Written Answers of 11 June 1993

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Departmental Buildings
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the buildings currently owned or rented by his Department, together with(a) the estimated value, (b) the annual rent and (c) the annual maintenance cost of each building in the current financial year.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  On 1 April 1993, the Lord Chancellor's Department occupied some 512 buildings. These comprise:

  Departmental Estate1

  Common User Estate2

  Freehold

  Leasehold

  Freehold

  Leasehold

  138

  95

  72

  207

  1 Departmental Estate: LCD has full responsibility for maintenance of these buildings and meeting the terms and conditions of any leaseholds, including payment of rent to landlords.

  2 Common User Estate: The responsibility for meeting the terms and conditions of any leaseholds, including payment of rent to landlords, is with Property Holdings. LCD has some maintenance liability but the extent of this will vary according to the maintenance option appropriate to each building.

  Due to the substantial number of buildings occupied, these have not been listed, but a full list is available should the hon. Member require it.

  Estimated value is not available. To carry out a full valuation would incur disproportionate costs. In common with most other Government Departments, my Department is required to pay annually the full opportunity cost rent to Property Holdings for all properties except those held leasehold on the departmental estate. For the latter, the actual rent due under the terms of the lease is paid direct to landlords. If this is lower than the opportunity cost rent, the balance is payable to Property Holdings. This ensures that we are fully aware of the estimated current market rent of all accommodation occupied. In 1993–94, our opportunity cost rent and actual liability is expected to be some £76 million. We also expect to spend some £l1 million on maintaining our estate.

EDUCATION

  School Meals
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the level of public expenditure on the school meal service in each year since 1979 in cash and real terms.

  Mr. Forth
  Expenditure on school meals by local education authorities in England is given in the table.344

  LEA expenditure on school meals 1979–80–1991–92

  Expenditure (Cash) (£ million)

  Expenditure (1992–93 prices)(£ million)

  1979–80

  422

  1,012

  1980–81

  397

  804

  1981–82

  396

  732

  1982–83

  411

  709

  1983–84

  426

  702

  1984–85

  428

  671

  1985–86

  436

  649

  1986–87

  457

  659

  1987–88

  443

  605

  1988–89

  376

  479

  1989–90

  379

  453

  1990–91

  384

  425

  1991–92

  407

  421

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a table showing the latest figures for the number and proportion of children receiving school meals broken down into(a) paid and (b) free in each region of England.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  School meal arrangements of day-pupils in maintained schools in the regions of England— January 1992

  Pupils taking school meals

  As a percentage of day-pupils on roll

  Region

  Free

  Paid

  Free

  Paid

  North

  88,783

  175,948

  18

  35

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  120,243

  270,394

  15

  35

  North West

  191,352

  297,469

  19

  29

  East Midlands

  68,415

  185,960

  11

  30

  West Midlands

  133,311

  230,581

  16

  28

  East Anglia

  27,657

  71,976

  9

  25

  Greater London

  169,787

  242,166

  18

  26

  Other South East

  134,528

  398,334

  9

  27

  South West

  68,272

  154,970

  11

  24

  England

  1,001,968

  2,027,798

  14

  28

  Drug and Alcohol Advisers
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many health education co-ordinators advising on drugs and alcohol have been funded by his Department in Cheshire since 1979;

  (2) how many health education co-ordinators advising on drugs and alcohol have been funded by his Department in the whole of the United Kingdom since 1979.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department made education support grant to local education authorities in England for drug education from 1986–87 to 1989–90, and for preventive health education from 1990–91 to 1992–93. During that seven-year period, most LEAs, including Cheshire, used the grant to employ at least one drug or health education co-ordinator.

  Expenditure
  Sir Rhodes Boyson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total amount of expenditure on services within the responsibility of his Department in(a) England, (b) Greater London and (c) the south-east,

  345
  excluding Greater London, for each year since 1982–83 and his estimate for 1992–93, distinguishing between current and capital expenditure and excluding local authority credit approvals/capital allocations.

  Mr. Forth
  The information is not wholly available in the form requested. For part(a), table A gives details of central and local government expenditure on education in England since 1982–83. For parts (b) and (c), figures are readily available for local authority expenditure by region only from 1989–90: these are shown in table B. It is not possible to estimate the proportion of central Government expenditure relating to these regions.

  Table A

  Total Expenditure on Education in England (£m) (cash)

  Central Government

  Local Government

  Recurrent

  Capital

  Recurrent

  Capital

  1982–83

  1,588

  161

  10,279

  456

  1983–84

  1,657

  157

  10,826

  469

  1984–85

  1,713

  170

  11,266

  501

  1985–86

  1,784

  191

  11,642

  530

  1986–87

  1,851

  202

  12,912

  577

  1987–88

  1,835

  206

  14,173

  604

  1988–89

  2,007

  238

  15,212

  777

  1989–90

  3,100

  367

  15,887

  903

  1990–91

  3,205

  394

  17,302

  813

  1991–92

  3,065

  489

  19,850

  793

  11992–93

  3,315

  513

  21,674

  940

  1 (estimates)

  Notes to Table A

  Central Government

  1. Figures include grants for universities in Great Britain distributed by the University Grants Committee (up to 1988–89) and the Universities Funding Council. Other figures are for England only.

  2. Figures exclude expenditure on mandatory awards and specific grants, which appear in the Local Government column.

  Local Government

  3. Figures for 1991–92 and 1992–93 are taken from local authority RA returns as submitted in 1991–92.

  4. Figures include some spending financed by grants which are the responsibility of other Government Departments-TVEI, work-related FE. Figures also include receipts from PCFC and mandatory awards. Figures for mandatory awards include expenditure in Wales.

  5. Figures for 1990–91 exclude £366 million in unspent balances held by schools under LMS schemes.

  6. Figures for capital are gross capital spending and include schools, FE and Youth and other educational services.

  Table B

  Total local authority expenditure on education (£ million) (cash)

  Greater London2

  South East (excluding Greater London)

  Recurrent

  Capital

  Recurrent

  Capital

  1989–90

  2,576

  195

  3,082

  199

  1990–91

  2,713

  192

  3,415

  177

  1991–921

  3,049

  143

  3,873

  167

  Notes to Table B

  1 Figures for recurrent are net recurrent expenditure, which includes total expenditure other than capital financing charges, less income other than from Government grants. Figures are drawn from local authority revenue outturn reports and therefore those for 1991–92 are not directly comparable with the corresponding figures in Table A.

  2 "Greater London" consists of the 13 inner London LEAs (ILEA for 1989–90) and the 20 outer London LEAs. "South East" consists of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex LEAs.

  Education Authority Staff
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many(a) officers and (b) other persons are employed by each education authority in England and Wales.

  Mr. Forth
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 June 1993, c. 206.]: Tables showing the number of teachers and lecturers and of other staff employed in the education service of each local authority have been placed in the Library. These have been compiled by the Local Government Management Board from the March 1992 joint staffing watch return, and cover all staff in the LEA-maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools sector, special and further education, and central administration.

WALES

  Welsh Language Board
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the terms of reference, remuneration, length of appointment and working hours of the chairman-designate of the Welsh Language Board.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Subject to Parliament's approval of the Welsh Language Bill, Lord Elis-Thomas will be appointed chairman for a three-year term beginning on the date on which the board is established. His work as chairman will involve a time commitment of two days a week and remuneration of £20,544. I will, in due course, issue the board and its chairman with broad strategic guidance based on the framework which the Welsh Language Bill establishes.

  Urban Investment Grant
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all projects in receipt of urban investment grant in each of the past eight quarterly periods, the amount of grant given and the value of the development, the estimated jobs to be created and the business names and addresses of the companies making the application.

  Mr. Redwood
  A list of all projects in receipt of urban investment grant in the last eight quarterly periods and the amount of grant given is set out in table 1, together with a list in table 2 giving the name of the developer, total amount of grant approved, private sector investment and estimated jobs to be created. The addresses of the applicants have not been included, as it is not the Department's policy to divulge such information.

  Table 1

  Quarter and project

  Grant paid £

  April—June 1991

  Foundry Road, Hirwaun

  5,319

  Mount Street, Bangor

  5,046

  Rhondda Heritage Park Hotel, Trehafod

  83,944

  Capel Bethlehem, Merthyr Tydfil

  33,478

  Ystrad Road, Pentre

  37,500

  Tredegar Town Centre

  184,417

  Brynteg Chapel, Abertillery

  6,865

  Helliwell's Factory, Aberdare

  340,000

  July—September 1991

  Capel Bethlehem, Merthyr Tydfil

  21,044

  Tredegar Town Centre

  241,493

  Ystrad Road, Pentre

  22,500

  347

  Quarter and project

  Grant paid £

  Helliwell's Factory, Aberdare

  40,000

  Mill Street, Tonyrefail

  26,528

  Foundry Road, Hirwaun

  31,915

  Rhondda Heritage Park Hotel, Trehafod

  172,622

  Oaklands Business Park, Ferndale

  93,999

  Wenallt Park, Treharris

  19,250

  October—December 1991

  Helliwell's Factory, Aberdare

  20,000

  Tredegar Town Centre

  131,276

  Rhondda Heritage Park Hotel, Trehafod

  188,312

  January—March 1992

  Capel Bethlehem, Merthyr Tydfil

  22,000

  Tredegar Town Centre

  220,016

  Wenallt Park, Treharris

  18,983

  Goat Mill Road, Dowlais

  300,000

  Cross Street, Treharris

  5,000

  Quay West, Swansea

  223,197

  St. David's Church, Aberdare

  23,505

  Llewellyn's Quay, Port Talbot

  82,873

  April—June 1992

  Mount Street, Bangor

  22,875

  Tredegar Town Centre

  47,614

  Brynteg Chapel, Abertillery

  889

  Llewellyn's Quay, Port Talbot

  12,127

  Cross Street, Treharris

  5,000

  St. David's Church, Aberdare

  19,495

  Table 2

  Project

  Developer

  Grant £ million

  Private investment £ million

  Forecast permanent jobs

  Foundry road, Hirwaun

  Eastbrook Developments

  0·250

  1·668

  —

  Mount street, Bangor

  Llanrhos Property Company Ltd.

  0·066

  0·343

  —

  Rhondda Heritage Park Hotel, Trehafod

  Celtic Bay Hotels Ltd.

  0·625

  1·710

  35

  Capel Bethleham

  Bailey Homes plc

  0·220

  1·853

  —

  Ystrad road, Pentre

  Checkdial Ltd.

  0·150

  0·323

  45

  Tredegar town centre

  Amodeo Scott Development Company Ltd.

  3·500

  6·860

  136

  Brynteg Chapel, Abertillery

  Quality Property Development Company Ltd.

  0·025

  0·170

  —

  Helliwell's Factory, Aberdare

  Barry Dock Marine Services Ltd.

  0·400

  1·538

  500

  Mill street, Tonyrefail

  Corlan Housing Association

  0·075

  0·396

  —

  Oaklands Business Park, Ferndale

  Berkley and Hay Hill plc

  0·940

  1·475

  214

  Wenallt park, Treharris

  Luteteam Ltd.

  0·077

  0·567

  —

  Goat Mill road, Dowlais

  Bream valley Estates Ltd.

  0·315

  0·745

  60

  Cross street, Treharris

  Arrow Builders

  0·130

  1·066

  —

  Quay West, Swansea

  Quay Parade Ltd.

  0·500

  4·440

  150

  St. David's Church, Aberdare

  Da vies Brothers

  0·043

  0·140

  15

  Llewellyn's Quay, Port Talbot

  Comfort House Investments Ltd.

  0·175

  0·682

  120

  Old Bus Station, Merthyr Tydfil

  Redrow Homes (South Wales) Ltd.

  0·250

  2·912

  —

  Warwill's Foundry, Abertillery

  Hawkswood Properties Ltd.

  0·150

  1·319

  80

  Cardiff road, Aberaman

  Beazer Urban Developments (Wales and West)

  0·328

  1·614

  —

  Clase road, Morriston

  Castle Leisure Ltd.

  0·200

  2·392

  80

  Cromwell Service Station, Newport

  Sinclair Garages

  0·245

  1·052

  33

  King Street, Mold

  MPH (North Wales) Ltd. Davies Homes Ltd.

  0·070

  0·383

  16

  Gelliwastad Grove, Pontypridd

  Investments Ltd.

  0·130

  0·303

  58

  Blaenant Business Park

  Short Brothers

  0·025

  0·158

  16

  Letchworth road, Ebbw Vale

  Barakat Property Developers

  0·084

  1·172

  —

  Harold Wilson Industrial Estate, Caerphilly

  G. A. Spacey (Management Services) Ltd.

  0·136

  0·545

  50

  School Transport
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to review safety practices for school transport.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  It is the responsibility of school authorities to satisfy themselves that the school transport operatives with whom they contract maintain and operate 348

  Quarter and project

  Grant paid £

  July—September 1992

  Cross Street, Treharris

  10,000

  Tredegar Town Centre

  105,887

  Quay West, Swansea

  57,361

  Wenallt Park, Treharris

  19,250

  October—December 1992

  Tredegar Town Centre

  62,546

  Old Bus Station, Merthyr Tydfil

  58,608

  Quay West, Swansea

  80,176

  Warwill's Foundry, Abertillery

  112,805

  Cardiff Road, Aberaman

  56,015

  January—March 1993

  Clase Road, Morriston

  159,695

  Old Bus Station, Merthyr Tydfil

  23,573

  Cardiff Road, Aberaman

  82,739

  Cromwell Service Station, Newport

  169,286

  King Street, Mold

  56,828

  Tredegar Town Centre

  48,432

  Gelliwastad Grove, Pontypridd

  68,365

  Quay West, Swansea

  89,267

  Warwill's Foundry, Abertillery

  37,195

  Blaenant Business Park

  25,000

  Brynteg Chapel, Abertillery

  1,837

  Letchworth Road, Ebbw Vale

  18,000

  Harold Wilson Industrial Estate, Caerphilly

  90,924

  Wenallt Park, Treharris

  11,550

  their vehicles safely. Nevertheless, the Government are concerned to improve the safety of children travelling on school transport and continually seeks ways to ensure their safety. In particular, regulations are to be introduced shortly to require certain buses, carrying children to and from school, to display a distinctive warning sign. In addition, the Government are pressing the European Community to require seat belts to be fitted to all seats on new coaches and minibuses.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many maintenance assessment forms have been issued by the Child Support Agency since 5 April; how many completed forms have been returned to the agency; and how many maintenance assessments have been calculated and put into operation.

  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 Mr. Barry Jones, dated 10 June 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 maintenance assessment forms have been issued by the Agency since 5 April, how many completed forms have been returned to the Agency and how many maintenance assessments have been calculated and put into action.
  It is as yet very early days in the setting up of the Agency but we do have reliable figures for the month of April which, allowing for the Easter break, covered the Agency's first 17 working days. For that period, from 5 April to 30 April, more than 45,000 Maintenance Application Forms were issued and over 19,000 completed forms were returned. Twenty-five maintenance assessments were calculated and the parents notified.
  The process of assessing maintenance under the Child Support Act of its nature takes some time, as it involves first the parent with care completing a form (the Maintenance Assessment Form) to enable the absent parent to be traced and sent a second form (the Maintenance Enquiry Form) for completion. Both forms need to be checked for accuracy before a computer assessment can be made.
  In a straightforward case, when both parents reply quickly and fully and supply all the necessary information, we have estimated that it will take 6–8 weeks from the date of application to assess the maintenance which is payable. Many cases are not straightforward, however, and further enquiries are necessary from either or both parents. This lengthens clearance times but I am confident the Agency has got off to a successful start.
  I hope this reply is useful. It will be published in the Official Record and a copy placed in the Library.

  Social Security Tribunal
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give his reasons for exercising his power under regulation 37 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 not to carry out a decision of the social security tribunal in the case of a Woolwich constituent, NI. No. NA 46 48 05 A.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of family credit 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 Mr. John Austin-Walker, dated 11 June 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
  350
  if he will give his reasons for exercising his power under Regulation 37 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 not to carry out a decision of the Social Security Tribunal in the case of a Woolwich constituent, NI No. NA 46 48 05 A.
  As you will be aware, your constituent made a claim to Family Credit on 25 February 1992 which was subsequently disallowed by the Adjudication Officer, and was the subject of three independent tribunal hearings between 29 July 1992 and 7 April 1993; the result of which was that the Tribunal ruled that your constituent was to be treated as an agent of the Post Office. This was contrary to a Commissioner's Decision (RFC 1/93) which ruled that sub-postmasters are to be treated as employees of the Post Office. The Adjudication Officer considered that the Tribunal had erred in law by not taking account of the Commissioner's decision and therefore exercised his right under Regulation 37 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 by seeking further advice from the office of the Central Adjudication Services with a view to ascertaining if any aspects of the Tribunal decision could give rise to a further appeal to the Commissioner. In this case however, the Central Adjudication Services (CAS) considered that the Tribunal had erred in law, but that the circumstances of the case were the same as the existing Commissioner's Decision and there was therefore no need to seek further leave to appeal, and the Tribunal decision is to be implemented. I shall write to you separately and in greater detail about this matter.
  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.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will provide a breakdown by number and percentage of the total number of(a) initial and (b) renewal claims for disability working allowance received by his Department that were refused on the grounds that (i) the claimant was not in remunerative work, (ii) the claimant's income was above the limit, (iii) the claimant was not in receipt of a qualifying benefit, (iv) the claimant was receiving family credit, (v) the joint income of the claimant and his or her partner exceeded the limit, (vi) the claimant was working less than 16 hours a week and (vii) for other reasons;

  (2) how many people are currently getting the disability working allowance; and if he will break this total down by (a) average age, (b) sex, (c) marital status, (d) average hourly earnings, (e) average hours worked, (f) householder status and (g) qualifying benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of disability working 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 Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 11 June 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 Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking (1) if he will provide a breakdown by number and percentage of the total number of (a) initial and (b) renewal claims for disability working allowance received by his Department that were refused on the grounds that (i) the claimant was not in remunerative work, (ii) the claimant's income was above the limit, (iii) the claimant was not in receipt of a qualifying benefit, (iv) the claimant was receiving family credit, (v) the joint income of the claimant and his or her partner exceeded the limit, (vi) the claimant was working less than 16 hours a week and (vii) for other reasons; and (2) how many people are currently getting the disability working allowance; and if he

  351
  will break this total down by (a) average age, (b) sex, (c) marital status, (d) average hourly earnings, (e) average hours worked, (f) householder status and (g) qualifying benefit.
  In answer to your first question the majority of the information is routinely placed in the Library with the exception of that relating to persons receiving Family Credit (FC) which is detailed below.

  Total of disallowed applications to Disability Working Allowance (DWA)

  Number disallowed because customer receiving Family Credit (FC) expressed as percentage of total

  New claims

  21,375

  583 (2·7)

  Renewals

  325

  0

  Others

  938

  11 (1·2)

  All figures are as at 26 March 1993.

  In answer to your second question the information is as follows with the exception of householder status which is not routinely recorded.

  * Average age = 37

  * Sex (i) Male =1,557, (ii) Female = 1,150

  * Marital Status (i) Couples = 1,048, (ii) Single = 1,659

  * Average hourly earnings =£2–84

  * Average hours worked = 29

  * Qualifying Benefit:

  Higher Rate Disability Living Allowance (DLA)/ Analogous Benefits = 1,508

  Lower Rate DLA = 359

  Invalidity Benefit =446

  Severe Disablement Allowance= 146

  Disability Premium in Income Support = 196

  Disability Premium in Housing Benefit = 13

  Disability Premium in Community Charge Benefit = 39 All cases = 2,707

  All figures are as at 30 April 1993.

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

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many staff have been allocated to the home visiting service; and how many home visits have been made to date by Benefits Agency staff in connection with claims for disability living allowance or attendance allowance received on or after 3 February 1992 by each disability benefit centre and in total;

  (2) how many people who claimed disability living allowance or attendance allowance on or after 3 February 1992 had still not heard the outcome of their claim by 1 April.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of disability living allowance and attendance 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 Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 11 June 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking (i) how many staff have been allocated to the Home Visiting Service; and how many visits have been made to date by Benefits Agency staff in connection with claims for disability living allowance or attendance allowance received on or after 3 February 1992 by each disability benefit centre and in total, and (ii) how many people who claimed disability living allowance or attendance allowance on or after the 3 February had still not heard the outcome of their claim by 1 April.
  352
  Firstly, I should explain that the staff on the Customer Service Sections in the Disability Benefit Centres (DBCs) are involved in general duties to help customers, including forms completion work for both benefits. This may involve telephoning the customer to help in completing a claim form or it may involve a visit. Currently there are around 170 staff working on the Customer Service sections in the DBCs. Since February 1992 to date 5,085 home visits have been made to assist in the completion of claim forms. We are unable to provide a breakdown between DLA and AA65 +. The breakdown between DBCs is shown in Annex 1.
  The number of DLA and AA claims outstanding at 31 March 1993 is shown below. This information also includes special Rules claims. I have also included the number of DLA and AA claims outstanding at 31 May 1993, which you may find helpful.

  31 March

  31 May

  DLA New Claims

  32,662

  28,050

  DLA Top Up Claims

  9,615

  1,869

  AA New Claims

  38,725

  29,657

  Total

  181,002

  59,576

  1This figure represents approximately 4 weeks intake of DLA and AA claims

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

  DBC

  Number of visit

  Edinburgh and Glasgow

  215

  Newcastle

  429

  Leeds

  817

  Manchester

  144

  Bootle

  1,375

  Birmingham

  940

  Bristol

  165

  Cardiff

  37

  Wembley

  344

  Sutton

  619

  Total

  5,085

  Figures supplied by Edinburgh DBC include visits carried out by Glasgow DBC which was established at the end of January 1993.

  Occupational Pensions
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average value of an occupational pension in 1979 and in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Hague
  It is estimated that, at 1989 prices, the average value of occupational pensions was, £37·50 per week in 1979, and £55 per week in 1989, the latest year for which figures are available. The estimates are based on the 1979 and 1989 family expenditure surveys.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress is being made with the review of the provisions governing family credit claims by self-employed persons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The social policy research unit expects to publish its report on the assessment of self-employed earnings for the purpose of family credit claims in the summer.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Population Statistics
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the latest estimates of those aged 17 years and over, plus 63 per cent. of those aged 16 years and over, for each district council area and parliamentary

  District Council area

  Column 1 Estimated population aged 17 and over plus 63 per cent. of 16 year olds1

  Column 2 Registered electors2

  Column 2 as a percentage of Column 1

  Antrim

  33,559

  30,227

  90·1

  Ards

  49,489

  49,089

  99·2

  Armagh

  37,242

  36,222

  97·3

  Ballymena

  42,833

  42,091

  98·3

  Ballymoney

  17,897

  17,610

  98·4

  Banbridge

  24,910

  24,891

  99·9

  Belfast

  218,276

  209,126

  95·8

  Carrickfergus

  25,131

  24,527

  97·6

  Castlereagh

  45,241

  47,505

  105·0

  Coleraine

  38,757

  37,138

  95·8

  Cookstown

  21,628

  21,637

  100·0

  Craigavon

  55,330

  54,520

  98·5

  Derry

  66,013

  63,309

  95·9

  Down

  42,460

  40,656

  95·8

  Dungannon

  31,986

  32,354

  101·2

  Fermanagh

  39,121

  39,112

  99·9

  Larne

  22,769

  22,318

  98·0

  Limavedy

  20,903

  19,282

  92·2

  Lisburn

  73,949

  69,472

  93·4

  Magherafelt

  25,477

  25,611

  100·5

  Moyle

  10,822

  10,509

  97·1

  Newry and Mourne

  58,212

  58,207

  99·9

  Newtownabbey

  56,638

  55,155

  97·4

  North Down

  56,257

  54,464

  96·8

  Omagh

  32,430

  30,973

  95·5

  Strabane

  25,044

  25,319

  101·1

  TOTAL

  1,172,374

  1,141,324

  97·4

  1Derived from provisional 1991 mid-year estimates.

  2 1992–93 Register, qualifying date 15 September 1991.

  Rural Schools
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will refer to the Department of Education in Northern Ireland and to education and library boards the research review, "Small Rural Primary Schools", which was commissioned by the Rural Development Council; and if the Department of Education, Northern Ireland will be making a formal and considered response.

  Mr. Ancram
  Copies of the report have been received by the Department and by the education and library boards. The Department is examining the report and will take it into account as part of its wider review of the pattern of school provision.

  School Pupils
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many pupils are at each of(a) the primary and (b) the secondary schools in the
  354
  constituency, together in each case with the equivalent year's electoral registration figures, also expressed as a percentage of these population figures.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested, in respect of district council areas, is set out in the table. Final mid-year population estimates for 1991 and 1992 will be available in the autumn. Mid-year population estimates provide information only to district council level. It is not possible to provide corresponding information at parliamentary constituency level.

  constituency of Newry and Armagh in (i) the maintained, (ii) the controlled and (iii) the integrated sectors of education in respect of the year 1992–93;

  (2) how many pupils are at each of (a) the primary and (b) the secondary schools in the constituency of Strangford in (i) the maintained, (ii) the controlled and (iii) the integrated sectors of education in respect of the year 1992–93.

  Mr. Ancram
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my letter to him dated 4 June 1993 which contains the latest information available on schools enrolments in these two constituencies.

  School Meals
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the number and proportion of children receiving school meals broken down into(a) paid and (b) free in (i) primary schools, (ii) secondary schools and (iii) special schools in each year since 1987–88.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is set out in the table.
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  School meals service

  Northern Ireland

  Number of pupils receiving school meals in the primary, secondary and special sector

  Primary (including nursery)

  Secondary (including grammar)

  Special

  Year

  Pupils present

  Pupils taking meals

  Paid Pupils meals

  Free pupil meals

  Pupils present

  Pupils taking meals

  Paid Pupils meals

  Free pupil meals

  Pupils present

  Pupils taking meals

  Paid Pupils meals

  Free pupil meals

  1987–88

  176,578

  89,048

  29,894

  59,154

  137,480

  67,691

  31,900

  35,791

  3,375

  3,241

  0

  3,241

  1988–89

  178,409

  78,525

  35,311

  43,214

  136,918

  65,220

  39,379

  25,841

  3,286

  3,253

  0

  3,253

  1989–90

  179,853

  81,768

  37,007

  44,761

  135,163

  64,253

  39,009

  25,244

  3,400

  3,385

  0

  3,385

  1990–91

  178,999

  88,690

  41,388

  47,302

  132,525

  66,271

  41,034

  25,237

  3,568

  3,518

  0

  3,518

  1991–92

  178,786

  89,815

  41,156

  48,659

  133,847

  68,080

  39,824

  28,256

  3,709

  3,680

  0

  3,680

  School meals service

  Northern Ireland

  Number of pupils receiving school meals in the primary, secondary and special sector

  Primary (including nursery)

  Secondary (including grammar)

  Special

  Year

  Pupils present

  Pupils taking meals

  Paid Pupils meals

  Free pupil meals

  Pupils present

  Pupils taking meals

  Paid Pupils meals

  Free pupil meals

  Pupils present

  Pupils taking meals

  Paid Pupils meals

  Free pupil meals

  Year

  Number

  2Per cent.

  2Per cent.

  2Per cent.

  Number

  2Per cent.

  2Per cent.

  2Per cent.

  Number

  2Per cent.

  2Per cent.

  2Per cent.

  1987–88

  176,578

  50

  34

  66

  137,480

  49

  47

  53

  3,375

  96

  0

  100

  1988–89

  178,409

  44

  45

  55

  136,918

  48

  60

  40

  3,286

  99

  0

  100

  1989–90

  179,853

  45

  45

  55

  135,163

  48

  61

  39

  3,400

  100

  0

  100

  1990–91

  178,999

  50

  47

  53

  132,525

  50

  62

  38

  3,568

  99

  0

  100

  1991–92

  178,786

  50

  46

  54

  133,847

  51

  58

  42

  3,709

  99

  0

  100

  1 Proportion taking meals.

  2 Percentage of pupils taking meals.

  Northern Ireland Electricity
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will give global figures for the cost of the flotation of Northern Ireland Electricity; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how much the Department of Economic Development spent on privatising Northern Ireland Electricity.

  Mr. Atkins
  The cost of the flotation of Northern Ireland Electricity will be reported to Parliament in the usual way once the sale is complete.

ENVIRONMENT

  Social Housing
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will establish a working group to investigate the potential for channelling further private finance into social housing projects and the monitoring of such investment.

  Mr. Baldry
  Making use of private finance is an important element in our housing programmes. Our objective has been to increase the proportion of private funding in order to obtain the maximum benefit from the public resources available. For example, housing associations, which are the main providers of new social housing, are required to raise part of their development funds from the private rented sector. Around £2·5 million in private finance has been raised by housing associations since 1988; and it is hoped that a further £3 billion will be raised over the four years from 1992–93.

  In addition, some £1·5 billion of private finance has been raised as a result of the large scale transfer of local authority properties to housing associations. This finance
  356
  is being used to improve existing stock, to repay debt, and to develop new social housing. Other programmes, such as estate action, housing action trusts and city challenge, aim to foster public and private co-operation in the regeneration of urban areas.

  We continue to encourage investment in the rented sector and to consider how to maximise the use of private sector funding and expertise in meeting housing need.

  City Challenge
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to enabling winners of city challenge to spend their allocated total budget over five years according to need and the progress of schemes rather than in five equal annual amounts.

  Mr. Baldry
  City challenge expenditure is subject to the annuality rules applied to all funds voted by Parliament under the Appropriation Act.

  The Department makes every effort to manage city challenge resources flexibly to accommodate the difficulties that may be faced by partnerships in matching progress on the ground exactly to their annual £7·5 million funding allocations. Reserve programmes are approved annually in order to accommodate slippage. Underspends which emerge in the year are offset wherever possible by expediting programmes in other city challenge areas. We are considering whether further flexibility is possible.

  Ordnance Survey
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list by location the Ordnance Survey triangulation pillars that are still waiting to be adopted;

  (2) what criteria he has laid down before organisations and members of the public can adopt Ordnance Survey

  357
  triangulation pillars; how they go about adopting them; what is the cost of adoption per pillar; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Responsibility for this subject has been delegated to the executive agency. I have asked Professor Rhind, chief executive for Ordnance Survey, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Professor David Rhind to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 9 June 1993:
  I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the Ordnance Survey scheme for adopting triangulation (trig) pillars.
  The criteria we have adopted, providing the landowner's agreement can be obtained, are:

  the first person or organisation to lodge an application for the adoption of a particular pillar will be permitted to do so, subject to various conditions (see below);

  the applicant must agree to the terms of a Code of Practice drawn up for the purpose (copy enclosed);

  the applicant must sign a memorandum of agreement with both Ordnance Survey and the landowner (copy enclosed).

  Anyone wishing to adopt a particular trig pillar simply has to write to Ordnance Survey registering an interest. Ordnance Survey will respond enclosing a copy of "Guide to Adopting a Trig Pillar" (copy enclosed) and, on receipt of the applicant's confirmation of a wish to proceed, will initiate action to obtain the landowner's agreement, leading to the signing of the memorandum of agreement. Although Ordnance Survey incurs some administration cost, the process is free to the applicant.
  When I wrote to you on 27 October 1992 the scheme had only recently been introduced. It is proving to be quite time-consuming to make the necessary arrangements with both landowners and applicants and, at the time of writing, no adoptions have been completed. However, we have made 1,983 provisional allocations (out of a total of 4,904 available) and expect to finalise many of these in the next few weeks. There remain available some 2,920 pillars but this number is reducing slowly on a day-by-day basis. A list of those pillars still available will therefore be a very long one and I should be grateful if you would confirm that you would like a complete listing before I arrange for its preparation.

  Sellafield Discharges
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from Nordic Environment Ministers regarding proposals to increase permitted discharge levels from the Sellafield nuclear plant; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  I have received representations on this matter from the Swedish Environment Minister, in his capacity of the chairman of the Nordic Council of Ministers, and the Danish Environment Minister.

  THORP
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has regarding representations made to the Paris Commission on the proposed operation of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  I have received information on a number of such representations.

  Sizewell B
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he is making for ministerial decisions relating to Sizewell B power station.

  Mr. Gummer
  Sizewell B is in my constituency, and I have accordingly delegated responsibility for all minis-terial decisions to my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Planning.

  MINIS 14 Documents
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish his Department's MINIS 14 documents.

  Mr. Gummer
  I am today publishing MINIS 14 and a set has been placed in the Library.

  Small Cetaceans
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific steps his Department has taken, or intends to take, to conserve and manage the habitat of small cetaceans, in line with the United Kingdom's commitments under the annex to the 1992 agreement on the conservation of small cetaceans of the Baltic and North seas; and what steps he is taking to prevent acoustic disturbance.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 7 June 1993]: The Government strongly support the agreement. The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to sign it last year and although the agreement is not yet in force, we have already agreed to apply its principles in all British waters.

  Cetaceans already receive considerable protection in British waters under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. A number of other initiatives are also under way which contribute to the conservation of small cetaceans. These include controls of discharges into the sea; restrictions on exploration activity at sea; research into ways of enhancing the acoustic detectability of fishing nets to reduce by-catches, and research funded by my Department for recording cetaceans stranded on the British coast and investigating causes of death.

  The new agreement contains provisions to encourage joint research. In considering whether further conservation measures are necessary it is essential that we learn more about the abundance and distribution of the various species of small cetaceans present in European waters. For that reason, the Government announced last year that we would provide £110,000 towards a major survey of small cetaceans in the North sea, including the channel. The project is led by the sea mammal research unit—SMRU—based in Cambridge. The EC and several other range states are also providing resources and the survey is due to be conducted next year.

  The SMRU is also to chair a working group on acoustic disturbance to small cetaceans. This has been established by my Department under the arrangements for the implementation of the new agreement.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the United Kingdom Government expect to ratify the agreement on the small cetaceans of the Baltic and North seas signed in New York on 17 March 1992.
  359
  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 11 June 1993]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently preparing an instrument of ratification for the agreement and will be depositing it with the United Nations shortly.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Service
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will make a statement on the practice of declaring staff in the counselling service surplus to requirements; what plans there are to make the policy uniform throughout the United Kingdom; what is the long-term situation for those staff who have been declared surplus; and what effect this will have on the career structure within the Employment Service;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the prospect of redundancies occurring within the Employment Service within the next 12 months;

  (3) whether the present treatment of surplus staff in the Glasgow and Tayside and Fife region is a national pilot project;

  (4) what plans he has for the enhancement of early retirement within the Employment Service.

  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 D. B. Price to Mr. Ian Davidson, dated 11 June 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, it is the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the Agency's Chief Executive to answer Parliamentary Questions about relevant operational matters. In his absence, I am replying to your questions to the Secretary of State about:

  —surplus personnel in the Employment Service;

  —what plans exist for redundancies;

  —whether the present treatment of staff in Glasgow and Tayside and Fife is a national pilot and

  —what plans there are for enhancements to early retirement.

  Certain aspects of advisory work in the Employment Service are being regraded resulting in a temporary surplus of staff at Executive Officer grade. In common with current policy operated by the Department of Employment every effort will be made to redeploy these and any other staff. This may include offering people throughout the organisation the opportunity to apply for voluntary early retirement on enhanced terms. In the meantime, dependent upon local circumstances, some may be asked to do the work of more junior grades on a temporary basis. The deployment of these people is likely to have the effect of slowing down promotion opportunities in some places. There are no plans currently for redundancies in the Employment Service.
  As decided by the Administration 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.

  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the proposed effect of the Phillips review on the present surplus situation in the Employment Service.

  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.
  360
  Letter from D. B. Price to Mr. Ian Davidson, dated 11 June 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, it is the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the Agency's Chief Executive to answer Parliamentary Questions about relevant operational matters. In his absence, I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State about the effect of Phillip's Review on surpluses within the Employment Service.
  The Phillip's review of the Employment Service organisational structure was undertaken to identify ways of sharpening the management of Employment Service performance and further increasing the value for money it achieves in delivering its surpluses, if any, would result from implementing its recommendations.
  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to Written Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  Counselling Service
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on service to the unemployed of cuts in the grading of the counselling service and changes in the time taken to interview clients;

  (2) what proposals he has to enhance the counselling service supplied to the unemployed;

  (3) what policy considerations underlay his predecessors decision to regrade the counselling service in the Employment Service and to institute a two-tier service.

  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 D. B. Price to Mr. Ian Davidson, dated 11 June 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, it is the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the Agency's Chief Executive to answer Parliamentary Questions about relevant operational matters. In his absence I am replying to your questions to the Secretary of State about:

  what assessment she has made of the effect on service to the unemployed of cuts in the grading of the Counselling Service and changes in the time taken to interview clients;

  what proposals she has to enhance the Counselling Service supplied to the unemployed and what policy considerations underlay her decision to regrade the Counselling Service in the Employment Service and to institute a two tier service.

  Ever since the Restart programme of advisory interviews was first introduced in 1986 we have continually developed and enhanced the service we offer to our clients. As part of this process of enhancing our advisory services, we took a policy decision that, as from April 1993, the people who provide these services in our local offices should be re-organised into Back To Work Teams. These teams are made up of a mixture of people, at Executive Officer and Administrativeon Officer levels. Adopting this approach means that we are now able to offer clients different levels of interview according to their needs. For some clients basic advice will meet those needs but for the others, where the initial interview uncovers deeper issues or where the client asks for more help, we will be able to offer in depth advisory interviews. In addition we have ensured that all clients will receive a full diagnostic interview at two key points in their period of unemployment; namely six months and one year. Back To Work teams will also help us provide a more coherent service. This is because clients will see a member of the same team at all their advisory and signing visits and we will make sure that these contacts build on one another. Each member of a team will be able to

  361
  provide clients with relevant information and advice about their benefit claim and the jobs and programme opportunities available locally.
  For these reasons we consider Back To Work teams represent the most cost effective way of providing all our clients with a comprehensive range of advisory services tailored to their needs, while allowing the Employment Service to live within its financial means.
  We will be assessing the effectiveness of Back To Work teams throughout the year and will take whatever action to further enhance them as necessary. You may be encouraged to know that early indications from our local office people are that our clients have reacted well to the service they are receiving under the new arrangements.
  I hope that this is helpful.
  As decided by the Administration 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.

  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Employment what assessment he has made of disparities in the policy within the Scottish region on regrading of the counselling service in the Employment Service.

  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 D. B. Price to Mr. Ian Davidson, dated 11 June 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, it is the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the Agency's Chief Executive to answer Parliamentary Questions about relevant operational matters. In his absence, I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State about what assessment she has made of disparities in the policy within the Scottish Region on regarding of the Counselling Service in the Employment Service.
  Changes to our advisory services in Scotland have been on the same lines as those in England and Wales. Ever since the Restart Programme of advisory interviews was first introduced in 1986 we have continually developed and enhanced the service we offer to our clients. As part of this process of enhancing our advisory services, we took a policy decision that, as from April 1993, the people who provide these services in our local offices should be re-organised into Back To Work Teams. These teams are made up of a mixture of people, at Executive Officer and Administrative Officer levels. Adopting this approach means that we arc now able to offer clients different levels of interview according to their needs. For some clients basic advice will meet those needs but for the others, where the initial interview uncovers deeper issues or where the client asks for more help, we will be able to offer in depth advisory interviews. In addition we have ensured that all clients will receive a full diagnostic interview at two key points in their period of unemployment; namely six months and one year. Back To Work teams will also help us provide a more coherent service. This is because clients will see a member of the same team at all their advisory and signing visits and we will make sure that these contacts build on one another. Each member of a team will be able to provide clients with relevant information and advice about their benefit claim and the jobs and programme opportunities available locally.
  For these reasons we consider Back To Work teams represent the most cost effective way of providing all our clients with a comprehensive range of advisory services tailored to their needs, while allowing the Employment Service to live within its financial means.
  We will be assessing the effectiveness of Back To Work teams throughout the year and will take whatever action to further enhance them as necessary. You may be encouraged to know that early indications from our local office people are that our clients have reacted well to the service they are receiving under the new arrangements.
  362
  Regarding the arrangements which have been made in Scotland I should explain that it is an important aspect of our way of working that local managers should have flexibility, within our national framework, to vary their organisation in line with local circumstances. If you have a specific issue about the arrangements in Scotland please contact me or our Director for Scotland, Mr. Alan Brown. His address is Employment Service Regional Office for Scotland, Argyle House, 3 Lady Lawson Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9SD telephone, 031 229 9191.
  I hope this is helpful.
  As decided by the Administration 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.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cost to date and the expected future cost of his Department's market-testing programme; how many staff are engaged full-time in work relating to market testing; which firms of consultants have been used in connection with the market-testing programme; and how they were selected.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 7 June 1993]: The Employment Department group's market-testing programme is being developed within existing resources.

  It is not possible at this stage to given an estimate of likely savings from the Department's market testing programme. Annual returns across Whitehall indicate, however, that in previous years savings arising from market testing have typically been around 25 per cent. of the original cost even when the activity has remained in-house.

  Fifty-one staff are currently employed full time across the group to deliver a programme covering over 1,900 staff and with a value of £72 million.

  The Department has used the following consultants to advise on its market testing programme and all were selected as a result of a competitive tender exercise:

  Coopers and Lybrand

  Ernst and Young

  John Pearce

  KPMG

  PA Consulting

  Price Waterhouse

  Benefit Week
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to review the benefit week and associated signing arrangements in respect of protection of the interests of those claimants who are alphabetically disadvantaged.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 8 June 1993]: Responsibility for the subject or 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 Sir Cranley Onslow, dated 11 June 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 any plans he has to review the benefit week and associated signing arrangements in the interests of clients who may be

  363
  disadvantaged by the existing procedures. This is something which falls within the responsibilities he has delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  If a client undertakes part-time work there are occasions when the amount of benefit they are entitled to depends on their signing day and I am assuming this also relates to your question. This is because unemployment benefit is disallowed where earning; for days falling in a benefit week exceed the weekly lower earnings limit, currently £56, and a client's signing day determines their benefit week.
  Although the rules concerning part-time work are drawn from Social Security legislation, there are some flexibilities available to us and we are always looking at ways of improving our procedures in order to offer a high quality service to our clients. We have recently carried out a review of our part-time worker procedures and several recommendations have been made to improve the service we provide.
  We are working towards introducing nationally the benefit week for regular part-time workers to end on Saturday, when all clients would be affected by the rules in the same way. This has the further advantage that it corresponds with the week used to assess the award of National Insurance contribution credits.
  I hope this is helpful.
  As decided by the Adminstration 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.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Farmers and Gangmasters
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the Inland Revenue proposes to take to ensure that farmers arid gangmasters comply with their statutory responsibilities.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue will continue, where possible, to use its statutory powers to ensure that farmers and gangmasters, who make use of temporary work forces, properly account for both their own and their employees' tax and national insurance liabilities.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth might receive an answer to his letter of 1 April referring to Mr. P. R. Lake of Rugby.

  Sir John Cope
  I have recently written to my hon. Friend on this subject.

  Shares Dividends
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take to prevent tax avoidance arising by the offering of dividends of shares in lieu of cash with instant sale facilities.

  Mr. Dorrell
  All developments which may have a significant effect on Exchequer receipts are carefully monitored.

  Lloyd's
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the timetable for the repayment of tax to individual taxpayers arising out of losses at Lloyd's of London.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue calculates that some 27,000 underwriting members of Lloyd's have suffered 364
  trading losses for the Lloyd's account year to 31 December 1989. These losses can be used for relief against other income for tax year 1989–90 and, in some circumstances, the previous year and repayment of tax paid on that income may be reclaimed.

  The process of dealing with repayment claims for Lloyd's account 1989 started some four months earlier than for previous years, and out of some 26,500 claims received by 28 May, when the last count was made, more than 17,000—64 per cent.—have been repaid. At the same time last year, the comparative figures were 16,800 claims received, 6,900—41 per cent.—had been dealt with.

  An interim payment will, if possible, be made in circumstances where Inland Revenue audit procedures may prevent immediate repayment in full.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of people over the age of 65 years who are liable for income tax at each of the lower basic and higher rates, in the present financial year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Latest estimates for 1993–94 are as follows:

  Thousands

  Matginal rate of taxpayer

  Taxpayers aged 65 and over

  Lower rate

  1,390

  Basic rate

  1,490

  Higher rate

  120

  All taxpayers

  3,000

  Tax Credits
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of tax credits on share dividends becoming available to tax-exempt entities in each of the years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 were claimed in the same year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I regret that the information requested is not available. However, it is estimated that about 75 per cent. of total repayments of income tax and payments of tax credits to tax exempt institutions are made in the year in which the recipient first becomes entitled to the repayment or payment.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 10 May,Official Report, column 327, on what basis he has made the assumption that about half of tax credits on share dividends held by charities are claimed in the same year in which the dividend is paid.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The assumption is based on the knowledge that many claims by charities for payment of tax credits are made after the end of the financial year in which the dividend is paid. For example, many charities submit an annual claim for income tax repayments and payments of tax credits after the end of the relevant financial year.

  Tax Fraud
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has of the extent of fraud in the taxation system; and what steps he is proposing to take to combat it.
  365
  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 10 June 1993]: Reliable estimates of the extent of tax fraud are not available. But the hon. Member may wish to consult the chapter entitled "Deterring And Tackling Non-Compliance" in the latest annual report of the Board of Inland Revenue.

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

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Economic and Finance Council of the European Community—ECOFIN—met in Luxembourg on 7 June. The Paymaster General and I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Commission informed the Council of its intention to publish revised economic projections for the Community on 16 June. These are likely to indicate less favourable growth prospects for most member states than the forecast contained in the annual economic report for 1993. By contrast, the revised forecast is expected to contain improved growth prospects for the United Kingdom and confirm the Commission's assessment earlier in the year that GDP growth in the United Kingdom will be greater than in any other major member state. There was a brief preparatory discussion for the Copenhagen European Council's examination of the economic situation in the Community.

  The Council discussed the draft seventh VAT directive intended to provide a harmonised system for taxing second-hand goods and works of art. I indicated that the United Kingdom could consider a very low rate of VAT for imported works of art for the duration of the transitional VAT system, but only as part of an acceptable compromise on other outstanding aspects of the proposal. It was agreed that this issue would be considered further by officials before returning to the Council.

  In discussion of the Commission's proposals for a carbon/energy tax, I made it clear that the Government had already announced measures in the Budget that would reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom; and that we did not see a need for a harmonised tax at Community level. The topic was remitted for further consideration by officials.

  The Commission urged early progress on the proposed directive to abolish withholding taxes on cross-border interest and royalty payments between companies. There was no substantive discussion of this proposal.

  The Council adopted conclusions on the Commission's annual report on fraud against the Community budget. I welcomed the Commission's recent efforts to address this problem and stressed the need for clear and measurable objectives and target dates in the Commission's action plan. The Council invited the Commission to provide an assessment of further specific improvements needed to increase the effectiveness of the fight against fraud. The presidency also reported on recent discussions with the European Parliament on a new inter-institutional agreement on budget discipline.

  The Council reached a political agreement on the principle of Euratom loans for nuclear safety in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Final adoption of the Council decision will take place once the European Parliament's opinion is available.
  366
  Finally, there was a brief general discussion of the Commission's proposed directive for deposit protection arrangements for credit institutions. There was broad support for the principle of a minimum directive in this area, although I stressed the importance of the principle of subsidiarity in this context.

  The Council took no formal votes. The conclusions on the Commission's annual report on fraud and the political agreement on the principle of Euratom loans were approved by consensus.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his timetable for re-entry to the exchange rate mechanism.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 10 June 1993]: The Government have no timetable for re-entry to the ERM.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list details of(a) orchestral concerts, (b) rock concerts, (c) opera, (d) theatre, (e) films, (f) ballet and (g) other dance performances he attended in his official capacity, since his appointment.

  Mr. Brooke
  I attended:

  (a) a concert by the Guildhall Chamber Orchestra at St. James's, Piccadilly (14 October)

  a memorial concert for Sir Andrzej Panufnik at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (18 October)

  a concert in honour of Sir Georg Solti at Buckingham Palace (22 October)

  a concert for the Scandinavian Festival of the Arts at the Barbican (10 November)

  the reopening of the Wigmore Hall (12 November)

  a Schools Prom at the Royal Albert Hall (23 November)

  the Soiree d'Or at the Royal College of Music (11 December)

  a concert by the London Philharmonic at the Royal Festival Hall (26 January)

  a concert for Australia Gala day at the Royal Opera House (31 January)

  a concert for the "Festival of Britten" at the Barbican (16 March)

  a concert at the Wigmore Hall (2 April)

  (c) The Duenna, performed by Opera North at the Grand Theatre, Leeds (2 October)

  Turandot, at the Royal Opera House (20 February)

  L'Assedio di Calais, at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (3 March)

  (d) Three Birds Alighting on a Field, at the Royal Court (6 November)

  Carousel, at the Royal National Theatre (8 December)

  Hamlet, at the Barbican (18 December)

  Poor Beast in the Rain, at the Gate Theatre (22 December)

  (e) Chaplin (16 December)

  (f) Mayerling, at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (13 November)

  the Bolshoi ballet at the Royal Albert Hall (9 January)

  (g) A Royal Gala for the Chicken Shed Theatre Company (14 December).

  Parliamentary business precluded my attendance at a number of events to which I had planned to go: for instance, on 4 March, a concert of the Halle orchestra; on

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  25 March, a concert of the Philharmonia orchestra;"Arcadia", at the Royal National Theatre on 15 April; and "Tristan and Isolde", on 19 April, at the Royal Opera House.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the occasions he has visited the royal pa laces in his official capacity since his appointment.

  Mr. Brooke
  I attended a concert in honour of Sir Georg Solti's birthday at Buckingham palace on 22 October; a dinner for editors of regional newspapers at the Tower of London on 15 December; and opened the medieval palace at the Tower of London on 30 March. I have held several receptions at the Banqueting House on behalf of the business sponsorship incentive scheme and attended one given there by the GB Sports Council.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the visits he has made in his official capacity, since his appointment, to schools or colleges in connection with instruction and training in(a) drama, (b) dance, (c) music, (d) art and design, (e) architecture, (f) athletics and (g) other sports.

  Mr. Brooke
  I visited the Architecture Foundation on 8 December; the Royal College of Music on 11 December and the Guildhall school of music and drama on 3 March. I opened an exhibition on the art of the design process at the Royal Institute of British Architects on 17 M arch. Invitations to most institutions in this area are more likely to go to Ministers in the Department for Education.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if he will list details of minority sports events that he has attended in his official capacity since his appointment;

  (2) if he will list details of (a) equestrian, (h) association football, (c) rugby league, (d) rugby union, (e) athletics, (f) swimming, (g) tennis, (h) golf, (i) cricket, (j) basketball, (k) rowing and (l) other water sports events he has attended in his official capacity, since his appointment.

  Mr. Brooke
  I attended:

  (a) the Badminton Horse Trials on 9 May

  (b) England versus Turkey on 18 November Bolton Wanderers versus Leyton Orient on 6 March

  the FA Cup Final on 15 May

  (c) the World Cup Final on 24 October

  (d) England versus South Africa on 14 November

  Barbarians versus Australia on 28 November

  (h) the amateur golf championships at Royal Portrush on 28 May

  I also attended the ice hockey championships final at the Wembley arena on 25 April and the European hockey club championships at Havant on 31 May. On 6 March, my Parliamentary Private Secretary attended a fencing championship on my behalf. I look forward to attending events in others of the categories listed as opportunities arise.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when, in his official capacity, he last went to a soccer match held between clubs at a senior level of the game in leagues in the pyramid below those of the Football League.

  Mr. Brooke
  None.

  Sports Governing Bodies
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he last met the governing bodies of(a) association football, (b) rugby league, (c) rugby union, (d) cricket, (e) athletics and (f) swimming.

  Mr. Brooke
  I met representatives of the Football Association on 15 December. I have met informally representatives of others of the bodies listed and will meet them formally as the need arises. I have met representatives of the GB Sports Council on several occasions.

  Official Dinners
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list details of the official dinners he has attended since his appointment.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have attended the following official lunches and dinners:

  a lunch for those working on the built heritage at Admiralty House (16 November);

  a lunch for women in sport at Admiralty House (14 December);

  a lunch in honour of the President of Israel and Mrs. Herzog at 10 Downing Street (26 February);

  a state banquet in honour of the Portuguese President at Buckingham Palace (27 April);

  a dinner in honour of Mr. and Mrs. Brian Mulroney at 10 Downing Street (11 May ); and

  a lunch for the Irish Minister of State for Arts and Culture at Admiralty House (14 May).

  St. Frideswide's Mission
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will reconsider his decision to refuse the granting of listed status to St. Frideswide's mission, Follett street, within the borough of Tower Hamlets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  No. St. Frideswide's mission was assessed for listing last year, and I accepted English Heritage's recommendation, made following detailed research, that the mission buildings do not possess sufficient architectural or historic interest to merit listing.

DEFENCE

  Rapid Reaction Corps
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the training in peacekeeping roles undertaken by the rapid reaction corps.

  Mr. Hanley
  In accordance with the developing NATO peacekeeping concept and as part of their annual training programme, the headquarters staff of the Allied Command Europe rapid reaction corps undertook a period of peacekeeping training earlier this year. United Kingdom units assigned to the corps which have deployed or may deploy to the former republic of Yugoslavia have also carried out peacekeeping training.

  Depleted Uranium Ammunition
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use by British armed forces of depleted uranium ammunition.
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  Mr. Hanley
  The British armed forces are currently equipped with two kinds of ammunition containing depleted uranium: 120mm tank ammunition, small quantities of which were fired by Challenger tanks during the Gulf conflict; and 20mm ammunition for the Royal Navy's Vulcan Phalanx point defence weapons system, which, apart from some rounds fired for proving purposes, was not used in the Gulf. During peacetime training at sea, the Royal Navy also fires Vulcan Phalanx ammunition at towed air targets; DU ammunition is not used by the Army for peacetime training purposes.

  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made by his Department of the health risks posed to members of the armed forces who served in the Gulf war, arising from the use of depleted uranium tank and artillery rounds.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Ministry of Defence knows of no evidence that there was any health risk to any United Kingdom service personnel who served in the Gulf war, due to the handling or use of depleted uranium ammunition.

  Medical Discharges
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces who served in the Gulf war have since been discharged from the services on health grounds; what were the medical grounds for their discharge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Those members of the armed forces who received a medical discharge as a result of injuries or illness directly attributable to events occurring in the Gulf war are as follows:

  Number

  Traumatic amputation of arm

  1

  Traumatic amputation of hand

  1

  Fracture of heel bone

  1

  Injury to kidney

  1

  Head injury with deafness

  1

  Open wound of foot

  1

  Fracture of spinal cord

  1

  Fracture of limbs

  1

  Displacement of vertebral disc

  1

  Disorder of back

  1

  Atopic dermatitis

  1

  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

  8

  Total

  19

  Note: Figures are as at 10 June 1993.

  Royal Fleet Auxiliaries Orangeleaf and Argus
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the award of the contract to refit RFA Orangeleaf and Argus.

  Mr. Aitken
  We expect to let contracts for the refits of RFA Orangeleaf and RFA Argus at around the end of this month.

  Iraq (No-fly Zones)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received of recent breaches of the no-fly zones over Iraq by(a) Iraq and (b) Iran; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Hanley
  There have been no recent indications of any breaches of either no-fly zone by Iraqi aircraft. We are aware of media reports on alleged recent incursions by Iranian aircraft but are unable to confirm them.

TRADE

  EC Structural Funds
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made in submitting projects for funding through EC structural funds.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Of the structural funds grant totals allocated to the United Kingdom for the current period, from 1989 to 1993 approximately 80 per cent. have been committed to projects. The remaining 20 per cent. are to be committed before the end of the year.

  Electricity
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of(a) households and (b) the population has electricity supply.

  Mr. Eggar
  Only isolated areas, containing a very small proportion of United Kingdom households and population, are without electricity supply. My Department has no precise estimates.

  Auditors (Remuneration)
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any plans to amend the statutory requirements on disclosure of auditors' remuneration.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  My Department has today issued a consultative document seeking views on a proposed technical amendment to the Companies Act 1985 (Disclosure of Remuneration for Non-Audit Work) Regulations 1991.

  The regulations seek to foster the independence and integrity of audit firms by requiring their client companies to disclose in their annual accounts any remuneration paid to the firm or its associates for non-audit services. The proposed amendment would offer clear deregulatory benefits to both the client company and the audit firm without detracting from the purpose of the regulations.

  As many audit firms provide other services such as consultancy or tax advice, in some cases through separate but connected organisations, the definition of associate was made sufficiently wide to include all such entities. However, audit firms with insolvency practices can find themselves with numerous associates. as presently defined, because they are entitled to control 20 per cent. or more of a company's voting rights solely by virtue of an insolvency appointment.

  Any receipt of remuneration by such companies is unlikely to be relevant to the independence and integrity of the audit firm. Moreover, it can be an onerous task both for the audit firm to compile a list of such associates and for the client company to check whether payment has been made to any of them for non-audit services. The proposed amendment aims to correct this situation. For similar reasons, the consultative document also seeks views on whether trustees, or certain types of trustee, should also be excluded from the definition.
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  A copy of the consultative document has been placed in the Library of the House. Comments should reach my Department by 30 July.

  Regional Development Grants
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when a decision of the European Council can be expected on the proposal to grant Merseyside objective 1 status; what is his position on this matter; what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the subject; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr.Sainsbury
  [holding answer 27 May 1993]: I do not expect a decision on the list of objective 1 regions for some time. The Foreign Affairs Council, which my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs attended, discussed the issue briefly and inconclusively on 8 June. The Government will continue to press their demand for objective 1 status for Merseyside.

HEALTH

  Ultrasound Scanning
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information her Department has on the cost-effectiveness of antenatal ultrasound scanning; arid on what research evidence it is based.

  Mr. Sackville
  It is widely accepted among clinicians that antenatal ultrasound scanning is a valuable diagnostic facility. Studies undertaken on the cost effectiveness of ultrasound are reviewed in the publication "Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth". The national perinatal and epidemiology unit is currently considering further work in this area.

  Specialty Reviews
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the specialty reviews will be published; if she will publish them in full; and what plans she has for public and professional scrutiny of the specialty review findings.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The specialty reviews will be published, in full, later this month and will therefore be available for public scrutiny. They are independent advice to Ministers and the national health service, not policy and will form only one part of a complex jigsaw informing decisions about the pattern of hospital services in London. Where appropriate, there will, of course, be full public consultation about any proposals to close or move services.

  Hospital Beds
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of NHS beds per 10,000 resident population by status category, in all acute specialties, in(a) London district health authorities, (b) London special health authorities and (c) non-London comparators, dividing the figures into areas categorised as (i) inner deprived, (ii) urban, (iii) high status and (iv) total.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally.

  "Making London Better"
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the reduction of beds suggested in "Making London Better" applies to inner London; and if she will give details of the proposed reductions by specialty and geographical area.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  "Making London Better" sets out the framework for delivering strategic change to improve London health services. Detailed proposals for change are being developed at local level.

  Purchasing Authorities
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the name and address of each purchasing authority.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested will be placed in the Library.

  Prostate Cancer
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what NHS screening facilities are available for men most at risk from prostate cancer.

  Mr. Sackville
  None. Several research projects in this area are currently being undertaken locally.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) regional health authorities, (b) health authorities, (c) family health service authorities and (d) health trusts were in existence on 1 April; and what is her forecast of the number which will exist on 1 April 1994.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The figures requested for 1 April 1993 are shown in the table:

  (a) 14 regional health authorities

  (b) 145 district health authorities

  (c) 90 family health service authorities

  (d) 392 National Health Service trusts

  We are not prepared to make any forecast for 1 April 1994.

  Patients (Personal Habits)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which statutory provisions confer on treatment providers authority to discriminate between patients on the grounds of their personal habits.

  Mr. Sackville
  The patients charter makes it clear that every citizen has the right to health care on the basis of clinical need.

  Nursing (Grading)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the forms CGS2 as supplied by each regional health authority to her Department in 1988.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is available in the Library.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the categories of material currently requested from regional health authorities and district health authorities, and which is held at her Department.
  373
  Mr. Sackville
  The Department obtains from health authorities information necessary for the compilation of the following publications:Statistical Bulletins (all annual and relating to England only unless otherwise stated)

  FHS related

  1. Statistics for general medical practitioners in England and Wales.

  2. Prescriptions dispensed in the Family Health Services.

  3. General Pharmaceutical Services.

  4. Ophthalmic Services (occasional).

  HCHS related

  5. NHS Hospital Activity Statistics.

  6. Elective admissions and patients waiting (six-monthly).

  7. Bulletin on smoking.

  8. HCHS medical staff.

  9. HCHS non-medical staff.

  Other

  10. In-patients formally detained in hospital under the mental health act 1983 and other legislation.

  Other publications (England only and annual except where otherwise stated)

  Hospital activity and facilities

  11. Health Service indicators (issued on computer disk).

  12. Summary of bed availability.

  13. NHS operating theatres: availability and use.

  14. Out patient and ward attenders.

  15. Ordinary admissions, day case admissions and regular day and night admissions.

  16. Private hospitals, homes and clinics registered under section 23 of the Registered Homes Act 1984.

  17. Section 17(2) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.

  Community activity

  18. Immunisation programmes.

  19. Cervical cytology screening

  20. Maternity services-midwife clinics and domiciliary visits.

  21. Health visitor activity.

  22. District nurses activity.

  23. Community psychiatric nurses activity.

  24. Community mental handicap nurses activity.

  25. Other community nurses activity.

  26. Genito-urinary medicine clinics, new cases seen (quarterly).

  27. Breast cancer screening.

  28. Chiropody services.

  29. Clinical psychology services.

  30. Dietetic services.

  31. Occupational therapy services.

  32. Physiotherapy services.

  33. Speech therapy services.

  34. Family planning clinic services.

  35. Patient transport services.

  Other

  Admissions of working holidaymakers at United Kingdom ports

  Number of persons

  Nationality

  1990. May to December

  1991

  1992

  1993, January to March1

  Australia

  11,600

  14,200

  15,400

  3,540

  Canada

  1,800

  1,750

  1,750

  230

  Jamaica

  50

  30

  70

  2

  Malaysia

  30

  40

  30

  2

  New Zealand

  6,440

  7,260

  6,500

  1,290

  Zimbabwe

  160

  190

  170

  50

  Other Commonwealth

  120

  120

  130

  50

  Total

  20,100

  23,600

  24,000

  5,160

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  36. Public health common data set, data definitions and user guide for computer files.

  37. Public health common data set 'Health of the Nation' baseline data and trends, data definitions and user guides for computer files.

  38. Public health common data set national volumes.

  39. Public health common data set regional volumes.

  40. National health service day care facilities.

  41. In-patients formally detained in hospitals under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other legislation regional figures.

  42. Electro convulsive therapy (ECT).

  43. Data from the Addicts index.

  44. National health service workforce in England.

  Format publications

  45. Health and Personal Social Services statistics.

  46. Departmental annual review.

  Other statutory publications

  47. Annual statement under section 17(2) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970: Separation of younger patients from older patients in hospitals. (December).

  48. Report under section 11 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 on the development of services for people with learning disabilities (mental handicap) or mental illness in England.

  addition, the Department from time to time obtains a disparate range of unvalidated administrative and management data obtained from a number of sources, including health authorities.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Sunday Trading
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish his proposals on Sunday trading.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We intend to publish a draft Bill well before the summer recess.

  Working Holidaymakers' Scheme
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers and nationalities of individuals from the Commonwealth entering the United Kingdom on the working holidaymakers' scheme for each year since 1990; and the first quarter of 1993; and what plans he has to alter the scheme.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Reliable figures on admissions of working holidaymakers are available only from May 1990 and are given in the table. The operation of the scheme is under review, but there are no plans to abolish it.
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  1 Data are provisional.

  2 Five or fewer.

  Juvenile Offenders (Identification)
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the present statutory restrictions on the identification of alleged juvenile offenders who are unlawfully at large.

  Mr. Michael Howard
  I cannot comment on any current cases, which are sub judice. As a matter of general policy, the Government take the view that it should be possible, consistent with the need to ensure a fair trial, to identify a juvenile who, having been charged with a serious criminal offence, is unlawfully at large. To the extent that the current law prevents this, we intend to change it, and I shall announce further details in due course.

  Animal Diseases Orders
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans she has to repeal the provisions of the Diseases of Animals (Therapeutic Substances) Order 1952 and the Foot and Mouth Disease (Sera and Glandular Products) Order 1939.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Legislation will come into force on Monday 14 June 1993 to repeal these orders, partly to comply with new Community legislation on veterinary vaccines and partly for deregulatory reasons.

PRIME MINISTER

  Kashmir
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made to the Indian Prime Minister about recent activity by Indian Government forces in Kashmir; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

  The Prime Minister
  I discussed the Indian Government's policy on Kashmir, including the actions of the Indian security forces, with the Indian Prime Minister during my visit to India in January. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I both discussed Kashmir and human rights issues with the Indian Vice-President during his visit to Britain in May. In our discussions with the Indian Government, we have emphasised that the establishment of a political process in Kashmir, which will enable the people of Jammu and Kashmir to express their views, is an important element in the overall solution of the problem.

  Local Government Reform
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will give the number of representations he or the Secretary of State for Scotland have received calling for(a) the establishment of joint boards to take over functions from Scottish directly elected local authorities and (b) the transfer of functions from local authorities to the Scottish Office.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 30 April 1993 at column 502.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the conditions required to be fulfilled for the United Kingdom to re-enter the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 8 June 1993]: I have nothing further to add to the remarks I made on 9 June 1993, at column 302.

SCOTLAND

  Divinity Students
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of divinity graduates from Scottish universities in each of the past 10 years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The numbers are set out in the table.

  Year

  Number of Divinity Graduates

  1982–83

  117

  1983–84

  122

  1984–85

  116

  1985–86

  130

  1986–87

  113

  1987–88

  139

  1988–89

  124

  1989–90

  118

  1990–91

  108

  1991–92

  151

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total amount of money paid by the Scottish Office in university fees for divinity students in each of the past 10 years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Academic year

  Value of tuition fees

  1983–84

  100,800

  1984–85

  107,000

  1985–86

  108,160

  1986–87

  113,704

  1987–88

  110,088

  1988–89

  104,618

  1989–90

  158,009

  1990–91

  457,275

  1991–92

  546,700

  1992–93

  628,845

  Notes:

  1. The value has been calculated from the number of Scottish domiciled award-holding students on undergraduate divinity and theology courses at Scottish Universities in the year in question.

  2. The significant increase in value from 1990–91 onwards reflects the shift in the balance between Funding Council grant and tuition fee income first introduced in that year.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to alter the payment of fees for
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  divinity students at Scottish universities; and if he will make a statement on the Scottish Office's policy to the payment of fees for such students.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Tuition fees for eligible divinity students at Scottish universities are normally paid in termly instalments, in common with the tuition fees of eligible students on other courses; divinity courses attract fees at the band 1 rate. The awards offered to divinity students who satisfy the criteria for assistance under the students' allowance scheme include the payment of tuition fees. My right hon. Friend has no plans to change these arrangements.

  Kvaerner Govan
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount of assistance given to Kvaerner Govan by the Scottish Development Agency and Scottish Enterprise.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 May 1993]: Neither the Scottish Development Agency nor Scottish Enterprise has provided any assistance to the company. The relevant local enterprise company, Glasgow Development Agency, has, however, provided business growth training assistance to the value of around £35,000, funded by Scottish Enterprise; and assistance with skills training of key staff threatened with redundancy, amounting to £102,165, funded from its operating surpluses.

  Damp Housing
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what discussions he has had on the medical damage and risk to the health of children living in housing which suffers from dampness or condensation;

  (2) if he will hold discussions with the health boards on preventive action to reduce the risk to children of living in damp housing.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 7 June 1993]: This issue has been raised in the regular meetings my hon. Friend the Minister for education and housing has with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities about housing matters, and in the frequent meetings he has with local authorities about resources for investment in housing. For example, my hon. Friend met representatives of Dumbarton district council and the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) on 3 February to discuss damp housing in Dumbarton. The chief medical officer at the Scottish Office has also discussed the matter with the convention and with Scottish Homes as part of the work being undertaken to take forward the initiatives in "Scotland's Health: A Challenge To Us All". The medical implications of dampness and condensation were described in the chief medical officer's speech to the convention's annual conference on 26 March. The text of the speech has been sent to directors of public health in health boards.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he offers to health authorities with regard to the risk to children living in housing affected by dampness and condensation.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 7 June 1993]: The medical implications of dampness and condensation in housing
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  were described in the chief medical officer's speech to the annual conference of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 26 March. The text of the speech has been sent to directors of public health in health boards.

  Gourock Ropeworks
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to delist the Gourock ropeworks in Port Glasgow; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when he last received a report from (a) Historic Scotland and (b) Renfrewshire Enterprise Company on the current condition of the Gourock ropeworks, Port Glasgow; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 8 June 1993]: The Secretary of State has no plans to delist the Gourock ropeworks, Port Glasgow. The building is undoubtedly of listable quality and it remains listed at category A.

  Historic Scotland is in regular communication with Inverclyde district council about the ropeworks building and is informed of the council's actions to safeguard the condition of the building and the general security of the site. The council acted last year, in the interests of public safety, to make the building secure against intruders and to carry out works elsewhere on the site and generally tidy up the appearance of the site. Only recently, I believe, has the owner complied with the council's requirement and erected a security fence along the Bay street frontage, following the earlier site clearance works.

  Renfrewshire Enterprise Company has, I understand, been involved in consideration of the condition of the building and its development potential in the light of a specific declared interest by a possible developer. That has not, however, been pressed by the developer concerned. The local enterprise company has made no report to the Secretary of State on the ropeworks building.

  Historic Scotland will be having a further meeting with the council shortly, and will report on the latest developments to my right hon. Friend.

  Dounreay (Safety Inspection)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on the visit made to Dounreay by safety inspectors from Euratom in May;

  (2) what information he has received from Euratom following the visit of the European Commission's safety inspectors to the Dounreay nuclear waste disposal pits in May.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 9 June 1993]: In terms of article 35 of the Euratom treaty, the European Commission has a right to verify the facilities for environmental monitoring maintained by member states. As part of the Commission's verification programme, a team of inspectors visited the United Kingdom during the period 10 to 14 May to examine monitoring facilities in the north of Scotland including those maintained as part of the surveillance of the environmental effects of operations at Dounreay. The visit did not include any inspection of the facilities for on-site solid waste disposal. The team's report to the Commission will be passed to my right hon. Friend in due course.

  Forestry
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury of 20 April,Official Report, column 89, when he expects the Forestry Review Group to make its proposals; and when these proposals will be made public.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 10 June 1993]: I have nothing to add to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 20 April 1993, Official Report, column 89.

  Cervical Smear Tests
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 24 May,Official Report, columns 451–52, about the programme of reviewing cervical smear slides from Inverclyde royal infirmary, Greenock, what recent information he has concerning the tracing of women who have moved from the hospital's catchment area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 10 June 1993]: The women requiring to be traced fall into two categories:

  1. Those who are known, through the Community Health Index, to have moved out of the area.

  2. Those whose recorded address on the Community Health Index suggest that they still live in the area, but whose letters sent to those addresses have been returned by the postal authorities as "gone away" or "not known".

  The Argyll and Clyde health board is receiving prompt assistance from primary care departments, family health services authorities and from individual general practitioners. Considerable help in tracing women married to United States naval personnel continues to be given by the United States naval authorities. Similar assistance is also being given in relation to Her Majesty's forces wives by the British military authorities.

  Where the re-examination exercise has resulted in a "non-negative report", the most strenuous efforts are being made to contact each woman involved to ensure that the necessary follow-up action can be taken.

TRANSPORT

  Air Pollution
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what surveys have been conducted into the links between air quality, road traffic and pollution.

  Mr. Key
  Air quality is monitored across a range of sites and the Department of the Environment issues daily bulletins which provide information on ozone, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.

  A calculation of emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, lead and black smoke from road transport is published annually in "Transport Statistics Great Britain".

  Details of emissions from the transport sector and Government action to limit them can be found in the memorandum submited to the Royal Commission on environmental pollution by the Departments of the Environment and of Transport. A copy of this memorandum has been placed in the Library.

  The quality of urban air review group—QUARG—a group of independent experts, published a report on urban
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  air quality in January 1993 which examines the effect of road traffic on air pollution and future trends. A copy of this report has been placed in the Library.

  Bus Deregulation
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of bus deregulation outside London in respect of passenger journeys travelled and of changes in fares.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Lady to my Department's memorandum to the Transport Select Committee on London bus deregulation, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Elderly Holidaymakers
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been his response to the representations from Saga Holdiays concerning the maintenance of discounted fares for elderly holidaymakers following British Rail privatisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I wrote to the chairman of the Saga group on 12 March. We announced on 25 May our intention to place a statutory duty on the franchising director to ensure that all franchise agreements contain obligations to participate in discount schemes for senior citizens.

  Lower Thames Crossing
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made regarding the lower Thames crossing study; and when a report will be published.

  Mr. Key
  Consultants were appointed in May 1992 for a two-year study of the need for, and feasibility of, a lower Thames crossing downstream of Dartford. They are making good progress and expect to report back to the Department on programme in mid-1994.

  Road Congestion
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what criteria he uses to assess quantitatively the extent and seriousness of congestion on individual links in the trunk road network ;

  (2) what research he has carried out into changes in the level and extent of congestion in the United Kingdom and its economic effects; and what studies he has undertaken of the likely level and extent of congestion on the trunk road network in future years;

  (3) what consideration he has given to publishing an annual report on congestion on the road network, similar to the report of the national road maintenance conditions survey;

  (4) in what way he monitors the level and extent of congestion on the trunk roads network.

  Mr. Key
  Congestion is monitored by a variety of means including roadside vehicle detection, video cameras, traffic surveys, and motorway data provided by TrafficMaster—the private sector congestion monitoring system. All road investment involves the appraisal of congestion, including the vehicle delays on individual road links. This is set out in detail in the Department's COBA user manual which is based on extensive research. I have no plans at present to introduce an annual congestion report.

  Trans-European Network
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include the ports of Sheerness and Ramsgate in the proposals for the European Community's trans-European network maps.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport does not propose, as matters stand, to press for the addition of Sheerness and Ramsgate to the draft trans-European network guideline maps. The contents of the trans-European networks maps are still under consideration, but they would, in any case, be finally for decision by the European Council.

  These ports, and many other prominent United Kingdom ports, are not on the principal networks for the modes for which maps are under discussion. The member states group on ports and maritime development has argued against the production of a separate trans-European networks map for ports. Rather, it has proposed the development of a list of port projects which fulfil certain criteria.

  Personalised Number Plates
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what statutory provisions apply to the form of displaying vehicle registration numbers; what action is normally taken by police in connection with personalised number plates; to what penalties drivers are subject if they use non-standard displays of numbers and letters on personalised number plates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The statutory provisions for the display of vehicle registration numbers are contained within section II of the Road Vehicles (Licensing and Registration) Regulations 1971. Law enforcement with regard to personalised number plates is a matter for the police. The maximum penalty for the illegal display of a registration number is £1,000.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many personalised number plate the DVLA has sold to drivers registered in the west midlands since 1986; how many complaints he has received from that region concerning the withdrawal of personalised number plates by DVLA; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency commenced selling registration number in December 1989. Statistics on the number sold to motorists in the west midlands are not available. The Secretary of State has not withdrawn any such numbers and there have been no complaints from the west midlands.

  A1-M1 Link
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the A1-M1 link road will be fully open.

  Mr. Key
  The M1-A1 link road—A14—should be fully open to traffic by the end of 1993.

  Flags of Convenience
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals have been made by the European Commission, or any member state, of the 382
  European Community concerning the prohibition of vessels registered under flags or conditions of convenience for discharging or loading cargoes at ports in member states.

  Mr. Norris
  None.

  Jubilee Line
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what loans have been made by the European Investment Bank in respect of the Jubilee line; what are the terms of repayment; and on what specific article of the banks the loans have been made.

  Mr. Norris
  No loan has yet been made. I understand, however, that the EIB is prepared in principle to lend money to the O and Y company, which is currently in administration, to fund the first instalment of the company's intended contribution to the cost of the Jubilee line extension. The terms governing any such loan would be a matter for the parties.

  Transport Council
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the result of the Transport Council held in Luxembourg on 7 and 8 June.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Transport Council met in Luxembourg on 7 and 8 June. I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council discussed the Commission's communication on a common policy on safe seas. I stressed yet again that sub-standard shipping is a major and urgent problem in terms of the safety of human life and the environment; and that concerted action by all member states against sub-standard shipping both safeguarded EC interests and allowed us together to press for worldwide improvement through a tough new regime for all ships calling at Community ports or passing through Community waters. The Council, following discussions, welcomed and agreed the communication. This is a major step forward towards firm Community action, and the Commission will now bring forward proposals swiftly.

  Following the International Maritime Organisation's failure to agree action on higher standards for ferry safety, I informed the Council that the United Kingdom would pursue higher standards unilaterally. I said this was in line with the EC policy on safe seas and that the most recent accident in the North sea showed the importance of action in this field.

  The Council met the European Parliament under the conciliation procedure and reached agreement on a transport infrastructure programme for 1993–94 with a budget of 325 mecu.

  The Council adopted conclusions on the Commission's white paper on the future development of the common transport policy. These conclusions are wide ranging. They stress the importance of completing the single market and ensuring its effective operation and refer to the importance of the priniciple of subsidiarity and the need to avoid distortion of competition through state aids, as well as covering safety, environmental issues, infrastructure development and external relations.

  The Council agreed that a working group on aviation external relations should be set up. It considered amendments to the regulation on computerised reservation systems, but referred the issue of the physical

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  separation of such systems from parent airlines back to COREPER for further discussion. The Commission reported that it would be putting forward its promised revision of the guidelines on aviation state aids. The Commissioner announced that he was setting up an expert committee to study current problems facing the Community's aviation industry. He undertook to produced a draft negotiating mandate by the September Council for opening transport negotiations with Switzerland, together with a study of relations in a wider framework.

  The Council reached political agreement on guidelines for Community trans-European networks for combined transport, roads and inland waterways. Following my intervention about difficulties being encountered by a United Kingdom operator, the Commission stated that Community funding would not be allocated to infrastructure projects not open to operators according to Community rules.

  The Council discussed road transport taxation and charging and road haulage cabotage, and agreed to hold an additional meeting on Saturday 19 June on these issues.

  Traffic Signs (Private Land)
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will extend the provisions for changes in traffic signs to private land

  Mr. Key
  Traffic signs legislation applies to signs on or near any roads to which the public has access. There are no plans at present to extend the scope of this legislation.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Guatemala
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations with Guatemala.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have good relations with Guatemala and welcomed the appointment as constitutional President of Ramiro de Leon Carpio, the former human rights procurator, on 5 June.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to press for the suspension from the Council of Europe of any member state found to be violating the United Nations embargo against Serbia and Montenegro.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  At their meeting on 14 May, which was chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Council of Europe Ministers underlined the importance of respecting and implementing the United Nations Security Council resolutions on the former Yugoslavia, including those imposing embargoes.

  If proof were available that any member state actively supported violations of United Nations embargoes, that support would be condemned rightly in all international fora. However, the Council of Europe is not one of those organisations directly involved in this matter and any action might be more appropriately considered by those bodies which have such involvement.
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  I am aware that members of the United Kingdom parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe have expressed strong views about the violation of international sanctions. It is open to those members to raise these matters in the assembly.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest estimate of prisoners of war held by(a) the Croats, (b) Serbs and (c) Muslims.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The International Committee of the Red Cross—ICRC—regularly visits 400 prisoners held by the Bosnian Croats, 1,023 held by the Bosnian Serbs and 993 held by the Bosnian Muslims. The ICRC is also visiting those detained during the fighting between Bosnian Croat and Muslim forces in central and southern Bosnia.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department is in receipt of information from the UNHCR in respect of the reported expulsion by the Croatian HVO forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina of Muslims from Mostar; what contact he has made with President Tudjman about this matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are aware of reports that Bosnian Croat HVO forces apparently with support from Croatian Government forces, have expelled Muslims from Mostar, but have seen no specific information on this from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. The European Community is continuing to apply pressure on President Tudjman about his responsibility for the actions of Croat and Bosnian Croat forces in Bosnia.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken for UNPROFOR to protect the citizens of Medjeda and Ustipraca in Bosnia from Serb shelling.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The co-chairman of the international conference for the former Yugoslavia and UNPROFOR commanders are continuing their efforts to secure Bosnian Serb agreement to allow United Nations monitors and humanitarian relief convoys through to the Gorazde area. This will provide a vital first step towards stabilising the increasingly desperate situation there.

  European Construction
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken in response to the final declaration of the interparliamentary conference on the role of national parliaments on European construction, held in Brussels in May 1992, and recommendation 1193 of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The final declaration of the interparliamentary conference was debated by the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly last October, but not sent for action to the Committee of Ministers.

  The Council of Europe ministerial meeting on 14 May, which was chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, agreed a number of points for discussion at the forthcoming Council of Europe summit which reflect the concerns expressed on the final declaration and include most of those items raised in recommendation 1193.
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  The Council of Europe will continue to play a major role in the development of democracy in Europe and it is right that the summit, to be held in Vienna on 8 and 9 October, should consider its role and place in relation to other organisations and institutions, in particular the EC and Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe.

  Russia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his most recent discussions with his Russian counterpart covered relations between the United Kingdom and Russia and the newly independent Baltic states.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has had regular discussions with Mr. Kozyrev. He has outlined on several occasions the British Government's wish for good relations between Russia and the Baltic states. My right hon. Friend is due to meet Mr. Kozyrev again today, 11 June, in Athens at the North Atlantic consultative conference.

  Eastern Europe
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Romania from 1 to 3 June and Bulgaria from 3 to 4 June. The objectives of his visit were to assess and encourage political and economic reform: to explain British policy on former Yugoslavia and to urge rigorous enforcement of United Nations sanctions. My right hon. Friend saw at first hand the work of the sanctions assistance mission team on the Danube, working with the local customs authorities.

  In Romania he had meetings with President Iliescu, Prime Minister Vacaroiu and Foreign Minister Melescanu, the presidents of both chambers of Parliament and opposition leaders. My right hon. Friend addressed a joint session of the Romanian Parliament. In Bulgaria, he had discussions with President Zhelev and Prime Minister Berov, the chairman of the National Assembly and representatives of the main parliamentary parties.

  In both countries, my right hon. Friend discussed bilateral relations including in particular parliamentary links and prospects for British investment. Both Bulgaria and Romania are intent on developing their links with the west and sought our support for this. They are also anxious for recognition for the losses which their economies have suffered as a result of United Nations sanctions against Serbia.

  Our relations with Bulgaria and Romania are developing quickly and we are able to discuss issues frankly, including such problems as the dismissal of the director general of the Bulgarian news agencies, and parliamentary control of the Romanian security services. My right hon. Friend encouraged both Governments to press on with the reform process and promised our support for them in this difficult challenge.

  My right hon. Friend's itinerary did not include Hungary, which he visited from 4 to 7 May. I refer the hon.
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  Gentleman to the oral answer my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester, North (Mr. Jenkin) on 12 May, at column 787.

  Baltic States
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he regards(a) Latvia and (b) Estonia as meeting Her Majesty's Government criteria of states practising good government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Latvia and Estonia observe the principles of good government, including respect for human rights and the rule of law. Since regaining independence both states have made welcome and significant progress on political and economic reform and on building democratic institutions. Estonia's accession to the Council of Europe and its signing of the European convention on human rights demonstrates the progress it has made; following Latvia's successful conduct of its elections, we look forward to the earliest possible Latvian accession to the Council of Europe.

  European Economic Integration
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response Her Majesty's Government have made to the proposal by Chancellor Kohl for a special Heads of Government summit in the autumn to discuss the next stage of European economic integration.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The idea of a special European summit in the autumn will be discussed at the Copenhagen European Council on 21 and 22 June. We will consider any proposals which are made there.

  Macedonia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Macedonia; and when he expects ambassadors to be exchanged with that country.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Skopje on 4 June, and held talks with President Ghigorov and acting Foreign Minister Crvenkovski. He presented a consignment of medicines and medical equipment worth £400,000, the latest stage in the United Kingdom's £2 million emergency aid programme. My right hon. Friend also met representatives from the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe mission, the EC monitor mission and UNPROFOR. The United Kingdom now has a representative in Skopje, who will make practical arrangements for establishing an office there. The timing of an opening of diplomatic relations has not been decided: this will be influenced by progress in the mediation process between Greece and Macedonia.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the reform of the control mechanism of the European convention on human rights proposed in recommendation 1194 of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe.
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  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  All member states of the Council of Europe agree that reform of the control mechanism of the European convention on human rights is urgently needed. The Ministers' deputies meeting on 28 May agreed by consensus the mandate for a draft protocol amending the control machinery of the European convention on human rights. The Council of Europe steering committee for human rights will now draft the amending protocol. The United Kingdom will participate fully in the drafting process.

  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the draft protocol on the rights of minorities to the European Convention on human rights, proposed by the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Council of Europe committee of experts for the protection of minorities has been mandated to study the possibility of formulating European legal standards for the protection of minorities, including the feasibility of a protocol to the European convention on human rights or a free-standing Convention. The parliamentary assembly's recommendation 1201 of 1993 is a useful contribution to the debate and is one of several documents being considered by the committee. The expert committee is to present its findings to the Council of Europe Heads of State summit in October. We await the opinion of the expert committee.

  Expedito Ribeiro de Souza
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements Her Majesty's Government are making for diplomatic representation at the trial for murder of trade unionist Expedito Ribeiro de Souza, taking place in Ri Mara, Pará, Brazil, on 30 June.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We plan that a member of the staff of Her Majesty's embassy in Brasilia will attend the trial for the murder of Expedito Ribeiro de Souza.
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  Serbia
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to protest at the imprisonment and treatment of Vuk Draskovic, leader of the opposition in Belgrade, and at other infringements of human rights in Serbia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On behalf of the EC and its member states, the presidency delivered a demarch to the Serbian leadership protesting at the violence in Belgrade on 1 June and the arrest and beating of Mr. Draskovic and his wife. This matter was discussed by European Community Foreign Ministers at the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 8 June when it was agreed to send a further message expressing concern and asking for immediate release of Mr. and Mrs. Draskovic. Lord Owen also raised the case with President Milosevic during his visit to Belgrade on 9 and 10 June. We continue to monitor closely the human rights situation throughout the former Yugoslavia. The Conference on Security and co-operation in Europe and relevant human rights organisations are also actively involved.

  Iraq
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government propose to take at the United Nations Security Council following the contravention of Security Council resolution 598 by Iran when launching air strikes against People's Mojahedin bases in Iraq on 25 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 7 June,Official Report, column 84.