Written Answers of 19 July 1993

Health

  Clinical Medical Officers
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of consultant community paediatricians, clinical medical officers and senior clinical medical officers in each of the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Community health service medical staff—England 30 September each year

  Consultant community paediatrician

  Senior clinical medical officer (all specialties)

  Clinical medical officer (all specialties)

  1987

  n/a

  1,133

  1,713

  1988

  n/a

  1,188

  1,669

  1989

  n/a

  1,181

  1,653

  1990

  n/a

  1,151

  1,620

  1991

  n/a

  1,158

  1,509

  Notes:

  1. n/a means not available.

  2. Most clinical medical officers work in paediatrics, and provide child health surveillance. The decline in their numbers reflects the growing number of general practitioners taking on this work. We estimate that over 60 per cent. of children under five are now receiving these services from their GP.

  Sugar-free Drugs
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of drugs used by children are available in a sugar-free form.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available in the form requested.

  In respect of oral liquid medicines, records held by the United Kingdom Licensing Authority show that 1,797 products are currently licensed for human use but not all of these would be indicated for use in children. Within these 1,797 licensed products, 218 are sugar free.

  Neonatal Units
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trusts or directly managed units had neonatal units in 1991–92.

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1991–92, 27 trusts and 172 directly managed units provided cots intended for neonatal intensive care.

  Source: SD2A; KHO3 return.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many neonatal intensive care beds there are; what is the average time a baby spends in such cots; and how many babies used such cots in 1991–92.
  2
  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the. Member to the reply I gave her on 21 June at columns 27–28. Information about the number of babies using these cots and their length of stay is not available centrally.

  Dentists
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much funding for national health service dentists has increased in real terms in the past three years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The latest information is shown in the table:

  NHS Dental Services: Gross Expenditure1 England

  Year

  Gross expenditure (cash £ million)

  Gross expenditure (real terms £ million2)

  Percentage increase (real terms) Year on year2

  Percentage increase (real terms) 1988–89 to 1991–922

  1989–90

  1,118·4

  1,288·4

  3-5·4

  —

  1990–91

  1,229·6

  1,311·5

  1·8

  —

  1991–92

  1,521·0

  1,521·0

  16·0

  311·7

  Sources: Information for the general dental services (GDS) is from the relevant year's appropriation account. Information for the hospital dental service (HDS) and community dental service (CDS) are from the annual health authority accounts up to 1990–91 and from health authority annual financial returns for 1991–92.

  Notes:

  1 Total expenditure on national health service dental services combines gross expenditure on the GDS, HDS and CDS, respectively. Gross expenditure includes income from patient charges, net of refunds.

  2 Gross domestic product deflator used to calculate real terms at 1991–92 prices.

  3 Compared with real terms figure of £1,361·5 million for 1988–89.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what period of notice dental practitioners are required to give patients before they are removed from their national health service register; and in what form the notice is required to be.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Dentists are required by their terms of service to give a patient three months notice in writing of their intention to terminate a continuing care or capitation arrangement. Exceptionally, a dentist may make a written application to the family health service authority for permission to terminate an arrangement sooner.

  Insulin Treatment
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the insulin pen and the needles it uses are available on prescription.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Insulin pen injection systems and the needles they use are not available on prescription. Their inclusion in the general practitioner prescribable list must, like all new additions to the list, be subject to the availability of resources.

  Community Pharmacists
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to require community pharmacists to provide additional services without receiving additional payment;

  (2) to what extent she intends to fund the new professional allowance for community pharmacists from the new existing global sum.
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  Dr. Mawhinney
  The 1993–94 pay settlement will be as a first step towards specifically recognising the professional services many pharmacists provide. The detailed elements of the pharmacists' remuneration structure, of which the proposed professional allowance would be one, are all funded from within the global sum.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis her proposed threshold of 2,000 NHS prescriptions per month for payment of the professional allowance to community pharmacists was calculated.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is her policy that community pharmacies make a demonstrable contribution to the national health service only if they dispense more than 2,000 prescriptions per month.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A threshold of 2,000 national health service prescriptions per month was one part of one element of the original pay offer for the transitional year of 1993–94 which was designed as an interim step towards a longer-term structure. We are reviewing the terms of that offer in the light of discussions with the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether her proposal of a 2000 NHS prescription per month threshold for payment of the new professional allowance to community pharmacists has been formally withdrawn;

  (2) what assessment she has made of the rate of progress of the negotiations with the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee on remuneration for community pharmacists; and what steps she is taking to put further proposals to the committee.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) why the proposed meeting between her officials and the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee on 13 July did not take place;

  (2) when she expects her Department to put a new set of proposals concerning the remuneration of community pharmacists to the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The rate of progress of the negotiations with the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee on pharmacists' remuneration for 1993–94 has been much slower than we would have wished. The pay offer made on 12 March remains on the table, but the Government are considering the points made in discussions with the committee since then and hope to be in a position to table a revised offer shortly. We were not ready to do so by 13 July and so that meeting provisionally rescheduled for that day was postponed.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the proposed increase of 1·5 per cent. for 1993–94 in the global sum for payment of community pharmacists is intended to cover the increased drug costs and other expenses incurred by community pharmacists on behalf of the NHS as well as provide for an increase in their reumuneration; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The proposed increase is intended to cover both the labour and overheads elements of pharmacists' remuneration. The reimbursement of the cost of the drugs they dispense is dealt with separately.
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  Managers' Salaries
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 23 June,Official Report, column 182, if she will provide comparable information on the average annual cost of employing (a) a district general manager group 1, (b) a district general manager group 2, (c) a district general manager group 3, (d) a unit general manager group 1, (e) a unit general manager group 2, (f) a unit general manager group 3 and (g) a unit general manager group 4.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally.

  GP Partnership Staff
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner partnerships employ a psychologist and counsellor.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  As at 1 October 1992, general practitioners in England employed 169 counsellors—whole-time equivalent. Details are not available centrally on the number of psychologists, as a separate category, who may be similarly employed.

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney Health District
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations she has received on the proposal to split the Great Yarmouth and Waveney health district; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) if she will make it her policy to consider putting the Waveney part of the Great Yarmouth and Waveney health district into a new authority comprising Great Yarmouth and Norwich rather than the plans proposed by the East Anglian regional health authority; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  East Anglian regional health authority has commenced public consultation on its proposals to merge parts of Great Yarmouth and Waveney health authority with neighbouring health authorities and we have received two representations on these proposals. They were from my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney himself and from the chairman of the Great Yarmouth and Waveney General Practitioners Forum. When this period of formal consultation is completed it will be for East Anglian regional health authority to consider the response, including any alternatives that may have been put forward. The goal of purchasing health authorities is to improve health and health services, and to improve and extend standards of clinical care, and to prevent illness. To achieve this local health authorities need to work for and with local people. This is what we expect the East Anglian regional health authority to bear in mind before making recommendations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

  Generic Drugs
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what incentives her Department employs to encourage general practitioners to prescribe generic drugs; and how much has been spent in each of the last three years on such incentives.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have a range of initiatives to encourage general medical practitioners to prescribe more
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  effectively including, where appropriate, generic prescribing. These include, from 1991–92, incentive schemes which cost £100,000 in their first year of operation.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of drugs prescribed per annum are generic.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In 1992, the latest year for which figures are available, 43 per cent. of drugs were prescribed generically.

  Child Migrant Scheme
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 14 July,Official Report, column 533, what records are retained relating to the child migrant scheme.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department holds some 105 files relating to policy on the child migrant schemes, dating from 1910 to 1959. Fifty of these have been opened to the public under the normal provisions of the public records legislation. The remainder are closed. So far as we are currently aware, the Department does not hold case files on individuals who emigrated under the child migrant schemes, but we are making further inquiries about this.

  NHS Reforms
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 23 November,Official Report, columns 496–98, if she will update the table provided on the cost of implementing the NHS reforms.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The reforms are firmly in place, and much of the spending referred to is now absorbed in purchasers' baselines and providers' prices. It is for them to decide how they allocate these resources.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received from hon. Members during(a) the first quarter of 1992 and (b) the first quarter of 1993 to delay the removal of passengers refused entry at British ports of entry and, for both periods, how many representations resulted in (i) the delay of the passenger's removal for up to a week, (ii) the delay of the passenger's removal for more than a week and (iii) reversal of the immigration officer's decision.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Citizenship Applications
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for British citizenship under section 4(5) of the British Nationality Act 1981 have been(a) made, (b) granted and (c) refused in each quarter since January 1992; and how many of those granted have been on the grounds of service in the armed forces.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  One application was received in June 1992, one in November 1992 and one in January 6
  1993. Of these, one has been granted, one has been refused and one has not yet been decided. The application which was granted was made on the grounds of service in the armed forces.

  Immigration Rules
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken by his Department to investigate cases referred from overseas posts in order to assess whether the maintenance and accommodation requirements of the immigration rules have been met.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is not available. Staff are instructed to give priority to cases referred by overseas posts for decision or for inquiries to be made.

  Race Relations
  Mr. Peter Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the sums paid to the London borough of Tower Hamlets under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 in each year since 1990; and what is the estimated payment for the years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The amount of section 11 grant provision payable direct to Tower Hamlets in respect of each financial year from 1990 is set out in the table:

  Financial year

  £

  1989–90

  297,795

  1990–91

  4,732,150

  1991–92

  6,486,671

  1992–93

  8,202,381

  The figures for the year 1989–90 relate to grant in service areas other than education. It is not possible to isolate precise figures for the grant payable to the inner London education authority during this period in respect of education provision within Tower Hamlets. The grant figure for 1990–91 includes education provision transferred from ILEA.

  The figure for the year 1993–94 is a prediction based on best estimates as supplied by Tower Hamlets. It is not possible to give details of figures for the years 1994–95 and 1995–96 at this stage.

  Genetic Engineering
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of Home Office inspectors have an expert knowledge in the genetic engineering of animals; and what account has been taken of the extent of unpredictability of this technology in deciding how to evaluate the likely suffering endured by animals during scientific procedures involving genetic engineering.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Three inspectors—14 per cent. of the inspectorate—have genetic engineering as a specialist area, but all inspectors are well briefed on the techniques used and the likely consequences of transgenic technology.

  Inspectors are aware of the potential for unpredictable problems associated with the manipulation of genetic material and all applications for such work are carefully

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  considered and monitored to ensure that the earliest appropriate end points are set and observed for any work authorised. The independent Animal Procedures Committee considered the issues raised by work in transgenics in detail during 1990 and considered the existing controls of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 adequate.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in stimulating private sector interest in crime prevention initiatives; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The cornerstone of the Government's approach to crime prevention is partnership and we will continue to encourage participation by the private sector. Current indications of the private sector's interest include the following.

  The private sector provided support, estimated at the equivalent of more than £13 million, to Car Crime Prevention Year and continues to contribute to the campaign in a number of ways; Crime Concern, the independent crime prevention organisation, has been successful in encouraging the involvement of the private

  Spouses and fiance(e)s in the Indian sub-continent initially refused entry clearance and those subsequently granted on appeal1 on partly and wholly primary purpose grounds, 1990–92.

  Initial refusals on primary purpose grounds

  Of whom: Granted on appeal

  solely

  partly

  solely

  partly

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Bangladesh

  Husbands and fiances

  210

  90

  120

  60

  40

  80

  10

  20

  70

  +

  —

  20

  Wives and fiancees

  10

  +

  10

  10

  +

  10

  10

  —

  —

  +

  —

  +

  Pakistan

  Husbands and fiances

  770

  860

  800

  1,160

  730

  610

  270

  260

  180

  250

  320

  220

  Wives and fiancees

  30

  50

  40

  30

  40

  40

  +

  +

  10

  +

  +

  10

  India

  Husbands and fiances

  460

  480

  450

  40

  40

  40

  120

  100

  130

  —

  —

  —

  Wives and fiancees

  170

  200

  250

  20

  30

  60

  10

  40

  60

  —

  —

  +

  Total Indian sub-continent

  Husbands and fiances

  1,440

  1,430

  1,360

  1,250

  810

  720

  400

  380

  390

  260

  320

  240

  Wives and fiancees

  200

  250

  310

  60

  70

  100

  30

  40

  70

  10

  +

  10

  1 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.

  All figures rounded to nearest ten.

  + equals less than 5.

  These figures include some revisions.

  Vigilantes
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken in Wales to discourage action by vigilantes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Government do not condone the formation of vigilante groups. Vigilante action may lead to an offence and has to be treated by the police in the same way as any other offending behaviour. In Wales, and in other areas, the police have used the media and public meetings to advise members of the public about the danger of taking the law into their own hands.
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  sector, raising £1·9 million in general sponsorship from this source in 1992–93; the membership of National Board for Crime Prevention which holds its first meeting on 26 July includes three senior executives from the private sector; local business and industry is represented on the steering committees of each of the 20 safer cities projects. The private sector has contributed sponsorship and is involved in other ways in local crime prevention schemes promoted by safer cities projects; the Dixon Group plc has seconded to the Home Office one of its directors for a period of two years to carry out an assignment on business crime.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases entry clearance was refused to applicants from(a) Pakistan, (b) India, (c) Bangladesh and (d) the Indian subcontinent as a whole on grounds of the primary purpose rule in the last three years; and how many of these applicants were (i) men and (ii) women.

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

  National Lottery
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to amend the present legislation relating to lotteries so as to increase the maximum prize money before the first draw in the new national lottery takes place.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We intend to bring those provisions of the National Lottery Etc. Bill which amend the law relating to existing societies' and local authority lotteries —including the provisions of clause 51 which increase the prize limit for such lotteries—into force as soon as practicable. A period of time will, however, be needed to make consequential changes to the Lotteries Regulations and to enable societies to register with the Gaming Board under the new schedule 1A to the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976. We aim to keep the delay in bringing these provisions into operation to a minimum.
  9

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason tracker dogs are not being used by the investigative team as an aid to their recent inquiry in the Falklands into alleged infringements of the Geneva convention.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This is a matter for the commissioner.

  Court Escort Duties
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost of the contract with Group 4 covering court escort duties in Humberside and east midlands over five years; and if he will set out the cost of this service for the previous five years.

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

  Letter from Philippa Drew to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated July 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me in the temporary absence of Mr. Lewis, the Director General, to reply to your recent Question asking about the cost of the contract with Group 4 covering court escort and custody duties in Humberside and East Midlands over five years; and the cost of this service for the previous five years.I am not sure that I can add substantively to Mr. Dunbar's letter of 4 May to you in response to a Question from you covering similar ground [Official Report 5 May, columns 75–76, copy attached].The information in that letter was collected as a result of special survey work to separately identify time spent on court escort and custody duties by police and prison officers in the area, which was then costed. Information on the cost of the court escort and custody service is not routinely collected by either the police or the Prison Service, and would have varied over the previous 5 years with the size of the task. This in turn would have varied with the number of persons brought in custody before the courts for first appearance; the prison population and prison catchment areas; and changes in numbers and locations of court rooms and police stations. Similarly, the costs under the contract will vary over the coming 5 years as the size of the task varies. I am confident, however, that the figures given in Mr. Dunbar's letter represent a genuine comparison between the costs of the current service and the pre-existing one.

  Strangeways Prison
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the successful tenderer for Strangeways prison; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Mitcham and Morden (Dame A. Rumbold) on 15 July, at columns 583–84.

  Sheehy Report
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the temporary drop in police manpower caused by the elimination of middle management posts and the creation of additional constable posts proposed by the Sheehy report;
  10
  (2) what account he will take in future decisions on the starting salaries for constables of the stage at which constables are required to patrol on their own;

  (3) what assessment he has made of the proposal in the Sheehy report for existing employees to be obliged to enter into a fixed-term contract upon accepting promotion and to be obliged to move from the current 30-year pension scheme to a scheme based on 40 years' service; and what estimate he has made of the extent to which officers will refuse promotion as a result;

  (4) what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposals within the Sheehy report in regard to overtime payment on the response of officers to incidents taking place at the end of the working day;

  (5) what advantages he expects to arise from the change recommended in the Sheehy report from a 30-year pension to a 40-year pension; and what effect he expects this to have on the average age of police in service;

  (6) what plans he has to allow appeals against decisions of chief constables on the desirable age profile of a police force.

  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy in implementing any of the recommendations made by the Sheehy report to ensure that there is no reduction in the total police manpower.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In considering the implications of all the recommendations made in the report of the inquiry into police responsibilities and rewards, my right hon. and learned Friend will take into account the comments received during the consultation period.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect on morale in police forces in the United Kingdom of the publication of the Sheehy report.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend is aware that many police officers hold views on the recommendations of the inquiry into police responsibilities and rewards. There will be full consultation with the police and other interests before my right hon. and learned Friend, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland reach conclusions on the inquiry's report.

  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) wives and (b) children refused entry in the Indian subcontinent in 1991 and 1992 appealed against the refusal; how many of these appeals were (i) allowed, (ii) dismissed, (iii) withdrawn and (iv) are pending; and if he will give this information for each post.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The immigration appellate authorities record appeals by wives and children against refusal of entry clearance together in a category that also includes appeals by other dependent relatives and returning residents. The information requested is as follows for appeals in that category:

  Appeals from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh1

  1991

  1992

  Received

  1,843

  891

  Allowed

  355

  390

  Dismissed

  1,059

  1,554

  11

  1991

  1992

  Withdrawn

  529

  577

  Pending2

  n/a

  n/a

  1 It is not possible to show the information according to individual posts.

  2 Pending figures cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.

  Parole Board
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is now his policy on replacing part-time members of the Parole Board with full-time paid officials; when this policy was announced; and what consultations he undertook in respect of changes in his policy.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I am currently considering proposals to appoint a small number of full-time members of the Parole Board, in addition to existing part-time members. Any such appointments will be made as members of the Parole Board and will not be officials of the civil service. We announced the possibility of such appointments to members of the Parole Board at their annual general meeting on 9 March. The chairman of the board was consulted on the subject both prior to the announcement and since that date, and I hope to meet him shortly in order to discuss the matter further.

  Child Migration Scheme
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what passports were provided for children sent to Australia, Canada or Rhodesia under the orphans migration scheme from 1963; and what provisions now exist for people sent out under that scheme to establish their claim to British passports and British citizenship.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  It will take some time to establish what documentation was provided under the orphans migration scheme and I will write to the hon. Member about that in due course.

  However, anyone who can establish a claim to British citizenship will be issued with a passport in the normal way under the provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981.

PRIME MINISTER

  Gulf War
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to be able to provide a substantive reply to the letter from the hon. Member for North Cornwall dated 18 January about the cases of the three Gulf war widows, Mrs. Lyn Hicks, Mrs. Liz Weeks and Mrs. Anne Lennox.

  The Prime Minister
  A reply will be sent shortly.

  Vietnamese Prime Minister (Visit)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Prime Minister what specific human rights issues he raised with the Prime Minister of Vietnam during his recent visit.

  The Prime Minister
  At my request, the Minister for Overseas Development expressed our concern about 12
  Vietnam's human rights record with the Vietnamese Prime Minister during his visit to the United Kingdom of 3 to 6 July. We also handed over a short list of specific human rights cases.

  Child Migrants
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 14 July,Official Report, columns 506–7, if he will make available to the Child Migrant Trust personal record files relating to British child migrants for use in confidence in counselling migrants and tracing relatives in the United Kingdom.

  The Prime Minister
  I have asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health to write to the hon. Member.

  Overseas Debts
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Prime Minister how many countries which qualify for relief under the Trinidad terms owe money to the United Kingdom; what is their total debt to the United Kingdom; what proportion of that debt could be(a) wiped-out or (b) rescheduled; and what is the total value of debt which could be (i) wiped out and (ii) rescheduled.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: Fourteen of the 17 countries that have qualified for Trinidad terms from the Paris club have debt outstanding to the Export Credits Guarantee Department, totalling £774 million.

  Countries receiving Trinidad agreements get debt reduction or debt service reduction equivalent to half the value of eligible debt due over the periods of the agreements. Some £174 million of these countries' debt to ECGD has been rescheduled under these arrangements, and the equivalent value of the reduction in those countries' debt to ECGD is therefore around half that figure.

  Of the 17 countries given Trinidad terms, only Nicaragua has debt outstanding to the ODA, amounting to some £0·6 million. Seven of these countries—Tanzania, Bolivia, Uganda, Honduras, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Mozambique—have already received retrospective terms adjustment—RTA—writing off their ODA debt. RTA has also recently been announced for Zambia and Guyana. These agreements, which are awaiting signature, will write off debt of £55·9 million and £53·4 million respectively.

  There are further severely-indebted low-income countries which may qualify for Trinidad terms in future, for example once they have agreed reform programmes with the IMF. The Paris club will also consider giving countries which have Trinidad agreements the equivalent of up to 50 per cent. reduction of the remaining stock of debt, provided they establish track records of debt servicing and economic reform over the periods of the agreements. Under present rules this could produce further debt reduction up to 50 per cent. of the total debt to ECGD then outstanding. But the United Kingdon is pressing the Paris club to go futher, in line with my original Trinidad proposals, and give immediate stock of debt reduction of up to 80 per cent. for the neediest eligible countries on a case by case basis. In response to United Kingdom pressure, the recent Tokyo summit asked the

  13
  Paris club to continue reviewing the question of debt relief for these countries, and especially to consider earlier reductions in their stock of debt.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Electricity Interconnector
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the recent trend in the amount of electricity imported and exported via the channel interconnector, and on the prospects for the remainder of 1993.

  Mr. Eggar
  Net imports across the interconnector in the three months from February to April 1993 were 4·29 TWh. The future pattern of trade will depend on the operation of commercial contracts, including a contract for the export from the United Kingdom of increasing quantities of electricity at periods of peak demand in France during the winter.

  Nuclear Reprocessing
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what certificates are required for spent nuclear fuels before they may be reprocessed at Sellafield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Certificates are not required for spent nuclear fuels before they may be reprocessed in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment has been made of Japanese technical capacity to process spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a matter for the Government of Japan and the appropriate commercial undertakings in that country, subject to compliance with Japan's relevant international agreements and regulatory requirements respectively.

  Nuclear Material (Safeguards)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made by Euratom since July 1985 in establishing a common interpretation of safeguards on nuclear material transferred for non-nuclear uses.

  Mr. Eggar
  Pursuant to article 22 of regulation 3227/76, on receipt of a request from the user, the Commission may grant derogations and exemptions from reporting. This would include nuclear material which was used exclusively for non-nuclear purposes.

  Supervisory Bodies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 25 June,Official Report, column 291, on reviewing the operation of the recognised supervisory bodies, what plans he has to invite the public to comment on the operations of the bodies and to public hearings on such matters.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The arrangements for the review have not yet been finalised.
  14

  Company Receivers
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will propose legislation under which he will have powers to examine the fees paid to company receivers.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I have no plans to do so.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will announce the new non-fossil fuel obligation orders for renewable energy sources.

  Mr. Eggar
  I hope to make an announcement soon about a further renewables order under the non-fossil fuel obligation.

  Sizewell C
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions his Department has had with Nuclear Electric about plans for Sizewell C power station in Suffolk; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I regularly meet the chairman and chief executive of Nuclear Electric to discuss a range of issues affecting the company, including the company's wish to build a twin pressurised water reactor station at Sizewell C.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the economic and energy contributions to the national and local economies of building Sizewell C power station in Suffolk.

  Mr. Eggar
  No decisions about the construction of new nuclear stations beyond Sizewell B will be made before the Government review the future prospects for nuclear power. A further announcement about the review will be made in due course.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about(a) the nuclear energy review in general and (b) Sizewell C power station in Suffolk, in particular.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have received representations from the nuclear industry, local authorities, MPs, members of the public and other interested parties about the nuclear review, and about Nuclear Electric's proposals at Sizewell C.

  Nuclear Industry
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the future of the nuclear industry; and when he expects to make further announcements on planning of individual power stations.

  Mr. Eggar
  An announcement about the review of the future prospects for nuclear power will be made in due course. No decisions about the construction of new nuclear stations beyond Sizewell B will be taken before the review has concluded.
  15

  Company Directors
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which statutes govern the responsibilities of administrative receivers called in to British companies, with particular reference to the realisation of the value of assets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The statutes which govern the responsibilities of administrative receivers are the Insolvency Act 1986, the Company Directors Disqualification Act and secondary legislation made thereunder. Certain duties including those in relation to the realisation of assets are governed by common law.

  Technology Transfer
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what funding followed the transfer of responsibility for technology transfer from the DTI to the Office of Science and Technology.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There has been no movement of responsibility for technology transfer from DTI to the Office of Science and Technology—OST—and therefore no transfer of funding.

  The recent White Paper on science, engineering and technology—Cm 2250—sets out mission statements for both the OST and DTI. Part of OST's role is to stimulate transfer of technology between the science and engineering base and industry, for example through the LINK programme. DTI continues to have a wider responsibility for technology transfer between industry and all other providers of science and technology whether based in the United Kingdom or overseas.

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to change the monitoring arrangements for firms that receive regional financial selective assistance.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the membership, and where appropriate the relevant companies, of each of the working parties established under his deregulation initiative.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  A complete list of deregulation task force members is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the principles guiding the work of his Department's deregulation unit with specific reference to(a) the interests of consumers and (b) of employees.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Harrogate (Mr. Banks) on 7 July,Official Report, column 151.
  16

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Industry Minister's meeting held on 8 July with the European Commissioner, Karel van Miert, on the subject of the draft United Kingdom assisted areas map.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I met Vice-President van Miert on 8 July to discuss the Government's proposals for a new assisted areas map. The discussions were helpful and I hope that the Commission's clearance will be given in time for me to announce the results in the House before the summer recess.

  Price Marking Order 1991
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will bring forward proposals to amend the Price Marking Order 1991.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My D epartment is going out to public consultation today on a draft amendment order, guidance note and compliance cost assessment on possible amendments to the Price Marking Order 1991.

  We wish to deal with the concerns which traders have raised. The aims of the amendment order would be to simplify existing provisions while reflecting more closely the EC directives which the order implements. Our proposals would allow complete flexibility on how prices may be shown subject only to meeting the basic obligation of the directives. They would also deal with some more detailed points such as indicating postage and packing charges and the time allowed to adjust individual price indications to take account of changes in the rate of VAT.

  Some detailed provisions now considered to be outside the scope of the directives would be removed from the order. The treatment of goods in shop windows would be clarified, as would the position on price indications for perfumes and cosmetics.

  These proposals are in line with our present policy of reviewing regulations and reducing the burden on business wherever practicable. But they also aim to have due regard to our obligations under the relevant EC directives and to the interests of the consumer, and by clarifying the position to assist enforcement.

  We shall welcome views from all those who have an interest in them, but we would expect to proceed further only if in the light of consultation it is clear that amending legislation would produce worthwhile gain.

  Comments are sought by 29 October 1993.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Regional Development Funds
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the British contribution to the regional development banks is used for projects that(a) directly benefit the poorest people in developing countries and (b) helps meet the goals established at the world summit for children.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  United Kingdom contributions are used to support the overall operations of regional development banks. It is not possible to estimate what proportion can be attributed to projects of this kind.
  17

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Lockerbie Bomb
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what classes of information concerning the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie have not yet been released(a) to the relatives of the victims and (b) into the public domain.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information of the following nature has not been released to the relatives of victims or otherwise into the public domain:(1) information the protection of which is necessary to ensure effective security at present and in the future in the United Kingdom;
  (2) information the disclosure of which would impair the effective investigation, detection and prosecution of crime in general;
  (3) information which is relevant to questions of criminal responsibility which may arise in criminal proceedings and the disclosure of which might prejudice criminal proceedings.

  Thailand (Heroin Cases)
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the strength of evidence that heroin was planted on Karen Smith and Patricia Cahill; and if he has had an exchange of correspondence with the Prime Minister of Thailand on the cases.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have seen no convincing evidence that the heroin was planted on the girls. Unsupported allegations of planted evidence, corruption and miscarriage of justice are irresponsible in themselves and damaging to the prospects for the girls' release.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister wrote in February 1993 to his Thai counterpart to support the girls' royal pardon petitions. In his reply, the Thai Prime Minister acknowledged our support for the petition and gave assurances that the Thai Government are doing their best for the girls' well-being.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking on the European Parliament's resolution of October 1991 calling for a re-examination of the case of Karen Smith.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We do not support the resolution. We have no reason to believe that either Karen Smith or Patricia Cahill had an unfair trial or were unjustly convicted. Both girls have been well treated in prison. Their sentences are long but by no means harsh compared with those given to others convicted of similar offences in Thailand. We want to help Karen Smith and Patricia Cahill take advantage of every opportunity that Thai law allows them to try to bring about their early release, and to this end we shall continue to do all we can for them.

  Cyprus
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact he has had with the United Nations Secretary-General regarding the failure of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Rauf Denktash, to agree a limited package of confidence-building measures; and if he will make a statement on the Cyprus problem.
  18
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) on 16 July, at column 727.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many reports he has received from United Nations personnel of alleged rapes of Muslim women by Croatian forces since the beginning of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Lord Owen regarding the selective lifting of sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; what is the Government policy on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are in regular contact with Lord Owen about a variety of issues on the former Yugoslavia. including the question of sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro. As Heads of Government made clear at the Tokyo economic summit on 7 to 9 July, sanctions will continue to be upheld against Serbia and Montenegro until conditions in the relevant Security Council resolutions are met.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of Muslim forces using noxious gas against Croat forces in the villages of Prosje and Busovaca in central Bosnia; if he will raise this activity at the next meeting of the United Nations Security Council; and what representations he plans to make to the Government of President Izetbegovic.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have seen media reports alleging that Muslim forces used improvised grenades containing non-lethal riot control gas against Croats in central Bosnia. We deplore the use of such weapons which we believe are held by all three parties. Regular reports about fighting on the ground are submitted by UNPROFOR to the United Nations. We are not proposing to raise specific incidents of this kind in the Security Council, but we shall consider raising them in future discussions with Bosnian Government officials.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the monitors agreed by the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe are now in place in Kosovo; which nations have contributed; and when the remainder are expected to be in place.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  By 30 June 1993, the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe's long-term missions in Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina consisted of 20 monitors from Norway, Canada, Finland, Sweden, France, Greece, United States of America, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Turkey, Japan and the United Kingdom. At that time, there were 10 monitors in Kosovo, one of whom was British. Belgrade having refused to renew the memorandum of understanding covering the missions, their future is in doubt and, as monitors have departed on leave or completion of assignment, they have not been replaced. There are now only 11 monitors in all three areas.
  19
  The United Kingdom had provided two monitors and we had hoped to appoint a further three. The chairman in office of the CSCE remains in contact with Belgrade. We hope that agreement will be reached on renewal of the mandate and that the mission numbers will be built up once more.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reservations were expressed by the Japanese Government in regard to indefinite extension of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty during discussions held with Foreign Minister Kabun held at the G7 summit in Tokyo.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Like other members of the G7, the Japanese Government agreed to the political declaration of the summit which stated:"We reiterate the objectives of universal adherence to the NPT as well as the Treaty's indefinite extension in 1995 and nuclear arms reduction."

  Bilateral Treaty Obligations
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the common foreign and security implication of all bilateral treaty obligations entered into by EC member states with non-EC countries are fully consistent with Britain's national interests; and if he will conduct a systematic review of the bilateral treaty obligations of each EC member state with non-EC countries in order to ascertain whether Britain's interests are liable to be affected by the common foreign and security policy in the light of the effect of the declaration on voting in the field of the common foreign and security policy.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Under the common foreign and security policy, member states will reach agreed common positions by unanimity. The declaration on voting in the field of common foreign and security policy attached to the treaty on European union does not undermine this requirement for unanimity. Declarations are not part of the treaty, but evidence of a political commitment undertaken by the parties to the treaty. There is no need to conduct a review of the bilateral treaty obligations of individual member states with non-EC countries. Each member state will be responsible for ensuring that it can live up to commitments it makes under the common foreign and security policy, and where there is no agreement on common positions, member states will continue to be free to pursue national policies. The unanimity requirement means that the United Kingdom can ensure that all decisions taken under the common foreign and security policy are consistent with our national interests.

  Tibet
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is proposed to be taken by the Council of Ministers on the resolution on Tibet which was passed recently by the European Parliament, with particular reference to regulations allowing journalists and international human rights agencies access to Tibet.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We are deeply concerned about the situation in Tibet, including the human rights issues 20
  mentioned in the European Parliament resolution, and are in close contact with our European Community partners about further measures to follow up the EC statement of 1 June. We support the principle of free access by journalists and humanitarian agencies.

  Entry Clearance Applications (DNA Tests)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average time for the results of DNA tests taken for the purpose of establishing relationships in cases of entry clearance applications to become available to entry clearance officers in Islamabad.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The average time for the results of DNA tests to become available to entry clearance officers in Islamabad is three months.

  Iran
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 July,Official Report, column 240, how many women who are United Kingdom citizens are employed in any capacity in the British diplomatic service in Iran; and what representations he has made to the Government of Iran on the subject of their obligations towards the Islamic dress code.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Three female diplomatic service staff and four female locally employed staff who are United Kingdom citizens are currently employed in the British embassy in Tehran.

  We have made no representation to the Iranian Government about the obligation on female British diplomats to conform to Islamic dress code. All women in Iran have to observe the Islamic dress code when in public, including the female diplomats at all embassies.

  Mr. Ghazanfer Ali
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his letter of 24 June to the hon. Member for Bradford, West concerning the case of Mr. Ghazanfer Ali, what information he has obtained about the outcome of the latest court proceedings in Pakistan held on 27 and 29 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The cases have been further adjourned to 31 July and 19 August respectively.

  South Africa
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards United Nations, Commonwealth and European Community military sanctions and non-co-operation with South Africa; and what restrictions are imposed under the sanctions on the landing of South African air force aircraft on British soil.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Government adhere to the UN arms embargo against South Africa and other related EC and Commonwealth restrictions. Any request for a South African air force aircraft to land on British soil would be considered in the light of the circumstances of the request and the sanctions then in force.
  21
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to encourage and support the transition to non-racial democracy in South Africa.

  Mr. Hurd
  The British Government have been following the multi-party negotiations in South Africa closely, and are glad that agreement has been reached to hold fully democratic elections on 27 April 1994.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I had useful talks with both Nelson Mandela and Chief Buthelezi during their recent visits to London. We made clear that the British Government strongly support the need for a successful outcome to the constitutional negotiations and will help where we can. We are in regular touch with President de Klerk.

  The British Government are already helping in practical ways. We helped to arrange the sending of international observers to South Africa—from the UN, EC and Commonwealth—and led the troika visit of EC Foreign Ministers last autumn, which set the seal on the EC observer mission. We have contributed the services of five senior policemen; two with the EC mission, one with the Commonwealth mission, one to help the Goldstone Commission task force, and another to help with the investigation into the assassination of Mr. Chris Hani. The mandates of the UN, EC and Commonwealth missions to South Africa have all been extended. Their work is greatly appreciated in South Africa and theya are making a significant contribution towards containing the violence. We have also made clear, through the EC, that we would be willing to join in any international effort to provide observers for the elections if this is the wish of all the parties.

  We are also heavily involved through our aid programme. Last financial year we spent over £11 million in bilateral aid, plus a similar amount as our share of the EC positive measures programme. We expect our aid to increase during the transition. Our aid provides for the training of more than 1,100 black South Africans in the United Kingdom and South Africa, including tailor-made courses in public administration for future senior black civil servants. It also supports many projects in education, health, and the promotion of small businesses in the townships, and in rural development. Last month we opened a new regional aid office in Pretoria to run our aid projects in South Africa.

  Only South Africans themselves can build a new, united non-racial, democratic South Africa, but we are doing what we can to help.

  Slovak Republic
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation Her Majesty's Government have in in the Slovak Republic; what is that state's present representation in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Her Majesty's Government are represented in the Slovak Republic through an embassy, headed by a chargé d'affaires, Mr. Michael Bates. Her Majesty's ambassador to the Slovak Republic is Mr. David Brighty, who is concurrently ambassador to the Czech Republic and resides in Prague. He visits the Slovak 22
  Republic regularly. It is our intention to appoint a resident ambassador to Bratislava once the embassy is properly established.

  Following the dissolution of the Czechoslovak Federation, on 31 December 1992, separate Czech and Slovak embassies were established in London. On 1 January 1993, the former Czechoslovak ambassador was accredited to the Court of St. James as Slovak ambassador. Mr. Vilikovsky is supported by six diplomatic and three administrative and technical staff.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Torture
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) what procedures exist for an individual to present a petition or application for permission to prosecute under sections 134 and 135 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 to him for his consideration;

  (2) what procedures exist for obtaining his consent to prosecutions under sections 134 and 135 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 concerning the prosecution of those accused of torture present in the United Kingdom;

  (3) how many times he has consented to prosecutions being brought under sections 134 and 135 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 since its enactment;

  (4) on what criteria he bases his decision to grant or withhold consent to prosecutions under sections 134 and 135 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

  The Attorney-General
  The criteria applicable to applications for my consent to proposed prosecutions under sections 134 and 135 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 are the same as for any other criminal offence. First, there must be sufficient admissible and reliable evidence to afford a realistic prospect of conviction; secondly, the circumstances must be such that it would be in the public interest for there to be a prosecution.

  The prospective prosecutor must submit to my office evidence in proper form to satisfy the evidential test described above together with sufficient background information to satisfy me that a prosecution would be in the public interest. This procedure applies to prosecuting authorities—likely to be the Crown Prosecution Service —as well as to individuals.

  No proceedings have been authorised under section 134 and 135 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 since its enactment.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  National Audit Office Reports
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission if he will make arrangements for hon. Members to be notified in advance of publication dates of National Audit Office reports.

  Sir Peter Hordern
  National Audit Office reports are listed in the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons when they are laid before Parliament prior to publication. They are also recorded on the daily papers list produced by the Vote Office which lists all parliamentary papers published on a particular day. This list is displayed in the Members' Lobby.
  23
  The National Audit Office also give notification of its intention to publish reports in a monthly press notice. This is supported by press notices on each individual report which are released under embargo 36 hours in advance of publication. All these press notices are available at the press notice desk of the House of Commons Library.

  An advance press notice listing forthcoming reports in August will be published within the next two or three weeks.

  "The Best of Northern Ireland"
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to "The Best of Northern Ireland" to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 6 to 10 December.

  Daylight Saving
  Dame Angela Rumbold
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what consideration he has given to an application for an exhibition relating to daylight saving to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 19 to 23 July.

  Schizophrenia
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to "Schizophrenia—The Facts" to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 29 November to 3 December.

  Disabled Staff
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the total number of staff employed by the Commission throughout the Palace of Westminster and its associated buildings; how many of these are registered disabled; and how many are registered disabled due to hearing difficulties.

  Mr. Beith
  The Commission employs 1,232 staff, of whom 16 are registered disabled. Of these, four have hearing difficulties.

  Secretarial Allowances
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members have their secretarial allowance paid into private limited companies.

  Mr. Newton
  Approximately two thirds of all Members have, this year, authorised payments from their office costs 24
  allowances direct to companies or other organisations, including constituency associations. It is not always possible to identify the precise status of these companies or organisations.

  EC Legislation
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans the Government have to give greater prominence to costs to business in the information provided to Parliament on Community legislation.

  Mr. Newton
  The Government prepare compliance cost assessments—CCAs—in order to assess the impact of legislative proposals on business costs. From 19 July, CCAs will accompany all explanatory memoranda—EMs —relating to EC proposals with significant cost implications for business. This will aid parliamentary scrutiny by affording an early opportunity to take account of such implications in considering particular proposals. It will also put CCAs in the public domain on a consistent basis and will thus help other interested parties make their own assessment. It is not intended, however, that the new arrangements should hold up the submission of EMs; if a full CCA cannot be prepared to the time scale for EMs, the EM will carry the best possible initial assessment and the CCA will follow as quickly as possible.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Television Companies
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions he is undertaking with other European Community member states about mergers and takeovers of television companies, including issues of competition and regulation; what proposals have been made concerning these issues; and what position is taken on these proposals by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Brooke
  Officials of my Department are playing an active part in the work of a Council of Europe committee of experts on media concentrations and pluralism, on which a number of other EC member states, as well as the European Commission, are represented. The committee has yet to produce firm proposals.

  We have also drawn the Commission's attention to what appear to be. discriminatory provisions in the legislation of a number of EC member states concerning ownership of broadcasters. The European Court has recently found against Belgium on this issue; and the Commission has opened proceedings against Portugal.

  Arts Bodies, Merseyside
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the names, addresses, occupations, current employers and addresses of any chairmen and any appointees which are within his power to make for any boards, trusts or other form of arts or heritage body on Merseyside and to grant with any payment, expenses or other form or remuneration which they receive.

  Mr. Brooke
  While I do not appoint the chairman of North West Arts, which is the regional arts board covering the Merseyside area, my consent is required before such an
  25
  appointment can be made. This post is unpaid and is currently vacant. There is no equivalent regional body responsible for heritage matters.

  National Lottery
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is now the proposed starting date of the national lottery.

  Mr. Sproat
  We hope that the National Lottery Etc. Bill will receive Royal Assent later in the year; and the licence will be awarded after that. It is not possible to predict the date of the first draw, but we hope that the lottery will be up and running by around the turn of the year 1994–95.

  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received about the possible impact of the national lottery on small stake recreational wagering industry gaming machines; and if he will make it his policy to consult industry organisations of any sectors of the gaming industry adversely affected by the national lottery in order to find ways of alleviating adverse effects on their enterprises.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of representations from the gaming machine industry about the impact of the national lottery on their businesses and officials from my Department have met representatives from the industry.

  We do not believe that this or other sectors of the gaming industry will be adversely affected by the introduction of the lottery. My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary is always ready to consider, on their merits, proposals for changes to the regulatory regime under which the industry operates.

  Description of Item

  Valuation £

  Outcome

  A painting 'St. Peter Penitent' by Jusepe de Ribera

  850,000

  Export licence granted

  A drawing 'St. John the Baptist pointing to the Saviour', by Annibale Carracci/ Gianangelo Canini.

  150,000

  Export licence granted

  A painting, 'David with the head of Goliath', by Guido Reni

  2,000,000

  Export licence granted

  The ledgers and account books of Messrs

  4,080

  Purchased by Westminster

  Fribourg and Treyer 1764–1816.

  City Archives

  A George III library table 1778 designed by Thomas Chippendale.

  315,000

  Decision deferred until after 26 July 1993

  A pair of candelabra by Matthew Boulton.

  80,820

  Decision deferred until after 4 August 1993

  A painting, 'Van Tromp, going about to please his masters, ships at sea, getting a good wetting', by J.M.W. Turner.

  11,000,000

  Decision deferred until after 26 July 1993

  A painting, 'the Fortress of Königstein' by Bernardo Bellotto.

  6,290,781

  Export licence granted

  Details of the items on which decisions were deferred were given in press releases issued at the time of the reviewing committee's recommendations were accepted.

  Welsh Writers
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on how many occasions grants have been made by the Welsh Arts Council under its(a) bursaries to writers scheme and (b) writers in residence
  26

  Royal Armouries Project, Leeds
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the progress towards obtaining private sector funding for the royal armouries project at Leeds.

  Mr. Sproat
  I am pleased to say that the royal armouries has identified a potential lead investor, who is in active discussion with the armouries and other interested investors. This lead investor has nominated a chairman and chief executive designate for the proposed operating company. They are currently verifying the business plan and developing a package on which commitments can be made. This is good news for the project and for Leeds.

  Art Exports
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the items for which the issuing of export licences was withheld on the recommendation of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art during the half year ended 5 July, specifying in each case the valuation and whether an item was exported or retained, with particulars in the latter event of the acquiring institution; if he will list any items for which licences have been withheld but the final disposal of which is not yet decided, specifying in each case(a) the valuation and (b) the relevant time limit; and if a press notice will be issued by his Department covering the information given in his reply, including that relating to the outcome in individual cases.

  Mr. Sproat
  The information is as follows:

  scheme during the last five years to applicants who were neither resident in Wales nor had any previous connection with Wales.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 14 July 1993]: The information requested is as follows: (a) none, (b) three, of a total of 36 grants.
  27

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Media Sector
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the financial size of the media sector of the British economy.

  Mr. Nelson
  There is no generally accepted definition of the coverage of the media sector. However, information on the newspaper printing and publishing industry is given in "Business Monitor PA475—Printing and Publishing". Information on film and recording studios, cinemas, radio and television is included in the "Business Monitor SDA29 —Service Trades", but is not separately identifiable. These annual publications are available from the House Library.

  Full Employment
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the establishment of full employment.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government's aim is to achieve high levels of employment consistent with low inflation, through broadly based growth and labour markets which are competitive and flexible.

  Drug-related Offences
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been detained for drug-related offences in Harwich by HM Customs and Excise in the past three years.

  Sir John Cope
  Over the period June 1990 to date, 688 people have been detained by Customs at Harwich for drug-related offences.

  Tax Allowances and Reliefs
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much extra revenue would be raised in a full year if tax relief were confined to the 20 per cent. rate for(a) occupational pension schemes and (b) contributions to personal pensions.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The estimated full year yields at 1993–94 income levels are as follows:

  Restriction to 20 per cent. £ million

  Relief for:

  Employee's contributions to occupational pension schemes

  700

  Personal pensions contributions1

  300

  1 Includes retirement annuity premia and free standing additional voluntary contributions.

  No account has been taken of possible behavioural changes resulting from such restrictions.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money was raised by income tax levied at 40 per cent.; and how many income tax payers were chargeable at 40 per cent. in the last financial year for which figures are available.
  28
  Mr. Dorrell
  At 1993–94 levels of income, it is estimated that individuals' tax liability at the 40 per cent. rate will be £12·8 billion and that 1·6 million taxpayers will be liable at this rate.

  Pharmaceutical Companies
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has of the total tax take from pharmaceutical companies.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I regret that the information is not available. Classification of companies by industry for corporation tax is by the summary trade classification within which pharmaceutical companies are included with all other chemical companies.

  Tax Returns
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many copies of Inland Revenue forms(a) 11K (1993) and (b) 12FR (1993) he has had printed.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue printed 99,000 copies of form 12FR (1993) and 98,685 copies of form 11K (1993).

  Pensions
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the yield in 1993–94 and 1994–95 from capping all qualifying incomes for pensions at £75,000, including those employees who joined schemes prior to 1989.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not available.

  Betting Duty
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of whether the conditions attached to the decision to extend the reduction of pool betting duty announced in March 1992 by the right hon. and learned Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor) have been met; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  In the 1990 Budget, pool betting duty was reduced from 42·5 to 40 per cent. for five years to help finance the implementation of the Taylor report, and in particular the achievement of all-seating at football grounds. The former Chancellor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Thames (Mr. Lamont) has since made it clear that the Government will be prepared to extend the reduction to the year 2000 provided that the football leagues and football clubs produce satisfactory financial plans for their own contribution to further necessary ground improvements. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage will shortly be presenting a costed case to the Treasury, based on information supplied by the Football Trust and the clubs themselves, in support of an extension of the reduction.

  Additionality
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards additionality of EC funds with respect to the Government's own regional and structural funding.
  29
  Sir John Cope
  At the Foreign Affairs Council on 2 July, member states agreed new additionality regulations to ensure that Community funds were genuinely additional to domestic public spending. The United Kingdom will be implementing them fully.

  EC Membership
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will prepare a table for the last financial year showing the debit and credit accounts of United Kingdom membership of the EC.

  Sir John Cope
  Details of the United Kingdom's EC transfers on a balance of payments basis, for the period up to and including the first quarter of 1993, were published on 22 June in the Central Statistical Office's balance of payments press notice CSO(93)90.

  Concessionary Coal (VAT)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East of 12 July,Official Report, column 371, whether the VAT on concessionary coal will be paid by British Coal or by the recipients of coal allowances.

  Sir John Cope
  VAT on concessionary coal will be paid by British Coal.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated average household cost of adding VAT to fuel bills in each region.

  Sir John Cope
  The latest estimates of average weekly household spending on domestic fuel and power in each region are published in table 25 of the 1991 family expenditure survey. The average cost of VAT on domestic fuel bills will depend on future levels of fuel prices and on the effect of the introduction of VAT on household consumption patterns.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek the agreement of the European Commission that it will not seek to challenge in the European Court the opinion of Her Majesty's Government that they have full entitlement to retain zero rates for VAT after 31 December 1996; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  There is no need for the Government to seek such an agreement.

  At ECOFIN on 24 June 1991, all member states agreed that, under transitional arrangements to last at least until the end of 1996, member states which at 1 January 1991 applied to certain goods and services zero rates for VAT in accordance with the provisions of Community law in force, would have the option of retaining them.

  The sixth VAT directive 77/388/EEC, as amended by Council directive 91/680/EEC, provides that the transitional period will continue beyond the end of 1996 if there is not unanimous agreement on the definitive VAT system to operate from that date. The United Kingdom has made it clear that one of the conditions for such an agreement must be our right to retain zero rates.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the items subject to zero rate for 30
  VAT purposes which have resulted in applications to the European Court; and what was the result of such applications.

  Sir John Cope
  The following zero-rated items resulted in applications to the European Court:

  (i) animal feeding stuffs, seeds, live animals yielding food for consumption (all supplies);

  (ii) sewerage services and water (supplies to industry);

  (iii) news services (all supplies);

  (iv) fuel and power (supplies other than to final consumers);

  (v) construction of buildings (supplies other than to final consumers);

  (vi) protective clothing and footwear (supplies to employers).

  The Court ruled that zero-rating is lawful in respect of:

  private housing;

  animal feeding stuffs, seeds, live animals yielding food for consumption.

  However, the Court ruled that the following zero rates did not comply with Community law:

  construction of buildings for industrial and commercial use and in the community and civil engineering sector;

  fuel and power other than to final consumers;

  sewerage services and water supplied to industry;

  news services to undertakings which themselves provide services which are not zero-rated;

  protective boots and helmets supplied to employers.

  The United Kingdom implemented the Court's judgment with effect from 1 April 1989 in the case of construction, news services and protective clothing and from 1 July 1990 for fuel and power and water and sewerage services.

  British Telecommunications plc
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Government's sale of substantially all of its residual shareholding in British Telecommunications plc.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am pleased to report that the Government's combined offers of BT shares were successfully completed this morning when dealings in interim rights started on the London stock exchange.

  As a result of bids received in the international offer, the price of the third instalment for all investors in the combined offers was set at 120p per share.

  Accordingly, the price for interim rights purchased in the United Kingdom public offer was 410p per share, comprising 150p paid on successful application, 140p to be paid by 1 March 1994 and 120p to be paid by 11 October 1994.

  The price for shares purchased in the international offer was 420p per share, comprising 160p paid on successful application, 140p to be paid by 1 March 1994 and 120p to be paid by 11 October 1994.

  The Government offered for sale up to 1,220 million shares in the combined offers.

  Some 1·67 million applications were received in the United Kingdom public offer for a total of some 1,057 million shares. This represented some 1·73 times the shares initially expected to be sold in the UK public offer. In response to this demand, the Government increased the total number of shares allocated to the UK public offer to 732 million shares. At this level, the number of shares applied for in the UK public offer represented some 1·44 times the shares available.

  Over 95 per cent. of applicants in the UK public offer received an allocation of BT shares. Over 55 per cent. of

  31
  applicants had their applications met in full. Some 97 per cent. of applications made through share shops were allocated shares.

  More than 785,000 qualifying BT shareholders and more than 23,000 eligible BT employees made applications in the United Kingdom public offer. All such applicants received an allocation of BT shares. 488 million shares were allocated to bidders in the international offer. This number does not include any shares that S. G. Warburg Securities may have over-alloted in connection with the international offer. The extent of any such over-allotment will not be disclosed. As already announced, S. G. Warburg Securities may also effect stabilisation transactions.

  For these reasons, details of the percentages of shares allocated to each geographic region in the international offer may not be available until after 18 August 1993. However, the United Kingdom accounted for some 62 per cent. of the shares sold by Her Majesty's Treasury in the international offer. Individual investors bidding in the United Kingdom retail tender bid for some 104 million shares. Of this, some 44 million shares were in respect of PEP applications.

  In addition to the shares sold in the combined offers, S. G. Warburg Securities, as global co-ordinator for the sale, holds an option to acquire from Her Majesty's Treasury up to a further 91·5 million shares for the purpose of meeting any over-allotment made by it in connection with the international offer. This option must be exercised by 18 August 1993.

  Total gross proceeds from the combined offers amount to some £.4·97 billion, of which some £3·53 billion is expected to be received in this financial year.

  Total gross proceeds may be further increased by a maximum of £0·38 billion to the extent that, if at all, S. G. Warburg Securities exercises its option to acquire further shares.

  Details of the costs of the share sale will be published shortly.

  Following the combined offers, and assuming the exercise in full of the option over BT shares granted by Her Majesty's Treasury to S. G. Warburg Securities, Her Majesty's Treasury expects to hold not more than 1·5 per cent. of BT's issued share capital. This would comprise principally shares that may be needed to meet share bonus entitlements under the BT3 United Kingdom public offer and as a result of the Government's sale of BT shares in December 1991.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the real level of public expenditure on(a) education, (b) health, (c) personal social services, (d) housing and (e) social security in each year since 1973–74 until the latest date available; and what proportion such expenditure makes up of the gross domestic product in each case.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: The information can be found in tables 2.3 and 2.4 of the "Statistical Supplement to the 1992 Autumn Statement", Cm 2219. Figures are not available on a consistent basis for years prior to 1978–79.
  32

EDUCATION

  Additional Educational Needs Grant
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what study his Department has undertaken in relation to additional educational needs grant; and when he plans to publish the findings;

  (2) what arrangements he has made for consultation with local education authorities to discuss the impact of proposed changes in additional educational needs grant.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We are at present reviewing the additional educational needs allowance as part of a wider-ranging review of standard spending assessments —SSAs—in the light of 1991 census data that have recently become available. We are studying the statistical evidence and underlying rationale for various options. The Government have already made available to the local authority associations preliminary statistical findings from the review and is consulting them on the implications for authorities. Consultations are taking place through the SSA sub-group of the local government finance settlement working group.

  Education Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Peter Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the total education standard spending assessment for the London borough of Tower Hamlets in each year since 1990; and how much of this is represented by additional educational needs grant.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The figures set out in column 1 the education component of Tower Hamlets' standard spending assessments and in column 2 the amounts within those figures for the additional educational needs cost allowance.

  (Column 1) Education component of SSA (£ million)

  (Column 2) Additional educational needs allowance (after adjustment for area costs) (£ million)

  1990–91

  91·292

  43·378

  1991–92

  112·110

  50·363

  1992–93

  123·695

  55·658

  1993–94

  115·580

  51·655

  The 1993–94 figures are lower than the 1992–93 figures, for Tower Hamlets as for all local education authorities, because of their loss of responsibility for most further education to the Further Education Funding Council.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list, for January for each year from 1988 to the latest year for which figures are available, the number of pupils aged five to 15 years with statements of special educational need(a) in maintained special schools, (b) in non-maintained special schools and independent schools under arrangements made by the authority and (c) in maintained primary, middle and secondary schools.

  Mr. Forth
  Information about pupils with statements of special educational needs by age is not available centrally.
  33
  Figures showing the total numbers of pupils with statements since 1988 for mainstream and for independent schools and since 1991 for special schools are shown in the table.

  Pupils with statements of special educational needs in schools in England 1988–92

  Position as at January of each year

  Maintained schools

  Non-maintained schools

  Year

  primary, middle and secondary schools

  special

  special

  independent1

  1988

  40,931

  n/a

  n/a

  6,144

  1989

  47,262

  n/a

  n/a

  5,597

  1990

  54,299

  n/a

  n/a

  5,623

  1991

  61,992

  80,367

  5,265

  5,621

  1992

  71,246

  79,190

  4,942

  5,388

  1 Includes pupils in City Technology Colleges.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list, for January for each year from

  Full-time pupils aged 5 to 15 in maintained primary, middle, secondary and special schools in England Position as at January each year

  Ages at previous 31 August

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Mainstream

  Special

  Mainstream

  Special

  Mainstream

  Special

  Mainstream

  Special

  Mainstream

  Special

  Corporation of London

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  171

  0

  171

  0

  Camden

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  16,209

  312

  16,613

  316

  Greenwich

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  28,127

  652

  28,495

  629

  Hackney

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  19,409

  594

  19,661

  588

  Hammersmith

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12,199

  455

  12,232

  402

  Islington

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17,266

  289

  18,044

  300

  Kensington and Chelsea

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7,609

  83

  7,647

  73

  Lambeth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20,713

  810

  21,023

  768

  Lewisham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  25,643

  454

  25,096

  437

  Southwark

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  24,971

  433

  24,837

  437

  Tower Hamlets

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  25,282

  429

  26,146

  454

  Wandsworth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20,716

  680

  20,240

  630

  Westminster

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  13,205

  146

  13,313

  145

  ILEA

  227,073

  5,841

  226,022

  5,623

  227,745

  5,517

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Barking

  19,539

  200

  19,345

  179

  19,309

  169

  19,463

  152

  19,742

  145

  Barnet

  32,076

  305

  32,113

  297

  32,240

  275

  32,644

  267

  33,137

  277

  Bexley

  28,096

  266

  27,710

  224

  27,480

  217

  27,584

  229

  27,762

  232

  Brent

  26,069

  313

  25,483

  297

  25,153

  302

  25,693

  308

  26,341

  294

  Bromley

  30,914

  379

  30,264

  358

  30,059

  336

  30,246

  320

  30,960

  303

  Croydon

  35,702

  476

  35,037

  459

  34,841

  443

  34,293

  458

  34,494

  476

  Ealing

  29,941

  440

  29,728

  420

  29,932

  375

  30,381

  357

  30,307

  384

  Enfield

  31,604

  379

  31,026

  366

  31,265

  339

  31,531

  335

  32,103

  346

  Haringey

  20,436

  283

  19,927

  257

  20,225

  250

  20,855

  265

  21,475

  280

  Harrow

  22,169

  239

  22,292

  215

  22,583

  210

  22,909

  194

  23,250

  185

  Havering

  31,631

  310

  31,013

  275

  30,570

  229

  30,326

  207

  30,132

  191

  Hillingdon

  27,031

  340

  26,720

  300

  26,790

  323

  26,994

  316

  27,143

  336

  Hounslow

  24,438

  470

  24,268

  413

  24,474

  422

  25,037

  372

  25,600

  362

  Kingston upon Thames

  14,077

  229

  13,795

  229

  13,713

  227

  13,779

  212

  14,078

  211

  Merton

  16,976

  247

  16,594

  230

  16,250

  223

  16,501

  209

  16,975

  218

  Newham

  29,589

  459

  29,512

  375

  30,177

  397

  31,182

  369

  32,021

  286

  Redbridge

  25,927

  358

  25,824

  356

  26,163

  367

  26,652

  343

  27,155

  340

  Richmond upon Thames

  14,674

  152

  14,713

  158

  14,817

  166

  15,154

  146

  15,326

  132

  Sutton

  19,208

  271

  19,036

  259

  18,929

  259

  19,093

  275

  19,351

  278

  Waltham Forest

  25,463

  595

  24,965

  577

  25,014

  634

  25,442

  614

  25,805

  639

  Birmingham

  139,215

  2,341

  137,668

  2,307

  137,648

  2,235

  138,723

  2,337

  140,185

  2,438

  Coventry

  39,817

  773

  38,873

  786

  38,538

  752

  38,661

  711

  39,091

  729

  Dudley

  39,895

  497

  39,173

  500

  38,785

  489

  38,805

  519

  39,154

  516

  Sandwell

  40,222

  766

  39,482

  782

  39,111

  769

  39,380

  763

  39,866

  732

  Solihull

  27,941

  262

  27,241

  237

  26,750

  222

  26,719

  215

  27,133

  236

  Walsall

  37,722

  500

  37,026

  488

  36,588

  480

  36,833

  469

  37,174

  475

  Wolverhampton

  34,584

  428

  33,742

  415

  32,998

  436

  32,755

  443

  32,809

  442

  Knowsley

  22,535

  541

  22,108

  559

  21,924

  599

  21,798

  561

  21,866

  561

  Liverpool

  62,345

  1,478

  61,366

  1,485

  61,484

  1,340

  62,268

  1,363

  63,029

  1,375

  St. Helens

  25,836

  422

  25,222

  398

  24,610

  412

  24,261

  413

  24,207

  414

  Sefton

  37,639

  384

  37,223

  393

  37,084

  377

  37,205

  396

  37,519

  382

  Wirral

  43,040

  656

  42,524

  643

  42,108

  634

  42,465

  625

  42,539

  637

  Bolton

  36,481

  425

  35,935

  405

  35,676

  390

  35,795

  395

  36,176

  418

  Bury

  22,414

  238

  22,181

  238

  22,189

  245

  22,346

  248

  22,578

  267

  34
  1988 to the latest year for which figures are available (a) the number of full-time pupils aged five to 15 years in (i) maintained primary, middle and secondary schools and (ii) special schools maintained by the local education authority and (b) the number of pupils aged five to 15 years belonging to (i) other local education authorities but attending special schools maintained by the local education authority, (ii) the local education authority but attending special schools maintained by other local education authorities and (iii) the local education authorities attending non-maintained special schools and independent schools for the purposes of special educational treatment.

  Mr. Forth
  The numbers of full-time pupils aged five to 15 years in maintained primary, middle, secondary and special schools in each local education authority in England for the years requested are shown in the table. The information requested at(b) can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  35

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Mainstream

  Special

  Mainstream

  Special

  Mainstream

  Special

  Mainstream

  Special

  Mainstream

  Special

  Manchester

  54,549

  1,602

  53,907

  1,479

  54,119

  1,418

  54,825

  1,246

  55,600

  1,509

  Oldham

  31,809

  445

  31,662

  452

  31,967

  479

  32,572

  454

  33,195

  446

  Rochdale

  29,348

  483

  28,985

  465

  28,631

  476

  28,816

  481

  28,822

  447

  Salford

  28,885

  607

  28,148

  580

  27,916

  543

  28,086

  423

  28,386

  386

  Stockport

  36,575

  346

  35,576

  328

  35,014

  348

  35,053

  355

  35,122

  357

  Tameside

  29,474

  346

  29,198

  340

  29,048

  355

  29,321

  356

  29,771

  363

  Trafford

  25,575

  353

  24,975

  341

  24,707

  326

  24,752

  330

  25,291

  330

  Wigan

  43,773

  675

  42,896

  663

  42,211

  720

  41,972

  740

  41,880

  776

  Barnsley

  29,565

  227

  28,931

  179

  28,498

  166

  28,418

  147

  28,420

  126

  Doncaster

  39,841

  596

  39,509

  611

  39,338

  626

  39,513

  628

  40,123

  632

  Rotherham

  36,285

  534

  35,502

  524

  35,202

  530

  35,175

  548

  35,252

  558

  Sheffield

  61,140

  825

  59,056

  794

  58,139

  768

  58,032

  758

  58,552

  789

  Bradford

  68,758

  825

  68,303

  764

  68,491

  681

  68,903

  653

  69,510

  614

  Calderdale

  26,604

  205

  26,332

  203

  26,031

  186

  26,092

  164

  26,153

  151

  Kirklees

  52,466

  557

  51,255

  574

  50,820

  578

  50,785

  588

  50,998

  589

  Leeds

  89,319

  1,114

  88,029

  968

  87,110

  894

  87,070

  823

  87,838

  805

  Wakefield

  41,173

  631

  40,559

  592

  40,172

  562

  40,481

  560

  40,892

  545

  Gateshead

  25,355

  409

  24,761

  384

  24,487

  348

  24,334

  323

  24,363

  314

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  31,416

  562

  31,164

  519

  30,952

  497

  31,219

  512

  31,435

  640

  North Tyneside

  24,642

  349

  24,466

  322

  24,255

  327

  24,356

  342

  24,342

  362

  South Tyneside

  20,175

  242

  19,919

  240

  19,934

  250

  20,306

  261

  20,724

  284

  Sunderland

  42,078

  502

  41,250

  485

  40,879

  505

  41,124

  529

  41,332

  568

  Isles of Scilly

  260

  0

  251

  0

  250

  0

  261

  0

  267

  0

  Avon

  111,966

  1,909

  109,708

  1,845

  108,689

  1,809

  108,814

  1,811

  109,681

  1,850

  Bedfordshire

  72,380

  1,003

  71,378

  1,002

  70,825

  981

  71,040

  986

  71,945

  1,006

  Berkshire

  93,520

  1,249

  91,909

  1,253

  90,986

  1,268

  91,034

  1,350

  91,550

  1,452

  Buckinghamshire

  83,347

  1,427

  82,259

  1,386

  80,860

  1,340

  80,865

  1,335

  81,348

  1,390

  Cambridgeshire

  83,544

  998

  82,694

  937

  82,364

  877

  82,913

  824

  83,692

  822

  Cheshire

  128,510

  1,186

  126,655

  1,111

  125,579

  1,075

  125,853

  1,103

  126,235

  1,163

  Cleveland

  82,140

  1,409

  81,160

  1,388

  80,935

  1,123

  81,323

  1,167

  81,792

  1,155

  Cornwall

  58,913

  234

  58,770

  236

  58,216

  232

  58,274

  243

  58,336

  243

  Cumbria

  62,764

  387

  61,927

  374

  61,362

  332

  61,197

  277

  61,205

  227

  Derbyshire

  121,453

  1,319

  119,594

  1,226

  118,061

  1,193

  117,649

  1,128

  117,849

  1,094

  Devon

  117,300

  1,576

  116,606

  1,521

  115,705

  1,524

  116,042

  1,526

  117,466

  1,554

  Dorset

  71,726

  1,062

  70,725

  1,043

  70,087

  976

  70,469

  970

  71,178

  981

  Durham

  78,975

  934

  77,676

  927

  77,448

  882

  77,345

  937

  77,704

  948

  East Sussex

  68,879

  1,241

  68,490

  1,212

  68,049

  1,171

  68,950

  1,191

  69,959

  1,197

  Essex

  200,769

  2,436

  195,914

  2,294

  193,008

  2,281

  191,240

  2,246

  191,394

  2,267

  Gloucestershire

  64,532

  1,121

  63,639

  1,116

  62,722

  1,122

  62,918

  1,094

  63,572

  1,144

  Hampshire

  187,640

  3,368

  185,134

  3,258

  183,287

  3,236

  184,172

  3,193

  185,749

  3,159

  Hereford and Worcester

  85,884

  1,048

  84,354

  1,055

  83,513

  1,073

  83,252

  1,060

  83,610

  999

  Hertfordshire

  126,567

  1,827

  123,610

  1,762

  122,012

  1,699

  121,514

  1,672

  122,332

  1,721

  Humberside

  119,116

  1,229

  117,259

  1,185

  116,628

  1,120

  116,584

  1,040

  117,129

  1,079

  Isle of Wight

  14,491

  212

  14,544

  220

  14,562

  192

  14,502

  187

  14,575

  182

  Kent

  197,013

  3,041

  192,901

  2,996

  190,284

  2,903

  188,776

  2,860

  189,486

  2,848

  Lancashire

  182,720

  2,940

  181,159

  2,852

  180,963

  2,847

  180,998

  2,859

  182,029

  2,893

  Leicestershire

  118,477

  1,013

  116,899

  947

  116,164

  884

  116,430

  884

  117,096

  911

  Lincolnshire

  74,025

  1,061

  72,648

  1,017

  71,904

  983

  71,969

  992

  72,548

  967

  Norfolk

  91,020

  804

  89,347

  758

  87,988

  736

  87,580

  739

  87,982

  762

  North Yorkshire

  84,512

  925

  83,565

  901

  82,884

  917

  82,942

  911

  83,586

  853

  Northamptonshire

  80,070

  1,050

  78,947

  1,033

  78,224

  990

  78,209

  956

  78,348

  968

  Northumberland

  40,588

  511

  39,997

  479

  39,966

  471

  40,106

  487

  40,318

  452

  Nottinghamshire

  129,051

  2,140

  126,938

  2,087

  125,185

  1,917

  125,297

  1,745

  126,490

  1,519

  Oxfordshire

  65,312

  718

  64,001

  727

  63,340

  700

  63,534

  643

  64,318

  672

  Shropshire

  53,768

  586

  53,348

  563

  52,843

  509

  52,655

  467

  52,807

  441

  Somerset

  55,405

  607

  54,573

  559

  54,004

  544

  53,909

  544

  54,640

  548

  Staffordshire

  137,329

  1,741

  135,439

  1,655

  133,993

  1,646

  134,096

  1,723

  134,782

  1,811

  Suffolk

  79,320

  640

  77,574

  639

  76,713

  625

  76,363

  624

  76,451

  649

  Surrey

  104,480

  1,811

  101,633

  1,661

  99,308

  1,581

  98,974

  1,553

  99,106

  1,585

  Warwickshire

  61,323

  1,235

  59,948

  1,194

  59,003

  1,117

  58,793

  1,065

  58,975

  1,069

  West Sussex

  80,885

  1,092

  79,548

  1,071

  78,686

  1,084

  78,695

  1,116

  79,531

  1,108

  Wiltshire

  70,572

  682

  69,515

  643

  68,797

  608

  68,877

  626

  69,497

  661

  ENGLAND

  5,951,670

  84,470

  5,861,770

  81,443

  5,816,540

  79,211

  5,830,912

  78,098

  5,874,560

  78,657

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Common Fisheries Policy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye (Mrs. Lait) of 7 July,Official Report, column 163, what is her assessment
  36
  of the relative weight to be attached in measures to prevent over-exploitation to (a) effort limitation and (b) technical conservation measures; what is her estimate of the contribution made in other EC states towards achieving the multi-annual guidance programme effort targets by (i) decommissioning schemes, giving the amounts involved and the number of vessels taken out in each case and (ii) days-at-sea limitations.
  37
  Mr. Jack
  Effort limitation and technical conservation both have a role to play in preventing the over-exploitation of fish stocks, and are to some extent interchangeable. Member states are still considering how they will achieve their 1996 MAGP targets, but even those which rely on decommissioning are required to hold fishing effort within limits.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye (Mrs. Lait) of 7 July,Official Report, column 163, what calculation she has made of the reduction of (a) access rights and (b) actual catches of (i) other member states and (ii) third parties which the United Kingdom secured in the 1983 settlement of the common fisheries policy.

  Mr. Jack
  Prior to the 1983 CFP settlement, other member states held historic rights to fish within six to 12 miles of the United Kingdom territorial sea in respect of 1,999 miles of our 2,667 miles of coastline. No other countries had such rights. The settlement reduced the rights of other member states to 558 miles. It is not possible to calculate the effect on catches by other member states and third countries in the six to 12 mile belt.

  Lupin Seed
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice she has received from the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes about the uses of lupin seeds, in particular lupinus angustifolius; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes has received two submissions in respect of the use of lupins in food. Further data were requested from the applicants and in respect of lupinus angustifolius additional studies have been commissioned. Meanwhile, the committee is not in a position to formulate its advice.

  Decommissioning Grants
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what circumstances foreign-owned fishing boats registered as British qualify for decommissioning grants.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 12 February,Official Report, column 790, and 29 January, Official Report, column 896.

  Set-aside (Renewable Energy)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she will announce the areas set aside specifically dedicated to woodland for renewable energy sources.

  Mr. Jack
  The cereals management committee on 15 July voted on a draft Commission regulation allowing certain perennial crops to be grown for non-food uses on set-aside land. This regulation would permit short rotation coppice to be grown as an energy crop on set-aside land. We expect the regulation to be adopted formally by the Commission in time to come into force on 1 September.
  38

  Milk Quotas
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether she accepts the recommendations of the EC Court of Auditors' report on milk quotas in so far as it affects the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  We are currently examining the EC Court of Auditors' report on milk quotas and the Commission's response. We will be paying particular attention to any comments and recommendations which have a bearing on the way in which the quota system is operated in the United Kingdom.

  Coastal Protection
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total expenditure on coastal protection measures in each year since 1979 in(a) cash terms and (b) constant 1993 prices.

  Mr. Jack
  The Ministry offers grant aid to local coast protection authorities in England for capital works to reduce the risk to people and the developed and natural environment from coastal erosion. Grant-aided capital expenditure on coast protection by those authorities for each financial year since 1979 was as follows:

  Actual outturn £ million

  Outturn at 1992–93 prices (using GDP deflator) £ million

  1979–80

  8·2

  19·6

  1980–81

  11·5

  23·3

  1981–82

  13·6

  25·1

  1982–83

  18·0

  31·0

  1983–84

  16·0

  26·3

  1984–85

  15·4

  24·1

  1985–86

  16·7

  24·8

  1986–87

  17·9

  25·7

  1987–88

  14·8

  20·2

  1988–89

  20·9

  26·6

  1989–90

  20·4

  24·3

  1990–91

  29·2

  32·2

  1991–92

  30·8

  31·9

  11992–93

  16·9

  16·9

  1 Provisional.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Post Office Robberies
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the post offices which have been robbed in Northern Ireland this year, with the value of cash and other items stolen in each case.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The requested information is as follows:

  Post Office Robberies

  Amount Stolen £

  Shore Road, Belfast

  500

  Garvaghy Post Office, Banbridge

  2,672

  Anderstown Road, Belfast

  64

  Main Street, Ballycarry

  1,078

  39

  Post Office Robberies

  Amount Stolen £

  Upper Malone Road, Belfast

  3,500

  Derryboy Post Office, Crossgar

  3,000

  Tassagh Post Office, Keady

  30

  Crumlin Road, Belfast

  1,000

  Attempted Robberies

  Main Street, Glenavy

  Nil

  Mossley Post Office, Newtownabbey

  Nil

  Schools
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list(a) the maintained schools and (b) the controlled schools which are not included in the "Making Belfast Work" area.

  Mr. Ancram
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 9 June 1993,Official Report, columns 269–70, for details of the maintained and controlled schools within the area of the Belfast education and library board which are excluded from the "Making Belfast Work" initiative.

  There are more than 1,000 other schools outside the Belfast education and library board area which are not included in the initiative.

  Loyalist Parades
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Government of the Republic of Ireland last raised with him the matter of the routeing of orange institution and other loyalist parades.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  [holding answer 8 July 1993]: The subject of such parades was last raised by the Government of the Republic of Ireland at the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 8 July 1993. Beyond the contents of the resulting communiqués; the proceedings of the conferences are confidential. The right hon. Member may wish to note, however, that Her Majesty's Government have no jurisdiction in relation to the routeing of parades. Only a senior police officer, where he believes that the circumstances of a procession are such that it may result in serious disorder, damage, disruption or lead to intimidation, may give directions imposing conditions on it, including conditions as to the route.

  Student Unions
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what public funds are allocated to students' unions in Northern Ireland; and what information he maintains on the numbers and functions of persons employed by students' unions, using such funds.

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: Public funds are not allocated direct by the Government to students' unions in Northern Ireland. The amounts allocated to the students' unions by the universities and colleges of education in Northern Ireland are set out in the reply of my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 2 November 1992, Official Report, column 50. Details of the numbers and functions of persons employed by the students' unions using these funds are a matter for the unions and institutions concerned.
  40
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the oral statement by the Secretary of State for Education, of 1 July,Official Report, columns 1118–9, on students' unions, to what extent he considers campaigns by students' unions in Northern Ireland against (a) the national anthem and (b) the annual Remembrance day ceremony to amount to political activity.

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: It is not unusual for students to express strong opinions on matters which may be of a political nature and the Government judges individual campaigns accordingly.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on political activity by students' unions in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: I fully support the principle of the package of students' unions reforms to be made in England, Scotland and Wales. However, in view of the differences in practice and approach in Northern Ireland, I propose to consult interested bodies before deciding on the way forward.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Charters
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received in 1993 in respect of possible future charters.

  Mr. David Davis
  We have received a number of representations from hon. Members for charters to cover: constituents, people with disabilities, pensioners, banks and small business. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 June 1993,Official Report, column 654, that new charters in prospect include the further and higher education charters; and that the Benefits Agency customer charter and parents charter will be updated and improved.

  Freedom Of Information
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress he has made with his plans to promote freedom of information.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have now published a White Paper on open government, which explains the Government's approach and sets out new proposals for increasing openness.

  Master of Science Teaching
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what response he has sent to the letter of the chairman of the biological sciences advisory committee of the university of Edinburgh, Professor John Dale, setting out the problems of MSc teaching for a research-oriented university; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I wrote to Professor Dale today thanking him and his colleagues for letting me have their views. I am pleased that his advisory committee broadly welcomes the thrust of our proposals for postgraduate training. We recognise that universities, other higher
  41
  education institutes and funding bodies will need time to develop plans for implementation of the policy set out in paragraph 7.21 of the White Paper.

  Citizens Charter
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions he has had with his counterparts in other EC nations on the issue of citizens charters; and what meetings of the Council of Ministers he has attended, and in what capacity.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have met a number of my European counterparts to discuss public service reform. The citizens charter has aroused considerable international interest, but it has not been discussed in meetings of the European Council of Ministers. I shall also shortly be visiting the United States of America to discuss the reform of public services with the Vice-President.

  Last year's service for the citizen conference, held as one of the events to mark the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC, attracted delegates from 21 countries. A similar event is being planned for later this year.

  Public Appointments (Female Shortlists)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans the public appointments unit has to introduce all-female shortlists for future appointments to public bodies.

  Mr. David Davis
  None.

  Passive Smoking
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will introduce a charter for non-smokers in respect of protection from the effects of passive smoking in public places.

  Mr. David Davis
  No. The Government have already published a detailed code of practice on smoking in public places, with the express intention of protecting nonsmoking members of the public. It is our aim to have at least 80 per cent. of public places covered by effective non-smoking policies by 1994.

  Public Records
  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what measures his Department is taking to increase the availability of formerly secret public records.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The White Paper on open government was published on 15 July. We have provided, in chapter 9, information about measures designed to increase the number of public records which are made available in the Public Record Office.

  These include:

  a "harm test", which requires records to be released after 30 years unless to do so would cause actual damage,

  more exacting criteria for withholding records for more than 30 years,

  a reduction in the periods for which such material can be withheld beyond 30 years,

  improved procedures for the management of records, and,

  a commitment by all departments, subject to the availability of resources, to re-review all records currently withheld for more than 30 years.

  42
  All Government Departments including the Cabinet Office—Office of Public Service and Science—will put these measures into effect as soon as possible.

  Research Councils' Director General
  Sir Giles Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who is to be the new Director General of Research Councils.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The post of Director General of Research Councils will be filled through open competition, and an announcement about the arrangements for this will be made shortly.

  Civil Service College
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the performance of the Civil Service College during 1992–93.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The college enjoyed its most successful year to date; achieving and in many cases handsomely exceeding the performance targets that it is required to meet as an agency. I have today arranged for copies of the annual report to be placed in the Library of the House.

SCOTLAND

  Colorectal Surgery
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of colorectal surgery specialists for each hospital and the number of vacancies at each hospital.

  Mr. Stewart
  Consultants in the specialty of general surgery may practise colorectal surgery, but information on consultants' special interests is not available centrally.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to assist areas with rising unemployment, in particular areas of high concentrations of defence-related industry; what special programmes are available for such areas; and what plans he has to increase such assistance.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Government are commited to tackling unemployment in all parts of the country by pursuing policies which lead to sustained economic improvement. As the recovery of the economy gathers pace, we shall continue to direct our policies towards creating the conditions in which new businesses can compete and prosper in world markets.

  Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise companies, through their schemes of training and business support and advice, place special emphasis on programmes which take account of the economic and employment consequences of changing military requirements. Scottish Enterprise launched in September 1992 its Scottish defence initiative, providing a strategy geared towards helping companies and local enterprise companies devise a flexible response to the new challenges and opportunities offered by rapidly changing defence markets. Scottish Enterprise has the flexibility to meet relevant needs arising from changes in the defence industry within its very substantial budget, which is £452 million in the current financial year.
  43
  Further assistance is, or is expected to be, available from the European Community, under the PERIFRA and KONVER initiatives, in areas affected by the contraction of defence-related industries and military installations.

  Hospitals (Capital Building Programme)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes there have been to his commitments on the capital building programme for hospitals for 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  Mr. Stewart
  Capital allocations to two health boards for their building programmes in 1993–94 have increased slightly; Forth Valley health board by £222,000, the Western Isles health board by £65,000. There have been no changes to trust external financing limits—which include trusts' capital provision—for 1993–94. There have been no changes to provisional allocations for 1994–95, for either boards or trusts.

  Drug Stocks
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what guidance he has issued to hospitals as to the use of drugs after their use-by date;

  (2) what evidence he has of hospitals using drugs which are past their use-by date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 2 July 1993]: The Scottish Office Home and Health Department issued guidelines on safe and secure handling of medicines in October 1988 commending hospital staff to return all out-of-date drugs or medicines to the pharmacy for disposal. I have no evidence that this guidance has not been adhered to.

  Health Services, Glasgow
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish Greater Glasgow health board's own submissions on the options for change in its acute and maternity services.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: Any proposals for change in the organisation of acute and maternity services for Glasgow must be approved by the Secretary of State for Scotland. Before any proposals can be presented, the health board is required to carry out a lengthy public consultation exercise.

  The Greater Glasgow health board continues consideration of this issue.

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

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: Section 2 of the Mental' Health Act 1983 does not extend to Scotland.

  Health Service Expenditure
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount each health board has been notified as its capital expenditure programme in the current year and next year; and what change there has been in each case from the original figures.
  44
  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 13 July 1993]: Capital allocations to health boards for their building programmes for 1993–94 and provisional allocations for 1994–95 are as follows:

  £ million

  Health Board

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Argyll and Clyde

  12·405

  6·258

  Ayrshire and Arran

  0·585

  0·010

  Borders

  3·070

  0·205

  Fife

  5·623

  2·219

  Forth Valley

  6·573

  2·783

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2·801

  0·929

  Grampian

  0·109

  0·040

  Greater Glasgow

  25·996

  20·048

  Highland

  5·201

  2·819

  Lanarkshire

  9·381

  9·895

  Lothian

  24·429

  18·580

  Orkney

  1·296

  1·347

  Shetland

  2·231

  2·256

  Tayside

  10·621

  4·050

  Western Isles

  1·507

  0·340

  State Hospital

  4·080

  5·881

  The figures provided for 1994–95 are not directly comparable with those for 1993–94. Health boards have been given provisional allocations for 1994–95 which reflect only the consequences in that year of the 1993–94 allocations and make no provision at present for projects starting in 1994–95.

  Two boards' allocations have been increased—Forth Valley's by £222,000 and Western Isles' by £65,000—in both cases to deal with problems with existing hospital buildings. There have been no other changes.

  East Lothian (Local Authority Areas)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from residents of East Lothian supporting the division of the district between separate local authority areas.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 13 July 1993]: My right hon. Friend received a range of representations about the future arrangements for the area at present served by East Lothian district council under a single-tier structure of local government.

  "Investing For Our Future"
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the respondents to the consultation paper, "Investing For Our Future", favoured the options outlined therein by each category from(a) to (g); and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 14 July 1993]: Most of the 4,834 correspondents did not specify a preference for any particular option. Of those who did, 182 preferred option (a), 61 preferred option (b), 13 preferred option (c), 64 preferred option (d), 23 preferred option (e), 15 preferred option (f) and nine preferred option (g). An analysis of the responses to the consultation paper is contained in the summary of responses which was published by my right hon. Friend on 8 July.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the organisations and individuals who, during the consultation on reorganisation of local government in
  45
  Scotland, made representations in favour of (a) an all-Ayrshire council, (b) retaining Kyle and Carrick as a council and (c) combining Cunninghame, Kilmarnock and Loudon and Cumnock and Doon Valley as one council.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 15 July 1993]: A total of 56 individuals and organisations commented upon the proposed structure of local government in Ayrshire. Of these, 28 supported an all-Ayrshire council which was included as a unit in both the 15 and 24 unit illustrative structures shown in the consultation paper "Shaping the New Councils". Nine responses supported a council based upon the existing area of Kyle and Carrick district council, which was included as a unit in the 51-unit illustrative structure. A unit comprising Cunninghame, Kilmarnock and Loudon and Cumnock and Doon Valley was not included in the consultation paper and no comments were offered on this option. The organisations and individuals who supported the other two options are as follows:

  All-Ayrshire Council

  J. Mack Wilson

  Kilmaurs Community Council

  Moscow and Waterside Community Council

  Irvine Development Corporation

  Hurlford and Crookedholm Community Council

  Dalrymple and District Community Council

  Colonel Sir Bryce Knox

  Grange Howard Community Council

  Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley Constituency Labour Party

  John Campbell

  Cumnock and Doon Valley District Council

  Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley Conservative Association

  Prestwick Community Council

  Peter M. Robertson

  Cunninghame District Council

  Kilmarnock and Loudon Labour Group

  Symington Community Council

  Enterprise Ayrshire

  Grange and Howard Community Council

  Coylton Community Council

  Cunninghame North Constituency Labour Party

  Cunninghame District Labour Party

  Kyle and Carrick Labour Party

  Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  Kilmarnock and Loudon Conservative Unionist Association

  Euan D. Llewellyn-Jones

  Brodick Primary School Board

  George Foulks MP

  Kyle and Carrick

  Robert Fullarton

  Avril and T. Livingstone

  Treetops Tenants and Residents Association

  C. I. Young

  Kyle and Carrick District Council

  Phil Gallie MP

  John L. Rennie

  Sir Donald Maclean

  Janet Fullarton

  Teachers
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the progress by regional councils towards having teachers appraised by the target date; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 July 1993]: The National Co-ordinating Committee for the Staff Development of Teachers has the task of monitoring progress on the implementation of staff development and appraisal schemes for teachers in Scotland. Last year, the
  46
  committee advised me that every education authority expects to meet the implementation timetable of the end of the school session 1995–96.

  The co-ordinating committee will shortly seek from authorities an update on progress and I expect to receive its further advice later this year.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has concerning the denial of concessionary travel privileges and related concessions to those persons aged 60 years or more who are in receipt of invalidity benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 July 1993]: Local authorities' powers to provide concessionary travel to certain eligible categories of person are discretionary. It is for individual local authorities to determine which of the eligible categories will quantify under their arrangements, the level of concession and any restrictions on use. My Department has no information regarding the denial of concessionary travel and related privileges to persons aged 60 years or more who are in receipt of invalidity benefit.

  Shetland and Orkney Islands Councils
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the cost to(a) Shetland Islands council and (b) Orkney Islands council which would arise if his proposal to rename the respective councils as Shetland council and Orkney council is implemented.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: My Department has made no such estimate. The White Paper "Shaping the. Future—The New Councils" makes it clear that I will be prepared to consider representations about the appropriate name of particular authorities and if Orkney Islands council or Shetland Islands council have concerns they wish to express, we shall be pleased to receive these.

  GP Fund Holders
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest number of general practitioner fund holders in each health board area; and how many he estimates there will be in July 1994.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: The latest information from health boards indicates the numbers of general practitioner fund holders as set out in the table.

  Health board

  Current number of fund holders

  Estimated number of fund holders by July 1994

  Argyll and Clyde

  5

  7

  Ayrshire and Arran

  3

  5

  Borders

  1

  2

  Dumfries and Galloway

  —

  2

  Fife

  1

  5

  Forth Valley

  2

  6

  Grampian

  25

  35

  Greater Glasgow

  3

  10

  Highland

  1

  2

  Lanarkshire

  8

  15

  Lothian

  7

  11

  47

  Health board

  Current number of fund holders

  Estimated number of fund holders by July 1994

  Orkney

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  Tayside

  8

  10

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  Total

  64

  110

  48

  Arts Council
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions grants have been made available by the Scottish Arts Council under its(a) bursaries to writers scheme and (b) writers in residence scheme during the last five years to applicants who were neither resident in Scotland nor had any previous connection with Scotland.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 14 July 1993]: I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is as follows: (a) none, (b) nine, of a total of 69 grants.
  49

WALES

  Manufacturing Jobs
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate his Department has made of the number of male jobs in manufacturing created during(a) the last 12 months and (b) the last five years (i) in the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney constituency and (ii) in Mid Glamorgan; and what are the corresponding figures for the number of jobs lost during the same period.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, according to the 1987 and 1991 censuses of employment, in 1987 in the manufacturing sector there were 4,900 males employed in the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney constituency and 32,700 in Mid Glamorgan. The corresponding figures for 1991 were 4,600 and 31,500.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total value of grants which Wales has received from the European regional development fund in the past three years.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The total amount of ERDF allocated to Wales for the 1991–93 calendar years is £205·8 million.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future funding of the Welsh Development Agency.

  Mr. Redwood
  Decisions on the agency's resources for future years will be decided in the course of the public expenditure survey in the usual way.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the figure for male unemployment in Newport, Gwent, and Wales at the latest available date.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The unadjusted numbers of male unemployed claimants for the borough of Newport, Gwent and Wales for June 1993 are 5,978, 16,538 and 100,186 respectively.

  Tourism
  Mr. Brandreth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to promote tourism in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  With the full support of my Department, a plan for the development of tourism in Wales, the "Tourism 2000" strategy, is currently being developed by the Wales tourist board. Following extensive consultation with interested parties it is expected that the plan will be published towards the end of the year.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about recent progress in inward investment in Wales.
  50
  Mr. Redwood
  Great progress continues to be made. Figures recently announced by the Invest in Britain Bureau show that Wales recorded 20 per cent. of foreign inward investment projects for the United Kingdom in 1992–93. Since then, major projects by Aiwa and ASAT have been announced which promise some 1,500 new jobs at Crumlin.

  Manufacturing Industries
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his policies to safeguard and develop manufacturing industries in Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  Manufacturing industry has been a most significant factor in Wales' success in recent years—output has risen by 30·2 per cent. since 1985 compared to a United Kingdom rise of 13·5 per cent. and, in the first quarter of this year, by 2·7 per cent. compared to the United Kingdom's 2·1 per cent. We must continue to build on this by improving manufacturing industry's productivity and the quality of its goods.

  Neath and Port Talbot General Hospital
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now announce his conclusions on his review of the future of Neath and Port Talbot general hospital.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend expects to announce a decision on the way ahead for health services in the relevant part of West Glamorgan before the summer recess. His decision will be informed by the outcome of the investment appraisal being undertaken by the Audit Commission.

  Forest Enterprise
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for the future of Forest Enterprise in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland announced to the House on 30 March that the Government have established a group of officials to review the effectiveness of the current incentives for forestry and options for the ownership and management of Forestry Commission woodlands. The review will be concerned with the position throughout Great Britain. We expect the review group to submit its report to Ministers by the end of the year.

  Local Government Boundaries
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received this year on the proposals for the boundary between the Bridgend and Vale of Glamorgan unitary authorities.

  Mr. Redwood
  Since publication of the local government reorganisation White Paper on 1 March, we have received 164 written representations relating to the proposals for the boundary between the proposed Bridgend and Vale of Glamorgan unitary authorities.

  Hill Farmers
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on current income levels for hill farmers in Wales.
  51
  Mr. Redwood
  The latest farm business survey shows that the average net farm income of less-favoured area livestock farms was £12,254 in 1991–92. This represents a rise in real terms of 37 per cent. compared with 1990–91. Incomes for 1992–93 are forecast to rise further in real terms.

  Single-parent Families
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many single-parent families there are currently in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is estimated from the 1991 census that there were 68,000 single-parent families in Wales.

  Pharmaceutical Industries
  Mr. Kinnock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to promote the development of the pharmaceutical industries in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  A wide range of measures to support the industry and encourage further inward investment in the sector to Wales, is already available through the Welsh Office, the Welsh Development Agency and training and enterprise councils.

  Housing
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many houses are owned by local authorities in each of the parliamentary constituencies in Wales; and what proportion of the housing stock these figures represent;

  (2) how many holiday or second homes there are in each parliamentary constituency in Wales; and what proportion of the housing stock they represent;

  (3) how many houses in each parliamentary constituency in Wales are owner-occupied; and what proportion this figure represents of the housing stock.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Results from the 1991 census for parliamentary constituencies, providing details of the tenure of dwellings, will become available towards the end of 1993.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total budget of Tai Cymru in(a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92 and (c) 1992–93; and what proportion of this money was spent in north Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information is as follows:

  Total grants to housing associations £ million

  Proportion spent in Clwyd and Gwynedd Per cent.

  1990–91

  116·0

  16·0

  1991–92

  132·6

  22·0

  1992–93

  174·0

  21·0

  Schools (Redundancies)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many compulsory redundancies in schools have taken place in Wales in 1992 and to date in 1993; and if he will publish figures for each secondary and primary school in Wales and figures for each local education authority area.
  52
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The table shows the number of teachers aged 50 and over who retired prematurely for reason of redundancy from maintained schools in Wales and claimed their superannuation benefits. Information on other redundancies—those aged under 50 or those who do not claim their pension—is not held centrally. Data for the financial years 1991–92 and 1992–93 are as follows.

  Financial Year

  Local Education Authority

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Clwyd

  1

  1

  Dyfed

  2

  1

  Gwent

  86

  42

  Gwynedd

  2

  3

  Mid Glamorgan

  1

  8

  Powys

  0

  2

  South Glamorgan

  1

  0

  West Glamorgan

  18

  8

  Wales total

  111

  65

  Source:

  Teachers Pension Agency.

  Out-patient Cancer Treatment
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are being taken in Wales to enhance the provision of out-patient cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In addition to the NHS in Wales's ongoing development programme funded from resources allocated to health authorities, recent centrally funded developments include the provision of replacement linear accelerators at Singleton hospital, Swansea at a cost of some £2 million and at Velindre hospital, Cardiff, at a cost of £1·4 million. In addition, I announced on 22 June the development of a dedicated cancer treatment centre for north Wales at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan to provide a full range of palliative and curative care, including radiotherapy. Many of the estimated 2,000 patients treated annually will be out-patients.

  Fishing Licences
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are being taken to ensure that all freshwater anglers purchase a fishing licence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Responsibility for rod licensing rests with the National Rivers Authority.

  Agriculture (Self-sufficiency)
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current level of self-sufficiency in Wales in the production of(a) butter, (b) milk, (c) beef and (d) sheepmeat.

  Mr. Redwood
  The latest available estimates, for 1990, of self-sufficiency—production in Wales as a percentage of consumption in Wales—are as follows.
  53

  1990

  Consumption

  Production

  Production as a percentage of consumption per cent.

  Butter

  27,901

  —

  —

  1 3163·8

  —

  —

  Milk and Butter

  3491·5

  31,530

  311·30

  Beef

  218,011

  266,000

  366·46

  Sheepmeat

  215,674

  274,000

  472·12

  1 Figures are not available for the volume of butter produced from Welsh milk. Butter consumption estimates have therefore been converted into raw milk equivalent and included with liquid milk consumption.

  2 Tonnes.

  3 Million litres.

  Truancy (Clwyd)
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are being taken in Clwyd to reduce the number of children playing truant from school; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Parents, schools and local education authorities share legal responsibilities in respect of school attendance. Local authorities must ensure that parents are fulfilling their statutory obligations as to their children's education including, where necessary, by action through the courts. Details of the measures by which local authorities achieve this are not, however, held centrally.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are being taken in Wales to divert traffic away from environmentally sensitive areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Full account is taken of environmentally sensitive areas when planning and designing trunk road schemes.

  Hospital Stays
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average length of a hospital stay in Wales in 1979 and in 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Advances in medical technology have made it possible that while the average length of stay of patients for all specialties in hospitals in Wales was 19·1 days in 1979 it was 10·4 days in 1991–92. The average length of stay for acute specialties, excluding geriatric, maternity and psychiatric specialties, was 9·5 days and 6·2 days respectively. Consequently, more patients than ever before are now receiving better care under the national health service in Wales.

  Hospital Waste
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are being taken to ensure the safe disposal of hospital waste; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  All health authorities in Wales were issued with the Secretary of State's guidance "Clinical Waste Incineration Processes under 1 Tonne an Hour" in March 1991.
  54
  Guidance and a code of practice were issued in March 1992 detailing responsibilities under the "duty of care" requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which places stringent requirements on all who create, transport and dispose of "controlled waste".

  It is for the local authority environmental health officers, as the statutory enforcers, to control and monitor the activities of health authorities and NHS trusts.

  Rural Post Offices
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received on the subject of rural post offices since 1 May; and if if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Seventeen such representations have been received, including a petition with 1,098 signatures.

  Special Needs Education
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, for January for each year from 1988 to the latest year for which figures are available, the number of pupils aged five to 15 years with statements of special educational needs(a) in maintained special schools, (b) in non-maintained special schools and independent schools under arrangements made by the authority and (c) in maintained primary, middle and secondary schools.

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

  Pupils with statements of special educational needs

  Year

  Maintained special schools1

  Non-maintained special and independent schools

  Maintained primary and secondary schools2

  31988

  3,953

  134

  7,462

  31989

  3,737

  149

  7,454

  31990

  3,668

  150

  7,147

  31991

  3,620

  169

  8,858

  41992

  2,628

  143

  9,916

  1Data for 1988–1991 include pupils in special units (other than those attached to schools).

  2Data for 1992 include pupils in grant-maintained schools.

  3Data are pupils of all ages.

  4Data are pupils aged 5–16 with ages at 31 August the preceding year.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, for January for each year from 1988 to the latest year for which figures are available(a) the number of full-time pupils aged five to 15 years in (i) maintained primary, middle and secondary schools and (ii) special schools maintained by the LEA and (b) the number of pupils aged five to 15 years belonging to (i) other LEAs but attending special schools maintained by the LEA, (ii) the LEA but attending special schools maintained by other LEAs and (iii) the LEA attending non-maintained special schools and independent schools for the purposes of special educational treatment.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is given in the tables.
  55

  (a) the number of full-time pupils aged 5 to 15 years1

  Maintained primary and secondary schools2

  LEA maintained special schools

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Clwyd

  54,407

  53,737

  52,992

  52,993

  53,043

  661

  634

  629

  630

  642

  Dyfed

  45,254

  45,727

  45,597

  45,652

  45,754

  258

  254

  232

  199

  210

  Gwent

  59,960

  59,142

  59,008

  59,438

  60,149

  351

  336

  316

  320

  307

  Gwynedd

  31,663

  31,047

  30,496

  29,956

  29,782

  263

  255

  215

  211

  234

  Mid Glamorgan

  76,143

  75,244

  75,054

  75,214

  75,615

  646

  587

  589

  565

  597

  Powys

  15,574

  15,498

  15,467

  15,331

  15,335

  110

  109

  122

  122

  125

  South Glamorgan

  52,131

  52,128

  52,038

  52,730

  53,703

  655

  624

  588

  575

  537

  West Glamorgan

  48,584

  48,505

  48,350

  48,769

  49,002

  218

  194

  181

  177

  175

  Wales

  383,715

  381,028

  379,002

  380,083

  382,383

  3,162

  2,993

  2,872

  2,799

  2,827

  1 At January each year, with ages at 31 August the preceding year.

  2 Includes grant-maintained schools.

  (b) The number of children aged 5 to 15 belonging to:

  (i) other LEAs but attending special schools maintained by the LEA

  (ii) the LEA but attending special schools maintained by other LEAs

  (iii) The LEA but attending non-maintained special and independent schools1

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Clwyd

  30

  25

  38

  37

  42

  33

  29

  25

  24

  24

  3

  2

  4

  2

  8

  Dyfed

  11

  12

  13

  2

  3

  15

  15

  17

  16

  13

  10

  16

  8

  12

  21

  Gwent

  14

  16

  11

  6

  4

  48

  45

  38

  24

  26

  36

  45

  56

  69

  32

  Gwynedd

  15

  18

  15

  11

  8

  15

  8

  10

  8

  7

  8

  8

  7

  8

  6

  Mid Glamorgan

  32

  29

  23

  16

  19

  48

  42

  37

  31

  19

  52

  53

  58

  61

  51

  Powys

  4

  7

  5

  4

  3

  7

  7

  2

  3

  3

  14

  22

  18

  20

  18

  South Glamorgan

  81

  73

  58

  48

  36

  17

  17

  13

  5

  3

  6

  9

  7

  9

  5

  West Glamorgan

  5

  7

  11

  12

  11

  12

  16

  8

  11

  12

  17

  15

  9

  12

  2

  1 Data for 1988–91 include children of all ages. Data for 1992 include children aged 5 to 16 years with statements for special educational needs only. Data include children being educated outside of the authority in which they are registered.

ENVIRONMENT

  Pollution, Helpston
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken to prevent further pollution of groundwater at Helpston, Cambridgeshire, following the identification of the cause and source in August 1992.

  Mr. Yeo
  The National Rivers Authority took immediate action in 1992 to ask the waste regulatory authority to vary the waste disposal licences for the landfill sites from which the pollution came. Subsequently, in October 1992, the NRA commissioned studies to identify the options available to contain and remedy the pollution. The final report on this is expected shortly, and will help the NRA to decide what further action is necessary and feasible.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what grounds the National Rivers Authority has decided not to publish the three existing reports identifying the cause and source of groundwater pollution at Helpston, Cambridgeshire.

  Mr. Yeo
  Investigations into the groundwater pollution at Helpston are not yet complete. The reports received so far have been judged, by the NRA, to be subject to the confidentiality provisions of the Environmental Information Regulations 1992. Apart from any legal restrictions, the NRA plans to release as much factual information as possible, when it is appropriate.
  56
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which authority will be responsible for funding the clean-up of pesticide pollution at Helpston, Cambridgeshire.

  Mr. Yeo
  It is for the National Rivers Authority and the courts to consider whether there may be any criminal liability in respect of the contamination. The NRA also has power to take remedial action should that be appropriate, and can seek to recover its costs. It is for anyone adversely affected to consider any claims for civil damages.

  Special Waste
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list by year, for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste arisings and deposits;

  (2) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste arising (a) within the county and deposited within the county, (b) within the county and exported out of the county and (c) outside the county and deposited within the county.

  Mr. Yeo
  The tables below show the amounts of special waste arising within the English counties, the amounts imported to and exported from each county, and the amount deposited in each county since 1987–88. Special wastes may be imported and re-exported as part of the treatment and disposal process. The information available on exports and deposits does not identify the sources of the waste.

  Figures relate to financial years ending 31 March, and are in tonnes. In 1987–88 and 1988–89 not all counties provided returns. We have revised the figures for those

  57
  years that were published in the "Digest of Environmental Protection Water Statistics No. 15 (1992)" following further validation exercises.

  Special waste statistics: England by county 1987–88

  County

  Arisings

  Exports

  Imports

  Deposited

  Avon

  17,787

  17,991

  842

  638

  Bedfordshire

  4,337

  1,585

  57,643

  60,396

  Berkshire

  4,873

  4,231

  758

  1,400

  Buckinghamshire

  4,362

  2,962

  4,492

  5,893

  Cambridgeshire

  15,417

  9,954

  2,508

  7,970

  Cheshire

  207,179

  128,857

  132,973

  211,295

  Cleveland

  363,432

  57,759

  12,540

  318,213

  Cornwall

  567

  413

  0

  155

  Cumbria

  9,366

  1,718

  462

  8,110

  Derbyshire

  73,856

  33,576

  23,982

  64,263

  Devon

  4,180

  1,954

  3,250

  5,476

  Dorset

  4,376

  3,269

  319

  1,107

  Durham

  31,600

  7,940

  58,330

  81,990

  East Sussex

  2,443

  2,440

  2,230

  2,233

  Essex

  35,284

  15,284

  118,204

  138,204

  Gloucestershire

  14,062

  9,716

  385

  4,731

  GMWDA

  78,803

  47,968

  127,933

  158,768

  Hampshire

  13,687

  29,387

  10,281

  5,419

  Hereford and Worcester

  12,429

  538

  0

  11,891

  Hertfordshire

  128,859

  106,898

  2,840

  24,801

  Humberside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Isle of Wight

  67

  50

  0

  18

  Kent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  146,594

  57,224

  5,043

  94,413

  Leicestershire

  13,146

  6,110

  3,654

  10,690

  Lincolnshire

  2,065

  1,867

  111

  309

  LWRA

  60,629

  57,249

  368

  3,748

  Merseyside

  17,625

  27,128

  20,176

  10,672

  Norfolk

  12,193

  11,024

  63

  1,232

  North Yorkshire

  4,461

  4,074

  260

  647

  Northamptonshire

  4,132

  3,376

  14,771

  15,528

  Northumberland

  16,411

  2,620

  5,625

  19,416

  Nottinghamshire

  16,099

  13,625

  2,125

  4,598

  Oxfordshire

  3,941

  2,999

  2,813

  3,755

  Shropshire

  6,850

  5,658

  2,820

  4,012

  Somerset

  7,927

  5,610

  0

  2,317

  South Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staffordshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  25,009

  23,153

  6,402

  8,258

  Surrey

  2,356

  1,743

  225

  838

  Tyne and Wear

  80,732

  72,469

  12,741

  21,004

  Warwickshire

  14,045

  7,287

  29,205

  35,962

  West Midlands

  244,893

  59,498

  188,213

  373,608

  West Sussex

  4,953

  4,220

  335

  1,069

  West Yorkshire

  212,147

  43,052

  19,691

  188,786

  Wiltshire

  4,553

  4,243

  621

  931

  Total

  11,927,725

  898,717

  875,233

  1,914,761

  — = no return made.

  GMWDA = Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.

  LWRA = London Waste Regulation Authority.

  1 Totals relate to reporting districts only.

  Special waste statistics: England by county 1988–89

  County

  Arisings

  Exports

  Imports

  Deposited

  Avon

  18,049

  16,237

  5,613

  7,425

  Bedfordshire

  4,164

  1,586

  30,588

  33,166

  Berkshire

  16,143

  5,031

  1,399

  12,511

  Buckinghamshire

  4,869

  3,955

  1,884

  2,798

  Cambridgeshire

  17,668

  12,838

  5,996

  10,827

  Cheshire

  62,678

  27,146

  204,163

  239,695

  Cleveland

  245,500

  58,800

  800

  187,500

  Cornwall

  619

  378

  0

  240

  Cumbria

  6,088

  3,588

  319

  2,819

  Derbyshire

  65,390

  24,011

  25,873

  67,252

  Devon

  5,755

  2,847

  3,825

  6,733

  Dorset

  7,267

  6,774

  458

  951

  Durham

  49,680

  27,944

  92,574

  114,310

  East Sussex

  939

  930

  7,298

  7,307

  Essex

  23,756

  3,698

  103,631

  123,689

  58 59

  County

  Arisings

  Exports

  Imports

  Deposited

  Gloucestershire

  16,920

  11,640

  924

  6,204

  GMWDA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hampshire

  21,339

  14,767

  14,190

  20,762

  Hereford and Worcester

  12,572

  12,541

  0

  30

  Hertfordshire

  27,165

  19,672

  2,818

  10,311

  Humberside

  15,675

  10,115

  273

  5,833

  Isle of Wight

  75

  64

  0

  11

  Kent

  202,678

  19,261

  1,557

  184,914

  Lancashire

  33,179

  24,071

  7,711

  16,818

  Leicestershire

  12,281

  6,092

  3,961

  10,150

  Lincolnshire

  2,321

  2,216

  83

  189

  LWRA

  51,636

  44,529

  440

  7,547

  Merseyside

  26,518

  26,519

  18,121

  18,119

  Norfolk

  15,528

  11,856

  53

  3,725

  North Yorkshire

  6,131

  5,737

  719

  1,113

  Northamptonshire

  3,828

  2,451

  18,310

  19,688

  Northumberland

  19,485

  4,147

  5,380

  20,718

  Nottinghamshire

  18,389

  17,479

  460

  1,370

  Oxfordshire

  4,274

  2,368

  2,701

  4,607

  Shropshire

  7,150

  6,018

  2,443

  3,575

  Somerset

  9,979

  8,341

  0

  1,638

  South Yorkshire

  67,327

  43,159

  17,579

  41,747

  Staffordshire

  36,647

  29,234

  61,459

  68,872

  Suffolk

  31,989

  30,646

  4,807

  6,150

  Surrey

  9,340

  8,740

  1,461

  2,061

  Tyne and Wear

  62,959

  48,095

  4,905

  19,769

  Warwickshire

  8,601

  7,840

  9,947

  10,708

  West Midlands

  246,991

  82,858

  212,050

  376,183

  West Sussex

  3,819

  3,301

  90

  608

  West Yorkshire

  158,819

  56,105

  5,434

  108,148

  Wiltshire

  1,732

  1,266

  673

  1,139

  Total

  11,663,911

  756,891

  882,969

  1,789,928

  — = no return made.

  GMWDA = Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.

  LWRA = London Waste Regulation Authority.

  1 Totals relate to reporting districts only.

  Special waste statistics: England by county 1989–90

  County

  Arisings

  Exports

  Imports

  Deposited

  Avon

  17,102

  15,264

  2,607

  4,445

  Bedfordshire

  3,485

  1,448

  78,904

  80,941

  Berkshire

  7,545

  6,383

  1,636

  2,798

  Buckinghamshire

  7,035

  5,964

  714

  1,785

  Cambridgeshire

  17,668

  12,838

  1,496

  6,327

  Cheshire

  92,780

  34,888

  121,869

  179,761

  Cleveland

  510,781

  49,698

  8,602

  469,685

  Cornwall

  656

  558

  0

  98

  Cumbria

  7,277

  4,163

  200

  3,314

  Derbyshire

  68,996

  33,551

  16,058

  51,503

  Devon

  3,565

  2,040

  4,000

  5,525

  Dorset

  3,131

  2,694

  354

  791

  Durham

  30,676

  21,557

  35,004

  44,123

  East Sussex

  3,238

  3,218

  21,363

  21,383

  Essex

  88,277

  60,101

  127,040

  155,216

  Gloucestershire

  18,498

  12,834

  992

  6,656

  GMWDA

  138,168

  54,876

  135,040

  218,332

  Hampshire

  37,583

  29,017

  27,889

  36,455

  Hereford and Worcester

  17,230

  17,229

  0

  0

  Hertfordshire

  22,495

  12,302

  5,660

  15,852

  Humberside

  21,077

  11,677

  444

  9,845

  Isle of Wight

  1,954

  1,946

  0

  8

  Kent

  67,866

  63,954

  22,597

  26,508

  Lancashire

  68,058

  34,939

  26,564

  59,682

  Leicestershire

  12,273

  6,034

  4,154

  6,238

  Lincolnshire

  2,973

  2,873

  80

  180

  LWRA

  107,112

  98,846

  1,242

  9,508

  Merseyside

  34,046

  28,857

  29,022

  30,310

  Norfolk

  9,296

  8,115

  232

  1,413

  North Yorkshire

  7,692

  7,058

  4,057

  4,691

  Northamptonshire

  4 387

  2,998

  17,122

  18,511

  Northumberland

  20,312

  6,102

  9,807

  24,017

  Nottinghamshire

  5,279

  4,407

  712

  1,583

  Oxfordshire

  4,274

  2,368

  2,701

  4,607

  Shropshire

  7,676

  6,687

  2,346

  3,335

  60 61

  County

  Arisings

  Exports

  Imports

  Deposited

  Somerset

  6,621

  5,331

  0

  1,290

  South Yorkshire

  90,954

  55,750

  17,736

  52,941

  Staffordshire

  29,800

  26,400

  25,500

  28,900

  Suffolk

  29,088

  27,819

  5,009

  6,278

  Surrey

  12,427

  11,191

  3,882

  5,119

  Tyne and Wear

  22,460

  14,757

  21,373

  29,076

  Warwickshire

  11,676

  5,717

  15,799

  21,758

  West Midlands

  226,763

  82,642

  174,203

  318,324

  West Sussex

  5,180

  4,137

  58

  1,102

  West Yorkshire

  235,749

  54,144

  11,357

  192,962

  Wiltshire

  5,144

  3,580

  2,590

  4,154

  Total

  2,146,323

  958,952

  988,015

  2,167,330

  GMWDA = Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.

  LWRA = London Waste Regulation Authority.

  Special waste statistics: England by county 1990–91

  County

  Arisings

  Exports

  Imports

  Deposits

  Avon

  12,828

  11,497

  2,702

  4,033

  Bedfordshire

  4,745

  3,554

  103,602

  104,794

  Berkshire

  6,905

  6,279

  4,260

  4,886

  Buckinghamshire

  6,917

  6,441

  431

  906

  Cambridgeshire

  13,493

  16,290

  11,108

  8,311

  Cheshire

  147,664

  61,061

  172,769

  259,372

  Cleveland

  417,539

  72,910

  30,949

  375,578

  Cornwall

  311

  272

  0

  39

  Cumbria

  7,944

  4,343

  463

  4,064

  Derbyshire

  75,675

  39,178

  36,082

  752,579

  Devon

  4,145

  1,970

  3,470

  5,645

  Dorset

  2,881

  2,564

  307

  624

  Durham

  35,420

  26,230

  21,570

  30,760

  East Sussex

  12,532

  12,508

  8,258

  8,282

  Essex

  26,168

  6,815

  118,296

  137,649

  Gloucestershire

  15,457

  10,728

  1,874

  6,603

  GMWDA

  136,464

  61,932

  136,232

  210,764

  Hampshire

  25,780

  18,274

  17,553

  25,059

  Hereford and Worcester

  12,655

  12,568

  0

  87

  Hertfordshire

  35,179

  28,840

  6,573

  12,912

  Humberside

  21,831

  12,995

  10,369

  19,205

  Isle of Wight

  267

  256

  0

  11

  Kent

  698,543

  696,059

  13,387

  15,870

  Lancashire

  146,361

  19,640

  29,592

  156,312

  Leicestershire

  13,165

  9,150

  1,935

  4,015

  Lincolnshire

  2,083

  1,915

  73

  240

  LWRA

  160,211

  143,077

  1,248

  18,382

  Merseyside

  36,619

  35,451

  14,974

  16,142

  Norfolk

  10,154

  8,897

  259

  1,516

  North Yorkshire

  7,008

  6,585

  7,939

  8,363

  Northamptonshire

  5,189

  4,823

  15,844

  16,210

  Northumberland

  28,619

  11,769

  3,488

  20,338

  Nottinghamshire

  15,863

  13,513

  2,420

  4,780

  Oxfordshire

  4,691

  2,742

  4,086

  6,035

  Shropshire

  9,286

  9,184

  2,611

  2,714

  Somerset

  12,557

  11,218

  0

  1,340

  South Yorkshire

  36,565

  26,193

  23,034

  33,406

  Staffordshire

  39,667

  39,427

  11,630

  11,870

  Suffolk

  21,590

  21,079

  423

  933

  Surrey

  13,098

  12,115

  4,894

  5,877

  Tyne and Wear

  30,812

  14,401

  16,171

  32,582

  Warwickshire

  9,957

  9,688

  30,275

  30,544

  West Midlands

  215,959

  75,028

  164,188

  305,119

  West Sussex

  8,256

  6,505

  42

  1,792

  West Yorkshire

  180,495

  89,654

  14,772

  105,613

  Wiltshire

  3,137

  2,284

  4,154

  5,008

  Totals

  2,732,683

  1,687,900

  1,054,305

  2,777,164

  GMWDA = Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.

  LWRA = London Waste Regulation Authority.

  62 63

  Special waste statistics: England by county 1991–92

  Tonnes

  County

  Arisings

  Exports

  Imports

  Deposits

  Avon

  9,865

  7,973

  10,314

  12,206

  Bedfordshire

  5,319

  3,288

  896,554

  898,585

  Berkshire

  5,214

  4,877

  2,109

  2,446

  Buckinghamshire

  6,525

  6,250

  203

  477

  Cambridgeshire

  16,830

  17,088

  4,956

  4,698

  Cheshire

  121,387

  60,285

  149,491

  210,593

  Cleveland

  357,852

  45,278

  14

  312,588

  Cornwall

  1,216

  1,053

  12

  162

  Cumbria

  6,167

  5,993

  62

  237

  Derbyshire

  68,138

  33,390

  42,129

  76,877

  Devon

  5,525

  2,230

  3,315

  6,610

  Dorset

  3,951

  3,653

  247

  545

  Durham

  17,766

  10,109

  12,308

  19,965

  East Sussex

  1,608

  1,559

  11,272

  11,321

  Essex

  23,703

  5,086

  102,374

  120,997

  Gloucestershire

  8,903

  5,825

  12,155

  15,233

  GMWDA

  61,365

  36,904

  144,716

  206,081

  Hampshire

  26,787

  21,608

  28,989

  39,603

  Hereford and Worcester

  13,680

  13,126

  0

  554

  Hertfordshire

  150,856

  142,827

  6,155

  14,185

  Humberside

  22,846

  14,981

  6,948

  14,813

  Isle of Wight

  105

  103

  0

  3

  Kent

  759,769

  757,948

  14,129

  15,954

  Lancashire

  136,121

  24,468

  29,280

  140,933

  Leicestershire

  29,753

  23,842

  1,717

  7,629

  Lincolnshire

  2,185

  1,983

  181

  383

  LWRA

  133,807

  113,383

  2,416

  22,840

  Merseyside

  33,743

  30,184

  25,292

  28,851

  Norfolk

  7,847

  7,038

  1,927

  2,736

  North Yorkshire

  7,518

  7,079

  1,996

  2,435

  Northamptonshire

  6,116

  4,844

  25,442

  26,713

  Northumberland

  29,568

  13,842

  1,000

  15,725

  Nottinghamshire

  39,082

  39,809

  4,177

  3,450

  Oxfordshire

  5,575

  3,401

  3,398

  5,571

  Shropshire

  12,171

  12,171

  1,668

  1,669

  Somerset

  6,767

  5,480

  100

  1,287

  South Yorkshire

  37,432

  15,009

  27,915

  50,338

  Staffordshire

  40,470

  40,040

  10,000

  10,430

  Suffolk

  18,116

  17,964

  422

  556

  Surrey

  20,199

  18,987

  1,819

  3,031

  Tyne and Wear

  30,299

  14,416

  11,782

  27,654

  Warwickshire

  8,273

  8,088

  38,305

  38,490

  West Midlands

  198,601

  83,267

  155,764

  271,098

  West Sussex

  6,167

  5,993

  62

  178

  West Yorkshire

  180,000

  89,000

  17,000

  108,000

  Wiltshire

  6,118

  5,267

  16,325

  17,176

  Total

  2,691,306

  1,786,988

  1,826,438

  2,771,905

  GMWDA = Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.

  LWRA = London Waste Regulation Authority.

  Depleted Uranium Shells
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the environmental effects of the test firing of depleted uranium shells.

  Mr. Yeo
  Ministry of Defence premises are exempt from the requirements of the Radioactive Substances Act 1960, but controls equally stringent to those exercised over other users of radioactive materials are applied on an administrative basis by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. This includes a programme of inspection by HMIP inspectors. As part of this regulatory function, HMIP has received regular reports containing results of the environmental monitoring programme carried out by the MOD. HMIP is currently in the process of assessing the effects of test firing this ammunition on the environment.
  64

  Water (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has recently received from the chairman of the National Rivers Authority in regard to the effectiveness of prosecutions under the Water Resources Act 1991.

  Mr. Yeo
  I regularly discuss a variety of topics, including pollution control, with the chairman. Details of the NRA's achievements in its enforcement activity are set out in its annual water pollution incidents report. The most recent information, relating to 1991, was published by the NRA last September.

  London (Policy Developments)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the policy developments relating to London since August 1992.

  Mr. Gummer
  We have carried through the policy initiatives set out in our general election manifesto. The
  65
  Cabinet sub-committee on London— EDL(1)— continues to co-ordinate Government policy on London and to take a strategic view of the impact of all our policies on the capital. We have convened the London Forum to promote London internationally as a centre for business, tourism and culture. This private sector body was launched formally on 29 March and is now developing its promotional plans. The transport working group chaired by the Minister for Transport in London has met on three occasions since August 1992 to discuss the co-ordination of public transport in London.

  Together, these initiatives will help to maintain and enhance London's position as a thriving national capital and leading world city. I am currently taking this forward by seeking the views of Londoners and their representative groups on the capital so that we can build on our successes and enhance our reputation.

  Housing Association Grant
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the proposed reduction of housing association grant to 55 per cent. by 1995.

  Sir George Young
  My Department has received more than 300 letters from Members of Parliament, individuals and organisations about our objectives to reduce grant rates to 60 per cent. in 1994–95 and 55 per cent. in 1995–96.

  Green Belts
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will outline the procedure adopted by his Department in consideration of applications for land to be granted green belt status.

  Mr. Curry
  Green belts are designated through the development plan process. In drawing up their plans, local planning authorities must have regard to our guidance on the designation of green belts, set out in paragraphs 6 to 11 of planning policy guidance note 2.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the clarity of the language used in his departmental publications.

  Mr. Gummer
  Clarity of language and accuracy have the highest priority in the production of publications intended for wide use. From time to time, market research is used to test drafts of publications and also to test the effectiveness of the final product.

  In 1992, the Department was awarded the Plain English Campaign's crystal mark. This was for the council tenants charter.

  Urban Environment Initiative
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to meet the Association of Municipal Engineers to discuss developing an urban environment initiative.

  Mr. Yeo
  We have set up the Central and Local Environment Forum to enable us to maintain regular contact with local authorities on environmental matters, including the development of their "Local Agenda 21 66
  Initiative", which I welcome. I have no plans to open separate discussions with the Association of Municipal Engineers.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment at what level his Department was represented at the Institute of Energy conference on how climate change will affect business held in London on 7 July.

  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment gave the key note address to the conference. The director general of the Energy Efficiency Office attended the conference for most of the day and participated in the open forum discussion session at the end of the morning.

  Noreast Building Management
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out(a) the proceeds of the sale of Noreast Building Management to John Mowlem and (b) the amount of money set aside to cover possible redundancy costs.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to my answers given on 8 July Official Report, column 419–20, and 13 July, Official Report, column 232.

  Area Cost Adjustments
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Association of County Councils about the fairer calculation of area cost adjustment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have received a number of representations from the Association of County Councils about the area cost adjustment. Its evidence will he considered carefully as part of our review of standard spending assessments.

  Local Government Commission
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the Local Government Commission.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Local Government Commission will continue to operate under the provisions of section 13 of the Local Government Act 1992. We are keeping its programme under review.

  Sparks Bakery Site, Stockton
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what conditions were attached to the grant made to Stockton borough council in 1988 to purchase the Sparks Bakery site; and whether any prohibition was placed on the division of the Sparks bakery site in Stockton-on-Tees by his Department when the grant was made to Stockton borough council to purchase it.

  Mr. Baldry
  Approval for Stockton borough council to use urban programme resources to acquire Sparks bakery site to create a business centre was granted subject to one
  67
  condition: that the urban programme grant will be clawed back if the land and/or buildings are eventually used for some other purpose or if a scheme accepted by the Department for urban programme funding has not been started by 3 March 1990.

  No restrictions were placed on the division of the site when the grant was made.

  PSA Property Management (Scotland)
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the price difference between the SERCO bid for PSA Property Management (Scotland) and the next nearest offer; and what undertakings have been sought to ensure the retention of headquarters management and staff in Scotland.

  Mr. Curry
  Details of bids from unsuccessful bidders are commercially confidential. Serco's objective in acquiring BM Scotland is to expand its business based in Scotland as a separate Scottish company.

  Environment Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Croydon, North-East (Mr. Congdon) of 8 July,Official Report columns 233–35, what was the position of each member state on the votes on (a) volatile organic compound emissions and (b) the text of a directive on new exhaust emission standards for light commercial vehicles below 3·5 tonnes maximum weight; and what was the Government's position in the discussions on (i) the wild birds directive and (ii) the packaging and waste directive taken at the European Community's Environment Council held on 8 July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  No formal votes were taken at the Environment Council held on 28 and 29 June. On wild birds, the Government supported a compromise acceptable to 10 other member states. On packaging, the Council held a policy debate rather than a discussion of detail, during which I emphasised the need for early agreement on the directive on the basis of realistic targets, particularly in the light of the unintended effects measures in one country might have on other member states.

  Churchyards
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for which closed churchyards the liability of maintenance has been taken over by a local authority under section 215 of the Local Government Act 1972.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer Friday 16 July]: This information is not held centrally.

  Scientists' Training
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the safety executive initiative in respect of the training of scientists to assess environmental risks.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Health and Safety Executive is developing an MSc in environmental toxicology with the university of Central Lancashire. The course will utilise the university's expertise in toxicology and allied environmental sciences
  68
  and HSE's regulatory experience. At present there are 12 students; 10 are HSE staff and the other two are graduates from the Merseyside area.

  Defence Research Agency
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responsibilities the Defence Research Agency has to respond to requests for information under the Environmental Information Regulations 1992.

  Mr. Aitken
  I have been asked to reply.

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

  Letter from J. A. R. Chisholm to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 19 July 1993.
  In today's written answer the Minister of State for Defence Procurement informed you that I would be replying directly to your question regarding the Defence Research Agency's responsibilities under the Environmental Information Regulations 1992.The DRA is wholly owned by the Secretary of State for Defence and must conform to the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 in just the same way as any other public body. What this means in practice is that we would endeavour to respond positively to all requests for environmental information.

EMPLOYMENT

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he is taking to stimulate growth in the availability of apprenticeships to school leavers in(a) the steel industry, (b) the aerospace industry and (c) the construction industry.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government are keen to promote and encourage the growth of apprenticeships in these industries and others. The Government already support some apprenticeships and similar training arrangements through youth credits and youth training, and keep their policies under regular review.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans his Department has to assist in retraining and job creation in west Cumbria in the event of THORP being further delayed or cancelled.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Employment Department, through the employment service (ES) and Cumbria training and enterprise council (TEC) are offering a wide range of employment, enterprise and training programmes to assist unemployed people in West Cumbria including those previously employed at THORP. The TEC is starting redundancy counselling sessions at THORP soon which will include job search counselling, financial advice and general redundancy counselling, ES and TEC programmes are designed to be flexible in order to take account of special local circumstances such as this to help people find the best and quickest route back to employment.

  Both the employment service and Cumbria TEC are monitoring the situation at THORP closely and are

  69
  working in partnership with BNFL plc and the West Cumbria development agency to address the particular training and job search needs of THORP employees as they arise and to encourage new enterprise activity in the area.

  Youth Training
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has received in the past 12 months on the supply of and demand for youth training places in each TEC area; and what has been made public.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information on the availability of youth training (YT) places is not collected nationally. Information on the total demand for YT places is also not collected, but the number of young people who are registered with Careers Services in England and who are covered by the YT guarantee, has been collected since August last year. Information on the number of these young people who have been waiting for a YT place for eight or more weeks in March and April has been released in response to previous questions in the House. Updated information is provided in the following table:

  Young people wailing for 8 or more weeks for a place on YT: 1993

  TEC

  March1

  April2

  May3

  June4

  Avon

  88

  117

  9

  6

  AZTEC

  156

  95

  65

  41

  Barnsley and Doncaster

  36

  35

  69

  91

  Bedfordshire

  115

  164

  71

  48

  Birmingham

  110

  131

  21

  38

  Bolton and Bury

  41

  19

  0

  0

  Bradford

  15

  18

  8

  9

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  18

  15

  28

  30

  CAMBSTEC

  69

  54

  55

  21

  Central England

  14

  19

  15

  23

  Central London

  136

  153

  71

  42

  CEWTEC

  18

  12

  9

  13

  CILNTEC

  143

  109

  108

  73

  County Durham

  62

  71

  61

  70

  Coventry and Warwicks

  79

  86

  88

  87

  Cumbria

  33

  6

  12

  33

  Devon and Cornwall

  66

  71

  56

  27

  Dorset

  23

  15

  12

  12

  Dudley

  2

  1

  2

  1

  ELTEC

  19

  29

  25

  14

  Essex

  373

  329

  195

  199

  Gloucester

  28

  11

  5

  1

  Greater Nottingham

  32

  35

  18

  9

  Greater Peterborough

  23

  17

  22

  21

  Hampshire

  207

  304

  251

  63

  HAWTEC

  19

  30

  9

  7

  Heart of England

  15

  24

  20

  19

  Hertfordshire

  107

  164

  108

  107

  Humberside

  47

  36

  25

  30

  Isle of Wight

  37

  28

  37

  29

  Kent

  338

  183

  134

  103

  LAWTEC

  40

  28

  23

  17

  Leeds

  37

  26

  32

  32

  Leicestershire

  27

  31

  22

  19

  LETEC

  439

  380

  310

  233

  Lincolnshire

  19

  39

  19

  19

  Manchester

  106

  93

  58

  61

  Merseyside

  42

  47

  55

  25

  METROTEC

  21

  6

  12

  0

  Milton Keynes and North Bucks

  32

  42

  35

  43

  Norfolk/Waveney

  4

  31

  27

  49

  NORMIDTEC

  13

  9

  14

  8

  North Derbyshire

  42

  39

  19

  9

  North London

  66

  79

  59

  74

  70

  TEC

  March1

  April2

  May3

  June4

  North Nottinghamshire

  91

  55

  37

  22

  North West London

  111

  107

  82

  99

  North Yorkshire

  79

  59

  49

  42

  Northamptonshire

  62

  39

  5

  27

  Northumberland

  47

  58

  62

  65

  Oldham

  36

  48

  28

  6

  QUALITEC

  20

  16

  25

  17

  Rochdale

  18

  15

  6

  8

  Rotherham

  4

  9

  3

  2

  Sandwell

  10

  20

  28

  28

  South and East Cheshire

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Sheffield

  156

  147

  277

  46

  Shropshire

  19

  24

  13

  16

  SOLOTEC

  206

  194

  76

  37

  Somerset

  97

  114

  103

  125

  South Derbyshire

  25

  29

  28

  8

  South Thames

  476

  451

  339

  67

  Staffordshire

  4

  6

  7

  6

  Stockport and High Peak

  16

  19

  12

  9

  Suffolk

  13

  13

  14

  10

  Surrey

  94

  99

  28

  13

  Sussex

  66

  86

  60

  59

  Teesside

  45

  56

  65

  100

  Thames Valley Enterprise

  185

  198

  205

  228

  Tyneside

  60

  59

  56

  54

  Wakefield

  18

  18

  16

  13

  Walsall

  3

  12

  6

  5

  Wearside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  West London

  36

  48

  29

  19

  Wiltshire

  68

  68

  47

  41

  Wolverhampton

  2

  6

  3

  5

  Sources:

  1 Information from Careers Service Management return (Supplement) 11 March 1993.

  2 Information from Careers Service Management return (Supplement) 8 April 1993.

  3 Information from Careers Service Management return (Supplement) 13 May 1993.

  4 Information from Careers Service Management return (Supplement) 10 June 1993.

  Full Employment
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secetary of State for Employment what part he plans to play in the proposed European Commission into Full Employment.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Commission's communication, "Community-wide Framework for Employment". The Social Affairs Council which I attended on 1 June 1993 welcomed the communication as a valuable contribution to the process of seeking solutions to unemployment, whilst recognising that the primary responsibility for employment policies lies with the member states. The United Kingdom awaits specific proposals from the European Commission.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many deaths occurred as a result of asbestos-related illness in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The latest figures for deaths due to asbestosis and mesothelioma published in "Health and Safety Statistics 1990–91", are in the following table:
  71

  Asbestosis

  Mesothelioma

  1990

  163

  862

  1991

  1163

  11,017

  1 Provisional.

  The figures are taken from death certificates. Mesothelioma is thought to have a natural background incidence of about 100 cases per year; the rest are presumed to be asbestos-related.

  Since April 1985, under cetain conditions, lung cancer in asbestos workers has been a prescribed disease under the industrial injury scheme. The number of cases diagnosed under this scheme since 1990 for which figures are available are as follows:

  Asbestos-related lung cancer

  1990

  58

  1991

  55

  1992

  154

  1 Provisional.

  Lung cancer deaths attributable to asbestos are known to be considerably understated, mainly because many cases may not be recognised as asbestos related by the sufferers or their doctors. Studies suggest that the actual number of lung cancers attributable to asbestos exposure is likely to be more than 1,000 per year.

  Ministerial Engagements
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table setting out for each Minister in his Department a full list of all meetings and official engagements to be undertaken by each Minister during the week beginning 19 July, broken down by hourly segments of each day.

  Miss Widdecombe
  No.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide statistics on the basis of the latest analysis of households below average income, for the long-term sick and those on disability benefit to correspond with statistical data for pensioners, recipients of income support and unemployed given in tables A4 and A5 in the latest households below average income report.

  Mr. Burt
  Estimates are in the tables. The households below average income— HBAI— dataset, the family expenditure survey— FES— does not identify all long-term sick or disabled people, and its identification of receipt of disability benefits is imperfect. The estimates are susceptible to these imperfections as well as sampling errors. The results reported in the tables may, therefore, reflect changes in the categories of long-term sick or disabled people identified in the FES, as well as changes in the incomes of such people.

  Where figures are particularly uncertain due to sampling error and where the confidence intervals exceed pie-determined limits, the estimates are bracketed or
  72
  omitted. Further information about the effects of sampling errors can be found in appendix 5 of HBAI, a copy of which is in the Library.

  The figures in the tables are presented in line with tables A4 and A5 in "Households Below Average Income 1979–1990–91".

  Changes in real income for long-term sick and those on disability benefits1

  Real changes in median incomes 1979 to 1990–91

  Long-term sick or receiving disabilty benefits Per cent.

  Income before housing costs

  Bottom quintile

  (4)

  Second quintile

  (14)

  Third quintile

  (*)2

  Whole group (Mean)

  26

  Income after housing costs

  Bottom quintile

  (*)3

  Second quintile

  (14)

  Third quintile

  (*)4

  Whole group (Mean)

  30

  1 People who reported receipt of Invalidity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Attendance Allowance or Mobility Allowance or people not in work who reported long-term sickness or disability.

  2 95 per cent. confidence interval is +9 to +30.

  3 95 per cent. confidence interval is -7 to +15.

  4 95 per cent, confidence interval is +12 to +36.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the guidelines for withholding benefit under the Child Support Act 1991 could result in parents of dependent lone parents losing benefit.

  Mr. Burt
  No. A lone parent who is classed as a child for income support purposes, and whose own parents are paid benefit for her and her child, is not required to authorise action to seek maintenance.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of lone parents in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne; and how many income support claimants are lone parents.

  Mr. Burt
  The number of lone parents with dependent children within the metropolitan borough of Newcastle upon Tyne is 9,0001.

  Records are not kept of the number of lone parents on income support in individual locations. However, the total number of lone parents on income support in GreatBritain is 985,0002; and the total number of lone parents in Great Britain is 1·24 million1.

  1 Source 1991 Population Census— Provisional estimates.

  2 Source Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry 1992.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total social fund budget available for 1993–94 to his Department's manager at the Blackfriars, London office.

  Mr. Scott
  Blackfriars, London office is known as London Southwark and is part of the Benefits Agency
  73
  district of Bankside. Details of gross discretionary budget allocations for all districts for the current financial year are in the Library.

  Pensions and Divorce (Working Group)
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received From the working group on pensions and divorce appointed by the Pensions Management Institute in agreement with the Law Society; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  The working group's report was published on 19 May. Departmental officials have recently met Sir Alec Atkinson, chairman of the working group, to discuss matters arising from the report.

  We are studying the working group's report with interest. We are awaiting the report of the Pension Law Review Committee, chaired by Professor Goode, which may also make recommendations on these and related issues. The committee is due to report by the end of September this year.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount spent by local authorities in Wales on housing benefit in the last three available financial years.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is as follows:

  £ million

  1990–91

  241

  1991–92

  300

  1992–93

  350

  (excludes expenditure on Community Charge Benefit)

  Source 1993 Departmental Report data.

  Disability Benefits
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women who qualify for severe disablement allowance and invalid care allowance will receive their full entitlement following the European Court of Justice's decision C328/91; when they will receive payments; if the payment of arrears will extend to periods of time before April 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Claims from women who qualify for severe disablement allowance or invalid care allowance as a result of the above case, are currently being adjudicated and may be paid with any arrears due for up to a maximum of 12 months before the date of claim.

  State Pension
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the Government's policy at the present time towards the contribution of the state pension.

  Mr. Hague
  We are firmly committed to maintaining the value of the basic pension as a solid foundation for retirement. In addition we are improving choice and flexibility in pension provision so that now 67 per cent. of recently retired pensioners have income from occupational pensions; and we have targeted additional resources on poorer pensioners through increases to income-related benefits.
  74

  National Insurance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security further to the information provided in table 8, page 16 of "The Growth of Social Security", if he will show for each year 1993–94 and 1999–2000 the level of combined employer/employee national insurance contributions that would be required to balance the national insurance fund, assuming 1·5 per cent. real earnings growth per annum.

  Mr. Hague
  In 1993–94, to achieve a balance between national insurance contribution income and the benefit and administration expenditure associated with the national insurance fund it is estimated that a combined employer/employee national insurance contribution rate of 22·6 per cent. would be required. Currently a lower rate of 19·4 per cent. applies, the availability of a Treasury grant enables the NI fund to be kept in balance.

  The case two projection for benefit expenditure shown in "The Growth of Social Security" provides an estimate of £88·4 billion for total benefit expenditure in 1999–2000. The level of combined contributions required to achieve a balance of national insurance contribution income with benefit and administration expenditure is estimated to be 20·5 per cent., assuming 1·5 per cent. real earnings growth per annum.

  Pension Age
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update the information provided in figure 7, page 77 of "Options for Equality in State Pension Age", giving figures also for 1993–94, and including estimates of contribution rates under the assumption of earnings uprating.

  Mr. Hague
  The information contained in figure 7, page 77 of "Options for Equality in State Pension Age" is the most up-to-date available. The data underlying that information is currently being updated. New information will be available later this year. The information requested for the year 1993–94 is not available.

TRANSPORT

  Regional Air Routes
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy on the priority of regional air routes in the US-United Kingdom bilateral negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  Liberalisation of routes from the US to regional United Kingdom airports has been a consistent priority. We have made offers to the US which included total or partial liberalisation of such routes. We were disappointed that these were rejected. The interests of the regions will continue to be borne in mind as the liberalisation negotiations progress.

  Aircraft (Terrorist Attacks)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures have been taken at national level and in a European context to prevent a repetition of the kind of terrorist attack made on Pam Am flight 103 over Lockerbie.

  Mr. Norris
  Much has been, and is being, done to improve aviation security in order to prevent an attack like
  75
  Lockerbie happening again. Our national aviation security programme has been considerably strengthened since December 1988. Current major initiatives involve proposals for screening all hold baggage on international flights, for requiring airlines to account for and authorise for carriage all the baggage they carry— unaccompanied as well as accompanied— and for improving the security of air cargo, mail and courier traffic.

  The United Kingdom also plays an active role in both the European Civil Aviation Conference and International Civil Aviation Organisation to seek improvement of security standards in Europe and internationally.

  M25
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the design free flows in passenger car units per hour for each section of the M25 motorway, other than the Dartford crossings and their approaches, and the related increase in design flow for those sections for which widening of that road has already been programmed, or placed in the first phase; and if he will list the approximate capital cost for that widening and associated approach road works for each increase of 100 passenger car units per hour, together with any cost benefit calculations made in respect of any such increase.

  Mr. Key
  The design flow for a section of motorway will vary depending on factors such as the mix of traffic, its distribution throughout the day, the proportions of traffic joining or leaving at junctions and gradients. However, a level of 1,800 vehicles per lane per hour can be taken as a resonable average value and a suitable starting point for design. Figures in passenger car units are not available.

  M25 traffic flows between junctions 12 and 16 (1991)

  Average weekday 16 hour

  Average weekday 24 hour

  Maximum peak hour

  North hound

  South bound

  North bound

  South bound

  North bound

  South bound

  Junction 12–13

  71,800

  73,100

  72,100

  73,600

  7,500

  7,100

  Junction 13–14

  78,600

  79,200

  79,300

  80,300

  8,300

  8,100

  Junction 14–15

  72,900

  74,000

  74,300

  75,600

  6,800

  6,700

  Junction 15–16

  69,600

  68,600

  74,300

  73,700

  6,100

  6,200

  The sections between junctions 12 and 15 are dual four lanes and the section between junctions 15 and 16 is dual three lanes.

  Sainsbury Store, Worthing
  Sir Terence Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who is paying for the alteration to the road layout on the A27 near Worthing in relation to the Sainsbury store; what assessment he has made of the extent to which this scheme will reduce the size of the lay by in front of the small shops opposite; and what proposals he has to stop this happening or compensate the shop owners affected.

  Mr. Key
  The full cost of these highway alterations, and the full cost of satisfying any valid claims made under part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 arising from the execution of the works, will be met by J Sainsbury plc.

  Regrettably, the roadworks have reduced the length of the layby on the A27 by Sompting Road. My Department's agents have now instructed the contractor to restore the layby to its former size as soon as practicable.
  76
  Widening from dual three-to dual four lanes and the provision of dual three lane link roads would provide for an additional two-way flow of approximately 3,600 and 10,800 vehicles per hour respectively. The widening costs requested are:

  £ million/km

  £/km per 100 vehicles/hour

  Dual 3 to dual 4 lanes

  5

  140,000

  Dual 3-lane link roads

  12

  110,000

  No cost/benefit calcualtions are available in the form requested.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the proportion of delays to free flow conditions on the M25 occasioned by(a) excess demand of traffic over saturated lane flows, (b) accidents, (c) road works and (d) shed loads or breakdowns or other causes.

  Mr. Key
  No estimate of this type has been made.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the average traffic flows, in both crude vehicles per hour and passenger car units per hour, northbound and southbound on the M25 between its intersections with the M3 and M40 for the peak 12 and 18 hour weekday and weekend periods; and what measurements have been made of delays for traffic wishing to join that road between these points during those periods.

  Mr. Key
  The information is as follows:

  BR Finance
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when an announcement will be made regarding the £150 million lease finance package for British Rail; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I expect British Rail to announce what rolling stock it intends to lease later in the summer.

  Disabled Drivers
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received from motoring organisations regarding the operation of the orange badge scheme for disabled motorists;

  (2) what guidance he issues to local authorities in respect of provision for visiting drivers in parking schemes for disabled drivers.

  Mr. Key
  The main representations we have received concern restrictions on access for orange badge holders' vehicles into pedestrian zones and the difficulties that can arise when local authorities introduce their own local schemes of parking concessions.
  77
  Guidance in respect of access into pedestrian zones is contained in local transport note 1/87. Orange badge holders' vehicles should not normally need to be exempted from access restrictions if a sufficient number of convenient parking places can be provided. If this is not possible, there may be a case for allowing some form of access for orange badge holders' vehicles. Advice on local schemes is contained in local authority circular 3/91, Department of Transport. This circular highlights the unnecessary and inconvenient restrictions such schemes can place on badge holders, and asks local authorities that have introduced their own schemes to review their position in the light of the new arrangements introduced in March 1992 to the national scheme which were designed to ensure that only those with a genuine need receive a badge.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 13 July,Official Report, column 423, to the hon. Member for Cheadle (Mr. Day) concerning the future of the west coast main line, what is the approximate cost of the refurbishment of (a) fixed and (b) rolling equipment necessary to bring each to standards comparable with those extant at the completion of its electrification; and what areas of increased efficiency in operation by private management he expects to yield sufficient revenue to cover the costs of purchases and refurbishment to be defrayed by the purchasing interest.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail estimates that it will cost about £450 million to renew the infrastructure of the west coast main line, and about a further £350 million to replace the rolling stock.

  While we hope that using a joint venture to re-equip the line will result in efficiency gains, the joint venture will not need to rely on these alone in order to remunerate its investment. Were the line to be re-equipped using public funds, Railtrack would be expected to recover its investment through access charges for the use of the line. That income from access charges would, directly or otherwise, be made available to the joint venture to remunerate its investment.

  Bridge Closures, London
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions bridges for which he is responsible between and including Hammersmith bridge and Tower bridge have been closed for essential maintenance for periods of more than 24 hours since May 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  None of the bridges between and including Hammersmith bridge and Tower bridge is the responsibility of the Secretary of State. The information that the hon. Member requires concerning these bridges is not held by the Department. Consultation between my officials and the Association of London Borough Engineers and Surveyors continues regarding proposals to improve the co-ordination of works involving the Thames bridges.

  Network SouthEast
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what possibilities exist in the short and medium terms for the Network SouthEast London to Tilbury and 78
  Southend line slam-door trains to be replaced in the event of Network SouthEast not being successful in obtaining the £150 million lease finance;

  (2) what impact the award of the £150 million lease finance to Network SouthEast would have on the re-equipment of the London to Tilbury and Southend line rolling stock.

  Mr. Freeman
  New outer suburban trains for Network SouthEast are one of two options being considered by BR for the £150 million leasing facility. Should BR decide on that option, I understand that some of the new trains will be used on NSE's great northern division, allowing modern rolling stock to be released to the London to Tilbury and Southend line. This would enable all 112 of the oldest vehicles on LT and S to be withdrawn from service.

  BR is expected to announce its preferred leasing option later in the summer. Whatever the outcome, I shall be looking to support further leasing deals, provided they comply with the Treasury's guidelines.

  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safe working life is now put on the Network SouthEast London to Tilbury and Southend line slam-door trains.

  Mr. Freeman
  The safe working life of the trains in the LT and S fleet will vary from vehicle to vehicle. For this reason, each unit is assessed by BR engineers on a regular basis. It is also possible to extend the life of vehicles by refurbishment.

  River Safety
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which recommendations in the marine accident investigation branch report into the collision between the Marchioness and the Bowbelle have now been implemented and what action has been taken on the recommendations in the report of the inquiry into river safety, the Hayes report.

  Mr. Norris
  The MAIB report into the loss of the Marchioness contained 27 recommendations. All have now been implemented.

  The Hayes report contained 22 recommendations, and action is in hand on all.

  Copies of schedules which give details of the up-to-date progress on each recommendation in both the MAIB report and the Hayes report have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Early morning Flights, Gatwick
  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many more early morning flights will he made at Gatwick in the winter of 1993–94, as a result of the change in the end of the quota period if it is assumed that the number of movements is the same as last winter.

  Mr. Norris
  No significant increase or shift in movements is likely to occur in the winter season 1993–94.

  Night Traffic
  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what surveys his Department has conducted to measure the volume of night traffic using motorways starting from London since the European internal market arrangements came into force on 1 January.
  79
  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: The Department of Transport has not conducted any surveys specifically to measure the volume of night traffic on motorways since 1 January.

  Residential Properties (Insulation)
  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to modify regulations affecting the elegibility for financial assistance towards the cost of insulating residential properties affected by significantly increased levels of noise that have occurred since the prescribed time limit for initial claims expired; and what representations he had had on this subject.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: I have no plans to modify the regulations to admit claims for increased noise outside the present time limits. I and my predecessors have received a number of representations.

DEFENCE

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) of 25 June,Official Report, column 307, what assessment he has made of the extent to which the procedures to be followed for the discharge of toxic waste were not adhered to in the case of contamination of soil at Aldermaston court from a pipeline.

  Mr. Aitken
  The low level contamination of soil at Aldermaston court was not the result of AWE failing to follow procedures for the discharge of toxic waste. In all cases where AWE has a requirement to discharge or dispose of toxic materials, the statutory requirements and need for authorisations, consents or licences are observed.

  Test Ranges
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what applications his Department has received to date under the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 in regard to the test ranges operated by his Department; and what charging arrangements exist for provision of information released.

  Mr. Aitken
  No applications have been received in regard to the test ranges. For any information supplied under the Environmental Information Regulations 1992, there is no charge if the costs of answering the inquiry do not exceed £50; where the costs exceed £50 charges will be raised up to a limit of £200.

  Environmental Research
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what headings in his departmental report, United Kingdom Defence Statistics 1993, his Department's expenditure on(a) environmental research and (b) environmental clean-up and restoration is covered.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department does not have separately funded environmental research or clean-up and restoration programmes. Much practical work is carried out 80
  which may produce environmental data. These costs are not always readily identifiable and do not lend themselves to presentation as discrete elements of the programme.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many requests for information have been made to his Department under the Environmental Information Regulations 1992; what proportion have been answered in full; and if he will make a statement on the criteria adopted for withholding information requested.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Ministry of Defence has received one request for information which was answered in full. It is our policy to make environmental information available wherever possible. The criteria adopted in deciding whether to withhold information accord with the regulations and take account of the guidance issued by the Department of Environment.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of the provision of the 20,000 pages of documents to the Scott inquiry, to which reference is made at paragraph 633 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1993, Cm 2270.

  Mr. Aitken
  The direct cost of the provision of documents to the Scott inquiry to date is estimated to be approximately £50,000.

  Nuclear Testing
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what heading in figure 12 in his Statement on the Defence Estimates 1993, Cm 2270, his Department's protected expenditure on nuclear testing is included.

  Mr. Aitken
  It would not be in the national interest to reveal the costs of the Defence nuclear programme. For this reason such costs are not separately identified in the statement on the defence estimates.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's policy regarding nuclear testing in the light of the announcement of a further testing moratorium by President Clinton.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to the response that I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 13 July,Official Report, column 470.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to his answer of 12 May,Official Report, column 520, when the quantity of clostridium perfringens beta-toxin was transferred from the United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down; for what reason it was transferred; what safety precautions were taken during the transfer; and which British safety authorities, American safety authorities and British local councils were informed beforehand of the transfer;

  (2) when nerve agent was last transported from the Ministry of Defence establishment at Nancekuke to Porton Down;
  81
  (3) pursuant to his answer of 12 May, Official Report, column 516, when his Department carried out research on animals using BZ; what number of each species of animals were involved; and what was the conclusion of these tests;

  (4) what work Porton Down has done on evaluating pyrroles as an incapacitating agent; when this work was carried out; how many tests and studies were carried out on animals and service volunteers; what was the conclusion of the studies and tests; when the results were shared with the United States of America; and through which defence agreement this scientific information was exchanged;

  (5) how the defence agreement outlined in his answer to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Mr. Livingstone) on 21 May 1992, Official Report, column 255–56, will be affected by the chemical weapons convention;

  (6) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 2 February, Official Report, column 156, if he will list the external suppliers which have supplied chemical and biological compounds for prophylactic research at Porton Down since 1979.

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

  Letters from Graham S. Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 19 July 1993:

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him pursuant to his answer of 12 May, Official Report, column 520, when the quantity of Clostridium perfringens beta-toxin was transferred from the US Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down, for what reason it was transferred; what safety precautions were taken during the transfer; and which British safety authorities, American safety authorities and British local councils were informed beforehand of the transfer (Question 9, Order Paper 9 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The sample of clostridium perfringens beta-toxin was transferred from the US Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment on 5 August 1992. The sample was packed and transported in accordance with the IATA regulations for air transport of such materials. Import of the sample into the United Kingdom did not require an import licence and there was no requirement to advise British safety authorities, American safety authorities or British local councils beforehand of the transfer.

  3. The sample was used for experimental work to investigate the molecular biology of the beta-toxin with the objective of designing gene probes and testing antibodies to detect the beta-toxin.

  4. Prior to commencing work at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment with the sample of beta-toxin, an assessment of the risk posed was carried out under the HSE Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. This assessment was reviewed and accepted by a local Safety Committee. In view of the very small quantity of the toxin, the risk to individuals was considered to be low and the sample was handled appropriately in a microbiological laboratory.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him when nerve agent was last transported from the Ministry of Defence establishment at Nancekuke to Porton Down (Question 17, Order Paper 9 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. Nerve agent was last transported from the Ministry of iefcncc Establishment at Nancekuke to Porton Down in May 1977. The quantity concerned was small and appropriate
  82
  precautions were taken to ensure that there was no hazard to the public.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him pursuant to his Answer of 12 May, Official Report, column 516, when his Department carried out research on animals using BZ; what number of each species of animals were involved; and what was the conclusions of these tests (Question 20, Order Paper 9 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 UK 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 effectivenes of British protective measures evaluated.

  3. Research into BZ was carried out between 1960 and 1975. About 350 animals were involved in this research. These were mostly rats, mice and guinea pigs. The conclusion of the research was that BZ possessed high psychotomimetic (incapaciting) properties. The studies also showed the BZ induced effects could be effectively antagonised by the anticholinesterase drug physostigmine.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him what work Porton down has done on evaluating pyrroles as an incapacitating agent; when this work was carried out; how many tests and studies were carried out on animals and service volunteers; what was the conclusion of the studies and tests; when the results were shared with the United States of America; and through which defence agreement this scientific information was exchanged (Question 23, Order Paper 9 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 UK 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. Studies in the early 1960s indicated that simple pyrrole derivatives might show pharmacological effects that might be used by an aggressor as an incapacitating agent. Several classes of pyrroles were studied in the early 1960s using small laboratory animals. No studies were carried out with Service volunteers. The results of the work indicated that pyrroles did not appear to present much hazard as an incapacitating agent.

  4. The information arising from these studies was part of the chemical and biological defence programme and would therefore be part of the technical database drawn upon in cooperation with the United States of America under The Technical Cooperation Programme and its predecessors.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him how the defence agreement outlined in his Answer to the honourable Member for Brent East on 21st May 1992, Official Report, column 255–56, will be affected by the Chemical Weapons Convention, (Question 32, Order Paper 9 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. As all the agreements referred to in the previous answer relate to the provision of chemical and biological defence, the signing of the Chemical Weapons Convention and its entry into force will have no effect on these agreements.

  3. Indeed Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention states that nothing in the Convention shall be interpreted as impeding the right of any State Party to conduct research into, develop, produce, acquire, transfer or use means of protection against chemical weapons. It goes on to encourage the fullest possible exchange of equipment, material and scientific and technological information concerning means of protection against chemical weapons and requires the

  83
  provision annually to the Technical Secretariat of information on States Parties programmes related to protective purposes.

  4. It is becoming apparent that the provision of effective protective measures is an essential element of the web of deterrence which also includes arms control and export monitoring and controls. The provision of effective protective measures not only reduces the utility of chemical weapons to a potential aggressor but also reduces the range of chemicals that might be used as chemical weapons and hence need to be subject to arms and export controls.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Blaenau Gwent on 2 February, Official Report, column 156, if he will list the external suppliers which have supplied chemical and biological compounds for prophylactic research at Porton Down since 1979 (Question 34, Order Paper 9 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 normal practice at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down is to purchase any required chemical and biological compounds from commercial suppliers when these are commercially available. If they are not commercially available then the Establishment will synthesise the appropriate compounds.

  4. In order to support the programme of work, chemical and biological compounds are purchased from a number of commercial suppliers. We do not maintain records which enable us to identify which suppliers provided the compounds used for prophylactic research.

  Trucks (Drop Tests)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many drop tests have been carried out on the truck cargo heavy duty mark II vehicles, or components thereof, operated by his Department; when they were carried out; and what was the total cost of these tests.

  Mr. Aitken
  The prime contractor conducted three drop tests on full size vehicle sections and II other impact tests on vehicle sections, sub-assemblies and component parts during the period March 1988 to February 1992.

  It is not possible to identify the total costs of these tests since they were not separately priced in the contract. However, one drop test, using a full size vehicle section, was priced individually at approximately £300,000.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the expenditure, so far, on projects to evaluate the options for the future theatre nuclear weapon.

  Mr. Aitken
  Expenditure to the end of March 1993 on studies of possible vehicles has been as follows:

  Year

  £

  1989–90

  928,518

  1990–91

  1,372,329

  1991–92

  1,870,285

  1992–93

  2,658,471

  Expenditure on the warhead programme cannot be released for reasons of national security.
  84

  British Manufacturing and Research Company
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts his Department has had with BMARC since 1979.

  Mr. Hanley
  Comprehensive records for the period in question are no longer available. Current records show that BMARC received 36 contracts with a total value of £42,100,000 between September 1985 and July 1991. This includes contracts placed during the period—1989–1991 — when BMARC was known as Astra Defence Systems Ltd.

  A1-Yamamah Project
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total expenditure by Her Majesty's Government in support of administration of the A1-Yamamah contracts to the most recent available date.

  Mr. Aitken
  None. the cost of my Department's administration of A1-Yamamah contracts is met by the Government of Saudi Arabia.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total expenditure by Her Majesty's Government in promotion of project A1-Yamamah to the most recent available date.

  Mr. Aitken
  It is not practicable to apportion the costs of the Defence Export Services Organisation to individual projects.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what amounts have been paid to British Aerospace in connection with the A1-Yamamah agreement with Saudi Arabia; and on what dates.

  Mr. Aitken
  It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on detailed matters concerning individual defence export sales.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total expenditure by Her Majesty's Government on brokerage fees or commissions in support of the A1-Yamamah contracts.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department has not employed business agents in connection with A1-Yamamah contracts and has consequently paid no fees or commissions.

  Guard Service
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether members of the MoD Guard Service who are transferred to contractors under the market testing programme will still be required to attend training provided by his Department and apply for career and promotion opportunities within the Ministry of Defence.

  Mr. Aitken
  Should members of the MGS be transferred to contractors under the market testing programme they will cease to be civil servants, and will no longer be part of the Department's training programme and career structure.

  Operations West
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he is taking to ensure that if Operations West is run by a contractor(a) in the event of

  85
  the failure of the contractors, the operation can be brought back into his Department and (b) where the contractor buys the site and equipment that his Department or other contractors will be able to compete for a successor contract.

  Mr. Aitken
  The contract contains provisions against failure on the part of the contractor, ranging from financial penalties to cancellation of the contract. The site is to be leased rather than sold; the lease will end if the service contract is terminated. Title to the computer equipment will remain with my Department for the duration of the service contract.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to ensure that the investment appraisal model which will be used for the market testing exercise at Operations West(a) conforms to the latest management accounting rules and (b) includes the cost of transferring staff to other posts who do not wish to work for the successful contractors.

  Mr. Aitken
  Prior to the market test, the Operations West market testing project team was advised on an investment appraisal model format which conformed to the latest management accounting rules. Under the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981, my Department has no obligation to find alternative employment for staff who do not wish to transfer to a contractor. It was therefore assumed, for the purposes of comparing bids, that no staff would be transferred elsewhere in the MoD.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why he is proposing to contractorise the Ministry of Defence Guard Service at Operations West; and what support his Department is giving to the in-house bid for Operations West.

  Mr. Aitken
  Following the market testing of the service undertaken by Operations West, it has been decided that the whole of the undertaking, including the guard service, should be contractorised as this offers the best value for money. The in-house bid was fully resourced and supported by expert consultants.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to ensure that the successful contractor who takes over Operations West under the current market testing exercise will be able to ensure(a) the security of personal information relating to his Department's staff held on the computer system and (b) the security and commercial confidentiality of information held on the press system.

  Mr. Aitken
  The security standards applicable to Operations West have not changed. The security policy which will be implemented at the site will be the same as that which applied when the site was operated by my Department. Contractors employed on defence work are required, as a condition of contract, to safeguard information to which they might have access in the course of their work, and to adhere to security requirements and procedures laid down by my Department.

  Site Security
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how he will ensure the security and safety of sites which pass to the custody of private contractors as a result of the market testing programme.
  86
  Mr. Aitken
  Where a site passes to the custody of private contractors as a result of the market-testing programme, the contractors are required to conform to strict guidelines. Their adherence to these is monitored closely and regularly.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish the investment appraisal models for market testing exercises.

  Mr. Aitken
  No. There are no standard investment appraisal models for market-testing exercises; appraisal models are designed for specific market tests and may therefore contain commercially sensitive material. Each appraisal is conducted in accordance with the Department's investment appraisal and market testing accounting rules.

  Maritime Refitting and Repair
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the management of(a) Rosyth and (b) Devonport concerning the future of the British maritime refitting and repair industry.

  Mr. Aitken
  Officials from my Department have regular meetings with the commercial managers at both Rosyth and Devonport dockyards, although it is not our policy to discuss the future of other United Kingdom commercial yards with them.

  Porton Down
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many deaths or accidents requirng treatment in hospital have occurred in his Department's chemical and biological warfare establishment at Porton Down in each of the last 30 years.

  Mr. Hanley
  This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment under its framework documents and I have asked the chief executive to reply.

  Letter from Graham S. Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 19 July 1993.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him how many deaths or accidents requiring treatment in hospital have occurred at his Department's chemical and biological warfare establishment at Porton Down in each of the last 30 years (Question 35, 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 has its own small hospital to support the volunteer programme, which is the focus for occupational health in the Establishment. Consequently any members of staff requiring first aid treatment attend the Establishment hospital.

  3. The records of the Safety Section of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, and before that the Chemical Defence Establishment (1972–1991) and before that the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment (1953–1972) go back to 1965. Prior to 1988, the Safety Section only has records of more serious accidents for which local enquiries were held.

  4. There have been no deaths or permanent disability cases in the past 30 years. The number of accidents involving treatment at the Establishment hospital for each year since 1965 and recorded in the Safety Section records are tabulated below:

  87

  Year

  Number

  1965

  1

  1966

  nil

  1967

  1

  1968

  nil

  1969

  nil

  1970

  nil

  1971

  nil

  1972

  1

  1973

  nil

  1974

  1

  1975

  1

  1976

  1

  1977

  4

  1978

  nil

  1979

  1

  1980

  1

  1981

  nil

  1982

  1

  1983

  1

  1984

  2

  1985

  1

  1986

  1

  1987

  3

  1988

  1

  1989

  5

  1990

  4

  1991

  8

  1992

  2

  1993

  4

  The apparent increase from 1988 is due to improved reporting procedures for accidents. Most of the accidents since 1988 have been fairly minor injuries, not associated with chemical or biological warfare agents, requiring first aid treatment.

  Vaccines
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel volunteered to accept vaccination against biological agents during Operation Granby.

  Mr. Hanley
  All vaccinations for service personnel are given on a voluntary basis. Information relating to measures against biological warfare agents is classified.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the United Kingdom possesses stocks of vaccine against penicillin-resistant anthrax.

  Mr. Hanley
  As I stated in the answer I gave the hon. Member on 12 July,Official Report, column 366, details relating to all vaccines giving protection against biological warfare agents are classified.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) grade 3 and (b) grade 5 civil servants were in post in his Department at the latest available date; what were the comparable figures for the same month in 1980; and if he will publish the equivalent data for the armed forces.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is as follows:

  Civilian staff in post

  1 April 1993

  1 April 1980

  Grade 3

  50

  81

  Grade 5

  355

  396

  88

  Service staff in post

  1 April 1993

  1 January 1980

  Major Generals (and equivalents)

  128

  1172

  Brigadiers (and equivalents)

  371

  1395

  1 Service data at 1 April 1980 are not available.

  RAF Anniversary, Fairford
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what invitations have been issued to the South African air force to participate in the Royal Air Force 75th anniversary at Fairford on 24 and 25 July and on what basis; and what response has been received;

  (2) whether aircraft and/or crews will be participating at the RAF's 75th anniversary on 24 and 25 July from (a) the South African air force and (b) citizen force aircraft.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the announcement made by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 17 June,Official Report, column 1006. The RAF benevolent fund has also issued an invitation to the South African chief of air staff. We understand that no South African aircraft—civilian or military—are able to take part in the airshow, but the South African CAS will attend.

  RAF Stornaway
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the contract to expand the residential facilities at RAF Stornoway is expected to be announced.

  Mr. Hanley
  The activation of RAF Stornoway as a forward operation base for RAF aircraft is under review. The requirement for additional residential facilities depends upon the outcome of that review. A decision on whether or not to proceed with the contract will be announced once the review is complete.

  Hong Kong Garrison
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the Hong Kong garrison; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Broad plans have now been finalised for the withdrawal of the Hong Kong garrison by 30 June 1997. Units of all three services—the Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force will remain in Hong Kong until then. The garrison will, however, continue to reduce in stages over the period, as local forces assume responsibility for its former operational tasks. In the latter part of 1994, the 1st Battalion the Black Watch will return to the United Kingdom and the two Gurkha battalions will merge to form the 1st Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles. One battalion will remain in Hong Kong until June 1997.

  The strength of logistic and other supporting units will be reduced in line with that of front-line units. The three Royal Navy patrol craft currently in Hong Kong will remain until 1997. Royal Air Force helicopters will also remain in Hong Kong until 1997, although their numbers may be reduced. The plans mean that for the final two years of British sovereignty the garrison will be about 3,000 strong. It will comprise a headquarters, an infantry battalion group, logistic support, naval patrol craft and Royal Air Force helicopters.

  WASTE MANAGERS: CERTIFICATES
  WASTE MANAGERS: CERTIFICATES
  HONG KONG GARRISON
  HONG KONG GARRISON
  SOUTH AFRICA
  SOUTH AFRICA
  ANGOLA, MOZAMBIQUE, ERITREA AND ETHIOPIA: UK AID
  ANGOLA, MOZAMBIQUE, ERITREA AND ETHIOPIA: UK AID
  BR JOINT VENTURES: REGULATION
  BR JOINT VENTURES: REGULATION
  AIRCRAFT RADIO: FEE ARRANGEMENTS
  AIRCRAFT RADIO: FEE ARRANGEMENTS
  EC LEGISLATION: BUSINESS COSTS
  EC LEGISLATION: BUSINESS COSTS
  PRICE MARKING ORDER: CONSULTATION
  PRICE MARKING ORDER: CONSULTATION