Written Answers of 23 November 1993

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Chemical Weapons Convention
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government plan to take to work for the effective implementation of the chemical weapons convention.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We signed the chemical weapons convention in January 1993 and play an active part in the work of the preparatory commission which is charged with setting up the future Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in the Hague. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is working closely with the Department of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Defence and other Departments to make the preparations for the implementation of the convention in the United Kingdom. The necessary implementing legislation will be introduced when parliamentary time permits.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 8 and 9 November.

  Mr. Hurd
  I attended the Foreign Affairs Council on 8 and 9 November. My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office also attended.

  The Council agreed to rename the "Council of the European Communities" as the "Council of the European Union" to reflect its involvement in both EC affairs and the intergovernmental pillars; and that political declarations made in the context of common foreign and security policy would now be made in the name of the European Union. The Council also agreed on a minutes statement to the effect that these decisions did not alter the current legal position that the European Union does not enjoy international legal personality and that the designation of the parties to any international instruments having legal effects would be a matter to be decided case by case.

  Sir Leon Brittan reported to the Council on his recent discussions with the United States Administration and on the state of the GATT Uruguay round negotiations in Geneva. The Council reaffirmed the need to make every effort to reach a global, durable and balanced agreement by the 15 December deadline. The Council expressed its concern over the slow progress of the negotiations and launched an urgent appeal to its main trading partners to engage more actively in the negotiations. The Council also considered a written report by the Commission on outstanding problems in the negotiations and noted that the Commission would shortly produce a further report on the audio-visual sector. The presidency decided to arrange a further discussi on at a special Council in early December.
  14
  The Council agreed that new Commission proposals on anti-dumping procedures should be considered by the Permanent Representatives Committee with a view to a decision at the 6 December Foreign Affairs Council.

  Greece raised the possible appointment of an EC observer for Cyprus. The Council agreed to defer discussion until a further Council.

  Ministers had their first collective meeting with the chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Mr. Arafat gave his analysis of the latest developments in the peace process, and stressed the importance of international, including EC assistance. The Council recalled that the EC is already the Palestinians' largest donor, and underlined the need for transparent, effective and accountable Palestinian aid structures in the occupied territories.

  The Council agreed proposals to amend the negotiating directives for an EC/Russia partnership and co-operation agreement.

  The Council adopted a joint action providing for the monitoring of the 12 December Russian elections.

  The Council discussed recent developments in the former Yugoslavia relating to the search for a negotiated and durable solution to the conflict, a contribution to the implementation of a peace plan and support for humanitarian action. On the basis of guidelines from the 29 October Brussels European Council, the Council adopted a joint action on the delivery of humanitarian aid in Bosnia and agreed to meeting further on 22 November to discuss both political and aid-related aspects of the crisis.

  The Council discussed the Commission's draft negotiating mandate for a new partnership agreement with Morocco and concluded that further work on the dossier was needed.

  In a brief discussion of relations with Tunisia, the Commission said that it expected to present a draft negotiating mandate for a partnership agreement to the next Foreign Affairs Council.

  The Council held further discussions on access to information. No decision was reached and the negotiations will continue.

  The Council agreed to take forward discussion with the European Parliament over detailed rules for the operation of the Parliament's temporary committees of inquiry.

  The Council agreed to lift two further sanctions measures, on civil nuclear co-operation and sales of sensitive equipment to the South African police and military, as soon as the Transitional Executive Council is established.

  The Council agreed to open negotiations on various bilateral agreements with Switzerland including transport and research.

  The Council discussed conclusion of the EC/Bulgaria interim agreement. No agreement was reached.

  The Council authorised the Commission to negotiate agreements covering trade in aluminium with Russia, Ukraine, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan.

  An Association Council with Turkey was held in the margins which recalled both sides' commitment to achieving customs union in 1995.

  Ministerial sessions of the accession negotiations with Finland, Norway, Sweden and Austria also took place in the margins.

  No formal votes were taken during the Council.

  Embassies and High Commissions
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many embassies and high commissions are maintained around the world; and what was the total cost involved under all expenditure headings in the last financial year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In 1992–93, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office maintained 235 embassies, high commissions and subordinate posts at a total overseas, recurrent and capital, cost of £383·5 million.

ENVIRONMENT

  South-East London Combined Heat and Power Ltd.
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Lewisham's South-East London Combined Heat and Power Ltd. will be affected by the Government's planned reassessment of business rates; if SELCHP will still be subject to fixed business rates under any review; and what plans he has to safeguard the future of waste management facilities under any review of business rates.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have no plans to change the rateability of combined heat and power stations or other waste management facilities in the 1995 revaluation of non-domestic property. We are currently considering whether combined heat and power stations should continue to have a prescribed assessment, instead of having rateable values set by local valuation officers. Whatever the result of that consideration, it is not possible to predict the outcome of the revaluation at this stage.

  Neighbour Notification
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent advice his Department has given to local planning authorities on neighbour notification.

  Mr. Baldry
  Advice on publicity for planning applications, including neighbour notification, is given in my Department's circular 15/92, "Publicity for Planning Applications", issued in July of last year.

  Local Government Commission
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a breakdown of the Local Government Commission's time and duties; and what was the total cost of the commission to the Exchequer up to 28 October.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Local Government Commission has a duty to undertake reviews of the structure, boundaries, and electoral arrangements of local government in areas of England, in accordance with directions from, and having regard to any guidance issued by, my right hon. Friend. The commission also has a statutory duty to undertake periodic reviews of local government electoral arrangements in all areas. In carrying out these reviews the specific responsibilities of individual members and staff of the Local Government Commission are a matter for the commission itself. Payments of grant in aid totalling 16
  £2,130,000 were made to the commission in 1992–93 and a further £2,107,515 has been advanced to it in 1993–94 —up to 28 October 1993.

  Housing Corporation
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes were provided through the Housing Corporation in 1992–93; and how many he expects will be provided in 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  Sir George Young
  The total number of completions by the Housing Corporation of housing for rent or sale in 1992–93, and the latest forecast for 1993–94 are as follows. The figures include completions under city challenge.

  Actual 1992–93

  Forecast 1993–94

  Completions

  162,137

  57,600

  1Including 18,430 completions under the Housing Market Package.

  The figures for 1994–95 will depend on the autumn Budget statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  Local Authority Capital Asset Sales
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much local authorities have already raised from sales of capital assets since the announcement in the 1992 autumn statement that they would be permitted to spend all of their receipts up to the end of December; how much he now estimates will be raised in total by the end of December; how much of these receipts he estimates has already been spent by local authorities; and how much of these receipts will be spent by the end of the financial year 1993–94 and during 1994–95.

  Mr. Baldry
  The temporary relaxation in the capital receipts rules announced in the 1992 autumn statement allows local authorities to spend 100 per cent. of virtually all the receipts they receive during the period 13 November 1992 to 31 December 1993. Recent information provided by local authorities in England indicates that a total of around £1·3 billion of usable receipts were obtained during the period 13 November 1992 to 31 July 1993. This information also suggests that local authorities currently expect to obtain around £2·3 billion of usable receipts in total during the whole period of the relaxation, of which some £1·3 billion is estimated to arise as a result of the relaxation. On the basis of their latest returns, local authorities plan to finance £1·8 billion of their capital expenditure in 1993–94 from usable capital receipts received in that year or brought forward from earlier years. No equivalent information is yet available for 1994–95.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against liability for the council tax have been made this year in each region in England; what is the length of time taken to hear these appeals; and what proportion of these appeals was successful.

  Mr. Baldry
  Information is not available centrally in the form requested. The available information is as follows:
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  Numbers of Appeals against Liability for the Council Tax By Region in England: Period ending September 1993

  Region

  Received

  Resolved

  Outstanding

  Northern

  21

  4

  17

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  27

  4

  23

  North West

  43

  1

  42

  East Midlands

  17

  1

  16

  West Midlands

  24

  8

  16

  East Anglia

  9

  1

  8

  London

  36

  1

  35

  South East1

  95

  15

  80

  South West

  360

  34

  326

  Total

  632

  69

  563

  1Excluding London.

  County Hall, London
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will disclose the sale price of London's county hall and the proposed distribution of the proceeds.

  Mr. Baldry
  The London residuary body has sold the riverside building of county hall to the Shirayama Corporation of Japan. The amount of the consideration is a matter of commercial confidentiality. My right hon. Friend is about to lay before Parliament an order authorising the residuary body to distribute to the London boroughs and to the City of London certain moneys which will include the proceeds of the sale of the riverside building.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will call for a public inquiry over the opening of THORP to allow for an examination of the alternative to reprocessing nuclear waste and to provide for an environmental impact assessment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Responses to the consultation are still being assessed. When they have all been carefully considered, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will decide whether to afford a hearing or inquiry and, if they decide not to do so, will take final decisions on the authorisations.

  Mineral Planning Guidance
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the revision of mineral planning guidance note 3.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 25 March,Official Report, columns 714-15, that we intended to proceed to consultation on revised planning guidelines as soon as possible. This is still our intention.

  Sulphur Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to curb sulphur dioxide emissions.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government have in place a range of measures to control and progressively reduce emissions of 18
  sulphur dioxide, which were set out in the 1990 environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance" and subsequent annual reports. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  North Cornwall (Planning)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the results of the inquiry into the operation of the planning system in North Cornwall district will be available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Miss Audrey Lees was appointed in August last year to carry out an inquiry into the operation of the planning system in North Cornwall. She submitted her very thorough report to my right hon. Friend at the end of August.

  Miss Lees concludes that many of the complaints about the district council were justified. North Cornwall has granted planning permission for sporadic developments in the open countryside, on an inconsistent basis, contrary to national planning guidance and the structure plan. Some councillors seem to have favoured certain applicants, often local people, because of their personal circumstances.

  Miss Lees suggests that the practices and procedures of the council in publicising, assessing and deciding planning applications should be improved. She recommends that priorities given to completing the local plan to provide the basis for consistent decisions in future.

  I am seeing North Cornwall district councillors today to emphasise the Government's concern to seek a positive commitment from the Council. I know that some improvements have been made already, but I will be seeking a full response to Miss Lee's recommendations when the council have considered her report.

  The report also provides a valuable reminder of the need for all local planning authorities to follow proper procedures when dealing with applications for planning permission. I have arranged for each authority to receive a copy.

  I note that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has recently written to all the local planning authorities in the Principality to emphasise the importance of taking full account of Government planning guidance and the development plan in making decisions. He also warned that the personal circumstances of applicants should not normally influence such decisions.

  Copies of the report are being placed in the Library of the House today and copies will be on sale from Her Majesty's Stationery Office tomorrow.

  Local Government Staffing
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to issue further guidance to the Local Government Staff Commission (England) about the staffing implications of the continuation of district or county councils as unitary authorities.

  Mr. Baldry
  I am placing in the Library a copy of the further guidance which we are issuing to the Local Government Staff Commission for England.

  The guidance, which has been drawn up in consultation with the local authority associations and the staff commission itself, is designed to clarify the original policy guidance in cases where district or county councils continue as unitary authorities.
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  A continuing authority with new functions will need to take a completely fresh look at its existing organisational structures and staffing in planning for unitary status.

  Within the constraints of employment legislation, the additional guidance provides as level a playing field as can be achieved for staff of outgoing authorities compared with those of the continuing authorities. It gives a framework within which the commission can provide continuing authorities with some practical examples of ways to help maximise their freedom to choose a new head of paid service and other senior managers, and to review the organisational structures and staffing of existing support services.

  We expect the staff commission to look carefully at all the implications of the additional guidance.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Trial Delays
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in reducing delays in coming to trial in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  We remain determined to address with sustained and vigourous measures the problem of delays on remand. I believe that our efforts to do so in the past year have brought encouraging progress.

  I announced to the House on 10 June last year a scheme designed to reduce the time defendants spent in custody before trial on indictment for schedule offences—the type of case where delays had been longest. This scheme was a joint initiative, involving agencies answering to the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney-General as well as the police and my own officials. It introduced targets for the progress of cases: 38 weeks from remand to committal and 14 weeks from committal to arraignment, a culmultative target of 12 months.

  It began on 1 July last year. The agencies involved set up new machinery for close co-operation between them, in order to track the progress of cases, and to signal the need for attention to those whose targets risked being exceeded.

  I am now able to announce the results of the first year's operation of the scheme. Fifty-seven cases with their first remand on or after 1 July 1992 had reached arraignment by 30 June 1993. All met the 12-month cumulative targets; all also met the 14-week committal to arraignment taget. Six cases, however, failed to reach committal within the target of 38 weeks from first remand. The average time taken to process cases also fell. In 1991, the last full year before the introduction of the scheme, the average time from remand to committal for such cases was 33 weeks; in 1992 case covered by the scheme reached committal in an average of 24 weeks, an improvement by 27 per cent. The statistics for a single year must obviously be read with caution, but I believe that the improvements indicated are most impressive and reflect great credit on all the agencies concerned.

  We wish to see these improvements sustained. We have accordingly decided to continue the scheme until at least 30 June 1994; to extend its oversight to non-scheduled cases tried on indictment; and to tighten targets under the scheme by reducing cumulative target to 11 months. The latter will be achieved by making the committal to arraignment target 10 weeks instead of 14.
  20
  We will continue to take a close interest in the operation of the scheme, and in the whole period up to the start of the trial, in order to identify any further ways in which avoidable delay can be reduced.

TRANSPORT

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations the Minister for Public Transport has had from the North West Channel Tunnel Group about the high speed rail link from London to the channel tunnel; what reply he is sending; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The chairman of the North West Channel Tunnel Group wrote to me on 4 November. I am placing a copy of my reply in the Library.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost of providing 4,400 DVLA staff with(a) charter mark coasters, (b) charter mark book marks and (c) charter mark vehicle disc holders; what has been the total cost of the provision of these items; what has been the cost of consultancy advisers for DVLA's market-testing programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The DVLA is proud to have been awarded a charter mark on 27 October. The items mentioned were issued to agency staff to mark the occasion and to remind them of the charter principles. The total cost was £3,970, or £0·90 per head. The agency has contractually committed some £300,000 to the end of October to consultancy support for its current market-testing programme. This includes support for in-house teams such as the recent successful bid for the security guard work at the agency's Swansea headquarters.

  Highways Agency
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff are currently employed at each location of the Highways Agency; and what are the projected site costs for the current year of each location(a) in total and (b) as a figure per whole time equivalent staff.

  Mr. Key
  The Highways Agency will not be in existence until April 1994; the following figures relate to the highways safety and traffic command of the Department of Transport. These figures therefore cover both staff who will become part of the agency and others who will remain in the central part of the Department.

  The current staff numbers and pay budgets are:

  Staff numbers

  £million

  Construction Programme Division Operating Units

  South Eastern, Dorking

  157

  Eastern, Bedford

  123·5

  North Western, Manchester

  84

  West Midlands, Birmingham

  105

  Yorkshire and Humberside, Leeds

  91·6

  South Western, Bristol

  66

  East Midlands, Nottingham

  30·1

  Motorway Widening Unit, Coventry

  143·5

  21

  Staff numbers

  £million

  —

  Total staff numbers

  800·7

  Total pay budget

  18·255

  Network Management and Maintenance Operating Units

  South Eastern, Dorking

  97

  Eastern, Bedford

  125

  North Western, Manchester

  94·5

  West Midlands, Birmingham

  107·5

  Yorks and Humberside, Leeds

  86

  South Western, Bristol

  108

  East Midlands, Nottingham

  112

  Northern, Newcastle

  57

  Total staff numbers

  787

  Total pay budget

  16·588

  London Regional Office

  251

  Total pay budget

  6·756

  Traffic Area Offices

  449·5

  Total pay budget

  6·943

  Headquarters Directorates

  872·3

  Total pay budget

  23·492

  Staff numbers are recorded as either full time or percentages of full time; the pay budgets are, therefore, based on whole-time equivalent staff, and are set to cover expected requirements for the year as a whole.

HEALTH

  Specialised Services
  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are being made to improve contracting arrangements for specialised services.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have been reviewing arrangements for the contracting of specialised services and last week issued guidance to the service under cover of EL(93)98—"Contracting for Specialised Services"—copies of which are available in the Library.

  The guidance emphasises the need for purchasers, working closely with providers, to identify appropriate contracts covering needs, costs, quality and developmental issues to ensure the delivery of high-quality services to patients.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  ECOFIN Meeting
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes the ECOFIN meeting of 15 November made to the proposed amendments submitted to the Council by the European Parliament on the 1994 budget for the European Communities; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of the ECOFIN meeting.

  Sir John Cope
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 19 November,Official Report, columns 4-6.

WALES

  Mr. W. J. Ravenscroft
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how long Mr. W. J. Ravenscroft, the executive director of Clwyd health authority, and his assistant have been working for three days per week with the health service in Pembrokeshire; and when he expects their work to be concluded;

  (2) who is responsible for the salaries and expenses of Mr. W. J. Ravenscroft, the executive director—corporate management—of Clwyd health authority and his assistant during the period they have been working on the health service in Pembrokeshire;

  (3) what are the terms of reference issued to Mr. W. J. Ravenscroft, the executive director—corporate management—of Clwyd health authority and his assistant in their work within the health service in Pembrokeshire.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Mr. W. J. Ravenscroft is not associated with the service review which has been commissioned jointly by Pembrokeshire health authority and the Pembrokeshire NHS trust for completion by the end of the year. Questions about the review should be addressed to the commissioning bodies. All costs of the review are being contained within existing management budgets without detriment to patient care.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many appeals against liability for the council tax have been made this year in Wales; what is the average length of time taken to hear these appeals; and what proportion of appeals was successful.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To mid-November, the eight valuation tribunals in Wales had received 36 liability appeals. Tribunals expect to deal with appeals within an average time of eight weeks from receipt. Appellants have been successful in four of the eight appeals dealt with to date.

  Housing Revenue Account Subsidy
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will announce his proposals for housing revenue account subsidy for 1994–95; and what proposals he will be making.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office is consulting local authorities and other bodies on proposals for the rent guidelines and management and maintenance allowances to be used in calculating next year's entitlement to housing revenue account subsidy. I shall be placing a copy of the consultation papers in the Library of the House with a list of the estimated guidelines and allowances for each authority. The proposals are for an average guideline rent increase of £2·20 per week with a range of increases for individual authorities from £1·50 to £2·90 per week. The new average weekly guideline rent would be £31·30. For management and maintenance, it is proposed to increase allowances by an average of £31 per annum per dwelling over the 1993–94 level.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Banking
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes are proposed to the banking provisions of the Companies Act 1985.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  A consultative letter was issued on 17 November seeking comments on draft regulations to change some of the banking accounting provisions of the Companies Act 1985.

  The draft regulations would delete the definitions of the terms "banking activities" and "banking transactions" from schedule 9 to the Act. Banks would then, as they have sought, interpret the terms in the context of EC directive 86/635/EEC on the annual and consolidated accounts of banks and other financial institutions.

  The draft regulations would also ensure that the UK holding companies on non-UK banking subsidiaries disclose details of transactions such as loans or mortgages from the subsidiaries to staff in the same way as UK holding companies of UK banking subsidiaries.

  Comments should be made by 17 December.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the hon. Member for Birkenhead may expect a reply from the Newcastle upon Tyne Insolvency Service office to his letters of 29 October and 10 November about Mr. A. Hemmings.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The official receiver at Newcastle replied to the hon. Member on 19 November 1993.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Register of Sports Sites
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage where the register of sports sites may be inspected; and which organisations have been given copies.

  Mr. Brooke
  Copies of the register of recreational land's database will be made available free of charge to the Sports Council, the Central Council of Physical Recreation, the National Playing Fields Association, local authority associations, local authorities, relevant professional organisations and relevant national governing bodies of sport.

  The Sports Council is establishing with these organisations whether they require the information on diskette or on paper. Until the database has been circulated, all inquiries concerning the register are directed through the Sports Council.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the cost to his Department of the register of sports sites.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Government's grant in aid to the Sports Council in 1991–92 included £500,000 to establish the register of recreational land.

EDUCATION

  English
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of respondents to the National Curriculum Council consultation on his proposals for the revision of attainment targets and programmes of study for English circled the strongly disagree option in each of the questions G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department does not have that level of detail because the consultation on the proposals for revisions to the English order was carried out by the National Curriculum Council. However, section 2 of NCC's consultation report, recently published by the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority, does summarise the views expressed by respondents in general terms.

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

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I understand from the City Technology Colleges Trust, which is the beneficial owner of this site, that a sale to Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust has been agreed. The price is commercially confidential.

  Primary Schools
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to improve the teaching of basic skills in primary schools.

  Mr. Patten
  I have today published, following wide consultation, a circular—DFE circular 14/93—which sets new standards for all courses of training for primary teachers. It requires students to spend more time on learning to teach the core subjects of the national curriculum, in particular the basic skills of reading and arithmetic. It also requires students to spend more time in schools, with serving teachers playing a full part in their training.

  The circular announces new plans to fund courses for classroom assistants, so that they can support the teaching and learning of basic skills in the primary classroom; such courses will be developed over the coming months and funded from September 1994.

  The circular, which has been sent to all primary schools, those offering primary teacher training, and other interested bodies, includes comprehensive criteria which all primary training courses must meet. The criteria cover the subject knowledge and teaching skills new teachers require to be effective in the classroom; the amount of time to be spent in schools, and on the study of core subjects and basic skills; and the need for serving teachers to be able to play a full part in planning and delivering training.

  The circular sets the new criteria in the context of the government's policies for primary education and teacher training. It supports the use of new course models to offer a variety of routes into teaching; including a six-subject, three-year BEd to prepare primary teachers for work across the curriculum. It encourages the use of the accreditation of prior learning to widen access to teaching for mature people without conventional qualifications.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fisheries Council
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 22 November; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  I represented the United Kingdom at the Council of EC Fisheries Ministers held in Brussels on 22 November.

  The Council voted unanimously to agree the fish support prices for 1994. This was the only vote at this Council. The prices set reflect developments on the market, and the United Kingdom secured some adjustments to the Commission's proposals to reflect particular concerns of our industry. The United Kingdom also secured the continuance of the dual guide price system for herring, which is designed to enable the United Kingdom industry to take best advantage of EC market support mechanisms.

  The Council held a further discussion on the Commission's proposal for changes to the rules governing fishing by Spain and Portugal. The Commission's proposal was unsatisfactory to a majority of delegations including the United Kingdom. As a result, the Belgian presidency will be looking for an alternative way foward. I repeated my insistence that the eventual decision must respect member states' existing shares of available quotas—"relative stability"—and must not allow any increase in fishing effort. I also stressed my determination to find satisfactory arrangements to apply in the Irish box. Discussions will be taken up in the December Council at which time decisions may be reached on these matters.

  At the United Kingdom's request, the Council had a further discussion on industrial fishing. We received strong support from a number of member states to our request that the Commission should press ahead quickly with a thorough study of the subject including its possible effects on the marine ecosystem and marine mammals and birds. Pilot projects will be set up to study control and management problems on industrial fisheries. The Commission was asked to report back to the Council, if possible before 31 March 1994.

  The Council reached unanimous agreement in principle to adopt measures this year on standards for the minimum information to appear in all member states' fishing licences. More detailed aspects of the Commission's proposal on fishing licences and permits will be considered further during 1994.

  Agricultural Commodities, Trade and Food Production Directorate
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were(a) capital expenditure and (b) running costs paid by her Department in 1992–93 in respect of the work of the agricultural commodities, trade and food production directorate on (i) the European Community, (ii) arable crops and alcoholic drinks, (iii) horticulture, plant protection and agricultural resources, (d) food, milk and marketing policy and (e) the meat group.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information requested is as follows:26

  £ thousands

  Running costs

  Capital

  European Community

  1,123

  5

  Arable crops and alcoholic drinks

  1,494

  40

  Horticulture, plant protection and agricultural resources

  7,930

  64

  Food, milk and marketing policy

  2,689

  21

  Livestock products

  1,791

  22

  Deputy Secretary and staff

  130

  0

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the responsibilities of the agricultural commodities, trade and food production directorate in respect of(a) the European Community, (b) arable crops and alcoholic drinks, (c) horticulture, plant protection and agricultural resources, (d) food, milk and marketing policy and (e) the meat group.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The responsibilities are set out in columns 42 to 46 of the civil service year book 1993. However, since that was published, the plant health division, plant variety and seeds division and agricultural resource policy division have ceased to be part of this directorate.

  Set-aside
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in her discussions on the extension of the EC set-aside programme; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  At the meeting of Agriculture Ministers on 16 and 17 November, my right hon. Friend the Minister continued to press for a number of changes to the rules on set-aside under the arable area payments scheme, in particular to enable those who have set land aside for five years under the old five-year scheme to keep all that land in set-aside, to reduce the percentage requirement for mixtures of rotational and non-rotational set-aside below the 20 per cent. proposed and to allow arable land taken out of production under forestry and agri-environment schemes to count against a producer's set-aside requirement. It was not possible to reach decisions at the meeting though a compromise was discussed that would allow farmers finishing a five-year set-aside agreement to keep all that land in set-aside for a further five years. Discussion will resume at the December Council when I hope that agreement can be reached.

  Statistics
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans she has to rationalise the collection of statistics by her Department.

  Mr. Jack
  The statistical needs of the Department are kept under constant review. A thorough review of each statistical survey is reported to Ministers every five years. These reviews, which examine the need for the information and whether it could be collected more efficiently, lead to continuing rationalisation of collection of statistics.

  Sediment Pollution
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contribution her Department made to the recent European Commission study on sediment pollution in the EC.

  Mr. Jack
  I am not aware of any recent European Commission study on sediment pollution in the EC. My scientists are making a significant contribution to a study of sediment which is being undertaken on behalf of the Oslow-Paris convention.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police forces operate ethnic monitoring procedures in respect of cautioning; and if he will list those police forces.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Forces are not required to collect data on the ethnic origin of those cautioned. We understand that around one third of police forces in England and Wales do so. The forces are:

  Bedfordshire

  Leicestershire

  Cleveland

  Northamptonshire

  Derbyshire

  Nottinghamshire

  Devon and Cornwall

  South Yorkshire

  Durham

  Staffordshire

  Gloucestershire

  Surrey

  Gwent

  West Mercia

  Hampshire

  West Yorkshire

  Kent

  Secure Training Centres
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he plans to take to ensure that children who will be held in secure training centres do not deliberately harm themselves.

  Mr. Maclean
  I fully recognise the importance of this issue. Providers of facilities for juveniles serving the custodial part of a secure training order will be required to develop and implement a suicide and self-harm awareness and prevention policy. This will be monitored by the Home Office.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the 25 hours per week lesson time which children at secure training centres will receive will be spent on education; and how much on vocational training.

  Mr. Maclean
  The figure of 25 hours per week lesson time was a suggested minimum in the outline draft specification for the delivery of the regime in a secure training centre. A number of comments were received on this and other aspects of the proposed regime. The minimum number of hours lesson time per week and the breakdown between education and vocational training are matters which are still under consideration. Our present intention is to retain flexibility so as to enable each trainee to follow a programme based on his or her individual needs.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what police and medical checks will be required of staff appointed to work in secure training centres.
  28
  Mr. Maclean
  The Government intend to ensure that a wide range of checks are made on staff who work in secure training centres. Staff who have a specific responsibility for the custody of detained juveniles will require a certificate issued by the Secretary of State.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that there is not an inappropriately high ratio of boys and girls in secure training centres.

  Mr. Maclean
  The secure training order will be a sentence available to the youth court for persistent juvenile offenders who meet statutory criteria. It will be the decision of the court as to who will be made the subject of an order. Facilities for both boys and girls will be available in each secure training centre.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he plans to announce a complaints and representation procedure for children who will be held in secure training centres;

  (2) if he will make it his policy that arrangements for representation of children held in secure training centres should be the same as those provided in the Children Act 1989 for children in secure accommodation.

  Mr. Maclean
  I am still considering with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health what provision should be made for a complaints and representation procedure for children held in the new centres.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a mandatory key worker scheme into secure training centres.

  Mr. Maclean
  We are currently considering whether it will be necessary to require agencies or organisation providers secure training centres to provide a key worker scheme.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that secure training centres should not be sited an impractical distance away from hospital accident and emergency departments.

  Mr. Maclean
  No decision has been made on sites for secure training centres. A number of factors will be taken into consideration. These will include proximity to main centres of population.

  Persistent Offenders
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the research commissioned by his Department from the Policy Studies Institute into persistent offenders to be completed.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Policy Studies Institute has completed fieldwork for the research commissioned by the Home Office into persistent juvenile offending, but on current information I do not expect to receive a final report before the new year.

  Deportation
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which drugs are used to sedate people who are being forcibly deported.
  29
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Drugs are not used to sedate people who are being deported. Any medication required by the deportee would be administered by a medically qualified person with the deportee's consent.

  Young Offenders
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department hopes to introduce specialist training for staff working with juveniles in youth offender institutions.

  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 Mr. Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated November 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about specialist training at Young Offender Institutions.
  Some specialist training for staff working with young offenders has already taken place at Lancaster Farms Young Offender Institution, under the guidance of the Trust for the Study of Adolescence. Pilot training based on this, to develop a distance learning pack for use in other YOIs is to take place in January. We plan to have the distance learning pack available for general use later in the year.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects that 16 and 17-year-olds who are sentenced to adult penalties will no longer be held with adults serving similar penalties.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The custodial penalties available for 16 and 17-year-olds are detention in a young offender institution—YOI—and detention under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Boys of this age sentenced to YOI are taken directly to a YOI with a juvenile unit, unless exceptionally they have to he held overnight at a remand centre or local prison because of travelling difficulties. Boys sentenced under section 53 may be held for a few weeks in a remand centre or local prison while a decision is taken as to where they should be allocated to serve their sentences. Girls of 16 and 17 may be held with other female young offenders in establishments which also hold adult women prisoners. This is considered to be the best option for holding them, in their own interests. There are no plans to alter these arrangements.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to end remands of 15 and 16-year-olds to Prison Service establishments.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government have enacted the necessary legislation to end the remand of 15 and 16-year-olds to Prison Service establishments and we have made additional capital provision available to local authorities so that they can provide an effective alternative. We will bring the new law into effect as soon as we are satisfied that local authorities have provided sufficient additional secure accommodation to meet the expected need.

  Criminal Justice Study
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects his Department's study of entry into the criminal justice system to report.
  30
  Mr. Maclean
  A first report on this study is expected in July 1994. This report will cover decisions made by the police about whether to charge or caution suspects arrested and held at police stations. The report will also contain information about the ethnic origin and gender of those arrested, the proportion dealt with as mentally disordered or handicapped offenders, and the extent of offending on bail.

  A further report on the study is expected to be available towards the middle of 1995. This will contain details of decisions made by the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to termination or continuance of proceedings and information about court outcomes and sentences.

  Siemion Serafinowicz
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to remove United Kingdom nationality from Siemion Serafinowicz; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There is no record of Mr. Serafinowicz having acquired British citizenship.

  British National Party
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Metropolitan police Commissioner over an assault by a British National party councillor against an Evening Standard reporter; and if he will refer the case for prosecution.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I understand from the Commissioner that the complainant in this case does not wish any further action to be taken and has declined to give evidence.

  Mr. Amanullah Khan
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when in May 1990 the United Kingdom National Central Bureau of Interpol received notification that the arrest of Amanullah Khan was requested by the Indian National Central Bureau of Interpol; and what description was given of Mr. Khan's nationality.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The notification was received on 25 May 1990. Mr. Khan's nationality was described by the Indian National Central Bureau of Interpol as"Indian and Citizen of Pakistan (not confirmed)".

  Plutonium Smuggling
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information or assistance his German counterpart sought from United Kingdom authorities in regard to the trial in Flensburg of British citizen Albert Derbyshire for smuggling and alleged attempt to sell stolen Russian plutonium.

  Mr. Maclean
  The United Kingdom Central Authority in the Home Office received a letter of request from the German authorities under the 1959 European convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters asking that witness summonses be served on five named people in this country for the purposes of the trial. This request was executed earlier this month.

EMPLOYMENT

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what representations were made to him at his meeting on 20 October with the Royal National Institute for the Blind, Mencap, the Spinal Injuries Association, the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation and Deaf Accord to discuss his proposal to oblige employers to contribute 50 per cent. of the cost of providing services such as personal readers and special aids to employment for disabled people working with them for six months or longer; what reply he has made; what action he will be taking to revise the proposal; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what consultations he is having with the Employers' Forum on Disability and the CBI on his proposal to oblige employers to contribute 50 per cent. of the cost of providing services such as personal readers and special aids to employment for disabled people working with them for six months or longer.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The meeting on 20 October was called to discuss the new scheme "access to work" about which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made a statement to the House on 22 June 1993,Official Report, column 102. It will replace and extend four of the Department's current special schemes and enable us to help more disabled people and meet a much wider range of their employment related needs. To help fund the extra costs we will expect employers to contribute 50 per cent. of the cost of help, up to a ceiling, to employees who enter the scheme after working for them six months or more.

  Members of the delegation welcomed the increased flexibility of access to work. They expressed concern about the willingness of employers to pay a contribution and the effects this would have on the employment of disabled people. My right hon. Friend sought to reassure them. Both current and previous research suggests that employers would be willing to make a reasonable contribution: my right hon. Friend pointed out that the limit on the employer contribution, and on individuals' entitlement, about which they also expressed concern, had yet to be set.

  My noble Friend Lord Henley met representatives from the Employers' Forum on Disability on 2 November to discuss access to work; my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be meeting them on 9 December. The Department is currently in correspondence with the CBI on a number of issues including access to work. The Department has offered to meet the CBI at a suitable date.

  There are a number of issues on access to work on which my right hon. Friend has still to make decisions. In addition to the limits on individual entitlement and employer contributions, these include transitional arrangements for existing beneficiaries of the current special schemes, for how long those helped as new recruits will remain exempt from the employer contributions and whether there will be special arrangements for certain types of firm.

  Once my right hon. Friend has taken a decision on these areas, an announcement will be made to the House.

PRIME MINISTER

  War Veterans
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to assist British war veterans attending the D-day commemorations in Brittany to stay in the hotels in which their bookings have been made.

  The Prime Minister
  I am aware that some of the hotel reservations made by British veterans wishing to attend the D-Day commemorations in France in 1994 have been cancelled by French hoteliers. I am pleased to say that, following an approach by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, the French authorities have established an office in Caen to deal with all queries concerning accommodation in Normandy. The address of the office is:Comite Departmental du Tourism du Calvados
  Place du Canada
  1400 CAEN
  France
  (Telephone: 010-33-31-86-53-30)
  (Fax: 010-33-31-79-39-41)

  Weapons Proliferation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the policies Her Majesty's Government intend to implement to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

  The Prime Minister
  We will continue to oppose the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by strongly supporting the unconditional and indefinite extension of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and by working towards the effective implementation of the chemical weapons convention and the strengthening of the biological weapons convention. We will continue to press for universal membership of these agreements and to give vigorous support to the related export control regimes.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will initiate an inter-departmental review of the relationship between housing association grant rates and benefit entitlements to identify the impact of varying marginal rates of tax and benefit on both housing associations and their tenants, to reduce numbers dependant on benefit and the poverty trap.

  The Prime Minister
  Ministers and officials in the Departments of the Environment and of Social Security already work closely together in those areas to ensure that the interaction between the different subsidy systems is fully understood and appreciated. A formal working group has now been established to discuss this and other issues relating to housing and benefits policy on a regular basis.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Cyprus.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government continue to support the United Nations Secretary-General's initiative, which we believe offers the best hope for a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus dispute. We hope that the two sides will be able to resume negotiations in New York soon after elections in northern Cyprus on 12 December.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister how many documents his office has provided to Lord Justice Scott's inquiry into arms sales to Iraq since 23 November 1992; what has been the cost of document provision; how many civil servants in his office have been involved in assisting Lord Justice Scott with documents; how many have attended the inquiry; and which documents requested have been withheld.

  The Prime Minister
  My office has provided 184 documents to Lord Justice Scott's inquiry, doing so, for administrative reasons, via the Cabinet Office. No documents have been withheld. Up to six officials were involved in the compilation of the documents, and the costs incurred by both Departments has been approximately £800 in total. One Cabinet Office official has attended each hearing of the inquiry.

  Crime Prevention
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Prime Minister which ministers are currently members of the ministerial group on crime prevention.

  The Prime Minister
  The current membership of the ministerial group on crime prevention is as follows:Chairman, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Charles Wardle MP, the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle)
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (The noble Lord Astor)
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Tony Baldry MP, the hon. Member for Banbury)
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (John Bowis MP, the hon. Member for Battersea)
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Education (Eric Forth MP, the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire)
  Minister of State, Scottish Office (The noble Lord Fraser of Carmyllie)
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office (Gwilym Jones MP, the hon. Member for Cardiff, North)
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Robert Key MP, the hon. Member for Salisbury)
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Patrick McLoughlin MP, the hon. Member for Derbyshire, West)
  Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Anthony Nelson MP, the hon. Member for Chichester)
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage (Iain Sproat MP, the hon. Member for Harwich)
  Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Sir John Wheeler MP, the right hon. Member for Westminster, North)
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Employment Department (Ann Widdecombe MP, the hon. Member for Maidstone)

  Baroness Thatcher
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister whether the additional security costs arising from Baroness Thatcher's book-signing tour were borne by the police forces or by Government.

  The Prime Minister
  Any such costs will be met in the usual way from the police fund. Specific grant at the rate of 51 per cent. is paid by the Home Office on police expenditure.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 23 November.

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

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Chamber Carpet
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what was the cost and place of manufacture of the recent replacement of carpet in the Chamber of the House; how long it had been there; in what way it was disposed of and for what price; what plans exist for replacing the carpet in the remainder of the Chamber; and how much this is expected to cost.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  This is a matter for the Director of Works and I shall ask him to write to the hon. Member.

  All-party Groups
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee which all-party groups receive funds or are serviced by outside organisations; and if he will list the organisation in each case.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I refer the hon. Member to the Register of All-Party and Parliamentary Groups which is maintained by the Registry of Members' Interests in accordance with the resolution of the House of 17 December 1985. The Register is available for inspection by Members in the Registry and the Library.

  Parliamentary Broadcasting
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will discuss with Westminster Cable the possibilities for cabling hon. Members' offices with the parliamentary channel at the same time as they cable the SW1 area, outside the Palace of Westminster.

  Mr. Waller
  I have been asked to reply as Chairman of the Information Committee. Any provision of such services would need to await decisions on the proposed parliamentary data and video network, on which the Committee hopes to report early next year.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was spent on official hospitality in his Department in the first six months of financial year 1993–94.

  Mr. Hague
  The provisional figure for the first six months of the financial year 1993–94 is £97,000.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the main headings of the money spent by his Department on official hospitality in the financial year 1992–93.
  35
  Mr. Hague
  The main headings were: ministerial hospitality; Minister of State's reception in honour of organisations representing disabled people; official hospitality.

  Parking Fines
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent on parking fines by his Department in each of the last three financial years.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is not available. Responsibility for parking fines rests with the driver; however, when fines are unavoidably incurred during the undertaking of official duties, management may, exceptionally, consider reimbursement.

  Ministerial Offices
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent on decorating and furnishing Ministers' offices in his Department in each of the last three financial years.

  Mr. Hague
  There has been no such expenditure on Ministers' personal accommodation in any of the last three financial years.

  France (Official Visits)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the purpose and place of each of the visits to France by officials of his Department in the financial year 1992–93.

  Mr. Hague
  Information for the Department as a whole is not available in the form requested. Details of departmental headquarters official visits to France in 1992–93 are in the table.

  Reason/host

  Place

  Number of visits

  Council of Europe

  Paris

  1

  Council of Europe

  Strasbourg

  7

  Training

  Paris

  3

  Liaison with French officials

  Paris

  3

  OECD

  Paris

  4

  Beveridge conference

  Strasbourg

  1

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent by his Department on officials travelling to France in the first six months of the financial year 1993–94.

  Mr. Hague
  Information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. From 1 April 1993, the company that arranges travel for departmental officials keeps records by mode of travel rather than by destination.

SCOTLAND

  Norwegian Salmon
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations to the European Commission he has made following his meeting with industry representatives, in respect of the entry of Norwegian salmon into the Union; what response he has received; and if he will make a statement.
  36
  Sir Hector Monro
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland wrote to the European Commission on 16 November expressing concern about the current market situation, welcoming discussions which were taking place between the Commission and the Norwegian Government, and asking the Commission to take appropriate action.

  The Commission has now introduced minimum import prices with effect from 20 November 1993 until the end of January 1994. This will provide a temporary floor to the market while the longer-term problems facing the industry are addressed.

  The Commission has also invited the industry to update the information they have submitted in support of allegations of dumping by Norwegian exporters. I would encourage the industry to provide this information as soon as possible so that the Commission is in a position to proceed with an investigation.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he expects to announce what action the United Kingdom Government are taking in response to complaints from Scottish salmon farmers about the dumping of Norwegian salmon on United Kingdom and EC markets;

  (2) what action he is taking to safeguard United Kingdom salmon producers from the effects of Norwegian salmon being dumped on United Kingdom and EC markets.

  Sir Hector Monro
  I have been asked to reply.

  Allegations of dumping of farmed salmon on the European market by Norwegian importers are a matter for the European salmon farming industry to take up with the European Commission. The Scottish industry made such allegations in 1991 and the Commission has recently asked the industry to update the information provided on that occasion. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has encouraged the industry to provide this information to the Commission as soon as possible so that the Commission is in a position to proceed with an investigation.

DEFENCE

  Departmental Land
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total land area in the United Kingdom currently under MOD control.

  Mr. Hanley
  The defence estate in the United Kingdom is approximately 243,000 hectares—600,000 acres—of freehold and leasehold land.

  Hercules
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he proposes to take to ensure that the Royal Air Force shall be equipped with a new aircraft to replace the Hercules; and when he expects the first of such aircraft to enter squadron service.

  Mr. Aitken
  We are currently evaluating options for both refurbishment of the existing aircraft and purchase of new aircraft. A final decision will be taken on the basis of the option which offers best value for money.
  37
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when invitations to tender for the Hercules replacement programme are to be provided to contractors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  We are currently studying the alternatives of extending the life of our existing Hercules fleet or replacing them with new aircraft. We will come to a decision on the way ahead when we have evaluated the results of these studies.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what date he proposes to issue invitations to submit tenders for the Hercules replacement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  We are currently evaluating options for both refurbishment of the existing aircraft and purchase of new aircraft. A final decision will be taken on the basis of which option offers best value for money.

  Civilian Career Opportunities
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice his Department is giving to service men and women who will be leaving as part of the "Options for Change" policy concerning alternative career opportunities in civilian life.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Ministry of Defence provides a comprehensive resettlement service for all service leavers including redundees. These include a range of briefings on specific careers and job search workshops which have been designed particularly with redundees in mind. Practical help with job finding is provided by the services employment network.

  Trident
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings will accrue from reducing the number of warheads on the Trident missile programme; and what proportion of this may be reinvested in armed services numbers and duties.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Changes in the number of warheads have only modest financial implications, and do not affect the armed service's numbers and duties.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sanctions exist for breaches of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Hanley
  There are no formal sanctions associated with breaches of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Alleged breaches may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the United Nations Security Council.

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next plans to meet the Spanish defence Minister to discuss the progress of the Eurofighter 2000.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Robinson) earlier today.

  South China Seas
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether, and where, provision will be made for the basing of British forces in the South China seas after the withdrawal from Hong Kong.

  Mr. Hanley
  We have already agreed with the government of Brunei to continue the deployment of the Gurkha battalion in Brunei until 1998. Consideration will be given to a further extension in due course. We shall continue to participate in exercises held in Malaysia and Singapore under the five-power defence arrangements and make occasional naval deployments to the region.

  Spare Parts
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the future provision of spare parts for the armed forces.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department will continue to ensure the adequate provision of spare parts for the armed forces so they can fully meet their agreed defence objectives.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what benefits he expects to flow from his Department's market-testing programmes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  Experience suggests that the competitive pressures of market testing will produce savings of between 20 and 25 per cent. of running costs, regardless of whether the service is contractorised or retained in-house. The process provides an oppotunity to reassess the use of resources to give better service to the customer and better value for money.

  Germany (Force Withdrawals)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the saving to the defence budget from withdrawing British forces from Germany.

  Mr. Hanley
  Over the period 1990–91 to 1995–96, the defence budget, excluding the cost of the Gulf conflict and redundancies, is expected to reduce by around 12 per cent. in real terms. While the operating cost of maintaining British forces in Germany is expected to reduce by around £500 million in real terms between 1991–92 and 1993–94, it is not possible to identify separately the savings of withdrawing British forces from Germany.

  Belize
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he wil review Her Majesty's Government's present defence commitment to Belize.

  Mr. Hanley
  By agreement between the Government of Belize and Her Majesty's Government, the Belize defence force will assume responsibility for the defence of Belize on 1 January 1994. We see no reason to change these plans.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are now deployed in the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggers) earlier today.

  Contracts
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to ensure that a high proportion of defence contracts is awarded to British firms.

  Mr. Aitken
  In order to achieve the best value for money, wherever possible, we place contracts by means of open competition. British companies have proved highly competitive to the extent that, over the past five years, we estimate that 91 per cent. of defence equipment expenditure was spent with United Kingdom industry.

  Reserve Forces
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the relative state of readiness for active service of the regular reserves and the Territorial Army.

  Mr. Hanley
  Members of both the regular reserve and the Territorial Army require a period of special-to-role training in advance of deployment on active service. The amount of training required depends on the role and nature of the units in which the reservists concerned would serve.

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the timetable for withdrawal of his Department from the Queen Elizabeth military hospital in Woolwich.

  Mr. Hanley
  Current plans are for a withdrawal by March 1998. We are holding discussions with the NHS about the Greenwich healthcare trust progressively taking over the hospital in advance of this date.

  Dockyards
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will agree to provide a contractual guarantee of work to both Rosyth and Devonport dockyards.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Government have not ruled out the possibility that some form of contractual commitment relating to future refitting work could be included as one of the matters for negotiation with tenderers for the dockyards.

  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 provisions will apply to the employees of the royal dockyards following full privatisation.

  Mr. Aitken
  This will depend upon the particular circumstances of the proposed sale. However, my Department will honour any obligations on it arising from the relevant employment legislation.
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  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Government will guarantee the pensions and redundancy entitlements of the royal dockyards' employees after full privatisation.

  Mr. Aitken
  Terms and conditions of employment at the royal dockyards remain a matter for negotiation between the work forces—or their representatives—and their respective employers.

  Defence Diversification
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to encourage defence diversification.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Government's policy is that decisions on how to adapt to changing market circumstances, and what products to make, are for the commercial judgment of companies.

  The Department of Trade and Industry provides advice and assistance to companies who may be considering diversification, including a recently published handbook called "Changing Tack". That Department, together with the Department of Employment, also administers the United Kingdom participation in the EC Konver programme, which is designed to assist regions affected by the decline in the armaments industry and the closure of military bases.

  Shipbuilding and Refitting
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the dialogue over an industrial policy for shipbuilding and ship refitting will commence.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Government believe that industry is best placed to take the decisions necessary for its own success. My Department is, however, seeking to promote greater awareness of our likely future requirements through regular and continuing dialogue with industry.

  MV Belvaux
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date, for what purpose and for how many days MV Belvaux was chartered by his Department; what nature of cargo the vessel was intended to carry; for how many of the days chartered the vessel was employed on other tasks for his Department; when the charter was cancelled; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The MV Belvaux was taken up on time charter on 26 January 1993 against a contingency of transporting artillery units at short notice to reinforce the troops deployed by Bosnia. The charter lasted for 117 days and was relinquished on 22 May 1993 once developments in the former republic of Yugoslavia justified its termination. During the period of the time charter it was possible to make 23 days' use of the vessel for other purposes without compromising availability for the primary contingency task.

  Small Arms Nitro Compound
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the facilities available in the United Kingdom for the manufacture of small arms nitro compound; from which foreign countries it is imported; and if he will make a statement.
  41
  Mr. Aitken
  My Department does not purchase small arms ammunition propellant separately but procures the complete ammunition round from a prime contractor. It is for the prime contractor to decide on the source of the propellant used in his ammunition and to ensure that it meets the appropriate technical and performance standards. The capability to produce nitro-cellulose and nitroglycerine for small arms ammunition does exist in the United Kingdom.

  Channel Islands
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement over remaining documents in his Department relating to the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands; and if such documents have now been seen by the German authorities.

  Mr. Hanley
  There are very few closed documents relating to the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands. The German authorities' investigations are proceeding with MOD giving every assistance, including sight of the relevant files. The closed documents will be released on completion of the German inquiries.

  Royal Tournament and Edinburgh Tattoo
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current level of support from the services and from civilian staff of his Department for(a) the royal tournament, (b) the Edinburgh tattoo and (c) other similar scale events, showing the additional attributable cost; what plans he has to reduce that level of support; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The 1992 royal tournament, the most recent for which detailed figures are readily available, required support of about 19,500 man days of effort from service personnel, excluding participants. The 1993 tournament was reduced in length from 29 to 20 performances, with a consequent reduction in effort. There are no MOD civilian staff directly employed on royal tournament tasks. The additional attributable costs—that is, costs which would not otherwise have been incurred, amounted to approximately £350,000 in 1992.

  The 1993 Edinburgh tattoo required support of a little over 5,000 man days of effort from service personnel, excluding participants. Some MOD civilian staff worked overtime in support of the tattoo and a number of casual cleaners were hired for its duration. The total attributable costs were some £60,000.

  There are no other events comparable to the royal tournament and the Edinburgh tattoo.

  There are no plans at present for further reductions in support to these events.

  Nuclear Warheads
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the number of nuclear warheads which have been destroyed by the Russian Government under the provisions of the START 2 treaty.

  Mr. Hanley
  The START 2 treaty has not yet come into effect and cannot legally do so until START 1 enters into force. Therefore, no nuclear warheads have been destroyed by the Russian Government as a result of the terms of the START 2 treaty.

  Mr. David Hart
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of Mr. David Hart's visit to RAF Strike Command on 27 May; how long the visit lasted; and whom he met.

  Mr. Hanley
  Mr. David Hart was invited by the Chief of the Air Staff to receive a briefing on the role and organisation of RAF Strike Command in the context of an article written by Mr. Hart in The Spectator magazine published in February 1993. During a half-day visit, Mr. Hart met the Commander in Chief and a number of his senior staff.

  Search and Rescue
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the search-and-rescue services at RAF Chivenor; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Wessex search-and-rescue—SAR—flight at RAF Chivenor is planned to be replaced by the Sea King SAR flight from RAF Brawdy in April 1994. This decision will be looked at again in light of the decision which I announced on 11 November, to move a battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers into temporary accommodation at RAF Brawdy from August 1994, and once the outcome of the review into the rationalisation of RAF flying training stations is known.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the size of his Department's market-testing programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  We intend to market test, in the four years to March 1996, activities currently costing £1·2 billion each year to undertake in-house and employing over 40,000 people.