Written Answers of 6 May 1993

TRANSPORT

  Road Schemes
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the report into speeding up pre-construction procedures for road schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My right hon. Friend is concerned to speed up the delivery of schemes in the national road programme. He will make a statement about his plans as soon as possible.

  Road Salt
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ban the use of sodium hexacyanoferrate in road salt.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The rock salt used on the Department's motorways and trunk roads complies with British standard 3247, which stipulates the use of an anti-caking agent. The anti-caking agent currently in use is sodium hexacyanoferrate and I have no plans to discontinue its use.

  Seacroft-Crossgates Bypass
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that any decision on the Leeds A6120 Seacroft/Crossgates bypass should be postponed until a decision has been taken on the transpennine strategy study.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The transpennine study addresses wide strategic problems on the road network across the Pennines, whereas any proposals to improve the A6I20 running through the communities of Seacroft and Crossgates would be designed to overcome existing traffic congestion and the bad accident record on the present road. It would be wrong therefore to tie the urgently needed improvements on the A6120 to the different and longer-term prospects for the transpennine routes.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what licences have been granted or issued for the transportation of radioactive materials to the THORP site since 1 January; and what applications are now under consideration by his Department.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  One package design approval has been issued: four others are under consideration.

  Nuclear Weapons (Transport)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make public his secret emergency plans dealing with nuclear weapon transport accidents.
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  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have no such plans. This is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

  Traffic Review, Meriden
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission a review of traffic through Meriden village since the closure of the Oak Lane junction with the A45; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  We are undertaking a review of all the options for permanent improvement of the Oak Lane junction with the A45. This will take account of the present interim scheme and of local views. I will write to my hon. Friend when the review is complete.

  Seat Belts (Buses)
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce compulsory seat belts for school buses and minibuses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There is presently no requirement to fit seat belts in the rear seats of minibuses and coaches except in the exposed forward facing seats in coaches first used after 1 October 1988. We are pressing the European Commission to put forward amendments to the relevant directives to require seat belts to be fitted to all seats in these vehicles. The present law on compulsory wearing of seat belts requires them to be used in rear, as well as front, seats of smaller minibuses with an unladen weight not exceeding 2540kg, where they are fitted voluntarily.

  "The Loading Gauge Issue"
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received the Eurotunnel-sponsored report entitled "The Loading Gauge Issue" published in January; what reply he has made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I received Eurotunnel's report directly it was published. Eurotunnel is involved in continuing discussions being held between my Department, Her Majesty's railways inspectorate, independent consultants and British Rail on the feasibility and costs of upgrading some of BR's existing lines to a gauge suitable for piggyback transport.

  Plutonium Nitrate
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will request the safety and reliability directorate of AEA Technology to update the 1984 report SRD-R-244, on the radiological consequences of the release into the sea of the contents of a plutonium nitrate package.

  Mr. Norris
  I understand that the Atomic Energy Authority is reviewing the report.

  MOD Vehicles (Licensing)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle types have been licensed by his Department under the International Atomic Energy Agency safety series No. 6 regulations 1985, as amended in 1990, for use by the Ministry of Defence for each of the last 10 years.
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  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No such licences are required.

  Night Flights
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will publish a list of those airlines, airport owner/operators, local authorities, pressure groups and other similar organisations and bodies that have submitted observations on his proposals for new night flight controls at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports;

  (2) how many representations he has received from members of the public on his proposals for new night flight controls at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports.

  Mr. Norris
  The numbers of responses received in the relevant division to date is as follows:—

  17 Members of Parliament and MEPs (other than letters covering constituents' views);

  3 Airport consultative committees

  66 Local authorities, Parish and Town councils, and local authority organisations;

  41 Environmental and other local groups;

  2 Aviation and acoustical consultants

  61 Airlines;

  5 Airport and aviation bodies;

  17 Airline and airport users;

  1,823+ Responses from people living around Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted;

  83 Responses from people living elsewhere;

  2,762* Petitions and signatures lodged in bulk.

  + Relates to number of letters, not number of signatures.

  * Numbers subject to verification.

  Figures exclude correspondence related to proposed aircraft noise classifications. A list of the main respondents will be made available in due course.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will publish a list of those Governments with whom discussions have been held on the new aircraft type classification proposed in his consultation paper on new night flight controls at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports; and how many of such Governments have indicated their support;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the outcome of the discussions with the United States Federal Aviation Authority on their willingness to accept the new aircraft type classification system proposed in his consultation paper on new night flight controls at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports.

  Mr. Norris
  The classification system is based on the noise certification data which all modern aircraft are required to possess to operate between states that are signatories of the Chicago convention. As stated in the consultation paper, the use of such data is being discussed with several European countries with the hope of evolving a common approach. These discussions are being conducted through regular contacts at normal aviation fora. The outcome of our present consultation in relation to Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted is not dependent on the outcome of these discussions.

  Safe Seas
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what response he has made to the European Commission on its proposal for setting up a committee on safe seas contained in the communication from Commissioners on "A Common Policy on Safe Seas"; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Norris
  The United Kingdom has warmly welcomed the Commission's communication "A Common Policy for Safe Seas", which closely mirrors the Government's views on the need for action to improve the level of maritime safety in Community waters. Along with other member states, we approve in principle the Commission's proposal for a committee on safe seas, and are currently considering what its terms of reference should be.

ENVIRONMENT

  Revocation Orders
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the total number of revocation orders issued by his Department following inappropriate planning decisions by local authorities in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Baldry
  This power has been used only once in the last 10 years. The last occasion was in 1991.

  Integrated Administration and Control Scheme
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for the Director General of Ordnance Survey to ensure(a) that all areas of United Kingdom farmland are mapped and (b) the establishment of an emergency Ordnance Survey telephone helpline to assist farmers experiencing mapping difficulties in completing their IACS forms.

  Mr. Baldry
  Ordnance Survey has surveyed and mapped all mountain and moorland areas of Great Britain at a scale of 1:10,000 and all other rural areas at a scale of 1:2,500. This mapping, which is based on the national grid and is available in a variety of forms, is maintained by Ordnance Survey, but is not commercially viable to revive the map of rural and remote areas as intensively as those of urban areas.

  Some 400 outlets have been set up by Ordnance Survey to help farmers obtain the necessary maps and information to complete their IACS forms; these include Ordnance Surveys superplan agents, Iand agents who have been granted extended copyright licences for the purpose, Ordnance Survey's own field offices, the Welsh Office and ADAS in Wales and the Scottish agricultural college in Scotland. In addition, staff at Ordnance Survey headquarters in Southampton are answering over 200 telephone inquiries from farmers each day using sophisticated helpline facilities.

  Timeshare
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how United Kingdom timeshare dwellings are to be treated for the purposes of council tax and business rates regulations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Timeshare accommodation is liable for non-domestic rates.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to amend the status of timeshare dwellings to make them eligible for council tax and to remove them from business rates.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  None.
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  Departmental Buildings
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Faversham (Sir R. Moate) of 28 April,Official Report, column 947, whether he will consider moving his Department to the Ark in Hammersmith.

  Mr. Howard
  I have asked Property Holdings, who are property managers for the Government estate, for advice on suitable accommodation. They are already fully aware of the availability of the Ark development and will take it into account.

  Tyne and Wear Urban Development Corporation
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 26 April, to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown),Official Report, column 319, how many of the jobs created by the Tyne and Wear urban development corporation were relocations from other sites; how many of the jobs are being carried out by people living (a) within the urban development corporation area and (b) within two miles of the urban development corporation area; and what has been the total amount spent by the Tyne and Wear urban development corporation since its inception.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information as requested relating to jobs created by the Tyne and Wear urban development corporation is not available. The corporation does, however, in conjunction with the local training and enterprise councils, encourage employers to recruit people from the local community.

  The total amount spent by the corporation to 31 March 1993, including receipts, was £212·17 million.

  Chemical Industry
  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the process definitions set out in the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991 as they apply to the chemical industry.

  Mr. Maclean
  I met representatives of the Chemical Industries Association on 24 February to discuss the industry's concern that the process definitions set out in the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991 do not adequately reflect the complexity of the chemical industry. The industry believes that problems of process definition will result in unreasonable uncertainty and excessive cost for the industry in applying for authorisations under integrated pollution control and will delay the authorisation process.

  At the meeting, I promised the industry that we would consider sympathetically the details of their concerns and take measures to overcome them. Since then, a small working party comprising representatives of the industry and of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has been looking into this problem.

  Companies within this sector are due to be brought within integrated pollution control this year; the window for applications for authorisation of such process runs from I May to 31 July. In order to avoid the need for applications to be submitted before the detailed outcome of these considerations is known, I propose to extend the application window until 31 October. Amending regulations to that effect will be laid in the very near future.
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  I am satisfied that extending the application window in this way will not lead to any weakening in environmental protection, and believe that the operation of integrated pollution control can be improved by making limited changes to the definition of processes in the manufacture and use of organic chemicals falling under section 4.2 of chapter 4 of the regulations. These changes are not expected to affect other industrial sectors or processes subject to local authority air pollution control or to cut across possible changes that may arise from the wider consultation we are currently undertaking in relation to the 1991 regulations.

  Estate Action
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the percentage of the total housing investment programme and resources allocated to estate action in each year since 1986–87.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 5 May 1993]:Under the local authority capital finance system established in 1990–91, housing investment programme allocations represent an assessment of the relative need for housing capital expenditure, rather than a direct borrowing approval. Borrowing approval is conveyed by the single, all-service basic credit approval, augmented by allocations of supplementary credit approvals, where appropriate. In turn, local authorities finance their housing investment programmes from credit approvals and grant, from usable capital receipts, and from contributions from revenue budgets.

  The table shows the resources allocated to the estate action programme each year since 1986–87, in total and as a percentage of total local authority housing capital allocations.

  Estate action resources

  Estate action resources as a percentage of local authority housing capital allocations

  (£ million)

  1986–87

  45

  3

  1987–88

  75

  5

  1988–89

  140

  9

  1989–90

  190

  13

  1990–91

  190

  10

  1991–92

  268

  13

  1992–93

  347

  118

  1993–94

  356

  220

  1 estimated outturn

  2 plans

  Homelessness
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the choice provided by local authorities to homeless families when they are moved on from one unit of temporary accommodation to another type of temporary accommodation.

  Mr. Baldry
  This information is not held centrally.

  Seveso Directive
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 26, April to the hon. and Learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile),
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  Official Report, column 322, if he will list the bodies and people who will receive copies of the consultation document on extending the scope of the Seveso directive.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have been asked to reply.

  The proposed amending regulations to extend the scope of the Seveso directive will apply to only approximately 10 waste disposal installations in the United Kingdom. Consultation with the National Association of Waste Disposal Contractors has already begun. Further consultation will take place through the Health and Safety Commission's advisory committee on dangerous substances, which includes representatives from the CBI, TUC and local authority associations such as the Association of District Councils and Association of County Councils. Other interested bodies will be alerted through a press release which will advise how copies of the consultation document can be obtained.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Overseas Domestic Workers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to make provisions for overseas domestic workers to be granted leave to remain while they pursue legal action, civil or criminal, against former employers;

  (2) what plans he has of giving overseas domestic workers an immigration status (a) independent of the household they work for and (b) as workers;

  (3) what plans he has to establish a review of the present laws regulating the admission of overseas domestic workers; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what plans there are to allow overseas domestic workers to change employers within the same category of employment.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We introduced in May 1991 tighter criteria for the exceptional arrangements outside the immigration rules under which a domestic servant who has worked abroad for an employer who comes to the United Kingdom may be admitted to continue working for that employer. Although domestic workers are admitted to keep their jobs as part of the household of their employer, they have their own immigration status as employees and may apply for indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom after four years in approved employment under the exceptional arrangements. There are no provisions under those arrangements for domestic workers to change employers outside the immigration rules before being granted indefinite leave to remain. Nor is there provision for any non-EC national to remain in the United Kingdom after his or her leave has expired in order to pursue legal action. However, each case involving a domestic worker who wishes to remain in the United Kingdom after having left the employer for whom he or she was admitted to work is carefully considered before any enforcement action is taken, and account is taken of any compassionate circumstances. We have no plans to carry out a further review of the arrangements for domestic workers.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on how many overseas domestic workers have initiated legal challenges against their former employers since 24 July 1990 on 178
  grounds of (a) sexual offences, (b) offences of violence, (c) false imprisonment, (d) assault and battery, (e) intimidation, (f) breach of contract and (g) slavery; and how many such employers were found guilty.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not recorded centrally.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received with regard to reforming the immigration status of overseas domestic workers in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Since the beginning of this year, my right hon. and learned Friend and I have received four lettters from right hon. and hon. Members and noble Lords about the exceptional arrangements outside the immigration rules for domestic workers from overseas. My right hon. and learned Friend and I have also received a number of letters from members of the public and organisations.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many domestic workers have entered the United Kingdom since 1977; and if he will specify those entering under(a) code 4, (b) code 5N and (c) code 3 of the immigration regulations.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, in the period January to August 1992, some 8,600 entry clearances were issued to domestic workers by the main posts which issue entry clearances to such workers.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will detail the number of domestic workers deported since 1980; and how many were(a) overstayers or (b) unauthorised workers.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Life Sentences
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the reconviction rate for people released from prison on licence who were serving life sentences.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Two per cent. of life licensees released between 1972 and 1988 were convicted of a "grave" offence—violent crime—within two years of discharge and 4 per cent. of those persons released between 1972 and 1985 were reconvicted within five years. The figures for a "standard list" offence—indictable plus certain summary offences—were 10 and 21 per cent respectively. This information was published in statistical bulletin 3/93, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the Government's policy for financing and supporting crime prevention.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Hendry) on 4 March, at columns 274–75, which

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  details Home Office support for crime prevention. In addition, other Departments' programmes, such as the Department of the Environment's city challenge and estates action, and the Department for Education's grants for education support and training scheme, include strong crime prevention elements. Overall Government spending on crime prevention was an estimated £167 million in 1991–92.

  Dangerous Dogs
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the working so far of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We remain committed to the Act's objective of improving public protection against attacks from fighting and other dogs. We continue to keep the Act's operation under review, and to consider suggestions for further improvement to its practical operations.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to ensure that the distinction between pit bull terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers is clear.

  Mr. Jack
  We have no plans to amend the Act. Periodic advice has been issued to the enforcement authorities and the courts on the identification of dogs, and we are considering suggestions for providing further help on this point.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received about a national identity card scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Some 27 individual letters have been received from Members of Parliament and others so far this year. None has persuaded me that the advantages of such a scheme outweigh the disadvantages.

  Neighbourhood Watch
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support his Department gives to assist neighbourhood watch schemes.

  Mr. Jack
  The Government are committed to encouraging the development of neighbourhood watch schemes. The number of schemes has grown rapidly in recent years and there are now nearly 115,000 schemes in operation in England and Wales covering more than 5 million households.

  We set up Crime Concern in 1988 to stimulate growth of schemes and develop a national structure for the neighbourhood watch movement. We have provided considerable financial backing to enable Crime Concern to carry forward this work.

  We have recently given funding towards the cost of producing a neighbourhood watch co-ordinator's handbook which is shortly to be published. A number of national conferences for scheme co-ordinators have been arranged by Crime Concern. Last year's conference took place at the national exhibition centre in Birmingham and was addressed by the Home Secretary.

  With financial support from the Home Office, Crime Concern is also undertaking a two year pilot project. the
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  "neighbourhood safety project", to introduce a neighbourhood watch-type scheme into two high crime residential areas in West Yorkshire.

  We are including a special neighbourhood watch insert in the Home Office magazine "Crime Prevention News" which is sent to all police crime prevention officers for distribution to neighbourhood watch co-ordinators.

  We encourage the police to support neighbourhood watch schemes, although it is ultimately a matter for each chief constable to decide how much of his resources he can allocate to these activities. I addressed the Derby neighbourhood watch co-ordinators' conference on 30 April and I was delighted to learn about the considerable support which Derbyshire police are providing to schemes throughout the force area.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Cambodia
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 April,Official Report, column 148, and his pursuant answer of 29 April column 506, what information he has on the number of mines lifted by the Cambodians trained or operating under UNTAC in Cambodia.

  Mr. Goodlad
  According to the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia—UNTAC—figures at mid-April, Cambodians trained by UNTAC have destroyed or recovered 14,343 mines and munitions in Cambodia—9,474 anti-personnel mines, 20 anti-tank mines and 4,869 pieces of unexploded ordinance. By comparison, non-governmental organisations have cleared 2,171 mines and munitions.

  World Conflict
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretry of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the current armed conflicts in the world, the estimated number of deaths in each and the actions taken by the United Kingdom Government to encourage peace in each conflict.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Earlier this year the Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr. Boutros-Ghali, told my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs that the United Nations was currently seized of 25 conflicts around the world. Detailed information on all these conflicts is not centrally recorded and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. However, 12 of these conflicts are the object of a United Nations peacekeeping operation to which Britain as a permanent member of the Security Council makes its due contribution. They are: India/Pakistan, Lebanon, Israel/ Syria and Jerusalem, Cyprus, Cambodia, former Yugoslavia, Iran/Kuwait, El Salvador, Western Sahara, Angola, Somalia and Mozambique.

  Ukraine
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 14 April, to the hon. Member for Wallasey (Ms Eagle),Official Report, column 830, if he will set out the reasons why Her Majesty's Government regard it as a

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  disastrous mistake by the Ukranian Parliament to hold the view that the Ukraine should not relinquish the nuclear weapons held by Ukraine.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Under the Lisbon protocol to START I, Ukraine is committed to ratification of START I and early accession to the non-proliferation treaty as a non-nuclear weapons state. Fulfilment of these commitments will influence the extent to which co-operation and partnership between Ukraine and the west can be developed. A decision to retain nuclear weapons would jeopardise the implementation of START I, and thus START II, and would risk weakening the NPT. We believe it is in the interests of global security, and that of Ukraine, that the START reductions should be carried out and the NPT strengthened.

  Subsidiarity
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedure he plans to adopt to review European Community legislation passed before December 1991 in relation into its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity laid down by the Maastricht treaty.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We attach great importance to the rigorous implementation of subsidiarity, both in relation to existing and proposed Community legislation. The Edinburgh European Council asked the Commission to present the outcome of its review of existing EC legislation to the Brussels European Council in December. We are discussing with EC partners and with the Commission which items of legislation should be repealed or amended on subsidiarity grounds.

  Overseas Domestic Workers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of(a) overseas domestic workers and (b) their employers he estimates received his Department's "Information for Domestic Servants Travelling to the United Kingdom"; and whether the leaflets are written in the mother tongues of the intended recipients.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  All domestic workers are handed a copy of an information leaflet when interviewed at post for entry clearance, and all employers are given a leaflet together with an explanatory note. Records are not kept of the numbers of leaflets issued.

  Leaflets are available in English and Arabic. Arrangements are in hand for a translation to be made available in Tagalog—Filipino. Where an applicant does not understand English the contents of the leaflet are explained in their local language. The Home Office is currently producing copies in Spanish, Bengali, Urdu, Hindi and Tamil.

  South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the extension of maritime jurisdiction around South Georgia and the South Sandwich islands.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  In recent years, we have become increasingly concerned about the conservation of marine 182
  resources around South Georgia and the South Sandwich islands in the south Atlantic which is a British dependent territory. At present, the Crown's sovereignty and jurisdiction around South Georgia and the South Sandwich islands extend to the 12-mile limit of the territorial sea. For waters beyond this, we have hitherto relied solely on the work of the commission created by the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources—CCAMLR—a component of the Antarctic treaty system. This depends on flag state regulation and policing to apply conservation measures decided by consensus amongst the 22 members. We fully support CCAMLR and co-operate in the body's work. We have worked most energetically to strengthen the role of CCAMLR in its regulation of southern ocean fisheries. Although CCAMLR has provided timely and much-needed protection for commercially fished species, we are concerned that nevertheless fish stocks have been depleted.

  Moreover, infringements of CCAMLR regulations have grown. The need to reinforce conservation arrangements in the area for which Her Majesty's Government are responsible is clear. Accordingly, Ministers have decided to strengthen conservation and management of marine resources around South Georgia and the South Sandwich islands by the introduction of national measures. These measures are intended to supplement not replace the role of CCAMLR and are of course fully compatible with it.

  For this reason, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has instructed the commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich islands to issue a proclamation tomorrow to provide for the exercise of the Crown's sovereign rights to jurisdiction over a maritime zone and its natural resources, living and non-living, extending to a distance of 200 nautical miles around the territories.

  In addition, an ordinance will be made, in due course, by the commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich islands designed to monitor and protect the state of the fish stocks within the maritime zone. This action will reinforce existing measures under CCAMLR.

  Since their re-establishment in 1990, our relations with Argentina have progressed to their present excellent state and are now marked by a new openness and growing mutual confidence. This is a source of great satisfaction to Her Majesty's Government, who will continue to work to develop the relationship further. Against this background, it was natural for us to discuss our concerns over conservation fully with the Argentine Government with whom we have extensive exchanges on south Atlantic matters, particularly in relation to fisheries. We look forward to pursuing this dialogue.

PRIME MINISTER

  Appointments
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Prime Minister how many peers have been appointed to offices of profit under the Crown since 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  This information is not available.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

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

EDUCATION

  Testing
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the cost of the advertisements his Department placed in the national press on 27 April promoting the national testing scheme; and what plans he has to publish further advertisements on testing in schools.

  Mr. Forth
  Information about the cost of the advertisements is commercial in confidence. Further advertising is planned in the national press until the end of the campaign in May which concludes with magazine advertisements.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Unemployment
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Chancellor or the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the cost to the Exchequer of each unemployed person per year.

  Sir John Cope
  The Department of Social Security's annual report provides an estimate that, in the current year, a change in unemployment of 100,000 would result in a variation of £350 million in benefit expenditure—or an average of £3,500 per unemployed person.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the Treasury in benefits paid and tax and national insurance payments forgone of the current level of unemployment.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department of Social Security estimates that in 1993–94 the total cost of benefits paid to unemployed people will be £9·29 billion based on an unemployment assumption for Great Britain of 2¾ million. An estimate of tax and national insurance payments forgone is not produced, as it depends on the particular tax liabilities and earnings when in employment of each individual who is currently unemployed.

  Recession
  Dr. Berry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to end the recession in Britain.

  .Mr. Nelson
  Across the economy there are clear signs of a resumption of growth, reflecting our success in bringing down inflation. The Government's economic policies are designed to ensure that inflation is kept low and thereby support the recovery.

  Industrial Production
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his assessment of the latest trend in the level of industrial production.

  Mr. Portillo
  The recent trend in industrial production has been upwards: in the three months to February the index of production was1¼ per cent. up on a year earlier. And business surveys point to continuation of an upward trend.

  European Bank of Reconstruction and Development
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken to influence the policy of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development.

  Mr. Nelson
  In his statement to the EBRD's annual meeting in London, on 27 April, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer emphasised the EBRD's duty to use taxpayers' resources as cost-effectively as possible. He stressed the need that the institution, which was established to promote efficiency and enterprise, should itself provide an example of sound financial management. Welcoming the changes agreed by the bank's board of directors to improve the control of its costs, my right hon. Friend argued for rapid and vigorous implementation of these. He also called for the bank to develop its key role in promoting effective mechanisms for assisting small and medium-sized enterprises in the countries of the former Communist bloc.

  Cohesion Fund
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total sum to be distributed from the EC's proposed cohesion fund between now and 1999; and what part of this sum is estimated to come to the United Kingdom.

  Sir John Cope
  The Edinburgh European Council agreed a figure of 15·15 billion ecu for the period; and that only Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Greece would be eligible.

  Petroleum Revenue Tax
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the petroleum revenue tax changes announced in the Budget; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  Representations, including important support for the reform, have been received from a number of companies and individuals on the petroleum revenue tax changes.

  Business Taxation
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what impact his 1992 Budget changes to business taxation have had on employment levels.

  Sir John Cope
  The changes in business taxes in the 1992 Budget, together with those in the autumn statement and this year's March Budget have strengthened the prospects for sustainable growth of output and employment.

  Investment and Unemployment
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the relationship between the Budget measures for investment and unemployment levels.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Ipswich on 1 April, at columns 371–72.

  Mortgage Rates
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when mortgage rates were last at their current level.

  .Mr. Nelson
  Following the most recent cut in base rates, most mortgage lenders have announced mortgage rates below 8 per cent. They are now at their lowest level since April 1969.

  Retail Sales
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when retail sales were last at their latest reported level.

  Mr. Nelson
  Retail sales in the first quarter of this year were at their highest level ever recorded.

  Trade Balance
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to monitor the United Kingdom's balance of trade in the absence of official statistics.

  Mr. Portillo
  Statistics for the United Kingdom's trade with countries outside the EC have continued without interruption. Figures for our trade with all countries in the first quarter of 1993 will be published in the usual balance of payments released in June.

  Domestic Fuel
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further plans he has to alleviate the effect on those on low incomes of charging VAT on domestic fuel.

  .Sir John Cope
  As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made clear in his Budget speech, extra help will be given from April 1994 to poorer pensioners and others receiving income-related benefits. The precise amount and the way in which this will be targeted will be announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security in the autumn.

  Sudan
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on relations between Sudan and(a) the International Monetary Fund and (b) the World bank.

  Mr. Nelson
  The IMF is not providing any financial assistance to the Sudan which is in arrears to that institution. The World bank has provided one loan, for an emergency drought recovery project, since 1990; the bank has no current plans to make further loans.

  GP Fund Holders
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what differences there are in taxation of the various functions, services and purchases between those of a general practioner fund-holding practice and those of a non-fund-holding practice.

  Mr. Dorrell
  As far as VAT is concerned, there is no difference. For their NHS activities, both are considered to be part of the VAT registration of the regional health authority, and are treated equally. The position for trading income is that the same general rules on the taxation of trading profits apply whether or not the income of a general practitioner practice includes amounts allocated under the funding initiative.

  Public Servants
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 26 April,Official Report, 292–94, if he will list the numbers and staff costs to the Exchequer of each central Government Department by civil service grade for 1979–80 and 1991–92; and what comparable information he has for local authorities.

  Mr. Portillo
  Information is not available centrally about the staff costs to the Exchequer of each central Government Department by civil service grade or about the staff grading or staff costs of local authorities.

  Information on numbers of non-industrial staff in post in the major departments, broken down by selected occupational groups and grades, is given in the annual publication "Civil Service Statistics" which is available from the Library. The 1991 and 1992 editions provide staffing information for 1 April 1991 and 1 April 1992 respectively. A breakdown by grade only is published in the 1979 and 1980 editions.

  EC Payments
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional payments were made from the Consolidated Fund to the EC as part of the United Kingdom's total payments to the EC due to the increased VAT incurred as a result of contracting out in each year since 1982.

  Sir John Cope
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what matters in regard to investment in global environmental protection were discussed at the most recent meeting of G7 Finance Ministers in Washington DC.

  Mr. Nelson
  None. The meeting focused primarily on the economic situation in the G7 countries.

  VAT
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the level of the qualifying turnover for VAT since his Budget statement.

  Sir John Cope
  The few representations that have been received are divided between those who would like to see
  187
  the threshold raised significantly in order to exclude many more businesses from the tax and those who seek a much lower or nil threshold in order to minimise what they see as unfair competition for registered traders from those who are not registered.

  Family Tax Bills
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact on the average family's tax bill of the Budget changes in fuel costs, national insurance contributions, married couples' allowances and excise duties.

  Sir John Cope
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 22 April at columns 172–78

  Personal Debt
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the level of personal debt in the United Kingdom.

  Sir John Cope
  Total financial liabilities of the personal sector were £486 billion in the third quarter 1992.

  Illegal Alcohol Imports
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (I) what quantity of illegally imported alcoholic beverages have been impounded or confiscated by Customs and Excise officials in the first quarter of 1993;

  (2) what estimate he has made, on a weekly basis, of the level of illegal importation of alcohol during the first quarter of 1993; and what his projection of the level was on 30 June 1992;

  (3) how many cases Customs and Excise detected in the first quarter of 1993 of people illegally selling alcohol bought elsewhere in the EC at lower excise duty rates and imported into the United Kingdom ostensibly for personal use;

  (4) what is his estimate of the percentage of abuse of the indicative level of alcohol and tobacco imports being detected by Customs and Excise officers; and what estimate he has made of the annual loss of revenue resulting from such abuse.

  Sir John Cope
  Details of detections of imported alcoholic drink illegally offered or intended for sale in the United Kingdom during the quarter ending 31 March are shown in the table.

  Beverage

  seizures

  Quantity litres

  Beer

  51

  47,064

  Wine

  15

  7,385

  Spirits

  18

  860

  Any estimates as to the extent of undetected illegal importations would be largely a matter of speculation, but the revenue involved in the detected cases amounts in total to £57,834.

  There is no longer any requirement for travellers to declare routinely details of tobacco and alcohol being brought into the United Kingdom from other EC member states for their personal use. Provided the goods are duty
  188
  paid in the EC country of departure and are intended for personal use, the indicative levels, which function only as a guide, may be legitimately exceeded.

  European Monetary Union
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration is being given to ways of delaying the advent of stage 2 of EMU beyond 1 January 1994.

  Mr. Nelson
  I am not aware of any such consideration. Article 109e of the Maastricht treaty states that the second stage for achieving economic and monetary union shall begin on 1 January 1994.

  Trinidad Terms
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have to extend the Trinidad terms on world debt to countries not currently covered by them.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Paris Club of creditor countries has so far given debt relief on Trinidad terms to 15 of the world's poorest and most indebted countries, 12 of them in sub-Saharan Africa. They include Benin, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Republic, Honduras, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia. Trinidad terms are not intended for better-off but for heavily indebted countries, although I recognise that for some heavily indebted, lower-middle income countries, concessional debt relief may be necessary. Therefore, I welcome the call made by the G7 at the Munich summit to consider the special situation of some heavily indebted lower-middle income countries on a case-by-case basis.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the changes in the rates, rules and modus operandi of the ERM since the United Kingdom left the mechanism; and what studies European central bankers have made of its operation and its effects on the level of currency speculation between European currencies.

  Mr. Nelson
  On 16 September 1992, sterling and the lira were suspended from participation in the ERM and the peseta was devalued by 5 per cent. The peseta was devalued by 6 per cent. along with the escudo, on 23 November 1992, and the Irish punt was devalued by 10 per cent. on 1 February 1993.

  There have been no changes in ERM rules over this period.

  The European Council, meeting in Birmingham, endorsed the view of Economic and Finance Ministers that the recent financial turbulence calls for reflection and analysis in the light of developments in capital markets and in the European and world monetary systems. It invited Economic and Finance Ministers, assisted by the monetary committee, with the involvement of the Commission, to carry this work forward, with the central bank governors. This work is continuing.

  Debtor Countries
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value to the United Kingdom of debt interest payments from developing countries in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 from(a) payments to the Export Credits Guarantee Department, (b) payments to the Overseas Development Administration, (c) payments to the Commonwealth Development Corporation and (d) in total.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]:The following data related to receipts received by each of the agencies from developing countries in the last three financial years. The figures include debt interest paid by Poland, Turkey and Yugoslavia.

  £ million

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  ECGD

  228·0

  338·0

  332·0

  ODA

  5·9

  7·9

  4·2

  CDC

  67·0

  65·9

  86·2

  Total

  300·9

  411·8

  422·4

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the value to the United Kingdom of debt interest payments from Zambia in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 from(a) payments to the Export Credits Guarantee Department, (b) payments to the Overseas Development Administration, (c) payments to the Commonwealth Development Corporation and (d) in total;

  (2) what is the current total of outstanding debt owed to the United Kingdom by Zambia.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: The details of individual debtors' positions are confidential to the country concerned. We cannot publish these figures without the consent of the authorities in the debtor countries. However, I can say that at the beginning of April the ODA wrote off £56 million of old aid debts with Zambia. This followed the International Monetary Fund's approval of Zambia's rights accumulation programme.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether negotiations have started for the second stage of Nicaragua's Trinidad terms debt agreement of 17 December 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: Negotiations have not yet started for the second stage of Nicaragua's Trinidad terms debt agreement. Under that agreement, creditors agreed to consider a stock of debt reduction for Nicaragua after three or four years following a period of proven financial and economic responsibility. The Government are continuing to press the Paris Club to agree to earlier action on the stock of debt of the poorest and most heavily indebted countries.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current total of outstanding debt owed to the United Kingdom by developing countries.
  190
  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: The latest figure available for the current total official outstanding debt owed to the United Kingdom by developing countries is £9·67 billion.

  Premium Bonds
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 28 April,Official Report, column 405, if he will give details of the 12 changes made to the premium bond prize fund rate.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 5 May 1993]: The details are as follows:

  Prize fund rate changes

  Per cent.

  1 August I960

  4·500

  1 September 1968

  4·625

  1 August 1971

  4·750

  1 July 1973

  4·875

  1 July 1974

  5·500

  1 November 1976

  5·625

  1 January 1979

  5·750

  1 July 1980

  7·000

  1 November 1984

  7·750

  1 August 1987

  7·000

  1 July 1988

  6·500

  1 March 1993

  5·000

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Ministry of Defence Police
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what inquiries he has made into reports of the unauthorised use of a tape recorder by Ministry of Defence police in Pateley Bridge magistrates court on 2 April; what action he has taken; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I understand that an allegation of unauthorised use of a tape recorder at the court was made to the clerk to the justices and that he has asked the Crown Prosecution Service to investigate. It is not a matter in which it would be proper for me to intervene.

WALES

  County Structure Plans
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretry of State for Wales on what dates structure plans have been submitted by each of the eight Welsh counties since they came into existence, indicating which of these have been(a) accepted by the Welsh Office without amendment, (b) accepted subject to specific amendments and (c) rejected.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is set out in the table. All structure plans and alterations approved by the Secretary of State have been the subject of modifications prior to approval. No submitted structure plan has been rejected.
  191

  Structure Plans

  Plan

  Submitted

  Approved

  Clwyd

  16July 1979

  15July 1982

  Clwyd Alterations No.1

  29 January 1990

  31 October 1991

  Dyfed

  31 March 1980

  11 July 1983

  Dyfed Alterations No. 1

  15 June 1987

  12 October 1989

  Gwent

  17April 1978

  23 April 1981

  Gwent Alterations No. 1

  17 August1984

  17 September 1987

  Gwent Alterations No. 2: Shopping

  4 August 1989

  21 June1990

  Gwynedd (Separate Plans for Anglesey,

  29 March 1974

  —

  Caernarvonshire,

  28 March1974

  —

  Meirionydd and Dyffryn Conwy)

  6 December 1974

  29 July 77

  Gwynedd Replacement

  1 February 1991

  —

  Mid Glamorgan

  22 February 1979

  11 March 1982

  Mid Glamorgan Alterations No. 1

  19 July 1985

  22 August 1989

  Powys

  22 October 1979

  26 January 1983

  Powys Alterations No. 1

  —

  —

  South Glamorgan

  16 December 1977

  14 January 1980

  South Glamorgan Alterations No. 1

  18 September 1985

  31 May 1989

  West Glamorgan

  9 January 1978

  11 September 1980

  West Glamorgan Alterations No. 1

  12 November 1984

  11 December 1986

  Plan

  Deposited

  Adopted

  Gwent Replacement 1

  10 February 1992

  —

  1 The Gwent Replacement Structure Plan was deposited following the implementation of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what circumstances he holds any form of public inquiry prior to making changes to a draft structure plan submitted to him by a county in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  As a result of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991, county councils are required, unless the Secretary of State decides otherwise, to hold examinations in public on selected matters arising from structure plans, to provide additional information to help them come to a decision. Previously, when necessary, examinations in public were held on structure plans submitted to the Secretary of State to provide him with additional information necessary for the consideration and approval of the plan.

  . Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether county councils in Wales, submitting structure plans for ratification by the Welsh Office, must draw these up in line with uniform national criteria.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Structure plans prepared under the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 are approved normally by the county council concerned. However, there are requirements to consult the Secretary of State who has powers to direct that a plan be referred to him for approval.

  The form and content of structure plans is set out in regulations. In formulating the general policies in structure plans county councils are required to have regard to any regional or strategic planning guidance given by the Secretary of State to assist them in preparation of the plan, and current national policies.
  192
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration his Department gives to the varying social and cultural patterns in Wales when reviewing structure plans for the counties of Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Regulations require planning authorities to have regard to social considerations in preparing their general policies and proposals in structure plans. Where appropriate the needs and interests of the Welsh language will be among those considerations. In considering structure plans before him for comment or approval, the Secretary of State takes account of these social considerations.

  Children's Hospice
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to fund a hospice for terminally ill children in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The distribution of Government funding and the provision of hospice facilities and other care for the terminally ill is a matter for health authorities, following local discussion and agreement.

  Inland Waterways
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken and proposes to take to improve the access, safety and environmental conditions of Welsh inland waterways.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This is a matter for the British Waterways Board.

  Palliative Care Services
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Services.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No such meeting has yet been sought by the council, but I shall be happy to consider the request if it does so.

  Cancer (Drugs)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will extend the drug tariff to assist cancer sufferers.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Secretary of State for Health considers applications from companies to add products to part IX of the drug tariff so that they can be prescribed to patients under the NHS. Products are added to the tariff if they are considered to be safe, cost-effective and of acceptable quality and subject to the availability of resources within the family health services.

  Void Properties
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the number of void properties in each local authority area of Wales expressed as a percentage of total council stock for each year since 1990.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Local authority vacant dwellings expressed as a percentage of local authority stock 1

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Aberconwy

  0·9

  0·6

  1·0

  Alyn and Deeside

  1·1

  0·6

  0·9

  Arfon

  0·6

  1·2

  1·1

  Blaenau Gwent

  1·2

  0·6

  1·0

  Brecknock

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Cardiff

  1·6

  1·0

  0·7

  Carmarthen

  0·1

  0·4

  0·3

  Ceredigion

  0·9

  1·3

  0·8

  Colwyn

  1·0

  1·4

  0·9

  Cynon Valley

  3·6

  2·5

  0·7

  Delyn

  1·0

  0·4

  0·6

  Dinefwr

  1·2

  0·6

  0·9

  Dwyfor

  0·4

  0·8

  1·2

  Glyndwr

  2·1

  1·7

  0·9

  Islwyn

  2·9

  2·6

  1·7

  Llanelli

  1·6

  1·6

  1·4

  Lliw Valley

  0·9

  0·9

  1·1

  Meirionnydd

  0·4

  0·8

  0·8

  Merthyr Tydfil

  1·6

  1·1

  0·7

  Monmouth

  1·6

  1·9

  1·3

  Montgomeryshire

  1·2

  1·5

  1·4

  Neath

  1·3

  1·4

  0·9

  Newport

  0·7

  0·6

  0·8

  Ogwr

  1·5

  0·8

  0·8

  Port Talbot

  5·2

  3·1

  3·0

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  0·5

  2·Jan

  0·9

  Radnorshire

  0·8

  0·8

  1·1

  Rhondda

  1·8

  0·6

  1·0

  Rhuddlan

  1·1

  0·7

  0·7

  Rhymney Valley

  0·7

  0·9

  0·7

  South Pembrokeshire

  0·2

  0·6

  0·3

  Swansea

  0·8

  0·6

  0·6

  Taff-Ely

  1·8

  1·5

  0·9

  Torfaen

  1·3

  1·2

  0·8

  Vale of Glamorgan

  0·7

  0·6

  0·7

  Wrexham Maelor

  1·5

  1·4

  1·4

  Ynys Mon

  1·1

  1·1

  1·2

  194
  1 At 1 April.

  Source: Welsh Office local authority returns.

  Ms Rhiannon Anderton
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to give his ruling in the case of the appeal against Clwyd county council on behalf of Ms Rhiannon Anderton of Mold, Clwyd.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The appeal against the provision specified in Rhiannon Anderton's statement of special educational needs raises a number of complex issues on which my right hon. Friend needs full information from the parties involved before he can reach his decision. The appeal is being dealt with urgently and a decision will be issued as soon as possible.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what organisations for grants to support the Welsh language under the Development of Rural Wales Act 1976, in the current financial year, were(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful and which, in each category, were concerned with providing information on environmental protection and green issues.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The list of successful and unsuccessful applicants for grant to support the Welsh Language under section 26 of the Development of Rural Wales Act 1976 in the current financial year is as follows:

  (a) Successful applicants

  National Eisteddfod

  Welsh Books Council

  Urdd Gobaith Cymru

  Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin (The National Association of Nursery schools)

  Menter Cwm Gwendraeth

  Nant Gwrtheyrn (National Language Centre)

  Papurau Bro (Welsh Language local newspapers) CYD (The Learners Society)

  Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme

  Merched Y Wawr

  National Federation of Women's Institutes

  Welsh Sunday Schools Council

  1 Wales Young Farmers

  Gwynedd Pre-school Playgroups Association

  Cymru a'r Byd (Wales International)

  Welsh Consumer Council

  Council for Education in World Citizenship

  Childline

  RELATE

  Age Concern Wales

  1 Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales

  PONT (Learners Group for Incomers)

  Dyfed Pre-school Playgroups Association

  The Carers Association

  Menter a Busnes

  Fifth International Conference on Minority Languages Menter Taf Elai

  North Wales Association for the Blind

  (b) Unsuccessful applicants

  1 GWELD (Information collation)

  1 Friends of the Earth

  South Pembrokeshire Partnership for Action with Rural Communications (SPARC)

  Wales Assembly of Women

  Antur Llŷn

  Gwerin Y Coed—Woodcraft Folk

  Wales Pre-school Playgroup's Association

  1 Wales Wildlife and Countryside Link

  Creu Cof (Involvement with the Media)

  TAD (Fathers for Bilingual Education)

  Samaritans

  195

  Presbyterian Church in Wales Youth Service

  Disablement Welfare Trust

  Wales Council for the Blind

  The Ucheldre Centre

  National Asthma Campaign

  Dwyfor/Caernarfon Citizens Advice Bureau

  Kids Clubs Network

  Oxfam in Wales

  Open University

  1 Creating New Job Standards for a Better Environment (COSQEC)

  National Foster Care Association Dewi Rhys-Jones

  Welsh Womens Aid

  Llaingoch and District Horticultural Society

  Abbey Cwmhir Heritage Trust

  1 Gwarchodwyr Cefn Gwlad—Conservation Volunteers

  Division for Social Responsibility Board of Mission Wales Council for the Deaf

  1Snowdonia National Park Society

  1 Applicants who submitted bids regarding the provision of information on environmental protection and green issues.

  Skin Diseases
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of people suffering serious(a) eczema, (b) psoriasis and (c) acne.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not held centrally.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many local authorities in Wales have met the 4 per cent. quota of disabled workers set out in the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is given in the table.

  Local authorities employing at least 3 per cent. registered disabled people 1

  Year

  Number

  1979

  15

  1980

  15

  1981

  14

  1982

  12

  1983

  11

  1984

  13

  1985

  9

  1986

  7

  1987

  8

  1988

  6

  1989

  3

  1990

  3

  1991

  4

  1992

  4

  Source: Employment Department.

  1 The information relates to 1 June each year and is taken from data published in the Employment Gazette in respect of individual employers in the public sector.

  Sheltered Workshops
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many sheltered workshops are currently being run in Wales by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There are 10 sheltered workshops currently being run in Wales by local authorities. A further workshop is run by a voluntary body acting as an agent for a local authority.

  Provision of sheltered employment is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

  A5
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy on the application to make the A5 between Chirk and Llandegai into a heritage route; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend's policy for the A5 is set out in "Roads in Wales: Progress and Plans for the 1990s". Present plans are contained in the 1993 supplement to that document.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what schemes have been proposed to improve the A5 from Chirk to Llandegai; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend's plans for major improvements are set out in the 1993 supplement to "Roads in Wales: Progress and Plans for the 1990s".

  Housing (Special Needs)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide a table listing all housing association and other applicants for housing grants or for housing-related grants in the fields of special needs in each of the last five years and in the current year, distinguishing each category of special need referred to, together with the amount applied for and the amount granted in each case in each year in each category.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not readily available.

  Planning Decisions
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many decisions by planning authorities in Wales have been revoked by him over the last two years.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Irish Republic (Students)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated cost to public funds for students from the Republic of Ireland now receiving their higher education in Northern Ireland in consequence of European Community agreements.

  Mr. Hanley
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the estimated cost to public funds of tuition fees for students from EC countries, including the Republic of Ireland, holding mandatory or postgraduate awards in the 1992–93 academic year will be about £4·5 million.

  Training Centres
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the 1993–94 budget for each of the training centres in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. S. Crozier. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from J. S. Crozier to Mr. Andrew Hunter, dated 6 May 1993:

  You have asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for the 1993–94 budget for each of the Training Centres in Northern Ireland.

  As Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency (Northern Ireland) the Secretary of State has asked me to reply.

  The Training and Employment Agency operates a network of 12 Training Centres throughout Northern Ireland. At this stage in the training year, budgets have not yet been finalised for individual Training Centres as the main recruitment period follows the annual school leaving date in late June.

  However, the Public Expenditusre Survey allocation for the Training Centres network is:

  £ million

  Programme expenditure (training costs, training allowances and related expenditure)

  10·957

  Capital, including energy efficiency measures

  0·704

  In addition salaries travel subsistence and other administrative costs will be met from the Agency's Running Cost Budget.

  However the estimated net expenditure for each Training Centre including central services costs in 1992–93 was:

  £

  Alfred Street/Leander House

  625,200

  Ballymena/Ballymoney

  2,376,600

  Boucher Road, Belfast

  2,266,200

  Craigavon

  1,893,500

  Dundonald, Belfast

  2,140,000

  Enniskillen

  1,325,600

  Felden

  2,207,200

  Lisburn

  1,547,100

  Maydown, Londonderry

  1,568,200

  Newry/Downpatrick

  1,945,900

  Omagh/Strabane

  1,439,700

  Springtown, Londonderry

  2,164,700

  21,499,900

  Health and Social Services Boards
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will establish an independent staff commission to review and monitor the personnel procedures of the health and social services boards in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: Health and personal social services employing authorities are bound by legislation in relation to employment procedures. The management executive of the Department of Health and Social Services monitors their personnel policies, and has particular responsibility for the selection and appointment procedures which apply to all staff in the health and personal social services. It is considered unnecessary to set up such a commission.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total expenditure, including legal costs and compensation payments, incurred by each health and social services board in defending religion and sex discrimination cases over the past three years to 30 April.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: Although the total expenditure occurred could be provided only at disproportionate cost, I will write to the hon. Gentleman with details of legal costs and compensation payments when this information has been compiled.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a list of children, including their ages, who were presumed killed or mutilated by the Irish Republican Army since 1969.

  Mr. Mates
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: A comprehensive list of persons who have been killed as a result of the security situation in Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Republic of Ireland and mainland Europe, including name, date of death and a brief report of the incident, is currently being compiled and will be placed in the Library in due course. To 31 March 1993, there have been 42 children aged under 14 years killed in Northern Ireland, by terrorists. Sixty-two per cent. of these attacks are believed to have been carried out by Republican terrorists. Information on children injured is not available.

  Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were on the waiting list for occupational therapy in the Down and Lisburn unit of management, Newry and Mourne unit of management and Banbridge and Craigavon unit of management in 1983, 1986, 1989 and at the latest available date.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) occupational therapists and (b) physiotherapists were employed in the Eastern and Southern health and social services boards; and, of

  199
  these, how many were employed in the Down and Lisburn unit of management, Newry and Mourne unit of management and Banbridge and Craigavon unit of management in each of the years ended 31 March since 1983.

  Occupational Therapists

  Eastern board

  Southern board

  Down and Lisburn unit

  Newry and Mourne unit

  Banbridge and Craigavon unit

  1983 NO

  184

  31

  23

  5

  15

  WTE

  160·7

  30·0

  21·0

  5·0

  14·5

  1984 NO

  182

  35

  23

  7

  15

  WTE

  161·7

  34·0

  21·2

  7·0

  14·5

  1985 NO

  181

  35

  23

  7

  16

  WTE

  161·2

  34·0

  22·1

  7·0

  15·5

  1986 NO

  188

  37

  24

  8

  15

  WTE

  169·1

  36·0

  22·4

  8·0

  14·5

  1987 NO

  192

  37

  21

  8

  15

  WTE

  172·5

  35·8

  20·1

  8·0

  14·3

  1988 NO

  200

  39

  24

  9

  15

  WTE

  178·9

  37·4

  23·3

  9·0

  13·9

  1989 NO

  210

  45

  29

  11

  16

  WTE

  187·5

  42·8

  25·3

  10·5

  15·3

  1990 NO

  190

  49

  26

  11

  19

  WTE

  170·1

  46·9

  22·5

  11·0

  17·8

  1991 NO

  198

  52

  29

  10

  22

  WTE

  175·5

  49·0

  25·1

  10·0

  19·8

  1992 NO

  206

  57

  31

  13

  20

  WTE

  188·6

  54·5

  26·3

  13·0

  18·6

  1993 NO

  208

  61

  32

  13

  23

  WTE

  188·6

  58·0

  27·4

  13·0

  21·5

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) physiotherapists and (b) occupational therapists are employed in the Eastern and Southern health and social services boards; and how many of these are located in the Down and Lisburn unit of management, Newry and Mourne unit of management and Banbridge and Craigavon unit of management;

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: The number of physiotherapists and occupational therapists employed in the Eastern and Southern health and social services boards and located in Down and Lisburn, Newry and Mourne, and Banbridge and Craigavon units of management at 31 March was as follows:

  Physiotherapists

  Occupational therapists

  Number

  WTE

  Number

  WTE

  Eastern H&SS Board

  341

  274·8

  208

  188·6

  Southern H&SS Board

  86

  71·4

  61

  58·0

  Down and Lisburn Unit

  41

  35·1

  32

  27·4

  Newry and Mourne Unit

  24

  18·1

  13

  13·0

  Banbridge and Craigavon Unit

  36

  30·8

  23

  21·5

  Note

  WTE=Whole Time Equivalents

  Figures for Banbridge and Craigavon include both the community and hospitals units of management.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much will be spent or has been spent in each year from 1990–91 to 1995–96 on(a) stage 1
  200
  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: The number of occupational therapists and physiotherapists employed in the Eastern and Southern health and social services boards, Down and Lisburn, Newry and Mourne, and Banbridge and Craigavon units of management in each of the years ended 31 March since 1983 was as follows:

  ESAs, (b)stage 2 ESAs, (c) stage 3 ESAs and (d) stage 4 ESAs, identifying how much of the total is allocated for the public access payments; what is the amount to be spent on (i) nitrate-sensitive areas, (ii) the moorland scheme, (iii) the habitat improvement scheme, (iv) set-aside management, identifying how much of the total will be for public access payments, and (v) organic farming in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: Expenditure on payments to farmers in the two ESA areas designated in 1988 and 1989 was £200,000 in 1990–91, £393,000 in 1991–92 and £466,000 in 1992–93 and planned expenditure is £750,000 in 1993–94. Planned expenditure for revised and new ESAs designated in 1993 is £2 million in 1994–95 and £4·4 million in 1995–96. None of this funding is specifically allocated for public access.

  While there are no plans at present to introduce a nitrate-sensitive areas scheme in Northern Ireland, public consultation documents have been issued under the agri-environment regulation for a moorland scheme, a habitat improvement scheme and an organic scheme. Planned expenditure on payments to farmers under these proposed new measures in Northern Ireland is £252,000 in 1994–95 and £1·08 million in 1995–96. The precise allocation between the schemes will be decided in the light of the results of public consultation. As is the case for ESAs, no payments are specifically allocated for public access.

  Taxi Drivers (Terrorist Incidents)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all reported incidents since 1969, in date order, in which taxi or minicab drivers in(a) Northern Ireland and (b) Great Britain were the victims of (i) loyalist and (ii) republican terrorists.

  Mr. Mates
  [holding answer 5 May 1993]: The information is not available in respect of Nothern Ireland and is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary in respect of Great Britain.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Independent Television Companies
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to meet the Independent Television Commission to discuss the implications of the merger of Yorkshire Television and Tyne-Tees Television for the work of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  I do not consider a meeting with the chairman of the Independent Television Commission to be necessary. The monitoring of licence conditions is the responsibility of the ITC and not the Government, and I understand that the ITC is discussing with Yorkshire Tyne-Tees Holdings how it proposes to fulfil its licence obligations.

  Ancient Monuments
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many scheduled ancient monuments are currently at risk as a result of ploughing; and how many have been damaged since the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

  Mr. Brooke
  I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on I March,Official Report, column 14. It is not known how many scheduled monuments are at risk as a result of ploughing or how many may have been damaged through ploughing since 1979. English Heritage will shortly be embarking on a study to identify those monuments most at risk.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to propose to landowners practical and financial arrangements to prevent the destruction of scheduled ancient monuments through ploughing.

  Mr. Brooke
  English Heritage already offers advice to landowners and, under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, often negotiates management agreements, which can involve financial payment, for the protection of sites. I will consider the case for further action in the light of the study which English Heritage is about to undertake of monuments at risk from ploughing.

  Archaeological Sites
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what effect the introduction of policy planning guideline 16—PPG 16—has had on the 202
  protection and investigation of archaeological sites blighted by redevelopment proposals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State announced on 9 June 1992,Official Report, column 124, the outcome of a review of the effectiveness of PPG 16 one year after it was published. A copy of the report of the review was placed in the Library. It indicated that the advice given in PPG 16 has been adopted by every local planning authority in England, and that the archaeological significance of planning applications is now much more fully considered. I am satisfied that the guidance is proving valuable to all parties who may become involved with archaeology and the planning process.

  Lighting Costs
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the current annual cost of lighting the exterior of(a) Buckingham palace, (b) St James's palace, (c) Clarence house and (d) other Government buildings in Whithall and Parliament square.

  Mr. Key
  The royal palaces and residences referred to are not floodlit. The lighting of the exterior of Government buildings in Whitehall and Parliament street is the responsibility of the individual Departments, but I understand that the cost is currently around £40,000 per year. The House authorities are responsible for the floodlighting of the Palace of Westminster and I understand that the cost is around £7,000 per year.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Agricultural and Food Research Council
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will set out the role the Agricultural and Food Research Council has with respect to horticulture; and what resources are deployed including manpower and finance by the council with respect to horticulture.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  The Agricultural and Food Research Council's programme includes basic and strategic research which underpins horticulture. The council's funding for horticultural research at Horticulture Research International and in universities is expected to be £4·5 million in 1993–94. A total of 561 staff at Horticulture Research International are currently AFRC employees. In addition, AFRC supports 17 research assistants on three-year horticulture-related projects in universities.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is Her Majesty's Government's response to the proposals for the Commission's fourth framework research and development programme launched by Research Commissioner Ruberti on 22 April.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 4 May, at column 26.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Infrastructure Projects
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if it is a requirement for each European Community-supported infrastructure project in the United Kingdom and in each other member state to have had an environmental assessment and an economic assessment; and what arrangements are made for the assessments to be available to members of the public.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There are no special provisions for the environmental impact assessment of European structural funds projects, but all such projects must conform with national and Community environmental legislation.

  Where a proposed development is of a type listed in directive 85/337/EEC and is likely to have significant environmental effects, environmental assessment will be required under the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988. For such projects the applicant must prepare and submit an environmental statement, setting out the likely effects of the project on the environment, with the application for planning permission. Notice must be publicised in a local newspaper and copies of the statement made available for inspection and placed on the planning register.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell), on 16 April,Official Report, column 763, what is the breakdown by county of the amount of ECGD guarantees in default.

  Mr. Needham
  The total of £8,118·5 million in respect of gross paid claims, plus interest, under ECGD guarantees which have not been recovered or have been written off as at 31 March 1992 is made up of amounts on 130 different countries.

  The largest are:

  £ million

  Nigeria

  1,957·1

  Poland

  1,544·4

  Brazil

  903·6

  Iraq

  391·5

  Yugoslavia

  362·8

  Mexico

  292·4

  Egypt

  286·9

  Sudan

  277·1

  Zambia

  206·4

  Tanzania

  161·8

  Argentina

  130·9

  Morocco

  108·4

  Jordan

  102·5

  Gabon

  90·5

  Zaire

  87·0

  Congo

  86·9

  Mozambique

  83·7

  Iran

  82·2

  Peru

  81·4

  Guyana

  70·7

  Angola

  67·6

  Ecuador

  59·6

  Cuba

  58·6

  Philippines

  55·5

  Cameroon

  46·1

  Serbian Companies
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many companies based in Serbia currently operate from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Needham
  The Department is aware of 36 companies in the United Kingdom that are "persons connected with Serbia or Montenegro" for the purposes of United Kingdom sanctions legislation.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action the Government have taken to ensure that no Serbian company is trading in the United Kingdom in violation of UN sanctions.

  Mr. Needham
  The United Kingdom has implemented the following legislation in respect of UN sanctions. It applies to all United Kingdom companies.

  Orders

  Statutory Instruments 1992 No. 1302 (5 June 1992)

  The Serbia and Montenegro (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1992

  Statutory Instruments 1992 No. 1303 (5 June 1992)

  The Serbia and Montenegro (United Nations Sanctions Order) (Dependent Territories) Order 1992

  Statutory Instruments 1992 No. 1304 (5 June 1992)

  The Serbia and Montenegro (United Nations Prohibition of Flights) Order 1992

  Statutory Instruments 1992 No. 1305 (5 June 1992)

  The Serbia and Montenegro (United Nations Prohibition of Flights) (Dependent Territories) Order 1992

  Statutory Instruments 1992 No. 1308 (5 June 1992)

  The Serbia and Montenegro (United Nations Sanctions) (Channel Islands) Order 1992

  Statutory Instruments 1992 No. 1272 (31 May 1992)

  The Export Goods (Control) (Serbia and Montenegro Sanctions) Order 1992

  Statutory Instruments 1992 No. 1419 (12 June 1992)

  The Export Goods (Control) (Serbia and Montenegro Sanctions) (Revocation) Order 1992

  Statutory Instruments 1993 No. 1189 (26 April 1993)

  The Export Goods (Control) (Croatian and Bosnian Territories) Order 1993

  Statutory Instruments 1993 No. 1188 (I May 1993)

  The Serbia and Montenegro (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1993

  Statutory Instruments 1993 No. 719 (10 March 1993)

  The Export of Goods (Control) (Bosnia-Herzegovina) (ECSC) Order 1993 (c)

  Statutory Instruments 1993 No. 1200 (30 April 1993)

  The Export of Goods (Control) (Bosnia-Herzegovina) (ECSC) (Revocation) Order 1993

  Carbon Tax
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom policy position on the carbon tax put to the Joint Energy and Environment European Council meeting on 23 to 24 April; what proposals were put forward by the Ministers of other EC member states; in what respects agreement has not been reached; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North-West
  205
  (Mr. Bellingham) on 5, May Official Report, columns 109–10, reporting on the recent joint session of the Energy and Environment Councils.

  Timeshare
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the organisations that have made representations to him over timeshare accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have received many representations concerning timeshare accommodation. My Department sought representations from interested parties in connection with the Timeshare Act 1992 and the draft EC Commission directive on timeshare which is currently under discussion in Brussels.

  Trawsfynydd Power Station
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what will be the increase in radioactive dosage to the surrounding area involved in the application by Nuclear Electric to set up an incinerator to dispose of contaminated oil at Trawsfynydd power station.

  Mr. Eggar
  The environmental statement which accompanied the application stated that the increase in radioactive dosage to the most exposed member of the public would be in the region of 0·005 microSieverts per annum. This is equivalent to 0·0002 per cent. of natural background radiation.

  Wood Imports (Thailand)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of hard and softwood imports from Thailand for each of the last three years.

  Mr. Needham
  United Kingdom imports of hardwood from Thailand were worth £0·79 million in 1990, £0·16 million in 1991 and £0·32 million in 1992. The United Kingdom has not imported any softwood from Thailand in the last three years.

  Post Office Counters Ltd.
  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with Post Office Counters Ltd. about the method of payment of pensions and benefits following privatisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  No decision has been made to privatise Post Office Counters Ltd. and the Post Office review is considering both public and private sector options. A statement will be made to the House in due course. In the meantime, I continue to have regular discussions with senior Post Office management on a wide range of issues.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration has been given to the retention of Post Office Counters in the public sector following privatisation of the rest of the Post Office.

  Mr. Leigh
  With the exception of Parcelforce, no decision has been made on whether to privatise any part of the Post Office. Within the Post Office review, we are considering private and public sector options.

  Leather Goods
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement concerning the penetration into the EC retail market of leather goods manufactured in China, India and elsewhere outside the EC.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Figures for the EC retail market for leather goods are not available.

  Dividends
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received regarding the trend for companies to offer dividends in the form of advanced scrip issues of shares rather than cash; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  My Department has received one representation about enhanced scrip dividends. Where companies make arrangements giving shareholders the alternative of cash or additional shares, the Department's main concern is that the offer is open on equal terms to all shareholders. It is for company shareholders to consider the merits of the offer and to vote accordingly when the relevant resolution is put to the general meeting.

  Internal Market Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall), on 28 April,Official Report, columns 415–16, what were the voting figures for each member state recorded in the meeting of the EC's Internal Market Council held on 5 April.

  Mr. Needham
  No formal votes were taken at the Internal Market Council on 5 April.

  Assisted Area Status
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Ms Anderson), on 29 April,Official Report, column 492, when he expects to complete and publish the Government's proposals on assisted area status.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I will announce the results of the present review as soon as practicable following the necessary clearance from the European Commission.

  Noise
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what investigations the National Physical Laboratory has made into hum noise complaints relating to low frequency noise; and what results were published.

  Mr. Leigh
  The National Physical Laboratory has not carried out any investigations into hum noise complaints in recent years.

  I would refer the hon. Member to the Building Research Establishment, an agency of the Department of the Environment, where I understand some work of this kind is pursued.

  Land Rover Exports
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what tariff or other barriers are faced by exports of Land Rover products to the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 30 April 1993]: The export of Land Rover products to the United States of America is subject to the import tariffs provided for in the United States harmonised tariff schedule.

  Vehicle Exports
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received concerning barriers to trade faced by exports of four-wheel drive vehicles to the United States of America; and what action he has taken as a result of those representations.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 30 April 1993]: Representations have been received from British exporters about proposals to reclassify sports utility vehicles as trucks for US import tariff purposes. Her Majesty's Government have made known their concerns to both the previous and current US Administrations.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how sanctions against the former Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro are enforced; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: Several Departments are responsible for applying sanctions in the United Kingdom. They act rigorously against any suspected breach of UN sanctions in co-operation with HM Customs and Excise.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is the estimated value of total imports from former Yugoslavia in each year since 1990 and in 1993 to date;

  (2) how many goods bearing labels stating "Made in Yugoslavia" or "Designed and Produced in Yugoslavia" were sold in the United Kingdom in each year since 1990 to date.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: United Kingdom imports from Yugoslavia by (a) country of despatch, and (b) country of origin are given in the table.

  The country of dispatch is the last country in which the goods were bought or sold before coming to the United Kingdom while the country of origin is the last overseas country in which significant processing took place. The available statistics do not separately identify the country where the goods are made, designed or produced, or how they are labelled.

  United Kingdom imports from Yugoslavia 1

  £ thousands

  (a) Country of despatch

  (b) Country of origin

  1990

  189,435

  219,931

  1991

  147,877

  179,767

  1992

  123,797

  150,458

  19932

  16,561

  18,750

  1 The figures 1993 refer to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovnia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Macedonia

  208
  2 January to February.

  Sources:

  (a) Business Monitor MM20, Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

  (b) Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether wooden butchers' blocks are included in the items which are covered by the complete United Nations embargo against Serbia and Montenegro.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: Yes. The export of all goods to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia—Serbia and Montenegro—from the United Kingdom is prohibited. The only exceptions are foodstuffs, medicines and humanitarian aid which are licenced on a case-by-case basis.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what sanctions are applied to British companies selling goods made in the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: Sanctions apply to goods made in the former republics of Yugoslavia—Serbia and Montenegro—which left the republics after the imposition of sanctions on 30 May 1992. Breach of sanctions legislation can lead to the prosecution of companies involved.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards imports of goods bearing labels "Made in Yugoslavia".

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: It is prohibited to import goods into the United Kingdom from the Republics of Yugoslavia—Serbia and Montenegro—and suspected breaches of sanctions legislation are investigated. However, goods which were imported into the United Kingdom from the former Yugoslavia before the imposition of sanctions on 30 May 1992 are not affected.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many import licences have been issued by his Department for import of goods from(a) the former Yugoslavia, (b) Serbia and (c) Montenegro since 31 May 1992; for what goods; for which companies; and at what total value.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: Since 31 May 1992, the Department has issued 762 import licences for goods imported from the former Yugoslavia; 210 covered imports from Serbia and Montenego, mainly personal items of small value. Sanctions apply to all imports from Serbia and Montenegro and licences were issued only for goods exported before 31 May 1992 or where the United Nations gave approval. As regards the rest of the former Yugoslavia, no sanctions are in force; quantitative restrictions apply only to a limited number of goods and the licences issued were mainly for textile products—85 per cent. For reasons of confidentiality, the names of importers cannot be given. Licences are issued by reference to quantity rather than value.

  Regional Development Funding
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further discussions he has had on his discussions with the European Commission about the
  209
  possibility of extending objective 1 status to other parts of the United Kingdom in addition to the current proposals for Merseyside and the highlands and islands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: The European Commission's proposals for objective 1 regions are currently being considered by a Council working group. The United Kingdom continues to press the case for Devon and Cornwall, rural Wales and South Yorkshire to be added to the list of objective I regions when the decision is taken by the Council of Ministers.

  Electricity (Restrictive Trade Practices)
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what considerations underlay his decision to issue the Electricity (Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976) (Exemption) Order 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: The Electricity (Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976) (Exemption) Order 1993 removes from the scope of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 certain contracts between coal producers, the electricity generators and the regional electricity companies made before 1 April 1993. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade made the exemption order taking account of the importance the Government attached to securing the future of the British coal industry.

  Sour Gas
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research his Department has carried out into the(a) toxicity and (b) inflammability of sour gas.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have been asked to reply.

  The offshore safety division of the Health and Safety Executive is currently involved in a number of research projects concerned with deleterious effects on sour gas. Research into the effects of sour gas flammability is also part of general studies on the effects of fire and explosions on offshore structures.

SCOTLAND

  Stobhill hospital
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions his officials have had with Greater Glasgow health board concerning the application for trust status by Stobhill hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  One of the criteria against which all trust applications are considered is that of long-term viability. Discussions between my officials and Greater Glasgow health board on that aspect of the Stobhill application are on-going.

  Infertility
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to set a ceiling on the amount a health board may charge for infertility treatment.

  Mr. Stewart
  Services are either provided under the national health service, in which case no charge is made, or privately, in which case the charge is determined by the clinic concerned.
  210
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received following his rejection of the National Medical Advisory Committee's recommendations that treatment for infertility at the Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow units should be centrally funded.

  Mr. Stewart
  Representations have been received from right hon. and hon. Members on behalf of constituents, from infertile couples and other individuals and from a body concerned with the interests of those with fertility problems.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many couples received assisted conception treatment in 1992 at each of the Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow units; what was the average cost at each; and what contribution was made by the local health board and the individuals concerned.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information on the number of couples receiving treatment in 1992 will not be available from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for some time yet. However, details of the number of treatment cycles provided during 1991 should be available from the authority in July of this year.

  As the treatment at the Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dundee centres is offered on a private basis, information on average costs and the precise funding arrangements is not held centrally. However, the National Medical Advisory Committee report "Infertility Services in Scotland" shows that patients have been charged £1,450 per treatment cycle at Aberdeen and £1,250 at Edinburgh. At Dundee, patients were asked to consider offering a donation towards the costs of their treatment. No charge is made for treatment at the Glasgow centre which operates within the NHS.

  Cancer Screening
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his oral answer of 29 April,Official Report, columns 1153–54, if he will list those persons who will join Dr. Euphemia McGoogan in the inquiry into the inaccurate reporting of cervical smear tests by certain members of the staff of the Inverclyde Royal hospital, Greenock; if he will outline the terms of reference of the inquiry; and when he expects to receive a report of the inquiry.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mrs. Fyfe) on 4 May at column 35. Dr. McGoogan has indicated that the report should be available by early summer.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to extend cervical and breast cancer screening to teenage girls and women aged 65 years and over; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  There are no plans to extend the age ranges for routine screening. Women are already offered screening for breast cancer at three-yearly intervals between the ages of 50 and 64 years. There is not yet evidence to show that screening younger women for breast cancer is of benefit.

  For cervical cancer, health boards have been asked to offer screening to women aged 20 to 60 at no more than

  211
  five-yearly intervals. In practice, health boards screen on a three-yearly cycle. Any younger women thought to be at risk or women over 60 who do not have a history of satisfactory tests may have a cervical smear under present arrangements.

  Cross-border Policing
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to cross-border policing issues; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I am today issuing a paper prepared jointly by my Department and that of my right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which examines the issues affecting policing across the border between Scotland and England. At present, police officers may exercise their powers only in the country in which they are based. This presents problems when an officer has to cross the border between England and Scotland in the course of duty. The increasing sophistication and mobility of criminals has served to highlight the problem over recent years.

  A recent paper produced by the four border police forces of Dumfries and Galloway, Lothian and Borders, Cumbria and Northumbria helpfully focused the present difficulties. My right hon. and learned Friend and I therefore decided to consider whether there was scope for improving on the present situation. The consultation document seeks views on options to help resolve the difficulties.

  The document also touches on jurisdictional issues confronting courts in England and Scotland in relation to cross-border crime, but concludes that this complex subject must be treated separately.

  We have invited comments on the paper by 18 June and shall welcome views from everyone with an interest in these issues. I hope that interested parties will respond quickly so that we can identify the best way forward.

  Copies of the paper are available to hon. Members in the Library and, as usual, in the Vote Office.

  Borgie Estate
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the disposal of Borgie estate by his Department.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: Borgie estate was gifted to the nation by the Duke of Sutherland in 1917 for the settlement on the land of returning service men from the 1914–18 war. To take account of changed circumstances, the purposes of the gift were extended in 1960 and the variation to the deed of gift stipulated that if, at any time in the future, the Secretary of State for Scotland should contemplate disposal of the land, he shall first offer it back to the Duke of Sutherland or his successors. Against this background the reconveyance of Borgie estate to Sutherland Estates took place on 28 April 1993, in accordance with Government policy on the disposal of surplus land.

  Lung Cancer and Coronary Heart Disease
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current incidence of lung cancer and coronary heart disease in Glasgow.
  212
  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: A total of 1,179 new cases of lung cancer were registered in respect of residents in the Greater Glasgow health board area in 1991; comparable data are not available for heart disease. Also in 1991, there were 1,043 deaths from lung cancer and 3,100 deaths from ischaemic heart disease in Greater Glasgow.

  Astronomical Appointments
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when appointments will be made to the posts of Astronomer Royal for Scotland or Director of the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: Advice will be tendered in due course to Her Majesty the Queen on an appointment to the office of Astronomer Royal for Scotland. The Science and Engineering Research Council, for which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is responsible, recently made changes to the management structure of the astronomical observatories as a result of which the posts of director of the Royal observatory, Edinburgh and director of the Royal Greenwich observatory have been succeeded by an overall director of observatories. An appointment to this post was made on 15 March 1993.

  Tariff Rebate Subsidy
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what are the terms of reference of the review of the tariff rebate subsidy scheme to the Scottish islands in which his department is involved; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether representations have been sought from Orkney islands council and Shetland islands council in respect of the review into the tariff rebate subsidy scheme for shipping services to the Scottish islands.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 May 1993]: My right hon. Friend is at present considering the need to review the existing arrangements under which he provides financial assistance for shipping services in the highlands and islands. Any such review would involve consultation with local interests, including the islands councils.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much will be spent or has been spent in each year from 1990–91 to 1995–98 on(a) stage 1 ESAs, (b) stage 2 ESAs, (c) stage 3 ESAs and (d) stage 4 ESAs, identifying how much of the total is allocated for the public access payments; what is the amount to be spent on (i) nitrate-sensitive areas, (ii) the moorland scheme, (iii) the habitat improvement scheme, (iv) set-aside management identifying how much of the total will be for public access payments and (v) organic farming in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 5 May 1993]: There is a single budget for ESAs in Scotland. Expenditure was approximately £1 million in 1990–91, £1·1 million in 1991–92 and £1·1 million in 1992–93. Planned expenditure is £5·3 million in 1993–94, £7·7 million in 1994–95 and £7·9

  213
  million in 1995–96. There is no nitrate-sensitive areas scheme. Consideration of the need for any agri-chemicals measures awaits the results of water quality surveys expected to be completed at the end of this year. My Department has issued for consultation proposals for schemes on heather moorland extensification, habitat creation, the management of set-aside land, and organic farming. Planned expenditure on these proposed measures is £3 million in 1994–95, and £5·8 million in 1995–96. The allocation between the schemes will be decided in the light of the consultation process.

  Forestry
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of tax relief given for afforestation in 1987–88 and the value of grants paid to private woodland owners in 1991–92; and what was the amount of new planting in 1991–92 as a percentage of that undertaken in 1987–88.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 5 May 1993]: The exact value of the tax relief claimed for forestry operations, including afforestation and restocking, before forestry was removed from the scope of taxation in 1988–89, is not recorded, but it was estimated to be about £10 million in 1987–88. In addition, private woodland owners received grants of £9 million in the same year. The total Government support was, therefore, about £19 million, which is equivalent to £25 million at 1991–92 prices. Private woodland owners received grants of £17 million in 1991–92, representing about 70 per cent. of the total support in 1987–88.

  A total of 14,147 hectares of new planting was grant-aided in 1991–92, which was 59 per cent. of the area in 1987–88. The total area planted with grant-aid in 1991–92, including restocking, was 21,978 hectares, which was 77 per cent. of the area planted in 1987–88.

  Lanarkshire Development Agency (Consultants)
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the consultants used by Lanarkshire development agency over the last two years.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1993]: While expenditure on consultancy studies above certain delegated authorities requires the approval, respectively, of Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Office, the choice and use of consultants is essentially a matter for the local enterprise companies themselves; and the Scottish Office holds no central record of the use of consultants. I suggest, therefore, that the hon. Member should take this matter up direct with Lanarkshire development agency.

HEALTH

  Regional Health Authorities
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what moneys have been paid to the Audit Commission by regional health authorities and her Department in the last five years; and if she will break down the figures by the categories of service provided.

  Mr. Sackville
  The statutory external audit function was transferred to the Audit Commission from the Department of Health with effect from 1 October 1990.
  214
  The Audit Commission levies charges directly to each health body. Audit costs for the part year 1990–91 were not analysed separately. For the financial year 1991–92, the total expenditure recorded in the financial statements of regional health authorities was £1,217,614. This figure does not include expenditure by other national health service bodies such as NHS trusts and district health authorities. No further information is available centrally of this expenditure by category of service provided.

  Payments were made by the Department for work associated with the paving legislation and for pensions of staff transferred to the Audit Commission.

  Patients
  Mr. Boyce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will review the methods presently used to measure patient activity levels; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no plans to do so.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will now make it her policy to ensure that all hand-pieces used by general dental practitioners are autoclaved after being used on each patient;

  (2) if she will now make it her policy to ensure that all general dental practitioners use disposable gloves which are not re-used for successive patients.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department has already issued guidance which covers both the autoclaving of hand pieces and the use of disposable gloves, the maintenance of clinical standards is primarily a matter for the dental profession. The latest advice from the Department is contained in "Guidance for Clinical Health Care Workers—Protection Against Infection with HIV and Hepatitis Viruses" of January 1990, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists, who have not given notice to leave the dental list, have given written notice to each family health services authority to terminate or deregister some or all of their capitation arrangements for child patients in each week since 20 November; how many dentists have deregistered patients; and how many patients have been deregistered.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: The information provided weekly by family health services authorities since July 1992 shows that in the period up to 23 April 1993, 201 dentists have given written notification to deregister 1,421 child patients. The tables set out, by FHSA, for each week since 20 November 1992, the number of new dentists who have deregistered child patients and the total number of child patients deregistered by all dentists.

  Number of dentists deregistering child patients Week ending 27 November 1992 to week ending 23 April 1993

  FHSA

  27 November

  4 December

  11 December

  18 December

  Gateshead

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Calderdale

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Leeds

  0

  0

  3

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  10

  0

  0

  0

  Norfolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Brent and Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  0

  215

  FHSA

  27 November

  4 December

  11 December

  18 December

  Essex

  0

  1

  1

  2

  Enfield and Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kent

  0

  2

  1

  0

  Lambeth, Soulhwark and Lewisham

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Devon

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Coventry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Solihull

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cheshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lancashire

  2

  0

  1

  2

  Bury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  1

  12

  3

  10

  8

  FHSA

  8 January

  15 January

  22 January

  29 January

  Gateshead

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Calderdale

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Leeds

  0

  0

  5

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Norfolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Suffolk

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Brent and Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Essex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Enfield and Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Kent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  0

  1

  1

  2

  Devon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Coventry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Solihull

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cheshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Lancashire

  1

  1

  3

  0

  Bury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  10

  3

  FHSA

  5 February

  12 February

  19 February

  26 February

  Gateshead

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Calderdale

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Leeds

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Norfolk

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Brent and Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Essex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Enfield and Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Devon

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Coventry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Solihull

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cheshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lancashire

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Bury

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  4

  0

  216

  FHSA

  5 March

  12 March

  19 March

  26 March

  Gateshead

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Calderdale

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Leeds

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Norfolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Brent and Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Essex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Enfield and Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kent

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Devon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Coventry

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Solihull

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Cheshire

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lancashire

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Bury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  3

  1

  1

  FHSA

  2 April

  9 April

  16 April

  23 April

  Gateshead

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Calderdale

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Leeds

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Norfolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Brent and Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Essex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Enfield and Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kent

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Devon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Coventry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Solihull

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cheshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lancashire

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Bury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  4

  Notes:

  Dentists who first de-registered patients between week ending 3 July 1992 and week ending 20 November 1992 are not included in this table, even if they de-registered patients between 21 November 1992 and 23 April 1993 since each dentist is only counted once on the first occasion he de-registered a patient. In the 68 FHSAs not included in this table, no dentist first de-registered a patient between 21 November 1992 and 23 April 1993.

  A small number of FHSAs have submitted revised figures. These amendments have been included in the cumulative totals but not in the weekly totals. The sum of the weekly totals does not therefore equal the cumulative total.

  Number of child patients deregistered Week ending 27 November 1992 to week ending 23 April 1993

  FHSA

  27 November

  4 December

  11 December

  18 December

  Cumbria

  0

  0

  0

  3

  Durham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Gateshead

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Humberside

  29

  0

  3

  2

  Calderdale

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Kirklees

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Leeds

  0

  0

  5

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  25

  0

  0

  0

  Rotherham

  0

  0

  0

  3

  Norfolk

  14

  1

  0

  3

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  217

  FHSA

  27 November

  4 December

  11 December

  18 December

  Brent and Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Essex

  0

  2

  1

  4

  Enfield and Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kent

  1

  2

  1

  0

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Oxfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Devon

  3

  7

  104

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  3

  0

  Coventry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Solihull

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cheshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lancashire

  5

  4

  1

  2

  Bolton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  2

  77

  16

  122

  23

  FHSA

  8 January

  15 January

  22 January

  29 January

  Cumbria

  3

  1

  0

  0

  Durham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Gateshead

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Humberside

  7

  2

  0

  1

  Calderdale

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kirklees

  0

  0

  0

  3

  Leeds

  8

  2

  0

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rotherham

  3

  3

  0

  0

  Norfolk

  7

  0

  13

  0

  Suffolk

  3

  0

  7

  0

  Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Brent and Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Essex

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Enfield and Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  0

  4

  Kent

  0

  2

  2

  1

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Oxfordshire

  0

  0

  5

  0

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  0

  2

  2

  3

  Devon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Coventry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Solihull

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cheshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Lancashire

  4

  2

  5

  1

  Bolton

  0

  6

  0

  0

  Bury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  35

  22

  37

  13

  FHSA

  5 February

  12 February

  19 February

  26 February

  Cumbria

  8

  0

  1

  3

  Durham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Gateshead

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Humberside

  1

  4

  2

  1

  Calderdale

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kirklees

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Leeds

  1

  0

  2

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rotherham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Norfolk

  16

  2

  1

  0

  Suffolk

  0

  4

  0

  0

  Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Brent and Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Essex

  3

  7

  0

  39

  Enfield and Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  218

  FHSA

  5 February

  12 February

  19 February

  26 February

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Oxfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Devon

  2

  0

  17

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  3

  2

  0

  Coventry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Solihull

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cheshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lancashire

  0

  3

  1

  0

  Bolton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bury

  0

  3

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  31

  29

  27

  43

  FHSA

  5 March

  12 March

  19 March

  26 March

  Cumbria

  2

  3

  0

  5

  Durham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Gateshead

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Humberside

  3

  0

  0

  0

  Calderdale

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Kirklees

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Leeds

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rotherham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Norfolk

  0

  5

  0

  0

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Brent and Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Essex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Enfield and Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kent

  18

  5

  1

  0

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Oxfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Devon

  1

  5

  3

  1

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  0

  3

  Coventry

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Solihull

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Cheshire

  0

  0

  0

  3

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lancashire

  2

  1

  0

  2

  Bolton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  26

  23

  6

  16

  FHSA

  2 April

  9 April

  16 April

  23 April

  Cumbria

  6

  2

  1

  0

  Durham

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Gateshead

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Humberside

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Calderdale

  2

  0

  0

  2

  Kirklees

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Leeds

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rotherham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Norfolk

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Brent and Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Essex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Enfield and Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kent

  14

  2

  0

  0

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Oxfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  219

  FHSA

  2 April

  9 April

  16 April

  23 April

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Devon

  0

  6

  4

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Coventry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Solihull

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cheshire

  0

  2

  0

  2

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lancashire

  2

  3

  0

  0

  Bolton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  27

  16

  5

  10

  Notes:

  (1) No patients have been deregistered in the 59 remaining FHSAs during this period.

  (2) A small number of FHSAs have submitted revised figures. These amendments have been included in the cumulative totals but not in the weekly totals. The sum of the weekly totals does not therefore equal the cumulative total

  Hospital Support Services
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts for contracted-out hospital support services have been affected by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not held centrally.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of dispensed drugs cost the national health service less than the current prescription charge; and what was the proportion in 1979.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The prescription charge is not, and never has been, directly related either to the particular item prescribed or to the actual cost to the national health

  IVF data 1985–90

  Patients

  Cycles

  Transfers

  Pregnancies

  Live Births

  Preg rate/transfer

  Live birth/transfer

  per cent.

  per cent.

  1985

  3,717

  4,308

  3,032

  481

  364

  15·9

  12·0

  1986

  4,687

  7,043

  3,798

  754

  605

  19·9

  15·9

  11987

  7,488

  8,899

  5,592

  980

  760

  17·5

  13·6

  1988

  7,515

  10,489

  6,553

  1,354

  956

  20·7

  14·6

  1989

  8,790

  10,413

  7,363

  1,599

  1,157

  21·7

  15·7

  1990

  9,964

  11,583

  8,195

  2,004

  1,443

  24·4

  17·6

  1Excluding one large centre with incomplete data

  GIFT data 1987–90

  Patients

  Cycles

  Transfers

  Pregnancies

  Live births

  Preg. rate/cycle

  Preg. rate/transfer

  Live Birth rate/transfer

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  1987

  2,288

  2,658

  —

  498

  —

  18·7

  —

  —

  1988

  2,840

  3,392

  2,899

  707

  —

  20·8

  24·4

  —

  1989

  2,581

  3,079

  2,584

  586

  361

  19

  22·7

  14·0

  1990

  2,332

  2,671

  2,179

  539

  358

  20·2

  24·7

  16·4

  Source: Statistical Analysis of the United Kingdom: IVF and GIFT Data 1985–90, Interim Licensing Authority, published June 1992.
  220
  service of dispensing it. It is an amount which successive Governments have thought it reasonable for those who can afford to do so to contribute towards the cost of NHS pharmaceutical services. In 1993–94, an estimated 50 per cent. of prescribed items dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors will cost the NHS less than the prescription charge of £4·25. Data for 1979 are not available.

  Asthma
  Mr. Boyce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the trend in the incidence of asthma in children.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is available on trends for asthma occurrence in children in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sackville
  There is some evidence for a gradual increase in the incidence of asthma in children in England and Wales over recent years—weekly returns service of the Birmingham research unit of the Royal College of General Practitioners 1987–91. There is also some evidence that hospital admissions have increased over the last decade. Caution is required in assessing trend data from routine sources, because of changes over time in the data collection systems and in the likelihood of asthma being correctly diagnosed.

  In-vitro Fertilisation
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many in-vitro fertilisation and gamete intrafallopian transfer treatments were carried out on the national health service and privately in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information about the total number of treatments given in the United Kingdom is shown in the tables. It cannot be broken down into categories requested.

  Infertility and Gynaecology Units
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) infertility units and (b) gynaecology units there were in each of the last 15 years.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Age at adoption 1977–1991

  England and Wales

  Age

  All ages

  Under 1

  1–4

  5–9

  10–14

  15–17

  Year

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  1977

  12,748

  100

  2,945

  23

  3,002

  24

  4,185

  33

  2,192

  17

  424

  3

  1978

  12,121

  100

  2,816

  23

  2,593

  21

  3,996

  33

  2,225

  18

  491

  4

  1979

  10,870

  100

  2,649

  24

  2,183

  20

  3,572

  33

  2,013

  19

  453

  4

  1980

  10,609

  100

  2,599

  24

  2,090

  20

  3,414

  32

  2,041

  19

  465

  4

  1981

  9,284

  100

  2,365

  25

  1,910

  21

  2,784

  30

  1,823

  20

  402

  4

  1982

  10,240

  100

  2,177

  21

  2,162

  21

  3,197

  31

  2,151

  21

  553

  5

  1983

  9,029

  100

  1,962

  22

  2,094

  23

  2,651

  29

  1,832

  20

  490

  5

  1984

  18,648

  100

  1,836

  21

  1,935

  22

  2,605

  30

  1,728

  20

  526

  6

  1985

  27,615

  100

  1,605

  21

  1,645

  22

  2,261

  30

  1,625

  21

  454

  6

  1986

  37,892

  100

  1,572

  20

  1,748

  22

  2,349

  30

  1,652

  21

  495

  6

  1987

  47,201

  100

  1,333

  19

  1,694

  24

  2,164

  30

  1,462

  20

  495

  7

  1988

  57,390

  100

  1,235

  17

  1,975

  27

  2,231

  30

  1,415

  19

  453

  6

  1989

  67,044

  100

  1,115

  16

  1,875

  27

  2,244

  32

  1,331

  19

  458

  7

  1990

  76,533

  100

  969

  15

  1,871

  29

  2,099

  32

  1,197

  18

  392

  6

  1991

  7,171

  100

  895

  12

  2,071

  29

  2,409

  34

  1,381

  19

  415

  6

  1 Total includes 18 cases where age was not stated.

  2 Total includes 25 cases where age was not stated.

  3 Total includes 76 cases where age was not stated.

  4 Total includes 53 cases where age was not stated.

  5 Total includes 81 cases where age was not stated.

  6 Total includes 21 cases where age was not stated.

  7 Total includes 5 cases where age was greater than 17.

  Source: OPCS "Marriage and Divorce Statistics FM2".

  Pharmacists
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the head of population per pharmacist for each European country.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The table shows the average population per pharmacy for the countries of the EC. Hospital pharmacies are not included.

  Country

  Population per pharmacy

  Year

  Belgium

  1,738

  1987

  Denmark

  15,000

  1987

  Germany

  3,530

  1990

  Greece

  1,333

  1990

  Spain

  2,173

  1990

  France

  22,568

  1990

  Ireland

  3,120

  1990

  Italy

  23,752

  1989

  Luxembourg

  5,265

  1991

  Netherlands

  210,006

  1991

  Portugal

  4,000

  1991

  United Kingdom

  24,456

  1992

  Source:

  1 Commission of EC.

  2 Department of Health files.

  Adoptions
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in each age cohort were adopted in each of the last 15 years.

  Mr. Yeo
  The information is shown in the table drawn from "Marriage and Divorce Statistics Series FM2" published annually by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  Infertility
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many men, women and couples were treated for primary and secondary infertility in each of the last 15 years.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many centres were licensed to provide artificial insemination by donor in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  Centres which provide artificial insemination by donor have been licensed only since August 1991 when the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority assumed its full powers under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. During the transitional period of one year from 1 August 1991, 85 such clinics were operating and applied to be licensed by the authority. Seventy-nine clinics in England are currently licensed by the authority.

  Ozone Levels
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has promoted into the impact of high concentration ozone levels on human health in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sackville
  The advisory group on the medical aspects of air polluton episodes considered the evidence on
  223
  the medical effects of exposure to ground level ozone in its first report which was published in August 1991. Copies are available in the Library.

  The advisory group concluded that the ozone levels experienced in the United Kingdom, which are at their highest during hot weather, are unlikely to produce any permanent lung damage. The group made a number of recommendations for research, including basic research on the biochemical and cellular mechanisms involved in the effects of ozone on the lung; research on the effects of low concentrations of ozone upon man; and epidemiological studies on the possible relationship between exposure to air pollutants in general, and ozone in particular, on health. The Department has raised this with the Medical Research Council which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and is the main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research in the United Kingdom.

  Mental Hospitals (Discharges)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish statistical details relating to the residence of persons who have been discharged from long-stay mental health beds and hospitals since 1986.

  Mr. Yeo
  This information is not available in the form requested. Information is available on the pattern of destination of discharged patients in 1989–90 and is given in the Department of Health's "Government Response to the third report from the Health Committee Session 1990–91" para 45, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Sexual Health
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to promote sexual health initiatives with young people; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The White Paper, "The Health of the Nation", includes the challenging target to reduce the rate of conceptions amongst the under-16s by at least 50 per cent. by the year 2000. Measures which are effective in substantially reducing pregnancies in the under-16s can be expected to have a similar effect on unwanted pregnancies in the over-16s.

  A range of initiatives is underway both nationally and locally to support progress towards "The Health of the Nation" targets and objectives. Guidance to the national health service draws attention to the need for separate, less formal family planning services for young people, with staff experienced in dealing with the particular needs of this group and their problems. Progress in the NHS is being monitored. The family planning section of the HIV/AIDS and sexual health key area handbook, published by the Department in January 1993 and issued to all health authorities, focuses on the best ways of providing effective services, particularly for young people, and includes many examples of good practice. It also suggests that health authorities responsible for purchasing health care should consider commissioning at least two clinic sessions per week dedicated to young people. A copy is available in the Library.

  The White Paper makes clear that everyone—parents, health services, local authorities, the voluntary and
  224
  educational sectors and the Government—need to work together to achieve "The Health of the Nation" targets. We particularly welcome in this context my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education's decision to issue last month for consultation a draft revised circular on sex education in schools.

  Grants have been awarded to enable voluntary organisations to carry forward projects related to the aims of "The Health of the Nation" White Paper. These organisations include the Family Planning Association and Brook Advisory Centres, which provide services directly to young people under 25. In addition to the provision of designated young people's health care services, there is a need for effective sexual health education programmes. With this in mind, a new three-year project grant has been awarded to the Sex Education Forum to facilitate the development of a centralised information network for all those involved in sex education.

  The Department will be looking further at ways in which the quality and range of family planning services may be developed and improved. This includes addressing issues such as training, the provision of better information for patients, and how best to meet the needs of young people.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sexual health targets are set by health authorities; and how these are decided.

  Mr. Sackville
  "The Health of the Nation" White Paper sets challenging targets for improvement in the key area of sexual health. National health service authorities are already acting to implement the recommendations in "First Steps for the NHS" and will be working with the National Health Service Management Executive to apply the national targets at regional and, where appropriate, district and family health service authority level.

  Children in Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were in local authority care in each local authority in England during 1992.

  Mr. Yeo
  Information is not yet available about the numbers of children looked after at 31 March 1992 by individual local authorities. However, the Children Act Report 1992 contains estimated totals for England by legal status, including whether subject to a care order.

  The number of children who were in the care of each local authority in 1991 are given in "Children in Care of local authorities year ending 31 March 1991, England".

  Copies of the publications referred to are in the Library.

  Mental Health Hospitals
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies she has funded to identify(a) contact with community mental teams, (b) residential accommodation and (c) unmet needs for long-stay patients in mental health hospitals, within each United Kingdom regional health authority.

  Mr. Yeo
  Responsibility for assessing the needs of mentally ill people rests with district health authorities and local authority social services departments. Department of
  225
  Health funded-research concerning community care for mentally ill people is included in "Community Care: Findings from Department of Health funded research 1988–1992", a copy of which is available in the Library. The national health service research and development programme supports several studies on services available to long-stay mentally ill patients, alternative accommodation and arrangements for discharge. This is being managed by the Yorkshire regional health authority, and the hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Bryan Askew, the chairman of the health authority, for details.

  Waiting Lists
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the current information available about surgical waiting lists in(a) Rochdale district health authority and (b) each of the regional health authorities in England.

  Mr. Sackville
  Provisional waiting list figures for each regional health authority at 31 December 1992 were published on 9 February 1993 in press release H93/547. Information on Rochdale health authority can be found in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England at 30 September 1992", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on achieving the commitments on waiting lists as laid out in the patients charter.

  Mr. Sackville
  The national health service has been extremely successful in meeting the waiting time commitments in the patient's charter. The latest provisional figures show that there are no patients waiting two years or more for in-patient or day case treatment in any region. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 4 May, at 31 March 1993 there were no patients waiting more than 18 months for a hip

  Actuals

  Projected

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Apple and Pear Research Council

  0·001

  —

  —

  0·002

  Horticultural Development Council

  0·011

  0·020

  0·015

  0·012

  Home-Grown Cereals Authority

  0·026

  0·051

  0·072

  n/a

  Horticulture Research International

  0·510

  4·370

  8·090

  12·270

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  1·380

  1·264

  1·264

  1·645

  National Institute of Agricultural Botany

  0·011

  0·019

  0·023

  0·026

  Potato Marketing Board

  0·316

  1·104

  1·767

  n/a

  Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

  1·600

  1·900

  2·100

  0·900

  Cash prices

  3·855

  8·728

  13·331

  14·855

  1992–93 prices

  4·260

  9·033

  13·331

  Note: n/a = not available.

  Research
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what definitions he uses of near-market, strategic and basic research with respect to the activities of each non-departmental public body currently in receipt of funds from his Ministry.

  Mr. Gummer
  All research and development funded by my Department is categorised according to the definitions
  226
  replacement or cataract operation and only eight patients waiting more than 18 months for a knee replacement operation.

  Tranquilliser Addiction
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to compensate tranquilliser addiction patients; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) what services are available within the NHS for treatment and counselling for those affected by tranquilliser addiction.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 5 May 1993]: We have no plans to compensate such patients. Health authorities, including family health services authorities, are responsible for ensuring that a range of services are available to meet the needs of people who wish to withdraw from tranquillisers. These are provided by both primary care teams and the secondary care sector, and include counselling, withdrawal therapy and the gradual replacement of tranquillisers by non-prescribing interventions.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Capital Investment
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the planned capital investment in cash and real terms by(a) Government and (b) private sources in each of the non-departmental bodies sponsored by his Ministry and engaged in research, for each year since 1978 and the proposed expenditure for the next three years beginning 1993.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information that is available on capital investment by the relevant bodies without incurring disproportionate cost is as follows. The data cannot be divided between Government and private sources.

  of the "Frascati Manual"—the measurement of scientific and technical activities—published by the OECD, Paris 1981. The manual identifies three types of research and development work—basic research, applied research and experimental development. Applied research may have either strategic or specified aims and be subdivided accordingly.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has made of the cost to non-departmental bodies sponsored by his Ministry of
  227
  the 1992 devaluation of the pound sterling as this affects funding sourced from international subscriptions; and what changes have been made to research programme budgets in consequence.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have made no such estimates and I am not aware of any such costs.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Government-funded research stations relating to(a) agriculture, (b) horticulture and (c) food have either closed or been lost through amalgamation since 1978; and how many jobs in (i) research and scientific grades and (ii) other grades were shed as a consequence of each closure each year.

  Mr. Gummer
  The numbers of Government-funded research stations which have closed or amalgamated since 1978 are as follows:

  Stations relating to:

  Closed

  Amalgamated

  Agriculture

  10

  11

  Horticulture

  5

  8

  Food

  2

  1

  Statistics on job losses are not held centrally in the form requested, nor are they monitored site by site in every instance. Moreover, some losses will have arisen for other reasons and some staff will have been redeployed by parent organisations

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the Government's investment plans with respect to agriculture, horticulture and food research for each year until 1996.

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department's estimates of proposed expenditure on agriculture, horticulture and food research are £123·9 million in 1994–95 and £126·4 million in 1995–96.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was total Government expenditure and non-departmental external expenditure in agriculture, horticulture and food research for each year since 1978 in cash and real terms; and what proportion of the total funding requirement of non-departmental research bodies linked to his Ministry has been met from external non-governmental sources since 1978.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have given details of total Government expenditure on agriculture, horticulture and food research in response to another of the hon. Member's questions. Comprehensive information is not available on non-departmental external expenditure. The amount of funding met from external non-governmental sources as a proportion of the total research and development budget for the non-departmental research bodies linked to my Department is as follows.

  External non-governmental funding as a proportion (per cent.) of total R&D budget.

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Horticultural Development Council

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  Apple and Pear Research Council

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  48·3

  55·3

  55·0

  228

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Horticulture Research International

  23·6

  22·6

  23·9

  National Institute of Agricultural Botany

  68·0

  36·2

  33·2

  Home Grown Cereals Authority

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew)

  0·7

  2·4

  5·1

  Potato Marketing Board

  90·0

  93·8

  97·1

  Comparable figures for years before 1990–91 are not available.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the policy underlying the current research programmes and how each programme ranks in terms of the priority he attaches to them.

  Mr. Gummer
  Research is undertaken to support the Ministry's aims which are to protect the public, to improve the economic performance of the agriculture, fishing and food industries, enhance the rural and marine environment, prevent flooding and coastal erosion and protect farmed animals and fish.

  The Priorities Board for Research and Development in Agriculture and Food advises Agriculture Ministers and the chairman of the Agriculture and Food Research Council on priorities for research and development and the allocation of research and development budgets. The board's recommendations guide the allocation of resources in the research and development programme.

  Research and development strategy documents for agriculture and food are published by the Ministry. These are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the research establishments and projects which have received funding from either the Agriculture Research Council or Horticulture International in the last year; and if he will list the amounts involved.

  Mr. Gummer
  Horticulture Research International is not a funding body. The research establishments which received funding from the Agricultural and Food Research Council in the last year, together with the amounts involved, are as follows:

  £ million

  Institute for Animal Health

  12·58

  Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research

  14·01

  Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research

  8·34

  Institute of Arable Crops Research

  12·35

  Horticulture Research International

  2·57

  Institute of Plant Science Research

  9·67

  Institute of Food Research

  12·73

  Silsoe Research Institute

  5·34

  In addition, the Agricultural and Food Research Council's research grant expenditure with universities and other academic institutes amounted to £23·71 million.

  Information on individual projects can be found in the AFRC handbook, copies of which are available in the Library of the House of Commons.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many personnel were employed in
  229
  (a)agriculture, (b)horticulture and (c)food research in (i) research and scientific grades and (ii) other grades, in each area in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Gummer
  Staffing statistics are not kept on the basis requested and so the information is not available.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the research programmes since 1990 which have been subject to a cut in funding by 5 or more per cent. and those programmes which have been cancelled, including those which were never brought on stream.

  Mr. Gummer
  The level of funding by my Department is kept under constant review both during each year and from year to year, in order to make the best possible use of available resources. Changes in the funding of individual research programmes are an inevitable consequence of this policy. Details of expenditure by my Department, both increases and decreases, for individual research programmes since 1991–92 are given in the table. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.

  Research group

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million1

  (a) Horticulture, Plant Protection and Agricultural Resources Policy Group

  8·3

  9·7

  10·5

  (b) Arable Crops and Alcoholic Drinks Group

  3·8

  3·9

  4·5

  (c) Meat Group

  6·1

  6·3

  6·7

  (d) Pesticides, Veterinary Medicines and Emergencies Group

  22·2

  23·5

  21·6

  (e) Animal Health and Veterinary Group

  19·9

  20·8

  22·0

  (f) Chief Scientist's Group (Agriculture and Horticulture)

  5·8

  7·9

  7·8

  (g) Environmental Policy Group

  12·9

  13·1

  13·5

  (h) Food, Drink and Marketing Policy Group

  3·8

  4·5

  5·9

  (i) Food Safety Group

  0·0

  0·0

  0·3

  (j) Land Use Conservation and Rural Economy Group

  2·9

  3·7

  5·8

  (k) Food Science Group

  18·4

  18·3

  21·2

  (l) Aquatic Environment, Salmon whaling and inland fisheries, conservation of sea fish stock; fish farming and shellfish production

  8·3

  8·9

  9·1

  1 Estimate.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the organisations in the(a) public and (b) private sectors to which the Government make funds available for research with respect to agriculture, horticulture and food.

  Mr. Gummer
  A record of the organisations to which the Government make funds available for agriculture, horticulture and food research is not kept centrally. My Department, however, contracts research mainly with the following categories of research organisations:

  Research Councils

  Other Government Departments

  Higher Education Institutions

  Private industries and companies

  Public companies and corporations

  Research Associations, Authorities, Boards and Commissions

  230

  Non-industrial Research Institutes

  MAFF Agencies, ie ADAS, Central Science Laboratory, Central Veterinary Laboratory

  MAFF's Food Science Laboratory

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total Government expenditure for agriculture, horticulture and food research for each year since 1978 in cash and real terms; and what funding is to be made available to the Agriculture and Food Research Council and Horticulture Research International for the five years beginning 1993.

  Mr. Gummer
  Government funding for research and development on agriculture, horticulture and food is mainly directed through the Agricultural and Food Research Council—AFRC—the Scottish Office Agriculture and Food Department and the Department of Agriculture, Northern Ireland and my own Department. Expenditure on such research from these sources is given in the table, in cash and real terms:

  Year

  Cash

  Real terms1

  £ million

  £ million

  1978–79

  n/a

  n/a

  1979–80

  n/a

  n/a

  1980–81

  n/a

  n/a

  1981–82

  n/a

  n/a

  1982–83

  n/a

  n/a

  1983–84

  n/a

  n/a

  1984–85

  191·8

  290·2

  1985–86

  190·3

  273·0

  1986–87

  192·7

  267·6

  1987–88

  190·9

  251·5

  1988–89

  203·2

  249·6

  1989–90

  210·6

  242·6

  1990–91

  239·7

  255·5

  1991–92

  247·8

  247·8

  1992–93

  273·7

  264·4

  1993–94

  288·2

  271·1

  1 using the GDP inflator (1991–92 = 100)

  A number of other Government bodies fund research into agriculture, horticulture and food but figures on their expenditure are not held centrally.

  The amount of funding made available to AFRC from the science budget of the Office of Science and Technology and from my Department amounts to £145 million in 1993–94. Funding available to Horticulture Research International amounts to £13·5 million in 1993–94. The allocation of funds in future years will be notified to the AFRC and HRI as soon as decisions have been reached.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was Government expenditure in nominal and real terms for each year since 1978 for research into(a) the relationship between farming and the environment, (b) organic farming, (c) whole crop utilisation and novel crops including alternative uses for arable crops, (d) raising the productive potential of the principal agricultural commodities, (e) food safety and (f) animal welfare.

  Mr. Gummer
  Information regarding Government expenditure is given in the table. Details of expenditure are available for the financial years 1991–92 and 1992–93 only. The spend for 1993–94 has yet to be finalised. Prior to 1991–92 the data were not recorded in the required format and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.
  231

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Cash

  Real terms1

  Cash

  Real terms1

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  (a) Farming and environment

  56·6

  56·5

  63·9

  61·7

  (b) Organic farming

  1·0

  1·0

  1·2

  1·1

  (c) Whole crop utilisation

  4·2

  4·2

  4·8

  4·6

  (d) Plant and animal breeding and genetics

  25·0

  25·0

  21·4

  20·7

  (e) Food safety

  11·5

  11·5

  14·5

  14·0

  (f) Animal welfare

  6·6

  6·6

  7·6

  7·3

  1 Using GDP deflator (1991–92= 100).

  Notes

  The data presented are of direct relevance to the topic areas identified. Other research work, not included here, also touches upon these areas and is of indirect relevance.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the total expenditure of his Ministry for each year since April 1991 and over the next three years is accounted for by research and development projects aimed at reducing the cost of the common agricultural policy to the consumer and to public funds.

  Mr. Gummer
  The question is not answerable in the terms in which it is posed. Reduction in the cost of the CAP is an objective which pervades a very wide range of MAFF's policies, many of which are supported by research and development programmes.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of his Ministry's research funds for each year since 1978 has been expanded on(a) pure and (b) applied projects.

  Mr. Gummer
  As I have indicated in response to another of the hon. Member's questions, my Department's research funds are classified by the definitions of the "Frascati Manual" and details are set out in the table.

  Year

  Basic research

  Applied strategic

  Research specific

  Experimental development

  Total

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  1978–79

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1979–80

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1980–81

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1981–82

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1982–83

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1983–84

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1984–85

  6·4

  20·7

  46·5

  45·8

  119·4

  1985–86

  4·5

  38·1

  43·1

  32·7

  118·4

  1986–87

  4·9

  34·9

  43·3

  35·2

  118·3

  1987–88

  5·5

  32·5

  42·1

  33·7

  113·8

  1988–89

  5·7

  41·5

  40·7

  26·3

  114·2

  1989–90

  6·3

  45·0

  48·6

  12·2

  112·1

  1990–91

  8·6

  47·9

  51·0

  11·6

  119·1

  1991–92

  10·6

  54·4

  54·9

  1·6

  121·5

  n/a =not available

  Figures for 1992–93 are not yet available.

  Central Science Laboratory
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff are currently employed in research work by the Central Science Laboratory; and what is his projection for the number to be employed when relocation is complete on a single site in York.
  232
  Mr. Gummer
  Responsibility for this matter is delegated to the Central Science Laboratory and I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Gentleman direct.

  Letter from Dr. P. I. Stanley to Dr. Gavin Strang, dated 6 May 1993:
  The Central Science Laboratory currently employs 266 staff engaged on research and development work.
  It was announced by the Minister on 31 March that the Food Science Laboratories at Norwich and Torry will merge with the Central Science Laboratory to form an enlarged Agency which will come into operation on 1 April 1994. There are no plans at present, however, to relocate any of the Norwich or Torry staff to Yorkshire.
  My projection for the number of research staff to be employed in Yorkshire in the financial year 1997–98, when relocation will be complete, is 265.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the relationship between the Central Science Laboratory work and that of non-departmental bodies sponsored by his Department; and if he will list the projects on which the Central Science Laboratory is currently engaged.

  Mr. Gummer
  Responsibility for this matter is delegated to the Central Science Laboratory and I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Gentleman direct.

  Letter from Dr. P. I. Stanley to Dr. Gavin Strang, dated 6 May 1993:
  The Central Science Laboratory is involved in collaborative research with the Agricultural and Food Research Council's Institute of Arable Crops Research.
  The projects on which the Central Science Laboratory is currently engaged are:

  Studies in resistance in crop pests,

  Effects of pesticides on beneficial insects,

  Barley yellow dwarf virus in Autumn and Winter, Seed weevil and pod midge.

  Postgraduate Students
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of his Ministry's postgraduate studentships in agriculture and food studies for the academic year beginning 1 October 1991 directly covered or related substantially to(a) the relationship between farming and the environment, (b) organic farming, (c) whole crop utilisation and novel crops

  233
  including alternative uses for arable crops, (d)raising the productive potential of the principal agricultural commodities, (e)food safety and (f)animal welfare.

  Mr. Gummer
  The number of postgraduate research studentships awarded by my Department in these areas in the academic year beginning I October 1991 was as follows:

  Number

  (a) relationship between farming and the environment

  12

  (b) organic farming

  1

  (c) whole crop utilisation and novel crops including alternative uses for arable crops

  —

  (d) raising the production potential of the principal agricultural commodities

  23

  (e) food safety

  7

  (f) animal welfare

  6

  Horticulture Research Institute
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to introduce legislation to merge the Horticulture Research Institute into a single organisational structure; and what is the Horticulture Research Institute's present organisational status within his Ministry.

  Mr. Gummer
  Horticulture Research International already operates as a single organisational structure. It integrates under single management the staff and facilities of the former Institute of Horticultural Research of the Agricultural and Food Research Council and the former experimental horticulture stations of the Agricultural Development Advisory Service. It is a next steps non-departmental public body sponsored by my Department and governed by a management statement. Legislation will be introduced as soon as possible to establish Horticulture Research International as a statutory corporation and to transfer seconded staff to its direct employment.

  EC Agriculture Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) of 28 April,Official Report, column 409, what were the voting figures for each member state recorded in the meeting of the European Community's Agriculture Council held on 26 and 27 April.

  Mr. Curry
  The following decisions were adopted unanimously:

  ending of the milk co-responsibility levy;

  extension of support prices for dried fodder and cauliflowers by one month;

  permission for Portugal to introduce a national aid for wine distillation.

EMPLOYMENT

  Unemployed People (Travelling Expenses)
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the maximum daily travelling expenses that can be claimed by unemployed people who participate in job search seminars or in job review workshops when they travel by(a) public transport or (b)
  234
  private transport; what entitlement participants in both schemes have to travel expenses to enable them to attend the follow-up support sessions that are provided by the seminars and workshops; and if she will make a statement.

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

  Letter, from M. E. G. Fogden to Ms Clare Short, dated 6 Mar 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about travel expenses for participants who attend job search seminars and Job Review Workshops. This is something which falls within the responsibilities she has delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Both programmes arc of short duration, normally lasting two full days with some additional follow up. They are designed to help short term unemployed people find work more quickly. The seminars and workshops are run by organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors, under contract to the Employment Service. As I explained in my earlier reply of 14 April, people who attend arc paid their travelling expenses to the main sessions and to the follow up events. This is done by the programme providers who re-imburse participants the cost of travelling from their homes to the seminar or Workshop. The providers then recover this money from the Employment Service.
  Participants are expected to travel by the most cost effective mode of transport, normally standard class public transport. If participants prefer to use their own car or motorcycle they are paid a mileage allowance of 16p per mile provided this is cost effective, for example, where public transport is poor or there is good reason to use a vehicle. Otherwise if they choose to use their own transport they will receive the equivalent public transport cost.
  People with a disability problem which affects their mobility may claim travelling expenses at the mileage rate if they wish to use their own private vehicle. They may also be re-imbursed parking fees. Taxi fares will also be paid where a person's disability prevents them using either public transport or private vehicle.
  There is no upper limit laid down which states the maximum daily travelling allowance that can be claimed by participants. There is however a network of job search seminar and Job Review Workshop provision throughout the country and we would expect people to be offered places at a convenient location.
  As decided by the Administrative Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the total labour force, the numbers unemployed and the numbers self-employed and employed in manufacturing and service sectors by standard industrial classification of the employment source in(a) 1963, (b) 1974, (c) 1979 and (d) the most recent period for which information is available; and what were the percentage changes in each sector between each of those successive dates.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) men and (b) women have been in continuous employment in the same job for (i) six

  235
  months, (ii) one year, (iii) two years, (iv) three years, (v) four years and (vi) five years; and what is the breakdown of the figures between manufacturing industry and the retail trades.

  Great Britain, Autumn 1992 not seasonally adjusted.

  Thousands

  All in Employment

  Manufacturing industry

  Retail trade

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Women

  6 months or more

  12,484

  9,885

  3,471

  1,307

  976

  1,438

  1 year or more

  11,737

  9,090

  3,288

  1,213

  895

  1,296

  2 years or more

  10,585

  7,793

  3,012

  1,070

  762

  1,052

  5 years or more

  7,431

  4,716

  2,118

  632

  467

  571

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will publish the latest figures for employment of people with disabilities, as a proportion of the total work force, for(a) the public sector and (b) the private sector, and for employment classifications within these sectors; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  This information is not available.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the 1993–94 budget for each training and enterprise council in England.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Regional offices of the training, enterprise and education directorate are currently finalising contracts with training and enterprise councils for 1993–94 budgets and the information is not yet available.

  It has been decided that TEC level information should be released publicly only six months after the beginning of the contracting year. The information must remain commercially confidential while TECs are negotiating with their providers. The information requested on allocations for 1993–94 will therefore be publicly available on 1 October 1993.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when she will publish the draft TEC operating agreement for 1993–94.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A copy of the TEC operating agreement for 1993–94 is available in the Library.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make it her policy to allow training and enterprise councils three-year plans for funding and planning and for arranging provision for training managers locally; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 5 May 1993]: Subject to the money being voted by Parliament, each training and enterprise council is guaranteed a minimum level of funding for the main adult programmes and their local initiative fund over three years. This should allow TECs to plan local provision with confidence.

  Training
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans she has to extend training credit schemes to adults.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The use of training credits within adult training programmes is already being tested by a
  236
  Mr. McLoughlin
  The available information on length of time in current job based on the labour force survey is given in the table:

  number of training and enterprise councils. TECs were informed last November that they were free to deliver training for work through adult credit systems. The Government policy is to encourage TECs to consider adult credits in appropriate circumstances.

  Radiation Emergencies
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many sites have been exempted from regulation 3 of the Public Information for Radiation Emergency Regulations 1992.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No sites are exempted from regulation 3 of the Public Information for Radiation Emergencies Regulation 1992—PIRER. In fact, there are no powers to exempt employers from regulation 3 of PIRER except for that provided under regulation 5 which is vested in my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and can be exercised only in the interest of national security.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list each incident in the United Kingdom since 1963 that would have qualified as a radiation emergency if regulation 2 of the Public Information for Radiation Emergency Regulations 1992 had been in force.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  It is thought that there have not been any incidents in the United Kingdom since 1963 that would have qualified as a radiation emergency under regulation 2 of the Public Information for Radiation Emergencies Regulations 1992. However, it is not possible to provide the information required to verify this without incurring disproportionate costs.

  Unemployment Statistics
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what changes have occurred in the past year in the way that unemployment figures are administratively processed.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The basis of the monthly unemployment statistics produced by the Employment Department remains as it has been since October 1982: a count of the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits at Employment Service local offices on the day of the count.
  237

  Law Students
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether students taking bar finals and Law Society finals are eligible for the career development loans scheme; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Career development loans—CDLs—can and are being used to fund individuals taking their bar and Law Society finals. The participating banks may issue suitable clients with CDLs which support up to 12 months of study, including 12 months of a longer course. In addition training and enterprise councils may sponsor applications for up to two years of study.

  Disabled Workers
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the percentage quota of disabled people employed by each local area authority in the Greater Manchester area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Tables showing the number and percentage of registered disabled people employed by a wide range of individual employers in the public sector, including local authorities, are published annually in Employment Gazette. The figures are published with the agreement of the employers concerned. The latest available figures, which relate to 1 June 1992, are in the April 1993 Employment Gazette, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many local authorities in England and Wales have met the 3 per cent. quota of disabled workers set out in the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 in each year since 1979; and if she will make a statement.

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 6 May 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question about the number of local authorities in England and Wales who have employed a three per cent. Quota of disabled people in each year since 1979. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The information you requested is set out in the attached table.
  The information relates to 1 June each year and is taken from data published in the Employment Gazette in respect of individual employers in the public sector.
  However, the figures do not give a complete picture of the extent to which people with disabilities are employed by local authorities. Quota figures reflect only the employment of people with disabilities who chose to register under the 1944 legislation. Many eligible people with disabilities are not registered.
  I hope this is helpful.

  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.
  238

  England and Wales Number of local authorities employing at least 3 per cent, registered disabled people

  Year

  Number

  1979

  64

  1980

  63

  1981

  51

  1982

  44

  1983

  41

  1984

  43

  1985

  36

  1986

  33

  1987

  30

  1988

  31

  1989

  23

  1990

  22

  1991

  13

  1992

  15

  Health and Safety
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase the complement of the inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Details of planned staffing to I April 1994 in the Health and Safety Executive are contained in the "Health and Safety Commission Plan of Work 1993–94 and beyond" due to be published shortly. This will indicate that the number of inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive is planned to rise from 1,532 at 1 April 1993 to 1,685 at 1 April 1994.

DEFENCE

  Low Flying
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average duration of a low-flying sortie by a fast jet.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Approximately 45 minutes.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations and dates of periods of covert monitoring of low-flying operations conducted by Royal Air Force police since 1987.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Since 1987 the RAF police have carried out covert surveys at the following locations over the following periods.

  Date and location

  1987

  16–18 March—Banham Zoo

  7–9 April—Penrith, Morpeth and Amble

  14–15 April—Pickering and Jedburgh

  1 June—Peterborough

  7–8 July—Redmile

  21–24 July—Dumfries and Galloway

  21–24 July—Builth Wells

  4–6 August—Grindleford Bridge

  4–6 August—Alnwick

  5 August—Haltwhistle

  11–12 August—Leighton Hall, Carnforth

  13–14 August—Castle Farm, Devon

  19–20 August—Haxby

  15–17 September—Scarborough

  21–25 September—Ettrick

  14–18 March—Amble

  25–28 April—Quedgeley and Hardwicke

  239

  26–27 April—Braunston

  7 June—Farndon

  14–16 June—Crediton

  21–23 June—Kidwelly

  22 June—Tumble

  27–29 June—Stonehouse

  28–30 June—Keswick

  12 July—Hexham

  12 July—Holmc on Spalding Moor

  18–21 July—Builth Wells

  26–27 July—Machynlleth

  23–25 August—Morpeth

  6–8 September—Halesworth

  11–13 October—Melrose

  18–20 October—Milford Haven

  Late October/early November—Redburn

  15–17 November—Newark/Farndon

  6–9 February—Upper Chute, Hampshire

  25–27 April—Liskeard, Cornwall

  2–4 May—Gloucester

  8–11 May—Blencarn, Cumbria

  15–19 May—Wigtown, Dunfries and Galloway

  22–26 May—Haddington, Lothian

  26–30 June—Knaresborough, North Yorkshire (Skyguard deployment)

  24–27 July—Earl Shilton, Leicestershire

  24–27 July—Market Bosworth, Leicestershire

  31 July-4 August-Penrith, Cumbria (Skyguard deployment)

  26–27 September—Glan Conwy, Gwynedd

  3–5 October—Alnwick, Northumberland(Skyguard deployment)

  30 January-1 February—Machynlleth, Powys

  5–9 March—Wetheral, Cumbria

  25–28 March—Llanrhidian, West Glamorgan

  26–30 March—Hereford

  26–30 March—Alnwick area, Northumberland Kelso area, Borders (Skyguard deployment)

  15–17 May—Melrose, Borders

  22–24 May—Inverness and Dingwall, Highlands

  25–28 June—St. Mary's Loch, Borders

  10–13 July—Glastonbury/Shepton Mallet, Somerset (Skyguard deployment)

  17–20 September—Grange over Sands, Cumbria (Skyguard deployment)

  1–2 October—Richmond, North Yorkshire (Skyguard deployment)

  3–4 October—Leerning, North Yorkshire (Skyguard deployment)

  15–18 October—Cosford, Warwickshire

  13–15 November—Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (Skyguard deployment)

  23–25 April—Richmond/Barnard Castle, North Yorkshire (Skyguard deployment)

  14–16 May—Chatteris, Cambridgeshire

  4–6 June—Brough, Humberside

  Exercise name

  Exercise dates

  Exercise location

  1987

  Gryphon's Gunner

  6 March

  Lincolnshire

  Polar Dawn III

  7–8 March

  Norfolk

  Key Lift 87

  7–15 March

  North Yorkshire

  Quicksand

  15–22 March

  Many areas with centre on Northumberland

  Mallet Blow 87/1

  6–10 April

  Northern England/Borders

  Priory 87/1

  13–15 April

  Cumbria/Lincolnshire/North East England/ Eastern Scotland

  Ardent/Ground

  20 April to 10 May

  Salisbury Plain

  Grand Design

  25 April to 17 May

  Salisbury Plain

  Hammer 87/1

  19 May

  East Anglia/Northern England/Southern Scotland

  Central Enterprise 87

  1 June

  East Anglia/Lincolnshire/North East England/ Scotland

  OSEX 14

  20–24 July

  South West Scotland

  240

  1–4 July—South Wales Powys (Skyguard deployment)

  16–18 July—Northumberland, Morpeth (Skyguard deployment)

  22–25 July—Builth Wells, Powys

  5–8 August—Hebden Bridge, North Yorkshire

  20–22 August—Auldgrith, Dumfries and Galloway

  9–12 September—Great Torrington, Devon

  23–26 September—Keswick/Kendal, Cumbria

  14–17 October—Hexham, Northumberland

  22–24 October—Cley/Stiffkey, Norfolk (Skyguard deployment)

  4–7 November—Cumbernauld, South Clyde

  18–21 November—Melrose, Borders

  21–23 January—Market Rasen, Lincolnshire

  10–13 February—East Fortune, Lothian (Skyguard deployment)

  9–12 March—Duns, Berwickshire (Skyguard deployment)

  10–12 March—Oakford, Devon

  6–9 April—Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway

  7–9 April—Carmarthen, Dyfed (Skyguard deployment)

  28–30 April—Malton, North Yorkshire

  5–7 May—Carlisle, Cumbria

  18–21 May—Dumfries (Skyguard deployment)

  8–11 June—Forest of Dean, Gloucester and Hope Under Dinmore, Hereford and Worcester (Skyguard deployment)

  29 June 2 July—Beverley/Linley Hill Aerodrome, Humberside (Skyguard deployment)

  11–14 August—East Anstey, Tiverton, Devon

  21–24 September—King's Lynn, Norfolk

  21–24 September—Conan Bridge, Firth, Highlands (Skyguard deployment)

  6–7 October—Norwich, Norfolk

  3–5 November—Llanyyold, North Wales

  17–18 November—Market Deeping, Lincolnshire (Skyguard deployment)

  24–26 November—Morpeth, Northumberland

  22–26 February—Cockermouth, Cumbria (Skyguard deployment)

  22–25 February—Ingleton, North Yorkshire

  2–4 March—Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Avon

  15–18 March—Stafford

  29 March–1 April—Belford, Berwickshire

  26–30 April—Hereford (Skyguard deployment)

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names, dates and locations of all low-flying exercises conducted in each year since 1987, where advance notice was given to hon. Members in affected constituences.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In each year since 1987, notice of the following exercises has been given to hon. Members whose constituencies were likely to experience unusual low-flying activity:
  241

  Exercise name

  Exercise dates

  Exercise location

  Roaring Lion

  24–31 July

  Many areas with centre on Salisbury Plain

  Mallet Blow 87/2

  3–7 August

  Northern England/Borders

  Fast Buzzard

  18–25 September

  Many areas with centre on Salisbury Plain

  Hammer 87/2

  6 October

  Northern England/Southern Scotland

  Priory 87/2

  13–15 October

  East Anglia/Lincolnshire/North East England/ Eastern Scotland

  Mallet Blow 87/3

  2–6 November

  Northern England/Borders

  Puple Warrior

  4–21 November

  South West Scotland

  1988

  Key Lift 88

  5–13 March

  North Yorkshire

  Mallet Blow 88/1

  14–18 March

  Northern England/Borders

  Red Lanyard

  9–12 April

  Many areas with centre on Salisbury Plain

  Elder Forest 88

  18–21 April

  East Anglia/Lincolnshire/Northern England/ Eastern Scotland

  Hammer 88/1

  10 May

  Northern England/Southern Scotland

  OSEX 15

  16–20 May

  Wales

  Roaring Lion

  20–26 May

  Many areas centred on Northumberland

  Central Enterprise

  6 June

  East Anglia/Lincolnshire/Northern England/ Eastern Scotland

  Fast Buzzard

  13–24 July

  Many areas centred on Salisbury Plain

  Mallet Blow 88/2

  25–29 July

  Northern England/Borders

  Green Lanyard

  1–8 October

  Many areas with centre on South West Wales

  Elder Joust 88

  4–6 October

  East Anglia/Lincolnshire/North Eastern England/South Eastern Scotland

  Hammer 88/2

  11-October

  East Anglia/Northern England/Southern Scotland

  1989

  Red Lanyard

  17–23 February

  Many areas centred on Norfolk

  Mallet Blow 89/1

  3–7 April

  Northern England/Borders

  Salty Hammer 89

  9 May

  Northern England/Southern Scotland

  Equipment Trial

  25 April-19 May

  Northern England/Borders

  OSEX 16

  10–19 May

  Wales

  Blue Lanyard 89

  1–7 June

  Many areas centred on Norfolk

  Roaring Lion

  11–26 July

  Many areas centred on Salisbury Plain

  Mallet Blow 89/2

  31 July-4 August

  Northern England and Borders

  Elder Joust/Arc

  3–5 October

  Many areas of United Kingdom

  Northern Crusade

  11–19 October

  Many areas centred on Borders

  1990

  Red Lanyard 1/90

  21–28 March

  Many areas centred on Norfolk

  Mallet Blow 90/1

  26–30 March

  Northern England and Borders

  Elder Forest

  23–27 April

  Many areas of United Kingdom

  Stone Warrior

  12–24 May

  South West England centred on Salisbury Plain

  Eagles Eye

  14–25 May

  East Anglia

  Salty Hammer

  22 May

  Northern England and Southern Scotland

  OSEX 90

  2–13 July

  Wales

  Red Lanyard 2/90

  18–27 July

  Many areas centred on South West Scotland and Norfolk

  Mallet Blow 90/2

  30 July-3 August

  Northern England and Borders

  Border fox

  17–21 September

  Borders

  1991

  Lanyard 2

  4–12 March

  Wales

  Elder Joust

  22–25 April

  Northern England

  Joint Maritime Course

  30 May-8 June

  South West England

  Highland Cardinal

  24–28 June

  Wales

  OSEX

  1–5 July

  Wales

  Mallet Blow

  15–19 July

  Northumberland

  Elder Joust

  10–12 September

  Scottish Borders

  North Star

  10–12 September

  Scottish Borders

  1992

  Elder Forest

  9–13 March

  Northern England

  Teamwork

  9–13 March

  Northern England

  Highland Cardinal

  11–15 May

  Wales

  Salty Hammer

  12–13 May

  Northern England

  Pegasus Fury

  12–28 May

  Salisbury Plain

  OSEX

  18–22 May

  Wales

  Joint Maritime Course

  2–11 June

  Northern Scotland

  Lanyard 3

  8–21 July

  East Anglia

  Gryphon's Flight

  1–10 August

  Salisbury Plain

  Northern Banner

  7–11 September

  Northern England

  Winged Crusader

  1–14 October

  Scottish Borders

  Joint Maritime Course

  2–16 November

  Northern Scotland

  Salty Hammer

  4–5 November

  Northern England

  242 243

  Exercise name

  Exercise dates

  Exercise location

  1993

  Joint Maritime Course

  8–18 February

  Northern Scotland

  Lanyard 4

  17–25 February

  East Anglia

  Northern Banner

  22–26 February

  Northern England

  Exercise Mini Hammer

  3–4 March

  Northumberland

  Gryphon's Lift

  21–28 April

  East Anglia

  Lanyard 5

  12–21 May

  Northumberland

  1 Buccaneer, Harrier, Jaguar, Lightning, Phantom and Tornado.

  Air Accidents
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the rate of major accidents per 10,000 flying hours in each year since 1987 for(a) Royal Air Force fast jet aircraft and (b) all British military fast jet aircraft.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is as follows:

  Major accident rates per 10,000 flying hours—fast jets1

  Year

  RAF

  All Services

  1987

  0·99

  1·02

  1988

  0·86

  0·82

  1989

  0·59

  0·77

  1990

  0·72

  0·76

  1991

  0·83

  0·87

  1992

  0·26

  0·35

  Date

  Service

  Location

  Aircraft type lost/severely damaged

  1991

  8 January

  RAF

  Cyprus

  Phantom

  10 January

  Army

  Saudi Arabia

  Gazelle

  13 January

  RAF

  Oman

  Tornado GR1

  16 January

  Royal Navy

  Prcdannack, Cornwall

  Gazelle

  20 January

  RAF

  Saudi Arabia

  Tornado GR1

  13 February

  Army

  Northern Ireland

  Lynx

  19 February

  Army

  United States of America

  Scout

  24 February

  Army

  Saudi Arabia

  Lynx

  18 March

  RAF

  RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire

  Canberra

  1 May

  RAF

  Tern Hill, Shropshire

  Gazelle

  10 May

  RAF

  Near Bremen, Germany

  Tornado GRI

  10 May

  Royal Navy

  Near Chepstow, Gwent

  Sea Harrier

  29 May

  RAF

  Near Gutersloh, Germany

  Harrier

  1 June

  Royal Navy

  Bangladesh

  Sea King

  3 June

  Army

  Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire

  Gazelle

  24 June

  RAF

  At sea, Straits of Dover

  Puma

  29 August

  RAF

  Carno, Powys

  Jaguar

  10 September

  Royal Navy

  West of Shetland Islands

  Sea King

  11 September

  RAF

  RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire

  Hurricane

  12 September

  RAF

  Bristol Channel

  Tornado GRI

  25 September

  RAF

  Near Driffield, Humberside

  Harrier

  30 September

  RAF

  RAF Gutersloh, Germany

  Harrier

  15 October

  RAF

  RAF Odiham, Hampshire

  Chinook

  30 October

  RAF

  Falkland Islands

  Phantom

  30 October

  Army

  Northern Ireland

  Gazelle

  14 November

  Army

  Northern Ireland

  Lynx

  1992

  15 February

  Royal Navy

  At sea, off North West Scotland

  Hunter

  12 May

  Army

  Germany

  Lynx

  12 May

  RAF

  Near Lossiemouth, Scotland

  Tucano

  14 May

  RAF

  RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire

  Harrier

  21 May

  RAF

  Belize

  Puma

  28 May

  Royal Navy

  At sea, near Crete

  Sea Harrier

  9 July

  RAF

  North Sea

  Buccaneer

  7 August

  RAF

  RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire

  Harrier

  22 September

  RAF

  Irish Sea

  Sea King

  30 September

  RAF

  RAF Chivenor, Devon

  Hawk

  16 October

  RAF

  Northern Ireland

  Bulldog

  26 November

  Army/RAF

  Northern Ireland

  Gazelle/Puma

  244
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates and locations of all air misses since 1989 in which a military aircraft breached an area notified under the civil aircraft notification procedure.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The only incident was:

  Date, Location and Aircraft Involved

  8 April 1992–16 nautical miles South West of Thurso—Tornado GRI/Jet Ranger.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the date, location and type of each major accident involving British military aircraft in(a) 1991 and (b)

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is as follows:
  245

  Date

  Service

  Location

  Aircraft type lost/severely damaged

  30 November

  Army

  Cyprus

  Gazelle

  15 December

  Army

  Germany

  Gazelle

  Note:1991 does not include the six aircraft lost on missions over Iraq during hostilities in the Gulf

  HMS Eaglet
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of HMS Eaglet and the Royal Naval Reserve in Liverpool.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier) on 20 April,Official Report, columns 169–70, and to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Sir K. Speed) on 20 April, Official Report, column 54.

  Hunting
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the percentage increase in the cost of licences to hunt on Ministry of Defence land in 1991–92; and when the cost of licences was previously increased.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Each licence issued by my Department is costed separately. The total amount received by my Department for these licences in 1991–92 was £729·85 which represent an increase of some 973 per cent. over the amount received in 1990–91. The charge for individual licences are reviewed at different times.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those areas designated as sites of special scientific interest where his Department has issued a licence to hunt.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My Department has issued licences to hunt on the following areas which include sites of special scientific interest.

  Otterburn, Northumberland1

  Ash Brookwood Heaths, Surrey

  Broadmoor to Bagshot Woods and Heaths, Berkshire/Surrey

  Thursley Hankley and Frensham, Surrey

  Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire

  Basingstoke Canal Eelmoor, Hampshire

  Colony Bog and Bagshot Heath, Surrey

  Conford Moor, Hampshire

  Woolmer Forest, Hampshire

  1 The Otterburn Training Area includes 10 sites of special scientific interest.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Army personnel from the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, are permitted to hunt in duty hours.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Personnel from the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, are permitted to take part in beagling in duty hours, which is a recognised Army sport.

  Costs
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the charges for personnel from non-mounted units to use Ministry of Defence horses and equipment were last reviewed; when they were last increased; and whether the charges reflect the full economic cost to his Department.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The charges for personnel from non-mounted units for the use of Ministry of Defence horses and equipment were last reviewed in October 1992 following an increase in July 1991. The charges are set so as to recover the additional costs involved.

  Military Bands
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what briefings were given in the first three months of last year by senior officers to military bandsmen on the effect of a change of Government on the number of military bands.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  Operation Epsilon
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration was given to the security implications of releasing transcripts of the Farm Hall tapes of conversations of German atomic scientists in the second world war recorded under Operation Epsilon, prior to their release.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The documents were originally "retained by Department" under section 3(4) of the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967 on the grounds of national security. They were reviewed in 1992, and it was judged all sensitivity had lapsed and that they could be released into the public domain.

  Meteorological Office
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the chief executive of the Meteorological Office executive agency for the financial year 1993–94.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The agency has been set a range of quality and financial targets to ensure that it delivers progressive improvements in the provision of weather related services.

  The key quality targets set for the Meteorological Office during the period 1993–94 are to achieve 80 per cent. of all business area targets for customer satisfaction, forecast accuracy and timeliness; produce a charter standard for public services; provide timely and apt advice on meteorology and climate issues to Ministers and the general public; to progress the research programme and to satisfy customer requirements to schedule and agreed standards; and to initiate a rolling programme of reviews of scientific and technical standards throughout the agency.
  247
  The financial targets are to reduce net operating costs to £45,700,000—a 1 per cent. reduction on the 1992–93 budget; increase efficiency by 2.5 per cent. through improvements in quality of service, increased volume of service and reduced unit costs; achieve an 8 per cent. increase in uptake of meteorological services to £18,600,000, as measured by cash revenue generated from commercial services to the public, industry and commerce, excluding the Civil Aviation Authority and Department of the Environment; achieve a 19 per cent. increase to £6,700,000 in the gross contribution of commercial services invoiced revenue to offsetting core costs and overheads.

  It is also planned that the output costs of all key activities using the new financial and management information system will be made available in 1993–94.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  War Disablement Pensioners
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what savings he expects to make from the abolition of the lump-sum payments to war disablement pensioners with a noise-induced hearing loss assessed at less than 20 per cent;

  (2) if he will estimate the number of ex-service personnel with a noise-induced hearing loss of less than 20 per cent. who will no longer be eligible for support following changes to the war disablement pension scheme.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The assumption underlying the policy decision was that, in 1993–94, some 10,000 people would not qualify under the new rules who would have qualified under the old, resulting in savings of £20 million which have been used to meet the estimated cost of removing completely rank differentials in war disablement pensions from 12 April 1993.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what number of existing war disablement pensioners will receive uprating of £5 per week; what number will receive the uprating of 84p per week; and what number will receive the intermediate upratings of their pension.

  Miss Widdecombe
  As a result of the abolition of rank differentials from 12 April 1993, an increase of up to £5 a week has been paid to war disablement pensioners depending on their previous rank and level of disablement; for example, a 100 per cent. disabled ex-private will have received an extra £5 a week, whilst a 40 per cent. disabled ex-sergeant will have received an extra £1·86. About 200,000 pensioners have benefited from this change, the most severely disabled lower ranks getting the most. These increases are additional to the general increase in war pensions of 3·6 per cent. under the normal uprating. Precise detail of the numbers in each of the many categories concerned is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The previously announced increase of 84p per week related to the war disablement pensions of non-commissioned officers only and was subsumed in the increases consequential upon the total abolition of rank differentials.

  Income Support
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the £5 earnings disregard for unemployed people who are receiving income support applies to the earnings of each individual member of a two-person household; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The £5 disregard applies individually to each member of a couple; where both partners undertake part-time employment, the total disregard available on their earnings is therefore £10.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support claimants who were(a) unemployed people claiming income support and/or unemployment benefit, (b) lone parents, (c) people receiving a disability premium, (d) people receiving severe disablement allowance and (e) people receiving invalidity benefit declared part-time earnings; what are the average weekly earnings declared; and what proportion such claimants represent of claimants in the group at the latest available date and in comparable periods since 1988.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is in the tables. Information is provided for 1989—the earliest year for which income support information is readily available—1990 and 1991, the latest years available.

  Income Support recipients with declared earnings

  Number of cases with declared earnings

  Percentage

  Average declared earnings £ per week

  May 1991

  (a) Unemployed1

  25,000

  2·0

  21·78

  (a) Unemployed2

  1,000

  1·1

  24·04

  (b) Lone parents

  78,000

  9·0

  27·53

  (c) Disabled

  4,000

  0·9

  14·14

  (d) Severe Disablement Allowance

  1,000

  0·6

  3·23

  (e) Invalidity Benefit

  1,000

  0·6

  14·84

  Total Income Support recipients

  117,000

  2·6

  25·29

  May 1990

  (a) Unemployed1

  26,000

  2·5

  22·16

  (a) Unemployed2

  1,000

  2·0

  28·18

  (b) Lone parents

  80,000

  10·1

  25·82

  (c) Disabled

  6,000

  1·7

  12·31

  (d) Severe Disablement Allowance

  1,000

  1·3

  33·19

  (e) Invalidity Benefit

  —

  —

  —

  Total Income Support recipients

  124,000

  3·0

  23·65

  May 1989

  (a) Unemployed1

  31,000

  2·8

  19·22

  (a) Unemployed2

  1,000

  1·4

  19·60

  (b) Lone parents

  82,000

  10·9

  24·71

  (c) Disabled

  6,000

  2·0

  5·77

  (d) Severe Disablement Allowance

  1,000

  1·0

  5·83

  (e) Invalidity Benefit

  —

  —

  —

  Total Income Support recipients

  130,000

  3·1

  21·73

  1 No Unemployment Benefit.

  2 With Unemployment Benefit.

  Source: Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiry, May 1991, May 1990 and May 1989.

  Notes: All figures rounded to nearest thousand; percentages correct

  249
  to one decimal place; average earnings correct to nearest penny. "Lone parents" in the tables means people aged under 60 who are entitled to a lone parent premium and who do not receive a disability premium.

  "Disabled" in the tables means people aged under 60 who are entitled to the disability premium.

  There will be some overlap between groups (c), (d) and (e) in the tables.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the £15 earnings disregard for people who are receiving income support, either because they have a disability premium or are part of a long-term unemployed couple, applies to the earnings of each individual member of a two-person household; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  Where a couple qualify for this disregard, the total amount of earnings that can be disregarded is £.15 for the couple.

  Sickness Benefit
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were in receipt of sickness benefit at the end of each month since April 1991.

  Mr. Burt
  Information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the table, and is obtained from a 100 per cent. count of cases by benefit offices at the end of each month, rounded to the nearest thousand. The figures include cases registered sick that are not receiving sickness benefit but are receiving income support and national insurance credits.

  Date

  Sickness Benefit

  May 1991

  433,000

  June 1991

  421,000

  July 1991

  431,000

  August 1991

  430,000

  September1991

  438,000

  October 1991

  434,000

  November 1991

  445,000

  December 1991

  449,000

  January 1992

  461,000

  February 1992

  474,000

  March 1992

  479,000

  April 1992

  465,000

  May 1992

  472,000

  June 1992

  472,000

  July 1992

  487,000

  August 1992

  489,000

  September 1992

  496,000

  October 1992

  505,000

  November 1992

  513,000

  December 1992

  521,000

  January 1993

  525,000

  February 1993

  535,000

  March 1993

  538,000

  Note: These figures are derived from a physical count and may be subject to occasional revision.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he proposes to take to equalise the treatment of men and women in receipt of invalidity benefit following the ruling of the European Court of Justice on 30 March.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) on 26 April 1993, at columns 311–12.

  Pension Funds
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the commission chaired by Professor Goode, currently looking into pension funds, is expected to report; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Mr. Thomason) on 30 March, at column 172.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much of the lost Maxwell pension funds has now been located; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I understand that the liquidators of Bishopsgate Investment Management Ltd., which managed Maxwell pension scheme funds, have located and secured assets presently worth some £300 million. The Department's Maxwell pensions unit are continuing to assist where practicable with the liquidators' work.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will meet representatives of organisations of Maxwell pensioners.

  Miss Widdecombe
  This month I have two meetings with hon. Members and representatives of Maxwell pensionsers. The Department's Maxwell pensions unit regularly meets the various Maxwell pensioners' action groups.

  Appeals
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals are presently outstanding at each Independent Tribunal Service office; and what additional resources have been provided to this service since April 1992.

  Mr. Burt
  The appeals outstanding at 31 March 1993 in each region of the Independent Tribunal Service and the disability tribunals central office are in the table. The budget for ITS for 1992–93 was £33·09 million. For 1993–94 the budget is £46·68 million. The additional resources of £13·59 million take account of increased caseloads for social security appeals tribunals, medical appeals tribunals, and disability appeals tribunals, and the establishment of child support appeal tribunals.

  ITS Office/Region

  SSAT

  MAT

  DAT

  North-East

  11,303

  3,578

  —

  Midlands

  7,088

  1,620

  —

  South-East

  11,594

  1,961

  —

  Wales and South-West

  4,504

  1,433

  —

  North-West

  8,276

  2,806

  —

  Scotland

  16,929

  932

  —

  DATCO

  —

  —

  2,301

  Total

  59,694

  12,330

  2,301

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current waiting time for(a) attendance allowance, (b) mobility allowance and (c) disability living allowance from application for appeal application to appeal hearings.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, for the quarter ending 30 June 1992,
  251
  the latest period for which figures are available, the average time taken from an appeal application to a final hearing was:

  Weeks

  (a) Attendance allowance

  26·7

  (b) Mobility allowance

  23·8

  (c) Disability living allowance

  17·9

  Independent Tribunal Service
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the names and contact addresses for all Independent Tribunal Service regional chairmen.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is as follows:
  252
  South-east Region

  Mr. R. G. Smithson—Whittington House, 19–30 Alfred Place, London WCIE 7LW

  Wales and South-west

  Mr. C. B. Stevens—Oxford House, Hill Street, The Hayes, Cardiff CFI 2DR

  Midlands

  Mr. I. Harrison—Albion House, 3rd Floor, 5–13 Canal Street, Nottingham NG I 7EG

  North-east Region

  Mr. J. Tinnion—Third Floor, York House, York Place, Leeds LS1 2ED

  North-west Region

  Mr. R. Sim, 36 Dale Street, Liverpool L2 5UZ

  Scotland

  Mrs. L. T. Parker—Blythswood House, 200 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 4SS

  SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS: MARITIME ZONE
  SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS: MARITIME ZONE
  BENZO(A)PYRENE
  BENZO(A)PYRENE
  ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S HOSPITAL
  ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S HOSPITAL
  SCHIZOPHRENIA: HOSPITAL EPISODE STATISTICS
  SCHIZOPHRENIA: HOSPITAL EPISODE STATISTICS
  CAP REFORM: ADDITIONAL STAFF NEEDS
  CAP REFORM: ADDITIONAL STAFF NEEDS
  BEEF SPECIAL PREMIUM SCHEME FORMS
  BEEF SPECIAL PREMIUM SCHEME FORMS
  CATTLE IDENTIFICATION
  CATTLE IDENTIFICATION
  WESTMINSTER FOUNDATION FOR DEMOCRACY
  WESTMINSTER FOUNDATION FOR DEMOCRACY
  EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE: INTERPRETATION OF LAW
  EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE: INTERPRETATION OF LAW
  MAASTRICHT TREATY
  MAASTRICHT TREATY
  SHEEP DIPS: TRAINING FOR USERS
  SHEEP DIPS: TRAINING FOR USERS
  REFUGEES FROM FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HELD IN DETENTION
  REFUGEES FROM FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HELD IN DETENTION
  PLUTONIUM: TRANSPORT BY AIR
  PLUTONIUM: TRANSPORT BY AIR
  CYCLING IN PEDESTRIAN AREAS
  CYCLING IN PEDESTRIAN AREAS
  CYCLE FACILITIES, HYDE PARK CORNER
  CYCLE FACILITIES, HYDE PARK CORNER
  CYCLE NETWORK: PRIORITY
  CYCLE NETWORK: PRIORITY
  TRAFFIC "RAT RUNS"
  TRAFFIC "RAT RUNS"
  METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE: KEY TARGETS
  METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE: KEY TARGETS