Written Answers of 12 July 1993

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Commercial Leases
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what new proposals he has to improve the law on leases on commercial property.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  As I announced in my answer on 31 March to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Hendry),Official Report, column 197, the Government have, after careful consideration, decided to implement the recommendations in the Law Commission's report on Landlord and Tenant Law: Privity of Contract and Estate (Law Com. No. 174), for future leases but not for existing leases.

  My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning has also announced the publication of a consultation paper on upward-only rent reviews, confidentiality clauses and dispute resolution procedures in relation to new

  Number

  Men

  Women

  1Barrister

  Solicitor

  Black/Asian

  Lords of Appeal in Ordinary

  10

  10

  —

  10

  —

  —

  Lords Justices

  29 (+2)

  28 (+2)

  1

  29 (+2)

  —

  —

  Heads of Division (excludes Lord Chancellor)

  4

  4

  —

  4

  —

  —

  High Court Judges

  88 (+4)

  83 (+3)

  5 (+1)

  87 (+3)

  1 (+1)

  —

  Circuit Judges

  491 (+9)

  463 (+5)

  28 (+4)

  436 (+11)

  55 (-2)

  2

  Recorders

  815 (+51)

  778 (+51)

  37

  743 (+42)

  72 (+9)

  8 (+2)

  Assistant Recorders (excludes Assistant Recorders in training)

  436 (-50)

  386 (-49)

  50 (-1)

  359 (-48)

  77 (-2)

  9 (+1)

  Stipendiary Magistrates

  77 (-1)

  68 (-1)

  9

  38

  39 (-1)

  1

  Industrial Tribunal Chairmen

  70 (+9)

  59 (+9)

  11

  35 (+4)

  35 (+5)

  1

  Value Added Tax Tribunal Chairmen

  3

  3

  —

  3

  —

  —

  Social Security Appeal Tribunal Chairmen

  29 (+4)

  20 (+1)

  9 (+3)

  7 (+3)

  22 (+1)

  —

  1 Or member of the Faculty of Advocates.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects a final decision to be made on the eligibility for legal aid of Mrs. J. M. Ward, 4 St. John's road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Decisions on the grant of civil legal aid are a matter for the Legal Aid Board. I understand that the legal director of the Legal Aid Board wrote to the hon. Member on 7 July explaining in detail the background to this case and the current position.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Asil Nadir
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on further discussions he has had on issues arising from the Asil Nadir case.
  318
  commercial leases. The Government will carefully examine the responses before considering whether it is appropriate to legislate or take any other action on any of these issues.

  Appointments
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department further to his answer of 12 February,Official Report, column 788, what changes have taken place since 1 January in the total number of (a) Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, (b) Lords Justices of Appeal, (c) Heads of Division, (d) High Court judges, (e) circuit judges, (1) recorders, (g) assistant recorders, (h) stipendiary magistrates, and (i) full-time chairmen who are (i) men, (ii) women, (iii) barristers, (iv) solicitors, (v) black or Asian, and (vi) ex-Oxford or Cambridge; and if he will give revised figures for the average ages in each category.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The available information, as at 1 July 1993, is set out in the table, with net changes since 1 January 1993 shown in brackets. As before, the figures for black or Asian office-holders are believed to be correct, but since the formal recording of the ethnic background of applicants for judicial office began only on I October 1991, such information may be incomplete. Aggregated information is not generally kept on the university background of judges or their average ages and no new information is available in relation to these matters.

  The Attorney-General
  I have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Attorney-General how many(a) witten and (h) oral representations he received from honourable Members regarding the case of Mr. Nadir before his departure from the United Kingdom.

  The Attorney-General
  Pursuant to my answer given on 10 June 1993, col.334, to the honourable Member for Walsall, North, I should add to that list letters written by two honourable Members to the then Home Secretary about Mr. Nadir to which my predecessor replied on points relating to the arrest and investigation. Because of the indirect route by which they came to my office they were not recorded on the departmental register of Members' correspondence so as to be included in my original answer. The overall number of Members who have made representations to me or my predecessor is therefore eight rather than six—since the honourable Member for East Hampshire (Mr. Mates) made both oral and written representations, he figured twice in my answer of 10 June. I have not included questions tabled by honourable Members in replies relating to representations.
  319
  My reference to correspondence from whichever part of the House, Official Report, 30 June 1993, col. 969, was founded on recollection of a list prepared by officials detailing all occasions when the case was raised through parliamentary channels which included reference to a question asked by the right honourable Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor) on 12 November 1990, col. 34.

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement about the proportion of Crown Prosecution Service prosecutions in the magistrates courts which are successful.

  The Solicitor-General
  For the year ending 31 March 1993, 97·6 per cent. of cases which proceeded to a hearing in the magistrates court resulted in either a guilty plea or a conviction.

  Constitutional and Legal Functions
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to reassess the constitutional and legal functions of his office.

  The Attorney-General
  The constitutional and legal functions of my office have an essential part to play in the administration of justice. My object is to uphold them.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement about the staffing of the Crown Prosecution Service.

  The Solicitor-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service has recently completed a recruitment campaign which has resulted in a further 45 experienced lawyers being recommended for appointment. There are now very few vacancies for either legal or administrative staff.

  International Investments Ltd.
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Attorney-General what recent representations have been made to the Gibraltar authorities regarding the letter of request for information relating to inquiries into International Investments Ltd. Gibraltar, in liquidation.

  The Attorney-General
  Officials of the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland have been in recent oral and written communication with Senior Crown Counsel of the Attorney-General's Chambers in Gibraltar in order to finalise arrangements for the attendance of counsel and the investigating officer from the Royal Ulster Constabulary at a judicial hearing scheduled to take place in Gibraltar on 12 July 1993. This hearing is in response to the letter of request for evidence in relation to the affairs of International Investments Ltd. (In Liquidation) issued by Belfast magistrates court on 1 November 1990 and forwarded to the Gibraltar authorities on 5 November 1990 under the provisions of article 9 of the Criminal Justice (Evidence Etc) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988.

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Attorney-General how many persons of Greek-Cypriot ethnicity are employed in the Serious Fraud Office.
  320
  The Attorney-General
  The Serious Fraud Office is aware of only one employee whose ethnic origins lie within the Greek Cypriot community. Ethnic survey questionnaires are issued to all staff joining the Serious Fraud Office and are completed on a voluntary basis. The categories covered are those agreed with the civil service unions for the purposes of such a survey and do not isolate Greek Cypriot origins as a separate ethnicity.

  United Nations
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Attorney-General how many staff in his Department have as their primary function work in connection with his duty of providing advice on matters involving adherence to international law in respect of the United Nations and use of force.

  The Attorney-General
  One member of my Department has as his primary function work in connection with my duty of providing advice on matters involving adherence to international law.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Silverware
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what provision was made in the terms of the sale of House of Commons silverware for scrap to forbid resale or to require erasure of identifying marks or the scrapping of the material.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  This is a matter for the Director of Catering Services and I shall ask her to write to the hon. Member.

  Vote Office
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed. representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the Vote Office.

  Mr Beith
  In April 1992 Vote responsibility for parliamentary printing, publications and supply services was transferred from Her Majesty's Stationery Office to the House. An interim arrangement was entered into with HMSO to ensure continuity of existing services. In May 1993, the House of Commons Commission approved in principle the establishment of new systems for the management of the printing and publishing requirements of the House. The particular aim of the changes was to bring closer together within individual Departments the management responsibility for generating House docu-ments and the financial responsibility for paying for those publications. As part of this process, the Commission has agreed the transfer of the Vote Office from the Library Department to the Clerk's Department with effect from 1 November 1993; and the creation within that Office of improved facilities for the production of certain internal House documents.

ENVIRONMENT

  Market Testing
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the market-testing programme has cost his Department since November 1992.
  321
  Mr. Gummer
  Since November 1992, the cost of my Department's market-testing programme has amounted to approximately £729,000 and the Department has already achieved efficiency savings in the relevant activities worth about £1 million annually. This is in advance both of the results of the majority of tenders and of calculating the gains expected from Property Holdings' programme of putting out professional services to competitive tender which is due for completion at the end of this year.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whom he has consulted in regard to. miscellaneous paper 179 (1993) on the advice given by his Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee in its letter of 10 October 1992 on British Nuclear Fuels plc's proposals for the return of waste resulting from reprocessing of nuclear spent fuel to overseas utilities.

  Mr. Yeo
  There have been no formal consultations on RWMAC's advice in its report on waste substitution. There remain a number of technical points on which we require further information from RWMAC before their advice can be considered properly.

  Building Regulations (Fuel and Power)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses he has received to his Department's consultation document on building regulations (conservation of fuel and power); and what proportion(a) endorsed the Government's insulation proposals, (b) wished to see a reduction in, or postponement of, the Government's insulation proposals and (c) sought an improvement in the Government's insulation proposals giving a greater reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and an improved rate of energy conservation.

  Mr. Baldry
  A total of 170 responses have been received to the consultation document which proposed strengthening of the building regulations for the conservation of fuel and power. The proposals include improved standards of insulation for roofs, walls, floors, windows and doors together with alternative higher standards for rook and floors.

  To date the Department has analysed 70 per cent. of the responses. Of these:

  (a) 26 per cent. favour the recommendations in the consultation document. A further 28 per cent. did not specifically comment on the insulation standards, and it could be assumed that they are also content with the proposals;

  (b) 8 per cent. wished to see the alternative higher standards for roofs or floors;

  (c) 8 per cent. wished to see a reduction or postponement of the insulation proposals; and

  (d) 30 per cent. sought an improvement in one or more of the insulation standards.

  In deciding what action to take in the light of these responses, the reasoning behind the arguments advanced will of course be given due weight rather than relying on a numerical breakdown of this sort.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when section 61 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 will be implemented.
  322
  Mr. Yeo
  The Secretary of State announced on 24 March,Official Report, columns 633–34, a review of responsibilities for contaminated land and liabilities. The duties and powers of authorities under section 61 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in respect of landfill sites form part of the subject matter of the review. The Government do not propose to bring section 61 of the Act into force while it is still the subject of that review.

  Letting Value
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of whether the establishment of letting value under part I of the Housing and Urban Development Bill 1993 will be prevented by the absence of or withholding of estate records; and what forms of indirect alternative evidence of letting value including pre-1963 rating records there are, from which such letting values could appropriately be derived.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have no evidence from landlords, tenants, or professional bodies that the derivation of letting values in relation to the rent test in section 4 of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 has caused difficulties. We do not anticipate any difficulties with establishing letting values for the purposes of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Bill. Most professional valuers have the knowledge and experience to do it.

  Estate records are not essential to the assessment of letting values, although they might provide evidence to show that a particular lease is not at a low rent.

  Indirect alternative evidence includes pre-1963 rating records, calculations deduced from capital values and the experience of solicitors and valuers in practice at the relevant time. In many cases, in particular for very old leases, the rent will often be so low as to create no doubt that it is a low rent as defined.

  Olympic Games
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the latest efforts to attract the 2000 Olympic Games to Manchester.

  Sir George Young
  The Government are doing all they can to back Manchester's bid to stage the Millennium Games in Britain. In particular:—We have made available up to £75 million to support the bid and the immediate construction of key facilities. Excellent progress is being made on the Olympic arena, the national cycling centre and the acquisition and clearance of the site for the Olympic stadium in East Manchester.
  There has been a large number of visits by International Olympic Committee members to Manchester in recent months and over 70 members will have seen what Manchester offers by the time the IOC decide the nomination on 23 September. Minsiters are playing a full part in these discussions.
  We have given full backing to Manchester's recent initiative for a $25 million Millennium Foundation to help with the training and travel cost of teams competing in the Manchester Olympic Games. This far-sighted proposal will promote equality of opportunity and provide assistance for teams who need it.
  The Prime Minister welcomed members of the IOC to Downing street on 28 June; he is meeting IOC President Samaranch again this week; and he has announced that he will be going to Monte Carlo to help promote Manchester's hid at the time of the IOC vote in September.

  Water Contamination
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to publish the full reports prepared by the drinking water inspectorate on all water contamination incidents.

  Mr. Yeo
  Reports by the drinking water inspectorate will continue to be made public where its investigations of the particular incident show that there are lessons to be learnt or reveal issues of general interest.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, following his recent announcement on a further consultation period for THORP, he will set out the terms of reference for the consultation.

  Mr. Yeo
  The consultation will provide an opportunity for public comment on the additional material mentioned in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 28 June to the hon. Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson),Official Report, col. 392.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to comply with the Paris Commission resolution regarding radioactive discharges from nuclear reprocessing plants; by what dates he will supply the information detailed in the resolution; by what means he intends to consult the Paris Commission; and how this relates to the further consultation period recently announced for THORP.

  Mr. Yeo
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to Paris Commission recommendations 93/5. The United Kingdom did not accept this recommendation. We shall therefore be taking no specific action as a result of it.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the HM IP report on draft authorisa-tions for the discharge of radioactive wastes from Sellafie!d will be published.

  Mr. Yeo
  The inspectors' report will be made available when the further round of public consultation which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 28 June is initiated.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy as to the proportion of seats which should be reserved for tenant representatives on the management committees of housing associations formed to take over local authority housing stock; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  This is a matter for the Housing Corporation as the body responsible for regulating housing associations. The corporation encourages the involvement of tenants on the committees of LSVT associations but does not specify any particular proportion of seats for them.

  The corporation also expects committee members to have an appropriate range of financial, legal and management skills relevant to the running of a housing association.

  Shelter
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much grant has been paid by his Department to Shelter for each of the last three years; and what proportion of the total grants budget this represents.

  Mr. Baldry
  Shelter has received grants under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 of £422,000 in 1990–91; £916,500 in 1991–92, and £995,500 in 1992–93, to provide specialist homelessness advice to citizens advice bureaux outside London and an emergency homelessness telephone advice service in London. These payments represented 21 per cent., 20 per cent., and 17 per cent. of the funds allocated for section 73 schemes around the country in each of those years.

  Houses in Multiple Occupation
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to abolish local authorities' power to introduce registration schemes for houses in multiple occupation under section 346 of the Housing Act 1985.

  Sir George Young
  The Department has reviewed local authorities' power to set up HMO registration schemes. We have no plans to remove this power.

  Local Authority Management
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the report of the joint working party on the internal management of local authorities in England will be published.

  Mr. Curry
  The working party's report will be published tomorrow and copies will he available in the Libraries of both Houses by 11 am.

  Homelessness
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects his survey of local authorities to evaluate the impact of the code of guidance on homelessness legislation on their homelessness policies to be completed; and when he expects to publish it.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer Friday 9 July]: Research on the evaluation of the code of guidance is currently being commissioned. The study is due to start in August 1993 and is expected to be completed by the end of 1994. The Department expects to publish the results in due course.

  Local Government Commission
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the Audit Commission's review of the Local Government Commission costings.

  Mr. Gummer
  It is for the Local Government Commission to decide whether to publish any opinions provided to it by the Audit Commission. I have therefore written to the chairman of the Commission, Sir John Banham, to ask if he would write to the hon. Member with his comments.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  China
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he discussed the matter of nuclear testing with his Chinese counterpart during his recent visit to China.

  Mr. Goodlad
  No. My right hon. Friend did, however, raise proliferation issues—both in relation to North Korea and the sales of Chinese M-11 missiles to Pakistan.

  Maastricht Treaty
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the German constitutional court to rule on the constitutional validity in Germany of the Maastricht treaty; and what is his estimate of the effect on the ratification process.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The German Constitutional Court held an oral hearing on the constitutional validity of the Maastricht treaty on 1–2 July. A ruling is not expected before the end of September. The Maastricht treaty will enter into force on the first day of the month following ratification by the last signatory state to do so.

  Macedonia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to enable citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to obtain in that country visas to visit the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have no plans to issue visas in Skopje at present. The office of the British Government representative in Skopje has just been set up, and is operating as a one-person post. Even when it reaches planned full strength, with two United Kingdom diplomats, it will have neither the capacity nor resources to offer such a service. Whether the post might offer a service at some time in the future would depend on both demand and the availability of resources, in the light of competing priorities.

  Destination

  Purpose of visit

  Dates

  Turkey

  Bilateral

  21–23 April 1992

  Greece

  Bilateral

  23 April 1992

  Portugal

  Informal EC Foreign Ministers Meeting

  1–2 May 1992

  Spain

  Bilateral

  2–4 May 1992

  Czechoslovakia

  Bilateral

  4–5 May 1992

  Belgium

  Foreign Affairs Council

  10–11 May 1992

  France

  In attendance upon Her Majesty The Queen

  12 May 1992

  Italy

  Bilateral

  15 May 1992

  Kuwait

  Gulf Cooperation Council

  15–16 May 1992

  Egypt

  Bilateral

  16–17 May 1992

  Mexico

  Bilateral

  26–30 May 1992

  France

  In attendance upon Her Majesty The Queen

  9–12 June 1992

  Luxembourg

  Foreign Affairs Council

  14–15 June 1992

  Germany

  Western European Union Ministerial Meeting

  18–19 June 1992

  Luxembourg

  EC Foreign Ministers Conclave

  20 June 1992

  Portugal

  European Council

  25–27 June 1992

  Germany

  G7 Economic Summit

  5–8 July 1992

  France

  European Parliament Plenary

  8 July 1992

  Finland

  CSCE Summit

  9–10 July 1992

  Yugoslavia

  Official Talks

  15–18 July 1992

  Macedonia

  Official Talks

  18 July 1992

  Albania

  Official Talks

  18–19 July 1992

  Belgium

  Foreign Affairs Council

  19–20 July 1992

  Philippines

  ASEAN Conference

  23–26 July 1992

  Hong Kong

  Official Talks

  26–28 July 1992

  326
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where is the nearest United Kingdom diplomatic point to Macedonia at which citizens of that country can obtain a visa to visit the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The British embassy in Sofia is able to issue visas to Macedonians wishing to visit the United Kingdom. Macedonians may also apply for visit visas at any other British mission offering a full visa service.

  Multi-fibre Arrangement
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the effect of the multi-fibre arrangement on developing countries' economies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  A number of hon. Members have written to me and to ministerial colleagues on this subject. The Government support a progressive and orderly phasing out of the multi-fibre arrangement. We recognise the positive impact that the removal of trade barriers can have on economic development and the eradication of poverty in the third world. Free and fair trade in textiles and clothing is a goal to which we are committed. However, the ending of the MFA must be conditional upon our trading partners elsewhere giving a commitment to open their markets to our exports and to abide more closely by GATT rules and disciplines.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the destination, dates and purpose of each official overseas visit he has undertaken since April 1992.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Secretary of State's visits are as follows:
  327

  Destination

  Purpose of visit

  Dates

  Malaysia

  Bilateral

  28–29 July 1992

  South Africa

  Bilateral

  1–4 September 1992

  USA

  47th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

  21–30 September 1992

  Luxembourg

  Foreign Affairs Council

  4–5 October 1992

  Portugal

  Bilateral

  7 October 1992

  Spain

  Bilateral

  7–8 October 1992

  Netherlands

  Bilateral

  9 October 1992

  Belgium

  Bilateral

  9–10 October 1992

  Germany

  In attendance upon Her Majesty The Queen

  19–23 October 1992

  France

  Council of Europe

  27 October 1992

  Philippines

  EC/ASEAN Ministerial

  29–30 October 1992

  Pakistan

  Bilateral

  31 October to 1 November 1992

  Belgium

  Foreign Affairs Council

  8–9 November 1992

  Italy

  Western European Union Ministerial Meeting

  19–20 November 1992

  Belgium

  EC Foreign Ministers Conclave

  26–27 November 1992

  Belgium

  Foreign Affairs Council and EC Foreign Ministers Conclave

  6–8 December 1992

  Sweden

  CSCE Ministerial Meeting

  14–15 December 1992

  Switzerland

  International Conference on the former Yugoslavia

  15–16 December 1992

  Belgium

  North Atlantic Council Ministerial Meeting

  16–17 December 1992

  Belgium

  Foreign Affairs Council

  20–21 December 1992

  Ghana

  Bilateral

  3–4 January 1993

  Nigeria

  Bilateral

  4–5 January 1993

  Argentina

  Bilateral

  6–10 January 1993

  Chile

  Bilateral

  10–11 January 1993

  France

  Bilateral

  13–14 January 1993

  Netherlands

  Bilateral

  20 January 1993

  Belgium

  Bilateral

  25 January 1993

  Switzerland

  World Economic Forum

  29–31 January 1993

  Belgium

  Foreign Affairs Council

  31 January to 2 February 1993

  France

  Council of Europe

  2 February 1993

  Germany

  30th Munich (Wehrkunde) Conference on Security Policy

  5–6 February 1993

  Germany

  Bilateral

  17 February 1993

  France

  Bilateral

  24 February 1993

  Belgium

  North Atlantic Council Ministerial Meeting

  25–26 February 1993

  Spain

  Anglo/Spanish Talks on Gibraltar

  28 February to 1 March 1993

  USA

  United Nations

  3 March 1993

  Belgium

  Foreign Affairs Council

  7–8 March 1993

  USA

  Bilateral

  24–25 March 1993

  Germany

  Address the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung

  29 March 1993

  France

  Bilateral

  1 April 1993

  Russia

  Bilateral

  2 April 1993

  Indonesia

  Bilateral

  3–5 April 1993

  Japan

  Bilateral

  6–7 April 1993

  Korea

  Bilateral

  7–9 April 1993

  Japan

  Joint Ministerial G7 Meeting

  12–15 April 1993

  Denmark

  EC Foreign Ministers Informal Weekend

  24–25 April 1993

  Finland

  Bilateral

  25–26 April 1993

  Sweden

  Bilateral

  26–27 April 1993

  Ireland

  Bilateral

  30 April 1993

  Hungary

  In attendance upon Her Majesty The Queen

  6–7 May 1993

  Belgium

  Foreign Affairs Council

  9–10 May 1993

  France

  Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly

  13–14 May 1993

  Italy

  Western European Union

  19 May 1993

  USA

  Bilateral

  21 May 1993

  Denmark

  EC Foreign Ministers Troika with Turkey

  24 May 1993

  Belgium

  Bilateral

  24 May 1993

  France

  Bilateral

  1 June 1993

  Romania

  Bilateral

  1–3 June 1993

  Bulgaria

  Bilateral

  3–4 June 1993

  Macedonia

  Bilateral

  4 June 1993

  Luxembourg

  Foreign Affairs Council

  7–9 June 1993

  Greece

  Ministerial Meeting of the North Atlantic Council

  9–11 June 1993

  Denmark

  European Council

  21–22 June 1993

  Singapore

  Bilateral

  5–6 July 1993

  Japan

  G7 Economic Summit

  7–8 July 1993

  China

  Bilateral

  8–9 July 1993

  Hong Kong

  Official Talks

  9 July 1993

  328

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the peace negotiations in the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We fully support the continuing efforts of Lord Owen and Mr. Stoltenberg to secure a peace settlement, acceptable to all parties and based on the principles of the London conference. The latest peace proposal for Bosnia-Herzegovina is a Serb and Croat initiative which has not been endorsed by the international community. We are actively supporting the co-chairmen's efforts to encourage all three sides to engage in serious negotiations.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to raise at the next meeting of EC Ministers Croatia's response to the warning of the EC Foreign Ministers on 8 June of their obligations to co-operate with the international commun-ity in ensuring a peaceful resolution of the problems in the Krajinas and in Bosnia-Herzegovina; what is his policy towards the introduction of sanctions against Croatia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The meeting of EC Foreign Ministers on 19 July is likely to address how the European Community can contribute further in support of the co-chairman's efforts to achieve a peace settlement in Bosnia, including the question of further pressure on Croatia.

  Mrs. Naseem Akhtar
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision is to be taken by the United Kingdom post in Islamabad on the application by Mrs. Naseem Akhtar and her children (REF: IMM/B7202) to join her husband in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In the absence of any information about this case, I have asked the High Commission in Islamabad for a full report. I shall arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as soon as possible.

  Sudan
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the Government have made lo the Khartoum Government over their human rights record.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Such representations have been made on many occasions, most recently by the EC troika ministerial mission which visited Khartoum on 22 June, and in which the United Kingdom was represented.

TRANSPORT

  Teesside Park
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will provide signs to Teesside park on the A 19 northbound and southbound in the vicinity of its junction with the A66;
  330
  (2) if he will provide signs to Teesside park on the A66.

  Mr. Key
  It is not my policy to install such signs at the intersection of two primary routes. However, I am reviewing the particular circumstances of this case.

  Superintendent Earnshaw
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department intends to reply to a letter from Superintendent Earnshaw of Stockton police dated 21 April, Ref. DN 504726/1/01.

  Mr. Key
  A reply was sent to Superintendent Earnshaw on 1 July 1993.

  M66, Manchester
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will now take steps to arrange the meeting recommended in paragraph 16.33.1, on access to Nut Bank house, in the inspector's report on the public inquiry into the M66-Manchester outer ring road (Denton to Middleton section) proposals, published on 19 February.

  Mr. Key
  We are in contact with solicitors acting for the owner of Nut Bank house. A meeting will be arranged as soon as possible.

  Al, Lancashire
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his Department's current plans for a major road development linking the Lancashire border to the A1; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  I have no current plans for a new major road development linking the Lancashire border to the A1. The trans-pennine study considered options for roads in the area. The consultation period on the study has only recently finished and I shall make a statement in due course.

  A13, Newham
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost of installing a footbridge, together with approach ramps suitable for prams and push chairs, across the A13 Newham way near to its junction with Beckton road or Forty Acre lane.

  Mr. Norris
  At present, there are no plans for a footbridge at this location. However, if a bridge was to be provided typical construction costs would be of the order of £300,000 depending on circumstances at the site.

  Roads
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next intends to publish a White Paper on roads.

  Mr. Key
  My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to publish a White Paper on roads. He is at present consulting on his Green Paper "Paying for Better Motorways".

  Ferries
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which roll-on roll-off ferries operating from United Kingdom ports do not yet full conform with safety
  331
  regulations arising from the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster; by what date the vessels are expected to conform; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  All roll-on roll-off passenger ferries operating from United Kingdom ports must comply with national and international safety regulations including those arising from the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster.

  M25
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the various studies he has commissioned or put out to tender to consider the need for widening the M25 beyond eight lanes and the sections of the M25 to which they apply.

  Mr. Key
  Three commissions have already been let to study the need for the feasibility of providing more than four lanes on the M25. They relate to the following sections:

  Junctions 10–12 (A3 to M3)

  Junctions 12–15 (M3 to M4)

  Junctions 15–16 (M4 to M40)

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to announce a preferred route for the link roads proposed alongside the M25 from junctions 12 to 15.

  Mr. Key
  My right hon. Friend hopes to have completed his consideration of the issues to enable a decision to be issued soon.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has carried out to date into the effects of building link roads alongside the M25 between junctions 5 and 28 on(a) pollution including carbon dioxide emissions, (h) development pressures and (c) sites of nature conservation and landscape importance.

  Mr. Key
  Each individual scheme's environmental statement includes an assessment of the impact of the proposals on both atmospheric pollution and any land to he affected. No studies have yet been carried out into development pressures resulting from M25 widening proposals.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his powers to control the levels of tolls on the proposed Birmingham northern relief road, and on his reserve powers to take over the operation of the proposed road.

  Mr. Key
  My right hon. Friend has no powers to control the level of tolls on the Birmingham northern relief road. The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 provides for a toll order to specify the maximum tolls which a concessionaire may charge only in the case of major crossings to which there is no reasonably convenient alternative.

  The 1991 Act provides that where a concession agreement terminates for any reason before the end of a toll period the Secretary of State shall take reasonable steps to secure the appointment of a new concessionaire; and that he may himself collect tolls pending such appointments or in accordance with an extension toll order.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide an estimate of the proportion of his Department's total expenditure, including an appropriate allocation of running costs, which is spent on(a) road transport, (b) railways, (c) aviation and (d) shipping.

  Mr. Norris
  Full details of the Government's expenditure plans for transport are published in the Department of Transport report 1993, Cm 2206. Over the three-year period 1993–94 to 1995–96 total planned expenditure is £18,351 million of which 53 per cent. is for national and local roads, 38 per cent. for public transport, including rail, and just over 2 per cent. for air and sea transport; the remainder is accounted for by central administration, the Department's executive agencies, and miscellaneous services.

  British Rail
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had from the North West Regional Association about British Rail privatisa-tion; what reply he is sending; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  An official reply was sent to the secretary of the North West Regional Association on 1 July in response to its letter of 23 June. I am sending a copy of the correspondence to the hon. Member.

  Railways (Vandalism)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 14 May,Official Report, columns 613–4, if he will provide a regional breakdown of prosecutions for acts of vandalism on rail lines.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not readily available in the form requested.

  A6(M)
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions he has made to ensure there is no conflict of interest between the advice given by L. G. Mouchel and Partners as consultants to his Department in respect of traffic modelling and design for the A6(M) and their acting as consultants to the applicants in respect of planning applications for a superstore on Melford road, Stockport, and a superstore on Stockport road west, where his Department is a statutory consultee.

  Mr. Key
  I am aware of the consultants' involvement and believe that they are acting in a proper and professional manner.

  The application for Melford road has been considered largely in relation to its impact on the existing road network, given its distance from the proposed bypass.

  My Department has formed its own view on all the evidence available in connection with the Stockport road west development and has responded accordingly.

  Motor Vehicles
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the percentage of motor vehicles on the road that are(a) unlicensed, (b) do

  333
  not have a valid MOT certificate or (c) whose regular driver is uninsured; what these figures approximate to in terms of numbers of vehicles and drivers and how many prosecutions were undertaken in respect of each category in the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Key
  In Great Britain there are 35 million drivers holding full or provisional driving licences and 24·8 million licensed vehicles.

  It is estimated that there were 1·3 million unlicensed vehicles in use on the public road at the end of September 1992. In 1992–93 over 435,000 vehicle licence evaders were penalised either by prosecution—193,000 —or through out-of-court settlement—242,000—recover-ing £37·5 million in revenue. In addition it is estimated that 180,000 evaders relicensed their vehicles as a direct result of enforcement action recovering a further £14 million.

  There is no reliable estimate of the percentage of motor vehicles on the road which do not have an MOT test certificate or whose regular driver is uninsured. In 1991, 253,813 persons were found guilty in England and Wales of vehicle insurance offences and in Scotland 15,816 drivers were found guilty of driving while uninsured. In the same period in Great Britain 141,450 persons were found guilty of vehicle test offences.

  Speed Limits
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the trials of the variable speed limits outside schools are to begin; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The first experimental site at Howick on the A5092 trunk road in Cumbria has come into operation today. This is the first of the 14 school sites on trunk roads and 100 sites on local authority roads where variable limits are being introduced on an experimental basis. The results will be monitored and, if the signs are effective in reducing drivers speeds, provision will be made to permit variable speed limits to be more widely applied.

  M27 Aircraft Crash
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 5 July at column 8, whether the aircraft which crashed on the M27 on 26 May carried a co-pilot licensed to act as pilot in command.

  Mr. Norris
  I understand that the co-pilot holds a licence which entitled him to act in the capacity of a co-pilot on that particular aircraft, but not as a pilot in command.

  Night Flights
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, (1) using the new system for restricting night flights announced on 6 July, how many noise quota points would have been used up by the aircraft that operated into and out of Heathrow airport during(a) the night quota hours of the 1992–93 winter period and (b) the night quota hours of the 1992 summer period;

  (2) using the new system for restricting night flights an nounced on 6 July and the aircraft that have operated or are scheduled to operate into or out of Heathrow airport
  334
  during the night quota hours of the 1993 summer period, how many noise quota points will be used up during this period.

  Mr. Norris
  More data on aircraft type, engine fit and maximum certificated landing and taking off weights are required to classify aircraft under the new night restrictions system than under the present regime. Not all this data is available for past movements, so only estimates can be given. These are(a) about 6,000 in winter 1992–93 (b) about 6,225 in summer 1992 and (c) about 6,400 in summer 1993.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many air traffic movements took place at Heathrow airport during(a) the night quota hours of the 1992–93 winter period and (b) the night quota hours of the 1992 summer period.

  Mr. Norris
  The total number of runway movements— that is, air transport movements and all other movements such as empty positioning flights —during the night quota periods was

  (a) 3,413:1992–93 winter

  (b) 3,409: 1992 summer

  Of these movements at (a) 3,078 counted against the main quota, 21 counted against the delayed quota, 225 were by aircraft exempt from the restrictions, and 89 movements were granted dispensations and exemptions according to current arrangements.

  Of the movements at (b) 2,649 counted against the quota, 60 counted against the delayed quota, 678 were by aircraft exempt from the restrictions and 22 were granted dispensations and exemptions according to current arrangements.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many air traffic movements he estimates will occur at Heathrow airport during the night quota hours of the 1993 summer period on the basis of the number of aircraft that have or are scheduled to operate into and out of the airport.

  Mr. Norris
  In total, about the same as in summer 1992.

  Bus Companies
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to bring in legislation to require municipal authorities to sell off their bus companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Our manifesto contained a pledge to privatise the remaining local authority bus companies. I am pleased that many authorities are selling their companies voluntarily. It is our intention to introduce legislation at an early opportunity to require the rest to do so.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Government have spent on the proposed east London river crossing up to 7 July.

  Mr. Norris
  Approximately £31 million. The bulk of the expenditure has been on scheme preparation but the figure also includes some £3 million on advance works and £9 million on land and property purchase.

  Civil Aircraft
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what consideration his Department has given to the mandatory fitment of high-intensity strobe lights to civil aircraft regularly involved in low-level flying activities such as power line and pipeline surveying and crop spraying;

  (2) what consideration his Department has given to the provision of air-to-air transponder equipment for civil aircraft regularly engaged in activities at low altitude;

  (3) what capability the civil aircraft notification procedure has for the notification of linear activities such as power line and pipeline surveying;

  (4) what measures have been introduced by his Department since 1988 to encourage civilian pilots and aircraft operators to make use of the civil aircraft notification procedures; and if he will make a statement as to what further measures are under consideration.

  Mr. Norris
  Aviation safety matters such as these are for the Civil Aviation Authority, in the first instance. I have therefore passed the hon. Member's questions to the chairman of the authority, asking him to write to the hon. Member.

  I am always ready to consider any proposals for changes in primary or secondary legislation which the authority may put to me.

  German Merchant Fleet
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he is making to the European Commission about German plans to increase tax concessions to the German merchant fleet.

  Mr. Norris
  It is our policy to urge the Commission to look into all cases of state aids in the transport sector, including aids to shipowners, in order to secure the removal of those that distort competition. I understand that what is proposed by Germany in this particular case would renew fiscal arrangements that have been in place for some time.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Stefan Kiszko
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to provide the families involved with the results of the investigation on the completion of any criminal proceedings arising from the Lancashire police force's investigation into the Stefan Kiszko case.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  It is for the chief constable of West Yorkshire police and the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide what information may be disclosed to the Kiszko and Molseed families. As the Prime Minister has already informed the hon. Member, West Yorkshire police have assured both families that they will brief them fully about what happened as soon as they are free to do so.

  Firearms
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many thefts of shotguns there were in 1991 in each police force area(a) from domestic premises and (b) from all premises.
  336
  Mr. Maclean
  The following table shows, for each police force in England and Wales in 1991, the number of notifiable offences of burglary and theft in which shotguns were reported to have been stolen from domestic and all premises:

  Notifiable offences of burglary and theft in which shot guns were stolen

  Police force area

  Domestic premises

  All premises

  Avon and Somerset

  15

  20

  Bedfordshire

  4

  8

  Cambridgeshire

  9

  10

  Cheshire

  7

  13

  Cleveland

  3

  4

  Cumbria

  7

  8

  Derbyshire

  5

  6

  Devon and Cornwall

  27

  35

  Dorset

  2

  2

  Durham

  21

  24

  Essex

  14

  17

  Gloucestershire

  4

  6

  Greater Manchester

  4

  5

  Hampshire

  16

  20

  Hertfordshire

  2

  2

  Humberside

  7

  7

  Kent

  30

  46

  Lancashire

  18

  27

  Leicestershire

  7

  13

  Lincolnshire

  6

  9

  London, City of

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  6

  7

  Metropolitan Police District

  22

  28

  Norfolk

  17

  25

  Northamptonshire

  10

  11

  Northumbria

  15

  21

  North Yorkshire

  12

  18

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  4

  South Yorkshire

  20

  26

  Staffordshire

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  11

  11

  Surrey

  17

  20

  Sussex

  13

  16

  Thames Valley

  21

  35

  Warwickshire

  6

  10

  West Mercia

  8

  11

  West Midlands

  8

  11

  West Yorkshire

  7

  11

  Wiltshire

  3

  5

  Dyfed-Powys

  3

  6

  Gwent

  —

  —

  North Wales

  6

  10

  South Wales

  2

  6

  England and Wales

  416

  574

  False Imprisonment
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce measures to ensure that compensation awards to persons having been falsely imprisoned are harmonised; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  It has been the long-standing practice for the amount to be paid in an award of compensation under section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, or under the related ex-gratia scheme, to be settled according to the assessment or advice of an independent assessor, currently Sir David Calcutt QC. The assessor applies principles analogous to those governing the assessment of damages for civil wrongs. I am satisfied that these arrangements result in fairness and consistency in the determination of amounts to be paid.

  Mr. John Matthews
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on his decision to place an exclusion order on Mr. John Matthews;

  (2) what consideration he gives to (a) acquittal decisions by the courts in respect of terrorist-related offences with which a person has been charged and (b) decisions by the Crown Prosecution Service to withdraw charges against such a person, in deciding whether to place an exclusion order on such a person.

  Mr. Howard
  On Tuesday 6 July I exercised the powers conferred upon me by part II of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 to exclude John Gerard Matthews from Great Britain. Before reaching a decision I carefully reviewed all the information which had been placed before me. On the basis of that information I was satisfied that the criteria set out at section 5 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act were met in this case.

  The decision which I am required to take in relation to exclusion orders is different in kind from that which the prosecuting authorities apply in deciding whether to continue criminal proceedings. They consider whether, on the basis of evidence which will be admissible in court, there is a realistic prospect of persuading a jury beyond reasonable doubt that a person is guilty of a specific offence. I have to be satisfied that a person is or has been concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland. In making that assessment it is open to me to consider information which would not be admissible in court. Whilst I would have regard to the fact that a person had been acquitted, or criminal proceedings discontinued, that fact would not preclude the making of an exclusion order.

  Notifiable Offences, London
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notifiable offences were reported in the Metropolitan police area in the first three months of 1993; and if he will give a breakdown of the figures by category of offence.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not yet available.

  Parliamentary Boundaries
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current timetable for the work of the Boundary Commission for England in reviewing the current parliamentary boundaries; and what will be the effect on this timetable of re-examination by the commission of the population figures on which its work has so far been based.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Boundary Commission for England is required, by the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, to make its final report by 31 December 1994. I understand that it is confident that it will be in time. The enumeration date for its review is February 1991, and the release of subsequent electoral statistics, or indeed a more recent evaluation of the accuracy of the electoral register, will not affect its timetable.

  Fire Services, Merseyside
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Merseyside fire and civil defence authority following its consideration of the report of Her Majesty's inspector of fire services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received from the clerk to the Merseyside Fire and Civil Defence Authority a copy of a resolution made at the authority's annual general meeting on 28 June. The resolution relates to the report of an inspection of the Merseyside Fire Brigade conducted by Her Majesty's inspector of fire services during the week beginning 25 January 1993. We shall consider the resolution carefully alongside the report of the special inspection of the Merseyside brigade which was conducted during the week beginning 5 July, once that report is available.

  Ex-offenders
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions the Prison Department has had with each training and enterprise council regarding schemes to provide employment for ex-offenders;

  (2) how much the Prison Department spent in (a) 1991 and (b) 1992 on funding schemes which provide employment for ex-offenders; and what proportion this was of the Prison Department's budget.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated July 1993:

  TRAINING AND ENTERPRISE COUNCILS EMPLOYMENT SCHEMES FOR EX-OFFENDERS

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question seeking information about what discussions the Prison Service has had with each Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) regarding schemes to provide employment for ex-offenders.

  TECs are responsible for adult and youth training schemes. Prison Service establishments are encouraged to work with their local TEC in helping to meet offenders' training needs. Discussions between the Prison Service and individual TECs normally take place at a local level; the details are not recorded centrally.

  As a result of these local contacts, a number of important joint ventures between prisons and TECs have been developed. To build on these, the Prison Service is working with the Training, Enterprise and Education Directorate and the Probation Service to produce a good practice guide for TECs on meeting the training needs of offenders and ex-offenders. The guide will be issued later this year.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated July 1993:

  Expenditure on Employment schemes for ex-offenders
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how much the Prison Department spent in 1991 and 1992 on funding schemes which provide employment for ex-offenders.
  The Prison Service undertakes a wide range of work aimed at preparing, training and assisting prisoners to find jobs on release. The cost of this is not separately distinguished. The work is described in "Employment in Prisons and for Ex-Offenders. The Government Reply to the First Report from the Employment Committee Session 1991–92 HC30". I

  339
  enclose a copy of the Report, which I hope will help to fill out the picture for you. Since the Government's Reply was published, the Employment Service has agreed to provide additional funding to enable the number of prison job clubs and prisons running job search preparation courses to be increased. In consequence, as part of its business plan for 1993–94, the Prison Service aims to increase the number of prisons running job search preparation courses from 24 to 48 and the number of prison job clubs from 5 to 10.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the working group examining the future of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board have(a) English legal qualifications and (b) Scottish legal qualifications.

  Mr. Maclean
  There is no working group examining the future of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. As my right hon. and learned Friend the member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) announced on 23 November 1992, col 457, the Government have decided that the present criminal injuries compensation scheme should be replaced in 1994 by one based on a tariff of awards. The intention is to offer a better, more straightforward service to claimants.

  Officials are working up the more detailed proposals in the normal course of their duties under the direction of Ministers. The officials take legal advice as and when appropriate. Details of the new scheme will be set out in the White Paper within the next two or three months.

  Bosnian Refugees
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to accelerate the programme for the reception of Bosnian refugees and their dependants announced on 30 November.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In response to the humanitarian organisations' priorities the programme has initially concentrated on former detention camp inmates and their dependants. We have already received a total of 250 ex-detainees and 421 dependants, but there have been difficulties, particularly in securing further releases from the detention camps. In discussion with UNHCR we have made clear our readiness to consider other vulnerable individuals for inclusion in the 1,000.

  Anti-Abortion Protesters
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to prevent the entry into the United Kingdom of anti-abortion protesters from the United States.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to prevent the entry to the United Kingdom of activitists from(a) Operation Rescue and (b) Rescue America.

  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. Consideration will be given to any evidence which would justify exclusion on this ground.

  City of London (Road Closures)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with the City of London Corporation on the closure of roads on security grounds; and what is the maximum time that such road closures can be maintained.

  Mr. Howard
  The experimental traffic scheme now in operation was introduced by the Commissioner of Police for the City of London with the agreement of the Corporation of London, under section 12 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. A scheme introduced under this section may remain in force for up to six months and may thereafter be continued for a maximum of 12 months in all. The City's proposals did not require my approval, although the City corporation and police discussed them with members of my Department before implementation.

  Immigration Rules
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the progress of discussions on proposals to remove sex discrimination from the immigration rules; when he expects the conclusions to be implemented; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We are currently considering these and other aspects of the immigration rules and hope to publish proposals shortly.

  Macedonia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to abolish the visa requirement for citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  None.

  Car Park Attacks
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis concerning(a) the attacks on women that have taken place recently in supermarket car parks in south London and (b) the consideration he is giving to crime prevention advice to shoppers and to the proprietors of supermarkets about improved security; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  All such attacks are investigated and an arrest has been made in the recent case of an attack on a women shopper returning to her car parked in a supermarket car park. There is no indication that this type of crime is increasing. Sensible precautions are promoted by the Metropolitan police and the national "Secured Car Parks" scheme operates in London. This scheme extends throughout the Metropolitan police district and is open to all car park owners and operators, including supermarket proprietors.

  Sheehy Inquiry
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the experience or qualifications possessed by each member of the inquiry into police responsibilities and rewards prior to their appointment which were considered to be of particular relevance to that appointment.
  341
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The chairman and each member of the inquiry between them possessed an impressive range of skills and experience drawn from the management of large private and public sector organisations, a practical understanding of business, and in particular effective service delivery.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to bringing forward proposals for a rolling register whereby names can be added to the list of voters throughout the year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The introduction of a "rolling" electoral register is one of the matters being discussed in the post-election review. The five working groups set up as part of the review are expected to report their findings in

  Recorded racial incidents in the Metropolitan police area

  Ethnic grouping

  Year

  White European

  Dark-skinned European

  Black/Afro-Caribbean

  Asian

  Oriental

  Arabic/Egyptian

  Origin unknown/Other

  Total

  1988

  270

  54

  532

  1,348

  32

  15

  25

  2,276

  1989

  384

  86

  558

  1,616

  35

  25

  43

  2,747

  1990

  439

  104

  649

  1,661

  46

  36

  27

  2,962

  1991

  610

  114

  686

  1,893

  36

  47

  2

  3,388

  1992

  654

  130

  796

  1,860

  58

  42

  134

  3,674

  Note.—These figures do not agree with the table for classified racial incidents as in certain cases there is more than one victim per incident.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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 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. Howard
  The information requested is not available, apart from the following information in respect of part(b) of the question:

  Lord Belstead

  Chairman of the Parole Board

  Salary £45,060

  Appointed 3 October 1992 until 2 October 1997

  Lord Brassey of Apethorpe

  Member of the Board of Visitors, HM Prison, Gartree Expenses only

  Appointed 1981 for 3 years; reappointed on a 3-yearly basis

  Rt. hon. Lord Carlisle of Bucklow, QC

  Chairman of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board

  Salary £31,350

  Appointed 1 March 1989 until 31 March 1995

  Lord Kimball

  Chairman of the Firearms Consultative Committee Expenses only

  Appointed for 5 years from 1989

  Lord Macaulay of Bragar, QC

  Member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board

  Fee £246 per day

  342
  the late summer. Representatives of the political parties and the local authority associations will then be invited to discuss the reports at a meeting in the autumn.

  Racial Incidents
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) of 17 December 1992,Official Report, column 443, if he will provide a breakdown of the figures given by ethnic group of victim, for the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information given to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey can only be further broken down by ethnic group for the Metropolitan police district, and is given in the table.

  Appointed 12 January 1989 until 31 March 1995

  Baroness Masham of Ilton

  Member of Board of Visitors, HM Young Offender

  Institution, Wetherby

  Expenses only

  Appointed 1963; reappointed on a 3-yearly basis

  Lord Nathan

  Chairman of the Animal Procedures Committee

  Expenses only

  Appointed January 1990 until February 1993

  Professor Lord Soulsby of Swaftham Prior

  Member of the Animal Procedures Committee

  Expenses only

  Appointed 1985; renewed 1987 for 4 years

  Lord Swaythling

  Member of the Horserace Totalisator Board

  Salary £7,772

  Appointed 1981; reappointed for 5 terms until 1993

  Lord Wyatt of Weeford

  Chairman of the Horserace Totalisator Board

  Salary £92,000

  Appointed 1976; reappointed 1993 for 2 years.

  Information in respect of the Parole Local Review Committees is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Oxfam
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to consult Oxfam before the G7 conference about the issues to be raised there.
  343
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The conclusions in Oxfam's recent report "Africa, Make or Break" were widely considered in the run-up to the summit, and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development met representatives of Oxfam on 8 July. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also met members of the all-party group, the "Africa Caucus", on 29 June, and discussed issues raised by the report.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to withhold aid programmes to India until the Indian Government allow independent observer groups from the British Parliament to visit the Indian-occupied area of Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have no plans to withhold aid programmes to India.

  Vegetable Waste (Exports)
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he will take in the light of the representations made to him concerning the production of compost/soil enricher from vegetable waste for export to the third world; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We do not believe exporting compost from the United Kingdom is an appropriate or cost-effective way to improve soil fertility in the developing world.

  We aim to address developing country problems through promoting economic growth and self-reliance, and are assisting smallholder farms in Africa and Asia to produce compost from their own organic wastes.

  Indonesia
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 April to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon),Official Report, column 172, when it became the policy of Her Majesty's Government to seek to influence Indonesia by dialogue rather than by attaching conditions to aid.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Government explained their policy on good government in speeches by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 6 June 1990 and by my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development on 25 June 1991. When determining the flows of development aid, Her Majesty's Government studies each individual case carefully. Respect for human rights, among other factors, is taken into account.

  Irrigation Projects
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level of United Kingdom aid for irrigation projects; which are the main countries involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In financial year 1992–93, we spent £6·54 million on irrigation and associated drainage projects. The main beneficiaries were Pakistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. We also spend about £750,000 344
  per annum on research into irrigation and drainage and fund scholarships in the United Kingdom for irrigation specialists from overseas.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Hotel and Restaurant Industry
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had from the hotel and restaurant industry regarding deregulation.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The hotel and restaurant industry is represented on the sectoral task forces and many individual operators and trade organisations have provided evidence of over regulation. The issues identified are being pursued vigorously with the Government Departments concerned.

  THORP
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what approaches he has received from foreign customers for BNFL's THORP regarding the cancellation or amendment of contracts, the return of fuel or whether it will be reprocessed.

  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Music Industry
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total amount in exports earned by the British music industry in 1992.

  Mr. Needham
  Exports of records, cassettes and compact discs as reported by Customs and Excise and shortly to be published by the British Phonographic Industry in its 1993 handbook were £211·9 million in 1992. BPI will also publish an estimate of invisible earnings in the form of royalties returning from overseas of £500 million in 1991.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what monitoring his Department undertakes of firms receiving regional financial selective assistance once their projects have been completed.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Regional selective assistance offer letters require beneficiaries to confirm to the Department at intervals of 18 months and 36 months after the last payment of grant, that job totals and assets relating to the project remain in place or to explain any changes and the reasons for them.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 9 June,Official Report, column 254, what information he has about any of the firms benefiting from regional financial selective assistance now having ceased trading.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Department may become aware that individual firms have ceased trading at any time during the normal monitoring of regional selective assistance and this information would be recorded on the case file. However, identifying all such cases would involve disproportionate costs. Firms that discontinue trading
  345
  after completion of the monitoring period are treated as all other firms and the Department keeps no specific record of them.

  Post Office (Privatisation)
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those remaining Crown post offices which it is intended to convert to privatised status.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No. Decisions on which individual Crown post offices should be proposed for conversion to agency status are an operational matter for the Post Office. The Post Office always consults publicly on individual proposals in accordance with a code of practice agreed with the Post Office Users National Council.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he held with the Post Office on its decision to convert an additional 200 Crown post offices to privatised status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I understand that the Post Office has made no decision about the number of Crown offices to be converted to agency status. The Crown office conversion programme delivers costs savings which help to protect the rest of the post office network; it also ensures that the delivery of post office services is responsive to customer needs by, for example, increasing opening hours. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade does not have detailed discussions with the Post Office on implementation of this programme, which is a matter within their operational responsibility.

  Public Houses
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 35, how many of the representations from Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd. lessees expressed concern over rent levels; how many referred to the effect of a beer tie on rent levels; and how many of the complainants have obtained redress of their grievances as a result of his intervention.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The majority of representations received recently by my Department from Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd. lessees expressed concern over rent levels. Levels of rent are essentially a commercial matter between company and lessee. We understand from the company that rent levels negotiated by the company take account of the individual circumstances of each public house, including whether or not it is tied. The Government asked all the major brewers in 1991 to introduce procedures associated with long-term leases to be determined by independent arbitration or through independent assess-ment by a professional expert where they could not be agreed with the tenants; these are available under the IEL lease. It would not be appropriate for the Government to intervene in individual cases.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 35, what were the specific issues raised with Mr. R. G. Williams, chairman and managing director of Grand Metropolitan Estates Ltd. in respect of Inntrepreneur leases; what was his response; what reduction in rents resulted from the removal of beer ties; and if he will make a statement.
  346
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The purpose of the discussion was to assist officials in advising me on how to respond to points made in representations to the Department. In particular the Department needed to be clear whether the representations made to us revealed any evidence that the company was not complying with the Beer Orders or undertakings given to the Director General of Fair Trading following the MMC report on the Elders IXL Ltd./Grand Metropolitan plc merger; and further, whether the company was abiding by assurances given to Ministers in 1991 about treatment of tenants. On the level of rents, the release of a pub from tie affects its market rent because it allows the tenant/lessee freedom of choice in sourcing his beer and in obtaining discounts.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 36, what assurances have been obtained from Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd. in respect of its treatment of their lessees since 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  In meetings with the company, my officials have been assured that the company continues to abide by the assurances given to Ministers in 1991 about the treatment of tenants. In addition, I understand that the company has recently introduced more flexibility into leasing arrangements; for example, the incorporation, where appropriate, of a three-year break clause, exercisable by the lessee only, into the standard Inntrepreneur lease.

  Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the operation of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 22 June 1993]: There has been no formal assessment of the legislation by the Attorney-General. The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has responsibility for the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. The Department monitors the effectiveness of all legislation for which it is responsible.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (I) what volume, in cubic metres, of intermediate level radioactive waste will remain in the United Kingdom under return of waste agreements between British Nuclear Fuels plc and overseas customers(a) in absolute terms and (h) as a proportion of the waste imported;

  (2) what volume, in cubic metres, of low level radioactive wastes will remain in the United Kingdom under return of waste agreements between British Nuclear Fuels plc and overseas customers (a) in absolute terms and (b) as a proportion of the waste imported.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 23 June 1993]: Since 1976. BNFL's contracts for the reprocessing of overseas spent fuel have contained options for the return of wastes. Under these agreements, the company has the right to return all three types of waste—high, intermediate and low-level—to the country of origin. The possible substitution for low and intermediate-level waste of a radiologically equivalent amount of high-level waste, in addition to the customer's normal HLW allocation, was referred to in my reply to the hon. Member of 7 June 1993, Official Report, column 161.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Council of Ministers meeting on Friday, 2 July in relation to the European regional development fund.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 8 July 1993]: I refer to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kincardine and Deeside on 6 July, Official Report, columns 105–06.

  Misleading Pricing
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what response he has made to the recommendations of the Monitoring Committee on Misleading Price Indications; and if he will publish their report.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [pursuant to the answer given by the hon. Member for Gainsborough and Horncastle (Mr. Leigh) on 7 May 1993, Official Report, columns 276–77]: My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs and Small Firms has announced today that the Department is going out to consultation on proposed regulations under section 26 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 which would require resellers of tickets for theatre performances and other such events to tell consumers the standard of the seat being offered including its face value.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Ballygowan
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated population of Ballygowan; and what the population of Ballygowan was 10 years ago.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  Prior to 1991, the official mid-year estimates of population were not produced to ward level. However, the 1991 census records the population of the ward of Ballygowan as 4,027. Allowing for boundary changes, the comparable 1981 census figure is estimated at 2,949.

  Optical Appliances Vouchers
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total number of optical appliances vouchers redeemed in Northern Ireland in each year since 1986; and what was the total cost of the optical appliances voucher scheme in Northern Ireland in each year since 1986.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Total number of vouchers redeemed

  Total cost of vouchers scheme (£)

  19861

  62,519

  972,808

  1987

  124,222

  2,287,157

  1988

  122,080

  2,485,425

  1989

  119,207

  2,681,090

  1990

  118,152

  2,889,159

  1991

  2141,687

  3,573,688

  1992

  2162,365

  4,381,207

  1 The 1986 figures represent only six months as the scheme was introduced on 1 July 1986.

  348

  2 The figures for 1991 and 1992 are provisional.

  Source: Northern Ireland Central Services Agency for Health and Personal Social Services.

  Opera House, Belfast
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated cost of repairing the Opera house in Belfast after its recent bombing; if he expects this cost to be met from ordinary funding of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  The estimated cost of repairing the Grand Opera is £1·75 million. The Compensation Agency has accepted liability for the necessary repairs.

  Arts Council
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding is allocated to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for the current year; and what were the figures for the five preceding years.

  Mr. Ancram
  In the current financial year the Arts Council of Northern Ireland will receive funding amounting to £6·349 million. Allocations in the five preceding years were:

  £ million

  1988–89

  4·272

  1989–90

  4·797

  1990–91

  5·565

  1991–92

  6·461

  1992–93

  6·580

  President, Irish Republic
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many representatives of Her Majesty's Government have been in attendance during engagements performed by the President of the Irish Republic during each of her private visits to Northern Ireland.

  Sir John Wheeler
  A representative of Her Majesty's Government was in attendance at one event attended by the President of the Irish Republic in February 1992 during one of her five private visits to Northern Ireland. On that occasion the then Secretary of State, Mr. Brooke, hosted a reception in Stormont castle.

  Disallowed Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by month for the last 12 months and by employment region the number of people disallowed unemployment benefit.

  Mr. Ancram
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Alec Wylie to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 8 July 1993:
  349
  As I am responsible for Social Security operational matters, your recent Parliamentary Question on the number of disallowances of Unemployment Benefit in the employ-ment regions of Northern Ireland each month in the last 12 months has been passed to me for reply.

  Unemployment benefit disallowances in Northern Ireland from July 1992 to June 1993

  1992

  1993

  District

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  June

  Belfast North

  175

  145

  136

  134

  160

  140

  140

  150

  140

  152

  115

  201

  Belfast South and Down

  174

  150

  161

  182

  197

  161

  139

  178

  193

  137

  111

  168

  North West

  132

  101

  141

  170

  163

  168

  133

  119

  148

  181

  180

  172

  Laganbann

  123

  165

  147

  240

  217

  210

  201

  203

  212

  182

  186

  202

  North East

  150

  104

  122

  186

  203

  189

  174

  176

  210

  211

  184

  176

  Central

  161

  72

  105

  132

  94

  82

  167

  105

  123

  170

  99

  112

  Mourne

  121

  113

  107

  164

  149

  151

  131

  165

  174

  131

  153

  151

  East

  184

  205

  266

  715

  545

  349

  317

  435

  364

  369

  404

  542

  Belfast West

  62

  92

  67

  59

  69

  33

  89

  61

  101

  49

  114

  86

  South East Antrim

  194

  218

  238

  410

  265

  235

  299

  350

  342

  329

  259

  315

  West

  104

  64

  118

  120

  113

  126

  91

  143

  150

  145

  83

  85

  TOTAL

  1,580

  1,429

  1,608

  2,512

  2,175

  1,844

  1,881

  2,085

  2,157

  2,056

  1,888

  2,210

PRIME MINISTER

  UK-Japan Nuclear Trade
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he discussed the matter of United Kingdom-Japan nuclear trade during his visit to the G7 summit in Tokyo.

  The Prime Minister
  At our meeting, the Prime Minister of Japan and I discussed a wide range of bilateral and international issues.

  Serbia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had during the past two weeks with Lord Owen on the issue of the selective lifting of sanctions against Serbia; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have had no such discussions with Lord Owen during the past two weeks. At the Group of Seven economic summit in Tokyo on 7–9 July, 1 and other Heads of Government reaffirmed that sanctions will be upheld against Serbia and Montenegro until the conditions in the relevant Security Council resolutions on the former Yugoslavia are met.

  Destination

  Purpose of visit

  Dates

  Italy

  NATO Summit Meeting

  6–8 November 1991

  Germany

  Bilateral

  10 November 1991

  Italy

  Bilateral

  27 November 1991

  Germany

  Bilateral

  27 November 1991

  Netherlands

  Bilateral

  1 December 1991

  Republic of Ireland

  Bilateral

  4 December 1991

  Netherlands

  European Council

  8–10 December 1991

  USA

  United Nations Security Council Meeting

  30–31 January 1992

  Poland

  Bilateral

  25–26 May 1992

  Czechoslovakia

  Bilateral

  26–28 May 1992

  Hungary

  Bilateral

  28–29 May 1992

  Germany

  Bilateral

  5 June 1992

  USA

  Bilateral

  6–9 June 1992

  Colombia

  Bilateral

  9–10 June 1992

  Brazil

  United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)

  10–12 June 1992

  Portugal

  European Council

  25–27 June 1992

  Germany

  G7 Economic Summit

  6–8 July 1992

  350
  There are 11 Districts in Northern Ireland for social security purposes. The number of people disallowed Unemployment Benefit for each of the last twelve months in the Districts is set out in the table attached.

  I hope you find this information helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report and copies will be placed in the Library.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the Government's policy towards the appointment of known members of the Labour party to non-ministerial public bodies, including health authorities and hospital trust boards.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government seek to make all appointments, including those to health authorities and NHS trusts, on merit. Individuals are carefully appraised against the key criteria set for each appointment which cover the qualities, skills and experience required. Details of political affiliation are not specified, and are not required on nomination forms. The successful candidate is the one who meets the criteria, and has the ability and aptitude to meet the demands of the appointment, and to contribute to the effective working of the body concerned.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the destination, dates and purpose of each official overseas visit he has undertaken since November 1991.

  The Prime Minister
  The information requested is as follows:
  351

  Destination

  Purpose of visit

  Dates

  Finland

  CSCE Summit

  9–10 July 1992

  Spain

  Olympic Games

  7–9 August 1992

  Spain

  Bilateral

  16–17 September 1992

  France

  Bilateral

  30 September 1992

  Egypt

  50th Anniversary Commemorations at El Alamein

  23–25 October 1992

  Belgium

  Bilateral

  23 November 1992

  Italy

  Bilateral

  27 November 1992

  Luxembourg

  Bilateral

  30 November 1992

  Greece

  Bilateral

  27–28 November 1992

  Spain

  Bilateral

  30 November to 1 December 1992

  Portugal

  Bilateral

  1 December 1992

  Denmark

  Bilateral

  2 December 1992

  Netherlands

  Bilateral

  6–7 December 1992

  Republic of Ireland

  Bilateral

  7 December 1992

  France

  European Parliament Plenary

  15–16 December 1992

  Canada

  EC/Canada Talks

  17–18 December 1992

  USA

  EC/United States Talks

  18–20 December 1992

  Bosnia

  Visit British Forces

  22 December 1992

  India

  Republic Day Celebrations

  23–28 January 1993

  Oman

  Bilateral

  28 January 1993

  Saudi Arabia

  Bilateral

  28 January 1993

  USA

  Bilateral

  23–25 February 1993

  Switzerland

  Bilateral

  5–6 April 1993

  Austria

  Bilateral

  6 April 1993

  France

  Bilateral

  27–28 May 1993

  Denmark

  European Council

  20–22 June 1993

  Japan

  G7 Economic Summit

  5–9 July 1993

SCOTLAND

  Mortgage Rescue Schemes
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress Scottish Homes has made with developing mortgage rescue schemes in Scotland; and if he will make a statement relating to future plans for progressing such schemes.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I asked Scottish Homes in 1991 to consider the need for such schemes in Scotland. After consulting the Building Societies Association it advised that due to the generally low level of repossessions and the relative buoyancy of the Scottish housing market, specific mortgage rescue schemes were not appropriate in Scotland. The situation is kept under review.

  Crown Office
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representatives of the Crown Office have attended courses in racial awareness.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is an equal opportunities employer whose training courses where appropriate have a component dealing with racial awareness. Procurators fiscal are also encouraged to meet representatives of local community relations councils and similar bodies to discuss issues of concern to ethnic minorities. Crown Office staff meet and correspond from time to time with the Commission for Racial Equality.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to enable the Crown Office to equip procurators fiscal and depute fiscals to prosecute in cases of racially motivated crimes.
  352
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is not the function of the Secretary of State for Scotland to equip prosecutors to carry out their duties. Procurators fiscal have been instructed by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate always to take into account, when considering whether proceedings are in the public interest, evidence that a crime was racially motivated. They will also ensure that information about such an aggravating factor is brought to the attention of the court before sentence is passed.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland(a) how many cases of racial harassment or racially motivated crimes or offences have been reported by Scottish police forces to the Crown Office during the last full year for which such figures are available, (b) how many of such cases have been brought to prosecution by the Crown Office and (c) how many such prosecutions have resulted in convictions.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Figures are not available which show the total number of cases of racial harassment reported by the police to procurators fiscal, although in 1992 the police recorded 38 cases in the category comprising offences under the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Public Order Act 1986. Cases involving racial harassment are often prosecuted at common law and in that event prosecutions and convictions are not being recorded in such a way as to allow those which are racially motivated to be counted separately.

  Labour Statistics
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were registered as unemployed in the Greenock travel-to-work-area; and what was the figure in(a) 1985, (b) 1988 and (c)

  Mr. Stewart
  In April 1993, the number of people registered as unemployed in Greenock travel-to-work-area was 5,726, representing 13·2 per cent. of the work force.
  353
  The equivalent figures in April 1985, 1988 and 1991 were (a) 9,368–19·5 per cent.—(b) 9,116–20·9 per cent.—and (c) 5,699–13·5 per cent.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Foreign Tourists
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what initiatives the Government are taking to increase the number of tourists from abroad to this country.

  Mr. Sproat
  The British Tourist Authority receives £32 million from my Department to promote Britain overseas. My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that the number of overseas visits to the United Kingdom over the three months to April is 12 per cent. up on the same period last year.

  I am also conducting an urgent and detailed inquiry into regulations affecting tourism to establish the scope for deregulation and so allow the industry to become more competitive.

  British Library
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received regarding the new British Library site at St. Pancras.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have received several representations on various aspects of the St. Pancras project.

  Theatre-in-Education
  Mr. John Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will establish an independent inquiry into the funding of Theatre-in-Education.

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department does not involve itself in the funding of individual arts organisations. It is for the appropriate agencies—in this case, the Arts Councils, regional arts boards and local authorities—to consider support of Theatre-in-Education in the context of their own funding policies and priorities.

  English Heritage
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he next plans to meet the chairman of English Heritage to discuss funding.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have frequent meetings with the chairman of English Heritage at which a whole range of issues, including funding, are discussed.

  Industrial Heritage
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what recent assessment his Department has made on the implications for the tourism industry of industrial national heritage.

  Mr. Sproat
  The English Tourist Board has designated 1993 as Industrial Heritage Year with the regional tourist boards undertaking a series of promotional activities on this theme. It is too early to make any assessment of the outcome of the campaign. However, I understand that there has been an encouraging response to the campaign "Experience the Making of Britain".

  Arts and Sports, Chelmsford
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement about opportunities for funding for arts and sports in Chelmsford.

  Mr. Sproat
  Funding for the arts in Chelmsford is mainly provided by the borough council with Essex county council. Chelmsford borough council supports its own directly managed venues and promotions. The Government-funded regional arts board, Eastern Arts, supports the Chelmsford Spectacular and the Chelmsford Cathedral Festival. All of these bodies offer individual project grants. Chelmsford borough council and Eastern Arts have supported a feasibility study into the possibilities of converting Chancellor Hall into a major regional dance centre and, as a follow-up, are presently launching a more detailed architectural study of Chancellor Hall.

  The Government's business sponsorship incentive scheme has this year made an award of £4,000 to a Chelmsford-based arts organisation, the Essex Regional Dance Council, to match sponsorship by United Distillers, London.

  In addition to local authority funding, financial assistance for sport is provided through the Sports Council and the business sponsorship incentive scheme for sport, both sponsored by my Department, the Foundation for Sport and the Arts (FSA) and the Football Trust. In recent years Chelmsford has benefited from a number of these sources, including a grant of £100,000 from the FSA in 1992 to rebuild an indoor cricket school at the Essex County Cricket Club ground.

  The Crescent. Buxton
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the latest information he has on plans to restore the Grade I listed Crescent in Buxton.

  Mr. Sproat
  A public local inquiry into my right hon. Friend's draft compulsory purchase order for the former St. Ann's hotel has been arranged to take place in Buxton on 17 August. If the order is subsequently made, my right hon. Friend's intention is to dispose of the building to High Peak borough council, which would carry out the necessary repairs.

  Sports Grant
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what level of grant will be given to the new United Kingdom Sports Commission and Sports Council for England.

  Mr. Brooke
  I announced on 9 July,Official Report, column 599–602, that the Government did not intend to proceed with the creation of the United Kingdom Sports Commission.

  Television News
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessments he has made of the ability of the Independent Television Commission to preserve the quality of the news coverage of ITV.

  Mr. Brooke
  The ITC became the regulator, rather than the broadcaster, of ITV on 1 January this year. The
  355
  Commission has shown its determination to ensure that the ITV companies comply with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1990 and the conditions of their licences.

  Press Regulation
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consultations he has held with owners and editors of national newspapers about the proposals by the Press Complaints Commission to strengthen self-regulation.

  Mr. Brooke
  None; but I have regular informal contacts with a range of owners and editors of national newspapers and am well aware of their views on press self-regulation, as on other matters. On 5 March I met representatives of the Press Standards of Finance Ltd. to discuss the industry's response to Sir David Calcutt's review of press self-regulation.

  Hotel Tax
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what response he has made to the proposal by the Association of Metropolitan Authorities for a tourism tax on hotels.

  Mr. Sproat
  I am aware of the document produced by the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, although I have not been approached for a response. I shall monitor developments with interest, although local taxation is primarily a matter for the Department of the Environment.

  I am glad to see that the paper acknowledges the difficulties inherent in introducing a tourism tax. Many sectors of the tourism industry are opposed to the idea, and the impact of such a tax on tourism earnings would have to be very carefully considered.

  British Broadcasting Corporation
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to discuss the renewal of the BBC charter with governors of the BBC.

  Mr. Brooke
  None at present. I discussed the future of the BBC, and other matters, when I met the board of governors and senior managers on 16 June.

  National Museums
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he proposes to visit the national museums of Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England to discuss funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sproat
  I visit many museums throughout the United Kingdom. I have direct funding responsibility for the national museums of England only.

  Taylor Report
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress has been made on the implementation of the Taylor report.

  Mr. Brooke
  Six clubs in the FA Premier League and First Division of the Football League have already met the requirement of seating for all, and many others will achieve this objective within the next few months.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress is being made towards determining the site for the headquarters of the national lottery.

  Mr. Sproat
  My hon. Friend is an extremely effective champion of anything that is in the good interests of Basildon. I congratulate him on that. In this case, of course, the choice of a site for the headquarters of the national lottery is not a matter for Ministers, but for the chosen operator of the national lottery. The choice of the operator, which will be made by the Director General of the Office of the National Lottery—OFLOT—will not be made until after the National Lottery Etc. Bill has received Royal Assent, and the Director General of OFLOT has been appointed.

  My hon. Friend may care to identify potential candidates for the role of operator of the national lottery, before one such candidate is chosen, and explain to them all, and seek to convince them of the benefits, as he sees them, of Basildon as a site, so that whoever is chosen is fully briefed on Basildon. No doubt other hon. Members may also seek to convince potential operators of the benefits of other sites for the headquarters of the national lottery

  Windsor Castle
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when work on the repairs at Windsor castle are expected to be completed.

  Mr. Brooke
  The reconstruction of the fire-damaged areas is planned to be completed in 1998. I am pleased to announce that the Duke of Edinburgh will be chairing a committee to advise on the restoration project. The deputy chairman will be the Prince of Wales. Other members are the president of the RIBA, the chairman of the Royal Fine Art Commission, the chairman of English Heritage, the Lord Chamberlain and two other members of the royal household, and the Permanent Secretary of my Department.

  Regional Theatre
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received about the future of British regional theatre.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Arts Council recently conducted an artistic review to set its funding priorities. Following that review, I have received a number of letters about the future of particular theatres and support for drama. The levels of funding given to theatres and drama companies are matters for the Arts Council.

EDUCATION

  LEA Spending
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to improve the analysis of local education authority spending figures by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  For the 1992–93 financial year, we aim to have a complete data set by January 1994, about two months earlier than hitherto.
  357
  Achievement of this aim depends on LEAs completing and submitting the relevant returns on time.

  Non-teaching Staff
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will provide for each local education authority the numbers of(a) non-teaching staff in schools and (b) non-teaching staff employed centrally, providing for each group a breakdown by job function into (i) education support staff, (ii) premises related, including school meals, caretakers and (iii) administration.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on the full-time equivalent numbers of education support and administrative staff employed in maintained schools in England in January 1992—the latest date for which information is available—is shown in the table. Information on premises-related staff in schools is not collected centrally.

  Similar information on centrally employed non-teaching staff is not collected by the Department, although tables showing the total numbers of teachers and lecturers and of other staff employed in the education service of each local authority have been placed in the Library.

  Full-time equivalent1 numbers of education support staff and administrative staff in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in England

  Position at January 1992

  Local education authority

  Education support staff

  Administrative staff

  Corporation of London

  4

  1

  Camden

  284

  104

  Greenwich

  428

  160

  Hackney

  395

  119

  Hammersmith

  246

  88

  Islington

  339

  95

  Kensington and Chelsea

  158

  66

  Lambeth

  403

  129

  Lewisham

  281

  118

  Southwark

  406

  146

  Tower Hamlets

  444

  152

  Wandsworth

  590

  146

  Westminster

  225

  111

  Barking

  232

  102

  Barnet

  423

  171

  Bexley

  175

  118

  Brent

  288

  142

  Bromley

  193

  175

  Croydon

  379

  207

  Ealing

  481

  161

  Enfield

  340

  135

  Haringey

  426

  109

  Harrow

  263

  117

  Havering

  210

  160

  Hillingdon

  407

  153

  Hounslow

  331

  146

  Kingston upon Thames

  134

  120

  Merton

  153

  133

  Newham

  439

  125

  Redbridge

  196

  158

  Richmond upon Thames

  121

  86

  Sutton

  149

  127

  Waltham Forest

  403

  179

  Birmingham

  1,692

  572

  Coventry

  499

  243

  Dudley

  309

  166

  Sandwell

  502

  217

  Solihull

  270

  148

  Walsall

  509

  195

  Wolverhampton

  421

  157

  Knowsley

  283

  134

  Liverpool

  618

  289

  St. Helens

  235

  106

  Sefton

  295

  199

  Wirral

  331

  173

  358

  Local education authority

  Education support staff

  Administrative staff

  Bolton

  316

  162

  Bury

  228

  84

  Manchester

  901

  289

  Oldham

  369

  124

  Rochdale

  269

  142

  Salford

  402

  157

  Stockport

  411

  184

  Tameside

  357

  122

  Trafford

  159

  112

  Wigan

  322

  177

  Barnsley

  334

  113

  Doncaster

  329

  243

  Rotherham

  342

  155

  Sheffield

  692

  308

  Bradford

  1,134

  380

  Calderdale

  332

  114

  Kirklees

  514

  237

  Leeds

  1,232

  405

  Wakefield

  430

  220

  Gateshead

  217

  109

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  426

  163

  North Tyneside

  278

  123

  South Tyneside

  168

  62

  Sunderland

  425

  155

  Isles of Scilly

  3

  3

  Avon

  1,332

  654

  Bedfordshire

  781

  483

  Berkshire

  980

  515

  Buckinghamshire

  1,082

  460

  Cambridgeshire

  1,271

  469

  Cheshire

  1,258

  596

  Cleveland

  772

  384

  Cornwall

  752

  263

  Cumbria

  601

  251

  Derbyshire

  1,484

  487

  Devon

  1,312

  640

  Dorset

  608

  369

  Durham

  832

  299

  East Sussex

  712

  428

  Essex

  1,540

  1,166

  Gloucestershire

  609

  360

  Hampshire

  2,127

  1,273

  Hereford and Worcester

  538

  408

  Hertfordshire

  1,468

  698

  Humberside

  1,265

  570

  Isle of Wight

  193

  98

  Kent

  1,567

  1,017

  Lancashire

  1,563

  838

  Leicestershire

  1,290

  664

  Lincolnshire

  757

  333

  Norfolk

  804

  457

  North Yorkshire

  656

  429

  Northamptonshire

  751

  442

  Northumberland

  338

  194

  Nottinghamshire

  1,376

  579

  Oxfordshire

  888

  363

  Shropshire

  572

  281

  Somerset

  755

  300

  Staffordshire

  1,324

  698

  Suffolk

  706

  434

  Surrey

  972

  824

  Warwickshire

  587

  319

  West Sussex

  775

  572

  Wiltshire

  701

  377

  England

  64,398

  31,193

  1 The hours worked during the survey week by non-teachers in various job categories are converted to full-time equivalent staff numbers by dividing 32·5 hours for nursery assistants and 37 hours for other categories.

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the estimate of the unspent balances held by schools at the year end under local management of school schemes for 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Forth
  Unspent balances in respect of all local education authority-maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England at the end of the 1990–91 financial year, as recorded on LEAs' annual revenue outturn returns to the Department of the Environment, amounted to £322 million. The estimated figure for 1991–92 is £394 million.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many complaints his Department has received from parents concerning the conduct of head teachers or governing bodies during a ballot for grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department does not collate information on the number or source of complaints about conduct during ballots on grant-maintained status, nor on whose conduct is complained about.

  All such complaints are considered carefully and are investigated as appropriate. Particular attention is given to complaints alleging breaches of the law or where there may have been improper influence on the outcome of a ballot.

  Special Needs
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many special needs schools there were in each of the last five years; and if he will break down the figures by category of special need.

  Mr. Forth
  Information about the number of maintained and non-maintained special schools is shown in the table. Many of these schools make provision for more than one kind of learning difficulty, so it is not possible to provide a breakdown of these figures by category of special need.

  Maintained and non-maintained special schools in England (1988–1992)

  Position at January of each year

  Year

  Maintained

  Non-maintained

  1988

  1,359

  84

  1989

  1,337

  82

  1990

  1,317

  81

  1991

  1,799

  81

  1992

  1,774

  78

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children had statements of educational need, in each of the last five years nationally and by each educational authority.

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones) on 7 June 1993,Official Report, columns 25–28.

  Cumbria County Council (Court Case)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what were the costs incurred by his Department following his court case with Cumbria county council.
  360
  Mr. Robin Squire
  Fees in respect of this case are not yet available. I will write to the hon. Member when the information is available.

  Education Assets Board
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, columns 19–20, if he will describe in general terms the nature and use of the premises at each educational establishment where his determination of an Education Assets Board recommendation is awaited.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Of the 14 cases awaiting final determination by my right hon. Friend, only nine of them involve the transfer of land and/or property. These are as follows:Grant-maintained schools
  Dartford Grammar School for Girls, Kent—A dispute between the school and Kent county council over (i) transfer of an area of playing field, (ii) pedestrian rights of access and (iii) transfer of a further area of land.
  Great Barr School, Birmingham—A dispute between the school and Birmingham county council over the ownership of an adjacent sports hall and an area of playing field which is used by both the school and the local community.
  Kingsley Park School, Northamptonshire—A dispute between the school and Northamptonshire county council over the transfer of a gymnasium block in a building on the school site which is also used by another of the authority's schools.
  Pate's Grammar School, Gloucestershire—A dispute between the school and Gloucestershire county council over the transfer of the site of a former secondary school which had been leased to Pate's grammar school while major building work was carried out on their own school site.
  Stratford School, London—A dispute between the school and the London borough of Newham over the transfer of the freehold of a house.
  Thamesview School, Kent—A dispute between the school and Kent county council on the transfer or retention of a house.
  Higher education institutions
  Greenwich—A dispute between the London borough of Wandsworth, which inherited the Inner London Education Authority's education responsibilities in the area, and Thames polytcchnnic—now the university of Greenwich—over the transfer of the freehold of property known as Manresa house, and the grounds surrounding this property. Wandsworth uses part of Manresa house for adult education.
  Falmouth School of Art and Design—A dispute between Cornwall county council and Falmouth school of art and design over the transfer of properties in Falmouth and Camborne, used by the school.
  Further education institutions
  Somerset College of Arts and Technology—The EAB has determined that the freehold interest in the access road serving the college and Castle school should transfer to the college. Somerset county council have appealed to the Secretary of State against this determination.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education by what statutory authority he either permits or prevents any local education authority or governing body of a school wholly dependent on public funds to engage teachers on pay less than that of agreed national scales or
  361
  without professional qualifications recognised in the United Kingdom; and if he plans to bring forward proposals for any change of the law in either respect.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Under the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1991, school teachers employed by local education authorities or by the governing bodies of voluntary schools must be paid in accordance with a school teachers' pay and conditions document given force by an order of the Secretary of State. School teachers employed by the governing body of a self-governing—grant-maintained—school must also be so paid unless the school has sought exemption from the Act. The Act does not apply to teachers employed by other kinds of school or by private agencies.

  Under the Education (Teachers) Regulations 1993, teachers employed at a school maintained by a local education authority, a self-governing—grant-maintained —school or a non-maintained special school must ordinarily possess qualified teacher status as defined in the regulations. There are exceptions for licensed teachers; overseas trained teachers; student teachers; and certain existing unqualified teachers; and a suitable unqualified teacher may be appointed if no suitable qualified teacher, licensed teacher or overseas trained teacher is available. This part of the regulations does not apply to other kinds of school. The Act and the regulations apply to England and Wales.

  My right hon. Friend has no current plans to bring forward proposals for changing the law in respect of these matters.

DEFENCE

  UN Troops (Cyprus)
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to provide phone cards for British troops serving with the United Nations peacekeep-ing force in Cyprus.

  Mr. Hanley
  All United Kingdom service personnel deployed in Cyprus receive a local overseas allowance to compensate them for the additional cost of living in that country. The allowance, which is the same for personnel under United Kingdom and United Nations command, contains an element to enable personnel to maintain telephone contact with the United Kingdom.

  The only areas of deployment in which service personnel currently receive a telephone allowance are Northern Ireland and the former Yugoslavia. Neither of these attracts an overseas allowance, but in recognition of the particularly difficult and dangerous circumstances a telephone allowance is given.

  There are no plans to change the current position.

  Defence Expenditure
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, in real terms and as a proportion of gross domestic product, the expenditure on the armed forces for each year since 1979 and the projections in such terms for such annual expenditure for as many years into the future as is practicable.

  Mr. Hanley
  Previous and planned expenditure on the armed forces between 1979–80 and 1995–96 was set out in 362
  the "Statistical Supplement to the 1992 Autumn Statement", (Cm 2219). Planned defence expenditure between 1993–94 and 1995–96 as a proportion of the forecast GDP gross domestic product—not given in the supplement—is as follows:

  1993–94 —3·7 per cent.

  1994–95 —3·5 per cent.

  1995–96 —3·2 per cent.

  Queen's Flight
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which(a) Cabinet Ministers and (b) others are entitled to use aircraft from the Queen's Flight.

  Mr. Hanley
  Subject to the approval of Her Majesty the Queen, and the availability of aircraft, the following are entitled to use aircraft of the Queen's Flight when travelling on official business.

  Members of the Royal Family

  The Prime Minister

  The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  The Chancellor of the Exchequer

  The Home Secretary

  The Secretary of State for Defence

  The Secretary of State for Scotland

  The Secretary of State for Wales

  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  The Minister of State for the Armed Forces

  The Minister of State for Defence Procurement

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence

  Chief of the Defence Staff

  Chief of the Naval Staff

  Chief of the General Staff

  Chief of the Air Staff

  General Officer Commanding London district

  Visiting Heads of State and foreign dignitaries of equivalent status to the above.

  Members of the Privy Council travelling to attend meetings of the Council outside London.

  Navy Salaries
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the amount of pension receivable by(a) a lieutenant commander and (b) a chief petty officer each with 25 years service assuming that each had retired on (i) 1 June 1992 and (ii) 1 June 1993.

  Mr. Hanley
  For a lieutenant commander and a chief petty officer each with 25 years reckonable service, the amounts of pension are as follows:

  Date of retirement

  Amount of award £

  Lieutenant commander

  1 June 1992

  11,784

  1 June 1993

  11,962

  Chief petty officer

  1 June 1992

  7,101

  1 June 1993

  7,207

  Research and Development
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on research and development from 1991.
  363
  Mr. Aitken
  My Department's research and develop-ment expenditure is detailed in table 1·5 of the 1993 edition of "Defence Statistics". The total gross expenditure in 1991–92 was £2,680 million and the estimated outturn in 1992–93 is £2,912 million.

  Service Projects
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the five current service projects involving the most expenditure; and what is the manpower requirement involved in each such project.

  Mr. Hanley
  The five current service projects involving the most expenditure are shown in table 1·15 of "Defence Statistics" 1993. They are Trident, EH 101, Eurofighter 2000, Rapier Field Standard C and Warrior.

  It is not possible without disproportionate cost to identify all staff effort involved in these projects throughout the Department.

  Procurement executive staff directly and exclusively involved in the management of these projects are as follows:

  Project Manpower

  Number of staff involved

  Trident

  335

  EH 101

  42

  Eurofighter 2000

  91

  Rapier (FSC)

  41

  Warrior

  25

  Anthrax Inoculation
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men and women in the Gulf conflict were inoculated against anthrax; and if the inoculation included inoculation against penicillin-resistant anthrax.

  Mr. Hanley
  Vaccines giving protection against a number of biological warfare agents considered to be a threat during Operation Granby were administered to all consenting British personnel on a voluntary basis. The details of these vaccines are classified.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims for compensation by veterans of the British nuclear tests are currently pending; what action he is taking on their cases; what factors are delaying his making of a final decision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Five such claims are pending. They are being examined in the usual way, to establish whether there is any evidence of exposure to radiation, and if so whether this caused any subsequent disease. So far, however, no case of death or disease among British nuclear test veterans has been shown to have resulted from radiation from the tests.

  Successive British Governments have explained that almost all the personnel involved received little or no radiation from the tests. If these assurances were wrong and people actually had been subjected to substantial additional radiation, medical experts would expect to find an excess of total cancer deaths subsequently. But
  364
  according to the study published in 1988 by the National Radiological Protection Board, the total incidence of death and malignant disease has been no greater among test veterans than for people who were not involved in the tests. We know of no new evidence that would change this position.

  Air Defence Alerting Device
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the purpose of the air defence alerting device recently brought into servive with the Army; which systems it replaces and in what roles; what similar equipment is in service with, or on order for, the other services; what are the approximate costs involved; who are the principal contractors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The air defence alerting device (ADAD) is a passive, infra-red surveillance device, manufactured by Thorn EMI, which has recently entered service. It will be deployed with the Army's and the Royal Marines' close air defence weapon systems to provide passive early warning of potential aerial targets. In addition to the free-standing version, which is now being deployed with the Javelin system, ADAD will be vehicle mounted for use with the self-propelled version of the Starstreak high-velocity missile, due to come into service in 1994. ADAD is a completely new system which will provide a significant enhancement to the Army's close air defence alerting capability, which previously relied on human detection. The overall investment in the programme will exceed £100 million.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the former Members of this House who have been appointed since 1988 by his Departments 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.

  Mr. Nelson
  No such appointments have been made.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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 since 1988 to quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organisations giving, in each case, the title of the post, and salary payable, and the duration of the appointment.

  Mr. Nelson
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) none.

  (b) none.

  (c) Marchioness of Anglesy; Member, Royal Mint Advisory Committee; appointed in February 1991 for 7 years; no salary payable.

  (d) This information is not held.

  Gross Domestic Product (Hong Kong)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he estimates that the gross domestic product per capita of Hong Kong will equal that of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nelson
  The future comparative paths of GDP per capita in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong will depend on exchange rate movements and relative growth rates of GDP and population.

  Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list his estimates by range of income for(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94 of the number of tax units receiving mortgage interest tax relief, the average value per mortgagor and the total cost of the relief.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The estimates are shown in the tables. The figures for 1993–94 are based on the conventional assumption of no further changes in interest rates.

  Mortgage interest relief by range of total income1

  Range of total income1 (lower limit)

  Number of single people or married couples bene-fiting from mortgage interest relief

  Average mortgage interest relief

  Cost of mortgage interest relief

  £

  thousands

  £

  £ million

  1992–93

  0

  840

  410

  340

  5,000

  1,130

  460

  520

  10,000

  2,670

  510

  1,360

  15,000

  2,400

  560

  1,340

  20,000

  1,050

  570

  600

  25,000

  510

  590

  300

  30,000

  610

  610

  370

  40,000

  590

  630

  370

  Total

  9,800

  530

  5,200

  1993–94

  0

  840

  370

  310

  5,000

  1,120

  380

  420

  10,000

  2,540

  410

  1,050

  15,000

  2,330

  450

  1,050

  20,000

  1,220

  460

  560

  25,000

  570

  460

  260

  30,000

  640

  500

  320

  40,000

  640

  510

  330

  Total

  9,900

  430

  4,300

  1 Total income of husband for married couples.

  Civil Servants (Offices)
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the office accommodation costs for civil servants and give an analysis under appropriate headings including a notional rental amount in respect of premises held on freehold or long-leasehold tenure for(a) 1979 and (b) the most recent period.

  Mr. Nelson
  The information required is not centrally collected in the format requested. The table sets out the information in respect of departmental accommodation costs for central Government Departments for 1992–93, the last year available. Data for 1979 are not available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  366

  £ million

  1992–93

  Rent

  Other accommodation

  Defence

  184·7

  129·6

  FCO (including ODA)

  61·9

  43·0

  Agriculture

  39·7

  23·9

  Trade and Industry

  58·9

  46·2

  Employment

  121·9

  92·4

  Transport

  30·1

  23·2

  Environment

  39·8

  25·5

  Home Office

  63·1

  91·3

  Legal Departments

  99·5

  94·6

  Education

  10·8

  5·6

  Heritage

  0·5

  1·1

  Health

  30·0

  19·6

  Social Security

  131·9

  124·5

  Scotland

  37·8

  19·3

  Wales

  2·8

  3·7

  Northern Ireland

  8·4

  35·3

  Chancellor's Departments

  199·9

  134·1

  Cabinet Office etc·

  10·9

  0·3

  1,132·7

  913·2

  Public Sector Pay
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his current plans for a review of the 1·5 per cent. limit on public sector pay increases for the next pay round; and what will be the position in that pay round of those employees in the public sector who had been awarded a higher figure than 1·5 per cent. for the present pay round.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government will review the situation with regard to public sector pay at the appropriate time bearing in mind all the relevant circumstances. Public sector pay is an important part of public expenditure and will have to be kept under tight control.

  Under the Government's current approach to public sector pay restraint, every public sector group will be subject to one pay settlement only in the range 0 to 1·5 per cent. Those groups who received settlements in excess of 1·5 per cent. last year in respect of the 1992–93 pay round will have their 1993 settlement constrained appropriately.

  Public Sector Pension Schemes
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state for each of the main public sector pension schemes the financial year when he expects the average pension in payment to reach £10,000 per annum based on current trends in lengths of service, earnings and price increases.

  Mr. Portillo
  The table shows when the average pension in payment from the main public service pension schemes would reach £10,000 per annum if the average level of price inflation were 1 per cent. or 4 per cent. in the longer term. These represent the top and bottom of the Government's target range for inflation.

  Financial rear when average pension is expected to reach £10,000 per annum

  Scheme

  Rate of growth per annum

  1 per cent.

  4 per cent.

  Civil Service

  2083–84

  2016–17

  NHS (England and Wales)

  2082–83

  2016–17

  NHS (Scotland)

  2094–95

  2019–20

  367

  Scheme

  Rate of growth per annum

  1 per cent.

  4 per cent.

  Teachers (England and Wales)

  2039–40

  2005–6

  Teachers (Scotland)

  2037–38

  2004–5

  Armed Forces

  2077–78

  2014–15

  Local Government(England and Wales)

  2124–25

  2026–27

  Average

  2084–85

  2016–17

  Pension Commitments
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to publish in the next Budget and autumn statement documents a statement of the Government's best estimate of the funded and unfunded pension commitments with an analysis by year and a statement of each unfunded liability of the public sector in excess of £10 million.

  Mr. Portillo
  We have no plans to do so at present.

  Over-paid Income Tax
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the speed with which the Inland Revenue handles repayments of overpaid income tax.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue gives priority to claims for repayment of tax, and this means that many people receive their repayments in a very short time. However, some of the Inland Revenue's specialist offices deal with people who make their claims at around the same time of year and, while every effort is made to cope with these peaks, they slow down the speed with which repayments of tax can be made to the people concerned.

  Inland Revenue (Employers' Returns)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons end-of-year returns to employers from the Inland Revenue included promotional material from commercial organisations; how many employers received the material; and what arrangements are made for those who do not wish to receive such material to refuse it.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No evidence has been produced which substantiates rumours and allegations about the deliberate or systematic inclusion of promotional material from commercial organisations in the annual pay-as-you-earn packs issued to employers.

  Third-world Debt
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action his Department is taking to relieve the debt of the poorest third-world countries.

  Mr. Nelson
  The United Kingdom is leading the way in promoting international agreement on debt relief for those poorest third-world countries which owe most of their debts to Governments. It was a direct result of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's initiative for the poorest and most indebted countries following the International Monetary Fund sponsored programmes of reform, that the Paris Club of major creditor countries began 368
  implementing a modified version of the Trinidad terms in December 1991. This had the effect of halving the payments due to creditors and gave a commitment to consider restructuring the whole stock of a country's eligible debt after a good track record of economic reform had been established. Seventeen countries have so far benefited from these terms, resulting in the debt cancellation of almost$1¾ billion during the lifetime of the agreements. Moreover, this Government have relieved developing countries of the burden of over £1,000 million of old aid loans, and all new aid to the poorest countries has been on grant terms for many years.

  The United Kingdom Government are, however, aware that, for some of the most desperate cases, Trinidad terms as currently applied are not generous enough. We are therefore taking every opportunity to pursue improve-ments to the terms with our creditor country colleagues.

  Specifically, we would like to see the degree of concessionality increased to a range of 50 per cent. 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. Ministers continue to press these points on discussions with other creditor countries, most recently at the Tokyo summit.

  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on national debt in Africa.

  Mr. Nelson
  The United Kingdom Government are leading the way in promoting international agreement on debt relief for the poorest and most severely indebted countries many of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. It was a direct result of my right hon. and learned Friend the Prime Minister's initiative for the poorest and most indebted countries following IMF-sponsored programmes of reform, that the Paris Club of major creditor governments began implementing the Trinidad terms in December 1991.

  Seventeen countries have so far benefited from Trinidad terms, including 13 of the poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Under these agreements, over $3 billion of sub-Saharan African debt has been rescheduled by the Paris Club, cancelling over $1 billion during the lifetime of these agreements.

  Moreover, the Government have also cancelled nearly £200 million of old aid debts owed by sub-Saharan African countries which are successfully pursuing sound policies of reform. New aid to such countries is now provided only in the form of grants.

  However, 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.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the application of VAT on domestic fuel to concessionary coal; and what representations he has received on the matter.

  Sir John Cope
  Treasury Ministers have received a small number of representations on this issue. I understand from British Coal that the change in VAT liability for domestic fuel and power will not lead to any changes in concessionary fuel allowances.

  Fishing Vessel Decommissioning
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give his estimate of what will be recouped by way of capital taxation from the money provided for decommissioning; what information he is providing to fishing vessel owners about their capital gains tax liabilities; and if such information will be made available to owners before they apply for grants.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Decommissioning grants are taxable in the same way as other grants to the agriculture and fishing industries. But I regret that a reliable estimate of the tax involved could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  The Inland Revenue issues no general guidance to fishing vessel owners about the capital gains tax liabilities arising from their receipt of decommissioning grants. MAFF, which is responsible for administering this grant, does issue a general explanatory leaflet to all who apply for the decommissioning grant pointing out that the grant will be taxable. Vessel owners should contact their own tax office or financial adviser for detailed advice.

  Private Medical Insurance
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give figures for the number of people who have received tax relief for private medical insurance in the years 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Tax relief for private medical insurance for those aged 60 or over was introduced in 1990–91. Nearly 350,000 contracts covering about 500,000 individuals aged 60 or over have received tax relief each year since then.

  Inheritance Tax
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals have been granted exemption from inheritance tax in relation to chattels declared to be open to inspection by the public.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The total number of conditional exemptions from inheritance tax in relation to chattels granted in the years 1983–84 to 1992–93 is 358. Figures are not available prior to 1983–84.

  Doubtful Debts
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table setting out for each of the years 1991–92 and 1992–93(a) the amount allowed for the change in provisions against doubtful debts for corporation tax purposes, (b) the breakdown of these figures between new provisions against doubtful debts, doubtful debts which have since turned bad and doubtful debts which have become good and (c) the average period for which debts which became good were treated as doubtful for corporation tax purposes.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 8 July 1993]: I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Oil Companies
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional yield to the Exchequer if oil companies had only 24 hours to nominate an actual third-party transaction to match its equity production from the oilfield for 1993–94.
  370
  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 9 July 1993]: The yield would probably be less than £10 million with oil price volatility at present levels.

  Private Landlords
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised by income tax, capital gains tax and corporation tax from landlords providing private rental accommodation in the past five years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 9 July 1993]: Estimated revenue raised by income tax and capital gains tax for 1988–89 to 1992–93 from landlords providing private rental accommodation is shown.

  £

  Income Tax Accrual

  Capital Gains Tax Accrual

  1988–89

  250

  250

  1989–90

  350

  210

  1990–91

  310

  100

  1991–92

  320

  80

  1992–93

  320

  40

  All estimates are subject to a wide margin of error and the latest two years are projections.

  Capital gains tax figures exclude gains made by companies which are chargeable to corporation tax.

  Information is not available to produce estimates of the revenue raised by corporation tax from companies providing private rental accommodation.

EMPLOYMENT

  Redundancies
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the estimated total number of redundancies in the United Kingdom since 1979.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department's main source of redundancy statistics is the Labour Force Survey. This survey gives the numbers of redundancies that took place in the three months prior to interview. The extent of the available information is given in the following table:

  Redundancies (not seasonally adjusted): Labour Force Survey, Great Britain

  Numbers

  Spring 1989

  142,000

  Spring 1990

  181,000

  Spring 1991

  388,000

  Spring 1992

  322,000

  Summer 1992

  278,000

  Autumn 1992

  310,000

  Winter 1992

  344,000

  The main source of data prior to 1989, is the confirmed redundancy series. However, this series was discontinued because it proved to be an unreliable indicator of the actual number of redundancies taking place. The series was last published in tables 2·30 and 2·31 of the September 1992 Employment Gazette.

  Working-time Directive
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 29 June,Official Report, column 473, relating to the proposed working-time directive and its effects on offshore oil and gas workers, to which parts of the directive other than working hours the derogation applies; and if he will make a statement on arrangements for leave.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 29 June 1993,Official Report, col 473, that as a result of our negotiations all work at sea would be excluded from the scope of the proposed directive. This exclusion applies to all the provisions of the proposed directive.

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received during the last 12 months regarding publicising the wage levels of jobs offered via jobcentres.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  One, from the hon. Member himself.

  Mining Industry (Doncaster)
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the work force in the Doncaster travel-to-work area were employed in mining in each year since 1987.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Employment estimates for local areas, including travel-to-work areas, are compiled from the periodic censuses of employment. They cover employees in employment only and exclude the self-employed and members of Her Majesty's forces. The available information from censuses of employment taken in 1987, 1989, and 1991 is given in the following table:

  Employees in employment in deep coal mines and opencast coal working1; September of each year.

  Doncaster travel-to-work area

  Number

  Proportion2 (per cent)

  1987

  7,400

  6·3

  1989

  6,000

  5·2

  1991

  5,200

  4·6

  1 Activity headings 1113 and 1114 of the Standard Industrial Classification 1980.

  2 Employees in activity headings 1113 and 1114 as a percentage of the workforce in the travel-to-work area.

  Female Employees
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list by region the percentage of women currently employed in the labour market giving the comparable figures for(a) five and (b) 10 years ago.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is shown in the following table:372

  Percentage of females in the civilian workforce in employment Not seasonally adjusted

  March 1983

  March 1988

  March 1993

  South East (including Greater London)

  41

  43

  46

  Greater London

  41

  42

  44

  East Anglia

  38

  43

  45

  South West

  40

  43

  46

  West Midlands

  40

  42

  45

  East Midlands

  40

  43

  46

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  41

  44

  46

  North West

  43

  44

  47

  North

  41

  44

  46

  Wales

  40

  43

  45

  Scotland

  42

  44

  46

  Northern Ireland

  42

  44

  46

  National Alliance of Women's Organisations
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what applications have been received for core funding for the National Alliance of Women's Organisations(a) last year and (b) in the current year; and how much money has been paid.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Since 1992 there have been a number of applications by, or on behalf of, the National Alliance of Women's Organisations for core funding. This resulted in the payment of a £20,000 grant during the 1992–93 financial year.

  After careful consideration, as part of the Government's overall review of public expenditure, it was explained, with some regret, that further funding for the organisation would not be possible.

  Wage Settlements
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Emplolyment if he will list those industries in which wage settlements in the last 12 months have been below 10 per cent.; and if he will show against each entry the percentage settlement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 7 June 1993]: Pay is primarily a matter for those who negotiate and determine it; the Government do not monitor the level of wage settlements in detail. The Confederation of British Industry's pay databank shows that for the first quarter of 1993 pay settlements average 2·5 per cent. in manufacturing and 2·8 per cent. in the private service industries respectively. These are the lowest levels reported in the 13-year history of the databank.

  Young People
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number and percentage of(a) l8-year-olds, (b) 17-year-olds, (c) 16-year-olds in spring 1991 and 1992 and winter 1992–93 labour force surveys who were (i) in employment, (ii) International Labour Organisation unemployed and (iii) economically inactive and (d) the economic activity rate.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 8 July 1993]: The available information from the Labour Force survey is given in the table.

  373

  Economic activity by age Great Britain

  (Thousands)

  Age

  Spring 1991

  Spring 1992

  Winter 1992–93

  16 years old

  In employment

  294

  245

  223

  ILO unemployed

  72

  56

  57

  Economically inactive

  328

  354

  355

  Economic activity rate

  52·7

  46·0

  44·1

  17 years old

  In employment

  422

  387

  360

  ILO unemployed

  57

  66

  68

  Economically inactive

  196

  232

  237

  Economic activity rate

  71·0

  66·1

  64·4

  18 years old

  In employment

  466

  422

  381

  ILO unemployed

  77

  74

  90

  Economically inactive

  179

  213

  223

  Economic activity rate

  75·1

  70·0

  67·9

  Source: Labour Force Survey (not seasonally adjusted).

  Job Vacancies
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many of the vacancies notified in each of the last six months to jobcentres(a) in the United Kingdom and (6) in Wales were full-time and how many were part-time;

  (2) what is the minimum number of hours involved in a job which qualifies to be registered as a vacancy at a jobcentre;

  Numbers of full-time and part-time vacancies notified to jobcentres

  Quarter

  5 October 1992 to 8 January 1993

  11 January 1993 to 2 April 1993

  5 April 1993 to 2 July 1993

  Great Britain

  Number of full-time vacancies notified

  291,814

  300,859

  362,263

  Number of part-time vacancies notified2

  156,237

  149,041

  171,469

  Wales1

  Number of full-time vacancies notified

  17,527

  17,860

  22,830

  Number of part-time vacancies notified2

  12,969

  11,637

  13,831

  Numbers of permanent and temporary vacancies notified to jobcentres

  Quarter

  5 October 1992 to 8 January 1993

  11 January 1993 to 2 April 1993

  5 April 1993 to 2 July 1993

  Great Britain

  Number of permanent vacancies notified

  344,723

  368,124

  422,656

  Number of temporary vacancies notified3

  103,328

  81,776

  111,076

  Wales1

  Number of permanent vacancies notified

  20,419

  22,000

  26,532

  Number of temporary vacancies notified3

  10,077

  7,497

  10,129

  1 Figures for Wales are included in the figures for Great Britain

  2 Part-time=under 30 hours work per week.

  3 Temporary=work lasting six months or less.

  374
  (3) how many of the vacancies notified in each of the last six months (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in Wales were temporary and how many were permanent.

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

  Letter from J. Turner to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 12 July 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, it is the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the Agency's Chief Executive to answer Parliamentary Questions about relevant operational matters. In his absence, I am replying to your questions to the Secretary of State about vacancies notified to Jobcentres in the United Kingdom and Wales.
  The total number of vacancies notified to Jobcentres is collated monthly. Detailed full-time, part-time and temporary vacancy information is available on a quarterly basis. It is collected from offices throughout Great Britain, not the United Kingdom.
  The tables attached show the information you requested for the past three quarters for Great Britain and Wales. You also asked what is the minimum number of hours involved in a job which qualifies to be registered as a vacancy at a Jobcentre. We do not place any such restrictions before displaying vacancies.
  I hope this is helpful.
  As decided by the Administration Committee to the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

HEALTH

  Nottingham Clinic
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will establish an inquiry into(a) the establishment of the Nottingham clinic and (b) the arrangements in hand for the sale of the Nottingham health authority share of the clinic; and what ministerial approval is required for the sale.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Nottingham health authority is awaiting the opinion of legal counsel and when this is received the appropriate action will be taken. No ministerial approval is required for the sale of the Nottingham clinic.

  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place between her Department and Nottingham health authority over the establishment of the Nottingham clinic.

  Mr. Sackville
  A number of discussions have taken place between the Department of Health and the Nottingham health authority over the establishment of the Nottingham clinic.

  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what ministerial approval has been given to transactions and developments involving Regency Park Ltd. and the Nottingham clinic.

  Mr. Sackville
  No approval by Department of Health Ministers has been sought, or given, to transactions and developments involving Regency Park Ltd. and the Nottingham clinic.

  Abortion
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of residents' abortions in Preston district health authority is carried out or paid for by the national health service; what is the national figure; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1991, of the abortions performed on residents of Preston district health authority in England and Wales—under the Abortion Act 1967–9·2 per cent. were either carried out or paid for by the national health service. The equivalent figure for residents of England and Wales is 50·4 per cent.

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has as to the number of children who are themselves HIV negative but who have one or both parents who are HIV positive.

  Mr. Sackville
  There are no data on the total number of children in the United Kingdom who have one or both parents who are HIV positive. Most such children are HIV negative, but they may be HIV positive if their mothers were infected with HIV prior to giving birth or breast feeding them.

  By 30 April 1993, there had been 500 reports of children in the United Kingdom born to women known to be infected with HIV. One hundred and fifty-two of these children are known to be uninfected and the HIV infection
  376
  status of 168 children has not yet been determined. However, the results of unlinked anonymous HIV surveys indicate that there have been many pregnant women whose HIV infection was not known to obstetric staff so there are an unknown number of children born to HIV-infected women.

  Doctors
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many doctors have been struck off the medical register in each year since 1979;

  (2) how many doctors have been found guilty of professional misconduct in each year since 1979.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Registration of doctors is a matter for the General Medical Council, an independent statutory body, whose functions are determined by the Medical Act 1983. The GMC publishes information about numbers of erasures and cases of professional misconduct in its annual report, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being taken to make doctors more accountable for their actions; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have recently set up a review to examine the national health service systems for dealing with complaints about family health services; about hospital services; and about matters of clinical judgment. It will not cover NHS disciplinary procedures: a joint working group is currently reviewing the guidance on these procedures for hospital medical and dental staff and for community and public health doctors. Family health services authorities can make representations to the NHS tribunal if they feel that it would be prejudicial to the efficiency of the service for a particular general practitioner to be included in a list of practitioners providing general medical services.

  The professional regulatory bodies like the General Medical Council also have an important role to play in safeguarding standards of medical care.

  Drugs
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being taken to reduce the cost of the national health service drugs bill; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We are taking a number of measures which we hope will reduce the rate of growth in the national health service drugs bill while ensuring that people get the medicines they need. These include action to ensure that general practitioners have full information about their prescribing and how it compares with that of others; to provide GPs with advice on effective prescribing and to encourage them to prescribe generic rather than branded drugs. The GP fund-holding scheme provides incentives for doctors to prescribe economically and incentive schemes are being introduced for GPs who are not fund holders.

  We are seeking to constrain drug costs through the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme, which is currently being renegotiated, and by the extension of the selected list scheme from seven to 17 therapeutic categories.

  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for legislation to determine
  377
  the Government's liability for civil damages in cases of adverse reaction to a drug where a product licence has been reinstated on appeal following its suspension by the licensing authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Triazolam
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from the panel of persons appointed since announcing the revocation of all licences for triazolam products on 9 June.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish her correspondence with the chairman of the panel of persons appointed regarding the decision of the licensing authority to revoke all licences for triazolam products.

  Mr. Sackville
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Health wrote on 9 June to the chairman of the panel of persons appointed to inform her that the licensing authority's determination would be announced that day. The letter enclosed a note on the licensing authority's position on triazolam. The note is publicly available and a copy is available in the Library.

  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what conclusion she has drawn regarding the implications of the revocation of licences for triazolam products for the future of the appeals procedure set out in the Medicines Act 1968; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Before deciding to revoke these licences, the licensing authority followed the procedures set out in section 29 of, and schedule 2 to, the Medicines Act and took into account the reports it had received from the Committee on the Safety of Medicines, the Medicines Commission and the panel of persons appointed. The licensing authority is not obliged to follow the advice or accept the findings in these reports but must take them into account. The decision in this case has no implications for the future of these procedures.

  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish her correspondence with the chairman of the Medicines Commission regarding the decision of the licensing authority to revoke all licences for triazolam products.

  Mr. Sackville
  There has been no such correspondence.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will introduce legislation to instruct NHS trusts to enter formal consultations with local community health councils and other local interested bodies about proposals for substantial development or substantial variations in services, with a prescribed time of three months, excluding major holidays, by which comments and views are sought; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  District health authorities are already required to consult the local community health councils when substantial changes in local services are under consideration, including services delivered by national health service trusts.
  378
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she will instruct health authorities to require NHS hospital trusts to publish(a) spending plans and (b) decisions affecting the delivery of services.

  Mr. Sackville
  No. National health service trusts are already required to publish their strategic directions, summary business plans, and their annual reports and accounts. Service contracts made with health authorities are also available publicly.

  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria she uses to determine who are appointed as non-executive members of NHS trust boards; and who is responsible for short-listing candidates for appointments.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Non-executive directors of national health service trusts are appointed for their personal qualities and the knowledge and skills which they can bring to the post, and not to represent any particular body or interest. The aim is to achieve a balance of different skills on trust boards. Regional health authorities are responsible for identifying and selecting candidates for appointment to NHS trusts when they are initially established, and for recommending these to Ministers. For already established trusts, recommendations on the reappointment or replacement of non-executive directors are made by NHS trust chairmen after consultation with regional health authorities and the NHS management executive outposts.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will revise the regulations in respect of the Registered Homes Act 1984 to(a) extend a person's right to make a complaint to cover all residential and nursing homes in the private and public sectors and (b) require registration authorities to set out a model complaints procedure for use by homes within each registration area, to include a formal appeal mechanism to be used where complaints cannot be resolved satisfactorily after reasonable discussion with the home; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  Private and voluntary residential care homes are required by law to operatate their own complaints procedures and to tell residents how they can make complaints to the registration authority. People in local authority homes and people in independent nursing and residential care homes, whose place there was arranged by a local authority, have access to the statutory social services complaints procedures. National health service patients in nursing homes can make use of NHS complaints procedures.

  I have no current plans to revise these procedures.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will introduce legislation to prevent the offering of financial inducements by private nursing homes to general practitioners to refer patients to those homes.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no current plans to do so.

  Hospital Closures, London
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list the hospitals that have been closed in the London borough of Wandsworth since 1979:
  379
  (2) if she will list the hospitals which have been closed in each of the four regional health authorities covering Greater London since 1979.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally.

  Purchasing Policies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will review the public consultation process applicable where there are alterations in the purchasing policies of a number of health authorities or general practitioner fund holders involving the move by each of the contract for a small number of patients from one local hospital to another leading to significant changes in the overall provision of the local health services; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  No. Purchasing shifts are required if national and local objectives for health gains are to be achieved. The national health service management executive has recently issued guidance to the service about how change should be managed under cover of EL(93)10 "Managing Activity and Change through Contracting," copies of which are available in the Library.

  Children in Hospital
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the NHS Management Executive is taking to ensure all commissioners require their providers to implement fully her Department's guideline 3·9 in "The Welfare of Children and Young People in Hospital" in respect of the admission of parents with their children into anaesthetic rooms; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  Child health services are among the topics selected this year for the regional reviews which the national health service management executive will be undertaking of health authorities' performance. Where appropriate, authorities will be reminded of the evidence which shows that children are calmed and comforted by the presence of parents during the administration of anaesthetics.

  Medicines Control Agency
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the annual report and accounts of the Medicines Control Agency.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I have received the report and copies have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of section 5(2) and (3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921.
  381
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who funds the Medicines Control Agency; what are the current levels of funding in 1993; what have been the levels in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Medicines Control Agency, as was agreed when it was established on 1 April 1989, is funded entirely by fees from licence applicants and licence holders, except as regards the subsequent processing of work in progress at 31 March 1989—the costs of which are being met by government funds.

  As regards the level of funding required, the costs of the MCA for 1993–94 are estimated to be about £19·4 million.

  For each of the last three years the costs have been as shown in the table:

  £ million

  1990–91

  15·2

  1991–92

  18·2

  1992–93

  18·5

  NHS Fraud
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to receive the report of the Audit Commission inquiry into fraud in the national health service.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have been advised by the Audit Commissison that the study is due to commence early in 1994. The length of the study and the mechanisms for reporting are still under consideration.

  Children in Care
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide information for each local authority in England of the total numbers of children in care in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991, giving the reasons for the care episodes, the length of the care episodes by sex and by age and the number of children in care under orders.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information about total numbers of children in care, the reasons for the care episode and the number of children in care under orders for each local authority is given in the publication "Children in Care of Local Authorities year ending 31 March, England", copies of which are available in the Library. The information requested about the length of the care episodes by sex and by age for each local authority is voluminous and will be placed in the Library.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the hospitals closed since May 1979 in(a) the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale health authority area and (b) the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley health authority area.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. William Ashworth, chairman of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale health authority, and Mr. Ian Woolley, chairman of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley health authority, for details.

  Colostomy Bags
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average prescription cost of a colostomy bag.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available. The average net ingredient cost of prescribing a colostomy bag in 1992 was £1·84.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost to the NHS in each of the past years of providing colostomy bags on prescription.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally. The net ingredient cost of prescribing colostomy bags in England for the last 10 years was:

  Year

  Net Ingredient Cost (£ million)

  1982

  4·1

  1983

  6·2

  1984

  7·1

  1985

  11·3

  1986

  13·2

  1987

  15·7

  1988

  16·3

  1989

  19·5

  1990

  21·1

  19911

  23·8

  19912

  24·8

  1992

  28·0

  Notes:

  1 1982 to 1991 data cover prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors only.

  2 1991 and 1992 data cover prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.

  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average production cost of a colostomy bag; and what discussion has been held with the pharmaceutical industry to ensure an adequate and economic supply of colostomy bags to those who require this facility.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information on the production costs of colostomy bags is not available. The Department takes into account the cost of products, as well as their general availability, when deciding whether to add individual products to the general practitioner prescribable list or to keep them on the list. If the hon. Member has a particular problem in mind, he may wish to write to me about it.

  Abuse of the Elderly
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to introduce legislation to give local authorities duties to investigate abuse of the elderly; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  Local authorities already have powers to assess situations where abuse of an older person may be happening or suspected. Consideration is currently being given to the proposals set out in the Law Commission consultation paper No. 130, on which the Department of Health will be commenting.

  Hydatidosis
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of people who have(a) died and (b) had to undergo surgical operations but survived, because of hydatidosis in each of the last seven years.

  Mr. Sackville
  Deaths from hydatid disease in England and Wales are shown in the table:

  Year

  Number

  1986

  2

  1987

  4

  1988

  2

  1989

  3

  1990

  5

  1991

  3

  1992

  6

  Source: OPCS.

  In 1989–90, the latest year for which information is available, there were 46 finished consultant episodes involving surgical procedures in England. Information for previous years is not available.

  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics.

  Smoking
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken to achieve "The Health of the Nation" White Paper targets to reduce smoking prevalence in adults and children; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  "The Health of the Nation" White Paper sets out a comprehensive strategy to reduce smoking prevalence including action on price, health education and ensuring effective controls on advertising. It also emphasises the key role of health authorities in leading moves to improve the health of local people including action to reduce smoking.

  Hospital Provision
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set out the required consultation procedures and the chronology that health authorities should take when restructuring hospital provision.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Guidance for health authorities on consultation procedures is contained in an executive letter, EL(90)185, which was sent to health service managers in September 1990. Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.

  Corporate Governance
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the terms of reference of the task force on corporate governance in the NHS; who are the members; when they will report; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Bottomley
  The public must have confidence in the way in which the business of their public services is conducted. As both citizens and taxpayers, individuals have a right to expect that those who use their money to provide services carry out their jobs with responsibility and honesty and to the highest possible standards. I have every confidence that most national health service work is 384
  conducted in such a fashion. Indeed, the Audit Commission—which, since this Government extended its remit in 1990, has carried out independent and external scrutiny of the NHS—has reported that the overall financial management of all NHS activities has shown a significant and welcome improvement.

  In an organisation the size and complexity of the NHS, there can never be any room for complacency. As one or two well-publicised cases have shown, the NHS is not immune from lapses in management standards. We have acted decisively in light of these reports. Sir Duncan Nichol, chief executive of the national health service, has issued guidance to the service on the "Standards of Business Conduct" which places obligations on NHS employers as well as management and staff, and set out our expectations of their integrity and professionalism.

  We need to consider, however, what more can be done. On 18 June, I announced that Sir Duncan has set up a task force to spearhead an urgent review of the current guidance to the NHS on corporate governance. The task force will report to the NHS management executive by 31 December 1993. Its findings will help strengthen the existing system of non-executive oversight which is already an important feature of the NHS and a valuable pillar in upholding high public service standards in the health service.

  The task force's terms of reference are published today:
  To consider, in the light of the recommendations of the Cadbury report and good practice in NHS organisations, the following aspects of corporate governance in the NHS:
  how standards of public business and public service values in the NHS may be reinforced;
  how the role and functions of chairmen and non-executive directors may be matched with their part-time commitment;
  improvements in the arrangements for induction and training of chairmen, non-executives and boards as a whole;
  the role, responsibilities and functions of non-executive directors of health authorities and NHS Trusts in matters of finance and audit.
  Membership
  Corporate governance in the NHS—Steering Group Membership
  John Shaw (Chairman), Director of Corporate Affairs: NHSME
  Jonathan Charkham, Adviser to the Governors: Bank of England (retired)
  Mavis Foden, Chairman: Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust Rennie Fritchie1, Chairman: South Western RHA
  Sir Bruce Martin QC1, Chairman: North Western RHA David Hunter, Director: Nuffield Institute, Leeds University
  Ken Jarrold1, RGM: Wessex Regional Health Authority Barbara Stocking1, RGM: Oxford Regional Health Authority
  Dr. Martin McNichol1, Chairman: Central Middlesex NHS Trust and NHS Trust Federation
  William Wells1, Chairman: Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
  Anthony Merifield, Head of Public Appointments: Cabinet Office
  Elspeth Metcalfe1, Chairman: Hereford and Worcester FHSA, Non-executive Director West Midlands RHA
  Zahida Manzoor1, Chairman: Bradford HA
  Ray Rowden, Director: IHSM
  Michael Schofield, Chairman: Bradford Community Health NHS Trust, Deputy Chairman NAHAT
  Chris West1, General Manager: Portsmouth and SE Hampshire HA, Member of the Audit Commission
  John Sherring1, Regional Director: West Midlands Audit Commission
  Dr. Donald Irvine, GP Fundholder: Ashington, Northumberland

  385
  An official from each of:

  Corporate Affairs Directorate NHSME

  Finance Directorate NHSME

  Performance Management Directorate NHSME

  1 Members working in partnership.

  Working Groups:
  Chaired by Sir Bryan Askew, Chairman, Yorkshire Regional Health Authority
  The reinforcement of public service values in the NHS.
  Chaired by Dr. Stuart Burgess, Chairman, Oxford Regional Health Authority
  Matching the role and functions of chairmen and non-executive directors with their part-time commitment. Chaired by Mr. Michael Marchment, Chief Executive, Premier Health NHS Trust
  The induction and training of chairmen, non-executive directors and Boards as a whole.
  Chaired by Mr. Ken Punt, Senior Fellow and Head of Centre for Healthcare Financial Management, Health Services Management Unit, Manchester
  The role of non-executive directors in finance and audit.
  Time Scale
  The task force will report to the NHS management executive by 31 December 1993.

  Research Review
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the report of the committee reviewing research in the London postgraduate special health authorities to be published; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The report of Sir Michael Thompson's committee is being published today. Copies are available in the Library. This review, which I announced in March, provides independent advice to Ministers. I thank Sir Michael and his review advisory committee for their findings which will be valuable in considering the future funding for the special health authorities. The findings will also be taken into account in considering the specialty reviews, the site option appraisals and other work currently in hand on the future of health care provision in London.

WALES

  Police Stations
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the police stations which were located in each local authority area of the counties of Gwynedd and Clwyd in the years(a) 1980,(b) 1985 and (c)

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is as follows:

  Police stations—Clwyd

  1992

  1985

  1980

  Alyn and Deeside

  Broughton

  Broughton

  Broughton

  Buckley

  Buckley

  Buckley

  Caergwrle

  Caergwrle

  Caergwrle

  Coed-talon

  Coed-talon

  Coed-talon

  Deeside

  Deeside

  Deeside

  Hawarden

  Hawarden

  Hawarden

  Penyffordd

  Penyffordd

  Penyffordd

  Saltney

  Saltney

  Queensferry

  Sandycroft

  Sandycroft

  Saltney

  Sealand

  Sealand

  Sandycroft

  —

  —

  Sealand

  Colwyn

  Abergele

  Abergele

  Abergele

  Cerrigydrudion

  Cerrigydrudion

  Cerrigydrudion

  386

  1992

  1985

  1980

  Colwyn Bay

  Colwyn Bay

  Colwyn Bay

  Llanddulas

  Llanddulas

  Llanddulas

  Llanfair Talhaiarn

  Llanfair Talhaiarn

  Llanfair Talhaiarn

  Llansannan

  Llangernyw

  Llangernyw

  Llysfaen

  Llansannan

  Llansannan

  Mochdre

  Llysfaen

  Llysfaen

  Old Colwyn

  Mochdre

  Mochdre

  Pensarn

  Old Colwyn

  Old Colwyn

  Rhos on Sea

  Pensarn

  Pensarn

  Towyn/Kinmel Bay

  Pentrefoelas

  Pentrefoelas

  —

  Rhos on Sea

  Rhos on Sea

  —

  Towyn/Kinmel Bay

  Towyn/Kinmel Bay

  —

  Trefnant

  Trefnant

  Delyn

  Bagillt

  Bagillt

  Bagillt

  Caerwys

  Brynford

  Brynford

  Flint

  Caerwys

  Caerwys

  Ffynnon Groew

  Ffynnon Groew

  Ffynnon Groew

  Greenfield

  Flint

  Flint

  Gronant

  Greenfield

  Greenfield

  Halkyn

  Gronant

  Gronant

  Mold

  Gwernymynydd

  Gwernymynydd

  Mostyn

  Halkyn

  Halkyn

  Nannerch

  Holywell

  Holywell

  New Brighton

  Mold

  Lloc

  Northop

  Mostyn

  Mold

  Pentre Broughton

  Nannerch

  Mostyn

  Rhydymwyn

  New Brighton

  Nannerch

  —

  Northop

  New Brighton

  —

  Pentre Broughton

  Northop

  —

  Rhydymwyn

  Pentre Broughton

  —

  —

  Rhydymwyn

  Glyndwr

  Chirk

  Chirk

  Chirk

  Corwen

  Clawddnewydd

  Clawddnewydd

  Denbigh

  Corwen

  Corwen

  Glynceiriog

  Denbigh

  Denbigh

  Llandegla

  Froncysyllte

  Froncysyllte

  Llandrillo

  Glynceiriog

  Glynceiriog

  Llandyrnog

  Glyndyfrdwy

  Glyndyfrdwy

  Llanferres

  Henllan

  Henllan

  Llangollen

  Llandegla

  Llandegla

  Llanrhaeadr Y M

  Llandrillo

  Llandrillo

  Ruthin

  Llandyrnog

  Llandyrnog

  —

  Llanfair D C

  Llanfair D C

  —

  Llanferres

  Llanferres

  —

  Llangollen

  Llangollen

  —

  Llanrhaeadr Y M

  Llanrhaeadr Y C

  —

  Llansilin

  Llanrhaeadr Y M

  —

  Llantysilio

  Llansilin

  —

  Nantglyn

  Llantysilio

  —

  Ruthin

  Nantglyn

  —

  —

  Ruthin

  Rhuddlan

  Bodelwyddan

  Bodelwyddan

  Bodelwyddan

  Dyserth

  Dyserth

  Dyserth

  Meliden

  Meliden

  Meliden

  Prestatyn

  Prestatyn

  Prestatyn

  Rhuallt

  Rhuallt

  Rhuallt

  Rhuddlan

  Rhuddlan

  Rhuddlan

  Rhyl

  Rhyl

  Rhyl

  St. Asaph

  St. Asaph

  St. Asaph

  —

  Trelawnyd

  Trelawnyd

  Wrexham Maelor

  Acrefair

  Acrefair

  Acrefair

  Bangor on Dee

  Adwy

  Adwy

  Brymbo

  Bangor on Dee

  Bangor on Dee

  Bwlchgwyn

  Brymbo

  Brymbo

  Cefn Mawr

  Bwlchgwyn

  Bwlchgwyn

  Coed-poeth

  Cefn Mawr

  Cefn Mawr

  Garden Village

  Coed-poeth

  Coed-poeth

  Gresford

  Garden Village

  Garden Village

  Gwersyllt

  Gresford

  Gresford

  Hanmer

  Gwersyllt

  Gwersyllt

  387

  1992

  1985

  1980

  Holt

  Hanmer

  Hanmer

  Johnstown

  Holt

  Holt

  Llay

  Johnstown

  Johnstown

  Marchwiel

  Llay

  Llay

  Overton

  Marchwiel

  Marchwiel

  Penycae

  Overton

  Overton

  Rhosddu

  Penycae

  Penycae

  Rhosllannerchrugog

  Rhosddu

  Rhosddu

  Rhosnesni

  Rhosllannerchrugog

  Rhosllannerchrugog

  Rhostyllen

  Rhosnesni

  Rhosnesni

  Rossett

  Rhostyllen

  Rhostyllen

  Ruabon

  Rhosymedre

  Rhosymedre

  Southsea

  Rossett

  Rossett

  Summerhill

  Ruabon

  Ruabon

  Wrexham

  Southsea

  Southsea

  —

  Summerhill

  Summerhill

  —

  Wrexham

  Wrexham

  Police stations—Gwynedd

  1992

  1985

  1980

  Aberconwy

  Betws-y-coed

  Betws-y-coed

  Betws-y-coed

  Conwy

  Conwy

  Conwy

  Dolgarrog

  Dolgarrog

  Deganwy

  Glan Conwy

  Dolwyddelan

  Dolgarrog

  Llandudno

  Eglwysbach

  Dolwyddelan

  Llandudno Junction

  Glan Conwy

  Eglwysbach

  Llanfairfechan

  Llandudno

  Glan Conwy

  Llanrwst

  Llandudno Junction

  Llandudno

  Penmaenmawr

  Llanfairfechan

  Llandudno Junction

  Penrhyn Bay

  Llanrwst

  Llanfairfechan

  Trefriw

  Penmachno

  Llanrwst

  Penmaenmawr

  Penmachno

  Penrhyn Bay

  Penmaenmawr

  Trefriw

  Penrhyn Bay

  Tynygroes

  Trefriw

  Tynygroes

  Arfon

  Bangor

  Bangor

  Bangor

  Bethesda

  Bethesda

  Bethesda

  Bontnewydd

  Bontnewydd

  Bontnewydd

  Caernarfon

  Caernarfon

  Caernarfon

  Deiniolen

  Deiniolen

  Deiniolen

  Llanberis

  Llanberis

  Groeslon

  Llanrug

  Llanrug

  Llanberis

  Maesgeirchen

  Maesgeirchen

  Llanllyfni

  Penygroes

  Penygroes

  Llanrug

  Port Dinorwig

  Port Dinorwig

  Llanwnda

  Tregarth

  Tregarth

  Penygroes

  Upper Bangor

  Upper Bangor

  Port Dinorwig

  Waunfawr

  Waunfawr

  Rachub

  Tregarth

  Waunfawr

  Dwyfor

  Abersoch

  Aberdaron

  Aberdaron

  Beddgelert

  Abersoch

  Abersoch

  Criccieth

  Beddgelert

  Beddgelert

  Llanaelhaiarn

  Criccieth

  Criccieth

  Llanbedrog

  Fourcrosses

  Fourcrosses

  Nefyn

  Garn Dolbenmaen

  Garn Dolbenmaen

  Porthmadog

  Llanaelhaiarn

  Llanaelhaiarn

  Pwllheli

  Llanbedrog

  Llanbedrog

  Morfa Nefyn

  Morfa Nefyn

  Nefyn

  Nefyn

  Porthmadog

  Porthmadog

  Pwllheli

  Pwllheli

  Meirionnydd

  Aberdovey

  Aberdovey

  Aberdovey

  Bala

  Bala

  Abergynolwyn

  Barmouth

  Barmouth

  Bala

  Blaenau Ffestiniog

  Blaenau Ffestiniog

  Barmouth

  Dolgellau

  Dinas Mawddwy

  Blaenau Ffestiniog

  Dyffryn Ardudwy

  Dolgellau

  Corris

  388

  1992

  1985

  1980

  Harlech

  Dyffryn Ardudwy

  Dinas Mawddwy

  Llwyngwril

  Harlech

  Dolgellau

  Penrhyndeudraeth

  Llanegryn

  Dyffryn Ardudwy

  Trawsfynydd

  Llan Ffestiniog

  Harlech

  Tywyn

  Llanuwchllyn

  Llanegryn

  Llwyngwril

  Llan Ffestiniog

  Maentwrog

  Llanuwchllyn

  Pennal

  Llwyngwril

  Pen rhy ndeud raeth

  Maentwrog

  Trawsfynydd

  Pennal

  Tywyn

  Penrhyndeudraeth

  Trawsfynydd

  Tywyn

  Ynys Mon

  Aberffraw

  Aberffraw

  Aberffraw

  Amlwch

  Amlwch

  Amlwch

  Benllech

  Beaumaris

  Beaumaris

  Brynsiencyn

  Benllech

  Benllech

  Cemaes Bay

  Brynsiencyn

  Brynsiencyn

  Gaerwen

  Bodedern

  Bodedern

  Gwalchmai

  Bodorgan

  Bodorgan

  Holyhead

  Cemaes Bay

  Cemaes Bay

  Llanerchymedd

  Gaerwen

  Gaerwen

  Llanfaerpwll

  Gwalchmai

  Gwalchmai

  Llangefni

  Holyhead

  Holyhead

  Menai Bridge

  Llanerchymedd

  Llanerchymedd

  Newborough

  Llanfaethlu

  Llanfaethlu

  Rhosneigr

  Llanfairpwll

  Llanfairpwll

  Trearddur Bay

  Llangefni

  Llangefni

  Valley

  Llangoed

  Llangoed

  Menai Bridge

  Menai Bridge

  Newborough

  Moelfre

  Pentraeth

  Newborough

  Rhosneigr

  Pentraeth

  Trearddur Bay

  Rhosneigr

  Valley

  Trearddur Bay

  Valley

  Source: Police and Constabulary Almanac.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the abattoirs located in each local authority area of the counties of Gwynedd and Clwyd in(a) 1980, (b) 1985 and (c)

  Mr. Redwood
  Figures for 1980 are not available and information for 1982 has been listed as an alternative. Available information covers plants trading at any time in the years in question. Details for Gwynedd and Clwyd are as follows:

  1992

  1985

  1982

  GWYNEDD

  (a) Anglesey

  Mcintosh-Reynolds (formerly United Meat Packers), Gaerwen

  —

  —

  X

  Cig Mon (formerly Borthwicks) Llangefni

  —

  —

  —

  E. T. Jones, Lamia, Bodedern

  —

  —

  —

  Roberts, Corwas, Amlwch

  —

  —

  —

  (b) Aberconwy

  Conwy Valley Meats, Llanwrst1

  —

  —

  —

  (c) Arfon

  FMC, Caernarfon

  —

  —

  —

  (d) Meirionydd

  Tywyn Meat Co. Tywyn

  —

  —

  —

  Roberts & Jones, Blaenau Ffestiniog

  —

  —

  —

  Cae Iago, Ffestiniog

  X

  —

  —

  389

  1992

  1985

  1982

  CLWYD

  (a) Alyn & Deeside

  Roberts, Pentre S/H, Treuddyn

  —

  —

  —

  Astons, Ichester Rd, Buckley

  —

  —

  —

  (b) Colwyn

  FMC, Mochdre

  X

  —

  —

  (c) Delyn

  T. Bellis, Strand Walk, Holywell, Delyn

  X

  X

  —

  (d) Glyndwr

  Evans, Queens Building, Corwen,

  —

  —

  —

  Evans, Ty'n Llan, Llanrhaedre YM

  —

  —

  —

  Williams, 120 Vale Street, Denbigh

  —

  —

  —

  Jones, 92 Vale Street Denbigh

  —

  —

  —

  Halal Henllan slaughterhouse, Denbigh

  —

  —

  —

  (e) Rhuddlan

  Jones, Ywaen, St Asaph

  —

  —

  —

  Websters, 65 Ffordd Las, Rhyl

  —

  —

  —

  (f) Wrexham Maelor

  Thomas, Beech Avenue, Rhos

  —

  —

  —

  Jones, Stanstey Lodge, Wrexham

  —

  —

  —

  T. Bellis, Marchwiel slaughterhouse, Wrexham

  —

  —

  —

  Jones, Onnen Fawr Farm, Wrexham

  —

  —

  —

  Derick Blair, Overton on Dee

  X

  —

  —

  1 1982 and 1985 located at Betws-y-Coed

  Farms (Plant and Machinery)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the level of investment in plant and machinery in farms in Wales at outturn and real prices in each year since 1986.

  Mr. Redwood
  The latest available information on the level of investment in plant and machinery on farms in Wales at outturn and real prices in each year since 1986 is as follows:

  £ million

  Outturn prices

  1985 prices

  1986

  29·0

  29·4

  1987

  26·0

  25·3

  1988

  27·0

  23·9

  1989

  25·8

  21·0

  1990

  27·9

  21·7

  1991

  25·5

  19·5

  Public Houses
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many public houses were located in each local authority area in the counties of Gwynedd and Clwyd in(a) 1980, (b) 1985 and (c)

  Mr. Redwood
  The data given in the following table show the number of full on-licences and include public houses and other establishments. Information on the number of public houses is not collected centrally. The information is collated on a three-yearly basis and the figures given are for the nearest dates available to those requested. Information is available only by petty sessional divisions and not by local authority areas.390

  Number of On-Licences1

  30 June 1980

  30 June 1986

  30 June 1992

  Gwynedd

  497

  534

  570

  Clwyd

  710

  740

  764

  1 Premises licensed for the retail sale of intoxicating liquor, excluding restaurants, hotels and guest houses.

  Source: Home Office Statistical Bulletin, on Liquor Licensing in England and Wales (Supplementary Tables).

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) chemist shops or pharmacies, (b) mobile libraries, (c) (i) post offices and (ii) post office counters. (d) public houses, (e) rural schools and (f) village halls there were in each local authority area in the county of Dyfed in (1) 1980, (2) 1985 and (3) 1992.

  Mr. Redwood
  [pursuant to his answer, 30 June 1993, c. 531–32]: The information on the number of full on-licences which includes public houses and other establishments is given in the following table. The information is collated on a three-yearly basis and the figures given are for the nearest dates available to those requested.

  Information is available only by petty sessional divisions and not by local authority areas.

  Number of on-licences1

  30 June

  Dyfed

  1980

  985

  1986

  1,031

  1992

  1,074

  1 Premises licensed for the retail sale of intoxicating liquor, excluding restaurants, hotels and guest houses.

  Source: Home Office Statistical Bulletin on Liquor Licensing in England and Wales (Supplementary Tables).

  Fire Stations
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the fire stations which were located in each local authority area of the counties of Gwynedd and Clwyd in(a) 1980, (b) 1985 and (c)

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is given as follows. The list is the same for 1980, 1985 and 1992.Gwynedd Fire Stations
  Aberconwy: Llanfairfechan, Conwy, Llandudno, Llanwrst, Betwsy-y-coed
  Arfon: Bangor, Caernarfon, Llanberis
  Dwyfor: Pwllheli, Porthmadog, Nefyn, Abersoch
  Meirionnydd: Blaenau Ffestiniog, Bala, Aberdyfi, Tywyn, Barmouth, Dolgellau, Harlech
  Anglesey: Holyhead, Rhosneigr, Llangefni, Amlwch, Benllech, Beaumaris, Menai Bridge
  Clwyd Fire Stations
  Alyn and Deeside: Deeside, Buckley
  Colwyn: Colwyn Bay, Abergele, Cerrigydruddion
  Delyn: Holywell, Flint, Mold
  Glyndwr: Denbigh, Ruthin, Chirk, Corwen, Llangollen
  Rhuddlan: Rhyl, St. Asaph, Prestatyn
  Wrexham Maelor: Wrexham, Johnstown

  Livestock Markets
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the local livestock markets located in each local authority area in the counties of Gwynedd and Clwyd in(a) 1980, (b) 1985 and (c)
  391

  1980

  Gwynedd

  Aberconwy

  Llanwrwst

  Talycafn

  Dwyfor

  Bryncir

  Sam

  Pwllheli

  Meirionnydd

  Dolgellau

  Bala

  Ynys Môn

  Gaerwen

  Llangefni

  Menai Bridge

  Valley

  1985

  Gwynedd

  Aberconwy

  Llanrwst

  Talycafn

  Dwyfor

  Bryncir

  Sam

  Pwllheli

  Meirionnydd

  Dolgellau

  Bala

  Ynys Môn

  Gaerwen

  Llangefni

  Valley

  1992

  Gwynedd

  Aberconwy

  Llanwrst

  Talycafn

  Dwyfor

  Bryncir

  Sarn

  Meirionnydd

  Dolgellau

  Bala

  Ynys Môn

  Gaerwen

  Llangefni

  1980

  Clwyd

  Colwyn

  Abergele

  Delyn

  Mold

  Glyndwr

  Denbigh

  Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant

  Ruthin

  Corwen

  Rhuddlan

  St. Asaph

  392

  Wrexham Maelor

  Wrexham

  1985

  Clwyd

  Colwyn

  Abergele

  Delyn

  Mold

  Glyndwr

  Denbigh

  Ruthin

  Corwen

  Rhuddlan

  St. Asaph

  Wrexham Maelor

  Wrexham

  1992

  Clwyd

  Colwyn

  Abergele

  Delyn

  Mold

  Glyndwr

  Ruthin

  Corwen

  Rhuddlan

  St. Asaph

  Wrexham Maelor

  Wrexham

  Job Centers
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) post offices and (b) post office counters there were in each local authority area in the counties of Gwynedd and Clwyd in (a) 1980, (b) 1985 and (c)

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is shown in the following list, by district, for December 1992. In December 1985 and December 1980 there was no office at Dolgellau (Meirionnydd), but in December 1980 there was an additional office at Bethesda (Arfon).Job Center offices:December 1992

  GWYNEDD

  Aberconwy

  Conwy

  Llandudno

  Llanwrst

  Arfon

  Bangor

  Caernarfon

  Penygroes

  Dwyfor

  Porthmadog

  Pwllheli

  Meirionnydd

  Barmouth

  Dollgellau

  Blaenau Ffestiniog

  Ynys Mon

  Amlwch

  Beumaris

  393

  Holyhead

  Llangefni

  CLWYD

  Alyn and Deeside

  Shotton

  Buckley

  Colwyn

  Colwyn Bay

  Delyn

  Flint

  Holywell Mold

  Glyndwr

  Denbigh

  Llangollen

  Rhuddlan

  Rhyl

  Prestatyn

  Wrexham Maelor

  Cefnmawr

  Wrexham

  Source:Employment Department

  Post Offices
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) post offices and (b) post office counters there were in each local authority area in the counties of Gwynedd and Clwyd in (a) 1980, (b) 1985 and (c)

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is not readily available centrally.

  Theatre Education
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received regarding the future of theatre in education provision.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Up to 7 July 38 representations have been received regarding theatre in education.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the percentage change in income for the lowest-paid 10 per cent. of the population in Wales between 1979 and 1991.

  Mr. Redwood
  The new earnings survey estimates that, in 1979, 10 per cent. of full-time male employees in Wales earned below £60·10 per week gross with 10 per cent of female employees earning below £39·70 per week.. The corresponding figures for 1991 were £147·90 and £114·10 per week: increases of 146 and 187 per cent. over 1979 levels for males and females respectively.

  Nuclear Fuel Transport
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he holds with British Rail on the level of repair and maintenance of the railway lines which serve nuclear plants in Wales and are used for transport of spent nuclear fuel.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  None. British Rail has assured Ministers that essential repair and maintenance work will be undertaken on all routes.

  Radon
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date his Department asked the National Radiological Protection Board to start detailed survey work on radon levels in homes in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Contract arrangements for further systematic research across Wales and at district level will be finalised shortly.

  Brynglas Tunnels
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of traffic flows between the M4 intersection in Newport that will follow the completion of the work on the Brynglas tunnels relief scheme.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The estimated annual average daily traffic flows on the M4 motorway between junctions 25 (Caerleon) and 26 (Malpas), after completion of the Brynglas scheme, is 55,000 vehicles.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  G7 Science Ministers
  Mr. Andrew Hargreaves
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met the other G7 Science Ministers to discuss Government support for science; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I last met my colleagues from the G7 countries in Canada on the weekend of 21 to 23 May. We discussed international co-operation in science and a number of issues of common interest.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  "Gamekeepers' Code"
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what examination has been made of the paragraphs in the leaflets by the British Association of Shooting and Conservation entitled "Gamekeepers' Code, July 1992" concerning the use of poisons and gases for killing wild animals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  I am unaware of a British Association for Shooting and Conservation publication entitled "The Gamekeepers' Code" printed in July 1992. I believe the hon. Member may be confusing this with a BASC publication of the same name printed in July 1982. My officials have recently been in touch with the BASC to discuss certain sections of this code; they have been advised that this publication was withdrawn from circulation three years ago and that the BASC is making every attempt to ensure that any copies still in the public domain are removed from circulation as quickly as possible. The code has now been superseded by the advisory publication, "Pests and Predators and their Control", issued in January 1990.

  Embryotomy
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what studies have been carried out over the last 10 years by the state veterinary service or the Farm Animal Welfare Committee into the practice of embryotomy; and if he will make a statement;
  395
  (2) further to his answer of 22 April to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin), Official Report, column 196, what statistics he has as to the number of embryotomies carried out during the lambing season in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  As explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 22 April, I am not aware of any evidence that embryotomy is carried out on live unborn lambs. The matter will however be considered by the Farm Animal Welfare Council during its current review of sheep farming.

  Sea Fish (Conservation) Act
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will seek a moratorium on the implementation of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1992 until the other EC countries have enacted similar legislation and established appropriate enforcement machinery.

  Mr. Jack
  The aim of these restrictions in general terms will be to limit vessels to their 1991 level of activity. I confirmed that vessels permitted days at sea would not be reduced below these levels unless and until we and Parliament were satisfied.

  Comfrey
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations she has received concerning the availability of comfrey.

  Mr. Soames
  I have received representations from the Society for the Promotion of Nutritional Therapy and the Action Group for the Relief of Pain and Distress about the recent decision to seek the withdrawal from sale of certain comfrey products containing the highest levels of toxic alkaloids.

  I reiterate that this action was taken on the basis of unequivocal recommendations from the independent expert scientific committees that advise Ministers on food safety issues.

  Essex Coast
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she expects to be able to make a statement about the proposed Essex coast environmentally sensitive area; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  We expect to make an announcement on the proposed Essex coast environmentally sensitive area and five other new ESAs at the end of this month or the start of next month.

  Fisheries (Legal Action)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the budget allocation to her legal department for fishery matters including prosecutions in each year since 1989.

  Mr. Jack
  There is no separate budget allocation in the legal department for fishery matters.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe 396
  (Mr. Morley) on 2 February, column 133 and, more generally, to the announcement which I made in the course of the debate on the fishing vessels decommissioning scheme on 7 July, column 413.

  Fishery Protection Vessels
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) oral and (b) written warnings were given by Her Majesty's fishery protection vessels to (b) British and (b) foreign vessels in each year since 1982 and in the first three months of 1993.

  Mr. Jack
  Full details of warnings issued before 1988 are not available. Formal oral warnings which have been issued and recorded in Scotland are being replaced by written warnings. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland informal oral warnings are given for extremely minor offences and not recorded. Details of warnings issued to United Kingdom and foreign registered vessels from 1988 are as follows:

  Year

  United Kingdom

  Foreign

  oral Scotland

  written

  oral Scotland

  written

  1988

  30

  99

  16

  24

  1989

  30

  16

  18

  48

  1990

  54

  83

  8

  34

  1991

  90

  159

  3

  61

  1992

  48

  161

  22

  48

  1993

  10

  158

  1

  10

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many foreign fishing vessels were prosecuted as a result of actions by the United Kingdom's fishery protection force in each year from 1982 and in the first three months of 1993.

  Mr. Jack
  The number of foreign fishing vessels prosecuted as a result of actions by the United Kingdom's fishery protection force in each year from 1983 and in the first three months of 1993 is as follows. Complete figures are not available for 1982.

  Prosecutions of foreign vessels

  Number

  1983

  14

  1984

  26

  1985

  29

  1986

  38

  1987

  43

  1988

  55

  1989

  53

  1990

  35

  1991

  45

  1992

  28

  1993

  7

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are taken to check for secret fish holds when foreign fishing vessels are boarded by Her Majesty's fishery protection vessels; in what circumstances the ships' plans are inspected on boarding; and how many vessels in each year since 1990 and in 1993 to date have been unable to provide these plans.

  Mr. Jack
  Fishery protection officers check for any indications of secret fish holds as a matter of routine. Fish
  397
  room plans are checked against actual dimensions where there is any suspicion of irregularities. At present records of vessels unable to produce fish room plans are not maintained.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what record is kept of oral and written warnings given by Her Majesty's fishery protection vessels to foreign vessels; whether such warnings are cited in subsequent prosecutions; and how many vessels and skippers given written warnings have subsequently been prosecuted for other fishing offences.

  Mr. Jack
  In the United Kingdom full records are kept of all written warnings and records of oral warnings are also kept in Scotland. Such warnings are cited in subsequent prosecutions wherever it is relevant and legally permissible to do so. Since 1991 after receiving a written warning one skipper of a foreign vessel has been prosecuted for a different offence.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what notification is given to(a) the EC Commission, (b) home Government and (c) EC fishing enforcement forces when foreign vessels have been successfully prosecuted for fishing offences in British waters; what control register of offenders is kept; and what report is made to the Department of Transport registration authorities when United Kingdom-registered foreign vessels are involved.

  Mr. Jack
  Upon completion of a court case against a foreign vessel the Commission and the home Government are notified by telex of the details of the case including the offence and the penalties imposed. This information is available to the EC inspectorate. Records are held of both offences and prosecutions.

  No report is given to the Department of Transport in respect of fisheries offences.

  Ammonium Ferric Hexacyanoferrate
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration she is currently giving to spraying parts of the United Kingdom still contaminated by radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl disaster with the chemical ammonium ferric hexacyanofer-rate; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Technical studies to evaluate the potential of chemical treatments, including ammonium ferric hexacya-noferrate, for reducing radiocaesium in the vegetation of upland pasture are currently under way on two sites in Cumbria and Wales, as part of the Department's programme of post-Chernobyl research and development. In the light of the results of the studies, the practicability of using these treatments in the Cumbrian restricted area will be assessed.

  Foreign Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many foreign fishing vessels were reported to his Department with a recommendation for prosecution in the first six months of 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993; and how many of these were prosecuted or are under consideration for prosecution.
  398
  Mr. Jack
  The number of foreign fishing vessels recommended for prosecution in the first six months of 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993, and the number of those prosecuted is as follows:

  Year (first six months only)

  Recommendations for Prosecution

  Prosecutions

  1990

  13

  13

  1991

  18

  18

  1992

  11

  10

  1993

  6

  6

  Prosecutions of foreign vessels usually take place within three days of the recommendation, hence there are no cases of foreign vessels under consideration for prosecution.

  Meat Imports
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures are being taken to ensure that meat imported into the United Kingdom from outside the EC meets EC standards.

  Mr. Soames
  Such imports must comply with United Kingdom meat hygiene and animal health rules implementing EC directives and decisions, including requirements for veterinary certification and health marking. The meat may be imported only at specific border inspection posts where, by or under the supervision of an official veterinary surgeon, all consignments must receive a documentary check, with a proportion also receiving identity and physical checks.

  United Kingdom Wine
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures are being taken to promote United Kingdom-produced wine in overseas markets; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The Government promote exports of English and Welsh wine vigorously. The Prime Minister himself served English wine at a G7 summit. It was also served at various functions during the United Kingdom Presidency of the EC. Seven English wines were available at the British pavilion at the Spanish Expo '92 in Seville. In addition Food From Britain and its export arm, the British Food Export Council, are keen to promote English and Welsh wines both at home and abroad and they can provide expert resources to help the industry.

  We are also sympathetic to the wish of the English Vineyards Association to improve the marketing of English wine by the introduction of a new scheme for regional wine, and for new names for the wines.

  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the amount of wine produced by United Kingdom vineyards in each year since 1987; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The annual production of wine produced from fresh grapes grown in the United Kingdom since 1987 is as follows:

  Year

  Hectolitres

  1987

  5,000

  1988

  4,110

  1989

  21,447

  399

  Year

  Hectolitres

  1990

  14,442

  1991

  15,429

  1992

  26,428

  North East Salmon Drift Net Fishery
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made towards the phasing out of the north-east salmon drift net fishery; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The National Rivers Authority recently made a new net limitation order which places further restrictions on the number of licences that could be issued for drift netting for salmon off the coasts of Yorkshire and Northumbria, and largely prohibited the reallocation of surrendered licences. The order took effect on 22 January. I understand that, to date, 124 drift net licences have been issued for the 1993 season under the new arrangements. This compares with 142 drift net licences issued in 1992. A further five licences have been offered to eligible applicants but have not yet been taken up. One application is still under consideration.

  Beef Exports
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much domestically produced United Kingdom beef has been exported overseas in each year since 1987.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 8 July 1993]: The information requested is set out in the table:

  Year

  '000 Tonnes

  1987

  176

  1988

  119

  1989

  138

  1990

  113

  1991

  121

  1992

  126

  Source: Customs and Excise Trade Statistics

  Food Exports
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what initiatives she is taking to stimulate food exports.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 8 July 1993]: Ministers have held export seminars with some 140 companies to discuss what the Government can do to encourage their export performance. We are committed to supporting Food From Britain in its export promotion activities and are considering the report by Mr. Dennis Stevenson into FFB's work. In addition, we work closely with Government Departments in their efforts to improve industry's export performance; we undertake ministerial trade missions; and we support British efforts at overseas trade fairs.

  Sea Defences
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures are being taken to improve sea defences around Britain; and if she will make a statement.
  400
  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 8 July 1993]: Responsibility for flood defence and coast protection policy in England lies with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and in Wales and Scotland with the respective Departments. Grant aid is available for capital schemes which meet technical, environmental and economic criteria and in 1992–93 grant of £45 million was paid by the three Departments towards the improvement of coastal defences in Great Britain.

  Following a recent survey of sea defences against flooding in England and Wales, carried out by the National Rivers Authority, defences identified as requiring significant work have been attended to or are in the process of being restructured or repaired. The Ministry and the Welsh Office are currently undertaking surveys of coast protection defences against erosion in England and Wales and the results will be used in planning future investment in defences.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Tourist Resorts (Benefits)
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment his Department has made of the special problems faced by tourist resorts with regard to the numbers of claimants of DSS benefits.

  Mr. Burt
  Although the Government recognise that there will be a number of benefit recipients included among the many visitors to tourist resorts, they are not persuaded that it is desirable or practicable to restrict the movement of unemployed people. The free movement of people around the country is an essential feature of an efficient labour market.

  In all parts of the country the Employment Service assesses whether or not unemployed people are entitled to the benefits they are claiming, in accordance with social security legislation. Benefit is paid only where the conditions of entitlement are satisfied.

  The housing benefit scheme requires local authorites to refuse benefit wherever they feel that a tenancy has been created with the intention of taking advantage of the scheme. This provision is designed to give local authorities a wider power to apply in cases of such abuse whether by landlords, tenants or both in collusion.

  Invalidity Pensions
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what considerations underlie the choice of 1 April 1992 as the date from which revised decisions on payment of invalidity pension will apply.

  Mr. Scott
  1 April 1992 is the date of a decision by a social security commissioner (decision CS 27/91) concern-ing the rate of invalidity benefit payable to women on reaching state pension age, and is the earliest date from which similar cases may be reviewed by an adjudication officer.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many payments have been made for increased invalidity benefit to men whose wives earn under £80·70 per week since 15 April; and how this new rate of benefit has been publicised.
  401
  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  For most invalidity benefit recipients who have been receiving payment continuously from a date prior to 16 September 1985, payment of an adult dependency increase ceases altogether when the dependent's earnings are £80·70 or more per week. This amount increases at each uprating and is notified to every beneficiary by issue of a form with the first payment of the uprated amount.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to equalise women's entitlement to invalidity benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  At present we have no plans to do so. However, as the hon. Member is aware there is a current court case concerning the rate of invalidity benefit payable to women on reaching state pension age, the outcome of which is awaited.

  Child Support
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance his Department issues to the Child Support Agency on the eligible expenses that self-employed fathers can offset against their income when an assessment is made.

  Mr. Burt
  The relevant guidance by the chief child support officer is contained in part 4 of the Child Support Adjudication Guide, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy not to include the income of the wife when the Child Support Agency assesses the contribution her husband must take towards maintaining the children of a previous marriage.

  Mr. Burt
  Assessment of child support maintenance is based on a parent's own income and essential expenditure. Details of a wife's income are needed for two aspects of the assessment, as follows:(i.) to assess whether the wife can contribute towards the support of any child of the couple themselves; and
  (ii.) to assess whether maintenance payable by the husband for the children of the previous marriage should be reduced below the assessed level to avoid his second family's resources falling below a prescrived level.

  We have no plans to change this.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (I) what proportion of recently retired pensioner couples receive income of at least (i) £30 and (ii) £89.90 a week from(a) an occupational pension, (b) income from savings and (c) both occupational pension and income from savings;

  (2) what proportion of pensioner couples receive income of at least (i) £30 and (ii) £89·90 a week from (a) an occupational pension, (b) income from savings and (c) both occupational pension and income from savings;

  (3) what proportion of single pensioners receive income of at least (i) £20 and (ii) £56·10 a week from (a) an occupational pension, (b) income from savings and (c) both occupational pension and income from savings;

  (4) what proportion of recently retired single pensioners receive income of at least (i) £20 and (ii) £56·10 a week from (a) an occupational pension, (b) income from savings and (c) both occupational pension and income from savings.
  402
  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is in the tables.

  Table 1—The proportion of pensioner couples with income from occupational pensions and savings in excess of (i) £30 per week and (ii) the level of the basic state pension (1989)

  Percentage with income from

  Occupational pensions

  Savings

  Occupational pensions and savings

  All pensioner couples

  Of at least £30 per week

  39

  24

  54

  Of at least £69·80 per week

  20

  12

  32

  Recently retired pensioner couples

  Of at least £30 per week

  41

  25

  54

  Of at least £69·80 per week

  21

  12

  33

  Table 2—The proportion of single pensioners with income from occupational pensions and savings of at least (i) £20 per week and (ii) the level of the basic state pension (1989)

  Percentage with income from

  Occupational pensions

  Savings

  Occupational pensions and savings

  All single pensioners

  Of at least £20 per week

  24

  17

  33

  Of at least £43·60 per week

  15

  9

  21

  Recently retired single pensioners

  Of at least £20 per week

  29

  21

  41

  Of at least £43·60 per week

  19

  13

  24

  Notes:

  1. Pensioner units are defined single people over state pension age and couples in which the husband is over state pension age. Recently retired pensioner units are defined as single men aged 65–69, single women aged 60–64 and couples in which the husband is aged 65–69.

  2. Figures are based on data from the Family Expenditure Survey of 1989, which is the latest year for which estimates are available. Amounts are in 1989 prices.

  3. £43·60 per week was the standard rate of Category A pension payable for the greater part of 1989, and £6980 per week was the amount payable to a couple entitled to full Category A and Category B pensions.

  Private Care Homes
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the details of his Department's implementation of the decision announced by the social security commissioner on 14 October 1992 relating to the eligibility for income support in respect of older people transferred from hospitals to private nursing homes.

  Mr. Burt
  The chief adjudication officer and the Secretary of State have appealed to the Court of Appeal against the commissioner's decision CIS/23/92 and the case is expected to be heard shortly. In the meantime, payment of the benefit awarded in the decision has been suspended.

  Housing Benefit
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to cut the housing benefit taper from 65 per cent.

  Mr. Burt
  We have no such plans.

  Order Books
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he is taking to make order books more secure.

  Mr. Lilley
  As a further important step in our campaign against fraud, I am introducing a new-style order book later this week. The new design will incorporate a number of significant new measures designed to prevent fraud and abuse, including complex features such as more secure watermarks, colour printing and other design properties which make illicit colour copying more difficult.

  Benefits
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of males 60 years and over and below 65 years who receive benefit, other than unemployed benefit or those relating to ill health.

  Mr. Burt
  In May 1992, 127,000 males aged 60 to 64 were in receipt of income support or family credit.

  Notes:

  1. Sources:

  (i) Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry 1992.

  (ii) Family Credit Statistical Sample.

  2. Information on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit is not available in the form requested.

  3. The reply relates to income-related benefits only, excluding Disability Working Allowance.

  4. Some of those included in the above figure may be in receipt of the Income Support disability premium.

  Incomes
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the increase in real average income before and after housing costs, for each decile group from 50 per cent. upwards, in the upper half of the population between 1979 and the latest date available.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 8 July at columns 215–16.

  Benefits (Costs)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what work has been undertaken by the Government Actuary in relation to the projected cost of social security benefits up to 2000.

  Mr. Scott
  The figures in "The Growth of Social Security" include amounts based on projections made by the Government Actuary. The actuary also provides advice, comments and financial estimates pertaining to other aspects of the social security review.

  Disability Allowances
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the effect on the backlog of processing claimants' applications for disability living and working allowances of the accidental cutting through of the cables operating at his Department's headquarters near Blackpool on 6 May.

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

  Letter from George Bardwell to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 9 July 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is Michael Bichard's responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. As he is out of Leeds on Benefits Agency business I am replying on his behalf to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking if he will make a statement on the effect on the backlog of processing claimants applications for disability and working allowances of the accidental cutting through the cables operating at his Department's headquarters near Blackpool on 6 May.
  I understand that British Telecom engineers accidentally cut through telephone cables and affected some telephones at our offices at Warbreck House, Blackpool. The situation was rectified within a matter of hours though and I am not aware of any significant delay to claim processing because of it.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

  ESTONIA: RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA
  ESTONIA: RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA
  GIBRALTAR: GOVERNOR'S RESIDENTIAL STAFF
  GIBRALTAR: GOVERNOR'S RESIDENTIAL STAFF
  ZIMBABWE: ECONOMIC REFORM
  ZIMBABWE: ECONOMIC REFORM
  HOMICIDES AND SUICIDES BY MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE
  HOMICIDES AND SUICIDES BY MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE
  PLANNING: APPEALS TO MINISTER
  PLANNING: APPEALS TO MINISTER
  MoD: MARKET TESTING
  MoD: MARKET TESTING
  MoD AND ARMED FORCES: REDUCTIONS IN SENIOR POSTS
  MoD AND ARMED FORCES: REDUCTIONS IN SENIOR POSTS
  VARIABLE SPEED LIMITS OUTSIDE SCHOOLS
  VARIABLE SPEED LIMITS OUTSIDE SCHOOLS