Written Answers of 25 June 1993

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Contract and Estate Law
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what expressions of concern he has received(a) from small businesses and (b) from others about the current law of privity of contract and estate in England and Wales;

  (2) what representations he has received in support of the reform of privity of contract and estate.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor has received a considerable number of expressions of concern about the law in this area, the majority from small businesses and organisations representing their interests; but there have also been representations from landlords and property investors. It would not be practicable to list the representations that have been received. The Lord Chancellor is well aware of the respective interests of both tenants and landlords, and has already announced the Government's decision to implement the Law Commission's recommendations in this area for future leases.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Sunday Trading
  Sir George Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account will be taken, in any reform of the law on Sunday trading, of public demand for all shops to be free to open for some period during the day on Sundays.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We intend to offer Parliament a choice between the four main options for reform of Sunday trading law. Hon. Members will no doubt take pubic opinion into account before choosing between these options.

  Immigration
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the total number of non-United Kingdom nationals admitted for settlement in the United Kingdom in each year since 1982, indicating whether these originated in(a) the new Commonwealth, (b) the Republic of Ireland, (c) eastern Europe and (d) elsewhere; and if he will give an estimate of what proportion of this total was of working age.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The numbers of persons accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom, by nationality, are published in table 14 of the Home Office Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom 1990" (Cm 1571) for the years 1982–89 and in table 1 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin Issue 14/93 "Control of 280
  Immigration: Statistics—Third and Fourth Quarters and Year 1992" for 1990–92. Copies of both these publications are in the Library. These figures do not include citizens of the Republic of Ireland, who are generally able to move freely within the common travel area.

  The readily available information on age is for non-EC nationals accepted for settlement on removal of the time limit on their stay (ie subsequent to initial admission for a limited period) in 1992. These acceptances comprised the large majority of total settlement in 1992 (88 per cent.). Around 80 per cent. were aged between 16 and 60.

  New Age Travellers
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he is giving local authorities to assist them in coping with large-scale acts of trespass on local authority or private land by new age travellers this summer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In 1991 we issued a leaflet giving general guidance to land owners, including local authorities, relating to trespass on land and we encourage all local authorities to liaise closely with the police if they suspect that any land in their areas is vulnerable to mass trespass. Officials have met representatives of the Malvern Hills district council and Salisbury district council to discuss their applications to the Home Secretary for orders under section 13 of the Public Order Act 1986.

  Custody Officers
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the number of physical attacks against custody officers within each police force area in England and Wales in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Illegal Employment Prosecutions
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been initiated in the last five years for the illegal employment of non-EC persons who do not possess a work permit.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Although it is an offence to take work in breach of conditions of stay, employers do not commit an offence simply by virtue of employing such people.

  Wolds Remand Centre
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates were involved in the incident at the Wolds remand centre on 11 and 12 June; how many staff were on duty at the time and how many extra staff were called in; what is the value of the damage done by inmates during the course of the incident; for what reason the emergency services were called; and if he will call for a detailed inquiry.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange a reply.

  Letter from Mr. D. Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 June 1993:
  281
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking about an incident at the Wolds Remand Prison on 11 th and 12th June.

  49 prisoners, all in one unit, refused to return to their cells at lock-up on 11 June. 23 staff were on duty at the time. Contingency plans were put into operation, but for obvious reasons it is our policy not to give operational details of them for any establishment. It is standard procedure for emergency services to be alerted to an incident. The unit was quiet by 0015 and complete control was secured by 0135. The value of the damage caused by prisoners is put at £8,000. The Home Office controller, based at Wolds, monitors the contractor's performance and will provide a full report; the incident on 11 June does not merit a separate inquiry.

TRANSPORT

  New Age Travellers' Vehicles
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 1992,Official Report, column 726, what recommendations the vehicle inspectorate and the police forces have received underlying the policy of prohibiting from road use vehicles (a) not carrying tax discs or (b) which are unroadworthy; and if he will make a statement on any extra measures he is taking in respect of expected movements of new age travellers in the coming summer.

  Mr. Key
  The vehicle inspectorate normally imposes an immediate prohibition on vehicles which are in a dangerous condition. This prevents or restricts their use on the road until the defect has been rectified. Where there is a lesser defect, it may impose a delayed prohibition, which comes into effect only if the defect has not been rectified within a specified time limit. The police can only impose immediate prohibitions. Policy on prohibitions is a matter for chief constables, but generally the police use the same criteria as the vehicle inspectorate in deciding whether a defect is serious enough to merit an immediate prohibition. There are no powers for either the police or the vehicle inspectorate to prohibit vehicles not displaying valid tax discs.

  Most of the vehicle inspectorate enforcement resources are used to ensure that lorries, buses and coaches are safe, although some private vehicles are checked with police co-operation. No extra measures by the vehicle inspectorate are planned at present in respect of new age travellers. The deployment of police resources is a matter for chief constables.

  However, vehicles not displaying valid tax discs may be stopped by the police and the keepers prosecuted/fined. The maximum penalty is £1,000 or five times the annual rate of duty whichever is the greatest. Furthermore, a valid tax disc cannot be obtained unless the keeper is in possession of a valid roadworthiness test certificate.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he will use to judge the effectiveness and value for money of his rail privatisation proposals.

  Mr. Freeman
  Our proposals are intended to enable the railways to provide a higher quality of service, with greater responsiveness to customers' needs, and to offer better value for money to the public who travel by rail.
  282
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he has made to ensure that business travellers will still be able to use rail warrants to pay for tickets after the franchising of rail passenger services.

  Mr. Freeman
  Future participation in warrant schemes will be a matter for negotiation with operators. Arrangements to facilitate this are still under discussion.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which authority will become responsible, under his proposals for the privatisation of BR, for handling telephone inquiries for the inquiry bureaux currently operated by British Rail; and what steps he is taking to ensure that they continue to provide information for the whole of the national rail network.

  Mr. Freeman
  The provision of co-ordinated passenger information over the telephone is still under discussion. If necessary, it will be possible to impose suitable obligations through licences or franchise agreements.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that rail franchise operators will continue to accept Inter-Rail and Rail Europe Senior railcards after privatisation of British Rail.

  Mr. Freeman
  Franchisees will be required to honour existing tickets. Future participation in international ticketing offers will be a matter for commercial negotiation, as it is now for British Rail, within joint industry arrangements as necessary.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the first rail passenger franchises to be offered to the private sector; and which services these will be.

  Mr. Freeman
  I expect the first franchises to be offered to the private sector in 1994. These are likely to be the seven service groupings announced in February. The Victoria-Gatwick express is in the vanguard of the restructuring process and is expected to be offered to the private sector ahead of other services.

  Rail Services (East Anglia)
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to seek discussions with British Rail over changes in levels of services announced in Norfolk and Suffolk; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  None. British Rail must be free to match service levels to demand. I understand that the changes in the winter Sunday services reflect the high cost of providing these lightly-used services, many of which cater for a largely seasonal trade.

  Disabled Rail Travellers
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to place a duty on the Rail Regulator to consult the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee with the view of drawing up a national code of practice for disabled rail travellers.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is our intention to bring forward an amendment to the Railways Bill which places such a duty on the Regulator.
  283

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Sir Keith Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations about the channel tunnel rail link his Department has received since 23 March from(a) the county of Kent and (b) the borough of Ashford.

  Mr. Freeman
  Until 24 June, 650 from the county of Kent and from Kent Members of Parliament, including 384 from Ashford postal addresses and from the hon. Member for Ashford. A separate total of representations from within the borough boundaries is not readily available.

  Railway Rolling Stock
  Sir Keith Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with British Rail about their proposed order for rolling stock allowed for in the lease finance announced in last October's financial statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail is currently considering what rolling stock to acquire on lease using the £150 million facility made available in last year's autumn statement. The choice between the two options—dual-voltage Networkers for Network SouthEast or IC225s for the west coast main line—is entirely a matter for British Rail in the light of negotiations with suppliers and lessors. I expect a decision in the summer.

  I will support further leasing deals provided that they comply with the Treasury's guidelines.

EDUCATION

  Environmental Policy
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his Department's policy on the purchase and use of(a) recycled paper, (b) low-energy light bulbs, (c) tropical hardwoods, (d) peat and (e) cars with catalytic converters.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department's policy is to take full account of the environmental implications of all decisions involving the purchase and use of resources. An environmental policy statement has been issued to all staff which reaffirms our commitment to increase the use of recycled paper, reduce and eventually eliminate the use of non-renewable resources, and to reduce the use of hazardous substances.

  Further and Higher Education
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Education what statistics he has on the percentage of students who take up further and higher education in each EC country.

  Mr. Boswell
  In 1992–93 some 71 per cent. of l6-year-olds and 55 per cent. of 17-year-olds participated in full-time education in schools, sixth-form colleges and further education colleges in England. In the same year the age participation index in Great Britain (defined as the number of young home initial entrants to higher education expressed as a percentage of the averaged 18 to 19-year-old population) was some 28 per cent. Further details are 284
  shown in tables 17 and 21 of the Departmental Report, CM 2210. Comparisons with certain EC countries are shown on pages 16 and 17 of "Education Statistics for the United Kingdom", 1992 edition, a copy of which is in the Library.

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

  Mr. Boswell
  The names of those who have been appointed to the Department's public bodies are given in the table, together with details of changes as they apply to posts, salaries or allowances since publication of "Public Bodies 1992". Information relating to occupations and current employers of appointees could be supplied only at disproportionate cost, but we are satisfied that the members of our public bodies represent an appropriately wide range of backgrounds and are appointed on the basis of their aptitude, merit and suitability.

  MEMBERSHIP OF DFE PUBLIC BODIES WITH DETAILS OF CHANGES TO POSTS, SALARIES OR ALLOWANCES MADE SINCE I APRIL 1992

  Public Appointments

    Business and technology education council
    Chairman:

    Mr. Parry Rogers

    Members:

    Mrs. Gillian Armitage

    Mr. Barry Barker

    Mr. Derek Betts

    Dr. John Capey

    Mr. Richard Davies

    Mrs. Patricia Haikin

    Mr. Garry Hawkes

    Dr. Philip Hunter

    Mr. Michael Lickiss

    Mr. Morton Neal

    Mr. Keith Ratcliffe

    Mr. John Spence

    Ms Lynda Purser

    Mr. John Stoddard

    Central bureau for educational visits and exchanges
    Chairman:

    Mr. J. A. Carter

    Members:

    Mr. D. A. L. Avery

    Mr. R. Bailess

    Mr. M. Brackenbury

    Mrs. P. G. Collings

    Mr. I. Fraser1

    Mrs. S. Greenfield

    Mr. D. J. Hatfield

    Mr. N. H. Holmes

    Mrs. A. Longley

    Rev. D. Peacock

    Dr. R. Rix

    Mrs. J. Shackleton

    Mr. B. Tanner

    Dr. P. Troughton

    1 Appointed by the Secretary of State for Scotland.
    One additional member appointed since I April 1992.

    Centre for information on language teaching
    Chairman:

    Professor Martin Harris

    Members:

    Mr. Jim Beadle

    Mrs. Madeleine Bedford

    Dr. Ann Dowling

    Mr. Barry Jones

    Mr. David Jones

    Ms. Janet Little

    Mr. David Mallen1

    Ms Mary Ryan

    Ms Valerie Stone

    Professor Gareth Thomas

    Mr. Richard Townsend

    1 Appointed by the Secretary of State for Scotland.

    Council for the accreditation of teacher education
    Chairman:

    Professor Sir William Taylor

    Members:

    Professor Robin Alexander

    Mr. John Burn

    Sister Vincent Duggan

    Dr. Richard Evans

    Mrs. Gay Firth

    Professor Malcolm Frazer

    Ms. Carolyn Hayman

    Mr. Douglas Keith

    Mr. Anthony Lenney

    Mr. Derek Mortimer

    Professor Anthony O'Hear

    Mr. Anthony Pellegrini

    Mrs. Margaret Pritchard

    Mr. Robin Reeve

    Mr. Rod Scarth

    Mr. Martin Tims

    Mr. Martin Turner

    Mr. Anthony Wates

    Rev. Dr. Kenneth Wilson

    Four additional members appointed since 1 April 1992

    Education assests board
    Chairman:

    Sir Tom McDonald, Increase to £24,030 pa—part-time appointment

    Chief Executive:

    Mr. H. S. Hoare (ex-officio), Increase to £47,424 pa—full-time appointment

    Members:

    (Members receive an honorarium of £153 pd)

    Mr. B. C. Arthur

    Mr. K. J. Bridge

    Ms. K. Buckley

    Mr. H. E. Couch

    Mr. J. M. Edwards

    Miss A. Lees

    Mr. P. S. Lewis

    Mr. G. Locke

    Mr. A. N. Solomons

    One additional member apponted since 1 April 1992

    Further education funding council for England
    Chairman:

    Mr. Robert Gunn, £33,170 pa—part-time appointment

    Chief Executive:

    Dr. William Stubbs, £84,227 pa—full-time appointment

    Members:

    (Members receive an honorarium of £4,000 pa)

    Mr. Nicholas Bennett

    Mr. Anthony Cann

    Dr. John Capey

    Mr. Anthony Close

    286

    Mrs. Margaret Davey

    Mrs. Patricia Haikin

    Mrs. Margaret Hobrough

    Mr. Christopher Jonas

    Councillor Les Lawrence

    Mr. Michael Lickiss

    Mr. Michael Rowarth

    Dr. Anne Wright

    Secretary of State's representative:

    Mr. Roger Dawe, DFE

    This body was established on 6 May 1992

    Further Education Unit Board of Management
    Chairman:

    Mr. Allan Ainsworth

    Members:

    Mr. Martin Cross

    Mr. Ken Franklin

    Ms Ann Limb

    Mr. Roger Morgan1

    Mr. Michael Rowarth

    Mr. Keith Rowland

    Ms Jenny Scribbins

    Mr. David Short

    Mr. Terry Melia

    Ms Lynda Purser

    Mr. Nigel Thomas

    Three additional members appointed since 1 April 1992
    1 Head of FHE2 branch, DFE

    Higher Education Funding Council, England
    Chairman:

    Mr. Brandon Gough, £33,170 pa—part-time appointment

    Chief Executive:

    Professor Graeme Davies, £82,925 pa—full-time appointment

    Members:

    (Members receive an honorarium of £4,000 pa)

    Professor Colin Campbell

    Mr. Michael Fallon

    Professor Brian Follett

    Mr. Robert Gunn

    Professor (Ms) Kay-Tee Khaw

    Sir Idris Pearce

    Sir David Phillips

    Professor Sir John Shaw

    Sir Robert Scholey

    Dr. Robert Telfer

    Miss Janet Trotter

    Professor David Watson

    This body assumed the functions of the PCFC and UFC on 1 April 1993

    National Council for Educational Technology
    Chairman:

    Mr. Jon Richards

    Members:

    Ms. Sandra Davies

    Dr. Michael Garnett

    Professor Ruth Gee

    Mr. Barnaby Gibbens

    Mrs. Jean Irvine

    Ms Pat Lowrie

    Mr. Owen Lynch

    Ms Unaiza Malik

    Ms Snehalathia Menon

    Mr. Kevin Satchwell

    Mr. Roderick Scarth

    Mr. Peter Shuker

    Mrs. Barbara Vanderstock

    Mr. John Young

    Four vacancies since 1 April 1992

    National Curriculum Council
    Chairman:

    287

    Sir Ron Dearing, CB, appointed 19 April 1993 (Remuneration increased to £293 per day)

    Members:

    Mr. John Burn

    Mrs. Penny Cooper

    Mr. Brian Hutchinson

    Mrs. Anne Locke

    Mrs. Brenda Lofthouse

    Mr. Graham Mackenzie

    Dr. John Marks

    Mr. John McIntosh

    Professor David Regan

    Professor Alan Smithers

    Dr. Roger Vaughan

    Mr. Anthony Wates

    Mrs. Jennifer Wisker

    One additional member appointed since 1 April 1992

    National Youth Agency Management Committee
    Chairman:

    Ms Jennifer Wisker

    Members:

    Mr. Nicholas Cross

    Ms Althea Efunshile

    Mrs. Sarah Joiner

    Ms Alison Murray

    Mr. Tanner Shields

    Mr. Linbert Spencer

    School Examinations and Assessment Council
    Chairman:

    Sir Ron Dearing, CB, appointed 19 April 1993. Remuneration increased to £293 per day)

    Chief Executive:

    Dr. Hilary Nicolle, full-time appointment—increase to £57,764

    Members:

    Mr. Roy Atkinson

    Mr. John Barnes

    Mrs. Janet Cohen

    Dr. Philip Evans

    Mrs. Janet Kowalski

    Mr. Arwel George

    Dr. John Marks

    Mr. Stephen Nepaulsingh

    Miss Gillian Peele

    Mr. Anthony Pellegrini

    Ms Kathleen Tattersal

    Mr. Philip Wood

    One vacancy since 1 April 1992

    Teaching as a Career Unit Board
    Chairman:

    Philip Merridale

    Members:

    Mr. J. Dodds

    Mr. J. Hendy

    Dr. Bernard Kingston

    Councillor P. Mullany

    Mr. I. Slocombe

    Ms C. Whatford

    Mr. G. Williams

    Professor M. Williams

    The following public bodies have been wound up since 1 April 1992:

    Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA)

    Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council (PCFC)

    Universities Funding Council (UFC)

    Open University Visiting Committee (OUVC)

    Visiting Committee for Cranfield Institute of Technology (VCCIT)

    Visiting Committee for the Royal College of Art (VCRCA)

    The following public bodies have assumed their functions
    288
    since 1 April 1992:

    The Higher Education Funding Council, England (HEFCE)

    The Further Education Funding Council (England) (FEFC)

  Truancy
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the report of the investigation into levels of truancy in English secondary schools, which was carried out by the University of North London on commission from his Department, will be published.

  Mr. Forth
  Advance copies of the report have been published today. A copy is being placed in the Library.

WALES

  Rail Rover Tickets
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the loss to Welsh tourism if the Freedom of Wales rail rover ticket were not continued by the rail passenger franchise operators planned for the principality.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I see no reason why Welsh tourism should suffer any loss. British Rail operates the existing scheme for sound commercial reasons and it will be in the best interests of a franchise to continue similar arrangements.

  Dental Health
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to prohibit the manufacturers of fruit drinks with a high dental caries predisposition to market their products through free promotions in schools.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department has no powers to do so. The matter is primarily one for individual schools.

  Sheep Scab
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the monthly reported incidents of sheep scab in Wales in each year since 1987.

  Mr. Redwood
  The number of reported incidents of sheep scab in Wales for each month since 1987 is as follows:

  Sheep Scab confirmed cases in Wales 1987–1992

  Number

  1987

  January

  4

  February

  3

  June

  2

  July

  5

  Total

  14

  1988

  November

  5

  December

  4

  Total

  9

  1989

  January

  3

  289

  Number

  October

  1

  December

  1

  Total

  5

  1990

  February

  5

  March

  2

  December

  2

  Total

  9

  1991

  January

  4

  February

  1

  April

  3

  May

  2

  July

  1

  August

  1

  September

  1

  December

  2

  Total

  15

  1992

  January

  6

  February

  2

  March

  3

  Percentage of science budget allocated to the University of Wales

  Aberystwyth

  Bangor

  Cardiff

  Swansea

  St. Davids

  College of Medicine

  Science budget support to HEIs

  1988–89

  0.17

  0.24

  0.40

  0.20

  —

  0.04

  41.46

  1989–90

  0.17

  0.21

  0.53

  0.25

  —

  0.05

  43.39

  1990–91

  0.16

  0.25

  0.46

  0.25

  —

  0.06

  44.65

  1991–92

  0.25

  0.19

  0.45

  0.31

  0.02

  0.05

  44.52

  11992–93

  0.22

  0.21

  0.47

  0.35

  —

  0.05

  49.40

  1 Estimate.

  Note: The figures exclude the Medical Research Council training awards, the Economic and Social Research Council funding prior to 1991–92, and funds provided to the colleges via research council institutes and interdisciplinary research centres.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Chartered Association of Certified Accountants
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what powers he has to investigate the balloting for elections for the council of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I have no such powers.

  Auditing
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the cost savings to small businesses as a result of a partial abolition of small company audits and a requirement to produce a compilation report by accountants.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the consultative document issued by my Department in April, entitled "Audit and Accounting Requirements for Very Small Companies", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for legislation under which auditing firms would be prevented from writing up board minutes of their audit clients and then auditing the same.
  290

  Number

  April

  2

  Total

  13

  Note: Figures are available only up to May 1992.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  University of Wales
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of the Government's science budget was allocated to each constituent college of the university of Wales for each year since 1988; and what is the projected figure for 1993–94.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The approximate proportion of the science budget allocated to the colleges of the University of Wales is shown in the table below for the financial years 1988–89 to 1992–93. This includes expenditure on research grants, studentships and fellowships. Projected figures for 1993–94 are not available as many grants are made in responsive mode and are therefore dependent on project proposals submitted.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Under the Companies Act 1989, a person who is an officer or employee of a company—or a partner or employee of such a person—is prohibited from being appointed as auditor of the company. Moreover, under the Act the Secretary of State may recognise supervisory bodies for auditors only if the body appears to him to have adequate rules and practices designed to ensure that company audit work is conducted properly and with integrity, and that persons are not appointed as company auditors in circumstances in which they have an interest likely to conflict with the proper conduct of the audit.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for legislation to require the auditors of public limited companies to publish information about their affairs.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  An auditor which is a company or an unregistered company within the meaning of the Companies Act 1985 is already subject to the disclosure requirements of that Act. I have no plans to extend those requirements to unincorporated bodies, save for those partnerships which would be subject to the Partnerships and Unlimited Companies (Accounts) Regulations 1993, a draft of which was laid before the House on 21 June.
  291

  Supervisory Bodies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to increase the public accountability of the bodies authorised to act as recognised supervisory bodies under the Companies Act 1989.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reports for the year to 30 September 1992 by the five Recognised supervisory bodies, which were prepared and submitted to me under section 37 of the Companies Act 1989, and copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will be reviewing the operation of the recognised supervisory bodies.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  My Department will be reviewing later this year the operation of the recognised supervisory bodies procedures for monitoring compliance by their members with their rules.

  Auditing Practices Board
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations his Department has made to the Auditing Practices Board on the contents of the proposed going concern standard.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  My Department wrote to the Auditing Practices Board on 21 May with its comments on a draft of the proposed statement of auditing standards on going concern.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that the employing organisations of the members of the Auditing Practices Board do not exercise influence over its proceedings;

  (2) what plans he has to seek views on the membership of the Auditing Practices Board from (a) the Commission for Racial Equality and (b) the Equal Opportunities Commission.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The constitution and procedures of the Auditing Practices Board are matters for the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies.

  Accounting Standards Board
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what will be the cost of seconding his Department's head of accounting and auditing division, Mr. M. Butcher, to the Accounting Standards Board.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The secondment is expected to last for about one year. The Department has agreed to meet salary and salary-related costs for up to three months of this period. On the basis and at current salary levels the direct cost to DTI will not exceed £15,000.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total sum to date that his Department has collected from the 15 per cent. audit fees in the assets of bankruptcy from BCCI; and if he will make a statement.
  292
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  BCCI is subject to compulsory liquidation proceedings and the total sum collected by the Department from the Secretary of State fee (previously known as the audit fee) since 1991 is £751,502. The Department cannot separately identify how much of this was collected at the 15 per cent. rate.

  The Secretary of State fee scales were amended on 14 January 1992 which has the effect of reducing the fee chargeable on amounts over £20 million.

  The total Secretary of State fee collected from all compulsory liquidations in 1992–93 was £4,870,885. Fees are used to defray the costs of the Insolvency Service.

  Pit Closures
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been achieved in implementing the £200 million regeneration package for pit closure areas.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Since October Lord Walker has been working with Government Departments, English Estates, British Coal Enterprise, training and enterprise councils and local bodies to determine how best the package could be used. The framework of regeneration measures announced in October and enhanced in the Government's White Paper "The Prospects for Coal" (Cm 2235) has now been put in place in all areas affected by pit closures.

  This is the start of the process of regeneration. In all areas local bodies are working together to ensure that these measures lead to new employment.

  Measures announced so far for each area are:

  NORTH EAST

  English Estates

  £16 million for the provision of industrial and commercial sites.

  TECs

  An additional £9.887 million budget allocation for TECs in coalfield areas.

  Coalfield Areas Fund

  £250k for regeneration projects in Easington.

  Enterprise Zone

  A proposed Enterprise Zone in the vicinity of Easington.

  Tyne and Wear Development Corporation

  £4 million for the TWDC.

  YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE

  English Estates

  £24 million for the provision of industrial and commercial sites.

  Plans announced:

  Barnsley—192,000 sq ft of additional factory/workshop space and 7.5 acres of land for further industrial schemes.

  Doncaster—110,000 sq ft of factories and workshops.

  Rotherham—30,000 sq ft of factories.

  TECS

  An additional £15.258 million budget allocation for TECS in coalfield areas.

  Coalfield Areas Fund

  Over £275k for regeneration projects.

  Enterprise Zone

  A proposed Enterprise Zone in the vicinity of the Dearne Valley.

  AA Status

  Barnsley, Doncaster to be upgraded to Development Areas in new Assisted Areas map.

  EAST MIDLANDS

  English Estates

  £21 million for the provision of industrial and commercial sites.
  293
  Plans announced:

  The provision of 93,000 sq ft of new factory space.

  TECS

  An additional £16.774 million budget allocation for TECS in coalfield areas.

  Robin Hood Line

  £6.5 million to help extend the Robin Hood Line from Newstead to Mansfield.

  Coalfield Areas Fund

  £1.4 million for regeneration projects in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

  East Midlands Regional Development Organisation

  £250k for the new East Midlands Regional Development Organisation.

  Enterprise Zone

  A proposed Enterprise Zone in the Vicinity of Mansfield.

  AA Status

  Mansfield to become an Assisted Area in new AA map.

  Regional Enterprise Grants

  Regional Enterprise Grants extended to specific wards in coalfield areas.

  WEST MIDLANDS

  English Estates

  £7 million for the provision of industrial and commercial sites.

  Plans announced:

  77,500 sq ft of new factory space and the acquisition of a 26 acre site.

  TECS

  An additional £4.793 million budget allocation for TECS in coalfield areas.

  Coalfield Areas Fund

  £826k for regeneration projects in Stoke.

  Regional Enterprise Grants

  Regional Enterprise Grants extended to specific wards in the Trentham area.

  NORTH WEST

  English Estates

  £4 million for the provision of industrial and commercial sites.

  Plans announced:

  88,000 sq ft of new factory space and acquisition of 10 acres of land.

  TECS

  An additional £2.178 million budget allocation for TECs in coalfield areas announced.

  Coalfield Areas Fund

  £270k for regeneration projects.

  BRITISH COAL ENTERPRISE

  Through the provision of Job Shops and investment in workspace for small businesses, British Coal Enterprise is providing counselling for all miners made redundant and backing young and growing companies across all affected areas.

  Region

  1987–88 to 1989–90

  1990–91 to June 1993

  Number of projects

  Amount of assistance

  Number of jobs

  Number of projects

  Amount of assistance

  Number of jobs

  £ million

  £ million

  East Midlands

  7

  0.7

  100

  20

  2.7

  534

  North East

  49

  3.7

  1,401

  104

  50.3

  5,738

  North West

  29

  2.4

  673

  70

  11.1

  2,358

  South West

  11

  2.9

  395

  9

  2.3

  489

  West Midlands

  3

  0.1

  111

  27

  6.9

  2,636

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  19

  1.7

  371

  32

  11.0

  3,463

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the criteria submitted by his Department to the European Commission in connection with the submission of the assisted areas map to the European Commission on 15 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 23 June 1993]: In order not to prejudice negotiation with the European
  294

  Gas (Exempt Supplies) Act
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to lay an order to bring into force the Gas (Exempt Supplies) Act 1993; and if he will consider streamlining the handling of authorisations for the supply of propane and butane in the interim period.

  Mr. Eggar
  I expect to bring the Act into force by mid-1994. In the meantime when existing authorisations for the supply of propane and butane expire they will be extended by the Director General of Gas Supply. As regards new authorisations, applicants will simply have to demonstrate that they:

  (a) had given the appropriate notice under the Pipelines Act 1962;

  (b) had systems which had been installed/inspected by a company or individual belonging to the LP Gas Association or another properly qualified engineer;

  (c) operated, or planned to operate when supply commenced, either directly or via an agency agreement, an arrangement whereby immediate action to prevent reported gas escapes can be initiated by telephone on a 24 hour basis; and

  (d) had secured, or planned to secure when supply commenced, rights of entry to premises supplied in order to deal with gas escapes or other damages arising from the supply of gas to the premises.

  I am reviewing the Gas (Authorisation Application) Regulations 1986 and will revise them as necessary to reflect the reduced information requirements in support of applications for LPG supply authorisations.

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 9 June,Official Report, column 254, if he will provide a regional breakdown of projects, spending and jobs created for each year.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 21 June 1993]: On re-examination of our computer records we have discovered that the information given in our earlier reply about the number of projects supported was incorrect. The figure should have been 378 and not 651 as previously stated. The amount of grant paid and the number of jobs, were not affected.

  A breakdown of the information given in the earlier reply by region and for each year from 1987–88 is as follows:

  Commission, no information on the proposed assisted areas map will be released until it has been agreed with the Commission.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he had with local authorities in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and

  295
  (d) Scottish district and regional councils prior to the submission of the assisted areas map to the European Commission on 15 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 23 June 1993]: Ministerial colleagues in Scotland, Wales and my own Department and I myself have met a number of delegations from local authorities during the assisted areas map review. As the review is of assisted areas in Great Britain, there have been no discussions with local authorities from Northern Ireland.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Somalia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in establishing police forces in Somalia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  During the first months of 1993, UNOSOM and UNITAF provided assistance for the establishment of auxiliary police forces in various parts of Somalia including Mogadishu, Baidoa, Bardera, Belet Huen and Kismayo. These forces, numbering 5,000 officers, were reconstituted as the Somalia Police Force on 4 May 1993. Local police forces also operate in Hargeisa and Bossaso.

  UNOSOM II is now preparing a plan for the establishment of police, prison and judicial systems throughout Somalia. The Overseas Development Administration's overseas police adviser will visit Somalia in July to determine how best Her Majesty's Government can support the development of police forces in the north-west.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the Government's and EC's programmes approved within the past year geared to the reconstruction of Somali society.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our bilateral emergency relief assistance has supported the reopening of schools, provision of basic health, water and sanitation services, supply of seeds and tools for farmers and help for the reintegration of displaced persons. We continue to explore with relief agencies the potential for further support for rehabilitation activities and have offered funds and technical expertise for project identification missions.

  EC assistance has supported a de-mining programme and the provision of veterinary services and water supplies. A joint EC/member states team plans to visit Somalia next month to identify potential areas for EC rehabilitation assistance to be funded from the special initiative for Africa, agreed at the 25 May Development Council.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made by(a) his Department and (b) the EC of the adequacy of their response to the Somali crisis since the beginning of 1992.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Her Majesty's Government and the European Commission were among the first to respond to the crisis in Somalia with the provision of food and non-food emergency assistance. Since January 1992 British bilateral humanitarian aid commitments have 296
  totalled over £27 million. EC commitments have totalled almost £100 million of which the United Kingdom share is £16.68 million.

  The capacity of all aid agencies to operate effectively continues to be constrained by prevailing security conditions. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development led an EC troika of Development Ministers in September 1992 to assess needs and has seconded an ODA official to the office of the United Nations Secretary-General's special representative to Somalia, Admiral Howe, to help plan the process of recovery and to provide advice on how we might assist. A joint EC/member states team plans to visit next month to assess the future EC aid programme.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates over the last five years(a) the World Health Organisation, (b) the Food and Agricultural Organisation and (c) UNICEF have been operating in Somalia; and what are their current activities.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Until 1991 WHO, FAO and UNICEF operated continuously in Somalia. From 1991 to date their provision of support for relief operations in Somalia has continued, although at various stages international staff have been withdrawn.

  UNICEF activities include the provision of primary health care, food for mothers and children and restoration of water supplies. FAO supports the provision of emergency seeds, veterinary services and the re-equipping of farmers and fishermen. WHO is supporting the establishment of an epidemiological surveillance system, control of communicable diseases and the supply of essential drugs.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the policy of(a) UNITAF and (b) UNOSOM 2 in respect of disarming the warring factions in Somalia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Broadly, UNITAF carried out disarmament when it was considered essential to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. The mandate for UNOSOM II granted by UNSCR 814 emphasised the crucial importance of disarmament and the urgent need to build on the efforts of UNITAF. This process has already begun.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the United Nations about its civil reconstruction activities in Somalia since the UNITAF deployment.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have had frequent contact with the United Nations over the issue of civil reconstruction, must recently during the visit to New York earlier this month by my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development. We have also participated in the several UN-sponsored conferences that covered the issue, including the meeting in Nairobi on 22 June.
  297

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Rail Rover Tickets
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the loss of income to the tourist industry which would result if rail rover tickets were not continued by private rail franchise operators.

  Mr. Sproat
  No such assessment has been made.

  British Rail (Tour Ticketing)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions he has held with representatives of the tourist industry about the impact of the loss of British Rail's present inclusive tour ticketing arrangements if these were not continued by private sector rail franchise operators.

  Mr. Sproat
  I am fully aware of the concerns of representatives of the tourism industry. On Monday 21 June I met the Council for Travel and Tourism, and noted its concerns regarding the continuation of tour ticketing arrangements. I am, however, confident that as these tickets are very popular with passengers the private sector will be keen to retain these products.

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

  Mr. Sproat
  The Department of National Heritage does not currently hold a central list containing the occupation, current employers and remuneration of public appointees and to assemble this information would involve disproportionate cost. Careful consideration is given to the specific skills and experience required for each appointment and to the personal qualities and background of the appointee.

  Royal Palaces
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his reply of 25 May,Official Report, columns 482–83, if he will give a breakdown of (a) the categories of expenditure at each of the occupied royal palaces and (b) the amount spent on utilities, wages and other costs.

  Mr.Sproat
  [holding answer 16 June 1993]: The figures for property service in 1992–93, broken down by palace where this information is kept separately, are as shown. The breakdown also shows expenditure on running costs (not broken down by palace), utilities and fire precautions.
  298

  Breakdown of expenditure at each of the occupied Royal Palaces in 1992–93 in £000s

  £000

  £000

  Running costs (not possible to break down this figure)—including salaries and other administration costs such as auditors

  1.109

  Projects costing £150,000 or more

  Buckingham palace

  1.003

  Windsor castle

  8.586

  St. James's palace and Clarence house

  0.762

  Kensington palace

  0.041

  Other

  0.423

  10.815

  Projects from £25,000 to £150,000

  Buckingham palace

  2.134

  Windsor castle

  0.341

  St. James's palace and Clarence house

  0.466

  Kensington palace

  0.472

  Other

  0.771

  4.184

  Jobs costing less than £2,500

  In-house labour (not broken down)

  0.438

  Contract labour

  Buckingham palace

  0.603

  Windsor castle

  0.188

  St. James's palace and Clarence house

  0.177

  Kensington palace

  0.096

  Other

  0.158

  1.660

  Other

  0.470

  Recoveries

  -0.719

  Total maintenance

  16.410

  Furniture and equipment

  Buckingham palace

  0.066

  Windsor castle

  0.070

  St. James's palace and Clarence house

  0.121

  Kensington palace

  0.001

  Other1

  0.339

  Recoveries

  -0.020

  0.577

  Utilities

  Buckingham palace

  0.889

  Windsor castle

  0.428

  St. James's palace and Clarence house

  0.180

  Kensington palace

  0.035

  In-house water—Windsor

  0.033

  In-house water—other

  0.023

  Other

  0.198

  Recoveries

  -0.131

  1.655

  Other operational expenditure

  Fire service

  London—wages

  0.096

  London—other

  0.164

  Windsor—wages

  0.128

  Windsor—other

  0.021

  Fire officers inspection

  0.008

  0.417

  Functions, royal gardens, custody guard services, etc.

  2.135

  Interest

  -0.308

  Windsor castle salvage

  1.164

  299

  £000

  £000

  23.159

  1 Includes a figure of £23,000 paid from moneys left from an earlier year. Actual grant-in-aid provision for 1992–93 is £23,136.

HEALTH

  NHS Budget
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the budget for the national health service in London in each year from 1991–92 to 1994–95 as a percentage of the total NHS budget.

  Mr. Sackville
  There are no budgets for most elements of family health services expenditure, which is primarily demanded and funded accordingly. Final cash limits (budgets) for district health authorities are set by regional health authorities and are not available centrally.

  Isobutyl Nitrite
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will investigate the extent of abuse of isobutyl nitrite among school children; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department funds the St. George's hospital medical school to produce annual reports on trends in deaths from volatile substance abuse, which includes deaths associated with abuse of alkyl nitrites. Copies of the latest report will be placed in the Library.

  Social Work Training
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future of social work training.

  Mr. Bowis
  On 21 June my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the appointment of a new chairman of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW), the body responsible for the promotion and regulation of social work training. At the same time, we published the Government response to a recent policy and financial management review of CCETSW, which emphasised that the main task of the central council must be to ensure that social services training of vocational, professional and post-qualifying levels properly equips staff to meet the needs of the 1990s. Copies of the report of the review and the Government's response will be placed in the Library.

  NHS Meetings (Public Admission)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances an NHS authority or trust can exclude members of the public from its meetings; what procedure has to be followed to provide for such exclusion and for publicising decisions affecting the public made at closed meetings; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The national health service should be as open as possible to patients and others who rely upon its services. The meetings of NHS authorities are governed by the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.300
  The meetings of NHS trusts are governed by the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. All decisions on the level and and manner of providing health services should be made public, and decisions about significant changes are subject to formal consultation procedures.

  Post-operative Care
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to introduce charges for post-operative care in the NHS; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Liverpool Women's Hospital
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the reorganisation of the women's hospital in Liverpool.

  Mr. Sackville
  Liverpool health authority approved proposals for the provision of a new women's hospital in 1991, following a positive response to public consultation. Construction of the new women's hospital is well under way and it will be operational in spring 1995. The hon. Member may wish to contact Ms J. Greensmith, chairman of Liverpool Obstetric and Gynaecology Services National Health Service Trust, for more details.

  Matrons
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will now urgently reintroduce into all national health service hospitals, the title and traditional job specification of matron in order to improve the quality of nursing supervision.

  Mr. Sackville
  There remains a key professional leadership role for a senior nurse in all national health service hospitals. The exact titles and job specifications of senior nurses are best decided locally. The title "matron" may be used if this is felt to be appropriate by local managers.

  Every national health service trust is required to have a senior nurse as an executive director.

  UKCC for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visitors
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations she has received in the last five years from(a) nurses and (b) patients concerned with decisions made by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visitors professional conduct committee.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 15 June 1993]: Two from patients' relatives since September 1991. Records prior to that date are not comprehensive.

SCOTLAND

  Caledonian MacBrayne
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the contributions made from EC funds to the development of termini serving the Caledonian MacBrayne network in each of the past 10 years, stating existing ownership in each case.
  301
  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 23 June 1993]: The information is not readily available in the format requested. The total contribution made from EC funds to

  Piers/Linkspans

  Year of award

  EC allocation

  Total EC grant paid

  £

  £

  Tobermory pier

  1985

  110,000

  110,000

  Gourock pier

  1985

  175,000

  158,351

  Rothesay pier

  1985

  37,000

  33,306

  Lochaline slipway

  1987

  43,000

  43,000

  Lochboisdale quay wall

  1989

  200,000

  200,000

  Oban pier construction

  1985

  750,000

  750,000

  Wemyss Bay pier

  1988

  945,000

  943,548

  Tarbert, Harris linkspan

  1984

  750,000

  676,772

  Colonsay linkspan

  1988

  805,500

  802,250

  Castlebay linkspan

  1989

  950,000

  917,037

  Kennacraig linkspan

  1989

  150,000

  146,435

  Coll and Tiree linkspan

  1991

  2,331,931

  2,331,931

  Mallaig linkspan

  1993

  800,000

  —

  Fionnphort berthing facility

  1993

  40,000

  —

  Brodick passenger terminal building

  1993

  120,000

  —

  Brodick berthing facility

  1993

  120,000

  36,488

  Kennacraig berthing facility

  1993

  120,000

  —

  Note: All these facilities are owned by Caledonian MacBrayne.

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

  Miss Widdecombe
  In view of the number of appointments made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for employment how many applications have been made since 1979 to industrial tribunals for interim relief; how many applications were successful; and how many were rejected.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 23 June 1993]: I regret that figures for the years 1979 to 1991 are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The provisional figures for the period 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 are as follows:

  Number

  Registered applications

  94

  Successful cases

  2

  Rejected cases

  32

  Settled withdrawn

  24

  Carried forward changed jurisdiction

  36

  302
  the development of termini serving the Caledonian MacBrayne network during the past 10 years is given in the following table:

PRIME MINISTER

  Political Parties (Funding)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation to require political parties that have received moneys from a source that has been shown to be criminal to return such funds to the appropriate body.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 21 June 1993 ]: I have no plans to do so.

EMPLOYMENT

  Vocational Training Schemes
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps should be taken by individuals wishing to claim unemployment benefit while undertaking a nationally recognised vocational training scheme following the announcement in the Budget statement of 16 March.

  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 Mr. M. Fogden to Mr. Tim Devlin, dated 25 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 what steps should be taken by individuals wishing to claim unemployment benefit whilse undertaking a nationally recognised vocational training scheme following the announcement in the Budget statement of 16th March. This is something that falls within the responsibilities he has delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  For Training for Work (TFW) participants, allowances are paid at the benefit level previously in payment but with an addition of £10 Premium. In cases where there is no entitlement to benefit or benefit has ceased, the £10 Premium only is payable. Information on joining TFW is available from all Employment Service local offices.
  303
  For clients on Learning For Work (LfW), the situation will be slightly different with allowances at the benefit level previously in payment but with no Premium being payable. Where there is no entitlement to benefit or benefit has ceased, no allowance will be payable. The programme will be starting on 1 September 1993 in England and Wales and on 16 August 1993 in Scotland. Information on joining LfW will be available from Employment Service local offices.

  Unemployment benefit offers support whilst a person is unemployed and seeking work; it is not intended as support for courses of vocational training or study. In order to receive unemployment benefit, people undertaking any type of training must remain available for and be actively seeking work, and be willing to rearrange their study, if necessary to evenings and weekends, to enable them to take up an opportunity of employment. Should this not be possible they would have to abandon the course in favour of employment. They must also continue to take reasonable steps to seek work. Participating in a course of vocational training may be regarded as one reasonable step but they would also be expected to take additional steps.

  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.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Environmental Policy
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy on the purchase and use of(a) recycled paper, (b) low-energy light bulbs, (c) tropical hardwoods, (d) peat and (e) cars with catalytic converters.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Within the overall objective of obtaining value for money, the policy of both diplomatic and aid wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the purchase of the items listed is:

  (a) to purchase recycled paper wherever cost-effective and where it meets operational requirements;

  (b) to replace standard light bulbs with high-efficiency, low-energy alternatives throughout all office accommodation and to ensure that all new and refurbished buildings are provided with such lighting;

  (c) to ensure that, as far as possible, all timber purchased is from sustainable sources, particularly in relation to teak and mahogany. No rosewood is used;

  (d) no peat or peat-based products are purchased. Advice for missions overseas is that loam-based composts should be used for containered plants;

  (e) to provide overseas posts and aid projects with petrol engined vehicles fitted with catalytic converters wherever unleaded fuel is readily available. The small UK fleet is exclusively diesel-engined.

  Royal Family
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 7 June,Official Report, columns 82–83, what was the cost to the Department of each of the overseas visits by members of the royal family other than the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh during the financial year 1992–93.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave on 24 June at col.239.
  304

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which officials of his Department attended the meeting on THORP, held at 1 Parliament street, London on 15 June.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None.

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

  Mr. Goodlad
  The information requested is as follows:

  Public Appointments

    CHANGES IN SALARY OR ALLOWANCES SINCE PUBLICATION OF PUBLIC BODIES 1992
    PUBLIC BODY OR NAME
    Britain-Russia Centre

    Sir Curtis Keeble

    Mr. Peter Temple-Morris, MP

    Sir Russell Johnston, MP

    Rt. hon. John Smith QC, MP

    British Association for Central and Eastern Europe

    Rt. hon. Paul Channon

    Professor George Cushing

    Mr. Giles Radice, MP

    Mr. Alex Carlisle, QC, MP

    British Council

    Sir Martin Jacomb—£9,500

    Lord Chorley

    Rt. hon. T. Renton, MP

    Mr. George Robertson, MP

    Commonwealth Institute

    Mr. R. A. Fyjis-Walker

    Mr. D. A. Thompson

    Mr. C. Shepherd

    Mr. G. Oakes

    Hon. David Douglas-Home

    Sir Victor Garland

    Miss Diana Warwick

    Mr. J. S. Maclure

    Sir Mark Russell

    Mr. Cy Grant

    Dr. Ann Robinson

    Baroness Flather

    Sir Michael Caine

    Great Britain-China Centre

    Mr. Graham Greene

    Mr. Gerard Mansell

    Sir John Swire

    Lady Youde

    Marshall and Commemoration Commission

    Sir D. Tebbit

    Sir James Ball

    Sir Roger Bannister

    Professor Christine Bolt

    Sir Arthur Bryan

    Professor Lord Desai

    Professor H. T. Dickinson

    Dr. K. J. R. Edwards

    Ms. Sue McGregor

    Westminster Foundation for Democracy

    Sir James Spicer, MP

    Mr. George Robertson, MP

    Sir Russell Johnston, MP

    Mr. Tony Clarke

    Mrs. Margaret Ewing, MP

    Professor Peter Frank

    Mr. Timothy Garton Ash

    Lady Howe, JP

    Mr. Gavin Laird

    Mr. Ralph Land

    Mr. Patrick Nicholls, MP

    Mr. Michael Pinto-Duschinsky

    Mr. Ian Taylor, MP

    Ms Carole Tongue, MEP

    Commonwealth Development Corporation

    Sir Peter E. Leslie—£25,7301

    Sir Michael Caine—£8,856

    Mrs. A. E. Wright, JP—£4,821

    Professor M. L. O. Faber—£4,821

    Mr. M. McWilliam—£4,821

    Mr. E. B. Waide—£4,821

    Professor I. D. Carruthers—£4,821

    Mr. J. B. Zochonis—£4,821

    1 This appointment, which was for one day a week at the time of the publication of Public Bodies 1992, is now for two days a week.
    Commonwealth Scholarship Commission

    Sir Michael Caine

    Dr. A. Sloman

    Professor R. A. Howie

    Professor B. Clayton

    Professor J. G. G. Ledingham

    Mrs. D. L. Wedderburn

    Professor S. Marks

    Professor Gillian Beer

    Dr. C. Booth

    Dr. R. O. Iredale

    Dr. P. Parsloe

    Professor A. Little

    Professor D. Jennings

    Mr. R. Francis

    Professor A. Diplock

    Crown Agents1

    Mr. D. H. Probert

    Dr. A. I. Lenton

    Mr. P. F. Berry

    Mrs. D. Miller JP

    Miss K. Mortimer

    Mr. A. K. Stewart-Roberts

    Mr. F. Cassell CB

    Mr. J. D. Andrewes

    Mr. F. I. Sumner

    1 When members are appointed to this board they are also appointed to the Crown Agents Holding and Realisation Board.
    Diplomatic Service Appeals Board

    Sir Derek Day

    Mrs. Juliet Campbell

    Mr. Frank Trew

    Sir David Calcutt QC

    Sir Mark Russell

    Mr. Rodney Bedford

    Miss Sally Bull

    Mrs. Jacqueline Dyson

    Government Hospitality Fund Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine

    Sir Ewen Fergusson

    Major John Surtees

    Mr. Anthony Hanson

    Mr. Mark Savage

    Mr. Sebastian Payne

    Wilton Park Academic Council

    Mrs. Liliana Archibald

    Mr. Anthony Bruce

    Sir Julian Bullard

    306

    Mrs. Juliet Campbell

    Miss Brenda Dean

    Mr. John Drew

    Mr. Bruce George MP

    Mr. John Hanson

    Mr. Nicholas Harvey MP

    Mr. Michael Kaser

    Mr. John Lyons

    Dr. Connie Martin

    Dr. Janet Morgan

    Mr. Edward Mortimer

    Mr. John Scates

    Professor Jack Spence

    Mr. Peter Temple-Morris MP

    Professor Helen Wallace

    Mrs. Ruth Watts Davies

    Miss Valerie Le Moignan

    ODA Advisory Committee on Economic and Social Research Overseas

    Mr. J. B. Wilmshurst

    Mr. A. Williams

    Dr. S. Conlin

    Dr. R. Thomas

    Ms C. Coppard

    Mr. A. Hall

    Professor the Reverend Roland Moss

    Dr. C. O. N. Moser

    Professor A. W. Rew

    Dr. F. Stewart

    Professor J. F. J. Toye

    Dr. H. Afshar

    Professor P. Blaikie

    Professor K. Davey

    Ms D. Elson

    Dr. J. Heyer

    Professor N. Stern

    Indian Family Pension Funds Body of Commissioners

    Mr. D. S. Fish

    Major General D. L. T. Horsford

    Major R. J. Henderson

    Lt Col P. Kemmis-Betty

    Major R. Mottram

    Mr. R. V. Fenton

    Mr. J. M. Phelps

    Mr. J. P. C. Coventry

    Mr. G. E. D. Walker

    Mrs. P. Lamarque

    Mrs. H. Ramsay-Brown

    Overseas Service Pensions Scheme Advisory Board

    Mr. J. V. Kerby

    Mr. D. S. Fish

    Mr. C. D. Stenton

    Miss D. R. Phillips

    Mr. D. H. Loades

    Appointments are made on the basis of the skills and experience that the individual will bring to the post, with due regard to equality of opportunity and, where appropriate, statutory requirements.
    Information on the current occupations and employers of all holders of public appointments is not held centrally.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what electrical services undertaken by the Public Works and Services Department of St. Helena have been privatised.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 18 June 1993]: From 1 June 1993, the provision and maintenance of electrical installations in private properties has been undertaken by the private sector.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present scale of
  307
  fees and charges payable for medical attention by citizens of St. Helena; and what were the comparable figures in real terms 10 and 20 years ago.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 18 June 1993]: The table gives the fees arid charges payable by citizens of St. Helena in respect of medical attention, in-patient and

  Attention/Treatment

  1993

  1983

  1977

  £

  £

  £

  1. Consultation by appointment

  3.00

  2.00

  1.00

  2. Home visits

  3.00

  2.00

  0.50

  3. Hospital charges

  (a) General ward1

  3.00

  1.00

  1.00

  (b) Single ward2 3(all charges per day)

  7.50

  5.00

  3.00

  4. Operation fees inclusive of Assistant and anaesthetists fees

  2.00–100

  0.75–50

  0.75–50

  5. Maternity fees4

  7.50

  5.00

  2.00

  6. Prescriptions (per item)

  0.40

  0.30

  0.20

  7. Miscellaneous x-rays (per plate)

  2.00

  1.00–5.00

  1.00–5.00

  Laboratory investigations

  1.00–7.50

  0.25–5.00

  0.25–1.00

  8. Use of ambulance (charged per mile; discretionary charge only—waived in emergency cases

  0.35

  —

  —

  9. Medical examination

  5.00

  —

  —

  10. Vaccination

  1.50

  —

  —

  Free treatment for children up to 15 years of age and to all persons in receipt of social services payments and to proven cases of hardship

  same

  same

  Free ante-natal and post-natal care for islanders

  same

  same

  A medical officer may reduce fees at his discretion for treatment of diabetes and any similar chronic illnesses or conditions

  same

  same

  No charge will be made for family planning services

  same

  same

  Dental charges

  1. Dentures

  10.00

  2.50–7.50

  —

  2. Extractions (each)

  1.00

  free

  —

  3. Prescriptions

  0.40

  —

  —

  Notes:

  1 Includes all other fees except operation fees. Maternity is charged under item 5 and not under this item.

  2 Includes all other fees except operation and maternity fees.

  3When a patient is accommodated in a single ward at the discretion of a medical officer, this fee may be reduced to the level of the general ward fee.

  4 Single ward charge additional (if applicable).

DEFENCE

  Aldermaston
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all toxic chemicals discharged into the environment or disposed of off-site by the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston.

  Mr. Aitken
  To identify and list individually the wide and varied range of over 1,000 toxic chemicals used by the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston, those which may ultimately be discharged into the environment, or disposed of off-site, would involve disproportionate cost. Nevertheless, in all cases where toxic materials are discharged or disposed of, the statutory requirements and the need for authorisations, consents or licences are observed.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on decommissioning and radioactive waste management at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston; how that policy has changed since the unpublished 1990 memorandum by the Comptroller and Auditor General on "Ministry of Defence: Nuclear Research and Support Services", paragraphs 4.17 to 4.28; and what further policy changes he plans to make.
  308
  out-patient treatment, etc. for the years 1993, 1983, and 1977. 1973 fees were set in 1967 and were given in old currency.

  This information has been provided by the St. Helena Government, who are unable to give comparable figures in real terms over the period.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department's policies on decommissioning, and radioactive waste management at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston, are in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Authority guidelines, and have not changed since the unpublished 1990 memorandum by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Ministry of Defence nuclear research and support services. However, the programmes of work for decommissioning and radioactive waste management have since been revised, and will continue to be revised on an annual basis.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 25 June 1992,Official Report, column 299, how much of the 1,800 cu m of low-level waste stored at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston at December 1991 is estimated to be plutonium-contaminated material.

  Mr. Aitken
  Approximately 90 per cent. of low-level radioactive waste is plutonium contaminated.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) of 19 November 1992,Official Report, column 294, what was the average annual increase in the volume of intermediate-level waste stored at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston, as at December for 1983 to 1992.
  309
  Mr. Aitken
  The information requested may be calculated from my earlier answer by dividing the difference in intermediate-level waste holdings for the two years by nine.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role and powers of the Health and Safety Executive concerning the company Hunting BRAE, while it is managing the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

  Mr. Aitken
  The role and powers of the Health and Safety Executive in respect of the management of the atomic weapons establishment have not changed since my answer of 4 March 1993,Official Report, column 227.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account he has taken of the current estimated date of readiness of the Nirex national repository for radioactive waste in his policy on managing radioactive waste management at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston.

  Mr. Aitken
  The latest available readiness date of the repository is taken into consideration by AWE Aldermaston in formulating its radioactive waste management policy and strategy.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 January,Official Report, column 303, how much plutonium-contaminated liquid waste is stored in closed steel tanks located in bitumen-lined pits at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston; and what is its total activity.

  Mr. Aitken
  The amount of plutonium contaminated liquid waste stored in closed steel tanks at AWE Aldermaston is some 720 cubic metres. Its total activity is 925 Gigabecquerels (alpha), and 2.38 Terabecquerels (beta).

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 25 June 1992,Official Report, column 299, what is the expected average annual change in the volume of intermediate-level waste to be stored at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston, over the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The average rate of increase of intermediate level waste arising at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston, over the next 10 years will be approximately 240 cubic metres per annum.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all toxic chemicals in use by the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston.

  Mr. Aitken
  As with all major industrial sites AWE Aldermaston uses a wide and varied range of materials, exceeding 1,000 in total, which have toxic properties; it would therefore, be impractical to list them all without incurring disproportionate cost and effort.

  Nuclear Waste Storage
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 13 May,Official Report, column 569, which branches of his Department currently make use of the storage and disposal facilities available at Harwell and Dounreay.
  310
  Mr. Aitken
  The atomic weapons establishment and the naval reactor test establishment.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 13 May,Official Report, column 571, if he will list the research programmes currently in hand; who is conducting each research programme; by what date he expects each research programme to be completed; what is the cost of each research programme: and if he will place copies of the report of each research programme in the Library.

  Mr. Aitken
  Research is being directed towards methods of destroying organic materials such as ion exchange resin which are associated with the decontamination of the reactor plant of nuclear-propelled submarines. This work is being carried out under the contract by AEA Technology at Harwell and Rolls-Royce and Associates at Derby. The atomic weapons establishment is pursuing a number of in-house initiatives towards minimising the volumes of wastes by improved segregation at source and improved monitoring. These are ongoing research programmes with no fixed end date. Details of costs and the reports of the programmes cannot be released for reasons of security and commercial confidentiality.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account he has taken of the observations made in the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee's 13 annual report, paragraph 3.14; and if he will formally invite the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee to carry out a review of his Department's standards for radioactive waste management.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department welcomes the reviews carried out previously by RWMAC and we have been in discussion with RWMAC in relation to a review to be carried out in 1994. My officials are already preparing a letter of invitation.

  Equipment (Repairs)
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the systems to ensure that design and manufacturing faults discovered in military equipment while in service are notified to the manufacturers and that due account is taken of them before further equipment of the same type is supplied to Her Majesty's forces.

  Mr. Aitken
  The three armed services each operate systems for the reporting of defects in equipment and for the rectification of any faults. The continuing efficiency of these systems is currently under review. Where appropriate, action is taken with the supplier to remedy, at his expense, the reliability of equipment that in the light of in-service experience does not meet the contractual requirement. It has been, and continues to be, my Department's policy and practice to take any unsatisfactory performance by a contractor into account when making a decision regarding repeat orders or the placement of new contracts.

  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are taken to ensure that sufficient account is taken in the equipment procurement process of the advice
  311
  of warrant officers and non-commissioned officers whose duty it will be to repair and maintain the equipment once in service.

  Mr. Aitken
  Representatives of the services' in-service support organisations play key roles both in project and integrated logistic support management, and especially in the specification, review and validation of maintenance proposals.

  Joint Forces Headquarters
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the operating costs of the joint Forces Headquarters for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Hanley
  A joint force headquarters (JFHQ) is constituted only during a crisis to provide an in-theatre headquarters for major United Kingdom deployments. There is no peacetime requirement for such a headquarters although there is a small number of staff who have been identified to form an initial core of any potential JFHQ and who are tasked in peacetime with planning and exercises. The cost of these staff is not separately identifiable and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  The only occasion a JFHQ was required in the last 10 years was when a JFHQ was created in October 1990, based in Riyadh, for in-theatre planning, preparation and execution of Operation Granby. It was stood down on completion of the operation. The operating costs of the headquarters were not identified separately and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Military Exercises
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list separately the joint military exercises carried out over the last five years by the United Kingdom with non-North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries overseas.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Over the past three years, however, United Kingdom forces have exercised overseas with forces from: Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Curacao, Egypt, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Martinique, New Zealand, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand and Trinidad. In addition, the Navy carries out a number of short ad hoc exercises with friendly navies on an opportunity basis.

  Science and Technology
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the science and technology in his Department will be affected by the White Paper on science engineering and technology; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The recent White Paper "Realising Our Potential—A Strategy for Science, Engineering and Technology" makes clear that my Department is making increased efforts to ensure that the technologies its research generates are more widely available for civil use; to exploit the commercial potential of its research; and to encourage collaboration with the civil sector wherever possible so as to enhance the contribution to the economy as a whole.
  312

  Llanishen AWE
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria were used in the selection of the consortium chosen to run the Llanishen atomic weapons establishment.

  Mr. Aitken
  Tenders for the contract to operate the atomic weapons establishment (which includes the site at Llanishen, Cardiff) were evaluated against a range of stringent criteria for operating the establishment. These included health and safety factors, which were particularly important in judging the competition.

  Lung Diseases (Naval Service)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has for the number of(a) men and (b) women, suffering from lung diseases contracted during, and as a result of, service in the Royal Navy in the period 1939 to 1945.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department has no statistical evidence upon which a meaningful estimate of ex-service personnel suffering from general lung conditions contracted during, and as a result of, service in the second world war could be based.

  Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Regiment
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) part-time and (b) full-time members there were in the Ulster Defence Regiment in 1988; and how many (i) part-time and (ii) full-time members there are in the Royal Irish Regiment currently serving in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  As at 1 June 1988 there were 3,440 part-time and 2,830 full-time members in the Ulster Defence Regiment; as at 1 June 1993, there were 2,671 part-time and 2,894 full-time members of the home service element of the Royal Irish Regiment.

  Trooping of the Colour
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many, by category, of the commissioned, warrant and non-commissioned officers, and other ranks marching on Horseguards parade during Trooping of the Colour were from the(a) African, (b) Afro-Caribbean and (c) Indian or other non-white communities; what proportion in each case they represented of the total number of troops taking part; what steps are being taken to ensure that the recruitment of officers and other ranks to these regiments becomes representative of the ethnic structure of the population generally; and what targets there are to set the regiments concerned towards achieving this.

  Mr. Hanley
  No records are currently held of the ethnic origins of any Army personnel. We are, however, planning to introduce in-service ethnic monitoring which will provide a breakdown of the ethnic origins of serving personnel of all ranks. A number of measures are in place to encourage the recruitment of ethnic minorities into the Army. Targets for recruitment from ethnic minority communities are set for the Army as a whole, not for individual regiments and corps, and for 1993–94 the target is set at 1.5 per cent., as it is for the other two services.
  313

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

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to "Public Bodies" and "Public Appointments: A Handbook for Women's Organisations", both of which are in the Library of the House and which show available details for each Ministry of Defence public body. Appointments are made on the basis of an individual's aptitude and merit.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing for each council area or for each travel-to-work area in Northern Ireland the number of(a) males and (b) females in employment; and what were the figures five years, 10 years, 15 years and 20 years ago or as much of such information as is available.

  Mr. Atkins
  Information on the total number of employees in employment (excluding agriculture) by travel-to-work area is available from censuses of employment held in 1978, 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1991 and is set out in the table. Information prior to 1978 is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  NI employees in employment (excluding agriculture) by travel-to-work area

  Travel-to-work area

  Males

  Females

  Total

  1978

  Armagh

  5,383

  5,242

  10,625

  Ballymena

  23,265

  17,790

  41,055

  Belfast

  158,955

  118,362

  277,3176

  Coleraine

  12,100

  9,423

  21,523

  Cookstown

  2,808

  1,813

  4,621

  Craigavon

  20,244

  16,632

  36,876

  Downpatrick

  7,651

  6,979

  14,630

  Dungannon

  4,994

  3,315

  8,309

  Enniskillen

  7,527

  5,383

  12,910

  Londonderry

  19,450

  14,955

  34,405

  Newry

  8,183

  6,071

  14,254

  Omagh

  6,208

  4,515

  10,723

  Strabane

  3,330

  3,063

  6,393

  Total

  280,098

  213,543

  493,641

  Trave-to-work area

  Males

  Females

  Total

  1981

  Balleymena

  10,879

  9,181

  20,060

  Belfast

  167,436

  133,313

  300,749

  Coleraine

  11,365

  9,973

  21,338

  Cookstown

  3,049

  1,959

  5,008

  Craigavon

  23,334

  22,301

  45,635

  Dungannon

  5,429

  4,073

  9,502

  Fermanagh

  6,709

  5,292

  12,001

  Londonderry

  17,234

  15,560

  32,794

  Magherafelt

  3,335

  3,783

  7,118

  314

  Trave-to-work area

  Males

  Females

  Total

  Newry

  8,713

  7,749

  16,462

  Omagh

  6,332

  5,523

  11,655

  Strabane

  3,071

  3,117

  6,118

  Total

  266,886

  221,624

  488,510

  Travel-to-work area

  Males

  Females

  Total

  1984

  Ballymena

  10,732

  10,162

  20,894

  Belfast

  154,805

  132,119

  286,924

  Coleraine

  11,962

  11,658

  23,620

  Cookstown

  3,097

  2,158

  5,255

  Craigavon

  23,932

  24,039

  47,971

  Dungannon

  5,666

  4,320

  9,986

  Fermanagh

  6,685

  5,575

  12,260

  Londonderry

  16,624

  15,597

  32,581

  Magherafelt

  3,397

  3,213

  6,610

  Newry

  8,958

  7,856

  16,814

  Omagh

  6,367

  5,456

  11,823

  Strabane

  3,315

  3,317

  6,632

  Total

  255,540

  225,830

  481,370

  Travel-to-work area

  Males

  Females

  Total

  1987

  Ballymena

  9,798

  9,357

  19,155

  Belfast

  153,171

  136,875

  290,046

  Coleraine

  11,387

  11,946

  23,333

  Cookstown

  3,095

  2,524

  5,619

  Craigavon

  23,430

  23,688

  47,118

  Dungannon

  5,707

  5,298

  11,005

  Fermanagh

  6,288

  6,129

  12,417

  Londonderry

  16,556

  17,488

  34,044

  Magherafelt

  4,121

  4,445

  8,566

  Newry

  9,123

  9,274

  18,397

  Omagh

  6,263

  5,827

  12,090

  Strabane

  3,360

  3,512

  6,872

  Total

  252,299

  236,363

  488,662

  Travel-to-work area

  Males

  Females

  Total

  1991

  Ballymena

  10,239

  11,023

  21,262

  Belfast

  156,301

  150,166

  306,467

  Coleraine

  12,318

  13,344

  25,662

  Cookstown

  3,331

  2,960

  6,291

  Craigavon

  24,629

  25,701

  50,330

  Dungannon

  6,323

  5,916

  12,239

  Fermanagh

  6,728

  6,995

  13,723

  Londonderry

  18,045

  19,178

  37,223

  Magherafelt

  4,830

  5,434

  10,264

  Newry

  9,967

  10,360

  20,327

  Omagh

  6,331

  6,509

  12,840

  Strabane

  3,620

  3,884

  7,504

  Total

  262,662

  261,470

  524,132

  1. Figures relate to employees in employment and exclude agriculture. Figures for 1978 also exclude forestry and fishing (1,823) which cannot readily be allocated to travel-to-work area.

  2. Travel-to-work areas were changed for 1981 in the light of more up to date information on travel-to-work patterns obtained from the1981 census of population.

  Source: Northern Ireland Census of Employment.
  315

  Housing Executive Grants
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive replacement grant scheme in each year since it was introduced; how many applications were received and how many were approved in each year since the scheme was introduced; and how many grants have been paid in respect of those approvals in each year.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the chief executive has advised me that, because it would have limited value in the initial stages of the grant application process, an analysis by grant type is not maintained. However, he confirmed that 24 formal applications were approved in respect of replacement grant in the year 1992–93, the first year, following the introduction of the scheme in mid-1991, in which such applications were eligible. Between 1 April and 22 June 1993 a further five applications were approved. While to date no grants have been paid because none of the proposals have been processed to a payment stage, the estimated cost of this commitment amounts to some £373,000.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive improvement grant scheme in each of the last five years; how many applications for the scheme were received; and how many were approved in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the chief executive had advised me that, because it would have limited value in the initial stages of the grant application process, an analysis by grant type is not maintained. However, he confirmed that the number of formal applications for improvement grants approved and the relevant costs in each of the years in question was:

  Approved

  Cost £ million

  1988–89

  3,260

  27.3

  1989–90

  2,801

  22.6

  1990–91

  2,864

  21.3

  1991–92

  2,762

  22.3

  1992–93

  5,569

  21.3

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive repair grant scheme in each of the last five years; how many applications for the scheme were received; and how many were approved in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive but the chief executive has advised me that, because it would have limited value in the initial stages of the grant application process, an analysis by grant type is not maintained. However, he confirmed that the number of formal applications for repair grants approved and the relevant costs in each of the years in question was:

  Approved

  Cost £ million

  1988–89

  6,975

  12.2

  1989–90

  6,492

  10.7

  1990–91

  5,039

  9.4

  316

  Approved

  Cost £ million

  1991–92

  3,637

  7.2

  1992–93

  4,410

  8.3

  Limavady Bypass
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the construction work on the Limavady bypass to begin.

  Mr. Atkins
  The construction of the first stage of Limavady bypass is expected to start in 1997–98, subject to the availability of finance.

  Traffic, Limavady
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the volume of traffic now using Linenhall street, Limavady over each 24-hour period in each day of the week; what are the maximum and minimum hourly rates; what is his estimate of the hourly maximum capacity of the street; and what forecast he has made of when this figure will be reached.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information is not available in the form requested. In the last survey undertaken, the maximum hourly rate of traffic using Linenhall street, Limavady, was found to be approximately 950 vehicles. The estimated hourly capacity of this street is 1,500 vehicles, a figure which may be reached in the period 1998 to 2004, depending on the continuing rate of traffic growth.

  Community Psychiatric Nurses
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many community psychiatric nurses are employed by each health and social services board; what are the minimum qualifications for community psychiatric nurses employed by health and social services board; and what relevant qualifications are required for social workers approved for the purposes of article 5 of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.

  Mr. Ancram
  The number of community psychiatric nurses employed by each health and social services board at 31 December 1992 was as follows:

  Number

  Whole-time equivalents

  Eastern

  107

  104.03

  Northern

  20

  20.00

  Southern

  39

  39.00

  Western

  28

  28.00

  The minimum qualifications for community psychiatric nurses employed by health and social services boards are registered mental nurse (RMN) with community psychiatric nursing (CPN) diploma or certificate.

  The relevant qualifications required for social workers approved for the purposes of article 5 of the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986 are the certificate of qualification in social work (CQSW), the certificate in social services (CSS) or the diploma in social work (DSW). In addition to be approved under the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986 a

  317
  social worker undergoes a training course approved by the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work and, if successful, is assessed as competent to practice. The appropriate health and social services board then issues a letter stating that the person is qualified to operate under the order.

  Community Regeneration
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the criteria for aid under the CRISP—community regeneration initiative special projects—programme with a list of the towns and villages and other locations where CRISP schemes have been(a) approved and (b) completed; and how much public money has been committed to each such scheme, with an indication of the nature of the scheme.

  Mr. Atkins
  The criteria for aid under the International Fund for Ireland's community regeneration and improvement special programme (CRISP) programme which is jointly funded by DOE(NI) and IFI are as follows:

  1. A CRISP application must be for a town or village with a population less than approximately 10,000 in an area which has been designated as disadvantaged by the International Fund for Ireland.

  Approved community regeneration and improvement special programme (CRISP) projects

  Total committed

  Total DOE

  Total IFI

  Location

  Project

  £ million

  £

  £

  Coalisland

  1. Weaving factory—Workspace units and industrial museum

  2.700

  1,000,000

  1,700,000

  2. Fireclay works—Industrial and commercial area

  3. Cornmill—Heritage centre, library. UDP and EI

  Castlederg

  Castle amenity scheme. EI and UDP

  1.180

  466,750

  716,750

  Carrickmore

  Milestone centre—Workspace, office facilities, library and conference facilities. EI and UDP

  2.030

  860,000

  1,170,000

  Belleek

  1. Gateway Centre—visitor and community business centre

  1.776

  635,500

  1,140,500

  2. Ceramics and craft institute. EI and UDP

  Keady

  Refurbishment of old mill—Retail units, heritage centre, office accommodation. ET and UDP

  1.500

  500,000

  1,000,000

  Dromore

  Creation of five small workspace units. EI and UDP

  0.668

  223,000

  445,000

  Belcoo

  EI and UDP

  0.314

  127,000

  187,000

  Newtownhamilton

  EI and UDP

  0.600

  125,000

  475,000

  Pettigo/Tullyhommon

  EI and UDP

  0.190

  50,000

  140,900

  Draperstown

  Plantation centre—Tourism and heritage. EI and UDP

  1.100

  345,500

  747,500

  Garrison

  Gillaroo centre—Heritage centre, shops and restaurant. Ei, UDP and project worker

  1.051

  479,605

  571,605

  Downpatrick

  1. Ballymote community project—Retail and service centre

  1.500

  750,000

  750,000

  2. Refurbishment at Irish street—Office/retail units

  Derrygonnelly

  Refurbish derelict creamery to provide workshops and offices. EI, UDP and project worker

  0.880

  389,000

  491,000

  Portaferry

  Workspace units at Brewery yard, hostel accommodation at Bar Holm. Landing and mooring facilities. EI and UDP

  2.060

  552,425

  1,510,425

  Cullyhanna

  Heritage centre, workspace, retail units, tourist accommodation

  0.575

  237,500

  337,500

  Hilltown

  Refurbishment of Downshire Arms to provide accommodation and restaurant. EI and UDP

  1.000

  446,500

  551,500

  Plumbridge

  Refurbishment of derelict building to provide workspace, retail units. El and UDP

  0.345

  132,500

  212,500

  318
  2. The CRISP application should be from a soundly-based local group which is broadly representative of the local community and should have the capacity to become registered as a company limited by guarantee.

  3. A CRISP application generally comprises three elements—a core economic project, environmental improvement and urban development programme. The core economic project is generally funded on the basis of a grant of 80 per cent. and a 20 per cent. loan repayable with interest over 10 years. A project must demonstrate its viability on this basis and be related to local economic needs. The extent of environmental improvements is generally related to the scope within the centre of the settlement for improving publicly owned areas which are run down. The amount of urban development grant approved reflects a judgment about the extent to which the private sector will claim grants for improving its property.

  4. Another consideration in deciding on a CRISP application is whether it is part of a wider regeneration strategy and the level of commitment of other agencies to other regeneration measures in that strategy.

  A list of the towns where CRISP schemes have been approved with details of the financial commitment to each scheme and the nature of the scheme is given in the tables. As yet, none of the schemes has been completed, although a number of individual core projects are complete.
  319

  Total committed

  Total DOE

  Total IFI

  Location

  Project

  £ million

  £

  £

  Stewartstown

  Workspace, office and shop units. EI and UDP

  0.860

  294,000

  565,000

  Cushendall

  Retail units, offices, workshops. EI and UDP

  0.560

  150,500

  406,500

  Drumquin

  Renovation of derelict mill to provide workspace and commercial units. El and UDP

  0.326

  131,000

  195,000

  Castlewellan

  Residential centre with retail units and language school. EI, UDP and project worker

  1.000

  362,750

  637,250

  Crossmaglen

  Development of two derelict sites to provide retail units, office accommodation. EI, UDP and project worker

  1.000

  333,000

  667,000

  Strabane

  Town centre development on site of former canal basin

  2.000

  1,000,000

  1,000,000

  Newtownstewart

  Self-catering units, museum. EI and UDP

  0.737

  303,350

  433,350

  Irvinestown

  Business enterprise centre. EI and UDP

  0.817

  355,000

  462,000

  Potatoes
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the unsold tonnage of last year's crop of potatoes in Northern Ireland; and what estimates he has been given of this figure by the Ulster Farmers Union.

  Mr. Ancram
  The Government estimated surplus production from the 1992 potato crop to be between 40,000 tonnes and 60,000 tonnes. The Ulster Farmers Union estimated the surplus at approximately 55,000 tonnes.

  Fishing
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland arising from the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1992(a) how many fishermen have now been allocated their number of fishing days, (b) how many fishermen have challenged the number of fishing days allocated to them and (c) how many fishermen have lodged appeals against the number of fishing clays allocated to them.

  Mr. Ancram
  Provisional days at sea allocations have been issued to 253 fishermen in Northern Ireland. As at 21 June 1993, 55 of these fishermen have applied for adjustment of their provisional allocations. No appeals have been lodged as the appeal stage of the days at sea arrangements does not commence until formal days at sea allocations are issued to fishermen later in the year.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of people in receipt of invalidity benefit are over pension age, giving figures separately for men and women; and how many of each sex would be entitled to a full basic pension.

  Mr. Scott
  The available information is in the table. Information about the number of invalidity benefit recipients over pension age who would be entitled to a full basic rate of retirement pension is not available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  320

  Numbers receiving invalidity benefit on 30 March 1991

  Men

  Women

  per cent.

  per cent.

  All recipients

  976,000

  100

  330,000

  100

  Recipients over pension age

  201,000

  21

  37,000

  11

  Notes: Based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants, rounded to the nearest thousand; the latest date for which information is available is 30 March 1991.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in receipt of invalidity benefit receive dependency additions for(a) a male adult dependant, (b) a female adult dependant, (c) one child, (d) two children, (e) three children, (f) four children and (g) five or more children.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Invalidity benefit recipients as at 30 March 1991 with dependency increases for:

  Number

  An adult dependant

  418,000

  One child dependant

  50,000

  Two child dependants

  30,000

  Three child dependants

  13,000

  Four child dependants

  3,000

  Five or more child dependants

  3,000

  Notes: Based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants, rounded to the nearest thousand; the latest date for which information is available is 30 March 1991.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the distribution of invalidity benefit recipients by(a) age, (b) sex and (c) marital status.

  Mr. Scott
  The available information is in the table. Information about the marital status of male invalidity benefit recipients is not available.

  Invalidity Benefit recipients as at 30 March 1991

  Age

  Men

  Married Women

  Other Women

  Under 20

  1

  1

  1

  20–24

  6,000

  3,000

  4,000

  25–29

  18,000

  14,000

  7,000

  30–34

  27,000

  14,000

  9,000

  321

  Age

  Men

  Married Women

  Other Women

  35–39

  33,000

  19,000

  7,000

  40–44

  57,000

  26,000

  9,000

  45–49

  69,000

  27,000

  12,000

  50–54

  115,000

  44,000

  17,000

  55–59

  176,000

  56,000

  23,000

  60–64

  273,000

  22,000

  15,000

  65 and over

  201,000

  (see note iii)

  (see note iii)

  Notes:

  i. Based on 1 per cent. sample of claimants, rounded to the nearest thousand; the latest date for which information is available is 30 March 1991.

  ii. 1equals a sample of less than 500.

  iii. Women over age 65 are not entitled to invalidity benefit.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures for the relative frequency of medical examinations by disability for those people who have applied for or been granted disability living allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  I am informed by Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement of his Department's policy in determining which applicants for disability living allowance are to undergo medical examinations.

  Mr. Scott
  Disability living allowance claimants may be medically examined, where either the disabled person requests an examination or the adjudication officer responsible for determining entitlement considers that this is the best method of obtaining the information necessary to make a decision. In addition, a representative sample of applicants are examined as part of the evaluation of the claims and adjudication systems.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances it is the policy of his

  Appointments and Renumeration

  Chair

  Deputy

  Members

  Sex

  Appointment

  Remuneration

  Sex

  Appointment

  Remuneration

  Sex

  Appointment

  Remuneration

  Occupational Pensions Board

  1 male

  1 September 1992

  £35,580

  1 male

  1 April 1992

  £11,775

  7 male,

  1 April 1992

  £138 per

  1 April 93

  £36,645

  1 Apr 93

  £12,130

  2 female

  session

  Disability Living Allowance Board1

  Medical:

  5 male,

  £217.40

  2 female

  per day

  Lay:

  2 male,

  £110.00

  8 female

  per day

  Industrial Injuries Advisory Committee

  1 male

  1 April 1993

  £125

  10 male,

  £100

  per day

  5 female

  per day

  Social Security Advisory Committee

  1 male

  1 August 1992

  £178

  9 male,

  £114

  per day

  4 female

  per day

  Independent Tribunal Service

  1 male, President

  1 male, National

  £70,374

  5 male,

  1 female, Regional

  £70,374

  15 male,

  9 female, Full-time

  £60,105

  322
  Department to rely on a single medical examination rather than a report by the general practitioner for the continuation of the disability living allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  Entitlement to disability living allowance is determined by independent adjudication officers. It is for the adjudication officer in each individual case to decide what is the best source of the information that he needs to enable him to make a decision on the claim.

  Quarry House
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to move staff from Quarry house to London in each of the next five years; and in what grades.

  Mr. Hague
  We have no such plans.

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

  Mr. Burt:
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for a large number of public'appointments. The information requested for each of these could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, some information is available from the Cabinet Office publications, "Public Bodies" and "Public Appointments: A Handbook for Womens Organisations", copies of which are in the Library.

  When making appointments account is taken of the relevant background and experience of the individuals concerned.

  Changes in posts, salaries and allowances since the publication of "Public Bodies 1992" are detailed in the following table:
  323

  Chair

  Deputy

  Members

  Sex

  Appointment

  Remuneration

  Sex

  Appointment

  Remuneration

  Sex

  Appointment

  Remuneration

  Disability Appeal Tribunals

  479 male,

  £119.50

  2,269 male,

  122 female

  per session

  1,252 female

  Social Security Appeals Tribunals

  88 male,

  £119.50

  464 male,

  £108.70

  8 female

  per session

  9 female

  per session

  Vaccine Damage Tribunals

  325 male,

  £119.50

  908 male,

  Medical 2£88.40

  79 female

  per session

  677 female

  Non-medical 2£55.00

  Child Support Appeal Tribunal

  79 male,

  £119.50

  408 male,

  71 female

  per session

  398 female

  Central Adjudication Services

  1 male

  £48,471

  1 Formerly Attendance Allowance Board.

  2 Per session.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners were claiming invalidity benefit for each year since the benefit's inception; and what percentage these figures are of the total number of claimants in those years.

  Mr. Scott
  The available information is in the table.

  Date

  Invalidity benefit claimants over pension age

  Percentage of total invalidity benefit claimants

  3 June 1972

  14,000

  3.4

  2 June 1973

  17,000

  3.9

  1 June1974

  20,000

  4.5

  31 May 1975

  24,000

  5.3

  6 June1976

  21,000

  4.4

  4 June 1977

  28,000

  5.5

  3 Jun 1978

  36,000

  6.4

  2 June 1979

  43,000

  7.0

  31 May 1980

  52,000

  8.5

  30 May 1981

  52,000

  8.2

  29 May 1982

  57,000

  8.3

  2 April 1983

  62,000

  8.4

  31 March 1984

  68,000

  8.5

  30 March 1985

  84,000

  9.9

  5 April 1986

  101,000

  11.2

  4 April 1987

  127,000

  13.1

  2 April 1988

  150,000

  14.3

  1 April 1989

  174,000

  15.5

  31 March 1990

  206,000

  17.0

  30 March 1991

  238,000

  18.2

  Notes:

  1. Figures for 1972 to 1976 based on a 2 per cent. sample of claimants; 1977 to 1978 on a 2.5 per cent. sample; 1979 to 1991 on a 1 per cent. sample.

  2. All figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Liable Relatives
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many liable relatives were paying maintenance contributions to claimants on supplementary benefit and income support for each year since 1972; and what percentage these figures are of the number of claimants with children for whom liable relative payments could be made in those years.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the form requested for years prior to 1991, when the statistics collected related to the number of cases where a maintenance liability was established rather than those where payment was actually made.
  324
  The information for 1991 and 1992 is in the table. The figures represent the number of cases receiving payments. It is possible that some cases may receive payments from more than one liable relative.

  1991

  1992

  Number of total LR cases with dependent children

  680,000

  948,000

  Number of cases where maintenance was paid

  194,000

  207,000

  Percentage of cases where payment was made

  28.5

  21.9

  The higher number of total cases in 1992 is likely to be due mainly to new procedures which enabled more reliable identification of cases in which there might be a liability to maintain. The figure of 680,000 for 1991 may therefore be an underestimate of the real number.

  Source: Annual Statistical Inquiry.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 8 June,Official Report, columns 209–10, how many cases of national insurance contributions evasion have been uncovered, resulting in action short of legal prosecution; and how much revenue has been recovered in each year since 1984–85.

  Mr. Hague
  The administration of national insurance is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive of the Contributions Agency. She will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Miss A. Chant to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 23 June 1993:

  As Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency I am responsible for answering questions about relevant operational matters. I have been asked to reply to your question about the number of cases of National Insurance Contributions evasion which have resulted in action short of legal prosecution and the amount of revenue recovered.

  The Agency considers investigation of all cases of apparent non-compliance with National Insurance law. However, it does not attempt to differentiate between cases which involve genuine mistakes made by employers and those which involve suspected evasion of liability as it is often difficult to draw a clear dividing line between these two extremes of non-compliance. The Agency's main objective is to collect arrears and ensure current and future compliance. It does, of course, keep a particularly close eye on any employers it thinks may be involved in deliberate evasion.

  In his reply to your earlier questions my Deputy, Mr. Bertram, supplied details of the number of cases that had been authorised for prosecution but pointed out that we had no specific details about evasion. He also explained that the

  325
  Agency uncovers cases of many types of non-compliance in a variety of ways, including survey visits made to employers by inspectors, examination and processing of employers' End of Year Returns and enquiries made by individual contributors. Throughout the whole range of our activities the Agency has not encountered any evidence that evasion of National Insurance liability by employers is a significant problem. But it always investigates thoroughly any instances of suspected or alleged evasion.

  Figures for the numbers of cases of evasion which result in action short of prosecution are not kept. Indeed they would be virtually impossible to categorise with any degree of robustness. But an effective monitoring and control system ensures that appropriate action is taken in all cases where non-compliance is uncovered whatever the cause.

  I regret that I am unable to give you the precise information that you requested but I hope that my reply will prove helpful. If you have any further queries on the matter I would be only too pleased to discuss them with you.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the cost to date and the expected future cost of his Department's market-testing programme; which firms of consultants have been used in connection with the market testing programme; and how they were selected.

  Mr. Hague:
  [pursuant to his reply. 7 June 1993, c. 143–44]: The information given contained a typographical error. The correct information is that the expected cost of the market testing programme for 1993–94 is broadly estimated at £13.5 million.

  Income Support
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of income support in each Benefit Agency Office having claimants in Derbyshire, have arrangements for(a) direct payment of housing costs, (b) attachment of community charge, (c) direct re-payments to the social fund, (d) direct payments to the electricity companies and (e) direct payments to British Gas; and what are the total counts for (a) to (e) for customers who are residents of Derbyshire.

  Mr. Burt
  [pursuant to his answer 10 May 1993, c. 342–43]: Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, has written further to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Mrs. Margaret Beckett dated 21 June 1993:

  I am writing to you further to my letter of 7 May 1993 in response to your earlier Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking about persons in each Benefits Agency office in Derbyshire who had arrangements for direct payments to be made from their income support.

  At that time I said that I would write to you at a later date giving figures for the number of persons in each Benefits Agency office in Derbyshire who had their mortgage payments paid direct to their mortgage lender.

  I am pleased to say that these figures are now available and are as detailed below as at 31 May 1993.

  Number

  Derby (London Road)

  1,431

  Derby (Becket Street)

  3,269

  Ilkeston

  1,818

  Buxton

  189

  Chesterfield

  1,279

  326
  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.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Legal Action (Ministers)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Attorney-General what is his usual practice in allowing individuals to take legal action against Ministers or Government Departments; and how many times he has done so since 1979.

  The Attorney-General
  As a general rule, I do not have any role to play in decisions by individuals to take legal action against Ministers or Government Departments.

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

  The Attorney-General
  I do not make any appointments to public bodies.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Duty-free Sales
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value of duty-free sales on(a) surface and (b) air routes between Britain and the continent in (i) the first quarter of 1993 and (ii) the first quarter of 1992; and how much additional revenue would have been received by the Exchequer if these sales had been made through retail outlets in the United Kingdom.

  Sir John Cope
  Information on duty-free sales is available only from infrequent surveys which cannot be used to provide reliable estimates of sales in particular quarters.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer it' he will publish the written guidance he has issued to the chief officers of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Arts Council and the Sports Council concerning the distribution of proceeds from the national lottery.

  Mr. Nelson
  No such guidance has been issued. It would be for the Secretary of State for National Heritage to decide whether any guidance would be appropriate or necessary.

  Tax Relief (Shore Option Schemes)
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer in each of the years 1991–92 and 1992–93 of tax relief on(a) approved discretionary share option schemes and (b) approved all-employee savings-ralated share option schemes.
  327
  Mr. Dorrell
  The latest estimates are as follows:

  £ million

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Approved discretionary share option schemes

  45

  45

  Approved savings-related share option schemes

  55

  75

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 9 June,Official Report, column 258, what was the total turnover and the total profits of the largest 25 United Kingdom firms of which corporation tax was due in each year from 1987; and if he will provide the turnover and corporation tax figures in both (a) current prices and (b) 1987 prices.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 22 June 1993.]: Latest readily available figures covering five years for turnover, profit before tax, and corporation tax liability of the 25 largest profitable United Kingdom companies and company groups, based on turnover in their latest accounts, are as follows:

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Criminal cases

  12

  14

  14

  11

  14

  Civil cases

  64,926

  70,548

  74,974

  74,414

  68,563

  Revenue recovered (£ million)

  706

  933

  1,091

  1,324

  1,361

  Numbers of cases are for successful Inland Revenue investigations only.

AGRICULTURAL, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Equine Viral Arteritis
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 15 June,Official Report, column 482, what steps she is taking to stop the spread of equine viral arteritis by casual contact including aerial transmission; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Equine viral arteritis is not a notifiable disease in Great Britain and statutory disease control measures and movement restrictions do not apply. The United Kingdom equine industry operates a voluntary code of practice for the prevention and control of EVA which includes guidance on the appropriate measures to prevent the introduction and spread of the disease. It is considered to be an effective means for stud owners to protect their animal health status and its use is commended to all sectors of the equine industry. Those organising shows and equine sporting events have been additionally advised to take normal disease prevention measures and not to allow horses which exhibit signs of infectious disease, especially respiratory infections, to enter the showground or event.
  328

  Turnover

  Profit before tax1

  Corporation tax liability2

  £ billion

  £ billion

  £ billion

  At current prices

  1987

  3

  3

  3.1

  1988

  190

  19

  3.0

  1989

  230

  23

  3.5

  1990

  270

  25

  3.5

  1991

  275

  20

  3.3

  1992

  275

  21

  4

  At constant 1987 prices

  1987

  3

  3

  3.1

  1988

  180

  18

  2.8

  1989

  200

  21

  3.1

  1990

  220

  20

  2.9

  1991

  210

  15

  2.5

  1992

  200

  16

  4

  1 World-wide activity reported in published accounts.

  2 After relief for foreign tax.

  3 Not readily available.

  4 Not yet available.

  Tax Evasion
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many criminal and civil cases relating to tax evasion have been pursued in each of the last five years; and what revenue has been recovered.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 24 June 1993]: The information requested is as follows:

  We fully support the measures taken by the United Kingdom equine industry, including the application of voluntary movement restrictions to affected premises.

  The VPC considered the application for an inactivated EVA vaccine at its meeting yesterday. It advised that subject to the satisfactory resolution of outstanding quality points, an animal test certificate could be granted, allowing use of the product under veterinary supervision and subject to the normal conditions associated with such certificates. Officials at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate are discussing these points urgently with the company concerned, together with arrangements for making the product available as speedily as possible.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has received regarding the need for carcasses of dead badgers to be checked for tuberculosis; and what is her assessment of the dangers to cattle of unchecked tuberculosis in the badger population.

  Mr. Soames
  I have received no representations regarding the need for carcasses of dead badgers to be checked for tuberculosis. Badgers infected with tuberculosis do not pose a significant threat to the national cattle herd. In the south-west of England, where the majority of cattle breakdowns occur, some 0.5 per cent. of
  329
  herds had a new confirmed breakdown in 1992. Almost all of these were considered by the Department's veterinary staff to be due to badger infection.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many incidents of tuberculosis in cattle have been reported in each quarter since 1 January 1990.

  1st Quarter

  2nd Quarter

  3rd Quarter

  4thQuarter

  1990

  New confirmed breakdowns

  37

  31

  49

  26

  1991

  New confirmed breakdowns

  17

  28

  42

  38

  1992

  New confirmed breakdowns

  26

  34

  52

  43

  1993

  New confirmed breakdowns

  58

  —

  —

  —

  Crassula Lelmsii
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action she is taking to counter the spread of Crassula Lelmsii, the Australian swamp stone-crop weed.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 24 June 1993]: I have been asked to reply. Research about the effect of this species is at present being carried out by English Nature and the Institute of Freshwater Ecology. They have also produced a public information leaflet giving guidance on the identification and control of the plant.

ENVIRONMENT

  Rivers
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress the National Rivers Authority is making(a) nationally and (b) in the north west in regulating the use of rivers and controlling pollution.

  Mr. Yeo
  The NRA's 1990 river quality survey reported around 90 per cent. of waterways as of "good" or "fair" quality. The next survey, expected in 1995, should reflect the benefits from the NRA's tighter pollution controls and increased enforcement activity throughout England and Wales, the reduction in numbers of major water pollution incidents, and the accelerated investment by the water industry on sewerage and sewage treatment.

  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of pollution entering the North sea comes from rivers; and what proportion comes from British rivers.

  Mr. Yeo
  Since different countries use different methods of estimating inputs of contaminants, the available statistics do not permit reliable international comparisons. The available date is set out in the periodical "Monitoring and Assessement" reports of the Oslo and Paris Commissions.
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  Mr. Soames
  The number of new cattle herd breakdowns due to tuberculosis, confirmed in each of the quarters in question was:

  Affordable Accommodation
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further plans he has to increase the supply of affordable accommodation for rent and sale.

  Sir George Young
  We are pursuing a number of policies, both through the provision of new accommodation and measures to maximise the use of existing property, to ensure that a decent home is within reach of every family. Nearly £50 million additional resources were made available last year in the housing market package to enable housing associations to purchase over 18,000 empty and repossessed properties to use for families in housing need; and some £50 million in grants which enabled 3,300 housing association and local authority tenants to buy new homes, releasing their current homes for reletting to those in housing need. These special measures, announced in the Autumn Statement, brought my Department's total spending on housing to £8.5 billion.

  Over the three years from 1992–93, the Housing Corporation estimates that housing associations will be able to provide 170,000 new social homes for rent and shared ownership. In addition, measures taken to encourage the private rented sector, such as our flats over shops and housing associations as managing agents initiatives,and to make better use of the existing public sector stock, will increase the supply of homes for rent still further.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend the range of local services put out to compulsory competitive tendering.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that the then Under-Secretary of State for Local Government gave to the right hon. Member for Chingford (Mr. Duncan-Smith) on 24 May 1993 at column 366.

  Burning Plastic
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports he has had on the effect of burning plastic on the spread of dioxins and similar compounds into the air; and if he will make a statement on the main sources of dioxins in the atmosphere.
  331
  Mr. Yeo
  I have not received any such report. However, it is accepted that the burning of some plastics, in common with the burning of many other materials, can lead to the formation of dioxins. For incinerators, I am advised that the operating conditions of the incineration process are paramount in controlling the quantities formed. This is why incinerators are subject to stringent controls under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  For the main sources of dioxins in the atmosphere, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 24 February 1992 at column 406.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to promote the burning of plastics.

  Mr. Yeo
  None.

  Water Resources
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how, and to what extent, the National Rivers Authority has jurisdiction over the management of water resources controlled by the British Waterways Board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Water Resources Act 1991 exempts all navigation authorities, including British Waterways Board (BWB), from the requirement to apply to NRA for abstraction licences in connection with their own operations but obliges BWB to apply to NRA for licences in respect of abstractions from BWB waters by others.

  "Health Effects of Sea Bathing"
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to publish the results of the study, "Health Effects of Sea Bathing", EH9021.

  Mr. Yeo
  The report referred to is the interim report on the health effects of sea bathing covering the period April 1991 to March 1992. Copies were placed in the Library in September 1992. I intend to publish a report on the whole four-year research project later this year.

  Sewage-based Fertilisers
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage water authorities to sell sewage-based fertilisers.

  Mr. Yeo
  About half the sewage sludge produced by water companies is already used as a fertiliser. The potential market for sludge-based products has been assessed in research undertaken for the Department by the Water Research Centre. The final report will be made available to the water industry shortly.

  Packaging (Recycling)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to require firms to recycle their packaging.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government take the view that companies involved in placing packaging on the market should take a share of the responsibility for dealing with it after it has served its original purpose. We have therefore 332
  been conducting intensive discussions with a range of industries on how they might contribute to improved recycling rates. We are still considering how best to achieve this.

  Fly Tipping
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is proposing to tackle the problem of fly tipping.

  Mr. Yeo
  Measures to reduce fly tipping are included in the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Under provisions which came into force on 1 April 1992, there is a duty of care on all holders of waste (except private households) to prevent the illegal disposal of their waste. Under the duty, waste may only be handed to an authorised person and transfers of waste must be documented. Carriers of waste must be registered with their waste disposal authority and authorities have powers to seize identified vehicles used in fly tipping. The Environmental Protection Act also includes a provision placing responsibility on the person controlling a vehicle for fly-tipping offences using that vehicle. This latter measure is to be implemented this year; the Government have no plans for further measures at present.

  House Condition Survey
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to publish the results of the house condition survey.

  Sir George Young
  The first results were published on Monday 21 June in "English House Condition Survey 1991: A Preliminary Report on Unfit Dwellings".

  Environmental Policy
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's policy on the purchase and use of(a) recycled paper, (b) low-energy light bulbs, (c) tropical hardwoods, (d) peat and (e) cars with catalytic converters.

  Mr. Yeo
  My Department's policy is set out in our Policy Statement on Green Housekeeping, published in March 1993. Specifically, our policy is: to extend the amount of recycled paper bought from the present 40 per cent. to the current practicable limit of 70–75 per cent. as soon as possible; to reduce energy consumption by 15 per cent. over the five years to 1995–96 by, among other things, installing energy efficient lighting wherever it is practicable to do so; to encourage sustainable forestry practices by purchasing office furnishings which, as far as possible, do not contain hardwoods from virgin areas; to minimise the use of slow renewables such as peat by using soil improvers derived from the processing or reuse of organic wastes such as coir, manure, leaf mould and bark chippings; to fit all official vehicles with catalytic converters by May 1994.

  Publicity
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) paid and (b) unpaid publicity projects hav been organised by his Department's information directorate since April 1992; what evaluation has been made of the effectiveness of the publicity projects; and if he will make a statement.
  333
  Mr. Baldry
  From April 1992 to the present, my Department's information directorate has carried out 717 paid publicity projects. For the most part, unpaid publicity activities are undertaken to support paid publicity activities. During the same period, 1,016 press notices were issued on matters of public interest.

  Information is always gathered on the takeup of all publicity materials by the public—particularly of publications—as part of the overall communications strategy for every publicity project. Research is carried out regularly to monitor the effectiveness of paid publicity initiatives, particularly in the case of large, long-term projects.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he will take in setting the aggregate for standard spending assessments for 1994–95 of the savings in energy costs open to local authorities taking advantage of increased competition in the supply of fuels.

  Mr. Baldry
  In setting the total of standard spending for 1994–95 Ministers will consider a wide range of factors. These will include the pressures on local authority services arising from increases in pay and prices, demographic changes and the scope for securing savings and improved value for money.

  Tower Hamlets (Appeal)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to reconsider the decision to withdraw the application for a petition to appeal in the case of R.v. Secretary of State for the Environment ex parte Tower Hamlets; and if he will state the reasons for his decision.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have no plans to reconsider our decision. The time limit for seeking leave to appeal to the House of Lords has now passed.

  North Hull Housing Action Trust
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment ( 1 ) if he will make a statement about the timetable for formulating the exit strategy for the tenants whose home improvements have been completed by the North Hull housing action trust;

  (2) when tenants in South close within the North Hull housing action trust, who have indicated their wish to return to Hull city council, will have the opportunity to exercise this right; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) when the exit strategy for First avenue tenants will be ready; and if the tenants will be allowed to exercise their right to return to Hull city council in October;

  (4) what plans he has to use the Hull exit strategy as a model for all other housing action trusts.

  Sir George Young
  It is for the North Hull housing action trust to formulate its own exit strategy, and agree it with Ministers as part of the corporate planning process. The strategy needs to be consistent with the statutory objectives of housing action trusts as set out in Section 63 of the Housing Act 1988, and also with the guidelines issued by my Department to all housing action trusts on the disposal of tenanted properties. These require, among 334
  other things, that tenants should be consulted about a range of alternative landlords and ownership options before they are required to make final decisions about their future tenure. This is entirely consistent with the declaration of intention between Ministers, the leader of Hull city council and the chairman of the North Hull housing action trust in December 1991. As the North Hull housing action trust was the first housing action trust to be established, its exit strategy will inform those for subsequent housing action trusts. But each housing action trust will need to prepare and agree an exit strategy which fully reflects local circumstances.

  I have agreed the proposal put to me by the North housing action trust that those tenants in South close who had indicated a clear preference to return to Hull city council before my Department's guidelines were issued should be enabled to do so as soon as the necessary procedures are completed. As for the tenants in First avenue, discussions are currently taking place between the North Hull housing action trust and my Department about the range of options that will be put to tenants before they are required to choose their future landlord. It is too early to say whether the formal consultation process will be completed in time for any tenants to change their landlords by October. But all tenants who wish to do so will be able to return to Hull city council, as agreed between Ministers, the city council and the chairman of the HAT in December 1991. The Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Bill, currently before Parliament, will strengthen this commitment by providing a statutory right for all HAT tenants to return to the council in the area in which their house is situated if they elect to do so.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now fix a firm date to meet a delegation from Hull city council and the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North to discuss the affairs of the North Hull housing action trust.

  Sir George Young
  I have already told the leader of Hull city council that it is my intention to visit the North Hull housing action trust in the near future, at which time I would expect to meet representatives of the council. But in the meantime I should be happy to meet a delegation from the city council led by the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara).

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the relationship between the North Hull housing action trust and his Department's regional office at Leeds.

  Sir George Young
  I am satisfied that my Department's regional office is able to give the North Hull housing action trust the advice, guidance and support it needs to fulfil its statutory objectives and secure value for money.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy, in his consultations with Hull city council for the replacement of the chairman of the North Hull housing action trust, that the appointee is independent and not directly connected with any political party.

  Sir George Young
  In looking for a successor to Mr. Liggins as chairman of the North Hull housing action trust, I shall be seeking to appoint someone who can secure the objectives of the housing action trust and gain the
  335
  confidence of the residents and of Hull city council. I would not wish to rule out someone who had held local government or ministerial experience provided they were prepared to accept that their relevant political activities would be in strict accordance with the code of conduct issued to all prospective board members.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provision will be made for the division of responsibility for legal costs when the houses currently owned by the North Hull housing action trust are returned to the ownership of Hull city council.

  Sir George Young
  It is not necessarily the case that houses currently owned by the North Hull housing action trust will return to the ownership of Hull city council. It will be for individual tenants to decide on their future landlord. However, as I have agreed that those houses 336
  which return to the council after having been improved by the housing action trust should do so at nil cost to the council, I think it would be reasonable for the city council to meet all the legal costs.

  Jewel Tower
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the purpose of the works and repositioning of the storm gutters on the footpath adjacent to the Jewel tower next to the Houses of Parliament; and what further work is to be done so that rain water does not collect across the pavement.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 21 June 1993]: The provision and the subsequent maintenance of storm water drainage is a matter for the local authority. I suggest that this matter should be addressed to the city of Westminster.