not be allowed to succeed.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Market Testing
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much the market-testing programme has cost his Department since November 1992.
  29
  Mr. Waldegrave
  The cost of market testing the Office of Public Service and Science, including its agencies, HMSO and COI, since November 1992 has been around £589,000. As a result of market-testing activities during this period, savings of £1,769,000 have been made.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Market Testing
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritae how much the market-testing programme has cost his Department since November 1992.

  Mr. Sproat
  The Department of National Heritage has spent £80,690 on its own market-testing programme since 1 November 1992. The Historic Royal Palaces agency and the Royal Parks have spent £9,000 and £37,200 respectively on their market-testing programmes since November 1992.

  BBC
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what replies he has received to the Government's consultation document about the future of the BBC.

  (a) Net estate over £1 million

  (b) Net estate over £2 million

  Year of death

  Number of estates applying for grants of representation

  Number of estates not taxed

  Number of estates applying for grants of representation

  Number of estates not taxed

  1988–89

  573

  156

  153

  46

  1989–90

  859

  245

  231

  63

  Scotch Whisky
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the yield to the Treasury from excise duty on Scotch whisky for 1992–93 in cash terms, and as a percentage of total excise duty revenue; and what is the estimate of the corresponding figures for 1993–94.

  Sir John Cope
  Estimated figures are as follows:

  Year

  Percentage of total excise duty

  Excise duty on home-produced whisky £ million

  1992–93

  2·7

  690

  1993–94

  2·5

  700

  Business Exapansion Scheme
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total cost to the Exchequer of the business expansion scheme tax relief on(a) all loan-linked investments where shares were issued before 16 March 1993 and (b) those loan-linked investments where shares were issued after 31 December 1992 and before 16 March 1993.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 25 June 1993]: It is not yet possible to provide a reliable estimate of the amount of money raised through loan-linked business expansion scheme investments. A tentative estimate is that
  30
  Mr. Brooke
  By 31 May, we received more than 6,200 replies from members of the public and 300 responses from organisations. I have placed in the Library a copy of a report by Research International Advertising Media, analysing the replies from the public, and a list of the organisations which responded.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Taxation
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of how many estates notified for probate, valued at(a) over £1 million and (b) over £2 million, no tax was paid in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Estimates for the numbers of estates applying for grants of representation and estates paying no inheritance tax where death occurred in the financial years 1988–89 and 1989–90 are given in the table. Figures for more recent years are not yet available.

  approximately £650 million was raised, almost all of which was invested in newly built and second-hand residential property. Tax relief on this sum is estimated to amount to £250 million. Over £500 million was raised between 31 December 1992 and 16 March 1993; tax relief on that sum would be approximately £200 million.

  Scrip Dividends
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide an estimate of the revenue which would have been raised by the Exchequer in 1992–93 if scrip dividends had been liable to advanced corporation tax at the same rate as dividends paid in cash.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 1 July 1993]: The Exchequer effects are very difficult to estimate. They would depend on the decisions taken by companies about what sort of dividends to pay. The main effect would have probably been a small cash flow benefit to the Exchequer from higher advance corporation tax largely offset by a reduction in subsequent mainstream tax payments.

WALES

  Market Testing
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much the market-testing programme has cost his Department since November 1992.

  Mr. Redwood
  The estimated cost of the Welsh Office market-testing programme, since November 1992, is
  31
  £335,000. It has, of course, produced savings and improvements, which are expected to be substantial when the programme is complete.

  Radiography
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many full-time radiographers there are currently practising in Wales; how many there were in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information available centrally relates to staff directly employed by the national health service and is not reliable for years prior to 1984.

  Full-time radiographers (numbers) in post as at 30 September

  Number

  1984

  469

  1985

  486

  1986

  490

  1987

  523

  1988

  520

  1989

  543

  1990

  545

  1991

  567

  1992

  570

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to make available a national health service bursary for training in radiography in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Bursaries are available for pre-registration radiography training. Post-registration and post-graduate training is a matter for the employers.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to increase the funding for graduate and post-diploma training in radiography; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply of 29 June to the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) at column 479.

  IACS Forms
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many complaints he has received from Welsh farmers about the integrated administration and control systems forms; what structure has been set up to deal with these complaints; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have received several complaints which have been answered at an appropriate level within the normal departmental structure. I shall be keeping future requirements for form filling under close review.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  THORP
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which nuclear power stations were designed to use reprocessed fuel; and in which power stations the reprocessed fuel from the thermal oxide reprocessing plant is to be used.

  Mr. Eggar
  No special design features are required in most water-moderated nuclear reactors to enable them to 32
  use reprocessed nuclear materials in their fuel. The use of reprocessing products arising in the thermal oxide reprocessing plant is a matter for the customers of British Nuclear Fuels plc.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what radioactive materials or radio-isotopes are already on site, or have been delivered for use at the thermal oxide reprocessing plant for commissioning or other purposes, excluding consignments or irradiated fuel, within the last three months, or are expected to be delivered before 31 July;

  (2) if any of the completed or outstanding commissioning work to be undertaken at the thermal oxide reprocessing plant has resulted in any radioactive contamination of the plant;

  (3) what has been the cost of all commissioning of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant undertaken and completed to date; and if he will specify those areas and items of plant completed so far.

  (4) what is the approximate cost and timescale for each element of outstanding commissioning work on the thermal oxide reprocessing plant; and what areas or items of plant have yet to be completed.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is an operational matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consignments of radioactive materials or radio-isotopes have been or are to be transferred within the Sellafield site for the thermal oxide reprocessing plant centre.

  Mr. Eggar
  The majority of the irradiated fuel to be reprocessed during the first 10 years' operation of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant has already been delivered to storage ponds on the Sellafield site, including the receipt and storage facility attached to the THORP plant.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the initial estimates for the cost of constructing and maintaining the THORP at Sellafield and the actual cost of construction and maintenance.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 22 June 1993]: For the costs of constructing the thermal oxide reprocessing plant, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 17 December 1992 at columns 468–69. The plant's maintenance costs are an operational matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc.

  Post Office (Pension Payments)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the public sector occupational pensions that formerly had facilities for payment through Post Office Counters Ltd. which have been withdrawn in the last 18 months.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Those public sector occupational pensions administered by the Paymaster General's Office —that is, the national health service, England and Wales; national health service, Scotland and the principal civil service pension scheme—had this facility withdrawn on 1 April 1993. Fifty-nine thousand pensioners were affected.

  However, special arrangements were made to open a Girobank account for those pensioners who wished to continued to draw their pension at a post office.

  Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for loans under the loan guarantee scheme have been made since the Budget; how many have been successful; and what were the figures in the same period in 1992.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The number of applications made under the loan guarantee scheme between the Budget and 25 June 1993, the number of successful applications and the corresponding figures for the same period in 1992 are as follows:

  1992

  1993

  Applications Received

  738

  644

  Loans Guaranteed

  738

  637

  Applications under consideration

  0

  6

  The changes in the Chancellor's Budget statement which came into effect on 1 July include a measure that allow small firms which have been established for two years or more to obtain loans up to a maximum of £250,000 with a guarantee of 85 per cent.

  Cable Television
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to be able to award a licence for cable television services in the Worcester area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I was pleased to be able to grant a Telecommunications Act licence on 28 June 1993 to Comment Cablevision Worcester Ltd. to install and run a broadband cable service in the Worcester, Redditch and Droitwich area. I look forward to the licensee offering the residents of Worcester and surrounding areas a wide range of TV and other telecommunications services.

  Steel
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy concerning the dumping of steel in the United Kingdom by east European producers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Action against dumping is a matter for the European Commission, which is ready to investigate any evidence which the steel industry may put to it. As regards other trade measures, the Community has already agreed for 1993 some import restrictions in the form of quotas or tariff quotas on certain steel products from the Commonwealth of Independent States, Georgia, Bulgaria and the Czech and Slovak Republics.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has as to overcapacity among east European steel producers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  According to figures produced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, East European production of crude steel in 1992 amounted to 29·4 million tonnes, compared to capacity of 48·9 million tonnes, equivalent to an excess in capacity of almost 70 per cent. over production.

  Postal Services
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about the quality of the postal services.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department regularly receives representations about a range of postal issues, including quality of service. Royal Mail continues to make significant improvements in this area. Nationally, in 1992–93, 91·9 per cent. of first-class mail was delivered the next working day and 98.4 per cent. of second-class mail was delivered within three days.

  Video Copyright
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures the Government are taking to stop the infringement of copyright by illegal video duplication.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Copyright owners have considerable powers under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to take appropriate legal action themselves against those infringing their intellectual property rights. In addition, this legislation provides for significant criminal penalties for those who make or trade in unauthorised copies of audiovisual works, demonstrating the importance that the Government attach to combatting this illegal activity. The Patent Office's promotional literature and associated audiovisual aids continue to play a major role in increasing the general awareness of the rights existing in these works.

  Research and Development
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what details he has of investment in research and development and innovation by industry in the west midlands region based in north Staffordshire.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The details requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set targets for Government investment in research and development for industry in the west midlands region based in Stoke on Trent.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It would not be appropriate for the Government to set such targets: it is industry's responsibility to innovate. Moreover, since DTI schemes usually involve matching funding, targets would require assumptions to be made about the proportionate contribution local industry would be willing to provide.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a full copy of the Energy Minister's speech on nuclear power to a London conference on 29 June.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have placed in the Library of the House copies of the press notice issued following my speech to the British nuclear industry forum on 29 June.

  Public Houses
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the European Commission last reviewed the block exemption of tied public houses.
  35
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  In June 1990 the European Commission announced the results of a review it had undertaken of competition in the European Community beer market. This concluded, inter alia, that no change should be made to the block exemption which expires in 1997.

  Beer
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his oral answer of 23 June,Official Report, column 294, what percentage of beer was sold through (a) tied public houses and (b) untied public houses in each year since 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The available information is as follows:

  Beer sales since the Beer Orders (per cent. by channel)

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1November 1992

  On-trade:

  —tied

  44

  42

  36

  29

  —free

  37

  38

  43

  49

  Off-trade

  19

  20

  21

  22

  TOTAL

  100

  100

  100

  100

  Source: MMC report on Allied-Lyons plc and Carlsberg A/S, July 1992.

  1 Estimated.

  Brewery Industry
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what part the Office of Fair Trading has played in his investigations into issues raised with him about Inntrepreneur leases in the brewery industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  In considering whether any competition issues have been raised in the representations made to my Department about Inntrepreneur leases and related matters, my officials have worked closely with the Office of Fair Trading.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many representations he has received from lessees of Inntrepreneur Estates complaining of the conditions of its tenancies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Since the beginning of the calendar year, my Department has received over 100 letters from, or on behalf of, Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd. lessees.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with Sir Alan Sheppard, chairman of Grand Metropolitan plc, about Inntrepreneur leases in the brewery industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has had no discussions with Sir Allen Sheppard, chairman of Grand Metropolitan plc, about Inntrepreneur leases. Officials have met recently with Mr. R. G. Williams, chairman and managing director of Grand Metropolitan Estates Ltd., which administers the property portfolio of Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd., to discuss a number of specific issues relating to Inntrepreneur leases.
  36
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his oral answer of 23 June,Official Report, columns 293–94, what significant improvement has been achieved for the tenants of Inntrepreneur Estates as a result of his intervention; and what course of action he has urged upon such brewery companies.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  As I made clear in my answer to the hon. Member on 7 June at columns 161–62, the negotiation of individual leases is a commercial matter for determination between landlords and tenants. Nevertheless, in 1991 Ministers did secure certain assurances from the national brewers about treatment of tenants when introducing changes to leasing arrangements. I believe that these assurances have had some effect in helping to smooth what has been a difficult period of transition for brewers and tenants. I am, for instance, aware that a number of tenants nearing retirement have been offered more flexible lease arrangements. It would be wrong, however, to have expected these assurances to resolve all commercial differences between a brewer and its tenant.

  British Nuclear Fuels
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria are used by his Department to assess the corporate plans produced by BNFL.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 22 June 1993]: When assessing the corporate plans of BNFL, my Department applies commercial criteria in line with current Government policy.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when his Department last received a copy of the forward corporate plan produced by BNFL.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 22 June 1993]: DTI receives copies of all British Nuclear Fuels plc corporate plans following their approval by the board of the company.

  Furniture (Safety)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress was made at the European Council on 14 June concerning the conclusion of the draft directive on the fire behaviour of upholstered furniture.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 30 June 1993]: On 14 June 1993 the Commission stated that the proposed directive on the fire behaviour of upholstered furniture had not been included in the 1993 legislative programme because of the difficulty in preparing adequate standards, particularly with regard to the safety of fire retardent treatments. Subsequent to this, at the Copenhagen European Council the Commission produced a list of items, in the context of discussions of subsidiarity, for which no legislation is now planned. The safety—flammability—of foam-filled furniture is included in this list.

  Textile and Clothing
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make a statement outlining progress which has been made in his negotiations with the United States of America on tariff peaks in the textile and clothing sector;
  37
  (2) what recent representations he has received from (a) the Apparel, Knitting and Textiles Alliance, and (b) others, about the need for an agreement to reduce United States tariff peaks on textiles and clothing as a prelude to wider multilateral negotiations with all other GATT signatories on wider tariff harmonisation, consolidation and removal;

  (3) if he will state his policy on the level of the United States of America's tariff peaks on textiles and clothing.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 2 July 1993]: I have recently received correspondence from the Apparel, Knitting and Textiles Alliance about the need to reduce United States tariff peaks on textiles and clothing as a prelude to wider multilateral negotiations with all other GATT signatories on wider tariff harmonisation, consolidation and removal. It is the European Commission which negotiates on behalf of the European Community on tariffs. It remains United Kingdom and EC policy to obtain substantial reductions in peak United States textile and clothing tariffs in the course of the GATT Uruguay round market access negotiations. The EC is currently negotiating with the United States on the elements of a market access agreement which would include a substantial reduction in US textile and clothing tariff rates.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Mental Health Act 1983
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have been detained under section 2 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Ancram
  The Mental Health Act 1983 does not apply in Northern Ireland. The equivalent legislation is the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 of which article 4 applies to admissions to hospital for assessment. The number of admissions from 1986 are as follows:

  Year

  Number of admissions

  1986

  691

  1987

  539

  1988–89

  788

  1989–90

  771

  1990–91

  566

  1991–92

  642

  1992–93

  635

  The numbers are of admissions, not persons, as a person could be admitted more than once during the year. Data for 1988–89 onwards are on a financial year basis.

  Leadhill Primary School
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new admissions of pupils there have been to Leadhill primary school in each of the past five years; how many new admissions are expected in September; how many classrooms were lost in June 1982 as a result of vandalism; when it is planned to replace those classrooms; and at which primary schools in the borough of Castlereagh there will be capital expenditure for the provision of new classrooms during the next three years.
  38
  Mr. Ancram
  Admissions to Leadhill primary school in each of the last five years and expected admissions in September 1993 are as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1988

  23

  1989

  25

  1990

  26

  1991

  25

  1992

  33

  1993

  32

  Four classrooms at Leadhill primary school were demolished following an arson attack in June 1983. They were replaced by three temporary classrooms.

  There are no plans at present for major capital expenditure for the provision of new classrooms at primary schools in the borough of Castlereagh, but the South Eastern education and library board regularly reviews the need for capital development at controlled schools in its area.

  Abortion
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the terms of the inquiry currently being undertaken by the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights on abortion law in Northern Ireland; and what steps were taken by the commission to alert right hon. and hon. Members representing constituencies in Northern Ireland prior to announcing the inquiry.

  Mr. Ancram
  The Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights is not undertaking an inquiry. It has published a paper on abortion law in Northern Ireland, inviting a wide range of bodies and individuals to respond on ways in which the law could be clarified. Northern Ireland Members of Parliament have been invited to contribute their views.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from right hon. and hon. Members representing Northern Ireland constituencies on whether the Abortion Act 1967 should be extended to Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  None.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement providing details of representations which he has received on the proportion of(a) people of Northern Ireland, or (b) the medical profession in the Province would support the extension of the Abortion Act 1967 to Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  In the past 12 months, five representations have been received indicating that a majority of people in the Province would support the extension of the Abortion Act 1967 to Northern Ireland. Twenty-one representations have been received indicating that a majority of people would be opposed to such an extension and one that a majority of the medical profession would likewise be opposed.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those churches or religious organisations from Northern Ireland which have expressed to him a view that the Abortion Act 1967 should be extended to Northern Ireland.
  39
  Mr. Ancram
  No churches or religious organisations have expressed such a view.

  Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by what authority the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights is established; who are its current members; who is its chairman; upon what basis and for what terms he appoints individuals to the commission; what is the annual cost of the commission; and if he will make it his policy to bring forward proposals for its abolition.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The commission is constituted in accordance with section 20 of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973. Members are selected on the basis of their legal or other relevant experience. They are appointed for a period of two years and their appointments may be renewed. The commission's membership on 1 July 1993 is as follows:Chairman..

  Mr. Charles Hill, QC

  Members:

  Mrs. J. Harbison, CBE

  Mrs. M. Clark-Glass, CBE

  Mr. R. T. Mullan

  Mr. F. A. Mackie, OBE

  Mr. A. L. Sherrard

  Mr. D. Nesbitt

  Mrs. J. Corr

  Professor S. F. Lee

  Mrs. J. Smyth

  Ms G. Keegan

  Ex-Officio Members1:

  Mr. R. G. Cooper, CBE

  Mrs. J. Mclvor, QSM

  1 The 1973 Act stipulates that the commission's membership must include ex-officio the chairman of the Fair Employment Agency, and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints and the Northern Ireland Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. Mr. Cooper is chairman of the FEA and Mrs. Mclvor holds both commissioner posts.

  The annual cost of the commission for the period April 1992 to March 1993 was £240,200 (provisional figure).

  I greatly value the independent advice of the Standing Advisory Commission of Human Rights and the Government have no plans to bring forward proposals for its abolition.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits Uprating
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was spent on uprating benefits in April.

  Mr. Lilley
  The uprating of all the main benefits in April this year by 3·6 per cent. cost an additional £2·5 billion.

  Invalidity and Sickness Benefits
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the adult male population receives(a) invalidity benefit and (b) sickness benefit.
  40
  Mr. Scott
  In March 1991, the latest date for which these figures are available, about 4·5 per cent. of the adult male population received invalidity benefit, and about 0·4 per cent. received sickness benefit.

  Available information is in the table.

  Males in receipt of benefit on 30 March 19911

  As a percentage of the adult male population2per cent.

  Sickness benefit

  85,000

  0·4

  Invalidity benefit

  976,000

  4·5

  1 Based on a 1 per cent, sample of claimants, rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2 Provisional estimate for mid-1991 of 21,542,000 males in Great Britain aged 16 and over; based on early 1991 census results.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any proposals for changing entitlement to sickness and invalidity benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer to the reply to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mrs. Jackson) earlier today.

  Medical Appeal Tribunal
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many domiciliary medical appeal tribunals there were in England and Wales in(a) 1992 and (b)

  Mr. Burt
  The president of the independent tribunal service advises that in 1992, 242 domiciliary medical appeal tribunals were held in England and Wales. The Department no longer has the figures for 1982.

  Pensioner Owner-occupiers
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the proportion of pensioners who are owner-occupiers and have paid off their mortgages.

  Mr. Hague
  Over half of all pensioners now own their own home—of these, 94 per cent. own their homes outright with no mortgage commitments.

  Back to Work Initiative
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many inquiries there have been to the family credit helpline since he announced the back to work initiative in April.

  Mr. Burt
  Since I launched the helpline, which fulfilled our manifesto commitment, well over a quarter of a million inquiries have been answered.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the number of people receiving the disability working allowance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Some organisations of and for disabled people have commented on the take-up of this benefit. Disability working allowance has been widely welcomed in
  41
  principle and we are working with organisations to ensure that more of the people who could take advantage of it are aware of the new opportunity which it presents.

  Social Security Review
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will announce the completion of his review of social security.

  Mr. Burt
  The timetable for the expenditure review is long term. We will shortly publish background analytical material to the review with the intention of stimulating public debate about the future of the social security system. At this early stage, I cannot say what the long-term timetable will be.

  Social Fund
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total value of payments made by the social fund since its introduction.

  Mr. Scott
  Since the social fund was introduced in 1988, over 16·3 million social fund awards have been made worth more than £1·5 billion, including maternity, funeral and cold weather payments as well as awards from the discretionary scheme.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families in the north-west were in receipt of family credit at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Burt
  At 31 October 1992, the latest date for which information is available, there were 63,000 families in the north-west region of England receiving family credit.

  Housing Benefit
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what further consideration he has given to the introduction of a universal housing benefit scheme covering both rent and mortgage payments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  1 refer the hon. Member to my reply to her on 18 January, at column 101.

  Pensioners (Income Support)
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many low-income pensioners have gained from the extra increases in income support that have taken effect since the start of 1991.

  Mr. Hague
  More than 1·5 million pensioners and their partners have gained from these increases since 1991. In addition, a large number of other pensioners have gained from consequential rises in the other income-related benefits.

  Sick and Disabled People
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the most recent figure for the average increase in spending on long-term sick and disabled people since 1979; and what were the comparable figures for the period 1974 to 1979.
  42
  Mr. Scott
  During 1992–93 we spent almost £15 billion on benefits for long-term sick and disabled people. This represents an annual increase of £700 million per year since 1979 at 1992–93 prices, double the annual increase between 1974 and 1979.

  Pensions
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much total pension incomes have increased between 1979 and 1992; and what was the equivalent figure between 1974 and 1979.

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Edmonton (Dr. Twinn) on 7 June at columns 139–40.

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the results of his Department's policies to encourage personal pensions.

  Mr. Hague
  The Government's policy in encouraging personal pensions has proved to be highly successful with over 5 million people currently being personal pension holders.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were in receipt of invalidity benefit in January 1990; and what are the latest available figures.

  Mr. Scott
  On 31 January 1990 there were, 1,196,000 people receiving invalidity benefit'. The estimated average number receiving invalidity benefit at any one time during 1992–93 was 1,490,000.2

  Notes:

  1Source—1 per cent. sample of claimants, rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2Source—Departmental Report.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of people in receipt of invalidity benefit have additional income from(a) an occupational pension, (b) a spouse earning less than £44·65 and (c) a spouse earning more than £44·65 a week, giving figures separately for men and women.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available follows.

  Using information from the 1989, 1990 and 1991 family expenditure surveys, we estimate that around 45 per cent. of men and 25 per cent. of women in receipt of invalidity benefit received an occupational pension.

  Information is not kept on the number of invalidity benefit recipients whose spouse earns above the earnings limit. However, at 30 March 1991, there were some 4,000 reduced rate adult dependency increases in payment arising from claims made before 16 September 1985. At that time, such increases were reduced because of earnings rather than not paid about a given level as is the present rule.

  Information about invalidity benefit recipients at 30 March 1991 who received an adult dependency increase is in the table.

  43

  Number of beneficiaries

  Adult dependency increase in payment

  Per cent.

  Total

  1,306,000

  415,000

  31·8

  Men

  976,000

  412,000

  42·2

  Women

  330,000

  2,000

  0·7

  Note:

  1. 30 March 1991 is the latest date for which information is available, figures based on a 1 per cent. sample of incapacity benefit claimants, and rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Students (Income Support)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will restore income support to students who fall ill during the long vacation.

  Mr. Burt
  Since September 1990, financial support for most students has come from the education maintenance system, not the social security system. We have no plans to restore income support to students.

  Family Support
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the annual spending from family credit; and what was the spending on family income supplement in 1979.

  Mr. Burt
  Family credit expenditure for 1992–93 was £864 million. This is 36 times more than the £24 million spent on family income supplement in 1978–79 in cash terms and 13 times more in real terms.

  Claimants (Co-located Facilities)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he has had about co-locating facilities for claimants and the unemployed.

  Mr. Burt
  Officials from the Departments of Social Security and of Employment have examined ways of improving the interaction of employment service and Benefits Agency functions in order to improve the service provided to unemployed people. Recommendations which have been taken forward include better liaison between offices in the same area and moves towards standard opening hours. In addition, a number of measures are being piloted; for example, family credit advice and calculations for newly unemployed people, and locating BA staff in ES offices to give immediate advice about income support claims. The results of the latter pilot are now being evaluated.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Murder Cases
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will ensure that, in murder cases where hon. Members have raised the conviction with members of the Government, transcripts or notes of the trial are retained longer than the five-year norm.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Five years is the rule but if there is an appeal then the transcripts and statements made available for the appeal are retained indefinitely by arrangement with the Public Record Office.

  Conciliation Services
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement about conciliation services.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government greatly value the work undertaken by local mediation and conciliation services in many areas of the country.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Women Priests
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners what estimate has been made of the reduction in the number of stipends payable to clergy as a result of clergy retiring or leaving the Church on the grounds of the ordination of women.

  Mr. Alison
  The commissioners have made no such estimates because they have no means of knowing how many clergy may actually resign. They are, of course, discussing the possible financial implications with dioceses using a benchmark of cost per 100 men.

  Redundant Church Buildings
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners what propor-tion of redundant church buildings have been transferred to housing associations and local authorities for social housing provision.

  Mr. Alison
  Since 1969 more than 100 or about one third of the sites of demolished redundant churches have been transferred to housing associations or local authorities, mainly for social housing purposes. Conversion of standing redundant church buildings present more difficulties, but, over the same period, 11 have been transferred to housing associations or local authorities for social housing purposes while terms have been agreed in a twelfth case.

  Women Priests (Pensions)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners what are the proposed rules relating to the payment of a widow's pension for the husband of an ordained female cleric who dies in an incumbency.

  Mr. Alison
  Pensions for the widowers of female members of the scheme for those in the ministry—currently deacons, deaconesses and licensed layworkers—were introduced under the Church of England Pensions Measure in 1988. These pensions are calculated in exactly the same way as pensions for widows of male members of the scheme.

SCOTLAND

  Refugees and Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what money is currently spent from the urban aid programme in Scotland on work specifically with refugees and/or asylum seekers.
  45
  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  No projects specifically for refugees and/or asylum seekers are currently being funded. Such individuals may, however, benefit from other projects being funded in the areas in which they live.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assistance, in cash, his Department has given, or plans to give, to assist the resettlement of Bosnian refugees or asylum seekers in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary is responsible for the funding of reception and resettlement arrangements for former detainees and their dependants from concentration camps in Bosnia whom the Government have agreed to accept in the United Kingdom at the request of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The Scottish Office provides financial assistance to support the Scottish Refugee Council in its overall work with refugee communities in Scotland including asylum seekers from Bosnia. In 1993–94 grants totalling approximately £91,000 have been awarded.

  Scotland: nursing staff in care of the elderly: by qualification status and health board: as at 30 September 1992

  Whole-time equivalent

  Care of the elderly

  Qualified

  Registered

  Enrolled

  Unqualified

  Auxiliary / Assistant

  Scotland

  9,276·4

  4,728·8

  2,777·4

  1,951·4

  4,547·6

  4,547·6

  Argyll and Clyde

  861·1

  381·3

  219·5

  161·8

  479·7

  479·7

  Ayrshire and Arran

  542·0

  310·4

  222·0

  88·4

  231·6

  231·6

  Borders

  127·5

  69·2

  47·3

  21·9

  58·3

  58·3

  Dumfries and Galloway

  385·5

  213·3

  145·0

  68·3

  172·2

  172·2

  Fife

  610·9

  358·5

  193·7

  164·8

  252·4

  252·4

  Forth Valley

  559·0

  267·5

  203·0

  64·5

  291·5

  291·5

  Grampian

  842·7

  399·0

  205·4

  193·6

  443·7

  443·7

  Greater Glasgow

  1,898·2

  814·9

  436·2

  378·7

  1,083·3

  1,083·3

  Highland

  317·7

  176·6

  136·0

  40·6

  141·2

  141·2

  Lanarkshire

  780·0

  430·9

  206·4

  224·5

  349·1

  349·1

  Lothian

  1,296·7

  702·8

  418·6

  284·2

  593·9

  593·9

  Orkney

  87·2

  54·1

  17·2

  36·8

  33·1

  33·1

  Shetland

  77·7

  54·4

  29·0

  25·4

  23·3

  23·3

  Tayside

  779·3

  429·1

  248·4

  180·7

  350·2

  350·2

  Western Isles

  109·1

  66·9

  49·7

  17·2

  42·2

  42·2

  State hospital

  2·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  2·0

  2·0

  Damp Housing
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when, at current and planned levels of capital allocation, he expects to eradicate dampness from public sector housing.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  All local housing authorities have been asked in their next housing capital programmes due to be submitted to the Scottish Office by 31 August, to set out a strategy for tackling damp housing in their areas, including quantified targets which can be used as a basis for assessing progress.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if there has been any change in Government policy about the use of urban aid funds for work with the ethnic minorities.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. The urban programme remains a source of grant assistance for ethnic

  Homelessness
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons aged between 16 and 21 years were turned away from temporary accommodation in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on those turned away from temporary accommodation is not collected centrally.

  Care of the Elderly
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many trained and untrained nurses, physiotherapists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists work in care of the elderly within each health board area.

  Mr. Stewart
  The whole-time equivalent figures for qualified and unqualified nursing staff as at September 1992 are detailed in the table. Data on the number of qualified and unqualified physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy staff working in the care of the elderly are not held centrally.

  minority projects in eligible areas. Applications for all types of projects throughout Scotland compete on their merits for the available resources. Funds are not earmarked for particular client groups. There is in addition a separate ethnic minority grants scheme, introduced last year, which is not confined to particular areas.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the guidelines about the use of urban aid are interpreted flexibly in the case of projects involving the ethnic minorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The urban programme is targeted on eligible areas of deprivation. The Scottish Office recognises, however, that the spread of ethnic minority populations can make it difficult for local authorities and voluntary organisations to devise projects which fully comply with the programme's geographical targeting requirements. Accordingly discretion is exercised in this respect when ethnic minority projects are considered.
  47
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what projects for work with ethnic minorities have been approved under the urban aid budget in the past five years.

  Name of project and sponsoring local authority

  Type

  Capital costs £

  Revenue costs £

  1989

  Volunteer community interpreting project, Central regional council

  New

  15,500

  25,044

  Multicultural advice and information service, Stirling district council

  New

  48,500

  55,580

  Gryffe womens aid, Strathclyde regional council

  Supplementary

  4,521

  32,236

  English as second language project, Tayside regional council

  Extension

  —

  13,875

  Garnethill community hall, Glasgow district council

  Extension

  —

  25,680

  Dundee translators and interpreters project, Dundee district council

  Supplementary

  —

  3,978

  Shakti womens aid, Lothian regional council

  New

  15,729

  51,189

  1990

  Gryffe womens aid, Strathclyde regional council

  Supplementary

  7,738

  3,192

  Ethnic legal services project, Strathclyde regional council

  New

  18,527

  64,098

  Central Garudwara community halls, Strathclyde regional council

  New

  213,068

  20,622

  Creche for ethnic minority project, Strathclyde regional council

  Supplementary

  —

  21,852

  1991

  Interpretation and translation service, Grampian regional council

  New

  —

  33,155

  Asian cultural and educational project, Central regional council

  New

  —

  9,920

  1992

  The Dixon Community—Black elderly initiative, Strathclyde regional council

  New

  24,110

  64,334

  Ethnic minority enterprise centre, Strathclyde regional council

  New

  45,315

  162,460

  Chinese cultural community project, Central regional council

  Extension

  —

  13,750

  Dundee translators and interpreters project, Dundee district council

  Supplementary

  10,000

  —

  Multicultural advice and information service, Stirling district council

  Supplementary

  2,000

  11,690

  Glasgow translation and interpretation service, Glasgow district council

  New

  16,580

  83,909

  1993

  Dundee translators and interpreters project, Dundee district council

  Extension

  —

  68,169

  Multicultural advice and information service, Stirling district council

  Extension

  —

  55,580

  Ethnic minorities womens centre, Strathclyde regional council

  New

  42,179

  193,314

  48
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:
  49

  Name of project and sponsoring local authority

  Type

  Capital costs £

  Revenue costs £

  Chinese elderly care project, Strathclyde regional council

  New

  11,961

  119,095

  Multicultural elderly care centre, Strathclyde regional council

  New

  145,457

  180,654

  Volunteer community interpreting project. Central regional council

  Extension

  5,460

  56,354

  Asian cultural and educational project, Central regional council

  Supplementary

  —

  3,460

  Ethnic minority sports development project, Glasgow district council

  New

  —

  42,285

  Notes:

  New projects are approved on the basis of capital costs and four years' running costs. 25 per cent. of the costs shown are met by the sponsoring local authority, the remainder by the Scottish Office.

  Supplementary applications seek additional funding until the end of the previously approved period.

  Extension applications are approved for a further three years after the initial four years' funding has expired. This applies only to projects run by voluntary and community groups.

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what arrangements he intends to put in place to secure the emergency carriage by air ambulances in Scotland of blood and other emergency medical products; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what were the medical qualifications of the Scottish ambulance service staff who dealt with the request for the transport of emergency blood products by air ambulance to Shetland on 17 June;

  (3) what arrangements were in place on 17 June for persons to contact the medical director of the Scottish ambulance services by telephone out of office hours, and what changes are proposed in these arrangements.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 24 June 1993]: It is for the Scottish blood transfusion service to supply blood or blood products requested by hospitals and to decide on the appropriate transport arrangements for delivery of these both for routine situations and in emergencies.

  Air ambulances are primarily tasked to collect or carry patients to hospital at the request of clinicians and are equipped accordingly. In a life saving situation and where it would be sensible and cost effective to do so, there is no reason why an air ambulance should not be used to carry blood or blood products for emergency medical treatment. This is a matter for arrangement between the Scottish blood transfusion service and the Scottish ambulance service which are divisions of the Common Services Agency.

  A protocol has now been agreed to the effect that the Scottish ambulance service will transport blood or blood products by air ambulance when in the opinon of any clinician in the Scottish national blood transfusion service there is a serious risk to life and there is no other sensible or reasonable option available. The ambulance service will give such requests priority subject only to the emergency evacuation of patients.

  Ambulance control staff do not have any medical qualifications but are able to seek medical advice when required from the medical director of the Scottish ambulance service who is an accident and emergency consultant and is on call 24 hours a day by radiopager.
  50
  In the event that he is unavailable, there is an arrangement with the accident and emergency department at the Aberdeen Royal infirmary to provide medical advice to the air desk controller. The arrangements on 17 June were in accordance with these procedures. No further changes are currently proposed but the position is kept under review.

  Forestry
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contribution to the United Kingdom economy is made by the timber trade.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 1 July 1993]: The total value added by the timber trade, including the forestry and wood processing industries, is about £8,000 million annually; this represents about 1½per cent. of the gross domestic product. The wood processing industry accounts for about 6½ per cent. of manufacturing industry.

  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce a country certification scheme to prove to potential purchasers of British-grown timber United Kingdom forests are sustainably managed.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 1 July 1993]: The Forestry Commission has already laid the basis for a certification scheme. Permission to fell trees is given by the commission's forestry authority arm only if the felling proposals are
  "in accordance with the Government policy to promote the sound management of woodlands as a renewable natural resource".

  A statement to this effect is included in plans of operation approved under the commission's woodland grant scheme and will soon be included in felling licences.

  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy on allowing the independent inspection and certification of the United Kingdom's forest management policies implemented by the Forestry Commission.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 1 July 1993]: The forestry authority arm of the Forestry Commission

  51
  implements the Government's forestry policy in Great Britain, regulates the forestry industry, and monitors forestry standards. There is therefore no need for any other organisation to carry out inspections or certification.

  Coastal Planning
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to revise the 1974 "Coastal Planning Guidelines for Oil and Gas Development".

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 2 July 1993]: In line with the undertaking given in "This Common Inheritance" (Cmd 1200), all our planning guidelines are subject to review. The 1974 coastal planning guidelines for oil and gas development have already been supplemented by the 1977 national planning guidelines for petrochemical developments and by the 1981 national planning guidelines on priorities for development planning. Further refinements will also be included in a new national planning policy guideline on business and industry, which I hope to issue shortly.

  Uranium-tipped Shells
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions uranium-tipped armour piercing shells have been fired into the water from the Kirkcudbright ranges during tests.

  Mr. Aitken
  I have been asked to reply.

  Firing of DU shells from Kirkcudbright started on 29 March 1982. Since that date about 4,000 shells have been fired into the Solway firth from the range.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Integrated Administration and Control System
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many IACS forms have been submitted late in total and in each category of lateness specified in the IACS rules.

  Mr. Jack
  A total of 331 IACS forms have been received in England after the 15 May deadline. Of these 305 were received by 4 June and will attract a late claim penalty, and the remaining 26 have been received after 4 June will not qualify for any payment. The late claims represent a very small proportion of the 87,300 forms received.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of IACS forms were returned by the closing date in each EC member state.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) on 30 June,Official Report, column 564.

  Set-aside
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will set out the mechanisms for resolving set-aside disputes.

  Mr. Jack
  If an applicant is unhappy about any aspect of the way in which their claim for arable area and set-aside payments has been handled, they will always be offered an opportunity to discuss their concerns with a senior officer in the regional organisation of MAFF.
  52
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has had to introduce an appeals procedure for set-aside disputes along similar lines to the milk quota tribunals.

  Mr. Jack
  None.

  Bovine Somatotropin
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has received regarding the hormone bovine somatotropin; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  We continue to receive a number of representations from both individuals and organisations about the possible availability of bovine somatotropin (BST).

  No licences for BST products may be issued in member states under the moratorium agreed by the Council of Agriculture Ministers in 1990. This was extended to 31 December 1993 to allow the EC Commission time to prepare and present its report on the implications of licensing BST by the end of June 1993. The report is now expected to be available later this month. We will be considering the contents and recommendations of the report very carefully, taking into account the many divergent views we have received on the subject, in coming to a view on the future of the moratorium.

  Days-at-Sea Limitations
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the boats registered at Lowestoft now subject to days-at-sea limitations, together with the comparative track record in each case upon which the limits have been determined; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Provisional days-at-sea allocations were issued in respect of 240 fishing vessels administered by the Lowestoft district fisheries office. The vessels' recorded half-days in 1991 and their provisional allocation are as follows—in order to protect commercial confidentiality the name and PLN number of the vessels are not included:

  Provisional Days at Sea Allocations: Lowestoft District

  Recorded Half Days in 1991

  Provisional Allocation

  404

  404

  0

  160

  118

  160

  0

  160

  180

  180

  12

  160

  294

  294

  216

  216

  273

  273

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  218

  218

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  53

  Recorded Half Days in 1991

  Provisional Allocation

  0

  160

  0

  160

  252

  252

  2

  160

  0

  160

  219

  219

  164

  164

  79

  160

  188

  188

  182

  182

  110

  160

  166

  166

  227

  227

  0

  160

  227

  227

  278

  278

  228

  228

  106

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  162

  162

  0

  160

  187

  187

  228

  228

  373

  373

  204

  204

  171

  171

  0

  160

  100

  160

  0

  160

  250

  250

  0

  160

  184

  184

  40

  160

  152

  160

  308

  308

  147

  160

  44

  160

  0

  160

  246

  246

  0

  160

  0

  160

  209

  209

  184

  184

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  50

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  46

  160

  0

  160

  137

  160

  71

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  95

  160

  13

  160

  0

  160

  42

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  54

  Recorded Half Days in 1991

  Provisional Allocation

  280

  280

  0

  160

  130

  160

  282

  282

  0

  160

  264

  264

  27

  160

  0

  160

  20

  160

  0

  160

  227

  227

  0

  160

  140

  160

  0

  160

  121

  160

  280

  280

  105

  160

  127

  16(1

  146

  160

  122

  160

  91

  160

  12

  160

  0

  160

  555

  555

  195

  195

  432

  432

  435

  435

  518

  518

  506

  506

  481

  481

  35

  160

  28

  160

  489

  489

  507

  507

  430

  430

  0

  160

  0

  160

  326

  326

  397

  397

  465

  465

  402

  402

  102

  160

  0

  160

  362

  362

  430

  430

  399

  399

  386

  386

  190

  190

  379

  379

  461

  461

  525

  525

  233

  233

  55

  160

  174

  174

  269

  269

  136

  160

  20

  160

  67

  160

  30

  160

  200

  200

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  244

  244

  4

  160

  250

  250

  95

  160

  6

  160

  32

  160

  200

  200

  50

  160

  156

  160

  189

  189

  56

  160

  0

  160

  83

  160

  55

  Recorded Half Days in 1991

  Provisional Allocation

  0

  160

  80

  160

  83

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  74

  160

  179

  179

  80

  160

  264

  264

  350

  350

  220

  220

  231

  231

  153

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  58

  160

  475

  475

  200

  200

  176

  176

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  138

  160

  0

  160

  193

  193

  0

  160

  0

  160

  54

  160

  44

  160

  196

  196

  0

  160

  209

  209

  234

  234

  290

  290

  13

  160

  0

  160

  94

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  127

  160

  0

  160

  243

  243

  99

  160

  229

  229

  58

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  170

  170

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  384

  384

  284

  284

  270

  270

  64

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  0

  160

  135

  160

  0

  160

  12

  160

  PA Management Consultants
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the projects undertaken by PA Management Consultants for her Department in the last three years.
  56
  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 15 June 1993]: PA Management Consultants were used on the following projects, during the last three financial years up to March 1993:
  Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (prior to becoming an Executive Agency):

  Project Costing and Management

  Computerised Management Information System

  Computerised Accounting System

  Development of computer system sub-strategies for the Food Science, Economics and Statistics, Animal Health Group and Horticulture areas of the department.
  Animal Tracking Computer System.
  Design of Food Related Computer Data Base.

EMPLOYMENT

  Passive Smoking
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposal he has to amend health and safety legislation to provide a remedy for employees whose health is threatened by passive smoking at work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 1 July 1993]: Adequate legal protection for employees against risks to health from passive smoking at work is already provided by section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. No amendment is therefore necessary.

  Smoking
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how progress towards the "The Health of the Nation" goal of a large majority of employers implementing a no-smoking policy by 1995 is being monitored; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 1 July 1993]: Achievement of "The Health of the Nation" aim
  "that the large majority of employees are covered by a no-smoking policy by 1995"
  is being promoted by voluntary means, through encouraging employers to introduce sensible policies on smoking in discussion with their workforce. Early results from recent surveys indicate continuing progress towards realising this aim.

  Holidays
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to introduce the proposed legislation to give employees a statutory right to four weeks' paid annual holiday; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holiday answer 1 July 1993]: The Government have no plans to introduce legislation providing for four weeks' paid annual holiday. The Government's policy is that annual holiday entitlements, like other terms and conditions of employment, are a matter for employers and employees to decide.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Fraud Prosecutions
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to speed up the process of prosecution in fraud cases.
  57
  The Attorney-General
  Prosecution of the most serious fraud cases, handled by the Serious Fraud Office, is already very much faster than before that office came into being. Currently the average period between the SFO taking on a case for investigation and the transfer of the case to the Crown court, is 15 months.

  Long criminal trials are the subject of an inter-departmental working group, which issued a consultation paper at the end of the last year, and of examination by the Royal Commission on criminal justice, whose report is expected very shortly.

  In assessing what steps should now be taken to expedite the trial process in serious fraud cases I, together with the Lord Chancellor and the Home Secretary, will consider the responses to the consultation paper and the views of the working group together with the report of the royal commission.

DEFENCE

  Pathfinder Initiative
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to implement the Pathfinder initiative.

  Mr. Aitken
  This is a matter delegated to the Defence Research Agency under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 5 July 1993:
  In today's written answer, the Minister of State for Defence Procurement informed you that I would be replying to your question about the Pathfinder Initiative.
  The Pathfinder initiative which I launched last year is aimed at establishing closer alignment between the DRA and industry in order to bring about an earlier and more effective transfer of technology from ourselves to those who can carry it forward into development and production.
  There are 3 elements to Pathfinder—strategic alignment briefings at senior level, an annual conference, and a formal bidding process in which industry can put forward proposals for inclusion in our own research programme. All 3 elements are now very much under way. A first round of briefings took place last year, as indeed did the first conference, and we are about to announce the outcome of the initial tranche of industry bids. The process will be continuing this year with further briefings, a second conference planned for November 1993, and a second round of bidding by industry.
  So far both industry and academia have shown considerable interest and I am confident that the Pathfinder Scheme will yield the benefits that I envisaged when it was first devised.

  European Future Large Aircraft Project
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what resources Her Majesty's Government will commit to the European future large aircraft project; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Government do not consider it necessary to commit defence resources towards the development of the European future large aircraft, since existing technology is adequate to meet short-term requirements for military transport aircraft. The future 58
  large aircraft will be considered as a candidate to meet future Royal Air Force requirements, if it is available at the appropriate time.

  Underground Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of whether further underground nuclear tests are required to ensure the(a) credibility, (b) reliability or (c) safety of (i) the Trident system and (ii) the WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb; and what criteria are employed by his Department for assessing each of these factors in each case.

  Mr. Aitken
  We are confident in the safety and reliability of the WE177 free-fall bomb and that subject to completion of the necessary assessments—which do not require further underground testing—Trident will enter service as a safe and reliable system. We are similarly confident in the credibility of our nuclear deterrent, current and planned. We need, however, to ensure that we are able to maintain the highest levels of safety assurance over time. Testing has played a central role in this in the past; the development of alternative techniques is now a high priority.

  Nuclear Test Sites
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost since 1963 of the clean-up and restoration, in historic and present prices, of the radioactive and toxic contamination at the nuclear test sites at(a) Christmas island, (b) Malden islands, (c) Monte Bello islands, (d) Emu Field and (e) Maralinga.

  Mr. Hanley
  This information is not held centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Britannia
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contributions were received in the latest available year from the Governments of other countries to the running of the Royal Yacht Britannia.

  Mr. Hanley
  HMY Britannia's operating costs are funded entirely from the defence budget and no contributions are made by Governments of other countries.

  RMAS Golden Eye
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who acquired RMAS Golden Eye when it was disposed of by the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Aitken
  At the request of the purchaser this matter is regarded as commercially confidential.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Royal Navy disposed of RMAS Golden Eye.

  Mr. Aitken
  RMAS Golden Eye was handed over by the Royal Navy to the successful tenderer during the week commencing 16 December 1991.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payments have been received from the United Nations as danger money for the United Kingdom troops with UNPROFOR in Bosnia; if this money has been paid to the men and women concerned; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The United Nations does not pay danger money for any United Kingdom personnel serving in the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his counterparts in France and Canada regarding payment of a United Nations supplement to the UNPROFOR force in Bosnia; what was the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  There have been no such discussions.

  Depleted Uranium Ammunition
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what precautionary measures were taken to minimise the dangers of inhalation of radioactive particles from depleted uranium ammunition by British troops during the Gulf war.

  Mr. Hanley
  Special instructions were issued to personnel undertaking explosive ordnance disposal whose work involved a direct risk of exposure to particles of depleted uranium. Advice was also issued to those involved in the transportation and storage of the ammunition.

  Submarines
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral response to the hon. Member for East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) of 24 June,Official Report, column 507, what are his plans for the four submarines, Churchill, Dreadnought, Swiftsure and Revenge, in light of his decision to allocate the Trident refitting and decommissioning work to Devonport.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East (Mr. Brown) on 29 June 1993 at columns 492–93.

  Radiation Compensation Scheme
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department will join the radiation compensation scheme operated by the civil nuclear industry.
  60
  Mr. Aitken
  We intend to do so, subject to negotiations with British Nuclear Fuels plc and the Atomic Energy Authority and with the departmental trades unions.

  MOD Police
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions are issued to MOD police concerning their powers towards trespassers on MOD establishments; and if he will place copies of such instructions in the Library.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 29 June 1993]: Ministry of Defence police deal with trespassers on Ministry of Defence property on behalf of the Secretary of State on the direction of the commanding officer or head of establishment. The police officer will first ask the trespasser to leave MOD property. If the person refuses to do so he or she will be ejected using the minimum force necessary to effect the removal.

  If an incursion on MOD property is in contravention of byelaws, offenders may be arrested by MDP officers, who have constabulary powers, and prosecuted for breach of byelaws.

  As is the case in respect of other civil matters and criminal offences, all MDP officers, during their initial and refresher courses are trained in the use of their powers to deal with all aspects of trespass. The use of any of these powers is a matter on which the individual police officer must exercise his judgment at the time and according to the circumstances. His actions are subject to scrutiny by his supervising officers and the courts.

  The chief constable MDP believes that it would be impractical to issue force-wide written instructions to cover the police response to all aspects of the operation of the law of trespass. From time to time written guidance is included in local operation orders to provide an appropriate response arising from special events or in special circumstances.

  Vexatious Litigation
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times in the past five years his Department's police have been declared vexatious litigants and charges not proceeded with; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 30 June 1993]: I am not aware of any of my Department's police ever having been declared a vexatious litigant.

  COMMONWEALTH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: OPERATION IN VIETNAM
  COMMONWEALTH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: OPERATION IN VIETNAM
  NORTH KOREA: NUCLEAR POLICY
  NORTH KOREA: NUCLEAR POLICY
  UN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: SPECIAL PROCEDURES SECTION
  UN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: SPECIAL PROCEDURES SECTION
  NIGERIA: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
  NIGERIA: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
  UN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: BUDGET AND WORKLOAD
  UN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: BUDGET AND WORKLOAD
  SOUTHERN SUDAN: AMBASSADOR'S REPORT
  SOUTHERN SUDAN: AMBASSADOR'S REPORT
  SUDAN: VISIT OF UN RAPPORTEUR
  SUDAN: VISIT OF UN RAPPORTEUR
  SOUTHERN AND WESTERN SUDAN: NAIROBI TALKS
  SOUTHERN AND WESTERN SUDAN: NAIROBI TALKS
  BT: SALE OF SHARES
  BT: SALE OF SHARES
  EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND KONVER INITIATIVE GRANTS
  EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND KONVER INITIATIVE GRANTS
  SEVERE HARDSHIP PAYMENTS TO YT APPLICANTS
  SEVERE HARDSHIP PAYMENTS TO YT APPLICANTS
  THE GREEN BELT: RESEARCH PROJECT
  THE GREEN BELT: RESEARCH PROJECT
  BEER IMPORTS
  BEER IMPORTS
  REPROCESSED PLUTONIUM EXPORT CRITERIA
  REPROCESSED PLUTONIUM EXPORT CRITERIA