Written Answers of 27 May 1993

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Agency Letters
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will place in the Library copies of the recommendations submitted by(a) the Editor of the Official Report, (b) the Principal Clerk of the Table Office and (c) other sources in connection with the resolution agreed by the Administration Committee on publication of agency chief executives' letters and accompanying tables.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  The terms of the Administration Committee's approval of arrangements for the publication of agency chief executive's letters in the Official Report are set out in the Committee's Minutes of Proceedings for 8 July 1992, HC 368-i to iv. It is not the practice of the Administration Committee to deposit in the Library papers which have not been reported to the House.

  Telephone Bills
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what were the quarterly telephone bills for the Palace of Westminster, including outbuildings, for each of the last 10 years; what use has been made of Mercury Communications through least-cost routing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  [holding answer 17 May 1993]: It is not possible to provide details of quarterly telecommunications bills for the Palace of Westminster for the past 10 years. However, the annual bill for telephone messages for the last seven years is as follows:

  £

  1987

  471,000

  1988

  552,000

  1989

  561,000

  1990

  570,000

  1991

  690,000

  1992

  599,000

  New technology installed in the Palace of Westminster telecommunications exchange in the summer of 1992 included a "least-cost routing" facility. At the same time, 125 of the outgoing lines of the exchange were converted to the Mercury network. These changes allow the automatic selection of the cheapest service for each outgoing message. Since October 1992, approximately 1·1 million calls lasting more than 20,000 hours have been carried on Mercury lines.
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EDUCATION

  Teacher Education
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the advice received, and all correspondence, from Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools on the subject of teacher education and school-based teacher training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  Under the Education (Schools) Act 1992, the question of publication is entirely a matter for Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools. The Department for Education and Science was responsible for publishing Her Majesty's inspectorate's reports prepared before September 1992. It published a number of reports on teacher education, including one on school-based initial teacher training in England and Wales which was given wide distribution in January 1992.

  Liverpool City Technology College
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the cost of acquiring land to be used as the Liverpool city technology college.

  Mr. Forth
  A site in Liverpool for possible use as a city technology college was acquired by the CTC Trust in February 1989 for £185,000 and sold in two parts in December 1990 and August 1991 for a total of £669,000.

  Higher Education Student Charter
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many copies of the non-consultative version of the higher education student charter were printed before the publication on Friday 21 May of the consultative version; what was the cost of printing them; what was the total number of administrative hours spent preparing them; when they will be pulped; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  Three and a half million copies of the charter for higher education were printed at a cost of £152,000. All copies have been pulped. Since my right hon. Friend announced our intention to publish further and higher education charters on 19 June 1992, the time of approximately one full-time equivalent offical has been devoted to the higher education charter initiative. The printing arrangements had to be made well in advance of the target date for publication given the large number of copies required. In the event, following further representations, my right hon. Friend agreed that wider formal consultations should be undertaken in particular to allow individual universities to have the opportunity to comment through the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals.

EMPLOYMENT

  Asbestos
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress she has made towards banning all grades of asbestos; what discussions she has had at an EC level on this matter; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The importation, supply and use of the two types of asbestos most commonly associated with
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  disease—crocidolite (blue asbestos) and amosite (brown asbestos)—has been prohibited in the United Kingdom since 1986, although they have not been imported since 1972 and 1980 respectively. Since 1 January 1993, three further types of asbestos have been prohibited though these were not used commercially in the United Kingdom.

  Chrysotile (white asbestos) is now the only type of asbestos allowed into the United Kingdom. Imports have dropped significantly in recent years and are now less than 10,000 tonnes annually. Negotiations are currently in progress on a European Community draft directive to ban chrysotile but with exemptions for certain uses. The Government are keen to avoid this resulting in the replacement chrysotile with substitutes which may be less safe, and support the proposed directive provided that exemptions are based on the relative risks of chrysotile and substitute materials in any particular application.

  Ports (Accidents)
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many fatal accidents have taken place in the United Kingdom ports industry since July 1989.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The numbers of fatal accidents occurring in docks and harbours in Great Britain between 1 July 1989 and 31 March 1992 are given in the table. Statistics for 1992–93 are not yet available. Accident statistics for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Fatal accidents1 in docks and harbours2 as reported to the Health and Safety Executive's Factory and Agricultural Inspectorates—1 July 1989 to 1991–924

  Year

  Fatalities

  1 July 1989 to 31 March 1990

  7

  1990–91 3

  2

  1991–924 3

  6

  Total

  15

  1 Includes accidents to employees (including trainees), self employed persons and members of the public injured as a result of someone else's work activity notified under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR).

  2 As defined by Standard Industrial Classification Class 74 and actify heading 7630.

  3 Year commencing 1 April.

  4 Provisional.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many industrial accidents have taken place in United Kingdom port activities since July 1989.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The numbers of non-fatal injuries occurring in docks and harbours in Great Britain between 1 July 1989 and 31 March 1992 are given in the table. Statistics for 1992–93 are not yet available. Accident statistics for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.654

  Injuries1 in docks and harbours2 as reported to the health and safety executive's factory and agricultural inspectorates 1 July 1989 to 1991–926

  Severity of injury

  Total

  Major4

  Over three days5

  1989–90 7

  80

  406

  486

  1990–91 3

  113

  498

  611

  1991–92 6 3

  88

  469

  557

  Total

  281

  1,373

  1,654

  1 Includes injuries to employees (including trainees), self employed persons and members of the public injured as a result of someone else's work activity notified under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR).

  2 As defined by Standard Industrial Classification Class 74 and activity heading 7630.

  3 Year commending 1st April.

  4 As defined under RIDDOR but chiefly amputations, serious fractures and any other injury requiring hospitalisation for 24 hours.

  5 Any injury that results in an absence from normal work for more than three days.

  6 Provisional.

  7 I July 1989 to 31 March 1990.

  Dock Workers (Compensation)
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the inquiry commissioned from MDS-Transmodal by the Departments of Transport and Employment in 1991 into the cost to public funds of the compensation payments paid to former registered dock workers under the Dock Work Act 1989 has been completed; and if it will be published.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In 1991, the Departments of Employment and Transport commissioned M DSTransmodal and Pieda plc to undertake a study into the effects on the port industry of the abolition of the dock labour scheme.

  A report on the study is being prepared for publication. It is anticipated that the report will be published this year, and I will ensure that copies of the report are placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Sex Discrimination
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action she is taking to lessen inequalities between women's and men's pay.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In 1992, women's average hourly earnings—excluding overtime—were 79·2 per cent. of men's, the highest level ever, and the fifth consecutive year in which the differential between men's and women's pay had narrowed.

  The pursuit of sound economic policies resulting in high productivity and low inflation have established the appropriate conditions for the recent success in further narrowing the differential between women's and men's pay. Further progress in this area will depend in part on sustaining and improving on these economic gains.

  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action she is taking to combat sex discrimination in the workplace.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Equal Pay Act 1970 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, both as amended, make
  655
  discrimination on grounds of sex in contractual and non-contractual employment matters unlawful. The Department publishes and distributes widely explanatory guides to the legislation.

  The Department also funds the Equal Opportunities Commission, which has a statutory duty to work towards the elimination of discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity between women and men.

  Sexual Harassment
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action she is taking to combat sexual harassment in the workplace.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Government abhor sexual harassment as a particularly nasty form of sex discrimination which can have unacceptable repercussions in the workplace.

  It is well established in law that in certain circumstances sexual harassment can amount to sex discrimination, contrary to the provisions of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

  The Department has published two booklets explaining to employers and employees how to combat sexual harassment at work. Both booklets have been widely distributed throughout industry.

  The Government have also brought forward an amendment to the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Bill which will give industrial tribunals a discretionary power to protect those involved in sexual harassment cases from intrusive or offensive reporting of their cases.

  Personal Contracts
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration she has given to the implications of the recent Court of Appeal ruling that companies which grant pay rises only to employees accepting personal contracts are in contravention of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 for employment practices in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We have given careful consideration to the recent Court of Appeal decisions on this issue. As a result of these judgments, the law on action short of dismissal, which is now contained in section 146 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, has been left in a state of some confusion. Section 146 was never intended to interfere in an employer's freedom to determine negotiating arrangements that best suit his business needs.

  In order to clarify the law on action short of dismissal, we have therefore introduced an amendment to the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Bill, which completed its stages in another place on Monday 24 May. This provision makes it clear that action taken by an employer for the purpose of changing his negotiating arrangements is not action taken against an individual within the scope of section 146.

  Departmental Offices
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated amount to be spent in 1993–94 in rent and other associated costs for the offices of her Department in Caxton house, Tothill street, London.
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  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Estimated expenditure by the Department for rent and other associated accommodation costs in Caxton house, Tothill street in 1993–94 is £12·75 million made up as follows:

  £ million

  Rent paid to Property Holding (including VAT)

  8·88

  Rates

  2·91

  Maintenance costs

  0·96

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Mr. T. Barber
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action his Department has taken in response to the representations made to him about the case of Mr. T. Barber of 6 Bennett rise, Huncote, Leicestershire, regarding his work as a bailiff at Leicester county court.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Mortgaged Properties (Repossession)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what were the main conclusions of his Department's review of county court rules concerning general possession procedures in relation to mortgaged properties.

  Mr. John Taylor
  The main conclusions of the review of the handling of mortgage possession cases were that the court needed to be provided with more information about the basis of the claim and the defendant's circumstances. New rules and forms that achieve these aims are currently being drafted.

  Judiciary (Training)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost of training the judiciary and the magistracy in the procedures to be adopted under the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Before the Criminal Justice Act 1991 came into force in October 1992, all judges of the Crown court and all magistrates were trained in its requirements. Judges and recorders attended sentencing conferences on their own circuits and special sessions dedicated to 'studying the Act's provisions were incorporated in the standard refresher and induction courses run centrally by the Judicial Studies Board. Written material was also issued. In addition, a training package, funded by the Home Office, was provided for justices' clerks to enable them 'to train justices of the peace. It is not possible to quantify the cost in detail because of the local nature of most of the training, but a very rough estimate would be approximately £250,000.

  Trainee Lawyers (Grants)
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many representations his Department has received in the last 12 months regarding discretionary grants made by local authorities to trainee lawyers.
  657
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has received four representations from individual students, as well as representations from the Law Society, and from the chairman of the Trainee Solicitors Group.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action he is taking to encourage(a) women and (b) members of ethnic minority groups to pursue careers in the legal profession.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Although he has no direct responsibilities in this field, the Lord Chancellor is concerned to ensure equality of opportunity between all persons intending to be employed in the provision of legal services. Section 64 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 extends the provisions of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Race Relations Act 1976 to the Bar in England and Wales. For those who seek judicial office, the Lord Chancellor's policy is to appoint those best qualified, regardless of gender, ethnic origin, political affiliation or religion. Without prejudice to this overriding principle, the Lord Chancellor has stressed publicly, and will continue to do so, that he would like more women and those of ethnic origin who are suitably qualified to be appointed to the judiciary.

  The Government recognised the importance of encouraging equality of opportunity when it established the Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education and conduct, which is independent of the Government. The Act requires the committee to have regard to the desirability of equal opportunity when fulfilling its general duty of assisting in the maintenance and development of standards in the training and conduct of those offering legal services. The committee has commenced a major review of legal education and training; this issue will be considered as part of that exercise.

  Justices (Appointments)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether his Department applies any restrictions based on physical, sensory or mental impairments in the appointment of(a) justices of the peace. (b) coroners and (c) judges.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In the appointment of judges and magistrates, the Lord Chancellor must be satisfied in the public interest that a candidate has the necessary physical and mental abilities to carry out the full range of duties of the post and any individual candidate is considered on his or her merits in the light of their particular circumstances. I understand from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department that coroners are appointed by local authorities in accordance with qualifications laid down in the Coroners Act 1988, as amended by the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.

  Court Service
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for organisational change in the management of the court service.
  658
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  After detailed consideration, the Lord Chancellor has concluded that a move to executive agency status is the right way forward for the court service and he envisages setting up the service as an agency in April 1995.

  Agency status will provide the management of the court service with a clearer focus on the job to be done, and greater flexibility to respond to the changing needs of all court users.

  The agency will comprise the staff of the unified court service. It will exclude the staff of the magistrates court service, which is locally managed and whose organisation is dealt with in the White Paper "A Framework for Local Justice".

  The conversion of the court service into an agency will not affect the judiciary, either in its independent role and functions or in its relations with the administration.

  Consultation with the judiciary and the trade union side on this subject has recently begun and will continue with them, and with other interested parties, throughout the implementation period.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Indonesia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the current projects and their value that are currently being funded in Indonesia by the Overseas Development Administration, European Community, World bank, Asian Development bank and other aid-giving bodies for which he is responsible.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Projects funded by ODA from the United Kingdom/Indonesia grant programme are:

  Title

  Allocation £ million

  Coastal Fisheries

  0·38

  Animal Health—Phase 4

  1·69

  Coastal Prawn Culture

  1·30

  Tropical Forestry Management

  10·77

  Gas Distribution

  9·70

  Hydrocarbon Basin Assessment

  5·98

  Active Learning Professional Support

  1·71

  Library Development

  0·75

  English Language Training (National Level)

  1·33

  Institutional English Language Training

  1·79

  Biotechnology

  0·43

  South Sumatra Geological Survey

  2·26

  Regional Government Finance

  0·91

  Police Management Training

  0·97

  Development of Professional Training for Civil Engineering Consultants

  1·74

  Development of Mini-Hydros

  5·61

  Development of Thermal Power Plant Personnel Training Capability—Phase 3

  1·20

  We also support the activities in Indonesia of British non-governmental organisations such as Voluntary Services Overseas, Oxfam and Christian Aid. The Commonwealth Development Corporation, for which the principal source of finance is the British aid programme, has investments in Indonesia totalling £72 million, covering nine projects in sectors such as textiles, cement production, power and plantation crops.

  Projects supported by the ODA under concessional loan arrangements include the following:

  659

  Title

  Soft loan allocation £ million

  Cigading-Serpong Railway Rehabilitation

  24·690

  Citayam-Cibinong Railway (New Line)

  20·105

  Steel Bridging Components

  3·669

  Forestry Radio Communications Network

  34·111

  Airport Security Systems

  10·455

  Flight Simulator for Civil Aircraft

  4·659

  Shortwave Radio Transmitters for National Broadcasting Network

  26·911

  Additional Generating Capacity for Jambi Power Plant

  5·345

  Equipment for Universities in Sumatra and Kalimantan

  13·671

  Most European Community aid to Indonesia is provided through the Community's Asia/Latin America programme, of which the United Kingdom contributes around 16 per cent. Recent project approvals have been as follows:

  Title

  Allocation

  £ million

  Mecu1

  Punggur Utara Irrigation Project

  23·07

  (29·3)

  North Bali Irrigation and Water Supply

  8·11

  (10·3)

  Forest Sector Support Programme

  20·47

  (26·0)

  1 Million European currency units.

  The World bank has an active portfolio of 61 loans with a cumulative value of approximately $7·9 billion. For the Asian Development bank, the corresponding figures are 62 and $5·6 billion. For the International Fund for Agricultural Development, they are four and $66 million. Details of loan approvals are contained in the annual reports of these institutions, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Committee for the Prevention of Torture
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the European countries visited in each of the last three years by the European committee for the prevention of torture.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The European committee for the prevention of torture (CPT) has visited the following countries in the last three years:

  1990: Austria, Denmark, Malta, Turkey, United Kingdom.

  1991: France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey.

  1992: Cyprus, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Turkey.

  1993: Luxembourg, Greece, Liechtenstein.

  The CPT plans to visit Belgium, Iceland, Ireland and Norway by the end of the year. The CPT will then have visited all the states party to the convention.

  Tibet
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has recently received regarding the Chinese occupation of Tibet; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  I have received a number of letters and other expressions of concern about the situation in Tibet 660
  from hon. Members of the House and others. We share the concern about human rights there and particularly about the latest reports of detentions and demonstrations. With our European Community partners, we have been pursuing these matters with the Chinese authorities.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had urging a boycott of Chinese goods in protest at the Chinese occupation of Tibet; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  None. We have no plans to introduce such a boycott.

  Mrs. Hamida Mattoo
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information about the death of Mrs. Hamida Mattoo he has received through the post in New Delhi from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs: what representations have been made to the Indian high commission in London about the circumstances of Mrs. Mattoo's death; when he intends to write to the hon. Member for Bradford, West following his letter of 15 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our high commissioner in Delhi took up the case with the Indian authorities and received a fact sheet from the Indian Home Ministry on 26 May which states that Mrs. Mattoo was killed on 3 March 1993 in crossfire between Indian security personnel and terrorists. I will write to the hon. Gentleman shortly with details of the fact sheet. We have not made representations to the Indian high commissioner in London about Mrs. Mattoo's death.

PRIME MINISTER

  Ministers (Cash Payments)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister if Departments in their capacity as employers notify the Inland Revenue when cash payments are made to Ministers to relieve financial pressures which affect their performance as Ministers.

  The Prime Minister
  I know of no such payments.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Prime Minister what considerations underlie the policies of Her Majesty's Government with respect to giving substantive answers to parliamentary questions seeking details of the names, occupations and remuneration of Members of(a) health boards in Scotland and (b) district health authorities in England.

  The Prime Minister
  Non-executive health board members in Scotland are appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and information on them is therefore held centrally and given in response to parliamentary questions. Non-executive members of district health authorities in England, however, are appointed by regional health authorities and not by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. Executive members of health boards in Scotland and
  661
  district health authorities in England are appointed by their respective board or authority. Information on them, therefore, is not currently available centrally.

  The level of remuneration for health authority members in England, and for health board members in Scotland, is set centrally and this information is always provided in response to parliamentary questions.

  Merlin Reactor
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister which Government Department is responsible for overseeing the decommissioning of the Merlin reactor at Aldermaston.

  The Prime Minister
  The nuclear installations inspectorate, which is now part of the Health and Safety Executive, was responsible for overseeing the decommissioning.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 15 March,Official Report, column 33, what information has been received through the high commission in New Delhi from the Indian Government about Shabir Shah and Yasin Malik; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  On 26 May, our high commission in New Delhi received a lengthy aide memoire from the Indian Home Ministry. This stated that both Shabir Shah and Yasin Malik are in custody in Jammu where they are awaiting trial. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will be writing to the hon. Gentleman with details.

  School Visits
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the local authority maintained schools, grant-maintained schools and city technology colleges that he has visited since taking his present office.

  The Prime Minister
  I have visited a number of local authority maintained schools, grant-maintained schools and city technology colleges.

  Jubilee Line
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a further statement about the Government's commitment to making a contribution to the Jubilee line extension.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government, and I personally, remain committed to the Jubilee line extension as a major addition to the infrastructure of docklands and of London's transport. We have earmarked public funds for the line. As soon as negotiations with the companies involved in the financing of Canary Wharf have been concluded satisfactorily my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport will authorise the start of construction and the first tranche of those funds will be made available. The line will then be built within an estimated 53 months. The draft funding agreement specifies that swingeing penalty payments will come into force if the line is not completed seven months after that.
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DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make available a list of independent Government advisory committees dealing with human health, environmental protection and animal welfare, for which a list of members' registered interests are available, and the dates on which these registers were introduced.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  Registers of members interests relating to the matters under consideration are published for the following committees.

  Committee

  Year introduced

  Committee on the Safety of Medicines

  1987

  Medicines Commission

  1987

  British Pharmacopoeia Commission

  1987

  Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances

  1991

  A register of members' interests is maintained for the Farm Animal Welfare Council by its secretariat.

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans the Government have for the future of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  HMSO has made great strides since its establishment as one of the first executive agencies in 1988. The 1992 trading fund accounts, published today, show a current cost profit of £6·5 million against a financial target of £6 million—the fourth successive year in which profitability has increased. In order to build on this growing commercialism, I am commissioning a consultancy study to explore the scope for further commercialisation of the operations of HMSO. The study will incorporate the review of status which is required periodically of all executive agencies. It will also take account of the Government's concern to ensure that Parliament, Departments and agencies continue to obtain value for money when purchasing the products and services provided by HMSO.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Manufactures
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the factors determining the level of import penetration of the United Kingdom for manufacturers since(a) 1979 and (b) the year ended June 1989; and to what extent the increase in import penetration is due to the increase in the real exchange rate since the second half of 1973.

  Mr. Nelson
  Rising import penetration is largely a consequence of the greater specialisation of international production, and has been experienced by virtually all other industrialised countries. The counterpart to this rising import penetration is higher exports. United Kingdom export volumes were at record levels at the end of 1992 and have grown faster than gross domestic product as a whole since 1979.
  663

  Retail Prices Index
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the retail prices index for(a) goods other than food, fuel and alcoholic drink and (b) services for each year since 1987 and for each month since August 1992; and what were the increases for the same periods in (i) earnings of manual workers in manufacturing industry, (ii) earnings of white-collar workers in the private sector and (iii) producer prices for manufacturing.

  Mr. Nelson
  The information for(a) and (b) is not available in the form requested and can only be produced at disproportionate cost.

  The following table gives average gross weekly earnings of full time employees on adult rates with pay not affected by absence for April each year.

  Manual employees in manufacturing

  Non-manuals in private sector

  April

  Mean (£)

  Increase over 12 months (per cent.)

  Mean (£)

  Increase over 12 months (per cent.)

  1986

  169·6

  —

  203·9

  —

  1987

  181·1

  6·8

  222·8

  8·7

  1988

  195·5

  8·0

  247·6

  11·0

  1989

  212·1

  8·5

  272·3

  9·8

  1990

  231·1

  9·0

  300·2

  10·2

  1991

  241·9

  4·3

  318·2

  7·6

  1992

  258·9

  7·0

  337·9

  6·2

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  The data for producer prices (home sales) for all manufacturing industries are as shown:

  Index (1985 = 100)

  Percentage increase on year earlier

  1987

  108·3

  3·8

  1988

  113·2

  4·5

  1989

  119·0

  5·1

  1990

  126·0

  5·9

  1991

  133·0

  5·6

  1992

  138·0

  3·8

  August 1992

  138·5

  3·4

  September 1992

  138·6

  3·4

  October 1992

  138·7

  3·3

  November 1992

  139·2

  3·3

  December 1992

  139·5

  3·5

  January 1993

  140·7

  3·6

  February 1993

  141·4

  3·7

  March 1993

  1 142·4

  1 3·7

  April 1993

  1 143·0

  1 3·8

  1 Provisional.

  "The Sunday Times" (Letter)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the sending of a letter with reference number IDT ASS./DOCS/1.11.5. by an official in his Department to the political editor of The Sunday Times.

  Mr. Lamont
  I do not comment on letters sent on a "not for publication" basis.
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  Protection Money (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to ensure that tax relief is not granted for protection money in Northern Ireland; what estimate he has made of the extent of this abuse of the tax relief system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  There is little evidence of tax relief for protection money being widely granted in Northern Ireland, but we are looking into the matter in order to find an appropriate solution.

  Income Tax
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are taxed on(a) PAYE, (b) schedule D and (c) schedule E basis; and what is the tax yield for each category.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Available estimates for 1992–93 are as follows:

  Source of income

  Number of individual taxpayer1 (millions)

  Tax yield2 (£ billion)

  PAYE and other

  Schedule E

  23·2

  49·7

  Schedule D3

  3·1

  7·5

  1 A taxpayer with both a schedule E and schedule D source of income is included in both rows of the table.

  2 The tax yield represents the tax liability on each type of income where that income is regarded as the top slice of a person's income.

  3 Excluding interest taxed at source.

  Pensions
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of the public sector pensions payable in each of the next 20 years assuming annual inflation of(a) 2 per cent., (b) 4 per cent. and (c) 6 per cent. and in respect of the next three years the proportion that such pensions are as a percentage of forecast gross domestic product.

  Mr. Portillo
  The data requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Costs
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 26 April,Official Report, columns 292–94, what amount of additional employment costs is incurred by each Department in addition to wages and salaries.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information requested is no longer collected centrally. The table sets out the information in respect of central Government Departments for 1991–92, the last year available.

  1991·92 £ million

  Defence

  238·9

  FCO (including ODA)

  50·0

  Agriculture

  17·5

  Trade and Industry

  20·9

  Employment

  70·5

  Transport

  16·0

  Environment

  60·3

  665

  1991–92 £ million

  Home Office

  63·0

  Legal Departments

  49·4

  Education

  7·9

  Heritage

  0·1

  Health

  16·7

  Social Security

  61·6

  Scotland

  15·1

  Wales

  3·4

  Northern Ireland

  28·0

  Chancellor's Departments

  95·0

  Cabinet Office etc.

  3·1

  817·6

  Financial Regulation
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive the Securities and Investments Board report on the state of financial regulation; and if he intends to make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) on 25 May,Official Report, columns 540–42.

  Taxation
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (I) if he will publish figures on the same basis as table I of appendix 4 to "Economic Trends", January 1992, on the total percentage of gross income accounted for by taxes of all kinds paid by(a) the bottom quintile of households and (b) the top quintile for households ranked by equivalised disposable income for 1991; and if he will estimate the same quintile groups on the same basis for each year from 1992 to 1996;

  (2) if he will publish figures on the same basis as table 4 of appendix 1 to "Economic Trends", January 1992, on the total percentage of gross income accounted for by taxes of all kinds paid by (a) the bottom decile of households and (h) the top decile for households ranked by equivalised disposable income for 1991; and if he will estimate the same quintile groups on the same basis for each year from 1992 to 1996.

  Mr. Nelson
  The results for 1991 will be published in the May 1993 edition of "Economic Trends", due out on Wednesday 2 June. The required ratios can be derived from the figures in table 3, appendix 1, which is on the same basis as table 4, appendix 1 in the January 1992 edition of "Economic Trends".

  The figures are based on the family expenditure survey.

  Projections are not available.

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what savings would accrue to the Treasury if M IRAS was phased out in three equal stages in three years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The cost of mortgage interest tax relief at the proposed rate of 20 per cent. for 1994–95 is estimated to be £3·6 billion. Based on the estimated 1994–95 distribution of mortgages, if the relief were phased out in equal stages over a three-year period the estimated yield would be £1·2 billion, £2·4 billion and £3·6 billion.
  666
  These estimates adopt the conventional assumption that there will be no change in interest rates from the current rate of 8 per cent.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual value of 6 per cent. of the civil service pay bill; and what is the total annual expenditure on civil service pensions.

  Mr. Portillo
  In 1992–93, 6 per cent. of the civil service pay bill—excluding the pay costs of civil servants working in trading funds and trading bodies, and MOD civilians working in non-support areas—amounted to £704 million. Pensions paid to retired civil servants in the same year totalled £1,720 million.

  Economic Policy (Environmental Impact)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all conferences and meetings of intergovernmental organisations he and Ministers of his Department have attended over the past year on the environmental impacts of economic and financial policy.

  Sir John Cope
  Treasury Ministers attend numerous meetings of intergovernmental organisations at which environmental issues may arise. It would not be practical to list all conferences and meetings of intergovernmental organisations which have touched on environmental issues.

  EC Finance Ministers Meeting
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of European Finance Ministers.

  Mr. Lamont
  European Community Finance Ministers held an informal meeting with central bank governors in Kolding, Denmark on 21 to 23 May. The Governor of the Bank of England and I represented the United Kingdom.

  The meeting discussed reports by the Monetary Committee and Central Bank Governors Committee on recent events in the exchange rate mechanism. It was agreed that specific conditions had applied in September 1992 with, in particular, an exceptionally large differential between United States and European interest rates. Member states emphasised the need for greater economic convergence and reaffirmed their support for the European monetary system. I made clear that the return of sterling to the ERM could not be contemplated until the requirements of United Kingdom and German monetary policy had come more closely into line. Copies of the reports of the Monetary Committee and Central Bank Governors Committee have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Ministers also discussed German proposals for a harmonised system of withholding tax on interest paid to EC residents. It was agreed that these ideas needed further preparation before being considered by the Council. In addition, there was a discussion of the issue of unitary taxation in the United States, in the light of my announcement to the House on 13 May, Official Report, column 528. Other member states strongly supported the United Kingdom position and it was agreed that the

  667
  presidency would write to the United States Administration underlining the importance member states attach to an early resolution of the problem.

  The meeting also examined the relationship between environmental and economic policies and briefly discussed the Commission's proposals for an EC carbon/energy tax. This proposal is expected to be discussed by the Council at its next meeting.

  Finally, Ministers discussed the unemployment situation in the Community and their remit from the Edinburgh European Council to consider measures to improve the functioning of the labour market.

  The meeting was informal and there were therefore no votes or formal decisions.

  Local Government Borrowing
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether local authorities are able to borrow from financial institutions outside the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Treasury has today issued four general consents. Three of those consents, taken together with complementary approvals given by the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales, allow local authorities in England and Wales to borrow in sterling from any credit institution provided it is authorised by the supervisory authority of an EC member state. The fourth allows local authorities in Scotland to borrow in sterling from EC credit institutions.

  These measures, which have been taken under section 43 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, and under paragraph 4 of schedule 3 to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975, make clear the interpretation of the legislation in England and Wales and ensure compliance with the single European market in banking services.

HEALTH

  Young People in Care
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the operation of those provisions of the Children Act 1989 relating to assistance to young persons leaving care.

  Mr. Yeo
  We are closely monitoring the implementation of the Children Act 1989 as a whole, including the after-care provisions. A report on the first year's operation of the Act was presented to Parliament on 4 February 1993.

  Mental Hospitals
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 27 April,Official Report, column 345, when the mental health task force is to begin collecting information on the closure of mental hospitals; when the data will be made publicly available; and what is the task force's definition of a long-stay psychiatric hospital.

  Mr. Yeo
  The mental health task force has begun to collect information on the closure of long-stay mental illness hospitals. It intends to complete an analysis of initial returns by the end of July, which I will make available. Information is being collected on those hospitals listed as mental illness hospitals with more than 100 beds 668
  in 1960 and which are still open, plus hospitals opened since then with more than 100 beds which are predominantly mental illness hospitals.

  Colorectal Cancer
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of death from colorectal cancer have occurred in women and men in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 24 March at columns 617–20 for figures for 1987 to 1991. Information for 1992, the latest year for which information is available, is shown in the table.

  Numbers of deaths from malignant neoplasms of the colon (ICD 153) 1 and malignant neoplasms of the rectum, rectosigmoid junction and anus (ICD 154) 1 by sex in England and Wales 1992

  Number

  Males

  8,749

  Females

  8,654

  1 ICD—International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision.

  Occult Blood
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to publish guidance to doctors in relation to screening for occult blood.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no plans to issue guidance at this time.

  Fertility Treatment
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to issue guidelines about fertility treatment to unmarried couples or to individuals who already have children.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's code of practice gives guidance to fertility treatment centres. This includes advice on the factors to be considered by clinicians when considering an individual's suitability for treatment. These include the welfare of any child who may be born as a result of treatment and of any existing children in the family.

  There are also guidelines for clinicians published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. In the light of well-publicised recent cases, the Chief Medical Officer has already had discussions with the president of the royal college about these guidelines and these discussions will continue.

  The Government have made it clear that health authorities should think carefully before providing fertility treatment to people without a stable family background. If there is evidence that this is not being followed, we will examine what further action needs to be taken.

  Human Growth Hormone Treatment
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients who received human growth hormone treatment have utilised the helpline or availed themselves of the counselling provided through her Department; what help or advice is being offered with particular reference to financial matters, including life insurance availability and mortgages; and if she will make a statement.
  669
  Mr. Yeo
  The helpline is provided by the department of growth and development at the Institute of Child Health of Great Ormond Street hospital. No record of the number of telephone inquiries has been maintained but the institute is also providing counselling for patients treated at one of the three London growth centres; of the 711 patients treated, 295 have asked for and received counselling. Details of the numbers of patients who have availed themselves of the counselling services provided elsewhere in the country are currently being collected. I understand that patients experiencing difficulty in obtaining life insurance or mortgages are advised to make inquiries across a range of providers of these services, since the terms and conditions very often vary.

  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received about financial support for those who received human growth hormone treatment and may now be at risk of contracting Creutzfeldt Jakob disease; and what estimate she has made of the cost of setting up an insurance fund for such people.

  Mr. Yeo
  We have received a number of representations, but as the treatment conformed with the best known scientific and clinical practice of the time we do not accept that there are grounds for financial support over and above the benefits which are available under the Social Security Acts. No estimate has therefore been made of the cost of a separate insurance fund.

  Beverley Allitt
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors she took into account when deciding what type of further investigation to hold into the events at Grantham and Kesteven general hospital between February and April 1991 which were the subject of the recent trial of former nurse Beverley Allitt; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In deciding the form of inquiry, my overriding consideration was how to establish the facts behind the horrific Beverley Allitt case in the most rigorous and effective way possible, and ensure that the NHS learns any lessons for the future. The questions the parents want answered are the ones I want answered, and they must be properly and fully answered.

  After careful consideration, I decided that this will best be achieved through an independent investigative inquiry, led by Sir Cecil Clothier, QC who has enormous experience in these matters. His advice, based on that long experience, was that, in cases such as this, the truth may more readily emerge in such an inquiry than in an adversarial public forum where witnesses may feel under strong external pressures. I would not have hesitated to order a public inquiry if I had thought that it would uncover the facts more effectively than the inquiry now being undertaken by Sir Cecil and his team.

  In ordering the Clothier inquiry, I have obviously been concerned to establish confidence in it. Sir Cecil must be able to see all the witnesses and papers he requires. If necessary, I will give him the statutory powers to do so. He and his team will be acting independently of the parties involved. He will conduct his inquiry in London, away from the scene of Allitt's crimes. I have asked him to proceed as quickly as possible, consistent with establishing the truth, and to publish his report in full. I will, of course,
  670
  do whatever is necessary to ensure that all possible steps are taken to ensure there is no repeat of such horrific and tragic events.

  Clinical Complaints
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the complaints dealt with under the clinical complaints procedure during(a) 1990, (b) 1991 and (c) 1992 were upheld.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Drug Use
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to publish the research report from Durham university, prepared for her Department, on the prevalence of drug use among young people; in what form it will be published; and whether the publication will be the full report or a summary.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 25 May at column 510.

  NHS Staff Grading Appeals
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff grading appeals are outstanding in(a) the West Midlands regional health authority area and (b) South Birmingham health authority.

  Mr. Yeo
  There are currently 3,068 staff grading appeals outstanding in the West Midlands regional health authority area, of which 783 are outstanding for South Birmingham health authority.

  Hospitals (Transport Facilities)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy on the co-ordination of hospital planning and the provision of transport facilities for patients and their visitors; and on what grounds she would refuse an application by a health authority or hospital trust for a change in the services it offered because of such transportation considerations.

  Mr. Sackville
  Ambulance transport for national health service patients is provided, free of charge, on the basis of medical need as determined by a clinician. Patients without a medical need for transport may, exceptionally, be transported by the ambulance service, but a charge may be made. Visitors must make their own transport arrangements. There are no plans to change the basis of ambulance transport provision.

  Merseyside Health Bodies
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the members of the regional and district health authorities, and hospital trusts on Merseyside, indicating when they were appointed, and their professional backgrounds.

  Mr. Yeo
  The chairman and non-executive members of the regional health authority, the chairmen and non-executive directors of national health service trusts, and the chairmen of district health authorities in Mersey
  671
  region are listed in the table, together with the dates from which their current appointments commenced. Information relating specifically to their professional backgrounds is not available centrally, but the most up-to-date information held on their occupations is listed.

  The appointment of non-executive members of district health authorities is a matter for the regional health

  Name

  Appointment date

  Occupation

  Mersey RHA Membership (one vacancy)

  Professor A. Breckenridge (Chairman)

  12 January 1993

  Professor of Pharmacology

  Mrs. R. H. Hawley

  27 July 1990

  —

  Mrs. J. E. Timms

  1 April 1993

  Charity worker

  Mr. J. R. Halliday

  15 February 1993

  Company chairman

  Mr. B. Jenkins

  1 November 1991

  Company chairman

  Chairmen of Mersey DHAs (three vacancies)

  Mr. J. Ross (Chester)

  4 November 1991

  Retired BR manager

  Mr. F. R. Ludlow (Southport and Formby)

  1 November 1991

  Insurance consultant

  Mr. G. Murray (St. Helens and Knowsley)

  1 October 1992

  Business executive

  Mr. D. H. Tod (Liverpool)

  4 November 1992

  Company director

  Mr. D. Hannah (Warrington)

  1 April 1990

  General manager

  Mr. R. S. Gordon (Wirral)

  1 April 1993

  Underwriter

  Mr. S. H. Cussons (Macclesfield)

  9 November 1992

  Chartered accountant

National Health Service Trusts:

  Chairmen and non-executive appointments
  The Walton Centre jar Neurology and Neurosurgery National Health Service Trust
  Appointed from 1 November 1991

  Chairman: Mr. Peter Wright—Industrial pharmacist

  Non-executives:

  Mr. D. Snewin—Group sales manager

  Mr. M. Taylor—Chief executive

  Ms J. Pilkington—Nursing consultant

  Ms M. Craddock—Co-op manageress

  Mr. M. Hughes—Vernons Pools executive

  Liverpool Obstetrics and Gynaecology Services National Health Service Trust
  Appointed from 1 November 1991

  Chairman: Mrs. J. Greensmith—Management consultant

  Non-executives:

  Mrs. G. Arden—Solicitor

  Ms L. Bailey—Stockbroker

  Mr. D. Antonia—Chartered accountant

  Mr. A. Waterworth—Ex-engineering executive

  Mrs. C. Parnaby—Midwife

  Southport and Formby National Health Service Trust
  Appointed from 1 November 1991

  Chairman: Mrs. M. Pedlar—Managing director

  Non-executives:

  Mr. M. Landau—Littlewoods executive

  Mr. A. R. Thomson—Bank manager

  Mr. K. Sowerby—Chartered accountant

  Mr. D. P. Rimmer—Deputy Director Social Services

  Ms C. Aitken—

  Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology National Health Service Trust
  Appointed from 1 November 1991

  Chairman: Mrs. Brenda Dowding—Borough councillor

  Non-executives:

  Mr. R. Berry—Health and Safety director

  Dr. D. Jones—Retired CMO

  Mr. P. Marchant—

  Mr. G. Bush—Retired consultant

  Mr. J. Teare (appointed from 16 September 1992)—Chartered accountant

  Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust
  Appointed from 1 November 1991

  Chairman: Mr. G. Perks—Retired ICI manager

  authority. Information on them, therefore, is not available centrally. Executive members of NHS authorities and trusts are appointed by their respective authority or trust, and therefore information on them is also not available centrally.
  Non-executives:

  Mr. S. Mayne—Managing director

  Mr. D. Kempton—Company director

  Mr. N. Wilson—Retirement home owner

  Ms R. Webster—Nursing lecturer

  Mr. G. Thomas—Ex-chief executive

  St. Helens and Knowsley Community Health National Health Service Trust
  Appointed from 1 November 1991

  Chairman: Mrs. D. Charnock—Management consultant

  Non-executives:

  Professor R. Gee—Director HE College

  Mr. R. Seneschall—Retired managing director

  Mr. A. Chick—Director YMCA

  Mrs. J. Bowden (appointed from 1 February 1992)—Solicitor

  Mr. R. F. Dewhirst (appointed from 11 January 1993) —Quality co-ordinator

  Aintree Hospitals National Health Service Trust
  Appointed from 1 November 1991

  Chairman: Robin Farmer—Commercial manager

  Non-executives:

  Mrs. M. Swinson—Tax consultant

  Mr. J. B. Cooper—Medical machinery consultant

  Mr. A. McMinn—Company chairman

  Mr. R. Snelgrove—Retired bank manager

  Dr. J. Ensor (appointed from 18 November 1992)—M & S Medical officer

  The North Mersey Community National Health Service Trust (Liverpool Community and Priority)
  Appointed from 1 November 1991

  Chairman: Mr. R. James—Chartered accountant

  Non-executives:

  Mr. K. Hutchinson—Managing director

  Mr. P. Fletcher—Retired finance director

  Mrs. J. Hall—Teacher

  Ms M. Kitchen—Journalist

  Mr. J. Barton—Head teacher

  Broadgreen Hospital National Health Service Trust

  Chairman: Mr. F. A. Fernley (appointed from 13 July 1992)—Retired personnel manager

  Non-executives:

  (Appointed front 21 December 1990)

  Mr. P. Ashworth Electrical engineer

  Mr. P. Stoney Lecturer

  Mr. J. Miller

  Mrs. A. Toyne (appointed from 1 December 1992)—Teacher

  673

  Mr. R. Bark-Jones (appointed from 1 December 1992) —Solicitor

  Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital and Community Services National Health Service Trust
  (Appointed from 21 December 1990)

  Chairman: Mr. I. F. Hill—Company deputy chairman

  Non-executives:

  Professor D. Lloyd—Professor of paediatrics

  Mr. J. C. Davies—Solicitor

  Mrs. S. G. Adams—Personnel consultant

  Ms H. Clark (appointed from 1 December 1992)—Lecturer

  Mr. F. W. Taylor (appointed from 1 December 1992)—Chartered accountant

  Wirral Hospital National Health Service Trust
  (Appointed from I December 1992)

  Chairman: Mr. A. H. Duncan—Quality co-ordinator

  Non-executives:

  Mr. B. Scott—Company director

  Mr. A. W. Shone—Company chairman

  (Appointed from 21 December 1990)

  Mr. P. R. Johnson—Managing director

  Mrs. M. Hazlett—Retired nursing sister

  Mr. G. F. Appleton—Chartered accountant

  St. Helens and Knowsley Hospital National Health Service Trust

  Chairman: Mr. J. R. Higham (appointed from 1 December 1992)—Managing director

  Non-executives:

  Mr. J. W. Royle (appointed from 15 February 1993)—Surveyor

  Mrs. J. L. Waitson (appointed from 18 December 1992)—Ex-Nursing officer

  Mrs. A. Hughes (appointed from 21 December 1990) —Welfare worker

  Miss A. Jones (appointed from 4 November 1992) —Solicitor

  Mr. J. Spencer (appointed from 1 December 1992)—Supplies controller

  Chester and Halton Community National Health Service Trust
  Appointed from 21 December 1990

  Chairman: Professor I. Stanley—Professor of medicine

  Non-executives:

  Mrs. J. Makinson—Bank nurse

  Mrs. J. Fenton—Solicitor

  Mr. I. Kemp—Chemist

  Mrs. A. Elloy (appointed from 1 December 1992)—Social worker

  Mrs. K. Tonge (appointed from I December 1992—Teacher

  Mid Cheshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust
  Appointed from 21 December 1990

  Chairman: Mr. R. F. Lawrence—Poultry farmer

  Non executives:

  Mr. W. Harding—Journalist

  Mr. G. Fenn—Company director

  (Appointed from I December 1992)

  Mr. J. Smith—Company secretary

  Mrs. P. Parton—Former nurse

  Ms B. Ong—Senior lecturer

  Cardio-Thoracic Centre—Liverpool National Health Service Trust

  Chairman: Mr. H. Clarke (appointed from 21 December 1990)—Company chairman

  Non-executives: (four only)

  Mrs. S. Malthouse (appointed from 1 April 1993)—Solicitor

  Mr. M. Rider (appointed from 21 December 1990)— Chartered accountant

  Mrs. M. Downs (appointed from 1 December 1992)—Managing director

  Mr. N. Tappin (appointed from 1 December 1992)—

  674

  Retired businessman

  Royal Liverpool University Hospital National Health Service Trust

  Chairman: Mr. J. Fitzpatrick (appointed from 1 December 1992)—Solicitor

  Non-executives:

  Professor Sir Robert Shields (appointed from 1 December 1992)—Professor of surgery

  Mr. E. Billington (appointed from 21 December 1990)—

  Mr. D. Anslow (appointed from 21 December 1990)—Chartered accountant

  Mr. G. Parker (appointed from 1 February 1992)—Managing director

  Mrs. J. Newall (appointed from 1 February 1992)— School administrator

  Countess of Chester Hospital National Health Service Trust
  Appointed from 4 November 1992

  Chairman: Mr. M. Emberton—Ex-company chairman

  Non-executives:

  Dr. G. Jones—Deputy college principal

  Lord Wade of Chorlton—Farmer

  Mr. N. Fitton—Chief executive

  Miss M. Hargreaves—Personnel controller

  Mrs. D. McConnell—Voluntary worker

  Cheshire Community Healthcare National Health Service Trust
  Appointed from 4 November 1992

  Chairman: Mrs. Jane Hill—Retired physiotherapist

  Non-executives:

  Mr. S. Bartlett—Commercial manager

  Mrs. R. Phillips—Magistrate

  Mrs. V. Basford—Voluntary worker

  Mrs. C. Bennett—Barrister

  Mr. J. Kennerley

  Halton General Hospital National Health Service Trust

  Chairman: Mr. D. Hammond (appointed from 4 November I992)—Company director

  Non-executives:

  Mr. R. Hodson (appointed from 6 May 1993)—Marketing manager

  Dr. K. MacVicker (appointed from 4 November 1992)—Retired GP

  Mrs. S. Anderson (appointed from 13 January 1993)—Personnel manager

  Mr. M. Stewart (appointed from 1 April 1993)—Retired manager

  Mr. D. Binns (appointed from 4 November 1992)—Retired general manager

  East Cheshire National Health Service Trust
  Appointed from 4 November 1992

  Chairman: Mr. P. Hayes—Managing director

  Non-executives:

  Mr. A. Weir—Solicitor

  Mrs. M. Loran—Publisher

  Mr. S. Blenkinsop—Retired newspaper editor

  Mr. D. Evans—Business manager

  Mrs. M. Davenport—District councillor

  Southport and Formby Community Health Services National Health Service Trust
  Appointed from 4 November 1992

  Chairman: Miss L. Brown—Barrister

  Non-executives:

  Mrs. C. Baker—Solicitor

  Mrs. M. Jackson—Environmental consultant

  Mrs. G. Gilbertson—Company secretary

  Mr. T. Andrew—Banker

  Mrs. B. Dean—Civil servant

  Warrington Community National Health Service Trust
  Appointed from 4 November 1992

  Chairman: Mrs. J. Grundy—Deputy Lieutenant Merseyside

  Non-executives:

  Mrs. D. Lawson—Crossroads co-ordinator

  675

  Mr. M. Davies—Financial controller

  Mr. P. Clarke—Company chairman

  Mrs. K. Carey—Teacher

  Mr. W. Cockroft—Ex-managing director

  Warrington Acute Hospital National Health Service Trust
  Appointed from 21 January 1993

  Chairman: Mr. N. Banner—Solicitor

  Non-executives:

  Mr. P. Jeffrey—Chartered accountant

  Ms J. Lang—Former sales executive

  Ms C. Bingham—Teacher

  Mrs. K. Cowell—Building Society Manager

  Mr. J. Baldwin—Property agent

  Hospices
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 24 May,Official Report, columns 447–48, on hospice support, what information has been given to regional health authorities with regard to the methodology used in calculating the transfer from the Department of Social Security to hospices; and what advice was given to regional health authorities as to the methodology to be used in determining the distribution of that allocation within each region.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on the allocation and use of the transfer from the Department of Social Security to regional health authorities in respect of hospices was given in executive letter EL(93)14, sent to all regional general managers on 19 February 1993. A copy is available in the Library.

  HIV and Sexual Diseases
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is collected nationally to show(a) the number of people aged 65 years or over diagnosed as being infected with HIV and (b) the number of people aged 65 years or over found to have a sexually transmitted disease; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Reports of HIV infections are made to the communicable disease surveillance centre and communicable disease (Scotland) unit.

  To December 1992, 88 HIV-infected individuals had been reported aged 65 and over. Information on other sexually transmitted diseases is collected only for the age category 45 and over. In 1991, 3,290 genito-urinary medicine clinic attendees were in this age band.

  NHS Equipment
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has of the value of NHS equipment purchased by voluntary local subscriptions in each of the last five years in(a) cash terms and (b) in constant 1993 prices.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information exactly as requested is not available centrally.

  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance her Department has issued to NHS trusts and district health authorities concerning the use by private patients of equipment purchased by voluntary local subscriptions.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.
  676

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with her counterparts in the European Community on the incidence of food poisoning; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The United Kingdom plays an active role in regular discussions which take place in the European Community on a wide range of public health issues, including food hygiene and safety.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 261, what are the comparative figures for the incidence of food poisoning in each of the European Community countries for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  There are no comparable figures available for other EC member states.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 261, if she will make a statement on who is being consulted and asked for evidence in respect of the new Government surveillance programme into the sources and causes of human foodborne illness; and what opportunity members of the public are being given to contribute their views.

  Mr. Sackville
  The steering group on the microbiological safety of food is responsible to the United Kingdom Health and Agriculture Ministers for the microbiological surveillance of food. The remit of the steering group and its working groups covers the whole food chain from primary production to consumption, with external membership drawn from the Public Health Laboratory Service, the national health service, environmental health departments, food research organisations, the food industry, veterinary science and consumers.

  A major study referred to in the previous answer is an epidemiological study of sources and causes of infectious intestinal disease in England. This study will take place in some 70 practices in the Medical Research Council's general practice research framework and will involve more than 20,000 volunteers. This study is one of a number of carefully designed surveys that will provide a better scientific basis for understanding human foodborne illness. Ministers are advised on the significance of these and other results by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food.

  I expect the first report of the steering group to be published later this year. Anyone who wishes to offer views about its activities is welcome to do so.

  Pharmacists
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress her Department has made in negotiations with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee on pharmacists' remuneration.

  Mr. Yeo
  Discussions are continuing with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee. The next meeting is 15 June.
  677

DEFENCE

  Uniforms
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what specific steps are taken to ensure that overseas suppliers of service uniforms purchased by the armed forces are not in receipt of hidden subsidies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  It is our policy to encourage the development of a more open international market in defence goods through Government-to-Government negotiations, although it would not be practicable or cost-effective to investigate every potential supplier for hidden subsidies. Over 90 per cent. of my Department's contracts for clothing and textiles are placed with United Kingdom companies, though the nationality of subcontractors is a matter for the company concerned.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the value of all contracts for the supply of service uniforms are currently placed with(a) British and (b) overseas suppliers.

  Mr. Aitken
  In financial year 1992–93, 91 per cent. of contracts for the supply of clothing for the armed forces were placed with British suppliers and 9 per cent. with overseas suppliers, including the EC. So far in the present financial year 1993–94, 97·6 per cent. of the value of all contracts for the supply of clothing for the armed forces has been placed with British suppliers and 2·4 per cent. with overseas suppliers, including the EC.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement indicating his Department's policy on the placing of contracts with overseas suppliers of service uniforms; and if he will make specific reference to the criteria by which value for money and strategic considerations are assessed.

  Mr. Aitken
  Over 90 per cent. of contracts for the supply of service clothing are let to British companies. Overseas suppliers could be invited to tender if they achieve admission to the defence contractors list or if they apply via the Official Journal of the EC bulletin. Orders are rarely placed with companies overseas.

  Value for money from the defence budget is assessed through a system which includes contractor registration, quality assessment and the evaluation of offers with particular reference to price and delivery. Strategic considerations apply to only a small range of items, generally of a warlike nature, and are addressed through the selection of a limited number of companies which are to be invited to tender for the requirement.

  International Military Services Ltd
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the shareholding in International Military Services Ltd. was transferred to Royal Ordnance; and how much Royal Ordnance paid for the International Military Services shareholding.

  Mr. Aitken
  All the shares in International Military Services Ltd. are owned by the Secretary of State for Defence. None has been transferred to Royal Ordnance.
  678

  Luchaire Defence SA
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 14 May,Official Report, column 602, what was the value of contracts placed by his Department with Luchaire Defence SA between 1983 and 1988.

  Mr. Aitken
  Comprehensive records for this period are no longer available. However, my Department is aware of only one, low-value, contract placed with Luchaire in the period 1983 to 1988.

  Departmental Records
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 23 April to the hon. Member for Rhondda (Mr. Rogers),Official Report, column 241, if he will give the reason for the absence of complete records of his Department's dealings with companies between 1983 and 1990.

  Mr. Aitken
  Our central on-line computer records will identify all contracts placed before but not completed by 31 March 1990, and all contracts placed since 1 April 1990. Central records of contracts placed since 1983 but completed by 31 March 1990 have been archived on to magnetic tape and are not available on-line. Identification and checking of the tapes could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.

  The hon. Member for Rhondda (Mr. Rogers) asked about one specific company; it was possible to identify one directorate within my Department which seemed most likely to have dealt with the company, and its detailed local records identified just one contract.

  European Armaments Agency
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his French counterpart in regard to French plans to develop a European armaments agency within the Western European Union.

  Mr. Aitken
  None. The proposal to establish a European armaments agency is under consideration at official level with our partners in European armaments co-operation within the Western European Union.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms Walley) of 19 May,Official Report, column 232, what was the cost of sending his departmental officials to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty preparatory committee meeting in New York; what proposals or papers were submitted by the United Kingdom to the meeting; and when and where the next NPT preparatory committee will be held.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Although the NPT preparatory committee meeting was concerned principally with organisational issues, the United Kingdom delegation reaffirmed our aim of securing the NPT's unconditional, indefinite extension in 1995 and our commitment to supporting continuing progress towards nuclear disarmament. The travel and subsistence cost of sending Ministry
  679
  of Defence officials to this meeting was some £4,000. The next NPT preparatory committee meeting will be held in New York from 17 to 21 January 1994

  Bomb Removal, Gower
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bombs have been removed or rendered harmless on the beaches of north Gower by the Royal Navy during the last year.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In 1992, 284 explosive devices were cleared from the north Gower marshes by the Royal Navy.

  Overseas Trainees
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries from which military personnel St. Christopher Nevis have attended developmental and technical training courses in British military establishments since April 1992.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The countries from whichmilitary personnel have attended developmental and technical training courses in British military establishments from April 1992 to April 1993 are as follows:

  Australia

  Bahamas

  Bahrain

  Bangladesh

  Barbados

  Belgium

  Belize

  Bermuda

  Botswana

  Brazil

  Brunei

  Burma

  Canada

  Chile

  Cyprus

  Czechoslovakia

  Denmark

  Egypt

  Fiji

  Finland

  France

  Gambia

  Germany

  Ghana

  Gibraltar

  Greece

  Grenada

  Guyana

  Hong Kong

  Hungary

  India

  Indonesia

  Ireland

  Israel

  Italy

  Jamaica

  Japan

  Jordan

  Kenya

  Korea

  Lebanon

  Lithuania

  Malta

  Mauritius

  Maldives

  Malawi

  Malaysia

  Mexico

  Morocco

  Mozambique

  Netherlands

  680

  Namibia

  Nepal

  New Zealand

  Nigeria

  Norway

  Oman

  Pakistan

  Paraguay

  Peru

  Phillipines

  Poland

  Portugal

  Qatar

  Romania

  Saudia Arabia

  Senegal

  Seychelles

  Singapore

  Slovakia

  Spain

  Sri Lanka

  St. Christopher Nevis

  St. Lucia

  St. Vincent

  Sudan

  Swaziland

  Sweden

  Switzerland

  Tanzania

  Thailand

  Trinidad

  Turkey

  United Arab Emirates

  Uganda

  USA

  Yemen

  Zambia

  Zimbabwe

  Department Land and Buildings
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what quantity of(a) land and (b) buildings was owned by his Ministry in each region of the United Kingdom at the end of each year from 1987–88 to 1992–93; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how much has been spent by his Ministry on leasing land in each region of the United Kingdom for each year France from 1987–88 to 1992–93; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) how much land has been leased by his Ministry in each region of the United Kingdom at the end of each year from 1987–88 to 1992–93; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) how much money has been spent on purchasing (a) Grenada land and (b) buildings by his Ministry in each region of Hong Kong the United Kingdom from 1988–89 to 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Under-Ireland Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon.Member.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reply to the letter, dated 8 May, from Ms Lindis Percy; if he will place a copy of the letter from Ms Percy and his reply in the Library; and if he will make a statement on the substance of the correspondence.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Ms Percy will receive a reply within the next week and my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will ensure that the hon. Member is provided with a copy.
  681

  Forest Moor Base
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will detail the total cost of all works carried out at Forest Moor, in North Yorkshire, since March 1990.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No major maintenance or new build has been carried out at Forest Moor since March 1990. Minor works and routine maintenance costs since then have been as follows:

  £

  1990–91

  345,000

  1991–92

  501,000

  1992–93

  620,000

  Total

  1,466,000

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role is performed by the Forest Moor naval communications base in North Yorkshire.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  HMS Forest Moor is the Royal Navy's major HF receiver station.

  Menwith Hill Station
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who owns the land upon which the Menwith Hill station in North Yorkshire is located; who occupies the station; who is responsible for the operation of the station; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The land on which Menwith Hill station is located is owned by the Secretary of State for Defence, in right of the Crown. The site is made available to the United States Department of Defence and the station operates with the full knowledge and agreement of Her Majesty's Government.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 May,Official Report, column 86, if he will list the number of cases of United Nations military aircraft breaking the sound barrier over Bosnia-Herzegovina; what is the purpose of such practices; and what information he has on consequential damage to civilian property.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have no information about whether non-United Kingdom aircraft have broken the sound barrier over Bosnia-Herzegovina. If such a practice had occurred and was suspected of causing damage to property, it would be a matter for the UN and NATO.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Select Committee Recommendations
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Attorney-General how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about, and how many accepted by, his Department since April 1989.

  The Attorney-General
  Since April 1989, 60 recommendations by the Select Committee on Home Affairs have 682
  been made in respect of the Crown prosecution service arising out of three separate reports. One recommendation, which was accepted, was made in the Select Committee's first report in the 1989–90 Session on racial attacks and harassment (HC 17). Fifty-one were made in the fourth report in the same session on the Crown prosecution service (HC 118). Of these, 30 have been accepted and 11 were concerned with matters already being addresed in other areas. The remaining eight recommendations were made in the report on domestic violence printed on 25 February 1993 (HC 245). The Government's response to these is currently being formulated.

  No recommendations in this period have been made in respect of the other Departments for which I am responsible.

TRANSPORT

  British Rail (Accountability)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what ways British Rail is accountable to Parliament; what limits he places on the scope and range of parliamentary questions about British Rail to which hon. Members will receive substantive answers; how this will change under this proposals for reform of the railways; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The British Railways Board is accountable to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State under the terms of the legislation applicable to the board.

  It is for the House authorities to decide what questions are accepted for answer by Ministers, although there may be cases where questions approved for tabling are found on closer examination to be strictly operational matters for British Rail.

  Under the Government's proposed reforms, the Secretary of State for Transport will retain substantial responsibilities on which he would continue to answer parliamentary questions.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to commence on the east London river crossing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  Construction cannot begin until the current Court of Appeal hearings and the question of the EC infraction proceedings have been resolved. In the meantime, we are continuing with detailed design and other advance work.

  Newham Flyover
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the likely timetable for the public inquiry and subsequent construction of the planned flyover at the intersection of Newham way and Prince Regents lane in the borough of Newham.

  Mr. Norris
  The public inquiries into the proposed flyover at the intersection of the A13, Newham Way, with the A117, Woolwich Manor way/High street south, and proposed underpass at the intersection of the A13 with the A112, Prince Regent lane, are planned to be held concurrently, starting in early September.
  683
  Subject to the availability of funds and the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures, advance works for the A117 scheme could start in the summer of 1994, and for the A112 scheme in autumn 1994. The main works for both schemes are scheduled for completion by mid-1997.

  Nuclear Materials
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 19 May,Official Report, column 158, if he will set out (a) the total number of letters he has received on plutonium transport from (i) hon. Members of Parliament and Lords and (ii) others, (b) the categories of individuals or groups who constitute the others; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the standard letter of response sent to inquirers.

  Mr. Norris
  During this year my Department has received one such letter from a member of the House of Lords, 35 from Members of the House of Commons, and 30 from members of the public, local councils and other organisations, including the Highland regional council, Strathclyde regional council, Argyll and Bute district council, the Scottish Green party, the international secretariat committee of the Nuclear Policy and Information Unit of Nuclear Free Local Authorities, and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. No standard letter of response was applicable to all the correspondence.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 18 May,Official Report, column 91, what changes have been made in the text of the draft INF code in working paper 30; if he will list them; and when a final decision will be taken on implementing the code.

  Mr. Norris
  The draft code for the safe carriage of irradiated nuclear fuel in flasks on board ships was changed to cover also the carriage of plutonium and high level radioactive waste. A further section (9), concerning management, training and shipboard emergency planning, was also added to the draft code.

  Subject to the approval of the 62nd session of the Maritime Safety Committee and the views of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, it is expected that the code will be submitted for adoption as a code of practice by resolution of the 18th assembly of the International Maritime Organisation—25 October to 5 November 1993.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the future of his Department's executive agencies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My plans are as follows:

  (a) DVOIT: preparations for the privatisation of the agency are proceeding to timetable, with the aim of completing the sale by about the end of this year.

  (b) The Vehicle Inspectorate: the consultation document issued last September said that standard setting and enforcement will continue to be provided by the agency. That remains my firm intention. I am grateful to all those who commented on the options described in the consultation document for the future provision of the testing of heavy goods vehicles and passenger carrying vehicles. I have carefully considered those views and have concluded that, in principle, VI's testing activities are suitable for transfer to the private sector, provided
  684
  effective arrangements can be made to ensure that road safety standards are protected. The scope for this transfer is to be given further study. A copy of a letter to be sent to interested bodies about this has been placed in the Library; copies are available from my Department on request. I shall reach a final decision and announce it when the further studies have been completed.

  (c) Transport Research Laboratory: I believe that the laboratory should be transferred to the private sector so as to enable TRL's managers and staff to compete more effectively for research work both here and abroad. I am appointing consultants to advise me on the options for privatisation and their feasibility.

  (d) The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Driving Standards Agency and the Vehicle Certification Agency: As my hon. Friend indicated on 20 November 1992, Official Report, columns 406–407, we have been looking at the options for these agencies as part of the normal reviews of their framework documents. I have now concluded, on balance, that there should be no change in the status of DVLA at this stage.

  In the case of the Driving Standards Agency, I am not satisfied that fair and uniform standards of testing could be secured if the work were contracted out, without disproportionate enforcement arrangements. The agency was awarded the charter mark last year and I want it—like DVLA—to concentrate on further measures to improve the quality and efficiency of its services.

  The first priority for the Vehicle Certification Agency over the next few years is to ensure the smooth and effective adaptation to the new EC arrangements for whole vehicle-type approval. The options for privatisation and contracting out will, however, bg reviewed again for all three agencies in three or four years time. Meanwhile, I have asked the chief executives to make full use of the market-testing initiative to secure best value for money.

  Motorway Service Areas
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy on signing service areas from roads upgraded to motorway standard; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have today announced arrangements which will, in certain circumstances, allow temporary signing from newly upgraded roads of service facilities located off them. Copies of a press notice setting out the requirements a facility must meet in order to qualify for signing, and the circumstances in which signing will subsequently be removed, have been placed in the Library.

  Operator Licences
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to reduce the burden imposed on passenger and goods vehicle operators by the present operator licensing system.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Government remain committed to minimising the regulatory burden on the goods and passenger transport operators, including that imposed by operator licensing. We are today issuing a consultation document with a number of proposals for simplifying operator licensing by removing unnecessary requirements. Copies have been placed in the Library. Subject to the views of consultees, we intend to seek early legislation to implement these measures.
  685

  Rail Lines (Vandalism)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 14 May,Official Report, columns 613–14, if he will provide a table indicating the number of offences by sentence for vandalism on rail lines in each year; and if he will list the offences which received four-year sentences.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information in the form requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Night Flying
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what increase in the number of night-time flights from Heathrow and Gatwick he envisages in the event of the adoption of the proposals in his recently published "Review of Night Flying" at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted;

  (2) what consequences will arise form his Department's new night noise quota system in terms of additional night-time aircraft movements at Heathrow and Gatwick.

  Mr. Norris
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answers I gave to the right hon. Member for Mole Valley (Mr. Baker) on 9 February and 10 March 1993 in Hansard, volume 218, No. 120, column 583, and volume 220, No. 140, column 567 respectively.

  Traffic Forecasts
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how figures for regeneration created traffic volumes are included in road construction assessments.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 24 May 1993] The effects of regeneration on numbers of households, workers and jobs are taken into account by the Department in its estimates of future local traffic growth. The views of local authorities on these issues are sought from time to time, and incorporated in the Department's projections. Where regeneration is anticipated to have a substantial effect on the appraisal of a scheme, there are usually further discussions with local authorities, to enable the location and nature of regeneration created trips to be more precisely estimated and included in the assessment of the scheme. The forecast of total traffic growth in the area of a scheme is then controlled to be consistent with that area's traffic growth in the Department's national traffic forecast.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 24 and 25 May.

  Mr. Gummer
  I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Agriculture Council from 24 to 27 May.

  The Council reached agreement, subject to the adoption of legal texts, on agricultural prices and other measures for 1993–94, in so far as these had not already been settled as part of last year's reform of the common agricultural policy.
  686
  There was a difficult discussion on fixing the percentage requirement for non-rotational set-aside, to parallel the 15 per cent. rate for rotational set-aside fixed in last year's reform package. Given the important environmental advantages of non-rotational set-aside, I was determined to ensure that the figure should not be set at a level that made it unattractive to our farmers. For other member states, the Council adopted the figure of 20 per cent. proposed by the Commission. I secured agreement that the rate for the United Kingdom should be 18 per cent. for at least two years. Over this period, the effectiveness of non-rotational set-aside in the United Kingdom will be assessed to ensure that its impact on production is no less than expected; if it is less, the rate can be changed.

  The Council agreed to an increase of some 25 per cent. in the rate of aid for set-aside land.

  The cut in milk quotas provisionally agreed last year to take effect for 1993–94 has been deferred: it will be reconsidered next year in the light of the market situation. Instead, there will be an increase of 0·6 per cent. in national wholesale quotas for all member states except Spain, Greece and Italy. This is to meet particular needs, especially obligations arising from recent European Court judgments. In the negotations, I consistently argued that, since these obligations resulted fron the Court's reinterpretation of Community law, they should not be met by reducing the quotas of other producers, as the Commission originally proposed.

  The Council confirmed increases in the milk quotas of Italy, Greece and Spain that had been provisionally agreed last year in the context of the reform package. It was made clear that these increases will only be continued beyond 1993–94 if the Council is satisfied that the countries concerned are complying with their undertakings to reduce production and implement the quota system in full.

  The support price for butter will be reduced by 3 per cent. this year and 2 per cent. next. This will benefit consumers and is in line with the view which I strongly expressed in the Council that the Community's milk production should he regulated by price rather than by quota.

  Earlier this month, the Commission unexpectedly threatened the future of export refunds on whisky and other grain-based spirits, which compensate for the higher price of Community-grown cereals. These are worth over £40 million per year to our industry. As part of the agreement reached in the Council, I secured agreement that the present arrangements will continue.

  The Council agreed on a smaller reduction in the rate of aid for linseed production than the Commission had proposed. At the same time, linseed will be brought within the set-aside scheme from 1994–95 and not from the current year as the Commission originally envisaged. Since United Kingdom farmers account for over 60 per cent of Community linseed production, it was important to get these arrangements right. I believe they should avoid the replacement of this useful crop by additional grain production.

  This outcome, particularly on the rate of non-rotational set-aside, the retention of whisky export refunds and the avoidance of milk quota cuts, made the Council an important achievement for the United Kingdom.
  687

  Sheep Premium
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to how many times force majeure provisions have been invoked by each EC country, in each of the last three years, in relation to applications for annual sheep premium.

  Mr. Curry
  I do not have the information.

  Setaside Land
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much land of each agricultural grade in England and Wales is currently included in set-aside schemes; and what these figures are as a percentage of the total quantity of land of each of those grades.

  Mr. Curry
  This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on BSE.

  Mr. Soames
  A progress report on BSE in the United Kingdom is being presented by the Ministry to the general assembly of the Office International des Epizooties this month. The report gives detailed information on BSE in the United Kingdom up to the end of April. The report points to the firm evidence that the ruminant feed ban is having the predicted effect on the course of the epidemic. The number of suspect cases being reported is now no higher than at the same time last year, and the number of cases occurring in young animals has fallen sharply. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Care Homes
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what weekly personal allowance single persons in residential care and nursing homes in Northern Ireland have a statutory right; and what checks have been made to establish whether this payment is made by proprietors;

  (2) in what circumstances it is permissible for the proprietors of residential care and nursing homes in Northern Ireland to withhold payment in full of personal allowance to residents.

  Mr. Hanley
  For people in independent residential care and nursing homes with preserved rights, income support

  Name of complaint

  Date of complaint

  Remedial action

  Disclosure of personal data

  March 1992

  None necessary. Investigation revealed no breach in principles

  Subject access request not answered within 40 days

  23 July 1992

  Centralised subject access address now used to ensure future compliance

  Jubilee Maternity Hospital
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many midwives train annually at the Jubilee maternity hospital; what percentage of all midwives trained in Northern Ireland this figure 688
  payments include an amount in respect of personal expenses which is at present £12·65 a week. In some cases residents contract for charges higher than the income support limits and may use the personal expenses allowance against these higher charges.

  Residents placed by health and social services boards from April 1993 retain an equal amount for personal expenses from income support when their contribution towards the cost of their care is assessed.

  Income support is normally paid direct to the claimant and the proprietor would not be involved in the payment of benefit unless appointed to act for the claimant where the person is unable to handle his own financial affairs and there is no other suitable person. The appointee can be changed if the social security office receives information which suggests that he is not fulfilling his duties. Case checks for claimants with appointees are carried out by visit every three years for those over pension age and every six months where an appointee is needed on a temporary basis.

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what statistics he has on the number of reported cases of food poisoning in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Total

  1988

  302

  1989

  483

  1990

  819

  1991

  636

  1992

  916

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

  Mr. Mates
  [holding answer 21 May 1993]: The information is as follows:

  represents; and what proposals exist to replace this training capacity under the plans of the Eastern health and social services board for the closure of the facility.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 19 May 1993]: The information is as follows:

  689

  Year

  NI student intake

  Jubilee placements

  Per cent.

  1992

  85

  24

  28·2

  1991

  91

  28

  30·8

  1990

  102

  33

  32·4

  1989

  104

  34

  32·7

  1988

  111

  36

  32·4

  The Eastern health and social services board has recently completed a consultation process on plans for acute hospital services, including obstetric services. My noble Friend Lord Arran is confident that there will continue to be sufficient placement opportunities for midwifery students in the Eastern board area.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of abattoirs in Northern Ireland 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. Hanley
  [holding answer 26 May 1993]: Annual statistics maintained by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland are given in the table. Data are not available in the form requested before 1975.

  Year

  Number of plants

  Average annual throughput per plant (Livestock units) 1

  1975

  22

  38,096

  1980

  21

  47,786

  1990

  23

  42,105

  1991

  22

  42,786

  1992

  20

  48,216

  19932

  19

  10,978

  1 One livestock unit—one adult bovine/seven sheep/three pigs.

  2 At 31 March 1993.

  Rationalisation Plans
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the effect on the Province, and on rural areas in particular, of the independent rationalisation plans prepared by health boards; and what steps the DHSS (NI) will take to examine the implications of those plans.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 26 May 1993]: The plans of health and social services boards are not independent, but are formulated within the framework of the Department of Health and Social Services regional strategy, which sets out the Department's objectives and priorities for a five year period. Boards' plans are expected to pursue these objectives and, in so doing, to improve the health and social welfare of the population of Northern Ireland. The regional strategy contains a new theme of targeting health and social need, which requires boards to identify those areas and groups, including those living in rural areas, with particular needs and to ensure that services are targeted as far as possible on them.
  690

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to privatise the national weights and measures laboratory.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on 4 May 1993,Official Report, column 4.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what targets he has set the National Weights and Measures Laboratory for 1993–94.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have set the National Weights and Measures Laboratory the following targets for 1993–94: to operate within its current expenditure budget;to achieve the specific objectives set out in its current Corporate Plan; and
  to reduce the real unit cost of a programme-hour by 2 per cent.

  The National Weights and Measures Laboratory is also required to meet a number of other targets, including quality of service targets. Its achievements against these last year will appear in its annual report 1992–93, which is due for publication shortly.

  In addition, I have set the chief executive of the agency the targets of replying to letters from Members of Parliament delegated to him for replying Within 10 working days; and producing auditable commercial-style accounts for the agency for 1993–94.

  Environmental Organisations
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what involvements his Department's affiliated laboratories have in the European network of environmental organisations.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Warren Spring Laboratory is a founding member of the European Network of Environmental Research Organisations and plays an active part in its affairs.

  Warren Spring Laboratory
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to maintain the knowledge and expertise in wastes management and recycling developed by Warren Spring Laboratory after the sale of its site in Stevenage.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Technology gave to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 21 May,Official Report, column 345. I hope to make a further statement about the future of Warren Spring Laboratory in the near future.

  Select Committee Recommendations
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about, and how many accepted by, his Department since April 1989.

  Mr. Heseltine
  In the 14 reports published by the Trade and Industry Select Committee since April 1989, to which
  691
  the Government have responded, 210 recommendations were made, of which 154 have been accepted in whole or in part by the Government, or noted where no further action by Government was sought.

  In addition, the former Energy Select Committee published 24 reports from April 1989 to March 1992. Copies of the responses made by the Government are available in the Library of the House.

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

  Mr. Heseltine
  I announced on 14 May 1993,Official Report, column 599, that I had received an application for my consent to the transfer of The Observer newspaper to Guardian Newspapers Ltd., a subsidiary of The Guardian and Manchester Evening News plc. My consent is required under section 58(1) of the Fair Trading Act 1973. I may give my consent to a newspaper transfer without a report from the Monopolies and Mergers -Commission where I am satisfied the newspaper concerned in the transfer is not economic as a going concern and as a separate newspaper, and that, if the paper is to continue, the case is one of urgency. In this case, I am so satisfied and have today given my consent in accordance with section 58(3)(a) of the Act.

  Regional Development Grants
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many(a) objective 1, (b) objective 2 and (c) objective 3 areas there are within the European Community; and if he will list them, with the date when such status was granted in each case.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  (a) I refer the hon. Member to the list of objective 1 regions annexed to Council regulation (EEC) 2052/88. There are 24 such regions at present. (b) I refer the hon. Member to the Official Journal of 25 April 1989—No. L 206/26—and of 4 August 1990—No. L 112/19—which listed the objective 2 regions in full. There are 137 NUTS III level areas in the Community which are at present designated in whole or in part of objective status. (c) objective 3 measures are available throughout the Community.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the applicants for objective 1 status within the European Community.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There is no formal application system for objective 1 status. For the period 1994 to 1999 the Commission have proposed adding the following regions to the current objective 1 list: the east German Lander and east Berlin; Cantabria in Spain; the Scottish highlands and islands; Merseyside, and Hainaut in Belgium. The Government are also making the case for Devon and Cornwall, rural Wales and South Yorkshire to be designated for objective 1. Other cases have been put for Abruzzi in Italy, Flevoland in the Netherlands and part of France.

  Brewery Industry
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes he is planning to generate more competition in the brewery industry.
  692
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  As my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade made clear in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Page) on 19 January,Official Report, column 159–60, and in his evidence to the Agriculture Select Committee—inquiry into the effect of the Beer Orders—it is desirable that the brewing industry should have a period of regulatory stability. It was for this reason that my right hon. Friend decided not to ask the Director General of Fair Trading—DGFT—to undertake a full-scale review of the effects of the Beer Orders, although the DGFT will continue to monitor the market and will investigate any evidence of anti-competitive behaviour in line with his statutory duties. There are, therefore, no specific plans to initiate further changes to the structure in the brewing industry or in the vertical arrangements as now regulated by the Beer Orders.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he will take to ensure that British Coal maintains all pits at full operational levels until(a) closure decisions have been reached and (b) the pit has been offered for sale or lease; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  British Coal has given repeated assurances to myself and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade that the fabric of collieries that it expects to offer to the private sector will be maintained both before closure decisions are taken and during the sale negotiations.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will instruct British Coal to offer all pits threatened with closure for sale or lease.

  Mr. Eggar
  British Coal has given a commitment to offer all pits that it decides it no longer wishes to operate to the private sector.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if British pits, offered for sale or lease, will be offered with plant and infrastructure existing at the time of the decision by British Coal to cease operations at the colliery; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The sale and leasing of pits and the deployment of machinery is a matter for British Coal which will want to have regard to the needs of its continuing collieries and its overall duty to manage their assets in the most effective manner. British Coal has. of course, committed itself to giving private sector operators a genuine opportunity to take on pits that it no longer wishes to operate.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to monitor redundancy arrangements conducted by British Coal in respect of their effect on independent reviews of threatened collieries.

  Mr. Eggar
  The detailed terms and operation of British Coal's redundancy scheme are a matter for the corporation.

  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about British Coal's plans to offer closing pits to the private sector.

  Mr. Heseltine
  British Coal has announced today that it is advertising four pits, Cotgrave, Silverhill, Easington and Bolsover, for disposal to the private sector.
  693
  In the White Paper "The Prospects for Coal", Cm. 2235, the Government welcomed British Coal's commitment to offer to the private sector pits that British Coal does not itself wish to keep in production. I understand that British Coal has confirmed its intention to place further advertisements for all other pits in this category during the next few weeks.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what predictions he has for(a) British Coal, (b) National Power and (c) PowerGen, of future market share as suppliers of coal to British industry; and what predictions he has for proportion of imported coal for each company, to the year 2000.

  Mr. Eggar
  Estimates of the supply of coal by British Coal to industry were included in the report on "Markets for Coal" by Caminus Energy which was produced as part of my Department's coal review. A copy of this report is available in the Library of the House.

  Cloth Imports (Korea)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the Government of Korea not to impose an additional duty on imported worsted and woollen cloth; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 27 April 1993]: I expressed the Government's strong concern about proposed increases in import tariffs on textiles when I met Korean Ministers during my recent visit to Korea.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Mortgage Interest
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 17 May,Official Report, column 74, if he will update the figures to take account of the 1992 annual statistical inquiry.

  Mr. Burt
  The latest estimate is in the table.

  1992

  Number

  Cases with full mortgage interest included in the assessment

  435,000

  Cases with half mortgage interest included in the assessment

  64,000

  Total cases with mortgage interest included in the assessment

  499,000

  Source: Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiry May 1992.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Photo-identity Cards
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessments he has made of the savings offered by photo-identity cards utilising smart card technology to reduce social security errors and fraud.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have held preliminary discussions with Post Office Counters Ltd. about some potential proposals which it is considering to improve efficiency of payment of benefit through post offices and which would involve smart cards.
  694

  Contracting Out
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 298, which local authorities have contracted out aspects of their benefit administration; and which are considering doing so.

  Mr. Burt
  East Cambridgeshire district council and the London borough of Bromley have contracted out all aspects of their housing benefit and council tax administration which are permissible in current legislation; the district councils of Rutland and Mendip are in the process of doing so. No other authorities have yet come forward in response to the Department's request to notify us of positive intentions in this area.

  Departmental Buildings
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated amount to be spent in 1993–94 in rent and other associated costs for the offices of his Department in John Adam street, London.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The estimated expenditure in this Department for our accommodation at the Adelphi, 1–11 John Adam street, London in 1993–94 is £8·5 million. This figure is composed of rent and maintenance charges paid to Property Holdings and of a contribution in lieu of rates paid to the Crown property unit. This includes some additional space acquired in late 1992 which has helped to implement a major rationalisation programme which has enabled six other buildings to be released from the Government estate.

  Severe Hardship Claims
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many severe hardship claims were made and grants awarded in the South Durham district in each quarter since April 1991;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 13 May, Official Report, columns 540–41, if he will provide a regional breakdown of the figures for severe hardship cases.

  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 Richard to Mr. Alan Milburn, 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 how many severe hardship claims were made and grants awarded in the South Durham district in each quarter since April 1991; and pursuant to his Answer of 13th May, Official Report, columns 540–1, if he will provide a regional breakdown of the figures for severe hardship cases.

  The information about severe hardship claims in South Durham is at Annex A. At Annex B I have appended a regional breakdown of successful and unsuccessful claims on a quarterly basis between January 1990 and March 1993.

  This information has been obtained from the Severe Hardship Claims Unit. It should be noted that statistics relate to the number of claims made and may not equate to the number of customers.
  695
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Severe hardship applications—South Durham District

  Period

  Successful

  Unsuccessful

  Total

  1991

  April to June

  39

  15

  54

  July to September

  62

  14

  76

  October to December

  73

  13

  76

  1992

  January to March

  102

  29

  131

  April to June

  84

  26

  110

  July to September

  108

  43

  151

  October to December

  84

  33

  117

  1993

  January to March

  103

  37

  140

  Annex B

  Severe Hardship Claims: North East

  Period

  Awarded

  Refused

  Total

  1990

  January to March

  982

  447

  1,429

  April to June

  956

  378

  1,334

  July to September

  1,164

  408

  1,572

  October to December

  955

  313

  1,268

  1991

  January to March

  1,556

  539

  2,095

  April to June

  1,684

  470

  2,154

  July to September

  2,306

  613

  2,919

  October to December

  2,153

  536

  2,689

  1992

  January to March

  3,197

  751

  3,948

  April to June

  3,102

  816

  3,918

  July to September

  3,577

  819

  4,396

  October to December

  3,033

  878

  3,911

  1993

  January to March

  4,755

  984

  5,739

  Severe Hardship Claims: Scotland

  Period

  Awarded

  Refused

  Total

  1990

  January to March

  1,475

  543

  2,018

  April to June

  1,552

  547

  2,099

  July to September

  1,640

  570

  2,210

  October to December

  1,307

  363

  1,670

  1991

  January to March

  2,315

  644

  2,959

  April to June

  2,826

  655

  3,481

  July to September

  3,005

  767

  3,772

  October to December

  2,737

  592

  3,329

  1992

  January to March

  4,086

  839

  4,925

  April to June

  4,943

  1,107

  6,050

  July to September

  4,919

  1,196

  6,115

  October to December

  4,412

  1,293

  5,705

  1993

  January to March

  6,079

  1,410

  7,489

  Severe hardship claims: North West

  Period

  Awarded

  Refused

  Total

  1990

  January to March

  508

  303

  811

  April to June

  563

  273

  836

  696

  Period

  Awarded

  Refused

  Total

  July to September

  732

  285

  1,017

  October to December

  588

  173

  761

  1991

  January to March

  987

  345

  1,332

  April to June

  1,180

  314

  1,494

  July to September

  1,537

  432

  1,969

  October to December

  1,476

  371

  1,847

  1992

  January to March

  2,642

  539

  3,181

  April to June

  2,905

  574

  3,479

  July to September

  3,312

  666

  3,978

  October to December

  2,835

  753

  3,588

  1993

  January to March

  4,571

  917

  5,488

  Severe hardship claims: Midlands

  Period

  Awarded

  Refused

  Total

  1990

  January to March

  466

  270

  736

  April to June

  456

  254

  710

  July to September

  559

  276

  835

  October to December

  398

  164

  562

  1991

  January to March

  787

  296

  1,083

  April to June

  1,000

  293

  1,293

  July to September

  1,637

  429

  2,066

  October to December

  1,576

  400

  1,976

  1992

  January to March

  2,735

  547

  3,282

  April to June

  2,693

  614

  3,307

  July to September

  3,138

  683

  3,821

  October to December

  2,593

  680

  3,273

  1993

  January to March

  4,126

  887

  5,013

  Severe hardship claims: Wales and South West

  Period

  Awarded

  Refused

  Total

  1990

  January to March

  354

  194

  548

  April to June

  292

  168

  460

  July to September

  435

  192

  627

  October to December

  387

  113

  500

  1991

  January to March

  827

  256

  1,083

  April to June

  1,128

  245

  1,373

  July to September

  1,655

  369

  2,024

  October to December

  1,586

  323

  1,909

  1992

  January to March

  2,477

  424

  2,901

  April to June

  2,542

  489

  3,031

  July to September

  2,833

  572

  3,405

  October to December

  2,423

  539

  2,962

  1993

  January to March

  3,960

  723

  4,683

  Severe hardship claims—London (South)

  Period

  Awarded

  Refuses

  Total

  1990

  January to March

  359

  179

  538

  April to June

  364

  125

  489

  697

  Period

  Awarded

  Refuses

  Total

  July to September

  481

  187

  668

  October to December

  355

  145

  500

  1991

  January to March

  760

  288

  1,048

  April to June

  1,014

  228

  1,242

  July to September

  1,499

  335

  1,834

  October to December

  1,419

  315

  1,734

  1992

  January to March

  2,371

  433

  2,804

  April to June

  2,247

  516

  2,763

  July to September

  2,668

  559

  3,227

  October to December

  2,286

  542

  2,828

  1993

  January to March

  3,687

  618

  4,305

  Severe Hardship Claims—London (North)

  Period

  Award

  Refused

  Total

  1990

  January to March

  350

  207

  557

  April to June

  345

  193

  538

  July to September

  483

  238

  721

  October to December

  389

  148

  537

  1991

  January to March

  818

  281

  1,099

  April to June

  964

  293

  1,257

  July to September

  1,380

  303

  1,683

  October to December

  1,325

  254

  1,579

  1992

  January to March

  2,136

  359

  2,459

  April to June

  2,272

  420

  2,692

  July to September

  2,627

  525

  3,152

  October to December

  2,329

  505

  2,834

  1993

  January to March

  3,657

  557

  4,214

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Vincent Square
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make it his policy to ensure that all listed buildings in Vincent square are retained.

  Mr. Baldry
  Government policy is that listed buildings should be retained in London or elsewhere except where a strong case can be made for demolition.

ENVIRONMENT

  Water Supply Disconnections
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Institution of Environmental Health Officers concerning water supply disconnections; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Institution of Environment Health Officers originally wrote to my right hon. Friend in November 1992, about the level of disconnections of domestic water supplies for non-payment of water charges 698
  and calling for the ability of water companies to disconnect domestic customers to be ended. They have argued that they consider disconnection renders properties unfit for human habitation.

  In my view, disconnection does not mean that the property is statutorily unfit, as a supply of water remains available and can be readily restored. Both the Government and the Director of General and Water Services see disconnection as a matter of last resort for those customers who can pay but choose not to do so. It is right that customers should pay their bills, but also that where they are having difficulty, companies should ease matters for them so far as possible, for example, by enabling them to pay by frequent instalments. The director general issued guidance to water companies in April 1991, with the aim of ensuring a consistent approach by the companies on those lines. He has recently issued a report on the companies' response to the guidelines and is pursuing, through the regional customer services committees, improvements to individual companies' procedures in the light of their responses.

  The majority of premises disconnected have their supply restored within 48 hours. Generally, a customer may be disconnected only after the company has obtained a court judgment for unpaid charges.

  Leasing Policies
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to extend the allowable lease term for the leasing of empty private sector dwellings by local authorities to a period of seven years.

  Mr. Baldry
  Local authorities are free to take out private sector leases for any period they choose. Last December, my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning announced an extension of the concession which allows local authorities to take out short-term housing leases without lessening their capacity for capital expenditure. The Department is examining the provisions which apply to arrangements for temporary accommodation, and how these are being used.

  Upward-only Rent Reviews
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Bromsgrove (Mr. Thomason) of 31 March,Official Report, columns 293–94, when he expects to introduce a consultation paper on upward-only rent reviews, confidentiality clauses and dispute resolution procedures in relation to new commercial leases.

  Sir George Young
  I am publishing a consultation paper today on upward-only rent reviews, confidentiality clauses and dispute resolution procedures in relation to new commercial leases, following my announcement on 31 March,Official Report, columns 293–94, in response to my hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Mr. Thomason).

  A copy has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. As I made clear in my earlier statement, the Government will carefully examine the responses before considering whether it is appropriate to legislate or take other action on any of these issues. They have no intention of legislating in any way that would alter the terms in existing contracts.
  699

  Fire Protection
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviromment what effort is being made to secure representation on the Department's fire advisory panel of members with special knowledge of passive fire protection.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department does not try to secure representation of particular sectors of the fire protection industry on the fire advisory panel. We do, however, seek an appropriate balance of expertise.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviromment what account his Department has taken of the lessons of the terrorist attack on the New York trade centre, in respect of fire resistance periods required for this type of building under the Department's present England and Wales regulations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  From the evidence currently available, there seems to be little to be learnt about fire resistance periods which is likely to be relevant to Building Regulations in England and Wales from the trade centre attack.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviromment how many proposals for changes in council tax banding have so far been made to valuation offices in each local authority area in England; and what proportion of households this represents.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The latest date at which this information is available at billing authority level is 30 April. A table showing the number of proposals at that date in each area, and the proportion of dwellings this represents, has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council tax appeals have been received for the latest date at which information is available.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  By 20 May, listing officers in England had received 441,854 proposals to amend council tax valuation lists.

  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has as to(a) for each local authority, (b) for each region and (c) for England (i) the number of householders paying full council tax, (ii) the number of non-householders not directly paying council tax, (iii) the number of householders paying council tax partly rebated by council tax benefit and (iv) the number of householders paying council tax fully rebated by council tax benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The estimates requested are not available by region or by individual local authority. We estimate, however, for England, that 12·54 million dwellings are not subject to a discount, 2·65 million householders receive full council tax benefit and 1·76 million partial benefit, and 3·75 million dwellings benefit from a transitional reduction. We have no figures on the number of dwellings receiving a reduction in respect of special features for residents with disabilities. As many dwellings receive more than one type of reduction, and some may indeed receive all four, we cannot estimate overall how many dwellings do not pay full council tax.
  700
  Information is not collected on the number of non-householders not directly paying council tax.

  Glazing
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set up an inquiry into the appropriate standards of glass and glazing to take account of the performance of certain kinds of glazing when affected by bomb explosions.

  Mr. Baldry
  Investigations already in progress are intended to provide appropriate guidance and standards.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what improvement in the standards relating to glass and glazing have been implemented since April 1992.

  Mr. Baldry
  On 1 June 1992 a new requirement—part N—of the Building Regulations was brought into force. This introduced for the first time detailed provisions to improve the safety of glazing in buildings.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment is being carried out of the effect of the present standards of glazing in business premises following the recent bomb outrages in the City of London.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department has brought forward the start of a collaborative research programme with relevant construction industry bodies to prepare a guide for the design of buildings to limit the damage from explosive attack. The project team is examining the damage in the City of London. The Department is in discussion with representatives of the window and glazing industry on the development of appropriate standards.

  Building Materials
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evaluation of the relative strengths of building materials was made consequent to the recent bomb explosions in the City of London.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department has examined the damage as part of its continuing programme of developing design guidance for use by the construction industry.

  Black Country Development Corporation
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give for the Black Country development corporation the names of the chairman and board members, their occupations or professions and their level of allowances or remuneration payable.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The board of the Black Country development corporation is comprised of:

  Chairman—

  Sir William Francis—Civil Engineer

  Deputy—

  Christopher Hawkins—former MP, Economist

  Members—

  Roger Carey—Executive Director, construction group

  Bill Clarke—Local Authority Councillor

  John Edwards—Local Authority Councillor

  Roger Burman—Chairman, electronics group

  Mike Bird—Local Authority Councillor

  Ian Flanagan—Chartered Surveyor

  701

  Dr. Diana Green—Deputy Director, higher education

  Michael Worley—JP, TEC Chairman

  Hugh Ellis Rees—Former Regional Director in DOE

  James Antill—Chairman, private sector

  The chairman receives £25,230 for two days per week. The deputy chairman receives paid £17,185 and each board member £5,030.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to extend the rough sleepers initiative to the outer London boroughs.

  Mr. Baldry
  None. Responsibility for people sleeping rough outside central London rests with local authorities.

  Housing Association Rents
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 21 May,Official Report, columns 360–61, if he will publish figures showing the average increase in rents for housing association tenants with assured tenancies in the years 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information requested is not available for all housing association tenants with assured tenancies.

  The figures set out show the annual increases in average assured tenancy rents for new lettings made in 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  Average rents: assured tenancy new lettings England

  Year

  Annual increase Per cent.

  1990

  +18

  1991

  +17

  1992

  +15

  Source:

  National Federation of Housing Associations CORE data base.

  Urban Priority Areas
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to conclude his review of urban priority areas.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My Department is currently discussing with the local authority associations and other organisations how to use 1991 census data and other information in assessing urban needs. This consultation will in due course inform decisions on the targeting of resources to urban areas.

  Coal
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how the interim opencast planning guidelines will influence the output of opencast coal.

  Mr. Baldry
  Neither the planning system in general, nor the interim guidance which my right hon. and learned Friend announced on 25 March, set limits on or targets for coal production. Planning permissions for coal extraction depend upon the extent to which the inductry bring forward proposals which are acceptable in land use planning terms having regard to all material considerations, including the interim guidance.
  702
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to encourage local authorities to use British coal.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  It is for local authorities to make their own decisions in purchasing goods and services, subject to the requirements of law and financial propriety. Authorities may not discriminate on the basis of the country of origin of supplies, since this would be contrary to part II of the Local Government Act 1988, the Public Supply Contracts Regulations 1991 and the treaty of Rome.

  Mansfield Enterprise Zone
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations and criteria will be used in deciding the area and boundaries for the recently announced enterprise zone in the Mansfield travel-to-work areas.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  These criteria have yet to be finalised.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost since its inception of advertising the council house right-to-buy scheme; what plans he has for a further advertising campaign; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such a campaign.

  Mr. Baldry
  A total of £4·5 million has been spent on seven publicity campaigns since the inception of the right to buy in 1980.

  A further campaign in the autumn will publicise the introduction of the option to buy on rents-to-mortgages terms. Detailed costings are not yet available, but are likely to be similar to those of our most recent campaign, earlier this year, which cost about £1 million.

  Departmental Offices
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated amount to be spent in 1993–94 in rent and other associated costs with the offices of his Department in Marsham street, London.

  Mr. Howard
  No. 2 Marsham street is a Crown freehold building. Estimated expenditure by my Department for its accommodation within the building in 1993–94 is £12·8 million. This figure is composed of internal rent and maintenance charges payable to Property Holdings and a contribution in lieu of rates payable to the Crown Property Unit.

  Tenants' Rights
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will respond to the consultation paper "Tenant Involvement and the Right to Manage"; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  The consultation paper "Tenant Involvement and the Right to Manage" was issued in December 1992. Recipients were invited to submit responses by 26 February 1993. The Department received 99 by that date, with a further 42 arriving afterwards. Respondents broadly welcomed the Government's
  703
  proposals for increased tenant involvement through the process of compulsory competitive tendering for housing management and an expansion of tenant control through the new right to manage. The responses contained a number of helpful and constructive suggestions on detailed points, which will be taken into account when regulations and guidance are prepared.

  A summary of respondents is as follows:

  Number

  Local authorities

  82

  Tenants' organisations

  28

  Tenant management organisations

  3

  Section 16 funded advice agencies

  6

  Housing associations

  4

  Local authority associations

  3

  Others

  15

  141

  Copies of the responses are available for examination in the Department's library.

  Countryside Commission
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish a management statement for the Countryside Commission.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have today issued a management statement to the Countryside Commission setting out the commission's role and responsibilities and the framework for its relationship with my Department. A copy of the statement will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Government Initiatives, South-East
  Sir Rhodes Boyson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of support given by his Department to urban development corporations, the urban programme, city challenge and other inner-city initiatives in(a) England, (b) Greater London and (c)

  £ million outturn prices (rounded)

  Programme

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Urban

  A

  62

  95

  81

  74

  97

  126

  151

  400

  552

  530

  414

  development

  B

  41

  63

  59

  54

  65

  83

  116

  256

  333

  249

  156

  corporations

  C

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Urban programme1

  A

  115

  140

  170

  185

  199

  199

  181

  179

  178

  179

  188

  B

  42

  36

  43

  39

  35

  39

  40

  32

  34

  37

  37

  C

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  237

  City challenge

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other inner cities3

  A

  61

  75

  83

  83

  83

  99

  106

  105

  137

  143

  180

  B

  3

  4

  3

  4

  4

  3

  3

  3

  6

  8

  10

  C

  0·3

  0·1

  0·1

  0·4

  0·7

  0·5

  0·4

  0·1

  0·2

  0·2

  0·5

  A England.

  B Greater London.

  C South East (excluding London).

  1Includes for 1984–85 onwards other Government Department's contributions to urban programme.

  2 Programme supported by £19 million per year from the Housing Corporation.

  3 Includes LA and non-LA derelict land grant; city grant; task forces and CATs.

  704
  the south-east, excluding Greater London, for each year since 1982–83, including estimates for 1992–93, distinguishing between current and capital expenditure, excluding local authority credit approvals/capital allocations.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 25 May 1993]: The table sets out total net spending by the Department of the Environment for each year since 1984–85, excluding housing, inner cities and all credit approvals/capital allocations. Comparable figures for spending before 1984–85, and a differentiation between current and capital spending before 1988–89, are not available. Information on the regional spread of this spending is also not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  £ million

  Current

  Capital

  Total

  1984–85

  —

  —

  15,798

  1985–86

  —

  —

  16,901

  1986–87

  —

  —

  17,336

  1987–88

  —

  —

  18,357

  1988–89

  19,107

  85

  19,193

  1989–90

  20,264

  131

  20,946

  1990–91

  21,642

  128

  21,769

  1991–92

  28,432

  131

  28,564

  1992–93 1

  31,389

  138

  31,527

  1 Estimated.

  Sir Rhodes Boyson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of support given by his Department to all initiatives other than housing and inner cities in(a) England, (b) Greater London and (c) the south-east, excluding Greater London, for each year since 1982–83, including estimates for 1992–93, distinguishing between current and capital expenditure, excluding local authority credit approvals/capital allocations.

  Mr. Redwood
  The total amount of support given by my Department's urban group of programmes, year on year from 1982–83 to 1992–93 and excluding LA credit approvals/capital allocations, are as follows:

  The UP, UDC and city challenge programmes contain varying proportions of capital and current expenditure; detailed information on each could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  705

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what has been the average(a) local authority expenditure and (b) Government grant to local authorities per head of population in England, for the last three years for which figures are available;

  (2) what has been (a) the expenditure and (b) the Government grant per head of population of (i) Cheltenham borough and (ii) Gloucestershire, for the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 26 May 1993]Local authorities report the following:

  Central Government grants and local authority expenditure4

  1990–91 £ per head

  1991–92 £ per head

  1992–93 £ per head

  Cheltenham

  Grants to collection fund1

  125

  233

  295

  Grants to general fund2

  39

  26

  26

  Expenditure

  91

  120

  118

  Gloucestershire

  Grants to general fund2

  55

  60

  66

  Expenditure

  571

  621

  666

  England

  Grants3

  314

  437

  489

  Expenditure

  755

  842

  899

  1 Revenue support grant, special grants inside AEF, community charge grant (1991–92). These grants also partially financed the precept made on the collection fund by Gloucestershire CC.

  2 Specific grants inside AEF. These grants support spending by all tiers of authority. As the two authorities do not cover the same functions, the specific grants are quite different in size and composition. Also includes additional grant for teachers' pay (Gloucestershire, 1992–93), and community charge benefit grant and community charge transitional relief/reduction scheme grant paid to Cheltenham.

  3 Revenue support grant, specific grants inside AEF, community charge grant (1991–92), special grants inside AEF, additional grant for teachers' pay (1992–93), community charge benefit grant and community charge transitional relief/reduction grant.

  4 Revenue expenditure to compare with TSS.

WALES

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the numbers and value of offers of(a) regional selective assistance and (b) regional enterprise grants in Wales in 1991–92 and 1992–93 and the forecast outturn for 1993–94; and if he will list (i) the number of applications, (ii) the associated project costs and (iii) the amount of grant paid.

  Income support for mortgage interest

  Year

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Total claimants (rounded to nearest thousand)1

  22,000

  26,000

  27,000

  34,000

  Average weekly payment (£)1

  19·23

  23·58

  34·80

  33·67

  Annual payment (£)

  22,400,000

  31,300,000

  48,900,000

  59,000,000

  1 At May.

  Source: Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiries (Department of Social Security).
  706
  Mr. David Hunt
  This information is published annually in the Welsh Office departmental report, the Welsh Office appropriation accounts and the Industrial Development Act 1982 annual report. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  School Meals
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children in Wales qualified for free school meals in 1992–93; and if he will also provide these figures as a percentage of the total school roll.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  From provisional schools census data, 98,466 pupils in LEA-maintained schools in Wales were entitled to free meals at September 1992. This represented 20·6 per cent. of the total school roll.

  Glass Recycling
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the volumes of glass collected for recycling in Wales in each year from 1989; and what percentage of collected glass was recycled in each year.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information supplied to the Welsh Office by the British Glass Manufacturers Confederation is as follows:

  Tonnage of glass collected during the year1

  Year

  Tonnage

  1989

  2,539

  1990

  4,710

  1991

  7,231

  1992

  8,559

  1Total of districts for which data are available. Excludes glass not collected by members of the bottle bank scheme.

  All collected glass is recycled.

  Mortgage Assistance
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures indicating(a) the number of claimants for income support in respect of mortgage interest, (b) the average weekly payment and (c) the total annual payment in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Figures for claimants of income support who have mortgage relief considered in their assessment are shown in the following table. Those for 1988 are not readily available. Deductions may be made to cover assumed contributions from non-dependants living in the household. The amounts quoted are those considered in the assessment rather than the amounts actually paid to claimants.
  707

  National Health Service Property
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all national health service properties and estates in Wales, indicating their value in each case; and if he has any plans for their future management.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I have placed a list of all national health service properties in Wales and their values, based on valuations completed in 1992, in the Library of the House.

  I have no plans to change the existing day to day management arrangements for the national health service estate in Wales beyond those which flow from the establishment of national health service trusts. However, following wide consultation on proposals to strengthen the strategic management of the national health service estate my right hon. Friend has approved the establishment of a strategic estates unit, National Health Service Estates: Wales, to be located within the Welsh Health Common Services Authority.

  Number of households accommodated temporarily on 31 December

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Aberconwy

  5

  9

  12

  9

  0

  10

  13

  14

  Alyn and Deeside

  32

  17

  17

  26

  28

  41

  47

  56

  Arfon

  3

  3

  6

  7

  3

  2

  3

  9

  Blaenau Gwent

  14

  14

  19

  16

  12

  15

  16

  9

  Brecknock

  1

  2

  1

  5

  7

  12

  21

  14

  Cardiff

  24

  57

  82

  91

  179

  141

  235

  394

  Carmarthen

  8

  0

  6

  11

  16

  4

  10

  6

  Ceredigion

  3

  3

  4

  3

  3

  25

  41

  25

  Colwyn

  11

  0

  1

  0

  5

  7

  11

  7

  Cynon Valley

  41

  60

  11

  11

  8

  12

  23

  5

  Delyn

  8

  7

  35

  25

  18

  27

  46

  34

  Dinefwr

  1

  1

  3

  6

  4

  11

  9

  3

  Dwyfor

  5

  0

  2

  2

  2

  0

  1

  1

  Glyndwr

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Islwyn

  19

  5

  0

  10

  14

  18

  18

  21

  Llanelli

  18

  10

  9

  6

  25

  31

  32

  21

  Lliw Valley

  34

  50

  40

  22

  30

  35

  64

  28

  Meirionnydd

  1

  2

  3

  1

  7

  12

  5

  6

  Merthyr Tydfil

  5

  4

  8

  2

  2

  2

  5

  2

  Monmouth

  44

  47

  22

  45

  36

  65

  69

  28

  Montgomeryshire

  0

  3

  6

  4

  8

  8

  12

  10

  Neath

  19

  13

  26

  9

  20

  25

  20

  16

  Newport

  87

  67

  86

  106

  141

  236

  253

  81

  Ogwr

  2

  3

  5

  10

  8

  15

  20

  26

  Port Talbot

  22

  21

  53

  23

  27

  22

  25

  27

  Preseli

  1

  10

  17

  16

  12

  16

  13

  16

  Radnorshire

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  6

  Rhondda

  1

  0

  2

  2

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Rhuddlan

  4

  0

  1

  5

  3

  9

  14

  8

  Rhymney Valley

  1

  14

  64

  5

  17

  72

  20

  14

  South Pembrokeshire

  3

  3

  4

  8

  10

  12

  11

  6

  Swansea

  17

  15

  24

  24

  24

  54

  77

  72

  Taff-Ely

  1

  1

  0

  0

  5

  6

  12

  7

  Torfaen

  4

  5

  19

  16

  18

  20

  26

  34

  Vale of Glamorgan

  23

  45

  71

  117

  133

  26

  21

  6

  Wrexham Maelor

  0

  0

  0

  11

  5

  14

  20

  17

  Ynys Môn

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  0

  2

  Source

  Local authority returns.
  708

  Empty Homes
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the number of empty private homes in Wales and of how many of these are(a) repossessed empty houses, (b) empty unsold private homes currently on the market and (c) inherited private homes which remain empty.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is estimated from the 1991 census of population that there were 56,400 vacant private sector household spaces in Wales. A household space is the accommodation available for a household and is defined in "1991 Census Definitions", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Information on the cause of vacancy is not available.

  Temporary Accommodation
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total number of families living in temporary accommodation in each local authority area in Wales in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information is available only for the number of households, rather than families living in temporary accommodation and is as follows:
  709

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children under the age of five years are resident or attend school in areas with drinking water with over 10 microgrammes of lead per litre.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on areas with drinking water with over 10 microgrammes of lead per litre is not available.

  Diabetics
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current incidence of blindness among diabetics expressed as(a) the total number and (b) the percentage of all diabetics, in each health authority area in Wales.

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

  Consultant Surgeons
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will collect centrally information from each hospital trust on the workload that each consultant surgeon is to carry under their contractual obligation to the trust.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No. This is a matter for individual NHS trusts.

  Business Start-up Programme
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales the business start-up programme has helped since its inception in 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Since its inception in 1991, the business start-up programme has helped more than 6,000 people in Wales.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of self-employed people in Wales for each year since 1979; what percentage of the work force they constituted in each year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The figures requested are given in the following table:

  Civilian employment estimates

  A-Region

  Wales

  Title: Self employment

  Date of return (December)

  Persons

  Per cent.

  1979

  122,000

  10·6

  1980

  117,000

  10·8

  1981

  118,000

  11·4

  1982

  123,000

  12·1

  1983

  135,000

  13·1

  1984

  145,000

  13·9

  1985

  150,000

  14·2

  1986

  151,000

  14·2

  1987

  147,000

  13·3

  1988

  168,000

  14·4

  710

  Date of return (December)

  Persons

  Per cent.

  1989

  186,000

  15·5

  1990

  179,000

  15·0

  1991

  174,000

  15·2

  1992

  158,000

  14·2

  Source Employment Department via NOMIS.

  Business Parks
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the business parks that have been established in Wales in each year since 1987; which counties they are in; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Comprehensive information is not held centrally. I understand, however, that since 1987 the following major sites, categorised as business parks, have been, or are being, established by the Welsh development agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales:

  County

  Site

  Clwyd

  St. Asaph

  Northop

  Warren Hall

  Dyfed

  Parc Teifi

  Gwent

  Langstone Park

  Imperial Park

  Cleppa Park

  Gwynedd

  Parc Menai

  Parc Eryri

  Mid Glamorgan

  Ynysyplwm

  South Glamorgan

  Cardiff Gate

  West Glamorgan

  Penllergaer

  Powys

  Broadaxe

  Wye Valley

  Woodlands

  Exports
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of Welsh gross domestic product in 1992–93 resulted from exports to European countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is not available for Wales.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales the enterprise allowance scheme has helped since 1983; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The enterprise allowance scheme has helped 37,958 people in Wales since 1983. The scheme was replaced by the business start-up programme in April 1991.
  711

  Radon Gas
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Institution of Environmental Health Officers concerning the contamination of houses in Wales by radon gas.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Welsh Office officials have discussed radon in Wales with representatives of the Institute of Environmental Health Officers on a number of occasions.

  Urban Waste Treatment
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the areas in Wales proposed to him as candidate sensitive areas under the EC urban waste treatment directive by(a) Countryside Council for Wales and (b) the National Rivers Authority.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In March 1993, the Welsh Office, together with the Department of the Environment and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, published its response to the consultation exercise it carried out on the criteria and procedures for identifying sensitive areas under the urban waste water treatment directive. The National Rivers Authority has been asked to compile a list of candidate sensitive areas using these criteria. Although the Countryside Council for Wales has not made any proposals on the basis of the finalised criteria, it will be consulted about the NRA's list.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the average pre-tax turnover, (b) the number of start-ups and (c) the number of people employed for small businesses in Wales in each year since 1979.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The tables give an indication of the distribution of turnover between units, grouped by size, in Wales. Information prior to 1989 is not readily available and the size bands published were changed in 1991.

  New VAT registrations give an indication of the number of business start-ups for each year. Firms with a turnover of less than £1 million each year account for over 96 per cent. of the total.

  Year

  Number of new VAT registrations

  1980

  7,070

  1981

  7,122

  1982

  7,704

  1983

  8,044

  1984

  7,609

  1985

  7,264

  1986

  7,811

  1987

  8,682

  1988

  10,873

  1989

  10,916

  1990

  10,165

  1991

  8,408

  Source NOMIS.

  Information on the numbers of employees employed in units of different size is available for 1984, 1987, 1989 and 1991 from the size-band analyses of the Censuses of Employment and given in the following table.
  712

  Employees in employment in Wales, by size of unit.1

  Thousands

  Size of unit (employees)

  September

  1–49

  50–199

  200 and over

  1984

  356·1

  189·4

  319·5

  1987

  364·6

  204·2

  334·1

  1989

  413·4

  209·8

  343·9

  1991

  439·3

  217·4

  287·2

  Source Size-band analyses of Censuses of Employment, Employment Department (via NOMIS).

  1 Excluding agriculture.

  Number of units, by turnover size

  Size of unit: turnover

  Year

  £22,000–£100,0001

  £101,000–£250,000

  £251,000–£1,000,000

  £1,001,000 and over

  1989

  44,055

  13,635

  7,208

  2,735

  1990

  44,762

  14,820

  8,127

  3,070

  Source PA 1003 Size analyses of United Kingdom businesses, Business Monitor, Central Statistical Office.

  1£23,000-£100,000 in 1990.

  Number of units, by turnover size

  Size of unit: turnover

  Year

  £1,000–£25,000

  £26,000–£99,0001

  £100,000–£249,000

  £250,000–£999,000

  £1,000,000 and over

  1991

  n.a.

  41,709

  16,986

  9,107

  3,467

  1992

  16,008

  36,130

  17,223

  9,430

  3,486

  Source PA 1003 Size analyses of United Kingdom businesses, Business Monitor, Central Statistical Office.

  1£24,000-£99,000 in 1991.

  Farmers (EC Aid)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 29 April,Official Report, column 523–24, what proportion of integrated administration and control system submissions by Welsh farmers included an estimate of forage areas on a field-by-field basis.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This information is not available. Livestock producers who did not have access to maps which would have provided them with the precise details were given the option to submit estimates of field sizes. They were not, however, required to indicate whether the figures were derived from maps, otherwise computed or estimated.

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation regarding the cost of the corporate relaunching and logo unveiling ceremony at the Mermaid theatre on 18 March.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None. Individual schemes within the approved marketing budget are a matter for the board of the Cardiff Bay development corporation, subject to the usual delegation arrangements with my Department.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 29 March,Official Report, column 90, when he now expects to be able to release an officer to undertake the quinquennial review of the Cardiff Bay development corporation.
  713
  Mr. David Hunt
  An officer has now been released and began work on the review on 17 May.

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the continuation of the eligibility of the Bridgend travel-to-work area for regional aid.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The representations received about the review of assisted areas, including those relating to the Bridgend travel-to-work-area, are currently being considered.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to be able to announce whether Wales will continue to be treated as a separate region for available set-aside.

  Mr. David Hunt
  As soon as possible.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the continuing eligibility of the travel-to-work areas currently benefiting from regional aid.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The representations received about the review of assisted areas are currently being considered.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about representations he has received on the future shape of the regional aid map in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have received numerous representations about the review of assisted areas. These representations are currently being considered.

  Slaughterhouses
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discretion he enjoys in determining the number of livestock to be processed in low-throughput slaughterhouses.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The EC fresh meat directive contains arrangements for small slaughterhouses, which can benefit from a special list of structural requirements. Following discussions during December's Council of Agriculture Ministers, the Council agreed to increase the throughput limit for small slaughterhouses from 12 to 20 units per week until 31 December 1994. During this period, the Commission will review the implications of the meat hygiene directives for traditional small businesses. The Government will work closely with the Commission as it carries out this review.

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

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the "Sessional Information Digest", copies of which are available in the Library of the House. This lists Select Committee reports and provides reference numbers to my Department's responses where appropriate.
  714

  Strategic Planning Guidance
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Assembly of Welsh Counties or with Welsh representatives of individual counties in relation to the strategic planning guidance exercise recently completed; what financial considerations governed the funding of the planning exercise; what information on the contents and findings will be made public; if he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In 1990, the Assembly of Welsh Counties—AWC—accepted my right hon. Friend's invitation to co-ordinate the strategic planning guidance in Wales exercise and to report the results of the work to him. The work has included an assessment of the existing strategic planning guidance that provides the framework for the preparation of development plans and identification of the main strategic planning issues likely to affect Wales in the next 10 to 15 years. The Department has kept closely in touch with the progress of the exercise and officials have attended the seminars arranged by the AWC to discuss the interim results. The management of the exercise, its scale, degree of consultation and the consequent financial considerations are a matter for the AWC. My right hon. Friend expects to receive the final report shortly and will consider fully what further action is necessary. I understand that the AWC will be making its report publicly available. I will ensure that a copy is placed in the Library of the House.

  Cereals
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of his inquiries as to Welsh cereal yields.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I commissioned a study of the various cereal yields in Wales, on which I consulted the farming industry. I am now considering the findings of the study, taking into account the various representations made to me.

  Prince of Wales Hospital, Rhydlafar
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with South Glamorgan health authority in relation to the proposed inquiry into the running of the orthopaedic department at the Prince of Wales hospital, Rhydlafar.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The health authority informed the Department that it was instituting an inquiry into certain aspects of the running of the orthopaedic department at the Prince of Wales hospital, Rhydlafar.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 24 May,Official Report, column 467, on public appointments, if he will list (a) the deletions from the list of appointments he makes to public bodies which have arisen since 23 March and (b) the current vacancies among appointments which he makes.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is as follows, reflecting the position as at 7 May 1993.
  715
  (a) Deletions:

  Appointee

  Public body

  Mr. D. M. Barling

  Plant Variety and Seeds Tribunal (Cereals)

  Mr. E. Rae

  Development Board for Rural Wales

  Mr. I. Jones

  Mr. G. C. Crimp

  Sports Council for Wales

  Mr. T. G. R. Davies

  Councillor Mr. K. F. Powell

  Mrs. A. Bowen

  Dyfed FHSA

  Mr. Thomas Lloyd

  Mr. R. N. Thomas

  Gwynedd FHSA

  Mrs. S. Wyn-Jones

  United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  Dr. M. E. Buck

  Councillor Leon Smith

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

  Mr. T. R. Baxter-Wright

  Gwent Community NHS Trust

  Mr. B. K. Shah

  Mid Glamorgan FHSA

  Mr. H. S. Martin

  Clwyd North CHC

  Mr. D. Moore

  Ancient Monuments Board for Wales

  In addition, the Welsh Committee for Drug Misuse and the Welsh Committee for Alcohol Misuse ceased functioning with effect from 31 March, 1993: each committee had 1 chair and 15 members.

  (b) Vacancies

  PUBLIC BODY

  Agricultural Wages Committee and Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees:

  Clwyd—1 Member

  Dyfed—1 Member

  Glamorgan—1 Member

  Gwent—1 Member

  Snowdonia National Park Committee—1 Member

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation—2 Members

  Sports Council for Wales—1 Member

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust—1 Member

  Gwent Community Health NHS Trust—1 Member

  Gwent FHSA—1 Member

  Gwynedd FHSA—1 Member

  Mid Glamorgan FHSA —1 Member

  Mid Glamorgan DHA—1 Member

  Rhymney Valley CHC—1 Member

  Pembrokeshire CHC—1 Member

  Clwyd North CHC—1 Member

  Cardiff CHC—1 Member

  Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting—1 Member

  Land Authority for Wales—1 Member

  Housing for Wales—1 Member

  Welsh Development Agency—2 Members

  Barry Neighbourhood Hospital
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the transfer of responsibility for the proposed Barry Neighbourhood hospital to the Llandough NHS trust; and what representations he received from South Glamorgan health authority in relation to this issue.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It was concluded that the interests of patients from the Vale of Glamorgan would be best served by linking the proposed Barry Neighbourhood hospital to Llandough hospital NHS trust rather than to the community and mental health unit.
  716

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has issued to the Welsh NHS trusts in relation to the implications of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 for existing staff transferred from health 'authority employment to trust employment.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  A guidance document "NHS Trusts: A Working Guide" was published by HMSO in October 1990. This makes it clear that in making arrangements for staff transfer, and undertaking consultation, health authorities should assume that the transfer of undertakings regulations and the European Commission directive on acquired rights apply. Also, all staff who transfer to trust employment retain their existing contracts and rights. Further guidance in the form of a circular "National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 —Staff Transfer Schemes" has been issued to the NHS in Wales which also refers to the protection of the rights of NHS employees on transfer to an NHS trust.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will lift the requirement for local authorities in Wales to expose work to competitive tendering before and after local government reorganisation.

  Mr. David Hunt
  "Local Government in Wales: A Charter for the Future", Cm 2155, affirms the Government's commitment to compulsory competitive tendering—CCT—as a means of ensuring that local government services are efficient and give good value for money.

  It also proposes special arrangements for CCT during the transition from the present structure of local government to the new unitary authorities. I have been considering the detail of those arrangements for work which is currently subject to CCT and have concluded that, generally, local authorities should not be required to submit to competition work which they propose to carry out between 1 April 1994 and 30 September 1996.

  This period of exemption is intended to smooth the transition to the new authorities. They will be able to

  717
  examine the best way of organising their services and, where appropriate, put fresh arrangements in place before exposing work to competition. More importantly, they will be able to focus, in the time after their election, on the immediate requirement to establish reliable and effective service delivery arrangements. The proposed exemption would apply to CCT under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988, and would be given effect by secondary legislation under those Acts.

  I have decided that there are nevertheless some circumstances in which competition should continue to be required. These are:
  (i) construction contracts worth over £1 million. This would affect primarily the highways departments of county councils;
  (ii) work carried out by authorities, such as community councils, to which the 1980 and 1988 Acts apply but which are not affected by the reorganisation.

  None of these arrangements will affect contracts which the private sector in Wales has already won through CCT. The White Paper makes it clear that, where such contracts expire after the date of reorganisation, they will run for their full term and will be assigned to the appropriate unitary authorities. Detailed guidance on this, and on technical aspects of the transition as it affects direct service organisations, will be issued.

  These arrangements would not prevent authorities from voluntarily submitting work to competitive tendering during the period of the exemption. Nor would they have any effect on competition requirements set by the European Community.

  CCT will not be further extended in Wales until after reorganisation has taken place. The timetable will be discussed with the local authority associations and an announcement will be made in due course.

  Tenants' Rights
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make an announcement on the responses received from within Wales to the consultation paper "Tenant Involvement and the Right to Manage".

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The consultation paper "Tenant Involvement and the Right to Manage" was issued for consultation in December 1992. Recipients were invited to submit responses by 26 February 1993. Seventeen were received by that date from local authorities and others in Wales, with a further four arriving afterwards. Respondents broadly welcomed the Government's proposals for increased tenant involvement and the expansion of tenant control through the new right to manage. The responses contained a number of helpful and constructive suggestions on detailed points, which will be taken into account when regulations and guidance are prepared.

  A summary of respondents from within Wales is as follows:

  Number

  Local Authorities

  12

  Local Authority Associations

  1

  Tenants' Organisations

  6

  Others

  2

  Total

  21

  718
  Copies of the responses are available for examination in the Welsh Office Library.

  Sheep Identification
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on sheep identification.

  Mr. David Hunt
  A directive on the identification and registration of animals—92/102—was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 27 November 1992. It lays down minimum Community requirements for the identification and registration of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. The objective is to set up a harmonised system which will enable animals to be traced back to their farm of origin, both for disease control purposes and for controlling payments made under the common agricultural policy. The national systems for sheep and goats do not have to be in place until January 1995. Agriculture Departments are discussing with industry organisations how these new requirements will be implemented so as to minimise the burden on the industry as a whole.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration Advisory Services
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to regulate the operation of unqualified immigration advisory services.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Government have drawn the attention of those planning the new Immigration Appeals Advisory Service and of the Law Society to the recommendation of the Home Affairs Committee that a register of responsible agencies should be established. Should such a list be drawn up, we would be ready to consider making it available to applicants. We have no plans ourselves to draw up a register, or otherwise to regulate advisory services of this kind.

  Racial Attacks, Pendle
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many racial attacks were reported in Pendle for each year since 1979; and how many complaints were addressed to the Commission for Racial Equality by persons resident in Pendle in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Wolds Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restrictions are included in the contract for managing the Wolds prison and for transporting prisoners to prevent the contractor employing convicted criminals.

  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. Martin Redmond, dated 26 May 1993:
  719
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the restrictions in the contracts for the management of Wolds Remand Prison and transporting prisoners to prevent the contractor employing convicted criminals.

  Under the terms of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, people who are to be employed as prisoner custody officers in a contracted out prison or on court escort work have to be certified by the Home Office. This means we have to be satisfied that they are fit and proper persons for such duties and have received training to a standard that we have approved. In addition to these statutory safeguards for custodial staff our standard contract also requires a contractor to provide details to us of all other personnel, including sub-contracted staff employed on a contract.

  In practice, this means that all those working at Wolds Remand Prison; in the court escort service in the East Midlands and Humberside and on all future such contracts are subject to routine enquiries about their suitability to work with the prisoners in the same way as happens with staff employed by the Prison Service. These include a criminal record check, to identify any convictions which might render the applicant unsuitable. Decisions about suitability are made to the same standard as, and in accordance with, Prison Service practice.

  Unit Fines
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Magistrates Association on the operation of the unit fines system since his statement of 13 May.

  Mr. Jack
  Since 13 May 1993, my right hon. and learned Friend has received no formal representations from the Magistrates Association, but Home Office officials met representatives of the association on 20 May to discuss options for replacing the current unit fine provisions.

  Drugs
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were serving prison sentences at the latest available date of over three years in prisons in England and Wales for drug offences.

  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. Tom Cox, dated 26 May 1993:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to write to you directly in reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of men and women in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales serving sentences of over three years for drug offences.

  The latest available provisional figures by offence and sentence length are for 31 March 1993 and cover around 80 per cent. of sentenced prison population. They show some 1,300 male and 200 female prisoners in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales recorded centrally as being sentenced to over three years for drug offences, excluding any where drugs offences were not the principal offence.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many confiscation orders were made under the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 for each year from 1987; what was the total value of the assets 720
  ordered to be confiscated and the actual amount recovered by way of confiscation, in each of those years; and what percentage this represented of the total amount ordered to be confiscated in each year.

  Mr. Jack
  Information collected centrally is given in the tables. A direct comparison between the amount ordered to be confiscated and the amount realised cannot be made because these data are collected from two separate sources and cover calendar and financial years respectively.

  Table A

  Offenders ordered to pay confiscation orders under the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 by amount 1987–1991 England and Wales

  Year

  Number of orders made

  Total amount confiscated £

  1987

  203

  1,177,000

  1988

  539

  8,096,700

  1989

  802

  7,851,900

  1990

  871

  10,142,500

  1991

  1,005

  6,501,500

  Table B

  Amount (£) recovered1 by the Secretary of State in confiscation orders under the Drug Trafficking Offenders Act 1986 by financial year 1987–88 to 1991–92 England and Wales

  Year

  Amount recovered £

  1987–88

  600,000

  1988–89

  1989–90 2

  1,375,200

  1990–91 2

  1,448,000

  1991–92

  5,384,500

  1 The information collected centrally is known to be incomplete as returns were not received from all petty sessional divisions.

  2 There was some confusion with the recording of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 and the Criminal Justice Act 1988 during these two years. In consequence it is considered that data has been under-recorded for the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 and over-recorded for the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the research report from Sheffield university, prepared for the Home Office, on the prevalence of drug use among young people; in what form it will be published; and whether the publication will be the full report or a summary.

  Mr. Jack
  The research findings will be published in full later this year, in book form.

  Sexual Offences
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of(a) men and (b) women serving a prison sentence in prisons in England and Wales at the latest available date after having been convicted of sexual offences against children.

  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.
  721
  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 26 May 1993:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to write to you directly in reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of men and women in custody for sexual offences against children.

  The latest available provisional figures are for 31 March 1993. They show that about 210 male and 3 female prisoners were serving sentences in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales for unlawful sexual intercourse with a female under 16 years of age or gross indecency with or indecent assault on a child. Other inmates will however be serving sentences for rape, buggery and other sexual offences and for murder involving a sexual assault. The statistics for these offences do not distinguish the age of the victim.

  Segregated Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women, were segregated under rule 43 in prisons in England and Wales on 10 May.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 25 May 1993:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of men and women segregated under Rule 43 on 10 May.

  The following table shows the number of males and females (both adults and young persons) removed from association under Rule 43 of the Prison Rules and Rule 46 of the Young Offender Institution Rules, in Prison Service establishments in England and and Wales on 10 May.

  Rule 43/46 Own protection

  Rule 43/46 Good order and discipline

  Total

  Males

  1,391

  272

  1,663

  Females

  22

  3

  25

  Total

  1,413

  275

  1,688

  The above table does not include inmates in designated vulnerable prisoner units where Rule 43 and Rule 46 restrictions do not apply.

  Refugees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 28 April,Official Report, columns 445–46, what changes have been made in the last 24 months to the criteria applied to refugees with exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom when assessing whether or not they should be granted United Kingdom travel documents.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There has been no change in our policy during the last 24 months. Reinforcement of the asylum division has allowed closer consideration to be given, in accordance with that policy, to some applications where we believe it would be possible for a national passport to be obtained.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 28 April,Official
  722
  Report, columns 445–46, what criteria are applied to individuals from Sri Lanka on exceptional leave to remain when requesting travel documents.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  All asylum applicants who are found not to be refugees but who are granted exceptional leave to remain may apply for Home Office travel documents if they are unable to obtain a national passport. As with other nationalities, applications from people from Sri Lanka are considered on their individual merits.

  Glazing
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been given to businesses in the City of London on the best kinds of explosion-resistant replacement glazing since 24 April.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The City of London police, in conjunction with Government security advisers, has been advising businesses and institutions in the City on the available range of glazing options. This complements the advice which is available from specialists in the private sector.

  Confessions
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the cases of those convicted on the evidence of confession alone, before the introduction of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

  Mr. Jack
  My right hon. and learned Friend is always ready to consider representations alleging wrongful conviction, whatever the nature of the evidence in the case, and to exercise his powers wherever it is appropriate to do so. He has, however, no plans to institute a general review of cases falling into the category described.

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last convenient 12-month period he has overturned the recommendation of the adjudicator at the immigration appellate authority to exercise his discretion outside the immigration rules.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. All recommendations made by adjudicators are, however, carefully considered in the light of the known facts.

  Open Prisons
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide details of the criteria used by the Prison Service when allocating prisoners to open rather than closed prisons.

  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. Martin Redmond, dated 26 May 1993:
  723
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the criteria used by the Prison Service when allocating to open prisons.

  Guidance to Prison Service establishments explains that all adult male prisoners (apart from those regarded by headquarters as requiring high security conditions, and life sentence prisoners, for whom separate allocation arrangements are made) should be regarded as probably suitable for an open prison unless they are sentenced to a term of over 12 months for any violent offence, are convicted of any but the most minor sexual offence, had previously served a sentence of over 12 months for such an offence and had not successfully remained for part of that sentence in an open prison, have current or previous convictions for minor or serious drugs offences, or have a recent history of escapes or absconds. Prisoners who come within these criteria, would be placed in a security category which would require them to be held in closed conditions. Having decided security categorisation, the local prison then must decide on the establishment to which the prisoner should be allocated. Allocation decisions take into account the need for security and control, the need to make best use of the Prison Service estate and the needs of the individual prisoner.

  Separate guidance applies to male young offenders and female prisoners. But the approach is similar in that an assessment of risk is made on the basis of information on the current and any previous offences before deciding on the appropriate establishment to which the inmate should be allocated.

  With the passage of time or changes in circumstances, many prisoners become less of a risk and less likely to try to escape. Some long term or life sentence prisoners may merit downgrading to a lower security category more than once. A prisoner who was originally allocated to a closed prison may therefore be reallocated to an open prison at a later stage in his or her sentence. I hope this has provided a helpful summary of the approach we take to allocation. But if you woulds like to have more information, I should be pleased to provide it.

  Redbridge and Snaresbrook Courts
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) criminal and (b) motoring cases were brought to trial at Redbridge magistrates court and Snaresbrook Crown court for each quarter of 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993 to date.

  Mr. Jack
  Information for 1990 and 1991 is given in the table. Information for 1992 and 1993 is not yet available.

  Number of defendants prosecuted at Redbridge magistrates court and number of defendants tried at Snaresbrook Crown court for "criminal"1 and "motoring"2 case by quarter, 1990 and 1991.

  Redbridge PSD

  Snaresbrook CC

  Year/Quarter

  Criminal1

  Motoring2 3

  Criminal1

  Motoring2

  1990

  Q1

  961

  449

  1,112

  12

  Q2

  1,103

  638

  1,054

  3

  Q3

  838

  840

  1,144

  4

  Q4

  783

  779

  1,044

  5

  1991

  Q1

  925

  1,066

  1,020

  4

  Q2

  906

  1,103

  1,064

  4

  Q3

  956

  1,189

  1,074

  4

  Q4

  901

  1,365

  935

  3

  1 Indictable and summary non-motoring offences.

  2 Summary motoring offences.

  3Improvements in the data collection methods used by the Metropolitan police district (MPD) have led to an increase in the number recorded as sentenced for summary motoring offences of about 50 per cent, in the MPD area as a whole.

  724

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will include four options on the range of alternatives to be presented to the Houses of Parliament on Sunday trading.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Yes. The Government's Bill to reform Sunday trading law will now contain an option based on proposals made by the Retailers for Shops Act Reform. This is in addition to total deregulation and the options based on the proposals of the Shopping Hours Reform Council and the Keep Sunday Special Campaign.

  Prison Population
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which years he expects the prison population to exceed the certified normal accommodation.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  On the basis of projections of the prison population published on 30 March—Home Office Statistical Bulletin 6/93—the projected population would not exceed certified normal accommodation before the end of the decade. It is, however, not yet possible to make any conclusive assessment of the impact of changes to the Criminal Justice Bill[Lords] proposed by my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.

  European Constituencies
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made by the Parliamentary Boundaries Commission towards alterations in European constituency boundaries in the light of the United Kingdom's future increased membership of the European Parliament.

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

  Computerised Crime Information
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on his most recent evaluation of the effectiveness and cost of the computerised crime report information system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend receives regular reports on the progress of the crime reporting information system.

  Prison Ships
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with the Bibby Line.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 26 May 1993:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about discussions with the Bibby Line.
  725
  The Prison Service has had a number of discussions with representatives of the Bibby Line over the last 6 years or so.

  Floating accommodation units are an option being considered to cope with surges of prison population. No final decision has been taken on the feasibility of this option.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration the Prison Service is giving to the use of ships for prisoners' accommodation; and in what circumstances ships might be used for prisoners.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 25 May 1993:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the use of ships for prisoner accommodation.

  The Prison Service has for some time been developing contingency plans to cope with surges of prison population which exceed the available accommodation. If effective plans can be devolved, they will reduce the need to have recourse to police cells to hold excess population.

  Floating accommodation units are one option which is being considered, though as yet no final decision has been taken on the feasibility of this option.

  Police Authorities
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police authorities with which he has had discussions between taking his present office and 22 March.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In addition to my meetings with the Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire police authorities, my right hon. and learned Friend has visited Hertfordshire, Avon and Somerset, West Midlands, Thames Valley and Surrey police forces, when he also met representatives of their police authorities: and he has had meetings with delegations of police authority chairmen from the Association of County Councils and the Association of Metropolitan Authorities.

  Queen Anne's Gate
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated amount to be spent in 1993–4 in rent and other associated costs with the offices of his Department in Queen Anne's Gate, London.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The estimated amount to be spent in 1993–4 on Home Office accommodation at Queen Anne's Gate is £21·9 million, comprising rent and value added tax, payable to Property Holdings, contribution in lieu of rates, maintenance and capital costs and the cost of fuel, utilities and telephones.

  National Debate for Crime Prevention
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who has been appointed to the National Board for Crime Prevention.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The membership of the National Board for Crime Prevention is as follows:

  Michael Jack MP, Minister of State, Home Office

  (Chairman)

  726

  Keith Ackroyd, Boots plc; British Retail Consortium

  Peter Batchelor, Vauxhall Motors

  Janet Paraskeva, National Youth Agency

  Prof. Ken Pease, University of Manchester

  Richard Penn, Chief Executive, Bradford MBC

  Dr. John Rae, Portman Group

  Helen Reeves, Victim Support

  Nick Ross, Broadcaster

  David Sieff, Marks and Spencer

  John Stevens, Chief Constable, Northumbria

  David Walton, Chief Probation Officer, Staffordshire

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

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 21 May 1993]: The Data Protection Registrar has recorded 10 complaints against the Home Office. The registrar does not have detailed records of these complaints available, but gives the following information:

  Complaint type

  Number received

  Date received

  Principle 4

  1

  27 January 1993

  Principle 5

  1

  16 December 1991

  Principle 7

  6

  12 November 1987

  25 February 1988

  12 June 1989

  28 September 1989

  5 November 1991

  15 March 1993

  Section 5(1)

  1

  10 February 1990

  Unauthorised disclosure

  1

  26 March 1992

  The Home Office has central records of only four complaints:

  1. Passport Agency: Principle 4

  (Received in the Home Office 19 February 1993)

  A complainant was asked for his marital status when renewing his passport, and held that this was excessive information for the purpose for which it was required. The registrar accepted that the Data Protection Act did not apply as the information was not held on a computer.

  2. Prison Service: Principle 7

  (Received in the Home Office 16 October 1989)

  The complainant was an inmate of Lincoln Prison, and alleged that he had not been given access to a computer record containing personal data relating to him. The complainant was informed of the proper procedures for requesting access to his computer record, and the registrar concluded his investigation.

  3. TV Licences: Principle 5

  (Received in the Home Office 10 March 1988)

  A complainant said that the initial of his first name shown on his TV licence was incorrect. The complainant's TV licence was amended to show his correct name, and the registrar concluded his investigation.

  4. Prison Service: Principle 7

  (Received in the Home Office 7 March 1988)

  The complainant was an inmate of Durham prison, and alleged that a request for subject access to a computer record held on him at the prison had not been complied with. The complainant subsequently withdrew his claim to have made a subject access request, and the registrar closed his file.
  727
  Since 1987, every Home Office department has held detailed instructions on compliance with the requirements and principles of the Data Protection Act in general, and on subject access procedures specifically. None of the complaints made to date suggests that those procedures need any amendment. The procedures are, however, kept under review and will be updated as and when necessary.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were held in remand for(a) three to six months, (b) six to 12 months and (c) over 12 months in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 24 May 1993]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. Nigel Jones, dated 26 May 1993:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to write to you directly in reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of prisoners held on remand for (a) 3 to 6 months, (b) 6 to 12 months and (c) over 12 months in each year since 1990.

  I am sorry to tell you that information is only readily available up to 30 June 1992. To obtain any later information at this stage would involve checking a large number of cases with Prison Service establishments which could only be done at disproportionate cost. Please find enclosed a table showing the length of time held on remand for inmates on 30 June in the years 1990, 1991 and 1992. The information for 1990 and 1991 was taken from Tables 2.3 and 2.4 of "Prison statistics, England and Wales 1991" (Cm 1221) a copy of which is held in the library. The information for 30 June 1992 is provisional; final data will be published in the 1992 edition of "Prison statistics".

SCOTLAND

  In Vitro Fertilisation
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the provision of in vitro fertilisation treatment; what is the current waiting list for this treatment; and what arrangements are in place to ensure that women in need of this treatment receive it at an appropriate stage of physical development and age.

  Mr. Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Kincardine and Deeside (Mr. Kynoch) on 10 March,Official Report, column 593–94.

  There are four centres currently offering in vitro fertilisation treatment in Scotland, at Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. Information on their waiting lists is not held centrally. It is for individual health boards to decide whether or not to provide or purchase these services.

  Fire Service Benevolent Fund
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund in Scotland; what matters were discussed; when he next plans to meet them; and if he will make a statement.
  728
  Mr. Lang
  I have not yet had the opportunity of meeting representatives of the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund in Scotland. Other commitments have regrettably prevented me from accepting invitations to the 50th anniversary commemorative service in Stirling and the fund's golden jubilee reception at the Guildhall, London to celebrate fifty years of charitable endeavour in support of retired and serving members of the United Kingdom fire services.

  Horticulture (Therapeutic Treatment)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the use and development of horticulture as a therapeutic treatment within the national health service in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  The national health service has long understood the part that horticultural work can play in the treatment programmes of, for example, patients with a mental illness or learning difficulty. Decisions about its use and development are however a matter for NHS provider units based on identified clinical needs.

  Food, Drinks and Confectionery
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the state of the food, drinks and confectionery industry in(a) Scotland and (b) Strathclyde.

  Mr. Stewart
  The most recent Annual census of production data show gross value added (GVA) in the food, drink and tobacco industry in Scotland in 1990 was 70 per cent. higher than in 1980. GVA in the industry in Strathclyde rose by over 40 per cent. between 1983 and 1990.

  The industry has of course been restructuring, but it remains a major employer. The last census of employment (September 1991) showed that there were 66,400 employees in the food, drink and tobacco industry in Scotland; around 25,600 were in Strathclyde.

  I note that independent forecasters, whose projections are monitored regularly by the Scottish Office Industry Department, suggest that further output growth may, in general, be anticipated in the industry in the next few years.

  Thread Industry
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of people employed in the thread industry in(a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Renfrew district in each year siuce 1975, showing the numbers that were (i) full-time or part-time, (ii) managerial, adminstrative and technical or manual and (iii) male and female; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  This data are not available in the precise form requested. Employment cannot be classified into full or part time; managerial, administrative, technical, manual; or male and female. In addition figures for Renfrew district are subject to disclosure restrictions under the Statistics of Trade Act 1947.

  The table shows the total number or employees in the thread industry for Strathclyde and Scotland in each year since 1975. The thread industry in common with other

  729
  industries requires a favourable economic climate in which to prosper. The Government's policy of low interest rates and low inflation is helping to stimulate the Scottish economy. The thread industry can be expected to share in this process.

  Number of Employees in the Thread Industry

  Strathclyde

  Scotland

  1975

  4,306

  6,335

  1976

  4,080

  6,196

  1977

  4,219

  6,218

  1978

  3,329

  5,229

  1979

  3,239

  4,901

  1980

  2,840

  4,184

  1981

  2,164

  3,522

  1982

  1,662

  2,639

  1983

  1,385

  2,339

  1984

  1,121

  2,120

  1985

  1,019

  1,974

  1986

  1,164

  2,165

  1987

  1,195

  2,299

  1988

  1,005

  2,047

  1989

  1,036

  2,088

  1990

  838

  1,736

  11991

  690

  1,549

  1 Provisional.

  Notes:

  1. This data have been extracted from the Scottish register of employment which holds information on units with 11 or more employees.

  2. The thread industry has been defined as standard industrial classification (SIC) 43211 and 43212; spinning and doubling in the
  cotton system.

  Solicitor-General for Scotland
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are in place for the Solicitor-General for Scotland to be accountable to both Houses of Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The present Solicitor-General for Scotland is not a member of either House. When neither the Lord Advocate nor the Solicitor-General for Scotland is a member of this House, it is the practice for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to answer questions relating to their responsibilities.

  It is open to a Select Committee of this House or the other place to invite the Solicitor-General for Scotland to give evidence to the Select Committee in relation to any matter falling within the orders of reference of the

  Employment figures for Renfrew by SIC

  Standard industrial classification

  1981

  1984

  1987

  1989

  1991

  0–1 Agriculture forestry and fishing/Energy and Water supply industries

  1,600

  1,500

  1,400

  1,100

  1,000

  2–4 Manufacturing

  32,900

  27,400

  21,400

  20,300

  19,100

  5 Construction

  8,200

  6,700

  5,900

  5,500

  5,200

  6 Distribution, hotels and catering; repairs

  14,000

  14,300

  12,500

  13,500

  14,700

  7 Transport and communication

  5,500

  5,000

  6,800

  7,700

  7,600

  8 Banking, finance, insurance, business services and leasing

  3,000

  4,400

  3,700

  5,500

  5,700

  9 Other services

  23,100

  18,700

  15,600

  27,000

  27,100

  Notes:

  Source: Department of Employment (NOMIS).

  2. All figures rounded to the nearest hundred.

  3. Figures are for the 1981 local authority district of Renfrew.
  730
  Committee. In particular, the Select Committee for Scottish Affairs in this House is empowered to consider the administration and expenditure of the Lord Advocate's Departments. I do not propose to make a statement.

  Prison Service
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the organisation and management of the Scottish Prison Service; what arrangements are currently in place for compulsory competitive tendering within the service; if he has any plans to make any other service element subject to CCT; and if he has any plans to introduce any form of privatisation to the service.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Prison Service became an executive agency on 1 April 1993.

  The Scottish Prison Service is currently market testing the maintenance and minor works projects at Barlinnie, Shotts, Edinburgh and Perth prisons—annual cost £3·7 million, 115staff—and the storage and distribution service which operates from central stores—annual cost £800,000, 22 staff.

  The Secretary of State is currently considering with the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service possibilities for further market testing and an announcement will be made in the summer.

  Market testing might lead to contracting out, but there are no plans to privatise any part of the Scottish Prison Service.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of people employed in each industrial sector within Renfrew district in each year since 1974; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  Local authority district employment data are available in selected years, on a consistent basis from 1981. The table shows the number of people employed in each industrial sector within Renfrew district in that year and in 1984, 1987, 1989 and 1991. It can be seen that the economy of Renfrew has experienced the process of structural change, a common feature of many modern economies towards a more diversified structure.
  731

  Language Disorders
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in Scotland have language disorders; and what provision exists in Scotland for children with language disorders.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  At the time of the 1991 schools census, some 1,719 children were recorded as having difficulties with language and communication. Education authorities in Scotland secure provision of a range of facilities for these children in mainstream schools and in special units.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy on the appropriate level of staffing and other provision for children with language and speech disorders and on the location of these provisions.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is the responsibility of education authorities to provide adequate and efficient education for children, including those with special educational needs. It is, therefore, for authorities to decide the appropriate level and location of staffing and other provisions for children with speech and language disorders.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what language disorders are covered by the report for his Department by Her Majesty's inspector Mr. Gibson; and when he plans to publish the report.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The current investigation into educational provision for language and communication disorders is being conducted by a small team of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools and covers the special provision made for children with both linguistic and non-linguistic disorders. The children concerned are those with disorders in phonology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics of language, together with those with pervasive communication disorders such as autism. The investigation will be completed this autumn and a report published thereafter.

  Judges (Training)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are taken to ensure that the training of judges, and those about to be elevated to the Bench, includes a course on the handling of sexual assault and rape cases.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has provided additional administrative and financial support in recent years to facilitate the development of training to meet the needs of the judiciary. The content of judicial training is a matter for the judiciary and comprehensive information is not available centrally on the training undertaken by individual judges.

  Criminal Courts
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations and reports he has received during the past 12 months on the efficiency of criminal courts in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Opening the Scottish Grand Committee debate on crime on 25 March, my right hon. Friend announced that he had just received the first 732
  report of the groups which have been reviewing court programming under the chairmanship of Sheriff Principal Gordon Nicholson QC and Sheriff Graham Cox. The report will be published shortly for consultation on its recommendations. Copies of the report will be made available to Scottish Members of Parliament.

  Toxic Shock Syndrome
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Argyll and Clyde health board on the subject of toxic shock syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has received no representations from Argyll and Clyde health board on this subject.

  Community Care Forums
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the development of community care forums throughout Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  To encourage the involvement of voluntary sector agencies in the preparation and implementation of community care plans, community care forums are developing in many areas. The scale, structure and funding of these vary in response to local conditions. My right hon. Friend welcomes these developments which enable the voluntary sector to participate more fully in the development of community care.

  Youth Training
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the sufficiency of youth training places in Renfrewshire; how many eligible youths in the past two years have failed to obtain a place; how many have(a) been offered and (b) accepted other than first choice of training; what proportion this is of total trainees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  The delivery of youth training in Renfrewshire is the responsibility of Scottish Enterprise through its contact with the relevant local enterprise company, Renfrewshire Enterprise. Scottish Enterprise has assured me that the Government's youth training guarantee is being met, and will continue to be met, within that area.

  This assurance implies that no eligible young people who have applied for a youth training place have failed to receive offers of suitable places, which is the entitlement conferred by the guarantee, although there will at any time be current applicants awaiting identification of a suitable place. The vast majority of young people receive offers of training through the careers service who take a number of factors into account, including the young person's preference, the local labour market and the abilities and aptitudes of the young person. The role of careers officers is to use their expertise to offer suitable training, even in cases where this differs from the young person's first choice.

  In the light of the obligation on local enterprise companies to ensure that offers of training places continue to be made to eligible young people for as long as they continue to seek a place and of the responsibility of the careers service to judge what constitutes a suitable offer of

  733
  training, the Scottish Office does not hold information about numbers of young people who choose not to take up any of the offers of youth training places which they receive or who are offered and accept places involving training which differs from their initial preference.

  Forestry
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future of the silviculture and forestry industry in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Our forestry policies remain as stated in "Forestry Policy for Great Britain" published in September 1991, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Economic Prospects
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the prospects for the economy of(a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Renfrew District.

  Mr. Stewart
  The economic prospects for Scotland, like those for Strathclyde and Renfrew district, will depend on the competitiveness of its industry. The Government have ensured that many of the factors determining competitiveness, and hence economic growth, are now firmly in place: inflation is at its lowest rate for almost 30 years; United Kingdom interest rates are at their lowest level for 15 years, as well as being the lowest in the European Community; and unit labour costs in manufacturing are growing more slowly than those in Japan and Germany.

  Economic forecasters monitored by the Scottish Office Industry Department predict that these factors, combined with the lower exchange rate, will result in positive economic growth in Scotland in 1993, with companies competing successfully in domestic and international markets. Indeed, Cambridge Econometics' recent forecast suggests that Scottish gross domestic product growth in 1993 will be 2·2 per cent. compared with 1·4 per cent. for the United Kingdom as a whole. Moreover, this positive rate of growth compares favourably with the negative rates predicted for some of the European economies.

  Parents (Fines)
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many parents were fined in Scotland in each of the last 10 years for failing to send their children to school.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally.

  Party Conferences
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of security arrangements in relation to the Scottish(a) Conservative and (b) Labour party conferences in 1993; what proportion in each case was charged to the operational budgets of the respective police forces; what is the expected individual per capita cost to council tax payers in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I understand from the chief constables of Lothian and Borders police and Northern constabulary that the costs involved were 734
  £56,700 and £700, respectively. The level of resources provided for the policing of party conferences is an operational matter for the chief constable concerned to determine in the light of all the circumstances, including the threat assessment. Fifty-one per cent. of police costs are reimbursed by the Government in specific grant. The remaining 49 per cent. is funded by police authorities from the different sources of finance available to them; the authorities determine which sources of finance meet the cost of particular services.

  Disability
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department has an advisory committee on disability issues.

  Mr. Stewart
  No, but the Department is represented on a number of committees which consider disability issues.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those buildings used by his Department which(a) have and (b) do not have adequate access for people with mobility disabilities; what plans he has to improve each; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The Scottish Office currently uses 93 buildings, mainly offices. There is adequate access for people with mobility disabilities to 54 of these, which include all our major buildings. Access is less good at the other 39, which are mainly small premises. Action to improve access is taken as resources permit although the design of some older or smaller local offices makes that difficult. Plans are in hand to improve access to the offices in Elgin and Stornoway.

  Schools Inspectorate
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what duties, responsibilities and rights of inspection Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools in Scotland has over the new structure of further education colleges; what changes have been made in the role of HMI since 1 April; if any further changes are planned; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Her Majesty's inspectors' duties, responsibilities and rights of inspection in further education continue as before. Their main additional duty will be, in co-operation with the relevant administrative division, to advise my right hon. Friend on the corporate plans submitted by the FE colleges.

  Genetic Fingerprinting
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce additional measures to increase the availability to police forces of genetic fingerprinting techniques and resources; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Police authorities determine what resources should be allocated to their forces. It is then for chief constables to decide how these resources should be deployed. Tayside and Strathclyde police laboratories already carry out DNA testing or "genetic fingerprinting" and Lothian and Borders police plan to introduce such a facility when their new laboratory opens in 1995–96. Scottish police forces also have access to the facilities provided by the Forensic Science Service in England and Wales and by the private sector.
  735

  Cancer Screening
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the competence of the cervical smear tests carried out in the Paisley catchment area in the last 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  The assessment of the competency of cervical smear tests is a matter for the clinicians responsible for such tests and for health boards. All laboratories participate in the national proficiency testing scheme.

  The inquiry into the review of the smear test slides at Inverclyde royal hospital laboratory will be examining quality assessment arrangements.

  Sports Centre Funding
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an official visit to the McMaster sports centre in the Johnstone west area of priority treatment to evaluate the contribution his Department made towards it from urban aid funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I welcome opportunities to see the benefits of the assistance provided by the Scottish Office through the urban programme. I would be delighted to visit the McMaster sports centre in Johnstone west when a suitable opportunity arises.

  Electoral Expenditure
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the fees and expenses paid to(a) returning officers, (b) depute returning officers and (c) all other grades of polling and counting staff for each of the most recent (i) European, (ii) parliamentary, (iii) regional council and (iv) district council elections; if he will itemise the eligibility criteria for the payment of these fees and expenses; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information about local government election fees and expenses is a matter for local authorities individually and is not held centrally. As far as parliamentary and European elections are concerned, the rates of fees and expenses payable and eligibility criteria for payments to returning officers, their deputies and other elections staff are set out in the relevant fees and charges order. The statutory instruments in force at the last European and United Kingdom parliamentary elections were, respectively: SI 1989, No. 995, the European Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers' Expenses) Regulations 1989, which came into force on 13 June 1989, and SI 1992, No. 717, the Returning Officers' Charges Order 1992, which came into force on 17 March 1992.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take capping action against any Scottish local authority this year.

  Mr. Lang
  No. All Scottish local authorities, with the exception of Clydebank district council and Shetland 736
  Islands council, have set budgets for 1993–94 at or below the expenditure limits implied by the provisional capping principles which I announced on 12 November 1992. I made it clear subsequently that I would not cap Clydebank district council if it set a standstill budget. The council has satisfied this requirement. Shetland Islands council which, given its special circumstances particularly as regards its oil-related special funds, will fund only a very small proportion of its planned expenditure from its council tax which, at taxpayer level, is the lowest in Scotland. In he circumstances, I do not propose to cap the council.

  Overall, this is a very satisfactory outcome and again demonstrates the effectiveness of my capping powers in protecting local taxpayers from excessive spending by their councils. It is my intention to issue later this year provisional capping principles for 1994–95.

  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, if he will give the date on which the access agreement in respect of Steam Mills in Gloucestershire was signed; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 26 May 1993]: The access agreement for Steam Mills in Gloucestershire was signed on 31 March 1992. I have arranged for a copy of the agreement to be placed in the Library.

  Forestry
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement outlining the Government's policy on the development of the Forestry Commission in the United Kingdom; and what plans he has for change in ownership of the forests.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 17 May 1993]: The policies for forestry which my right hon. Friend and his fellow forestry Ministers intend to pursue remain as stated in "Forestry Policy for Great Britain" published in September 1991, a copy of which is in the Library.

  The Forestry Commission plays a central role in the delivery of those policies, particularly through its support for and regulation of the private sector and the management of the forests owned by the Government.

  However, forestry Ministers have established the Forestry Review Group to review:
  the effectiveness of the current incentives for forestry investment, in accordance with the manifesto commitment, and
  options for the ownership and management of Forestry Commission woodlands,
  and to make proposals for changes which would improve the effectiveness of the delivery of the Government's forestry policy objectives, having regard to the Government's other economic and environmental policies.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those individuals and organisations who have so far made submissions to the interdepartmental working group on the Forestry Commission; and if he will publish those submissions.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 26 May 1993]: Many individuals and organisations have written to

  737
  Ministers and Government Departments giving their views on issues connected with the work of the Forestry Review Group. However, they did not do so in the knowledge or expectation that their names or their submissions would be published and I therefore do not think it would be right to publish this information.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much is spent by the Forestry Commission on conservation projects; and what is this figure as a proportion of turnover;

  (2) if he will outline the work done by the Forestry Commission on current conservation projects.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 May 1993]: The Forest Enterprise arm of the Forestry Commission, which manages the commission's forests, spends over £5 million each year on conservation projects, which is about 5 per cent. of its turnover. These projects include the management of 340 sites of special scientific interest and other areas of conservation value—including forest nature reserves—and of archaeological sites. They also include projects for particular species of flora and fauna. Examples are the construction of an insulated hibernaculum for bats in Yorkshire; providing nesting boxes for barn owls, goldeneye and many other birds; managing forests to provide better habitats for black grouse and capercaillie, to protect goshawks and other birds of prey, and to provide nesting sites for nightjars and red-backed shrikes; encouraging orchids in south Wales and south-west England; creating artificial islands for black-throated divers; making suitable rides and other open spaces to attract butterflies; protecting hen harriers in the highlands of Scotland; managing pinewoods in Culbin to protect the lichens; and providing basking areas for lizards and other reptiles in Northamptonshire.

  In addition to direct expenditure on such conservation projects, the Forestry Commission also carries out a great deal of work to improve the conservation value of its forests as part of its normal forest management. This covers, for example, the management of ancient semi-natural woodlands and the protection and expansion of native pinewood areas in Scotland and of heathland in the New Forest and other parts of southern England. It also includes the restructuring of commission forests as
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  they mature to increase their variety and conservation value. This is achieved by premature or delayed felling of the trees, widening the mixture of trees on replanting and leaving open areas. This can result in significant revenue forgone, none of which is included in the costs given above.

  Credit Unions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to promote the development of credit unions in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The credit union movement in Scotland has continued to grow. At the end of 1991, the latest year for which full figures are available, returns to the Registry of Friendly Societies show that there were 66 credit unions in Scotland, compared to 57 at the end of 1990. They had aggregate assets of £7,866,000, compared to £5,051,000. This was the equivalent to nearly 34 per cent., compared to 30 per cent., of the total assets of the movement in Great Britain. Those 66 unions together had around 27,000 members, compared to 19,000 in 1990, representing 39 per cent., compared to 35 per cent., of the total in Great Britain.

  The latest figures available for the current year indicate that the growth is continuing, with 76 Scottish unions now on the register.

  Management Consultants
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 16 March to the hon. Member for Redcar (Ms Mowlam),Official Report, columns 222–28, if he will give (a) the names, (b) the purpose and (c) the gross amounts paid to management consultants used by the Scottish Office since he was appointed, not already listed in his answer: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 20 May 1993]: Due to the quantity of information needed to answer this question, I will write to the hon. Member. Copies of my reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

  WEST AFRICA: EC BEEF EXPORTS
  WEST AFRICA: EC BEEF EXPORTS
  SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: EC REHABILITATION INITIATIVE
  SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: EC REHABILITATION INITIATIVE
  BENEFIT PAYMENT DELAYS: PUBLICITY FOR COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS
  BENEFIT PAYMENT DELAYS: PUBLICITY FOR COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS
  THE COURT SERVICE: AGENCY STATUS
  THE COURT SERVICE: AGENCY STATUS
  LEGAL AID EXPENDITURE ON FRAUD CASES
  LEGAL AID EXPENDITURE ON FRAUD CASES
  BIRMINGHAM GENERAL HOSPITAL
  BIRMINGHAM GENERAL HOSPITAL
  XENOTRANSPLANTATION: CONTROLS
  XENOTRANSPLANTATION: CONTROLS
  ASSENGER AND GOODS TRANSPORT: OPERATION LICENSING
  ASSENGER AND GOODS TRANSPORT: OPERATION LICENSING
  SERVICE FACILITIES ON ROADS UPGRADED TO MOTORWAYS: SIGNING
  SERVICE FACILITIES ON ROADS UPGRADED TO MOTORWAYS: SIGNING
  DoT EXECUTIVE AGENCIES
  DoT EXECUTIVE AGENCIES
  THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY: BURDEN ON MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS
  THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY: BURDEN ON MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS