Written Answers of 14 May 1993

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates (Resignations)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates resigned for reasons other than age in each quarter since January 1988.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In the Lord Chancellor's area of responsibility, the figures for each of the quarters referred to, save for this year and the first quarter of 1992 cannot be given without disproportionate cost. Figures for the Duchy of Lancaster, where available, are shown in brackets. The number of losses for the years in the question and for the first quarter of 1992 and 1993, but excluding those justices who reached the statutory retirement age, are as follows:

  Number

  1988

  659

  1989

  799

  1990

  794

  1991

  820 (167)

  First quarter

  1992

  256 (40)

  1992

  1,034 (165)

  First quarter

  1993

  261 (37)

EDUCATION

  Osteopathy
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what sources of funding are available to students who wish to pursue osteopathy courses.

  Mr. Boswell
  Students on designated full-time first degree and equivalent level courses in osteopathy are eligible for a mandatory award and a student loan on the terms prescribed in the relevant regulations. Other students may apply to their local education authority for a discretionary award, the availability and amount of which is for the authority to determine.

  Special Needs Education
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he is giving to the report from the National Curriculum Council: "Special Needs and the national curriculum: Opportunity and Challenge"; if he will extend the national curriculum to take account of the recommendation of this report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  This leaflet, which the National Curriculum Council has recently sent to my right hon. Friend, summarises a wide-ranging review of issues concerning the 578
  relationship of pupils with special educational needs to the national curriculum. It highlights some important matters and suggests some ways forward for schools.

  The national curriculum is appropriate for the great majority of children. A very small number may not he able to study across the whole of its range, or reach the levels generally appropriate to their age, and arrangements are in place to allow the modification of the curriculum as appropriate to each individual child.

  In respect of exceptionally able children, there is no need for the modification of the curriculum to enable them to work at an appropriate pace and challenge, since the national curriculum sets out only a minimum entitlement, and schools are free to extend this work with individual children.

  My right hon. Friend agrees with the National Curriculum Council that involvement in the national curriculum in itself means that pupils' entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum is addressed.

  Conductive Education
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he will publish the report by Birmingham university on the effectiveness of conductive education as practised at the Institute for Conductive Education in Birmingham; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  I am pleased to be able to announce that the full report, containing a description of the methodology of the research and details of its findings, will he published today. Copies of the report are being placed in the Library of the House.

  Teachers
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the figures for teacher numbers and vacancies for January 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Patten
  The annual survey of teacher numbers and vacancies shows that teacher numbers in England rose between January 1992 and January 1993, and that the vacancy rates in January 1993 were the lowest ever recorded. Vacancies have fallen to only 1,343 this year. This is good news for schools. It represents a further 30 per cent. fall in vacancies, to little more than one vacancy for every 20 schools. The fall is even more marked in mathematics, science and modern foreign languages. Provisional teacher numbers in LEA-maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools and self-governing state schools rose by 0·2 per cent. from 394,900 full-time equivalent teachers in January 1992 to 395,600. The estimated overall pupil to teacher ratio is 17·66: 1.

  I am placing fuller details of the vacancy figures in the Library.

TRANSPORT

  Reclaim the Streets Campaign
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Ministers in his Department have received a London Transport travelcard from the Reclaim the Streets Action Campaign; and what use each of those Ministers who received one made of the card for official journeys by(a) bus (b) tube or (c) rail in the week including 15 May.
  579
  Mr. Norris
  I and my hon. Friend the Minister for Public Transport have received London Transport travelcards from the Reclaim the Streets Action Campaign. It would not be appropriate to accept these cards. We shall therefore be returning them to the campaign organisers.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue will be raised from vehicle excise duty in 1993.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The latest forecast for the financial year 1993–94 is £3,690 million net.

  Oxleas Wood
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department expects to reply to the letters from. the hon. Member for Greenwich concerning Oxleas wood, dated 13 October 1992 and 3 March 1993.

  Mr. Norris
  I have written today to the hon. Member to explain that I had thought it right to delay my reply until matters in the Court of Appeal and with the European Commission have been resolved.

  Crossrail
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library copies of the reports commissioned from private consultants concerning the crossrail proposals.

  Mr. Norris
  No. The reports contain commercially sensitive information. If it is decided that crossrail should proceed as a joint venture with the private sector, a great deal of the information will be published.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be able to make an announcement as to the location of the new midlands channel tunnel terminal.

  Mr. Freeman
  This is a commercial matter for British Rail in co-operation with the private sector. The Government have no plans at present to make an announcement.

  Buses
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the level of pollution from diesel exhaust emissions of buses one year old up to seven years old.

  Mr. Freeman
  No assessment has been made which specifically addresses pollution arising from buses. However, the Department has an extensive research programme looking at control technology and other measures to reduce emissions. In the light of the results of this research, the Government will consider the need for a feasibility of establishing emission requirements for specific categories of vehicles, for example buses, operating in the urban environment.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the number of buses currently in 580
  operation which are not controlled by European Community legislation on account of the age of the vehicle.

  Mr. Freeman
  There is currently no European Community legislation relating specifically to the construction of buses, although buses are affected by a number of EC directives setting technical standards for various aspects of motor vehicles. We have no estimate of the number of buses affected, which will depend on the precise requirements of the many directives in question, the date on which they came into effect and the manner in which they are applied in United Kingdom law.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Food Safety
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the cost to the food industry in a full year of implementing the Food Safety Act 1990.

  Mr. Soames
  The Food Safety Act 1990 is an enabling piece of legislation which, of itself, does not require any additional expenditure by food businesses. The requirements that it places directly on businesses relating to food safety and consumer protection are couched in general terms, and are no more than any prudent well-run business would involve itself in as part of ensuring its good reputation with its customers. It is, therefore, not possible specifically to identify the cost to the industry of complying with the Act.

  Research Strategy Documents
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many copies of his departmental reports on(a) Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food environmental research strategy and requirement document 1993–95 and (b) Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food arable crops and horticulture research strategy document 1993–95 have been printed; at what cost; and to whom they have been distributed.

  Mr. Curry
  One thousand five hundred copies of(a) the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food environmental research strategy and requirement document 1993–95 and 800 copies of (b) Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food arable crops and horticulture research strategy document 1993–95 have been printed, at a total cost of £3,880. They have been distributed to contractors and other parties known to have an interest in research and development, and publicised more widely by means of a press notice.

  Milk Quotas
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to seek the adoption in the European Community of siphoning on transfers of milk quotas so as to provide a pool of quotas for new entrants under the age of 40 years into farming in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government have no plans to do so. However, we shall be looking to see whether any lessons
  581
  for milk quotas may be drawn from experience in the operation of quotas in the sheep and suckler cow sectors, where arrangements for new entrants have been proposed.

  Research Expenditure
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what cuts in expenditure in near-market strategic and basic research have been implemented since 1978; and if he will list the size of his Ministry's budget and the numbers of projects and

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Subject area

  £ million cash

  £ million real1terms

  £ million cash

  £ million real1terms

  £ million cash

  £ million real1terms

  Protecting the countryside

  1·6 (16)

  1·6

  1·7 (19)

  1·6

  1·7 (20)

  1·6

  Farm woodland and set aside

  2·7 (20)

  2·7

  2·7 (21)

  2·5

  2·8 (16)

  2·6

  Protecting water supplies and rivers

  7·1 (39)

  7·1

  8·1 (61)

  7·8

  7·9 (60)

  7·4

  Soil protection

  1·5 (16)

  1·5

  1·4 (21)

  1·4

  1·7 (19)

  1·6

  Protecting the air

  1·6 (15)

  1·6

  1·6 (15)

  1·5

  1·8 (17)

  1·7

  Pest and pesticides

  21·3(174)

  21·3

  22·2(172)

  21·5

  20·0(158)

  18·8

  Flood and coastal defence and climate change

  3·0 (63)

  3·0

  3·7 (76)

  3·6

  4·0 (71)

  3·7

  Marine protection

  3·5 (32)

  3·5

  3·6 (31)

  3·5

  3·8 (29)

  3·6

  Genetic conservation and modification at RBG. Kew

  8·7 (—)

  8·7

  10·3 (—)

  10·0

  9·1 (·)

  8·6

  Protecting fisheries

  4·7 (81)

  4·7

  5·1 (69)

  5·0

  5·2 (67)

  4·9

  Totals

  55·8(456)

  55·8

  60·4(485)

  58·4

  58·0(457)

  54·5

  1 Using GDP deflator 1991–92= 100.

  Figures for years before 1991–92 are not available in the form requested.

  No information is held centrally about the number of personnel employed on each subject area.

  Bovine Eyes
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether bovine eyes are used in food for human consumption in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Gummer
  I am aware of the suggestion that bovine eyes are used in meat products. All the main meat industry organisations have assured me that they have no evidence of any use of bovine eyes in food. Moreover, the British Meat Manufacturers Association has pointed out that under its accredited standard scheme eyes are totally banned from use in meat preparations and meat products by their members.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Northern Ireland Electricity
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to privatise the Northern Ireland electricity service; what estimate of asset proceeds he has made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The first phase of the privatisation of the electricity supply industry in Northern Ireland—the trade sale of the four existing power stations to three private sector companies—was completed in March 1992. The 582
  personnel employed with respect to each of the subject areas outlined in "MAFF NR 143/91" in nominal and real terms for each year since 1978.

  Mr. Gummer
  Research projects are not classified routinely in the terms specified in the question. However, near-market projects, by definition, would seldom, if ever, be expected to fall into the strategic or basic research categories.

  My Department's expenditure in cash and real terms on environmental R and D by subject area is set out in the table. The number of projects is shown in brackets. Individual projects differ in value.

  second phase—the floatation of Northern Ireland Electricity plc on the stock exchange—is due to take place in June 1993. The sale of the four power stations realised some £350 million. It is too early to provide an estimate of proceeds from the floatation of NIE plc, details of which will be announced in due course.

  Fishing Permits
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce a concessionary rate game fishing permit for pensioners for Northern Ireland at the same level as is applicable in Great Britain.

  Mr. Hanley
  No. The legislation which governs angling licensing in Northern Ireland does not provide the flexibility to issue licences at concessionary rates except, in limited circumstances, to outside visitors.

PRIME MINISTER

  Nuclear Tests
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister when he now expects the report by the National Radiological Protection Board into the effects of radiation on veterans of British nuclear tests to be published; how this relates to the orginal envisaged publication date; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The National Radiological Protection Board anticipates that a report will be sent for
  583
  peer review to a recognised scientific journal in the late summer or early autumn of 1993, with a view to publication as soon as possible thereafter later in the year.

  Delays have been caused by changes in scope made by the National Radiological Protection Board to update their final report. These changes include the incorporation of all deaths of participants up to 1 January 1991 rather than 1 January 1989 as originally envisaged and of a detailed case study into the effects of emigration and a more complete check of mortality and cause of death.

  The Government are not aware of any evidence which would change the conclusions of the National Radiological Protection Board report published in 1988 that the overall incidence of cancer among nuclear test participants is no greater than that among the population as a whole.

  Child Migrant Trust
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister when he received the letter of 4 May from Nottinghamshire county council regarding the Child Migrant Trust; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The letter was received on 6 May and was acknowledged.

  Ms Beata Brookes
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Prime Minister what reference he has made to the public appointments unit in relation to the appointment of Ms Beata Brookes as chairman of the Welsh Consumer Council in 1991; what account he has taken of whether the chairman of the Wales area of the Conservative and Unionist party carries out executive duties; and how his policy on such appointments has changed since his answer of 28 November 1991,Official Report, column 608.

  The Prime Minister
  The public appointments unit is consulted in seeking nominations for all appointments to public boards, including the chairmanship of the Welsh Consumer Council, as are a number of other bodies. As chairwoman of the Wales area of the Conservative and Unionist party, Miss Brookes is not an officer carrying out executive duties in the party. Her role does not, therefore, conflict with the long-standing and now publicly available guidelines for members of public boards on political activities. This is in line with the answer I gave on 28 November at column 608.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Allivane International
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 May 1992,Official Report, column 77, whether Customs and Excise has decided upon prosecution against Allivane International.

  Sir John Cope
  No prosecution has been commenced against Allivane International.

  Indirect Taxation
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the retail prices index is expected to rise as a result of the increase in indirect taxes in the 584
  current Budget; and if he will disregard the effect of that increase on the rate of inflation in formulating his economic policies.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Budget measures add ¼ per cent. to the RPI excluding mortgage interest payments in 1993 compared with the autumn statement forecast, and a further ½ per cent. by the second quarter of 1994.

  The Government's objective is to keep underlying inflation within a range of 1 to 4 per cent., and to bring it down to the lower part of this range by the end of this Parliament; monetary policy will be set to achieve this.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward legislation to extend 100 per cent. of inheritance tax relief in respect of farms which are let.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current base rate in each EC member state.

  Mr. Nelson
  Short-term market interest rates in each European Community country were as follows on 12 May:

  Interest rates

  United Kingdom

  5·8

  Germany

  7·4

  France

  7·8

  Italy

  11·0

  Spain

  15·4

  Netherlands

  7·5

  Belgium

  7·2

  Denmark

  10·9

  Greece

  23·0

  Portugal

  18·0

  Ireland

  8·1

  Inflation
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current rate of inflation in each EC member state.

  Mr. Nelson
  Data for inflation rates in each European Community country are published in the OECD's main economic indicators. The latest figures show that only Denmark of the European Community countries has a lower headline inflation rate than the United Kingdom.

  Gilts
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about information on gilts and the gilt-edged market.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Bank of England will be issuing on 17 May a new guide providing information for institutional investors about gilts and the operation of the gilt-edged market.

  The costs of producing the booklet will fall to the Treasury's 1993–94 vote—class XVII, vote 1. parliamentary approval for this new expenditure will be sought in a

  585
  summer supplementary estimate. The resulting increase in the Treasury's cash limit and gross running costs limit will be fully offset by a reduction in the Bank of England's cash limit and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Ministerial Cars
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith), of 26 February,Official Report, column 764, whether the rules regarding the provision of car benefits are in practice implemented for Ministers in exactly the same way as the Inland Revenue expects them to be implemented for employees in general.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 13 May 1993]: The same rules apply to Ministers as to other employees, and the Inland Revenue seeks to apply the law even-handedly to Ministers and to others.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage increase for each of the 10 commodities whose prices have increased the most on the commodities markets since the pound left the exchange rate mechanism.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: Of the 30 main commodities that make up The Economist all-items commodity price index, the 10 that have increased in price the most since the 15 September 1992 are shown in the table.

  Commodity price rises: 15 September 1992 to 5 May 1993

  (Per cent.)

  Commodity

  Dollar prices

  SDR prices

  Sterling prices

  Timber

  90·1

  93·0

  126·9

  Sisal

  24·8

  26·7

  48·9

  Sugar

  22·3

  24·2

  46·0

  Groundnut oil

  17·9

  19·7

  40·7

  Coffee

  16·1

  17·9

  38·6

  Beef

  13·6

  15·4

  35·6

  Soyabean meal

  8·4

  10·1

  29·4

  Lamb

  7·9

  9·6

  28·8

  Soyabean oil

  6·2

  7·8

  26·7

  Cotton

  5·3

  6·9

  25·7

  All-items

  1·1

  4·1

  21·9

  Source: The Economist

  Company Cars
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what benefits-in-kind an employer should report on the form P11D in respect of an employee who is driven from home to his normal place of employment in a chauffeur-driven car provided by his employer.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 12 May 1993]: If the car is a pooled car and the journeys are merely incidental to the business use of the car, the employer should make no return.

  In other circumstances, the employer should return on form P11D the benefit of the car and the costs of the chauffeur.

  Whether or not an employee's private use of a car is incidental to its business use will depend on the facts of
  586
  each particular case. If employers or employees are in any doubt about the correct treatment, they should consult their tax office.

  European Community (Convergence)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what requests he has received from institutions of the European Community for a report on their programme for attaining convergence within the economies of the Community; what reply has been sent; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Nelson
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 March 1993, c. 147]: The United Kingdom has today submitted a convergence programme. A copy of this programme is being placed in the Library of the House.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Ministerial Cars
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if Ministers in his Department are ordinarily allocated their own ministerial car.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 13 May 1993]: Ministers are provided with first-call cars from the Government car service pool.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Hosni E. Farhat
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received regarding the implications for administrative routines within the Law Officers Department of the case of Hosni E. Farhat.

  The Attorney-General
  None.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Attorney-General what information he has on contacts between prosecution witnesses in the case of Hosni E. Farhat and Ahmed Gaddafi Aidain of Libya; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  None.

  Unemployment Benefit (Appeals)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Attorney-General how many appeals relating to unemployment benefit were heard by social security appeals tribunals in 1992; and in how many cases the appeal succeeded wholly or in part.

  Mr. Burt
  [holding answer 11 May 1993]: I have been asked to reply.

  Information is not available in the form requested. The latest information, which covers the first nine months of 1992, indicates that 12,327 unemployment benefit appeals were heard and decided of which 5,310 were decided in the appellant's favour.

HEALTH

  Regional Health Authorities (Consultancy Companies)
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to recover inappropriate loans and illegal payments to consultancy companies and related businesses employed by regional health authorities.
  587
  Mr. Sackville
  Recovery action is a matter for the authorities concerned. The Department closely monitors progress.

  GP Fund Holders
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the reasons for excluding terminations of pregnancy from the list of goods and services which general practitioner fund holders may purchase elsewhere when they are not available locally; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The list of goods and services is currently limited to procedures which all fund holders are required to purchase on behalf of their patients where clinically indicated. Some general practitioners for ethical reasons are unable to refer patients for termination of pregnancy and such GPs could not be required to purchase these services.

  Numbers of deaths of children under 18 years of age in England and Wales by age and sex registered in the years 1979 to 1991

  Year and sex

  Total deaths

  Age in years

  Under 1

  1 to 4

  5 to 9

  10 to 14

  15 to 17

  1979

  Male

  7,420

  4,731

  641

  602

  605

  841

  Female

  5,059

  3,447

  527

  368

  386

  331

  1980

  Male

  7,051

  4,471

  668

  517

  546

  849

  Female

  5,038

  3,428

  518

  349

  373

  370

  1981

  Male

  6,640

  4,119

  651

  447

  573

  850

  Female

  4,461

  2,902

  529

  302

  368

  360

  1982

  Male

  6,317

  3,914

  652

  391

  546

  814

  Female

  4,288

  2,861

  485

  253

  353

  336

  1983

  Male

  5,933

  3,654

  604

  391

  514

  770

  Female

  4,160

  2,727

  489

  269

  332

  343

  1984

  Male

  5,624

  3,443

  610

  348

  501

  722

  Female

  3,956

  2,594

  454

  260

  302

  346

  1985

  Male

  5,651

  3,510

  638

  328

  503

  672

  Female

  4,008

  2,631

  497

  260

  308

  312

  1986

  Male

  5,682

  3,724

  573

  325

  380

  680

  Female

  3,890

  2,589

  491

  248

  272

  290

  1987

  Male

  5,580

  3,637

  578

  309

  404

  652

  Female

  3,878

  2,635

  489

  237

  246

  271

  1988

  Male

  5,639

  3,649

  587

  374

  402

  627

  Female

  3,866

  2,621

  498

  232

  218

  297

  1989

  Male

  5,318

  3,368

  606

  371

  337

  636

  Female

  3,641

  2,440

  472

  241

  226

  262

  1990

  Male

  5,105

  3,207

  593

  333

  338

  634

  Female

  3,499

  2,357

  434

  220

  230

  258

  1991

  Male

  4,771

  2,966

  554

  341

  354

  556

  Female

  3,350

  2,192

  439

  248

  222

  249

  588

  Alternative Medicine
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is issued to health authorities and general practice fund holders on the purchase of complementary and alternative medical services.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Our guidance makes it clear that we expect general practitioner fund holders to purchase high-quality and cost-effective care. We have not issued guidance on purchasing specific services as this is a matter of clinical judgment. Fund holders may employ alternative practitioners using the staff element of their fund.

  Child Mortality
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of deaths of children under 18 years by age and sex, for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.
  589

  Year and sex

  Total deaths

  Age in years

  Under 1

  1 to 4

  5 to 9

  10 to 14

  15 to 17

  1992

  Male

  4,147

  2,606

  487

  302

  322

  430

  Female

  2,953

  1,933

  387

  214

  199

  220

  Consultants
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) male and (b) female consultants are working between one and 11 sessions per week, broken down by number of sessions.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is shown in the table.

  Hospital medical consultants by contracted notional half-days (NHD) England—30 September 1991

  Consultants

  NHD

  Male

  Female

  Under 1

  15

  5

  1 to less than 2

  54

  6

  2 to less than 3

  32

  16

  3 to less than 4

  53

  22

  4 to less than 5

  45

  19

  5 to less than 6

  98

  73

  6 to less than 7

  92

  102

  7 to less than 8

  97

  72

  8 to less than 9

  105

  81

  9 to less than 10

  397

  105

  10 to less than 11

  17

  0

  11

  10,891

  1,829

  Total

  11,895

  2,329

  Note:

  (a) Figures do not include honorary consultants

  (b) Totals do not add due to rounding up/down

  (c) Both full-time and maximum part-time consultants are shown as working 11 NHDs.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) male and (b) female consultants are working part and full time.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is shown in the table.

  Hospital medical consultants by sex and nature of contract England (whole-lime equivalent) 30 September 1991

  Consultants

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Full time

  6,328

  1,452

  7,780

  Maximum part time

  4,563

  377

  4,940

  Part time

  1,004

  500

  1,504

  Total

  11,895

  2,329

  14,224

  Note: Figures do not include honorary consultants.

  Pharmacists
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to reject any proposals to end payments of allowances to pharmacists who dispense fewer than 2,000 prescriptions a month.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We are exploring a range of options for restructuring pharmacists' pay. Consultations are continuing and no options have yet been ruled out.
  590

  Pharmacies (West Midlands)
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of pharmacies in the west midlands; and how many dispense fewer than 2,000 prescriptions a month.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In the west midlands, all the 227 pharmacists dispensed fewer than 2,000 prescriptions a month in 1991–92, the latest year for which figures are available.

  NHS Patients
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many in-patients were treated by the national health service in England in 1992 and in 1979;

  (2) how many out-patients were treated by the national health service in England in 1992 and in 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1991–92, there were 7,759,000 in-patients and 36,941,000 out-patients treated in the NHS in England. This information is based on counts of finished consultant episodes. In 1979, 5,400,000 in-patients and 34,100,000 out-patients were treated. In-patient information for 1979 is based on numbers of discharges and deaths and is, therefore, not directly comparable.

  Source:

  1979 In-patients Form SH3

  1991–92 KP70 Finished Consultant Episodes (these figures include over 500,000 well babies)

  Out-patients 1979 Form SH3, 1991–92 K H09 and KH18 Returns

  Operations
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations the national health service performed in England in 1992 and in 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1989–90, the latest year for which information is available, an estimated 3·8 million non-maternity operations were performed in the national health service in England. The information is based on counts of finished consultant episodes. In 1979, there were 2·5 million non-maternity operations. Information for 1979 is based on numbers of discharges and deaths and is, not therefore, directly comparable.

  Source: Hospital In-Patient Enquiry 1979

  Hospital Episode Statistics 1989–90

  Deaf People (Sight Tests)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which representatives of deaf and hard of hearing people she consulted prior to her decision to exclude them from free sight tests;

  (2) what representations she received from deaf and hard of hearing people concerning the introduction of charges for eye tests.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We are not aware that any representations were made by deaf and hard of hearing people when charges for sight tests were introduced on 1 April 1989; nor were their representatives consulted.
  591

  Organ Transplants
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many transplants were carried out in the years 1991 and 1992 of(a) kidneys, (b) hearts, (c) livers and (d) hearts and lungs;

  (2) what estimate she has of how many people died in the years 1991 and 1992 while waiting for organ transplants.

  Mr. Sackville
  The table shows the numbers of solid organ transplants carried out in the United Kingdom in 1991 and 19921.

  Year

  Cadaver ic kidneys

  Hearts

  Livers

  Hearts and lungs

  Lungs

  1991

  1,628

  281

  420

  79

  72

  1992

  1,641

  301

  501

  53

  89

  1 Figures supplied by United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority. 1992 figures are provisional.

  There are no figures available centrally on people who die while waiting for kidney transplantation, but in 1991, the only year for which such figures are available, deaths of people awaiting other organs were as follows: hearts 69, livers 33, hearts and lungs 41, lungs 161. Causes of death are not recorded.

  Hospital and community health services (HCHS) Expenditure on computers and computing

  £ thousands (cash)

  Purchase of hardware and operational software

  Revenue Maintenance of hardware and software (including licensing fees)

  Contract services

  Capital Purchase of hardware and operational software

  £ thousands

  £ thousands

  £ thousands

  £ thousands

  1990–91

  61,538

  44,216

  28,809

  119,233

  1991–92

  49,871

  65,268

  35,281

  1 31,710

  1 Main frame systems only. Excludes an element within a total of £103·5 million for office and information technology equipment. (Note 2 to the table refers).

  General medical services—expenditure on computers

  Year

  £000 (cash)

  1990–91

  17,449

  1991–92

  34,117

  Sources:

  a. Annual accounts (1990–91) and annual 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.

  b. 1991–92 annual financial returns of the first wave NHS Trusts.

  c. Financial information system (FIS) returns of family health services authorities (1990–91 and 1991–92).

  Notes to the table:

  1. HCHS covers all services directly managed or accounted for by the health authorities (and NHS Trusts) including hospital, community health, patient transport (ie ambulance), blood transfusion and other services.

  2. The HCHS figures for 1991–92 (which are derived from annual financial returns rather than accounts) are provisional. Following the introduction of capital asset accounting and changes to the analyses provided in annual financial returns the figure for capital expenditure is not comparable with that for 1990–91. It represents expenditure only on mainframe information technology (IT) systems and excludes additional expenditure on computers within a total of some £103·5 million for "office and IT equipment" and which is not separately identifiable centrally. Revenue "purchases" may include elements for

  592

  Sefton General Hospital
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are treated annually at Sefton general hospital's chest clinic; how wide is the catchment area from which they are drawn; how many staff are employed in the unit; where it is to be relocated; what is the future of the jobs of the clinic staff; and what estimate has been made of travelling times and costs of patients currently being treated at Sefton general.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. D. H. Tod, the chairman of Liverpool health authority, for details.

  Computers
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the annual expenditure within the national health service on(a) computers in hospital and (b) computers in general practice for each year since 1990.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 27 April 1993]: The available information for 1990–91 and 1991–92 is shown in the table.

  rent and leasing.

  3. The figures for general medical services are the costs of direct reimbursements made by family health service authorities to general medical practitioners for computers.

  4. The table excludes costs incurred by family health services authorities on their administrative functions etc., and by special health authorities providing central services to the national health service.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability, Living Allowance
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the turnround of correspondence relating to disability living allowance applications met his targets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The arrangements for replying to correspondence relating to operational questions on disability living allowance are a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
  593
  Letter from Michael Bichard to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 13 May 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the targets for the turnround of correspondence on Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
  I would refer to my letter to you of 25 February 1993 in response to an earlier question from you on this matter (Official Report 25 February 1993, Column 751). As I explained in that letter, the Agency is responding to the majority of letters on DLA now being received from Members within 20 working days. In April 61 per cent. of the letters I sent on DLA were within the 20 day target. In additiion the DLA Unit is now responding within 20 working days on 79 per cent. of the letters they receive direct from Members.
  The percentage of cases cleared within 20 days is continuing to increase. It is my firm intention that by the end of May the vast majority of letters on DLA will be replied to within the 20 day target.
  I hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what savings would be made by restricting child benefit to households which have total incomes of(a) 80 per cent., (b) 100 per cent., (c) 120 per cent of (i) average earnings and (ii) average household income.

  Mr. Burt
  If child benefit were restricted to households with less than(a) 80 per cent., (b) 100 per cent., and (c) 120 per cent. of average gross male earnings, it is estimated that benefit savings of (a) £4 billion, (b) £3·2 billion and (c) £2·4 billion would accrue.

  If child benefit were restricted to households with less than (a) 80 per cent., (b) 100 per cent., and (c) 120 per cent. of average gross household income, it is estimated that benefit savings of (a) £3·9 billion, (b) £3 billion and (c) £2·2 billion would accrue.

  The estimates are made at 1993–94 levels, based on 1988, 1989, and 1990 family expenditure surveys, and the 1992 new earnings survey. The estimates assume that families in receipt of income-related benefits are not compensated for any loss in child benefit.

WALES

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been total sales proceeds from the sale of council houses in Wales to date since 1981; and how much has been(a) allocated from proceeds to develop social housing and (b) held in local authority bank accounts or short-term investments.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Between 1 April 1981 and 31 March 1992, receipts including the repayment of principal on local authority mortgages from the sale of council housing amounted to £793 million. Information on the allocation of the receipts from the sale of council housing to develop social housing and the amounts held in local authority bank accounts or short-term investments is not held centrally.
  594

  Local Authority Housing
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated asset base of local authority housing stock in Wales net of debt.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on the value of local authority housing stock is not collected centrally. However, the national value of housing revenue account dwellings at 1 April 1993, net of accumulated debt, was assumed, for HRA subsidy purposes only, to be £4·5 billion.

  Consultancy Services
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the operation of and future of consultancy services provided under the enterprise initiative in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The consultancy services available under the enterprise initiative are provided by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and delivered in Wales on his behalf by the Welsh Development Agency. On 10 March, my right hon. Friend announced that the scheme will continue until 31 March 1994 with reduced rates of subsidy, thus allowing development of a new and more flexible package of support services within the available resources.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to encourage the growth of the small business sector in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  As well as helping entrepreneurs set up new businesses through the business start-up programme, I support a broad range of measures designed to help existing small businesses to grow. Measures include regional selective assistance, regional enterprise grant, Enterprise Wales consultancy support, overseas trade missions and export advice, skills development support and technology initiatives.

  In October 1992, I set up the enterprise and business support working group with representatives from the public and private sectors. The group has been comprehensively reviewing business support services in Wales and will shortly be making recommendations, particularly about improving access for the small business man to available assistance. A range of other measures which assist the small business sector include:

  Regional Selective Assistance, Regional Enterprise Grant
  Small businesses continue to take advantage of the help available under regional selective assistance. In the year to end of April 1993, 124 small firms, employing up to 200 people, accepted offers of RSA. The value of these offers amount to £21·7 million. A further 156 small firms, employing fewer than 25 people, or 50 in the case of innovation projects, accepted offers of regional enterprise grant totalling £2·24 million.

  Enterprise Wales
  Launched in January 1988, the consultancy initiatives have proved extremely popular in Wales. More than 6,476 companies have applied. In 1992–93 alone, 1,299 applicants were received, 30 per cent. above the economic weight, and 1,186 business reviews were commissioned, 42 per cent. above the economic weight.
  595
  Overseas Trade Services
  My Department's overseas trade services branch provides in Wales those export advisory services which are made available by the Department of Trade and Industry in England. In addition, I have recently introduced for small and medium-sized enterprises based in Wales, a programme of 24 subsidised trade missions over the next three years.
  A trade fair representative service, which allows small firms to place their literature at selected trade fairs, which I initiated last year, has already begun to pay dividends for many of the participating firms.

  Small Firms Merit Award for Research and Technology (SMART)
  The number of small Welsh companies which received a SMART stage I award during the past 12 months was 16, and nine companies received the SMART stage 2 awards. The maximum value of each stage 1 award is £45,000 and the maximum award is £60,000. On a per-capita basis, Wales has continued to do better than most other regions in this annual competition, receiving about 9 per cent. of the total awards nationwide.

  Support for Products Under Research (SPUR)
  This scheme, which was introduced in 1991 is intended to support highly innovative projects by companies employing up to 500 persons. During the second year of its operation, offers of financial assistance were made to nine Welsh companies, to a total value of £960,443.

  Managing in the 90s
  Managing in the 90s is an umbrella scheme encompassing a number of programmes designed to encourage the growth of small and medium sized businesses. Initially focusing on four areas of industrial performance—design, production, purchasing and quality—it has recently been expanded to include marketing and new product introduction.

  WDA and DBRW
  The Welsh Development Agency provides established small businesses with advice and financial support to assist their growth, helps them to establish business links in other EC countries and helps them to exploit new technologies. The agency also seeks to ensure that an adequate supply of industrial and commercial workspace is available.
  The Development Board for Rural Wales has delivered a comprehensive programme to stimulate interest in business creation and to help business start-ups. This has been achieved by establishing a network of seven business centres in partnership with the region's local authorities and local enterprise agencies. In 1992–93 the agencies provided a total of £273,000 in direct grant support to Wales's 22 local enterprise agencies.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  The training and enterprise councils in Wales are responsible for running a range of measures which assist small businesses. They are continuing to develop provision to help new and existing businesses to acquire and build on skills which will enable them to compete and grow. During the last financial year, Welsh TECs trained more than 12,700 owner-managers and helped more than 2,676 people to start their own new businesses. In addition TECs handled over 41,000 inquiries through business information services and provided 8,800 counselling sessions for new and existing small businesses.

  Disability Payments
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to empower local authorities in Wales to make direct payments to people with disabilities following the completion of needs assessments.

  Mr. David Hunt
  No. Now is not the time to be adding to local authorities' very full agendas. Direct payments are, and should continue to be, the province of the social security system.
  596

  Integrated Administration and Control System
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the Welsh Office made known the necessity of completion of the integrated administration and control system forms to Welsh farmers and the farming unions.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Following the publication in December of the Commission regulations on the integrated administration and control system, Agriculture Departments issued a joint press notice on 13 January announcing further details of the claim procedures for arable aid payments. In the same notice, we alerted livestock producers to the fact that they, too, would need to comply with the general arrangements relating to IACS.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what day the European Community directive for the preparation of integrated administration and control system forms was communicated to the Welsh Office.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The governing Commission regulations were published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 31 December 1992.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the Welsh Office made known to Welsh farmers and the farming unions that the integrated administration and control system forms should be completed using black ink; and when that requirement was communicated to the Welsh Office by the European Commission.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The explanatory booklet on the integrated administration and control system, available from 2 April, advises farmers to make copies of the forms they submit and, therefore, recommends that they are completed clearly and in black ink in order to make photocopying easier.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Toxic Waste Exports
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has on the forms of industrial toxic waste exported from the United Kingdom and their destinations, identifying third world destinations separately, and the quantities involved, over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to her of 19 April 1993,Official Report, column 44.

  Animal Experimentation (Cosmetics)
  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to support any moves to strengthen the common position on the proposed cosmetics directive with respect to the phasing out of cosmetic tests on animals when it is discussed by the Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Leigh
  The common position on the proposed sixth Council amendment to the EC cosmetics directive agreed by the member states under the United Kingdom presidency last year represents a fair and reasonable balance between the concerns of those who wish to phase out testing on animals of the ingredients of personal care products and the need to protect the consumer by ensuring
  597
  that alternative non-animal tests are validated. I do not believe there is scope for strengthening the measure without jeopardising the proposal as a whole.

  Trading Standards
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the cost to British industry of implementing the trading standards regulations.

  Mr. Leigh
  No such estimate has yet been made. However, as part of the deregulation initiative, the Department of Trade and Industry is reviewing all the regulations for which it is responsible.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many prosecutions were brought by trading standards officers in each of the last five years; and what percentage of(a) cases and (b) contested cases resulted in prosecution.

  Mr. Leigh
  In England and Wales the numbers of prosecutions brought by trading standards departments have been as follows:

  Numbers

  1987–88

  10,921

  1988–89

  12,682

  1989–90

  9,921

  1990–91

  10,469

  1991–92

  10,425

  In Scotland, the numbers of prosecutions resulting from investigations made by standards trading departments and brought by the Crown through the procurators fiscal have been as follows:

  Numbers

  1987–88

  355

  1988–89

  383

  1989–90

  300

  1990–91

  220

  1991–92

  267

  Information about the number and outcome of comparable prosecutions in Northern Ireland and about the outcome of prosecutions in England, Wales and Scotland is not readily available.

  Deregulation Task Forces
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what remuneration or other benefits and expenses the members of the deregulation task forces receive; and on what basis such remunerations were calculated.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The chairmen and members of the deregulation task forces receive no remuneration, but are eligible to apply for travel and subsistence expenses on standard civil service terms.

  Area

  Licensing round

  Northern

  Central

  Southern

  Drill by

  10th

  0

  4

  0

  1993

  11th

  41

  60

  47

  1995

  12th and subsequent

  13

  75

  66

  1997–2000

  598
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade from what date the six months life of the deregulation task forces is regarded as commencing.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The deregulation task forces were launched on 19 March 1993.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the membership of each deregulation task force, and the approximate number of regulations allocated to each task force.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  A complete list of deregulation task force members has been placed in the Library. Each task force has been surveying the whole range of Government regulation as it applies to its sector.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if it will be open to deregulation task forces to propose extensions of existing legal provisions.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The deregulation task forces are free to make any recommendations they wish, within their broad remit to advise Ministers on priorities for deregulation and on ensuring a continuing voice for business in the regulatory process.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if it is his intention to publish the reports of the deregulation task forces.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The deregulation task forces will not be producing formal reports. They will be giving advice to Ministers which will feed into the public debate on deregulation.

  Car Exports
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many cars were exported from Britain to Japan in 1978 and in 1992.

  Mr. Needham
  In 1992, more than 11,700 passenger cars were exported from Britain to Japan, compared with almost 3,400 cars exported to Japan in 1978.

  Offshore Oil and Gas
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of commitment wells required to be drilled by each licensee in each United Kingdom continental shelf sector under existing licences granted by his Department; and for what period these wells are to be drilled.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 10 May 1993]: The total number of commitment wells outstanding as at 16 March 1993, to be drilled by licensees on the United Kingdom continental shelf, is 306, as follows:
  599
  As licence commitments are commercial-in-confidence, I am unable to supply the numbers by individual licensee.

  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many obligations remain outstanding for drilling(a) firm and (b) contingent wells under the 11th and 12th United Kingdom offshore licensing rounds.

  Mr. Eggar
  [pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1993, c. 493]I have now been informed that there are 296 outstanding obligation wells from the 1lth and 12th rounds of offshore licensing. Of these, 185 are firm obligations and 111 are conditional.

  Welsh Consumer Council
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the annual salary of the chairman of the Welsh Consumer Council.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 13 May 1993]The appointment of chairman of the Welsh Consumer Council attracts a salary of £4,600 per annum, plus as a member of the National Consumer Council, an additional £4,600 per annum, both of which are subject to tax and national insurance.

  "The Observer"
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will make a statement on the proposed sale of The Observer.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1993, c. 560–61]: I have today received an application for my consent to the proposed transfer of The Observer newspaper to Guardian Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of The Guardian and Manchester Evening News plc. The application invites me to give my consent without a Monopolies and Mergers Commission reference under section 58(3)(a) of the Fair Trading Act 1973. This section gives me discretion to consent to a newspaper transfer without an MMC inquiry where I am satisfied that the newspaper concerned is not economic as a going concern and as a separate newspaper, and that, if the paper is to continue, the case is one of urgency.

  I should like to reach a decision as quickly as possible on whether the application falls within section 58(3)(a) of the Act, and if so whether I should give my consent without requiring an MMC report. I am, therefore, inviting comments from interested parties by 21 May. Any person wishing to comment should write by 5 pm on 21 May to:

  Mr P Sack

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Competition Policy Division 1B

  Room 534

  Ashdown House

  123 Victoria Street

  London SW1E 6RB

  Fax: 071–215 6565

  600

SCOTLAND

  Gruinard Island
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if Gruinard island off Wester Ross was de-crofted during the time it was under Government control; if it was returned to crofting status when it was returned to its previous owner; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  My Department has no information on the precise status of Gruinard island when the land was originally acquired by the then Ministry of Supply. The Crofters Commission has no record of the island ever being under crofting tenure. Under the Crofting Acts, any person with an interest may refer to the Scottish Land Court questions as to whether a holding is a croft.

  Water Quality
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance or advice he is making available to the agricultural industry for schemes to minimise water pollution.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 13 May 1993]: The code of good practice "Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity" which the Government published in March 1992 gives comprehensive advice to farmers. Advice may also be obtained from the Scottish Agricultural College.

  Grants of up to 50 per cent. are available under the farm and conservation grant scheme towards the cost of waste management facilities.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research he has commissioned or is conducting into the effects of agriculture on water quality in Scotland; and what sums have been allocated to such research.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 13 May 1993]: The following projects currently form part of the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department's commissioned programme of agricultural and related research and development:

  Measurement, modelling and prevention of transfer of pollutants from land to aquatic systems.

  Development of methods and a computer programme for treatment of livestock wastes and regulation of waste management systems.

  Protozoan, bacterial and viral pathogens, farm animal wastes and water quality protection.

  Biological mechanisms in mass algal cultures controlling the emission of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon from animal wastes.

  Use of photobioreactor to investigate the influence of irradiance, light/dark cycles and carbon dioxide concentration on the growth of microalgae and their application to waste treatment and biotechnology.

  The effect of livestock farming (beef and dairy cattle) activities on catchment water quality.

  Use of geographical information systems techniques with process-based environmental assessment procedures for water quality modelling.

  Quantifying sources and sinks of acidity under selected hill land use, and their effects on water quality and quantity.

  Quantifying the principal hydrological and hydrochemical consequences of forestry in relation to soil type, atmospheric inputs and management practices.

  Water resource modelling: the effect of land use change and atmospheric deposition.

  Economic analysis of the effect of agricultural pollution on water quality and the potential for its control.

  601

  Operational research and modelling studies of environmental problems associated with silage effluent, slurry and other pollutants.

  The current cost of these projects in 1993–94 is estimated to be about £0·9 million.

  In addition, the Scottish Office Environment Department is funding research which is likely to improve understanding of the effects of agriculture on water quality. The work includes a study of nutrient transport in estuaries. £54,000 will be allocated to these projects in 1993–94.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effects of agriculture on water quality in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 13 May 1993]: Figures compiled by the Scottish farm waste liaison group show that in 1992 there were 400 water pollution incidents arising from agricultural operations compared with 521 in 1991. This significant drop is welcome. The Government hope that greater awareness of and compliance with the Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (Scotland) Regulations 1991 will result in further improvement.

ENVIRONMENT

  A40 Bypass
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to conduct an environmental impact assessment of the proposed A40 bypass route to the north of Oxford.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have been asked to reply

  In accordance with the requirement of EC directive 85/337, as applied by section 105A of the Highways Act 1980, an environmental statement in respect of the proposed A40 north of Oxford bypass was published on 25 March 1993. This coincided with publication of draft statutory orders for the scheme.

DEFENCE

  Muidden Chemie (Netherlands)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what agreements his Department has made with Muidden Chemie (Netherlands) since 1982.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department has no records of placing any contracts with this company in the last three years. Records for previous years could be checked only at disproportionate cost.

  Equipment
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what agreements his Department has with Luchaire of France for provision of military equipment.

  Mr. Aitken
  The value of contracts placed with Luchaire Defence SA over the last three years is as follows:

  1992–93—nil

  1991–92—two contracts, total value £16,832.

  1990–91—five contracts, total value £2,738,356

  The contracts were for a variety of grenades and associated items.
  602

  Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recommendation was made by Rolls-Royce and Associates in respect of reassessment of the need to establish a safety case before lifting nuclear submarines;

  (2) what the criteria now are for establishing a safety case for the Faslane Trident shiplift.

  Mr. Aitken
  Before a nuclear-powered submarine is lifted at the Clyde submarine base it will be necessary to demonstrate that no reasonably foreseeable event, whether internal—for example, mechanical or electrical breakdown—or external—for example, extreme winds, waves, floods, tides or an earthquake—would result in catastrophic failure of the shiplift or an unacceptable risk to the general public. This is in line with practice in the civil nuclear industry. To provide confidence in the progress of the safety case, we commissioned independent advice from Rolls-Royce and Associates. The company made a number of detailed recommendations, all of which are either under consideration or already being implemented. The shiplift will not be used to lift a nuclear-powered submarine until its safety has been established to the satisfaction of the nuclear safety authorities.

  Rolls-Royce and Associates
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultancies have been awarded by his Department to Rolls-Royce and Associates.

  Mr. Aitken
  Of some 280 current contracts between my Department and Rolls-Royce and Associates, only one is specifically for consultancy services. This was placed in 1992, and requires the preparation of reports on nuclear safety at the Clyde submarine base, Faslane. The hon. Member will appreciate that a full investigation of all past and present contracts to determine whether any consultancy services were required could be carried out only at disproportionate cost and effort.

  Faslane Shiplift
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment has been supplied by Northern Engineering Industries for the shiplift project and the syncrolift, Faslane.

  Mr. Aitken
  Northern Engineering Industries supplied the syncrolift, control systems and five cranes.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid to firms contracted to establish the safety case for the Faslane Trident shiplift.

  Mr. Aitken
  Expenditure to date is estimated at £20 million.

  Vanguard Class Submarines
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average surface displacement weight of the Vanguard class missile submarine.

  Mr. Aitken
  The surface displacement of the Vanguard class Trident missile submarine is some 14,000 tonnes.
  603

  Defence Work (Relocation)
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what future plans he has to encourage the allocation of defence work and related employment to the north of England and Scotland.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Ministry of Defence does consider the employment implications when placing contracts, consulting the DTI and other Departments as appropriate. My Department's prime concern, as a customer, must be to obtain the best value for money for the taxpayer. It is for companies to decide where to locate their facilities and where to carry out work arising from contracts, though in so deciding they no doubt take into account the various Government measures to assist industry in particular areas. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry informed the House on 12 May,Official Report, column 801, of the measures being considered to help Tyneside.

  Iraq (Defence Equipment)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what letter he sent to defence industry firms concerning Government policy on exports of defence equipment to Iraq in(a) 1984 and (b) 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  This is a matter for Lord Justice Scott's inquiry to consider.

  Documents (Destruction)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 March,Official Report, column 759, what criteria are used when considering whether or not to destroy documents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department's records are reviewed in accordance with the terms of the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967. No file of administrative or possible historical value is destroyed before five years after closure. Files are reviewed for permanent preservation after 25 years.

  Scott Inquiry
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information resulting from recent inspections of Iraq by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations has been provided to the Scott inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  It would be inappropriate for me to comment in detail on the nature of information provided to Lord Justice Scott's inquiry, which is a matter between the inquiry and the Government Departments concerned.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 March,Official Report, column 759, if he will publish a list of all the documents relating to the Scott inquiry that have been destroyed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14 April,Official Report, column 573.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police, South Wales
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now agree to the chief constable of South Wales's bid for an increase in the police establishment.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No. My right hon. and learned Friend has decided that, in view of the need to maintain firm controls over public expenditure, the costs of increases in police establishments in 1993–94 cannot be justified.

  Overseas Domestic Workers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish centrally funded facilities to assist overseas domestic workers seeking protection from abusive employers.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has given to the report of an investigation into the conditions of overseas domestic workers, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We have replied to the organisation that sent a copy of the report to my right hon. and learned Friend. I have placed a copy of our reply in the Library.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were held on remand in custody in prisons in England and Wales as at 1 May.

  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.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 12 May 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to write to you directly in reply to your Parliamentary Question about the population of remand prisoners in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. The latest available information is for 31 March 1993 and shows that 9,687 male and 309 female untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners were held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. No prisoners were held in police cells at this time.

  Metropolitan Police (Racialism)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been dismissed from the Metropolitan police force following proven charges of racialism in the course of their duties as police officers in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This is a matter for the Commissioner. However, I am informed that no Metropolitan police officer has been found guilty of the disciplinary offence of racially discriminatory behaviour in the past three years.
  605

  Life Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were serving a life prison sentence in prisons in the United Kingdom as at 1 May.

  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.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 12 May 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to write to you directly in reply to your Parliamentary Question about the population of life sentence prisoners in Prison Service establishments. The latest available information is for 31 March 1993 and shows

  Arrests for all types of offences

  Police force area

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Avon and Somerset

  35,891

  38,350

  37,930

  39,796

  40,687

  34,190

  36,290

  37,592

  39,852

  42,421

  39,216

  Bedfordshire

  15,831

  16,679

  16,068

  16,699

  17,147

  14,232

  15,694

  15,864

  14,886

  17,705

  17,543

  Cambridgeshire

  17,757

  16,544

  16,303

  15,702

  16,187

  15,552

  17,239

  16,388

  16,466

  18,389

  17,699

  Cheshire

  18,511

  19,526

  19,730

  19,824

  21,265

  21,207

  23,310

  24,068

  25,103

  27,823

  29,684

  Cleveland

  24,565

  24,181

  27,560

  25,982

  27,049

  24,226

  24,670

  24,351

  25,527

  26,584

  28,061

  Cumbria

  12,434

  13,612

  13,379

  14,430

  15,959

  14,446

  14,591

  16,346

  18,244

  19,479

  21,275

  Derbyshire

  17,850

  19,253

  20,167

  22,120

  21,687

  19,044

  20,126

  20,751

  22,781

  23,079

  23,708

  Devon and Cornwall

  21,499

  23,336

  25,819

  26,679

  28,999

  25,342

  27,704

  28,717

  30,786

  31,404

  34,024

  Dorset

  13,068

  14,197

  14,356

  13,332

  13,554

  12,880

  13,478

  13,981

  16,048

  17,487

  18,382

  Durham

  16,616

  18,427

  18,274

  19,712

  18,943

  18,286

  21,762

  23,303

  25,415

  25,965

  25,125

  Essex

  31,138

  33,792

  34,805

  47,965

  38,184

  32,398

  35,140

  35,607

  37,913

  39,990

  40,100

  Gloucestershire

  11,758

  12,559

  12,438

  12,078

  12,814

  11,557

  12,428

  12,787

  14,409

  17,043

  17,020

  Greater Manchester

  102,118

  110,537

  107,746

  110,213

  116,647

  101,804

  109,963

  110,307

  115,248

  116,678

  116,916

  Hampshire

  42,551

  45,063

  44,325

  44,022

  50,194

  49,796

  52,052

  54,419

  61,063

  63,171

  62,330

  Hertfordshire

  19,092

  19,463

  20,129

  18,963

  18,487

  16,405

  20,538

  20,114

  22,868

  22,648

  23,191

  Humberside

  30,662

  34,081

  35,095

  33,480

  35,997

  34,807

  35,106

  32,981

  35,568

  36,066

  35,847

  Kent

  37,003

  39,173

  38,491

  38,236

  41,520

  41,428

  46,808

  47,806

  47,253

  47,007

  47,992

  Lancashire

  39,844

  39,983

  45,261

  49,848

  48,666

  46,197

  47,881

  51,053

  53,129

  57,235

  62,104

  Leicestershire

  21,202

  21,293

  20,660

  19,952

  22,159

  20,262

  20,945

  22,181

  24,604

  24,949

  26,417

  Lincolnshire

  13,203

  13,938

  14,747

  11,987

  13,010

  13,797

  17,282

  16,550

  18,089

  21,474

  22,680

  London, City of

  3,390

  3,577

  3,582

  3,596

  3,511

  3,558

  3,702

  4,248

  4,489

  4,809

  4,688

  Merseyside

  57,139

  57,165

  60,452

  60,554

  59,216

  51,467

  54,088

  56,914

  62,559

  69,207

  72,930

  Metropolitan Police1

  340,809

  362,137

  364,703

  349,941

  1109,786

  103,084

  109,587

  108,706

  111,420

  116,865

  113,586

  Norfolk

  10,155

  13,951

  16,010

  16,292

  16,448

  14,812

  17,232

  17,765

  19,131

  22,727

  20,898

  Northamptonshire

  15,151

  15,505

  15,407

  15,868

  14,572

  13,382

  14,193

  16,088

  16,993

  18,242

  19,353

  Northumbria

  62,121

  61,180

  56,764

  53,704

  57,203

  54,999

  60,206

  59,302

  62,415

  65,694

  68,847

  North Yorkshire

  11,829

  12,370

  12,532

  13,780

  14,308

  14,216

  16,656

  17,541

  17,531

  20,221

  20,936

  Nottinghamshire

  32,625

  33,532

  34,106

  29,835

  35,485

  35,970

  37,423

  38,481

  42,679

  45,468

  46,487

  South Yorkshire

  44,550

  46,653

  46,097

  48,903

  49,681

  32,791

  35,859

  37,731

  39,914

  43,979

  45,722

  Staffordshire

  31,833

  33,719

  34,782

  38,118

  36,405

  31,831

  34,585

  32,351

  36,481

  36,861

  39,142

  Suffolk

  12,452

  12,509

  12,434

  13,134

  13,778

  10,450

  12,010

  12,574

  13,053

  13,905

  15,796

  Surrey

  17,536

  18,255

  19,357

  18,622

  17,101

  16,569

  18,582

  18,495

  19,468

  20,920

  19,940

  Sussex

  35,294

  36,492

  35,817

  34,174

  33,348

  29,872

  32,448

  31,329

  35,574

  37,358

  39,247

  Thames Valley

  42,076

  46,950

  49,254

  48,136

  51,817

  47,686

  48,199

  50,225

  57,246

  59,098

  59,458

  Warwickshire

  —

  8,846

  8,671

  8,667

  9,379

  10,112

  10,625

  10,998

  12,812

  13,161

  14,138

  West Mercia

  22,692

  24,104

  24,522

  25,525

  26,123

  25,004

  25,027

  26,114

  28,590

  32,285

  32,048

  West Midlands

  87,376

  91,158

  91,933

  90,816

  97,329

  86,602

  93,562

  104,116

  119,069

  123,868

  131,062

  West Yorkshire

  56,702

  59,504

  58,277

  55,609

  60,577

  67,103

  70,640

  70,093

  78,215

  84,172

  85,867

  Wiltshire

  8,857

  9,029

  9,388

  10,749

  10,876

  8,586

  9,846

  11,187

  13,195

  14,507

  13,670

  Dyfed-Powys

  8,605

  9,422

  9,589

  11,368

  10,932

  8,191

  8,803

  10,224

  11,774

  12,699

  13,466

  Gwent

  15,955

  16,407

  15,871

  14,949

  16,101

  14,811

  16,338

  16,694

  16,855

  17,060

  17,796

  North Wales

  11,003

  12,248

  13,977

  15,801

  17,461

  16,502

  18,092

  18,951

  20,626

  22,629

  24,338

  South Wales

  35,795

  42,915

  45,453

  50,964

  52,874

  44,814

  46,901

  50,099

  52,645

  56,061

  57,143

  1 From 1985 MPD decided only to record arrest figures in terms of notifiable offences.

  Police Evidence
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces are currently able to comply with the recommendations in the report of the working group on pre-trial issues(a) that witnesses'
  606
  that there were 3,108 prisoners in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales serving life sentences, of whom 3,000 were men and 108 were women.

  Arrests
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were(a) arrested, (b) formally cautioned and (c) charged with an offence for each of the last 10 years in each police force area.

  Mr. Jack
  Information concerning arrests, for all offences, 1981 to 1991 is given in the table. Cautioning data by police force area is published annually in "Criminal statistics England and Wales Supplementary tables Volume 3", table S3.7A in issues 1981 to 1990 and table S3.6A in issue 1991 refer. Copies are available in the Library. 1992 information will not be available until the autumn. Data on the number of people charged are not collected centrally.

  statements, interview records, case summaries and records of previous convictions be typed, (b) that there be a time limit of three weeks for the police to provide a full file of evidence to the Crown prosecution service and (c) that there be a time limit of two weeks for the police to provide

  607
  an abbreviated file of evidence to the Crown prosecution service; and what is his assessment of the reasons for the extent of non-compliance.

  Mr. Jack
  Around a quarter of all police forces have so far implemented the full typing recommendations. The balance of forces are working to achieve this by 31 December 1993 a date set in 1992 as one of the recommendations of the steering group on pre-trial issues. All forces have introduced the time limit guidance for the provision of full and abbreviated files to the Crown prosecution service. While there will always be complex or difficult cases where it is not possible to meet the targets, police forces are working to achieve compliance with the standard.

  Prison Population
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average number of prisoners in each prison in the latest year for which figures are available.

  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 Ms Dawn Primarolo, dated 12 May 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question, for written answer on 10 May, on the average population in each Prison Service establishment.
  The attached table shows the average population in all establishments in England and Wales in 1992–93.

  Average population figures for year ending 31 March 1993

  Number

  Acklington

  677

  Albany

  252

  Aldington

  103

  Ashwell

  384

  Askham Grange

  97

  Aylesbury

  231

  Bedford

  245

  Belmarsh

  732

  Birmingham

  888

  Blantyre House

  93

  Blundeston

  325

  Brinsford

  319

  Bristol

  398

  Brixton

  718

  Brockhill

  150

  Bullingdon

  418

  Bullwood Hall

  104

  Camp Hill

  396

  Canterbury

  167

  Cardiff

  424

  Castington

  239

  Channings Wood

  562

  Chelmsford

  337

  Coldingley

  205

  Cookham Wood

  112

  Dartmoor

  509

  Deerbolt

  493

  Dorchester

  193

  Dover

  218

  Downview

  280

  Drake Hall

  166

  Durham

  646

  East Sutton Park

  78

  Elmley

  502

  Erlestoke

  205

  608

  Number

  Everthorpe

  221

  Exeter

  380

  Featherstone

  547

  Feltham

  867

  Finnamore Wood

  76

  Ford

  457

  Frankland

  309

  Full Sutton

  439

  Garth

  484

  Gartree

  241

  Glen Parva

  686

  Gloucester

  190

  Grendon

  180

  Guys Marsh

  141

  Haslar

  110

  Hatfield

  146

  Haverigg

  304

  Hewell Grange

  134

  High Down

  319

  Highpoint

  598

  HIndley

  393

  Hollesley Bay

  288

  Holloway

  456

  Holme House

  445

  Hull

  330

  Huntercombe

  191

  Kingston

  94

  Kirkham

  465

  Kirklevington

  19

  Dr. Kypros Loucas
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 March,Official Report, column 320, if a decision has yet been reached on the employment of Dr. Kypros Loucas at Wormwood Scrubs prison.

  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. Neil Gerrard, dated 12 May 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the employment of Dr. Kypros Loucas.
  The employment of Dr. Loucas at HMP Wormwood Scrubs was terminated with effect from 22 March 1993.

  Minimum Sentences
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he uses(a) when deciding whether to make a recommendation of minimum sentence and (b) when making that recommendation.

  Mr. Jack
  It is assumed that by "recommendation of minimum sentence", the hon. Member refers to the part played by the Secretary of State in the administration of the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. This is the only occasion on which the Secretary of State would be involved in considering the minimum period that should be served in custody; in such cases, it is his responsibility to determine, after taking into account the views of the trial judge and the Lord Chief Justice, the minimum period necessary to satisfy the requirements of retribution and deterrence. This period is known as the "tariff".

  Prison Medical Officers
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of whole-time equivalent prison medical officers in each prison.

  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 Ms Dawn Primarolo, dated 12 May 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding the number of whole time equivalent prison medical officers in each prison.
  There are 243 prison medical officers employed in the Prison Service. This figure includes medical officers of all

  Complaints cases received 1987–1992

  Police forces in England and Wales

  Total cases received

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Avon and Somerset

  412

  463

  446

  561

  641

  726

  Bedfordshire

  131

  117

  111

  125

  138

  183

  Cambridgeshire

  134

  174

  227

  273

  252

  212

  Cheshire

  298

  293

  315

  335

  313

  355

  City of London

  36

  41

  41

  45

  49

  24

  Cleveland

  339

  319

  311

  252

  293

  275

  Cumbria

  263

  239

  284

  298

  251

  275

  Derbyshire

  239

  258

  288

  310

  296

  315

  Devon and Cornwall

  254

  271

  294

  447

  500

  488

  Dorset

  220

  216

  201

  179

  170

  160

  Durham

  298

  329

  238

  201

  206

  166

  Dyfed and Powys

  149

  179

  184

  137

  156

  153

  Essex

  268

  294

  350

  405

  426

  394

  Gloucestershire

  182

  224

  230

  252

  322

  329

  Greater Manchester

  1,265

  1,289

  1,398

  1,700

  1,750

  1,820

  Gwent

  209

  226

  289

  266

  268

  234

  Hampshire

  394

  350

  614

  628

  586

  583

  Hertfordshire

  171

  212

  229

  239

  272

  238

  Humberside

  435

  447

  420

  501

  471

  463

  Kent

  359

  440

  428

  392

  452

  512

  Lanccashire

  260

  281

  317

  338

  447

  463

  Leicestershire

  340

  327

  345

  400

  286

  306

  Lincolnshire

  182

  134

  81

  74

  65

  74

  Merseyside

  778

  839

  1,008

  1,181

  1,101

  1,204

  Norfolk

  229

  216

  253

  299

  303

  328

  Northamptonshire

  110

  104

  136

  185

  195

  192

  Northumbria

  385

  413

  441

  508

  474

  470

  North Wales

  135

  112

  234

  317

  280

  314

  North Yorkshire

  131

  189

  200

  218

  184

  185

  Nottinghamshire

  283

  340

  380

  387

  389

  388

  South Wales

  539

  573

  596

  546

  580

  625

  South Yorkshire

  331

  349

  436

  442

  380

  435

  Staffordshire

  379

  441

  476

  499

  554

  478

  Suffolk

  203

  181

  229

  224

  198

  251

  Surrey

  210

  210

  247

  264

  232

  226

  Sussex

  193

  161

  199

  285

  368

  477

  Thames Valley

  438

  399

  420

  458

  398

  522

  Warwickshire

  110

  117

  171

  233

  155

  105

  West Mercia

  257

  320

  371

  381

  297

  321

  West Midlands

  644

  748

  944

  958

  948

  1,075

  West Yorkshire

  932

  922

  1,058

  977

  973

  944

  Wiltshire

  162

  160

  166

  193

  141

  151

  Metropolitan

  4,864

  5,294

  5,350

  4,371

  3,928

  4,294

  Total

  18,149

  19,211

  20,956

  21,284

  20,688

  21,733

  610
  grades and part-time medical officers where appropriate. In some instances two part-time posts will form a full-time equivalent.

  A list of all establishments showing the breakdown of prison medical officers in each prison by grade and indicating both full and part-time posts has been laid in the library of the House.

  Police (Complaints)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of complaints against the police investigated in each police authority in England and Wales for each year since 1987.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Figures of those complaints that receive a full investigation are not readily available. The table gives figures for all complaint cases received by forces during 1987–92. A case may consist of more than one matter giving cause for complaint.
  611

  NHS Loto
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the police completed their investigation into the National Hospital Trust lottery scheme, NHS Loto, mentioned in paragraph 85 of the report of the Gaming Board for Great Britain 1989–90; what was the outcome of the investigation; and what action has since been taken.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that the case is currently being considered by the Crown prosecution service in the light of recent reports by the police.

  Immigration Service (Privatisation)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to privatise or contract out duties presently carried out by immigration officials; what research has been carried out to assess the possibility of future privatisation in this area; what representations he has received on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Unaccompanied1 children, aged 17 or under applying for asylum on their arrival in the United Kingdom, by nationality

  1992 (whole year)

  1993

  January

  February

  March

  April

  Afghanistan

  11

  2

  3

  2

  —

  Angola

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Colombia

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cyprus

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ethiopia

  19

  3

  —

  1

  —

  Ghana

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ivory Coast

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Iraq

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Iran

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kenya

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Lebanon

  3

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Libya

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Malaysia

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Pakistan

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Poland

  3

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Sierra Leone

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Somalia

  53

  7

  1

  5

  4

  Sri Lanka

  36

  4

  —

  7

  1

  Turkey

  14

  2

  1

  3

  1

  Uganda

  4

  —

  —

  4

  —

  Former Yugoslavia

  18

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Zaire

  10

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Total

  185

  22

  6

  23

  11

  1 Unaccompanied at the point of their arrival, and not known to be joining a close relative in the United Kingdom.

  Police (Contracting Unit)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for contracting out functions and duties currently carried out by the Metropolitan police and other police forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Compulsory competitive tendering is to be extended to 40 per cent. of the annual cost of police vehicle maintenance and repair in the first instance, and to 90 per cent. of the annual cost of the cleaning of police buildings. CCT will also be extended in due course to a proportion of the cost of police authority and construction services.
  612
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Home Office market testing programme for 1992–93 includes the provision of catering and security guard services and the recruitment of Immigration Service personnel by the immigration and nationality department. The proposals for 1993–94 are to market test in the immigration and nationality department, the typing, postroom and registries, reprographic and messengerial support services. Discussions have been held including with trade union representatives.

  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to market test the work of immigration officers at ports of entry or the work of other officials who take decisions on his behalf under immigration law.

  Refugees
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unaccompanied children under 18 years applied for refugee status on arrival in the United Kingdom in 1992 and in each month in 1993; and what was the country of origin of these children.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information is given in the table.

  The Metropolitan police are not covered by local authority statutory requirements, but a policy of market testing has been introduced. The aim is to test up to 30 per cent. of the work of the personnel, finance, technology, and property services departments over the next two and a half years. Action plans are also being drawn up to market test other administrative and support functions. The extend to which the above work will be contracted out or retained in-house will depend upon the results of individual testing exercises.

  I refer also to the reply I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) on 16 February, at columnn 139, that the court escort service in the Metropolitan police district and in three other areas should be contracted out.
  613

  Safer Cities
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the sums of money the Government are making available directly to each of the original 16 safer city projects during the transitional period, together with the date on which transitional finance will commence in each case and the length of time for which it will continue to be available in each case.

  Mr. Jack
  The original 16 safer cities projects will cease to receive Home Office funding after March 1994.

  Each of these projects has £100,000 available in grant funding in 1993–94 to support local crime prevention schemes. In addition, in the current financial year they have access to further funds from a central pool of £500,000 which has been set aside to assist the development locally of continuing structures from the maintenance of multi-agency crime prevention work.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are being used to decide how the transitional money being made available to the original 16 safer cities projects should be allocated to the respective projects.

  Mr. Jack
  The original 16 safer cities projects due to close in March 1994 have access to a central pool of £500,000 to assist the development locally of continuing structures for the maintenance of multi-agency crime prevention work. That is the only criterion for the use of this money. The projects were invited to submit their plans and expenditure proposals to the Home Office on the assumption that, subject to the viability of the plans, they will each receive about £31,000 from the pool.

  Rail Lines (Vandalism)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a table listing the dates, details and sentences of court hearings for acts of vandalism on rail lines during each of the last three years.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information in the form requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, for the period concerned the number of prosecutions for vandalism on rail lines is as follows:

  England and Wales

  Scotland

  Total

  1991

  582

  48

  630

  1992

  531

  59

  590

  11993

  106

  11

  117

  1 1 January 1993 to 11 May 1993.

  Notifiable offences recorded by offence and Local authority, borough or district

  Metropolitan police district

  Borough/district

  Theft from a vehicle

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  1989

  1991

  19921

  1989

  1991

  19921

  Barking

  2,278

  3,204

  2,927

  1,830

  2,269

  2,187

  Barnet

  3,142

  4,362

  4,723

  1,345

  2,012

  2,019

  Bexley

  1,809

  2,561

  3,092

  1,715

  2,051

  2,290

  Brent

  3,517

  4,305

  4,094

  1,913

  2,298

  2,169

  Bromley

  3,306

  4,574

  5,090

  1,762

  2,674

  3,032

  Camden

  6,395

  6,929

  7,624

  1,938

  2,255

  2,144

  Croydon

  4,748

  5,670

  5,735

  2,551

  3,510

  3,420

  Ealing

  3,689

  4,462

  5,089

  2,280

  2,714

  2,723

  Enfield

  4,201

  4,475

  4,078

  2,154

  2,384

  2,342

  614
  These figures include summary and indictable prosecutions and sentences ranged from four years imprisonment to conditional discharges, depending on the severity of each individual incident.

  Traffic Wardens
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy to bring forward any measures necessary to empower a traffic warden to require the production at a police station by a motorist of a current certificate of motor vehicle insurance in any case in which he or she is currently empowered to require production of a driving licence;

  (2) what powers he has to extend to traffic wardens the power to require a motorist to produce at a police station a certificate of vehicle insurance in any case in which he or she is currently empowered to require production of a driving licence.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answers 10 and 11 May 1993]: Sections 95(5) and 96 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 empower the Secretary of State to make a statutory instrument prescribing the appropriate functions of traffic wardens. Those provisions could be used to empower traffic wardens to require the production of a current certificate of motor insurance in the circumstances described. There are no plans at present to do so.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many crimes were recorded for the Metropolitan police area and for each borough within the metropolitan area in 1989, 1991 and 1992;

  (2) how many crimes were recorded for the Metropolitan police area and for each borough within the metropolitan area in 1989, 1991 and 1992 as (a) burglary of a house, (b), non-domestic burglary, (c) theft from a motor vehicle and (d) theft of a motor vehicle, including taking without consent;

  (3) how many crimes in each category of crime were recorded for the Metropolitan police area and for each borough within the metropolitan area in 1989, 1991 and 1992;

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: Tables giving recorded crime figures broken down by offence group and by borough within the Metropolitan police district are in the Library. Figures for burglary in a dwelling, other burglary and theft of and from motor vehicles by borough have been supplied by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and are given in the tables.
  615

  Borough/district

  Theft from a vehicle

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  1989

  1991

  19921

  1989

  1991

  19921

  Greenwich

  3,953

  4,970

  5,839

  3,013

  3,760

  3,794

  Hackney

  4,762

  5,348

  5,510

  2,820

  2,938

  3,095

  Hammersmith

  3,661

  4,729

  6,297

  1,259

  1,534

  1,635

  Haringey

  3,867

  4,571

  4,711

  2,281

  2,482

  2,506

  Harrow

  1,723

  3,043

  2,840

  896

  1,166

  928

  Havering

  3,042

  3,325

  3,339

  2,272

  2,825

  2,833

  Hillingdon

  2,899

  4,337

  4,527

  1,964

  2,148

  2,076

  Hounslow

  2,345

  3,521

  4,444

  1,343

  2,000

  1,963

  Islington

  4,561

  5,520

  5,282

  2,078

  2,389

  2,381

  Kensington and Chelsea

  3,389

  4,304

  6,778

  1,134

  1,267

  1,425

  Kingston

  1,546

  2,306

  2,321

  643

  936

  767

  Lambeth

  6,147

  8,084

  7,128

  3,628

  3,928

  3,560

  Lewisham

  4,874

  4,694

  4,454

  2,771

  3,381

  3,426

  Merton

  2,560

  3,454

  3,159

  1,332

  1,552

  1,175

  Newham

  5,528

  5,108

  4,476

  3,433

  3,550

  3,635

  Redbridge

  3,525

  3,223

  3,065

  2,173

  2,869

  3,027

  Richmond

  1,602

  2,543

  2,900

  563

  747

  723

  Southwark

  6,062

  7,761

  7,615

  3,039

  3,855

  3,414

  Sutton

  1,584

  2,493

  2,477

  1,126

  1,619

  1,513

  Tower Hamlets

  5,571

  6,158

  5,931

  2,745

  2,895

  2,699

  Wandsworth

  5,205

  7,044

  6,778

  2,254

  2,751

  2,526

  Waltham Forest

  3,560

  3,451

  3,571

  2,499

  2,956

  2,863

  Westminster

  6,458

  6,555

  8,110

  1,665

  2,030

  1,789

  Broxbourne (part)

  712

  918

  709

  373

  501

  490

  Elmbridge (part)

  479

  666

  857

  180

  214

  200

  Epping Forest (part)

  949

  982

  1,116

  544

  590

  853

  Epsom and Ewell

  475

  796

  867

  253

  427

  354

  Hertsmere

  732

  1,232

  1,277

  367

  477

  468

  Reigate and Banstead (part)

  492

  500

  522

  155

  250

  248

  Spelthorne

  723

  1,509

  1,806

  481

  686

  622

  Welwyn Hatfield (part)

  28

  25

  26

  6

  6

  3

  Heathrow Airport

  478

  735

  794

  117

  169

  140

  Thames

  —

  13

  —

  —

  11

  1

  Central cheque squad

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  Total

  126,578

  154,424

  161,978

  66,895

  81,088

  79,459

  1 Provisional

  Notifiable offences recorded by offence and local authority, borough or district

  Metropolitan police district

  Borough/district

  Burglary in a dwelling

  Burglary in other building

  1989

  1991

  19921

  1989

  1991

  19921

  Barking

  1,246

  2,136

  2,329

  1,056

  1,801

  1,546

  Barnet

  3,231

  4,209

  4,327

  1,311

  1,792

  1,692

  Bexley

  1,264

  1,896

  1,975

  889

  988

  1,301

  Brent

  3,700

  5,138

  5,819

  1,612

  2,029

  2,000

  Bromley

  3,178

  3,538

  3,973

  1,341

  2,062

  2,340

  Camden

  3,830

  4,602

  5,105

  2,515

  3,395

  3,108

  Croydon

  3,041

  4,063

  4,503

  1,723

  1,968

  2,199

  Ealing

  3,255

  4,455

  4,555

  1,608

  1,839

  1,867

  Enfield

  2,999

  3,131

  3,103

  1,379

  1,815

  1,844

  Greenwich

  3,097

  4,335

  4,560

  1,387

  2,134

  2,388

  Hackney

  4,854

  5,833

  5,559

  1,998

  2,588

  2,437

  Hammersmith

  2,616

  3,602

  3,266

  1,056

  1,126

  1,364

  Haringey

  3,941

  5,078

  4,072

  1,564

  1,837

  1,481

  Harrow

  1,682

  2,390

  2,852

  746

  988

  1,007

  Havering

  1,374

  2,340

  2,710

  1,193

  1,555

  1,596

  Hillingdon

  1,537

  2,418

  2,330

  1,445

  2,257

  1,600

  Hounslow

  1,780

  2,630

  3,122

  1,225

  2,250

  1,615

  Islington

  2,818

  3,356

  3,460

  2,033

  1,882

  1,961

  Kensington and Chelsea

  4,164

  4,492

  4,422

  1,406

  1,184

  1,441

  Kingston

  861

  1,256

  1,509

  643

  1,141

  1,329

  Lambeth

  5,584

  8,791

  8,488

  1,626

  1,951

  2,063

  Lewisham

  5,193

  5,555

  6,322

  1,479

  2,200

  2,247

  Merton

  1,893

  2,771

  2,862

  1,054

  1,151

  1,112

  Newham

  3,671

  4,713

  4,272

  2,105

  2,403

  2,521

  Redbridge

  2,071

  3,124

  3,463

  1,225

  1,531

  1,527

  Richmond

  1,348

  2,013

  1,791

  741

  1,526

  1,086

  Southwark

  5,270

  6,604

  6,322

  2,336

  2,939

  2,677

  Sutton

  1,305

  1,755

  1,966

  626

  1,166

  1,277

  Tower Hamlets

  2,549

  2,728

  2,685

  2,148

  2,314

  2,523

  Wandsworth

  3,775

  5,844

  4,244

  1,727

  2,092

  1,966

  Waltham Forest

  2,820

  3,229

  3,208

  1,474

  1,390

  1,438

  Westminster

  4,777

  5,264

  5,350

  4,286

  4,236

  4,339

  616 617

  Borough/district

  Burglary in a dwelling

  Burglary in other building

  1989

  1991

  19921

  1989

  1991

  19921

  Broxbourne (part)

  369

  325

  324

  432

  291

  308

  Elmbridge (part)

  421

  510

  468

  245

  234

  339

  Epping Forest (part)

  487

  514

  587

  247

  324

  436

  Epsom and Ewell

  428

  708

  687

  360

  451

  435

  Hertsmere

  516

  614

  579

  415

  740

  681

  Reigate and Banstead (part)

  265

  357

  354

  138

  263

  173

  Spelthorne

  376

  417

  492

  464

  685

  560

  Welwyn Hatfield (part)

  17

  20

  8

  8

  6

  4

  Heathrow airport

  5

  16

  2

  27

  69

  26

  Thames

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Total

  97,608

  126,770

  128,026

  51,293

  64,594

  63,854

  1 Provisional

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many crimes were recorded in 1992 for(a) each county in England and Wales and (b) each district within each county; and what was the percentage change in each case compared with the equivalent figures for (i) 1991 and (ii) 1989;

  (2) how many crimes were recorded for each category of crime in 1992 for (a) each county in England and Wales and (b) each district within each county; and what was the percentage change in each case compared with the equivalent figure in (i) 1991 and (ii) 1989;

  (3) how many crimes were recorded for each police authority area in England and Wales in (a) 1991 and

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police by police force area and offence group

  England and Wales 1992

  Number of offences

  Police force area

  Total

  Violence against the person

  Sexual offences

  Robbery

  Burglary

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  Fraud and forgery

  Criminal damage

  Other offences

  Avon and Somerset

  175,404

  5,151

  586

  1,320

  43,163

  94,469

  5,699

  24,368

  648

  Bedfordshire

  59,436

  1,900

  254

  605

  15,775

  30,414

  2,101

  8,137

  250

  Cambridgeshire

  66,339

  2,777

  437

  291

  14,383

  38,752

  1,764

  7,529

  406

  Cheshire

  79,491

  2,784

  459

  320

  21,766

  39,514

  2,414

  10,866

  1,368

  Cleveland

  84,312

  2,651

  268

  289

  20,504

  44,798

  1,679

  13,839

  284

  Cumbria

  45,336

  1,945

  168

  100

  11,673

  22,543

  858

  7,744

  305

  Derbyshire

  88,449

  3,973

  418

  345

  22,225

  44,686

  1,349

  14,838

  615

  Devon and Cornwall

  114,675

  3,926

  665

  310

  28,728

  60,658

  3,601

  15,936

  851

  Dorset

  52,238

  1,505

  345

  164

  9,957

  29,997

  3,726

  5,761

  783

  Durham

  67,315

  2,447

  412

  153

  13,486

  34,822

  2,572

  12,923

  500

  Essex

  115,062

  4,334

  620

  530

  26,497

  61,748

  3,670

  16,959

  704

  Gloucestershire

  60,601

  1,646

  269

  268

  16,405

  34,074

  2,087

  5,439

  413

  Greater Manchester

  395,195

  10,128

  1,409

  4,310

  103,390

  192,988

  11,819

  68,498

  2,653

  Hampshire

  153,256

  5,245

  1,121

  605

  34,533

  83,636

  5,146

  21,736

  1,234

  Hertfordshire

  59,129

  1,882

  294

  349

  12,427

  32,734

  1,594

  9,426

  423

  Humberside

  128,743

  4,950

  773

  419

  38,954

  60,571

  3,184

  19,383

  509

  Kent

  159,881

  5,736

  1,100

  605

  31,099

  89,244

  4,356

  26,326

  1,415

  Lancashire

  132,138

  3,196

  420

  530

  27,480

  70,678

  3,833

  24,869

  1,132

  Leicestershire

  97,468

  3,490

  559

  864

  23,251

  52,480

  3,156

  13,141

  527

  Lincolnshire

  49,306

  2,229

  316

  119

  10,990

  26,057

  1,404

  7,636

  555

  London, City of

  6,768

  230

  29

  62

  875

  4,630

  485

  391

  66

  Merseyside

  149,672

  7,134

  705

  2,036

  34,624

  74,598

  5,098

  23,650

  1,827

  Metropolitan police district

  942,878

  37,669

  5,876

  23,555

  191,880

  465,564

  39,664

  171,949

  6,721

  Norfolk

  66,996

  1,833

  384

  212

  17,027

  36,744

  1,814

  8,503

  479

  Northamptonshire

  59,550

  2,466

  295

  293

  13,115

  29,600

  1,556

  11,820

  405

  Northumbria

  224,442

  6,348

  766

  1,064

  66,072

  93,193

  3,507

  52,664

  828

  North Yorkshire

  54,816

  1,921

  226

  129

  15,610

  29,511

  1,033

  5,951

  435

  Nottinghamshire

  164,417

  8,314

  1,083

  1,065

  36,374

  87,942

  4,023

  25,009

  607

  South Yorkshire

  137,336

  4,896

  593

  716

  41,907

  65,550

  2,009

  20,446

  1,219

  Staffordshire

  97,536

  5,452

  446

  391

  28,830

  46,184

  2,246

  13,503

  484

  Suffolk

  44,721

  2,087

  375

  150

  9,004

  23,729

  1,772

  6,997

  607

  Surrey

  53,468

  2,025

  395

  224

  12,021

  29,605

  2,078

  6,793

  327

  Sussex

  119,364

  3,134

  845

  542

  28,983

  66,402

  3,820

  14,363

  1,275

  Thames Valley

  197,799

  4,762

  845

  1,011

  37,424

  114,337

  7,651

  30,518

  1,251

  Warwickshire

  44,996

  1,275

  237

  128

  12,741

  23,384

  1,129

  5,832

  270

  West Mercia

  79,175

  3,429

  505

  246

  16,926

  45,033

  1,342

  11,203

  491

  West Midlands

  329,260

  11,637

  1,583

  5,008

  101,111

  150,994

  8,293

  48,804

  1,830

  618
  (b) 1992 as being (i) burglary of homes, (ii) non-domestic burglary, (iii) theft from motor vehicles and cars and (iv) theft of motor vehicles, including taking without consent.

  (4) what was the total number of crimes recorded for each category of crime for each police force area in England and Wales in 1992.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 29 April 1993]: The information collected centrally relates to police force areas and the available statistics are provided in the tables. Figures for crimes recorded by category in 1989 and 1991 are published by police force area in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" in table 2.5
  619

  Police force area

  Total

  Violence against the person

  Sexual offences

  Robbery

  Burglary

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  Fraud and forgery

  Criminal damage

  Other offences

  West Yorkshire

  305,264

  9,605

  1,361

  2,761

  90,231

  148,447

  6,183

  44,252

  2,424

  Wiltshire

  42,229

  2,570

  475

  135

  9,223

  21,621

  1,711

  6,069

  425

  Dyfed-Powys

  28,539

  2,188

  389

  49

  5,100

  14,307

  906

  5,311

  289

  Gwent

  40,961

  2,394

  334

  117

  8,239

  22,085

  1,095

  6,356

  341

  North Wales

  49,204

  2,611

  336

  113

  12,472

  23,891

  1,354

  8,040

  387

  South Wales

  168,554

  5,904

  552

  391

  38,799

  82,334

  3,819

  35,935

  820

  England and Wales

  5,591,719

  201,779

  29,528

  52,894

  1,355,274

  2,844,548

  168,600

  899,713

  39,383

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police by police force area

  England and Wales

  Burglary in a dwelling

  Burglary in a building other than a dwelling

  Police force area

  1991

  1992

  1991

  1992

  Avon and Somerset

  15,795

  22,225

  18,166

  20,938

  Bedfordshire

  6,057

  6,999

  6,816

  8,776

  Cambridgeshire

  4,828

  6,361

  7,069

  8,022

  Cheshire

  8,317

  9,907

  8,220

  11,859

  Cleveland

  10,190

  13,151

  7,088

  7,353

  Cumbria

  4,426

  4,791

  6,400

  6,882

  Derbyshire

  7,116

  8,335

  11,384

  13,890

  Devon and Cornwall

  11,345

  12,894

  14,363

  15,834

  Dorset

  4,862

  5,286

  4,425

  4,671

  Durham

  6,464

  7,091

  7,101

  6,395

  Essex

  9,807

  10,016

  15,173

  16,481

  Gloucestershire

  5,387

  7,505

  7,214

  8,900

  Greater Manchester

  59,605

  63,868

  38,110

  39,522

  Hampshire

  14,062

  15,610

  17,941

  18,923

  Hertfordshire

  4,935

  5,391

  5,955

  7,036

  Humberside

  12,882

  15,190

  20,067

  23,764

  Kent

  15,836

  18,467

  10,699

  12,632

  Lancashire

  13,971

  16,654

  11,074

  10,826

  Leicestershire

  11,513

  12,330

  10,013

  10,921

  Lincolnshire

  4,251

  5,640

  4,740

  5,350

  City of London

  73

  40

  997

  835

  Merseyside

  21,473

  22,465

  12,136

  12,159

  Metropolitan police district

  126,861

  128,026

  64,621

  63,854

  Norfolk

  6,023

  6,078

  9,313

  10,949

  Northamptonshire

  5,742

  6,019

  6,406

  7,096

  Northumbria

  31,413

  32,499

  34,688

  33,573

  North Yorkshire

  4,975

  7,096

  7,363

  8,514

  Nottinghamshire

  14,092

  18,753

  16,476

  17,621

  South Yorkshire

  15,085

  18,372

  20,176

  23,535

  Staffordshire

  9,846

  12,570

  13,677

  16,260

  Suffolk

  2,859

  3,648

  4,779

  5,356

  Surrey

  5,157

  5,276

  6,280

  6,745

  Sussex

  13,427

  15,272

  13,047

  13,711

  Thames Valley

  17,545

  19,542

  16,520

  17,882

  Warwickshire

  3,228

  4,279

  7,062

  8,462

  West Mercia

  6,208

  7,760

  8,387

  9,166

  West Midlands

  41,624

  52,202

  42,460

  48,909

  West Yorkshire

  41,857

  51,825

  36,769

  38,406

  Wiltshire

  3,564

  4,334

  4,594

  4,889

  England

  602,701

  683,767

  557,769

  606,897

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,528

  1,545

  3,168

  3,555

  Gwent

  3,227

  3,960

  4,250

  4,279

  North Wales

  3,876

  4,586

  6,308

  7,886

  South Wales

  13,614

  14,374

  23,023

  24,425

  Wales

  22,245

  24,465

  36,749

  40,145

  England and Wales

  624,946

  708,232

  594,518

  647,042

  620

  621

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police

  England and Wales

  Theft from a vehicle

  Theft of a vehicle

  Police force area

  1991

  1992

  1991

  1992

  Avon and Somerset

  10,181

  32,109

  19,903

  24,873

  Bedfordshire

  12,035

  11,008

  8,292

  8,069

  Cambridgeshire

  8,998

  11,403

  4,655

  5,796

  Cheshire

  9,485

  12,866

  8,289

  9,010

  Cleveland

  12,369

  12,063

  11,712

  12,433

  Cumbria

  6,627

  8,315

  3,632

  3,113

  Derbyshire

  13,621

  17,052

  7,410

  9,024

  Devon and Cornwall

  19,526

  22,023

  7,923

  7,641

  Dorset

  8,618

  8,593

  4,560

  3,677

  Durham

  10,053

  9,760

  8,640

  8,588

  Essex

  20,610

  20,509

  11,377

  11,493

  Gloucestershire

  11,432

  14,563

  3,927

  4,642

  Greater Manchester

  60,461

  60,112

  55,338

  57,862

  Hampshire

  26,720

  28,824

  11,919

  11,003

  Hertfordshire

  10,548

  12,046

  6,149

  6,467

  Humberside

  17,909

  19,953

  8,506

  8,839

  Kent

  23,558

  24,971

  17,962

  18,910

  Lancashire

  21,687

  23,655

  11,042

  12,288

  Leicestershire

  16,104

  18,239

  10,751

  11,195

  Lincolnshire

  4,958

  6,801

  2,779

  3,241

  City of London

  839

  975

  239

  143

  Merseyside

  22,156

  20,514

  16,983

  15,894

  Metropolitan police district

  154,453

  161,978

  81,173

  79,459

  Norfolk

  12,780

  13,197

  5,510

  4,711

  Northamptonshire

  10,466

  8,909

  6,514

  6,701

  Northumbria

  32,680

  28,030

  30,356

  28,954

  North Yorkshire

  8,312

  9,069

  4,999

  4,300

  Nottinghamshire

  27,884

  27,523

  17,603

  16,913

  South Yorkshire

  21,848

  22,572

  16,323

  17,915

  Staffordshire

  15,382

  16,710

  9,290

  11,505

  Suffolk

  6,037

  6,453

  2,721

  2,702

  Surrey

  9,851

  10,923

  4,860

  4,912

  Sussex

  21,020

  22,981

  9,251

  8,953

  Thames Valley

  40,302

  42,834

  22,556

  22,017

  Warwickshire

  8,244

  8,925

  4,700

  4,898

  West Mercia

  11,937

  13,264

  8,652

  7,861

  West Midlands

  54,360

  56,249

  41,415

  39,574

  West Yorkshire

  55,425

  52,807

  40,235

  35,821

  Wiltshire

  5,900

  6,530

  2,967

  2,759

  England

  865,376

  905,308

  551,113

  554,156

  Dyfed-Powys

  3,029

  3,393

  1,476

  1,464

  Gwent

  6,786

  6,569

  3,240

  3,678

  North Wales

  6,970

  8,230

  3,102

  3,551

  South Wales

  31,115

  30,748

  22,970

  22,654

  Wales

  47,900

  48,940

  30,788

  31,347

  England and Wales

  913,276

  954,248

  581,901

  585,503

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Northern Cyprus
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Government Ministers have visited northern cyprus since 1979.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Five.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the status of the United Kingdom's relations with the Turkish republic of northern Cyprus, and on the implications of the visit of the Lord Chancellor to Northern Cyprus.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We do not recognise the so-called Turkish republic of northern Cyprus, and neither does any 622
  other country except Turkey. We do acknowledge the legitimate interests of the Turkish Cypriot community, and have contact with their leaders in order to promote United Nations efforts for an intercommunal settlement in Cyprus and where British consular or other interests are concerned. The Lord Chancellor's informal meeting with Mr. Denktash is in line with this policy; and has no implications for our policy of non-recognition.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations his Department carried out with non-governmental organisations concerned with proliferation matters prior to preparing the British policy position and proposals for the first preparatory committee meeting on 10 to 14 May for the fifth review conference on the nuclear nonproliferation treaty; and what criteria were used in choosing the non-governmental organisations with which he consulted.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Our Department has regular contacts with non-governmental organisations interested in the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and intends to continue these. We received no requests from such organisations for consultations on our policy in regard to this meeting.

  Arms Transfers
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Finchley (Mr. Booth) of 5 May,Official Report, column 144, what was the cost of compiling the United Kingdom submission to the United Nations register of conventional arms transfers; to whom it has been circulated; and what was the purpose of the exports to countries where this is not covered by a note.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested about the cost of the register is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The United Kingdom's return was submitted to the United Nations Secretary-General on 29 April. It was circulated to conference on security and co-operation in Europe participating states on 5 May. The purpose of exports not covered by a footnote in the United Kingdom's return was the fulfilment of contracts placed by the Governments of the countries concerned.

  Hungary
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the purpose and outcome of his recent visit to Hungary.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the oral answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 12 May,Official Report, column 787.

  Belize
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Government of Belize about the proposals to withdraw British troops and personnel from Belize.
  623
  Mr. Garel Jones
  We forewarned the Belizean Government about our plans for the evolution of the British military presence and have taken account of their concerns.

  Diplomatic Estate
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 April,Official Report, column 373, if he will list those publications, in addition to the Official Journal, of the European Community, in which invitations are routinely published for construction companies to tender for work on the overseas diplomatic estate.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The answer is 2,595. Invitations to tender are not routinely published. It is our policy to invite tenders from construction companies shortlisted after pre-selection procedures.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 April,Official Report, column 373, how often, and in what format, the further information about a wider range of projects to which he refers is circulated to the Export Group for the Construction Industries; if that information includes all opportunities for work on the overseas diplomatic estate, or only selected opportunities for such work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The answer is 2,596. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office sends a list about once a year to the Export Group for the Construction Industries of key details about planned projects likely to be of interest to United Kingdom construction companies and of an estimated value above a stated threshold. For 1983–86 the threshold was £250,000; for 1987–89, £500,000; and since 1990, £1 million. The latest list will be sent within the next few weeks.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 April,Official Report, column 373, who are the current members of the Export Group for the Construction Industries.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We understand that the current membership of the Export Group for the Construction Industries is as follows:

  ACER Group

  Amec International Construction

  Balfour Beatty

  Biwater International

  Bovis

  Brown & Root

  CEGELEC Projects

  Costain Civil Engineering

  Drake & Scull International

  John Laing International

  Kier International

  Lilley Construction

  Alfred McAlpine International

  Maples

  Miller Construction

  Mivan Overseas

  Mowlem International

  Edmund Nuttall

  Rotary Group

  Sterling International Civil Engineering

  Tarmac construction

  Taylor Woodrow International

  Trafalgar House Construction

  Wade Adams Construction

  George Wimpey International

  624
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 April,Official Report, column 373 if he will make a statement on the grounds upon which the French company Glauser International was awarded the £4·8 million contract for the work on the new immigration and consular building in Islamabad.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Glauser International was awarded the contract, in preference to the other three firms—one of them British—who submitted tenders, because its tender was the lowest, it had an established presence in Pakistan and it offered higher levels of supervision, including an experienced British project manager, and an earlier completion date.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 April,Official Report, column 373, if he will list those criteria by which practicable participation is assessed when considering tenders by British companies for work on the overseas diplomatic estate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The criteria for practicable participation in given local circumstances are assessed when drawing up the short list of companies to be invited to tender. The criteria include local regulations about the participation of non-local companies and of joint ventures, the managerial and technical competence and the financial status of companies under consideration, the extent of their local presence, experience and knowledge of local working conditions, and their track record in comparable circumstances.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 April,Official Report, column 373, if he will make a statement providing details of the way in which best value for money is assessed when considering tenders by British companies for work on the overseas diplomatic estate.

  Mr. Goodlad
  British companies that meet the pre-qualification criteria are invited to tender in competition with local or other companies, similarly pre-qualified: this ensures competition and the best value of money for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. After their receipt, tenders are assessed on price, compliance with the technical documentation—or acceptable alternatives—and project execution capability.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish details of those contracts valued at £500,000 or more which have been awarded for work on the overseas diplomatic estate in each of the last five years for which figures are available; if he will indicate, in each case, the location of the work, the value of the contract awarded, the name and the nationality of the company which was given the contract; if any British company tendered for the work; in which publications advertisements for the tender were placed; and why, if a British company tendered for the work, its bid was not successful.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The information requested is being deposited in the Library of the House.
  625

  Political Parties (State Funding)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have taken place since his answer of 17 July 1990,Official Report, column 496, in arrangements for state funding for politcal parties in each of the Group of Seven nations.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The information available to us is as follows:

  (a) Canada

  No change from the answer of 17 July 1990, Official Report, column 496;

  (b) France

  A Bill passed in autumn 1992 provided for:

  (i) public funding of political parties which put up at least 50 candidates, in proportion to their share of the vote in the legislative elections and where applicable, to the number of their senators and deputies; and

  (ii) reimbursement of campaign expenses up to a maximum of FF50,000, provided that the

  626
  candidate obtains at least 5 per cent. of the vote in the first round.

  These arrangements will not come into effect until after 1994.

  (c)Germany

  The existing legislation—1990 answer—is under review.

  (d) Italy

  Italians voted in the referendums on 18 and 19 April to abolish state funding of political parties.

  (e) Japan

  No change in formal state funding.

  (f) United States

  President Clinton introduced on 7 May a proposal for campaign finance reform. Under it, candidates accepting voluntary limits on spending would receive vouchers for broadcast air time, postage and printing from federal funds. These would be financed by closing a loophole allowing tax deductions for lobbying expenses and increasing the voluntary check-off on tax returns to $5. The proposal is controversial.