Written Answers of 21 July 1993

Home Department

  Immigration (Medical Examinations)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers arriving at United Kingdom ports of entry during 1992 and the first quarter of 1993 were referred to port medical inspectors for examination; what are the most common diagnoses made; and how many people have been(a) refused entry (i) wholly or (ii) partly on medical grounds and for what medical reason or (b) required to report for further medical treatment after entry, for what medical reason.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Nine passengers were refused entry principally on medical grounds in 1992 and none during the first quarter of 1993. The other information requested is not available centrally.

  Immigration Offences
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were recommended for deportation with no custodial sentence during(a)

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1 January to 31 March

  —

  856

  688

  735

  2960

  995

  1 April to 30 June

  —

  658

  644

  759

  2793

  3946

  1 July to 30 September

  1285

  829

  634

  781

  761

  —

  1 October to 31 December

  692

  729

  744

  778

  710

  —

  1From 1 August.

  2Revised figure.

  3 Provisional figure.

  EUROPOL
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further progress has been made recently towards bringing the European Community joint criminal intelligence office, EUROPOL, on to an effective basis and towards establishing a joint anti-drugs squad.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Ministers of the Interior and Justice of the member states signed a ministerial agreement on the establishment of the EUROPOL drugs unit on 2 June 1993, in Copenhagen. The agreement will come into force as soon as a decision has been made on a site for EUROPOL by the European Council.

  Work is continuing under the Belgium presidency on the draft convention establishing EUROPOL. EUROPOL will exchange and analyse intelligence relating to serious crime, focusing initially on drug trafficking, but there is no intention that its officers should have any operational
  powers.
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  and (b) 1993 to the latest convenient date; and in how many such cases the courts directed release (i) subject to conditions and (ii) without conditions.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  During 1992, 27 people were recommended for deportation by the courts with no custodial sentence and seven during the first half of 1993. The other information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many decisions to make a deportation order, by nationality of the potential deportee, where there is only a right of appeal as provided under section 5 of the Immigration Act 1988, have been made in each quarter since 1 August 1988; and on what basis these decisions have been made.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The total numbers of decisions to deport affected by the provisions of section 5 of the Immigration Act 1988 in each of the quarters since 1 August 1988 are shown in the table. All these decisions were made under section 3(5)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971, which provides that a person who is not a British citizen is liable to deportation if, having only a limited leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, he does not observe a condition attached to the leave or remains beyond the time limited by the leave. Information about the nationality of those affected could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Immigration
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding immigration applications there are at Lunar house from(a) students, (b) family members in the United Kingdom applying for variation of stay, (c) settlement entry clearance applications referred from overseas posts and (d) asylum seekers; and what are the average times applicants in each category might expect to wait before a decision.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information is that at the end of June 1993 there were in total about 16,700 cases in the general immigration caseworking groups— including referred entry clearance applications—the majority of which were under consideration or the subject of further inquiries, and about 46,300 cases in the asylum and special cases division.

  The estimated average length of time between the receipt of an application and the decision, for cases decided in caseworking groups and the public inquiry offices, in the first quarter of 1993, was one and a half months for students and 20 months for asylum applications. The latter figure reflects the increase in staffing in the asylum and special cases division which has

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  enabled work to proceed on the resolution of older and more complex cases. Information on average waiting times for family members in the United Kingdom for variation of leave and for settlement entry clearance applications referred from overseas posts is not available.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) British nationals and (b) holders of certificates of identity from Hong Kong have been admitted to the United Kingdom in each quarter

  Admissions to the United Kingdom of BDTCs and BN(O)s from Hong Kong

  1992

  19931

  Admission category

  1st quarter

  2nd quarter

  3rd quarter

  4th quarter

  Year

  January, February

  Visitors:

  Ordinary

  7,700

  12,300

  22,000

  7,030

  49,100

  5,220

  Business

  1,590

  1,470

  1,610

  1,450

  6,120

  1,090

  Students

  490

  500

  7,290

  940

  9,230

  470

  Husbands and fiancés2

  10

  10

  20

  10

  60

  Wives and fiancées2

  30

  40

  50

  30

  140

  20

  Parents and grandparents2

  10

  —

  10

  —

  Children2

  20

  30

  100

  10

  170

  10

  5 or fewer.

  1 Provisional figures.

  2 Seeking, or accepted for, settlement in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for(a) single entry and (b) multiple entry visit visas were (i) received, (ii) granted and (iii) refused at each post in the Indian sub-continent, Ghana, Nigeria, the Philippines and Jamaica in each quarter of 1992 and the first quarter of 1993; and what was the delay between application and interview for those whose applications were felt to need a

  Applications received for single entry and multiple entry visit visas and the numbers granted, refused and those interviewed on a date subsequent to the date of application in specified posts in 1992

  Applications

  Received1

  Granted

  Refused

  Number not interviewed on day of application

  Islamabad

  single entry

  30,036

  19,099

  8,393

  1,389

  multiple entry

  8,192

  6,295

  43

  Karachi

  single entry

  14,736

  11,244

  2,256

  1,951

  multiple entry

  8,082

  7,516

  308

  New Delhi

  single entry

  25,879

  19,852

  2,938

  0

  multiple entry

  11,326

  10,764

  43

  Bombay

  single entry

  17,943

  14,661

  3,291

  0

  multiple entry

  16,488

  15,890

  363

  Calcutta

  single entry

  3,574

  3,346

  175

  109

  multiple entry

  3,304

  2,950

  24

  Madras

  single entry

  4,709

  4,499

  207

  0

  multiple entry

  4,485

  4,443

  25

  Colombo

  single entry

  6,382

  4,734

  1,054

  0

  multiple entry

  2,037

  1,995

  15

  Dhaka

  single entry

  10,207

  7,606

  2,751

  0

  multiple entry

  2,985

  2,985

  0

  208
  since January 1992 as (i) persons of independent means, (ii) self-employed persons, (iii) business people, (iv) visitors, (v) students, (vi) husbands and fiancées, (vii) wives and fiancées and (viii) other dependent relatives.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information for British dependent territories citizens and British nationals (overseas) from Hong Kong is given in the table. Data on admissions of holders of certificates of identity from Hong Kong are not available.

  second or long interview at each of the above posts in (1) June 1992, (2) January 1993 and (3) June 1993 or the nearest available date.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Only annual data are available centrally for single visit and multiple entry visit visas and the only information available on the delay between application and interview is of the number of people not interviewed on the day of application.

  The available information for 1992 is given in the table.
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  Applications

  Received1

  Granted

  Refused

  Number not interviewed on day of application

  Accra

  single entry

  11,664

  6,901

  4,844

  0

  multiple entry

  4,464

  4,135

  49

  Lagos

  single entry

  27,717

  15,632

  9,959

  0

  multiple entry

  17,715

  14,447

  724

  Kaduna

  single entry

  4,878

  3,194

  1,509

  0

  multiple entry

  1,913

  1,827

  42

  Manila

  single entry

  10,066

  8,970

  994

  0

  multiple entry

  2,509

  2,314

  80

  Kingston

  single entry

  2,527

  1,897

  652

  0

  multiple entry

  103

  103

  0

  1 These will include cases dealt with in a later period and also those subsequently withdrawn.

  Tyre Dump Fires
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions are issued to fire service authorities in dealing with fires at tyre dumps; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Home Office has issued detailed guidance to chief fire officers on, among other things, the need to use the most effective available techniques for dealing with fires at tyre dumps. Revised guidance on the storage of used tyres in the open air is also being prepared.

  Registration and Naturalisation
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time taken to process applications for(a) registration and (b) naturalisation; and how long those applying in both of those categories in June 1993 can expect to wait.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In June 1993 the average waiting time for certificates granted under the British Nationality Act 1981 was 19 months for naturalisation and 13 months for registration applications. It is expected that most applications made in June 1993 for naturalisation will be decided within 12 months and for registration within six to nine months.

  Operation Boxer
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) immigration officers, (b) police officers and (c) police dogs were involved in Operation Boxer; how the officers had obtained the allegations and information on which they were acting; how many of the people detained on 24 June were found to be (i) legally 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 have left the United Kingdom.
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  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Forty-nine immigration service staff, assisted by about 80 police officers, were involved in Operator Boxer on 24 June. No police dogs were used.

  The information on which the officers were acting was received from a number of sources. Of those people interviewed on 24 June, five were found to be legally in the United Kingdom, of whom two were British citizens. Seventeen were dealt with as illegal entrants. Thirteen were found to be in breach of their conditions of entry to this country. Of these, 10 were overstayers and three were working without permission. One person was found to be the subject of an extant deportation order.

  All those arrested were given the opportunity to receive legal advice and representation in accordance with the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

  Of those detained, 31 were detained for one day or less, five were detained for between one day and one week, arid one was detained for over one week.

  Thirteen people have so far left the United Kingdom as a result of this operation.

  Birmingham Pub Bombings
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the West Midlands police on the Birmingham pub bombings.

  Mr. Howard
  The investigation of these serious offences is being conducted under the auspices of the Director of Public Prosecutions to whom a report will be sent at its conclusion. It is not possible to say when the report will be ready.

  Charities
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will implement part II of the Charities Act 1992 to tackle fraudulent charity fund-raisers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  As indicated in the answer to a question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) on 23 March, column 532, I intend to implement part II—control of fund-raising —by the end of March 1994. To that end I have recently

  211
  issued a document on part II which includes draft regulations and guidance; a copy is being placed in the Library of the House.

  Parking Tickets
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prosecutions and (b) fixed penalty parking tickets were issued to motorists in (i) Westminster and (ii) the remaining London boroughs during each of the past five years for illegal parking on (1) a single yellow line and (2) a parking meter; what was the average penalty levied in the case of (a) fines and (b) prosecutions; what considerations underlie the choice of penalty for such offences; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information is not available in the detailed form requested. A total of 7,696 non-endorsable obstruction, waiting and parking offences were dealt with by prosecution in the Metropolitan police district in 1991 and 1,844,595 by fixed penalty notice. The average fine imposed following prosecution was £31 and the standard amount imposed after a fixed penalty was £16.

  Fixed penalty levels are set by the Home Secretary and are reviewed periodically. They are intended to provide a penalty which is proportionate to the offence.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Murder Trials
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what records are kept of the witnesses called at a murder trial; and for how long they are retained.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  All records of a murder trial in which a life sentence is imposed are preserved permanently.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what arrangements are made for the preservation of a judge's notes made during a trial for murder.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Judge's notes are retained for five years from the date of the last entry in each volume. No special arrangements exist for the preservation of judge's notes made during a trial for murder after the five-year period. Verbatim transcripts made for the appeal are kept indefinitely by arrangement with the Public Record Office.

  Magistrates' Training
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the result of the review announced in February 1992 of magistrates' training in the criteria contained in the Bail Act 1976.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Judicial Studies Board has reviewed the training given to magistrates on bail matters and on 31 August 1992 the chairman of the magisterial committee of the board wrote to all training officers giving advice on best practice. A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library.
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  Legal Education and Conduct
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellors' advisory committee on legal education and conduct intends to publish its second annual report.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education and conduct has today published its second annual report, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

HEALTH

  Nurses and Midwives
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many practising midwives there are in each grade in each region, including those in senior nurse/senior midwife grades, senior nurse grades and 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 region.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information will be placed in the Library.

  Emergency Admissions (North-West)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the number of emergency admissions to(a) Burnley health care trust and (b) the North West regional health authority for 1991–92.

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1991–92 purchasers in the North Western region bought 331,000 non-elective admissions to hospitals. In the same year the predecessors of the Burnley health care trust provided 17,292 such admissions.

  Voluntary Organisations
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) of 21 June,Official Report, column 34, if he will list the grants so far made to voluntary organisations under the section 64 general scheme of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 in the financial year beginning 1 April.

  Mr. Bowis
  Section 64 general scheme grants continuing into 1993–94 from previous years and new grants for which approval had been notified by 15 July 1993 total over £16.5 million. Details will be placed in the Library. The budget for 1993–94 is £19.2 million, an increase of £0.9 million over 1992–93.

  Elective Surgery Treatment Centres
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to establish treatment centres for elective surgery in England for(a) cataract surgery, (b) major joint surgery and (c) hernias and varicose vein surgery.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no plans to do so. It is for health authorities to decide whether the establishment of treatment centres providing certain surgical procedures would be in the best interests of the populations they serve.
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  Psychiatric Care
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many mother and baby beds there are in psychiatric units in the country;

  (2) how many women-only psychiatric wards there are in England.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) male and (b) female psychiatrists are currently practising.

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information is shown in the table. Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Numbers of psychiatrists in national health service hospital sector by sex England—30 September 1991

  Consultants

  All staff1

  Male

  1,490

  3,760

  Female

  535

  2,097

  Total

  2,025

  5,857

  Note:

  Specialties included are mental illness, child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, mental handicap, old age psychiatry and psychotherapy.

  1 Grades included: consultants, associate specialists, staff grades, senior registrars, registrars and senior house officers, house officers, hospital practitioners and clinical assistants working in the specialty.

  Accident and Emergency Units
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what figures she has on the percentage of women of reproductive age who visit accident and emergency units because of domestic violence.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Secure Accommodation
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her Department's policy on the provision of secure accommodation for 15 and 16-year-old offenders by social service authorities.

  Mr. Bowis
  Secure accommodation provided in community homes is for any child being looked after by a local authority who meets the statutory criteria for restriction of liberty, whether as an offender or as a non-offender.

  We are working closely with local authorities to ensure that sufficient additional secure accommodation is made available to ensure that the practice of remanding 15 and 16-year-old alleged offenders to penal establishments can be abolished as quickly as practicable.

  NHS Reforms
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is her estimate of the total cost of administering the internal market in the health service in each of the last two years;
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  (2) what assessment she has made of the cost-effectiveness of the NHS reforms.

  Mr. Sackville
  The national health service reforms are now firmly in place. It is impossible to put a figure on the relative cost of services under this system compared with any particular alternative, such as the previously directly managed arrangements, but there is no doubt that the NHS is now more effective in identifying local health needs and providing more efficient health care services.

  Paracetamol Overdoses
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died from paracetamol in each of the last five years; how many recorded overdoses of paracetamol there were in each of the last five years; and what plans she has to decrease morbidity and mortality from paracetamol overdose.

  Mr. Bowis
  The table shows the number of deaths from poisoning where paracetamol is mentioned in the deaths' records. Information on the number of recorded overdoses of paracetamol is not available centrally.

  "The Health of the Nation" mental illness key area handbook gives guidance to professionals on how to meet the specific suicide reduction targets. The advice covers the labelling of paracetamol bottles to warn of toxicity and reviewing the storage and availability of poisonous over-the-counter medicines.

  Deaths from poisoning where paracetamol is mentioned in the deaths' records, England and Wales, 1986–90

  Paracetamol without mention of other drugs

  Paracetamol with mention of other drugs

  1986

  208

  (15)

  299

  (69)

  1987

  212

  (19)

  301

  (58)

  1988

  184

  (21)

  312

  (77)

  1989

  163

  (16)

  295

  (59)

  1990

  223

  (16)

  288

  (60)

  Figures in brackets are deaths where there was no mention of alcohol.

  Note This table is compiled using the information available in table 10 of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) publication "Mortality statistics: injury and poisoning" series DH4 Nos. 12–16, which lists all substances mentioned in the records of deaths assigned to accidental and other poisoning by solid or liquid substances. The inclusion of a substance in this list does not, however, imply that it is necessarily toxic. Where two or more substances are mentioned togther the contribution, if any, of each to the death is unknown; even where one substance is listed alone there may well be other factors with an important bearing on the death. Copies of the OPCS DH4 series are avaiable in the Library.

  Paediatric Nurses
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses trained as specialists in paediatrics in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The figures give the numbers starting paediatric nurse training and the numbers completing paediatric nurse training in England at year ending 31 March.

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Intakes to training

  710

  810

  850

  1,090

  1,180

  Completing training

  780

  700

  770

  850

  890

  Note: The number completing training in 1988 is greater than the number of intakes to training in the same year because those completing refer to intakes in previous years.
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  Electro-convulsive Therapy
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will estimate the number of(a) women and (b) men receiving ECT each year; and what is the ratio between them.

  Mr. Bowis
  The number of electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) treatments in 1990–91 was 105,466 but a patient could receive more than one treatment during the year. It is estimated that five women receive ECT for every two men.

  Mid-Staffordshire Health Authority
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she proposes to take following the Peat Marwick report on the financial management of Mid-Staffordshire health authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  This a matter for the health authority concerned who are working in close conjuction with West Midlands regional health authority to resolve their financial position. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. B. Liss, the chairman of Mid-Staffordshire health authority, for details.

  Elderly People (Abuse)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to place a legal duty on social workers to investigate cases of suspected abuse against those elderly and disabled people who are unable to take decisions for themselves.

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) on 12 July at col.385.

  HELIOS II Proposals
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement outlining the progress made by her Department to date in determining an official response to the HELIOS II proposals.

  Mr. Bowis
  The European Community's HELIOS II programme was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 25 February this year. The Department is currently consulting in the United Kingdom with other interested Government Departments and with a United Kingdom forum of voluntary bodies representing a wide range of disabilities on the content of the programme.

  Patient Waiting Times
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she will publish the provider waiting lists and waiting times for each Thames region of the NHS.

  Mr. Sackville
  Provider based information on waiting lists and waiting times by trust, district health authority, special health authority and regional health authority is given in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England". This is published twice a year and copies are available in the Library.
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  Home Helps
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received about the level of charges for home helps; whether she will carry out an inquiry into the differences in charges between local authorities; when she plans to issue guidelines to local authorities on levels of charges; and if she will make a statement, with particular reference to the role that voluntary groups and the private sector can play in providing home helps in the Bolton area.

  Mr. Bowis
  A number of representations have been received. Local authorities have a discretionary power to make charges for non-residential services. We have no current plans to carry out an inquiry. It is the Government's view that a full economic charge should be recovered where this can be done without causing hardship to the service user. Advice on detailed aspects will be disseminated where appropriate.

  One of the main objectives of the community care reforms is to encourage the development of a flourishing independent sector in the provision of domiciliary servics. It is for each local authority to identify local needs and opportunities, and their progress will be monitored. We understand that independent sector involvement in the provision of domiciliary services in Bolton is currently minimal. It is our view that such involvement should be encouraged.

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has issued to NHS trusts with regard to the specifications of contracts for ambulance and patient transport services and the minimum levels of training required for ambulance personnel.

  Mr. Sackville
  Guidance on contracts was included in "Health Service Guidelines (HSG(91)29): Ambulance and other patient transport services—Operation, use and performance standards". Subsequent circulars FDL(92)82 and FDL(93)07 set out the finance arrangements recommended to those contracting for non-emergency patient transport services. Further guidance on these matters is to be issued very shortly. Copies of guidelines and circulars are available in the Library.

  The level of training given to ambulance personnel will depend on the nature of their duties. For example, ambulance paramedics must, as a minimum, achieve the standards currently set by the national health service training directorate.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the policy of her Department with regard to the maximum geographical area which can appropriately be covered by one ambulance service.

  Mr. Sackville
  There is no restriction on the area for which an ambulance service may tender for service contracts.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations have been received by her Department from groups representing private ambulance operators, with regard to the need for increased regulation or self-regulation of such operators.

  Mr. Sackville
  Representations have been received from a number of organisations representing private ambulance
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  services. A representative of one organisation had discussions with the Department of Health's ambulance policy advisory group earlier this year. The advisory group has agreed a code of practice for prospective purchasers and providers setting out minimum standards for non-national health service patient transport services.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts in each regional health authority in England and Wales presently have one or more contracts with private operators for ambulance or patient transport services.

  National Health Service qualified midwives employed full-time and part-time by region—September 1988 to 1991

  Whole-time equivalents

  1988

  1989

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  Northern

  960

  370

  1,320

  920

  370

  1,290

  Yorkshire

  1,240

  360

  1,610

  1,240

  380

  1,630

  Trent

  1,380

  440

  1,820

  1,410

  440

  1,850

  East Anglia

  670

  160

  830

  630

  180

  820

  North West Thames

  960

  220

  1,180

  970

  230

  1,200

  North East Thames

  1,300

  270

  1,580

  1,300

  270

  1,570

  South East Thames

  880

  160

  1,040

  660

  120

  780

  South West Thames

  780

  240

  1,030

  780

  270

  1,040

  Wessex

  880

  270

  1,150

  860

  300

  1,150

  Oxford

  720

  240

  960

  750

  230

  980

  South Western

  810

  210

  1,020

  940

  260

  1,200

  West Midlands

  1,670

  540

  2,210

  1,700

  550

  2,250

  Mersey

  750

  270

  1,020

  780

  310

  1,090

  North Western

  1,690

  480

  2,170

  1,580

  530

  2,110

  Special Health Authority

  140

  10

  150

  140

  10

  150

  Total

  14,840

  4,250

  19,080

  14,660

  4,460

  19,110

  Whole-time equivalents

  1990

  1991

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  Full-lime

  Part-time

  Total

  Northern

  920

  370

  1,280

  910

  400

  1,310

  Yorkshire

  1,270

  370

  1,640

  1,210

  410

  1,620

  Trent

  1,410

  470

  1,880

  1,390

  490

  1,880

  East Anglia

  640

  170

  810

  610

  180

  780

  North West Thames

  980

  230

  1,210

  880

  250

  1,130

  North East Thames

  1,340

  270

  1,610

  1,280

  310

  1,600

  South East Thames

  1,150

  250

  1,400

  990

  320

  1,310

  South West Thames

  740

  240

  980

  780

  260

  1,040

  Wessex

  820

  310

  1,130

  790

  350

  1,140

  Oxford

  760

  250

  1,010

  730

  300

  1,030

  South Western

  950

  280

  1,230

  10

  1,180

  1,180

  West Midlands

  1,750

  570

  2,320

  1,650

  570

  2,220

  Mersey

  800

  320

  1,120

  770

  340

  1,110

  North Western

  1,580

  570

  2,150

  1,580

  620

  2,190

  Special Health Authority

  80

  0

  80

  90

  0

  90

  Total

  15,200

  4,660

  19,860

  13,670

  5,980

  19,640

  Source: HAP(STATS)B Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  2. Figures exclude student and pupil midwives.

  3. Figures exclude Senior Midwives (Midwives in administration).

  4. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

EDUCATION

  Examinations
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 13 July,Official Report, column 824, when he expects to be in a position to give the cost of examiners used to invigilate and/or mark tests for English and technical studies in spring 1993 to
  218
  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

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

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is given in the table.

  replace teaching staff who refused to administer the tests; and whether he will list those costs by authority which incurred them.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not collected by the Department.

  Speech Therapy
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the ratio of schoolchildren aged between three and 19 years old to speech therapists in each local education authority in England.
  219
  Mr. Forth
  The figures requested are not held centrally.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list those schools by local education authority that have achieved grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The schools which have been approved for self-governing status as of 20 July, or which my right hon. Friend is minded to approve, are as follows.

  Avon

  Oldfield School

  Beechen Cliff School

  Barnet

  Queen Elizabeth's GM School For Boys

  Mill Hill Grant-Maintained High School

  St. Mary's CE High School

  Hendon School

  Bedfordshire

  Lea Manor High School and Community College

  Crawley Green Grant Maintained Infant School

  Holywell School

  Thomas Whitehead CE School

  Ashcroft High School

  Quensbury School

  Ashton St. Peters (VA) Lower School

  Sharnbrook Upper School

  Icknield High School

  Manshead School

  Stopsley High School and Community College

  Wootton Upper School

  Lincroft Middle School (Grant Maintained)

  Berkshire

  Herschel Grammar School

  Slough Grammar School (Formerly Upton Grammar)

  The Downs School

  Denefield School

  Priory School

  Cippenham Middle School (Grant Maintained)

  Reading School

  Whitelocke Infant and Nursery School

  Langley Grammar School Desborough Comprehensive School

  Holy Family RC School Castleview Combined School

  St. Bartholomew's School Westgate School

  Southlands School

  Bexley

  St. Columba's RC Boys School

  St. Catherine's RC School for Girls

  Bexley Erith Technical High School for Boys

  St. Mary and St. Joseph's Grant-Maintained School

  Barnehurst Infant Grant-Maintained School

  Barnehurst Junior Grant-Maintained School

  Birmingham

  Handsworth Grammar School for Boys

  King Edward VI Handsworth School

  Ninestiles School

  King Edward VI Aston School

  Hall Green School

  Baverstock Grant-Maintained School

  King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls

  Small Heath School

  Great Barr Grant-Maintained School

  The Fairfax School

  Deanery Junior School

  Deanery Infant School

  King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys

  King Edward VI Five Ways School

  Bolton

  George Tomlinson School

  220

  St. James' CE School

  Canon Slade School

  Crompton Fold Primary School

  Bradford

  Oakbank School

  Bingley Grammar School

  Laisterdyke Grant-Maintained Middle School

  Thornton School

  Hanson Grant-Maintained School

  Killinghall School

  Brent

  Claremont High School (Grant-Maintained)

  Kingsbury High School

  Convent of Jesus and Mary GM High School

  Queens Park Community School (GM)

  Copland Community School and Technology Centre

  Bromley

  Beaverwood School for Girls Crofton Junior School

  Holy Innocents Roman Catholic Primary School

  Newstead Wood School for Girls (GM)

  Bullers Wood School for Girls Hayes School

  Charles Darwin School

  St. John Rigby School

  Ravens Wood School for Boys

  Langley Park School for Boys Coopers School

  Kelsey Park School

  St. Olave's and St. Saviour's Grammar School

  Buckinghamshire

  Castlefield Combined School

  Hamilton Combined School

  Bridgewater Hall School, Stantonbury Campus

  Beaconsfield High School

  Overstone Grant-Maintained Combined School

  Brindley Hall School

  Wycombe Royal Grammar School

  Lord Grey School Wing School

  Beechview Middle School (Grant-Maintained)

  The Chalfonts Community College (GM)

  The Radcliffe School

  Brookmead School

  Brushwood Middle School

  Bury

  Peel Brow County Primary School

  Calderdale

  Rastrick High School

  Salterlee Primary School

  The North Halifax Grammar School

  Holy Trinity CE Senior School (GM)

  The Crossley Heath School

  Cambridgeshire

  Jack Hunt School, Peterborough

  Deacon's School

  The King's School (Peterborough Cathedral Sc)

  Sawston Village College

  Sawtry Village College GM School

  St. John Fisher RC Comprehensive School

  St. Peter's School

  Longsands Community College

  The Village College, Comberton

  Gamlingay (Grant-Maintained) Village College

  Bassingbourn GM Village College

  Stanground College (Grant-Maintained)

  Orton Wistow Primary School

  Wheatfields Junior School

  The Queen's School

  St. Helen's Primary School

  Crosshall Junior School

  Ailwyn Community School

  The Park Lane Primary School

  Crosshall Infant School

  221
  Cheshire

  Henbury County High School

  Fallibroome High School

  Bankfield High School (GM)

  Mottram St. Andrew Primary School

  Kettleshulme St. James CE GM Primary School

  Croydon

  St. Joseph's College

  Thomas More Grant-Maintained School

  Riddlesdown Grant-Maintained School

  Edenham School

  Cumbria

  Hayton CE Grant-Maintained School

  Appleby Grammar School

  Warwick Bridge (GM) Primary School

  Dallam School

  Scotby CE Grant-Maintained Primary School

  Harraby School

  Kirkby Stephen Grammar Schol

  Parkview School

  Queen Elizabeth Grammar School

  Kirkbie Kendal School

  Cartmel Priory CE School

  The Queen Katherine School

  Brampton Junior School

  St. Aidan's County High School

  Trinity School, Carlisle

  Derbyshire

  Murray Park Community School

  The Pingle School

  Chellaston School

  Belper Grant-Maintained School

  Heanor Gate School

  Linton Primary School

  Noel-Baker Community School (GM)

  Repton Primary School

  Netherthorpe School

  West Park Community School

  Lady Manners School

  The Merrill Community School

  Friesland School

  Belmont Primary School

  John Port School

  The Ecclesbourne School

  Chellaston Junior School

  Borrow Wood Junior School

  Devon

  St. Boniface's College

  Teign School

  Knowles Hill School

  Colyton Grammar School

  Torquay Boys' Grammar School (GM)

  Dorset

  St. Peter's RC School

  The Woodroffe School

  Highcliffe Comprehensive School

  Parkstone Grammar School

  Budmouth School

  St. Walburga's RC Primary School

  Poole Technical High School (Ex Henry Harbin)

  Bournemouth School

  Bournemouth School for Girls

  Avonbourne School

  Dudley

  Alder Coppice Primary School

  Old Swinford Hospital

  The Ellowes Hall School

  The High Arcal School

  The Kingswinford Grant-Maintained School

  Ealing

  Wood End Middle School

  Wood End First School

  222

  Greenford High School

  Drayton Manor High School

  Brentside High School

  Northholt High School

  The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls

  Enfield

  The Latymer School

  Albany School

  Broomfield School

  Essex

  The Rickstones School

  Beauchamps Grant-Maintained School

  Colbayns High Grant-Maintained School

  Katherines Primary School

  The King John School

  Bromfords School, Wickford

  King Harold Grant-Maintained School

  The Greensward School

  Rodings Central Primary School

  St. Martin's Grant-Maintained School

  Tendring High School

  Torells Grant-Maintained School

  St. Katherine's CE VA Primary School

  Holland Haven Grant-Maintained Primary School

  Rolph CE VA Primary School

  Chelmsford County High School for Girls

  Chelmer Valley High School (Grant-Maintained)

  St. Clare's RC Primary School

  St. Helena School

  Southend High School for Boys

  Southend Girls High School

  St. Clere's School

  South Benfleet Primary School

  Thurstable School

  Hassenbrook School

  Sir Charles Lucas School

  Chalvedon School

  Newlands Spring Grant-Maintained School

  Takeley Grant-Maintained Primary School

  Cecil Jones High School

  The Gilberd School

  Newport Free Grammar School

  Saffron Walden County High School

  Westcliff High School for Girls

  Holland Park County Primary School

  Castle View School

  The Grays School (Grant-Maintained)

  Great Totham Primary School, Essex

  St. Osyth CE Aided Primary School

  Colchester Royal Grammar School

  Rainsford School

  Gable Hall Grant-Maintained Comprehensive School

  Anglo European School (Ingatestone)

  Furtherwick Park School

  Millfields County Primary School

  The Plume School

  St. Thomas More High School for Boys

  Elmstead County Primary School

  Davenant Foundation School

  Belfairs Community College

  Eastwood County High School and 6th Form Centre

  Northwick Park Grant-Maintained Junior School

  Northwick Park Grant-Maintained Infant School

  Northlands Grant-Maintained Junior School

  North Crescent Primary School

  King Edward VI Grammar School (GM)

  The Bramston School

  The Appleton School

  William Edwards School

  William De Ferrers School

  Westcliff High School for Boys

  Westborough County Primary School

  West Hatch High School

  St. Thomas More RC Primary School

  Thorpedene Infant School

  The Boswells School

  Clacton County High School

  The Thorpe Bay School

  The Philip Morant School

  223

  All Saints Church of England Primary School

  The King Edmund School

  Woodville County Primary School

  St. Andrew's Grant-Maintained CE Primary School

  Jotmans Hall Primary School

  The Fitzwimarc School, Rayleigh

  The Elmwood Primary School

  The Deanes School

  The Cornelius Vermuyden School

  The Hedley Walter High School (GM)

  Coppins Green Grant-Maintained Primary School

  The Harwich School

  Kingswood Junior School

  Kingswood Infant School

  Gloucestershire

  Katharine Lady Berkeley's School

  Stroud High School

  Balcarras School

  Churchdown Grant-Maintained School

  Chosen Hill School, Gloucester

  Chipping Campden School

  Cheltenham Bournside School and 6th form Centre

  Tewkesbury Grant-Maintained School

  Saintbridge GM Technology School

  St. Benedict's RC School

  Robinswood Primary School

  The Cotswold School

  Ribston Hall High School

  Picklenash Junior School

  Pate's Grant-Maintained Grammar School

  Andoversford Primary School

  Wyedean School, Grant-Maintained Status

  Winchcombe Community School

  Newent Community School

  Marling School

  The Rednock School

  The Crypt School

  Blue Coat CE Grant-Maintained Primary School

  The Catholic School of St. Gregory the Great

  Hammersmith

  London Oratory School

  Hampshire

  The Arnewood School

  Bohunt Community School

  Testwood School

  Testbourne Community School

  All Hallows RC School

  Hordle CE (c) Grant-Maintained Primary School

  St. Joseph's RC Primary School

  St. Edmund's Catholic School

  Hardley School (Grant-Maintained)

  Applemore Technology School

  Ringwood School (GM Comprehensive)

  Blackfield Middle School (Grant-Maintained)

  Calmore Grant-Maintained Middle School

  Front Lawn Middle School

  Bay House Grant-Maintained School

  Oaklands Itc Comprehensive School

  Burgate School

  Abbotswood Grant-Maintained Middle School

  The Priory School

  Crofton School, Fareham

  The City of Portsmouth Boys' School

  Havering

  Abbs Cross School

  The Frances Bardsley School for Girls

  The Coopers' Company and Coborn (GM School)

  Hereford and Worcester

  Blessed Edward Oldcorne RC High School

  St. Bede's Catholic Grant-Maintained School

  St. Augustine's Catholic GM School

  Prince Henry's Grant-Maintained High School

  Bromsgrove CE Middle School

  224
  Hertfordshire

  The Bishop's Stortford High School

  Ashlyns Grant-Maintained School

  Christ Church CE School

  St. Mary's Catholic Primary School

  Hertingfordbury Cowper JMI Schoo

  Watford Grammar School for Girls

  Rickmansworth School

  Goffs School

  Queens' School

  Francis Bacon School

  Parmiters School

  Parkside First School

  Bushy Meads Grant-Maintained School

  Bushey Hall School

  Nicholas Breakspear Roman Catholic GM School

  Mount Grace (GM) School

  Watford Grammar School for Boys

  Dame Alice Owen's School

  Marlborough School

  The Leventhorpe School

  The John Henry Newman School

  Hillingdon

  Swakeleys School

  Mellow Lane School

  Bishopshalt School

  Abbotsfield School

  Haydon School

  Grange Park Junior School

  Grange Park Infant School

  Queensmead School

  Oak Farm Junior Mixed School (G.M.)

  Oak Farm Infant School (Grant-Maintained)

  Northwood School

  Uxbridge High School

  The Hayes Manor School

  The Douay Martyrs School

  Vyners School

  Hillside Infant School

  Hounslow

  Gunnersbury Catholic School for Boys Gumley House Convent School

  Humberside

  Wold Newton Grant-Maintained Primary School

  Kensington

  Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School

  Kent

  The Canterbury High School

  The Bradbourne School

  Borough Green Primary School

  The Archbishop's CE Grant-Maintained School

  Thamesview School

  Allington County Primary School

  Sutton-at-Hone CE GM Primary School

  Homewood School

  St. Simon Stock School

  Holy Trinity CE Primary School

  Holy Family RC Grant-Maintained Primary School

  The Skinners' School, Tunbridge Wells

  The Mailing School

  St. John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School

  Hillview School for Girls

  Cheyne Middle School

  St. George's Church of England School

  St. George's CE High School

  St. Francis' RC Primary School

  St. Edmund's RC Comprehensive School

  St. Botolph's CE Primary School

  Herne Bay Junior School (Grant-Maintained)

  Herne Bay High School

  St. Anselm's RC School

  Southlands Comprehensive School

  Chatham Grammar School for Girls

  Southfields School

  225

  Snodland CE Primary School

  Sir Roger Manwood's School

  Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys

  Senacre Technology School

  Sandown Court Community College

  Roseacre Junior School

  Rochester Grammar School for Girls

  Rainham Mark Grammar School

  Queen Elizabeth's School

  Fulston Manor School

  Angley School

  Oldborough Manor Community College

  Oakwood Park Grammar School

  Barton Court Grammar School

  Wrotham School

  Ditton CE Primary School

  Dartford Grammar School

  Wilmington Grammar School For Boys

  Westlands High School

  St. Gregory's Catholic Comprehensive School

  Minster College

  Dartford Grammar School for Girls

  Meopham Grant-Maintained School

  Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls

  Mascalls School

  The Wildernesse School

  The Thomas Aveling School

  The Robert Napier Grant-Maintained School

  The Maplesden Noakes School

  Aylesford School

  The Hugh Christie School

  Cranbrook School

  The Grammar School for Girls Wilmington

  The Frank Montgomery School

  The Folkestone School for Girls

  The Cornwallis School

  The Charles Dickens School

  Chaucer Technology School

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  Holy Cross Convent School

  Beverley School

  Richard Challoner School

  Tiffin School

  Kirklees

  Heckmondwike Grammar School

  Castle Hall Grant-Maintained School

  Knowsley

  The St. Thomas Becket School

  Lambeth

  Bishop Thomas Grant School

  St. Bernadette RC Junior Mixed School

  Archbishop Tenison's School

  Dunraven Grant-Maintained School

  La Retraite R. C. Girls, (GM) School

  St. Martin-in-the-Fields High School

  Lancashire,

  Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

  Archbishop Temple School (Ex William Temple)

  Newton Bluecoat C of E GM Primary School

  Baines School

  Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School

  Lancaster Royal Grammar School

  Lancaster Girls Grammar School

  Leicestershire

  South Wigston High School

  Abington High School

  Bushloe High School, Grant-Maintained

  Uppingham Community College

  Long Field GM High School

  Lewisham

  Turnham Primary with Nursery GM School

  226
  Lincolnshire

  The Ancaster High School, Lincoln

  Huttoft County Primary School

  Washingborough School

  St. George's Grant-Maintained School

  St. Andrews CE Primary School

  Spalding County Primary School

  Skegness Grammar School

  Chapel St. Leonards County Primary School

  The Malcolm Sargent Grant-Maintained School

  Robert Pattinson Grant-Maintained School

  Carre's Grammar School

  Rauceby School CE GM

  Gleed Girls Grant-Maintained School

  Queen Elizabeth's GM Grammar School

  Queen Elizabeth's GM Grammar School

  Caistor Grammar School

  Ermine Junior Grant-Maintained School

  North Kesteven Grant-Maintained School

  William Farr CE Comprehensive School

  William Alvey CE Junior School

  Monks' Dyke High School

  The Magdalen School

  Branston School and Community College

  Yarborough High School

  The Kings School Grantham

  Lincoln Christ's Hospital School

  Cranwell County Primary School

  The Gartree Grant-Maintained School

  Lacey Gardens Junior School

  Bourne Abbey Primary School

  King Edward VI School

  The Castle Hills GM School, Gainsborough

  Liverpool

  St. Francis Xavier's College

  Newham

  Stratford School

  Norfolk

  Cliff Park High School (Grant-Maintained)

  St. Clement's High School

  Heacham Middle School (GM)

  South Wootton Grant-Maintained Junior School

  Sheringham High School

  Gresham Village School (Grant-Maintained)

  Robert Kett Grant-Maintained Middle School

  Great Yarmouth High School

  Redgate Grant-Maintained Middle School

  Flegg High School

  Norwich Road School

  Wymondham College (GMS)

  Downham Market High School Grant-Maintained

  Dereham Church CE Grant-Maintained School

  West Flegg Middle School (GM)

  Marshland High School

  Lynn Grove VC High School

  Cromer High School - Grant-Maintained

  Acle High School

  Loddon Middle Grant-Maintained School

  Costessey High School, Grant-Maintained

  Barnham Broom Primary School

  Northamptonshire

  Collingtree CE Primary School

  Southfield School for Girls

  Sir Christopher Hatton Grant-Maintained School

  Beanfield Junior School (GM)

  Queen Elizabeth (Grant-Maintained) School

  Northampton (GM) School for Boys

  Wrenn School

  Woodnewton Way Junior School

  Moulton Primary School (Grant-Maintained)

  Weavers School

  Montagu School

  Millbrook Infant School

  Danesholme Junior School

  The Windmill County GM Primary School

  Manor School, Northamptonshire

  227

  Lodge Park School

  The King John School

  Kingswood School

  Kingsley Park Middle School

  Nottinghamshire

  Greenwood Dale School

  Ravensdale Grant-Maintained Middle School

  The George Spencer School

  Oxfordshire

  Shenington CE Primary School

  Redbridge

  Chadwell Heath High School

  Rochdale

  St. James CE Primary School

  Smithy Bridge Primary School

  Wardle High School

  Crossgates Primary School

  Sandwell

  Manor High School, Sandwell

  Sheffield

  Clifford CE Grant-Maintained School

  St. John Fisher RC (VA) Primary School

  Notre Dame School

  All Saints RC Secondary School

  Shropshire

  Abraham Darby School

  Holy Cross CE Junior School

  Charlton School

  Ercall Wood School

  Adams' Grammar School

  The Corbet Grant-Maintained School

  Solihull

  Hatchford Grant-Maintained Primary School

  Somerset

  Sexey's School

  Bruton Primary School

  Southwark

  St. Michael's School

  St. Francesca Cabrini Grant-Maintained School

  Notre Dame High School

  The St. Thomas the Apostle GM College

  London Nautical School

  Staffordshire

  St. Thomas More RC High School

  Hollinsclough CE Primary School

  Chasetown High School

  Rising Brook Grant-Maintained School

  Cardinal Griffin RC Comprehensive

  Cannock Chase High School (GM)

  Surrey

  The Beacon School

  Thamesmead School

  Stoneleigh First School (Grant-Maintained)

  St. Paul's Catholic School

  Holy Trinity CE Middle School

  St. John the Baptist School

  Heathside Secondary School

  Hawkedale First School

  Send C of E First School (Grant-Maintained)

  Guildford County School

  Rosebery School

  Gordon's Grant-Maintained School

  Glyn School

  Pewley Down County First School

  Park Mead County First School

  Epsom and Ewell High School

  de Stafford School

  The Manor County First School

  228

  Collingwood Grant-Maintained School

  Sutton

  Sutton Grammar School for Boys

  St. Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls

  Cheam High School

  Nonsuch High School for Girls

  Wilsons School

  Wallington High School for Girls

  Wallington High School for Boys

  The John Fisher School

  All Saints CE Primary School

  Tameside

  Fairfield High School

  West Hill School

  Audenshaw High School

  Tower Hamlets

  Raines Foundation School

  Trafford

  Ashton on Mersey School

  Sale Moor School

  New Wellington School

  Blessed Thomas Holford School

  Walsall

  Streetly School

  St. Thomas More RC Comprehensive GM School

  Aldridge School

  Shire Oak Grant-Maintained Community School

  Queen Mary's High School

  Queen Mary's Grammar School

  Waltham Forest

  Chingford School

  Highams Park School

  Wandsworth

  John Paul II RC School

  Hillbrook Primary School (Grant-Maintained)

  Southfields School (GM)

  Salesian College

  Graveney School

  Ethelburga Primary School (Grant-Maintained)

  Elliott School (GM)

  Burntwood School

  Warwickshire

  The Avon Valley Grant-Maintained School

  Studley High School

  Ash Green Grant-Maintained School

  Hartshill Grant-Maintained School

  Alcester Grammar School

  Rugby High School for Girls

  Queen Elizabeth School, Atherstone

  Myton School

  Wiltshire

  Highbury Secondary Boys' School

  St. Augustine RC (GM) Comprehensive School

  Sheldon School

  Pewsey Vale School (Grant-Maintained)

  Downton CE (VC) Primary School

  Aloeric Grant-Maintained School

  Lowbourne Grant-Maintained Infants' School

  Lavington Comprehensive School

  Wirral

  Calday Grange Grammar School, West Kirby

  Wirral Grammar School for Boys

  Wolverhampton

  Wolverhampton Girls High School

  Moseley Park GM School

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what measures he is taking to ensure that the
  229
  timetable for organising grant-maintained status ballots is sufficient for consultation purposes; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will take measures to ensure that the distribution of ballot papers on grant-maintained status occurs at the end of the consultation period rather than the middle;

  (3) if he will draw up a code of conduct to cover all those involved in the organisation of ballots and consultations on grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Education Bill will streamline the procedures for acquiring grant-maintained status. Both the existing and prospective statutory provisions offer scope for local consultation and debate before a ballot on grant-maintained status is initiated, in the period prior to a ballot and during the ballot period itself. Individual governing bodies are best placed to determine the most appropriate timing for a ballot in their school's circumstances, within the statutory time scale.

  The Department provides detailed guidance on the conduct of ballots and any significant deviation from that may lead to the Secretary of State declaring the ballot void. We are currently discussing with local authority interests the promulgation of a common code of conduct on the provision of information about grant-maintained status; this would cover the activities of the Department, local authorities and the grant-maintained schools centre.

  Unqualified Teachers
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teachers are teaching subjects they have no qualifications to teach; and what progress has been made and measures taken to reduce the numbers.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The latest information is provided by the 1992 secondary school staffing survey. The table shows the percentage of full-time secondary teachers in England who gave some tuition in a subject in which they held no post-A level qualification, and the percentage of tuition this represented. About half of this tuition was by teachers with five or more years' experience of teaching the subject.

  Subject

  Percentage of teachers without a qualification

  Tuition by these teachers as a percentage of all tuition in subject

  Mathematics

  22

  10

  Biology

  14

  11

  Chemistry

  5

  3

  Physics

  6

  4

  General Science

  16

  9

  CDT

  50

  34

  English

  27

  14

  French

  18

  9

  German

  24

  13

  Other Languages

  34

  19

  History

  28

  11

  Geography

  29

  10

  Music

  19

  5

  Art

  24

  7

  230

  Subject

  Percentage of teachers without a qualification

  Tuition by these teachers as a percentage of all tuition in subject

  Physical Education

  32

  9

  Religious Education

  54

  25

  Compared with the results of the 1988 secondary school staffing survey, these figures show a slight improvement.

  The Department has funded a range of measures which have enhanced the skills of existing teachers and improved the supply of secondary subject specialists. These include £170 million currently being spent on in-service training, and specific support for upgrading non-specialist teachers of physics, chemistry and French. There has been a 44 per cent. increase in recruitment to secondary teacher training since 1990.

  Teachers (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teachers took early retirement, and for what reason, during each of the last five years.

  Mr. Forth
  The number of teachers from England and Wales who took early retirement and claimed retirement benefits during each of the last five years is shown in the table.

  The figures include teachers in FE and PCFC colleges and the independent sector as well as maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools.

  Retirements on grounds of efficiency or redundancy include those teachers who were over the normal retirement age of 60 when benefits were paid.

  Reason for retirement

  Financial year

  Interest of efficiency

  Redundancy

  Ill-health

  1988–89

  8,971

  3,389

  3,412

  1989–90

  9,633

  2,675

  4,123

  1990–91

  8,981

  2,691

  4,938

  1991–92

  7,357

  2,932

  4,656

  11992–93

  8,360

  3,833

  4,775

  1 Provisional.

  Higher Education, London
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what resources are being made available in 1993–94 to the Higher Education Funding Council to cover the additional costs of providing higher education in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Government do not separately identify London costs in its grant to the Higher Education Funding Council for England. It is for the funding council to determine allocations for London and other institutions within its overall grant.
  231

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

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

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The European Commission does not produce statistics in the form requested. The Commission and member states are currently working on a common approach to poverty alleviation, which will be presented to the Council of Development Ministers in December.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 July,Official Report, column 85, why United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees cash grants for host families accommodating refugees do not apply to displaced persons or refugees accommodated in Serbia; what access these families have to additional support; what efforts are made to ensure that displaced Bosnians remain with host families in Serbia rather than seeking asylum overseas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The UNHCR finds it impractical at present to operate a system of cash grants for host families who accommodate displaced people in Serbia. Instead it provides food and other essential humanitarian supplies to displaced people through the Serbian Red Cross and the EC family parcel programme.

  UNHCR provided over 35,000 tonnes of humanitarian supplies for displaced people in Serbia in the first six months of 1993. These measures are designed to help to meet the basic humanitarian needs of displaced people so as to enable them to remain in Serbia, as close as possible to their homes in Bosnia-Herzegovina, until such time as they are able to return.

  Aid
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make it her policy to publish before the end of the year criteria by which Her Majesty's Government will judge their performance on targeting aid at the reduction of poverty and meeting basic needs.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The overall aim of our aid programme is to promote sustainable economic and social development, in order to improve the quality of life and reduce poverty, suffering and deprivation, in developing countries. Our six priority objectives for the aid programme support this overall aim. They are:

  to promote economic reform and longer term economic growth;

  to promote good government;

  to help developing countries to define and carry out poverty reduction strategies;

  to promote human development, including better education and health, and children by choice;

  to promote the social, economic, legal and political status of women in developing countries; and

  to help developing countries tackle national environmental problems.

  232
  We are currently developing a new policy information markers system, as part of a further improvement to our monitoring systems, which will enable us to provide reports on progress against each of these objectives. If the trials are successful, we hope to have produced the first reports by the end of 1994.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to secure a balance of bilateral and multilateral expenditure on oveseas development aid.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our aid allocations through both bilateral and multilateral channels are kept under regular review. Most of our multilateral aid commitments result from negotiated agreements covering several years ahead.

  Angola
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been Her Majesty's Government's response to the United Nations appeal for US $226 million to fund relief and emergency work in Angola.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 20 July 1993]: We have allocated 3,000 tonnes of food aid and up to £2 million of humanitarian assistance. The food aid is now being shipped to Angola through the world food programme, and some £800,000 of humanitarian assistance has already been committed to support proposals by Save the Children Fund and CARE.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of prison camps currently understood to be operated by(a) Bosnian-Croats, (b) Bosnian-Muslims and (c) Bosnian-Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina; and if he will indicate the size of each and publish the names of those prisons where the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or other international agencies have been unable to gain access.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The International Committee of the Red Cross—ICRC—regularly visits 2,200 people held by Bosnian Croats in six places of detention, 1,023 held by Bosnian Muslims in 15 places of detention and 1,023 prisoners held by Bosnian Serbs in eight places of detention. The ICRC suspects that further places of detention in unknown locations may exist.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the economic and diplomatic sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro on the infant mortality rate in those republics; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None. Supplies of essential humanitarian relief, including medical supplies and foodstuffs distributed by the international humanitarian aid agencies are exempted from United Nations sanctions imposed on Serbia and Montenegro under United Nations Security Council resolution 820 of 17 April.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 14
  233
  July, Official Report, column 455, if he will place a copy of Dr. Karadzic's letter to the Prime Minister of 31 March in the Library together with the Prime Minister's reply.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 14 April at column 542 about Dr. Karadzic's letter. I do not plan to elaborate further; it is important to maintain the confidentiality of such correspondence.

  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions the United Kingdom has made to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for its activities in former Yugoslavia since the beginning of the year; and what contributions have been made by other major donors.

  Mr. Hurd
  Since January 1993 the United Kingdom has given £27.8 million in cash and kind to UNHCR for its work in former Yugoslavia. On 12 July we announced a further £12..5 million for projects directly in support of UNHCR plus £6 million in kind for the world food programme. This makes Britain the leading bilateral donor to UNHCR's programmes in the former republics this year. We are aware that, as winter approaches, there must be a major effort by the international community to meet the needs of the people of Bosnia. Contributions by major donors for 1993 are:

  UNHCR figures, as of 6 July 1993, in US dollars

  Country

  US$

  European Community

  16,447,538

  Denmark

  3,542,673

  France

  12,074,030

  Germany

  3,680,981

  Italy

  857,143

  Netherlands

  5,586,592

  Switzerland

  10,489,510

  United Kingdom

  163,814,433

  United States

  23,000,000

  Japan

  10,000,000

  1 Sterling equivalent approximately £42.5 million. This is higher than the £27 million in United Kingdom records because some "in kind" contributions, made at the end of 1992, were not logged by UNHCR until 1993.

  Mostar (Ethnic Cleansing)
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on new ethnic cleansing of Muslim women and children by Croats in Mostar; what is the effect of these developments. on his policy towards Croatia's exemption from economic and diplomatic sanctions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There are continuing reports of ethnic cleansing by all sides. European Community Foreign Ministers agreed to consider withdrawing Croatia's preferential trading benefits with the European Community, in view of continued Croatian involvement in the conflict in Bosnia.

  Fundacion Collegio de Inglaterra, Colombia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much British Government finance has been given to the Fundacion 234
  Collegio de Inglaterra in Bogota, Colombia, in the past five years; for what purpose; and from what budget heading.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None directly.

  The British Council has provided books and equipment to the school over the past five years to a total value of £30,000.

  Research Projects
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1992,Official Report, column 86, if the university scientists working on the research projects mentioned have been able to publish the results of these projects in open scientific literature.

  Mr. Hurd
  As made clear in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the hon. Member on 1 December 1992, at column 86, the research commissioned is confined to unclassified subjects. We retain proprietary rights over the research, but the results may be published by the relevant academic institution, if it wishes.

  Armenia
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the prevailing economic situation in Armenia; and what recent discussions he has had to resolve matters.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Armenian economy continues to suffer from the disruption of links with the other republics of the former Soviet Union, and from the economic blockade resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The United Kingdom has contributed over £1 million bilaterally, and the EC over £3 million, to alleviate suffering in Armenia in the last year. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met the Armenian Prime Minister, Hrartt Bagratian, during his visit to London in May and urged him to seek a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict so that the process can begin of rebuilding the Armenian economy.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how United Kingdom diplomatic links with Armenia are organised; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We are in full diplomatic relations with Armenia, which we recognised on 31 December 1991. Sir Brian Fall, who resides at Moscow, is accredited as Her Majesty's ambassador to the Republic of Armenia. He has presented his credentials in Yerevan and both he and his staff visit Armenia frequently. We are keeping the possibility of opening an embassy in Yerevan under review. The Republic of Armenia opened an embassy in London last year. The Armenian ambassador, Dr. Armen Sarkissian, presented his credentials to Her Majesty the Queen in March.

  Angola
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if the United Kingdom supported the removal of the UNAVEM II mandate in Angola when it was debated by the Security Council; and if he will make a statement;
  235
  (2) when Her Majesty's Government last held talks on the Angolan war with other members of the Security Council.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 20 July 1993]: The Security Council discussed Angola and adopted Security Council resolution 851 on 15 July. The resolution, which the United Kingdom helped to prepare, extends the mandate of UNAVEM II until 15 September. The Security Council will consider appropriate action against UNITA if an effective ceasefire is not in force in Angola by that date. Meanwhile, we shall continue to support efforts by the United Nations to persuade UNITA to agree with the Government a peaceful negotiated settlement to the tragic conflict in Angola.

  We shall also continue to support humanitarian relief operations. In response to the most recent United Nations appeal we have pledged up to £2 million of emergency assistance and, through the world food programme, 3,000 tonnes of food aid.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards peace in Angola; and what initiatives Her Majesty's Government have taken in this area.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answers 20 July 1993]The new United Nations Secretary-General's special representative, Mr. Beye, who replaced Miss Margaret Anstee last month, met President dos Santos on 5 July and the UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi on 8 July to discuss the resumption of peace talks under United Nations auspices.

  We took an active part in preparing Security Council resolution 851, which the Security Council adopted on 15 July. This extends the mandate of UNAVEM II and provides for the Council to consider taking action against UNITA if an effective cease-fire is not established by 15 September.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Research Councils
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the report on the detailed allocation of responsibilities between the new research councils will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I asked Sir David Phillips to conduct this study acting as if he were fulfilling the role of the new director general for the research councils. He has now submitted his report and copies have been placed in the Library. I have accepted all of Sir David's recommendations and, I have invited him to continue to oversee the further work of the Office of Science and Technology designed to effect a smooth transition to the new research council system by 1 April 1994.

  Sir Giles Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who is to be the new director general of research councils.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [pursuant to the reply, 19 July 1993, c. 42]: In the recent White Paper "Realising our Potential" I announced my intention to appoint a new director general of research councils to support me in the exercise of my statutory functions in so far as they relate to the research councils.
  236
  I am pleased to announce that this new post is to be advertised in journals and newspapers over the next week or so. The open recruitment competition, which will be supplemented by executive search, will be run by the recruitment and assessment services. My aim is to announce an appointment, to take effect from 1 January 1994, at the end of October.

  In the meantime, I am most grateful to Sir David Phillips, chairman of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils, for the excellent support which he is giving me as acting director general of research councils.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Bank of England
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for separating the banking regulation and supervisory roles of the Bank of England from its banking functions.

  Mr. Nelson
  I have no such proposals at this time.

  Earnings Statistics
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland the (i) highest, (ii) lowest and (iii) average weekly and annual income of (1) per household, (2) per wage or salary earner and (3) per capita and indicate for each country the percentage of each category below the official poverty line.

  Mr. Nelson
  The figures are derived from the 1991 family expenditure survey. The information is available only on a weekly basis. The average weekly income (1) per household, (2) per wage or salary earner and (3) per capita for each country is given in the table. There is no officially defined poverty line in the United Kingdom.

  Average weekly income (£)

  per household

  per wage or salary earner

  per capita

  England

  373.20

  250.90

  153.30

  Scotland

  316.20

  259.70

  140.70

  Wales

  297.40

  221.70

  123.80

  Northern Ireland

  296.50

  211.70

  107.20

  The figures are rounded to the nearest 10p.

  Incomes
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 30 April,Official Report, column 572, what was the average equivalised disposable income at (a) current and (b) April 1993 prices for 1979, 1987, 1990 and 1991 of (i) single-parent households, (ii) two-parent households with (1) one child, (2) two children and (3) three or more children and (c) other households with children by quintile groups of households.

  Mr. Nelson
  The figures are available only at current prices and are as follows:
  237

  Average equivalised disposable income by household type and by quintile groups

  £ per year Quintile groups of all households ranked by equivalised disposable income

  Household type

  Bottom

  2nd

  3rd

  4th

  Top

  All Households

  1979

  One adult with children

  1,772

  2,713

  3,625

  4,713

  7,705

  3,151

  Two adults with one child

  1,882

  2,812

  3,664

  4,696

  7,206

  4,281

  Two adults with two children

  2,000

  2,794

  3,656

  4,744

  7,649

  4,081

  Two adults with three or more children

  1,898

  2,800

  3,579

  4,715

  7,278

  3,308

  Other households with children

  2,032

  2,811

  3,666

  4,739

  6,841

  4,080

  1987

  One adult with children

  3,751

  5,268

  7,168

  9,981

  17,605

  5,386

  Two adults with one child

  3,600

  5,516

  7,465

  10,178

  17,318

  9,627

  Two adults with two children

  3,644

  5,562

  7,446

  10,138

  18,607

  8,996

  Two adults with three or more children

  3,610

  5,440

  7,452

  10,007

  16,886

  7,041

  Other households with children

  3,556

  5,432

  7,542

  10,122

  16,125

  7,900

  1990

  One adult with children

  4,466

  6,651

  9,817

  14,835

  22,630

  7,086

  Two adults with one child

  4,126

  7,044

  9,921

  14,578

  26,635

  14,215

  Two adults with two children

  4,302

  7,113

  10,080

  14,206

  23,712

  12,022

  Two adults with three or more children

  4,138

  6,948

  9,713

  13,943

  31,631

  10,157

  Other households with children

  4,302

  6,953

  9,870

  14,419

  24,198

  11,708

  1991

  One adult with children

  5,105

  7,477

  10,830

  15,434

  23,108

  7,867

  Two adults with one child

  4,469

  7,688

  11,088

  15,488

  26,878

  14,841

  Two adults with two children

  4,759

  7,830

  11,046

  15,379

  26,645

  12,993

  Two adults with three or more children

  4,571

  7,809

  11,026

  15,347

  26,471

  11,223

  Other households with children

  4,743

  7,774

  10,990

  15,423

  26,276

  12,572

  The quintile groups are based on all households ranked by equivalised disposable income. Thus any difference between the average equivalised disposable income of household types within each quintile group is likely to result from sampling errors.

  These figures are not strictly comparable over time because of changes in classification of both income and taxation and because of changes in the family expenditure survey.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 28 April,Official Report, columns 402–4, what was the average equivalised disposable income of (a) the top and the bottom quintile groups and (b) the top and the bottom decile groups at current prices, and at April 1993 prices in 1979 and 1991.

  Mr. Nelson
  The figures are available only at current prices.

  The figures for 1979 were given in the answer of 28 April 1993, Official Report, columns 402–4.

  The figures for 1991 are as follows:
  238

  Average equivalised disposable income for all households ranked by equivalised disposable income

  Using the McClements equivalence scale with a household of a married couple = 1

  Quintile groups

  Decile groups

  £ per year

  Bottom

  Top

  Bottom

  Top

  1991

  4,877

  28,472

  4,044

  35,689

  These figures are not strictly comparable with those for earlier years because of changes in classification of both income and taxation and because of changes in the family expenditure survey.

  European Community
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the purpose of the agreement made at the ECOFIN meetings of June and July 1992 in relation to zero rates for VAT; and if the agreement is legally binding.

  Sir John Cope
  No agreement was made at the ECOFIN meetings of June and July 1992 in relation to zero rates for VAT. The ability to retain our zero rates was agreed at the ECOFIN meeting on 24 June 1991. This subsequently formed part of Council directive 92/77/EEC of 19 October 1992 supplementing the common system of value added tax and amending directive 77/388/EEC on approximation of VAT rates. This agreement is legally binding.
  239

  Yorkshire and Humberside
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has for the gross domestic product for Yorkshire and Humberside and for each constituent area for the most recent financial years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nelson
  Regional estimates of GDP are compiled only on a calendar year basis, not financial year. The latest available estimates for the Yorkshire and Humberside region are for 1991 and were published in the December 1992 issue of "Economic Trends". The latest figures available for the constituent counties are for 1989, which were published in the November 1991 issue of "Economic Trends". These articles contain a breakdown of GDP in £ millions and £ per head of population and economic trends and are available in the House Library.

  Securities and Investments Board
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received a report from the Securities and Investments Board on the exercise of its functions under the Financial Services Act 1986.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The board's report for 1992–93, made in accordance with section 117 of the Act, was laid before Parliament today. Copies are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

  Government Stock Purchases
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate, for the latest available financial year, of the proportion of the public sector borrowing requirement which was funded with purchases of Government stock by the pension funds and life assurance companies.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: The PSBR was £36.5 billion in 1992–93. Data for 1992 in the financial statistics table 3.5 of the Central Statistical Office's database show that net purchases of gilts by British pension funds and life assurance companies were £15.5 billion. Gilt sales to pension funds and life assurance companies were therefore 42 per cent. of the PSBR.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Public Interest
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will now publish the definition of the public interest used by the Crown Prosecution Service.

  The Attorney-General
  The general principles applied by the Crown Prosecution Service in respect of the public interest are set out in the code for Crown prosecutors. The code is published and laid before Parliament each year in the annual report of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  The annual report for 1992–93 was published on 13 July 1993.

  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the lowest grade of officer in the Crown Prosecution Service authorised to discontinue cases on the grounds of public interest.
  240
  The Attorney-General
  The power under section 23 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 to discontinue proceedings may, by virtue of section 1(6) of the Act, be exercised by any Crown prosecutor subject to any directions given by the director. Those with management responsibilities in the service are responsible for ensuring that cases are assigned to lawyers having both the experience and authority necessary to take decisions to continue or terminate proceedings. The level of authority will depend upon the nature, seriousness or complexity of the case.

  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Attorney-General what percentage of cases the Crown Prosecution Service discontinued on grounds of public interest in the latest year for which figures are available; and how many defendants were neither very elderly, frail nor suffering from some injury.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service does not record centrally the proportion of cases that are discontinued on public interest grounds as opposed to evidential grounds, nor therefore is any information available about whether the defendants were very elderly, frail or suffering from injury. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  International Investments Ltd., Gibraltar
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the progress of the judicial hearing which was scheduled to take place on 12 July in Gibraltar in response to the letter of request for evidence in relation to the affairs of International Investments Ltd., Gibraltar —in liquidation—first submitted to the Gibraltar authorities on 5 November 1990 from Belfast magistrates court of 15 November 1990.

  The Solicitor-General
  As a result of the letter of request for evidence in relation to the affairs of International Investments Ltd.—in liquidation—issued by Belfast magistrates' court on 1 November 1990, the Supreme court of Gibraltar made an order on 16 June 1993 requiring witnesses named in the letter of request to attend before a special examiner on 12 July 1993 to give evidence on oath and produce documents.

  A hearing took place on 12 and 13 July 1993. A number of witnesses were examined and their depositions recorded. The hearing has been adjourned to allow consideration to be given to certain documents which have now become available. It is anticipated that the hearing will recommence in October 1993.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Common Fisheries Policy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye (Mrs. Lait) of 7 July,Official Report, column 163, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of (i) the existing enforcement of the common fisheries policy and (ii) the European Commission's present powers to ensure that Community rules are properly implemented; what is her estimate of the scale of cheating and overcatching: and what analysis she

  241
  has made of the effect on the effectiveness of fisheries policy enforcement of the new regulations coming into effect on 1 January 1994.

  Mr. Jack
  The Commission's report on monitoring implementation of the common fisheries policy published in March 1992 identified various weaknesses in the present enforcement of fisheries policy in the EC. I agree with much of the Commission's assessment, and many of our concerns are being addressed by the proposed new control regulation expected to take effect from 1 January 1994. EC catch returns for 1992 show that there were 48 recorded instances of member states overfishing their individual quotas in Community waters but these do not refer to individual breaches of regulations by fishermen.

  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 proportion of surface waters in north European waters are British territorial waters under the Fishery Limits Act 1976; which are the seven main species caught in those British waters; what estimate she has made of the annual British catch in Icelandic waters; and what provision has been made under the common fisheries policy as compensation for the loss of Icelandic fishing by the British fishing industry.

  Mr. Jack
  The United Kingdom fishery limits established by the Fishery Limits Act 1976 account for about 20 per cent. of the north Atlantic fishery limits of the 12 EC member states. The seven main species used in 1983 in the calculation of member states' shares—"relative stability"—were cod, haddock, plaice, whiting, saithe, mackerel and redfish or, for some purposes, herring The United Kingdom secured 37 per cent. of the EC quotas for these species, a figure higher than our historical level of catches. Part of the calculation involved assessing the losses for each member state arising from the extension of fisheries jurisdiction by third countries in the 1970s and calculating compensation in fish stocks still available to the Community. The United Kingdom's losses at Iceland were calculated for this purpose at 133,927 tonnes cod equivalent.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment has been made of the extent to which(a) Dutch firms transporting live animals through the United Kingdom and (b) Dutch slaughterhouses dealing with British animals comply with relevant required EC and United Kingdom standards.

  Mr. Soames
  Spot checks on transport standards are carried out by local authority and Ministry inspectors. These have revealed some deficiencies which we have taken up with the member states concerned.

  As regards slaughter, all member states are required to have implemented Council directive 74/577/EEC on the stunning of animals before slaughter. It is the responsibility of the EC Commission to ensure that member states fulfil their legal obligations; if we became aware of any failure to comply by another member state we would notify this to the Commission and, if necessary, take the matter up with the other country. We are satisfied that the Netherlands has implemented the requirements of directive 74/577/EEC in its national laws.
  242

  Fishing Nets
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many United Kingdom vessels have been engaged in(a) gill net fisheries and (b) tangle net fisheries in United Kingdom waters in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Jack
  Available information relates only to vessels with an overalll length exceeding 10 m. In 1992, 18 United Kingdom fishing vessels reported using tangle nets and 352 vessels reported using gill nets at least once. Corresponding figures for 1988 are 26 and 226 respectively. Information for all the years requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what length of(a) monofilament netting and (b) other fishing gear has been lost or discarded by United Kingdom fishermen in United Kingdom waters in each year since 1988;

  (2) what measures her Department has adopted to monitor and regulate the loss and discard of fishing nets in United Kingdom waters.

  Mr. Jack
  No information is available about the quantities of netting or fishing gear lost or discarded. Discard of all types of fishing gear at sea is an offence unless undertaken in accordance with a licence under part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what measures her Department has adopted to monitor the impact of fisheries using set monofilament gill nets and tangle nets in United Kingdom waters on(a) target species and (b) non-target species including marine mammals;

  (2) what measures her Department has taken to monitor the distribution and effect of monofilament gill net and tangle net fisheries in the United Kingdom in order to qualify the risk of by-catches of marine mammals.

  Mr. Jack
  Fishing practice varies in the waters around the United Kingdom but monofilament gill nets and tangle nets are widely used. These fisheries are monitored for catch and effort by the fisheries departmentss and the results are included in the relevant stock assessments.MAFF has commissioned work to examine the distribution, character, catch and effort in gill and tangle net fisheries for both target and non-target species. On 1 January 1992, the fisheries departments introduced a voluntary scheme for fishermen to report incidental catches of marine mammals including the location of the incident and the type of fishing activity involved.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  National Asthma Campaign
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the national asthma campaign to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 8 to 12 November.
  243

  Exploring Parenthood
  Mr. Scott
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to exploring parenthood to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 13 to 17 December.

WALES

  Derelict Commercial Properties
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are being taken to encourage the conversion of derelict commercial properties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Assistance is available through the urban programme, urban investment grant and the rural initiative capital grant scheme for building conversion schemes.

  All local authorities in Wales are eligible to apply for urban programme—strategic development scheme from 1 April 1994—assistance for areas which have been declared by the local authority as commercial or industrial improvement or renewal areas under the enabling legislation. The grants are intended to help stimulate economic regeneration and create or safeguard jobs. Grants are approved through local authorities to a maximum of 50 per cent. of eligible costs, with the private sector applicant meeting the balance. Urban programme allocations to Welsh authorities from 1990–91 to 1992–93 amount to nearly £9 million; assisting the improvement of 912 premises. Urban investment grant is a property grant designed to promote the redevelopment of derelict sites in urban areas throughout Wales. It is available only to the private sector and is designed to bridge the gap between the gross development costs of a project and its end value. Since the scheme's introduction in April 1989 there have been 44 approvals, totalling some £16.3 million grant.

  Since 1991, assistance under the rural initiative capital grant scheme has been available to fund a series of social, environmental and economic projects to help create a self-sustaining market economy in rural Wales. Under this scheme in 1991–92 and 1992–93, 11 conversion schemes have been funded.

  The Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales also operate schemes to bring redundant buildings in rural areas back into beneficial business use. To date 473 projects have been assisted by the two agencies, at a total grant cost of approximately £4 million. In 1993–94, the two agencies plan to spend £700,000 on conversion schemes.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to enhance the prospects of the steel industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Government are committed to creating an economic framework in which the steel 244
  industry in Wales can prosper. To this end, we support the EC restructuring initiative which aims to reduce overcapacity elsewhere in Europe, much of it supported by state subsidies. It is for the Welsh steel industry to continue to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

  Agri-Environmental Plan
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to publish copies of the agri-environment regulations zonal plan for Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  My proposals for the implementation of the agri-environment regulations will be submitted, as part of the United Kingdom plan, to the EC Commission in Brussels by 30 July and I shall make an announcement at that time.

  J.P.M. (Automatic Machines) Ltd.
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial assistance has been given to J.P.M. (Automatic Machines) Ltd. in each of the last five years by(a) the Industry Department of the Welsh Office and (b) the Welsh Development Agency.

  Mr. Redwood
  To comment on the Department's relationship with this, or any other individual company, would be a breach of commercial confidentiality.

  Working Women
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many women in Wales worked 16 hours or more per week in paid employment at the last available count.

  Mr. Redwood
  It is estimated from the 1991 census that 390,500 female residents of Wales aged 16 or over worked 16 hours or more per week in paid employment.

  Employees (Sickness)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what estimates he has on the average number of working days (1) lost per employee through sickness annually(a) by local authority area, (b)according to employment sector and (c)according to category of employee in each year in Wales since 1985;

  (2) what has been the total number of days lost per year in Wales and the estimated annual cost to the Welsh economy of working days lost through sickness in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to place a statutory duty upon all local education authorities and future funding agencies in Wales to provide nursery education.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  No.

  Bus Deregulation
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement outlining the main outcomes of his Department's consultation on bus deregulation guidelines
  245
  indicating the main findings on (a) timetabling, (b) bunching of services, (c) travel card schemes, (d) parking at bus stops and (e) registration of services.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The consultation document on the operation of local bus services outside London was issued by the Department of Transport. Responses from 'Wales were routed through the Department. All comments are being considered but it is too early to predict any conclusions.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Items in Lieu of Tax
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what offers in lieu of tax have been accepted or allocated since his last announcement of 25 May,Official Report, column 482.

  Mr. Brooke
  Since my last announcement on 25 May 1993 at column 482, I am pleased to inform the House that two paintings, "Le Dejeuner" and "Femme assise, tasse de cafe" by Edouard Vuillard, have been accepted in lieu of tax. Also, I have pleasure in announcing that a Charles I silver gilt standing cup and cover, accepted in lieu of tax, will be allocated to the Victoria and Albert museum.

DEFENCE

  Depleted Uranium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the sites(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) abroad where his Department stores depleted uranium; and if he will make a statement on the safety precautions taken in storing depleted uranium.

  Mr. Aitken
  Depleted uranium is stored in a variety of forms at several Ministry of Defence sites in the United Kingdom. The main sites include those of the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston, Burghfield and Cardiff; the test and evaluation ranges at Eskmeals and Kirkcudbright; and the Defence Research Agency site at Fort Halstead, together with a few minor holdings at other DRA sites. In addition it is held at a small number of military munitions stores and depots both in the United Kingdom and abroad. All materials are held in safe and secure facilities in accordance with the requirements for radioactive materials.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what methods of transport are used to move depleted uranium in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Aitken
  Movement of non-military uranium within the United Kingdom is a matter for the Department of Transport. My Department for this purpose uses containers which are designed, manufactured and tested in conformity with the appropriate International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) transport regulations.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what documents are published by his Department containing information on quantities, locations and uses of depleted uranium owned or used by his Department(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) abroad.

  Mr. Aitken
  Two documents have been published which refer to depleted uranium. The first is the memorandum on 246
  anti-armour ammunition, which was placed in the Library of the House in March 1979; the second is a publicity document produced by the then Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment at Chertsey—now part of the Defence Research Agency—entitled "Kirkcudbright Range Facilities", published in January 1986.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 9 July,Official Report, column 317, what steps his Department plans to take to recover the additional costs incurred as a result of United Nations Security Council resolution 816; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (M r. Hamilton) gave to the hon. Member for East Lothian (M r. Home Robertson) on 21 May,Official Report, column 348.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans have been made to ensure the safety of British forces in the event of the continuing use of noxious gas by Muslim forces in central Bosnia; how far British forces were from the villages of Busovaca arid Prosje when last week's alleged attacks by Muslims against Croats took place; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Protective equipment and clothing are available to all British Army personnel wherever they deploy worldwide. The threats in a specific deployment area are kept under constant review and plans made accordingly. Busovaca and Prosje are within the British battalion's operating area and are often transited by United Nations personnel. We are not aware of any incident involving the use of noxious gas, although we are aware of an incident where a Bosnian-Croat soldier was treated, at a hospital in Novi Bila, for suspected gas poisoning. Following investigation at the alleged scene by the 1st Battalion, Prince of Wales Own Regiment, however, no trace of use of noxious gas was found.

  Cruise Missiles
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he is giving to equipping Royal Navy warships with cruise missile-type weapons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement gave the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 2 July at column 639.

  Search and Rescue
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the outcome of the review announced on 21 October 1992,Official Report, columns 307–8, into arrangements for the co-ordination of the military response to search-and-rescue incidents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  On 21 October 1992, my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces announced our plans, following a review carried out in consultation with the Department of Transport, for the
  247
  future deployment of the Royal Air Force search and rescue (SAR) helicopter service, employing a highly capable all-Sea King fleet. Under the terms of an agreement with the Department of Transport, RAF and Royal Navy SAR helicopters assist in the civil SAR task.

  Following a detailed review of arrangements for SAR co-ordination, I have concluded that these aircraft, and all military SAR operations, should be controlled from a single centre in the United Kingdom, to be located at RAF Pitreavie Castle in Fife. This national military rescue co-ordination centre (RCC) will be equipped with a comprehensive mission support system (MSS), comprising the most modern communications and computer equipment. The MSS will provide an intergrated communications and search planning capability, relieving RCC controllers of numerous routine tasks, and enabling the RCC to discharge its role in the most effective way possible.

  We intend that the new single RCC will be operational by the end of 1994. Once this RCC is fully proven, which should be during the first half of 1995, the existing second RCC, which is manned by service personnel at the maritime headquarters at Mount Wise in Plymouth, will close, releasing those personnel for other duties.

SCOTLAND

  Optical Services
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many references from general practitioners and optometrists to hospital ophthalmology out-patient clinics have been made since 1985.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information is available only for new out-patient referrals from general practitioners to ophthalmology out-patient clinics for the years ended March 1992 and 1993. The information for these two years is as follows:

  Number

  March 1992

  67,143

  March 1993

  65,831

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines are issued to health boards for record keeping and collating statistics in hospital ophthalmic departments; and what data health boards are required to collate from hospital ophthalmology departments.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information about hospital activities in Scotland, including information about the ophthalmology specialty, is published annually in sections 4 and 6 of the Scottish Health Statistics. A copy of the 1992 volume is in the Library. No special guidelines about record keeping are issued to health boards in respect of ophthalmology departments, which are expected to maintain the same standard as any other hospital department.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has regarding the incidence in Scotland of eye disease leading to blindness or NHS hospital treatment.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information is not held centrally on the incidence in the general population of eye disease which 248
  leads to blindness. The following table shows the main disorders responsible for admission to ophthalmology units in Scotland in 1992.

  All discharges of in-patients and day cases from the specialty ophthalmology for the year 1992 by diagnosis group

  Diagnosis

  Discharges

  Eye cancer

  243

  Diabetic eye disease

  268

  Retinal disorders

  992

  Glaucoma

  2,125

  Cataract

  13,084

  Corneal disorders

  648

  Disorders of conjunctiva

  273

  Disorders of eyelid

  3,070

  Strabismus

  2,461

  Other disorders of eye and lacrimal system

  1,702

  Injury to eye

  788

  Other disorders associated with eye disease

  2,925

  Total eye disorders

  27,579

  Salmon and Grilse
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) salmon and (b) grilse were taken by each type of net in Scottish fisheries in each of the last 10 years; and how many fish were taken by anglers in the same years.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The numbers of fish caught by the methods indicated are as follows:

  Net and Coble

  Fixed Engine

  Rod and Line

  Salmon

  Grilse

  Salmon

  Grilse

  Salmon

  Grilse

  1983

  54,275

  82,029

  39,725

  113,479

  51,961

  14,109

  1984

  33,006

  68,412

  31,077

  129,124

  43,130

  15,543

  1985

  26,685

  55,348

  29,522

  85,015

  58,441

  17,649

  1986

  51,154

  68,284

  37,801

  118,835

  59,443

  15,742

  1987

  27,136

  56,880

  23,792

  89,845

  53,066

  18,060

  1988

  27,569

  52,199

  15,914

  69,090

  68,679

  27,809

  1989

  29,409

  63,857

  16,139

  81,415

  58,338

  29,669

  1990

  21,542

  28,013

  14,102

  33,715

  52,280

  19,366

  1991

  9,528

  21,208

  10,529

  35,086

  45,136

  17,314

  1992

  16,005

  28,942

  11,810

  44,863

  55,026

  27,871

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) salmon and (b) grilse were taken by each drift net fishery in Scotland in each of the last 10 years; and what was the average weight of each category of such fish.

  Sir Hector Monro
  None. Drift netting for salmon anywhere in Scotland has been illegal since 1962.

  Nursing Homes
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what requirements are laid down on nursing homes with respect to(a) the provision of at least one sitting room for use by all residents and (b) the extent to which patients may be sedated.

  Mr. Stewart
  Regulation 13(2)(b) of The Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Regulations 1990 requires the provision, to an adequate standard, of"accommodation and space for each patient in the home including, where appropriate, day-room facilities separate from sleeping accommodation".
  249
  The amount of any sedation prescribed is a matter for the clinical judgment of the resident's general practitioner.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to oblige Scottish Power and Hydro-Electric to obtain more electricity from renewables sources; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Following publication of my Department's discussion document about a Scottish renewables obligation, the report of the Renewable Energy Advisory Group and the recent "Coal Review" White Paper (Cm 2235), I have now reached a conclusion on how to encourage further the exploitation of energy from renewable sources in Scotland.

  Government policy is to stimulate development of new and renewable energy technologies where they have prospects of being economically attractive and environmentally acceptable in order to contribute to diverse, secure and sustainable energy supplies, the reduction in the emission of pollutants, and the encouragement of the renewable energy industry.

  There is already overcapacity in electricity supply in Scotland. Over 10 per cent. of Scottish demand for electricity is already derived from renewable sources. A number of interests have, however, drawn attention to the potential to develop renewables to a greater extent in the light of certain aspects of Scotland's geography and climate. The extent of that potential is being studied. In the meantime, I have decided that I should introduce a Scottish renewables obligation (SRO) in respect of Scottish Power and Hydro-Electric.

  I currently expect the first order under the SRO to be for some 30–40 MW of new capacity. I will review that figure in the light of the quality and cost of the proposals received. I expect the order to comprise a number of technology bands and I am currently considering including wind power, hydro, landfill gas from existing sites, municipal and industrial waste, and energy crops and agriculture and forestry waste.

  My current intention is that the first order would, subject to satisfactory discussions with the European Commission, run for 15 to 20 years with effect from November 1994. This should enable Scottish Power and Hydro-Electric to offer successful generators contracts for a similar period. I am considering the mechanism for passing on to electricity consumers the additional costs falling on Scottish Power and Hydro-Electric as a result of the order.

  I am discussing certain aspects of my proposals with the Director General of Electricity Supply and with Scottish Power and Hydro-Electric, to which I shall in due course provide further guidance about my initial policy proposals in respect of the first order under the SRO. It is likely that bids for contracts from renewable energy electricity suppliers in Scotland will be called for in the late summer.

  To enable interested parties to plan ahead, I am announcing now that I hope that it will be possible to announce two further orders under the SRO, in 1995 and 1997 respectively. These orders are likely to come into effect in 1996 and 1998. Future orders will not necessarily cover the same technology bands as the first one, but are likely to be somewhat larger.

  The purpose of the SRO is to create an initial market. I expect all bids to be on a competitive basis. The intention
  250
  is that in the not-too-distant future the most promising renewables technologies will be able to compete without the need for special arrangements.

  Howie Report
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the report of the Howie committee on curriculum and examinations in upper secondary education in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The issues raised in the report of the Howie committee are important and complex. They affect the education and employment opportunities of all young people in Scotland and the operation of a significant part of the Scottish education system. The committee's proposals would make radical changes to arrangements which have been in place in some form for over 100 years. There was a healthy response to consultation on the report and over 300 responses were received. We have made good progress in evaluating the proposals in the light of that response and will announce decisions later this year.

  Careers in the Arts
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to widen opportunities for young people to make careers in the arts.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 5 July 1993]: My right hon. Friend is always concerned to encourage young people to enter careers which make a useful and productive contribution to, and match the demands of, society. It is chiefly for the arts organisations themselves, however, to consider what part they can play, in conjunction with other training providers, in providing career opportunities in that area. Where appropriate, young people may undertake training for careers in the arts through the Government's youth training programme, which in Scotland is delivered by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and their networks of local enterprise companies. The enterprise bodies have also provided a range of financial and other assistance to support the business objectives of a number of organisations involved in the arts.

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for. Scotland (1) if he will publish details of total health board expenditure on the promotion of the recent campaign for water fluoridation in the Strathclyde regional council area; if he will break this figure down by health board; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will publish details of the level of annual health board expenditure on promoting the case for the fluoridation of water in each of the last 15 years; if he will break these figures down for each of the Strathclyde region health board areas; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what was the cost to health boards in the Strathclyde regional council area of the publicity and lobbying campaign in favour of the fluoridation of water which was undertaken on their behalf by Michael Kelly Associates; if he will break this information down by health board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 9 July 1993]: Total health board expenditure, exclusive of VAT, on the promotion of

  251
  the recent campaign for water fluoridation in the Strathclyde regional council area was some £108,000. Expenditure by individual health boards was as follows:

  £

  Argyll and Clyde

  18,000

  Ayrshire and Arran

  17,000

  Greater Glasgow

  50,000

  Lanarkshire

  23,000

  The total expenditure included £26,900 paid to Michael Kelly Associates; the breakdown of this expenditure by health board is as follows:

  £

  Argyll and Clyde

  2,600

  Ayrshire and Arran

  2,200

  Greater Glasgow

  18,900

  Lanarkshire

  3,200

  No other significant expenditure was incurred by the health boards on promoting the case for the fluoridation of water in Strathclyde during the last 15 years.

  It is for health boards to decide their own priorities for health promotion within the resources they receive. Expenditure on the promotion of water fluoridation should be viewed in the context of the potential improvements in dental health and the consequent savings in the cost to the NHS and patients of dental treatment.

  Lorries
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will identify, for each road authority area in Scotland, the bridges which would require treatment if the proposal to increase lorry loading from 38 to 44 tonnes is implemented.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: Local authorities are still undertaking assessments of the bridges in their area for the higher gross vehicle weight limits of 40 tonnes which come into effect on 1 January 1999. This bridge strengthening programme will take account of the proposed 44 tonne limit.

  It is not yet possible to identify, for each roads authority in Scotland, the bridges which would require treatment for the proposed limits.

  On trunk roads 10 structures have been strengthened out of the 50 identified requiring treatment. One bridge has been superseded by a road scheme. The remaining 39 bridges are being reassessed and those requiring strengthening will be strengthened by the end of 1998.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the cost to each roads authority in Scotland for road and bridge improvements if the proposal to increase lorry loading from 38 tonnes to 44 tonnes is implemented.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: Local authorities are still undertaking assessments of the bridges in their areas for the higher gross vehicle weight limits which come into effect on 1 January 1999. Consequently, it is not yet possible to estimate the cost to each roads authority in Scotland for road and bridge improvements.
  252
  Thirty-nine trunk road bridges are being reassessed and until this work is completed it is not possible to estimate the cost of strengthening measures.

  Record of Need
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the appeals lodged with his Department against the decision of Highland regional council not to open a record of need, the dates on which the appeals were received by his Department and when he expects to give his decisions.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 July 1993]: The Scottish Office Education Department has before it one such appeal, about which I wrote to the hon. Member on 17 June. This was referred to the Secretary of State by Highland regional council appeals committee on 3 November 1992. The considerations involved in the appeals process are invariably complex but I expect the decision of the Secretary of State in this case will be issued soon.

  Islands Shipping Services
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Robertson) of 26 May,Official Report, column 589, what is the overall percentage level of tariff reduction available to P and 0 Scottish Ferries Ltd.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: The percentage rates by which P and O may abate its commercial tariffs are set out in the table. The percentage rates applicable to the carriage of freight also apply to other bulk shipping companies that provide services to the Northern isles.

  Orkney and Shetland Services

  Subvention rate Percentage

  Island residents

  Cars and passengers

  49.0

  Students/disabled/pensioners

  58.0

  Mainland originating traffic

  Cars and passengers

  19.5

  Freight

  Southbound freight

  47.5

  Northbound freight

  10.5

  Asbestos-related Diseases
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many recorded cases there were of the diseases mesothelioma, asbestosis and bilateral diffuse pleural thickening in each year since 1988(a) in the Greater Glasgow health board area and (b) in Scotland as a whole; and of the above totals, what percentage was female.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 20 July 1993]: Data on the incidence of mesothelioma are collected through the Scottish cancer registration scheme. Information derived from this is in the table. Data on the incidence of asbestosis and bilateral diffuse pleural thickening are not available centrally.
  253

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Total

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Glasgow

  Males

  39

  86.7

  52

  94.5

  46

  86.8

  42

  85.7

  179

  88.6

  Females

  6

  13.3

  3

  5.5

  7

  13.2

  7

  14.3

  23

  11.4

  Males + Females

  45

  100.0

  55

  100.0

  53

  100.0

  49

  100.0

  202

  100.0

  Scotland

  Males

  103

  88.0

  119

  90.2

  112

  86.2

  104

  86.0

  438

  87.6

  Females

  14

  12.0

  13

  9.8

  18

  13.8

  17

  14.0

  62

  12.4

  Male + Female

  117

  100.0

  132

  100.0

  130

  100.0

  121

  100.0

  500

  100.0

  Inverclyde Enterprise Zone
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received concerning the proposed economic development of the Parklea site in the Inverclyde enterprise zone.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 20 July 1993]: My right hon. Friend has received two representations regarding the proposed economic development of the Parklea site in Inverclyde enterprise zone, one of which is from the hon. Member.

  Listed Industrial Buildings
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount of public moneys given towards the cost of renovation and conservation of listed industrial buildings in each of the past 10 years; what was the average amount of financial assistance given in such cases; of these, how many were owned by private parties; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 20 July 1993]: The total amount of money given by the Secretary of State for Scotland for the repair of listed industrial buildings—including those converted for other uses—under the historic buildings grant scheme in each of the past 10 years is set out in the table. This represents assistance to 29 buildings, of which 28 were privately owned, the majority by charitable bodies. The average amount of financial assistance given in such cases under the grant scheme was
  £109,716.

  Total amount of historic buildings repair grant

  Year

  £

  1982–83

  88,500

  1983–84

  70,000

  1984–85

  128,600

  1985–86

  134,455

  1986–87

  13,500

  1987–88

  124,582

  1988–89

  790,147

  1989–90

  400,259

  1990–91

  473,605

  1991–92

  561,980

  1992–93

  396,150

  Housing Associations
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the proportion of tenants in the public housing sector who live in housing association apartments and houses(a) in Strathclyde and (b) Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
  254
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 July 1993]: The information requested is published in the 1991 census report for Scotland, part 1, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the average levels of income of housing association tenants in each year since 1987.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 July 1993]: This information is not generaly collected centrally, but the socio-economic study carried out as part of the Scottish house condition survey showed that, in 1991, the mean income of housing association tenants was £6,300. This information is contained in table 4.11 of the survey report, which was published on 20 July and a copy is available in the Library.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to create a post of housing association ombudsman.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 July 1993]: I have asked Scottish Homes to prepare proposals for a housing association ombudsman service and it is currently undertaking a consultation exercise on this matter.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the proportion of private sector loan funding which will be required to maintain housing association new construction programmes and renovation progammes in 1993–94 and 1995–96; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 July 1993]: In the current year, Scottish Homes is confident of achieving the target set by my right hon. Friend of a private: public leverage rate of 1:2 for its programme as a whole. It is too early to say what the target will be for the future years.

  Sewage Sludge
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he has given to regional councils concerning the proposed abolition of the dumping at sea of sewage sludge under EC rules.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 20 July 1993]: Regional councils were advised in March 1990 of the Government's decision to terminate the sea disposal of sewage sludge by the end of 1998. At the same time Lothian and Strathclyde regional councils were also advised of changes in the arrangements relating to their annual applications for licences under the provisions of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 which would prevail in the period to 1998.
  255
  Since then my officials have been in routine contact with the regional councils as they have developed their sludge strategies for post-1998.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Coal
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what protection he intends to introduce for the domestic coal consumer in Northern Ireland after the proposed privatisation of British Coal; and what proportion of homes in Northern Ireland depend on coal as a main source of heat;

  (2) what safeguards he will introduce to ensure that the households in Northern Ireland which use coal as their main source of heat are not exploited by monopolies following the proposed privatisation of British Coal; and how many households in Northern Ireland use coal as their main source of heat.

  Mr. Atkins
  Suppliers of coal to households in Northern Ireland are subject to the provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973 and will continue to be so. Approximately 321,000 households in Northern Ireland —61 per cent. of the total—use coal as their main source of heat.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he proposes to take to ensure that elderly people with coal as their primary source of heat are not disadvantaged under the proposed privatisation of British Coal.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government's proposals to help secure the future of the coal industry should lead to a more efficient industry producing coal at reduced costs, thus benefiting all coal users.

  Tourism
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tourists from the Republic of Ireland visited the north during 1991 and 1992; what plans his Department has to increase the numbers of tourists from both Britain and the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  A total of 380,000 tourists from the Republic of Ireland visited Northern Ireland in 1991 and 352,000 in 1992. A major drive to increase visitors from Britain and the Republic of Ireland was launched in March with the Northern Ireland tourist board's biggest ever television advertising campaign, "The Northern Ireland you'll never know unless you go", at a cost of £1 million. This has been very well received and is backed up strongly by other marketing activity.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect of the numbers of tourists from the United States of America visiting Northern Ireland since the new operation of a direct, scheduled service between New York and Belfast; what steps his Department is now taking to market Northern Ireland in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The new direct scheduled air service between Belfast and New York came into operation on 256
  3 June 1993 and it is too early for meaningful statistical information to have been collected on its effect on the number of tourists visiting Northern Ireland., The Northern Ireland tourist board continues, through its New York office, to participate in a wide range of marketing activities aimed at attracting American visitors, including selective advertising campaigns, participation in consumer and trade exhibitions, development of special interest tour operators and joint marketing initiatives in liaison with Bord Failte, the tourist authority for the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what applications his Department has received from companies wishing to operate a direct scheduled air service between Northern Ireland and Germany; what studies his Department has made of the benefits to the north's tourist industry which the operation of this and other direct scheduled services might have; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  No application has been brought to my attention for a direct scheduled air service between Northern Ireland and Germany. Tourism would undoubtedly benefit from a direct scheduled service link with a key tourism market like Germany.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of tourism in Northern Ireland in 1992–93 came from(a) domestic and (b) overseas sources; and how many of that total were categorised as (i) short stay and (ii) long stay.

  Mr. Atkins
  In the calendar year 1992, domestic sources formed 32 per cent. of total tourism in Northern Ireland of which 63 per cent. were categorised as short stay and 37 per cent. as long stay. Overseas sources for 1992 formed 68 per cent. of the visitor total, of which 48 per cent. were categorised as short stay and 52 per cent. as long stay visitors.

  Salmon and Grilse
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) salmon and (b) grilse were taken by drift nets in (i) the Foyle fisheries area and (ii) the fisheries conservancy area in each of the last 10 years; what was the average weight of each category of fish; and how many fish in each category were taken by fishermen resident in Northern Ireland and in the Irish Republic.

  Mr. Ancram
  Commercial salmon catch returns do not differentiate between salmon and grilse. The total drift net catch, and average weight of fish, for the areas within the jurisdiction of the Foyle Fisheries Commission and the Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland respectively are as follows:

  Foyle Fisheries Commission

  Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland

  Number

  Average weight (kgs)

  Number

  Average weight (kgs)

  1983

  65,654

  3.44

  1,231

  3.27

  1984

  18,299

  2.94

  662

  3.12

  1985

  24,528

  3.39

  1,010

  3.33

  1986

  32,280

  3.34

  479

  3.15

  1987

  12,587

  2.91

  248

  3.18

  1988

  17,321

  3.21

  675

  3.09

  257

  Foyle Fisheries Commission

  Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland

  Number

  Average weight (kgs)

  Number

  Average weight (kgs)

  1989

  55,108

  3.14

  812

  3.17

  1990

  33,850

  3.14

  252

  3.03

  1991

  20,379

  3.02

  838

  3.10

  1992

  33,321

  2.98

  2,267

  3.08

  Information on the number of fish taken by fishermen resident in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland respectively is not available but for statistical purposes it is established practice to include 50 per cent. of the catch in the Foyle area, in addition to all of the Fisheries Conservancy Board catch, when computing the total Northern Ireland catch.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) salmon and (b) grilse were taken by each type of net in Northern Ireland fisheries in each of the last 10 years; and how many such fish were taken by anglers in the same years; and what sums were paid in licence fees in each of those years by (i) netsmen and (ii) anglers.

  Mr. Ancram
  Salmon catch returns do not differentiate between salmon and grilse. Total commercial catches—inclusive of 50 per cent. of the catches in the Foyle area—by type of net, were as follows:

  Drift nets

  Draft nets

  Fixed engines

  1983

  34,058

  8,260

  14,425

  1984

  9,812

  5,695

  13,077

  1985

  13,274

  7,433

  8,908

  1986

  16,619

  6,381

  12,064

  1987

  6,541

  2,786

  10,808

  1988

  9,335

  8,202

  13,389

  1989

  28,366

  15,619

  17,529

  1990

  17,177

  5,112

  10,135

  1991

  11,028

  2,720

  6,673

  1992

  18,927

  4,515

  7,696

  Accurate information on angling catches is not available. Anglers are not required to make returns in the Fisheries Conservancy Board's area, but such information as is available is published in the board's annual reports. A very low percentage of anglers make the required returns in the Foyle Fisheries Commission area, with reported angling catches and the percentage of licensed anglers who made the following returns.

  Year

  Angling catches

  Percentage return

  1983

  831

  7

  1984

  379

  15

  1985

  1,814

  10

  1986

  1,172

  8

  1987

  390

  4

  1988

  960

  5

  1989

  975

  6

  1990

  927

  4

  1991

  482

  9

  1992

  523

  6

  Licence fees paid by commercial salmon fishermen and anglers respectively to the Foyle Fisheries Commission and the Fisheries Conservancy Board were as follows:
  258

  Year

  Foyle Fisheries Commission1

  Fisheries Conservancy Board

  Angling licences £

  Commercial fishing licences £

  Angling licences £

  Commercial fishing licences £

  1983

  29,800

  32,763

  98,477

  10,188

  1984

  29,454

  35,488

  108,656

  9,140

  1985

  38,942

  36,314

  117,687

  10,873

  1986

  44,113

  37,307

  134,450

  11,520

  1987

  47,907

  35,470

  146,941

  10,839

  1988

  57,658

  35,982

  159,166

  12,050

  1989

  56,147

  38,226

  164,607

  11,818

  1990

  58,893

  40,328

  174,545

  10,473

  1991

  61,994

  43,351

  188,146

  12,116

  1992

  62,622

  42,410

  192,003

  13,658

  1 Full licence revenue included.

  Rate Collection
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many ratepayers have been threatened with prosecution as a result of the Rate Collection Agency computer at Newtownabbey, County Antrim being unable correctly to record more than one direct debit from an individual bank account; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Rate collection operational matters are the responsibility of Mr. David Gallagher, chief executive of the Rate Collection Agency. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Mr. D. Gallagher to Mr. Roy Beggs, dated 20 July 1993:

  I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of ratepayers threatened with prosecution as a result of the Rate Collection Agency computer being unable to record more than one direct debit from an individual bank account.

  This is the only occasion on which any indication of a relationship between the unavailability of the direct debit payment facility and the threat of prosecution has come to my attention.

  It is indeed correct that the Agency's existing computer system limits offering the use of the direct debit payment method to those ratepayers who pay rates for one property from one bank account. The structure of the computer system meant that it was not cost effective to avoid this limitation when introducing the direct debit payment facility in 1989 and it has been our practice to identify this fact in all Agency promotional material for direct debit. I enclose for your information a copy of our 1993–94 leaflet where you will find the relevant reference at the bottom of page 4.

  The existing computer system is rapidly approaching the end of its useful life and the Agency at present is developing a replacement system which when operational in 1995 will facilitate the widest use of direct debit.

  There is no reason however, why any ratepayer should be threatened with prosecution for non-payment because direct debit is not available to them. Such ratepayers are offered the Bank Standing Order facility or another payment method suitable to them.

  I hope this will clarify the situation but should you wish me to investigate an individual case please let me know.

  EC Structural Funds
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the persons and bodies to whom he sent his proposals for the EC structural funds.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The list of bodies and individuals who have been sent the consultation draft of the key
  259
  sections of the Northern Ireland structural funds plan to date are set out in the table. It includes Members of the European Parliament and the main Northern Ireland party leaders, the district councils, the Confederation of British Industry, the voluntary sector and other representative bodies as well as a number of organisations and individuals who have expressed an interest in the EC structural funds after 1993. I am arranging for all Northern Ireland Members of Parliament to receive a copy of the plan because of the interest which has been shown in it and in addition for copies of the plan to be placed in the parliamentary Library. Copies of the plan are also made available to any organisation or individual who requests it.

  Action for Women's Employment (Derry)

  Dr. J. Alderdice

  Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union

  Ardboe Development Association

  Ards Small Business Centre

  Armagh Planetarium

  Mr. J. Armstrong

  Arts Council

  Association of Local Authorities

  Ballymoney Regeneration Company Ltd.

  Ballylumford Power Ltd.

  Belfast Centre for the Unemployed

  Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce

  Belfast Charitable Trust for Integrated Education

  Belfast City Airport

  Ms E. Collins

  Belfast Common Purpose

  Belfast Freight Ferries Ltd.

  Belfast Harbour Commissioners

  Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education

  Belfast Law Centre

  Professor W. Black

  Professor V. Borooah

  British Airways

  British Midlands

  British Telecom

  Brownlow Community Trust

  Brownlow Ltd.

  Bryson House

  Buddy Bear Trust

  Building Design Partnership

  Burn Development Association

  Carlingford Lough Commissioners

  Centre for Creative Communication

  Charities Evaluation Services

  Chinese Welfare Association

  Civil Aviation Authority

  Coleraine Harbour Commissioners

  Community Development Review Group

  Community Relations Council

  Community Technical Aid

  Confederation of British Industry

  Confederation of Community Groups

  Construction Employers Federation

  Construction Industry Training Board

  Lord Cook

  Coolkeeragh Power Ltd.

  Co-operation North

  Council for Catholic Maintained Schools

  Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside

  Cardinal Daly

  Mr. A. Daley

  Mr. J. B. Davidson (Transportation Monitoring Committee)

  Development Fund for IFI in Omagh and Fermanagh

  Disability Action

  District Councils (26)

  Donaghadee Community Workforce

  Down County Museum

  Du Pont (UK) Ltd.

  East Border Region Committee

  Edco Ltd.

  Education and Library Boards (5)

  Enniskillen Community Development Project

  260

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  Professor W. Ewart

  Extern

  Fair Employment Commission

  Mr. S. Farron

  Fire Authority for NI

  Ford Motor Ltd.

  Mr. A. Frew, Green Party

  Freight Transport Association

  General Consumer Council for NI

  Gingerbread NI

  Mr. J. Girvan

  Mr. J. Goodman

  Mr. A. Gichuke

  Mr. E. Graham

  The Governing Bodies Association

  Health Promotion Agency

  Health and Social Services Boards (4)

  Help the Aged

  Mr. J. Herlihy (Tourism Monitoring Committee)

  Historic Buildings Council

  Historic Monuments Council

  Holywell Trust

  Mr. J. Hume

  Industrial Therapy Organisation

  Institute of Directors

  Inner City Trust, Derry

  Institute of Exports (NI)

  Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Northern Ireland Committee)

  Ivex Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

  Kainos Software Ltd.

  Dr. D. Kennedy

  KPMG Consultants

  Labour Relations Agency

  Laganside Development Company

  Lame Harbour Ltd.

  Law society

  Lisburn Enterprise Centre

  Livestock Marketing Commission

  Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland

  Londonderry Chamber of Commerce

  Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners

  Lower Ormeau Residents' Action Group

  Lurgan Voluntary Sector Forum

  Mr. S. Macgrianna

  Mr. P. McErlean, Cambridge University

  Dr. A. Masson

  Manx Airlines

  MARI (UK) Ltd.

  Milk Marketing Board for Northern Ireland

  Mr. J. Molyneaux

  Professor F. Monds

  Mr. E. Montgomery

  Ms J. Morrice, EC

  Dr. J. Moss

  Professor P. Newbould

  Multi-cultural Resource Centre

  National Trust

  Newry and Mourne Carers Association

  Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency

  Mr. J. Nicholson

  NIGEN Ltd.

  Northern Ireland Advanced Learning Systems

  Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers Association

  Northern Ireland Airports Ltd.

  Northern Ireland Association of Citizens's Advice Bureaux

  Northern Ireland Association of Community-Based Training Organisations

  NI Bankers Association (contributed to CBI Submission)

  NI Centre in Europe

  NI Chamber of Commerce

  NI Co-operative Development Agency

  NI Council for Integrated Education

  NI Council for Voluntary Action (Umbrella group covering approximately 250 affiliated organisations)

  NI Curriculum Council

  NI Dairy Trade Association

  NI Economic Council

  NI Economic Research Centre

  261

  NI Electricity plc

  NI Environment Link

  NI Federation of Housing Associations

  NI Fish Producers Organisation Ltd.

  NI Housing Executive

  NI Meat Exporters Association

  NI Museums Advisory Committee

  NI Railways Ltd.

  NI Schools Examinations and Assessment Council

  NI Small Business Institute

  NI Tourist Board

  NI Tenants' Action Project

  NI Transport Holding Company

  NI Voluntary Trust

  Norse Irish Ferries Ltd.

  Northern Telecom

  Northlands Institute

  North West Councils' Grouping

  Orchardville Society

  Mr. B. O'Hara

  Mr. J. O'Hara

  Reverend I. Paisley

  Pandoro Ltd.

  P & O Ferries

  Pig Production Development Committee

  Premier Transco Ltd.

  Mr. E. Poulson, EC

  Queen's University of Belfast

  Queen's University (Department of Agriculture and Food Economy)

  Rank Hovis Ltd.

  River Bann and Lough Neagh Association

  Road Haulage Association

  Rosa

  Rotary International

  Royal Society of Ulster Architects

  RSPCB

  Rural Community Network

  Rural Development Council

  Mr. N. Sanders

  Sea Containers Scotland

  Short Brothers plc

  Simon Community

  Mr. J. Simpson

  Professor T. Smith

  Sister Genevieve

  Professor A. Smyth

  Society of Local Authorities Chief Executives (SOLACE)

  Software Industry Federation

  Sports Council

  Springvale Training Ltd.

  Stena Sealink

  Strathroy Milk Marketing Board

  Mr. P. Storey, University of Liverpool

  Mr. C. Stutt

  Suffolk Community Services Group

  Sir John Swinson

  TechEcon

  Textile Allied Products

  Training Council

  Tidy NI

  Tony Brunskill Associates

  Tourism and Hospitality

  Training Council

  Trans Global Freight Ltd.

  Transport Advisory Committee

  Transport Studies Research Group—University of Ulster

  TR Shipping Services

  Tyrone Economic Development Initiative

  Ulster Business School—University of Ulster

  Ulsterbus/Citybus

  Ulster American Folk Park

  Ulster Architectural Heritage Society

  Ulster Development Capital Ltd.

  Ulster Farmers Union

  Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

  Ulster Museum

  Ulster Sheltered Employment Ltd.

  Ultach Trust

  University of Ulster

  Verbal Arts Centre

  Voluntary Service Belfast

  262

  Reverend Wallace, St. Peter's Cathedral

  Mr. C. Ward, CBE (Physical and Social Environment Monitoring Committee)

  Warrenpoint Harbour Authority

  West Belfast Enterprise Board Ltd.

  W. H. Stephens and Sons

  William Fitch and Co.

  Women's Educational Project

  Women's European Platform (NICVA)

  Workers' Educational Association

  Youth Council

  Youth Link

  Zwecker International Transport

  Terrorism
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many terrorist attacks have been carried out in Northern Ireland in each year since 1969; and what percentage of these attacks were carried out by the Republican paramilitaries and Loyalist paramilitaries.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 13 July 1993]: The available information on the number of terrorist attacks is published in the chief constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary's annual report 1992, a copy of which is in the Library. This gives details of the number of terrorist incidents involving shootings, bombs and incendiaries. Information on how many of these were attributed to Republican and Loyalist terrorist groups is not available.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total cost of the film for television screening which is part of the new campaign against terrorism; how long the film lasts; how many firms were invited to tender for the preparations of this film; and what is the budget allocated for the television screening of this film.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: The total production cost of the three television commercial films launched on Wednesday 7 July was £438,000. The three films last 150, 80 and 40 seconds respectively. Seven advertising agencies were invited to submit proposals for this advertising campaign. The projected expenditure for screening the films in the 1993–94 financial year is £280,000.

ENVIRONMENT

  Council Tax
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what figures are available for the impact of the introduction of the council tax on pensioners, in particular in London.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is estimated that, after allowing for council tax benefit, about 65 per cent. of pensioner households are better off under the council tax in 1993–94 than they were under the community charge in 1992–93. The corresponding figure for London is 50 per cent. Figures for the other regions are shown in the
  table.

  Pensioner households: Percentage gaining from the council tax

  Region

  Percentage of pensioner households gaining

  North

  75

  Yorks and Humberside

  70

  North-West

  70

  263

  Region

  Percentage of pensioner households gaining

  East Midlands

  75

  West Midlands

  75

  East Anglia

  70

  Greater London

  50

  Rest of South-East

  55

  South-West

  60

  England

  65

  Notes:

  1. Figures estimated from the Family Expenditure Survey.

  2. Figures include the effect of council tax benefit.

  3. Figures are subject to sampling error and have been rounded to the nearest. 5 per cent.

  4. A pensioner household is defined as a household including a man aged 65 + or a woman aged 60 +.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what proportion of drinking water inspectorate reports have been released to the public during the last three years;

  (2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) of 12 July, Official Report, column 325, if he will indicate the criteria which are used to establish whether a drinking water inspectorate report reveals issues of general interest or provides lessons to be learnt.

  Mr. Yeo
  Since the drinking water inspectorate was established on 2 January 1990 it has investigated 127 incidents affecting drinking water quality and made public three reports. In all other cases copies of letters addressed to water companies summarising the inspectorate's conclusions and recommendations have been sent to the local authorities, district health authorities and customer services committees concerned, to the Office of Water Services and others who have expressed an interest. Whether or not reports need to be published is decided against the criteria given in my answer to the hon. Member on 12 July at column 325.

  Tyre Dump Fires
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are being assessed by his Department to cope with tyre dump fires; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The responsibility for making provision for fire-fighting rests with fire authorities.

  In addition, waste disposal authorities are responsible for licensing the deposit of waste under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Depositing waste tyres without a licence is an offence. A disposal authority may reject a licence application or revoke a licence on grounds of water pollution or danger to public health. Licences are issued subject to conditions, which may include requirements as to the precautions to be taken at the site. Disposal authorities are responsible for enforcing licences. These powers and duties are to be strengthened and extended when the waste management licensing provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 are brought into force.
  264

  Personnel Statistics
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total number of personnel employed in(a) the National Rivers Authority, (b) the drinking water inspectorate, (c) Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and (d) the Office of Water Services.

  Mr. Yeo
  The current totals of staff in post are as follows:

  Number of staff

  National Rivers Authority

  8,371

  The drinking water inspectorate

  28

  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution

  358

  Ofwat

  163

  Running Costs
  Mr. Michael Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest annual running costs for which figures are available for(a) the National Rivers Authority, (b) the drinking water inspectorate, (c) Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and (d) Ofwat.

  Mr. Yeo
  The costs are broadly as follows:

  1992–93 Total revenue costs (£ million)

  National Rivers Authority

  283.6

  The drinking water inspectorate

  1.3

  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution

  14.5

  Ofwat

  6.7

  Further details can be found in the annual reports and accounts of NRA, HMIP and Ofwat.

  Mineral Reviews
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to amend section 105 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to ensure five-year reviews of all mineral permissions in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 17 June 1993 at column 675.

  Bathing Water
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out, in tabular form, how many waters, in each of the EC countries, failed to meet their obligations under the bathing water directive; how many met the mandatory water quality standard; and how many complied with the directive's guideline standards.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: Drawing from the latest EC report, "Quality of Bathing Water 1992", the details of compliance with the coliform standards for seawater bathing areas are as follows:

  Meeting standards

  Country

  Failing mandatory standards

  Mandatory

  Guideline

  Belgium

  4

  35

  7

  Denmark

  60

  1,113

  1,009

  Germany

  119

  328

  257

  265

  Meeting standards

  Country

  Failing mandatory standards

  Mandatory

  Guideline

  Greece

  38

  1,165

  1,141

  Spain

  96

  1,239

  988

  France

  413

  1,519

  1,121

  Ireland

  5

  85

  77

  Italy

  342

  3,691

  3,428

  Netherlands

  6

  38

  32

  Portugal

  38

  188

  170

  United Kingdom

  97

  358

  163

  The Commission accepts that there is a degree of imprecision in the results from the different countries, which arises from differences in analytical methods.

  Sea Walls
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what work the interdepartmental group on coastal policy has done on the ownership of sea walls; and what plans his Department has to transfer ownership of the Portland harbour wall.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 20 July 1993]: I have been asked to reply as this Department has overall policy responsibility for coastal defences in England. The ownership of specific lengths of sea wall is a matter for local bodies concerned. In the case of Portland I understand that the Ministry of Defence is reviewing options for the future of the entire base—including the breakwaters—in conjunction with Weymouth and Portland borough council and other interested parties.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Child Labour
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to restrict the import of goods produced by child labour.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  None. Open international trade is more likely to put an end to child labour by strengthening the economies of the countries concerned. There would, in any case, be severe practical difficulties in identifying goods which had been produced with child labour.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next expects to meet the President of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend and I maintain close contact with the CBI and discuss with it a wide range of issues including the competitiveness of British manufacturing industry.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met the Trades Union Congress to discuss manufacturing industry.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend discusses matters affecting industry with the TUC as appropriate.
  266

  Competitiveness
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what new plans he has to increase the competitiveness of British industry.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The competitiveness of British industry is at the heart of all the Government's policies.

  One-stop Shops
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many one-stop shops he expects to be running by the end of the year.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Nineteen one-stop shops are due to open by the end of this year.

  Sir Anthony Durant
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made on the one-stop shop initiative; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Good progress is being made by the six one-stop shop pilots, and they have now been joined by two more areas, Leicestershire and Shropshire. This will represent some 31 outlets in all.

  Further applications will be welcomed from other areas ready to achieve the high standards of the pilots. They will all be known as Business Links.

  Defence-related Industries
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further plans his Department has to assist firms in defence-related industries to diversify into new products; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department will continue to provide advice on diversification through the "Changing Tack" regional seminar programme and associated help Manual. In addition, areas which are adversely affected by defence changes may be able to benefit from the EC KONVER initiative, which will be worth some £15 million to the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Deregulation
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will ensure that the small business sector is fully involved in consultations on his deregulation initiative.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to ensure that due weight is given to the voice of small businesses during his consultations on the deregulation initiative.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The cumulative burden of regulation bears most heavily on small businesses and ensuring that they are fully consulted is a central objective of the deregulation initiative. The chairmen of the deregulation task forces have taken on the responsibility for giving special consideration to the needs of small businesses and the 14 task force members representing the small company sector have formed a committee to make specific recommendations.

  Following the Prime Minister's meeting on deregulation yesterday, Ministers have committed themselves to greater efforts to involve small companies in Government decision making and to analysing the impact of regulatory

  267
  proposals on the smallest firms affected. The enforcer's code on helping business comply with regulation, also announced yesterday, will be particularly helpful to small companies.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made as to the number of rules and regulations from(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Europe which will be amended or abolished by the deregulation unit in the next six months.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  At the Prime Minister's progress meeting on deregulation, held yesterday, Ministers agreed a list of specific deregulatory prospects to reduce the burden on businesss. The deregulation unit is a division within my Department which co-ordinates Government action on deregulation, but has no powers itself to amend or abolish regulations created either in Whitehall or the EC.

  Pit Closures
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met the chairman of British Coal to discuss the effect of pit closures in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman of British Coal as necessary to discuss a range of issues.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many jobs were created or retained as a result of inward investment into the United Kingdom in 1992.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department's Invest in Britain Bureau's—IBB—recent annual report, a copy of which is in the Library, shows that some 56,471 jobs were created or retained between 1 April 1992 and 31 March 1993. The figures are based on information provided by the companies at the time of the announcement to invest. There is no requirement to notify the Department and so the figures include only those projects where the IBB and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many jobs he estimates have come from inward investment since 1979 and in which main areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Since 1979 it is estimated that 526,000 jobs have been associated with inward investment decisions. The largest number of jobs have been in Scotland, 16.5 per cent.; West Midlands, 14.6 per cent.; and Wales, 14.1 per cent. The figures are based on information provided by the companies at the time of the announcement to invest. There is no requirement to notify the Department and so the figures include only those projects where the IBB and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.

  Package Holidays
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further steps he is taking to ensure improved safety standards for package holidaymakers using European hotels.
  268
  Mr. McLoughlin
  As a result of an EC resolution on fire safety in hotels most member states now have standards similar in general terms to those in the United Kingdom. More generally, the International Federation of Tour Operators has issued two substantial guides, one for operators and the other for owners of holiday accommodation, covering every aspect of safety from fire doors to the depth of swimming pools. These, I believe, will be valuable.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further representations he has had from travel businesses about deficiencies in the package travel regulations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have received no such representations.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent discussions he has held with British Coal on opencasting.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend and I meet regularly with British Coal to discuss a wide range of issues.

  Lonrho plc
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received calling for an investigation into the affairs of Lonrho plc.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I am unable to discuss the affairs of individual companies. However, any representations my hon. Friend cares to make regarding the affairs of Lonrho plc will be considered.

  Aerospace Industry
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if his Department is now in a position to publish its own assessment of the prospects for the British aerospace industry.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department maintains a close dialogue with the aerospace industry on its prospects, but I have no present plans to publish any departmental assessment.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the terms of reference of Sir Peter Levene's inquiry into the ECGD.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the second part of the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade gave on 7 June 1993 at column 160.

  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what criteria are taken into account when assessing staffing requirements at the ECGD.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  ECGD's staffing levels are periodically reviewed. They are set with the aim of ensuring that the Department has sufficient resources to meet its objectives.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when his Department plans to publish its renewable energy strategy document.
  269
  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, North-East (Mr. Moss).

  Russia (Trade)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on United Kingdom trade with Russia.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  United Kingdom exports to the countries of the former Soviet Union amounted to £295 million in the first five months of this year, a rise of 93 per cent. over the same period last year—£153 million. About 70 per cent. of these exports are to Russia.

  Despite this encouraging news, the Russian market remains primarily suitable for larger companies able to bear the costs and risks involved, and for those companies already established there. Nevertheless, there can be opportunities for traders of all sizes and for medium and smaller companies where a niche exists for them or where they can act as subcontractors.

  Inspectors
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 5 March,Official Report, column 349, if he will list (a) the name and business connections of the inspector, (b) the date on which he published the interim and final reports in which the individual was criticised, (c) the date on which he referred the criticisms of the accountant inspector criticised in the Ramor report to any of the accountancy bodies and (d) the total cost of the Ramor and Gilgate investigations, showing the fees paid to accountant inspectors.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton

  (a) Mr. P. L. Ainger, FCA of Messrs. Price Waterhouse.

  (b) The interim report dated 23 December 1981 was published on 22 March 1983. The final report dated 11 December 1987 remains unpublished.

  (c) 22 March 1983 immediately on publication of the interim report.

  (d) The total costs of the Ramor investigation were as follows:

  £

  Accountant

  568,762

  Legal

  108,692

  Disbursements

  82,847

  Total

  760,301

  Figures for Gilgate are not now available.

  Supervisory Bodies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the sections of the Companies Acts which affect the duties of the recognised supervisory bodies to shareholders, creditors, employees and the general public.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The duties of the recognised supervisory bodies are set out in sections 35 to 40 of the Companies Act 1989.
  270

  Auditing Practices Board
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the dates of the meetings of the Auditing Practices Board which his representative has attended and the matters which were discussed at each of those meetings.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his question on 5 March,Official Report, column 348. Since then my Department's representative has attended the meetings of the Auditing Practices Board held on the following dates:

  9 March

  19 April

  11 May

  8 June

  13 July.

  Minutes of the board's meeting may be obtained from the board's secretary.

  Criminal Offences
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criminal offences he has introduced in the last five years under delegated legislation.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progess has been made on conducting a job study with British Nuclear Fuels plc on the potential for alternative employment on the thermal oxide reprocessing plant site as recommended in the first report of the Environment Committee of Session 1985–86, HC 191, on radioactive waste; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mrs. Campbell) on 7 July 1993,Official Report, column 149.

  G7 (Balance of Trade)
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of(a) imports and (b) exports of each of the G7 countries in the past year; what were the comparable figures five, 10 and 15 years ago in real terms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The value of imports and exports for each of the G7 countries for 1992 are shown in table 1. Comparable figures in real terms for five, 10 and 15 years ago are not available. Comparable figures for five, 10 and 15 years ago at current prices are shown in table 2. United Kingdom export performance has been impressive in recent years.

  Table 1:

  Visible trade of the G7 countries, 1992

  (Billion US$)

  Exports

  Imports

  Balance

  Canada

  134

  129

  5

  France1

  216

  231

  -15

  Germany

  422

  403

  19

  Italy

  178

  188

  -10

  Japan

  340

  233

  106

  United Kingdom

  191

  222

  -31

  USA

  448

  554

  -106

  271
  1 1991 figures given as 1992 data is not available

  Source: IMF International Financial Statistics

  Table 2: Visible trade of the G7 countries; 1977, 1982, 1987 (Billions US$, current prices)

  1977

  1982

  1987

  Exports

  Canada

  44

  71

  98

  France

  65

  97

  148

  Germany

  118

  176

  294

  Italy

  45

  74

  117

  Japan

  81

  138

  231

  United Kingdom

  56

  97

  131

  United States of America

  123

  216

  254

  Imports

  Canada

  42

  58

  93

  France

  70

  116

  158

  Germany

  101

  155

  228

  Italy

  48

  87

  126

  Japan

  71

  131

  151

  United Kingdom

  63

  100

  154

  United States of America

  160

  255

  424

  Balance

  Canada

  1

  13

  6

  France

  -6

  -20

  -10

  Germany

  17

  21

  66

  Italy

  -3

  -13

  -9

  Japan

  9

  7

  80

  United Kingdom

  -7

  -2

  -23

  United States of America

  -37

  -38

  -170

  Source: IMF International Financial Statistics

  Wind Power
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish estimates for the energy production levels of individual wind power developments in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is my intention to monitor the performance of windpower projects contracted under the non-fossil fuel obligation and to publish aggregated data.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the groups and individuals consulted by his Department to date regarding(a) the draft terms of reference of the review of nuclear power, (b) the proposed composition of the committee which will undertake the review and its technical advisers and (c) the powers of such a committee;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to establish an independent committee to undertake the review into nuclear power scheduled for the current year;

  (3) when he plans to make a statement outlining the terms of reference and the timetable for his departmental review of nuclear power.

  Mr. Eggar
  No decisions have yet been taken on the scope, timing and format of the nuclear review. A further announcement will be made in due course.

  Warren Spring Laboratory
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will publish the PA Consultants review on Warren Spring Laboratory.
  272
  Mr. McLoughlin
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on 7 July 1993,Official Report, column 153.

  Tyre Imports
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many part-worn tyres have been imported into Great Britain in the last year for which figures are available; which countries they have come from; what checks are made as to their fitness for use; how sub-standard ones are disposed of; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In 1992 the United Kingdom imported 10,900 metric tonnes of used tyres, worth £5.4 million. The countries from which they were imported are given in the table. Policy on their fitness for use and disposal are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

  United Kingdom imports of used pneumatic tyres1, 1992

  Metric tonnes

  Value (£000)

  Netherlands

  3,674.7

  1,934

  Germany

  4,858.7

  1,620

  Saudi Arabia

  114.7

  353

  Abu Dhabi

  105.6

  256

  Belgium-Luxembourg

  383.2

  177

  Italy

  285.8

  170

  France

  449.4

  166

  Japan

  254.7

  150

  Irish Republic

  249.9

  136

  Sudan

  91.7

  56

  Switzerland

  101.3

  40

  Brazil

  65.1

  38

  Sweden

  2.5

  36

  Malta

  43.2

  32

  Lebanon

  6.0

  24

  Kenya

  3.2

  24

  Zimbabwe

  11.8

  22

  Denmark

  25.3

  21

  Mauritius

  28.6

  18

  USA

  25.5

  18

  South Korea

  9.7

  17

  Iceland

  2.2

  14

  Mozambique

  5.0

  12

  Yemen

  2.8

  12

  Austria

  16.9

  9

  Bahrain

  16.8

  9

  Taiwan

  1.7

  8

  Soviet Union

  15.0

  6

  Botswana

  3.9

  6

  Spain

  1.5

  6

  Portugal

  6.0

  5

  Turkey

  1.0

  5

  Ghana

  7.0

  4

  Thailand

  3.1

  4

  Cyprus

  2.1

  4

  South Africa

  10.1

  3

  Finland

  0.1

  3

  Malawi

  0.8

  2

  Zambia

  0.6

  2

  Seychelles

  0.1

  2

  Dubai

  1.6

  1

  Kuwait

  0.2

  1

  Canada

  0.1

  1

  Philippines

  0.0

  1

  Total

  10,889.2

  5,428

  1 Used pneumatic tyres are defined as Heading 625.93 of the Standard International Trade Classification, Revision 3. Retreaded tyres are not included.

  273

  Life Insurance (Bonuses)
  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what studies he has made of the way in which life insurance companies are distributing with-profits bonuses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  There is a growing debate within the life insurance industry about the methodologies for assessing bonus distributions on with-profits policies.

  As part of its regulatory responsibility to keep itself informed of developments in the life insurance industry, my Department has asked the Government Actuary's Department to conduct a survey of leading United Kingdom offices which write with-profits business, to obtain more detailed information about companies' bonus philosophies and the actuarial techniques used in assessing bonus payments.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many hours of evidence have been taken and which witnesses have appeared for his Department before Lord Justice Scott.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Only one DTI witness has appeared before Lord Justice Scott. The former Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Channon), gave five hours, 40 minutes of evidence on 19 May.

  Shipbuilding Intervention Fund
  Mr. Godman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list(a) the number, (b) the type and (c) the gross registered tonnage of vessels currently under construction in United Kingdom shipyards which have qualified for financial support under the terms of the European Community's seventh directive on the shipbuilding intervention fund; and what is the amount of such financial assistance in each contract.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 20 July 1993]: Twelve vessels totalling 137,400gt, which have qualified for support from the shipbuilding intervention fund, are under construction in United Kingdom yards. They are:

  Three Chemical Tankers

  Three Tugs

  Two Ferries

  One Bulk Carrier

  One Dredger

  One LPG Carrier

  One Oil Tanker

  Details of individual contracts are commercially confidential.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what safety and security measures his Department intends to take in connection with the return of high-level waste resulting from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel to THORP's customers.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 14 July 1993]: As is the case for other nuclear materials, the carriage of high-level waste is allowed only in special containers which are subject to stringent international safety standards. Appropriate measures are taken to ensure the security of such transport.
  274

EMPLOYMENT

  Sheltered Housing
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what considerations underlie the prohibition on local authorities which operate their own sheltered placement schemes from offering further placements where funding is available from other charitable sources.

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Eric Insley, dated 21 July 1993:

  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to him about local authority Sheltered Placement Schemes (SPS). This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  I understand your question refers to local authorities operating their own sheltered placement schemes, and their role in acting as a host organisation for SPS workers.

  Under the rules of SPS voluntary organisations cannot normally sponsor SPS workers into a host which is a local authority with statutory powers to provide sheltered employment. The purpose of this rule is to encourage local authorities to play an active role in developing Sheltered Placement Schemes. However, when a local authority has filled all its own allocation of places and we are unable to allocate additional places to the local authority a voluntary body with unfilled SPS places may then sponsor a place hosted by a local authority.

  I hope this is helpful.

  As decided by the Administrative Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the library of the House.

  Industrial Deafness
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to help women who suffer from industrial deafness to claim compensation from their employers.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 already requires employers to take out insurance to cover claims for compensation from employees who are injured, or who develop an industrial disease, as a result of their employer's negligence. We have no plans to extend this legislation.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the extent of change of the prevalence of the problem of industrial deafness in the past 10 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The most reliable indicator of the change in the incidence of industrial deafness is best drawn from the numbers of workers claiming industrial injuries disablement benefit, administered by the Department of Social Security, as shown in the following table:
  275

  Year

  Number of cases

  11986–87

  1,202

  1987–88

  1,251

  1988–89

  1,170

  1989–90

  1,128

  1990–91

  1,041

  1991–92

  2972

  1 Figures from before 1986 are not comparable as they were compiled on a different basis.

  2 Provisional.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the number of court actions against companies operating in the United Kingdom for infringements of the existing anti-asbestos legislation in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Health and Safety Executive is committed to ensuring that all work with asbestos is carried out safely and that other people affected by the work are not put at risk. Inspectors take whatever action is appropriate to ensure that those responsible comply with their duties under the legislation to prevent or reduce exposure to asbestos.

  Details of court action taken under asbestos legislation during the past five years follows:

  Years from 1 April

  Informations laid

  Convictions

  Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983

  1987–88

  32

  27

  1988–89

  14

  13

  1989–90

  14

  7

  1990–91

  7

  7

  1991–92

  8

  7

  Asbestos Regulations 1969 (Revoked on 1 March 1988)

  1987–88

  14

  8

  1988–89

  4

  3

  Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 (Came into force 1 March 1988)

  1988–89

  21

  21

  1989–90

  63

  58

  1990–91

  57

  48

  1991–92

  48

  40

  Asbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 1988

  1989–90

  1

  nil

  Notes: No other prosecutions were brought under these Regulations. Figures relate to Great Britain. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for the Northern Ireland asbestos regulations.

  Maastricht Treaty
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what estimates he made of the cost to business and industry of the various provisions of the social protocol in the Maastricht treaty; what breakdown he made of the costs for each measure; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No specific proposals have yet been advanced for measures to be introduced under the terms of the social protocol and the agreement of the Eleven. However, the protocol and the agreement of the 276
  Eleven extends Community competence and qualified majority voting into a number of new areas for the other 11 member states, including working conditions, information and consultation, and social exclusion. New legislation in these areas could quite clearly impose very substantial additional burdens on business and damage the competitiveness of the entire Community.

  Much of the impact of action taken under the social protocol and the agreement of the Eleven would be indirect, through a loss of choice and flexibility, leading to lower competitiveness and lower output. However, some types of action would undoubtedly have direct cost implications for employers.

  For the reasons set out, it is not possible to quantify the potential impact of the entire protocol and the agreement of the Eleven if it were to be applied to the United Kingdom. However, in a number of areas, for illustrative purposes, the Department has estimated the potential costs to United Kingdom employers of the type of measures which might result from terms of the social protocol and the agreement of the Eleven.

  (i) Access to Training

  Legislation could be proposed granting all employees the right to a minimum of 10 days training per year, paid for by their employer, regardless of whether or not this meets the needs of the employee or the business. There is some uncertainty about how many employees in the United Kingdom would currently meet the terms of such a requirement. In addition, the proportion of employees currently without 10 days' training who would take up their entitlement is difficult to predict. Using a plausible range of assumptions on current provision and take-up, the additional costs to employers—in terms of salary and lost output—could be between £2 billion and £9 billion at 1992–93 prices.

  (ii) Paternity Leave

  Legislation might require employers to grant all male employees paid leave on the birth of a child. Using a plausible range of assumptions on current provision and take-up, the additional cost to employers of each week of paid leave could be between £30 million and £100 million at 1992–93 prices.

  (iii) Maximum Working Week

  Restrictions on the working week would also be possible. As an illustration, a compulsory maximum working week—including paid overtime—of, say, 45 hours might be imposed. If this were to apply to all employees, and assuming that half the wage costs involved with the reduction in working time were borne by employers, the additional costs, compared with current arrangements, could be about £5.5 billion at 1992–93 prices.

  In all three cases, the cost estimates are subject to margins of error, and, in the absence of specific proposals, should be regarded as purely illustrative. They do, however, provide some idea of the potential scale of the financial burden that could be imposed on United Kingdom employers.

  Asbestos-related Diseases
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many recorded cases there were of the diseases mesothelioma, asbestosis and bilateral diffuse
  277
  pleural thickening in each year since 1988 in England and Wales; and within each figure, what percentage was female.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 20 July 1993]: The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available from the Department of Social Security is contained in the following table:

  Mesothelioma

  Asbestosis

  Bilateral diffuse pleural thickening

  Total

  Per cent. Female

  Total

  Per cent. Female

  Total

  Per cent. Female

  1988

  406

  n/a

  160

  n/a

  109

  n/a

  1989

  386

  n/a

  193

  n/a

  104

  n/a

  1990

  409

  3

  216

  3

  124

  nil

  1991

  461

  4

  262

  2

  127

  nil

  1992

  474

  3

  258

  3

  129

  2

  The information is based on claims for industrial injuries disablement benefit subsequently referred to a medical boarding centre situated in England or Wales.

  The percentage figure for females is not available for 1988 and 1989.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment has been made by his Department of the cost to the housing benefit budget of the deregulation of private rents and reduction in housing association grants.

  Mr. Burt
  None. The impact of the deregulation of private rents and reduction in housing association grants are only two of the many factors which influence the level of housing benefit expenditure. It is therefore not possible to make a reliable estimate of the effect on housing benefit expenditure which could be attributed to these measures alone.

  Government Statistical Service
  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the arrangements for the release of Government statistical service statistics by the Department of Social Security.

  Mr. Lilley
  I attach great importance to the integrity and validity of official statistics, and to ensuring public confidence in the statistics for which I am responsible. To this end, I have agreed standard practices specifically for the release of Government statistical service publications by my Department. The practices which will govern social security statistics from the Government statistical service are:

  (1) Publications are released at the earliest possible date; the date is determined by the director of statistics.

  (2) Publication dates are pre-announced in the central statistical office monthly list of social statistics to be released in the month ahead.

  (3) The time of publication will be 11.30 am except for households below average income and benefit take-up statistics which will be published at 3.30 pm to coincide with an announcement to Parliament.

  (4) Ministerial comment on DSS statistics is issued separately. The contents of statistical press notices
  278
  and all other documents bearing the Government statistical service logo are the sole responsibility of the director of statistics.

  (5) Copies of publications are available to Ministers and officials 48 hours before publication. Ministers have access to work-in-progress between two and four weeks before publication; access before then is limited to the officials responsible for advice on the statistics.

  (6) Some DSS statistical series are published only in "Social Security Statistics", an annual publication. In such cases, the data are made immediately available to officials and Ministers for policy purposes—including answering parliamentary questions—and to the general public and others on request. A list of Government statistical service results statistics which have recently become available will be provided in a quarterly press notice.

  Disability Benefits
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the factors which account for the variation in the numbers of home visits carried out by the disability benefits centres.

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

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Ms Jean Corston, dated 20 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 what are the factors which account for the variation in the numbers of home visits carried out by the disability benefit centres.

  The principal reasons for visiting customers, or their representatives, in connection with Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance (AA) claims, are when there is a need for appointee action to be undertaken and/or the standard of completion of the claim form is poor.

  Visits that are required to be undertaken for DLA/AA related matters should be done by District Offices (DOs). The ability of the DOs to undertake visits that would otherwise need to be done by the Disability Benefit Centres (DBCs) is the most significant factor in determining how many visits DBCs eventually have to conduct.

  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.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants were in receipt of invalidity
  benefit in(a) Dundee, (b) Scotland and (c) the United Kingdom in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of invalidity benefit 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 Michael Bichard to Mr. John McAllion, dated 20 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

  279
  Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many claimants were in receipt of Invalidity Benefit in (a) Dundee, (b) Scotland and (c) the United Kingdom in each of the past five yers for which figures are available.

  The information is not available in the exact format requested. This is because the statistics provided are for Great Britain rather than the United Kingdom (the United Kingdom includes Northern Ireland). The national statistics provided which are obtained from a 1 per cent. sample of claimants reflect the number of recipients of Invalidity Benefit at a point in time. The statistics maintained by District/Benefit Offices relate to the number of claimants to Invalidity Benefit.

  The statistics for the Dundee District Office are only available from year ending March 1992. This is because the Benefits Agency was not formed until April 1991 and Districts were created at the same time.

  There were 11,910 people claiming Invalidity Benefit at Dundee District Office at the last working day of March 1992, and 12,995 at the last working day of March 1993. These figures were obtained from a 100 per cent. clerical count of cases in the Office, and include a small number of people who have claimed but are not receiving Invalidity Benefit, eg. because there is underlying entitlement which has been extinguished by the payment of a higher overlapping benefit or where termination action has not been completed. The Dundee District Office deals with areas other than Dundee therefore the figures shown include a small number of people who do not live in Dundee.

  The table shows the number of customers in receipt of Invalidity Benefit in Scotland and Great Britain at a point in time for the last five years for which the figures are available. The statistics are based on a I per cent. sample of claimants.

  Date1

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  4 April 1987

  135,000

  968,000

  2 April 1988

  147,000

  1,047,000

  1 April 1989

  158,000

  1,126,000

  31 March 1990

  169,000

  1,209,000

  30 March 1991

  181,000

  1,306,000

  1 The table figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  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.

  Lone Parents
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women have been asked to name an absent father at benefit officers in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole; how many have demurred; and how many have been recalled for further 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 Ros Hepplewhite to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 20 July 1993:

  As Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency it is my responsibilty 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 benefit offices in Strathclyde and Scotland as a whole; how many have demurred, and how many have been recalled for further 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 majority of parents with care name the absent parent on the form. However, we do not hold separate information on the number of MAFs issued locally in Strathclyde, or in Scotland as a whole.
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  A total of 128 parents with care of children were interviewed in Strathclyde in connection with their maintenance applications during the period 5 April to 30 June 1993. A total of 252 were interviewed in Scotland as a whole. In Strathclyde, 22 parents declined without good cause to co-operate with the Agency in arranging maintenance, while in Scotland as a whole, there were 60. 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 more than three-quarters 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.

  Child Support Agency
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women are employed on (i) a full-time basis, (ii) as part-time employees and (iii) on short-term employment contracts by the Child Support Agency in Scotland; and what are the projections for such numbers of employees in 1994, 1995 and 1996.

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

  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Dr. Norman Godman, 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 (a) men and (b) women are employed (i) on a full-time basis, (ii) as part-time employees and (iii) on short-term employment contracts by the Child Support Agency in Scotland, and what are the projections for such numbers of employees in 1994, 1995 and 1996.

  The numbers of staff currently employed in the Child Support Agency in Scotland are as follows:

  Men

  Women

  Number employed on full-time basis

  147

  311

  Number employed on a part-time basis

  0

  36

  Total

  147

  347

  Of these, two men and six women are employed on short-term contracts of one year.

  I cannot say what the projections will be for 1994 to 1996 in relation to numbers of employees broken down by gender but the projection for the total number of staff in Scotland for April 1994 is 700, remaining constant through 1995 and 1996.

  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.

  Private Pensions
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the number of private pension plans taken out each year since 1988 with the benefit of the national insurance rebate incentive; what was the cost of the incentive rebate in each year; what were the year-end total reserves of the national insurance fund
  281
  beginning at 31 March 1988; how many contributors left and joined the state earnings-related pensions scheme in each year; and what was the total number of private pension plans with a rebate outstanding at the end of each year.

  Mr. Hague
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: Information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.

  Table 1 United Kingdom

  Year

  Numbers entering a private pension scheme1

  Numbers transferring from a private pension to SERPS at year end1 2

  1987–88

  —

  3,200

  1988–89

  3,428,300

  25,400

  1989–90

  925,600

  22,100

  1990–91

  650,200

  26,400

  1991–92

  543,100

  29,800

  1 Source: 1 per cent, sample of National Insurance contribution records.

  2 Figures relate to any Private Pension holder transferring to SERPS at year end, regardless of entry.

  Table 2 Great Britain

  Year

  Year paid in respect of

  Amount of rebate (£ million)

  Amount of incentive (£ million)

  Year end NI fund reserves (£ million)

  1987–88

  —

  —

  —

  7,288

  1988–89

  —

  —

  —

  10,369

  1989–90

  1987–88

  792

  346

  10,307

  1988–89

  1,074

  370

  —

  1990–91

  1989–90

  1,455

  506

  11,792

  11988–89

  15

  4

  —

  1991–92

  1990–91

  1,734

  583

  8,333

  11989–90

  34

  10

  —

  1992–93

  1991–92

  1,849

  616

  3,677

  11990–91

  45

  12

  Estimated

  1 And earlier.

  Source: Government Actuary's Department.

  Note: Because of the different bases on which the estimates are based the information in Table 2 is not comparable with That in Table 1.

  State Pension
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of those in receipt of the state pension have a total income of(a) £5,000 and below, (b) between £5,000 and £6,000, (c) between £6,000 and £7,000 and (d) between £7,000 and £8,000.

  Mr. Hague
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: The information requested is in the table.

  The income distribution of those in receipt of a state pension

  Income of:

  Percentage with gross income in range

  Singles

  Couples

  All units

  £5,000 pa or less

  68

  8

  43

  £5,000–£6000 pa

  9

  14

  11

  £6,000–£7000 pa

  6

  14

  10

  £7,000–£8,000 pa

  3

  10

  6

  More than £8000 pa

  14

  54

  31

  Notes:

  (a) Figures may not sum to 100 per cent. due to rounding.
  282
  (b) Estimates are based on data from 1990 and 1991 Family Expenditure Surveys.

  (c) Amounts are at January 1991 prices.

  (d) Couples are included if either the head or the spouse is in receipt of a state pension.

TRANSPORT

  Red Star Parcels Ltd.
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has held with the chairman of British Rail about safeguards to, ensure that all potential purchasers of Red Star Parcels Ltd. have a fair opportunity to bid for the company and that their probity is adequately assessed.

  Mr. Freeman
  The British Railways Board is handling the sale of Red Star. All bids received by the closing date
  (13 August) will be given equal consideration by the board and its merchant bank advisers. Final terms of sale to the preferred purchaser will require the Secretary of State's approval.

  Traffic Forecasts
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 1 July,Official Report, columns 590–92, giving the actual traffic and forecast traffic levels from 1968, if he will provide the forecast figure on the 1978 base for 1980.

  Mr. Key
  The published national road traffic forecasts, including the 1978-based forecast, did not include figures for every year of the forecast period. Intermediate year figures can be constructed by interpolation. The 1980 figures for the 1978-based forecast would have been in the range 140–144.

  Seafarers
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is currently being undertaken by his Department to achieve improved standards for the training and certification of seafarers.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department has undertaken a complete review of the way in which training for seafarers is delivered and the nature of the qualifications issued. A pilot project to test these new methods of assessment is about to commence using the functional approach embraced by national and Scottish vocational qualifications.

  Internationally, the United Kingdom attaches great importance to the forthcoming revision of the existing Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978. The Department will be playing a leading role in this complete review and will be putting forward the vocational qualification aproach as a means of improving the standard.

  Taxis (Road Barriers)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department takes to ensure that London taxi cab drivers are provided with daily information about
  road barriers in the capital.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department and local highway authorities have long-established procedures for advising
  283
  the media about road closures and restrictions; local radio stations in London have numerous daily bulletins about traffic conditions.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 12 July,Official Report, column 334, if he will break down between sea and air transport the percentage of his Department's budget spent on these modes of transport.

  Mr. Norris
  Air transport accounts for 1.6 per cent. and sea transport 0.5 per cent. of the Department's planned expenditure for the years 1993–94 to 1995–96.

  Railway Pensions
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has concluded his discussions with the British Railways Board and the British Rail Pension Trustee Co. about safeguarding railway pensions after privatisation.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am placing copies of the agreement in the Library.

  British Rail Maintenance Ltd.
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his conclusions on the future of British Rail Maintenance Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The British Railways Board has now completed its review of options for the future of the British Rail Maintenance Ltd. and Level 5 Group which carries out maintenance of trains. The board has recommended to me that the British Rail Maintenance Ltd. depots at Eastleigh, Doncaster, Wolverton and Glasgow, and the Level 5 Group depots at Chart Leacon and Ilford together with the electronic repair centres at Swindon and Eastleigh should be offered for sale as soon as possible. I share the board's view that selling these businesses will be in the best interest of the railway and the work force, and consistent with the Government's proposals for reform of the railway industry.

  The board is considering how best to invite offers for these businesses. The aim is to be ready to invite offers by next spring, and to complete the sale as soon as possible after that.

  The British Railways Board and its advisers will develop plans for the sale but they will need the approval of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

  I commend the progress made by the BRML/Level 5 Group management and work force towards improving on financial targets and on the turn-round times for vehicles to meet customer needs. But I believe that there would be a better future for these maintenance businesses in the private sector. Once in the private sector, the BRML/Level 5 Group will have greater freedom to diversify and compete for work outside the railway supply industry, to the benefit of employees.

  We have also considered the future of the maintenance depots which undertake lighter maintenance of passenger
  284
  trains. These depots will be treated differently. Subject to Royal Assent to the Railways Bill, we propose that the freehold of such depots should rest with Railtrack and that they should be leased to train operating companies, franchisees or independent depot operators. The Railways Bill provides for rights of access to, and regulation of, light maintenance depots.

  US Air Transport Commission
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what submission the Government have made to the United States commission on the air transport industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Yes. A submission has been transmitted to the commission in Washington. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Night Flights, Gatwick
  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many night flights at Gatwick were made in the past year by aircraft which are at present except from the restrictions but which will in future come within the quota;

  (2) how many night flights will be permitted at Gatwick in the winter of 1993–94 and summer 1994 under the new quota system announced on 6 July, excluding aircraft which are at present exempt and assuming that airlines use the same mix of aircraft as in the past year.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 19 July 1993]: More data on aircraft type, engine fit and maximum certificated landing and take-off weights are required to classify aircraft under the new night restrictions system than under the present regime. Not all these data are available for past movements, particularly for currently exempt aircraft, so only estimates can be given.

  The new summer quota of 9,550 for Gatwick would translate into about 6,250 movements by all aircraft which will count against the quota including those previously exempt. As stated in answer to my right hon. Friend on 10 March at column 567, the assumption that the mix of traffic at night in the winter season will remain unchanged over the five-year period of the new restrictions is unlikely, but no substantial changes are expected in winter 1993–94. It is estimated that the winter quota of 6,820, if fully used, will translate into between 2,800 and. 4,450 movements by all aircraft that will count against the quota depending on the build-up between scheduled and charter services. The quota is unlikely to be fully used in the winter 1993–94 season.

  Our announcement of new restrictions on 6 July at columns 71–73 recognised the concern of those living around airports by introducing the QC½ category. This limits movements of aircraft outside the quota to those very quiet, smaller aircraft which are already exempt. Many aircraft that were exempt will now count against the quota.
  285

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received since his recent announcement on the east London river crossing; and if he will make a further statement on traffic policy in south-east London.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 20 July 1993]: To date, my right hon. Friend has written and representations from
  286
  three organisations have been received. I am now considering the options available and will make a statement in due course.

  HABITATS AND SPECIES DIRECTIVE: NORTHERN IRELAND
  HABITATS AND SPECIES DIRECTIVE: NORTHERN IRELAND
  MERSEY BARRAGE FEASIBILITY STUDY
  MERSEY BARRAGE FEASIBILITY STUDY
  FORMER YUGOSLAVIA: UK CONTRIBUTIONS TO UNHCR
  FORMER YUGOSLAVIA: UK CONTRIBUTIONS TO UNHCR
  NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY: OBSERVANCE
  NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY: OBSERVANCE
  VIETNAM: RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS
  VIETNAM: RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS
  ENGLISH AND WELSH WINES: AVAILABILITY AT UK EMBASSIES
  ENGLISH AND WELSH WINES: AVAILABILITY AT UK EMBASSIES
  MR. WAINWRIGHT, MR. RIDE, MR. DUNN AND MR. SONDERMANN
  MR. WAINWRIGHT, MR. RIDE, MR. DUNN AND MR. SONDERMANN
  NORTH KOREA AND THE US: DIALOGUE
  NORTH KOREA AND THE US: DIALOGUE
  ISRAEL (NUCLEAR WEAPONS)
  ISRAEL (NUCLEAR WEAPONS)
  JAPAN (NUCLEAR WEAPONS)
  JAPAN (NUCLEAR WEAPONS)
  SELF DEFENCE AND RETALIATION: CONCEPTS
  SELF DEFENCE AND RETALIATION: CONCEPTS
  PANAMA: US INTERVENTION
  PANAMA: US INTERVENTION
  IRAQ: US MILITARY ACTION
  IRAQ: US MILITARY ACTION
  MISSILE TECHNOLOGY CONTROL: UN RESOLUTIONS
  MISSILE TECHNOLOGY CONTROL: UN RESOLUTIONS
  MISSILES (TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY)
  MISSILES (TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY)
  LEGAL EDUCATION AND CONDUCT: REPORT
  LEGAL EDUCATION AND CONDUCT: REPORT
  NORTH SEA OIL DISCHARGES: MARPOL SPECIAL AREA STATUS
  NORTH SEA OIL DISCHARGES: MARPOL SPECIAL AREA STATUS
  US AIR TRANSPORT INDUSTRY: UK SUBMISSION
  US AIR TRANSPORT INDUSTRY: UK SUBMISSION
  PEERS: APPOINTMENTS
  PEERS: APPOINTMENTS
  STUDENT BOOKS: EXPENDITURE
  STUDENT BOOKS: EXPENDITURE