Written Answers of 16 July 1993

EDUCATION

  Centre for Young Musicians
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to ensure that musically gifted children from all parts of inner London can continue to receive tuition at the Centre for Young Musicians.

  Mr. Forth
  The activities of the Centre for Young Musicians are funded from a number of sources—including the Department for Education. We are supporting the central costs of the centre with £100,000 funding for each of the three years 1993–96. I welcome the support given by private sponsors and hope that London children will continue to benefit from the opportunities offered by the centre.

  Non-vocational Adult Education
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the standard spending assessment allowances for non-vocational adult education for 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 listed by education authority.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Provision for the further education for adults for which education authorities are responsible is included within the education component of standard spending assessments, but is not separately identified.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Crown Court Cases
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many persons were found guilty following a not guilty plea in Crown courts in England and Wales during 1991; and how many of those were subsequently given a non-custodial sentence.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  During 1991, a total of 15,379 defendants were convicted in the Crown court following a plea of not guilty to all or to some counts. Of these, 7,161 received a non-custodial sentence.

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many appeals to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal have been allowed and dismissed in 1992 and the first quarter of 1993.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information requested is as follows:

  Appeals to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal

  Allowed

  Dismissed

  19921

  249

  493

  January to March 1993

  62

  123

  672
  1 Complete figures are not available for 1992. The figures given are estimates based on average returns for the eight months of that year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average delay listed by each immigration appeals hearing centre (i) between receiving the explanatory statement and papers about a case(a) from a British post overseas and (b) from the Home Office and sending those papers to an appellant or his or her authorised representative and (ii) between the hearing of an immigration appeal by an adjudicator and the despatch of the determination to the appellant or authorised representative.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  All appeals to the immigration appellate authorities—IAA—are at present registered at their centre at Thanet House in London. On receipt of an appeal, whether from a British post overseas or from the Home Office, the IAA on average dispatches copies of the case papers to the appellant or his of her authorised representative within five days. The IAA's individual hearing centres do not record the average time between the hearing of an appeal by an adjudicator and the dispatch of the determination to the appellant or authorised representative. It is estimated, however, that the current average time for the IAA as a whole is six to eight weeks.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many appeals to immigration adjudicators have been allowed and dismissed in 1992 and the first quarter of 1993, broken down according to the nationality of the appellant and the type of decision appealed against.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information requested, broken down according to the country where the application was made, is set out in the tables.

  Month ending January 1992 to December 1992 Appeal categories—EEC

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  1. Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  —

  3

  2. Exclusion—External Appeals

  —

  9

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  —

  1

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or fiances or fiancees)

  —

  1

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  —

  —

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  —

  1

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  —

  —

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  —

  —

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  —

  1

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  —

  1

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  —

  12

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  —

  1

  673

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  —

  1

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  —

  —

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  —

  31

  Appeal categories—Bangladesh

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  1. Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  4

  16

  2. Exclusion—External Appeals

  —

  34

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  23

  203

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or nances or fiancees)

  115

  749

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  4

  23

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  152

  937

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  2

  5

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  50

  117

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  1

  7

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  1

  14

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  5

  127

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  1

  7

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  1

  1

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  —

  —

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  359

  2,240

  Appeal categories—Ghana

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  1. Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  2

  46

  2. Exclusion—External Appeals

  4

  21

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  14

  51

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or fiances or fiancees)

  74

  288

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  —

  12

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  6

  9

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  1

  1

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  —

  11

  674

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  3

  2

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  —

  14

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  8

  367

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  5

  108

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  —

  1

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  —

  1

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  117

  932

  Appeal categories—India

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  1. Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  —

  13

  2. Exclusion—External Appeals

  1

  39

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  6

  22

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or fiances or fiancees)

  687

  2,198

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  10

  27

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  72

  217

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  15

  34

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  67

  215

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  47

  100

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  1

  36

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  24

  532

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  2

  38

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  2

  2

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  —

  1

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  934

  3,474

  Appeal categories—Jamaica

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  1. Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  —

  13

  2. Exclusion—External Appeals

  5

  57

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  4

  49

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or fiances or fiancees)

  88

  397

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  —

  15

  675

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  18

  36

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  1

  2

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  5

  18

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  —

  2

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  —

  4

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  6

  224

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  2

  25

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  —

  4

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  1

  4

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  130

  849

  Appeal categories—Nigeria

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  1. Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  1

  63

  2. Exclusion—External Appeals

  2

  37

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  3

  37

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or fiances or fiancees)

  272

  1,989

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  5

  27

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  15

  33

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  2

  2

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  4

  15

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  2

  1

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  5

  36

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  55

  1,259

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  11

  362

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  —

  23

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  —

  7

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  377

  3,891

  Month ending January 1992 to December 1992

  Appeal categories—Pakistan

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  1. Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  1

  18

  2. Exclusion—External Appeals

  2

  33

  676

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  —

  20

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or fiances or fiancees)

  611

  2,525

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  4

  46

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  166

  400

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  10

  24

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  370

  842

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  79

  179

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  1

  35

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  26

  515

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  2

  45

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  —

  8

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  —

  4

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  1,272

  4,694

  Appeal categories—All Other Countries

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  1. Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  10

  109

  2. Exclusion—External Appeals

  55

  879

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  15

  73

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or fiances or fiancees)

  672

  4,218

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  29

  259

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  82

  374

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  16

  41

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  21

  80

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  7

  20

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  39

  238

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  118

  2,735

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  9

  224

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  2

  17

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  —

  19

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  1,079

  9,186

  677

  Month ending January 1993 to March 1993

  Appeal categories—EEC

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  1. Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  —

  1

  2. Exclusion—External Appeals

  —

  —

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  —

  —

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or fiances or fiancees)

  —

  —

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  —

  —

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  —

  —

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  —

  —

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  1

  —

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  —

  —

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  —

  —

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  —

  —

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  —

  —

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  —

  —

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  —

  —

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  1

  1

  Appeal categories—Bangladesh

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  1. Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  —

  3

  2. Exclusion—External Appeals

  —

  5

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  4

  36

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or fiances or fiancees)

  44

  219

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  —

  4

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  20

  143

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  1

  —

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  12

  33

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  —

  2

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  —

  —

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  2

  26

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  1

  5

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  —

  —

  678

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  —

  —

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  84

  476

  Appeal categories—Ghana

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  1. Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  —

  3

  2. Exclusion—External Appeals

  —

  6

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  —

  2

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or fiances or fiancees)

  32

  114

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  —

  1

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  2

  9

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  —

  —

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  —

  2

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  —

  —

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  —

  2

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  2

  77

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  —

  41

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  —

  —

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  —

  —

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  36

  257

  Appeal categories—India

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  1. Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  —

  2

  2. Exclusion—External Appeals

  1

  5

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  1

  7

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or fiances or fiancees)

  169

  393

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  1

  6

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  17

  66

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  6

  11

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  21

  55

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  15

  26

  679

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  —

  8

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  6

  93

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  —

  16

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  1

  1

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  —

  —

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  238

  689

  Appeal categories—Jamaica

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  1. Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  —

  1

  2. Exclusion—External Appeals

  2

  19

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  —

  —

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or fiances or fiancees)

  15

  57

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  —

  —

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  2

  4

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  1

  1

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  1

  3

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  —

  1

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  —

  3

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  6

  77

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  —

  10

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  —

  1

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  —

  —

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  27

  177

  Appeal categories—Nigeria

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  1. Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  1

  8

  2. Exclusion—External Appeals

  —

  15

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  3

  8

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or fiances or fiancees)

  91

  542

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  —

  7

  680

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  —

  11

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  1

  1

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  1

  5

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  —

  —

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  —

  4

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  12

  251

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  —

  100

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  —

  1

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  —

  1

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  109

  954

  Appeal categories—Pakistan

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  1. Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  —

  7

  2. Exclusion—External Appeals

  —

  3

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  1

  3

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or fiances or fiancees)

  184

  437

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  2

  3

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  21

  70

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  2

  3

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  84

  155

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  13

  21

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  2

  7

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  2

  105

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  —

  22

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  —

  1

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  —

  —

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  311

  837

  Appeal categories—All Other Countries

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  Exclusion—Appeal at Port

  —

  15

  Exclusion—External Appeals

  20

  214

  681

  Number allowed

  Number dismissed

  3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement

  3

  21

  4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Temporary purposes (not husbands or wives or fiances or fiancees)

  174

  1,156

  5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for Employment, Business or Independent Means (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees)

  8

  49

  6. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by Wives and Children, other dependent relatives and returning residents

  41

  82

  7. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by female fiancees

  5

  10

  8. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by husbands

  10

  33

  9. Refusal of Entry Clearance requested by male fiances

  1

  9

  10. Variation of Landing Conditions (including curtailment of stay or duration or conditions of leave to remain given to persons previously exempted (S. 14(2))

  1

  50

  11. Refusal to Vary Leave to Enter

  14

  456

  12. Decision to make Deportation Order

  —

  95

  13. Refusal to Revoke Deportation Order

  —

  —

  14. Giving of Removal Directions

  —

  4

  15. Destination Only Appeal

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  277

  2,194

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what arrangements he has made to deal with the effects of the right of appeal for all refused asylum-seekers provided in the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor will designate 16 full-time and 15 part-time adjudicators to act as special adjudicators. These will be appointed from the cadre of experienced immigration adjudicators and will deal with appeals by refused asylum seekers under the Act. In addition, a new regional centre has been opened at Hatton Cross, near Heathrow airport, which will provide 15 hearing rooms; this has replaced the five hearing room centre at Harmondsworth which has been closed.

  Benzodiazepine
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many legal aid certificates have been issued in repect of claims arising from the ingestion of benzodiazepine tranquillisers; how many of these have been discharged; and how many are subject to appeal.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  A total of 13,168 legal aid certificates have been granted in respect of proceedings relating to benzodiazepine tranquillisers. The position on these is constantly changing, but, at present, more than 7,000 certificates have been discharged and several hundred are awaiting decisions on appeal.
  682

TRANSPORT

  Rail Routes (M25)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies have been made of the improvement, reintroduction or new building of passenger rail routes that would provide rapid inter-urban transport between travel generation centres adjacent, or with easy access, to the M25 motorway.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Heathrow access and London south-west quadrant study has considered options for new rail links within range of the M25. That study is being considered in the wider context of transport and planning issues in London. I understand that some other ideas for rail projects adjacent to the M25 have been proposed outside the Department. In general however, since for most users the M25 is a relatively small part of their overall journey, rail links which simply connected towns close to that motorway would not provide a very attractive alternative.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects services through the channel tunnel to commence.

  Mr. Freeman
  This is a matter for Eurotunnel.

  Red Star
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bids to buy Red Star have been received to date.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail is responsible for the sale of Red Star. The number of bids received is a commercial matter for BR.

EMPLOYMENT

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to provide more apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In national vocational qualifications we now have an employer-led framework of qualifications which young people can achieve through work-based training, building on the best of our apprenticeship traditions. These training arrangements and qualifications have much to contribute in improving economic competitiveness and equipping young people for rewarding careers.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he proposes with(a) the Trades Union Congress and (b) employers to consider ways of stimulating the growth in the number of apprenticeships in British industry.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Interest in a modern, revitalised apprenticeship system features prominently in discussions I have with representatives of both employers and employees. All concerned need to be clear that work—
  683
  based training and vocational qualifications deserve equal esteem alongside other education and training options open to young people.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list for each annual labour force survey since 1984 and for the spring 1992 and winter 1992–93 surveys the number and percentage of 16 and 17-year-olds in full-time employment;

  (2) if he will list for each annual labour force survey since 1984 and for the spring 1992 and winter 1992–93

  Persons aged 16/17

  Great Britain

  Numbers of 16/17 year olds (000's)

  Percentage of total 16/17 year olds

  Year/quarter

  Total

  In full time employment

  ILO Unemployed1

  In full time education1

  Not in full time education

  In full time employment

  In full time education

  Not in full time education

  ILO unemployment rate (per cent.)2

  1984 (spring)

  1,749

  512

  223

  973

  777

  29·3

  55·6

  44·4

  21·5

  1985 (spring)

  1,717

  521

  214

  920

  797

  30·3

  53·6

  46·4

  20·3

  1986 (spring)

  1,667

  510

  219

  897

  769

  30·6

  53·8

  46·2

  20·8

  1987 (spring)

  1,663

  486

  201

  943

  720

  29·2

  56·7

  43·3

  19·4

  1988 (spring)

  1,626

  522

  150

  916

  710

  32·1

  56·3

  43·7

  14·1

  1989 (spring)

  1,523

  313

  107

  867

  657

  20·6

  56·9

  43·1

  10·8

  1990 (spring)

  1,449

  275

  103

  889

  560

  19·0

  61·3

  38·7

  11·5

  1991 (spring)

  1,369

  212

  129

  874

  495

  15·5

  63·8

  36·2

  15·2

  1992 (spring)

  1,339

  177

  122

  925

  414

  13·2

  69·0

  31·0

  16·1

  1992–93 (winter)

  1,300

  157

  125

  913

  387

  12·0

  70·2

  29·8

  17·6

  1 16/17 year olds included as ILO unemployed may also be in full time education.

  2 ILO unemployed as percentage of total 16/17 year olds economically active (ie in employment + ILO unemployed).

  Source: Labour Force Survey (not seasonally adjusted).

  Youth Training
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his answer of 8 July,Official Report, column 263, how many participants in total were on youth training in January (a) 1991, (b) 1992 and (c)

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information about the number on youth training in January 1991 is not available, but the March 1991 figure was 314,000. In January 1992 and January 1993, there were 303,000 and 293,000 people respectively on youth training in Great Britain.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Contracting Out
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 28 June,Official Report, column 375, if he will place in the Library copies of the figures underlying his conclusion as to the level of cost savings possible through the contracting out of public services.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Redcar (Ms. Mowlam) on 21 May 1993,Official Report, columns 324–25.

  Additionally, my officials are currently collating the market-testing figures for the year to March 1992. I shall publish the results in due course.
  684
  surveys the number of 16 and 17-year-olds International Labour Organisation unemployed and their ILO unemployment rate;

  (3) if he will list for each annual labour force survey since 1984 and for spring 1992 and winter 1992–93 surveys the number and percentage of 16 and 17-year-olds (a) in total, (b) in full-time education and (c) not in full-time education.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Civil Service Occupational Health Service
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the annual report of the Civil Service Occupational Health Service will be published.

  Mr. David Davis
  Part I of the annual report of the Civil Service Occupational Health Service for 1992–93 is published today. This reports on the health of the civil service. Part 2 of the report, which covers the activities of the Civil Service Occupational Health Service during 1992–93 and includes the agency's accounts, is intended to be published by 30 July. Copies of both parts will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses on publication.

  Environmental Technologies
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he make a further statement on the benefits that will accrue to the environmental technologies of the implementation of his strategy for science as set out in his White Paper, Cm 2250.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The White Paper "Realising Our Potential" will help us build on our strengths in science, engineering and technology. In particular, environmental technologies will benefit from the work of the Natural Environment Research Council, with its new mission statement and the closer relationship it will establish with users of its research.
  685

PRIME MINISTER

  Heating Costs
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his estimate of the(a) average, (b) highest and (c) lowest cost of heating a dwelling in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland for (a) the winter months and (b) the summer months, and indicate in each case the cost for (i) solid fuel, (ii) electricity, (iii) oil, (iv) natural gas and (v) bottled gas; and if he will list the locations in each of the countries which were used for samples to estimate these costs.

  The Prime Minister
  This information is not held centrally, but the estimated comparative cost of heating two, three, and four-bedroomed homes using different types of fuel and power can be derived from a publication entitled "Comparative Domestic Heating Costs in the UK" published by Sutherland Associates, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Prime Minister what reply he has given to the letter on the THORP from the Japanese group which visited him on 15 June.

  The Prime Minister
  A reply will be sent shortly.

  Ministers (Directorships)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister how many Ministers retain directorships of companies; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to paragraph 107 of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". No central record is held of such information.

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 7 June,Official Report, columns 13–14, when he expects to be able to place in the Library the requested document regarding deaths resulting from the security situation in Northern Ireland.

  The Prime Minister
  The production of a comprehensive list of people killed since 1968 as a result of the security situation in Northern Ireland, and in related incidents in Great Britain, the Irish Republic and mainland Europe, requires extensive and painstaking research. Information on mainland Europe, which is available only after 1978, and Great Britain is nearly complete and will be placed in the Library in the next fortnight. Work on the remaining information is well advanced, and the completed data will be placed in the Library as soon as they are available.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the actions taken by the Government of Bosnia-Herzegovina which Her Majesty's Government consider to have fulfilled the requirements of the London conference, and the ways in which they have failed to co-operate satisfactorily with the international community's peace efforts.

  The Prime Minister
  The Bosnian Government have been unable to realise the objectives of the London 686
  conference owing to the actions of their other parties, in particular the Serbs. The international community has repeatedly made clear that it will not accept a settlement in Bosnia which is dictated by the Serbs and Croats at the expense of the Muslims. We hope that the Bosnian Government will soon be in a position to enter into negotiations with the other parties under the co-chairmanship of Lord Owen and Mr. Stoltenberg.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the actions taken by the Government of Croatia which Her Majesty's Government consider to have fulfilled the requirements of the London conference, and the ways in which it has failed to co-operate satisfactorily with the international community's peace efforts.

  The Prime Minister
  While we consider that the Serbs bear the main burden of responsibility for the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, we are also not satisfied that the Croatian Government have so far fully met the requirements of the London conference to achieve a peaceful settlement in Bosnia. European Community Foreign Ministers will be considering on 19 July whether measures should be taken against the Croatians so long as they are engaged in activities contrary to the London conference principles.

HEALTH

  Dissatisfied Patients
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to introduce the necessary changes to second and third stage complaints procedures by dissatisfied patients to ensure that an independent lay assessor is part of the assessment team; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have no plans to make changes to the clinical complaints procedure, in advance of any recommendations which the National Health Service Complaints Review Committee, chaired by Professor Alan Wilson, will be making at the turn of the year.

  Neurology Services
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will indicate the proportion of patients per neurologist within each(a) standardised United Kingdom region and (b) each district health authority and health trust area.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The available information is shown in the table. Data are not available below regional level. Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Hospital consultant neurologists per 1,000 population by region 30 September 1991

  Consultants

  Population in '000s per consultant

  England

  208

  231

  Northern

  11

  278

  Yorkshire

  12

  304

  687

  Consultants

  Population in '000s per consultant

  Trent

  14

  331

  East Anglia

  8

  251

  North West Thames

  18

  189

  North East Thames

  27

  141

  South East Thames

  21

  176

  South West Thames

  18

  161

  Wessex

  12

  242

  Oxford

  15

  174

  South Western

  7

  459

  West Midlands

  15

  348

  Mersey

  7

  320

  North Western

  13

  318

  SHAs

  33

  n/a

  Notes:

  1. The sum of regional consultation figures does not equal the England total since some doctors hold contracts in more than one region.

  2. n/a means "not applicable".

  High Blood Pressure
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate her Department has made of the annual national health service hospital costs incurred in treating patients who suffer heart attacks or strokes caused by raised blood pressure that have not been treated with medication.

  (2) what estimate her Department has made of the additional annual cost of the national health service that would be incurred if the 75 per cent. of untreated patients suffering from high blood pressure, as identified in "The Health of the Nation" survey were to be treated with (a) calcium antagonist preparations, (b) Ace-inhibitors, (c) beta-blocking agents and (d) beta-blocking agents in combination with diuretics.

  Mr. Sackville
  No information is held centrally on which to base such estimates.

  Community Care Assessment
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will include in the guidance issued to local authorities on assessment procedures under the new community care arrangements a requirement for authorities to pass on to clients the full results of assessment, irrespective of whether the resources are available fully to meet a clients needs.

  Mr. Bowis
  We have made it clear to authorities that they should share the results of assessments with users so that they know where they stand. There are no plans to issue further guidance in this area.

  Paediatric Beds
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average daily number of available paediatric beds in 1991–92 in England, including special health authorities.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  Average of daily number of available paediatric beds

  Region

  1991–92

  Northern

  731

  Yorkshire

  809

  Trent

  879

  688

  Region

  1991–92

  East Anglian

  290

  North West Thames

  593

  North East Thames

  639

  South East Thames

  754

  South West Thames

  495

  Wessex

  461

  Oxford

  399

  South Western

  559

  West Midlands

  1,090

  Mersey

  642

  North Western

  1,158

  Special Health Authorities

  447

  England1: Total Paediatric Beds

  9,944

  1 Figures do not add to England total due to rounding.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many special paediatric intensive treatment unit beds there are; how many are temporarily closed; and what estimate has been made of the number required to conform with best practice.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 17 June at columns 704–6.

  Children
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children there were under 16 years in 1991–92.

  Mr. Sackville
  The latest available information shows that the estimated number of children under 16 years of age, resident in England at mid-1991, was 9·7 million.

  Water-borne Diseases
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 1, if she will list the five commonest diseases associated with poor water supply and sewage disposal found in the United Kingdom and the incidence of those diseases in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The incidence of diseases are recorded in the Communicable Disease Report published weekly by the Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, copies of which are available in the Library.

  The source of infection for each case of disease reported cannot always be ascertained. It is therefore not possible to list the five commonest diseases associated with poor water supply or sewage disposal.

  Dental Charges
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what help she plans to give to persons currently facing increases in their dental charges.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Help with the cost of dental treatment is already available to patients on a low income. Some 21 per cent. of adult courses of treatment are provided with full or partial relief from charges.

  Child Migrants Trust
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will now finance the Child Migrants Trust in its work of tracing the families of child migrants.
  689
  Mr. Bowis
  The Department has awarded the trust a grant of £25,000 for the current financial year.

  Respite Breaks
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action her Department is taking to ensure that the new arrangements for community care provide adequate opportunities for disabled people and their unpaid carers to have a respite break; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  The first two key objectives of the community care reforms are to promote the development of domiciliary, day and respite services; and to ensure that service providers make practical support for carers a high priority. The reforms require authorities to assess the needs of carers as well as the people for whom they care. They also provide greater incentives for authorities to provide respite care.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  International Investments Gibraltar Ltd.
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will endeavour to place on the agenda for discussion at the next Anglo-Irish Conference meeting the action taken by the Irish authorities against Mr. William Flynn, in order to persuade him to stop his campaigning for defrauded investors in International Investments Gibraltar Ltd. and its associate companies in the Irish Republic.

  Sir John Wheeler
  There are no plans to raise this matter, which is not covered by the Anglo-Irish agreement and, thus, does not fall within the field of activity of the intergovernmental conference.

  Road Schemes
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his replies of 26 April and 4 May,Official Report, columns 220–22, what is the actual cost benefit rating for each of the 11 major road schemes referred to in those replies.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information is as follows:-

  Scheme

  Rating

  Comber By-pass

  9.26

  A5 Burndennet

  0.85

  Antrim-Ballymena: Stage 2

  1.91

  Omagh Through-pass: Stage 2

  5.32

  Belfast Urban Area Plan roads—Purdysburn Road: Stage 1 (1995–96)

  7.10

  Balmoral Avenue-Malone Road Junction (1996–97)

  23.18

  Forster Green Junction (1996–97)

  9.13

  Comparable figures for the remaining schemes are not available

  Bank of Ireland
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Bank of Ireland's operations in Northern Ireland reflect the fair employment ratios set down by the Fair Employment Commission.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the Bank of Ireland. Every employer covered by the terms of the Fair 690
  Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 is required to determine whether it is affording fair participation in employment to members of both communities and, if necessary, to take affirmative action. In support of these employers, the Fair Employment Commission provides, on request, information and advice on any aspect of fair employment practice, including catchment areas.

  The commission is also required to ensure that employers are complying with the legislation, that employers' determinations concerning fair participation are correct and that, where necessary, employers are taking the appropriate affirmative action.

  Rural Housing
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he will take to reduce the levels of rural housing unfitness; and what action he plans for areas with particularly high levels of unfitness.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive—the Executive—whose chief executive has advised me that the most significant way in which it can reduce rural dwelling unfitness is through the home improvement grant scheme.

  To tackle the highest levels of rural unfitness, the Executive since 1989 has identified rural priority areas. It is intended to review the basis of these with the intention of extending them and to intensively market and counsel occupants on the opportunities and options offered by the new housing renovation scheme. From the current financial year—1993–94—the Executive expects to approve around 2,000 rural grant applications annually.

  To a more limited degree, rural new building will help to further reduce unfitness. Several small settlements and `crossroads' areas now have a number of new build schemes to rehouse households living in unfit dwellings; around 200 houses are expected to be provided over the next two years. Additionally, the Executive has provided office accommodation and administrative support for the Rural Housing Association as well as identifying several rural locations where new build to meet the local needs of families living in unfit accommodation could be supported.

  Railways
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now place in the Library the conclusions of the consultant's report on private sector involvement in Northern Ireland Railways.

  Mr. Atkins
  No. The findings of the study are still under consideration.

  Fair Employment
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action will be taken by the Fair Employment Commission to ensure that the Agricultural Research Institute, Carrickfergus borough council, Chief Electoral Office and the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company implement affirmative action and outreach programmes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  All public concerns specified at 1 January 1990 under the Fair Employment (Specification of Public Authorities) Order (Northern Ireland) 1989, as amended,
  691
  were required to have completed a review of their employment composition and practices by 1 January 1993. Where, as part of this review, an employer determines that members of a particular community are not enjoying or are not likely to continue to enjoy fair participation in employment, the employer is required as part of the review to determine reasonable and appropriate affirmative action.

  The Fair Employment Commission is currently studying public sector employers' reviews to establish whether the commission considers that the employers' determinations concerning fair participation are correct and to promote affirmative action where it is necessary.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action will be taken by the Fair Employment Commission to ensure that private sector concerns which employ fewer than 10 employees from one community implement affirmative action and outreach programmes.

  Mr. Atkins
  Under section 31 of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989, all registered concerns are required to complete a review of their employment composition and practices within three years of the date of their registration with the Fair Employment Commission.

  The commission is using its statutory powers to ensure that employers have completed their reviews in accordance with the legislation and, where necessary, are taking the appropriate affirmative action and have set goals and timetables for change.

  Additionally, the commission is using its powers of investigation under section 11 of the Act to conduct investigations into 47 large private sector concerns, some of which have a very low representation of one community.

  Young People
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of(a) 18-year-olds, (b) 17-year-olds and (c) 16-year-olds in January (i) 1991, (ii) 1992 and (iii) 1993; and if he will list for each year the number in full-time education in (1) schools including maintained, independent and special schools and (2) further education, excluding those on youth training schemes in colleges.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The available information is as follows:

  Table 1: Mid-year estimates of Northern Ireland population

  1991

  1992

  1993

  18 year olds

  26,702

  25,854

  25,149

  17 year olds

  25,652

  24,981

  24,468

  16 year olds

  25,009

  24,537

  24,735

  Table 2: Number in full-time education

  Schools

  Further Education

  Total

  1990–91

  18 year olds

  4,553

  4,113

  8,666

  17 year olds

  9,417

  5,506

  14,923

  16 year olds

  16,923

  3,186

  20,109

  1991–92

  18 year olds

  4,464

  4,506

  8,970

  692

  Schools

  Further Education

  Total

  17 year olds

  9,431

  5,111

  14,542

  16 year olds

  16,544

  2,777

  19,321

  Notes:

  1. Schools figures relate to January; Further education figures relate to November.

  2. Comparable information is not available for 1992–93.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Probation Service
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications for the Probation Service of the provision of same-day reports in Crown court cases where a not guilty plea is followed by a finding of guilt.

  Mr. Maclean
  In asking probation services to provide accelerated pre-sentence reports in the Crown court, we took account of the findings of the review by Her Majesty's inspectorate of probation of the operation of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 which was published last month, and concluded that it would be practicable within current resources to set a same-day target where a custodial remand would otherwise be required.

  Runciman Report
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish a response to the report of Lord Runciman on the criminal justice system.

  Mr. Maclean
  I am considering with my ministerial colleagues the timing and form of the Government's response to the royal commission report.

  Security Service
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make available more information about the Security Service following the publication of the White Paper on open government.

  Mr. Howard
  I am pleased to announce that a booklet about the Security Service, describing its role, responsibilities and organisation is being published today. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

  The booklet is a significant step towards greater openness in the Security Service. The information in it will increase understanding of the service's work, while preserving the secrecy necessary to maintain operational effectiveness.

  Immitation Fire Arms
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received calling for curbs on the carrying of imitation firearms.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In the past year, the Home Office has received represntations calling for further controls on imitation firearms from the Banking Insurance and Finance Union and the Financial Services Staff Federation.
  693

  Bones Analysis
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of his Department's analysis of the bones brought from Ekaterinburg, Russia, in July 1991 for identification.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This is a matter for which the Forensic Science Service is responsible, and the chief executive has provided a reply.

  Letter for Dr. Janet Thompson to Mr. David Atkinson, undated:
  You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question about the project being undertaken by the Home Office Forensic Science Service (FSS) on the remains found near Ekaterinburg, Russia, in July 1991. As you know, the Chief Executive of an Executive Agency, with the agreement of the Minister, replies to Members of Parliament on operational matters. I am therefore replying on behalf of the FSS.
  The project has now been successfully completed and we announced the results on 9 July. As a result of the DNA analysis, scientists believe that five of the nine skeletons found are those of the Tsar, Tsarina and three of their daughters. This conclusion is the same as that reached by anthropologists in Russia.
  The statistical analysis was complex. The scientists estimated a 98·5 per cent. probability for the identification, based on a neutral interpretation of the previous anthropological evidence and on the least likely interpretation of the DNA evidence.
  The scientists involved in the project will submit their work for publication and peer review in the scientific literature to enable other scientists to examine their work and conclusions. Further work will be needed to refine the statistical analysis. Once validated, we hope soon to be able to put the techniques used into practice in criminal casework to the benefit of the criminal justice system as a whole.

  Spouses and fiance(e)s in the Indian subcontinent initially refused and subsequently granted entry clearance on appeal by reason for refusal, 1991 and 1992

  Initial refusals

  Granted on appeal

  Primary purpose of the marriage was to obtain admission to the United Kingdom:

  Couple could not accommodate and/for maintain themselves without recourse to public funds:

  Primary purpose of the marriage was to obtain admission to the United Kingdom:

  Couple could not accommodate and/for maintain themselves without recourse to public funds:

  Solely for this reason

  Partly for this reason1

  Solely for this reason

  Partly for this reason1

  Solely for this reason

  Partly for this reason1

  Solely for this reason

  Partly for this reason1

  1991

  Bangladesh

  Husbands

  90

  40

  20

  30

  20

  —

  2—

  —

  Fiances

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wives

  2—

  2—

  20

  10

  —

  —

  10

  2—

  Fiancees

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Pakistan

  Husbands

  760

  660

  40

  660

  210

  280

  20

  270

  Fiances

  100

  70

  2—

  70

  50

  50

  2—

  10

  Wives

  40

  30

  140

  40

  2—

  2—

  50

  2—

  Fiancees

  2—

  2—

  20

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  India

  Husbands

  270

  20

  2—

  20

  50

  —

  —

  —

  Fiances

  210

  20

  —

  20

  50

  —

  —

  —

  Wives

  130

  20

  2—

  10

  20

  —

  —

  —

  Fiancees

  70

  20

  —

  10

  10

  —

  —

  —

  Total Indian sub-continent

  Husbands

  1,120

  710

  70

  700

  280

  280

  30

  270

  694

  Police Service
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he proposes to set up to ensure Londoners are consulted on(a) his statement on the future of the police service, (b) the Sheehy report and (c) the recommendations of the Royal Commission on criminal justice; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The White Paper on police reform—Cm 2281,—invites views on various reform proposals, including the question of the boundaries of the Metropolitan police district. My right hon. and learned Friend has asked for comments from interested persons, including Londoners, on the recommendations of the reports of the inquiry into police responsibilities and rewards—Cm 2280—and the Royal Commission on criminal justice—Cm 2263. Copies of all these documents are available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office and two copies of the digest version of the White Paper have been placed in every public library.

  Immigration
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) husbands, (b) fiancés, (c) wives and (d) fiancées refused wholly or partly on (x) primary purpose and (y) support and accommodation grounds in 1991 and 1992 in (i) the countries of the Indian subcontinent and (ii) any other country for which statistics are available appealed against the refusal; and how many of the appeals in each category were (1) allowed, (2) dismissed, (3) withdrawn and (4) are pending.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information is given in the table and relates to the numbers of applications for entry clearance initially refused and the numbers granted following an appeal in the Indian subcontinent. Not all those refused initially go on to appeal.

  Information by reason of refusal is not available for countries outside the Indian subcontinent.
  695

  Initial refusals

  Granted on appeal

  Primary purpose of the marriage was to obtain admission to the United Kingdom:

  Couple could not accommodate and/for maintain themselves without recourse to public funds:

  Primary purpose of the marriage was to obtain admission to the United Kingdom:

  Couple could not accommodate and/for maintain themselves without recourse to public funds:

  Solely for this reason

  Partly for this reason1

  Solely for this reason

  Partly for this reason1

  Solely for this reason

  Partly for this reason1

  Solely for this reason

  Partly for this reason1

  Fiances

  310

  100

  2—

  90

  100

  50

  2—

  10

  Wives

  180

  50

  170

  70

  30

  2—

  50

  10

  Fiancees

  70

  20

  20

  10

  10

  —

  —

  —

  1992

  Bangladesh

  Husbands

  120

  70

  40

  60

  70

  20

  20

  30

  Fiances

  —

  2—

  —

  2—

  —

  —

  2—

  —

  Wives

  10

  10

  20

  30

  —

  2—

  —

  2—

  Fiancees

  2—

  —

  2—

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Pakistan

  Husbands

  720

  570

  120

  570

  160

  190

  10

  190

  Fiances

  80

  40

  10

  40

  20

  30

  2—

  20

  Wives

  40

  30

  190

  40

  10

  10

  20

  10

  Fiancees

  2—

  10

  10

  10

  2—

  —

  2—

  —

  India

  Husbands

  240

  20

  2—

  20

  90

  —

  —

  2—

  Fiances

  200

  20

  —

  20

  50

  —

  —

  —

  Wives

  180

  40

  20

  40

  50

  —

  —

  —

  Fiancees

  70

  20

  2—

  10

  10

  2—

  —

  2—

  Total Indian sub-continent

  Husbands

  1,090

  660

  160

  630

  320

  220

  30

  220

  Fiances

  280

  60

  10

  60

  70

  30

  2—

  20

  Wives

  230

  70

  260

  100

  60

  10

  20

  20

  Fiancees

  70

  30

  10

  20

  10

  2—

  2—

  2—

  1 Includes double-counting of those for which refusal was jointly for these reasons. All figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

  2 Equals less than 5.

  Note: Initial refusals and numbers granted on appeal do not necessarily refer to the same individuals as an appeal may not be decided in the same year. These figures include some revisions.

  Winson Green Prison
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will order an inquiry into the release of Mark Jarvis on home leave from Winson Green prison;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the circumstances which led to the last release of Mark Jarvis from Winson Green prison.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated July 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about Mark Jarvis being granted home leave from Birmingham prison.
  I refer you to my letter in reply to the Question to Mr. Graham Allen NIP on 13 July published in the Official Report (columns 429 and 430), a copy of which is enclosed.
  As you will see from that reply the decision to grant home leave was reviewed by the governor at Birmingham. The area manager has also reviewed the circumstances in which Mr. Jarvis was granted home leave and he also concluded that the decision was not an unreasonable one.
  In the circumstances I am satisfied that there is no need for a further enquiry into this matter.
  696

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answers of 7 June,Official Report, column 32 and 25 June, Official Report, column 325, how many projects are covered by the £13.5 million expected cost of the market-testing programme for 1993–94; to what services they relate; how much is to be spent on each project; and how much will be paid to outside consultants for each project.

  Mr. Hague
  The expected cost of £13.5 million was broadly estimated for the financial year 1993–;94. At present there is a total of some 50 individual projects and they relate to the following services:

  Accommodation and Office Services

  Archival Storage

  Audit

  Catering

  Customer Services

  Data Entry

  Debt Recovery

  Fraud

  Legal Services

  Medical Services

  Personnel

  Printing

  Publishing

  Recruitment

  697

  Storage and Distribution

  Training

  Video Production

  The individual projects will be subject to a market test through the tendering of some 93 separate contracts/ service level agreements.

  It is not possible to state the level of expenditure on individual projects as this largely depends on each project's needs, which are dictated by the scale and complexity revealed by the market testing process.

  While there is an anticipated need for some external consultancy, it is not possible to determine the level of expenditure of individual projects.

  EC Expenditure
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each country in the European Community(a) the total expenditure on social protection, (b) the per capita expenditure and (c) expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is in the table.

  Expenditure on social protection 1991

  (a) Total

  (b) Per capita

  (c) Per cent. of GDP

  Belgium

  42,004·2

  4,191·2

  26·7

  Denmark

  23,790·6

  4,608·7

  29·8

  France

  274,763·9

  4,803

  28·7

  Germany

  316,931·1

  4,952

  26·6

  Greece

  113,723·5

  11,367·8

  120·7

  Ireland

  7,912·4

  2,240·2

  21·3

  Italy

  230,651·9

  3,991·3

  24·4

  Luxembourg

  2,259·7

  5,797·3

  27·5

  Netherlands

  77,172·2

  5,101·1

  32·4

  Portugal

  15,919·4

  1,616·9

  19·4

  Spain

  95,019·5

  2,432·9

  21·4

  United Kingdom

  210,597

  3,653·5

  24·7

  11989.

  Source: Social Protection Expenditure and Receipts 1980–1991 Eurostat.

  (a) Total expenditure in millions of purchasing power standards (Purchasing power standards (PPS) take comparative price levels in the countries into account).

  (b) Per capita expenditure in purchasing power standards.

  (c) Expenditure as a percentage of GDP.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Inland Revenue (Relocation)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his latest estimate of the public expenditure savings which will arise from the transfer of the Inland Revenue headquarters office from London to Nottingham; and how these savings are to be achieved in terms of accommodation, staffing and other general running costs;

  (2) when he expects the transfer of Inland Revenue headquarters office from London to Nottingham to be completed;

  (3) what is the current cost of running Inland Revenue headquarters offices in London and Nottingham, indicating accommodation and salaries costs in each place.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The offices included in the Inland Revenue's relocation from London to Nottingham are a number of headquarter units and a number of operational 698
  offices. At present, just under two thirds of the posts or staff involved have already moved to temporary accommodation in Nottingham, and the remainder are still based in London.

  The cost in 1992–93 of the staff already in Nottingham is around £20 million, of which some £14 million is pay and £2·5 million is accommodation. The 1992–93 cost of the staff still based in London is about £21 million of which some £13·5 million is pay and £3·5 million is accommodation.

  The currently estimated annual net pay and accommodation savings are around £12 million a year from 1996–97 to which some £4·5 million is pay and £7·5 million is accommodation.

  On present plans, the relocation to the new purpose-built centre will be completed by April 1995.

  No. 11 Downing Street
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost of replacing the carpeting on the second floor of No. 11 Downing street.

  Sir John Cope
  The carpet on the second floor of No. 11 Downing street has not been replaced. One room on the second floor was recarpeted in 1991 at a cost of £963.

  Tax Allowances and Reliefs
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the savings from restricting all tax allowances and reliefs to(a) a 25 per cent. rate of tax and (b) a 20 per cent. rate of tax, showing the amounts for each allowance and relief.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 15 July 1993]: The estimated full-year yields at 1993–94 income levels are shown in the table.

  £ million

  Restriction to

  25 per cent.

  20 per cent.

  All allowances and reliefs

  2,400

  8,900

  Personal allowance (excluding age related addition)

  1,000

  5,200

  Married couple's allowance (excluding age related addition)

  320

  1,100

  Age allowance1

  —

  100

  Mortgage interest relief2

  —

  860

  Pension contribution reliefs3

  470

  1,000

  1 The higher levels of the age-related personal and married couple's allowance given to those aged 65 and over, subject to the income limit.

  2 Mortgage interest relief is currently restricted to the basis rate of tax. The yield from restricting the relief to 20 per cent, is based on the conventional assumption that interest rates remain at their current levels.

  3 Employees' contributions to occupational pension schemes and contributions to personal pensions including retirement annuity premia and free standing additional voluntary contributions.

  No account has been taken of possible behavioural changes resulting from such restrictions. Figures for the major allowances and reliefs show the yield from restricting each allowance or relief separately. If two or more were restricted, the total yield would be greater than the sum of the figures for individual allowances.
  699

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

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Economic and Finance Council of the European Community met in Brussels on 12 July. I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council discussed the convergence programme circulated by the United Kingdom in May of this year. The programme reflects the Government's economic strategy for sustained non-inflationary growth set out in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" published on Budget day. In discussion, I underlined the Government's determination to take the action necessary to reduce the budget deficit. I also drew the Council's attention to the emerging signs of broad-based economic recovery, our recent good record on inflation, and highlighted the favourable prospects for growth in the United Kingdom economy by comparison with other member states.

  The Council welcomed the United Kingdom programme as ambitious and built on realistic assumptions and there was support for the Government's commitment to a firm anti-inflationary strategy. The adoption of a budgetary consolidation strategy and the measures taken in the Budget were welcomed. Ministers also noted the substantial progress already achieved by the United Kingdom in introducing structural reforms and welcomed the Government's continued commitment to supply-side reform.

  The general economic situation in the Community was also discussed in the context of the Council's six-monthly multilateral surveillance discussions. Ministers underlined the importance of the conclusions of the Copenhagen European Council on economic recovery and unemployment. The Council also stressed the need to address fiscal imbalances and to create conditions which would permit further reduction of interest rates in some member states. It was agreed that national convergence programmes were a valuable instrument of economic policy co-ordination. Without prejudice to the national responsibility for programmes, it was agreed that it would be desirable for them to cover a common time horizon and for them to be updated annually.

  Ministers had a first discussion of the Commission's ideas for interest rate subsidies for European investment bank lending to small and medium-sized enterprises and bridging finance for structural funds spending in the context of a general discussion of follow-up to the European Council. These proposals are likely to return to the Council later in the year.

  Finally,, there was a short discussion of tax-free allowances for travellers entering the Community from third countries and travellers within the Community. Germany maintained its objections to the increases proposed.

  No formal votes were taken. The Council conclusions on the United Kingdom convergence programme and the communiqué on multilateral surveillance were agreed by consensus.
  700

WALES

  Valuation Tribunals
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many(a) officers and (b) members of staff employed by the joint Gwynedd/Clwyd valuation tribunals office speak Welsh; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what action he proposes to take to ensure that appellants in Gwynedd are able to correspond with the officers of the joint Gwynedd/Clwyd valuation tribunal office and to have their cases heard through the medium of the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) how many (a) officers and (b) members of staff employed by the joint Gwynedd/Clwyd valuation tribunal office have a sufficient knowledge of the Welsh language to correspond through the medium of the language; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  In appointing staff to the new joint office, the Gwynedd and Clwyd valuation tribunals were required to take account of the Secretary of State's policy that a fully bilingual service should be provided. Questions about the staff appointments are matters for the tribunals themselves as the employers. The tribunals are being provided with the necessary resources to pay for the Welsh language training of staff; and to deal with any specific issues concerning Welsh language correspondence and enquiries. The tribunals hear cases in Welsh as appropriate and will continue to do so.

  Neurology
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the specialist centres in Wales in neurology and the treatment of epilepsy, indicating the number of patients treated by each centre in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The hospitals listed in the table treated patients in the speciality of neurology during the financial year 1991–92. It is not known centrally how many patients treated for epilepsy are included with the figures. It should be noted that patients with a diagnosis relating to neurological problems may sometimes be treated by consultants in other specialties.

  Number of patients treated

  Hospital

  In-patients

  Day cases

  New out-patients

  Clwyd

  Ysbyty Glan Clwyd

  —

  —

  333

  Ysbyty Maelor

  —

  —

  200

  East Dyfed

  West Wales General

  —

  —

  233

  Bronglais

  —

  —

  18

  Gwent

  Nevill Hall

  —

  —

  29

  Monmouth

  —

  —

  34

  Royal Gwent1

  —

  —,

  153

  Mount Pleasant

  —

  —

  67

  Gwynedd

  Ysbyty Gwynedd

  —

  —

  249

  Mid Glamorgan

  Prince Charles

  —

  —

  4

  Mountain Ash

  1

  —

  —

  Bridgend General

  —

  —

  109

  East Glamorgan

  —

  —

  38

  Powys

  Breconshire War Memorial

  —

  —

  45

  701

  Number of patients treated

  Hospital

  In-patients

  Day cases

  New out-patients

  South Glamorgan

  University Hospital of Wales1

  772

  32

  1,575

  Rookwood

  309

  23

  61

  Llandough

  —

  1

  84

  West Glamorgan

  Singleton

  100

  1

  488

  Fairwood

  8

  —

  —

  Morriston

  767

  1

  752

  Clydach War Memorial

  26

  —

  —

  Neath General

  —

  —

  228

  1 Includes paediatric neurology.

  Health authority

  Consultant neurologists1

  Patients per consultant2

  In-patient

  Day cases

  New out-patients

  Clwyd

  0·46

  —

  —

  1,159

  East Dyfed

  0·09

  —

  —

  2,789

  Gwent

  0·09

  —

  —

  3,144

  Gwynedd

  0·36

  —

  —

  692

  Mid Glamorgan

  0·52

  2

  —

  290

  Pembrokeshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Powys

  0·03

  —

  —

  1,500

  South Glamorgan

  3·67

  294

  15

  469

  West Glamorgan

  1·55

  581

  1

  947

  1 Whole time equivalent staff in post as at 30 September 1991. Includes consultants in the specialty of paediatric neurology.

  2 Patients treated in the specialties of neurology and paediatric neurology during 1991–92.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to which of those housing associations operating in Wales are based(a) in Wales and (b) outside Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is Housing for Wales policy to provide grant aid only to registered housing associations based in Wales. The whole of the development programme is therefore carried out by Welsh associations; but a few English associations continue to own and manage small numbers of homes in Wales.

  Burial Grounds
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding differences between the responsibilities of the Church in Wales and the Church of England in relation to the maintenance of closed burial grounds; and what action he proposes to take.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The only representations received on this subject have come from the hon. Gentleman: four letters since June 1990. My right hon. Friend does not propose to take any action at this stage.

  Health Line Wales
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the monthly amount of inquiries made to Health Line Wales since it was set up; and what independent evaluation he has commissioned of the value for money to be obtained from its operation.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Between 30 November 1992 and 30 June 1993, a total of 1,703 calls were received by Health Line Wales, broken down by month.
  702
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will indicate the proportion of patients to each neurologist in each district health authority and health trust area in Wales;

  (2) how many neurologists are based within each district health authority and health trust in Wales; and how many neurologists specialise in epilepsy.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on the number of neurologists and patients per neurologist is given in the table. It is not known centrally how many of the neurologists specialise in epilepsy.

  Number

  January

  208

  February

  580

  March

  374

  April

  252

  May

  196

  June

  93

  All calls are monitored and this information forms part of the full internal evaluation of the service currently being undertaken. It will include an external consumer satisfaction survey by independent market researchers of a random sample of the users of the service. The evaluation report is expected during early August.

  Young People
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of(a) 18-year-olds, (b) 17-year-olds and (c) 16-year-olds in January (i) 1991, (ii) 1992 and (iii) 1993; and if he will list for each year the number in full-time education in (1) schools, including maintained, independent and special schools and (2) further education, excluding those on YTS in colleges.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information required is given in the table.

  16 years

  17 years

  18 years

  1991

  Population1

  36,100

  36,800

  39,000

  Students in full time education:

  School2

  13,487

  8,957

  1,114

  Further education3

  8,047

  6,997

  3,940

  1992

  Population1

  34,400

  36,100

  36,600

  Students in full time education:

  School2

  14,276

  9,385

  1,228

  Further education3

  8,886

  8,076

  4,580

  703

  16 years

  17 years

  18 years

  1993

  Population1

  32,800

  34,500

  36,000

  Students in full time education:

  School2 4

  14,570

  9,538

  1,213

  Further education3 4

  8,943

  8,786

  5,095

  1 All population data refer to mid year (June). 1991 data are final mid year estimates for 1991—produced by OPCS. 1992 and 1993 data are 1991 based OPCS projections (based on provisional 1991 mid year estimates)—produced by Government Actuary's Department.

  2 At January each year, ages at 31 August the preceding year. Includes Sixth Form Colleges.

  3 Full time and sandwich courses at November of each academic year, ages at 31 August preceding each academic year.

  4 Data for 1993 are provisional.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial assistance he has granted to the Welsh Grant-maintained Schools Association; what assistance in kind has been granted to the association; what proposals he has for further grant-in-aid; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My Department does not provide assistance, financial or otherwise, to the Welsh Grant-Maintained Schools Association. However, officials have met members of the organisation to discuss a wide range of issues relating to the grant-maintained sector in Wales.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Offshore Oil and Gas Licensing
  Mr. Cormack
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to release information regarding the special conditions attached to blocks awarded in the 14th offshore oil and gas licensing round.

  Mr. Eggar
  The special conditions attached to blocks awarded in the 14th offshore licensing round are the most far reaching to date in terms of environmental protection. It is my intention that those conditions attached to licences in order to protect the environment should be made available. My officials are currently consulting the industry and those bodies which advised on the conditions regarding the separation of their commercially confidential elements from those which can be disclosed. I am anxious to release as much of this information as possible.

  Defence Industry (Reduction)
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what specific steps are being taken by his Department to assist those areas which have been affected by the recent reductions in the level of defence procurement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 13 July 1993]: My Department provides advice to defence companies on diversification opportunities, through the "Changing Tack" regional seminar programme and associated help manual. In addition, areas which are adversely affected by reductions in defence spending may be able to benefit from the EC Konver initiative, which will be worth some £15 million to the United Kingdom as a whole.
  704

  EC Funding
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those applicants which his Department has submitted or is planning to submit for funding under the Konver programme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 13 July 1993]: The Konver scheme has not yet progressed so far. European Community procedures for such schemes require general national programmes to be written and approved before individual applications can be considered.

  The European Commission has asked for proposed national programmes for Konver—not individual applications—to be sent to it by 31 August. Individual United Kingdom applications will be considered as soon as possible after the Commission has agreed the United Kingdom's Konver programme; I hope that that will be early in the autumn.

  Meanwhile, in order that the scheme may proceed in the United Kingdom as soon as possible after the Brussels procedures have been completed, the Government will invite draft applications in August, following completion of the consultation process now being undertaken by my Department.

ENVIRONMENT

  Industrial Pollution
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in his plans to conduct a survey of industrial pollution expenditure.

  Mr. Yeo
  We shall start work on the survey later this year.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the calculation used in determining the scheme tax band when assessing levels of council tax transitional relief entitlement; and if he will list both the scheme and actual figures for every band in each London borough.

  Mr. Baldry
  Scheme taxes used in the calculation of transitional relief are calculated by charging authorities in accordance with part II of schedule 2 to The Council Tax (Transitional Reduction Scheme) (England) Regulations—SI 1993/175. For the other information requested, I refer the hon. Member to the tables that have been placed in the Library following the answers given to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 24 May 1993,Official Report, column 369, and to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne North (Mr. Henderson) on 31 March 1993, Official Report, column 295.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration governed his decision on the timing of the release of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee's report on waste substitution; by what means the release of the report was publicised; what representations have been made to his Department before and after the release in regard to the timing and contents of the report; and what considerations
  705
  of commercial sensitivity underlay the decision to remove certain information from the published version of the report.

  Mr. Yeo
  This report was placed in the Library of the House following agreement on the commercially sensitive material which needed to be withheld, and a RWMAC press release was issued. There remain a number of points that require clarification and RWMAC will be asked to undertake further work on this and to report. This further report will be made available on the same basis.

  PSA BM Scotland
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the bids which were received in response to the competitive tender of the PSA BM business; and what was the basis on which the successful tender by SERCO was accepted.

  Mr. Baldry
  The following bidders were shortlisted as potential purchasers of PSA Building Management Scotland: a joint venture between Amey and Sir Alexander Gibb and partners; Serco; and a management buy-out team. Serco was chosen as the purchaser because it best met the criteria set by the Government. The main criteria were:

  the overall financial value of the offers

  bidders' financial status

  the credibility of bidders' long term future plans

  bidders' commitment to developing the business in the private sector

  bidders' intentions regarding staff and the prospects for staff

  bidders' response to the proposed secondment and pension arrangements

  bidders' commitment to ensuring continuity of service to existing customers"

  THORP
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, following his recent announcement of a further consultation period on THORP, if he will list(a) the relevant officials, (b) agencies and (c) consultants, who will be involved; and by what processes the consultation will be carried out.

  Mr. Yeo
  We intend to consult the same statutory consultees and other bodies who were recently consulted by the regulatory authorities, and to make the consultation documents available to the public in the same way.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) of 28 June,Official Report, column 392, whether the documents he intends to release in connection with a further round of consultation will be made available in translation in the language of the principal countries contracted for reprocessing at the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield.

  Mr. Yeo
  No.
  706

  Environmental Ideas
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to improve the communication of environmental ideas, problems and solutions to the public.

  Mr. Yeo
  My colleagues and I take every opportunity to raise public awareness of environmental matters. The Department runs information campaigns on specific issues and encourages and supports local authorities, industry and the voluntary sector in their public information work in the environmental field. In order to get the environmental debate on a sound factual footing, we published in October last year "The UK Environment", the first comprehensive compilation of statistically based information on our environment. Returns from readers show that it has been welcomed as a positive contribution to improving public understanding.

  Environmental Performance Indicators
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he or officials of his Department have had with the Chemical Industries Association on environmental performance indicators.

  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friend is due to meet the Chemical Industries Association on Tuesday 20 July and this is one of the topics proposed for discussion.

  Oil and Gas Exploration
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to produce environmental sensitivity maps of the United Kingdom continental shelf area indicating where the Government would not allow exploration for oil and gas.

  Mr. Yeo
  None: it is more efficient to consider these questions in relation to each area as and when the possibility of licences for exploration is considered.

  Warehouse Racking Systems
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to implement the recommendation of the Wood committee that warehouse racking systems should be deleted from class 4 of the Plant and Machinery Order.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are currently considering all the Wood committee's recommendations as part of the preparation for the 1995 rating revaluation.

DEFENCE

  Trident
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what information published by, or received from Nirex his Department based the reply to question 8 contained in his departmental memorandum to the Defence Committee, HC-Paper 549, page 38.

  Mr. Aitken
  The reply to the question referred to was based on information contained in confidential management documents produced by Nirex. Some of this information is also contained in the publicly available Nirex report No. 327, dated 21 October 1992.
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  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many copies of his Department's brochure, "Trident: Thirty Years of the Polaris Sales Agreement" have been published; at what cost; and to whom it has been disbributed.

  Mr. Aitken
  A total of 10,000 copies of the brochure "Trident: Thirty Years of the Polaris Sales Agreement" have been printed. Copies have been sent to, among others, the media, members of the public, local councillors and hon. Members. A number have been placed in the Library of the House. The overall cost of producing the brochure was some £26,000.

  Depleted Uranium Shells
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to his answers to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) of 1 July,Official Report, columns 630–31, when he expects to begin the environmental impact assessment at Eskmeals and Kirkcudbright. respectively, to which he refers; if Her Majesty's Health and Safety Executive produced a report following its 1986 visit to Kirkcudbright; and if Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution produced published reports following the visits to Eskmeals in 1989 and 1993 to which he refers.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department is already in the process of commissioning independent consultants to undertake an environmental impact assessment at both Eskmeals and Kirkcudbright. A suitable company will be engaged by late summer or early autumn. The Health and Safety Executive did produce a report following its 1986 visit to Kirkcudbright. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution did not produce published reports following its visits to Eskmeals in 1989 and 1993.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies his Department has conducted on the pyrophoric qualities of depleted uranium when distributed into particulate matter on impact in an armour-piercing shell.

  Mr. Aitken
  Neither the Ministry of Defence nor the Defence Research Agency has conducted studies or trials specifically addressing this phenomenon. Data available from United States sources indicate that it has no military significance.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 July,Official Report, column 639, if Her Majesty's Government made any submissions to the European Commission, pursuant to article 34 of chapter III of the Euratom treaty, when United Kingdom depleted uranium shells were tested at La Gramat in France in 1990.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Euratom treaty does not apply to military activities. There was therefore no requirement to make any submission to the European Commission regarding the testing of depleted uranium shells at Gramat in France.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when British Nuclear Fuels was awarded the contract to monitor for radioactivity at the Dundrennan test range at Kirkcudbright following the testing of depleted uranium shells; and if the monitoring reports have been published.
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  Mr. Aitken
  British Nuclear Fuel's contract to analyse samples from the Kirkcudbright range commenced on 1 May 1992 and was renewed earlier this year. As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) on 1 July 1993,Official Report, column 630, copies of the monitoring reports on the three ranges where DU rounds have been fired will be placed in the House of Commons Library once they have been checked to confirm that no classified information is included.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the tests for the armour-piercing capability of depleted uranium shells are conducted.

  Mr. Aitken
  All tests in the United Kingdom of the armour-piercing capability of DU shells are carried out in the enclosed butt facility, known locally as "VJ Battery", at Eskmeals. The tests at Kirkcudbright are to test the range and accuracy of DU rounds and no firings have ever been carried out against armour targets there.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 51, if he will set out (a) how many depleted uranium shells have been recovered following test firing into the Solway firth and (b) what monitoring has been undertaken of the Solway firth as to radioactive contamination from the shells.

  Mr. Aitken
  No DU rounds have been recovered from the Solway firth to date. Environmental monitoring arrangements are set out in the reply of my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces' to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) on 14 June,Official Report, column 474.

  Equipment Exhibition
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received concerning the Royal Navy and British Army equipment exhibition planned to be held in Aldershot between 5 and 10 September.

  Mr. Aitken
  We have received numerous written representations concerning the Royal Navy and British Army equipment exhibition both from hon. Members relaying the views of their constituents and direct from members of the public.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what tests and studies the chemical and biological establishment at Porton Down has carried out on the organophosphorous binary reactant QL; when these experiments were carried out; and for what purpose;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1992, Official Report, column 163, how many memoranda of understanding have been agreed in the field of chemical and biological defence, as opposed to offensive chemical and biological warfare, involving Britain and the United States of America since 1963; what was the subject and nature of each memorandum of understanding; and in which year each memorandum of understanding was agreed;

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1992, Official Report, column 162, what information his Department has

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  with the United States of America relating to technical work on its binary chemical weapon, M-687 155 mm artillery round; and how and when this information was exchanged;

  (4) in which years VX nerve gas was stored at the Ministry of Defence's establishment at Nancekuke in Cornwall; and why it was stored there;

  (5) pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1992, Official Report, column 160, when Australia and New Zealand joined the tripartite technical co-operation programme; for what reasons Britain agreed to each of these two countries joining the programme; and if information was exchanged under the programme on the subject of chemical and biological defence and warfare before 1967;

  (6) when the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down started and completed work on the AR5 aircrew respiratory system; in conjunction with which other countries the research and development of the system was carried out; under which specific defence agreement this collaboration was arranged; and if this system is now in service with any other countries;

  (7) pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1992, Official Report, column 162, how many exchange postings in relation to binary chemical weapons the United Kingdom and United States Governments arranged and in which years; and under which specific defence agreement these postings were arranged;

  (8) what experiments his Department carried out on Q fever; when these experiments were conducted; for what purpose the results of these studies were passed to either the United States of America, Canada or Australia; and why and when these results were passed to other countries;

  (9) if all research carried out by the Ministry of Defence's chemical and biological research establishment at Porton Down into LSD was conducted within the establishment itself;

  (10) what factors led to the signing of the 1980 memorandum of understanding between the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada on chemical and biological defence, as referred to in his answer of 21 May 1992, Official Report, column 255;

  (11) pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1992, Official Report, column 162, when the two memoranda of understanding referred to in the answer were signed; how many other memoranda of understanding relating to chemical and biological defence Britain has signed with Australia since 1963; and what they were about;

  (12) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Mr. Livingstone) on 1 December 1992, Official Report, column 164, if he will list the location, dates and participating countries at each of the subsequent tripartite conferences on toxicological warfare until the present day; and if he will outline the recommendations and conclusions of each of these conferences;

  (13) which British scientific research institutions have received stocks of toxins and biological agents from the United States of America Department of Defence since 1979; which toxins and biological agents have been transferred and when; which United States Department of Defence establishments have supplied these toxins and biological agents; under which defence agreements these toxins and biological agents were transferred; and for what purpose on each occasion;

  (14) on what dates, and in which publications, scientists on extramural research projects funded by the chemical
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  and biological defence establishment, Porton Down, published their findings in 1991, as referred to on page 15 of the establishment's annual report 1991–92;

  (15) for what reasons the Ministry of Defence delayed dismantling its nerve gas agent plant at Nancekuke, Cornwall after the Ministry had decided to decommission the plant; what tasks were carried out at the site in the intervening years between the decommissioning and dismantling; and if these tasks were connected to the United Kingdom's chemical and biological defence programme;

  (16) pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1992, Official Report, column 164, if he will publish the official name and details of the informal agreement under which the 15th tripartite conference on toxicological warfare was organised; and if this agreement still exists;

  (17) how many members of the 1985 independent advisory group on Gruinard island have since been on scientific advisory committees serving the Ministry of Defence or the the Porton Down chemical and biological warfare establishment;

  (18) what experiments his Department has carried out on the chemical agent B staphylococcal enterotoxin; when and where these tests and studies were carried out; for what purpose; when the results of these experiments were first exchanged with the United States of America, Canada or Australia; and if this exchange occurred under the arrangements of the technical co-operation programme.

  Mr. Hanley
  These are matters for the chief executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment under its framework document and I have asked him to reply.

  Letters from Graham Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 16 July 1993:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him what tests and studies the chemical and biological establishment at Porton Down has carried out on the organophosphorus binary reactant QL; when these experiments were carried out; and for what purpose (Question 12, Order Paper, 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out research to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the effectiveness of British protective measures evaluated.3. As part of this work, it is necessary to evaluate the potential hazard from nerve agents such as VX. In order to do this, work was carried out at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Nancekuke from early 1960 to about 1968 to study the transesterification process involving QL as part of the study into the nerve gas VX.1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him, pursuant to his Answer of 1 December 1992, Official Report, column 163, how many memoranda of understanding have been agreed in the field of chemical and biological defence, as opposed to offensive chemical and biological warfare, involving Britain and the United States of America since 1963; what was the subject and nature of each memorandum of understanding; and in which year each memorandum of understanding was agreed (Question 13, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.2. The United Kingdom abandoned offensive work on chemical and biological weapons in the late 1950s and since then the role of the Chemical and Biological Defence

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  Establishment has been to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them.3. The following agreements in the field of chemical and biological defence involving Britain and the United States of America have been agreed since 1963;

  (a) The United Kingdom-United States of America-Canada Memorandum of Understanding on chemical and biological defence was signed in 1980 and addresses research, development, production and procurement of chemical and biological defence equipment.

  (b) The NATO Army Armaments Group (NAAG) Panel VII on nuclear, biological and chemical defence involving both Britain and the United States of America was set up in 1967. This addresses the standardisation of NBC equipment and procedures.

  (c) The United Kingdom-United States-CanadaAustra lia American British Canadian Australian (ABCA) Armies agreed The Basic Standardisation Agreement in 1964 with the aims of ensuring the fullest cooperation and collaboration between the Armies, the highest possible degree of interoperability through standardisation and the greatest possible economy through the use of combined resources and effort. This includes a group known as the Quadripartite Working Group (QWG) which has a panel on NBC defence.

  (d) The Technical Cooperation Programme which was set up in 1958 activated its Sub Group Eon chemical and biological defence in 1967 which has the aim of promoting collaboration in chemical and biological defence research.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him, pursuant to his Answer of 1 December 1992, Official Report, column 162, what information his Department has with the United States of America relating to technical work on its binary chemical weapon, M-687 155 mm artillery round; and how and when this information was exchanged (Question 15, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out research to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the effectiveness of British protective measures evaluated.

  3. The United States of America has provided technical information to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down which has enabled us to evaluate the potential hazard to the United Kingdom Armed Forces should a potential aggressor State utilize biological binary weapons.

  4. This information has been provided during the course of the development of the M-687 binary artillery round as part of the regular briefings provided by the United States on their chemical and biological programme. Much of this information has been in the public domain and has been provided to the United Kingdom for background information.

  5. As the United Kingdom abandoned all offensive work on chemical weapons in the late 1950s, there has been no collaboration with the United States of America on the M-687 binary chemical artillery round.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him in which years VX nerve gas was stored at the Ministry of Defence's establishment at Nancekuke in Cornwall; and why it was stored there (Question 16, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. Samples of VX nerve agent were stored at Nancekuke between 1957 and 1976 for studies into the storage stability of
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  this agent so as to assist in our evaluation of the potential hazard to the United Kingdom Armed Forces should an aggressor produce such materials.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him pursuant to his Answer of 1 December 1992, Official Report, column 160, when Australia and New Zealand joined the Tripartite Technical Co-operation Programme; for what reasons Britain agreed to each of these two countries joining the programme; and if information was exchanged under the programme on the subject of chemical and biological defence and warfare before 1967 (Question 19, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. Australia joined the Tripartite Cooperation Programme in 1965 and, since it was no longer a tripartite organisation, the name of TTCP was changed to The Technical Cooperation Programme thus retaining the same initials. In 1969 New Zealand also joined The Technical Cooperation Programme. Our records do not indicate the reasons why the United Kingdom, US and Canada agreed to each of the two countries joining the programme.

  3. Information on chemical and biological defence was exchanged prior to 1967 under the American, British, Canadian and Australian (ABCA) agreement and before that under the close cooperation which existed between the Allies during World War II.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him when the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down started and completed work on the AR5 Aircrew Respiratory System; in conjunction with what other countries the research and development of the system was carried out; under which specific defence agreement this collaboration was arranged; and if this system is now in service with any other countries (Question 21, Order, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down started work on the AR5 Aircrew Respiratory System project in 1976 whan the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment provided advice to the lead Establishments of the Defence Research Agency Farnborough (then the Royal Aircraft Establishment Farnborough) and the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine on overall NBC philosophy, materials and testing. CBDE has continued to provide advice in support of the in-service deployment of the AR5 Aircrew Respiratory System.

  3. No other countries were involved in the development of the AR5 which is currently in-service with the UK Armed Forces and is also used by the US Navy and Canadian forces.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him pursuant to his Answer of 1 December 1992, Official Report, column 162, how many exchange postings in relation to binary chemical weapons the United Kingdom and United States governments arranged and in which years; and under which specific defence agreement these postings were arranged (Question 23, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. As the United Kingdom abandoned work on offensive chemical and biological weapons in the late 1950s, there have been no exchange postings in relation to binary chemical weapons between the United Kingdom and the United States Governments as the US binary programme began in the 1970s.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him what experiments his Department carried out on Q fever, when these experiments were conducted; for what purpose the results of these studies were passed to either the United States of America, Canada or Australia; and why and when these results were passed to other countries (Question 27, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

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  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out research to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the effectiveness of British protective measures evaluated.

  3. The Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment has carried out research on Coxiella Burnettii, the causative agent of Q-Fever. This work was carried out in the late 1980s and has been directed at the development of identification techniques for the organism based on gene probe and antibody technologies. The results of this work have formed part of the programme of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment which is the subject of collaboration with the United States, Canada and Australia under The Technical Cooperation Programme and with the United States and Canada under the Memorandum of Understanding on Chemical and Biological Defence.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him if all research carried out by the Ministry of Defence's Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down into LSD was conducted within the establishment itself (Question 30, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out research to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the effectiveness of British protective measures evaluated.

  3. The majority of the work at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment into the evaluation of the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is carried out within the Establishment. Extramural research contracts are placed with universities and other higher education institutes and industry when these outside bodies have an appropriate expertise that is not available within the Establishment and which compliments the expertise of the Establishment.

  4. Insofar as the research into LSD is concerned, most of this work was carried out within the Establishment. Some complementary research was carried out in a university under extramural research contract to the Establishment.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him what factors led to the signing of the 1980 memorandum of understanding between the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada on chemical and biological defence, as referred to in his Answer of 21 May 1992, Official Report, column 255 (Question 31, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out research to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the effectiveness of British protective measures evaluated.

  3. The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention was signed in 1972 and entered into force in 1975. As it was then perceived that the threat from biological weapons had reduced, steps were taken in both the United Kingdom and the United States to reduce their biological defence programmes. There was also a reduction in chemical defence work in the 1970s.

  4. As a consequence, it was recognised in both the United Kingdom and the United States that there would be mutual benefits from close collaboration in the fields of chemical and biological defence. Consequently, the Memorandum of Understanding was drawn up between the United Kingdom and the United States together with Canada and signed in
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  1980 with the objective of integrating the chemical and biological defence programmes of the three countries to the maximum possible extent.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him, pursuant to his Answer of 1 December 1992, Official Report, column 162, when the two memoranda of understanding referred to in the answer were signed; how many other memoranda of understanding relating to chemical and biological defence Britain has signed with Australia since 1963; and what they were about (Question 32, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The Memorandum of Agreement between the UK and Australia relating to a joint programme of research, investigation and material testing at the Joint Tropical Trials Research Establishment (JTTRE) was signed in October 1977 and this superseded the Joint Tropical Research Unit Memorandum of Understanding signed in December 1970 which in turn replaced an earlier Memorandum of Understanding in 1962 setting up the Joint Tropical Research Unit.

  3. There have been three other agreements with Australia relating to chemical and biological defence since 1963:

  (a) The Technical Cooperation Programme set up in 1958 under which chemical and biological defence was addresed in Sub Group E which was created in 1967. Australia joined The Technical Cooperation Programme in 1965 and information on research into chemical and biological defence has been exchanged with Australia under this agreement since Sub Group E was created in 1967.

  (b) The United Kingdom-United States-Canada-Australia American British Canadian Australian (ABCA) Armies agreed The Basic Standardisation Agreement in 1964 with the aims of ensuring the fullest cooperation and collaboration between the Armies, the highest possible degree of interoperability through standardisation and the greatest possible economy through the use of combined resources and effort. This includes a group known as the Quadripartite Working panel on NBC defence.

  (c) The United Kingdom United States and Canada Air Standization Coordinating Committee (ASCC) was extended to include Australia in 1964; the ASCC has a working party addressing CB defence.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Brent East on 1 December 1992, Official Report, column 164, if he will list the location, dates and participating countries at each of the subsequent tripartite conferences on toxicological warfare until the present day; and if he will outline the recommendations and conclusions of each of these conferences (Question 34, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The locations, dates and participating countries at each of the subsequent tripartite conference on toxicological warfare until the present day are as follows:

  (a) Fifteenth Conference held in the United Kingdom in 1960 and attended by representatives of Canada, United Kingdom and United States.

  (b) Sixteenth Conference held in Canada in 1962 and attended by representatives of Canada, United Kingdom and United States.

  (c) Seventeenth Conference held in the USA in 1964 and attended by representatives of Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and United States.

  3. In 1965 the America, British, Canadian and Australian (ABCA) Armies Group reviewed the effectiveness of these toxicological conferences. This led to their being subsumed into the Technical Cooperation Programme under which Sub Group E on Chemical and Biological Defence was created in 1967.

  4. It is not practicable to outline the recommendations and conclusions of each of these conferences as these were the subject of trinational and, in the 17th meeting quadrinational

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  agreement. It would be necessary to seek the agreement of all the countries concerned to the release of the recommendations and conclusions of these conferences.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him which British scientific research institutions have received stocks of toxins and biological agents from the United States of America Department of Defense since 1979; which toxins and biological agents have been transferred and when; which United States Department of Defense establishments have supplied these toxins and biological agents; under which defence agreements these toxins and biological agents were transferred; and for what purpose on each occasion (Question 36, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to have available small quantities of the materials which may be used as chemical or biological warfare agents by a potential aggressor.

  3. It is not possible for us to comment on what toxins and biological agents may have been received by other British scientific research institutions from the United States of America Department of Defense since 1979. This reply is necessarily limited to the Ministry of Defence scientific research institutions.

  4. The quantities involved are very small and in no way could be regarded as stocks of agent. Small quantities of the following toxins and micro-organisms which might be used by a potential aggressor as biological agents have been provided:

  (a) Shellfish toxin (saxitoxin) from the then US Army Chemical Research and Development Center in 1982

  (b) Clostridium perfringens betatoxin from the US Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases in 1992.

  (c) Bacillus anthracis strains from the US Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases in 1985. The strains received did not contain the toxin plasmid and are regarded as attenuated strains.

  5. In addition other materials including some vaccines and simulants have been transferred which are neither toxins or biological agents. All the materials transferred have been to support collaboration into the provision of effective protective measures.

  6. These materials have been supplied under The Technical Cooperation Programme and under the Memorandum of Understanding on Chemical and Biological Defence.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him on what dates, and in which publications, scientists on extramural research projects funded by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, published their findings in 1991, as referred to on page 15 of the Establishment's annual report 1991–92 (Question 39, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. It is not the practice of the Ministry of Defence on both national and personal security grounds to identify links between the Ministry of Defence and the contractors engaged on extramural research. It is left to the individual contractors to decide whether or not to disclose their contracts with the Ministry of Defence. I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful on this occasion.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him for what reasons the Ministry of Defence delayed dismantling its nerve gas agent plant at Nancekuke, Cornwall after the Ministry had decided to decommission the plant; what tasks were carried out at the site in the intervening years between the decommissioning and dismantling; and if these tasks were connected to the United Kingdom's chemical and biological defence programme
  716
  (Question 41, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. Work on the pilot scale nerve agent plant at Nancekuke was completed and the plant decontaminated in January 1956 before the decision was taken to decommission the plant later in that year. The plant was partially dissembled to allow other work to be carried out on the site. This other work included tasks related to the chemical and biological defence programme such as the manufacture of a dye for detector paper, a chemical needed to produce P2S, which is an ingredient in medical countermeasures against nerve agents, as well as research work aimed at determining whether other nerve agents presented a hazard to British Armed Forces.

  3. The plant was not finally dismantled until the closure of Nancekuke in the late 1970s because of the absence until then of the necessary resources as great care was taken to avoid any hazard to the staff involved in the dismantling work and to ensure that any toxic chemicals were safely disposed of.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him, pursuant to his Answer of 1 December 1992, Official Report, column 164, if he will publish the official name and details of the informal agreement under which the 15th Tripartite Conference on Toxicological Warfare was organised; and if this agreement still exists (Question 44, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Exeuctive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The 15th Tripartite Conference on Toxicological Warfare had its origins in informal agreements of 1946 which in turn had their roots in World War II allied cooperation between the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. Whilst the agreement which led to the Toxicological Warfare conferences no longer exists, its spirit continues in respect of the cooperation between United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand under the Technical Cooperation Programme in the activities under Sub Group E on Chemical and Biological Defence. This transition from the Tripartite and eventually Quadripartite Conferences occurred in the mid 1960s.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him how many members of the 1985 Independent Advisory Group on Gruinard Island have since been on scientific advisory committees serving the Ministry of Defence or the Porton Down chemical and biological warfare establishment. (Question 47, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The Independent Advisory Group on Gruinard Island was established by the then Chief Scientific Adviser of the Ministry of Defence writing to the President of the Royal Society to invite him to nominate a Chairman for the Independent Advisory Group. The Chairman of the Advisory Group then decided who he wished to have on his Advisory Group and he chose its membership which included a representative from the Scottish Home and Health Department. At the time of their appointment, none of the members of the Independent Advisory Group on Gruinard Island were on or had been on scientific advisory committees to the Ministry of Defence or to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down.

  3. The Independent Advisory Group on Gruinard Island carried out its work during the period 1985 to 1989 which resulted in Gruinard Island being returned to its original owners in May 1990. Since becoming members of the Independent Advisory Group on Gruinard Island, one member of the Group has served as a member of the Chemical and Biological Defence Board of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council and subsequently as a member of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him what experiments his Department has carried out on the chemical agent B staphylococcal enterotoxin; when and where these tests and studies were carried out; for what purpose; when the results of these experiments were first exchanged with the United States of America, Canada and Australia; and if this exchange occurred under the arrangements of the Technical

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  Co-operation Programme (Question 48, Order Paper, 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out research to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the effectiveness of British protective measures evaluated.

  3. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B is a potent toxin produced by the bacterium staphylococcus aureus. The toxin causes vomiting and diarrhoea and is known to be highly active when delivered by the aerosol route and for these reasons, the toxin is considered to be a potential biological agent which might be used against the United Kingdom Armed Forces.

  4. The Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment has carried out studies on staphylococcal enterotoxin B to assess the potential hazard to the United Kingdom Armed Forces and to devise effective protective measures such as detection and medical countermeasures against this toxin. The results of this work have been exchanged with the United States, Canada and Australia under the Technical Cooperation Programme since 1979 and also with the United States and Canada under the Memorandum of Understanding on Chemical and Biological Defence since 1980.

  Defence Scientific Advisory Council
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name all the chairmen and chairwomen of the Defence Scientific Advisory Board since 1984.

  Mr. Aitken
  I assume that the hon. Member refers to the Defence Scientic Advisory Council. Its chairmen since 1984 have been:

  1981–1984 Mr. P. E. Trier

  1985–1991 Professor Sir J. I. G. Cadogan

  1991–present Professor D. E. N. Davies

  Army Recruitment
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department expects to implement plans for gender-free physical testing for recruitment to the Army.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is currently planned to introduce gender-free testing of Army recruits in April 1995.

  Royal Family
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to his Department of expenditure in support of the royal family in respect of(a) the Royal Yacht, (b) the Queen's Flight, (c) royal flights in civil aircraft and (d) equerries for the 1992–93 financial year.

  Mr. Hanley
  Expenditure in 1993–93 was as follows:

  £ thousands

  (a) Royal Yacht

  8,361

  (b) Queen's Flight

  7,590

  (c) Royal flights in civil aircraft

  9

  (d) Equerries

  170

  Note: The figure for The Queen's Flight is a total operating cost. The flight is not exclusively used by the Royal Family, but it is not possible to allocate expenditure to users without disproportionate cost.
  718

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 1 July Official Report, column 629, what is the proposed United Kingdom contribution to the 1994 budget for the preparatory commission for the organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons; and how much will be charged to the estimates for 1993–94.

  Mr. Hanley
  The executive secretary intends to present his 1994 budget at the September plenary session of the preparatory commission of the chemical weapons convention. Until then it is not possible to give accurate assessments of the United Kingdom contribution and of how much will be charged to the estimates for 1993–94.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a full disclosure of the details of Britain's past chemical warfare activities, under the terms of the chemical weapons convention.

  Mr. Hanley
  After United Kingdom ratification and the convention has entered into force.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has of the existence of(a) Serbian and (b) Croatian regular forces in the territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  Mr. Hanley
  We are aware of media reports claiming the presence of Serbian and Croatian regular forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Any information gathered by UNPROFOR troops about force composition would be passed through the United Nations chain of command, ultimately to the Security Council. As a member of the Security Council, the United Kingdom receives information reported by UNPROFOR.

  Military Tasks
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to provide more detailed information on the estimated costs of the individual force elements allocated to military tasks, as described in Cm. 2270, page 23.

  Mr. Hanley
  There are no plans to publish detailed information on the estimated costs of force elements.

  Tornado
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role Tornado F3 aircraft and regular infantry batallions have in the provision of a strategic and substrategic nuclear capability.

  Mr. Hanley
  Tornado F3 aircraft are required as part of the forces necessary to safeguard the deployment of the deterrent. Regular infantry battalions are required as part of the forces necessary to safeguard the physical security of nuclear assets and the command and control infrastructure. In both cases, the units involved are normally available to carry out other tasks in peacetime.

  Surface-to-Air Missiles
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sea-launched medium-range surface-to-air missile capability is currently operational.
  719
  Mr. Hanley
  RN carriers and anti-air warfare destroyers are currently armed with the Seadart medium-range surface-to-air missile system.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what ground-launched medium-range surface-to-air missile capability is currently operational.

  Mr. Hanley
  There is no ground-launched medium-range surface-to-air missile currently in operational service with United Kingdom Forces. RAF Tornado F3 aircraft provide the United Kingdom with a medium-range air defence capability, and these are supplemented by Royal Navy destroyers and Sea Harriers. A shorter range ground-launched surface-to-air missile capability is provided by the Rapier and Javelin air defence systems.

  Queen's Flight
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent consideration he has given to the procurement of new aircraft for the Queen's flight.

  Mr. Hanley
  There are no current plans to procure new aircraft for the Queen's flight.

  Diego Garcia
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current size of the naval party based at Diego Garcia.

  Mr. Hanley
  The party consists of three officers and 38 ratings and marines.

  Service Units
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether information on the average annual running costs of service units has contributed to the information given in Cm. 2270, page 23.

  Mr. Hanley
  The estimated force element costs referred to in "Defending Our Future"—Cm. 2270—were derived from a wide range of data sources, including, where available and appropriate, running cost information.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the current average annual running costs of all those units listed in Cm. 2270, page 22, table 3.

  Mr. Hanley
  Running cost information could be provided for those units listed at page 22 of "Defending Our Future" only at disproportionate cost. Information on running costs for each top-level Budget is set out in the supply estimates—Cm. 495–1.

  Rapid Reaction Corps
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts concerning the future use of the Allied Command Europe rapid reaction corps in United Nations military operations.

  Mr. Hanky
  NATO Defence Ministers agreed at the December 1992 defence planning committee meeting, that support for United Nations and CSCE peacekeeping should be included among the missions of NATO forces and headquarters. In principle, therefore, the Allied 720
  Command Europe rapid reaction corps would in future be available for such support to the United Nations in common with other NATO formations.

  Defence Staff
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will publish the compendium of staff targets and staff requirements, referred to in Cm. 2270, page 73.

  Mr. Aitken
  We plan to publish the compendium as a special issue of the "Defence Contracts Bulletin", on 21 July. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether compendium of staff targets and staff requirements that he is due to publish will include in-service dates.

  Mr. Aitken
  Yes.

  Departmental Land
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much land his Department proposes to(a) purchase and (b) dispose of in the coming year.

  Mr. Hanley
  Purchase of land is carried out on an opportunity basis once a landowner has indicated a willingness to sell a particular area of land. Similarly, we do not maintain a record of the area of land we expect to dispose of as changes in site boundaries often occur before a property or piece of land is finally sold.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was his Department's total land holding in the United Kingdom for each of the past five years.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department's total land holding in the United Kingdom for each of the past five years was:

  1 April 1993 242,542 hectares

  1 April 1992 243,333 hectares

  1 April 1991 242,865 hectares

  1 April 1990 240,613 hectares

  1 April 1989 241,300 hectares

  Service Accommodation
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards discount sales of Ministry of Defence flats to service personnel leaving the forces.

  Mr. Hanley
  Surplus flats in Scotland are wherever possible offered for sale to service personnel through the services' discount scheme. This scheme is open to all eligible service personnel, not just those leaving the forces. Surplus flats in England and Wales are not offered for sale through the discount scheme because of different property laws, and are instead offered for sale to housing associations in exchange for nomination rights on a percentage of the properties to house those leaving the services over the next few years. If sales cannot be agreed on this basis, the properties are offered for sale by tender on the open market.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards residence by separated wives of service personnel with children in Ministry of Defence married quarters not required for use.
  721
  Mr. Hanley
  If the separation arises because the requirements of the service prevent a wife and family accompanying her husband on a posting, she will be allowed to remain in her married quarter for up to 12 months. If a service man is posted away for a longer period, his wife will normally be given the opportunity to join him. If she chooses not to, she must vacate her quarter within three months. If there are special or compassionate circumstances, which prevent her from joining her husband, she may be offered a surplus married quarter, subject to availability, in the area of her choice.

  If the separation arises because of the breakdown of the marriage, an estranged wife will be allowed to remain in her married quarter for a period of 93 days, to allow her time to find alternative accommodation. If the marital breakdown occurs overseas, the wife will he moved at service expense to an address of her choice in the United Kingdom. If a wife has no home to go to, she will be offered a surplus married quarter in the United Kingdom, where she may stay for up to 93 days.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of providing caretaking for empty Ministry of Defence married quarters over the past year.

  Mr. Hanley
  The cost of providing caretaking for some 2,000 surplus married quarters in the process of being sold amounted to £270,000 in financial year 1992–93. Caretaking costs of empty properties which are not surplus to requirements are not separately identifiable.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel left the forces in 1992.

  Mr. Hanley
  34,254 personnel left the services in 1992 and 19,292 joined.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Depleted Uranium Shells
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Ministry has made of the environmental effects of the test firing of depleted uranium shells(a) on land-based test ranges and (b) on the sea in regard to implications for flora and fauna of the test localities.

  Mr. Aitken
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces' reply to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) on 14 June, Official Report, column 474.

SCOTLAND

  Forest Charter
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action has been taken by Her Majesty's Government in the light of the initiatives produced by the United Kingdom forest charter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The issues raised in the forest charter, a statement produced last November by the United Kingdom Forests Network, are being considered in the preparation of the United Kingdom's national plan for the 722
  implemtation of the forest principles agreed in Rio. The views of non-governmental organisations will be sought later this year before the plan is completed.

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends putting out to tender the contract to construct the new maternity unit at Glasgow royal infirmary which will serve eastern Glasgow; what construction timescale is involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 13 July 1993]: Plans for the development of a new maternity unit at Glasgow royal infirmary are currently the subject of detailed consideration and at this time no formal submission for approval to build has been submitted.

  It is primarily a matter for individual health bodies to progress building projects from approval to build through to the tender stage and the timing of construction work is dependent on this process.

  Scotland in the Union Initiative
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what public bodies he envisages relocating functions and staff within Scotland as part of the Scotland in the Union initiative; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 7 July 1993]: The White Paper "Scotland in the Union" (Cm 2225) indicates that the Government intend to seek opportunities for further dispersal both of parts of the Scottish Office and of non-departmental public bodies for which I am responsible. I announced on 29 June our decision to relocate part of the Scottish tourist board to Inverness and we shall continue to seek to identify other units or bodies which it would be operationally feasible and financially attractive to relocate when practical opportunities occur.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average daily prison population at the latest date for which figures are available and in the previous five years.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: I have asked Mr. E. W. Frizzell, the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to arrange for a reply to be given to the hon. Member.

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 16 July 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Question asking what was the average daily prison population at the latest date for which figures are available and in the previous 5 years.
  On 25 June 1993 the actual population was 5772. The average population for the current financial year so far, ie 1 April 1993 to 25 June 1993 is 5827. The average population for the five previous financial years is as follows:

  Number

  1991–92

  4,897

  1990–91

  4,738

  1989–90

  4,886

  723

  Number

  1988–89

  5,168

  1987–88

  5,421

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

  Theatres
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the overall amount, and proportions of theatre groups' incomes derived from ticket

  All figures are in £ at actual prices

  Company

  Earned Income

  Local Authority

  SAC

  Sponsorship

  £

  Per cent.

  £

  Per cent.

  £

  Per cent.

  £

  Per cent.

  Borderline

  1981–82

  46,005

  28

  31,930

  20

  83,500

  52

  —

  —

  1991–92

  142,112

  43

  36,840

  11

  149,025

  45

  —

  —

  Brunton theatre

  1981–821

  2,144

  6

  19,038

  54

  14,000

  40

  —

  —

  1991–92

  88,344

  35

  117,270

  47

  41,468

  16

  2,650

  1

  Byre theatre

  1981–82

  47,818

  49

  15,000

  15

  35,000

  36

  —

  —

  1991–92

  105,025

  44

  465,120

  20

  84,114

  35

  1,900

  1

  Citizens theatre

  1981–82

  119,679

  25

  112,475

  24

  240,000

  51

  —

  —

  1991–92

  428,549

  32

  408,666

  31

  490,272

  37

  —

  —

  Communicado

  1981–824

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1991–92

  70,738

  29

  26,500

  11

  126,260

  51

  21,000

  9

  Dundee Rep

  1981–822

  —

  —

  30,696

  —

  78,000

  —

  —

  —

  1991–92

  345,749

  46

  189,855

  25

  215,684

  28

  4,060

  0·5

  Perth theatre

  1981–82

  114,730

  37

  78,918

  25

  118,000

  38

  —

  —

  1991–92

  691,000

  59

  231,000

  20

  214,988

  18

  41,000

  3

  Pitlochry festival theatre

  1981–82

  214,376

  56

  47,807

  13

  120,000

  31

  —

  —

  1991–92

  640,524

  70

  70,300

  8

  197,327

  21

  8,000

  1

  Royal Lyceum

  1981–82

  173,936

  28

  126,000

  21

  310,000

  51

  —

  —

  1991–923

  554,780

  36

  467,000

  31

  471,051

  31

  37,960

  2

  1 The Brunton theatre project was first funded in 1981–82.

  2 No performances, as the theatre was being built.

  3 Theatre closed for renovation, April-September.

  4 Not in existence.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Israel
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the admission of Israel to one of the regional groups at the United Nations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We believe Israel should be allowed into the Asian group of the United Nations. But until they are, we would not object to Israeli membership of the Western European and others group of the United Nations if there were a consensus among other member states.
  724
  sales grant aid, and private sector sponsorship in 1992 and 1982, including any ventures which are wholly commercial in character.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have been asked to reply.

  I understand that the hon. Member's question relates to theatres in Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally. The following figures, provided by the Scottish Arts Council, relate to those drama companies that receive revenue funding from the council. No information is held on wholly commercial productions.

  Diplomatic Service
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what shrinkage has taken place of posts in Her Majesty's diplomatic service in Latin America in the last 12 months; and if he will pubish a table of numbers of United Kingdom-based diplomatic, aid and trade staff in each Latin American country for the most recent available date.

  Mr. Goodlad
  There has been no reduction in the number of British missions in Latin America in the last 12 months. The number of United Kingdom-based staff was reduced from 162 to 150 in the 12 months up to June 1993.

  The table shows the number of diplomatic service staff in each post in June 1993, together with the man years dedicated to aid and trade.
  725

  Country

  Post

  United Kingdom-based staff 1993

  Trade 1993

  Aid 1993

  Argentina

  Buenos Aires

  16

  2·00

  0·05

  Belize

  Belmopan

  6

  0·40

  1·15

  Bolivia

  La Paz

  4

  0·20

  0·00

  Brazil

  Brasilia

  17

  0·70

  0·05

  Rio de Janeiro

  5

  1·25

  0·00

  Sao Paulo

  4

  2·00

  0·00

  Chile

  Santiago

  14

  2·00

  0·15

  Colombia

  Bogota

  10

  1·45

  0·20

  Costa Rica

  San Jose

  4

  1·10

  0·80

  Cuba

  Havana

  10

  0·35

  0·05

  Ecuador

  Quito

  5

  0·65

  0·50

  El Salvador

  San Salvador

  2

  0·05

  0·05

  Guatemala

  Guatemala City

  6

  0·20

  0·25

  Honduras

  Tegucigalpa

  2

  0·15

  0·35

  Mexico

  Mexico City

  17

  2·30

  0·40

  Nicaragua

  Managua

  2

  0·25

  0·55

  Panama

  Panama City

  2

  0·35

  0·00

  Paraguay

  Asuncion

  2

  0·45

  0·05

  Peru

  Lima

  6

  0·45

  0·30

  Uruguay

  Montevideo

  4

  0·30

  0·25

  Venezuela

  Caracas

  12

  2·00

  0·00

  Overall Totals

  150

  18·60

  5·15

  Entry Clearance Staff
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many entry clearance application staff in each high commission or application point in the Indian sub-continent are(a) men and (b) women; and what facilities exist for female applications to be interviewed by women staff.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The number of(a) men and (b) women entry clearance application staff in each of the posts in the Indian sub-continent are;

  Men

  Women

  Islamabad

  30

  17

  Karachi

  5

  7

  New Delhi

  10

  17

  Bombay

  11

  24

  Madras

  2

  4

  Calcutta

  2

  3

  Colombo

  4

  6

  Kathmandu

  2

  2

  Dhaka

  1—

  1—

  1 Figures not available.

  Facilities exist at all these posts for female applicants to be interviewed by female staff or to have a female officer present at the interview if they so wish.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with the Secretary-General of the United Nations as to the next action to be taken by the United Nations following the breakdown of the United Nations-sponsored talks on Cyprus; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what discussions he has had with the Turkish Government following the recent breakdown on the United Nations-sponsored talks on the future of Cyprus; and if he will make a statement;
  726
  (3) what discussions he has had with the Greek Government following the breakdown of the United Nations-sponsored talks on Cyprus.; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what discussions he has had with President Clerides following the breakdown of the United Nations-sponsored talks on Cyprus; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) if he will raise the issue of Cyprus during the forthcoming Commonwealth conference of Heads of Government in Cyprus in October; and if he will make a statement;

  (6) what actions he proposes to take with the Secretary-General of the United Nations to encourage sucessful continuation of the talks on the future of Famagusta; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The intercommunal dispute in Cyprus is the subject of intensive negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General. This process has our full support and it is important not to start new initiatives that may confuse or cut across the United Nations effort.

  On 30 June the United Nations Secretary-General issued a report detailing the progress of the latest round of talks and proposed confidence-building measures which would bring both Varosha and Nicosia airport under United Nations control. Our permanent representative to the United Nations, in his capacity as President of the Security Council, replied by letter on 7 July asking the Secretary-General to continue his efforts and report again in September. The latter's special representative is at present visiting the area.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed the way forward with Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Inonu on 14 July and will take further opportunities to promote the Secretary-General's mission between now and September.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions during the course of 1993 the British high commissioner to Cyprus has visited northern Cyprus; whom he has met during his visits; and what was the purpose of each visit.
  727
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  One of the duties of Her Majesty's high commissioner in Cyprus is to maintain contact with the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community in order to promote and protect British consular or other interests. In this context he and members of his staff are frequently in northern Cyprus.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Nations monitors are allocated for duties in Kosovo; how many United Nations monitors are currently on duty in Kosovo; from which countries they originate; what plans there are to increase United Nations monitors in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are no United Nations monitors allocated for duties or currently on duty in Kosovo. However, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones) on 14 July, column 556, on the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe missions in Serbia.

  Mr. Sodagar Hussain
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British post in Islamabad received a copy of a letter from the hon. Member for Bradford, West to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, concerning the case of Mr. Sodagar Hussain—IMP H 312018/2 (S); Po 13775/93; what reconsideration the entry clearance officer has given to this case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The high commission in Islamabad has not yet received the letter from the hon. Member concerning Mr. Sodagar Hussain which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office undertook to send in his letter to the hon. Member of 5 July.

  I shall arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit as soon as the entry clearance officer in Islamabad has reviewed the case in the light of the hon. Member's letter.

  Mrs. Assia Andrabi
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the detention of Mrs. Assia Andrabi, her husband, and baby daughter, at Srinagar airport in Kashmir by Indian security forces on 5 February; if he will ask the Indian authorities for information about where Mrs. Andrabi, the leader of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, a voluntary women's organisation in Kashmir, is detained; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have received no previous representations concerning Mrs. Andrabi and her family. From our initial inquiries we understand that they are being held in Srinagar. The high commission in New Delhi has requested details of the whereabouts of Mrs. Andrabi, her husband arid daughter, from the Indian authorities. I will write to the hon. Member once the response of the Indian authorities has been received.
  728

  Bosnia
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries which have designated troops to protect protected areas in Bosnia; how many troops each country has committed; when those forces are expected to arrive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Offers received, and under consideration, by the United Nations of forces to deter attacks against safe areas include:

  Numbers

  Turkey

  1—

  Malaysia

  1,500

  Pakistan

  3,000

  Bangladesh

  1,220

  Tunisia

  1,000

  Nordic Contingent

  900

  Jordan

  900

  Holland

  200

  Norway

  2—

  1 Up to a Brigade (about 4,000)

  2 Construction Unit (strength unknown)

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Nations is expected to finalise detailed rules of engagement for military personnel engaged in the protection of protected areas in Bosnia; to whom those detailed rules of engagement will be communicated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Ground forces deployed with UNPROFOR to deter attacks against safe areas will operate under existing UNPROFOR rules of engagement. Rules of engagement for air support of safe areas have been developed by NATO in conjunction with UNPROFOR and are being forwarded to the United Nations and troop contributors for agreement. All personnel are fully briefed on the UNPROFOR rules of engagement in force.

  Mr. Graham Noble
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 30 June,Official Report, column 501, what further information he has obtained about Mr. Graham Noble, of Brighton, who is detained by Serbs in the Krajina; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Mr. Noble has been charged by the Krajina Serbs with espionage. It is unclear at this stage exactly how long it will take to investigate his case. Her Majesty's embassy in Belgrade is pressing the Krajina Serb authorities to grant consular access to Mr. Noble for an official from the embassy in Zagreb which has consular responsibility throughout Croatia. Mr. Noble continues to receive visits from the local representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross who reports that he is well. UNPROFOR in Croatia have offered their good offices to try to arrange a visit by Mr. Noble's brother.
  729

  Vukovar (Hospital Abductions)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 30 June,Official Report, column 501, concerning patients and staff abducted from hospitals in Vukovar in 1991, why the UN commission of experts decided not to attempt identification, exhumation and return of all the bodies; whether the Croatian authorities have sought the assistance of Her Majesty's Government in this matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The UN Commission of Experts plans to carry out a more detailed examination of the mass grave site at Ovcara in the near future. This will include exhumation of all of the bodies. But the Commission will attempt to identify only 20, sufficient to link the gravesite with the disappearances from Vukovar hospital. The remainder of the bodies will be handed over to the Croatian authorities for identification. The Croatian authorities have not requested Her Majesty's Government's assistance in this task.

  Mr. Sheikh Riaz Ahmed
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 30 June,Official Report, column 500, when the British embassy at Paris expects to receive a reply to the formal note sent to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the refusal to allow Mr. Sheikh Riaz Ahmed to enter France; when the British embassy is going to send another note; if he will raise this matter with his French ministerial counterpart; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The British embassy in Paris has kept in close touch with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Despite several reminders, interim replies to the embassy's note were not received from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs until 6 and 8 July. There are still some points which need clarification and the embassy is pursuing this.

  I have no plans to take this matter up with my French counterpart at this time. I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as I have a further report.

  War Crimes Tribunal
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the establishment of a war crimes tribunal; when it is expected to sit; and what rules for admissible evidence will be used.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Since the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 827 establishing an international tribunal for former Yugoslavia, the United Nations Secretary-General has been making arrangements for its functioning. The first task is to appoint the prosecutor and judges of the tribunal. The prosecutor should be appointed within the next two months. The judges will be elected by the United Nations General Assembly this autumn. The rules of evidence and procedure will be drawn up by the judges once appointed.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on evidence which has been gathered by international 730
  organisations for future consideration by a war crimes tribunal; how such evidence is likely to be presented; and how it will be categorised.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Most information submitted so far to the United Nations Commission of Experts, who are charged with the collation, analysis and investigation of such evidence, has been collected by states. We understand that Amnesty International has submitted three reports on war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia and that Helsinki Watch has submitted one. It will be for the prosecutor and judges of the international tribunal, once appointed, to decide how this evidence might be categorised or presented.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on supporting a war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia; what the cost of the United Kingdom's commitment is likely to be; who will bear the cost of locating and transporting witnesses before the tribunal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We fully support the creation of an ad hoc tribunal for former Yugoslavia. The tribunal is to be funded from the United Nations regular budget. The financial annex to the United Nations Secretary-General's report on the means of establishing the tribunal includes an estimate of $30·5 million for all the tribunal's costs for one year once it is operational. The estimate will be scrutinised by the United Nations Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions at this year's United Nations General Assembly.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations into alleged war crimes in the former Yugoslavia have been undertaken; how many of the alleged perpetrators are(a) Croat, (b) Muslim and (c) Serb; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Nations Commission of Experts was established in September 1992 by United Nations Security Council resolution 780 to collate, analyse and investigate evidence of war crimes committed in the territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1991 submitted to the United Nations under the terms of United Nations Security Council Resolution 771. The commission is building a data base of incidents, victims and alleged perpetrators. At this stage it is not possible to say how many alleged perpetrators come from each party to the Bosnian conflict.

  Iraq
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government will take in respect of possible threats by the Government of Iran Mujaheddin bases in Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The possible contravention of Security Council resolution 598 is a matter for the Security Council which is permanently seized of the issue. We have expressed our serious concern at these air raids to the Iranian authorities. In a letter of 25 May to the United Nations Secretary-General, the Iranian permanent representative to the United Nations said that the air raids had been carried out in self-defence on the basis of article
  731
  51 of the United Nations charter and without prejudice to Iran's policy of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq or its commitment to SCR 598.
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