Written Answers of 11 May 1993

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Bailiffs
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make it his policy to impose restrictions on the current powers granted to bailiffs to sell off stock cheaply in order to meet debts.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor is presently reviewing the organisation and management of those empowered to remove and sell goods to meet the payment of debts. A consultation paper was issued on 4 August 1992, which canvassed, inter alia, whether changes are necessary to the law governing the sale of goods seized in payment of debt. Following the consultation, officials are preparing advice on the subject for the Lord Chancellor to consider.

  Small Claims Courts
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what consideration he is giving to altering the upper limit of claims in the small claims court; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  We are keeping the small claims limit under review and plan to raise it as soon as practicable. However, we have not at this stage finalised the level to which it will he raised, nor the date on which this will take place.

  The level was last increased to £1,000 in 1991. Any further increase may capture cases of greater complexity than those for which the procedure was designed. We are concerned to have appropriate procedures in place to deal with such cases before raising the small claims limit further.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Education Staff
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 30 March to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms Ruddock),Official Report, column 113, what further consideration he has given to the consequences for the tendering out of the prison education service of the acquired rights directive.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Harry Green way, dated 8 May 1993:
  360
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what further consideration has been given to the consequences for the competitive tendering of prison education of the Acquired Rights Directive.
  At those establishments where final decisions have not already been taken about who is to be the future provider of education services, the Prison Service will invite all the tenderers originally invited to bid to submit further bids on the basis that the European Community Acquired Rights Directive and the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 will apply. This is without prejudice to whether or not an appeal is lodged against the High Court judgment in the case of Kenny and Woodroff v. South Manchester College.

  European Parliament Elections
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 April,Official Report, columns 181–82, if he expects that EC nationals resident in the United Kingdom will generally have the right to vote in the 1994 European Parliament elections.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Yes.

  Hosni E. Farhat
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has regarding the resignation or early retirement of any of the police officers involved in the conviction of Hosni E. Farhat.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  None. This is a matter for the chief constable of Hampshire constabulary.

  Immigration (Police Questioning)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were stopped and questioned by the Metropolitan police for immigration matters during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

  Mr. Jack
  This information is not available.

  Violence (Mobile Telephones)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police forces which are experimenting with the use of mobile telephones to deter domestic and racial violence; when the trial in West Yorkshire is to be evaluated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not collected centrally, but those conducting experiments with mobile phones and alarms include: Leicester, Bradford, Islington and Wandsworth safer cities projects and the Merseyside, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and the Metropolitan police forces.

  The experiment in Leeds was evaluated internally in October 1992 and has now been extended across the West Yorkshire force.

  Police Manpower
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the level of police personnel in 1963 and 1993, in the United Kingdom, the west midlands and Solihull including the level of civilian posts; how many uniformed police were on the beat; and if he will make a statement.
  361
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In 1963 there were 80,251 police officers and 13,579 civilian staff in England and Wales. Information for 1963 in respect of the West Midlands and Solihull is not available.

  Current figures are given in the table. As data on deployment are collected annually, the figures are for December 1992.

  England and Wales

  West Midlands Police

  1Solihull

  Police strength

  128,045

  6,952

  2125

  Beat/patrol

  53,994

  3,496

  321–25

  Civilian staff

  49,162

  2,471

  22

  1 Figures are for the Solihull Sub-division, provided by the West Midlands Police.

  2 Total number of officers available to the sub-division.

  3 Officers available at any one time for beat and patrol. Number of officers varies depending upon shift arrangements.

  Wolds and Lindholme Prisons
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents and disturbances took place between April 1992 and April 1993 at(a) HM prison Wolds and (b) HM prison Lindholme.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Michael Clapham, dated 10 May 1993:

  HM PRISONS WOLDS AND LINDHOLME

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of incidents and disturbances which have taken place between April 1992 and April 1993 at (a) HM Prison Wolds and (b) HM Prison Lindholme.

  There have been a total of 95 reported incidents at Wolds Remand Prison and 463 at HMP Lindholme in the period 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993.

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police by offence group

  England and Wales 1992

  Offence group

  1st quarter

  2nd quarter

  3rd quarter

  4th quarter

  Total

  Number of offences

  Violence against the person

  45,520

  53,408

  53,093

  49,758

  201,779

  Sexual offences

  7,190

  7,396

  7,795

  7,147

  29,528

  Robbery

  12,007

  12,448

  13,598

  14,841

  52,894

  Burglary

  345,866

  312,277

  314,756

  382,375

  1,355,274

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  701,678

  713,588

  704,551

  724,731

  2,844,548

  Fraud and forgery

  42,425

  42,859

  42,662

  40,654

  168,600

  Criminal damage

  223,759

  220,469

  212,087

  246,195

  902,510

  Other offences

  9,856

  9,670

  10,264

  9,593

  39,383

  Total

  1,388,301

  1,372,115

  1,358,806

  1,475,294

  5,594,516

  Percentage change from corresponding period of previous year

  Violence against the person

  9

  11

  2

  3

  6

  Sexual offences

  8

  -3

  -4

  1

  —

  Robbery

  25

  16

  15

  13

  17

  Burglary

  16

  7

  9

  13

  11

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  8

  2

  —

  3

  3

  Fraud and forgery

  3

  -3

  -5

  -8

  -4

  Criminal damage

  14

  3

  8

  14

  10

  Other offences

  21

  13

  15

  7

  14

  Total

  11

  3

  3

  7

  6

  362
  During this period, the average daily population of Wolds, a secure modern prison building, was 190. Lindholme, a medium secure prison, (formerly RAF accommodation), with an open prison facility had an average daily population of 644. The figures given include failure to return from home leave, absconding, surrender by a prisoner and recapture of a prisoner. These will be much higher for Lindholme, since Wolds prisoners are remand prisoners who are not granted home leave, and because Wolds does not have an open prison facility.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of staff to prisoners at(a) HM prison Wolds and (b) HM prison Lindholme.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Michael Clapham, dated 8 May 1993:

  HM PRISONS WOLDS AND LINDHOLME

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the ratio of staff to prisoners at (a) HM Prison Wolds and (b) HM Prison Lindholme

  The ratio of staff to prisoners at Wolds Remand Prison on 31 March 1993 was 1:1·520. For HM Prison Lindholme the figure for the same day was 1:1·518.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing(a) the total number of recorded crimes in 1992, (b) the number of crimes committed in each category in England and Wales for each quarter of 1992 and (c) the percentage increase that each figure represents over the equivalent quarter in 1991.

  Mr. Jack
  The required information is given in the table.

  Fire Services
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by each fire service the standard spending assessment for 1993–94.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The table sets out the fire and civil defence element of each English fire authority's standard spending assessment for 1993–94. There is no separately identifiable fire and civil defence element of Welsh fire authorities' standard spending assessments.

  Fire and civil defence elements of English fire authorities' standard spending assessments for 1993–94

  £ million

  Avon

  20·473

  Bedfordshire

  11·073

  Berkshire

  16·601

  Buckinghamshire

  12·360

  Cambridgeshire

  12·039

  Cheshire

  20·103

  Cleveland

  19·464

  Cornwall

  7·181

  Cumbria

  8·753

  Derbyshire

  17·067

  Devon

  19·557

  Dorset

  12·063

  Durham

  12·973

  East Sussex

  14·891

  Essex

  31·445

  Gloucestershire

  9·605

  Hampshire

  31·585

  Hereford and Worcester

  12·116

  Hertfordshire

  20·328

  Humberside

  21·322

  Isle of Wight

  2·229

  Kent

  30·998

  Lancashire

  32·276

  Leicestershire

  16·924

  Lincolnshire

  9·583

  Norfolk

  13·010

  Northamptonshire

  11·260

  Northumberland

  5·823

  North Yorkshire

  12·001

  Nottinghamshire

  21·087

  Oxfordshire

  11·284

  Shropshire

  7·839

  Somerset

  7·693

  Staffordshire

  19·345

  Suffolk

  11·023

  Surrey

  22·133

  Warwickshire

  8·993

  West Sussex

  14·836

  Wiltshire

  10·054

  London

  242·568

  Greater Manchester

  70·787

  Merseyside

  47·118

  South Yorkshire

  28·117

  Tyne and Wear

  34·449

  West Midlands

  67·514

  West Yorkshire

  49·002

  Isles of Scilly

  0·053

  River Safety
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to publish an account of progress in the implementation of recommendations made after major disasters as recommended in the Hayes report on river safety.
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  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There are no plans to publish such an account. Efforts are concentrated on disseminating lessons learnt from disasters through incorporation into suitable guidance.

  Mr. A. Ali
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters to him of 14 January, 19 February and 6 April with regard to Mr. A. Ali, of 39 Brynton road, sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend replied to the right hon. Member on 10 May 1993.

  Bail
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what mechanism courts enforce conditions attaching to the grant of bail; which body holds the passport of an accused person where this has been required to be surrendered under bail conditions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The courts have wide discretion over the conditions which they may impose on a defendant to whom they have granted bail. Enforcement of any such conditions will depend upon the nature of the condition, but in the case of conditions requiring the person concerned to report to a police station, enforcement is for the police.

  A person who has been granted bail may be arrested by the police without warrant if they have reasonable grounds for believing that he has broken, or is likely to break, bail conditions. Where the court has ordered the surrender of a passport as a condition of bail, the passport is obtained and kept by the police.

  Uranium
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what current legislation in the United Kingdom a person can be prosecuted for allegedly trafficking in uranium; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  I have been asked to reply.

  Export of uranium in various forms from the United Kingdom without a licence is prohibited under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1992 as amended. Import into the United Kingdom of various forms of uranium from non-EC sources without a licence is prohibited under the Import of Goods (Control) Order 1954 as amended. In addition there are controls in the legislation implementing sanctions resolutions of the United Nations. Full details of the controlled items and exceptions to the controls are given in the respective orders. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise enforce import and export restrictions and prosecute breaches under the provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Any information about possible breaches of the controls should be reported to them.

ENVIRONMENT

  Sellafield
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which stacks at BNFL Sellafield are included in emissions. authorisations as(a) schedule 1 stacks and (b) schedule 2 stacks.

  Mr. Maclean
  The schedule 1 stacks are the B204, B6 Vessel Vent and B230 stacks. The schedule 2 stacks are the B6 Cell Vent, B38 third extension, B355 and B389 stacks.

  All figures in Mbq.

  Alpha

  Beta

  Sr90

  Ru106

  II29

  II37

  Cs137

  Pu Alpha

  Pu24

  Am241-Cm242

  R3

  C14

  Kr35

  B204

  1988

  376

  969

  25

  415

  16,233

  1,312

  52

  260

  2,154

  65

  1·3E + 06

  1989

  263

  1,781

  35

  691

  19,131

  1,171

  70

  230

  1,464

  54

  2·7E + 06

  1990

  193

  1,525

  28

  359

  2,395

  373

  55

  134

  874

  30

  5·9E + 08

  3·7E + 06

  3·8E + 10

  1991

  159

  1,433

  32

  264

  6,099

  975

  62

  127

  659

  28

  6·2E + 08

  5·5E + 06

  4·5E + 10

  1992

  113

  1,127

  17

  263

  8,721

  1,163

  34

  89

  390

  19

  3·2E + 08

  2·2E + 06

  2·7E + 10

  B6 Vessel Vent

  1988

  30

  269

  11

  1,854

  18

  31

  2

  20

  2

  1·8E + 08

  2·0E + 06

  3·9E + 10

  1989

  6

  48

  2

  117

  2

  4

  1

  8

  0

  1·8E + 08

  1·1E + 06

  5·2E + 10

  1990

  1991

  1992

  B230

  1988

  53

  986

  24

  61

  33

  229

  13

  1989

  70

  1,709

  30

  66

  38

  222

  22

  1990

  70

  1,944

  31

  78

  42

  374

  21

  1991

  115

  1,953

  30

  70

  62

  648

  35

  1992

  56

  1,832

  24

  32

  39

  282

  14

  1 Discharges from the B6 vessel vent were diverted to B204 from April 1989 onwards, to allow decommissioning work to proceed on the B6 Stacks.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the annual authorised limits for radioactive emissions from(a) schedule 1 stacks and (b) schedule 2 stacks at BNFL Sellafield.

  Mr. Maclean
  The annual authorised limits for schedule 1 and schedule 2 stacks at BNFL Sellafield are listed in the table:

  Nuclide

  Schedule 1

  Schedule 2

  (gigabecquerels)

  (gigabecquerels)

  Alpha

  4·3

  5

  Beta

  58

  62

  Am-241 & Cm-242

  0·9

  3·5

  Cs 137

  4

  22

  C-14

  30,000

  —

  I-129

  47

  41

  I-131

  140

  64

  Kr-85

  1 × 108

  —

  Pu-alpha

  3·1

  0·19

  Pu-241

  36·6

  7·4

  Ru-106

  9

  60

  Sr-90

  3·5

  5·4

  H-3

  1.1 × 106

  —

  Water
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of(a) social and economic factors, (b) the proportion of the nation's designated bathing waters located and (c) recent and projected rises in average water bills in the different regions
  366
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the emissions from each schedule 1 stack at BNFL Sellafield for each year since records are available.

  Mr. Maclean
  The emissions for each schedule 1 stack are given in the table. Where there are no entries for particular radionuclides this reflects the fact that there was no potential for these radionuclides to be released from these stacks.

  in determining policy over the funding of implementation of the EC's bathing waters, urban waste waters and shellfish waters directives.

  Mr. Maclean
  The arrangements for the funding of the water industry under the legislation of 1989 took into account the varying purposes of capital expenditure in different areas. Water charges are controlled under statute by the Director General of Water Services and inter alia allow for the cost of meeting obligations under EC directives.

  Landfill Sites (Methane Gas)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make an assessment of the current emissions of methyl gas from landfill sites and its implications for global warming.

  Mr. Maclean
  Only a very rough estimate of methane emissions from landfill sites has been possible in the past because of considerable uncertainties in the basic information used to calculate a national figure. My Department has accordingly commissioned research by the energy technology support unit of DTI. Based on this research, our best estimate for methane emissions from landfill in the United Kingdom is approximately 2 million tonnes per annum, but with a possible range between 0·6 and 5 million tonnes per annum. These estimates will be revised and updated as more information on the factors affecting methane generation from landfill is obtained.

  Methane is the second most significant anthropogenic greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. The Government are

  367
  aiming to publish a national programme to meet the United Nations climate change convention commitment to return emissions of all greenhouse gases to their 1980 levels by the year 2000.

  National Parks
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now intends to bring forward legislation to provide for all national parks to be administered by independent boards.

  Mr. Maclean
  Our policy statement on the national parks, published in January 1992, promised legislation to create independent authorities for the eight national parks in England and Wales currently run as county council committees. We fully recognise the importance of this legislation and we intend to bring it forward at the earliest opportunity.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment. pursuant to his oral answer of 28 April,Official Report, column 950, which developed countries currently cannot economically make provision for their own recycling of toxic waste.

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not available. However, during negotiations on the EC waste shipments regulation not all member states welcomed as much as the United Kingdom the provisions relating to national self-sufficiency. The final text therefore enables member states to ban imports for disposal from other member states and EFTA countries unless the state of origin produces such a small quantity of hazardous waste that it would be unecononic to provide new specialised disposal facilities.

  Coastal Protection
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State For the Environment what plans he has to create a coastal protection and planning unit as recommended by the Environment Select Committee in its second report of 1991–92, (HC 17).

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government in their response of July 1992 to the report of the Environment Select Committee on coastal zone protection and planning explained that coastal policy in the United Kingdom has, since 1991, been co-ordinated at official level through an interdepartmental group. The secretariat for this group is within the Department of the Environment. It would not be appropriate for the group to take on major executive functions.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to review current legislation for coastal zone activities.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government in their response of July 1992 to the report of the Environment Select Committee on coastal zone protection and planning undertook to review legislation controlling development below the low water mark; management of activities such as recreation in coastal waters; and the regulation of marine aggregates dredging. The results of these reviews will be available later this year.
  368
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for a national coastal strategy and for consolidating legislation and regulations to give effect to coastal zone management.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government in their response of July 1992 to the report of the Environment Select Committee on coastal zone protection and planning stated its commitment to further the management of the coastal zone within a clear framework of national policy. Recent initiatives include planning guidance for the coast, support for heritage coasts, and a substantial programme of investment to improve the quality of coastal waters. Further work is under way on a national strategy for flood and coastal defence, reviews of the control of development below the low water mark and of marine aggregates extraction, and implementation of the EC habitats directive.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the Environmental Protection Agency to be given responsibility and powers to integrate and monitor coastal activities to ensure prudent coastal management.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government have no such plans.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those powers and functions which are under consideration for local authorities' jurisdiction to extend below the low water mark.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government stated in their response of July 1992 to the report of the Environment Select Committee on coastal zone protection and planning that they are not persuaded that extension of local authority planning powers is necessarily the most effective approach to the control of development below the low water mark. The Government are currently reviewing controls over development in this area, including construction projects, oil and gas exploitation, marine aggregates extraction and disposal at sea.

  Social Services, Greenwich
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will name the parliamentary under secretaries and the Ministers of State responsible for advising the successive Secretaries of State for the Environment since 1981 on the social service standard spending assessment for Greenwich.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Standard spending assessments were introduced for the first time in the financial year 1990–91. The current and previous Parliamentary Under-Secretaries and Ministers of State responsible for advising on these assessments are:

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

  Mr. Christopher Chope

  Rt. Hon. Virginia Bottomley

  Mr. Patrick Nicholls

  Rt. Hon. Baroness Blatch

  Mr. Robert Key

  Mr. Robin Squire

  Minister of State

  Rt. Hon. Michael Howard

  Rt. Hon. John Gummer

  Rt. Hon. David Hunt

  Rt. Hon. Michael Portillo

  Mr. John Redwood

  Housing, Solihull
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the criteria used to calculate the land requirement for housing up to the year 2011 in the unitary development plan for Solihull.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Solihull unitary development plan incorporates a housing land requirement to 2001 as approved in "Strategic Guidance for the West Midlands", Planning Policy Guidance Note 10. Provision for the period beyond 2001 is for the local authority to determine in the light of the inspector's recommendations on its unitary development plan and national policy set down in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2 (Green Belts).

  Green Housekeeping
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate the reasons why his Department's policy statement on green housekeeping implies that(a) some use of hardwoods and (b) some use of peat, may continue.

  Mr. Maclean
  Our policy is to specify only the use of hardwoods which come from sustainably managed sources. We do not in practice envisage making exceptions for such hardwoods, or for peat substitutes. In principle, however, they might need to be allowed for, in some possible circumstances and situations, if there were no practicable alternatives.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate the reasons why his Department's policy statement on green housekeeping regards a ceiling of 70 to 75 per cent. as the current practicable limit for the purchase of recycled paper.

  Mr. Maclean
  Our policy is to keep the use of non-recycled paper to a minimum but some printing processes require its use to operate effectively. The target figure of 70 to 75 per cent. use of recycled paper will be revised as appropriate to take account of developments in printing and paper technologies.

  OFWAT
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what, for each of the last two years and for the current year, is the total operational cost of the Office of Water Services.

  Mr. Maclean
  Details of OFWAT's costs for 1991–92 and its budget for 1992–93 are contained in the director general's "Annual Report 1991", a copy of which is in the Library. The report records that in 1991–92 OFWAT's budget was £6·29 million, and for 1992–93 £7·52 million. £9·7 million has been voted in estimates—class VII, vote 9—to cover the expenditure of OFWAT for 1993–94.

  Spending Assessment, Greenwich
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer from the Secretary of State for Health on 4 May, how much more money would be received by Greenwich council from taxpayers through central Government grant if the standard spending assessment for 1993–94 were increased by the figure indicated by the social factor information now available from the 1991 census.
  370
  Mr. Robin Squire
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health,Official Report, 4 May 1993, col 45, indicated that the percentage increase in the standard spending assessment for personal social services for Greenwich, if information on social factors from the 1991 census information were to be included, would be 9·8 per cent. The equivalent increase for the total standard spending assessment would be 4·7 per cent, amounting to some £9 million. This is also broadly the amount by which the level of revenue support grant would increase. The current review of standard spending assessments will involve a number of further changes and may result in a different outcome for 1994–95 when it is completed later this year.

  Environment Week
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what support his Department plans to give to Environment Week, sponsored by the Civic Trust, 22 to 31 May.

  Mr. Maclean
  BT environment week aims to encourage local initiatives in the voluntary sector. My Department funds a number of organisations which will participate in events during the week. I plan to open an exhibition on 21 May by the Penrith Civic Society, which will run throughout the week and to visit a rural action scheme project on 25 May.

  Mobile Homes
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations have taken place between officials of his Department and selected interested organisations in respect of a mobile park home owner's charter; and if he will take steps to ensure that any such charter reflects the interests of residents of mobile park homes as well as site owners.

  Mr. Baldry
  A charter was issued by the Confederation of Park Homes Industry last December. A copy of the draft charter was also sent by my Department to the chairmen of the Association of Park Home Owners and the National Association of Park Home Residents. My officials will meet both of these organisations later this month. Later they will meet COPHI. My Department has monitored the responses from residents and their associations throughout the consultation exercise and will seek to ensure that all reasonable points are met as far as possible.

  British Waterways Board
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to privatise the British Waterways Board; what estimate of asset proceeds he has made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  There are no plans to privatise the British Waterways Board.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present salary and the value of other emoluments expenses and awards, including pension contributions, of the chairs of each of the urban development corporations.
  371
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The present salaries of the UDC chairmen are as follows:—

  UDC

  Salary (£)

  Birmingham Heartlands

  25,315

  Black Country

  25,315

  Bristol

  18,990

  Central Manchester

  18,990

  Leeds

  18,990

  London Docklands

  37,795

  Merseyside

  18,990

  Plymouth

  25,315

  Sheffield

  18,990

  Teesside

  25,315

  Trafford Park

  37,975

  Tyne & Wear

  18,990

  There are no other emoluments, awards, or pension contributions. Chairmen entitled to pensions are required to contribute at the appropriate rate.

  Travel and subsistence expenses are payable in accordance with rates agreed by the Department.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what figures he has for the average length of stay per homeless household living in temporary accommodation before being offered permanent housing by the responsible local authority.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information is not available centrally and my Department has no estimates.

  Halons
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to nominate candidates for essential use of halons under the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer for continued production in 1994.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government are committed to keeping extra production for "essential uses" to a minimum. In order to be considered for extra production after phaseout, applications must meet a number of strict criteria agreed by parties to the Montreal protocol at their meeting in Copenhagen last year. These criteria include that the use is essential to protect health, safety or critical to the functioning of society; that there are no technically or economically feasible alternatives; and that there is insufficient supply of banked or recycled material available.

  The Government have scrutinised all nominations made to them for continued production of halons in 1994 and consider that six uses meet all the criteria at this time. These are:

  (i) the use of halon 1211 in civil aircraft cockpits and passenger cabins;

  (ii) the use of halon 1301 in the cargo compartments of civil aircraft;

  (iii) the use of halon 1301 in civil aircraft engine nacelles;

  (iv) the use of halon 1211 on civil airport rescue arid fire fighting vehicles;

  (v) the use of halon 1301 in the engine compartments of the class 92 and 373 locomotives;

  (vi) the use of halon 1301 in various applications in existing installations in the offshore oil and gas industry including control rooms, diver support areas and radio rooms.

  We shall be proposing that the parties to the Montreal protocol agree that production should be allowed in 1994
  372
  for these six uses. This is likely to involve new production of some 30 tonnes of halons for United Kingdom uses in 1994 compared with a total estimated United Kingdom consumption of some 1,500 tonnes in 1990.

  There are a few other uses which might fulfil some but not all of the criteria—because of the efforts of those concerned to bank and recycle halons they do not need new production in 1994. I hope that the efforts of the Halon Users' National Consortium will soon show that sufficient quantities of recycled material are available to meet all continuing needs.

  We shall be considering what nominations, if any, we put forward for continued production in 1995 later this year.

  Ozone Levels
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest information he has on levels of stratospheric ozone over the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  Measurements of stratospheric ozone made at Camborne and Lerwick during April 1993 show levels of total column ozone between 8 per cent. and 11 per cent. below the long-term April average. Although the ozone levels reman lower than the long-term average, the April values can be compared with decreases of 10 per cent. to 13 per cent. observed in March and over 20 per cent. seen in February. Individual daily measurements during April were consistently low, but were within the range of previously measured values.

  The Department's stratospheric ozone review group will include the latest interpretation of the ozone measurements made during 1992–93 in their next report which is due to be published in the autumn.

  Street Lighting
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for increasing the resources available to council authorities for the improvement of street lighting.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have been asked to reply.

  It is for local authorities to decide the appropriate level of expenditure on street lighting according to their own priorities. There are no plans to specify particular amounts for this type of expenditure.

TRANSPORT

  Consultants
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that the relevant local highway authorities are invited to submit proposals to undertake the work carried out by consultants on the maintenance and management of trunk roads and motorways in a form which can be compared with bids from the private sector.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It is our policy in selecting maintenance agents to ensure that we secure maximum value for money in terms of the quality and efficiency of the services provided. In making arrangements for the replacement in due course of existing consultants' commissions we are committed to evaluating the quality
  373
  and cost of the services available from local authorities and private sector consultants. The form and timing of this evaluation is still being considered.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will carry out an assessment of the performance of consultants carrying out agency responsibilities for the maintenance and management of trunk roads and motorways in comparison with local authority agents; if he will consult the local authority associations on the basis of the comparison; and if he will publish the results.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  All consultants employed by the Department as maintenance agents are subject to performance assessment. My officials have agreed performance indicators with representatives of the local authority associations, which will facilitate comparisons of performance by different agents, and. these are now being used on a trial basis to assess the 1992–93 performance of a number of agents throughout the country. Any decision on publication of the results of comparisons will be taken in consultation with the local authority associations when the results are available.

  Transport Supplementary Grant
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each local highway authority in England the percentage of its total bid for transport supplementary grant for 1993–94 included in its 1992 transport policy and programme which was accepted by the Government for grant.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The information is given in the table.

  Transport supplementary grant for local highway authorities in England Percentage of total bid for transport supplementary grant for 1993–94 made in 1992 T P P submission accepted for grant

  Per cent.

  London boroughs

  City of London

  51·1

  Barking and Dagenham

  47·4

  Barnet

  70·4

  Bexley

  86·9

  Brent

  42·3

  Bromley

  87·2

  Camden

  58·1

  Croydon

  82·1

  Ealing

  56·1

  Enfield

  58·0

  Greenwich

  52·7

  Hackney

  49·4

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  37·8

  Haringey

  52·2

  Harrow

  93·0

  Havering

  80·1

  Hillingdon

  81·7

  Hounslow

  59·9

  Islington

  40·3

  Kensington and Chelsea

  75·2

  Kingston upon Thames

  43·1

  Lambeth

  29·5

  Lewisham

  90·1

  Merton

  69·0

  Newham

  78·8

  Redbridge

  54·2

  Richmond upon Thames

  66·2

  Southwark

  92·9

  Sutton

  39·7

  Tower Hamlets

  70·0

  Waltham Forest

  74·4

  374

  Per cent.

  Wandsworth

  60·5

  Westminster

  63·2

  Metropolitan Boroughs

  Bolton

  61·3

  Bury

  59·0

  Manchester

  72·6

  Oldham

  62·5

  Rochdale

  70·1

  Salford

  21·5

  Stockport

  71·7

  Tameside

  57·5

  Trafford

  73·9

  Wigan

  39·4

  Knowsley

  95·1

  Liverpool

  66·0

  St. Helens

  57·8

  Sefton

  54·4

  Wirral

  78·0

  Barnsley

  76·7

  Doncaster

  64·8

  Rotherham

  68·7

  Sheffield

  85·8

  Gateshead

  54·7

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  67·5

  North Tyneside

  40·9

  South Tyneside

  69·7

  Sunderland

  50·7

  Birmingham

  83·3

  Coventry

  90·6

  Dudley

  65·9

  Sandwell

  40·6

  Solihull

  88·4

  Walsall

  90·0

  Wolverhampton

  76·4

  Bradford

  56·7

  Calderdale

  38·8

  Kirklees

  78·6

  Leeds

  61·4

  Wakefield

  58·7

  Shire Counties

  Avon

  71·6

  Bedfordshire

  46·9

  Berkshire

  41·5

  Buckinghamshire

  65·6

  Cambridgeshire

  39·7

  Cheshire

  76·9

  Cleveland

  79·3

  Cornwall

  68·6

  Cumbria

  56·5

  Derbyshire

  82·1

  Devon

  52·4

  Dorset

  58·0

  Durham

  78·4

  East Sussex

  43·6

  Essex

  65·0

  Gloucestershire

  65·7

  Hampshire

  82·9

  Hereford and Worcester

  46·6

  Hertfordshire

  82·6

  Humberside

  84·5

  Isle of Wight

  71·6

  Kent

  72·9

  Lancashire

  53·1

  Leicestershire

  51·0

  Lincolnshire

  53·8

  Norfolk

  42·1

  Northamptonshire

  52·0

  Northumberland

  81·0

  North Yorkshire

  76·4

  Nottinghamshire

  68·9

  Oxfordshire

  67·5

  Shropshire

  41·1

  Somerset

  84·6

  Staffordshire

  57·7

  Suffolk

  36·3

  Surrey

  64·6

  375

  Per cent.

  Warwickshire

  49·2

  West Sussex

  58·5

  Wiltshire

  51·8

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each local highway authority in England the percentage of its bids for 1993–94 made in its 1992 transport policy and programme submission accepted for transport supplementary grant for(a) major road

  Percentage of 1992 TPP bids accepted for transport supplementary grant for 1993–94

  Authority

  Major road schemes

  Minor works on local safety schemes

  Structural maintenance on principal roads

  Assessment, strengthening and other structural maintenance of bridges

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  City of London

  0·0

  48·1

  No bid

  88·8

  Barking and Dagenham

  22·7

  80·6

  80·9

  82·3

  Barnet

  No bid

  56·3

  70·0

  96·3

  Bexley

  91·6

  72·1

  68·0

  90·0

  Brent

  0·0

  42·4

  70·0

  62·3

  Bromley

  94·6

  91·8

  70·0

  69·0

  Camden

  No bid

  51·6

  73·7

  62·4

  Croydon

  100·0

  58·3

  69·9

  69·8

  Ealing

  100·0

  54·7

  70·0

  99·2

  Enfield

  53·8

  90·5

  69·9

  62·4

  Greenwich

  0·0

  59·5

  69·8

  87·7

  Hackney

  100·0

  44·9

  20·2

  90·2

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  No bid

  18·7

  70·0

  69·2

  Haringey

  28·5

  73·0

  89·6

  86·3

  Harrow

  93·3

  92·0

  No bid

  90·0

  Havering

  No bid

  46·5

  69·8

  84·4

  Hillingdon

  99·5

  41·8

  70·8

  69·2

  Hounslow

  84·7

  17·4

  69·6

  87·1

  Islington

  No bid

  20·0

  69·5

  88·4

  Kensington and Chelsea

  100·0

  57·1

  No bid

  90·0

  Kingston upon Thames

  56·5

  51·6

  60·9

  70·2

  Lambeth

  No bid

  50·8

  23·7

  18·4

  Lewisham

  100·0

  77·5

  23·8

  61·3

  Merton

  64·1

  84·8

  70·0

  62·5

  Newham

  79·9

  37·2

  70·0

  97·9

  Redbridge

  No bid

  51·4

  70·1

  62·5

  Richmond upon Thames

  No bid

  55·0

  51·9

  96·6

  Southwark

  100·0

  41·4

  No bid

  71·4

  Sutton

  26·3

  54·2

  43·1

  80·0

  Tower Hamlets

  0·0

  13·3

  93·5

  63·7

  Waltham Forest

  95·0

  39·6

  70·3

  66·7

  Wandsworth

  31·1

  62·0

  50·3

  88·1

  Westminster

  49·3

  78·4

  70·1

  63·5

  Bolton

  83·4

  51·4

  88·3

  50·8

  Bury

  0·0

  83·6

  70·0

  95·0

  Manchester

  71·4

  70·5

  70·0

  87·1

  Oldham

  76·3

  57·2

  77·9

  80·3

  Rochdale

  No bid

  88·0

  63·0

  92·3

  Salford

  0·6

  64·7

  70·5

  93·9

  Stockport

  100·0

  56·4

  63·6

  91·0

  Tameside

  58·8

  81·3

  69·6

  62·3

  Trafford

  81·5

  63·1

  69·2

  96·3

  Wigan

  25·6

  31·3

  63·9

  76·8

  Knowsley

  99·3

  62·8

  90·5

  83·2

  Liverpool

  69·4

  32·0

  100·0

  85·4

  St. Helens

  56·4

  100·0

  70·5

  76·8

  Sefton

  0·0

  83·5

  70·5

  77·2

  Wirral

  100·0

  81·4

  70·6

  90·3

  Barnsley

  87·9

  56·5

  70·6

  83·0

  Doncaster

  56·1

  56·8

  79·3

  94·9

  Rotherham

  76·8

  18·5

  84·6

  77·3

  Sheffield

  100·0

  57·1

  83·2

  90·7

  Gateshead

  78·7

  62·9

  100·0

  75·2

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  91·3

  52·0

  41·1

  68·3

  North Tyneside

  0·0

  11·1

  70·0

  55·9

  376
  schemes, (b) minor works on local safety schemes, (c) structural maintenance on roads, (d) bus priority measures and (e) structural maintenance on bridges.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  All available information on transport supplementary grant for the categories listed is given in the table. It is not possible to give figures for bus priority measures. Most bids for such schemes under the transport supplementary grant system are included as part of "other minor works". Allocations under that category are not given for specific types of scheme. The answer to the related question on bus priority measures indicates total credit approvals issued to local authorities for that purpose.
  377

  Authority

  Major road schemes

  Minor works on local safely schemes

  Structural maintenance on principal roads

  Assessment, strengthening and other structural maintenance of bridges

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  South Tyneside

  96·5

  61·8

  70·1

  55·4

  Sunderland

  50·7

  31·5

  77·2

  64·0

  Birmingham

  90·4

  66·3

  73·2

  70·6

  Coventry

  97·1

  64·2

  69·9

  85·2

  Dudley

  70·0

  49·2

  70·0

  50·1

  Sandwell

  0·0

  27·4

  69·7

  77·2

  Solihull

  97·4

  71·0

  75·0

  71·9

  Walsall

  98·0

  57·1

  70·0

  58·2

  Wolverhampton

  89·2

  62·3

  70·4

  59·4

  Bradford

  51·9

  39·4

  70·0

  63·0

  Calderdale

  0·0

  65·3

  74·4

  69·9

  Kirklees

  95·3

  69·9

  86·9

  62·4

  Leeds

  68·2

  42·9

  73·1

  89·8

  Wakefield

  0·0

  46·5

  66·6

  88·8

  Avon

  77·5

  36·7

  66·0

  87·5

  Bedfordshire

  10·8

  27·8

  100·0

  94·2

  Berkshire

  37·7

  30·6

  64·7

  77·7

  Buckinghamshire

  38·4

  88·5

  79·8

  79·5

  Cambridgeshire

  19·4

  38·0

  72·7

  69·0

  Cheshire

  79·1

  82·7

  70·9

  93·0

  Cleveland

  92·2

  55·8

  78·1

  88·8

  Cornwall

  75·6

  49·0

  70·0

  75·3

  Cumbria

  64·6

  91·1

  70·0

  60·9

  Derbyshire

  100·0

  30·0

  69·9

  83·4

  Devon

  43·7

  60·9

  62·1

  71·5

  Dorset

  53·9

  54·6

  64·8

  77·3

  Durham

  97·6

  54·0

  55·2

  75·0

  East Sussex

  36·0

  68·2

  61·8

  91·5

  Essex

  62·3

  56·3

  71·8

  66·7

  Gloucestershire

  72·3

  28·2

  74·9

  87·2

  Hampshire

  88·8

  65·6

  65·4

  57·4

  Hereford and Worcester

  32·7

  29·0

  70·0

  66·4

  Hertfordshire

  91·8

  52·0

  70·0

  82·1

  Humberside

  95·5

  69·4

  73·9

  81·7

  Isle of Wight

  No bid

  88·0

  80·0

  62·3

  Kent

  84·0

  15·7

  64·5

  77·3

  Lancashire

  47·7

  64·8

  67·6

  69·4

  Leicestershire

  57·7

  45·3

  78·0

  73·2

  Lincolnshire

  38·8

  16·1

  87·6

  76·1

  Norfolk

  22·6

  26·8

  65·1

  85·1

  Northamptonshire

  40·6

  40·0

  68·2

  73·6

  Northumberland

  88·8

  61·3

  73·7

  87·0

  North Yorkshire

  79·4

  54·9

  70·0

  78·0

  Nottinghamshire

  71·2

  73·7

  66·1

  72·9

  Oxfordshire

  100·0

  10·1

  84·4

  85·1

  Shropshire

  17·2

  56·7

  70·0

  76·8

  Somerset

  94·1

  54·5

  66·2

  80·6

  Staffordshire

  54·1

  68·5

  75·8

  87·6

  Suffolk

  3·8

  70·4

  64·0

  72·4

  Surrey

  74·5

  27·0

  54·5

  76·0

  Warwickshire

  29·5

  32·2

  70·0

  71·2

  West Sussex

  83·1

  26·5

  61·8

  95·9

  Wiltshire

  46·8

  51·7

  58·5

  86·0

  Bus Priority Measures
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each local highway authority in England the bids for 1993–94 made in its 1992 transport policy and programme for grant or credit approval for bus priority measures and the grant or borrowing consent awarded in each of those areas.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is shown in the table. Details of the proportion of their transport supplementary grant allocation that local authorities allocate to bus priority measures are not available.
  378

  Bus Priority Measures 1993–94

  £ thousands

  TPP bids

  Supplementary Credit Approvals allocated

  Shire counties

  Avon

  2,207

  1,525

  Bedfordshire

  200

  0

  Berkshire

  2,305

  200

  Cambridgeshire

  195

  120

  Cheshire

  650

  1625

  Cleveland

  1,875

  600

  Cumbria

  25

  0

  Derbyshire

  123

  0

  Devon

  445

  250

  Durham

  300

  50

  379

  TPP bids

  Supplementary Credit Approvals allocated

  East Sussex

  1,100

  125

  Essex

  226

  130

  Gloucestershire

  448

  70

  Hampshire

  300

  170

  Humberside

  130

  0

  Isle of Wight

  50

  0

  Kent

  1,577

  500

  Lancashire

  807

  580

  Leicestershire

  775

  0

  Norfolk

  3,152

  3,000

  North Yorkshire

  20

  0

  Northamptonshire

  250

  100

  Nottinghamshire

  1,634

  175

  Oxfordshire

  675

  50

  Shropshire

  343

  50

  Staffordshire

  100

  0

  Suffolk

  2,438

  100

  Surrey

  1,029

  240

  West Sussex

  1,000

  0

  Wiltshire

  664

  140

  Total Shires

  25,043

  8,800

  Metropolitan districts

  Barnsley

  115

  0

  Birmingham

  500

  400

  Bolton

  100

  0

  Bradford

  1,668

  0

  Bury

  50

  40

  Coventry

  353

  250

  Doncaster

  60

  50

  Dudley

  200

  75

  Gateshead

  773

  75

  Kirklees

  140

  0

  Knowsley

  450

  250

  Leeds

  1,199

  450

  Liverpool

  400

  300

  Manchester

  1,330

  750

  Newcastle

  100

  100

  Oldham

  62

  40

  Rochdale

  15

  0

  St. Helens

  40

  0

  Salford

  125

  75

  Sheffield

  1,675

  200

  Solihull

  50

  50

  Stockport

  130

  30

  Sunderland

  10

  0

  Tameside

  57

  0

  Trafford

  20

  10

  Wakefield

  86

  0

  Walsall

  100

  0

  Wigan

  25

  0

  Wirral

  380

  30

  Total Districts

  10,213

  3,175

  London boroughs

  Camden

  100

  50

  Ealing

  1,294

  548

  Hammersmith

  1,474

  600

  Haringey

  825

  75

  Hillingdon

  777

  752

  Hounslow

  1,192

  250

  Kensington

  175

  50

  Lambeth

  401

  124

  Lewisham

  100

  0

  Newham

  106

  106

  Richmond

  45

  45

  Sutton

  200

  0

  Tower Hamlets

  600

  600

  Waltham Forest

  150

  0

  Wandsworth

  100

  100

  Total London

  7,539

  3,300

  380

  TPP bids

  Supplementary Credit Approvals allocated

  Totals

  42,795

  15,275

  1 Part SCA and part Transport Supplementary Grant. Authorities which did not bid are not listed.

  Cycles (Warning Devices)
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the requirements for pedal cycles to carry audible warning devices such as bells; if he will review the present requirements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Pedal cycles are not required at present to be fitted with audible warning devices such as bells. We are currently considering updating the Pedal Bicycles (Safety) Regulations and the Pedal Cycles (Construction and Use) Regulations with a view to incorporating into them the latest British standard on the construction of pedal cycles. We shall be taking the opportunity at the same time to review the position on the compulsory fitting and use of bells.

  London Regional Transport
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to privatise London Regional Transport; what estimate of asset proceeds he has made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  Plans for the privatisation of the London Buses Ltd. subsidiaries are well under way. However, I have no plans at present to privatise the remaining parts of London Regional Transport and have therefore made no estimate of the potential sale proceeds.

  River Safety
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has undertaken since July 1992 into improving safety and rescue standards on rivers and inland waters; and what methods were used in such research as recommended by the Hayes report on river safety.

  Mr. Norris
  Research carried out since July 1992 includes projects dealing with the safety of control systems on high speed craft, damage and impact stability of high-speed passenger craft, and the applicability of safety assessment techniques to passenger vessels.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to publish an account of progress in the implementation of recommendations made after major disasters recommended in the Hayes report on river safety.

  Mr. Norris
  A summary of progress on the implementation of the Hayes report recommendations will be published next month.

  Progress on the recommendations of the Hidden report was described in the answer of my hon. Friend the Minister for Public Transport on 12 November 1992, column 964.
  381
  I reported progress on the Fennel report on 7 December, column 464.

  Marine Safety Committees
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 7 July 1992,Official Report, column 102, if he will list the titles of all the district marine safety committees and their sub-committees that have been established; and if he would further state for each such committee and sub-committee (a) its composition, (b) its terms of reference and (c) the dates on which it has met.

  Mr. Norris
  I will write to the hon. Member with this information.

  Private Aircraft
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what records are kept of flights made by private aircraft from United Kingdom airports and airfields; what requirements exist on pilots to register proposed flight paths and names and numbers of passengers; and in what respects these requirements and records are different for flights going overseas from internal flights.

  Mr. Norris
  Civil aviation legislation does not formally require official records of flights made by private aircraft to be kept by airports. However, most airports or airfields do maintain logbooks. In addition, under the terms of article 23 of the Air Navigation Order 1989 any member of the flight crew of an aircraft is required to maintain personal flying logbooks, in which they are required to record a variety of information, including the date and the places at which the crew member embarked on and disembarked from the aircraft at the end of each flight.

  Under the rules of the air the commander of an aircraft arriving at or departing from an aerodrome in the United Kingdom shall take all reasonable steps to ensure upon landing or prior to departure, as the case may be, that notice of that event is given to the person in charge of the aerodrome, or to the air traffic control unit or aerodrome flight information unit at the aerodrome. This is known as booking-in or out, but names of passengers are not included. He is also required to file a flight plan for air traffic control purposes when the aircraft is expected to fly in controlled airspace under instrument flight rules.

  When intending to cross an international flight information region boundary all aircraft pilots are required to file a flight plan and provide information identifying the type of the aircraft, the destination and the number of individuals on board the aircraft. A flight plan is also required if the total weight of the aircraft exceeds 5,700 kg and its intended destination is more than 40 km from the point of departure. This information is required primarily for potential search and rescue purposes and again the names of the passengers are not included.

  Twyford Down (Private Detectives)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, (1) pursuant to his answer of 25 February,Official Report, columns 699–700, what is the total sum of moneys paid to Brays Detective Agency (Southampton) Ltd. by his Department since February 1992;
  382
  (2) pursuant to his answer of 12 March, Official Report, column 772 on how many people papers have been served by Brays Detective Agency in connection with Twyford Down.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answers 10 May 1993]: As at end April, Bray's Detective Agency (Southampton) had been paid approximately £35,000. Following my answer of 12 March, Official Report, column 772, the agency had served papers on an additional three individuals.

  A30
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be able to publish the detailed design and construction timetable for the new separated junction at Kennards house on the A30 near Launceston.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: We are making good progress with the initial preparation of this scheme and aim to consult the public on our proposals during the summer.

  Progress thereafter will depend on public reaction to our consultation proposals and to the subsequent statutory orders.

  Marine Accident Investigation Branch
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what circumstances he is able to order an MAIB inquiry under section 33(7) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: The Merchant Shipping Act 1988 does not provide any limitation on the functions that may be conferred on the chief inspector of marine accidents, or other inspectors, in addition to the basic functions of investigating casualties to ships, or other incidents involving ships. However, such action would be taken only where it is considered appropriate and after careful consideration had been given to all the prevailing circumstances. Such consideration would include taking into account investigations either planned or in progress by other competent authorities or administrations.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  EC Research Ministers
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the meeting of European research Ministers on 29 April.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  A policy debate was held on the fourth EC research and development framework programme, on the basis of the Commission's new working document. There was broad agreement on the structure of the framework and on the need to ensure proper dissemination and exploitation of EC research: further discussion will take place on content and financing before the next Council of Ministers on 30 June. Conclusions were also agreed on space, which underlined the need for closer links between the EC and the European Space Agency.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Mr. A. Nadir
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to apply to the Turkish authorities for Mr. A. Nadir to be placed under British jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We have an extradition treaty with the Republic of Cyprus, but the writ of the Government does not run in the north of the island.

  Immediately after Nadir's abscondment, our High Commissioner in Nicosia met Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Denktash on 5 May to demand that Nadir be handed over to the British authorities.

  On 7 May I summoned the Turkish ambassador to explain the anger felt in this country and ask for Turkish assistance in ensuring Nadir's return.

  The Turkish Cypriots should appreciate the damage it could do to their interests if they were to acquire a reputation as a refuge for fugitives from justice.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Aid Projects
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what current United Kingdom Government financial aid projects for Kenya are due for renewal funding during this year; and if a decision will be made on this issue.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Decisions on a number of development projects will be required during the course of the year; these will be reached at the appropriate time taking account of all relevant factors.

  Sub-Saharan Africa
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the United Kingdom Government have to increase the aid to sub-Saharan Africa; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 10 February, at column 665.

  Narmada Dam, India
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on future funding of the Narmada dam project in India(a) bilaterally and (b) through the World bank.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Government of India asked the World bank to cancel the outstanding balance, some $170 million, of the bank's loan for the Sardar Sarovar dam project in the Narmada valley, India. Various studies agreed between the Government of India and the World bank, initiated prior to the cancellation of the loan and financed with United Kingdom grants, will be completed.

  Africa
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the World bank to redesign the operation of its structural adjustment programmes in Africa; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We and other aid donors are involved in a continuing dialogue with World bank staff, both in the board and informally, and with representatives of developing countries, about the approach to be taken to structural adjustment. All parties agree that the essential aim is sustainable, broad-based development. The approach taken continues to evolve in the light of experience.

HEALTH

  Extra-contractual Referrals
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will consider holding centrally information on health authorities which place limitations on extra-contractual referrals.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No. The management of the extra-contractual referral process is the responsibility of district health authorities as agreed with regional health authorities. The majority of ECR requests are approved, as the grounds on which an ECR can be refused are very limited and purchasers are expected to respect the referring clinician's judgment. It would not be appropriate to collect this information centrally.

  NHS (Equal Opportunities)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will require national health service trusts and health authorities to carry out equal opportunities monitoring of job applications and to publish the results.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  National health service trusts and health authorities are expected to have an equal opportunities policy, together with mechanisms for monitoring its implementation. They are specifically expected, by the end of 1994, to monitor applicants for medical interviews on the basis of race, gender and speciality. They are also expected to monitor the selection and interview processes for nurse managers as part of "Opportunity 2000".

  In addition, we have set up a working group on ethnic minority employment in the NHS which will consider, among other issues, advice on good practice in recruitment and selection.

  AZT
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many yellow card reports of adverse reactions to AZT have been made by doctors dispensing and prescribing the drug.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Eighty-three. A report of a suspected reaction in association with a drug does not necessarily mean that the drug caused the effect reported.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library all the research data and
  385
  compiled statistics on adverse reactions and side effects of AZT; if she will list these adverse reactions and side effects; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Research data on the adverse effects of AZT submitted to the Medicines Control Agency in support of the product licence applications is confidential under section 118 of the Medicines Act, 1968. Information on the adverse effects of AZT is available in standard reference books and medical and scientific publications in the public domain. Information is also given in the data sheet for the product, produced by the manufacturer and authorised by the licensing authority, a copy of which will be placed in the Library.

  The most serious adverse reactions associated with AZT are disorders affecting the blood including anaemia and neutropenia. Other adverse effects reported include nausea, anorexia, abdominal pain, headache, rash, fever, muscle pain, insomnia and malaise.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost to the national health service, including the salaries of doctors, the use of other ancillary drug treatments, beds and administration, of the Concorde trials.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The costs of the Concorde trial were met by 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.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will place in the Library the research data which compares mortality rates between those AIDS patients given AZT and those AIDS patients not given AZT; and if she will publish full details of mortality rates for both the AZT group and the placebo control group during the Concorde trials;

  (2) what assessment she has made of the development of cancers in the trial subjects who took AZT for the duration of the Concorde trial;

  (3) what assessment her Department has made of the numbers and characteristics of patients who (a) suffered adverse reactions to AZT during the Concorde trial and (b) had to cease taking the drug because of the severity of the adverse reactions.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Preliminary results of the Concorde trial involving AZT were published in a letter in the Lancet on 3 April. We are still awaiting the full report of the trial which has not yet been analysed by the investigators. As soon as the full report and raw data are received, these will be carefully analysed by the Department and the Medicines Control Agency. Advice on the licensing implications will be sought from the Committee on Safety of Medicines.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much time was spent in deliberations by the Committee on the Safety of Medicines to decide whether to license AZT; if she will list the names of members of the particular committee who were to present at specific hearings on the licensing of AZT; and if she will place in the Library the minutes of these meetings.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  AZT was licensed in 1987 by the Licensing Authority following full consideration by the Committee on Safety of Medicines and its sub-committees.386
  The advice of the CSM has also been sought for subsequent variations to the original licence. The deliberations of the CSM are confidential and records are not kept of how much time the CSM or its sub-committees spend on any particular item on their agendas.

  A list of members of the CSM and its sub-committees for 1987 is published in the CSM's annual report, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the ongoing studies in Britain using AZT on asymptomatic subjects, and of research studies into AZT conducted since 1988, which have been notified to her Department.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Three trials organised by 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, have involved asymptomatic patients using AZT:Concorde—comparing immediate treatment with AZT to deferred treatment once symptoms have developed.
  Delta—comparing AZT monotherapy with combination therapy using AZT and dideoxyinosine (ddl) or dideoxycytidine (ddC) in patients with CD4 counts between 350 and 50 per cumm. A minority of the patients in this trial will be asymptomatic. This trial is ongoing.
  Pental—evaluating the early use of AZT in asymptomatic children with HIV infection born to HIV antibody-positive mothers. This trial is ongoing.

  All three are international multicentre trials.

  There is no requirement to notify the Department centrally of ongoing clinical trials funded from other sources.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions of AZT were issued to asymptomatic individuals in each month since April 1988.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will review the complaint made in 1992 by the film company Meditel to the Medicines Control Agency, relating to advertising claims by the Wellcome Foundation in relation to AZT;

  (2) what action was taken by the Medicines Control Agency and her Department in respect of the complaint made by Meditel in 1992 against the Wellcome Foundation; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Medicines Control Agency examined the complaint and reviewed promotional material for AZT at the time. Action was not taken against the Wellcome Foundation. There is no reason to review the complaint now.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she will commission research into the effects, consequences and benefits of the medical use of cannabis as a muscle relaxant and treatment for nausea.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no plans to commission such research.

  HIV and AIDS
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a list and description, together with the source, of all the non-pharmaceutical forms of treatment for HIV and AIDS upon which there has been correspondence with her Department since 1987; what encouragement she has given to the testing of non-pharmaceutical regimes in the cases of asymptomatic antibody positive subjects; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available.

  The clinical trials supported as part of the Government's commitment to HIV and AIDS research are organised by 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. The M RC has convened an AIDS therapeutic trials committee, which includes patient representatives, to formulate a strategy for clinical trials.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department has spent since 1987 on treatments for HIV management, AIDS and AIDS management, manufactured by companies other than the Wellcome Foundation; and if she will list those companies and the products used.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available. The Department allocates money to health authorities to purchase services for people with HIV/AIDS. These allocations cover the costs of prescribing a range of drug treatments, but it is for individual clinicians to determine what treatment is appropriate for each patient.

  Vaccines
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the adequacy of levels of supply to the Greater Manchester area of the MMR and meningitis vaccines; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department of Health is aware that there is presently some shortfall in the availability of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine due to an interruption to supply between 19 April and 7 May, caused by a change from the company which packages the vaccine for distribution in the United Kingdom. The Department wrote to all district immunisation co-ordinators early in April advising them of this interruption and advising that further substantial quantities would become available immediately after 7 May. This vaccine is now being made available to health authorities and any shortfalls will be made good.

  There is no shortage of the haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) vaccine; all orders for the vaccine placed this year have been met in full and large stocks are available for requisition.

  Suicides
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many suicides recorded in England and Wales in the past five years have been attributed to causes related to suffering from low frequency tinnitus and hum; and how many patients are currently receiving therapy for the conditions through the NHS.
  388
  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health has no information on the reasons for individual people's suicides. A diagnosis of tinnitus was recorded against an estimated 500 patient episodes of treatment in the hospital episode system in England during 1989–90, the latest year for which figures are available. The ninth edition of the international classification of diseases, on which the 1989–90 data are coded, does not distinguish between low frequency and other varieties of tinnitus.

  Children in Care
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have run away while in care in children's homes in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will list the relevant local authorities.

  Mr. Yeo
  The latest available information is shown in the table.

  Children in care who had absconded from residential accommodation for more than one week at 31 March 1991

  Local authority

  Number of children

  Avon

  4

  Barnsley

  4

  Berkshire

  5

  Birmingham

  14

  Bolton

  1

  Bradford

  1

  Brent

  3

  Coventry

  2

  Croydon

  1

  Devon

  2

  Doncaster

  1

  Dorset

  1

  Dudley*

  1

  Durham

  6

  Ealing

  1

  Essex

  8

  Greenwich

  1

  Hackney

  1

  Hammersmith

  1

  Hampshire

  5

  Haringey

  1

  Hertfordshire

  1

  Hounslow

  3

  Islington*

  7

  Kensington

  2

  Kent*

  2

  Knowsley

  4

  Lambeth

  5

  Lancashire

  5

  Leicestershire

  1

  Lewisham

  5

  Liverpool

  2

  Manchester

  2

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1

  Newham

  1

  Northamptonshire

  5

  Nottinghamshire

  3

  Redbridge

  2

  Salford

  4

  Shropshire

  1

  Southwark*

  4

  St. Helens

  1

  Sunderland

  3

  Surrey

  1

  Tameside

  2

  Trafford

  10

  Walsall

  2

  Wandsworth

  2

  Westminster

  1

  Wigan

  3

  Wiltshire

  1

  Wolverhampton

  2

  389

  Local authority

  Number of children

  Total

  152

  Note: For authorities not making a return for 1991, data from the most recent return have been quoted. (These authorities have been indicated with an asterisk *.)

  Secure Units
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies she is undertaking into the provision of secure units by the private sector.

  Full-time

  Three-quarter time

  Half-time

  Job-share

  Total

  Male

  18,694

  235

  173

  134

  19,236

  Female

  5,112

  904

  395

  321

  6,732

  Total

  23,806

  1,139

  568

  455

  25,968

  Figures refer to general practitioners in England at 1 October 1992.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there were in Greater London in(a) October 1978, (b) October 1983, (c) October 1988 and (d) at the latest convenient date.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  At 1 October 1978 there were 3,509 general medical practitioners in Greater London. The corresponding figures at 1 October 1983, 1 October 1988 and I October 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, were 3,659, 3,843 and 3,810.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to provide free NHS eye tests to all deaf and hard of hearing people; and if she will make it her policy to subsidise the cost of glasses for this group of people.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There are no plans to extend the rules of entitlement to free national health service sight tests and to vouchers to cover the costs of glasses to this group.

  Nursing and Midwifery
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account she took, in her decision to relocate the English National Board of Nursing and Midwifery from Sheffield to London, of the 1989 review by Peat Marwick McLintock, particularly the recommendations contained in pages 91 and 95; if she will re-examine her decision; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The English National Board for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting has not made a decision on relocation from Sheffield to London.
  390
  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 2 March that she planned to amend regulations to enable the private and voluntary sectors to provide secure accommodation. We propose to issue a consultation document shortly setting out options for taking this work forward.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give a breakdown for the most recently available year of the numbers of general practitioners distinguishing between(a) female and male and (b) part-time and full-time general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is shown in the table.

  Junior Doctors and Dentists
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in reducing the hours of junior hospital doctors and dentists; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Preliminary analysis of regional task force returns indicates that, at 1 April, the number of junior doctors and dentists contracted for more than 83 hours a week had fallen very substantially since September 1990. I hope to announce detailed results shortly.

  Mr. Mohammed Saeed
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a copy of her Departmental inquiry, into the case of Mohammed Saeed, or the main recommendations thereof.

  Mr. Sackville
  I shall be writing to the hon. Member shortly about the circumstances of the case in response to his letter of 5 May to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. A copy of my reply will be placed in the Library.

  Pharmacies
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pharmacies dispensed less than(a) 1,000 prescriptions per month and (b) 2,000 prescriptions per month in each of the family health services authority areas in England and Wales in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many of these were classified as essential pharmacies.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is shown in the table and was derived from the Chemists Particulars 1991–92 provided by the Prescription Pricing Authority.
  391

  Code

  FHSAs

  Number of pharmacies less than 2,000 per month

  Number of pharmacies less than 1,000 per month

  Number of essential small pharmacy schemes in 31 March 1992

  321

  Cleveland

  12

  2

  2

  322

  Cumbria

  30

  5

  6

  323

  Durham

  19

  4

  3

  324

  Northumberland

  30

  0

  3

  325

  Gateshead

  10

  1

  0

  326

  Newcastle

  14

  1

  1

  327

  North Tyneside

  13

  2

  0

  328

  South Tyneside

  8

  0

  1

  329

  Sunderland

  9

  0

  0

  341

  Humberside

  33

  1

  2

  342

  North Yorkshire

  29

  1

  3

  343

  Bradford

  23

  6

  3

  344

  Calderdale

  14

  1

  0

  345

  Kirklees

  17

  1

  0

  346

  Leeds

  36

  5

  1

  347

  Wakefield

  5

  0

  1

  361

  Derbyshire

  41

  3

  3

  362

  Leicestershire

  69

  10

  7

  363

  Lincolnshire

  11

  1

  1

  364

  Nottinghamshire

  44

  8

  4

  365

  Barnsley

  6

  1

  0

  366

  Doncaster

  2

  0

  0

  367

  Rotherham

  10

  2

  1

  368

  Sheffield

  21

  1

  0

  381

  Cambridgeshire

  25

  2

  1

  382

  Norfolk

  19

  4

  2

  383

  Suffolk

  25

  5

  7

  401

  Bedfordshire

  18

  4

  1

  402

  Hertfordshire

  96

  19

  10

  403

  Barnet

  45

  6

  1

  404

  Brent and Harrow

  85

  17

  0

  405

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  106

  23

  0

  406

  Hillingdon

  32

  8

  2

  407

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  139

  88

  0

  421

  Essex

  72

  10

  11

  422

  Barking and Havering

  24

  4

  0

  423

  Camden and Islington

  76

  33

  0

  424

  City and East London

  66

  18

  0

  425

  Enfield and Haringey

  47

  5

  0

  426

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  33

  5

  0

  441

  East Sussex

  43

  5

  4

  442

  Kent

  54

  6

  7

  443

  Greenwich and Bexley

  37

  6

  0

  444

  Bromley

  18

  1

  0

  445

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  79

  19

  0

  461

  Surrey

  69

  8

  2

  462

  West Sussex

  27

  4

  1

  463

  Croydon

  37

  5

  0

  464

  Kingston and Richmond

  44

  7

  0

  465

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  71

  11

  0

  481

  Dorset

  28

  6

  4

  482

  Hampshire

  63

  9

  0

  483

  Wiltshire

  21

  1

  2

  484

  Isle of Wight

  6

  1

  0

  301

  Berkshire

  31

  2

  0

  502

  Buckinghamshire

  28

  3

  4

  503

  Northamptonshire

  29

  7

  3

  504

  Oxfordshire

  33

  6

  6

  521

  Avon

  52

  6

  3

  522

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  29

  7

  4

  523

  Devon

  43

  8

  6

  524

  Gloucestershire

  30

  5

  3

  525

  Somerset

  18

  1

  3

  541

  Hereford and Worcester

  29

  5

  3

  542

  Shropshire

  20

  2

  1

  543

  Staffordshire

  41

  8

  3

  544

  Warwickshire

  20

  4

  3

  545

  Birmingham

  53

  4

  0

  546

  Coventry

  22

  4

  0

  547

  Dudley

  6

  1

  0

  548

  Sandwell

  8

  1

  1

  549

  Solihull

  9

  1

  2

  551

  Walsall

  10

  0

  0

  552

  Wolverhampton

  9

  2

  0

  392 393

  Code

  FHSAs

  Number of pharmacies less than 2,000 per month

  Number of pharmacies less than 1,000 per month

  Number of essential small pharmacy schemes in 31 March 1992

  561

  Cheshire

  35

  6

  0

  562

  Liverpool

  18

  2

  0

  563

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  3

  0

  0

  564

  Sefton

  7

  0

  0

  565

  Wirral

  16

  0

  0

  581

  Lancashire

  69

  8

  5

  582

  Bolton

  5

  1

  0

  583

  Bury

  6

  3

  0

  584

  Manchester

  17

  3

  0

  585

  Oldham

  7

  0

  1

  586

  Rochdale

  3

  0

  0

  587

  Salford

  6

  0

  0

  588

  Stockport

  14

  1

  0

  589

  Tameside

  10

  2

  2

  591

  Trafford

  14

  0

  0

  592

  Wigan

  6

  0

  0

  ENGLAND TOTAL

  2,767

  499

  150

  To qualify for payment under the Essential Small Pharmacy Scheme a pharmacy must dispense between 6,000 and 17,200 prescriptions per year and be more than two kilometres from the next pharmacy.

  Code

  FHSAs

  No. of Pharmacies Less than 2,000 per month

  No. of Pharmacies Less than 1,000 per month

  No. of Essential Small Pharmacy Schemes in 31 March 1992

  601

  Clwyd

  14

  4

  4

  602

  Dyfed

  29

  10

  9

  603

  Gwent

  13

  1

  0

  604

  Gwynedd

  17

  4

  0

  605

  Mid Glamorgan

  23

  0

  0

  606

  Powys

  6

  1

  3

  607

  South Glamorgan

  20

  0

  1

  608

  West Glamorgan

  23

  8

  1

  WALES TOTAL

  145

  28

  18

  To qualify for payment under the Essential Small Pharmacy Scheme a pharmacy must dispense between 6,000 and 17,200 prescriptions per year and be more than two kilometres from the next pharmacy.

  Imigran
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount spent by the NHS on prescription of the drug Imigran in(a) 1991 and (b) 1992; and what was the average cost of a single prescription.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information on individual national health service prescribed drugs is not provided for reasons of confidentiality.

  NHS Salaries
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage the wages of(a) nurses and midwives, (b) ancillary staff and (c) administration and management staff in the national health service were as a portion of total revenue spending for the years 1979 to 1992 inclusive.
  394
  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 26 April 1993]: Percentage figures for hospital and community health services in England for the years requested are shown in table 1. Those for 1991–92 are provisional.

  While total HCHS salaries and wages costs for 1991–92 increased on 1990–91, they represent a reduced proportion of the total HCHS revenue expenditure incurred by health authorities in that year. Table 2 shows the cost of the staff groups requested as percentages of the total annual HCHS salaries and wages costs. The figures for 1991–92 are provisional.
  395

  Table 1

  HCHS: Salaries and Wages costs as a proportion of total revenue expenditure—percentage figures

  Nursing and Midwifery staff per cent

  Ancillary staff per cent

  Administrative and Clerical staff per cent

  General and Senior managers per cent

  All other staff per cent

  Total Salaries and Wages per cent

  1979–80

  30·92

  13·48

  9·13

  0·00

  21·34

  74·87

  1980–31

  33·32

  12·47

  8·77

  0·00

  21·59

  76·14

  1981–82

  32·91

  12·04

  8·69

  0·00

  21·40

  75·03

  1982–83

  33·19

  11·56

  8·29

  0·00

  21·63

  74·67

  1983–84

  32·79

  11·26

  8·23

  0·00

  22·08

  74·36

  1984–85

  33·22

  10·26

  8·32

  0·00

  22·41

  74·20

  1985–86

  33·41

  9·39

  7·93

  0·11

  23·21

  74·05

  1986–87

  33·88

  8·30

  7·90

  0·25

  24·16

  74·49

  1987–88

  34·77

  7·38

  7·85

  0·26

  24·83

  75·09

  1988–89

  36·92

  6·69

  7·80

  0·24

  24·50

  76·16

  1989–90

  36·05

  6·26

  7·65

  1·17

  24·42

  75·55

  1990–91

  35·75

  5·88

  8·07

  1·71

  24·81

  76·22

  1991–92

  30·72

  4·80

  7·36

  2·04

  22·01

  66·92

  Table 2

  HCHS: Analysis of total salaries and wages costs—percentage figures

  Nursing and midwiferv staff

  Ancillary staff

  Administrative and clerical staff

  General and senior managers

  All other staff

  Total salaries and wages

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  1979–80

  41·30

  18·01

  12·19

  0·00

  28·50

  100·00

  1980–81

  43·75

  16·38

  11·51

  0·00

  28·36

  100·00

  1981–82

  43·86

  16·04

  11·58

  0·00

  28·52

  100·00

  1982–83

  44·45

  15·48

  11·10

  0·00

  28·96

  100·00

  1983–84

  44·10

  15·15

  11·07

  0·00

  29·69

  100·00

  1984–85

  44·76

  13·83

  11·21

  0·00

  30·20

  100·00

  1985–86

  45·12

  12·68

  10·70

  0·15

  31·35

  100·00

  1986–87

  45·48

  11·14

  10·61

  0·33

  32·43

  100·00

  1987–88

  46·30

  9·83

  10·45

  0·35

  33·07

  100·00

  1988–89

  48·48

  8·79

  10·24

  0·32

  32·17

  100·00

  1989–90

  47·72

  8·29

  10·13

  1·55

  32·32

  100·00

  1990–91

  46·90

  7·71

  10·59

  2·24

  32·55

  100·00

  1991–92

  45·90

  7·17

  11·00

  3·05

  32·88

  100·00

  Source:

  Annual accounts (1982–83 to 1990–91) and financial returns (1991–92) of regional and district health authorities in England and those of the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals. Annual accounts of area health and other predecessor authorities (1979–80 to 1981–82). Annual fiscal returns of the first wave NHS trusts (1991–92).

  Notes to the tables

  1. HCHS salaries and wages costs cover those incurred within the total expenditure of the health authorities (and the NHS trusts) including the management and provision of hospital, community health, patient transport (ie ambulance), blood transfusion and other services.

  2. The figure for total: HCHS revenue expenditure used for 1991–92 is not comparable with earlier years as it shows health authorities primarily as purchasers rather than providers of health care and includes charges for the use of capital assets. The total expenditure of NHS trusts was excluded as this is reflected in the health authorities total expenditure through health care and related services purchased.

  3. General and senior managers comprises a separate pay category which was established until 1986. Its adoption throughout the NHS occurred over a period of some years and its numbers include many employees re-classified from other pay groups including senior nursing staff.

  4. The figures for "all other staff" included medical, dental, ambulance, maintenance and professional and technical staff together with the total costs of all categories of non-NHS (agency, etc) staff. The figures for some financial years may not add across exactly because of roundings.

  5. The tables exclude salaries and wages costs incurred by family health services authorities and special health authorities providing central services to the NHS. However, the figures for administrative and clerical staff for the years prior to 1985–86 cover those staff employed by family practitioners committees whose costs were included with those of area health authorities and were not separately identified.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Citylink (Takeover)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what consideration is being given to the competition implications of the takeover of Citylink by National Express;

  (2) if he will refer the takeover of Citylink by National Express to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
  396
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Director General of Fair Trading is currently making inquiries into this merger. If he considers that it may qualify for investigation under section 64 of the Fair Trading Act 1973, he will advise my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade accordingly. My right hon. Friend shall decide whether or not to make a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission once he has received the Director General's advice.

  Textiles
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the South Korean Government concerning import tariffs on British textiles.

  Mr. Needham
  I expressed the Government's strong concern about proposed increases in import tariffs on textiles when I met Korean Ministers during my recent visit to Korea.

  Serb-based Holiday Companies
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many Serb-based holiday companies trading in London are being investigated by his Department.

  Mr. Needham
  There are 36 companies in the United Kingdom which are "persons connected with Serbia and Montenegro" for the purposes of United Kingdom sanctions legislation; one of these is a holiday company. My officials have been in touch with them a number of times to ensure they are aware of the impact United Kingdom sanctions may have on them.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the current levels of exports to Indonesia; what they have been over the last five years; what are the current levels of imports from Indonesia; and what have they been over the last five years.

  Mr. Needham
  Information on the topic is regularly published in Business Monitors MM20 and MA20, "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Pensions and Benefits
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken to assess the effect on sub-post offices of the plans to encourage payment of pensions and benefits through banks and building societies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The option to have pensions and child benefit paid into a suitable bank or building society account has been available for a number of years, and will be extended to a range of other benefits in line with the commitment in the citizens charter. My Department considered with Post Office Counters Ltd. last autumn the likely impact that encouragement of this method of payment might have on the sub-office network and concluded that it would not have a significant effect on total business.

  Coal Privatisation
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of asset proceeds from the privatisation of British Coal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department is currently considering the possible option for the privatisation of British Coal. It would be premature to estimate the proceeds of privatisation at this stage.

  "The Prospects for Coal"
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to publish his first annual energy report as outlined in "The Prospects for Coal."

  Mr. Eggar
  The first report will be published as soon as possible after the end of the year.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the energy advisory panel of independent experts as outlined in "The Prospects for Coal" will meet; if he will name the members of the panel and outline the panel's terms of reference; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I shall make an announcement in due course.

  Terrorism Damage (Reinsurance)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make available details of the arrangements under which the Government will undertake the reinsurance of risks relating to damage caused by terrorism.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Yes. An explanatory summary of the arrangements envisaged, describing the essential features of the agreement to be entered into, was placed in the Library of the House and copies made available in the Vote Office this morning.

  Offshore Oil and Gas
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bids were received in respect of the 14th round of oil and gas licences applications; and of these how many are subject to contracts between the operator and his Department.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: A total of 97 applications were received in respect of blocks offered in the 14th offshore oil and gas licensing round. Licences have been awarded for three of these applications. Work obligations were attached to all of these licences. Other awards under the 14th round are expected to be announced at the end of this month.

  Post Office Review
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether the continuation of the period of advice by his appointed advisers on the Post Office review into the 1993–94 financial year required the extension or renewal of their contracts;

  (2) whether his advisers on the Post Office review were appointed after a process of' competitive tendering.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: Yes.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  VAT
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement concerning irrecoverable VAT paid by charities for goods and services.

  Sir John Cope
  There are already a number of VAT reliefs on specific goods and services which are worth some
  399
  £150 million a year to charities. The Government believe that the best way to help charities through the tax system is by measures to encourage charitable giving rather than by refunding VAT on general goods and services. The amount individuals and companies donate is a better measure of the worth of charities than what they spend on standard rated goods and services.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has held with charities on the effect of charging VAT on domestic fuel and power on charities.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 7 May 1993]: I have received a number of representations from charities on this issue and met the Charities Tax Reform Group on 6 May 1993.

  British Telecom
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provision will be made in the prospectus for the British Telecom share sale for a statement(a) as to BT foreign investment strategy and (b) on how redundancies will be funded.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The prospectus for the Government's BT3 share sale will contain all material information about BT's business and its financial position at the time of publication.

  Petroleum Revenue Tax
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue from(a) corporation tax and (b) petroleum revenue tax from oil and gas fields in each year from 1983 to 1992–93.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: Revenues raised from United Kingdom oil and gas production by corporation tax and petroleum revenue tax are as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  1Corporation tax

  Petroleum revenue tax

  1983–84

  877

  6,017

  1984–85

  2,432

  7,177

  1985–86

  2,916

  6,375

  1986–87

  2,676

  1,188

  1987–88

  1,318

  2,296

  1988–89

  1,230

  1,371

  1989–90

  743

  1,050

  1990–91

  971

  860

  1991–92

  647

  -216

  1992–93

  670

  54

  1Before ACT set-off.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of oil fields which were subject to the payment of petroleum revenue tax in each year from 1983 to 1992–93 as compared to the total number of oil fields in production during the same period.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: The numbers of oil and gas fields with a liability to petroleum revenue tax and the total number of fields in production since 1984 have been as follows:

  Number of fields with PRT liability

  Number of fields in production

  1984

  15

  35

  1985

  16

  42

  1986

  17

  49

  400

  Number of fields with PRT liability

  Number of fields in production

  1987

  17

  55

  1988

  15

  62

  1989

  16

  72

  1990

  20

  81

  1991

  20

  82

  1992

  17

  94

  The information on fields with liabilities is not available for 1983, when 32 fields were in production.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of oil fields that would be subject to the payment of petroleum revenue tax in each year between 1993–94 and 1997–98.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: The number of oil and gas fields with a liability to petroleum revenue tax in 1993 is estimated to be approximately 20. Forecasts are not made for future years.

  Alcohol
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken against the individuals discovered abusing the indicative levels for alcohol by trying to commercialise their purchases.

  Sir John Cope
  During the quarter ending 31 March, there were 230 detections of tobacco and alcohol illegally offered or intended for sale in the United Kingdom. The following action has been taken:

  Action

  Number of Cases

  Arrest and charge

  11

  Reported for prosecution or compounding

  116

  Seizures of goods only

  103

  Thirty-four vehicles were also seized. All detections have been included even where the quantities involved were less than the indicative levels, which are only a guide. Separate figures to exclude those cases involving tobacco goods only are not readily available.

  Ring-fenced Revenue Accounts
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to treat investment from ring-fenced revenue accounts financed from local resources as outside the remit of the public sector borrowing requirement.

  Mr. Portillo
  No. By definition the public sector borrowing requirement measures borrowing by the whole of the public sector, including local authorities.

  Balance of Trade
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to improve Britain's balance of trade; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 6 May 1993]: The Government can best assist traders by keeping inflation low. Inflation rates this year are the lowest for over 25 years. Interest rates are the lowest in the European Community.
  401
  In his Budget my right hon. Friend the Chancellor further improved the assistance available to exporters from the ECGD by cutting premiums for 1993–94 by 71 per cent. on 1992–93 levels; increasing cover in high exposure markets by £1,300 million over the next three years; and by relaxing restrictions for export credits on some high growth markets.

PRIME MINISTER

  Policy Unit
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the committees and review groups on which members of his policy unit currently sit, or have sat since he took office, giving in each case the purpose of the committee or group and the name of the policy unit member.

  The Prime Minister
  Members of the policy unit attend a wide range of committees as required.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the names of, and posts held by, members of his policy unit; and if he will give their biographical details.

  The Prime Minister
  The members of my policy unit are as follows:

  Head of Unit

  Sarah Hogg

  Deputy Head of Unit

  Nick True

  Damian Green

  Dominic Morris

  Lucy Neville-Rolfe

  David Poole

  Katharine Ramsay

  Alan Rosling

  Jill Rutter

  It is not my practice to provide biographical details.

  Russia (Nuclear Safety)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss British-Russian co-operation on nuclear safety with President Yeltsin; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to meet with President Yeltsin specifically to discuss nuclear safety issues. However, if the opportunity arises, I will emphasise our concern about nuclear safety in Russia and our wish for continuing co-operation in this area.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the projects, and the funding committed thereto, by the European Community and the United Kingdom to assist Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan in respect of the storage and disarmament of nuclear material and facilities.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have made a commitment to supply Russia with nuclear weapons transport vehicles and special containers to help with the dismantlement of that country's surplus nuclear warheads; the total programme is expected to cost over £30 million. We have no such programmes of assistance for Belarussia,402
  Ukraine or Kazakhstan. The European Community has not committed funding to any of these states for this purpose.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 May.

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 May.

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

  Unitary Taxation
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Prime Minister what response he has received from President Clinton to his letter about unitary taxation and the Barclays bank litigation; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: President Clinton and his colleagues have made it clear to us that the United States Administration fully recognise the importance that the Government attach to this issue, the strength of feeling in the United Kingdom and the risk of retaliatory action by the United Kingdom if a satisfactory solution is not forthcoming. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor reinforced these points in recent discussions with Secretary Bentsen and others in the United States Administration. They have assured us that they are very keen to find a solution to this problem that is acceptable.

EDUCATION

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to increase the account taken in standard spending assessments of nursery education.

  Mr. Forth
  At national level, local authority grant settlements have reflected the general increase over the years in the number of under-fives in school. The under-fives element of each authority's SSA is based on the number of three and four-year-olds resident in the authority. It is for each authority to decide how to allocate resources between its various services, including under-fives education which authorities provide under discretionary powers.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children are currently being educated in local education authority or grant-maintained selective schools in England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Approximately 105,000 children are currently being educated in local authority grammar schools or grant-maintained grammar schools in England.

  School Buildings, Liverpool
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assistance he has given to local authorities to meet the cost of refurbishment of the older school buildings in Liverpool.

  Mr. Boswell
  Capital support for maintained schools in the area of Liverpool local education authority, including voluntary aided and special agreement schools, amounts to over £8 million in 1993–94.

  Teaching (European Dimension)
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the procedures to be followed in adjusting secondary school teaching to have a more European dimension.

  Mr. Boswell
  There are no specific procedures. The content of teaching and the organisation of education systems are and will remain the responsibility of the individual member states within the European Community.

  Education Quality
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he next plans to meet organisations representing parents to discuss improving the quality of education.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend met the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations, which is said to represent the views of some 7·5 million parents, on Monday 26 April. At that meeting, I am pleased to say, the NCPTA confirmed their support in principle for the national curriculum together with its associated testing arrangements. He also met a delegation from Parents' initiative a few weeks ago and gave a speech at the annual conference of the Campaign for Real Education on April 17. All these occasions allowed him to speak with parents and to seek their views on issues.

  Parental Choice
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to make parental choice in education easier to exercise.

  Mr. Forth
  The policy of more open enrolment has increased parental choice by requiring maintained schools to admit up to their physical capacity. All parents now have the right to say which school they prefer their children to attend. The Government are continuing their drive to make more information about schools publicly available. This will enhance choice by helping parents to make wise decisions about their children's education.

  Testing
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he next plans to meet organisations representing teachers to discuss testing.

  Mr. Forth
  On the subject of testing, teachers have been invited to make their views known to Sir Ron Dearing, the chairman-designate of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority, who is conducting a review of the national curriculum and assessment.
  404
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received recently on the implementation of testing in schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Since the beginning of the year the Department has received around 6,500 letters from teachers, parents, governors and others about testing in schools. In addition, my right hon. Friend has met parents, teachers in staff-rooms, governors and organisations at conferences. He has met national representatives of the teachers' associations on 19 occasions and delegations from all six teacher unions. He has also visited 37 schools since he took office in April 1992.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to overcome problems in the testing of school pupils; and what assessment he has made of the relative effectiveness of United Kingdom testing and methods existing in other countries.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has asked Sir Ron Dearing to conduct a wide-ranging review of the manageability of the national curriculum and the associated testing and assessment framework. A great deal of information is already available about testing in other countries, including a recent report from the National Institute for Economic and Social Research which found that the higher standards achieved by pupils in the middle to lower ability range in France, Germany and Japan was attributable to the existence in these countries of long-standing national curricula reinforced by regular assessment and reporting.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to use the power to surcharge under the Local Government Finance Act 1982 to ensure that governors and teachers implement testing in schools.

  Mr. Forth
  Sections 19 and 20 of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 set out the power to seek restitution from those concerned where public funds have been spent improperly or have not been properly accounted for. Action under these sections falls to the auditor appointed under the Act.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what study he has made of testing of pupils in other countries.

  Mr. Forth
  A great deal of information is available, from Ofsted and other sources, about testing arrangements in other countries. It shows that tests are well-established in most of our main competitor countries. For example:—The findings of the HMI report on "Aspects of Primary Education in France" in 1991 indicated that the French National Curriculum has long stressed the importance of basic literacy and numeracy for primary schools and that pupils' attainments in reading, writing and mathematics were assesed at the ages of 8 and 11 entirely through paper and pencil tests;
  —a report published earlier this year by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research found that the higher standards achieved by pupils in the middle to lower ability range in France, Germany and Japan were mainly attributable to the existence of long-standing national curricula in these countries, "reinforced through regular assessment and reporting".

  Illiteracy
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his current estimate of the number of adults in England and Wales who may be defined as functionally illiterate.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Unit, which advises the Government, estimates that 4 million adults in England and Wales have real difficulty with everyday tasks involving reading, writing and spelling and that a further 1·5 million have difficulty with numerical skills. Such people are often described as being "functionally illiterate".

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what further plans he has to meet organisations representing teachers to discuss the implementation of the national curriculum.

  Mr. Forth
  None. Teacher associations should make their views known to Sir Ron Dearing, the chairman-designate of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority, who is conducting a review of the national curriculum and assessment.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he next expects to meet representatives of the Professional Association of Teachers to discuss the national curriculum.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has no plans for such a meeting. The Professional Association of Teachers has been invited to make its views known to Sir Ron Dearing, the chairman designate of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority, who is conducting a review of the national curriculum and assessment.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to hold further discussions with parent governors and teachers on the national curriculum.

  Mr. Forth
  All interested parties should make their views known to Sir Ron Dearing, the chairman-designate of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority, who is conducting a review of the national curriculum and assessment.

  Vocational Education
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on vocational education.

  Mr. Boswell
  Vocational education is of key importance to achieving the national education and training targets, and hence ensuring a proficient and competitive work force. From next September the new general national vocational qualifications will be widely available and will provide a third pathway to qualification, alongside NVQs and A-levels. We want GNVQs in at least two subjects to be available in more than 1,500 schools and colleages and one in four 16-year-olds starting GNVQ courses by 1996. In the longer term I hope that around half our 16 and 17-year-olds will take these important new qualifications.

  Teachers (Workload)
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to reduce the workload of middle-school teachers in the current year.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has frequently placed on record his appreciation of the commitment shown by teachers in implementing the Government's reforms. It is in response to the concern of some teachers that the incremental growth of the national curriculum over several years has led to over-elaboration that my right hon. Friend has asked Sir Ron Dearing to review the curriculum and assessment framework.

  English
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with employers regarding the need for 16-year-olds with a competent command of English.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend has had no formal discussions recently, but he has noted the concerns of employers about basic literacy and numeracy standards identified in recent reports by the Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Unit. He is well aware how important it is to employers—and to our ability to compete as a nation—that school and college leavers joining the work force should be fully competent in their use of the English language.

  This Government are determined to ensure that all school pupils learn to communicate effectively in spoken and written English. That is why our proposals to revise the requirements for national curriculum English were announced last month. The aim is to streamline and strengthen the present curriculum by defining clearly the essential skills which English teaching should promote.

  The National Curriculum Council is now conducting the statutory consultation on those proposals, which will give all parties the opportunity to offer their views. Copies of the proposals will be sent by the NCC to the CBI and other employers' organisations.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will visit Hendon grant-maintained school to discuss grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has not received an invitation to visit Hendon school. If he receives such an invitation, he would be very happy to consider it.

  Disruptive Pupils
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals he has to provide additional resources for schools to enable them to provide for disruptive pupils who may otherwise be expelled.

  Mr. Forth
  Under the "Reducing Truancy" category of the Government's grants for education support and training scheme for 1993–1994, local education authorities could bid for support to enhance the provision made for their most difficult pupils. A number of the approved projects include such a component.

  Teacher Morale
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to improve teacher morale.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Government recognise the need to maintain teacher morale and are committed to ensuring that teaching is viewed as an attractive profession. Current recruitment is buoyant; vacancies are low; fewer than 1 per cent. leave the profession each year for paid employment outside education. The restructuring of teachers' pay in the coming September will give classroom teachers the prospect of earning up to £30,441 a year.

  Teachers (Administration)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals he has to reduce the administrative burden on teachers to enable them to spend more time teaching.

  Mr. Boswell
  While the Department wishes teachers to use their time effectively, the division of teachers' directed time between teaching and other duties is a matter for determination at school level.

  School Hours
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from(a) parent governors and (b) teachers regarding the length of the school day or week.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has received written representations about the length of the school day from 14 parents, two governors and three teachers in the past 12 months. Letters received from governors and teachers have generally been concerned with the procedures required to change the length of the school day; and letters from parents with the desirability of a longer school day.

  Education Reform
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the national curriculum, testing in schools and the workload of teachers.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has asked Sir Ron Dearing to conduct a wide-ranging review of the manageability of the national curriculum and the associated testing and assessment framework. The review will consider the need for slimming down the curriculum and for simplifying the testing arrangements. The aim is that early results from the review will inform the testing arrangements in 1994.

  Mandatory Awards
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what support will be given in mandatory awards to students in the academic year 1993–94.

  Mr. Boswell
  We propose the following increases in support for mandatory award holders from England and Wales, subject to parliamentary approval of the regulations to be laid in due course. Taken together with the increased rates of student loans which I announced on Friday 7 May,Official Report, col. 254–55, they will enable
  408
  the average student support to rise by 2·75 per cent. in the academic year 1993–94, thereby maintaining its value in real terms. We will increase the supplementary allowances payable as part of the mandatory award by 2·75 per cent. We will also adjust the parental and spouse contribution scales so that the assessed contribution from a parent or spouse whose residual income rises in line with average earnings will continue to fall in real terms. The main rates of maintenance grant will be held at 1992–93 levels.

  I am placing in the Library details of the rates of grant, the supplementary allowances and the parental and spouse contribution rules.

SCOTLAND

  GP Fund Holders
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will describe the financial policies by which non-fund-holding practices obtain or employ(a) drugs, medicines and listed appliances, (b) goods and services, (c) services carried out by a member of the practice such as those listed in schedule 3 to S.I. 1993 No. 488 (S.53), (d) employees of members of the practice employed to provide treatment or manage/administer the practice and (e) purchase of materials, equipment, or improvement of the premises.

  Mr. Stewart
  The costs incurred by non-fund-holding practices under these headings are met by the health board either from within their financial allocations or in the case of drugs, medicines and listed appliances by drawing on NHS resources held centrally.

  Those services listed in schedule 3 to S.I. No. 488 (S.53) cannot be carried out by a member of a non-fund-holding practice, but instead may be obtained by referral to a provider unit with the costs being met by the health board.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to ensure that non-fund-holding practices will be able to offer services in every respect equal to those that become fund-holding practices.

  Mr. Stewart
  All the patient care services currently included within the scope of the GP fund-holding scheme are also available to non-fund-holding practices. GP fund holders have the flexibility to use their fund to provide these services or purchase them from other providers for the benefit of their patients. The Government's framework for the GP fund-holding scheme seeks to maintain a proper balance between providing GP fund holders with an appropriate degree of flexibility in the use of their fund and preserving the principle of equity of access to health care for all NHS patients. GP fund holders, in providing care themselves or in setting contracts with other providers, will be able to develop improved standards in the quality of care for their patients provided as a consequence they do not directly disadvantage NHS patients from other practices.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the average outturn surplus at the end of the first year of operation of fund-holding practices.

  Mr. Stewart
  During 1991–92, their first operational year, GP fund holders in Scotland by careful management of their funds achieved average savings, following audit, of
  409
  around 4 per cent. A proportion of these savings was returned to the health boards, leaving fund-holder practices with total savings of £190,000. These savings may only be applied in accordance with regulations, and with health board agreement, for the benefit of the fund-holders' patients and do not represent income for the GPs and practices involved.

  Nicotine Replacement Patches
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when nicotine replacement patches will be available on NHS prescriptions in Scotland; and for what reasons they are not yet available on prescription through the NHS.

  Mr. Stewart
  Only one nicotine patch has been prohibited from NHS prescription on the expert advice of the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances. The committee advised that the manufacturer had failed to demonstrate to it that nicotine patches had a significant therapeutic use in general medical practice in helping patients to stop smoking. Other, more recently introduced patches which have yet to be considered by the committee remain prescribable meantime but doctors who do so may have their prescribing challenged by their health board.

  Nursing
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out the reasons for inclusion of paragraph (e) of the schedule to S.I. 1993 No. 637 (S.83); and if he will take account of reasons for dismissal other than redundancy which are no reflection on the suitability of a candidate for membership of the National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  The power of the Secretary of State to appoint and dismiss members of the board in accordance with the National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland Order 1993 (S.I. 1993 No. 637) is an important safeguard in relation to the proper conduct of the National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland. The schedule to the order sets out the various circumstances, including dismissal from paid employment other than by reason of redundancy, which disqualifies persons from appointment as members of the board. The Secretary of State does, however, have the power under article 9(3) of the order to waive the disqualification: his exercise of such a power will depend on the facts and circumstances of each individual case.

  National Panel of Specialists
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the National Panel of Specialists, and the advisory appointments committee drawn from its membership, will be required to include a proportion of suitably qualified women.

  Mr. Stewart
  The National Panel of Specialists constituted under the National Health Service (Appointment of Consultants) (Scotland) Regulations 410
  1993 contains a proportion of women consultants which is roughly comparable to the national ratio of female to male consultants in Scotland; the figures are 15·7 per cent. and 16·5 per cent. respectively. All members of the panel must be suitably qualified consultants. The membership of advisory appointments committees appointed by local NHS-employing authorities to consider candidates for consultant appointments in the NHS is also governed by the 1993 regulations. Each committee must include two members of the national panel from the relevant specialty or sub-specialty in which the consultant vacancy has occurred. The appointment of members to individual AACs is a matter for NHS-employing authorities who should ensure that the membership of these committees meets the statutory requirements.

  Tenants
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps in the case of any landlords who have collected poll tax from tenants, and who now should collect a lesser sum as council tax, ensure that such tenants are made aware of the reduction they are due.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Secretary of State has no powers to direct landlords in this way and has no plans to take such powers. There will be very few situations where landlords paid the community charge in respect of a property and where they are now liable to pay council tax. Landlords can decide to recoup the council tax where they are liable, but tenants with assured or short assured tenancies who pay rent weekly are entitled to have details of the council tax element given in their rent book.

  Council Tax
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of persons in Scotland he estimates is paying higher levels of council tax than the previous community charge.

  Mr. Lang
  Using information from the family expenditure survey, it is estimated that about 40 per cent. of households in Scotland face higher bills for council tax in 1993–94 than their combined household community charge bills in 1992–93. This estimate is based on a 0·1 per cent. sample of Scottish households and is therefore subject to sampling error. The estimate takes into account the effects of the community charge reduction scheme in reducing personal community charge bills but makes no allowance for the effect of community charge or council tax benefit.

  Maternity Services
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the hospitals in Scotland which had consultant obstetric and/or general practitioner maternity beds in 1991–92 and 1992–93, with the numbers of beds of each type in each hospital in each year.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  411

  National health service hospitals in Scotland Average available staffed beds in obstetricsspecialties: By specialty and hospital

  Years ending 31 March 1992 and 31 December 1992

  31 March 1992

  31 December 1992

  Specialist obstetrics

  GP obstetrics

  Specialist obstetrics

  GP obstetrics

  All hospitals

  1,746

  178

  1,695

  162

  Aberdeen Maternity Hospital

  121

  —

  146

  —

  Arbroath Infirmary

  —

  9

  —

  9

  Ayshire Central and Maternity Hospital

  142

  —

  141

  —

  Balfour Hospital

  —

  8

  —

  8

  Belford Hospital

  —

  6

  —

  6

  Bellshill Maternity Hospital

  114

  —

  104

  —

  Borders General Hospital

  28

  —

  28

  —

  Caithness General Hospital

  15

  —

  15

  —

  Calton Hospital

  —

  7

  —

  6

  Chalmers Hospital

  —

  10

  —

  10

  Cresswell Maternity Hospital

  43

  —

  44

  —

  Daliburgh Hospital

  —

  3

  —

  4

  Dalrymple Hospital

  —

  8

  —

  8

  Davidson Cottage Hospital

  —

  2

  —

  2

  Dunfermline Maternity Hospital

  38

  —

  38

  —

  Dunoon and District General Hospital

  —

  8

  —

  8

  Eastern General Hospital

  50

  —

  50

  —

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary

  50

  —

  50

  —

  Forth Park Hospital

  88

  —

  88

  —

  Fraserburgh Hospital

  —

  8

  —

  8

  Fyfe Jamieson Maternity Home

  —

  8

  —

  8

  Gilbert Bain Hospital

  —

  10

  —

  10

  Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital

  96

  —

  98

  —

  Insch and District War Memorial Hospital

  —

  4

  —

  4

  Islay Hospital

  —

  3

  —

  2

  Isle of Arran War Memorial Hospital

  —

  4

  —

  3

  Jubilee Hospital

  —

  7

  —

  7

  Kincardine O'Neil War Memorial Hospital

  —

  6

  —

  5

  Lady Margaret Hospital

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Law Hospital

  —

  —

  3

  —

  Leanchoil Hospital

  —

  6

  —

  5

  Lewis Hospital

  13

  —

  10

  —

  Mackinnon Memorial Hospital

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Maryhill Maternity Ward

  —

  13

  —

  13

  Mid Argyll Hospital

  —

  3

  —

  2

  Montrose Royal Infirmary

  —

  7

  —

  7

  Ninewells Hospital

  104

  —

  100

  —

  Oban Maternity Hospital

  —

  6

  —

  6

  Perth Royal Infirmary

  35

  —

  35

  —

  Peterhead Cottage Hospital

  —

  10

  —

  7

  Portree Hospital

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Queen Mother's Hospital

  93

  —

  89

  —

  Raigmore Hospital

  72

  —

  72

  —

  Rankin Memorial Hospital

  38

  —

  36

  —

  Royal Alexandra Hospital

  75

  —

  76

  —

  Rutherglen Maternity Hospital

  82

  —

  82

  —

  Seafield Hospital

  —

  6

  —

  6

  Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion

  141

  —

  135

  —

  Southern General Hospital

  56

  —

  60

  —

  St. John's Hospital at Howden

  46

  —

  44

  —

  Stirling Royal Infirmary

  52

  —

  50

  —

  Stobhill Hospital

  43

  —

  17

  —

  Summerfield Maternity Hospital

  22

  —

  —

  —

  Thornyflat Maternity Hospital

  —

  9

  —

  —

  Town and County Hospital Nairn

  4

  —

  —

  —

  Turner Memorial Hospital

  —

  3

  —

  3

  Vale of Leven District General Hospital

  36

  —

  36

  —

  Victoria Hospital

  —

  3

  —

  3

  412 413

  31 March 1992

  31 December 1992

  Specialist obstetrics

  GP obstetrics

  Specialist obstetrics

  GP obstetrics

  Western Isles Hospital

  —

  —

  4

  —

  William Smellie Maternity Hospital

  50

  —

  47

  —

  Prisons Inspectorate
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the role of Her Majesty's prisons inspectorate for Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  The prisons inspectorate was established in its present form following the publication in 1979 of the report by the committee of inquiry into the United Kingdom prison services which recommended that there should be a systtem of inspection of the prison service distanced as far as might be practicable from the prison departments. Subsequently, the post of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons for Scotland was approved and the inspectorate commenced operations on 1 January 1981.

  HMCIP's main statutory responsibility is the regular inspection of individual establishments. In carrying out this function matters which are inspected and reported on include physical conditions, quality of prisoner regimes, morale of staff and prisoners, facilities and amenities available to staff and prisoners, questions of humanity and propriety and the general efficiency and effectiveness of the establishment. Within the Scottish prison service there are 19 separate penal establishments, two of which contain special units, and it is the aim of the inspectorate to carry out a full inspection of each of these establishments once every three and a half years. Each inspection lasts for up to two weeks, depending on the size and complexity of the establishment, following which a detailed report is prepared. In addition, a one-day inspection, which may be unannounced, is undertaken annually at each establishment not being formally inspected.

  Other areas of responsibility of HMCIP include the triennial inspection of legalised police cells, which are in locations distant from prisons proper, the undertaking of periodic thematic studies which focus attention on specific areas or aspects of the prison service and the production of an annual report.

  The Government's White Paper on the citizens charter set out the role which inspectorates should play and I am satisfied that the prisons inspectorate are applying the key principles of that role.

  Independence

  HMCIP is appointed by the Crown under section 7 of the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989 and since the establishment of the present inspectorate in 1981 all three post-holders have been lay appointments, that is, individuals who have had no previous connection with the prison service. I intend to continue to make lay appointments to the post. In undertaking the duties of the post, HMCIP is supported by two senior prison governors who provide professional advice and guidance during the conduct of inspections and the preparation of reports. Although these officers may have future career enhancement within the service which they are inspecting, they will continue to be formally seconded to the inspectorate for
  414
  the duration of their posting there. The inspectorate team is completed by an administrative civil servant who acts as staff officer.

  The inspectorate determines its own programme for the inspection year and submits it to me for approval. During any inspection the inspectors have free access to any part of the establishment or to any individual therein. Reports are prepared without consultation with, or direct contribution from, the Scottish prison service and are submitted directly to me. HMCIP has no direct input to the policy or management of the Scottish prison service although recommendations in reports may have implications for either or both. Whether invited or not, HMCIP may from time to time offer comment on actual or potential developments.

  Lay involvement

  Lay involvement in the oversight of prisons has been separately provided for, since the last century, by the statutory appointment of visiting committees for each establishment, members of which are statutorily nominated in the case of young offenders institutions by the Secretary of State and in the case of adult prisons by local authorities. These committees act as independent observers on my behalf and have the absolute right to visit the appropriate prison whenever they wish. Their main functions are to pay frequent visits to the prison, to hear any complaints which may be made by the prisoners and to report to me any matter which they consider it expedient to report. As part of every full inspection HMCIP invariably seeks a meeting with representatives of the local visiting committee and records their views on the establishment in the final report.

  HMCIP may co-opt additional lay members on to the inspection team to deal with specific issues relating to individual establishments, if necessary.

  Openness

  The inspectorate has published its annual inspection programme for 1993–94 and will continue to do so for future years. Arrangements are always made to meet groups of prisoners and staff during each full inspection and arrangements are now also being made to give prisoners' visitors an opportunity to meet the inspectors and, alternatively or additionally, to submit comments orally or in writing.

  All the inspectorate's reports are submitted directly to me and are published in full, save occasionally as regards parts of reports which HMCIP has indicated should not be published as touching on confidential matters involving security. When published, they are invariably accompanied by my formal response. These arrangements cover not only the reports of the regular inspections of individual establishments but any thematic study reports and in particular HMCIP's annual report, publication of which is statutorily required. It is for HMCIP to decide whether to hold a press conference on the publication of reports and no restrictions are placed on discussions with the media on

  415
  matters relating to inspections. All the inspectorate's reports are available publicly—a charge now being made only in the case of the annual report.

  Resources

  HMCIP has no role in the allocation of resources to the Scottish prison service or among individual establishments, except insofar as recommendations may lead to a re-assessment of priorities. While the inspectorate's overriding statutory commitment is to comment on the acceptability of conditions, all reports take into account the need for cost efficiency and effectiveness.

  Health (Private Services)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (I) what plans he has to permit private health care companies or private hospitals to run national health service wards or specialist units; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is his policy on partnership deals with the private sector to run either hospital units or departments within units.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 4 May 1993]: Following my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement to the House on 12 November, the Government have been encouraging the participation of private sector interests in the provision of public services. I welcome the utilisation of private finance in the national health service where this would provide improved standards of health
  416
  care for patients or an opportunity for cost savings to be allocated to other health care projects. It is for individual health bodies to consider specific projects.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library the letter of 2 April on Scottish Office guidance on opencast coal production from M. T. Affolter of Scottish Office Environment Department to David Jarman of West Lothian district council.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: Arrangements will be made for a copy of the Department's letter to Mr. Jarman to be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

  School Transport
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will increase resources available to education authorities in Scotland to enable more flexible school transport in rural areas.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: It is for local authorities themselves to determine the level of expenditure on school transport in the light of their overall spending priorities and taking into account local needs. In distributing Government support to local authorities through aggregate external finance, account is taken of the differing population settlement patterns in rural areas.

  Manufacturing Jobs
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many manufacturing jobs there were in Scotland in December 1979 and December 1992; what was the proportion of manufacturing jobs as a percentage of the total number of jobs in each of those years; and if he will make a statement about the future of manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 10 May 19931: The figures showing the number of manufacturing jobs in Scotland in December 1979 and December 1992, and the proportion of manufacturing jobs as a percentage of the total number of jobs in these years are set out in the table. These are taken from the "Civilian Workforce in Employment Estimates" compiled by the Employment Department.

  December

  1979

  1992

  Total employees in employment (thousands)

  2,094

  1,967

  Employees in manufacturing (thousands)

  596

  348

  Manufacturing as a percentage of total employers

  28·5 per cent.

  17·7 per cent.

  Scottish Enterprise

  Members

  Occupation

  Salary from 1 April 1993

  (£)

  Chairman (part-time)

  Professor Donald Iain MacKay, MA, FRSE

  Chairman, PIEDA plc

  47,552

  Deputy Chairman

  Ronald Garrick, CBE

  Managing Director and Chief Executive, the Weir Group

  10,545

  Members

  Professor Andrew Bain

  Visiting Professor in Economics, Glasgow University

  7,030

  Tom Farmer, CBE

  Chairman and Chief Executive, Kwik-Fit

  7,030

  Charles Gray, JP

  President, COSLA

  7,030

  Sir Graham Hills

  Former Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde; Scottish Governor of the BBC

  7,030

  Glenda Hogarth-Coull, MBE

  Managing Director, Hogarth Safety Wear

  7,030

  Barbara Kelly, CBE

  Member, Equal Opportunities Commission; Chair, Training 2000

  7,030

  Cameron McLatchie OBE

  Chairman and Chief Executive British Polythene Industries plc

  7,030

  Professor John Caiman Shaw, CBE

  Deputy Governor, Bank of Scotland; Chairman, Scottish Higher Education Funding Council

  7,030

  Yvonne Strachan

  Chairwoman, Scottish Convention of Women; Scottish Women's Organiser, TGWU

  7,030

  Chief Executive (ex-officio member)

  Crawford Beveridge

  93,732

  418
  Despite reductions in Scottish manufacturing employment since 1979, output in this sector has increased. This has been achieved by substantial productivity increases. Future manufacturing success will be determined by the ability of Scotland's producers to compete in domestic and overseas markets.

  The Government's objective is to provide an overall economic framework in which Scottish manufacturers can flourish. This strategy is succeeding. The latest business survey evidence reveals that Scottish manufacturing firms expect an increase in total new orders, the volume of output and exported goods in forthcoming months.

  Appointments
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise and for each of the local enterprise companies the names of the chairman and board members, their occupations or professions and their allowances, salaries or other remuneration payable.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 10 May 19931: The names, occupations and current salaries of the chairmen and board members of Scottish Enterprise and of Highlands and Islands Enterprise are as follows:
  419

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  Members

  Occupation

  Salary from 1 April 1993

  (£)

  Chairman (part-time)

  A. Fraser Morrison, CBE

  Chairman and Managing Director, Morrison Construction Group

  26,762

  Members (part-time)

  John A. D. Harrison, OBE

  Chairman, Johnston's of Elgin

  7,030

  Dr. James Hunter

  Journalist;

  7,030

  Adviser to the Crofters Union;

  Member, Board of Trustees, John Muir Trust

  Angus S. MacDonald, CBE

  Farmer;

  7,030

  Director, Grampian Television

  Valerie MacIver

  Chair, Highland Regional Council Education Committee;

  7,030

  Member, Ross and Cromarty District Council;

  Member, Cromarty Firth Port Authority

  John D. M. Robertson, CBE

  Chairman, Robertson Group of Companies;

  7,030

  Chairman, Orkney Health Board;

  Chairman, Highland Health Board

  Peter Timms, MBE

  Managing Director, Flexible Technology, Bute

  7,030

  John Angus Mackay

  Director, Gaelic Television Committee;

  7,030

  Member, Scottish Arts Council

  Chief Executive (ex-officio member)

  Iain A. Robertson

  58,580

  Chairmen and board members of the local enterprise companies are not appointed by my right hon. Friend. Their names are listed in their respective annual reports and accounts which are available from the local enterprise companies themselves. The contracts between Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the local enterprise companies in their respective areas prohibit the payment to local enterprise companies chairmen or board members of any remuneration from

  Occupation/ Profession

  Annual remuneration

  (£)

  ABERDEEN ROYAL HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Mr. A. Bryan Broomfield

  Managing Director

  19,285

  Non-executive directors:

  Professor Graeme Catto

  University Professor

  5,000

  Professor Michael Meston

  University Professor

  5,000

  Mr. Harold Tocher

  Retired Banker

  5,000

  Dr. Fiona Lyle

  Retired General Practitioner

  5,000

  Mrs. Ann D. Scott

  Tax Partner

  5,000

  AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Mrs. Aileen K. Bates

  Former Nurse Teacher

  17,145

  Non-executive directors:

  Mr. Ian Allison

  Chartered Accountant

  5,000

  Mr. David Gall

  Retired Policeman

  5,000

  Mr. Robert Johnston

  Solicitor

  5,000

  Dr. Susan Kinnaird

  Auditor

  5,000

  Mr. W. Scott McConnell

  Retail Pharmacist

  5,000

  CAITHNESS AND SUTHERLAND NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Mr. George Bruce

  Former Company Manager

  15,125

  Non-executive directors:

  Mr. John Gunn

  Chartered Accountant

  5,000

  420
  payments made by Scottish Enterprise or Highlands and Islands Enterprise; however, out-of-pocket expenses may be reimbursed.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each of the hospital trusts the names of the board members, their occupations or professions and any allowances or remuneration payable.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: The information requested is as follows:
  421

  Occupation/ Profession

  Annual remuneration

  (£)

  Rev. Alexander Murray

  Minister

  5,000

  Dr. Elizabeth MacKenzie

  Retired General Practitioner

  5,000

  Mr. John Rosie

  Technical Assistant

  5,000

  Ms Wilma Taylor

  Retired Nurse

  5,000

  DUNDEE TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Mr. J. Stuart Fair

  Solicitor

  19,285

  Non-executive directors:

  Mrs. Maureen Cane

  Retired University Lecturer

  5,000

  Mr. Gordon Lowden

  Chartered Accountant

  5,000

  Mr. Robert Lyon

  University Senior Lecturer

  5,000

  Mrs. Jacqueline Wood

  Housewife

  5,000

  Professor Heather Dick

  University Professor

  5,000

  GRAMPIAN HEALTH CARE NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Dr. Alexander J. Taylor

  Retired General Practitioner

  19,285

  Non-executive directors:

  Mr. Marcus Humphrey

  Farmer

  5,000

  Mr. Thomas Murison

  Managing Director

  5,000

  Mr. George Robb

  Company Director

  5,000

  Mrs. Joan Catto

  Solicitor

  5,000

  Mr. Hance Fullerton

  Chief Executive

  5,000

  MONKLANDS AND BELLSHILL NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Dr. George Bell

  Retired General Practitioner

  19,285

  Non-executive directors:

  Mrs. Ann Irvine

  Sales Consultant

  5,000

  Mr. Donald MacDonald

  Executive Director

  5,000

  Dr. Michael Moore

  University Reader

  5,000

  Mrs. Alison Morrison

  Veterinary Surgeon

  5,000

  Mr. William Huggins

  Retired Finance Director

  5,000

  MORAY HEALTH SERVICES NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Mr. James Snedden

  Retired Banker

  17,145

  Non-executive directors:

  Mrs. Marjory Adams

  Teacher

  5,000

  Mr. Russell Anderson

  Fanner

  5,000

  Mrs. Lydia King

  Retired Teacher

  5,000

  Mr. William Phillips

  Chartered Accountant

  5,000

  Mr. James Royan

  Master Butcher

  5,000

  NORTH AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Mr. William Ritchie

  Retired Civil Engineer

  19,285

  Non-executive directors:

  Mrs. Angela Dunbar

  School Attendance Officer

  5,000

  Mrs. Kim Donald

  Company Secretary

  5,000

  Mr. James Grier

  Retired Banker

  5,000

  Mr. Alan Stewart

  Solicitor

  5,000

  Mr. Keith Tulloch

  Chartered Accountant

  5,000

  RAIGMORE HOSPITAL NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Mr. James Kyle

  Retired Surgeon

  17,145

  Non-executive directors:

  Mr. James Gray

  Retired Health Board Treasurer

  5,000

  Mrs. Flora Hunt

  Solicitor

  5,000

  Mr. Alexander Morrison

  Master Baker

  5,000

  Professor George McNicol

  Retired University Vice-Chancellor

  5,000

  Mrs. Judith Robertson

  Housewife

  5,000

  ROYAL ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Mr. Tom Gibson

  former Hospice Director

  17,145

  422 423

  Occupation/Profession

  Annual remuneration

  (£)

  Non-executive directors:

  Mrs. Audrey Burns

  Housewife

  5,000

  Mr. Allan Durward

  Retired Chief Executive

  5,000

  Mrs. Marion Ford

  Housewife

  5,000

  Mr. Alec Macdonald Gaunt

  Retired Commandant, Erskine Hospital

  5,000

  Mr. George Murray

  Retired Locomotive Driver

  5,000

  ROYAL SCOTTISH NATIONAL HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Mr. Adrian D. Ward

  Solicitor

  17,145

  Non-executive directors:

  Mr. William Hughes

  Company Chairman

  5,000

  Ms Valerie Smart

  Chartered Accountant

  5,000

  Professor Averil Stewart

  College Professor

  5,000

  Mr. David Tarr

  Chief Scientific Engineer

  5,000

  Dr. Peter Williams

  Senior Engineer

  5,000

  SOUTH AYRSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Mr. J. Douglas Brown

  Retired Surgeon

  17,145

  Non-executive directors:

  Mr. William M. Mowatt

  Chartered Accountant

  5,000

  Mr. Harold J. Currie

  Business Consultant

  5,000

  Mr. Graeme McKinstry

  Solicitor

  5,000

  Mrs. Anne Wilson

  Housewife

  5,000

  Mrs. Dorothy McLellan

  Housewife

  5,000

  SOUTHERN GENERAL HOSPITAL NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Mr. Andrew Garland

  Partner, Construction Company

  19,285

  Non-executive directors:

  Mr. Robert McEwan

  Retired Director, Scottish Development Agency

  5,000

  Mrs. Ann Moore

  Solicitor

  5,000

  Mrs. Agnes Stewart

  Tax Adviser

  5,000

  Mr. Henry Tankel

  Retired Surgeon

  5,000

  Mrs. Susan Bell

  Company Director

  5,000

  STIRLING ROYAL INFIRMARY NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Mr. George B. McKelvie

  Retired Surgeon

  17,145

  Non-executive directors:

  Mrs. Agnes Bowie

  Company Director

  5,000

  Mr. Graham Houston

  Head of Industrial Society

  5,000

  Mrs. Doris Littlejohn

  President, Industrial Tribunals

  5,000

  Mr. Graeme Simmers

  Retired Company Chairman

  5,000

  Mrs. Anne Walker

  University Research Fellow

  5,000

  VICTORIA INFIRMAR NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Dr. John L. C. Dall

  Retired Physician

  19,285

  Non-executive directors:

  Dr. Robert Colville

  Retired General Practitioner

  5,000

  Mrs. Danielle Glasser

  Solicitor

  5,000

  Mrs. Lorna Howieson

  Pharmacist

  5,000

  Mrs. Alison Gilchrist

  Company Director

  5,000

  Mr. Desmond O'Brien

  Chartered Accountant

  5,000

  WEST LOTHIAN NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Mr. Robert S. Watt

  Chairman of Livingston Development Corporation

  19,285

  Non-executive directors:

  Mr. Thomas Bennie

  Retired Banker

  5,000

  Mr. Jack Cunningham

  Retired Trade Union Secretary

  5,000

  Mrs. Irene Douglas

  Company Accountant

  5,000

  Mr. Peter Johnston

  School Teacher

  5,000

  Mrs. Carole Stevenson

  Housewife

  5,000

  424 425

  Occupation/Profession

  Annual remuneration

  (£)

  YORKHILL NHS TRUST

  Chairman:

  Mrs. Joan Cameron

  Housewife

  19,285

  Non-executive directors:

  Dr. John Davidson

  Retired Consultant Radiologist

  5,000

  Mrs. Margaret Hall

  Solicitor

  5,000

  Mr. Ronald Cleland

  Partner, Recruitment Consultancy

  5,000

  Mrs. Gwendoline Garner

  Field Worker, Action for Sick Children

  5,000

  Mrs. Sally Kuenssberg

  Children's Panel Training Organiser

  5,000

  Executive directors are appointed directly by trust boards, which also determine their salaries.

  In addition to the remuneration payable, the chairmen and non-executive directors are entitled to claim travelling and subsistence allowances at rates set for members of public bodies.

  Occupation/ profession

  Annual remuneration

  (£)

  ARGYLL AND CLYDE HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman:

  Mr. R. R. Reid

  Farmer

  17,700

  Non-executive members:

  Mr. M. D. Jones

  Company Director

  5,000

  Mrs. E. S. Lander

  Company Director

  5,000

  Mrs. J. C. Le Roux

  Housewife

  5,000

  Dr. J. Moffat

  Retired Consultant Psychiatrist

  5,000

  Mrs. S. Nelson

  Primary School Teacher

  5,000

  Mr. C. H. Parker

  Company Director

  5,000

  Executive members:

  Mr. I. C. Smith

  General Manager

  —

  Dr. A. A. Reid

  Director of Public Health

  —

  AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman:

  Mr. J. W. G. Donaldson

  Electrical Engineer

  14,835

  Non-executive members:

  Dr. K. G. Fegan

  General Medical Practitioner

  5,000

  Mr. J. H. Greene

  Solicitor

  5,000

  Miss M. W. Grosset

  Company Secretary

  5,000

  Miss K. A Paterson

  Retired Nurse

  5,000

  Mrs. E. Reid

  Health Carer

  5,000

  Mr. W. Young

  Company Director

  5,000

  Executive members:

  Mr. J. M. Eckford

  General Manager

  —

  Mr. N. R. Lammie

  Director of Finance

  —

  Mrs. M. Durie

  Director of Quality and Service Development/Chief Area Nursing Officer

  —

  Dr. A. D. W. Walker

  Director of Health Planning and Public Health

  —

  BORDERS HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman:

  Mr. D. A. G. Kilshaw

  Solicitor

  11,960

  Non-executive members:

  Rev. A. Bennett

  Minister

  5,000

  Miss M. Marshall

  Chartered Secretary

  5,000

  Mr. J. P. Metcalfe

  Retired Company Chairman

  5,000

  Dr. A. G. Paton

  Retired General Practitioner

  5,000

  Lady Sanderson

  Business Consultant

  5,000

  Mr. H. S. U. Steven

  NFU Secretary

  5,000

  426
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each of the health boards the names of the chairman and board members, their occupations or professions and their level of allowances or remuneration payable.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: The information requested is as follows:
  427

  Occupation/profession

  Annual remuneration

  (£)

  Executive members:

  Mr. D. A. Peters

  General Manager

  —

  Dr. I. A. McDonald

  Director of Public Health

  —

  Mr. J. S. Wilson

  Director of Finance

  —

  Mrs. A. Weston

  Director of Quality Assurance/Chief Area Nursing Officer

  —

  DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman:

  Mr. J. A. McIntyre

  Farmer

  11,960

  Non-executive members:

  Mrs. V. M. I. Jardine, Paterson

  Housewife

  5,000

  Mr. H. S. McFadzean

  Farmer

  5,000

  Dr. J. R. C. Stubbs

  Retired Anaesthetist

  5,000

  Mrs. M. J. Thomson

  Former Member, South of Scotland Electricity Board

  5,000

  Mrs. J. D. Tulloch

  Company Director

  5,000

  Dr. A. P. D. Wilkinson

  General Practitioner

  5,000

  Executive members:

  Mr. D. J. Banks

  General Manager

  —

  Mr. D. McEachran

  Director of Finance

  —

  Mr. P. J. Kelly

  Director of Quality/Chief Area Nursing Officer

  —

  Mr. P. Milligan

  Director of Contracts and Planning

  —

  Dr. I. MacLean

  Director of Public Health

  —

  FIFE HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman:

  Mr. R. Baker

  Company Director

  14,835

  Non-executive members:

  Mrs. S. L. Aitken

  Housewife

  5,000

  Dr. A. C. A. Alexander

  General Practitioner

  5,000

  Mr. F. J. R. Craig

  Company Director

  5,000

  Mrs. M. Steedman

  Retired Headmistress

  5,000

  Mrs. C. Stenhouse

  Housewife

  5,000

  Mr. G. M. Thomson

  Chartered Accountant

  5,000

  Executive members:

  Dr. I. S. Jones

  Director of Public Health

  —

  Mr. M. D. Murray

  Director of Finance

  —

  Mrs. J. Edey

  Director of Strategic Planning and Contracts

  —

  FORTH VALLEY HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman:

  Mrs. J. I. D. Isbister

  Mental Welfare Commissioner

  14,835

  Non-executive members:

  Mr. E. T. M. Bell-Scott

  Solicitor

  5,000

  Mr. K. Harding

  Newsagent

  5,000

  Dr. G. B. Hastings

  Unit Director, Strathclyde University

  5,000

  Mr. P. A. Joynson

  Chartered Surveyor

  5,000

  Mrs. K. A. Smith

  Emergency Services Organiser, WRVS

  5,000

  Mr. C. S. R. Stroyan

  Solicitor

  5,000

  Executive members:

  Dr. D. C. Moir

  Director of Public Health

  —

  Mr. D. F. Hird

  Director of Finance

  —

  GRAMPIAN HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman:

  Dr. C. A. MacLeod

  Company Chairman

  20,180

  Non-executive members:

  Mr. J. K. O. Arbuthnott

  Estate Owner/Manager

  5,000

  Mrs. C. A. Ferguson

  Housewife/Farmer

  5,000

  Mr. G. McLellan

  Senior Executive

  5,000

  Professor D. Ogston

  University Professor

  5,000

  Mrs. M. E. L. Park

  Solicitor

  5,000

  Mrs. J. G. A. Wisely

  Housewife

  5,000

  Executive members:

  Mr. F. Hartnett

  General Manager

  —

  428 429

  Occupation/profession

  Annual remuneration

  (£)

  Mr. A. J. Cumming

  Director of Finance

  —

  Dr. H. R. M. Wilson

  Director of Contracts

  —

  Ms H. Blumer

  Director of Planning

  —

  Dr. G. Paterson

  Director of Public Health

  —

  GREATER GLASGOW HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman:

  Mr. W. S. Fyfe

  Company Chairman

  25,140

  Non-executive members:

  Rev. R. D. M. Campbell

  Minister

  5,000

  Mr. P. W. Hoist

  Company Director

  5,000

  Professor R. M. Mackie

  University Professor

  5,000

  Mr. W. C. McCreath

  Solicitor

  5,000

  Mrs. J. Mackenzie

  Housewife

  5,000

  Mr. P. H. L. I. Runciman

  Retired Company Chairman

  5,000

  Mr. A. Scobbie

  Managing Director

  5,000

  Executive members:

  Mr. L. E. Peterken

  General Manager

  —

  Dr. G. D. Forwell

  Director of Public Health

  —

  Mr. C. M. Gordon

  Director of Finance

  —

  Mr. T. A. Divers

  Director of Planning and Contracts

  —

  HIGHLAND HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman:

  Mr. J. D. M. Robertson

  Company Chairman

  14,835

  Non-executive members:

  Mr. J. G. Ligertwood

  Retired Bank Manager

  5,000

  Dr. D. J. MacDonald

  Retired General Practitioner

  5,000

  Mr. D. J. Mackay

  Chief Executive

  5,000

  Mrs. A. MacPherson

  Farm Business Partner

  5,000

  Mr. C. Neilson

  Retail Businessman

  5,000

  Mrs. C. Thomson

  Company Director

  5,000

  Executive members:

  Mr. R. R. W. Stewart

  General Manager

  —

  Dr. G. V. Stone

  Director of Public Health

  —

  Mr. M. Iredale

  Director of Finance

  —

  Mr. D. T. Wright

  Director of Quality Assurance/Chief Area Nursing Officer

  —

  LANARKSHIRE HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman:

  Mr. I. L. Livingstone

  Solicitor

  17,700

  Non-executive members:

  Dr. W. Criggie

  General Practitioner

  5,000

  Mrs. A. S. Hinshalwood

  Housewife

  5,000

  Mrs. M. Melvin

  Teacher

  5,000

  Mr. D. A. Millar

  Business Consultant

  5,000

  Mr. J. P. Robinson

  Retired Colliery Official

  5,000

  Mr. J. Thomson

  Director, Voluntary Organisation

  5,000

  Executive members:

  Mr. F. Clark

  General Manager

  —

  Dr. J. B. P. Ferguson

  Director of Public Health

  —

  Mr. M. Docherty

  Director of Finance

  —

  Mr. B. Gill

  Director of Corporate Planning and Estates

  —

  Miss E. Hastings

  Director of Quality Assurance/Chief Area Nursing Officer

  —

  LOTHIAN HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman:

  Dr. J. W. Baynham

  Company Director

  22,660

  Non-executive members:

  Professor R. C. B. Aitken

  University Professor

  5,000

  Mrs. G. Barton

  Housewife

  5,000

  Mr. J. A. Campbell

  Chartered Surveyor

  5,000

  Mr. R. Findlay

  Chief Executive, Radio Forth

  5,000

  Mrs. M. B. M. Knox

  Housewife

  5,000

  Mr. G. S. Millar

  Community Pharmacist

  5,000

  430 431

  Occupation/profession

  Annual remuneration

  (£)

  Executive members:

  Mr. J. Lusby

  General Manager

  —

  Dr. H. Zealley

  Director of Public Health

  —

  Mr. P. Wilson

  Director of Operations

  —

  Dr. L. Burley

  Director of Planning and Development

  —

  ORKNEY HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman:

  Mr. J. Leslie

  Pharmacist

  7,200

  Non-executive members:

  Mr. J. Flett

  Solicitor

  2,000

  Mr. E. M. Gibson

  Retired Assistant Headteacher

  2,000

  Captain M. Gunn

  Ships Master

  2,000

  Mrs. E. B. Kerr

  Housewife

  2,000

  Mr. J. Rendall

  Sub-Postmaster/Postman

  2,000

  Dr. J. S. Walker

  General Practitioner

  2,000

  Executive members:

  Mr. R. Allan

  Director of Finance

  —

  SHETLAND HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman:

  Mrs. F. B. Grains

  Housewife

  7,200

  Non-executive members:

  Mrs. M. U. Colligan

  Retired Teacher

  2,000

  Squadron Leader B. P. Gregson

  Local Government Officer

  2,000

  Dr. M. D. Hunter

  General Practitioner

  2,000

  Mr. R. L. Johnson

  Retired Businessman

  2,000

  Mrs. T. A. Leslie

  Teaching Auxiliary

  2,000

  Mr. J. Telford

  Chartered Accountant

  2,000

  Executive members:

  Mr. B. Atherton

  General Manager

  —

  Dr. D. Cox

  Director of Public Health

  —

  Mr. D. P. P. Eva

  Director of Finance

  —

  Mrs. M. Henderson

  Director of Contracts and Standards/ Chief Area Nursing Officer

  —

  TAYSIDE HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman:

  Mr. J. C. MacFarlane

  Retired Company Director

  20,180

  Non-executive members:

  Rev. K. Campbell

  Minister

  5,000

  Mr. D. W. M. Davidson

  Pharmacist

  5,000

  Mrs. V. Joiner

  Company Director

  5,000

  Mr. H. C. Nicoll

  Retired Local Government Officer

  5,000

  Professor R. E. Olver

  University Professor

  5,000

  Mr. I. Sandison

  Retired Company Director

  5,000

  Executive members:

  Dr. R. C. Graham

  General Manager

  —

  Dr. L. Cameron

  Director of Public Health

  —

  Mr. J. R. Hudson

  Director of Finance

  —

  Miss E. Edwards

  Chief Area Nursing officer/Director of Quality

  —

  WESTERN ISLES HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman:

  Mr. A. Matheson

  Pharmacist

  7,200

  Non-executive members:

  Dr. S. M. Brydon

  General Practitioner

  2,000

  Mr. J. A. Harrison

  Deputy Head Teacher

  2,000

  Mr. A. W. Hay

  Retired Sales Director

  2,000

  Mrs. C. R. MacAskill

  Housewife

  2,000

  Mrs. F. M. T. MacDonald

  Solicitor

  2,000

  Mr. M. MacLennan

  Building Society Manager

  2,000

  Executive members:

  Mr. G. Stobbs

  Director of Finance and Contracts

  —

  432 433
  Executive members are employees of health boards and receive no additional remuneration for board membership. In addition to the remuneration indicated above, non-executive members are entitled to claim travelling and subsistence allowances at rates set for members of public bodies.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list(a) the public bodies for which he is responsible, (b) their overall expenditure in 1992–93 for the most recent year for which figures are available, (c) the total number of people appointed to these bodies, (d) the number of males and females and (e) the total sum paid in allowances or salaries or other types of remuneration.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: I refer the hon. Member to the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1992" which was published on 29 January 1993 and a copy of which is available in the Library. This publication includes information on expenditure, membership and remuneration for the bodies for which I am responsible.

  NHS Funding
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the criteria used to assess whether or not a service should receive NHS funding.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: Section 1 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 provides that it shall continue to be the duty of the Secretary of State to promote in Scotland a comprehensive and integrated health service designed to secure improvement in the physical and mental health of the people of Scotland, and the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness. Within that framework health boards are responsible for assessing the health needs of the population in their areas and for determining their own priorities for purchasing or providing services to meet these needs from the general resources allocated to them. Central funding is now authorised only where it is necessary to facilitate the introduction and orderly provision and development of new high-cost, low-throughput priority services with good success rates, such as heart or liver transplantation.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Whaling
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals are being put forward by Her Majesty's Government to the 45th meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Kyoto, Japan from 10 to 14 May; and what are his objectives for the meeting.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government's primary objective is to secure a continuation of the present international moratorium on commercial whaling. We have made it very clear that we cannot even contemplate the lifting of the present moratorium until we are satisfied about the state of stocks; have full agreement on effective measures for their management, including a transparent and rigorous means for enforcement and inspection; and have humane methods of killing whales.

  At the IWC meeting, we shall be looking for positive responses to the United Kingdom resolutions, adopted at
  434
  last year's meeting. on an 11-point action plan for future work on humane killing and on the concerns we highlighted relating to the Faroese pilot whaling drive fishery. We will be pressing for progress on considering the French proposal for an Antarctic whale sanctuary and on pursuing the United Kingdom resolution, adopted last year, on environmental threats to whales in the Antarctic and elsewhere. We shall continue to oppose "scientific" whaling that fails to meet two important pre-conditions: the IWC must be satisfied that the stocks of whales involved are in good condition and that the research is essential in providing information which cannot be obtained by non-lethal means. We aim to pursue improved protection, under IWC auspices, for small cetaceans. And we are producing a paper for discussion at the meeting that seeks IWC support for our proposals to encourage the growth and proper regulation of whale watching as a non-lethal and non-damaging means of exploiting whale resources.

  Minimum Sugar Requirement
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Government intend to abolish the minimum sugar requirement; and whether they intend to introduce a maximum caffeine limit in soft drinks.

  Mr. Soames
  The Government have today laid before Parliament regulations revoking the requirement in the Soft Drinks Regulations 1964 and the parallel regulations in Scotland, for a minimum amount of sugar to be added during the manufacture of soft drinks. Given current dietary advice on reducing sugar intake, it is clearly sensible to remove this statutory limit. It is also a step in the direction of deregulation, in that it would leave manufacturers free to decide themselves whether or not sugar should be added during the manufacture of soft drinks. We are looking at the remainder of the regulations as part of the Government's deregulation exercise.

  We have decided, at this stage, not to introduce a maximum caffeine limit for soft drinks. I have asked the Food Advisory Committee to review its 1988 recommendation about the need for such a limit, as there appears to have been no reported adverse affects on young children following the introduction of high-caffeine soft drinks. Also, any restriction would have only a limited effect as it could not apply to soft drinks manufactured and imported from other EC member states. I want to be sure that there is a real need for any limit before proceeding in this direction.

WALES

  Tourism
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the percentage of British domestic non-business visitors to Wales staying in(a) licensed hotels, (b) unlicensed hotels/guest houses/bed and breakfast, (c) holiday camps, (d) camping, (e) touring caravan, (f) static caravan, (g) rented property, (h) second home and (i) other in each year from 1985 onwards.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is given in the following table:
  435
  Second home3244224

  Other 202930262629

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the percentage of British domestic non-business visitors to Wales staying in(a) licensed hotels, (b) unlicensed hotels/guest houses/bed and breakfast, (c) holiday camps, (d) camping, accommodation,(e) touring caravan, (f) static caravan, (g) rented property, (h) second home and (i) other in each year from 1985 onwards; and if he will break the figures down to include (i) all overseas visitors, (ii) European visitors and (iii) visitors from the rest of the world.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested that is available is given in the following table:

  Overseas visitors to Wales

  19911

  Percentage

  Licensed hotels

  21

  Unlicensed hotels/ guest houses/ bed and breakfast

  29

  Camping

  5

  Location of holidays by domestic (United Kingdom) visitors to Wales1

  Percentage

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1990

  1991

  Seaside

  49

  48

  34

  47

  54

  61

  Small town

  6

  9

  8

  7

  16

  13

  Large city/large town

  4

  5

  10

  12

  8

  9

  Countryside/village

  33

  31

  43

  27

  26

  21

  Not specified

  8

  8

  6

  9

  —

  —

  1 Information is not available for 1989.

  Source:

  1985 British Home Tourism Survey

  1986–88 British Tourism Survey (monthly)

  1990–91 United Kingdom Tourism Survey

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the mode of transport used by British domestic tourists visiting Wales, showing the

  Mode of transport used by British domestic tourists visiting Wales

  percentage

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Car

  78

  72

  80

  83

  81

  83

  85

  Scheduled bus/coach

  4

  4

  4

  3

  5

  4

  3

  Coach tour

  3

  6

  5

  2

  4

  3

  3

  Train

  6

  6

  5

  6

  6

  5

  4

  Other

  9

  12

  6

  6

  4

  5

  5

  Source:

  1985 British Home Tourism Survey

  1986–88 British Tourism Survey (Monthly)

  1990–91 United Kingdom Tourism Survey
  436

  Percentage

  Touring caravan

  1

  Static caravan

  1

  Rented property

  2

  Other

  41

  1 Information is not available for previous years.

  Source; Overseas Visitor Survey.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the location of holidays undertaken by British domestic tourists in Wales in each year from 1985 onwards indicating the percentage staying(a) at the seaside, (b) in a small town, (c) in a large town, (d) in the countryside and (e) unspecified.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  percentage travelling (a) by car, (b) by scheduled bus/coach (c) by coach tour, (d) by train and (e) other in each year since 1985.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is given in the following table:
  437
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the distribution of British domestic tourists in Wales in each year since 1985 indicating(a) the number of trips, (b) the number of nights stayed and (c) the amount spent in (i) north Wales, (ii) mid-Wales, (iii) south Wales and (iv) Wales, unspecified.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is in the following table:

  Domestic tourists in Wales

  Millions

  Trips

  Nights

  Amount spent

  (£)

  1985

  North Wales

  4·3

  21·0

  194

  Mid Wales

  2·0

  9·0

  96

  South Wales

  4·7

  20·0

  210

  1986

  North Wales

  4·4

  24·0

  177

  Mid Wales

  2·4

  12·0

  121

  South Wales

  5·2

  24·0

  202

  1987

  North Wales

  4·0

  18·0

  216

  Mid Wales

  1·7

  9·5

  123

  South Wales

  5·6

  22·5

  246

  1988

  North Wales

  3·5

  19·0

  256

  Mid Wales

  1·9

  8·0

  100

  Accommodation used by British domestic tourists in Wales—All tourism trips

  Percentage

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Hotels/guest houses/bed and breakfasts

  18

  20

  15

  23

  16

  21

  17

  Self catering

  12

  9

  7

  7

  7

  13

  11

  Holiday camps

  4

  3

  2

  4

  3

  3

  4

  Other

  66

  68

  76

  66

  74

  63

  68

  Source:

  1985 British Home Tourism Survey

  1986–88 British Tourism Survey (monthly)

  1989–91 United Kingdom Tourism Survey

  Athrawon Bro Teachers
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement outlining the effect of the proposed unitary authorities in Wales upon the deployment of Athrawon Bro teachers.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Responsibility for the development of teams of mobile teachers or expert advisers concerned with teaching Welsh as a second language in junior schools would be a matter for the new authorities. It would thus be for the shadow authorities to consider and set out their proposals for such teachers in their service delivery plans.

  Maternity Services
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the hospitals in Wales which had consultant obstetric and/or general practitioner maternity beds in 1991–92 and 1992–93, with the numbers of beds of each type in each hospital in each year.
  438

  Trips

  Nights

  Amount spent

  (£)

  South Wales

  5·6

  23·0

  269

  1989

  North Wales

  3·3

  16·5

  433

  Mid Wales

  1·3

  6·1

  123

  South Wales

  4·9

  20·5

  430

  1990

  North Wales

  3·0

  15·0

  364

  Mid Wales

  1·6

  7·2

  157

  South Wales

  3·8

  14·7

  377

  1991

  North Wales

  3·2

  15·9

  425

  Mid Wales

  1·4

  6·7

  145

  South Wales

  4·2

  17·7

  430

  Source:

  1985 British Home Tourism Survey.

  1986–1988 British Tourism Survey (Monthly).

  1989–1991 United Kingdom Tourism Survey.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of British domestic tourists in Wales in each year since 1985 used(a) hotels/guest houses/bed and breakfast, (b) self-catering, (c) holiday camp and (d) other accommodation.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information for 1991–92 is given in the following table. Information for 1992–93 is not yet available.

  Average daily available beds

  Hospital

  Obstetric

  General practioner maternity

  Clwyd:

  H M Stanley

  51·0

  —

  Ysbyty Maelor

  49·5

  —

  Llangollen

  —

  4·5

  Catherine Gladstone

  —

  8·0

  Chirk Community

  —

  3·0

  East Dyfed:

  West Wales General

  32·0

  —

  Bronglais

  16·0

  —

  Gwent:

  Nevill Hall

  46·0

  10·0

  Royal Gwent

  80·8

  9·0

  Gwynedd

  St. Davids

  61·0

  —

  Bryn Beryl

  —

  5·0

  Dollgellau and Barmouth

  —

  7·0

  Tywyn and District

  —

  2·3

  439

  Average daily available beds

  Hospital

  Obstetric

  General practioner maternity

  Mid Glamorgan:

  Prince Charles

  29·9

  —

  Aberdare

  15·2

  3·8

  Merthyr General

  12·5

  —

  Princess of Wales

  38·0

  —

  Caerphilly District Miners

  41·0

  —

  East Glamorgan

  52·9

  —

  Pembrokeshire:

  Withybush

  31·5

  8·4

  Powys:

  Llandrindod Wells

  —

  4·0

  Llanidloes

  —

  4·2

  Montgomery County Infirmary

  —

  4·0

  Victoria Memorial

  —

  8·0

  Bro Ddyfi

  —

  2·0

  Knighton

  —

  2·0

  Breconshire War Memorial

  —

  6·0

  Builth Cottage

  —

  3·0

  South Glamorgan:

  University Hospital of Wales

  71·0

  —

  Llandough

  65·5

  —

  West Glamorgan:

  Singleton

  74·0

  —

  Morriston

  10·1

  —

  Gorseinon

  6·0

  —

  Neath General

  38·5

  —

  Wales Council for the Disabled
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met officials from the Wales Council for the Disabled; what was discussed; and when he next expects to meet the council.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I have not yet met Wales Council for the Disabled, but my officials have very close contact with the organisation, which receives substantial support from the Welsh Office—for example, grant aid of £315,000 in 1992–93.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary was invited to meet the staff side officers of the Joint Staff Consultative Council for the Welsh health service to discuss industrial relations in some NHS trusts; what was his response; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  A meeting was proposed in a letter dated 6 April. NHS trusts have operational freedom to manage their own affairs, including the conduct of industrial relations with staff interests. The matters raised should be discussed with the NHS trusts concerned and a meeting with me would not be helpful. My private secretary replied accordingly on 28 April.

  Agriculture
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of Welsh gross domestic product is currently provided by Welsh agriculture.
  440
  Mr. David Hunt
  Provisional figures for 1991 show that agriculture, forestry and fishing accounted for 2·1 per cent. of Welsh gross domestic product.

  Doctors' Hours of Work
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 28 April,Official Report, column 413, over what period of time the maximum average of 83 hours of work per week by junior doctors is calculated; and what consultations he has had with health authorities and NHS trusts as to whether any junior doctor is working, on average, above 83 hours per week in breach of contract.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The average weekly hours of duty for junior doctors is calculated over their normal rostered duty period. Health authorities and NHS trusts have recently been asked to report on the hours of duty of all for junior doctors

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the forms and publications that have been produced by his Department for General publication within the last six months indicating which of these have been produced in the Welsh language or bilingually in Welsh and English.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Comprehensive information in the form requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Aggregates Industry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received regarding plans by the aggregates industry in Wales to expand their activities.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In response to my Department's recent public consultation on the draft revision of minerals planning guidance note 6 "Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England and Wales", comments were received from 20 bodies, including local authority, conservation and industry interests.

  Prince of Wales Orthopaedic Hospital
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the south Glamorgan health authority in relation to the closure of St. Fagan's ward at the Prince of Wales orphopaedic hospital, Rhydlafar.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This is a matter for the health authority. I am not aware of any plans to decommission St. Fagan's ward.

  Dentists
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether Powys family health services authority has applied to his Department for authority to employ salaried dentists in the Builth Wells area;

  (2) what action he is taking to secure the availability of national health service dental treatment for patients in areas of South Powys not covered by dentists in Brecon and Hay-on-Wye.
  441
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The responsibility for administering NHS general dental services in South Powys rests with the Powys family health services authority. The authority applied to the Department on 5 May for permission to employ a salaried dentist in Builth Wells and the application is being given urgent and careful consideration. In the meantime, the authority is able to help any patient in its area experiencing difficulty in obtaining NHS dental treatment.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of dentists in Wales who have informed their local family health services authority that they will no longer treat NHS patients in each of the eight FHSAs since April 1992.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not available centrally in the form requested. Fortnightly returns from family health services authorities in Wales indicate that, as a direct result of the new fee scale introduced on 8 July 1992, 29 general dental practitioners gave written notice to have their names removed from FHSA dental lists from 1 August 1992 to 23 April 1993. The figures are as follows, alongside the number of dentists joining the lists in the same period.

  FHSA

  Number of dentists leaving dental lists as a direct result of new fee scale

  Number of dentists joining dental lists

  Clwyd

  10

  11

  Dyfed

  1

  6

  Gwent

  10

  17

  Gwynedd

  1

  5

  Mid Glamorgan

  7

  8

  Powys

  0

  2

  South Glamorgan

  0

  10

  West Glamorgan

  0

  0

  Total

  29

  59

  The information given in these fortnightly returns was intended for general managerial purposes and is not statistically validated.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many salaried dentists posts are currently vacant in Wales;

  (2) how many salaried dentists posts he has approved since April 1992.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Approval has been given for Dyfed and Gwynedd family health services authorities to employ a total of six whole-time-equivalent salaried dentists. Both authorities are in the process of identifying suitable applicants and premises.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of independent dentists carrying out NHS work in Wales in April 1992 and April 1993 in each of the eight FHSAs.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information as at 31 March 1992 is given in the following table. Information as at 31 March 1993 is not yet available.

  General dental practitioners carrying out NHS work as at 31 March 1992

  Number

  Clwyd

  116

  Dyfed

  101

  Gwent

  134

  442

  Number

  Gwynedd

  65

  Mid Glamorgan

  140

  Powys

  34

  South Glamorgan

  131

  West Glamorgan

  132

  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as figures for 1993 become available.

  Cancer Services
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the numbers of cancer registrations in Wales for each of the last five years available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The latest registration figures for all malignant neoplasms from the Welsh cancer registry are published by the Welsh Office in "Health and Personal Social Services for Wales, No. 19, 1992", available in the Library of the House. These data represent the most reliable published information on cancer registrations.

  The following table shows the number of such registrations and the year-on-year percentage difference.

  Year

  Registration of all malignant neoplasms

  Change of previous year per cent.

  1984

  14,480

  +3·2

  1985

  14,899

  +2·9

  1986

  14,635

  -1·8

  1987

  15,345

  +4·9

  1988

  16,217

  +5·7

  These statistics make no allowance for changes in the age and sex composition of the population. Cancers are more naturally prevalent among the elderly, who form an increasing proportion in the population. Aside from such demographic considerations, increases in the numbers of cancer registrations may be due to earlier diagnosis, more complete reporting of diagnosed cases to the cancer registry, or a real increase in the incidence of cancer.

  Figures are also published by OPCS in its document "Cancer Statistics—Registrations". These differ from those shown in the table. For example, OPCS figures under-record Welsh registrations for 1986 and slightly over-record those for 1987. Differences in the two published sources arise because it has not been possible for OPCS to take on all revisions to the Welsh cancer registry data in time for inclusion in their annual publications. These revisions arise from routine validation and from several substantial data quality improvements made by the Welsh cancer registry staff.

  Part-time Workers
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) women and (b) men are in part-time work in Wales; and what proportion of part-time workers are aged between 50 and 65 years.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Estimates from the labour force survey in autumn 1992 show that the numbers of part-time women and men in employment are 258,000 and 48,000 respectively. Of these, 21 per cent. of women and 25 per cent. of men are aged between 50 and 65 years.
  443
  Part-time work is defined to be that in which staff are contracted to work basic usual hours of up to 30 hours per week.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) men and (b) women in Wales receive disability living allowance; how many in each case are aged between 50 and 65 years; and what percentage of the total Welsh population receives disability living allowance.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This information is not yet available separately for Wales.

  Economically Inactive People
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in each(a) district and (b) county in Wales are economically inactive; and what is the total number of people in Wales who are economically inactive.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In the 1991 census the definition of economically inactive includes all those retired, permanently sick, students without a job in the week before the census and other inactive.

  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Residents aged 16 or over economically inactive

  Alyn and Deeside

  21,547

  Colwyn

  22,437

  Delyn

  21,450

  Glyndwr

  14,539

  Rhuddlan

  21,874

  Wrexham Maelor

  38,075

  CLWYD

  139,922

  Carmarthen

  19,821

  Ceredigion

  23,709

  Dinefwr

  15,188

  Llanelli

  30,082

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  24,482

  South Pembrokeshire

  15,489

  DYFED

  128,771

  Blaenau Gwent

  29,014

  Islwyn

  23,159

  Monmouth

  24,694

  Newport

  43,991

  Torfaen

  30,684

  GWENT

  151,542

  Aberconwy

  20,497

  Arfon

  18,598

  Dwyfor

  10,774

  Meirionnydd

  12,218

  Ynys Mon—Isle of Anglesey

  25,079

  GWYNEDD

  87,166

  Cynon Valley

  24,882

  Merthyr Tydfil

  22,448

  Ogwr

  46,664

  Rhondda

  31,673

  Rhymney Valley

  36,131

  Taff-Ely

  30,084

  MID GLAMORGAN

  191,882

  Brecknock

  14,572

  Montgomeryshire

  16,950

  Radnor

  8,158

  POWYS

  39,680

  444

  Residents aged 16 or over economically inactive

  Cardiff

  91,533

  Vale of Glamorgan

  36,785

  SOUTH GLAMORGAN

  128,318

  Lliw Valley

  22,645

  Neath

  24,865

  Port Talbot

  20,278

  Swansea

  67,136

  WEST GLAMORGAN

  134,924

  TOTAL WALES

  1,002,205

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) male and (b) female 16 to 19-year-olds in Wales are on (i) employment training schemes or (ii) youth training schemes; and what is the proportion of 16 to 19-year-olds on those schemes as a percentage of the total Welsh population.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information is not available in the form requested. A breakdown by male and female participation can be drawn from the 1991 census, which recorded residents who were on Government schemes but did not identify type of scheme. Based upon individual household members' assessments of their employment position there were 7,413 males and 4,250 females aged 16 to 19 on a Government scheme. The total of 11,663 represented 7·7 per cent. of the population of that age.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Allowances
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many residents of Derbyshire are claimants of(a) attendance allowance (i) at higher rate and (ii) at lower rate, (b) disability living allowance (Mobility) (i) at higher rate and (ii) at lower rate, (c) disability living allowance (care) (i) at higher rate, (ii) at middle rate and (iii) at lower rate, (d) disability working allowance and (e) family credit.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Benefits (Automatic Credit Transfer)
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list, by parliamentary constituency, the number of recipients of pensions and benefits paid through a(a) sub-post offices, (b) main post offices and (c) automatic credit transfer;

  (2) what discussions he has had with representatives of banks and building societies about the transfer of benefits and pensions payments to automatic credit transfer; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) how much his Department has budgeted during 1993–94 for research, piloting, changes to form design and to leaflets, and to other information available from the

  445
  Benefits Agency seeking to persuade recipients of pensions and benefits to switch to payment by automatic credit transfer; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what discussions he has had with (a) Post Office Counters Ltd. and (b) trade unions representing post office workers about the transfer of benefits and pensions payments to automtic credit transfer; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) pursuant to his answer of 26 April, Official Report, column 313, on payment of benefits by automated credit transfer, whether he has estimated how many of the pension and benefit recipients currently paid through sub and main post offices hold bank or building society accounts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in the uprating statement on 12 November proposals to extend the payment of benefits by automated credit transfer (ACT). Budgets for 1993–94 include £3·5 million to encourage existing customers to select payment by ACT. In 1991 it was estimated that of those paid through the Post Office, 65 per cent. held bank or building society accounts. Details, by parliamentary constituency, of the number of recipients of pensions and benefits paid through sub-post offices, main post offices and ACT are not available.

  Officials have held discussions with representatives of banks and building societies regarding technical matters arising from the extension of ACT to other benefits, as announced in the citizens charter. Post Office Counters Ltd. was aware of our proposals to encourage the use of ACT. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has not met representatives of POCL or of post office workers, but he would consider positively any request for such a meeting.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received from the National Federation of Housing Associations regarding plans by the Housing Agency to increase rents for disabled people living in housing association homes.

  Mr. Burt
  So far as I am aware, the Department has received no representations on this subject.

  Regulations
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library a list of all the regulations for which his Department is currently responsible, with a descriptive title for each individual regulation.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [pursuant to her reply, 8 February 1993, c. 499–500]: "The Law Relating to Child Support" is available in the Library.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in what circumstances European Community nationals may count periods of unemployment in which they were in receipt of benefit in another EC country towards the qualifying period of unemployment 446
  for eligibility for training for work, learning for work and the community action programme; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A person must register with the employment service in this country as unemployed for at least 26 weeks in order to qualify for training for work. Detailed eligibility rules for learning for work and community action have yet to be finalised.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were on the employment training scheme in each month since April 1992.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Employment training number in training (Great Britain) April 1992 to March 1993

  Month

  Number

  April

  140,000

  May

  130,000

  June

  127,000

  July

  120,000

  August

  113,000

  September

  113,000

  October

  122,000

  November

  129,000

  December

  129,000

  January

  129,000

  February

  134,000

  March

  135,000

  Source: Employment Service.

  Footnote: Includes those with employed status.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people(a) entered and (b) left youth training in each month since April 1992.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Youth training (including youth credits) starts and leavers (Great Britain) April 1992 to February 1993

  Month

  Starts

  Leavers

  April

  12,000

  16,000

  May

  12,000

  16,000

  June

  28,000

  27,000

  July

  37,000

  35,000

  August

  28,000

  30,000

  September

  34,000

  38,000

  October

  35,000

  26,000

  November

  22,000

  18,000

  December

  18,000

  17,000

  January

  11,000

  12,000

  February

  19,000

  17,000

  Source:

  OSMOSIS, Scottish and Welsh Management Information Systems

  Footnotes:

  Figures are provisional

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people(a) entered and (b) left employment training in each month since 1992.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is given in the following table:
  447

  Employment Training Starts and leavers (Great Britain)

  April 1992 to February 1993

  Month

  Starts

  Leavers

  April

  18,000

  24,000

  May

  21,000

  22,000

  June

  19,000

  24,000

  July

  21,000

  26,000

  August

  19,000

  22,000

  September

  22,000

  23,000

  October

  33,000

  24,000

  November

  26,000

  21,000

  December

  24,000

  21,000

  January

  12,000

  15,000

  February

  27,000

  23,000

  Source: OSMOSIS, Scottish and Welsh Management Information Systems.

  Note: Figures are provisional.

  European Social Affairs Council
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals were put forward by Her Majesty's Government, and what decisions taken, at the European Social Affairs Council meeting on unemployment, held in Nyborg on 3 and 4 May.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The European meeting held in Nyborg on 3 and 4 May was an informal meeting of EC Employment Ministers, not a Council meeting; I represented the United Kingdom. No decisions are taken at informal meetings of EC Ministers.

  There were discussions about employment in the Community and the social dialogue between employers and trades unions at European level; in addition, the Commission presented its plans for preparing a Green Paper on social policy.

  During the discussion on employment and the social dialogue, I stresed that Community action in the social affairs area needed to improve the working of the labour market and encourage the creation of jobs, and must not inhibit the competitiveness and flexibility of Community businesses. I also stated the Government's belief that Community resources, in particular the European social fund, should continue to be concentrated on programmes to help those at the greatest disadvantage in the labour market, especially the long-term unemployed.

  In this discussion, UNICE—the main European employers' association—made it clear that its priority, too, was the restoration of Community competitiveness, given recent indications that the EC is falling behind in world markets, and called for the abandonment of EC measures which it considered would damage jobs, including a number in the field of employment and industrial relations law.

  In accordance with the resolution adopted by the Council during the United Kingdom presidency, I expect that there will be a further discussion on employment and unemployment in the Community at the next Council meeting on 1 June. The Commission is likely to bring forward suggestions for the Council to consider then.

  Unemployment Register
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people claiming unemployment benefit came off the register as a result of adjudication decisions and disallowances by type in each month from 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993.

  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. Tony Lloyd, dated 11 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 how many people came off the register as a result of adjudication decisions and disallowances by type in each month from 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  Unfortunately, I am not able to provide the information you have requested as not all clients notify my local offices of the reasons for stopping their claim. An adverse adjudication decision does not remove a person from the unemployed register. In certain circumstances, people whose claim for unemployment benefit is disallowed, continue to register as unemployed in order to receive other benefits such as Income Support and National Insurance contributions credits. If a person disagrees with an adjudication decision, they are advised to continue to register as unemployed to avoid the possibility of losing entitlement to benefit should their appeal to a Social Security Appeal Tribunal succeed.

  Although information is not available in the format you requested, statistics on the volumes and types of adjudication decisions, nationally and by originating region, are collated and published quarterly. The reports, entitled "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions", have recently been revised to include the percentage of adverse decisions. At the time of writing, reports for the period up to and including September 1992 have been published and are available in the Library.

  I am sorry I cannot be more helpful on this occasion.

  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.

  Fraudulent Claims
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many claimants have been deemed to have made fraudulent unemployment benefits claims in each month since May 1991.

  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. Tony Worthington, dated 11 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 fraudulently made claims to unemployment benefits. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  Unfortunately, the information you requested is not available in the required format. However, I have provided below the quarterly figures of the number of people who have

  449
  voluntarily withdrawn their claims to benefit, or have started to declare part-time earnings not previously disclosed, as a direct result of an investigation by an Employment Service Inspector.

  Quarterly periods

  Withdrawn/modified claims

  1 April 1991 to 30 June 1991

  12,451

  1 July 1991 to 31 September 1991

  13,351

  1 October 1991 to 31 December 1991

  12,528

  1 January 1992 to 31 March 1992

  14,691

  1 April 1992 to 30 June 1992

  17,747

  1 July 1992 to 31 September 1992

  18,555

  1 October 1992 to 31 December 1992

  15,150

  1 January 1993 to 31 March 1993

  12,259

  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.

  Redundancies
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies were declared in each month since May 1991.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The available information is given in the following table. Estimates from the labour force survey give the numbers of redundancies in the three months prior to each survey. The LFS moved from an annual to a quarterly survey in spring 1992.

  Redundancies

  Spring 1991

  388,000

  Spring 1992

  322,000

  Summer 1992

  278,000

  Autumn 1992

  310,000

  Claimants (Job Offers)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployment benefit claimants have been deemed to have unreasonably turned down job offers in each month since May 1991.

  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. Tony Worthington, dated 11 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 unemployment benefit claimants deemed to have unreasonably turned down job offers in each month since May 1991. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  The information is not available on a monthly basis as requested but statistics are compiled quarterly. This information is available in a published document, the "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions", under the heading Refusal of Employment. Copies of this document can be obtained from the House of Commons Library.

  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written
  450
  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.

  Employment Service
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress the employment service has made in each quarter in meeting the targets outlined in the 1992–93 agency agreement; and what were the(a) total unemployed job placings against profiled target, (b) long-term unemployed job placings, (c) people with disabilities job placings, (d) inner-city job placings, (e) employment training referral to start ratio, (f) actual number and proportion of new claims not pursued following initial contact and (g) number of people who withdrew their claim to benefit after contact with fraud investigators, for each quarter.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I am informed by the chief executive of the employment service that in the last quarter of 1992–93, ES placed a total of 324,400 unemployed people into jobs, bringing the total to 1,420,400 against an annual target of 1·425 million. Twenty-five per cent. of this quarter's placings were long-term claimants, 2·9 per cent. were people with disabilities and 35 per cent. were unemployed people in inner cities bringing the annual totals to 24 per cent., 2·8 per cent. and 34 per cent. against annual targets of 19 per cent., 2·5 per cent. and 36 per cent. respectively. The Employment Training/Employment Action referral to start ratio was 2·5: 1, resulting in a total of 2·6:1 against an annual target of 2·5: 1. New claims not pursued following initial contact in the final quarter were 107,798, 9 per cent. of initial inquiries, resulting in a total of 481,722 at the annual target level of 10 per cent. A total of 11,900 pepole withdrew their claim to benefit after contact with fraud investigators in the final quarter, bringing the total to 61,000 against an annual target of 58,000. For information on the employment service's performance for each of the first three quarters of 1992–93 I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave her on 28 October 1992,Official Report, columns 725–26, and on 9 December 1992, Official Report, columns 733–34, and the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Dorset, South (Mr. Bruce) on 16 February 1993, Official Report, column 185.

  Employment Action
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were participating in employment action in each month since April 1992.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Employment action Participants receiving allowances (Great Britain)

  April 1992 to March 1993

  Month

  Number

  April

  17,576

  May

  19,772

  June

  21,446

  July

  23,296

  August

  24,602

  September

  25,787

  October

  28,116

  November

  29,703

  December

  30,614

  January

  31,450

  451

  Month

  Number

  February

  33,157

  March

  33,386

  Source: Employment Service.

  Restart
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployment benefit claimants have been placed on restart courses in each month since May 1991.

  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. Tony Worthington, dated 11 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 Restart Courses. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  Restart Courses are short courses normally lasting for one week. They aim to help those people who have been unemployed for a long time and are having the most difficulty in getting back to work. They are not an alternative to regular job search or other employment or training programmes. Essentially, they provide people with the opportunity to explore all the options open to them and give them confidence to take the next step back to work.

  Since 1990, people who have been unemployed for two years or more who refuse to take up a place on an Employment Department employment or training programme at their Restart interview, are asked to attend a Restart Course.

  I have set out the information you have asked for in the table attached. You will see that we collect information about starters on Restart Courses on a quarterly basis. All those that attend Restart Courses are unemployed and claiming state benefit.

  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.

  Starters and completers on restart courses April 1991 to March 1993

  1991–92 starters

  1992–93 starters

  April to June

  38,651

  26,440

  July to September

  36,805

  28,577

  October to December

  29,229

  32,300

  January to March

  29,155

  37,388

  Total

  133,840

  124,705

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of people in work in each month since May 1991.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The work force in employment is published on a quarterly basis only. The available information is as follows:
  452

  Workforce in employment in the United Kingdom seasonally adjusted

  (000's)

  1991

  March

  26,336

  June

  26,044

  September

  25,845

  December

  25,681

  1992

  March

  25,625

  June

  25,450

  September

  25,052

  December

  24,960

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people have been unemployed in Darlington in March, June, September and December in each of the last four years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Claimant unemployment figures by age are produced quarterly for the months of January, April, July and October, and can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library. These figures are not adjusted for seasonality.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what levels of(a) total, (b) male, (c) female and (d) 16 to 25 years, unemployment was identified by the 1991 census.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The definition of unemployment used in the 1991 census of population differs from the claimant court definition and the internationally recognised ILO definition used in the labour force survey. It does not include an "actively seeking work" criterion. The information requested is as follows and relates to Great Britain:

  Number

  (a) total:

  2,484,509

  (b) male:

  1,710,891

  (c) female:

  773,618

  (d) 16–24 years:

  762,597

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many initial claimants of unemployment benefit were advised to claim other benefits instead in each month since April 1992; and what percentage of new claims this figure represents;

  (2) how many initial claims for unemployment benefit there were in each month since April 1992; and how many were successful.

  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. Tony Lloyd, dated 11 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 Questions about how many

  453
  initial claims for Unemployment Benefit there were in each month since April 1992 and how many were successful; and how many initial claimants were advised to claim other benefits instead and what percentage of new claims this figure represents. These are matters which fall within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency. As the questions you have asked are related, I have provided a table which incorporates both replies for ease of reference and clarity. I hope that this is acceptable.

  The attached table shows, at Column 1, the total number of people who contacted my local offices in each calendar month since April 1992 with a view to making a new claim to Unemployment Benefit. Column 2 shows the actual number of new claims taken. The difference between the two figures represents claims which were not pursued. A claim not pursued occurs when a client decides, as a direct result of discussion with my local office people, not to pursue their claim for benefit. This may be for any of a wide variety of reasons; for example, my people may advise the clients that they do not appear to meet eligibility conditions. I should emphasise, however, our instructions are quite clear in stating that clients must never be told they cannot claim. A non

  Month

  1.

  2.

  3.

  4.

  All possible claims (including claims not pursued)

  Number of new claims taken

  Starts on other benefits

  Starts as per cent, of all possible claims

  April 1992

  356,514

  321,634

  744

  0·2

  May 1992

  396,732

  358,263

  878

  0·2

  June 1992

  370,878

  329,123

  909

  0·3

  July 1992

  567,830

  513,225

  1,030

  0·2

  August 1992

  400,250

  359,541

  869

  0·2

  September 1992

  417,249

  375,308

  879

  0·2

  October 1992

  526,380

  477,277

  1,067

  0·2

  November 1992

  420,699

  381,278

  1,066

  0·3

  December 1992

  353,733

  320,750

  705

  0·2

  January 1993

  496,192

  450,316

  1,223

  0·3

  February 1993

  359,232

  325,712

  833

  0·2

  March 1993

  335,962

  307,560

  742

  0·2

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many initial claims for unemployment benefit were refused under the actively seeking work provisions in each month since April 1992; and what percentage of new claims this represents.

  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. Tony Lloyd, dated 11 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 initial claims for unemployment benefit that were refused under the actively seeking work provision in each month since April 1992 and what percentage of new claims this represents. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  This information is not available in the precise form requested. The information we collect in respect of adjudication activity refers to the total number of decisions given under each question and does not distinguish between initial claims and subsequent claims. These statistics are not available on a monthly basis, but are compiled quarterly. The information is available in a published document, the "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions", under the
  454
  pursuit case can only result from the client's own voluntary decision after the benefit conditions have been explained to them.

  One of the reasons why a claim may not be pursued is that an adviser may identify that clients should be claiming a more appropriate benefit and advise them accordingly. Where appropriate, the adviser will contact other agencies, such as DSS, or help the client complete the necessary forms. Information on cases where the adviser has been actively involved in getting a client on to another benefit is collected centrally and is shown in column 3. This column only shows starts on other benefits. We do not hold information on how many clients are referred to an alternative benefit, but do not actually claim it.

  The statistical months shown in the table can be either four or five weeks, which accounts for some of the fluctuations in them.

  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.

  heading of Actively Seeking Employment. Copies of this document can be obtained from the House of Commons Library.

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

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many initial claims for unemployment benefit were refused because of adjudication decisions and disallowances in each month since April 1992; if she will break down the figures by type of refusal; and if she will give the figures as a percentage of new claims.

  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. Tony Lloyd, dated 11 May 1993:

  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question about the number of initial unemployment benefit claims disallowed monthly since April 1992. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  This information is not available in the form you have requested. The information we collect in respect of adjudication activity does not distinguish between decisions

  455
  given in respect of initial claims and those relating to subsequent claims. Adjudication statistics are not available on a monthly basis, as requested, but statistics are compiled quarterly. Information on the total number of decisions given, and the proportion disallowed, under each question is available in a published document, the "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions". Copies of this document can be obtained from the House of Commons Library.

  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.

  Employment, Durham
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for the Durham area for(a) average earnings, (b) average gross hourly earnings and (c) average weekly hours total for (i) all women, (ii) women part-time workers, (iii) women manual workers and (iv) women non-manual workers; and what are the comparable figures for men.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The available information for employees in the county of Durham is contained in the following table:

  Average gross earnings and hours of employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was not affected by absence for the survey pay period: April 1992

  Average weekly earnings

  Average hourly earnings

  Average total hours

  £

  £

  £

  All employees

  Women

  158·2

  4·96

  30·1

  Manual women

  117·3

  4·04

  29·9

  Non-manual women

  181·9

  5·58

  30·2

  Men

  293·7

  6·99

  41·4

  Manual men

  247·0

  5·81

  43·2

  Non-manual men

  347·4

  8·90

  38·8

  Part-time employees

  Women

  79·3

  4·12

  18·4

  Men

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Source: New Earnings Survey: April 1992.

  Note: ".." denotes sample number too low or standard error too large for reliable estimate.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 or 17-year-olds living in the Durham area are not in full-time education and(a) are on a youth training scheme or (b) are on a waiting list for a youth training scheme.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There are currently 791 young people from Durham city area on youth training, including a small number of 18-year-olds. Four 16 or 17-year-olds are presently on a waiting list for YT.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taken to ensure high standards of off-the-job education for youth training trainees.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  All youth training trainees have the opportunity to receive training which leads to an approved qualification at, or above, national vocational qualification level II—or, for young people who are endorsed as having special training needs, other appropriate outcomes.456
  Each training and enterprise council is required to operate an effective quality assurance system for providers of off-the-job or on-the-job training.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds living in the Durham area have applied for youth training but not succeeded since 1990.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Figures show that since January 1990, 133 16 and l7-year-olds were submitted but did not start on youth training schemes in the Durham city area. Of these, 129 went into other training or education or found jobs. The destination of the remaining four young people is not known.

  Private Residential Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information she has concerning levels of pay in the private residential care industry; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None; pay in the private sector is a matter for employers and employees.

  Health and Safety Representatives
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans she has to ensure that health and safety representatives are elected for each workplace; and if she will require employers to recognise such persons' rights and duties.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 allow recognised trade unions to appoint safety representatives, although in some cases the representatives are, in fact, elected. The regulations also give these safety representatives certain rights and duties. The Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Bill, which is currently before the House, contains a provision to further strengthen these rights by protecting safety representatives against being dismissed for carrying out their health and safety duties. I have no other plans to change the current arrangements.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what definition of low pay is in use by her Department.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There is no official definition of what constitutes low pay.

  River Safety
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps her Department is taking to publish an account of progress in the implementation of recommendations made after major disasters as recommended in the Hayes report on river safety.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive publish information about the implementation of such recommendations in various ways, including the Commission's annual report, other HSC/E publications and policy statements, and public conferences. In addition, progress is regularly reviewed, where appropriate, with the commission's industry advisory committees.

DEFENCE

  Sandown Class Vessels
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to invite tenders for a further batch of Sandown class mine counter-measure vessels.

  Mr. Aitken
  We hope to be in a position to issue invitations to tender for a further batch of Sandown class single role minehunters before the summer recess.

  United States (Aircraft Purchases)
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the value to the United Kingdom, in pounds sterling, of the offset arrangements linked to the purchase from the United States of the E-3D AWACS Sentry aircraft.

  Mr. Aitken
  Boeing's performance against the AWACS offset requirement has been measured in United States dollars. Using an average exchange rate for the period in question, the value of contracts placed under the terms of the agreement is approximately £950 million.

  Service hospital

  County

  Region

  Number of beds1

  19912

  19922

  19932

  Cambridge military hospital, Aldershot

  Hampshire

  Wessex

  47

  38

  38

  Princess Alexandra RAF hospital, Wroughton

  Wiltshire

  Wessex

  16

  25

  —3

  Princess Mary's RAF hospital, Halton

  Bucks

  Oxford

  10

  18

  14

  1Only obstetric maternity beds are to be found in service hospitals.

  2As at 31 March of the year in question.

  2Obstetric services ceased on 1 May 1992.

  Empty Properties, Biggin Hill
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many residential properties are empty at Biggin Hill; and for how long they have been empty.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 31 March 1993, the latest date for which figures are available, 81 service married quarters at Biggin Hill were empty as follows:

  Number

  Under one year

  54

  Over one year

  18

  Over two years

  9

  Eight of these properties were allocated to service families who were due to move in shortly and the remaining 73 were in the process of being sold.

  Air-to-surface Missiles
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement about the development of medium air-to-surface missiles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 20 April,Official Report, column 168.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish figures showing the total value of the United Kingdom's arms exports for each year since 1986; and what was the value of arms export sales to third-world countries in those years.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 23 February,Official Report, columns 577–78.

  MOD Hospitals
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by country and region the Ministry of Defence hospitals in the United Kingdom which had consultant obstetric and/or general practitioner maternity beds in 1991–92 and 1992–93, with the numbers of beds of each type in each hospital in each year.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is as follows:

  Weapon Development Programmes
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the international co-operative weapon development programmes the United Kingdom Government are engaged in, together with, in each case, the partner nation and the expenditure committed in 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to the information contained in chapter 3, table 2 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1992 (Cm 1981). The information on expenditure committed is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate time and cost.

  Military Nuclear Sites
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the programmes, and the expenditure for them in 1992–93 and 1993–94, for(a) the clear-up of British military nuclear sites and materials and (b) participation in nuclear proliferation control efforts.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My Department attaches great importance to any clear-up programmes necessary, and deals with each situation as it arises. Details of each case are classified.

  The Government attach a high priority to pursuing effective measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. My Department is actively supporting the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in its efforts to seek an indefinite extension to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and is working to promote effective international controls on nuclear exports to help prevent proliferation. In order

  459
  to assist with the safe and secure dismantlement of nuclear weapons in Russia, we are providing the Russian Federation with nuclear weapons transport vehicles, and special containers. Expenditure on this programme for 1992–93 was some £1,500,000; we estimate that expenditure for 1993–94 will be around £15,000,000. A number of personnel within my Department work on nuclear non-proliferation related matters; their costs are not separately identifiable.

  Helicopter Carrier
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter), 29 March,Official Report column 16, whether he has now received full clarification from the tenderers of their bids for the amphibious helicopter carrier; when he expects his Department to complete the evaluation of bids; and if he will make a statement.
  460
  Mr. Aitken
  [pursuant to his answer, 23 April 1993, col. 241]: I can now announce the results of the competition for the new helicopter carrier for the Royal Navy. Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd has won the competition by a very substantial margin of over £50 million. It will build the ship in conjunction with Kvaerner Govan on the Clyde. In reaching this decision, we took full account of wider factors such as the future of Swan Hunter Shipbuilders. The final judgment was made on our normal technical and value for money criteria.

  This order demonstrates the Government's commitment to improving our amphibious capability and will provide our forces with a vessel suitable for a variety of operations. The ship will provide accommodation for helicopters, men, guns, land vehicles and other equipment and a platform from which to mount a helicopter assault. The ship will also significantly improve our ability to provide humanitarian assistance around the world.

  POWER STATIONS
  POWER STATIONS
  NUCLEAR ELECTRIC: FIGURES
  NUCLEAR ELECTRIC: FIGURES
  IACS: EC MEMBER STATES' INFORMATION PUBLICATIONS
  IACS: EC MEMBER STATES' INFORMATION PUBLICATIONS
  AMPHIBIOUS HELICOPTER CARRIER
  AMPHIBIOUS HELICOPTER CARRIER
  PREVENTION OF TERRORISM LEGISLATION: OPERATIONAL STATISTICS
  PREVENTION OF TERRORISM LEGISLATION: OPERATIONAL STATISTICS
  PRISONS: EDUCATION STAFF
  PRISONS: EDUCATION STAFF
  PRISONS: REPLIES TO LETTERS FROM MPs
  PRISONS: REPLIES TO LETTERS FROM MPs
  UNPAID PARKING FINES: DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS
  UNPAID PARKING FINES: DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS
  ALLEGED SERIOUS OFFENCES: DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY
  ALLEGED SERIOUS OFFENCES: DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY
  UK CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UN
  UK CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UN
  EC MINISTERS: FINANCIAL CORRUPTION INVESTIGATIONS
  EC MINISTERS: FINANCIAL CORRUPTION INVESTIGATIONS
  IACS SCHEME: MERIONETHSHIRE MAPPING
  IACS SCHEME: MERIONETHSHIRE MAPPING
  GENERAL PRACTITIONER COMPUTING
  GENERAL PRACTITIONER COMPUTING
  UNLEADED PETROL: AIRBORNE LEAD LEVELS
  UNLEADED PETROL: AIRBORNE LEAD LEVELS
  BENZO(A)PYRENE: EMISSIONS
  BENZO(A)PYRENE: EMISSIONS
  Mr. NEIL LATIMER
  Mr. NEIL LATIMER
  TERRORIST OFFENCES: LIFE SENTENCES
  TERRORIST OFFENCES: LIFE SENTENCES