Written Answers of 24 May 1993

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Defender Service
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has for a public defender service.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  None.

  Medical Negligence
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what information he has on the average duration of court cases involving claims for compensation for medical negligence affecting children born with disabilities, during each year since 1987.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information is not available and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps have been undertaken by his Department to date to speed up the process of dealing with claims for compensation for medical negligence in the courts affecting children born with a disability.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Over the last two years a number of jurisdictional, procedural and administrative changes have been introduced with the aim of reducing delay in case progress. These were not designed specifically for medical negligence cases, but such cases will have benefited from new regulations which include the early exchange of more information, including medical reports and other witness' evidence, serving proceedings within four rather than 12 months and allowing courts to deal with the question of liability in advance of the question of quantum.

  Select Committee Recommendations
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about his Department since April 1989; and how many have been accepted.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Of those Select Committee reports which have been wholly or significantly addressed to my Department, the 21st report of the Committee of Public Accounts for the Session 1991–92, on expenditure on criminal legal aid, made eight conclusions and recommendations, which were in general accepted. The third report of the Home Affairs Select Committee—HASC—for the Session 1992–93, on domestic violence, made 42 recommendations some of which were wholly or in part directed at the Lord Chancellor's Department. The fifth report of that Committee, "Legal Aid: The Lord 362
  Chancellor's Proposals", made 10 recommendations. The Government have not yet responded to either of the HASC reports.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Flood Defence Committees
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) on what date the current term of office on National Rivers Authority regional flood defence committees expires for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the National Rivers Authority and local authority appointments, respectively;

  (2) on what date the current period of service on National Rivers Authority local flood defence committees expires for the appointees of regional committees and local authorities.

  Mr. Curry
  The appointment to regional flood defence committees of the National Rivers Authority made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are due to expire on 30 June 1994. Information about the end dates of appointments to these committees by other bodies is not held centrally, but, according to the NRA, its appointments are due to end on 31 August 1994 and in a majority of regions those for local authorities are due to end on 31 May 1993.

  The end dates for appointment to local flood defence committees vary in different regions and, according to information provided by the NRA, range from 31 May 1993 to 30 June 1994.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what written guidance or instructions he has given to the chairmen of National Rivers Authority regional flood defence committees regarding the experience and interests of the appointments made to local flood defence committees under section 13 of the Water Resources Act 1991; and if he will place a copy in the Library;

  (2) what written guidance or instructions he has given to the levy-paying local authorities on the financial, commercial or personal interests of the members whom they appoint to regional flood defence committees of the National Rivers Authority; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Curry
  The broad criteria to be taken into account in appointing members to regional or local flood defence committees are set out in sećtions 10(4) and 13(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991. Schedule 4 to that Act sets out more detailed provisions regarding the membership and proceedings of the committees, including declarations of interests. While the NRA and local councils are encouraged to appoint members representing a broad range of local interests, no supplementary written guidance or instructions have been issued.

  Departmental Officials
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many offcials were employed by his Department to administer, inspect, regulate and advise the fishing industry either directly, in agencies or on special contracts(a) in 1992 and (b) at the latest available date; how many professional fishermen are in full or part-time employment; and if he will make a statement;
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  (2) how many officials were employed by his Department to administer, inspect, regulate and advise the farming industry either directly, in agencies or on special contracts (a) in 1992 and (b) at the latest available date; how many farmers are engaged in full or part-time professional farming; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Information on the numbers of staff in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, its agencies and the Intervention Board is set out in the "Ministry's Departmental Report on the Government's Expenditure Plans 1993–94 to 1995–96" which was issued in February, and which is available in the Library of the House. Although it is not possible to isolate the staff resources devoted to the specific activities listed by my hon. Friend, the report does contain detailed information on the functions performed by the Ministry and the resources consumed. Numbers of fishermen are set out on page 38 of the report, and numbers of farmers are set out in the latest version of "Agriculture in the United Kingdom"—also in the Library.

  EC Beef (West Africa)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about supplies of EC beef in west Africa.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 19 May,Official Report, column 174.

  Seismic Surveys
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish the report into the effects of seismic surveys in shallow waters on(a) fish in general and (b) bass stocks and spawning grounds.

  Mr. Curry
  A study was made of the movements of bass in shallow waters during and after the seismic survey which was undertaken in Poole bay last year. The preliminary report of this work will be available this summer. The area in question does not include any bass spawning grounds.

  Beef Imports
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportions of United Kingdom beef consumption are imported from sources in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Veńezuela, Chile and Peru.

  Mr. Curry
  The proportion of beef consumed in the United Kingdom in 1992 imported as fresh, chilled or frozen beef from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay was 1·3 per cent. No beef was imported from Venezuela, Chile or Peru.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the cost to date and the expected future cost of his Department's market-testing programme; how many staff are engaged full-time in work relating to market 364
  testing; which firms of consultants have been used in connection with the market-testing programme; and how they were selected.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The cost of market testing in the Office of Public Service and Science and its agencies and Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the Central Office of Information from November 1991 to date have been £916,000. The estimated cost for the remainder of the current financial year is £1,102,000. There are eight staff currently engaged full-time on market testing.

  The consultants who have been used by OPSS, its Agencies, HMSO or COI in connection with the market testing programme, and the method of their selection, is as follows:

  CDL Associates (competitive tender)

  Chris Goodall Associates (competitive tender)

  DMW (competitive tender)

  Ernst & Young (competitive tender)

  Ernst & Young (call-off contract)

  OSI (competitive tender)

  PA Consulting (competitive tender)

  Price Waterhouse (competitive tender)

  Shreeveport (single tender)

  Symonds Facilities Management (competitive tender)

  Touche Ross (competitive tender)

ENVIRONMENT

  Polar Bears, Chessington
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations were held with his Department about the sale and removal of the polar bears, Bonnie and Clyde, from Chessington world of adventure to a zoo in Zagreb; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  An application to export the two bears to Zagreb zoo was lodged with the Department in January. The rules governing such exports are set out in EC regulation 3626/82 which implements the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora throughout the European Community.

  The application was considered very carefully, in conjunction with our scientific advisers, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. It was decided that export should be allowed and the appropriate permit was issued on 28 January.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about compulsory competitive tendering for white collar services.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. and learned Friend's answer on 10 November,Official Report, column 743, and to my answer on 19 April Official Report, column 42.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what investigations his Department has been subject by the Data Protection Registrar in relation to a suspected breach of a data protection principle; if he will summarise the nature of each complaint and state when the complaint was made; and what remedial action was taken by his Department to ensure future compliance with the principle subject to the investigation.
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  Mr. Howard
  My Department was notified in November 1991 that the Data Protection Registrar was investigating a complaint made against the Department in relation to the disclosure of personal data held under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The outcome of the investigation is awaited.

  Redundant Refrigerators
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of redundant refrigerators retrieved for the extraction of chlorofluorocarbon gas during the last full year.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Department does not hold these figures. However, we are keen to promote CFC recovery and encourage local authorities to set up recovery schemes. We gave priority to schemes for CFC recovery when distributing supplementary credit approvals for investment in recycling facilities for 1993–94. Twenty-six schemes have been allocated SCAs for 1993–94.

  Nichols Institute Diagnostics
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the prosecution of the Nichols Institute Diagnostics for breach of the Radioactive Substances Act 1960.

  Mr. Maclean
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution prosecuted Nichols Institute Diagnostics for breaches of the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 on its premises at Newport, Essex. At the hearing at Saffron Walden magistrates court on 6 April 1993, the company pleaded guilty to four charges of accumulation of radioactive waste without authorisation, holding radioactive material without a certificate of registration and exceeding the limit for holdings in their registration. The company was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay full prosecution costs of £2,726.

  Environmental Networks
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department provided to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations in the preparation of its recent report on the establishment of environmental networks.

  Mr. Maclean
  The report on the establishment of environmental networks has been produced as part of an environmental project undertaken by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and supported by the Department's environmental action fund. The NCVO received £44,000 in 1992–93 towards the project and a sum of £52,000 has been offered to it in 1993–94.

  Lambeth Services
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has received from the London borough of Lambeth in relation to the five notices serviced on Lambeth on 24 March under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988; and if he will take into account the quality of service currently being given in relation to refuse collection in the London borough of Lambeth.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The London borough of Lambeth has made an interim response to the notices served on the 366
  authority on 24 March. It has requested an extension of time until 4 June 1993 to make a considered final response, and this has been granted. My right hon. and learned Friend, in deciding whether to take further statutory action, will take into account all the relevant information put before him, including the authority's response.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish(a) the number of hours worked and (b) the total amount of money earned by each chairperson of the non-departmental public bodies appointed by him and his predecessors in each year since 1987.

  Mr. Howard
  Information about the remuneration of chairmen appointed to non-departmental public bodies for which my Department is responsible is contained in the annual HMSO publication "Public Bodies". Copies for each year since 1987 are available in the Library of the House. Information on the numbers of hours worked in each year since 1987 is not held centrally.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what initiatives he has planned to encourage the involvement of children in environmental protection.

  Mr. Maclean
  On 29 April my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State announced an initiative to encourage children to protect the environment. The first project will be a summer competition to select participants for a children's summit in Manchester on 18 September. The summit will discuss future projects for the campaign. Every competition entrant will receive an environmental summer activity pack. My Department also supports a number of projects involving children through the environmental action fund.

  Negative Equity
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the number of households where the value of the property is less than the amount of the mortgage.

  Sir George Young
  Based on changes in house prices measured by the Department's house price index, the number of owner occupiers with mortgages larger than the value of their properties in the first quarter of 1993 is estimated to be about 1 million, the same as in the previous quarter.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to seek a derogation from EC measures implementing the terms of the Montreal agreement banning CFCs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 18 May 1993]Under the EC regulation on ozone-depleting substances, CFC production and consumption will be phased out by 1 January 1995, subject to any exemptions for essential uses which may be agreed. My Department issued a consultation paper on possible exemptions in March, and we are now considering carefully the bids we have received.
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  We have no plans to seek derogations from the regulation. We may have nominations for continued production for essential uses.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish the scheme used in calculating the transitional council tax reduction for 1992–93 for each local authority in England;

  (2) if he will publish the amount of other adjustments which formed part of the personal community charge in 1992–93 for each local authority in England;

  (3) if he will publish the amount of the collection fund deficit at the most recent available date for each local authority in England.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 21 May 1993]I am arranging for the available information to be placed in the Library of the House.

  County Councils
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for the Isle of Wight, Cornwall, Somerset and each county council where no political party has overall control,(a) the population, (b) the capital budget for 1993–94 and (c) the revenue budget for 1993–94.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 21 May 1993]The available information is as follows:

  Liberal-Democrat controlled county councils

  Total population1

  Total capital budget 1993–94 £ million

  Total revenue budget 1993–942 £ million

  Isle of Wight

  126,593

  9·018

  78·453

  Cornwall

  473,171

  35·252

  290·095

  Somerset

  469,373

  43·900

  271·355

  County councils with no political party in overall control

  Total population1

  Total capital budget 1993–94 £ million

  Total revenue budget 1993–942 £ million

  Avon

  962,037

  39·830

  570·767

  Bedfordshire

  534,276

  20·179

  352·125

  Berkshire

  752,471

  46·558

  465·589

  Cambridgeshire

  669,898

  31·262

  389·217

  Cheshire

  966,590

  79·857

  587·400

  Cumbria

  489,673

  27·694

  310·634

  Devon

  1,040,021

  44·238

  594·059

  Dorset

  663,091

  n.a.

  353·565

  East Sussex

  716,077

  40·929

  416·519

  Essex

  1,548,329

  64·256

  925·046

  Gloucestershire

  538,779

  33·880

  316·889

  Hampshire

  1,576,295

  110·035

  875·267

  Hereford and Worcester

  686,039

  17·151

  372·260

  Hertfordshire

  991,515

  39·450

  594·557

  Kent

  1,538,943

  121·700

  964·833

  Leicestershire

  890,832

  37·525

  554·413

  Lincolnshire

  592,556

  47·999

  357,829

  Norfolk

  759,363

  41·617

  442·260

  North Yorkshire

  720,626

  43·408

  396·419

  Oxfordshire

  579,650

  37·310

  325·369

  Shropshire

  412,534

  25·905

  241·354

  Suffolk

  661,853

  36·850

  373·373

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  Total population1

  Total capital budget 1993–94 £ million

  Total revenue budget 1993–942 £ million

  Surrey

  1,033,611

  75·512

  535·000

  Warwickshire

  489,850

  23·864

  288·312

  West Sussex

  715,617

  47·549

  403·100

  Wiltshire

  577,399

  22·813

  324·509

  Notes:

  n. a. = information not yet returned by the authority.

  1 Resident population at 30 June 1991 (provisional estimate, as used in the 1993–94 Settlement).

  2 Net revenue expenditure as returned by authorities on the Budget Requirement (BR) return.

  Minerals Planning Guidance
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the consultation draft on the review of MPG 3; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 21 May 1993]I intend to publish the consultation draft of the revised MPG 3 as soon as possible.

PRIME MINISTER

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister if civil service(a) terms and conditions and (b) codes of conduct apply to special advisers attached to Ministers in Government.

  The Prime Minister
  Special advisers have generally the same conditions of service as other civil servants, except that their salaries are negotiated individually in relation to previous earnings and are confidential. Different arrangements apply to severance pay. They are, however, normally paid on a special advisers' salary spine of 30 points.

  Special advisers are subject to the same rules of conduct as other civil servants, with the exception of the rules on the acceptance of outside appointments after resignation or retirement and certain aspects of the rules on political activities.

  European Parliament (Elections)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's policy regarding the de Gucht report on elections to the European Parliament.

  The Prime Minister
  We are ready to discuss the issue in Council when the presidency decides to table the report. If the council were to reach a consensus, which remains to be seen, it would certainly need to respect different national traditions. We acknowledge the attempt made by the de Gucht report to take these considerations into account.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will sympathetically consider any request to meet representatives of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association; and if he will make a statement.
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  The Prime Minister
  Studies so far have shown that the incidence of death and malignant disease has been no greater among British nuclear test veterans than among the general population. If, however, the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association has any new evidence to change the position, I should be pleased to examine it and will readily consider any subsequent request for a meeting in that light.

  British Coal Superannuation Scheme
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the correspondence he has received about the British Coal staff superannuation scheme.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a substantial number of representations on a wide range of coal issues.

  Crossrail
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list all those organisations and companies, other than the Manufacturing and Construction Industries Alliance, from which he has received recent representations concerning the crossrail project.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received representations in recent weeks from the following organisations and companies:

  Aylesbury Vale District Council

  Buckinghamshire County Council

  Grosvenor Estates

  London Chambers Network

  London First

  MEPC plc

  Residents' Association of Mayfair

  Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  The Corporation of the City of London

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the total cost of Britain's contribution to the peace process in the former Yugoslavia.

  The Prime Minister
  The costs cannot be precisely calculated but are considerable in the military, political and humanitarian fields. Up to 31 March 1993, the United Kingdom's contribution to UNPROFOR operations in Croatia and Bosnia has amounted to £93,835,679. Further expenditure of £2,576,831 has been incurred as a result of the airlift of humanitarian supplies to Sarajevo. We expect to recover a proportion of these costs from the United Nations in due course.

  EC Additionality
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister when he last met representatives of the European Commission to discuss the application of the additionality principle by(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other member states; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I last discussed additionality with the Commission and other EC Heads of State and Government at the European Council in Edinburgh. We agreed that the basic principles laid down in 1988—concentration, programming, partnership and additionality—should continue to guide the implementation of the structural funds. Financial control more generally will be 370
  strengthened and greater emphasis will be given to appraisal, monitoring and evaluation. The current review of the structural funds regulations is examining the Commission's proposal on additionality.

  European Court of Human Rights
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he intends to bring to the Council of Europe Heads of State summit in October with regard to the European Court of Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, at its meeting at Strasbourg on 14 May, instructed that work should proceed urgently on the mandate for a draft protocol amending the European convention on human rights, to be submitted to Heads of State and Government at the Council of Europe summit in October. The United Kingdom will contribute fully to this work.

  The purpose of the draft protocol will be to reform the control machinery of the convention, in order to accommodate the growing workload of the European Court and Commission of Human Rights and to ensure that cases are heard in good time. All member states are agreed that such reform is urgently needed.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Human Rights
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the waiting time for cases to be decided in the European Court of Human Rights for cases commencing in the last 10 years; what is the projected waiting time for cases commencing in the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information on the waiting time for cases to be decided by the European Court of Human Rights over the past 10 years is not readily available.

  In practice, most cases are dealt with by the Commission of Human Rights. For those cases which reach the court, the waiting time for a decision is now five to six years. It is clear that, unless there are changes to the machinery of the European convention on human rights, the delays will grow as more countries join the Council of Europe and as awareness of the system increases.

  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has indicated earlier, the United Kingdom will contribute fully to the work now under way to improve the system so that cases are heard in good time.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since 1963 the United Kingdom has been found in breach of the provisions of the European convention of human rights; and what that number represents as a proportion of(a) cases brought against the United Kingdom and (b) plaintiff won cases.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases are currently proceeding against Her Majesty's Government through
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  the European Court of Human Rights; and how much time each has taken so far since commencement of the action.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are at present seven cases before the European Court of Human Rights. These cases were first introduced to the European Commission of Human Rights on 28 September 1988; early 1989; 19 January 1989; 9 October 1989; 8 January 1990; 2 February 1990; and 11 May 1990.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to hold meetings with the three parties involved in the civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Lord Owen and Mr. Stoltenberg, the co-chairmen of the international conference on the former Yugoslavia, hold regular talks with the parties to the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina. They met most recently with the leaders of the Bosnian Government and the Bosnian Croats on 18 May. Military commanders of the three parties meet regularly in the mixed military working group in Sarajevo, under the auspices of the international conference. We have no plans to hold separate meetings with the parties.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what breaches there have been of the no-fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina since the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 816; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  UNPROFOR reports of violations of the no-fly zone give details of 28 breaches or probable breaches between 12 April, when the NATO operation to enforce the no-fly zone began, and 12 May, the end of the period covered by the latest UNPROFOR report.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what importance Her Majesty's Government attach to the current co-operation of the leadership of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in supporting the Vance/Owen peace plan; and what measures have been taken to encourage their further support.

  Mr. Douglas-Hogg
  While we welcome President Milosevic's announcement of support for the Vance/Owen plan, we have made it clear we now expect him to use all his influence to persuade the Bosnian Serbs to accept it. We have called on him to accept international monitoring of the border between Bosnia and Serbia/Montenegro to 372
  establish whether he is carrying out his declared intention to cut off all but essential humanitarian supplies to the Bosnian Serbs. President Milosevic is aware that United Nations Security Council resolution 820 provides for a review of sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro if the Bosnian Serbs accept the peace plan and effectively implement it in good faith.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all confirmed breaches of the no-fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina since its introduction, in circumstances where aircraft are known to have crossed international frontiers; if he will detail the origin and destination of such flights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There have been 545 violations or probable violations of the no-fly zone set up in UN Security Council resolutions 761 and 776 since 13 October 1992. Most of these appear to have taken place entirely within Bosnian airspace, although there have been some instances where aircraft have been observed flying away from or towards an international border. The information available in these cases is generally insufficient to determine whether the aircraft involved actually crossed the border.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when discussions are next scheduled with EC or United Nations Security Council partners to discuss the implementation of a monitoring force along the border between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A resolution authorising the deployment of United Nations monitors along the border between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina is currently under discussion at the UN in New York.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the continuation of sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in respect of their co-operation and support for the Vance-Owen peace plan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  UN sanctions have made a major contribution to the current serious economic situation in Serbia and Montenegro. We consider that the pressure exerted by the international community, including sanctions, was instrumental in the recent decision of the Presidents of Serbia and Montenegro and of the so-called Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to announce support for the Vance-Owen peace plan.
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  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom plans to contribute forces to monitor the border between Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  At its meeting on 10 May, the EC Foreign Affairs Council indicated that the European Community and its member states would be willing to contribute to international efforts to monitor Bosnia's border with Serbia and Montenegro. No decision has yet been taken on a United Kingdom contribution.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government last had official contact with the President of Serbia; and what were the circumstances and outcome.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister sent a message to President Milosevic on 17 May. He welcomed President Milosevic's agreement to support the Vance/Owen plan and to close the border of Serbia with Bosnia to all but humanitarian supplies, but made it clear that we would judge the President's policies by deeds rather than words. We support the EC offer to contribute to an international monitoring operation on the Serbia-Bosnia border to ensure that President Milosevic lives up to his commitment.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the introduction of further sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia if there is no change in current political circumstances.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Sanctions were toughened recently with the passage of Security Council resolution 820 on 17 April but we would certainly consider the need for further measures against Serbia and Montenegro if we felt the political situation required them.

  Israel
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the British Government have made to encourage Israel to implement its human rights obligations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We regularly raise human rights issues with the Israeli authorities, and have done so within the last month. I set out our considerable concerns on Israel's record in the occupied territories when I addressed the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in February.

  United Nations Security Council
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States Secretary of State since his decision not to attend the proposed United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday 21 May; and what indications Mr. Christopher has given since them in respect of support for the Vance/Owen peace plan.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had talks with Mr. Christopher on 21 and 22 May on a range of United Nations issues including the former Yugoslavia.374
  On 22 May, the Foreign Ministers of the United States, France, Russia and Spain, together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, met in Washington and agreed a joint programme of action, with the objectives of stopping the conflict and of moving forward to a lasting political solution building on the Vance/Owen process and intensified international cooperation.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reasons the United States Secretary of State has given to Her Majesty's Government for his country's decision not to attend a proposed United Nations Security Council meeting to be held on Friday 21 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Russia, which holds the presidency of the Security Council this month, originally proposed a meeting of the council on 21 May with Foreign Ministers present to review follow-up to the United Nations Secretary-General's report "An Agenda for Peace". My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had planned to attend the meeting. In the event, the Russians decided to postpone it.

  Personnel
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of his Department's personnel are United Kingdom based; and what information he has on comparable data for the foreign ministries of France and Germany.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Approximately 61 per cent. of the FCO's diplomatic wing staff and 95 per cent. of the aid wing staff, including the ODA's executive agency, the Natural Resources Institute, fill jobs in the United Kingdom. Approximately 39 per cent of French foreign ministry staff and 47 per cent. of German foreign ministry staff fill jobs in France and Germany respectively. But it is extremely difficult to make valid comparisons between the figures for the FCO and other foreign ministries, because of differences in the functions for which each is responsible; differences in structure; and differences in the division of tasks between home and overseas.

  Settlement Visas
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average waiting time for an interview for a settlement visa(a) generally and (b) from the Indian subcontinent.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  On average, the waiting times for settlement visa interviews are:

  (a) Generally: this information is not available centrally.

  (b) In the Indian Sub-Continent at end of March 1993:

  Months

  1. Queue 1: people with claim to right of abode, dependent relatives over 70, special compassionate Cases

  3

  2. Queue 2: all spouses and all children under 18 years

  4½

  3. Queue 3: fiance(é)s and others applying for the first time for settlement

  6½

  4. Queue 4: Reapplicants

  9

  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
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 May 1993,
  c. 624]: Herewith the corrected version, omitting the first sentence.

  Invitations to tender are not routinely published. It is our policy to invite tenders from construction companies short-listed 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 Industry; 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
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 May 1993, c. 623]: Herewith the corrected version, omitting the first sentence.

  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.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Russian Federation
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the provision of aid to the Russian Federation.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom has consistently supported the process of economic and political reform being undertaken by President Yeltsin and his Government, and endorsed by popular referendum in April. The British contribution for this year and next will be £444 million, plus the bulk of a $1 billion commitment for export credits for the whole of the former Soviet Union.

  Multilateral contributions 1979 to 1991–92 (£ thousands)

  Organisation

  UN Environment Programme1

  UN Development Programme

  UN Children's Fund2

  Food and Agriculture Organisation3

  International Fund for Agricultural Development

  World Food Programme

  Year

  (Calendar Years)

  1979

  599

  28,533

  7,382

  2,482

  0

  7,017

  1980

  593

  15,000

  4,991

  3,217

  0

  2,488

  1981

  600

  17,500

  7,356

  3,616

  881

  1,853

  1982

  600

  18,500

  5,983

  5,592

  2,110

  3,392

  1983

  750

  18,500

  6,069

  6,195

  3,552

  828

  1984

  750

  19,000

  6,025

  8,153

  4,243

  1,039

  1985

  750

  21,000

  8,400

  6,779

  5,450

  500

  1986

  1,000

  21,000

  8,308

  7,358

  3,509

  500

  Poverty Forecasts
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what forecasts he has made of the change in the number of people in the world who are living in absolute poverty by the year 2000.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  A number of bodies, including the World bank, have made varying forecasts of the numbers in poverty. The reduction of poverty, through sustainable economic and social development, is the central aim of our aid programme.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the aid given to Nigeria.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Nigeria remains a major aid recipient. Gross bilateral aid in 1991–92 totalled £14·46 million. We are currently developing programmes of assistance in areas of health, education, natural resources and good government.

  Africa (Aid)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Minister for Overseas Development next intends to visit Africa to discuss matters relating to aid and development.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development hopes to visit east and southern Africa later in the year. Her detailed programme is not yet available.

  United Nations Funds
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money has been granted by the Overseas Development Administration to(a) the United Nations Environmental Programme, (b) the United Nations Development Programme, (c) the United Nations Children's Fund, (d) the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, (e) the International Fund for Agricultural Development and (f) the World Food Programme in each year from 1979.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The table shows United Kingdom Government contributions to those organisations specified.
  377

  Organisation

  UN Environment Programme1

  UN Development Programme

  UN Children's Fund2

  Food and Agriculture Organisation3

  International Fund for Agricultural Development

  World Food Programme

  1987

  1,000

  23,000

  12,000

  5,760

  3,280

  10,392

  Year (Financial Years)

  1987–88

  1,000

  23,250

  15,223

  2,815

  2,861

  7,502

  1988–89

  1,250

  25,250

  8,000

  8,518

  2,657

  9,823

  1989–90

  3,000

  13,598

  8,450

  8,611

  3,166

  8,154

  1990–91

  3,000

  27,017

  9,035

  10,210

  2,875

  7,542

  1991–92

  4,000

  28,908

  9,047

  9,643

  2,847

  20,264

  1 ODA makes no contribution to UNEP; Funds are disbursed by the Department of Environment but counted in Aid Statistics as Official Development Assistance.

  2 The 1991–92 figure for UNICEF does not include United Kingdom responses to emergency and supplementary appeals. These totalled £4,634 thousand.

  3 The 1991–92 figure for FAO includes a supplementary contribution of £132 thousand.

  Developing Countries
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been contributed by his Department to(a) the common fund and (b) the European Community's STABEX, COMPLEX and SYSMIN mechanisms to compensate developing countries for shortfalls in commodity earnings in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The ODA has contributed, via the Department of Trade and Industry, to the common fund for commodities as follows:

  £

  1990

  1896,910

  1990

  2448,455

  1991

  21,793,830

  1992

  3—

  1Cash.

  2 Promissory note.

  3 No expenditure.

  The United Kingdom's share of the Community's expenditure on STABEX, COMPEX, and SYSMIN was as follows:

  £

  STABEX

  1990

  25,089,880

  1991

  55,430,396

  1992

  46,263,043

  COMPEX

  1990

  1,322,835

  1991

  1—

  1992

  2—

  SYSMIN

  1990

  4,406,728

  1991

  3,071,380

  1992

  1,340,442

  1 No expenditure.

  2 Figures not yet available.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many tonnes of humanitarian aid were delivered to Bosnia-Herzegovina 378
  along the land corridor from Split through Vitez before the recent Croat-Muslim hostilities; and which alternative routes have been used subsequently.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Exact figures for the total tonnage of humanitarian aid sent to Bosnia-Herzegovina subdivided by specific routes are unavailable. It is estimated that some 70,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid have been delivered from Metkovic, which is used as the principal depot for convoys into Bosnia from the south, and which is supplied from Split and Ploce, since November 1992.

  Recent hostilities in the Mostar area have resulted in the closure of the main road and caused these convoys to have to follow more circuitous routes which involve using mountain tracks. As a result, it takes convoys longer to reach Vitez and other areas of central Bosnia, thereby reducing the amount of relief supplies they are able to deliver.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the numbers of(a) Serbian and Muslim citizens of Zagreb and (b) Muslim and Croat citizens of Belgrade who have been displaced as a result of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Detailed figures of the number of people displaced by the conflict in the former Yugoslavia are not kept by municipality. The latest estimate from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is that in Croatia there are some 246,000 displaced people from other parts of Croatia and 238,000 from Bosnia-Herzegovina. In Serbia there are 166,000 who have fled from Croatia and 219,000 from Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  Macedonia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance has been given by the Government and the EC to Macedonia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have already provided £1 million of emergency aid, in the form of urgently needed medical supplies, to Macedonia. We have committed a further £1 million for 1993–94. The EC has committed a total of 45 million ecus for the supply of primary materials, including fuel, medical supplies and technical assistance to Macedonia. In addition, the EC has committed 15 million ecus for emergency aid.

  Road Construction
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many miles of road he estimates that his Department will fund in third-world countries in the coming year; by whom these roads will be constructed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Overseas Development Administration expects to fund the construction and rehabilitation of 312·7 miles of road in the developing countries in the coming year. This work will be carried out by local labour and/or United Kingdom contractors. A breakdown by country is as follows:

  Country

  Miles

  Contractor

  Belize

  Stann Creek Valley

  5

  Local and United Kingdom consultant

  Montserrat

  Lovers Lane to Cork Hill

  1

  Direct Labour/United Kingdom consultant

  St. Lucia

  West Coast Road

  4

  Regional and United Kingdom consultant

  Turks and Caicos

  Bight-Ramada Road

  1·7

  Local

  Suzi Turn Road

  1

  Local

  Bottle Creek Road

  2

  Local or United Kingdom

  Malawi

  Lilongwe—Salima Road

  25

  United Kingdom

  Kenya

  New bitumen sealed road

  28

  Local

  Uganda

  Resealing (inc 10 miles of reconstruction)

  50

  Local

  Tanzania

  Resealing

  30

  Local

  Bangladesh

  ODA to part fund with World Bank

  165

  Local and international

  312·7

  Sub-Saharan Africa
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the International Development Association regarding the economic prospects of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are in regular touch with the World bank about the economic prospects of countries in sub-Saharan Africa, especially through periodic consultative group meetings for individual countries and through the special programme of assistance for sub-Saharan Africa, a mechanism for co-ordinating bilateral and multilateral assistance to support economic reform in the region.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Objections to Bail
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Attorney-General what criteria the Crown Prosecution Service considers when deciding whether to object to bail.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service takes into account the considerations and exceptions to the right to bail set out in the Bail Act 1976 and any other relevant information available to it, including material from the police, the probation service, and other sources.

  European Law Specialists
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Attorney-General how many staff in his Departments specialise in European law.

  The Attorney-General
  The Government legal service contains a large number of lawyers with expertise in European law. In the legal secretariat to the Law Officers there are five lawyers with specialist skills in this subject.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Official Report (CD-ROM)
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee, pursuant to his answer of 2 December 1992,Official Report, column 201, what progress has been made in the consideration of making the Official Report available to hon. Members on CD-ROM.

  Mr. Waller
  A CD-ROM version of the Official Report covering the period from 1990 is available for reference in the Members' Library in the Palace and Derby Gate Library. For a trial period, Members who choose not to receive the bound volumes of the Official Report may obtain one copy of the CD-ROM covering the period from the start of the current Parliament on application at the Vote Office. This arrangement will be reviewed in due course.

  Tools for Self Reliance
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to "Tools for Self Reliance" to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 28 June to 2 July.

EDUCATION

  English Orders
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what period of time passed between his announcement of the revised orders for English and their delivery to all schools in England; and what percentage this is of the consultation period.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend announced proposals for revisions to the English order on 15 April and asked the
  381
  National Curriculum Council to carry out the statutory consultation in England and report by 30 September. Dispatch of the proposals to all schools in England was completed by 17 May. The period for consultation extends until 30 July.

  Nursing Education
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list, for each Greater London borough, the percentages of children under five years old currently registered in nursery places(a) in 1986, (b) in 1988, (c) in 1990, (d) in 1992 and (e) at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Forth
  Participation rates in each local education authority in Greater London in 1986, 1988, 1990 and 1992—the latest date for which information is available—are shown in the table.

  Because of recent revisions to the population estimates to take account of the provisional results of the 1991 census of population, the participation rates for 1992 are not directly comparable at the LEA level with those for earlier years.

  Estimated percentages of the local 3 and 4-year-old population attending maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools in Greater London (1986 to 1992)

  Position in January of each year

  Participation rates (percentages)

  1986

  1988

  1990

  1992

  Camden

  —

  —

  —

  26

  Greenwich

  —

  —

  —

  47

  Hackney

  —

  —

  —

  36

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  —

  —

  —

  42

  Islington

  —

  —

  —

  38

  Kensington and Chelsea

  —

  —

  —

  29

  Lambeth

  —

  —

  —

  31

  Lewisham

  —

  —

  —

  37

  Southwark

  —

  —

  —

  39

  Tower Hamlets

  —

  —

  —

  44

  Wandsworth

  —

  —

  —

  37

  Westminster1

  —

  —

  —

  31

  Pupils aged under five in maintained nursery schools and in nursery classes in maintained primary schools in each local education authority in Greater London—January 1992.

  Nursery schools

  Nursery classes in primary schools

  schools

  pupils

  schools

  pupils

  Camden

  3

  191

  24

  821

  Greenwich

  6

  682

  48

  2,421

  Hackney

  2

  165

  50

  2,047

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  6

  574

  23

  935

  Islington

  3

  268

  39

  1,529

  Kensington and Chelsea

  4

  263

  18

  563

  Lambeth

  5

  447

  44

  1,847

  Lewisham

  2

  231

  51

  2,338

  Southwark

  5

  484

  51

  2,223

  Tower Hamlets

  7

  695

  53

  1,992

  Wandsworth

  3

  209

  47

  2,002

  Westminster1

  3

  165

  24

  913

  Barking

  —

  —

  32

  1,750

  Barnet

  4

  512

  36

  1,839

  Bexley

  1

  180

  18

  947

  Brent

  4

  239

  46

  2,151

  Bromley

  —

  —

  3

  154

  Croydon

  4

  453

  11

  706

  Ealing

  6

  589

  44

  2,657

  Enfield

  —

  —

  25

  1,484

  Haringey

  3

  214

  44

  2,332

  Harrow

  —

  —

  19

  958

  Havering

  —

  —

  4

  247

  Hillingdon

  1

  120

  47

  3,030

  Hounslow

  —

  —

  43

  2,469

  382

  Participation rates (percentages)

  1986

  1988

  1990

  1992

  ILEA2

  40

  38

  35

  —

  Barking

  37

  31

  35

  40

  Barnet

  30

  29

  29

  29

  Bexley

  12

  14

  15

  19

  Brent

  34

  33

  32

  35

  Bromley

  1

  2

  2

  2

  Croydon

  7

  7

  7

  13

  Ealing

  35

  34

  35

  43

  Enfield

  21

  21

  20

  21

  Haringey

  41

  40

  38

  43

  Harrow

  16

  16

  16

  17

  Havering

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Hillingdon

  44

  46

  49

  48

  Hounslow

  69

  69

  66

  42

  Kingston upon Thames

  30

  31

  31

  35

  Merton

  36

  39

  40

  57

  Newham

  63

  58

  54

  58

  Redbridge

  8

  10

  13

  16

  Richmond upon Thames

  16

  17

  19

  18

  Sutton

  17

  20

  31

  36

  Waltham Forest

  38

  40

  35

  40

  Greater London

  32

  31

  31

  33

  1 Includes Corporation of London.

  2 Information was not collected prior to 1991 for the individual boroughs which comprised the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA).

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools in each London borough currently provide nursery classes; and how many children attend such classes.

  Mr. Forth
  Information about the number of maintained nursery schools and maintained primary schools with designated nursery classes in each local education authority in Greater London and the numbers of pupils aged under five who attended such classes in January 1992 are shown in the table.
  383

  Nursery schools

  Nursery classes in primary schools

  schools

  pupils

  schools

  pupils

  Kingston upon Thames

  2

  242

  15

  931

  Merton

  —

  —

  36

  2,593

  Newham

  8

  947

  45

  3,498

  Redbridge

  —

  —

  17

  987

  Richmond upon Thames

  1

  71

  12

  635

  Sutton

  2

  240

  25

  1,444

  Waltham Forest

  4

  321

  34

  2,181

  Greater London

  89

  8,502

  1,028

  52,624

  1 Includes Corporation of London.

  Science Tests
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what changes have been made to the key stage 3 science tests following his consideration of the comments he received from science teachers, inspectors and advisers after the 1992 tests.

  Mr. Forth
  An independent evaluation of the 1992 science tests for 14-year-olds conducted for the School Examinations and Assessment Council has led to changes which are designed to improve the reliability of the test questions and marking scheme.

  GCSE Assessments
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what date it was decided to delay the introduction of the new assessment arrangements for GCSE; and on what date that decision was communicated to schools in England.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend announced on 30 April that the present grading arrangements for GCSE will be retained for 1994 pending the outcome of the current review of the national curriculum and assessment by Sir Ron Dearing. Detailed information about this decision will be sent to schools by the School Examinations and Assessment Council on 24 May.

  Grant-Maintained Schools (Disabled Facilities)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many grant-maintained schools have facilities for disabled students; and what percentage this is of grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not collated centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list all the successful capital grant requests from grant-maintained schools in each of the last three years stating the work to be carried out and its value; and how many of these projects enabled disabled students to have access to these schools.

  Mr. Forth
  I have placed in the Library copies of papers detailing the allocations of named project capital grant to self-governing—grant-maintained—schools in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Allocations are made on the basis of specific priorities. Since 1991–92 these priorities have been urgent health and safety work, major repairs, bids under the technology
  384
  schools initiative, and improvements to the delivery of the national curriculum, especially science and technology. Information on the number of projects which have facilitated disabled students' access to schools is not available.

  Age-weighted Pupil Unit
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will publish a table indicating the value in cash terms of the age-weighted pupil unit used this year by the local education authorities in(a) North Yorkshire, (b) Cleveland, (c) County Durham, (d) Cumbria, (e) Lancashire, (f) Bradford, (g) Leeds, (h) Wakefield, (i) Doncaster and (j) Humberside for children in nursery classes, children in reception classes and children in each year from year 1 through to sixth form;

  (2) What is the value in cash terms of the age-weighted pupil unit used this year for children in nursery classes, reception classes and in each year from year 1 to sixth form by his Department for funding each grant-maintained school in North Yorkshire, Cleveland, County Durham, Cumbria, Lancashire, Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield, Doncaster and Humberside; and what are the amounts per child in each of these schools, the amount of transitional funding, special purpose grant, top-up funding and other DFE funding provided this year.

  Mr. Forth
  Information on age-weighted pupil unit values is contained in part 3 of the budget statement required to be published by each local education authority under section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988. These returns from the 10 local education authorities listed are being placed in the Library. Annual maintenance grant for grant-maintained schools is calculated by reference to the local education authority's local management of schools scheme and so incorporates its age-weighted pupil units. Grant-maintained schools also receive a share of the local education authority's central budgets, calculated as a percentage addition to the local management of schools budget rather than a sum per pupil.

  As soon as a school is approved as self governing, transitional grant is available to help in preparing the school to take on its new responsibilities. Secondary schools, and primary schools with 200 or more pupils, are currently eligible to receive £30,000 plus £30 for each pupil, subject to a maximum of £60,000.

  A primary school with fewer than 200 pupils is eligible to receive £20,000 plus £30 for each pupil. A range of other special purpose grants are available to self-governing schools. Of these, only the grant for curriculum and staff development is derived from pupil numbers in the school. This grant is paid, for 1993–94, at the rate of £42·50—or the part-year equivalent—per pupil. Self-governing

  385
  schools are also eligible for a pupil related capital allocation for 1993–94. A full year's allocation is £11,000 plus £20 per pupil. Schools becoming self-governing through the year will receive a pro rata allocation.

  GCSE
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the average number of GCSE passes received in (i) grant-maintained schools and (ii) other state schools under the control of local authorities in 1992.

  Mr. Forth
  The average number of GCSE passes received by 16-year-old pupils in (i) self-governing state

  Self Governing State Schools (Grant Maintained) 1993–94

  LEA/School

  (a) Direct Annual Maintenance Grant £

  (b) Central Annual Maintenance Grant £

  Percentage (b) to (a)

  Avon

  Beechen Cliff School

  1,633,708

  28,846

  14·6

  Oldfield School

  1,347,723

  197,036

  14·6

  Barnet

  Hendon School

  2,076,628

  303,600

  14·6

  Queen Elizabeth's GM School for Boys

  2,293,740

  335,342

  14·6

  Mill Hill County School

  2,478,559

  362,363

  14·6

  Bedfordshire

  Queensbury School

  1,914,222

  279,857

  14·6

  Thomas Whitehead CE School

  263,044

  48,137

  18·3

  Manshead CE Upper School

  1,567,093

  229,107

  14·6

  Sharnbrook Upper School

  2,626,870

  384,045

  14·6

  Ashcroft High School

  1,458,417

  196,886

  13·5

  Crawley Green GM Infant

  347,883

  63,663

  18·3

  Icknield High School

  2,312,915

  312,244

  13·5

  Lea Manor High School

  2,228,982

  300,913

  13·5

  Lincroft Middle School

  569,307

  76,856

  13·5

  Wootton Upper School

  2,050,579

  276,579

  13·5

  Berkshire

  Southlands School

  1,190,501

  177,938

  14·9

  Reading School

  1,417,073

  207,174

  14·6

  St. Bartholomew's School

  2,988,992

  436,987

  14·6

  Desborough Comprehensive School

  2,064,111

  301,770

  14·6

  Denefield School

  1,823,244

  266,556

  14·6

  Langley Grammar School, Slough

  1,329,283

  194,340

  14·6

  Herchel Grammar School

  1,153,912

  168,701

  14·6

  The Dovyns School

  1,147,375

  167,745

  14·6

  Cippeham Middle School

  582,820

  85,208

  14·6

  Priory Combined School

  703,314

  102,824

  14·6

  Upton Grammar School

  1,217,398

  177,982

  14·6

  Holy Family Combined School

  401,674

  58,724

  14·6

  Whitelocke Infant and Nursery School

  237,967

  28,318

  11·9

  Bexley

  Barnehurst Infants School

  326,867

  47,788

  14·6

  Barnehurst Junior School

  326,867

  47,788

  14·6

  St. Columba's RC Boys School

  1,506,139

  141,577

  9·4

  St. Mary and St. Joseph's School

  1,399,209

  131,526

  9·4

  Birmingham

  Haverstook GM School

  1,972,510

  378,169

  19·2

  Small Heath School

  2,082,539

  304,465

  14·6

  Handsworth Grammar School for Boys

  1,444,249

  274,968

  19·0

  Great Barr School

  3,597,661

  525,974

  14·6

  Hall Green School

  1,337,251

  185,878

  13·9

  King Edward VI Aston School

  1,190,318

  165,454

  13·9

  King Edward VI Camp Hill Boys School

  1,265,517

  175,907

  13·9

  King Edward VI Camp Hill Girls School

  1,221,479

  169,786

  13·9

  King Edward VI Five Ways School

  1,274,790

  177,196

  13·9

  King Edward VI Handsworth School

  1,589,773

  220,978

  13·9

  386
  —grant-maintained—schools was 7·6 and (ii) other maintained schools excluding special schools under the control of local authorities 7·2 in 1992.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list for each grant-maintained school in 1933–94 the value of(a) the direct annual maintenance grant and (b) the central annual maintenance grant; and what is (b) as a percentage of (a).

  Mr. Forth
  The information is given in the table. The cash figures and percentages given could change in many cases as we continue to refine grants in consultation with schools and LEAs.
  387

  LEA/School

  (a) Direct Annual Maintenance Grant £

  (b) Central Annual Maintenance Grant £

  Percentage (b) to (a)

  Bolton

  St. James' CE School Bolton

  1,338,378

  195,669

  14·6

  Crompton Fold Primary School

  525,262

  76,793

  14·6

  Canon Slade School

  2,842,246

  264,329

  9·3

  George Tomlinson School

  1,343,928

  124,985

  9·3

  Bradford

  Bingley Grammar School

  1,776,622

  269,471

  15·2

  Hanson GM School

  2,307,474

  267,667

  11·6

  Laisterdyke GM Middle School

  556,396

  64,542

  11·6

  Oakbank School

  2,152,572

  249,698

  11·6

  Thornton School

  1,702,276

  197,464

  11·6

  Brent

  Claremont High School

  2,477,568

  362,218

  14·6

  Copland Community School

  2,435,721

  356,100

  14·6

  Convent of Jesus and Mary

  1,963,354

  174,738

  8·9

  Kingsbury High School

  4,454,288

  396,432

  8·9

  Queens Park Community School

  1,923,639

  171,204

  8·9

  Bromley

  Bullers Wood School for Girls

  2,167,614

  321,583

  14·8

  Coopers School, Chislehurst

  2,514,527

  331,512

  13·2

  Langley Park Boys School

  2,411,550

  333,750

  13·8

  Hayes School, Bromley

  2,540,061

  361,038

  14·2

  Ravens Wood School, Bromley

  1,946,503

  267,277

  13·7

  Kelsey Park School

  1,761,459

  255,938

  14·5

  Beaverwood School for Girls

  2,066,367

  211,470

  10·2

  Crofton Junior School

  897,041

  133,769

  14·9

  Newstead Wood School

  1,682,522

  172,188

  10·2

  Charles Darwin School

  1,468,886

  160,109

  10·9

  Holy Innocents Primary School

  327,103

  48,779

  14·9

  St. Olave's and St. Saviour's School

  1,467,499

  150,183

  10·2

  St. John Rigby School

  1,881,691

  192,571

  10·2

  Buckinghamshire

  Bridgewater Hall School

  2,705,857

  404,647

  15·0

  Brindley Hall School

  2,067,128

  302,212

  14·6

  Beaconsfield High School

  1,500,771

  220,140

  14·7

  Brookmead County Comb Middle School

  286,820

  48,473

  16·9

  The Chalfonts School

  1,916,265

  222,298

  11·6

  Overstone Combined School

  373,788

  63,170

  16·9

  Beechview Middle School

  318,827

  53,882

  16·9

  Hamilton Combined School

  854,221

  144,363

  16·9

  Lord Grey School

  2,095,488

  243,077

  11·6

  The Radcliffe School

  3,239,101

  375,736

  11·6

  Wycombe Royal Grammar School

  2,364,275

  274,256

  11·6

  Calderdale

  Crossley Heath School

  1,286,801

  194,668

  15·1

  North Halifax High School

  1,442,530

  210,896

  14·6

  Salterlee Primary School

  111,421

  18,050

  16·2

  Trinity CE Senior School

  1,395,039

  163,220

  11·7

  Rastrick High School

  1,706,376

  199,646

  11·7

  Cambridgeshire

  St. Helen's Primary School Bluntisham

  337,012

  49,271

  14·6

  Bassingbourn Village College

  775,614

  113,394

  14·6

  Gamlingay Village College

  357,351

  52,244

  14·6

  The Queen's School, Wisbech

  2,624,482

  383,696

  14·6

  Park Lane Primary School

  333,576

  48,768

  14·6

  Sawtry Village College

  1,162,813

  170,002

  14·6

  Wheatfields Junior School

  432,063

  63,167

  14·6

  Crosshall Infant School

  370,906

  54,226

  14·6

  Crosshall Junior School

  430,187

  62,893

  14·6

  The King's School, Peterborough

  1,574,804

  230,235

  14·6

  Jack Hunt School

  2,624,647

  383,720

  14·6

  Ailwyn Community School

  1,334,413

  101,415

  7·6

  Deacon's School

  1,708,097

  129,815

  7·6

  Longsands Community College

  2,606,884

  198,123

  7·6

  Orton Wistow Primary School

  325,008

  37,051

  11·4

  Sawston Village College

  2,152,635

  163,600

  7·6

  Stanground College

  2,547,881

  193,639

  7·6

  Village College, Comberton

  1,418,500

  107,806

  7·6

  388 389

  LEA/School

  (a) Direct Annual Maintenance Grant £

  (b) Central Annual Maintenance Grant £

  Percentage (b) to (a)

  Cheshire

  Bankfield High School

  1,078,010

  157,604

  14·6

  Kettleshulme CE Primary School

  77,328

  11,305

  14·6

  Fallibroome High School

  1,691,875

  155,652

  9·2

  Henbury County High School

  1,604,140

  147,581

  9·2

  Croydon

  Riddlesdown High School

  2,132,523

  311,772

  14·6

  Edenham School

  2,298,920

  232,191

  10·1

  Cumbria

  Kirkbie Kendal School

  1,917,707

  280,366

  14·6

  Queen Elizabeth Grammar School

  1,071,135

  156,599

  14·6

  Hayton CE Primary School

  113,785

  17,068

  15·0

  St. Aidan's School

  1,257,049

  183,779

  14·6

  Trinity School

  3,278,641

  479,333

  14·6

  Scotby CE Primary School

  230,635

  34,595

  15·0

  The Queen Katharine School, Kendal

  2,267,872

  331,560

  14·6

  Appleby Grammar School

  980,109

  97,031

  9·9

  Dallam School

  1,315,207

  130,205

  9·9

  Harraby School

  1,082,102

  107,128

  9·9

  Kirkby Stephen Grammar School

  726,096

  71,884

  9·9

  Derbyshire

  Netherthorpe School

  1,439,375

  210,435

  14·6

  Ecclesbourne School

  2,240,762

  405,376

  18·1

  Borrow Wood Junior School

  245,111

  38,482

  15·7

  Belmont Primary School

  363,530

  57,074

  15·7

  Chellaston School

  1,575,822

  230,383

  14·6

  The Merrill Community School

  1,903,930

  278,352

  14·6

  Belper Grant-Maintained School

  1,867,712

  184,903

  9·9

  Heanor Gate School

  1,660,669

  164,406

  9·4

  John Port School

  2,946,249

  291,679

  9·9

  Murray Park Community School

  1,734,111

  171,677

  9·9

  Noel Baker School

  2,370,859

  234,715

  9·9

  Repton Primary School

  222,783

  34,977

  15·7

  Devon

  Colyton Grammar School

  1,035,908

  163,604

  15·8

  Torquay Boys Grammer School

  1,774,814

  259,476

  14·6

  St. Boniface's College

  1,375,223

  126,520

  9·2

  Teign School

  1,565,351

  144,012

  9·2

  Dorset

  Bournemouth Grammar School

  1,814,054

  265,213

  14·6

  Woodroffe School

  1,511,788

  228,359

  15·1

  Budmouth School

  1,683,719

  250,091

  14·9

  Avonbourne School

  1,633,903

  238,875

  14·6

  Parkstone Grammar School, Poole

  1,373,046

  200,738

  14·6

  Bournemouth Girls School

  1,651,809

  241,493

  14·6

  Highcliffe Comprehensive School

  1,298,547

  189,846

  14·6

  Poole Technical High School

  2,092,648

  236,469

  11·3

  St. Walburga's RC Primary School

  444,783

  71,610

  16·1

  Dudley

  Old Swinford Hospital

  1,160,548

  186,080

  16·0

  Ellowes Hall School

  1,465,222

  189,014

  12·9

  Kingswinford GM School

  1,310,860

  169,101

  12·9

  Ealing

  Brentside High School

  2,199,370

  268,323

  12·2

  Drayton Manor High School

  2,450,447

  298,955

  12·2

  Ellen Wilkinson High School

  2,000,880

  244,107

  12·2

  Greenford High School

  1,969,122

  240,233

  12·2

  Northolt High School

  1,957,191

  238,777

  12·2

  Wood End First School

  426,674

  71,255

  16·7

  Wood End Middle School

  400,710

  66,919

  16·7

  Essex

  Chalvdon School

  2,504,853

  3366,207

  14·6

  Westcliffe High School for Boys

  1,718,291

  251,212

  14·6

  King John School, Benfleet

  2,203,841

  322,199

  14·6

  Beauchamps School, Wickford

  1,417,253

  207,201

  14·6

  390 391

  LEA/School

  (a) Direct Annual Maintenance Gram £

  (b) Central Annual Maintenance Grant £

  Percentage (b) to (a)

  Bromfords School, Wickford

  1,399,827

  204,653

  14·6

  Elmwood Primary School

  551,869

  80,683

  14·6

  Newlands Spring Primary School

  379,024

  55,413

  14·6

  Saffron Walden High School

  2,505,240

  366,263

  14·6

  The Philip Morant School

  1,998,980

  292,249

  14·6

  The Plume School

  3,229,705

  472,179

  14·6

  West Hatch High School

  1,828,626

  267,343

  14·6

  The Boswells School

  2,531,434

  241,794

  9·6

  Chelmsford County High School

  1,408,772

  134,561

  9·6

  The Eastwood School

  1,587,750

  151,657

  9·6

  Furtherwick Park School

  1,706,655

  160,014

  9·4

  Katherine's Primary School

  325,027

  49,102

  15·1

  King Edward VI G School, Chelmsford

  1,516,827

  144,882

  9·6

  King Harold School

  1,495,906

  142,884

  9·6

  North Crescent Primary School

  2283,187

  42,872

  15·1

  Rickstones School

  1,261,607

  120,504

  9·6

  Thurstable School

  1,598,152

  152,650

  9·6

  Torells Comprehensive School

  1,229,223

  117,411

  9·6

  Northlands Junior School

  350,178

  52,902

  15·1

  Great Totham County Primary School

  442,950

  66,917

  15·1

  The Appleton School

  2,183,358

  207,547

  9·5

  The Deanes School

  1,249,678

  119,365

  9·6

  The Hedley Walter School

  1,851,527

  176,851

  9·6

  Castle View School

  1,510,261

  144,255

  9·6

  Cornelius Vermuyden School

  1,465,034

  139,935

  9·6

  Westcliff High School for Girls

  1,800,180

  171,946

  9·6

  The Fitzwimarc School

  2,136,399

  204,052

  9·6

  Westborough Primary School

  655,917

  99,091

  15·1

  King Edmund School

  2,109,182

  201,462

  9·6

  Belfairs Community College

  2,437,981

  221,856

  9·1

  Chelmer Valley High School

  1,683,897

  153,235

  9·1

  Davenant Foundation School

  1,994,618

  181,510

  9·1

  Gable Hall GM Comprehensive

  1,896,666

  172,597

  9·1

  Jotmans Hall Primary School

  337,768

  48,639

  14·4

  Newport Free Grammar School

  1,249,963

  113,747

  9·1

  Northwick Park County Infant School

  279,538

  40,253

  14·4

  Northwick Park County Junior School

  371,933

  53,558

  14·4

  Rainsford School

  1,728,967

  157,336

  9·1

  Rolph CE VA Primary School

  202,991

  29,231

  14·4

  Southend Girls High School

  1,680,686

  152,942

  9·1

  St. Andrew's CE Primary School

  180,756

  26,029

  14·4

  St. Clere's School

  1,632,620

  148,568

  9·1

  St. Martin's School

  2,058,582

  187,331

  9·1

  Tendring High School

  2,474,888

  225,215

  9·1

  The Grays School

  1,617,924

  147,231

  9·1

  The Greensward School

  1,549,340

  140,990

  9·1

  Thorpe Bay School

  1,349,294

  122,786

  9·1

  William De Ferrers School

  2,637,311

  239,995

  9·1

  William Edwards School

  1,565,866

  142,494

  9·1

  Self Governing State Schools (Grant Maintained) 1993–94

  LEA/School

  (a) Direct Annual Maintenance Grant £

  (b) Central Annual Maintenance Grant £

  Percentage (b) to (a)

  Gloucestershire

  Ribston Hall High School

  825,677

  122,664

  14·9

  Marling School

  1,382,098

  202,061

  14·6

  Pate's Grammar School

  1,702,766

  263,872

  15·5

  Stroud High School

  1,312,990

  191,958

  14·6

  Robinswood Primary School

  424,252

  62,025

  14·6

  Tewkesbury School

  1,904,191

  278,391

  14·6

  The Crypt School

  799,745

  116,922

  14·6

  Balcarras School

  1,198,943

  175,282

  14·6

  Chosen Hill School

  1,974,371

  288,651

  14·6

  Katharine Lady Berkeley School

  1,833,040

  267,988

  14·6

  Churchdown School

  1,863,730

  272,475

  14·6

  The Cotswold School

  1,020,833

  149,245

  14·6

  Newent Community School

  2,010,291

  293,902

  14·6

  392 393

  LEA/School

  (a) Direct Annual Maintenance Grant £

  (b) Central Annual Maintenance Grant £

  Percentage (b) to (a)

  Rednock School

  1,943,319

  284,111

  14·6

  Saintbridge School

  1,438,979

  210,377

  14·6

  Chipping Camden School

  1,434,064

  209,658

  14·6

  St. Gregory RC Primary School

  446,791

  65,320

  14·6

  Blue Coat CE Grant-Maintained School

  287,450

  39,668

  13·8

  Picklenash County Junior School

  288,938

  39,873

  13·8

  Wyedean School

  1,126,146

  130,633

  11·6

  Hammersmith

  London Oratory School

  3,378,300

  668,903

  19·8

  Hampshire

  Hardley Secondary School

  1,397,575

  204,324

  14·6

  Burgate School

  1,091,648

  159,598

  14·6

  Arnewood School

  2,067,639

  302,286

  14·6

  Ringwood Comprehensive School

  1,429,546

  208,998

  14·6

  Crofton School, Fareham

  1,846,231

  269,917

  14·6

  The City of Portmouth Boys' School

  1,578,029

  230,706

  14·6

  The Priory Primary School

  140,013

  21,702

  15·5

  Testwood School

  1,595,347

  233,238

  14·6

  Abbotswood Middle School

  708,213

  109,773

  15·5

  Front Lawn Middle School

  356,069

  55,191

  15·5

  All Hallows RC School

  2,017,686

  205,804

  10·2

  Bay House Grant-Maintained School

  2,915,958

  297,428

  10·2

  Blackfield Middle School

  492,024

  76,264

  15·5

  Bohunt Community School

  1,922,482

  196,093

  10·2

  Calmore GM Middle School

  451,822

  70,032

  15·5

  St. Joseph's RC Primary School

  459,669

  71,249

  15·5

  Havering

  Abbs Cross School

  1,533,993

  174,875

  11·4

  Coopers Company and Cobom

  2,419,022

  275,768

  11·4

  Frances Bardsley School

  2,356,534

  268,645

  11·4

  Hereford and Worcester

  St. Augustine's RC High School

  1,435,836

  162,249

  11·3

  St. Bede's School

  775,721

  87,656

  11·3

  Hertfordshire

  Rickmansworth School

  2,025,340

  296,102

  14·6

  Watford Boys Grammar School

  2,174,406

  317,896

  14·6

  Francis Bacon School

  995,273

  156,924

  15·8

  Watford Girls' Grammar School

  2,147,903

  314,021

  14·6

  Parmiters School

  2,026,651

  296,294

  14·6

  St. Mary's R.C. Primary School

  256,823

  39,294

  15·3

  Christ Church CE JMI School, Chorley

  269,328

  41,207

  15·3

  Parkside First School

  301,876

  46,187

  15·3

  Hertingfordbury School

  206,111

  31,535

  15·3

  Bishop Stortford's School

  1,988,859

  290,769

  14·6

  Ashlyns Grant-Maintained School

  1,328,656

  140,837

  10·6

  Bushey Hall School

  2,280,801

  241,765

  10·6

  Bushey Meads GM School

  1,897,977

  201,186

  10·6

  Dame Alice Owens School

  2,316,103

  245,507

  10·6

  Mount Grace School

  1,079,233

  114,399

  10·6

  Queens School

  2,426,771

  257,238

  10·6

  Hillingdon

  Bishopshalt School

  2,045,378

  342,554

  16·7

  Haydon School

  2,366,141

  326,903

  13·8

  Queensmead School

  1,936,377

  277,062

  14·3

  Vyners School

  1,879,630

  279,902

  14·9

  Uxbridge High School

  1,475,457

  214,957

  14·6

  Northwood School

  1,961,004

  297,940

  15·2

  Hayes Manor School

  1,506,331

  215,109

  14·3

  Mellow Lane School

  2,072,571

  280,787

  13·5

  Oak Farm Infant School

  419,346

  81,744

  19·5

  Oak Farm Junior School

  480,056

  93,578

  19·5

  The Douay Martyrs School

  2,070,421

  280,496

  13·5

  Abbotsfield School

  1,580,321

  183,317

  11·6

  Grange Park Infant School

  365,825

  60,361

  16·5

  Grange Park Junior School

  395,515

  65,260

  16·5

  Swakeleys School

  1,646,393

  190,982

  11·6

  Hounslow

  394 395

  LEA/School

  (a) Direct Annual Maintenance Grant £

  (b) Central Annual Maintenance Grant £

  Percentage (b) to (a)

  Gumley House Convent School1

  1,957,513

  254,477

  13·0

  Gunnersbury Catholic School1

  1,920,624

  249,681

  13·0

  Humberside

  Wold Newton Primary School1

  121,213

  19,636

  16·2

  Kensington

  Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School

  1,721,938

  406,096

  23·6

  Kent

  The Grammar School for Girls Wilmington

  965,161

  127,015

  13·2

  The Cornwallis School

  1,578,594

  224,836

  14·2

  The Maplesden Noakes School

  1,356,329

  185,732

  13·7

  Wilmington Grammar School for Boys

  723,273

  99,781

  13·8

  St. George's CE School, Gravesend

  2,031,786

  284,822

  14·0

  Homewood School

  2,441,340

  324,777

  13·3

  Thamesview School

  1,979,169

  271,916

  13·7

  Dartford Grammar School

  1,583,271

  220,332

  13·9

  Southlands Comprehensive School

  2,133,561

  290,573

  13·6

  Dartford Grammar School for Girls

  1,489,802

  206,519

  13·9

  Aylesford School

  1,827,149

  247,290

  13·5

  Wrotham School

  888,991

  119,683

  13·5

  Simon Langton Boys' Grammar School

  1,233,808

  169,121

  13·7

  Snodland CE Primary School

  448,750

  74,044

  16·5

  Oldborough Manor High

  1,319,626

  199,299

  15·1

  Senacre High School

  1,800,475

  248,843

  13·8

  Cranbrook School

  1,482,083

  212,028

  14·3

  Angley School

  1,581,444

  172,377

  10·9

  Fulston Manor School

  1,550,317

  168,985

  10·9

  Oakwood Park Grammar School

  969,009

  105,622

  10·9

  Rainham Park Grammar School

  2,054,565

  223,948

  10·9

  Robert Napier School, Gillingham

  1,560,014

  170,041

  10·9

  The Minster School

  2,629,113

  286,573

  10·9

  The Skinner's School

  1,348,336

  146,969

  10·9

  The Canterbury School

  1,602,901

  174,716

  10·9

  Borough Green Primary School

  359,340

  59,291

  16·5

  Chatham Grammar School

  1,084,788

  118,242

  10·9

  Sir Roger Manwood's School

  1,347,982

  146,930

  10·9

  The Archbishop School

  1,233,571

  134,459

  10·9

  The Mailing School

  1,150,544

  125,409

  10·9

  Sandown Court School

  1,671,987

  182,247

  10·9

  Meopham School

  878,560

  95,763

  10·9

  Holy Trinity

  294,829

  48,647

  16·5

  The Bradboume School

  951,443

  103,707

  10·9

  Hugh Christie School

  1,787,900

  194,881

  10·9

  St. Simon Stock School

  1,706,071

  185,962

  10·9

  Mascalls School

  2,560,289

  279,071

  10·9

  Roseacre Junior School

  385,523

  63,611

  16·5

  St. Gregory's Catholic Comprehensive School

  1,686,900

  183,872

  10·9

  St. John Fisher, Chatham

  2,159,331

  235,367

  10·9

  Sutton-at-Hone CE Primary School

  376,771

  62,167

  16·5

  The Charles Dickens School

  1,468,886

  160,109

  10·9

  The Folkestone School for Girls

  1,574,065

  171,573

  10·9

  The Wildernesse School

  1,305,611

  142,312

  10·9

  Westlands High School

  2,566,244

  279,721

  10·9

  Kingston

  Tiffin School

  2,065,071

  301,911

  14·6

  Holy Cross Convent School

  1,343,148

  138,344

  10·3

  Richard Challoner School

  1,406,739

  144,894

  10·3

  Kirklees

  Heckmondwike Grammar School

  1,314,731

  192,212

  14·6

  Castle Hall GM School

  783,243

  114,509

  14·6

  Lambeth

  La Retraite School

  1,458,724

  255,277

  17·5

  St. Bernadette Junior School

  355,003

  89,816

  25·3

  Archbishop Tenison's School

  1,271,048

  222,433

  17·5

  Bishop Thomas Grant School

  2,139,657

  374,440

  17·5

  Dunraven GM School

  2,683,506

  469,614

  17·5

  Lancashire

  Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School

  1,585,021

  231,728

  14·6

  396 397

  LEA/School

  (a) Direct Annual Maintenance Grant £

  (b) Central Annual Maintenance Grant £

  Percentage (b) to (a)

  Lancaster Royal Grammar School

  1,716,904

  251,009

  14·6

  Lancaster Girls Grammar School

  1,394,580

  203,886

  14·6

  Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

  1,944,932

  284,347

  14·6

  Newton Blue Coat CE School

  331,062

  51,315

  15·5

  Baines School

  1,335,938

  195,312

  14·6

  Archbishop Temple School

  1,081,404

  111,385

  10·3

  Leicestershire

  Long Field High School

  721,457

  109,453

  15·2

  Abington High School

  1,072,465

  130,841

  12·2

  Bushloe High School

  1,233,364

  150,470

  12·2

  South Wigston High School

  1,277,617

  155,869

  12·2

  Uppingham Community College

  1,200,821

  146,500

  12·2

  Lewisham

  Turnham Primary School

  728,449

  196,681

  27·0

  Lincolnshire

  Queen Elizabeth's GM Grammar School

  781,093

  106,496

  13·6

  Skegness Grammar School

  1,314,009

  179,364

  13·7

  The Kings School Grantham

  1,687,328

  220,612

  13·1

  Carre's Grammar School

  956,128

  129,788

  13·6

  St. George's School

  1,982,852

  237,768

  12·0

  King Edward VI Grammar School

  1,253,803

  179,770

  14·3

  Caistor School

  911,390

  128,165

  14·1

  Bourne Primary School

  596,420

  90,656

  15·2

  Gartree School

  768,012

  110,302

  14·4

  Magdalen CE/Meth Primary School

  300,264

  45,640

  15·2

  Yarborough High School

  2,120,366

  288,277

  13·6

  Lincoln Christ's Hospital School

  2,386,241

  334,515

  14·0

  Castle Hills School, Gainsborough

  1,035,426

  101,472

  9·8

  North Kesteven School

  2,402,288

  235,424

  9·8

  North Rauceby Primary School

  114,617

  17,421

  15·2

  Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Horn

  1,216,391

  119,206

  9·8

  Robert Pattinson School

  2,218,147

  217,378

  9·8

  William Alvey CE Junior School

  587,988

  89,374

  15·2

  Ancaster High School

  1,150,423

  112,741

  9·8

  William Farr CE School

  1,574,253

  154,277

  9·8

  Ermine School

  367,800

  55,906

  15·2

  Gleed Girls School

  1,096,394

  107,447

  9·8

  Monks' Dyke High School

  1,359,368

  133,218

  9·8

  Lacey Gardens Junior School

  509,418

  77,432

  15·2

  Malcolm Sargent County Primary School

  639,906

  97,266

  15·2

  Liverpool

  St. Francis Xavier's College

  2,183,879

  319,281

  14·6

  Newham

  Stratford School1

  1,401,962

  238,509

  17·0

  Norfolk

  Wymondham College

  2,030,235

  296,818

  14·6

  Gresham County Primary

  146,350

  21,396

  14·6

  Heacham Middle School

  322,991

  47,221

  14·6

  Redgate Middle School, Hunstanton

  256,311

  37,472

  14·6

  Loddon Middle School

  320,494

  48,840

  15·2

  Costessey High School, Norwich

  1,326,513

  193,935

  14·6

  Cromer High School

  1,097,472

  160,449

  14·6

  Dereham Church VA First School

  194,542

  28,442

  14·6

  Downham Market High School

  2,702,641

  395,123

  14·6

  Marshland High School

  1,208,288

  176,650

  14·6

  Norwich Road School

  447,268

  65,390

  14·6

  Robert Kett Middle School

  549,491

  80,335

  14·6

  West Flegg Middle School

  555,825

  81,261

  14·6

  Acle High School

  1,000,381

  146,636

  14·7

  Sheringham High School

  1,088,381

  159,120

  14·6

  South Wooton School

  168,449

  24,627

  14·6

  Cliff Park High School

  1,384,638

  105,233

  7·6

  Flegg High School

  1,096,199

  83,311

  7·6

  Great Yarmouth High School

  1,454,991

  110,579

  7·6

  Lynn Grove VC High School

  1,496,431

  113,729

  7·6

  St. Clements High School

  1,080,193

  82,095

  7·6

  Northamptonshire

  398 399

  LEA/School

  (a) Direct Annual Maintenance Grant £

  (b) Central Annual Maintenance Grant £

  Percentage (b) to (a)

  Southfield School for Girls

  1,265,684

  185,041

  14·6

  Kingsley Park Middle School

  540,393

  79,005

  14·6

  Kingswood School

  1,860,044

  271,936

  14·6

  Moulton Primary School

  493,772

  72,189

  14·6

  King John School

  423,897

  61,973

  14·6

  Northampton School for Boys

  1,690,538

  247,155

  14·6

  Lodge Park School

  1,617,189

  236,431

  14·6

  Manor School

  1,397,453

  117,386

  8·4

  Montagu School

  1,699,066

  142,722

  8·4

  Weavers School

  2,316,277

  194,567

  8·4

  Windmill Primary School

  546,201

  67,183

  12·3

  Wrenn School

  2,046,531

  175,013

  8·6

  Sir Christopher Hatton

  1,548,809

  130,100

  8·4

  Danesholme Junior School

  457,596

  56,284

  12·3

  Woodnewton Way Junior School

  479,142

  58,934

  12·3

  Nottinghamshire

  Ravensdale Middle School

  545,541

  79,757

  14·6

  Greenwood Dale School

  1,159,012

  144,876

  12·5

  George Spencer School

  1,759,986

  219,998

  12·5

  Oxfordshire

  Shenington CE Primary School1

  107,439

  16,223

  15·1

  Rochdale

  Crossgates Primary School

  281,164

  41,106

  14·6

  Smithy Bridge Primary School

  455,749

  63,805

  14·0

  St. James CE Primary

  275,195

  38,527

  14·0

  Wardle High School

  1,892,379

  170,314

  9·0

  Sandwell

  Manor High School

  1,540,270

  225,186

  14·6

  Sheffield

  Clifford First School

  124,276

  18,169

  14·6

  Shropshire

  Adams' Grammar School

  1,009,015

  147,517

  14·6

  Corbet GM School

  1,112,407

  112,353

  10·1

  Ercall Wood School2

  1,180,593

  103,892

  8·8

  Solihull

  Hatchford Primary School

  706,907

  110,277

  15·6

  Somerset

  Sexey's School1

  1,131,247

  165,387

  14·6

  Bruton Primary School1

  291,981

  53,725

  18·4

  Southwark

  London Nautical School

  1,216,956

  242,174

  19·9

  St. Francesca Cabrini RC Primary

  624,767

  167,438

  26·8

  Staffordshire

  St. Thomas More School

  1,651,234

  241,408

  14·6

  Cannock Chase High School

  1,853,274

  209,420

  11·3

  Surrey

  Guildford County Secondary School

  1,585,741

  221,152

  13·9

  Collingwood School, Camberley

  2,988,420

  422,747

  14·1

  St. John the Baptist School, Woking

  1,370,008

  187,359

  13·7

  Glyn School

  1,725,814

  230,663

  13·4

  Gordon's School

  677,114

  97,325

  14·4

  Beacon School

  1,555,783

  178,930

  11·5

  Epsom and Ewell High School

  1,759,053

  202,308

  11·5

  Hawkedale First School

  152,769

  25,313

  16·6

  Heathside Secondary School

  1,081,857

  124,424

  11·5

  Manor First School, Byfleet

  214,755

  35,584

  16·6

  Roseberry School, Epsom

  1,680,235

  193,243

  11·5

  Stonleigh First School

  261,423

  43,316

  16·6

  De Stafford School

  1,058,765

  121,768

  11·5

  Send CE First School

  201,997

  33,469

  16·6

  Thamesmead School

  979,482

  112,650

  11·5

  St. Paul's School

  1,320,301

  130,710

  9·9

  400 401

  LEA/School

  (a) Direct Annual Maintenance Grant £

  (b) Central Annual Maintenance Grant £

  Percentage (b) to (a)

  Sutton

  Wilsons School

  1,454,272

  248,961

  17·1

  Nonsuch High School for Girls

  1,738,088

  256,092

  14·7

  John Fisher School

  1,454,435

  215,712

  14·8

  Cheam High School

  1,924,582

  225,097

  11·7

  Sutton Grammar School for Boys

  1,285,145

  150,309

  11·7

  St. Philomena's School

  1,699,377

  173,336

  10·2

  Wallington High School for Boys

  1,306,716

  133,285

  10·2

  Wellington High School for Girls

  1,511,973

  154,221

  10·3

  Tameside

  Audenshaw High School1

  1,380,454

  201,821

  14·6

  West Hill School1

  1,327,644

  142,058

  10·7

  Tower Hamlets

  Raines Foundation School

  2,011,147

  434,408

  21·6

  Trafford

  Ashton on Mersey School

  1,621,670

  167,032

  10·3

  New Wellington High School

  1,653,588

  170,320

  10·3

  Sale Moor School

  1,126,561

  116,036

  10·3

  Walsall

  The Streetly School

  2,028,385

  296,547

  14·6

  St. Thomas More RC School

  2,301,934

  336,540

  14·6

  Shire Oak Community School

  1,263,004

  155,349

  12·3

  Waltham Forest

  Highams Park School

  2,145,893

  315,446

  14·7

  Wandsworth

  Graveney School

  3,882,643

  577,628

  14·9

  Burntwood School

  3,034,341

  438,934

  14·5

  Elliott School

  3,131,969

  338,253

  10·8

  Salesian College

  1,295,195

  139,881

  10·8

  Ethelburga Primary School

  363,171

  59,923

  16·5

  Hillbrook Primary School

  625,753

  103,249

  16·5

  John Paul II RC School

  1,306,129

  141,062

  10·8

  Southfields School

  3,160,338

  341,316

  10·8

  Warwickshire

  Newbold Grange High School (alias Avon)1

  623,679

  95,690

  15·3

  Ash Green School (Exhall)1

  948,491

  141,683

  15·0

  Hartshill School1

  1,165,046

  167,408

  14·4

  Queen Elizabeth School, Atherstone1

  1,391,275

  145,094

  10·4

  Myton School1

  2,002,429

  208,830

  10·4

  Alcester Grammar School1

  1,163,674

  96,585

  —

  Rugby High School for Girls1

  1,129,411

  93,741

  8·3

  Wirral

  Calday Grange Grammar School

  2,072,366

  186,513

  9·0

  Wiltshire

  St. Augustine's School

  1,016,685

  148,638

  14·6

  Aloeric School

  417,004

  82,984

  19·9

  Highbury School

  995,756

  145,578

  14·6

  Lavington School

  912,503

  133,407

  14·6

  Wolverhampton

  Moseley Park

  2,168,107

  327,384

  15·1

  Wolverhampton GS

  1,170,673

  182,018

  15·5

  1 Consultation on a proposed final grants for these schools has been completed and a finalised grant notified to the school and LEA.

  2 School became grant maintained after 1 April 1993.

  Dyslexia
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of school children removed from school because of behavioural problems in the last three years are dyslexic.

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not collected centrally.

  First Aid
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he will require basic instruction in first aid to be part of the national curriculum.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans. Section 1 of the Education Reform Act 1988 already requires the curriculum of maintained schools to prepare
  403
  pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life. As part of that preparation, all pupils are now required to be taught those aspects of safety education contained in several national curriculum core and foundation subjects. In addition, the National Curriculum Council has issued guidance to all maintained schools in England offering advice on how schools might incorporate topics about safety education, including knowledge of basic first aid, into their wider programmes of health education.

  Law Students
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many representations his Department has received in the last 12 months regarding discretionary grants made by local authorities to trainee lawyers.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many representations he has received over the last six months on the subject of discretionary grants to law students seeking to qualify in one of the two branches of the legal profession; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on this subject. They have been made by the Law Society, the College of Law and the Trainee Solicitors Group, among others. We have also received correspondence and parliamentary questions from several hon. Members on the training of lawyers.

  GEST Funding
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list for each of the last three years the local education authorities which have not been able to take up grants for education support and training funding offered to them; for what purposes the unused funding was originally made available; and what it was used for subsequently.

  Mr. Forth
  The information provided in the table is for 1992–93 and for 1993–94. Information about 1991–92 is not readily available. The tables set out the local education authorities which surrendered some of the allocations made available to them. Each year's programme covers some 30 or more individual grants for different purposes. The sums surrendered ranged across most grants. We do not know what use LEAs will have made of their unused 40 per cent. contribution to GEST allocations. The saving in central Government grant which represents 60 per cent. of GEST allocations has been redeployed to a range of other Department of Education programmes. To provide the full information requested would involve disproportionate cost.

  1992–93

  Gest allocations not taken up

  £ thousands

  Hammersmith

  10·0

  Southwark

  41·3

  Brent

  64·5

  Haringey

  146·5

  Havering

  24·8

  Merton

  74·3

  Newham

  34·0

  Redbridge

  13·9

  Dudley

  84·5

  Solihull

  9·6

  Wolverhampton

  31·1

  404

  £ thousands

  Liverpool

  172·9

  St. Helens

  64·5

  Sefton

  62·0

  Wirral

  228·5

  Bury

  40·9

  Rochdale

  55·5

  Salford

  106·3

  Bradford

  11·0

  Calderdale

  52·1

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  173·1

  North Tyneside

  53·0

  South Tyneside

  1·3

  Sunderland

  106·7

  Bedfordshire

  6·0

  Cheshire

  3·8

  Cleveland

  4·2

  Derby

  182·3

  Essex

  346·0

  Gloucestershire

  74·3

  Isle of Wight

  14·4

  Kent

  1·7

  Lincolnshire

  0·9

  Oxfordshire

  26·5

  Somerset

  17·2

  Surrey

  3·8

  West Sussex

  68·2

  Total

  2,411·6

  Note: Total programme

  377,200·0

  Percentage not taken up

  0·6

  1993–94

  Gest allocations not taken up

  £ thousands

  Greenwich

  129·4

  Lambeth

  14·1

  Barnet

  21·7

  Manchester

  296·6

  Kirklees

  153·5

  Wakefield

  206·7

  Gateshead

  165·4

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  109·0

  North Tyneside

  60·8

  Sunderland

  43·3

  Avon

  11·3

  Cleveland

  169·5

  Cumbria

  57·5

  Devon

  747·7

  Durham

  233·3

  Gloucestershire

  348·6

  Humberside

  315·9

  Norfolk

  221·5

  Northamptonshire

  20·0

  Total

  3,325·7

  Note: Total programme

  320,200·0

  Percentage not taken up

  1·0

  Educational Psychology
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the funding allocation for the educational psychology service for each year since 1985.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is not held centrally. Each local education authority is responsible for securing educational psychology services in the light of local needs and priorities. Central Government, through
  405
  the grants and education support and training programme, provide financial support to authorities to assist them with the costs of the initial training of educational psychologists. Funds to support LEA expenditure of £3·5 million on the training of educational psychologists have been allocated in 1993–94.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking(a) to protect the educational psychology service and (b) to ensure a common standard service throughout the country; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Each local education authority is responsible for securing educational psychology services in its area. The Education Bill contains power to enable authorities to provide support services, such as educational psychology, to all pupils with special educational needs, including those without statements.

  Under the Bill, all authorities in England and Wales will be placed under a duty to have regard to the provisions of a code of practice, issued by the Secretary of State, giving them practical guidance in discharging their duty towards children with special educational needs. One of the objectives of the code is to secure greater consistency in local education authority practice, to the benefit of children with SEN and their parents.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many educational psychologists were employed by each local education authority in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Forth
  Information on the number of educational psychologists employed by individual local education authorities is collected annually by the Department. However, pre-1992 returns were not compiled in a standard format and are not readily available for every year. Figures are shown in the table for 1985 and 1992.

  Numbers of full-lime equivalent educational psychologists in post by local education authority

  LEA

  1985

  1992

  Inner London

  87·7

  City

  0·0

  Camden

  7·8

  Greenwich

  11·0

  Hackney

  8·5

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  8·0

  Islington

  10·0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  6·0

  Lambeth

  7·8

  Lewisham

  10·0

  Southwark

  15·0

  Tower Hamlets

  10·0

  Wandsworth

  11·0

  Westminster

  7·0

  Barking and Dagenham

  7·0

  7·5

  Barnet

  8·5

  13·6

  Bexley

  5·0

  6·5

  Brent

  9·6

  11·2

  Bromley

  8·0

  10·0

  Croydon

  9·0

  10·8

  Ealing

  5·4

  9·8

  Enfield

  9·0

  12·5

  Haringey

  7·0

  9·8

  Harrow

  6·0

  6·0

  Havering

  8·0

  8·0

  Hillingdon

  5·0

  8·2

  Hounslow

  5·9

  5·8

  Kingston upon Thames

  2·0

  3·0

  Merton

  5·0

  5·7

  Newham

  11·0

  11·0

  406

  LEA

  1985

  1992

  Redbridge

  6·0

  7·4

  Richmond upon Thames

  4·0

  5·5

  Sutton

  4·0

  6·0

  Waltham Forest

  8·0

  7·0

  Birmingham

  37·2

  37·5

  Coventry

  12·3

  14·0

  Dudley

  7·5

  8·5

  Sandwell

  8·0

  14·0

  Solihull

  7·3

  8·0

  Walsall

  7·0

  10·0

  Wolverhampton

  6·0

  10·0

  Knowsley

  7·0

  6·8

  Liverpool

  15·5

  18·0

  St. Helens

  4·0

  6·5

  Sefton

  9·0

  11·0

  Wirral

  8·0

  13·5

  Bolton

  4·0

  7·4

  Bury

  3·5

  4·5

  Manchester

  14·0

  19·3

  Oldham

  5·0

  4·0

  Rochdale

  9·0

  7·5

  Salford

  6·0

  7·0

  Stockport

  6·7

  9·5

  Tameside

  7·0

  11·0

  Trafford

  3·0

  4·0

  Wigan

  8·0

  6·5

  Barnsley

  4·0

  4·5

  Doncaster

  9·0

  9·0

  Rotherham

  9·0

  10·3

  Sheffield

  13·6

  16·2

  Bradford

  14·0

  19·0

  Calderdale

  2·0

  6·8

  Kirkless

  12·0

  15·0

  Leeds

  13·5

  19·0

  Wakefield

  6·0

  12·0

  Gateshead

  8·0

  10·0

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  12·0

  11·0

  North Tyneside

  8·0

  8·0

  South Tyneside

  6·0

  8·0

  Sunderland

  9·0

  10·1

  Isles of Scilly

  0·0

  0·0

  Avon

  28·6

  28·8

  Bedfordshire

  12·0

  17·0

  Berkshire

  17·3

  17·0

  Buckinghamshire

  16·0

  21·9

  Cambridgeshire

  12·0

  14·0

  Cheshire

  17·0

  25·1

  Cleveland

  18·0

  18·3

  Cornwall

  8·0

  12·0

  Cumbria

  9·0

  18·0

  Derbyshire

  21·5

  33·1

  Devon

  20·4

  22·1

  Dorset

  14·5

  17·5

  Durham

  17·4

  20·4

  East Sussex

  11·8

  19·6

  Essex

  31·4

  42·7

  Gloucestershire

  11·0

  17·0

  Hampshire

  31·5

  44·0

  Hereford and Worcester

  11·0

  16·5

  Hertfordshire

  21·5

  28·4

  Humberside

  21·0

  24·0

  Isle of Wight

  3·0

  3·0

  Kent

  19·0

  30·0

  Lancashire

  34·0

  42·0

  Leicestershire

  19·0

  33·6

  Lincolnshire

  10·0

  13·0

  Norfolk

  14·0

  18·5

  North Yorkshire

  15·2

  20·0

  Northamptonshire

  15·0

  17·5

  Northumberland

  4·1

  9·5

  Nottinghamshire

  30·0

  28·5

  Oxfordshire

  12·5

  14·5

  Shropshire

  8·0

  12·0

  Somerset

  9·0

  11·0

  Staffordshire

  17·7

  29·4

  Suffolk

  13·0

  14·0

  Surrey

  22·0

  28·4

  Warwickshire

  9·8

  12·3

  407

  LEA

  1985

  1992

  West Sussex

  12·0

  17·4

  Wiltshire

  13·0

  14·8

  Total: All LEAs

  1,173·4

  1,501·6

  Behavioural Problems (Referrals)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list for each year since 1985 by local education authority, the number of referrals by teachers of children with behavioural problems.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is not centrally available.

TRANSPORT

  British Rail Employees (Concessions)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received over the past year concerning the future of concessionary travel facilities for current British Rail employees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have given a clear assurance that travel concessions for employees of BR and their dependants, and for retired staff will be safeguarded in the privatisation of British Rail.

  Red Routes
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effect the operation of red routes has had on the use of buses in the relevant areas.

  Mr. Norris
  Since the start of the pilot scheme in 1991, the number of passengers using the 43 route and the new express service introduced last year has increased by about 11,000 a week. This is an increase of about 10 per cent., compared with a small overall decline in bus patronage in London over the same period.

  London Transport Staff (Assaults)
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many physical assaults on London Transport staff took place in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Norris
  There were 517 assaults on LT staff in 1990–91, 689 in 1991–92, and the provisional total for 1992–93 is 622. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.

  Crossrail
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the crossrail project.

  Mr. MacGregor
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in his speech to the CBI last Tuesday, we have concluded that crossrail can be carried forward as a joint venture with the private sector and that London Transport's Crossrail Bill should proceed to its Second Reading next month.
  408
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those organisations and companies, other than the Manufacturing and Construction Industries Alliance, from which he has received recent representations concerning the crossrail project.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend and I have received representations in recent weeks from the following organisations and companies:

  Aylesbury Vale District Council

  British Airways plc

  Buckinghamshire County Council

  Department of Trade & Industry

  Grosvenor House

  Howard de Walden Estates Ltd.

  London Borough of Camden

  London Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  London Regional Passengers' Committee

  London Tourist Board and Convention Bureau

  Oxford Street Association

  Regalian Group of Companies

  Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors

  Save London's Theatres Campaign

  Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners

  St Albans Friends of the Earth

  Trafalgar House

  Wokingham Friends of the Earth

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with the proposal by the consortium consisting of Trafalgar House, Balfour Beatty and GEC Alsthom, in connection with upgrading of the west coast main line.

  Mr. Freeman
  The consortium has put forward outline proposals for a joint venture to upgrade the west coast main line and I have responded to them. Further work is in hand to identify a way forward—which must include a competition for the choice of private sector partners.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the locomotive breakdowns, signal failures and other causes of train delays on the west coast main line, from 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not held by the Department. These are operational matters for British Rail.

  British Rail Journey Times
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail on the reduction of journey times on its principal routes.

  Mr. Freeman
  The timetabling and routing of services is entirely a matter for the management of British Rail and it would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene.

  Traffic Congestion, London
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to reduce traffic congestion in London.

  Mr. Norris
  Our aim is a much-improved public transport system, capable of responding efficiently to
  409
  changes in demand, and offering a good-quality alternative to the private car. In terms of the road network, we are planning increasing emphasis on road traffic management measures—such as the introduction of red routes—to improve the reliability of journeys—especially for buses—to take traffic off residential roads, and to provide safer conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. Our roads investment programme has the limited objectives of improving orbital movement, dealing with congestion black spots, and improving access to docklands and east London. For the longer term, we are examining the case for and against congestion charging in London.

  East Thames Corridor
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with which organisations he has discussed transport links in the east Thames corridor.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The east Thames corridor was one of the topics I discussed at a meeting which I and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment had recently with the chairman and other representatives of the London and South East regional planning conference. Also, my Department participates in the east Thames corridor forum.

  Red Star Parcels
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the publication of the memorandum of sale of Red Star Parcels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The British Railways Board is at an advanced stage in preparing the Red Star information memorandum, and will publish it as soon as all relevant documentation has been completed.

  Bus Deregulation
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the effect on passengers of the introduction of tendering for London's buses.

  Mr. Norris
  Tendering has introduced an element of competition into the provision of bus services in London. The effect has been to improve service quality and reduce costs, both on tendered routes and on the rest of the network, to the benefit of the bus passenger and the taxpayer alike.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from private companies concerning the proposed deregulation of London Buses.

  Mr. Norris
  I have received a number of written and oral representations from private companies concerning aspects of our plans to deregulate London bus services.

  Local Roads (Speed Limits)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates have been made of the effect of 20 mph zones on the safety of local roads.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Transport Research Laboratory is currently carrying out a study into the 410
  effectiveness of 20 mph zones in improving safety on local roads. Early research shows that reductions in speed brought about by the traffic-calming measures have resulted in a 50 per cent. fall in road casualties within these zones. It has also been found that accidents on surrounding roads have not increased. However, it is still very early days and much remains to be learnt about the operation of 20 mph zones.

  Rolling Stock (Leasing)
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken and will take to promote the development of a rolling stock leasing market.

  Mr. Freeman
  The measures include approval in the autumn statement for the leasing of £150 million of new rolling stock by British Rail. British Rail is to establish rolling stock companies and transfer its existing stock to them by 1 April 1994. These companies will lease stock to franchisees and BR's operating divisions pending franchising. They will be transferred to the private sector as soon as practicable. The Government are proposing to add a new clause to the Railways Bill specifically enabling the franchising director to exercise his franchising powers to encourage investment. This would, for example, allow the franchising director to undertake to lessors that, if they supplied new trains, he would ensure that those trains were used on two or more successive franchisees, thus giving the lessors comfort that they would not be left with trains which they could not release at the end of the first franchise. Such undertakings should help to encourage private sector investment in rolling stock in the early years of franchising before an active secondhand market for rolling stock develops.

  Ashford International Railway Station
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to commence on the building of a new Ashford international railway station together with related works.

  Mr. Freeman
  I visited Ashford on 17 May and announced that British Rail expects to go out to tender in July for the track and platform works for the international station with a view to works starting in October. The Government have allocated £30 million for such works. I also announced that the principal terms have been agreed for a competition for the private sector to build the station, car parks and other development. The details are currently being finalised and within two weeks British Rail will be seeking initial expressions of interest.

  British Rail and London Buses (Restructuring)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given since 8 May to revising the Government's proposed restructuring of British Rail and London Buses.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government are always ready to reconsider their policies where there is good reason for doing so.

  Freight (Rail Promotion)
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of measures taken to encourage freight operators to use rail rather than road; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Since 1975, grants have been available under section 8 of the Railways Act 1974 to assist companies to meet the capital cost of projects in cases where the goods would otherwise go by road and where there are readily quantifiable environmental benefits in removing lorry traffic. Some 200 schemes have been assisted at a cost of £78 million in cash terms. This has resulted in 3 million annual lorry journeys removed from the roads.

  To further encourage a switch from road to rail, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport announced three important new measures during the Second Reading of the Railways Bill on 2 February 1993. These are set out in the Official Report, columns 164–65. These measures cannot be implemented prior to the passing of the legislation and until Railtrack is operational as a commercial entity.

  Both the enhanced freight facilities grants scheme and the proposed track access charges grant will be monitored to ensure that payments continue to represent value for money.

  Rail Headquarters
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will establish the headquarters of Railtrack, the Rail Franchising Authority and the rail regulator in York.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. The franchising director and the rail regulator will need to maintain close and constant liaison with each other, the Department of Transport, BR, train operators and others, many of whom are also located in London. Initially, at least, their headquarters will therefore be in London.

  While it remains a division of British Rail, the location of Railtrack's headquarters is a matter for the British Railways Board.

  Railways
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement setting out his policy on exemptions to be granted from the various requirements of part I of the Railways Bill.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have today published a statement setting out our policy, and placed a copy in the Library. Copies are available from the Department of Transport, Room S18/22, 2 Marsham street, London SW1P 3EB.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when open access for operators of new services will come into effect, following enactment of the Railways Bill.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is intended that open access—the opportunity for new operators to run services on the rail network—will start in April 1994, the proposed vesting date for Railtrack. We have already announced that there will be restrictions placed on open access, to the extent 412
  necessary, to allow the successful transfer of British Rail's passenger services to the private sector. Guidance on the restrictions required for each franchise will be given when invitations to tender are issued. If open access operators apply for train paths in advance of invitations to tender for the franchise concerned, they will be informed then of the terms of competition which will apply.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to decide the full programme for franchising British Rail's passenger services.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have today published plans for the restructuring of BR's passenger network into 25 businesses which will be the basis for franchises to be offered to the private sector. Included in this are some parts of the network which will be further reviewed to decide on the grouping of services for franchising: the central region of Regional Railways and InterCity cross country and Regional Railways long-distance inter-urban services. Copies of the full list of service groupings and illustrative maps of them have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further consideration he has given to the Transport Select Committee's first and second reports on the "Future of the Railways"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I responded to the Committee's interim report by letter on 20 January. I responded to the Committee's final report on the future of the railways on Friday 21 May. I very much welcome the Select Committee's conclusion"that the Government is right to examine ways of involving the private sector in the railways as a means of increasing the total amount of investment".

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to begin discussions with private sector interests about the channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department is today sending a consultation document to a number of private sector interests. Views are invited on the best way of taking the project forward so as to offer the private sector a proper return on its investment and to secure value for money for the taxpayer. The Department will hold follow-up discussions where appropriate. I am placing a copy of the consultation document in the Library.

  Road Bridges
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the merits of design and build of road bridges relative to conventionally commissioned structures.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No representations for publicly financed design and build road bridges schemes have been received. There is, however, an ongoing dialogue with the industry.

  M1-M62 Link
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if an environmental impact assessment of proposals for an M1-M62 link road will be carried out under EC directive 85/337/EEC.
  413
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  If proposals for a MI-M62 link road go ahead, an environmental impact assessment will be carried out under EC directive 85/337/EEC. An environmental statement under this directive would normally be issued at the time of publication of draft orders under the Highways Act.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Ml-M62 questionnaires he has received from local residents and those involved in the link road proposals.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Almost 6,000 completed questionnaires have been received in response to public consultation on the Ml-M62 link road proposals.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the grey route proposals for the M1-M62 link road are publicly available; and what assessments have been made of this route.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Details of the grey route were released at the public consultation. It was rejected on the basis of its effect on property in Lower Hopton, higher cost and low value for money.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make publicly available all data associated with traffic studies for the proposed Ml-M62 link road.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  All reasonable requests for traffic data in connection with the Ml-M62 link road proposals will continue to be met.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when traffic surveys carried out to determine the impact of the proposed M1-M62 link road were undertaken.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Traffic surveys for the proposed M1-M62 link road were undertaken between May 1990 and June 1991.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what weighting was placed upon traffic calculations for the M1-M62 link road.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The calculations for the traffic forecasts for the proposed M1-M62 link road are derived from a complex computer model and depend upon a number of predictions. I will write to the hon. Member in relation to these and their weighting.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are under consideration to encourage and improve road safety for the(a) purple and (b) yellow route Ml-M62 link proposals.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Both the yellow and purple routes would improve road safety in the area as a whole. If one of these is selected as the preferred route and taken forward for further development, measures to encourage and improve road safety would be pursued.

  Traffic Forecasts
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the accuracy of the national road traffic forecasts index.
  414
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The national road traffic forecasts give forecasts of traffic by type of vehicle on all roads in Great Britain. The current forecasts were issued in 1989, based on 1988, and are provided up to 2025. The table compares the forecasts in terms of all vehicle kilometres with the outturn. The forecasts are given in a range between low and high.

  They are long-term forecasts, and are not expected to be completely accurate year on year, or over short periods.

  Indices of traffic—1988 = 100

  Year

  Forecast of all Traffic1

  Outturn Traffic1

  Low

  High

  1988

  100

  100

  1989

  104

  105

  108

  1990

  106

  109

  110

  1991

  108

  113

  110

  1992

  110

  117

  108

  1 All motor vehicles except two-wheelers.

  The 1992 statistics of outturn are provisional.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if COBA 9 cost benefit analysis systems are to be replaced.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Department uses the principles of cost benefit analysis to assess the economic viability of schemes in the national road programme. The COBA program incorporates the principles of cost benefit analysis and is used to assess the majority of schemes. The techniques and parameters within the program are continually under review and occasionally changes have to be made as the results of new research become available. COBA 9, the version currently in use, is a flexible program and generally parameter changes can be made by the user following instructions issued by the Department. However, periodically it is necessary to revise the program itself and a new version, COBA 10, is currently being developed for release later this year.

  Robin Hood Line
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis), of 17 May,Official Report, column 2, in what financial year he intends to make funding available for the Robin Hood line; under what powers such assistance will be given; and what discussions he has had about extending the line to Retford.

  Mr. Freeman
  Assistance will be given either in the form of credit approvals under part IV of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 or, subject to appraisal, in the form of grant under section 56 of the Transport Act 1968. Discussions are in progress with Nottinghamshire county council about the nature and timing of this funding, and about the case for further extending passenger services on the Robin Hood line.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to encourage more people to use public transport; and if he will make a statement.
  415
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to encourage the use of(a) bus and (b) rail public transport.

  Mr. Freeman
  The best way of encouraging greater use of public transport is to promote increased choice for passengers and increased competition for the provision of public transport services. The Government's policies of deregulation and privatisation will help to achieve these objectives. We are also continuing to make resources available for high levels of investment by those public transport operators who remain in the public sector; the autumn statement provided for expenditure of some £2 billion a year on public transport over the next three years. We have also made increased resources available this year to enable local authorities to help local bus services through bus priority measures. I look forward to further proposals from local authorities in their transport policy and plans bids later this year. My Department also has a programme of research on city congestion charging, one of whose possible benefits would be to influence people's travel choices and improve the competitive position of public transport.

  Road Pricing Schemes
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Oslo to study road pricing schemes.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I visited Oslo and Gothenburg on 10 and 11 May to see demonstrations and working examples of road charging systems, and to talk to those involved. I was impressed that technology is now available to make electronic systems work successfully. No decisions have been taken about the introduction of charging for roads in the United Kingdom.

  I will shortly be issuing a Green Paper on charging for inter-urban roads that will seek views on the issues involved. The paper and the research will reflect the experience of other countries.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the implications of the decisions taken at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development for United Kingdom transport policy.

  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for supporting the commitment to achieve a reduction in motor vehicle carbon dioxide emission levels to 1990 levels by the year 2000.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Transport must play its part in the national sustainable development plan and in the programme to limit carbon dioxide emissions. The Government are particularly keen to encourage more economical use of fuel by road transport. We have already taken steps to do this. In the Budget speech, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a 10 per cent. increase in road fuel duties. He also announced that in future Budgets he will increase duty on all road fuels by at least 3 per cent. in real terms.

  Other measures to improve fuel efficiency include an emissions check into the MOT test which encourages people to keep their engines in tune and the introduction
  416
  of speed limiters for new heavy lorries since August 1992 and for many of the heaviest existing lorries from August 1993.

  We are encouraging the use of public transport by supporting the highest level of investment in rail for 30 years and we are working with the bus industry and local authorities on ways to make bus travel more attractive, for example, through traffic management measures to speed up journey times.

  London Ring Rail
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 July,Official Report, column 862, on the London ring rail, if he will place in the Library details of his response to the proposals of S. B. Tietz and Partners.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 21 May 1993]: We were very interested to read the proposals which were sent to the Department last year. However it is for British Rail—and, in the longer term, for Railtrack—to consider whether such a project would be worth while and what priority it might deserve in their investment plans. My hon. Friend the Minister for Public Transport sent a reply to Mr. Tietz explaining this.

  Road Construction
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the economic impact of road construction for urban regeneration.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Secretary of State includes economic revival in inner cities as one of his objectives for local authority transport investment. New roads will be able to improve access to and within certain urban areas, and ease traffic congestion making them more attractive places for people to live and work. Transport supplementary grant support for road projects in urban areas is particuarly targeted at the 57 Action for Cities locations. However, the Government recognise that there is a limit to the extent to which the construction of new roads can assist inner city areas, and looks to local authorities, where appropriate for their area, to bring forward alternative proposals for dealing with traffic congestion. Central Government support may for example be given towards measures to improve public transport infrastructure, calm traffic, and offer priority to buses.

  London Underground
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of London Underground to discuss the development of the existing underground network.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I meet the chairman of London Underground regularly to discuss a variety of issues, including development of the existing underground network.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Select Committee Recommendations
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about his Departments since April 11989; and how many have been accepted.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Copies of the Select Committee reports made since April 1989 which contain recommendations for HM Treasury, and copies of the responses made by the Government, are available from the House of Commons Library. The "Sessional Information Digest" lists Select Committee reports and provides reference numbers to Department responses where appropriate up to the start of the current Session. Similar information for the current Session can be found in the House of Commons "Weekly Information Bulletin".

  Economy, London
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest assessment on the current state of, and prospects for, the London economy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor made a statement to the House on the current state of, and prospects for, the national economy, in his Budget statement. It is not our practice to make local forecasts.

  Drug Detection
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money HM Customs and Excise has been allocated in each of the last five years for the specific purpose of installing computer intelligence systems to detect drug trafficking.

  Sir John Cope
  The data are not available in the form requested. Over the past five years, money has been allocated to various computer projects in customs. A number of these include intelligence systems with a specific anti-smuggling function and so make a significant contribution to the detection of drug trafficking.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of(a) the Civil and Public Services Association and (b) the National Union of Civil and Public Servants to discuss the role of customs officers in drug detection.

  Sir John Cope
  The role of customs officers in drug detection was last discussed by the Minister responsible for HM Customs and Excise and a joint representation of customs trade unions, which included representatives from the Civil and Public Services Association and the National Union of Civil and Public Servants, at a meeting on 4 March 1992. There has since been discussion by correspondence.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of drugs seized within the United Kingdom and its waters in each year from 1988 came from or via other European Community countries.

  Sir John Cope
  The percentage by weight of drugs seized is shown in the table. The decline in the overall 418
  percentage for 1992 does not indicate a drop in quantities coming from or via the EC, but reflects a rise in quantities, particularly cannabis resin and cocaine, arriving direct from other countries.

  Percentage

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  21992

  Amphetamine1

  78

  81

  95

  95

  92

  Cannabis herbal

  4

  50

  67

  7

  44

  Cannabis resin

  46

  40

  60

  62

  27

  Cocaine

  36

  65

  3

  6

  8

  Diamorphine (heroin)

  13

  24

  58

  30

  44

  Total via EC

  22

  41

  61

  65

  32

  1 Amphetamine includes MDMA (Esctasy).

  2 1992 figures are provisional.

  Animal Smuggling
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were apprehended for smuggling animals into the United Kingdom during 1992.

  Sir John Cope
  Precise figures are not available on the number of people apprehended for smuggling animals into the United Kingdom.

  There were, however, 54 seizures in 1992 of animals being smuggled into the United Kingdom. This figure does not include interceptions by customs of animals subject to rabies controls where subsequent action, as a matter of practice, has been passed to the local authorities.

  Higher Rate Taxpayers
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect the reductions in the top rate of tax since 1979 have had on restraining the rate of increase in (i) gross earnings and (ii) in the value of perks, share options and pensions for directors.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Growth rates of gross earnings, perks, share options and pensions for directors are determined by many factors, of which reductions in the top rate of income tax is only one. It would be extremely difficult to identify and measure the contribution of income tax rates.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the United Kingdom pay income tax at the higher rate.

  Mr. Dorrell
  About 1·6 million.

  International Military Services Ltd.
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the reason for his Department having had the majority shareholding in International Military Services Ltd.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Treasury has not had any shareholding in International Military Services Ltd.

  Car Tax
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue forgone by the Exchequer because of the abolition of the car tax.
  419
  Sir John Cope
  Abolition of car tax has an estimated revenue cost of £100 million in 1992–93 and £750 million in 1993–94. The loss from 1993–94 onwards has been offset by an increase in road fuel duties.

  Oil Taxation
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many proposals for oil wells in the North sea have been cancelled as a result of his Budget proposals.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We do not have access to information which would allow us to answer this question accurately.

  Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what monitoring has been undertaken by his Department of the impact of changes made to the system of mortgage tax relief upon low-income mortgage-holding households; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The restrictions on mortgage interest relief that we introduced in 1988 apply in the same way to borrowers at all income levels. Low-income borrowers were not affected by the abolition of relief at the higher rate from 1991.

  Long-term Unemployment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his assessment of the results of the Budget measures designed to assist the long-term unemployed.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Budget measures designed to provide over 100,000 more opportunities for unemployed people are being implemented as quickly as possible by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. They will be closely monitored to test their effectiveness.

  Tax Returns
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much the Inland Revenue paid in postal surcharges for completed tax returns which arrived in envelopes that had no, or insufficient, postage in each year since 1990–91; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what estimates he has for the cost of supplying a reply paid envelope with each tax return; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The cost of supplying a reply paid envelope with each tax return would be about £2 million a year. Information is not held centrally on the cost of postal surcharges, but it is clear that this cost is relatively small.

  British Telecom
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his most recent estimate of the likely overall cost of the forthcoming British Telecom share offer including consultancy, financial and legal advice, PR, marketing and advertising, underwriting, receiving banks' costs, selling commission and fees and overseas costs of share shops.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The costs of the BT3 share offer will be reported to Parliament after the sale has been completed. Sales proceeds will be appropriated in aid of the expenses of the sale.
  420
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths:
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the sum provided for the preliminary expenses of the 1993–94 British Telecom share offer in class XVII, vote 17 of the March 1993 Supply estimates has yet been spent; and when he intends to bring further supplementary estimates before the House.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Only part of the provision for preliminary expenses of the 1993–94 BT share offer in class XVII, vote 17 of the March 1993 Supply estimates has so far been spent. I will bring further estimates before the House for this expenditure as and when necessary. Proceeds of the sale will be appropriated in aid of the expenses of the sale.

  Public Sector Borrowing Requirement
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much foreign investors have contributed to the public sector borrowing requirement in 1991 and 1992; what is the forecast for 1993 and 1994; what is the annual cost of servicing this increase in overseas debt from 1991 to date; what is his forecast for the rest of 1993 and 1994; and how the increase in the payments deficit will be financed.

  Mr. Nelson
  Annual net official sales of British Government stocks to the overseas sector for 1991 and 1992 appear in table 3.5 of the March 1993 edition of "Financial Statistics". Official forecasts of the level of such sales to the overseas sector are not available.

  Statistical estimates of the interest paid to the overseas sector on holdings of British Government stocks are available on the Central Statistical Office databank, series XAMF, which is available in the Library. Official forecasts of the annual level of interest payable to the overseas sector on British Government stocks are not available.

  The current account deficit forecast for 1993 is small as a percentage of gross domestic product and is expected to be readily financeable, and the measures put in place in the Budget should help to strengthen the United Kingdom's trade position over the years ahead.

  Exchange Rates
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing(a) the fall in the nominal and real rates of exchange between pound sterling and the individual exchange rate mechanism currencies, the dollar and the yen between August 1973 and February 1987 and (b) the corresponding change in the terms of trade for finished manufactures in trade between the United Kingdom, EEC and non-EEC countries, respectively; and what assessment has been made of the effect on output and unemployment between 1986 and 1988.

  Mr. Nelson
  Monthly and yearly average daily exchange rates between sterling and the US dollar, the yen and those countries that were members of the ERM during the period in question can be obtained from the CSO database and can also be found in chapter 13 of the CSO's publication "Financial Satistics". Reliable figures for bilateral real exchange rates over that period are not available but real effective exchange rate indexes covering the countries in question can be found in "International Financial Statistics" published by the International Monetary Fund. Prior to 1988, indices for terms of trade are available only on a whole world basis, but these can
  421
  also be accessed from the CSO database by the Library of the House. There are a large number of influences on output and unemployment at any one time and it is impossible properly to assess the effects of exchange rate changes in isolation.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria he uses when deciding whether sterling is fully competitive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government have no target for either the nominal or the real exchange rate. There are a number of ways of assessing competitiveness: for example, real exchange rates can be calculated using various price indices and there are also economic concepts such as fundamental equilibrium exchange rates and purchasing power parity exchange rates. The only way to secure competitiveness in the long term is for producers to maintain strict control over costs and to sustain a high quality of output.

  Relocation
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to relocate Treasury civil servants to Inverness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  None.

  Earnings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the estimated increase in earnings of full-time male manual workers, not affected by absence, in manufacturing industry since September 1992 relative to the increase in the real exchange since sterling fell to DM2·30.

  Mr. Nelson
  Data on the earnings of full-time male manual workers, not affected by absence, in manufacturing industry are available only on an annual basis. Monthly data on the earnings of all employees in manufacturing industries may be found in table 5.1 of the Employment Gazette.
  Series for various measures of the real exchange rate arc published in "Economic Trends" (table 28). They do not yet extend to the period requested. However, the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" (paragraph 3.44) estimated that United Kingdom unit labour costs in manufacturing were unchanged in the fourth quarter of 1992 compared with a year earlier; while our competitors' unit labour costs in manufacturing rose by 3¼ per cent. Over the same period, the nominal exchange rate (ERI) fell by 12¼ per cent.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to control the spread of drug abuse in the inner cities.

  Mr. Jack
  The Government remain committed to improving all aspects of inner city life including combatting the problems of drug misuse. There is an established strategy for tackling drug misuse which aims to 422
  reduce both the supply of and demand for drugs. This involves the combined efforts of police and customs together with work on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation by statutory and voluntary agencies. The Criminal Justice Act 1991 has increased the scope for including treatment requirements in probation orders to deal with offenders with problems such as drug dependency. National anti-drugs campaigns have been run since 1985 and drugs education of all primary and secondary schools is now included in the national curriculum. Under the drugs prevention initiative, the Home Office has established local teams in 20 towns and cities in Great Britain. They are working with local communities in finding effective ways of preventing the spread of drug misuse and co-ordinating community preventive action. Some of the safer cities projects have also developed schemes to combat substance misuse. Widespread Government support and participation in European drug prevention week was also aimed at raising awareness of the benefits to be obtained from good preventative approaches.

  Racial Attacks
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people during the last three years, to date, have(a) been killed and (b) injured in incidents which are accepted by the appropriate police forces as racially motivated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about introducing new offences connected with racial hatred and racial attacks; and what plans he has to propose such new offences as an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill [Lords].

  Mr. Jack
  The Commission for Racial Equality in its second review of the Race Relations Act 1976, recommended that consideration be given to specifically crimnalising racial violence and racial harassment. All the CRE's recommendations are now under consideration.

  Mr. leuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates have been made by his Department of the total annual cost of criminal activities of drug users in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Jack
  The involvement of drug misusers in criminal activity is difficult to quantify. It has not yet been possible to produce reliable estimates of the cost of drug-related offending, although work is continuing.

  Custodial Places
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the number of additional custodial places which will be required if the Criminal Justice Bill [Lords] is amended as outlined in his statement of 13 May.

  Mr. Jack
  It is at present not possible to make any conclusive assessment on this matter.

  Firefighters
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firemen were employed in each local authority area in England for each year since 1987.

  Firefighters employed in each local authority area in England on 1 January each year since 1987

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Whole-Retained time

  Whole-Retained time

  Whole-Retained time

  Whole-Retained time

  Whole-Retained time

  Whole-Retained time

  Whole-Retained time

  FCDAS

  London

  6,535

  0

  6,887

  0

  6,620

  0

  6,601

  0

  6,696

  0

  6,614

  0

  6,563

  0

  Greater Manchester

  2,195

  92

  2,223

  47

  2,212

  35

  2,203

  53

  2,171

  53

  2,194

  53

  2,188

  63

  Merseyside

  1,499

  9

  1,528

  9

  1,540

  7

  1,558

  8

  1,557

  8

  1,565

  6

  1,561

  6

  Tyne and Wear

  1,084

  20

  1,073

  32

  1,072

  18

  1,084

  22

  1,085

  23

  1,068

  20

  1,077

  18

  West Midlands

  2,122

  68

  2,079

  4

  2,074

  20

  2,086

  10

  2,096

  11

  2,097

  10

  2,095

  10

  South Yorkshire

  1,088

  101

  1,093

  138

  1,068

  144

  1,068

  109

  1,067

  99

  1,041

  93

  1,030

  70

  West Yorkshire

  1,862

  245

  1,873

  288

  1,874

  191

  1,950

  240

  1,969

  223

  1,885

  210

  1,830

  198

  TOTAL

  16,385

  535

  16,756

  518

  16,460

  415

  16,550

  442

  16,641

  417

  16,464

  392

  16,344

  365

  Counties—England

  Avon

  639

  178

  650

  179

  644

  180

  636

  169

  641

  166

  650

  174

  640

  182

  Bedfordshire

  308

  129

  311

  123

  290

  125

  296

  133

  308

  123

  310

  127

  309

  126

  Berkshire

  423

  134

  420

  141

  426

  125

  426

  119

  422

  127

  433

  133

  434

  136

  Buckinghamshire

  277

  213

  278

  191

  288

  191

  316

  190

  321

  202

  301

  189

  316

  172

  Cambridgeshire

  268

  294

  268

  286

  263

  284

  270

  284

  265

  309

  266

  291

  267

  288

  Cheshire

  609

  209

  613

  199

  624

  182

  623

  182

  618

  159

  614

  141

  638

  133

  Cleveland

  632

  64

  633

  64

  652

  62

  657

  60

  649

  60

  658

  61

  641

  59

  Cornwall

  178

  392

  179

  387

  181

  384

  179

  392

  181

  396

  185

  393

  183

  379

  Cumbria

  290

  364

  295

  373

  295

  359

  293

  404

  296

  370

  294

  380

  287

  382

  Derbyshire

  511

  341

  512

  351

  509

  332

  508

  332

  516

  333

  497

  334

  492

  346

  Devon

  530

  614

  540

  638

  540

  644

  546

  655

  544

  665

  544

  672

  535

  659

  Dorset

  309

  290

  307

  282

  303

  280

  308

  285

  302

  284

  309

  303

  307

  313

  Durham

  422

  157

  415

  144

  423

  150

  419

  159

  435

  147

  432

  142

  429

  143

  Essex

  870

  380

  893

  379

  909

  367

  904

  378

  912

  382

  906

  396

  922

  403

  Gloucestershire

  225

  235

  225

  231

  233

  250

  238

  252

  227

  248

  226

  243

  232

  253

  Hampshire

  756

  541

  759

  552

  755

  552

  745

  5671

  761

  563

  777

  566

  778

  567

  Hereford and Worcester

  339

  295

  341

  296

  340

  304

  348

  293

  347

  297

  342

  308

  342

  313

  Hertfordshire

  551

  212

  551

  211

  564

  208

  555

  203

  548

  224

  568

  225

  573

  218

  Humberside

  739

  255

  732

  267

  738

  268

  751

  260

  734

  265

  744

  261

  724

  257

  Kent

  825

  676

  842

  670

  868

  643

  887

  656

  891

  692

  897

  695

  908

  682

  Lancashire

  935

  388

  952

  376

  964

  379

  957

  365

  963

  379

  967

  380

  974

  374

  Leicestershire

  455

  189

  456

  172

  454

  178

  464

  179

  463

  183

  466

  192

  452

  196

  Lincolnshire

  184

  409

  190

  438

  186

  422

  193

  410

  188

  428

  190

  443

  190

  441

  Norfolk

  287

  458

  283

  460

  280

  459

  278

  463

  274

  446

  280

  442

  288

  448

  Northants

  274

  210

  288

  226

  292

  225

  289

  222

  299

  223

  293

  221

  292

  215

  Northumberland

  251

  142

  253

  142

  256

  139

  259

  148

  263

  150

  258

  143

  238

  149

  Nottinghamshire

  613

  275

  615

  270

  621

  254

  622

  258

  614

  254

  610

  270

  613

  266

  Oxfordshire

  223

  256

  222

  255

  224

  248

  226

  250

  238

  227

  225

  230

  229

  229

  Shropshire

  208

  216

  207

  216

  209

  217

  199

  214

  205

  222

  206

  215

  203

  236

  Isle of Scilly

  0

  30

  I

  29

  1

  29

  0

  29

  0

  31

  0

  31

  0

  29

  Somerset

  161

  364

  161

  352

  163

  350

  165

  359

  168

  360

  167

  367

  172

  369

  Staffordshire

  460

  311

  469

  322

  456

  317

  475

  318

  485

  336

  485

  336

  492

  296

  Suffolk

  247

  385

  250

  387

  247

  384

  254

  378

  251

  370

  258

  373

  262

  391

  Surrey

  677

  112

  681

  116

  674

  109

  707

  103

  697

  94

  697

  106

  691

  114

  East Sussex

  437

  212

  438

  224

  441

  220

  429

  228

  433

  235

  429

  230

  436

  245

  West Sussex

  366

  280

  368

  277

  367

  280

  368

  293

  371

  284

  376

  294

  395

  302

  Warwickshire

  325

  209

  320

  211

  314

  207

  319

  199

  325

  179

  318

  158

  321

  168

  Isle of Wight

  48

  149

  49

  148

  46

  148

  49

  159

  49

  162

  48

  163

  48

  151

  Wiltshire

  183

  267

  188

  268

  192

  265

  200

  257

  205

  274

  209

  288

  206

  290

  North Yorkshire

  385

  422

  397

  418

  398

  427

  401

  429

  403

  425

  405

  390

  405

  414

  TOTAL

  16,420

  11,257

  16,552

  11,271

  16,630

  11,147

  16,759

  11,238

  16,812

  11,274

  16,840

  11,306

  16,864

  11,334

  GRAND TOTAL

  32,805

  11,792

  33,308

  11,789

  33,090

  11,562

  33,309

  11,680

  33,453

  11,691

  33,304

  11,698

  33,208

  11,699

  Notes:

  1. Fire and Civil Defence Authority (FCDAS) figures for 1987 as at 30 September 1986.

  2. Retained figures are expressed in units of wholetime cover.
  424
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of firefighters—men and women—employed in the area of each fire authority since 1987 is given in the table.

  Dri nk-driving
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted for(a) driving under the influence of drugs or (b) drunk driving in each police authority area for each year since 1989.

  Mr. Jack
  Numbers of convictions for driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs are published in `Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary tables', table 16. Copies of this publication for the years in question are in the Library.

  The two offences are not separately identifiable from each other in the statistics collected centrally.

  Obscene Publications
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions were brought under the Obscene Publications Act 1959, in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Jack
  The number of prosecutions in England and Wales under the Obscene Publications Act 1959, as amended by the Obscene Publications Act 1964, rose from 174 in 1990 to 364 in 1991, an increase of 109 per cent. 1992 data will not be available until the autumn.

  Suspended Sentences
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from judges and the magistracy about the restrictions on the powers to impose a suspended sentence under the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

  Mr. Jack
  We have received numerous representations from judges and magistrates about various provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 1991, but we cannot recall receiving any specific representations about the restrictions introduced by the Act on the imposition of suspended sentences.

  Asylum Seekers (Angola)
  Mr. leuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to review his Department's position on applications for asylum and extension of leave to remain in the United Kingdom by applicants from Angola.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  All applications for asylum, regardless of nationality, are carefully considered in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees. Each case is assessed on its merits taking account of all the circumstances of the particular case, including conditions in the country of origin. We are keeping a close watch on developments in Angola.

  Police (Presentation of Evidence)
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the procedure by which the police have to present evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service and also their evidence to the courts in order to increase the effectiveness of criminal prosecutions in England and Wales.
  426
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend recently announced a three-month study by consultants to see what can be done to reduce the burden of paperwork and bureaucracy on the police. That study will include a systematic analysis of the procedures by which the police present evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts.

  Young Offenders
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons convicted young offenders with homes in the north of England have been held in Feltham young offenders institution over the last six months; and how many individuals have been involved.

  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 A. J. Pearson to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 21 May 1993:

  In the temporary absence of Mr. Lewis, the Director General, the Home Secretary has asked me to write to you in response to your Parliamentary Question about why convicted young offenders with homes in the North of England have been held in Feltham Young Offender Institution over the last six months; and how many individuals have been involved.

  There has been a rapid increase in the number of young offenders being sentenced by the courts to custodial sentences. The bulk of this increase has occurred mainly in the North and Midlands, and whilst we have tried to find places in establishments near to home, it has been necessary to utilise accommodation in the South. This has involved 25 young juveniles, most of whom have now returned to their home area. The two remaining are content to stay at Feltham and take advantage of the wide range of regime activities that are available.

  Prison Department (Market Testing)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of the market-testing exercise at the supply and transport division of the Prison Department, how many staff have so far accepted the redundancy terms which were imposed last October; how much the redundancy has cost; and what has been the cost of recruiting replacements so far.

  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. Alun Michael, dated 20 May 1993:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your Question about the market testing exercise at the Supply and Transport Branch of the Prison Service.

  In September 1992, 106 staff at Branston and 34 staff at Leeds were issued with redundancy notices. Eighty-nine staff have accepted the redundancy terms offered and the total redundancy payments to be made to those staff is currently estimated at £687,000.

  Recruitment of new staff for the Branston warehouse is being undertaken by local Supply and Transport management as part of their normal function. There were minimal administrative costs for advertising in the local press, postage, etc., which are estimated not to exceed £100.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any non-governmental consultants currently assisting with Home Office market-testing exercises will in future be allowed to tender for any Home Office businesses.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Restrictions will be placed on consultants bidding for the service provision of a particular market test where they have undertaken work, connected with that particular business, either for the in-house bid team or the market testing unit.

  Passport Agency
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Passport Agency framework document will next be reviewed.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  It is planned to complete a review of the United Kingdom Passport Agency's Framework Document between April and October 1994.

  Police Mergers
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a table or tables showing the list of those police forces regarding which a representation has been received urging that it be merged with another force(a) since he took office as Home Secretary and (b) in each of the previous 10 years; and how many representations in each case were made by (i) the police authority, (ii) the chief constable, (iii) serving police officers, (iv) local authorities, (v) magistrates, (vi) members of the public and (vii) other organisations.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 May, at column 343.

  Juveniles (Custody)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has of an increase in the number of juveniles aged 15 to 17 years who have been committed to custody, other than under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, over the last year; and whether any regional trends are apparent.

  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 Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 19 May 1993:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to write to you directly in reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of juveniles aged 15 to 17 years of age who had been committed to custody.

  Table A

  Number and percentage of persons found guilty or cautioned for the indictable offence of theft of a motor vehicle' by police force area and age group 1991

  10–16

  17–20

  All ages

  Police force area

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Avon and Somerset

  20

  18

  51

  45

  114

  100

  Bedfordshire

  94

  67

  23

  16

  141

  100

  Cambridgeshire

  36

  23

  66

  42

  156

  100

  Cheshire

  8

  10

  32

  41

  79

  100

  428
  I attach a table showing the sentenced prison population aged 15–17 on 31 March 1993, together with corresponding figures for 31 March 1992. These indicate a slight decline in numbers. Separate figures are shown for the three Prison Service directorates. The Directorate of Inmate Administration (DIA) covers Wales and South West and Central England, the Directorate of Custody (DOC) covers London, South East England and East Anglia and the Directorate of Inmate Programmes (DIP) covers the East Midlands and Northern England. The establishment to which a prisoner is allocated depends on the availability of accommodation and so prisoners with homes in one directorate may be allocated to establishments in another directorate.

  Population aged 15 to 17 under sentence1 in prison service establishments in England and Wales: 31 March 1992 and 31 March 1993

  Directorate

  31 March 1992

  31 March 1993

  DIP

  218

  254

  DOC

  116

  146

  DIA

  368

  292

  Total

  702

  692

  1 Excludes those committed under Section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

  Fines
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make it his policy that any new regime for setting the level of fines shall ensure that there is an objective relationship between the level of the fine, the nature of the offence and the wealth or poverty of the offender.

  Mr. Jack
  My right hon. and learned Friend made clear in his statement to the House on 13 May, at column 939, his intention that the new provisions which replace the statutory unit fine scheme should still require magistrates who have decided that the appropriate penalty for a particular offence or offences should be a fine fully to consider an offender's means before settling the level of that financial penalty.

  Auto Crime
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list for each police authority in 1991 the number of known offenders found guilty or cautioned for offences of(a) theft or (b) unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle; and what proportion of the total number of known offenders in those categories were (i) juveniles and (ii) young adults;

  (2) if he will list for each police authority in 1991 the number of known offenders for offences of theft from a vehicle; and what percentage of those offenders were (a) juveniles and (b) young adults.

  Mr. Jack
  The information is given in the tables.
  429

  16-Oct

  17–20

  All ages

  Police force area

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Cleveland

  37

  35

  39

  37

  105

  100

  Cumbria

  10

  22

  15

  33

  45

  100

  Derbyshire

  42

  33

  52

  40

  129

  100

  Devon and Cornwall

  39

  20

  69

  36

  192

  100

  Dorset

  23

  31

  24

  32

  74

  100

  Durham

  31

  30

  33

  32

  103

  100

  Essex

  98

  34

  103

  35

  291

  100

  Gloucester

  7

  18

  10

  26

  38

  100

  Greater Manchester

  112

  33

  82

  24

  335

  100

  Hampshire

  56

  29

  45

  24

  190

  100

  Hertfordshire

  52

  36

  63

  43

  145

  100

  Humberside

  76

  46

  39

  23

  167

  100

  Kent

  147

  38

  126

  33

  384

  100

  Lancashire

  20

  18

  36

  32

  111

  100

  Leicestershire

  34

  26

  53

  41

  129

  100

  Lincolnshire

  11

  27

  17

  41

  41

  100

  City of London

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  100

  Merseyside

  13

  16

  24

  30

  79

  100

  Metropolitan police

  31

  10

  115

  37

  310

  100

  Norfolk

  16

  20

  28

  35

  81

  100

  Northamptonshire

  7

  9

  33

  42

  78

  100

  Northumbria

  56

  34

  47

  28

  165

  100

  North Yorkshire

  20

  37

  14

  26

  54

  100

  Nottinghamshire

  62

  30

  69

  33

  208

  100

  South Yorkshire

  136

  45

  78

  26

  302

  100

  Staffordshire

  9

  11

  32

  41

  79

  100

  Suffolk

  34

  37

  25

  27

  92

  100

  Surrey

  33

  38

  31

  36

  86

  100

  Sussex

  35

  32

  42

  39

  109

  100

  Thames Valley

  61

  30

  67

  33

  204

  100

  Warwickshire

  32

  52

  21

  34

  61

  100

  West Mercia

  19

  22

  32

  37

  86

  100

  West Midlands

  198

  48

  99

  24

  416

  100

  West Yorkshire

  124

  32

  130

  34

  383

  100

  Wiltshire

  3

  7

  21

  48

  44

  100

  Dyfed Powys

  5

  17

  11

  37

  30

  100

  Gwent

  21

  33

  22

  34

  64

  100

  North Wales

  23

  35

  27

  42

  65

  100

  South Wales

  46

  25

  68

  37

  184

  100

  England

  1,842

  32

  1,886

  32

  5,808

  100

  Wales

  95

  28

  128

  37

  343

  100

  England and Wales

  1,937

  31

  2,014

  33

  6,151

  100

  1 Theft Act 1968 Section 1.

  Table B

  Number and percentage of persons found guilty or cautioned for the summary offence of stealing and unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle1 by police force area and age group 1991

  Police force area

  10–16

  17–20

  All ages

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Avon and Somerset

  112

  19

  338

  57

  595

  100

  Bedfordshire

  89

  31

  130

  45

  289

  100

  Cambridgeshire

  38

  25

  73

  48

  153

  100

  Cheshire

  259

  44

  213

  36

  587

  100

  Cleveland

  192

  42

  207

  45

  461

  100

  Cumbria

  112

  42

  99

  37

  266

  100

  Derbyshire

  122

  36

  137

  40

  342

  100

  Devon and Cornwall

  135

  30

  188

  42

  452

  100

  Dorset

  60

  31

  79

  40

  196

  100

  Durham

  86

  31

  137

  49

  281

  100

  Essex

  144

  28

  238

  47

  511

  100

  Gloucester

  58

  37

  66

  42

  158

  100

  Greater Manchester

  1,038

  42

  998

  40

  2,499

  100

  Hampshire

  219

  35

  262

  42

  621

  100

  Hertfordshire

  103

  36

  132

  46

  286

  100

  Humberside

  195

  46

  163

  38

  428

  100

  Kent

  102

  32

  156

  49

  319

  100

  Lancashire

  249

  32

  346

  45

  769

  100

  Leicestershire

  213

  34

  301

  49

  619

  100

  Lincolnshire

  65

  28

  113

  49

  231

  100

  City of London

  —

  —

  6

  38

  16

  100

  Merseyside

  347

  37

  399

  42

  940

  100

  Metropolitan Police

  1,116

  37

  1,203

  39

  3,053

  100

  Norfolk

  111

  36

  134

  44

  305

  100

  Northamptonshire

  34

  17

  116

  57

  204

  100

  430 431

  Police force area

  10–16

  17–20

  All ages

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Northumbria

  433

  41

  462

  43

  1,064

  100

  North Yorkshire

  66

  29

  108

  48

  224

  100

  Nottinghamshire

  339

  40

  375

  44

  852

  100

  South Yorkshire

  334

  42

  307

  39

  793

  100

  Staffordshire

  176

  34

  229

  45

  513

  100

  Suffolk

  64

  32

  91

  45

  200

  100

  Surrey

  55

  27

  107

  52

  205

  100

  Sussex

  98

  22

  214

  48

  444

  100

  Thames Valley

  377

  40

  415

  44

  951

  100

  Warwickshire

  63

  33

  96

  50

  191

  100

  West Mercia

  206

  42

  194

  40

  491

  100

  West Midlands

  864

  40

  911

  43

  2,139

  100

  West Yorkshire

  742

  39

  789

  42

  1,895

  100

  Wiltshire

  76

  39

  79

  40

  196

  100

  Dyfed Powys

  53

  34

  63

  40

  156

  100

  Gwent

  116

  51

  78

  34

  229

  100

  North Wales

  93

  36

  108

  42

  259

  100

  South Wales

  502

  44

  482

  42

  1,141

  100

  England

  9,092

  37

  10,611

  43

  24,739

  100

  Wales

  764

  43

  731

  41

  1,785

  100

  England and Wales

  9,856

  37

  11,342

  43

  26,524

  100

  1 Theft Act 1968 Section 12(1) as amended by CJA 1988 Section 37; being carried knowing vehicle to have been taken or driven away; unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle.

  Table C

  Number and percentage of persons found guilty or cautioned for the indictable offence of theft from a vehicle1 by police force area and age group 1991

  Police force area

  10–16

  17–20

  All ages

  Police force area

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Avon and Somerset

  26

  10

  163

  63

  259

  100

  Bedfordshire

  77

  48

  53

  33

  159

  100

  Cambridgeshire

  42

  21

  100

  51

  196

  100

  Cheshire

  47

  18

  137

  51

  267

  100

  Cleveland

  122

  40

  127

  42

  305

  100

  Cumbria

  63

  55

  42

  37

  114

  100

  Derbyshire

  66

  21

  159

  50

  317

  100

  Devon and Cornwall

  29

  21

  72

  51

  141

  100

  Dorset

  35

  24

  62

  42

  148

  100

  Durham

  52

  27

  92

  48

  190

  100

  Essex

  118

  23

  258

  50

  513

  100

  Gloucester

  44

  25

  85

  49

  175

  100

  Greater Manchester

  370

  41

  351

  39

  895

  100

  Hampshire

  141

  28

  230

  46

  505

  100

  Hertfordshire

  52

  18

  184

  63

  291

  100

  Humberside

  110

  26

  217

  52

  420

  100

  Kent

  94

  22

  216

  50

  434

  100

  Lancashire

  101

  34

  138

  47

  293

  100

  Leicestershire

  122

  27

  228

  50

  457

  100

  Lincolnshire

  22

  12

  95

  53

  180

  100

  City of London

  5

  17

  7

  24

  29

  100

  Merseyside

  179

  58

  88

  29

  308

  100

  Metropolitan police

  479

  33

  557

  38

  1,459

  100

  Norfolk

  50

  32

  74

  47

  158

  100

  Northamptonshire

  14

  17

  41

  51

  80

  100

  Northumbria

  214

  38

  225

  39

  570

  100

  North Yorkshire

  46

  28

  77

  46

  167

  100

  Nottinghamshire

  154

  30

  213

  42

  507

  100

  South Yorkshire

  144

  27

  240

  46

  524

  100

  Staffordshire

  75

  48

  57

  36

  157

  100

  Suffolk

  34

  28

  53

  43

  122

  100

  Surrey

  12

  12

  58

  59

  98

  100

  Sussex

  64

  19

  174

  52

  336

  100

  Thames Valley

  158

  37

  193

  46

  423

  100

  Warwickshire

  61

  37

  74

  44

  167

  100

  West Mercia

  60

  34

  79

  45

  177

  100

  West Midlands

  529

  50

  348

  33

  1,050

  100

  West Yorkshire

  337

  35

  414

  44

  950

  100

  Wiltshire

  36

  24

  74

  50

  148

  100

  Dyfed Powys

  35

  50

  26

  37

  70

  100

  Gwent

  58

  38

  68

  44

  154

  100

  North Wales

  39

  20

  100

  51

  195

  100

  South Wales

  164

  44

  135

  36

  373

  100

  England

  4,384

  32

  6,055

  44

  13,689

  100

  432 433

  Police force area

  10–16

  17–20

  All ages

  Police force area

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Wales

  296

  37

  329

  42

  792

  100

  England and Wales

  4,680

  32

  6,384

  44

  14,481

  100

  1 Theft Act 1968 Section 1.

  Unit Fines
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he made of the effect of raising the upper disposable weekly income limit used in the unit fine system from the £25 employed in the four pilot schemes to the £100 used in the scheme brought into effect by the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

  Mr. Jack
  Within the maximum fine levels then permitted by law, the upper unit values in the four pilot unit fines schemes were determined individually by the courts involved. When Parliament was invited to approve increases in the maximum levels of fines that might be imposed by a magistrates court, at the same time as it was asked to approve a statutory unit fine scheme, it was understood that the effects would be likely to include an increase in the amounts of fines imposed on offenders with comparatively high incomes and a decrease in the amounts imposed on the less well off and that courts would be likely, in the case of the more serious offences with which they had to deal, to use their maximum sentencing powers.

  Juveniles (Supervision Orders)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many supervision orders with residence requirements have been imposed upon juveniles by courts in England and Wales over the last period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Jack
  The Children Act 1989 introduced powers which enable the courts to include a requirement in a supervision order that a child or young person shall live for a specified period in local authority accommodation. Information about the numbers subject to the requirement will not be available until the autumn of 1993.

  Deportations
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals, after being detained under the Immigration Act 1971, were subsequently deported in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information on persons removed from the United Kingdom under the deportation process is given in table 15 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Control of Immigration: Statistics—Third and Fourth Quarters and Year 1992", a copy of which is in the Library. Precise information on the number of such persons who had been detained under the Immigration Act 1971 immediately prior to deportation is not available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been removed or deported as illegal entrants on the basis of false declarations about accommodation in each year since 1990.

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

  Immigration Detentions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many individuals have been held in detention under the Immigration Act 1971 in each year since 1990; and how many were attempting to enter the United Kingdom as students, visitors and asylum seekers;

  (2) how many individuals were held in detention (a) on arrival in the United Kingdom and (b) after arrival in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information is given in the table; the statistics do not identify the basis on which the person sought entry to the United Kingdom.

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Passengers detained overnight or longer on arrival

  9,007

  8,016

  6,918

  Persons detained overnight or longer after entry1

  3,607

  4,578

  4,666

  1People dealt with under deportation powers.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals seeking asylum were(a) held in detention centres and (b) detained in prison or police stations in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Asylum seekers are not identified separately in the statistics on total persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971. The only readily available information is of the number of asylum seekers who had been detained for more than a month at the points of time given in the table.

  Asylum applicants1 detained for more than one month at certain points of time, by place of detention.

  26 April 1991

  3 April 1992

  19 May 1993

  Harmondsworth

  33

  42

  66

  Haslar

  36

  37

  81

  Her Majesty's Prisons2

  51

  48

  137

  Total

  120

  127

  284

  1 Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedules 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971. In some cases the asylum application will have been lodged subsequent to the applicant being detained. The figures include both detained asylum applicants who applied at ports, and those detained in after-entry enforcement work. For the latter, the figures exclude persons whose asylum application was refused and who remained in detention pending removal.

  2 No such cases were held in police stations.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are to increase the number of detention centres for those held under the Immigration Act 1971.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Work started in March on the redevelopment of a vacant Prison Service establishment at Campsfield house, Kidlington, near Oxford, to provide up to 200 additional places for immigration detainees.
  435
  Further possible options, including the creation of additional facilities close to Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, are under consideration, but no final decision has yet been taken.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the costs in each year since 1990 of running detention centres for those held under the Immigration Act 1971; and what are the projected costs for 1994 and 1995.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Immigration detention centres are managed under contract, and the costs involved are not disclosed on grounds of commercial confidentiality.

  Refugees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 23 April,Official Report, columns 216–17, if he will publish the standing instructions issued on the practice of issuing travel documents to those in the United Kingdom on exceptional leave to remain on asylum grounds in the years 1991, 1992 and 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The answer that I gave on 28 April,Official Report, columns 445–46, explained that applications for Home Office travel documents from those granted exceptional leave are considered on their individual merits. It has been our long-standing practice not to publish internal staff instructions.

  Ex-Detainees (Yugoslavia)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ex-detainees from the former Yugoslavia have arrived in the United Kingdom since November 1992.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  A total of 235 ex-detainees and 374 dependants from the former Yugoslavia have so far arrived under the arrangements I announced on 30 November 1992.

  Racially Motivated Crime
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to police forces in the United Kingdom about the criteria in defining crime as being racially motivated; and what representations he has received concerning such definition and the recording by the police of racially motivated crime.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  All police forces in England and Wales use the definition of racial incidents set out in the 1991 report of the interdepartmental racial attacks group. The definition is as follows:Any incident in which it appears to the reporting or investigating officer that the complaint involves an clement of racial motivation, or any incident which includes an allegation of racial motivation by any person.

  All forces systematically monitor reported racial incidents and HM inspectorate of constabulary collects statistics centrally.

  My right hon. and learned Friend has not received any representations about the above definition or about the police recording of racially motivated crime.

  Adolescent Psychiatric Service
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on the establishment of a national forensic adolescent psychiatric service.

  Mr. Yeo
  I have been asked to reply.

  Services for mentally disordered adolescents are currently provided by a number of agencies including the national health service, social services, the youth treatment service and the independent sector. The recent Department of Health/Home Office review of services for mentally disordered offenders—Cm 2088—included those relating to children and adolescents.

HEALTH

  Child Mortality
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the top 20 causes of death for children aged under 18 years in each year since 1979 and the number of deaths in those years from those 20 causes by sex.

  Mr. Sackville
  The exact information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information by "International Classification of Diseases" (9th edition) chapter heading, by sex and for the age-group one to 19 years (inclusive) is, however, readily available and will be placed in the Library.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what were the top 20 causes of death in children aged nought to one and one to 16 years for each of the last five years;

  (2) what were the 20 commonest causes of death for children aged under one year and the numbers of death by sex for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  The exact information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information by "International Classification of Diseases" (9th edition) chapter heading, by sex and for the age-groups nought to one year (28 days to 11 months inclusive) and one to 14 years (inclusive) is, however, readily available and will be placed in the Library.

  Gluten-free Foods
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to change the reimbursable status of gluten-free foods and low protein products; how many patients suffering from coeliac disease and metabolic disorders currently benefit from the present arrangements; what is the annual cost; when she expects the committee on borderline substances to report on the future status of currently available products; and if she will hold discussions with the manufacturers of these products and representatives of sufferers.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no plans to change the reimbursable status of gluten-free foods and low protein products. The independent Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances will, however, be reviewing products in these categories later in the year. Its remit is to ensure that such products which have therapeutic use in the treatment of disease in the community can be provided as economically as possible under the national health
  437
  service. Patients' needs will be taken into account and they will continue to receive products which are necessary to treat their condition under the NHS. We expect the committee to complete this task early next year and manufacturers who may be affected will be given the opportunity to present information to the committee before their products are reviewed. A total of 998,100 prescriptions for foods for special diets were dispensed by community pharmacists, dispensing doctors and for personal administration, in England in 1992 at a total cost of £ 14·9 million. Details on the number of patients are not available.

  Birth Statistics
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many miscarriages, stillbirths and children born alive were recorded in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Sackville
  The numbers of live births and stillbirths which occurred in England and Wales from 1988 to 1992 are shown in the table. The total number of miscarriages is not known.

  Live and Stillbirths England and Wales 1988–1992

  Live births

  Stillbirths

  1988

  693,577

  3,382

  1989

  687,725

  3,236

  1990

  706,140

  3,256

  1991

  699,217

  3,254

  1992

  689,656

  13,160

  1 The figures given for 1992 include 216 stillbirths of 24 to 27 weeks gestation which occurred between 1 October and 31 December. On 1 October 1992 the legal definition of a stillbirth was altered from a baby born dead after 28 completed weeks gestation or more, to one born dead after 24 completed weeks gestation or more.

  Cancer (Specialty Review)
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to undertake consultations before deciding whether to implement any recommendations of the specialty review on cancer.

  Mr. Sackville
  The standard consultation procedures will be followed for any change of use of hospital premises arising from the acceptance of options presented by the review.

  Medicines Bodies (Membership)
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the names and positions of the current membership of(a) the Committee on the Review of Medicines, (b) the British Pharmacopoeia Commission, (c) the Committee on the Safety of Medicines, (d) the Medicines Control Agency and (e) the Medicines Commission.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  MEDICINES COMMISSION (MC)

  Professor Dame Rosalinde Hurley, DBE LLB MD DUniv(Surrey) FRCPath FFPM(Hon) FRCOG (Chairman)

  Professor of Microbiology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School's Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of London

  Professor I. D. Aitken, PhD BVMS MRCVS

  Director of Animal Diseases Research Association, Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh

  438

  M. J. S. Butler Esq, BSc(Econ)

  Lecturer in Politics and Public Administration, University of Kent. Former Chairman of Association of CHC's for England and Wales

  Dr. M. G. Carter, MB ChB BPharm DipPharmMed FRPharmS MCPP FFPM

  Director, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals

  Professor J. G. Collee, CBE MD FRCPath FRCP(E)

  Emeritus Professor of Medical Microbiology, University of Edinburgh

  Professor P. F. D'Arcy, OBE DSc BPharm PhD FRPharmS CChem FRSC FPSNI

  Professor of Pharmacy, Queen's University, Belfast

  Professor A. D. Dayan, MD FRCP FRCPath FIBiol FFPM

  Professor of Toxicology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London

  Dr. Sheila Gore MA PhDP

  Senior Statistician, Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge

  Miss Joan Greenleaf, OBE BA FRPharmS

  Former Regional Pharmaceutical Officer, North East Thames RHA

  B. D. Hoskin Esq, BVMS MRCVS

  Consultant to Veterinary Pharmaceutical Industry

  Professor C. N. Hudson, MChir FRCS FRCOG FRACOG

  Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London

  Professor T. M. Jones, BPharm PhD FRPharmS CChem FRSC MCPP

  Director, Research, Development and Medical, Wellcome Foundation Ltd.

  Professor D. G. McDevitt, MD DSc FRCP FRCPEd FRCPI FFPM

  Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Dundee

  Professor P. Reilly, MD Belf. MB BCh BAO FRCGP

  Professor of General Practice, Queen's University of Belfast

  Dr. A. G. Renwick, BSc PhD DSc

  Reader in Clinical Pharmacology, University of Southampton

  Professor John Rhodes, MD FRCP BSc ChB

  General Physcian, University Hospital of Wales

  Professor P. S. J. Spencer, BPharm PhD(London) DSc(Wales) CBioI FIBiol MCPP FRPharmS

  Professor of Pharmacology and Head of School, Welsh School of Pharmacy, University of Wales, Cardiff

  Gordon Tuck Esq, LLB

  Barrister, Legal Director for Europe and Africa, Miles Ltd.

  Professor D. W. Vere, MD FRCP FFPM(Hon)

  Professor of Therapeutics, University of London

  Dr. D. R. Williams, BSc PhD CChem FRSC

  Chief Chemist and Company Quality Manager, BOCM Silcock Central Laboratory

  H. Cowan Wilson Esq, BVMS FRCVS

  General Veterinary Practitioner, Fife

  COMMITTEE ON SAFETY OF MEDICINES (CSM)

  Professor M. D. Rawlins, BSc MD FRCP(Lon) FRCP(Ed) FFPM: Chairman

  Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, Newcastle University

  Professor A. M. Breckenridge, MD MSc FRCP FRCPE FRSE

  Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, Liverpool University

  Dr. Kate L. Costeloe, MA MB BChir FRCP

  Senior Lecturer in Child Health and Consultant Paediatrician, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London

  Dr Janet H. Darbyshire, MSc (Epidemiol) MBChB FRCP

  Head of the MRC's HIV Clinical Trials Centre, Brompton Hospital, Hon. Consultant in Thoracic Medicine and Hon. Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology, Brompton Hospital

  Professor D. S. Davies, BSc PhD CChem FRSC

  Professor of Biochemical Pharmacology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London

  Professor Anne Ferguson, PhD FRCP FRCPath FRSE

  Professor of Gastroenterology, and Head of Department of

  439

  Medicine, Edinburgh University

  Professor A. T. Florence, DSc FRSC FRSE FRPharmS

  Dean of the School of Pharmacy, London University

  Professor A. M. Geddes, MB ChB(Ed) FRCP(Lon) FRCP(Ed)

  Head of Department of Infection, Birmingham University and Consultant Physician, East Birmingham Hospital

  Professor E. C. Gordon-Smith. FRCP FRCPath

  Professor of Haematology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London

  Professor K. Gull, BSc PhD

  Professor and Head of Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Manchester University

  Professor H. S. Jacobs, BA MD FRCP

  Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, London

  Dr. W. A. Jerrett, MB BCh FRCGP

  General Practitioner, Glamorgan

  Dr. B. J. Kirby, MB ChB FRCP

  Consultant Physician, Postgraduate Medical School, Exeter University

  Miss Gillian C. L. Lachelin MA MD FRCOG

  Reader and Hon. Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, London

  Professor M. J. S. Langman BSc MD FRCP

  Professor of Medicine and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Birmingham University

  Professor D. H. Lawson MD FRCP(Ed) FRCP(Glas)

  Consultant Physician, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Visiting Professor Strathclyde University

  Dr. A. V. P. MacKay MA BSc(Pharm) MB ChB PhD(Cantah) FRCPsych FRCP(Edin)

  Physician Superintendent and McIntosh Lecturer in Psychological Medicine, Glasgow University

  Professor J. M. Midgley BSc MSc PhD CChem FRSC FRPharmS

  Professor of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Strathclyde University

  Professor B. K. Park BSc PhD

  Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Liverpool University

  Professor J. C. Petrie MB ChB FRCP(Ed) FRCP FFPM

  Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, Aberdeen University

  Professor Alain Li Wan Po BPharm BA PhD FRSC MRPharmS MPS(N.I.)

  Director of School of Pharmacy, and Professor of Pharmaceutics, Queen's University, Belfast

  Professor Anne E. Tattersfield, MD, FRCP

  Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Nottingham University

  British Pharmocopeia Commission (BPC)

  Professor D. Ganderton, BPharm, PhD, FRPharmS (Chairman)

  Visiting Professor of Pharmaceutics, University of London

  Professor P. Turner, CBE, MD, BSc, FRCP, FFPM, Hon.MRPharmS, FiBiol

  Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, University of London

  Mr. W. G. Allen, MRCVS

  a Veterinary Surgeon

  Professor A. O. Betts, BSc, MA, PhD, MRCVS

  Professor Emeritus, University of London; formerly Principal of The Royal Veterinary College, University of London

  Dr. D. H. Calam, MA, DPhil, Hon. MRPharmS, CChem, FRSC

  Head of Chemistry Division, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control

  Mr. A. C. Caws, BSc CChem, MRSC

  Formerly a Senior Analyst in the Pharmaceutical Industry

  Professor A. F. Fell, BPharm, PhD, FRPharmS, CChem, FRSC, FIQA

  Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Bradford

  Professor J. A. Goldsmith, BSc, PhD, CChem, FRSC, FIQA

  Formerly a Director of Technical Operations in the

  440

  Pharmaceutical Industry; Visiting Professor, University of Strathclyde

  Dr. E. Griffiths, BSc, PhD, DSc, CChem, FRSC

  A member of the Division of Bacteriology, National Institute of Biological Standards and Control

  Professor J. M. Midgley, BSC, MSc, PhD, FRPharmS, CChem, FRSC

  Professor of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Strathclyde

  Professor G. F. Phillips, OBE, MSc, Hon. MRPharmS, CChem, FRSC

  Formerly Superintendent, Environmental and Forensic Services, Laboratory of the Government Chemist; Visiting Professor of Analytical Chemistry, Glasgow Polytechnic

  Professor L. E. Ramsay, MB ChB, FRCP

  Consultant Physician, Royal Hallamshire Hospital; Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Sheffield

  Dr. N. Randall, PhD, CChem, FRSC, FIQA

  A Director of Quality Assurance in the Pharmaceutical Industry

  Dr. G. D. Rees, BPharm, PhD, MRPharmS, CChem, FRSC, FIQA

  A Manager of Quality Assurance in the Pharmaceutical Industry

  Dr. B. A. Wills, BPharm, PhD, FRPharmS, CChem, FRSC

  Formerly Chief Pharmacist, Department of Health

  Dr. H. E. C. Worthington, BPharm, PhD, FRPharmS, Diploma of the Plastics Institute

  A Head of Pharmacy, Research and Development in the Pharmaceutical Industry

  The Committee on the Review of Medicines (CRM) was disestablished on 31 March 1992, following the completion of its review of the safety, quality and efficacy of substances or articles in respect of which product licences of right were granted, in accordance with section 25 of the Medicines Act 1968. The membership of the CRM was published in its last annual report for 1991. Copies are available in the Library.

  The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) is an executive agency of the Department of Health. Dr. K. H. Jones, its chief executive and director, is responsible and accountable to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the day to day management of the licensing of medicines for human use and its associated activities—the responsibility of Ministers (`the UK Licensing Authority')—under the provisions of the Medicines Act 1968 and associated European directives.

  In accordance with statutory requirements, the annual reports for the MC, CSM, BPC and MCA are presented to Parliament each year.

  Referrals
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many extra-contractual referrals were made and how many were refused in each regional health authority between April 1992 and September 1992.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Gene Therapy Advisory Committee
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to be able to announce the chairman and terms of reference of the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee.
  441
  Mr. Sackville
  Professor Dame June Lloyd has today been appointed as chairman of the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (GTAC). The terms of reference for the committee are as follows:To consider and advise on the acceptability of proposals for gene therapy research on human subjects, on ethical grounds, taking account of the scientific merits of the proposals and the potential benefits and risks.
  To work with other agencies which have responsibilities in this field, including local research ethics committees, and agencies with statutory responsibilities—the Medicines Control Agency, the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of the Environment.
  To provide advice to United Kingdom Health Ministers on developments in gene therapy research and their implications.
  The membership of GTAC will be announced later.

  Elderly People (Abuse)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration she has given to issuing model practice guidance on unreported abuse of elderly people for social services departments to issue to their staffs. and what scope she sees for social services departments to offer training on such abuse to all staff involved in direct work with elderly people.

  Mr. Yeo
  The social services inspectorate has drawn up practice guidelines which will be published this summer.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will undertake a review of legislation on protecting elderly people's property, social workers' powers to intervene in cases of abuse and registration of private domiciliary care; and what action her Department has taken to raise awareness of the extent of unreported abuse of elderly people.

  Mr. Yeo
  Proposals from the Law Commission "Mentally Incapacitated and Other Vulnerable Adults: Public Law Protection" (Consultation Paper No. 130), which are relevant to areas of concern about elder abuse, have recently been published, and the Department will be responding to the Commission. We have no plans to introduce compulsory registration of domiciliary care agencies.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will meet the editor of "Community Care" to discuss the prevention of unreported abuse of elderly people; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  No, but officials from the social services inspectorate are available to contribute to the "Community Care" magazine's current articles on this subject.

  Mr. Graham Pink
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to reimburse Stockport health authority for the costs of pursuing the industrial tribunal claim for unfair dismissal by Mr. Graham Pink.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No. Any liability for costs rests with the employing authority.

  Suicides
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) men and (b) women committed suicide in each of the last three years for which figures are available; in each case, how many of those suicide victims were homeless; and how many were known to be sufferers from either schizophrenia or another mental illness.

  Mr. Sackville
  The numbers of(a) men and (b) women who have been recorded as having committed suicide, in each year from 1990 to 1992 are shown in the table. The number of those who have been recorded as having committed suicide and were homeless could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The number who have been recorded as having committed suicide and as being schizophrenic or suffering from another mental illness is not available centrally.

  The numbers of (a) men and (b) women who have been recorded as (i) having committed suicide and (ii) having died from an injury where it was undetermined whether that injury was accidentally or purposely inflicted, in 1990–92, England and Wales.

  Cause of death

  Sex

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Suicide and self-inflicted injury

  M

  2,994

  3,007

  3,049

  (E950–959)

  F

  956

  886

  903

  Undetermined injury

  M

  1,338

  1,355

  1,310

  (E980–E989

  F

  658

  699

  680

  Homelessness
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what medical provision is specifically made available to homeless adults with children in(a) London, (b) Manchester and (c) Liverpool; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  General medical and hospital services are available to homeless people on the same basis as to the rest of the population.

  Where the needs of homeless people for general medical services cannot be fully met under the normal arrangements, the Department is funding 30 projects designed to improve their access to primary health care. There are eight projects in the Greater London area and two in the Liverpool area.

  The projects aim to improve access to medical services for homeless people, including adults with children. One scheme in Liverpool provides general medical and other health care services to a women's refuge and a child support refuge.

  Breast Cancer
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many women aged 50 years and over each year(a) have breast cancer diagnosed, (b) die from breast cancer and (c) receive treatment and survive;

  (2) how many women aged under 50 years each year (a) have breast cancer diagnosed, (b) die from breast cancer, and (c) are treated and survive.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is given for the number of deaths for the years 1983–1992 and registrations for the years 1983–1987.
  443
  The figures for five-years survival rates are published only by 10-year age groups from 1981 registrations, as shown in the table.

  Number of deaths for female breast cancer (ICD 174) for England and Wales, 1983–1992

  Age group

  Year

  0–50

  50+

  1983

  1,523

  11,149

  1984

  1,583

  11,727

  1985

  1,534

  11,979

  1986

  1,622

  12,019

  1987

  1,590

  12,161

  1988

  1,678

  12,045

  1989

  1,694

  12,314

  1990

  1,596

  12,038

  1991

  1,555

  12,231

  1992

  1,628

  12,035

  Number of registrations for female breast cancer (ICD 174), for England and Wales, 1983–1987

  Age group

  Year

  0–50

  50+

  1983

  4,289

  17,008

  1984

  4,284

  17,079

  1985

  4,549

  17,515

  1986

  4,879

  17,878

  1987

  4,866

  18,874

  Five-year survival rates for female breast cancer (ICD 174), for England and Wales, based on 1981 registrations, (which are only published by 10-year age group)

  Age group

  45–54

  55–64

  Crude 5-year survival rate1

  64·68

  57·13

  Relative 5-year survival rate2

  66·22

  60·63

  1 Represents the percentage of registrations alive at the end of each time span with a correction made for withdrawn.

  Type of birth

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Twins

  6,308

  —

  6,201

  6,293

  6,321

  6,700

  6,969

  Triplets

  91

  —

  70

  89

  80

  93

  123

  Quadruplets

  4

  —

  6

  4

  5

  7

  10

  Quintuplets

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Sextuplets

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  Total number of maternities with multiple births

  6,404

  —

  6,277

  6,387

  6,406

  6,803

  7,105

  Total maternities

  654,501

  632,350

  623,511

  626,277

  633,965

  653,142

  657,308

  Type of birth

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Twins

  7,186

  7,452

  7,579

  7,934

  8,160

  8,314

  Triplets

  125

  157

  183

  201

  208

  202

  Quadruplets

  7

  12

  11

  10

  10

  8

  Quintuplets

  1

  1

  1

  —

  2

  1

  Sextuplets

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total number of maternities with multiple births

  7,319

  7,622

  7,774

  8,145

  8,380

  8,525

  Total maternities

  677,467

  689,153

  682,979

  701,030

  693,857

  683,854

  Information on multiple maternities is not available for 1981.

  Source: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.
  444
  2Represents the crude rates adjusted using the life table probability of surviving each time period.

  Skin Conditions
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those drugs and creams used for the treatment of skin conditions which will be included in the review to be carried out by the Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The committee will consider all the drugs that are currently available on the national health service for the treatment of skin conditions. A list of these products is available in the Library.

  Infertility Treatment
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on infertility treatment by the Gloucestershire district health authority in the latest year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Miss J. O. Trotter, the chairman of Gloucestershire health board for details.

  Multiple Births
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sets of (i) twins, (ii) triplets, (iii) quadruplets, (iv) quintuplets and (v) sextuplets were born in England and Wales in each year since 1980; what was the total number of maternities in England and Wales in each year; and how many multiple births of each type in each year were conceived as a result of(a) in-vitro fertilisation, (b) gamete inter-fallopian transfer and (c) other forms of assisted conception.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table (England and Wales):
  445
  Information on the number of multiple births attributed to assisted reproduction is not available. However some information on multiple pregnancies is published in the first annual report of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, and in earlier reports of the interim licensing authority, copies of which are available in the Library.

  RU486
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to require cases where RU486 is used with accompanying prostaglandins to be treated solely at family planning clinics; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the availability of foetal scanning equipment in family planning clinics which administer RU486.

  Mr. Sackville
  Arrangements for the use of RU486 are set out in the drug data sheet and are subject to the requirements of the Abortion Act 1967, as amended. The provision of equipment in national health service premises is a matter for local decision.

  Regional Health Authorities
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 11 February,Official Report, column 765, if she will now require regional health authority chairmen to provide substantive answers to hon. Members representing constituencies within the region in respect of requests for information on aspects of regional health authority expenditure.

  Mr. Sackville
  We do not require the publication of provisional information collected for management purposes. If the hon. Member has had difficulties in obtaining normally available information perhaps he will let me have the details.

  Income Support
  Mr. flinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is(a) the total amount of the assessed income support claims within the Yorkshire region for 1993–94 and (b) the Yorkshire regional allocation of the DSS transfer funding in respect of terminal illness special rate income support for 1993–94; what assessment has been made of the implications of the difference between (a) and (b) on hospices within the Yorkshire region; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) what is the methodology used in determining the national allocation of the DSS transfer funding in respect of terminal illness special rate income support; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information about Department of Social Security (DSS) benefits is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security and for the DSS Benefits Agency. No transfer has been made specifically in relation to terminal illness higher levels of income support (IS). The £5 million transfer from DSS to the health service in respect of hospices was based on the number of hospice patients which it was estimated would 446
  have claimed the higher level of IS this year had the previous system continued. It was assumed that there would be about 500 claimants of the higher levels of IS in hospices in Great Britain in mid 1993–94. This was based on a 1991 study by "Help the Hospices", which found that 16 per cent. of hospice patients nationally received the higher levels of IS and that this accounted for about 8 per cent. of hospice income.

  The allocation of the central funds from the DSS transfer to each region was based on weighted population. This meant that the funds for 1993–94 do not necessarily relate directly to the amount of IS payments received by hospices in a particular region in the previous year. This is because many hospice patients did not claim the higher levels of IS as their care was being provided free of charge.

  Post-trauma Counselling
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to establish a post-trauma counselling service to provide immediate and expert counselling support for all those affected by large-scale tragedies; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Post-traumatic stress disorder is a recognised psychiatric condition. General practitioner services are increasingly able to respond to this condition and provide counselling or drug therapy as necessary. Cases may also be referred to the specialist psychiatric services. The Department is supporting from central funds the creation of a new victimology unit at the Maudsley and Bethlem Royal group specialising in post-traumatic stress, including research. We are also funding continuing work at the traumatic stress unit at the Middlesex hospital. These centres constitute an additonal national source of expertise in this condition.

  Persistent Vegetative State
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are currently categorised as in a persistent vegetative state; and how many such cases were caused by(a) road traffic accidents, (b) physical assaults and (c) other causes.

  Mr. Yeo
  This information is not collected centrally. However, independent estimates suggest there may be about 1,200 cases in total in the United Kingdom.

  Public Appointments
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all the names of public appointments that she has made within the Mersey region, giving in each case the body to which the appointment was made, the position held, the relevant qualifications of each appointee and the remuneration that each currently receives.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The names of public appointments made by the Secretary of State to national health service authorities and trusts within the Mersey region are as listed. Information on appointees' qualifications is not available centrally. Individuals are appointed to NHS authorities and trusts for the personal qualities, knowledge and skills that they bring to the post. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Worsley (Mr. Lewis) on 5 May at column 91 for the present remuneration rates.
  447

  Appointments to Mersey RHA

  Name

  Body

  Position

  Prof. A. M. Breckenridge

  Chairman

  Mrs. J. E. Timms

  RHA Member

  Mr. J. R. Halliday

  RHA Member

  Appointments to DHAs

  Mr. D. H. Tod

  Liverpool DHA

  Chairman

  Mr. G. Murray

  St Helens and Knowsley DHA

  Chairman

  Mr. R. S. Gordon

  Wirral DHA

  Chairman

  Mr. S. H. Cussons

  Macclesfield DHA

  Chairman

  Appointments to FHSA

  Mrs. R. M. Hawley

  Liverpool FHSA

  Chairman

  Mr. C. D. Darley

  Sefton FHSA

  Chairman

  Mrs. M. Pearce

  Wirral FHSA

  Chairman

  Mr. R. Brown

  Cheshire FHSA

  Chairman

  Appointments to NHS Trusts

  Name

  Body

  Chairmen

  Mr. A. H. Duncan

  Wirral Hospital

  Mr. J. R. Higham

  St Helens and Knowsley Hospital

  Mr. J. B. Fitzpatrick

  Royal Liverpool University Hospital

  Mr. F. A. Fenney

  Broadgreen Hospital

  Mrs. J. E. Hill

  Cheshire Community Healthcare

  Mr. M. F. Emberton

  Countess of Chester Hospital

  Mr. P. R. D. Hayes

  East Cheshire

  Miss L Brown

  Southport and Formby Community Health

  Mr. D. W. Hammond

  Halton General Hospital

  Mrs. J. Grundy

  Warrington Community

  Mr. N. Banner

  Warrington Acute Hospital

  Non-executive Directors

  Mr. J. W. Royle

  St Helens and Knowsley Hospital

  Mrs. J. L. Waitson

  St. Helens and Knowsley Hospital

  Ms B. N. Ong

  Mid-Cheshire Hospitals

  Mrs. S. Malthouse

  Cardio-Thoracic Centre-Liverpool

  Prof. Sir Robert Shields

  Royal Liverpool University Hospital

  Dr. Jennifer Ensor

  Aintree Hospitals

  Mr. R. F. Dewhirst

  St Helens and Knowsley Community Health

  Mr. J. Teare

  Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology

  Dr. G. Jones

  Countess of Chester Hospital

  Lord Wade of Chorlton

  Countess of Chester Hospital

  Mr. S. H. Bartlett

  Cheshire Community Healthcare

  Mrs. R. Phillips

  Cheshire Community Healthcare

  Mrs. V. Basford

  Cheshire Community Healthcare

  Mr. R. C. Hodson

  Halton General Hospital

  Dr. K. MacVicker

  Halton General Hospital

  Mrs. S. Anderson

  Halton General Hospital

  Mr. A. Weir

  East Cheshire

  Mrs. M. Loran

  East Cheshire

  Mr. S. Blenkinsop

  East Cheshire

  Mrs. C. Baker

  Southport and Formby Community Health

  Mrs. M. Jackson

  Southport and Formby Community Health

  Mrs. G. Gilbertson

  Southport and Formby Community Health

  Mrs. D. Lawson

  Warrington Community

  Mr. M. Davies

  Warrington Community

  Mr. P. L. Clarke

  Warrington Community

  Mr. P. Jeffrey

  Warrington Acute Hospital

  Mrs. J. Lang

  Warrington Acute Hospital

  Ms C. Bingham

  Warrington Acute Hospital

  Children (Behavioural Problems)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each year since 1985, by district health authority, the number of referrals by general practitioners of children with behavioural problems.

  Mr. Yeo
  This information is not available centrally.

SCOTLAND

  Sex Offences
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet representatives of rape crisis centres to discuss the conduct of rape and sexual assault cases in the courts.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The conduct of rape trials is a matter for my noble and learned Friend the Lord
  449
  Advocate and his deputes, who undertake such prosecutions. They and procurators fiscal undertake prosecutions for sexual assault. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate is aware of the general views held by rape crisis centres and does not believe that a meeting would serve any particular purpose. If, however, representatives of rape crisis centres care to raise specific points of concern by writing to him, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate will be happy to consider them.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has held with health board chairmen, chairwomen and officials concerning the implications for their decisions relating to compulsory competitive tendering of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the acquired rights directive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  My noble Friend the Minister of State holds regular meetings with health board chairmen at which matters of common concern are discussed. In addition the national competitive tendering group, consisting of health board staff and officials from the NHS management executive in Scotland with responsibility for market testing, meets regularly. Guidance on the application of the regulations was issued to health boards on 11 March and further guidance on market testing will be issued shortly.

  Witness Protection
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce a witness protection scheme in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 May 1993]: My right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce a national witness protection scheme. Provision already exists in law to take action against people who threaten or injure witnesses. Decisions about the level of protection to provide for witnesses in individual cases are an operational matter for the police.

  Cervical Screening (Greenock)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent information he has concerning the programme of reviewing of cervical smear slides from Inverclyde royal hospital, Greenock; what methods are being used to locate women who have left Inverclyde; when he expects the whole of the programme, including the re-examination of women recalled by the hospital, to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 20 May 1993]: Argyll and Clyde health board has informed me that some 12,000 slides have now been re-examined and a further 8,000 have been sent to laboratories for return next week. The board is on target to notify all the women who have been traced through NHS information sources of the results of the re-examination by the beginning of June.

  The main method being used to trace women is through the "Community Health Index". The board has also contacted other health authorities and the USA naval
  450
  authorities. The telephone helpline has also picked up changes of address. It is too early to say whether any outside agencies will be required to assist.

  The board is making good progress with the review. The programme is expected to be completed in eight to nine weeks and on present progress will be achieved by the end of June. The preliminary results indicate that 90 per cent. of women have negative results. The majority of others are expected also to have similar results when the results of re-smears or investigations are completed.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to meet trustees of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I met the trustees of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme on Thursday 20 May.

  Package Travel
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about the EC package travel directive; and what measures he intends to take to help small travel operators to meet the demands of this directive.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have received numerous representations about the EC package travel directive, from trade associations, tour organisers, travel agents and consumer bodies. The implementing regulations were drafted to allow the widest possible measure of choice in meeting the requirement of the directive regarding security for pre-payments and against the cost of repatriation in the event of insolvency in order to help small travel operators.

  Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many jobs have been created by firms which have received a loan under the loan guarantee scheme since 1983; what is the average number of employees employed by firms which have received a loan under the loan guarantee scheme; and how many businesses that received loans under the loan guarantee scheme since 1983 continue to trade.

  Mr. Leigh
  The information requested on the number of jobs created, and the number of employees employed by firms who have received loans under the loan guarantee scheme is not available.

  From June 1981 to 31 December 1992 a total of 32,716 loans were guaranteed, of which 11,890 had defaulted on the loan during the same period. Of the remaining 20,826 loans it is not known how many businesses continued to trade after the loan had been repaid.

  Telecommunications Companies
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many telecommunications companies are licensed in the United Kingdom; and how many of them are based(a) in the United States or (b) other foreign countries.
  451
  Mr. Leigh
  Around 900 licences have been issued under the Telecommunications Act since it was passed in 1984, although not all remain in force. Companies may also operate under a number of "class" licences: these are generally applicable and are not issued in respect of individual companies. Information relating to the location and corporate nationality of licensed companies is thus not readily available and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost. A list of licences is held at the library of the Office of Telecommunications.

  BNFL
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance his Department has given to the serious crime squad of Cheshire police in its investigation into alleged financial irregularities at BNFL.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Warley, West (Mr. Spellar) on 19 May,Official Report, column 228.

  Company Turnover Statistics
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many companies traded in the last year for which figures are available, with an annual turnover in the ranges(a) less than £37,600, (b) £37,600 to £50,000, (c) £50,000 to £100,000, (d) £100,000 to £200,000, (e) £200,000 to £300,000 and (f) above £300,000.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The latest information, on United Kingdom companies based on VAT data, is given in the table. It is not available in the ranges requested.

  Number of VAT registered companies and public corporations in 1992

  Turnover size £ (Thousand)

  Number of corporate business

  0

  30,000

  1–25

  61,000

  26–49

  72,000

  50–99

  62,000

  100–249

  100,000

  250–499

  76,000

  500 +

  166,000

  Total

  567,000

  Small Firms' Awards
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many small firms merit award for research and technology stage I and stage 2 awards were won by companies in each region of the United Kingdom over the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  Between May 1992 and April this year the number of stage 1 and stage 2 small firms merit awards for research and technology (SMART) scheme were as follows:

  Region

  Stage 1

  Stage 2

  East

  17

  7

  East Midlands

  17

  7

  North East

  8

  3

  Northern Ireland

  6

  3

  North West

  16

  10

  452

  Region

  Stage 1

  Stage 2

  Scotland

  17

  13

  South East

  31

  20

  South West

  20

  13

  Wales

  16

  8

  West Midlands

  18

  14

  Yorks/Humberside

  14

  10

  Total

  180

  108

  There have been a record number of entries to this year's SMART stage I competition. When the 180 winners are announced at the end of July over 1,000 projects will have been supported under the scheme since its inception in 1986.

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to announce those areas to be designated as assisted areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Stockton, South (Mr. Devlin) on 6 May,Official Report, column 206.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many officials were employed by his Department to administer, inspect, regulate and advise businesses either directly, in agencies or on special contracts(a) in 1992 and (b) at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  On 1 April 1992 there was some 8,050 staff in the Department—including agencies and trading funds —engaged in these activities and some 8,000 on 1 April 1993.

  Council of Industry Ministers
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Croydon, North-East (Mr. Congdon) on 13 May,Official Report, columns 533–34, what were the voting figures for each member state recorded in the meeting of the EC's Council of Industry Ministers held on 4 May.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 20 May 1993]: No formal votes were taken at the EC Council of Industry Ministers on 4 May.

  Rolls Royce plc
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the value of financial support to Rolls Royce plc from his Department in the last available financial year; under what programmes that support was provided; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what was the value of aero engine launch aid receipts from Rolls Royce plc in (a) the last financial year, (b) in total since 1979 and (c) in total since 1972; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 18 May 1993]: My Department provided a total of £6,287,529 in financial support for Rolls Royce plc in the year ending 31 March 1993 under a number of schemes.
  453
  The value of aeroengine launch aid receipts received by the Department of Trade and Industry from Rolls Royce plc are as follows:

  (a) £32·9 million was received in the last financial year ending 31 March 1993;

  (b) £209·4 million has been received since 1979. Launch aid payments by the Government to Rolls Royce over the same period were £454·7 million;

  (c) £239·4 million has been received since 1972. Launch aid payments to Rolls Royce over the same period were £580·9 million.

  Aero Engines (United States)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of financial support to the United States aero engine manufacturers by the United States Government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 18 May 1993]: The United States aeroengine industry receives no direct financial support from the United States Government. However, indirect support, primarily from NASA and the Department of Defense for research and development, is estimated by the United Kingdom industry to be approximately $700 million per annum. The high level of indirect support provided by the United States Government to its aircraft industry is one reason why the United Kingdom strongly supported the EC/United States agreement on trade in civil aircraft reached last year.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to make borrowing easier for small businesses seeking to expand after the recession.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 18 May 1993]: Significant improvements to the loan guarantee scheme, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement, will be introduced from 1 July. There is an increase in the guarantee level from 70 per cent. to 85 per cent. aimed at those who lack security to offer against a loan. Also, for established businesses with a track record, the maximum loan size will be increased to £250,000. For all businesses, the premium payable to the DTI, by borrowers, will be reduced to 1·5 per cent. of the outstanding loan in respect of variable rate lending, to 0·5 per cent. in respect of fixed rate lending and to 0·5 per cent. for borrowers in inner city task forces and city challenge areas.

  The Government are supporting five projects which are looking at ways of bringing together business angels—informal investors—and small businesses seeking investment.

DEFENCE

  LPH Helicopter Carrier
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the source of the main propulsion engines for the LPH helicopter carrier; and what plans he has to encourage United Kingdom companies to offer to undertake their manufacture.

  Mr. Aitken
  The selection of the main propulsion engines for this ship is the responsibility of the prime 454
  contractor, VSEL, which has invited tenders from a number of engine manufacturers including United Kingdom companies. Industry was made aware of this opportunity by means of an MOD contract bulletin published in March 1992.

  Sub-strategic Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 4 May,Official Report, column 20, what specific contribution sub-strategic nuclear weapons make towards the United Kingdom's deterrence posture; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The sub-strategic nuclear capability ensures the coherence of our overall deterrent posture by providing the essential link between conventional and strategic nuclear forces.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's latest assessment of the number of sub-strategic nuclear weapons deployed by Russia.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Many Russian sub-strategic forces are being withdrawn from service and are earmarked for destruction, but it is estimated that some 12,000 warheads remain. Many of these are not assessed as being fully operational.

  WE177
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his statement of 27 October 1992,Official Report, column 858, when he expects to make an announcement regarding a possible future replacement for the WE177.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms Walley) on 20 May 1993 Official Report, column 263.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what actions have been taken by his Department following paragraph 12 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989 to ensure that the WE177 will remain serviceable well into the first decade of the next century.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We maintain a continuing monitoring programme of our stockpile of WE177 free fall bombs to assess their remaining life. Based on this, we now expect that the WE177 will remain safe and serviceable well into the first decade of the next century.

  Defence Estimates
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when was the last occasion on which the annual "Statement on the Defence Estimates" was debated by the House of Commons;

  (2) how many times since 1963 the annual defence estimates have not been debated by the House of Commons.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  These are matters of public record.

  Conventional Forces
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment of the balance of conventional forces between the North Atlantic Treaty
  455
  Organisation and Russia in (i) infantry, (ii) main battle tanks, (iii) armoured combat vehicles and (iv) combat aircraft.

  Personnel

  Main battle tanks

  Armoured combat vehicles

  Combat aircraft

  NATO

  2,590,784

  23,424

  32,255

  4,901

  Russia1

  1,298,299

  8,893

  18,834

  4,387

  1 These figures represent the forces of Russia only and do not include the forces of the other countries in the former Soviet Union or the forces of the countries of the former Warsaw pact.

  Trident
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Trident is capable of fulfilling the role of a tactical air-to-surface missile.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 4 May, Official Report, column 19.

  Templeton Airfield
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use is made of the three communication aerials on Templeton airfield for purposes other than for his Department's communications.

  Mr. Aitken
  The aerials are used solely for defence purposes.

  Nuclear Convoy (Erskine Bridge)
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the breakdown of a nuclear convoy on the Erskine bridge on 18 May.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A military convoy stopped near the Erskine bridge on 18 May while a defective tractor unit was inspected and replaced. At no time was there any danger to the public or convoy personnel. It is long-standing Government policy not to confirm or deny the presence of nuclear weapons at any particular place or time.

  British Army of the Rhine
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those forms of advice and assistance provided by the British Frontier Service for soldiers serving in the British Army of the Rhine.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The British frontier services provides advice to the British military authorities in Germany on a variety of customs and immigration issues; it also advises and, where appropriate, assists individual service personnel, United Kingdom-based civilians and their dependants on these matters.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits (Automated Credit Transfer)
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 11 May,Official Report, columns 445–46, on automated credit transfer, if
  456
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  National declarations by signatories of the conventional armed forces in Europe treaty show that between the Atlantic and the Urals, the following forces are held by NATO and Russia at 1 January 1993:

  he will publish details of the type of building society or bank account held by 65 per cent. of pensioners and benefit recipients currently paid through the post office; and what percentage of these are savings accounts.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is not available in the form requested. A limited survey was carried out in July 1991 on the type of accounts held by recipients of retirement pension, income support and child benefit only; information on recipients of other benefits is not available. The research asked only about accounts that were suitable for automated credit transfer—ACT—payments, and those that were not are excluded. It should also be noted that the income support figures contain a number of customers paid by girocheque, not all of whom may actually use the post office.

  The information available is in the tables. Totals exceed 100 per cent. because many people have more than one type of account.

  DSS customers using the post office who have accounts suitable for ACT

  Per cent.

  Child benefit

  Bank account:

  Current, with interest

  22

  Current, no interest

  41

  Savings-deposit

  16

  Building Society:

  With cheque book

  5

  No cheque book

  46

  Other:

  7

  At least one account suitable for ACT

  82

  No such account/don't know

  16

  Refused

  2

  Retirement pension

  Bank account

  Current, with interest

  23

  Current, no interest

  31

  Savings/deposit

  19

  Building Society:

  With cheque book

  4

  No cheque book

  41

  Other:

  17

  At least one account suitable for ACT

  83

  No such account/don't know

  17

  Income support

  Bank account:

  Current, with interest

  19

  Current, no interest

  10

  Savings/deposit

  10

  Building Society:

  With cheque book

  3

  No cheque book

  19

  Other:

  9

  457

  Per cent.

  At least one account suitable for ACT

  55

  No such account/don't know

  45

  Income Maintenance
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates he has for the overall cost of provision for income maintenance in Wales; and if he will indicate(a) the estimated cash expenditures, (b) the estimated tax expenditures and (c) the estimated costs of administration.

  Mr. Burt
  Information is not available in the precise form requested. The only income maintenance cash expenditure information available specifically for people residing in Wales is expenditure on housing benefit and income support. The latest available expenditure figures are £380 million for housing benefit1 for 1992–93 and £442 million for income support2 for 1989–90. The latest estimates for personal tax allowances and tax relief on earnings and investments, excluding MIRAS, are around £6,740 million for 1990–91.

  The latest estimate for the cost of the administration of all social security benefits by the Benefits Agency in Wales is £55·3 million for 1992–93. The estimated budget for the administration of tax in Wales for 1993–94 is £78 million3.

  Notes:

  1 Table 8.7 of CSO Regional Trends 27 (1992).

  2 Figures underlying Table of the Departmental Report (Cm. 2213).

  3 Excludes any apportionment to Wales for expenditure on forms and central computer systems.

  Benefit Costs
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the daily equivalent cost per working person of spending on social security.

  Mr. Burt
  Based on estimates of the grand total of social security spending for 1993–94, the daily equivalent cost per working person is around £13.

  Computerisation
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the level of savings in costs and time brought about by the computerisation within his Department.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department has achieved some £124 million savings from its computerisation programme operational strategy over the four years up to 1991–92, the latest date for which figures are available.

  Over the same period, there have been corresponding improvements in claims clearance times for those benefits which changed from a clerical to a computerised system, as follows:

  Clerical System 1987–88 Days

  Computerised System 1991–92 Days

  IS Claims

  6·1

  4·0

  RP Claims

  24·7

  15·8

  Income Support
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women (i) under and (ii) over pensionable age are dependent on income support in Wales.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table.

  Numbers receiving income support in Wales

  Claimants and partners under age 60

  Claimants and partners aged 60 and over

  Total

  Men

  108,000

  27,000

  135,000

  Women

  124,000

  80,000

  204,000

  Total

  232,000

  107,000

  339,000

  Notes:

  Source: Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiry May 1992.

  2. All figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  3. For the purposes of this reply the term "pensionable age" has been defined as 60 years old, this is consistent with the age at which Pensioner Premiums become payable with Income Support.

  Compensation Scheme
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much compensation was paid to benefit recipients by the Benefits Agency in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will break this figure down by benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest year for which definitive figures are available is 1991–92.

  A breakdown of the figures is only available for five benefits. The figures for these benefits are as follows:

  Benefit

  Amount paid (£'s)

  Maternity allowance

  294

  Retirement pension

  177,367

  Widows benefit/pension

  31,242

  Invalidity benefit

  80,639

  Income support

  459,849

  Total

  749,391

  Figures for the remaining benefits are not kept separately.

  Concessionary Bus Passes
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) when was the last occasion that Walsall council contacted his Department regarding the concessionary bus pass for those in receipt of the disability living allowance; what advice was given to the council in this respect; and if a Minister will now write to the council;

  (2) what action his Department will be taking if a council refuses to follow its advice regarding those entitled to the concessionary bus pass;

  (3) pursuant to his answer on 7 May, Official Report, column 299, what has been the latest response received from Walsall council regarding allowing those in receipt of the disability living allowance to have the concessionary bus pass.

  Mr. Scott
  Walsall metropolitan borough council wrote to the Department on 10 May with the observations of the
  459
  council's lawyers on section 73(14) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. The Department is engaged in negotiations with the Council in an attempt to come to an agreement as to the scope of section 73(14) and its applicability to the council's concessionary fare scheme. The Department will consider, at the conclusion of those negotiations, whether further action is necessary.

  Appeals Tribunals
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals sought appeals in(a) social security appeals tribunals and (b) medical appeals tribunals in the last year for which figures are available in (i) Strathclyde and (ii) Scotland as a whole; and what were the results of these appeals.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the form requested since national administrative appeal statistics for appeal tribunals are not available for areas smaller than a former social security region; and since available figures give details of workflows rather than the outcome of individual appeals. The last full year for which figures are available is 1991. The table provides details for Scotland as a whole.

  1991 social security and medical appeal tribunal statistics for Scotland

  SSATS

  MATS

  1991

  Appeals lodged

  22,838

  4,798

  Not admitted

  635

  38

  Lapsed

  3,791

  —

  Withdrawn

  1,681

  223

  Struck out/abated

  3

  4

  Heard

  7,589

  2,662

  For appellant

  2,752

  1,178

  Source: DSS Annual Social Security and Medical Appeal Tribunal Statistics.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Ballyconnnell Canal
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show the Intereg funding for projects in Northern Ireland for each of the last three years; what is the projection for the current year; what sums were expended on the Ballyconnell canal joint project; and what percentage of the total sums donated to Northern Ireland this represented.

  Mr. Mates
  EC funding from the Northern Ireland/ Ireland Intereg programme is designed to assist both cross-border projects and projects which fall within the eligible areas of either member state.

  The figures in the table show EC funding expended by Northern Ireland under Intereg since the initiative was approved in July 1991.
  460

  Northern Ireland expenditure under Intereg £ million

  Northern Ireland Intereg expenditure on Ballyconnell canal £ million

  Percentage

  1991

  4·9

  0·5

  10

  1992

  8·9

  0·9

  10

  '1993

  18·4

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  32·2

  1·3

  4

  1 Represents a projected figure and assumes that the value of the pound will remain 1·256 against the ecu.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the sums expended on the Ballyconnell canal joint project was expended on administration and support services; and how much on actual construction and remedial works.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Ballyconnell canal joint project is estimated to cost IR£30 million. Cumulative expenditure at 31 March was IR£23·69 million. This was in respect of feasibility studies and site investigations, land acquisition costs, construction costs, site supervision and project management costs incurred by the Electricity Supply Board in the Republic of Ireland. The Northern Ireland contribution to the project is capped at IR£2·4 million and cumulative expenditure at 31 March 1993 was IR£2·3 million. Details of the administrative overhead costs incurred by the two sponsoring Governments in overseeing the project are not available.

  Charities
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to introduce legislation which will enable the Government to collect and release information about the charitable status of organisations in Northern Ireland and which will bring that part of the United Kingdom into line with England, Scotland and Wales.

  Mr. Mates
  The Government are reviewing the law relating to charities in Northern Ireland and this review will include the arrangements for the provision of information on charities to the public. Any proposals for a change in legislation will be presented in due course and consultation will take place in the normal way.

  Fire Sprinkler Systems
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what statistics he has on the effectiveness against fire of sprinkler systems fitted to buildings in Northern Ireland, including the percentage of occasions on which they fail to operate, or operate inadequately.

  Mr. Atkins
  There are no statistics available on sprinkler effectiveness. However the fire brigade reports that, in its experience, operational failures are extremely rare and that sprinkler systems provide a highly reliable method of automatically controlling fire.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the effect of blast on sprinkler systems fitted to buildings in Northern Ireland.
  461
  Mr. Atkins
  Depending on the severity and location of a blast and whether it is accompanied by fire, a sprinkler system may either be unaffected, or be activated by mechanical disturbance or fire, or be disabled as a result of damage to the building structure or the water supply to the system.

  The fire brigade reports that, in practice, blasts caused by bombs or blast incendiaries have had little detrimental effect on the operation of sprinkler systems.

  Interview Expenses
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many people have received traveling expenses from the Training and Employment Agency for travel to a job interview in each of the last three years;

  (2) how many people who received travelling expenses in each of the last three years from the Training and Employment Agency to attend a first job interview and who have been shortlisted for a second interview have been unable to attend because travelling expenses funding has not been allowed for a second interview.

  Mr. Atkins
  Responsibility for the subject in question is a matter for the Training and Employment Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. J. S. Crozier. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from J. S. Crozier to Mr. Roy Beggs, dated 20 May 1993:

  You asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to state how many people have received travelling expenses from the Training and Employment Agency for travel to a job interview in each of the last three years.

  The Information you requested is as follows:—

  Financial Year

  Number of Approved Applicants

  1990–91

  1,124

  1991–92

  1,363

  1992–93

  1,256

  In a further question you asked how many of those included in the above who received assistance from the Training and Employment Agency to attend a first job interview and were short listed for a second interview were unable to attend because travelling expenses funding was not allowed.

  All applicants who apply to the Training and Employment Agency for assistance under the Travel to Interview Scheme are formally advised of the conditions which relate to entitlement for support prior to this being given. These conditions are, that the applicant must not have had assistance under the Scheme for a previous interview for the same job. This arises from the fact that as limited funds are available, it is not possible to help at every stage of a lengthy selection procedure. Second interview applications are not accepted and as a result no statistical information is available in this area.

  Building Regulations
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 19 January Official Report, column 175, if the European Commission has yet completed its consideration of his proposals for amendment to parts E and EE of the Building Regulations (NI) 1990; and what observations the European Commission has made.
  462
  Mr. Atkins
  The proposed amendments to parts E and EE of the Building Regulations (NI) 1990 have not yet been submitted to the European Commission.

  Hostel Accommodation
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average length of stay for single occupants of hostel accommodation funded by the DHSS in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  While the Department of Health and Social Services provides housing benefit assistance to many hostel residents, it does not fund hostel accommodation in Northern Ireland.

  This is, instead, a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and I have been advised by the chairman that although an average figure based on the length of stay of all single persons on hostel accommodation is not readily available, it is estimated that single persons who have been accepted as homeless and in priority need under the terms of the Housing (NI) Order 1988, and placed in hostel accommodation by the Executive, spend an average of 8·6 weeks there before being permanently rehoused.

  Building Regulations
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy to take account of the effects of the amendment to the England and Wales Approved Document B (Building Regulations, Fire) before deciding whether it should be followed in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  Northern Ireland Building Regulations closely reflect and are based on the equivalent regulations in England and Wales. In deciding that the fire safety requirements developed for England and Wales, and expressed in approved document B, should be adopted for Northern Ireland, account has been taken of the development of those requirements, the approved document in its final form and of experience of its operation since it came into force on 1 June 1992. The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland will continue to monitor the operation and effectiveness of the fire safety requirements of the England and Wales regulations.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment has been made of the sufficiency of the length of time of fire resistance required for a commercial building over 30 m in height in the proposed Northern Ireland Building Regulations (Fire) to offer adequate escape time in the case of fire arising from a terrorist incident.

  Mr. Atkins
  No specific studies have been undertaken of escape times required in the case of fires arising from terrorist incidents. However, experience of fires shows that there is little difference in growth rates between fires arising from such incidents and those arising from other causes, apart from the initial intensity. Northern Ireland Building Regulations presently require commercial premises over 28 m high to have two hours, fire resistance; they do not require the premises to be sprinklered. The proposed new regulations would require buildings over 30 m high to have the same fire resistance for elements of structure as
  463
  currently required, reducing to a minimum of 90 minutes for elements not forming part of the structural frame, and in addition, would require all such premises to be sprinklered.

EMPLOYMENT

  Acquired Rights
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's implementation of the acquired rights directive.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 19 January Official Report column. 183, to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett). The Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Bill will shortly receive its Third Reading in the House of Lords.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the supply and demand of youth training places in each training and enterprise council area on a monthly basis for the last six months.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information on the availability of youth training places is not collected nationally. However, I am satisfied that there is sufficient YT provision available to meet demand. Information on the total demand for YT places is also not collected, but the number of young people who are registered with careers services in England, who are covered by the YT guarantee and have been waiting for a YT place for eight or more weeks in March and April is shown in the table. Information for the previous months is not reliable.

  Young people wailing for 8 or more weeks for a place on YT: 1993

  TEC

  March2

  April3

  Avon

  88

  117

  AZTEC

  156

  95

  Barnsley and Doncaster

  36

  35

  Bedfordshire

  115

  1164

  Birmingham

  110

  131

  Bolton and Bury

  41

  19

  Bradford

  15

  18

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  18

  15

  CAMBSTEC

  69

  54

  Central England

  14

  19

  Central London

  136

  1152

  CEWTEC

  18

  12

  CILNTEC

  143

  109

  County Durham

  62

  71

  Coventry and Warwicks

  79

  186

  Cumbria

  33

  6

  Devon and Cornwall

  66

  171

  Dorset

  23

  15

  Dudley

  2

  1

  ELTEC

  19

  29

  Essex

  373

  329

  Gloucester

  28

  11

  Greater Nottingham

  32

  35

  Greater Peterborough

  23

  17

  Hampshire

  207

  1304

  HAWTEC

  19

  130

  Heart of England

  15

  24

  Hertfordshire

  107

  164

  Humberside

  47

  36

  Isle of Wight

  37

  28

  Kent

  338

  183

  464

  TEC

  March2

  April3

  LAWTEC

  40

  28

  Leeds

  37

  26

  Leicestershire

  27

  131

  LETEC

  439

  380

  Lincolnshire

  19

  39

  Manchester

  106

  193

  Merseyside

  42

  47

  METROTEC

  21

  6

  Milton Keynes and North Bucks

  32

  142

  Norfolk/Waveney

  4

  31

  NORMIDTEC

  13

  9

  North Derbyshire

  42

  39

  North London

  66

  179

  North Nottinghamshire

  91

  55

  North West London

  111

  107

  North Yorkshire

  79

  159

  Northamptonshire

  62

  139

  Northumberland

  47

  58

  Oldham

  36

  48

  QUALITEC

  20

  16

  Rochdale

  18

  15

  Rotherham

  4

  9

  Sandwell

  10

  20

  South and East Cheshire

  0

  0

  Sheffield

  156

  147

  Shropshire

  19

  24

  SOLQTEC

  206

  194

  Somerset

  97

  1114

  South Derbyshire

  25

  129

  South Thames

  476

  451

  Staffordshire

  4

  6

  Stockport and High Peak

  16

  19

  Suffolk

  13

  13

  Surrey

  94

  199

  Sussex

  66

  86

  Teesside

  45

  56

  Thames Valley Enterprise

  185

  1198

  Tyneside

  60

  159

  Wakefield

  18

  18

  Walsall

  3

  12

  Wearside

  0

  0

  West London

  36

  48

  Wiltshire

  68

  168

  Wolverhampton

  2

  6

  1 These figures are subject to final confirmation.

  2 11 March 1993.

  3 17 April 1993.

  Sources: Information from Careers Service Management return (Supplement).

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for the numbers(a) employed and (b) self-employed; and what the equivalent figures were 12 months previously.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information is as follows:

  United Kingdom

  (Thousands)

  Year

  1Employed

  Self-employed

  December 1991

  22,614

  3,066

  December 1992

  21,992

  2,936

  1 Employees in employment, H.M. Forces and participants1 on work-related Government training programmes.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest percentage and actual figures for(a) England and (b) the United Kingdom for (i) all adults and (ii) males aged 16 years or over recorded as economically inactive.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 21 May 1993]: The latest estimates from the labour force survey—not seasonally adjusted—are given in the table:

  Labour Force Survey

  Thousands

  Adults

  Men

  England, Autumn 1992

  Total aged 16 and over

  37,821

  18,280

  Economically inactive

  13,841

  4,763

  36·6 per cent.

  26·1 per cent.

  United Kingdom, Spring 1992

  Total aged 16 and over

  45,205

  21,809

  Economically inactive

  16,801

  5,733

  37·2 per cent.

  26·3 per cent.

WALES

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to public a regularly updated list of deletions and additions to the list of members of(a) appoints or (b) advises on; and how many such names will appear in answer to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 23 March, Official Report, columns 549–50

  Mr. David Hunt
  New appointments which I make to public bodies in Wales are regularly announced in my Department's press notices which are available in the Library of the House.

  Income Statistics
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing(a) the top decile male earnings as a percentage of median male earnings, (b) the bottom decile male earnings as a percentage of median male earnings, (c) the top decile female earnings as a percentage of median female earnings and (d) the bottom decile female earnings as a percentage of median female earnings in Wales in (i) 1979, (ii) 1984, (iii) 1989 and (iv) 1992.

  Education (excluding school catering) as a percentage of total counties spending (a)

  Total counties

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  1985–86 (b)

  59

  60

  58

  63

  56

  59

  57

  57

  61

  1986–87 (b)

  60

  60

  59

  63

  56

  59

  58

  58

  61

  1987–88 (b)

  59

  60

  58

  62

  55

  59

  58

  57

  62

  1988–89 (b)

  59

  60

  58

  62

  56

  59

  59

  57

  61

  1989–90 (b)

  59

  59

  58

  62

  55

  60

  59

  57

  60

  1990–91 (b)

  59

  58

  58

  60

  54

  60

  58

  57

  60

  1991–92 (c)

  58

  59

  57

  60

  55

  60

  58

  56

  60

  1992–93 (d)

  58

  59

  57

  59

  54

  59

  57

  55

  58

  466
  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is published in table 116 of part E of the new earnings survey. A copy for each of the years concerned is available in the Library of the House.

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) men and (b) women were in employment in Wales in each year since 1984; and if he will indicate the number which were (a) full-time employees, (b) part-time employees, (c) full-time self-employed, (d) part-time self-employed and (e) on Government employment and training programmes.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Figures for men and women in employment and those on work-related Government training programmes may be accessed on-line by the staff in the Library of the House, although information distinguishing between full and part-time male employment was available in census of employment years only prior to 1989.

  Estimates of the number of self-employed which are derived from the labour force survey and which may be subject to sampling variability are given in the table:

  Self-employed

  Thousands

  Men

  Women

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-lime

  Part-time

  1984

  107

  1

  25

  11

  1985

  96

  1

  21

  12

  1986

  104

  1

  23

  1

  1987

  86

  1

  25

  14

  1988

  94

  1

  24

  13

  1989

  134

  11

  24

  16

  1990

  121

  1

  23

  15

  1991

  117

  1

  25

  13

  1992

  121

  1

  22

  17

  Source: Labour Force Survey, spring of each year.

  1 Estimates below 10,000 are not thought to be sufficiently reliable to be published.

  Education Spending
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of county council spending in Wales was allocated to education; and what proportion of the total spending of each county council in Wales was allocated to education for each of the last 10 years.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  County council spending on education as a proportion of total county council spending on all rate/general fund services is given in the table. Figures are available on a consistent basis only for the last eight years.
  467

  (a) Net current expenditure

  (b) Outturn

  (c) Revised estimates

  (d) Budgets; most higher education expenditure excluded, as function transferred to Central Government.

  University of Wales
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the student-tutor ratio in each of the colleges within the current structure of the university of Wales in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Ratio of FTE of students to University funded full time academic staff1

  Academic year beginning

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Aberystwyth

  8·6

  8·5

  8·8

  9·5

  9·2

  13·4

  13·5

  11·0

  11·0

  Bangor

  9·8

  9·4

  9·7

  9·9

  10·5

  9·4

  9·7

  10·1

  10·2

  Cardiff

  9·3

  10·3

  9·6

  9·5

  9·3

  9·6

  10·6

  11·8

  12·4

  St. David's, Lampeter

  9·8

  11·0

  11·5

  11·5

  11·0

  10·6

  10·5

  11·0

  10·7

  Swansea

  10·0

  10·7

  10·6

  10·6

  10·3

  10·6

  11·5

  11·7

  12·1

  Welsh National School of Medicine

  5·0

  4·8

  4·5

  4·6

  4·8

  5·8

  5·4

  5·6

  5·3

  University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology

  9·6

  10·6

  10·6

  10·2

  9·3

  9·9

  10·5

  10·5

  10·8

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Aberystwyth

  12·0

  12·3

  12·7

  Bangor

  10·7

  11·9

  13·0

  Cardiff2

  13·2

  12·7

  13·1

  St. David's Lampeter

  12·5

  12·5

  13·6

  Swansea

  12·3

  14·5

  14·2

  College of Medicine

  5·7

  7·3

  7·1

  Notes:

  1 Ratio of full time equivalent student load to full time academic staff paid wholly from university general funds. The academic staff numbers exclude part time staff and those staff not wholly funded by the university.

  The exclusions numbered 984 academic staff in 1990–91 or 34 per cent. of all academic staff recorded for the University as a whole.

  2From 1988 the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology merged with the University of Wales College Cardiff.

  Source:

  "Statistics of Education, Volume 6—Universities" and "University Statistics; Finance" published by Universities' Statistical Record.

  Pregnant Women
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the number of pregnant women who have' been dismissed from employment(a) with less than two years' service to the employer and (b) with more than two years' service.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None.

  Water Bill Debts
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many county court judgments have been obtained for water bill debts in Wales in each year from 1988.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This is a matter for the water supply companies serving Wales.

  Pharmacies
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioner practices run their own pharmacies in each of the counties of Wales.
  468
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information on staff and students at the colleges of the university of Wales is collated and published by the "Universities Statistical Record"—USR.

  The ratios, shown in the table, are calculated as defined in the USR publications. Information for 1991 onwards has not yet been published.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The description "pharmacy" may be used only in respect of premises registered under the Medicines Act 1968. I am not aware of any GPs in Wales who run their own pharmacies.

  All GPs may personally administer appliances or drugs, other than scheduled drugs, to their patients, and they are obliged to provide such appliances or drugs which are needed for the immediate treatment of a patient before provision can otherwise be obtained.

  In addition, a GP can provide pharmaceutical services to a patient on his or her list where the patient has requested this and a number of conditions, which are specified in regulations, are met. The number of GPs providing pharmaceutical services under these arrangements in each family health services authority is given as follows:

  Number of General Practitioners providing pharmaceutical services to their patients, as at 1 April 1992

  Number

  Clwyd

  51

  Dyfed

  17

  Gwent

  38

  Gwynedd

  57

  Mid Glamorgan

  20

  Powys

  47

  South Glamorgan

  8

  West Glamorgan

  5

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many pharmacies there are in each county of Wales.

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

  Number of pharmacies1

  Clwyd

  88

  Dyfed

  99

  Gwent

  96

  Gwynedd

  62

  Mid Glamorgan

  142

  Powys

  23

  South Glamorgan

  99

  West Glamorgan

  98

  1 As at 30 September 1992.

  NHS Staff(Attacks)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the number of violent attacks that have been committed against health service staff on hospital premises in Wales in each year from 1988.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None. This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have been convicted of committing violent attacks against health service staff within hospital premises in Wales in each year from 1988.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  These figures are not held centrally.

  Hospitals (Thefts)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what has been the number of reported thefts from each acute treatment hospital in Wales in each year from 1988;

  (2) what estimates he has of the cost to the national health service in Wales stemming from reported thefts from hospitals in each year from 1988.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is not available centrally in the form requested.

  Child Care
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the training and enterprise councils in Wales taking part in the Government scheme to develop child care facilities for the over-fives.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  1993–94 is the first year in which the new out of school child care grant will be available. Welsh training and enterprise councils were consulted about how the initiative should be developed in the first year., and agreed that the work should be co-ordinated by the Chwarae Teg/Fair Play consortium with five TECs participating: Gwent, South Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan, West Wales and Powys. The remaining TECs will be able to take part in 1994–95.

  Traffic, Builth Wells
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 5 May,Official Report, column 117, what assessment he has made of the average time taken by a motorist to drive through Builth Wells in (a) February and (b) August.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Such assessments are made only in months little affected by seasonal traffic: April, May, June, September and October. The average journey times on the trunk roads between the limits of the proposed Builth Wells by pass were 181 seconds for the A470 and 340 seconds for the A483.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if an environmental impact study has been undertaken into the proposed Builth Wells bypass.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  An environmental appraisal of viable routes for a possible bypass of Builth Wells has been undertaken.
  470
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer on 5 May,Official Report, column 117, what is the average annual road accident figure; and how many road accidents took place in Builth Wells in 1992.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The average annual number of accidents that occurred in Builth Wells over the last five years on the A470 and A483 trunk roads, within the limits of the proposed bypass, was eight. The provisional number for 1992, within the same limits, is nine.

  A470
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on current plans for the improvement on the A470 between Betws-y-coed and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The 1993 supplement to "Roads in Wales" shows improvements in the Lledr valley are programmed for the short and medium term. Work on the Minffordd to Cancoed section is currently expected to start before April 1996 and the remainder before March 1999, subject to the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the availability of funds.

  Farmers and Fishermen
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials were employed by his Department to administer, inspect, regulate and advise the farming and fishing industries either directly, in agencies or on special contracts(a) in 1992 and (b) at the latest available date; how many people are involved in (i) farming and (ii) fishing, full or part time, in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information on the numbers of staff in the Welsh Office and its agencies, and the number of people involved in farming and fishing in Wales is set out in the departmental report, Cm 2215, which is available in the Library of the House. Although it is not possible to isolate the staff resources denoted to the specific activities listed by my hon. Friend, the report does contain detailed information on the functions performed by the Department and the resources consumed. The most recent information on the numbers involved in farming is given in Welsh Office press notice published on 6 January 1993.

  One-stop Shops
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 5 February,Official Report, column 363, if he has yet received the report of his working party on one-stop shops; and if he will make it his policy to place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The working group will report to me shortly. I will announce my decisions in due course and place a copy in the Library of the House.

  Dentists
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of dentists have withdrawn from the provision of NHS dental treatment for all except exempt categories since 1 April; what is the number of salaried dentists appointed by each family health service authority; and if he will make a statement.
  471
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information is not available in the form requested. Returns provided by family health services authorities indicated that between 27 March and 7 May 1993, five dentists left authorities' dental lists as a direct result of the new fee scale introduced on 8 July 1992. Twelve dentists joined dental lists during the same period. This information was provided for managerial purposes and is not statistically validated.

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

  Withybush General Hospital
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will initiate an inquiry into the reasons why Withybush general hospital's roof needs substantial repair; who will supervise the repairs; what is the estimated cost of supervision; what will be the cost of the repair; who will pay for it; and which organisation supervised the construction of the new roof.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This is a contractual matter which is being pursued by the Welsh Health Common Services Authority. The contractor has accepted responsibility for the remedial work to the roof and the authority is seeking 472
  to recover any indirect costs that may accrue in order that the work will be completed at no cost to the Pembrokeshire National Health Service Trust. Supervision of the remedial work remains the responsibility of the architects for the scheme.

  Data Protetion
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales to what investigations his Department has been subject by the Data Protection Registrar in relation to a suspected breach of a data protection principle; if he will summarise the nature of each complaint and state when the complaint was made; and what remedial action was taken by his Department to ensure future compliance with the principle subject to the investigation.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department has not been subject to any investigations by the Data Protection Registrar.

  EC Grants
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the amount of grants received from the European Community, by each local authority in Wales in 1992.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  WILTON PARK: PERFORMANCE AND KEY TARGETS
  WILTON PARK: PERFORMANCE AND KEY TARGETS
  IRAN: EXPLOSIVE SHELL SUPPLIES
  IRAN: EXPLOSIVE SHELL SUPPLIES
  UN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS: UK FUNDING DEPARTMENT
  UN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS: UK FUNDING DEPARTMENT
  UN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS: FUNDING CONTRIBUTIONS
  UN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS: FUNDING CONTRIBUTIONS
  HOUSE OF LORDS ATTENDANCE: STATISTICS
  HOUSE OF LORDS ATTENDANCE: STATISTICS
  NIGHT FLYING RESTRICTIONS AT AIRPORTS
  NIGHT FLYING RESTRICTIONS AT AIRPORTS
  DUTCH BANKS' ADVANCE-FEE LOANS: SUPERVISION
  DUTCH BANKS' ADVANCE-FEE LOANS: SUPERVISION
  RAIL PASSENGER NETWORK: FRANCHISING PROPOSALS
  RAIL PASSENGER NETWORK: FRANCHISING PROPOSALS
  RAIL NETWORK OPEN ACCESS START DATE
  RAIL NETWORK OPEN ACCESS START DATE
  RAILWAYS BILL, PART I: EXEMPTIONS
  RAILWAYS BILL, PART I: EXEMPTIONS
  MARINE EMERGENCIES ORGANISATION
  MARINE EMERGENCIES ORGANISATION
  CHANNEL TUNNEL RAIL LINK: PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT
  CHANNEL TUNNEL RAIL LINK: PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT
  PRISON SERVICE: DIRECTOR GENERAL'S RESPONSE TO CORRESPONDENCE FROM MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
  PRISON SERVICE: DIRECTOR GENERAL'S RESPONSE TO CORRESPONDENCE FROM MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
  UNIVERSITY RESEARCH: COST OF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE
  UNIVERSITY RESEARCH: COST OF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE