Written Answers of 2 November 1993

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  National Audit Office
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission on what basis the National Audit Office hypothesises its charges for work carried out on behalf of Government Departments and agencies; if, for the purposes of market testing, the NAO calculates its charges on a full cost basis, as defined by the Treasury; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Peter Hordern
  In line with the National Audit Act 1983, the National Audit Office currently has ministerial consent to charge for the audit of trading funds, for the audit of accounts which are trading type activities, and for all audits undertaken by agreement. The National Audit Office calculates its fees for such work on a full cost basis in line with the Treasury fees and charges guide. The National Audit Office currently contracts out some 8 per cent. of its financial audits and also assumes a full cost basis in line with the Treasury guidance when comparing its internal costs with those of the private sector on these accounts.

  Vote Bundle
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what is the annual cost of the provision of the Vote bundle.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  The cost of 699,370 copies of the Vote bundle delivered to the House for the year ended 31 March 1993 was £6,670,978.

  Ibbs Report
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Finance and Services Committee if he will review the progress of the implementation of the Ibbs report and issue a report to the House.

  Mr. Channon
  Details of the progress of the implementation of the Ibbs report have been set out in the annual reports of the House of Commons Commission for 1991–92 and 1992–93. With the exception of the proposal to transfer the grants in aid to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the British American Parliamentary Group and the History of Parliament Trust from HM Treasury to the House, the major structural recommendations of the report have been carried out. The Finance and Services Committee will continue to review the financial management of House services in conjunction with the Accounting Officer and the Heads of House Departments, but it is not its normal practice to issue reports to the House.

  Services (Value for Money)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Finance and Services Committee if the Finance and Services Committee will undertake a study of the value for money obtained by House of Commons services.

  Mr. Channon
  A rolling programme of audits of House services is already being carried out by the internal auditor and his staff under the supervision of the Finance and Services Committee as the audit committee of the House. The studies seek to measure and evaluate the systems of internal controls and include a value-for-money scrutiny of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. The Committee intends to keep the programme under review and ensure that it covers the activities of all Departments of the House.

  Serjeant at Arms' Conference
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Finance and Services Committee what is the estimated cost of the Serjeant at Arms' Commonwealth conference proposed for 1994.

  Mr. Channon
  It is too early to give a firm estimate of the likely cost of the conference. The question of funding will be considered by the Finance and Services Committee when it prepares the departmental estimates for 1994–95 for submission to the House of Commons Commission.

  Members' Offices
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee how many rooms are at the disposal of the Committee for the use of hon. Members.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  A total of 535 rooms are, or will soon be, available within the Parliamentary Estate for allocation to right hon. and hon. Members. Some of these rooms are set aside for officer holders. This number includes 113 in 7 Millbank.

  Mice and Rats
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what steps are being taken to tackle the problem of mice and rats in the Palace of Westminster.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  A new contract has recently been agreed with a specialist company to deal with pest control in the Palace of Westminster. In addition, Departments have been reminded of the formal reporting procedures and disciplines which exist to inhibit these pests.

  All-party Groups
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals for guidelines regarding the use by all-party groups of outside companies or organisations as a secretariat.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  The Administration Committee has responsibility for the regulation of all-party and parliamentary groups; and, as its Chairman, I have been asked to reply. The Committee would be prepared to consider any proposal for the improvement of the regime for their control. If my hon. Friend has any such suggestion, he should submit it in writing.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Visas
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visa applications were made for entry into the United Kingdom from applicants from the Philippines in each of the three latest years for which figures are available; and how many were(a) accepted and (b) rejected.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The numbers of visa applications made, accepted and rejected, from applicants in the Philippines in the last three years are shown in the table.

  11993

  1992

  1991

  Received

  11,255

  13,637

  11,926

  Granted

  10,090

  12,033

  10,571

  Refused

  1,030

  1,435

  1,161

  Decisions outstanding

  135

  169

  194

  1January to September.

  Human Rights
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) of 19 October, Official Report, column 205, if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's reservations on the changes proposed at the Council of Europe summit on 8 and 9 October, in the exercise of the rights of citizens of member states under the European convention on human rights.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have entered no such reservations, and look forward to the presentation of a final text at the Council of Europe ministerial meeting in May 1994.

  Belize
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which countries discussions have taken place to ensure Belize's continued territorial independence; when they started; and with which countries he intends to begin such discussions.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The sovereignty and independence of Belize are recognised by all members of the United Nations. Belize is also a member of the Organisation of American States. We have made clear our readiness to participate with others in any consultations Belize may request on its future security. It would not be right for me to disclose the content of any discussions.

  Mafia
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what calls he has received from the Italian Prime Minister, Carlo Ciampi, for international co-operation on tax havens, offshore financial centres and bank secrecy laws, as measures to stop the Mafia laundering money; and what response he has made.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None.

  Sweden (Asylum Seekers)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to Sweden about its policy with respect to Jewish asylum seekers.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  None. Sweden is a signatory to the 1951 convention relating to the status of refugees and we expect it to abide by its obligations.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on support for the political party of Mr. Vuk Draskovic, the SPO in Serbia; and what pressure has been put on Mr. Draskovic during recent meetings to take part in the democratic process in Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister sent a message of support to Mr. Draskovic's party at the time of his detention by the Serbian authorities in June 1993. Mr. Draskovic and his party remain politically active. We continue to encourage parties promoting democracy in Serbia.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government will be taking to encourage Mr. Alija Izetbegovic to reach a peace accord with the other parties concerned following the peace accord between Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Serbs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We and our partners continue to make clear our support for the efforts of the co-chairmen of the international conference to secure a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Bosnia, and our readiness to support a settlement which has the full agreement of all parties.

  Public Investment
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and have been commenced since the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not yet identified any public investment projects which have attracted private capital. The Overseas Development Administration associates itself with private finance through the aid and trade provision; through the joint funding scheme with non-governmental organisations—where the aid wing matches its contributions on a pound for pound basis—and by sponsoring the Commonwealth Development Corporation which funds investment projects in developing countries, particularly in the private sector, in partnership with a range of public and private investors.

  Overseas Visits
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the total cost to public funds of his journeys abroad since April 1992.

  Mr. Hurd
  The total cost of overseas visits by me and my accompanying officials in the period April 1992 to
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  August 1993, excluding those in an EC capacity, was £1.377 million of which £656,000 was paid to the RAF for use of its planes.

  The period covers the United Kingdom presidency of the EC during which I paid a number of visits in an EC capacity, the costs of which are borne by the presidency in office. These amounted to £658,000 of which £178,000 was paid to the RAF.

TRANSPORT

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to change his Department's cash limits and running costs limit for 1993–94.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates and the passage of the Railways Bill, the following changes will be made: the cash limit for class VI, vote 2—administration and transport services—will he reduced by £2,069,000 from £204,305,000 to £202,236,000 and the Department's running costs limit will be reduced by £4,215,000 from £432,989,000 to £428,774,000. The changes include the transfer of funds for administration and miscellaneous services to OPRAF class VI, vote 7 and to ORR class VI, vote 8. These reductions are partly offset by the take-up of capital and running costs end-year flexibility entitlement as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1993 at columns 512–18 and a transfer of funds from the Defence Research Agency for repayment services.

  The increases will be offset by transfers and a charge on the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish forthwith submissions and evidence made to him by Union Railways about intermediate stations and bids by Stratford, Rainham and Ebbfleet in relation to the channel tunnel rail link; and if he will instruct Union Railways to make its background papers available to the public as regards the intermediate stations.

  Mr. Freeman
  The published version of Union Railways' report will include information on intermediate stations. Publication of the bids by individual promoter groups is a matter for them. Commercially confidential material will not be published.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish forthwith the report submitted to him by Union Railways in the channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 29 October 1993 at columns 809–10.

  Hams Hall Railfreight Depot
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the announcement of the outcome of the planning inquiry into the Railfreight depot at Hams Hall.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment,Official Report, column 102.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Public Investment
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and have been commenced since the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My Department continues to seek opportunities for joint funding with the private sector of capital and other projects connected with the science base, and to examine the scope for involving the private sector in other areas of the Department's responsibilities. On 10 March 1993, I announced that the United Kingdom is to host the European Bioinformatics Institute at Cambridge, which will be funded jointly by the Government and the Wellcome Trust.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what changes he proposes to the estimates, class XVIII, vote 2—science.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The cash limit for this vote is being reduced by £1,600,000 from £1,165,150,000 to £1,163,550,000. This reduction reflects the transfer of responsibility for core funding of the Institute of Cancer Research from the Medical Research Council to the Higher Education Funding Council (England) class X, vote 2.

  The opportunity of the winter supplementary estimates will also be taken to change the ambit of the vote to allow the Science and Engineering Research Council to prepare for the establishment of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and for grant to be paid for other initiatives following the publication of the White Paper "Realising our Potential".

PRIME MINISTER

  Human Rights
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) of 26 October,Official Report, column 589, on the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, what representations he made to the Government of India regarding abuses of human rights in Kashmir and the Punjab.

  The Prime Minister
  We regularly raise our concerns about Kashmir, Punjab and human rights with the Indian Government, most recently during a discussion between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Dr. Manmohan Singh, head of the Indian delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in October.

  Official Secrets Act 1989
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Prime Minister when(a) Desmond Bristow and (b) Brian Crozier received permission to publish their memoirs under the requirements of the Official Secrets Act 1989.

  The Prime Minister
  The legal advisers to the publishers of Mr. Bristow's memoirs were informed on 26
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  January 1993 that the text of his book did not contain any material damaging to national security. Mr. Crozier was informed on 27 May 1993 that, while the Crown would not authorise his book, it would not prejudice national security provided that certain amendments and deletions were made to the text.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 2 November.

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

  PM's Office
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the Property Services Agency's annual charge at the latest available date for buildings and services relating to his office; and what were the categories of expenditure.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 1 November 1993]: The Property Services Agency ceased to exist in April 1990; Property Holdings took on responsibility for building services on the civil estate from that date.

  Property Holdings' annual charge in respect of 10 Downing street in 1993–94 is as follows:

  £

  Rent

  600,307

  Rent surcharge

  54,028

  New works

  158,021

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost to his office in 1988–89 of major redecoration of state rooms and of major and security works; and how these costs were broken down.
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  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 1 November 1993]: The cost of refurbishing the state rooms in 1988–89 was £499,422.

  It is Government policy not to disclose the cost of works relating to security requirements.

  Major works were the responsibility of the Property Services Agency in 1988–89. No costs for major work fell to my office in this period.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister what office services were ascribed to his office in 1986–87 and in the latest available year; and how much was charged for these services and by whom, in each year.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 1 November 1993]: The following office services were ascribed to my office: office manager, typing support, messengers, stationery supplies, postage, laundry and cleaning, office cleaning. The costs were as follows:

  Year

  £

  1986–87

  543,000

  1992–93

  891,000

  The cost to my office was charged by the Cabinet Office and a number of private sector suppliers.

  Chequers
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the annual charge to his office by the Ministry of Defence at the latest available date for(a) the use of aircraft and (b) the use of service personnel at Chequers.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 1 November 1993]: For 1992–93 the charge to my office by the Ministry of Defence for the use of aircraft was £145,559 and for the use of service personnel at Chequers, £230,331.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  European Economic Area
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out in the Official Report either under topic heads related to the responsibilities of Her Majesty's Ministers, or in article order of the latest version of the treaty of Rome, as amendled by both the Single European Act and union treaties, any derogation from its terms applying to the member states of the European Economic Area who are not also member states of the European Community and its associated union.

  Mr. Needham
  The European economic area agreement does not extend Community policies in the following areas to the European Free Trade Association states which are contracting parties to the EEA: the common commercial policy and the common customs tariff—my Department—the common agricultural policy and the common fisheries policy—Agriculture Ministers—cohesion policy—my Department—and Community financial and fiscal policies—Chancellor of the Exchequer. The EFTA states will not be bound by the provisions of the treaty on European union.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will ensure that all those matters listed in the proposed new clause 5 to the European Economic Area Bill considered in the House,Official Report, 21 October, columns 467–69, are included in that section of the six-monthly reports to Parliament on European Community affairs which is to be devoted to the European economic area.

  Mr. Needham
  The section on the European economic area, which is to be included in the six-monthly White Paper "Developments in the European Community", will contain a general account of developments within the EEA, nothing any significant decisions made by the EEA council or the EEA joint committee. This will be supplemented by a further report to Parliament on developments in the EEA in the form of an explanatory memorandum accompanying the annual report of the EEA joint committee on the functioning and development of the EEA agreement, which arises from article 94 of the agreement. Under the terms of the EEA, all decisions of the EEA joint committee will be published, including those extending new legislation to the EFTA states, in a new EEA supplement to the Official Journal of the EC. Parliament will already have had an opportunity to consider new provisions to be added to the agreement under scrutiny procedures agreed with the European Legislation Committee.

  Packaging
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to reply to the report of the Lords Select Committee on the European Communities report on packaging and packaging waste—HL 118-I.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I can inform the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent that we will be replying to the report shortly.

  Nuclear Reactors
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the reasons underlying the legal basis evaluation relating to the Euratom treaty made in his 94
  departmental explanatory memorandum 8492/93 of 10 October, on the communication from the Commission to the Council on the future of testing reactors in the Community (Com (93) 408 Final).

  Mr. Eggar
  The reason for the doubt expressed in the Department's explanatory memorandum is that the Commission's proposal for a Council resolution does not specify which article of the treaty it relies on; and it is not clear from the document that such action by the Community is necessary to attain one of the objectives of the Community, nor, if so, which particular objective.

  Carbon Emissior
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide a breakdown of the sources of the "other emissions" of carbon listed in table 2, page 182, of the digest of United Kingdom energy statistics 1993.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The breakdown requested is as follows:

  Carbon dioxide emissions in 1991, million tonnes of carbon

  Source of non-fuel emissions

  million tones

  Incineration:

  Domestic

  0.5

  Agricultural

  1.1

  Cement production

  1.7

  Landfill sites

  0.8

  Offshore gas flaring

  1.4

  Total "other emissions"

  5.5

  Literacy
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the contribution of literacy skills to industrial competitiveness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Good literacy skills are essential to industrial competitiveness. According to a recent report by the Government-funded adult literacy and basic skills unit, the cost to British industry of poor basic skills among the work force is almost £5 billion a year. The raising of standards is a top priority for the Government's policies for education, both at school, via the national curriculum and the testing arrangements that go with it, and for adults, for whom basic skills provision is a specific responsibility of the new further education funding councils.

  EC Assistance
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the United Kingdom's population is covered by the Government's application to the EC for objective 2 status.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Forty-one per cent.

  Nuclear Energy
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration his Department's nuclear review has given to the possible cost-effectiveness of investment in nuclear plant to achieve reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.
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  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I made to him on 26 October 1993, at column 572.

  Private Capital
  Ms Harman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and have been commenced since the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department's capital investment projects, other than office accommodation, are primarily undertaken at its research establishments. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced on 4 May 1993,Official Report, column 4, that he was reviewing the future of these establishments with the assistance of independent consultants. The opportunities offered by the private finance initiative will be taken into account in the course of this review. More generally much of the rest of my Department is also under review to identify the scope for increased private sector involvement.

  Oil and Supplies Industries
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what he has done to help the United Kingdom oil and supplies industries in their efforts to secure business overseas.

  Mr. Eggar
  In order to promote the United Kingdom's wide ranging expertise in the energy sector, I have recently visited Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan and Algeria. I hope that my visit to these countries will provide opportunities for the United Kingdom oil and supplies industries to participate in the development of their energy resources. My offshore supplies office will continue to support United Kingdom companies' efforts in this regard.

  Following my visit to Indonesia and Malaysia, the offshore supplies office will hold seminars early next year in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur to present lessons learned and experience gained from recent initiatives aimed at reducing the costs of United Kingdom continental shelf oil and gas developments.

  Tourism
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to prevent the EC draft directive currently under consideration which would prevent holidaymakers sending deposits in advance to book hotel and guest house rooms from being implemented in a way which would have the effect of preventing the normal trading operations of Britain's hoteliers, self-catering and guest house operators.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 28 October 1993]: The United Kingdom has made clear, during the discussion of the draft distance selling directive in Brussels, its opposition to the provision which would ban prepayments in the case of contracts negotiated at a distance. There can be no question of our agreeing to the directive so long as this provision remains.

  Ice Cream
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission will be reporting on the practice of cabinet exclusivity agreements in relation to ice cream manufacturers and retailers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 November 1993]: The Director General of Fair Trading, Sir Bryan Carsberg, referred the supply of impulse buy ice creams to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on 7 May 1993. The Commission was asked to report to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade within nine months.

  RECHAR II
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress towards establishing the RECHAR II programme from 1 January 1994.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer I November 1993]: RECHAR II and all other proposals for future Community initiatives for European structural funds grants are to be discussed by the Council of Ministers, and then by a management committee of officials, before any such initiative is launched. No date has yet been set for such discussion.

  Konver Programme
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has held with the European Commission about the use of funds under the Konver programme to assist larger defence contractors.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 1 November 1993]: None. In accordance with the Government's usual policy on the use of grant available from the European structural funds, I have proposed that such UK Konver grants as may benefit companies should be confined to small and medium-sized enterprises. As is the case with structural funds grants generally, most UK Konver grants will not be made directly to companies.

  ECGD
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had in relation to the long-term future of the Export Credits Guarantee Department, Llanishen and Cathays park, Cardiff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 1 November 1993]: I have held two meetings with ECGD's trade union side which included discussion of the long-term future of its Cardiff offices. I confirm my endorsement of the recommendation of the ECGD management board in November 1992 that there should be no major change to the distribution of functions between London and Cardiff for at least three years from that date.

  Warship Yards
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library the text of the case for intervention funding for British warship yards referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) of 20 October,Official Report, column 246.
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  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 1 November 1993]: No. It is not the Government's policy to make available publicly the details of correspondence with EC commissioners.

  South Africa
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Evans) of 25 October,Official Report, column 433, what actions his Department has taken to ensure that companies file reports under the EC code of conduct relating to South Africa for the year ended 30 June.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 1 November 1993]: Following the decision taken by the EC Foreign Affairs Council on 4 October to discontinue the code of conduct, British companies have been informed that reports are no longer required.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the Government's policy towards wage levels and employment conditions provided by British comapnies continuing to operate or seeking to operate in South Africa.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 1 November 1993]: British companies have an excellent record on wages and employment conditions in South Africa. We will encourage companies to continue these high standards.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish a table showing whether the public have a statutory right to(a) attend all board or committee meetings, (b) inspect the minutes of meetings, (c) inspect the annual reports, (d) inspect the annual accounts and (e) inspect a register of members' interests of each executive non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department.

  Mr. Sproat
  (a) I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 27 July 1993, Official Report, columns 763–64.

  (b) The public do not have a statutory right to inspect the minutes of meetings of any of my Department's executive NDPBs.

  (c) NDPBs publish on a regular basis reports which the public can see.

  (d) NDPBs publish on an annual basis accounts which the public can see.

  (e) All appointments to NDPBs are made in accordance with guidance provided by the Cabinet Office and Her Majesty's Treasury, which requires Ministers to satisfy themselves that there is no conflict of interest.

  London Orchestras
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his estimate of(a) total and (b) overseas earnings by the four London orchestras in the last financial year.

  Mr. Brooke
  The information requested is as follows:
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  £million

  Total earnings

  Overseas earnings

  LPO

  4.4

  1.04

  LSO

  5.5

  1.57

  Philharmonia

  5.1

  2.27

  RPO

  5.3

  0.95

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his estimate of the gearing ratio between grant aid and total income of the four London orchestras.

  Mr. Brooke
  The information requested is as follows: LPO—19.8 per cent.; LSO—14.4 per cent.; Philharmonia —12 per cent.; RPO—7.4 per cent.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what public consultation was undertaken by the Arts Council before reaching its decision to fund only two London orchestras.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Arts Council seeks informed and objective advice in determining its policies and priorities for the various art forms. In addition, the council takes close account of consumer research and monitors box office attendance figures.

  Listed Hospitals
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which hospitals have had statutory listings changed in the last five years; if he will list the date and reason in each case; and if he will also list current applications for changes.

  Mr. Sproat
  This information is not readily available.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his oral answer of 12 July,Official Report, columns 657–58, what progress has been made by the task force between his Department and the Department of Health about listed hospitals.

  Mr. Sproat
  I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 25 October 1993,Official Report, column 470.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what hospitals have been specifically considered by the task force between his Department and the Department of Health on listed hospitals.

  Mr. Sproat
  The guidance being prepared by the Department of Health and English Heritage task force will include examples of good practice from the NHS, and a number of sites have been mentioned informally in the course of discussions. Some sites where particular problems have been met have also been discussed informally. It would not be appropriate to divulge the names of these sites at this stage.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will place in the Library the reports, or summaries of reports, considered by the task force between his Department and the Department of Health on listed hospitals.

  Mr. Sproat
  The primary role of the Department of Health and English Heritage task force is to prepare
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  guidance which will assist NHS authorities to discharge their obligations for listed properties while providing health services of high quality and good value. The task force is developing the guidance from a first draft produced by English Heritage. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health will place a copy of the final guidance in the Library when it is available.

  Cash Limits
  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what changes will be made to his Department's cash limits or running costs limits for 1993–94.

  Mr. Brooke
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made.

  (i) The cash limit for class XI, vote 3—libraries—will be increased by £202,000 from £114,337,000 to £114,539,000 to meet a new provision for the Royal National Institute for the Blind embossed literature service and to increase provision for the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts to meet new administration costs. This increase is being met by offsetting savings on class XII, vote 3 and class XVIII, vote 1.

  (ii) The cash limit for class XI, vote 5—film, tourism, sport and broadcasting—will be increased by £1,022,000 from £129,086,000 to £130,108,000 to meet increased payments for broadcasting regulatory services and for lower appropriations in aid in respect of loan repayments by the Radio Authority.

  (iii) The cash limit for class XI, vote 7—administration—will be increased by £40,000 from £25,294,000 to £25,334,000. This increase is the net effect of an increase of £64,000 in respect of the capital end-year flexibility scheme and a transfer of resources of £24,000 to the Department for Education in respect of certain central services provided by that department.

  (iv) The Department's gross running costs control limit will, however, be decreased by £174,000 from £29,856,000 to £29,682,000 to reflect the transfer of £150,000 to a new provision on class XI, vote 7 for the Millennium Commission and £24,000 to the Department for Education.

  (v) The increases wil be offset by savings and charges to the reserve, and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  European Free Trade Association
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Attorney-General what reports will be published of the proceedings and conclusions of the new EFTA Surveillance Authority; what reports it will make to the EFTA standing committee and to the Council of Ministers of the European Communities, respectively ; where it will sit; and if its meetings will be open to the public.

  Mr. Needham
  I have been asked to reply.

  The EFTA Surveillance Authority will prepare reports and assessments in line with the procedure set out in paragraph 5 of protocol 1 of the European economic area agreement. Reports will be submitted to the EEA joint committee. The EFTA Surveillance Authority will also publish information in line with the procedure set out in paragraph 6 of protocol 1. Information emanating from the EFTA Surveillance Authority will be published in a special EEA section of the Official Journal of the EC. In addition, article 21 of the agreement between the EFTA states on the establishment of a surveillance authority and court of justice provides that the EFTA Surveillance Authority shall annually produce a general report of its activities.
  100
  This report will be available to the public. The EFTA Surveillance Authority will sit in Brussels. Its meetings will not be open to the public.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Attorney-General which publication contains the articles or rules defining the powers and procedures of the EFTA Surveillance Authority and court, respectively; by whom and when the documents were approved; what notice was given by Her Majesty's Government to any public or private body in the United Kingdom of the drafts of such articles; and what status they have in(a) international law or (b) the locus of the court of the European Community in Luxembourg.

  Mr. Needham
  I have been asked to reply.

  Article 108 of the European economic area—EEA—agreement requires the European Free Trade Association states to establish an independent surveillance authority and a court of justice. This obligation has been fulfilled by means of a separate agreement—"Agreement on the Establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice"—signed by EFTA Ministers in Oporto on 2 May 1992, in parallel with the EEA agreement. The agreement has subsequently been adjusted by a protocol, to reflect Switzerland's withdrawal from the EEA, again signed only by the relevant EFTA states, in Brussels on 17 March 1993, in parallel with the protocol adjusting the EEA agreement. The agreement is between the EFTA states. Neither the Community nor any EC member state is a contracting party to the agreement. The agreement is binding on the contracting parties in international law.

ENVIRONMENT

  Housing, Liverpool
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many flats have accepted the housing action trust's programme in Liverpool; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  The Liverpool housing action trust became the landlord of 5,337 properties on 4 October 1993. I am pleased that tenants and leasholders voted so overhelmingly in favour of the proposal to transfer to the Liverpool HAT. I am delighted that the HAT is now fully operational and working with tenants in this exciting initiative to improve housing conditions throughout the city.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the names and positions of each person he has appointed to housing action trusts in Liverpool.

  Sir George Young
  The board of the Liverpool housing action trust consists of:

  Mrs. P. Ridley—Chair

  Mr. M. Appleton—Deputy Chair

  Mr. E. McGonagle—Board Member

  Mrs. S. J. Last—Board Member

  Mrs. J. K. Roberts—Board Member

  Mr. R. Dykes—Board Member

  Councillor M. Clarke—Board Member

  Mr. J. Sheridan—Tenant Board Member

  Mrs. M. Gallimore—Tenant Board Member

  Miss D. C. Todd—Tenant Board Member

  Mrs. E. Clark—Tenant Board Member

  101
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the salaries and expenses of members he has appointed to the housing action trust in Liverpool.

  Sir George Young
  HAT board members are paid at standard rates. A chairman who works for two days a week on HAT business is paid £25,315 a year: in particular busy periods where the chairman works for at least an additional day, the remuneration may be increased to £37,975. The chairman of Liverpool HAT has been paid at the higher rate in recognition of the time input she has made to the HAT. The deputy chairman is paid £8,590 a year and other board members £5,030 a year.

  All board members are entitled to travel and subsistence expenses when attending the normal place at which the HAT board works, or when away on HAT business, and for other expenses necessarily incurred on HAT business. These allowances are payable in accordance with the civil service travelling and subsistence rates.

  Mortgages
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the refusal of building societies and banks to give mortgages on ex-council homes.

  Sir George Young
  I am not aware of the problems on the mortgageability of most homes sold under the right to buy and voluntary sales. There is a particulr problem in relation to ex-council flats in tower blocks, where some lending institutions are currently adopting cautious policies. As the housing market picks up, the situation should improve. Meanwhile we are investigating the scale of the problem and some possible solutions, together with the lenders and the local authority associations.

  Pennines Bridleway
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now publish the proposed new route for the Pennine bridleway national trail; if he will publish a timetable for granting approval for this proposal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Countryside Commission published its supplementary report and submitted it to the Secretary of State on 1 July this year, outlining revised proposals for the bridleway. I expect to announce my decision shortly.

  Railfreight
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the announcement of the outcome of the planning inquiry into the Railfreight depot at Hams Hall.

  Mr. Baldry
  The issues raised by this planning application are complex and consideration of the inspector's report has taken longer than expected. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce a decision shortly.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that local authorities receiving funds under the current standard spending 102
  assessment system will not be disadvantaged by phasing in any subsequent changes resulting from the review of standard spending assessments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he is giving to phasing in changes to the SSA system; and what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of doing so.

  Mr. Baldry
  We will consider carefully the effect of any changes in the system of standard spending assessments resulting from the review of SSAs before deciding whether it will be necessary to mitigate these effects, and if so what means and to what extent.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to establish an ongoing review of the standard spending assessment system with particular reference to the monitoring of the relationship between grant levels and needs of individual authorities.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have just completed a review of standard spending assessments for 1994–95. Standard spending assessments are the Government's assessment of the appropriate amount of revenue expenditure by each local authority taking account of its physical, demographic and social characteristics, consistent with the provision of a common level of service and the Government's view of the appropriate amount of revenue expenditure for all local authorities. We are always prepared to look at new evidence for changes in standard spending assessments.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his plans for the future relationship between capping levels and standard spending assessments.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend intends to announce provisional capping criteria for 1994–95 at the same time as his proposals for the 1994–95 local government finance settlement.

  Capital Receipts
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have been held regarding the extended use of 100 per cent. capital receipts by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The local authority associations have raised this with us in discussions. We have no plans to extend the present temporary relaxation in the rules on the use of capital receipts.

  Local Government Expenditure
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he will be giving in the review of the standard spending assessment system to developing an improved system for distributing Government grant or for controlling local authority expenditure.

  Mr. Baldry
  The review of standard spending assessments, which my right hon. Friend has discussed with the local authority associations, is now substantially complete. In the light of that review my right hon. Friend is now formulating his proposals for 1994–95 SSAs, which
  103
  he intends, as for previous years, should be a fair assessment, on the basis of the information and evidence available to him, of the appropriate amount of revenue expenditure for an authority to incur to provide a standard level of service.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to relate average grant payments and standard spending assessment levels to the relative status of local authorities for the purpose of receiving EC funding.

  Mr. Baldry
  None.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect of the area cost adjustment on(a) grants to local authorities in different parts of the country and (b) local authority pay levels.

  Mr. Baldry
  The area cost adjustment aims to ensure that standard spending assessments reflect regional differences in the cost of providing a standard level of service. Revenue support grant is distributed so that, if all local authorities were to spend at the level of their SSA, broadly the same level of council tax could be set in all areas for dwellings in the same valuation band. The area cost adjustment is not based on actual local authority pay levels and does not, therefore, provide any incentive for an authority to increase its pay.

  Housing
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider creating a system of grant allocation to help with the cost of purchasing property to provide a higher return on investor capital and to encourage long-term provision in the private rented housing sector.

  Sir George Young
  We are keen to explore all avenues to encourage growth in the private rented sector.

  Housing Action Trusts
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the total gross public spending for each year since 1991–92 and the projected expenditure for each year to 1995–96, in 1992–93 prices, for the housing action trusts.

  Sir George Young
  Public expenditure on housing action trusts to date has been as follows:

  £ million

  1991–92

  10.1

  1992–93

  26.5

  Current public expenditure provision for 1993–94 and the two subsequent financial years is as follows. 1992–93 prices are in brackets:

  £ million

  £ million

  1993–94

  86.8

  (84.5)

  1994–95

  88.2

  (82.4)

  1995–96

  90.0

  (81.0)

  Public Investment
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and have been commenced since the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Department and its sponsored bodies attracted over £2 billion of private investment in support of departmental programmes in 1992–93, and similarly expects to lever in up to £3 billion of private funding in 1993–94. This will assist the implementation of a wide variety of projects, most notably in housing, inner cities and urban regeneration. It is not practicable to list each project.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department, whether the public have a statutory right to(a) attend all board or committee meetings, (b) inspect the minutes of meetings, (c) inspect the annual reports, (d) inspect the annual accounts and (e) inspect a register of members' interests.

  Mr. Gummer
  All the NDPBs' annual accounts, and in most cases their annual reports, are statutory documents which are published. In most cases they are also laid before Parliament.

  Local Government, Isle of Wight
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of local government and the unitary authority proposals for the Isle of Wight.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have today written to Sir John Banham, chairman of the Local Government Commission, giving my decision on the commission's report "Final Recommendations on the Future Local Government of the Isle of Wight".

  After considering the commission's recommendations for the island and the representations made, I have concluded that effective and convenient local government on the Isle of Wight would be best achieved by establishing a unitary authority for the whole island—Commission recommendation 1—and that this would best meet the identities and interests of the local people. The single-tier Isle of Wight council will be up and running by 1 April 1995.

  All the other commission recommendations have been accepted as submitted with the exception of that for planning—recommendation 3—which I propose to modify. I believe that the planning needs on the island would be better served if the unitary authority were to prepare a unitary development plan rather than to continue with a two-tier planning system. The draft order for the Isle of Wight reorganisation will therefore state that, for the purposes of part II of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the initary island authority should be treated as an authority to whose area chapter I—unitary plans—of this part of the Act applies, rather than chapter II.

  It is intended that the existing district councils on the Isle of Wight will cease to exist as of 1 April 1995.
  105
  There will be elections to the unitary authority held in May 1995. In order that there is adequate provision for planning the smooth transition to the new structure I intend to give the present county councillors, in consultation with the present district councillors, the necessary powers to plan for change.

  Planning for the new unitary authority will be undertaken by existing county councillors who will consult and involve South Wight and Medina councils.

  An order giving effect to the commission's recommendations, with the planning modification, will be laid before the House in due course. A copy of my letter to Stir John Banham has been placed in the Library.

  Local Government Commission
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will issue revised guidelines to the Local Government Commission.

  Mr. Curry
  I have today issued revised policy guidance to the commission, incorporating the changes outlined in my right hon. Friend's announcement of 30 September and taking account of the comments we received on our draft proposals. We are re-emphasising the benefits of unitary authorities and asking the commission to give more weight to proposals emerging as a result of local consensus. A copy of the document has been placed in the Library of the House and additional copies are available in the Vote Office.

  I hope that, by removing any doubt about the Government's views on a number of issues, the revised guidance will assist the commission in its important task of recommending arrangements which best combine a reflection of the identities and interests of local people with the need to secure convenient and effective local government.

  We are still discussing with the Local Government Commission the details of the accelerated review programme.

  Mr. Patrick Doyle
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a list of all meetings held and correspondence exchanged in the past 10 years between his Department and Mr. Patrick Doyle, now of AST Training; what was the nature of such meetings or correspondence; what plans he has to meet Mr. Patrick Doyle; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 22 October 1993]: My Department has traced only two contacts with companies associated with Mr. Patrick Doyle. The first was when the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre contracted Home Counties Cleaning on an ad hoc basis for the period 2 June to 18 August 1986. The second was when the Deptford task force let a contract for two plastering skills training courses from February 1991 to September 1992. I have no plans to meet Mr. Doyle.
  106

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agricultural Wages Board
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many inspectors are currently employed by the Agricultural Wages Board; and how many were employed 10 years ago.

  Mr. Jack
  Agricultural minimum wage enforcement is the responsibility of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Staff undertake wages inspection as one of a range of duties and the time spent on this activity will vary considerably from officer to officer. Total time spent by the Ministry on minimum wage enforcement is therefore the best measure when comparing one year with another. The earliest figures available relate to 1987–88 and show a total input of around 19 staff years. In 1992–93 the comparable figure was also some 19 staff years.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many visits have been carried out during the last 12 months by Agricultural Wages Board inspectors; and how many were carried out 10 years ago.

  Mr. Jack
  Agricultural wages inspections are carried out by officers appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and by the Secretary of State for Wales. During 1992, the latest full year for which figures are available, 554 holdings were visited as part of the programme of test inspections or in the process of following up specific complaints. In 1982, 2,979 holdings were visited. However, this 1982 figure includes visits to collect statistical information for the wages and employment inquiry. This statistical information is now collected by post and, as a result, the 1992 and 1982 figures are not directly comparable.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of eligible farmers had received their hill livestock compensatory allowances for 1993 by 31 October.

  Mr. Jack
  At the end of October, the total number of hill livestock compensatory allowance claims received in the United Kingdom under the 1993 scheme was 64,557. Of these 62,981 have been processed for payment. This represents 97.5 per cent. of the claims received.

  Fisheries Conservation
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has received on future conservation measures for fish stocks in the Irish sea; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  We have received a report from the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations setting out its proposed alternatives to days at sea restrictions including proposals for the Irish sea. We are considering the report urgently and hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends responding to the proposals by the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations for alternative conservation measures to the proposal by the Government to limit the days at sea that fishermen may fish; and if he will make a statement.
  107
  Mr. Jack
  I hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Sheep and Cattle Farms
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the net farm income for mainly sheep and sheep and cattle farms in severely disadvantaged areas in England and Wales, in both nominal and real terms for each year since 1978.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [pursuant to her reply, 29 October 1993, c. 798]: Estimates of net farm income, based on results of sample surveys are provided in the tables. The method of farm classification has been changed and results for 1992–93 and subsequent years will only be available on the revised method. In order to ensure a

  Table 1

  Average net farm income on livestock farms wholly or partly in the Severely Disadvantaged Area in England (New Classification)

  Year1

  Specialist sheep farms

  Mixed cattle and sheep farms

  £'000 per farm

  Indices2

  £'000 per farm

  Indices2

  Current prices

  1991–92 prices3

  Current prices

  Real Terms3

  Current prices

  1991–92 prices3

  Current prices

  Real Terms3

  1986–87

  7.8

  10.6

  115

  147

  8.8

  12.0

  83

  106

  1987–88

  8.0

  10.5

  118

  146

  12.6

  16.5

  118

  145

  1988–89

  11.7

  14.5

  139

  162

  16.1

  20.0

  150

  175

  1989–90

  7.7

  8.9

  103

  111

  12.1

  13 9

  106

  114

  1990–91

  6.7

  7.0

  86

  85

  8.4

  8.8

  75

  74

  1991–92

  10.7

  10.7

  111

  104

  13.2

  13.2

  119

  112

  1992–934

  14.8

  14.3

  157

  142

  16 5

  16.0

  177

  161

  Table 2

  Average net farm income on livestock farms wholly or partly in the Severely Disadvantaged Area in England (New Classification)

  Year1

  Specialist sheep farms

  Mixed cattle and sheep farms

  £'000 per farm

  Indices2

  £'000 per farm

  Indices2

  Current prices

  1991–92 prices3

  Current prices

  Real Terms3

  Current prices

  1991–92 prices3

  Current prices

  Real Terms3

  1986–87

  8.3

  11.3

  141

  181

  7.9

  10.8

  98

  125

  1987–88

  6.9

  9.1

  117

  145

  11.6

  15.2

  143

  175

  1988–89

  10.9

  13.5

  167

  192

  14.1

  17.5

  170

  197

  1989–90

  5.8

  6.7

  92

  100

  10.4

  12 0

  113

  121

  1990–91

  8.1

  8.5

  85

  84

  8.3

  8.7

  84

  82

  1991–92

  12.4

  12.4

  123

  116

  12.2

  12.2

  104

  97

  1992–934

  16.2

  15.7

  191

  174

  16 3

  15.8

  141

  128

  Table 3

  Average net farm income on livestock farms wholly or partly in the Severely Disadvantaged Area in England (Old Classification)

  Year1

  Mainly sheep farms

  cattle and sheep farms

  £'000 per farm

  Indices2

  £'000 per farm

  Indices2

  Current prices

  1991–92 prices
  3

  Current prices

  Real Terms3

  Current prices

  1991–92 prices3

  Current prices

  Real Terms3

  1978–795

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  8.8

  23.3

  119

  245

  1979–805

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  4.2

  9.7

  54

  96

  1980–815

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  6.1

  12 0

  76

  140

  1981–825

  11.1

  19 6

  100

  167

  9.4

  16.6

  139

  230

  1982–835

  8.1

  13 3

  84

  131

  9.2

  15.1

  125

  193

  1983–84

  10.8

  16.9

  87

  129

  7.8

  12.2

  106

  155

  1984–85

  9.4

  14.0

  79

  111

  9.6

  14.3

  119

  167

  1985–86

  11.9

  16.7

  102

  135

  10.1

  14.2

  120

  158

  1986–87

  9.1

  124

  89

  115

  8.0

  10.9

  95

  122

  1987–88

  9.9

  13.0

  102

  126

  11.8

  15.5

  129

  158

  1988–89

  12.7

  15.8

  136

  159

  15.6

  19.4

  161

  187

  1989–90

  7.5

  8.6

  92

  100

  106

  12.2

  111

  119

  1990–91

  7.7

  8.1

  79

  78

  7.2

  7.6

  72

  71

  1991–92

  10.9

  10.9

  129

  122

  12.4

  12.4

  117

  110

  108
  consistent data series the results for years from 1986–87 have been reanalysed and these are presented for SDA specialist sheep farms and SDA mixed cattle and sheep farms in table 1, for England, and table 2, for Wales. Tables 3 and 4 provide data on the previous method of classification for the years 1978–79 to 1991–92 for SDA sheep farms and SDA cattle and sheep farms.

  Year-to-year comparisons can best be made by reference to the indices shown in the tables, which are based on results from constant samples of farms.

  Forecasts of incomes will be placed in the Library of the House on 30 November when the outcome of the autumn review of hill livestock compensatory allowances is announced.
  109

  Table 4

  Average net farm income on livestock farms wholly or partly in the Severely Disadvantaged Area in Wales (Old Classification)

  Year1

  Mainly sheep farms

  cattle and sheep farms

  £'000 per farm

  Indices2

  £'000 per farm

  Indices2

  Current prices

  1991–92 prices3

  Current prices

  Real Terms3

  Current prices

  1991–92 prices3

  Current prices

  Real Terms3

  1978–795

  6.9

  18.1

  76

  189

  7.4

  19.4

  73

  181

  1979–805

  2.9

  6.7

  32

  69

  41

  9.5

  40

  89

  1980–815

  5.9

  11.5

  68

  124

  6.2

  12.2

  58

  107

  1981–825

  8.8

  15 5

  95

  157

  7.8

  13.6

  103

  171

  1982–835

  6.2

  10 2

  73

  113

  6.7

  11.1

  86

  134

  1983–84

  8.6

  13 4

  97

  142

  6.6

  10.4

  80

  119

  1984–85

  9.7

  14.5

  147

  206

  7.7

  11.4

  83

  117

  1985–86

  7.9

  11.2

  101

  133

  8.4

  11.8

  96

  129

  1986–87

  9.8

  13.4

  112

  144

  9.3

  12.8

  98

  127

  1987–88

  9.4

  12 3

  105

  130

  12 5

  16 4

  119

  149

  1988–89

  8.3

  10.4

  149

  175

  8.5

  10.6

  154

  181

  1989–90

  9.5

  10 9

  99

  107

  10.9

  12 5

  94

  102

  1990–91

  10 8

  11.4

  89

  88

  8.7

  91

  72

  71

  1991–92

  16.8

  16.5

  112

  105

  13.7

  13.5

  134

  126

  Notes: 1 Accounting years end on average in February.

  2 1989–90—1991–92=100

  3 The information has been derived by deflating the current price estimates by the retail prices index.

  4 Provisional figure at the time of the 1993 autumn review of the economic conditions in the hills and uplands.

  5 The estimates for these years are not strictly comparable with those for later years.

  Surplus Food Scheme
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what type and quantities of food she expects to be available for distribution via the EC surplus food scheme in 1993–94.

  Mr. Jack
  I announced on 26 July that 6,200 tonnes of beef will be released under the scheme from intervention stocks to be canned for allocation to designated organisations and that further quantities may be made available later. I am pleased to announce that the Commission has approved the release of an additional 6,000 tonnes of beef for distribution in the United Kingdom during 1993–94. In previous years, butter has also been distributed, but successful reductions of

  Maintained primary and secondary schools2

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Clwyd

  54,407

  53,737

  52,992

  52,993

  53,043

  53,431

  Dyfed

  45,254

  45,727

  45,597

  45,652

  45,754

  45,805

  Gwent

  59,960

  59,142

  59,008

  59,438

  60,149

  61,279

  Gwynedd

  31,663

  31,047

  30,496

  29,956

  29,782

  29,844

  Mid Glamorgan

  76,143

  75,244

  75,054

  75,214

  75,615

  76,795

  Powys

  15,574

  15,498

  15,467

  15,331

  15,335

  15,454

  South Glamorgan

  52,131

  52,128

  52,038

  52,730

  53,703

  54,837

  West Glamorgan

  48,584

  48,505

  48,350

  48,769

  49,002

  49,570

  Wales

  383,715

  381,028

  379,002

  380,083

  382,383

  387,015

  1 At January each year, with ages at 31 August the preceding year.

  2 Includes grant-maintained schools.

  LEA maintained special schools

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Clwyd

  661

  634

  629

  630

  642

  662

  Dyfed

  258

  254

  232

  199

  210

  181

  Gwent

  351

  336

  316

  320

  307

  299

  Gwynedd

  263

  255

  215

  211

  234

  235

  Mid Glamorgan

  646

  587

  589

  565

  597

  648

  Powys

  110

  109

  122

  122

  125

  113

  South Glamorgan

  655

  624

  588

  575

  537

  527

  West Glamorgan

  218

  194

  181

  177

  175

  170

  110
  intervention stocks have meant that butter cannot now be made available under the scheme. I will be announcing the arrangements for the distribution of beef shortly.

WALES

  School Pupils
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 July,Official Report, columns 54–56, on the placing of full-time pupils aged five to 15 years, when he expects to publish the relevant information for January 1993.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is given in the tables.

  (a) The number of full-time pupils aged 5–15 years1
  111

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Wales

  3,162

  2,993

  2,872

  2,799

  2,827

  2,835

  (b) The number of children aged 5–15 belonging to:

  (i) other LEAs but attending special schools maintained by the LEA

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Clwyd

  30

  25

  38

  37

  42

  43

  Dyfed

  11

  12

  13

  2

  3

  3

  Gwent

  14

  16

  11

  6

  4

  0

  Gwynedd

  15

  18

  15

  11

  8

  7

  Mid Glamorgan

  32

  29

  23

  16

  19

  11

  Powys

  4

  7

  5

  4

  3

  3

  South Glamorgan

  81

  73

  58

  48

  36

  38

  West Glamorgan

  5

  7

  11

  12

  11

  9

  (ii) the LEA but attending special schools maintained by other LEAs

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Clwyd

  33

  29

  25

  24

  24

  22

  Dyfed

  15

  15

  17

  16

  13

  14

  Gwent

  48

  45

  38

  24

  26

  22

  Gwynedd

  15

  8

  10

  8

  7

  15

  Mid Glamorgan

  48

  42

  37

  31

  19

  17

  Powys

  7

  7

  2

  3

  3

  1

  South Glamorgan

  17

  17

  13

  5

  3

  3

  West Glamorgan

  12

  16

  8

  11

  12

  7

  (iii) the LEA but attending non-maintained special and independent schools1

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Clwyd

  3

  2

  4

  2

  8

  5

  Dyfed

  10

  16

  8

  12

  21

  21

  Gwent

  36

  45

  56

  69

  32

  41

  Gwynedd

  8

  8

  7

  8

  6

  7

  Mid Glamorgan

  52

  53

  58

  61

  51

  37

  Powys

  14

  22

  18

  20

  18

  18

  South Glamorgan

  6

  9

  7

  9

  5

  5

  West Glamorgan

  17

  15

  9

  12

  2

  2

  1 Data for 1988–1991 include children of all ages. Data for 1992 and 1993 include children aged 5–16 years with statements of special educational needs only. Data include children being educated outside of the authority in which they are registered.

  Private Capital
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and have been commenced since the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Private finance forms a significant part of many Welsh Office programmes. The total for 1993–94 is estimated to be £278 million. Details of projects commenced since November 1992 are not readily available. Examples of projects currently in hand or in prospect include:

  Croesfoel flyover on A483 (design and build).

  New community development, Cefn yr Hendy, near Llantrisant.

  Patient hotel, Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend.

  Multi-storey car park, UHW Cardiff.

  Microwave incinerator—Pembrokeshire NHS Trust.

  Redevelopment at Brynhyfryd Estate, Llangennech.

  NCM Credit Insurance Offices, Cardiff Bay.

  112

  Education Funding
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the projected expenditure for each year to 1995–96, in 1992–93 prices, for (i) the Further Education Funding Council for Wales, (ii) the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and (iii) the Schools Funding Council for Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Provision for the financial year 1993–94 and planning figures for the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96 were notified to the Further and Higher Education Funding Councils for Wales in December 1992 and January 1993 respectively. The details are as follows:

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Further Education Funding Council for Wales

  143.260

  160.924

  168.436

  Higher Education Funding Council for Wales

  178.975

  189.958

  193.013

  These figures are in cash. At 1992–93 prices the values are as follows:
  113

  £million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Further Education Funding Council for Wales

  139.426

  150.396

  152.087

  Higher Education Fundin Council for Wales

  174.185

  177.531

  174.278

  Provision for 1994–95 will be determined following decisions taken in this year's public expenditure settlement and the planning figure for 1995–96 will be revised as necessary in the light of those decisions.

  No decision has been taken to establish a schools funding council for Wales.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  EC Budget Discipline
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in agreeing a new inter-institutional agreement on budget discipline with the European Parliament.

  Sir John Cope
  The Edinburgh European Council of 11–12 December 1992 concluded:"the Inter-Institutional Agreement (IIA) for 1988–1992 was a positive development and hopes that the agreement can be re-established on terms ensuring strict budgetary discipline and a smooth passage of the annual budgetary discussions.‖ It calls upon the Council ‖ subject to acceptable terms being attainable, to reach agreement with the Commission and European Parliament on a revised IIA."

  Since Edinburgh, discussions have taken place between the Council—represented by the presidency—the Commission and the European Parliament with a view to fulfilling the Edinburgh mandate. These discussions were difficult at times. However, the Belgian presidency has recently succeeded in negotiating a satisfactory agreement. This was endorsed by the Council at the Foreign Affairs Council on 4 October—Official Report, 19 October:1993, columns 206–7—and the informal meeting of ECOFIN on 9 October—Official Report, 18 October, column 15—and by the European Parliament at its plenary session on 27 October. The agreement was signed at the recent Special Foreign Affairs Council. A copy of the text has been placed in the Library.

  The IIA is a political, but not legally binding, agreement which clarifies the Community's budgetary procedure. Under the treaty, the Council and the European Parliament have joint responsibility for deciding the Community budget on the basis of proposals from the Commission. The IIA sets out the way the three institutions will exercise their responsibilities in accordance with the treaty, and respecting the revenue ceilings which are laid down in the own resources decision. In particular, it provides for the annual Community budget to be set in the context of a multi-annual financial framework. This allows a more orderly development of spending priorities than would be possible if the budget were agreed one year at a time without reference to a longer-term plan.

  Offshore Trusts
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those cases brought before the courts by the Commissioners for the Inland Revenue in relation to offshore trusts between 1985 and 1992.
  114
  Mr. Dorrell
  The cases were as follows: (in re Clore No. 3) Commissioners of the Inland Revenue and Stype Investments—1985 STC 394, Minden Trust (Caymen) Ltd. and Commissioners of the Inland Revenue—1985 STC 758, Commissioners of the Inland Revenue and Brackett—1986 STC 521, Dawson and Commissioners of the Inland Revenue—1989 STC 473, Montagues Trust Company (Jersey) Ltd. and Commissioners of the Inland Revenue—1989 STC 477, Jones and Lincoln-Lewis—1991 STC 307, and Marshall and Kerr—1991 STC 686).

  All references are to Simons tax cases.

  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those occasions between October 1992 and October 1993 on which he formally communicated concerning the externally held sterling balances with(a) committees of the Commonwealth, (b) the division of the International Monetary Fund dealing with offshore balances and (c) the World bank division dealing with offshore currency holdings.

  Mr. Nelson
  I have made no such communication.

  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy with regard to institutions and bodies which advertise and offer advice on offshore tax avoidance and who bid for Government business; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Government Departments seek to ensure that there are no matters which would make it inappropriate for them to have business dealing with particular firms.

  The provision by such a firm of tax planning advice, the adoption of which would be within the confines of tax law, would not in general be regarded as such a matter.

  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what specific steps the Inland Revenue has taken to investigate untaxed payments from abroad to unincorporated bodies in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Where appropriate, the Inland Revenue makes inquiries, using its powers to gather relevant information, in order to investigate payment from abroad to unincorporated bodies.

  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library those reports he has had from the European Commission relating to offshore funds since 1 January 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  So for as I am aware, no such reports have been published.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what studies he has made into the impact on United Kingdom domiciled companies of the capital gains-free regime available to investors from abroad when they make capital disposals; and if he will place such studies in the Library;

  (2) what studies he has made into the effect on United Kingdom industrial domestic capital investment of repatriated tax-free offshore capital gains; and if he will place any such studies in the Library.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have made no such studies.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the reliefs and exemptions on income tax; and what will be the cost of each to the Exchequer(a) in 1993–94 and (b) in 1994–95.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Estimates of the cost of income tax reliefs and exemptions for 1993–94 are available in table 9 of the "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs" booklet published by HM Treasury in July. Estimates for 1994–95 will be published next summer.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer given to the hon. Member for Wallasay (Ms Eagle) 16 July,Official Report, column 700, giving estimates for 1994–95 and for a full year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Latest available estimates from the 1991–92 survey of personal incomes projected to 1994–95 are given in the following table. For 1994–95 it was announced in the March Budget that from 6 April 1994 mortgage interest relief and the married couple's and related allowances would be restricted to 20 per cent. and so these effects are incorporated into the base and excluded from the table. No account has been taken of possible behavioural changes resulting from the restrictions and figures for the major allowances and reliefs show the yield from restricting each allowance or relief separately. If two or more were restricted the total yield would be greater than the sum of figures for individual allowances. It is not

  Increase in income after tax1 (£ per week) compared with indexation2 in 1994–95 for a married man3 with two children

  Multiple of average earnings4

  ½

  ¾

  1

  1½

  2

  5

  10

  Increase derived from

  (i) 1p cut in basic rate

  0.63

  1.57

  2.51

  4.08

  4.08

  4.08

  4.08

  (ii) 8.8 per cent. increase in personal allowance

  1.62

  1.62

  1.62

  2.31

  2.31

  2.31

  2.31

  (iii) increase in child benefit

  (a) £3.75 per week per child5

  7.50

  7.50

  7.50

  7.50

  7.50

  7.50

  7.50

  (b) £2.55 per week per child6

  5.10

  5.10

  5.10

  5.10

  5.10

  5.10

  5.10

  (iv) £1,900 increase in width of 20 per cent. band

  2.29

  2.29

  2.29

  2.29

  2.29

  2.29

  2.29

  1 Disregarding any change to entitlement to social security income—related benefits except in item (iii)b.

  2 Calculations based on the standard assumption that 1993–94 allowances and the basic rate limit have been indexed by 1.8 per cent. with the lower rate band increased to £3,000 as announced in March 1993.

  3 Assumed to have no tax reliefs and allowances other than the personal allowance and the married couple's allowance.

  4 Average earnings assumed to be £37610 per week.

  5 Assuming no change in income support and family credit children's rates.

  6 Assuming corresponding changes in income support and family credit children's rates.

  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax for 1992 has been remitted or written off as irrecoverable; and how much of this is PAYE contributions.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The amount of tax that has been remitted or written off as irrecoverable for 1992 is as follows:

  Year

  Amount in thousands

  1992

  1,694,246

  The amount of this that relates to PAYE contributions is as follows:
  116
  possible to provide estimates of the first-year effects as the yield would depend on the administrative arrangements which implemented the changes.

  £ million

  Estimated full-year yield of restriction to

  basic rate

  20 per cent.

  All allowances and reliefs

  2,420

  7,350

  Personal allowance (excluding age-related addition)

  1,420

  5,500

  Age-related personal allowance1

  0

  120

  Pension contribution reliefs2

  620

  1,230

  1 The higher level of age-related personal allowance given to those aged 65 and over, subject to the income limit.

  2 Employees' contributions to occupational pension schemes and contributions to personal pensions including retirement annuity premia and free-standing additional voluntary contributions.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) 11 January,Official Report, column 546, giving estimates for 1994–95, and including estimates of the effects of widening the 20 per cent. band of tax.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The effects of the various changes to income tax and child benefit on a married man with two children are shown in the table. Each of the changes would cost £1.8 billion a year; that is the cost in a full year of a 1p cut in the basic rate of income tax. Estimates are based on projections of the 1991–92 survey of personal incomes.

  Year

  Amount in thousands

  1992

  381,172

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer of 25 February,Official Report, column 682 on the tax liabilities of taxpayers in different income bands, giving figures for 1993–94 and estimates for 1994–95 based on the assumption of statutory indexation and including measures already announced in the 1993 Budget.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Latest estimates of the average reductions in income tax and national insurance contribution liabilities in 1993–94 and in 1994–95, assuming statutory indexation and inclusion of measures already announced,
  117
  compared with liabilities under an indexed 1987–88 regime are in the table. An equivalent assumption has been made about indexation of the national insurance regime for

  Average reduction in 1993–94 compared with 1987–88 indexed regime

  Average reduction or increase (—) in 1994–95 compared with 1987–88 indexed regime

  Range of individual's income in 1993–94 or 1994–95 £

  Income tax £

  Income tax and national insurance £

  Income tax

  Income tax and national insurance £

  Under 5,000

  60

  70

  60

  70

  5,000–10,000

  170

  240

  180

  220

  10,000–15,000

  260

  400

  230

  290

  15,000–20,000

  340

  480

  270

  290

  20,000–25,000

  420

  540

  330

  300

  25,000–30,000

  490

  600

  370

  310

  30,000–40,000

  300

  400

  30

  -40

  40.000–50,000

  590

  680

  240

  170

  50,000–70,000

  1,970

  2,050

  1,540

  1,460

  70,000–80,000

  4,740

  4,810

  4,100

  4,020

  over 80,000

  19,500

  19,600

  19,100

  19,000

  Average

  420

  500

  370

  390

  For the purpose of the calculations the indexed regime of 1987–88 has been applied directly to the income bases of 1993–94 and 1994–95. In practice, retention of the 1987–88 regime, indexed as appropriate, for the intervening years would have led to changes in the income base.

  Economic and Financial Councils
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Economic and Finance Council held on 25 October.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The European Community Economic and Finance Council—ECOFIN—met in Luxembourg on 25 October. I represented the United Kingdom.

  Political agreement was reached on proposed secondary legislation designed to ensure that certain treaty provisions relating to stage II of European monetary union are consistently applied. I made clear that the proposed legislation was still under consideration by our scrutiny committees. Subject to that, final adoption of the proposed legislation is conditional on the entry into force of the Maastricht treaty and the opinion of the European Parliament. The Council looked favourably on the candidacy of Alexandre Lamfalussy, the outgoing managing director of the Bank of International Settlements in Basle, for the position as first president of the EMI.

  The Commission circulated a report on progress made on the growth initiative since the Edinburgh declaration in December last year. All member states indicated their intention to complete the remaining procedures to establish the European investment fund by the end of the year. The Council also indicated broad support on widening the scope of the temporary EIB lending facility established by the Edinburgh European Council. I continued to stress the themes in the United Kingdom contribution to the Commission's White Book. A copy of the United Kingdom's contribution is available in the House Library.

  The Council had its first discussion of a proposal to amend the scope of the UCITS—undertakings for collective investments in transferable securities—directive which sets minimum standards for the regulation of certain collective investment schemes. The Council agreed that work should continue in the light of the forthcoming
  118
  1994–95. The 1987–88 income tax regime has been indexed to 1993–94 and 1994–95 by reference to the statutory formula and allowing for independent taxation.

  opinion of the European Parliament and a study by the Commission of the macro-economic impact of the proposal.

  The Council discussed a proposal for an EC-wide withholding tax on interest from savings, directed at the distortions some other member states believe arise as a result of the differing systems in the Community for the taxation of interest. With support from some other member states, I made clear the Government's doubts about the need or likely effectiveness of a Community-wide approach. The presidency decided to remit the dossier back to the working group.

  The Council adopted a directive on road haulage, tolls and user charges implementing the political agreement on these matters which was reached by the Transport Council in September. There was also final political agreement on the increase in travellers' allowances provisionally agreed during the United Kingdom presidency in November 1992. The tax free allowances will rise from 45 to 175 ecu for travellers from third countries and from 45 to 90 ecu for intra-Community travel. The agreement will be reviewed in 1995 and includes a derogation covering the eastern borders of Germany lasting until 1997. The Council also adopted an important regulation liberalising road haulage cabotage at the same time.

  The Commission presented a report on the functioning of the indirect tax system in the single market in its first six months and applauded the efforts of national administrations in introducing the new systems.

  The Council also noted the recent Commission proposal —8994–93—about changing the way in which annual surpluses and deficits are treated in the EC budget to produce a more regular cash flow. It was clear that the proposal was unacceptable to many member states. However, the Council agreed to look at alternative ways of attaining the same end, subject to respecting fully the annual ceiling on own resources.

  There were no formal votes. The decisions on the road transport liberalisation legislation were taken by consensus.

  Business Expansion Scheme
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what contribution the business expansion scheme has made to encouraging investment in the private rental sector;

  (2) what steps are being taken to encourage long-term ownership of rented property following the abolition of the business expansion scheme on 31 December.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The business expansion scheme was extended in 1988 for a limiting period for qualifying investment in private rented housing companies to stimulate investors' interest in a sector which has received little encouragement for many years. By the end of 1992–93, the BES had attracted some £2.1 billion for housing companies, and it is estimated that some 40,000 units of rented accommodation have been provided as a result. Any proposal for future tax policy are a matter for the Budget to be presented on 30 November.

  Private Investment Projects
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and have been commenced since the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Treasury does not undertake or sponsor the sorts of large public investment projects with which private capital is generally associated. It has, however, used leasing for office equipment. The Treasury will explore the scope for further use of private finance where this can be justified on value for money grounds. Such opportunities will be evaluated on the basis of the published Treasury guidance on private finance.

  Executive Share Option Scheme
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the economic effects of continuing tax relief on executive share options since the March 1993 Budget; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Tax relief for approved executive share option schemes is intended to help companies to attract, retain and motivate key executives. A report on employee share schemes by KPMG Management Consulting was published in 1991; and the relief is kept under regular review.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the most recent estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief on executive share option schemes in 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Provisional estimates are as follows:

  £million

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Approved discretionary share option schemes

  45

  55

  European Community
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what esimate he has made of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Community over the next three financial years.
  120
  Sir John Cope
  A forecast of the United Kingdom's net contribution to EC institutions, for the years to 1995–96, was given in table 11.1 of the Chancellor's departmental report—Cm 2217—published in February 1993. A revised forecast, covering the years to 1996–97, will be published in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" on 30 November.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the EC in 1992–93; by what amount this is different from the estimates made prior to April 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  The estimated outturn for the United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Community in 1992–93 is £1,810 million, £653 million lower than the forecast given in table 68 of the Chancellor's departmental report in February 1992—Cm 1918. The main reasons for a lower level of net payments than originally forecast were higher structural fund receipts than had been forecast and lower gross contributions, mainly as a consequence of a lower UK share of gross contributions resulting from adjustments to the VAT and fourth resources paid in December 1992 and lower agricultural and sugar levies and customs duties.

  Mortgage Tax Relief
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Ceredigion and Pembroke, North (Mr. Dafis) of 12 July,Official Report, columns 367–68, to include estimates for 1994–95 based upon changes already announced in the 1993 Budget and assuming indexation otherwise.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The estimates for 1994–95 are shown in the table. The figures are based on the conventional assumption of no further changes in interest rates.

  Mortgage interest relief by range of total income1:

  Numbers 000's

  Range of total income1 (lower limit) £

  Number of single people or married couples benefiting from mortgage interest Relief Thousands

  Average mortgage interest relief—

  Cost of mortgage interest relief—million

  0

  840

  300

  250

  5,000

  1,050

  270

  280

  10,000

  2,080

  320

  670

  15,000

  2,260

  360

  810

  20,000

  1,360

  380

  510

  25,000

  910

  400

  360

  30,000

  800

  400

  330

  40,000

  700

  420

  290

  Total

  10,000

  350

  3,500

  1 Total income of husband for married couples.

  Child Care
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on revenues in 1994–95 and in a full year of extending the income tax exemption for workplace nurseries as a benefit in kind to(a) child care cheques and vouchers and (b) other employer assistance into child care; and what the effects would be if the relief were limited to the basic rate.
  121
  Mr. Dorrell
  Exempting all forms of existing employer assistance for child care would have a revenue cost at 1993–94 levels of provision and subsidies of approximately £5 million. There is insufficient information to sub-divide this estimate. If such a measure were introduced there would be substantial behavioural effects.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer of 9 March,Official Report, columns 507–8, giving estimates for 1994–95 and for a full year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Estimates for 1994–95 will depend on the levels of invalidity benefit and on tax rates and allowances for that year. The latest estimates for 1993–94 were given in reply to the hon. Member on 21 June 1993, at column 12.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) of 25 June,Official Report, column 328, what was the corporation tax liability of the 25 largest profitable United Kingdom groups in 1992 both in cash and constant 1987 prices.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I regret that the information requested is not available. The tax assessments currently available are an insufficient basis on which to produce reliable estimates.

  Banking Systems
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the level of United Kingdom liabilities, for sterling and for foreign currencies, and the level of United Kingdom claims, for sterling and foreign currencies, with the banking systems of(a) the British Virgin islands, (b) the Cayman islands, (c) Guernsey, (d) the Isle of Man and (e) Jersey at 30 June.

  Mr. Nelson
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  BT Share Offer
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the administrative costs of the third BT share offer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The costs of to the Government, during the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94, of the third BT share offer are estimated to be as follows:

  £ million

  Advisers' fees and expenses

  4.7

  Share Information Office

  10.5

  Marketing

  16.1

  Receiving and Agent Bank operations

  18.5

  International Tender Offer and Share Shop Commissions

  44.5

  Overseas Offers

  0.9

  Total

  95.2

  These costs represent about 1.8 per cent. of the total proceeds due from the sale of shares to the Government,
  122
  which are estimated at £5,333 million. The costs exclude stamp duty and VAT on services provided to the Government, which are not net costs to the Exchequer.

  Tax Ready Reckoner
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the information provided in the Treasury's "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs" on the basis of the September retail prices index.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 27 October 1993]: Updated information for tables 2 to 6 is as follows.

  Figures for tables 7 to 9 have not been revised as these are not dependent on the September retail prices index.

  Table 2—Income Tax

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  Personal allowance

  3,445

  3,515

  Personal allowance aged (age 65–74)

  4,200

  4,280

  Personal allowance (age 75 and over)

  4,370

  4,450

  Married couple's allowance

  1,720

  1,760

  Married couple's allowance (age 65–74)

  2,465

  12,715

  Married couple's allowance (age 75 and over)

  2,505

  12,755

  Additional personal2 and widow's bereavement allowance

  1,720

  1,760

  Aged income limit3

  14,200

  14,500

  Lower rate band

  2,500

  43,000

  Basic rate limit5

  23,700

  24,200

  1 Includes the extra £200 proposed in the March Budget to ensure that basic rate taxpayers aged 65 and over lose no more from the restriction of the married couple's allowance to 20 per cent. than basic rate taxpayers under 65.

  2 Primarily for single parents.

  3 If the total income, less allowable deductions, of a taxpayer aged 65 or over exceeds this limit, the age-related allowances are reduced by £1 for each £2 of income over the limit until the basic levels of the personal and married couple's allowances are reached.

  4 This is the level proposed in the March Budget. If the band for 1993–94 were indexed, the 1994–95 band would be £2,600.

  5 Higher rate income tax is payable on income—less those allowances and reliefs that are allowed at the higher rate—in excess of the-basic rate limit.

  Table 3—Inheritance tax

  £'000

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Threshold

  150

  153

  Table 4—Capital gains tax

  £

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Annual exempt amount:

  Individuals

  5,800

  6,000

  Trustees

  2,900

  3,000

  Table 5—Costs of indexation for 1994–95

  £ million

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Indexation of income tax allowances and basic rate limit1

  580

  790

  Of which:

  Increases in allowances

  450

  600

  Increase in the basic rate limit'

  130

  190

  Indexation of inheritance tax threshold

  10

  20

  Indexation of capital gains annual exempt amount

  —

  5

  123

  1 Cost includes the consequential effects on capital gains tax, but excludes the cost of the increase in the lower rate band from £2,500 to £3,000, and of the £200 increase in the married couple's allowance for taxpayers aged 65 or over, proposed in the March 1993 Budget.

  2 Additional cost after previous change has been introduced.

  Table 6—Direct effects of illustrative changes in direct taxes1

  £ million cost/yield

  1994–95

  1995–96

  INCOME TAX2

  Rates

  Change lower rate by 1p3

  390

  220

  Change basic rate by 1p

  1,600

  1,900

  Change higher rate by 1p

  270

  440

  Allowances

  Change personal allowance by £100

  470

  600

  Change age-related personal allowances by £1004

  45

  60

  Change married couple's allowance by £l005

  140

  190

  Change age-related married couple's allowance by £1004

  12

  16

  Change aged income limit by £500

  5

  9

  Change all personal allowances by 1 per cent6

  170

  230

  Change all personal allowances by 10 per cent6

  1,700

  2,250

  Change married couple's and related allowances by 1 per cent.6

  25

  35

  Change married couple's and related allowances by 10 per cent6

  280

  360

  Lower rate band

  Increase lower rate band by 10 per cent.6

  240

  310

  Basic rate limit

  Change basic rate limit by 1 per cent.6

  55

  80

  Change basic rate limit by 10 per cent.6:

  increase (cost)

  500

  720

  decrease (yield)

  630

  890

  Allowances, lower rate band and basic rate limit

  Change all main allowances, lower rate band and basic rate limit by 1 per cent.6

  290

  380

  Change all main allowances, lower rate band and basic rate limit by 10 per cent6:

  increase (cost)

  2,800

  3,650

  decrease (yield)

  3,050

  4,000

  CORPORATION TAX7

  Change full rate by 1 percentage point

  390

  630

  Change small companies' rate by 1 percentage point8

  70

  110

  CAPITAL GAINS TAX9

  Change annual exempt amount by £500 for individuals and £250 for trustees

  0

  6

  INHERITANCE TAX9

  Change rate by 1 percentage point

  14

  31

  Increase threshold by £5,000

  14

  29

  1 The estimated revenue effects of the changes on receipts are rounded. The extent of rounding reflects the desire to avoid undue compounding of its effects when numbers are pro-rated, rather than the accuracy of the estimates.

  2 The figures for income tax changes include consequential effects on the yield of capital gains tax. Changes are assumed to take effect from April 1994.

  3 Including the effects of the change on receipts of advance corporation tax and on consequent liability to mainstream corporation tax.

  4 Allowances for those aged 65–74 and aged 75 and over.

  5 Figures include revenue effects of changing the additional personal allowance and the widow's bereavement allowances by £100.

  6 Percentage changes are calculated with reference to 1993–94 levels

  7 Assessment to corporation tax normally relates to the preceding year.

  124
  These estimates are the changes to revenue that would occur if the changed rates were applied to profits from 1 April 1993.

  8 These figures ignore effects arising from the imputation system.

  9 These changes are assumed to take effect from April 1994.

DEFENCE

  Next Steps
  Mr. Cormack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department is responding to the next steps initiative; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department's response to next steps is part of the major programme of defence management reform in train. Next steps, in line with the principles of the citizens charter, places particular emphasis on efficiency, standards of service to customers and value for money. The Ministry of Defence's support organisations provide services to internal and external customers, but their primary role is to support the operational units in their delivery of military capability. Higher standards of service and performance will enhance the overall effectiveness of our defence capability.

  Areas now under review include the Fleet Maintenance and Repair Organisation, the naval marine services organisation, RN training, Army logistic information systems, Army Engineer Services, RAF signals, and test and evaluation.

  We are increasing the scale of this. Our aim is to extend the next steps programme to all significant defence support areas. This means that we shall also consider for defence agency status the whole of the naval support organisation including the naval bases and the storage and distribution function; the recruiting, pay and some personnel systems for each of the services; those schools not already in agencies; Army individual training; significant further elements of Army logistics in the base areas and RAF logistics; the medical organisations of each service; human factors research; tri-service communications systems; the Defence lands organisation; and elements of the procurement executive.

  There is no presumption that an organisation included in this list will become an agency. This is a process which involves, inter alia, consideration of operational implications and of prior options, including privatisation and contracting out. Final decisions will be taken case-by-case if it is clear that the best solution is to retain the activity within the Ministry of Defence. Our aim is to have prepared the selected organisations for launch as defence agencies over the period to mid-1996. We expect to have completed a substantial part of the programme by mid-1995.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what means exist for the on-site treatment at AWE Aldermaston of solid radioactive wastes arising from operations at the site.

  Mr. Aitken
  Apart from limited compaction facilities, there are no facilities at AWE for the treatment of solid radioactive waste. All solid radioactive wastes are either disposed via authorised routes, such as Drigg, or stored safely and securely pending the availability of the Nirex repository.
  125
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in resolving the outstanding problems of radioactive waste management, with particular reference to the disposal of radioactive resins arising from submarine reactors, and the measurement and categorisation of plutonium contaminated material, identified at paragraph 6.9 of the 12th annual report of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee in 1991.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 13 May 1993, at column 571.

  Flag Exercises
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the squadrons whose crew have participated in flag exercises in north America since 1985, giving in each case(a) the date and name of the flag exercise and (b) the location of the squadron's work-up training prior to the exercise.

  Mr. Hanley
  Details of RAF participation in red-green flag exercises are not held centrally and information covering all of the period in question could be provided only at disproprotionate cost and effort. From 1988 however, the information requested is as follows:

  Date

  Name

  Squadrons

  October/November 1988

  89–1

  Numbers 15, 16, 17, 56, 92

  April1 1989

  89–3

  Numbers 14, 27, 617

  April 1990

  90–3

  Numbers 16, 16, 31

  April 1991

  91–3

  Numbers 1, 3, 4

  January/February 1992

  93–1

  Numbers 2, 5, 9, 11, 29, 47, 55, 617

  Details on Maple flag exercises are also not held centrally. The exercise takes place in May to June of each year, and RAF participation usually comprises either Jaguars and Harriers, which usually attend in alternate years.

  Most substantive work-up training for flag exercises takes place either in the United Kingdom or at Goose Bay in Canada.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft, and of what types, took part in the tactical leadership course at RAF Lossiemouth in May 1992; how many low-level sorties were undertaken; and how many of these were authorised down to a height of 100 ft.

  Mr. Hanley
  The tactical leadership training course held at RAF Lossiemouth in May 1992 involved eight Tornado GR1, two Tornado GR1a, six Tornado F3, four Harrier GR5, two Harrier GR7, four Buccaneer and four Hawk aircraft. Ninety-two low-level sorties were flown overland; none of them was authorised down to a height of 100 ft.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regulations are contained in Joint Services Publication 318 concerning low-level flight over areas of concentrated population and public assemblies.

  Mr. Hanley
  Joint Services Publication 318 requires that aircraft flying over areas of concentrated population do 126
  so at sufficient height to permit a safe emergency landing outside the congested area—not less than 2,000 ft above ground level for fixed-wing aircraft and 1,000 ft for helicopters. If weather or other factors mean that sufficient height cannot be maintained, such areas are to be avoided unless doing so would endanger the aircraft. Flying over any place where a large number of people are assembled is prohibited below 1,000 ft except when specially authorised, or when it is necessary to do so while carrying out the arrival or departure procedure at an airfield or heliport. These regulations do not apply to aircraft participating in air displays or flypasts, to which separate procedures apply.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to extending the system by which aircrew entering a low-flying area broadcast their presence on a common military radio frequency, in such a way as to permit civil pilots to receive such broadcasts.

  Mr. Hanley
  At present there is no system for aircrew entering a low-flying area to broadcast their presence on a common military frequency.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of days in 1992 on which the observed weather was below the minima required for military low flying at(a) RAF Tain, (b) RAF Spadeadam, (c) RAF Wainfleet and (d) Pembrey.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is not available in the format requested. The total number of hours lost in 1992 due to adverse weather at each range is, however, as follows:

  Range

  Number of hours lost

  RAF Tain

  152

  RAF Spadeadam1

  Nil

  RAF Wainfleet

  180

  RAF Pembrey

  340

  1 RAF Spadeadam is an all-weather facility.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft, and of what types, took part in the tactical leadership course(a) at RAF St. Mawgan in March and (b) at RAF Chivenor in November-December 1992; how many low-level sorties were undertaken; and how many of these were authorised down to a height of 100 ft.

  Mr. Hanley
  The tactical leadership training course held at RAF St. Mawgan in March 1993 involved six Tornado GR1, seven Tornado F3, four Buccaneer, four Sea Harrier, two Nimrod and one Sea King aircraft. Fourteen low-level sorties were flown overland. The helicopter tactics instructor course held at RAF Chivenor in November to December 1992 involved three Chinook, three Puma, two Wessex, three Harrier GR7, three Tornado GR1 and three Tornado F3 aircraft. Fifty-nine low-level sorties were flown overland, each involving two helicopters and one or two fast jets. No fixed-wing aircraft sorties were authorised down to a height of 100 ft during either course.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates and numbers of aircraft involved in training detachments of Harrier aircraft to West Freugh
  127
  since 1990; how many low-level sorties have been undertaken during these deployments; and which location is now the principal location for night low-level training for the RAF Harrier force.

  Mr. Hanley
  Training detachments of Harrier aircraft were held at West Freugh between 18 to 27 November 1991, 28 September to 2 October 1992, and 4 to 8 October 1993. Eight aircraft were deployed on each occasion. A total of 80 low-level sorties were flown during the three detachments. RAF Harrier night low-flying training is conducted throughout the UK night low-flying system.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Harrier GR7 pilots have received night low-level training at US Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona; when the training programme commenced; how many sorties are required for each pilot to qualify to fly the aircraft at low level at night; what is the minimum altitude flown during the training; how many aircraft are currently committed to the task; and what is the additional cost of carrying out this training at Yuma rather than(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) at Goose Bay, Canada.

  Mr. Hanley
  Fifteen Harrier GR7 pilots have received night low-level training at United States Marine Corps air station, Yuma. There has only been one detachment to date which took place between 13 April and 12 May 1993. Each pilot, who must already be combat ready by day, must complete a syllabus of 36 sorties in order to qualify as night combat ready. The syllabus includes a mixture of low and medium-level sorties with a minimum altitude flown of 200 ft. Twelve aircraft are currently committed to the task. The additional cost of carrying out this training at Yuma rather than the United Kingdom or Goose Bay is approximately £250,000, as the squadron pilots and groundcrew have to be accommodated commercially. There is also the opportunity cost of the air transport and tanker aircraft required to deploy and recover the aircraft.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy on the institution of disciplinary proceedings against military aircrew in respect of unpremeditated or inadvertent breaches of flying regulations which come to light as a result of reports submitted under(a) the CONDOR system, (b) the APHAZ reporting system and (c) the air miss reporting system.

  Mr. Hanley
  There is no current record of reports submitted under the CONDOR system bringing to light cases of unpremeditated or inadvertent breaches of flying regulations. To take disciplinary action in such circumstances however, directly as the result of a CONDOR report, could seriously undermine a system which depends for its success on its confidentiality and which is of great value in assisting the furtherance of flight safety in the RAF. Under the air miss and APHAZ reporting systems, where aircrew are found to have been negligent, their unit commanders will take disciplinary action under the Air Force Act. The degree of the disciplinary action depends on the nature of the breach.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the categories of incident during military aircraft flying operations which are required to be reported under the CONDOR system.
  128
  Mr. Hanley
  The confidential direct occurrence report —CONDOR—system allows aircrew and ATC personnel to report human error incidents anonymously. There are no categories of incident under the CONDOR system.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many instances of unauthorised penetration of controlled or restricted airspace in the United Kingdom by military aircraft climbing out from low level have been reported in each year since 1987.

  Mr. Hanley
  The number of reported incidents of unauthorised penetration of United Kingdom controlled and/or restricted airspace by military aircraft climbing out from low level is as follows:

  Year

  No. of incidents

  1987

  3

  1988

  6

  1989

  5

  1990

  7

  1991

  0

  1992

  4

  1993

  12

  1 To date.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations have been received since 1981 from civil aviation interests seeking relaxation of the rules prohibiting entry into the highlands restricted area.

  Mr. Hanley
  Since 1981 the national air traffic services have received 79 requests for entry into the highlands restricted area from a total of 20 civil aviation operators.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations in the United Kingdom low-flying system where flow control has been(a) introduced and (b) withdrawn since the information given by his Department to the Defence Committee inquiry into low flying in 1989–90; and if he will state in each case the direction of the required flow.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested cannot be provided without disproportionate cost and effort. In September 1993, however, the Civil Aviation Authority published a chart entitled "The Chart of UK Areas of Intense Aerial Activity (AIAA), Aerial Tactics Areas (ATA) and Military Low Flying System" showing details of all current unidirectional flow controls in the United Kingdom low-flying system. A copy of the chart will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases have occurred of unauthorised entry of aircraft into the highlands restricted area, in contravention of Statutory Instrument 1981 No. 1171; and what action was taken against the aircrew involved.

  Mr. Hanley
  Military aircraft are not subject to Statutory Instrument 1981 No. 1171.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the titles, dates and type of aircraft involved in all planned RAF participation in flag and similar air exercises in north America over the next 12 months.

  Mr. Hanley
  The aircraft planned to take part in the exercises are as follows:
  129

  Dates–1994

  Exercise

  Aircraft Type

  January/February

  Red Rag 94–2

  Tornado GR1s

  May/June

  Maple Flag

  Jaguars

  June/July

  Cope Thunder/Distant Frontier

  Tornado GR1s and F3s

  August/September

  Air Warrior

  Harriers

  October/November

  Red Flag 95–1

  Tornado GR1s and F3s

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the rules governing interception of low-flying aircraft by air defence aircraft in flow control areas of the United Kingdom low-flying system. Mr. Hanley: Where air defence aircraft intercept low-flying aircraft in flow control areas of the United Kingdom low-flying system, all aircraft must be flown in compliance with the direction of the flow control.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft, and of what types, took parl in the tactical leadership course at RAF St. Mawgan in October 1992; how many low-level sorties were undertaken; and how many of these were authorised down to a height of 100 ft.

  Mr. Hanley
  The tactical leadership training course held at RAF St. Mawgan in October 1992 involved six Tornado GR1, five Tornado F3, four Jaguar, four Buccaneer, two Hawk and two Sea Harrier aircraft. One hundred and six low-level sorties were flown overland; none of them were authorised down to a height of 100 ft.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level sorties were flown by British military aircraft in each of the 250 low-flying areas in Germany in each month in 1989.

  Mr. Hanley
  There were a total of 21,100 recorded entries by British military fixed-wing aircraft into the 250 low-flying areas in the Federal Republic of Germany during 1989. A breakdown by month and area is not available.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current requirement for Royal Navy Sea Harrier pilots to maintain qualifications to fly at less than 250 ft.

  Mr. Hanley
  There is no current requirement for Royal Navy Sea Harrier pilots to maintain qualifications to fly at less than 250 ft.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level sorties were flown over the United Kingdom by the two German Air Force Tornados which were deployed to RAF Mildenhall between 19 and 21 July; and what was the minimum authorised altitude for each sortie.

  Mr. Hanley
  No low-level sorties were flown.

  Mr.Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the purposes of the deployments of two Norwegian Air Force F16s to RAF Lakenheath(a) from 6 to 11 July and (b) from 20 to 22 July; how many low-level
  130
  sorties they undertook in the United Kingdom; and what was their minimum authorised altitude while flying in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Hanley
  The two Norwegian F16 aircraft were deployed to RAF Lakenheath to participate with USAF aircraft in air-to-air training over the North sea. The aircraft did not undertaken any low-level sorties; the minimum height at which they were authorised to fly in the United Kingdom was 2,000 ft.

  Secretariat (Air Staff) 2b
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the functions of Secretariat (Air Staff) 2b; and how many staff have been employed there in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Hanley
  Secretariat (Air Staff) 2b is responsible for advising on the policy and political aspects of the United Kingdom military low-flying system and dealing with the staffing of public complaints and inquiries about low-flying training.

  The number of staff employed in that section in each year since 1979 is:

  Year

  Number

  1979–83

  6 0

  1984

  7.5

  1985–86

  7.0

  1987–88

  8.0

  1989

  11.5

  1990

  13.5

  1991

  10.5

  1992–93

  8.5

  Note: Excludes 50 per cent, of one principal grade responsible for whole of Secretariat (Air Staff) 2 throughout the period.

  Aircraft Noise
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's research and development programmes in the areas listed in appendix II to the annex to the summary of the final report of the NATO CCMS pilot study on aircraft noise in a modern society.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department is involved in several studies to further the understanding of noise associated with military aircraft. In parallel, we continue to develop noise modelling and prediction capabilities. In collaboration with authorities in the United States and Canada we have completed initial work into the feasibility of a study to investigate the possible effects on health of noise from low-flying aircraft, and a report is being prepared. In the case of airspace management, a contract has been let to develop an automated low-flying flight planning enquiry and notification system— ALFENS.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the recommendations of the final report of the NATO CCMS pilot study of aircraft noise in a modern society.

  Mr. Hanley
  The NATO CCMS pilot study on aircraft noise was completed in 1989. A follow-up group was created the following year to implement its technical recommendations. This group exchanges information
  131
  between participating countries and encourages individual or multinational studies. The United Kingdom contributed to a major symposium on helicopter noise, sponsored by NATO CCMS and held in the USA, and is currently participating in collaborative working parties engaged in noise modelling around airports and in the investigation and modelling of helicopter noise.

  RAF Flying, Turkey
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum permitted altitude for Royal Air Force aircraft flying over Turkey.

  Mr. Hanley
  RAF aircraft do not conduct any low flying over Turkey. If low flying were carried out, however, the minimum altitude would normally be 500 ft, although flying down to 250 ft could be permitted when undertaking practice bombing runs.

  Tornado
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the minimum authorised altitudes for the flights by two German Air Force Tornados from RAF Lakenheath on the evening of 26 July.

  Mr. Hanley
  Two thousand feet.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of the deployment of Italian Air Force Tornados to RAF Honington from(a) 23–24 July 1992 and (b) 12 July to 6 August 1993; what was the date of their departure and their destination; how many low-level sorties they undertook in the United Kingdom; and what was their minimum authorised altitude while flying in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Hanley
  Italian Air Force Tornado aircraft were deployed to RAF Honington between 23 July and 7 August 1992, and between 12 July and 6 August 1993, to conduct low-flying training and use the electonic weapons training range at Spadeadam. The aircraft subsequently returned to bases in Italy. The number of low-level sorties flown during these deployments could not be provided without disproportionate cost and effort. The aircraft were athorised to operate down to 500 ft in the United Kingdom low-flying system.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what decisions have been taken concerning the viability of repairing Tornado GRI serial number ZA597 since its accident in November 1983.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Royal Air Force decided, based on an assessment carried out in 1983 on the damage incurred, that it was viable to repair the aircraft.

  Challenger 2
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to confirm the order of the second batch of Challenger 2 tanks.

  Mr. Aitken
  A number of options for equipping the Army's Challenger 1 tank regiments have been examined; these include the possibility of a further purchase of CR2 tanks. An announcement will be made as soon as a decision on the way ahead has been reached.

  Imphal Barracks, York
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the capital value at current prices of the office accommodation at Imphal barracks, York used at present by Army manning and records staff.

  Mr. Hanley
  The capital value of individual sites on the Defence estate is commercial-in-confidence. The office accommodation currently used by the manning and record office is in the centre of the Imphal barracks site and therefore has no realisable value. The intention is to find other defence uses for the office space once the MRO functions move to Glasgow.

  Naval Forces (Maintenance Payments)
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes he proposes to the provisions in the Naval Forces (Enforcement of Maintenance Liabilities) Act 1947 relating to the limitations on authorisations of deduction of maintenance from an individual's pay to cases where the service person concerned has actually attended or been represented at the court hearing.

  Mr. Hanley
  Such changes to the provisions of the Naval Forces (Enforcement of Maintenance Liabilities) Act 1947 as were deemed necessary were made in the Child Support Act 1991 (Consequential Amendments) Order 1993.

  Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will make an offer to the Government of Paraguay for a military officer to undertake a course at the Royal Military academy, Sandhurst; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Details of training provided for overseas military personnel are not normally disclosed as they are confidential between Governments.

  Devonport and Rosyth Dockyards
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what maximum level of foreign involvement in the ownership and management he envisages in the successful bidder for the ownership of Devonport and Rosyth royal dockyards.

  Mr. Aitken
  No decisions have been taken about ownership restrictions, but the Government accept the need for appropriate safeguards.

  Barracks (Tenders)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the companies which have been invited to tender for the design and construction of married service men's quarters at Redford barracks, new works for junior ranks at Redford barracks and works at Glencorse barracks; and if he will now give further consideration to the case for inviting suitable companies based in Lothian region to tender for these works.

  Mr. Hanley
  The following companies have been invited to tender for the design and construction of married service men's quarters at Redford barracks:
  133

  Tarmac Construction Ltd.

  West Lothian

  John Laing Construction Ltd.

  Edinburgh

  Wimpey Construction Ltd.

  Glasgow

  Mowlem Scotland Ltd.

  Glasgow

  Alfred McAlpine

  Glasgow

  Miller Construction

  Edinburgh

  The tender lists for the new works for Junior Ranks at Redford barracks have not been finalised.

  The following have been invited to tender for the works at Glencorse barracks:

  Hall and Tawse Scotland Ltd.

  Aberdeen

  John Laing Construction Ltd.

  Edinburgh

  M. J. Gleeson Group Pic.

  Stirling

  Balfour Beatty Construction (Scotland) Ltd.

  Edinburgh

  There are no plans to add further companies to the tender lists for married service men's quarters at Redford barracks and Glencorse barracks.

  Civil Servant Posts
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's civil servant posts have been privatised or contracted out between 1 January 1988 and 1 September 1993.

  Mr. Aitken
  A total of 9,562 MOD civil service posts have been contracted out since 1 April 1988. Figures are collected by financial year.

  Public Investment
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and have been commenced since the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  No such projects have commenced in my Department since the 1992 autumn statement. Work is, however, continuing on the proposal to establish a new non-profit-making organisation in the private sector to assume responsibility for the ownership and management of the married quarter estate in Great Britain.

  RAF East Camp, Hendon
  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who owns the narrow bridge adjacent to the Royal Air Force east camp at Hendon; what assessment he has made of the effect of the existence of this bridge on the possibility of disposing of the site; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The two bridges adjacent to the Royal Air Force east camp at Hendon are both owned by British Rail and, at present, only single-lane road traffic can pass beneath them. Employment-generating development, would be road traffic intensive and would require, inter alia, the widening of the bridges, at the prospective developer's significant expense. A use which generates a lower volume of road traffic would reduce the need for infrastructural improvements.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Discussions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what communications he has received outlining the contents of the recent discussions between the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume) and Mr. Gerry Adams; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the House on 1 November at columns 19–21.

  Archaeological Sites
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list for the last 10 years the archaeological moated grange sites that have been demolished;

  (2) if he will list the archaeological moated grange sites that are due to be lost because of planning permission approval being granted.

  Mr. Atkins
  There are no known moated grange sites in Northern Ireland.

  Bypasses
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Government plans to construct the bypass for(a) Magherafelt, (b) Cookstown, (c) Newtownstewart and (d) Omagh.

  Mr. Atkins
  Magherafelt bypass and Newtownstewart bypass are included in the Department's six to 15-year major road works programme. Whilst Cookstown eastern distributor road is not presently included in this programme, its position is currently being reviewed.

  The first stage of the Omagh throughpass was completed in 1990 while work on the second stage is programmed to start in 1995–96.

  The precise timing of all schemes is subject to future funding levels.

  Fire Certificates
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the application of the rules regarding fire certificates to Government offices in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  Fire certificates for Government offices in Northern Ireland are issued by the Department of Economic Development under the provisions of the Fire Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1984. The standards which have to be met by Government offices are identical to those which apply to offices in the private sector.

  Republic of Ireland Ministers
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next proposes to meet Ministers of the Republic of Ireland; and what topics he will discuss.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I look forward to meeting Ministers of the Republic of Ireland at the forthcoming Anglo-Irish intergovernmental conference. Discussions are likely to range over a variety of topics, including the security situation in Northern Ireland, political developments, and social and economic themes.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the level of unemployment in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  At 9 September 1993 there were 108,003 unemployed claimants in Northern Ireland—14.4 per cent. of the work force—representing a decrease of 1,388 compared with the previous month and a decrease of 2,383 compared with September 1992.

  Joy Riding
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many joy-riding road accidents have occurred in the Province leading to(a) deaths and (b) injury in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The number of road accidents involving stolen vehicles that led to deaths were as follows:

  Number

  1989

  1

  1990

  2

  1991

  4

  1992

  0

  Statistics on fatal accidents involving stolen vehicles prior to 1989 and on accidents involving stolen vehicles causing injury are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many confirmed cases of BSE were reported between 1 January 1992 and 30 September 1992 from each county in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 1 November 1993]: The information requested is as follows:

  County

  Total

  Antrim

  68

  Armagh

  10

  Down

  39

  Fermanagh

  13

  Londonderry

  29

  Tyrone

  49

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Overseas Aid
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the amount of overseas aid funding actually granted by Her Majesty's Government in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Total aid in 1980 to 1992–93 including assistance to central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union was as follows:

  £million

  1980

  966

  1981

  1,184

  1982

  1,085

  136

  £million

  1983

  1,174

  1984

  1,316

  1985

  1.324

  1986

  1,350

  1987

  1,295

  11987–88

  1,410

  1988–89

  1,616

  1989–90

  1,800

  1990–91

  1,908

  1991–92

  2,131

  21992–93

  2,391

  1 Prior to 1987–88, British Aid Statistics was produced on a calendar year basis.

  2 This figure is provisional pending publication of 1993 British Aid Statistics.

  Environment and Development Conference
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 21 October,Official Report, column 265, what was the financial contribution his Department made in support of the Partnerships for Change conference in Manchester.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Overseas Development Administration did not make a financial contribution in support of the conference.

  Paraguay
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all financial aid projects currently being made by the United Kingdom to Paraguay, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom's small aid programme to Paraguay involves technical co-operation rather than financial aid. The bulk of the programme is focused on the natural resources sector. It currently comprises the following projects:assistance with a major economic review of the livestock sub-sector;
  capability strengthening programme with Pro-Paraguay—the organisation responsible for promoting Paraguayan exports and attracting foreign investment;
  United Kingdom training programme—involving scholarships for some 14 Paraguayans annually;
  assistance in undertaking a post-census assessment survey.

  The ODA is also supporting a number of non-governmental organisation projects in Paraguay through its joint funding scheme.

EDUCATION

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received regarding changes in VAT with regard to schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Taxation policy is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Department has, however, received several letters about the implications of extending VAT to areas not currently taxed.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance he issues as to co-operation between local education authorities and the grant-maintained schools in their areas as a method of enhancing educational provision.

  Mr. Patten
  My Department has recently issued a consultation letter on co-ordinated admissions arrangements between schools and LEAs and will be looking to produce further guidance early next year. The special educational needs code of practice, issued in draft last week, emphasises co-operation between all schools and LEAs in the interests of children with special educational needs. A circular on provision for under-fives is also planned and guidance will be issued shortly on school transport.

  23. Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what additional resources are available for the expansion of popular grant-maintained schools; what are the criteria for obtaining available resources; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The popularity of schools is one of the factors taken into account, where relevant, when determining capital allocations between self-governing schools.

  In 1993–94, £56 million was distributed for capital projects in self-governing schools.

  In addition, all self-governing schools receive a pupil-based capital allocation which also provides a direct link between popularity and funding.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the number of(a) secondary and (b) primary schools which have taken on grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  A total of 514 secondary schools and 182 primary schools are now enjoying the independence that self-governing status brings. This gives a total of 696 GM schools—over three times the number that were operating on the day of the general eleciion last year. A further 16 secondary schools and 37 primary schools are already approved for self-governing status and we look forward to welcoming them to the sector in January and April next year.

  Many parents are deciding that self-governing status is right for their children's schools. In particular there has been a rapid increase in the number of primary schools opting for GM status. Over one third of all primary school ballots have taken place since 1 April this year.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many grant-maintained schools there are in each of the seven counties of the south-west; how many applications have now been approved but not yet come into effect; and how many applications are awaiting approval.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is set out in the table:

  County

  GM Schools

  Approvals

  Proposals under consideration

  Avon

  2

  —

  —

  Cornwall

  —

  —

  —

  Devon

  5

  1

  1

  138

  County

  GM Schools

  Approvals

  Proposals under consideration

  Dorset

  10

  —

  1

  Gloucestershire

  27

  2

  4

  Somerset

  2

  1

  —

  Wiltshire

  15

  1

  8

  Total

  61

  5

  14

  In addition, there are five schools in the south-west which have voted "yes" in ballots but which have yet to submit applications, all 11 schools where there are ballots pending.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have now achieved grant-maintained status; how many more schools he expects to achieve this status in the future; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  There are 696 self-governing schools in England. A further 65 are already approved for self-governing status and 118 more have application in the pipeline or ballots pending.

  Self-governing status is the best form of management for schools and we are confident that schools which have not yet taken the opportunity to embark on the GM process will do so in increasing numbers. We hope that over time all schools will become self-governing, but this will be determined by parents in ballots.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the special purpose grants—VAT —given to each grant-maintained school for each financial year since 1991–92, including the current year.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 29 October 1993]: The information is given in the table.

  Grant-maintained Schools Payments of Special Purpose Grant (VAT)

  School

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  11993–94 £

  Abbotswood Middle School

  —

  1,538

  3,846

  Abraham Darby School

  —

  —

  644

  Acle High School

  —

  1,271

  174

  Adams' Grammar School

  25,340

  28,477

  14,562

  Alcester Grammar School

  —

  —

  5,613

  Alder Coppice Primary

  —

  —

  266

  Aldridge School

  —

  —

  947

  All Hallows RC School

  —

  —

  29,619

  All Saints CE Primary School

  —

  —

  188

  All Saints CE Primary School

  —

  —

  754

  All Saints RC School

  —

  —

  4,484

  Aloeric School

  —

  671

  1,250

  Alperton High School

  —

  —

  1.283

  Andoversford Primary School

  —

  —

  196

  Anglo European School

  —

  —

  437

  Appleby Grammar School

  —

  —

  2,708

  Applemore Technology School

  —

  —

  296

  Archbishop Temple School

  —

  —

  16,026

  Archbishop Tenision's School

  —

  —

  18,947

  Amewood School

  —

  8,615

  15,945

  Ashton on Mersey School

  —

  —

  2,474

  Ashton St. Peters Lower

  —

  —

  595

  Atherstone Upper

  —

  3,889

  —

  Audenshaw High School

  2,758

  9,897

  4,878

  Aylesford School

  —

  —

  5,082

  Bacup and Rawenstall Grammar School

  7,392

  10,158

  6,093

  Baines School

  —

  38,201

  20,060

  Balcarras School

  —

  1,659

  1,590

  Bankfield High School

  —

  —

  1,240

  139

  School

  1991–92£

  1992–93£

  11993–94£

  Barnehurst Infants School

  —

  2,344

  1,065

  Barnehurst Junior School

  —

  1,652

  894

  Barton Court Grammar School

  —

  —

  575

  Bay House Grant-Maintained School

  —

  —

  1,365

  Beacon School

  —

  17,644

  9,220

  Beanfield Junior School

  —

  —

  270

  Beaverwood School for Girls

  —

  11,388

  1,598

  Beechen Cliff School

  8,878

  13,350

  7,124

  Beechview Middle School

  —

  —

  1,280

  Belmont Primary School

  —

  6,257

  3,366

  Bexley Erith Technical Boys School

  —

  —

  261

  Bingley Grammar School

  28,102

  51,517

  26,162

  Bishop Stanford's School

  —

  619

  4,260

  Bishop Thomas Grant School

  —

  —

  32,176

  Bishopshalt School

  9,083

  21,291

  —

  Blessed Edward Oldcorne RC High School

  —

  —

  3,134

  Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic High School

  —

  —

  2,775

  Blue Coat CE Grant-Maintained School

  —

  —

  1,551

  Bohunt Community School

  —

  —

  336

  Borough Green Primary School

  —

  1,652

  1,314

  Borrow Wood Junior School

  —

  1,550

  660

  Bourne Primary School

  2,928

  5,599

  2,768

  Bournemouth Girls School

  —

  3,612

  1,537

  Bournemouth Grammar School

  16,820

  3,375

  3,888

  Brampton Junior School

  —

  —

  140

  Branston School and Community College

  —

  —

  1,355

  Bromfords School, Wickford

  —

  —

  4,014

  Bromsgrove CE Middle School

  —

  —

  1,642

  Bruton Primary School

  —

  2,503

  1,932

  Bullers Wood School for Girls

  12,802

  18,004

  1,689

  Burgate School

  3,884

  10,817

  2,907

  Burntwood School

  3,089

  23,091

  3,421

  Bushey Hall School

  —

  —

  18

  Bushey Meads GM School

  —

  —

  4,638

  Caistor School

  4,418

  8,625

  4,580

  Calday Grange Grammar School

  —

  —

  5,742

  Calmore GM Middle School

  —

  —

  1,005

  Canon Slade School

  —

  —

  41,139

  Cardinal Griffin RC School

  —

  —

  3,240

  Cardinal Hinsley High School

  —

  —

  3,862

  Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School

  47,613

  54,179

  28,038

  Carre's Grammar School

  21,790

  26,897

  —

  Cartmel Priory CE School

  —

  —

  1,308

  Castle Hall GM School

  —

  6,421

  4,113

  Castle Hills School, Gainsborough

  —

  6,169

  6,652

  Castlefield Combined School

  —

  —

  88

  Castleview Combined School

  —

  —

  594

  Chalvedon School

  —

  4,724

  5,136

  Chapel St. Leonards County Primary School

  —

  —

  154

  Charlton School

  —

  —

  338

  Charville Primary School

  —

  —

  683

  Chatham Grammar School

  —

  2,096

  3,579

  Chellaston Junior School

  —

  —

  157

  Chelmer Valley High School

  —

  —

  7

  Chelmsford County High School

  —

  2,844

  1,287

  Cheltenham Boumside School and Sixth Form Centre

  —

  —

  327

  Chipping Camden School

  —

  2,819

  6,570

  Chosen Hill School

  —

  2,978

  7,104

  Christ Church CE JMI School, Chorley

  —

  7,757

  3,930

  Churchdown School

  —

  10,051

  7,410

  Cirencester Deer Park School

  —

  —

  668

  Clacton High School

  —

  —

  502

  Claremont High School

  2,163

  10,615

  4,098

  Cliff Park High School

  —

  —

  2,880

  Clifford First School

  —

  1,044

  1,650

  Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

  29,006

  50,917

  29,433

  Colchester Royal Grammar

  —

  —

  1,043

  140

  School

  1991–92£

  1992–93£

  11993–94£

  Collingtree CE Primary School

  —

  —

  163

  Colyton Grammar School

  7,723

  13,281

  542

  Convent of Jesus and Mary

  —

  —

  13,786

  Coopers Company and Coborn

  —

  —

  33,776

  Coopers School, Chislehurst

  8,264

  17,911

  7,710

  Copland Community

  —

  2,577

  —

  Coppins Green School

  —

  —

  238

  Corbet GM School

  —

  —

  3,780

  Cranbrook School

  9,703

  43,045

  21,753

  Cranwell County Primary

  —

  —

  257

  Crompton Fold Primary School

  —

  1,803

  1,995

  Crossgates Primary School

  —

  —

  256

  Crosshall Infant School

  —

  1,262

  1,941

  Crosshall Junior School

  —

  346

  789

  Crossley Heath School

  34,283

  36,722

  19,324

  Crypt School

  —

  254

  —

  Dallam School

  —

  —

  17,774

  Dame Alice Owens School

  —

  —

  32,607

  Danesholme Junior School

  —

  —

  1,248

  Dartford Grammar School

  6,043

  10,743

  6,042

  Dartford Grammar School for Girls

  —

  8,601

  4,188

  Davenant Foundation School

  —

  —

  27,888

  Deacon's School

  —

  —

  1,761

  Deanery Infant School

  —

  —

  815

  Deanery Junior School

  —

  —

  857

  Deanes School

  —

  17,848

  —

  Dereham Church VA First School

  —

  5,812

  3,044

  Dollis Junior School

  —

  —

  625

  Downham Market High School

  —

  19,394

  10,746

  Downton CE VC Primary School

  —

  —

  384

  Ecclesboume School

  26,583

  35,320

  19,323

  Ellen Wilkinson High School

  —

  8,427

  3,522

  Elliott School

  —

  16,574

  2,585

  Elmwood Primary School

  —

  4,688

  1,920

  Epsom and Ewell High School

  —

  8,727

  4,536

  Ermine School

  —

  2,291

  1,422

  Ethelburga Primary School

  —

  1,005

  1,058

  Fairfield High School For Girls

  —

  —

  680

  Fallibroome High School

  —

  —

  1,816

  Finchley Catholic High

  —

  —

  4,675

  Frances Bardsley School

  —

  —

  8

  Francis Bacon

  —

  1,640

  —

  Gartree School

  —

  162

  188

  George Spencer School

  —

  —

  5,064

  Glyn School

  1,684

  5,592

  7,728

  Gordon's School

  4,512

  19,254

  9,559

  Graveney School

  10,462

  17,771

  7,323

  Great Barr School

  —

  20,203

  4,822

  Great Totham County Primary School

  —

  —

  309

  Greenford High School

  —

  3,567

  1,429

  Greenwood Dale School

  —

  —

  1,936

  Gresham County Primary

  651

  2,231

  1,092

  Guildford County Secondary School

  —

  —

  371

  Gumley House Convent School

  —

  —

  28,140

  Gunnersbury Catholic School

  —

  —

  27,606

  Hall Green School

  —

  —

  1,476

  Hamilton Combined School

  —

  —

  786

  Handsworth Grammar School for Boys

  36,135

  43,037

  22,390

  Hanson GM School

  —

  —

  2,516

  Harraby School

  —

  —

  5,814

  Hartshill School

  3

  1,490

  4,126

  Hatchford Primary School

  —

  786

  5,025

  Haydon School

  —

  4,996

  2,004

  Hayton CE Primary School

  —

  2,577

  1,308

  Heacham Middle School

  980

  2,229

  1,014

  Heanor Gate School

  —

  —

  1,333

  Heckmondwike Grammar School

  12,229

  12,636

  5,922

  Henbury County High School

  —

  —

  624

  Hendon School

  12,299

  17,085

  8,794

  Heme Bay Junior School

  —

  —

  188

  Herschel Grammar School

  —

  866

  1,038

  Hertingfordbury School

  —

  1,957

  3,054

  Highams Park School

  7,680

  378

  5,013

  141

  School

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  11993–94 £

  Highcliffe Comprehensive School

  —

  199

  258

  Hillbrook Primary School

  —

  —

  4,042

  Hillside Infant School

  —

  —

  9

  Hillside Junior School

  —

  —

  88

  Hillview School For Girls

  —

  —

  1,554

  Holland Park Primary

  —

  —

  489

  Hollinsclough CE Primary School

  —

  —

  75

  Holly Hall School

  —

  —

  129

  Holy Cross CE Junior School

  —

  —

  236

  Holy Cross Convent School

  —

  —

  19,832

  Holy Family Combined School

  —

  2,835

  6,423

  Holy Innocents RC Primary School

  —

  2,338

  4,776

  Holy Trinity

  —

  —

  6,819

  Holy Trinity CE Middle School

  —

  —

  199

  Holy Trinity CE Senior School

  —

  —

  19,081

  Hordle CE GM Primary School

  —

  —

  414

  Huttoft County Primary School

  —

  —

  219

  Jews Free School

  —

  —

  7,565

  John Fisher School

  10,229

  41,184

  21,481

  John Paul II RC School

  —

  —

  18,847

  John Port School

  —

  —

  10,125

  Katharine Lady Berkeley School

  —

  1,220

  2,700

  Katherine's Primary School

  —

  676

  1,014

  Kettleshulme CE Primary School

  —

  2,445

  1,075

  Killinghall First School

  —

  —

  714

  King Edward VIAston School

  —

  —

  17,994

  King Edward VI Camp Hill Boys School

  —

  —

  19,028

  King Edward VI Camp Hill Girls School

  —

  —

  18,276

  King Edward VI Five Ways School

  —

  —

  19,286

  King Edward VI G School, Chelmsford

  —

  38,694

  2,766

  King Edward VI Grammar School, Lines

  32,371

  20,893

  1,234

  King Edward VI Handsworth School

  —

  —

  23,616

  King Harold School

  —

  —

  171

  King John School

  12,310

  —

  122

  Kingsley Park Middle School

  —

  —

  2,229

  Kirkbie Kendal School

  27,857

  51,592

  26,520

  La Retraite School

  12,550

  43,789

  22,851

  La Sainte Union Convent School

  —

  —

  5,261

  Lacey Gardens Junior School

  —

  —

  4,090

  Lady Elizabeth Hastings CE Primary School

  —

  —

  259

  Lady Manners School

  —

  —

  2,276

  Lancaster Girls Grammar School

  11,269

  14,901

  7,032

  Lancaster Royal Grammar School

  43,674

  48,885

  25,572

  Lavington School

  —

  3,690

  3,014

  Lincoln Christ's Hospital School

  15,158

  68,201

  34,528

  Lincroft Middle School

  —

  —

  1,229

  Linton Primary

  —

  —

  472

  Lodge Park School

  —

  —

  1,332

  London Oratory School

  93,471

  99,710

  53,360

  Lowbourne GM Infants School

  —

  —

  348

  Lowbourne Junior School

  —

  —

  187

  Lynn Grove VC High School

  —

  —

  1,158

  Magdalen CE/Meth Primary School

  2,079

  —

  454

  Malcolm Sargent County Primary School

  —

  —

  1,726

  Marling School

  17,642

  20,015

  10,146

  Marshland High School

  —

  27,412

  10,560

  Mellow Lane School

  —

  7,690

  1,749

  Mill Hill County School

  —

  11,691

  9,134

  Millbrook Infant School

  —

  —

  79

  Millbrook Junior School

  —

  —

  158

  Monks' Dyke High School

  —

  1,703

  3,210

  Montagu School

  —

  —

  408

  Motram St. Andrew Primary

  —

  —

  211

  Moulton Primary School

  3,879

  6,449

  3,237

  Myton School

  —

  2,811

  2,020

  Netherthorpe School

  38,301

  42,664

  16,650

  Newent Community School

  —

  —

  1,398

  142

  School

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  11993–94 £

  Newlands Spring Primary School

  —

  70

  645

  Newport Free Grammar School

  —

  —

  2,881

  Newstead Wood School

  —

  6,278

  2,400

  Newton CE School

  5,410

  9,566

  4,978

  Nicholas Breakspear RC School

  —

  —

  4,137

  Nonsuch High School for Girls

  7,541

  23,448

  9,065

  North Rauceby Primary School

  —

  1,565

  1,096

  Northampton School for Boys

  —

  —

  3,760

  Northlands Junior School

  —

  —

  5

  Northwick Park County Infant School

  —

  —

  506

  Northwood School

  —

  8,283

  1,605

  Norwich Road School

  —

  5,204

  2,822

  Notre Dame High School

  —

  —

  3,286

  Notre Dame School

  —

  —

  4,095

  Oak Farm Infant School

  —

  1,453

  2,493

  Oak Farm Junior School

  —

  2,734

  2,940

  Oakington Manor Primary School

  —

  —

  709

  Oaklands RC Comprehensive School

  —

  —

  4,792

  Old Swinford Hospital

  30,675

  33,108

  16,764

  Oldfield School

  —

  1,474

  2,260

  Orton Wistow Primary School

  —

  —

  153

  Osidge Primary School

  —

  —

  97

  Overstone School

  —

  295

  —

  Parkside First School

  —

  2,027

  1,176

  Parkstone Grammar School, Poole

  0

  7,440

  4,848

  Parmiters School

  30,333

  57,055

  29,076

  Pate's Grammar School

  48,033

  47,881

  24,738

  Pittville School

  —

  —

  89

  Poole Technical High School

  —

  —

  1,947

  Priory Combined School

  —

  292

  1,356

  Queen Elizabeth Grammar School

  6,862

  5,875

  4,526

  Queen Elizabeth GM GS, Alford

  17,939

  21,883

  —

  Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Horn

  —

  5,878

  2,386

  Queen Elizabeth's GM School for Boys

  33,923

  35,738

  18,012

  Queen Elizabeth's School

  —

  —

  3,043

  Queen Mary's Grammar School

  —

  —

  2,698

  Queen Mary's High School

  —

  —

  2,824

  Queens School

  —

  —

  6,378

  Raines Foundation School

  30,331

  58,544

  33,498

  Rainsford School

  —

  —

  3,963

  Rastrick High School

  —

  —

  25,692

  Ravensdale Middle School

  —

  3,009

  2,068

  Reading School

  5.980

  4,710

  3,843

  Redgate Middle School, Hunstanton

  195

  2,270

  1,038

  Richard Challoner School

  —

  —

  19,716

  Rickmansworth School

  —

  —

  1,329

  Ringwood Comprehensive School

  —

  —

  5,736

  Robert Kett Middle School

  —

  2,935

  808

  Robert Napier School, Gillingham

  —

  1,120

  1,284

  Robert Pattinson School

  —

  4,389

  1,284

  Robinswood Primary School

  —

  4,139

  2,205

  Rolph CE VA Primary School

  —

  —

  3,249

  Roseacre Junior School

  —

  —

  261

  Roseberry School, Epsom

  —

  16,459

  11,090

  Rugby High School for Girls

  —

  —

  353

  Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School

  —

  —

  3,610

  Saffron Walden High School

  —

  —

  18,398

  Saintbridge School

  —

  2,643

  5,592

  Salesian College

  —

  11,375

  19,236

  Salterlee Primary School

  —

  1,467

  948

  Salvatorian College

  —

  —

  2,575

  Scotby CE Primary School

  —

  3,088

  3,516

  Send-CE First School

  0

  957

  660

  Sexey's School

  12,686

  33,341

  16,260

  Shambrook Upper School

  —

  —

  612

  Sheldon School

  —

  —

  1,350

  Shenington CE Primary School

  —

  —

  1,572

  Simon Langton Boys' Grammar School

  7,885

  —

  35,208

  Sir John Gleed Girls High School

  —

  7,598

  5,906

  Sir Roger Man wood's School

  —

  19,930

  18,372

  143

  School

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  11993–94 £

  Skegness Grammar School

  13,113

  17,506

  8,650

  Small Heath School

  2,944

  —

  —

  Smithy Bridge Primary School

  —

  —

  2,094

  Snodland CE Primary School

  —

  —

  801

  South Wooton School

  —

  300

  404

  Southend Girls High School

  —

  —

  3,180

  Southern) High School for Boys

  —

  —

  561

  Southfields School

  —

  —

  840

  Spalding County Primary School

  —

  —

  203

  St. Andrew's CE Primary School

  —

  —

  2,904

  St. Andrew's CE Primary School (Hill)

  —

  —

  811

  St. Andrew's CE Primary School (Lincoln)

  —

  —

  229

  St. Augustine's RC High School

  14,641

  29,722

  20,355

  St. Augustine's School

  —

  —

  15,530

  St. Bartholomew's School

  43,802

  19,899

  —

  St. Bede's School

  —

  —

  11,019

  St. Benedict's RC School

  —

  —

  2,248

  St. Bemadette Junior School

  —

  4,287

  4,878

  St. Boniface's College

  —

  —

  19,856

  St. Botolph's CE Primary School

  —

  —

  728

  St. Catherine's RC for Girls

  —

  —

  3,170

  St. Clare's RC Primary School

  —

  —

  692

  St. Clements High School

  —

  —

  1,997

  St. Columba's RC Boys School

  —

  —

  20,523

  St. Edmunds RC Comprehensive

  —

  —

  2,977

  St. Francesca Cabrini RC Primary

  —

  —

  10,826

  St. Francis RC Primary School

  —

  —

  866

  St. Francis Xavier's College

  54,629

  64,784

  33,132

  St. George's CE School, Gravesend

  30,253

  56,959

  29,358

  St. George's RC School

  —

  9,067

  2,779

  St. George's School

  6,980

  —

  2,468

  St. Giles CE Primary School

  —

  —

  384

  St. Gregory RC Primary School

  —

  —

  6,741

  St. Gregory's Catholic Comp School

  3,233

  24,789

  St. Helen's Primary School Bluntisham

  —

  —

  792

  St. James CE Primary

  —

  —

  4,100

  St. James' CE School Bolton

  33,437

  39,535

  21,696

  St. John Fisher RC (VA) Primary School

  —

  —

  637

  St. John Fisher RC Comp

  —

  —

  3,161

  St. John Fisher, Chatham

  —

  —

  30,960

  St. John Rigby School

  —

  12,897

  26,777

  St. John the Baptist School, Woking

  17,648

  38,768

  20,438

  St. John's School

  —

  —

  802

  St. Joseph's RC Primary School

  —

  —

  7,962

  St. Josephs College

  —

  —

  5,528

  St. Katherine's CE VA Primary School

  —

  —

  735

  St. Laurence CE Junior School

  —

  —

  757

  St. Martin In The Field High School

  —

  —

  3,373

  St. Martin's School

  —

  —

  4,161

  St. Mary and St. Joseph's School

  —

  —

  19,371

  St. Mary's CE High School

  —

  —

  5,070

  St. Mary's CE Primary School

  —

  —

  589

  St. Mary's RC Primary School

  1,548

  7,485

  3,816

  St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School

  —

  —

  3,185

  St. Michael's RC School

  —

  —

  3,668

  St. Michaels School

  —

  —

  3,343

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

  —

  9,944

  20,045

  St. Osyth CE Primary School

  —

  —

  797

  St. Paul's RC Primary School

  —

  —

  1,335

  St. Paul's School

  —

  —

  19,966

  St. Peter and St. Paul RC High School

  —

  —

  2,104

  St. Peter's RC Primary School

  —

  —

  1,305

  St. Philomena's School

  —

  —

  23,831

  St. Simon Stock School

  —

  12,133

  24,435

  144

  School

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  11993–94 £

  St. Thomas More High School For Boys

  —

  12,105

  2,545

  St. Thomas More RC Primary School

  —

  —

  616

  St. Thomas More RC School

  —

  37,211

  34,766

  St. Thomas More School

  —

  —

  7,352

  St. Thomas the Apostle School

  —

  —

  3,513

  St. Walburga's RC Primary School

  —

  —

  7,215

  St. Wilfrid's CE High School

  —

  —

  6,336

  St. Gregorys RC High

  —

  —

  6,346

  Stanground College

  —

  —

  6,717

  Stoneleigh First School

  —

  2,629

  444

  Stroud High School

  15,196

  18,907

  9,600

  Studley High School

  —

  —

  558

  Takeley Primary

  —

  —

  80

  Teign School

  —

  —

  3,406

  Tewkesbury School

  —

  1,145

  264

  The Appleton School

  —

  —

  100

  The Archbishop School

  —

  19,775

  16,737

  The Boswells School

  —

  4,767

  792

  The Canterbury School

  —

  8,163

  5,832

  The Chalfonts School

  —

  1,262

  1,046

  The Douay Martyrs School

  —

  —

  35,457

  The Fairfax School

  —

  —

  1,147

  The GS For Girls, Wilmington

  810

  —

  —

  The Hedley Walter School

  —

  —

  201

  The Holy Family RC School

  —

  —

  677

  The John Henry Newman School

  —

  —

  4,355

  The King's School

  —

  12,070

  15,157

  The Kings School Grantham

  39,158

  15,413

  5,248

  Latymer School

  —

  —

  5,944

  The Leventhorpe School

  —

  —

  1,433

  The Pingle School

  —

  —

  1,948

  The Priory Primary School

  —

  740

  2,066

  The Skinner's School

  —

  36,577

  18,969

  The St. Thomas Becket School

  —

  —

  3,494

  Thomas More GM School

  —

  —

  2,994

  Thomas Whitehead CE School

  —

  7,744

  4,011

  Thornton School

  —

  —

  3,150

  Tiffin School

  —

  8,028

  4,690

  Torquay Boys Grammar School

  —

  4,788

  4,770

  Trinity School

  —

  14,868

  22,960

  Tumham Primary School

  —

  1,449

  5,244

  Warwick Bridge Primary School

  —

  —

  103

  Watford Boys Grammar School

  4,745

  —

  3,789

  Watford Girls Grammar School

  —

  —

  2,986

  Weavers School

  —

  2,535

  5,280

  West Hatch High School

  —

  —

  291

  West Hill School

  —

  —

  6,366

  Westborough School

  —

  924

  —

  Westcliffe High School for Girls

  —

  7,182

  7,305

  Westcliffe High School for Boys

  6,078

  11,616

  2,100

  Westlands High School

  —

  —

  657

  Wheatfields Junior School

  —

  1,106

  906

  Whitelocke Infant and Nursery School

  —

  —

  486

  Wibsey School

  —

  —

  593

  William Alvey CE Junior School

  —

  6,373

  2,742

  William Farr CE School

  —

  2,276

  1,444

  William Gilbert Endowed

  —

  —

  619

  William Robertson School

  —

  —

  89

  Wilsons School

  37,749

  42,599

  21,793

  Winchcombe Community School

  —

  —

  443

  Windmill Primary School

  —

  —

  60

  Wirral Grammar School for Boys

  —

  —

  2,953

  Wold Newton Primary School

  428

  650

  324

  Wolverhampton Girls High School

  15,851

  16,598

  8,752

  Wood End First School

  —

  720

  1,363

  Wood End Middle School

  —

  364

  590

  Woodnewton Way Junior School

  0

  0

  894

  Woodroffe School

  5,499

  11,070

  5,861

  Wrenn School

  —

  2,565

  7,974

  Yarborough High School

  2,406

  3,685

  6,630

  Yattendon Middle School

  —

  —

  156

  1 Payments from 1 April to 30 September 1993

  Education Standards
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he last discussed education standards with Mr. Tim Brighouse or Mr. Roy Pryke.

  Mr. Patten
  I have held no recent discussions with Mr. Brighouse or Mr. Pryke about their views on educational standards. I am, however, familiar with their work.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effects of cuts in section 11 funding on the educational opportunities of ethnic groups.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Provision for the education of pupils from ethnic groups is primarily a matter for schools and local education authorities. There have been no cuts this year in section 11 funding. The Department will monitor the effects of the reduction in the rate of support for future years through the Office for Standards in Education.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his latest estimate of the proportion of four-year-olds in local authority nursery educational classes.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  In 1992, 13 per cent. of four-year-olds in England attended LEA nursery schools or classes, either full or part time. However, if those attending infant classes are also included, this proportion is 82 per cent.

  Further Education Grants
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the working of the system of discretionary grants for further education.

  Mr. Boswell
  The provision of discretionary awards is a matter for local education authorities. A national survey of LEA discretionary awards—supported by the Department—is in progress. Early results show numbers of awards and total spending above the levels of three years previously.

  School Repairs
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his estimate of the capital spending required to ensure that all schools in England are brought into good repair and condition; and how much he expects will be spent on this purpose in the current year.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his latest estimate of the amount needed to bring all schools in England to a satisfactory state of maintenance.

  Mr. Forth
  An estimate based on the 1986 survey of school buildings suggested that some £2 billion at 1990 prices was required to remedy deficiencies in school buildings. We estimate that over £4.5 billion will have 146
  been spent on schools in the years since, much of it in meeting the deficiencies identified. We forecast that about £760 million will be spent in the current year alone.

  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from the Manchester Education Committee relating to the funding of school repairs; and what plans he has to visit the city in the near future.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit the city in the near future. I shall, however, be seeing a delegation from the education committee on 8 November to hear their concerns about the level of funding of school repairs.

  A-levels
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has had requesting that A-levels be abolished or diluted.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend receives a wide range of representations about GCE A-levels. GCE A-levels will remain a key part of our strategy to provide high-quality qualifications for students at 16 and beyond and we are committed to maintaining their standards and rigour. Considerable progress is also being made in implementing vocational A-levels.

  Examination Results
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will alter the regulations relating to the publication of examination results league tables to allow the inclusion of results of children who take examinations early.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The results of pupils who took GCSE examinations earlier than usual will be included in this year's secondary school performance tables, provided that the pupils concerned were in the relevant age cohort and attending secondary schools in January 1993. The results of pupils who took GEC A-levels or AS examinations one year earlier than usual will also be included, in both the secondary school and the 16 to 18 performance tables.

  National Funding
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he is giving to introduce a system of national funding for primary and secondary education.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Within the resources available to them and the priorities they set, it is for each local education authority to determine the funding of the primary and secondary schools which it maintains. The Government are in the process of consulting on the gradual introduction of a common funding formula for self-governing—grant-maintained—schools from 1 April 1994.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received over the effects of the standard spending assessments on the standard of education; and if he will make a statement.
  147
  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations in the course of the current review of SSA methodology and he is considering these with care. The standard of education in any local education authority will depend, however, on a variety of factors, including the authority's own spending priorities.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received concerning the current review of education standard spending assessments; what plans he has to change the criteria used when establishing education standard spending assessments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has received various representations from local education authorities and others about the current review of education standard spending assessments. That review has been based on extensive statistical analyses. We shall weigh the evidence carefully before reaching final decisions and propose changes where the evidence strongly supports such changes.

  Literacy and Basic Skills
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement about the new initiatives being undertaken by the adult literacy and basic skills unit.

  Mr. Boswell
  The adult literacy and basic skills Unit is currently developing a new family literacy initiative, for which my right hon. Friend has announced funding of £250,000 in the current financial year. Family literacy programmes will help parents with literacy difficulties to improve their own literacy skills and at the same time to support the development of their children's literacy skills.

  National Curriculum
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received concerning his latest proposals for English in the national curriculum.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has received few such representations, since consultation on the proposals was carried out by the National Curriculum Council and responses were properly addressed to that body. NCC's report of the consultation was published last week by the new School Curriculum and Assessment Authority, the successor body to the NCC.

  Book Prices
  Mr. Boyce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the impact of a rise in the price of books on reading standards among children.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend lacks the basis on which to attempt such an estimate. There is no reliable evidence bearing on the relationship between book prices and the reading standards achieved by children.

  Nursery Education
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many primary schools that have submitted proposals for grant-maintained status offer nursery provision; and what proportion this is of all applicants.
  148
  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information is not readily available in the form requested. Some 20 of the current GM primary schools have designated nursery classes.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education in how many student loans due for repayment the income level is below the threshold necessary for repayment.

  Mr. Boswell
  This is a matter for the Student Loans Company. I will ask the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what changes have been made in relation to repayment of student loans since their inception; in how many cases it has been necessary to take action to secure repayment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  Standard repayment arrangements remain unchanged. The number of borrowers against whom the Student Loans Company has taken action is a matter for the company. I will ask the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans exist for provision in the national curriculum for pupils in Great Britain to be given increased awareness of Northern Ireland matters.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The implementation of the national curriculum for England and Wales is already providing for pupils to learn about the history and culture of Northern Ireland.

  School Inspections
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the(a) inspections carried out and (b) reports presented by (i) Her Majesty's inspectorate since January 1992 and (ii) Ofsted to date.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The new Government Department Ofsted—the Office for Standards in Education—was created on 1 September 1992. All inspections carried out by HMI or reports published since that date are a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Professor Sutherland to write to the hon. Member.

  Prior to 1 September 1992, HMI was a member of this Department. HMI undertook a variety of types of inspection visit to schools and other educational institutions. Not all of these inspections were planned to lead to published reports. In the period January to August 1992 HMI published over 180 reports. I have placed a copy of the list of these reports in the Library.

  Single-sex Education
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to increase the availability of single-sex education in the state sector.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Responsibility for the provision of school places, including provision for single-sex education, lies with local education authorities and, from 1 April, the Funding Agency for Schools.

  Fitzherbert School, Brighton
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what price the former Fitzherbert school site in Brighton has been sold.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I understand from the CTC Trust, which is the beneficial owner of this site, that negotiations for its sale are continuing.

  School Meals and Milk
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a table showing net expenditure on school meals and milk in each year since 1978–79 in cash and constant prices.

  Mr. Forth
  The latest information on expenditure on school meals and milk by local education authorities in England is given in the table.

  LEA expenditure on school meals and milk

  (£ million)

  Year

  Expenditure (Cash)

  Expenditure (1992–93 prices)

  1979–80

  422

  1,012

  1980–81

  397

  804

  1981–82

  396

  732

  1982–83

  411

  709

  1983–84

  426

  702

  1984–85

  428

  671

  1985–86

  436

  649

  1986–87

  457

  659

  1987–88

  443

  60S

  1988–89

  376

  479

  1989–90

  379

  453

  1990–91

  384

  425

  1991–92

  407

  421

  Figures for 1978–79 are not readily available in the form requested.

  Local Education Authorities
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many local education authority reorganisation proposals are presently being considered by his Department; and how many have been waiting for his decision(a) up to three months, (b) between three and six months, (c) between six and nine months, (d) between nine and 12 months and (e) in excess of 12 months.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  At 1 November, 107 proposals published under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 were under consideration. Of these, 56 have been waiting a decision for up to three months, 32 for between three and six months, 11 for between six and nine months, two for between nine and 12 months and six for in excess of 12 months.

  Among the reasons for delay is the need for greater information, consideration of an LEA's capital bid or the need to give simultaneous consideration to related GM applications.

  Public Investment
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and have been commenced since the 1992 autumn statement.
  150
  Mr. Boswell
  The Department does not normally fund capital projects on its own behalf. Borrowing approval or capital grant is made available to local authorities, schools, colleges and institutions of higher education.

  The reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Worcestershire (Mr. Forth) on 17 December 1992, Official Report, column 347, to my right hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge and Mailing (Sir J. Stanley) set out the Department's role in supporting the introduction of private finance in schools, further and higher education. The Department is firmly committed to expanding the scope for the use of private finance in education and is currently exploring ways of doing so.

  Funding
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a table showing the projected expenditure for each year to 1995–96, in 1992–93 prices for (i) the Further Education Funding Council, (ii) the Higher Education Funding Council and (iii) the Funding Agency for Schools.

  Mr. Boswell
  The figures requested for the bodies concerned are shown in the table:

  £ million 1992–93 prices

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Further Education Funding Council (FEFC)

  2,630

  2,699

  2,792

  Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)

  2,709

  2,733

  2,634

  Funding Agency for Schools (FAS)

  2,500

  4,500

  The figures for the FEFC and the HEFCE are for planned recurrent and capital grant to those councils, including provision for the councils' own running costs, as shown in the 1993 departmental report (Cm 2210), deflated to 1992–93 prices using the GDP deflators published in the March 1993 Budget statement. The HEFCE figures have been increased to take account of the shift from tuition fees to HEFCE grant in 1993–94.

  The Funding Agency for Schools is to be established on 1 April 1994. The figures shown above are based on current assumptions about its further expenditure, which will be dependent on the numbers and size of self-governing—grant-maintained—schools and on the grant regime, which will be the subject of regulations. Part of the expenditure will be recouped from local education authorities. The figure include expenditure on the FAS's running costs.

SCOTLAND

  Joy Riding
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many joy-riding road accidents have occurred in Scotland leading to(a) deaths and (b) injury in each of the past five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  New Town Development Corporations
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the total gross public spending for each year since 1987–88 and the projected expenditure for each year to 1995–96, in 1992–93 prices, for the new town development corporations.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information is as follows:

  £ million

  1987–88

  155

  1988–89

  154

  1989–90

  171

  1990–91

  173

  1991–92

  137

  1992–93

  115

  1993–94 plans

  128

  1994–95 plans

  119

  1995–96 plans

  108

  Higher Education
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing whether the public have a statutory right to(a) attend all board or committee meetings, (b) inspect the minutes of meetings, (c) inspect the annual reports, (d) inspect the annual accounts and (e) inspect a register of members' interests of the newly established Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council operates fully in accordance with the citizens charter ideals of openness, accessibility and accountability. The information requested is as follows:

  (a) No.

  (b) No. An outline of key decisions is issued to higher education institutions and other bodies following each council meeting. Proposals are issued in consultation papers, of which there have been 17 to date, and decisions in circular letters, of which there were 15 in 1992 and 55 so far in 1993.

  (c) and (d) Yes. The council will publish an annual report and accounts as well as its corporate plan and operational plan.

  (e) No. There is no formal register of members' interests. Biographical details of the membership were issued at the time of appointment and are given in a recent council bulletin—copies of which are available from the funding council.

  Moated Grange Sites
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the archaeological moated grange sites that are due to be lost because of planning permission approval being granted;

  (2) if he will list for the last 10 years the archaeological moated grange sites that have been demolished.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The subject of the questions relates to matters undertaken by Historic Scotland. I have asked its chief executive, Mr Graeme Munro, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Graeme N. Munro to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 2 November 1993:
  Sir Hector Monro MP, the Minister for Agriculture and Environment at The Scottish Office, has asked me to reply to your two recent Parliamentary Questions about archaeological moated grange sites.
  152
  You asked if the Secretary of State would list such sites that have been demolished in the last 10 years and that are due to be lost because of planning permission approval being granted. Moated granges are very rare in Scotland. Historic Scotland is not aware of any that have been demolished over the last 10 years nor of any which are due to be lost because of planning permission having been granted.
  If you have concerns about specific moated sites in Scotland I would be pleased to know about them.

  Woodland Access (Grants)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what Government grants are available to encourage private woodland owners to provide public access to their land; how many such grants have been made in the past 10 years; and in respect of which pieces of land these grants have been made.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 26 October 1993]: The community woodland supplement, which was introduced in 1991 as part of the woodland grant scheme, provides grants for the creation of new woodlands near towns and cities on condition that the woodlands are open for informal public recreation. A special management grant, which was also introduced in 1991 as part of the woodland grant scheme, is available for owners of existing woodlands of special environmental value where work is carried out to set up, maintain or improve facilities for public access or recreation.

  The Forestry Commission has agreed to pay the community woodland supplement in over 250 cases, covering nearly 2,000 hectares of new woodland; special management grants, for access of recreation, have also been agreed for over 750 cases covering some 32,000 hectares. Detailed information on each of these areas could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Forestry
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the names of the consultants appointed by the forestry review group and their terms of reference; to whom they will report; how much they will cost; which Government Department is paying for the consultants; and what is the consultants' reporting timetable,

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: The forestry review group has appointed three firms of consultants: Samuel Montagu and Co. Ltd., financial consultants, which is being assisted by Jaakko Poyry; John Clegg and Co., land agents; and Environmental Resources Management, environmental consultants. The terms of reference are confidential as they support the development of policy advice to Ministers. The costs will be paid by the Forestry Commission but the amount is commercially sensitive. The consultants will report on a timetable which will enable the review group to advise Ministers early next year.

  Sheep
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total loss of quota income suffered by sheep producers in Scotland as a result of the introduction of the new EC sheepmeat regime, showing the regional distribution of the income lost.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: As the rate of sheep annual premium for the 1993

  153
  marketing year, the first year in which the quota system operates, will not be finalised until early in 1994, I am unable to say whether there will be any drop in sheep producers' incomes.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sheep producers in Scotland have been deprived of sheep quota by the new EC sheepmeat regime.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: Until all the allocations of sheep annual premium quota have been completed, including those from the national reserve, I am not in a position to indicate whether any sheep producers in Scotland will receive no quota allocation.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received on the proposal in the White Paper on reform of local government in Scotland to join Berwickshire to East Lothian; how many were received from people living in Berwickshire; and how many were in favour of the proposal and the number against.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: Since the publication of the White Paper "Shaping the Future —The New Councils", 417 individual letters commenting on the proposal to create a new single-tier authority for Berwickshire and East Lothian have been received, of which 341 came from Berwickshire. About 1,850 postcards, pro forma letters and petition signatures have also been received from people objecting to the Government's proposals for Berwickshire.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) individuals and (b) organisations, in Berwickshire have had their views conveyed to him (i) in favour of his plan to detatch Berwickshire from the Borders local authority area, and (ii) against that proposal.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 29 October 1993]: Since the publication of the White Paper "Shaping the .Future —The New Councils", 341 individual letters opposing the proposal to create a new single-tier authority for Berwickshire and East Lothian have been received from Berwickshire. Three hundred and twenty letters have come from individuals and 21 from organisations. In addition, about 1,850 postcards, pro forma letters and petition signatures have been received from people objecting to the Government's proposals for Berwickshire.

  Smoke Alarms
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the subject of the compulsory installation of smoke alarms as a condition of the award of improvement grants for properties; and what plans he has to include the compulsory installation of smoke alarms by statutory instrument under the terms of section 244(8) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 1 November 1993]: Letters have been received from Ettrick and Lauderdale district council and from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. Installation of smoke alarms as a condition of improvement grant would require legislation. The grant system is currently being reviewed by a working group on which local authorities are represented. It will be considering this issue along with other possible changes and will make recommendations next year.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the number of reported crimes in Scotland in each of the past 10 years involving(a) indecency, (b) violence, (c) dishonesty, (d) fire raising and violence, (e) theft of motor vehicles, (f) theft by opening lockfast places and (g) drugs.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 November 1993]: Information is not collected centrally on the number of crimes reported to the police. Information on the number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland for the categories of crime requested for each of the past five years is contained in the Scottish Office statistical bulletin "Recorded Crime in Scotland 1992", which was published on 21 April 1993. For earlier years information is contained in previous issues of the bulletin. Copies of the bulletins were placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Boundary Commission
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the nature and timing of the information conveyed to the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Scotland about his proposals to alter local boundaries in Lothian and the Borders prior to his statement in the House on 8 July,Official Report, columns 471–87.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 27 October 1993]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 20 July 1993 at column 192, in which I stated that my right hon. Friend conveyed no such information to the Parliamentary Boundaries Commission prior to his statement to the House on 8 July.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing in rank order the percentage of those people who are registered as unemployed who are aged 24 years or under according to the latest available figures in each travel-to-work area in England.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Unadjusted data on claimant unemployment levels in travel-to-work areas by age is available quarterly for the months of January, April, July and October and can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.

  Youth Training
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of young people on youth training places are expected to reach national vocational qualification level 2 by 1997; and what steps he intends to take to meet this target.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Forecasts of attainment of national vocational qualification level 2 in youth training and youth credits are published in the Department's annual report —Cm 2205—and currently extend up to 1995–96. Sixty per cent. of young people on YT or youth credits are expected to reach NVQ level 2 and above by 1995–96. The figure quoted includes level 1 for trainees endorsed as having special training needs. Progress towards this figure will be made by agreeing targets each year for the achievement of agreed outputs—mostly NVQs—with training and enterprise councils. TECs are paid between 25 per cent. and 40 per cent. of their YT funding on the basis of results achieved. The Department is piloting much higher levels of output funding—up to 100 per cent.—with some TECs to see whether this is effective in improving NVQ performance. The Government also intend that, by 1996, every 16 and 17-year-old leaving full-time education will have the offer of a youth credit. Youth credits represent an entitlement to train, generally to at least NVQ level 2 or equivalent.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many youth training places meet national vocational qualification level 2; and what proportion this represents as a total of the number of training places.

  Miss Widdecombe
  All youth training places are required to offer trainees the opportunity to aim for a qualification at national vocational qualification level 2 or higher, unless the trainee has been endorsed as having special training needs.

  Literacy
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of those receiving youth training are assessed as having serious problems with reading, writing and spelling.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Of those who left youth training in Great Britain in 1992–93, 1 per cent. had been assessed as having a severe literacy need. Over the same period, 27 per 156
  cent. of leavers had been assessed as having a special training need, which may have included problems with reading, writing and spelling.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the contribution that improved literacy standards might make in reducing unemployment.

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recognises the importance of improved literacy standards in helping to reduce unemployment. The Government support the employer-led training and enterprise councils which assess locally what skills the labour market requires, including, where necessary, increased literacy standards for unemployed people to help them back in to work.

  Early Retirements
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many officials have applied for voluntary early retirement in(a) the Department of Employment and (b) the Health and Safety Executive in 1993–94; and what is the quota who will be granted early retirement in 1993–94;

  (2) what effect the number of officials taking early retirement will have on the number of officials newly recruited to (a) the Department of Employment and (b) the Health and Safety Executive.

  Miss Widdecombe
  A total of 250 members of staff in the Employment Department group have so far applied for voluntary early retirement in 1993–94. A further 1,465 staff have expressed an interest and others are expected to apply.

  Separate figures are not currently available for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

  The quota for voluntary early retirement releases in 1993–94 is 1,174.

  The number of officials taking early retirement relates to the number of surplus staff in the Department. There is no direct effect on the number of officials newly recruited to the Department or to the HSE. But in general there is no significant recruitment taking place at grades or in parts of the country where there are significant surpluses.

  Unemployment Benefits
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of those receiving unemployment benefits have no educational qualifications; and what was the cost to the Exchequer of this group in the latest available year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information on qualifications of unemployed people is not available from the claimant count. Results from the spring 1993 labour force survey —not seasonally adjusted—show that 34 per cent. of people claiming unemployment-related benefits have no qualifications.

  It is not possible to calculate the exact cost to the Exchequer of the group who are unemployed with no qualifications given that it is not possible to distinguish exactly what benefits the group receives. However, using the estimated total expenditure on benefits to the unemployed in the 1992–93 financial year, it can be calculated that the cost of the unemployed to the Exchequer is £3,300 per person per year.

  Civil Service (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the expected cost of the scheme in the Department of Employment for voluntary early retirement for civil servants aged 50 years and over(a) in 1993–94 and (b) in subsequent years; and how this scheme is being funded within the overall public expenditure totals for those years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The cost of running voluntary early retirement schemes for civil servants aged 50 and over in the Employment Department group during 1993–94 is expected to be about £17 million. If the quota for whom provision has been made retire during 1993–94, the subsequent cost for 1994–95 and 1995–96 is expected to be £8.5 million. The scheme is funded from within the Department's running costs provision, which is subject to normal overall public expenditure controls.

  Investors in People
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for each training and enterprise council area the number of organisations which have received the Investors in People award.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The number of Investors in People awards at 29 October by TEC area is as follows:

  Number

  Avon

  9

  AZTEC

  6

  Barnsley and Doncaster

  4

  Bedfordshire

  8

  Birmingham

  8

  Bolton/Bury

  4

  Bradford

  2

  CAMBSTEC

  2

  CEWTEC

  8

  CILNTEC

  1

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  1

  Central England

  9

  CENTEC

  4

  County Durham

  7

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  5

  Cumbria

  2

  Devon and Cornwall

  22

  Dorset

  12

  Dudley

  1

  ELTEC

  8

  Essex

  5

  Gloucestershire

  24

  Greater Nottingham

  2

  Greater Peterborough

  1

  Gwent

  7

  HAWTEC

  5

  Hampshire

  13

  Heart of England

  9

  Hertfordshire

  1

  Humberside

  7

  Kent

  2

  LAWTEC

  2

  Leeds

  7

  Lincolnshire

  1

  London East

  2

  METROTEC

  5

  Manchester

  4

  Merseyside

  7

  Mid Glamorgan

  6

  Milton Keynes

  1

  NORMIDTEC

  4

  Norfolk and Waveney

  8

  North Derbyshire

  5

  North East Wales

  2

  158

  Number

  North London

  1

  North Nottinghamshire

  6

  North West London

  2

  North West Wales

  5

  North Yorkshire

  8

  Northamptonshire

  5

  Northumberland

  5

  Powys

  1

  Rochdale

  1

  Rotherham

  4

  SOLOTEC

  1

  Sandwell

  1

  Sheffield

  3

  Shropshire

  4

  Somerset

  3

  South and East Cheshire

  8

  South Glamorgan

  6

  South Thames

  1

  Southern Derbyshire

  9

  Staffordshire

  4

  Suffolk

  4

  Surrey

  4

  Sussex

  6

  Teesside

  7

  Thames Valley Enterprise

  20

  Tyneside

  12

  Wakefield

  2

  Walsall

  2

  Wearside

  2

  West London

  1

  West Wales

  6

  Wiltshire

  7

  Wolverhampton

  3

  Redundant Mineworkers
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much of the unclaimed European Community social fund moneys is allocated to south Yorkshire regardless of local authority contributions; and how much of it is planned to be spent on retraining .or other projects involving redundant mineworkers.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My officials are writing to local European social fund co-ordinators to invite further applications for support from the ESF to take up additional resources arising from exchange rate fluctuations. Projects will be selected on the basis of established selection criteria, including value for money considerations. The exact amount of additional money in south Yorkshire will depend on the outcome of the selection process in the various operational programmes concerned.

  Earnings Statistics
  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish tables showing the proportion of (1) full-time employees earning less than(a) £215.50, (b) £203.07 and (c) £152.30 per week, (2) part-time employees earning less than (x) £5.75, (y) £5.42 and (z) £4.05 per hour, excluding overtime payments, for (i) Great Britain as a whole, (ii) each county in England, (iii) each county in Wales, (iv) each London borough and Greater London as a whole and (v) each regional authority and borough in Scotland.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information available from the "New Earnings Survey" is provided in the following tables:
  159

  Full time employees on adult rates—pay unaffected by absence: proportion with gross weekly earnings below the following amounts: at April 1993

  Per cent

  £152·30

  £203·07

  £215·50

  GREAT BRITAIN

  9·8

  26·7

  31·1

  South East Region

  5·8

  18· 2

  21·7

  Bedfordshire

  7·4

  21·8

  25·4

  Berkshire

  4·3

  16·5

  19·6

  Buckinghamshire

  7·1

  23·0

  27·4

  East Sussex

  11·2

  33·3

  38·1

  Essex

  9·0

  25·9

  31·0

  Hampshire

  8·5

  25·1

  29·6

  Hertfordshire

  5·9

  21·2

  24·7

  Isle of Wight

  15·4

  35·1

  40·4

  Kent

  9·1

  26·0

  31· 1

  Oxfordshire

  7·1

  24·6

  28·3

  Surrey

  5·2

  17·1

  20·6

  West Sussex

  7·9

  25·6

  29·6

  East Anglia Region

  11·2

  30·1

  34·9

  Cambridgeshire

  8·9

  26·3

  30·8

  Norfolk

  12·2

  31·5

  36·5

  Suffolk

  12·8

  33·0

  38·0

  South West Region

  10·7

  30·8

  35·6

  Avon

  8·2

  25·7

  29·9

  Cornwall

  20·7

  44· 1

  50· 1

  Devon

  13 ·9

  36·0

  41·8

  Dorset

  10·5

  33·3

  37·9

  Gloucestershire

  8·8

  27·9

  33·3

  Somerset

  12·6

  34·0

  37·1

  Wiltshire

  6·7

  25·4

  29·7

  West Midlands Region

  11·6

  30·8

  35·7

  West Midlands MC

  10·2

  27·5

  32·5

  Hereford and Worcester

  13 ·7

  34·8

  40·1

  Shropshire

  15·5

  36·8

  41·7

  Staffordshire

  13·3

  36·4

  41·5

  Warwickshire

  11·3

  29·6

  33·2

  East Midlands Region

  12·5

  31·7

  36·6

  Derbyshire

  11·4

  29·2

  33·8

  Leicestershire

  12·6

  31·1

  36·6

  Lincolnshire

  15·5

  36·5

  41·4

  Northamptonshire

  8·3

  27·9

  32·0

  Nottinghamshire

  14·6

  34·2

  39·6

  Yorkshire and Humberside Region

  11·9

  31·1

  35·8

  South Yorkshire MC

  116

  28·8

  32·9

  West Yorkshire MC

  11·0

  31·1

  36·4

  Humberside

  13·2

  32·7

  36·6

  North Yorkshire

  13·9

  33·5

  38·5

  North West Region

  11·6

  30·1

  35·1

  Greater Manchester MC

  11·3

  30·7

  35·6

  Merseyside MC

  11·1

  28·1

  34·1

  Cheshire

  10·3

  26·0

  30·0

  Lancashire

  13·9

  34·4

  39·3

  North Region

  12·9

  30·9

  35·7

  Tyne and Wear MC

  12·3

  29·9

  35·2

  Cleveland

  13·0

  28·7

  33·1

  Cumbria

  12·2

  27·7

  31·8

  Durham

  14·2

  35·1

  40·1

  Northumberland

  14·0

  37·1

  41·8

  Wales

  13·2

  33·6

  38·4

  Clwyd

  13·6

  32·1

  36·0

  Clwyd-West

  15·6

  37·9

  40·6

  Clwyd-East

  12·7

  29·3

  33·9

  Dyfed (excluding Llanelli)

  16·9

  38·2

  43·0

  Gwent

  13·9

  32·9

  38·4

  Gwynedd

  18·2

  39·1

  42·6

  Mid-Glamorgan

  15·1

  37·9

  43·5

  Powys

  15·0

  36·1

  41·1

  South Glamorgan

  8·8

  27·8

  33·7

  West Glamorgan (including Llanelli)

  11·4

  33·5

  37·1

  160

  Per cent

  £152·30

  £203·07

  £215·50

  Greater London

  3·7

  12·0

  14·8

  City of London

  1·1

  4·3

  5·6

  Barking

  3·7

  10·1

  13·9

  Barnet

  6·0

  20·3

  23·9

  Bexley

  4·0

  16·8

  22·5

  Brent

  3·6

  16·8

  20·7

  Bromley

  9·0

  25·0

  28·4

  Camden

  3·1

  11·0

  13·1

  Croydon

  6·5

  16·7

  20·9

  Ealing

  4·5

  13·8

  18·2

  Enfield

  3·9

  14·3

  18·5

  Greenwich

  4·2

  16·2

  22·3

  Hackney

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  Hammersmith

  3·0

  9·8

  12·4

  Haringey

  7·4

  15·6

  18·5

  Harrow

  4·8

  18·5

  22·1

  Havering

  8·5

  21·0

  23·4

  Hillingdon

  1·8

  9·2

  11·4

  Hounslow

  3·1

  12·4

  14·6

  Islington

  2·5

  6·4

  8·0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  5·8

  17·6

  22·3

  Kingston·upon·Thames

  5·4

  16·5

  21·0

  Lambeth

  2·6

  9·4

  12·0

  Lewisham

  5·0

  17·0

  18·1

  Merton

  6·0

  17·0

  20·9

  Newham

  2·7

  11·4

  13·5

  Redbridge

  6·9

  21·1

  25·8

  Richmond·upon·Thames

  4·8

  16· 7

  20·7

  Southwark

  2·3

  8·7

  9·8

  Sutton

  5·6

  16··5

  21·2

  Tower Hamlets

  2·4

  6·2

  7·6

  Waltham Forest

  8·7

  23·0

  29·0

  Wandsworth

  3·6

  13· 3

  16·7

  City of Westminster

  3·0

  9·7

  12·6

  Scotland

  11·7

  31·0

  36·2

  Borders

  23·4

  45·4

  51· 5

  Central

  13 ·3

  30·0

  33·9

  Dumfries and Galloway

  16·4

  36·2

  39·9

  Fife

  15· 2

  33·3

  38·3

  Grampian

  9·9

  26·8

  31·4

  Highland

  14·1

  38·0

  47·2

  Lothian

  9·1

  29·0

  33·5

  Strathclyde

  11·5

  30·5

  36·1

  Tayside

  12·6

  34·9

  40·7

  Orkney and Shetland, Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  Highlands and Islands

  13·4

  361

  43·3

  Part time employees on adult rates—pay unaffected by absence: proportion with gross hourly earnings excluding overtime below the following amounts: at April 1993

  Per cent

  £4·05

  £5·42

  £5·75

  GREAT BRITAIN

  38·3

  59·0

  62·1

  South East Region

  28·2

  51·3

  54·8

  Bedfordshire

  41·3

  60·2

  63·7

  Berkshire

  1—

  —

  —

  Buckinghamshire

  27·1

  48·8

  53·9

  East Sussex

  36·8

  61·2

  63·3

  Essex

  36·8

  59·2

  61·6

  Hampshire

  40·0

  58·5

  63·3

  Hertfordshire

  28· 3

  56·6

  59·2

  Isle of Wight

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  35·6

  57·7

  61·0

  Oxfordshire

  34·4

  54·2

  56·2

  Surrey

  23·5

  47·1

  52·1

  West Sussex

  27·2

  45·1

  48·3

  East Anglia Region

  34·5

  52·1

  54·8

  Cambridgeshire

  33·0

  51·8

  55·7

  Norfolk

  33·8

  51·4

  54·0

  Suffolk

  36·7

  53·1

  54·7

  South West Region

  41·9

  61·8

  64·2

  161

  Per cent

  £4·05

  £5·42

  £5·75

  Avon

  43·0

  62·0

  64·8

  Cornwall

  45·4

  56·7

  60·6

  Devon

  41·3

  61·9

  63·2

  Dorset

  44·8

  64·3

  65·8

  Gloucestershire

  —

  —

  —

  Somerset

  42·3

  67·1

  68·7

  Wiltshire

  36·0

  62·4

  64·9

  West Midlands Region

  42·8

  62·9

  65·7

  West Midlands MC

  40·6

  62·7

  65·5

  Hereford and Worcester

  44·4

  61·0

  64·2

  Shropshire

  43·5

  58·7

  61·5

  Staffordshire

  47·2

  67·2

  69·7

  Warwickshire

  44·5

  63·1

  65·1

  East Midlands Region

  41·6

  61·8

  64·4

  Derbyshire

  39·7

  57·8

  60·6

  Leicestershire

  40·1

  62·6

  65·0

  Lincolnshire

  40·9

  58·4

  60·8

  Northamptonshire

  41·9

  63·7

  66·3

  Nottinghamshire

  45·5

  66·4

  69·1

  Yorkshire and Humberside Region

  43·8

  65·6

  69·2

  South Yorkshire MC

  47·6

  69·6

  72·8

  West Yorkshire MC

  43·1

  64·5

  68·4

  Humberside

  44·6

  66·4

  69·5

  North Yorkshire

  38·0

  60·5

  64·8

  North West Region

  42·8

  63·6

  66·5

  Greater Manchester MC

  42·7

  65·0

  67·5

  Merseyside MC

  45·6

  65·2

  68·6

  Cheshire

  38·6

  59·3

  62·7

  Lancashire

  43·4

  62·5

  65·6

  North Region

  47·3

  66·4

  69·6

  Tyne and Wear MC

  46·0

  66·9

  70·5

  Cleveland

  45·9

  62·0

  65·6

  Cumbria

  44·8

  65·2

  69·1

  Durham

  51·0

  66·7

  69·5

  Northumberland

  52·5

  72·9

  73·7

  Wales

  45·2

  61·4

  64·1

  Clwyd

  41·1

  53·4

  57·2

  Clwyd-West

  —

  —

  —

  Clwyd-East

  44·0

  57·4

  59·8

  Dyfed (ex· Llanelli)

  36·0

  48·0

  52·0

  Gwent

  41·5

  62·5

  65·1

  Gwynedd

  40·4

  53·5

  54·7

  Mid-Glamorgan

  56·6

  70·9

  72·7

  Powys

  —

  —

  —

  South Glamorgan

  46·6

  68·8

  71·5

  West Glamorgan (inc· Llanelli)

  44·0

  58·6

  62·5

  Greater London

  18·6

  43·3

  46·7

  City of London

  —

  —

  —

  Barking

  —

  —

  —

  Barnet

  —

  —

  —

  Bexley

  —

  —

  —

  Brent

  —

  —

  —

  Bromley

  —

  —

  —

  Camden

  —

  —

  —

  Croydon

  —

  —

  —

  Ealing

  —

  —

  —

  Enfield

  20·9

  49·1

  50·8

  Greenwich

  —

  —

  —

  Hackney

  —

  —

  —

  Hammersmith

  —

  —

  —

  Haringey

  —

  —

  —

  Harrow

  —

  —

  —

  Havering

  —

  —

  —

  Hillingdon

  17·0

  43·0

  45·5

  Hounslow

  —

  —

  —

  Islington

  —

  —

  —

  Kensington and Chelsea

  —

  —

  —

  Kingston upon Thames

  16·8

  51·6

  53·9

  Lambeth

  —

  —

  —

  Lewisham

  —

  —

  —

  Merton

  —

  —

  —

  162

  Per cent

  £4·05

  £5·42

  £5·75

  Newham

  —

  —

  —

  Redbridge

  26·5

  48·9

  51·0

  Richmond upon Thames

  —

  —

  —

  Southwark

  —

  —

  —

  Sutton

  —

  —

  —

  Tower Hamlets

  —

  —

  —

  Waltham Forest

  29·2

  60·9

  65·8

  Wandsworth

  21·1

  42·3

  45·1

  City of Westminster

  —

  —

  —

  Scotland

  42·8

  61·5

  64·6

  Borders

  —

  —

  —

  Central

  39·7

  59·5

  61·6

  Dumfries and Galloway

  —

  —

  —

  Fife

  46·2

  62·8

  65·1

  Grampian

  48·4

  62·7

  64·0

  Highland

  40·9

  52·7

  55·4

  Lothian

  42·3

  61·3

  65·7

  Strathclyde

  42·5

  63·4

  67·3

  Tayside

  41·9

  58·9

  60·8

  Orkney, Shetland, Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  Highlands and Islands

  37·4

  50·3

  52·9

  "—" denotes sample number too small or standard error too large for reliable estimate.

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many adult(a) male and (b) female part-time workers there were in Great Britain in April; and what is the proportion of those workers whose earnings, excluding overtime, fell below (i) £5.75 per hour, (ii) £5.42 per hour and (iii) £4.05 per hour.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In March 1993 there were 1,113,000 male part-time and 4,680,000 female part-time employees in employment in Great Britain.

  The information requested showing estimates of the distribution of earnings of those employees at April is as follows:

  Part-time employees on adult rates—pay unaffected by absence: proportion with gross hourly earnings excluding overtime below the following amounts: at April 1993

  Per cent

  £4.05

  £5.42

  £5.75

  Great Britain

  Men

  31.0

  44.6

  46.4

  Women

  39.4

  61 3

  64.6

  Source: New Earnings Survey and Short Term Employment Statistics.

  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish tables showing the proportions of manual, non-manual and all full-time employees earning less than(a) £215.50 per week, (b) £203.07 per week and (c) £152.30 per week, excluding overtime payments, for (i) men, (ii) women and (iii) both sexes, by standard economic region, for Great Britain as a whole and for Northern Ireland.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information available from the "New Earnings Survey" is provided in the following tables:

  Full-time employees on adult rates—pay unaffected by absence: proportion with gross weekly earnings excluding overtime below the following amounts: at April 1993

  Per cent.

  £152.30

  £203.07

  £215.50

  Manual men

  Great Britain

  11.8

  38.1

  45.4

  South East

  8.6

  30.0

  36.1

  163

  £152.30

  £203.07

  £215.50

  East Anglia

  11.4

  41.7

  49.2

  South West

  12.9

  42.7

  50.5

  West Midlands

  12.3

  40.0

  47.6

  East Midlands

  13.5

  41.5

  48.7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  13 2

  41.3

  48.8

  North West

  12.1

  38.9

  47.0

  North

  13 3

  36.1

  44.4

  Scotland

  12.5

  42.5

  50.3

  Wales

  16.1

  43.8

  50.9

  Northern Ireland1

  19.0

  45.0

  51.0

  Non-manual men

  Great Britain

  4.4

  13 5

  16.1

  South East

  2.7

  9.4

  11.4

  East Anglia

  4.6

  14 9

  17.2

  South West

  4.4

  15.3

  18.2

  West Midlands

  5.5

  15.8

  19.0

  East Midlands

  5.6

  16 8

  19 8

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  6.0

  17.4

  20.7

  North West

  5.8

  16 5

  19.2

  North

  5.0

  14.4

  17.8

  Scotland

  5.2

  15.3

  18.4

  Wales

  6.5

  17.6

  20.3

  Northern Ireland1

  8.0

  18.0

  20.0

  All men

  Great Britain

  7.7

  24.6

  29.3

  South East

  4.8

  16.6

  20.0

  East Anglia

  8.1

  28.5

  33.4

  South West

  8.1

  27.4

  32.4

  West Midlands

  9.0

  28.1

  33.6

  East Midlands

  9.8

  29.9

  35.1

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  9.7

  29.7

  35.1

  North West

  8.8

  27.1

  32.4

  North

  9.5

  26.3

  32.4

  Scotland

  8.7

  28.5

  33.9

  Wales

  11.6

  31.5

  36.5

  Northern Ireland1

  14.0

  31.0

  36.0

  Manual women

  Great Britain

  47.6

  79.7

  84.4

  South East

  36.4

  70.3

  74.8

  East Anglia

  53.2

  84.7

  89.6

  South West

  53.3

  86.0

  89.8

  West Midlands

  50.1

  82.1

  86.7

  East Midlands

  55.1

  87.6

  91 6

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  54.3

  84.1

  88.3

  North West

  51.9

  81.1

  86.7

  North

  50.7

  80.4

  85.2

  Scotland

  48.6

  80 3

  86.3

  Wales

  47.5

  82.7

  87.9

  Northern Ireland1

  63.0

  87.0

  90.0

  Non-manual women

  Great Britain

  13.2

  37.1

  43.3

  South East

  6.5

  23.4

  28.5

  East Anglia

  17.4

  46.0

  52.4

  South West

  15.4

  45.0

  51.5

  West Midlands

  17.5

  45.9

  51.9

  East Midlands

  18.2

  46.7

  53.7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  18 0

  45.6

  52.0

  North West

  15.9

  43.6

  50.6

  North

  19.9

  49.6

  56.4

  Scotland

  16.9

  44.1

  51.4

  Wales

  17.2

  44.4

  51.7

  Northern Ireland1

  21.0

  44.0

  48.0

  All women

  Great Britain

  19.2

  44.7

  50.5

  South East

  10.4

  29.6

  34.6

  East Anglia

  24.4

  53.5

  59.6

  South West

  21.4

  51 5

  57.6

  West Midlands

  24.5

  53.7

  59.4

  East Midlands

  28.0

  57.5

  63.7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  25.1

  53 1

  59.1

  North West

  22.4

  50.3

  57.1

  North

  26.5

  56.2

  62.5

  Scotland

  23.2

  51.3

  58.4

  164

  £152.30

  £203.07

  £215.50

  Wales

  23.7

  52.6

  59.4

  Northern Ireland1

  31.0

  54.0

  58.0

  Manual employees

  Great Britain

  18.3

  45.7

  52.5

  South East

  13.9

  37.6

  43.4

  East Anglia

  18.4

  48.9

  55.9

  South West

  19.7

  50.0

  57.2

  West Midlands

  19.1

  47.6

  54.7

  East Midlands

  21.6

  50.5

  57.1

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  19.9

  48.3

  55.3

  North West

  19.3

  46.5

  54.2

  North

  19.7

  43.6

  51.3

  Scotland

  19.7

  50.1

  57.5

  Wales

  21.8

  50.9

  57.6

  Northern Ireland1

  29.0

  54.0

  60.0

  Non-manual employees

  Great Britain

  8.4

  24.4

  28.6

  South East

  4.4

  15 8

  19.1

  East Anglia

  10.5

  29.3

  33.5

  South West

  9.5

  28.9

  33.5

  West Midlands

  11.0

  29.6

  34.0

  East Midlands

  11.0

  29.7

  34.5

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  11.5

  30.3

  35 0

  North West

  10.6

  29.4

  34.1

  North

  12.1

  31.2

  36.2

  Scotland

  10 8

  29.3

  34.5

  Wales

  11.6

  30.4

  35.3

  Northern Ireland1

  14.0

  31.0

  34.0

  All employees

  Great Britain

  11.9

  31 8

  37.0

  South East

  6.9

  21.6

  25.6

  East Anglia

  13.7

  37.1

  42.4

  South West

  12.9

  36.1

  41.5

  West Midlands

  14.3

  36.9

  42.5

  East Midlands

  15 7

  38.9

  44.5

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  14.9

  37.6

  43.2

  North West

  13.8

  35.6

  41.4

  North

  15.4

  36.5

  42.7

  Scotland

  14.2

  37.1

  43.2

  Wales

  15.9

  39.0

  44.6

  Northern Ireland1

  20.0

  40.0

  44.0

  1 Information is at April 1992 and inclusive of overtime.

  Source: New Earnings Survey, Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the total gross public spending for each year since 1991–92 and the projected expenditure for each year to 1995–96, in 1992–93 prices, for training and enterprise councils.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Provisional gross expenditure on programmes delivered through training and enterprise councils in England and Wales and local enterprise companies in Scotland for each year since 1991–92 and projected expenditure for each year to 1995–96 in 1992–93 prices are as follows:

  £ million

  Number

  1991–92

  2,253

  1992–93

  2,247

  1993–94

  2,300

  1994–95

  2,164

  1995–96

  2,108

  Notes:

  1. The total for 1992–93 is the estimated outturn.

  2. The totals for 1993–94 onwards are from the latest plans.
  165
  3. Running costs for LECs are not included.

  4. 1992–93 prices calculated by using GDP deflators as published in the March 1993 Budget.

  5. European Social Fund allocations for 1994–95 and 1995–96 are not yet known.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing whether the public have a statutory right to attend all board or committee meetings,(b) inspect the minutes of meetings, (c) inspect the annual reports, (d) inspect the annual accounts and (e) inspect a register of members' interests of training and enterprise councils.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Companies Acts require the accounts of training and enterprise councils be lodged with Companies House where they may be examined by the public. The contract with TECs requires that they make publicly available their corporate plans, hold an annual public meeting and publish an annual report and audited statement of accounts. TECs are private companies and access to their meetings and to their registers of members' interests is a matter for the directors.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing for each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department, whether the public have a statutory right to(a) attend all board or committee meetings, (b) inspect the minutes of meetings, (c) inspect the annual reports, (d) inspect the annual accounts and (e) inspect a register of members' interests.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The following executive non-departmental public bodies are sponsored by the Department:

  Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service

  Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members

  Construction Industry Training Board

  Engineering Construction Industry Training Board

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  Health and Safety Commission

  Health and Safety Executive

  National Council for Vocational Qualifications

  Remploy Ltd.

  Investors in People

  With the exception of the special arrangements which exist in relation to the Health and Safety Commission and Executive, all are responsible to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The Health and Safety Commission is responsible to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and other Secretaries of State which have relevant interests, and the Health and Safety Executive is responsible to the Commission.

  The public does not have a statutory right to attend board or committee meetings or inspect the minutes for any of the organisations listed above.

  The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members, Equal Opportunities Commission, Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive are required by statute to produce and lay before both Houses of Parliament copies of their annual reports and account. These are then made available in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

  Remploy is also required by statue to copy its annual report and accounts to the Registrar of Companies and these may be examined by the public at Companies House.
  166
  Although not required by statute, the annual report and accounts for the National Council for Vocational Qualifications and the annual accounts for Investors in People United Kingdom are published and copies made available in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

  With the exception of Remploy Ltd,—where a register of directors interests is available for inspection at its registered office—the public do not have a statutory right to inspect a register of members' interests for any of the organisations listed above. In the case of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, no such register exists.

HEALTH

  Health Care
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the share of gross domestic product devoted in 1992 to health care in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Sir D. Knox) on 26 October at column 600.

  NHS Beds
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the total numbers of beds and private beds in NHS hospitals by region and nationally for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 20 April at columns 77–78. More recent information is not yet available.

  Community Care
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to relax in 1994–95 the requirement relating to the proportion of the community care special transitional grant which must be spent in the independent sector; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  The conditions to be applied to the 1994–95 special transitional grant will be announced in due course.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to establish a special grant to fund the cost of additional care managers, information systems and other unavoidable expenses incurred by local authorities resulting from the institution of community care.

  Mr. Bowis
  No.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sum will be available to fund care in the community in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95.

  Mr. Bowis
  In 1993–94 local authorities will receive an additional £565.4 million to fund their new responsibilities. This will rise to a total of £1,274.5 million in 1994–95, of which £735.9 million will be included in a special transitional grant.

  "Changing Childbirth"
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she plans to take to implement the recommendations of the expert maternity group report on "Changing Childbirth".
  167
  Mr. Sackville
  The report "Changing Childbirth", copies of which are available in the Library, has been the subject of consultation which ended on 29 October. Professional bodies, interested organisations and the national health service were invited to submit written comments. These are being given careful consideration in the Department. Action to be taken in the NHS will be notified as soon as Ministers have completed their study of the responses to the report.

  Patients (Costs)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the most recent available average cost of(a) an in-patient, (b) an out-patient and (c) an accident emergency episode of treatment in England.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information for 1991–92 is shown in the table. The figures are not comparable with data from financial returns, for earlier years due to the inclusion of capital charges and overheads.

  Average cost of in-patient, out-patient and accident and emergency services 1991–92, England

  Average costs (£)

  In-patient1 per episode

  1,234

  Out-patient2 per attendance

  54

  Accident and emergency3 per attendance

  35

  1 Patients using a bed including day cases.

  2 Figure obtained by using total attendance data.

  3 Total attendance of patients using accident and emergency services.

  Source: Specialty and Programme Cost Return HFR22/TFR2

  NHS Accommodation, Leeds
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the location of NHS office accommodation in Leeds based outside hospitals and the date when the accommodation was first occupied for NHS use.

  Mr. Sackville
  The location of national health service office accommodation in Leeds, based outside hospitals, is shown in the table. If the hon. Member requires further information on any of these, he should contact the organisation involved.

  NHS Organisation

  Location

  Year of occupancy

  United Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  Joseph's Well Complex Hanover Walk Leeds LS3 1AB

  1992

  Leeds Family Health Services Association

  Brunswick Court Bridge Street Leeds LS2 7RJ

  1991

  Leeds Healthcare

  St. Mary's House St. Mary's Road Leeds LS7 3JX

  1979

  Leeds Community Health Council

  Vicar Lane House Templar Street Leeds LS2 7NU

  1991

  Special Transitional Grant
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which London local authorities are forecasting an overspend on special transitional grant; and how she intends to adjust the formula for distribution of special transitional grant in 1994–95.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information provided by local authorities to joint monitoring teams from the social services inspectorate and regional health authorities indicates that in September some authorities in London were predicting that they would spend the full amount of their special transitional grant, some less and some more. This information was sought on the understanding that it would only be published in aggregate. The distribution of next year's special transitional grant will be announced in due course.

  Secure Units, London
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of secure units for young people in the areas covering the Greater London area.

  Mr. Bowis
  There is a national network of 295 secure places to which all local authorities have access. London boroughs provide 41 of these places—11 for girls and 30 for boys—in five separate secure units.

  Nursing Homes
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many privately operated nursing homes for the elderly have been closed down under the individual voluntary arrangement procedure provisions of the Insolvency Act 1986 in each year since 1986; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  VAT (Domestic Fuel)
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if her Department has conducted any survey or analysis of the cost or other implications to the NHS of the proposed increase in VAT on gas and electricity.

  Mr. Sackville
  The non-domestic supply of fuel and power, including that to hospitals, is already subject to value added tax at the standard rate.

  Hospital Services
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new services have been provided in hospitals and community health services as a result of increased funding in the last three years.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 29 October at columns 833–34.

  NHS Trusts
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what were the total salaries of each chief executive of each trust in the years 1991–92, 1992–93 and planned for 1993–94;

  (2) how many chief executives of national health service trusts have merit awards according to the actual grade of merit award;
  169
  (3) how many chief executives of trusts are qualified medical doctors.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set out the guidelines established for national health service trusts in relation to the disposal of property and land.

  Mr. Sackville
  National health service trusts, like other public sector bodies, follow agreed Government procedures for the disposal of surplus public land. They are required to consider with their professional advisors how to obtain the best return, which will normally be achieved through a sale of the freehold on the open market, with the benefit of planning permission where there is potential for development. The Department is preparing guidance for national health service trusts on property management which will include advice on disposals.

  Contraceptive Pills
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to investigate deregulation and over-the-counter provision of non-emergency contraceptive pills.

  Mr. Sackville
  The proposal that non-emergency contraceptive pills should be available from pharmacies without a prescription was made in an editorial in the Lancet on 4 September and has been the subject of some media debate. The proposal and reactions to it are being studied in the Department.

  Perioperative Deaths
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the national average perioperative death rate;

  (2) what is the perioperative death rate at the Harrogate district hospital; and if she will make a statement;

  (3) what was the result of her Department's contacts with individual hospitals with high perioperative death rates;

  (4) at which hospital in the United Kingdom the perioperative death rate is the lowest; and what is this rate.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health does not collect information on hospital perioperative death rates. The royal colleges encourage clinicians to participate in a national confidential inquiry into hospital perioperative deaths. The results of the inquiry are published in an annual report, copies of which are available in the Library, but the identity of individual hospitals and surgeons remain confidential.

  Night Visits
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many out-of-hours visits that command a night visit fee for general practitioners took place in each of the last 10 years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is shown in the table.

  Financial year

  Number of visits

  1983–84

  682,000

  1984–85

  715,000

  1985–86

  798,000

  170

  Financial year

  Number of visits

  1986–87

  763,000

  1987–88

  825,000

  1988–89

  902,000

  1989–90

  936,000

  1990–91

  1,543,000

  1991–92

  1,712,000

  1992–93

  1,643,000

  Notes:

  1. In 1990–91, the period for which night visit fees are payable was extended from 11 pm-lam to 10pm-8am.

  2. The number of general practitioners increased over this period from 23,640 in 1983 to 25,968 in 1992 (the last year for which figures are available).

  3. The figure for 1992–93 is provisional, unaudited.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the night visit fee for general practitioners in real terms in each of the last 10 years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is shown in the table.

  Night visit fee in real terms (in f at 1993/94 prices)

  Year beginning 1 April

  46.65 (higher); 15.55 (lower)

  1993

  46.24 (higher); 15.41 (lower)

  1992

  47.86 (higher); 15.95 (lower)

  1991

  49.17 (higher); 16.39 (lower)

  11990

  24.81

  1989

  24.48

  1988

  24.09

  1987

  23.79

  1986

  23.72

  1985

  23.65

  1984

  1 On 1 April 1990, the "new" general practitioner contract restructured the arrangements for the payment of night visit fees. A two-tier fee system was introduced under which GPs undertaking their own visits or providing cover within a rota of 10 GPs or less qualified for the higher fee, other visits qualified for the lower fee. Figures before 1990 are not, therefore, directly comparable with figures after 1990

  Foster Children
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of children by age in each year since 1989(a) in foster care and (b) adopted; and what was the time spent in foster care by age prior to adoption in each of those years.

  Mr. Bowis
  The number of children in local authority care in foster placements by age at 31 March is published in "Children in care, 31 March, England" for the years 1989 to 1991. Figures for 1992 are not yet available at this level of detail. Information about the number of children adopted by age is published in "Marriage and Divorce statistics series FM2, year ending October". Copies of both publications are available in the Library.

  Information about the length of placement has only been collected following the implementation of the Children Act 1989. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 17 June at column. 688 for the information that is currently available.

  Private GPs
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will outline rights private general practitioners have in referring to NHS hospitals.
  171
  Dr. Mawhinney
  All fully registered medical practitioners can refer patients to national health service hospitals irrespective of whether they are treating them privately or under the NHS. The priority afforded to referrals from a private general practitioner, as with those from an NHS GP, is a matter for clinical decision.

  Nurse Training
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on health authorities' and regional health authorities' contracts for basic nursing training colleges in each of the last five years and on projected figures for the coming year in real terms and on a percentage change.

  Mr. Sackville
  Contractual arrangements for nurse training colleges are a matter between regional health authorities and the colleges themselves.

  The demand for basic nurse training places has been employment led since 1991. Employers are focusing their attention on quality and outcomes of care rather than numbers employed within staff groups.

  Pharmacists
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the packaging reimbursement to pharmacists per prescribed item.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Pharmacists currently receive 6.5p per prescription for the cost of containers.

  London Specialty Review
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to respond to the specialty review of London health services; and when she plans to respond.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The recommendation of the six specialty reviews is part of a complex jigsaw of factors informing the development of proposals for the future configuration of London's hospital services. Proposals for the future pattern of services, including specialist services, will be put forward shortly.

  Cancer Clusters
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by whom her Department was represented at the conference on cancer clusters, organised by the European Commission, held in early October at the Westlakes research institute in Cumbria.

  Mr. Sackville
  Two officials from the Department's health aspects of the environment and food division attended.

  NHS Management
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to add the functions of the NHS estates to those of the NHS management executive; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  National Health Service Estates is an executive agency in the Department of Health and carries out a number of functions on behalf of the Department including the NHS management executive. The agency's172
  future role and functions are currently being examined in the light of the functions and manpower review, and the first triennial review of the agency's framework document.

  Private Capital Investment
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those public investment projects within her Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and have been commenced since the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The private finance initiative is helping the national health service to capture the skills and expertise of the private sector to give better services, higher quality and more resources for the NHS. Private finance will mean additional capital spending on top of the record £2.1 billion public capital this year. New delegated limits for the NHS have broken down bureaucratic obstacles that were inhibiting effective use of private finance. Twelve projects have been approved by the Department of Health since the 1992 autumn statement, as shown in the table. Health authorities and NHS trusts now have authority to approve other projects themselves where the sums involved are less than certain prescribed limits; as a result many further projects are also under discussion.

  NHS projects using private capital approved by the Department of Health since the 1992 autumn statement

  1. Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust: lease of magnetic resonance imager.

  2. Standing Committee on Postgraduate Medical Education: lease of offices in London.

  3. South East London Commissioning Agency: lease of offices in London.

  4. King's College Hospital, Camberwell: new clinical waste incineration facilities.

  5. The Royal Oldham Hospital NHS Trust: new clinical waste incineration facilities.

  6. Royal Liverpool University Hospital NHS Trust: joint venture patient hotel.

  7. Plymouth District Health Authority: new clinical waste incineration facilities.

  8. William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, Kent: new clinical waste incineration facilities.

  9. North West Thames Regional Health Authority: provision under contract of new residential accommodation at Steppingley and Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.

  10. Barnet Health Authority: provision under contract of new residential accommodation in Hendon.

  11. Bolton DHA: new clinical waste incineration facilities.

  12. North West Thames RHA: staff residences at Carlton gate, London W9.

  Ealing Hospital
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of(a) medical, (b) nursing and (c) administrative and other staff at Ealing hospital for the current year and for each of the past 10 years; how many in-patients and out-patients they tended in each of these years; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information available is shown in the table:

  Staff at Ealing hospital, by staff group

  September 1991

  September 1992

  Medical

  —

  110

  Nursing

  640

  610

  Administrative

  —

  250

  Other

  —

  220

  173
  Notes:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  Figures exclude agency nurses and medical locums.

  1992–93 provisional returns for Ealing hospital national health service trust show 18,226 people treated as in-patients, 5,560 treated as day cases and 117,126 people seen as out-patients. Information for earlier years is not available centrally.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total of public funding for the Ealing hospital NHS trust for the current year; what was the equivalent figure in each of the preceding 10 years, in real terms including those when Ealing hospital did not have a trust status; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Ealing hospital national health service trust came into operation on 1 April 1992. Accounts showing sources of income for the first year of operation will be available towards the end of November. Information for earlier years is not available centrally.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Working Holidays
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) Ghanaian, (b) Nigerian, (c) Bangladeshi and (d) Indian nationals who applied while in the United Kingdom to remain as working holidaymakers were refused in each of the last five years;

  (2) how many (a) Ghanaian, (b) Nigerian, (c) Bangladeshi and (d) Indian nationals applied while in the United Kingdom to remain as working holidaymakers (i) in 1992 and (ii) in the first six months of 1993.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information is of decisions on applications for an extension of stay as a working holidaymaker, and is given in the table.

  Decisions1 on applications made in the United Kingdom for an extension of stay as a working holidaymaker2, by whether granted or refused, for certain nationalities

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993 (first six months)3

  Ghana

  Granted

  10

  200

  860

  1,150

  310

  Refused

  4—

  4—

  40

  90

  40

  Nigeria

  Granted

  70

  860

  1,910

  1,650

  380

  Refused

  10

  50

  120

  300

  110

  Bangladesh

  Granted

  4—

  10

  40

  140

  50

  Refused

  —

  4—

  —

  10

  10

  India

  Granted

  20

  60

  210

  280

  120

  Refused

  —

  4—

  4—

  30

  20

  1 Excluding dependants.

  2 Including both those whose previous leave was as a working holidaymaker, and those whose previous leave was in another capacity.

  3 Data are provisional and may be underrecorded.

  4 Five or fewer.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) Ghanaian, (b)
  174
  Nigerian, (c) Bangladeshi and (d) Indian nationals who, having applied while in the United Kingdom to remain as working holiday makers, and been granted permission, were later readmitted for a further period for the same purpose in each of the last five years;

  (2) how many (a) Ghanaian, (b) Nigerian, (c) Bangladeshi and (d) Indian nationals who, having applied at British high commission in their own countries, and been granted permission to enter the United Kingdom as working holiday makers were later readmitted for a further period for the same purpose in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is not identified separately in the statistics of passenger admissions.

  Police Pensions
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the amounts earmarked by each police authority in England for pension payments and represented as a percentage proportion of their overall budgets.

  Mr. Howard
  Information on local authority budget provision for pensions is not held centrally. The following table gives outturn information for 1992–93.

  Police authority

  Net pensions expenditure1 (Police and Civilians) £000s

  Net pensions expenditure as a percentage of net current expenditure2

  Avon and Somerset

  11,978

  9.6

  Bedfordshire

  2,876

  6.5

  Cambridgeshire

  4,131

  8.3

  Cheshire

  6,840

  9.4

  Cleveland

  6,647

  11.1

  Cumbria

  5,181

  10.5

  Derbyshire

  6,796

  9.0

  Devon and Cornwall

  11,380

  8.8

  Dorset

  4,768

  8.6

  Durham

  6,045

  11.4

  Essex

  9,458

  7.5

  Gloucestershire

  4,145

  8.6

  Hampshire

  10,727

  7.9

  Hertfordshire

  4,851

  7.1

  Humberside

  7,644

  9.1

  Kent

  12,250

  8.9

  Lancashire

  13,889

  10 8

  Leicestershire

  8,433

  11.6

  Lincolnshire

  5,355

  10.5

  Norfolk

  4,877

  8.3

  Northamptonshire

  3,929

  7.8

  North Yorkshire

  7,250

  12.4

  Nottinghamshire

  8,248

  9.2

  Staffordshire

  11,038

  12.6

  Suffolk

  3,671

  7.2

  Surrey

  6,320

  8.9

  Sussex

  11,763

  10.2

  Thames Valley

  8,983

  5.6

  Warwickshire

  2,419

  5.7

  West Mercia

  5,608

  6.8

  Wiltshire

  3,196

  6.2

  Greater Manchester

  27,501

  10.1

  Merseyside

  20,496

  10.8

  Northumbria

  16,063

  11.8

  South Yorkshire

  10,802

  9.3

  West Midlands

  23,113

  8.1

  West Yorkshire

  26,940

  12.9

  City of London

  3,607

  8.2

  Metropolitan Police3

  136,088

  9.4

  Total England

  485,307

  9.4

  175
  1 Figures are net of pension contributions, transfer values and recharges to other authorities.

  2 Current expenditure net of pensions income, sales, fees and charges, interest and other receipts.

  3 Metropolitan Police figures are estimates only.

  Fire and Civil Defence Funding
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 23 July,Official Report, column 408, if he will list for each county council and fire and civil defence authority and for each year since 1986–87, the amounts deducted by his

  Financial year

  Income

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Avon

  —

  1,000

  —

  —

  —

  Cheshire

  9,139

  7,101

  5,775

  7,400

  —

  Cleveland

  —

  120

  —

  —

  —

  Cornwall

  582

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cumbria

  165

  844

  655

  500

  500

  Derbyshire

  —

  2,090

  5,453

  —

  —

  Devon

  525

  1,440

  2,834

  —

  —

  East Sussex

  439

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hereford and Worcester

  —

  105

  750

  750

  —

  Isle of Wight

  30

  30

  —

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  —

  —

  2,345

  —

  —

  Leicestershire

  —

  592

  —

  —

  —

  Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  1,200

  —

  —

  Norfolk

  —

  460

  —

  —

  —

  Northamptonshire

  3,614

  3,620

  2,622

  10

  10

  North Yorkshire

  —

  187

  800

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  1,422

  1,096

  1,500

  —

  —

  Somerset

  1,794

  1,680

  1,644

  1,600

  1,600

  Staffordshire

  —

  372

  252

  100

  100

  Surrey

  42

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wiltshire

  —

  218

  —

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  9,223

  3,622

  7,288

  —

  —

  South Yorkshire

  2,592

  12,192

  14,111

  5,300

  —

  West Midlands

  16,425

  19,997

  11,118

  3,000

  8,000

  West Yorkshire

  8,893

  5,911

  13,463

  13,000

  14,000

  Gwynedd

  167

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Glamorgan

  225

  525

  69

  40

  40

  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing for each metropolitan fire and civil defence authority and for the London fire and civil defence authority(a) its 1993–94

  (£ Million)

  Fire and Civil Defence Authority

  (a)1993–94 Fire and Civil Defence SSA

  (b)1993–94 Fire and Civil Defence budgeted spending

  (c)Percentage difference between (a) and (b)

  (d)1993–94 Capping limit

  London

  247.910

  247.749

  -0.06

  248.484

  Greater Manchester

  72.754

  70.516

  -3.08

  72.754

  Merseyside

  48.327

  47.429

  -1 86

  48.327

  South Yorkshire

  29 683

  30.104

  1.42

  31.166

  Tyne and Wear

  35.357

  33.803

  -4.40

  35.357

  West Midlands

  69.070

  66.728

  -3.39

  69.070

  West Yorkshire

  50 752

  52.392

  3.23

  53.069

  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing for each relevant authority(a) its 1993–94 standard spending
  176
  Department from civil defence grant aid allocations in respect of income generated by local authority emergency planning units; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The table gives the amount of income which is declared by each county council and fire and civil defence authority for the five financial years 1990–91 to 1994–95. Figures for earlier years could be retrieved only by incurring disproportionate costs.

  We are not aware of any case in which grant aid was reduced to take account of declared income. It remains our policy that local authorities should continue to benefit from income generate locally and they will be notified of the new arangemetns in time for 1 April 1994.

  standard spending assessment, (b) its budgeted spending for 1993–94, (c) the percentage difference between (a) and (b) and (d) the cap proposed by him for 1993–94.

  Mr. Howard
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  assessment for fire services, (b) its budgeted spending for 1993–94 on fire services and (c) the percentage difference between (a) and (b).

  Mr. Howard
  The following table provides the information requested in respect of English county fire authorities.
  177

  £ million

  Fire authority

  (a) 1993–94 Fire and civil defence SSA

  (b) 1993–94 Fire and civil defence budgeted spending

  (c) Percentage difference between (a) and (b)

  Avon

  20.473

  21.829

  6.62

  Bedfordshire

  11073

  11.780

  6.38

  Berkshire

  16.601

  15.798

  -4.84

  Buckinghamshire

  12.360

  12.318

  -0.34

  Cambridgeshire

  12.039

  13.795

  14.59

  Cheshire

  20.103

  21.002

  4.47

  Cleveland

  19.464

  20.128

  3.41

  Cornwall

  7.181

  10.146

  41.29

  Cumbria

  8.753

  11.813

  34.96

  Derbyshire

  17.067

  18.272

  7.06

  Devon

  19.557

  22.240

  13.72

  Dorset

  12.065

  13.748

  13.95

  Durham

  12.973

  13.914

  7.25

  East Sussex

  14.891

  16.600

  11.48

  Essex

  31.445

  34.667

  10.25

  Gloucestershire

  9.605

  10.285

  7.08

  Hampshire

  31.585

  27.823

  -11.91

  Hereford and Worcester

  12.116

  12.025

  -0.75

  Hertfordshire

  20.328

  19.547

  -3.84

  Humberside

  21.322

  22.168

  3.97

  Isle of Wight

  2.229

  3.396

  52.36

  Kent

  30.998

  35.138

  13.36

  Lancashire

  32.276

  33.320

  3.23

  Leicestershire

  16.924

  14.878

  -12–09

  Lincolnshire

  9.583

  11.641

  21.48

  Norfolk

  13.010

  14.999

  15.29

  Northamptonshire

  11.260

  11.460

  1.78

  Northumberland

  5.823

  8.433

  44.82

  North Yorkshire

  12.001

  14.718

  22.64

  Nottinghamshire

  21.087

  20.784

  -1.44

  Oxfordshire

  11.284

  11.326

  0.37

  Shropshire

  7.839

  8.040

  2.56

  Somerset

  7.693

  9.349

  21.53

  Staffordshire

  19.345

  18.577

  -3.97

  Suffolk

  11.023

  12.770

  15.85

  Surrey

  22.133

  26.288

  18.77

  Warwickshire

  8.993

  11.574

  28.70

  West Sussex

  14.836

  16.122

  8.67

  Wiltshire

  10.054

  10.267

  2.12

  Isles of Scilly

  0.053

  0.088

  66.04

  Football Offences
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all persons and organisations in Holland with whom arrangements were made by his Department in the period preceding the England versus Holland football match of 13 October with a view to extending the provisions of the Football Spectators (Corresponding Offences in Italy) Order 1990 to cover offences committed in Holland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Government continue to seek bilateral agreements under part II of the Football Spectators Act 1989. In the case of the Netherlands,

  Number of defendants prosecuted and found guilty of offences under sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Football (Offences) Act 19911, 1991 and 19922

  England and Wales

  1991

  19922

  Offence

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  Section 2

  Throwing a missile at or towards the playing area or any area in which spectators or other persons may be present

  2

  1

  34

  27

  Section 3

  Taking part in indecent or racialist chanting

  6

  5

  31

  21

  178
  officials have been in contact with officials in the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Ministry of the Interior, both direct and through the British embassy in the Hague. My right hon. and learned Friend has also written to the Dutch Minister of Justice on this subject.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminal proceedings involving alleged offences contained in sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Football (Offences) Act 1991 have been pursued since it came into force on 10 August 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information for 1991 and 1992, which is provisional, is given in the following table. The 1993 data will not be available until autumn 1994.
  179

  1991

  19922

  Offence

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  Section 4

  Going on to the playing or adjacent area without lawful authority or lawful excuse

  23

  23

  275

  246

  1 Came into force on 10 August 1991.

  2 Provisional.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18-year-old(a) men and (b) women held in custody in prisons in England and Wales on 18 October.

  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 2 November 1993:
  Population of persons aged 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 in prison service establishments in England and Wales.
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 year old (a) men and (b) women were in custody on 18 October 1993.
  The latest readily available information is for 30 June 1993 is shown in the enclosed table.

  Replica Firearms
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the number of armed attacks where it has subsequently been discovered that the criminal had used replica guns.

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information relates to offences recorded by the police in which imitation firearms were reported to have been used. This information is published in "Criminal Statistics England and Wales 1991", tables 3.4 and 3.5. The figures include replica firearms and all other types of imitation firearms including toys. A copy of this publication can be found in the Library.

  Police, Bexley
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about police strength in the Bexley division.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We have received representations from the Bexley Police Liaison Committee and the St. Michael's Residents Association.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the prison population in England and Wales in each year since 1980.

  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 2 November 1993:
  180
  Prison Population Since 1980
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what the prison population in England and Wales has been in each of the years since 1980.
  The information you have requested is shown in the attached table.

  Average population in custody1 in England and Wales 1980–1993.

  Year

  Average population

  1980

  43,109

  1981

  43,436

  1982

  43,754

  1983

  43,772

  1984

  43,349

  1985

  46,278

  1986

  46,889

  1987

  48,963

  1988

  49,949

  1989

  48,610

  1990

  45,636

  1991

  45,897

  1992

  45,817

  1993

  245,633

  1 Includes prisoners held in police cells

  2 Latest monthly figure (August 1993).

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the agreed normal prison accommodation for each of the prisons in England and Wales and the actual prison population in each prison on 18 October.

  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 2 November 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Prison Service accommodation and population.
  I attach a table showing the certified normal accommodation (CNA) and actual population in each establishment in England and Wales on 18 October 1993.

  Establishment CNA and population on 18 October 1993.

  Establishment

  CAN

  Population

  Acklington

  676

  641

  Albany

  313

  302

  Aldington

  133

  97

  Ashwell

  404

  392

  Askham Grange

  129

  98

  Aylesbury

  241

  240

  Bedford

  170

  243

  Belmarsh

  841

  692

  Birmingham

  638

  712

  Blakenhurst

  549

  549

  Blantyre House

  95

  94

  Blundeston

  410

  332

  Brinsford

  446

  440

  Bristol

  374

  414

  Brixton

  518

  604

  Brockhill

  156

  133

  181

  Establishment

  CAN

  Population

  Bullingdon

  635

  610

  Bullwood Hall

  125

  111

  Camp Hill

  406

  342

  Canterbury

  128

  187

  Cardiff

  328

  436

  Castington

  300

  294

  Channings Wood

  594

  572

  Chelmsford

  217

  315

  Coldingley

  222

  236

  Cookham Wood

  120

  113

  Dartmoor

  560

  500

  Deerbolt

  432

  348

  Dorchester

  136

  211

  Dover

  316

  192

  Downview

  287

  280

  Drake Hall

  255

  202

  Durham

  364

  522

  East Sutton Park

  85

  78

  Elmley

  635

  602

  Erlestoke

  206

  206

  Everthorpe

  228

  224

  Exeter

  317

  416

  Featherstone

  599

  588

  Feltham

  874

  784

  Finnamore Wood

  112

  90

  Ford

  536

  455

  Frankland

  339

  325

  Full Sutton

  604

  539

  Garth

  512

  507

  Gartree

  258

  249

  Glen Parva

  854

  755

  Gloucester

  207

  241

  Grendon

  190

  168

  Guys Marsh

  300

  178

  Haslar

  145

  142

  Hatfield

  180

  175

  Haverigg

  345

  295

  Hewell Grange

  136

  158

  High Down

  549

  506

  Highpoint

  679

  646

  Hindley

  317

  324

  Hollesley Bay

  425

  295

  Holloway

  517

  492

  Holme House

  649

  527

  Hull

  269

  458

  Huntercombe

  240

  159

  Kingston

  104

  102

  Kirkham

  620

  597

  Kirklevington

  74

  67

  Lancaster

  186

  258

  Lancaster Farms

  260

  328

  Latchmere House

  131

  121

  Leeds

  700

  1,141

  Leicester

  194

  327

  Lewes

  267

  335

  Leyhill

  410

  409

  Lincoln

  444

  602

  Lindholme

  622

  598

  Littlehey

  543

  529

  Liverpool

  931

  1,219

  Long Lartin

  362

  337

  Low Newton

  199

  260

  Maidstone

  513

  518

  Manchester

  291

  311

  Moorland

  641

  648

  Morton Hall

  168

  169

  The Mount

  484

  472

  New Hall

  205

  155

  North Sea Camp

  204

  200

  Northallerton

  146

  93

  Norwich

  463

  445

  Nottingham

  218

  206

  Onley

  456

  447

  Parkhurst

  286

  236

  Pentonville

  559

  659

  Portland

  424

  346

  Prescoed

  40

  38

  Preston

  324

  542

  182

  Establishment

  CAN

  Population

  Pucklechurch

  56

  54

  Ranby

  331

  329

  Reading

  182

  171

  Risley

  773

  706

  Rochester

  303

  186

  Rudgate

  300

  268

  Send

  113

  110

  Shepton Mallet

  158

  186

  Shrewsbury

  168

  297

  Spring Hill

  210

  203

  Stafford

  532

  505

  Standford Hill

  384

  296

  Stocken

  396

  390

  Stoke Heath

  300

  262

  Styal

  180

  200

  Sudbury

  509

  426

  Swaleside

  504

  503

  Swansea

  213

  261

  Swinfen Hall

  167

  163

  Thorn Cross

  240

  182

  Thorp Arch

  166

  163

  Usk

  201

  192

  The Verne

  552

  542

  Wakefield

  662

  657

  Wandsworth

  838

  801

  Wayland

  580

  548

  Wellingborough

  284

  280

  Werrington

  110

  110

  Wetherby

  120

  150

  Wharton

  217

  213

  Whitemoor

  534

  495

  Winchester

  361

  413

  The Wolds

  320

  315

  Woodhill

  492

  486

  Wormwood Scrubs

  527

  764

  Wymott

  110

  102

  Border and Immigration Control
  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what matters were discussed at the recent meeting in Paris of Ministers responsible for border and immigration control; and what conclusions were reached.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I assume that my right hon. and learned Friend has in mind the meeting of the Schengen executive committee which was held in Paris on 18 October. The United Kingdom is not a signatory to the Schengen convention and was therefore not represented at the meeting. I understand that its main conclusion was that implementation of the convention should be postponed until 1 February 1994.

  Leicestershire Police
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide additional resources for the Leicestershire police force.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In view of the need to maintain firm control over public expenditure, no police forces are receiving establishment increases for 1993–94.

  Suicide
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the annual cost of individual acts of suicide and attempted suicide in terms of police investigation, health and social services costs and coroners' costs; and if he will make a statement.
  183
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not collected.

  Prison Ship
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what negotiations his Department is holding with third parties for the purchase of a prison ship; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what steps his Department has taken to commission the construction of a prison ship or negotiate with a third party for the commissioning of the construction of a prison ship; and if he will make a statement.

  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. Alex Salmond, dated 2 November 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about prison ships.
  The Prison Service is considering a number of options as part of its contingency planning to identify ways of increasing the capacity of the prison estate. Marine detention facilities are one of the options being considered.
  At this stage, no action has been taken to procure a prison ship, although preliminary discussions have taken place. These discussions are confined to existing ships and do not include the construction of new ships.

  Private Security Firms
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many private security organisations are engaged in the policing of housing estates in(a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information on the number of patrols by private security firms in England and Wales and Northern Ireland is not held centrally.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce a system of licensing for private security organisations.

  Number of offences recorded and persons cautioned, prosecuted and found guilty in Merseyside police force area and England and Wales under the Theft Act 1968, section 12A as added by the Aggravated Vehicle Taking Act 1992

  England and Wales 19921

  Offence description

  Merseyside

  England and Wales

  Owing to the driving of the vehicle, Cautions an accident occurs causing the death of any persion

  offences recorded

  —

  19

  Cautions

  —

  1

  Prosecutions

  —

  33

  Convictions

  —

  21

  (a) the vehicle was driven dangerously on a road or other public place; or

  Offences recorded

  45

  2,355

  Cautions

  1

  111

  (b) owing to the driving of the vehicle, an accident occurred causing injury to any person or damage to any property other than the vehicle; or

  Prosecutions

  1

  111

  Convictions

  22

  1,700

  (c) damage was caused to the vehicle

  1 Provisional

  184
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Government's policy is to support the development of self-regulation within the private security industry. There are no plans to introduce a system of licensing.

  Joy Riding
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce the number of deaths and injuries arising from joy riding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government are monitoring the effects of recent legislative measures. The Criminal Justice Act 1993 doubled to 10 years' imprisonment the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving or careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs. The Aggravated Vehicle Taking Act 1992 was introduced to provide more appropriate penalties for the menace of joy riding.

  We will continue with our strategy to reduce the opportunity for all forms of car crime by encouraging motor manufacturers and insurers to improve vehicle security, and motorists to adopt good security measures.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been involved in joy-riding accidents which have resulted in(a) deaths and (b) injury in each of the past five years (i) in England and Wales and (ii) on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information is given in the following table. Provisional information is given for 1992 only on the number of notifiable offences and persons cautioned, prosecuted and convicted under the Theft Act 1968, section 12A as added by the Aggravated Vehicle Taking Act 1992, section 1, which came into force on 1 April 1992. Data for 1993 are not yet available. Prior to 1992, the term "joy riding" related to offences which would have been included in the theft and unauthorised taking of motor vehicles offence classification.

  Metropolitan Police
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many chief superintendent and chief inspector posts he expects to be removed from the Metropolitan police by 1 April 1995;
  185
  (2) if he will estimate the number of chief superintendents and chief inspectors remaining in the Metropolitan police who will be redeployed following the rank changes announced on 28 October;

  (3) what plans he has to meet the cost of any redundancies in the Metropolitan police arising from the deletion of chief superintendent and chief inspector posts in the Metropolitan police service between now and 1 April 1995; and what is his estimate of this cost.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Commissioner has in hand a review of the internal management structure of the Metropolitan police and will need to consider in that context how best to implement the decisions about ranks in the police service which my right hon. and learned Friend announced on 28 October. It is too early to say how the necessary restructuring will be achieved.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many superintendents, chief superintendents, inspectors and chief inspectors are currently employed in the Metropolitan police service.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  'The following is the information requested:

  Number

  Chief Superintendents

  133

  Superintendents

  229

  Chief Inspectors

  489

  Inspectors

  1,479

  Mr. Constantin Rudaro
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the case of the Romanian refugee Constantin Rudaro was drawn to the attention of the immigration and nationality department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  will write to the hon. Member.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing, for each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department, whether the public have a statutory right to(a) attend all board or committee meetings, (b) inspect the minutes of meetings, (c)/ inspect the annual reports, (d) inspect the annual accounts and (e) inspect a register of members' interests.

  Mr. Howard
  None of the executive non-departmental public bodies for which the Home Office is responsible is required by statute to give the public rights of access in the manner specified in the hon. Member's question, though section 46 of the Race Relations Act 1976 requires the publication of the report and accounts of the Commission for Racial Equality. It is also the practice to publish the reports and accounts of the following executive non-departmental bodies for which the Home Office is responsible:

  —The Office of the Data Protection Registrar

  —Gaming Board of Great Britain

  —Police Complaints Authority

  —Horserace Totalisator Board

  —Horserace Betting Levy Board

  Private Investment Projects
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and have been commenced since the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Howard
  There has been one project: an agreement with Lynton plc to provide new immigration detention facilities at Gatwick airport.

  "Statewatch"
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to how many copies his Department subscribes of the publication "Statewatch."

  Mr. Howard
  Two.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Quarry House (Film)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what requests BBC TV North made to his Department in respect of permission to film at his Department's premises at Quarry house, Leeds on 4 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The Benefits Agency national press office has no record of a request from BBC TV North to film at Quarry house on 4 May 1993.

  Benefits for Children
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much will be spent on benefits for children in low-income families, excluding child benefit in the next financial year.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. It is estimated that in 1994–95, the amount spent on families, excluding child benefit, will be £8,850 million.

  Sickness and Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update the information given to the hon. Member for Blackpool, North (Mr. Elletson) on 7 July,Official Report, column 165, to include estimates for 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  Mr. Scott
  The latest available information is in the tables:

  Numbers claiming benefit

  Date

  Sickness benefit2

  Invalidity benefit

  29 May 1982

  469,000

  684,000

  2 April 1983

  408,000

  737,000

  31 March 1984

  3247,000

  797,000

  30 March 1985

  225,000

  849,000

  5 April 1986

  237,000

  899,000

  4 April 1987

  3187,000

  968,000

  2 April 1988

  228,000

  1,047,000

  1 April 1989

  266,000

  1,126,000

  31 March 1990

  309,000

  1,209,000

  30 March 1991

  372,000

  1,306,000

  4 April 1992

  458,000

  1,439,000

  187
  Notes:

  1 Source: Based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants rounded to the nearest thousand. The latest date for which information is available is 4 April 1992.

  2 Includes people receiving national insurance credits who are claiming but are not entitled to sickness benefit.

  3 Statutory sick pay introduced from 6 April 1983 for a maximum eight weeks sickness absence in a tax year. From 6 April 1986 statutory sick pay was extended to up to 28 weeks in a period of incapacity for work.

  Estimated average numbers receiving benefit at any one time

  Year

  Sickness benefit

  Invalidity benefit

  1992–93

  135,000

  1,490,000

  1993–94

  130,000

  1,585,000

  1994–95

  135,000

  1,680,000

  Source: Departmental report.

  Benefits
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Betts) of 25 February,Official Report, column 681, including the effect of the taper for council tax benefit.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table. The base rate has remained unchanged at 6 per cent. since 26 January 1993. The taper in council tax benefit, which was introduced in April 1993, is 20 per cent. Council tax benefit can meet a maximum 100 per cent. of the council tax whereas in community charge benefit, the maximum rebate was 80 per cent. of the community charge.

  Date 1 April 1993

  Figures

  Base rate (per cent.)

  6.00

  Amount of interest earned on capital of £5,000 invested at base rate (per week)

  £5.769

  Benefit deduction for £5,000 capital in both housing benefit and council tax benefit (per week)

  £8.00

  Tapered amount set against benefit (per week) HB (65 per cent. taper)

  £5.20

  CTB (20 per cent taper)

  £1.60

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what efforts are presently being made to ensure people know of the full range of benefits available; and what strategies are being pursued to ensure everyone gets their full entitlement.

  Mr. Burt
  The provision of information and advice to the public on benefits is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 1 November 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions raised about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent
  188
  Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security, asking what efforts are being made to ensure people know of the full range of benefits available; and what strategies are being pursued to ensure everyone gets their full entitlement.
  As you will be aware, the Secretary of State announced, on 9 September, that the Benefits Agency is involved in a major programme of work designed to improve the service given to customers. The intention is to provide a One Stop benefit delivery service which aims to minimise the points of contact for customers who claim more than one benefit. The first stage towards a One Stop service should be in place by mid 1994 and it is envisaged that customers will then be able to obtain from their local Benefits Agency Office:

  1. Advice and information on all the major benefits regardless of where they are administered.

  2. Access to most benefit claim forms.

  3. Help with claiming benefits even if they are not locally administered.

  In connection with the One Stop project, the Benefits Agency is establishing better links with other Agencies and associated service providers, such as Employment Services and Local Authorities. The Agency is also working closely with a range of advisers and intermediaries to ensure that they have access to appropriate information and support to enable them to brief their clients effectively on benefit related issues.
  The availability and visibility of information materials in non-Benefits Agency outlets is being increased; currently over 70,000 intermediaries have direct access to our material through the Benefits Agency Publicity Register. In addition, steps are being taken to improve the range of material available in other forms, for example in Braille, large print, audio cassette and in ethnic translation.
  The Social Security Freeline Service provides information and advice on all benefits to the general public and as an addition to this the Benefit Enquiry Line gives advice to people with disabilities and their carers; this service now includes a minicom number and expanded form filling facility. To help customers further, a Family Credit Helpline was introduced, coinciding with a major advertising campaign, when the Secretary of State launched the Return to Work initiative in April.
  Finally, a national Customer Service Definition, outlining the standards and range of services to be provided, has been issued to all Benefits Agency offices.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  State Benefits
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people depend entirely on state benefits for their income.

  Mr. Burt
  In 1990–91, there was an estimated total of 3.6 million adults and children living in families whose only source of income was state benefits.

  Marginal Tax and Benefit Rates
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his answer of 25 February,Official Report, column 682, on marginal tax and social security rates to include estimates for 1993–94 and 1994–95, the latter based on the assumption of statutory indexation and including measures already announced in the 1993 Budget.

  Mr. Burt
  Estimates for 1994–95 on marginal tax and social security rates, can be updated only at disproportionate cost. It is anticipated that the information necessary to provide an update will be available early next year. Estimates for 1993–94 are given in the table.
  189

  Number of people with marginal deduction rates including social security

  1985–86

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  100 per cent. plus

  70

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  90 per cent. plus

  130

  45

  45

  45

  55

  75

  100

  80 per cent. plus

  290

  345

  210

  235

  205

  250

  200

  70 per cent. plus

  290

  515

  415

  395

  400

  500

  545

  60 per cent. plus

  450

  515

  420

  395

  405

  510

  555

  50 per cent. plus

  680

  515

  420

  395

  405

  510

  560

  40 per cent. plus

  n/a

  n/a

  455

  665

  435

  520

  605

  Notes:

  1. Figures for 1985–86 to 1991–92 are for benefit units where at least one partner works 24 hours or more.

  2. Figures for 1992–93 are for benefit units where at least one partner works for 16 hours a week or more. These people would have experienced 100 per cent. deduction rate whilst on income support so their circumstances as a result of the change to family credit, will have improved.

  3. The information is based on family expenditure Survey.

  Family Benefits
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families with children, broken down into lone parent families and two-parent families, are in receipt of income support, family credit or disability working allowance; and for each type of family for each relevant benefit, how many include a qualifying child.

  Mr. Burt
  The table shows the latest available figures:

  Benefit in payment

  Lone parent families

  Two parent families

  Income support (IS)

  1985,000

  1511,000

  Family credit (FC)

  2206,000

  2281,000

  Disability working allowance (DWA)

  3270

  3709

  Totals

  4,191,270

  4792,709

  Note

  1 Income support quarterly statistical inquiry, November 1992—rounded to nearest thousand.

  2 As at 30 April 1993—rounded to nearest thousand.

  3As at 30 April 1993.

  4 There will be a small overlap because those on FC or DWA may also claim IS in mid-award if they cease work.

  All the above cases include children for whom benefit is paid.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the level of child benefit in 1993–94 and 1994–95 if it had been fully uprated since April 1987 and its structure had remained the same, assuming full indexation of the benefit in 1994–95.

  Mr. Burt
  The rate would be £10.30 in 1993–94 and £10.50 in 1994–95.

  Benefit Rebates
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on revenues in 1993–94 and 1994–95 of reducing the maximum amount of rebate payable for(a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit to (i) 90 per cent., (ii) 80 per cent. and (iii) 70 per cent. of eligible rent on council tax payments.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested for 1993–94 is in the table. Estimates of the effect on revenues at 1994–95 benefit levels and prices are not yet available.
  190

  Percentage of eligible rent and council tax used in the assessment of CTB and HB

  Total savings in housing benefi (£ million)

  Total savings in council tax benefit(£ million)

  90

  1,600

  420

  80

  3,070

  685

  70

  4,365

  915

  Source: Estimates based on the 1989–90–91 family expenditure surveys, uprated to 1993–94 benefit levels and prices, rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  Pensioner's Incomes
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update the answer to the hon. Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Sir D. Knox) of 15 December 1992,Official Report, columns 150–51, relating to pensioners incomes, giving the most recently available figures.

  Mr. Hague
  Information is not available in the form requested. As with the earlier answer, the requested distribution was in some cases too detailed to give a reliable number of sample cases. Certain ranges have therefore been merged in order to ensure estimates are based on at least 20 sample cases. In addition, the nature of the survey techniques used in the family expenditure survey means that the separate incomes of husbands and wives within a couple cannot be identified reliably. The answer therefore categorises single people—male and female—and couples only. The available information is in the tables.

  Weekly non-benefit income distribution—Pensioners Single Female Pensioners

  £ in January 1991 prices

  Thousands

  Income (£)

  1,477

  0–5

  285

  5–10

  195

  10–15

  178

  15–20

  267

  20–30

  161

  30–40

  135

  40–50

  112

  50–60

  100

  60–70

  72

  70–80

  53

  80–90

  50

  90–100

  167

  100–150

  115

  150–200

  83

  200–300

  72

  Over 300

  191

  Single Male Pensioners

  £ in January 1991 prices

  Thousands

  Income (£)

  266

  0–5

  48

  5–10

  53

  10–15

  53

  15–20

  74

  20–30

  62

  30–40

  48

  40–50

  36

  50–70

  60

  70–100

  72

  100–150

  42

  150–200

  42

  200–300

  41

  Over 300

  Weekly non-benefit income distribution—Pensioners Couples (husband over pension age)

  £ in January 1991 prices

  Income (£)

  Thousands

  0–5

  472

  5–10

  130

  10–15

  89

  15–20

  91

  20–30

  181

  30–40

  160

  40–50

  120

  50–60

  113

  60–70

  79

  70–80

  92

  80–90

  88

  90–100

  86

  100–150

  285

  150–200

  184

  200–300

  198

  300–400

  109

  400–500

  61

  Over 500

  84

  Source: Family expenditure surveys 1990–91.

  Notes: The maximum amount of each category is rounded up to the nearest £1 for ease of reference, eg. where a category is shown as 10–20 it should read £10–£19.99.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on revenues in 1994–95 and 1993–94 of increasing the taper for the withdrawal of housing benefit to(a) 70 per cent., (b) 75 per cent. and (c) 80 per cent.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested for 1993–94 is in the table. Estimates of the effect on revenues at 1994–95 benefit levels and prices are not yet available.

  Housing benefit taper Per cent.

  Total saving £

  70

  130

  75

  240

  80

  340

  Source: Estimates based on the 1989–90–91 family expenditure surveys, uprated to 1993–94 benefit levels and prices, rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  Statutory Maternity Pay
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the external medical advice on which recent changes to the regulations regarding statutory maternity pay were based.

  Mr. Hague
  There have been no recent changes to statutory maternity pay. The Government recently issued a consultation document describing proposed changes to our maternity benefits schemes to implement the maternity pay provisions of the EC pregnant workers directive. The consultation period has ended and the responses are being carefully examined.

  Income Support
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures on the same basis as table series 10 of the income support statistics annual inquiry for May 1992 showing for each premium group in Great Britain(a) the average amount of deductions for all cases with more than one deduction and (b) the average amount of benefit before deductions.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table.

  Income support recipients Cases with more than one deduction by premium group

  Number of cases

  Average amount of deductions £

  Average IS before deductions £

  Total cases

  333,500

  1599

  68.24

  Premium groups

  Higher pensioner premium

  3,600

  12.47

  39.15

  Enhanced pensioner premium

  600

  14.24

  10.39

  Pensioner premium

  10,100

  13.83

  51.75

  Severe disability premium (higher rate)

  100

  23.80

  66.20

  Severe disability premium (lower rate)

  1,500

  17.71

  78.05

  Disability premium

  35,200

  16.23

  65.66

  Lone parent premium

  176,400

  16.73

  70.41

  Disabled child premium

  4,800

  22.17

  89.07

  Family premium

  245,000

  17.12

  75.97

  Carer premium

  5,100

  20.05

  66.11

  No premium

  54,000

  12.47

  45.24

  Notes:

  1. The numbers of cases given are the same as those published in table 10.2 of the income support statistics annual inquiry, May 1992. For use elsewhere, these would normally be rounded to the nearest thousand as recommended on page 17 of the inquiry.

  2. The average amount of deductions given is the average total sum deducted per case, and is correct to the nearest penny.

  3. The average weekly amount of income support before deduction is correct to the nearest penny.

  4. Income support recipients may also receive other benefits, from which deductions may be made. Therefore the average amount of deductions may exceed the average amount of income support.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 21 April,Official Report, columns 137–38, on income support, if he will update the information to include a breakdown for 1992 and any estimates for 1993.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table. 1992 is the latest year for which regional figures are available. Forecast information for claimants and dependants by region is not available.
  193

  Income Support recipients, claimants, partners and dependants by region

  Region

  Claimants

  Partners

  Dependants

  North Eastern

  807,000

  149,000

  449,000

  London, North

  957,000

  185,000

  563,000

  South Western

  398,000

  78,000

  203,000

  Wales

  301,000

  55,000

  170,000

  Midlands

  870,000

  173,000

  506,000

  North Western

  786,000

  126,000

  440,000

  Scotland

  536,000

  77,000

  260,000

  London, South

  856,000

  148,000

  476,000

  Great Britain

  5,511,000

  991,000

  3,067,000

  Notes:

  Source: Income support statistics quarterly inquiry, November 1992.

  2. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand, and so may not sum to the totals given.

  3. Information is not available for the standard statistical regions. Figures are therefore given by social security regions.

  4. "Partners" are people living as a married couple.

  5. "Dependants" are young people aged under 19 who live in the parental home.

  Spending
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update the answer of 7 June,Official Report, columns 144–45, to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on the change in real terms in social security spending, giving estimates for 1993–94 and 1994–95, expressed in 1993–94 prices.

  Mr. Scott
  Details of total security spending from 1978–79 to 1994–95 are given in the table.

  Expenditure in £ million

  Years

  Cash

  1993–94 prices

  Percentage change in real terms over previous year

  1978–79

  16,602

  47,615

  —

  1979–80

  19,616

  48,218

  1.27

  1980–81

  23,751

  49,337

  2.32

  1981–82

  28,963

  54,866

  11.21

  1982–83

  33,000

  58,356

  6.36

  1983–84

  36,881

  62,334

  6.82

  1984–85

  39,957

  64,273

  3.11

  1985–86

  43,502

  66,353

  3.24

  1986–87

  46,859

  69,246

  4.36

  1987–88

  49,145

  68,841

  -0.59

  1988–89

  49,967

  65,242

  -5.23

  1989–90

  53,026

  64,965

  -0.42

  1990–91

  59,497

  67,489

  3.89

  1991–92

  69,048

  73,430

  8.80

  1992–93

  78,343

  80,497

  9.62

  1993–94

  84,495

  84,495

  4.97

  1994–95

  88,250

  84,652

  0.19

  Notes:

  1. 1992–93 figures are estimated outturn.

  2. 1993–94 and 1994–95 figures represent anticipated expenditure.

  3. The real terms decrease over the period 1987–88 to 1989–90 is largely attributable to the fall in unemployment since 1986.

  Council Tax Benefit
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on revenues in 1993–94 and 1994–95 of increasing the taper for the withdrawal of council tax benefit to(a) 25 per cent., (b) 30 per cent. and (c) 35 per cent.
  194
  Mr. Burt
  The information requested for 1993–94 is in the table. Estimates of the effect on revenues at 1994–95 benefit levels and prices are not yet available.

  Council tax benefit taper

  Total savings (£ million)

  25 per cent.

  55

  30 per cent.

  95

  35 per cent.

  125

  Source: Estimates based on 1989–90–91 family expenditure surveys, uprated to 1993–94 benefit levels and prices, rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  Mortgage Interest
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to end the payment of mortgage interest to recipients of income support.

  Mr. Burt
  The long-term review of benefits that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has set in train is looking at all aspects of the benefits system. No decisions have been taken yet.

  Private Capital
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and have been commenced since the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Hague
  There have been no such projects.

  Adopted Babies
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what maternity benefit is available for mothers of adopted babies.

  Mr. Burt
  The two main maternity benefits, statutory maternity pay and maternity allowance, are available only to natural mothers and are intended to provide a measure of income replacement to help working women give up work around the time of the birth in the interests of their own and the unborn baby's well-being.

  The social fund, however, provides a non-recoverable flat-rate maternity payment to families receiving income support, family credit or disability working allowance. Payment is made to qualifying adoptive parents if the adopted child is less than one-year-old.

  Adoptive parents can also claim child benefit and, where appropriate, increases of other benefits for adopted children.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the questions that are required to be answered by single parents wishing to obtain benefit from his Department's Child Support Agency; and if he will send to the hon. Member for Don Valley a copy of the questionnaire and the guidance notes issued to his officers at his agency.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
  195
  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 2 November 1993:
  As Chief Executive to the Child Support Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the questions required to be answered by single parents wishing to obtain benefit from the Child Support Agency and the questionnaire and the guidance notes issued to officers of the Agency.
  Clients who use the Agency's services are asked to complete a Maintenance Application Form (MAF) giving details of their circumstances. There are three versions of this form; one for those clients in receipt of Income Support, one for those not in receipt of Income Support and one for children in Scotland. In addition to the initial questions asked on the MAF further questions may be necessary depending on the individual circumstances of the case. Many factors need to be taken into account when making an assessment and it is important for the Agency to have all the necessary information about the circumstances of both the Parent with Care and the Absent Parent to ensure that the assessment is accurate. I shall send you copies of the relevant application forms and will also place copies in the Library of the House.
  Guidance instructions to Agency staff are contained in the Child Support Manual and the Field Operations Guide. Copies of this Guide were placed in the House Library in April.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the House Library.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing how many current Child Support Agency assessments are(a) nil, (b) £2.20, (c) £2.21 to £9.99, (d)£10 to £19.99, (e) £20 to £29.99, (f) £30 to £39.99, (g) £40 to £49.99, (h) £50 to £69.99, (i) £70 to £99.99, (j) £100 to £149.99 and (k) over £150 a week.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 29 October 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational
  196
  matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking a number of questions about maintenance assessments.
  I am sorry that the information you requested is not routinely available. The number of maintenance assessments completed by the Agency to the end of September 1993 is 36,610, but the level of assessments is not broken down as requested.
  I am sorry not to have been more helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) whether the code of practice to be followed by the bailiffs appointed to act on behalf of the Child Support Agency will be made available to(a) the Citizens Advice Bureau and (b) other advice agencies;

  (2) what steps the Child Support Agency will be taking to monitor the work of the bailiffs appointed to act on its behalf;

  (3) which firm of bailiffs has been appointed by the Child Support Agency to act on its behalf in levying distraint against absent parents who have failed to pay maintenance due; and whether the firm of bailiffs appointed has an agreed code of practice.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 29 October 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Child Support 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 a number of questions about the work of bailiffs appointed to act for the Agency.
  Raynor Ferrar and Co. of Iver in Buckinghamshire have been appointed as the Agency's bailiffs. The company currently operates under its own code of practice, endorsed by the Certified Bailiffs Association, but a code of practice relating specifically to the Agency's work will shortly be made publicly available and a copy will be placed in the House Library. All activity undertaken on the Agency's behalf will be closely monitored and the company will provide detailed monthly reports covering every case.
  I hope you will find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

  BOSNIA: CURRENT SITUATION
  BOSNIA: CURRENT SITUATION
  CROATIA: CURRENT SITUATION
  CROATIA: CURRENT SITUATION
  TUZLA AIRPORT
  TUZLA AIRPORT
  EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: MEMBERS' PENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: MEMBERS' PENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  ANGOLA: WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATION PROPOSAL
  ANGOLA: WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATION PROPOSAL
  FORMER YUGOSLAVIA: CONFLICT VICTIMS
  FORMER YUGOSLAVIA: CONFLICT VICTIMS
  COMMONWEALTH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: POLICY
  COMMONWEALTH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: POLICY
  EC MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES
  EC MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES
  EC: COMMISSION MEMBERS' PENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  EC: COMMISSION MEMBERS' PENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  PRISONER'S REQUEST FOR REPATRIATION TO GERMANY
  PRISONER'S REQUEST FOR REPATRIATION TO GERMANY
  SELBY COMPLEX COALFIELD
  SELBY COMPLEX COALFIELD
  DRAX POWER STATION
  DRAX POWER STATION
  DIRECTORS' CONTRACTS: SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL
  DIRECTORS' CONTRACTS: SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL
  ACCIDENTAL NUCLEAR RELEASE: MINISTER'S LETTER
  ACCIDENTAL NUCLEAR RELEASE: MINISTER'S LETTER
  COAL AND THE ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY
  COAL AND THE ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY
  GATT AGREEMENT AND RIO DECLARATION
  GATT AGREEMENT AND RIO DECLARATION
  OPTING OUT: SECRET BALLOTS
  OPTING OUT: SECRET BALLOTS
  OPTING OUT: EDUCATION DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURE
  OPTING OUT: EDUCATION DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURE
  TRANSPORT SECURITY: DIRECTOR's REPORT
  TRANSPORT SECURITY: DIRECTOR's REPORT
  JUBILEE LINE EXTENSION
  JUBILEE LINE EXTENSION
  PRINCE OF WALES'S GATE, HYDE PARK: REOPENING
  PRINCE OF WALES'S GATE, HYDE PARK: REOPENING
  BRISTOL TRAFFIC RESTRAINT STUDY
  BRISTOL TRAFFIC RESTRAINT STUDY
  DoT: CASH AND RUNNING COSTS LIMITS
  DoT: CASH AND RUNNING COSTS LIMITS
  NUCLEAR WEAPONS: POLICY
  NUCLEAR WEAPONS: POLICY
  PRE-TRIAL PUBLICITY: POLICY
  PRE-TRIAL PUBLICITY: POLICY
  "GUINNESS" TRIALS: PRE-TRIAL PUBLICITY
  "GUINNESS" TRIALS: PRE-TRIAL PUBLICITY
  GENERAL SIKORSKI
  GENERAL SIKORSKI
  BUCHANAN CASE: INQUIRY
  BUCHANAN CASE: INQUIRY
  BREAST SCREENING
  BREAST SCREENING
  BREAST CANCER STATISTICS
  BREAST CANCER STATISTICS
  DENTAL TREATMENT: GENERAL ANAESTHETICS
  DENTAL TREATMENT: GENERAL ANAESTHETICS
  UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
  UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION: POLICY GUIDANCE
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION: POLICY GUIDANCE
  ISLE OF WIGHT: LOCAL GOVERNMENT
  ISLE OF WIGHT: LOCAL GOVERNMENT