Written Answers of 30 November 1993

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Personal Investment Authority
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board to discuss the future of the Personal Investment Authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Gross personal income

  The top decile point and top percentile point for persons aged 16 and over

  £ per year

  At current prices

  At constant 1992 prices

  Top 10 per cent.

  Top 1 per cent.

  Top 10 per cent.

  Top 1 per cent.

  1979

  6,200

  11,600

  15,100

  28,400

  1980

  7,400

  14,600

  15,400

  30,200

  1981

  8,500

  16,700

  15,700

  30,900

  1982

  9,100

  17,200

  15,500

  29,400

  1983

  9,900

  20,200

  16,700

  33,000

  1984

  10,400

  20,800

  16,200

  32,300

  1985

  11,400

  23,900

  16,700

  34,900

  1986

  12,500

  26,800

  17,700

  38,000

  1987

  13,700

  31,400

  18,700

  42,700

  1988

  15,100

  34,900

  19,600

  45,200

  1989

  16,200

  35,300

  19,700

  42,400

  1990

  18,400

  42,400

  20,200

  46,600

  1991

  19,700

  43,700

  20,400

  45,300

  1992

  20,300

  44,700

  20,300

  44,700

  The figures in the table are rounded to the nearest £100. The constant price figures are calculated using the retail prices index.

  Source: Central Statistical Office, based on family expenditure survey.

  The figures should be treated with considerable caution as they are subject to large sampling errors because of the small sample sizes, particularly for the top 1 per cent.

  EC Budget
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the present positions of the European Commission and other member states of the EC in the Council of Ministers towards the means of funding the EC and of the possible increase in the resource base of the EC beyond the present own resources.

  Sir John Cope
  When it met in Edinburgh on 11 and 12 December 1992, under the chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, the European Council reached a rigorous agreement about the Community's finances for the period to 1999. My right hon. Friend reported the conclusions to the House on 14 December 1992,Official Report, columns 23–40. They remain the position of the member states and the Commission. Discussions are currently in progress in Brussels about the Commission's proposals for a new own resources decision to give effect to the changes agreed by the Edinburgh European Council to the own resources system.
  384
  Mr. Nelson
  I meet the chairman regularly to discuss SIB's responsibilities under the Financial Services Act 1986, which include the recognition of self-regulating organisations.

  Incomes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the minimum income(a) of the 1 per cent. with the highest incomes and (b) of the 10 per cent. with the highest incomes for each year since 1979 at current prices; and what were these figures at constant 1993 prices.

  Mr. Nelson
  The figures are given below.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for each year since 1979 the total tax yield from individual gains tax and inheritance tax; and if he will give for each year since 1988–89 the number of individual taxpayers liable for capital gains tax by their highest marginal rate of tax.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The available information on net receipts each year since 1979–80 from capital gains tax, capital transfer tax and inheritance tax is given in the table. Separate figures on capital gains tax receipts for individuals and trusts are not available, but, in terms of tax liabilities, individuals account for between 85 per cent. and 90 per cent. of the total.

  £ million

  Inheritance tax-capital transfer tax1

  Capital gains tax

  Total

  of which charge on individuals2

  Total

  1979–80

  401

  376

  431

  31980–81

  425

  401

  508

  31981–82

  480

  457

  526

  1982–83

  499

  580

  671

  1983–84

  599

  580

  671

  1984–85

  658

  621

  730

  1985–86

  881

  857

  908

  1986–87

  988

  963

  1,064

  1987–88

  1,073

  1,052

  1,379

  385

  Inheritance tax-capital transfer tax1

  Capital gains tax

  Total

  of which charge on individuals2

  Total

  1988–89

  1,067

  1,042

  2,323

  1989–90

  1,227

  1,207

  1,854

  1990–91

  1,259

  1,233

  1,852

  1991–92

  1,295

  1,261

  1,140

  1992–93

  1,201

  1,170

  982

  1 Excludes small residual receipts from estate duty which was replaced by capital transfer tax in 1975.

  2 Includes charges on settled property where the individual has an interest in possession.

  3The breakdown of receipts between 1980–81 and 1981–82 was estimated as they were affected by industrial action between March 1981 and July 1981.

  The breakdown of capital gains taxpayers given in the table includes a separate column for trusts in order to reconcile with published figures on taxpayer numbers.

  Number of capital gains taxpayers

  Highest rate of tax charged on individuals

  Lower rate

  Basic rate

  Higher rate

  Trusts

  All

  1988–89

  —

  52,000

  87,000

  16,000

  155,000

  1989–90

  —

  48,500

  88,000

  18,500

  155,000

  1990–91

  —

  44,000

  57,500

  13,500

  115,000

  1991–92

  —

  34,000

  45,000

  11,000

  90,000

  1992–931

  4,000

  29,000

  42,000

  10,000

  85,000

  1Provisional.

  Taxation
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for each year since 1979(a) the total income, both earned and unearned (b) the total national insurance contributions and (c) the total income tax paid by (i) the top 1 per cent., (ii) the top 5 per cent., (iii) the top 10 per cent., (iv) the bottom 50 per cent. amd (v) all taxpayers.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Readily available estimates based on the survey of personal incomes are in the tables. For 1978–79 and 1989–90, married couples are counted as one taxpayer and their incomes are combined. Following the introduction of independent taxation, for 1990–91 onwards, husbands and wives are counted separately. The estimates of total income relate to income subject to income tax and exclude non-taxable income such as certain social security benefits.

  1978–79

  Quantile group of taxpayers1 percent.

  Total income

  Income tax liability

  Percent.

  £ million

  £ million

  Top 1

  5,000

  2,300

  Top 5

  14,900

  4,900

  Top 10

  24,200

  7,000

  Bottom 50

  30,300

  3,900

  All taxpayers

  102,800

  20,300

  1Tax units for years prior to 1990–91

  386

  1989–90

  Quantile group of taxpayers1

  Total income

  Income tax liability

  Employees' and self-employed national insurance contribution liability

  Percent.

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Top 1

  24,200

  7,800

  300

  Top 5

  61,700

  16,600

  1,400

  Top 10

  93,400

  22,600

  2,700

  Bottom 50

  86,600

  8,500

  3,900

  All taxpayers

  323,400

  53,400

  14,400

  1 Tax units for years prior to 1990–91.

  1990–91

  Quantile group of taxpayers1

  Total income

  Income tax liability

  Employees' and self-employed national insurance contribution liability

  Percent.

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Top 1

  28,300

  9,200

  300

  Top 5

  68,700

  18,900

  1,300

  Top 10

  102,800

  25,400

  2,700

  Bottom 50

  95,500

  9,000

  4,300

  All taxpayers

  358,300

  60,400

  15,500

  1991–92

  Quantile group of taxpayers1

  Total income liability

  Income tax liability

  Employees' and self-employed national insurance contribution liability

  Percent.

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Top 1

  31,200

  10,400

  300

  Top 5

  73,900

  20,700

  1,500

  Top 10

  109,600

  27,500

  3,000

  Bottom 50

  98,200

  9,300

  4,200

  All taxpayers

  373,800

  63,500

  16,200

  1992–93

  Quantile group of taxpayers1

  Total income

  Income tax liability

  Employees' and self-employed national insurance contribution liability

  Percent.

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Top 1

  31,600

  10,500

  300

  Top 5

  74,500

  21,000

  1,500

  Top 10

  110,300

  27,700

  3,100

  Bottom 50

  97,600

  8,300

  4,100

  All taxpayers

  375,300

  62,100

  16,400

  1993–94

  Quantile group of taxpayers1

  Total income

  Income tax liability

  Employees' and self-employed national insurance contribution liability

  Percent.

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Top 1

  32,000

  10,700

  300

  Top 5

  75,600

  21,400

  1,600

  Top 10

  112,200

  28,400

  3,300

  Bottom 50

  96,500

  8,300

  4,000

  All taxpayers

  378,000

  63,300

  16,900

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current average cost of preparing answers to(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The current average cost of preparing an answer is assessed as £97 for a written question and £225 for an oral question.

  Lending Institutions
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to bring centralised lending institutions within the scope of the Financial Services Act 1986 and the Banking Act 1987.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Financial Services Act applies to firms carrying on investment business in the United Kingdom. The Banking Act applies to firms engaged in deposit taking in the United Kingdom. There are no plans to amend the scope of either Act.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Law Commission Report
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he proposes to bring forward legislation to enact the recommendations of the Law Commission contained in its report "Landlord and Tenant Law: Privity of Contract and Estate", No. 174; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Legislation to give effect to the Government's decision to implement the recommendations in the Law Commission's report "Landlord and Tenant Law: Privity of Contract and Estate"—Law Corn. No. 174—for future leases, but not for existing leases, will be introduced as soon as there is a suitable opportunity.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Arts Funding
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he received on 23 November in regard to the risks to continuity and innovation in the arts of cuts in public funding.

  Mr. Brooke
  I received a number of representations on 23 November and I have since had a meeting with representatives of the National Campaign for the Arts, the group which organised the lobby of Parliament on that day.

  London Orchestras
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what meetings he has held with representatives of(a) the London Philharmonic orchestra, (b) the Philharmonic orchestra and (c) the Royal Philharmonic orchestra since the beginning of the Arts Council's review of the funding of the London orchestras; and if he will make a statement on the matters discussed during such meetings.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have held no such meetings.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hong Kong
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to repeal the Broadcasting Authority Ordinance in Hong Kong before the handover of the colony in 1997.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Hong Kong Government intend to enact in 1994 an omnibus broadcasting Bill to consolidate and update the present legislation on television broadcasting. On enactment of the omnibus broadcasting Bill, the Broadcasting Authority Ordinance will be repealed. This proposal is not related to the transfer of sovereignty in 1997.

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whose responsibility it will be to submit an annual report on adherence to the international covenant for civil and political rights within Hong Kong to the United Nations after 1997; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  China is committed under international law in the joint declaration to ensure that the provisions of the international covenant for civil and political rights as applied to Hong Kong will remain in force after 1997. The responsibility for submitting reports on Hong Kong after 1997 will therefore pass to China. We are discussing with the Chinese in the Sino-British joint liaison group the mechanisms by which this might be achieved.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of Radio Television Hong Kong.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Hong Kong Government are continuing to consider the question of corporatisation of Radio Television Hong Kong. No final decisions have been taken.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the Emergency Regulations Ordinance applicable in Hong Kong is in conflict with the Bill of Rights Ordinance.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The question of whether the Emergency Regulations Ordinance applicable in Hong Kong is consistent with the Bill of Rights Ordinance is currently under review by the Attorney-General of the Hong Kong Government. This review is expected to be completed in December.

  Christians (Persecution)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take over the persecution of Christians for their faith in Pakistan.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have regularly raised with the Pakistani Government our concerns about the treatment of all minorities in Pakistan including Christians. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs most recently raised this issue during his visit to Pakistan earlier this month. We shall continue to make known our concerns.

  United Nations Centre for Human Rights
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many fax machines the United Nations Centre for Human Rights has.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The United Nations office in Geneva operates a central fax system, with hourly distributions. The Centre for Human Rights has one fax machine of its own.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what view he has formed about the adequacy of the resources available to the United Nations Centre for Human Rights.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We regard human rights as a priority of the United Nations. The resources now available to the Centre for Human Rights do not allow it to carry out all the tasks mandated to it. We support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to increase substantially the resources available to the centre from within existing and future regular budgets, through redeployment from. areas of lower priority.

  Matrix Churchill
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provision is made in the recent compensation claim made through his Department by MC Realisation—Matrix Churchill—to the United Nations to include money to compensate the ex-employees of Matrix Churchill.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Price Waterhouse acting as administrative receivers has submitted a claim to the United Nations Compensation Commission on behalf of MC Realisations (Birmingham) Ltd.—in receivership—formerly Matrix Churchill Ltd. However, we cannot divulge the content of this or any other of the claims submitted. Requests for information on the substance of the claim should be addressed to Price Waterhouse.

  Sudan
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take over the persecution of Christians for their faith in Sudan.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have made clear to the Sudanese Government, both bilaterally and with other member states of the European Union, our growing concern at their record on human rights and their lack of respect for fundamental freedoms, freedom of religion among them. We were active at the last session of the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in highlighting the situation in Sudan, and in particular in securing the appointment of a public rapporteur. The rapporteur has now issued an interim report, and hopes to visit Sudan again shortly.

  Ascension Island
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to safeguard the numbers of sea birds on Ascension Island.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The programme of feral cat culling has been enhanced by the setting of more traps. The 390
  success rate has been good. Since January this year up to the end of October, 269 cats had been culled. The administrator has installed a barrier at the entrance to the breeding grounds to prevent access by vehicles. This has substantially reduced the risk of damage to eggs by people walking near to nesting sites. We shall keep the situation under review.

  BBC World Service
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff the BBC World Service had(a) in 1991–92 and (b) 1992–93; and how many it has at present.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In 1991–92 the total staff complement of the BBC World Service, including BBC Monitoring, was 2,826. The equivalent figure for 1992–93 was 2,941. At the end of September 1993 there was a total of 2,920 staff.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many hours of programmes to(a) Africa and (b) Europe the BBC World Service broadcast in (i) 1991–92 and (ii) 1992–93; and how many hours will be broadcast in 1993–94.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information requested is as follows:

  1991–92 hours

  1992–93 hours

  1993–94 hours

  Sub-Saharan Africa

  13,500

  13,850

  14,310

  Europe

  21,550

  22,060

  23,240

  Each regional total includes broadcast figures for World Service in English.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to increase funding for the BBC World Service.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Plans for future funding of the BBC World Service will be disclosed in due course.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the transmission hours of the BBC World Service(a) in 1991–92 and (b) 1992–93; and what will be the transmission hours in 1993–94.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In 1991–92, World Service's total transmitted hours were 42,436, and in 1992–93, 43,797. The estimate for 1993–94 is 45,220. These figures do not include programme material not directly broadcast but sent via satellite, on disc or on cassette, to be available for local rebroadcasting.

  There is also a significant amount of local rebroadcasting from direct transmissions. Figures for these are: 1991–92, 2,895 hours; 1992–93, 15,527 hours; and the estimate for 1993–94 is 18,700 hours.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his most recent estimate of the number of people living outside the United Kingdom who listen to BBC World Service broadcasts.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Latest estimates by the BBC World Service, based on audience research, indicate that
  391
  the regular global audience for World Service broadcasts in all languages, outside the United Kingdom, is in the region of 130 million. This figure does not include any information on audiences in certain countries, such as China, Burma and Vietnam, where reliable data are not available.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding has been made available to the BBC World Service in(a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93 and (c) 1993–94.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The total grants-in-aid to the BBC World Service were £156·75 million in 1991–92 and £166·91 million in 1992–93. The total provision for 1993–94 is £175·87 million. These figures include the Ministry of Defence contribution to BBC Monitoring.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  London Prisons
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to meet governors of London prisons to outline his policy on prison matters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend currently has no plans to meet governors of London prisons. On 3 November he made a speech about imprisonment to the prison service conference, to which senior governors were invited.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend privatisation and market testing in the prison service in London.

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

  Letter from D. Lewis to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 30 November 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply directly to your recent Question about privatisation and market testing in the Prison Service in London.
  As the then Home Secretary announced on 16 February, the court escort and custody service in the Metropolitan Police District is to be contracted out in 1994. The contracted service will be phased in beginning in July 1994. The other identified candidates for market testing in the Prison Service in London are the work of the Parole Board Secretariat, some registry work and some information technology work. Consideration is being given to what further candidates might be added.
  You will also be aware of the Home Secretary's announcement on 2 September that about 10 per cent. of prisons, twelve in all, will be managed by the private sector. No decision has been made as to whether any of these establishments will be in London.

  Secure Training Centres
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the time scale for the building of the proposed secure training centres; and where the centres are to be located.

  Mr. Maclean
  The creation of secure training centre places will start as soon as possible after the necessary 392
  legislation has been enacted. The Government have announced their intention to introduce such legislation in this Session of Parliament. No final decisions have been taken about where secure training centres will be located.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department intends to issue on the referral of juvenile offenders to the proposed secure training centres.

  Mr. Maclean
  The secure training order will be a sentence of the court. The statutory criteria for the order will be set out in the forthcoming criminal justice Bill.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how his Department will monitor and run the proposed secure training centres; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Secure training centres are to be provided by agreements with organisations from the public, private or voluntary sectors following a process of competitive tendering. A draft specification issued on 30 July to potential providers indicated the likely requirements of the type of regime operating in the centres. Arrangements for monitoring regimes in these centres will be included in legislation which I will shortly be introducing.

  Murder (Life Sentences)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instigate a review to consider changing the law in respect of mandatory life sentences for murder; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have no plans to instigate such a review.

  Racial Offences
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of prosecutions for incitement to racial hatred(a) in each year since 1965 under section 5(1)(a) of the Public Order Act 1986 and (b) for each year since 1987 under sections 17 to 23 of the Public Order Act 1986; how many of these prosecutions have been successful in each relevant year under each Act; and how many prosecutions under each Act in each relevant year have been against ethnic minority individuals or groups.

  Mr. Maclean
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Football Offences
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of prosecutions for each relevant year to date under section 3 of the Football (Offences) Act 1991; and how many of these in each year have been successful.

  Mr. Maclean
  In England and Wales in 1991 there were six prosecutions under section 3 of the Football Offences Act 1991, five of which resulted in a conviction.

  For 1992—which is provisional—there were 31 prosecutions under section 3 of the aforesaid Act which resulted in 17 convictions.

  Juvenile Offenders
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many juveniles were(a) cautioned and (b) prosecuted by the police in (i) Barnsley, (ii) Doncaster, (iii) Rotherham, and (iv) Sheffield for each year since 1990 and this year to date; and how many of those prosecuted were committed by the courts;

  Table A1.—Number of juveniles aged 10 to under 17 cautioned and prosecuted and committed for trial at magistrates courts within the South Yorkshire area by type of offence 1990

  Committed for trail

  Area/type of offence

  Cautioned

  Prosecuted (=100 per cent.)

  Number

  Per cent.

  Barnsley Petty Sessional Division

  Indictable offences

  1—

  180

  5

  3

  Summary non-motoring offences

  1—

  80

  —

  —

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  1—

  260

  5

  2

  Doncaster Petty Sessional Division

  Indictable offences

  1—

  394

  19

  5

  Summary non-motoring offences

  1—

  104

  —

  —

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  1—

  498

  19

  4

  Rotherham Petty Sessional Division

  Indictable offences

  1—

  243

  17

  7

  Summary non-motoring offences

  1

  74

  —

  —

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  1—

  317

  17

  5

  Sheffield Petty Sessional Division

  Indictable offences

  1—

  463

  45

  10

  Summary non-motoring offences

  1—

  169

  —

  —

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  1—

  632

  45

  7

  South Yorkshire

  Indictable offences

  2,578

  1,280

  86

  7

  Summary non-motoring offences

  931

  427

  —

  —

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  3,509

  1,707

  86

  5

  1Not applicable.

  Table A2.—Number of juveniles aged 10 to 17 cautioned and prosecuted and committed for trial at magistrates courts within the South Yorkshire area by type of offence 1991

  Committed for trail

  Area/type of offence

  Cautioned

  Prosecuted (=100 per cent.)

  Number

  Per cent.

  Barnsley Petty Sessional Division

  Indictable offences

  1—

  147

  8

  5

  Summary non-motoring offences

  1—

  74

  —

  —

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  1—

  221

  8

  4

  Doncaster Petty Sessional Division

  Indictable offences

  1—

  410

  26

  6

  Summary non-motoring offences

  1—

  109

  —

  —

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  1—

  519

  26

  5

  Rotherham Petty Sessional Division

  Indictable offences

  1—

  225

  7

  3

  Summary non-motoring offences

  1—

  76

  —

  —

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  1—

  301

  7

  2

  Sheffield Petty Sessional Division

  Indictable offences

  1—

  507

  31

  6

  Summary non-motoring offences

  1—

  151

  —

  —

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  1—

  658

  31

  5

  394
  (2) how many juveniles convicted of a crime in (a) Barnsley, (b) Doncaster, (c) Rotherham, and (d) Sheffield had committed an offence which was drug related, in each year since 1985 and for this year to date.

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information is given in the tables. It is possible to identify separately only those who have been cautioned or convicted for drug offences. It is not recorded, for other offences, whether they were drug related.
  395

  Committed for trail

  Area/type of offence

  Cautioned

  Prosecuted (=100 per cent.)

  Number

  Per cent.

  South Yorkshire

  Indictable offences

  2,382

  1,289

  72

  6

  Summary non-motoring offences

  772

  410

  —

  —

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  3,154

  1,699

  72

  4

  1 Not applicable.

  Table A3.—Number of juveniles aged 10 to 17 cautioned and prosecuted and committed for trial at magistrates courts within the South Yorkshire area by type of offence 19922

  Committed for trail

  Area/type of offence

  Cautioned

  Prosecuted (=100 per cent.)

  Number

  Per cent.

  Barnsley Petty Sessional Division

  Indictable offences

  1—

  175

  18

  10

  Summary non-motoring offences

  1—

  57

  —

  —

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  1—

  232

  18

  8

  Doncaster Petty Sessional Division

  Indictable offences

  1—

  282

  16

  6

  Summary non-motoring offences

  1—

  75

  —

  —

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  1—

  357

  16

  4

  Rotherham Petty Sessional Division

  Indictable offences

  1—

  201

  2

  1

  Summary non-motoring offences

  1

  70

  —

  —

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  1—

  271

  2

  1

  Sheffield Petty Sessional Division

  Indictable offences

  12014;

  469

  30

  6

  Summary non-motoring offences

  1—

  126

  —

  —

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  1—

  595

  30

  5

  South Yorkshire

  Indictable offences

  2,940

  1,127

  66

  6

  Summary non-motoring offences

  776

  328

  —

  —

  All offences (excluding summary motoring)

  3,716

  1,455

  66

  5

  1 Not applicable.

  2 Provisional data.

  Table B—Number of juveniles aged 10 to under 17 years convicted of drug offences in the South Yorkshire area 1985 to 19921

  Year

  Barnsley petty sessional division

  Doncaster petty sessional division

  Rotherham petty sessional division

  Sheffield petty sessional division

  1985

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1986

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1987

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1988

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1989

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1990

  —

  1

  1

  4

  1991

  —

  2

  —

  2

  19921

  —

  1

  —

  4

  1Provisional data.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the most common crimes committed by persons aged under 16 years in the Lancashire constabulary's Pennine F division for each year since 1985; and of those juveniles convicted of an offence over this period, what was the average sentence served.
  396
  Mr. Maclean
  Information collected centrally shows only the police force area in which the crime was recorded. The tables show the number of juveniles aged 10 to under 16 years of age cautioned, convicted and the average sentence length given by type of court in the Lancashire constabulary for 1985 to 1992.
  397

  Table A Number of persons aged 10 to under 16 years cautioned in Lancashire police force area by type of indictable offences 1985–19921

  Offence

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  19921

  Indictable offences

  Violence against the person

  80

  55

  57

  126

  96

  75

  71

  99

  Sexual Offences

  12

  17

  27

  23

  26

  14

  31

  20

  Burglary

  446

  331

  293

  310

  301

  348

  317

  251

  Robbery

  1

  2

  10

  1

  6

  2

  10

  5

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  1,911

  1,399

  1,334

  1,648

  1,011

  1,248

  1,226

  1,151

  Fraud and forgery

  23

  9

  20

  18

  21

  12

  24

  15

  Criminal damage

  105

  145

  165

  224

  195

  180

  175

  134

  Drug offences

  2

  —

  —

  2

  1

  31

  43

  51

  Other (excluding motoring)

  2

  11

  7

  6

  8

  14

  22

  11

  TOTAL

  2,582

  1,969

  1,913

  2,358

  1,665

  1,924

  1,919

  1,737

  1 Provisional.

  Table B Number of persons aged 10 to under 16 years convicted and average sentence length (months) given at magistrates courts in the Lancashire police force area by type of indictable offences 1985–19921

  Offence/disposal

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  19921

  CONVICTIONS

  Indictable offences

  Violence against the person

  99

  68

  64

  67

  46

  51

  39

  41

  Sexual Offences

  14

  7

  9

  8

  8

  9

  4

  4

  Burglary

  419

  321

  311

  190

  146

  134

  89

  103

  Robbery

  7

  6

  3

  3

  7

  8

  2

  11

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  694

  549

  470

  294

  161

  221

  149

  156

  Fraud and forgery

  14

  9

  6

  5

  3

  6

  3

  5

  Criminal damage

  37

  26

  31

  26

  18

  13

  7

  10

  Drug offences

  —

  5

  1

  1

  3

  3

  3

  2

  Other (excluding motoring)

  8

  9

  11

  5

  10

  6

  10

  6

  Motoring offences

  22

  30

  37

  24

  1

  1

  1

  I

  TOTAL

  1,314

  1,030

  943

  623

  403

  452

  307

  339

  AVERAGE SENTENCE LENGTH (MONTHS)

  Indictable offences

  Violence against the person

  1·7

  1·3

  2·9

  3·5

  3·0

  1·7

  —

  2·0

  Sexual Offences

  2·5

  —

  —

  —

  1·4

  —

  —

  —

  Burglary

  2·9

  2·5

  3·3

  2·8

  3·2

  2·6

  3·5

  3·8

  Robbery

  6·0

  —

  4·0

  —

  3·0

  —

  —

  4·0

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  2·3

  2·8

  2·2

  3·5

  2·3

  0·7

  2·2

  3·0

  Fraud and forgery

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Criminal damage

  2·0

  4·0

  3·0

  1·6

  6·0

  —

  —

  6.0

  Drug offences

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other (excluding motoring)

  —

  6·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·9

  Motoring offences

  0·9

  1·0

  3·0

  2·0

  2·0

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  2·6

  2·5

  3·0

  2·9

  3·1

  2·3

  3·0

  3·6

  1 Provisional.

  Table C Number of persons aged 10 to under 16 years convicted and average sentence length (months) given at Crown courts in the Lancashire police force area by type of indictable offences 1985–19921

  Offence/disposal

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  19921

  CONVICTIONS

  Indictable offences

  Violence against the person

  1

  —

  —

  2

  2

  2

  3

  3

  Sexual Offences

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Burglary

  1

  12

  7

  8

  6

  5

  —

  3

  Robbery

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  —

  —

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  3

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Fraud and forgery

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Criminal damage

  1

  1

  2

  1

  2

  2

  1

  1

  Drug offences

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other (excluding motoring)

  1

  1

  —

  3

  —

  1

  1

  —

  Motoring offences

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  7

  16

  11

  14

  11

  12

  5

  10

  AVERAGE SENTENCE LENGTH (MONTHS)

  Indictable offences

  Violence against the person

  —

  —

  —

  7·5

  11·0

  8·0

  —

  4·0

  Sexual Offences

  —

  —

  —

  7·5

  11·0

  8·0

  —

  4·0

  Burglary

  —

  6·8

  6·0

  5·4

  5·7

  6·0

  —

  —

  398 399

  Offence/disposal

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  19921

  Robbery

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12·0

  12·0

  —

  —

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6·0

  Fraud and forgery

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Criminal damage

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12·0

  —

  —

  Drug offences

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other (excluding motoring)

  —

  —

  —

  5·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Motoring offences

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  —

  6·8

  6·0

  5·8

  8·5

  9·5

  —

  5·0

  1 Provisional.

  Illegal Immigrants
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by police force, and by year for the last five years, the number of United Kingdom people arrested helping illegal immigrants into this country; how many were subsequently found guilty in the courts; and what sentence they received.

  Table A Defendants proceeded against at magistrates court for knowingly facilitating or assisting the entry of an illegal entrant1 by police force area and result 1988–19923

  Year and police force area

  Prosecutions

  Committed for trial

  Total found guilty

  Total sentenced

  Absolute or conditional discharge

  Fine

  Community sentence

  Fully suspended sentence

  Immediate custody

  Otherwise dealt with

  1988

  Essex

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  12

  11

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Metropolitan Police District2

  7

  4

  2

  2

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  4

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sussex

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Mercia

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  6

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  England and Wales

  34

  23

  4

  4

  1

  1

  —

  2

  —

  —

  1989

  Derbyshire

  5

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  6

  5

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Metropolitan Police District2

  9

  3

  3

  3

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Sussex

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Wales

  3

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  England and Wales

  28

  20

  4

  4

  —

  3

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1990

  Essex

  5

  —

  4

  4

  —

  3

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  6

  3

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hampshire

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  21

  17

  3

  2

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Metropolitan Police District2

  5

  4

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Northumbria

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sussex

  4

  2

  2

  2

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  England and Wales

  46

  29

  11

  10

  —

  8

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1991

  Avon and Somerset

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bedfordshire

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Durham

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Essex

  5

  1

  3

  3

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hampshire

  3

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  15

  9

  5

  5

  —

  1

  —

  2

  2

  —

  Lancashire

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Metropolitan Police District2

  21

  12

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Norfolk

  2

  —

  2

  2

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Northumbria

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Yorkshire

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  3

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sussex

  6

  4

  2

  2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  400
  Mr. Maclean
  Information on arrests is not collected centrally. Neither is the nationality of an offender recorded. The tables show the number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates courts and tried at the Crown court for the offence of"knowingly facilitating or assisting the entry of an illegal entrant"
  under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 by police force area and result for the years 1988 to 1992.
  401

  Year and police force area

  Prosecutions

  Committed for trial

  Total found guilty

  Total sentenced

  Absolute or conditional discharge

  Fine

  Community sentence

  Fully suspended sentence

  Immediate custody

  Otherwise dealt with

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Yorkshire

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dyfed-Powys

  5

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North Wales

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  England and Wales

  73

  41

  15

  15

  1

  9

  —

  2

  2

  1

  19923

  Bedfordshire

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Devon and Cornwall

  2

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Essex

  12

  4

  8

  8

  —

  5

  2

  —

  1

  —

  Greater Manchester

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Humberside

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  18

  8

  9

  9

  —

  2

  —

  1

  6

  —

  Leicestershire

  4

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lincolnshire

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Metropolitan Police District2

  11

  6

  2

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Sussex

  9

  5

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Thames Valley

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  England and Wales

  63

  33

  23

  23

  1

  9

  3

  2

  8

  —

  1Offences under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971.

  2Includes the City of London

  3Provisional data.

  Table B Defendants proceeded against at Crown court for knowingly facilitating or assisting the entry of an illegal entrant1 by police force area and result 1988–19923

  Year and police force area

  Total for trial

  Total found guilty

  Total sentenced

  Absolute or conditional discharge

  Fine

  Community sentence

  Fully suspended sentence

  Immediate custody

  Otherwise dealt with

  1988

  Bedfordshire

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Derbyshire

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Essex

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Kent

  21

  17

  17

  —

  —

  1

  13

  13

  —

  Suffolk

  2

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  West Midlands

  7

  7

  7

  —

  —

  —

  3

  4

  —

  England and Wales

  33

  29

  29

  —

  —

  1

  7

  21

  —

  1989

  Derbyshire

  4

  4

  4

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  2

  2

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Kent

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Metropolitan Police District2

  7

  4

  4

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  —

  Sussex

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  South Wales

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  England and Wales

  19

  14

  14

  5

  —

  —

  3

  6

  —

  1990

  Kent

  15

  15

  15

  —

  2

  1

  5

  7

  —

  Metropolitan Police District2

  9

  5

  5

  —

  —

  —

  2

  3

  —

  Northumbria

  1

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  England and Wales

  25

  21

  21

  —

  4

  1

  7

  10

  —

  1991

  Essex

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Hampshire

  2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  13

  10

  10

  —

  2

  1

  1

  6

  —

  Metropolitan Police District2

  13

  12

  12

  2

  —

  —

  1

  9

  —

  Suffolk

  3

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Sussex

  3

  3

  3

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  West Yorkshire

  2

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  England and Wales

  38

  32

  32

  2

  2

  2

  6

  20

  —

  1992–3

  Bedfordshire

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Devon and Cornwall

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1—

  —

  —

  Essex

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  14

  12

  12

  —

  —

  —

  1

  10

  1

  Leicestershire

  3

  3

  3

  —

  —

  2

  —

  1

  —

  Metropolitan Police District2

  11

  10

  10

  2

  1

  —

  5

  2

  —

  Suffolk

  1

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sussex

  4

  3

  3

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dyfed and Powys

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  402 403

  Year and police force area

  Total for trial

  Total found guilty

  Total sentenced

  Absolute or conditional dicharge

  Fine

  Community sentence

  Fully suspended sentence

  Immediate custody

  align="right">Otherwise dealt with

  England and Wales

  38

  33

  33

  2

  2

  3

  10

  15

  1

  1Offences under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971.

  2Includes the City of London.

  3Provisional data.

  Prison Overcrowding
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present level of prison overcrowding as a percentage for each prison in the United Kingdom.

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

  Letter from D. Lewis to Mr. Keith Vaz, dated 30 November 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about overcrowding in each prison in the United Kingdom.
  The table shows those prisons in England and Wales that were overcrowded on 24 November. The percentage overcrowding is calculated from the extent to which population exceeds the certified normal accommodation (CNA) available for use.

  Local prisons

  Establishment

  CNA

  Population

  Percentage overcrowding

  Bedford

  170

  256

  151

  Birmingham

  618

  731

  118

  Bristol

  363

  408

  112

  Brixton

  518

  605

  117

  Canterbury

  128

  193

  151

  Cardiff

  243

  331

  136

  Chelmsford

  217

  342

  158

  Dorchester

  116

  179

  154

  Durham

  344

  525

  153

  Exeter

  265

  316

  119

  Gloucester

  207

  229

  111

  Hull

  269

  446

  166

  Leeds

  700

  1,124

  161

  Leicester

  194

  335

  173

  Lewes

  267

  351

  131

  Lincoln

  444

  603

  136

  Liverpool

  931

  1,335

  143

  Manchester

  291

  323

  111

  Norwich

  274

  308

  112

  Pentonville

  559

  631

  113

  Preston

  324

  514

  159

  Shrewsbury

  168

  296

  176

  Swansea

  156

  203

  130

  Winchester

  298

  327

  110

  Wormwood Scrubs

  472

  647

  137

  Remand centres

  Establishment

  CNA

  Population

  Percentage overcrowding

  Cardiff

  85

  86

  101

  Exeter

  52

  56

  108

  Glen Parva

  320

  437

  136

  Low Newton

  163

  224

  137

  Moorland

  486

  508

  105

  Swansea

  57

  75

  132

  404

  Adult male training prisons

  Establishment

  CNA

  Population

  Percentage overcrowding

  Hewell Grange

  136

  161

  118

  Lancaster

  186

  249

  134

  Ranby

  331

  339

  102

  Shepton Mallet

  158

  186

  118

  Wellingborough

  284

  304

  107

  Protection of Property
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to review the doctrine of minimum force in relation to the actions a home owner may take to protect himself and his property.

  Mr. Maclean
  On 16 November, the Law Commission published the report of its review of offences against the person—Law Com 218, a copy of which is in the Library. The commission's review of the law in this area covers the issues raised in this question. The Government are presently giving careful consideration to the commission's report.

  Girl Prisoners
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 23 November 1993,Official Report, column 29, on what grounds his Department considers that holding girls of 16 and 17 years with adult women prisoners is the best option for holding them, in their own interests.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Twenty girls under 18 years old are held with other female young offenders in establishments which also hold adult women. These arrangements allow them the freedom and choice of activities available in a larger community that would not otherwise be possible. Holding them separately would involve either a national unit for their detention, and consequent dislocation from their home area and a weakening of family ties, or keeping them in very small isolated units. Neither option would serve their best interests.

  Mr. Thomas Mason-Rushton
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specific steps he will now take to ensure that Mr. Thomas Mason-Rushton, presently held in Her Majesty's prison Whitemoor, is guaranteed immediate access to the medical treatment for his known medical condition.

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

  Letter from D. Lewis to Mr. Robin Corbett, dated 30 November 1993:

  405
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the medical treatment for Mr. Thomas Mason-Rushton who is at Whitemoor prison.
  Mr. Mason-Rushton is at present suffering from a chronic infection. A specialist physician with considerable experience of the management of Mr. Mason-Rushton's condition visits the prison at regular intervals. Mr. Mason-Rushton refuses to see this specialist, however, or to become involved in any of the other locally available medical facilities relating to his illness. It would seem that this is because Mr. Mason-Rushton wishes to return to a London prison to visit a particular London hospital. This is despite there being adequate NHS facilities throughout the country for the treatment of his condition.
  There is 24 hour nursing cover at Whitemoor and a doctor on call around the clock. In the event of an emergency, Mr. Mason-Rushton would be transferred immediately to the appropriate local NHS hospital.

  Immigration Detention Centres
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he plans to cease holding asylum seekers in the Prison Service;

  (2) by how many places he intends to increase immigration detention centres.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The opening of Campsfield House detention centre on 29 November provided 200 additional detention spaces. In addition, we plan to increase the number of places available in immigration detention centres by another 135. However, there will be a continuing need for some detainees held under powers contained in the Immigration Act 1971—including some asylum applicants—to be accommodated in Prison Service establishments for the foreseeable future.

  Blakenhurst Prison
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the capacity of Her Majesty's prison Blakenhurst as specified by contracts; what is the current number of prisoners at the prison; how many have been transferred to other prisons in recent weeks; what current plans there are for transfer to other prisons; and to which prisons prisoners have been sent.

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

  Letter from D. Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 30 November 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply directly to your recent Question about the numbers of prisoners at HMP Blakenhurst.
  The certified normal accommodation of Blakenhurst prison is 649 but the contract provides that the roll should grow at the rate of approximately 100 prisoners per month. The target under the contract is that the prison should reach capacity by the end of the year. In fact, the number of prisoners on 26 November was 625 and the population reached as many as 644 on 23 November. Between I and 26 November 98 prisoners were transferred to other prisons.
  It is, of course, a primary part of the function of a local prison to classify prisoners and to allocate them to trainers and the 98 movements were part of these normal arrangements. There are no special plans to transfer prisoners from Blakenhurst. Prisoners have been transferred from Blakenhurst to Ford, Bullingdon, Stafford, Ashwell, Sudbury, Featherstone, Newell Grange, Channings Wood and Brockhill.

  Prison Ships
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statutory provisions which authorise the use of prison ships.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Sections 33, 35 and 36 of the Prisons Act 1952—as amended by section 87(8) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991—deal with the Secretary of State's powers to provide prisons.

  We are considering this legislation carefully to see whether it would cover the use of marine detention vessels. We would not attempt to hold prisoners in such vessels unless we were satisfied about the legality of such action.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what stage the market testing of operations undertaken by the Metropolitan police service has reached.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  A market-testing programme for the Metropolitan police which covers the period up to August 1995 has been prepared. The estimated annual value of the areas of work involved is £85 million.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why a letter to him from the chair of the Association of London Authorities about asylum seekers and refugees dated 9 November 1992 was not responded to until 14 October 1993.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Between October 1992 and November 1993, over 1,500 written representations were received from hon. Members, interested organisations and members of the public about general asylum issues. The small unit dealing with this correspondence was also responsible for supporting the passage of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 which came into force in July this year. The priority which had to be given to the new legislation regrettably resulted in long delays in replying to general correspondence.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are currently detained in Britain and of those how many are being held with(a) people convicted on criminal charges and (b) people awaiting trial.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  On 29 November 1993, 472 people detained under the powers contained in the Immigration Act 1971 had claimed asylum. Information about those held with convicted prisoners and people awaiting trial is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many remand prisoners were being held in police cells in London on the last day for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  407
  Letter from D. Lewis to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 30 November 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners in police cells in London.
  No remand prisoners are currently being held in police cells in London and it is many months since such action was necessary.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost per day of holding a remand prisoner in(a) a police cell and (b) prison.

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

  Letter from D. Lewis to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 30 November 1993:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the daily costs of holding a remand prisoner in (a) a police cell and (b) prison.
  In 1992–93 the average daily cost of holding prisoners was £254 in police cells and £75 in local prisons and remand centres. The costs of remand prisoners are not recorded separately from those of other inmates.

  Crime Prevention Board
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how the effectiveness of the National Board for Crime Prevention will be measured;

  (2) what quantifiable targets have been set for the National Board for Crime Prevention.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The National Board for Crime Prevention was set up earlier this year as one element of the Government's crime prevention strategy. It is an ad hoc advisory body whose members serve voluntarily and without remuneration. As the board has no executive powers, it would not be appropriate to set performance targets for it.

  The board has identified its initial priorities as retail crime, car crime, and young people and crime. Only when its recommendations and advice are implemented can methods for measuring their effectiveness be devised.

  Racial Harassment
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures the Government are promoting in the current Session of Parliament to prevent racial harassment.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government condemn racial harassment and fully support initiatives of the police and other agencies arising from recommendations of the racial attacks group.

  We will be looking closely at the recommendations of the Home Affairs Committee following the investigation of racial attacks, and will be considering whether further Government action would be effective in helping prevent racial harassment.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the zero tolerance campaign against domestic violence being undertaken by the Association of London Authorities;
  408
  (2) what resources he will allocate to support the Association of London Authorities zero tolerance campaign against domestic violence.

  Mr. Maclean
  The response to domestic violence involves a number of Government Departments whose work needs to be co-ordinated at ministerial level. Although such central co-ordination is important, the Government believe that effective action against domestic violence requires the commitment and involvement of local agencies, both statutory and voluntary, working in concert to develop local preventive strategies. The zero tolerance publicity campaign against domestic violence being undertaken by the Association of London Authorities is one such example.

  Although the Home Office is unable to assist directly with the financing of the proposed publicity campaign, the issue of raising public awareness in this complex area is one which will be given early consideration by the ministerial group on domestic violence.

  Regional Expenditure
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a table showing for each standard region, with Greater London shown as a separate region, the total expenditure in 1992–93, and the budgeted expenditure in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 in respect of(a) safer cities, (b) section 11 grants, part to be included in single regeneration budget, (c) ethnic minority grant and (d) ethnic minority business initiative.

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

  Police Cells
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether remand prisoners will be held in police cells in London in the coming year;

  (2) what additional resources will be provided to the Metropolitan police service to ensure adequate facilities for and security of prisoners held in police cells in London.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is not possible to give any assurance that remand prisoners will not be held in police cells in London in the future. A number of urgent measures are being taken to accommodate the ongoing rise in the prison population without resorting to the use of police cells.

  In the event that prisoners have to be held in police cells, the arrangements for reimbursement of expenditure incurred by police forces in providing adequate facilities and security are set out in Home Office circular 36/1993 to clerks to police authorities and chief officers of police, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

  Prison Escapes
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many category C prisoners escaped from custody in each year since 1979; and how many were subsequently recaptured.

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

  Letter from D. Lewis to Mr. John Hutton, dated 30 November 1993:

  409
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many Category C prisoners escaped from custody in each year since 1979 and how many were subsequently recaptured.
  This information is not available in the form you request, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Incidents of escape from custody are recorded according to the security category of the prison from which the prisoner escapes and not by the security category of the prisoner.
  Information about escapes has only been recorded centrally since 20 June 1988. During the period 20 June 1988 to 31 October 1993 the number of prisoners who escaped from category C prisons is as follows:

  Period

  Number

  20 June to 31 October 1988

  45

  1 November 1988 to 31 October 1989

  98

  1 November 1989 to 31 October 1990

  124

  1 November 1990 to 31 October 1991

  185

  1 November 1991 to 31 October 1992

  138

  1 November 1992 to 31 October 1993

  102

  Destination

  Date

  Cost(£)

  Purpose

  Brussels

  9 January

  282

  Speaker at Aviation Conference

  Brussels

  25 January

  1,089

  Joint EC Transport and Environment Council

  Brussels

  14-15 March

  1,553

  EC Transport Council

  Oslo/Gothenburg

  9-11 May

  1,194

  Fact-finding tour on congestion charging technology

  Luxembourg

  7-8 June

  2,611

  EC Transport Council

  Paris

  14 June

  484

  Paris Air Show

  Luxembourg

  19 June

  2,523

  Additional EC Transport Council

  USA

  12-16 September

  7,450

  To negotiate aviation liberalisation with United States Transportation Secretary and fact-finding tour on highways issues

  West Coast Main Line
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the Hambros study into possible joint public/private sector financing initiatives for the west coast main line.

  Mr. Freeman
  I expect to be able to do so very shortly.

  MV Avon
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the report of the inquiry into the incident in which the MV Avon ran ashore off Browndown, Gosport, on 21 July.

  Mr. Norris
  In accordance with normal practice in circumstances such as this, the report will not be published but a copy of the summary report will be provided to anyone who can show a legitimate interest.

  Bomb-proofing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost, by location, of bomb-proofing the Department's premises.

  Mr. Norris
  It remains the Government's practice not to comment on security matters.

  Trans-Pennine Study
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement as to the outcome of consultations on the Trans-Pennine study strategy report.
  410
  Information about the recapture of escaped prisoners by the prisoner's security category could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Of the total of 1,917 prisoners of all security categories who escaped from custody during the period 20 June 1988 to 31 October 1992, 1,750 have been recaptured, four died whilst unlawfully at large and 163 remain unlawfully at large.

TRANSPORT

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

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have made eight visits abroad so far during 1993. The cost of each visit, including some travel costs of accompanying officials, was as follows:

  Mr. Key
  I have now considered all the replies to the consultation on the Trans-Pennine study strategy report.

  The responses to that consultation were divided on the desirable way forward. While there were many who saw the need for improvements to the road network in the Pennine region for economic reasons, there were many who rejected any further major road improvements because of the likely impact on the natural environment.

  I have therefore decided to end public uncertainty and proceed with a limited package of measures focused on particular problems. No new schemes will be added to the national roads programme at this stage.

  Although the A69 was outside the study area it was identified as a significant strategic route in responses and I will consider the need and justification for its specific improvement in the programme review which is currently under way.

  We have already recognised the strategic importance of the A66 in our current programme of improvements and I do not intend to propose further schemes for the A66 at this stage. There will be no improvements to routes east of the M65 at Colne.

  The M62 will remain the main trans-Pennine route and we will be taking forward improvements to the motorway already in the national programme. Following the recent decision to take the Ml-M62 link out of the programme, we shall be investigating the need for increasing the capacity of the relevant lengths of the M1 and M62, to deal with increasing levels of traffic, to improve road safety and help economic growth in the area. Any proposals for further improvements which may emerge from these

  411
  investigations will be considered for entry to the trunk road programme at a later date, and would be subject to the usual consultations and statutory procedures.

  We remain committed to our policy that no major development should take place in national parks, save in exceptional circumstances. We stand by our decision at the start of the consultation period that we will not upgrade the A628-A616 to dual carriageway through the Peak district national park. No additional major schemes will be added to the national programme in this corridor, although some minor, limited, schemes may be necessary to relieve environmental problems and improve safety.

  Some respondents called for traffic restraint measures to be adopted in the Peak district national park. Whilst such measures would reduce traffic in the park they would also increase the pressure on the routes to the south of the park and so the Department will not be pursuing this option.

  A number of responses asked us to look at the scope for transferring passenger traffic from road to rail. A Trans-Pennine rail study, undertaken by a consortium of local authorities and passenger transport authorities, has indicated that any improvements to the rail network would have only a marginal effect on road traffic flows.

  London Transport
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set financial objectives for London Transport.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have today written to the chairman of London Transport in the following terms:"As of course you know, Section 16 of the London Regional Transport Act 1984 gives me power to determine financial objectives which I consider it reasonable for London Regional Transport, or any of its subsidiaries, to achieve. This letter sets out the financial objectives which I have, with the approval of the Treasury and after consultation with London Transport, determined for London Underground Limited and London Buses Limited for the period up to and including the 1995–96 financial year. A separate letter from Handley Stevens to Alan Watkins sets out the objectives determined with respect to LT's other subsidiaries and activities.

  London Underground Limited (LUL)
  I do not need to emphasise the view which you and I both share that safety remains LUL's—and indeed LT's—top priority. I have also set objectives, agreed with you and now incorporated in LUL's Customer Charter, for the quality of service on LUL. The financial objectives for LUL complement these measures by seeking to ensure that the costs of operating the Underground system represent value for money and are kept to the minimum consistent with the achievement of your safety and quality of service objectives. In this connection, I greatly welcome the LUL Company Plan and the good progress made so far in implementing the improvements in efficiency and cost reductions that the Plan entails. The objectives set out below are based on achievement of the reductions in operating costs promised in the Company Plan programme in the autumn of 1991, which prompted Government to invest public funds in implementation of the Plan.
  The objective, I have set for LUL unit costs (defined as operating costs, excluding depreciation and renewals, divided by loaded train miles) is that they should be reduced to no more than £16·20, in 1993–94 prices, for the financial year ending 31 March 1996.
  I wish to supplement this objective by one in the form of the percentage which revenue represents of operating costs for LUL (for this purpose operating costs include depreciation but exclude renewals). The objective is that this percentage should he at least 105·6 per cent. for the financial year ending 31 March 1996. This figure is consistent with my unit costs objective and with the provision for depreciation for 1995–96 shown in your 1993 Corporate Plan, and the revenue forecast shown in that Plan as amended by your subsequent forecasts.
  412
  I also attach importance, in the context of the pursuit of value for money and cost reduction, to an increasing proportion of LUL's expenditure being subject to market testing. As you know, my officials are consulting LUL on the basis for setting precise targets in this regard. My intention is that such targets should attract bonus of at least 5 per cent. of salary in the Board Performance Bonus schemes for 1994–95 and 1995–96. I would also wish you to include in LT Annual Reports, starting with that for 1993–94, a report on progress on the LUL market testing programme, including a measure or measures showing as a proportion of the appropriate base the amount of work which has been market tested during the year in question, compared with the equivalent amount for the previous year.
  Finally with respect to LUL, I would like to see the establishment of a measure, agreed with Government, showing the full economic costs to the public sector of the services provided by LUL. This should include a figure representing the opportunity cost of the asset base. This measure should be published in LT's Annual Report and Accounts for the year 1993–94 and for each subsequent year.

  London Buses Limited (LBL)
  The current objective is that LBL should achieve, for as long as this remains relevant, a 5 per cent. return on those of its tendered operations which are subject to "gross cost" contracts. We will set fresh financial objectives for bus services purchased by LT in the light of our recent announcement on the future of London's bus services. New targets for 1994–95 and 1995–96 will be set by the end of March 1994.

  Public Accountability
  As in previous years, performance and progress against these objectives, and against your safety and quality of service objectives, should be published each year in LT's Annual Reports and Accounts."

  As my letter states, objectives with respect to LT's subsidiaries and activities, other than London Underground and London Buses, have been set in a separate letter from my Department to the LT's chief executive and deputy chairman, Dr. Alan Watkins. The following is a summary of these objectives:
  LT Central Services. Gross costs to be no more than £57 million in 1993–94; a fresh objective for the period up to 1995–96 to be set by 31 March 1994.
  Victoria Coach Station. Return on turnover to be at least 5·8 per cent. in 1995–96.
  LT PASS. Total costs in 1995–96 to be no more than 2·6 per cent. of gross ticket sales.
  LT Museum. Revenue in 1995–96 to be at least 56 per cent. of costs.
  Dial-a-ride. Operating costs per trip in 1995–96 to be no more than £9·30, at 1993–94 prices.
  LT Property. Net operating costs in 1995–96 to be no more than £1·6 million at 1993–94 prices. Rental income to increase by 1·1 per cent. in 1993–94. Targets for rental income in subsequent years, linked to an appropriate index of performance in the property market, to be set by 31 March 1994.
  LT Advertising. Sale of LTA to be completed by 30 June 1994.

  Coaches (Safety)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many coaches in England and Wales were tested for roadworthiness in each year since 1979; how many failed this test; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  Vehicle testing is conducted by the Vehicle Inspectorate Executive Agency (VI). The annual statutory testing of public service vehicles began in 1982. The statistics are not produced on a regional basis and therefore relate to all first annual tests conducted in England, Scotland and Wales. Additional information on PSV testing and retests can be found in current and past editions of the VI annual report and accounts.
  413

  Year

  Number of tests

  Initial failures1

  Final failures2

  31982–83

  66,221

  —

  16,357

  31983–84

  65,292

  —

  13,972

  31984–85

  61,288

  —

  11,749

  1985–86

  69,334

  27,110

  13,250

  1986–87

  68,376

  26,462

  13,627

  1987–88

  67,282

  27,128

  14,986

  1988–89

  72,215

  27,998

  15,620

  1989–90

  72,391

  27,407

  14,963

  1990–91

  71,351

  24,994

  13,692

  1991–92

  71,789

  26,443

  13,647

  1992–93

  73,350

  27,059

  13,342

  1 Initial failures are those for vehicles as presented for the annual test.

  2 Final failures are those following rectification of minor defects.

  3 Statistical information on initial failures is unavailable.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatal coach crashes there have been in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The number of fatal coach accidents and their resulting fatalities are shown for each year from 1979 to 1992 in the table.

  All accidents involving coach occupant fatalities

  Fatal coach accidents

  Occupant fatalities in coaches

  1979

  27

  34

  1980

  27

  29

  1981

  19

  20

  1982

  27

  33

  1983

  26

  38

  1984

  35

  37

  1985

  25

  32

  1986

  21

  24

  1987

  14

  15

  1988

  17

  17

  1989

  18

  20

  1990

  17

  19

  1991

  22

  25

  1992

  17

  19

  All fatal accidents involving coaches

  Fatal accidents

  All fatalities1

  1979

  299

  327

  1980

  253

  272

  1981

  219

  239

  1982

  248

  279

  1983

  234

  263

  1984

  224

  245

  1985

  181

  211

  1986

  195

  227

  1987

  187

  199

  1988

  174

  188

  1989

  195

  223

  1990

  209

  225

  1991

  177

  189

  1992

  160

  177

  1 Includes pedestrians and fatalies in other vehicles involved in a coach accident.

  Severn Bridge
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the annual average daily traffic flow figures for the Severn bridge, for each year since 1983 and the current year.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 29 November 1993]: The figures are shown in the table. Since the start of one-way
  414
  tolling on 26 April 1992 only westbound traffic flows were recorded, until 4 November 1993 when an additional automatic counting system was installed to monitor eastbound traffic.

  Two-way flows Year to 31 March

  Annual average daily traffic

  1982–83

  33,997

  1983–84

  34,004

  1984–85

  35,636

  1985–86

  36,764

  1986–87

  40,151

  1987–88

  44,384

  1988–89

  49,129

  1989–90

  51,789

  1990–91

  51,545

  1991–921

  51,128

  Westbound flow only

  1992–932

  25,882

  11 April 1991 to 25 April 1992.

  2 26 April 1992 to 31 March 1993.

PRIME MINISTER

  National Identity Card
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 25 November,Official Report, column 107, which Departments are keeping the question of a national identity card under review.

  The Prime Minister
  The question of a national identity card scheme is a matter for the Home Office.

  Housing
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Prime Minister if he expects to be able to meet the Government's commitment to provide 153,000 homes for those in housing need by the year 1995–96.

  The Prime Minister
  Yes.

  Crime Prevention
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Prime Minister how often the ministerial group on crime prevention meets; when it last met; and in what form its deliberations are published.

  The Prime Minister
  The ministerial group on crime prevention meets about three times per year. The last meeting was held on 16 November 1993. Its most recent report, entitled "Reducing the Costs of Crime: Measures Taken by Government Departments", was published in November 1992; a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The minutes of its meetings are not published.

  Fund-raising Events
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the fund-raising events for which(a) 10 Downing street and (b) Chequers have been used for events since he became Prime Minister; what events are planned for the future; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Since November 1990 there have been a total of 31 receptions, dinners or other functions at No. 10 Downing street for charities or voluntary bodies and three at Chequers. The organisations concerned were:
  415
  (a) 10 Downing street

  NSPCC

  Surrey County Cricket Club Youth Trust

  Lords Taverners

  MENCAP

  Age Concern

  EUREKA

  Wordsworth Trust

  Huntington's Disease Association

  Action Research

  Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust

  National Council of Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care

  Crossroads Care (two functions)

  Animal Health Trust

  ORT

  Youth Clubs (UK)

  ChildLine

  Silver Trust

  Marie Curie Cancer Care

  Excalibur Scheme

  Motability

  Westminster Foundation for Democracy

  London Community Cricket Association

  International Spinal Research Trust

  Cambridge Arts Theatre Trust

  YMCA

  Leeds International Piano Competition

  Westminster Medical School Research Trust

  The Shakespeare Globe Trust

  National Council for Voluntary Organisations

  Consortium for Street Children

  (b) Chequers

  MENCAP

  ARC

  CORDA

  I am not prepared to give advance notice of functions at No. 10 or at Chequers, whether official or non-official.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to permit fund-raising events to be held at No. 10 Downing street; which organisations will be eligible to apply for such functions; and what charges will be levied for the use of the premises, attendance of staff and other costs which might otherwise fall on public funds.

  The Prime Minister
  When charitable or other non-official events are held at No. 10 Downing street, the organisers are responsible for all catering and staff costs, as well as other miscellaneous direct costs. Organisers may use the kitchens or other facilities at No. 10 Downing street.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister how many functions have been held at 10 Downing street since 5 July at which funds have been raised for political parties, or for which tickets have been sold for the benefit of political parties.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to allow 10 Downing Street to be made available to political parties other than the Conservative party for the purposes of fund raising.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 29 November 1993]: As under previous Administrations, the use of 10 Downing street for non-official or party functions is a matter for the Prime Minister.

  Security and Intelligence Agencies
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the expenditure of the security and intelligence agencies.

  The Prime Minister
  The aggregate provision for the security and intelligence agencies in 1994–95 will be around £900 million, including about £100 million for the attributed costs of Ministry of Defence personnel who mainly assist GCHQ in its functions. The provision for the agencies is planned to reduce by over 4 per cent. in the following two years.

  Precise figures for the 1994–95 aggregate budget will be given in the main estimate for the new single intelligence vote, to be presented to Parliament next March, after appropriate charging arrangements for departmental support for the agencies have been determined.

  The provision for 1993–94 is carried in part by the Cabinet Office—£197 million on class XIX, vote 2 "Cabinet Office: Secret Service"—and in part by the Ministry of Defenc, roughly 80 per cent. of the balance, and the Foreign Office, 20 per cent., which at present carry the whole of the cost of GCHQ.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Land Reclamation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what initiatives his Department has taken to promote United Kingdom expertise in decontamination of soil and land reclamation.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department works together with the Department of the Environment, and other bodies, on a number of activities to promote United Kingdom expertise in decontamination of soil and land reclamation. Some of these provide financial support for private sector projects in new technology—for example under the LINK, environmental technology innovation scheme and Euroenviron programmes.

  DTI also promotes export opportunities in this area as part of our general support for the United Kingdom environmental industry, by improving the access of overseas firms to United Kingdom technology.

  The Laboratory of the Government Chemist is active in promoting awareness of contaminated land and the need for investigation, as well as acting as a consultancy.

  Green Business Parks
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the development of green business parks.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I welcome any commercially sound development which helps business to improve its environmental performance or which furthers the growth of the United Kingdom's capability in the field of environmental technology and services.

  Nuclear Industry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on progress made in commissioning the Sizewell B nuclear plant.

  Mr. Eggar
  Nuclear Electric continues to make good progress on the Sizewell B project. The company is
  417
  confident that the project can be completed within the timetable committed at the Sizewell B public inquiry and within budget.

  Energy Advisory Panel
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the first meeting of his energy advisory panel held on 22 November.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 26 November,Official Report, column 254.

  Industry (Costs)
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. McLoughlin
  I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside on 26 November,Official Report, columns 255-56.

  Trading Standards Departments
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the effects of the local government review on the number of trading standards departments in(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  None. The effects will depend on the future number of local authorities and the arrangements made for trading standards functions to be carried out. Some authorities may join together to set up a combined trading standards department as have the five authorities in west Yorkshire.

  Nirex Rock Characterisation Facility
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information has been presented to justify expenditure on the Nirex rock characterisation facility; and if he will publish it.

  Mr. Eggar
  Expenditure proposals by UK Nirex Ltd. are a management matter for the company and its shareholders, who are represented on the board of the company.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the latest cost estimate of the Nirex rock characterisation facility; on what date the planning application will be submitted; and what is the proposed date of its opening.

  Mr. Eggar
  These are management matters for UK Nirex Ltd. However, I understand that the company currently estimates the cost of constructing the rock characterisation facility at around £120 million, and that the company hopes to be in a position to submit the relevant planning application early in 1994. The applications and documentation accompanying it will include information about time scales.

  EC Consumer Council
  Ms Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Consumer Council of 19 November.
  418
  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Council discussed the draft timeshare directive, and agreed on a common position by a qualified majority vote.

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

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to her on 26 November,Official Report, columns 251-52.

  Gas and Electricity (Standing Charges)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken to encourage gas and electricity companies to reduce or cancel standing charges, with particular reference to pensioner households; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The level of standing charges is a matter for the Directors General of Gas Supply and of Electricity Supply respectively.

  Combined Heat and Power, Leicester
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the involvement of Warren Springs in the application by Leicester Combined Heat and Power to develop a CHP scheme in Leicester; what was the cost to public funds of this involvement; what are the position and salary scale of Dr. Rampling; on whose invitation Dr. Rampling attended the meeting in Leicester on 9 November; and what was the cost of attendance by Dr. Rampling at that meeting.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have asked the chief executive of Warren Spring Laboratory to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from D. Cormack to Mr. Keith Vaz, dated 26 November 1993:
  Warren Spring Laboratory (WSL) has the remit to recover its costs through the execution of contract work for both government and non-government customers. In this case WSL was acting under contract to Leicester CHP Limited, to study the distillation of oil from waste tyre pyrolysis, to evaluate its possible use as a fuel for CHP application.
  It is normal WSL practice to provide high quality objective scientific and technical data and evaluations, on all its contract work. This is recognised by its customers, and understood by all parties who may have an interest in any particular issue.
  There was no cost to public funds of this involvement. All Dr. Rampling's activities, including meetings with interested parties at the invitation of Leicester CHP Ltd, are charged to Leicester CHP Ltd under the contract, at a rate which covers all his costs, including his salary, according to Treasury rules under which the Laboratory operates as a full economic cost recovery Agency.

  Chad
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on trade with Chad.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  United Kingdom exports to Chad in the year to September 1993 were valued at £1·94 million up 55·02 per cent. on £1·25 million the previous year. In 1992 the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development United Kingdom market share in Chad was 2·1 per cent.; in 1991 it was 2·5 per cent. United Kingdom
  419
  imports from Chad in the year to September 1993 were valued at £0·87 million down from £2·36 million for the year to September 1992.

  Gas (Exempt Supplies) Act 1992
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to announce the commencement of the Gas (Exempt Supplies) Act 1992.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 25 June 1993,Official Report, column 294. It is still our intention to bring the Gas (Exempt Supplies) Act 1993 into force by mid-1994.

  Smoking
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to enforce restrictions on smoking within his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Smoking is permitted only in a few specified areas. A copy of my Department's current smoking policy will be lodged in the Library of the House.

  Insolvency
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many investigations the Insolvency Service agency has conducted into independent practitioners during each year since 1990 and so far in 1993.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Insolvency Service undertakes routine monitoring visits to practitioners to test their compliance with the legislation. Detailed special inspections are carried out where the facts of the case suggest that this is merited. The following figures are on a financial year basis: detailed records were not maintained prior to 1991–92.

  Numbers

  Monitoring visits

  1991–92

  31

  1992–93

  147

  1993–94 (to date)

  135

  Special inspections

  1991–92

  2

  1992–93

  9

  1993–94 (to date)

  5

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Stoy Hayward review of the future of the Insolvency Service will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I am currently considering what further work needs to be done following the Stoy Hayward review and shall announce to the House in due course what the next steps will be, including any plans for making public the contents of Stoy Hayward's report.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many independent practitioners have been struck off as a result of complaints made about their conduct to the Insolvency Service agency.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Since the introduction of the requirement to be authorised in the Insolvency Act 1986, 12 insolvency practitioners have had their authorisations 420
  withdrawn by their respective authorising bodies. In 11 of these cases, the initial complaint was made to the Insolvency Service.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints the Insolvency Service agency received about the conduct of independent practitioners during each year since 1990 and so far in 1993.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Insolvency Service agency does not keep a record specifically relating to complaints about the conduct of insolvency practitioners, but receives a range of correspondence relating to the administration of insolvencies.

  Mr. Peter Joyce, the agency's chief executive, answered letters, some of which contained criticism of practitioners, totalling 26 in 1991, 85 in 1992 and 50 to 31 October 1993.

  In addition, I and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade have responded to letters from hon. Members concerning specific insolvencies totalling 399 in 1991, 355 in 1992 and 314 to 31 October 1993. Officials have answered on our behalf 207 letters in 1992 and 147 to 31 October 1993. Information on how many of these letters contained complaints about independent practitioners could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  No central record is kept of complaints about the conduct of insolvency practitioners made direct to official receivers.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much of the Stoy Hayward review of the future of the Insolvency Service cost; and whether it came from the Insolvency Service agency budget.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The cost of the review, which is commercially confidential, was paid for from Insolvency Service resources.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what savings he estimates will result from the transfer of aspects of the Insolvency Service from his Department to the Association of Chartered Accountants and the Institute of Professional Accountants.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Each of the professional bodies recognised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to authorise insolvency practitioners has undertaken to commence routine monitoring of its own practitioners and is developing systems to take on this work which is presently carried out by my Department's Insolvency Service.

  We presently expect there to be savings of between two and three man years in the long term as a direct result, but this is dependent on the continuing progress of the professional bodies towards becoming fully operational in this area.

  British Coal
  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what change has been made to British Coal's external financing limit for 1993–94.

  Mr. Eggar
  British Coal's external financing limit for 1993–94 has been changed from £1,880 million to £1,750 million. The revised financing requirement reflects reduced estimates of expenditure by the corporation.

  Utilities (Meter Reading)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received regarding fuel and power companies reading meters annually only, estimating the intervening bills; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Representations received by my Department on these matters are passed on to the independent regulators who each have a duty to protect the interests of consumers.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research his Consumer Affairs Division has carried out into the costs to consumers resulting from estimation of quarterly fuel and power bills by the companies.

  Mr. Eggar
  Representations received by my Department on these matters are passed on to the independent regulators who each have a duty to protect the interests of consumers.

  Wind Power
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of electricity generated in Wales is attributable to wind power; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  As at 30 September 1993, the installed electrical capacity of wind projects in Wales commissioned under the first two orders of the non-fossil fuel obligation totalled approximately 86 MW, representing about 1·2 per cent. of the total electrical installed capacity of about 7 GW in the Principality. The proportion of electricity actually generated by wind in Wales will depend on a number of factors, including the performance of the non-wind plant.

  Regulations (Impact Assessment)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement setting out the detailed arrangements which will be adopted for the assessment of the impact on companies which will precede all future regulations, indicating what role businesses will play in that assessment and the way in which the results of the assessment will be published.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The detailed arrangements for assessing the impact on companies of proposed regulations are set out in "Checking the Cost to Business: A Guide to Compliance Cost Assessment", a copy of which I am arranging to be deposited in the Library of the House. As indicated in paragraph 9, section 1 of this booklet, business should be encouraged to comment critically on the assessment so that the final assessment is as accurate as possible. The arrangements for publishing the results of the assessment for proposed domestic legislation were set out in my written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester, North (Mr. Jenkin) on 19 October,Official Report, column 202. The arrangements for publishing the assessments for proposed EC legislation were set out in the written reply by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Page) on 19 July, Official Report, column 24.

  Regional Grants
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide a table showing for each standard region, with Greater London shown as a separate region, the total expenditure in 1992–93, and the budgeted expenditure in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 in respect of(a) regional enterprise grant and (b) English Estates.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Details of expenditure on the regional enterprise grants scheme and by English Estates for 1992–93 are shown in the Industrial Development Act 1982 annual report, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  For 1992–93, the London city challenge and task force areas were eligible for regional innovation grants, the only part of the Greater London region eligible for either element of the regional enterprise grants scheme. Provision for regional enterprise grants in 1993–94 in England is £8·8 million. This is not allocated on a regional basis. The regional enterprise grants scheme in England is to become part of the single regeneration budget from 1 April 1994 as announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 4 November 1993, Official Report, columns 515-25. Figures for forecast capital expenditure by English Estates in 1993–94 are as follows:

  Forecast expenditure (£ million)

  1993–94

  North East

  17·4

  North West

  19·2

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  9·6

  West Midlands

  1·0

  East Midlands

  1·8

  South West

  1·8

  South East(former Chartham dockyard)

  20·2

  Greater London

  0

  English Estates will be incorporated into English Partnerships next spring. English Partnerships is currently in the process of drawing up its first corporate plan and regional budgets are not yet available.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the average figure for the last six months of cost per gigajoule for each British Coal pit;

  (2) what were the average figures for output per man shift for the last six months for each of the pits in British Coal;

  (3) what are the latest figures for output per man shift in each of the British coal pits;

  (4) what were the figures for the costs per gigajoule of coal produced for each pit in the Northern region of British Coal for each of the last 12 months;

  (5) if he will list the latest figures he has for costs per gigajoule of the coal being produced in each British Coal pit.

  Mr. Eggar
  These are matters for British Coal.

  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the figures for output per man shift for each pit in British Coal northern region for the last 12 months.
  423
  Mr. Eggar
  This information is not available in the detail requested. The figures for the whole of the northern region were:

  Average output per manshift worked

  Tonnes

  1992

  October

  4·12

  November

  4·30

  December

  4·23

  1993

  January

  45·8

  February

  4·99

  March

  5·48

  April

  4·26

  May

  4·03

  June

  4·43

  July

  6·61

  August

  6·13

  September

  6·17

  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions Bentley colliery has been penalised in a contract for supply to electricity generators for(a) the chlorine content and (b) the sulphur content of its fuel.

  Mr. Eggar
  These detailed points relate to supply contracts and are matters for British Coal.

  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what figures he has, in terms of cost per gigajoule, on the prices being paid by electricity generators for British coal.

  Mr. Eggar
  The prices paid by the electricity industry to individual coal supplies are confidential to the companies concerned. The average price of all coal purchased by the major United Kingdom electricity generating companies is however published in table 26 of "Energy Trends", the Department's monthly statistical bulletin. In the second quarter of 1993 the average price was £1.64 per gigajoule.

  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what were the profit and loss figures for each British Coal pit for(a) the last six months, (b) the first six months of this year and (c) each of the last three financial years;

  (2) if he will list British Coal pits in order of profitability in the last 12 months;

  (3) what was the total profit for each British Coal pit over the last five years.

  Mr. Eggar
  The profitability of individual pits is a matter for British Coal.

  Redundant Steelworkers
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the maintenance of ISERBS—iron and steel employees readaptation benefits scheme—arrangements for redundant steelworkers in the United Kingdom will be considered at the next meeting of the appropriate committee of the EC.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 26 November 1993]: Steel issues concerning the treaty of Paris are discussed in the European Coal and Steel Communities working group. We are aware of no plans for ISERBS to be on the agenda of the next meeting.

  RECHAR
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the procedures for approving projects designed to attract Rechar money after 1 January 1994.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 29 November 1993]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 2 November, Official Report, column 96.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those representations which he has received(a) in favour and (b) against the proposal to establish Rechar II.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 29 November 1993]: I have received numerous representations, from both within and outside Parliament, with regard to the establishment of a Rechar II programme.

  Postal Services
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of postal administrations, in Canada, the United States of America, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands; in respect of their(a) quality of service achievements for first class letters, (b) volume of mail delivered, (c) number of delivery points, (d) turnover and profit, (e) definition of monopoly position, (f) regulator (g) ownership and (h) proposals for privatisation.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 29 November 1993]: As part of the Post Office review, we have considered developments in a number of countries, including those mentioned by the hon. Member and also others such as Australia and New Zealand.

  My Department does not hold detailed information such as that sought on all the countries listed by the hon. Member. Some of the information is available for EC countries in the EC Commission's Green Paper—COM(91)476—published in June 1992. Geographical and other differences, particularly density of population, mean that such data are not always instructive in making comparisons between them or with the United Kingdom.

  Important developments in overseas postal administrations include the abolition of the postal monopoly in Sweden from 1 January 1993 and the proposal of the Netherlands Government to sell a substantial stake in the postal administrations' holding company in 1994. Competitive reforms are being considered in most of the countries mentioned and some are considering the conversion of their postal administrations to plc status, with or without privatisation. There is, however, no set pattern of reform yet emerging in any of these areas.

  We will continue to follow these developments with interest in reaching decisions on the Post Office review.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his latest estimate of the number of maintenance requirement assessments completed by the Child Support Agency since April;

  (2) what is his latest estimate of benefit savings achieved by the Child Support Agency since April.
  425
  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from R. Hepplewhite to Mrs. Jane Kennedy, dated 29 November 1993:
  I have been asked to reply to your Questions to the Secretary of State about estimates of maintenance assessments completed by the Child Support Agency since April 1993 and benefit savings achieved since April 1993.
  The number of maintenance assessments completed to 31 October is 56,800. The benefit savings so far reported by the Agency in the same period is £142 million. This does not represent the total amount of savings achieved by the Agency because some are scored retrospectively.
  I hope you will find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what target he has set the chief executive of the Child Support Agency for the time taken to respond to letters from hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from R. Hepplewhite to Mr. David Lidington, dated 29 November 1993:
  I have been asked to reply to your Question to the Secretary of State about the targets he has set for the time taken to respond to letters from honourable Members.
  All letters from Members of Parliament addressed to me are acknowledged and I aim to respond within an average of 20 working days. Recent press interest has stimulated a great deal of correspondence from constituents and although that target is not being met at the moment, the necessary steps are being taken to ensure that correspondence from Members will be answered as promptly as possible.
  I hope you will find this helpful.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give a breakdown of the representations received regarding the operation of the Child Support Agency on the basis of(a) sex of the applicant and (b) region; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  Between April 1993 and November 1993 the Department of Social Security headquarters and the Child Support Agency headquarters received in the region of 3,000 written representations covering a range of views about child support issues.

  The cost of establishing the number of written representations made to field offices and Child Support Agency centres would be disproportionately high. The number of representations made in person or by telephone, the region from which the people who have made representations came from and their sex is not recorded.

  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of cases dealt with so far by the Child Support Agency, by constituency.

  Mr. Burt
  I understand from Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive of the Child Support Agency, that information in the form requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  However, a report showing the agency's national performance is available each month in the Library.
  426
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the chief executive of the Child Support Agency's performance-related pay is calculated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The nature of the Child Support Agency chief executive's performance package was set out in my response to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) on 5 November, at column 588. The amount of the chief executive's total remuneration in any year will be published in the agency's annual report for that year.

  Repetitive Strain Injury
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if sufferers from repetitive strain injury qualify for sick pay.

  Mr. Scott
  Employers administer and pay statutory sick pay. Subject to the satisfaction of the other qualifying conditions, payment is made whenever the employer is satisfied that his employee is incapable of doing the work required under his contract of service, whatever the cause of incapacity.

  Whether or not occupational sick pay is payable in these circumstances will depend on the terms of individual schemes.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of single pensioners who are calculated for(a) income support purposes, (b) housing benefit purposes and (c) council tax benefit purposes, to have notional income from savings of £1, £2, £3, £4, £5, £6, £7, £8, £9, £10, £11, £12, £13, £14, £15, £16, £17, £18, £19 and £20 per week.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the tables. Details in respect of council tax benefit are not available.

  Income support

  Amount of notional income

  Single pensioners1

  £1

  211,000

  £2

  9,000

  £3

  7,000

  £4

  6,000

  £5

  5,000

  £6

  4,000

  £7

  3,000

  £8

  3,000

  £9

  3,000

  £10

  3,000

  £11

  2,000

  £12

  2,000

  £13

  1,000

  £14

  2,000

  £15

  2,000

  £16

  2,000

  £17

  2,000

  £18

  2,000

  £19

  2,000

  £20

  2,000

  All cases

  72,000

  427

  Housing Benefit

  Amount of notional income £

  1 Single pensioners

  1

  217,000

  2

  13,000

  3

  11,000

  4

  9,000

  5

  10,000

  6

  9,000

  7

  6,000

  8

  5,000

  9

  7,000

  10

  5,000

  11

  5,000

  12

  5,000

  13

  5,000

  14

  3,000

  15

  3,000

  16

  4,000

  17

  3,000

  18

  3,000

  19

  2,000

  20

  2,000

  All cases

  128,000

  Sources: Income support quarterly inquiry, November 1992.

  Housing benefit and community charge benefit management information system, income support statistics annual inquiry, May 1992.

  1 Single pensioners are defined as people in receipt of income support and/or housing benefit aged 60 or over who do not have a partner.

  2 The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of(a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples were receiving means-tested benefits in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the tables:

  Number of cases

  Percentage

  Income support:

  Single pensioners

  1,463,000

  33·3

  Pensioner couples

  254,000

  9·8

  Family credit:

  Single pensioners

  220

  1

  Pensioner couples

  1,300

  1

  Disability working allowance:

  Single pensioners

  26

  1

  Pensioner couples

  51

  1

  Housing benefit/Community charge benefit:

  Housing benefit only

  Single pensioners

  187,000

  4·3

  Pensioner couples

  64,000

  2·5

  Community charge benefit only

  Single pensioners

  524,000

  12·1

  Pensioner couples

  371,000

  14·3

  HB and CCB

  Single pensioners

  639,000

  14·8

  Pensioner couples

  337,000

  13·0

  Notes:

  Sources:

  1. Income support statistics, quarterly inquiry, November 1992.

  Family credit 5 per cent. sample of awards, April 1993.

  Disability working allowance caseload allowing for three months' backdating of awards, June 1993.

  Housing benefit and community charge benefit management information system annual 1 per cent. sample of cases in Great Britain, May 1992. 1992 Provisional estimates, Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.
  428
  2. Income support figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand. Percentages are correct to one decimal place.

  3. Percentages are of the estimated numbers of single pensioners and pensioner couples in private households in Great Britain.

  4. For income support, housing benefit, community charge benefit and disability working allowance pensioners are cases where the recipient and/or the partner are aged 60 or over. For family credit pensioners are cases where the main earner is aged 60 or over.

  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will express the value of the state pension for a single person as a percentage of average male earnings at April.

  Mr. Hague
  The answer is 15.9 per cent.Source: Employment Department's new earnings suvey—all adults average weekly earnings.

  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his best estimate of the number of pensioner households with total weekly incomes below income support level.

  Mr. Hague
  Information is not available in the precise form requested. The latest estimates for the take-up of income-related benefits are for 1989 and show that there were around 1·3 million pensioners who were eligible for but not claiming income support.

  Estimates of take-up of income support are subject to particular uncertainty because of under-reporting of receipt of benefit in the family expenditure survey on which the figures are based. This particularly affects pensioners who often fail to distinguish between retirement pension and income support which are paid as one combined payment.

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people paid contributions to a personal pension in the latest tax year for which figures are available; and how the total is divided between(a) the self-employed, (b) employees not contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme, (c) employees contracted out of SERPS paying only the minimum needed to contract out and (d) employees contracted out of SERPS paying more than the minimum needed to contract out.

  Mr. Hague
  The number of people paying contributions to a personal pension scheme during the financial year 1991–92 is in the table.

  Million

  (a) Self Employed contributors

  0·5

  (b) Employed contributors (not contracted out of SERPS)

  2·2

  (c) Employed contributors (Contracted out of SERPS, receiving DSS minimum contributions to thier scheme only)

  3·0

  (d) Employed contributors (contracted out of SERPS, making personal payments in addition to DSS minimum contributions

  2·1

  Total

  7·8

  Notes:

  1. Data derived from Inland Revenue Statistics.

  2. The figure for the number of self-employed contributors is an estimate only.

  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment he has made of the proportion
  429
  of the money contributed to a typical personal pension at the rebate only level by a man of 30 years which would be absorbed in expenses, charges and commission during the lifetime of the contract up to maturity;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the proportion of the money contributed to a typical personal pension at the rebate only level by a man of 30 years which would be absorbed in expenses, charges and commission during the lifetime of the contract if it were terminated after five years;

  (3) what assessment he has made of the proportion of the money contributed to a typical personal pension at the rebate only level by a man of 30 years that would be absorbed in expenses, charges and commission in the first year of the contract.

  Mr. Hague
  Charges associated with personal pensions vary according to the investment base underlying the policy and also between different personal pensions providers. Consideration of the level of charges associated with appropriate personal pensions is a matter for individual investors in their choice of scheme. The DSS has recently published a new guide for potential personal pension investors suggesting questions to ask before deciding on a scheme. The guide advises potential investors to ask about cost and benefits of schemes offered to them and to compare different products available.

  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of those covered by personal pensions at the rebate only level are entitled only to the minimum benefits needed to contract out of SERPS.

  Mr. Hague
  All holders of appropriate personal pensions are contracted out of SERPS. The benefits received from a rebate only plan take the form of an annuity purchased with the fund produced by the investment of the rebate together with any incentives, additions and tax relief payable.

  National Insurance
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has yet completed his review of national insurance contributions for 1994–95.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have completed the annual review under section 141 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. My proposals will take effect from 6 April 1994. The levels of contributory benefit expenditure I am maintaining, and the extra help with fuel costs which I am making available to pensioners, widows and people receiving invalidity benefit, will mean a continuing shortfall in the national insurance fund between income and outgoings. The stability of the fund will be maintained partly by means of the Treasury grant introduced by the Social Security Act 1993 and partly by means of the 1 per cent. increase in national insurance contributions for employees and the self-employed which was announced in the Budget last March.

  Employers and Employees

  In line with the Social Security Contributions and
  430
  Benefits Act 1992, the lower earnings limit for class 1 contributions is to be raised to £57 a week, which is the nearest whole pound to the basic retirement pension rate for a single person from April 1994. The upper earnings limit is to be raised to £430 a week which is slightly less than 7·5 times the new basic pension rate as provided by the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act. These new earnings limits will replace the current ones of £56 and £420 respectively.

  There will be no change to the initial rate of 2 per cent. payable by employees on the first £57 of weekly earnings, but the main rate payable on employees' earnings between £57.01 and £430 a week will increase from 9 per cent. to 10 per cent. as already announced.

  For employers, I am proposing to reduce the standard rate of contribution from 10·4 per cent., to 10·2 per cent., a reduction of 0·2 per cent. I also propose to decrease, from the same date, the reduced rates which employers pay for lower-paid workers. The reduction will be 1 per cent., giving new rates for 7·6 per cent., 5·6 per cent. and 3·6 per cent. These reductions will therefore be especially helpful to employers of the lower-paid, often smaller employers, and should more than offset extra costs which employers meet as a result of changes to the reimbursement provisions for statutory sick pay.

  The thresholds for the special reduced rates will also be raised so that from April 1994 they apply to weekly earnings which fall below the ceilings of £100, £145, and ·200 respectively, compared with £95, £140, and £195 at present.

  Not Contracted-Out Employees and their Employers

  Neither the employee nor his employer will have to pay any contributions if earnings are less than £57 a week. Employees earning up to about £64 a week will pay slightly less in contributions. Employees earning above £64 but not more than the existing upper limit of £420 will generally pay more contributions, ranging from a few pence to £3·56. Employees with earnings above £420 a week will pay a maximum increase of £456. For employers, the reduction in their contributions will depend on the level of the employee's pay.

  Contracted-Out Employees and their Employers

  Those with earnings between £63 and £420—the former upper earnings limit—will pay more contributions, ranging from a few pence up to £3·58 a week more. Those who earn more than £420 will pay contributions on the next £10 of earnings from next April—up to £430 a week, the proposed upper earnings limit, a maximum increase of £4·40 a week. Contracted-out employees who earn £62 or less will pay the same or slightly less.

  For employers, the reduction will again depend upon the level of employee's pay.

  Self-employed people

  Although contributions for employees are to increase, I do not propose to raise the flat rate class 2 contribution other than in line with inflation. It will therefore increase by 10p to £5·65.

  However, class 4 contributions, payable by those self-employed people with profits above a certain level, will be increased by 1 per cent. to 7·3 per cent. The annual limits of profits will be raised to £6,490 and £22,360 from

  431
  £6,340 and £21,840 respectively. Self-employed people who pay only class 2 contributions will pay an extra £5.20 a year in 1994–95.

  The changes for class 4 contributions mean that some lower earners will pay less or no class 4 contributions; higher earners will pay a maximim of £187·21 more.

  Class 3—voluntary—contributions

  The rate of class 3 contributions will be raised by 10p to £5·55 a week.

  National Health Service Allocation
  432
  The allocation to the national health service, cunently 1·05 per cent. from employees and 0·9 per cent. from employers, remains unchanged.

  Treasury Grant

  In accordance with section 2(2) of the Social Security Act 1993, I propose to maintain the level of the national insurance fund during 1994–95 by means of a grant from the Treasury. I estimate that the grant required will be approximately 6·4 billion.

  As usual, I shall by laying a draft order before Parliament together with a report by the Government Actuary describing the effects of my proposals.

  Benefits (Uprating)
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out details of the new rates of benefits proposed from April 1994 and the details of help to be made available to meet the cost of VAT on domestic fuel.

  Mr. Lilley
  The annual uprating of social security benefits will take place, as usual, in the first full week of the tax year—which in 1994 will be the week beginning 11 April.

  Expenditure on social security will be £83 billion in 1994–95, £87·8 billion in 1995–96 and £91·7 billion in 1996–97. The settlement fulfils the Government's commitment to the needy, the sick, the elderly, to disabled people and to families. It gives the promised help to those who may have most difficulty in meeting the cost of VAT on domestic fuel.

  I have reviewed social security benefits in accordance with section 150 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. My proposals, which are set out in the schedule, fully reflect the commitment to increase all major benefits in line with inflation. The statutory instruments to implement them will be laid before both Houses for debate. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland proposes to introduce similar changes for Northern Ireland.

  All national insurance benefits will be uprated at least in line with the annual increase in the retail prices index up to September, which this year is 1·8 per cent.

  In addition, all pensioners who receive a full basic pension, including those receiving income support, will gain an extra 50p per week for single people and 70p per week for couples to help meet the cost of VAT on fuel. This help will double in April 1995 when VAT on fuel rises to the standard rate. Widows and people receiving invalidity benefit, invalid care allowance, severe disablement allowance, war pensions unemployability supplement and disabled people on income support will receive similar increases in both April 1994 and April 1995.

  Income-related benefits are normally uprated by the Rossi index—RPI less certain housing costs—which this year increased by 3·5 per cent. in the year to September. In April 1994, however, extra help will be provided to people receiving income support by bringing forward by a year the effect of VAT on domestic fuel on the Rossi index. Next April their benefits will go up by a total of 3·9 per cent. This is more than the rate at which earnings are rising. These increases will feed through into other income-related benefits: family credit, disability working allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

  Altogether, the total package of extra help through the social security system will be worth more than £1.5 billion over the next three years. More than 15 million people will gain. By paying the additional increase from April 1994, the Government have ensured that help will be available before payment is due on bills which include VAT.

  The Government's success in keeping inflation low has maintained the value of benefits between upratings. This contrasts with the erosion of purchasing power between upratings during the high inflation of the 1970s. Since September, there has been a further welcome fall in the rate of inflation.

  The main features of my uprating package are:

  Retirement Pension
  434
  Retirement pension which is received by 10 million people will rise by £1·50 per week to £57·60 for a single person and by £2·30 to £92·10 for a couple. Not only does this mean a bigger rise next year but it builds in a permanent enhancement to the basic pension which will be uprated in future years.

  Invalidity Benefit

  Invalidity pension will increase by £1·50 to £57·60 per week for a single person and the basic rate of severe disablement allowance will rise from £33·70 to £34·80 per week.

  Unemployment Benefit

  Unemployment benefit for a single person will rise from £44·65 to £45·45 per week.

  Child Benefit

  Child benefit will be fully uprated in line with prices meaning £10·20 per week for the first or eldest eligible child and £8·25 for each subsequent child.

  War Pensions

  War pensions will be uprated fully in line with prices. Also, the special MOD payments to pre-1973 war widows, which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, will rise in line with the RPI—from £47·84 to £48.70 per week.

  Non-dependant Deductions

  From next April, I propose to increase the level of non-dependant deductions to income-related benefits to £5, £9, £13 and £25 per week. At the same time, income thresholds and the thresholds for second adult rebates will be raised by up to £4 per week.

  Residential Care and Nursing Home Limits

  The limits for existing income support recipients living in residential care homes will be increased by £9 per week for the elderly and very dependent elderly, and by £7 per week for other groups. There will also be a £5 increase to the London extension for residential care homes. All nursing homes limits will be increased by £10. The residential allowance paid under community arrangements will be increased by £3 per week to £53 in London and £48 elsewhere.

  Schedule of Main proposed Social Security Benefit rates from April 1994 (weekly rates unless otherwise shown)

  Old Rates 1993 £

  New Rates 1994 £

  Attendance Allowance

  higher rate

  44·90

  45·70

  lower rate

  30·00

  30·55

  Child Benefit

  only, elder or eldest for whom child benefit is payable

  10·00

  10·20

  each subsequent child

  8·10

  8·25

  Child's Special Allowance

  see note on Child Dependency Increase

  10·95

  11·00

  Council Tax Benefit

  Personal allowances single

  18 to 24

  34·80

  36·15

  25 or over

  44·00

  45·70

  lone parent—18 or over

  44·00

  45·70

  couple—one or both over 18

  69·00

  71·70

  dependent children

  under 11

  15·05

  15·65

  435

  Old Rates 1993 £

  New Rates 1994 £

  11 to 15

  22·15

  23·00

  16 to 17

  26·45

  27·50

  18

  34·80

  36·15

  Premiums

  family

  9·65

  10·05

  lone parent

  10·95

  11·25

  pensioner

  single

  17·30

  18·25

  couple

  26·25

  27·55

  pensioner (enhanced)

  single

  19·30

  20·35

  couple

  29·00

  30·40

  pensioner (higher)

  single

  23·55

  24·70

  couple

  33·70

  35·30

  disability

  single

  18·45

  19·45

  couple

  26·45

  27·80

  severe disability

  single

  33·70

  34·30

  couple (one qualifies)

  33·70

  34·30

  couple (both qualify)

  67·40

  68·60

  disabled child

  18·45

  19·45

  carer

  11·95

  12·40

  Allowance for personal expenses for claimants in hospital

  higher rate

  14·05

  14·40

  lower rate

  11·20

  11·50

  Non-dependant deductions aged 18 or over and in remunerative work

  gross income: £108 or more

  2·00

  2·30

  gross income: up to £108

  1·00

  1·15

  others, aged 18 or over

  1·00

  1·15

  Old rates 1993

  New rates 1994

  Dependency increases

  Adult Dependency Increases

  For spouse or person looking after children, with; retirement pension on own insurance, invalidity pension, unemployability supplement and, if beneficiary over pension age, unemployment benefit

  33·70

  34·50

  severe disablement allowance

  20·15

  20·70

  invalid care allowance

  20·15

  20·65

  sickness benefit if beneficiary over pension age

  32·30

  33·10

  unemployment benefit

  27·55

  28·05

  maternity allowance/sickness benefit

  26·40

  26·90

  Child Dependency Increases, with; retirement pension, widows' benefit, invalidity benefit, invalid care allowance, severe disablement allowance, higher rate industrial death benefit, unemployability supplement and sickness/unemployment benefit if beneficiary over pension age

  10·95

  11·00

  Note: The Overlapping Benefits Regulations provide for the rate of child dependency increases, guardian's allowance and child special allowance to be adjusted where the increase or allowance is payable for the eldest eligible child for whom Chb is also payable. The weekly rate of the increase or allowance is reduced by the differential (less the 75p derived from the October 1991 increase in Chb) between the rate of Chb payable for the oldest eligible child and that payable for a subsequent child. This gives a rate of £9·80 (1993) and £9·80 (1994).
  436

  Old Rates 1993 £

  align="right">New Rates 1994 £

  Alternative maximum Council Tax Benefit second adult on Income Support

  25 per cent. of council tax

  Second adult's gross income:

  under £108·00

  15 per cent. of council tax

  £108 to £139·99

  7·5 per cent. of council tax

  Capital

  upper limit7

  16,000·00

  16,000·00

  amount disregarded

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  child's limit

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  Tariff income

  £1 for every complete £250 or part thereof between amount of capital disregarded and capital upper limit

  Earnings disregarded Where disability premium awarded

  15·00

  1·500

  Various specified empolyments

  15·00

  15·00

  lone parent

  25·00

  25·00

  Where the claimant has a partner

  10·00

  10·00

  single claimant

  5·00

  5·00

  Where carer premium awarded

  15·00

  15·00

  other income disregards

  maintenance disregard

  15·00

  15·00

  War disablement pension and war window's pension

  10·00

  10·00

  Certain Voluntary and charitable payments

  10·00

  10·00

  Student loan

  10·00

  10·00

  Student's covenanted income

  5·00

  5·00

  income from boarders:

  disregard the fixed amount (20) plus 50 per cent. of the balance of the charge

  20·00

  20·00

  Expenses for subtenants

  furnished or unfurnished

  4·00

  4·00

  Where heating is included, additional

  8·60

  8·60

  437

  Old rates 1993 £

  New rates 1994 £

  Disability living allowance

  Care component

  Highest

  44·90

  45·70

  Middle

  30·00

  30·55

  Lowest

  11·95

  12·15

  Mobility component

  Higher

  31·40

  31·95

  Lower

  11·95

  12·150

  Disability working allowance

  Adult allowance

  Single people

  43·95

  46·05

  Couples/Lone parents

  60·95

  63·75

  Child allowance

  Under 11

  10·75

  11·20

  11 to 15

  17·85

  18·55

  16 to 17

  22·20

  23·05

  18

  31·00

  32·20

  Applicable amount (i.e taper threshold)

  Single people

  41·40

  43·00

  Couples/Lone parents

  69·00

  71·70

  Capital

  Upper limit

  16,000·00

  16,000·00

  Amount disregarded

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  Child's limit

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  Tariff income

  £1 for every complete £250 or part thereof between amount of capital disregarded and capital upper limit

  Disregards

  Maintenance disregard

  15·00

  15·00

  War disablement pension and war widow's pension

  10·00

  10·00

  Voluntary and charitable payments

  10·00

  10·00

  Student loan

  10·00

  10·00

  Student's covenanted income

  5·00

  5·00

  Income from boarders: disregard the fixed amount (£20) plus 50 per cent. of the balance of the charge

  20·00

  20·00

  Expenses for subtenants

  Furnished or unfurnished

  4·00

  4·00

  Where heating is included, additional

  8·60

  8·60

  Old Rates 1993 £

  New Rates 1994 £

  Earnings Rules

  Invalid Care Allowance

  50·00

  50·00

  Unemployment Benefit (daily rate)

  2·00

  2·00

  Unemployment Benefit (maximum weekly amount

  56·00

  57·00

  Therapeutic earnings limit

  42·00

  43·00

  Industrial injuries unemployability supplement permitter earnings level(annual amount)

  2,184·00

  2,236·00

  War pensioners unemployability supplement permitted earnings level (annual amount)

  2,184·00

  2,236·00

  Adult dependency increases with sickness benefit where claimant is

  (a) under pension age

  26·40

  26·90

  (b) over pension age

  32·30

  33·10

  maternity allowance

  26·40

  26·90

  unemployment bebefit where claimant is

  (a) under pension age

  27·55

  28·05

  (b) over pension age

  33·70

  34·50

  retirement pesion, invalidity

  pension, severe disablement

  allowance, unemployability

  supplement where dependent

  (a) is living with claimant

  44·65

  45·45

  438

  Old Rates 1993 £

  New Rates 1994 £

  (b) still qualifies for the tapered earnings rule

  45·09

  45·09

  retirement pension, invalidity

  benefit and unemployability

  supplement where dependant

  not living with claimant

  33·70

  34·50

  severe disablement allowance where dependant not living with claimant

  20·15

  20·70

  invalid care allowance

  20·15

  20·65

  Child dependency increases level at which CDIs are affected by earnings of claimant's spouse or partner

  for first child

  120·00

  120·00

  for each subsequent child

  16·00

  16·00

  Family credit

  Adult credit

  42·50

  44·30

  Child credit

  under 11

  10·75

  11·20

  11 to 15

  17·85

  18·55

  16 to 17

  22·20

  23·05

  18

  31·00

  32·20

  Applicable amount (ie taper threshold)

  69·00

  71·70

  Capital

  upper limit

  8,000·00

  8,000·00

  amount disregarded

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  child's limit

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  Tariff income

  £1 for every complete £250 or part thereof between amount of capital disregarded and capital upper limit

  Disregards

  maintenance disregard

  15·00

  15·00

  war disablement pension and war widow's pension

  10·00

  10·00

  voluntary and charitable payments

  10·00

  10·00

  student loan

  10·00

  10·00

  student's covenanted income

  5·00

  5·00

  income from boarders:

  disregard the fixed amount (£20) plus 50 per cent. of the balance of the charge

  20·00

  20·00

  Expenses for subtenants

  furnished or unfurnished

  4·00

  4·00

  where heating is included, additional

  8·60

  8·60

  Guardian's Allowance

  see note on Child Dependency Increase

  10·95

  11·00

  Hospital Downrating

  20 per cent. rate

  11·20

  11·50

  40 per cent. rate

  22·40

  23·00

  align="right">Old Rates 1993 £

  New Rates 1994 £

  Housing Benefit

  Personal allowances

  single

  16 to 24

  34·80

  36·15

  25 or over

  44·00

  45·70

  lone parent

  under 18

  34·80

  36·15

  18 or over

  44·00

  45·70

  couple

  both under 18

  52·40

  54·55

  one or both over 18

  69·00

  71·70

  dependent children

  under 11

  15·05

  15·65

  439

  Old rates 1993 £

  New rates 1994 £

  11 to 15

  22·15

  23·00

  16 to 17

  26·45

  27·50

  18

  34·80

  36·15

  Premiums

  family

  9·65

  10·05

  lone parent

  10·95

  11·25

  pensioner

  single

  17·30

  18·25

  couple

  26·25

  27·55

  pensioner (enhanced)

  single

  19·30

  20·35

  couple

  29·00

  30·40

  pensioner (higher)

  single

  23·55

  24·70

  couple

  33·70

  35·30

  disability

  single

  18·45

  19·45

  couple

  26·45

  27·80

  severe disability

  single

  33·70

  34·30

  couple (one qualifies)

  33·70

  34·30

  couple (both qualify)

  67·40

  68·60

  disabled child

  18·45

  19·45

  carer

  11·95

  12·40

  Allowance for personal expenses for claimants in hospital

  higher rate

  14·05

  14·40

  lower rate

  11·20

  11·50

  Non-dependant deductions rent rebates and allowances

  aged 25 and over, in receipt of

  Income Support aged 18 or over, not

  in remunerative work or gross income under £72

  4·00

  5·00

  aged 18 or over and in remunerative work:

  gross income: £72 to £107·99

  8·00

  9·00

  gross income: £108 to £138·99

  12·00

  13·00

  gross income: £139 or more

  21·00

  25·00

  Service charges for fuel

  heating

  8·60

  8·60

  hot water

  1·05

  1·05

  lighting

  0·70

  0·70

  cooking

  1·05

  1·05

  Amount ineligible for meals three or more meals a day single claimant

  15·75

  16·30

  each person in family aged 16 or over

  15·75

  16·30

  each child under 16

  7·95

  8·25

  less than three meals a day single claimant

  10·45

  10·80

  each person in family aged 16 or over

  10·45

  10·80

  each child under 16

  5·25

  5·45

  breakfast only—claimant and each member of family

  1·90

  95

  Capital

  upper limit

  16,000·00

  16,000·00

  amount disregarded

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  child's limit

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  Tariff income

  £1 for every complete £250 or part

  440

  Old rates 1993 £

  New rates 1994 £

  thereof between amount of capital disregarded and capital upper limit

  Earnings disregards

  where disability premium awarded

  15·00

  15·00

  various specified employments

  15·00

  15·00

  lone parent

  25·00

  25·00

  where the claimant has a partner

  10·00

  10·00

  single claimant

  5·00

  5·00

  where carer premium awarded

  15·00

  15·00

  Other income disregards

  maintenance disregard

  15·00

  15·00

  war disablement pension and war widow's pension

  10·00

  10·00

  certain voluntary and charitable payments

  10·00

  10·00

  student loan

  10·00

  10·00

  student's covenanted income

  5·00

  5·00

  income from boarders:

  disregard the fixed amount (£20) plus 50 per cent. of the balance of the charge

  20·00

  20·00

  Expenses for subtenants

  furnished or unfurnished

  4·00

  4·00

  where heating is included, additional

  8·60

  8·60

  Old rates 1993 £

  New rates 1994 £

  Income Support

  Personal allowances

  single

  under 18—usual rate

  26·45

  27·50

  under 18—higher rate payable in specific circumstances

  34·80

  36·15

  18 to 24

  34·80

  36·15

  25 or over

  44·00

  45·70

  lone parent

  under 18—usual rate

  26·45

  27·50

  under 18—higher rate payable in specific circumstances

  34·80

  36·15

  18 or over

  44·00

  45·70

  couple

  both under 18

  52·40

  54·55

  one or both 18 or over

  69·00

  71·70

  dependent children

  under 11

  15·05

  15 ·65

  11 to 15

  22·15

  23·00

  16 to 17

  26·45

  27·50

  18

  34·80

  36·15

  Residential Allowance except Greater London

  45·00

  48·00

  Greater London

  50·00

  53·00

  Premiums

  family

  9·65

  10·05

  lone parent

  4·90

  5·10

  pensioner

  single

  17·30

  18·25

  couple

  26·25

  27·55

  pensioner (enhanced)

  single

  19·30

  20·35

  couple

  29·00

  30·40

  pensioner (higher)

  single

  23·55

  24·70

  couple

  33·70

  35·30

  441

  Old rates 1993 £

  New rates 1994 £

  disability

  single

  18·45

  19·45

  couple

  26·45

  27·80

  severe disability

  single

  33·70

  34·30

  couple (one qualifies)

  33·70

  34·30

  couple (both qualify)

  67·40

  68·60

  disabled child

  18·45

  19·45

  carer

  11·95

  12·40

  Maximum amounts for accommodation and meals in residential care homes

  old age

  185·00

  194·00

  very dependent elderly

  215·00

  224·00

  mental disorder (not handicap)

  195·00

  202·00

  drug/alcohol dependence

  195·00

  202·00

  mental handicap

  225·00

  232·00

  physical disablement

  (a) (under pension age)

  255·00

  262·00

  (b) (over pension age)

  185·00

  194·00

  others

  185·00

  30·00

  maximum Greater London increase

  25·0

  30·00

  nursing homes

  mental disorder (not handicap)

  280·00

  290·00

  drug-alcohol dependence

  280·00

  290·00

  mental handicap

  285·00

  295·00

  terminal illness

  280·00

  290·00

  physical disablement

  (a) (under pension age)

  315·00

  325·00

  (b) (over pension age)

  280·00

  290·00

  others (including elderly)

  280·00

  290·00

  maximum Greater London increase

  35·00

  35·00

  Amounts for meals where these cannot be purchased within the accommodation (Daily Rate)

  breakfast

  1·10

  1·10

  midday meal

  1·55

  1·55

  evening meal

  1·55

  1·55

  Allowances for personal expenses for claimants in

  private and voluntary residential care

  and nursing homes

  personal expenses

  12·65

  13·10

  dependent children

  (a) under 11

  5·20

  5·

  (b) 11 to 15

  7·60

  7·85

  (c) 16 to 17

  8·80

  9·10

  (d) age 18

  12·65

  13·10

  hospital

  higher rate

  14·05

  14·40

  lower rate

  11·20

  11·50

  local authority (Part III) accommodation

  12·65

  13·10

  the Polish home Ilford Park max amount for accommodation and meals

  280·00

  290·00

  personal expenses for claimant

  16·75

  17·35

  personal expenses for partner

  16·75

  17·35

  personal expenses for dependant children (a) under 11

  5·20

  5·40

  (b) 11 to 15

  7·60

  7·85

  (c) 16 to 17

  8·80

  9·10

  (d) 18

  15·00

  15·55

  Housing costs

  deduction for non-dependants

  aged 25 and over, in receipt of Income Support aged 18 or over, not in remunerative work or gross income under £72

  4·00

  5·00

  442

  Old Rates 1993£:

  New Rates 1994 £

  aged 18 or over and in remunerative work:

  gross income:£72 to £107·99

  8·00

  9·00

  gross income:£108 to £138·99

  12·00

  13·00

  gross income:£139 or more

  21·00

  25·00

  Deduction for direct payments arrears or housing, fuel and water costs council tax and fines default, and deductions for child maintenance

  2·20

  2·30

  Arrears of Community Charge

  court order against claimant

  2·20

  2·30

  court order against couple

  3·45

  3·60

  Maximum rates for recovery of overpayments ordinary overpayments

  6·60

  6·90

  Where claimant convicted of fraud

  8·80

  9·20

  Reduction in benefit for strikers

  23·50

  24·50

  Capital

  upper limit

  8,000·00

  8,000·00

  amount disregarded

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  child's limit

  3,000·00

  3,000·00

  Tariff income

  £ for every complete £250 or part thereof between amount of capital disregarded and capital upper limit

  Disregards

  standard earnings

  5·00

  5·00

  higher earnings

  15·00

  15·00

  war disablement pension and war widow's pension

  10·00

  10·00

  voluntary and charitable payments

  10·00

  10·00

  student loan

  10·00

  10·00

  student's covenated income

  5·00

  5·00

  income form boarders:

  disregard the fixed amount(£20) plus 50 per cent. of the balance of the carge

  20·00

  20·00

  Expenses for subtenants

  furnished or unfurnished

  4·00

  4·00

  where heating is included, additional

  8·60

  8·60

  Old Rates 1993 £

  New Rates 1994 £

  Industrial Death Benefit

  Widow's pension

  higher rate

  56·10

  57·60

  lower rate

  16·83

  17·28

  Industrial Disablement pension

  18 and over, or under 18 with dependants

  100 per cent.

  91·60

  93·20

  90 per cent.

  82·44

  83·88

  80 per cent.

  73·28

  74·56

  70 per cent.

  64·12

  65·24

  60 per cent.

  54·96

  55·92

  50 per cent.

  45·80

  46·60

  40 per cent.

  36·64

  37·28

  30 per cent.

  27·48

  27·96

  20 per cent.

  18·32

  18·64

  Under 18

  100 per cent.

  56·10

  57·10

  90 per cent.

  50·49

  51·39

  80 per cent.

  44·88

  45·68

  70 per cent.

  39·27

  39·97

  60 per cent.

  33·66

  34·26

  443

  Old Rates 1993 £

  New Rates 1994 £

  50 per cent.

  28·05

  28·55

  40 per cent.

  22·44

  22·84

  30 per cent.

  16·83

  17·13

  20 per cent.

  11·22

  11·42

  Maximum life gratuity (lump sum)

  6,080·00

  6,190·00

  Unemployability Supplement

  56·10

  57·60

  plus where appropriate an increase for early incapacity

  higher rate

  11·95

  12·15

  middle rate

  7·50

  7·60

  lower rate

  3·75

  3·80

  Maximum reduced earnings allowance

  36·64

  37·28

  Maximum retirement allowance

  9·16

  9·32

  Constant attendance allowance

  exceptional rate

  73·40

  74·80

  intermediate rate

  55·05

  56·10

  normal maximum rate

  36·70

  37·40

  part-time rate

  18·35

  18·70

  Exceptionally severe disablement allowance

  36·70

  37·40

  Invalid Care Allowance

  33·70

  34·50

  Invalidity Benefit

  Invalidity pension

  56·10

  57·60

  Invalidity allowance

  higher rate

  11·95

  12·15

  middle rate

  7·50

  7·60

  lower rate

  3·75

  3·80

  Maternity Allowance

  43·75

  44·55

  One-parent Benefit

  6·05

  6·15

  Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis, Workmen's Compensation (Supplementation) and other schemes

  Total disablement allowance and major incapacity allowance (maximum)

  91·60

  93·20

  Partial disablement allowance

  33·70

  34·50

  Unemployability supplement

  56·10

  57·60

  plus where appropriate increases for erly incapacity

  higher rate

  11·95

  12·15

  middle rate

  7·50

  7·60

  lower rate

  3·75

  3·80

  Constant attendance allowance

  exceptional rate

  73·40

  74·80

  intermediate rate

  55·05

  56·10

  normal maximum rate

  36·70

  37·40

  part-time rate

  18·35

  18·70

  Exceptionally severe disablement

  allowance

  36·70

  34·50

  maximum rate of allowance

  33·70

  34·50

  based on loss of earnings over

  44·90

  45·70

  Old Rates 1993 £

  New Rates 1994 £

  Retirement Pensionl

  Category A or B

  56·10

  57·60

  Category B (lower)—husband's insurance

  33·70

  34·50

  Category C or D—non-contributory

  33·70

  34·50

  444

  Old Rates 1993 £

  New Rates 1994 £

  Category C (lower)— non-contributory

  20·15

  20·65

  Additional pension

  Increase by 1·8 per cent.

  Increments to basic and additional pension, contracted out deductions (from pre-April 1988 earnings) and graduatedretirement benefit

  Increase by 1·8 per cent.

  Contracted out deductions(CODs) and increments scheme to CODs (from post-April 1988 earnings)

  1·8 per cent.paid by

  Gdaduated retirement benefit (unit) (pence)

  7·35

  7·48

  Addition at age 80

  0·25

  0·25

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  Basic rate

  33·70

  34·80

  Age-related addition

  Higher rate

  11·95

  12·15

  Middle rate

  7·50

  7·60

  Lower rate

  3·75

  3.80

  Sickness Benefit

  Over pension age

  53·80

  55·25

  Under pension age

  42·70

  43·45

  Social fund

  Maternity payment

  100·00

  100·00

  Cold Weather Payments

  6·00

  7·00

  Capital limit

  aged under 60

  500·00

  500·00

  ages 60 and over

  1,000·00

  1,000·00

  Statutory Maternity Pay

  lower rate

  47·95

  48·80

  Statutory Sick Pay

  Lower rate

  46·95

  47·80

  Standard rate

  52·50

  52·50

  Unemployment Benefit

  Over pension age

  56·10

  57·60

  Under pension age

  44·65

  45·45

  Occupational pension abatement

  35·00

  35·00

  Old Rates 1993 £

  New rates 1994 £

  War Pensions

  Disablement pension (100 per cent. rates)

  privare or equivalent

  97·20

  98·90

  officer (£ per annum maximum

  5,072·00

  5,161·00

  Age allowances

  40 per cent. to 50 per cent.

  6·50

  6·60

  over 50 per cent. but not over 70 per cent.

  10·00

  10·20

  over 70 per cent. nut not over 90 per cent.

  14·30

  14·55

  over 90 per cent.

  20·00

  20·40

  Disablement gratuity (base figures for calculation purposes only)

  specified minor injury

  6,080·00

  6,190·00

  unspecified minor injury

  3,344·00

  3,404·50

  Unemployability allowance

  personal

  59·55

  61·10

  adult dependency increase

  33·70

  34·50

  (a) increase for first child

  9·80

  9·80

  (b) increase for subsequent children

  10·95

  11·00

  Invalidity allowance

  higher rate

  11·95

  12·15

  middle rate

  7·50

  7·60

  lower rate

  3·75

  3·80

  445

  Old rates 1993 £

  New rates 1994 £

  Constant attendance allowance

  exceptional rate

  73·40

  74·0

  intermediate rate

  55·05

  56·10

  normal maximum rate

  36·70

  37·40

  part-time rate

  18·35

  18·70

  Comforts allowance

  higher rate

  15·70

  16·00

  lower rate

  7·85

  8·00

  Mobility supplement

  34·90

  35·55

  Allowance for lowered standard of

  occupation (maximum)

  36·64

  37·28

  Exceptionally severe disablement

  allowance

  36·70

  37·40

  Severe disablement occupational allowance

  18·35

  18·70

  Clothing allowance (£ per annum)

  higher rate

  124·00

  126·00

  lower rate

  79·00

  80·00

  Education allowance (£ per annum)

  (maximum)

  120·00

  120·00

  War widow's pension

  Widow (private)

  72·90

  74·70

  Childless widow under 40 (private)

  16·83

  17·28

  Childless widow under 40 (other ranks)

  17·08

  17·54

  Widow-Officer (£ per annum) maximum

  4,514·00

  4,621·00

  Age allowance

  (a) age 65 to 69

  8·35

  8·50

  (b) age 70 to 79

  16·10

  16·40

  (c) age 80 and over

  23·95

  24·40

  Children's allowance

  (a) Increase for first child (adjusted for ChB increase)

  13·85

  13·90

  (b) increase for subsequent children

  15·00

  15·10

  Orphan's pension

  (a) Increase for first child (adjusted for ChB increase)

  15·45

  15·50

  (b) Increase for subsequent children

  16·60

  16·70

  Unmarried dependant living as spouse (maximum)

  70·85

  72·65

  Rent allowance (maximum)

  27·75

  28·25

  Adult orphan's pension (maximum)

  56·10

  57·60

  Widower's pension

  (i) Private or equivalent

  72·90

  74·70

  (ii) Officer (£ per annum) maximum

  4,514·00

  4,621·00

  Old Rates 1993 £

  New Rates 1994 £

  Widow's Benefit

  Widow's payment (lump sum)

  1,000·00

  1,000·00

  Widowed mother's allowance

  56·10

  57·60

  Widow's pension

  standard rate

  56·10

  57·60

  446

  Old Rates 1993 £

  New Rates 1994 £

  age-related

  age 54 (49)

  52·17

  53·57

  53 (48)

  48·25

  49·54

  52 (47)

  44·32

  45·50

  51 (46)

  40·39

  41·47

  50 (45)

  36·47

  37·44

  49 (44)

  32·54

  33·41

  48 (43)

  28·61

  29·38

  47 (42)

  24·68

  25·34

  46 (41)

  20·76

  21·31

  45 (40)

  16·83

  17·28

  Note: For deaths occurring before 11 April 1988 refer to age points shown in brackets.

  Income Support
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in receipt of income support are presently having mortgage interest payments made on their behalf; and what is the total cost to his Department at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Burt
  Five hundred and sixty-two thousand income support recipients have mortgage interest included in their assessment; the annual equivalent of the amount so included is estimated at £,270 million.Source: Income support statistics quarterly inquiry, February 1993.

  Ministerial Hospitality
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 23 November 1993 Official Report, columns 34-35, if he will specify the nature of the ministerial hospitality in his Department during the financial year 1992–93 for each event, giving the cost in each case.

  Mr. Hague
  Information is not available in the form requested. The main items of expenditure are in the table:

  Expenditure on DSS Ministerial hospitality 1992–93

  £

  Minister of State's reception in honour of organisations representing desabled people

  5,710·05

  Ministerial hospotallity at other smaller functions, totalling

  6,845·85

  Ministers (Private Residences)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what visits have been made by officials to private residences of Ministers in his Department since April 1992.

  Mr. Hague
  Officials sometimes visit Ministers' private residences mainly to collect or drop off urgent papers. Records of such visits are not kept.

  Ministerial Offices
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent on furnishing and decorating Ministers' offices in his Department since April 1993.
  447
  Mr. Hague
  There has been no such expenditure on Ministers' personal accommodation during the current financial year.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent on alcohol in Ministers' offices in his Department since 9 April 1992.

  Mr. Hague
  The total amount spent is £6,136·79.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Burundi
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the Government's assessment of the level of humanitarian needs in Burundi; and what action the Government and the EC are taking to meet those needs;

  (2) how much humanitarian aid has been sent from Britain and the EC to Burundi; and of this how much was designated for refugees.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have provided £463,000 to United Nations agencies, the International Red Cross movement and Y Care International in response to their appeals for assistance for some 920,000 refugees and displaced Burundis. This includes £50,000 to the International Commission of the Red Cross for those in the north and east of the country. The EC has committed over 8·5 mecu including 3 mecu for those displaced in Burundi.

  We remain ready to consider any further appeals for assistance to the region in collaboration with fellow donors including EC and other NGOs.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  POLIS (Searching)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what plans he has to increase the value and sales of the parliamentary on-line information system by(a) extending the coverage of parliamentary questions by allowing political party to be specified in the search terms and (b) developing the system to allow for free text on-line
  searching of Hansard.

  Mr. Gary Waller
  Access by users outside Parliament to the parliamentary on-line information system (POLIS) is via a commercial service provider who markets it on behalf of the House. The House receives income in the form of royalties. The ability to search the databases by political party is not available on the public version of POLIS and there are no immediate plans to include it. The full text of Hansard is available for purchase on CD-ROM disk, published by HMSO and Chadwyck Healey but is not available on the POLIS public user service.

  I will arrange for the hon. Member's question to be drawn to the attention of the company which will be providing the POLIS 3 public user service.

  Toilet Rolls
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what is the latest available annual figure for the amount of money spent on the provision of toilet rolls, hand towels and soap in the Palace of Westminster.
  448
  Mr. Ray Powell
  This is a matter for the Serjeant at Arms.

  Veal
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee if he will list the last three occasions on which the House of Commons canteens served veal; and what was its country of origin.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  All veal purchased by the Refreshment Department is of British origin and reared by the Quantock method. Detailed operations of the Department are a matter for the Director of Catering.

HEALTH

  GP Services
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the transaction and computing costs of general practitioner fund-holding schemes, in total and for each NHS region, both in cash terms and as percentages of total fundholding expenditure.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairmen of regional health authorities for details.

  Consultants
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing the total number of finished consultant episodes within each English health region for(a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92 and (c) 1992–93.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  Finished consultant episodes, NHS hospitals, England

  (Thousands)

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  England Total1

  8,785·3

  9,302·2

  9,636·3

  Northern RHA

  628·5

  655·3

  678·2

  Yorkshire RHA

  722·1

  751·5

  784·6

  Trent RHA

  809·2

  858·8

  899·5

  East Anglian RHA

  361·0

  379·3

  388·4

  North West Thames RHA

  536·2

  576·7

  600·4

  North East Thames RHA

  695·2

  746·6

  762·2

  South East Thames RHA

  629·.2

  673·1

  702·5

  South West Thames RHA

  457·6

  500·6

  522·2

  Wessex RHA

  526·2

  562·5

  573·9

  Oxford RHA

  383·3

  404·9

  431·1

  South Western RHA

  588·1

  617·6

  647·2

  West Midlands RHA

  959·7

  1,006·7

  1,029·1

  Mersey RHA

  487·2

  519·1

  541·6

  North Western RHA

  887·0

  927·0

  944·4

  1 Includes special health authorities.

  Source: KP70 Returns-SD2A.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase the number of consultants in the NHS.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Government encourage consultant expansion in line with the "Achieving a Balance" policy agreed with the medical profession and the national health service. However, it is a matter for each employing body to determine the number of consultants needed in each specialty in the light of local needs and competing priorities. Copies of "Achieving a Balance" are available in the Library.

  Midwives
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to encourage health authorities and trusts to offer midwife-only beds and midwife-only care to low-risk pregnant women in all maternity units.

  Mr. Sackville
  In September 1992, the national health service management executive wrote to all regional general managers listing issues needing to be kept under review. The list included the development of midwife led maternity services. More recently, in August 1993, the expert maternity group report "Changing Childbirth" emphasised that there are no legal restrictions preventing midwives from admitting women in labour to maternity unit beds. The report recommended, among other things, that the national health service should ensure that women can book with a midwife for their entire episode of care if that is what they want. This report has been the subject of wide consultation and comments on the report are being given careful consideration in the Department. Specific action to be taken in the national health service will be notified as soon as Ministers have completed their consideration of the responses to the report. Copies of both the letter and the report are available in the Library.

  Perinatal Epidemiology Unit
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a copy of a report of her Department's review of the national perinatal epidemiology unit, together with the report which the unit prepared for the review.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 26 November at columns 242-44.

  Sexual Harassment
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to counteract sexual harassment in the NHS.

  Mr. Sackville
  Harassment at work in any form is unacceptable and should be treated as a disciplinary offence. Management and staff representatives in the Whitley council reached agreement last year on combating harassment at work. Employing authorities in the national health service are responsible for determining their own local policies on strategies to combat harassment at work, in line with this framework.

  Acute Hospital Beds
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients die each year in acute hospital beds; and what percentage of patients with cancer die in acute hospital beds each year.

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1989–90, the latest year for which figures are available, an estimated 292,000 people died in national health service hospitals from all causes. Over the same period, 143,000 people died in England from cancer, of whom an estimated 63,000—44 per cent.—died in NHS hospitals.

  Departmental Budget
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the projected outturn figures for her Department's budget for 1993–94.

  Mr. Sackville
  The forecast outturn for Government spending in 1993–94 for health and personal social services is £30,053 million, of which outturn for the national health service is £29,215 million.

  Immunisation
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to include the Rubella vaccination alone among those girls who have not had the MMR vaccination in the targets for general practitioners.

  Mr. Sackville
  None. Rubella immunisation is recommended for schoolgirls aged between 10 and 14 years. The majority of these immunisations are given in schools as part of the schools health service. Where the vaccine is administered by a general practitioner a fee is paid. It would not, therefore, be appropriate to include rubella immunisation in the target scheme for general practitioners.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were immunisation rates for (i) BCG and (ii) rubella, which have not been part of the MMR programme, in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information available is for numbers immunised in England for 1988–89 to 1991–92 as shown in the table. Data for 1992–93 are not yet available.

  Number of Immunisations: 1988–89 to 1991–92 not part of the MMR programme

  thousands

  Year

  Single antigen rubella (schoolgirls)

  BCG vaccination (Children)

  1988–89

  229

  409

  1989–901

  219

  197

  1990–91

  199

  479

  1991–92

  221

  460

  1 The school BCG programme was suspended in 1989 as there were insufficient supplies of BCG vaccine.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of targeted children receive the(a) DTP, (b) polio, (c) MMR and (d) HIB immunisation, by district health authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information available for DTP, polio and MMR for the financial year 1991–92 is shown in table 7 of statistical information on "Vaccination and Immunisation", a copy of which is available in the Library. No data are yet available about the take-up of Hib immunisation.

  Notifiable Diseases
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of(a) dysentery, (b) typhoid, (c) paratyphoid, (d) malaria, (e) tuberculosis and (f) jaundice were reported in 1992.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.
  451

  Numbers of notifications for dysentery, typhoid, paratyphoid, malaria, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis in 1992, England and Wales

  Number

  Dysentery

  16,960

  Typhoid fever

  201

  Paratyphoid fever

  81

  Malaria

  1,189

  Tuberculosis

  5,799

  Viral hepatitis1

  8,993

  1 Infective jaundice was redesignated viral hepatitis on 1 October 1988.

  Infant Mortality
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the level of infant mortality in each EC country.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  Infant mortality rate1 in each European Community country for 1991

  Infant mortality rate

  Belgium

  27·0

  Denmark

  7·3

  Germany

  6·9

  Greece

  9·0

  Spain

  27·8

  France

  7·3

  Ireland

  28·2

  Number and percentage unemployed aged 16 to 19 and 20 to 24; 19912 and 1981, Don Valley parliamentary constituency (Sources: 1991 and 1981 censuses)

  Unemployed persons

  Year and age group

  Total persons

  Economically active person1

  Total

  As percentage of total

  As percentage of active

  1981

  Aged 16-19

  6,887

  4,405

  957

  13·9

  21·7

  Aged 20-24

  7,264

  5,710

  980

  13·5

  17·2

  19912

  Aged 16-19

  5,549

  3,315

  665

  11·8

  19·8

  Aged 20-24

  7,099

  5,437

  1,020

  14·4

  18·8

  1 Persons who are employees, self employed, on a Government scheme, or unemployed.

  2 Provisional figures from 1991 census produced by aggregating ward and enumeration district statistics. Statistics for wards and enumeration districts are modified slightly to protect confidentiality.

  Abortion
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of terminations of pregnancy performed in England by regional health authority of the patient's usual residence for 1992.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not yet available centrally.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many regions of the NHS more terminations of pregnancy are performed in non-NHS hospitals than in NHS hospitals at the last date for which figures are available; what were the figures for the previous year; and what plans she has to ensure that access to the termination procedure within the NHS is consistent throughout the health regions.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is shown in the tables for England for 1990 and 1991. Arrangements
  452

  Infant mortality rate

  Italy

  28·2

  Luxembourg

  9·2

  Netherlands

  6·5

  Portugal

  10·8

  United Kingdom

  7·4

  1Deaths under one year per 1,000 livebirths.

  2Provisional.

  Source: Eurostat Demographic Statistics 1993.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged(a) 16 or 17 years and (b) 18 to 24 years living in the Don Valley constituency were unemployed according to the 1991 census; what this was as a percentage of each age group; and how this compares with the 1981 census.

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information is shown in the table. Statistics for age groups 16 to 17 and 18 to 24 could be produced only at disproportionate cost for 1981 and, at this stage, for 1991. Final 1991 census statistics for parliamentary constituencies will be available early in 1994.

  for abortion services under the national health service are the responsibility of individual district health authorities in the light of their assessment of local needs and priorities.

  Total abortions

  Abortions carried out or paid for by the NHS

  Column 2 as a percentage column 1

  1990

  England

  166,460

  78,635

  47·2

  Northern RHA

  7,289

  6,145

  84·3

  Yorkshire RHA

  10,221

  4,373

  42·8

  Trent RHA

  12,509

  7,493

  59·9

  East Anglian RHA

  5,112

  3,987

  78·0

  North West Thames RHA

  18,465

  7,041

  38·1

  North East Thames RHA

  22,015

  10,725

  48·7

  South East Thames RHA

  16,748

  6,663

  39·8

  South West Thames RHA

  11,778

  3,535

  30·0

  Wessex RHA

  8,002

  3,586

  44·8

  Oxford RHA

  8,074

  3,742

  46·3

  South Western RHA

  7,903

  5,473

  69·3

  West Midlands RHA

  18,380

  8,058

  43·8

  Mersey RHA

  7,520

  2,975

  39·6

  North Western RHA

  12,444

  4,839

  38·9

  453

  Total abortions

  Abortions carried out or paid for by the NHS

  Column 2 as a percentage of column 1

  1991

  England

  160,189

  79,939

  49·9

  Northern RHA

  6,873

  5,866

  85·3

  Yorkshire RHA

  10,136

  5,167

  51·0

  Trent RHA

  12,641

  8,178

  64·7

  East Anglian RHA

  4,776

  3,819

  80·0

  North West Thames RHA

  17,929

  6,833

  38·1

  North East Thames RHA

  20,797

  10,584

  50·9

  South East Thames RHA

  15,675

  6,607

  42·1

  South West Thames RHA

  11,594

  3,939

  34·0

  Wessex RHA

  7,557

  3,254

  43·1

  Oxford RHA

  7,693

  3,714

  48·3

  South Western RHA

  7,575

  5,483

  72·4

  West Midlands RHA

  17,692

  8,355

  47·2

  Mersey RHA

  7,163

  3,105

  43·3

  North Western RHA

  12,088

  5,035

  41·7

  Fund-holding GPs
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has received on the extent to which fund-holding patients are being seen ahead of nonfundholding patients who have greater clinical need.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  On investigation such allegations prove to be unfounded. Emergency and urgent cases are always given priority, and hospitals are prevented from offering contracts to one purchaser which would disadvantage the patients of another.

  Geriatric Population
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will estimate the increase in the geriatric population in the next 10 years.

  Mr. Sackville
  There is no statistical definition of the term "geriatric population", but the population of the United Kingdom aged 75 and over is projected to rise from 3,974,000 in mid-1993 to 4,530,000 in mid-2003, an increase of 14 per cent. according to the Government Actuary's 1991-based projections.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what percentage of incidents the London ambulance service failed to meet its call-out time standards in the financial year 1992–93, and in each month to date of the current financial year.

  Mr. Sackville
  The percentage of calls to which the London ambulance service failed to respond within 14 minutes in 1992–93 and in each month April-October 1993, is shown in the table.

  Percentage of calls not responded to within 14 minutes

  Percentage

  1992–93

  41·5

  April 1993

  32·0

  May 1993

  33·0

  June 1993

  40·0

  July 1993

  38·0

  August 1993

  35·0

  September 1993

  36·0

  October 1993

  42·0

  454
  Figures for period April 1993—October 1993 supplied by the London ambulance service.

  Public Health Medical Staff
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for 1992 the number of public health medical staff by grade and sex.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The available information is shown in the table. 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.

  Number of public health medical staff in England1

  By grade and sex 30 September 1992

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Regional director of public health

  13·8

  4·0

  17·8

  District director of public health

  71·8

  43·5

  115·3

  Consultant in public health medicine

  154·1

  101·4

  255·5

  Special salary scale staff

  3·1

  2·0

  5·1

  Senior registrar and registrar

  153·9

  176·0

  329·9

  Senior house officer

  10·0

  17·5

  27·5

  Total all staff

  406·7

  344·4

  751·1

  1 Whole-time equivalents.

  Home Visits
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for 1992–93 for health visitor services(a) the total number of persons visited at home by age group, (b) the total number of visits, (c) the total number of whole-time equivalent staff and (d) the total number of health visitor students.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information is collected centrally only on the number of whole-time equivalent health visiting staff and the total number of health visitor students. Data for 1992–93 will be available in summer 1994.

  Cortico-steroids
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have been made by the Medicines Control Agency concerning the information available for both doctors and patients arising from its investigation into the issue of immunosuppression in patients being treated with cortico-steroids and the possibility of infections including chickenpox; and if she will publish the report of the investigation.

  Mr. Sackville
  No changes have been made to date. This matter is still under consideration and advice is being sought from the committee on the safety of medicines.

  Waltham Forest Health Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to reduce the projected deficit by Waltham Forest health authority; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The projected deficit of Redbridge and Waltham Forest health authority will be managed by the
  455
  district health authority with assistance from North East Thames regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir William Staveley, the chairman of the North East Thames regional health authority for details.

  Key Workers (Care Programme)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is responsible for training for key workers in their duties under the care programme approach; and how this will be funded.

  Mr. Bowis
  Health authorities, national health service trusts, local authority social services departments, and private and voluntary organisations involved in the delivery of mental health services, are responsible for ensuring that those members of their staff likely to be identified as key workers are trained in their duties under the care programme approach. Best professional practice is covered in pre-registration training courses for mental health professionals, which are funded centrally or regionally. Employing agencies meet the costs of any post-registration training they consider appropriate.

  Medical and nursing staff in occupational health England—at 30 September 1988–92

  Whole-time equivalents

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Medical Staff

  Consultants and staff grades

  10

  20

  30

  30

  40

  Junior grades

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  Clinical assistants and others

  20

  30

  30

  30

  30

  Total

  40

  50

  60

  70

  70

  Nursing Staff

  Nurse learners

  0

  10

  30

  20

  0

  Day nursery staff

  0

  0

  0

  —

  —

  Clinical grading structure:

  Unqualidied

  —

  0

  10

  10

  10

  Scale C

  —

  0

  0

  0

  10

  Scale D (2nd level enrolled)

  —

  10

  10

  10

  20

  Scale D (1st level registerd)

  —

  10

  10

  10

  10

  Scale E

  —

  50

  50

  40

  50

  Scale F

  —

  80

  80

  80

  80

  Scale G

  —

  250

  240

  240

  230

  Scale H

  —

  90

  90

  100

  100

  Scale I

  —

  100

  100

  100

  100

  Senior nurses

  80

  40

  30

  10

  —

  Senior nurse (Staff Support Education)

  0

  0

  0

  —

  —

  Senior nurses/midwives

  —

  —

  —

  20

  20

  Pre-1989 grading structure

  530

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Others

  0

  0

  —

  —

  10

  Total

  610

  640

  660

  640

  620

  Medical and Nursing Total

  650

  690

  720

  710

  690

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

  2. '0' indicates figures less than five and '—' indicates no staff at all.

  3. The totals may not equal the sum of components due to rounding.

  Mental Health
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when fresh guidelines will be issued, and what form the guidance will take, to ensure that psychiatric patients are not discharged from hospital inappropriately and that those who leave get the right support from the different agencies.
  456
  The Department is currently considering what further training is required for key workers.

  Lexie McConnell
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken arising from the report by the chief executive of the management executive into the case of Lexie McConnell; and if she will make public his report.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Following an investigation by the national health service management executive into the case of Lexie McConnell, there was found to be no denial of patients charter rights. A letter setting out these findings was sent to Mr. and Mrs. McConnell in July.

  Occupational Health Service
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical and nursing staff worked in occupational health in the NHS for the last five years for which figures are available; and what were the grades of those employees.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  Mr. Bowis
  The guidance, which is part of our 10 point plan for developing successful and safe community care, will draw together the principles and practices which should apply in assessing when psychiatric patients may suitably and safely leave hospital and in ensuring that the necessary care and support are provided when they do. Work on the guidance is well advanced and we shall be issuing it for consultation shortly.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each health authority in South Yorkshire the number of prescriptions issued where the patient was(a) exempt from NHS payment charges, (b) required to pay the NHS charge and (c) was a private patient.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Numbers (thousands) of prescription1 items dispensed in family health services authorities in South Yorkshire in 1992

  FHSA

  Exempt2

  Chargeable3

  Barnsley

  1,959

  392

  Doncaster

  2,551

  535

  Rotherham

  1,857

  376

  Sheffield

  4,412

  838

  1 The analysis is based on a 1 in 20 sample of all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors only. Dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered, are not analysed into exempt, non-exempt or other categories.

  2 Exempt prescriptions also include prescriptions dispensed to patients entitled to charge remission under the national health service low income scheme, and prescriptions for contraceptives.

  3 Chargeable prescriptions include prescriptions dispensed to patients holding prescription prepayment certificates.

  Notes:

  Information is not collected on private prescriptions.

  Influenza Vaccination
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by regional health authority the current waiting time for people wishing to be inoculated against influenza; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Dover) on 29 November at column 305 regarding influenza vaccine supply.

  Special Needs Management Allowance
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of reductions in the transitional special needs management allowance on projects providing homes for people with drink, drug and mental health problems.

  Mr. Bowis
  Transitional special needs management allowance is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Ambulance Service (Doncaster)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what considerations underlie the classification of Doncaster as a rural area for ambulance purposes.

  Mr. Sackville
  The formula for classification of national health service ambulance services as urban or rural was introduced following the acceptance of a recommendation made in an independent consultant's report in 1990. Those ambulance services serving an area with an overall population density of greater than 2·5 people per acre were classified as urban. Others were classified as rural. The population density formula 458
  acknowledges the higher number of longer distance journeys travelled by ambulance services in less densely populated rural areas.

  Doncaster falls within the overall area served by the South Yorkshire Metropolitan ambulance and paramedic service. That area is classified as urban.

  Cancer (Funding)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of funding for work on cancer is allocated to screening and prevention programmes.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  NHS Trusts
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many chairmen of NHS trusts have not had their contracts renewed in each of the last three years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The number of chairmen of national health service trusts who have not been given a further term, or have stood down when their period of office expired, in each of the last three years is as follows:

  1991 – None

  1992 – 2

  1993 – 14

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will replace the payment of salaries/emoluments to chairmen and non-executive directors of health authorities and NHS trusts with a system based on payment for loss of earnings.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the numbers of female, male and ethnic minority directors, and chairs of NHS trusts, district health authorities and regional health authorities.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information is not available centrally for executive members or directors. For non-executives, some 36 per cent.—1,429 out of 3,920 chairmen and non-executive appointees to national health service authorities and trusts—are women. Three per cent., 117 appointees, are from ethnic minority groups.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hours a week a chairman of a national health service trust is required to work; and what is the hourly rate of remuneration.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Chairmen of boards of national health service authorities and trusts are part-time appointments and minimum hours are not set. They are remunerated within a range £15,125 to £19,285 per annum according to the trust's turnover.

  Intensive Care, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by year for the last four years, and the current year to date for the Doncaster area the number of cases in which people with life-threatening conditions and in need of intensive care have been referred to hospitals outside the Doncaster area; to which hospitals they were referred; what assessment she has made as to the adequacy of
  459
  intensive care provision in the Doncaster area for the coming winter months; what action she will be taking; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. J Smith, chairman of Doncaster health authority for details.

  Junior Doctors
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines she has issued on the amount of sleep junior doctors should have in each 24 hours and in each week.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the changes she has planned to the new deal for junior doctors.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have no plans at present to change the new deal for junior doctors.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to implement the new deal on junior doctors' hours.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 28 October at column 767.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to ensure that provider units meet targets set by her in the junior doctors' new deal.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave her on 28 October at column 767.

  Health Service, London
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will announce her final plans for the restructuring of the NHS in London.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for the future pattern of acute health care in London; and what financial arrangements have been made for the closure of hospitals in London in 1994–95.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Government's strategy for the future of London's acute health services is set out clearly in "Making London Better". Proposals for a number of specific changes to the pattern of services will be put forward shortly and, where appropriate, will be subject to formal consultation. As indicated in "Making London Better", resources will be available to ensure that any changes take place in an orderly fashion and no proposal will be agreed unless it offers a sound basis for delivering a high quality and cost-effective service to patients.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration has been given to the establishment of a regional health authority for the Greater London area.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department is currently consulting on proposals to determine new national health service regions and establish new regional health authorities. Copies of the consultation document 460
  "Managing the New NHS" have been sent to all Members of Parliament and are available in the Library. In the configuration of regions shown in the document, the Greater London area is divided between the proposed North Thames and South Thames regions. This configuration was chosen after considering a range of options, including options involving the establishment of a single regional health authority for the Greater London area, because it most closely met the criteria of minimising disruption to the work of the national health service; maintaining a spread of medical schools across the regions; ensuring that individual regions would be administratively manageable; and respecting natural lines of communication such as road and rail links.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on improving primary health care in London.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In "Making London Better", the Government gave a commitment to invest £170 million on capital projects over six years. £40 million was made available in 1993–94 and has been used to fund primary health care development plans in each of the 12 family health services authorities within the London initiative zone (LIZ). It is expected that the extra LIZ moneys will fund over a hundred capital schemes this year. In addition, £7·5 million was made available over three years to fund voluntary sector projects to help prevent admission to hospital or facilitate early discharge. Thirty-one voluntary sector projects have already been approved as part of this initiative at a cost of £5 million.

  Hospital Charges
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to charge hospital in-patients for food.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Winyard Report
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the Winyard report.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the report of the working party chaired by Dr. Graham Winyard is to be formally published; and when the Department will issue a formal response.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  On 9 June 1993 I asked the medical director of the national health service management executive, Dr. Graham Winyard, to carry out a review of current medical staffing policies. The terms of reference were:(i) To identify and consider the options available for the continued implementation of current NHS medical workforce policies including Achieving a Balance and the New Deal. This work is to be carried out in the context of the internal market, and the proposed changes in specialist training and taking into account resource constraints and managerial feasibility.
  (ii) To make any recommendations to the Minister for Health for implementing any changes which may need to be made to existing policies by 31 October 1993.

  Membership of the working group included representatives of the medical profession and NHS management.

  Dr. Winyard has now submitted his report and we are considering a number of recommendations for changes to current medical staffing policies.

  Women Consultants
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the percentage of women consultants at the latest available date.

  Mr. Sackville
  As at September 1992, 16·3 per cent. of hospital consultants in England were women.

  Quest Cancer Test Trial
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was her decision on funding the Quest HDA cervical cancer test trial; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Since 1988, Quest has not made a bid to the Department for research funding.

  Hospital Budgets
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals have overspent their budgets so far in the current year.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is not available centrally.

  Family Practitioner Budgets
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many family practitioners have reduced their budgets for purchasing hospital treatment(a) nationally and (b) in the Coventry area; what effects she expects the reduced budgets to have on patient care and on the jobs of medical staff, with particular reference to the Coventry area and on the west midlands; and what reasons she has been given for the reductions.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Regional health authorities are responsible for setting general practitioner fundholder budgets, under guidance issued by the national health service management executive EL(93)93, copies of which are available in the Library. These budgets are set at the beginning of the financial year and cannot be reduced mid-year.

  Elderly Patients (Specialist Treatment)
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will issue guidance to both local health authorities and residential nursing homes for the elderly as to the responsibility for payment for essential specialist medical items necessary for the post-operative and continuing care of elderly patients.

  Mr. Bowis
  A large number of such items are available on national health service prescription.

  Responsibility for prescribing drugs, dressings and appliances generally rests with the doctor who has clinical responsibility for the patient's care.

  Guidance to health authorities in EL(91)127 advised that in some cases, responsibility for prescribing for discharged patients should remain with consultants rather than general practitioners, for example where drugs or appliances were only available through hospitals.

  In December 1992 the Department issued guidance to both health authorities (HSG(92)50) and local authorities (LAC(92)24) about their respective responsibilities for funding community health services for people placed by local authorities in nursing and residential care homes after 1 April 1993.
  462
  Copies of EL(91)127, HSG(92)50 and LAC(92)24 are available in the Library.

  Qa Business Services
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what studies he has made of the status of ex-Government employees and their pensions in the pension funds of(a) West Midlands regional health authority and Qa Business Services and (b) Harland and Wolff.

  (2) what advice has been received from Government Actuaries on the surpluses in the pension funds of (a) West Midlands regional health authority and Qa Business Services and (b) Harland and Wolff.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I have been asked to reply.

  None so far as the West Midlands regional health authority pension fund and Qa Business Services pension fund are concerned. Information regarding Harland and Wolff is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

WALES

  Travellers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to make a statement concerning his revised policies for camps for itinerants in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Government announced their revised policy on sites for itinerants on 31 March 1993.

  Private Patients
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ensure that private patients are not put in for free tests in NHS hospitals in Wales at the expense of delays for NHS patients.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There is nationally agreed guidance on private practice in health service hospitals. This requires local managers and clinicians to ensure there is no conflict between private practice and NHS work and that private patients should not receive services at the expense of NHS patients. I expect all health authorities and national health service trusts to ensure that there is the fullest compliance under this guidance.

  Nuclear Plants
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the relationship between the operation of the nuclear plants at Wylfa and Trawsfynydd and the incidence of cancer recorded in the latest Welsh cancer register for Gwynedd.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The latest published registration rates for individual cancers in Gwynedd are contained in "Cancer Registration in Wales: 1984–86".

  Registration rates for all cancers in Gwynedd, while not the highest, are 4 per cent. higher than for Wales as a whole, taking account of the age distribution of the Gwynedd population. The main cancers which contribute to the higher registration rates are of the stomach, colon, pancreas, lung, gall bladder, kidney, breast, uterus, ovary and prostate, and myeloid leukaemia. The pattern of a higher incidence of some cancers in Gwynedd has been known for more than 80 years.
  463
  Current expert opinion on the risks of exposure to radiation indicates that the low radiation doses to the population that may have arisen from Trawsfynydd or Wylfa could not be the cause of this higher incidence.

  However, the registration data for Gwynedd are being examined currently to determine the incidence of certain other types of cancer in the vicinity of Trawsfynydd and Wylfa nuclear installations. The results will be made available in due course.

  Development Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the development agencies together with their directors; and how much has been paid to each director, including expenses, in each of the past five years, and the current year to date.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is as follows:

  Development Board for Rural Wales (£ per annum)

  Remuneration

  Chairman

  Members

  1989–90

  25,445

  5,030

  1990–91

  26,975

  5,335

  1991–92

  29,290

  5,790

  1992–93

  29,835

  5,900

  1993–94

  31,925

  6,315

  Board Members:

  Chairman:

  Mr. Glyn Davies—1 April 1989 to 31 March 1995

  Members:

  Mr. Robert Gee—1 April 1989 to 31 March 1995

  Councillor Veronica Hollis—1 April 1989 to 31 March 1995

  Councillor Andrew Leonard—1 April 1988 to 31 March 1994

  Mr. Jeffrey Morgan—1 April 1989 to 31 March 1995

  Mr. Hywel Roberts—1 April 1989 to 31 March 1995

  Mr. Peter Saunders—1 May 1988 to 31 March 1994

  Councillor Keith Evans—1 April 1991 to 31 March 1994

  Sir Donald Walters—6 November 1984 to 31 March 1996

  Councillor Roger Williams—1 April 1989 to 31 March 1995

  Mrs. Christine Lewis—April 1992 to 31 March 1995

  Mr. Dyfrig John—1 April 1993 to 31 March 1996

  The Hon. Robin Gibson Watt—May 1993 to 31 March 1996

  Mr. Ian Jones—1 April 1990 to 31 March 1993

  Mr. Eddie Rea—1 April 1987 to 31 March 1993

  Mr. Michael Shaw—1 April 1988 to 31 March 1991

  Mr. J. Kendall Harris—1 April 1981 to 31 March 1990

  Welsh Development Agency

  Remuneration (£ per annum)

  Chairman1

  Deputy chair-man

  Members

  1989–90

  55,424

  17,900

  5,065

  1990–91

  58,750

  18,975

  5,370

  1991–92

  63,800

  20,605

  5,835

  1992–93

  42,235

  21,830

  6,180

  1993–94

  43,455

  33,680

  6,315

  1From June 1989 the chairman's time commitment was four days per week. From 1992–93 the time commitment dropped to two and a half days per week. The salary is subject to annual reviews by the Top Salaries Review Body.

  Board Members:

  Chairman:

  Dr. Gwyn Jones—1989–90 to 30 June 1993

  Mr. David Rowe-Beddoe—1 July 1993 to 30 June 1996

  Deputy Chairman:

  Sir Donald Walters—1989–90 to 1992–931

  Dr. Roy Bichan—1 January 1993 to 31 December 1995

  Chief Executive:

  Mr. David Waterstone—1989–90

  464

  Mr. Philip Head—1990–91 to 31 December 1993 Members:

  Mr. David G. Roberts—1989–90 to 1991–92

  Mr. R. P. V. (Tim) Rees—1989–90 to 1991–92

  Mr. Hugh Hudson Davies—1989–90

  Mr. John Foley—1989–90 to 28 February 1994

  Mr. E. Glyn Davies—1989–90 to 31 March 1995

  Dr. Colyn Gardner—1989–90 to 1991–92

  Mr. Elfed Roberts—1989–90

  Mr. A. David Malpas—1989–90 to 31 December 1995

  Mr. Idwal Symonds—31 December 1989.

  Mr. David Cole—21 January 1990

  Mr. Richard Brewster—1990–91 to 1992–93

  Dr. Pamela Kirby—1991–92 to 30 November 1994

  1Ceased as Deputy Chair 31 December 1992.

  Members of the boards are reimbursed for expenses incurred in carrying out board duties; records of expenses are not held centrally.

  Postal and Proxy Votes
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Nothing. The arrangements are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and he has already made a statement.

  EC Cereal Aid
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the factors involved in the decision to recognise Wales as a separate harvest region for the purposes of the EC cereal aid proposal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The decision to establish Wales as a separate yield region was made by the United Kingdom Agriculture Ministers in the light of circumstances relating to all four countries and having regard to the terms of Council Regulation 1765/92.

  Livestock Quotas
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for measures to ensure that farmers in Wales are enabled before the end of the current year to ascertain their livestock quotas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Over 90 per cent. of sheep and suckler cow producers in Wales have been notified of their quota allocations. The remaining producers' allocations are dependent upon their application for national reserve quota and the resolution of outstanding queries, some of which require clarification from the European Commission and some from the producers themselves. It is not possible, therefore, to predict with any certainty when all the remaining producers will receive their allocations.

  Premature Deaths
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many premature deaths there were in Wales in the latest year for which figures are available; what is this figure as a percentage of the total number of deaths; and what is this percentage as a percentage of the United Kingdom average.
  465
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There is no generally accepted definition of premature death. There were 6,016 deaths of Welsh residents under the age of 65 in 1992, representing 17·8 per cent. of all deaths. This was 97 per cent. of the equivalent United Kingdom figure of 18·4 per cent.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his proposals for local government revenue spending in 1994–95.

  Mr. Redwood
  I propose to set total standard spending in Wales for 1994–95 at £2,704.8 million. This figure includes the £86 million for care in the community announced by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State on 2 November. It represents an increase of 4·2 per cent. including community care resources or a 2·3 per cent. excluding care in the community.

  I propose to set central government support for TSS through aggregate external finance at £2,419·2 million. The additional £86 million in community care resources the increase is 3£3 per cent., or 1·3 per cent. excluding care in the community.

  Within AEF I propose to make available £1,740·1 million in revenue support grant, £464·0 million in distributable non-domestic rates and £215·1 million in specific and supplementary grants.

  The non-domestic rate poundage for 1994–95 will increase by 1·8 per cent. to 44·8 pence in the pound in line with the increase in the retail prices index for the 12 months to September 1993.

  My proposals constitute a realistic package. They will enable local authorities to maintain services, given the sharp fall in inflation. Local authorities will need to assess carefully their expenditure priorities and look to achieve the best value for money in providing services. I am sure that Welsh local authorities will exercise prudence in making their budgetary decisions for the coming financial year.

  My Department has today written to the local authority associations to consult them on my proposals for revenue support grant in 1994–95. I will announce provisional standard spending assessments for individual Welsh authorities and my provisional capping criteria in mid-December; and my final settlement proposals early in the new year.

  Moated Sites
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what action his Department is currently taking to record and preserve moated sites of archaeological interest; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list the (a) surveys and (b) excavations that are currently being carried out of moated sites of archaeological interest.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments Executive Agency under its chief executive, John Carr. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Mr. E. A. J. Carr to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 30 November 1993:

  Moated Sites of Archaeological Interest in Wales
  466
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your two recent Parliamentary Questions about moated sites of archaeological interest in Wales.
  The Secretary of State's policy on archaeological remains on land and how they should be preserved or recorded is set out in Planning Policy Guidance 16 (Wales): Archaeology and Planning a copy of which is in the Library of the House. As the guidance makes clear, archaeological remains are a finite, non-renewable resource which in many cases are vulnerable to damage and destruction. Accordingly, to protect vulnerable moated sites the Agency has completed a scheduling enhancement exercise of all known sites in Wales. 110 such sites have been evaluated, of which 65 are scheduled as monuments of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. Details of both the scheduled and unscheduled sites in Wales are contained in the Sites and Monuments Records held by the four regional Archaeological Trusts in Wales.
  Insofar as preservation is concerned Cadw's Field Monument Wardens keep the condition of these important monuments under close review.
  While scheduled monument consent is required for works to monuments of national importance the Agency's records do not identify such activity by monument type. Works at unscheduled monuments do not require consent from the Secretary of State and consequently the Agency has no information in respect of such sites.

  Gardens of Historic Value
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the applicants for European Community financial assistance under the current year's awards for the conservation of gardens of historic value and (b) details of the reasons for those that failed to secure such funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Responsibility for this subject has been delegated to Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments. I have asked the chief executive, John Carr, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Mr. E. A. J. Carr to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 30 November 1993:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about Welsh projects submitted for consideration under the European Commission's pilot projects scheme to conserve Europe's built heritage.
  Under the 1993 scheme of 'Gardens of Historic Interest', the following applications were made:

  Applicant

  Garden

  Clwyd County Council

  Gardens at Bunkers Hill Cottages, Wrexham, Clwyd

  Swansea City Council

  Gardens at Sketty Hall, Swansea, West Glamorgan

  Welsh Historic Gardens Trust

  Gardens at Hafod, Pontrhyd y Groes, Dyfed

  Cadw offers the Commission a view on the merits of each application submitted under the scheme, but the decision on whether a grant will be offered is taken by the Commission itself, on the advice of an international panel of experts. It is not the Commission's practice to comment on why any of the applications fail to receive assistance.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Rural Housing
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps will be taken to reappraise the rural priority areas in respect of housing rural unfitness.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but the chief executive has advised me
  467
  that rural priority areas—RPAs—are being reappraised as part of a wider review of the executive's rural housing policy. The executive hopes to extend RPA status to other areas, by reviewing the relevant unfitness criteria under which an area qualifies for such status. The executive will also be seeking to improve the effectiveness of action in RPAs by increasing the involvement of its district/regional offices and by closer co-operation with local voluntary groups. Existing RPA's will still be targeted for grant aid where there is a continuing need.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what inquiries are being made into the involvement of the terrorist known as the Jackal in the murder of Adrian Carroll.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Criminal investigations into the murder of Adrian Carroll are continuing. All evidence or information which comes to the knowledge of the police is fully investigated.

  Boarding Schools
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many boarders there were at each boarding school in Northern Ireland at the most recent available date.

  Mr. Ancram
  At the end of October 1993 the number of boarders in each boarding school was as follows:

  Number

  Voluntary Grammar Schools

  Campbell College, Belfast

  94

  Coleraine Academic Institution

  78

  Dominican College, Portstewart

  35

  Friends School, Lisburn

  44

  Hunterhouse College, Belfast

  82

  Methodist College, Belfast

  177

  Portora Royal School

  16

  Royal School, Armagh

  66

  Royal School, Dungannon

  39

  St. Colman's College, Newry

  58

  St. Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh

  72

  Victoria College, Belfast

  48

  Controlled Grammar Schools

  Coleraine High School

  34

  Countryside
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on preservation of the countryside in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government are continuing their work to maintain and enhance the quality of the countryside and to protect habitats and landscape, thereby providing enjoyment and pleasure for present and future generations. This work is undertaken on a number of fronts, including the declaration of areas of special scientific interest, environmentally sensitive areas, areas of outstanding natural beauty and national nature reserves.

  Environmental Protection Act 1990
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to Northern Ireland.
  468
  Mr. Atkins
  Legislation broadly equivalent to the Environmental Protection Act 1990 is being introduced in Northern Ireland by a series of Orders in Council.

  An Order in Council containing enabling powers to deal with genetically modified organisms similar to the provisions in part VI of the Act was made in July 1991 and will come into operation by means of a commencement order once the necessary regulations enacting its provisions have been finalised.

  A further Order in Council containing provisions on litter equivalent to those in part IV of the Act will shortly be laid before Parliament and should become operative early in 1994.

  I have already announced my plans for two further Orders in Council to introduce provisions on air pollution and waste management control respectively, similar to those in parts I and II of the Act. These are now being prepared. I hope to lay both draft orders before Parliament by the end of 1994.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on hedgerow preservation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government are encouraging hedgerow improvement through financial incentive schemes operated by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Environment. Both Departments provide advice on hedgerow management.

  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the hedgerow incentive scheme applies to Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  The hedgerow incentive scheme is operated by the Countryside Commission and applies only in England. In Northern Ireland the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Environment have schemes which provide financial incentives for hedgerow improvement and both Departments provide advice on hedgerow management.

  Postal and Proxy Votes
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.

  Mr. Ancram
  The nature and extent of advertising or publicity related to the European parliamentary elections in 1994 have yet to be decided. Any advertising there might be on absent voting would not be directed at any specific groups of electors. Local elections have already taken place in Northern Ireland, in May this year.

  EC Students
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total estimated cost per annum for the provision of university and third-level education for European Community students studying in Northern Ireland.
  469
  Mr. Ancram
  The total costs of making provision for EC students undertaking third-level education at institutions in Northern Ireland is not available in the form requested.

  However, the estimated cost to public funds of tuition fees for students in institutions in Northern Ireland from EC countries, including the Republic of Ireland, and holding mandatory or postgraduate awards in the 1992–93 academic year, was £4·586 million.

  School Extensions
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made with the proposed major school extension schemes at(a) Comber high school and (b) Regent House grammar school.

  Mr. Ancram
  An economic appraisal recommending a new school for a long-term enrolment of 540 pupils has been approved for Comber high school and planning of this is at outline sketch plan stage.

  An economic appraisal recommending the extending and refurbishing of the existing premises has been approved for Regent House school. A schedule of accommodation is being considered by the school and the South-Eastern education and library board.

  Forensic Science Departments
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to provide permanent forensic sciences departments following the destruction of the forensic science laboratory at Newtownbreda in September 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Following the serious damage to the laboratory on 23 September 1992 it was relocated at Seapark outside Carrickfergus in County Antrim. The location of the laboratory in the longer term remains under consideration.

  Student Nurses
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many student nurses there are at present; how many of them originate from the Republic of Ireland; how many nurses are unemployed; and if he will make a statement on job prospects for nurses.

  Mr. Ancram
  At 31 October there were 2,316 student nurses in training in Northern Ireland of whom 263 originate from the Republic of Ireland, while at 14 October 1993 there were 701 unemployed claimants who last worked in the nursing profession in general.

  My hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) wrote to you in April this year about job prospects in the nursing profession. He explained that improved retention of nursing staff has reduced employment opportunities for newly qualified nurses and that the proposals for rationalisation of services will impact on nurse employment in the future. The position has changed little since April as decisions have yet to be taken on the rationalisation of the service. Until these decisions are taken, it is not possible to assess accurately the implications for the nursing profession.

  Republic of Ireland (Links)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research he has commissioned into the benefits of closer trading and other links between Northern Ireland and the Republic; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  None. Other bodies have, however, examined the potential benefits of increased cross-border trade and, while their estimates differ considerably, all agree that more trade is possible and can benefit both parts of Ireland. The two Governments are co-operating to promote trade in a number of ways, and are jointly organising a conference on cross-border trade in Dublin on 15 December.

  Gardens of Historic Value
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list(a) the applicants for European Community financial assistance under this year's awards for the conservation of gardens of historic value and (b) details of the reasons for those that failed to secure such funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The following applications were received:

  (1) Antrim Borough Council, Antrim Castle gardens, Co. Antrim

  (2) Armagh District Council with the Armagh Regeneration Trust and the Mall Trustees, Armagh Mall, Co. Armagh

  (3) Mr. B. T. Little on behalf of the Duke of Abercorn, Barons Court, Co. Tyrone

  (4) Mrs. J. R. Beresford-Ash, Ashbrook, Drumahoe, Co. Londonderry

  (5) Mr. J. Langham, Tempo Manor, Co. Fermanagh

  (6) Mr. G. B. L. Brown, Walworth, Co. Londonderry

  (7) Mr. M. G. Parkinson on behalf of Belfast City Council, Botanic Gardens, Belfast

  (8) Clandeboy Estate Company Ltd., Clandeboye House, Bangor, Co. Down

  All applications were forwarded to the Commission of the European Communities. The Antrim castle gardens application was the only one which was successful in being awarded financial assistance. The Commission was responsible for the assessment of all applications. I am not in a position to comment on the reasons for its decisions.

  Road Schemes
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made with the new road schemes at(a) Comber bypass and (b) Forster Green junction.

  Mr. Atkins
  Work on the next phase of the Comber bypass scheme and on the Forster Green junction improvement will start in the 1997–98 and 1996–97 financial years respectively, subject to the availability of finance.

SCOTLAND

  Paisley
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to support Paisley being awarded city status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  None. City status in Scotland can be achieved only through the granting of a royal charter. It has no statutory significance in Scotland and there has been no such grant in modern times.
  471
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his proposals for the future local government arrangements for the Dykebar area of Paisley.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 November 1993]: I have written to the hon. Member about this and I will arrange for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will visit the Glenburn, Hunterhill, Dykebar, Lochfield, Foxbar, Thrushcraigs and South End areas of Paisley to assess the need for public sector housing investment and economic regeneration.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit Paisley. Officials from the Scottish Office Environment Department recently met with representatives of Renfrew district council and Scottish Homes to discuss the housing problems in the district.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons are currently included in his Department's public appointments list; and how many of these are women.

  Mr. Lang
  The number of people currently on the Scottish Office public appointments list is constantly changing. At present there are in the region of 2,500 people on the list of whom some 880 or 36 per cent. are women. Until recently, the proportion of women on the list averaged 25 per cent. The higher proportion is a result of action taken by my Department to increase the number of women on the list. I am always happy to receive the names of people based in Scotland, of either sex, who are interested in undertaking public appointments work.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to how many and which organisations he is able to make appointments; and what are the top salary levels of these appointments.

  Mr. Lang
  The nationalised industries, non-departmental public bodies and NHS bodies sponsored by the Scottish Office to which I make appointments are listed in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies". The information includes the number of appointments I make to each body and the remuneration where appropriate. The 1992 edition is available in the Libraries of the House and the 1993 edition is scheduled to be published in mid-December.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a document, similar to the one recently published by the Secretary of State for Wales, entitled "Public Bodies: Appointments Made by the Secretary of State for Wales", listing detailed information concerning appointments made by him to public bodies in terms of(a) appointments, (b) remuneration, (c) occupations of appointees and (d) time commitment.

  Mr. Lang
  A list of members of bodies listed in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies" whom I appoint is being updated. I am considering how the information might most conveniently be made available.

  Sheltered Housing
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning private owner-occupied sheltered housing; what help is available to those living in non-regulated or non-registered accommodation; and if he will consider setting up an ombudsman scheme.

  Mr. Lang
  The Scottish Office has received a number of representations about private owner-occupied sheltered housing, most of which have alleged a lack of control over managing companies and agents operating these developments. These representations are essentially about contractual issues between the parties concerned and it would be inappropriate for the Government to intervene. Independent legal advice should be sought in such cases.

  Details of various cases have been passed to the Scottish law Commission which is considering particular aspects of sheltered housing in connection with its work on the abolition of the feudal system and the law of the tenement. We shall study carefully any recommendations that the commission may make.

  Written Answers
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many written parliamentary questions he or his predecessors have answered in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lang
  Figures before the 1980–81 parliamentary Session are not held centrally. Annual figures from 1980 onwards for House of Commons written questions answered by Scottish Office Ministers are as follows:

  Year

  Annual number

  11980

  355

  1981

  1,588

  1982

  1,618

  1983

  1,750

  1984

  2,009

  1985

  2,026

  1986

  1,981

  1987

  2,928

  1988

  2,973

  1989

  2,917

  1990

  2,739

  1991

  2,432

  1992

  1,650

  21993

  2,105

  1For the period 27 October 1980 to 31 December 1980.

  2As at 18 October 1993.

  Source: POLIS.

  Elderly Forums
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial support his Department has provided to elderly forums; what plans he has to develop the elderly forum movement; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office currently provides financial assistance to two elderly forums through the urban programme at an estimated cost of £149,138 in the present financial year. Grant of 75 per cent. is payable by the Scottish Office on approved expenditure. The projects cover eligible areas in
  473
  Strathclyde and Edinburgh. As for the future development of elderly forums, this is a matter for the forums themselves to take forward. In this connection, local authorities have powers under section 10(3) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to grant aid voluntary organisations in providing social welfare in their areas.

  Fox Hunting
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy on fox hunting on estates and property owned or managed by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Fox hunting on land owned by my right hon. Friend and managed by the Forestry Commission is permitted only where it has traditionally taken place or where the right to hunt or to grant facilities to hunt has been reserved in the title. No permissions are currently granted for the hunting of foxes on any of the remaining land owned by my right hon. Friend.

  Pupils (Behavioural Problems)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his most recent estimate of the number of children of school age in Scotland who do not attend school for reasons associated with behavioural problems; and if will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Figures for non-attendance at and exclusions from schools for reasons associated with behavioural problems are not held centrally; nor is sufficient information centrally available on which to base informed estimates.

  Regulations which came into force in 1993 now require education authorities to collect information on schools attendance and truancy. This information will be published in school handbooks from December 1994 and will also be the subject of report by the audit unit of Her Majesty's inspectorate. Discussions are currently proceeding with education authorities about the collection of exclusion figures across Scotland on a consistent basis.

  Rents
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the average weekly rental charge for houses owned by(a) Renfrew district council, (b) Eastwood district council, (c) Inverclyde district council and (d) Scottish Homes or its predecessors since 1983; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The table shows the average weekly unrebated rent for Renfrew, Eastwood and Inverclyde district councils, Scottish Homes and its predecessor, the Scottish Special Housing Association since 1983–84:

  Renfrew district council

  Eastwood district council

  Inverclyde district council

  SSHA/Scottish Homes

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1983–84

  8·33

  10·52

  8·31

  11·96

  1984–85

  8·81

  11·02

  9·08

  13·06

  1985–86

  9·81

  11·50

  11·30

  14·23

  1986–87

  11·50

  11·94

  12·40

  15·79

  1987–88

  12·99

  12·45

  13·33

  17·28

  1988–89

  13·92

  13·91

  14·37

  19·02

  474

  Renfrew district council

  Eastwood district council

  Inverclyde district council

  SSHA/Scottish Homes

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1989–90

  16·73

  15·10

  16·85

  20·88

  1990–91

  18·70

  16·59

  19·17

  23·81

  1991–92

  20·68

  18·10

  21·44

  26·73

  1992–93

  22·45

  21·06

  23·93

  29·14

  1993–94

  24·41

  21·73

  25·94

  31·76

  Correspondence
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how long on average it takes his Department to reply to letters from hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  My Department has set a target of replying to correspondence from hon. Members and others within 17 working days of receipt. During the period 1 August 1992 to 31 July 1993—the first year of operation of the target—11,279 items of such correspondence were dealt with. Fifty-five per cent. of these letters received a substantive reply within the 17 working day target, and 86 per cent. were answered within 30 working days. Replies may be delayed because it is necessary to gather information from various sources; in such cases, the normal procedure is for an interim reply to be issued.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has further to develop the concept of infobuses on the model of that provided by Renfrew District Disability Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As the provision of information on disability matters is the responsibility of local authorities, it is for these bodies to determine the level and nature of the service to be provided.

  HIV Education
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Government's policy on HIV education in Scottish schools.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government attach high priority to the provision of HIV education in schools. The school curriculum in Scotland is not statutorily prescribed and responsibility for the detailed curricular content, including that in relation to HIV education, rests with education authorities and individual head teachers.

  The Government's policy is to encourage schools to tackle HIV education within a comprehensive programme of health and social education. This co-ordinated approach is designed to ensure that information about HIV is given not in isolation but as part of a programme that considers a number of issues relating to moral choices and healthy living.

  To assist schools, national guidance is issued by the Scottish Office Education Department and the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum. Guidelines on health education were issued recently by the Scottish Office as part of the 5 to 14 programme on environmental studies. That gives health education a firm place in the curriculum and highlights AIDS as a key feature. In

  475
  addition, in 1992 the Scottish Office published a booklet entitled "HIV and AIDS: A Guide for the Educational Services in Scotland". This was distributed to all education authorities and schools in Scotland.

  Homelessness
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were defined as homeless in(a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole in each of the past five years.
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The most recent published information is set out in the table.

  Households assessed as homeless1 1987 to 1991–92

  Inverclyde

  Strathclyde

  Scotland2

  1987–88

  178

  4,509

  9,595

  1988–89

  112

  4,551

  9,644

  1989–90

  142

  5,150

  11,470

  1990–91

  156

  7,333

  14,900

  1991–92

  146

  9,663

  17,600

  1Figures do not include households assessed as potentially homeless. In 1991–92 no households in Inverclyde, 3,537 households in Strathclyde and 8,700 households in Scotland were so assessed.

  2Figures up to 1989–90 relate to the number of case returns received from local authorities. From 1990–91 figures are based on authorities' estimates of the total number of applicants.

  Abbeyfield Housing Movement
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the work of the Abbeyfield housing movement in Scotland.

  Housebuilding in Inverclyde district and Strathclyde region House completions for the years 1980 to 1992

  Inverclyde district

  Agency

  Strathclyde region

  year

  Local authority

  Housing association1

  private sector

  Local authority

  Housing association1

  private sector

  1980

  8

  —

  87

  1,593

  128

  4,332

  1981

  —

  69

  155

  1,349

  879

  3,830

  1982

  26

  32

  99

  712

  263

  4,240

  1983

  —

  23

  107

  493

  321

  4,720

  1984

  —

  20

  199

  489

  420

  5,316

  1985

  —

  12

  205

  404

  412

  5,660

  1986

  —

  74

  242

  315

  314

  6,243

  1987

  64

  —

  284

  281

  252

  6,254

  1988

  —

  —

  201

  324

  274

  6,458

  1989

  —

  —

  239

  136

  394

  7,688

  1990

  —

  —

  326

  114

  483

  7,130

  1991

  37

  26

  226

  145

  824

  6,365

  1992

  —

  —

  57

  195

  851

  5,811

  19932

  —

  —

  118

  8

  188

  2,561

  1Figures for 1986 to date are provisional as data are under review.

  2Figures are for quarters 1 and 2 only.

  Advocates Depute
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many advocates depute there are; and how many are women.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are 13 advocate deputes, of whom four are women.
  476
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The work of the Abbeyfield housing movement in Scotland is consistent with the Government's care in the community policy. My right hon. Friend regards the movement as making an important contribution to the welfare of elderly people who no longer wish or who are unable to live in their own homes, or who need additional care. In 1992–93, Scottish Homes, the organisation responsible for funding registered housing associations, provided 11 locally based Abbeyfield societies with £500,000 in grant through its development programme.

  Housing
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of homes built by(a) local authorities, (b) housing associations and (c) private developers in each year since 1980 in (i) Inverclyde and (ii) Strathclyde; and what is his current estimate for such completions in 1993.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on the number of dwellings completed in Inverclyde district and Strathclyde region by local authorities, housing associations and private developers, for the years 1980 to 1992 and the first half of 1993, is set out in the table. Further information on house completions across Scotland is available in the quarterly statistical bulletin "Housing Trends in Scotland" published by the Scottish Office.

  Procurators Fiscal
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many procurators fiscal there are; and how many are women.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are 42 procurators fiscal, of whom two are women. The total number of legal staff in the procurator fiscal service is 271, of whom 109 are women.

  Home Insulation
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce a home insulation programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The home energy efficiency scheme is funded by the Energy Efficiency Office of the Department of the Environment on a Great Britain basis. The scheme provides grants for loft, tank and pipe insulation, draughtproofing and energy advice to low-income households in receipt of certain social security benefits and regulations have been laid to abolish the client contribution. Housing authorities have powers to give improvement and repairs grants to householders, which can include works for energy efficiency measures. Scottish Homes can also provide grants in certain designated areas.

  Student Support
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of any changes in the student support and tuition fee arrangements for Scottish domiciled students in session 1994–95.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am publishing today the main rates of maintenance allowances payable under the students allowances scheme and the postgraduate students allowances scheme, including rates for those courses which do not attract student loans, together with the rates of various supplementary allowances payable to both undergraduate and vocational postgraduate award holders.

  The support available to undergraduate students in 1994–95 through the main rates of maintenance grant and loan, taken together, will be 4 per cent. higher than in 1993–94, thus maintaining its value in real terms. Within that total, the main loan rates will be on average 44 per cent. higher than in 1993–94, offset in part by a reduction in the main rates of maintenance grant. The Government believe in principle that a higher share of the maintenance costs of higher education should be borne by graduates, now that student numbers have expanded so rapidly. No students will, however, be required to begin paying back their loans until after they leave their course and are earning more than 85 per cent. of national average earnings —currently about £14,000 per annum.

  Tuition fees will continue to be reimbursed to institutions through the student support system on behalf of eligible students. The maximum rate of reimbursement will be reduced by 45 per cent. in each of the three subject bands for undergraduate courses in order to ensure that planned numbers are not exceeded. Higher education institutions will be compensated through grant in aid payable by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.

  These changes are consistent with those for England and Wales announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education. Details have been placed in the Library.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce details of the 1994–95 Scottish local government finance settlement.

  Mr. Lang
  Following is the information.
  478
  Government Supported Expenditure

  I propose that Government-supported expenditure—GSE—for 1994–95 should be set at £6,013·6 million. This is an increase of 3·52 per cent. on the current year's figure after adjusting for the transfer of responsibility for the careers service from local to central Government. Excluding the further transfer of resources to local authorities for their care in the community and independent living fund responsibilities, the increase is 2·25 per cent.

  Grant-Aided Expenditure

  I estimate that the local authorities will incur £753·5 million on loan and leasing charges in 1994–95. This amount is top-sliced from GSE leaving a residual amount for grant-aided expenditure—GAE—of £5,260·1 million. This figure is 3·42 per cent. higher than that for the current year—again after adjusting for the careers service transfer—or 2·23 per cent. after taking account of transfers to local authorities next year. I shall announce GAE figures for individual local authorities as soon as possible.

  Aggregate External Finance

  I further propose that Government-determined support for local authority current expenditure —aggregate external finance—should be set at £5,272·0 million for 1994–95. This is an increase of 2·41 per cent. on the current year's figure—again including an adjustment for the careers service transfer—or 0·97 per cent. excluding resources being transferred to local authorities to meet the cost of additional responsibilities, especially care in the community. In determining this AEF figure, I have assumed that local authorities will contribute £12·5 million to the next stage of unified business rate policy. I am announcing separately today details of the total reduction which I plan to make in Scottish business rates next year.

  Provisional Capping Principles

  To assist local authorities in their budgeting process, I have again decided to announce provisional capping principles for the year ahead. I have the power to cap a Scottish local authority either where I consider that its planned expenditure is excessive or where there is an excessive increase in its planned expenditure as compared with the previous year. My intended capping principles for 1994–95 are:
  1. any increase in budget between 1993–94 and 1994–95 of more than 1·75 per cent. will be an excessive increase if the resulting budget is above the local authority's grant-aided expenditure—GAE—assessment for 1994–95;
  2. any increase in budget between 1993–94 and 1994–95 of more than 1·25 per cent. will be an excessive increase if the resulting budget is over 5 per cent. above the local authority's GAE assessment for 1994–95;
  3. any increase in budget between 1993–94 and 1994–95 of more than 0·75 per cent. will be an excessive increase if the resulting budget is over 10 per cent. above the local authority's GAE assessment for 1994–95; and
  4. any budget for 1994–95 more than 12·5 per cent. above the local authority's GAE assessment will be excessive save that:
  (a) if that budget is 30 per cent. or less above the authority's GAE assessment for 1994–95 and that budget is no greater than the budget set by that authority for 1993–94, the authority will not be capped;
  (b) if that budget is not more than 60 per cent. or less above the authority's GAE assessment for 1994–95 and that budget is at least 5 per cent. below the budget set by that authority for 1993–94, the authority will not be capped;

  479
  (c) if that budget is at least 10 per cent. below the budget set by the authority for 1993–94, the authority will not be capped.

  These principles are necessarily provisional. Before taking my decisions on capping, I will, of course, take into account all appropriate considerations.

  Council Tax Transitional Relief Scheme

  In the current year, provision was made for a transitional relief scheme to ensure that during the phasing-in of the council tax no household faced too great an increase in its bill as a result of the change in the tax system. I intend that this scheme will continue in 1994–95 so that those taxpayers who faced the largest increases in the current year will continue to receive assistance at an appropriate level. In general, they will receive the amount of relief granted in 1993–94 less an amount ranging from £67 a year for band A to £137 a year for band H. I estimate that this scheme will cost approximately £5 million and this will be funded in addition to the AEF sum announced above.

  In determining the local government finance settlement for next year, I have taken full account of the views the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has expressed to me. However, as I made clear to the convention at a meeting on 29 October, I regard its proposals as unrealistic, especially given the Government's view that increases in pay for public sector employees next year would require to be funded by efficiency savings. I made it clear to COSLA at the above meeting that I expected this policy to apply to Scottish local authorities and the settlement I am announcing today has been determined on that basis. The settlement includes provision for additional burdens being placed on local authorities next year including the introduction of devolved school management, child care and preparing for local government reform and water and sewerage restructuring.

  Having regard to the low level of inflation and the Government's approach to public sector pay, this is a realistic settlement. I hope that in the light of it, local authorities will budget sensibly for next year. If they do not, I shall not hesitate to use my capping powers.

  Rates
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on non-domestic rates for 1994–95.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government remain firmly committed to the objective of reducing Scottish business rates to the level of the English national non-domestic rate—NNDR. I intend to prescribe rate poundages for 1994–95 at a level which will mean that Scottish businesses will pay £60 million less than they would otherwise have done next year. This reduction takes account of the business rates measure which my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Budget speech earlier today. I have decided that the most effective way to apply this measure to Scotland is to make a reduction in rate poundages next year which is £10 million greater than would otherwise have been possible.

  As a result of the Government's unified business rates policy and our earlier decision to limit increases in poundages to no more than the rate of inflation from 1989–90 onwards, the total reduction in Scottish business rates is now around £500 million.
  480
  The table shows the 1994–95 rate poundages which I intend to prescribe for each local authority in an order which I shall lay before the House very shortly. On the basis of those poundages, ratepayers in Berwickshire, Tweeddale, Moray and Gordon will join those in Kincardine and Deeside, Orkney and Shetland in being levied rates at the English NNDR level. Businesses in all other areas will have a cash reduction in their rates. All businesses benefit from the fact that, because of the low level of inflation, 1993–94 poundages have been uprated by only 1·7 per cent. I have again decided to make larger reductions to those poundages furthest from the English NNDR. As a result, the poundage reductions in real terms range from over 9·5 per cent in the case of Glasgow to 0·25 per cent. in the case of Gordon.

  Local authorities are being asked to contribute by means of efficiency savings £12·5 million to the £60 million reduction in business rates. The remaining £47·5 million reduction in non-domestic rate income will be offset by an increase in revenue support grant within the total of aggregate external finance for Scottish local authorities for 1994–95 which I have announced separately today.

  I have decided that the reduction in poundages should again be accompanied by a reduction in industrial derating. The level of derating will be reduced from 17·5 per cent. in the current year to 10·0 per cent. next year.

  Non-domestic rate poundages 1994–95

  Local authorities

  1994–95 poundages

  Borders

  36·5

  Central

  42·3

  Dumfries and Galloway

  38·9

  Fife

  46·8

  Grampian

  34·7

  Highland

  41·9

  Lothian

  48·2

  Strathclyde

  46·7

  Tayside

  43·6

  Berwickshire

  5·8

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  6·2

  Roxburgh

  6·7

  Tweeddale

  5·8

  Clackmannan

  5·8

  Falkirk

  4·6

  Stirling

  7·2

  Annandale and Eskdale

  5·2

  Nithsdale

  5·2

  Stewartry

  4·6

  Wigtown

  4·4

  Dunfermline

  1·1

  Kirkcaldy

  2·2

  North East Fife

  1·7

  Aberdeen City

  8·4

  Banff and Buchan

  7·8

  Gordon

  7·6

  Kincardine and Deeside

  7·6

  Moray

  7·6

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  2·2

  Caithness

  3·7

  Inverness

  2·7

  Lochaber

  4·5

  Nairn

  2·2

  Ross and Cromarty

  3·7

  Skye and Lochalsh

  3·6

  Sutherland

  2·6

  East Lothian

  1·8

  Edinburgh City

  1·6

  Midlothian

  1·8

  West Lothian

  1·1

  Argyll and Bute

  3·3

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  1·2

  481

  Local authorities

  1994–95 poundages

  Clydebank

  3·5

  Clydesdale

  2·5

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  2·5

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  2·7

  Cunninghame

  3·8

  Dumbarton

  3·3

  East Kilbride

  1·7

  Eastwood

  0·2

  Glasgow City

  6·2

  Hamilton

  3·0

  Inverclyde

  2·3

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  2·5

  Kyle and Carrick

  2·7

  Monklands

  3·0

  Motherwell

  2·5

  Renfrew

  3·0

  Strathkelvin

  2·3

  Angus

  3·2

  Dundee City

  5·9

  Perth and Kinross

  3·4

  Orkney

  42·3

  Shetland

  42·3

  Western Isles

  48·5

EDUCATION

  Schools, Castle Point
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of children in Castle Point will be educated in grant-maintained schools in the primary sector and in the secondary sector by 1 January 1994; and what outstanding grant-maintained status applications there are for schools in Castle Point.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on schools by parliamentary constituency is not collected centrally.

  It is estimated that by January 1994 11 per cent. of primary and 61 per cent. of secondary pupils in Essex will be in self-governing schools.

  On 29 November 24 schools—17 primary, seven secondary—in Essex had applications for grant-maintained status awaiting a decision, of which seven had a proposed incorporation date of 1 January.

  Literacy
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information he has on the proportion of those in social classes IV and V who are assessed as having difficulties with literacy and other basic skills.

  Mr. Boswell
  Information on the incidence of literacy and numeracy difficulties by social class is not currently available, but the Government-funded adult literacy and basic skills unit is currently working on an analysis of relevant research data, the results of which are expected to be published in the new year.

  Education and Training
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will provide a table showing for each standard region, with Greater London shown as a separate region, the total expenditure in 1992–93, and the budgeted 482
  expenditure in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 in respect of grants for education support and training, part to be included in single regeneration budget.

  Mr. Forth
  The only part of the grants for education support and training to be included in the single regeneration budget from 1 April 1994 will be the programme, "Raising Standards in Inner City Schools." The allocations made under this programme in 1992–93 and 1993–94 are shown in the table. Expenditure figures for 1992–93 are not yet available. Allocations for 1994–95 have not yet been decided and will be announced in due course. The programme ends in 1994–95.

  GEST: Raising standards in inner city schools

  Allocation by region

  1992–93

  1993–94

  £

  £

  Greater London

  2,262,729

  3,658,000

  Metropolitan boroughs

  3,776,920

  4,622,400

  Shire counties

  581,120

  1,846,500

  Student Loans
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will give details of the support that will be given to students through mandatory awards and loans in the academic year 1994–95.

  Mr. Patten
  I have laid before Parliament today the Education (Mandatory Awards) (No. 2) Regulations 1993 and, together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Education (Student Loans) (No. 2) Regulations 1993. The regulations include the new rates of grant and loan for the academic year 1994–95.

  The rates of loan available to students in 1994–95 will be 44 per cent. higher on average than in 1993–94. Taken together with the reduction in grant which I announced separately today, that will provide for a total level of support available through the main rates of grant and loan together which will be 4 per cent. higher than this year, thus maintaining its value in real terms.

  The main rates of grant and loan set out in the regulations are as follows:

  £

  Grant

  Loan (full year)

  Total

  Students living away from parents' home:

  In London

  2,560

  1,375

  3,935

  Elsewhere

  2,040

  1,150

  3,190

  Students living at parents' home

  1,615

  915

  2,530

  Note.—The loan rates shown here apply to students throughout the United Kingdom. The grant rates apply to students from England and Wales. The equivalent arrangements for Scotland and Northern Ireland are being announced separately.

  In addition, the parental and spouse's contribution scales are adjusted so that the contribution from a parent or a spouse whose residual income rises in line with average earnings will continue to fall in real terms. The supplementary allowances payable as part of the mandatory award are increased by 4 per cent. Loan rates for final year students are increased in proportion to the full-year rates of loan.

  The number of students in higher education is now higher than ever before: the participation rate of young

  483
  people has more than doubled in the past five years. Against that background, the Government believe in principle that graduates—as the main beneficiaries of higher education —should contribute a higher share of its costs. But no student will need to begin paying back their loan until after they have left their course and their income is higher than 85 per cent. of national average earnings—that is nearly £14,000 in today's prices. The Government will continue to keep the level of repayments under review.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement about his Department's expenditure plans for the financial years 1994–95 to 1996–97.

  Mr. Patten
  As my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his statement today, the Department for Education and OFSTED's spending programme in 1994–95 will total £10,487 million. That total is £670 million or 6·8 per cent. higher than equivalent expenditure in 1993–94.

  Total expenditure in 1995–96 is planned to be £11,059 million and in 1996–97 £11,392 million.

  Within these totals the Government have given priority to improving standards in schools through the self-governing—grant-maintained—schools programme. The planned growth in further education student numbers announced last year, to take the 16 to 18-year-old participation rate to record levels, will be sustained. Participation by young people in higher education will be stabilised at its present record level while higher education capital spending will be enhanced to meet the needs created by the recent rapid expansion in HE student numbers. In one of the most stringent public expenditure surveys for many years, the Government are reinforcing their commitment to education with 4·9 per cent. real terms growth in their expenditure on education over the next three years.

  Self-governing schools

  More than 1,000 schools have voted yes to self-governing status in ballots. The Government's expenditure plans provide for continuing growth in the sector in line with the forecast in the White Paper "Choice and Diversity" (Cm 2021) that, by 1996, most maintained secondary schools, as well as a significant proportion of maintained primary schools, would be self-governing.

  The great bulk of recurrent funding for self-governing schools is found within the totals for local authority expenditure. Central Government will increase their recurrent and capital grants to self-governing schools substantially over the next three years as their numbers grow. Central Government expenditure on self-governing schools is planned to total £157 million in 1993–94 and £244 million, £446 million and £595 million in 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97. The plans also allow for the Funding Agency for Schools, which will be established from 1 April 1994.

  Capital Expenditure on Schools

  Total central Government provision for capital expenditure on self-governing, voluntary-aided and LEA-maintained schools is £600 million, £606 million and £643 million in 1995–95, 1994–96 and 1996–97. Further
  484
  details of annual capital guidelines and allocations to voluntary-aided and self-governing schools will be announced later.

  Further Education

  Total recurrent spending is planned to rise from £2.549 million in 1993–94 to £2,679 million, £2,872 million and £2,920 million in 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97.

  Last year I announced that the Government were giving a high priority to the launch of the new sector of further education. We set ourselves to increase the number of students in FE by 25 per cent. between 1992–93 and 1995–96, taking the United Kingdom to the top of the international league for participation in education among 16 to 18-year-olds, and representing a substantial step towards the achievement of the national targets for education and training. We are on target to meet that projection.

  In a demanding public spending round the Government must look to the further education sector for some increase in efficiency in this period of dramatic growth. The plans announced today allow for the forecast increase in student numbers up to 1995–96 to be met in full, with an additional increase of 3 per cent. between 1995–96 and 1996–97 to maintain the 16 to 18-year-old participation rate.

  Capital expenditure is planned to be £157 million, £159 million and £159 million in 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97. This will enable the Further Education Funding Council to continue to improve the state of accomodation and the stock of equipment.

  The Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement of 14 September 1993 set out the Government's approach to public sector pay in the year now beginning. I shall set as a condition of my grant to the FEFC that it requires the institutions it funds to take account of the principles set out in the Chancellor's statement, and in particular of the need to cover higher pay costs from within efficiency improvements, in 1994–95. I shall in addition hold back £50 million of grant from the FEFC, to be released when there has been satisfactory progress within colleges towards more flexible contracts of employment.

  Higher Education

  Student Numbers

  The number of students in higher education has grown even faster than expected in the Government's spending plans last year. The proportion of young people entering higher education is now around 30 per cent.—close to the projection of one in three for the year 2000 set out in the Government's Higher Education White Paper in May 1991.

  This represents a remarkable achievement. But there is a limit to the burden of funding for higher education which the taxpayer can bear. The student numbers underlying the Government's spending plans announced today accordingly assume that the proportion of young people entering higher education will remain at the current record level for the next three years before rising to one in three by the end of the decade.

  Because of demographic trends, this means reductions of nearly 3·5 per cent. in the number of new entrants to higher education next year, with a smaller reduction the year after, followed by increases from 1996–97 onwards. If trends in A-levels and equivalent qualifications are maintained, there is likely to be a further small tightening in standards of entry to higher education.
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  In order to allow for the rising number of entrants enrolled in recent years, the expenditure plans provide for total full-time equivalent student numbers in higher education in England to rise by 90,000 or 10 per cent. between 1993–94 and 1996–97.

  The rapid growth in student numbers has imposed a large extra burden on the taxpayer. The Government believe that a fairer distribution of this burden is needed between the taxpayer and those who benefit from higher education. They have therefore carried out a review of the funding of higher education, as have the university vice-chancellors. The expenditure plans announced today reflect the outcome of that review. There will be changes in funding to remove the incentive to expand and in student support, as described below.

  Tuition Fees

  The Government will continue to reimburse the tuition fees charged to students up to the maxima specified through the mandatory awards system. In order to stay within the expenditure plans, it is essential that student numbers are now maintained at the planned level. To that end, the maximum tuition fees reimbursed through the mandatory awards system in 1994–95 will be reduced by 45 per cent. for each fee band. The new maxima for each band are as follows:

  £

  Classroom-based courses

  750

  Laboratory and workshop-based courses

  1,600

  Clinical courses

  2,800

  In addition, I have stressed to the Higher Education Funding Council for England the importance of delivering through its funding methodology for universities and colleges the planned numbers of students.

  The reduction in tuition fees will have no effect on the planned level of funding per student in higher education. Some £474 million will be transferred in 1994–95 from mandatory awards to Funding Council grant to compensate for the lower yield from tuition fees. If universities and colleges recruit the numbers of students assumed in the Government's plans, they will suffer no loss of income as a result of the reduction in fees.

  Funding Council Grant

  Recurrent grant for the HEFCE—including compensation for the reduction in tuition fees—is planned at £3,096 million, £3,350 million and £3,342 million in 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97 respectively. The increase next year in the recurrent funds available to universities and colleges, including both grant and tuition fees, will be 6·7 per cent.

  Capital grant will be £322 million, £381 million and £424 million in 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97 respectively. This is a rise in real terms of 20 per cent. between 1993–94 and 1996–97. This substantial increase reflects the need for capital investment to help with the growth of student numbers in recent years and later in the decade, together with the reorganisation of medical education and research in London following the Tomlinson report.

  As with the FEFC, I shall set as a condition of my grant to the HEFCE that it requires the institutions it funds to take account of the principles set out in the Chancellor's
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  statement of 14 September, and in particular of the need to cover higher pay costs from within efficiency improvements.

  Student Support

  For 1994–95, the Government will continue to maintain the real value of the funds offered to students through the main rates of grant and loan and supplementary grants, which together will increase by 4 per cent. in cash. Reductions in the main rates of grant of 10 per cent. against their 1993–94 levels will be offset by increases in loan entitlements. Similar adjustments will be made over the next two years; on present estimates they will bring the grant and loan into broad balance in 1996–97. This shift from grant to loan represents an acceleration of the Government's existing plans.

  The contribution of parents whose income rises at the same rate as average income will continue to fall in real terms. Loan rates for final year students will increase in proportion to the full year rates of loan. As now, students will not have to begin to repay their loans until they leave their courses and their incomes are higher than 85 per cent of national average earnings: that is nearly £14,000 in 1993 prices. The Government will keep the level of loan repayments under review.

  Following a review of the access funds which help students who might otherwise have difficulty in completing their courses, we have increased the funds to £27 million in each year.

  British Council
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress has been made towards the merger between the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges and the British Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  The merger between the central bureau and the British Council will take place on 1 December. This is a most welcome development. In approving it the Government have taken steps to ensure that the central bureau will maintain its own distinct identity within the British Council. Besides the organisational benefits inherent in the merger, the central bureau's wealth of experience and its internationally respected position in the field of education will complement the British Council's work in promoting Britain and in supporting education and training projects around the world. In its turn the central bureau will be able to draw on the British Council's worldwide network in promoting the international dimension in schools and colleges all over the United Kingdom.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Hills and Uplands
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the autumn review of economic conditions in the hills and uplands is complete; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The incomes of hill farmers have risen for two years and are forecast to rise for a third. Figures produced for the autumn review and agreed with the farming unions show that the average net farm incomes
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  of cattle and sheep farms in less-favoured areas rose in real terms by 33 per cent. last year and are forecast to rise by a further 28 per cent. this year. This is good news for the hill farming community. It results from a combination of factors, but in particular total direct livestock subsidy payments to hill farmers are forecast to have increased substantially over the two years to 1993–94. This demonstrates the Government's firm commitment to farming in the hills and uplands. I have today placed in the Library of the House a copy of the statistical tables which formed the basis of the autumn review this year.

  Hill sheep farmers have benefited through increases in the rates of sheep annual premium arising from the currency movements following the United Kingdom's departure from the exchange rate mechanism in September last year. Suckler cow producers will benefit from the agreed substantial increases in suckler cow premium which, taking into account the extensification premium, will total over £93 per head for 1993 compared with £59 per head under the 1992 scheme. These are very real benefits for the hill farming community.

  The economic situation is such that I am able to reduce the rates of allowances for the 1994 HLCA scheme without adversely affecting the long-term viability or well-being of the industry. The rates of allowance for the severely disadvantaged areas will be reduced by £15·80 to £47·50 for cattle, by £0·75 to £5·75 for hardy breed ewes and by £0·60 to £3·00 for other ewes. Rates in the disadvantaged areas will be reduced by £7·90 to £23·75 for cattle and by £0·42 to £2·44 for ewes. I have today laid regulations before Parliament to give effect to these new rates.

  The substantial increase in net farm incomes to which I referred earlier represents almost an extra £100 million a year overall to hill farmers in 1993–94. Even after the reductions in rates which I have announced, hill farmers will continue to be better off and will have achieved a net gain. This is partly accounted for by the fact that direct subsidies to cattle and sheep farmers in the less-favoured areas are estimated to total at least £550 million in 1994.

  While I acknowledge that HLCAs continue to play a vital role in the viability of hill farms it is indisputable that the continued rise in the level of other subsidies available to hill farmers has reduced the relative importance of HLCAs. The Government remain committed to the future of hill farming in the United Kingdom and will act as necessary to ensure the viability of this vital sector of the United Kingdom agricultural industry.

  Priorities Board
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she has received a report from the priorities board for research and development in agriculture and food; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The priorities board for research and development in agriculture and food has submitted its report to Agriculture Ministers and the chairman of the Agricultural and Food Research Council and it is published today.

  In producing its report the board has taken into account the recommendations of its six advisory sectoral groups. It has developed its recommendations on the basis of level funding and has therefore balanced recommendations for increased funding in support of high priority work with others suggesting areas where work could be reduced.
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  The board has recommended that funding of the horticulture and food sectors should be increased, that a new programme of research into non-food crops should be initiated, and that to provide funding for these recommendations, research in the animals sectors, particularly on ruminants, and in the arable crops area should be reduced. The board has also recommended that research in the environmental sector should be maintained at its present level. The board has recommended considerable re-direction of funding within all the sectors to provide for new high priority research.

  The board has also recommended that the agriculture departments and the Agricultural and Food Research Council should continue to provide a forum in which scientists, policy makers and industrialists can meet to ensure that publicly and privately funded research and development align effectively. However, having fulfilled its present remit it has said that it considers another full-scale review of priorities unnecessary for a while. As a non-departmental public body the board is due for periodic review in 1994. With this in view, the Government have therefore decided to dissolve the board, with effect from the end of this year.

  We are grateful to Sir Anthony Tennant and all the members of the board for the work they have put into this report. The recommendations contained in it will, subject to a full consideration of the resource implications, help to guide the allocation of resources in the future research and development programme. Discussion will be held between the agriculture departments and the Agricultural and Food Research Council to plan the implementation of the recommendations.

  Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House.

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

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Pursuant to my answer of 29 November 1993, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and I have carefully considered the representations made to us since we were given powers in the Agriculture Act 1993 to revoke the scheme.

  Having considered all the arguments with great care, we have concluded that the scheme must come to an end, on trading and deregulatory grounds. We are persuaded of the benefits of the free market for the whole of our industry —growers, processors and also for consumers.

  Timing, however, is very important. We accept the arguments of the board and the union that our growers, having been tightly regulated for 60 years, are not ready to be thrust immediately into a totally free market. We consider that three years is a reasonable period to allow for transition, and are therefore prepared for the scheme to continue in modified form for the marketing years 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97 and then end. We will, however, take a further look at the potato market before the consultation on the order to revoke the scheme which is required by the Act.

  In the meantime, we need transitional arrangements in order that the industry can adapt towards the free market in the most constructive way.
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  The proposals made by the PMB and NFU form a very good basis for such a transition. On this basis we propose the following modified arrangements:
  Quota flexibility should be introduced, allowing a registered producer's plantings to vary by up to 5 per cent. above or below quota without penalty.
  Planting threshold for registration in the scheme should be raised from 0-4 to 1 hectare, exempting more growers from the need to register.
  The special schemes for encouraging growing on contract should continue at their present level of uptake.
  Intervention buying should cease, except for intervention on seed potatoes, funded by seed producers themselves.
  The levy on growers should be reduced to the level appropriate for funding the board's other activities such as research, promotion and provision of market information.
  The board membership should be reduced, and means be found of broadening representation on it.
  Licensing and registration of potato merchants should cease.

  Some of these changes would require amendments to the scheme, but the most significant changes could be introduced for the 1994–95 season, if not sooner.

  This package of measures will allow our industry to move in an organised way towards a free market, which will be of benefit to growers and purchasers of potatoes and to our competitiveness in markets abroad.

  Water (Pesticides)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what communications she has had with the European Community Environment Commissioner this year on the European Community limits on pesticides in drinking water.

  Mr. Soames
  My Department works closely with the Department of the Environment which has lead responsibility for drinking water. I have had no direct contact with the Environment Commissioner this year on the EC limits for pesticides.

  Flood Warnings
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action her Department is taking in providing and maintaining flood warning sirens; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Following the decision last year by my right hon. Friend the then Home Secretary that the obsolete national air raid warning siren system should be closed as soon as possible, local authorities which used the system for flood warning purposes were invited to take over the equipment and be responsible for its upkeep. I understand that discussions subsequently took place between the Home Office, local authorities and British Telecom about the maintenance of these systems. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food wrote to the chairman of British Telecom on 9 November seeking his support in ensuring that the siren systems used for flood warning purposes are maintained by them in an operational state at least until the end of the present winter storm tide season in March-April 1994. It is anticipated that the authorities concerned will have alternative arrangements in place before winter 1994–95.

  Food Trade Fair
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the British Food Organisations that exhibited at the recent food trade fair held in Cologne.
  490
  Mr. Jack
  The bodies principally concerned with organising the substantial British presence at Anuga 1993 were:

  Food From Britain

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  Milk Marketing Board

  Potato Marketing Board

  Rural Development Commission

  Trade Promotions Scotland

  Seafood from Shetland

  Welsh Food Promotions

  Welsh Lamb Enterprise

  Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland.

  Nuclear Waste (Dumping at Sea)
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether Her Majesty's Government intend to file a declaration of non-acceptance in relation to the London convention decision in favour of a permanent worldwide ban on nuclear waste dumping at sea; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  We are currently considering our position in relation to the recent London convention decision to introduce a permanent ban on the disposal of radioactive waste at sea.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what considerations underlay the United Kingdom's abstention at the London convention on nuclear waste dumping at sea and the proposal for a permanent worldwide ban on such dumping.

  Mr. Jack
  We believe that the option of sea disposal for large bulky wastes arising from the decommissioning of nuclear power stations and submarines should not be foreclosed as it may represent the best practicable environmental option for these wastes. The United Kingdom has no immediate plans to dump such wastes at sea and is actively pursuing a land-based option.

  Bovine Embryos
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans she has to bring forward detailed regulations on bovine embryo collection and transfer.

  Mr. Soames
  Regulations to govern bovine embryo collection and transfer have been laid before Parliament today—30 November—to come into operation on 21 December 1993.

  Orange Juice
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amount of sugar is permissible in one litre of(a) orange juice and (b) pure orange juice before it has to be listed as an ingredient; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Any orange juice to which sugar has been added must declare "sugar" in the ingredient listing. The word "pure" must not be used if it is likely to mislead the consumer.

  Countryside Survey
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether she has discussed with the Secretary of State for the Environment the results of the countryside survey 1990 and the implications of these results for his Department.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have regular contact with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The results of the survey will be taken fully into account in the continuing development of our policies for the countryside.

  Forestry Commission (Nottinghamshire)
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list for each separate piece of land currently owned or leased by the Forestry Commission in Nottinghamshire(a) its name and (b) its area in hectares; and if she will place a map in the Library which names and identifies each of these pieces of land.

  Mr. Jack
  The Forestry Commission manages 5,644 hectares of land in Nottinghamshire. A map showing the location of the individual areas has been placed in the Library.

  The more detailed information requested on the individual areas is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Fur Farms
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) mink and (b) arctic foxes have been kept on fur farms in the United Kingdom in each year since 1984; and how many there are at present.

  Mr. Soames
  The Mink (Keeping) Order 1992, which requires that mink farms be licensed by Agriculture Departments, does not require regular returns of the number of mink kept. However, best estimates suggest that the number of mink being kept in the United Kingdom has fallen from approximately 100,000 in 1987 to some 47,000 in 1992. Information is not collected on the keeping of arctic foxes.

  Sheep Quota
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she will be laying an order to enable the opening of the sheep quota national reserve; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The relevant legislation will be made very shortly. Our aim is to begin allocations in the early part of next year.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she expects to be able to confirm the size of the sheep quota national reserve, to announce arrangements for its allocation and to settle outstanding claims; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 23 November 1993): The relevant legislation will be made shortly. Applications to the reserve will then be invited. I hope to be able at that stage to give details of the amounts of quota currently available in the reserve, but as I have made clear on previous occasions, the size of the reserve will be limited. Our aim is to begin allocations in the early part of next year.

ENVIRONMENT

  City Pride
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had regarding city pride.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department has had constructive discussions with the three city pride cities, London, Birmingham and Manchester, about taking forward this new initiative.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will tabulate the capital financing element, the equivalent budgeted net revenue expenditure on capital financing, the differences between them, the relevant population, and the difference per head of that population for each local authority in England for each of the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94, in a manner similar to those tables published in the Official Report, 19 February 1992, columns 193-200.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his proposals for the appropriate level of aggregate local authority spending in 1994–95, and the level of central support for that spending.

  Mr. Gummer
  I propose that total standard spending—TSS—for 1994–95 should be £42·664 billion for England, £1·496 billion above this year's figure. This total includes the new transitional community care special grant of £736 million announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for Health on 29 October. After adjusting for changes in local authority functions and excluding community care, TSS in 1994–95 represents an increase of 2·3 per cent. over this year.

  I propose that the level of aggregate external finance—AEF—distributed to local authorities in England in 1994–95 should be —34·3129 billion, £1·0385 billion higher than this year. This figure also includes the £736 million transitional community care special grant.

  I also propose that the non-domestic rate poundage for 1994–95 in England should rise by 1·7 per cent. to 42·3p, reflecting the annual increase in the retail prices index to September. This will ensure that the benefit of the Government's success in tackling inflation will once again be passed on in full to businesses.

  I propose to set the distributable amount of non-domestic rates at £10·685 billion. I propose that the total of revenue support grant should be £18,496,837,001. Specific and special grants within AEF will amount to £5,131,062,999.

  I shall announce shortly my proposals for the distribution of Government grants, including the outcome of my review of standard spending assessments. At the same time, I shall announce my current capping intentions. I shall also set out my proposals for the second year of transitional assistance to those households which faced significant increases in their local tax bills following the introduction of the council tax, and for meeting the transitional costs of local government reorganisation.

  It is essential that local and central Government continue to play their part in restraining expenditure. Our

  493
  overriding priority is to reduce the public sector deficit. My proposals for total standard spending, aggregate external finance and the non-domestic rate poundage represent a balanced approach to the funding of local authority services in 1994–95. I look to local authorities to take the same responsible attitude in determining their spending priorities and setting their budgets in 1994–95.

  Housing Association Grant
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what he expects to be the average percentage housing association grant payable in England in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95.

  Sir George Young
  The average housing association grant rate set for:

  (a) 1993–94 was 67 per cent.; and

  (b) 1994–95 is 62 per cent.

  The average actually paid to associations will not be known until after the end of the financial year in question. However, I would expect that, as in 1992–93, the average will be lower than that set, as a result of efficiency gains and associations' willingness to contribute to developments from their own resources.

  Waste Water
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has recently had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in regard to the new estimated increase in costs needed to meet the EC waste water directive.

  Mr. Yeo
  These matters have in the usual way been the subject of collective discussion.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received from the European Environmental Bureau in regard to the United Kingdom's environmental protection policies.

  Mr. Yeo
  I have seen the proposals from the European Environmental Bureau for a declaration on sustainable development by the European Council. I expect to meet United Kingdom members of the EEB on 6 December.

  Docklands Light Railway
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the extension of the docklands light railway to Beckton to commence services.

  Mr. Baldry
  The opening of the extension of the docklands light railway to Beckton is being delayed by the late delivery of operating software for the new Seltrac signalling system being supplied by Alcatel. All other elements are in place and fully functional. It is anticipated that the opening should take place early next year, once Docklands Light Railway Ltd. is confident that the contractor has delivered a system that will provide a fully reliable service to the public.

  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of the docklands light railway.
  494
  Mr. Gummer
  I welcome the Chancellor's announcement in his Budget statement today that a new extension of the docklands light railway to Lewisham will be built and financed by the private sector.

  Private sector companies will be invited to bid during 1994 for a concession to construct the extension. Construction on the £100 million project is expected to start soon after and the extension should open in 1997–98.

  This is another major step toward improving London's infrastructure and I am pleased to give it my approval. This scheme, together with the £1·9 billion Jubilee line extension, highlights the Government's commitment to public transport in London. The Government have already confirmed that a new east-west link, the crossrail scheme, will go forward as a joint venture with the private sector.

  The extension of the docklands light railway under the Thames to Greenwich, Deptford and Lewisham will help reduce the barrier effect of the Thames, providing an important new public transport link. It will also provide tourists with a new connection between the City and Greenwich and will benefit Kent commuters by providing a new interchange for travel into the City and east London. It will boost the regeneration of both the docklands and of the areas the new extension will serve. I am asking DLR Ltd. and its owners—the London Docklands development corporation—to give this project top priority.

  The extension, which received parliamentary approval in May this year, will go through a new tunnel under the Thames south of the Isle of Dogs and terminate at Lewisham where it will connect with British Rail. The journey time from Lewisham to the City will be less than 25 minutes; from Lewisham to Canary Wharf about 15 minutes. The costs of the project have been closely examined and initial indications are that for the project to proceed, it may be necessary to omit two planned stations at Island Gardens and Cutty Sark. Consultation will take place before a final decision is taken.

  The project is a joint venture under the Government's private finance initiative which encourages private sector investment in capital projects which have traditionally been carried out by the Government. Lewisham council will contribute £5 million towards the joint venture.

  The Lewisham line will enhance the docklands light railway's commercial standing and help it prepare for privatisation, which will bring yet further improvements in the service to passengers. I am considering the options for privatisation in the light of expert advice and will announce my decision soon.

  Housing Grants
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number and value of home improvement and renovation grants paid to private owners and for tenanted properties in England since 1989.

  Sir George Young
  Information about home improvement and renovation grants paid in England for each year from 1989 to 1992 is shown in the publication "Housing and Construction Statistics 1982–1992".

  Total numbers and values of grants paid to private owners and tenants under the Housing Act 1985, the previous grants system, is shown in table 7.2. Similar information about activity under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the present grants system, is shown in tables 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5. Information about the sector

  495
  receiving renovation and disabled facilities grants is shown in table 7.8. Most common parts grants and all houses in multiple occupation grants will be for tenanted properties.

  A copy of this publication is in the Library.
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities have applied for Exchequer subsidies to help with costs associated with the option of reduction, clearance and closure of properties whose house prices are so low as to make renovation uneconomic; and how much these subsidies have been.

  Sir George Young
  When a property is found to be unfit, a local authority must determine the action necessary to deal with it. Its options include renovation, clearance and closure. The cost of renovation is one of the issues the authority should consider. Exchequer subsidy is available at 60 per cent. of the cost to the authority of the action determined on. In 1992–93 £18,466,309 was paid to 122 authorities in respect of clearance activity.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings have been sold by each local authority in England over the last five years(a) under the right to buy and (b) on any other basis.

  Sir George Young
  Tables showing the available information on right-to-buy sales and total council house sales for each English local authority in the period April 1979 to June 1993 were placed in the Library recently.

  Housing
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many housing association properties have been built in each local authority area in England over the last three years for(a) general need and (b) sheltered housing; and how many properties have been acquired by housing associations and renovated for renting over the same period.

  Sir George Young
  Estimates of the total numbers of housing association housebuilding completions within each local authority area in England for the latest three years are published in "Local Housing Statistics". Figures for 1990, 1991 and 1992 are in issues 103, 105 and 106 respectively.

  The Department collects information about special types of housing for the elderly, including sheltered dwellings. Figures for housing association completions of sheltered dwellings for each local authority area in England are also published in "Local Housing Statistics". Figures for 1990, 1991 and 1992 are in issues 99, 102 and 106 respectively.

  Figures showing renovation work completed by housing associations on dwellings for rent are available only for standard statistical regions. They are also shown in "Local Housing Statistics". Figures for 1990, 1991 and 1992 are in issues 101, 105 and 106 respectively.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate his Department has made of(a) the time or (b) the financial resources needed to resolve the housing problems in each local authority area of England.
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  Sir George Young
  No such estimate is possible. However, local authorities are responsible for drawing up comprehensive housing strategies for their areas, taking account of priority needs and available resources.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many families for whom the London borough of Wandsworth has a housing responsibility were living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation on 1 November;

  (2) how many people were on the Wandsworth council housing list on 1 November.

  Sir George Young
  The latest data available within my Department relate to the beginning of the current financial year when Wandsworth reported 407 households in bed-and-breakfast accommodation and 6,913 households on its waiting list.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new dwellings have been(a) built and (b) bought by each local authority in England over the past five years for (i) general need and (ii) sheltered housing.

  Sir George Young
  Estimates of the total numbers of local authority house-building completions within each local authority area in England in each calendar year 1988 to 1992 are in the publication "Local Housing Statistics". Figures for 1988, 1989 and 1990 are in issue No. 103, for 1991 in issue No. 105 and for 1992 in issue No. 106.

  The Department collects information about special types of housing for the elderly, including sheltered dwellings. Figures for local authority completions of sheltered dwellings for each local authority area in England are in certain issues of "Local Housing Statistics". Annual data for 1988 to 1992 are in issues Nos. 90, 94, 99, 102 and 106 respectively.

  Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

  The Department does not collect data on how many new dwellings are bought by local authorities for either general need or sheltered housing.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions have been made to assist authorities with clearance procedures for new house building; and if he will list what help has been given to each local authority in England over the last five years.

  Sir George Young
  It is for local housing authorities, in preparing comprehensive housing strategies for their areas and in performing their enabling role, to identify the problems and the solutions, working together with housing associations and the private sector. My Department helps where it can. Subsidy is available to help meet the costs of clearance activity.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many clearance projects in England have been delayed due to the problems of rehousing those that will be displaced in the process.

  Sir George Young
  The Department of the Environment does not collect statistics on delayed clearance projects.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present strategic guidance for the
  497
  provision of new dwellings in Doncaster, South Yorkshire; what meetings he has held with Doncaster metropolitan district council on this matter; and what allowance has been made for the need for more (a) student and (b) single-person accommodation in Doncaster.

  Sir George Young
  Regional planning guidance note 5 for South Yorkshire, issued in December 1989, indicates that Doncaster metropolitan borough council should, in the period between 1986 and 2001, plan for 14,000 dwellings to be provided in its area, either through new construction or by conversion of existing buildings. No further strategic guidance has been issued since 1989; but local planning authorities in Yorkshire and Humberside, including Doncaster MBC, are in the process of preparing regional planning advice which they hope to submit jointly to the Secretary of State around the end of the year. The Secretary of State will then prepare and issue for consultation draft regional planning guidance and, in doing so, will take into account the advice provided by the authorities.

  Officials have regularly attended meetings of the regional planning conference as observers and the Department helped to fund a study of population trends in the region in order to assist in the formulation of advice on housing provision.

  Allowance for single person and student accommodation is usually included within the overall estimate of dwellings to be provided, although it is noteworthy that in its 1993 housing strategy statement Doncaster MBC has identified no significant need for more single-person or student dwellings.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes to his estimates of local authority capital provision for housing set out in figure 80 of his Department's annual report 1993.

  Sir George Young
  Information on the Government's public expenditure plans for housing is contained in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", to be published by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer this afternoon. Separately, the Department will issue a press notice this afternoon, giving information on the programmes for which it is responsible. I will write to the hon. Member shortly when more detailed information becomes available.

  Boundary Commission
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has recently had with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and Wales with respect to English counties.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was abolished by section 24 of the Local Government Act 1992 which, by virtue of the Local Government Act 1992 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1992, was brought into force on 31 October 1992. Local government in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Drainage Boards
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by valuation tribunal the number of council tax appeals that have been received to 498
  date in respect of internal drainage boards; how many have been heard; what was the decision of the tribunal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Appeals to valuation tribunals in respect of internal drainage boards concern the valuation of agricultural land and buildings for purposes of drainage rates rather than of council tax. The information relates to valuation tribunal offices, which can cover one or more tribunals. The decisions of the tribunals are not available centrally.

  Information is provided below in respect of those offices reporting these appeals:

  Land Drainage Appeals to Valuations Tribunals in England by Tribunal Office: April— September 1993

  Office

  Received

  Resolved

  Avon and Gloucestershire

  21

  21

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

  3

  1

  Cambridgeshire

  33

  10

  Dorset and Somerset

  `79

  0

  East Sussex

  106

  1

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  43

  43

  Humberside

  72

  41

  Kent

  60

  7

  Lincolnshire

  251

  65

  Leicester, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire

  4

  0

  North Yorkshire

  28

  14

  Norfolk

  31

  0

  Suffolk

  20

  0

  West Sussex

  113

  0

  TOTAL

  864

  193

  1To July.

  Special Needs Allowance
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the impact of reductions in the transitional special needs management allowance on projects providing homes for people with drink, drug and mental health problems.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Housing Corporation is currently reviewing the funding arrangements for special needs schemes run by housing associations, including schemes for people with drug, alcohol and mental health problems, in the context of the new arrangements for community care. To assist with the introduction of community care, levels of transitional special needs management allowance funding are continuing unchanged during 1993–94. No decisions have been taken yet on funding for future years.

  Regent's Park Barracks
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations and individuals who have so far written to his Department opposing the erecting of a multi-storey car park at the Regent's Park barracks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department has received five letters about this proposal, including one from the London borough of Camden.

  Urban Areas
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to assist shopping provision and infrastructure within urban areas which are currently poorly provided for.
  499
  Mr. Baldry
  The recently revised planning policy guidance note 6—PPG6—"Town Centres and Retail Developments" sets out our planning policies for retail development. A major aim of the guidance is to sustain or enhance the viability and vitality of town centres.

  The urban block of grants, particularly city challenge, will continue to provide assistance for local shopping schemes.

  The single regeneration budget, which will be introduced on 1 April 1994, will provide flexible support for regeneration and development in England in a way that meets local needs and priorities.

  World Conservation Monitoring Centre
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what meetings he has recently held, or plans to hold, with the World Conservation Monitoring Centre in Cambridge.

  Mr. Yeo
  None. We value highly the centre's work on biodiversity and the wildlife trade and wish it well in its new headquarters, opened by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh on 25 November.

  Seal Products
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will itemise the legislation of the last 10 years at national and EC levels which has implemented the EC agreement to ban the importation of seal products.

  Mr. Yeo
  Relevant legislation is as follows:EC directive 83/129, which required member states to ban the importation of the skins of whitecoat pups of harp seals and pups of hooded seals—blue-backs—or articles made from them, for a period of two years from 1 October 1983;
  the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 (Modification) Order 1983 (No. 1609), which implemented the directive by adding skins of harp and hooded seals to schedule 3 to the Act;
  EC directive 85/444, which extended the ban on importation to 1 October 1989;
  the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 (Variation) Order 1985 (No. 1502), which restricted indefinitely the import and export of skins and skin articles;
  EC directive 89/370, which extended the ban on importation indefinitely.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has received on moves to allow the importation of seal products into the United Kingdom and other parts of the EC.

  Mr. Yeo
  I understand that the European Commission may propose the amalgamation of a number of measures, including the EC directive which bans the importation of certain seal products. We shall consider the implications of any such proposals very carefully.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to lay before Parliament regulations to abolish the client contribution payable towards the cost of work which is grant aided under the home energy efficiency scheme.

  Mr. Yeo
  Regulations to abolish the client contribution payable by those receiving grant under the home energy efficiency scheme were laid before the House of Commons on 18 November. Subject to parliamentary approval, they are expected to come into force on 9 December.

  Housing Corporation
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amendments he proposes to make to the estimates of output for the Housing Corporation's approved development programme set out in figure 78 of his Department's annual report 1993.

  Sir George Young
  I shall be considering what revisions are needed to the figures in table 78 of the [993 annual report in producing the Department's 1994 report early next year.

  Housing Revenue Account
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the total amount of housing revenue account subsidy payable to local housing authorities in England in 1992–93, and his estimates for 1993–94 and 1994–95 indicating separately the housing and the housing benefit components, and showing the difference between the actual subsidy payable and the amount which would have been payable if expenditure on rent rebates had qualified in full for subsidy.

  Sir George Young
  The latest estimates for total housing revenue account subsidy payable are contained in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", to be published by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer this afternoon. I will write to the hon. Member shortly when the more detailed information requested becomes available.

  Air Monitoring (London)
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many air monitoring units there are in(a) the Greater London area and (b) north and north-west London.

  Mr. Yeo
  The number of the Department of the Environment's air quality monitoring sites in both Greater London and north and north-west London are given in the table.

  Site type

  Greater London

  North and north-west London

  Automatic Samplers

  6

  5

  Smoke/SO2 Network1

  15

  11

  NO2 Diffusion Tubes1

  17

  14

  Toxic Organic Micro Pollutants

  1

  1

  Multi-Element and Lead

  3

  3

  Total

  42

  34

  1Monitoring undertaken in collaboration with local authorities.

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment where the air monitoring units for north London are sited.

  Mr. Yeo
  The location of my Department's air quality monitoring sites in north London are given in the table.
  501

  Site type

  Location

  Continuous:

  Enhanced Urban Site

  Camden (Bloomsbury)

  Hydrocarbon Site

  Camden (University College)

  NOx, O2 CO, SO2

  Westminster (Victoria)

  NOx, CO

  Kensington and Chelsea; Earls Court

  NOx, CO, SO2

  Kensington and Chelsea; Cromwell Road

  Smoke/SO21

  Ealing (2)

  Enfield

  Hackney

  Harrow

  Islington

  Kensington and Chelsea

  London (City)

  Redbridge

  Tower Hamlets

  Westminster

  NO2Diffusion Tubes1

  Barking

  Barnet

  Brent

  Camden

  Ealing

  Enfield

  Hackney

  Havering

  Hillingdon

  Islington

  Kensington and Chelsea

  London (City)

  Waltham: Forest

  Westminster

  Toxic Organic Micropollutants

  Westminster

  Multi-Element and Lead

  Brent

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Westminster

  1Monitoring undertaken in collaboration with local authorities.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effect on the private finance initiative of the present rules governing the treatment by local authorities on(a) capital expenditure, (b) capital receipts, (c) leasing, (d) transactions involving local authority companies, (e) guarantees, (f) equity investment by local authorities and (g) competition for public sector contracts; and what proposals he has to amend these rules in order to increase local authorities' ability to participate in the private finance initiative.

  Mr. Gummer
  The rules to which the hon. Member refers provide a framework within which local authorities can collaborate with the private sector. Within them, authorities have developed excellent plans under, for example, city challenge and urban regeneration programmes. I am always willing to consider suggestions which would help authorities to collaborate with the private sector without undermining the necessary constraints on public expenditure.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many projects involving local authorities and the private sector have been materially assisted by the private finance initiative since November 1992; and if he will list those projects showing for each(a) the estimated value of the project, (b) the expenditure to date,
  502
  (c) the nature of the material assistance from the private finance initiative and (d) all the sources of funding for the project and the amount from each source.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Department and its sponsored bodies attracted over £2 billion of private investment in support of departmental programmes in 1992–93, and similarly expects to lever in up to £3 billion of private funding in 1993–94. This will assist the implementation of a wide variety of projects, most notably in housing, inner cities and urban regeneration, with many directly or indirectly involving local authorities. Separately, many authorities are pursuing local initiatives and partnerships with the private sector. It is not practicable for the Department to collect information on each project.

  Nirex Repository
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what proportion of the waste to be stored in the proposed Nirex repository, including decommissioning materials, would come from(a) the thermal oxide reprocessing plant and (b) Magnox reprocessing on the assumptions made in drawing up the United Kingdom radioactive waste inventory;

  (2) if low-level organic radioactive waste will be dumped in the proposed Nirex repository.

  Mr. Yeo
  The types of waste disposed of in Nirex's repository will depend on the authorisations granted by the regulators.
  503
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what specifications he has issued as to the minimum depth of the proposed Nirex radioactive waste repository at Sellafield.

  Mr. Yeo
  None. It will be for Nirex to demonstrate the safety of its design.

  Fair Rents
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken to encourage greater exchange of information and views between rent officers and rent assessment panels to encourage general consistency of approach, following the recent announcement on the outcome of the consultation exercise on increases in fair rents.

  Sir George Young
  The educational trust of the Institute of Rent Officers has established a working party comprising rent officers and rent assessment panel members, to consider and clarify issues affecting the registration of fair rents in the light of changes in the market for rented housing. The working party aims to produce a report by next spring, which it hopes will assist rent officers and members of rent assessment panels in exercising their functions under the Rent Act 1977.

  Wind Energy
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the Government subsidy paid to developers of wind turbine farms is for decommissioning; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  The extent to which the price paid by the regional electricity companies, for electricity supplied under a contract entered into by them under the non-fossil fuel obligation, contributes to the particular generator's capital, operating or decommissioning costs, is a commercial matter for the generator.

  Countryside Survey
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has discussed with the Secretary of State for the Environment the results of the countryside survey 1990 and the implications of these results for his Department.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer to the answer given to the hon. Gentleman today by my hon. Friend the Minister of the Environment and Countryside.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has discussed with the Secretary of State for the Environment the results of the countryside survey 1990 and the implications of these results for his Department.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I have been asked to reply.

  Regular contact is and will continue to be maintained with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on matters such as this.

  Departments are committed to integrating environmental concerns into all policy areas. By 1997 the Countryside Council for Wales expects also to have completed the inventory of habitats in Wales at a phase 1 level of detail.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had on the 504
  implications of the countryside survey 1990 for Government policy with (a) the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, (b) the Secretary of State for Transport, (c) the Treasury, (d) the Secretary of State for Scotland and (e) the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friend maintains regular contact with his right hon. Friends on these matters and will continue to do so. They are as committed as he is to integrating environmental concerns into all policy areas.

  Doncaster Drainage Act 1929
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the amendments that have been made to date to the Doncaster Area Drainage Act 1929; what consideration is given to a new Act; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  I have been asked to reply.

  I am advised that most of the Doncaster Area Drainage Act 1929 was repealed by the Doncaster Area Drainage Act 1933. The other amendments known to have been made before 1974 are set out in the "Chronological Table of Local Acts", published in 1985 by the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission. The "Chronological Table of Acts of Parliament"—1992 edition—shows no specific amendments since 1974, but there will, of course, have been changes made by public general legislation. I am not aware of any new private Bill being prepared.

  Drainage Boards
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by each internal drainage board the representation of district council members who are(a) councillors and (b) non-councillors; and what their percentage of representation is of the whole membership per internal drainage board.

  Mr. Jack
  I have been asked to reply.

  In accordance with legislation which took effect on 1 April 1993, local authorities are entitled to appoint members to internal drainage boards in proportion to their financial contributions to the board's income, subject to their number not exceeding the number of members elected by agricultural drainage ratepayers by more than one. There are nearly 250 internal drainage boards in England and Wales and information about local authority representatives is not held centrally.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which TECs have met all the targets set down by his Department for two consecutive years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Two training and enterprise councils met all their targets for performance-related funding in both 1991–92 and 1992–93, Stockport and High Peak TEC and Northumberland TEC.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to make the training and enterprise councils more accountable to their local communities.
  505
  Miss Widdecombe
  TECs are already accountable to their local communities in a number of ways. They consult all local interests in preparing their strategies and plans. They publish summaries of these plans and hold public meetings at least annually. They also publish an annual report.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much public funding has been provided for the South West TEC based in Plymouth; and how many people are currently having help and training there to find work.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Employment Department has agreed a budget of £64·2 million for 1993–94 with Devon and Cornwall TEC.

  The TEC helps many people in many different ways. Numbers currently include 6,305 young people on youth training, 3,871 adults undertaking training for work and 127 participating in learning for work.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what level of accumulated reserves was held in total and by each TEC in England at 1 April 1992 and at 1 April 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The level of reserves held by each training and enterprise council—TEC—is contained within the TECs' published accounts. A full set of accounts for all 75 English TECs, for the year ending 31 March 1992, has already been placed in the House of Commons Library. Each TEC's accounts for the year ended 31 March 1993 is being placed in the Library as they become available to the Employment Department.

  TECs are allowed to generate a surplus and create a reserve by subcontracting at a lower unit price than negotiated with the Department. A surplus may also be generated where a TEC's administrative costs are kept below the management fee paid by the Department. The surplus is available to the TEC, with the agreement of the Secretary of State for Employment, for further expenditure on programmes—and TEC administrative costs—for initiatives outside the programmes but within the TEC's articles and memorandum of association, or as a contribution to the TEC's general reserves.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what powers training and enterprise councils have to switch their allocation of funds between various parts of their budgets; how much each TEC in England has transferred from the budgets it was allocated for youth training and employment training; to what purposes the funds were subsequently allocated; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Training and enterprise councils—TECs—may switch their allocation of funds between youth training, training for work—which replaced employment training—compacts, education business partnerships, and business and enterprise support, so long as no budget is increased or decreased by more than 5 per cent. TECs may also increase their learning from work budget by up to a maximum of 5 per cent.

  During the current financial year, five TECs have used this facility to]transfer funds out of either their youth training or training for work budgets. Details are shown in the table.
  506

  TEC

  Amount £

  Additional provision purchased

  Switches from youth training

  Avon

  258,000

  Training for work

  Birmingham

  928,000

  Training for work compacts Education business partnerships Business and enterprise support

  Central England

  216,000

  Training for work compacts Education business partnerships Business and enterprise support

  Wolverhampton

  149,000

  Training for work Business and enterprise support

  Switches from training for work

  Wearside

  251,000

  Youth training

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which TECs are using adult training credits within their training for work provision; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The following training and enterprise councils in England are currently using adult training credits within their training for work provision with assistance from the Department:

  Barnsley and Doncaster;

  Bedfordshire;

  Bradford;

  Cambsetc;

  Hertfordshire;

  Milton Keynes and North Bucks;

  North London;

  Rotherham;

  South Thames;

  Stockport and High Peak.

  In addition, a number of other TECs are issuing adult training credits within their training for work provision using other resources.

  Older Workers
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps the Government are taking to improve the employment prospects for people aged 50 years and above.

  Miss Widdecombe
  With inflation and interest rates lower than for many years, our economic policies are improving employment prospects for everyone. For older people, building on the work of my advisory group, I recently launched "Getting On"—a drive to combat ageism in the workplace and encourage employers to recognise the skills, experience and commitment older people offer.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds are on waiting lists for youth training places in the east midlands.

  Miss Widdecombe
  On 11 November there were 197 young people covered by the youth training guarantee who had been waiting for the offer of a YT place for eight weeks or longer in the Employment Department's east midlands region.

  Disability
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures his Department is taking to improve access to work for disabled people.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to improve the job opportunities for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A new scheme, called access to work, will improve the range and type of help currently available under the Department's special schemes and proposals have been published for improving the help available through the sheltered employment programme.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what consultations he has had with employers' organisations about the likely impact of changes in funding for access to work schemes; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what representations he has had from charities concerned with disability and employment on the proposals that employers should pay half the cost of employing people with disabilities who have been working for them for over six months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my noble Friend Lord Henley have been in correspondence with, and have met, a number of leading employer and disablement organisations about access to work, about which my right hon. Friend made a statement to the House on 22 June 1993,Official Report, column 102. When my right hon. Friend has reached decisions on details of access to work, including the employer contribution, a statement will be made to the House.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures he intends to take to reduce youth unemployment in Nottinghamshire.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The local employment service and training and enterprise councils deliver a wide range of employment, enterprise and training programmes to help young unemployed people in Nottinghamshire find the best and quickest route to employment. The Government's plans are kept continually under review. Any plans will be announced in the normal way.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effects on wage levels of the abolition of wages councils.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Abolition of the wages councils will enable the introduction of much greater flexibility in pay rates and more variation in pay structures. It is therefore not possible to make firm forecasts of the overall effect of abolition.

  Civilian Employment
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how the total of civilian employment in the south-eastern region has changed in the last 10 years.
  508
  Miss Widdecombe
  Between June 1983 and June 1993, the civilian work force in employment in the south-east rose by 169,000 or 2 per cent.

  Training
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people leaving employment training got a job in the last quarter for which figures are available.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest quarter for which figures are available is October 1992 to December 1992. Thirty-one per cent. of all employment training leavers in that quarter went into a job—slightly more than in the same period in 1991. In April 1993, employment training was replaced by training for work.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people were participating in(a) training for work—employment training/employment action, (b) community action, (c) learning for work, (d) workstart pilots, (e) North Norfolk Action, (f) the business start-up allowance, and (g) youth training for each region and for Great Britain as a whole in each month since March; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what number and percentage of those leaving employment training—training for work—were immediately on leaving, three months after leaving, and then six months after leaving, either (a) in a full-time job with their work experience employer, (b) in a full-time job with another employer, (c) employed in their own business, (d) in a part-time job, (e) in voluntary work, (f) on another Government training programme, (g) on a full-time education or training course, (h) unemployed and claiming benefit, (i) unemployed and not claiming benefit, (j) in a job club and (k) doing something else, in each region and for Great Britain as a whole.

  Miss Widdecombe
  As the information is contained in a large number of tables, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a table showing for each standard region, with Greater London shown as a separate region, the total expenditure in 1992–93, and the budgeted expenditure in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96, in respect of(a) programme development fund, (b) education business partnerships, (c) teacher placement service, (d) compacts/inner-city compacts, (e) business start-up scheme, (f) local initiative fund and (g) TEC challenge.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Total expenditure for 1992–93 and budgeted expenditure for 1993–94 are shown in the following tables, table 1 for programmes delivered through training and enterprise councils—TECs.

  Training, enterprise and education directorate—TEED—regional offices are currently finalising contracts with TECs for TEC challenge and the information requested is not yet available.

  Programme development funds are administered through the Employment Service whose regional boundaries are different from those of TEED. The information for these funds is shown in table 2.

  Budgets for 1994–95 and 1995–96 will be the responsibility of the Department of the Environment following the announcement on 4 November of integrated regional offices.
  509

  Table 1

  Total expenditure for 1992–93 and programme plans for 1993–94

  Education business partnerships

  Teacher placement service

  Compacts/Inner city compacts

  Total expenditure 1992–93

  Programme plans 1993–94

  Total expenditure 1992–93

  Programme plans 1993–94

  Total expenditure 1992–93

  Programme plans 1993–94

  South East

  271,471

  175,000

  388,568

  364,178

  114,459

  315,000

  London

  274,652

  290,668

  237,950

  292,014

  918,915

  825,000

  Eastern

  154,953

  115,000

  184,065

  247,697

  110,210

  230,000

  South West

  172,991

  129,730

  208,369

  217,719

  246,551

  317,250

  West Midlands

  220,830

  232,000

  264,759

  267,186

  643,424

  501,500

  East Midlands

  140,930

  115,000

  215,871

  195,995

  256,363

  392,000

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  189,346

  165,000

  221,173

  244,957

  729,518

  592,844

  Greater Manchester

  144,330

  147,000

  157,967

  162,000

  782,052

  466,800

  North West

  132,460

  143,000

  190,624

  225,000

  697,298

  818,000

  Northern

  105,251

  120,001

  127,161

  133,427

  661,576

  689,000

  England Total

  1,807,214

  1,632,399

  2,196,507

  2,350,173

  5,160,366

  5,147,394

  Local initiative fund

  Business start up scheme

  total expenditure

  programme plans

  total expenditure

  programme plans

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1992–93

  1993–94

  South East

  7,410,321

  4,616,703

  6,965,460

  8,579,810

  London

  7,433,386

  5,461,092

  7,430,643

  11,769,267

  Eastern

  2,337,807

  2,844,697

  2,542,104

  5,719,354

  South West

  6,369,115

  4,598,444

  6,949,773

  9,342,602

  West Midlands

  4,531,111

  3,696,004

  7,485,364

  9,683,651

  East Midlands

  4,369,307

  3,145,000

  6,136,123

  7,418,052

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  5,123,362

  8,558,600

  8,743,013

  11,199,176

  Greater Manchester

  3,479,910

  2,844,697

  6,023,815

  5,719,354

  North West

  2,320,109

  2,740,000

  6,158,712

  8,113,254

  Northern

  6,325,669

  3,567,248

  3,789,207

  5,290,509

  England total

  49,700,097

  42,072,485

  62,224,214

  82,835,029

  Total expenditure for 1992–93 and programme plans for 1993–94

  Programme development fund

  Total expenditure 1992–93

  Programme plans 1993–94

  London and South East

  591,164

  744,987

  South West

  362,774

  325,000

  West Midlands

  454,464

  375,000

  East Midlands

  322,718

  979,000

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  512,022

  500,000

  North West

  491,330

  460,000

  Northern

  712,836

  555,000

  England Total

  3,447,308

  3,938,987

  Employment Creation
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the differences between British employment creation measures and those of our EC partners.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Other EC Governments are increasingly coming to share the United Kingdom's Government view that only competitive industries and flexible labour markets generate new jobs.

  Full Employment
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his definition of full employment.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I do not believe it is possible or sensible to define a particular unemployment rate as "full 510
  employment". The aim of the Government's policy is to achieve high levels of employment, consistent with low inflation.

  Adult Unemployment
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage and number of adult male and female registered unemployed in the area including the Ilford, South constituency in October 1978 and October 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  On the basis of the available information, unadjusted male and female claimant unemployment for over 18-year-olds in Ilford, South stood at 2,432 and 1,099 respectively in October 1983, and 3,926 and 1,228 respectively in October 1993.

  Rural Areas
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what initiatives his Department is taking to create job opportunities in rural areas.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The promotion of enterprise, economic diversity and employment in rural areas is primarily the role of the Rural Development Commission and Scottish Enterprise. But acting through the Employment Service and training and enterprise councils, the Department has a range of facilities and programmes available to people in rural areas, to help equip them for work and enable them to take advantage of employment opportunities as they arise.

  Workstart Schemes
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in the workstart pilot schemes being run by his Department.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The programme is being piloted in four areas. Just over 100 long-term unemployed people are now involved in workstart.

  Benefit Payments
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many offices responsible for the payment of unemployment benefit have changed the day of the week on which payments are made(a) in the past 12 months and (b) in the past five years;

  (2) what is the total amount of money which has so far been withheld from claimants of unemployment benefit as a result of changes to the day on which benefit payments are made;

  (3) what is his latest estimate of the total amount of money withheld from claimants of unemployment benefit as a result of changes to the day on which benefit payments are made in each year since 1989–90 and in the current financial year to date.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for the subject of the questions 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. David Blunkett, dated 30 November 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write direct to respond to your Parliamentary Questions to him about the number of offices that have changed the day of the week on which payments are made in the last 12 months and the last five years; and, as a result of this, how much money has been withheld from claimants of unemployment benefit together with an estimate of the total amount of money withheld in each year since 1989–90 and in the current financial year to date. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  I am sorry that information is not available in the form you requested.
  The allocation of signing days is arranged individually by each ES local office. I am unable to say how many offices have changed clients' signing days in the last 12 months and in the last five years because this information is not collated or published.
  I can state however that no unemployment benefit (UB) has been withheld from clients due to a change in the day on which UB payments are made.
  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.

  Work Permits (St. Helena)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what he proposes to do to reduce the impact of phasing out the special work permit arrangements for St. Helenians coming to work in the United Kingdom.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The dependent territories quota scheme will be phased out by 1995. Discussions are 512
  continuing between Employment Department officials and other Government Departments about how St. Helenians might be helped to benefit from the training and work expereience provisions of the work permit scheme.

  Applications for work permits for St. Helenians outside the quota arrangements will continue to be considered against the normal work permit scheme criteria.

  Job Clubs
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have joined job clubs; how many have left; how many leavers got jobs; how many entered another positive outcome, in the year to April 1993, and since April 1993 for each region and for Great Britain as a whole; what is the average duration of time that people spend participating in job clubs and how many people are currently in job clubs; what information he has on the wage rates and conditions that apply to the jobs obtained by job club leavers; 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 Ms Clare Short, dated 30 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 Jobclub performance and the wage rates and conditions for Jobclub leavers. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The attached table shows for each region and nationally the number of Jobclub entrants, leavers, job entries and other positive outcomes for the whole of 1992/93 and from 1 April 1993 to 31 October 1993. Those who are shown as going into other positive outcomes will have moved on to either training, full-time education or self-employment.
  The average length of time people spend in Jobclub is not routinely recorded. A sample study in March 1993 showed that 60 per cent. leave within 12 weeks, 81 per cent. leave within 21 weeks and 8 per cent. leave after a stay of more than 26 weeks.
  Records of the number of people in Jobclub at any one lime are not kept. However, the attached table shows that 142,370 people joined the programme in the first seven months of the 1993/94 operational year, an average of 4,592 a week.
  The wage rates that apply to jobs found by Jobclub members were last examined in January 1991, based on a postal survey of individuals who joined in Autumn 1989. At that time, 26 per cent. of respondents went into jobs with a wage of up to £80 per week and a further 60 per cent. went into jobs which paid £81 to £160 per week and 15 per cent. received over £160 per week.
  The Employment Service is planning a wide ranging evaluation of its programmes and services which lead to jobs. This should begin in spring 1994 and will examine, amongst other things, the wage rates of leavers going into employment.
  No information has been collected about the conditions of employment for those leaving Jobclub.
  Jobclubs continue to be both popular with the people who join and an effective way of helping them back to work. We are now able to help more members than at any time before and 47 per cent. of leavers are successful in finding jobs.
  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.
  513

  Jobclub Performance Information

  Entrants

  Leavers

  Job entries

  Other positive outcomes

  April 1992 to March 1993

  April 1993 to October 1993

  April 1992 to March 1993

  April 1993 to October 1993

  April 1992 to March 1993

  April 1993 to October 1993

  April 1992 to March 1993

  April 1993 to October 1993

  Northern

  14,135

  8,342

  14,003

  8,594

  5,625

  3,614

  1,523

  860

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  19,071

  12,337

  18,477

  11,886

  8,722

  5,573

  2,771

  1,606

  East Midlands and Eastern

  19,895

  12,466

  19,426

  12,191

  9,310

  5,987

  3,050

  1,551

  London and South East

  65,316

  45,922

  63,769

  41,936

  26,048

  18,349

  9,585

  5,446

  South West

  16,036

  10,383

  15,301

  9,945

  7,327

  4,996

  2,259

  1,422

  Office for Wales

  12,666

  8,274

  12,084

  7,914

  6,355

  4,530

  1,693

  1,121

  West Midlands

  21,080

  12,456

  21,198

  12,304

  9,379

  5,937

  3,507

  1,981

  North West

  31,920

  19,258

  31,530

  19,767

  13,948

  8,919

  3,843

  2,190

  Office for Scotland

  20,878

  12,932

  20,891

  12,795

  10,211

  6,377

  2,722

  1,718

  National

  220,997

  142,370

  216,679

  137,334

  96,925

  64,282

  30,953

  17,898

  Investors in People Award
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers in each training and enterprise council area in England have been given the investors in people award; how many have made a commitment to meeting the standard; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The number of investors in people awards and commitments at 26 November by English training and enterprise council area is shown in the table.

  Awards

  Commitments

  Avon

  10

  128

  AZTEC

  6

  40

  Barnsley and Doncaster

  6

  37

  Bedfordshire

  8

  85

  Birmingham

  8

  18

  Bolton-Bury

  4

  39

  Bradford

  2

  74

  CAMBSTEC

  2

  27

  CEWTEC

  9

  28

  CILNTEC

  1

  27

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  1

  44

  Central England

  8

  23

  CENTEC

  4

  30

  County Durham

  8

  32

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  5

  39

  Cumbria

  2

  53

  Devon and Cornwall

  24

  73

  Dorset

  14

  79

  Dudley

  1

  24

  ELTEC

  7

  106

  Essex

  5

  23

  Gloucestershire

  26

  345

  Greater Nottingham

  3

  66

  Greater Peterborough

  1

  13

  HAWTEC

  6

  49

  Hampshire

  14

  184

  Heart of England

  9

  41

  Hertfordshire

  3

  28

  Humberside

  7

  98

  Isle of Wight

  0

  8

  Kent

  2

  41

  LAWTEC

  3

  56

  Leeds

  7

  78

  Leicestershire

  0

  44

  Lincolnshire

  1

  68

  London East

  3

  30

  METROTEC

  5

  28

  Manchester

  4

  79

  Merseyside

  7

  118

  Milton Keynes

  I

  11

  NORMIDTEC

  7

  50

  514

  Awards

  Commitments

  Norfolk and Waveney

  8

  19

  North Derbyshire

  7

  36

  North London

  1

  62

  North Nottinghamshire

  6

  36

  North West London

  2

  30

  North Yorkshire

  7

  73

  Northamptonshire

  5

  43

  Northumberland

  4

  12

  Oldham

  0

  18

  QUALITEC

  0

  12

  Rochdale

  1

  10

  Rotherham

  5

  31

  SOLOTEC

  1

  27

  Sandwell

  1

  22

  Sheffield

  3

  51

  Shropshire

  4

  31

  Somerset

  4

  53

  South and East Cheshire

  7

  48

  South Thames

  3

  53

  Southern Derbyshire

  12

  104

  Staffordshire

  4

  17

  Stockport and High Peak

  0

  59

  Suffolk

  4

  48

  Surrey

  6

  37

  Sussex

  8

  84

  Teesside

  7

  42

  Thames Valley Enterprise

  20

  99

  Tyneside

  12

  85

  Wakefield

  2

  22

  Walsall

  2

  27

  Wearside

  2

  14

  West London

  1

  44

  Wiltshire

  8

  53

  Wolverhampton

  3

  27

  At 26 November 1993, over 470 organisations in the United Kingdom had achieved the investors standard while over 4,330 had formally committed to achieving the standard.

  This is encouraging progress and demonstrates that employers are serious about their most valuable resource —their people. Over 10 per cent. of employees in employment are now covered by organisations recognised as or committed to investors in people.

  Training (Accidents)
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) fatal, (b) major and (c) minor accidents have occurred on youth training and on training for work for each available quarter since April in each region and in Great Britain as a whole; and if he will make a statement.
  515
  Miss Widdecombe
  The table gives the accident figures for the quarter April to June 1993, which are the latest available, for youth training and training for work.

  Youth training

  Training for work

  Region

  Fatal

  Major

  Minor

  Fatal

  Major

  Minor

  South East

  0

  8

  21

  0

  4

  1

  London

  0

  4

  13

  0

  0

  7

  Eastern

  0

  7

  32

  0

  2

  6

  South West

  0

  5

  15

  0

  1

  4

  West Midlands

  0

  13

  39

  0

  3

  7

  East Midlands

  0

  3

  26

  0

  1

  10

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1

  7

  57

  0

  0

  35

  North West

  0

  9

  46

  0

  1

  16

  Northern

  0

  5

  43

  0

  4

  25

  Scottish Enterprise

  0

  12

  45

  1

  3

  9

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Wales

  0

  4

  25

  1

  3

  22

  National totals

  1

  77

  364

  2

  22

  142

  Notes:
  1. Employment Department figures for trainees have been compiled on a similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive for employed persons. However, the Employment Department's figures include a number of accidents to trainees in educational establishments, and road traffic accidents, which would not have been reportable to the Health and Safety Executive had the individuals been employed.
  2. Major injuries are classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurences Regulations 1985.

  Agriculture Gangmasters
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether agricultural labour gangmasters are required to register as employment agencies; and how many gangmasters are registered in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Whether individual agricultural gangmasters are required to be licensed under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 depends upon their method of operation. If the hirer of workers exercises the control and supervision of workers hired out by a gangmaster, the gangmaster should be licensed. If the gangmaster retains control and supervision of the workers, his or her activities are those of a subcontractor and are outside the scope of the Act. There are currently two licensed gangmasters in Lincolnshire, five in Cambridgeshire and 17 in Norfolk.

  Learning for Work
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many learning for work places and what budget has been allocated to each training and enterprise council in England; how many people are currently on learning for work in each area; what monitoring information is collected about learning for work participants and the subsequent destinations they will be entering; how he plans to evaluate the programme; and if he will make a statement about its extension beyond 1994.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The number of learning for work places agreed with training and enterprise councils in England for 1993–94 and approximate numbers of participants reported by them as at 27 September are given in the table. Places will be allocated for 1994–95 in December. The budget the Department of Employment allocates to TECs to meet fees and expenses is commercial 516
  in confidence. However, £54 million is available in England for fees, allowances and other costs during the year ending August 1994.

  Monitoring and evaluation arrangements will provide information about starts, participants and qualifications. We are also monitoring take-up by gender and disability. The destinations of individuals leaving courses is being followed up. Information will also be analysed on costs and benefits.

  Learning for work is scheduled to continue until August 1994 when TECs will be free to use their experience of the arrangements to offer similar provision within training for work.

  Learning for work position at 27 September 1993

  National TEC name and TEED region(RO)

  Region—TEC position Places contracted and agreed (region-TEC) for 1993–94

  Starts

  Suffolk

  193

  57

  CAMBS

  171

  45

  Greater Peterborough

  167

  60

  Norfolk and Waveney

  623

  40

  Essex

  818

  200

  BEDS

  315

  51

  HERTS

  450

  180

  Total EASTERN RO

  2,737

  633

  Southern Derbyshire

  317

  106

  Leicester

  457

  100

  Greater Nottingham

  490

  40

  Northamptonshire

  294

  51

  North Derbyshire

  179

  0

  Lincolnshire

  216

  20

  North Nottinghamshire

  225

  14

  Total EAST MIDS RO

  2,178

  331

  Manchester

  916

  195

  Stockport and High Peak

  155

  13

  Oldham

  139

  27

  517

  National TEC name and TEED region (RO)

  Region—TEC position Places contracted and agreed (region-TEC)for 1993–94

  Starts

  Rochdale

  129

  34

  South and East Cheshire

  119

  13

  Bolton and Bury

  231

  41

  Metrotec

  0

  10

  Total NW (GM) RO

  1,689

  333

  Aztec

  375

  220

  Centec

  730

  146

  Cilntec

  508

  49

  Letec

  752

  n/a

  Nltec

  395

  250

  Nwltec

  360

  50

  Solotec

  528

  130

  Sttec

  1,109

  550

  Wltec

  602

  177

  Total LONDON RO

  5,359

  1,572

  Durham

  320

  43

  Northumberland

  149

  30

  Teesside

  479

  1

  Tyneside

  660

  82

  Wearside

  242

  n/a

  Total NORTHERN RO

  1,850

  156

  Cewtec

  360

  20

  Cumbria

  210

  34

  Eltec

  359

  60

  Lawtec

  410

  71

  Merseyside

  1,030

  121

  Normid

  227

  47

  Total NORTH WEST RO

  2,596

  353

  Hampshire

  680

  122

  Heart of England

  367

  74

  Wight

  25

  0

  Kent

  1,350

  386

  Milton Keynes

  120

  50

  Surrey

  345

  24

  Sussex

  330

  n/a

  Thames Valley

  448

  60

  Total SOUTH EAST RO

  3,665

  716

  Avon

  660

  90

  Devon and Cornwall

  875

  85

  Gloucestershire

  258

  39

  Dorset

  360

  42

  Somerset

  224

  48

  Wiltshire

  252

  86

  Total SOUTH WEST RO

  2,629

  390

  Birmingham

  420

  0

  Central England

  343

  53

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  532

  193

  Dudley

  400

  10

  Hereford and Worecester

  162

  62

  Sandwell

  312

  75

  Shropshire

  166

  5

  Staffordshire

  466

  0

  Walsall

  222

  27

  Wolverhampton

  268

  0

  Total WEST MIDS RO

  3,291

  425

  Humberside

  580

  17

  North Yorkshire

  160

  69

  Wakefield

  142

  12

  518

  National TEC name and TEED region (RO)

  Region—TEC position Places contracted and agreed (region-TEC)for 1993–94

  Starts

  Leeds

  443

  92

  Bradford

  325

  11

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  306

  31

  Sheffield

  372

  33

  Rotherham

  190

  22

  Barnsley and Doncaster

  300

  27

  Total Y and H RO

  2,818

  314

  NATIONAL TOTAL

  28,812

  5,223

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in unemployment so far in 1993; what are the comparable figures for the rest of the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Internationally comparable unemployment figures based on the International Labour Organisation definition of unemployment are published by EUROSTAT in its monthly "Unemployment Bulletin", copies of which are available in the Library. These show that the United Kingdom is one of only two European Community countries where the rate of unemployment is now below what it was at the beginning of the year.

  Coal Miners (Retraining)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he proposes to take to meet the costs of retraining for former coal miners; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department has made available £75 million to training and enterprise councils and the Employment Service to provide additional training and retraining provision for unemployed people in pit closure areas, including former miners.

  British Coal Enterprise also has substantial resources to retrain and provide other opportunities to help ex-mineworkers.

  The £75 million forms part of the larger £200 million Government package to help the regeneration of pit closure areas.

  Careers Services
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy that inspectors' reports following careers service inspections be made public.

  Miss Widdecombe
  This is already current policy throughout Great Britain.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Bomb-proofing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the cost, by location, of bomb-proofing the Department's premises.

  Mr. David Davis
  On security grounds, I do not propose to give this information.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what expenditure will be incurred by the Office of Public Service and Science in the period 1994–95 to 1996–97.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Spending on the areas covered by the Office of Public Service and Science—OPSS—HMSO and Central Office of Information will be £1,318 million in 1994–95, £1,354 million in 1995–96 and £1,359 million in 1996–97.

  Planned expenditure on public service tasks—OPSS, COI, HMSO—is £76 million in 1994–95, £70·9 million in 1995–96 and £70·2 million in 1996–97.

  Provision for science is £1,242 million in 1994–95, £1,283·1 million in 1995–96 and £1,288·8 million in 1996–97. These figures include £154 million, £157 million and £157 million respectively to cover the additional responsibilities of the research councils for projects which they support in higher education institutions, which under previous arrangements would have been the responsibility of the higher education funding councils. After adjusting for this transfer, the science provision will be 4·2 per cent., 7·9 per cent. and 8·4 per cent. higher in cash terms than the estimated outturn in 1993–94.

  I shall be announcing the allocation of the 1994–95 science budget in due course.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the worth of civil service work market-tested by September; what proportion has been competed for by in-house teams; and what proportion was awarded to the private sector without in-house competition.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Provisional estimates show that by 30 September 1993 around £700 million of civil service work has subjected to a process of examination and review to improve value for money under the competing for quality initiative. Of this, about £624 million was market tested or strategically contracted out. Excluding the contractorisation of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment—value £275 million—about 66 per cent., or £232 million was competed for by in-house teams. The remaining 34 per cent., or £117 million, together with the AWRE contractorisation, was awarded to the private sector without in-house competition.

DEFENCE

  Senior Officers
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) field marshals, (b) admirals of the fleet, (c) air chief marshals are currently on (i) the active list and (ii) the retired list; at what cost in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  All admirals of the fleet, field marshals, and marshals of the Royal Air Force—five-star officers—remain on the active list. Normally, only the Chief of the Defence Staff, currently a marshal of the Royal Air Force, is actually a serving officer. Unusually, we have two serving officers at this level at present. The other is chairman of the NATO military committee, an international appointment. They are on a salary of £112,084·20.

  The remainder are in effective retirement. Those promoted in the early 1980s to date are in receipt of a pension of 48·5 per cent. of active service pay—£54,361. Those promoted before then receive pension or half pay—£56,042.

  Current numbers of five-star officers are:

  Full pay

  Half pay

  48·5 per cent.

  Total

  Royal Navy

  —

  5

  3

  8

  Army

  1

  —

  7

  8

  RAF

  1

  —

  5

  6

  ——

  ——

  ——

  ——

  Total

  2

  5

  15

  22

  These figures do not include His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, who holds five-star rank in all the armed forces, and His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, who holds the rank of field marshal.

  Horizon 2000
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his intention that foreign-built hulls will be permitted in tenders for the future anti-aircraft frigate—Horizon 2000 project; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The intention for the future air defence frigate is that each nation will build its own ships in its own country.

  Landing Platform Helicopter
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what grounds the bidding of foreign hulls was excluded from the tendering arrangements for the landing platform helicopters.

  Mr. Aitken
  In the absence of progress towards the opening of the market for warship building within the EC on a fair and equitable basis, we decided the most appropriate course was to restrict invitations to tender to United Kingdom shipyards.

  Minehunters
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State. for Defence on what grounds foreign-built hulls were permitted as part of the last invitation for Sandown class single role minehunters; and if he will make a statement.
  521
  Mr. Aitken
  The last competition for Sandown class single role minehunters in 1990 permitted prime contractors to include foreign-built hulls in their bids to ensure as wide a competition as possible in order to maximise value for money for the defence budget and the taxpayer.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his intention to permit foreign-built hulls in the forthcoming tender for a further batch of Sandown class minehunters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  We expect to make an announcement on future orders for the Sandown class shortly.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's minehunting capability.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Government are committed to retaining a capable and effective mine countermeasure fleet. We therefore intend to continue over the next decade with our modernisation programme, which will entail the procurement of further Sandown class single-role minehunters and a mid-life update for the Hunt class. The 1993 Statement on the Defence Estimates makes clear our intention to build up to a fleet of 25 of these highly capable vessels. We expect to make an announcement on future orders for the Sandown class shortly.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to issue an invitation to tender for a further batch of minehunters.

  Mr. Aitken
  We expect to make an announcement on future orders for the Sandown class shortly.

  Glass-reinforced Plastic
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what in current prices has been his Department's total investment in glass-reinforced plastic in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department has invested a total of £6 million in capital facilities for the production of GRP mine countermeasure vessels. This has been offset by receipts due under various agreements which total £4·7 million to date. Both figures are at current prices.

  Submarine Movements
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which VHF station will broadcast details of the movements of submarines to the fishing fleet in Irish seas area VIIA; and if he will make a statement about arrangements for this service in this submariner exercise area.

  Mr. Hanley
  I have been asked to reply.

  Irish sea area VIIA north of 54 deg. north forms part of the Clyde exercise areas and is covered by the Subfacts scheme, under which advance notification of dived submarine movements is broadcast in certain coastal areas. Changes in the existing broadcasting arrangements for Subfacts are being planned and consultations about these changes have taken place with representatives of the fishing industry, including the Northern Ireland Fishermen's Federation. I hope to make an announcement soon.

  Trident
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if it is his Department's policy to restrict the explosive firepower of Trident to that deployed on the Polaris force prior to Polaris having been updated with Chevaline;

  (2) if it is his Department's policy to restrict the explosive firepower of Trident to that of the Polaris/ Chevaline force currently deployed.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Government's policy is to deploy the minimum nuclear capability necessary to provide an effective deterrent in the circumstances of the time. On current plans, the total explosive power to be carried on each Trident submarine when they enter service will not be much changed from the total explosive power currently deployed, following the Chevaline development, in each Polaris submarine.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department has reached its calculation that when Trident is fully in service the explosive power of the United Kingdom's operational nuclear inventory will be more than 25 per cent. down on the 1990 figure.

  Mr. Hanley
  The calculation compared the explosive power of the United Kingdom's operational stockpile of Chevaline and WE177 warheads in 1990 with the explosive power of the planned future operational stockpile of Trident anti WE177 warheads when Trident is fully in service.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department will demonstrate that it has not deployed more than 96 warheads on each of the Trident submarines when they enter service.

  Mr. Hanley
  In keeping with the practice of successive Governments, we do not make public the number of warheads actually deployed on our submarines. The question of verification does not arise.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what negotiations or studies his Department is carrying out into possible future use of cruise missiles on board Trident submarines.

  Mr. Hanley
  None.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what change took place in the explosive firepower of the deployed Polaris force in connection with the deployment of Chevaline.

  Mr. Hanley
  The introduction into service of Chevaline brought with it a reduction in the total explosive power deployed on each Polaris submarine.

  Anti-ballistic Missiles
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account is taken of the ability to overcome existing anti-ballistic missile defences in determining the size of the United Kingdom's minimum deterrent.

  Mr. Hanley
  All relevant factors are taken into account in assessing the minimum level of capability necessary to provide effective deterrence.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the accuracy of a nuclear weapon is a significant factor in determining its destructive effectiveness.
  523
  Mr. Hanley
  Accuracy of delivery is a significant factor in determining the likely effectiveness of a nuclear warhead against its intended target and therefore has a bearing on our assessment of the minimum capability necessary to provide effective deterrence.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish an open government document on Her Majesty's Government's policy on nuclear weapons and non-proliferation following the speech he made to the Centre for Defence Studies on 16 November.

  Mr. Hanley
  No. A copy of my right hon. and learned Friend's speech has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Military Vehicles
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the financial and administrative consequences of the non-established status of the 39 all-terrain mobile platforms held and maintained by 5 Airborne Brigade; what dedicated Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and associated support is available; when consideration of the future requirement for such vehicles for 24 Airmobile Brigade is due to be completed; what vehicles capable of deployment by support helicopter are currently held by 24 Airmobile Brigade; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  There are no financial or administrative consequences resulting from the non-established status of the 39 all-terrain mobile platforms held and maintained by 5 Airborne Brigade.

  Location

  Purchaser

  Date sold

  Chatham Dockyard

  Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust

  20 January 1988

  Milford Haven

  Preseli Pembrokeshire District Council

  23 December 1991

  Arrochar

  Clydebank Developments

  21 January 1993

  Invergordon

  The Bannerman Company

  31 May 1993

  Inveraray

  I. Turner

  2 June 1993

  Holy Loch (Ardnadam)

  G. R. Thompson

  11 June 1993

  In addition, offers for the purchase of two further piers at Holy Loch—Sandbank—and Gourock are at an advanced stage of consideration.

  Royal Navy Ships
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ships are currently in full-time service in the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Hanley
  On 30 November, there were 130 commissioned surface vessels and submarines in service with the Royal Navy. There are also 21 vessels in service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, whose supporting role is essential to the provision of the Royal Navy's overall capability.

  Manpower Service Personnel
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many air marshals are currently on full-time service in the Royal Air Force;

  (2) how many other ranks are currently on full-time service with the Royal Air Force;
  524
  The brigade has a dedicated Combat Service Support Battalion comprising a general support squadron—which includes REME personnel—a close support squadron and a REME workshop. There are also REME personnel with the infantry battalions.

  We expect consideration of 24 Airmobile Brigade's all-terrain mobile platform requirement to be completed in the course of next year.

  24 Airmobile Brigade currently holds the following vehicles capable of deployment by support helicopter:

  Trucks Utility Light/Medium

  Trucks Utility Heavy

  JCB Rough Terrain Fork-Lift Trucks Motorcycles

  Four-Tonne Trucks

  Trailers

  Piers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations of piers previously owned by his Department which have been sold in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years; and if he will lisit the the purchaser and the selling price in each case.

  Mr. Hanley
  Details of the piers previously owned by the Ministry of Defence which have been sold in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years and the purchaser in each case are set out in the table. The sale prices are commercial in confidence.

  (3) how many generals are currently on full-time service in the Army;

  (4) how many other ranks are currently on full-time service with the Army;

  (5) how many admirals are currently on full-time service in the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the 1 October 1993 issue of the tri-service personnel statistics publication No. 9—TSP9—"Rank Structure of UK Regular Forces", which is available from the House of Commons Library.

  Nuclear Shelters
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations of(a) nuclear shelters, (b) nuclear bunkers, (c) command shelters and (d) command bunkers previously owned by his Ministry which have been sold in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years; and if he will list the purchaser and the selling price in each case.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested less the sale prices, which are commercial in confidence, is set out in the table:
  525

  Location

  Purchaser

  Date sold

  Bowsey Hill, Warren Row, Berkshire (Temporary Regional Seat of Government—Bunker No. 6

  The Document Storage Co. Ltd.

  31 August 1988

  Sopley, Hampshire (Command Bunker)

  The Document Storage Co. Ltd.

  12 August 1993

  RAF Greenham Common
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Russian Government still have inspection rights under the disarmament treaty at RAF station Greenham Common; what was the date of their last visit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Russian Government will retain inspection rights at Greenham Common and RAF Molesworth under the intermediate range nuclear forces—INF—treaty until the year 2001. The last visit to RAF Greenham Common by a Russian inspection team took place on 16 April 1992.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy when strengthening the operational role of the Western European Union to ensure that there is no weakening of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or the transatlantic link; what effect he expects his proposals to have on the course of the NATO summit on the future of NATO; and what plans he has to publicise progress on his proposals for the Western European Union.

  Mr. Hanley
  It has always been United Kingdom policy that development of the operational role of the Western European Union should strengthen NATO, including the transatlantic link. Discussions are continuing with allies on the preparations for the NATO summit, which will provide an important opportunity for the alliance to continue and enhance its adaptation to the new security environment. Progress in developing the Western European Union is made public in a variety of ways, including communiqués issued following meetings of the WEU Council of Ministers. The most recent of these took place in Luxembourg on 22 November.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional resources will be made available this winter to British service men serving in the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Hanley
  Additional resources for British forces in Bosnia include specialist arctic winter clothing for all troops, heaters for Warrior armoured vehicles and cold weather food supplements.

  Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all nuclear-powered submarines that have visited(a) Liverpool, (b) Southampton, (c) Cardiff, (d) Portsmouth, (e) Torbay and (f) Portland during the last 12 months; and if he will list the dates concerned.

  Mr. Hanley
  The following nuclear submarine visits have been made over the last 12 months at the locations in question:
  526

  Location

  Names

  Dates

  Liverpool

  HMS Spartan

  28 April to 4 May

  Southampton

  —

  —

  Cardiff

  —

  —

  Portsmouth

  USS Flying Fish

  10 to 15 March

  FS Amethyste

  10 to 14 May

  USS San Juan

  20 to 26 May

  HMS Spartan

  13 to 18 October

  USS Pargo

  22 to 27 October

  Torbay

  —

  —

  Portland

  —

  —

  Search and Rescue
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what RAF operations the search and rescue service would be supporting from RAF Brawdy in the event of the search and rescue Sea Kings being based there from April 1994.

  Mr. Hanley
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Army Sales Team
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the function of the Army sales team; when it was established; and what was its budget in each year since then.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Army sales teams organise and conduct demonstrations, training and trials of British defence equipment in the United Kingdom and overseas; and assist companies with sales promotion material and provide specialist advice. An Army sales team was first formed in the late 1960s. Budgetary details going back to that time could not be provided without disproportionate cost and effort. Their budget was £1·3 million in 1991–92, £1·4 million in 1992–93, and is forecast at £1·6 million in 1993–94.

  US Submarine (Incident)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what monitoring of foreign submarines he will introduce following the Department of Transport's marine accident investigation branch report of the snagging of the fishing vessel Lupina C by a United States navy nuclear submarine to ensure that submarines adhere to the submarine code of conduct when steaming through United Kingdom territorial waters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The code of practice governing the conduct of submarines when operating in the vicinity of fishing vessels applies to all foreign submarines operating dived within United Kingdom territorial waters. Since the incident involving the USS Sturgeon, efforts have been made to improve foreign submarines' awareness of the code's requirements, and it is clear that they take these very seriously and observe the rules to the letter.

  Lesbians and Gay Men
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what inquiries he has made as to the effect of lifting the ban on lesbians and gay men serving in the armed forces of those countries in which the ban has been lifted; and if he will name the countries concerned.

  Mr. Hanley
  We are aware that some countries allow homosexuals to serve in their armed forces and that the Australian and Canadian armed forces have recently lifted their ban on homosexuals.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the position of lesbians and gay men in the armed services; when he will bring forward 528
  legislation to decriminalise homosexuality in the armed forces; and if in the interim he will refrain from pursuing criminal proceedings in respect of homosexuality.

  Mr. Hanley
  Homosexuals are precluded from service in the armed forces. The Ministry of Defence has accepted that homosexual activity of a kind that is legal in civil life should no longer constitute an offence under service law. The amendment to the law will be made as soon as the legislative programme allows. In the meantime, it is not intended to prosecute service personnel who engage in homosexual activity that is legal in civilian law unless there are other grounds for prosecution under service law. Personnel who engage in homosexual activity that is lawful under civilian law will, however, continue to be administratively discharged from the services.

  EAST TIMOR: MILITARY ATTACHES' VISIT
  EAST TIMOR: MILITARY ATTACHES' VISIT
  CHINA: ALLEGED COERCIVE ABORTION
  CHINA: ALLEGED COERCIVE ABORTION
  SALMON AND SEA TROUT NET LICENCES
  SALMON AND SEA TROUT NET LICENCES
  FISHERY PRODUCTS: PROPOSED EC REGULATION
  FISHERY PRODUCTS: PROPOSED EC REGULATION
  WINE SECTOR SUPPORT: COMPLIANCE WITH EC REGULATION
  WINE SECTOR SUPPORT: COMPLIANCE WITH EC REGULATION
  WINE SECTOR: POLICY
  WINE SECTOR: POLICY
  NHS: DUTY OF CARE
  NHS: DUTY OF CARE
  MR. JOHN GIBSON
  MR. JOHN GIBSON
  OXFORD REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY
  OXFORD REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY
  NHS STAFF NUMBERS
  NHS STAFF NUMBERS
  NUCLEAR INSTALLATION SAFETY: ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS
  NUCLEAR INSTALLATION SAFETY: ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS
  GATT AGREEMENT: BENEFITS TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
  GATT AGREEMENT: BENEFITS TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES