Written Answers of 6 July 1993

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Butte Mining plc
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the director of the Serious Fraud Office's investigations into the flotation of and share dealings in Butte Mining.

  The Attorney-General
  The SFO investigation relating to Butte Mining plc is not yet concluded. It is my practice not to give details about investigations which are still in progress.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Gerontology
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the breakdown of the £600,000 spent on basic aging research or gerontology.

  Mr. William Waldegrave
  The Medical Research Council—MRC—is the main Government agency for the promotion of medical and related research in the United Kingdom. The MRC do not recognise the figure to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but in 1991–92—the last financial year for which figures are available—the MRC's expenditure on projects relevant to aging and the elderly was £9·8 million.

  This research refers to work on cognitive performance, hearing, dementia, osteoporosis, Parkinson's, nutrition, cardiovascular, stroke and cancer research. Additional work is also carried out on understanding the processes underlying aging; and on molecular mechanisms in the clonal deletion of auto-reactive T cells by programmed cell death. Because much of this research is interlinked, the financial breakdown of this research would be available only at disproportionate cost.

  Office of Public Service and Science
  Sir Rhodes Boyson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the total amount of expenditure on provision within the responsibility of the Office of Public Service and Science in(a) England, (b) Greater London and (c) the south-east, excluding Greater London, for each year from 1982–83 to 1992–93, estimated, distinguishing between current and capital expenditure, though excluding local authority credit approvals/capital allocations.

  Mr. David Davis
  I am able to provide the following information about the Department's expenditure on the administration of public service and science and on the science programme.(i) Expenditure on the Administration of Public Service and Science
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  The major part of the Office of Public Service and Science's offices and staff is located in London and the south-east, but the Occupational Health Service, which has its headquarters in Edinburgh, has a small regional network, and the Government Centre for Information Systems has offices in Norwich.
  Total expenditure by the Department and its predecessors on administration in the period 1982–83 to 1992–93 was as follows:

  £millions

  Year

  Current Expenditure

  Capital Expenditure

  Total

  1982–83

  53·0

  5·6

  58·6

  1983–84

  63·4

  1·9

  65·3

  1984–85

  76·1

  3·4

  79·5

  1985–86

  79·1

  4·3

  83·4

  1986–87

  75·5

  8·7

  84·2

  1987–88

  90·6

  10·6

  101·2

  1988–89

  98·0

  9·6

  107·6

  1989–90

  96·5

  7·3

  103·8

  1990–91

  104·3

  11·0

  115·3

  1991–92

  123·6

  9·1

  132·7

  1992–93

  134·0

  11·0

  145·0

  (ii) Expenditure on the Science Programme
  Information on capital and current expenditure from the science budget by the research councils, the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering is not available in the form requested prior to 1992–93.
  The expenditure figures for England are as follows:

  England

  £ millions

  Current Expenditure

  Capital Expenditure

  Total

  1982–83

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1983–84

  319·4

  68·4

  387·8

  1984–85

  340·4

  67·5

  407·9

  1985–86

  351·5

  78·3

  429·8

  1986–87

  364·9

  80·1

  445·0

  1987–88

  397·0

  82·7

  479·7

  1988–89

  434·3

  96·4

  530·7

  1989–90

  519·0

  115·5

  634·5

  1990–91

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1991–92

  1554·0

  1121·6

  675·6

  n/a = not available.

  1 Estimated Breakdown.

  For 1992–93 the figures are as follows:

  £ millions

  England

  South East excluding Greater London

  Greater London

  Current

  Capital

  Current

  Capital

  Current

  Capital

  599·l

  124·3

  173·8

  36·3

  149·5

  19·8

WALES

  Rabies
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are being taken at Welsh ports to prevent rabies entering Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  People who bring in unlicensed animals and those who allow their animals on deck in harbour will be committing an offence and may face imprisonment in addition to heavy fines. Local authorities have the chief role in enforcing these provisions, supported by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise officers, port health officers and the police.
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  Keen surveillance is maintained over vessels from abroad, both commercial shipping and small boats and yachts which are mainly privately owned. This surveillance is supported by the co-operation of harbour-masters, marina owners, yacht clubs and many other members of the public whose work or recreation is connected with ports or sailing.

  All-weather noticeboards are provided for use at harbours, ports and marinas, both in the United Kingdom and on the continent. These state, in appropriate languages, that the landing of animals is prohibited, emphasise the danger from illegally landed animals and the penalties for contraventions. A great deal of importance is attached to maintaining general rabies awareness and the present publicity campaign is targeted at the small boat owner.

  Rio Declaration
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he has taken to prepare an action plan to guide implementation of the Rio declaration.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Government are committed to making a report to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development by the end of this year. The Welsh Office is closely involved in the compilation of this report, which will take full account of the Rio declaration.

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the chairman of Welsh Water plc to discuss the fluoridation of drinking water supplies in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so at the present time.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it a requirement that NHS hospital trust annual reports should list the salaries of the chief executive and all board members.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  NHS trusts are required to provide information on the emoluments of their board members, excluding pension costs, as part of their annual accounts and this information must include the emoluments of the chairman, the highest-paid member and the chief executive —if not the highest-paid member. They are also required to provide similar information in their annual reports in order to conform with the provisions of the Companies Act 1985, as amended. The information provided in the annual report should be consistent with that provided in the annual accounts and, if there is any less detail, the annual report must make it clear that the full set of accounts is publicly available upon request.

  Out-of-Town Developments
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many out-of-town large commercial developments were initially refused planning permission by the local authority, but were granted permission on appeal to the Welsh Office since 1979.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Comprehensive information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate 64
  cost, but 11 major retail developments have been approved on appeal against refusal of permission since the end of 1979.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales to whom each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department is responsible; whether the public bodies or their members in each case are subject to(a) surcharge, (b) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (c) scrutiny by the Audit Commission or National Audit Office, (d) the statutory provisions for open Government which apply to local authorities, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens' charters; and whether the chairpersons and members of the boards of each of these bodies are required to declare an interest.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Welsh Office sponsors 17 executive non-departmental public bodies—NDPBs. Details are available in "Public Bodies" and in the Department's 1993 annual report. The functions and responsibilities of each NDPB are specified in its founding legislation or charter. The Secretary of State is responsible and accountable to Parliament for the resources provided for NDPBs, and the general framework within which they are required to operate. For most NDPBs, the chief executive is designated as the accounting officer and, together with the departmental accounting officer, is liable to appear before the Public Accounts Committee to account for the use of public funds.

  (a) and (d)I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 15 June Official Report, columns 544–45.

  (b) The NDPBs in Wales subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration are:

  Sports Council for Wales

  Wales Tourist Board

  Development Board for Rural Wales

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

  Housing for Wales

  Countryside Council for Wales

  Agricultural Wages Committee

  (c) Executive NDPBs in Wales are generally audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General: where the Comptroller and Auditor General is not himself responsible for auditing a particular body, he retains certain rights of inspection.

  (e) All NDPBs in Wales have or are developing performance indicators for their own internal management and to enable the Department to monitor their performance.

  (f) All NDPBs in Wales are expected to adopt the principles of the citizens charter in their dealings with the public.

  Members of NDPBs in Wales are expected to declare any potential conflict of interest.

  Welsh Office
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish the Government's response to the first report of the Welsh Affairs Committee, Session 1992–93, House of Commons Paper 259, on the "Work of the Welsh Office".
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  Mr. Redwood
  I am pleased to announce that the response to the Welsh Affairs Committee report on the work of the Welsh Office has been published today as Command Paper 2276. Copies are available in the Vote Office.

  Mapping
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any proposals to ensure that the whole of Wales is mapped on a scale of 1:2,500; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: No. The Ordnance Survey is responsible for the official surveying and topographic mapping of Great Britain. Following the advice of a review committee, the Government require Ordnance Survey to survey and map all conurbations at a scale of 1:1,250, all small towns and cultivated rural areas at a scale of 1:2,500 and all mountain and moorland areas at a scale of 1:10,000. This requirement covers Wales.

  Housing Capital Receipts
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was held by local authorities in Wales, as at 31 March 1992, in respect of housing capital receipts reserved for debt redemption.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  As at 31 March 1992, local authorities were required to set aside specified proportions of the capital receipts which they acquire for the repayment of debt, to meet payments on credit arrangements, such as finance leases, or in lieu of capital expenditure. Authorities are also required to make minimum provision from their revenue resources to meet credit liabilities. Such capital charges may be met in part by the interest gained on capital receipts, but the individual sources of such provision are not distinguished in the information collected centrally. In addition to the requirements for the application of capital receipts and revenue resources to meet credit liabilities, authorities may choose to apply the unspecified portions of their receipts which are available for new capital expenditure as well as revenue allocations to this end. At 31 March 1992, the outstanding housing loan debt for which provision would be required stood at £1,800,000,000. The scheduled amount of housing capital receipts assigned to meet credit liabilities stood at £180,000,000 at that date but, in addition, part of the £28,300,000 of unreserved housing receipts could also be applied to such use by authorities.

SCOTLAND

  School Information
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about school information to be made available for parents under the parents charter.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Having carefully considered the responses made to the consultation paper "Better Information for Parents", my right hon. Friend is today laying regulations before Parliament which provide for the collection and publication of school information covering: attendance and truancy rates; examination 66
  results and awards; school leaver destinations; and school costs. A circular which explains in detail the provisions contained in the regulations is also being issued today.

  We received more than 300 responses during the consultation period. I am very grateful to all those who responded for their helpful and constructive suggestions. Providing information to parents about the schools their children attend is a central element in the parents charter and something this Government consider to be of the utmost importance. As a result of our consultations, we have clarified and revised the earlier provisions in a number of respects. In particular, the regulations now require that:
  school handbooks are to be issued by 15 December in each year;
  regional and national average figures by category will include education authority schools and grant-aided schools but not special schools for which results are to be given separately;
  attendance and absence rates for pupils in stage S6 need not distinguish between authorised and unauthorised absence;
  examination results for SCE are to be shown as percentages of of the number of pupils on each individual school's roll at the start of their S4 year—and a measure of the staying-on-rate to stage S5 is now also to be given; and
  awards for national certificates and other SCOTVEC awards are to be shown by stage.

  We have also taken all possible steps to minimise the workload on schools which will result from the provision of this information. For example, calculations on examination results will be carried out as far as possible directly by the Scottish Office Education Department and discussions have already taken place between the Department, the Scottish Examination Board and the Scottish Vocational Education Council to this end. The basic information on school leaver destinations will also be collected by the careers service.

  Councillors (Mileage Rates)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the methodology used to determine the rates of mileage expenses paid to councillors in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 24 June 1993]: The motor mileage rates are based on the average price at the pump for unleaded petrol over a 12-month period as applied to the schedule of annual running costs produced by the Automobile Association which covers tyres, oil, servicing and repairs.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to review the current rates of mileage expenses paid to councillors in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 24 June 1993]: The rates of mileage expenses were reviewed with effect from 1 January 1993. A similar annual uprating exercise will be carried out towards the end of this year.

  Secondary School Reorganisation
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he expects to publish the Scottish Office Education Department's responses to comments on the Howie committee's recommendations for upper secondary school reorganisation.
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  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: Decisions have not yet been taken in response to comments on the Howie committee's recommendations for upper secondary reform. I am unable, therefore, to give the date of an announcement.

  Coastal Pollution
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the current cleanliness, safety and freedom from pollution of beaches and coastal waters.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: The water quality survey of Scotland 1990 which my Department published in March 1992 assesses the cleanliness and freedom from pollution of Scottish coastal waters. The survey demonstrates that a high proportion of Scottish waters are of satisfactory quality. River purification boards monitor water quality at many beaches and I produce annually a report on monitoring of 23 bathing waters identified for the purposes of EC directive 76/160/EEC. That report is in the House of Commons Library and for 1992 showed that 15 beaches achieved the directive's water quality standards.

  Individual local authorities take responsibility for the cleanliness and safety of beaches in their area. However, Keep Scotland Beautiful has assessed the standards achieved at some of the most popular beaches including the nine beaches in Scotland that successfully obtained a seaside award this year.

  NHS Property Sales
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the companies and individuals who have purchased NHS property to the value of £250,000 or more over the past five years.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: The information, for the period from 1 April 1988 to date, is set out in the table.

  Greenock Medical Aid (Properties) Ltd.

  Beazer Homes Ltd.

  Morrison Developments

  Wimpey Homes Holdings Ltd.

  Homehurst Ltd.

  Cresta Property Investment Ltd.

  Messrs W. B. B. Gammell and P. J. A. Leggate

  Leven Glen Ltd.

  Hotel Saiyo International Ltd.

  Central Regional Council

  Balfour Beattie Ltd.

  Uppermill Farms Ltd.

  E. W. Ferrari

  Jarlaw Securities Ltd.

  Quantum Claims Compensation Specialists Ltd.

  Balgownie Development Co, Ltd.

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  Balfour Beattie Ltd.

  Windex Ltd.

  Whatling Homes

  Mactaggart and Mickel Ltd.

  West of Scotland Housing Association

  Charing Cross Housing Association

  Tay Homes

  Cathcart Housing Association

  Miller Homes

  E. K. Wallace and Sons Ltd.

  Takare

  Associated Nursing Services (PLC)

  East Kilbride Development Corporation

  Glasgow Development Agency

  Central Guraduwara Singh Sabha Association

  Tulloch Homes Ltd.

  Wilson Homes (Stonehouse) Ltd.

  Lanarkshire Development Agency

  McLean Homes

  Hugh McMartin and Partners

  John D. Dourley

  Barry D. Trentham Ltd.

  Farquhar Developments Ltd.

  Napier University

  Applecross Developments

  AMA (New Town) Ltd.

  McAlpine Laing Investments

  Bryant Homes

  Lothian and Edinburgh Enterprise

  Sunnyhill Developments

  Refugees and Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what central Government funds are available in Scotland for specific grants to aid the resettlement of refugees and asylum seekers.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: My right hon. Friend does not have the power to pay specific grants for this purpose. If Scottish local authorities faced additional expenditure commitments as a result of resettling refugees and asylum seekers this would be taken into account, in consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, in the determination of the level of aggregate external finance.

  Water Supplies
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average amount of water used daily per household in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: A recent study in Scotland indicated that the average domestic consumption for each household was 368 litres per day.

  Public Places (Disabled Access)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve access for people with disabilities to museums, galleries, theatres, libraries and sports arenas.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: It is for the management of each organisation to consider how its buildings and, in the case of museums, galleries and libraries, its collections can be made accessible to disabled people. The Government have close links with a range of statutory, voluntary and private sector bodies which are active in encouraging such organisations to increase access for disabled members of the public.

  The Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990 require access for disabled people to the ground floor of all buildings other than dwellings and buildings used for storage purposes. These provisions, which were first introduced in 1986, apply to all new buildings and to alterations and extensions to existing buildings. Proposed amendments to the current regulations were the subject of public consultation. They would require access for disabled people to the upper floors of all buildings except dwellings and storage buildings. These amendments should come into force in Scotland in the new year and would apply to all new buildings and to alterations and extensions to existing buildings.

  As far as sports stadia are concerned, ground managements are equally responsible for ensuring adequate access. I particularly welcome the provisions for the disabled being made at those stadia currently being redeveloped in terms of Taylor report requirements.

  Coastal Planning
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take to implement the Government's response—Cm 2011—to the Environment Committee's second report of 1991–92. "Coastal Zone Protection and Planning in Scotland"; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 2 July 1993]: The House of Commons Select Committee on the environment report on coastal zone protection and planning examined coastal issues as they relate to England and Wales only. In their response, the Government accepted that the issues raised have a relevance to the United Kingdom as a whole and should be addressed according to the circumstances in different parts of the United Kingdom.

  The Scottish Office is considering how best to take forward the Government's proposals in relation to Scotland and as a first step has commissioned a review of Scottish coastal issues.
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  The Scottish Office is represented on the interdepart-mental group which is responsible for the continued development of coastal policy on a United Kingdom—wide basis.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money was given to Scottish further education colleges in 1992–93 to prepare them for incorporation; and what provision was made in the conditions of grant for bonuses to senior staff.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 July 1993]: Grants totalling £2·3 million were made to further education colleges in 1992–93 to meet costs associated with the incorporation process. It was for college councils to determine to what use the grants were put within their statutory powers as set out in the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992.

PRIME MINISTER

  Iraq (Sanctions)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with President Clinton the effects of the imposition of the United Nations sanctions on disease and infant mortality in Iraq.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is in close touch with President Clinton about policy towards Iraq. We and the United States agree that Security Council resolutions 706 and 712 provide the best scheme for financing the United Nation's humanitarian operations in Iraq. Iraq has refused to accept the scheme.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Royal Parks Agency
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what sums are being spent out of public funds by the Royal Parks Agency on the building and equiping of the agency's new stables for constabulary and working horses in Richmond and Hyde parks, on purchase of horses and equipment, on the police riding manege at Richmond and on maintaining public buildings in Richmond park.

  Mr. Sproat
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Royal Parks agency under its chief executive, Mr. David Welch. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given and I shall place a copy of his reply in the Library.

  Letter from David Welch to Mr. Harry Green way, dated 2 July 1993:

  The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for National Heritage has asked me to reply to your Written Parliamentary Question below.

  What sums are being spent out of public funds by the Royal Parks Agency upon the building and equiping of the Agency's new stables for constabulary and working horses in Richmond and Hyde Parks, upon purchase of horses and equipment, upon the police riding manège at Richmond and upon maintaining public buildings in Richmond Park?
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  No new stables were built at Richmond Park. The existing derelict stables and yard were renovated and equipped at a cost of £63,242. New stables at Hyde Park were built and equipped at a cost of £38,342.

  There have been 4 or 5 patrol horses for the last 40 years or so in Richmond Park, with the Metropolitan Police providing mounted officers at Hyde Park until 1 April 1993. There is now a total of 10 patrol and 2 shire horses in Hyde and Richmond Parks, the additional horses being purchased and equipped for £49,000.

  The police riding manêge at Richmond Park cost £15,000 and maintaining the public buildings (stables) in future is estimated at £3,000 per annum.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if he will list the former Members of this House who have been appointed by his Department to quasi autonomous non-governmental organisations; and if he will list in each case the title of the post, the salary, the duration of the appointment, and the party which the former hon. Member represented;

  (2) if he will list the names of individuals who (a) are spouses of hon. Members, (b) are members of the House of Lords, (c) are spouses of members of the House of Lords and (d) have been party candidates for Parliament, indicating for which party, who have been appointed by his Department to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations giving, in each case, the title of the post, any salary payable, and the duration of the appointment.

  Mr. Sproat
  The Department of National Heritage does not currently hold the information requested centrally and this could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

  National Lottery
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make it his policy, in evaluating tenders from bidders for a clause 5 national lottery licence, not to exclude consortia which include an organisation, whether from the United Kingdom or overseas, which is engaged in existing gambling activity.

  Mr. Sproat
  The responsibility for evaluating tenders and awarding the licence will lie with the director general of the national lottery.

TRANSPORT

  Night Flights
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has reached conclusions following the consultations on night restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  On 28 January this year I published proposals for night restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. These followed a wide-ranging review of how we might best maintain the policy of continuing to protect local communities from excessive exposure to aircraft noise at night.

  Our existing policy has brought very considerable benefits to local communities by controlling movements of most jet aircraft at night. At the same time industry has made great strides in phasing out older noisier aircraft. There has been a substantial reduction in the number of
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  people affected by daytime aircraft noise above the recognised disturbance threshold. This trend will continue, and I have separately laid regulations before the House which will ensure that the noisier, chapter 2 jets will be phased out by 2002. These regulations are in line with international agreements which we have worked hard to deliver.

  The central element of our consultation paper was a new system to maintain the protection offered to residents around Heathrow and Gatwick and extend similar protection to those around Stansted. Additional features were to move away from restricting numbers of movements to a system of quotas that would further encourage the use of quieter aircraft. Each aircraft type would be assigned a quota count (QC) for take-off or landing in line with certificated noise performance. The noisiest aircraft (QC8 and QC16) would not be allowed to be scheduled at night. We also proposed that there should be a QCO category for all aircraft with certificated noise levels less than 90 EPNdB to provide a further incentive to airlines to accelerate changes in their fleets and scheduling in favour of the quietest aircraft. Our proposals also include harmonisation of the night restrictions period and other measures to make the system fairer all round.

  Responses to the consultation have clearly demonstrated the importance local people attach to night restrictions. At the same time, it is clear that they have benefited from the introduction of quieter aircraft. Industry respondents for their part broadly accepted much of what was proposed although they argued that the threshold for QC0 could have been set higher. Some airlines also stressed the need for modest growth in quota to meet anticipated increases in demand over the next five years. However, leaving the movement of QC0 aircraft unrestricted raised concerns among local people that there could in theory be a major and uncheckable expansion in night flights.

  I have concluded that local concerns would best be met by extending the quota system with a new QC½ band to cover larger aircraft below 90 EPNdB. Although the aviation industry will lose some of the benefits of the previous QC0 proposal, they will still be able to use the flexibility of the quota system in scheduling their movements. At the same time local people will have the assurance that the quota will cover all relevant aircraft movements, with a reduction in the types that are currently exempt. This provides an additional measure of protection and meets local concerns about the perceived threat of uncontrolled growth.

  I have given careful consideration to whether I should increase the proposed quotas in order to accommodate the introduction of the QC½ category. On balance I concluded that the relatively small number of such movements at Heathrow could be accommodated within my previous proposal but that enhancement of the quotas would be appropriate at Gatwick and Stansted, because of the larger number of QC½ movements particularly at the latter where there is a significant number of mail and empty positioning flights.

  I have put a full statement on the new quotas in the House Library.

  I pay particular tribute to the commitment of BAA plc in establishing noise and track-keeping systems at the three airports. These systems will complement our new arrangements providing further monitoring—further protection for local people. They will also provide a comprehensive basis for the reviews that I am asking the

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  aircraft noise monitoring advisory committee (ANMAC) to carry out on current noise limits by night and day and the aircraft noise classification system. The noise and track-keeping systems also give industry a ready means to check on its own performance.

  In my decisions I have sought to maintain the essential balance between the aviation industry and local people. The aviation industry makes an important contribution to the economy and it is essential to preserve employment and business opportunities not only for the 100,000 people who work in the industry but also for the wider contribution it makes to the local and national economy. It will be tough on industry and is a challenge to them to maintain progress at introducing quieter aircraft. It is just as important to ensure that local people should be able to enjoy a good night's sleep.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage BR and the relevant private sector interests to seek help from the European investment bank for the upgrading of the west coast main line.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is not normally appropriate for BR to borrow from the European investment bank (EIB), as it can borrow more cheaply from the Government.

  I have recently announced a scoping study to examine how the private sector can be involved in upgrading the west coast main line. The source of finance for the private sector is a matter for any eventual private sector partner in the upgrading project. But the benefits of EIB funding are widely appreciated, and the WCML would almost certainly be an eligible project.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to whom each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department of Transport is responsible; whether the public bodies or their members in each case are subject to(a) surcharge, (b) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (c) scrutiny by the Audit Commission or National Audit Office, (d) the statutory provisions for open government which apply to local authorities, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens' charters; and whether the chairpersons and members of the boards of each of these bodies are required to declare an interest.

  Mr. Norris
  Details of the four executive non-departmental public bodies in which the Department of Transport has an interest are listed in "Public Bodies 1992", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The functions and responsibilities of the three General Lighthouse Authorities are specified in their founding legislation. My right hon. Friend is responsible for the operation of the General Lighthouse Fund which funds the authorities. The Traffic Director for London is appointed by my right hon. Friend and is responsible to him. The answers to the other points raised are:

  (a) None of the bodies is subject to surcharge. (The concept of surcharge as used in the Local Government Finance Act 1982 applies only to local authorities.)

  (b) The bodies subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner are:

  Trinity House

  Northern Lighthouse Board

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  Traffic Director for London

  (c) Information on audit arrangements is set out in Public Bodies 1992.

  (d) No. The provisions of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 apply only to those local authorities specified in the Act.

  (e) Performance indicators have been set for the Traffic Director for London and a system of indicators for the lighthouse authorities is under discussion.

  (f) All bodies are being encouraged to follow the principles of the Citizen's Charter.

  No requirements regarding declarations of interest have been imposed by my right hon. Friend on members of the three lighthouse authorities, the majority of whom he does not appoint. The Traffic Director for London does not have a board but he is required by the terms of his appointment to be alert to the possibility of any conflicts of interest and to consult my right hon. Friend in any case of doubt.

  South Rock Light
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether fishing boats in Northern Ireland are required to pay light dues to the Commissioner of Irish Lights; who operates the South Rock light on the most easterly point of Ireland; what navigation aids the South Rock light provides to fishing boats sailing to Portavogie harbour; and if he will make a statement about the future of the South Rock light.

  Mr. Norris
  The Commissioners of Irish Lights are funded from the General Lighthouse Fund established by Section 1 of the Merchant Shipping (Mercantile Marine Fund) Act 1898. The fund's principal income is from light dues levied on shipping using ports in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Fishing vessels using United Kingdom ports are liable for light dues. In the Republic of Ireland light dues are determined by the Irish Government, who have not extended light dues to fishing vessels using ports in the Republic. The South Rock lightfloat is operated by the Commissioners of Irish Lights. The lightfloat is moored 3´6 miles from Portavogie and is used by all craft for the purposes of marking landfalls, marking coastal passages and as a turning mark for vessels navigating on the north-east coast of Ireland. It clearly marks the dangerous waters to the west and is important for vessels entering or leaving Portavogie. There are no plans to make any changes to the South Rock lightfloat.

  Rail Services (Clapham to Willesden)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions he has reached from his study concerning the practicality of introducing a frequent urban passenger service on the newly electrified railway line between Clapham and Willesden junctions; what would be the estimated cost of re-establishing the intermediate stations at(a) Wormwood Scrubs, (b) Shepherds Bush, (c) West Brompton, (d) Kings Road, Chelsea and (e) York Road, Battersea.

  Mr. Norris
  The study's main conclusions were that the West London line provides the opportunity to introduce a new inner London rail service at relatively low capital cost, and that the project might be suitable for a joint venture initiative. Analysis of potential usage was inevitably subject to a wide margin of error, but suggested that, while not justified in financial terms, the project's estimated
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  benefits/costs ratio would be about 1·8, excluding station investment. Detailed estimates of costs for individual stations were not made.

  Local Authority Transport Companies
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from employees of local authority public transport companies about the security and comparability of their pension arrangements should their companies pass into private sector ownership.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have received representations from PTA company employees, the TGWU and ALBUM (the Association of Local Authority Bus Undertaking Managers). I know that this is an important issue and I will take account of the proposals in respect of pensions in each case at the time consent to the sale arrangements is sought under section 75 of the Transport Act 1985.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to allow those local authorities which currently do not have an arrangement with his Department to enable their public transport company employees to remain in the local government superannuation scheme after transfer to the private sector to make such an arrangement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The guidelines on future membership of public pension schemes, such as the LGSS, were set out in a policy statement of July 1991. I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. We have no plans to extend the arrangements referred to.

  Channel Tunnel (Rail Freight)
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer of 28 June,Official Report, columns 403–4, what is the Government's policy on the desirability of early construction of rail freight terminals to take advantage of the opening of the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  Our authorisation of BR investment exceeding £400 million in preparation for channel tunnel freight services is indicative of the importance we attach to this new market. Terminal facilities are under development and BR expects to be able to meet forecast demand when the tunnel opens.

  Roll on/Roll off Vessels
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the outcome of recent negotiations within the International Maritime Organisation on the safety of life at sea convention in regard to the risks posed by roll on/roll off ships and ferries; and what was the United Kingdom's position on the policy matters discussed.

  Mr. Norris
  Despite some support, the United Kingdom's proposal to amend the convention that would have applied the SOLAS 90 standard to existing ferries within a reasonable timescale did not receive the requisite number of votes at the Maritime Safety Committee. The United Kingdom's position was to obtain similar safety standard for all ferries. This continued to be our objective at the meeting held recently with our European neighbours, which had a more positive outcome.

  Motorways (Charges)
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans currently exist to put tolls on the motorway network.

  Mr. Key
  Draft orders were published last month for the construction of the Birmingham northern relief road. This will be this country's first privately built, operated and tolled overland motorway. The Green Paper, "Paying for Better Motorways", was published on 26 May in order to stimulate a public debate on the principle of introducing direct charging on the existing motorway network in Great Britain.

  Noise and Pollution
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce measures to reduce the noise and pollution resulting from projected levels of road traffic.

  Mr. Key
  Increasingly tight noise standards have been introduced for all types of vehicle. Since 1980 the noise from the heaviest lorries has been virtually halved. And tighter limits are now being negotiated in the European Community. These new standards will include for the first time standards for tyre noise.

  The annual MOT and HGV and PSV tests include an inspection of the exhaust system. Vehicles can also be subjected to roadside checks. We hope to increase the level of these checks by collaboration between police, DoT inspectors and local authority environmental health officers.

  We assess the impact of noise on residential property among other factors which influence the alignment of new roads. And the spread of noise is minimised by the use of cuttings, earth mounds and noise barriers. Quieter road surfaces are being developed.

  Compensation is offered to householders where property values are diminished due to new road schemes. We are conducting research on whether the level at which this compensation is triggered is the right one.

  Tighter controls on the amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and the oxides of nitrogen which can be emitted by petrol and diesel engined cars have been agreed in the European Community. These mean that new petrol-engined cars are now fitted with catalytic converters, reducing by about 75 per cent. emissions of the pollutants mentioned above.

  A further directive has just been adopted which will bring emissions from light duty goods vehicles into line with those for passenger cars. It will apply to light vans first registered on or after 1 October 1994. The EC Council of Ministers is now discussing a draft directive for stricter limits on emissions from cars leading up to the year 2000.

  In 1991, the Council agreed new tighter, emission standards for diesel engined lorries and buses, to be implemented in two stages. From 1 October 1993, new vehicles will have to meet a substantially tighter limit on NOx emissions. There is also to be a limit for the first time on particulate emissions. From 1 October 1996 the NOx limit will be reduced to about half its present value, and the particulate limit will have a level of stringency similar to that to be applied in the United States from 1994. Limits for the year 2000 will soon be discussed within the EC.
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  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which system of motorway charging he proposes to introduce; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The Green Paper "Paying for Better Motorways" is a consultation document. The Government have taken decisions neither on the principle of introducing direct charging on existing motorways nor on the method of doing so, other than to rule out conventional tolling with toll plazas and barriers.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing motorway tolls; what consideration he has given to ways of meeting these costs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The Green Paper, "Paying for Better Motorways" (Cm 2200) describes a number of possible systems of direct charging. Their costs of introduction would vary and would be influenced by the detailed design chosen. It is not possible at this stage to estimate reliably the cost of introducing motorway charges.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the amount of money which could be raised by introducing tolls on the motorway network.

  Mr. Key
  We estimate that an electronic toll of around 1½p per mile for cars and light goods vehicles and an average of around 4½p per mile for other vehicles would generate revenue of some £700 million a year. A permit priced at, say, £50 a year for cars up and to £500 a year for the heaviest goods vehicles would raise some £500 million a year.

  Traffic Calming
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many members of his staff are employed currently(a) full-time and (b) part-time solely to promote traffic calming (i) in Marsham street and (ii) in each of his Department's regional offices.

  Mr. Key
  Traffic calming is a very important area of work in the Department because of the significant safety and environmental benefits it can bring. A substantial amount of effort is devoted to carrying out research and practical studies and to developing regulations, guidance and advice to help local authorities implement successful and cost-effective schemes on their roads. No staff spend all their time on this work, as it overlaps with the wider subjects of traffic management and road safety.

  Quangos (Appointments)
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the former Members of this House who have been appointed since 1988 by his Department to quasi autonomous non-governmental organisations; and if he will list in each case the title of the post, the salary, the duration of the appointment and the party which the former hon. Member represented;

  (2) if he will list the names of individuals who (a) are spouses of hon. Members, (b) are members of the House of Lords, (c) are spouses of members of the House of Lords and (d) have been party candidates for Parliament, indicating for which party, who have been appointed by
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  his Department since 1988 to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations giving, in each case, the title of the post, any salary payable, and the duration of the appointment.

  Mr. Norris
  Detailed information on past and present appointees to non-departmental public bodies—formerly known as quasi autonomous non-governmental organisations—is not held in the Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, from such limited information as is available on present members of NDPBs, there is no evidence that any individual falls within the categories listed at(a), (b) or (c). As regards (d), it is known that two serving members of the Disabled Persons Advisory Committee have been party candidates for Parliament. These are Sir John Hannam, MP and a former Labour Member of Parliament, Mr. Lewis Carter-Jones. Both were reappointed as members of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee in December 1992 for a three year period to December 1995. Committee members are not paid a salary, but the Department meets their travel and subsistence costs.

  Rail Users' Consultative Committees
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how often the franchising director will be required to attend the rail users' consultative committees hearings to answer questions.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have made it clear that the franchising director will be expected to liaise with the rail users' consultative committees and we will be covering this in the Secretary of State's published objectives for him. I expect that the franchising director will attend meetings of both the central and regional committees from time to time as part of this liaison.

ENVIRONMENT

  Dangerous Activities (Convention)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will sign the Council of Europe convention on civil liability for damage resulting from activities dangerous to the environment.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government have no plans to do so.

  Carbon
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the cost to the economy of the measures announced to date for achieving a saving of 10 million tonnes of carbon per annum.

  Mr. Yeo
  Most of the measures announced to date as part of the United Kingdom's CO2 programme are aimed at improving the efficiency of energy use in the economy, with a net benefit to the economy.

  Savings are also expected to be achieved through an increase in the objective for renewable energy. This is part of the Government's continuing strategy to promote the development of new sources of energy to the point at which they become economic and can compete in the market place.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to amend the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 to impose a maximum permitted concentration of cryptosporidium oocyst contamination in drinking water; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 already require that for water supplies to be wholesome they must not contain any organism at a concentration which is detrimental to public health.

  Waterways Ombudsman
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to announce the new ombudsman to deal with issues in relation to the British waterways network.

  Mr. Yeo
  This is principally a matter for the chairman of the British Waterways Board, but I understand that British Waterways hopes to make an announcement within the next month.

  Peatlands
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what safeguard he has proposed for the preservation of lowland peatlands.

  Mr. Yeo
  A working group on peat extraction is preparing advice for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. The Government's strategy for peatlands will be announced after receiving their advice and considering all the relevant information. Meanwhile, the future of peatlands has been secured by: their notification as sites of special scientific interest; purchase; the arrangements between English Nature and Fison's and the co-operation of the members of the Peat Producers Association, whose members have agreed not to make any planning applications to work existing or proposed peatlands SSSIs without the prior agreement of the appropriate nature conservation agency.

  Coastal Policy
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the purpose of the interdepartmental group on coastal policy; what issues it will consider; when its formation was announced; when it has met; and if he will list the names of those persons present on each occasion and the Departments they represent.

  Mr. Yeo
  The inter-departmental group on coastal policy was formed in 1991, prior to the start of the inquiry into coastal zone protection and planning undertaken by the Environment Select Committee. It is composed of officials from all relevant Government departments including Treasury, DoT, DTI MAFF, MoD, DNH, Home Office, Scottish, Welsh, Northern Ireland, Crown Estate and other representatives. Its existence was announced in the Government's response to the inquiry in July 1992.

  Key issues being considered by the group include the control of development below the low water mark, coastal management planning and links to implementation of the EC habitats directive.
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  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to publish minutes of the meetings of the interdepartmental group on coastal policy; what recommendations have been made; and what response he has issued following the meetings of the group.

  Mr. Yeo
  The results of the work of the inter-departmental group on coastal policy will be published in discussion papers later this summer. There are no plans to publish minutes of the meetings of this group.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) of 29 April,Official Report, column 470, on the waste management licensing timetable, what representations he has received about a new timetable.

  Mr. Yeo
  I have received a joint representation on behalf of the Institute of Wastes Management, the National Association of Waste Disposal Contractors, and the local authority associations concerned with waste regulation. I shall meet them on 15 July to discuss the matter. I have also had correspondence from a number of individual waste regulation authorities; and I have met representatives of UK Waste Management Ltd.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reconsider proposed waste management licensing to avoid sites accepting very small quantities of hazardous waste and civic amenity sites having to pay higher rates.

  Mr. Yeo
  The charging scheme's financial objective is to ensure full recovery of waste regulation authorities' relevant costs on the inspection and monitoring of licensed sites. The Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980 define as "special" waste which is so dangerous or difficult to treat, keep or dispose of that special provision is required for dealing with it. The higher rates of subsistence charge proposed for sites authorised by their licence to accept special waste were intended to reflect the higher level of inspection and monitoring required of such sites. As such, they would be necessary to ensure fulfilment of the scheme's financial objective. In response to consultation on the charging scheme, we have received a number of representations about the treatment or keeping of certain special wastes destined for recovery, notably the contents of waste car batteries. We shall consider these representations before making the final scheme.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will implement the proposed new legislation for waste management licensing.

  Mr. Yeo
  As the then Minister for the Environment and Countryside announced on 29 April at column 470, the introduction of waste management licensing has had to be postponed pending further consideration of the impact of European Community measures dealing with waste management. On 18 May at column 101, the then Minister gave further details of the particular technical problems we need to solve. We are working to solve these problems as quickly as possible. As soon as I am in a position to give a revised date for the implementation of licensing, I shall do so.

  Limehouse Link Road
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a breakdown of the costs of the funfair which formed part of the Limehouse link road celebrations on 16 May including any rent waived; how much revenue was raised from funfair ride charges; and how much was raised for the community fund by(a) the funfair and (b) the sponsored walk through the Limehouse link tunnel.

  Sir George Young
  The London Docklands development corporation gave free use of a site for the funfair. The Isle of Dogs community trust was responsible for the sponsored walk and I have no information about the money raised. The costs of, and revenue earned by, the funfair are matters for its operator, as is any contribution made to the community fund.

  Waste Framework Directive
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to the European Councils waste framework directive 91/156/EEC; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The EC framework directive on waste (91/156/EEC) came into force on 1 April this year. Much of it is already implemented in the United Kingdom through the Control of Pollution Act 1974, the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989, and those parts of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which have already been brought into operation. The Government are considering what further measures are needed to implement the remaining provisions of the directive. Some of these will be included in the proposed regulations to bring into force the new waste management licensing provisions in part II of the Environmental Protection Act.

  Aggregates
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps the Government are taking to actively increase the use of recycled and waste materials as aggregates.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government are committed to making greater use of waste and recycled materials in construction. An extensive research programme is in hand to support this. Research has identified the availability of these materials and on how to increase usage. A current project is examining steps to encourage greater recycling of demolition materials. We are also participating in an EC priority waste streams project on recycling building and demolition wastes. The revised Minerals Planning Guidance Note 6 on aggregates, which is currently in draft, will also set out policies to increase the use of recycled and waste materials. Final guidance is expected later this year.

  Ozone-depleting Substances
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department takes to ensure enforcement of section 33(1)(c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in relation to the disposal of waste ozone-depleting substances by releasing them to the atmosphere.
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  Mr. Yeo
  The disposal of waste ozone-depleting substances by releasing them to the atmosphere is an offence under section 33(1)(c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Enforcement of this section is principally a matter for waste regulation authorities. Further guidance on the effect of section 33 will be issued when section 33 is brought into force in its entirety.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions and convictions there have been so far under section 33(1)(c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in relation to the disposal of waste ozone-depleting substances by releasing them to the atmosphere.

  Mr. Yeo
  Information on the substances involved in particular cases is not held centrally.

  London Docklands (Exhibition Centre)
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account was taken in the decision to develop a new exhibition centre in London docklands of the effect on other major exhibition centres within 150 miles of London.

  Sir George Young
  The London Docklands development corporation will wish to decide whether to continue its promotion of a new exhibition centre in the light of a market-testing exercise now being undertaken.

  Air Pollution
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to expand the air pollution detection network; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  My Department will be issuing a consultation document in the summer on the extension of national air quality monitoring by the further integration of local authority and central Government funded monitoring.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to enhance his Department's sponsorship of the construction industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Following an initiative taken by my predecessor, a review of my Department's sponsorship function of the construction industry has been completed. The review looked at the current strengths and achievements of the Department's construction policy directorate and how these could be developed to meet the present and future needs of the industry. I will announce the conclusions of the review on 7 July and copies of the final report will be available in the Libraries of the House from 11 am on that day.

  Forestry
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he took of purchasing policies in the United Kingdom regarding the specification of certain species of timber on environmental grounds when he signed the "United Nations Principles on Forestry" at the Earth summit in 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 1 July 1993]: Purchasing policy was not addressed specifically in the discussions on

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  the principles on forestry, the main objective of which is to ensure that the world's forests are managed sustainably. Nevertheless, we believe that it is important that consumers should be able to distinguish between timber from sustainable and unsustainable sources. We are therefore supporting the development of standards for forest management and timber labelling schemes.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in selling the Building Management Businesses.

  Mr. Curry
  [pursuant to his answer, 24 June 1993, col. 247]: I am pleased to be able to announce the exchange of contracts for the sale of the PSA building management business BM Scotland. The business has been sold to Serco.

  This sale will benefit taxpayers, staff and customers. The next step is for staff to choose individually whether to transfer to the privatised business. The future of the business now lies in the private sector and I hope many staff will choose to transfer with it. Completion of the sale is expected at the end of August.

  Serco will pay the Government £3·5 million for the business. The Government will, in addition, meet the costs of redundancies, should they be necessary, up to an agreed figure in the first five years following completion of the sale. The redundancy entitlement of transferring staff will be guaranteed by the Government for five years after the sale. Further details cannot be released until all the sales have been completed.

  Serco is a leading company in the facilities management field. I am confident that the combination of its commercial skills with the strengths of the BM Scotland work force will give the business a sound future in the private sector.

  I hope to make further announcements soon about the sales of the other two BM businesses.

  Buckingham Palace
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment has been made of the number of additional Royal Parks Constabulary police officers that will have to be deployed and the number of officers that will have to be redeployed consequent upon the opening of Buckingham palace to the public; and what assessment he has made of the cost implications.

  Mr. Sproat
  I have been asked to reply.

  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its chief executive, Mr. David Welch. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given and I shall place a copy of his reply in the Library.

  Letter from Mr. D. Welch to Andrew Mackinlay, dated 30 June 1993:

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for National Heritage has asked me to reply to your Written Parliamentary Question asking:

  what assessment has been made of the number of additional Royal Parks Constabulary police officers that will have to be deployed and the number of officers that will have to be redeployed consequent upon the opening of Buckingham Palace to the public; and what assessment he has made of the cost implications.
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  The Royal Parks have been in close contact with Buckingham Palace about their arrangements for opening to the public. The Royal Parks Constabulary already police St. James's Park and we do not envisage that any additional manpower will be required.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Haiti
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest situation in Haiti.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We support the efforts of the Organisation of American States and the United Nations to bring about a political settlement. We supported the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 841 on 16 June and are implementing legislation to give it effect in the United Kingdom and dependent terrorities. We welcome the convening of talks between President Aristide and the coup leaders and hope they may lead to a lasting settlement.

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

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Following controversy following the death in a road accident of Madam Bhandari, the secretary general of the Unified Marxist Leninist Party, protest action by this party and other left-wing factions led to violent disturbances in Kathmandu and the surrounding area on 25 June. These became increasingly serious, and resulted in an official death toll of 10 in the following few days. The situation is now relatively calm.

  We regret the violence and loss of life. We hope that all parties involved will now resolve any differences peacefully and in the spirit of the parliamentary traditions Nepal has adopted.

  Lord Owen
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the basis on which the salary and allowances of Lord Owen as a peace envoy relating to former Yugoslavia is fixed and on the United Kingdom's contribution.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Lord Owen's remuneration and other terms of service are the responsibility of the presidency of the European Community—currently Belgium—and the international conference on the former Yugoslavia—ICFY.

  The United Kingdom contributes 7·19 per cent. to the total ICFY budget, which includes Lord Owen's remuneration and all other costs directly related to the Conference. The United Kingdom's contribution for the period 1 March to 31 August 1993 was $194,850.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to oppose the lifting of the arms embargo against any participants in the Bosnian civil war until an effective and lasting settlement to the crisis is in place and operating.
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  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The arms embargo was imposed on the former Yugoslavia under United Nations Security Council resolution 713 on 25 September 1991, and is applied equally to all republics. There has been considerable recent debate in international fora on the lifting of the arms embargo for the Bosnian Muslims. We have repeatedly made it clear that this option is not ruled out, but we believe that in present circumstances this would do nothing to assist the achievement of a peace settlement—indeed it could make it less likely and threaten the vital humanitarian relief efforts.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds exist from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Serbia to pay monthly sums to Serbian families who agree to accommodate refugees and displaced persons; what is the total of such monthly payments; what guarantees have been given to UNHCR about how long such funds will be available; and what comparable data he has on funds available on a similar basis in(a) Croatia, (b) Slovenia and (c) Bosnia-Herzegovina; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The UNHCR is paying cash grants to host families in Croatia, Slovenia and Macedonia. The UNHCR's 1993 programme envisages payments of US$ 27 million, US$ 5,055,000 and US$ 2,115,600 respectively. Full implementation of the programme will depend on the availability of funds: so far only a small proportion of the sums envisaged has been paid. The cash grant scheme does not operate in Serbia or Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received of activities in the village of Gladovici in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the past 12 months; and if he will list the source of such reports and the action which has been taken as a result.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have seen a report from the UNPROFOR press office in Zagreb concerning the bombing of Gladovici and Osatica on 13 March. There is evidence to suggest that the aircraft were operated by the Bosnian Serbs. Since the adoption of United Nations Security Council resolution 816 enforcing the no-fly zone over Bosnia, there have been no reports of further combat raids.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information Her Majesty's Government have received to confirm that no arms have been included in supplies to Gorazde distributed from NATO transport planes; if Her Majesty's Government have been apprised of the loading and inspection procedure for such missions; and what complaints have been made regarding supplies to Gorazde.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are established loading and inspection procedures for NATO aircraft leaving Rheinmain in Germany on humanitarian air drop missions. Monitors from all three sides of the Bosnian conflict are present when the aircraft are being loaded to check that they contain only aid supplies. We are aware of allegations to suggest that ammunition has been transported, but have seen no evidence to substantiate this.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from what source Her 86
  Majesty's Government first received information regard-ing the bombing of Gladovici on 13 March; on what information a view was taken as to where the aircraft involved took off and landed; what further information has since come to light; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information concerning the bombing of Gladovici was first received from United Nations personnel, and published in an UNPROFOR press release of 16 March 1993. The aircraft were observed flying across the River Drina into Serbia, which would be consistent with the use of Serbian air space to lose altitude prior to landing. No further information has since come to light.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times Her Majesty's Government or her representatives have met President Slobodan Milosevic since January 1991; and what was the purpose of each meeting.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Our representatives have met President Milosevic and his staff on numerous occasions since January 1991, most recently on 18 June 1993 when Her Majesty's chargéd'affaires in Belgrade delivered a letter from the Prime Minister to President Milosevic expressing his concern at the arrest and detention of opposition leader Mr. Draskovic, and requesting his immediate release. The main purpose of our representa-tions has been to press President Milosevic to co-operate fully with the efforts of the international community to achieve lasting and equitable settlements to the conflicts of the former Yugoslavia, particularly in Bosnia, and in the Krajina and Kosovo, based on the principles established by the London conference.

  Tibet
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions Her Majesty's Government have taken to secure the release and safety of those arrested in the recent demonstrations in Lhasa.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We and our EC partners have urged the Chinese authorities at a high level in Peking to release all those detained in Lhasa and to allow EC diplomats in Peking early access to them meanwhile. The EC has also issued a public statement reiterating these points. We continue to press the Chinese authorities to guarantee full respect for human rights throughout China, including Tibet, in keeping with their obligations under the United Nations charter.

  Entry Clearance Applications (Sana'a)
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of consular staff in Sana'a to cope with applications for entry clearance to the United Kingdom from Sana'a and Djibouti.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Entry clearance staffing in posts overseas, including Sana'a is determined by the volume and nature of the demand. The lack of resident career representation in Djibouti inevitably imposes constraints on the service available there. If the hon. Member is aware of any particular problems, I would be glad to have them looked into.

  Tunisia
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the torture and imprisonment of women in Tunisia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have raised human rights issues on several occasions with the Tunisian Government who are well aware of our concerns.

  Burma
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government and the EC towards Burma (i) overall and (ii) in respect of trade sanctions and arms embargoes.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We and our Community partners have closely co-ordinated policies on Burma. We take every opportunity, bilaterally and as the Community, to urge the Burmese authorities to respect their human rights obligations and the results of the democratic elections in May 1990.

  There has been an EC embargo on arms sales to Burma since July 1991. We have also severed defence links. Wider trade sanctions against Burma do not command the necessary international support.

  British Council
  Mr. Radice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the level of operations by the British Council in the Nordic countries.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The council's long-standing oper-ations in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark have helped to creat the current extensive network of bilateral contacts.

  Recently, in order to release resources—human and financial—the council has reduced its staffing and overheads in the area while maintaining programmes as far as possible.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to whom each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department is responsible; whether the public bodies or their members in each case are subject to(a) surcharge, (b) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (c) scrutiny by the Audit Commission or National Audit Office, (d) the statutory provisions for open Government which apply to local authorities, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charters; and whether the chairpersons and members of the boards of each of these bodies are required to declare an interest.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The non-departmental public bodies—(NDPBs)—sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are responsible to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

  The answers to points (a) to (f) are as follows:

  (a) No.

  (b) The British Council.

  88

  (c) Yes, where the non-departmental public bodies has a budget.

  (d) Not applicable.

  (e) Yes. Financial management and polices of non-departmental public bodies are subject to review every five years.

  (f) All non-departmental public bodies are subject to the citizen's charter. Chairpersons and members of boards are required to declare an interest.

  The Crown Agents and Commonwealth Development Corporation are public corporations of a trading nature, rather than executive non-departmental public bodies. Their classification in the publication "Public Bodies" will be corrected in the 1993 edition.

  Colombia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the EC report on the human rights situation in Colombia.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have seen no such report.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legislation and which agency covers the prudential annual supervision of(a) company and (b) bank accounts in the case of companies and banks registered in Hong Kong; and in what form and to which representative assembly such agencies report.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Requirements on the incorporation, management and winding up of companies are set out in the companies ordinance, administered by the Registrar of Companies. The banking supervision department of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority is responsible for the prudential supervision of banks in Hong Kong in accordance with the provisions of the banking ordinance. Members of Hong Kong's Legislative Council may ask questions and conduct investigations on any matter of concern to them in respect of regulation of banks or companies.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agency is responsible for the supervision of the tax affairs of(a) residents of Hong Kong, (b) companies registered in Hong Kong and (c) banks registered in Hong Kong; and in what form and to which representative assembly such agencies report.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Inland Revenue Department of the Hong Kong Government is responsible for the collection of tax on Hong Kong residents, and on companies and banks registered in Hong Kong. The Commissioner of Inland Revenue reports to the Financial Secretary who is a member of Hong Kong's Legislative Council.

  North Korea
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on North Korea's recent suspension of its intention to withdraw from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Hurd
  We welcome this announcement and the news that the North Korean and United States Governments have agreed to continue their discussions. We hope that these will lead to a permanent solution of the
  89
  problem of North Korea's nuclear intentions. We urge North Korea to folow this positive step by reaffirming its commitment to the non-proliferation treaty and complying fully with its safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

  We also call on North Korea to reaffirm its commitment to the north/south bilateral nuclear agreement with the Republic of Korea.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Anti-abortionists
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what preparations he is making to control the entry into the United Kingdom and the activities in the United Kingdom of American anti-abortionists visiting the United Kingdom in September and to protect clinical staff and women seeking legal abortions from intimidation and harassment.

  Offences currently recorded as homicide in which the relationship between the suspect and victim was domestic and where a shot gun was used—England and Wales

  Year

  Police Force Area

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Avon and Somerset

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Bedfordshire

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cambridgeshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Cheshire

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Cleveland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cumbria

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Derbyshire

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Devon and Cornwall

  —

  8

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Dorset

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  Durham

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Essex

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gloucestershire

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Hampshire

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Hertfordshire

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Humberside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  1

  Kent

  —

  1

  2

  1

  1

  —

  1

  Lancashire

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Leicestershire

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  London, City of

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Metropolitan Police District

  1

  —

  2

  1

  —

  2

  —

  Norfolk

  4

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Northamptonshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Northumbria

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North Yorkshire

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Yorkshire

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Staffordshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  2

  —

  Surrey

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Sussex

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Thames Valley

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Warwickshire

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Mercia

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  West Midlands

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  West Yorkshire

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Wiltshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Dyfed-Powys

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  —

  Gwent

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  2

  90
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Citizens of the United States of America are subject to immigration control and must qualify to enter under the terms of the immigration rules. My right hon. and learned Friend may direct exclusion if a person's presence would not be conducive to the public good. Considerations will be given to any evidence which may justify the exclusion of individuals identified as members of the group intending to visit the United Kingdom in September.

  Enforcement of the Public Order Act 1986 as it relates to behaviour which may cause harassment or fear of violence is the responsibility of chief officers of police.

  Firearms
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 June 1992,Official Report, columns 411–14, if he will update the table for homicides involving shotguns in domestic incidents.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is given in the table.
  91

  Year

  Police Force Area

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  North Wales

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  South Wales

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  England and Wales

  16

  23

  15

  12

  11

  17

  11

  Information for 1992 is not yet available.

  Notes:

  1. Offences currently recorded as homicide as at 14 September 1992.

  2.The term "domestic" includes the following relationships of victim to suspect: daughter; parent; spouse; cohabitant or former spouse or cohabitant; other family; lover or former lover including spouse's lover or lover's spouse or other associate.

  Wolds Prison
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Wolds prison severe incident of 28 and 29 June was reported to him; and what and who was involved in this incident.

  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. Doug Hoyle, dated July 1993:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about an incident at Wolds remand prison on 28 and 29 June.

  The incident occurred late on 28 June. The Controller at Wolds was informed at home in the early hours of 29 June, and she in turn informed the appropriate official at Prison Service Headquarters. A report on the incident was faxed to the offices of the Home Secretary and the Minister of State soon after the start of business that morning.

  Police are investigating the incident, in which two prisoners allegedly assaulted three Group 4 staff and one prisoner started a fire within a unit which resulted in smoke and water damage.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to whom each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department is responsible; whether the public bodies or their members in each case are subject to(a) surcharge, (b) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (c) scrutiny by the Audit Commission or National Audit Office, (d) the statutory provisions for open government which apply to local authorities, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charters; and whether the chairpersons and members of the boards of each of these bodies are required to declare an interest.

  Mr. Howard
  The executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Home Office are as follows:

  Alcohol Education and Research Council*

  Commission for Racial Equality

  Community Development Foundation*

  Fire Service Examination Board

  Fire Service Research and Training Trust*

  Gaming Board

  Horserace Betting Levy Board

  Horserace Totalisator Board

  Office of the Data Protection Registrar

  Police Complaints Authority

  Police Promotion Examinations Board

  * Indicates a charity

  92
  In addition, the Home Office sponsors the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, which performs some executive functions.

  The readily available information on these bodies is as follows:—

  Responsibility

  Chairmen and members are appointed by the Home Secretary and are ultimately responsible through him to Parliament.

  Surcharge

  NDPB members are not subject to 'surcharge'. However, in the case of those NDPBs which are charities Trustees have potential financial liabilities under the Charities Act 1992.

  Investigation by Parliamentary Commissioner
  The Commission for Racial Equality, the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the Office of the Data Protection Registrar are listed in schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967, as amended, as among those bodies subject to investigation by the PCA.

  Scrutiny by the Audit Commission or National Audit Office
  The Audit Commission has responsibility only for local government. The following bodies are subject to NAO scrutiny either by statute or by agreement:

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Board

  Community Development Foundation

  Commission for Racial Equality

  Gaming Board

  Office of the Data Protection Registrar

  Police Complaints Authority

  Statutory provisions for open Government which apply to local authorities
  NDPBs are subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984. They are not subject to legislation which specifically applies to local authorities.

  Performance Indicators
  NDPBs are encouraged, wherever appropriate, to develop performance indicators and associated targets and to publish these.

  Citizens Charter
  The Home Office is encouraging those NDPBs which offer a service to the public to adopt the principles set out in the citizens charter and to publicise how these are being reflected in their working arrangements.
  93
  Declaration of Interests
  There are no statutory requirements for members or chairpersons to declare an interest. Nevertheless, in those bodies where a potential conflict of interest might arise, arrangements have been made to ensure propriety.

  Pet Animals
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. M ember for Gateshead, East (Ms Quin) of 19 November 1992,Official Report, column 295, if he has now completed consideration of the legislative changes required to enable the United Kingdom to be a party to the Council of Europe convention on pet animals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Consideration of the legislative changes required in order to comply with the convention is continuing.

  Criminal Justice
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the report of the Royal Commission on criminal justice.

  Mr. Howard
  The Government welcome the royal commission's wide-ranging report which was published today. I and my right hon. and learned Friends, the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney-General, are grateful to Viscount Runciman and his colleagues for their endeavours, and I congratulate them on completing their work on time.

  The report deals with difficult questions of great long-term importance, and it will no doubt provoke much public debate and discussion. The Government do not propose that there should now be a formal consultation period, but we will welcome any early observations on the report's proposals, before reaching our own conclusions.

  Although the royal commission's terms of reference extended only England and Wales, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has indicated his intention to consider the implications of the report for the criminal justice system of Scotland. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to say that, in consultation with the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney-General, he similarly wishes to consider the implications of the report in the context of Northern Ireland.

  Sheehy Inquiry
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department hwo many free copies of the report of the Sheehy inquiry have been made available to the police federations of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Two each.

  Triads
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to make membership of triad organisations illegal.

  Mr. Maclean
  None. It is not an offence in this country to belong to any association, with the exception of certain 94
  proscribed terrorist organisations. If members of triads or other organisations are individually guilty of specific offences or of conspiracy, the police and the courts can take action against them in the same way as against anyone else.

  Police Forces (Pay)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will appoint a committee of inquiry into the structure, pay and conditions of service of the non-Home Office police forces as a complement to the Sheehy report, on the same basis as the Wright report 1979, Cmnd. 7623.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This would be a matter for the Secretaries of State with responsibility for such police forces.

EDUCATION

  Student Awards
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what saving there would have been in the latest year for which information is available if all students in receipt of a mandatory award had been paid at the level for living at the parental home.

  Mr. Boswell
  In 1991–92, the latest year for which provisional data are available, the effect of restricting all mandatory award holders to the existing maintenance grant rate for living at the parental home would—taken in isolation—have resulted in savings of some £270 million in England and Wales.

  Grant-maintained Schools Centre Ltd.
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library a copy of the report from his chief accountancy adviser following his visit to the Grant-maintained Schools Centre Ltd. in February.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  No. This is an internal document concerning a company with a trading activity and is commercial in confidence. It has, however, been sent to the Public Accounts Committee in response to a request from the Committee.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many copies have been printed of the revised edition of the booklet, "How to Become a Grant-Maintained School", published in June; what was the cost of(a) the design and (b) the production; when he proposes to make a further revision to take account of the provisions of the Education Bill; and how many copies he expects to distribute during the summer holiday period.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  A total of 60,000 copies of the fourth edition of this booklet have been printed so far, at a cost of £4,611 for design, £9,950 for printing and £2,957 for other production costs. Distribution is predominantly in response to requests for copies of the booklet, which over the past year have averaged almost 15,000 a month. A fifth edition will be published shortly before the provisions in the present Education Bill on acquiring grant-maintained status are brought into effect.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education to whom each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department of Education is responsible; whether the public bodies or their members in each case are subject to(a) surcharge, (b) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (c)

  Name of NDPB

  Surcharge

  Investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner

  Scrutiny by Audit Commission or National Audit Office

  Statutory provisions for open government applied to local authorities

  Performance indicators

  Citizens' Charters

  Requirement to declare an interest

  Business and Technology Education Council

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  1—

  Yes

  Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  1—

  Yes

  Centre for Information on Language Teaching

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  1—

  No

  Council for the Accreditation of Teachers Education

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  No

  1—

  No

  Education Assets Board

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  1—

  Yes

  Further Education Funding Council (England)

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  No

  1—

  Yes

  Further Education Unit

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  1—

  Yes

  Higher Education Funding Council(England)

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  No

  1—

  Yes

  National Council for Education Technology

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  No

  1—

  No

  National Curriculum Council

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  1—

  No

  National Youth Agency

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  1—

  Yes

  Schools Examination and Assessment Council

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  No

  1—

  Yes

  Teaching as a Career Unit

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  No

  1—

  No

  University Commissioners

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  1—

  No

  Not yet formally adopted.

  Student Unions
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consultations he had with(a) vice-chancellors and (b) the National Union of Students before his statement of 1 July on students' unions.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend's announcement of the Government's proposals for the reform of student unions followed an extended period of consultation with universities, colleges and students. This included discussions with vice-chancellors, both individually and collectively, and the NUS.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to alter the way in which education standard spending assessments reflect social and ethnic factors; and if he will make a statement.
  96
  scrutiny by the Audit Commission or National Audit Office, (d) the statutory provisions for open Government which apply to local authorities, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens' charters; and whether the chairpersons and members of the boards of each of these bodies are required to declare an interest.

  Mr. Boswell
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  In consultation with the local authority associations, we are currently reviewing in the light of the 1991 census data the ways in which the education elements of standard spending assessments reflect the different social and ethnic characteristics of local authorities. The review is not yet complete. Before reaching decisions on the outcome, we shall take into account all the available relevant evidence.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the former members of this House who have been appointed since 1988 by his Department to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations; and if he will list, in each case, the title of the post, the salary, the duration of the appointment, and the party which each represented as an hon. Member.

  Mr. Boswell
  The information requested is given as follows.
  97

  Name of member

  NDPB and post held

  Salary

  Duration of appointment

  Political party

  Mr. N. Bennett

  Further Education Funding Council (England) Member of the Council

  £4,000 pa honorarium

  3 years

  Conservative

  Mr. M. Fallon

  Higher Education Funding Council (England) Member of the Council

  £4,000 pa honorarium

  2·5 years

  Conservative

  School Leavers
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the expected number of school leavers who will join the labour market in each region in England in July/August.

  Mr. Boswell
  Information on intended destinations of school leavers is no longer collected by the Department. However, the estimated results from the 1992 schools examination survey indicated that 147,000 school leavers in England intended to enter employment, including youth training. The estimated figures for the individual regions are as follows:

  Thousands

  Northern

  13·74

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  19·24

  North Western

  23·80

  East Midland

  12·68

  West Midland

  19·29

  East Anglia

  3·93

  Greater London

  13·87

  Other South East

  28·26

  South Western

  11·79

  ENGLAND

  146·59

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Development Assistance
  Mr. Coe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official development assistance was provided by the United Kingdom in 1992 as a percentage of gross national product.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  United Kingdom's official development assistance in 1992 amounted to 0·31 per cent. of GNP. This more than maintains Britain's average performance over recent years of 0·30 per cent.

  The ratio includes Britain's official development assistance to developing countries. It does not include assistance to countries in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, which are not included on the Development Assistance Committee list of developing countries, or contributions to the global environment facility and the Montreal protocol multilateral fund.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Trinidad Terms
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Government intend to press for the full implementation of the Trinidad terms.

  Mr. Nelson
  The United Kingdom has an excellent record of helping those developing countries with debt problems. It was a direct result of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's initiative for the poorest and most indebted countries following International Monetary Fund-sponsored programmes of reform, that the Paris club of major creditor Governments began implementing the Trinidad terms in December 1991. The recent announcement by the United States Administration of its intention to join the international consensus in implementing debt reduction on Trinidad terms is very welcome.

  But the Government are aware that for some of the most desperate cases the terms as currently applied will not be enough. We are, therefore, taking every opportunity to pursue improvements to the terms with our creditor country colleagues.

  Specifically, we would like to see the degree of concessionality increased to a range of 50 to 80 per cent. on a case-by-case basis for those countries that need it. We would also like to see quicker action on the stock of debt for those countries that already have a proven track record of reform with the IMF. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will be raising this issue at the forthcoming Tokyo summit.

  Corporate Taxation (Shipping)
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the corporate tax rates and systems of the members of the European Community as they apply specifically to the shipping industry.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Corporate tax systems operating in European Community member states are complex and diverse, and comparisons are notoriously difficult. Lists of all the numerous tax provisions applying to shipping industries in each country are not readily available. Information available on national corporate tax rates on profits of shipping companies in EC countries is as follows:

  Tax rates1 (Per cent.)

  Belgium

  39

  Denmark

  534

  France

  33⅓

  Germany

  236

  Greece

  30

  99

  Tax rates1 (Per cent.)

  Ireland

  410

  Italy

  36

  Luxembourg

  533

  Netherlands

  535

  Portugal

  36

  Spain

  35

  United Kingdom mainstream rate

  33

  United Kingdom small company rate

  25

  1 Companies may also be subject to local income or profits taxes (eg 16·2 per cent. in Italy and averages of 20 per cent. in Germany and 10 per cent. in Luxembourg).

  2 Undistributed profits taxed at 50 per cent.

  3 Ships subject to annual tonnage tax.

  4 Rate applicable to "qualifying shipping activities"; non-qualifying activities taxed at 40 per cent.

  5 Denotes classical system—profits taxed once in hands of company and again in hands of shareholder.

  Drug Trafficking
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on preparations for the control of drug trafficking at frontiers by 1995.

  Sir John Cope
  Control of drug trafficking at frontiers is the primary responsibility of HM Customs and Excise. Customs' anti-smuggling controls are founded on selective, targeted checks, based on detailed risk assessment, intelligence and the use of indicators. These controls are regularly monitored and evaluated so as to maintain, and wherever possible enhance, their effectiveness, and to allow for refinement in response to changes in the threat posed to the United Kingdom.

  Taxation
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many actions special office 2 of the Inland Revenue has brought for non-payment or avoidance of tax.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The special offices settle their investigations cases by recovery of tax lost, and where appropriate interest and penalties due under the Taxes Acts. Special office 2 settled 83 cases in the year ended 5 April 1993 and it has 176 cases under inquiry at present.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what grades of officers of the Inland Revenue are allowed to make settlement agreements in cases of possible tax avoidance; and if he will place the written guidance to officers covering such matters in the Library.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The agreements in these cases would normally be to settle appeals, which inspectors or other proper officers of the Crown may do under section 54 of the Taxes Management Act, 1970. The grade level of the inspector or other officer responsible would depend on the size and difficulty of the case and could vary from pay bands A to C—formerly principal inspector/grade 5 and below. The officer responsible for handling the case would also deal with any contract agreement with the taxpayer for the payment of unassessed tax, where settlement was reached in this way. There is no written guidance to officers specifically on agreements covering cases of possible tax avoidance, but technical advice is given by head office specialists on many areas of avoidance.
  100
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what internal procedures are in force to decide whether to undertake prosecutions for tax non-payment or avoid-ance; what grade of officer would normally decide such matters; and if he will place the written guidance to officers covering such matters in the Library.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue take proceedings in examples of all categories of serious tax fraud provided there is evidence to the standard of proof required by the criminal courts. Investigation of cases for possible criminal proceedings is the responsibility of officers in parts of the special compliance office. After legal advice from the office of the solicitor of Inland Revenue, in accounts fraud cases decisions to proceed are taken at under secretary level and in other cases at pay band A—formerly principal inspector/grade 5—level. I am arranging for a copy of the board's current order covering such matters to be placed in the Library.

  Inland Revenue (Performance Reviews)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what performance review procedures are in force for special investigation offices of the Inland Revenue; what factors are taken into account in such reviews, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  For staff in the special investigation offices the same procedures apply as in the rest of the Inland Revenue: individual performance is reviewed regularly against objectives set out in the agreement made between job holder and immediate line manager at the beginning of the year. A formal assessment is made at the end of the year. The performance of each special investigation office is regularly reviewed by senior officers from the headquarters of the special compliance office by means of analysis of management information, visits and discussions and scrutiny and quality assessment of casework.

  European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Mr. Ernest Stern is to be paid as vice-president of the European bank for reconstruction and development; whether United Kingdom income tax is payable on this salary; and what assessment he has made of the implications of the level of the salary for the vice-president of the European bank for reconstruction and development for the salaries of other senior managers in international institutions.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: Mr. Stern has not been appointed as vice-president of the EBRD.

  Tax Evasion
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 29 June,Official Report, column 455, how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by the Inland Revenue on tax evasion investigations in each year since 1988–89.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: Approximate numbers of staff units were as follows:—

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  Year

  Number

  1988–89

  2,900

  1989–90

  3,100

  1990–91

  3,200

  1991–92

  3,400

  1992–93

  3,500

  Council Tax
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints about council tax valuation bandings in the Chelmsford parliamentary constituency have been resolved since 1 April.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: Valuation lists for council tax are maintained in billing authority areas and not by parliamentary constituencies. As at 30 June 1993, 100 proposals seeking alterations to council tax bands have been resolved in the area covered by Chelmsford borough council. With regard to the arrangements for dealing with proposals to alter council tax valuations I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Planning on Tuesday 29 June, Official Report, column 416.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been received about valuations for council tax purposes in the Chelmsford parliamentary constituency since 1 April.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: Valuation lists for council tax are maintained in billing authority areas and not by parliamentary constituencies. As at 30 June 1993, 1,600 proposals seeking alterations to council tax bands have been received in the area covered by Chelmsford borough council. With regard to the arrangement dealing with proposals to alter council tax valuations, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Planning on Tuesday 29 June, Official Report, column 416.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appeals against banding for the council tax in the area of Waveney district have been determined to date; how many are still awaiting determination; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: As at 30 June 1993, 58 proposals seeking alterations to council tax bandings have been resolved in the area covered to Waveney district council and there are 1,112 proposals awaiting determination. With regard to the arrangements for dealing with proposals to alter council tax valuations, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Planning on Tuesday 29 June, Official Report, column 416.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appeals against valuation for the uniform business rate in the area of Waveney district have been determined since its inception; how many are still awaiting determination; and if he will make a statement.
  102
  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: As at 30 June 1993, 1,117 appeals against assessments in the non-domestic rating list for the area covered by Waveney district council have been resolved. There are 654 awaiting determination.

  Capital Allowances
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the direct effect on revenue in the year 1992–93 had the clauses in chapter II, part II of the Finance (No. 2) Bill of 1993 been brought into effect from the beginning of the 1992–93 tax year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: If the Finance Bill proposals for the taxation of foreign exchange gains and losses had been introduced from April 1992, corporation tax receipts in 1992–93 would not have been affected because mainstream corporation tax is not due for payment until nine months after the end of the accounting period. Accruals of tax would have started to be affected but many of the accounting periods first affected are not yet finished. Also, the tax change may itself have affected the levels of borrowing.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much corporation tax has been repaid in each year since 1986–87 by industry, classified as in table 9.3 of Inland Revenue statistics 1992.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: Information on total repayments of corporation tax was given in my reply to the hon. Member on 28 June, Official Report, column 372. I regret that further information by industry is not available.

  Non-domicile Tax Status
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to discover how many individuals benefit from non-domicile tax status; and how much revenue has been lost to the Exchequer through the availability of this status.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: The answer to the first part of the question could be calculated only at disproportionate cost. Information is not available under the present law to answer the second part of the question.

  Mr. Asil Nadir
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations the holder of his office received from right hon. and hon. Members concerning the conduct of Inland Revenue special office 2's investigation into the affairs of Mr. Asil Nadir.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: I am not aware that any such representations have been received.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  British Nuclear Fuels plc
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria he applied when deciding whether to approve British Nuclear Fuels plc corporate plans from 1985 onwards.
  103
  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 5 July,Official Report, column 36.

  Japan
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representation he has received regarding access for British exports to the Japanese market.

  Mr. Needham
  In recent years, great strides have been made by Japan in opening her markets, but problems persist in a few areas. The Department is in regular contact with the exporters concerned. Like our EC partners, United Kingdom Ministers and officials take every opportunity to impress on Japan the need for unrestricted access to her markets.

  Aid, Rochdale
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the aid given by his Department to firms in the borough of Rochdale.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In the three years ending 30 March 1993, the following sums were paid to firms in the borough of Rochdale:

  £

  Regional Selective Assistance:

  (This represents 103 payments made to about 55 projects).

  3,090,055

  Support for Products Under Research (SPUR):

  One Offer of

  21,187

  Payment made on 5 November 1992 of

  18,009

  Enterprise Initiative Consultancies:

  Number of Initiatives= 132

  —

  Number of Companies Assisted = 108

  —

  Cost of DTI

  523,366

  Company Law Reform
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a list of the members of each of the DTI working groups examining the scope for company law reform.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The following is a list of the external members of the working groups formed to date:

  Financial Assistance for the Purchase of a Company's Own Shares:

  Ms Rosemary Cairns, Mr. Clive Edrupt, Mrs. Wendy Gadd, Mr. Martyn Jones, Mr. William Knight, Mr. Neil Matthewson, Mr. Ronald Paterson, Mr. Stuart Russell.

  Private Companies

  Mr. Robin Bell, Mr. Richard Brown, Ms Rosemary Cairns, Mrs. Judith Freedman, Mr. Jeremy Pope, Mr. Derek Scott, Mr. Christopher Swinson, Mr. Piers Wolf.

  Group Law

  Ms Rosemary Cairns, Ms Harriet Creamer, Mr. Michael Garner, Mr. Michael Levitton, Mr. Stuart Murray, Professor Daniel Prentice, Miss Isobel Sharpe, Mr. Kevin Sweeney, Ms Pauline Wallace.

  Registration of Company Charges

  Mr. Trevor Aldridge QC, Mr. Peter Graham, Mr. Michael Hall, Mr. Bruce Patrick, Mr. Michael Ryden.

  Company Voluntary Arrangements

  Miss Mary Arden QC, Mr. W. G. Bradford, Professor I. Fletcher, Mr. I. Fletcher, Mr. Mark Goldstein, Mr. Mark Homan, Mr. J. Pollard, Mr. H. Rajak.
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  I intend to consult widely on proposals for reform enabling everybody concerned to have a full opportunity to comment.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much money each country in the European Community has received from the European regional development fund in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The amount of European regional development fund grant received by each member state of the European Community in the years 1987 to 1991 is given in the table. Figures for 1992 are not yet available.

  million ecu, current prices

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Belgium

  23

  30

  41

  44

  46

  Denmark

  17

  10

  15

  19

  11

  Germany

  73

  97

  164

  89

  95

  Greece

  294

  313

  418

  543

  537

  Spain

  345

  544

  980

  1,407

  1,489

  France

  311

  436

  284

  331

  323

  Ireland

  135

  137

  191

  250

  412

  Italy

  564

  597

  787

  910

  711

  Luxembourg

  4

  7

  1

  0

  18

  Netherlands

  20

  13

  29

  33

  35

  Portugal

  223

  331

  397

  452

  971

  United Kingdom

  527

  578

  612

  465

  530

  Total

  2,536

  3,093

  3,919

  4,543

  5,178

  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which regions in the United Kingdom currently benefit from the European regional development fund.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  All regions designated for objectives 1, 2 and 5(b) of the European structural funds are eligible for the European regional development fund. Northern Ireland is designated for objective 1. The areas designated for objective 2 were listed in the Official Journal of the European Communities No. L 112 of 25 April 1989 and No. C 177 of 18 July 1990, and those designated for objective 5(b) in No. L 198 of 12 July 1989.

  In addition Gibraltar and parts of London, Kent and Stoke-on-Trent benefit from the European regional development fund under article 10 of Council regulation (EEC) 4254/88.

  Insurance (Commission Disclosure)
  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about commission disclosure in general insurance business; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has received no recent representations specifically on the subject of commission disclosure in general insurance business. The Insurance Brokers Registration Council has a code of conduct, and the Association of British Insurers a code of practice, both of which require commission disclosure in general insurance business by independent intermediaries on request.

  Sellafield (Incidents)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent incidents have been reported from the British Nuclear Fuels reprocessing plant.

  Mr. Eggar
  Details of all incidents at British Nuclear Fuels plc's reprocessing plant at Sellafield are recorded in site logs and published in widely circulated weekly site newsletters. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) to a question from the then Member for Sherwood on 30 April 1987, Official Report, columns 203–4.

  Coal Privatisation
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what Government assistance will be available to support management and employee teams bidding for the privatisation of British Coal.

  Mr. Eggar
  Government support for management and employee teams bidding for the privatisation of British Coal will be at a maximum rate of 50 per cent. of the eligible costs of employing consultants and or advisers. Support for any team will not exceed £200,000.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on issues discussed and decisions taken at the meeting of the European Community's Foreign Affairs Council on 2 July.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I attended a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 2 and 3 July. Subject to a reservation by the Irish Republic, which at present remains outstanding, the Council reached conclusions on the regulations on the future of the European structural funds. The Council also heard a report by the Commission on the state of play in the GATT Uruguay round.

  Subject to the Irish reservation, the outcome on the structural funds was as follows. It is fully satisfactory for the United Kingdom.

  1. The Objective 1 regions, which receive the highest grants, will include Northern Ireland, Merseyside and the whole of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise area, including the Argyll, Bute and West Moray areas, which the European Commission had proposed to omit.

  2. The clear priority of the European Social Fund will remain Objective 3, training for the unemployed, particularly the long-term unemployed and young people. Expenditure on this will be at least four times greater than expenditure on Objective 4, for training people affected by industrial change, particularly those threatened with unemployment. Moreover the majority of expenditure on Objective 4 will be for people employed in small and medium-sized enterprises.

  3. The introduction of future Community Initiatives, which will be limited to 9 per cent. of the total of the Funds, will be subject to control by a new management committee of Member States. Maritime border areas will also be eligible for assistance.

  4. There will be new simplified procedures for the administration of the Funds, balanced by a new requirement for cost-benefit appraisal and for streng-thened monitoring and evaluation to improve value for money. Assistance will henceforth be allocated where appraisal shows commensurate benefits.

  106
  The total size of the funds, up to 1999, had already been settled by the Edinburgh European Council. If the Irish reservation is withdrawn it should be possible for the Council to adopt the reguations definitively at its meeting on 19 and 20 July. But several matters remain to be settled before the new arrangements can be implemented, with effect from 1 January 1994:

  1. No firm decisions have yet been taken on the financial allocations to any region.

  2. The maps of Objective 2 and 5(b) areas have to be drawn. This will be done by a new procedure based on national proposals and taking due account of national priorities. This represents a major improvement on the present system. The Government intends to launch this procedure in the United Kingdom as soon as the regulations have been adopted definitively.

  3. The United Kingdom's and other Member States' plans for the future use of the Funds will have to be drawn up and approved.

  4. The Council is to discuss the future content of the Community Initiatives during the Autumn.

  The Commission's report on the Uruguay round covered in particular progress in the current quadrilateral talks between the Community, the United States, Canada and Japan. The Council fully supported the Commission's efforts to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion by the end of the year.

  Council of Energy Ministers
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on issues discussed and decisions taken at the meeting of the European Community's Council of Energy Ministers on 25 June.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Council considered several major issues and received reports from the Commission on other matters of interest. I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council reached political agreement on the ALTENER programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources and the SAVE directive, an energy efficiency measure. Formal adoption will take place at an early date.

  The Commission also reported on progress in implementing the Community's nuclear safety assistance programmes to the countries of eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The Council called for the urgent implementation of practical measures to improve safety at nuclear plants in the region.

  Progress was made on the Commission's proposals for a new coal state aids decisions to replace the existing one which expires at the end of this year. The United Kingdom emphasised the importance of moving towards economic viability in the light of international market prices for coal and the Council agreed on the need for the Community's coal industry to make progress in that direction through reduction of production costs and capacities in order to achieve degression of aids.

  Under the heading of the internal energy market, the Council discussed the proposed directives on liberalisation of the gas and electricity markets. The Commission outlined new ideas on access to networks in response to the invitation by the Council on 30 November to modify its proposals. The Council agreed that discussions should continue while the opinion of the European Council is awaited. The Commission also gave a preview of the second report on the internal energy market. The Council discussed the hydrocarbons licensing directive and agreed

  107
  that outstanding issues should be resolved with the intention of achieving a common position under the Belgian presidency.

  The Council also considered the progress of negotiations on the European energy charter.

  The Commission reported on forthcoming proposals for a directive on the energy efficiency requirements for household refrigerators and freezers and for guidelines on trans-European energy networks. The Presidency reported on discussions in ECOFIN on the proposed CO2/energy tax.

  Warren Spring Laboratory
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given to relocating Warren Spring Laboratory to share facilities with the Building Research Establishment at Garston.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 29 June 1993]: None.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what conditions of service will be offered to Warren Spring Laboratory staff who are transferred to the Atomic Energy Authority.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 29 June 1993]: The staff will become employees of the Atomic Energy Authority. The Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 will apply to this transfer. This means that those staff who transfer to AEA will take with them their current DTI terms and conditions.

  Training
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many non-United Kingdom owned companies and subsidiaries of non-United Kingdom owned companies are providing training services in the United Kingdom.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have been asked to reply. This information is not available.

EMPLOYMENT

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

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Employment Department group's market-testing programme is being developed within existing resources.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment to whom each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department is responsible; whether the public bodies or their members in each case are subject to(a) surcharge, (b) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (c) scrutiny by the Audit Commission or National Audit Office, (d) the statutory provisions for open Government which apply to local authorities, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens' charters; and whether the chairpersons and members of the boards of each of these bodies are required to declare an interest.
  108
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The following executive non-departmental public bodies are sponsored by this Department:

  Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service

  Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members

  Construction Industry Training Board

  Engineering Construction Industry Training Board

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  Health and Safety Commission

  Health and Safety Executive

  National Council for Vocational Qualifications

  Remploy Ltd.

  Wages Councils

  Women's National Commission

  With the exception of the special arrangements which exist in relation to the Health and Safety Commission and Executive, all are responsible to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

  The Health and Safety Commission is responsible to my right hon. Friend and other Secretaries of State which have a relevant interest, and the Health and Safety Executive is responsible to the Commission.

  (a) These bodies and their members are not subject to surcharge;

  (b) The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, Commisioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members, Equal Opportunities Commission, Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive are subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner as they come within the ambit of schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967, as amended;

  (c) the bodies either subject their accounts to full audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General, head of the National Audit Office, or, in the case of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications and Remploy Ltd., provide him with access to their books and records;

  (d) none of these bodies is subject to any statutory provisions for open government which apply to local authorities;

  (e) performance indicators are agreed as part of the normal departmental planning process; and

  (f) citizens charter provisions are agreed where appropriate.

  No register of interests is kept by the Department.

  European Social Fund
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about objective 4 of the European social fund; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: The Department has consulted those organisations involved in the management of projects supported by the European social fund—ESF—in the United Kingdom about the reform of the European structural funds, including the proposed new objective 4. Most respondents shared the Government's view that the European social fund should continue to be concentrated on assisting the unemployed, particularly the long-term unemployed and young people. The reform of the European structural funds was discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council on 2 July where, subject to an Irish reservation on the overall package, it was agreed that training for the unemployed should remain the priority for expenditure under the ESF.
  109
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any proposals to secure the future funding of voluntary organisations following the proposed reduction in the European social fund; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]; Across the European Community resources allocated to the European structural funds, including the European social fund—ESF—are set to increase by 40 per cent. over the period 1993–99. Training and employment measures supported by the ESF are selected on an open and competitive basis to ensure value for money.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the absolute number and percentage of the labour force unemployed for(a) under three months, (b) over three months, (c) over six months, (d) over 12 months, (e) over two years, (f) over three years and (g) over four years in each OECD and European Community country since 1979.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: The available information can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Unemployment data, on the International Labour Organisation basis, for particular durations are published by the statistical office of the European Communities—EUROSTAT—in its annual "Labour Force Survey Results" copies of which are available in the Library.

  Name

  Title of post

  Salary

  Duration

  Party

  Lord Mackay of Ardbreknish (John Jackson Mackay)

  Chairman1, Sea Fish Industry Authority

  £28,780 p.a.

  3 years from 1 October 1990

  Conservative (Argyle and Bute, 1983–87)

  Sir Peter Mills

  Chairman,South West Regional Panel (following reorganisation in 1992 became Chairman of new South West Panel)

  None

  3 years from 1 August 1988 3 years from 1 August 1991 (resigned June 1993)

  Conservative (Torrington, 1964–74, Devon, West, 1974–83, Torridge and West Devon, 1983–87)

  Andrew Stewart

  Chairman2, Agricultural Training Board

  £15,600 p.a.

  3 years from 1 October 1992

  Conservative (Sherwood, 1983–92)

  David Myles, CBE

  Member2, Potato Marketing Board

  —3

  3 years from 1 January 1988 3 years from 1 January 1991

  Conservative (Banff, 1979–83)

  1 Appointed jointly with Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  2 Appointed jointly with Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales.

  3 As set by Potato Marketing Board.

  Set-aside
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have a dispute or contested claim for set-aside for the most recently available period.

  Mr. Jack
  A total of 28 claims under the five and one year set-aside schemes for the 1991–92 period are currently subject to dispute. Claims for land set-aside under the new arable area payments scheme are still being processed.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Powers of Entry
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers her officials have, and are contemplating, to enter farmland without prior notification.

  Mr. Jack
  As far as the integrated administration and control system is concerned, the Control System Regulations 1993—SI 1993/1317—provide authorised persons with powers of entry at all reasonable hours for the purpose of carrying out control measures required to meet EC obligations. In using these powers, we shall have regard to the requirements of the EC regulation, which are designed to combat fraud, but will try to minimise unnecessary inconvenience to farmers.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the former Members of this House who have been appointed since 1988 by her Department to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations; and if she will list, in each case, the title of the post, the salary, the duration of the appointment, and the party which each represented as an hon. Member.

  Mr. Jack
  Of the new appointments made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food since 1988 and listed in "Public Bodies 1992", our records show that four are former members of the House of Commons. The details requested by the hon. Member are as follows:

  Equine and Bovine Tests
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action her Department is taking to ensure that the Czech and Polish authorities meet the costs before 1 August of the owners and farmers who have suffered as a consequence of the import of animals testing sero-positive to equine viral arteritis and foot and mouth disease.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  My officials have met representatives of the Czech and Polish veterinary authorities on a number of occasions and there have also been exchanges of correspondence between them in respect
  111
  of the importation of foot and mouth disease—FMD—seropositive animals from the Czech republic and from Poland.

  The Czech authorities accept that the animals concerned must have been vaccinated against FMD and have agreed to accept the return of any of the affected animals. My officials have made clear to the Czech authorities on a number of occasions our view that they should ensure a fair and satisfactory outcome to the problem.

  With the help of the Polish authorities, my officials are continuing to investigate how cattle vaccinated against FMD came to be exported from Poland with certification claiming that the animals had never been vaccinated.

  It cannot be concluded from the evidence available so far that the stallion imported last September from Poland is necessarily the primary source of the current outbreak of equine viral arteritis. Nevertheless, my officials have now written to the Polish veterinary authorities informing them of the possible link with the imported stallion and seeking information about the disease status of the stud of origin in Poland at the time the stallion was imported.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the same veterinary certification procedures have been applicable to farmed livestock originating from Poland as for horses.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The certification procedures are basically the same, with official certification being required for horses and farmed livestock imported from third countries. However, the detailed animal health conditions applicable to such imports are different.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to whom each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department is responsible; whether the public bodies or their members in each case are subject to(a) surcharge, (b) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (c) scrutiny by the Audit Commission or National Audit Office, (d) the statutory provisions for open government which apply to local authorities, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charters; and whether the chairpersons and members of the boards of each of these bodies are required to declare an interest.

  Mr. Jack
  Of the executive NDPBs listed in "Public Bodies" 1992 as coming under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the regional flood defence committees now report to the National Rivers Authority and have not, therefore, been covered in this reply. Of the remainder, all are responsible to my right hon. Friend the Minister with the exception of the Agricultural Wages Board—AWB—and agricultural wages committees—AWC—which were set up to be statutorily independent. The AWB reports its proceedings each year to the Minister for inclusion in her annual report to Parliament on agricultural wages: the AWCs function in accordance with the rules of procedure set out in statutory regulations. None of the bodies or their members is subject to surcharge and only the agricultural wages committees and the Agricultural Training Board can be investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner. There is no relationship between the NDPBs and the Audit Commission. All the bodies save the AWB and AWCs are 112
  subject to scrutiny either statutorily or by agreement by NAO. NDPBs are not subject to statutory provisions for open government which apply to local authorities. All the bodies, with the exception of the AWB and AWCs, produce performance indicators. All public servants are subject to the citizens charter and NDPBs are being encouraged to adopt charter principles. Appointments of chairpersons and members of boards are made in accordance with the NDPB guide for departments to avoid any conflict of interests.

  Food Premises
  Mr. Brandreth
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the statistical information on the inspection of food premises for 1992 as required by the EC Commission under directive 89/397 is available.

  Mr. Soames
  The United Kingdom figures for inspection of food premises during 1992 have been forwarded to the EC Commission as required by directive 89/397. They are based on returns received from local authorities. A copy of these statistics has been placed in the Library of the House together with extracts covering England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively. Returns from individual authorities are available for inspection at my Department; copies can be provided for a small charge to cover expenses.

  Equine Viral Arteritis
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 15 June,Official Report, column 482, what steps she is taking to stop the spread of equine viral arteritis by casual contact including aerial transmission; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  [pursuant to the reply, 25 June 1993, c. 327–28]: I am pleased to announce that the outstanding quality points identified by the Veterinary Products Committee at its meeting on 24 June in respect of an application for an inactivated equine viral arteritis vaccine, have since been resolved and an animal test certificate now granted. The first batch of the product is currently undergoing final testing before clearance for use.

  The animal test trial design is based on the current geographical spread of the disease and the known epidemiology of the infection. The vaccine will therefore be made available through veterinary surgeons on application to the certificate holder, for use in stallions in England, and in mares in those counties of England where there is a recognised risk of infection. Premises where vaccine is to be used will be notified to the licensing authority.

DEFENCE

  Overseas Defence Costs
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution was received in the latest available year from the Governments of the Channel islands, the Isle of Man and Bermuda to the cost of defence.

  Mr. Hanley
  No contributions to the cost of defence have been received from the Government of Bermuda in
  113
  recent years. As to the contributions made by the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office on 2 July, Official Report, column 635.

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

  Mr. Aitken
  The market-testing programme is largely the responsibility of the management areas concerned: some staff are dedicated to market testing but most carry out this function as part of their normal duties The information requested could not, therefore, be identified in each area without incurring disproportionate cost. However, the cost of the central market testing service, which offers advice and assistance to managers, is about £475,000.

  Menwith Hill Station
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost to his Department for policing the interior of Menwith Hill station.

  Mr. Hanley
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Rosyth Dockyard
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names and dates of commissioning of those warships for which the refit contract is to be allocated to Rosyth dockyard in the years up until 2005; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East (Mr. Brown) on 29 June,Official Report, column 492.

  Rosyth and Devonport Dockyards
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he proposes to introduce primary legislation for full privatisation of Rosyth and Devonport dockyards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  No decisions have been taken on arrangements to succeed the present term contracts for the operation of the royal dockyards.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to whom each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department is responsible: whether the public bodies or their members in each case are subject to(a) surcharge, (b) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (c) scrutiny by the Audit Commission or National Audit Office, (d) the statutory provisions for open government which apply to local authorities, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charters; and whether the chairpersons and members of the boards of each of these bodies are required to declare an interest.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested about the executive non-departmental bodies sponsored by my Department is as follows:114

  (a) None is subject to surcharge;

  (b) None is within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration;

  (c) Except for the Services Sound and Vision Corporation—SSVC—accounts for all bodies are subject to audit by the National Audit Office. An external auditor does however audit the accounts of the SSVC and the Comptroller and Auditor General has access to the SSVC's books and records;

  (d) None is subject to the statutory provisions for open government applicable to local authorities;

  (e) Performance indicators have not been adopted within the service museums, but they are being addressed and it is intended to introduce indicators in the near future. Both the SSVC and the Oil and Pipeline Agency have performance indicators;

  (f) The principles of ensuring an accountable, responsive and quality service to the public, directly or indirectly, apply to all publicly funded organisations.

  Appointees, except for those as trustees of the service museums are required to declare any personal interest.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  University College, Swansea
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will publish the report by Sir Michael Davies into complaints relating to University college, Swansea.

  Mr. Newton
  Sir Michael Davies's report to the visitor of the university of Wales on matters relating to the University college of Swansea has been forwarded formally to the college. Copies have also been made available to those who made submissions to his inquiry either as individuals or as representatives. I do not proposes to arrange for the report actually to be published.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the names, occupations and current employers of those who currently hold positions in each public body to which he makes appointments; if he will make a statement on the considerations taken into account when making such appointments; and if he will list details of the posts and salaries or allowances payable which have changed since the publication of "Public Bodies 1992".

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 25 June 1993]: As Lord President, I am responsible for the appointment of the panel of experts from which members are drawn to sit on registered homes tribunals. The information requested in respect of the 51 members is not held centrally and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. Panel members are selected primarily on the basis of their experience in social work, medicine or nursing. Since the publication of "Public Bodies 1992", the daily allowance payable to a member sitting on a tribunal has been increased from £138 to £141.

HEALTH

  NHS Pay
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions she or her representatives have had regarding reumuneration of national health service employees.
  115
  Dr. Mawhinney
  Settlements have recently been reached for pay increases for some 90 per cent. of the national health service work force.

  Social Workers
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trained social workers are currently employed by local authority social services departments.

  Mr. Bowis
  From the latest information available—"Local Authority Social Services Statistics: Staff of Local Authority Social Services Departments 30 September 1991: England"—there are some 25,500 whole-time equivalent field social work posts in local authorities—an increase of 36 per cent. over the 10 years to 1991—with about 90 per cent. professionally qualified.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the latest figures for national health service waiting lists.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Provisional figures for the quarter ending 31 March are available in the Library. These show that the patients charter guarantee is being met and there are no patients waiting longer than two years for treatment in any region. In addition, no patient has to wait longer than 18 months for hip, knee or cataract surgery.

  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in reducing waiting times for patients in the South Western region.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Provisional figures for March 1993 show that, over the last two years, South Western regional health authority has reduced the number of patients waiting over a year from 14,500 to only 295.

  NHS Performance Indicators
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health is she will make a statement on the publication of comparative performance indicators in the national health service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I attach considerable importance to developing the use of comparative performance indicators in the national health service. They are a valuable tool in enabling standards in all areas to rise to the levels of the best. A considerable amount of comparative performance information is already available and the task now is to ensure that it is spread and used more widely to inform choices about health care. To that end, I am pleased to say that the first hospital league tables will be published in June 1994.

  Free Dental Treatment
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her current plans for the future of free dental treatment for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future of free dental treatment for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's review of the remuneration of general dental practitioners suggested 116
  that pregnant and nursing women should no longer be automatically exempt from dental charges. We have consulted widely on his report and shall announce our proposals in due course.

  GP Lists
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average number of patients on each family doctor's list(a) in 1979 and (b) in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  At 1 October 1979, the average number of patients on family doctors' lists in England was 2,286; the figure for 1 October 1992 is 1,922.

  GP Fund Holders
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for the further development of the general practitioner fund-holding initiative.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Fund holding is an acknowledged success and clearly delivers benefits to patients. We want to see these benefits extended as far as possible. Almost 3,000 general practitioners joined the scheme this year, taking the total to over 6,000. Around 3,000 more are preparing to join next year. We are also looking at ways to encourage more smaller inner-city and rural practices to join the scheme.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration she is giving to extending fund holding to smaller general practices.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have always encouraged small practices to group together to join the scheme. Seventy such groups have already done so and around 150 more are preparing to join from April 1994.

  Terrence Higgins Trust
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has carried out an investment appraisal into the funds donated by her Department to the Terrence Higgins Trust.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health carried out a full financial appraisal of the Terrence Higgins Trust in 1988. The trust's financial position continues to be carefully monitored each year in connection with its section 64 grant award.

  Ambulances (Paramedics)
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on progress towards placing a paramedic on each front-line ambulance.

  Mr. Sackville
  In December last year, I announced that the paramedic target was to be brought forward by one year to the end of 1995. I am pleased to say that ambulance services and health authorities have responded positively and they are well on the way to achieving the required target.

  Post-operative Care
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to introduce charges for post-operative care in the national health service.
  117
  Mr. Sackville
  There are no such plans.

  Specialist Medical Training
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the specialist medical training review contained in the Calman committee report.

  Mr. Sackville
  The working group chaired by the Chief Medical Officer was established last year at my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's request to consider specialist medical training in the light of the EC medical directives. The group has produced a report containing comprehensive recommendations with the twin aims of meeting the requirements of European Community law while ensuring that standards of specialist training are maintained and, indeed, improved. The period of consultation on the report concluded last week and comments from an extensive range of interested parties will be considered before a decision on implementation is reached.

  Mentally Ill People
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made to improve the health and social functioning of mentally ill people in the past 12 months.

  Mr. Bowis
  In line with the three strategies set out in "The Health of the Nation", we have taken a number of steps towards improving information and understanding; developing comprehensive local services; and continuing the development of good practice. This includes funding the first national survey of psychiatric illness; issuing the "Mental Illness Key Area Handbook"; distributing good practice guidance on the care programme approach and establishing a mental health task force.

  We will be producing a report on activity in the mental illness key area of "The Health of the Nation" in the autumn. A copy will be placed in the Library.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will consider the need for further measures to deal with mental illness within the community care programme with particular reference to schizophrenia.

  Mr. Bowis
  We introduced the care programme approach in April 1991 to provide better co-ordinated care in the community for people with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia. The inclusion of mental illness as one of the five key areas in the Government's strategy for health. "The Health of the Nation" has given impetus to the work being done by health and local authorities to improve community mental health services. "The Health of the Nation" sets a broad and demanding target of improving the health and social welfare of people with serious mental illness such as schizophrenia and builds on the care programme approach.

  A departmental review team has been at work since January examining current provisions in the Mental Health Act 1983 for the care in the community of people with serious mental illness. It is considering the need for the introduction of a new power and whether changes in the law are necessary. The review team will report its findings to the Secretary of State in the summer.

  Limited List Prescribing
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a further statement on the limited list proposals.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We expect the Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs to complete its review of drugs in the categories of the extended selected list scheme by the end of the year, and for regulations to bring these changes into effect to be laid before Parliament.

  HIV
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the George House Trust in Manchester regarding the spread of HIV in the north-west; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The George House Trust has corresponded with the Department of Health about section 64 grant aid and the use and allocation of earmarked AIDS moneys made available by health and local authorities. The Department's view is that local organisations such as the George House Trust should negotiate funding agreements with health and local authorities.

  Infant and Perinatal Mortality
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest information about the rates of infant and perinatal mortality in the north-western region.

  Mr. Sackville
  For the north-western region, the 1992 infant mortality rate was 7·7 per 1,000 live births and the perinatal mortality rate was 8·5 per 1,000 total births. These are the latest figures in what represents a continuing downward trend.

  It should be noted that on 1 October 1992 the legal definition of a stillbirth was altered from a baby born dead after 28 completed weeks' gestation or more to one born dead after 24 completed weeks' gestation or more.

  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest information about the rates of infant and perinatal mortality in the Mersey region.

  Mr. Sackville
  In Mersey region, the 1992 infant mortality rate was 5·7 per 1,000 live births, compared to the 1991 rate of 6·7, and the perinatal mortality rate was 6·6 per 1,000 total births, compared to the 1991 rate of 7·1.

  It should be noted that on 1 October 1992 the legal definition of a stillbirth was altered from a baby born dead after 28 completed weeks' gestation or more to one born dead after 24 completed weeks' gestation or more.

  Project 2000
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money will be available in 1993–94 to fund the Project 2000 initiative for nurses; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  An extra £114 million is available to fund Project 2000 in 1993–94 in addition to the existing resources for nurse training and education.

  NHS Management Costs
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the capital and revenue cost of the national health service management executive and each regional health authority in each of the last five years; and what are the projected costs for the next two years.

  Table 1

  NHSME expenditure

  Year

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93 (estimated)

  1993–94 (allocation)

  Running costs (£)

  29,933,505

  29,402,541

  42,883,317

  32,939,954

  Capital (£)

  339,000

  483,712

  511,745

  6,415

  Note: Figures are not adjusted for inflation and exlcude accommodation and related costs.

  Expenditure on headquarters administration by regional health authorities for the financial years 1987–88 to 1990–91 is shown in table 2.

  Figures derived from RHAs' 1991–92 annual accounts are shown in table 3. The 1991–92 figures are not comparable with those for the earlier years and should be interpreted with caution. Simple comparison between authorities is misleading because RHAs devolved their non-core functions at varying times and bore different costs on their regional budgets.

  Relevant capital costs are not readily available.

  Table 2

  Regional Health authorities expenditure on headquarters administration £000

  RHA

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Northern

  6,146

  6,236

  7,475

  9,329

  Yorkshire

  8,675

  8,962

  10,706

  13,158

  Trent

  11,963

  12,648

  11,498

  11,797

  East Anglian

  6,220

  7,309

  8,140

  11,487

  N. W. Thames

  5,919

  7,361

  9,119

  12,110

  N. E. Thames

  10,237

  11,130

  13,065

  15,335

  S. E. Thames

  10,733

  12,347

  15,044

  16,516

  S. W. Thames

  10,388

  11,103

  13,720

  15,234

  Wessex

  4,436

  4,891

  6,244

  8,578

  Oxford

  3,334

  3,639

  4,704

  6,266

  South Western

  5,296

  6,180

  8,000

  10,556

  West Midlands

  13,318

  13,946

  18,019

  27,353

  Mersey

  4,020

  4,440

  6,044

  6,336

  North Western

  13,149

  12,805

  12,356

  13,634

  Source: annual accounts of regional health authorities. (Figures not adjusted for inflation).

  Table 3

  Regional health authorities: Expenditure on administration, purchasing and other expenses 1991–92

  Regional health authority

  £ thousand

  Northern

  18,715

  Yorkshire

  164,532

  Trent

  18,169

  East Anglian

  8,003

  North West Thames

  19,582

  North East Thames

  31,872

  South East Thames

  16,519

  South West Thames

  13,133

  Wessex

  19,974

  Oxford

  26,741

  South Western

  15,546

  West Midlands

  22,338

  Mersey

  23,961

  North Western

  12,952

  120
  Mr. Sackville
  Expenditure figures for the national health service management executive (NHSME) are shown in table 1. The distribution of functions between the NHSME and other parts of the Department of Health is evolving from year to year and figures cannot, therefore, be directly compared from one year to the next. Figures are not available prior to 1990–91, nor for future years —allocations have not been made beyond 1993–94.

  1 See Note 3 to the tables.

  Notes:

  1. Headquarters administration covers the total current—revenue—expenditure on the pay and accommodation costs of staff of all disciplines, including general and senior managers, and their support staff employed at regional health authority—RHA—headquarters levels.

  2. The figures for the years prior to 1991–92 vary between regional health authorities, as regions were managed in an integrated way and the balance of management between regional health authorities and their respective district health authorities—DHAs—differed between regions. The figures were also influenced by other factors including differences in the geographic size of regions, in the numbers of district health authorities they included and in the extent to which regional health authorities directly managed operational services.

  3. Following the implementation of the national health service reforms, the role of regional health authorities is changing and this has a major impact on the figures for 1991–92. There are significant variations in the extent to which regional health authorities have retained or devolved management, support and operational services functions and in the extent to which their costs are borne or recharged to users. Some regional health authorities are directly involved in the purchaser function while the figures for others include additional significant costs—notably the payments of funds for nursing and other staff training to health providers.

  Dementia
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of carers looking after younger people with dementia have access to special services.

  Mr. Bowis
  The needs of carers will be assessed under the new community care arrangements at the same time as those of the dementia sufferers whom they look after.

  The detailed information requested is not available centrally.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the equivalent at current prices of the prescription charge in force on 18 October 1964.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is £1·05.

  Joint Prostheses
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the major joint prostheses that have been approved by her Department for use by surgeons within the NHS.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department does not have a scheme for the approval of individual joint prostheses.
  121
  The medical devices directorate within the Department, operates a voluntary manufacturer registration scheme. This scheme identifies manufacturers whose facilities and practices enable them to manufacture to a consistent standard of quality and who are able to give declarations of compliance with safety and performance standards. All major manufacturers of joint prostheses are registered under this scheme. The national health service is advised to buy these devices only from registered sources.

  Eye Tests
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people over the age of 60, 65 and 70 years are eligible for an NHS eye examination.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally as not all the categories of exemption can be broken down into age bands.

  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is(a) the average cost of a visit to a hospital ophthalmic out-patient department and (b) the current fee payable to an optometrist and an ophthalmic medical practitioner for an NHS eye examination.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In 1991–92, the average total cost per ophthalmology out-patient attendance was approximately £39.

  The current national health service sight test fees payable to optometrists and ophthalmic medical prac-titioners are £12·75 and £10·15 respectively.

  Nurses (Pregnancies)
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses who have left NHS employment as a result of pregnancy since 1987 have subsequently returned to NHS employment.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trained nurses have left employment with the NHS in each of the last six years as a result of pregnancy.

  Mr. Sackville
  The table shows the available information.

  Persons leaving the NHS who have departed for reasons of maternity

  Year ending 31 March

  19881

  19891

  Management and Tutorial Grades

  30

  20

  Registered Nurses and Health Visitors

  1,110

  1,150

  Enrolled Nurses

  780

  600

  Midwives

  220

  190

  Student Nurses

  150

  110

  Student Midwives

  20

  30

  Other Nursing Staff

  670

  680

  Total Nursing and Midwifery

  3,010

  2,800

  Year ending 31 March

  19901

  19911

  Senior Nursing Grades

  10

  20

  Health Visitors (to G)

  40

  40

  Midwives

  160

  110

  Scales C to G (excluding Midwives and Health Visitors)

  1,300

  810

  122

  Year ending 31 March

  19901

  19911

  Scales A and B

  410

  300

  Student Midwives

  20

  10

  Other Nursing Staff

  80

  60

  Total Nursing and Midwifery

  2,030

  1,350

  1 All figures have been rounded to the nearest ten.

  Notes:

  1. The data necessary to identify leavers due to pregnancy were not collected centrally after 1991.

  2. The format of the data collection was changed between 1989 and 1990, consequently the listing of staff groups for 1990 and 1991 differ from those given for 1988 and 1989.

  3. For year ending 31 March 1988 and 1989 information was not available from II data suppliers (regional health authority headquarters (RHA HQ), district health authorities (DHAs) and the London ambulance service (LAS)). Information for 1991 excludes 27 data suppliers (RHA HQs, DHAs and LAS) who either did not supply data or data were unusable.

  4. Some 60 per cent. (1988), 59 per cent. (1989), 57 per cent. (1990) and 58 per cent. (1991) of all nursing and midwifery leavers to the national health service were recorded as "Voluntary Resignation". Source of data: KM46 return 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

  Chiropractors
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to introduce legislation for the regulation of chiropractors.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no such plans. We understand, however, that the chiropractic profession is looking to secure the support of an hon. Member to introduce a private Member's Bill during the next Session.

  Supraregional Centres
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make available a summary of the funding levels of activity agreed for 1993–94 with centres designated to provide supraregional services, following her announcement of 23 December 1992, press release H92/467.

  Mr. Sackville
  A summary of this information has been placed in the Library as an addendum to the document "Supra regional services 1993–94: announcement by the Secretary of State for Health".

  Medical Negligence Claims
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 8 June,Official Report, columns 236–37, if she will give the membership and remit of the joint Department of Health/national health service working group on medical negligence claims in the NHS.

  Mr. Sackville
  The terms of reference of the joint departmental/national health service working group on the financial arrangements for clinical negligence are:"To consider the issues, opportunity and risks involved in setting up a mutual insurance scheme under Section 21 of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. To prepare a specification for a tender document inviting proposals by open tender process for the management of such a scheme and to consider the merits of each proposal and recommend a management company.
  To consider, in parallel with work on the scheme, any other arrangements in the area of clinical negligence, risk management and claims management which may be required."

  The working group is composed of officials from the Department and representatives from regional health

  123
  authorities, NHS trust bodies and independent NHS trusts; NHS representatives provide a wide range of practical experience in the legal, financial and risk aspects of clinical negligence.

  BST Milk
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been conducted on the likely effects of bovine somatotropin milk on diabetics; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  We are not aware of any research specifically on this subject.

  All cows' milk contains IGF-1, an insulin-like growth factor. Administering artificially produced bovine somatotropin to dairy cows results in marginally increased levels of IGF-1 in their milk.

  Prescribed items with a net ingredient cost of less than (a) 40 pence, (b) 60 pence, (c) 80 pence and (d). £1·00 dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors in England in 1992.

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  Net Ingredient Cost less than (pence)

  40

  60

  80

  100

  Number of items dispensed (thousands)

  32,690

  49,753

  61,449

  73,937

  Percentage of all prescribed items

  8·5

  12·9

  15·9

  19·1

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Family Credit
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many inquiries there have been to the family credit helpline since April.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Mrs. Knight) on 5 July at column 40.

  Income Support
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of single women aged 18 to 24 years in receipt of income support are also in receipt of housing benefit.

  Mr. Burt
  The latest available figures are those for 1991. At that time approximately 48 per cent. of women aged 18 to 24 in receipt of income support were also receiving housing benefit.

  Notes:

  1. Income support statistics annual inquiry May 1991.

  2. Housing benefit and community charge benefit management information system May 1991.

  3. Percentages rounded to nearest whole figure.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many 16-year-olds on youth training schemes receive an income support top-up of £5·30 in addition to their training allowance; and how much are the administrative costs of each income support claim.

  Mr. Burt
  The requested information is not available as top-up payments are not separately identifiable from other income support payments. The cost of administering claims for income support is an average of £6·44 per claim. This cost is not constrained to a single week of benefit payment.
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  IGF-1 does not have the same hormonal action as insulin, nor does it interfere with the action of insulin, and is not absorbed from the gut. It should therefore pose no risk to diabetics.

  Prescribed Items (Cost)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated percentage of prescribed items dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors which cost less than(a) 40p, (b) 60p, (c) 80p and (d) £1·00.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [pursuant to his reply, 2 July 1993, columns 647–48]: I regret that the table in the previous reply did not indicate that the figures for the number of items dispensed are in thousands. A revised table is as follows.

  Young People's Income
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the income per week of a single 18-year-old, who is paying £30 per week rent and who is(a) a student and (b) unemployed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  On the assumption that insufficient contributions had been paid to give title to unemployment benefit, a lone, unemployed 18-year-old with a rent liability of £30 per week would normally be entitled to income support of £34·80 per week and would, through housing benefit, receive up to 100 per cent. of his rent, less any ineligible items. This equates to about £64·80 per week.

  An 18-year-old following a full-time course of higher education, but otherwise in the same circumstances, would not normally be eligible for income support of housing benefit but would receive support through the educational maintenance system. During the period of study, the standard maintenance grant outside London, for the coming academic year, equates to £59·60 per week over 38 weeks, with income available from the full-year student loan of £15·38 per week. This equates to about £74·98 per week.

  In addition, if a student in higher education faces particular financial difficulties he may be able to receive assistance from the access funds. The access funds are administered on a discretionary basis by the educational establishments.

  It is not possible to estimate students' income during the long vacation because some students will find work during that period.

  Maintenance Allowance Assessments
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to change the process of maintenance allowance assessments to ensure that
  125
  mothers who are out of work and wishing to receive an assessment do not have to wait longer than mothers who are in work.

  Mr. Burt
  The Child Support Agency is introducing the new child support maintenance arrangements from scratch and it would have been unrealistic to take on cases over a four-year period.

  Parents with care who do not receive income support, family credit or disability working allowance and do not have an existing court order or other written maintenance agreement may apply to the agency immediately. Those with an order or agreement will be taken on by the agency between April 1996 and March 1997: in the interim, they may apply to a court for a variation in their order or agreement.

  Parents with care who receive income support will be taken on over the three years to April 1996. Those who make a new claim to benefit will be taken on immediately. Existing cases will be taken on when there is a change of circumstances which affects maintenance or, if there is no such change, on a random basis.

  Changes of circumstances do not affect the benefit payable to parents with care who receive family credit or disability working allowance since awards are fixed for six months. These cases will be asked to apply to the agency when they make a renewal claim—and are therefore new claimants—so take on of this group will be completed before the end of 1993.

  We have no plans to change these arrangements.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which groups with incomes below income support levels are ineligible for housing benefit.

  Mr. Burt
  In the main, most people in registered residential care and nursing homes, and the majority of full-time students are ineligible, regardless of income.

  Crisis Loan Claim
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the administration costs of a crisis loan claim.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply to him on 21 April at columns 140–41.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what revised medical criteria will be used to define an individual's incapacity for work for the purpose of invalidity benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  No decisions have been made.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much of the total of suspended invalidity benefit payments has been withheld to date, pending the hearing of the appeal against the social security commissioner's decision; and how many women have had their benefit withheld in each constituency.
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  Mr. Scott
  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to whom the Occupational Pensions Board is responsible: whether it or its members are subject to(a) surcharge, (b) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (c) scrutiny by the Audit Commission or National Audit Office, (d) the statutory provisions for open government which apply to local authorities, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charters; and whether the chairpersons and members of the boards of each of these bodies are required to declare an interest.

  Mr. Hague
  The Occupational Pensions Board—OPB—is an independent statutory body established by the Social Security Act 1973. It is composed of a chairman, deputy chairman and up to 12 other members, appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The board has an executive office whose officials are made available by the Secretary of State.

  The OPB is not subject to a surcharge, nor is it listed in schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967, as among the bodies subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. It is subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office under the National Audit Act 1983. The OPB is not subject to the provisions for open government which apply to local authorities, not to performance indicators, but is committed to the principles of the citizens charter. The board's constitution requires the chairman, deputy chairman and other members of the board to declare an interest, whether financial or otherwise, in any issue under consideration and to withdraw from the meeting when there is a serious conflict of interest.

  Retirement Pension Ages
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his current estimate of the likely date of the hearing of the appeal against the social security commissioner's decision in relation to the incompatibility with European Community law of the different state retirement pension ages of men and women and its implication for access to invalidity benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The appeal against the commissioner's decision—CS/27/91—has been listed by the Court of Appeal for hearing on either 26 or 27 July. This case concerns the rate of invalidity pension payable to claimants over state pension age the upper age limit for entitlement to invalidity allowance. The compatibility with European Community law of different state pension ages for men and women is not an issue in the commissioner's decision. EC law permits unequal state pension ages. Other forms of discrimination in the benefits system are also permissible if they are necessarily linked to that difference.

  NIGHT FLYING AT LONDON AIRPORTS: CONTROLS
  NIGHT FLYING AT LONDON AIRPORTS: CONTROLS

  LOCAL SEARCH AND RESCUE COMMITTEES
  Lord Trefgarne
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  LOCAL SEARCH AND RESCUE COMMITTEES
  M.25 AND M.4 IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES: RESPONSE TO SACTRA REPORT
  M.25 AND M.4 IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES: RESPONSE TO SACTRA REPORT
  CRIMINAL JUSTICE: ROYAL COMMISSION REPORT
  CRIMINAL JUSTICE: ROYAL COMMISSION REPORT
  CROWN ESTATE COMMISSIONERS AND COASTAL NETTING, SCOTLAND
  CROWN ESTATE COMMISSIONERS AND COASTAL NETTING, SCOTLAND
  A.9 PERTH TO PITLOCHRY ROAD: ACCI DENTS
  A.9 PERTH TO PITLOCHRY ROAD: ACCI DENTS
  STUDENTS AND HOUSING BENEFIT
  STUDENTS AND HOUSING BENEFIT
  NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY: INTERPRETATION
  NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY: INTERPRETATION
  DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE: PERCENTAGE OF GNP
  DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE: PERCENTAGE OF GNP
  ROYAL PARKS AUTHORITIES AND PLANNING LAW
  ROYAL PARKS AUTHORITIES AND PLANNING LAW
  HYDE PARK: CAR PARKING
  HYDE PARK: CAR PARKING
  NORTHERN IRELAND: UK SUBVENTION
  NORTHERN IRELAND: UK SUBVENTION
  NORTHERN IRELAND: GRANTS TO VOLUNTARY BODIES
  NORTHERN IRELAND: GRANTS TO VOLUNTARY BODIES