Written Answers of 4 May 1993

TRANSPORT

  Transpennine Strategy
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if a decision has yet been taken in respect of the link between the M65 and the A1(T) through Skipton by dual two-lane carriageway; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if his Department has received the transpennine strategy report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The transpennine study strategy report was published in September 1992. The consultation period on this document is now drawing to a close. No decisions on the options in the report will be taken until all responses to the consultation have been considered.

  Rail Services
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the importance of local rail services in the north-west region to disabled people.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am fully aware of the importance of rail services generally to disabled people. That is why under our privatisation plans the regulator will have a duty to have regard to the interests of people with disabilities in performing his functions.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Bernard Shaw Estate
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what have been the proceeds from the Bernard Shaw estate administered by the Public Trustee since 1963;

  (2) what he estimates have been the proceeds of the Bernard Shaw estate accruing to the British museum in each year since 1990.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Public Trustee does not normally disclose publicly information about the estates of private individuals. In particular, the Public Trustee is obliged by rule 29(2) of the Public Trustee Rules 1912 to observe strict secrecy in respect of every trust or estate in course of administration by him.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Attorney-General how many assistant directors are seconded from accountancy firms to the Serious Fraud Office; what civil service pay grade they are paid at; what pay they continue to receive from their accountancy firms; and what arrangements are 2
  in force to prevent conflicts of interest in inquiries into any business handled by the firms from which they are seconded.

  The Attorney-General
  Three assistant directors are seconded from accountancy firms to the Serious Fraud Office. Their firms are reimbursed at civil service grade 5 level—with an addition in respect of pension entitlement—and the pay they receive is a matter between themselves and their firms. The arrangements in force to prevent conflicts of interest are:

  i. The secondees are subject to civil service provisions including the attendant duty of confidentiality.

  ii On acceptance of a case, following the vetting procedure, the auditors and financial advisers to companies involved in the investigation will have been identified. The deputy director, who allocates the assistant directors and accountancy teams, will be aware of these and ensure that there is no conflict.

  iii. Prior to a secondment, parent firms confirm that secondees will advise the SFO of any potential conflict of interest. Secondees have access to their firm's client lists to enable them to do so. They are also governed by professional rules relating to conflicts of interest. Such obligations continue after the period of secondment has expired.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Attorney-General if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) of 26 April,Official Report, column 262, he will set out the number of documents, and the number of pages they comprise in total, that have been sent to the Scott inquiry by his Department.

  The Attorney-General
  The legal secretariat to the Law Officers has submitted 240 documents, comprising 1,552 pages, to Lord Justice Scott's inquiry.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Car Boot Sales
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the revenue lost to bona fide shopkeepers by the activities of regular and frequent organised commercial car boot sales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend has made no such estimate.

  Post Office Pension Scheme
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what role his advisers on the Post Office review have had in offering advice on pension funds or schemes.

  Mr. Leigh
  The work undertaken by the Department's advisers has covered all matters relevant to the structure and ownership of the Post Office, and the prospects for greater competition in the postal market.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the present size of the surplus in the Post Office superannuation scheme.

  Mr. Leigh
  As recorded in the 1991–92 Post Office report and accounts, at the date of the last full actuarial valuation of the Post Office staff superannuation scheme —31 March 1991—the market value of its assets was
  3
  £7·887 billion. This was considered sufficient to cover 122·4 per cent. of the benefits which had accrued to members of POSSS and represented a surplus of approximately £1·4 billion at the time of the valuation. The last full valuation of the Post Office pension scheme was at 31 March 1989. At that date, the market value of the assets of the scheme was £47 million; this was sufficient to cover 130·8 per cent. of the benefits accrued to members and represented a surplus of approximately £11 million at the time of the valuation.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the recent practice, and what are the present intentions, of the Post Office with regard to holidays on employer contributions to the pension fund.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Post Office has been taking a holiday on its employer contributions to the Post Office staff superannuation scheme since April 1990. The most recent full valuation of this scheme was 31 March 1991. The Post Office has no contributions holiday in respect of the Post Office pension scheme; the last full valuation of this scheme was at 31 March 1989 and a further valuation of the scheme at 31 March 1992 is currently under way. The Post Office's contributions to its pension schemes are made in full accordance with the schemes' trust deeds and actuarial advice.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions exist on the transfer of pension fund surpluses from the Post Office superannuation scheme in the event of the privatisation of Parcelforce.

  Mr. Leigh
  The rules governing all aspects of transfers out of the Post Office staff superannuation scheme and the Post Office pension scheme are contained in each scheme's trust deeds.

  Biotechnological Inventions
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given to the status of animals in relation to the proposed EC directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions.

  Mr. Leigh
  A revised version of the European Commission's draft directive was published in December 1992 and provides that inventions concerning living matter, including animals, shall in general be patentable. However, a number of exclusions are proposed, one of which concerns processes for genetically modifying animals. I am considering the revised draft together with the comments on it made by interested circles and expect it to be debated by an appropriate committee of the House in the near future.

  In the United Kingdom, the use of animals in scientific procedures is controlled by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which complies with the relevant EC directive 86/609/EEC. It seems reasonable that inventions resulting from research carried out in conformity with the Act and directive should have the benefit of patents.

  Konver Programme
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with local authorities about the implementation of the EC Konver programme; and if he will make a statement.
  4
  Mr. Sainsbury
  Officials of my Department are in regular contact with local authorities on the Konver initiative.

  Laboratories
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the future of the National Physical Laboratory, the National Engineering Laboratory, the Warren Spring Laboratory, the Laboratory of the Government Chemist and the National Weights and Measures Laboratory.

  Mr. Heseltine
  During the three years since becoming executive agencies, the DTI's five laboratories have made much progress towards becoming more commercial and customer-focused and more cost-conscious organisations. I am now undertaking a review, involving independent consultants, which will identify how best to build on this progress. It will complement the review of the Atomic Energy Authority which my hon. Friend the Minister for Energy announced on 1 April.

  The four larger laboratories—though not the NWML—are already required to operate on a business footing, financing themselves from contracts secured at arm's length from fee-paying customers. Most of their business comes, and will continue to come, from Government Departments, including the DTI itself, the Department of the Environment, the Department of Transport, and others. They also win contracts from private sector customers.

  These disciplines are bringing about a major change in the culture of these organisations, and the question on which consultants will be asked to advise is how this process can be carried further, and whether putting some or all of them into the private sector would enable them to provide a better service to their wide range of customers, in and out of Government. The consultants will also be asked to consider intermediate options, short of full privatisation, such as the franchising of facilities to private sector contractors, and the possible need for rationalisation between the five laboratories.

  A number of consultancy firms have now been invited to submit proposals. The chosen firm or firms should be appointed early this month, and report later this year. I will report to the House on my conclusions.

  Electricity (Large Users)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he plans to embark on further consultations on the proposals to allow large users to bypass the electricity pool outlined in the recent White Paper, "Prospects for Coal".

  Mr. Eggar
  My officials are now writing to holders of electricity licences, the Director General of Electricity Supply, representatives of consumers, the electricity pool and others to seek their views on the circumstances in which consumers might contract directly with generators outside the electricity pool.

  At present, the majority of customers who use electricity generated on site do not use the integrated electricity system and therefore do not pay pool charges. Additionally, if no supply licence is involved no fossil fuel levy is paid.

  The Government are considering whether it would be appropriate to extend these arrangements to consumers

  5
  who pair themselves with generating sets which are not located on site. These consumers would pay charges according to the benefits or services they take from the integrated system.

  The Government are also considering possible relaxation of the current supply exemption class where electricity is generated and consumed on site.

  I am placing copies of the consultation documents in the Library of the House.

  Package Holidays
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action his Department has taken to publicise to tour organisers their responsibilities under the EC directive on package holidays to ensure quality services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 27 April 1993]: My Department has published guidance notes to the package travel regulations which are available free of charge. My Department has also supported the work which has been done by the Association of British Travel Agents, the Institute of Trading Standards Administration, the British Tourist Authority and others to publicise and explain the regulations.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what monitoring his Department conducts to ensure that tour operators provide adequate quality of services on overseas holidays in accordance with the EC directive on package travel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 27 April 1993]: The provisions of the package travel regulations which carry criminal penalties are enforced by local authority trading standards departments.

  National Technology Acquisition Plan
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how he proposes to respond, and to inform Parliament of his response, to the national strategic technology acquisition plan submitted to him by his Department's aviation committee.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 27 April 1993]: The national strategic technology acquisition plan for aeronautics contains commercially sensitive information and will not therefore be published. Officials have discussed the NSTAP with the aviation committee; these discussions will continue.

  Development Aid
  Sir Rhodes Boyson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the total amount of regional grants, support for industry and any other assistance given by his Department in(a) England, (b) Greater London and (c) the south east, excluding Greater London, for each year from 1982–83 to 1992–93, estimated, distinguishing between current and capital expenditure, though excluding local authority credit approvals and capital allocations.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 28 April 1993]: Regional assistance was not available in London or elsewhere in the south-east in the years 1982–83 to 1992–93.
  6
  Information on support for industry and other assistance in London and the south-east is not available except at disproportionate cost. Details of the total level of DTI expenditure on regional assistance, support for industry and other assistance are published following each financial year and are available from the Library.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sudan
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the United Nations organisation to increase its involvement in the peace process in Sudan and to encourage an investigation into human rights abuses.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We were a prime mover in securing the appointment by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva of a special rapporteur to investigate the human rights situation on a public basis throughout Sudan. We are in touch with our EC partners, the United States and others about further ways in which we might involve the United Nations on Sudan.

  Nuclear Non-Proliferation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to make available resources to assist non-governmental organisations to attend the forthcoming first preparatory committee meeting for the fifth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty to be held in New York in May.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have received no requests from non-governmental organisations for assistance in attending this meeting.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he received a copy of the proposal from the 89th Interparliamentary Union assembly in New Delhi relating to a ban on arms sales.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs received on 27 April a copy of a resolution entitled "Transparency in Arms Transfers through a global Arms Register, notably as a means to check the growing use of violence to achieve political objectives". This resolution did not propose a ban on arms sales.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 21 April,Official Report, column 108, what were the voting figures for each member state recorded in the meeting of the European Community's Foreign Affairs Council held on 5 April.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 20 April,Official Report, column 60.
  7

  Year of the Family
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives are being planned by his Department in connection with the United Nations Year of the Family 1994.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The International Year of the Family has our full support. We see our contribution as best channelled through those voluntary organisations which we already support, including the non-governmental co-ordinating body for the year, the United Kingdom Association for the IFY 94. In conjunction with our EC partners we are also working on plans for a European conference on the future of the family.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in respect of the application to the people of Gibraltar of the principle of self-determination and of the provisions of the treaty of Utrecht; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Wirral, South (Mr. Porter) on 6 December 1990,Official Report, column 189.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances the Government would recognise the acquisition of land by force by the Bosnian Serbs.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The London conference made it clear in its statement of principles that we would not recognise advantages gained by force or fait accompli in the former Yugoslavia. We remain convinced that only a negotiated settlement by all parties will produce genuine and lasting peace.

EDUCATION

  University Funding
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the Higher Education Funding Council intends to publish the average units of council funding which formed the basis of the university funding allocations for 1993–94.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is aiming to publish this information shortly.

  Technology Schools Initiative
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he intends to take to promote the technology schools initiative in future years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Two hundred and twenty-two maintained secondary schools have been awarded capital allocations as a result of competitive bids in the 1992–93 and 1993–94 rounds of the technology schools initiative. The 8
  Department is taking steps to promote an active network of TSI schools, with a view to enabling them to share their experience in the teaching of technology and to feeding the benefits of the initiative into other secondary schools. The Government intend to maintain their support for TSI schools. Decisions on whether to invite further bids for 1994–95 or later years have yet to be taken.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Agencies
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the names, the salaries of the chief executives and the total wage bill for each next steps agency created since 1979;

  (2) what is the total wages bill for next steps agencies in the period 1992–93.

  Mr. Portillo
  The names of agencies and their chief executives are published in the "Next Steps Briefing Note, 1 April 1993", available from the Cabinet Office. Information about agency wage bills and the salaries of chief executives for 1991–92 is available from the published accounts of the agencies concerned; copies are available in the House of Commons Library. For 1991–92 the total full-year wage bill of agencies in operation for all or part of that year is estimated at about £3·2 billion. The information requested is not yet available for 1992–93.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provision has been made for allocations of additional funding to Departments for redundancy costs under the market testing programme.

  Mr. Portillo
  There is no central provision specifically for redundancy costs. Within the limits set for spending on running costs, including redundancy costs, it is for Departments to decide how to allocate their administrative budget to meet their departmental priorities and objectives. Should they be unable to absorb the costs, the Treasury is prepared to look sympathetically at the scope for easing the burden of up-front redundancy costs within the limits of what can be afforded.

  Duty-free Alcohol
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average excise and VAT saving for an individual who buys in France his or her full indicative level of the following: 10 litres of mid-priced spirits, 20 litres of mid-priced fortified wine, 30 litres of mid-priced table wine and 60 litres of mid-priced sparkling wine.

  Sir John Cope
  Based on current exchange rates, an individual could save around £200 on excise duty. A further £34 would be saved from the consequential VAT applied to the excise duty. These figures are independent of the price of the goods.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions have been carried out against British companies importing goods from the former Yugoslavia since 31 May 1992.
  9
  Sir John Cope
  There have been no prosecutions.

  T. and G. Woodware, Bristol
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action Her Majesty's Government intend to take against the British company T. and G. Woodware of Bristol.

  Sir John Cope
  Customs tells me that it has no reason to take any action.

  Members' Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 22 March regarding a constituent.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 4 May.

  European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will request the governors of the European bank for reconstruction and development to make a statement on the bank's expenditure on administrative overheads; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will take action to ensure that the European bank for reconstruction and development reduces its expenditure on administrative overheads; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 20 April 1993]: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor made clear in his statement to the European bank for reconstruction and development's annual meeting, on 27 April, the European bank for reconstruction and development's duty to use the taxpayer's resources as cost effectively as possible. The Government have always sought to secure the best possible value for money from all the international financial institutions.

  Her Majesty's Government welcome the measures agreed by the bank's board of directors and recently announced by President Attali to strengthen budgetary procedures at the European bank for reconstruction and development.

  Many governors made statements at the European bank for reconstruction and development's annual meeting on 26 and 27 April on the need for the European bank for reconstruction and development to make the most cost-effective use of the resources entrusted to it.

  NHS Borrowing
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 22 April,Official Report, column 180, if he will make a statement on the impact on the public sector borrowing requirement of (a) the decision to relax the rules governing national health service borrowing, (b) leasing arrangements and (c) the use of private sector services by the national health service.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: The rules governing the measurement of the PSBR are unchanged. When the national health service leases from the private sector, the annual lease payments are a determinant of the PSBR. Payments by the public sector, including the national health service, to the private sector for services provided also continue to be a determinant of the PSBR. Any borrowing undertaken by the private sector to finance its own spending would not count against the PSBR.
  10

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will reduce the qualifying period for attendance allowance to three months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans to do so.

  Benefits (Payment Delays)
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security under what circumstances compensation will be paid in recognition of delays in payments of benefits.

  Mr. Lilley
  Redress for the citizen when things go wrong is at the heart of the citizens charter. I am therefore pleased to announce a significant improvement to my Department's arrangements for compensation payments when benefit claims have been excessively delayed. The new arrangements will take effect for all new claims paid from 1 April 1993.

  Until now, compensation was only considered when the delay in payment of benefit in new claims was at least 12 months. I am now proposing to reduce this period. In future, compensation will be considered where a new claim is delayed for six months beyond the target set for clearing the hulk of claims usually between 85 per cent. and 95 per cent. This will meet points which I know have been of increasing concern to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in cases which he has been investigating.

  The effect will be to bring forward the date from which compensation may be paid and to link this date explicitly with the performance targets set for the Benefits Agency. In the case of income support, for example, where the relevant target in the BA business plan is to clear 90 per cent. of claims in 13 working days, compensation would be considered after around seven months from the date of entitlement, compared with 12 months today. No change will be made in respect of war pensions or industrial disability benefits, where the effect of the new formula would be to extend the current 12-month period.

  The other criteria against which compensation is considered will remain the same: namely that the delay must be caused by official error and the arrears of benefit due must be £50 or more.

  I recognise, however, that the improvement I am announcing today will be too late for those people who claimed disability living allowance last year and suffered unacceptable delays before receiving payment of the benefit. In view of the exceptional problems following the introduction of DLA a special compensatory payment will be made to those people who:

  (i) made a new claim for DLA, attendance allowance or mobility allowance on or after 3 February 1992;

  (ii) were paid benefit before 1 April 1993; and

  (iii) suffered a delay in the payment of benefit of more than eight months.

  The payment to this particular group of people will be at the rate of £10 per month for each month in excess of the eight-month period. The Benefits Agency is making the necessary arrangements to ensure that the payments are made as soon as possible. The agency will assess the amounts of compensation without the need for claims for compensation from customers. The task should be completed in the autumn.

  Well Person Clinics
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total cost to the Exchequer to date of payment by the Benefits Agency for all staff aged 35 years and over to attend private well person clinics; and how many such staff have to date attended.

  Mr. Burt
  The Benefits Agency has corporate responsibility for the management and funding of the health screening programme for staff aged 35 years or over.

  For reasons of commercial confidentiality, the number of staff examined cannot be given. Up to 31 March 1993, the total cost to the Exchequer was £2·1 million.

PRIME MINISTER

  Buses
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will commission a study of experience of bus tendering in London, deregulation elsewhere in England and Great Britain and of regulation in Northern Ireland.

  The Prime Minister
  The Transport Select Committee is currently considering these issues in the context of its inquiry into bus deregulation in London and is taking evidence from a number of sources, including the Government.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy for taking senior British business representatives with him on official overseas visits.

  The Prime Minister
  I am firmly committed to taking senior business representatives with me whenever possible when I visit key markets overseas. My recent visits with a business group to India and Saudi Arabia were examples. I intend to build on them. I hope to visit Japan in the Autumn with senior business representatives.

  My ministerial colleagues also take every opportunity to promote Britain and British goods abroad. They are planning to lead at least 14 missions to 17 countries, to markets as diverse as Ghana, Singapore and Kazakstan this year.

  Prerogative Powers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the groups of actions taken using prerogative powers for which it would incur disproportionately high costs for them to be recorded individually.
  12
  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to record the occasions on which prerogative powers are used where disproportionate costs would not be involved.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what prerogative powers have been attenuated by being bought within statute law since 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 1 March at column 19, and to the response of my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Home Department's response to the hon. Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Garrett) on 21 April at column 492. The relationship between statutory and prerogative powers can be very complex. This complexity would mean examination of each section of each Act passed since 1979 in order to determine whether a prerogative power had been brought within statute law. This would be impracticable and would lead to disproportionate cost.

  Treaty on European Union
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Prime Minister what consideration was given at the European Council held at Edinburgh in December 1992 to the termination of membership of any member state of the European Community in the event of non-ratification of the treaty on European union.

  The Prime Minister
  The issue was not considered at the Edinburgh European Council.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 May.

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

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 May.

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

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Kent Marshes
  Dame Peggy Fenner
  To ask he minister of Agriculture, fisheries and Food (1) what studies have been carried out into water availability in the north Kent marshes for site of special scientific interest management and environmentally sensitive area implementation;

  (2) what criteria he will employ to decide the priority for water level management on SSSI in north Kent and the creation of new wetland areas under the recently announced environmentally sensitive area.

  Mr. Curry
  During the preparation of the north Kent marshes environmentally sensitive area (ESA) extensive consultations were carried out on all aspects of the scheme, including the availability and management of water. English Nature was one of the organisations consulted both in respect of the ESA as a whole and the sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) within it. The Ministry will continue to work closely with English Nature to achieve our shared environmental objectives throughout the area.

  Dame Peggy Fenner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial resources are available to install new drainage structures which will permit raising of ditch water levels in the north Kent marshes environmentally sensitive area.

  Mr. Curry
  Eighty per cent. grants for the construction of bunds or sluices or other works to control water levels are available to farmers who have land under an environmentally sensitive area agreement. Where schemes are undertaken by drainage bodies grant aid may also be available under the Water Resources Act 1991 and the Land Drainage Act 1991.

  Meat Products
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the average increases in the retail price of bacon, sausage and other meat-based food products sold in the United Kingdom year on year over the past five years.

  Mr. Curry
  The annual percentage increases over the last five years in retail prices, as measured by the retail prices index, are given:

  Year (change on previous year)

  Bacon

  Other meat products (including sausages)

  1988

  +3·3

  -0·6

  1989

  +9·3

  +6·0

  1990

  +12·2

  +11·3

  1991

  +1·4

  + 3·9

  1992

  +6·8

  +0·5

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount of bacon, sausage and other meat-based food products(a) exported from and (b) imported into the United Kingdom year on year for the past five years.

  Mr. Curry
  The figures for trade in all meat preparations—which includes bacon and sausage—during the last five years are as follows:14

  Exports

  Imports

  Weight (MT.)

  Value (£m)

  Weight (MT.)

  Value (£m)

  1988

  16,817

  33·121

  488,924

  791·763

  1989

  18,006

  37·868

  492,847

  936·193

  1990

  18,449

  42·357

  481,505

  981·358

  1991

  23,398

  54·737

  488,013

  989·969

  1992

  27,176

  66·792

  495,577

  1,026·292

  Source: Central Statistical Office MA 20 and MM20.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many companies are involved with the manufacture of bacon, sausage and other meat-based foods in the United Kingdom in total; and how many of those are based in(a) other EC countries and (b) non-EC countries.

  Mr. Curry
  Information is not available on the number of companies engaged in these activities or on their distribution according to the domicile of the controlling interest. However, at the end of 1992 there was 637 establishments in the United Kingdom classified as having a principal activity of bacon curing or the manufacture of meat products—heading 4122 of the standard industrial classification, revised 1980.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what volume of meat foods was manufactured in the United Kingdom in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Curry
  Comprehensive information on the volume of meat foods manufactured in the United Kingdom is not available. However, the value of sales of meat products by all establishments engaged in their manufacture is available and is shown below:

  £ million

  Year

  Volume

  1988

  2,464

  1989

  2,545

  1990

  2,723

  1991

  2,832

  1992

  3,040

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the change in the level of consumption of manufactured meat foods in the United Kingdom in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Curry
  Information on the level of household consumption of manufactured meat foods—which includes bacon and ham, sausages, pies, canned or cooked meats and other meat products—is available from the national food survey.

  Year

  Household consumption in ounces per person per week

  1988

  15·97

  1989

  15·86

  1990

  15·03

  1991

  15·03

  1992

  15·41

  15
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people were employed in meat foods manufacturing in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Curry
  Information is not available for each of the years requested. Figures from the three most recent censuses of employment are shown:

  Year to September

  Great Britain ('000)

  1987

  50·9

  1989

  48·7

  1991

  52·1

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what volume of manufactured meat foods was sold in the retail market in the United Kingdom in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Curry
  Information is not available in the precise form requested. Consumers' household expenditure on manufactured meat foods—which includes bacon and ham, sausages, pies, canned or cooked meats and other meat products—at constant 1985 prices for the years in question is shown:

  £ million

  1988

  3,555

  1989

  3,730

  1990

  3,593

  1991

  3,509

  1992

  3,651

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provisions are in place to ensure fair competition in manufacturing and retailing of meat-based foods; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government's policy is to promote competition throughout the economy. If the hon. Member has evidence of anti-competitive practices in the manufacturing and retailing of meat-based products, he should write to the Director General of Fair Trading who has responsibility, under the Fair Trading Act 1973 and the Competition Act 1980, for investigating allegations of anti-competitive practices.

  Cereal Output
  Dame Peggy Fenner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the level of EC cereal output in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Curry
  Based on European Commission statistical information, the level of EC cereal output in each year since 1990 in tonnes is as follows:

  Tonnes

  1990

  170,108,200

  1991

  181,034,800

  1992

  1167,902,800

  1 Provisional.

  16
  Dame Peggy Fenner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the change in cereal output in the latest available year from the previous year in each EC country.

  Mr. Curry
  Based on European Commission statistical information, the table sets out the change in cereal output from 1990 to 1991 for each EC country

  Country

  Output (Tonnes)

  Change (Tonnes)

  1990

  1991

  Belgium

  1,996,100

  1,979,300

  -16,800

  Denmark

  9,606,000

  9,169,000

  -437,000

  Germany

  37,580,000

  39,289,000

  +1,709,000

  Greece

  4,042,000

  5,607,400

  +1,565,400

  France

  55,118,000

  60,232,000

  +5,114,000

  Ireland

  1,970,000

  2,093,000

  +123,000

  Italy

  16,286,000

  18,202,000

  +1,916,000

  Luxembourg

  125,800

  137,600

  +11,800

  Netherlands

  1,388,300

  1,296,000

  -92,300

  United Kingdom

  22,566,000

  22,635,000

  +69,000

  Portugal

  1,200,000

  1,543,300

  +343,300

  Spain

  18,230,000

  18,851,200

  +621,200

  Peat-free Composts
  Dame Peggy Fenner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what incentives are available to the horticulture industry to use peat-free composts.

  Mr. Curry
  The incentive to use peat-free compost flows from the demands of the market.

  Set-aside Land
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the operation of rotational set-aside in United Kingdom relative to other EC countries(a) in general and (b) in respect of reducing the threshold tonnage for cereal production; what is the Government's policy with regard to reducing the number of exempted farms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  We have received a number of representations about various aspects of the set-aside arrangements under the arable area payments scheme. We have always argued that the threshold for the simplified scheme for small producers, which has no set-aside requirement, should be set at the lowest figure consistent with the need for a de minimis treatment of the very smallest producers.

  Gangmasters
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the activities of gangmasters in the farming industry.

  Mr. Curry
  Gangmasters play a role in the recruitment of casual agricultural labour at certain times of the year. Like other employers of agricultural labour, they are subject to monitoring by the Ministry to ensure compliance with agricultural wages orders.

  Cormorants
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cormorants were killed under licence to prevent serious damage to fisheries in(a) England arid (b) Wales in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Soames
  No cormorants have been killed under licence in Wales in the last 10 years. Details for England are as follows:

  Number

  1983

  12

  1984

  13

  1985

  14

  1986

  14

  1987

  19

  1988

  12

  1989

  11

  1990

  11

  1991

  18

  1992

  13

  Total

  137

  Fisheries
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will initiate discussions with other EC fishing nations and the European Commission to ensure a reduction in the European fishing effort in British waters pari passu with that enforced by the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1992.

  Mr. Curry
  Working group discussions on the implementation of the 1993–96 multi-annual guidance programmes are already taking place in Brussels. I assured the House last July that we would not reduce days at sea here unless we are satisfied that other member states are taking effective steps to meet their targets.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will suspend the implementation of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1992.

  Mr. Curry
  No.

  Food Hygiene
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure the effective application of the Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1991.

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  A statutory code of practice issued under section 40 of the Food Safety Act gives guidance to food authorities on the enforcement of the temperature control requirements contained in the Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1990 and 1991. This code sets out a staged approach to enforcement, with particular emphasis on educating and advising proprietors of food businesses. The Government have also published guidelines for enforcement authorities and the catering industry giving advice on the requirements of the regulations. In addition, officials have held meetings with representatives of the food industry to discuss the application of the regulations.

  Farm Shops
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent farmers are permitted or encouraged to maximise the range of goods sold in their farm shops, including the buying in from wholesalers of other food and related products.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 April, Official Report, column 320. It will be for the local planning authority to take into account the advice in planning policy guidance note 7, together with all other material planning considerations, in reaching planning decisions on farm shops in the countryside.

DEFENCE

  Bosnia
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 23 April,Official Report, column 242, whether the United Nations has agreed to reimburse all the costs of British Forces in Bosnia, including the national support element; what will be the basis of calculation for charging the costs; whether British forces in Bosnia will be obliged to seek United Nations sanction for replacement items of equipment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Nations will reimburse costs for all British forces in Bosnia in accordance with established rules, in so far as contributions from member states allow. Our charges are calculated on an extra cost basis. From 1 April, the United Nations assumed responsibility for deciding operational requirements. Payments for any equipment replaced by the British forces will be made only with the prior agreement of the United Nations.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions are given to commanding officers in Bosnia with regard to contacts with the press.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Written guidelines are given to commanding officers in Bosnia. These guidelines are structured to help commanding officers, most of whom have no experience of the media or press, on how best to deal with press inquiries. These guidelines supplement those issued by the United Nations, which has overall responsibility for relations between the United Nations protection force in the former Yugoslavia and the media.

  Laser-guided Bombs
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how he intends to meet the RAF's future requirements for laser-guided bombs.

  Mr. Aitken
  The 1992 Statement on the Defence Estimates—paragraph 421—noted the remarkable results achieved in Operation Granby by precision-guided munitions and that we were reviewing the mix of precision and non-precision munitions in the RAF's inventory. I am pleased to announce that my Department is today inviting tenders for the supply of new advanced low-level laser-guided bombs. These bombs will, in part, replace our existing Paveway II laser-guided bombs; they will be more flexible and accurate, and effective against a wider range of possible targets.
  19
  This competititive procurement is part of our programme to ensure that our armed forces continue to be provided with up-to-date and highly capable equipment.

  Employment Costs
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the average daily costs attributable to the employment of(a) a lance corporal and (b) a trooper.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The average daily cost of a lance corporal is £107·30 and a trooper is £91·29.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy towards the reciprocated withdrawal of all sub-strategic nuclear weapons from the arsenals of NATO and Russia.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The alliance's strategic concept published in November 1991 makes clear that NATO continues to require sub-strategic nuclear forces, albeit at a significantly reduced level, as an essential link between conventional and strategic nuclear forces.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the planned Trident deployment is capable of accommodating both the United Kingdom's entire sub-strategic and strategic nuclear force requirements;

  (2) if United Kingdom Trident submarines are capable of deploying missiles that are assigned a sub-strategic role alongside missiles that are assigned a strategic role, within the same submarine;

  (3) what is his Department's policy towards the development of a stand-off capability for the United Kingdom's air-launched sub-strategic nuclear weapons;

  (4) what assessment his Department has made as to the cost savings that would result from the deployment of the United Kingdom's sub-strategic nuclear capability within the Trident force deployment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are continuing to study a range of possible options for our long-term sub-strategic nuclear capability, including the possible use of Trident in this role. An announcement will be made at the appropriate time.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment of the implications of the collapse of the Warsaw treaty organisation for the operational effectiveness of the United Kingdom's air-launched sub-strategic nuclear force.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom's force of dual-capable aircraft remains fully capable of carrying out its sub-strategic nuclear role.

  Nuclear Free-fall Bombs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the military rationale for the continued deployment of free-fall nuclear bombs by the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have a continuing need for a sub-strategic nuclear capability, as an essential link between conventional and strategic nuclear forces.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the means by which his Department will 20
  demonstrate to other countries that the recent reduction in the number of nuclear free-fall bombs deployed by the United Kingdom has been implemented.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In keeping with the practice of successive Governments, we do not make public detailed information on our nuclear stockpile size. The reduction of our free-fall bomb holdings by over a half is currently being implemented. The question of verification does not arise.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what improvements have been implemented to extend the operational life of the WE177 nuclear bomb beyond the 1990s.

  Mr. Aitken
  It is not in the interest of national security to discuss details of the configuration of nuclear weapons. However, the WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb is expected to remain serviceable well into the first decade of the next century.

  Polaris Submarines
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the information regarding the number of missiles and warheads deployed on the Polaris submarines when they first entered service was released into the public domain.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  This information was first provided in defence open government document 87/01 "Trident and the Alternatives, Modernising the United Kingdom Strategic Nuclear Deterrent Force".

  Married Quarters, Plymouth
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the sale of surplus married quarters at Mantle gardens, Barne Barton, Plymouth, to Devon and Cornwall housing association to be completed.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Devon and Cornwall housing association has requested that completion of the deal should be delayed. The properties are now being seriously damaged by vandals, however, and in order to protect the interests of the taxpayer and to ensure the early reuse of the dwellings, arrangements are now in hand to sell the estate on the open market.

  Adriatic (Port Monitoring)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the information available to him on the actions taken by NATO or the WEU monitoring forces in the Adriatic in relation to the passage to Montenegrin ports of each of the motor vessels Dimitrakis, Novotsak II and East River, showing the dates on which each was identified, challenged or boarded, and the purported port of destination.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I have been asked to reply.

  MV Dimitrakis was boarded by a NATO monitoring vessel on 18 January 1993. It gave its port of destination as Koper—Slovenia—and was allowed to proceed. It then diverted to the Montenegrin port of Bar; on emerging, it was intercepted and towed to Brindisi for inspection.

  MV Novotsak II was boarded by a Western European Union vessel on 23 January 1993. Having declared Venice

  21
  as its port of destination, it was allowed to proceed. It then diverted to Bar, where it remains. We have asked the Russian authorities to take up the matter with the vessel's owners.

  MV East River was intercepted, while stationary in international waters, by a NATO vessel on 11 March. It declared its port of destination as Venice. It claimed to have engine, gyro and radar problems; an offer of assistance was declined. Some hours later it was seen heading for Bar; NATO vessels were unable to prevent it reaching Montenegrin territorial waters. The Liberian authorities have suspended the ship's licences. We have asked the Greek authorities to pursue the matter with the ship's owners.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Education Grants
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of St ate for Northern Ireland (1) how many persons are receiving grants from each of the five area education boards to attend tertiary education institutions in Great Britain;

  (2) how many persons are receiving grants from each of the five area education boards to attend tertiary education institutions in the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  The number of awards made by each of the education and library boards, in the current academic year, in respect of attendance at tertiary education institutions in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland is as follows:

  Board

  Great Britain Number

  Republic of Ireland Number

  Belfast

  1,369

  130

  South Eastern

  3,176

  134

  Western

  2,097

  221

  North Eastern

  2,646

  72

  Southern

  1,923

  235

  Energy
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will establish a scheme for assisting pilot energy projects in Northern Ireland along the same lines as that operating in Great Britain.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 29 April,Official Report, column 474.

  Road Schemes
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 26 April,Official Report, column 270, what conclusions there were of the economic assessments for each of the 11 major road schemes referred to in that answer.

  Mr. Atkins
  As stated previously, the assessments showed that each scheme represented good value for money.
  22

  Students
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the sums paid for(a) students of the Republic of Ireland and (b) other EC countries studying at tertiary level in Northern Ireland for the past four years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 30 April 1993]: Information on the breakdown between students from the Republic of Ireland and other EC countries is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost: £876,765 was paid in fees for students from EC countries in 1989–90; £2,616,822 in 1990–91; and £3,830,969 in 1991–92. The provisional figure for 1992–93 is £4,598,250.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of third-level student places required in Northern Ireland in 1995 up to the year 2000.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 30 April 1993]: It is estimated that the full-time equivalent places required for students on full-time and part-time higher education—undergraduate level—courses will be as follows:

  Number

  1995–96

  25,300

  1996–97

  25,900

  1997–98

  27,000

  1998–99

  28,300

  1999–2000

  29,800

  2000–01

  31,200

  Higher Education Funding
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes he plans in the provision of funds for universities and colleges of education over the next three financial years.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 30 April 1993]: None. The Department of Education for Northern Ireland will continue to provide the funding for universities and colleges of education in Northern Ireland.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) chairmen and (b) board members of training and enterprise councils come from small firms.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Records held centrally show that six training and enterprise council (TEC) chairmen and 127 TEC board members are from companies with 50 or fewer employees.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when she will reply to the question from the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras of 22 April on the cost per trainee of employment training.
  23
  Mr. McLoughlin
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 29 April 1993,Official Report, columns 499–500.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer of 27 April,Official Report, column 843, what assessment she has made of the reason for the census in April 1981 recording fewer people unemployed and seeking work that the equivalent figure for the same date produced by her Department.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department's definition of an unemployed person quite reasonably includes the criterion that he or she must be "actively" seeking work. The census of population does not include this criterion, which is why its figures are higher. This was the case in 1981 as well as in 1991.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps her Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The potential scope of the initiative will vary between Departments. This Department is examining the scope for involving the private sector in the ways suggested by the Treasury's interim guidance.

WALES

  Trawsfynydd
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what volumes of(a) radioactive waste and (b) spent nuclear fuel are currently stored at the Trawsfynydd nuclear plant; what amounts of (i) radioactive waste and (ii) spent nuclear fuel have been transported from the plant for disposal or processing, respectively; and what visits have been made to the plant by Euratom safeguards inspectors since it opened.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The volumes of radioactive waste and spent fuel stored at and transported from Trawsfynydd are operational matters for Nuclear Electric. The precise number of inspections carried out at Trawsfynydd is a matter for the EC Euratom safeguards directorate and the operator. I understand, however, that the objectives of Euratom require that this type of plant should be inspected about three or four times each year.

  Nursing Clinical Grades
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by what date he expects all nursing clinical grading appeals to have been decided.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I expect appeals at the local level to be completed soon. As more appeals continue to come 24
  through to the Welsh and national—negotiating council —levels, I cannot forecast when all such appeals will be completed. A number of procedural changes aimed at significantly speeding up the appeals process are being discussed within the Nursing and Midwifery Staffs Negotiating Council.

  Child Protection Registers
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information is available to his Department on the numbers of children included on child protection registers; and if he will indicate the level of disaggregation of the available data.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The number of children recorded on local authority child protection registers is published annually, showing numbers on the registers, additions and removals by category of abuse, age and sex.

  A copy of the child protection register statistics for Wales in 1991 can be found in the Library of the House.

  Rented Accommodation
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are being taken to help Welsh local authorities improve the quality and quantity of privately rented accommodation.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  More than £16·5 million has been made available to local authorities in Wales over the last three years to support schemes to improve the quality and quantity of privately rented accommodation. These schemes involve improvements in the condition and management of rented homes, including houses in multiple occupation, and increases in the supply of homes through the conversion of under-utilised accommodation providing flats above shops, for example.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will break down into the category of jobs(a) created and (b) safeguarded, the total jobs he referred to as arising from inward investment in 1992–93 in his speech to the Council of Welsh Districts on economic development on Wednesday 21 April in Rhyl; and what information he can provide on the county-by-county location of such promised jobs also broken down by (i) created and (ii) safeguarded;

  (2) if he will provide a county-by-county breakdown of the forecast expenditure figure of £949 million, referred to as arising from inward investment in 1992–93 in his speech to the Council of Welsh Districts on economic development on Wednesday 21 April in Rhyl.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The county-by-county breakdown of inward investment recorded for Wales during 1992–93 is as shown in the following schedule. The figures are based on information provided by companies at the time the projects were recorded and have not been amended to take account of subsequent developments.
  25

  County

  New Jobs

  Safeguarded Jobs

  Total Jobs

  Capital Expenditure

  (£ million)

  Clwyd

  1,579

  835

  2,414

  332

  Dyfed

  132

  875

  1,007

  106

  Gwent

  1,396

  2,080

  3,476

  134

  Gwynedd

  618

  391

  1,009

  26

  Powys

  653

  95

  748

  7

  Mid Glamorgan

  1,206

  1,672

  2,878

  126

  South Glamorgan

  785

  959

  1,744

  181

  West Glamorgan

  258

  324

  582

  37

  Totals

  6,627

  7,231

  13,858

  949

  Moles (Strychnine)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of permits issued by his Department's officials authorising the use of strychnine for mole control and the overall amount of strychnine used for mole control for each of the last five years.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Permits

  Amount (gms)

  1988

  2,421

  12,084

  1989

  2,239

  11,289

  1990

  1,607

  8,575

  1991

  1,489

  6,789

  1992

  1,550

  8,421

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what procedures are followed to ensure that the equal opportunities policies of the civil service are maintained if a function or service is contracted out as part of the market testing programme.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  If, following a market testing exercise, a function or service is contracted out but the individuals carrying it out remain civil servants they will continue to be covered by civil service equal opportunities policies.

  Where services are contracted out to private companies, the Government do not intend to require particular employment policies and practices and such requirements will not be included in tender documents. EC directives impose restrictions on the Government's ability to take account of non-commercial matters. Subject to these restrictions, Departments and agencies may wish to give prospective contractors the opportunity to provide information on their employment policies and practices, including equal opportunities, that such contractors may believe is relevant to their ability to fulfil the contract for which they are bidding.

  Charterline
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the contract for the Charterline was awarded as a result of a competitive tendering exercise.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Yes.
  26

  Fourth Framework Document
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his response to the Commission's second working document on the fourth framework presented by Professor Ruberti.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  The United Kingdom is in the process of preparing a response to the Commission's second working document on the EC's fourth framework programme for research and development, which will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Astronomy
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what public funds have been devoted to the support of astronomy in each of the past 10 years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Expenditure on astronomy by the Science and Engineering Research Council, including on related areas such as solar terrestrial physics and planetary science, has been as follows:

  £ million

  1983–84

  40·8

  1984–85

  46·3

  1985–86

  48·4

  1986–87

  47·0

  1987–88

  50·9

  1988–89

  60·0

  1989–90

  66·1

  1990–91

  62·6

  1991–92

  66·8

  1992–93

  72·7

  Resources spent by universities on astronomy from funds provided by the higher education funding councils are not separately identifiable.

SCOTLAND

  Paintball
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of people employed(a) full time and (b) part time in the sport of paintball in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Relevant information is not held centrally to enable such an estimate to be made.

  Homelessness
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what are his plans for dealing with homelessness among 16 to 21-year-olds;

  (2) if he will establish an inquiry into homelessness among young people.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Local authorities have the statutory responsibility for dealing with homelessness. Almost £23 million in extra capital allocations have been made available to local authorities over the financial years 1991–93 to help the homeless. The first £15 million was aimed specifically at young, single homeless people. In addition, £150,000 has been made available over three years under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 for the development of projects to support young, single homeless people in Scottish cities who are roofless or at risk of becoming so and to reduce the risk of them moving to London.

  We commissioned, and published in February, the report of the Glasgow university study, "Homeless and Young People in Scotland", and are consulting widely on its recommendations. Our current review of the code of guidance on homelessness will include interviews with homeless applicants, including young people; and the parallel survey of housing authorities' policy and procedures will also cover young people.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many 16 to 21-year-olds last year were turned away from temporary accommodation projects; and what is his latest estimate of the number of 16 to 21-year-olds sleeping rough;

  (2) how many 16 to 21-year-olds have declared themselves homeless to local authorities and voluntary organisations in each year since 1985.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on those turned away from temporary accommodation is not collected centrally. The available information on the numbers sleeping rough is due to be published later this month in the 1991 census report for Scotland, part 1.

  1988

  Sitting tenants

  Third parties

  Area/estate

  Number

  Hectarage

  Number

  Hectarage

  Use1

  Argyll

  Ardachy

  1

  479·27

  1

  14·73

  B

  Calgary

  —

  —

  1

  27·70

  B

  Sunart

  1

  0·10

  —

  —

  Inverness (Mainland)

  Tomich

  —

  —

  1

  0·08

  E

  Caithness

  West Watten

  1

  29·98

  —

  —

  Whiteinch

  —

  —

  1

  0·10

  A

  Sutherland

  Armadale

  —

  —

  1

  0·14

  A

  Skye and Raasay

  Kilmuir

  2

  11·93

  1

  0·05

  E

  —

  —

  1

  0·01

  B

  —

  —

  1

  11·48

  B

  —

  —

  1

  0·49

  A

  —

  —

  1

  0·08

  C

  Bracadale

  1

  0·17

  1

  0·97

  E

  Scorrybreck

  1

  0·11

  1

  0·25

  B

  —

  —

  1

  0·18

  A

  28
  The available information on households applying to local authorities is published in the statistical bulletins "Operation of the Homeless Persons Legislation in Scotland 1979–80 to 1990–91" (HSG/1992/1) and "Operation of the Homeless Persons Legislation in Scotland 1980–81 to 1991–92" (HSG/1992/6), both of which are available in the House Library. No information is collected from voluntary agencies on this matter.

  University of Edinburgh Dental School
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many redundancies are to take place in 1993 and 1994 at the University of Edinburgh dental school.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Decisions relating to personnel requirements, including redundancies, are a matter for the University of Edinburgh as employer of the staff concerned.

  Departmental Crofts
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those parts of his Department's crofting estate, other than house sites, which have been sold by his Department in each of the past five years, with acreages and purchases in each case.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The information requested is set out in the tables.

  Summary—number of sales from crofting estates 1988–1992

  Sales to Silting Tenants

  Sales to Third Parties

  Year

  Number

  Hectarage

  Number

  Hectarage

  1988

  10

  549·47

  22

  92·41

  1989

  26

  121·44

  17

  8·42

  1990

  24

  62·37

  18

  6·13

  1991

  21

  745·95

  16

  252·42

  1992

  22

  75·98

  14

  1,008·86

  103

  1,555·18

  87

  1,368·24

  29

  Sitting tenants

  Third parties

  Area/estate

  Number

  Hectarage

  Number

  Hectarage

  Use1

  Rassay

  —

  —

  1

  0·03

  A

  —

  —

  1

  0·01

  A

  —

  —

  1

  0·04

  B

  Western Isles

  Borve, Harris

  —

  —

  1

  12·73

  G

  Benbecula

  —

  —

  1

  22·96

  G

  —

  —

  1

  0·09

  A

  Eolingarry, Barra

  —

  —

  1

  0·06

  A

  Vatersay

  —

  —

  1

  0·10

  A

  Newton, North Uist

  —

  —

  1

  0·13

  A

  Northern Isles

  Stove, Orkney

  3

  27·91

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  10

  549·47

  22

  92·41

  Keynote use:

  1 A = Residential.

  B = Local authority—Recreation/residential.

  C = Local authority—Roads/water.

  D = Forestry Commission—Forestry.

  E = Commercial—Private sector.

  F = Government Department.

  G = Private—Agricultural.

  1989

  Sitting tenants

  Third parties

  Area/estate

  Number

  Hectarage

  Number

  Hectarage

  Use1

  Argyll

  Kinlochlaich

  1

  0·26

  —

  —

  —

  Ardachy

  —

  —

  1

  0·08

  A

  Inverness (Mainland)

  Inshes

  1

  0·89

  —

  —

  —

  Woodside of Culloden

  1

  25·58

  1

  0·42

  A

  Tomich

  —

  —

  1

  5·62

  E

  Ross and Cromarty

  Broomhill

  1

  30·91

  —

  —

  —

  Balnabeen

  —

  —

  1

  0·17

  A

  Caithness

  Dunn and Scarmclate

  1

  35·80

  —

  —

  —

  Sutherland

  Armadale

  —

  —

  1

  0·28

  C

  1

  0·04

  C

  Borgie

  —

  —

  1

  0·19

  A

  Skye and Raasay

  Kilmuir

  7

  4·04

  1

  0·18

  C

  1

  0·35

  F

  1

  0·20

  A

  1

  0·18

  A

  Bracadale

  4

  1·93

  1

  0·10

  C

  1

  0·08

  A

  Kingsburgh

  1

  0·07

  1

  0·30

  A

  Claigan

  1

  0·08

  —

  —

  —

  Scorrybreck

  1

  0·23

  —

  —

  —

  Raasay

  1

  8·59

  —

  —

  —

  Western Isles

  Scaristavore, Harris

  1

  0·36

  —

  —

  —

  Luskentyre, Harris

  1

  0·07

  —

  —

  —

  Borve, Harris

  1

  0·09

  —

  —

  —

  Balranald, North Uist

  —

  —

  1

  0·06

  A

  Newton, North Uist

  1

  0·10

  A

  Benbecula

  3

  12·54

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  26

  121·44

  17

  8·42

  Keynote use:

  1 A = Residential.

  B = Local authority—Recreation/residential.

  30 31
  C = Local authority—Roads/water.

  D= Forestry Commission—Forestry.

  E =Commercial—Private sector.

  F =Government Department.

  G = Private—Agricultural.

  1990

  Sitting tenants

  Third parties

  Area/estate

  Number

  Hectarage

  Number

  Hectarage

  Use1

  Argyll

  Sunart

  1

  2·96

  1

  1·55

  E

  —

  —

  1

  0·01

  1

  Craignure

  —

  —

  1

  1·84

  A

  Islay

  —

  —

  1

  0·18

  B

  Inverness (Mainland)

  Milton of Culloden

  1

  4·02

  —

  —

  —

  Tomaig

  1

  0·05

  —

  —

  —

  Tomich

  —

  —

  1

  0·60

  E

  —

  —

  1

  0·12

  A

  Ross and Cromarty

  Kinbeachie

  1

  21·19

  —

  —

  —

  Sutherland

  Armadale

  4

  22·96

  —

  —

  —

  Skye and Raasay

  Bracadale

  4

  6·99

  1

  0·01

  C

  —

  —

  1

  0·09

  A

  Kilmuir

  7

  2·21

  1

  0·11

  A

  —

  —

  1

  0·04

  B

  —

  —

  1

  0·25

  E

  Kingsburgh

  1

  0·17

  1

  0·19

  A

  Scorrybreck

  2

  1·39

  —

  —

  —

  Raasay

  —

  —

  1

  0·13

  G

  Western Isles

  Newton, North Uist

  1

  0·33

  1

  0·11

  A

  Benbecula

  1

  0·10

  1

  0·01

  C

  —

  —

  1

  0·27

  C

  —

  —

  1

  0·23

  C

  Northern Isles

  Stove, Orkney

  —

  —

  1

  0·39

  C

  TOTAL

  24

  62·37

  18

  6·13

  Keynote use:

  1 A = Residential.

  B = Local authority—Recreation/residential.

  C = Local authority—Roads/water.

  D = Forestry Commission—Forestry.

  E=Commercial—Private sector.

  F = Government Department.

  G = Private—Agricultural.

  1991

  Sitting tenants

  Third parties

  Area/estate

  Number

  Hectarage

  Number

  Hectarage

  Use1

  Argyll

  Sunart

  1

  30·70

  —

  —

  White Hart Parks

  1

  1·57

  —

  —

  Inverness (Mainland)

  Tomich

  1

  1·64

  —

  —

  Ross and Cromarty

  Balnabeen

  1

  17·04

  —

  —

  Raddery

  —

  —

  1

  6·55

  G

  Caithness

  Forss

  1

  71·18

  1

  0·40

  C

  Skye and Raasay

  Raasay

  1

  0·07

  1

  0·02

  B

  32 33

  Sitting tenants

  Third parties

  Area/estate

  Number

  Hectarage

  Number

  Hectarage

  Use1

  —

  —

  1

  2·58

  G

  —

  —

  1

  0·55

  E

  Bracadale

  3

  560·81

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  0·78

  E

  —

  —

  1

  0·21

  A

  —

  —

  1

  0·06

  B

  Claigan

  —

  —

  1

  44·83

  D

  —

  —

  1

  186·46

  D

  Kingsburgh

  1

  5·17

  —

  —

  Kilmuir

  5

  0·63

  1

  4·74

  C

  —

  —

  1

  0·01

  A

  —

  —

  1

  0·09

  A

  Western Isles

  Barra

  1

  0·13

  1

  0·07

  A

  1

  0·05

  —

  —

  1

  0·07

  —

  —

  Benbecula

  —

  —

  1

  0·07

  A

  Luskentyre, Harris

  1

  0·04

  —

  —

  Northern Isles

  Stove, Orkney

  2

  56·82

  1

  5·00

  C

  TOTAL

  21

  745·92

  16

  252·42

  Keynote use:

  1 A = Residential.

  B = Local authority—Recreation/residential.

  C = Local authority—Roads/water.

  D = Forestry Commission—Forestry.

  E = Commercial—Private sector.

  F = Government Department.

  G = Private—Agricultural.

  1992

  Sitting tenants

  Third parties

  Area/estate

  Number

  Hectarage

  Number

  Hectarage

  Use1

  Argyll

  Sunart

  3

  4·34

  —

  —

  Inverness (Mainland)

  Tomich

  1

  0·76

  —

  —

  Inshes

  —

  —

  2

  0·30

  E

  Ross and Cromarty

  Raddery

  1

  6·96

  —

  —

  Caithness

  Dunn and Scarmclate

  1

  46·70

  —

  —

  Sutherland

  Armadale

  1

  5·42

  —

  —

  Skye and Raasay

  Bracadale

  3

  1·96

  1

  0·12

  E

  —

  —

  1

  0·58

  A

  —

  —

  1

  0·21

  B

  Kilmuir

  4

  2·21

  1

  0·05

  A

  —

  —

  1

  0·03

  B

  Kingsburgh

  2

  4·75

  —

  —

  —

  Scorrybreck

  —

  —

  1

  0·07

  B

  Claigan

  1

  0·02

  —

  —

  Raasay (Rona Island)

  —

  —

  1

  949·00

  G

  —

  —

  1

  57·39

  F

  Western Isles

  Borve, Harris

  3

  0·94

  —

  —

  Luskentyre, Harris

  1

  0·97

  —

  —

  Benbecula

  1

  0·95

  1

  0·13

  A

  —

  —

  1

  0·10

  A

  —

  —

  1

  0·20

  A

  Eoligarry, Barra

  —

  —

  1

  0·08

  A

  TOTAL

  22

  75·98

  14

  1,008·86

  34 35
  Keynote use:

  1 A = Residential.

  B= Local authority—Recreation/residential.

  C= Local authority—Roads/water.

  D = Forestry Commission—Forestry.

  E =Commercial—Private sector.

  F =Government Department.

  G = Private—Agricultural.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many special educational needs appeals are currently lodged with his Department under section 70 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980; what was the date on which each was received by his Department; and when he expects to give his decisions.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 April 1993]: My Department has before it 28 outstanding complaints under section 70 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 made to the Secretary of State about provision for special educational needs. Of these, 24 were lodged in 1991, two in 1992 and two in 1993.

  Delays have been caused by the exceptional receipt of 47 complaints in 1991 compared with the usual average of three per year.

  Decisions will be issued on all oustanding cases as soon as possible. One of these cases concerns one of the hon. Member's constituents. Subject to receipt of a response awaited from the education authority I expect the decision to be made in May.

  Housing
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to give special financial assistance to the housing estates within Glasgow, Pollok, constituency.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 April 1993]: Glasgow district council's housing revenue account capital allocation for investment in council housing in 1993–94 is £87·045 million. It is for the council to determine its own priorities for the use of these substantial resources in the light of local circumstances, including investment in housing estates in the Pollok area if this is seen as a priority. In addition, Scottish Homes plans to invest £9·515 million in Pollok in 1993–94 through expenditure on its own stock, grants to housing associations and private sector housing providers. The bulk of this will be for rented housing and will enable site starts to be made on approximately 260 housing units. The urban programme is also currently funding a variety of projects in Pollok which are sponsored by Strathclyde regional council and Glasgow district council, including industrial improvements, addiction care and neighbourhood and business centres which total £1·285 million in capital costs and £587,000 in annual running costs.

  Smear Tests
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if the terms of reference of the independent inquiry into the carrying out of smear tests at Inverclyde will include consideration of latest technologies available for checking slides;
  36
  (2) if the terms of reference of the independent inquiry into the carrying out of smear tests at Inverclyde will include the drawing up of a list of safeguards to ensure that the work is carried out to the highest possible standard.

  Mr. Lang
  The terms of reference of the independent inquiry are as follows:To inquire into the circumstances which led to a review of 20,000 cervical smear test results for the period 1987 to early 1992 undertaken at Inverclyde hospital laboratory.

  To report to the Minister of State and make recommendations.

  These terms will enable the inquiry team to take account of all relevant matters and to make the recommendations which they consider appropriate. The matters to which you refer will be drawn to the attention of the inquiry team.

  The membership of the inquiry team is as follows:

  Chairperson

  Dr. Euphemia McGoogan, senior lecturer in pathology, university of Edinburgh.

  Member

  Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, consultant cytopathologist, Northwick Park hospital, Middlesex.

  The non-medical members are:

  Ms Leeona Dorrian, advocate, Edinburgh.

  Professor Nick Day, professor of public health, university of Cambridge.

  Water and Sewerage
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to continue not to allow disconnections of domestic water supply in Scotland following reorganisation of water and sewerage services.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 14 December 1992 at column 79.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will carry out an assessment of the impact on(a) renal dialysis users and (b) people suffering from incontinence of the reorganisation of water and sewerage services in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: No decision on the future of water and sewerage services in Scotland has been taken. All relevant factors will be taken into account, once a decision has been taken.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total estimated expenditure necessary to bring water and sewerage standards in Scotland into line with all EC waste and water directives; and what is the likely time scale for carrying out that work.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: Estimated expenditure on these directives totals £2·5 billion over the next 15 years.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the CBI, the Scottish Council
  37
  for Development and Industry and the National Federation of Small. Businesses regarding the reorganisation of the water and sewerage services in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: My right hon. Friend has held no such meetings.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment has been made of the impact of the reorganisation of water and sewerage services in Scotland on(a) manufacturing and (b) service industries.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: An objective of restructuring the water and sewerage services in Scotland is to achieve an efficient service at the lowest reasonable cost to both industrial and domestic consumers.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in what way the future employment of people working in the water and sewerage service in Scotland is included in the assessment of options at present being undertaken; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: As the consultation paper "Investing for Our Future" made clear, staffing considerations will be taken fully into account in working out the detailed arrangements for the future of the services.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the British Medical Association and the British Association of Social Workers about the reorganisation of the water and sewerage services in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: The British Medical Association responded to the consultation paper "Investing For Our Future" and its response is on open file in St. Andrew's house library in Edinburgh. A copy can be obtained through the Library of the House. No representations have been received from the British Association of Social Workers.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current time scale for the reorganisation of the water and sewerage service in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]:The intention is that the reorganisation of water and sewerage services will proceed in parallel with the reform of local government.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what amounts are included in the 1993–4 estimates, and the estimated expenditure for 1994–5 and 1995–6, for the reorganisation of the water and sewerage services in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: Provision of £400,000 has been made in the current year to meet the costs of any further consultancy work which may be commissioned in connection with water and sewerage restructuring.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the consultants commissioned to carry out work on the options for the future of the water and sewerage service in Scotland.
  38
  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: Quayle Munro Ltd.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the White Paper on the future of the water and sewerage services in Scotland will be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: I will announce my decision on the future of water and sewerage services in Scotland in due course.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what level of cost-benefit analysis, efficiency audits and quality standards assessments have taken place in relation to the proposed reorganisation of the water and sewerage services in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: Reform of local government will require reorganisation of the water and sewerage services. The consultation paper "Investing For Our Future" set out eight options. These are being examined in the light of responses to the consultation paper. The objective is to put in place a structure which is capable of providing services of the highest quality, at lowest reasonable cost to the consumer and which can maintain and improve safeguards for the environment.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the CBI about the reorganisation of water and sewerage services in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: The CBI responded to the consultation paper "Investing For Our Future", and its response is on open file in St. Andrew's house library in Edinburgh. A copy can be obtained through the Library of the House.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the full cost of the work done in the options for the future of the water and sewerage service in Scotland; and what were the costs of(a) the Quayle Munro consultancy, (b) the preparation, printing and publication of the consultative document, (c) other consultancy costs, (d) legal advice on the feasibility of the options being considered and (e) in-house costs.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: The costs incurred on work on the options for the future structure of water and sewerage services in Scotland are as follows:

  (a) The total cost of consultancy work undertaken by Quayle Munro Ltd. is £101,602. The original contract price was £50,000 as announced in my reply given to the hon. Member on 26 October 1992, Official Report, columns 530–31. Since the report was submitted and used in the preparation of the consultation paper "Investing for our Future", further follow-up work has been commissioned and undertaken. The cost of this work was £51,602. These figures exclude value added tax.

  (b) Printing and publication of the consultation paper "Investing for our Future" cost £11,838, including value added tax.

  (c) No other consultancy costs have been incurred.

  (d) No external legal advice has been obtained.

  (e) The running costs of the division in the Scottish Office which deals with water and sewerage restructuring were £133,020 in 1992–93. Provision of £387,480 has been made to meet the costs of staff

  39
  working full time on this policy during 1993–94. Other staff work on this from time to time; it is not possible to provide an accurate figure at this time of the costs associated with their work.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the privatised water companies which have expressed an interest to his office on the issue of the future of Scotland's water and sewerage service.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 18 March 1993 at column 390.

ENVIRONMENT

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to take account of the wider economic and social case when he considers the report by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on the public consultation process on the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield.

  Mr. Maclean
  All relevant considerations will be taken into account.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the external legal opinion obtained by his Department on the HMIP public consultation process on Sellafield's radioactive discharges and the THORP project.

  Mr. Maclean
  In line with the Government's usual practice, I do not intend to publish the legal opinion referred to.

  Housing Corporation
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to ensure that the Housing Corporation purchases land at a price fixed by valuation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Housing Corporation has the power, under section 88 of the Housing Associations Act 1985, to purchase land for certain purposes. However, it is its current policy, and has been for some time, not to do so. My Department has no proposals to encourage the corporation to do so.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 25 March concerning a constituent.

  Mr. Baldry
  I replied to the hon. Member's letter on Thursday 29 April.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much community charge was outstanding to local authorities on 31 March; and if he will give details of the amount outstanding to each local authority.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: I will make an estimate of the level of community charge arrears
  40
  for all local authorities at 31 March 1993 once collection figures for the fourth quarter of 1992–93 are available. There is insufficient information available centrally to make a reliable estimate for each local authority. However, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy regularly publishes estimates for individual authorities: figures for 31 March 1991 and 31 March 1992 are available in the Library of the House.

HEALTH

  Personal Social Services
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on implementation of the reductions in central Government personal social services expenditure in 1993–94.

  Mr. Yeo
  Central Government support for local authority personal social services is not being reduced in 1993–94. Overall standard spending this year, including the special transitional grant for community care, is £5,585 million, an increase of 15 per cent. on 1992–93.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she last met representatives of the Association of Directors of Social Services to discuss the provision of personal social services during the current financial year.

  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I met representatives of the Association of Directors of Social Services on 26 April.

  Consultancies
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by regional health authorities on consultancies in the year 1992–93.

  Mr. Sackville
  We do not collect information specifically on the cost of consultancies. However, expenditure on "contract staffing and consultancy services" by the 14 regional health authorities was some £27 million in 1991–92. This does not include expenditure at district level.

  NHS Trusts
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for health what changes she is planning to the consultation precedure leading to the establishment of NHS trusts.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Mr. Boyce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to improve the public accountability of NHS trusts; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Every year each national health service trust issues a summary business plan and annual report, makes its accounts publicly available and holds a public meeting. In addition, the trusts issue a strategic plan every three years. This is a minimum requirement which many trusts exceed. It represents a high level of public accountability which requires no improvement.

  Feathers Project
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how projects to help mental health patients and other invalids, such as the Feathers project, are funded by her Department; and what plans she has to increase the number of such projects.

  Mr. Yeo
  There are various schemes of grant support, including the mental illness specific grant, available for such projects. The level of funding under these schemes is reviewed annually.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the current position on hospital waiting lists.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) earlier today.

  Mr. Hawksley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average time which patients had to wait for treatment(a) in March 1988 and (b) in March 1992.

  Mr. Sackville
  The latest data on patients admitted for treatment show 50 per cent. were admitted immediately and of those who were admitted from waiting lists half had waited less than five weeks. The average waiting time of patients on waiting lists has fallen from nine months in March 1988 to five months in March 1992.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are waiting more than two years for surgery in the Worcester district health authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  None. Provisional figures show that there were no patients waiting more than a year in the Worcester district health authority as at 31 March 1993.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients had waited for treatment for over a year in the North Western region(a) in March 1991 and (b) in the latest month for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Latest provisional figures for 31 December 1992 show that since March 1991 the number of patients waiting for more than a year in North Western region has fallen by 48 per cent. from 14,078 to 7,332. In England over the same period the number waiting over a year fell by 52 per cent. to 80,585—the lowest figure ever recorded.

  Mr. Deva
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients had waited for treatment for over a year in the South West Thames region(a) in March 1991 and (b) in the latest month for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Latest provisional figures for 31 December 1992 show that since March 1991 the number of patients waiting for more than a year in the South West Thames region has fallen by 62 per cent. from 8,969 to 3,383.

  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards the patients charter 42
  guarantee that from 31 March no one should wait more than 18 months for a hip or knee joint replacement or a cataract operation.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The guarantee has been successfully introduced. Reports from regions indicate that at 31 March 1993 there were no patients waiting more than 18 months for a hip replacement or a cataract operation and only eight patients waiting more than 18 months for a knee replacement. We are pressing the regions involved to ensure that these patients are treated immediately.

  Private Investment
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's policy on private investment in the health service.

  Mr. Sackville
  The national health service is encouraged to use private finance where it gives the best value for money, so that public funds go further in buying services for NHS patients. Business cases for schemes above £10 million need central approval and those between £1 million and £10 million need regional approval, with sampling at national level.

  Community Care
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary f State for Health what steps she is taking to assess the ability of local authority social services departments to meet their statutory functions under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.

  Mr. Yeo
  Implementation of the community care reforms will be thoroughly monitored and evaluated. Regional health authorities and the social services inspectorate will monitor the progress made by authorities in a series of sample studies and a comprehensive round of monitoring in the autumn. A national users and carers group will also help to give users and carers perspective on the progress made. A research programme will evaluate the effect of the reforms. We will continue to receive detailed statistical and financial information. The Audit Commission is also undertaking its own monitoring.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of progress of the community care reforms in Leicestershire; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Our new community care arrangements came into operation in all parts of the country on 1 April. It is now for local health and social services authorities to make use of the opportunities they present. Our monitoring showed Leicestershire to be well prepared to take on its new opportunities to give users and carers a better service.

  Junior Doctors
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to bring forward the date for achieving the target of an average of 72 hours per week for junior doctors.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Mayday Hospital, Croydon
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the level of income for the Mayday health care trust hospital, Croydon, in 1992–93; and what is the projected level of income for 1993–94.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The total income for the Mayday health care national health service trust in 1992–93 is forecast as £63,382,000. The trust is projecting a total income of £62,262,000 for 1993–94.

  Adoption
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received in respect of the review of adoption law.

  Mr. Yeo
  The review received a general welcome. A total of 170 organisations and 179 individuals responded to the public consultation. All comments received have been given careful consideration in drawing up proposals for future legislation.

  GP Fund Holders
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the cost-effectiveness of general practitioner fund holding.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  General practitioner fund holding represents excellent value for money, with improvements to patient care being delivered innovatively and efficiently.

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner fund-holding practices are in operation in the South East Thames region; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Eighty-eight.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations her Department has received regarding the payment for prescription charges by youth training scheme trainees.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In the last 12 months we have received nine letters from hon. Members and one letter from a member of the public.

  General Practitioners (London)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there are in Greater London.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  At 1 October 1992—the latest date for which figures are available—there were 3,810 general medical practitioners in Greater London. This figure is still provisional.

  Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of Coventry district health authority's latest proposals for Coventry and Warwickshire hospital; and what estimate has been made of the reduction in staff involved in the proposals.
  44
  Dr. Mawhinney
  These are matters for Coventry district health authority and Walsgrave hospitals national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. A. R. Guy, the chairman of Coventry district health authority, for details.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what consultation process the proposals of Coventry district health authority for Coventry and Warwickshire hospital are required to be subject; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Community Health Council Regulations 1985 (SI No. 304) require a district health authority to consult the community health council over any proposals it has for substantial variations to services. Coventry district health authority is about to begin such an exercise in respect of Coventry and Warwickshire hospital.

  Krypton Gas
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library copies of the results of research commissioned since 1978 by her Department on the possible health effects of the discharge of krypton gas into the environment.

  Mr. Sackville
  The National Radiological Protection Board has issued a number of publications which contain estimates of the collective exposures arising from routine discharges of radionuclides from United Kingdom sites: krypton 85 is among the radionuclides considered. The most recent of these is "NRPB-R231, Radiological impact of routine discharges from UK civil nuclear sites" published in 1990, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Drug Prescribing
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of the Pact system of monitoring prescribing in general practice in each of the last 10 years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Prescription analysis and cost (Pact) is an operational system of the Prescription Pricing Authority which was introduced in August 1988. The cost of operating the Pact system cannot be identified separately.

  Abortions
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of abortions which have now been performed under the provisions of the Abortion Acts; and how many and what percentage of those abortions were performed in emergency to save the life of the mother.

  Mr. Sackville
  A total of 3,591,618 legal abortions have been notified to the chief medical officers of England and Wales under the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967—this covers the period from the time when the Act came into force on 27 April 1968 until 31 March 1992, the latest date for which figures, provisional, are available. Of these, 136 —0·004 per cent.—were performed in emergency "to save the life of the pregnant woman".

  NHS Supplies Authorities
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service trusts use, partly or entirely, suppliers other than the National Health Service Supplies Authority; and what is the difference in their costs from those which would be incurred if they used the authority for all supplies.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally.

  High Security Care
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to review the future of Rampton and Broadmoor hospitals.

  Mr. Yeo
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 25 March at column 695.

  Social Services, Greenwich
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the change in standard spending assessment for social services in Greenwich if the 1991 census information were used for 1993–94.

  Mr. Yeo
  Population data from the 1991 census have already been incorporated in standard spending assessments (SSAs) for 1993–94. If information on social factors from the 1981 census were to be replaced by that available from the 1991 census, the SSA for personal social services for Greenwich for 1993–94 would increase by 9·8 per cent. The current review of SSAs will involve a number of further changes and may result in a different outcome when it is completed later this year.

  Women Specialists
  Mr. Boyce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her proposals to increase the number of women specialists.

  Mr. Sackville
  An increase in the number of women consultants is one of the goals of the Government's Opportunity 2000 initiative. Guidance has been issued on equal opportunities in the recruitment and selection of medical staff and objectives have been set for health authorities and trusts relating to the monitoring of candidates and the provision of training and guidance for chairs and other members of appointments committees. Steps are being taken to provide improved opportunities for flexible working and training—a report by the joint working party on flexible training is shortly to be published—and the reduction in the number of hours for which junior doctors are contracted will also make it easier for women with domestic commitments to undertake higher specialist training. In the surgical specialities, where the proportion of women is particularly low, the Department is providing funding to promote the women in surgical training scheme.

  Drug and Alcohol Misuse
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received concerning her decision to lift the ring-fence on grants to social services departments for drug and alcohol services; and if she will make a statement.
  46
  Mr. Boyce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from organisations providing residential drug and alcohol projects concerning the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.

  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from organisations providing residential drug and alcohol projects concerning the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Department has received a number of representations from projects providing residential care for alcohol and drug misusers about the changes introduced by this Act. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have both also met the national voluntary organisations representing alcohol and drug misuse services, leading service providers and representatives of local authority associations to discuss the changes.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if there will be a decrease in her Department's contribution to the cost of dental treatment for non-exempt adults in the forthcoming year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information will not be available until the financial year 1993–94 is complete.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many family health services authorities have been unable to provide emergency dental services in each week since 20 November 1992.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: The information is contained in the table. General dental practitioners have an obligation under their terms of service to provide emergency cover to their registered patients. They may also offer emergency treatment to non-registered patients. Family health services authorities make arrangements for those patients who are not registered.

  General dental service

  Number of FHSAs unable to provide emergency dental treatment from week ending 27 November 1992 to week ending 23 April 1993

  Week ending

  Number of FHSAs

  27 November 1992

  7

  4 December 1992

  6

  11 December 1992

  6

  18 December 1992

  6

  25 December 1992

  1—

  1 January 1993

  1—

  8 January 1993

  6

  15 January 1993

  6

  22 January 1993

  6

  29 January 1993

  6

  5 February 1993

  6

  12 February 1993

  6

  19 February 1993

  6

  26 February 1993

  4

  5 March 1993

  7

  12 March 1993

  5

  19 March 1993

  5

  26 March 1993

  6

  2 April 1993

  6

  9 April 1993

  5

  47

  Week ending

  Number of FHSAs

  16 April 1993

  5

  23 April 1993

  7

  1 No data were requested for weeks ending 25 December 1992 and 1 January 1993.

  Number of patients contacting FHSA asking for assistance in obtaining NHS dental treatment—week ending 27 November 1992 to week ending 23 April 1993

  FHSA

  27 November

  4 December

  11 December

  18 December

  Cleveland

  3

  10

  4

  3

  Cumbria

  138

  120

  65

  80

  Durham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Northumberland

  4

  6

  5

  2

  Gateshead

  3

  3

  1

  4

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  10

  9

  5

  4

  North Tyneside

  6

  1

  0

  2

  South Tyneside

  6

  0

  6

  6

  Sunderland

  6

  25

  8

  10

  Humberside

  114

  121

  102

  89

  North Yorkshire

  22

  10

  16

  15

  Bradford

  4

  5

  2

  3

  Calderdale

  2

  1

  1

  0

  Kirklees

  20

  10

  11

  6

  Leeds

  50

  20

  35

  30

  Wakefield

  16

  11

  5

  6

  Derbyshire

  145

  95

  85

  102

  Leicestershire

  7

  14

  23

  17

  Lincolnshire

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  22

  9

  15

  15

  Barnsley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Doncaster

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rotherham

  2

  1

  2

  2

  Sheffield

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  130

  127

  96

  97

  Norfolk

  105

  147

  99

  98

  Suffolk

  28

  16

  19

  6

  Bedfordshire

  35

  34

  45

  24

  Hertfordshire

  26

  36

  30

  13

  Barnet

  9

  10

  10

  12

  Brent and Harrow

  16

  11

  12

  11

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  16

  10

  13

  10

  Hillingdon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kensington Westminster

  45

  55

  35

  33

  Essex

  40

  52

  48

  33

  Barking and Havering

  18

  26

  10

  13

  Camden and Islington

  17

  24

  6

  17

  City and East London

  63

  63

  49

  41

  Enfield and Haringey

  28

  14

  19

  20

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  16

  16

  9

  12

  East Sussex

  68

  53

  53

  49

  Kent

  175

  149

  128

  137

  Greenwich and Bexley

  6

  6

  8

  5

  Bromley

  41

  49

  35

  12

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  20

  32

  12

  18

  Surrey

  39

  58

  18

  45

  West Sussex

  66

  63

  53

  51

  Croydon

  7

  8

  6

  4

  Kingston and Richmond

  25

  35

  33

  40

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  14

  0

  24

  21

  Dorset

  100

  79

  101

  78

  Hampshire

  52

  58

  29

  44

  Wiltshire

  83

  77

  91

  72

  Isle of Wight

  47

  29

  33

  27

  Berkshire

  66

  65

  68

  57

  Buckinghamshire

  29

  67

  36

  33

  Northamptonshire

  77

  63

  47

  34

  Oxfordshire

  75

  61

  56

  48

  Avon

  101

  104

  95

  71

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  53

  56

  57

  53

  Devon

  120

  150

  106

  95

  Gloucestershire

  105

  84

  60

  17

  Somerset

  28

  13

  9

  20

  Hereford and Worcester

  58

  23

  37

  23

  Shropshire

  34

  31

  32

  33

  Staffordshire

  28

  33

  29

  14

  48
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have contacted each FHSA asking for help in finding a dentist in each week since 20 November 1992; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: The information is contained in the tables.
  49

  FHSA

  27 November

  4 December

  11 December

  18 December

  Warwickshire

  13

  22

  15

  15

  Birmingham

  0

  0

  1

  3

  Coventry

  12

  6

  2

  23

  Dudley

  6

  3

  3

  1

  Sandwell

  2

  1

  2

  1

  Solihull

  3

  4

  4

  4

  Walsall

  1

  0

  2

  0

  Wolverhampton

  2

  0

  1

  2

  Cheshire

  18

  4

  7

  5

  Liverpool

  3

  2

  1

  0

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Sefton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wirral

  3

  3

  2

  4

  Lancashire

  58

  60

  72

  60

  Bolton

  6

  4

  0

  2

  Bury

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Manchester

  10

  7

  9

  2

  Oldham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rochdale

  4

  0

  0

  0

  Salford

  0

  10

  7

  0

  Stockport

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Tameside

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Trafford

  3

  0

  0

  0

  Wigan

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2,834

  2,685

  2,280

  2,060

  FHSA

  8 January1

  15 January

  22 January

  29 January

  Cleveland

  10

  6

  0

  20

  Cumbria

  138

  42

  56

  60

  Durham

  0

  0

  3

  7

  Northumberland

  8

  3

  4

  4

  Gateshead

  5

  8

  0

  3

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  18

  13

  9

  6

  North Tyneside

  6

  1

  4

  0

  South Tyneside

  8

  10

  25

  7

  Sunderland

  32

  11

  8

  10

  Humberside

  195

  132

  140

  128

  North Yorkshire

  25

  41

  34

  35

  Bradford

  3

  5

  4

  6

  Calderdale

  2

  0

  1

  1

  Kirklees

  8

  7

  7

  12

  Leeds

  72

  45

  59

  62

  Wakefield

  9

  2

  0

  2

  Derbyshire

  190

  76

  100

  106

  Leicestershire

  35

  20

  0

  25

  Lincolnshire

  3

  2

  3

  2

  Nottinghamshire

  19

  12

  12

  11

  Barnsley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Doncaster

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rotherham

  3

  3

  1

  0

  Sheffield

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  300

  154

  125

  181

  Norfolk

  232

  148

  109

  128

  Suffolk

  33

  18

  17

  8

  Bedfordshire

  81

  62

  48

  51

  Hertfordshire

  38

  30

  25

  17

  Barnet

  18

  24

  40

  34

  Brent and Harrow

  17

  8

  11

  15

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  13

  12

  14

  12

  Hillingdon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kensington Westminster

  105

  90

  85

  65

  Essex

  34

  35

  46

  0

  Barking and Havering

  23

  11

  7

  9

  Camden and Islington

  19

  16

  20

  26

  City and East London

  136

  57

  66

  74

  Enfield and Haringey

  23

  14

  14

  14

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  7

  6

  5

  8

  East Sussex

  94

  60

  80

  61

  Kent

  190

  171

  160

  145

  Greenwich and Bexley

  12

  7

  4

  9

  Bromley

  43

  36

  49

  39

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  49

  39

  18

  20

  Surrey

  67

  34

  36

  25

  West Sussex

  158

  85

  85

  82

  50 51

  FHSA

  8 January1

  15 January

  22 January

  29 January

  Croydon

  12

  8

  9

  6

  Kingston and Richmond

  53

  47

  40

  30

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  57

  27

  22

  20

  Dorset

  186

  114

  100

  84

  Hampshire

  62

  30

  68

  30

  Wiltshire

  162

  70

  89

  75

  Isle of Wight

  148

  94

  134

  50

  Berkshire

  92

  58

  50

  35

  Buckinghamshire

  40

  33

  27

  45

  Northamptonshire

  84

  39

  57

  47

  Oxfordshire

  94

  83

  85

  70

  Avon

  182

  20

  94

  76

  Cornwall and Isles of Stilly

  127

  97

  105

  83

  Devon

  215

  117

  103

  160

  Gloucestershire

  200

  107

  95

  91

  Somerset

  15

  12

  8

  6

  Hereford and Worcester

  82

  44

  31

  35

  Shropshire

  71

  35

  36

  42

  Staffordshire

  31

  17

  27

  19

  Warwickshire

  26

  17

  17

  29

  Birmingham

  5

  4

  3

  2

  Coventry

  32

  18

  15

  17

  Dudley

  4

  1

  2

  2

  Sandwell

  2

  4

  2

  3

  Solihull

  12

  5

  11

  7

  Walsall

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Wolverhampton

  8

  3

  7

  4

  Cheshire

  7

  14

  8

  6

  Liverpool

  2

  2

  0

  3

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Sefton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wirral

  6

  4

  6

  9

  Lancashire

  79

  43

  85

  82

  Bolton

  8

  3

  1

  3

  Bury

  0

  2

  2

  0

  Manchester

  6

  3

  4

  4

  Oldham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rochdale

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Salford

  5

  10

  5

  3

  Stockport

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Tameside

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Trafford

  0

  3

  0

  0

  Wigan

  0

  0

  1

  1

  4,596

  2,745

  2,885

  2,714

  Note:

  1Week ending 8 January included additional patients contacting the FHSA in the previous two weeks.

  FHSA

  5 February

  12 February

  19 February

  26 February

  Cleveland

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Cumbria

  65

  50

  70

  72

  Durham

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Northumberland

  3

  5

  1

  0

  Gateshead

  4

  4

  6

  3

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  5

  7

  10

  3

  North Tyneside

  2

  0

  0

  2

  South Tyneside

  50

  26

  23

  10

  Sunderland

  8

  8

  13

  12

  Humberside

  95

  86

  102

  74

  North Yorkshire

  22

  35

  44

  41

  Bradford

  5

  4

  6

  5

  Calderdale

  0

  2

  2

  4

  Kirklees

  12

  10

  9

  10

  Leeds

  70

  39

  44

  51

  Wakefield

  4

  2

  1

  3

  Derbyshire

  93

  91

  48

  87

  Leicestershire

  32

  26

  24

  31

  Lincolnshire

  3

  0

  1

  2

  Nottinghamshire

  35

  13

  21

  17

  Barnsley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Doncaster

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rotherham

  2

  3

  2

  2

  Sheffield

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  147

  136

  142

  138

  Norfolk

  119

  136

  142

  114

  52 53

  FHSA

  5 February

  12 February

  19 February

  26 February

  Suffolk

  17

  18

  21

  18

  Bedfordshire

  52

  55

  69

  52

  Hertfordshire

  41

  26

  48

  24

  Barnet

  32

  25

  20

  20

  Brent and Harrow

  11

  14

  8

  11

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  11

  74

  10

  10

  Hillingdon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kensington Westminster

  73

  74

  64

  41

  Essex

  37

  38

  44

  34

  Barking and Havering

  13

  19

  21

  17

  Camden and Islington

  16

  12

  12

  9

  City and East London

  49

  47

  41

  47

  Enfield and Haringey

  24

  12

  13

  11

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  13

  8

  4

  9

  East Sussex

  57

  55

  73

  71

  Kent

  175

  103

  126

  136

  Greenwich and Bexley

  5

  4

  5

  18

  Bromley

  25

  31

  26

  20

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  22

  26

  31

  26

  Surrey

  37

  23

  20

  25

  West Sussex

  103

  52

  41

  83

  Croydon

  7

  9

  19

  8

  Kingston and Richmond

  28

  30

  30

  34

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  18

  20

  14

  29

  Dorset

  99

  111

  82

  103

  Hampshire

  78

  97

  54

  60

  Wiltshire

  92

  78

  84

  78

  Isle of Wight

  71

  73

  71

  63

  Berkshire

  25

  38

  35

  39

  Buckinghamshire

  43

  45

  37

  55

  Northamptonshire

  50

  40

  52

  42

  Oxfordshire

  60

  81

  80

  62

  Avon

  76

  84

  89

  107

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  109

  77

  97

  91

  Devon

  167

  110

  162

  119

  Gloucestershire

  71

  40

  669

  63

  Somerset

  5

  7

  5

  1

  Hereford and Worcester

  39

  30

  23

  36

  Shropshire

  21

  23

  31

  34

  Staffordshire

  20

  14

  33

  28

  Warwickshire

  20

  5

  14

  15

  Birmingham

  1

  5

  3

  7

  Coventry

  20

  11

  17

  12

  Dudley

  1

  1

  2

  0

  Sandwell

  2

  2

  2

  1

  Solihull

  12

  5

  7

  8

  Walsall

  0

  2

  1

  1

  Wolverhampton

  2

  3

  2

  2

  Cheshire

  6

  9

  14

  9

  Liverpool

  0

  1

  0

  1

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Sefton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wirral

  4

  5

  3

  1

  Lancashire

  54

  52

  58

  69

  Bolton

  4

  2

  4

  7

  Bury

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Manchester

  6

  8

  2

  3

  Oldham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rochdale

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Salford

  0

  0

  0

  20

  Stockport

  3

  3

  0

  0

  Tameside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wigan

  1

  1

  1

  0

  2,807

  2,527

  3,209

  2,576

  FHSA

  5 March

  12 March

  19 March

  26 March

  Cleveland

  13

  3

  3

  3

  Cumbria

  26

  130

  119

  100

  Durham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Northumberland

  2

  0

  2

  2

  Gateshead

  5

  1

  2

  3

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  4

  7

  2

  1

  North Tyneside

  0

  1

  0

  1

  54 55

  FHSA

  5 March

  12 March

  19 March

  26 March

  South Tyneside

  30

  20

  8

  6

  Sunderland

  12

  8

  7

  10

  Humberside

  73

  86

  82

  83

  North Yorkshire

  17

  32

  31

  34

  Bradford

  4

  4

  5

  5

  Calderdale

  4

  2

  3

  1

  Kirklees

  11

  6

  6

  10

  Leeds

  35

  38

  36

  43

  Wakefield

  0

  3

  2

  7

  Derbyshire

  72

  82

  96

  105

  Leicestershire

  21

  20

  21

  23

  Lincolnshire

  2

  2

  2

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  12

  12

  20

  28

  Barnsley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Doncaster

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rotherham

  2

  3

  3

  1

  Sheffield

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  89

  110

  134

  122

  Norfolk

  96

  102

  86

  80

  Suffolk

  15

  10

  7

  23

  Bedfordshire

  38

  48

  40

  34

  Hertfordshire

  30

  23

  11

  21

  Barnet

  18

  20

  18

  23

  Brent and Harrow

  7

  7

  9

  8

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  12

  10

  19

  8

  Hillingdon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kensington Westminster

  43

  37

  40

  53

  Essex

  43

  41

  33

  41

  Barking and Havering

  13

  9

  9

  7

  Camden and Islington

  20

  23

  10

  18

  City and East London

  37

  30

  40

  0

  Enfield and Haringey

  22

  10

  12

  11

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  7

  6

  6

  3

  East Sussex

  64

  67

  40

  74

  Kent

  120

  95

  114

  95

  Greenwich and Bexley

  16

  23

  15

  9

  Bromley

  29

  21

  29

  21

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  26

  27

  23

  21

  Surrey

  25

  29

  13

  15

  West Sussex

  69

  58

  40

  39

  Croydon

  12

  8

  11

  5

  Kingston and Richmond

  42

  37

  36

  33

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  21

  16

  22

  28

  Dorset

  100

  88

  94

  108

  Hampshire

  56

  38

  27

  27

  Wiltshire

  78

  89

  77

  88

  Isle of Wight

  76

  72

  62

  53

  Berkshire

  24

  35

  30

  26

  Buckinghamshire

  49

  56

  50

  45

  Northamptonshire

  42

  36

  30

  38

  Oxfordshire

  67

  78

  59

  54

  Avon

  97

  75

  78

  94

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  63

  64

  93

  123

  Devon

  110

  135

  150

  126

  Gloucestershire

  65

  76

  73

  65

  Somerset

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Hereford and Worcester

  30

  38

  25

  32

  Shropshire

  23

  31

  32

  25

  Staffordshire

  12

  26

  18

  19

  Warwickshire

  10

  13

  7

  11

  Birmingham

  3

  5

  5

  3

  Coventry

  18

  26

  15

  26

  Dudley

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Sandwell

  1

  3

  2

  2

  Solihull

  5

  5

  2

  9

  Walsall

  3

  0

  2

  0

  Wolverhampton

  1

  2

  4

  5

  Cheshire

  10

  18

  12

  9

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  0

  2

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Sefton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wirral

  2

  0

  7

  5

  Lancashire

  34

  66

  44

  44

  Bolton

  3

  6

  2

  1

  Bury

  2

  0

  2

  0

  Manchester

  2

  5

  3

  6

  Oldham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rochdale

  0

  0

  0

  1

  56 57

  FHSA

  5 March

  12 March

  19 March

  26 March

  Salford

  5

  0

  0

  10

  Stockport

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Tameside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wigan

  1

  0

  0

  0

  2,253

  2,414

  2,272

  2,316

  FHSA

  2 April

  9 April

  16 April

  23 April

  Cleveland

  4

  0

  3

  9

  Cumbria

  80

  54

  43

  51

  Durham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Northumberland

  3

  1

  2

  5

  Gateshead

  1

  0

  0

  2

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  5

  5

  2

  4

  North Tyneside

  0

  0

  1

  1

  South Tyneside

  11

  10

  2

  10

  Sunderland

  8

  8

  8

  11

  Humberside

  80

  95

  60

  85

  North Yorkshire

  26

  29

  17

  62

  Bradford

  4

  5

  4

  4

  Calderdale

  2

  2

  2

  0

  Kirklees

  10

  10

  5

  9

  Leeds

  32

  35

  36

  47

  Wakefield

  4

  2

  2

  2

  Derbyshire

  71

  70

  87

  92

  Leicestershire

  18

  20

  15

  31

  Lincolnshire

  2

  0

  0

  3

  Nottinghamshire

  15

  31

  9

  30

  Barnsley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Doncaster

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rotherham

  0

  0

  1

  2

  Sheffield

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  130

  170

  101

  142

  Norfolk

  92

  96

  66

  107

  Suffolk

  23

  30

  22

  20

  Bedfordshire

  56

  35

  5

  54

  Hertfordshire

  28

  15

  15

  23

  Barnet

  12

  15

  10

  26

  Brent and Harrow

  10

  14

  6

  8

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  8

  14

  14

  16

  Hillingdon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kensington Westminster

  53

  27

  37

  59

  Essex

  30

  24

  31

  15

  Barking and Havering

  9

  12

  11

  7

  Camden and Islington

  11

  4

  17

  14

  City and East London

  44

  46

  103

  36

  Enfield and Haringey

  12

  8

  16

  16

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  4

  2

  5

  2

  East Sussex

  51

  27

  53

  75

  Kent

  106

  113

  107

  121

  Greenwich and Bexley

  7

  4

  14

  17

  Bromley

  39

  20

  18

  27

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  18

  18

  18

  32

  Surrey

  16

  16

  28

  30

  West Sussex

  59

  65

  45

  39

  Croydon

  9

  6

  6

  2

  Kingston and Richmond

  28

  27

  34

  38

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  21

  17

  24

  14

  Dorset

  81

  75

  61

  63

  Hampshire

  33

  48

  18

  42

  Wiltshire

  71

  88

  55

  94

  Isle of Wight

  67

  35

  51

  66

  Berkshire

  29

  19

  26

  45

  Buckinghamshire

  35

  47

  40

  45

  Northamptonshire

  45

  46

  25

  50

  Oxfordshire

  44

  68

  58

  44

  Avon

  97

  81

  57

  84

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  97

  83

  62

  71

  Devon

  110

  92

  116

  112

  Gloucestershire

  57

  56

  37

  83

  Somerset

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Hereford and Worcester

  41

  45

  18

  53

  Shropshire

  25

  34

  32

  22

  Staffordshire

  24

  21

  24

  30

  58 59

  FHSA

  2 April

  9 April

  16 April

  23 April

  Warwickshire

  13

  9

  20

  14

  Birmingham

  1

  2

  2

  5

  Coventry

  20

  17

  8

  30

  Dudley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Sandwell

  0

  4

  2

  4

  Solihull

  6

  10

  1

  0

  Walsall

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Wolverhampton

  3

  3

  2

  4

  Cheshire

  6

  13

  9

  8

  Liverpool

  0

  10

  3

  2

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Sefton

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Wirral

  5

  2

  0

  0

  Lancashire

  74

  46

  48

  57

  Bolton

  5

  1

  2

  5

  Bury

  0

  3

  2

  0

  Manchester

  7

  6

  5

  4

  Oldham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rochdale

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Salford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Stockport

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Tameside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  4

  2

  Wigan

  2

  3

  0

  0

  2,255

  2,174

  1,895

  2,440

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have reported to each FHSA that they have been unable to arrange NHS dental treatment in each week since 20 November 1992; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: Since week ending 27 November 1992 only one family health services authority (FHSA), Norfolk, has reported that they have been unable to arrange treatment for some patients. The number of patients each week is contained in the table. The number of patients they have been unable to assist has been decreasing steadily from a high of 228 in week ending 26 March 1993 to 98 in week ending 23 April 1993. The FHSA is satisfied that national health service dental treatment can now be arranged for all patients requesting it.

  General Dental Service

  Week ending

  Number of patients Norfolk FHSA unable to arrange NHS dental treatment

  27 November 1992

  129

  4 December 1992

  139

  11 December 1992

  146

  18 December 1992

  158

  25 December 1992

  No data

  1 January 1993

  No data

  8 January 1993

  186

  15 January 1993

  188

  22 January 1993

  188

  29 January 1993

  202

  5 February 1993

  209

  12 February 1993

  220

  19 February 1993

  228

  26 February 1993

  228

  5 March 1993

  228

  12 March 1993

  228

  19 March 1993

  228

  26 March 1993

  228

  2 April 1993

  191

  60

  Week ending

  Number of patients Norfolk FHSA unable to arrange NHS dental treatment

  9 April 1993

  160

  16 April 1993

  130

  23 April 1993

  98

  No data were requested for weeks ending 25 December 1992 and 1 January 1993

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many FHSAs have referred patients who have been unable to obtain treatment from a general dental practitioner to(a) the community dental service, (b) the hospital dental service and (c) a salaried dentist, in each week since July 1992.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: The information is not held in the form requested. The number of family health services authorities which have referred patients who have been unable to obtain treatment from a general dental practitioner in the community dental service, hospital dental service or a salaried dentist is shown in the table.

  General dental service

  Number of FHSAs referring patients to CDS, HDS or salaried dentist from week ending 3 July 1992 to week ending 23 April 1993

  Week ending

  Number of FHSAs

  3 July 1992

  20

  10 July 1992

  24

  17 July 1992

  19

  24 July 1992

  18

  31 July 1992

  22

  7 August 1992

  26

  14 August 1992

  21

  21 August 1992

  24

  28 August 1992

  25

  4 September 1992

  23

  11 September 1992

  26

  61

  Week ending

  Number of FHSAs

  18 September 1992

  23

  25 September 1992

  24

  2 October 1992

  22

  9 October 1992

  24

  16 October 1992

  23

  23 October 1992

  24

  30 October 1992

  26

  6 November 1992

  28

  13 November 1992

  28

  20 November 1992

  27

  27 November 1992

  25

  4 December 1992

  26

  11 December 1992

  27

  18 December 1992

  27

  25 December 1992

  1—

  1 January 1993

  1—

  8 January 1993

  25

  15 January 1993

  28

  22 January 1993

  31

  29 January 1993

  30

  5 February 1993

  25

  12 February 1993

  26

  19 February 1993

  30

  26 February 1993

  28

  5 March 93

  27

  Number of dentists giving written notice to remove their names from the dental list—week ending 27 November 1992 to week ending 23 April 1993

  FHSA

  27 November

  4 December

  11 December

  18 December

  Humberside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Calderdale

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Kensington West and Chelsea

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Barking and Havering

  1

  1

  0

  0

  City and East London

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Enfield and Haringey

  1

  1

  0

  1

  East Sussex

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Kent

  2

  2

  0

  0

  Greenwich and Bexley

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Bromley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Bolton

  0

  0

  4

  0

  Stockport

  0

  2

  1

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  7

  6

  7

  1

  FHSA

  8 January

  15 January

  22 January

  29 January

  Humberside

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Calderdale

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kensington, Westminster and Chelsea

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Barking and Havering

  2

  0

  0

  0

  City and East London

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Enfield and Haringey

  5

  2

  0

  1

  East Sussex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Greenwich and Bexley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bromley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bolton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Stockport

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  7

  3

  1

  1

  FHSA

  5 February

  12 February

  19 February

  26 February

  Humberside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Calderdale

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Kensington, Westminster and Chelsea

  0

  0

  0

  0

  62

  Week ending

  Number of FHSAs

  12 March 1993

  28

  19 March 1993

  27

  26 March 1993

  25

  2 April 1993

  25

  9 April 1993

  25

  16 April 1993

  25

  23 April 1993

  23

  1 No data were requested for weeks ending 25 December 1992 and 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have given written notice to each FHSA to remove their names from the dental list since 20 November; and what is the total for this period.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: The information requested is contained in the table. The total number of dentists who have given written notice to family health services authorities to remove their names from the dental list since 20 November is 56. At 31 December 1992, the latest information held, there were 15,280 dentists in England compared with 15,308 at 31 December 1991.
  63

  FHSA

  5 February

  12 February

  19 February

  26 February

  Barking and Havering

  0

  0

  0

  0

  City and East London

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Enfield and Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  East Sussex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Greenwich and Bexley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bromley

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bolton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Stockport

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Total

  1

  1

  3

  1

  FHSA

  5 March

  12 March

  19 March

  26 March

  Humberside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Calderdale

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Kensington West and Chelsea

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Barking and Havering

  0

  0

  0

  0

  City and East London

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Enfield and Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  East Sussex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Greenwich and Bexley

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Bromley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bolton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Stockport

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Total

  0

  1

  0

  3

  FHSA

  2 April

  9 April

  16 April

  23 April

  Total

  Humberside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Calderdale

  1

  0

  0

  0

  4

  Barking and Havering

  0

  1

  0

  0

  5

  Kensington West and Chelsea

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  City and East London

  2

  0

  0

  3

  8

  Enfield and Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  11

  East Sussex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Kent

  0

  1

  0

  1

  6

  Greenwich and Bexley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  Bromley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Bolton

  1

  2

  0

  0

  7

  Stockport

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  Trafford

  1

  0

  0

  0

  3

  Total

  5

  4

  0

  4

  56

  Note: No dentists have asked for their names to be removed from the dental list in the other 76 FHSAs.

  Specialist Training
  Mr. Boyce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the Government's proposals for specialist training and accreditation.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A working group was established last year by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to consider the current system of specialist medical training in this country in the light of the European Community medical directives. The group has completed its work and presented its report. This makes wide-ranging recommendations which, if implemented, would have major implications for the way in which we train our doctors and provide health care to patients in national health service hospitals. We have, therefore, decided to seek the widest 64
  possible range of views on the recommendations before any decisions are reached. The report is being issued today for consultation. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  NHS Staff (Redundancies)
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions have been made in each regional health authority for staff redundancy payments in 1993–94; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally. No specific budget would be allocated to regional health authorities for redundancy payments; any such costs would be met from their overall allocation.

  Nurses
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses are currently employed in the national health service; at what average salary; and what were the equivalent figures in 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  The number of nurses and midwives—whole-time equivalents—employed in the national health service at 30 September 1991 and at 30 September 1979, excluding agency staff, are as follows:

  Adjusted

  11979

  378,050

  1991

  392,200

  1 The 1979 figure has been adjusted to reflect the fact that in 1980–81 the working week reduced from 40 to 37·5 hours.

  An estimated average annual nurse's salary is £14,560 with effect from 1 April 1992. This figure represents the basic staff nurse (scale D) earnings. There is no comparable figure available for 1979.

  AIDS
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people to date in the United Kingdom are recorded as having died from AIDS exclusively as a result of heterosexual activity.

  Mr. Sackville
  In the United Kingdom up to 31 March 1993, 349 deaths from AIDS had been recorded where the probable mode of transmission was heterosexual intercourse.

  Mr. Mohammed Saeed
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will appoint an independent inquiry to investigate the circumstances in which Mohammed Saeed practised as a general practitioner in Bradford although unqualified, and on the handling of complaints about Mr. Saeed during this time; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The circumstances surrounding the case have been thoroughly investigated by the courts and the Department, and I do not consider that any purpose would be served by appointing an independent inquiry.

  Children's Hospices
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what grants were made to children's hospices by health authorities in the financial year 1992–93; if she will list the hospices to which grants were made and the amounts given; what she expects the total amount allocated to such hospices in the current financial year to be; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  This information is not available centrally.

  National health service management executive letter EL(93)14, a copy of which is available in the Library, explains our intention that in future both adult and children's hospices should be supported within the general system of health service funding through the contracts which health authorities and fund-holding general practitioners make with providers in both the NHS and voluntary sectors.

  Health Managers
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost of performance-related pay for senior management to date in each English health authority.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally.

  Condensation
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been commissioned into illness resulting from condensation in the home; and what is the estimated cost to the health service each year of such illnesses.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department has commissioned no such research.

  Listeria
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many listeria cases were reported in 1992; and what assessment she has made of the effects of initiatives to combat the condition.

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1992, 112 cases of listeriosis in England and Wales were reported to the public health laboratory service. This figure is provisional.

  Listeriosis in this country remains a rare disease and its incidence has declined significantly since 1988, when there were 288 cases. The Chief Medical Officer continues to advise pregnant women and the immuno-compromised to avoid high risk foods such as pate and soft ripened cheeses. Advice about safe eating is kept under review.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken to assess the ability of local authority social services departments to meet their statutory functions in relation to community care for disabled people.

  Mr. Yeo
  The preparations of every local authority social services department, for the third stage of the Government's community care reforms which were implemented on 1 April 1993, were regularly monitored by the Department's social services inspectorate. We will continue to monitor the performance of all local authorities in implementing community care over the next year, and make a special study of the implications for disabled people in a sample of authorities.

  London Health Services
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will provide a breakdown of the sources of funding to be used to improve primary and community health facilities in London; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) if she will publish a table showing the total sums allocated from existing regional health authority budgets to pay for primary and community health care initiatives in London; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Funding of primary care developments in London will be resourced from a combination of central funds together with a shift over time in the balance of
  67
  existing funding in the Thames regions towards primary care, as suggested in "Making London Better". In 1993–94 these funds will amount to £40 million.

  In addition, the Government are making available £2·5 million from funds for centrally financed services to resource new voluntary sector initiatives in 1993–94, and will maintain funding at this level in 1994–95 and 1995–96. A further £1 million from central funds is being made available to launch the primary care challenge fund in 1993–94.

  This total of £43·5 million is additional to what would otherwise have been spent on primary care in London this year.

  Further details of the funding arrangements for 1993–94 will be announced shortly when the London implementation group has made public its decisions on the development plans produced by family health services authorities within the London initiative zone.

  Funding arrangements for the main primary care development programmes will be kept under review, year by year, as primary care plans are firmed up and acute sector reconfiguration proceeds. The Government are committed to investing £170 million of additional expenditure on capital projects in the London initiative zone over the next six years from 1993–94 and to ensuring that there is associated revenue investment to bring London's primary care services up to an appropriate standard by the end of the century.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the money earmarked for investment in primary health facilities in London in 1993–94 is additional to the funds earmarked for the NHS in the Chancellor's autumn statement; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None. The funding for the national health service in 1993–94 announced in the Chancellor's autumn statement anticipated the need to increase investment in primary health facilities in London as part of the implementation of "Making London Better". Private finance will be considered as a source of additional funds where it can be demonstrated to be a cost effective way of improving services to NHS patients.

  Vitamin K
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what future discussions are planned between the Medicines Control Agency and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry about the development of an oral preparation of vitamin K.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Details of any discussions between the Medicines Control Agency and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry in relation to applications for product licences are not disclosed for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

  Meat Products
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many registered premises were available for the manufacturing of meat foods to be sold in the retail market in the United Kingdom in each year since 1988;

  (2) how many registered premises that manufactured meat foods for the retail market in the United Kingdom have closed in each year since 1988.
  68
  Mr. Sackville
  Premises producing meat-based products were required to register with local authorities under the Food Act 1984. This requirement was superseded by the requirement in the Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991 that all premises used for food business, including those producing meat foods, are liable to be registered with the local food authority. In neither case are details held centrally.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  British National Party
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he routinely receives from the Metropolitan police on the membership and activities of the British National party.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  None.

  Civil Defence Regulations
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what arrangements he has made to issue draft new Civil Defence (Grant) Regulations for consultation; when the draft was circulated for consultation; to whom the draft was circulated for consultation; what was the date notified for the submission of comments on the proposals; what comments his Department has received on his draft proposals; if he will list those organisations and individuals that submitted comments; what plans he has to issue revised proposals; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make it his policy in any forthcoming civil defence regulations to place a duty upon local authorities to consult with any body or organisation specified in directions given to them by the designated Minister;

  (3) if he will make it his policy in any forthcoming civil defence regulations to place a duty upon local authorities to consult with bodies other than local authorities in the making of emergency plans;

  (4) what arrangements he has made to issue draft new Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations for consultation; when the draft was circulated for consultation; to whom the draft was circulated for consultation; what was the date notified for the submission of comments on the proposals; what comments his Department has received on the draft proposals; if he will list those organisations and individuals that submitted comments; what plans he has to issue revised proposals; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) if he will make it his policy in any forthcoming civil defence regulations to give local authorities the power to take preparatory steps to implement emergency plans without having received a request from the designated Minister;

  (6) if he will make it his policy in any forthcoming civil defence regulations to place a duty upon local authorities to arrange for the training of persons other than local authority staff;

  (7) if he will make it his policy in any forthcoming civil defence regulations to place a duty upon local authorities to plan for mitigating the effects of occurrences involving destruction of or danger to life or property other than those designated as emergencies or disasters;
  69
  (8) if he will ensure that any new civil defence regulations introduced in England and Wales are consistent with those proposed to be introduced in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Draft Civil Defence (Grant) (Amendment) Regulations and (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations were issued in England and Wales on 3 December 1992 for comments to be received by 22 January 1993. They were sent to the Association of County Councils, Association of Metropolitan Authorities, Association of London Authorities, London Boroughs Association, Association of District Councils, chief executives of county councils, London boroughs and metropolitan districts, the town clerk of the Corporation of London, clerks to the fire and civil defence authorities, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, county Emergency Planning Officers Society, Society of Industrial Emergency Services Officers, National Council for Civil Protection, Emergency Planning Association and i he civil protection co-ordination group.

  Comments have been received, and considered from the local authority associations, some 30 chief executives, the other organisations and also from the Institute of Civil Defence and Disaster Studies, Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association, British Red Cross and National Voluntary Aids Society.

  The draft Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations will be laid before Parliament for approval as soon as possible and will be made available for information to those who were consulted. Following the consultations, it is not proposed to proceed with the draft Civil Defence (Grant) (Amendment) Regulations.

  I propose to include provision in the draft regulations requiring local authorities to comply with any directions which are given by the designated Minister in the exercise of their functions, including consultation; for relevant local authorities and, where appropriate, fire and civil defence authorities only to be consulted in the making of plans; for local authorities, where they think it appropriate, to take preparatory steps to implement plans without a request from the designated Minister; and for local authorities to arrange training of persons other than their own staff.

  A duty requiring plans for mitigating the effects of occurrences involving destruction of or danger to life or property will not be included. Local authorities will however be encouraged to develop broadly based plans which will enable them to respond to all kinds of emergencies.

  The principles of the draft regulations will be consistent with those for Scotland.

  MDEA
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communication he has had with his Netherlands opposite number about the drug MDEA; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  My Department has raised with the Dutch enforcement agencies and at official level our concern at the amount of MDEA of Dutch origin which is seized in the United Kingdom. I shall study the reports resulting from these contacts with great care.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list nationals of the former Yugoslavia by country of origin, living in the United Kingdom, to the latest date, under their immigration status; how many have(a) applied to vary their permission to remain in the United Kingdom and (b) have lodged appeals against refusal to remain in the United Kingdom and are awaiting decisions on applications to remain in the United Kingdom;

  (2) how many nationals of the former Yugoslavia are living in the United Kingdom; if he will list the numbers by country of origin; and how many have entered the United Kingdom since 1990.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information on total passenger admissions from the former Yugoslavia in the years 1990–92 is given in the table.

  Nationals of the former Yugoslavia given leave to enter the United Kingdom1

  Number of persons

  1990

  69,700

  1991

  59,800

  1992

  250,100

  1 The majority were visitors who were given leave to enter for up to six months.

  2 Provisional figure.

  Comprehensive reliable information on embarkations is not available.

  In the period January 1992 to March 1993 inclusive, around 6,300 nationals of the former Yugoslavia—excluding dependants—applied for asylum in the United Kingdom, 2,220 at ports on arrival and 4,080 after entry. The large majority of these applications are still under consideration.

  Comprehensive information on recent applications to vary leave is not yet available. For information on decisions in 1992 on variation of leave applications I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 22 March 1993, column 448.

  Information about appeals against refusals of variation of leave applications is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Prison Transport
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the deaths that have occurred in cellular vans over the last 10 years, citing name, place, date and inquest result; and if he will make a statement on the circumstances.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Cellular vans are used by both police and prison services.

  I understand from the director general of the Prison Service that no deaths have occurred in cellular vans used by the Prison Service or by a firm contracted by the Prison Service to provide escort services.

  One death has occurred in a cellular vehicle used by the police. On 19 June 1989, Mr. Terence O'Shea, a 43-year-old remand prisoner, died in a Lancashire constabulary prisoner transport vehicle while in transit between Blackpool magistrates court and Her Majesty's remand centre, Risley. Staff had checked Mr. O'Shea's cell

  71
  at various times en route, but he was found to be collapsed on arrival at destination. A police surgeon had certified him fit to be detained although he was suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Cause of death was heatstroke. At the inquest a verdict of accidental death was recorded.

  Laboratory Animals
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in setting a target date after which the use of wild-caught primates in British research laboratories will be prohibited.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We have already made substantial progress towards phasing out the use of wild-caught primates in British laboratories, and are discussing a Community-wide approach to this issue with our EC partners. The matter will be raised again later in the year at the meeting of EC national competent authorities established under directive 86/609/EEC.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider implementing a formal training programme for unlicensed junior laboratory technicians dealing with laboratory animals.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Home Office code of practice makes it clear that all those responsible for laboratory animals must be properly trained and competent, and that it is the responsibility of the named day-to-day care person to ensure that adequate training is provided for all personnel.
  72
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered the complaints made against Wickham Research Laboratories about breaches of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and what action he intends to take on them.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have carefully considered a detailed report by the Home Office inspectorate carried out following allegations made about the conduct of animal procedures at Wickham research laboratories, but it would be inappropriate for me to disclose details at this stage until the results of the investigation have been communicated to Wickham research laboratories and it has had the opportunity to comment.

  Forensic Science Service Agency
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets he has set for the Forensic Science Service Agency for 1993–94.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  During 1993–94 I shall expect the FSS to continue to improve its effectiveness and efficiency. The financial targets are recovery of full economic costs, a unit cost of £452 with an efficiency gain of 1·6 per cent. The service level targets are to improve turnround times on average by 12 per cent. over 1992–93 meeting specific target dates for seven types of offence, and to achieve accreditation to the national measurement accreditation service and BS5750 standards in all six operational laboratories.

  FORMER YUGOSLAVIA: UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL
  FORMER YUGOSLAVIA: UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL
  BEEF: SALES FROM INTERVENTION STORES
  BEEF: SALES FROM INTERVENTION STORES
  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL, 26TH AND 27TH APRIL
  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL, 26TH AND 27TH APRIL
  DEFENCE OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS CENTRE: KEY TARGETS
  DEFENCE OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS CENTRE: KEY TARGETS
  CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DEFENCE ESTABLISHMENT: KEY TARGETS
  CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DEFENCE ESTABLISHMENT: KEY TARGETS
  MILITARY AIRFIELDS AVAILABLE FOR CIVIL USE: INFORMATION
  MILITARY AIRFIELDS AVAILABLE FOR CIVIL USE: INFORMATION
  PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES FOR DEAF PEOPLE: SUPRA REGIONAL FUNDING
  PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES FOR DEAF PEOPLE: SUPRA REGIONAL FUNDING
  NHS STAFF: PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE
  NHS STAFF: PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE
  DRAUGHT GUINNESS: PURPOSE AND EFFECT OF RESTRICTOR
  DRAUGHT GUINNESS: PURPOSE AND EFFECT OF RESTRICTOR
  DRAUGHT GUINNESS: DEMONSTRATION OF RESTRICTOR TO COURT
  DRAUGHT GUINNESS: DEMONSTRATION OF RESTRICTOR TO COURT
  PART-TIME UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: TAX RELIEF ON FEES
  PART-TIME UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: TAX RELIEF ON FEES
  ASYLUM AND IMMIGRATION APPEALS BILL: REFUGEES FROM TRANSIT COUNTRIES
  ASYLUM AND IMMIGRATION APPEALS BILL: REFUGEES FROM TRANSIT COUNTRIES
  OFFENDING WHILE ON BAIL: RESEARCH FINDINGS
  OFFENDING WHILE ON BAIL: RESEARCH FINDINGS
  URBAN REGENERATION AGENCY
  URBAN REGENERATION AGENCY