Written Answers of 20 July 1993

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in establishing the executive agency within the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland to carry out the work of driver and vehicle licensing in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am pleased to announce that the agency, which will be called Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland, will be established on 2 August 1993. It will assume responsibility for the registration and licensing of vehicles and the collection and enforcement of vehicle excise duty in Northern Ireland on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport and for licensing of drivers in Northern Ireland.

  I am confident that the new status as a next steps agency will produce significant improvements in the provision of this important service. I am delegating full managerial authority for the agency's day-to-day operations to the chief executive. The policy and resource framework for the agency is set out in the framework document, copies of which are being placed in the Library of the House. For 1993–94, the following targets have been set out for the agency:

  1. Turnaround Times

  (a) Vehicle Licensing

  (1) Registration Books for new vehicles: to achieve a yearly average of 90 per cent. of books dispatched within 16 working days of receipt of the application and not exceeding 17 working days in any one month.

  (2) Refunds of vehicle excise duty: to achieve a yearly average of 90 per cent. of refunds dispatched within 11 working days of receipt of the application and not exceeding 12 working days in any one month.

  (3) Postal Licensing: to achieve a yearly average of 90 per cent. of licences dispatched within six working days of receipt of the application and not exceeding eight working days in any one month.

  (4) Duplicate Registration Books: to achieve a yearly average of 90 per cent. of books dispatched within six working days of receipt of the application and not exceeding seven working days in any one month.

  (5) Changes to Registration Books: to achieve a yearly average of 95 per cent. of amended books dispatched within eight working days of receipts of the application and not exceeding 10 working days in any one month.

  (b) Driver Licencing

  Turnaround targets exclude cases requiring referral for medical or conduct recommendations.

  (1) Ordinary Driving Licences: to achieve a yearly average of 90 per cent. of licences dispatched within 11 working days of receipt of the application and not exceeding 12 working days in any one month.

  (2) Vocational Driving Licences: to achieve a yearly average of 95 per cent. of licences dispatched within 11 working days of receipt of the application and not exceeding 13 working days in any one month.

  (3) Provisional Driving Licences: to achieve a yearly average of 90 per cent. of licences dispatched within 10 working days and not exceeding 12 working days in any one month.

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  (c) Written Enquiries

  90 per cent. to be dispatched within five working days of receipt.

  2. Waiting Time at Local Vehicle Licensing offices

  Maximum waiting time (minutes)

  Peak Period

  (First 8 and last 2 working days of each month)

  25

  Other working days

  10

  3. Error Rates

  Reduction of error rate (errors on any item sent out by the Agency) to 0.6 per cent. of total Agency output.

  4. Unit cost of Vehicle Excise Enforcement Cases

  Achievement of a unit cost of £22–12 (at 1992–93 prices) per vehicle excise. enforcement case completed.

  5. Aggregate Unit Cost and Efficiency Indicator

  (1) Achievement of an aggregate unit cost calculated on the basis of cost per standard hour of work of £2637 (at 1992–93 prices).

  (2) Achievement of an efficiency saving of at least 4.29 per cent.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  UN Expenditure
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional United Kingdom expenditure will result from the UN Security Council resolution 816; how this expenditure will be met; and what effect this expenditure will have on Government spending totals.

  Mr. Portillo
  The additional annual operating costs of RAF aircraft engaged under UN Security Council resolution 816, which are charged to the defence budget, is currently estimated by MOD to be £20 million. The costs will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what figures he has for aggregate income tax payments in Yorkshire and Humberside listed by tax office and for each constituent local authority area during the most recent financial year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I regret that the information requested is not available. Estimates of tax liabilities for residents of counties and regions are given in table 3.11 of the Inland Revenue Statistics 1993.

  Tax Returns
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many completed 12FR tax returns were received by the Inland Revenue in 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The specialised offices dealing with these tax returns recieved approximately 43, 000 completed forms 12FR in each of the years 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many completed 11K tax returns were received by the Inland Revenue in 1991–92 and 1992–93.
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  Mr. Dorrell
  Separate records are not kept of the numbers of these tax returns received in tax districts which deal with them.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Asbestos-related Diseases
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much has been paid out in civil compensation in respect of asbestos-related diseases in each year from 1988 in England and Wales; and what was the average payment in each of those years.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  This information is not available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  BBC
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will meet the chairman of the board of governors and the director general of the BBC; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  I met the chairman and other governors of the BBC, and the senior managers, on 16 June and I have no plans for a further meeting in the next few weeks.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Japanese Diplomatic Wireless Traffic
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to declassify and release to the Public Record Office Government code and cypher school decrypts of intercepted pre-war and wartime Japanese diplomatic wireless traffic.

  Mr. Hurd
  The decrypts shown to Sir Winston Churchill when Prime Minister, referred to in the Open Government White Paper at chapter 2 and annex D, include selected translations of wartime Japanese diplomatic messages. The papers are being reviewed and it should be possible to make them available in the next nine months.

  Other wartime and earlier records of the Government code and cypher school will be reviewed thereafter. These records also include translations of pre-war Japanese diplomatic messages; I cannot at this time say exactly when these records will reach the Public Record Office.

  Iran
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Iranian Government on the new wave of persecution of the Baha'i community in Iran.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking in respect of current human rights violations against members of the Baha'i faith in Iran.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We regularly raise our concerns about human rights in Iran, including the treatment of the 92
  Baha'i community, with the Iranian authorities. Together with our EC partners, we sponsored a resolution adopted by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on 10 March which highlighted the position of the Baha'i community. We and our EC partners underlined our concerns during recent discussions between the EC and Iran.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking following the publication on 22 February of the final report on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran by the special representative of the Commission on Human Rights, Mr. Reynaldo Galindo Pohl.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Together with our EC partners we co-sponsored a resolution tabled at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in the light of the February report of the United Nations Special Representative on Human Rights in Iran. The resolution was adopted on 10 March by a sizeable majority. We regularly raise our concerns about human rights in Iran with the Iranian authorities.

  NATO Summit
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subjects will be discussed at the NATO summit in December.

  Mr. Goodlad
  This is still under discussion, but we would expect the agenda to include the further development of NATO's relations with the countries of central and eastern Europe: the adaptation of the alliance in its new roles, including peacekeeping under United Nations and CSCE auspices: the European identity within the alliance: and non-proliferation.

  Ukraine
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to persuade the Ukraine to ratify START I.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We have repeatedly urged Ukraine to fulfil its commitment to ratify START I and accede to the non-proliferation treaty as a non-nuclear weapons state. We have made clear our view that this will facilitate Ukraine's development of full and positive relations with the international community. We have acknowledged the security and economic concerns which Ukraine has raised in this context. We have made clear that we are prepared to offer security assurances to Ukraine once it has acceded to the NPT, and that we support efforts to meet its economic concerns in a way which is compatible with the non-nuclear commitments it has given.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests the Atlantic Council have made to the appropriate bodies within NATO to prepare contingency plans for an appropriate military response in the event of a deterioration of the political and humanitarian situation in Kosovo.

  Mr. Goodlad
  NATO military authorities have assessed measures which might be taken in support of the United
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  Nations to prevent spillover of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia beyond present confines, including to Kosovo. This assessment has been passed to the United Nations in confidence.

  Serbia
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice has been given to the Atlantic Council by the NATO military committee on the feasibility and advisability of air strikes against Serbia.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The NATO military committee has examined a wide range of options for the use of air power in relation to the crisis in former Yugoslavia. Airstrikes against Serbia would, however, require a fresh United Nations Security Council resolution; no consideration has been given to such a resolution.

  Tibet
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral answer of 14 July,Official Report, column 972, if he will make a statement on the position of Her Majesty's Government as regards Tibet that was communicated to the Chinese Government.

  Mr. Goodlad
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised human rights issues in his meeting with Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen on 8 July and specifically expressed concern about the situation in Tibet. He also handed over a copy of the report by Lord Howe's delegation on human rights in China and an updated list of cases of concern, including two Tibetans recently detained in Lhasa.

  Russia
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking with regard to proposed legal amendments in Russia which would restrict the activity of foreign religious organisations in that country.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We raised with the Russian authorities on 15 July our concern at the passing by the Russian Supreme Soviet the previous day of an amendment of the 1990 law on freedom of religion. 'We have drawn attention to Russia's international commitments under the CSCE documents in relation to religious freedom and the free passage of information and urged that the new legislation, which has not yet received the president's signature, should not be brought into force.

PRIME MINISTER

  Stone, Kent
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he has any plans to pay an official visit to Stone, Kent.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no immediate plans to do SO.
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  Council of Europe and WEU
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the information bulletin on the activities of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of Western European Union which has been sent to him.

  The Prime Minister
  I have done so today.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 July.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 July.

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

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Central Office of Information
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make an announcement about when the Central Office of Information's annual report and accounts for the year just ended will be published.

  Mr. David Davis
  I have pleasure in informing the hon. Member that I have today arranged for copies of the annual report and accounts to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Citizens Charters
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list in the Official Report all the current citizens charters, indicating those which do not have specific reference to the needs of people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Davis
  There are 32 charters, 27 of which have specific reference to the needs of people with disabilities. The full list is as follows:

  Charter

  Benefits Agency Customer Charter

  Child Support Agency Charter

  Courts Charter

  Jobseeker's Charter

  London Underground Customer's Charter

  Parent's Charter

  Passenger's Charter

  Patient's Charter

  Tenant's Charte

  Traveller's Charter

  Contributor's Charter1

  Employer's Charter1

  Redundancy Payments Service Charter1

  Taxpayer's Charter (HM Customs and Excise) 1

  Taxpayer's Charter (Inland Revenue) 1

  Northern Ireland

  Bus Passenger's Charter

  Charter for Patients and Clients

  Charter for Social Security Agency Clients

  Child Support Agency Charter

  Northern Ireland Charter

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  Northern Ireland Tenant's Charter

  Parent's Charter

  Railway Passenger's Charter

  RUC Charter

  Training and Employment Agency Customer's Charter

  Scotland

  Justice Charter for Scotland

  Parent's Charter for Scotland

  Patient's Charter for Scotland

  Tenant's Charter for Scotland

  Wales

  Parent's Charter for Wales

  Patient's Charter for Wales

  Tenant's Charter for Wales

  1Charters that do not make specific reference to the needs of people with disabilities.

  Science
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the measures additional to the small grants scheme taken by the Office of Science and Technology as part of the campaign to promote the public understanding of science.

  Mr. David Davis
  The White Paper, "Realising our Potential" (Cm. 2250), lists a number of measures which the Government intend will be part of this campaign, in addition to the public understanding of science grants scheme. These include support for the creativity in science and technology awards scheme in schools; working with the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and the British Association for the Advancement of Science to bring greater coherence to regional initiatives in the field; and co-sponsorship of a mobile exhibition on the theme of science for the 21st century. We shall also be discussing with organisations active in the public understanding of science the scope for encompassing within the campaign their own activities and events. I shall make further announcements on all these proposals in due course.

  Small Grants Scheme
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to what extent the funding for the Office of Science and Technology small grants scheme is to be taken from existing budgets; and if he will list the vote subheads or budgets concerned.

  Mr. David Davis
  The £100, 000 made available in 1993–94 to fund the Office of Science and Technology grants scheme for the public understanding of science will be financed from the provision made for Office of Science and Technology science policy studies and initiatives shown at subhead A8 of class XVIII, vote 2 of the Supply Estimates.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Sheffield Exhibition
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to Sheffield's manufacturing base; an exhibition for Sheffield's centenary year, to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.
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  Mr. Michael 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 25 to 29 October.

ENVIRONMENT

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has received from British Nuclear Fuels plc or the Radioactive Waste Management advisory group on the range and number of movements of radioactive waste resulting from the lifetime operation of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant(a) with substitution and (b) without substitution.

  Mr. Yeo
  The consequences, in terms of waste movements, of adopting waste substitution would depend on the nature of the scheme implemented.

  Housing Association Grants
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the effect on the percentage of new housing association tenants reliant on housing benefit for the payment of rent of the proposed reduction of housing association grants in 1995–96.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government have announced their objective of reducing the average housing association grant rate in England from the current year's level of 67 per cent. to 60 per cent. in 1994–95 and 55 per cent. in 1995–96.

  Final decisions will be taken when Ministers have considered all the relevant evidence, including the likely impact on rents, on housing benefit and the availability of private finance. No decisions about grant rates for 1995–96 will be taken until much closer to the time.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he issues to the Housing Corporation on the maximum housing association grant level per person for a new scheme.

  Sir George Young
  Grant rates are proposed by the Housing Corporation and approved by my right hon. Friend after he has considered all the relevant information, including advice from the Housing Corporation on the implication of different grant levels on rents and the availability of private finance.

  Grant rates vary according to scheme type and location and represent the maximum proportion of scheme costs which will be funded by any form of public subsidy including housing association grant. They are determined by reference to the income of tenants, the unit costs of schemes in a given area and other factors such as management and maintenance costs.

  Housing Associations
  Dame Angela Rumbold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he gives to housing associations on the appropriate level of finance from the private sector.

  Sir George Young
  The Government do not give specific advice on the appropriate level of private finance to
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  housing associations. However, our objective is to increase the proportion of private finance input to new housing association schemes in order to get the maximum output from public resources.

  Dame Angela Rumbold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to reduce the grant rates to housing associations; and what estimate he has made of the effect of his plans on rent levels.

  Sir George Young
  Our objective is to increase the proportion of private finance input to new housing association schemes by reducing grant rates to 60 per cent. in 1994–95 and 55 per cent. in 1995–96.

  Final decisions will be taken when Ministers have considered all the relevant evidence, including the likely impact on rents.

  Dame Angela Rumbold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to allow housing association tenants the right to buy.

  Sir George Young
  The right to buy is already available to secure tenants of housing associations, except in cases where the association is a charity: there are no plans at present to extend this statutory right. Associations may, however, sell to tenants on voluntary terms. There is also an alternative scheme for promoting home ownership to housing association tenants—the tenants incentive scheme —under which they may be eligible to receive a grant to help them purchase a home in the owner-occupied sector. Similarly, the do-it-yourself-shared-ownership scheme is available to eligible housing association tenants who wish to pursue the shared equity route towards home ownership.

  Local Government Corruption, Bolsover
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about local government corruption in Bolsover.

  Mr. Baldry
  None.

  Countryside Stewardship Scheme
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many hectares are currently under agreement with the countryside stewardship scheme; how many hectares involved additional payments for public access in(a) England and (b) each county; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  There are 59, 836 hectares currently under agreement with the countryside stewardship scheme which is run by the Countryside Commission. Of these, 11, 596 hectares involve additional payments for open access. Payments are also being made for 190.4 km of linear access —payment for the creation of linear routes such as footpaths, bridleways and routes for those with mobility difficulties.

  The breakdown of the access figures by county is as follows:—

  County

  Open Access Hectares

  Linear Access Kilometres

  Northumberland

  893

  14.2

  Cumbria

  358

  6.8

  Durham

  261

  2.5

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  County

  Open Access Hectares

  Linear Access Kilometres

  Cleveland

  40

  2.7

  Lancashire

  61

  7.6

  Derbyshire

  850

  5.4

  Merseyside Met

  0

  0.0

  Greater Manchester

  4

  0.9

  Cheshire

  8

  2.3

  North Yorkshire

  1,178

  24.7

  Humberside

  62

  2.2

  South Yorkshire

  13

  0.4

  West Yorkshire Met

  0

  0.0

  Nottinghamshire

  58

  0.0

  Shropshire

  119

  0.0

  Staffordshire

  18

  2.6

  Leicestershire

  369

  3.7

  West Midland Met

  0

  0.0

  Hereford and Worcester

  163

  0.1

  Warwickshire

  152

  0.0

  Northamptonshire

  678

  4.3

  Lincolnshire

  329

  12.1

  Cambridgeshire

  189

  5.6

  Norfolk

  282

  14.9

  Suffolk

  193

  2.5

  Bedfordshire

  67

  0.0

  Oxfordshire

  107

  1.5

  Buckinghamshire

  258

  4.1

  Hertfordshire

  120

  0.0

  Essex

  219

  0.6

  Berkshire

  81

  0.0

  London

  45

  0.0

  Hampshire

  136

  5.4

  Surrey

  156

  0.2

  Kent

  298

  2.1

  West Sussex

  317

  1.1

  East Sussex

  431

  11.0

  Isle of Wight

  111

  4.1

  Gloucestershire

  180

  5.9

  Cornwall

  810

  12.0

  Devon

  361

  6.8

  Somerset

  324

  3.4

  Avon

  220

  0.5

  Wiltshire

  718

  13.6

  Dorset

  359

  2.6

  Countryside stewardship is a pilot scheme. The Countryside Commission has reviewed arrangements for publicising access in the light of its experience in the first two years of the experiment. The answer given by the then Minister for the Environment and Countryside on 2 April, Official Report, column 520, gives details of further steps being taken to improve information about public access.

  Waste Disposal Levy
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on what relative tax base the waste disposal levy is apportioned between constituent authorities in metropolitan areas; and what considerations account for the choice of this base for apportionment;

  (2) what account was taken of the desirability of providing an incentive to reduce the volume of waste to be disposed of in the choice of a base for apportionment of the waste disposal levy for metropolitan areas;

  (3) what consideration has been given to apportioning the waste disposal levy between constituent authorities in metropolitan areas according to tonnage dealt with rather than a tax base; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) if he will make it his policy to review the basis of apportioning the waste disposal levy in metropolitan areas in time for changes to come into effect for 1994–95.
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  Mr. Yeo
  The constituent boroughs of each statutory joint waste disposal authority are at liberty to agree among themselves the apportionment of the levy. Should they fail to agree, the levies are apportioned on the basis of the tax base in force at the time, which, under the current system of local government finance, is the tax base for the council tax.

  The reason for using the tax base is that the cost of providing the service then adds the same amount to the local tax in each area. This general principle applies to other statutory authorities, such as certain combined police authorities, which supply a service across more than one local authority area.

  Under the community charge system, the general basis of apportionment was "relevant population". As part of the preparation for the introduction of council tax, the Government sought to apply the same principle and therefore proposed to change to the council tax base—the number of Band D equivalent dwellings. This proposal was the subject of consultation with the local authority associations.

  The majority of constituent boroughs appear to be satisfied with the apportionment of the levy according to the tax base for the council tax and in considering these arrangements, I take the view that it is important to listen to the concerns of all those involved and to act in the best interests of the authorities' areas as a whole.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received to allow councils to continue spending capital receipts beyond the end of the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The local authority associations have asked for the temporary concession on the use of capital receipts, announced in the autumn statement, to be extended beyond 31 December 1993.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's latest assessment of the total of capital receipts accruing to local authorities during the current capital receipts holiday; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  As a result of the temporary relaxation in the capital receipts rules announced in the autumn statement, local authorities are able to spend 100 per cent. of virtually all the capital receipts they receive during the period 13 November 1992 to 31 December 1993. Estimates of local authorities' capital receipts are based on information provided by authorities themselves. My Department has sought provisional outturn information for receipts which local authorities obtained between 13 November 1992 and 31 March 1993, and estimates of the receipts which authorities expect to receive between 1 April and 31 December 1993. This information will be published in due course, once authorities' returns have been received and processed.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of the reduction in the number of indicators in changing the standard spending assessment systems of local authority grant distribution;
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  (2) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the indicators used in the SSA system to reflect fully in the distribution of grants to local authorities the range and variety of different needs which they experience.

  Mr. Baldry
  The system of standard spending assessments was intended to simplify the method of distributing grant to local authorities compared with previous methods. One of the main simplifications was the reduction in the number of indicators used. SSAs were also intended to be easier to understand without any reduction in fairness. We are currently reviewing SSAs and in particular the range of social factors used and the weight placed upon them. As part of the review we will consider the scope for using new indicators.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to appoint outside consultants to advise him on the review of standard spending assessments.

  Mr. Baldry
  Some external research has already taken place which will inform the review of standard spending assessments. We will appoint outside consultants to advise further on the review, if it is felt to be necessary.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the validity of area cost adjustment in the standard spending assessments for 1993–94 as a measure of the differences in providing similar services in different parts of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Baldry
  The area cost adjustment for 1993–94 aims to reflect variations in average employment costs facing authorities in the provision of their services in different areas. It is confined to London and the south-east because survey evidence has shown that these are the only regions facing employment costs which are consistently and significantly above the national average. We are reviewing the calculation of the area cost adjustment, in consultation with the local authority associations, as part of the wider review of standard spending assessments in progress.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the extent to which additional educational needs parts of the standard spending assessment reflect different needs and costs which face different local government areas.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are considering the additional educational needs index used in standard spending assessments as part of the current review. The social factors used in standard spending assessments are selected to be representative of variation in the potential need for spending on the particular services for which different authorities have responsibility.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will consider using information on health available for the first time in the 1991 census as part of the standard spending assessment for 1994–95;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the validity of the use of the percentage of single-parent families in a case as a measurement of need as part of the education and social services element of the standard spending assessment system.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are considering a range of health and social factors for use in standard spending assessments as part of the current review.
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  Local Government Commission
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with the chairman of the Local Government Commission about its work programme and timetable; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Planning has met the chairman on several occasions, most recently on 14 July, to discuss these and related sums.

  Modbury Plan
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive Mr. David Fenton's report, following the hearing at the public inquiry into the Modbury plan, south Devon, on 13 January; what steps he is taking to expedite this report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Mr. David Fenton was appointed to conduct an inquiry into objections to the South Hams local plan on behalf of South Hams district council. The plan is the responsibility of the district council, and the inspector's report will be delivered to the planning authority. They are required under The Town and Country (Development Plan) Regulations 1991 to supply my right hon. Friend with a copy of the inspector's report when they publish their intention to modify or to adopt the plan.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment how many representations he has received alleging that the provisions of the council tax transitional reduction scheme are not in accordance with natural justice, or have given rise to anomalies.

  Mr. Baldry
  Since the introduction of the council tax the Department has received approximately 800 queries about transitional relief. In many cases taxpayers were simply inquiring about the way in which relief is calculated.

  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the extent to which the requirement that purchasers of houses since 31 March receive council tax transitional reduction scheme on a basis determined by the personal circumstances of previous occupants has worked fairly.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is reasonable to expect purchasers of a property to consider all the costs involved, including the council tax applying to that property, in their decision to purchase. A transitional relief calculation which accommodated changes in the household composition would require authorities to hold detailed records of household composition which would be both costly and unpopular.

  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to carry out a review of the regulations governing the calculation of the council tax transitional reduction scheme, with a view to their amendment.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have no plans to review the operation of the 1993–94 transitional relief arrangements.
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  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish proposals for the United Kingdom's national strategy for sustainable development.

  Mr. Gummer
  I will be publishing tomorrow a consultation paper outlining the Government proposals. I am placing copies in the Library of the House.

  Local Authority Services
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the results of research into the effects of competitive tendering for local authority services.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has today published the full report of a major study into the impact of competitive tendering under the Local Government Act 1988, which has been carried out for us by the university of Birmingham. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  The research shows that competition produces significant benefits for local taxpayers. Competitive tendering has resulted in fundamental service review within local authorities, leading to more efficient management, reduced costs and a sharper focus on performance and quality. In particular it shows, in the authorities studied, that an average reduction of 6.5 per cent. in the annual cost of services subject to competitive tendering has been achieved, due in large part to significant improvements in productivity. Service standards have been maintained and often raised in the process and competition has been an important spur to greater emphasis on performance, target setting and quality assurance in local authority service delivery.

  Council Rent Arrears
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities have the highest rent arrears; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  I have today arranged for the information on rent arrears in all English local authorities at 31 March 1992, to be placed in the Library.

  At 31 March 1992, the total amount of rent arrears owing to housing authorities in England amounted to £458 million, 8 per cent. of rent roll, compared to £434 million, 8.6 per cent. of rent roll, in the previous year. Despite a small overall increase in cash terms, the latest figures bring to an end a long upward trend in local authority rent arrears.

  About half all rent arrears arise in London, £223 million, with eight of the 10 authorities which perform least satisfactorily found in the capital. These authorities have rent arrears totalling £163 million, equal to 36 per cent. of the national total.

  Closer analysis of returns from local authorities confirms a recent general improvement in rent collection rates. During 1991–92, for example, local authorities estimated that £87.2 million of rent due during the year remained uncollected at the end of the year, 1.5 per cent. of the rent roll, with 20 authorities responsible for half this total. This compares to £109.5 million, 2.2 per cent. of rent roll, of rent due in 1990–91 uncollected at the end of the year.
  103
  Despite this general improvement in rent collection rates, there is no room for complacency and many authorities, particularly those in London, need to do more to improve their performance in this critical area.

  Hams Hall Power Station
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will make an announcement on the application to turn Hams Hall power station into a channel tunnel freight terminal.

  Mr. Baldry
  The inspector's report on this called-in planning application is being studied. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce a decision shortly.

  County Hall
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last had discussions with the London Residuary Body on plans for the disposal of county hall; what plans he expects to go ahead; what are the reasons for the delays in disposal which have occurred; what is the current state of the buildings; and if he will list the names of those various prospective purchasers which need to apply to his Department for final approval.

  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 15 July 1993]My right hon. Friend has not as yet had any discussions with the London Residuary Body, but the Department is in regular contact with it. The riverside building of county hall has already been sold. Discussions are going ahead with various parties over the sale of the remaining buildings on the site. The conduct of these negotiations is a matter for the residuary body and the identity of those involved is a matter of commercial confidence. There would in fact be no need for prospective purchasers to ask my right hon. Friend for his approval. The state of the buildings is satisfactory and the residuary body ensures that planned routine maintenance is carried out to all the buildings.

Convention on International Trade

  in Endangered Species
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he made to the CITES standing committee in regard to the proposed new criteria for listing species on the appendices to the convention prior to the deadline date of 30 June.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]None, but we shall submit comments shortly. I will ensure that a copy of our response is sent to the hon. Member as well as to interested organisations.

  Peatlands
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) of 6 July,Official Report, column 79, how much longer it is expected to take to finalise the agreement between English Nature and Fisons to secure areas of lowland peatland of conservation importance.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]Both English Nature and Fisons remain fully committed to this 104
  agreement. It is taking some time to complete the conveyance because of the legal complexity of the transaction.

  Water (Complaints)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints have been received by the Office of Water Services customer services committees about the water supply industry in the current year and the past year, region by region.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]OFWAT's annual report 1992 lists the number of complaints received by each customer services committee for each individual company for the years requested, together with the companies assigned to each region. Copies of the report are available in the Library.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those sites where(a) BNFL, (b) Nuclear Electric, (c) Scottish Nuclear or (d) others have applied for planning permission for, or had any form of initial discussions with, his Department as to the construction of a dry store capable of taking spent AGR fuel.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  My Department has had no such applications or discussions. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has received an application from Scottish Nuclear Ltd. in respect of a proposed dry store at Torness power station. My right hon. Friend has not yet received the report following the public inquiry into this application.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration Her Majesty's Government have given to the dry storage of spent AGR fuel as waste as an alternative to reprocessing.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  Management options for dealing with spent fuel are commercial matters for the owners of the fuel.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration is given, in deciding whether to allow imports of spent nuclear fuel for the thermal oxide reprocessing plant, to the possible effect of the build-up of such stocks on the outcome of the further consultation process and eventual adjudication on revised draft authorisations for the Sellafield site; if he will now make it his policy to allow no further imports until a final decision is made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  I am advised by British Nuclear Fuels plc that, under its contracts with overseas customers, some 70 per cent. of the overseas spent fuel due to be reprocessed in the first ten years of operating its thermal oxide reprocessing plant has already been delivered to Sellafield. In accordance with scheduled deliveries, this proportion is not expected to change materially in the next few months. It would be inappropriate to take an initiative of the kind proposed by the hon. Member.
  105

  Rent Arrears
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing English local authorities' own estimates of both former and current tenants' rent arrears at 31 March(a) by cash value and (b) as a percentage of the rent roll.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 19 May 1993]I have now placed information in the Library on local authority rent arrears at 31 March 1992. It has not been practice in recent years to make available local authority's latest estimates of rent arrears. I shall let my hon. Friend have provisional figures for the year to 31 March 1993 later in the summer, once my officials have had the opportunity to validate the data.

EDUCATION

  Non-vocational Courses
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many non-vocational courses open to adults were offered in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 in(a) the local authorities sector not transferred to Government on 1 April and (b) the local authorities sector transferred to Government on 1 April.

  Mr. Boswell
  Information about the number of further education courses for adults is not collected by the Department.

  Open University
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many Open university students have applied for the new post-graduate certificate of education programme beginning in 1994; and how many students with Open university qualifications went on to enter the teaching profession.

  Mr. Boswell
  To date, 586 Open university students have applied for the new PGCE programme beginning in 1994. The number who enter the teaching profession will not be known until after the first entrants complete the course in July 1995.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans),Official Report, 13 July 1993, c. 826, concerning teacher training, what additional funding for schools will be made to cover the costs of supervising trainee teachers in the proposed two thirds training time in schools; and, for the academic years 1995–96 and thereafter, what he expects to be the overall ratio of qualified and trainee teachers in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Schools which enter into teacher training partnerships with higher education institutions will receive funding from their partner institution: the amount transferred will depend on the nature of the partnership in each case. Schools taking part in the pioneering scheme of school-centred training will receive tip to £4, 000 per student, equivalent to the full cost of a PGCE course in higher education. All student teachers 106
  have for many years spent time in the school classroom; the 56, 000 students currently enrolled on courses of initial teacher training compare with a total teaching force of 450, 000. On current plans student numbers are expected to decline from 1995–96 onwards.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his estimate of the intake into teacher training in the next decade based on the present birth rate; and what statistics and information he has available to plan for educational trends in the next two decades.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  In January this year the Higher Education Funding Council for England was given planning numbers for intakes into initial teacher training courses for the period 1993 to 1996. These were as follows:

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Primary phase

  14,295

  12,930

  12,115

  10,855

  Secondary phase

  14,450

  16,050

  17,000

  17,935

  Total

  28,745

  28,980

  29,115

  28,790

  These numbers were based on the latest projections of pupil numbers taking account of the Government Actuary's estimates of birth rates, and other indicators of teacher supply and demand such as total numbers, retirements and other wastage, and out of service teachers. The planning figures will be reviewed annually as new data become available. Estimates beyond 1996 will be made towards the end of the present planning period.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what studies he has made of the effect on(a) pupils and (b) staff of his proposal that two thirds of teacher trainee time shall be in the schools with particular reference to the quality of supervision and training that might be available in smaller schools; and which such studies have been published.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The requirement that two thirds of a student's time is to be spent in school will apply, from September 1994, to postgraduate courses of training for secondary school teachers. The requirements for undergraduate courses, and proposed requirements for primary courses to take full effect in 1996, are set out in DFE Circular 9/92 and the draft circular on primary teacher training recently issued by the Department; both are in the Library. Schools able and willing to play a part in teacher training may choose to enter into partnership with higher education institutions. OFSTED will be monitoring the impact of these new arrangements on schools and students; OFSTED's "New Teacher in School" survey, published last month, noted that those with the most extended school experience felt best prepared for their first posts.

  Adult Learning Centres
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many adult learning centres closed in England and Wales in 1991–92 and 1992–93; what information he has on the likely closure figure for 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  Information on the number of closures of adult education establishments in England is not collected by the Department. Information on Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
  107
  The duty to secure the provision of adequate facilities for the further education of adults is clearly set out in the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. That duty is divided between the Further Education Funding Council and local education authorities. The Government have ensured that both the council and LEAs have sufficient resources to carry out their duties.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many adult learning centres in England and Wales received local authority grants in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Boswell
  In 1991–92 and 1992–93 there were, respectively, 1, 682 and 1, 562 adult education establishments maintained by local education authorities in England and recorded on annual returns to the Department. Figures for 1993–94 are not yet available. Information on Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Speech Therapy and Child Psychotherapy
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funds are available from the European Community to enable individual students to receive funding to pursue postgraduate courses in Britain leading to qualifications in(a) speech therapy and (b) child psychotherapy.

  Mr. Boswell
  I am not aware of EC funding specifically for post-graduate study in these areas. Within the ERASMUS programme eligible students in any discipline, including postgraduate students, undertaking an integrated period of study in another participating state as part of their home course may receive assistance towards the cost of mobility. Students from elsewhere in the EC undertaking a course in the United Kingdom are eligible for payment of their tuition fees on the same basis as home students.

  General Studies A-Level
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the future of the general studies A-level examination; how many students have passed this examination for each of the past 10 years; and how many students there were whose qualifications to enter university included the general studies A-level for the same period.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The future of individual GCE A-level syllabuses is a matter for the GCE examination boards to decide, in consultation with the School Examinations and Assessment Council. Information about the numbers entering universities with general studies GCE A-level is not held centrally. The Department estimates that in 1982 approximately 27, 000 candidates achieved a pass at general studies GCE A-level and figures published by SEAC show that in 1991, 52, 085, and in 1992, 53, 724 candidates achieved passes in this subject.
  108

  Student Unions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what outside advice he sought or received in making his decision as to(a) the publication date and (b) the closing date of his consultation paper on student unions.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Government's announcement of their proposals for student union reform on 1 July followed extensive consultations over the principles to be applied in student union affairs. The consultations now under way relate to the implementation of these reforms. In the light of representations received, we have decided that it would be helpful to extend the period for these follow-up consultations to four months to 1 November, to enable constructive discussions to take place.

  Non-contact Time
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his estimate of the average weekly non-contact time of primary and secondary school teachers for 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The latest available information on teachers' non-contact time is that provided in the reply given to the hon. Member on 3 February 1993,Official Report, column 211.

  Students (Socio-economic Background)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information he has on recent changes or trends in the socio-economic background of students; and if he will provide an estimate of the relative chances of entering full-time higher education among the present cohort of 18-year-olds relative to the socio-economic group of their parents.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Department has two main sources of information about the socio-economic background of students in higher education: the youth cohort study and the higher education admissions agencies, UCCA and PCAS. The youth cohort study is a sample survey of young people at ages 16, 17 and 18. Universities Central Council on Admissions and Polytechnics Central Admissions System data cover entrants of all ages to full-time and sandwich courses of higher education, but not all applicants provide information about their socioeconomic background. PCAS collected information on socio-economic background for the first time in 1991–92. The most recent available figures are shown in the tables.

  The proportion of all young people entering full-time and sandwich higher education reached the record level of 28 per cent. in 1992. The Department does not have the necessary information to estimate relative participation rates for different socio-economic groups in that year.
  109

  Youth Cohort Study: 1988–89 academic year

  Percentage distribution by socio-economic group of

  Percentage of young people from each socio-economic group in higher education at age 18

  All 18 year olds

  18 year olds in higher education

  Professional

  8

  18

  35

  Managerial

  17

  24

  21

  Other non-manual

  21

  29

  21

  Skilled manual

  38

  24

  9

  Semi and unskilled manual

  16

  6

  5

  Percentage distribution by socio-economic class of home applicants accepted through UCCA:

  Academic Year

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Professional

  21

  20

  19

  Intermediate

  49

  50

  50

  Skilled non-manual

  11

  11

  11

  Skilled manual

  12

  12

  12

  Partly skilled and unskilled manual

  7

  7

  7

  Percentage distribution by socio-economic class of home applicants admitted through PCAS:

  Academic Year

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Professional

  12

  13

  Intermediate

  46

  42

  Skilled non-manual

  13

  13

  Skilled manual

  18

  20

  Partly skilled and unskilled manual

  12

  11

  Students (Vacation)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to relieve the hardship of students with dependent families over the long summer vacation.

  Mr. Boswell
  The mandatory awards system provides dependants' allowances covering the summer vacation for eligible students. Local education authorities may make such discretionary award payments as they think fit to students on courses not designated for mandatory awards. Universities and colleges may use their access funds to give additional help to eligible students in particular need during the vacation.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to increase the level of access funds for further education colleges.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Further Education Funding Council has been allocated £4–8 million from the access funds to disburse to colleges in the further education sector in the 1993–94 academic year, an increase of 9–6 per cent. on the sum available to FE colleges in 1992–93.
  110

HEALTH

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

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information is shown in the tables.

  National Health Service Authorities and Trusts

  Mrs. R. Barnes, Director, Greenwich Healthcare Trust, 4 November 1992 to 31 October 1994 (Social Democratic Party).

  Mr. T. Benyon, Chairman, Milton Keynes District Health Authority, 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1993 (Conservative).

  Mr. T. Brinton, Chairman, Dartford and Gravesham District Health Authority, 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1990 (Conservative).

  Lord Hayhoe, Chairman, Guy's and St. Thomas' Trust, 21 March 1993 to 30 November 1995 (Conservative).

  Mrs. H. Hayman, Chairman, Whittington Hospital Trust, 4 November 1992 to 31 October 1996. (Labour).

  Lord Jenkin of Roding, Chairman, Forest Healthcare Trust, I November 1991 to 30 November 1993 (Conservative).

  Mr. J. Lee, Chairman, Christie Hospital Trust, 1 December 1992 to 30 November 1994 (Conservative).

  Dr. J. D. Mabon, Chairman, Royal London homeopathic Hospital Trust, 4 November 1992 to 31 October 1996 (Labour/Social Democratic Party).

  Sir Robert McCrindle, Director, Havering Hospital Trust, 4 November 1992 to 31 October 1996 (Conservative).

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson, Director, West Berks Priority Care Trust, 4 November 1992 (died 28 March 1993) (Conservative).

  Professor E. Moonman, Chairman, Islington District Health Authority, 1 April 1982 to 31 March 1990 (Labour).

  Sir David Price, Director, Southampton University Hospital Trust, 4 November 1992 to 31 October 1994 (Conservative).

  Sir Timothy Raison, Chairman, Aylesbury Vale Community Trust, 1 June 1992 to 30 November 1994 (Conservative).

  Chairmen of district health authorities and National Health Service trusts are currently remunerated at between £15, 125 and £19, 285 a year. Non-executive directors of NHS trusts receive £5, 000 a year.

  Non-Departmental Public Bodies

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson, Member of the Unrelated Live Transplant Regulatory Authority from February 1990 to his death in March 1993. Paid expenses only. (Conservative).

  Mr. James Welbeloved, Member of the Unrelated Live Transplant Regulatory Authority from February 1990 to 31 March 1994. Paid expenses only. (Labour).

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the names of individuals who(a) are spouses of hon. Members, (b) are members of the House of Lords,

  111
  (c) are spouses of members of the House of Lords and (d) have been party candidates for Parliament, indicating for which party, who have been appointed by her Department since 1988 to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations giving, in each case, the title of the post, any salary payable, and the duration of the appointment.

  Mr. Sackville
  Of appointments to health authorities and trusts and non-departmental public bodies made by the Secretary of State for Health since 1989, when Health became a separate Department, our records show the following as spouses of hon. Members or Members of the House of Lords or spouses of members of the House of Lords or as party candidates for Parliament:

  National Health Service Authorities and Trusts Spouses of Hon. Members

  Mr. T. Shepherd, Director, King's Lynn and Wisbech Trust, 1 November 1991 to 30 November 1994.

  Mrs. S. Taylor, Chairman, Southend Community Trust, I November 1991 to 30 November 1993.

  Members of the House of Lords

  Baroness Cox of Queensbury, Director, West Lambeth Community Trust, 1 November 1991 to 30 November 1994.

  Baroness Cumberlege of Newick, Chairman, South West Thames Regional Health Authority, 1 August 1988 to 13 April 1992.

  Baroness Eccles of Moulton, Chairman, Ealing District Health Authority, 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1993; Chairman, Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster District Health Authority, 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1995.

  Baroness Flather, Director, Hillingdon Hospital Trust, I December 1992 to 30 November 1996.

  Baroness Gardner of Parkes, Member, National Heart and Chest Hospital Special Health Authority, 1 April 1982 to 16 September 1990; Member, North East Thames Regional Health Authority, 26 July 1990 to 31 October 1994.

  Lord Glenarthur, Chairman, St. Mary's Trust, 1 November 1992 to 30 November 1994.

  Lord Hayhoe, Chairman, Guy's and St. Thomas' Trust, 21 March 1993 to 30 November 1995.

  Lord Jenkin of Roding, Chairman, Forest Healthcare Trust, I November 1991 to 30 November 1993.

  Lord Stafford, Director, Mental Health Foundation of Mid Staffordshire Trust, 21 December 1990 to 30 November 1994.

  Lord Wade of Chorlton, Director, Countess of Chester Hospital Trust, 4 November 1992 to 30 November 1994.

  Spouses of Members of the House of Lords

  Lady Archer, Director, Addenbrooke's Trust, 23 December 1992 to 31 October 1995.

  Mr. K. Gardner, Chairman, Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital Trust, 21 December 1990 to 30 November 1994.

  Countess of Limerick, Member, Eastman Dental Hospital Special Health Authority, 26 September 1990 to 31 March 1994.

  Lady Parkinson, Director, Barnet Community Trust, 1 November 1991 to 30 November 1993.

  Chairmen of regional health authorities are currently remunerated at a rate of £20, 925 per annum, and chairmen of district health authorities and National Health Service trusts at between £15, 125 and £19, 285 a year. Non-executive directors of NHS trusts and SHAs receive £5, 000 a year.

  Information on appointees to NHS authorities and trusts who have been party candidates for Parliament is not available centrally.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies

  Spouses of hon. Members

  Mrs. O. J. Benyon, member of Mental Health Act Commission I September 1983 to 30 September 1989 (in April 1989 members received £98 per meeting).

  Members of the House of Lords

  Baroness Cumberlege of Newick, unpaid member of United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1993.

  112

  Baroness Eccles of Moulton, member of the Unrelated Live Transplant Regulatory Authority February 1990 to 30 April 1993. Paid expenses only.

  Baroness Brigstocke, member of the Health Education Authority April 1989 to 31 March 1995. Paid £5, 000 a year.

  The Rt. Rev. William Westwood, member of the Health Education Authority October 1992 to 31 March 1995. Paid £5, 000 a year.

  Previous Prospective Parliamentary Candidates

  Mrs. W. Tumin, chair of the Secretary of State's Special Advisory Group on the Youth Treatment Service I August 1991 to 31 July 1994. Paid £10, 000 a year. Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Social Democrat Party in 1983 and 1987.

  Mr. Tom White, member of the Secretary of State's Special Advisory Group on the Youth Treatment Service I August 1991 to 31 July 1994. Paid £100 per meeting. Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Labour 1964.

  Mrs. E. Owen, member of the Mental Health Act Commission 9 November 1987 to 13 March 1992 and 13 May 1992 to 30 September 1995. Paid £132 per meeting. Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Labour 1992.

  Purchasing Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will issue guidelines so that purchasing agencies' annual reports available to the public should show levels of their financial commitment to meeting the patients charter standards; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Such guidelines are not considered necessary. The patients charter is about using existing resources in a more focused way to produce a higher standard of service for patients.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which board members of district health authorities are also board members of NHS trusts; and if he will name the trusts and authorities involved.

  Mr. Sackville
  Chairmen of district health authorities are ineligible under national health service regulations to serve concurrently as chairmen of NHS trusts.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Martin) of 26 January,Official Report, columns 701–2, if she will list the projects approved for each health authority unit or national health service trust in the Northern regional health authority in 1993–94.

  Mr. Sackville
  The major capital schemes approved for commencement in 1993–94 in the territorial area covered by the Northern regional health authority will be placed in the Library.

  The list of schemes excludes minor schemes initiated by trusts and directly managed units within their delegated authority.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 26 October,Official Report, columns 478–80, if she will update the table on trust expenditure.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]Updated information will be placed in the Library.
  113

  Community Care
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much is spent per head of population on care at home by each local authority responsible for community care services.

  Mr. Bowis
  In 1990–91, the latest year for which this information is available, annual expenditure per head of population on home care services and meals on wheels was as shown in the table.

  Expenditure per head of population on home care and meals on wheels. (1990–91)

  Local authority

  £ per head of population

  Bolton

  13.3

  Bury

  12.2

  Manchester

  21.9

  Oldham

  15.3

  Rochdale

  21.9

  Salford

  16.6

  Stockport

  13.4

  Tameside

  19.5

  Trafford

  16.1

  Wigan

  16.2

  Knowsley

  9.8

  Liverpool

  22.4

  St. Helens

  20.3

  Sefton

  10.7

  Wirral

  18.0

  Barnsley

  16.0

  Doncaster

  13.9

  Rotherham

  16.6

  Sheffield

  22.2

  Gateshead

  15.9

  Newcastle

  22.4

  North Tyneside

  23.6

  South Tyneside

  14.6

  Sunderland

  17.1

  Birmingham

  23.1

  Coventry

  14.0

  Dudley

  10.2

  Sandwell

  16.3

  Solihull

  12.6

  Walsall

  10.5

  Wolverhampton

  13.9

  Bradford

  15.8

  Calderdale

  16.0

  Kirklees

  15.2

  Leeds

  20.7

  Wakefield

  11.3

  City of London

  44.6

  Camden

  53.8

  Greenwich

  25.4

  Hackney

  37.5

  Hammersmith

  26.7

  Islington

  26.8

  Kensington

  16.6

  Lambeth

  37.3

  Lewisham

  32.3

  Southwark

  20.0

  Tower Hamlets

  23.9

  Wandsworth

  27.0

  Westminster

  28.0

  Barking

  19.9

  Barnet

  9.1

  Bexley

  16.2

  Brent

  19.9

  Bromley

  13.3

  Croydon

  11.3

  Ealing

  10.9

  Enfield

  16.1

  Haringey

  27.3

  Harrow

  5.9

  Havering

  14.6

  Hillingdon

  20.8

  Hounslow

  14.5

  114

  Local authority

  £ per head of population

  Kingston

  13.9

  Merton

  17.8

  Newham

  23.0

  Red bridge

  11.8

  Richmond

  20.0

  Sutton

  13.8

  Waltham Forest

  23.5

  Isles of Scilly

  2.5

  Avon

  14.6

  Bedfordshire

  10.0

  Berkshire

  9.6

  Buckinghamshire

  10.6

  Cambridgeshire

  11.5

  Cheshire

  9.6

  Cleveland

  12.7

  Cornwall

  10.7

  Cumbria

  11.9

  Derbyshire

  21.0

  Devon

  10.7

  Dorset

  10.3

  Durham

  12.4

  East Sussex

  10.7

  Essex

  12.9

  Gloucestershire

  9.5

  Hampshire

  8.3

  Hereford and Worcester

  10.0

  Hertfordshire

  11.0

  Humberside

  15.0

  Isle of Wight

  11.7

  Kent

  9.8

  Lancashire

  11.4

  Leicestershire

  11.6

  Lincolnshire

  9.2

  Norfolk

  15.4

  Northamptonshire

  9.7

  Northumberland

  15.0

  North Yorkshire

  10.9

  Nottinghamshire

  14.6

  Oxfordshire

  10.7

  Shropshire

  7.2

  Somerset

  9.2

  Staffordshire

  12.3

  Suffolk

  9.4

  Surrey

  7.3

  Warwickshire

  13.5

  West Sussex

  9.9

  Wiltshire

  9.0

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 1 July,Official Report, column 616, if she will give the number of accident and emergency departments in England.

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1991–92 there were 238 national health service trust hospitals and directly managed units with accident and emergency departments.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is known to her Department about average and maximum waiting times for patients attending hospital accident and emergency units.

  Mr. Sackville
  The patients charter requires health authorities to set a local standard for waiting time for treatment following immediate assessment in accident and emergency departments. Details of performance against this standard are not available centrally, but will appear locally in health authorities' patients charter annual reports.
  115
  Additionally, to give patients ready access to information about the level of performance being achieved locally, providers are required to display prominently local standards and how well they are performing against them.

  NHS Patients
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients were treated(a) as day patients, (b) as in-patients and (c) in the community by the NHS in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is not available in the form requested. The number of day cases, day care attendances and in-patients is shown in the tables. Information on the number of patients receiving treatment in the community is not available.

  Day case admissions, NHS hospitals, England

  Year

  Day case admissions (000's)

  1987–88

  881

  1988–89

  1,016

  1989–90

  1,163

  1990–91

  1,261

  1991–92

  1,548

  Sources: 1987–88 Estimated by regional health authorities. 1988–89 onwards KP70.

  Nurses and midwives (excluding agency) in Special Care Baby Units by qualification as at 30 September, England: whole-time equivalents.

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Qualified nurses

  1,310

  1,480

  1,740

  1,850

  2,050

  Unqualified nurses

  700

  660

  370

  310

  300

  Midwives

  1,080

  1,120

  1,100

  1,150

  1,270

  Others

  —

  —

  —

  —

  110

  Total

  3,090

  3,250

  3,210

  3,310

  3,630

  1 Includes nurses/midwives on an undetermined payscale

  Notes

  1. All figures are rounded to the nearest ten whole-time equivalent.

  2. Totals may not add due to rounding.

  3. "—" means there are none.

  Elderly Patients
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of emergency admissions of elderly patients to hospitals in each of the regional health authorities in England in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Sackville
  The number of non-elective admissions purchased in each region in 1991–92 and 1992–93 for persons aged 65 and over is shown in the table. Comparable information for 1990–91 is not available.

  Purchases of non-elective admissions of persons aged 65 and over

  1991–92 '000s

  1992–93 '000s

  Northern

  93

  96

  Yorkshire

  86

  109

  Trent

  131

  129

  East Anglia

  49

  58

  116

  Day attendances at NHS day care facilities, England1

  Year

  Day care attendances (thousands)

  1987–88

  6,621

  1988–89

  6,666

  1989–90

  6,532

  1990–91

  6,687

  1991–92

  n/a

  1 First and re-attenders.

  n/a = Not yet available.

  Ordinary admissions, NHS hospitals, England (All specialties)

  Year

  Ordinary admissions (thousands)

  1987–88

  6,619

  Discharges and deaths

  1988–89

  6,586

  1988–89

  7,335

  Finished consultant episodes

  1989–90

  7,477

  1990–91

  7,524

  1991–92

  7,759

  Sources SH3A 1987–88 to 1988–89(Discharges and deaths) KP70 1988–89 onwards (Finished consultant episodes).

  Baby Care Units
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified nurses, unqualified nurses and midwives there were in special care baby units in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  1991–92 '000s

  1992–93 '000s

  North West Thames

  82

  75

  North East Thames

  104

  108

  South East Thames

  80

  106

  South West Thames

  76

  88

  Wessex

  80

  106

  Oxford

  54

  54

  South Western

  105

  102

  West Midlands

  114

  132

  Mersey

  80

  68

  North Western

  116

  121

  England1

  1,251

  1,353

  1 Figues may not add to England due to rounding.

  117

  GPs (Complaints)
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints against general practitioners were lodged(a) with family health service authorities and their predecessors and (b) with her Department in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. However, figures for the number of complaints about general practitioners investigated formally by family health services authorities are contained in table 5.14 (Family Health Services) of the annual Health and Personal Social Services Statistics, copies of which are available in the Library.

  New Surgical Procedures
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to accredit or license surgeons to use new procedures.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health, the Medical Royal Colleges and clinical managers share the objective of enabling well-trained clinicians to offer the latest forms of health care to patients. We do not see the licensing of consultants in each new procedure as a practical means of furthering this objective.

  Children's Homes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ensure that all children's homes are registered, regardless of the numbers housed.

  Mr. Bowis
  I have no plans to do so.

  Disabled Children
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidelines have been given by her Department to local authorities concerning the involvement of children and service users in the compilation of registers of disabled children;

  (2) if she will make a statement outlining the progress made to date by local authorities in England on establishing registers of disabled children; and when she expects the first registers to be published.

  Mr. Bowis
  Guidance was issued to local authorities on the setting up of registers in "The Children Act 1989: Guidance and Regulations Volume 6 Children with Disabilities". The first report to Parliament of the working of the Children Act 1989, a copy of which is available in the Library, shows that at 30 June 1992, 73 local authorities had completed their arrangements for establishing such a register which represents two thirds of all local authorities in England. Since registers contain confidential personal information, it would not be right for them to be published.

  Optical Consumer Complaints Service
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dispensing opticians have joined the optical consumer complaints service; and what percentage that represents of the total number of dispensing opticians.

  Mr. Sackville
  The optical consumer complaints service does not hold figures on the numbers of individuals who 118
  have become members. Since it was set up in January this year, 2, 127 optical practices, both ophthalmic optician-managed and dispensing optician-managed, have become members.

  Hip Replacements
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health is she will list the types of hip replacement prostheses that are used in the NHS and the number of each type that was used in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Corporate Affairs Intelligence Unit
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the remit of the corporate affairs intelligence unit.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 22 February at columns 482–83.

  NHS Pensions Agency
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the plans of the National Health Service Pensions Agency; and how the agency has performed against its 1992–93 performance targets since its launch on 20 November 1992.

  Mr. Sackville
  I am pleased to announce that I have now approved the three-year corporate plan of the National Health Service Pensions Agency and its annual business plan for 1993–94. In addition the agency has been set long-term customer service targets. These are shown in the table; also recorded is the agency's achievement against its 1992–93 targets for the first four months of its operations and the new key service and efficiency targets for 1993–94.

  National Health Service Pensions Agency Customer Service Targets

  Product and Clearance Standard

  Long Term Target

  Achieved

  Key Targets

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Pension Awards1

  Within four weeks of receiving application from employer

  95

  90.3

  91

  Within eight weeks of receiving application from employer

  99

  97.4

  99

  Pension Estimates (Non-Practitioner)

  Within four weeks of receiving request

  95

  89.8

  91

  Within eight weeks of receiving request

  99

  98.0

  99

  Pension Estimates (Practitioner)

  Within six weeks of receiving request

  95

  43.8

  71

  Within eight weeks of receiving request

  99

  83.4

  99

  Transfer Payments

  Within eight weeks of receiving application

  99

  98.0

  99

  Transfer Estimates

  Within eight weeks of receiving application

  99

  2—

  99

  119

  Product and Clearance Standard

  Long Term Target

  Achieved

  Key Targets

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Correspondence

  All replies to be sent within four weeks

  100

  2—

  100

  1 For incapacity awards, the periods start from confirmation of medical incapacity.

  2 New Targets.

  Efficiency gains: Ensure that Agency's expenditure is contained within running costs and other cash limits and deliver at least 2 per cent. Efficiency gains.

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

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 25 June 1993]The information available will be placed in the Library.

  The Department's aim is to appoint people from a wide range of different backgrounds and many professional and voluntary bodies are consulted when appointments are made to public bodies. Members of public bodies who are not paid a fee receive the same rates of travel allowances as civil servants and subsistence is paid according to actual costs.

WALES

  Computer Systems
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what has been the financial contribution made by his Department towards the development of the joint Department of the Environment and Welsh Office computer systems adopted in England and not in Wales;

  (2) what moneys have been expended by his Department relating to computerisation of valuation tribunals in Wales; what was the cost per valuation tribunal office of the computer system devised by the

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Percentage of staff costs

  Percentage of revenue expenditure

  Percentage of staff costs

  Percentage of revenue expenditure

  Percentage of staff costs

  Percentage of total revenue expenditure

  £ thousands

  £ thousands

  £ thousands

  (a) General and senior management

  6,479

  0.94

  0.73

  9,207

  1.22

  0.94

  16,849

  2.00

  1.35

  (b) Administration and clerical

  64,317

  9.37

  7.24

  73,616

  9.79

  7.53

  84,949

  10.11

  6.80

  (c) Medical and dental

  94,594

  13.78

  10.64

  107,080

  14.24

  10.95

  120,692

  14.36

  9.67

  (d) Nursing

  338,347

  49.29

  38.07

  364,864

  48.53

  37.31

  403,047

  47.95

  32.28

  Total staff costs

  686,468

  100.00

  —

  751,832

  100.00

  —

  840,525

  100.00

  —

  Total revenue expenditure

  888,642

  —

  100.00

  978,024

  —

  100.00

  1, 248,459

  —

  100.00

  120
  Department of the Environment and his Department for the management of council tax and non-domestic rate appeals; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what is the total cost of the computer system which his Department proposes to introduce into the valuation tribunal offices in Wales in 1993; what is the estimated cost of the alternative PC-based system put forward by Gwynedd valuation tribunal in 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office withdrew in August 1992 from the tripartite Department of the Environment and Inland Revenue computer project to provide valuation tribunal offices with a mini-computer system to handle council tax and non-domestic rate appeals. The grounds for withdrawal were that, given the small caseload of tribunal offices in Wales, a more cost-effective personal computer-based system could be provided.

  It is estimated that the costs for development, procurement, installation and operation of the mini computer system over the first five years of operation would have been £1, 256, 000 for four offices plus the cost of additional development required for an off-site user in Powys and bilingual administration procedures. This included costs of £215, 985 which were incurred by the Welsh Office.

  The cost of the personal computer system now being developed is estimated at around £450, 000 over the same period which would mean savings of £590, 000.

  The ideas put forward by the Gwynedd valuation tribunal did not constitute a developed proposal, but were taken into account in reaching the decision to develop a personal computer based system for Welsh tribunal offices.

  National Health Service Expenditure
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much expenditure has been allocated by the national health service in Wales on(a) general and senior management staff, (b) administrative and clerical staff, (c) medical staff and (d) nursing staff in each year since 1990; and if he will express the figure as total expenditure and as a percentage of national health service expenditure (i) in general and (ii) on staffing.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is as follows:
  121
  Source Health Authorities Annual Accounts.

  Notes

  1. Consists of expenditure by health authorities, the Welsh health common services authority and the health promotion authority for Wales. Excludes the family health services authorities whose corresponding costs are not identifiable on the same basis.

  2. With effect from 1991–92, the figures for total revenue expenditure in health authorities' annual accounts include capital charges.

  3. It should be noted that over the period some senior nurse professionals have transferred to the senior manager grades; there has been a growth in health care assistants employed in nursing roles; and the introduction of Project 2000 nursing reforms has led to the reclassification of student nurses from salaried nurses to bursaried students.

  4. The growth in expenditure on general and senior management staff costs arises from the extension in 1989 of senior managers terms and conditions to second and third level managers, and to the transfer of senior nurses and other professional staff to that group.

  Certificate of Education (Gwent)
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what response he has made to the representations from Gwent county council relating to reconsideration of his decision to withdraw the certificate of education.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  On 13 July, 1 announced continued approval for the certificate of education until 1995. This extra year before its planned withdrawal in 1996 will provide an extended opportunity to consider the implications arising from the current review of the national curriculum framework and for schools to adjust to any revised assessment arrangements.

  Mastectomies
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many women have undergone mastectomies in Wales in each year since 1982.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Based on the returns from hospitals, the number of masterctomies performed on women in NHS hospitals in Wales is given as follows:

  Mastectomies performed1

  1982

  774

  1983

  748

  1984

  781

  1985

  733

  1986

  685

  1987

  702

  1988

  631

  1989

  786

  1990

  729

  1 Includes partial excision of breast, but excludes excision of lesion (lumpectomy). Figures may understate the true position in that not all hospitals supply complete medical details on patient discharges and deaths.

  Postgraduate Studies
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what funds are available other than at the discretion of the local education authority to enable a graduate to pursue a two-year course in clinical communication studies leading to the M. Med. Sc. degree.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Local education authorities are unable to assist students undertaking full-time courses or research leading to a higher degree since these are the responsibility of either the Department of Education, the British Academy or one of the five research councils. A two-year M. Med. Sc course in clinical communications studies does not currently attract a postgraduate award from the relevant award-making body.

  Publicly funded institutions receive access funds to provide discretionary assistance to students in further or
  122
  higher education who may be in financial difficulty. Full-time postgraduate students are able to apply for help from the funds. Many students at this level, however, obtain sponsorship, loans from banks or receive help from the educational trusts.

  Secondary Aggregates
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what efforts are currently undertaken by his Department to encourage the use of secondary aggregates in Wales.

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

  Disabled Children
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the latest available figures showing the number of children registered as disabled by each social services department in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Single Teenage Mothers
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many single-parent households were headed by teenage women in(a) 1979 and (b) 1991 or the latest available date.

  Mr. Redwood
  The 1991 census recorded 1, 076 lone parent households with dependent children in Wales which were headed by women aged 16 to 19. Comparable data are not available from the 1981 census. Around one in 100 girls aged 13 to 15 resident in Wales became pregnant in 1990.

  One-parent Families
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average income of one-parent families in Wales for(a) 1979 and (b) 1991 expressed in (i) 1979 prices and (ii) cash prices.

  Mr. Redwood
  Reliable estimates for Wales are not available.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many single-parent families there were in Wales in(a) 1979 and (b) 1991 or at the latest available date.
  123
  Mr. Redwood
  It is estimated from the 1991 census that there were 68, 000 lone parent families with dependent children resident in Wales. The 1981 census recorded an estimated 43, 500 lone parent families in households with at least one dependent child. This figure is not comparable with that for 1991 due to changes in methodology of classification of family types.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide a table to show the percentage by age group of single parents in Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is not currently available. It is due to be published in 1994 in the 1991 census report on household and family composition.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many, and what percentage of, single-parent families had social security benefit as their main source of income in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Redwood
  Reliable estimates for Wales are not available. For the United Kingdom as a whole in the 1991 family expenditure survey, social security benefits accounted for 40 per cent. of the income of single parent families.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what were the average earnings by the lowest-paid decile of the population in(a) 1979 and (b) 1991 in (i) 1979 prices and (ii) 1991 prices;

  (2) what was the change in income of the lowest paid 10 per cent. of the population in Wales between 1979 and 1991, expressed in real terms.

  Mr. Redwood
  It is not statistical custom to calculate average earnings within the lowest or highest deciles. Information on the lowest decile earnings of men and women combined are not readily available in 1979. At constant 1979 prices, 10 per cent. of full-time male employees in Wales earned below £60.10 per week in 1979 compared with 10 per cent. earning under £60.30 in 1991. The corresponding figures for full-time female employees were £39.70 and £46.50.

  At constant 1991 prices, 10 per cent. of full-time male employees earned below £147.30 in 1979 while 10 per cent. earned below £147.90 in 1991, an increase of 0.4 per cent. The 1979 and 1991 figures for full-time female employees were £97.30 and £114.10 respectively, an increase of 17.3 per cent.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the threshold wage level for the lowest paid 10 per cent. of the population in Wales in 1991, expressed in 1979 prices.

  Mr. Redwood
  The new earnings survey estimates that, in 1991, 10 per cent. of full time adult employees in Wales earned below £52.5 per week, expressed in 1979 prices deflated by the retail prices index.
  124

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  THORP
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the potential for use of plutonium separated at the thermal oxide reprocessing plant in United Kingdom nuclear reactors; and what forecast was made in the Windscale inquiry report.

  Mr. Eggar
  The use of reprocessing products arising in the thermal oxide reprocessing plant is a matter for the customers of British Nuclear Fuels plc, subject to the relevant national and international regulations. Chapter 8 of the Windscale inquiry report considered possible requirements for plutonium, should it be decided to embark upon a fast breeder reactor programme.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the current estimates for the cost of disposal or storage of high level waste, intermediate level waste, and low level waste produced by the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at 1993 prices; and what were the costs projected in 1993 prices in the Windscale inquiry report.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc and its customers. No projections of costs were given in the Windscale inquiry report.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the total employment consequences in West Cumbria of a decision to cancel THORP.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mrs. Campbell) on 9 July 1993,Official Report, column 309.

  Mr. Hew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if, pursuant to the oral reply by the Minister for Energy to the hon. Member for Linlithgow(Mr. Dalyell) of 28 June,Official Report, column 691, he will set out the scenarios to which reference was made under which British Nuclear Fuels plc would be liable to pay compensation to customers for THORP; and if he will indicate the breakdown of the £5, 000 million compensation figure mentioned.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Linlithgow on 15 July,Official Report, columns 616–17.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what applications his Department has received for licences for a trial return of high level waste to an overseas customer of THORP; and what licences have been granted.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 14 July 1993]I understand from British Nuclear Fuels plc that a small test sample of vitrified high-level waste from the Windscale vitrification plant has recently been delivered to Japan in accordance with the provisions of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1991.

  Biotechnology
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will outline the steps being taken by Her Majesty's Government in regard to the EC directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions (Com. (88) 496).
  125
  Mr. McLoughlin
  We accept the need for the directive, but the present draft will need a number of amendments before it is acceptable to us. The provisions on farm-saved seed and cross-licensing between patents and plant breeders' rights are not satisfactory to United Kingdom industry and other interest groups are not satisfied with the provisions intended to exclude from patentability certain inventions which would cause suffering to animals. In future negotiations we shall seek to resolve these concerns and ensure that the directive provides an acceptable framework in which the potential benefits of biotechnology can be realised.

  Franking Machines
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many franking machines were sold by the Post Office; and how many of them were sold under the small business franking machine scheme, in each year since the scheme began.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Post Office does not sell franking machines and does not operate a small business franking machine scheme.

  High-definition Television
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what contribution the Government have now agreed to make to the EC high-definition television programme; at what rate such funds will be released; which British companies are participating in the present HDTV programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  At the Telecommunications Council on 16 June, agreement was reached on the framework for an action plan to help launch widescreen television services, in both standard and high definition. Under the framework, a community subsidy totalling 228 MECU, about £160 million, will be used over a four-year period to offset up to 50 per cent. of the additional costs to broadcasters and programme makers of producing and broadcasting in the widescreen format; 36 MECU has been allocated under the action plan for 1993. The United Kingdom contribution to the Community subsidy will be calculated on a gross contribution of about 16 per cent., less abatement which would depend on the level of United Kingdom receipts. The rate of disbursement for the remaining years of the plan has yet to be decided. There is no analogous scheme currently in operation. However, there are research and development projects into various aspects of advanced TV technologies, including HDTV. British companies are active in many of these. For example, the BBC, ITV Association, BT Laboratories and National Transcommunications Ltd. have participated in the European collaborative research project which developed a studio standard and transmission system for HDTV.

  Uranium
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many tonnes of uranium have been separated from United Kingdom magnox fuel by reprocessing at Sellafield; and how many tonnes of this uranium have been reused in nuclear reactors.

  Mr. Eggar
  I understand from British Nuclar Fuels plc that to date it has reproduced magnox fuel, from reactors 126
  in the United Kingdom, Japan and Italy, containing some 35, 000 tonnes of uranium. Over 15, 000 tonnes of uranium arising from reprocessing have been recycled in the United Kingdom for use in reactor fuel to generate electricity.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what studies he has undertaken in response to paragraph 216 of the First report of the Environment Committee of Session 1985–86, HC 191, on radioactive waste, into alternative job scenarios in the Sellafield area, or the potential for job creation in the construction of nuclear waste dry stores.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to her of 7 July 1993,Official Report, column 149.

  Mining (Doncaster)
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has as to how many persons have left employment in mining in the Doncaster travel-to-work area since 1985; and how many of these went on(a) a JACCS-funded training scheme and (b) a Government training scheme.

  Mr. Eggar
  I regret that the information is not available in the form requested.

  American Free Trade Area
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effect of the creation of the north American free trade area on the ability of the United Kingdom to export(a) cars, (b) car components, (c) textiles, (d) yarn and fabrics and (e) financial services and insurance.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  While the benefits of the North American Free Trade Agreement will, in the first instance. accrue to companies incorporated in the NAFTA area and goods which originate there, regional free trade agreements which meet the requirements of GATT also contribute to the liberalisation of world trade. My Department's initial assessment is that the NAFTA will both stimulate economic growth in the region and provide new export and investment opportunities for British companies. My Department is undertaking a more detailed analysis of the provisions of the NAFTA and the specific effects they might have on United Kingdom exports to the region.

  Environmental Management Systems
  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the accreditation of organisations who wish to offer certification to the Environmental Management Systems Standard BS 7750.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, has today issued a consultation document on the implementation of the EC regulation establishing a Community eco-management and audit scheme and the provision of an accreditation system for organisations wishing to certificate compliance to BS7750. We propose that the National Accreditation Council for Certification Bodies be asked to set up
  127
  arrangements to accredit organisations to certificate to BS7750 and to act as verifiers under the EC Eco-Management and Audit Scheme Regulation. NACCB will need to be reorganised and to take on environmental expertise. The consultation document also signals our intention to enlarge the remit of the United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board to become the competent body under the terms of the regulation. The document will be sent to parties with a known interest and will be made available to others with an interest on request. I have arranged for copies of the consultation document to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Aviation
  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how he will respond to the national strategic technology acquisition plan submitted to him by his Department's aviation committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have today written to the chairman of the aviation committee to confirm to him that my Department will adopt the technologies and priorities 128
  identified in NSTAP to inform its activities. We have already ensured that DTI's own aeronautics research programme—CA RAD—is focused on NSTAP's category 1 priorities; for example, advanced aerodynamic wing design and manufacture using fibre composites, aircraft engine emissions limitation and control, and system integration. But there is clearly an opportunity for a more wide-ranging effort, within both the public and the private sector, to consider priorities jointly using NSTAP as a starting point. Over the coming months the DTI will be working with those responsible for other publicly funded science and technology programmes to identify ways to meet the priority needs of the aerospace industry.

  Dungeness B Nuclear Power Plant
  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make available a copy of the International Atomic Energy Agency's assessment of safety significant events team mission to Dungeness B nuclear power plant in December 1992.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have today arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.
  129

  Machine Tools
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what communication he has had with DG III of the European Commission in regard to the implications for EC non-proliferation and export control policy of the proposals put forward by CECIMO, to enhance the export potential of member state machine tool manufacturers.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  DTI Ministers have no communica-tion with directorate general III of the European Commission on this matter.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what new measures his Department proposes to stimulate increased investment in machine tools in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The latest machine tool survey by Benchmark Research found that 88 per cent. of companies invest in new machinery because of the levels of the orders they are taking rather than because of Government incentives. Machine tool companies will benefit most from measures to create the right climate for industry.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next expects to meet representatives of the machine tool industry to discuss levels of manufacturing investment.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has no current plans to meet members of the machine tool industry. However, Ministers have met representatives of the industry nine times since June 1992 and are fully aware of their concerns. Officials continue to work closely with the sector to identify how best to help them increase competitiveness.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what actions he is planning to take to include suitable arrangements for new combined heat and power schemes in the non-fossil fuel obligation.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department is currently considering the detailed arrangements for a further renewables order under the non-fossil fuel obligation, including further support for schemes with the long-term potential to use CHP.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all the establishments that have used(a) the intermediate level and (b) the low-level waste store at AEA Dounreay over the last five years; how often they have used the store; and how much intermediate waste they have stored.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a management matter for the Atomic Energy Authority.

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the extent of implementation of the seventh directive on aid to the shipbuilding industry in each member state of the European Community.
  130
  Mr. Sainsbury
  The seventh directive on aid to shipbuilding provides a framework for regulating the amount of investment and operating aid to the industry. Member states may provide operating aid up to the ceiling imposed by the Commission each year.

  Car Delivery Charges
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps the Director General of Fair Trading is taking to examine factory-to-salesmen delivery charges for cars.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Delivery arrangements from factory or depot were considered by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in its report on the supply of new motor cars, published in 1992. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission concluded that no case had been made for a change in these arrangements.

  Nuclear Review
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 21 April,Official Report, column 319, when he expects to make an announcement about the review of nuclear power.

  Mr. Eggar
  A further announcement about the nuclear review will be made in due course.

  Inspectors' Reports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a list showing the cost of the reports completed by his Department's inspectors but which remain unpublished.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The following table lists the costs of unpublished inspectors' reports where the decision to publish remains under consideration.

  Name of company

  1Cost £

  Graylaw Holdings pic

  474,045

  Link Service Stations Ltd.

  British Anzani plc

  Bank Street Securities Ltd.

  171,628

  Medwey Secondary Metals Ltd.

  99,971

  The Bestwood plc

  2, 725,354

  Atlanta Fund Managers Ltd.

  1 Including VAT.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many directors have been disqualified under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 as a result of the criticisms contained in DTI inspectors' reports.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Four.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 24 June,Official Report, columns 261–62, if he will list the accountancy and law firms criticised in the inspectors' reports published during the year to 31 March.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Of the four reports detailed in the reply given to the hon. Member on 24 June, two contain
  131
  criticism of either accountancy or law firms or both. The degree of criticism varies and reference should be made to the individual reports.

  Investigation

  Accountancy firm

  Law firm

  Norton Group plc

  Hacker Young

  Taylor Joynson Garrett

  Edencorp Leisure plc

  Ernst & Young

  —

  Ramor and Gilgate Reports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will publish the inspectors' final report on Gilgate Holdings Ltd.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The report was published on 8 September 1981 under ISBN 0 11 513485 9 and a copy is in the library.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he received the Ramor report.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  An interim report was submitted on 23 December 1981 and was published on 22 March 1993.

  The final report was submitted on 11 December 1987 and remains unpublished.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he received requesting him not to publish the final reports on(a) Ramor and (b) Gilgate.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  (a) Two of those criticised in the Ramor report made representations against publication of the final report. It would not be proper to go into further detail.

  (b) I am unable to say whether there were any representations against publication of the final report in Gilgate. It was published on 8 September 1981 and the papers have been destroyed.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether any hon. Members made representations to him urging him not to publish the inspectors' final report of the investigations relating to the collapse of Ramor Investments.

  Investigation

  Accountant inspector

  Legal inspector

  Completed

  National Westminster Bank plc

  David L. Spence, CA of Grant Thornton

  Michael Crystal, QC; Victor Temple

  Norton Group plc

  John Heywood, FCA of Price Waterhouse

  Richard McCombe, QC

  Edencorp Leisure plc

  David Dean, FCCA (DTI officer)

  Anthony Fausset, LLB (DTI officer)

  James Neill Holdings plc;

  Brian Worth, FCA formerly of Clark Whitehill

  D. Anthony Evans, QC

  Francis Industries Ltd;

  F. H. Lloyd Holdings plc;

  The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company;

  Metal Closures Group plc;

  Winchmore plc

  In progress

  Guinness plc

  Ian Watt, FCA formerly of KPMG Peat Marwick

  David Donaldson, QC

  Pennine Commercial Holdings plc

  Peter Foss, FCA formerly of Moores Rowland

  Elizabeth Appleby, QC

  132
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  No.

  Departmental Inspectors
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many inspectors have been appointed by the DTI since 1979; and what proportion were(a) female or (b) from ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Of the 78 individuals who have acted as inspectors since February 1979, three have been women. There appear to have been no inspectors from ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the basis on which payments are made to accountants acting as inspectors for his Department.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  At the start of an inspection hourly fee rates are agreed with the inspectors. With accountant inspectors these rates cover various grades of staff involved. The rates are commercially confidential. Payments are against invoice submitted normally each month.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answers of 24 June,Official Report, column 261–62, if he will list the inspectors for each of the investigations completed during the year to 31 March or currently in progress; if he will list the firms to which each inspector belongs; and if he will list each inspector who is under investigation by a recognised supervisory body for unprofessional conduct.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The list of inspectors for each of the investigations completed during the year to 31 March or currently in progress is as follows:
  133

  Investigation

  Accountant inspector

  Legal inspector

  James Ferguson Holdings plc; Barlow Clowes Gilt Managers Ltd.

  Walter Hoffman, FCA of Baker Tilly

  Lawrence Ziman of Nabarro Nathanson

  Consolidated Gold Fields plc

  Richard Lewis, FCA of Kidsons

  Philip Heslop, QC

  Atlantic Computers plc; Atlantic Computer Systems plc

  James Scott, FCA of BDO Binder Hamlyn

  Eben Hamilton, QC

  London United Investments plc; C. R. Driver and Company Ltd.

  Angus Gilroy, FCA of BDO Binder Hamlyn

  William Gage, QC

  Wace UK Holdings Ltd.; Tinsley Robor pic; European Colour plc

  Christopher Mayhew (DTI officer)

  Anthony Robertshaw (DTI officer)

  Mirror Group Newspapers plc

  Raymond Turner, FCA of Neville Russell

  John Thomas, QC

  In May 1993 the Institute of Chartered Accountants reported that it had decided to bring disciplinary proceedings against Brian Worth, FCA.

  Astra Holdings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he will be taking against Stoy Hayward in relation to criticisms of the firm by the Department of Trade and Industry inspectors in their report on Astra Holdings.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  A copy of the inspectors' report has been sent to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for them to consider the conduct of their members.

  Public Bodies, Merseyside
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the names, addresses, occupations, current employers and addresses of any chairmen and appointers which are within his power to make to any bodies on Merseyside.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has no responsibility for any public bodies on Merseyside.

  Environmental Information
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to review and set out the environmental information his Department holds for the purpose of the Environmental Information Regulations 1992.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: My Department is fully committed to dealing with all relevant requests for information in accordance with the provisions of the regulations. Given the diversity of activities potentially affected within DTI and the form in which information is held, requests for access to particular types of information will be dealt with on an individual, case by case basis.

  As an example of this, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my hon. Friend the Minister for Energy gave to the hon. Member for Staffordshire, South (Mr. Cormack) on 16 July, Official Report, column 705, which deals with disclosure of information regarding the special conditions attached to oil and gas licences awarded in the 14th round.
  134

  EC Patent Offices
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in which EC countries the patent offices are privately owned or controlled.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: Financing and control arrangements vary in Europe and a number of patent offices are currently the subject of reviews, as is the case with the United Kingdom Office. No EC patent office is privately owned or controlled at present, but some reviews may consider the scope for greater private sector involvement.

  Patent Office
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements he intends to make to publish the consultants' report on the Patent Office.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: I have said that I will report to the House on my conclusions. I will consider whether it would be appropriate to publish the report after it has been received.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the total costs of relocating the Patent Office in Newport incurred in(a) building, (b) staff and (c) other costs.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: The gross costs were respectively (a)£29.3 million, (b) £13.0 million and (c) £6.7 million. However, they are being offset by major consequential savings on accommodation and staff costs of approximately £6.0 million per annum.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the market-testing exercise at the Patent Office will be suspended during the period of the consultants' study.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: No. The purpose of market testing is to ensure value for money and applies to Government activities whether or not they are subject to other reviews.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the full range of options that will be considered by consultants on the future of the Patent Office.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: The review will consider whether other forms of ownership and

  135
  management might offer better value for money and enable the Patent Office to offer a better service to its customers. Consultants will be asked to identify as wide a range of options as possible.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Personal Crime Victims
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the age profile of the victims of personal crime; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Maclean
  The latest police recorded crime figures on victims of offences against the person relate to 1989, although only 10 of the forces were able to provide data. The figures show that the highest rate of victimisation was in the 16 to 24 age group, which accounted for nearly 40 per cent. of offences. The lowest rate was in the age group 60 and over. A full breakdown of rates of victimisation, by age group and sex of victim, is contained in figure 2.10 and table 2E of "Criminal Statistics 1990, " copies of which are in the Library.

  British crime survey results for 1987 present a similar picture for the risks of assault. A comparison of these results with those of the 1987 police figures are described in "Recent trends in crimes of violence against the person in England and Wales", Davidoff and Dowds, Research Bulletin No. 27, Home Office Research and Planning Unit, also in the Library.

  Corresponding figures from the 1992 British crime survey, covering 1991, will be published in the early autumn. A new survey of police violent crime statistics is planned for later this year.

  Missing Children
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under the age of 17 years were reported missing in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information is collated by the Metropolitan police and comprises missing persons reported to the Metropolitan police and those notified by provincial forces. It is published in the annual report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; copies of it are available in the Library.

  Notifiable Offences
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 July,Official Report, column 339, on notifiable offences in the metropolitan area in the first three months of 1993, when the information will be available.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that he intends to publish these figures towards the end of this month.

  Child Prostitution
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken in Wales to tackle child prostitution; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The chief constables of the four Welsh police forces are not aware of any widespread 136
  problem of child prostitution in Wales. Wherever it is suspected, they tackle it with a combination of high-profile uniform patrols and discreet observation.

  The police also work very closely with local authorities and voluntary agencies in order to identify any abuse of children and in order to give high priority to the protection of the children involved.

  Kerb Crawling
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been convicted of kerb crawling in each county in Wales in each year since 1987.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information given in the table is by police force area. 1992 data will not be available until the autumn.

  Number of males convicted in Wales of the offence of kerb crawling under Section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 1985 by police force area 1987–91

  Police force area

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Dyfed-Powys

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North Wales

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Wales

  —

  3

  15

  21

  1

  Wales

  —

  3

  15

  21

  1

  England and Wales

  275

  517

  891

  1,215

  1,132

  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to tackle kerb crawling in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The chief constables of the four Welsh police forces are not aware that kerb crawling is a particular problem in Wales. Any complaints made by the public about specific incidents will be thoroughly investigated. The police themselves occasionally mount an operation to deal with kerb crawling in residential areas.

  Welsh Police
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to encourage the recruitment of a higher number of black and Asian officers into the Welsh police forces.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  All forces in England and Wales have been encouraged in recent years to recruit from ethnic minority groups, in proportion to the ethnic minority population in the communities which they serve.

  Welsh forces have taken a number of initiatives. For example, Gwent constabulary have forged a close liaison with Gwent racial equality council, which supports the force in its attempts to increase applications from ethnic minorities. The force also held a careers information day in 1992 for those from ethnic minority backgrounds which resulted in the appointment of four officers.

  New Age Travellers
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken in Wales to protect farms from damage caused by new age travellers; and if he will make a statement.
  137
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The policing of such gatherings is a matter for the appropriate chief constable. Chief officers have this year improved their intelligence on new age travellers, which is now co-ordinated nationally.

  On 31 March my right hon. and learned Friend the then Home Secretary announced our proposals to strengthen section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986, which gives the police powers to deal with aggravated trespass on land, and to introduce new police powers to prevent illegal rave parties on land.

  Representations of wrongful conviction and action taken

  Year

  Number of cases considered (individual defendants)

  References to the Court of Appeal1 Cases (defendants)

  Outcome of Appeal

  Free Pardons

  Allowed

  Dismissed

  granted2

  1988

  536

  32

  (2)

  —

  —

  1

  (1)

  39

  1989

  568

  3

  (6)

  3

  (6)

  —

  —

  50

  1990

  731

  7

  (20)

  7

  (20)

  —

  —

  47

  1991

  714

  10

  (12)

  410

  (12)

  —

  —

  37

  1992

  763

  58

  (11)

  2

  (5)

  1

  (1)

  19

  1 Under section 17(1) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968.

  2 These were granted in summary cases where there is no power to refer back to the courts.

  3 One case later abandoned.

  4 Court ordered a re-trial in one case: defendant later acquitted.

  5 Five cases outstanding.

  In the other cases there were found to be no grounds to justify any action by my right hon. Friend.

  Cautions
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a central register to record cautions; and what is his policy on multiple cautions and cautions for second or further offences.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  It is planned that details of those who are cautioned in respect of reportable offences will be recorded on the police national computer from the second half of 1994. Whilst policy on cautioning does not preclude the issue of more than one caution to an offender where this is warranted by the circumstances of a particular case.

  Home Office guidance reminds chief officers that repeated use of cautions may undermine the credibility of the police and ultimately of the law.

  Criminal Offences
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criminal offences he has introduced in the last five years under delegated legislation.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Immigration Offences
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many operations against people alleged to be in the United Kingdom illegally involving both immigration officers and police took place during 1992, and 1993 to the latest convenient date; and for each operation by date and by name, how many(a) immigration officers and (b) police officers were involved; how many people were arrested and found to be (i) legally
  138

  Miscarriages of Justice
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of possible miscarriage of justice have been reviewed by his Department for each of the last five years; and how they were disposed of.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is set out in the table as follows:

  in the United Kingdom, (ii) in breach of immigration conditions, (iii) alleged illegal entrants and (iv) British citizens; how many requested and were granted legal advice before interview; how many were detained for (x) one day or less, (y) between a day and a week and (z) over a week; and how many subsequently have left the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Joint immigration service/police operations are undertaken at local level and many are on a relatively small scale. Information in the form requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications from over-age reapplicants from the Indian sub-continent seeking to join a sponsor settled in the United Kingdom have been(a) made, (b) deferred, (c) refused and (d) granted in each year since 1988, to the first quarter of 1993; and how many such reapplicants in each category had undergone successful DNA tests.

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

  The information requested is not readily available arid could not be provided except at disproportionate cost.

  Posts in the sub-continent would have to search all settlement applications made since 1983 to find out in which cases DNA tests had been made.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) husbands, (b) wives and (c) dependent children applying for settlement entry clearance in the Indian sub-continent in each quarter since January 1992 were (i) successful and (ii) refused (1) on first application and (2) on second or subsequent application.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information is given in the table.
  139

  Applications for entry clearance made by husbands, wives and dependent children in the Indian subcontinent, 1992 to 1st quarter 19931 Indian subcontinent

  1992

  1993

  1st quarter

  2nd quarter

  3rd quarter

  4th quarter

  1st quarter

  Applications granted initially

  Husbands

  510

  670

  1,380

  1,110

  1,100

  Wives

  1,550

  1,200

  1,290

  1,360

  1,430

  Dependent Children

  610

  470

  520

  520

  570

  Applications refused initially

  Husbands

  660

  420

  460

  530

  680

  Wives

  250

  160

  200

  260

  280

  Dependent Children

  170

  13

  140

  190

  275

  Applications granted on appeal2

  Husbands

  130

  170

  180

  170

  150

  Wives

  40

  40

  30

  40

  30

  Dependent Children

  40

  20

  30

  30

  30

  All figures have been rounded to the nearest ten.

  1 Latest available information.

  2 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.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for settlement by wives and children in(a) Dhaka and (b) Islamabad were

  Applications for entry clearance made by wives and children in Dhaka and Islamabad 1992 to 1st quarter 19931

  1992

  1993

  1st quarter

  2nd quarter

  3rd quarter

  4th quarter

  1st quarter

  Applications newly received

  Dhaka

  490

  540

  650

  710

  570

  Islamabad

  1,000

  750

  810

  840

  1,020

  Applications granted initially

  Dhaka

  410

  330

  390

  490

  540

  Islamabad

  980

  730

  740

  740

  850

  Applications granted on appeal2

  Dhaka

  10

  10

  30

  20

  20

  Islamabad

  50

  30

  20

  30

  30

  Applications refused initially

  Dhaka

  130

  80

  80

  160

  270

  Islamabad

  170

  110

  150

  170

  200

  Applications withdrawn or lapsed this quarter

  Dhaka

  1,950

  2,040

  2,250

  2,430

  2,340

  Islamabad

  70

  60

  70

  60

  80

  Applications outstanding at end of period

  Dhaka

  30

  70

  20

  40

  20

  Islamabad

  2,290

  2,150

  2,070

  2,000

  1,990

  Applications awaiting 1st interview at end of period

  Dhaka

  660

  750

  760

  860

  980

  Islamabad

  660

  290

  3

  560

  760

  Note: All figures have been rounded to the nearest ten.

  1 Latest available information.

  2 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.

  3 Not available.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry clearance as(a) wives, (b) husbands, (c) fiances and (d) fiancées in each British post in all countries for which figures are available apart from those of the Indian sub-continent
  140
  (i) received, (ii) granted, (iii) refused (iv) deferred at first interview, (v) lapsed and (vi) outstanding and awaiting first interview for each quarter since the beginning of 1992.

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

  were (i) granted and (ii) refused in each quarter since January 1992; how many such applications in each category, at each post and in each quarter were refused (1) wholly and (2) partly because of the primary purpose rule;

  141
  what was the refusal rate at each post; and what percentage of those refusals were (x) wholly and (y) partly on primary purpose grounds.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not held centrally and could not be obtained without dispropor-tionate expense.

  Prison Jobs
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks are made by his Department to ensure that in prisons in England and Wales there is a fair allocation of wing No. 1 jobs being given to inmates of ethnic minority origin.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated July 1993:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about what checks are made by the Home Department to ensure that in prisons in England and Wales there is a fair allocation of wing No. 1 jobs being given to inmates of ethnic minority origin.

  The race relations policy of the Prison Service seeks to ensure that prisoners have equal access to all facilities provided in prison, including all types and grades of jobs. To check the fair allocation of work, ethnic monitoring is undertaken by all prisons. Monitoring will cover most areas of work, and should include wing No. 1 jobs where these exist.

  The results of monitoring will be checked and acted upon by the prison's Race Relations Management Team, advised by the Race Relations Liaison Officer. The Team is also expected to undertake audits of the adequacy of its monitoring and to send a quarterly report detailing the results of monitoring to Area Managers and the national Prison Service Race Relations Group.

  Immigration Rules
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government plan to amend the current immigration rules to take into account the decision of the European Court of Justice in Rv. Immigration Appeal Tribunal ex parte Surinder Singh of 7 July 1992.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There is no need to amend the immigration rules.

  The effect of the European Court of Justice's judgment in the particular circumstances of this case is that, where a British citizen has been exercising rights under the treaty of Rome to work in another member state and has a spouse who is not a European Community national, on their return to the United Kingdom the entry of the spouse is governed by European Community law rather than by the United Kingdom immigration rules.

  Rights of Residence
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government propose to introduce the legislation required under Council directives 90/364/ EEC, 90/365/EEC and 90/366/EEC.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We are planning to lay before Parliament in the autumn an Order in Council under the European Communities Act 1972 to bring into domestic legislation these EC directives. They are being implemented administratively in the meantime.
  142

  Asylum
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry clearance in order to seek asylum in the United Kingdom were(a) received and (b) granted by country during 1992 and the first quarter of 1993.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is not separately identifiable in the statistics.

  Multiple-occupation Houses (Fires)
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have died or been injured in fires in houses in multiple occupation in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The following table shows casualties in fires attended by local authority fire brigades in the United Kingdom in detached, semi-detached and terraced dwelling houses, that were in multiple occupation, for the years 1987 to 1991.

  Fire related deaths and injuries in fires in multiple occupancy dwelling houses1, attended by local authority fire brigades. United Kingdom

  Year

  Fire related deaths

  Fire related injuries

  1987

  110

  1,404

  1988

  93

  1,232

  1989

  85

  1,295

  1990

  68

  1,297

  1991

  48

  1,321

  1 Includes detached, semi-detached and terraced houses and bungalows.

  Source: Home Office Fire Statistics, based on reports from local authority fire brigades.

  Lorrain Osman
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much it cost the United Kingdom to keep Lorrian Osman in custody prior to his extradition.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Robert Spink, dated July 1993:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the costs of keeping Lorrain Osman in custody for seven years before his extradition.

  We do not collect figures on the costs of individual prisoners, but the average cost of holding a person in custody from 6 December 1985 to 15 December 1992 in local and remand prisons would have been £140, 242 at 1992–93 prices.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were employed by the Metropolitan police for each year from 1980 to 1992; how many were women officers and how many were from ethnic minority groups; and if he will give the equivalent figures for those stationed in Lewisham.
  143
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information available is in the table:

  Figures as at 31 December each year apart from 1below

  Year

  Total MPS strength

  Total female strength

  Total ethnic minority strength

  Lewisham strength

  1980

  23,691

  2,074

  109

  n/a

  1981

  25,161

  2,315

  137

  n/a

  1982

  26,350

  2,464

  182

  n/a

  1983

  26,806

  2,483

  238

  n/a

  1984

  26,844

  2,484

  253

  n/a

  1985

  26,783

  2,528

  287

  n/a

  1986

  27,005

  2,637

  334

  n/a

  1987

  27,438

  2,935

  418

  292

  1988

  28,009

  3,211

  426

  299

  1989

  28,267

  3,408

  441

  1298

  1990

  28,364

  3,551

  483

  349

  1991

  28,455

  3,714

  552

  329

  1992

  28,229

  3,834

  594

  313

  1Strength as at 23 July 1989.

  Prisons (AIDS)
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have died as a result of AIDS in Her Majesty's prisons.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Keith Hill, dated July 1993:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to write to you directly in response to your recent Parliamentary Question on deaths in custody attributable to AIDS.

  Twelve prisoners in England and Wales have died as a consequence of AIDS related illness while in custody. All were in an outside hospital or hospice at the time of death.

  Crime, Harwich
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the figures for reported crime in Harwich between 1979 and 1992.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is not collected centrally.

  Registration and Naturalisation
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of how many applications for(a) adult registration with entitlement, (b) naturalisation and (c) registration of minors his Department (i) will receive and (ii) expects to grant in 1993–94.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The latest estimate of the numbers of citizenship applications likely to be received and granted in 1993–94 is as follows:

  Intake

  Applications granted

  Adult registration

  5,500

  5,000

  Naturalisation

  24,500

  30,000

  Minor registration

  6,000

  10,000

  144

  Intake

  Applications granted

  Total

  36,000

  45,000

  Cautions
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the current levels of cautioning by police officers in the last available six months and the corresponding period two and three years ago.

  Mr. Maclean
  The latest available information is given in the table. 1992 data will not be available until the autumn.

  Offenders cautioned for all offences, excluding motoring offences, during July to December by type of offence

  Number and percentage of offenders found guilty or cautioned 1988 to 1991

  England and Wales

  Thousands

  July to December

  Type of offence

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Indictable offences1

  63.9

  69.3

  84.4

  94.3

  Summary offences1

  47.1

  51.0

  51.7

  51.3

  All offences1

  111.0

  120.3

  136.1

  145.6

  1 Excludes motoring offences.

  Offenders cautioned as a percentage of offenders found guilty or cautioned

  Per cent.

  July to December

  Type of offence

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Indictable offences1

  28

  31

  34

  37

  Summary offences1

  18

  18

  19

  19

  All offences1

  22

  24

  26

  28

  1 Excludes motoring offences.

  Prison Custody Officers
  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the labour costs for HM Prison Service prison custody officers for each hour spent at court; and what are the corresponding costs to public funds for Group 4 prison custody officers.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Geoffrey Hoon, dated July 1993:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the hourly labour costs of Prison Service officers while they are at court and the corresponding costs of Group 4 prison custody officers.

  We do not collect costs for Prison Service staff specifically while they are on court duty, but the average hourly costs of prison officers in 1992–93 were as follows:

  145

  Region

  Grade

  Principal Officer

  Senior Officer

  Officer

  £

  £

  £

  Inner London

  15.31

  14.12

  12.73

  Intermediate zone

  14.71

  13.52

  12.15

  Outer London

  14.49

  13.30

  11.94

  National

  13.85

  12.68

  11.32

  Group 4 are paid an overall price for the escorting of prisoners to courts from prisons and police stations, their subsequent custody at court and as necessary escort to prison after their hearings. The constituent costs are a matter for them as the contractor.

  Bail Information Schemes
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bail information schemes currently exist in(a) courts and (b) prisons in England and Wales; and if he will list those in each category.

  Mr. Maclean
  As at 15 July 1993, there was a total of 179 court-based and 131 prison-based bail information schemes in operation. A list of those schemes in each category follows.

  Prison-based bail information schemes

  Avon

  Bristol

  Bedfordshire

  Bedford

  Cheshire

  Risley

  Cleveland

  Holme House

  Devon

  Exeter

  Durham

  Low Newton

  Essex

  Chelmsford

  Hampshire

  Winchester

  Kent

  Canterbury, Elmley

  Lancashire

  Lancaster Farms, Preston

  Leicestershire

  Glen Parva

  Lincolnshire

  Lincoln

  Greater London

  Bellmarsh, Brixton, Feltham, Pentonville, Wandsworth,

  Holloway, Wormwood Scrubs

  Greater Manchester

  Hindley, Manchester

  Surrey

  Canberley, Chertsy, Dorking, Epsom,. Esher, Farnham,

  Godstone, Guildford, Reigate, Staines, Woking

  East Sussex

  Brighton

  West Sussex

  Worthing, Crawley, Chichester, Horsham, Haywards Heath

  Warwickshire

  Leamington Spa, Mid-Warwickshire

  West Midlands

  Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Solihull, Walsall, Warley,

  West Bromwich, Wolverhampton

  North Yorkshire

  Harrogate, York

  South Yorkshire

  Sheffield, Doncaster

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford, Leeds, Calder, Brighouse, Todmorden

  Wiltshire

  Swindon, Chippenham

  146

  South Glamorgan

  Cardiff, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot

  North Wales

  Wrexham, Mold

  Powys

  Brecon, Llandrindod, Ysradgynlais

  Merseyside

  Liverpool

  Oxfordshire

  Bullingdon

  Shropshire

  Shrewsbury

  West Midlands

  Birmingham, Brinsford

  South Yorkshire

  Moorland

  West Yorkshire

  Leeds

  West Glamorgan

  Swansea

  Court-based bail information schemes

  Avon

  Bristol, North Avon, Woodspring

  Bedfordshire

  Luton

  Berkshire

  Forest, Maidenhead, Reading, Slough, Newbury, Windsor

  Buckinghamshire

  Amersham, Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Buckingham, Wycombe, Milton Keynes

  Cheshire

  Chester, Ellesmere Port, Halton, Macclesfield, South

  Cheshire, Vale Royal, Warrington

  Cleveland

  Teeside

  Cumbria

  Carlisle, Barrow, Whitehaven, Millom, Ulverston, Wigton, West Allerdale, Kendal, Windermere

  Derbyshire

  East Derbyshire, Derby, Chesterfield

  Devon

  Exeter, Torbay, Newbridge, Teignmouth, Totnes, Plymouth

  Dorset

  Bournmouth, Poole, Weymouth

  Gloucester

  Cheltenham, Gloucester

  Hampshire

  Southampton, Portsmouth

  Hereford and Worcester

  Hereford, Worcester, Kidderminster, Bromsgrove, Redditch

  Hertfordshire

  Bishops Stortford, Cheshunt, Dacorum, Hatfield, Hertford, Hitchin, Letchworth, Stevenage, St Albans, Watford

  Humberside

  Scunthorpe, Hull, Grimsby

  Lancashire

  Preston, Blackpool, Fleetwood

  Leicestershire

  Leicester

  Lincolnshire

  Lincoln, Grantham, Boston, Skegness, Gainsborough

  147

  Greater London

  Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Harrow, Hendon, Highbury, Horseferry, Sutton, Richmond, Wimbledon, Kingston

  Greater Manchester

  Manchester, Bolton, Oldham, Stockport, Trafford, Thameside, Wigan

  Merseyside

  Liverpool, St. Helens, Wirral, Huyton, Knowsley

  Norfolk

  King's Lynn, Norwich, Thetford, Great Yarmouth, Central Norfolk

  Northumbria

  Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead, North/South Tyneside

  Somerset

  Illminster, Somerton, Wincanton, Yeovil

  Staffordshire

  Burton, Cannock, Moorlands, Newcastle, Stoke, Central Staffs.

  Shropshire

  Telford

  Suffolk

  Ipswich, Woodbridge, Felixstowe, Lowestoft, Beccles, Saxmundham, Mildenhall, Haverhill, Sudbury, Newmarket, Bury St. Edmunds

  Court Escort Service
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce the awarding of contracts for the court escort service in London; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated July 1993:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply directly to your recent Parliamentary question about the court escort and custody service in London.

  It is hoped that a contract for the service will be awarded by the end of this year.

  Strangeways Prison
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the full cost of the market-testing exercise in connection with Strangeways Manchester prison from its inception to completion on 15 July.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated July 1993:

  MANCHESTER PRISON
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for the full cost of the market testing exercise in connection with Strangeways Manchester prison from its inception to completion on 15 July.
  The in house team and evaluation panel used consultancy support at a cost of £130, 000. Additionally a number of
  148
  Prison Service staff, both full and part time, worked on preparing the tender documents, preparing the bid and evaluating it.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract awarded to the in-house bid with respect to Strangeways Manchester prison announced on 15 July.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated July 1993:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to recply diretly to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if the contract for the management of Manchester prison can be placed in the Library of the House.

  The decision announced on 15 July was the selection of the in-house team as the preferred Service Provider tto manage HMP Manchester. Work is now underway to draw up the Service level Agreement which will incorporate the Operational Specification placed in the Library on 27 October 1992.

  Prison Officers
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answerr of 27 April,Official Report, column 358, regarding prison officers, if he will make a statement about the deployment of those staff not retained within establishments within the contract area.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated July 1993:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question pursuant to his Answer of Tuesday, 27 April, Opal Report, column 358, about the deployment of those prison officers not retained in establishments within the East Midlands and Humberside court escort contract area.

  The Prison Service was required to surrender the 78 posts occupied by those staff in order to fund the contract. The staff are therefore being deployed to fill vacancies in establishments as they arise. In the case of Hull, additional posts have since been found to enable a change of role towards that of a community prison. Staff do not therefore need to be deployed away from Hull.

  Bail Hostels
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (i) bail hostels and (ii) combined probation and bail hostels there are in England and Wales; how many places there are in each category of hostel; how many additional places the Government aim to provide by 1995; and how many of these hostels are managed by voluntary organisations.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: There are 30 approved bail hostels providing 659 places, of which one is managed by a voluntary managing committee. There are 84 approved combined probation and bail hostels providing 1991 places, of which 16 are managed by voluntary managing committees. The expansion plans set

  149
  out in the Home Office Annual Report 1993 envisaged the provision of a total of 3, 010 places by the end of 1993–94 and 3, 190 places by the end of 1994–95; but because of unforseen closures and delays in obtaining suitable sites these figures have had to he revised downwards to 2, 858 and 2, 978.

  Juvenile Offenders
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Reading, West (Sir A. Durant) of 16 June,Official Report, column 571, how many representations about his current proposals to deal with persistent juvenile offenders have been made in total; how many of these representations were from (a) individuals and (b) organisations; and, of the organisations which made representations, which were opposed to the proposals.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: A total of 62 written representations have been received in response to the Government's proposals, of which 10 were from individuals. The majority of those who responded agreed that the powers of the courts should be strengthened in order that they could deal more effectively with persistent juvenile offenders. Respondents differed about the nature of the new powers that were required and the ways in which they should be put into effect.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Veterinary Products
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which other EC countries are implementing a relicensing procedure as part of their enforcement of EEC directive 81/851 on the harmonisation of veterinary products.

  Mr. Soames
  Details of implementation of directive 81/851/EEC in other member states, is a matter for those member states and the EC Commission. So far as we are aware, however, all member states are reviewing and relicensing, where appropriate, long standing pharmaceutical veterinary medical products in accordance with the terms of the directive.

  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment she has made of the uniformity with which the EC directive 81/851 on the harmonisation of veterinary products is being applied throughout the Community.

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the EC Commission. All member states are required to conduct the review of pharmaceutical veterinary medical products in accordance with the terms of directive 81/851/EEC.

  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many veterinary products have been withdrawn from sale in the United Kingdom as a result of the Veterinary Medicine Directorate's relicensing policy.

  Mr. Soames
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 14 July,Official Report, column 543.

  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information she has on the cost of relicensing veterinary products under EEC directive 81/851(a) in France and (b) in the United Kingdom.
  150
  Mr. Soames
  No fee is charged for the review of an old product in the United Kingdom. We have no information on whether any fee is payable in France. In both countries, the costs to a company of relicensing a medicine are variable, and will depend on what data are necessary to demonstrate that a product meets current standards of safety, quality and efficacy.

  Employees
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many extra staff have been taken on by her Department to deal with(a) recent integrated administra-tion and control system forms and (b) her Department's deregulatory initiatives.

  Mr. Jack
  My Department has provision in 1993–94 for a total of 700 additional posts to deal with work arising out of CAP reform as a whole. It is not possible to distinguish the actual number taken on to deal with recent IACS forms.

  The Ministry has made deregulation a high priority task for all its operating divisions. This work is co-ordinated by a deregulation unit which now has four full-time staff and one part-time member compared with four part-time members at the beginning of the year.

  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people were employed by her Department in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is given in the table, which covers all established staff in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, including its agencies. Part-time staff are counted as half-units and the year total are rounded to whole numbers. Figures for 1984–92 are those published by Her Majesty's Treasury in "Civil Sevice Statistics". The 1993 figure is taken from Her Majesty's Treasury statistical system MANDATE.

  Year1

  Total

  1984

  11,476

  1985

  11,393

  1986

  11,009

  1987

  10,480

  1988

  10,318

  1989

  10,100

  1990

  9,881

  1991

  10,097

  1992

  9,782

  1993

  10,038

  1 1 April.

  Sheep Dips
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place a copy in the Library of the report produced by the national poisons unit on organophosphates in sheep dips.

  Mr. Soames
  Yes. This has been done.

  Sea Fishing
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what requirement remains for the United Kingdom to make good its failure
  151
  to achieve its objectives under the second multi-annual guidance programme; what carry-over there is as a result into the third MAGP; and what sanctions arise as a result;

  (2) what sanctions the Commission imposed on the United Kingdom for its failure to achieve its MAGP effort reduction targets; how much aid was lost to United Kingdom industry as a result; and what protests were made by the United Kingdom;

  (3) how she proposes fulfilling the requirement to the MAGP to reduce capacity by 20 per cent. to take account of technical growth accounting for an increase of 2 per cent. a year;

  (4) if she will specify the factors which led the Government to decide to introduce a decommissioning scheme; and when she decided that such a scheme would make a contribution to conservation;

  (5) what is the Government's target for reducing United Kingdom fishing efforts in the life of the third MAGP;

  (6) what were the reasons for the United Kingdom fishing effort growth in the second multi-annual guidance programme;

  (7) how she intends to ensure that the decommissioning scheme meets its targets in those sectors where reductions are required but does not affect those sectors where no reduction is required;

  (8) what representations she received in the first and second MAGPs about the failure of the United Kingdom to achieve its target reductions;

  (9) if she will give her estimate of the reduction in effort which will be achieved through her decommissioning scheme; and how far will this go to fulfil the MAGP targets.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 12 July 1993]: At the end of 1991, the capacity of the United Kingdom fishing fleet exceeded our MAGP target under the 1987–91 programme by 9 per cent. It is not possible to be precise on the reasons for this, but the economics of the fishing industry did result

  Reported catches of Salmon and Grilse in England and Wales by method: 1983–91

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Drift Nets1 5

  79,794

  62,798

  60,222

  66,931

  40,658

  54,687

  42,310

  52,695

  25,948

  Seine Nets2

  11,740

  10,860

  10,919

  14,212

  16,555

  13,364

  12,973

  7,900

  4,045

  Lifting Nets3

  6,611

  6,449

  1,484

  4,751

  3,152

  2,298

  4,727

  4,259

  2,893

  Fixed Nets4 5

  3,986

  3,096

  3,275

  4,553

  3,363

  6,968

  8,902

  6,967

  4,789

  Rod and Line

  14,811

  11,021

  19,601

  20,347

  19,711

  32,846

  14,728

  14,849

  13,974

  1 Includes trammel and coracle nets.

  2 Includes wade nets.

  3 Lave, haaf and dip nets.

  4 Fixed nets and traps.

  5 Catch statistics for the Northumbrian net fisheries for the years 1983–87 did not distinguish between method of capture. All salmon and grilse caught in these years have therefore been included under the drift net heading, even though some will have been caught in fixed nets.

  Source:—MAFF: Salmon and Migratory Trout Fisheries Statistics 1983–88.

  —NRA: Fisheries Statistics 1989–91.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list for each drift salmon fishery in England and Wales the number of salmon and grilse taken in each of the last 10 years and the average weight of each category of such fish.

  Mr. Jack
  The numbers and average weights of salmon and grilse caught in each of the salmon drift net fisheries in England and Wales, in each of the years 1983 to 1991, are given in the table. Separate figures for salmon and for grilse are not available. Catch data for 1992 are still being collated by the National Rivers Authority. Data for 1982 are not readily available in the form requested.
  152
  in an enlarged fleet. This backlog of capacity reduction was added to the new MAGP target for 1993 to 1996. Because of the backlog, the EC Commission ceased to award aid for the construction of new United Kingdom fishing vessels. We received a number of representations about these matters.

  We will be aiming to meet our MAGP target for 1993 to 1996, and the backlog from earlier programmes, by application of the measures announced by Ministers in February 1992. These measures comprise decommission-ing, days at sea controls and revised licensing arrangements. They allow differentiation in terms of segments of the fleet. In proposing MAGP targets for 1993 to 1996, which for the United Kingdom fleet as a whole require a reduction of about 10 per cent.—19 per cent. allowing for the backlog—the Commission took account of technical efficiency improvements in fishing methods of about 2 per cent. per year.

  The United Kingdom decommissioning scheme recently introduced, combined with effort control measures, should provide a positive contribution to conservation by reducing fishing effort and thus the number of fish being caught and killed.

  Salmon
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) salmon and (b) grilse were taken by each type of net in the fisheries of England and Wales in each of the last 10 years; and how many such fish were taken by anglers in each of those years.

  Mr. Jack
  I regret that separate figures for catches of salmon and of grilse are not available. Combined catches of salmon and grilse in England and Wales, by method of capture, in each of the years 1983 to 1991, are given in the table. Catch data for 1992 are still being collated by the National Rivers Authority.

  Reported catches and average weight of salmon and grilse caught in drift net fisheries in England and Wales: 1983–91

  Numbers caught

  Average weight (kg)

  Northumbria Coast1

  1983

  62,944

  3.6

  1984

  50,685

  3.6

  1985

  46,652

  3.7

  1986

  53,898

  3.8

  1987

  33,064

  3.6

  1988

  42,066

  3.6

  1989

  31,328

  3.5

  1990

  40,496

  3.9

  1991

  20,098

  3.8

  153

  Numbers caught

  Average weight (kg)

  Yorkshire Coast

  1983

  12,245

  3.8

  1984

  7,810

  3.6

  1985

  9,291

  3.6

  1986

  8,059

  3.6

  1987

  2,562

  3.3

  1988

  5,399

  3.4

  1989

  4,908

  3.1

  1990

  7,723

  3.4

  1991

  2,365

  3.6

  River Camel

  1983

  219

  3.2

  1984

  225

  2.9

  1985

  286

  3.4

  1986

  220

  3.3

  1987

  110

  3.6

  1988

  729

  2.8

  1989

  —

  —

  1990

  —

  —

  1991

  —

  —

  River Ribble

  1983

  432

  4.2

  1984

  507

  5.1

  1985

  395

  5.5

  1986

  434

  5.0

  1987

  508

  4.7

  1988

  829

  4.8

  1989

  502

  4.9

  1990

  239

  5.1

  1991

  206

  4.6

  River Lune

  1983

  1,152

  3.5

  1984

  1,306

  3.1

  1985

  912

  3.4

  1986

  1,497

  3.4

  1987

  1,703

  3.2

  1988

  2,402

  3.3

  1989

  2,284

  3.4

  1990

  1,405

  3.5

  1991

  1,472

  3.6

  North West Coast

  1983

  1,167

  3.3

  1984

  735

  3.7

  1985

  417

  3.3

  1986

  868

  3.4

  1987

  416

  3.6

  1988

  760

  3.2

  1989

  816

  3.1

  1990

  479

  4.0

  1991

  195

  3.7

  Anglian Coast

  1983

  —

  —

  1984

  —

  —

  1985

  —

  —

  1986

  —

  —

  1987

  —

  —

  1988

  —

  —

  1989

  4

  4.5

  1990

  9

  2.1

  1991

  34

  3.2

  River Wye

  1983

  135

  4.0

  1984

  144

  5.1

  1985

  —

  —

  1986

  —

  —

  1987

  —

  —

  1988

  —

  —

  1989

  —

  —

  1990

  —

  —

  1991

  —

  —

  154

  Numbers caught

  Average weight (kg)

  River Usk

  1983

  757

  4.1

  1984

  689

  4.7

  1985

  1,656

  4.7

  1986

  1,290

  4.4

  1987

  1,579

  3.7

  1988

  1,807

  4.0

  1989

  1,893

  4.5

  1990

  1,827

  5.4

  1991

  1,154

  5.5

  River Clywd

  1983

  323

  2.6

  1984

  344

  2.5

  1985

  295

  2.3

  1986

  260

  2.8

  1987

  259

  2.4

  1988

  267

  2.7

  1989

  89

  3.0

  1990

  63

  3.3

  1991

  135

  2.9

  River Tywi (coracle nets)

  1983

  80

  4.8

  1984

  54

  2.5

  1985

  25

  4.2

  1986

  72

  5.0

  1987

  59

  4.2

  1988

  53

  4.3

  1989

  57

  4.4

  1990

  44

  4.5

  1991

  49

  4.2

  River Taf (coracle nets)

  1983

  10

  9.4

  1984

  1

  9.0

  1985

  26

  4.3

  1986

  4

  7.0

  1987

  3

  9.3

  1988

  6

  3.5

  1989

  —

  —

  1990

  9

  3.7

  1991

  5

  3.6

  River Teifi (coracle nets)

  1983

  66

  3.4

  1984

  33

  5.1

  1985

  29

  3.6

  1986

  68

  4.0

  1987

  62

  3.5

  1988

  49

  3.7

  1989

  48

  3.5

  1990

  166

  3.4

  1991

  42

  3.8

  River Dee (trammel nets)

  1983

  264

  3.6

  1984

  265

  3.1

  1985

  268

  3.7

  1986

  261

  4.5

  1987

  333

  4.6

  1988

  320

  3.6

  1989

  381

  3.9

  1990

  235

  5.5

  1991

  193

  4.9

  1 Figures for the years 1983 to 1987 include fish caught in T nets (fixed engines).

  Source:

  MAFF: Salmon and Migratory Trout Fisheries Statistics 1983–1988.

  NRA: Fisheries Statistics 1989–1991.
  155

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Spanish-owned fishing vessels are registered as(a) British, (b) Danish, (c) Dutch, (d) Irish, (e) French and (f) Belgian.

  Mr. Jack
  As at 14 July, there were 69 Spanish-owned or largely Spanish owned fishing vessels registered in the United Kingdom. We do not hold information about registration of such vessels in other member states.

  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 assessment she has made of the effect of the Maastricht treaty on the operation of the common fisheries policy; and if she will seek a ruling from the appropriate European body on whether article 38 of the treaty of Rome gives sufficient powers to apply a common fisheries policy to (a) the catching, (b) conservation and (c) protection of fish.

  Mr. Jack
  Article 38 of the treaty of Rome provides:"The common market shall extend to agriculture and trade in agricultural products. 'Agricultural products' means the products of the soil, of stockfarming and of fisheries and products of first-stage processing directly related to these products."

  The products subject to the common policy are listed in annex II to the treaty of Rome. They include fish, crustaceans and molluscs, both live and dead.

  The objectives of the common policy are set out in article 39. They include increasing productivity by promoting technical progress and by ensuring the rational development of production, stabilising markets and ensuring the availability of supplies. These objectives are served by measures which regulate the catching, conservation and protection of fish.

  The part of the treaty of Rome dealing with agriculture —articles 38 to 47—therefore also provides the legal base for the common fisheries policy, and the Commission has proposed, and the Council has adopted CFP regulations on the basis of article 43.

  The Maastricht treaty does not amend the provisions of the treaty of Rome which establish the CFP. However, the CFP, like other policies, will be subject to the general provisions of the Maastricht treaty relating for example to subsidiarity, and to the enhanced enforcement of Community legislation.

  Secret Fish Holds
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Spanish-owned vessels operating in EC waters have been found to have second or secret fish holds in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993 to date; and how many of these were British registered.

  Mr. Jack
  In 1989 and 1990, no Spanish-owned vessels were found to have second or secret fish holds. For details of the years 1991 to date, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 July,Official Report, column 459.
  156

  Set-aside
  Mr. Cormack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in agreeing the rules for set-aside for 1994; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  At yesterday's Council of Agriculture Ministers, I stressed the importance for both agriculture and the environment of reaching early agreement on the future for those farmers coming out of five-year set-aside this year. They need to know whether they will be able to put more than 18 per cent. of their land into set-aside under the new arable area payments scheme.

  In reply the Agriculture Commissioner indicated that he intended to propose to the Commission that compensation should be paid for voluntary set-aside which exceeded 18 per cent. He also intended to propose arrangements for the transfer of set-aside obligation. A combination of these two measures could offer a solution.

  I had hoped that a suitable proposal would have been available for discussion at the Council. The Commissioner acknowledged the deadline, agreed by Ministers at the May Council, of 31 July. I shall urge them to meet this and, subsequently, press for an early agreement by the Council.

  However, more progress has been made on some of the other detailed set-aside rules that will apply next year. The cereals management committee voted on these at the end of last week. We expect the regulations to be adopted formally by the Commission in time to come into force on 1 September.

  The key points are as follows. The rotational set-aside period will be from 15 January to 31 August. However, from 15 July, subject to any national rules, producers may sow crops for harvest the next year.

  For both rotational and non-rotational set-aside, during the period 1 September to 14 January, producers must not sell any green cover remaining on the land whether for grazing or for hay or silage. However, they may harvest hay or silage for their own use during this period or graze their own animals on the land.

  Land entered into non-rotational set-aside must remain set-aside from 15 January for at least five years. The set-aside rules apply throughout this period though limited use of the green cover is allowed between 1 September and 14 January. Penalties will be applied if the land does not remain in set-aside for five years, except that, exceptionally, farmers may take land out of non-rotational set-aside without penalty at the end of 1993–94; and they may take land out of set-aside without penalty to join forestry or agri-environment schemes; and the obligation to keep the land in non-rotational set-aside will not apply if the land changes hands. Short rotation coppice may be grown on set-aside land. However, it will not be eligible for establishment grants under the woodland grant scheme.

  The rules as they stand do not permit arable land entered into the farm woodland premium scheme or land withdrawn from production under the agri-environment programme to count as set-aside under the arable support arrangements. I shall be urging the Council of Ministers to allow this.

  Copies of a free leaflet giving more details of these changes will be deposited in the Library of the House.
  157

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 19 July.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  At this meeting, at which I represented the United Kingdom, the Council adopted two regulations relating to farmers who were not originally allocated milk quotas at the time of their introduction in 1984, because they had, under a scheme in force at the time, undertaken not to produce milk for a five-year period. These measures were necessary to implement the latest in a series of judgments of the European Court that these farmers were entitled to quotas. I abstained in the vote on one of the regulations, providing for cash compensation for the period during which these farmers were deprived of quota, on the grounds that the compensation was too generous.

  The Council also adopted, by majority vote, a regulation setting standard qualities for cereals for intervention buying and other purposes. While not voting against, I urged the Commission to embody in legislative form the circumstances in which they have assured us that intervention buying would be available for feed wheat.

  Finally, the Council adopted, by majority vote, a directive concerning the labelling and use of animal feedingstuffs designed for special nutritional purposes. I voted against the measure on the grounds that it was unnecessarily detailed and restrictive.

  The Council discussed the welfare of farm animals in transport and I welcomed the Commission's intention to present proposals on this subject shortly.

  I also raised the issue of those farmers coming out of five year set-aside this year. I have reported the outcome in my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, South (Mr. Cormack).

TRANSPORT

  Motorway Repairs
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has received through penalties charged under the lane rental scheme since July 1991.

  Mr. Key
  Charges incurred under lane rental contracts completed during the financial year 1991–92 amounted to some £420, 000. We expect the corresponding figure for 1992–93 to be about £600, 000.

  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list(a) all the roadworks planned or continuing to take place on United Kingdom motorways during the period 1 to 31 August, (b) which of those roadworks are covered by the lane rental scheme and (c) what maximum length of coned-off carriageway is stipulated in the contracts in each case where lane rental applies.

  Mr. Key
  Following is the information for major motorway roadworks in England which are expected to be taking place during part or all of the month of August. Motorways in the rest of the United Kingdom are the responsibility of my hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
  158

  Scheme

  Lane rental

  Maximum length to he coned off (kilometre)

  Maintenance Schemes

  A1 (M)

  A177 to A690

  No

  —

  M1

  J34 to J35

  Yes

  9.5

  M4

  J14to J16

  Yes

  5

  M5

  M6-J8

  No

  —

  M6

  J1 toJ2

  Yes

  4

  M6

  J35 to J36

  No

  —

  M6

  J31 to J39

  No

  —

  M18

  J5 to J6

  No

  —

  M25

  J8 to J10

  Yes

  4

  M57

  A59 to A580

  Yes

  5.25

  M61

  J5 to J6

  No

  —

  M62

  J30 to J31

  Yes

  5.5

  Widening Schemes

  M1

  J9 to J10

  No

  —

  M4

  J4b to J5

  No

  —

  M5

  J6 to J8

  No

  —

  M6

  J20 to J21A

  No

  —

  M6

  J30 to J32

  No

  —

  M20

  J5 to J8

  No

  —

  M25

  J15 to J16

  No

  —

  M56

  J4 to J6

  No

  —

  M62

  J14 to J17

  No

  —

  M62

  J34 to J35

  Yes

  7

  M621

  J1 to M62

  Yes

  7

  Overall, for financial year 1993–94, we expect to let some 80 per cent. of major maintenance schemes as lane rental contracts.

  In addition to the above schemes some minor roadworks and routine maintenance activities may be necessary. These will be carried out at night whenever possible.

  Red Routes
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on parking problems caused by red routes.

  Mr. Norris
  As a result of the pilot red route scheme in north London there are now an additional 620 parking places along the 12.5 km route. Some concerns have recently been expressed about parking in residential streets adjacent to the pilot route. The traffic director will be reviewing the operation of the pilot scheme and its effects on side roads over the next year to see whether any modifications should be made.

  BR Pension Fund
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he next plans to meet representatives of BR pensioners;

  (2) when he plans to meet the chairman and chief executive of the BR Pension Fund Trustee Co. Ltd;

  (3) what response he has made to the statement by BR pension fund trustees on the effect of the Government's proposals in the Railways Bill on the security of pensioners' entitlement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Discussions are taking place with the trustees and their actuaries about arrangements for the proposed closed fund for pensioners. I should be happy to meet pensioners' representatives again if they wish.
  159

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out his targets for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by motor vehicles for the next 10 years.

  Mr. Key
  Under the climate change convention the Government will be committed to taking measures to return carbon dioxide, CO2, emissions to 1990 levels by 2000. The target applies generally—there is no specific target for the transport sector. The Government are looking at all sectors together in deciding how best to meet the target.

  The Government issued a consultative document seeking views on ways of limiting CO2 emissions. This document contained a wide range of possible measures. We are now considering responses to the document. A full programme of measures will be published by the end of the year.

  Some steps in the programme have already been taken. In the Budget speech, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a 10 per cent. increase in road fuel duties. He also announced that in future Budgets he will increase duty on all road fuels by at least 3 per cent. in real terms. This is expected to save 1.5 million tonnes of carbon.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what search is made for secret fish holds when foreign-owned fishing vessels are registered as British.

  Mr. Norris
  Surveys and inspections of vessels are thorough. It is anticipated that they would disclose such holds.

  Tyres
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what figures he has on the number of motor accidents which can be attributed to the use of imported part-worn tyres; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The information is not available in the form requested. Some 95 per cent. of accidents are caused by driver error rather than by defects in vehicles. The Government nevertheless propose to prohibit the sale of defective part-worn tyres by shortly introducing safety regulations to be made under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what he intends doing to increase public awareness of the new tyre legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the increase in tyre tread depth for cars, light vans and light trailers that came into force on 1 January 1992. Measures were taken by both industry and Government to alert the public to the new law, for example, the industry's "Stay Legal, Stay Alive" campaign, and information in vehicle excise duty reminders. A recent survey has indicated that most tyres are being changed before or when their legal limit of 1.6 mm is reached. In these circumstances, the Government do not consider that further measures are needed to alert the public.
  160

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to issue guidance to local authorities nationally on signing for speed cameras; and whether this guidance will distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate circumstances for erecting such signs.

  Mr. Key
  Speed camera signs can presently be authorised by the Department's regional offices in appropriate circumstances. I expect to issue a roads circular to provide guidance to authorities following consultation with the local authority associations.

  Bus Construction
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to make representations to the European Community to encourage the adoption of bus construction rules that would establish minimum levels of accessibility for disabled people.

  Mr. Freeman
  We are already doing so in discussions with the EC Commission and technical experts from other member states, on the possible terms of an EC proposal for a directive on bus and coach construction.

  Motorway Widening
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what environmental assessment has been undertaken for current motorway widening schemes and the use of long span overbridges included within these schemes;

  (2) what steps are being taken by his Department to protect the environmental advantages of motorway verges; and how are such verges and trees to be protected under stage one and stage two motorway widening schemes;

  (3) what steps have been taken to consult the public and environmental organisations over motorway widening schemes which will enable stage two widening to achieve (a) 12-lane motorways and (b) 10-lane motorways;

  (4) what proposals he has to make (a) 10 and (b) 12-lane motorways the standard motorway gauge;

  (5) what consultation has been undertaken with local communities and environmental bodies in relation to current and proposed motorway widening schemes; and if he will list those bodies consulted.

  Mr. Key
  There is no programme of second stage widening to provide 10 and 12-lane motorways. Consultations and environmental assessments are carried out on all motorway widening schemes. Environmental statements include a description of the design of a project and the measures needed to mitigate significant adverse environmental effects. Existing vegetation will be kept wherever practicable. I am sending the honourable Lady a copy of the standard consultation list.

EMPLOYMENT

  Youth Training
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of young people who entered youth training in each of the last five years; and what were in each year the qualifications they received.
  161
  Miss Widdecombe
  Information on the number of starts on youth training is given in table 1. Information on qualifications gained while on youth training is collected when a young person leaves the programme. The percentage of leavers with a qualification is given in table 2.

  Table 1

  Youth training scheme/youth training Great Britain—Starts

  April 1988 to March 1993

  Number

  April 1988 to March 1989

  407,200

  April 1989 to March 1990

  383,800

  April 1990 to March 1991

  347,800

  April 1991 to March 1992

  293,000

  April 1992 to March 1993

  286,600

  Source: SPECTRUM, TEC Operating Agreement (Annex J), Scottish & Welsh Management Information.

  Notes: Includes Youth Credits.

  1992–93 information is provisional.

  Table 2

  Youth training scheme/youth training Percentage gaining a qualification—all leavers Great Britain

  April 1988 to September 1992

  Per cent

  April 1988 to March 1989

  41

  April 1989 to March 1990

  43

  April 1990 to March 1991

  38

  April 1991 to March 1992

  33

  April 1992 to September 1992

  35

  Source: YT follow-up Survey.

  Notes: Includes Youth Credits.

  April 1991 to September 1992 information is provisional.

  London East TEC
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the enterprise objectives of London East training and enterprise council in the London borough of Newham.

  Miss Widdecombe
  London East training and enterprise council's enterprise objectives for the London borough of Newham, set out in its action plan, are:to establish, support, develop and further enhance both small and medium sized companies operating in the London Borough of Newham.

  Older Workers
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the work of the advisory group on older workers.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Ainsworth) on 8 July 1993,Official Report, column 261.

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the Department doing to recapture the strength of the old apprenticeship system.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government are keen to promote and encourage the growth of modern apprenticeships offering high-quality training, open to young men 162
  and women equally and leading to national vocational qualifications which employers value. The Government already support some apprenticeships and similar training arrangements through youth credits and youth training. All concerned need to be clear that work-based training and vocational qualifications deserve equal esteem alongside other education and training options open to young people.

  Training Credits
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many 16 and 17-year-olds in Yorkshire and Humberside have taken up training credits;

  (2) how many 16 and 17-year-olds in the three Barnsley constituencies have taken up training credits.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In Yorkshire and Humberside, between April 1991 and March 1993, an estimated 5, 400 16 and 17-year-olds took up their entitlement to a youth credit. Youth credits information is not collected at constituency level but at training and enterprise council level and Barnsley and Doncaster TEC is not a youth credit pilot area.

DEFENCE

  Jungle Warfare Training
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost to the British Army of training in jungle warfare per annum.

  Mr. Hanley
  Jungle training is undertaken in Belize and Brunei. The costs of jungle training in Belize are not separately identifiable from the overall costs of the garrison. The cost of the training team in Brunei in 1991–92 was some £2, 300, 000.

  Commitments (Costs)
  . Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what results he expects from the exposition of the cost of each of Britain's defence commitments in the recent White Paper.

  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what benefits he expects from the exposition of the cost of each of Britain's defence commitments in the recent White Paper.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I hope that the analysis presented in our White Paper will make an unprecedented contribution to parliamentary and public debate on defence. The underlying methodology, including the attribution of costs, will also provide an invaluable aid to management, assisting future judgments on the most effective use of resources.

  Nuclear Testing
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with other EC' Defence Ministers in respect of nuclear testing.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I am in frequent touch with European colleagues to discuss a range of defence issues.
  163

  Depleted Uranium Ammunition
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reconsider the decision to use depleted uranium in anti-tank missiles.

  Mr. Hanley
  The British armed forces are equipped with only one type of anti-tank ammunition containing depleted uranium: this is high kinetic energy 120mm ammunition fired from tank guns. DU ammunition is used for its particular abilities to penetrate and thereby defeat modern armour. There are no plans to remove it from the Army's inventory.

  C130s
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made on the replacement order for the C130s.

  Mr. Aitken
  We are currently considering the operational requirement and the associated procurement strategy for replacing or refurbishing our existing C130 fleet. When these matters have been resolved, we expect to invite tenders from those companies able to offer solutions within the required timescale. We should then be able to assess the best way to meet this requirement.

  Housing
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received concerning his policy on service housing.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department receives an average of some 160 representations on service housing a month and approximately one-third of these are of a general policy nature.

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

  Mr. Hanley
  It is my Department's policy to ensure that the number of vacant married quarters is kept to the minimum necessary to meet operational requirements. The calculation of quartering charges and the high turnover of occupancy in married quarters mean that it is not possible to establish the rent forgone on empty married quarters except at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications were received over the last three years from service personnel leaving the forces for discount sales of Ministry of Defence houses; and how many applicants purchased houses.

  Mr. Hanley
  Over the last three years, ending 31 March 1993, 70, 861 applications from service personnel were received through the scheme for purchasing married quarters at a discount and 1, 500 sales were completed. Many of these applications were multiple bids from the same individuals.

  The scheme is open to all service personnel over the age of 25. It is not possible to identify the number of applications from and sales to personnel leaving the services except at disproportionate cost.
  164

  Service Housing
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department provides for the housing of former RAF personnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  A wide range of resettlement advice and support is available to all personnel leaving the services. A joint service housing advice office has been set up to provide advice and guidance on housing options, working closely with local authorities and housing associations. Other measures include the sale or lease of surplus property to housing associations in return for the reservation of places for rent by service personnel, and the provision by the Housing Corporation of do-it-yourself shared ownership opportunities, specifically for those leaving the services. Any personnel who have failed to find accommodation by the time they come to leave the services, will be allowed to stay on temporarily in his or her married quarter provided it is not required for a service family.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many discount sales of Ministry of Defence married quarters he expects to make in the forthcoming year to service personnel leaving the forces.

  Mr. Hanley
  The scheme for selling surplus married quarters at a discount is open to all service personnel over the age of 25. It is not possible to identify without disproportionate cost how many surplus married quarters being sold through the discount scheme are being purchased by personnel leaving the services.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his policy towards residence by those other than redundees whose term of service is not renewed in Ministry of Defence married quarters not required for use;

  (2) what is his policy towards the residence in his Department's married quarters outside secure perimeters of ex-service personnel.

  Mr. Hanley
  Ministry of Defence married quarters, whether inside or outside the perimeter fence, are reserved for the use of service families. All married service personnel are therefore required to vacate their quarters by their last day of service. The Ministry of Defence is, however, sympathetic to the needs of all ex-service families with housing difficulties; in these circumstances ex-service personnel may be allowed to remain in their quarter until they have found alternative accommodation, as long as there are no pressing service requirements for the property.

  Trident
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the first Trident submarine will become operational.

  Mr. Aitken
  The first Vanguard class submarine will enter operational service with the Royal Navy towards the end of 1994 or early in 1995.

  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the latest sea trials of the Trident programme.

  Mr. Aitken
  The United Kingdom's first Trident submarine, Vanguard, successfully completed her contractor's sea trials in January. Following the completion of
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  planned finishing work at Barrow-in-Furness, the submarine is due to commence further sea trials later this year.

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to meet the United States Defence Secretary to discuss the Trident programme.

  Mr. Aitken
  I next expect to meet the United States Defense Secretary at a NATO ministerial meeting in the autumn.

  Eurofighter-2000 Project
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom contractors are involved in the Eurofighter-2000 project; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  Although my Department does not hold detailed information on all sub-contracts, we estimate that some 300 British companies are in the EF2000 supply chain. The project currently supports about 9, 000 jobs in the United Kingdom. This figure is expected to rise to some 28, 000 at the peak of the production phase.

  Expenditure
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the percentage change in real terms in his Department's spending relative to the expenditure(a) five years ago and (b) 10 years ago.

  Mr. Hanley
  Underlying defence expenditure in 1993–94 is expected to be some 8.2 per cent. lower in real terms, measured using the GDP deflator, than in 1988–89, and some 10.2 per cent. lower than in 1983–84.

  Out-of-area Commitments
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the resource implications of current and potential out-of-area commitments.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to chapter 2 of this year's Statement on Defence Estimates, "Defending Our Future" (Cm 2270) published earlier this month.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has held with WEU allies on the organisation's ability to transport troops and equipment to areas of potential conflict in the absence of full United States support; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  WEU Ministers agreed, at their last meeting in Rome on 19 May, that the WEU planning cell should develop studies relating to capabilities for strategic mobility. These studies form part of ongoing work in the WEU on the development of its operational role, as agreed at Maastricht and at Petersberg. The development of WEU concepts in this area is intended to be complementary to and compatible with alliance arrangements.
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  Bosnia-Herzegovina
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military support is being provided to ensure the successful implementation of United Nations resolutions concerning safe areas in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  Mr. Hanley
  In addition to the United Kingdom's already substantial commitment to UN operations in the former Yugoslavia, 12 Jaguar aircraft, with their supporting ground crews, deployed to Italy last week as part of the NATO force.

  Equipment
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest balance of trade between imports and exports of defence equipment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  In 1992 there was a surplus of exports of identified defence equipment over imports of £888 million.

  RAF Helicopters
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many support and attack helicopters in RA F frontline service there were in(a) January 1989 and (b) January 1993; and what is the projected number in 1995.

  Mr. Hanley
  There were 94 support helicopters in RAF frontline service in January 1989 and 93 in January 1993. This number is currently planned to reduce to 90 by mid-1994.

  As my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1993, "Defending Our Future" we plan to increase our support helicopter capability in the longer term. The in-service dates and number of additional aircraft will depend on decisions yet to be taken. The RAF does not operate attack helicopters.

  Contracts, Chelmsford
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on defence contracts awarded by his Department to defence-related industries in Chelmsford.

  Mr. Aitken
  During the 1992–93 financial year my Department placed work to the value of over £21 million with contractors in the Chelmsford area; to date in the current financial year, work to the value of over –6 million has been placed. In addition, companies in the area have won a significant value of sub-contract work.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to the answer of 12 May,Official Report, column 516, if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on CR gas provided to the United States Department of Defence under the terms of the technical co-operation programme;

  (2) how many scientific papers co-authored by scientists from the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down and their counterparts in the United States of America military were published between 1963 and 1979; what were the dates of these papers; and in which scientific journals they were published;
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  (3) what co-operation exists between Britain and the United States of America on the scientific and technical aspects of binary chemical weapons;

  (4) pursuant to his answer of 12 May, Official Report, columns 519–20, for how many years the then Chemical Defence Establishment researched into the behavioural effects of phencyclidine; how many animals and service personnel were tested with phencyclidine; whether these studies were published in open scientific literature; what was the conclusion of this research; and to which other pyschotomimetrics the results of the phencyclidine research were compared;

  (5) how many scientific papers co-authored by scientists from Porton Down and their counterparts in the Canadian military have been published since 1979; what were the dates of these papers; and in which scientific journals they were published;

  (6) pursuant to his answer of 15 February to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Mr. Livingstone), Official Report, column 62, on what date the nerve agent VX was last produced at the Chemical Defence Establishment at Nancekuke, Cornwall; what was the total amount of nerve agent VX produced at Nancekuke; and how all the VX produced at Nancekuke was disposed of;

  (7) pursuant to his answer of 12 May, Official Report, columns 516–17, when the United States of America first supplied quantities of the nerve gas VX to Britain; how many times VX was transferred from the United States of America to Britain; to which United Kingdom Ministry of Defence establishment the VX was supplied on each occasion; for what the VX was used on each occasion; how much VX was supplied on each occasion; from which United States military establishment the VX originated in each case; and if the transfer of VX was arranged under the technical co-operation programme;

  (8) how many times the United Kingdom supplied nerve agent VX to the United States of America; from which United Kingdom Ministry of Defence establishment the VX originated on each occasion; and for what reason the VS was transferred on each occasion;

  (9) how many staff from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence visited or were posted to the United States nerve gas factory at Newport, Indiana; when these visits or postings occurred; and under which defence agreement they were arranged;

  (10) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Mr. Livingstone) of 26 June 1992, Official Report, column 357, on what dates chemical and biological agents have been transferred from Britain to Canada for the purposes of the provision of effective protective measures; how the agents were used on each occasion; from which British military establishments and to which Canadian military establishments the agents were transferred; and through which defence agreement these transfers were arranged;

  (11) pursuant to his answer of 12 May, Official Report, column 518, to the hon. Member for Leyton, when information gained through tests and studies on Francisella Tulerensis was first exchanged between Britain and the United States of America; and under which agreement this was exchanged;

  (12) what research his Department carried out on the viral disease psittacosis;

  (13) how the workings of the technical co-operation programme were affected by the British decision to give up offensive work on chemical and biological weapons; and
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  how this changed the nature and direction of research exchanged through the technical co-operation programme;

  (14) pursuant to his answer of 12 May, Official Report, column 515–20, if he can indicate, without disproportionate cost, the approximate number of service volunteers tested with BZ; in which years these tests were carried out; what was the conclusion of the evaluation of BZ; what monitoring was carried out of the volunteers since the tests; in which year information was exchanged with the United States of America; and under which agreement it was exchanged.

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

  Letters from Graham Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 20 July 1993:

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him pursuant to the Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 516, if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on CR gas provided to the United States Department of Defence under the terms of The Technical Cooperation Programme (Question 3, Order Paper 12 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The report on CR gas provided to the United States Department of Defence in 1962 is classified and I am therefore unable to place a copy in the Library.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him how many scientific papers co-authored by scientists from the Chemical Defence Establishment Porton Down and their counterparts in the United States of America military were published between 1963 and 1979; what were the dates of these papers; and in which scientific journals they were published (Question 4, Order Paper 12 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. I regret that our records do not provide this information in a readily accessible form. Nevertheless, I have consulted my senior staff and two scientific papers co-authored by scientists from the then Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down and their counterparts in the United States of America Department of Defence have been identified. Both papers were published in 1977; one appeared in Atmospheric Environment and the other in the Journal of Electronics.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him what cooperation exists between Britain and the United States of America on the scientific and technical aspects of binary chemical weapons (Question 5, Order Paper 12 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. As the United Kingdom abandoned all work on offensive chemical weapons in the late 1950s and the US binary programme commenced in the 1970s, there has been no cooperation between Britain and the United States of America on the scientific and technical aspects of binary chemical weapons. Some information on binary chemical weapons has been to assist us in our evaluation of the potential hazard to the United Kingdom Armed Forces from potential aggressors who may possess binary chemical weapons.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him pursuant to his Answer of 12th May, Official Report, columns 519–20, for how many years the Chemical Defence Establishment researched into the behavioural effects of phencyclidine; how many animals and service personnel were tested with phencyclidine; whether

  169
  these studies were published in open scientific literature; what was the conclusion of this research; and to which other pyschotomimetrics the results of the phencyclidine research were compared (Question 6, Order Paper 12 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. Phencyclidine is a potent analgesic and anaesthetic which has marked psychotomimetic side effects. Such compounds could potentially represent a hazard to the UK Armed Forces and the behavioural effects of phencyclidine in rats has been compared with other psychotomirnetic compounds to assess the potential hazard to the British Armed Forces should such material be utilized by an aggressor against British Forces. This work was carried out in the early 1960s and involved about 50 rats. No service personnel scientific literature and the conclusion of this research was that phencyclidine like other psychotomimetics could present a possible hazard to the UK Armed Forces if it were dispersed as an incapaciting agent by an aggressor. The work on phencyclidine was compared with several psychotomimetics including lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25), mescaline sulphate, harmine, N-Methyl-3-piperidyl benzilate, dimethyl-tryptamine, diethyltrymptamine and dipropyl-tryptamine, alpha-methyl tryptamine and bufotenine bioxalate.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him how many scientific papers co-authored by scientists from Porton Down and their counterparts in the Canadian military have been published since 1979; what were the dates of these papers; and in which scientific journals they were published (Question 7, Order Paper 12 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. I regret that our records do not provide this information in a readily accessible form. I have made enquiries of my senior staff and of my library and have found no trace of any scientific papers co-authored by scientists from the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down and our counterparts in the Canadian Department of National Defence which have been published in scientific journals.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him pursuant to his Answer of 15th February to the honourable Member for Brent East, Official Report, column 62, on what date the nerve agent VX was last produced at the Chemical Defence Establishment at Nancekuke, Cornwall; what was the total amount of nerve agent VX produced at Nancekuke; and how all the VX produced at Nancekuke was disposed of (Question 8, Order Paper 12 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

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

  3. The nerve agent VX was last produced at Nancekuke in 1968. The total amount produced was less than 110 kilograms. As the object of the work was to evaluate whether VX could be produced by a potential aggressor in sufficient quantity to present a hazard to the UK Armed Forces, the majority of the product was destroyed chemically immediately after production. Small samples were kept for analysis and for storage trials as part of the overall assessment of the potential hazard. Small quantities of VX were occasionally transferred to CBDE Porton Down for research and trials use.
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  4. The VX produced at Nancekuke was disposed of by hydrolysis with caustic soda followed by dilution. Before being released into the sea, shrimps were released into the diluted hydrolysed material to ensure that it was harmless to marine life.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him pursuant to his Answer of 12 May. Official Report, columns 516–7, when the United States of America first supplied quantitities of the nerve gas VX to Britain; how many times VX was transferred from the United States of America to Britain; to which United Kingdom Ministry of Defence establishment the VX was supplied on each occasion; for what the VX was used on each occasion; how much VX was supplied on each occasion; from which United States military establishment the VX originated in each case; and if the transfer of VX was arranged under The Technical Cooperation Programme (Question 9, Order Paper 12 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The United States of America first transferred VX to the Chemical Defence Establishment at Nancekuke in 1957. Subsequent transfers again to CDE Nancekuke took place in 1959 and 1961 and in 1967 to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down. The total quantity of VX transferred was about 100 kilograms and was used for stablity studies and collaborative trials at CBDE Porton Down on downwind hazard evaluation as part of the evaluation of the potential hazard to the UK Armed Forces from VX. Our records do not clearly indicate where the VX was produced in the US; the usual Establishment involved in arranging the provision of the nerve agent VX was the predecessor of the present Edgewood Research, Development and Engineering Center sometimes known as Edgewood Arsenal. The transfers took place under the Tripartite Toxicological Conferences and in the latter case under The Technical Cooperation Programme.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him how many times the United Kingdom supplied nerve agent VX to the United States of America; from which United Kingdom Ministry of Defence Establishment the VX originated on each occasion; and for what reason the VX was transferred on each occasion (Question 10, Order Paper 12 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. VX was transferred in 1957 from the Chemical Defence Establishment Nancekuke to the precursor of the Edgewood Research, Development and Engineering Center for comparative analytical studies.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him how many staff from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence visited or were posted to the United States nerve gas factory at Newport, Indiana; when these visits or posting occurred; and under which defence agreement they were arranged (Question 11, Order Paper 12 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. Our records about past visits or postings to the United States nerve gas plant at Newport, Indiana are very limited. A visit by two members of staff from the then Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment to the Newport, Indiana factory took place in 1962.

  3. This visit took place under a collaborative programme that arose from the authorisation by the US Congress in 1956 under the mutual security programme of financial support for R&D programmes of friendly countries. Information about this collaborative programme is limited but appears to have been on a bilateral basis between the United States and the United Kingdom and also between the United States and a number of countries in Europe. The scope of this collaborative programme was very broad and was known as the Mutual Weapons Development Programme. The programme did include collaboration chemical and biological

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  defence under the generic headings of detectors, neutralisers and treatment. The visit to the Newport, Indiana factory was arranged under this programme.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Brent East of 26th June 1992, Official Report, column 357, on what dates chemical and biological agents have been transferred from Britain to Canada for the purposes of the provisions of effective protective measures; how the agents were used on each occasion; from which British military establishments and to which Canadian military establishments the agents were transferred; and through which defence agreement these transfers were arranged (Question 12, Order Paper 12 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. Our records do not contain information on whether chemical or biological agents were transferred from the UK to Canada during World War II or the immediate subsequent years. Since the early 1960s, no transfer of biological agents has taken place and small quantities of a chemical agent were transferred from the UK to Canada in the early 1970s. These were transferred from the then Chemical Defence Establishment at Nancekuke to the Canadian Defence Research Establishment Suffield. Our records do not include information on how the agent was used by Canada or on the precise defence agreement involved. The transfer was probably under one of the defence agreements referred to by the Rt Hon. Archie Hamilton, MP in his reply of 21 May 1992, Official Report, columns 255–6.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him pursuant to his Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 518, to the honourable Member for Leyton, when formation gained through tests and studies on Francisella Tulerensis was first exchanged between Britain and the United States of America; and under which agreement this was exchanged (Question 13, Order Paper 12 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. Our records do not indicate precisely when information gained from tests and studies on Francisella Tulerensis was first exchanged between Britain and the United States of America. As indicated in the answer of 12 May, Official Report, column 518, tests and studies on this organism had been carried out since the early 1950s by the then Microbiology Research Department, subsequently by the Microbiology Research Establishment, Porton Down until its closure in 1979 and since then by the Chemical Defence Establishment and now the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down. The information gained has been the subject of information exchange and collaboration with the United States of America on a continuing basis. This information was exchanged under the aegis of the defence agreements referred to by the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, the Right Honourable Archie Hamilton, MP, in his reply of 21 May 1992, Official Report, columns 255–256.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him what research his Department carried out on the viral disease psittacosis (Question 14, Order Paper 12 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. We have no record that any research work has been carried out at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment or its precursor Establishments into psittacosis.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him how the workings of the Technical Co-operation Programme were affected by the British decision to give up offensive work on chemical and biological weapons; and how this changed the nature and direction of research exchanged through the Technical Co-operation Programme (Question 15, Order Paper 12 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
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  2. The Technical Cooperation Programme was established in 1958 and the Sub Group E on Chemical and Biological Defence was not activated until 1967. As the United Kingdom had ceased work on offensive chemical and biological weapons in the late 1950s, the Technical Cooperation Programme collaboration on chemical and biological defence through Sub Group E was unaffected by the earlier decision of the United Kingdom to give up offensive work on chemical and biological weapons.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him pursuant to his Answer of 12 May, Official Report, column 515, if he can indicate, without disproportionate cost, the approximate number of service volunteers tested with BZ; in which years these tests were carried out; what was the conclusion of the evaluation of BZ; what monitoring was carried out of the volunteers since the tests; in which year information was exchanged with the United States of America; and under which agreement it was exchanged. (Question 130, 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. The approximate number of service volunteers tested with BZ was twenty-five in the mid 1960s. The conclusion of the evaluation of BZ was that it could indeed effect the behaviour of Service personnel and as such presented a potential hazard which should not be ignored in considering the potential hazards to which UK Forces might be exposed. The volunteers were examined before and after the tests by the resident Army psychiatrist and no indication of any continuing effect was observed. There have been no reports of any subsequent sequelae from any of the volunteers.

  4. The information obtained was part of the UK programme into chemical and biological defence and as such was drawn upon in our collaboration and information exchange with the United States of America under The Technical Cooperation Programme through Sub Group E on chemical and biological defence.

  Universities (Research and Development)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the grounds for allowing universities rather than the Ministry to decide whether to disclose if they are receiving funds from the Ministry for research and development projects.

  Mr. Aitken
  Universities would prefer us not to disclose whether they are receiving Ministry of Defence funds for research and development projects in order to protect their academic researchers assigned to the projects from potentially violent extremists.

  RFA Argus
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how many weeks since her entry into service Royal Fleet Auxiliary Argus has been available for the purpose for which she was procured; for how many weeks per year it was intended that she should be available; what alternative means of helicopter training have been made available; when RFA Argus is due out of refit; what helicopter training will be available until then; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Since RFA Argus became fully operational in March 1989, she has been available for operational duties for 142 weeks. She would normally be available for her peacetime role as an aviation training
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  ship for approximately 36 weeks per year, but due to operational deployments to the Gulf and the Adriatic, she has only been available for this task for a total of 83 weeks since 1989. When she is unavailable, shipborne helicopter aircrew training is provided by alternative RFA vessels. RFA Argus will be in refit until October 1993. During this period shipborne aviation training will be provided by RFA Olmeda and RFA Olna.

  Service Bands
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy bands will remain in place after current reorganisation and disbanding proposals; how many personnel each will contain and at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  On Army bands I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Mr. Hamilton) gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Mr. Couchman) on 16 March,Official Report, columns 133–34. A study team is currently looking at the implementation of the new structure. The team will consider the question of costs.

  The future structure and organisation of the Royal Marine Band Service and the RAF music services are currently under review, but no decisions have yet been taken.

  President Bush (Assassination Plot)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 29, on the plot to assassinate former President Bush, what evidence about the plot he received from the United States.

  Mr. Hanley
  The US have kept us informed of progress with their investigations. I am placing in the Library of the House a copy of the statement made by Ambassador Madeline K Albright, the United States permanent representative to the Security Council on 27 June 1993.

  Identification Friend or Foe System
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the upgrading of the NATO identification friend or foe system.

  Mr. Aitken
  NATO nations are actively studying options to replace existing identification friend or foe systems. A five-nation joint expert group—United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany and Italy—is evaluating a number of technically achievable options for a future air combat identification system with the aim of identifying a common solution. The results are expected in mid-1994.

  Anti-tactical Ballistic Missile System
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards United Kingdom participation in a programme for a European anti-tactical ballistic missile system.

  Mr. Aitken
  I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on 21 June,Official Report, column 54.
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  Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of the current number of Royal Navy nuclear submarines which have been decommissioned, specifying the dockyard which had undertaken the decommissioning and the relevant date, together with the current docking arrangements; and how many such vessels he now expects to be decommissioned within the next 10 years.

  Mr. Aitken
  The location of each nuclear-powered submarine which has left Royal Navy service is provided in the table. All these submarines, except HMS Revenge, have completed the process of defuelling, de-equipping and lay-up preparations; details of the locations where this took place are also provided. It is not our practice to reveal in advance details of plans for decommissioning nuclear powered submarines.

  HM Submarines

  Where de-fuelled, etc

  Date completed

  Present location

  Dreadnought

  Chatham dockyard

  February 83

  Rosyth naval base

  Warspite

  Devonport dockyard

  December 91

  Devonport naval base

  Churchill

  Roysyth dockyard

  June 91

  Rosyth naval base

  Conqueror

  Devonport dockyard

  September 92

  Devonport naval base

  Swiftsure

  Rosyth dockyard

  October 92

  Rosyth naval base

  Courageous

  Devonport dockyard

  June 1993

  Devonport naval base

  Revenge

  To be completed in 1994

  Rosyth naval base

  Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Orangeleaf
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the royal naval dockyard at Devonport to begin work on the refit of Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Orangeleaf.

  Mr. Aitken
  Work started on Monday 12 July 1993.

  Land Sales
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much land in the United Kingdom his Department has disposed of over each of the past five years.

  Mr. Hanley
  Statistics are available only for financial years 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 when 400, 870 and 1, 242 hectares of land and buildings were sold respectively.

  Personnel (Resignations)
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel he expects to leave the forces in the forthcoming year.

  Mr. Hanley
  In the financial year ending 31 March 1994, it is estimated that some 34, 570 personnel will leave the regular armed forces. This figure includes trainees who are not expected to complete initial training for various reasons and 8, 482 personnel who will depart on redundancy terms.
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SCOTLAND

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress the Lord Advocate has made in bringing to justice those alleged to have caused the murder of the passengers and crew of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Warrants remain in force for the arrest of the two Libyans accused of the Lockerbie bombing, but the Libyan authorities have, to date, failed to surrender them for trial in Scotland or the United States. The Government continue to press their demand for the surrender of the two accused through the United Nations.

  Water Authorities
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who will appoint the members of the public water authorities which he proposes to establish; which bodies he intends to consult in making such appointments; and what are the precise criteria he will adopt in making such appointments.

  Mr. Lang
  Appointments will be made after consultation as appropriate. Appointees will include persons knowledgeable about the water and sewerage industry and persons with proven business skills.

  Water and Sewerage Services
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sum he has allocated within his budget for further consultation with interested bodies on his proposals for the water and sewerage services.

  Mr. Lang
  Costs will be met from the sum allocated for expenditure on water and sewerage restructuring, and given in my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. McLeish) on 5 May,Official Report, columns 38–39.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland with which interested bodies he proposes to consult before bringing forward detailed proposals for the water and sewerage services.

  Mr. Lang
  We propose to discuss technical and other aspects of the new structure with the current providers of the services. We also expect to consult representatives of consumers about the new customer organisation.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to undertake further consultation on his proposals for the water and sewerage services; and when he expects to complete this further consultation.

  Mr. Lang
  Discussions will be initiated and completed as soon as possible.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will specify the basis on which he intends the private sector to play a major role in financing the capital investment programme of the water and sewerage services over the next 10 years.

  Mr. Lang
  Water and sewerage authorities will be expected to encourage private sector investment as part of 176
  the initiative to introduce private finance into public services. General guidance on the objectives of this initiative has already been issued; further guidance will be issued as appropriate.

  Homelessness
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to visit a representative selection of hotels providing bed-and-breakfast accommodation for the homeless.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: My right hon. Friend has no such plans. However, as the Scottish housing Minister, I have undertaken various engagements relating to the homeless in the relatively recent past, including visits to the Alloasupported accommodation project in Clackmannan, the Lower Bridge street homeless persons hostel in Stirling, the Randolph Crescent hostel in Edinburgh, the Blue Triangle housing association in Uddingston, the Hamish Allan centre in Glasgow, and the commencement ceremony for Thenew housing association stopover in Alexandria.

  Salmon Farms
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines are in place to ensure that United Kingdom salmon farms operate in an environmentally conscious fashion; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 13 July 1993]: Salmon farming is subject to a framework of controls covering the establishment and operation of farms, disease and movement controls, planning, water discharge and navigation. The Scottish Office has also issued draft guidance on the location of marine fish farms, which was widely welcomed. I hope that the final guidance will be issued later this year.

  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many tonnes of farmed salmon have been produced in the United Kingdom in each year since 1983.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 13 July 1993]: The information is as follows:

  Tonnes

  1983

  2,536

  1984

  3,912

  1985

  6,921

  1986

  10,337

  1987

  12,721

  1988

  17,951

  1989

  28,553

  1990

  32,412

  1991

  40,656

  1992

  36,312

  Depleted Uranium Shells
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received in regard to the test firing of depleted uranium shells at the Dundrennan test range at Kirkcudbright; and from what organisations they have come.
  177
  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 14 July 1993]: My right hon. Friend has received one letter, in which a member of the public expressed concern that the test firing of depleted uranium shells may pose a threat to health.

  Midwifes by health board at 30 September1

  Whole time

  Part time

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Scotland

  2,320

  2,394

  2,419

  2,478

  2,403

  1,258

  1,165

  1,247

  1,481

  1,581

  Argyll and Clyde

  199

  180

  184

  200

  198

  163

  134

  140

  174

  194

  Ayrshire and Arran

  29

  74

  109

  161

  144

  28

  27

  47

  117

  119

  Borders

  77

  86

  79

  79

  79

  20

  21

  22

  14

  19

  Dumfries and Galloway

  85

  90

  95

  89

  81

  46

  39

  53

  63

  67

  Fife

  91

  99

  90

  99

  94

  88

  80

  89

  96

  109

  Forth Valley

  142

  130

  128

  116

  117

  67

  58

  67

  75

  102

  Grampian

  248

  252

  258

  244

  240

  138

  141

  150

  167

  182

  Greater Glasgow

  487

  511

  510

  495

  488

  192

  168

  163

  237

  199

  Highland

  171

  176

  167

  187

  180

  121

  124

  122

  124

  132

  Lanarkshire

  195

  188

  192

  195

  186

  129

  129

  133

  137

  143

  Lothian

  313

  319

  313

  317

  309

  112

  100

  99

  112

  134

  Orkney

  22

  23

  24

  23

  23

  4

  3

  3

  4

  2

  Shetland

  23

  22

  24

  25

  24

  5

  5

  5

  6

  5

  Tayside

  222

  205

  211

  220

  213

  132

  101

  120

  123

  143

  Western Isles

  36

  39

  35

  28

  27

  33

  35

  34

  32

  31

  1 Includes qualified staff working in hospitals and in the community. Community staff whose combined duties include midwifery are also included.

  2 The specialty figures for Ayrshire and Arran were misclassified in the September 1988 census.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many midwifery staff are employed in each health board area(a) full time and (b) part time (i) on an agency basis and (ii) on bank contracts.

  Midwifery staff by health board at 30 September 19921

  Qualified

  W-T

  P-T

  In training2

  W-T

  P-T

  Unqualified

  W-T

  P-T

  Agency Midwives3

  Students

  Scotland

  4,313

  2,508

  1,805

  516

  515

  1

  1,210

  328

  882

  0.7

  121

  Argyll and Clyde

  420

  208

  212

  31

  31

  0

  133

  29

  104

  0

  14

  Ayrshire and Arran

  272

  147

  125

  51

  50

  1

  75

  11

  64

  0

  14

  Borders

  101

  80

  21

  0

  0

  0

  21

  7

  14

  0

  0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  157

  82

  75

  25

  25

  0

  26

  3

  23

  0

  0

  Fife

  220

  96

  124

  26

  26

  0

  66

  3

  63

  0

  11

  Forth Valley

  299

  132

  167

  29

  29

  0

  70

  13

  57

  0

  20

  Grampian

  452

  247

  205

  66

  66

  0

  114

  22

  92

  0

  0

  Greater Glasgow

  732

  511

  221

  63

  63

  0

  350

  149

  201

  0

  18

  Highland

  313

  181

  132

  25

  25

  0

  38

  8

  30

  0

  0

  Lanarkshire

  345

  189

  156

  31

  31

  0

  73

  23

  50

  0

  20

  Lothian

  463

  317

  146

  124

  124

  0

  149

  38

  111

  0.73

  9

  Orkney

  27

  23

  4

  0

  0

  0

  4

  0

  4

  0

  0

  Shetland

  33

  25

  8

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Tayside

  420

  243

  177

  45

  45

  0

  87

  19

  63

  0

  15

  Western Isles

  59

  27

  32

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  0

  0

  0

  1 Includes staff working in hospitals and in the community. Community staff whose combined duties include midwifery are also included.

  2 Student midwife data are as at 31 October 1992; some students are not funded directly by health boards and all are shown by geographical location of their College.

  3 Average whole time equivalent for 6 months ending 30 September.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary for Scotland how many practicing midwives that are in each grade in each health board area, including those in senior nurse/senior midwife grades, senior nurse grades and
  178

  Midwives
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many midwives were employed(a) full time and (b) part time in each health board area in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 15 July 1993]: The information requested is shown in the table.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 15 July 1993:] The available information is shown in the table. The number of bank nurses working in midwifery is not held centrally.

  education and clinical grades, excluding agency midwives; how many are employed (a) full time and (b) part time; and how many student midwives there are in each area.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 15 July 1993:] The available information requested is shown in the table. Midwives or senior nurse or teaching grades cannot be identified by specialty and are therefore not included.
  179

  Midwifery staff by health board at 30 September 19921

  Total qualified

  Grade I

  Grade H

  Grade G

  Grade F

  Grade E

  Student/ Trainee Mid-wives2

  Total

  W-T

  P-T

  Total

  W-T

  P-T

  Total

  W-T

  P-T

  Total

  W-T

  P-T

  Total

  W-T

  P-T

  Total

  W-T

  P-T

  Scotland

  3,984

  2,403

  1,581

  42

  40

  2

  142

  135

  7

  1,307

  1,015

  292

  976

  405

  571

  1,517

  808

  709

  637

  Argyll & Clyde

  392

  198

  194

  4

  4

  0

  44

  42

  2

  115

  85

  30

  121

  30

  91

  108

  37

  71

  45

  Ayrshire & Arran

  263

  144

  119

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  0

  65

  53

  12

  91

  34

  57

  105

  55

  50

  65

  Borders

  98

  79

  19

  1

  1

  0

  6

  6

  0

  62

  49

  13

  11

  7

  4

  18

  16

  2

  0

  Dumfries & Galloway

  148

  81

  67

  0

  0

  0

  5

  5

  0

  51

  46

  5

  22

  10

  12

  70

  20

  50

  25

  Fife

  203

  94

  109

  6

  6

  0

  1

  1

  0

  55

  35

  20

  64

  14

  50

  77

  38

  39

  37

  Forth Valley

  219

  117

  102

  2

  2

  0

  7

  7

  0

  64

  50

  14

  34

  14

  20

  112

  44

  68

  49

  Grampian

  422

  240

  182

  4

  4

  0

  6

  4

  2

  142

  109

  33

  103

  42

  61

  167

  81

  86

  66

  Greater Glasgow

  687

  488

  199

  12

  10

  2

  8

  8

  0

  198

  164

  34

  93

  75

  18

  376

  231

  145

  81

  Highland

  312

  180

  132

  2

  2

  0

  37

  34

  3

  136

  90

  46

  78

  29

  49

  59

  25

  34

  25

  Lanarkshire

  329

  186

  143

  5

  5

  0

  7

  7

  0

  97

  74

  23

  127

  42

  85

  93

  58

  35

  51

  Lothian

  443

  309

  134

  5

  5

  0

  9

  9

  0

  131

  101

  30

  125

  69

  56

  173

  125

  48

  133

  Orkney

  25

  23

  2

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  0

  19

  17

  2

  4

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Shetland

  29

  24

  5

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  22

  20

  2

  3

  0

  3

  3

  3

  0

  0

  Tayside

  356

  213

  143

  1

  1

  0

  6

  6

  0

  109

  99

  10

  84

  32

  52

  156

  75

  81

  60

  Western Isles

  58

  27

  31

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  41

  23

  18

  16

  13

  13

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Notes:

  1Includes staff working in hospitals and in the community. Community staff includes combined duty staff.

  2Student midwife data are as at 31 October 1992; some students are not funded directly by health boards and all are shown by the geographical location of their College.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many whole-time equivalent midwives there are at each increment point of each pay scale.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 15 July 1993]: The information requested is shown in the table.

  Midwives by grade and incremental point: at 30 September 1992

  Grade

  Incremental point

  WTE

  Grades I-E

  3, 318.0

  Grade I

  41.0

  4

  32.0

  3

  4.5

  2

  2.0

  1

  1.0

  0

  1.5

  Grade H

  140.7

  4

  116.3

  3

  7.4

  2

  15.0

  1

  1.0

  0

  1.0

  Grade G

  1, 198.2

  5

  1.0

  4

  1, 051.3

  3

  46.7

  2

  52.3

  1

  25.9

  0

  21.1

  Grade F

  737.7

  5

  532.8

  4

  63.0

  3

  68.7

  2

  45.0

  1

  12.5

  0

  15.8

  Grade E

  1, 200.3

  4

  796.3

  3

  97.0

  2

  100.0

  1

  99.7

  0

  107.4

  Notes:

  1. Includes staff working in hospitals and the community and those with combined duties with district nursing and/or health visiting.
  180
  2. Data cover clinical grades only. Midwives on senior nurse or teaching grades cannot be identified by specialty and are therefore excluded.

  Special Waste
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste production in the waste categories of(a) acids and alkalis, (b) antimony and antimony compounds, (c) arsenic compounds, (d) asbestos (all chemical forms), (e) barium compounds, (f) beryllium and beryllium compounds, (g) biocides and phytopharmaceutical substances, (h) boron compounds, (i) cadmium and cadmium compounds, (j) copper compounds, (k) heterocyclic organic compounds containing oxygen, nitrogen and/or sulphur and (l) hexavalent chromium compounds;

  (2) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste production in the waste categories of (a) solvents-S halogen/mixed, (b) mineral oil sludges, (c) contaminated industrial waste, (d) empty contaminated drums, (e) pressurised cylinders/ aerosols, (f) contaminated soil, (g) mixed laboratory chemicals, (h) biocides-solid, (i) biocides-liquid, (j) biocides-aqueous diluted, (k) resins-organic and (l) filter material-organic;

  (3) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste production in the waste categories of (a) pharmaceutical and veterinary compounds, (b) phosphorus and its compounds, (c) selenium and selenium compounds, (d) silver compounds, (e) tarry materials from refining and tar residues from distilling, (f) tellurium and tellurium compounds, (g) thallium and thallium compounds, (h) vanadium compounds and(i) zinc compounds;

  (4) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste production in the waste categories of (a) solid metal bearing, (b) solid inorganic, (c) solid CN, (d) solid organic, (e) solid asbestos, (f) filter material-inorganic, (g) acid metal bearing, (h) acid-inorganic, (i) acid-organic, (j) alkalis metal bearing, (k) alkalis-inorganic (l) alkalis-organic and (m) aqueous cyanide;
  181
  (5) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste production in the waste categories of (a) hydrocarbons and their oxygen, nitrogen and/or sulphur compounds, (b) inorganic cyanides, (c) inorganic halogen containing compounds, (d) inorganic sulphur containing compounds, (e) laboratory chemicals, (f) lead compounds, (g) mercury compounds, (h) nickel and nickel compounds, (i) organic halogen compounds, excluding inert polymeric material and (j) peroxides, chlorates and azides;

  (6) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste production in the waste categories of (a) pharmaceutical waste, (b) mixed organics in drums, (c) metal compounds, (d) non-toxic metal compounds, (e) metals-elements, (f) metal oxides, (g) inorganic compounds, (h) other non-organic material, (i) organic compounds, (j) polymeric material and precursors, (k) fuels, oils and greases, (l) fine chemicals and biocides, (m) miscellaneous chemicals waste, (n) filter materials and sludges, (o) miscellaneous waste and (q) construction waste;

  (7) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste production in the waste categories of (a) neutral metal bearing, (b) neutral-inorganic, (c) neutral-organic, (d) neutral-oily (1–15 per cent.), (e) mineral oil and <20 per cent. others,

  1989

  Tonnes

  Special waste

  District council

  Arisings

  Retained for disposal

  Imports

  Exports

  Berwickshire

  16

  0

  0

  16

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  1,823

  0

  0

  1,823

  Roxburgh

  42

  0

  0

  42

  Tweeddale

  18

  0

  0

  18

  Clackmannan

  30

  0

  0

  30

  Falkirk

  12,414

  873

  975

  12,516

  Stirling

  134

  55

  51

  130

  Annandale and Eskdale

  1,035

  1,033

  0

  2

  Nithsdale

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Stewartry

  23

  10

  0

  13

  Wigtown

  48

  0

  32

  80

  Dunfermline

  3,964

  0

  0

  3,964

  Kirkcaldy

  2,577

  0

  0

  2,576

  North East Fife

  427

  358

  0

  70

  Aberdeen City

  1,647

  1,249

  922

  1,088

  Banff and Buchan

  6,011

  0

  0

  6,011

  Gordon

  75

  1,138

  1,102

  39

  Kincardine and Deeside

  30

  0

  0

  30

  Moray

  11

  10

  0

  1

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Caithness

  41

  1

  0

  40

  Inverness

  200

  1,024

  904

  80

  Lochaber

  601

  600

  0

  1

  Nairn

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Ross and Cromarty

  550

  50

  0

  500

  Skye and Lochalsh

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Sutherland

  16

  5

  0

  11

  East Lothian

  959

  0

  0

  959

  Edinburgh City

  3,032

  811

  610

  2,830

  Midlothian

  115

  0

  0

  115

  West Lothian

  1,813

  2,600

  1,919

  1,132

  Argyll and Bute

  22

  0

  0

  22

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Clydebank

  170

  0

  0

  170

  Clydesdale

  36

  0

  0

  36

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  547

  0

  0

  547

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  112

  0

  0

  112

  Cunninghame

  14,033

  10,000

  0

  4,033

  Dumbarton

  674

  0

  0

  674

  East Kilbride

  306

  0

  0

  306

  182
  (f) mineral oil and > 20 per cent. others, (g) oil + > 20 per cent. water <85 per cent., (h) grease/fat/wax/ vegetable oil, (i) tars/phenols, (j) solvents-non halogen, (k) solvents-halogenated, (l) solvents-mixed (including water) and (m) solvents-S non halogen.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 15 July 1993]: Information on the categories of special waste specified is not available centrally. District and islands councils in Scotland hold special waste consignment notes in respect of waste arising in their area, and may be able to provide some of this information.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (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.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 15 July 1993]: Since 1989 the waste regulatory authorities, the district and islands councils have provided the Scottish Office with information on special waste arisings, disposals, imports, and exports. Details for 1989, 1990 and 1991 are given in the table. Figures for 1992 are not yet available.
  183

  Special waste

  District council

  Arisings

  Retained for disposal

  Imports

  Exports

  Eastwood

  9

  0

  0

  9

  Glasgow City

  6,101

  7,814

  6,354

  4,641

  Hamilton

  702

  0

  0

  702

  Inverclyde

  316

  0

  0

  316

  Kilmarnock and Louden

  167

  2,153

  2,040

  54

  Kyle and Carrick

  592

  0

  0

  592

  Monklands

  941

  0

  0

  941

  Motherwell

  577

  0

  26

  603

  Renfrew

  1,871

  0

  0

  1,871

  Strathkelvin

  909

  1,263

  855

  502

  Angus

  860

  28

  0

  832

  Dundee City

  858

  2,204

  1,346

  0

  Perth and Kinross

  86

  1

  0

  85

  Orkney Islands

  35

  15

  0

  20

  Shetland Islands

  3,507

  3,507

  0

  1

  Western Islands

  1

  1

  0

  0

  1990 Special Waste

  District council

  Arisings

  Retained for disposal

  Imports

  Exports

  Tonnes

  Tonnes

  Tonnes

  Tonnes

  Berwickshire

  62

  0

  0

  62

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  1,392

  0

  0

  1,392

  Roxburgh

  16

  0

  0

  16

  Tweeddale

  30

  0

  0

  30

  Clackmannan

  124

  0

  0

  124

  Falkirk

  10,332

  801

  1,255

  10,786

  Stirling

  70

  73

  67

  64

  Annandale and Eskdale

  6

  1

  0

  5

  Nithsdale

  1,791

  0

  0

  1,791

  Stewartry

  22

  20

  0

  2

  Wigtown

  28

  0

  25

  52

  Dunfermline

  3,097

  0

  0

  3,097

  Kirkcaldy

  2,465

  0

  0

  2,465

  North East Fife

  112

  4

  2

  111

  Aberdeen City

  2,809

  2,633

  1,288

  1,463

  Banff and Buchan

  15,971

  0

  0

  15,971

  Gordon

  31

  16,284

  16,284

  31

  Kincardine and Deeside

  12

  0

  0

  12

  Moray

  440

  10

  0

  430

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  15

  14

  0

  1

  Caithness

  61

  1

  0

  60

  Inverness

  121

  102

  3

  22

  Lochaber

  600

  600

  0

  0

  Nairn

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Ross and Cromarty

  158

  144

  0

  14

  Skye and Lochalsh

  10

  10

  0

  0

  Sutherland

  9

  1

  0

  8

  East Lothian

  775

  0

  0

  775

  Edinburgh City

  2,572

  1,683

  1,550

  2,438

  Midlothian

  269

  0

  0

  269

  West Lothian

  2,735

  3,101

  1,532

  1,166

  Argyll and Bute

  38

  0

  0

  38

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  13

  0

  0

  13

  Clydebank

  145

  0

  0

  145

  Clydesdale

  86

  0

  0

  86

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  360

  0

  0

  360

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  69

  0

  0

  69

  Cunninghame

  27,751

  24,600

  0

  3,151

  Dumbarton

  948

  0

  0

  948

  East Kilbride

  390

  0

  0

  390

  Eastwood

  4

  0

  0

  4

  Glasgow City

  5,610

  6,443

  5,665

  4,832

  Hamilton

  574

  182

  182

  574

  Inverclyde

  537

  0

  0

  537

  Kilmarnock and Louden

  91

  1,761

  1,718

  48

  Kyle and Carrick

  548

  0

  0

  548

  Monklands

  452

  6

  0

  446

  Motherwell

  326

  0

  42

  368

  Renfrew

  5,105

  0

  0

  5,105

  Strathkelvin

  534

  965

  965

  534

  Angus

  1,620

  14

  0

  1,606

  Dundee City

  554

  4,274

  3,844

  123

  184 185

  District council

  Arising

  Retained for disposal

  Imports

  Exports

  Tonnes

  Tonnes

  Tonnes

  Tones

  Perth and Kinross

  92

  0

  0

  92

  Orkney Islands

  257

  1

  0

  256

  Shetland Islands

  11

  9

  0

  2

  Western Islands

  6

  6

  0

  0

  1991

  Special waste

  District council

  Arisings

  Retained for disposal

  Imports

  Exports

  (t)

  (t)

  (t)

  (t)

  Berwickshire

  262

  0

  0

  262

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  2,023

  439

  67

  1,651

  Roxburgh

  57

  0

  0

  57

  Tweeddale

  11

  0

  0

  11

  Clackmannan

  186

  0

  0

  186

  Falkirk

  11,703

  774

  1,390

  12,319

  Stirling

  197

  149

  437

  485

  Annandale and Eskdale

  894

  887

  0

  6

  Nithsdale

  3,944

  1

  0

  3,943

  Stewartry

  6

  1

  0

  5

  Wigtown

  23

  0

  267

  290

  Dunfermline

  8,103

  0

  0

  8,103

  Kirkcaldy

  16,549

  0

  0

  16,549

  North East Fife

  83

  9

  0

  74

  Aberdeen City

  3,184

  3,213

  1,758

  1,729

  Banff and Buchan

  2,174

  0

  0

  2,174

  Gordon

  47

  264

  263

  47

  Kincardine and Deeside

  46

  0

  0

  46

  Moray

  374

  17

  0

  357

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  39

  37

  0

  2

  Caithness

  14

  0

  0

  14

  Inverness

  305

  123

  7

  188

  Lochaber

  701

  701

  0

  0

  Nairn

  19

  0

  0

  19

  Ross and Cromarty

  92

  107

  17

  2

  Skye and Lochalsh

  10

  10

  0

  0

  Sutherland

  11

  0

  0

  11

  East Lothian

  210

  0

  0

  210

  Edinburgh City

  1,922

  2,194

  1,898

  1,626

  Midlothian

  418

  0

  0

  418

  West Lothian

  2,111

  2,585

  1,469

  995

  Argyll and Bute

  37

  0

  0

  37

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Clydebank

  205

  0

  0

  205

  Clydesdale

  22

  0

  0

  22

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  165

  0

  0

  165

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  173

  0

  0

  173

  Cunninghame

  14,655

  10,782

  0

  3,873

  Dumbarton

  739

  0

  0

  739

  East Kilbride

  606

  0

  0

  606

  Eastwood

  29

  0

  0

  29

  Glasgow City

  4,785

  9,364

  6,789

  2,210

  Hamilton

  1,041

  57

  57

  1,041

  Inverclyde

  185

  0

  1

  186

  Kilmarnock and Louden

  44

  1,006

  1,021

  59

  Kyle and Carrick

  727

  0

  0

  727

  Monklands

  656

  0

  0

  656

  Motherwell

  686

  0

  0

  685

  Renfrew

  4,809

  0

  0

  4,809

  Strathkelvin

  610

  0

  0

  610

  Angus

  2,604

  0

  0

  2,604

  Dundee City

  1,042

  2,475

  1,704

  272

  Perth and Kinross

  159

  0

  0

  159

  Orkney Islands

  215

  2

  0

  213

  Shetland Islands

  1,754

  1,747

  0

  8

  Western Islands

  3

  3

  0

  0

  186

  Coastal Waters
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of Scottish coastal waters surveyed in 1990 were of satisfactory quality.
  187
  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: The water quality survey of Scotland 1990 showed that 91 per cent. of Scottish coastal waters were of satisfactory quality. A copy of the report of the survey published by the Scottish Office Environment Department was placed in the House of Commons Library in March 1992.

  Out-patient attendances

  In-patient discharges

  Day patient attendances

  Day cases

  Consultant clinics

  Other clinics1

  1988

  871,287

  688,200

  159,763

  5, 767,286

  9, 604,024

  1989

  882,347

  673,931

  175,970

  5, 814,795

  9, 774,517

  1990

  895,790

  662,855

  185,974

  5, 924,841

  10, 004,427

  1991

  912,370

  698,891

  203,633

  5, 970,830

  10, 033,314

  1992

  920,144

  750,895

  213,846

  6, 005,131

  10, 032,026

  1Comprises attendances at professions allied to medicine and other technical departments.

  Water Quality
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will repeat the water quality survey which his Department carried out in 1990.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: It is anticipated that the water quality survey of Scotland will be carried out next in 1995.

  Obstetric Procedures
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to ensure that all trust hospitals which currently undertake obstetric procedures will continue to do so regardless of whether they are successfully sued for compensation in respect of babies who have been damaged.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: It is for health boards, as purchasers, to ensure that there is a safe and effective obstetric service available to meet the needs of the population. Any proposals involving hospital closure or a major change of use must obtain the prior approval of the Secretary of State for Scotland before implementation.

  Beaches
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beaches in 1992 did not achieve the EC directive 76/160/EEC standard; and what action his Department has taken to improve their standards.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: The EC directive 76/160/EEC sets standards for bathing waters, not beaches. In 1992, of the 23 Scottish bathing waters identified in terms of the directive, 15 complied with the mandatory coliform standards.

  Detailed description of measures being taken to remedy non-compliance in the areas of the eight bathing waters which did not comply are provided in the Scottish Office Environment Department report "Bathing Waters in Scotland, Monitoring in 1992, Summary of Results" a copy of which was placed in the House of Commons Library in May 1993.
  188

  Patients
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of patients were treated(a) as day patients, (b) as in-patients and (c) in the community by the NHS in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: The information which is available is given in the table. No percentage comparisons are available in the form requested.

  Mental Illness
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mentally ill patients were treated(a) in the community and (b) as in-patients, for each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: Information on the number of mentally ill patients treated in the community is not collected centrally. The available information about mentally ill patients treated in NHS hospitals in Scotland, excluding the State hospital, Carstairs, is as follows:

  Residents as at 31 December1

  Discharges during the year2

  1988

  13,512

  29,811

  1989

  13,056

  29,787

  1990

  12,851

  30,670

  1991

  12,580

  30,537

  31992

  12,566

  28,943

  1 The number of mentally-ill patients being treated in hospital on 31 December in each year.

  2 The number of occasions on which a person was discharged from a hospital after receiving treatment for mental illness. An individual patient may have been discharged on more than one such occasion during the year.

  3 Provisional.

  Regional Elections
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to cancel the 1994 regional elections; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: My right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce the legislation that would be required to cancel these elections.

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

  189
  maintained, independent and special schools and (2) further education, excluding those on youth training schemes in colleges.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: The information requested for 1991 is published in table 9.1 of the "Scottish Economic Bulletin" No 46. Comparable figures for 1992 are set out in the table: figures for 1993 are not yet available.

  16, 17 and 18 year olds in full-time educations in Scotland, 1992

  Thousands

  Age at 30 August 1991

  16

  17

  18

  Population at 31 December full time education in;

  64.3

  65.3

  69.0

  schools

  26.6

  13.4

  0.7

  further education1

  8.5

  13.5

  19.7

  1 non-advanced and advanced further education, teacher training and higher education.

  Forestry
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if purchasers of Forestry Commission estates currently for sale will be obliged to accept the forestry enterprise environmental code.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: The environmental code to which the hon. Member refers was drawn up specifically for the Forestry Commission's enterprise arm. Woodland owners who accept grants under the woodland grant scheme are required to follow the environmental guidelines published by the Forestry Commission, which include most of the points in the environmental code. Private woodland owners generally are also encouraged to follow the forestry and woodland code published by Timbers Growers United Kingdom.

  After-school Care
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the provision of after-school care by each regional council, the grant assistance offered for after-school care per regional council and the assistance given by his Department for after-school provision per project; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: Details of regional and islands councils' provision of after-school care are now being collected, but the results are not yet available. Their expenditure is not separately identified in the returns.

  At present, the Scottish Office, through the urban programme, is funding 14 after-school care projects at a capital cost of some £165, 020 and annual running costs for 1992–93 approaching £1 million. Details of the approved costs per project are given in the table.

  Project Name

  Capital £

  Current £

  Shortless Before and After School Care

  Project

  0

  4,779

  Haldane After School Care Dumbarton

  100

  62,843

  West Dumbarton After School Care Project

  100

  70,768

  Strathclyde After School Care

  0

  38,268

  190

  Project Name

  Capital £

  Current £

  Onthank After School Group

  0

  717

  Out of School Provision Wester Hailes

  7,155

  65,078

  Castlemilk After School Care Mobile Child Care

  92,895

  155,115

  Drumchapel Out of School Care

  7,565

  0

  Barlanark Out of School Care

  10,928

  29,230

  Mid Craigie Out of School Club

  42,277

  86,362

  Priesthill/Nitshill Out Schools Services

  0

  49,918

  After School Club, Nithsdale

  0

  52,041

  Priority Areas Out of School Care, Kirkcaldy

  4,000

  277,495

  In addition, through section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 we have offered revenue grant of £72, 000 over three years to the Scottish out-of-school care network as a means of developing after-school and holiday care schemes. As a further boost to increased provision, the Government are providing £45 million on a Great Britain basis to help to create 50, 000 additional places in out-of-school schemes. In Scotland, the funding of this initiative is being channelled through local enterprise companies.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the names of those organisations or individuals who made representations in favour of joining the counties of Berwickshire and East Lothian in the course of the recent consultation exercise on local government reform.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: A total of 33 individuals and organisations commented upon the proposed structure of local government for East Lothian, for Berwickshire or for both of these areas. Of these, six supported the merging of East Lothian and Berwickshire to form a new single-tier local authority. The organisations and individuals who supported the creation of such an authority are as follows:

  Eric A Gray

  R B Cowe

  J Evans

  mouth Community Council

  Councillor Ludovic Brown Lindsay

  Pauline Humphrey

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if any information about his plans for changes in local government areas was conveyed to the Scottish Parliamentary Boundaries Commission before 8 July; and if he will make a statement on the nature of such information.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: No such information was conveyed to the Scottish Parliamentary Boundaries Commission prior to the publication of the White Paper "Shaping the Future—The New Councils".

  Prisoners
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the ratio of prisoners to social workers in each of the Scottish prisons.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Responsibility for this question has been delegated to the Scottish prison service under its chief executive, Mr E. W. Frizzell. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  191
  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mrs. Maria Fyfe, dated 20 July 1993:

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the ratio of prisoners to social workers in each of the Scottish Prisons.

  The ratio is given in the table below.

  Establishment

  Ratio

  Aberdeen

  1:54

  Castle Huntly

  1:117

  Dumfries

  1:136

  Edinburgh

  1:90

  Glenochil

  1:91

  Inverness

  1:79

  Low Moss

  1:189

  Penninghame

  1:53

  Peterhead

  1:59

  Shotts/Unit

  1:88

  Barlinnie/Special Unit

  1:93

  Cornton Vale

  1:57

  Dungavel

  1:133

  Friarton

  1:71

  Greenock

  1:135

  Longriggend

  1:79

  Noranside

  1:123

  Perth

  1:79

  Polmont

  1:107

  Asbestos-related Diseases
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been paid out in civil compensation in respect of asbestos-related diseases in each year from 1988 in Scotland; and what was the average payment in each of those years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Miscarriages of Justice
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of possible miscarriages of justice have been reviewed in each of the past five years; and what decisions were taken in each case.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In each of the past five years, my right hon. Friend has reviewed petitions alleging miscarriages of justice from or on behalf of the following numbers of persons convicted on indictment:

  Number

  1988

  46

  1989

  60

  1990

  39

  1991

  54

  1992

  83

  My right hon. Friend referred five of these cases to the High Court of Justiciary under section 263(1) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975. The outcome of the subsequent appeals was as follows:
  192

  Appeal

  1988

  Ernest Barrie

  Conviction quashed

  1989

  Graham Archer Marland

  Conviction quashed

  1991

  William Kilpatrick/ Christopher McEwen

  Appeals dismissed

  1992

  Stewart William Murray Dickson

  Conviction for culpable homicide substituted for conviction of murder

  Historic Scotland
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the annual report and accounts of Historic Scotland for 1992–93.

  Mr. Lang
  I have today placed in the Libraries of both Houses copies of Historic Scotland's annual report and accounts for 1992–93.

  Register of Scotland Agency
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the annual report of the Register of Scotland executive agency will be published.

  Mr. Lang
  Copies of the annual report have today been placed in the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Absent Father
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what special training in guidance and counselling women who refuse to name the father of their child is being offered to adjudication staff of the Child Support Agency.

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

  Letter from R. Hepplewhite to Mr. Jim Cousins dated 15 July 1993:

  As Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking what special training in guidance and counselling women who refuse to name the father of their child is being offered to adjudication staff of the Child Support Agency.

  All Agency staff involved in interviewing parents with care of children in connection with arranging maintenance receive extensive training in sensitive interviewing. That training, developed and delivered in conjunction with RELATE, draws upon RELATE's considerable counselling experience and is designed to ensure that staff have the skills needed to deal appropriately with clients who may be anxious and concerned.

  In addition, parents invited for interview receive a detailed statement—drawn up jointly with the National Council for One Parent Families—setting out their rights at the interview and explaining what subsequent action may be taken.

  Interviewing staff are not involved in the adjudication process. Child Support Officers at the Agency's regional centres decide on applications for child support maintenance; and decisions which may involve reduction in benefit are reserved for senior nominated officers at the regional centres. Those decisions carry a right of appeal to an independent tribunal.
  193
  I hope you will find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women have been asked to name an absent father at the Newcastle benefit offices; how many have refused; and how many have been recalled for subsequent interviews.

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

  Letter from R. Hepplewhite to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 19 July 1993:

  As Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many women have been asked to name an absent father at the Newcastle benefit offices, how many have refused and how many have been called for subsequent interviews.

  All maintenance application forms (MAFs) issued to parents with care who approach the Agency ask for the name of the absent parent and the great on the form. There are three CSA local offices in the Newcastle area but we do not hold separate information on the number of MAFs issued locally. A total of 49 parents with care of children were interviewed in the Newcastle area in connection with their Child Support maintenance applications during the period 5 April 9 13 July 1993. Only one parent declined without good cause to

  Pensioner Income results 1979–1990|91 Table 1: The average incomes of pensioner units by source, 1979 to 1990–91 (a) pensioner couples

  Income source

  Average income (£ per week, January 1991 prices)

  Growth since 1979

  1979

  1990

  1990–91

  1990

  1990–91

  Earnings

  24.20

  17.90

  20.00

  -26

  -17

  Benefit income

  81.20

  92.70

  94.40

  14

  14

  Investment income

  16.20

  41.90

  45.10

  159

  179

  Occupational pension

  30.20

  48.90

  54.40

  62

  80

  Other income

  0.80

  0.70

  0.90

  -9

  19

  Total gross income

  152.50

  202.10

  214.80

  33

  41

  Deductions

  22.00

  33.00

  33.60

  50

  53

  Total net income1

  130.50

  169.20

  181.20

  30

  39

  Total net income (after housing costs)2

  111.60

  159.60

  170.90

  43

  53

  1 Median net income, at 1991 prices, was £106.50 in 1979, £127.90 in 1989, £133.50 in 1990 and £138.60 in 1990–91.

  2 Median net income after housing costs, at 1991 prices, was £89.40 in 1979, £115.50 in 1989, £124.20 in 1990 and £123.20 in 1990–91.

  (b) Single pensioners

  Income source

  Average income (£ per week, January 1991 prices)

  Growth since 1979

  1979

  1990

  1990–91

  1990

  1990–91

  Earnings

  5.50

  3.80

  5.40

  -31

  -1

  Benefit income

  53.70

  61.50

  62.30

  15

  16

  Investment income

  8.60

  21.20

  21.60

  147

  151

  Occupational pension

  9.40

  19.50

  20.20

  108

  115

  Other income

  0.50

  1.00

  0.80

  90

  50

  Total gross income

  77.70

  107.10

  110.20

  38

  42

  Deductions

  9.50

  15.60

  15.40

  64

  61

  Total net income1

  68.10

  91.50

  94.80

  34

  39

  Total net income (after housing costs2

  55.40

  79.60

  82.50

  44

  49

  1 Median net income, at 1991 prices, was £61.80 in 1979, £72.30 in 1989, £73.70 in 1990 and £75.20 in 1990–91.

  2 Median net income after housing costs, at 1991 prices, was £47.60 in 1979, £51.90 in 1989, £54.90 in 1990 and £54.40 in 1990–91.

  194
  co-operate with the Agency in arranging maintenance. None of the parents concerned have been recalled for subsequent interviews.

  Interviews are not a routine part of the process of arranging child maintenance and most of the Agency's clients choose to deal with us by post and by telephone without the need for face-to-face contact. However, where necessary, perhaps because a client is unable to complete the Maintenance Assessment Form or is reluctant to do so, arrangements will be made to discuss matters with them at their local office or at their home.

  I wish to stress how carefully we consider such cases and hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Pensioners' Income
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest information held about pensioners' income; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have just published figures that show that since 1979, on average, pensioners' total incomes grew faster than that of the population as a whole.

  The figures in the tables are based on the 1990–91 pensioners' income series. They show that since 1979 pensioners' average incomes have increased by 42 per cent. and by 54 per cent after deducting housing costs. In particular, more pensioners are now benefiting from occupational pensions. In 1979 only 43 per cent. of pensioners had an income from a company pension. By 1990–91, this proportion had increased to 61 per cent, receiving an average of £60.80 a week.

  Copies of this reply will be placed in the Library.
  195

  (c) All pensioner units

  Income source

  Average income (£ per week. January 1991 prices)

  1979

  1990

  1990–1

  1990

  1990–1

  Earnings

  11.90

  9.10

  10.90

  -24

  -9

  Benefit income

  63.20

  73.10

  74.20

  16

  17

  Investment income

  11.20

  28.90

  30.30

  158

  171

  Occupational pension

  16.60

  30.40

  32.90

  84

  98

  Other income

  0.60

  0.90

  0.90

  45

  37

  Total gross income

  103.50

  142.40

  149.10

  38

  44

  Deductions

  13.80

  22.0

  22.20

  59

  60

  Total net income1

  89.70

  120.30

  127.00

  34

  42

  Total net income (after housing costs)2

  74.80

  109.30

  115.40

  46

  54

  1 Median net income at 1991 prices, was £63.30 in 1979, £75.20 in 1989, £77.00 in 1990, and £79.50 in 1990–91.

  2 Median net income after housing costs, at 1991 prices, was £56.60 in 1979, £57.50 in 1989, £63.00 in 1990 and £62.80 in 1990–91.

  (1) Components may not sum to totals owing to rounding.

  (2) * denotes a figure of less than 0.5 per cent.

  (3) All average amounts are means unless otherwise stated.

  (4) All figures are before housing costs unless otherwise stated.

  (5) Pensioner units are defined as single people over state pension age and couples in which the husband is over state pension age.

  (6) 1990–91 denotes estimates from the combined sample for 1990 and 1991. One quarter of the 1991 family expenditure survey sample has been omitted because of problems in the collection of information on community charge payments following the delayed issue of bills in April 1991. As a result, the sample size in that year is too small to provide reliable estimates of pensioners' incomes. For this reason, the remaining data for 1991 have been combined with that for 1990.

  Table 2: The proportion of pensioner units with investment income, and the average amount for those in receipt

  (a) All pensioner units

  Percentage of units with investment income

  Average amount for those in receipt (£ per week, 1991 prices)

  Per cent growth in average amount since 1979

  1979

  1990

  1990–91

  1979

  1990

  1990–91

  1990

  1990–91

  Pensioner couples

  71

  83

  83

  22.70

  50.40

  54.10

  122

  138

  Single pensioners

  57

  70

  71

  15.20

  30.20

  30.30

  99

  100

  All pensioner units

  62

  75

  76

  18.20

  38.60

  40.10

  112

  120

  (b) Recently-retired pensioner units

  Percentage of units with investment income

  Average amount for those in receipt (£ per week, 1991 prices)

  Per cent growth of average amount since 1979

  1979

  1990

  1990–91

  1979

  1990

  1990–91

  1990

  199–91

  Pensioner couples

  73

  83

  83

  24.10

  61.50

  56.80

  155

  135

  Single pensionsers

  60

  65

  72

  14.10

  41.80

  39.00

  197

  177

  All pensioner units

  68

  75

  78

  20.40

  54.40

  49.90

  167

  145

  Notes:

  (1) Recently-retired pensioner units are defined as: single women aged 60–64; single men aged 65–69; and couples in which the husband is aged 65–69.

  (2) All average amounts are means.

  (3) '1990–91' denotes estimates from the combined sample for 1990 and 1991. One quarter of the 1991 family expenditure survey sample has been omitted because of problems in the collection of information on community charge payments following the delayed issue of bills in April 1991. As a result the sample size in that year is too small to provide reliable estimates of pensioners' incomes. For this reason, the remaining data for 1991 have been combined with that for 1990.

  Table 3: The proportion of pensioner units with income from occupational pensions, and the average amount for those in receipt

  (a) All pensioner units

  Percentage of units with occupational pension income

  Average amount for those in receipt (£ per week, 1991 prices)

  Percentage growth of average amount since 1979

  1979

  1990

  1990–91

  1979

  1990

  1990–91

  1990

  1990–91

  Pensioner couples

  65

  71

  71

  48.90

  73.30

  79.40

  50

  62

  Single pensioners

  32

  54

  56

  32.40

  44.20

  44.30

  36

  37

  All pensioner units

  43

  60

  61

  41.10

  57.90

  60.80

  41

  48

  196 197

  (b) Recently-retired pensioner units

  Percentage of units with occupational pension income

  Average amount for those in receipt (£ per week, 1991 prices)

  Percentage growth of average amount, since 1979

  1979

  1990

  1990–91

  1979

  1990

  1990–91

  1990

  1990–91

  Pensioner couples

  68

  78

  74

  57.50

  86.30

  82.20

  50

  43

  Single pensioners

  37

  62

  61

  34.90

  50.30

  51.00

  44

  46

  All pensioner units

  55

  71

  69

  51.20

  73.90

  71.60

  44

  40

  (1) Estimates of the percentage of pensioner units in receipt of occupational pension income are based upon data from the family expenditure survey and the GAD survey of occupational pension schemes. Due to this use of additional information, it is not possible to derive the overall average occupational receipt from the estimates in table 3.

  (2) Recently-retired pensioner units are defined as: single women aged 60–64; single men aged 65–69; and couples in which the husband is aged 65–69.

  (3) All average amounts are means.

  (4) "1990–91" denotes estimates from the combined sample for 1990 and 1991. One quarter of the 1991 family expenditure survey sample has been omitted because of problems in the collection of information on community charge payments following the delayed issue of bills in April 1991. As a result, the sample size in that year is too small to provide reliable estimates of pensioners' incomes. For this reason, the remaining data for 1991 have been combined with that for 1990.

  Pensions
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to make available new versions of the forms all new old-age pensioners are to receive informing them of their pension rights and the methods by which they can have their pension rights paid to them; and if he will notify hon. Members and place a copy in the Library when a new version is available.

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

  Letter from M. Bichard to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated the 19 July 1993:

  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking when he expects to make available new versions of the forms all new old age pensioners are to receive informing them of their pension rights and the method by which they can have their pensions paid to them; and if he will notify honourable Members and place a copy in the Library when a new version is available.

  Possible amendments to the Retirement Pension claim form are currently under consideration. Decisions on the new format of this form will be taken in the near future and a copy of the revised form will be placed in the Library.

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

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of national average earnings the basic state pension comprised in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is in the table.

  Standard rate basic retirement pension

  Date

  Rate £

  As a percentage of average earnings (all adults)1

  November 1979

  22.30

  23.2

  April 1991

  52.00

  18.3

  Note:

  1Source: Department of Employment's new earnings survey estimates of all adult earnings.
  198

  Severe Hardship Payments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give figures for the number of(a) referrals and (b) awards given by month from May 1989 to March 1991 for severe hardship payments by the Department of Social Security branch office in Bishop Auckland.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from M. Bichard to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 19 July 1993:

  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking if he will give figures for the number of (a) referrals and (b) awards given by month from May 1989 to March 1991 for severe hardship payments by the Department of Social Security branch office in Bishop Auckland.

  I have detailed below the total applications under the severe hardship provisions and the number in which payment was awarded.

  Details of the total number of claims to severe hardship payments do not equate with the number of customers. This is because the statistics cover the number of applications, rather than the number of individuals who have claimed. Some customers may have made more than one application.

  Severe Hardship Referrals—Bishop Auckland Branch Office

  Month

  Referrals

  Awards

  May 1989

  5

  3

  June 1989

  6

  5

  July 1989

  6

  5

  August 1989

  3

  3

  September 1989

  5

  1

  October 1989

  3

  1

  November 1989

  6

  6

  December 1989

  5

  4

  January 1990

  8

  7

  February 1990

  8

  5

  March 1990

  5

  2

  April 1990

  2

  2

  May 1990

  3

  3

  June 1990

  6

  6

  July 1990

  9

  4

  August 1990

  7

  7

  September 1990

  7

  5

  October 1990

  1

  0

  November 1990

  3

  2

  199

  Month

  Referrals

  Awards

  December 1990

  5

  1

  January 1991

  8

  4

  February 1991

  7

  5

  March 1991

  7

  4

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

  Expenditure
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the level of all social security benefits paid to people(a) aged 16 and 17 years, (b) aged 18 to 24 years and (c) aged 25 years and over as a percentage of gross domestic product in each year from 1980–81 to 1992–93.

  Mr. Burt
  Information is not available in the form requested. Table 4 in "The Growth of Social Security" shows such information as is available.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount in cash terms and in real terms of social security benefits paid to people(a) aged 16 and 17 years, (b) aged 18 to 24 years and (c) aged 25 years and over for each year from 1980–81 to 1992–93.

  Mr. Burt
  Information is not available in the form requested. For such information as is available, I refer the hon. Member to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on 7 June, at columns 144–45.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the total amount in cash terms and in real terms of social security benefits paid to unemployed people(a) aged 16 and 17 years, (b) aged 18 to 24 years and (c) aged 25 years and over for each year from 1980–81 to 1992–93;

  (2) what was the level of all social security benefits paid to unemployed people (a) aged 16 and 17 years, (b) aged 18 to 24 years and (c) aged 25 years and over, as a percentage of gross domestic product in each year from 1980–81 to 1992–93.

  Mr. Burt
  Information about the total amount of social security benefit paid to unemployed people by age group is not held.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if any recent changes have been made in the guidance given to doctors on assessment for invalidity benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  In February, the report form completed by the Benefits Agency's examining doctors was revised to provide fuller information about the medical condition and its effect on capacity for work for each claimant who is examined. Guidance notes for its completion were also issued and, in June, alterations were made to the "Standing Instructions on Reference Work" issued to the Department's examining doctors. Changes to the medical control procedures which apply to all claims for incapacity benefits, including invalidity benefit, were brought into full effect from 1 April 1993.
  200
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total sum paid out in invalidity benefit in each of the past five years for which figure are available.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is in the table.

  Year

  Expenditure (£ million)

  1988–89

  3,359

  1989–90

  3,837

  1990–91

  4,431

  1991–92

  5,347

  11992–93

  6,100

  Source: The Social Security departmental report 1993.

  1 Estimated outturn.

  Terminal Illness
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many terminally ill people obtained financial assistance from the independent living fund, for each year from 1980 to 1990; and how much money was paid out in respect of such persons in each year;

  (2) what proportion of people receiving financial assistance form the independent living fund for each year since 1980 were terminally ill.

  Mr. Scott
  The independent living fund was established in 1988. The information requested is not available.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates have been made by his Department to establish how many people will be denied financial assistance by the independent living (1993) fund over the next two years because they are terminally ill; and how much money will be saved over the next two years resulting from the exclusion of terminally ill people.

  Mr. Scott
  The independent living (1993) fund is an independent and discretionary trust. Questions of policy and case load forecasting are a matter for the trustees of the fund.

  No financial savings will arise as a result of the trustees' recent decision because the 1993 fund is cash limited.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stratford upon Avon,Official Report, 21 June 1993, column 61, if he will list the statutory agencies which support people who are terminally ill.

  Mr. Scott
  Health authorities and local social services departments provide care for terminally ill people where appropriate.

  Lone Parents
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of lone parents who have been disadvantaged by increased maintenance payments from absentee fathers because of a resultant ineligibility for income support and related benefits.

  Mr. Burt
  It is estimated that, by April 1997, 30, 000 lone parents will have ceased to be eligible for income support, due to increased maintenance payments. The majority of these lone parents will be better off than they were when receiving income support.
  201
  It is possible that some may lose entitlement to passported benefits such as free prescriptions or access to some provisions of the social fund. The low-income scheme operated by the Department of Health means that people on low income may still remain exempt for some or all NHS charges. However, it is not possible to determine how many will have incomes that will not qualify for social security income-related benefits or help under the low-income scheme.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the distribution of child benefit expenditure among families with children, broken down into equivalised income bands before and after housing costs.

  Mr. Burt
  [holding answer 15 July 1993]: The information is in the tables.

  Distribution of child benefit expenditure1 among families with children by equivalised2 income bands, 1990–913

  Net equivalised income of benefit unit4

  Percentage of child benefit expenditure among benefit units in receipt of child benefit Percent

  Before housing costs

  Less than £50

  3

  £50–£100

  16

  £l00–£200

  45

  £200–£300

  23

  £300–£400

  8

  £400–£500

  3

  £500 or more

  3

  After housing costs

  Less than £50

  6

  £50–£100

  27

  £100–£200

  42

  £200–£300

  17

  £300–£4O0

  4

  £400–£500

  2

  £500 or more

  2

  Source: Family Expenditure Survey

  1 Includes one parent benefit which can not readily be separated from child benefit in the Family Expenditure Survey data.

  2 Income has been equivalised within benefit units using the McClements scales.

  3 This represents the latest information available and combines the data for the years 1990 and 1991.

  4 Income is in £s per week expressed in January 1991 prices.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of the reviews of awards of disability living allowance which have been varied up to the most recent available date resulted in(a) a lengthening and (b) a shortening of the period of the award.

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

  Households Below Average Income
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list research projects sponsored by his Department to relate changes in social security, other than 202
  upratings in conformity with inflation, to trends in low incomes reported in the latest households below average income report.

  Mr. Burt
  Research is regularly conducted into the role of social security and its impact on those with low incomes. A list of research projects sponsored by the Department is published in the social security research yearbooks, copies of which are in the Library.

  Social Fund
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the titles of research evidence about the effects of the introduction of the social fund which have been examined by his Department in reviewing the fund.

  Mr. Scott
  All research we are aware of is examined by officials, as part of our continuing evaluation of the operation of the social fund. The titles of the main pieces of research which we have noted are:Department of Social Security research reports Nos. 8 and 9 "Working the Social Fund" and "Evaluating the Social Fund"—Social Policy Research Unit (SPRU) York university (8 July 1992), published by HMSO.
  "The Social Fund—A New Structure"—Social Security Advisory Committee (3 March 1992), published by HMSO;"Challenging Discretion: The Social Fund Review Procedure"—Gillian Dailey and Richard Berthoud (15 July
  1992), published by Policy Studies Institute.

  Benefits
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the total aggregate payments of(a) family income support, (b) income support and (c) community charge benefit for each benefit office in Yorkshire and Humberside during the two most recent financial years for which figures are available.

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

  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much money, in the last financial year for which figures are available, was(a) received from national insurance contributions and (b) spent on (i) unemployment benefit, (ii) sickness benefit, (iii) child benefit, (iv) housing benefit, (v) other social security benefits, (vi) the national health service and (vii) the state pension.

  Mr. Scott
  (a) £32, 474 million1 was received from national insurance contributions in 1991–92.

  (b) Spending in 1991–92 was as follows2

  (£ million)

  Unemployment benefit

  1,604

  Sickness benefit

  273

  Child benefit

  5,189

  Housing benefit

  6,058

  Retirement pension

  25,625

  Other social security benefits

  26,587

  Spending on the national health service is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Sources:

  1National insurance fund accounts 1991–92.

  21993 departmental report.
  203

  Income Support
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether his Department treats as income, for the purposes of assessing income support entitlement, the fees paid by an estranged partner to a person for nursery costs who is claiming income support.

  Mr. Burt
  Regulations 54 and 55 of the Income Support (General) Regulations require that, with certain specified exceptions, any periodic payments made by a liable relative to their estranged partner are treated as income. These exceptions do not include payments for the purpose of meeting nursery fees.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make it his policy to establish a clear food element within income support payments;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to introduce a boarders' premium for income support claimants to cover the additional costs of living in accommodation without cooking facilities.

  Mr. Burt
  There are no plans to introduce such a policy.
  204

  Pneumoconiosis
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the total cost of the operation of the independent tribunal service pneumoconiosis panel in England and Wales in each year since 1988;

  (2) what was the total cost incurred by the independent tribunal service in reassessing the percentage of disability experienced by people with asbestos-related illnesses, pneumoconiosis panel, in England and Wales in each year since 1988;

  (3) what was the total cost of the operation of the independent tribunal service pneumoconiosis panel in Scotland in each year since 1988;

  (4) what was the total cost incurred by the independent tribunal service in reassessing the percentage of disability experienced by people with asbestos-related illnesses, pneumoconiosis panel, in Scotland in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not available.

  RIVER SAFETY (HAYES REPORT)
  RIVER SAFETY (HAYES REPORT)
  ROADS: EXPENDITURE
  ROADS: EXPENDITURE
  ROADS: WIDENING
  ROADS: WIDENING
  BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS: LONDON
  BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS: LONDON
  ARMED FORCES: RECOGNITION OF SERVICE
  ARMED FORCES: RECOGNITION OF SERVICE
  HYDE PARK: CAR PARKING
  HYDE PARK: CAR PARKING
  ROYAL PARKS AUTHORITIES AND PLANNING LAW
  ROYAL PARKS AUTHORITIES AND PLANNING LAW
  ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE: EC CONVENTION
  ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE: EC CONVENTION