Written Answers of 26 May 1993

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police Services
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police services in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is published annually in the "Police and Constabulary Almanac, Official Register". A copy of the 1993 edition has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take the necessary steps to arrange for the prefix royal to added to each of the police services in England.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  No.

  Prison Escort Services
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all civil servants and their past responsibilities where they have subsequently joined any of the companies involved in tenders for British gaols or court escort services.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is not possible to list former civil servants who may subsequently have taken up employment with private sector companies in this field, since staff below grade 3 who wish to take up outside employment are only required to seek approval to do so for a period of two years after leaving Crown employment, and in certain specified circumstances. Six former members of the Home Office have sought and obtained approval under these procedures to take up employment with companies involved in the provision of prison-related services. All were governor grades, three were governing establishments; one was head of custody in an establishment; one was in the inspectorate of prisons; and one in the remands contracts unit. In addition, a former police superintendent on secondment to the unit was given approval to take up employment with such a company.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if civil servants attempting to recruit staff for companies involved in tendering for Home Office business will in future face disciplinary action.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  If, in relation to the tendering process for Home Office business, there is evidence of any impropriety on the part of Home Office staff, disciplinary action will be taken where this is considered appropriate.
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  Drugs
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will place in the Library a full copy of the research report from Sheffield university, prepared for his Department, on the prevalence of drug use among young people.

  Mr. Jack
  A full report will be published later this year and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Bail Hostels
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of places for(a) men and (b) women at probation or bail hostels covering the Greater London area on 10 May.

  Mr. Jack
  As at 10 May 1993, there was a total of 360 places at approved bail and probation hostels in the Greater London area: 308 are designated for men; 33 for women; and the remaining 19 are available to either men or women, as required.

  Emergency Warnings
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 19 May if he will outline the alternative arrangements to the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation, based on radio and television broadcasts.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Arrangements for the use of radio and television to broadcast warnings to the public have existed alongside the siren system for a number of years and they involve the broadcasting of pre-recorded messages over existing broadcasting networks.

  Police Inspectors
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female police inspectors in England and Wales were members of ethnic minorities at the most recent available date.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  At the end of January 1993, 28 police inspectors in England and Wales were members of ethnic minorities. All were male.

  Deaths in Custody
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners died in custody in the 12 months to March; and how many have died since 5 April.

  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. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 24 May 1993:

  Deaths in custody
  The Home Secretary has asked me to write to you directly in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on deaths in custody. Between 1 April 1992 and 31 March 1993, eighty-six prisoners died in prison custody. Since 5 April 1993 nine prisoners have died in prison custody. These figures include deaths from all causes in both directly managed and contracted out operations.

  Naturalisation
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current time lag in the processing of naturalisation applications.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  For certificates of naturalisation granted in April 1993 the average waiting time was 21 months. For those applying now waiting times should average less than 12 months.

  Police (Management Supervision)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the establishment in each police authority in England was employed on management supervision duties at the latest available date.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not held centrally.

  European Parliamentary Constituencies
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Fry) on 1 April,Official Report, column 385, if he will make a statement on progress in formulating proposals for the boundaries of European parliamentary constituencies.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We hope to make an announcement on this matter shortly.

  Unit Fines
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the full evidence which led him to decide to scrap the unit fines system, including details of those cases in which too high a fine was given and those in which too low a fine was given.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 25 May 1993]: In reply to a question from the hon. Member on 19 May, columns 211–12, I have explained the reasons why my right hon. and learned Friend decided that it would be right to end the unit fine system. Although he was influenced, in taking that decision, by representations, both orally and in writing, from magistrates, members of the public and Members of Parliament, it would not be practicable to collate these representations as "evidence" and place them in the Library as requested. Nor would it be appropriate for the Secretary of State to comment on sentencing in individual cases.

  Police Authorities
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those police authorities that have been considered for amalgamation(a) during his period of office as Home Secretary and (b) during the past 10 years; and which proposals did not proceed because of the current procedure for amalgamation (i) as the only or primary reason and (ii) as a contributory reason.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 19 May 1993]: No police authorities have been considered for amalgamation during the term of office of my right hon. and learned
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  Friend. At the time of the abolition of the metropolitan county council's consideration was given to possible changes in the relevant police force areas. No changes were made because it was felt unlikely that reorganisation would improve effectiveness. The amalgamation procedure was not a factor in this decision.

  Complete records for the last 10 years are not available. However, the records that are available indicate that detailed consideration has not been given to the amalgamation of any other force areas during that time.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Select Committee Recommendations
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about, and how many accepted by, his Department since April 1992.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology has published one report since April 1992. The Government's response is contained in the White Paper "Realising our Potential: A Strategy for Science, Engineering and Technology", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

  The position in respect of the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee, whose remit relates to the work of both Her Majesty's Treasury and the OPSS, is covered in the reply by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 24 May 1993, column 419.

TRANSPORT

  Road Safety
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has conducted into safety factors in respect of new roads.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Department carries out safety audits of new trunk roads before they are opened to traffic and specifically reviews their safety performance one and three years after opening as well as continuing with routine monitoring of safety. It also carries out a programme of research into factors which affect road safety, including, for example, pedestrian and cycle facilities, traffic calming measures, junction design, surfacing and safety fences. This is used in reviewing standards for new roads and in improving existing roads.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies have been undertaken on the additional injuries in accidents to pedestrians and cyclists caused by bull and roo bars on motor vehicles.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Pedestrian injury accidents are currently being investigated by the Transport Research Laboratory. As yet this research has been unable to reach firm conclusion concerning injuries from bull or roo bars; but I expect the investigations to show increased accident injury from such equipment.
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  Berkley Avenue, Greenford
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish his inspector's decision on the inquiry into the proposal to close Berkley avenue, Greenford, between Greenford road and Oldfield lane north; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The Secretary of State for Transport expects shortly to announce his decision in the light of the inspector's report on the inquiry into the proposal to close a length of Berkley avenue. Arrangements will be made for the hon. Member to receive a copy of the decision letter.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library copies of papers presented to the meeting of the high level forum on the channel tunnel rail link held on 19 May.

  Mr. Freeman
  Copies of the four papers presented have been sent to right hon. and hon. Members affected by the route of the rail link and placed in the Library. The papers are "Department of Transport—Property purchase and compensation policy", "DoT—Terms of reference for the further study of the London terminus", "DoT—Arrangements for the study and assessment of options for stations on the Union Railway" and a paper by Union Railways entitled "Route and stations development programme", all titles are prefaced by "Paper for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link High Level Forum".

  Traffic, South-East London
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning the official journey taken through south London on 18 May by the Minister for Roads and Traffic whilst in a 1907 taxi cab; and what proposals he now has to improve the road network and traffic flow in south-east London.

  Mr. Norris
  The hon. and learned Gentleman will be aware that the Minister for Transport in London was being driven in the splended taxi which the hon. and learned Gentleman so obviously admired, to Chester house in Kennington officially to open the excellent Royal British Legion taxi drivers; training school.

  The Department has three schemes in its programme for improving trunk roads in south-east London. It also pays transport supplementary grant at 50 per cent. of accepted expenditure and capital support to local authorities to improve their local roads. A further current initiative is improving the efficiency of the existing road network by the development of red routes.

  Crossrail
  Mr. Peter Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions were reached by Schroeders and Warburgs in its advice to his Department on the prospects of a private sector contribution towards crossrail; what form this contribution is expected to take; and if he will make available details of the financing of the project before 8 June.

  Mr. Norris
  Our consultants, Warburgs and Bechtel, both concluded that crossrail is a project that the private 570
  sector will find attractive. The basis on which the private sector would contribute to the cost of the project will not be settled by 8 June.

  British Rail Pension Fund
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the value of the surplus in the British Rail pension fund for the last five years for which records are available.

  Mr. Freeman
  This is a matter for the trustees of the pension fund.

  Twyford Down
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to recent new proposals for a route for the M3 bypass around Winchester which aims at minimising damage to Twyford Down.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Alternative proposals for the M3 route currently being constructed through Twyford Down were submitted to my Department earlier this year by a media film company. The proposals were considered carefully, but they related to options which had already been considered and rejected.

  A19, Durham
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the severity of disintegration of the newly laid surface to the A19 in County Durham.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Major maintenance work to the southbound carriageway of the A19 between Peterlee and Sheraton was completed in January 1993.

  Minor chipping loss which has occurred over approximately 5 per cent. of the total area of surfacing will require remedial works under the maintenance period of the contract by the contractor at his own cost.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many patches of disintegration have been identified on the newly laid surface of the A19 in County Durham; which contractor has been asked to carry out repairs; and how long this is going to take.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Major maintenance work to the southbound carriageway of the A 19 between Peterlee and Sheraton was completed in January 1993.

  Inspections have identified 28 areas of minor chipping loss. Amey Construction Ltd., the main contractor, will carry out the remedial works at its own cost during the 12-month maintenance period. The works are programmed to take 10 days and will be carried out under contra-flow.

  Road Improvements (Public Inquiries)
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the usual length of time between the announcement of a public inquiry into a major road improvement scheme and its first hearing.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The length of time between formal announcement and the opening of an inquiry varies
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  according to the circumstances of the individual scheme. It is never less than six weeks in order to allow sufficient time for all parties to prepare their case.

  West Wellow Bypass
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a map showing the proposed route of the A36 West Wellow bypass as announced in his Department's press release dated 19 May.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  A public consultation brochure showing the route options now being considered for the A36 West Wellow bypass is being published on Friday 28 May. A copy will be placed in the Library on that date.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current estimated cost of building the east London river crossing; and how he has calculated any changes since his answer of 16 July 1992,Official Report, column 862.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 21 May 1993]: The total estimated cost of the east London river crossing remains at £300 million at 1989 prices.

  London Travelcard
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to protect the London travelcard; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 24 May 1993]: The Government are promoting discussions with public transport operators in London on how best to develop the present travelcard to meet the future needs of passengers and operators. We intend, when we seek powers for bus deregulation in London, to give operators the right to participate on fair terms in multi-operator ticketing schemes.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  EC Institutions (Official Visits)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the tax treatment of official visits by hon. Members to European Community institutions in Brussels and Strasbourg.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government have tabled a new clause to the Finance Bill which will exempt from tax payments of expenses for Members' visits to Community institutions in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg, under the terms of the Resolution of the House of 6 December 1991,Official Report, column 582.
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  Relocation Expenses
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations his Department has had on the proposed reform of tax relief on relocation expenses.

  Mr. Dorrell
  A series of consultative meetings has been arranged by the Inland Revenue since the proposed reform of the tax treatment of relocation expenses was announced on Budget day. The meetings have been attended by representatives of employers, professional bodies and representative organisations.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has as to how many taxpayers are affected by the freezing of the tax thresholds and allowances proposed in the March 1993 Budget, giving the numbers who have gross incomes of(a) less than £30,000, (b) £25,000, (c) £20,000, (d) earnings below the higher rate threshold and (e) earnings below the national insurance upper earnings limit.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Latest estimates for 1993–94 are as follows:

  Number of individuals affected

  Millions

  (a) Total income under £30,000

  22·9

  (b) Total income under £25,000

  21·8

  (c) Total income under £20,000

  19·6

  (d) Total earned income1 under £27,1452

  22·7

  (e) Total earned income1 under £21,8403

  22·1

  1 Includes income from employment, self-employment and occupational pensions.

  2 The sum of the basic rate limit and the level of the basic personal allowance for those under 65.

  3 National Insurance upper earnings limit.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to how many foreign individuals currently living in the United Kingdom the Inland Revenue has granted non domicile status for tax purposes; and how much this concession cost the Exchequer in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I regret that this information is not available.

  Overseas Dividends
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers receive income from overseas dividends; and what was the gross sum received before tax.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I regret that the information requested is not available.
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  National Insurance
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total number of taxpayers after the Budget changes in 1993–94, giving figures separately for(a) those who pay national insurance contributions only on incomes below the income tax threshold, (b) basic rate taxpayers with earned income below the NIC upper earnings limit, (c) basic rate taxpayers with earned income above the NIC upper earnings limit, (d) all basic rate taxpayers, (e) higher rate taxpayers with earned income above the NIC earnings limit, (f) all higher rate taxpayers and (g) all taxpayers.

  Taxpaying individuals, aged under 65, 1993–94

  millions

  Marginal rate

  No income subject to NIC

  Earnings1 between LEL and UEL

  Earnings above UEL

  Total

  Lower rate

  0·7

  2·7

  —

  3·5

  Basic rate

  0·7

  14·0

  1·7

  16·5

  Higher rate

  —

  0·1

  1·4

  1·5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  1·5

  16·8

  3·2

  21·5

  1 Includes earnings from employment or self-employment.

  Overseas Entertainers
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of withholding tax deducted from overseas entertainers in the film industry and in total in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The total withholding tax deducted in each of the last five years from foreign entertainers and sportsmen has been:

  £

  1988–89

  12,537,141

  1989–90

  13,387,341

  1990–91

  18,612,822

  1991–92

  16,690,738

  1992–93

  20,294,617

  No breakdown of these figures is available.

  Drugs Seizures
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many seizures of(a) heroin, (b) cocaine and (c) synthetic drugs have occurred in (i) the United Kingdom and its waters and (ii) Wales in each year from 1987.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 21 May 1993]: I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is contained in tables 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Statistics of drugs seizures and offenders dealt with, United Kingdom 1991", and table A1.3 of "Statistics of drugs seizures and offenders dealt with, United Kingdom, 1987–91" (area tables), copies of which are in the Library.
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  Mr. Dorrell
  The latest available estimates are as follows:

  Taxpaying individuals, 1993–94

  millions

  Marginal rate

  Aged under 65

  Aged 65 and over

  Total

  Lower rate

  3·5

  1·4

  4·9

  Basic rate

  16·5

  1·5

  18·0

  Higher rate

  1·5

  0·1

  1·6

  Total

  21·5

  3·0

  24·5

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Vance-Owen Plan
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States Secretary of State since 17 May on the continued credibility of the Vance-Owen plan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Westbury (Mr. Faber) on 24 May, c.375. by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, the Member for Grantham, (Mr. Hogg).

  Detention Camp, Gospic
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the existence of a detention camp at Gospic in Croatia; what action he has taken about the matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has received no representations. We remain in close touch with the International Committee of the Red Cross about its work in identifying, securing access to and progressively closing detention camps in former Yugoslaia. If any new evidence is brought forward of detention centres, we would immediately pass it on to the relevant organisations.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the establishment of a United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We recognise the need to strengthen the role of the United Nations centre for human rights. With our EC partners we have proposed that the post of
  575
  director of the centre be upgraded to that of Under Secretary-General for Human Rights/High Commissioner for Human Rights.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the names of the United Kingdom delegation to the United Nations world conference on human rights in Vienna.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 13 May, c.559. The precise composition of the delegation is being finalised, and will be transmitted to the conference organisers in due course.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's aims for the United Nations world conference on human rights in Vienna.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) on 27 April, column 371.

HEALTH

  Royal Free Trust
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been treated by the Royal Free Trust since it became an NHS trust hospital; and what were the numbers treated in the two previous years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The figures for the first two years of the Royal Free Trust relate to finished consultant episodes in the general and acute specialties, and are as follows:

  Number

  1991–92

  33,822

  1992–93

  42,539

  The total for 1992–93 includes patients undergoing renal dialysis.

  No information is available centrally on the number of patients treated in the years before the Royal Free achieved trust status. However, a special exercise conducted for the House Select Committee established that there were 32,040 FCEs in 1990–91.

  Nebulisers
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy regarding the free provision of nebulisers for use by patients in need.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Health authorities must provide free of charge any equipment which, taking account of resources, needs and clinical priorities locally, they decide to provide as part of a national health service treatment programme. This applies whether the equipment is supplied permanently or on loan, and includes subsequent maintenance costs as well as initial supply. Hand-operated nebulisers may be prescribed by general practitioners and are free of charge to patients exempt from prescription charges.
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  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost to date of the preparation, production and distribution of consultation documents by all NHS trust applicants.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A total of £5·93 million has been made available to regional health authorities for the cost of consultation on the four waves of national health service trusts during the years 1990–91 to 1993–94.

  Family Planning Services
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure a free choice of family planning services on the NHS.

  Mr. Sackville
  National health service family planning is a self-referral service and people who wish to use it are free to choose their source of advice—their own general practitioner, another general practitioner if he or she is willing, or a family planning clinic. The Government's aim, as stated in the White Paper "The Health of the Nation" is that by 1994–95 the full range of NHS family planning services, however provided, should be appropriate, accessible and comprehensive.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research has been undertaken by her Department upon the effect of the inclusion of contraceptives on the selected list scheme upon levels of unplanned pregnancies in the United Kingdom;

  (2) what assessment she has made of the effects of the extension of the selected list scheme in respect of contraceptives on her Department's target in respect of teenage pregnancies.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Pickthall) on 18 January at col.97.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations she has received in opposition to the extension of the selected list scheme to contraceptives.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Approximately 420.

  Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the legal status of the sub-committees of the Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs;

  (2) what procedures were followed in making the appointments to the sub-committees of the Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs; and what were the criteria used to judge the suitability for membership of these committees.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The sub-committees do not have a legal status which is separate from the main committee. The Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs decided which of its members would serve on sub-committees taking into account their professional expertise.
  577

  Salmonella
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list, for each year from 1987 to date, the number of cases of salmonella poisoning which have not been caused by eating infected food.

  Mr. Sackville
  The annual statistics published about confirmed salmonella infections are based on reports, by the public health laboratory service and hospital laboratories in England and Wales to the PHLS. The majority of these reports relate to individual cases and information as to the cause of infection is rarely available. In outbreaks involving two or more people, a cause other than food is reported infrequently. Occasionally outbreaks resulting from spread from person to person are reported, usually in an institutional setting.

  Halcion
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about the use of the drug Halcion in treating cases of severe depression.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Halcion, or triazolam, is a treatment for insomnia and not for depression. It was withdrawn from the United Kingdom market in 1991 on grounds of safety because of psychiatric adverse reactions, including depression. Under the Medicines Act the manufacturer has rights of appeal against the permanent withdrawal of the drug and at the present time the matter remains under appeal.

  Hospitals (Location)
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what attention is paid in deciding on locations of hospitals to the relative age and level of car ownership of the surrounding population.

  Mr. Sackville
  The catchment area of a hospital will be determined by the contracts taken out by district health authorities or fund-holding general practitioner practices, on behalf of their residents and patients. Decisions on new hospital sites will be influenced by a variety of local factors, including accessibility.

  NHS Employees (Freedom of Speech)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 9 March,Official Report, column 487, when the final guidelines on freedom of speech for national health service employees will be published; and if publication will be delayed to take into account the findings of the Clothier inquiry.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We do not consider it appropriate to delay the issue of the guidelines and expect them to be issued in the near future.

  Hospitals (Security)
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she has taken or intends to take to improve security in NHS hospitals following the recent report of Crime Prevention Consulting Ltd.

  Mr. Sackville
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary has given a detailed reply in another place.
  578
  A full report and its recommendations were presented at a conference, sponsored jointly by the Department of Health, the National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts, and the National Health Service Trust Federation, on 11 May.

  My noble Friend wrote to the chairmen of all health authorities and trusts on 13 May bringing the report to their attention. A copy of the letter is available in the Library.

  The NHS management executive has also written—EL(93)47, a copy of which is available in the Library—to all general managers and trust chief executives, outlining the key messages in the report and asked them to review their procedures for crime and loss prevention in the light of the review and to submit by 30 September 1993 a report on improvements made or planned.

  A new NHS security advisory group is being set up to promote a programme of security improvements and carry forward the recommendations of the consultants' report.

  Fertility Treatment
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average waiting period for IVF treatment; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Waiting time information by specialty is published in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England", a copy of which is available in the Library. Information on the time that waiting list patients have waited for treatment of specific conditions is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to amend the waiting list system for IVF and fertility treatment for childless couples to take into account the age of that couple; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Decisions about the appropriate treatment for a couple seeking help over infertility are a matter of clinical judgment. Age is one of the factors clinicians will consider in assessing a patients' suitability for any form of infertility treatment.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the hospital waiting times for patients in the Northern regional health authority for 12 months and 18 months; what were the comparable figures for each of the last two years; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Waiting times information by regional health authority is given in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England", published twice a year, copies of which are available in the Library. Latest provisional figures for 31 March 1993 were published on 10 May 1993—press release H93/740. These show the number of patients waiting for more than a year in the Northern regional health authority has fallen by 72 per cent. or nearly 4,500 patients in the two years since March 1991.

  Condensation
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has available about the effect of condensation in the home upon people's health.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department is aware of research carried out by the Building Research Establishment, an executive agency of the Department of the Environment.
  579

  Drugs
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she will place in the Library a full copy of the research report from Durham university, prepared for her Department, on the prevalence of drug use among young people.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 25 May.

  Laboratory Technicians
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 19 May,Official Report, columns 197–98, if the word technician in her answer means laboratory technicians.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Yes.

  Concorde Trials
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a copy of the informed consent information and forms which were given to subjects who were asked to take part in the Concorde trials.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have today arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  British Nuclear Fuels plc
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what types of information he is obliged to make public regarding British Nuclear Fuels plc; and which areas of its operation are treated as confidential.

  Mr. Eggar
  For the considerations affecting the Government's policy in this area, I refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent,Official Report, 7 July 1992, column 140 and 24 March 1993, column 612.

  Waste to Energy
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to be able to announce a decision on the proposal for a refuse-to-energy plant in Belvedere.

  Mr. Eggar
  The timing of his report is a matter for the inquiry inspector. When my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade receives the report he will give timely but careful consideration to it.

  My right hon. Friend will announce his decision on the application at the earliest possible opportunity after receiving the report.

  British Airways
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will ask the Director-General of Fair Trading to investigate evidence of anti-competitive activities by British Airways against Air Europe, and its parent company ILG, since 1987;

  (2) what inquiries he has commissioned into the allegations of anti-competitive practices by British Airways against rival airlines; and if he will make a statement.
  580
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Allegations of anti-competitive practices in European air services fall to be considered by the EC Commission under articles 85 and 86 of the treaty of Rome. The Civil Aviation Authority has powers to investigate complaints of anti-competitive practices on specific routes to and from destinations outside the EC and to consider appropriate remedies.

  Under paragraph 4(1) of the schedule to the Anti-competitive Practices (Exclusions) Order 1980 (SI 1980 No. 979), any course of conduct pursued by an air transport undertaking solely in respect of carriage by air, otherwise than on a charter flight, is excluded from investigation under the Competition Act.

  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he was aware of the evidence of access by British Airways to computer information concerning rival airlines, when he gave his approval to British Airways' takeover of Dan Air in November 1992.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The President of the Board of Trade's decisions in merger cases whether to refer proposed acquisitions to the MMC take account of comprehensive advice from the Director General of Fair Trading on the public interest issues raised by the merger concerned.

  Additionality
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has available on how the additionality principle is applied within each member state of the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the European Commission's third annual report on the implementation of the reform of the structural funds, pages 17 to 18, and the European Court of Auditors' annual report concerning the financial year 1991—Official Journal of the European Communities, C330 of 15 December 1992, pages 130–131, 146, 153, 346, 355, 359 —copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  British Aerospace and Rover Group
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the implications for the United Kingdom of the European Commission decision of 9 March requiring the Government to secure repayment of £44·4 million of state aid plus interest from British Aerospace and the Rover Group.

  Mr. Heseltine
  British Aerospace plc yesterday paid to the Government the sum of £57·6 million made up as follows:

  £ million

  Repayment of state aid received by BAe and Rover in 1988 in connection with privatisation costs and buying out minority shareholders

  11·0

  Repayment of state aid representing the interest that would have been paid between 1988 and 1990 by BAe had it not been allowed to defer (interest free) the payment of the purchase price of Rover

  33·4

  Interest on the above sums through to yesterday

  13·2

  Total

  57·6

  581
  The Commission decision is intended to put BAe in the same position, after tax, as if it had not received state aid. Tax relief would have been available for interest of £33·4 million if it had been paid between 1988 and 1990. Tax relief would also normally be available for the interest of £13·2 million on a United Kingdom debt. BAe therefore now intends to investigate whether tax relief is available for both amounts. If relief is available on both sums at 33 per cent.—the current corporation tax rate—it will reduce the net cost to BAe by E11·0 million and £4·4 million respectively. The net cost to BAe of yesterday's payment would then be £42·2 million.

  BAe has expressed concern that under United Kingdom law one or both of the amounts of £33·4 million and £13·2 million might not attract tax relief. If that were to be the case, BAe would have paid, and the Government would have received, up to £15·4 million more than the Commission envisaged. The Government understand BAe's concern and have also noted the opinion of the Advocate General that the Commission might reasonably assume that tax relief would be given on the payment of £33·4 million.

  To ensure that the payment has the effect that the Commission intended, and that BAe is not disadvantaged by any difference between United Kingdom tax law and the tax assumptions made by the Commission, the Government have made arrangements to ensure that, if tax relief is not available in respect of the two payments, the company is returned to the same position as it would have been if it had not received the state aid. This would be done by transferring to the Inland Revenue, out of the sum received, an amount equal to the tax relief in question. That would then be set against BAe's tax liability. Details of the arrangements are in a note which is being deposited in the Library of the House. Both the European Commission and the Inland Revenue have been consulted about, and have raised no objections to, the proposed arrangements.

  Science arid Technology
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how the science and technology policy of his Department will be affected by the White Paper on science, engineering and technology published today; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The Government want to see a new partnership with industry, bringing together public sector resources, to increase the nation's competitiveness. Today's White Paper on Science, Engineering and Technology commits the Government to partnership in science and technology to ensure they contribute more fully to the nation's wealth and well-being. The DTI is committed to making this partnership work. DTI's budget for industrial innovation is rising by some 15 per cent. this year to around £125 million, despite pressure on public spending. While the main responsibility for innovation must remain with industry, DTI has an important role.

  Support for R and D projects from DTI's innovation budget is less than 2 per cent. of industry's own R and D spend. Thirteen United Kingdom companies individually spend more on R and D each year than DTI does through its innovation budget. Moreover, much of DTI's support goes to the large firms who account for so much of industry's total. In view of this, DTI will change the
  582
  balance of its financial support so as to concentrate in future on helping smaller firms gain access to technology; building up partnerships between firms, with academia, and overseas; and ensuring firms have the services they need to innovate and to do business better. Smaller firms need effective local delivery of technology that may require sourcing on a local, United Kingdom or global basis. Both the access to that technology and the infrastructure which can provide it will therefore need to be strengthened, taking account of the Faraday principles, as will the promotion of innovation and the spread of best practice.

  The Department will significantly improve companies' access to science and technology by making innovation services available locally, for example through one-stop shops. These services will place the national and international expertise on industry's doorstep. One-stop shops will help form sustained partnerships, bringing together public and private sector business services, including DTI technology and innovation services, for the benefit of the local company customer. The DTI will build on the local innovation networks which are already used by firms. These networks draw on expertise in higher education institutions, technical colleges, industrial research organisations and others.

  DTI will put more effort into helping firms of all sizes come together to undertake R and D projects, including projects under the LINK and EUREKA initiatives. The Department will also work with other Departments, the research councils and in Europe to help this process to succeed. DTI will therefore:

  design its innovation services for delivery involving one-stop shops;

  support the establishment of local partnerships through which firms can obtain the technology and business services they need for innovation;

  consult industry over a more comprehensive information service about technology overseas;

  work to harness publicly-funded effort in science and technology;

  through its sector divisions and otherwise, act as a voice for business in science and technology throughout Government.

  In view of the decision to increase support for technology transfer and best practice activities, DTI will be reducing its support for industry/industry collaboration through its innovation budget, and from 1 September will support only projects which will result in exceptional economic benefit.

  Recognising the particularly important contribution that smaller companies make to the innovative process, direct single-company support to small SMEs will continue under the successful small firms merit award for research and technology—SMART—scompetition and SPUR—support for products under research—scheme. However, from 1 April 1994 it is proposed to limit SPUR to companies with up to 250 employees in order to concentrate on the smaller firms which have the greatest difficulty in raising R and D capital.

  Kvaerner Govan
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much intervention funding Kvaerner Govan has received over the last five years.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Offers of grant and details of the amounts paid are matters of commercial confidence between the Department and the company concerned.
  583
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many ships Kvaerner Govan has received shipbuilding intervention funding in the last five years; and what is the total value of the assistance given.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 25 May 1993]: Offers of grant and details of the amounts paid are matters of commercial confidence between the Department and the company concerned.

  Lead Batteries
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans his Department has to ensure that the level of lead batteries currently recycled is maintained and increased.

  Mr. Eggar
  I am aware that a combination of factors, including the current low price of lead, is reported by lead acid battery recyclers to be making their recovery operations increasingly uneconomic. On 5 May my Department issued a consultation paper seeking views on the options open to the United Kingdom for implementing the Directive on Batteries and Accumulators Containing Certain Dangerous Substances (91/157/EEC). This explores the possibilities for maintaining and increasing the traditionally high United Kingdom recycling rate for lead acid batteries. Officials recently met the battery recyclers and their representative organisation, the Lead Development Association, and encouraged them to make proposals as part of their response to this consultation paper.

  Swan Hunter
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make an application to the European Commission to allow payments to be made from the shipbuilding intervention fund to Swan Hunter.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have written today to European Commissioner van Miert to ask him to reconsider the eligibility of British warship yards for the shipbuilding intervention fund.

  British Coal Superannuation Scheme
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the level in each year from 1983 of the social cost grant provided to British Coal to help it meet the cost of additional contributions to its staff superannuation scheme in respect of early pensions and pensions for redundant miners; if he will provide full details of the terms and conditions associated with these grants; and what provision is made for alteration of social cost grant levels if British Coal meets its contributions by using part of the surplus in its pension fund.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 April 1993]: Grant provided to British Coal with respect to the staff superannuation scheme has been as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1983–84

  3·9

  1984–85

  9·1

  1985–86

  12·5

  1986–87

  27·4

  1987–88

  47·6

  1988–89

  55·3

  584

  Year

  £ million

  1989–90

  59·3

  1990–91

  68·7

  1991–92

  72·1

  1992–93

  80·4

  Total

  436·3

  Grant payments have been made under the relevant provisions of the Coal Industry Acts 1965, 1967 and 1987 and Coal Industry (Restructuring Grant) Orders 1987 to 1992. Grant will continue to be paid in respect of eligible expenditure by British Coal.

SCOTLAND

  Police Services
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take the necessary steps to arrange for the prefix royal to be added to each of the police services in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No.

  Woodlands
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths) on 2 February,Official Report, column 177, whether any access agreements have been made or proposed since October 1991 in respect of any woodlands sold by the Forestry Commission before that date.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The arrangements for securing public access to woodlands sold by the Forestry Commission were introduced in October 1991 and could not apply to land sold before that date.

  Forestry Commission
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out his current targets for the sale of Forestry Commission land in the United Kingdom in the current year and for each of the next three years.

  Sir Hector Monro
  As announced in Cm 2214, "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1993–94 to 1995–96 for the Departments of the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Forestry Commission" (table 13.10), the Commission plans to sell 15,000 hectares of forest land in the current financial year and in each of the next two years. The sales programme for 1996–97 is under consideration.

  Agencies
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those bodies with executive agency status which are responsible to him; what plans he has to give executive agency status to any other Department or public body responsible to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I have responsibility for the following executive agencies:
  585

  Agency

  Launch Date

  Chief Executive

  Registers of Scotland

  1 April 1990

  Mr. James Barron

  Historic Scotland

  1 April 1991

  Mr. Graeme Munro

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  1 April 1991

  Mr. Andrew MacLeod

  Scottish Agricultural Science Agency

  1 April 1992

  Dr. Robert Hay

  Scottish Prison Service

  1 April 1993

  Mr. Edward Frizzell

  Scottish Record Office

  1 April 1993

  Mr. Patrick Cadell

  Scottish Office Pensions Agency

  1 April 1993

  Mr. Norman MacLeod

  Chief executives respond, on my behalf, to letters and written parliamentary questions from hon. Members on operational issues within their sphere of responsiblity as set out in the agency's framework document. A copy of each framework document is available in the House Libraries.

  I announced on 18 November 1992, c. 271, that the fisheries research service of the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department is under consideration for executive agency status. Other candidates may be announced later this year. It is the Government's intention that all executive agency candidates will have been identified by the end of 1993 and to have launched them by mid-1995—end 1994 and mid-1996 in Northern Ireland.

  Energy Conservation
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he plans to take following the recent study by Scottish Enterprise on energy conservation in the domestic sector.

  Mr. Stewart
  Scottish Enterprise was co-sponsor of a study of the use of energy in Scotland. This study has not yet been published.

  Rape and Sexual Assault
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce legislation to alter the range of sentences open to the courts in cases of rape and sexual assault.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In Scotland rape, and most other sexual assaults, are common law offences where the maximum sentences available to the court are not laid down in statute but determined only by the maximum sentencing power of the court in which a case is heard. Where a case is heard on indictment, a sheriff sitting with a jury may impose a sentence of up to three years' imprisonment or remit the case to the High Court for a higher sentence if he believes this to be appropriate. A judge in the High Court may impose a sentence of up to life imprisonment. We believe, therefore, that there are already appropriate penalties available to deal with even the most serious cases.

  Wild Plants
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the common and botanical names of wild plants which are currently categorised in Scotland as 586
  (a) protected and (b) endangered species; what measures he has in place to protect such species; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provides protection for all wild plants. The subset of endangered or rare species is identified in schedule 8 to the Act, as varied by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Variation of Schedules) Order 1988 (S.I. 1988 No. 288) and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Variation of Schedules 5 and 8) Order 1992 (S.I. 1992 No. 2350).

  It is an offence under section 13 of the Act for any unauthorised person to uproot intentionally any wild plant. In the case of the plants listed in schedule 8, it is an offence for any person intentionally to pick, uproot or destroy any example.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of abattoirs in Scotland and their combined average throughput in(a) 1970, (b) 1980, (c) 1990, (d) 1991 and (e) 1992; and what are the most recent figures available.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Number of abattoirs1

  Average throughput per abattoir (LUs)2

  1970

  n/a

  n/a

  1980

  66

  17,693

  1990

  51

  24,600

  1991

  50

  26,477

  1992

  48

  27,195

  In 1993, 44 abattoirs in Scotland were licensed under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992.

  1 This excludes the small remote island abattoirs which generally operate for a short season each year and have a very low throughput when open.

  1 One LU (livestock unit)—one adult cattle/calf or seven sheep or three pigs.

  Islands Shipping Services
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to increase subsidies for shipping services to Orkney and Shetland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I announced on 17 December 1992, at column 466, subsidy provision for shipping services

  587
  totalling £15,129 million in 1993–94, of which provision for services to and from Orkney and Shetland amounted to £6·679 million. I now intend to make available a further £1·934 million in the current year to increase the amount of subsidy available for services to Orkney and Shetland in 1993–94 to £8·613 million. The additional assistance will be provided to P and O Scottish Ferries Ltd. to enable it to maintain the present level of roll-on/roll-off services in respect of passengers and cars. The assistance will enable P and O to increase their commercial tariffs for passengers and cars, while keeping net tariffs, after tariff rebate subsidy, to users of the service unchanged. The increases in commercial tariffs are necessary to enable continued provision of the present level of services. No change is being made in subsidies to freight services.

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he intends to make regarding shipping services to the Scottish islands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I have decided to review the present arrangements under which I provide financial assistance to maintain lifeline shipping services to Orkney, Shetland, the Inner and Outer Hebrides and in the Clyde estuary. I also propose to review options for the future organisation and structure of Caledonian MacBrayne including the possible scope for introducing private sector participation in the provision of Caledonian MacBrayne's services.

  Options to be studied will include continued public sector ownership of Caledonian MacBrayne as well as privatisation options; in the latter I will wish to explore the scope for greater employee involvement. I believe that the time is ripe for a further study of Caledonian MacBrayne following the transfer of the company's ownership to me in 1990.

  The Government remain committed to providing continued financial support for lifeline shipping services to ensure that services can be provided at a cost to users which is consistent with the need to maintain and improve economic and social conditions in the islands.

  The primary objective of these reviews is to explore the scope for improving the cost-effectiveness of the present arrangements in ways which are consistent with safeguarding the interests of the users of the services. I see greater efficiency and effectiveness in subsidy and service provision as leading to better services for the consumer, and wish to make it clear that our overall aim is to ensure that services are maintained and improved, and not in any way downgraded.

  The Scottish Office Industry Department will shortly be inviting tenders for the necessary studies which will inform these reviews from suitable firms of economic and financial consultants.

  Cockburnspath Bypass (Wind Levels)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he expects to receive the study to be conducted by Strathclyde university on the monitoring of wind levels at the newly constructed Cockburnspath bypass; and if he will publish the results of the study in full;

  (2) what detailed proposals he has to divert vehicles prone to high wind levels off the newly constructed
  588
  Cockburnspath bypass during abnormal wind conditions, indicating what vehicles would be affected and what the alternative route would be.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 May 1993]:

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 13 May 1993, col 487–88.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence he has on the relative hazards of wind levels at the newly constructed Cockburnspath bypass compared with other parts of the A1.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 May 1993]:The Scottish Office received a record of all accidents on the trunk road network which have been reported to the police. Abnormal wind strength was a contributory factor in the three recorded accidents which occurred on the Cockburnspath bypass on 21 January this year. Over the previous three years there has been only one other recorded accident on the A1 between Edinburgh and Newcastle where wind strength was a contributory factor. This occurred at Skateraw, just north of Torness power station, in February 1990. None of these accidents involved personal injury.

  Select Committee Recommendations
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about his Department since April 1989; and how many have been accepted.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 24 May 1993]:The Select Committee on Scottish Affairs has published one report since April 1989 on which the Government have yet to respond. Other Select Committees have made 21 recommendations specifically affecting my Department. Of these 20 have been accepted, in whole or part, by the Government or have been noted where no further action was sought.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has held with COSLA concerning the consequences for regional, island and district councils of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the acquired rights directive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 24 May 1993]: None.

  Policing
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for public consultation concerning those parts of the forthcoming report of the Sheehy inquiry into policing in the United Kingdom which relate specifically to Scotland's police forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 24 May 1993]: The report of the inquiry into police responsibilities and rewards will be circulated to all interested bodies, including those covering Scottish interests, as soon as it is published. My right hon. Friend will welcome comment from those in Scotland on any aspect of the report.
  589

  Prisons
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the budgeted annual cost per prisoner place at(a) HM prison Greenock and (b) other prisons.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 24 May 1993]: The budgeted annual cost per prisoner place, including capital expenditure, at HM prison, Greenock, for 1993–94, is £30,665. This compares with a budgeted Scottish prison service average figure of £28,314 for the same year.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Global Environmental Facility
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation his Department will have at the global environmental facility's participants' meeting in Beijing from 26 to 28 May; what discussions he has had with the World hank in regard to the global environmental facility meeting; and if he will make a statement on the way in which the global environmental facility is accountable to supporter states.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom delegation will be led by the deputy secretary of the Overseas Development Administration, supported by officials from the Department of the Environment and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The chairman of the Global Environment Facility has consulted United Kingdom officials on issues which will he discussed in Beijing. The GEF is accountable to participating states at the meetings of GEF's governing body, the participants assembly.

  UN Development Programme
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he received a copy of the "1993 Human Development" reports of the United Nations Development Programme; and what action he intends to take in regard to its recommendations.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The 1993 human development report is being published by the United Nations development programme this week. We welcome the report as a useful contribution to the development debate. We are studying the report and its proposals with great interest, and shall take appropriate account of them.

  St. Helena
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much aid has been given to St. Helena in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The figures for St. Helena are:

  Number

  1979

  3,935

  1980

  3,795

  1981

  4,062

  1982

  5,834

  1983

  6,533

  1984

  7,471

  1985

  9,354

  1986

  9,202

  1987

  12,241

  590

  Number

  1987–88

  11,057

  1988–89

  20,524

  1989–90

  24,239

  1990–91

  11,759

  1991–92

  9,147

  Note: The method of recording aid expenditure was changed from a calendar year to a financial year basis in 1987–88.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how Her Majesty's Government evaluates the Government of Indonesia in relation to his policy relating aid to good Government.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We review regularly the performance of all aid recipients, including Indonesia, against the criteria of our good government policy.

  In the case of Indonesia, although there are human rights concerns which we regularly discuss with the Indonesian authorities, British aid, which concentrates on tropical forestry, education, energy efficiency, economic infrastructure and public administration is, in our view, used to good effect. Indonesia has a good track record of sound economic management and has done much to reduce absolute poverty over the last two decades.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's position on the World bank's policy in relation to the development of a nuclear power industry in Indonesia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The World bank is not involved in the development of a nuclear power industry in Indonesia.

  Family Planning
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries are designated as priority areas for family planning and population assistance; what criteria are used to choose these countries; and what plans there are to involve more countries.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda are designated as priority countries for United Kingdom family planning and population assistance. The selection criteria used to choose these countries were: the unmet demand for reproductive health and family planning services; their gross national product per capita; and the potential effectiveness of United Kingdom aid for population programmes.

  The list of priority countries is kept under regular review. We also currently provide population assistance to Ghana, Namibia, South Africa, (via an NGO), Zambia, Zimbabwe and Nepal.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and which non-governmental organisations received support for family planning and related projects through the joint funding scheme in 1991 and 1992; what were the projects; and in which countries they took place.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In the financial years 1990–91 and 1991–92 a total of seven non-governmental organisations
  591
  received support through the joint funding scheme for projects which were primarily for family planning and related activities. The details are set out in the tables.

  Agency

  Country

  Project name

  £

  1990–91

  Africa Now

  Kenya

  Chogoria Family Planning Programme

  9,350

  AID

  India

  Family Planning Project

  46,468

  Marie Stopes International

  Bangladesh

  Family Planning, Preventative Health Care

  43,808

  Marie Slopes International

  Ethiopia

  Maternal and Reproductive Health Clinic

  57,237

  Marie Stopes International

  India

  Contraceptive Social Marketing

  69,992

  Marie Stopes International

  India

  Workplace Family Planning and Preventative Health Care—Employees and Dependents

  43,258

  Marie Stopes International

  India

  Soap Drama—Family Life/Responsible Sexual Behaviour

  13,250

  Marie Stopes International

  India

  Brass Tacks Family Planning Programme

  31,434

  Marie Stopes International

  Kenya

  National Youth Service

  47,278

  Marie Stopes International

  Lesotho

  Creating a Corps of Village-Based Family Planning Education/Motivators

  33,498

  Marie Stopes International

  Malawi

  Health Programme for Poor Women and Families

  49,507

  Marie Stopes International

  Nicaragua

  Workplace Preventative Maternal Health and Family Planning

  40,699

  Marie Stopes International

  Pakistan

  Lahore Based Reproductive Health Extension Services

  24,777

  Marie Stopes International

  Sierra Leone

  Work Based Maternal and Child Health and Family Planning

  34,744

  Marie Stopes International

  Swaziland

  Male Oriented Family Planning

  21,647

  Marie Stopes International

  Zimbabwe

  Training Programme Zimbabwe Association Women's Clubs

  41,180

  OXFAM

  Senegal

  Family Planning and Literacy

  764

  Population Concern

  Bangladesh

  Family Planning Services for the Rakhainc Tribes

  11,340

  Population Concern

  Bangladesh

  Integrated Family Planning Health and Education

  45,214

  Population Concern

  Caribbean

  Three Workshops Family Planning Fieldworkers

  25,512

  Population Concern

  Caribbean

  Towards Accreditation Sex Education in Caribbean Schools

  72,370

  Population Concern

  Ethiopia

  Family Planning Training for Rural Women Development Agents

  41,675

  Population Concern

  Ethiopia

  Training of Health Assistants

  43,140

  Population Concern

  Ethiopia

  Development of a Manual-Rural Women Development Workers

  14,120

  Population Concern

  Nepal

  Nawalparasi Women's Development

  18,425

  Population Concern

  Pakistan

  Family Planning Through Community Institutions

  32,195

  Population Concern

  Pakistan

  Training for Women Development Workers

  31,715

  UKFSP

  Fiji

  Family Planning

  12,318

  Total

  956,915

  1991–92

  Africa Now

  Gambia

  Tanji Community Family Planning

  11,645

  Marie Stopes International

  Ethiopia

  Condom Social Marketing Family Planning/AIDS Programme Urban Couples

  37,249

  Marie Stopes International

  India

  Family Life Education (Brass Tacks) Extension for Delhi and Lucknow

  40,679

  Marie Stopes International

  India

  Contraceptive Social Marketing

  70,627

  Marie Stopes International

  India

  Workplace Family Planning and Preventative Health Care—Employees and Dependents

  62,371

  Marie Stopes International

  Malawi

  Man to Man—Male Orientated Child Spacing/Education

  70,487

  Marie Stopes International

  Malawi

  Community Mother and Child and Family Planning—Blantyre, Lilongwe and Zomba

  136,874

  Marie Stopes International

  Mexico

  Factory Based Health Care and Family Planning Programme

  49,501

  Marie Stopes International

  Nicaragua

  Workplace Preventative Maternal Health and Family Planning

  72,403

  Population Concern

  Ethiopia

  Training of Health Assistants

  22,965

  Population Concern

  Ethiopia

  Jimma—Contraceptive Distribution by Community Health Agents and TBAs

  19,760

  Population Concern

  Ethiopia

  Yirgalem—Family Planning Education and Outreach Services

  25,970

  Population Concern

  Gambia

  Youth to Youth IEC on Adolescent Reproductive Health Management

  19,865

  Population Concern

  India

  Women's Development (Kulasekaram and Dindigul)

  30,690

  Population Concern

  Nepal

  Nawalparasi Women's Development

  14,895

  Population Concern

  Pakistan

  Family Planning Through Community Institutions

  23,835

  Urban Aid

  Ghana

  Family Planning Project

  20,193

  OXFAM

  Pakistan

  Family Planning Project

  11,491

  Total

  741,500

  Narmada Dam
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances he has received from the Indian Government on public access to environmental and hydrological studies regarding the proposed Narmada dam.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are consulting the Indian authorities and the World bank about their plans to make environmental and hydrological studies relating to the Sardar Sarovar dam project publicly available.
  592
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any of the local cost aid provided by the Government to India for the Narmada dam scheme has been used to buy any British military equipment.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The British Government have not provided any local costs assistance to the Narmada dam scheme.
  593

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Animals (Notifiable Diseases)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the notifiable diseases of animals.

  Mr. Soames
  The following diseases of animals are notifiable in Great Britain:

  AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS

  AFRICAN SWINE FEVER

  ANTHRAX

  AUJESZKY'S DISEASE

  BLUE TONGUE

  BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY

  BRUCELLA MELITENSIS

  BRUCELLOSIS

  CATTLE PLAGUE in Ruminants and Swine

  CLASSICAL SWINE FEVER

  CONTAGIOUS AGALACTIA

  CONTAGIOUS EPIDIDYMITIS

  CONTAGIOUS EQUINE METRITIS

  DOURINE in Horses, Asses, Mules and Zebras

  ENZOOTIC BOVINE LEUKOSIS

  EPIZOOTIC HAEMORRHAGIC VIRUS DISEASE

  EPIZOOTIC LYMPHANGITIS in Horse. Asses and Mules

  EQUINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS

  EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANAEMIA

  FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE in Ruminants and Swine

  FOWL PEST (FOWL PLAGUE, NEWCASTLE DISEASE AND PARAMYXOVIRUS) in Poultry of all kinds

  GLANDERS AND FARCY in Horses. Asses and Mules

  GOAT PDX

  LUMPY SKIN DISEASE

  PARAMYXOVIRUS in Pigeons

  PESTE DES PETITS RUMINANT

  PLEURO-PNEUMONIA in Cattle

  RABIES

  RIFT VALLEY FEVER

  SCRAPIE

  SHEEP POX

  SHEEP SCAB

  SWINE VESICULAR DISEASE (SVD)

  TESCHEN DISEASE of Pigs

  TUBERCULOSIS in Cattle

  TUBERCULOSIS in Deer

  VESICULAR STOMATITIS

  VIRAL HAEMORRHAGIC DISEASE of Rabbits

  WARBLE FLY

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of abattoirs in England and their combined average throughput in(a) 1970, (b) 1980, (c) 1990, (d) 1991 and (e) 1992; and what are the most recent figures available.

  Mr. Soames
  Annual statistics derived from the survey of English slaughterhouses are given in the table. Comparative figures are not available for the years 1970 and 1980—details for 1985 are therefore included:

  Year

  Number of abattoirs open1

  Average throughput per abattoir(LUs)2

  1985

  839

  10,742

  1990

  659

  12,730

  1991

  599

  14,373

  1992

  545

  15,278

  1 Open at any lime during the year.

  21 LU (livestock unit)=1 adult cattle/calf or 7 sheep or 3 pigs.

  594
  The most recent figures available show that 438 abattoirs in England are currently licensed to operate under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992.

  Fisheries Decommissioning
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the proposed decommissioning scheme for fishing vessels.

  Mr. Curry
  The Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) Scheme 1993 was laid before Parliament today.

  The Government have already announced that funding of £25 million will be made available over three years for decommissioning fishing vessels as part of the package of conservation measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister on 27 February 1992.

  This scheme allows the first tranche of payments to be made during the 1993–94 financial year. The rules may be changed in subsequent years in the light of our experience with this first year's scheme.

  There will be no preset rates of grant. Vessel owners are invited to submit tenders for the amount of decommissioning grant for which they would be prepared to scrap their vessel and surrender its licence. Applications will be ranked in terms of pounds per vessel capacity unit.

  To be eligible for decommissioning grants vessels must meet the following criteria:

  (a) The vessel must be registered in the United Kingdom. It must have been acquired by the applicant(s) prior to 27 February 1992 and must be over 10 years of age:

  (b) The vessel must have spent at least 100 days at sea on fishing trips during 1991 and at least 100 days in 1992;

  (c) The vessel must he over 10 m in overall length and hold a valid fishing licence. The descriptions of fish that may be taken under the licence must he the same or more extensive than under the license held on 27 February 1992. The licence and any entitlements associated with it will he permanently extinguished when the vessel is decommissioned.

  (d) The vessel must be seaworthy: vessels over 12 m in registered length should have had a valid Department of Transport safety certificate on 1 April 1993.

  (e) Grants will only be paid for scrapping vessels. The applicant must provide proof that the vessel has been removed from the Department of Transport Register of Fishing Vessels and has been scrapped within the European Community before and grant is paid:

  (f) An application for a grant must be approved before the vessel is scrapped or the vessel will not he eligible for a grant;

  (g) Successful applicants must have submitted proof of scrapping, de-registration and have surrendered all licences in respect of the vessel before 1 March 1994 otherwise they lose their right to a decommissioning grant.

  Decommissioning complements the measures we are taking under the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1992 to control fishing effort. It will help to ensure that the United Kingdom meets its MAGP targets. I believe that the scheme represents a significant contribution to help the industry to achieve the reductions in the fleet that are necessary if we are to secure a viable future for fishermen.

  Fishermen are therefore invited to apply for decommissioning grants. Application forms and accompanying explanatory leaflets are available in local fishery offices. The deadline for receipt of application is 9 July.

  Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will state the reasons for the time taken to reimburse the eastern sea fisheries joint committee under EC Council decision 89/631.
  595
  Mr. Curry
  The average time for reimbursement of grant under Council decision 89/631 is at least three months after the application has been forwarded to the Commission. The committee's first application for grant was dated 25 February 1993, and the moneys have been paid into the committee's bank account.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received on radioactive pollution from Sellafield.

  Mr. Curry
  The Minister and the chief inspector of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution have received approximately 83,000 representations in response to consultation on draft authorisations to discharge nuclear wastes from BNFL Sellafield. These are currently being considered.

  Sheep Annual Premium
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many claims for payments under the sheep annual premium scheme were submitted after the prescribed date.

  Mr. Curry
  A total of 1,082 claims are estimated to have been received by my Department after the advertised closing dates of the first and second application periods under the 1993 sheep annual premium scheme. This represents about 2·6 per cent. of the total number of claims submitted. We repeatedly emphasise to farmers the importance of lodging their claims by the closing date.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to undertake a review of pesticide usage in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Soames
  Government policy is that the use of pesticides should be limited to the minimum necessary for the effective control of pests compatible with the protection of human health and the environment. This policy of minimisation is pursued through the statutory approvals system which sets maximum dose rates and tests efficacy claims and is backed by controls on use; surveillance monitoring of residues; usage surveys; and investigation of wildlife incidents. The Government also support an extensive research programme to investigate ways of minimising use. These policies have already led to significant reductions in the weight of active ingredients applied and we shall continue to pursue them in the future.

  Select Committee Recommendations
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about, and how many accepted by, his Department since April 1989.

  Mr. Curry
  The Agriculture Committee has published 16 reports since April 1989. The Government's responses are contained in the following documents, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Supply of beer. HC 528, 1989

  Implementation of the new beef regime. HC 402, 1989

  Land Use and Forestry. HC 16 1, 1990

  596

  Fish farming in the UK. HC 141, 1990

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. CM 1328, 1990

  Salmonella in Eggs. CM 993, 1990

  MAFF Departmental Report. HC 326, 1991

  Animals in transit. HC 45, 1991

  Microwave Ovens. CM 1482, 1991

  Disposal of fallen livestock. CM 1778, 1991

  Commodity markets in the 1990s. HC 98, 1992

  The trade gap in food and drink. CM 1982, 1992

  Arrangements for the importation of bananas into the United Kingdom. HC 452, 1993

  Peat
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on replacement of peat with alternative materials.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government are concerned to ensure that the United Kingdom horticultural industry continues to have access to efficient and economic plant growth media. Currently the use of peat is essential to enable the United Kingdom's horticultural industry to remain competitive. The Government have welcomed positive actions by the horticultural and landscape industries to examine and use suitable alternatives to peat—in particular in the amenity and retail sectors. Government Departments are supporting research into the needs of plants for growing media, and into alternatives to peat and the place of recycled materials.

  Integrated Administration and Control System
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of IACS forms were returned by 15 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  In order to ensure that every potential applicant received an IACS information pack, forms and explanatory booklets were distributed to all holdings in England and Wales. The number returned by 15 May amounted to approximately 45 per cent. of these despatched. We recognised that some holdings would not be eligible for aid under the CAP schemes covered by IACS but we were not willing to take the risk of missing potential claimants.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 2 April to the hon. Member for Carlisle,Official Report, column 454, when he expects to introduce the scheme for public access in ESAs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  We plan to introduce the new measures to encourage public access in environmentally sensitive areas during the coming winter.

  Science and Technology
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how his Department contributes to the Government's policy for science and technology.

  Mr. Gummer
  My Ministry is a science-based Department. It employs more graduate scientists and engineers than any other civil Department. The continual availability of reliable scientific information and expertise is essential to me for the sound formation, appraisal, implementation and evaluation of the Ministry's policies.
  597
  These are concerned with major aspects both of quality of life and economic performance, including public safety, animal welfare, environmental enhancement, and improving the economic performance of the agricultural, fishing and food industries.

  The Ministry's scientific and technical activities range over provision of timely and objective specialist advice to Ministers, monitoring and surveillance, scientific investigation, formulation and management of policy-related research programmes, and promotion of technology transfer.

  The Ministry will continue to depend on its own scientific services and those from external contractors in the public and private sectors. The Ministry's choice of supplier will in every case be determined according to its judgment of suitability, scientific capability and value for money to meet its policy needs.

  I welcome the publication today of the White Paper "Science and Technology" by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and in particular its recognition of the key role of civil Departments in determining their own needs and commissioning work from suppliers who compete to meet their specifications. I very much support the White Paper's emphasis on ensuring that the status of research establishments in the public sector is optimal for Departments to obtain the services which they need.

  My Department has been in the forefront of this process. I have already carefully reviewed the options for ownership and management of the Ministry's scientific facilities, the outcome of which has been the recent establishment of the Central Veterinary Laboratory, ADAS and the Central Science Laboratory as departmental agencies, and decisions that the food laboratories should acquire a similar status within the Central Science Laboratory. The scrutiny announced in today's White Paper will take account of such reviews which have already been completed, recognising that science and technology are integral to the missions of Departments and that changes should not weaken the effective provision of scientific expertise and advice.

PRIME MINISTER

  Domicile Status
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to amend the rules concerning domicile status in the United Kingdom.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have no immediate plans to introduce legislation on this subject.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Job Applicants (Travel Expenses)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will seek to amend existing legislation and regulations to enable job applicants in Northern Ireland who have been short listed for a second interview, after an initial interview, to claim travelling expenses for the purpose of attending a second interview.
  598
  Mr. Atkins
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. S. Crozier. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from J. S. Crozier to Mr. Roy Beggs, dated 25 May 1993:
  You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will seek to amend existing legislation and regulations to enable job applicants in Northern Ireland who have been shortlisted for a second interview, after an initial interview, to claim travelling expenses for the purpose of attending a second interview. The Secretary of State has passed your question to me, as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, for reply.
  The programme which relates to your enquiry is the Travel to Interview Scheme. This is essentially a small scheme with limited resources and it is therefore not possible to help at every stage of a selection procedure. Where an employer needs to see a jobseeker on more than one occasion the employer might be expected to help meet the cost if the jobseeker cannot do so. By conserving our resources for providing help to attend the first interview more applications can he accepted and more jobseekers helped to find employment.
  However the scheme is currently under review and the eligibility conditions are being examined to see whether, within the limited resources that are available, there are ways of helping more people more effectively.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to change the title of the RUC; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mates
  I have no plans to change the title of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the adjective Royal was given to the police service in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mates
  The prefix "Royal" was granted to the Royal Ulster Constabulary on its formation.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Roman Catholic members of the RUC have been murdered by republican criminals in each of the past 25 years.

  Mr. Mates
  It would not be appropriate to provide this information since it might lead to the identification of the religious affiliation of individual officers.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the RUC are known to have been Roman Catholic in each of the past 25 years.

  Mr. Mates
  Statistics regarding the community background of RUC officers are not available prior to 1990.

  Since 1990 the percentage of officers with a Roman Catholic background is as follows:—

  1990

  1991

  1992

  11993

  RUC (Regular)

  7·75

  7·72

  7·84

  7·87

  RUC Reserve2

  5·45

  5·82

  5·92

  6·14

  1 As at 17 May 1993.

  2 Full-time.

  599
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the ratio of RUC average earnings to average earnings in Northern Ireland in each of the past 25 years.

  Mr. Mates
  The information is available only for each of the past 21 years and is given in the following table:

  Year

  Average earnings RUC1

  Average earnings Northern Ireland2

  Ratio average earnings (NI) v. average RUC earnings

  £s/annum

  £s/annum

  1992–93

  32,954

  not available

  —

  1991–92

  31,130

  15,705

  1:1·98

  1990–91

  28,013

  14,346

  1:1·95

  1989–90

  25,342

  13,351

  1:1·90

  1988–89

  23,080

  12,166

  1:1·90

  1987–88

  22,126

  11,334

  1:1·95

  1986–87

  19,872

  10,502

  1:1·89

  1985–86

  17,874

  9,596

  1:1·86

  1984–85

  17,004

  9,074

  1:1·87

  1983–84

  15,803

  8,642

  1:1·83

  1982–83

  14,957

  7,947

  1:1·88

  1981–82

  14,281

  7,468

  1:1·91

  1980–81

  11,648

  6,831

  1:1·70

  1979–80

  10,055

  5,993

  1:1·68

  1978–79

  7,876

  4,919

  1:1·60

  1977–78

  6,937

  4,292

  1:1·62

  1976–77

  5,891

  3,797

  1:1·55

  1975–76

  5,366

  3,613

  1:1·48

  1974–75

  4,608

  2,881

  1:1·60

  1973–74

  3,859

  2,249

  1:1·71

  1972–73

  3,421

  1,949

  1:1·75

  1971–72

  3,245

  1,696

  1:1·91

  1 RUC average earnings are for regular members of the force.

  2 Northern Ireland average earnings are as determined by the Department of Economic Development Annual New Earnings Survey.

  Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects Lord Colville's report on the operation in 1992 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 to be available.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I am happy to say that Lord Colville's 1992 report has been published today. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House today.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Television Reception
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what guidance he has given to(a) the Independent Television Commission and (b) the BBC about improving TV reception along the Lancashire and Yorkshire border so as to ensure reception of programmes in Pendle.

  Mr. Brooke
  It is for the broadcasters to determine the engineering priorities aimed at extending or improving reception of programmes to specific areas.

  County Hall and Battersea Power Station
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he last received a report from English Heritage on the current condition of(a) County hall and (b) Battersea power station.
  600
  Mr. Brooke
  I have not received and do not expect any report from English Heritage on county hall while the building remains in good condition.

  I received a report on Battersea power station in February following a further inspection by officers of English Heritage which showed no significant deterioration in its condition. I understand that a further inspection took place at the end of March and that English Heritage is expecting shortly to appoint consultant engineers to conduct a more detailed examination of the building.

  Royal Palaces (Fire Protection)
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he will publish the report of the inquiry into fire protection measures for the royal palaces.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have today published the report and have also placed copies in the Library of the House. This follows from my announcement on 14 January that I had invited Sir Alan Bailey to chair an inquiry into the adequacy of fire protection measures at the royal palaces for which I have a financial responsibility, following the tragic fire at Windsor castle last November.

  I am very grateful to Sir Alan Bailey and to Philip Kilshaw and Donald Insall, who assisted him in his task, for producing a thorough and well-reasoned report. It contains a full and definitive account of the Windsor fire and identifies the lessons to be learnt from the fire. The main part of the report contains a comprehensive assessment of the strategy needed to protect these royal palaces from fire, while at the same time preserving their historic fabric. It properly considers the risks, costs and value for money aspects of fire protection measures.

  I am glad to hear that the inquiry team "found basic fire safety precautions generally in place, and a programme of work already in train to improve fire protection". However the report makes clear that a number of further measures are desirable. Both I and the royal household accept the general strategy recommended in the report as sensible and necessary. Indeed many of the recommendations are already being implemented or planned. Those measures which the inquiry team consider should be implemented at once will be so implemented. This includes work at the White tower, which has already started. Detailed professional surveys will be or have already been undertaken for each palace, to recommend safety improvements such as compartmentation and fire stopping consistent with preserving the historic fabric. Automatic fire detection systems will be installed in each of the palaces which do not at present have such a system. The timing of these and other protection measures will be decided in the light of the findings of survey reports, the scope for adjusting planned works programmes to accommodate additional fire protection measures, and the availability of funds.

  The royal household and the Historic Royal Palaces Agency, which are directly responsible for managing most of these properties, will now be considering the report in detail.
  601

EDUCATION

  Parents' Guide
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what expenditure there has been on the production and distribution of his Department's publication "Testing: the Facts", including the parents' guide 1993–94, "How is Your Child Doing at School?"

  Mr. Forth
  The cost of the production and distribution of "Testing: the Facts", including "How is Your Child Doing at School?", is estimated at £9,100.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to publish the information requested on the number of telephone calls and written requests he had received by 10 May for "How is Your Child Doing at School"; and how many copies were distributed in each of the 10 languages listed in the advertisement on 27 April.

  Part of relevant income to which percent age applies

  One assisted pupil Per cent.

  Each of two assisted pupils Per cent.

  Each of three assisted pupils Per cent.

  That part which exceeds £9,059 but does not exceed £9,850

  9·00

  6·75

  5·25

  That part (if any) which exceeds £9,850 but does not exceed £10,655

  12·00

  9·00

  7·00

  That part (if any) which exceeds £10,655 but does not exceed £12,250

  15·00

  11·25

  8·75

  That part (if any) which exceeds £12,250 but does not exceed £14,707

  21·00

  15·75

  12·25

  That part (if any) which exceeds £14,707 but does not exceed £17,912

  24·00

  18·00

  14·00

  That part (if any) which exceeds £17,912

  33·00

  24·75

  19·25

  Special Schools
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list on an annual basis the number of times the procedures under section 14 of the Education Act 1981 have been used, indicating the local education authorities involved, the special schools proposed for closure, the ones that were closed and the alternative provision made for them.

  Mr. Forth
  The information is not readily available in the form requested. The following list identifies special schools closed under section 14 procedures for each calendar year 1988–1992, including those which formed part of wider reorganisation proposals, where for example the establishment of a new special school following closure proposals involving several schools. Before approving proposals for the closure of special schools the Secretary of State must be satisfied that the alternative arrangements for pupils are satisfactory.

  For the period 1983–1988, "Statistics of Education" published annually by HMSO show the total number of LEA maintained special schools.

  Special Schools closed 1988–1992 under proposals under section 14 of the Education Act 1981

  Date of closure

  1988

  Cheshire

  Torpenhow School

  31 August 1988

  602
  Mr. Forth
  The campaign to provide parents with information about testing has not yet ended. My right hon. Friend will announce the number of requests received in due course. An initial distribution of 981,000 copies of the leaflet was made to schools, libraries and local education authorities.

  Assisted Places
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement about the level of parental contributions to the fees of pupils in the assisted places scheme in the next academic year.

  Mr. Forth
  Remission of tuition fees under the assisted places scheme is dependent on the level of fees at participating schools and the amount parents can afford to contribute. Subject to parliamentary approval, the parental contribution scales will be adjusted upwards for the school year 1993–94 as set out in the table. Where the relevant income for the appropriate financial year does not exceed £9,225 the tuition fees will be wholly remitted.

  Date of closure

  Cleveland

  Summerhouse Schools

  1 January 1988

  Cumbria

  Roa Island School

  31 August 1988

  Derbyshire

  Frank Merrificld

  31 August 1988

  Devon

  Withycombe House School

  31 July 1988

  Ratcliffe School

  31 July 1988

  Essex

  Branwood

  31 July 1988

  Dacre

  31 July 1988

  Hampshire

  Bursledon Hospital School

  31 December 1988

  Lancashire

  Hendon Brook School

  1 January 1988

  Derby School

  31 August 1988

  Leeds

  Armley Lodge School

  31 August 1988

  Cardinal Square School

  31 August 1988

  Inner London (before abolition of ILEA)

  Heathermount School

  31 August 1988

  Whittingdon School

  31 August 1988

  New River School

  31 August 1988

  Nathaniel Heckford School

  31 August 1988

  Winceby House School

  31 August 1988

  603

  Date of closure

  Montford House School

  22 July 1988

  Bromley

  Cheyne Hospital School

  31 August 1988

  Hillingdon

  Park Place School

  31 August 1988

  Hounslow

  Heston School for the Deaf

  31 October 1988

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  The Silverhill School

  31 August 1988

  Condercum House School

  31 August 1988

  Eastview School

  31 August 1988

  St. Peter's School

  31 August 1988

  Sheriff Leas School

  31 August 1988

  Westlands School

  31 August 1988

  Brunswick Beech School

  31 August 1988

  Castle Dene School

  31 August 1988

  St. Aiden's School

  31 August 1988

  Kenton Lodge School

  31 August 1988

  North Yorkshire

  Friarage Hospital School

  31 December 1988

  Oldham

  Greenbank School

  27 May 1988

  Oxfordshire

  Smith Hospital

  22 July 1988

  Rotherham

  The Oaks School

  31 August 1988

  Sheffield

  Northern General Hospital School

  31 August 1988

  Limb Lane School

  31 August 1988

  Todwick Grange School

  31 August 1988

  Solihull

  Swanswell

  31 August 1988

  Stockport

  Shawfold School

  31 August 1988

  Woodlands School

  31 August 1988

  Sunderland

  Maplewood School

  31 July 1988

  Milton Hall School

  31 July 1988

  Humbledon School

  31 July 1988

  Glebe School

  31 August 1988

  Copt Hill School

  31 August 1988

  Stannington School

  31 July 1988

  Wellbank School

  31 July 1988

  Walsall

  Queslett

  31 December 1988

  1989

  Bradford

  Langley School

  31 August 1989

  Cheshire

  Capenhurst Grange School

  31 August 1989

  Cumbria

  Brookside

  31 August 1989

  Devon

  Dryden School

  31 December 1989

  Dudley

  Mount School

  31 December 1989

  Hertfordshire

  Bulls Close

  31 March 1989

  Homefield

  31 March 1989

  604

  Date of closure

  Liverpool

  Crookhey Hall School

  31 August 1989

  Inner London (before abolition of ILEA)

  Shephall Manor School

  31 August 1989

  Outer London

  Newham

  Regent School

  31 March 1989

  Waltham Forest

  Waltham Forest School

  31 August 1989

  Grosvenor House School

  31 August 1989

  Nottinghamshire

  Harlow Wood Hospital

  31 January 1989

  Sheffield

  Beeley Wood Senior School

  31 August 1989

  Stockport

  Beacon School

  31 August 1989

  Surrey

  Farmstead

  31 December 1989

  Warwickshire

  St. Michael's

  31 August 1989

  Gresham

  31 August 1989

  Wirral

  Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital School

  31 August 1989

  1990

  Avon

  Highwood Hospital School

  31 December 1990

  Berkshire

  Evelyn Fox

  31 July 1990

  Bradford

  McMillan School

  31 August 1990

  Thorn Garth School

  31 August 1990

  Cambridgeshire

  Orton Hall

  5 November 1990

  Cumbria

  Roundhills School

  31 August 1990

  Hertfordshire

  Brandles Close

  1 September 1990

  Broxbournebury

  31 August 1990

  Hillside

  31 August 1990

  Knowsley

  Albert Hambleton School

  31 August 1990

  Northfield School

  31 August 1990

  Arncliff School

  31 August 1990

  Millbridge School

  31 March 1990

  Camberley School

  31 July 1990

  Inner London Boroughs

  Camden

  Holly Court School

  8 August 1990

  Outer London

  Barnet

  Mapledown School

  31 August 1990

  Oakleigh School

  31 August 1990

  Brent

  Frank Wyeth School

  31 May 1990

  Ealing

  Red House School

  31 December 1990

  605

  Date of closure

  Havering

  Havering Grange School

  31 August 1990

  Hounslow

  Martindale School

  31 August 1990

  Manchester

  Alice Briggs House

  31 August 1990

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  Freeman Hospital School

  1 January 1990

  Shropshire

  Petton Hall

  1 September 1990

  Surrey

  Rowley Bristow

  31 July 1990

  Claybourne

  31 August 1990

  Temple Court

  31 August 1990

  Leacroft

  31 August 1990

  Greystone

  31 August 1990

  Bakers Croft

  31 August 1990

  Wolverhampton

  Kingston Hall

  31 August 1990

  1991

  Barnsley

  Springwood School

  30 July 1991

  Cumbria

  Richard Brunskill School

  31 December 1991

  H. K. Campbell School

  31 August 1991

  Dorset

  Westbourne School

  30 September 1991

  East Sussex

  Hill House

  31 August 1991

  Essex

  Ogilvie

  31 August 1991

  Gateshead

  Hindley Hall School

  31 August 1991

  Hereford/Worcester

  Pudlestone Court

  31 August 1991

  Lancashire

  Valley School

  31 August 1991

  Belmont School

  31 August 1991

  Leeds

  East End Park School

  31 August 1991

  Grafton School

  31 August 1991

  Woodside School

  31 August 1991

  Elmete Hall School

  31 August 1991

  Roundhay Lodge School

  31 August 1991

  Cliff House School

  31 August 1991

  Victoria Park School

  31 August 1991

  Springfield School

  31 August 1991

  Nowell School

  31 August 1991

  Stanningley School

  31 August 1991

  Pennyfield School

  31 August 1991

  Fearnville School

  31 August 1991

  Tranfield School

  31 August 1991

  Northways School

  31 August 1991

  Redwood Croft School

  31 August 1991

  Two Dales School

  31 August 1991

  Eastfield School

  31 August 1991

  West Oaks School

  31 August 1991

  Broomfield School

  31 August 1991

  Leicestershire

  Leicester Hospital

  31 August 1991

  Royal Infirmary

  31 August 1991

  606

  Date of closure

  Newham

  Lansbury School

  31 January 1991

  Northamptonshire

  Princess Marina

  22 April 1991

  Wiston

  22 April 1991

  Northumberland

  Riverbank School

  31 December 1991

  Shropshire

  Robert James Orthopaedic Hospital

  31 August 1991

  1992

  Calderdale

  Bermerside School

  31 August 1992

  Heywood School

  31 August 1992

  Woodbank School

  31 August 1992

  Hillside School

  31 August 1992

  Durham

  Glebe School

  31 August 1992

  Salters Lane School

  31 August 1992

  Mayfair School

  31 August 1992

  Dunholme School

  31 August 1992

  Troutslane School

  31 August 1992

  South View School

  31 August 1992

  Humberside

  Carnforth School

  31 August 1992

  Trinity School

  31 August 1992

  Inner London Boroughs (following abolition of ILEA)

  Greenwich

  Rose Cottage School

  31 August 1992

  Hawthorne Cottage School

  31 August 1992

  Manormead School

  31 August 1992

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  John Aird School

  31 December 1992

  Fernhurst School

  31 December 1992

  Pine End School

  31 December 1992

  Elizabeth Burgwin School

  31 December 1992

  Wedgewood School

  31 December 1992

  Southwark

  Woodstock School

  31 August 1992

  Beormund School

  31 August 1992

  Merton

  Ravensbury School

  31 August 1992

  William Wilberforce School

  31 August 1992

  Northamptonshire

  Firdale

  I September 1992

  Sefton

  Sandfield School

  31 July 1992

  Pupil Exclusions
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to encourage headmasters to exclude disruptive pupils from school when it can be shown that the continued admission of such pupils deleteriously affects the education of other pupils in the school.

  Mr Forth
  Head teachers already have the power to exclude a pupil on disciplinary grounds where they deem it an appropriate response to serious misbehaviour.
  607

  School Inspections
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many tenders OFSTED has received for the first group of schools to be inspected; and how many of these tenders have been accepted;

  (2) how many school inspectors OFSTED has trained and registered to inspect secondary schools in the autumn; and what is the minimum number of school inspectors necessary to inspect schools in England and Wales every four years;

  (3) how many school inspectors registered by OFSTED are currently (a) based in local authorities and (b) from private consultancies.

  Mr. Forth
  The arrangements for inspecting schools under the Education (Schools) Act 1992 are a matter for OFSTED.

  I have asked Professor Sutherland to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the average cost of a school inspection by his Department's inspectors; and what is his estimate of the average cost of a school inspection by OFSTED inspectors.

  Mr. Forth
  Inspections of schools formerly carried out by Her Majesty's inspectorate as part of the Department for Education varied in cost from about £4,500 to about £35,000. The cost of inspections carried out under the Education (Schools) Act in accordance with OFSTED's framework of guidance are a matter for Professor Sutherland.

  I have asked Professor Sutherland to write to the hon. Member.

  Disruptive Pupils
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will undertake a study of the particular staffing and building requirements of schools designed to contain and educate disruptive pupils.

  Mr. Forth
  We have no plans to undertake such a study.

  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of Sate for Education what consideration he has given to the setting up of schools where disruptive pupils can be temporarily or permanently placed.

  Mr. Forth
  LEAs have a power under section 56 of the Education Act 1944 to provide education otherwise than at school where they consider it necessary to meet a pupil's needs. The Education Bill now before Parliament contains provision to convert that power into a duty but it will remain for LEAs to determine the precise nature of the provision made for individual pupils in the light of the particular circumstances of each case.

  Disturbed Children
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what advice has been issued through the Department for Education, the National Curriculum Council, School Examinations and Assessment Council or OFSTED about the teaching or modifying of the national curriculum for emotionally and behaviourally disturbed children.
  608
  Mr. Forth
  The DFE, OFSTED and NCC publications listed include advice on the teaching and disapplication of the national curriculum for children with special educational needs. DFE circular 23/89 deals specifically with emotionally and behaviourally disturbed children. The statutory orders containing attainment targets and programmes of study for the national curriculum also contain advice on children with special educational needs.

  SEAC's school assessment folders regularly include guidance on the assessment of children with special educational needs, and have made specific mention of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

  Department for Education

  National Curriculum—from Policy to Practice

  Circular 5/89: The Education Reform Act 1988: the School Curriculum and Assessment

  Circular 15/89: Education Reform Act 1988: Temporary Exceptions from the National Curriculum

  Circular 22/89: Assessments and Statements of Special Educational Needs: Procedures within the Education, Health and Social Services

  Circular 23/89: Special Schools for Children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties

  OFSTED/Her Majesty's Inspectorate

  Special Needs and the National Curriculum (an annual series of reports)

  The Implementations of National Curriculum Science at Key Stage 3 in Some Special Schools

  National Curriculum Council

  Implementing the National Curriculum—Participation by Pupils with Special Educational Needs

  A Curriculum for All: Special Educational Needs in the National Curriculum

  Teaching Science to Pupils with Special Educational Needs Science and Pupils with Special Educational Needs (Key Stages I and 2)

  Oracy and Special Educational Needs—case studies across Key Stages 1–4

  Modern Foreign Languages and Special Needs

  SEN Newsletter

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools and units for emotionally and behaviourally disturbed children he has visited since assuming office.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friends and I have visited a large number of schools. As regards schools and units specifically providing for pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties, my right hon. Friend has visited one school for such pupils and four for pupils with other special educational needs. I have visited one school for emotionally and behaviourally disturbed pupils and two schools for pupils with other disabilities.

ENVIRONMENT

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses have been sold to sitting tenants in England since May 1979.

  Mr. Howard
  More than 1·1 million council properties in England have been sold to sitting tenants since May 1979, under the right to buy. In Great Britain as a whole, our policy has enabled more than 1·4 million former public sector tenants to become owner occupiers.
  609

  Market Testing
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for extending market testing to white-collar local authority services.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Last November my right hon. and learned Friend announced the Government's decision to extend compulsory competitive tendering to a wide range of local authority professional and corporate services. On 19 April this year I announced the timetable for implementation. Tendering will start from summer 1994. Detailed arrangements are now being discussed with the local authority associations and others.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what figures he has comparing council tax levels according to political control of the local authority.

  Mr. Redwood
  The average band C council tax in areas under Conservative control in February 1993 is £456. This is £107 lower than the corresponding figure for Labour areas and £19 lower than the corresponding figure for Liberal Democrat areas.

  Housing
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about unused public and private sector housing.

  Sir George Young
  The Government's aim is to bring a decent home within the reach of every family. To do this, it is important that we make full use of the existing housing stock and help homeless families by bringing empty property back into use.

  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his autumn statement last November the provision of £627 million additional resources in England in 1992–93 to boost the housing market. £577 million of this, provided through the Housing Corporation, enabled housing associations to buy some 18,000 new, empty or repossessed properties.

  In addition, local authorities have been allowed to spend virtually all the capital receipts they accrue between 13 November 1992 and the end of December 1993. This represents a substantial increase in local authorities' spending power and I hope that they will make effective use of the extra receipts, particularly in the areas of renovation and maintenance which would contribute to bringing back into productive use some of the 74,000 empty local authority flats and houses.

  Resources for the estate action and housing action trusts programmes—£356 million and £87 million respectively in 1993–94—will assist in reducing the number of empty units in the larger and more difficult local authority estates.

  The Government are keen to stimulate growth in the private rented sector. Deregulation of rents and the availability of shorthold tenancies for new private tenancies has removed one of the constraints which previously inhibited potential landlords. We offer a number of incentives to private individuals and institutions to make underused property available for rent: we are making £25 million available over three years to encourage retailers to let flats over their shops; tax
  610
  incentives have been introduced to encourage householders to take in lodgers—from April 1992 gross rental income of up to £3,250 per annum has been exempt from income tax; following the success of pilot schemes last year we have expanded the housing associations as managing agents nationwide; and the business expansion scheme has realised about £1·25 billion in new investment, some of which has gone to purchasing empty or repossessed properties for renting.

  Finally, a task force on Government Departments' empty houses has been set up to agree a programme of disposals of the 26,000 empty homes identified which are not needed immediately for operational purposes and to help bring them back into housing use.

  Air Quality (London)
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the level of monitoring of air quality in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  My Department will be issuing a consultataion document in the summer on the extension of national air quality monitoring by the further integration of local authority and central Government funded monitoring.

  Meanwhile the hon. Member will be pleased to know that I am able to announce today that our enhanced urban network will be extended by the incorporation of a site in Bexley, close to his own constituency.

  Black Businesses
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what his Department is doing to help small black businesses in the inner city.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  In 1993–94 the Department is providing £408 million under urban expenditure programmes, which have among their objectives to stimulate the creation of small businesses and to help existing ones thrive and grow. A proportion of those funds go to small black businesses. City challenge partnerships and inner city task forces particularly identify ethnic minorities as a target group.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Unit
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when an anouncement will be made on the future of THORP.

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and my right hon. and learned Friend received the regulators' report on their public consultation on their proposed draft authorisations for the Sellafield site earlier this week. We are now giving it our urgent consideration.

  Revenue Support Grant
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from Cumbria county council on the level of the most recent revenue support grant settlements.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department has received a number of representations from Cumbria county council about the
  611
  level of revenue support grant in recent years. Each was given careful consideration before the Secretary of State announced his proposals for the year ahead. My Department has also received a representation from Cumbria in relation to the current review of SSAs which will be carefully considered.

  Environment (County Councils)
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be meeting the Association of County Councils to discuss environmental issues; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I regularly discuss issues of common concern with the chairman of the ACC, together with the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and the Association of District Councils, in the central and local government environment forum. The next meeting of the forum is being planned for July.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider changing the calculation method for standard spending assessments in respect of education for under five-year-olds.

  Mr. Redwood
  The method of calculation for standard spending assessments is currently under review in the light of new information from the 1991 census. This review includes an examination of the education elements.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about his Department's review of the standard spending assessments system.

  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about his Department's review of the standard spending assessments system.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Work on our review of standard spending assessments for 1994–95 is proceeding in consultation with local authority representatives.

  We have invited local authorities to send us their views on SSAs and many have already taken the opportunity so to do. We shall consider all representations carefully, including those made to us during consultation on the revenue support grant settlement for 1993–94.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next plans to meet representatives of the Association of County Councils to discuss local authority finance.

  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next plans to meet representatives of the Association of County Councils to discuss local authority finance.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. and learned Friend will be meeting representatives of the Association of County Councils at the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance in July and again in October. My officials and those of the assocation meet regularly to discuss a wide range of topics related to the financing of local authorities.
  612
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the latest estimate of the extra capital spending by local authorities, generated by the relaxation of the rules relating to the use of capital receipts, over the three and a half years from the Chancellor's autumn statement on 12 November:

  (2) what is the total sum of local authority capital receipts since the Chancellor's autumn statement to date; what proportion has been reinvested in building and construction work; and what his latest estimate of the total capital receipts due to be raised by the end of December.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 25 May 1993]: No outturn information is yet available for the period since the autumn statement. I shall be monitoring the extent to which authorities are raising and spending receipts during the period of the relaxation of the capital receipts rules. No new estimate of extra receipts or spending has been made since that published in the autumn statement.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his Department's best estimates of housing capital and other receipts likely to be received in 1993–94 and the amount of those receipts estimated to be set aside as provision for credit liabilities in each region and each class of local authority in England.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department is currently receiving and processing budget returns for 1993–94 from local authorities. I will arrange for the estimates to be placed in the Library of the House when this process has been completed.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were (a) the total housing capital and other receipts received by local authorities, (b) the amount of those receipts set aside as provision for credit liabilities and (c) the total capital receipts spent by local authorities on capital projects, in each region and each class of local authority in England for 1991–92 and estimated for 1992–93.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information is given in the table:

  Local authority capital receipts (£ million)

  Received

  Set aside

  1Spent

  1991–92

  Class

  Shire Counties

  169

  70

  137

  Metropolitan Districts

  479

  292

  192

  London Boroughs

  504

  320

  272

  Shire Districts

  1,043

  646

  669

  Other Authorities

  68

  27

  36

  Total England

  2,263

  1,355

  1,306

  Region

  South East

  1,057

  626

  672

  South West

  159

  91

  136

  East Anglia

  109

  72

  49

  West Midlands

  224

  138

  82

  East Midlands

  149

  84

  115

  North West

  242

  144

  113

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  168

  105

  73

  Northern

  155

  95

  66

  Source:

  Capital Outturn Returns(Provisional)

  1992–93

  Class

  Shire Counties

  158

  41

  138

  Metropolitan Districts

  364

  133

  221

  613

  Received

  Set aside

  1Spent

  London Boroughs

  583

  275

  264

  Shire Districts

  924

  427

  597

  Other Authorities

  31

  15

  18

  Total England

  2,060

  891

  1,238

  Region

  South East

  1,050

  471

  591

  South West

  132

  53

  109

  East Anglia

  146

  88

  47

  West Midlands

  162

  62

  105

  East Midlands

  131

  48

  109

  North West

  184

  75

  114

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  130

  46

  100

  Northern

  125

  48

  63

  Source:

  Capital Payment Returns

  1Use of usable capital receipts to finance capital expenditure, including use of usable receipts received in previous years.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of set aside capital receipts was used to redeem credit liabilities in each region and each class of local authority in England in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Local authorities are not required separately to identify the reserved part of capital receipts from other amounts set aside as provision for credit liabilities.

  The following table shows the amount of external debt repaid using PCL moneys in 1990–91 and 1991–92. Information for 1992–93 is not yet available.

  PCL money used by local authorities in England to repay debt

  £ million

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Class

  Shire counties

  189

  193

  Metropolitan districts

  333

  322

  London boroughs

  406

  533

  Shire districts

  771

  577

  Other authorities

  23

  20

  Total England

  1,722

  1,645

  Region

  South East

  852

  817

  South West

  137

  91

  East Anglia

  43

  61

  West Midlands

  241

  163

  East Midlands

  130

  93

  North West

  140

  182

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  89

  143

  Northern

  90

  95

  Source: Capital Outturn Returns (provisional).

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further representations he has received regarding Gloucestershire county council's budget 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Gloucestershire county council has challenged the cap proposed by my right hon. and learned Friend and suggested an alternative in support of which it has made oral and written representations. We have also received written representations from a number of school governors and Gloucestershire residents. My right hon.614
  and learned Friend will consider all these representations very carefully before taking his decisions on the authority's final cap.

  Merseyside Development Corporation
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the level of funding to the Merseyside development corporation in the present financial year and in the past three years.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The financial allocations to the Merseyside Development Corporation for these years are shown in the table.

  £ million

  1992–93

  37·50

  1991–92

  30·05

  1990–91

  24·00

  1989–90

  23·00

  Plymouth Development Corporation
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the current position of the Plymouth development corporation.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Plymouth development corporation came into existence on 1 April 1993. A chairman, deputy chairman and seven other board members have now been appointed. There is one remaining vacancy on the board which will be filled in due course. The chief executive's post has been advertised and an appointment is expected shortly. The proposed budget for the regeneration of the Plymouth urban development area is £45 million over an indicative lifetime of five years, of which £7 million will be available to spend in 1993–94.

  The corporation recently moved into its permanent accommodation in the Royal William Yard and it held its first board meeting on 11 May.

  Sewage Treatment Works
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in upgrading sewage treatment works which were in breach of their discharge consents at the time of privatisation of the water industry.

  Mr. Maclean
  The water industry's investment programme is making good progress. The latest figures available demonstrate a continuing improvement in the operational performance of sewage treatment works. In 1991 the proportion of works complying with its consent standards was 94 per cent. compared with 83 per cent. in 1988.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new initiatives he plans to take to tackle the problem of homelessness.

  Sir George Young
  The number of households accepted as homeless by local authorities during the last quarter of 1992 was the lowest for two years. We have launched a number of initiatives designed to reduce homelessness and
  615
  our spending plans will enable housing associations to provide 170,000 new social homes over the three years from 1992–93.

  TUPE Regulations
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has held with local authorities on the implications for local government of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the acquired rights directive.

  Mr. Redwood
  No specific discussions have been held on this subject, but it is occasionally raised with Ministers by local authorities and their representatives.

  Redbridge (Employees)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were directly employed by the London borough of Redbridge in 1981 and at the latest available date.

  Mr. Redwood
  The London borough of Redbridge employed 8,446 people in December 1981 and 8,883 people in December 1992.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has held since 6 May with representatives of the Association of County Councils about the reform of local government.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  None.

  Victoria Street Premises
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 121, when he expects the building contract in respect of works at No. 1 Victoria street to commence; and what is the total cost incurred to date by his Department in respect of these premises since September 1991.

  Mr. Baldry
  Negotiations with the landlord of this building are expected to be concluded shortly, which should enable the building contract to commence in autumn 1993. Costs incurred to date are approximately £3·4 million.

  Local Authority House Building
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for local authority house building.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is provisionally estimated that local authorities in England completed 300 new dwellings during the three months January to March 1993 and completed 3,000 dwellings during 1992.

  Housing associations are now the main providers of new social housing. As I said in my answer of 19 May to the hon. Member for Dorset, West (Sir J. Spicer), Official Report, column 183, the Housing Corporation now estimates that public funds have enabled housing associations to make an extra 66,000 extra homes available to new tenants last year.
  616

  Travellers
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish for consultation his new draft guidance to local planning authorities on sites for gipsies and those of a nomadic way of life.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department and the Welsh Office have today issued for consultation a draft circular containing proposed guidance to local planning authorities on the planning aspects of gipsy sites. This forms part of a range of measures designed to reduce illegal camping, including our recently announced proposals to reform the Caravan Sites Act 1968.

  The purpose of the revised guidance is to ensure that gipsies are put on the same footing as other developers under the planning system and that the system recognises gipsies' particular accommodation needs.

  Our objective is that gipsies should be given every encouragement to find, develop and run sites for themselves, as I know so many of them are anxious to do.

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of local authority expenditure was funded by central government in each year since 1974.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The available information is as follows:

  Proportion of LA revenue expenditure met by government grants. non-domestic rates, domestic rates, community charges and council taxes

  Government grants1 as percentage of local authority expenditure

  Non-domestic rates2 as percentage of local authority expenditure

  Domestic rates/community charges3 as percentage of local authority expenditure

  1981–82

  56

  25

  20

  1982–83

  53

  26

  21

  1983–84

  54

  26

  19

  1984–85

  54

  26

  20

  1985–86

  54

  28

  21

  1986–87

  50

  28

  22

  1987–88

  49

  28

  23

  1988–89

  46

  28

  25

  1989–90

  44

  29

  26

  1990–91

  42

  29

  28

  1991–92

  52

  31

  16

  1992–93

  54

  29

  17

  1993–94

  56

  27

  16

  1 For the years 1981–82 to 1989–90 Government Grants comprise Aggregate Exchequer Grant and Rate Rebate Grants. For 1990–91 to 1992–93 Government Grants are made up of Revenue Support Grant, Special Grants, Specific Grants in Aggregate External Finance, Community Charge Grant (1991–92), Teachers Pay Grant (1992–93), Community Charge Benefits and Transitional Relief/Community Charge Reduction Scheme Grants. For 1993–94 Government Grants are made up of Revenue Support Grant, Specific and Special Grants in Aggregate External Finance, Council Tax Benefit and Council Tax Transitional Reduction Scheme Grant.

  2 For the years 1981–82 to 1989–90, this represents non-domestic rate yields net of rate relief. For the years 1990–91 to 1993–94. this represents the distributable amount from the non-domestic rates pool.

  3 Net of rate rebates for the years 1981–82 to 1989–90. Net of Community Charge Benefits and Transitional Relief/Community Charge Reduction Scheme in 1990–91 to 1992–93. Net of Council Tax

  617
  Benefit and Council Tax Transitional Relief Scheme in 1993–94.

  4 The percentages do not add to 100 per cent. The difference is funding from balances and other adjustments.

  Energy Management Assistance Scheme
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the anticipated gross financial savings which would accrue via his energy management assistance scheme as a consequence of achieving the scheme's target saving for carbon by the year 2000.

  Mr. Maclean
  If energy management assistance scheme spend carries on to the the year 2000 as presently planned, the total gross financial savings in energy costs covering that period would amount to approximately £250 million.

  Geographical Information Systems
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to make environmental data stored on geographical information systems in his Department compatible with (a) geographical information systems data stored by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, (b) GIS data stored by the United Nations environment programme and (c) geographical information systems data stored by the National Rivers Authority.

  Mr. Howard
  The Department is currently developing a geographical information strategy. This will cover the standards required for exchanging data with its associated agencies and other bodies, and will take into account the standards required for exchanging data with UNEP and other international organisations. H M IP does not yet have a corporate GIS and will be involved in the development of the Department's strategy. The National Rivers Authority has recently completed a feasibility study into geographical information systems and are now developing a more detailed specification including the necessary standards to facilitate data interchange.

  Shared Ownership Programme
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to extend the Housing Corporation do-it-yourself shared ownership programme to first time buyers and to exchange buyers suffering from negative equity.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Housing Corporation's do-it-yourself shared ownership programme is already available to first-time buyers. Sixty per cent. of the programme is reserved for tenants of housing associations or local authorities, which will release rented homes for those in housing need.

  The Government have no plans to extend the scheme to existing owner-occupiers. To help people with negative equity who wish to move, the limit on building society's unsecured loans has been raised from £10,000 to £25,000 per person, and the security of one property can now be exchanged for security of another against the original loan without losing mortgage interest relief.

  Easington (Enterprise Zone)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce enterprise zone status in Easington: and if he will make a statement.
  618
  Mr. Squire
  The statutory procedures leading to the designation of an enterprise zone normally take at least six months. I expect to designate an enterprise zone in the vicinity of Easington at the earliest opportunity. I shall make a statement at that time.

  Audit Commission
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the financial management review of the Audit Commission to be published.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 25 May 1993]: I am considering the arrangements for publishing the report of this review.

  Inner City Wards, Manchester
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those wards of the city of Manchester which are categorised as inner city wards.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 25 May 1993]: Manchester's inner city wards, for urban programme purposes, are as follows:

  Ardwick

  Beswick and Clayton

  Bradford

  Central

  Cheetham

  Gorton North

  Gorton South

  Harpurhey

  Hulme

  Levenshulme

  Lightbourne

  Longsight

  Moss Side

  Newton Heath

  Busholme

  Housing Refurbishment
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to provide new moneys for the refurbishment of old decaying houses in the public and private sectors.

  Mr. Baldry
  Bringing empty properties back into use is one of the Government's key objectives, and my Department has established a number of initiatives to tackle problems of disrepair and underuse:14 per cent. of new allocations this year from the Housing Corporation's rented programme were for rehabilitation and a further 5 per cent. for short-life housing ('mini-HAT"). The Department is currently undertaking research into the role played by housing association rehabilitation.
  £346 million has been allocated in 1993–94 to support local authority expenditure on private house renewal, including house renovation grants. Taken together with local authorities'own contribution of 40 per cent. this provision will finance a higher total expenditure on grants (£575 million) than in 1992–93.
  In addition to other local authority capital expenditure on housing, the Government make considerable resources available through the estate action programme for the refurbishment of decaying houses in the public sector through regeneration schemes on run-down local authority estates. Since the programme was launched in 1985, over £1 billion has been allocated or earmarked for over 1,000 schemes. The programe's budget has increased from £268 million in 1991–92 to £347 million in 1992–93 and £356 million this year.
  Since its establishment in 1991 the Housing Action Trust at North Hull has already spent some £25 million towards renovating houses in its designated area. Much remains to be

  619
  done and a similar amount will be spent in Hull in this year alone. Two other HATs have been established at Waltham Forest and Liverpool, and tenants at Castle Vale and Tower Hamlets have recently voted for the establishment of HATs for their estates. Apart from North Hull, HATs are concerned mainly with the redevelopment or refurbishment of decaying high and low rise blocks of fiats. The planned expenditure for HATs in this year is £86·8 million.
  Under the Department's flats over shops initiative £25 million in grants towards renovation and conversion costs is being made available through local authorities between 1992–93 and 1994–95 to bring empty space above commercial properties back into residential use. The scheme is designed to be a three-way partnership between local authorities, housing associations, and private property owners.
  The Government have set up a task force to oversee an agreed programme of disposals of empty homes owned by Government Departments which are no longer needed for operational use, and help bring these properties back into use for people in housing need.
  The Department has launched a scheme to allow housing associations to act as intermediaries between private landlords and tenants, and is funding its administration costs. This scheme, Housing Associations as Managing Agents (HAMA), is designed to encourage people to let out property which would otherwise be empty by removing the stresses usually attached to being a landlord. Following the success of five pilot schemes during 1992–93, the Government have decided to expand the scheme throughout England.
  The Government will continue to support and encourage the refurbishment of empty and decaying houses in the public and private sectors, and to welcome constructive suggestions on the balance of its expenditure programmes.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to make available in the Library the list of powers and organisations relating to environmental protection which will be candidates for deregulation.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the anwer my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities gave to the hon. Member for Harwich (Mr. Sproat) on 20 April,Official Report, column 131.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in environmental protection over the last year.

  Mr. Maclean
  In the past year we have taken action on the environment at all levels: local, national and international. The United Kingdom played a leading role in the Earth summit, and we are taking an active part in the international discussions to follow up the agreements reached there. The EC Environment Council made significant progress under our presidency on environmental issues, in particular in integrating environmental concerns into the development of the different sectoral policies. We set out our achievements and targets in domestic policies in the second year anniversary report on the Environment White Paper, published in October 1992.

  Ventilation and Insulation
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to amend part F of the Building Regulations in respect of the ventilation and insulation of buildings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I am today issuing a consultation paper setting out our proposals for improving the requirements 620
  of part F of the Building Regulations 1991 (Means of Ventilation). Copies have been placed in the Library. The proposals have been introduced to improve and simplify the current provisions in dwellings; and to provide builders with a wider range of options on how these can be achieved. Requirements for non-domestic buildings are proposed which generally reflect the relevant requirements of the Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1992 so that new building work should not require subsequent adaptation.

  EC Funding, Merseyside
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the date of the last meeting of the Merseyside support and framework committee for European Community funding; on what dates the committee met during 1992; and if he will make a statement;

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 27 April 1993]: During 1992, the directing committee for the Merseyside integrated development operation programme met on 7 July and 1 October. There were no meetings of the committee in 1993.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the names of the members of the Merseyside support and framework committee for European Community funding; and what are the names of the organisations represented on that committee by each member.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 27 April 1993]: The directing committee for the Merseyside integrated development operation programme is composed of representatives from local authorities, Government Departments, statutory agencies and other organisations which benefit from European Community funding. Arrangements for future years are currently under review.

  ReChem Incineration Plant
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have received regarding complaints made to the European Commission on the prospective breach of EC directive 85/337/EEC by plans by ReChem to extend its toxic waste incineration plant at Pontypool.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have received one representation from the hon. Gentleman.

EMPLOYMENT

  Manpower Services Commission
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans she has to amend the 1984 Manpower Services Commission code of practice; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the employment service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange a reply to be given.
  621
  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 26 May 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about what plans she has to amend the 1984 Manpower Services Commission Code of Good Practice. This is something which falls within the responsibilities she has delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The Code of Good Practice has been well received by employers since it was first introduced, and is still requested in large numbers. At this stage there are no plans to develop a new Code, but my Agency would, of course, consult widely should we decide to do so.
  You may wish to know that we have recently reprinted the Code as part of a wider exercise to update Employment Service disability service literature. There have been no changes of substance to the advice and recommendations made in the Code but we have taken the opportunity to introduce descriptions of the new restructured services provided by the Employment Service to disabled people and employers. We have also included the new disability symbol which has the words "Positive about Disabled People". Some addresses have been corrected and some slight adjustments made to the text used where it had become outdated.
  I enclose a copy of the reprinted Code which I hope you will find useful.
  As decided by the Administrative Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer of 17 May,Official Report, column 41, how the review of health and safety at work regulations will be conducted; which organisations will be invited to take part; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have asked the Health and Safety Commission to report, by the end of April 1994, on the impact on business of the existing health and safety regulatory arrangements and especially on the scope for further repeals or simplification of legislation which would not endanger acceptable standards of protection.

  I am informed that the Commission is establishing seven business-led advisory groups to help it in this task, which groups will include members representing employer and worker interests and specific representation from the small firms sector. Through these groups and by other means such as case studies, and written consultation exercises, the review will draw on a wide range of experience and expertise from industry and elsewhere.

  I understand that the Commission plans shortly to issue an open invitation for interested organisations and individuals to submit evidence to the review.

  Unemployed Disabled People
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what level of unemployment among disabled workers was recorded in the most recently available quarter by the labour force survey; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The labour force survey asks people of working age if they currently have any health problems or disability which limits the kind of paid work they can do. Estimates based on answers to this question will 622
  include people with short-term health problems and disabilities as well as those registered as disabled. L FS estimates for autumn 1992 show that in Great Britain the unemployment rate, based on the ILO definition of unemployment for people with all such health problems or disabilities was 21 per cent.—not seasonally adjusted.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) men and (b) women aged (i) 40 to 44 years, (ii) aged 45 to 49 years, (iii) aged 50 to 54 years, (iv) aged 55 to 59 years and (v) aged 60 to 64 years who found employment within the last year for which figures are available had been unemployed for (1) under six months, (2) between six and 12 months, (3) between 12 and 24 months and (4) over 24 months.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Quarterly analyses of claimant unemployed men and women by pre-specified age and duration of unemployment bands are available from the NOM IS database in the Library. The information relates to those whose spell of unemployment is ongoing. For computerised claims NOMIS also gives age and duration information on those leaving the claimant count each month. Information is not held on the labour market status of those who leave claimant unemployment. However, sample surveys suggest that the majority go into employment.

  Social Fund Training Courses
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) men and (b) women were on an European social fund training course in the Greater London area at the latest available date.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Comprehensive details of the breakdown of European social fund participants are not available for the Greater London area and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Offshore Health and Safety
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) improvement notices, (b) prohibition notices and (c) prosecutions have been issued or commenced by the Health and Safety Executive's offshore division (i) from 1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992 and (ii) since 1 April 1992; and what were the results and penalties in each case of a completed prosecution.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 February 1993, c. 818]: I regret that the statistics provided were incomplete. This was due to information from only one of the two Aberdeen operations units being included. The correct answer should read as follows.

  1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992

  Since 1 April 1992

  Number of improvement notices served

  Nil

  17

  Number of prohibition notices served

  2

  5

  Information on completed prosecutions is as follows:

  (i) between 1 April 1991 and 31 March 1992, a total of 3 companies were convicted and fines of £850, £20,000 and £5,000 respectively were imposed.

  623

  (ii) Since 1 April 1992, a total of 6 companies have been convicted and fines of £100,000, £1,000, £30,000, £1,000, £1,000 and £5,000 respectively were imposed. Charges brought against two companies were not proved.

DEFENCE

  Hydrographic Office
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for 1993–94 for the Hydrographic Office defence support agency.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Chief of Fleet Support, acting as the owner of the agency on behalf of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence under the terms of the agency's framework document, has set the following key targets for this financial year.

  On quality of service, the chief executive is required to continue to ensure that all urgent dangers to navigation are promulgated by radio navigational warnings within 20 hours of receipt of the information. He is also required to improve the state of revision of Admiralty navigational charts and publications in waters of United Kingdom national responsibility so that at 1 April 1994, 80 per cent. will have been revised or reviewed and found to need no revision, within the previous 10 years. The chief executive is also required to achieve his endorsed and funded programme of work as set by the Ministry of Defence Hydrographic Board.

  In respect of financial targets, the chief executive is to seek to minimise the level of Exchequer support by achieving 72 per cent. cost recovery.

  Defence Postal and Courier Service
  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Postal and Courier Service defence support agency for 1993–94.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The chief executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Service defence support agency has been set the following targets for 1993–94:

  1. Improve the percentage of air mail and Ministry of Defence van service items that meet quality of service standards by 0.5 per cent. and 2 per cent. respectively.

  2. Introduce an automated financial management and information system by 31 March 1994 to produce all necessary information to support measures of output and unit costs and to meet the accounting requirements of Defence Agencies.

  3. Increase the Agency's efficiency by making a 1 per cent. saving against 1992–93 outturn net operating costs (either by imput or output means).

  4. Implement phase 1 of the Agency's market testing plan and examine the potential for areas for further study.

  Minesweepers
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many minesweepers are in service with the Royal Navy; how many other vessels can be called on for minesweeping duties in the event of an emergency; and from what sources.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are currently 30 mine countermeasure vessels in service with the Royal Navy, including nine minesweepers. We do not envisage circumstances in which the Royal Navy could not meet the United Kingdom's requirements for minesweeping from within its own resources.
  624

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to the United Kingdom of monitoring the no-fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 23 April 1993,Official Report, column 242.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was (a) the required operational sortie height and (b) the actual recorded height of the military jet aircraft that overflew the village of Clayton with Frickley, South Yorkshire at approximately 15:12 hrs on 19 May;

  (2) what was the required operational sortie height and the actual recorded height of the military jet aircraft that overflew the village of Clayton with Frickley, South Yorkshire, at approximately 11:04 hrs on 19 May.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A number of aircraft were authorised to fly in the low flying area at about the times stated on 19 May, but we have no reason to believe any of those flew below 1,000 ft around the village of Clayton with Frickley.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the boundaries of the military low-flying transit area that covers the towns of Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield were last changed; and on what date a radar surveillance was last carried out to ensure that no military jet aircraft infringed the operational low-flying height requirements in that area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No changes have been made to the boundaries of the military low flying transit area that covers the towns of Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield since the United Kingdom low-flying system was introduced in 1979. There has been no radar surveillance of low flying in the transit area.

  Lance Corporal Gary Fryer
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 264, if he will provide a copy of the police report and inquest reports on the death of Lance Corporal Gary Fryer No. 24792566 to his parents once they become available.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Yes, if Lance Corporal Fryer's parents make such a request.

  British Army of the Rhine
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British soldiers are part of the British Army of the Rhine; and what was the total cost in the last financial year.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The military strength of the British Army of the Rhine is currently about 39,000 and the total operating cost of BAOR in financial year 1992–93 was approximately £1,440 million.
  625

  Service Families
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now publish the Gaffney report on service families.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have no plans to publish the Gaffney report which was an internal Army document prepared in 1986–87; much of the data it contained will in any case now be out of date.

  British Troops (UN Peacekeeping Forces)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the figures for the total number of British troops(a) killed and (b) injured while on duty for the United Nations peacekeeping forces since the end of the Gulf war; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A total of four United Kingdom service men have died while serving with the United Nations since the end of the Gulf conflict. A further seven have suffered serious or very serious injury over the same period. These figures include death or injury from all sources, not just those resulting from hostile action. Only one death was caused by hostile action.

  British Troops (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of British troops (a) killed and (b) injured while on duty in Northern Ireland during 1991–92 and 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The total number of British troops killed as a result of terrorist action whilst on duty in Northern Ireland was as follows:

  Number

  1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992

  8

  1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993

  5

  Information about the number of British troops injured is not available in the form requested. The total number of troops injured in Northern Ireland as a result of terrorist action, both on and off duty, was as follows:

  Number

  1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992

  282

  1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993

  267

  Submarines
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number and class of submarines in service in the Royal Navy on 10 May.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Royal Navy's submarine fleet on 10 May consisted of three Polaris, one Valiant, five Swiftsure, seven Trafalgar, three Oberon and three Upholder Class submarines giving a total of 22 boats.

  Landing Platform Helicopter Vessel
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, during the bid for the contract to build the landing platform helicopter vessel, personnel from Kvaerner Govan participated in the bid clarification process.
  626
  Mr. Aitken
  No. Kvaerner Govan is a sub-contractor to VSEL.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the course of consideration of the landing platform helicopter vessel, the VSEL bid has been comprehensively costed.

  Mr. Aitken
  The commercial aspects of both bids were assessed against our normal criteria for competitive contracts.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, during consideration of the tender for the landing platform helicopter vessel, there was a thorough evaluation of the best and final tenders from VSEL/ Kvaerner Govan and Swan Hunter before a report was made to the Controller of the Royal Navy; and how much time was taken on this evaluation before the first report was made on the outcome of the tendering process.

  Mr. Aitken
  A thorough evaluation was conducted over the period November 1992 to March 1993 culminating in an examination of the best and final offers which were received from the two companies on 22 April. The evaluation was completed in time for me to make the announcement on 11 May.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance was given to both Swan Hunter and VSEL/Kvaerner Govan during clarification, prior to the best and final offer round, on reduced standards which would be acceptable in the bid for the contract to build the landing platform helicopter vessel.

  Mr. Aitken
  Both tenderers were given the same advice on standards during the clarification process and the best and final offer response had to be fully compliant with these standards.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in considering the tender for the landing platform helicopter vessel, what checks were carried out on the ability of Kvaerner Govan to produce subsystems and the final ship to naval engineering standards.

  Mr. Aitken
  My officials visited Kvaerner Govan to verify that it was capable of producing subsystems and a ship to the required standards.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in considering the tender for the landing platform helicopter vessel, what checks his Department has carried out concerning the bid submitted by Kvaerner Govan to VSEL and the specification placed on Kvaerner Govan by VSEL.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department's contract is with VSEL and requires it to ensure that the work meets the required specifications.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the bids for the landing platform helicopter vessel tendered by both Swan Hunter and VSEL/Kvaerner Govan included comprehensive drawings and other elements required of a technical data package.

  Mr. Aitken
  Both tenderers provided the required technical disclosure.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what options from the first round bid for the
  627
  landing platform helicopter vessel were taken up from both VSEL/Kvaerner Govan and Swan Hunter in the best and final offer round.

  Mr. Aitken
  Costed options for certain equipments and facilities were taken up. The bids were compared on an equal basis.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there was a significant price gap between the first bids submitted for the landing platform helicopter vessel last autumn from Swan Hunter and VSEL.

  Mr. Aitken
  Yes. Details of the bids are commercially confidential, but will be provided to the National Audit Office.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if, during consideration of the tender for the landing platform helicopter vessel, all elements of the tenders from VSEL/Kvaerner Govan and Swan Hunter were assessed for compliance with Ministry of Defence requirements; and if either bidder submitted a global undertaking of compliance;

  (2) if the tenders from both VSEL/Kvaerner Govan and Swan Hunter for the landing platform helicopter vessel specifically state that pipework, machinery and electrical systems will be completed to the applicable naval engineering standards.

  Mr. Aitken
  Both bids were assessed for compliance and our contract with VSEL fully meets our requirements.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further documentation is required from VSEL before a contract to build the landing platform helicopter vessel can be signed; and when his Department expects the contract to be signed.

  Mr. Aitken
  The contract was placed on 11 May 1993.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the tenders from both VSEL/Kvaerner and Swan Hunter for the landing platform helicopter vessel included all the changes required by his Department as a result of the first bidding round; and if each tender included the additional requirements specified by his Department during the best and final offer.

  Mr. Aitken
  Both tenders offered a ship to meet the same requirements.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the anticipated costs of Royal Navy overseeing teams which will have to be located at Kvaerner Govan to ensure compliance during the building of the landing platform helicopter vessel.

  Mr. Aitken
  Resident naval overseers will be employed on this task, augmented as necessary. There will be no net increase in cost.

  VSEL (Submarine Contracts)
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current level of advance payments from his Department to VSEL for submarine contracts.

  Mr. Aitken
  Payments to VSEL under submarine contracts are made in arrears on the achievement of agreed milestones.
  628

  Royal Navy (Engineering)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what comparative assessment he has made of the lengths and cost of practical applications training of engineer officers for the Royal Navy if the engineering academic studies are concentrated on a civilian university.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I announced proposals on 25 May about the future of royal naval engineer officer training. These proposals are now the subject of consultation. Practical application training course lengths and the costs involved in running them will not be affected by these proposals although there will be a relocation cost which has been taken into account.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the advantages of educating and training engineer officer undergraduates for the Royal Navy in an establishment located close to a major naval base.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As was set out in the consultation document that I placed yesterday in the Library of the House, the education and training of royal naval engineer officer undergraduates is presently undertaken by a variety of methods, in-service and by universities. There is little interaction between engineer officers reading for degrees or undertaking application training courses, and a major naval base. Ready access to the sea is, of course, an important factor in their training as naval officers.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of engineer officers in the Royal Navy do not possess an engineering degree.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Approximately 30 per cent. of engineer officers do not possess an engineering degree.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times he has visited the Royal Naval Engineering college, Manadon, Plymouth, in the past 12 months.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None. I last visited the Royal Naval Engineering college at Manadon on 14 November 1991.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made regarding the costs and feasibility of transferring engineering training equipment and installations from the Royal Naval Engineering college, Manadon, Plymouth, to other establishments in the event of a decision to close the college at Manadon.

  Mr. Archie Hamiliton
  The proposals that I announced on 25 May were based on studies which inter alia assessed the practicalities of transferring equipment from Royal Naval Engineering college, Manadon in the event of a decision to relocate application training. Estimated costs involved would be approximately £9,000,000 and this includes costs relating to the additional building requirements at the receiving establishments.

  Royal Navy (BA Degrees)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the benefits of having an in-service Bachelor of Arts degree specifically tailored for the Royal Navy's needs
  629
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Bachelor of Arts degree in maritime defence, management and technology was introduced in 1990 to make better use of the Royal Navy's degree training facilities at the Royal Naval Engineering college, Manadon and the Royal Naval college, Greenwich. The course allows for suitably qualified officers who do not undertake degree study at civilian university to develop their educational, intellectual and personnel potential in vocationally relevant fields.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what has been the cost of running the Royal Navy's in-service BA degree for each of the last three years;

  (2) what has been the cost of setting up the Royal Navy's BA degree in maritime defence technology.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Royal Navy's BA degree in maritime defence, management and technology is conducted at Royal Naval Engineering college, Manadon with support from Britannia Royal Naval college, Dartmouth and Royal Naval college, Greenwich. The costs involved are minimal and are not readily identifiable separately.

  EH101 Helicopters
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's estimate of the total number of EH 101 Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopters required to provide each of the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers with sufficient aircraft; and what plans he has to order a second batch of EH101s.

  Mr. Aitken
  It is not our policy to discuss numbers of aircraft deployed on individual ships. The 44 Merlin EH101 anti-submarine warfare helicopters ordered in 1991 will enable us to set up training squadrons and introduce the first squadrons of aircraft into service with type 23 frigates and one carrier. No decision has yet been taken on the size or timing of a second order.

  Royal Military College of Science
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times he has visited the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, in the past 12 months.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In the past 12 months, I have visited the college twice.

  Mines in the Next Century Project
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the mines in the next century project and United Kingdom participation in it.

  Mr. Aitken
  Mines in the next century—MINX—is the name given to the project to study the replacement for the United Kingdom's existing anti-tank mine from the year 2001. We are currently considering the options for this.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the efficiency of the contingency plan for the introduction of disability living allowance.
  630
  Mr. Scott
  The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 25 May 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the efficiency of the contingency plan for the introduction of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
  Firstly, I should explain that DLA was launched in February 1992 with an extensive publicity campaign. As part of this campaign we wrote to all existing Mobility Allowance (MobA) and Attendance Allowance (AA) recipients (approximately 1 million customers). Changes in the benefit were explained and an invitation extended, where appropriate, for them to claim extra money under the new DLA rules. In the meantime other external take-up campaigns were also being run.
  It had been expected that the initial launch of the new benefit would generate large numbers of claims in the months surrounding its introduction. Whilst planning had taken place for an increase in benefit claims, the success of the advertising campaign and the various take-up campaigns resulted in a much larger number of claims being attracted in the early stages than had been expected. There was also a huge increase in the number of claims to AA during the same period.
  This sudden surge of claims occurred as staff were adjusting to the new benefit processes and procedures. It meant that a backlog of cases built up in the weeks following the introduction of DLA.
  A recovery plan was quickly instigated. This consisted of several facets and included:

  The setting up of a seniour management task force.

  An increase in the number of staff, devoted to handling claims, by over 800. This represented an increase of approximately 25 per cent.

  The use of overtime which equated to a further 300 staff.

  The establishment and equipping of four remote processing units to increase output.

  The conducting of a detailed review of procedures and organisation to speed up the process wherever possible.

  As a result of these measures the throughput of claims was increased. The first phase of the recovery programme was successfully completed by the end of October 1992. The number of outstanding DLA and top-up claims had been considerably reduced from a peak of nearly 250,000 at the end of June to less than 115,000 by the end of October. During the same period outstanding AA claims had also been reduced significantly from over 150,000 to just over 52,000.
  Further reductions in the number of claims on hand have been made and at the end of April 1993 the number of outstanding DLA (including top-ups) and AA new claims was 35,000 and 34,000 respectively. This represents less than four weeks intake of work i.e. less than the target clearance time for both benefits.
  The majority of DLA new claims received since January 1993 have been cleared within their primary target. For the month of April 1993, 75 per cent. of DLA new claims were cleared within 30 days against the Secretary of State (SoS) primary target (65 per cent. in 30 days) and 91 per cent. were cleared in 55 days against the SoS secondary target (85 per cent. in 55 days).
  The results outlined clearly illustrate the overall effectiveness of the measures undertaken. The Benefits Agency will continue to strive to produce a thoroughly efficient service for all customers of DLA and associated benefits.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.
  631

  Pensions (Post Office)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many senior citizens used the Post Office to receive their pensions each year since 1990.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The payment of social security benefits is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Nigel Evans, dated 25 May 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many senior citizens used the Post Office to receive their pensions each year since 1990.
  Pensioners receiving their pensions through the Post Office are paid by order book. The number of Retirement Pension customers paid by order book for each year are as follows:

  Number

  February 1990

  7,720,000

  May 1991

  7,750,000

  April 1992

  7,710,000

  May 1993

  7,570,000

  Figures are rounded to the nearest 5,000.

  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Income Support
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many senior citizens receive income support in (a) Lancashire, (b) the north-west and (c) Great Britain.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Nigel Evans, dated 25 May 1993:

  Numbers of claims to social security benefits

  Benefit

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Income Support

  2,716,364

  4,196,654

  4,089,336

  4,428,866

  4,437,816

  SF Crisis Loans5

  496,360

  664,812

  596,030

  711,452

  837,043

  SF Community Care Grants5

  312,151

  524,284

  629,316

  1,028,640

  1,183,945

  SF Budget Loans5

  926,308

  1,132,448

  1,092,395

  1,360,145

  1,497,002

  SF Maternity Payment5

  1—

  1—

  234,158

  262,345

  271,598

  SF Funeral Payment5

  1—

  1—

  68,372

  77,735

  83,386

  Sickness/Invalidity Benefit

  722,321

  1,045,442

  1,053,667

  1,118,284

  1,085,631

  Maternity Benefit

  122,673

  117,752

  98,828

  106,736

  97,378

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  35,636

  56,454

  57,339

  64,513

  59,185

  Retirement Pension

  592,850

  770,567

  735,490

  749,513

  657,401

  Widows Payment

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  56,032

  Widows Benefit

  41,784

  58,769

  56,612

  56,598

  44,344

  Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

  82,516

  109,886

  96,214

  95,592

  101,341

  Family Credit

  3434,138

  1,016,786

  968,587

  999,060

  1,154,478

  War Pensions

  29,216

  34,699

  46,033

  80,430

  137,567

  Invalid Care Allowance

  52,653

  53,689

  63,021

  75,266

  91,265

  Attendance Allowance

  326,734

  378,119

  391,205

  512,835

  4—

  Attendance Allowance 65 +2

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  449,510

  Mobility Allowance

  226,419

  243,851

  236,808

  268,689

  4—

  632
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security, asking how many senior citizens receive Income Support in (a) Lancashire,(b) the North West and (c) Great Britain.
  The information is not available in the form you have requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. This is because statistics that reflect the number of senior citizens (that is, those who have reached retirement age) in receipt of Income Support, either nationally or by region are not routinely collected.
  However, I am able to tell you that there are 1,570,805 Income Support pensioners in Great Britain as a whole. An Income Support pensioner is defined as a customer aged 60 or over. The source of this information is the Income Support Mangagement Information Statistics.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what were the target and the achieved accuracy rates for each social security benefit for each of the last five years;

  (2) how many people made a claim for each social security benefit for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of social security benefits is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Frank Field, dated 26 May 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking for details of the target and achieved accuracy rates for each social security benefit for each of the last five years; and how many people made a claim for each social security benefit for each of the last five years.
  I have attached a list of targets and achievement at Annex A. At Annex B I attach a list of benefits and the number of claims made. I should point out that a number of these claims will have been made by the same person.
  I hope you will find this information helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also appear in the Library.
  633

  Benefit

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Disability Living Allowance2

  2—

  2—

  2—

  196,366

  457,865

  Disability Working Allowance2

  2—

  2—

  2—

  4,153

  28,385

  Legal Aid

  1—

  1—

  1—

  344,848

  371,515

  Child Benefit

  856,361

  825,095

  815,714

  821,023

  813,077

  One Parent Benefit

  166,697

  182,796

  190,451

  178,972

  193,600

  Guardians Allowance

  26,746

  25,300

  20,944

  21,752

  22,826

  Overseas Branch Long Term Benefits

  1—

  1—

  1—

  79,120

  73,031

  Overseas Branch Short Term Benefits

  1—

  1—

  1—

  3,066

  2,766

  1 No figures available.

  2 New benefit from April 1992.

  3 Figures available only from August 1988 to March 1989.

  4 Benefit ceased.

  5 Relates to the number of applications made rather than the number of actual applicants.

  Benefits agency accuracy targets and achievement 1988–89 to 1992–93

  Benefit area

  Target 1988–89 Per cent.

  Year end achievement

  Target 1989–90 Per cent.

  Year end achievement

  Target 1990–91 Per cent.

  Year end achievement

  Target 1991–92 Per cent.

  Year end achievement

  Target 1992–93 Per cent.

  Year end achievement

  Income support accuracy

  90·0

  90·3

  91·0

  92·1

  92·0

  93·7

  93·0

  95·7

  94·0

  94·4

  Short term benefits accuracy1

  96·0

  96·0

  96·3

  96·2

  96·5

  96·2

  96·5

  96·5

  96·5

  96·5

  Family credit accuracy

  96·0

  91·4

  93·0

  91·6

  93·0

  92·2

  93·0

  91·5

  94·0

  88·9

  War pensions disablement claims accuracy

  97·3

  95·3

  96·8

  93·1

  95·0

  94·1

  95·0

  94·5

  95·0

  97·7

  War widows claims accuracy

  98·5

  94·4

  98·5

  88·9

  98·5

  97·5

  98·5

  97·4

  98·5

  97·6

  DLA accuracy3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  96·0

  92·0

  DWA accuracy3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  95·0

  100·0

  Legal aid accuracy

  92·0

  92·6

  92·0

  93·5

  94·0

  95·9

  94·0

  94·8

  94·0

  94·6

  Operational targets —ie set by the relevant Benefits Directorate; not the BA Management Team or Secretary of State.

  Attendance allowance

  99·0

  99·3

  99·0

  99·5

  99·0

  98·2

  99·0

  94·7

  1—

  2—

  Mobility allowance accuracy

  98·5

  97·4

  98·5

  98·0

  98·5

  97·6

  98·5

  98·7

  2—

  2—

  Invalid care allowance accuracy

  93·0

  96·5

  96·0

  96·9

  96·0

  96·5

  96·0

  97·2

  96·0

  99·1

  Child benefit claims accuracy (s/forward)

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  98·0

  98·0

  Child benefit claims accuracy (non s/forward)

  97·0

  97·2

  97·5

  98·1

  97·5

  97·9

  97·5

  98·5

  4—

  4—

  One parent benefit accuracy

  96·0

  96·0

  96·0

  97·0

  96·0

  97·0

  96·0

  98·5

  96·0

  96·5

  Change of circs accuracy

  96·5

  97·1

  96·5

  96·6

  96·5

  97·1

  96·5

  99·5

  96·5

  98·0

  Guardians allowance accuracy

  98·0

  99·6

  98·0

  100·0

  98·0

  100·0

  98·0

  100·0

  98·0

  100·0

  Claims reserved to CPB accuracy

  97·0

  97·8

  97·0

  98·6

  97·5

  99·0

  97·5

  98·2

  97·5

  99·4

  Change of circs accuracy (OBs)

  98·0

  98·4

  98·0

  98·9

  98·0

  99·5

  98·0

  96·9

  4—

  4—

  Change of circs accuracy (periodic payments)

  96·5

  98·2

  96·5

  98·5

  96·5

  84·1

  96·5

  100·0

  96·5

  98·7

  LPG claims accuracy

  98·0

  91·6

  98·0

  99·0

  98·0

  99·2

  98·0

  97·9

  98·0

  98·5

  Agency benefit accuracy

  92·5

  91·5

  92·5

  93·3

  92·5

  95·8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Health benefit unit accuracy

  92·5

  94·1

  93·5

  97·6

  OVB Long term benefits accuracy

  97·4

  97·2

  97·0

  98·4

  97·0

  99·1

  97·0

  96·2

  97·0

  98·8

  OVB Short term benefits

  98·0

  91·9

  98·0

  99·7

  98·0

  97·5

  98·0

  100·0

  98·0

  99·6

  OVB medical benefits

  —

  —

  99·0

  100·0

  99·0

  98·6

  98·0

  100·0

  98·0

  99·8

  1 Includes Sickness Benefit, Invalidity Benefit, SDA and Maternity Allowance.

  2 Benefit ceased from April 1992

  3 New benefit from April 1992

  4 Child Benefit straight forward and non straight forward claims accuracy and Central Pensions Branch change of circs (OBs) and (periodic payments) accuracy combined from April 1992.

  Income Maintenance
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has of the overall cost of provisions for income maintenance in Wales; and what are the total amounts of expenditure, or revenue forgone, on (a) benefits, (b) administering benefits, (c) student grants, (d) statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay, (e) income tax allowances, (f) income tax reliefs and (g) the total value of contracted-out rebates and two per cent. incentives in respect of personal pensions and contracted-out schemes.

  Mr. Burt
  It is not possible to provide a reply in the precise form requested as some of the income maintenance information is not collected or maintained separately for Wales. The latest information available is as follows.

  (i) Expenditure on Income Support in Wales in 1989–90 was £442 million.1

  634

  (ii) Expenditure on Housing Benefit in Wales in 1992–93 was £380 million.2

  (iii) Estimated cost of administration of all social security benefits in Wales for 1992–93 is £55.3 million.

  (iv) Estimated cost of income tax allowances on personal taxation in Wales for 1990–91 is £6,250 million.

  (v) Estimated cost of tax relief on earnings and investments (excluding MIRAS) in Wales for 1990–91 is £485 million.

  (vi) Expenditure on mandatory and discretionary student grants awarded by local authorities in Wales to students normally resident in their area in 1990–91 was £109 million.

  Additional statistical information for Wales can he found in 'Welsh Economic Trends, No. 13', published by the Welsh Office in 1992, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Note:

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

  2 Table 8.7 of CSO Regional Trends 27 (1992).
  635

  Children in Hospital
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all additional benefits which are potentially available to allow parents (a) entitled and (b) not entitled to income support to visit children who are detained in hospital (i) in the short term and (ii) in the long term; if he will describe the eligibility criteria for each; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Those entitled to income support may be able to receive a community care grant or a budgeting loan from the social fund for expenses to visit someone who is in hospital. Payments are discretionary but are normally given high priority. Those not in receipt of income support will normally be better placed to meet these costs because they will have higher levels of income. Even so, a crisis loan from the social fund may be payable if the payment is the only way to prevent serious damage or risk to the health or safety of the applicant. Payments from the social fund can be made in one lump sum or at regular intervals if the visits are to continue for some time.

  Pension Payments
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what percentages of respondents opted for automated credit transfer and post office order book payment in each group of 8,000 recipients applying for pension payments involved in the test marketing of forms which took place in March of this year;

  (2) what was the total cost of the test marketing of revised forms for retirement pension payments which were issued to 24,000 recipients in March this year;

  (3) when a decision will be taken on revised forms giving those eligible for the state retirement pension a choice of payment method; and when such forms will be introduced.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Retirement pension claim forms are issued four months before potential entitlement begins and, so far, only a minority of the piloted claim forms have been returned. It is not possible to draw any statistically valid conclusions at this stage.

  Decisions on any revision of the current claim form, including when any resultant new form might be introduced, will not be made until after the results of the trial are known.

  The cost of the test is estimated to be around £22,000.

  Quarry House
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 May,Official Report, column 569, what part of the £55·5 million of the cost of building Quarry house was spent on landscaping.

  Miss Widdecombe
  It is not possible to put a precise figure on the landscaping costs because of the nature of the contract with the builders.

  Earnings and Expenses
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to reduce burdens on business caused by the different definitions of earnings and expenses used for national insurance and tax purposes.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have today announced the setting up of a working group to identify the options for reducing the 636
  administrative difficulties for business caused by differences in the rules for national insurance and income tax. The membership of the working group will include representatives of business as well as officials from my Department and the Inland Revenue. They will be encouraged to take a fresh look at the problems and will come forward with recommendations.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people will benefit from the 100 per cent. rebates under the council tax.

  Mr. Burt
  It is estimated that in 1993–94 some 3·19 million households will receive 100 per cent. rebates under council tax benefit, out of a total council tax benefit caseload of 5·3 million.

  Source: Figures rounded to the nearest 5,000 and based on actual council tax levels and data drawn from the 1989–90–91 Family Expenditure Surveys modelled at 1993–94 prices and benefit levels.

  Rent Deposits
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many grants for rent deposits under the single payments system were not returned by landlords in the three years prior to its replacement by the social fund; and what was the annual cost of the non-returned deposits.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many grants for rent deposits were made under the single payments system in the three years prior to its replacement by the social fund; what was the annual cost; and what were unit costs as a proportion of the total single payment spending.

  Mr. Scott
  The available information is in the table.

  Year

  Estimated expenditure (£ million)

  Estimated claims (Thousands) 1

  Single payment expenditure (£ million)

  1985–86

  3

  30,000

  335

  1986–87

  7

  49,000

  330

  1987–88

  10

  2—

  294

  1 To the nearest thousand.

  2 Unavailable.

  The table indicates that deposits accounted for an estimated 2·1 per cent. of the total single payment expenditure over this period.

  Benefits (Automated Credit Transfer)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the level of public expenditure by (a) his Department and (b) the Benefits Agency to encourage benefit claimants to have their benefits paid by automated credit transfer.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Ms Anderson) on 26 April at columns 313–14.

  Information on methods of payment of social security benefits, including ACT, is included in a number of leaflets issued by the Benefits Agency.

  Recently, the Benefits Agency piloted three versions of the retirement pension claim form. The cost of this trial was estimated to be around £22,000.
  637
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list each of the organisations which have written to him on the subject of automated credit transfer and the implications for the viability of sub post offices; and if he will indicate which have been (a) favourable and (b) unfavourable.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have recently received a substantial number of representations about automated credit transfer, including letters from a wide variety of organisations, from right hon. and hon. Members and from a number of individuals, arguing in favour of the continuing availability of post offices for the payment of benefits. We have also received correspondence in favour of ACT being available' for a greater range of benefits.

  Occupational Pensions
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to strengthen the role of employees in the administration of occupational pension scheme funds;

  (2) if he will bring forward proposals to prohibit employers from having a controlling decision on (a) how occupational pension funds are used, (b) what the pension levels should be and (c) the use of these funds to pay off company debts.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The rights and interests of scheme members, pensioners and employers in occupational pension scheme are among the issues being considered by the Pension Law Review Committee. The committee was established, in June last year under the chairmanship of Professor Goode QC, to review the whole framework of law and regulation within which occupational pension schemes operate. It would be premature for the Government to comment on possible changes before the committee reports at the end of September.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to improve the position of those whose occupational pension rights have been lessened by periods of unemployment; and what age group he estimates is most affected.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Members of occupational pension schemes who become unemployed are entitled to a preserved pension which is revalued in line with rises in prices of up to 5 per cent. a year until they reach the scheme's normal retirement age. On starting work again they can either leave their preserved pension where it is, or transfer their rights into their new employer's pension scheme or into a personal pension. Information on the ages of those involved is not available. We have no plans to change these provisions.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to improve the position of those whose occupational pensions are abated because they left early.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on 9 November 1992 at column 563.
  638

WALES

  Trawsfynydd
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what weight of plutonium has been created in the Trawsfynydd nuclear plant since it opened; and what information his Department has received from Nuclear Electric and its predecessor company in regard to movements of plutonium from the plant.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  Since 1986–87, estimates of the plutonium contained in the reactor discharges at Trawsfynydd power station have been published as part of the annual plutonium figures. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. Estimates for earlier years could be produced only at disproportionate cost. For the information supplied by operators on shipments, I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 3 December 1992, Official Report, column 346.

  Manufacturing Output
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give manufacturing output figures for Wales in 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991 and 1992 in constant prices, the percentage change from 1976 to 1992 and taking 1976 as 100, the United Kingdom manufacturing output change figures for the same intervening years.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is given in the following table.

  Index of manufacturing output, annual averages

  1985=100

  Percentage change since 1976

  Wales

  United Kingdom

  Wales

  United Kingdom

  1976

  100·7

  103·5

  0·0

  0·0

  1981

  93·0

  91·0

  -7·6

  -12·1

  1986

  104·5

  101·3

  3·8

  -2·1

  1991

  125·7

  112·2

  24·8

  8·4

  1992

  127·2

  111·4

  26·3

  7·6

  Source: Welsh Office, CSO.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the 1993–94 council tax for Wales is to be paid for by (a) single-person households, (b) two-person households and (c) three or more person households.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information required is not held centrally.

  River Ebbw
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made of the levels of chemical pollution in the River Ebbw.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This is a matter for the National Rivers Authority, which regularly monitors the river on a routine basis. I am advised by the authority that the results of the monitoring show water quality to be generally good and improving.
  639

  Pharmacies
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to pay professional allowances to pharmacists dispensing over 2,000 scripts per month.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd, North-West (Mr. Richards) on 20 May at column 314.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what policies he has adopted to assist local pharmacies.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Local pharmacies may be eligible for a range of assistance to retail businesses which is provided through the enterprise initiative consultancy scheme, through training and enterprise councils, and through local enterprise agencies. Pharmacies in commercial improvement areas or commercial renewal areas may also qualify for assistance for commercial building improvement works under the Welsh Office's urban programme. For those pharmacies who are contracted to provide pharmaceutical services to the NHS, the arrangements for determining their remuneration are intended to give pharmacists a fair return for the level and quality of the services they provide. The essential small pharmacies scheme gives additional payments to improve the financial viability of small isolated pharmacies which provide essential NHS dispensing services to patients.

  Managing in the 90s
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many firms in Clwyd have been helped by the organisation, Managing in the 90s; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Clwyd-based companies, in common with their counterparts throughout the country, have benefited in a variety of ways from this extensive management best-practice awareness programme. Initially focusing on four areas of industrial performance—design, production, purchasing and quality—it has recently been extended to include marketing and innovation.

  The programme reaches its audience through a range of media—publications, videos and events. I understand that literature and invitations to events are regularly dispatched to some 100 companies in the Clwyd area.

  The programme was launched in Wales in June 1989 with two successful management action briefings, one of which was held at British Aerospace, Broughton, in Clwyd which attracted a capacity audience of predominantly local industrialists.

  The programme acts as an umbrella and inspiration behind a wide range of other activities such as Newtech's Transforum with membership in excess of 50 which exists to help Clwyd and Gwynedd companies take advantage of technology transfer opportunities.

  Late last year 24 companies attended a "Competing With the Best in Manufacturing" seminar in Holywell arranged under the M90's programme.

  The flagship of the programme, the strategy roadshow, has visited Clwyd twice. It was at Deeside industrial estate for a week in September 1991 and more recently in February this year at British Aerospace, Broughton where it attracted 299 visitors over five days from 149 organisations.
  640

  Support for Products under Research
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will name the companies in Clwyd that have received financial assistance from the scheme, support for products under research; what was the amount of each award; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  SPUR is a valuable scheme designed to enable small and medium size companies to develop new products and processes which are technologically advanced.

  In Wales, some 20 companies have been supported under the scheme so far. These include three companies located in Clwyd which have collectively received offers of assistance totalling £360,000.

  These companies are:

  Breger Gibson Ltd.- offered up to £150,000

  Depac Glideflare Ltd. - offered up to £119,100

  Sutures Ltd.- offered up to £90,000

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the reed beds of over two hectares in extent in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Reed bed sites in Wales covering two hectares or more are as follows:Clwyd

  Shotton Steelworks

  Dyfed

  Ynys Eidol

  Ynys Hir

  Cors Fochno

  Teifi marshes

  Freshwater West, Castle Martin Corse

  Freshwater East

  Slebech

  Goodwick, Fishguard

  Newport

  Ritec Valley, Tenby Marsh

  Kilpaison Marsh, Rhoscrowther

  Pembrey Airfield, Banc-y-lord

  Pembrey Saltings

  Ffrwd

  Burry Port West

  Burry Port East

  Ashpits, Burry Port

  Pwll

  Techon Marsh

  Fos Fach, Bynea

  Llangennech

  Kidwelly Castle

  Mid Glamorgan

  Kenfig Pool

  West Glamorgan

  Oxwich

  Crymlyn Bog

  Eglwys Nunydd (site 2)

  Crymlyn Burrows

  Gwent

  Wentlooge Levels

  Caldicot Levels

  Gwynedd

  Ynysmaen gwyn, Broadwater

  Arthod (ditches)

  Farchynys

  Penmaenpool

  Ynys

  Ystumllyn

  641

  Cors Llyferin

  Penrhydlyniog, Pwellheli

  Glanllynnau

  Aber Dwyfor

  Cors Gyfelog A'Cycich

  Aber Gwyrfai

  Dolgarrog

  Llyn Pencraig

  Chwythlyn

  Llyn Goddington

  Rhoscolyn

  Bagnol

  Cerrig Moelion

  Llyn Maclog

  Llyn Penrhyn

  Llyn Dinam

  Llyn Cerrig Bach

  Llyn Garreg Lwyd

  Traeth Dulas

  Plas Bog

  Value of new orders obtained by contractors at constant 1985 prices

  £ million

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  New housing:

  Public sector

  61

  27

  51

  53

  23

  17

  30

  36

  36

  32

  45

  34

  Private sector

  145

  100

  129

  171

  169

  153

  179

  211

  266

  188

  190

  111

  Total

  206

  127

  180

  223

  192

  170

  209

  247

  302

  220

  235

  145

  Other new work

  Public sector

  284

  292

  259

  204

  226

  214

  329

  204

  194

  247

  227

  344

  Private sector:

  Industrial

  98

  89

  54

  67

  104

  61

  67

  78

  150

  129

  134

  172

  Commercial

  82

  86

  87

  79

  98

  81

  100

  96

  166

  163

  172

  188

  Total private sector orders

  325

  274

  270

  316

  372

  295

  346

  386

  582

  480

  496

  470

  Total public sector orders

  344

  319

  311

  257

  249

  231

  360

  239

  230

  279

  271

  377

  Grand total of new orders

  670

  594

  581

  573

  620

  526

  706

  625

  812

  759

  767

  847

  Source: Department of the Environment.

  Since the fourth quarter of 1992, the divisions under which the data on construction new orders are published have been changed and no data are available for 1992 under the old headings. As price deflators are not available on the new basis yet, the following table gives the information on the new basis at current prices since 1983.

  Value of new orders obtained by contractors at current prices

  £ million

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  11992

  New housing:

  Public sector

  49

  22

  17

  31

  38

  42

  42

  61

  45

  67

  Private sector

  152

  161

  153

  195

  258

  381

  310

  335

  193

  203

  Other new work:

  Infrastructure

  61

  92

  119

  204

  117

  65

  189

  154

  372

  179

  Public

  137

  127

  105

  134

  107

  180

  154

  190

  163

  162

  Private sector:

  Industrial

  59

  98

  53

  67

  79

  162

  161

  149

  171

  76

  Commercial

  73

  92

  78

  105

  106

  200

  219

  233

  186

  109

  Grand total of new orders

  530

  592

  526

  736

  704

  1,031

  1,073

  1,121

  1,132

  796

  Source: Department of the Environment.

  1Provisional.

  Education (Special Needs)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list on an annual basis the number of times the procedures under section 14 of the Education Act 1981 have been used, indicating the local education authorities involved, the special schools proposed for closure, the ones that were closed and the alternative provision made for them.
  642

  Cors Bodeilo

  Cors Goch

  Llanlleiana

  Llyn Bodgylched

  Ty Mawr

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the value of construction industry new orders according to sector at constant 1985 prices in Wales in each year from 1980 indicating the values of (a) total new orders, (b) housing new orders, (c) construction and industry new orders and (d) public infrastructure new orders.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Constant price data are available only for years until 1991 and the available information is given in the following tables.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Comprehensive information is not available in the form requested. However, from 1988, the special schools subject to section 14 procedures, together with the date of my right hon. Friend's decision, are shown in the following list. Prior to 1988, the number of special schools in Wales by county and by year are shown in the relevant volume of "Statistics of Education in Wales"
  643

  County and School Proposal

  Decision

  South Glamorgan

  Closure of Prince of Wales Orthopaedic Hospital School to form a hospital class

  March 1988 Approved

  West Glamorgan

  Closure of Maytree School, Swansea; pupils from the Maytree Autistic Unit to transfer to Penybryn School, Swansea

  June 1989 Approved

  Gwynedd

  Closure of Ysgol Gogarth and Ysgol Wern Yr Wylan, Llandudno, and establishment of a new school in the premises of Ysgol Gogarth

  December 1989 Approved

  Gwent

  Closure of St. Lawrence Hospital School, Chepstow, to form a hospital class

  December 1989 Approved

  South Glamorgan

  Closure of Pentwyn, Presswood House and Preswylfa Schools, Cardiff, and the establishment of a new school at Pentwyn

  Closures approved May 1992; new school approved subject to refurbishment work being done

  Powys

  Closure of Cyfronydd, School and, in effect, its amalgamation with Brynllywarch School

  Awaiting decision

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice has been issued directly or through the

  Total construction output in Wales at constant 1985 prices

  £ million

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  11992

  Housing (new works):

  Public sector

  96

  64

  51

  53

  42

  26

  26

  33

  39

  36

  47

  43

  59

  Private sector

  138

  125

  90

  140

  127

  105

  117

  123

  171

  199

  200

  113

  141

  Housing:

  Repair and Maintenance

  258

  241

  238

  250

  266

  277

  298

  326

  341

  339

  334

  295

  283

  Private Sector Industrial and Commercial

  New work

  237

  236

  183

  153

  208

  197

  164

  204

  223

  350

  344

  353

  347

  Repair and Maintenance

  80

  69

  66

  81

  74

  81

  87

  100

  104

  112

  120

  109

  105

  Public Works:

  New work

  308

  281

  264

  259

  217

  202

  201

  231

  227

  216

  223

  269

  341

  Repair and Maintenance

  192

  177

  185

  159

  157

  148

  141

  149

  143

  140

  160

  153

  140

  Total

  1,310

  1,194

  1,077

  1,096

  1,091

  1,036

  1,034

  1,166

  1,248

  1,391

  1,430

  1,336

  1,416

  Source:Department of the Environment

  1Provisional

  Institute of Welsh Affairs
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received from the Institute of Welsh Affairs over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Several.
  644
  Curriculum Council for Wales, School Examinations and Assessment Council and Her Majesty's inspectorate in Wales about the teaching or modifying of the national curriculum for emotionally and behaviourally disturbed children.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Welsh Office has issued circulars to local education authorities and schools in Wales advising on the provision to be made for children with special educational needs within the national curriculum including, if necessary, the adaptation, modification or disapplication of national curriculum requirements. The Curriculum Council for Wales has issued non-statutory guidance for teachers on how to provide for pupils with special educational needs and the Schools Examinations and Assessment Council has produced and distributed to all schools in Wales teacher guidance material on the assessment of pupils with special educational needs. Pupils with special educational needs include those with emotional and behavioural problems.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the value of construction output according to sector at constant 1985 prices within Wales for each year since 1980 indicating (a) the total amount, (b) money allocated to housing, (c) money allocated to commercial and industrial work and (d) money allocated to public infrastructure.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The available information is given in the following table:

  Housing Expenditure
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the total gross capital expenditure on housing by (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations for each year from 1979–80, including estimated expenditure up to 1994–95; and if he will indicate the total spent on social housing (i) in cash terms and (ii) at constant 1991–92 prices.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on gross capital expenditure on housing is given in the following table. For
  645
  1994–95, local authorities and Housing for Wales will make firm expenditure plans in the light of the resources which will be announced later this year.

  The total capital amount spent, by local authorities and housing associations, on social housing for the period 1979–80 to 1993–94 is estimated at £2,800 million in cash terms, and £3,600 million at constant 1991–92 prices. The local authority element includes Housing Revenue Account capital expenditure for each year and low cost home ownership expenditure for the period 1981–82 to 1991–92. Information on low cost home ownership is not available separately for the other years.

  Gross capital expenditure on housing

  £ million

  Local authority1

  Housing associations

  1979–80

  124·5

  24·5

  1980–81

  112·3

  28·9

  1981–82

  95·9

  33·9

  1982–83

  140·6

  46·4

  1983–84

  216·2

  48·8

  1984–85

  171·2

  43·4

  1985–86

  140·3

  43·6

  1986–87

  179·9

  51·5

  1987–88

  226·2

  70·6

  1988–89

  222·1

  83·2

  1989–90

  308·1

  112·4

  1990–91

  254·4

  149·0

  1991–92

  237·5

  184·6

  1992–93

  2294·7

  4195·0

  1993–94

  3292·9

  5197·3

  1 Local authority capital outturn returns for years 1979–80 to 1991–92.

  2 Local authority December forecast.

  3 Local authority April forecast.

  4 Provisional outturn. Excludes £35m for Acquisition Initiative.

  5 Plans. Excludes transfer of local authority resources.

  Mortgage Assistance
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimates he has of the number of households assisted through mortgage rescue schemes in Wales; and if he will indicate the percentage of mortgage-holding households that have benefited from such schemes.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Tourism
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many tourists from (a) the United Kingdom and (b) abroad visited each county in Wales in each year since 1987.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information available for tourist visits to Wales is given in the following table:

  Visitors to Wales1

  Overseas visitors (thousands)

  Domestic visitors (millions)

  North Wales

  Mid Wales

  South Wales

  North Wales

  Mid Wales

  South Wales

  1987

  171·1

  76·7

  342·2

  4·0

  1·7

  5·6

  1988

  159·3

  82·6

  348·1

  3·5

  1·9

  5·6

  1989

  179·2

  83·2

  377·6

  3·3

  1·3

  4·9

  1990

  204·0

  74·8

  401·2

  3·0

  1·6

  3·8

  1991

  179·8

  74·4

  365·8

  3·2

  1·4

  4·2

  Source:

  Overseas: International Passenger Survey.
  646
  Domestic: 1987–1989 figures-British Tourism Survey Monthly. 1989–1991 figures-United Kingdom Tourism Survey.

  1North Wales:

  Clwyd and the Aberconwy, Ynys Mon, Arfon and Dwyfor districts of Gwynedd.

  Mid Wales:

  The Meirionnydd district of Gwynedd, the Ceredigion district of Dyfed, the Montgomery, Radnor and part of the Brecknock districts of Powys.

  South Wales: Dyfed (except the Ceredigion district), Mid, South and West Glamorgan, Gwent and part of the Brecknock district of Powys.

  House Prices
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest information on the number of households with mortgages in Wales that have been affected by negative equity; and if he will express the figure (a) as a percentage of all households and (b) as a percentage of mortgage-holding households.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Employment and Training Schemes
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the local employment and training systems schemes currently in action in Wales; and what encouragement is given by his Department to the formation of such schemes.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Local schemes for the benefit of the community are supported under the training for work and community action programmes (or systems) in Wales. I encourage such schemes especially where they provide opportunities for training and practising skills, but lists of schemes are not held centrally.

  Planning Decisions
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received for each of the last 10 years and for each local authority in Wales complaining about planning decisions that have been taken locally in contravention of county structure plans.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not recorded centrally and such of it as might be available could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  House Building
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures on actual and projected new dwelling starts according to tenure in Wales in each year from 1985 to 1995 indicating (a) total dwellings, (b) local authority dwellings, (c) housing association, (d) total social housing dwellings and (e) private sector dwelings.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Figures on actual new dwellings started, analysed by expected tenure, are published in the annual Welsh Housing Statistics volume, copies of which are in the Library of the House. Projections are not available.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs have been (a) created and (b) safeguarded in Wales by regional selective assistance in areas defined by the Industry Act 1972, and amended in 1984, since its implementation.
  647
  Mr. David Hunt
  Information about employment created or safeguarded by regional selective assistance since its implementation is not available centrally. However information about payments of RSA and employment created or safeguarded on cumulative offers accepted since 1 April 1982 is published in the Industrial Development Act 1982 annual report. Further information is also published in the Welsh Office departmental report. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  Brecon Beacons
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to secure the financial position of Brecon Beacons national park authority.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I asked the four county councils concerned to clarify their position with regard to the funding in 1993–94 of the Brecon Beacons national park and I am presently considering the response from the county solicitor of Powys county council, who has replied on behalf of all the councils. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.

  Local Authority Employees
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number employed in local authorities at the present time, and the estimated figure of employment for the proposed unitary authorities.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The latest available estimate of the total number employed in local authorities in Wales is 122,513 full-time equivalents. This is a provisional figure, as at December 1992, provided by the Local Government Management Board.

  It will be for unitary authorities to decide their own management structures and staffing levels. The study of transitional costs by Touche Ross suggested that, for 23 authorities, the change in staff numbers might range from a net decrease of 490 to a net increase of 623.

  Public Libraries
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to support and promote public libraries in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The statutory duty to provide a comprehensive public library service rests with the library authorities. The Department's activities in relation to public libraries conform with the responsibilities defined in the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.

  Performing Arts
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to support and promote the performing arts in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  A number of Welsh Office programmes contribute to the support and promotion of the performing arts in Wales, but this is principally a matter for the Welsh Arts Council which is funded by the Department of National Heritage through the Arts Council of Great Britain. Responsibility for the Welsh Arts Council will transfer to the Secretary of State from 1 April 1994.
  648

  Police Services
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take the necessary steps to arrange for the prefix "Royal" to be added to each of the police services in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of abattoirs in Wales and their combined average throughput in (a) 1970, (b) 1980, (c) 1990, (d) 1991 and (e) 1992; and what are the most recent figures available.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Annual statistics derived from the survey of Welsh slaughterhouses are given in the following table. (Comparable figures are not available for the years 1970 and 1980—details for 1985 are therefore included):

  Year

  Number of abattoirs open1

  Average throughput per abattoir (LUs)2

  1985

  72

  5,454

  1990

  57

  8,824

  1991

  55

  9,964

  1992

  47

  8,171

  The most recent figures available show that 41 abattoirs in Wales are currently licensed to operate under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992.

  1Open at any time during the year.

  21 LU (livestock unit) = One adult cattle/calf or seven sheep or three pigs.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the average (a) local authority expenditure and (b) Government grant to local authorities per head of population, in Wales for the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The latest information available is as follows:

  Revenue expenditure1

  Government grant2

  £/head3

  1990–91

  773

  486

  1991–924

  869

  627

  1992–935

  930

  655

  1 Includes expenditure required to be financed from revenue in the current year and the cost of financing capital expenditure (capital charges) including the debt repayments and interest payable on loans raised to finance past capital expenditure and direct revenue contributions towards capital expenditure in the current year.

  2 Comprises Revenue Support Grant, specific and supplementary grants within Aggregate external Finance, Community Charge Benefit Grant, Transitional Relief/Community Charge Reduction Scheme Grants and Community Charge Grant (1991–92).

  3 Based on Office of Population Censuses and Surveys mid-year estimates.

  4 Revised estimates.

  5 Budgets.

  649

  Integrated Administration and Control Systems
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of IACS forms issued had been returned by 15 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  A total of 18,447 farmers in Wales had submitted their IACS application forms by the deadline of 15 May 1993. This accounts for 47 per cent. of the 40,000 forms which were issued although it was expected that around 18,000 would be returned.

  The IACS literature package was sent to all known farmers in Wales (including sheep farmers who did not need to return a form this year).

  Cattle Identification
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what concessions farmers will receive if they fail to receive their cattle identification documents within the correct time; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Producers who submit claims for premium (on forms BEEF 5 or 5A) and who have not received the appropriate CIDs by the end of the rei.ention period should contact their divisional office immediately. Producers who have submitted applications for CIDs (on form BEEF 2) who have not received their documents within 21 days of submitting an application should follow the advice on the application form and contact their divisional office to explain their position. In both instances, divisional offices will seek to release the documents in time for marketing to proceed or premium to be claimed as appropriate.
  650

  Banw and Llanerfyl Primary School
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the future of the Banw and Llanerfyl primary school.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I have today indicated to the chairman of the governing body of Ysgol Gynradd Llanerfyl and to Powys county council that I am minded to approve the school's application for grant-maintained status subject to the date of implementation being amended to 1 September 1993.

  In Vitro Fertilisation
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people received IVF treatment in each of the last five years in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  IVF treatment under the national health service is available through the fertility clinic at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. This was opened in May 1988 and saw its first patients in November 1988, but did not become fully operational until 1990.

  Information about the number of treatments given in each of the last five years is as follows:

  Number

  1988

  8

  1989

  69

  1990

  91

  1991

  153

  1992

  138

  Source: UHW fertility clinic.

  SUBSIDIARITY
  SUBSIDIARITY
  MAASTRICHT TREATY: FUNCTIONS OF UNION
  MAASTRICHT TREATY: FUNCTIONS OF UNION
  MAASTRICHT TREATY
  MAASTRICHT TREATY
  ALBANIA: AID FOR PRISON SYSTEM REFORM
  ALBANIA: AID FOR PRISON SYSTEM REFORM
  WORLD WAR II: THE JAPANESE ARMY AND "COMFORT WOMEN"
  WORLD WAR II: THE JAPANESE ARMY AND "COMFORT WOMEN"
  FORMER YUGOSLAVIA: CEASEFIRES
  FORMER YUGOSLAVIA: CEASEFIRES
  HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE DEFENCE SUPPORT AGENCY
  HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE DEFENCE SUPPORT AGENCY
  DEFENCE POSTAL AND COURIER SERVICE
  DEFENCE POSTAL AND COURIER SERVICE
  THE ROYAL PALACES: FIRE PROTECTION
  THE ROYAL PALACES: FIRE PROTECTION
  CHANNEL TUNNEL RAIL LINK HIGH LEVEL FORUM: PAPERS
  CHANNEL TUNNEL RAIL LINK HIGH LEVEL FORUM: PAPERS
  A.9 PERTH TO INVERNESS ROAD: DEVELOPMENT
  A.9 PERTH TO INVERNESS ROAD: DEVELOPMENT
  CALEDONIAN PINE FORESTS: REGENERATION INCENTIVES
  CALEDONIAN PINE FORESTS: REGENERATION INCENTIVES
  GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSES
  GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSES
  IALS SCHEME: MERIONETHSHIRE MAPPING
  IALS SCHEME: MERIONETHSHIRE MAPPING
  SPEY SWEEP NETS: CATCH TOTALS
  SPEY SWEEP NETS: CATCH TOTALS
  PENSIONS: PAYMENTS TO BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY
  PENSIONS: PAYMENTS TO BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY
  NHS HOSPITALS: SECURITY
  NHS HOSPITALS: SECURITY
  WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL SITE: FUTURE
  WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL SITE: FUTURE
  ALLITT CASE: INQUIRY
  ALLITT CASE: INQUIRY
  ALLITT CASE: INSTRUCTIONS TO HOSPITAL STAFF
  ALLITT CASE: INSTRUCTIONS TO HOSPITAL STAFF
  SLUG BAIT
  SLUG BAIT
  IACS FORMS: CORRECTION OF ERRORS
  IACS FORMS: CORRECTION OF ERRORS
  IACS FORMS: COMPLETION PERIOD
  IACS FORMS: COMPLETION PERIOD
  DANGEROUS DOGS ACT 1991: REVIEW
  DANGEROUS DOGS ACT 1991: REVIEW
  PRISON IMPROVEMENT EXPENDITURE: CASH LIMIT
  PRISON IMPROVEMENT EXPENDITURE: CASH LIMIT
  WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATIONS
  WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATIONS
  BREATH TEST REFUSAL
  BREATH TEST REFUSAL
  EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS: REFORM
  EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS: REFORM
  RAPE AND VIOLENT ASSAULT: COMPENSATION CHANGES
  RAPE AND VIOLENT ASSAULT: COMPENSATION CHANGES
  LIFE SENTENCES FOR TERRORISM: LOCATION OF PRISONERS
  LIFE SENTENCES FOR TERRORISM: LOCATION OF PRISONERS
  TERRORIST INCIDENTS SINCE 1971
  TERRORIST INCIDENTS SINCE 1971
  LIFE SENTENCE PRISONERS CONVICTED OF TERRORIST OFFENCES
  LIFE SENTENCE PRISONERS CONVICTED OF TERRORIST OFFENCES