Written Answers of 26 November 1993

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Small Claims
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases were referred to the small claims procedure in 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The number of cases which were dealt with using the small claims arbitration procedure in 1991–92 and 1992–93 was 66,090 and 89,104 respectively.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) how many small claims cases in 1991–92 and 1992–93 were(a) personal injury cases, (b) consumer goods cases and (c) debt reclamation;

  (2) in how many small personal injury claims in the past year the defendant has been represented by a barrister;

  (3) how many proceedings were issued in the county courts in 1991–92 and 1992–93 of (a) less than £1,000, (b) between £1,000 and £2,500 and (c) between £2,500 and £5,000;

  (4) what proportion of county court cases in 1991–92 and 1992–93 in the value of (a) £1,000-£2,500 and (b) £2,500-£5,000 were (i) debt recoupment, (ii) personal injury and (iii) consumer goods cases;

  (5) in how many small personal injury claims in the past year the defendant has been represented by a barrister.

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

  Personal Injury Cases
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average level of costs charged for(a) legal expertise, (b) medical evidence, (c) ergonomics and engineering evidence, (d) police evidence and (e) witness evidence in county court personal injury cases in (i) 1990–91, (ii) 1991–92 and (iii) 1992–93.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Arts Council
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will announce his conclusions on the Arts Council review.

  Mr. Brooke
  In my statement of 21 July,Official Report, columns 355–66, I set out a clearer framework for the Government's relationship with the Arts Council of England. As part of this, I asked the council to consider ways in which its accountability could be improved, and to review the scope for savings in its administrative costs. I am now in a position to announce my conclusions on this further work.
  210
  As I made clear in my earlier statement, the Government remain committed to the "arm's-length principle" for arts funding. This leaves the council to steer the general direction of artistic policy and to decide the allocation of resources. But with that degree of independence for the council in the use of taxpayers' money comes also the responsibility for explaining their decisions clearly and fully. Accordingly, I have explored with the chairman ways in which the council's accountability can be improved. Among the council's proposals are twice-yearly public seminars outside London; occasional or regular presentations to the National Heritage Select Committee, should the Committee agree; an annual Arts Council lecture by the chairman or a council member; annual policy seminars covering the different art forms, led by art form panel chairman and attended by the relevant art form constituency and specialist press; meetings with representative associations; and, subject to the agreement of the arts organisations concerned, publication of summaries of council appraisal reports. I welcome these proposals, and have asked the chairman to follow them up.

  I have also explored with the chairman the scope for making savings in the council's administrative costs. At my request, the council has undertaken a full analysis of its activities in relation to the core functions identified in my earlier statement, including the opportunities for market testing, and assessed the scope for administrative reductions. In the light of this analysis, I am persuaded that there is scope for making savings in the council's administrative costs without damage to its core functions and while meeting the costs associated with increased accountability. I have therefore asked the council now to implement a reduction of 8 per cent. in its current gross administrative costs, equivalent to a saving approaching £600,000 in a full year. It will be for the council itself to determine the precise areas where these savings are to be achieved and to identify them in its business plan for next year.

  In addition, the council is due shortly to complete its own review of staffing and structure in the regional arts boards, and some further administrative streamlining may be possible as a result. The council will also hold further discussions with the regional arts boards about delegation of projects and schemes activity, and aim to reach conclusions by the end of the current financial year.

  The statement marks the end of the long series of reviews by the Government into the structures and staffing of the arts funding system. The effect has been to establish appropriate levels for decision making, to clarify accountability and to reduce bureaucracy. It is now for the council to settle the detailed framework within which those working in the arts community can operate. My Department will continue, as a regular part of discussions in the corporate and business planning context, to keep the administrative costs associated with the funding system under close scrutiny. Our aim will be to ensure that overheads are kept to a minimum and that as much as possible of the available resources is channelled directly to arts practitioners and to the artistic activity which must be the focus of all our endeavours.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits Agency
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many visiting officers were available to his Department and the Benefits Agency in each administrative region in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years, together with the staff projections for the number of visiting officers that will be available in each region over the next three years.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Benefits Agency is a matter for its chief executive, Mr. Michael Bichard. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from M. Bichard to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 25 November 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking, how many visiting officers were available to his Department and the Benefits Agency in each administrative region in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years, together with the staff projections for the number of visiting officers that will be available in each region over the next three years.

  Analysis of Visiting Staff Allocated by Regional & Area Directorates 1989 to 1994.

  Region

  89-90

  90-91

  Areas

  91-92

  92-93

  93-94

  Midlands

  N/A

  181·41

  South 1

  51·8

  74·1

  67·50

  Wales & South West

  N/A

  166·18

  South 2

  49·2

  85·3

  95·43

  Scotland

  N/A

  114·92

  South 3

  76·4

  101·1

  124·50

  North West

  N/A

  151·14

  South 4

  77·5

  98·1

  98·31

  North East

  N/A

  184·34

  South 5

  46

  51·5

  53·80

  London North

  N/A

  210·44

  South 6

  49·8

  71·8

  72·29

  London South

  N/A

  207·51

  South 7

  49·3

  69·4

  62·08

  TOTAL

  N/A

  1,215·9

  TOTAL

  400

  551·3

  573·91

  WCE1

  42·5

  59·2

  58·78

  WCE2

  44·1

  61·5

  63·99

  WCE3

  52·7

  71·5

  76·35

  WCE4

  52·3

  63·6

  64·17

  WCE5

  35

  50·3

  44·23

  WCE6

  40·8

  59

  58·17

  WCE7

  48·6

  68·6

  67·34

  TOTAL

  316

  433·7

  433·03

  SNE1

  51·6

  64·6

  67·27

  SNE2

  49·9

  69

  77·27

  SNE3

  46·5

  58·7

  61·92

  SNE4

  23·1

  28·6

  48·00

  SNE5

  30·7

  44·8

  33·91

  SNE6

  31·7

  36·9

  34·19

  0·00

  TOTAL

  233·5

  302·6

  322·56

  NATIONAL

  1,215·9

  NATIONAL

  949·5

  1,287·6

  1,329·5

  N.B. Area Directorates replaced the former regional organisations April 1991.

  South=Southern Territorial Directorate.

  WCE=Wales and Central England Territorial Directorate

  SNE=Scotland and Northern England Territorial Directorate

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in which parts of the United Kingdom cold weather payments have been triggered during the very cold weather during November; and if he will outline the main conditions to be met before cold weather payments are triggered.
  212
  The overwhelming majority of visiting officers available to the Department of Social Security are associated with the administration of claims to Income Support and the Social Fund. Since 1 April 1991, the Benefits Agency has been solely responsible for that administration.

  The Contributions Agency and Child Support Agency are also Executive Agencies of the Department and have some visiting staff available to them. However, the duties of those staff and their deployment throughout the United Kingdom are fundamentally different to those of Benefits Agency staff and I am advised by my colleagues in those Agencies that information relating specifically to visiting staff is not available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. For these reasons I have excluded those staff from the figures I present to you.

  The numbers of Income Support and Social Fund visiting staff for which resources were made available for each of the last four years are shown on the attached table. (Table attached.) However, local managers do have the authority to deploy their resources differently, using their knowledge of local needs and circumstances.

  I am afraid that comparative information for the financial year 1989–90 is not available.

  Staffing projections for this work area are currently part of the PES negotiations. These projections take account of current requirements, as well as unemployment and other demographic factors which arise influencing benefit take up and activity. I may say that at this stage significant changes to current requirements are not anticipated.

  Finally may I assure you that the Benefits Agency is fully committed to maintain the home visiting service as a key element of its "customer service programme."

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

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of cold weather payments is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from M. Bichard to Mr. David Winnick, dated 25 November 1993:

  213
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking, in which parts of the United Kingdom cold weather payments have been triggered during the very cold weather in November, and if he will outline the main conditions to be met before cold weather payments are triggered.
  A period of cold weather is classed as seven consecutive days during which the average mean daily temperature is, or is forecast to be 0 degrees Centigrade or less. A forecast is based on information received daily, by the Agency, from the Met. Office.
  As of 25 November cold weather had been triggered or forecast for areas covered by 43 Benefits Agency (BA) Districts which are listed in the attached appendix.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.
  BA districts which have triggered or been forecast for a period of cold weather as of 25 November 1993.

  Barnsley

  Berkshire

  Blackburn and Accrington

  Bradford

  Buckinghamshire

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  Central Derbyshire

  Central Staffordshire

  Clyde Valley1

  East Lowlands1

  Gloucester

  Grampian and Shetland1

  Gwyneddigion

  Hampshire North

  Hereford and Worcester

  Highlands and Islands1

  Leeds, Aire and Wharfe

  London Central

  Mid Wales and Maelor

  North Cumbria1

  North Derbyshire

  North Gwent and Brecon

  North Staffordshire

  North Wales Coast

  North Worcestershire

  Oldham

  Oxfordshire

  Sale/East Cheshire

  Sheffield West

  Shropshire

  South Cheshire

  South Derbyshire

  South and East Hampshire and Wight

  South West Scotland1

  Stockport

  Surrey Downs

  Tameside

  Tayside1

  Warwickshire

  West Pennine

  Wiltshire

  Wolverhampton

  Yorkshire Pennine

  1Indicates a forecast.

  Retirement Pensions
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of national average earnings the basic state pension for a single person amounted to in(a) 1960, (b) 1970, (c) 1980 and (d)

  Mr. Hague
  The information is not available for 1960. The Employment Department's new earnings survey, on which the figures are based, did not start until 1970. The basic state pension for a single person as a percentage of 214
  national average earnings amounted to (a) 19·3 per cent. at April 1970, (b) 22·6 per cent. at November 1980, and (c) 17·8 per cent. at April 1990.

  Social Affairs Council
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals were put forward by EU member states at the Social Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on 23 November.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Chingford (Mr. Duncan Smith) on 24 November 1993, Official Report, column 72.

EDUCATION

  Voluntary-aided Schools
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many applications have been received from local education authorities, diocesan boards or currently operating private schools for voluntary-aided status for(a) Protestant, (b) Catholic, (c) Hindu, (d) Jewish and (e) Muslim schools since 1983; and how many applications by each denomination have been successful.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Full information dating back to 1983 is not readily available. However, in the last five years since November 1988, 23 applications have been received to establish new voluntary-aided schools. These include six Church of England schools, two Interchurch CE/Methodist and one Interchurch CE/RC, seven Catholic, five Jewish and two Muslim schools. Ten applications were successful: Two Church of England, one Interchurch CE/Methodist and one Interchurch CE/RC, four Catholic and two Jewish schools.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many visits abroad he has made during 1993; and what was(a) the cost to public funds and (b) the purpose of each visit.

  Mr. Patten
  I have made one official trip overseas in 1993. Between 7 November and 9 November, I and two officials visited Slovakia. During the visit, I met the Slovakian Education Minister and other representatives of the Slovakian Government, and visited four universities, one of which is developing close links with the Open university.

  The cost of the visit was approximately £2,250.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many(a) primary and (b) secondary schools have to date (i) applied for and (ii) received approval for grant-maintained status from his Department in each of the London boroughs; and what percentage these represent of the total number of schools in each borough.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is set out in the tables.
  215

  London boroughs: Primary schools applications and approvals for self-governing status

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  LEA

  Total schools

  Applications

  Percentage

  Approvals

  Percentage

  Decision pending

  Corporation of London

  1

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Camden

  41

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Greenwich

  77

  1

  1·3

  —

  0·0

  1

  Hackney

  70

  1

  1·4

  —

  0·0

  1

  Hammersmith

  39

  1

  2·6

  —

  0·0

  —

  Islington

  57

  —

  0–0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Kensington

  27

  2

  7·4

  1

  3·7

  1

  Lambeth

  78

  5

  6·4

  4

  5·1

  1

  Lewisham

  74

  1

  1·4

  1

  1·4

  —

  Southwark

  77

  5

  6·5

  4

  5·2

  1

  Tower Hamlets

  73

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Wandsworth

  70

  3

  4·3

  2

  2·9

  —

  Westminster

  42

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Barking

  54

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  Barnet

  89

  2

  2·2

  2

  2·2

  —

  Bexley

  67

  2

  3·0

  2

  3·0

  —

  Brent

  65

  2

  3·1

  1

  1·5

  —

  Bromley

  78

  2

  2·6

  2

  2·6

  —

  Croydon

  99

  2

  2·0

  2

  2·0

  —

  Ealing

  92

  4

  4·3

  4

  4·3

  —

  Enfield

  69

  1

  1·4

  —

  0·0

  1

  Haringey

  77

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Harrow

  53

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Havering

  74

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Hillingdon

  73

  11

  15·1

  11

  15·1

  —

  Hounslow

  63

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Kingston

  36

  1

  2·8

  1

  2·8

  —

  Merton

  49

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Newham

  67

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Redbridge

  56

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Richmond

  40

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Sutton

  42

  3

  7·1

  1

  2·4

  2

  Waltham Forest

  61

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Totals

  2,030

  49

  2·4

  38

  1·9

  8

  Notes:

  A) Total number of maintained primary schools.

  B) Number of schools which have applied for self-governing status to date.

  C) Schools which have made applications as a percentage of total schools.

  D) Number of schools approved for self-governing status.

  E) Schools approved for self-governing status as a percentage of total schools.

  F) Schools which have made applications which are still under consideration.

  London boroughs: Secondary schools applications and approvals for self-governing status

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  LEA

  Total schools

  Applications

  Percentage

  Approvals

  Percentage

  Decision pending

  Corporation of London

  0

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Camden

  11

  2

  18·2

  2

  18·2

  —

  Greenwich

  15

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Hackney

  10

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Hammersmith

  9

  1

  11·1

  1

  11·1

  —

  Islington

  9

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Kensington

  4

  1

  25·0

  1

  25·0

  —

  Lambeth

  10

  5

  50·0

  5

  50·0

  —

  Lewisham

  14

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Southwark

  15

  5

  33·3

  5

  33·3

  —

  Tower Hamlets

  14

  1

  7·1

  1

  7·1

  —

  Wandsworth

  10

  7

  70·0

  6

  60·0

  —

  Westminster

  8

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Barking

  8

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  Barent

  20

  10

  50·0

  8

  40·0

  2

  Bexley

  17

  4

  23·5

  4

  23·5

  —

  Brent

  14

  9

  64·3

  8

  57·1

  —

  Bromley

  17

  13

  76·5

  11

  64·7

  1

  Croydon

  20

  6

  30·0

  6

  30·0

  —

  Ealing

  13

  6

  46·2

  5

  38·5

  —

  Enfield

  17

  5

  29·4

  4

  23·5

  1

  Haringey

  9

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Harrrow

  10

  1

  10·0

  1

  10·0

  —

  Havering

  18

  4

  22·2

  4

  22·2

  —

  Hillingdon

  17

  14

  82·4

  11

  64·7

  1

  Hounslow

  14

  2

  14·3

  2

  14·3

  —

  Kingston

  10

  4

  40·0

  4

  40·0

  —

  216 217

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  LEA

  Total schools

  Applications

  Percentage

  Approvals

  Percentage

  Decision pending

  Merton

  11

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Newham

  14

  1

  7·1

  1

  7·1

  —

  Redbridge

  14

  1

  7·1

  1

  7·1

  —

  Richmond

  8

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  Sutton

  14

  8

  57·1

  8

  57·1

  —

  Waltham Forest

  16

  2

  12·5

  2

  12·5

  —

  Totals

  410

  112

  27·3

  101

  24·6

  5

  Notes:

  A) Total number of maintained secondary schools.

  B) Number of schools which have applied for self-governing status to date.

  C) Schools which have made applications as a percentage of total schools.

  D) Number of schools approved for self-governing status.

  E) Schools approved for self-governing status as a percentage of total schools.

  F) Schools which have made applications which are still under consideration.

  School Starting Dates
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list those local education authorities which have a single annual starting date for children starting school at age five years.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not collected centrally.

  VAT (Books)
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the amount of VAT which would be payable in the next financial year by schools if the tax were extended to books and periodicals, assuming unchanged patterns of expenditure.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  None. I cannot comment on speculation about possible Budget measures. But local education authority schools are able to claim refunds of the VAT costs they incur on their purchases. Self-governing schools receive a special purpose grant to compensate them for their VAT costs on leaving the LEA sector.

  Sex Education
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will issue guidelines to schools incorporating the policies set out in the Sex Education Forum's recent publication, "A Framework for School Sex Education"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The statutory requirements for sex education in schools have changed since the publication by the independent Sex Education Forum of "A Framework for School Sex Education" in 1992. We intend to consult shortly on draft guidance to schools on the new arrangements for sex education introduced under section 241 of the Education Act 1993. Following consultation, we plan to issue it to schools next spring, to help them to develop and implement appropriate policies and programmes of sex education.

  English
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the actual statistics of the responses received to the questions in section G of the revised order for national curriculum English referred to in paragraph 2.5 of the National Curriculum Council consultation report.
  218
  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor) on 23 November 1993,Official Report, column 24.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Environmental Problems
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commercial Affairs what support the Government are giving to developing countries in their efforts to tackle national and global environmental problems.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have committed substantial resources to help developing countries with their national environmental issues including £40 million to support biodiversity projects, £150 million to about 200 forestry projects, and £86 million for energy efficiency programmes in India.

  We have also committeed over £40 million to the global environment facility, and $13.8 million to the Montreal protrocol multilateral fund, to meet the incremental cost to developing countries of action on the global environment to protect the climate system, biodiversity, internattonal waters and the ozone layer. We will be contributing to the replenishments of the global environment facility and the Montreal protocol multilateral fund.

  Tanzania
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement about the port of Tanga, Tanzania.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Tanzanian Harbours Authority has recently advised us of revisions to the tariffs to be charged at Tanga port from 1 December. The potential effect of these changes on future traffic at the port is being examined by the consultants we engaged to review the justification for the project as orginally envisaged, about which my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development wrote to my hon. Friend on 2 November. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library.

  Desertification
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make statement on progress made to date in the intergovernmental negotiating committee for desertification how many
  219
  sessions of the Committee have been held; how the United Kingdom is represented; and what are the Overseas Development Administration's policies to mitigate desertification.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The intergovernmental negotiating committee has held one preparatory and two substantive sessions. The United Kingdom is represented by a delegation led by the Overseas Development Administration and including officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of the Environment. Negotiations to date have been concerned with the general scope of the convention, and will now proceed to negotiation of text.

  We support national plans of action of desertification, drawn up by affected developing countries. We are providing substantial support to efforts to mitigate desertification through bilateral projects, support to non-government organisations and research, and through-our contributions to multilateral institutions.

  African Elephants
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on funding birth control schemes for African elephants.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have not been asked to fund birth control schemes for African elephants.

TRANSPORT

  Roads (Contracts)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to ensure a procedure exists to investigate circumstances which suggest impropriety amongst contractors or subcontractors in respect of contracting for roads.

  Mr. Key
  All tenders for road works are routinely examined for evidence of corrupt practice, and the Department's staff are regularly reminded of the need to be vigilant in reporting any suspected cases of contractual impropriety. Close links are maintained with the Office of Fair Trading.

  M40
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what considerations underlie the absence of provision of service stations or rest areas along the M40 motorway; what proposals he has for providing such facilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  My Department proposed three motorway service areas (MSAs) for the M40, intending to open them at about the same time as the road. All three schemes, however, provoked objections which led to lengthy public inquiries and substantial delays in provision. Planning clearance was eventually refused for one of the sites, but it was granted for the other two and construction is now under way both are due to open next year. In the meantime temporary facilities, open 24 hours a day, are signposted from the motorway at junction 10 and between junctions 13 and 15.

  Following a commitment in the citizens charter, future MSAs will be promoted by the private sector rather than
  220
  the Department. I understand that at least three planning applications for further MSAs on the M40 are currently under consideration.

  Transpennine Study
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in his Department are currently working on the issues raised by the transpennine study.

  Mr. Key
  No staff are working exclusively on this project. Officials from five regional offices, as well as headquarters, have been involved in the study and assessing consultation responses.

  Colne-Foulridge Bypass
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has a view on whether the proposed Colne-Foulridge bypass should be single or dual carriageway.

  Mr. Key
  This is a Lancashire county council proposal and its design standards are for them to decide.

  M65
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the cost of extending the M65 to join the motorway network east of the Pennines.

  Mr. Key
  None. The transpennine study report included a broad estimate of £120 million to £140 million for an improved route from the M65 towards the A1 via Skipton.

  Royal Train
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions are being made for the future running of the royal train.

  Mr. MacGregor
  From 1 April 1994, responsibility for the royal train will pass from BR to Railtrack. Railtrack will be responsible for the running of the royal train, including the provision and upkeep of coaches and locomotives.

  Director of Passenger Rail Franchising
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated expenditure that will be incurred in running the new office of the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising established by the Railways Act 1993.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Parliamentary approval to the administrative and other expenditure of the director and his Office will be sought in a new estimate to establish a passenger rail services vote—class VI, vote 7. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £350,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

  School Minibuses
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the number of school minibuses in(a) Great Britain and (b) Lancashire which are not fitted with seat belts.
  221
  Mr. Key
  None. This information is not available.

  West End-Bisley-Knaphill Bypass
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the orders required for the fixing of a date for the public inquiry into the proposed route of the West End, Bisley and Knaphill bypass.

  Mr. Key
  A date for a public inquiry into this scheme cannot be fixed until the council has submitted revised orders occasioned by the deficiencies found in its original application.

  6 months to 31 March 1992

  6 months to 30 September 1992

  6 months to 31 March 1993

  6 months to 30 September 1993

  South West England

  Cornwall

  61

  63

  64

  72

  Devon

  44

  60

  23

  16

  Dorset

  3

  5

  6

  9

  Gloucester/Avon

  27

  81

  54

  40

  Somerset

  0

  0

  0

  34

  Wiltshire

  35

  26

  23

  27

  Elsewhere in England

  Cumbria

  0

  1

  11

  1

  Durham/Tyne and Wear/Cleveland/Northumberland

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Hereford/Worcestershire

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Humberside

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Kent/East Sussex

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Leicestershire

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Lancashire/Greater Manchester/Greater Merseyside

  0

  1

  1

  0

  North Yorkshire

  2

  2

  1

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  5

  0

  Warwickshire/West Midlands

  3

  0

  0

  0

  Wales

  Dyfed

  15

  22

  28

  14

  Glamorgan Gwent

  4

  2

  0

  16

  Powys

  0

  3

  0

  0

  Scotland

  Ayr

  0

  0

  0

  51

  Elgin

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Galashiels

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Stirling

  0

  1

  0

  0

  In the light of the worsening disease situation in the south-west of England we are reviewing the current badger control strategy and hope to make an announcement shortly after careful consideration of the views expressed by the consultative panel on badgers and bovine tuberculosis at its meeting on 18 November.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has received on the level and scope of funding for organic farming in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Since the Minister made her announcement of the proposed organic aid scheme, she has received 244 letters on the level and scope of funding of organic farming. The vast majority of these were from producers who said that they already followed organic methods. The Minister also had a meeting on 15 November with

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Cattle (Tuberculosis)
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the latest figures for the numbers of cattle infected with tuberculosis shown by county, and the figures for six months, one year and 18 months ago; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Information on the number of cattle found to be infected with tuberculosis is not available in the form requested. Such information is collected quarterly from each animal health office and relates to herds in administrative areas which may cover an area greater than one county.

  The numbers of confirmed cases in each animal health office administrative area were as follows:

  representatives of the organic movement, and agreed that there would be further discussions with officials and another meeting with the Minister in the spring. This meeting would be to discuss the role of organic farming in relation to common agricultural policy reform.

  Potato Marketing
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she has reached a decision concerning the future of the potato marketing scheme; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have now completed my consultations with the various interests concerned, and am consulting colleagues on our response. I hope to make an announcement soon.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many confirmed cases of BSE were reported between 1 January and 30 September 1993, from each county in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Soames
  The numbers of suspected cases of BSE which were reported and placed under movement restrictions during the period 1 January to 30 September, and which have since been confirmed, are set out. These figures are correct up to 24 November but will change as further cases reported in that period are confirmed by laboratory examination.

  County

  Number

  England, Scotland and Wales

  Avon

  436

  Bedfordshire

  56

  Berkshire

  102

  Borders

  106

  Buckinghamshire

  216

  Cambridgeshire

  82

  Central

  49

  Cheshire

  1,060

  Cleveland

  43

  Clwyd

  427

  Cornwall

  1,507

  Cumbria

  891

  Derbyshire

  640

  Devon

  2,140

  Dorset

  1,270

  Dumfries

  452

  Durham

  117

  Dyfed

  1,328

  Essex

  130

  Fife

  69

  Glammorgan Mid

  36

  Glamorgan South

  76

  Glamorgan West

  22

  Gloucestershire

  424

  Grampian

  271

  Gwent

  178

  Gwynedd

  119

  Hampshire

  524

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  441

  Hertfordshire

  102

  Highland

  61

  Humberside

  152

  Isle of Wight

  99

  Kent

  304

  Lancashire

  956

  Leicestershire

  460

  Lincolnshire

  177

  London

  24

  Lothian

  51

  Manchester

  74

  Merseyside

  19

  Norfolk

  634

  Northamptonshire

  174

  Northumberland

  192

  Nottinghamshire

  160

  Orkney

  24

  Oxfordshire

  300

  Powys

  409

  Shropshire

  672

  Somerset

  1,800

  Staffordshire

  720

  Strathclyde

  327

  Suffolk

  299

  Surrey

  175

  Sussex East

  250

  Sussex West

  450

  Tayside

  96

  Tyne and Wear

  9

  West Midlands

  23

  224

  County

  Number

  Warwickshire

  256

  Wiltshire

  926

  Yorkshire North

  1,183

  Yorkshire South

  110

  Yorkshire West

  176

  Northern Ireland

  Antrim

  79

  Armagh

  23

  Down

  45

  Fermanagh

  22

  Londonderry

  72

  Tyrone

  65

  Wine and Whisky
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total value of wine imports into Britain in 1992 and the total value of exports of Scotch whisky in 1992.

  Mr. Jack
  Wine imports into the United Kingdom in 1992 were valued at £997·4 million. Scotch Whisky Association statistics show that in 1992, Scotch whisky exports—which include one Northern Irish distillery —were £1,958·9 million.

  Acid Rain
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what requests she has received from her counterparts in the European Union regarding the effect of acid rainfall on continental Europe arising from discharges of sulphur dioxide from British plants.

  Mr. Yeo
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government have received one representation from the Environment Minister of the Netherlands requesting further reductions in the United Kingdom's total sulphur emissions, in the context of the negotiations for a second sulphur protocol currently being discussed within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

SCOTLAND

  Postal and Proxy Votes
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much he will spend in the lead-up to the European and local elections next year on promoting the use of postal and proxy votes by sick, disabled and absent voters; what arrangements are in place for this exercise; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Provision has been made in the planning of expenditure for 1994–95 to cover the cost of a publicity campaign in Scotland to inform electors who cannot vote in person at the 1994 European parliamentary elections of how they may apply for postal or proxy votes. The precise figure has still to be determined. Arrangements for the campaign have not yet been finalised but it is likely to involve advertising in the press.

  In accordance with past practice, the Scottish Office intends to issue a news release to the national press drawing the public's attention to the need to apply early for absent voting facilities at the 1994 regional elections.

  Rolling Stock, Strathclyde
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by what date he expects financial guarantees to be in place which will allow the order for rolling stock placed by Strathclyde passenger transport authority with Hunslet TPL to proceed.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: Financial arrangements to allow the Strathclyde passenger transport executive rolling stock order to proceed are a matter for Strathclyde regional council, in conjunction with the parties to any financing agreement.

  Traffic, Prestonpans
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the volume of local traffic making journeys of 25 miles or less on the B 1348 and B 1361 roads west of Prestonpans; and what proportion of the total traffic at those points is represented by such local traffic.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: This information is not held centrally.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Students
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost to each education and library board and to his Department of third level students from Northern Ireland studying in Great Britain.

  Financial year

  Belfast £ million

  North-Eastern £ million

  South-Eastern £ million

  Southern £ million

  Western £ million

  1990–91

  0·771

  0·977

  0·766

  1·024

  0·866

  1991–92

  0·954

  1·131

  0·934

  1·264

  1·047

  1992–93

  1·014

  1·233

  1·009

  1·362

  1·166

  1993–941

  1·008

  1·284

  1·068

  1·654

  1·234

  1Provisional.

  Information is not readily available on the sums paid in discretionary awards to students from the EC, by individual country and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the cost to(a) his Department, (b) Northern Ireland education and library boards and (c) other United Kingdom education authorities of those students from (i) Northern Ireland, (ii) Great Britain, (iii) the Republic of Ireland and (iv) other EC countries.

  Mr. Ancram
  The total costs of making provision for students is not available in the form requested.

  The table shows the estimated costs of student awards held by all Northern Ireland students and the cost of tuition fees for students from EC countries at Northern Ireland institutions during the financial year 1992–93.

  Northern Ireland Students £ million

  EC Students £ million

  Department of Education

  5·550

  0·053

  Education and Library Boards

  226
  Mr. Ancram
  The estimated cost to the Department of Education and to each of the five education and library boards of third-level students from Northern Ireland studying in Great Britain for the financial year 1992–93 is as follows:

  £ million

  Department of Education

  2·297

  Education and Library boards

  Belfast

  6·063

  North Eastern

  10·627

  South Eastern

  8·796

  Southern

  9·611

  Western

  8·168

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table indicating for each education and library board in Northern Ireland the total sums expended in each of the last three years and the current year on discretionary grants for students and the sums paid in discretionary grants to students from each EC country for each of those years; and in each such category; and if he will show the number of students and the total sums for each EC country.

  Mr. Ancram
  The table shows the total cost incurred by the five Northern Ireland education and library boards over the period 1990–91 to 1993–94.

  Northern Ireland Students £ million

  EC Students £ million

  Belfast

  15·320

  1·163

  North Eastern

  25·357

  3·126

  South Eastern

  23·562

  —

  Southern

  26·000

  0·007

  Western

  21·873

  0·237

  Note: It is estimated that 95 per cent. of the cost of the support given to all EC students is for students from the Republic.

  There is no cost to the Department of Education for Northern Ireland or any of the education and library boards arising from awards for students ordinarily resident in Great Britain who are attending institutions in Northern Ireland.

  The cost to other United Kingdom education authorities of students from Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland and other EC countries could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  Maternity Units
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to encourage health boards to offer midwife-only beds and midwife-only care to low risk pregnant women in all maternity units.

  Mr. Ancram
  The Department of Health and Social Services would wish to encourage health and social services boards to make full use of the skills and expertise which the midwifery profession can offer. It will be considering the implications for Northern Ireland on how best the role played by midwives in the care of low risk pregnant women can be enhanced. The Department has also recently established its own study group to consider the scope for developing maternity units led by midwives and/or general practitioners.

  Loyalist Paramilitaries
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons killed since January 1988 by loyalist paramilitaries using weapons smuggled into Northern Ireland with the knowledge of the military intelligence officer Brian Nelson have been compensated by Her Majesty's Government.

  Sir John Wheeler
  It is not possible to determine that anyone has been killed under the circumstances described.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Welford Road Prison
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to visit HMP Welford Road, Leicester.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to visit HM prison, Welford Road, Leicester.

  Prison Visits
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons he has visited since his appointment.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend visited four prisons and one young offender institution since becoming Home Secretary.

  Postal and Proxy Votes
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much he will spend in the lead-up to the European and local elections next year on promoting

  Notifiable offences of theft and handling stolen goods recorded by the police—12 months ending March 1993

  Metropolitan police district

  Number of offences

  Borough/District

  Theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle

  Theft from a motor vehicle

  Theft of pedal cycle

  Theft from shops

  Handling stolen goods

  Total theft and handling

  Broxbourne

  565

  937

  230

  267

  36

  2,758

  Enfield

  2,016

  3,615

  506

  546

  250

  10,389

  Epping Forest

  894

  1,143

  141

  127

  62

  3,313

  Haringey

  2,594

  4,599

  485

  1,019

  299

  12,098

  Islington

  2,438

  5,340

  899

  582

  223

  14,913

  Redbridge

  3,247

  3,025

  486

  979

  169

  10,536

  Waltham Forest

  2,909

  3,555

  491

  771

  294

  11,301

  Welwyn Hatfield

  4

  32

  0

  0

  0

  45

  Barking

  2,167

  2,811

  386

  518

  139

  7,688

  228
  the use of postal and proxy votes by sick, disabled and absent voters; what arrangements are in place for this exercise; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We provide posters and leaflets to let elderly and disabled people know about their right to vote by post or by proxy. It is our practice before a general election to undertake a publicity campaign to tell people how to apply for an absent vote and to let them know the closing date. We do not undertake a similar campaign for local government or European parliamentary elections where the timetable is known well in advance.

  Mr. Amanullah Khan
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times to date since May 1990, Mr. Amanullah Khan, a Pakistani national, has been interviewed by immigration officials, police, or representatives of other United Kingdom agencies within United Kingdom jurisdiction; on which such occasions Mr. Khan was(a) detained and (b) allowed as a transit passenger to continue his journey outside United Kingdom jurisdiction; and what action United Kingdom authorities took to notify other countries of Mr. Khan's travel arrangements.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Mr. Khan arrived at Manchester international airport on 15 October 1993 while in transit from Islamabad to Amsterdam. He was spoken to by police officers in the normal course of their port duties. As a transit passenger, he had no contact with any immigration officials or with any other United Kingdom agency. He was not detained and was allowed to proceed with his journey. The Dutch and Belgian authorities were aware of Mr. Khan's arrival on their territory. This is the only occasion since May 1990 on which Mr. Khan is known to have been within United Kingdom jurisdiction.

  Theft
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes recorded by the Metropolitan police within each borough in the category of theft and handling stolen goods were recorded as(a) theft of a motor vehicle, (b) theft from a motor vehicle, (c) theft of a pedal cycle, (d) shoplifting, (e) handling stolen goods and (f) any other major categories, in the year ended June.

  Mr. Maclean
  The latest available information relates to the 12 months ending March 1993 and is given in the table:
  229

  Borough/District

  Theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle

  Theft from a motor vehicle

  Theft of pedal cycle

  Theft from shops

  Handling stolen goods

  Total theft and handling

  Hackney

  3,126

  5,240

  576

  431

  263

  13,896

  Havering

  2,871

  3,427

  553

  1,073

  166

  10,682

  Newham

  3,835

  4,454

  478

  797

  212

  13,373

  Tower Hamlets

  2,832

  5,996

  643

  403

  224

  14,649

  Thames

  1

  1

  0

  0

  1

  95

  Bexley

  2,358

  3,161

  463

  528

  118

  9,583

  Bromley

  3,144

  5,228

  689

  1,248

  151

  14,229

  Greenwich

  3,708

  5,771

  538

  884

  210

  15,322

  Lewisham

  3,348

  4,300

  491

  936

  190

  13,571

  Southwark

  3,503

  7,799

  845

  1,026

  299

  19,753

  Croydon

  3,360

  5,877

  674

  1,211

  170

  16,644

  Epsom Ewell

  348

  855

  300

  193

  19

  2,545

  Lambeth

  3,533

  7,185

  939

  873

  375

  20,134

  Merton

  1,190

  3,232

  729

  516

  87

  8,650

  Reigate Banstead

  231

  533

  51

  37

  4

  1,269

  Sutton

  1,528

  2,368

  554

  719

  80

  7,965

  Elmbridge

  193

  898

  236

  62

  13

  2,039

  Hounslow

  1,952

  4,505

  1,192

  1,025

  209

  12,491

  Kingston

  727

  2,107

  1,240

  1,008

  119

  7,515

  Richmond

  707

  2,926

  1,191

  504

  81

  7,822

  Spelthorne

  578

  1,850

  507

  271

  56

  4,432

  Wandsworth

  2,529

  6,767

  1,067

  1,153

  164

  16,357

  Ealing

  2,763

  5,289

  651

  990

  239

  14,298

  Hammersmith

  1,598

  6,199

  1,292

  713

  179

  13,785

  Hillingdon

  2,063

  4,218

  723

  594

  153

  10,745

  Kensington Chelsea

  1,393

  6,905

  1,264

  1,561

  229

  20,128

  Heathrow

  108

  715

  38

  104

  40

  3,081

  Barnet

  2,026

  4,658

  409

  1,218

  145

  12,282

  Brent

  2,077

  4,026

  533

  585

  165

  11,379

  Camden

  2,171

  7,240

  1,304

  1,224

  227

  22,220

  Harrow

  886

  2,641

  424

  571

  86

  6,558

  Hertsmere

  466

  1,311

  152

  106

  19

  3,061

  Westminster

  1,748

  8,333

  1,141

  5,308

  354

  41,036

  MPD Total

  79,736

  161,072

  25,511

  32,681

  6,523

  464,689

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes recorded in the year ended June 1993 in each police force area in England and Wales in the category of theft and handling stolen goods were recorded as(a) theft of a motor vehicle, (b) theft from

  Notifiable offences of theft and handling stolen goods recorded by the police by police force area Twelve months ending June 1993

  Police force area

  Theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Theft from pedal cycle

  Theft from shops

  Handling stolen goods

  Other theft

  Avon and Somerset

  27,665

  39,896

  8,401

  6,718

  1,236

  21,068

  Bedfordshire

  8,906

  11,954

  2,227

  2,966

  457

  5,337

  Cambridgeshire

  6,652

  12,538

  7,961

  4,903

  441

  7,761

  Cheshire

  9,548

  14,247

  4,014

  4,694

  811

  7,280

  Cleveland

  13,321

  10,632

  3,639

  2,964

  456

  11,777

  Cumbria

  3,277

  9,033

  1,410

  3,557

  466

  5,617

  Derbyshire

  9,753

  17,358

  3,040

  3,648

  689

  10,879

  Devon and Cornwall

  8,815

  24,483

  4,197

  7,117

  1,529

  19,105

  Dorset

  3,848

  8,893

  3,496

  3,059

  800

  10,228

  Durham

  9,361

  9,341

  2,607

  2,530

  893

  10,568

  Essex

  11,457

  20,092

  5,144

  11,193

  1,291

  12,832

  Gloucestershire

  4,567

  14,916

  3,401

  3,419

  969

  6,297

  Greater Manchester

  59,186

  59,865

  12,277

  15,593

  3,516

  39,201

  Hampshire

  10,796

  29,566

  8,580

  9,611

  1,835

  21,202

  Hertfordshire

  6,395

  12,476

  2,848

  3,542

  444

  6,108

  Humberside

  11,217

  21,207

  8,548

  7,445

  1,128

  13,502

  Kent

  19,657

  26,001

  5,524

  12,058

  1,456

  26,007

  Lancashire

  13,538

  24,430

  7,049

  6,086

  1,351

  20,574

  Leicestershire

  12,070

  18,439

  5,033

  3,645

  838

  13,448

  Lincolnshire

  3,756

  7,354

  3,210

  3,701

  514

  8,727

  City of London

  135

  888

  173

  294

  101

  2,566

  Merseyside

  16,325

  18,252

  4,378

  9,782

  1,513

  20,106

  Metroplitan Police District

  79,568

  163,650

  24,895

  2,341

  6,503

  159,126

  Norfolk

  4,896

  13,559

  4,666

  4,756

  653

  7,767

  230
  a motor vehicle, (c) theft of a pedal cycle, (d) shoplifting, (e) handling stolen goods and (f) any other major categories.

  Mr. Maclean
  The requested information is given in the table.
  231

  Police force area

  Theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Theft from pedal cycle

  Theft from shops

  Handling stolen goods

  Other theft

  Northamptonshire

  6,693

  9,085

  2,620

  2,802

  594

  7,622

  Northumbria

  30,413

  26,125

  4,619

  10,223

  1,289

  19,004

  North Yorkshire

  4,744

  9,342

  3,660

  5,633

  607

  6,486

  Nottinghamshire

  17,335

  26,331

  6,265

  9,048

  1,378

  24,320

  South Yorkshire

  20,788

  24,101

  3,522

  6,790

  1,144

  12,949

  Staffordshire

  12,075

  17,436

  3,184

  4,667

  496

  9,196

  Suffolk

  2,666

  6,528

  2,131

  4,289

  744

  6,398

  Surrey

  4,898

  10,614

  2,705

  2,638

  430

  7,603

  Sussex

  8,801

  22,855

  5,631

  8,557

  1,265

  16,980

  Thames Valley

  23,027

  41,793

  11,035

  10,564

  1,894

  24,314

  Warwickshire

  5,235

  9,200

  1,988

  1,981

  280

  4,883

  West Mercia

  8,465

  14,176

  3,458

  5,299

  576

  14,516

  West Midlands

  41,359

  55,530

  7,551

  13,482

  2,249

  31,154

  West Yorkshire

  38,242

  51,204

  6,449

  10,453

  2,180

  36,867

  Wiltshire

  2,958

  7,026

  2,194

  3,454

  528

  6,110

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,368

  3,098

  554

  1,914

  396

  5,099

  Gwent

  3,829

  6,563

  1,367

  2,750

  1,109

  6,073

  North Wales

  3,620

  9,002

  1,481

  2,451

  497

  7,572

  South Wales

  23,335

  30,796

  4,164

  7,620

  1,204

  14,677

  TOTAL

  614,560

  969,875

  211,296

  280,237

  48,750

  728,906

  Overseas Domestic Workers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to keep information on the numbers of overseas domestic workers who change their employers.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No. Overseas domestic workers are not normally permitted to change job.

  Burglaries
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of burglary in each police force area were recorded as(a) of a dwelling and (b) of a building not a dwelling in the year ended June.

  Mr. Maclean
  The requested information is given in the table.

  Notifiable offences of burglary recorded by the police. Twelve months ending June 1993

  Police force area

  Burglary in a dwelling

  Burglary not in a dwelling

  Avon and Somerset

  24,095

  21,293

  Bedfordshire

  7,256

  8,806

  Cambridgeshire

  7,571

  8,706

  Cheshire

  10,929

  12,231

  Cleveland

  12,426

  7,159

  Cumbria

  4,922

  7,032

  Derbyshire

  9,456

  15,212

  Devon and Cornwall

  14,608

  16,689

  Dorset

  5,859

  4,390

  Durham

  7,618

  6,422

  Essex

  10,325

  16,809

  Gloucestershire

  8,936

  8,861

  Greater Manchester

  66,263

  38,361

  Hampshire

  16,865

  18,854

  Hertfordshire

  5,627

  7,788

  Humberside

  18,789

  27,636

  Kent

  19,423

  12,288

  Lancashire

  18,823

  11,526

  Leicestershire

  14,046

  11,324

  Lincolnshire

  6,697

  5,535

  City of London

  33

  803

  Merseyside

  23,018

  12,395

  Metropolitan Police District

  124,732

  63,063

  Norfolk

  6,340

  12,178

  232

  Police force area

  Burglary in a dwelling

  Burglary not in a dwelling

  Northamptonshire

  6,788

  6,670

  Northumbria

  31,652

  32,833

  North Yorkshire

  7,551

  9,047

  Nottinghamshire

  22,322

  17,760

  South Yorkshire

  23,274

  25,594

  Staffordshire

  13,562

  17,257

  Suffolk

  3,879

  5,615

  Surrey

  6,025

  7,322

  Sussex

  15,849

  14,054

  Thames Valley

  21,520

  17,928

  Warwickshire

  4,417

  8,794

  West Mercia

  8,340

  9,847

  West Midlands

  53,960

  50,717

  West Yorkshire

  56,624

  37,812

  Wiltshire

  4,492

  4,832

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,584

  3,297

  Gwent

  3,639

  4,083

  North Wales

  4,210

  8,270

  South Wales

  14,844

  24,726

  Total

  749,189

  661,829

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of burglary were recorded by the Metropolitan police within each borough as(a) of a dwelling and (b) of a building not a dwelling in the year ended June.

  Mr. Maclean
  The latest information relates to the 12 months ending March 1993 and is given in the table.

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police—12 months ending March 1993

  Number of offences

  Metropolitan Police District Borough/District

  Burglary in a dwelling

  Burglary in other buildings

  Broxbourne

  377

  352

  Enfield

  2,835

  1,761

  Epping Forest

  564

  452

  Haringey

  4,535

  1,520

  Islington

  3,489

  2,027

  Redbridge

  3,367

  1,550

  Waltham Forest

  3,191

  1,473

  Welwyn Hatfield

  13

  4

  233

  Number of offences

  Metropolitan Police District Borough/District

  Burglary in a dwelling

  Burglary in other buildings

  Barking

  2,341

  1,619

  Hackney

  5,920

  2,335

  Havering

  2,416

  1,613

  Newham

  4,413

  2,557

  Tower Hamlets

  2,871

  2,784

  Thames

  1

  0

  Bexley

  2,010

  1,348

  Bromley

  3,808

  2,339

  Greenwich

  4,572

  2,236

  Lewisham

  6,485

  2,304

  Southwark

  6,233

  2,681

  Croydon

  4,423

  2,223

  Epsom Ewell

  664

  452

  Lambeth

  8,681

  2,043

  Merton

  2,634

  1,060

  Reigate Banstead

  373

  154

  Sutton

  1,570

  1,284

  Elmbridge

  432

  388

  Hounslow

  3,116

  1,447

  Kingston

  1,390

  1,361

  Richmond

  1,760

  1,034

  Spelthorne

  521

  583

  Wandsworth

  4,288

  1,897

  Ealing

  4,510

  1,801

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police 12 months ending June 1993

  Metropolitan Police District

  Number of offences

  Borough/District

  Violence against the person

  Sexual offences

  Robbery

  Burglary and going equipped

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  Fraud and forgery

  Criminal damage

  Other notifiable offences

  Total notifiable offences

  Broxbourne

  265

  23

  23

  829

  3,019

  150

  1,390

  17

  5,716

  Enfield

  1,037

  148

  390

  4,561

  10,959

  765

  5,073

  102

  23,035

  Epping Forest

  306

  24

  31

  1,047

  3,213

  288

  1,371

  36

  6,316

  Haringey

  1,105

  161

  1,007

  5,902

  11,115

  1,167

  4,496

  131

  25,084

  Islington

  1,203

  158

  936

  5,581

  14,752

  729

  5,677

  348

  25,084

  Redbridge

  866

  139

  323

  4,679

  11,086

  963

  3,921

  75

  22,052

  Waltham Forest

  992

  102

  732

  4,117

  11,160

  995

  4,432

  104

  22,634

  Welwyn Hatfield

  1

  1

  0

  21

  46

  1

  23

  0

  93

  Barking

  636

  243

  192

  3,884

  7,475

  553

  3,263

  90

  16,336

  Hackney

  1,442

  308

  2,032

  8,492

  14,371

  1,125

  5,607

  241

  33,618

  Havering

  553

  97

  164

  3,872

  11,005

  966

  3,555

  78

  20,290

  Newham

  1,935

  313

  810

  6,807

  13,187

  1,114

  5,474

  208

  29,848

  Tower Hamlets

  1,315

  177

  625

  5,914

  14,828

  782

  5,235

  178

  29,054

  Thames

  0

  0

  0

  1

  96

  0

  18

  0

  115

  Bexley

  529

  131

  131

  3,322

  9,404

  663

  4,705

  64

  18,949

  Bromley

  852

  128

  259

  6,097

  14,400

  1,148

  6,121

  71

  29,076

  Greenwich

  1,442

  288

  496

  6,661

  15,262

  964

  8,116

  181

  33,410

  Lewisham

  1,336

  240

  1,120

  8,710

  13,673

  1,353

  4,988

  159

  31,579

  Southwark

  2,159

  268

  1,707

  8,797

  19,714

  1,334

  7,985

  280

  42,244

  Croydon

  1,618

  259

  717

  6,708

  16,746

  1,521

  7,280

  164

  35,013

  Epsom Ewell

  296

  56

  41

  1,149

  2,597

  342

  1,081

  19

  5,581

  Lambeth

  3,462

  407

  2,849

  10,628

  20,120

  1,965

  7,862

  566

  47,859

  Merton

  8

  118

  225

  3,740

  8,952

  748

  3,825

  89

  18,502

  Reigate Banstead

  90

  12

  13

  542

  1,334

  163

  521

  9

  2,684

  Sutton

  832

  85

  146

  3,312

  8,147

  583

  3,373

  53

  16,531

  Elmbridge

  75

  22

  14

  874

  2,046

  97

  853

  13

  3,994

  Hounslow

  930

  176

  275

  4,443

  12,307

  1,028

  5,531

  125

  24,815

  Kingston

  367

  82

  126

  2,903

  7,616

  584

  2,631

  38

  14,347

  Richmond

  462

  77

  149

  2,700

  8,129

  431

  2,844

  58

  14,850

  Spelthorne

  225

  85

  38

  1,272

  4,516

  288

  1,933

  17

  8,374

  Wandsworth

  1,117

  297

  1,464

  6,443

  16,706

  1,294

  6,787

  128

  34,236

  Ealing

  1,387

  207

  748

  5,945

  14,354

  1,212

  7,339

  133

  31,325

  Hammersmith

  1,082

  133

  672

  4,248

  13,684

  990

  4,826

  147

  25,782

  Hillingdon

  649

  113

  155

  3,568

  10,596

  768

  5,420

  64

  21,333

  Kensington Chelsea

  987

  122

  635

  5,227

  19,750

  1,237

  4,332

  135

  32,425

  Heathrow

  26

  3

  5

  56

  3,009

  281

  262

  191

  3,833

  Barnet

  881

  221

  386

  6,132

  12,170

  1,089

  5,781

  97

  26,757

  Brent

  1,420

  171

  1,850

  7,102

  11,132

  1,297

  5,683

  242

  28,897

  Camden

  1,229

  185

  1,101

  8,610

  22,255

  1,574

  5,811

  169

  40,934

  Harrow

  691

  83

  248

  3,642

  6,620

  551

  3,500

  57

  15,392

  Hertsmere

  164

  28

  35

  972

  2,990

  230

  1,433

  15

  5,867

  Westminster

  1,685

  342

  1,367

  9,435

  41,182

  3,190

  5,618

  370

  63,189

  MPD Total

  38,454

  6,233

  24,237

  188,945

  465,723

  36,523

  175,976

  5,262

  941,353

  234

  Number of offences

  Metropolitan Police District Borough/District

  Burglary in a dwelling

  Burglary in other buildings

  Hammersmith

  3,022

  1,281

  Hillingdon

  2,286

  1,419

  Kensington Chelsea

  4,366

  1,414

  Heathrow

  2

  36

  Barnet

  4,441

  1,826

  Brent

  5,639

  1,906

  Camden

  5,190

  3,460

  Harrow

  2,852

  951

  Hertsmere

  548

  471

  Westminster

  5,162

  4,494

  MPD Total

  127,611

  63,940

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home department how many crimes were recorded by the Metropolitan Police within each borough for each category of crime in the year ended June.

  Mr.Maclean
  The requested information is given in the table.
  235
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were recorded by the police within each police force area in England and Wales for each category of crime in the year ended June.

  Notifiable offences recorded by police force area and offence group Twelve months ending June 1993

  Police force area

  Violence against the person

  Sexual offences

  Robbery

  Burglary

  Theft and handling

  Fraud and forgery

  Criminal damage

  Other offences

  Total

  Avon and Somerset

  5,264

  626

  1,600

  45,388

  104,984

  5,671

  19,832

  629

  183,994

  Bedfordshire

  2,045

  335

  632

  16,062

  31,847

  2,240

  7,755

  278

  61,194

  Cambridgeshire

  2,797

  385

  314

  16,277

  40,256

  1,882

  7,680

  433

  70,024

  Cheshire

  2,953

  380

  324

  23,170

  40,594

  2,472

  11,824

  1,241

  82,958

  Cleveland

  2,447

  217

  286

  19,585

  42,789

  1,574

  13,809

  299

  81,006

  Cumbria

  2,051

  235

  94

  11,954

  23,360

  878

  7,939

  343

  46,854

  Derbyshire

  4,147

  448

  368

  24,668

  45,367

  1,500

  15,586

  638

  92,722

  Devon and Cornwall

  4,241

  820

  406

  31,297

  65,246

  3,929

  17,651

  1,009

  124,599

  Dorset

  1,659

  335

  159

  10,249

  30,324

  3,842

  5,861

  817

  53,246

  Durham

  2,451

  426

  160

  14,040

  35,300

  2,710

  12,178

  638

  67,903

  Essex

  4,210

  697

  506

  27,134

  62,009

  3,333

  17,256

  750

  115,895

  Gloucestershire

  1,674

  251

  298

  17,797

  33,569

  2,111

  5,137

  401

  61,238

  Greater Manchester

  10,136

  1,397

  4,948

  104,624

  189,638

  10,970

  66,516

  2,633

  390,862

  Hampshire

  5,298

  1,140

  640

  35,719

  81,590

  5,409

  22,236

  1,270

  153,302

  Hertfordshire

  1,856

  247

  351

  13,415

  31,813

  1,578

  9,526

  409

  59,195

  Humberside

  4,953

  765

  517

  46,425

  63,047

  3,641

  20,043

  419

  139,810

  Kent

  6,016

  855

  685

  31,711

  90,703

  4,423

  27,551

  1,285

  163,229

  Lancashire

  3,171

  405

  590

  30,349

  73,028

  3,602

  25,816

  996

  137,957

  Leicestershire

  3,654

  554

  997

  25,370

  53,473

  3,381

  14,394

  528

  102,351

  Lincolnshire

  2,351

  330

  150

  12,232

  27,262

  1,305

  8,106

  649

  52,385

  City of London

  197

  26

  56

  836

  4,157

  505

  341

  64

  6,182

  Merseyside

  7,292

  702

  2,046

  35,413

  70,356

  5,109

  23,356

  1,658

  145,932

  Metropolitan Police District

  38,452

  6,233

  24,237

  187,795

  466,083

  36,789

  175,996

  6,415

  942,000

  Norfolk

  1,942

  340

  226

  18,518

  36,297

  1,649

  7,949

  452

  67,373

  Northamptonshire

  2,658

  305

  312

  13,458

  29,416

  1,678

  12,346

  403

  60,576

  Northumbria

  6,355

  723

  1,145

  64,485

  91,673

  3,305

  53,274

  832

  221,792

  North Yorkshire

  1,901

  233

  111

  16,598

  30,472

  1,077

  6,403

  397

  57,192

  Nottinghamshire

  7,931

  1,128

  1,165

  40,082

  84,677

  4,225

  26,022

  633

  165,863

  South Yorkshire

  4,979

  593

  854

  48,868

  69,294

  2,141

  21,739

  1,113

  149,581

  Staffordshire

  5,390

  468

  406

  30,819

  47,054

  2,330

  14,648

  427

  101,542

  Suffolk

  2,165

  347

  147

  9,494

  22,756

  1,877

  6,792

  531

  44,109

  Surrey

  2,051

  331

  244

  13,347

  28,888

  2,040

  7,007

  399

  54,307

  Sussex

  3,182

  806

  555

  29,903

  64,089

  3,599

  16,011

  1,247

  119,392

  Thames Valley

  4,619

  767

  956

  39,448

  112,627

  7,623

  32,482

  1,203

  199,725

  Warwickshire

  1,318

  298

  133

  13,211

  23,567

  1,308

  6,679

  274

  46,788

  West Mercia

  3,444

  428

  259

  18,187

  46,490

  1,472

  11,638

  453

  82,371

  West Midlands

  11,207

  1,588

  5,517

  104,677

  151,325

  9,095

  50,430

  1,824

  335,663

  West Yorkshire

  9,337

  1,327

  3,139

  94,436

  145,395

  6,125

  43,853

  2,067

  305,679

  Wiltshire

  2,582

  459

  145

  9,324

  22,270

  1,551

  6,087

  453

  42,871

  Dyfed-Powys

  2,057

  453

  41

  4,881

  12,429

  795

  5,140

  291

  26,087

  Gwent

  2,365

  332

  104

  7,722

  21,691

  1,070

  6,634

  399

  40,317

  North Wales

  2,559

  326

  126

  12,480

  24,623

  1,305

  8,047

  377

  49,843

  South Wales

  5,847

  557

  421

  39,570

  81,796

  4,085

  37,587

  958

  170,821

  Total

  203,204

  29,618

  56,370

  1,411,018

  2,853,624

  167,204

  917,157

  38,535

  5,676,730

  Mr. Karamjit Singh Chahal
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in respect of Mr. Karamjit Singh Chahal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Since the original decision to deport Mr. Chahal was made in August 1990, representations have been made by 51 hon. Members; four Members of the European Parliament; Amnesty International and several other organisations; and over 2,000 members of the public in this country and overseas. Most of these representations have supported Mr. Chahal's request to be granted asylum in the United Kingdom; some have called for his early removal to India.
  236
  Mr.Maclean
  The information requested is given in the table.

  The decision to deport Mr. Chahal was taken on the ground that his presence is not conducive to the public good for reasons of national security and for other reasons of a political nature, namely the international fight against terrorism. On 22 October 1993, the Court of Appeal held that my predecessor's decisions to refuse Mr. Chahal's application for asylum and to deport him were both reasonable and lawful. Subject to any further legal challenges to that decision arrangements for Mr. Chahal's deportation will proceed.

  Dangerous Dogs
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek power to enable him to issue an exemption certificate to owners of a dog or dogs who were
  237
  unable to meet the requirements of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 for valid reasons which existed on or before 30 November 1991.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer to the reply that I gave the hon. Member on 25 November at column 171.

  Market Testing
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the result of the market test of statistics collection in his Department.

  Mr. Howard
  The market test of statistics collection in my Department has now been concluded and it has been decided to award a service level agreement to the in-house team whose tender was judged to have represented the best value for money.

  Wandsworth Prison
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the proposed visitors' waiting centre will be built and opened at Wandsworth prison; 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. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from D. Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, undated:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the new visitor's centre at Wandsworth prison.
  Work on converting an existing quarter adjacent to the prison gate to a visitor's centre was completed in September, at a cost of £35,000. A Centre Co-ordinator has recently been appointed and the centre is expected to come into use early in the New Year.

DEFENCE

  Tornado-Helicopter Accident
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress being made in the investigation of the accident involving a civil helicopter and an RAF Tornado on 23 June; what is the expected date of completion of the military accident investigation; and what is the expected date of publication of the military aircraft accident summary.

  Mr. Hanley
  The board of inquiry has completed its investigation and the findings are now being considered. This process should be completed by January 1994. Publication of the military aircraft accident summary will follow shortly thereafter.

  Orders
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends to continue placing orders with(a) Fratelli Borletti, (b) Gebruder Junghans and (c) AS Raufoss; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  We will not be placing new contracts with these three firms until all the facts relating to the recent conviction of Gordon Foxley have been fully investigated.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the directors of(a) Fratelli Borletti, (b) Gebruder Junghans and (c) AS Raufoss; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  We will not be placing new contracts with these three firms until all the facts relating to the recent conviction of Gordon Foxley have been fully investigated.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the directors of(a)Fratelli Borletti,(b)Gebruder Junghans and (c)As Raufoss; and if he will make a statement.
  238
  Mr. Aitken
  My right hon.and learned Friend has had no such discussions.

  Mr. Gordon Foxley

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the duties and responsibilities of Mr. Gorden Foxley when he was employed by the Ministry of Defence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

HEALTH

  Complaints Procedures
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times the Wilson Review Committee on NHS Complaints Procedures has met; and how many further meetings are planned prior to publication of the committee's report.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We understand that the complaints review committee has met four times and that Professor Wilson and his colleagues plan further meetings before they submit their report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish the report of the Review Committee on NHS Complaints Procedures; and what will be the status of that report.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked Professor Wilson and his independent review committee to make recommendations at the turn of the year. The recommendations and publication will be considered at that time.

  Cigarettes
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to discuss with tobacco companies the dangers arising from continued production of fire-prone cigarettes;

  (2) what consultations she has had with medical organisations on fire injuries from fire prone cigarettes and the need to introduce fire safe cigarettes.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to compile data on the direct financial costs of property damage resulting from tires caused by cigarettes.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no plans to do so.

  Consultants
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the numbers and locations of women consultants(a) currently in practice in the United Kingdom and (b) in each hospital.

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information will be placed in the Library. Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Resources Distribution
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instructions have been issued to regional health authorities to ensure fair distribution of resources within the regions based on weighted capitation.

  Mr. Sackville
  The planning guidance for 1992–93 gave regional health authorities discretion to use their judgment about the precise distribution of funds which suits their districts' needs, based on their analysis of local information. The guidance for 1993–94 was published in FDL(92)113 which states"Regions will therefore be asked to report on their planned deployment of the 1993–94 allocation and in particular to demonstrate clear progress towards equalisation. The pace of such progress and whether it should be achieved by reducing resources allocated to districts above their capitation share is a matter for invidual regions to judge in the light of local circumstances."
  Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.

  Steroids
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement concerning the result of investigations carried out by the Medicines Control Agency into illegal advertising of anabolic steroids.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Medicines Control Agency has recently completed inquiries into the extent to which illegal advertising of anabolic steroids takes place. The results of the inquiries will be made available shortly.

  GP Services
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the extent of the over or under-spending, on general practitioner fund holder budgets in each national health service region and family health services authority area; and what were the sums returned and/or retained by general practitioner fund holders in each case.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information on 1992–93 outturn will not be available centrally before the end of November.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what systematic accounting systems and records of activity she has laid down for general practitioner fund-holding practices.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The general practitioner fund holders' manual of accounts contains guidance on accountancy matters relating to, and the financial management of, the general practice fund. In addition, GP fund holders must have computer software to assist in managing a fund. The GP fund-holding software specification sets down the software requirements for this. Copies of both these documents are available in the Library.

  Elective Surgery
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money in the most recent period for which data are available was spent by fund-holding general practitioner practices on purchasing elective surgery for their patients from(a) national health service trusts and directly managed hospitals and (b) private practitioners.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally.

  Organograms
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will construct and place in the Library organograms of the national health service to district health authority level as it existed in April 1983; and how it will be consequent on her proposals in April 1994.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information will be placed in the Library.

  Cot Deaths
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cot deaths there have been in the United Kingdom(a) per region and (b) per hospital; and what percentage they have been of live births over the past 10 years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information will be placed in the Library. Information on cot deaths by hospital of occurrence for the years 1983–1992 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys is examining plans to include infant mortality statistics by district health authority of occurrence in its future routine publications.

  Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Research Units
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each of the 13 research units currently subject to peer review(a) the name of the unit director or, if the post is currently vacant, the name of the previous director and date of resignation, (b) the date of the site visit, (c) the date on which the report of the review was made public and (d) the timetable for making decisions about the future of each unit; and if she will place a copy in the Libary of each review report which has been completed.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The names of unit directors and the dates of site visits are shown in the table. In accordance with the Department's preferred practices for the commissioning and management of all research and development, expert peer review of long-term research contracts is well established and reports are discussed fully with unit directors. Once finalised, these reports take the form of advice to the department's director of research and development and are not published. With the agreement of unit directors, we are arranging to place in the Library copies of the reports they have prepared for site visits, together with the conclusions of the site visit team. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 29 June 1993 at column 421, which stated that decisions about the future of units will be announced once the series of site visits has been completed and following due discussion and full consideration. Earlier decisions may be required, depending on the particular circumstances of the unit and we are pleased to announce that the director of research and development has now invited Oxford university to provide proposals on terms and conditions so that the post of director of the national perinatal epidemiology unit can be filled.
  241

  Research Unit

  Director

  Site visit date (most recent or planned)

  Childhood Cancer Research Group

  Dr. G. J. Draper

  October 1991

  Medical Care Research Unit

  Professor B. T. Williams

  October 1992

  National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit

  Vacancy

  June 1993

  Previous director, Dr. I Chalmers, resigned September 1992. Interim management arrangements were agreed with the unit's steering committee and involve a rotating post of acting director.

  Social Medicine and Health Services Research Unit

  Professor W. W. Holland

  July 1993

  Cancer for Primary Care Research

  Dr.D.Wilkin

  July 1993

  Cancer Screening Evaluation Unit

  Professor J. Chamberlain

  October 1993

  National Institute for Social Work

  Dr. J. Pahl

  October 1993

  Clinical Operational Research Unit

  Professor R. R. P. Jackson

  November 1993

  Social Policy Research Unit

  Professor S. Baldwin

  Planned for January 1994

  Site visit dates for the following units are in planning for early 1994.

  Personal Social Services Research Unit

  Professor B. Davies

  Centre for Health Economics

  Professor A. K. Maynard

  Dartington Social Research Unit

  Professor S. Millham

  Thomas Coram Research Unit

  Professor H. McGurk

  HIV
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy towards the provision of free counselling for patients diagnosed as HIV positive.

  Mr. Sackville
  Since 1985 it has been the Department of Health's policy that advice, counselling and HIV testing should be available for any person who might have been at risk of HIV infection or wishes to have a test. Counselling provided free through the national health service includes advice for those diagnosed HIV positive, on management of HIV-related disease and on how to avoid transmission of HIV infection.

  Cancer
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients diagnosed as having cancer see a specialist in cancer.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many visits abroad she has made during 1993; and what was(a) the cost to public funds of each visit and (b) the purpose of each visit.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes) on 3 November at columns 222-24.

  Patient Deaths
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has on how many patients die en route to other hospitals because their local hospital does not have sufficient intensive or coronary care unit beds.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on the diversion of intensive or coronary care cases is not available centrally. We are aware of the three tragic deaths of Manchester patients and understand that North Western regional health authority is holding discussions with district health authorities to examine whether the level of intensive care provision in Manchester is set at an appropriate level.
  242
  The Government are currently funding a study by the Royal College of Anaesthetists into access to intensive care nationally.

  Health Expenditure
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the expenditure on health expressed as a percentage of gross domestic product in each EC country.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Total health service expenditure in the United Kingdom as a percentage of gross domestic product was 6·1 per cent. in 1992–93 which compares with 4·7 per cent. in 1978–79. Figures for other European Community countries are not available on a comparable basis.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of NHS patients waiting for admission had waited more than six months at March, June, September and December 1992 and March, June and September 1993.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information on the number of patients waiting for admission to hospital is given in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England", which is published twice yearly for March and September. Copies are available in the Library. The most recent information is for March 1993, which shows that 27·4 per cent. of patients had waited more than six months for treatment. This compares with 30·5 per cent. in September 1992 and 29·5 per cent. in March 1992.

  Hospital Closures
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the name of each hospital closed in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Jonathan Zito
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the inquiry by South and North East Thames regional health authorities into the death of Jonathan Zito is likely to be completed; and if its report will be published.
  243
  Mr. Bowis
  I understand the chairmen of the North East and South East Thames regional health authorities expect to receive the report of the inquiry chaired by Jean Ritchie QC in February. The report will be published.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare national health service trust is presently making payments to staff to cover(a) work in unsocial hours and (b) expenses incurred in attending training courses.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Tom Pindar, chairman of the trust, for details.

  Benzodiazepine
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions were issued for each benzodiazepine by community pharmacists in England in 1992.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is shown in the table. From 1992, the data include prescriptions dispensed by dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by doctors for items administered personally as well as those dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors. When 1991 data are recalculated on the same basis, they show an encouraging fall of about 15 per cent. in the level of benzodiazepine dispensing between 1991 and 1992.

  Benzodiazepine prescription items

  England 1992

  Drug group

  Number of prescription items (thousands)

  Temazepam

  6,914

  Diazepam

  3,225

  Nitrazepam

  3,074

  Lorazepam

  1,018

  Chlordiazepoxide

  503

  Oxazepam

  352

  Loprazolam

  239

  Lormetazepam

  215

  Clonazepam

  144

  Clobazam

  67

  Total

  15,751

  Note:

  The data cover all prescription items dispensed by community pharmacists appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and personal administration.

  Drug Companies (Payments to Doctors)
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines exist on payments by drug companies to doctors to promote their drugs; and what plans there are to tighten these guidelines.

  Mr. Sackville
  Guidelines on the promotion of medicines are contained in the code of practice for the pharmaceutical industry administered by the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority, a copy of which is available in the Library. We are proposing to introduce legislation under the Medicines Act 1968 next month to control hospitality offered by drug companies.

WALES

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department(a) the total number of persons employed and (b) the total number of women employed.

  Mr. Redwood
  The total number of persons employed by my Department are:

  Grade

  Total number of staff within the grade

  Total number of female staff within the grade

  G1 and equivalents

  1

  0

  G2 and equivalents

  2

  0

  G3 and equivalents

  12

  1

  G4 and equivalents

  5

  1

  G5 and equivalents

  53

  9

  G6 and equivalents

  28

  3

  G7 and equivalents

  189

  50

  SEO and equivalents

  144

  25

  Admininstration fast streamers

  13

  8

  HEO and equivalents

  308

  109

  E0 and equivalents

  488

  285

  AO and equivalents

  643

  465

  AA and equivalents

  609

  325

  Total number of staff

  2,495

  Total number of female staff

  1,281

  Acid Rain
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on initiatives taken to protect agricultural land and inland waterways and lakes from acid rain in Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  A wide range of measures are being taken throughout the United Kingdom to reduce the emissions which cause acid rain. These include significant action to reduce emissions from the power industry, the fitting of catalytic converters to all new cars and the implementation of the pollution control systems under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  In addition, the Welsh Office in conjunction with the National Rivers Authority and the Countryside Council for Wales is promoting research and monitoring on the environmental impact of acid deposition in Wales. Action is also in hand to evaluate the effectiveness of liming on agricultural land and waterways in Wales affected by acid deposition.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the findings of his Department's joint report with the Department of the Environment reviewing the performance at 25 local authorities in meeting the targets set in part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; when the report was forwarded to(a) the Local Authority Enforcement Liaison Committee and (b) Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; and to which other bodies it has been distributed.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the
  245
  Environment and Countryside to the hon. Member for City of Chester (Mr. Brandreth) on 3 November, Official Report, column 207. Of the 25 local authorities included in the review, three are in Wales.

  The local authority associations and Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution are represented on the inspectorate of pollution/Local Authority Enforcement Liaison Committee. That committee approved the Department of the Environment/Welsh Office review report on 29 September. Copies of the report have since been provided to all relevant local authorities in England and Wales and to certain trade associations.

  Council Houses
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many council houses were built in 1992; and how many are under construction currently.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on the number built in 1992 has been published in table 2.3 of "Welsh Housing Statistics No. 13 1993", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Leaving aside the substantial social housing programme funded by Housing for Wales, there were 240 local authority dwellings under construction on 31 August 1993.

  Environment Conference
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what contribution his Department made in terms of resources or papers delivered to the conference on research and education in environmental management held in Swansea on 11 November.

  Mr. Redwood
  The conference was organised by the Welsh Office at a cost of some £32,700. The Welsh Office contributed to a paper on waste management.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Burundi
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the recent upheavals in Burundi on the stability of the wider east and central Africa region.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The recent tragic events in Burundi have resulted in the movement of over 700,000 refugees into neighbouring countries with particularly severe consequences for Zaire, Tanzania and Rwanda.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest multilateral and regional efforts to restore peace and stability to Burundi.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Statement by the President of the United Nations Security Council issued on 16 November encouraged the Secretary-General to send his Special Representative on Burundi, Mr. Ould Abdallah, to Bujumbura with a United Nations team, to assist the Organisation for African Unity (OAU) in its efforts to restore democratic institutions, rebuild confidence and stabilise the situation. The Secretary-General has been asked urgently to report on this mission and on his recommendations for the creation of a voluntary fund to assist in the despatch of an OAU mission.
  246
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken to encourage the sending of a UN representative to Burundi; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my written reply to his question of 25 November. The United Kingdom fully supports this United Nations initiative.

  Non-governmental Organisations
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list each United Kingdom non-governmental organisation that has either category I, category II or roster status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is not available in the format requested.

  The United Nations does not list non-governmental organisations by country of origin. Non-governmental organisations with consultative or roster status are all international in character. I am making available to the Library of the House the current list of NGOs with category I, category II and roster status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

  Vessel Seizures, Danube
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the seizure of vessels by Serbian pirates, where the Danube passes through the Krajin; what commitment has been made by the Western European Union to controlled passage through the Danube; and what action is proposed.

  Mr. Heathcote-Amory
  We have no such information, though we are aware a recent blocking of the Danube in the vicinity of Belgrade by two unofficial Serbian organisations for which the Serbian Government disclaim responsibility. We do not accept that there is nothing the Serbian Government can do to curtail these activities.

  The President of the United Nations Security Council made a statement on 13 October 1993 condemning this action and reminding the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) authorities of their international obligations to ensure free movement of international traffic on the Danube.

  The Western European Union sanctions enforcement operation on the Danube is directed at preventing the passage of unauthorised materials to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It is not tasked with enforcing the passage of shipping throughout the length of the Danube.

  Miltary Equipment Sales
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to make it a condition of granting an export licence for any application for arms or military equipment that the recipient country provide complete details of all its military imports and exports to the United Nations register of arms transfers.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. The United Nations register of conventional arms is a voluntary confidence-building measure with which we encourage all United Nations member states to comply. We do not consider that it constitutes an adequate basis on which to assess export licence applications for military goods.

  European Committee of the Regions
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which body will pay the travelling expenses of the United Kingdom members of the European Committee of the Regions; and what will be the rights of(a) members and (b) alternate members.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The travelling expenses of members of the EC Committee of the Regions will be paid from funds allocated to the Committee in the EC budget. The Committee of the Regions is an advisory body of the Communities. Under article 11 of the protocol on the privileges and immunities of the European Communities, members and alternate members will therefore, in the

  Official visits overseas by the Secretary of State 1993

  Destination

  Dates

  Purpose

  Cost £

  Ghana

  3–4 January 1993

  Bilateral

  172,023·00

  Nigeria

  4–5 January 1993

  Bilateral

  Argentina

  6–10 January 1993

  Bilateral

  Chile

  10–11 January 1993

  Bilateral

  France (Paris)

  13–14 January 1993

  Bilateral

  3,000·00

  Netherlands (The Hague)

  20 January 1993

  Bilateral

  1,420·00

  Belgium (Brussels)

  25 January 1993

  Bilateral

  3,390·00

  Switzerland (Davos)

  29–31 January 1993

  World Economic Forum

  4,752·00

  Belgium (Brussels)

  31 January–2 February 1993

  Foreign Affairs Council

  6,572·00

  France (Strasbourg)

  2 February 1993

  Council of Europe

  3,000·00

  Germany (Munich)

  5–6 February 1993

  30th Munich (Wehrkunde) Conference on Security Policy

  5,371·00

  Germany (Bonn)

  17 February 1993

  Bilateral

  2,700·00

  France (Paris)

  24 February 1993

  Bilateral

  2,446·00

  Belgium (Brussels)

  25–26 February 1993

  North Atlantic Council Ministerial Meeting

  3,396·00

  Spain (Madrid)

  28 February–1 March 1993

  Anglo/Spanish Talks on Gibraltar

  6,070·00

  United States of America (New York)

  3 March 1993

  United Nations

  18,452·00

  Belgium (Brussels)

  7–8 March 1993

  Foreign Affairs Council

  5,373·00

  United States of America (Washington)

  24–25 March 1993

  Bilateral

  26,631·00

  Germany (Bonn)

  29 March 1993

  Address the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung

  2,701·00

  France (Paris)

  1 April 1993

  Bilateral

  192,780·00

  Russia (Moscow)

  2 April 1993

  Bilateral

  Indonesia

  3–5 April 1993

  Bilateral

  Japan

  6–7 April 1993

  Bilateral

  Korea

  7–9 April 1993

  Bilateral

  Japan (Tokyo)

  12–15 April 1993

  Joint Ministerial G7 meeting

  78,040·00

  Denmark (Hindsgval Slot)

  24–25 April 1993

  EC Foreign Ministers informal weekend weekend

  24,618·00

  Finland (Helsinki and Ivalo)

  25–26 April 1993

  Bilateral

  Sweden (Stockholm)

  26–27 April 1993

  Bilateral

  Ireland (Dublin)

  30 April 1993

  Bilateral

  2,039·00

  Hungary

  6–7 May 1993

  In attendance upon Her Majesty the Queen

  4,654·70

  Belgium (Brussels)

  9–10 May 1993

  Foreign Affairs Council

  6,052·00

  France (Strasbourg)

  13–14 May 1993

  Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly

  6,312·00

  Italy (Rome)

  19 May 1993

  Western European Union

  6,777·00

  United States of America (Washington)

  21–22 May 1993

  Bilateral

  38,891·00

  Denmark (Copenhagen)

  24 May 1993

  EC Foreign Ministers troika with Turkey

  5,176·00

  Belgium (Brussels)

  24 May 1993

  Bilateral

  3,400·00

  France (Paris)

  1 June 1993

  Bilateral

  2,500·00

  Romania

  1–3 June 1993

  Bilateral

  41,453·00

  Bulgaria

  3–4 June 1993

  Bilateral

  Macadonia

  4 June 1993

  Bilateral

  Luxembourg

  7–9 June 1993

  Foreign Affairs Council

  11,494·00

  Greece (Athens)

  9–11 June 1993

  Ministerial Meeting of the North Atlantic Council

  18,346·00

  Denmark (Copenhagen)

  21–22 June 1993

  European Council

  111,690·00

  248
  performance of their duties and during their travel to and from the place of meeting, enjoy the customary privileges, immunities and facilities.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visits abroad he has made during 1993; and what was(a) the cost to public funds of each visit and (b) the purpose of each visit.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has made 50 overseas visits involving 68 countries during 1993. The cost and purpose of each visit was as follows:
  249

  Destination

  Dates

  Purpose

  Cost£

  Singapore

  5–6 July 1993

  Bilateral

  278,050·00

  Japan

  7–8 July 1993

  G7 Economic Summit

  China

  8–9 July 1993

  Bilateral

  Hong Kong

  9 July 1993

  Official talks

  Brussels

  19 July 1993

  FAC

  6,000·00

  Salzburg/Germany

  24–26 July 1993

  Bayreuth festival

  5,500·00

  UAE/Saudi Arabia

  6–8 September 1993

  Bilateral

  64,267·00

  Bonn

  10 September 1993

  Bilateral

  Not yet available

  Belgium

  11–12 September 1993

  EC Foreign Minister's informal weekend

  Not yet available

  Australia/New Zealand

  13–19 September 1993

  Bilateral

  113,900·00

  Washington

  21–22 September 1993

  Bilateral

  Brussels

  20 September 1993

  Joint Foreign Affairs/Agriculture council

  Not yet available

  United States of America (New York)

  27 September–1 October 1993

  United Nations General Assembly

  86,284·00

  Luxembourg

  3–4 October 1993

  FAC

  10,468·00

  Italy (Rome)

  18 October 1993

  Bilateral

  Not yet available

  Cyprus (Limmasol)

  18–22 October 1993

  CHOGM

  Syria (Damascus)

  22–24 October 1993

  Bilateral

  Not yet available

  Luxembourg

  26 October 1993

  Special FAC

  7,985·00

  Belgium (Brussels)

  28–29 October 1993

  Special EC Summit

  Not yet available

  Belgium (Brussels)

  8 November 1993

  FAC

  5,570·00

  India (New Delhi, Bombay)

  14–17 November 1993

  Bilateral

  Not yet available

  Luxembourg

  21–22 November 1993

  Western European Union

  Not yet available

  Germany (Bonn)

  25 November 1993

  Anglo/German Summit

  Not yet available

  Italy (Bologna, Rome)

  29–30 November 1993

  Bilateral

  Not yet available

  1Costs also include those of the Prime Minister.

  2 Costs also include those of the Prime Minister (G7 Summit only).

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Seceretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place since June with the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food respectively, in regard to representations received from abroad on the international and proliferation implications of extending reprocessing at Sellafield with THORP.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I discuss a range of issues with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. These naturally include. THORP from time to time. Any representations from overseas on THORP have been sent direct to the Ministers conducting the public consultations on the Sellafield authorisations.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  EC Industry Council
  Ms Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Industry Council of 18 November.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Council was dominated by lengthy discussion of six requests for derogations from the steel state aids code for Sidenor and CSI, Spain: Freital and Ekostahl, Germany Ilva, Italy; and Siderurgia Nacional, Portugal. At its September meeting, the Council confirmed 250
  the obligation to apply the state aids code, and made particular reference to eliminating operating cost subsidies. Certain of the cases before the November Council did not meet these criteria. Agreement was not reached, and the Council is likely to meet on 17 December to consider the cases further.

  There was insufficient time to discuss the other items on the agenda—EC industry policy; the Commission's 22nd competition policy report and the Maritime Industries Forum.

  Depleted Uranium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade to which countries in the middle east his Department has authorised the licensing of depleted uranium exports since 1979.

  Mr. Needham
  The answer to this question could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Anthrax Vaccine
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether anthrax vaccine exports require export licences; and how many such licences were issued during the years 1987 onward.

  Mr. Needham
  Anthrax vaccine was made specifically licensable in the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1992, which came into force on 31 December 1992. Prior to that it was controlled under a general military heading—ML7 —relating to defence against biological agents. For the
  251
  period in question, the total number of licences issued specifically for anthrax vaccine could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Frogs Legs
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to ban the import of frogs' legs.

  Mr. Needham
  No.

  Redundant Steelworkers
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how may redundant steelworkers have retrained for alternative occupations through ISERBS—iron and steel employees readaptation benefits scheme—support during the last 10 years.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Detailed figures for all of the last 10 years can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, since 1 January 1989, 8,390 redundant steel workers have been eligible for ISERBS benefits, of which 4,183 have retrained.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the relative position of steelworkers entering redundancy with and without the benefit of ISERBS—iron and steel employees readaptation benefits scheme—support; and what assessment he has made of the employment consequences of termination of this scheme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  A full evaluation was conducted in 1992. A copy of the report was placed in the House of Commons Library on 29 October 1993.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what total sums have been paid to redundant steelworkers in the United Kingdom through the iron and steel employees readaptation benefits scheme—arrangements in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion of these sums have been provided by the European Commission.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The figures requested, at 1992–93 prices, are as follows:

  Financial Year

  Total ISERBS payments £m

  Commission contribution £m

  1983–84

  80·3

  54·7

  1984–85

  50·9

  27·1

  1985–86

  33·5

  20·6

  1986–87

  28·9

  12·7

  1987–88

  24·6

  8·2

  1988–89

  7·4

  8·0

  1989–90

  6·8

  5·6

  1990–91

  18·9

  0·6

  1991–92

  30·0

  3·6

  1992–93

  50·1

  5·4

  There is a time lag between ISERBS payments being made and receipt of the contribution from the European Commission.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date he proposes to end the ISERBS arrangements to assist redundant steelworkers to retrain or to relocate and to reduce the unemployment effect of contraction in that industry.
  252
  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Colchester, North (Mr. Jenkin) on 29 October 1993,Official Report, column 804.

  Steel Exports
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support he is giving to United Kingdom steel suppliers to increase their exports to the EC.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: My Department, jointly with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, provides a wide range of high-quality advice and support to exporters which is available to all sectors of United Kingdom industry.

  Energy Advisory Panel
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will report on the first meeting of the energy advisory panel giving(a) details of its planned agenda and (b) how his Department plans to respond to any recommendations.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: The panel met for the first time on 23 November. It was a constructive meeting, in which members considered a programme of work towards the production of the first annual energy report. As is generally the case with such bodies, the advice of the panel and details of its meeting and discussion are confidential.

  General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the likely success of the current round of GATT negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: Conclusion of the Uruguay round by the agreed deadline of 15 December is currently the Government's top trade priority. The vote last week by the United States Congress for the north America free trade agreement was a vote for free trade. This and recent progress in Geneva makes successful completion of the round more likely than ever.

ENVIRONMENT

  New Homes
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the total number of new homes completed by(a) local authorities, (b) housing associations and (c) private developers in each of the London boroughs in each year since 1979; and what is his estimate for completions in 1993.

  Sir George Young
  Estimates of housebuilding completions by sector for each local authority area in Greater London are shown in the publications "Local Housing Statistics" and also "Housebuilding in England by Local Authority Areas, 1980–1989" for some earlier years.

  Figures for 1979 are in table 4(b) of the November 1981 edition—issue No. 59—of "Local Housing Statistics". Figures for 1980 to 1984 are in "Housebuilding in England by Local Authority Areas", tables 1.1 to 1.5. Figures for

  253
  1985 to 1990 are in tables 1(a) to 1(f) of the October 1992 edition—issue No. 103—of "Local Housing Statistics". Figures for 1991 and 1992 are in table 1 of issue No. 105 of "Local Housing Statistics". Copies of these publications are in the Library.

  The Department does not prepare forecasts of housebuilding activity.

  Air Quality
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the proposals set out in his joint consultation paper on the future of air quality monitoring networks in the United Kingdom; and what is the closing date for submissions.

  Mr. Yeo
  My Department issued the paper "The Future of Air Quality Monitoring Networks in the United Kingdom" for consultation on 2 November 1993. This fulfils the Government's commitment made in the second anniversary report of the 1990 White Paper "This Common Inheritance" to examine the possibilities of better integration of national and local ambient air quality monitoring and greater uniformity of practice. The closing date for submissions is 10 December 1993.

  The paper sets out proposals on ways in which local and national monitoring can be brought together to produce one coherent quality-assured network and seeks views on ways this can best be achieved. The proposals include the development of a central and accessible pool of national and local data of broadly common format and standards, which would be subject to effective quality control and be freely available to the public.

  Temporary Accommodation
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the average annual cost of(a) bed-and-breakfast accommodation and (b) other temporary accommodation, including privately leased properties, provided by local authorities for homeless households in (i) the Greater London area and (ii) England.

  Sir George Young
  My Department has no estimates of the average annual costs to local authorities of housing homeless households in temporary accommodation.

  Data on the annual costs and use of bed-and-breakfast accommodation from which average annual costs can be derived, are, however, published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) in "Homelessness Statistics 1991–92 Actuals", a copy of which is in the Library.

  The CIPFA publication contains insufficient information to derive average annual costs for other types of temporary accommodation.

  Industry (Costs)
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has that the principle of best available techniques not entailing excessive cost is not causing excessive costs to British industry where it is applicable.

  Mr. Yeo
  The BATNEEC principle—best available techniques not entailing excessive cost—is designed to ensure that the environment is adequately protected from 254
  potential pollution, while not placing an unacceptable burden on industry. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the chief inspector of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution—HMIP—issue guidance respectively on BATNEEC for different sectors coming under local authority air pollution control—LAAPC—and integrated pollution control—IPC—and consult widely with industry and other interested parties in doing so. Furthermore, an operator is able to appeal against the conditions of an IPC or LAAPC authorisation if he feels BATNEEC has not been properly applied.

  Although it is not possible at this stage in the progressive implementation of part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to determine the final costs to industry of meeting the requirements, I have no reason to believe that this will be disproportionate. I attach considerable importance to ensuring that unnecessary burdens are not imposed on industry and both IPC and LAAPC have been reviewed as part of the Government's deregulation initiative.

  On 10 June, I held a seminar with representatives from industry at which we discussed the implementation of IPC and my officials have this month held a similar meeting on LAAPC.

  City Challenge
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the names of the chief, executives of city challenge schemes, their current salaries and their previous occupations.

  Mr. Baldry
  The chief executives of the 31 city challenge partnerships are:

  Chief executives

  Mr. K. Beaumont

  Leicester

  Mr. J. Blackie

  Newcastle

  Mrs. J. Bradbury

  Blackburn

  Mr. A. Burton

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Mr. P. Coffey

  Wirral

  Mr. G. Davis

  Harlesden

  Mr. D. Dawson

  Derby

  Mr. C. Dutton

  Sandwell

  Mr. G. Fitzhenry

  Bolton

  Mr. J. Flamson

  Liverpool

  Dr. T. Flanagan

  Batley

  Mr. C. Freegard

  Nottingham

  Mr. J. Gillis

  Dearne Valley

  Ms. S. Healy

  Walsall

  Mr. S. Jacobs

  Stratford

  Mr. C. Khamis

  Wolverhampton

  Ms. L. Klein

  Bethnal Green

  Mr. R. Lawrence

  North Tyneside

  Ms B Marjoram

  Brixton

  Mr. M. McCloskey

  Birmingham

  Mr. J. Montgomery

  Deptford

  Mr. P. Moss

  Barnsley

  Mr. C. Oldershaw

  Stockton

  Mr. M. Orrick

  Sunderland

  Mr. R. Pointing

  Wigan

  Mr. R. Simmons

  Hackney

  Mr. L. Southerton

  Middlesbrough

  Mrs. C. Teesdale

  Hartlepool

  Mr. J. Watson

  Bradford

  Mrs. L. Whitehouse

  Hulme

  Mr. D. Yeates

  Sefton

  Of these, about two thirds came from local government or other public sector employment, and about a third from the private sector. The salary of the chief executive is a matter for each individual partnership.

  Committee of the Regions
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representatives he has received following his appointments to the Committee of the Regions.

  Mr. Baldry
  Seven.

  Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to how many and which organisations he is able to make appointments; and what are the salary levels of these appointments.

  Executive Agencies

  Agency

  Appointment

  Annual Salary

  Ordnance Survey

  Director General

  see note1

  Management Board non-executives3

  £5,262

  Planning Inspectorate

  Chief Planning Inspector

  see note1

  Members of Advisory Board4

  unpaid

  Building Research Establishment

  Chief Executive

  see note1

  QE II Conference Centre

  Chief Executive

  see note1

  Buying Agency

  Chief Executive

  see note2

  Security Facilities Executive

  Chief Executive

  see note2

  Other Bodies

  Name of Body

  Appointment

  Annual Salary

  Office of Water Resources (OFWAT)

  Director General

  seenote3

  7 National Park Authorities (England)

  Third of Members

  unpaid

  Broads Authority

  9 of the 35 Members

  unpaid

  Sutton Housing Trust

  4 of the 7 Trustees

  £2,120

  1Civil Service Grade 3

  2Civil Service Grade 5

  3Civil Service Grade 2

  Chemical Degradation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received the report commissioned by his Department from WRC Consultants on degradation of chemicals; how many copies of the report have been printed; to whom it has been circulated; and what response he has made to its recommendations.

  Mr. Yeo
  The report was received in the Department of the Environment on 1 November 1993. In all, 18 copies of the report have been printed, 13 of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House. A copy is also available in the Department's library for public reference. The remaining copies were circulated to staff within the Department who will use the results in the assessment of chemicals. Further copies can be made available on request.

  Canada Geese
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the members of the Canada geese working group; and what organisations or sector each of them represents.

  Mr. Yeo
  The list is as follows:

  R. J. Groombridge—Chairman, Department of the Environment.

  C. Booty—Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

  Dr. J. Kirby—Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.

  G. Macniven—London Borough of Wandsworth.

  Miss S. Davies—Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

  256
  Mr. Gummer
  Information about the number, and levels of remuneration, of people appointed to public bodies for which I am responsible is given in the annual HMSO publication "Public Bodies". A copy of the current issue is held at the House of Commons Library and "Public Bodies 1993" will be published shortly. Additionally, and excluding departmental committees, of which no central record is maintained, I make appointments to the following bodies:

  P. Clement—English Nature.

  Mrs. J. Adams—Central Royal Parks.

  Dr. C. Feare—Central Science Laboratory.

  Dr. N. Reynolds—British Association for Shooting and Conservation.

  Dr. S. Smith—National Farmers Union.

  T. Harman—British Pest Control Association.

  Dr. D. Goode—London Ecology Unit and the Association of Metropolitan Authorities.

  J. Stephens—Department of the Environment.

  The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust also cover the interests of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how Her Majesty's Government intend to promote sustainable development as outlined in the Queen's Speech.

  Mr. Yeo
  We are preparing a strategy for sustainable development and intend to publish it shortly. We shall lay the document before the House in the normal way.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what initiatives he has taken to encourage public response to his consultation paper on sustainable development.

  Mr. Yeo
  My Department published a consultation paper on sustainable development in July this year. They and other Government Departments then held a series of
  257
  round table discussions with interested people and organisations, and I and my colleagues took every appropriate opportunity to raise the issues in speeches and discussions. We received over 500 responses.

  Greenhouse Gases
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the currently envisaged timescale for the stabilisation of emissions of greenhouse gases; and what he sees as the likely time scale for the phasing out of substances damaging the ozone layer.

  Mr. Yeo
  Under the United Nations framework convention on climate change, the United Kingdom Government are committed to taking measures aimed at returning emissions of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by the year 2000. A detailed programme of measures designed to achieve this target for each of the main greenhouse gases will be published soon.

  Current agreed phaseout dates for ozone depleting substances are as follows:

  Substance

  Phaseout date

  CFCs

  I January 1995

  Carbon Tetrachloride

  1 January 1995

  Halons

  1 January 1994

  111 Trichloroethane

  1 January 1996

  Hydrochlorofluorocarbons are likely to be phased out by 2015 subject to EC agreement.

  There is also to be a cap on methyl bromide use in 1996.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the total number of proposals to amend council tax valuations received to date by valuation offices in England; and how many of these have been dealt with to date, including the numbers involving an amendment to the original banding and the date by which all outstanding proposals are expected to have been dealt with in each of the London boroughs.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Minister for Local Government and Planning gave to the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on Thursday 25 November. Of the proposals settled to date, around 80,000 have resulted in an amendment to the original banding.

  As my hon. Friend announced on 29 June, Official Report column 416, we expect some 560,000 council tax appeals to have been settled in England before the end of 1994, with the remaining cases being decided as rapidly as possible in 1995. Progress to date has been consistent with this expectation. I cannot, however forecast a precise end-date, either for England as a whole or for individual local authority areas.

  Sheltered Housing
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to correct the discrepancy in the minimum age requirements of men and women for eligibility for allocation of sheltered accommodation for elderly persons; and if he will make a statement.
  258
  Sir George Young
  There is no statutory requirement that sheltered housing can be made available only to persons over a certain age. Decisions on the allocation of such accommodation are the responsibility of the landlord concerned.

  Architects
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the deregulation of the registration of architects.

  Sir George Young
  None at present. The Government have given further consideration to the future of the Architects (Registration) Acts. They still believe that the best long-term solution for architects would be for the chartered institutions and others to develop and improve the system of self-regulation of the profession. This would serve to educate the consumer in what the architect has to offer, so that the need for statutory protection of title would diminish.

  The Government understand the strength of feeling against the removal of statutory protection of title shown by consumer organisations, colleagues and many within the profession. The Government have therefore decided, on balance, not to proceed with the repeal of the Architects (Registration) Acts, but to examine, in consultation with the profession and other bodies, measures which could be taken to simplify the present arrangements.

  In the meantime, the Government look to the Royal Institute of British Architects and the other professional bodies to address the standing of the profession including the relevant recommendations of the Warne report.

  "London, Making the Best Better"
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the initial print number of his coloured consultative document on London and its approximate cost; what plans he has for further printing; and what are the current and future means of its distribution or availability to(a) official bodies and (b) the public.

  Mr. Gummer
  Two hundred and fifty thousand copies of the document were printed, each of which contains a questionnaire. Fifty thousand separate questionnaires were also printed. The cost of producing the document and questionnaire, including distribution and publicity, will amount to an estimated £168,000. Decisions on printing extra copies will depend on the demand for the document. Copies were distributed initially through the Evening Standard network and sent to a wide range of London organisations. Copies are available by writing to the Department of the Environment, PO Box 151, London E15 2HF.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration was given by his Department to ensure that the distribution and circulation of the questionnaire accompanying the document "London, Making the Best Better" would provide a statistically representative sample of the views of all sections of the London population; if he intends to weight the responses to the questionnaire in any way to provide a statistically representative sample of the London population; and whether he sought outside professional
  259
  advice as to whether the questions in the questionnaire were likely to provide data which could be relied upon for the purposes of making decisions.

  Mr. Gummer
  Two hundred thousand copies of the document were distributed from Evening Standard outlets across London. The aim was to reach as many people as possible who have opinions and ideas and to give them a chance to put their point of view to me. In addition, copies are being sent to a wide range of organisations and to anyone who requests them. The distribution method was not intended to provide a statistically representative sample. We will, of course, analyse the responses in terms of age and geographical distribution and these results will be published.

  The survey was piloted by MORI and was subsequently modified to make some of the questions clearer. MORI commented that reactions to the pilot survey were very positive: many were pleased to have been invited to take part and were keen to express their views.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the precise method and criteria by which he intends to collate and publish responses to the questionnaire accompanying the document "London, Making the Best Better".

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him earlier today. I will publish a digest of the responses in due course.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table giving separate expenditure breakdowns for(a) the questionnaire accompanying the document "London, Making the Best Better" and (b) the document, "London, Making the Best Better", without the questionnaire, broken down into (i) the total number produced, (ii) the total cost of typesetting, (iii) the total cost of layout and printing, (iv) the total cost of paper and assorted materials and (v) the total cost of distribution.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him earlier today. Design and typesetting costs were £31,500 for the document, and £500 for the questionnaire. Two hundred and fifty thousand copies of the document and questionnaire were printed and are being distributed together, so it is not possible to separate the costs of each. The cost of printing the 50,000 separate questionnaires was £1,500.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration was given to including London zoo in the list of London attractions for which public approval was sought in the questionnaire accompanying "London, Making the Best Better."

  Mr. Gummer
  It was not possible to include every London attraction by name in the questionnaire but space is provided for people to name aspects of London which they appreciate. London zoo is mentioned on page 42 of the document.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost of his consultation paper "London: Making the Best Better" in (i) staff time involved in research and preparation of text, (ii) photography and artwork, (iii) printing, (iv) distribution, (v) publicity and (vi) all other expenses.
  260
  Mr. Gummer
  There was no dedicated team set up solely to prepare the document. My Department's London policy unit co-ordinated the preparation of the document alongside its other duties; the estimated salary and superannuation costs of their time spent on the document amounts to about £18,000. Staff in other parts of my Department and in nine other Departments contributed to the draft. It would be impossible to quantify the total staff time involved.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) today for details of other costs incurred in producing the document.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the final date by which responses to the questionnaire accompanying the document, "London, Making the Best Better" have to be received in order to be considered valid by his Department;

  (2) by what date he will publish the full results of the questionnaire accompanying the document "London, Making the Best Better;"

  (3) by what date he will publish his response to the results of the questionnaire accompanying the document, "London, Making the Best Better."

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: I want to give people plenty of time to respond to the questionnaire or to write to me, so I have not at this stage set a final date for responses; therefore, I cannot yet give a date for the timing of publication of the results. Clearly no one could reasonably set such dates without knowing in advance the number of responses.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each individual and organisation consulted in advance about the contents of the document, "London, Making the Best Better"; what form the consultations took; and if he will place all written material received by his Department as a result of such consultations in the Library.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: My officials and I have been in contact with a large number of organisations to discuss London issues, including input to the document. In addition, nine other Government Departments were involved, most of them consulting outside organisations as appropriate. It would be impossible to list all the contacts made and organisations involved.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement setting out the full criteria by which his Department will consider responses to the consultation document, "London, Making the Best Better"; and on what grounds responses to the document may be considered invalid.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: No rigid criteria have been set. The intention is to analyse all the responses, using the framework of the six questions in the questionnaire.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each individual and organisation sent an advance copy of the document "London, Making the Best Better"; and on what dates advance copies were sent to each organisation.
  261
  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: Advance embargoed copies of the document were given on 19 November to two of the organisations which assisted with input to the document, London First and the London Boroughs Association. The Evening Standard, which distributed the document, also received copies on l8 and 19 November.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make available for public inspection all responses to the document, "London, Making the Best Better", including those deemed by his Department to be invalid.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: No. Individual responses to the questionnaire will be treated in confidence.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the total cost of production and distribution of the document, "London, Making the Best Better", broken down into(a) total number produced, (b) total cost of typesetting, (c) total cost of layout and printing, (d) total cost of paper and assorted materials, (e) total cost of distribution, (f) total cost of uses of photographic and other copyright, (g) individual total numbers and costs of all advance and accompanying press releases, operational notes to the press and advance advertising in the press and (h) the total cost of the press launch.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: Two hundred and fifty thousand copies of the document were produced, each of which contains a questionnaire. A further 50,000 separate copies of the questionnaire were printed. Costs to date are as follows:

  >£

  Design and typesetting

  32,000

  Paper and printing

  69,700

  Distribution to date

  33,400

  Photographic rights to date

  6,100

  Press releases and advertising

  1,700

  Press launch

  500

  Questionnaire pilot survey

  4,500

  Further costs of some £20,000 might be incurred in sending out copies of the document and questionnaire in response to requests, in final design costs, and in additional freepost charges for the questionnaire.

  One invitation—operational note—was sent out to the press and two press notices were issued;550 copies of each were produced. There were two advertisements in the Evening Standard.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date or dates legal advice was either sought from or given by(a) Government legal advisers or (b) other legal advisers, on the content of drafts of the document, "London, Making the Best Better"; and if he will place copies of all legal advice thereby obtained in the Library.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: It was not necessary to seek legal advice on the document.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table giving a breakdown 262
  of the timetable for production of the document, "London, Making the Best Better", including the specific dates on which (a) the initial departmental decision was formally taken to produce the document, (b) instructions were given to civil servants to begin preparation of initial draft, (c) the initial draft was completed, (d) the initial draft was considered by Ministers, (e) amendments were made to the initial draft, (f) the final draft was completed, (g) the final draft was considered by Ministers and (h) the final draft was considered by the Cabinet.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: The decision to produce the document was taken by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on London on 22 July, and officials began preparation of the draft document immediately thereafter. Drafts of each section were produced by the Departments concerned and considered by Ministers at various times during September and October, and amendments continued to be made to the draft during that period. The final draft was circulated to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on London on 19 October.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions he has reached on the arrangements for the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering for housing management in England in the light of responses to the consultation paper which his Department issued in June 1993.

  Sir George Young
  The consultation paper set out proposals for three key components of compulsory competitive tendering—CCT—of housing management in England. These were: the "defined activity", the timetable for implementation by individual authorities and the size of contracts. We have carefully considered the responses to the consultation paper and, following discussions with representatives of local housing authorities, are now in a position to announce conclusions on the proposals subject to the consultation exercise and related matters.

  The defined activity will focus on those aspects of housing management which authorities might reasonably contract out, allowing them to keep strategic, policy and enabling functions in house. The defined activity will be broadly as proposed in the consultation paper but the opportunity has been taken to refine and clarify it in the light of comments received. I am today placing in the Library a detailed description of the tasks making up the defined activity.

  CCT will apply to housing management services covered by the defined activity which are provided to properties held by local authorities for the purposes of part II of the Housing Act 1985, excluding hostels as defined in the 1985 Act. A temporary exemption will be granted in respect of the Barbican estate in recognition of its special circumstances. We recognise that for operational reasons authorities need some flexibility to determine the way in which housing management services are provided. We therefore propose to relax the competition requirement by requiring that 95 per cent. of the annual value of the defined activity is subject to competition. Where contracts are won by local authorities' own direct service organisations they will be required to break even after allowing for a rate of return on capital employed. We propose that the rate should be 6 per cent.
  263
  We recognise that for a few smaller authorities the administrative burdens of introducing CCT for housing management may be unduly onerous. We therefore propose to set a de minimis threshold whereby authorities, the annual value of whose defined activity is £500,000 or less, will be exempt from housing management CCT. This figure will be kept under review in the light of experience of market-testing housing management.

  It remains our intention that the introduction of housing management CCT will be phased on the basis of the bands set out in the consultation paper issued in June 1993, with the first contracts in operation from 1 April 1996. Some authorities represented that they should be placed in a different band from that proposed. Officials will be writing to them individually to let then know the band in which they will be placed.

  The consultation paper indicated that, where authorities are restructured as a result of the local government review, they would be exempt from the requirement to subject the defined activity to competition from the date of the order making the structural change until 18 months after the new authority is in place. A further announcement will be made shortly about the timetable for implementation of CCT in shire counties and districts following my right hon. Friend's recent request to the Local Government Commission to complete the review by the end of 1994.

  The Department will shortly be consulting local authorities and their representatives and other interested bodies on drafts of the subordinate legislation which will implement the decisions which I have announced today. It will also consult shortly on a draft circular on the statutory competition framework for CCT of white collar services, including housing management. The draft circular will include guidance on the size of housing management contracts in the terms proposed in the consultation paper.

  The Department of the Environment is today writing to all local housing authorities in England with copies of this announcement, the defined activity and a fuller explanatory note. Copies of that note ae being placed in the Library.

  Departmental Offices
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce details of his Department's new accommodation.

  Mr. Gummer
  On 12 November last year, my predecessor announced that the Department of the Environment would remain in Marsham street for the time being while a search was undertaken to find the most suitable accommodation at the best value for money for the taxpayer,Official Report, column 955.

  I have now selected two buildings for my Department's headquarters. Eland house, in Bressenden place near Victoria, is to be rebuilt by Land Securities. As part of the deal with Land Securities, 700,000 sq ft of offices held on long lease by Property Holdings will be surrendered before lease expiry, thereby making a significant reduction in the size of the Government estate in central London.

  The second building is Ashdown house in Victoria street which is currently occupied by the Department of Trade and Industry: it is in need of major repairs. These will be done when the DTI reoccupies 1-19 Victoria street.

  DOE headquarters staff in 2 Marsham street, together with staff in two other buildings in London will move to this new accommodation. Marsham street is also occupied in part by the Department of Transport. My right hon.
  264
  Friend the Secretary of State for Transport will make an announcment about future accommodation for his Department in due course. It is likely that both Departments will finally vacate 2 Marsham street towards the end of 1997, after which it will be demolished to the benefit of the London skyline.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans the Government have to deal with homelessness in the west midlands; and how they plan to prevent homelessness in the future.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: Resources for increasing and improving local authority and housing association housing stock are provided through the housing investment programme and the Housing Corporation's approved development programme, which take account of the circumstances in each area, including the level of acceptances under part III of the Housing Act 1985. In order to ensure fairer access to permanent social housing for people who need it, the Government propose to reform the homelessness provisions in the Housing Act 1985, and we hope to issue a consultation paper shortly.

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the major causes of homelessness.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: The main reasons for the loss of the last settled home, as given by people accepted by local authorities for rehousing under part III of the Housing Act 1985, were associated with parents, relatives or friends being no longer willing or able to accommodate, and relationship breakdown. Details appear in the quarterly information bulletins issued by my Department, which are available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the largest age group of homeless people.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: The returns that local authorities make to my Department on the number of households accepted under part III of the Housing Act 1985 do not include information on age groups.

  Economic Development, Merseyside
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the persons and organisations on Merseyside he or his predecessor has met during the current year to discuss economic development matters.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: I visited Liverpool on 14 July, and held meetings with the leader and chief executive of Liverpool city council, representatives of the regional press and media, and the Bishop and Archbishop of Liverpool. Issues of economic development were covered at all these meetings.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State for the Environment visited Liverpool on 30 March. He met councillors from all parties on Liverpool city council, together with the chief executive and director of resources; he also met press and media representatives, and the chairman, directors and senior officers of the Liverpool housing action trust.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a full list of each public opinion survey commissioned by his Department over the past 10 years, the organisation from which the survey was commissioned, the information which the survey was

  Title

  Year

  Origination

  Right To Buy: Attitude Survey

  1985

  SCPR

  Public Attitudes To Environment

  1986

  NOP

  Public Attitudes To Radioactive Waste

  1986

  Surrey University

  Unleaded Petrol Publicity Planning

  1988

  SAMP Surveys

  Evaluate Effectiveness of Financial Incentive Schemes To Council Tenants

  1987

  SCPR

  Evaluation Of Hostel Provision For The Single Homeless

  1987

  SCANTEL

  Effectiveness Of Housing Management In England (Main Stage: Tenants)

  1987

  Glasgow University

  Social Survey Of Residents For The PEP Cost-Effectivness Study

  1988

  Harris Res.

  Evaluation Of Estate Action Funded Scheme

  1988

  Coopers & Lybrand

  Evaluation Of National Garden Festivals

  1989

  CEC

  Community Charge: Advertising Research

  1989

  Plus Four

  Investigation Of Use and Safety Aspects Of Alternating Tread Stairs

  1989

  R. J. Feeney

  Follow Up Survey Of Public Attitudes To The Environment

  1989

  NOP

  Coastal Visitors (Part Of Coastal Recreation Strategy By Sports Council SR)

  1989

  Southampton University

  Community Charge: Strategic Research On Advertising Strategies

  1989

  Andrew Irving

  Public Perceptions Of Local Government Spending

  1989

  SCPR

  Tenants' Choice—Pre And Post Advertising Check (March and April 1989)

  1989

  PAS

  Large Scale Voluntary Transfers Of Local Authority Housing

  1989

  BMRB

  Right To Buy Tenant Survey 1989

  1989

  SCPR

  Tenants' Choice—Research On Landlords

  1989

  Birmingham University

  Monitoring Housing Management Performance Under New Financial Regimes for Local Authorities and Housing Associations

  1990

  Universities

  Evaluation Of Housing Action Trusts (Individuals)

  1990

  Price Waterhouse

  Survey Of Housing Association Tenants

  1990

  PAS

  Attitudes Towards Inclusive Leases

  1990

  March CSG.

  Market Research Into Cavity Wall Insulation For Existing Dwellings

  1990

  IAAS

  Evaluation Of Estate Action Schemes

  1990

  User Research

  Publication Pack Assessment—General Public

  1990

  RJM Research

  Hedgerow Management Questionnaire

  1990

  Cobham Research

  Citizen And The Environment Leaflet Research

  1990

  Diagnostics

  Milton Keynes 1990 Image And Advertising Research

  1990

  AUD. Select

  Milton Keynes 1990 Image And Advertising Research

  1990

  Chesterton

  Survey Of Single Homelessness

  1991

  SCPR

  Evaluating The Impact Of Block Action

  1991

  Price Waterhouse

  Under-Occupation In The Social Rented Sector

  1991

  LRC

  The Impact Of The Landlord And Tenant Act 1987

  1991

  SCPR

  Study Of Conversions Of Houses Into Flats In London

  1991

  LRC

  Appraisal Of Assisted Agency Services

  1991

  Bristol University

  The Impact Of Policies/Programmes On Inner Cities

  1991

  Manchester University

  Conservation Advice To Farmers

  1991

  PAS

  A National Survey Of Attitudes Towards Environmental Noise

  1991

  Taylor Nelson

  Evaluation Of The Wake-Up Leaflet

  1991

  MORI

  Monitoring Housing Management Performance In Local Authorities and Housing Associations

  1991

  PAS

  Housing Attitudes Survey

  1991

  SCPR

  Monitoring The New Local Authority Performance Indicator Regime

  1991

  CURDS

  1991 Census Follow-Up Of Sharers

  1991

  OPCS

  English House Condition Survey

  1992

  OPCS

  Housing Needs Of Elderly People

  1992

  Ernst & Young

  Ventilation In New Homes

  1992

  Market Research Co.

  Householders' Response To Radon In The Home

  1992

  St. Andrew University

  Energy Efficiency Campaign

  1992

  MASS OBS.

  Energy Efficiency Campaign—Evaluation

  1992

  MASS OBS.

  Household Budgets And Housing Costs (IND)

  1992

  PSI

  Citizens Charter Refurbishment Contracts

  1992

  Reading University

  Householders' Response To Radon In The Home

  1993

  St. Andrew's University

  Housing Associations As Managing Agents Monitoring And Evaluation

  1992

  LRC

  Evaluation Of The 'Rents To Mortgages' Scheme

  1992

  SCPR

  266
  designed to elicit, whether the results of the survey are available for public consultation and the total cost of carrying out each survey.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: The information available about surveys carried out by my Department since 1985, which include questions to individuals about their opinions, is as follows:
  267

  Title

  Year

  Origination

  Attitudes To Noise Comparison Survey: Parts I & II

  1992

  Taylor Nelson

  Customer Attitudes To The Rural Development Commission's Business Advice

  1992

  PIEDA

  Owner-Occupiers Who Are Cavity Wall Insulation Enthusiasts

  1992

  NBA

  Evaluation Of Rebuilding Grants

  1992

  Salford University

  Energy Use Questionnaire—Green House Schemes

  1992

  Optima Energy

  Road And Footpath De-Icing Policies

  1992

  Forestry Commission

  Radiological Assessment Of The Ribble Estuary

  1992

  Bangor University

  Contingent Valuation Survey Of Environmental Change

  1992

  ECOTEC

  Global Warming Campaign Creative Development

  1992

  Davies etc.

  Voluntary Organisations And Environmental Action

  1992

  NCVO

  'Helping The Earth' Campaign Evaluation

  1992

  MASS-OBS

  Making A Corporate Commitment—Top Management Campaign Evaluation

  1992

  INDAL

  Council Tax Evaluation Research

  1992

  RSGB

  Smoking In Public Places

  1992

  HOP

  Applicants' Perceptions Of The Planning Appeals System

  1993

  W. S. Atkins

  Evaluation Of The Rough Sleepers Initiative

  1993

  Research & Information S'CS

  Rent Policies Of Local Authorities In England

  1993

  INLOGOV

  Energy Efficiency Office—Autumn 1992 Roadshow Evaluation

  1993

  CONT'AL

  The Children's Initiative

  1993

  Millward Brown

  Landlords Research

  1993

  SCPR

  Evaluation Of 'Right To Buy' Publicity Campaign

  1993

  MORI

  'Right To Buy' Campaign Evaluation—Follow-Up Stage

  1993

  MORI

  An Evaluation Of The S73 Grant Programme

  1993

  York University

  The Nature Of Demand For Housing In Rural Areas

  1993

  Birmingham University

  Monitoring The Actions Of Failed Grant Applicants

  1993

  PAS

  Environmental Protection Commission Audit; Stage 2—HMIP—Public

  1993

  MORI

  Community Identity Research

  1993

  MORI

  Public Attitudes To The Environment

  1993

  NOP

  Evaluation Of Regional Energy Efficiency Offices Research

  1993

  Research Surveys

  Helping The Earth Campign Evaluation Research 93/94 Waves 4 & 5

  1993

  BMRB

  Helping The Earth—Literature Evaluation

  1993

  MAI

  London Experience

  1993

  Department of the Environment

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department(a) the total number of persons employed and (b) the total number of women employed.

  Mr. David Davis
  The staff-in-post figures as at 22 November 1993, for the Cabinet Office and the Office of Public Service and Science, including CCTA and the four executive agencies—Chessington Computer Centre, Civil Service College, the Occupational Health Service and the Recruitment and Assessment Services, are as follows:

  Grade Band

  Total

  Women

  Grade 1 (Including 1A)

  3·0

  0·0

  Grade 2

  17·0

  2·0

  Grade 3

  24·0

  4·0

  Grade 4

  2·0

  0·0

  Grade 5

  57·0

  17·5

  Grade 6

  62·0

  15·0

  Grade 7

  258·0

  56·0

  SEO

  200·0

  64·0

  HEO(D) & AT

  16·0

  4·0

  HEO

  288·5

  122·0

  EO

  414·5

  220·5

  AO

  605·0

  418·5

  AA

  300·0

  207·5

  Total

  2,247·0

  1,131·0

EMPLOYMENT

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many visits abroad he has made during 1993; and what was(a) the cost to public funds and (b) the purpose of each visit.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 3 November by my hon. Friend the Minister of State to the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes)Official Report, columns 268-70.

  Aids to Employment Scheme
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled working people in(a) London and (b) Lewisham currently benefit from the special aids to employment scheme; and how many disabled working people throughout the country he expects to lose their jobs once employers have to pay 50 per cent. of the cost of special aids in the workplace.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The numbers are:(a) 381; (b) 38. Changes to our current special schemes for helping people with disabilities, including the introduction of an employers' contribution, up to a ceiling to be specified, to help for existing employees who have worked for them for more than six months, are aimed at helping more people

  269
  with disabilities to get and retain jobs and at making a much wider range of help available. We are currently finalising details of these changes with these aims in mind.

  Disablement Resettlement Officers
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measurements he uses to assess the performance of disablement resettlement officers; what targets and performance indicators he sets for these officers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M.E.G. Fogden to Mr. Gordon McMaster, dated 26 November 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to him about assessing the performance of Disablement Resettlement officers and setting targets and performance indicators for them. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  We no longer use the term Disablement Resettlement Officers. During 1992–93 Placing, Assessment and Counselling Teams were set up to provide a comprehensive and local specialist employment service for people with disabilities and employers. The Teams provide many of the services previously delivered by Disablement Resettlement Officers, the Disablement Advisory Service and most of the assessment element of Employment Rehabilitation Centres.
  Placing, Assessment and Counselling Teams are staffed by Disability Employment Advisers who are experienced in placing people wth disabilities into jobs. They offer professional advice and support to help improve the job prospects of people with disabilities and encourage employers to take on or keep people with disabilities.
  The Annual Performance Agreement with the Secretary of State for Employment sets a target for the number of unemployed people with disabilities to be placed into jobs. Targets are also set for the number of people benefiting from special scheme provision, the number of people starting rehabilitation programmes, the number of people in sheltered employment and the number of employers who satisfy the conditions to use the disability symbol. Achievements against all these targets are used to assess the performance of the Placing, Assessment and Counselling Teams.
  I hope this is helpful.
  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the library of the House.

  Graphology
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about the validity of graphology as a personnel selection tool; what consideration he is giving to banning graphology as a selection tool; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received one letter on this subject. We have no plans to ban the use of graphology as a selection tool. Provided that they do not discriminate unlawfully, employers should be free to use whatever selection methods they consider best suit their needs.

  VAT (Books and Newspapers)
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the book publishing and newspaper professions regarding the employment consequences of the imposition of VAT on books and newspapers.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have received two such representations.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken in the United Kingdom to implement the directive 82/501/EEC on hazardous wastes; and what information he has on its implementation in other European Community countries.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have been asked to reply.

  Directive 82/501/EEC is implemented in the United Kingdom by the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1984 (CIMAH). Amending regulations, applying CIMAH to installations for the disposeal of hazardous waste have been approved by the Health and Safety Commission and should come into force by the end of the year.

  Information on the implementation of directive 82/501/EEc is published periodically by the Commission of the European Communities.

  Scotch Whisky
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many are employed in the Scotch whisky industry now and how many were 10 years ago.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I regret the information is not available. The standard industrial classification does not separately identify the whisky industry from other industries involved in spirit distilling and compounding.

  Labour and Social Affairs Council
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Labour and Social Affairs Council of 23 November.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Chingford (Mr. Duncan Smith) on 24 November 1993,Official Report, column 72.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce interest rates.

  Mr. Nelson
  The level of interest rates will continue to be set to meet the Government's objectives for inflation and sustainable growth.

  Value Added Tax
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on the number of regional newspapers of the imposition of VAT on books and newspapers.
  271
  Sir John Cope
  Analysis commissioned by the Newspapers Society suggests that VAT imposition at the standard rate would close 245 titles out of a total of 1,265 titles.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received regarding the possible imposition of VAT on(a) books, (b) national newspapers, (c) regional newspapers, (d) local newspapers, (e) free newspapers and (f) magazines; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many representations he has received on the possible introduction of VAT on fares on (a) domestic travel, (b) international travel, (c) rail travel, (d) bus/coach travel, (e) air travel and (f) sea-river travel; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  I have received a number of representations which are all being considered very carefully as we prepare for the Budget on 30 November. However, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the normal practice of VAT commissioners on making large repayments other than by electronic transfer;

  (2) what plans he has to improve the security involved in transferring money from the VAT commissioners; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) how many cheques sent throught the post by the VAT commissioners have been fraudulently encashed in the last five years; what was their value; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) whether repayments made by VAT commissioners are usually sent by recorded delivery or registered post; and what is the usual practice on them being made by cheque.

  Sir John Cope
  Customs continually encourages businesses to provide it with bank account details, so that repayments can be electronically transferred. Despite this encouragement, not all traders take advantage of this facility and almost 1 million payable orders, with a total value in excess of £7 billion, are issued each year by first class post.

  In conjunction with Her Majesty's Treasury, Customs has been taking steps to increase even further the security measures for payable orders. These include higher levels of security printing so as to make alteration of the payee's name more difficult.

  Excluding the recent Haringey case, Customs has investigated 112 cases since 1 July 1988 where VAT payable orders have gone astray. The total value of those orders is £360,638, a substantial proportion of which has subsequently been recovered. During the same period, over 5 million orders have been issued, with a total value approaching £30 billion.

  EC Budget
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total budgeted contribution to be made by each member state of the European Communities according to the 1994 EC budget; what is the net contribution to be made for each state after deduction of rebates and budgeted receipts; and what figure the EC predicts as the gross domestic product for each state in 1994.
  272
  Sir John Cope
  The Budget Council established a second reading of the draft 1994 EC budget on 15 November. The European Parliament will consider this at its next plenary session in December and each member state's budgeted contribution will not be finalised until the budget is adopted by the European Parliament.

  EC budgets do not give a breakdown, by member state, of receipts. Details of member states' receipts from the EC Budget are, however, published annually in the European Court of Auditors' report: the report for 1992 was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities, volumn 36 C309, on 16 November 1993.

  As part of the budget, estimated figures are agreed for one per cent. of gross national product for each member state, in order to calculate contributions based on GNP and the value of the own resources ceiling. Those in the 1994 draft budget are:

  Million ecu

  Belgium

  1,880·8

  Denmark

  1,186·2

  Germany

  16,981·0

  Greece

  739·6

  Spain

  4,751·4

  France

  11,482·0

  Ireland

  353·5

  Italy

  9,175·0

  Luxembourg

  123·2

  Netherlands

  2,757·4

  Portugal

  800·0

  United Kingdom

  8,004·0

  Total

  58,234·1

  ECOFIN Council
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what matters in regard to the cost of implementation of European Community directives he raised at the ECOFIN Council in Brussels on 22 November.

  Ms Quin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the ECOFIN Council of 22 November.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Economic and Finance Council of the European Union—ECOFIN—met in Brussels on 22 November. I represented the United Kingdom.

  There was detailed discussion on the Commission's ideas for the White Book on a medium-term strategy for growth, competitiveness and employment that they are preparing for the European Council in December. Virtually all member states agreed that obliging employers to introduce new work-sharing arrangements was not the solution to the present high levels of unemployment. Other member states also shared our concern that the Commission appeared to be giving insufficient weight to the need for structural reforms to improve the flexibility of labour markets. The Council invited the Commission to take account of the points made in discussion in preparing the White Book.

  The Council had a general orientation debate on the broad economic policy guidelines under article 103 of the treaty. These guidelines take the form of recommendations and are not legally binding. There was a general consensus that the guidelines should provide a credible framework

  273
  without being over-prescriptive about how member states should set their economic policies. It was agreed that the Council would meet again on 5 December to consider the Commission's formal recommendation, and to agree its report to the European Council.

  France and Germany presented convergence programmes to the Council. The Council concluded that the French programme was solid and coherent and welcomed the planned programme of structural reforms. Budgetary consolidation was identified as the main challenge facing the French Government, following two years of deterioration in public finances mainly due to cyclical factors.

  The Council welcomed the efforts of the German Government to achieve convergence, notwithstanding considerable difficulties in the aftermath of German unification. The Council noted the strategy for structural policy and the need for measures to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the German economy and to deal with the distributional questions raised in the unification process. The Council welcomed the determination of the German authorities to achieve fiscal consolidation.

  Council decisions were adopted on the capital key for the European Monetary Institute (EMI), on consultation of the EMI on draft national legislation within its field of competence, and on bringing the staff of the EMI within the tax system for staff of Community institutions. The Council also adopted a regulation on details of the excessive deficits procedure under article 104c of the treaty and agreed common positions on draft Council regulations providing definitions relating to the treaty provisions banning monetary financing and privileged access. All these measures are due to take effect from 1 January 1994 at the start of the second stage of economic and monetary union.

  The Council reached political agreement on a directive to reinforce the prudential supervision of financial institutions. This will implement a number of recommendations of the Bingham report on the Bank of Credit and Commerce International affair.

  There was a brief discussion of issues related to the Edinburgh growth initiative arising from the conclusions of the European Council meeting on 29 October. Ministers confirmed their intention to extend the coverage of the European investment bank temporary lending facility to transport equipment, energy and urban renewal projects. Agreement in principle was reached on the arrangements for the participation of Community institutions in the European investment fund. A proposal to implement the European Council's conclusion on interest rate subsidies for EIB lending to small and medium-sized enterprises was remitted for further consideration by officials.

  I drew the Council's attention to the likely costs associated with implementing the urban waste water treatment directive and highlighted this as an example of a
  274
  decision taken by a specialist Council without paying sufficient regard to the economic or budgetary implications.

  There was also a short discussion of the recently published Court of Auditors' report on the 1992 Community budget. After detailed consideration of the report—and the Commission's response—the Council will adopt a recommendation to the European Parliament on granting a discharge to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the 1992 budget, during the Greek presidency in the first half of 1994.

  There were no formal votes. The EMU secondary legislation, the Council decision on Community participation in the EIF and the Council conclusions on the convergence programmes of France and Germany were agreed by consensus.

  Spirits and Wine
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement as to the basis on which excise duty is levied on spirits and wine.

  Sir John Cope
  Excise duty is levied on spirits according to the litres of pure alcohol contained therein. Wine is dutied according to its bulk quantity and the nature and strength of the product. There are eight duty bandings ranging from a strength of 1·2 per cent. to 22 per cent. alcohol by volume and differentiating between still, sparkling and fortified wines.

  Haringey Council Cheque (Fraudulent Encashment)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the present whereabouts of money received from fraudulently encashing a cheque from the VAT commissioners to Haringey council.

  Sir John Cope
  The present whereabouts of the money are not known, but police inquiries are continuing to establish where the money went and the route it took.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action VAT commissioners will take concerning Haringey council's writ seeking recovery of a payment which was fraudulently encashed in Austria.

  Sir John Cope
  The commissioners have served a defence to the council's writ and the matter is now proceeding to trial.

  Ministerial Letters
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in his Department are currently involved in drafting replies to letters for Ministers in his Department to sign.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: Five staff work full time in the ministerial correspondence unit. Many other Treasury officials draft replies to ministerial correspondence from time to time as part of their normal duties.