Written Answers of 13 July 1993

HEALTH

  Hospital Doctors
  Ms Primarolo
  To answer the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 23 June,Official Report, column 177 if she will make a statement outlining the existing advocacy role of hospital doctors.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The hospital doctor's role is to provide effective health care for each of the patients entrusted to his or her care taking account of available resources.

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information is available to her Department about the numbers and circumstances of children who are indirectly affected by HIV and AIDS because their parents or carers are infected with the virus; and what assessment her Department has made of the extent of support likely to be required for the children if they cannot be cared for by their parent or parents;

  (2) what guidance she has issued as to the information on which social services departments should base their plans for the support or provision of care for children who are indirectly affected by HIV or AIDS because of the illness of their parents or carers.

  Mr. Sackville
  So far as numbers of children indirectly affected by HIV are concerned, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 12 July 1993, at column 378.

  The Children Act 1989 and the guidance and regulations associated with it set out local authorities' duties towards children in need. For services for children both infected and affected by HIV or AIDS this is supplemented by "Children and HIV" which gives detailed guidance to local authorities to assist them in planning and providing services. The guidance encourages HIV awareness amongst service providers, and describes good practice.

  The Children Act and associated guidance and regulations provide a policy framework through which local authorities, in collaboration with other agencies, can develop comprehensive plans for all children in need in their locality.

  Copies of these documents will be placed in the Library.

  Emergency Admissions
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of emergency admissions to hospitals in each health authority in England in 1990–91.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information from the hospital episodes statistics is not yet available. The collection of the management information on non-elective admissions in the general and acute specialties given in my reply to the hon. Member on 28 June at col.352, did not begin until April 1991.
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  GP Fund Holders
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will review the procedure where general practitioner fund holders extend their role by undertaking services such as physiotherapy currently provided by community hospitals so that these services are not put in jeopardy for the majority of service users leading to a knock on adverse effect on the other services provided at the local hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  General practitioner fundholders, like district health authorities, are responsible for obtaining high quality health care for their patients in the most effective way. The challenge for provider units is to develop services which meet the needs of purchasers and patients.

  Census, Lambeth
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what supplementary inquiries and research and other work was carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys to supplement the census return in Lambeth and to obtain additional information about numbers and details of persons whose details ought to appear as part of the census.

  Mr. Sackville
  Census enumerators had the task of locating, contacting, and delivering census forms to all households and communal establishments in their areas. Census statistics have been derived principally from the completed forms. Where enumerators located households they believed to be present on census night, but were not able to contact people in them, the numbers and details of the people and households concerned have been estimated and included in the census statistics. Households identified by enumerators as absent on census night were asked to fill in a census form voluntarily on their return. For those who did not complete a form, numbers and details have been estimated and included in the census statistics.

  A census validation survey was carried out shortly after the census to check on its quality and coverage. This survey compared information given on census forms with that obtained by experienced interviewers who re-visited a sample of addresses. The sample was not large enough, however, to provide information directly about individual authorities. A report on the survey's findings on coverage will be published later this year.

  In preparing the Registrar General's mid-1991 population estimates, allowances were made for under-enumeration in the census, using results from the census validation survey and all other relevant sources. For individual local authorities these adjustments are inevitably less precise than at the national level.

  Dental Treatment
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to issue clear advice to people requiring dental treatment of their entitlement to free treatment under the NHS; if she will instruct family health services authorities to provide up-to-date information about the dental services available locally; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Under their terms of service, dentists are required to display prominently at their practices a
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  notice supplied by the family health services authority—FHSA—indicating entitlement to exemption from and remission of national health service dental charges. Leaflets are available from family doctors and dentists and Benefits Agency offices explaining NHS dental treatment and how people may be entitled to free treatment or help with the cost. Copies of these leaflets will be placed in the Library.

  FHSAs are responsible for maintaining up-to-date lists of the dentists providing NHS treatment in their localities. The list contains information about the days and hours the dentist is available at the practice, as well as the services offered.

  Smoking
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by whom the review, proposed in The "The Health of the Nation" White Paper, of the possible legal control of the use of additives and emission of toxic substances from cigarettes was instituted; who is conducting the review; and which organisations and individuals have been invited to submit their views.

  Mr. Sackville
  The review will be established in due course.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards achieving the targets for reducing smoking prevalence to 20 per cent. of adults by 2000, and by 33 per cent. of 11 to 15-year-olds by 1994.

  Mr. Sackville
  The results of the biennial survey of adult smoking in 1990 gave levels of 31 per cent. for men and 29 per cent. for women and these were taken as the base for "The Health of the Nation" target. The results of the 1992 survey are not yet available.

  The base figure for children's smoking—8 per cent.—is that reported in the 1988 Office of Population Censuses and Surveys biennial survey of smoking among secondary schoolchildren. The 1990 survey showed a level of 10 per cent. but the general trend will not be known until the results of the 1992 survey are available late this year.

  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the expected reduction in the consumption of cigarettes as a result of the increase in excise duty announced in the Chancellor's last Budget; and what would be the expected aggregated reduction in consumption were the same increase in real terms to be repeated at each successive Budget up to and including 2000.

  Mr. Sackville
  The consumption of cigarettes would be expected to reduce by between 1 per cent. and 2 per cent. as a result of the March 1993 Budget increase in tobacco taxation, assuming no change in other factors. The aggregated reduction in consumption if the same increase were repeated in each Budget up to and including the year 2000 would be expected to be in the range 9 per cent. to 18 per cent.

  Health Care Plans
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will issue guidelines to require that draft health care commissioning plans on which consultation with 408
  community health councils are held include (a) the present state of the service, (b) the proposed changes and (c) the effect of the proposed changes on the existing service and to require that all plans should be in plain English and in other languages where appropriate; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Current guidance, EL(93)10, a copy of which is available in the Library, already requires health authorities to undertake formal consultation when local health services are under review and it is recommended that they should ensure that black, Asian and other minority groups are enabled to play a full part in that process.

  Mental Health Services
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for collecting gender-specific information about use of mental health services for her review of information requirements in mental health services.

  Mr. Bowis
  Data collected on the use of services include information by gender when appropriate.

  Contraceptives
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has a proposed timetable for the extension of the limited list to include contraceptives.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs has started to look at contraceptives and will be approaching manufacturers for information about individual products. We expect that they will complete this review by the end of this year.

  Cosmetic Treatment
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the annual cost to the health service of (1) cosmetic treatment and surgery and (2) operations to remove tattoos; and how much is received from patients towards the cost of such treatments and surgery.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Community Care
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has any plans to revise the guidelines given to local authority social services departments concerning the escalation of unmet need resulting from the implementation of community care.

  Mr. Bowis
  No such guidlines have been issued.

  Pharmaceutical Industry
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to improve consultation between her Department and the pharmaceutical industry.

  Mr. Sackville
  We established earlier this year a pharmaceutical industry strategy working group consisting of representatives of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and senior officials from
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  the Department of Health, the Treasury and the Department of Trade and Industry with the terms of reference:
  "To consider jointly the future development of the pharmaceutical industry in the UK, its contribution to the UK economy and its role in the provision of health care; and in particular to consider issues of common interest such as the provision of affordable health care and the encouragement of a strong pharmaceutical industry."

  In addition, officials consult regularly with the ABM and individual companies on specific issues of mutual interest.

  Female GPs
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated percentage of female patients who have access to a female general practitioner; and what percentage of general practitioner partnerships have a female general practitioner.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  At 1 April 1992—the latest date for which the figures are available—approximately 68 per cent. of female patients in England were registered with general practitioners in partnerships which included a female general practitioner; 53 per cent. of general practitioner partnerships had at least one female partner.

  Child Migrants Trust
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) of 26 April,Official Report, column 278, if Her Majesty's Government will now make it their policy to provide additional funding for the Child Migrants Trust; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  Funds for the year 1993–94 are fully allocated and include a grant for the Child Migrants Trust. Decisions about funding for future years will be taken when the Department knows what resources are available and what the competing demands for funds are.

  Paediatric Services
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the units that provide training for paediatric nurses.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Health Education Authority
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how she intends to secure the continued value and effectiveness of the Health Education Authority; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The White Paper "The Health of the Nation"—Cm 1986—makes clear the important part to be played by the Health Education Authority (HEA) in achieving the targets for improvements in people's health set in that health strategy. It also emphasises that, complementing the HEA's national role, health authorities throughout England have a key responsibility for health promotion among their local populations. Last December, we approved the HEA's strategy for 1993 to 1998 to carry forward its role in "The Health of the Nation", which includes closer co-ordination with health authorities and other local agencies.
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  To help achieve these aims, and to ensure the continued effectiveness of the HEA, we have decided—with the agreement of its chairman, Sir Donald Maitland—to carry out a review with the following terms of reference:
  "To consider the future role, responsibilities and functioning of the Health Education Authority, taking account of developments since it was established in 1987, notably:

  the new structure of the NHS;

  the 1992 White Paper "The Health of the Nation" and its programme for a long term health strategy;

  the development of Government policy on market testing and contracting out;

  the need for cost-effectiveness;

  and to report to the Secretary of State for Health."

  The review team will be led by Mr. John Lee—chairman, The Christie NHS Trust, Manchester and formerly a Minister in the Department of Employment.

  The other members will be:

  Mrs. Terry Banks—former director of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys;

  Mr. Tonic Gibson—former newspaper editor and chairman of the Peterborough district health authority 1982 to 1992;

  Dr. Bob Haward—regional director of public health, Yorkshire regional health authority.

  We expect the review to be completed in November.

  Pharmacies
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she is taking to protect from closure small pharmacies in rural and suburban areas which deal with many fewer than 2,000 prescriptions per month.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Discussions are continuing with the pharmacists' representatives about how best to restructure fees to encourage better services for patients and improve value for money. In these discussions we have made it clear that we remain committed to ensuring that patients in rural and suburban areas continue to enjoy reasonable access to a local pharmacy.

  Homicides
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many homicides involved(a) shotguns and (b) other firearms in each year since 1979; and how many involved people under 16 years.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 7 July 1993]: The information relating to registered deaths is shown in table 1.

  For further information, the Coroners (Amendment) Rules 1977 now allow for death registration in cases where an inquest is adjourned because a person has been charged with an offence in connection with the death; these cases are known as accelerated registrations. The correct external cause of injury, for example, "Assault by firearms and explosives" cannot, however, except in those cases relating to transport accidents, be determined until any criminal proceedings are concluded. Consequently, all non-transport accelerated registrations are assigned to the external cause of injury code E988.8—injury by other specified means, undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted—until results of proceedings are known and the death can be reassigned to the correct external cause code—E code.

  Homicides are one of the categories most affected by this legislation. Accordingly, for each of the years 1979–92 there are a number of deaths that are the result of the use

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  of a firearm but which as a consequence of the rules do not appear in table 1. Table 2 shows the number of deaths assigned—at the outcome of criminal proceedings—to a broad group of causes which includes "Assault by firearms and explosives". It is not, however, possible to specifically

  Table 1

  Numbers of registered deaths from homicides involving firearms (ICD E965) in England and Wales, 1979 to 1992

  Year

  Shotgun

  Handguns

  Hunting rifle

  Military firearm

  Other firearm

  Total excluding shotguns

  Total including shotguns

  (E965·1)

  (E965·0)

  (E965·2)

  (E965·3)

  (E965·4)

  All ages

  under 16s

  All ages

  under 16s

  All ages

  under 16s

  All ages

  under 16s

  All ages

  under 16s

  All ages

  under 16s

  All ages

  under 16s

  1979

  19

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  18

  3

  18

  3

  37

  5

  1980

  6

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  12

  0

  13

  0

  19

  0

  1981

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  0

  5

  0

  10

  0

  13

  0

  1982

  10

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  16

  2

  16

  2

  26

  2

  1983

  21

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  13

  1

  13

  1

  34

  3

  1984

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  31

  4

  31

  4

  43

  4

  1985

  8

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  15

  0

  15

  0

  23

  2

  1986

  17

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  28

  7

  29

  7

  46

  7

  1987

  9

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  30

  2

  32

  2

  41

  2

  1988

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  16

  0

  16

  0

  28

  0

  1989

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  10

  0

  10

  0

  18

  0

  1990

  10

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  17

  2

  17

  2

  27

  2

  1991

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  15

  0

  15

  0

  27

  0

  1992

  10

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  24

  5

  24

  5

  34

  5

  Table 2. Causes to which accelerated registrations in injury by other specified means, undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted (ICD E988.8) were eventually assigned, 1980–90 England and Wales

  Year

  Other accidental deaths E880 to E928

  Suicide and self-inflicted injury E950 to E959

  Assault by firearms and explosives E965

  Injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted E980 to E989

  1980

  1

  —

  1

  2

  1981

  1

  —

  10

  —

  1982

  3

  —

  12

  —

  1983

  3

  —

  9

  —

  1984

  1

  —

  14

  —

  1985

  —

  —

  12

  —

  1986

  1

  —

  9

  —

  1987

  2

  1

  19

  —

  1988

  3

  —

  14

  —

  1989

  —

  —

  8

  1

  1990

  1

  —

  9

  —

  Figures for 1979, 1991 and 1992 are not readily available.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients had waited for treatment for over a year in the North Western region(a) in March 1991 and (b) in the latest month for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  [pursuant to his reply, 4 May 1993, c. 41]: I regret that there was an error in my previous reply. The last sentence should read
  "in England over the same period, the number waiting over a year fell by 55 per cent. to 72,446—the lowest figure ever recorded".
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  identify those deaths which were the consequence of the use of a firearm, or those deaths where the person was a child under the age of 16 years without incurring disproportionate cost.

ENVIRONMENT

  Limehouse Link Road
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who funded the dance which took place in celebration of the opening of the Limehouse link road on 17 May in the Canary Wharf tower; and what was the full cost of this event.

  Sir George Young
  The London Docklands development corporation provided a reception in the Canary Wharf tower for staff involved in the Limehouse link project who were not able to attend the opening ceremony. The total cost of the reception was approximately £3,500.

  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the full cost, including security arrangements, of the opening ceremony for the Limehouse link road on 17 May.

  Sir George Young
  A total of £64,000. The main costs were for the hire of a marquee, catering, toilets, stands, the parade, plaques and presentation plates.
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  Construction Industry
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he is providing to the task force on deregulation in the construction industry; and what assessment he has made of the effect of removing building regulations on reducing carbon dioxide emissions, improving energy conservation and ensuring health and safety in buildings.

  Mr. Baldry
  Officials in my Department have met members of the task force on deregulation in the construction industry, and have provided them with details of the Building Regulations 1991 and the proposals to amend parts L and F. All proposed changes to the Building Regulations are fully assessed before implementation.

  Urban Development Grants
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessments urban development corporations are required to make of the competence of the companies to which they give grants.

  Mr. Baldry
  Urban development corporations are required to assess the ability of companies to carry through the project concerned; their financial viability; and their track record in undertaking similar projects.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines are issued to board members of urban development corporations governing conflict of interest.

  Mr. Baldry
  Board members are issued with a code of conduct on appointment, which includes guidance on how to deal with conflicts of interest and what interests should be declared and recorded in the corporation's register of interests.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what rules or guidelines are applied to the tendering process of urban development corporations.

  Mr. Baldry
  Urban development corporations are required to follow best public sector practice, which is that contracts should be placed on a competitive basis and the lowest tender accepted, subject only to certain clearly defined exceptions where this would not secure best value for money.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to review the operation of the Merseyside development corporation.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) to his previous question on Thursday 13 May 1993 at column 529.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much each urban development corporation has spent, since its inception, on consultations.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 November 1992 at column 48. Updated expenditure on consultants' reports to 31 March 1993, where available, is in the table:
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  UDC

  £ million

  Birmingham Heartlands

  0·1

  Black Country

  12·9

  Bristol

  0·7

  Central Manchester

  2—

  Leeds

  2—

  London Docklands

  2—

  Merseyside

  3·2

  Plymouth

  Nil

  Sheffield

  0·6

  Teesside

  4·9

  Trafford Park

  2—

  Tyne and Wear

  4·0

  1 To 31 March 1992.

  2 Not available.

  "Climate Change"
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) of 15 June,Official Report, column 538, how many of the submissions he received on the discussion document "Climate Change" were from (a) Scotland, (b) organisations and (c) members of the public; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Out of the 254 responses now received to our discussion document, 31 were from Scotland. Twenty-four of these were from organisations and seven from members of the public.

  Albert Dock, Liverpool
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what income has accrued to the Merseyside development corporation from the Albert Dock Company.

  Mr. Baldry
  In the period covering 1987–88 to 1992–93 a total income of £2,022,659 has accrued to the development corporation from the Albert Dock Company in respect of rents, service charges and sales of flats.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what planning permission was sought by the Merseyside development corporation to alter the facade, roofline and approach to the Atlantic pavilion at the Albert dock.

  Mr. Baldry
  MDC did not seek planning permission itself to carry out recent alterations to the facade, roofline and approach to Atlantic pavilion at the Albert dock, since urban development corporations are themselves the planning authorities within their designated areas. Agents acting on behalf of the developers, Linenhall Properties Ltd., sought and received planning permission from MDC.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contracts the Merseyside development corporation entered into with the Arrowcroft Company.

  Mr. Baldry
  The development corporation entered into only one contract—building agreement—with the Arrowcroft Company in September 1983.

  This contract was for the phased conversion and refurbishment of the majority of Albert dock, giving rise to a total of 11 leases.
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  Dipsticks
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will oppose the provisions of the EC directive on vapour recovery, stage 1, which call for the ending of dipsticks as the principal method of measuring quantities of petrol in storage and road tankers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The proposed EC directive will introduce a system of petrol vapour recovery which is not compatible with the use of dipsticks because they cause emissions of vapour. It is therefore appropriate for the dipstick to be phased out as a means of measurement on road tankers. However, the Government have secured an agreement which allows existing road tankers to continue using dipsticks, and allows a satisfactory period to agree an alternative standard measuring system for new tankers.

  PSA Building Management Scotland
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrrangements will be made for maintenance of redundancy and pension arrangements of the PSA Building Management Scotland when the sale of the organisation is completed; and if the Department will be responsible for any redundancy costs incurred by Serco in relation to staff previously employed by the Property Services Agency.

  Mr. Baldry
  Staff severance entitlements transfer on sale under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and are protected thereafter by employment law. A replacement pension scheme which is broadly comparable in value to the principal civil service pension scheme, will be established. The group stands behind its subsidiaries. The Department will meet the costs of redundancies, should they occur, in the five years after sale on an agreed basis up to a specified limit.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what long-term commitment has been made by Serco, in respect of long-term commitment to maintain a separate Property Services Agency building management organisation based in Scotland.

  Mr. Baldry
  Serco's objective in acquiring BM Scotland is to expand its business based in Scotland as a separate Scottish company.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whaat estimate Serco has given of the number of jobs that may be lost in PSA Building Management Scotland as a result of the proposed sale of the organisation.

  Mr. Baldry
  Serco does not expect significant jobs loss as a result of the proposed sale. Future jobs for BM staff will of course depend on the ability of the business to compete successfully for contracts as they are re-tendered.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the purchasers of the PSA Building Management business will be required to continue to provide a design capacity.

  Mr. Baldry
  The PSA Building Management businesses each have a range of contracts which require a design input. The purchaser will take over the obligation to service those contracts.
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  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the number of employees of the PSA Building Management Scotland who would need to opt to transfer to the purchasing company to enable the contract to be completed.

  Mr. Baldry
  I hope that a very large proportion of staff will transfer with the business on sale, but the sale does not need a particular number to choose to transfer for the sale to proceed to completion.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate the purchase price offered for PSA Building Management Scotland by the management buy-out.

  Mr. Baldry
  No. Such information is commercially confidential.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received suggesting(a) that there should be a council tax band or bands below band A and (b) that there should be a council tax band or bands above band H; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend has received some representations, but we are not persuaded that there is a case for changing the present arrangements.

  Caravan Sites
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites established under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 he has visited in an official capacity; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Since his appointment on 27 May my right hon. Friend has visited no gipsy caravan sites established by local authorities under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 in his official capacity.

  Darwin Initiative
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to make an announcement on the Darwin initiative; and what the role will he of the United Kingdom systematics institutions in the initiative.

  Mr. Yeo
  On 5 July my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment, announced the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on the Darwin Initiative and published a copy of its report; copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. We are now inviting applications from British institutions and organisations, including our systematics institutions, for funding to carry out projects under the Darwin initiative. There is £1 million available this year for projects which meet the objectives of the initiative.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the forecast European regional development fund receipts for 1993–94 and the allocation for 1993–94 for the local authority other services block schemes; and if he will make a statement.
  417
  Mr. Gummer
  Total forecast receipts from the European regional development fund paid through the agency of my Department in 1993–94 are £221 million. The allocation of ERDF funds to other services block projects will depend on how much has been spent by authorities and claimed from the European Community through my Department by the end of the year. It is not possible to forecast the final figure at this stage. From April 1993, the Government are providing public expenditure cover, automatically and in full, for forecast ERDF receipts.

  Renovation Grant System
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the findings of the Planning, Industrial and Economic Development Advisers—PIEDA—report into the new renovation grant system; and if he will place copies in the Library.

  Mr. Baldry
  The report "Monitoring the New Renovation Grant System" by PIEDA was published on Monday 5 July. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  "Monitoring the Fitness Standard"
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the findings of the Warwick university report "Monitoring the Fitness Standard"; and if he will place copies in the Library.

  Mr. Baldry
  The report will be published next month. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  PSA Building Management
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now give details of the severance sharing agreements with purchasers of the PSA Building Managment businesses.

  Mr. Curry
  Each of the sales of the five PSA Building Management businesses include arrangements under which the Secretary of State will contribute towards the costs of redundancies up to an agreed value during the five years from completion of the sale.

  The amounts concerned for BM South and West, BM South East, BM Scotland and Noreast Building Management are as follows:

  £ million

  BM South and West

  25·0

  BM South East

  30·0

  BM Scotland

  15·0

  Noreast BM

  29·5

  The amount which the Secretary of State will contribute towards the cost of redundancies in the five years after sale in BM Manchester depends upon the result of the staff choice exercise which is currently under way, and will fall in the range of £26·0 to £37·2 million.

  The amounts are subject to a pro rata adjustment to reflect changes in the aggregate redundancy entitlements of staff up to completion.

  Sellafield MOX Plant
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what considerations led to the timing of his direction of 7 July to Copeland borough council not 418
  to grant planning permission to the Sellafield mixed oxide plant at the meeting of the council's planning committee on that day; when his Department first knew about the application; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) under what statutory powers, and for what reasons, his officials directed Copeland borough council not to grant planning permission for the Sellafield mixed oxide plant;

  (3) when he expects to be able to reach a decision on the application by British Nuclear Fuels plc for planning permission to construct a mixed oxide plant at Sellafield.

  Mr. Yeo
  On 23 June my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State received a request from British Nuclear Fuels plc for a direction that environment assessment of its proposal for a MOX plant at Sellafield was not needed. Although BNFL subsequently withdrew that application the Secretary of State decided that he ought to reach his own view. To provide time to consider the arguments Copeland council was directed, under the provisions of article 14(1) of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988, not to grant permission on 7 July when they considered the application.

  We will conclude our consideration of this matter as soon as possible. I will write to the hon. Member.

  Local Government, Cumbria
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Local Government Commission's consideration of local government reorganisation in Cumbria; and when he expects to receive its recommendations.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to my hon. Friend the member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) on 4 February at column 244. The review of Cumbria is scheduled to start on 20 September 1993 and end on 4 December 1994.

  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the names and background details of the lead commissioners for the Local Government Commission's consideration of local government reorganisation in Cumbria; and if he will make a statement on the published timetable for the commission's work.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Local Government Commission announced on 2 June that the lead commissioners for its review of Cumbria and Lancashire will be Mrs. Ann Levick and David Ansbro. The commission's press release gave brief biographical details for each commissioner and I have placed a copy in the House Library.

  We are keeping the commission's work programme under review.

  Birmingham City Council
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet considered Birmingham city council's response to the notice served on the authority on 24 April under section 19(A) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend has given careful consideration to the response which Birmingham city
  419
  council has made to the notice served on the authority on 24 April 1993, and has today given the authority a direction under section 19B of the 1980 Act. The effect of the direction is that the council is required to retender in stages 12 housing repair contracts currently carried out by its own direct labour organisation. If the council wishes to carry out this work after 1 October 1994 then it needs to satisfy my right hon. Friend at each stage that it has fulfilled the competition requirements as laid down in the legislation.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to allow new development in rural mid-Kent as a result of the channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Curry
  Existing strategic planning policy for Kent seeks to restrict the development of fresh land in the countryside and to give protection to areas of outstanding natural beauty. I fully endorse that policy. Much of the rural area between Maidstone and the Medway towns forms part of the Kent downs area of outstanding natural beauty; elsewhere other conservation policies apply. The current third review of the Kent structure plan specifically recognises the importance of maintaining the separation of the built-up areas of Maidstone and the Medway towns by proposing the designation of a strategic gap, within which large scale development will be restricted. The draft regional planning guidance for the south east, published on 24 March, anticipates growth associated with the rail link being focused in Ashford, and east Kent, and especially in the east Thames corridor.

  Fire Services, Merseyside
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Baldry
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: We have received from the Merseyside Fire and Civil Defence Authority a copy of its resolution commenting on the report of Her Majesty's inspector of fire services and on the authority's finances. We are carefully considering the authority's comments, but we remain satisfied that its 1993–94 standard spending assessment, calculated in accordance with the Local Government Finance Report (England) 1993–94 approved by the House on 3 February 1993, is fair and reasonable.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to bring forward from 1 August each year the deadline for spending returns from local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: We have no plans to change the 1 August deadline for the return of data relating to revenue and capital outturn expenditure.
  420

TRANSPORT

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the terms and conditions of employment, including basis of remuneration and hours of work of the chairman-designate of Railtrack, the Rail Franchising Director-designate and the Rail Regulator-designate.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend has appointed Mr. Robert Horton as a part-time member of the British Railways board and as chairman-designate of Railtrack, under the general terms and conditions applying to BR board part-time members. His time commitment is, on average three days a week and his salary is £120,000 per annum.

  Mr. Swift and Mr. Salmon are part-time special advisers to my right hon. Friend. Their terms are those of civil service appointments and their remuneration, in accordance with the conventions, is a matter of confidence between them and the Department. My right hon. Friend has announced his intention, subject to the Railways Bill passing through Parliament to Royal Assent, to appoint them to the posts respectively of rail regulator and director of passenger rail franchising. In that event the level of their salaries will be in the public domain.

  Road Closures, City of London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he had with the City of London corporation on the closure of roads on security grounds; and what discussions were held with London regional Transport regarding the impact of road closures on public transport.

  Mr. Norris
  The City authorities consulted the Department informally about the experimental scheme before they announced it. We understand they also gave advanced warning of the road closures to London Buses Ltd.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work is being undertaken by either his Department or Union Railways with a view to the construction of a tunnel between Stratford and St. Pancras or King's Cross, as part of the channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Freeman
  Union Railways is undertaking substantial development work for both of the alternative routes shown in its March 1993 report, including possible options for both routes, in association with its study of the St. Pancras and King's Cross terminus options.

  River Avon (Navigation)
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the statute or statutes under which there is a right of navigation of the River Avon in Bristol for any vessel which has paid harbour duties.

  Mr. Norris
  In general, there is a public right of navigation on tidal rivers. Section 33 of the Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847, relating to free access for the public to harbour, dock and pier on payment of
  421
  rates, is applied to shipping using the Port of Bristol by the relevant special Acts and subsequent orders relating to the port.

  British Rail (Speed Restrictions)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has regarding track mileage on which British Rail has introduced temporary speed restrictions due to lack of funds for maintenance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Detailed information of this nature is not held by the Department.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to establish the scope for a joint venture with the private sector to renew the infrastructure of the west coast main line.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government today appointed Hambros Bank Ltd. to advise on the scope for such a joint venture. The study marks a new departure in our efforts to involve private finance in railway projects. Up to now the Government have invited the private sector to come forward with proposals which have then been considered on their merits. With this study the Department is taking the initiative. Hambros has been given a remit to develop an outline proposal or proposals which will be attractive to the private sector and fall within the Government's published guidelines for joint ventures. These mean that control of the venture will rest with the private sector who will also be expected to take on genuine risk in return for an appropriate share of revenues. Consortia will be invited to bid for the role of joint venture partner on these terms.

  The Government are determined to pave the way for private sector funding on railway projects. Equipment on the west coast main line is reaching the end of its economic life. We are hopeful that private sector funding will enable us to bring forward modernisation of one of the premier railway routes in the country.

  Maintenance Staff
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Transport what were the average hours worked per week by British Railways Board track and signal maintenance staff during the latest period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Freeman
  During the week ending 3 July 1993 track maintenance staff, excluding those who were absent through sickness or other reason for all or part of the week, worked an average of 52·1 hours. Signalling and telecommunications maintenance staff, during the week ended 24 April 1993, excluding those who were absent through sickness or other reason for all or part of the week, worked an average of 47·4 hours.

  Search and Rescue
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects local coastal search and rescue committees to convene their first meetings.

  Mr. Norris
  In the autumn.
  422

  Shipping Standards
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is considering any plans to adopt standards for shipping in the United Kingdom; and what account he is taking of whether such standards are compatible with the framework set by the International. Maritime Organisation.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: Safety standards for shipping are under continuous review, particularly at the International Maritime Organisation. The standards applying to United Kingdom ships are based upon those developed internationally unless there is just cause to do otherwise, such as the initiative being taken with our European neighbours to establish adequate survivability standards for roll-on-roll-off passenger ferries built before 1990.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Synthesis Evaluation Study
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the full evaluation report for each of the projects on which the Overseas Development Administration's ATP synthesis evaluation study, EV490 of November 1991, was based.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The ATP synthesis study was based primarily on three evaluation studies conducted as a series during 1990 and summarised in appendices B, C and D of that report. Copies of those studies have now been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Evaluation material on three projects in Botswana, Bangladesh and Burma were included in the "Power Synthesis Report" which is already in the Libraries of the House. A further study of scattered diesels, in Indonesia was undertaken jointly with the World bank which, in line with its usual practice, has not agreed to its release. The fifth report—"locom Telephone Cable Project in India"—contains comercially-sensitive material and has not been released.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list United Kingdom bilateral development assistance to Indonesia for the last five years including projects and their nature, value, location and the names of United Kingdom companies involved.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Commitments of United Kingdom bilateral assistance to Indonesia for the period from 1 April 1988 to date have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  International Finance Corporation
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of British companies that have secured contracts for International Finance Corporation-funded projects over the last five years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  International Finance Corporation—IFC—loans go directly to private sector companies in
  423
  developing countries. It is these companies that are responsible for awarding contracts to suppliers of goods and services. The IFC is not party to these contracts so is not able therefore to give details of contract awards for any individual country.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will supply the details of dividends the United Kingdom has received from International Finance Corporation investments since the end of the financial year 1991.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Member Governments of the International Finance Corporation do not receive dividends from the corporation's investments. Earnings are wholly retained and recycled for new activity.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Mr. Charilaos Costa
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Attorney-General when Mr. Charilaos Costa left the United Kingdom; what request has been made for his extradition; and if he will make a statement.

  The Solicitor-General
  Mr. Charilaos Costa left the United Kingdom in March 1991 and went to the Republic of Cyprus. No application has been made for his extradition because Mr. Costa is a Greek Cypriot and the Republic of Cyprus will not extradite its own nationals.

  Mr. Costa left the jurisdiction before he could be charged. However, three warrants exist for his arrest if he were to return.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Attorney-General when he expects to lay before Parliament and to publish the annual report of the Crown Prosecution Service for the year 1992–93.

  The Attorney-General
  The annual report for the Crown prosecution service for 1992–93 was laid before Parliament at 11 am today and then published. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Illegal Immigrants
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what authority will carry out the checks proposed under article 3 of the recommendation of the Ministers responsible for immigration at their meeting in Copenhagen on 1 and 2 June on checks and expulsions of third-country nationals residing or working without authorisation; what computer facilities will be provided to the authority; what are the cost implications of such checks and such computer facilities; and if he will place a copy of the guidelines to be issued to the authority in the Library;

  (2) what authority (a) was responsible for and (b) carried out the drafting of the recommendation of the Ministers responsible for immigration at their meeting in Copenhagen on 1 and 2 June on checks and expulsions of third-country nationals residing or working without authorisation;
  424
  (3) what plans Ministers responsible for immigration in the member states of the European Community have to harmonise their rules relating to the interpretation of public policy and national security as grounds for expulsion;

  (4) what abuse is intended to be addressed by article 4, indent 3 of the recommendation of the Ministers responsible for immigration at their meeting in Copenhagen on 1 and 2 June on checks and expulsions of third-country nationals residing or working without authorisation;

  (5) what steps the Government plan to take to implement article 2 of the recommendation of the Ministers responsible for immigration at their meeting in Copenhagen on 1 and 2 June on checks and expulsions of third-country nationals residing or working without authorisation;

  (6) what consideration has been given to the cost implications of taking measures to implement article 1 of the recommendation of the Ministers responsible for immigration at their meeting in Copenhagen on 1 and 2 June on checks and expulsions of third-country nationals residing or working without authorisation;

  (7) if he will make a statement on the effect of the recommendation of the Ministers responsible for immigration at their meeting in Copenhagen on 1 and 2 June on checks and expulsions of third-country nationals residing or working without authorisation, on the current pattern of checks on persons admitted to be reunited with their families;

  (8) what measures have been taken to implement article 1 of the recommendation of the Ministers responsible for immigration at their meeting in Copenhagen on 1 and 2 June on checks and expulsions of third-country nationals residing or working without authorisation;

  (9) what measures the Government plan to take or continue to take to ensure compliance with article 4 of the recommendation of the Ministers responsible for immigration at their meeting in Copenhagen on 1 and 2 June on checks and expulsions of third-country nationals residing or working without authorisation.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The recommendation concerning checks on and expulsion of third-country nationals residing or working without authorisation, which was approved by EC Immigration Ministers at their meeting in Copenhagen on 1 June 1993, seeks to ensure that effective procedures are in place to prevent people from entering or remaining unlawfully in member states, or from working there without authority; and to remove those found to have done so unless there are compelling reasons for letting them remain. It was prepared in the ad hoc group on immigration and its sub group on expulsion, and builds on a recommendation of expulsion practices which was endorsed by EC Immigration Ministers at their meeting in London on 30 November 1992.

  The recommendation identifies the circumstances in which it may be appropriate to make checks, but does not have binding legal effect. It specifically states:
  "checks and controls on the residence and employment of third country nationals shall be decided upon and carried out by those authorities which are empowered to do so under national legislation".

  The recommendation is broadly consistent with existing United Kingdom law and practice and no changes

  425
  are currently planned as a result of the recommendation, which does not therefore have any immediate cost implications for the United Kingdom.

  There are no plans for work to harmonise the interpretation of public policy and national security in this context. The main abuse at which the third indent of paragraph 4 of the recommendation is directed is marriages of convenience.

  Anti-abortionists
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concering(a) the entry into the United Kingdom of overseas citizens concerned with disrupting access to abortion clinics and (b) the particular policing implications of maintaining undisturbed access to such clinics.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Representations on both matters have been received from some 30 Members of Parliament and a smaller number of private organisations and individuals. My right hon. and learned Friend may direct exclusion if a person's presence would not be conducive to the public good. Enforcement of the Public Order Act 1986 as it relates to behaviour which may cause harassment or fear of violence is the responsibility of chief officers of police.

  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with police forces about the steps taken to ensure that women are not prevented from seeking legal abortions, and that clinic staff are not intimidated.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mrs. Jackson) on 9 July 1993 at column 296.

  Tobacco (Illegal Importation)
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been relating to the illegal sale of duty-paid tobacco products illegally imported from other states in the European Community and connected offences; what was the outcome of such prosecutions; and what was the level of penalty imposed.

  Mr. Maclean
  Court proceedings data for 1993 will not be available centrally until the autumn of 1995. However Her Majesty's Customs and Excise have advised that there were 275 tobacco offences detected under section 170 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 within the period January to May 1993.

  Police (Expenditure)
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, in real terms and as a proportion of gross domestic product, the expenditure on police forces in England and Wales for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information is in the following table:426

  Total expenditure on the police

  Year

  Real terms £ million at 1991–92 prices

  Proportion of GDP Per cent.

  1978–79

  3,099

  0·66

  1979–80

  3,426

  0·71

  1980–81

  3,455

  0·74

  1981–82

  3,810

  0·82

  1982–83

  3,932

  0·83

  1983–84

  4,070

  0·83

  1984–85

  4,452

  0·89

  1985–86

  4,172

  0·80

  1986–87

  4,346

  0·80

  1987–88

  4,542

  0·79

  1988–89

  4,690

  0·79

  1989–90

  4,986

  0·82

  1990–91

  5,129

  0·87

  1991–92

  5,408

  0·93

  1992–93

  5,664

  10·98

  1 Estimate.

  Overseas Visitors
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many Jamaican citizens were initially refused leave to enter the United Kingdom as not being genuine visitors in 1987 and in each subsequent calendar year to date;

  (2) how many Jamaican citizens were initially refused leave to enter the United Kingdom as not being genuine visitors between January and June, inclusive, in 1993 and in the same period of 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information is in the table.

  Jamaican citizens refused leave to enter, and removed from, the United Kingdom

  Main reason for refusal

  Not a genuine visitor1

  Other reasons2

  1987

  212

  57

  1988

  324

  100

  1989

  692

  111

  1990

  492

  88

  1991

  338

  54

  1992

  344

  65

  1991 January to June

  175

  29

  1992 January to June

  174

  24

  1993 January to March3

  96

  18

  1 Persons refused under paragraph 22 of the immigration rules.

  2 Some may have sought entry as a visitor but been refused mainly for a reason other than not being a genuine visitor.

  3 Data for April to June 1993 are not yet available.

  Failed Prosecutions
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the oral answer of the Attorney-General to the hon. Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson) of 10 November 1992,Official Report, columns 746–47, in how many cases ex-gratia payments have been made by the Government to people who claim to have suffered losses as a result of a prosecution which subsequently failed or was withdrawn.

  Mr. Maclean
  None, in the particular categories specified by the hon. Member.
  427

  Prisoners (Suicide)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of installation of horizontal bars in prisons on the likelihood of prisoners attempting suicide by hanging.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 12 July 1993

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about what assessment had been made of the suicide risk posed by horizontal bars in prison design.

  It is the responsibility of prison governors to keep accommodation under review. Where unsafe features are identified consideration will be given to remedial measures, taking into account the resources available for refurbishment and minor works programmes and other priorities. We also have to balance the need to minimise the risk of suicide as far as we reasonably can against the importance of preserving a decent and humane living environment for prisoners.

  Design standards for new prisons are set out in the Prison Design Briefing System (PDBS). PDBS makes provision for vertical bars in prisoner's living accommodation. For health care centres and segregation units at PDBS specifies additional anti-suicide features.

  PDBS standards are kept under review in the light of new research and operation experience, including analysis of all prison suicides. A new anti-suicide cell window design is being tested which aims to make it even more difficult for prisoners to attach ligatures to any part of the window or bars.

  We are not aware of any recent case in which a prisoner has been able to commit suicide by attaching a ligature to horizontal bars. If, however, you have any specific concerns about the use of horizontal bars in a particular establishment I should be grateful if you would draw them to my attention and I will arrange for the matter to be investigated.

  Mark Jarvis
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the downgrading from category A to C and the subsequent home leave granted to Mark Jarvis, recently sentenced for manslaughter and originally in Winson Green prison.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 12 July 1993.

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Mark Jarvis's security category and his home leave.

  When Mr. Jarvis was convicted of rape, armed robbery and abduction of a child in 1985 and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, consideration was given to placing him in category A; this is reserved for those prisoners whose escape would be highly dangerous to the public, police or the security of the state. While Mr. Jarvis was not regarded as presenting such a threat, he was at that stage clearly one for whom escape should be made very difficult and he was classed as a category B prisoner. On reaching 21 he was reclassified as an adult and in view of the gradual improvement in his behaviour and the signs of his maturity he was downgraded to category C. This category is for prisoners who, while they cannot be trusted in open conditions, are judged to have neither the resources nor will to make a determined escape hid.
  428
  Shortly after this his behaviour deteriorated and he was upgraded to category B and moved to a more secure prison. In 1990 his behaviour improved to the point at which it was considered that he should be again downgraded to category C and he remained in that category until he was charged with murder in September last year. He was upgraded to category B and, following his conviction for manslaughter he was transferred to Long Lartin prison.

  In May 1992 Mr. Jarvis became eligible for home leave and he applied to stay with his sister and her family. Home leave is designed to help prisoners adjust to life outside prison and should be restricted to those who pose no risk to the community and whose behaviour in prison has been such as to earn this privilege. In Mr. Jarvis's case, his earlier poor record and the seriousness of his offences would be factors against home leave being granted, but reports on his behaviour in Birmingham were excellent and were considered as strong factors in favour of his application. It was also taken into account that he was nearing the end of a long sentence and that his return to the community was imminent. While bearing all this in mind the home leave board considered that it was still too early to grant home leave and the decision was deferred for further reports. These reinforced the view that he was ready for temporary release and that the address at which he intended to stay was suitable.

  Mr. Jarvis was released on licence on 14 August last year for four days but failed to return to prison at the end of his home leave. The police were notified that he was unlawfully at large. In the early hours of 2 September, a taxi driver was stabbed to death and Mr. Jarvis was later arrested and charged with murder. He was returned to Birmingham prison on 22 September and an inquiry was conducted into the granting of home leave. Two governors reviewed the papers and concluded that the decision to grant home leave was not unreasonable. Subsequently that decision has been reviewed by the area manager and he has reached the same view.

  Clearly, the consequences of the decision to grant home leave to Mr. Jarvis were deeply regrettable and tragic; our sympathy is very much with Mr. Ashiq Hussain's family and friends. The papers on this case have been reported to a Working Party whose task is to review the operation of home leave. With the benefit of hindsight, it may well be that too much emphasis was put on Mr. Jarvis's behaviour in prison and too little on his poor record outside. Under new instructions issued to Governors in October last year, their need to assess the risk in releasing prisoners is reinforced by a more structured approach. Greater emphasis is placed on circumstances outside prison. Had Mr. Jarvis's application been considered after these instructions were issued, it is probable that it would not have been granted.

  Mr. Jarvis was tried for murder at Birmingham Crown Court and was convicted of manslaughter on I July; he was sentenced to five years imprisonment the following day.

  Unsound Convictions
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens convicted of murder and imprisoned have been released on appeal or review as their convictions have been judged unsafe and unsound in each calendar year from 1985.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 8 July 1993]: The information readily available centrally is in the table.

  Appeals against conviction only or conviction and sentence for murder or life imprisonment, heard by the Court of, Appeal (Criminal Division).

  England and Wales

  Number of persons

  Year

  Appeals

  Conviction quashed1

  Retrial ordered

  Murder2

  1990

  32

  2

  —

  1991

  32

  10

  1

  Life imprisonment

  1985

  16

  3

  —

  1986

  15

  1

  2

  429

  Year

  Appeals

  Conviction quashed1

  Retrial ordered

  1987

  14

  3

  —

  1988

  20

  3

  1

  1989

  30

  7

  1

  1990

  34

  2

  —

  1991

  39

  11

  1

  1 Excludes case where the conviction was quashed on some counts but confirmed on others, or a conviction for a lesser offence was substituted.

  2 Information for early years is not available.

  Sunday Trading
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish his plans to reform Sunday trading law in England and Wales.

  Mr. Howard
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 July 1993 c. 207]: I have placed in the Library a copy of a draft Bill together with a covering text explaining the models for reform. I hope this will provide hon. Members with an opportunity to consider carefully the options for reform well in advance of being required to choose between them. We aim to introduce the Bill early next Session.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place on breaches of the Sunday trading laws over the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [pursuant to his reply, 24 June 1993, c. 253]: The number of prosecutions brought in 1991 was in fact 388, not 522 as I previously stated, of which 86 were brought to successful conclusions. I apologise for any difficulty which this mistake may have caused.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Charters
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to make a further statement on new charters.

  Mr. David Davis
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 28 June 1993 at column 654. I have nothing further to add to this statement at this time, but will of course keep him and the House informed of any new charters.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  PA Management Consultants
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 16 June,Official Report, columns 605–6, if he will place in the Library the reports by PA Management Consultants on (a) United States biotechnology, (b) the feasibility study—"Factory of the Future", (c) the update of the report on manufacturing into the 1990s, (d) emerging generic technologies, (e) the future of Warren Spring Laboratory and (f) the Warren Spring investigation.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is not my intention to publish all of the reports in question. The reports which I have arranged to 430
  be placed in the Library are (a) United States biotechnology and (c) the update on the report on manufacturing into the 1990's which is due for publication in July. Work has only recently begun on (b) the feasibility study—Factory of the Future. The form of the report to be published on (d) emerging generic technologies, has yet to be decided although a related study "Research Foresight and the Exploitation of the Science Base" published in March 1993 is available from HMSO. With regard to the studies on the Warren Spring Laboratory a copy of the report by PA consultancy has been placed in the Library.

  Engineering Companies
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance his Department provides to British engineering companies to sell their products abroad.

  Mr. Needham
  My Department, jointly with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, provides a wide range of high quality advice and support to exporters which is available to all sectors of United Kingdom industry.

  European Council
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the European Council meeting on 2 July; and what progress was made at that meeting with the proposal to accord to Merseyside objective 1 status.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kincardine and Deeside (Mr. Kynoch) on 6 July at columns 105–6.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had with his Japanese counterpart on preparations being undertaken in Japan for the receipt of(a) low-level, (b) intermediate level and (c) high-level radioactive waste to be returned after reprocessing at Sellafield.

  Mr. Eggar
  In the first instance, these are matters for British Nuclear Fuels plc and its customers in line with the contracts between them. These arrangements are supported by the existing intergovernmental letters between the United Kingdom and Japan. Since 1976, BNFL's contracts for the reprocessing of overseas spent fuel have contained options for the return of wastes. The Government intend that these options will be exercised and wastes returned.

  THORP
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department was represented at the meeting hosted by the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent, on 15 June at 1 Parliament street, on the thermal oxide reprocessing plant.

  Mr. Eggar
  No.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had with the International Atomic Energy Agency in regard to the establishment of an international or regional plutonium store at Sellafield.
  431
  Mr. Eggar
  An informal exchange of views about the possibility of greater international involvement in the storage of plutonium took place in Vienna in December 1992 under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Those present agreed that the meeting had been useful in identifying the issues involved in this area and that further discussions should be held.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what amounts of plutonium are expected to be reprocessed from the final loading of spent fuel extracted from the prototype fast reactor at AEA Technology's Dounreay nuclear establishment when the reactor is shut down in 1994; what information is received from the operator by Her Mjesty's Government in regard to safeguards obligations to(a) EURATOM and (b) the International Atomic Energy Agency covering civil nuclear materials at Dounreay; and if he will make a statement on plutonium storage at Dounreay.

  Mr. Eggar
  The plutonium content of the final fuel loading when the prototype fast reactor is shut down depends on the operational programme. Plutonium arisings from the fast reactor fuel reprocessing plant at Dounreay are transferred to BNFL, Sellafield for long term storage. EURATOM will have a continuing obligation to safegard the plutonium and routine reports of all inventory changes will continue to be sent to the IAEA.

  Dounreay (Decommissioning)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has received from AEA Technology in regard to the planning timetable for the decommissioning of the Dounreay shaft; and if he has received any request for financial assistance in conducting this decommissioning exercise.

  Mr. Eggar
  Disposals of radioactive waste to the Dounreay shaft were authorised by the Scottish Office. There is no requirement or timetable for its decommissioning. Studies are however being carried out by the AEA to determine whether any further work should be carried out on this facility. These studies are funded by the Department under the decommissioning and radioactive waste management support programme.

  Gas
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of (i) the proportion of the firm contract and tariff market over 2,500 therms which is currently supplied by independent shippers, (ii) the total cost savings made by industry as a result of switching to shippers of gas other than British Gas in each of the last three years for which figures are available and (iii) the average reduction in gas bills achieved by these concerns which have switched to a shipper other than British Gas.

  Mr. Eggar
  By the end of 1992 OFGAS estimates that independent shippers had captured around 20 per cent. of the traditional contract market—above 25,000 therms.

  The Department does not collect price information from independent shippers. However, the latest annual report of the Gas Consumers Council suggests that gas costs to all but the largest consumers have been falling, particularly since the opening to competition of the
  432
  2,500–25,000 therm bracket last autumn. The latest estimate in July 1993 suggests a reduction of 10 per cent. in price to approximately 13 per cent. of the market in this bracket.

  Catering Ware Exports
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to bring about a reduction of catering ware duty of 35 per cent. on goods exported to the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  In the current GATT Uruguay round market access negotiations, the Government continue to press, through the European Commission which negotiates on behalf of the European Community, for a substantial reduction in the United States 35 per cent. duty on catering ware. Good progress was made in talks in Tokyo on 6 July, at which the EC, United States, Japan and Canada produced an agreed report containing elements of a deal on market access including the objective of reaching 50 per cent. reductions in tariff rates of 15 per cent. and above, subject to agreed exceptions and effective market opening by other participants.

  Textiles and Clothing
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will continue to press for the reduction of United States tariff peaks on textiles and clothing in the GATT Uruguay round; and if he will make a statement on progress made by Her Majesty's Government in the negotiations.

  Mr. Needham
  In the current GATT Uruguay round market access negotiations, the Government continue to press, through the European Commission which negotiates on behalf of the European Community, for substantial reductions in peak United States textile and clothing tariffs. Good progress was made in talks in Tokyo on 6 July, at which the EC, United States, Japan and Canada produced an agreed report containing elements of a deal on market access including the objective of reaching 50 per cent. reductions in tariff rates of 15 per cent. and above, subject to agreed exceptions and effective market opening by other participants.

  Post Office
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Post Office's plans for its present site at King Edward street, EC1; and what are the current terms of their occupancy.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I am told by the Post Office that the King Edward building site currently houses inland sorting; deliveries for EC 1–4 postal districts; international sorting; a counter and callers' office. The Post Office has plans to move inland sorting to the Mount Pleasant sorting office and is also considering proposals for a similar move of delivery work.

  The building is owned by the Post Office on a freehold basis.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list(a) all measures taken by his Department in the last 12 months to prevent nuclear proliferation, (b) the

  433
  number of personnel in his Department working to prevent nuclear proliferation and (c) his Department's total expenditure on control of nuclear proliferation in the last year.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department of Trade and Industry works with other Departments to implement Government policy on nuclear non-proliferation. Over the past 12 months, my officials participated in the European political co-operation working group on nuclear non-proliferation, the nuclear suppliers group and the Zangger committee.

  Grants to British Coal1 and payments under the Redundant Mineworkers Payments Scheme2

  (£ million)

  Financial year

  Deficit and Deficiency Grant

  Social and Restructuring Grant

  RMPS(b)

  Total

  1987–88

  200

  477

  295

  972

  1988–89

  0

  297

  168

  465

  1989–90

  6,153

  1,090

  126

  7,369

  1990–91

  0

  141

  93

  234

  1991–92

  0

  457

  61

  518

  1992–933

  0

  614

  43

  657

  1 Grants to British Coal are at outturn prices, on an accruals basis, taken from British Coal's annual report and accounts.

  2 Redundant mineworkers payments scheme. Figures exclude administration costs.

  3 1992–93 figures provisional.

  In addition to grant aid, the coal industry benefited by about £1 billion a year over the last three years from the financial advantage resulting from the premium over market prices which the electricity generators were paid for their coal supplies from British Coal.

  Foreign Languages
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has about the availability of subsidies to industry for the purpose of staff training in foreign languages or the publication of marketing and promotional material in foreign languages in each EC country.

  . Mr. Needham
  My Department's policy is to increase language awareness through encouraging the learning of languages, the development of language training and to signpost to those offering training, translation and interpreting services. The Government do not subsidise language training or translation costs for business purposes, although we do support a number of language initiatives to provide business with practical solutions.

  Energy Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans), 6 July.Official Report, columns 106–7, what were the voting figures for each decision taken at the European Community's Council of Energy Ministers held on 25 June.

  Mr. Eggar
  No formal votes were taken at the Council of Energy Ministers on 25 June.

  European Community Funding
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the distribution in the United Kingdom for 1993, by each assisted region of (1) each of the Community initiatives under the European structural
  434

  Coal
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the average level of Government subsidy per tonne of deep-mined coal in each year since 1987 for(a) each of the United Kingdom coal fields, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Scotland and (e) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Eggar
  Government grants to the coal industry are not provided on an individual coal field or regional basis. Grant aid made available to the coal industry since 1987 is set out in the table.

  funds, and (2) schemes under objectives 2 and 5(b) of the European structural funds in terms of (a) allocation of grant in ecu and in pound sterling at current exchange rates in total and sub-divided between European regional development fund, European structural fund and other structural funds, (b) the value of grant for approval in ecu and pound sterling at current exchange rates and (c) the amount spent on each programme in 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The structural funds are implemented through multi-annual programmes and in the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Defence Industry (Reduction)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on progress towards obtaining access to EC intervention funds for British warship yards.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I discussed the question with Vice President Van Miert on 8 July. Officials are continuing to progress the case.

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what targets he has set the Laboratory of the Government Chemist for 1993–94.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Laboratory of the Government Chemist's primary target will continue to be to recover its full costs from income for customer work. This is a demanding target: in addition to the fact that the laboratory is now required to operate in an increasingly competitive market, it also expects to reduce its controllable costs by 2 per cent. this year.

  I have also set it the following secondary targets for 1993–94:

  435
  to increase the rate of completion of reports on analysis of/research into samples by the date agreed with customers from 88 per cent. in the first quarter to over 90 per cent. in the last quarter;
  to achieve more than 85 per cent. of contract research milestones within the time scale agreed with the customer;
  to maintain accreditation from the national measurement accreditation service—NAMAS—for the existing categories of work and obtain NAMAS accreditation for at least one further category of work by April 1994; and
  to acquire laboratory-wide accreditation to BS 5750—ISO 9001—by April 1994.

  In addition, I have set the chief executive of the agency the personal target of replying within 10 working days to letters from hon. Members delegated to him for reply.

  Postal Charges
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what revenue is generated by users of the recorded, registered and special delivery services of the Post Office; and if he can estimate the share of this revenue attributable to business use.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I understand from the Post Office that the total revenue generated by its recorded, registered and special delivery services in the financial year to 28 March 1993 was £50 million. The estimated share attributable to business use is in the range of 75 per cent. to 80 per cent.

  Miners (Redundancies)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much redundancy pay has been paid to miners employed by the NCB and British Coal for each of the years beginning in 1979 until the latest available date, giving the number of miners.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 9 July 1993]: Redundancy payments made by the NCB and latterly British Coal are a matter for British Coal. Benefits paid and the number of beneficiaries under the redundant mineworkers payments scheme between 1979–80 and 1992–93 are set out in the table:

  Benefits and number of beneficiaries under the redundant mineworkers payment scheme

  Financial year

  Payments £ million

  Number of new beneficiaries qualifying each year

  1979–80

  15

  1,700

  1980–81

  15

  3,200

  1981–82

  48

  10,500

  1982–83

  80

  8,500

  1983–84

  190

  20,400

  1984–85

  200

  8,050

  1985–86

  563

  35,900

  1986–87

  610

  33,950

  1987–88

  295

  0

  1988–89

  168

  0

  1989–90

  126

  0

  1990–91

  93

  0

  1991–92

  61

  0

  1992–93

  43

  0

  (a) Payment figures in the above table exclude administration costs.

  (b) Includes ex-employees of small mine licensees.

  (c) The Redundant Mineworkers Payments scheme closed to new entrants at the end of 1986–87.
  436
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much redundancy money has been paid out to miners since 1979 in(a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland, giving the number of miners in each case.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 9 July 1993]: Redundancy payments made by the NCB and latterly British Coal are a matter for British Coal. Payments under the redundant mineworkers payment scheme are not readily available on a regional basis.

  Cellphones
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what account is taken of the effect of cellphones on hearing aid wearers when agreeing to license them.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 9 July 1993]: Studies by the Radiocommunications Agency show that the new generation digital mobile telephones may cause interference to hearing aids. The Wireless Telegraphy Act licences for operators of these systems require them to minimise transmitter power and so reduce the potential for interference. In addition my Department is encouraging manufacturers to improve the immunity of hearing aids.

  Konver Programme
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade following the Council of Minister's meeting on 2 July, if he will make a statement on the Government's position regarding the European Community Konver programme for defence-dependent areas.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: The conclusions reached at the Foreign Affairs Council on 2 and 3 July on the regulations on the future of European structural funds, if confirmed by the Council on 19 and 20 July, will enable member states to make available to areas not designated for objective 1, 2 or 5(b) a limited part of the European regional development fund contribution to the Community initiative Konver. The Government intend to make use of this new flexibility in the United Kingdom's 1993 Konver programme.

  The future choice of Community initiatives was not discussed. It will be considered at a future meeting of the Council.

  Public Houses
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what individual exemptions have been given under article 85(3) of the treaty of Rome to Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd; and what notices, as required under article 19(3) of EC Regulation 17/62, have been issued in respect of that company's lease agreements.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: I am advised that no individual exemptions under article 85 of the treaty of Rome have been given to Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd, nor has any notice been issued under article 19(3) of EC Regulation 17/62 in respect of the company's lease arrangements.

  In my answer to the hon. Member on 15 June, Official Report, column 497, I said that the United Kingdom Government did not keep a record of individual exemptions under article 85 of the treaty of Rome and that such information could be obtained about the brewing

  437
  industry only at disproportionate cost. I regret that this information was not wholly accurate as information about EC Commission decisions on competition matters is held centrally by the Office of Fair Trading. However this information does not separately identify decisions constituting exemptions from article 85 of the treaty of Rome, nor does it separately identify decisions made in respect of particular business sectors.

  It would not, therefore, be possible to provide a complete record of exemptions granted in relation to the brewing industry except at disproportionate cost, as stated in the answer I gave to the hon. Member previously. This is also the case for notices under article 19(3) of EC Regulation 17/62 in relation to the brewing industry as a whole.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 35, what sales outlets other than public houses were included in the figures given for on-trade beer sales.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: The figures include on-sales in pubs, restaurants, cafe-bars and pub hotels.

EDUCATION

  Performing Arts
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he will review the impact of local education authority policies on students wishing to study the performing arts.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend has no current plans to hold such a review.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many different levels of funding exist for grant maintained schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  All grants for self-governing schools are calculated under the Education GM Finance Regulations 1993. Different levels of funding are paid under various grant headings depending on the size and circumstances of the school.

  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have had ballots to go grant-maintained so far this year; and how many were successful.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  A total of 409 schools have held parental ballots on self-governing (GM) status so far this year. Three hundred and sixteen of those schools have voted in favour of GM status.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has recently made to, or received from, schools in Hampshire which are seeking, or have obtained, grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We continue to receive a steady flow of inquiries from schools in Hampshire which are interested in applying for self-governing status. We also receive representations from time to time from the 16 Hampshire schools which are already grant-maintained,438
  from the four schools which have been approved to become grant-maintained, and from the nine whose applications for self-governing status are currently under consideration by my right hon. Friend.

  The Department has been running a series of regional conferences to provide basic information on "Going GM". Those attending have included 81 heads and governors from 46 Hampshire schools.

  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals he has to make it easier for parents to obtain grant-maintained status for schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Our present Education Bill will streamline the processes involved in a school becoming grant-maintained. Its provisions include: a shorter timetable for balloting and the publication of proposals; annual consideration of grant-maintained status by governing bodies; extra powers for the Secretary of State to void a ballot if there is interference by third parties; modest payments to governing bodies for costs incurred in acquiring grant-maintained status; and limitations on LEA expenditure aimed at influencing the outcome of ballots.

  Experience suggests that, taken together, these changes will help eliminate many of the difficulties which can be encountered in acquiring grant-maintained status.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on recent changes in teacher training.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Government's teacher training reforms are designed to ensure that all new teachers have the knowledge and skills they need to raise standards in the classroom. My right hon. Friend announced last summer important changes to his requirements for the training of secondary teachers, with more time to be spent in schools, and schools themselves playing a central role in course design and delivery. He is now consulting on similar proposals for the reform of training for primary teachers.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that student teachers spend more time training in the classroom.

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans).

  Community Education
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his policy on the development of community education.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Government's policy is to maintain and develop opportunities for adults to participate in further education, and to raise levels of attainment, within the framework set by the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.
  439

  Comma and Apostrophe
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has plans for greater emphasis in schools to be given to teaching the correct use of the comma and apostrophe.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has recently published proposals for revisions to national curriculum English which give greater emphasis to the teaching of punctuation, including the correct use of the comma and apostrophe.

  Truancy
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of truancy figures he plans to publish in his proposed truancy tables.

  Mr. Forth
  It is for individual schools in the first instance to satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of their returns. The Department has also specified a series of wide-ranging computerised tests which the contractor will apply to each return.

  Dearing Inquiry
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a further statement on the Dearing inquiry into the national curriculum.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend looks forward to receiving Sir Ron Dearing's advice this month, which will lead to streamlined assessment arrangements in 1994. Sir Ron will also advise before the end of this year on the curriculum and assessment framework for future years.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects the report of Sir Ron Dearing on the curriculum to be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend expects to receive initial advice from Sir Ron Dearing later this month on national curriculum assessment arrangements in 1994. Sir Ron Dearing has announced that he will publish his report. Sir Ron Dearing will make further recommendations towards the end of the year on the curriculum and assessment framework more generally.

  People's College, Nottingham
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the capital allocation to the People's college, Nottingham, for the current financial year.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Further Education Funding Council's capital allocation to the college for 1993–94 is £568,000. This includes £250,000 which the college expects to spend on fees and initial site investigations for a major new project.

  Student Funding
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to introduce a more generous system of funding for students in further and higher education.
  440
  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to make the support arrangements more generous than they already are by international standards.

  Eleven plus Examination
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals he has for the reintroduction of the 11-plus examination.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to re-introduce the 11-plus examination. National curriculum tests for 11 year olds in English, mathematics and science will be the subject of a voluntary national pilot in 1994.

  School Leaving Age
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the school leaving age.

  Mr. Forth
  The Education Bill provides for the Secretary of State to specify a single school leaving date each year. This will not affect the ages at which pupils leave school.

  Teachers' Salaries
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the average teacher's salary in England.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The 1992 new earnings survey recorded the average earnings of all school teachers in England and Wales, including head and deputy teachers, as £20,498.

  Nursery Education
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to meet representatives of the National Campaign for Nursery Education to discuss the campaign.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans.

  Key Stage Testing
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the future of testing at key stages of the national curriculum.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has asked Sir Ron Dearing to conduct a review of the national Curriculum and assessment framework. He looks forward to receiving Sir Ron's recommendations on future assessment arrangements before the end of this month.

  Nursery Places
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will give the number of nursery places in each of the last five years for(a) children under three years and (b) from three years to compulsory school age; and what are the equivalent figures for each EC country.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on the number of nursery places is not collected centrally but the numbers of pupils in nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools in England in each of the last five years and for each age group are shown in the table.
  441
  Comparable information on the numbers of nursery pupils in each EC country is not available.

  Table 1

  Pupils maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools in England in January of each year (1988 to 1992)

  Pupils ages at previous 31 August

  Year

  Pupils aged 2

  Pupils aged 3 and41

  1988

  27,310

  257,232

  1989

  25,299

  270,285

  1990

  26,508

  280,466

  1991

  27,763

  290,141

  1992

  27,225

  302,510

  1 Excludes pupils who became 5 years of age by 1 January—ie those of compulsory school age.

  Special Schools
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people are currently resident in special schools; and what is the estimated annual cost.

  Mr. Forth
  The latest figures are for January 1992. A total of 11,762 pupils were then resident in maintained and non-maintained special schools in England. The total of pupils with special needs resident in independent schools is not collected centrally.

  The annual cost of residential placements in special schools is not collected centrally.

  Physics Teachers
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his most recent assessment on the shortage of physics teachers in schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  There is no overall shortage of physics teachers. Provisional figures for January 1993 show only nine physics secondary teacher vacancies reported for maintained and self-governing schools in England. The 1992 secondary school staffing survey found that only 4 per cent. of physics tuition was delivered by teachers without a post-A level qualification in the subject.

PRIME MINISTER

  Serbia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blackpool, North (Mr. Elletson) of 5 July,Official Report, column 15, on actions by the Serbian Government, if he will list (a) the actions taken by that Government which Her Majesty's Government considers to have fulfilled the requirements of the London conference and (b) the ways in which they have failed to co-operate satisfactorily with the international community's peace efforts.

  The Prime Minister
  The Serbian leadership bears a heavy burden of responsibility for the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, and has not met the fundamental requirements contained in the statement of principles of the London conference to end hostilities and the acquisition of territory by force, to engage in serious negotiation with the other parties, to respect the rights and basic needs of civilians, and to meet the obligations of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
  442

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 13 July.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

  World Summit for Children
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the steps taken by his Government to achieve the targets established at the world summit for children.

  The Prime Minister
  The United Kingdom response to the declaration and plan of action agreed at the world summit for children is published as Cm. 1984, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Child Migrants Scheme
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will set up an inquiry into the child migrants scheme.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so. Such schemes date back to the second half of the 19th century and were conducted under duly enacted legislation. They were ended in 1967.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Annunciator Service
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what proposals there are for the modernisation of the House annunciator service.

  Mr. Gary Waller
  The character generation equipment of the annunciator system is to be updated during the summer recess, following the agreement of the Information Committee to a proposal by the Editor of the Official Report. The new system will display the same information as at present when the House is sitting. Before 1 pm on sitting Mondays to Thursdays, the screens will display information on the forthcoming proceedings of the House. The information will be available additionally in teletext form at other times on television sets within the parliamentary estate equipped to receive it.

  There will be a demonstration of the new screen displays on Thursday 22 July in a Committee Room of the House.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Tourism
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will set out the terms of reference for his Department's inquiry into removing unnecessary regulations in the tourism industry.

  Mr. Sproat
  The inquiry will identify first those regulations which place needless and excessive burdens on the tourism industry, and secondly the action required to free business from the harmful effect of those regulations. It will also determine what action is necessary to ensure that the interests of the tourism industry are taken fully into account before regulations are put in place in future.
  443
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what measures are being taken by his Department to ease the burden of regulation on the tourist industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sproat
  I refer to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Coe) on 14 June 1993 at column 619.

  Media Products
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the value earned by the United Kingdom from the export of British media products.

  Mr. Brooke
  Information on exports of media products is not held centrally.

WALES

  Anabolic Steroids
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are being taken in Wales to inform young people of the dangers of anabolic steroids; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There are a number of initiatives, both at a local and national level, within Wales informing young people and others of the dangers of using anabolic steroids.

  In 1990 the Welsh Committee on Drug Misuse identified an increasing problem related to the use of anabolic steroids and initiated action to bring the problem to the attention of practitioners. This resulted in pioneering research and pilot prevention programmes being undertaken in West Glamorgan.

  Most activity is now undertaken through local health and education authorities. In addition the Sports Council for Wales has recently launched an initiative warning about the use of banned drugs in sport, and this includes anabolic steroids. Part of this initiative will be targeted specifically at schools.

  For those individuals who are already involved in steroid misuse, there is advice available on the dangers and on safer practices, including the availability of clean needles and syringes for those who inject their drugs.

  Food Technology
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the National Curriculum Council for Wales recommendation that food technology should be an option rather than mandatory at key stage 3.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I have received the views of the Curriculum Council for Wales on the proposals for a revised technology order which were issued last December. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and I have announced that the timetable for implementation of a revised curriculum in technology should be delayed by a year. This will permit the outcome of the review of the national curriculum and assessment arrangements to be taken into account in the revision of the order. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that there will be further consultations before any changes are made.
  444

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the recent report by the Council for the Protection of Rural Wales entitled, "Wales 2012—the United Kingdom's National Sustainability" report and its role and relevance to Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales' views as set out in its report Wales 2012 will be taken into account, along with others received during the consultation process, in the preparation of the United Kingdom's report to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development.

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

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  As there is no agreed definition of community hospital the information given as follows relates to those hospitals classified as such by the health authorities in question. Other hospitals in the counties have been included to give a complete picture.

  Hospital open

  1980

  1985

  1992

  Clwyd

  Community hospitals

  Catherine Gladstone Maternity

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Chatsworth House

  Yes

  No

  No

  Chirk and District

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Colwyn Bay Maternity

  Yes

  No

  No

  Colwyn Bay Community

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Deeside Community

  No

  No

  Yes

  Denbigh Infirmary

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Dobshill

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Flint Cottage

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Holywell Cottage

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Llangollen

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Lluesty

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Meadowslea

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Mold

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Penley

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Prestatyn Community

  No

  No

  Yes

  Royal Alexandra

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Ruthin

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Trevalyn Manor

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Other hospitals

  Abergele

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Broughton

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Coed Du

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Gwynfa

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  H. M. Stanley

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Llangwyfan

  Yes

  No

  No

  Maelor General

  Yes

  Yes

  1Yes

  Wrexham War Memorial

  Yes

  Yes

  North Wales

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Pool Park

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Ysbyty Glan Clwyd

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Gwynedd

  Community hospitals

  Bronygarth

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Bryn Beryl

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Bryn y Neuadd

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Brynhseiont

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Caernarvon Eye and Cottage

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Cefni

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Conway

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Dollgellau and District

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  445

  Hospital open

  1980

  1985

  1992

  Druid

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Eryri

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Ffestiniog Memorial

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Galltysil

  Yes

  No

  No

  Garth Angharad

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Groesynyd

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Llwyn View

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Madoc Memorial

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Minffordd

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Stanley Sailors

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Tywyn and District

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Valley

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Other hospitals

  Caernarvonshire and Anglesey General

  Yes

  No

  No

  Llandudno General

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  St. David's

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Ysbyty Gwynedd

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  Malignant neoplasm of the female breast (ICD 174)

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Clwyd

  132

  107

  141

  136

  110

  118

  119

  E. Dyfed

  64

  79

  82

  70

  66

  75

  81

  Pembrokeshire

  34

  35

  34

  22

  23

  33

  35

  Gwent

  85

  128

  139

  134

  134

  99

  137

  Gwynedd

  69

  74

  72

  87

  73

  89

  62

  Mid Glamorgan

  163

  133

  149

  150

  129

  118

  136

  Powys

  27

  29

  26

  46

  40

  36

  34

  South Glamorgan

  109

  127

  99

  107

  94

  98

  114

  West Glamorgan

  91

  98

  102

  104

  103

  103

  106

  Malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri (ICD 180)

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Clwyd

  19

  16

  25

  10

  22

  23

  15

  E. Dyfed

  13

  5

  12

  11

  12

  14

  13

  Pembrokeshire

  10

  4

  4

  3

  4

  8

  3

  Gwent

  25

  15

  17

  21

  16

  21

  15

  Gwynedd

  11

  16

  8

  13

  7

  3

  8

  Mid Glamorgan

  24

  28

  25

  22

  24

  27

  24

  Powys

  4

  4

  6

  10

  8

  8

  6

  South Glamorgan

  19

  19

  10

  9

  15

  10

  9

  West Glamorgan

  14

  25

  19

  22

  16

  19

  14

  Source: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  International Classification of Diseases (9th revision).

  Health authority Costs
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the expenditure of the district health authorities in Wales was taken up in administrative costs in the last year for which figures are available; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1985.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In 1991–92 the percentage share of total revenue expenditure that each health authority spends on administration was as follows:

  Expenditure on administration as a percentage of total revenue expenditure

  Health authority

  Per cent.

  Clwyd

  1·6

  East Dyfed

  2·7

  Gwent

  0·9

  Gwynedd

  2·1

  Mid Glamorgan

  1·1

  Pembrokeshire

  1·1

  446
  1 From 14 June 1986 these two hospitals merged to become Ysbyty.

  Breast and Cervical Cancer
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many women died of(a) breast cancer and (b) cervical cancer in each health authority area in Wales in 1992; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1986.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The number of deaths of female residents of each health authority in Wales where the underlying cause was(a) breast cancer and (b) cervical cancer for each year since 1986 are given in the following tables.

  Health authority

  Per cent.

  Powys

  3·4

  South Glamorgan

  3·1

  West Glamorgan

  1·3

  Source: Health authorities annual accounts.

  Notes:

  1. Expenditure on administration is taken to be that covering authority administration and purchasing expenses.

  2. 1991–92 is the latest year for which accounts information is currently available. It is not possible to provide figures for previous years on a consistent basis because of changes to the format of accounts as a consequence of the national health service reforms.

  PGU Engineering
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether assistance has been offered by his Department to PGU Engineering of Letchworth.
  447
  Mr. Redwood
  To comment on the Department's relationship with this, or any other individual company, would be a breach of commercial confidentiality.

  EC Funding
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to ensure that no finance allocated to Wales by the EC Commission will be lost by delays in processing paperwork in his office relating to such grant applications from Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Projects to take up the whole of the resources allocated to the Welsh structural funds programmes for the calendar years 1992 and 1993 have been identified by the relevant monitoring committees, and formal project approvals are now accelerating. I am confident that all the available structural funds grants will be committed to projects by the end of the year.

  Tourism
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that tourism in Wales will continue to be eligible for grant aid under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 that such grants will continue to be administered by the Wales tourist board; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  We have no plans to review current arrangements.

  Disabled People (Planning)
  Mr. leuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement outlining the discussions that have taken place between his Department and the Wales Council for the Disabled concerning the participation of disabled people in planning.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Following discussions last year the Welsh Office funded the Wales Council for the Disabled to undertake a participation in planning project, the purpose being to compare consultation strategies and to develop guidelines on good consultative practice in the county social care planning process. The Wales Council for the Disabled is expected to present a full report on this project in the autumn.

  Development Board for Rural Wales
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total budget of the Development Board for Rural Wales in(a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92 and (c) 1992–93.

  Mr. Redwood
  The DBRW's gross expenditure for these years are as follows:

  £ million

  (a) 1990–91

  19·591

  (b) 1991–92

  221·520

  (c) 1992–931

  225·076

  Gross expenditure includes grant in aid and other payments.

  1 Estimated.

  2 Includes premature redemption of NLF debt.

  448

  Wales Tourist Board
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total budget of the Wales tourist board in 1991–92 and 1992–93; and how much money was allocated to its north Wales office during both years.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The WTB's gross expenditure for 1991–92 and 1992–93 was £12·946 million and £15·287 million respectively. Gross expenditure includes grant in aid and other receipts.

  No funds are directly allocated to the north Wales office.

  Valleys Initiative
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest figures for total expenditure on the valleys initiative for each year between 1988–89 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Redwood
  Total public expenditure for each of the five financial years of the first programme for the valleys (1988–93) was:

  £ million

  1988–89

  139·330

  1989–90

  137·440

  1990–91

  148·810

  1991–92

  171·033

  1992–93

  1176·270

  Total

  1772·883

  Note.—Figures exclude housing programmes.

  1 Estimated outturn based on the 1992–93 provision.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the conclusions of the evaluation of the valleys initiative conducted by Victor Hausner Associates; and when it will be published.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have not yet received the final report of the evaluation study. I expect to publish it in due course.

  Disabled Children
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many claims have been made for severe disablement allowance by pupils(a) in special schools and (b) integrated into mainstream schools in Wales in each year since 1987; and how many claims were successful in each instance.

  Mr. Scott
  I have been asked to reply.

  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Terrorism
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been(a) killed and (b) wounded by terrorist attacks in Northern Ireland in each year since 1969.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The available information is set out in the table.
  449

  Terrorist-related deaths1

  Injuries2

  1969

  6

  765

  1970

  20

  811

  1971

  131

  2,592

  1972

  401

  4,876

  1973

  219

  2,651

  1974

  203

  2,398

  1975

  241

  2,474

  1976

  283

  2,729

  1977

  105

  1,387

  1978

  71

  985

  1979

  112

  875

  1980

  70

  801

  1981

  84

  1,350

  1982

  85

  525

  1983

  66

  510

  1984

  53

  866

  1985

  49

  916

  1986

  55

  1,450

  1987

  84

  1,130

  1988

  87

  1,047

  1989

  58

  959

  1990

  66

  906

  1991

  88

  962

  1992

  75

  1,066

  31993

  31

  310

  1 Figures show all persons killed by terrorist actions and therefore include, for example, people killed in sectarian incidents, those killed while handling explosives and those killed in public order situations. They exclude those killed by the police or armed forces.

  2 Figures show all injuries due to the security situation in Northern Ireland and therefore include, for example, injuries resulting from the actions of the security forces.

  3 to 31 May.

  Fishing Licences
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many concessionary fishing licences have been issued to disabled anglers and anglers with severe mobility problems in Northern Ireland by his Department in each of the last five years; what is the full cost of each licence in each year, and the cost at the concessionary rate; how many similar concessionary licences or permits have been issued by the Fisheries conservancy board and the Foyle fisheries commission in the same years; and what was the full and concessionary cost of such licences or permits.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  Concessionary permits were first introduced in 1992 and 40 were issued at a cost of £25·90 as compared with £41·70 for a general season permit. In 1993, to date, 75 have been issued at a cost of £20·00 as compared with £42·75 for a general season permit. The Fisheries conservancy board and Foyle fisheries commission do not have the statutory authority to issue licences at concessionary rates.

  Fisheries Review
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the names of the persons who are carrying out the review of the Foyle fisheries commission, indicating the nature of the expertise of the persons concerned, when the review began, when the report will be published, and the persons and bodies consulted by the review team.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The management review of the Foyle fisheries commission is being undertaken by a450
  multi-disciplinary team of consultants from the Belfast and Dublin offices of KPMG Management Consulting. The team assigned to the project incorporates a wide range of expertise including business management, financial management, human resource management, corporate finance, strategic marketing, environmental management, pension funding and aquatic science.

  The review commenced in early February 1993 and the report is expected to be finalised in August 1993. As the report will deal largely with a management review it is not envisaged that its text will be released into the public domain. However, should its recommendations lead to changes which would be of public interest, these will be brought to public attention. Those consulted by the review team included the appropriate Departments of Government in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the Foyle fisheries commission, the advisory council for the Foyle area, and representatives of angling, draft net fishing, drift net fishing and shellfishing interests.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Colombia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific infringements of human rights he intends to raise with the President of Colombia during his forthcoming visit.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We expect wide-ranging discussions including human rights. But it would not be right to specify points in advance of President Gaviria's visit.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from, or on behalf of, civic groups and local government in Colombia about the environmental and social impact of BP's exploration in the Cusiana oil field; and what response he has made.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have received no such representations.

  North Korea
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has recently received from his United States counterpart in regard to the United States Administration's current policies towards the military nuclear programme in North Korea.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are in close and frequent contact with the Government of the United States over the problem of North Korea's failure to comply with its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. The United States is actively seeking a lasting solution to the problem by which North Korea would reaffirm permanantly her commitment to the non-proliferation treaty, and abide by her safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Bilateral talks between the Governments of the United States and North Korea are set to resume on 14 July in Geneva.
  451

  Research Projects
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1992,Official Report, column 86, how many research projects in universities have been signed or funded by the Government communication headquarters since that date; which universities were involved; what was the title of each project; and how much each was worth.

  Mr. Hurd
  There have been no further research projects signed or funded by GCHQ since 1 December 1992.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long a person applying for entry clearance for settlement at the British post in(a) Manila, (b) Accra, (c) Lagos, (d) Kingston, (e) Nicosia, (f) Cairo, (g) Bangkok, (h) Rabat and (i) each post in each country of the Indian sub-continent on 31 March or the latest convenient date could expect to wait for (i) interview, (ii) referral of the case to the Home Office and the requested information being received by the post, (iii)

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Islamabad

  3 months

  3 months

  6 months

  9 months

  Karachi

  No queues

  —

  —

  —

  Dhaka (end of May)

  3 months

  7 months

  8 months

  10 months

  New Delhi

  1 day

  4 months

  7 months

  10 months

  Bombay

  1 day

  4 months

  7 months

  9 months

  Madras

  1 day

  7 weeks

  5 weeks

  Nil

  Calcutta

  No queues

  —

  —

  —

  Settlement queues are organised as follows:

  Q1 Persons with a claim to the right of abode, dependent relatives over 70 years, special compassionate cases.

  Q2 All spouses and all children under 18 years.

  Q3 Fiance(e)s and others applying for the first time.

  Q4 Re applicants.

  Visit visa applications are dealt with within 24 hours excect in Islamabad where, due to seasonally high demand, applicants requiring a full interview can expect to wait 5–7 days.

  (ii) If referred to the Home Office, inquiries concerning applications may take from 1–12 months depending on individual circumstances.

  (iii) Decisions after first interview are taken within 24 hours in the majority of cases in Indian Sub Continent posts.

  (iv) Despatch times of explanatory statements are:

  Settlement

  Non-settlement

  Islamabad

  12 weeks

  4 weeks

  Karachi

  Figures not available at this time

  Dhaka

  12 weeks

  4 weeks

  New Delhi

  12 weeks

  4 weeks

  Bombay

  12 weeks

  4 weeks

  Madras

  Figures not available at this time

  Calcutta

  4 weeks

  4 weeks

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the size of the population of Gladovici on 13 March.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None.
  452
  decisions and (iv) an explanatory statement prepared by the post in the event of an appeal against a refusal to be dispatched to the immigration appellate authorities in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As at 31 March the timings required at (i) (ii) and (iv) are set out for posts(a) to (h).

  The information requested at (iii) is not available. Times vary according to the circumstances of individual cases. Many decisions are made on the day of interview.

  Post

  (i)

  (ii)

  (iv)

  Manila

  4 weeks

  2–3 months

  1–3 months

  Accra

  4 days

  2 months

  3 months

  Lagos

  2 days

  4 months

  3 months

  Kingston

  6 weeks

  2–3 months

  1 week

  Nicosia

  1 day

  6 weeks

  1 month

  Cairo

  1 day

  5 days

  2 months

  Bangkok

  6 weeks

  2–3 months

  3 months

  Rabat

  Visa operation centralised in Casablanca

  from 1 March 1993

  (i) As at 31 March the timings required for each post in each country of the Indian Sub-Continent for settlement interviews (in months) were:

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he has received from the United Nations on the financial viability of the placing of monitors along the border between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina; if it remains Her Majesty's Government's policy to support the placing of these monitors; why no action has been taken to place them since the United Nations Security Council resolution on 16 November 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Nations estimate that the cost of United Nations observation, reporting, searching and—if necessary—denying access to traffic crossing the borders of Bosnia-Herzegovina would be $69 million for the first six months.

  The President of the Security Council wrote to the Secretary General on 7 July requesting him to contact member states to establish whether they will make available the required personnel.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 February 1992 to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Bellingham),Official Report, column 185, what progress the Croatian Government have made in fulfilling their obligations to minority rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Croatia has made some progress in its approach to minorities, although we consider that its performance should continue to be closely monitored. We remain concerned that efforts to resolve the dispute in the
  453
  United Nations protected areas and implement the Vance plan for Croatia are blocked, and we urge the parties to return to negotiations.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the text of the United Nations personnel report into the bombing of Gladovici on 13 March at 16:15 hours GMT; when that report was received by Her Majesty's Government; what representations were made to Her Majesty's Government by foreign Governments regarding this incident, the Secretary General of the United Nations or the President of the Security Council; and on what day they were received.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The only document we have seen from the United Nations about the bombing of Gladovici was UN note verbale s-24900-Add 27 of 16 March, a copy of which was placed, at the request of the hon. Member, in the House of Commons Library on 23 June 1993. We received no representations on this incident from foreign governments, or from the United Nations. The Bosnian Serb leader, Dr. Karadzic, wrote to the Prime Minister on 31 March about several matters including enforcement of the no-fly zone.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 19 February 1992 to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Bellingham)Official Report, column 18, what changes there have been in Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Croatia since February 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As my right hon. Friend explained to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North-West, (Mr. Bellingham) on 19 February 1992 at column 185, all aspects of our policy towards Croatia are under constant review. We are becoming increasingly concerned about Croatia's failure to co-operate fully in efforts to secure peace in the former Yugoslavia and, as Heads of Government made clear at the Tokyo economic summit on 7 to 9 July, stronger measures cannot be excluded.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence Her Majesty's Government have received indicating Croatian violations of UN Security Council resolution 713; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglass Hogg
  The United Nations sanctions committee is responsible for evaluating and investigating evidence of possible breaches of the arms embargo on the former Yugoslavia. Where necessary, the committee refers cases to the United Nations Security Council. It did so in September 1992 in respect of a possible violation of UN Security Council resolution 713 involving Croatia. The matter is now with the Security Council.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby. (Mr. Wareing), of 2 July,Official Report, column 654, what UN reports he received on the final destination of these aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby, (Mr. Wareing) on 8 July 1993, at column 239. There have been no reports as to the final destination of the aircraft.
  454
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he received from either the Bosnian-Serb authorities or the authorities in Belgrade regarding UNSC no-fly zone enforcement resolutions as a result of the bombing of Gladovici in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Bosnian Serb leader, Dr. Karadzic, wrote to the Prime Minister on 31 March 1993 about several matters including enforcement of the no-fly zone.

  Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if during his visit to Japan for the G7 summit he discussed nuclear testing with his American, French and Russian counterparts.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  This issue was raised briefly in discussion with the United States Secretary of State in Tokyo. It was not discussed there with either the French or the Russian Foreign Minister.

  Entry Clearance Appeals
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many explanatory statements related to entry clearance appeals were awaiting typing at each post in the Indian subcontinent, in Manila, Kingston, Bangkok, Lagos and Accra on the latest available date; how many staff are employed both full time and part time to type statements; and when he expects backlogs to be cleared.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The information requested is given in the following table (as at 31 March):

  (a) Number of explanatory statements awaiting typing.

  (b) Stall whose duties include typing explanatory statements (staff also employed on other typing duties shown in brackets).

  Post

  (a)

  (b)

  Islamabad

  149

  9

  (1)

  Karachi

  Figures not available at this time

  Dhaka

  410

  5

  (3)

  New Delhi

  157

  4

  —

  Bombay

  50

  (9)

  —

  Madras

  Figures not available at this time

  Calcutta

  11

  (1)

  —

  Manila

  37

  2

  —

  Kingston

  0

  1

  —

  Bangkok

  0

  (1)

  —

  Lagos

  10

  2

  (1)

  Accra

  0

  1

  —

  The posts in Islamabad, Dhaka and New Delhi estimate that they should clear the backlog in two to three months after the busy summer period.

  Ukraine
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of Ukraine following the decision on 2 July in the Ukrainian Parliament to claim ownership of all nuclear weapons on Ukrainian territory.
  455
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have noted the statement, which also repeated Ukraine's commitment to a non-nuclear future. We shall continue to work with our allies to bring about Ukraine's earliest possible ratification of START I and accession to the non-proliferation treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state.

  Settlement Queues
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) men, (b) women and (c) children were waiting in each queue at each post in the Indian subcontinent on 31 March or the latest convenient date.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The number of men, women and children waiting in the settlement queues for interviews in the Indian Sub-Continent Posts at 31 March was:

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Islamabad

  Men

  25

  497

  89

  680

  Women

  57

  478

  70

  84

  Children

  0

  193

  0

  0

  Total

  82

  1,933

  159

  764

  Karachi

  Figures not available

  Dhaka

  Breakdown not available

  New Delhi

  Men

  0

  76

  70

  61

  Women

  0

  256

  97

  29

  Children

  0

  35

  2

  10

  TOTAL

  0

  367

  169

  100

  Bombay

  Men

  4

  77

  67

  113

  Women

  26

  302

  91

  37

  Children

  45

  24

  22

  6

  TOTAL

  75

  403

  180

  156

  Madras

  Men

  7

  8

  0

  0

  Women

  2

  15

  3

  0

  Children

  0

  4

  0

  0

  TOTAL

  9

  27

  3

  0

  Calcutta

  No queues in Calcutta

  GRAND TOTAL

  166

  2,756

  514

  1,020

  Queue 1. Persons with a claim to the right of abode. Dependent relatives over 70 years old. Special compassionate cases.

  Queue 2. All spouses and all children over 18 years.

  Queue 3. Finance(è)s and others applying for the first time for settlement.

  Queue 4. Reapplicants.

  There are no queues for visit applications other than in Islamabad, where due to seasonally high demand, applicant requiring a full interview can expect to wait five to seven days.

  Iraq
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received on the reasons for the United Nations' inspection team in Iraq withdrawing from Baghdad on 5 July; and if the matter has been raised in the United Nations Security Council subsequently.
  456
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Nations inspection team withdrew from Iraq on 5 July because of Iraq's refusal to allow installation of surveillance cameras at two missile test stands. The matter has been discussed at informal meetings of the United Nations Security Council ambassadors.

  Canada (Logging)
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make representations to the Government of British Columbia to reverse the decision to make a substantial proportion of the remaining unlogged area of the Clayoquot sound region available for logging.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The recent decision on land use in the Clayoquot sound area of Vancouver island was for the Government of British Columbia to make. The Canadian Government and British Columbia authorities are well aware of public concern in the United Kingdom about logging in the Clayoquot sound region.

  Sudan
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the steps taken by the Government to help secure a peaceful settlement of conflicts in Sudan, and to safeguard human rights.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have consistently urged all the parties to the civil war in Sudan to settle their differences by peaceful means, most recently during the EC Troika mission to Sudan on 18 to 22 June, in which the United Kingdom was represented. We were a prime mover in securing the appointment by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva of a special rapporteur to investigate the human rights situation on a public basis throughout Sudan.

  Departmental Replies
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's current practice regarding replies sent to hon. Members of the House; under what circumstances replies are sent by officials; how it is decided whether a reply concerning constituency cases is sent by a Minister or an official; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Our present practice is for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to reply to letters from right hon. Members and for other Ministers to reply to hon. Members.

  The exception is correspondence on visa and immigration issues dealt with by officials of the migration and visa correspondence unit. They seek to reply to all inquiries within three weeks and achieve this target in 84 per cent. of all cases. The services which the unit offers are explained in a booklet sent to all Members last year. It has been revised and will be reissued this week. The unit replies to 94 per cent. of letters received from hon. Members. Ministers reply in the remaining 6 per cent. of cases.
  457

  Royal Family
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) of 24 June,Official Report, column 240, what items of expenditure were covered by (a) the cost of the Prince and Princess of Wales's visit to Nepal and (b) the cost of the Princess Royal's visit to India.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Items of expenditure paid by the Department have been in the following categories:

  (a) for the Princess of Wales' visit to Nepal—hotel expenses; and miscellaneous (including insurance and reconnaissance visits partly for security purposes).

  (b) for the Princess Royal's visit to India—travel; hotel expenses; official presents and donations; bank, postal, telephone and telegraph charges; and miscellaneous.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who has the power of appointment of(a) the Hong Kong Registrar of Companies, (b) the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, (c) the Inland Revenue Commissioner for Hong Kong, and (d) the Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Legislative Council.

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: The Registrar of Companies and the Commissioner of Inland Revenue are appointed by the Secretary for the civil service. The chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority is appointed by the Financial Secretary. The Financial Secretary is appointed by the Governor.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give(a) the name of the present Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Legislative Council and indicate whether he is an appointed or a directly elected member and (b) the names of the members of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority together with the banks and other financial institutions they are associated with.

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: The present Financial Secretary is Mr. Hamish MacLeod. He is an ex-Officio member of the Legislative Council appointed by the Governor. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is part of the Hong Kong Government. The chief executive is Mr. Joseph Yam. He is not associated with any banks or financial institutions.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Secret Fish Holds
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Spanish vessels, British and Spanish registered, have been found by United Kingdom to have secret fish holds in each year since 1991; and how many have been prosecuted.

  Mr. Jack
  There have been no prosecutions, but legislation is being brought forward shortly to provide for the prosecution of the owners or skippers of vessels over 17 m which fail to carry plans of their rooms. Three vessels, two Spanish-owned but British registered and one Spanish registered, have been found to have secret fish rooms since 1991.
  458

  Fish Conservation
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate has been made of the cost to date of setting up the machinery for the implementation of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1992; and what is(a) the number and location of jobs created, (b) the number of vessels so far registered and (c) the number of appeals initiated.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 July 1993.

  Seals
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food how many reports regarding incidental catches of seals by fishermen the fisheries officers in England and Wales have received to date under the scheme set up to monitor the extent of this interaction.

  Mr. Jack
  There have been no reports of incidental catches of seals under this scheme for England and Wales.

  Pregnant Ewes
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the screening of pregnant lowland ewes to ascertain the number of lambs each is carrying.

  Mr. Jack
  My Department does not run any such screening programme, but screening is available from various commercial organisations for a fee. We understand that those who make use of it find it valuable as a means of determining appropriate feeding regimes for their breeding ewes.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Environmental Initiatives
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what matters in regard to the financing of environmental initiatives were introduced by the United Kingdom at the G7 heads of state economic meeting in Tokyo.

  Mr. Nelson
  The environment, and in particular the follow up UNCED, was one of the issues discussed in Tokyo. The G7 agreed to work to ensure that the global environment facility functions as the financial mechanism to provide funding for the incremental costs of implementing the global environment conventions signed at Rio.

  Government Departments (Expenditure)
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of placing in the House of Commons Library each year for the inspection of hon. Members a microfiche copy of a computer printout of each Government Department's expenditure analysed(a) by account code and (b) by item charged.

  Mr. Portillo
  Information on which to base such costings is not held centrally, and could not be assembled without disproportionate cost. The detailed management of operational accounts is a matter for individual Departments.
  459

EMPLOYMENT

  Unemployment
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the changes made to his Department's definition of unemployment since May 1979, with the dates upon which the changes were made.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 26 October 1992 at column 496.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to encourage better skills training; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government's strategy is to encourage effective investment in skills by employers and individuals, by stimulating a strong market in training, by encouraging standard setting and by offering training to young people and long term unemployed people. Britain's workforce is becoming more skilled. Over 2·5 million more people in the workforce now have a qualification than five years ago.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest available figures for the numbers of people on Government training schemes in North Derbyshire.

  Miss Widdecombe
  As at 18 June 1993 there were 1,070 people participating in training for work and 1,708 people in training on youth training in the area covered by the North Derbyshire training and enterprise council.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated total amount spent by the Government on training since 1979.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The estimated total spend on training—including vocational education and enterprise—in Great Britain since 1979, in cash prices, is £23·8 billion and, at 1992–93 prices, is £31·6 billion.

  Vocational Courses (Allowances)
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the statement of the right hon. Member for Kingston upon Thames (Mr. Lamont), 16 March,Official Report, column 193, if he will list, by training and enterprise council area, how many educational allowances for vocational courses have been granted to the long-term unemployed since 16 March.

  Miss Widdecombe
  None. Education allowances will be paid under the learning for work initiative which starts in mid August in Scotland and in September in England and Wales.

  Gas Appliance Installers
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unqualified gas appliance installers have been prosecuted in the last year that figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  In 1991–92, 93 informations were laid under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1984 and the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 1990. These resulted in 86 convictions.
  460

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the new earnings survey will continue to provide comparable figures for at least five years on those sectors previously covered by wages councils.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 8 July 1993]: The new earnings survey obtains information on the earnings of employees covered by wages councils by asking employers to report the relevant wages councils. This practice will clearly cease when there are no wages councils. The extent to which information on earnings for selected occupations, industries and age groups can be used as a replacement, will be investigated before next April.

SCOTLAND

  Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effect of his proposals for the reform of local government in Scotland on the preservation of the role of the Strathclyde passenger transport executive; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend recognises the important role of Strathclyde passenger transport executive in transport provision. He has taken this into account in the examination of how the functions of local authorities can best be carried out under the various options for local government reform. The Government's proposals wil reflect fully the consideration given to the executive's role.

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

  Mr. Stewart
  The information requested on optical appliances vouchers in Scotland is in the table. The information is for vouchers issued through the general ophthalmic services.

  Optical vouchers and repair/replacement vouchers redeemed in Scotland

  Year

  Number of vouchers redeemed1

  Cost of redeeming vouchers £ million

  1986–87

  2—

  3·718

  1987–88

  350,479

  6·332

  1988–89

  317,645

  6·747

  1989–90

  315,266

  6·990

  1990–91

  337,073

  8·566

  1991–92

  410,935

  10·596

  1992–93

  431,956

  3—

  1 Analysis is made from payments made by health boards in Scotland to ophthalmic medical practitioners (OMPs) and ophthalmic opticians (OOs).

  2 Information on the current collection basis for 1986–87 is not centrally available.

  3 Not yet available.

  461

  Child Care Policy
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish his White Paper on child care policy and law.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State intends to publish a White Paper on child care policy and law in due course.

  Children's Rights
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contribution he has made to the United Kingdom's first report to the United Nations convention on the rights of the child.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Government's first report on the United Nations convention on the rights of the child is due to be submitted in January 1994. The Scottish Office will contribute to the report, ensuring that it reflects the situation in Scotland where that is different from the rest of the United Kingdom.

  Students
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from colleges and universities of further and higher education about the adequacy of student incomes; and what was the substance of those representations.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 9 July 1993]: In the past 18 months or so, my right hon. Friend has received representations about student income from only one educational institution, a university, which argued that students faced financial hardship due to the lack of vacation employment and the withdrawal of entitlement to social security benefits.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent research he has commissioned on(a) the adequacy of student income, (b) the level of student debt and (c) whether students are leaving courses prematurely because of financial need; and what were his findings.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 9 July 1993]: My hon. Friend, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, announced on Wednesday 21 October 1992 the commissioning of a United Kingdom-wide survey of student income and expenditure initiated jointly by the Education Departments. We hope that the results, which should be available later this year, will bring our knowledge of student income and indebtedness up to date.

  There is no evidence to suggest that the proportion of Scottish domiciled award-holding students who leave their courses prematurely is increasing.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what current information he has on(a) the adequacy of student housing, (b) the extent to which students income meets their housing needs and (c) levels of student debt.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 9 July 1993]: Detailed information on student housing and its cost is not held centrally.
  462
  The survey of student income and expenditure announced by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education on 21 October 1992 will provide certain information on housing costs and student debt.

  Refuge Hostels
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will commission research into what happens in the immediate aftermath to those women and children who leave refuge hostels.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 9 July 1993]: Research has recently been completed on domestic violence and the effect on children and families. No further research is planned on the specific issue of women and children who leave refuge hostels.

  Police Arrests (Forms)
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the maximum and minimum number of forms which must be completed by a police officer making an arrest followed by(a) release and (b) detention; and what, on average, is the time taken to complete these formalities.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 9 July 1993]: The minimum number of forms which must be completed by an officer making an arrest is two, rising possibly to 20 in exceptional circumstances. On average, the time taken to complete this process is about 60 minutes. Some police forces are introducing automated systems which will reduce the need to complete successive forms manually.

  Women's Aid
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much grant has been awarded to Scottish Women's Aid in each of the years since it first applied for grant.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 9 July 1993]: The total grants paid from 1978–79 are as follows:

  £

  1978–79

  7,740

  1979–80

  9,433

  1980–81

  13,329

  1981–82

  19,466

  1982–83

  31,395

  1983–84

  38,871

  1984–85

  58,865

  1985–86

  72,141

  1986–87

  84,829

  1987–88

  93,630

  1988–89

  99,860

  1989–90

  106,931

  1990–91

  98,000

  1991–92

  109,911

  1992–93

  121,282

  1993–94

  1115,092

  1 Grant offered.

  Information for the years 1975–76 to 1977–78 is not readily available.
  463

  Racial Harassment
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to criminalise racial harassment and to make racial harassment an aggravation of existing crimes.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: The Government have no plans to introduce a new offence of racial harassment. Aggravating factors such as racial harassment can be taken into account for sentencing purposes.

  Conservation Areas
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the sites in(a) Strathclyde and (b) the rest of Scotland which will be placed on a list of special areas of conservation under the European Community's Directive 92/43/EEC in the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: The Government have not yet proposed any sites for designation as special areas of conservation (SACs) under Directive 92/43/EEC. The country nature conservation agencies and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee are at present undertaking the scientific analysis necessary for the preparation of the United Kingdom's national list from which areas to be designated as SACs will be selected.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sites in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole have been or are to be, designated as special protection areas under the European Community's Directive 70/400/EEC on the conservation of wild birds; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Galbraith) on 16 June 1993.

  Wetlands
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all those wetlands, Ramsar sites, under the European Parliament Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (1971) in(a) Strathclyde and (b) the rest of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: The information requested is set out in the table:

  Site name

  Region

  Bridgend Flats (Islay)

  Strathclyde1

  Cairngorm Lochs

  Grampian and Highland

  Claish Moss

  Highland

  Eilean Na Muice Duibhe (Duich Moss-Islay)

  Strathclyde1

  Fala Flow

  Lothian1

  Feur Lochain (Islay)

  Strathclyde1

  Glac Na Criche (Islay)

  Stralhclydc1

  Gladhouse Reservoir

  Lothian1

  Gruinart Flats (Islay)

  Stralhclyde1

  Hoselaw Loch

  Borders1

  Loch An Duin

  Western Isles

  Loch Druidibeg. Loch A Machair and Loch Stilligar

  Western Isles1

  Locy Eye

  Highland1

  464

  Site name

  Region

  Loch Ken and Dee Marshes

  Dumfries and Galloway1

  Loch Leven

  Tayside

  Loch of Lintrathen

  Tayside1

  Loch Lomond

  Strathclyde and Central

  Loch of Skene

  Grampian1

  Loch Spynie

  Grampian1

  Rannock Moor

  Tayside

  Silver Flowe

  Dumfries and Galloway

  South Tayside Goose Roosts

  Tayside1

  Upper Solway Flats and Marshes

  Dumfries and Galloway1

  1 Also designated as a special protection area under the EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC).

DEFENCE

  Fast Jet Aircraft
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the required(a) vertical and (b) horizontal avoidance distances for camouflaged fast jet aircraft of activities notified under the civil aircraft notification procedure.

  Mr. Hanley
  Civil pilots can if they wish, notify low level aerial activity under the civil aircraft notification procedure specifying the location and horizontal dimensions of the area in which they will be operating, together with the maximum height of their activities. Commercial activity accepted for notification attracts temporary avoidance status, in which case pilots of military fixed wing aircraft flying in excess of 140 knots are required to avoid the specified area laterally or if overflying it to do so at a minimum height of 300 ft above the maximum specified in the notification. Recreational and other aerial activity does not normally attract avoidance status but when details are provided they are passed to military air crew who will take account of such activities in planning their sorties.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 October 1992,Official Report, column 159, if he is yet able to give an analysis of the noise generated by the F-15E aircraft at low level.

  Mr. Hanley
  For technical reasons, the F-15E aircraft involved in the trial last September were unable to achieve all of the planned runs over the test site and firm conclusions could not be drawn from the limited data produced. A further trial which was arranged earlier this year had to be abandoned due to adverse weather conditions but has been re-arranged for later this month.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the nature of the sortie, (b) the recorded height, (c) the recorded speed and (d) the home base of the military jet aircraft that overflew the village of Clayton, south Yorkshire on 30 June at approximately (i) 22:00 hours, (ii) 22:04 hours, (iii) 22:08 hours, (iv) 22:12 hours, (v) 22:15 hours, (vi) 22:19 hours, (vii) 22:23 hours (viii) 22:23 hours, (ix) 22:35 hours; and what notification was given to the pilots of the aircraft of two low-speed non-jet aircraft in the area between approximately 22:20 hours and 22:35 hours.
  465
  Mr. Hanley
  A number of Tornado aircraft from RAF Cottesmore conducted routine low-level training in the area at about the times stated on 30 June. We have no reason to believe any of the military aircraft flew below the permitted height of 1,000 ft. No military non-jet aircraft were booked to low fly in the area at the time, and no notification was received under the civil aircraft notification procedure or by other means of any civil aircraft activity.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the limit on the number of aircraft permitted to operate simultaneously in low-flying area 17 includes any civil aircraft known to be operating in the area at less than 2,000 ft above sea level.

  Mr. Hanley
  The limit placed by the Ministry of Defence on the number of aircraft permitted to fly in low-flying area 17 at any one time applies only to military aircraft flying below 2,000 ft.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given by his Department to the printing of pipeline routes on military low-flying charts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The national air traffic services have set in hand a review of the civil aircraft notification procedure—CANP. The review will include consideration of whether helicopters conducting pipe and power line inspections should be included in the CANP system and of the possibility of printing pipeline routes on military low-flying charts.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capacity the ALFENS system will have to provide warning to military pilots of pipeline and power line aerial survey activity.

  Mr. Hanley
  ALFENS will provide information to military pilots on civil air activity notified under the national air traffic services'—NATS—civil aircraft notification procedure—CANP. Pipe and power line aerial

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Private

  12

  9

  8

  7

  18

  Lance Corporal

  4

  2

  1

  1

  2

  Corporal

  1

  1

  0

  4

  2

  Sergeant

  2

  0

  2

  1

  1

  Staff Sergeant

  2

  2

  0

  1

  0

  Warrant Officer II

  1

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Warrant Officer I

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Subaltern

  1

  3

  2

  0

  0

  Captain

  0

  1

  1

  1

  0

  Major

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Lieutenant Colonel

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Colonel

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Brigadier

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  General

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  All Ranks

  23

  19

  17

  15

  23

  Percentage of all Army exits

  0·10

  0·08

  0·07

  0·08

  0·10

  Air Crash, North Sea
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 October 1992,Official Report, column 159, if he is yet able to give the
  466
  survey activity is excluded from CANP at present but a review is in hand by NATS to consider whether it may be included in future.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list(a) the nature of the sortie, (b) the recorded height, (c) the recorded speed and (d) the home base of the military jet aircraft that overflew the village of Clayton, south Yorkshire on 1 July between the approximate times of 22:04 hours and 22:45 hours;

  (2) if he will list (a) the nature of the sortie, (b) the recorded height, (c) the recorded speed and (d) the home base of the military jet aircraft that overflew the village of Clayton, south Yorkshire on 29 June at approximately (i) 22.01 hours, (ii) 22.09 hours, (iii) 22.17 hours, (iv) 22.20 hours, (v) 22.25 hours, (vi) 22.29 hours and (vii) 22.46 hours.

  Mr. Hanley
  A number of aircraft from RAF Cottesmore were conducting routine low-level training sorties in the area at about the times stated on 29 June and 1 July. We have no reason to believe any of the aircraft flew below the permitted height of 1,000 feet on either of these dates.

  Army Discharges
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by rank and by year for the last five years the number of Army personnel who were discharged under section 69 of the Army Act 1955; and what percentage this represents for discharges by year.

  Mr. Hanley
  No discharges from the Army are effected under the Army Act 1955. Officers hold their commissions at the pleasure of the Sovereign, who may take action if the officer is sentenced to dismissal. Soldiers are discharged under Queen's regulations.

  The table shows the number of discharges and resignations following convictions under section 69 of the Army Act 1955. The annual figures are also expressed as a percentage of the total exits from the regular Army.

  hon. Member a copy of the military aircraft accident summary in respect of the air crash in the North sea on 9 July 1992.

  Mr. Hanley
  The board of inquiry is not expected to be completed for some time. My noble Friend the
  467
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member as soon as a summary of the findings is available.

  Toxic Pollution Syndrome
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel have been monitored or treated for symptoms of combined toxic pollution syndrome following deployment during Operation Granby in 1991; and in which hospitals.

  Mr. Hanley
  The term "combined toxic pollution syndrome" is not recognised in the United Kingdom as a clinical condition. No such figures therefore exist.

  Mine Counter-measure Vessels
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the 50 military tasks ascribed to the United Kingdom forces, and identified in his White Paper, Cm 2270, require a mine counter-measure vessel component; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Of the 50 military tasks identified in the White Paper, Cm 2270, 10 require a mine counter-measure vessel component.

  Cruise Missiles
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the studies for a United Kingdom requirement for land attack cruise missiles for the Royal Navy are to include options for dual-capable systems.

  Mr. Hanley
  No. The scope of the study is restricted to conventional options.

  Nuclear Testing
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will seek assistance from the United States in the development of alternative testing technologies to those of underground nuclear testing.

  Mr. Aitken
  Under the United States-United Kingdom 1958 agreement, we co-operate closely with the United States on a wide range of nuclear matters, including alternative testing technologies.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the non-proliferation benefits arising from President Clinton's extension of the nuclear testing moratorium.

  Mr. Aitken
  President Clinton has made clear that the extension of the United States moratorium on nuclear testing is intended to promote a comprehensive test ban. Our view is that a comprehensive test ban would not in itself prevent a proliferator from producing and deploying a crude nuclear weapon and from obtaining the materials with which to do this. But associated measures for verification and inspection, if sufficiently rigorous and applicable to the states concerned, might constrain potential proliferators.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the development of a new sub-strategic nuclear warhead can be completed(a) without further nuclear tests and (b) without further improvements to alternative and non-nuclear methods of developing nuclear weapons.
  468
  Mr. Aitken
  Yes.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if it is his policy not to conduct any further nuclear tests unless another state does so first;

  (2) what is his policy on seeking an alternative site at which to conduct United Kingdom nuclear tests;

  (3) what is his policy on conducting any further nuclear tests prior to the non-proliferation treaty extension conference in 1995.

  Mr. Aitken
  We have no plans to conduct nuclear tests anywhere other than at the Nevada test site. There is, of course, no possibility of our conducting further tests at Nevada during the United States moratorium on nuclear testing, which President Clinton has recently extended until October 1994, unless another state tests meanwhile. We would need to consider in the light of the circumstances at the time whether to avail ourselves of any further opportunities to conduct nuclear tests.

  Desert Storm Syndrome
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what liaison has taken place with the French authorities relating to Desert Storm syndrome.

  Mr. Hanley
  A request for information on this alleged condition has been made through our Defence attache in Paris to the relevant French authorities. The initial response from the French authorities is that they are unaware of any cases of French service personnel who served in the Gulf exhibiting any unexplained symptoms associated with the alleged condition known as Desert Storm syndrome. Such liaison will continue.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received from(a) service personnel, (b) their families and (c) civilian general practitioners relating to Desert Storm syndrome; and if he will publish those representations he has received from civilian general practitioners relating to Desert Storm syndrome which do not contain confidential information.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department has received one representation from a serving member of the United Kingdom armed forces and four from, or on behalf of, ex-service personnel who served in the Gulf conflict concerning symptoms which they believe might be connected to the alleged Desert Storm syndrome. No such representations have yet been received that have been made by families of United Kingdom service personnel or by civilian general practitioners.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his staff are currently involved in examining information relating to Desert Storm syndrome.

  Mr. Hanley
  Staff in a number of areas in my Department have been involved in examining information on the alleged Desert Storm syndrome. None have been specifically allocated to the task, however, and all are undertaking this work as part of their normal duties.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 July,Official Report, column 203, on what date he began liaising with the United States authorities on the question of Desert Storm syndrome.
  469
  Mr. Hanley
  General liaison on medical matters is maintained continuously but the specific official contact between the Defence medical services and the US authorities on this alleged syndrome took place on 17 June 1993.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has concerning the effect of atmospheric pollution on the health of those personnel involved in Operation Granby.

  Mr. Hanley
  The United Kingdom service personnel whose respiratory function was most at risk during Operation Granby were those Royal Engineers personnel engaged in clear-up operations near the oil fires. Their respiratory function was measured before they left the United Kingdom and at two-weekly intervals during their assignment in Kuwait. No adverse affects were suffered and no change in respiratory function was seen.

  Naval Dockyards
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the job totals he expects for 1995 and 2000 in naval base staff at Rosyth and Devonport.

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

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will explain the cost adjustment figure of £0·9 million for Rosyth in annex A of his consultative document on future arrangements for ship refitting in the royal dockyards.

  Mr. Aitken
  An adjustment was applied to the two estimates provided by Babcock Thorn Ltd. for its Rosyth proposals, which were expressed in January 1993 prices, to uprate them to March 1993 prices. This brought them in line with the estimate provided by Devonport Management Ltd., so that a like-for-like comparison of the proposals could be undertaken.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a breakdown of the £134·3 million figure of capital costs for Rosyth and £120·6 million for Devonport in annex A of his consultative document on future arrangements for ship refitting in the Royal dockyards.

  Mr. Aitken
  The detailed composition of the proposals put forward by the companies are commercially confidential. However, as part of the overall assessment, the MOD's specialist advisers reviewed the Bills of Quantities submitted by the companies in support of their proposals, and we are confident that the proposals are realistic.

  Married Quarters
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence married quarters were empty for the last date for which figures were available; if he will break down the figure by number of bedrooms; and how many had been empty for over one year.

  Mr. Hanley
  As at 31 March 1993, there were 9,166 vacant married quarters. Of these, 2,153 were either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation, 2,493 were already allocated to service 470
  families who were due to move in shortly and 870 were being held for agreed deployment or deployments under study. A total of 1,265 of these married quarters have been vacant for over one year. Information on the number of bedrooms is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence married quarters outside secure perimeters are occupied by(a) civilians who have not served in the forces and (b) ex-service personnel; and what is his policy towards the residence in Ministry of Defence married quarters outside secure perimeters by civilians who have not served in the forces.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is my Department's policy that married quarters should be reserved for use by service personnel and their families. In certain circumstances, however, civilian employees of the Ministry of Defence or service-sponsored organisations may also occupy married quarters under licence. Any married quarters which are surplus to long term requirements are sold wherever possible, but my Department does try to lease any properties to local authorities and housing associations where there is no short service requirement.

  Records of civilian occupants of married quarters are not kept in a form which distinguishes between properties inside or outside secure perimeters and between civilians who have previously served in the forces and those who have not.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the estimated cost of rent forgone for the empty Ministry of Defence married quarters in Stillington street, London SW1 over the past four years; what was the cost of providing(a) caretaking and (b) security in this time; and when he expects the works to be complete.

  Mr. Hanley
  The refurbishment contract for the married quarters in Stillington street is expected to complete in April 1994. The estimated cost of rent foregone in the past four years is £200,000. Details of the cost of providing caretaking and security are not readily available and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the leasing of empty Ministry of Defence married quarters to housing associations; what contact his Department has had with housing associations regarding the management of Ministry of Defence estates; how many empty Ministry of Defence married quarters have been leased to housing associations in the last year; and how many empty Ministry of Defence married quarters he proposes to lease to housing associations this year.

  Mr. Hanley
  Empty married quarters, which are temporarily surplus to requirements but for which there is a long-term service need are, wherever possible, offered for leasing to local authorities. In most cases the local authority will take on the lease, but if it does not wish or is unable to do so, it may nominate a housing association to act in its place. My Department will willingly deal with either organisation.

  Two housing associations have assisted us in developing our plans for the future management of service

  471
  married quarters. No empty properties have been leased to housing associations in the last year, but over 900 properties are currently on lease to local authorities or other organisations. Leases of 87 properties to a housing association and 31 to a local authority are under negotiation. Further properties will be offered for leasing if they become available.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence married quarters are surplus to operational requirements at the last date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Hanley
  As at 31 March 1993, 2,069 service married quarters were surplus to operational requirements. A total of 2,015 of these properties were in the process of being sold.

  Irish Regiments
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many part-time members of the UDR/RIR there were as at 1 June in each year since the UDR was established; and how many recruits joined the regiment each year.

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

  Battlefield Artillery Target Engagement System
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to order further quantities of BATES equipment for the Royal Artillery; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  I am pleased to announce that I have approved the placing of an order worth some £60 million with Marconi Radar and Control Systems for additional production of the battlefield artillery target engagement system, known as BATES, which will allow automated control of artillery up to corps level.

  The further equipment now on order will be delivered up to 1996 and will act as a "force multiplier" for the Army's major artillery systems, MLRS and AS90, and link them to surveillance and targeting systems.

  The award of this contract will safeguard 200 jobs at the Marconi sites at Hillend—Fife, Scotland—where most manufacture will take place, and Frimley in Surrey.
  472

  RAF Support Command
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which local travel-to-work area each RAF base in Support Command lies; and what the latest unemployment figures are for each such travel-to-work area.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library. A list of the relevant travel-to-work areas (TTWAs), and the RAF Support Command stations they cover follows:

  TTWA

  RAF Support Command station

  Aylesbury and Wycombe

  RAF Halton

  Barnstaple and Ilfracombe

  RAF Chivenor

  Bedford

  RAF Cardington

  Cardiff

  RAF St. Athlan

  Chippenham

  RAF Rudloe Manor

  Doncaster

  RAF Finningley

  Flint and Rhyl

  RAF Sealand

  Gloucester

  RAF Innsworth

  RAF Quedgeley

  Guildford and Aldershot

  RAF Oakhanger

  Heathrow

  RAF Headley Court

  RAF Uxbridge

  Hereford and Leominster

  RAF Hereford

  Hitchin and Letchworth

  RAF Henlow

  Holyhead

  RAF Valley

  Huntingdon and St. Neots

  RAF Brampton

  Lincoln

  RAF Digby

  RAF Scampton

  RAF Swinderby

  Melton Mowbray

  RAF North Lufienham

  Norwich

  RAF Swanton Morley

  Nottingham

  RAF Newton

  Newark

  RAF Syerston

  Newbury

  RAF Thatcham

  Richmondshire

  RAF Carlisle

  Salisbury

  RAF Chilmark

  Shrewsbury

  RAF Shawbury

  Sleaford

  RAF College Cranwell

  Slough

  RAF Bracknell

  Stafford

  RAF Stafford

  Watford and Luton

  RAF Stanbridge

  Weston-super-Mare

  RAF Locking

  Wolverhampton

  RAF Cosford

  York

  RAF Church Fenton

  RAF Linton-on-Ouse

  473

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many men with wives entitled to category B retirement pensions deferred their retirement in each year since 1988; what was the average amount of their basic retirement pension without the inclusion of increments; and what was the average amount after the addition of such increments;

  (2) how many married women entitled to category B retirement pensions have not received increments to those pensions although their husbands have deferred retirement and earned increments to their own retirement pensions; what are their estimated numbers in each year since 1988; and what is the average amount of additional pension received in those years by their husbands as a consequence of deferring retirement.

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which, following the decision of the Social Security Commissioner in 1992 (CP/64/1988), married women entitled to a category B retirement pension will be entitled to increments to that pension when their husbands defer retirement beyond their 65th birthday.

  Project title

  Contractor

  Project cost (£)

  Start date

  Due end date

  Contributions Agency Customer Satisfaction Survey 1993

  British Market Research Bureau International

  151,000

  June 1993

  March 1994

  Incomes and Living Standards of the Elderly in a Comparative Perspective

  Social Policy Research Unit University of York

  79,000

  November 1992

  December 1993

  Benefit Agency National Customer Survey 1992

  Public Attitude Surveys Ltd.

  187,000

  April 1992

  August 1993

  Pilot study of Ethnicity and the Income Support Claiming Procedure

  Commission for Racial Equality

  5,000

  October 1992

  April 1994

  Evaluation of Disability Working Allowance

  Policy Studies Institute

  265,000

  February 1993

  December 1995

  Invalidity Benefit Surveys

  Social and Community Planning Research

  240,000

  August 1991

  July 1993

  General Practitioners and Invalidity Benefit

  Social and Community Planning Research

  31,000

  October 1992

  July 1993

  Lung Cancer Risk in Pottery Workers

  London Chest Hospital/Centre for Occupational Health, University of Manchester

  51,000

  October 1992

  November 1993

  Statutory Sick Pay

  Centre for Research in Social Policy, University of Loughborough

  104,000

  June 1992

  July 1993

  Simplified Appeals Submissions

  Policy Studies Institute

  46,000

  November 1992

  July 1993

  Management of Information Resources

  Policy Studies Institute

  79,000

  February 1992

  July 1993

  Research into Hard-to-Place Residents of Resettlement Units: Phase II

  University of Newcastle

  47,000

  October 1990

  July 1993

  Health Care Needs of and Services for Resettlement Unit Customers

  Policy Studies Institute

  50,000

  September 1992

  July 1993

  The Effects of Benefit on Housing Decisions

  Centre for Housing Policy, University of York

  67,000

  November 1992

  October 1993

  Direct Payments from Benefit

  Social Policy Research Unit, University of York

  128,000

  June 1992

  February 1994

  Effects of Changes in Circumstances

  Social Policy Research Unit, University of York

  210,000

  June 1992

  February 1994

  International Comparisons of Housing Benefit

  Centre for Housing Policy, University of York

  11,000

  February 1993

  July 1993

  Family Credit Follow Up

  Policy Studies Institute

  71,000

  November 1992

  December 1993

  474
  Mr. Hague
  A married woman can earn increments to her category B retirement pension when her husband defers his category A retirement pension beyond his 65th birthday provided she is not, at the same time, receiving one of a specified list of "excluding" benefits and her husband is not receiving an increase of such a benefit for her. On 12 June 1992 the Court of Appeal upheld an earlier decision of the social security commissioner that graduated retirement benefit (GRB) was not an excluded benefit. Therefore the receipt by a married woman of GRB did not prevent her earning increments. Arrangements have been made to adjust pension rates and pay arrears in affected cases. The regulations were changed on 5 August 1992 and from that date GRB is an excluding benefit.

  Research Projects
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list each research project his Department currently funds with(a) the institution in which it is based, (b) the funds provided by his Department, (c) the number of staff involved and (d) the start and end date.

  Mr. Hague
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: The table lists projects which are currently being funded or part-funded by the Department, together with the organisation conducting the work. There are currently 18 research staff in the Department.
  475

  Project title

  Contractor

  Project cost (£)

  Start date

  Due end date

  National Child Development Study—5th Stage

  Social Statistics Unit, City University

  1175,000

  June 1989

  July 1993

  National Child Development Study Analysis—Wave 5 data only

  Policy Studies Institute

  45,000

  April 1992

  August 1993

  Family Credit and the Self Employed

  Social Policy Research Unit, University of York

  134,000

  March 1991

  July 1993

  British Household Panel Study

  Economic and Social Research Council, University of Essex

  2125,000

  April 1990

  March 1995

  Comparison of Child Support in the European Community

  University of York

  91,532

  May 1992

  July 1993

  Persons Abroad Legislation

  Brunei University

  70,000

  July 1991

  July 1993

  Employers Attitudes to Family Credit

  Institute for Manpower Studies, University of Sussex

  116,000

  March 1993

  April 1994

  2nd Lone Parent Survey

  Policy Studies Institute

  123,000

  November 1992

  December 1993

  British Social Attitude Survey

  Social and Community Planning Research

  360,000

  January 1991

  December 1994

  Relate Information Database—Follow Up

  D. Shapiro/M. Barkham

  2,500

  March 1993

  December 1993

  Benefit Information Needs of Lone Parents

  Centre for Research in Social Policy, University of Loughborough

  36,000

  May 1993

  October 1993

  Evaluation of the Newcastle In-Work Benefits Initiative

  Business and Community Planning Research

  410,000

  March 1993

  November 1993

  Survey of First Time Customers

  Social Policy Research Unit, University of York

  111,000

  May 1993

  March 1994

  Developing Local Office Customer Satisfaction Surveys—Pilot Work

  Public Attitude Surveys Ltd.

  11,000

  June 1993

  August 1993

  Family Credit/Benefit News Campaign Evaluation

  Research Surveys of Great Britain

  34,000

  April 1993

  August 1993

  1 DSS contribution to larger study.

  2 £25,000 per annum for five years—uprated by Treasury inflator. DSS contribution to larger study.

  3 Over three years (1991–94 (not 1992)) DSS contribution to larger study.

  4 DSS contribution—this is a collaborative project with Newcastle city challenge and the Employment Service.

  War Pensions (Karen People)
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on behalf of the Karen people of Burma regarding the non-payment of war pensions to ex-service men who fought for Britain.

  Mr. Hague
  None. If the hon. Member has a particular case—or cases—in mind, perhaps he could write to me supplying the relevant details.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will define the circumstances in which a recipient of housing benefit is entitled to a special personal allowance as a result of being legally married to more than one partner, as specified in the "Guide to Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit", booklet RR2.

  Mr. Burt
  A recipient of housing benefit is entitled to a special personal allowance if he is a member of a valid polygamous marriage and has more than one of his partners sharing his household.

  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the annual cost of reducing the housing benefit taper from 65 per cent. to 50 per cent.

  Mr. Burt
  The cost is estimated to be £500 million per annum.*

  Note:
  476
  *This estimate is based on data drawn from the 1989–90–91 Family Expenditure Surveys and modelled at 1993–94 prices and benefit levels.

  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of housing benefit receive a special personal allowance as a result of being legally married to more than one partner as specified in the "Guide to Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit", booklet RR2.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will explain the basis on which students are excluded from housing benefit; and what provision is made to enable students unable to find paid employment during the vacations to pay the continued costs of housing.

  Mr. Burt
  In general it is the educational maintenance system which is designed to provide support for students, not the social security system, and we have no plans to change this. Housing benefit is available during the summer vacation and also throughout the course to vulnerable students such as lone parents, those who are disabled, and those with dependent children. In addition non-student partners can claim on behalf of the couple if they satisfy the normal qualifying conditions. The Government have increased the full-year support available from the education grant and from student loans by nearly 40 per cent. compared with the support available from the grant alone in 1989. Students in particular financial need may seek help from the access funds.
  477

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will break down the figure for those persons in receipt of invalidity benefit in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Benefits Agency district by the nature of the disability.

  Mr. Scott
  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each year since the inception of the scheme the number of people of retirement age who have continued to draw invalidity benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not available. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 25 June at column 323 for information about the numbers of invalidity benefit claimants over state pension age.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what saving in expenditure by his Department would have resulted from abolishing the earnings-related additional pension for all new invalidity benefit claims for the year 1992–93; and what savings he estimates would be made in 1994–95.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is in the table.

  Year

  Estimated savings

  £ million

  1992–93

  75

  1994–95

  365

  Note: Estimates are expressed in cash terms and take account of associated changes in income-related benefit expenditure.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the growth in invalidity benefit payments since 1978–79 is explained by demographic change.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is not available in the form

  However, around 2 per cent. of the growth in the invalidity benefit caseload during the period May 1979 to March 1992 can be accounted for by changes in the size and structure (ie age and sex profile) of the population of Great Britain.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many males and females in receipt of invalidity benefit in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Benefits Agency district are aged(a) under 30, (b) 31 to 44, (c) 45 to 55 and (d) over 55 years.

  Mr. Scott
  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many males and females in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Benefits Agency district were in receipt of invalidity benefit for each year since 1987.
  478
  Mr. Scott
  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency that the information is not available in the form requested, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Polish Forces (Pensions)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people are currently in receipt of payments under the pensions (Polish forces) scheme.

  (2) if he will list for each of the last five years (a) the number of applications made to his Department for pensions under the pensions (Polish forces) scheme and (b) the number of such applications which were successful;

  (3) what is the annual cost to public funds of payments made under the pensions (Polish forces) scheme.

  Mr. Hague
  At 30 June 1993 there were 2,221 people in receipt of payments under the pensions (Polish forces) scheme.

  The number of applications for pensions under the scheme was as follows:

  Year

  1988

  85 applications

  1989

  103 applications

  1990

  126 applications

  1991

  142 applications

  1992

  614 applications

  Information on the number of successful applications and on the annual cost of payments under the scheme is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Volunteers
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to implement the increase in the notice period for a volunteer receiving benefits from 24 hours to 48 hours.

  Mr. Burt
  The amending regulation to increase the notice period for unemployed volunteers to 48 hours will come into effect in the middle of August.

  Benefit Abuse
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to reduce abuse of social security by people from abroad: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  Yesterday I laid before Parliament, regulations to prevent certain persons from abroad being able to claim income support under the income support urgent case rules. They will come into force on 2 August. Most persons from abroad are admitted to the country on condition that they do not become a charge on public funds. This means that they should not receive income support. At present a minority of these people abuse the conditions of their leave to remain here which these changes will prevent. I expect to save about £17 million a year in benefit on the 10,000 persons annually who abuse the present system. Asylum seekers are not affected by this change and will continue to receive benefit while their applications for asylum are being processed by the Home Office.
  479

  Mortgage Support
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to limit the availability of income support mortgage interest on very high mortgages; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  Yesterday I laid before Parliament regulations which will limit to £150,000 the amount of loan capital on which income support will pay interest. This change will come into force on 2 August. The regulations also provide for the limit to be reduced to £125,000 from 11 April 1994, and provide protection for existing claimants. Together with these regulations is a report by the Social Security Advisory Committee, CM(2272). These new arrangements are based on our view that people with mortgages, regardless of their loan commitment, should make arrangements to provide for themselves in times of difficulty. The limits will be kept under review in the future.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to publish his annual report on the social fund and the social fund commissioner's annual report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Today my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State laid before Parliament his annual report for 1992–93 (Cm. 2274). Copies have been placed in the Library. The report records that, for the first time, the annual total gross expenditure on all social fund payments exceeded £400 million—a doubling of expenditure since the first full year of the scheme. This includes nearly 1·8 million non-repayable grants and interest-free loans worth more than £314 million; and maternity, funeral and cold weather payments worth £87 million.

  Now that the fund has been operating for a number of years, we are reaching a position where we can begin to assess with some confidence how it is working. As the annual report says, we have taken note of the research by York university's social policy research unit (SPRU), along with a number of other reports and our own close monitoring of the fund. We have seen no evidence so far to alter our belief that the basic principles of the discretionary scheme are right. Indeed, there is much in the latest report to confirm that the fund is working very effectively as intended in support of the wider pattern of social security benefits. Against this backdrop and in the light of the SPRU and Social Security Advisory Committee reports, we will be continuing to evaluate the effectiveness of the fund and to introduce operational improvements as required.

  For the current year, we have increased the net discretionary budget by £5 million. This has enabled us to raise the gross budget by £44 million since April last year. Overall, since the discretionary fund began. the gross budget has increased by some 70 per cent. This substantial growth in funding demonstrates our continuing commitment in this traditionally difficult area of social security provision.

  The social fund commissioner's annual report has also been published today and copies have been placed in the Library.
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  Putney Royal Hospital
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what correspondence the Minister for Disabled People has had about removing the inscription, "Royal Hospital for Incurables", from the facade of Putney Royal hospital; what action he has taken; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  While I have seen copies of some correspondence about this matter, I have not been involved directly since this is primarily a matter between the hospital and the planning department of the London borough of Wandsworth.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will instruct the Child Support Agency to collect data on the numbers of parents who use the agency on a voluntary as well as a compulsory basis.

  Mr. Burt
  I am informed by Mrs. Ros Hepplewhite, the agency's chief executive, that the agency already collects data on the number of applications received from parents who are not in receipt of benefit and who choose whether they wish to use the agency's services.

  As the agency has, however, been operational for only three months reliable figures are not yet available for publication.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases, in the last 12 months the Child Support Agency has been involved with the use of DNA genetic fingerprinting methods to establish the paternity of a child during the pursuance of a maintenance claim; and if he will separately distinguish England and Wales.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Mrs. Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Mrs. R. Hepplewhite to Mr. Gareth Wardell, dated 12 July 1993:

  As Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of cases in the last 12 months in which the Agency has been involved with the use of DNA genetic fingerprinting in order to establish paternity.

  The Agency is not directly involved in the process of DNA testing but may in disputed cases apply to the courts for a declaration of paternity. In such cases the Agency supplies conventional evidence in support of its application and the question of DNA testing will not normally arise except at the suggestion of the court and with the agreement of all parties. Where the Agency meets the cost of those fees it will seek recovery from any court costs awarded in its favour.

  Figures for the period 1 April 1992–31 March 1993 are not yet available, but in the year ending March 1992, DNA testing was an issue in less than 1 per cent. of the 1,000 cases in which the Department made application to the courts for a declaration of paternity. I am afraid that I do not have a breakdown of figures between England and Wales.

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

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the maximum number of
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  assessments which the Child Support Agency can carry out on an individual in any year for which a fee of £44 is charged;

  (2) what has been the total income of the Child Support Agency from assessment fees collected since its establishment.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Mrs. Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Mrs. R. Hepplewhite to Mr. Gareth Wardell, dated 12 July 1993:

  As Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the income collected by the Agency in assessment fees and the number of maintenance assessments provided for the sum of £44.

  The Agency has to date collected a total of £13,000 in fees, but figures are not yet available as to fees charged for assessment and fees charged for collection.

  The annual assessment fee is payable on the date the first maintenance application is made, and at yearly intervals thereafter. There is no restriction placed on the number of assessments carried out in any given year and no additional sum will be levied over the annual fee.

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

  Care Benefits
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disability living allowance mobility component claimants have successfully claimed care components after their 66th birthday.

  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 Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 12 July 1993:

  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many disability living allowance mobility component claimants have successfully claimed care components after their 66th birthday.

  Up to 28 February 1993 the total number of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) mobility component recipients that have successfully claimed the care component on or after their 66th birthday is 7,420. A more up to date figure is not available as numbers are only collated quarterly and information about the last quarter is not yet to hand.

  The figure provided excludes any DLA mobility component recipient over the age of 66 who may have received the care component subsequent to either a review of the original decision or upon appeal. Statistics for these two types of occurrence are not available.

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

  Disability
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will include, when notifying claimants of their entitlement to disability living allowance and 482
  attendance allowance, information about the entitlement to extras such as income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit.

  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 Mr. M. Bichard to Ms Ann Coffey dated 12 July 1993:

  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking if he will include, when notifying claimants of their entitlement to DLA and AA, information about the entitlement to extras such as income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit.

  When a customer is advised of their entitlement to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) they also receive a copy of form DLA 95. This form advises them of their possible title to other benefits. Amongst other benefits outlined in the DLA 95 are Income Support, Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit.

  Similarly, a customer receiving an award notification for Attendance Allowance (AA) will also receive form DS 668. This provides equivalent information to that contained in the DLA 95.

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

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications he has received for ex gratia payments resulting from delays in(a) disability living allowance, (b) attendance allowance and (c) mobility allowance; how many claims were successful; and what total ex gratia payments have been made for each benefit.

  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 Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 12 July 1993:

  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many applications he has received for ex gratia payments resulting from delays in (a) Disability Living Allowance (DLA), (b) Attendance Allowance (AA) and (c) Mobility Allowance (Moba); how many claims were successful; and what total ex gratia payments have been made for each benefit.

  The information requested is not recorded in the format required. I am therefore not able to give you a breakdown by benefit. I can confirm, however, that for the period 9 July 1992 to 7 July 1993 out of 480 applications for ex gratia payments received, in respect of all three benefits, 208 were subsequently withdrawn, 96 were refused and 176 were successful. The total amount paid comes to some £9,200.

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

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

  Mr. Burt
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 July 1993, column 125]: The following information was incorrect:
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  The Child Support Agency is introducing the new child support maintenance arrangements from scratch and it would have been unrealistic to take on cases over a four-year period.

  The Correct information is as follows:

  The Child Support Agency is introducing the new child support maintenance arrangements from scratch and it would have been unrealistic to take on all cases immediately. Take-on will therefore be phased over a four-year period.

  MR. KAZEM DARABI
  MR. KAZEM DARABI
  IRANIAN ACTION AGAINST KURDISH DEMOCRATIC PARTY
  IRANIAN ACTION AGAINST KURDISH DEMOCRATIC PARTY
  EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS: ENFORCEMENT IN UK
  EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS: ENFORCEMENT IN UK
  NEW TAX SYSTEM
  NEW TAX SYSTEM
  M.25 AND M.4 IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES
  M.25 AND M.4 IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES
  WEST COAST MAIN LINE: PRIVATE SECTOR FUNDING STUDY
  WEST COAST MAIN LINE: PRIVATE SECTOR FUNDING STUDY
  RUSSIAN MEDAL: WEARING BY EX- SERVICEMEN
  RUSSIAN MEDAL: WEARING BY EX- SERVICEMEN
  MONITORING MISSION, FORMER YUGOSLAVIA: MEDALS
  MONITORING MISSION, FORMER YUGOSLAVIA: MEDALS
  BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS, LONDON
  BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS, LONDON
  NHS USER AND CARER GROUP
  NHS USER AND CARER GROUP
  SUNDAY TRADING REFORM
  SUNDAY TRADING REFORM
  PRISONERS: ASSAULTS AND SUICIDES
  PRISONERS: ASSAULTS AND SUICIDES
  ASSAULTS AND SUICIDES IN PRISON IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS
  ASSAULTS AND SUICIDES IN PRISON IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS