Written Answers of 26 October 1993

DEFENCE

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information Her Majesty's Government have been given since 1963 by the French authorities on the degree of radioactive contamination suffered by British citizens resident in Gibraltar.

  Mr. Aitken
  None. I am not aware of any such contamination that would warrant investigation.

  French Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ask his French counterpart for information provided by the French nuclear authorities under article 34 of the Euratom treaty since 1963 in connection with French atmospheric nuclear tests in Reganne, Algeria.

  Mr. Aitken
  No. Article 34 of the Euratom treaty does not apply to military activities.

  Inhumane Weapons
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to ratify the 1981 inhumane weapons convention.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the lion. Member to the answer my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 22 October,Official Report, column 371.

  Tornado Collision
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Tornado aircraft involved in the mid-air collision over Cumbria on 23 June was the same aircraft that overflew the village of Clayton, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire during its sortie.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Tornado involved in the mid-air collision was part of a two-aircraft formation; neither aircraft passed near the village of Clayton. Their route took them some 40 nautical miles north of Clayton, on their westbound heading towards Cumbria.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many operational low-flying sorties were authorised in(a) the northern Scotland tactical training area, and (b) the central Wales tactical training area in each month from (i) January 1979 to December 1987, (ii) November and December 1990 and (iii) from May 1992 to the latest date available.
  520
  Mr. Hanley
  Figures for operational low-flying sorties are not available. The numbers of operational low-flying movements authorised into the northern Scotland and central Wales tactical training areas in each month during the periods requested are set out in the table. A breakdown by month is not available for 1979.

  Northern Scotland

  Central Wales

  1979

  Total

  664

  123

  1980

  January

  262

  31

  February

  0

  0

  March

  6

  41

  April

  67

  67

  May

  0

  0

  June

  0

  0

  July

  0

  0

  August

  0

  0

  September

  0

  0

  October

  0

  0

  November

  130

  9

  December

  161

  23

  TOTAL

  626

  171

  1981

  January

  175

  46

  February

  0

  0

  March

  15

  0

  April

  89

  0

  May

  0

  6

  June

  6

  7

  July

  0

  0

  August

  0

  0

  September

  251

  0

  October

  24

  0

  November

  0

  0

  December

  41

  0

  TOTAL

  601

  59

  1982

  January

  0

  0

  February

  37

  0

  March

  136

  0

  April

  59

  0

  May

  2

  0

  June

  0

  0

  July

  0

  0

  August

  0

  0

  September

  0

  0

  October

  0

  4

  November

  0

  0

  December

  2

  0

  TOTAL

  236

  4

  1983

  January

  48

  2

  February

  30

  0

  March

  41

  0

  April

  309

  0

  May

  90

  0

  June

  144

  0

  July

  79

  0

  August

  91

  50

  September

  98

  0

  October

  69

  0

  November

  349

  6

  December

  289

  13

  TOTAL

  1,637

  71

  1984

  January

  3

  0

  521

  Northern Scotland

  Central Wales

  February

  0

  11

  March

  67

  26

  April

  78

  10

  May

  30

  5

  June

  0

  4

  July

  23

  0

  August

  0

  0

  September

  0

  0

  October

  26

  8

  November

  163

  0

  December

  158

  0

  Total

  548

  64

  1985

  January

  194

  18

  February

  39

  11

  March

  26

  15

  April

  0

  0

  May

  0

  0

  June

  0

  0

  July

  0

  0

  August

  0

  0

  September

  0

  0

  October

  0

  0

  November

  0

  0

  December

  0

  0

  Total

  259

  44

  1986

  January

  250

  9

  February

  154

  6

  March

  16

  0

  April

  34

  0

  May

  0

  0

  June

  0

  0

  July

  16

  11

  August

  0

  0

  September

  28

  26

  October

  41

  11

  November

  0

  0

  December

  0

  0

  Total

  539

  63

  1987

  January

  0

  1

  February

  69

  20

  March

  99

  33

  April

  93

  175

  May

  0

  0

  June

  14

  2

  July

  8

  5

  August

  0

  0

  September

  21

  0

  October

  207

  4

  November

  7

  0

  December

  0

  2

  Total

  518

  242

  1990

  November

  210

  26

  December

  9

  9

  1992

  May

  0

  33

  June

  248

  0

  Harrier

  Tornado

  Jaguar

  Chinook

  Other helicopters

  Total

  1992

  January

  58

  343

  0

  0

  0

  401

  February

  188

  349

  0

  0

  0

  537

  March

  87

  479

  0

  0

  1

  567

  522

  Northern Scotland

  Central Wales

  July

  198

  0

  August

  6

  9

  September

  2

  0

  October

  0

  68

  November

  2

  26

  December

  26

  0

  1993

  January

  64

  76

  February

  125

  12

  March

  103

  13

  April

  57

  51

  May

  12

  2

  June

  8

  0

  July

  0

  1

  August

  27

  3

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sources of weather data for individual low flying areas are available to the tactical booking cell, RAF West Dray ton, for onward transmission to aircrews; and what changes have been made to the meteorological data collection facilities in low flying areas since 1979.

  Mr. Hanley
  The tactical booking cell, RAF West Drayton has no involvement in the transmission of weather data to aircrews. Before flying, aircrew receive a full and comprehensive meteorological briefing from the professional meteorological staff at their station. These staff have direct access to the facilities of the Meteorological Office at Bracknell.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level training sorties were carried out by Royal Air Force V-bomber aircraft from Goose Bay, Labrador, in each year from 1963 to 1982.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost and effort.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the changes made to the weather minima for visual flight rules operations in the United Kingdom low flying system since 1979.

  Mr. Hanley
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying sorties were booked in the United Kingdom low flying system by aircraft from RAF Germany in each month from January 1992 to the latest available date, broken down by aircraft type.

  Mr. Hanley
  The numbers of sorties booked in the United Kingdom low flying system by aircraft from RAF Germany, which on 1 April 1993 was redesignated No. 2 Group RAF Strike Command, during the period from January 1992 to August 1993, the latest date for which data are available, are set out in the table.
  523

  Harrier

  Tornado

  Jaguar

  Chinook

  Other helicopters

  Total

  April

  85

  343

  0

  0

  0

  428

  May

  192

  241

  0

  2

  1

  436

  June

  230

  239

  0

  1

  0

  470

  July

  309

  243

  0

  0

  0

  552

  August

  61

  186

  0

  0

  0

  247

  September

  88

  170

  0

  0

  0

  258

  October

  180

  447

  0

  0

  0

  627

  November

  84

  186

  0

  1

  0

  271

  December

  110

  157

  26

  0

  10

  303

  TOTAL

  1,672

  3,383

  26

  4

  12

  5,097

  1993

  January

  104

  300

  0

  0

  0

  404

  February

  247

  359

  0

  0

  0

  606

  March

  288

  483

  0

  0

  3

  774

  April

  29

  225

  0

  0

  0

  254

  May

  112

  255

  0

  2

  3

  372

  June

  181

  408

  0

  4

  0

  593

  July

  48

  251

  0

  1

  1

  301

  August

  52

  293

  0

  0

  1

  346

  TOTAL

  1,061

  2,574

  0

  7

  8

  3,650

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum authorised altitude at which aircrew are trained to fly in(a) the tri-national Tornado training establishment and (b) each of the fast jet operational conversion units; and what changes have taken place in these authorised minima since 1985.

  Mr. Hanley
  The minimum authorised heights at which aircrew are permitted to fly are as follows:

  (a) Tri-national Tornado Training Establishment—500 ft.

  (b) Fast Jet Operational Conversion Units—250 ft.

  The only change to have taken place in the authorised minima since 1985 occurred in 1991 when the authorised minimum height for all tri-national Tornado training establishment crews was raised from 250 ft to 500 ft.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the crew of the three Tornado F.3 aircraft of No. 29 squadron Royal Air Force which were involved in an unauthorised overflight of the community of Rigolet, Labrador, on 12 April, arrived at Canadian forces base Goose Bay.

  Mr. Hanley
  The aircrews of the aircraft concerned, which were staging through Canadian forces base Goose Bay en route to Alaska, arrived at Goose Bay on 12 April 1993. The incident occurred as they were approaching Goose Bay on their inward flight.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what warnings were given laterally and vertically to the low-flying military jet aircraft operating between approximately 2100 hours and 2130 hours on 10 August overflying the village of Clayton-with-Frickley, South Yorkshire, that there was a helicopter operating in the vicinity; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  A number of Tornado aircraft from RAF Cottesmore conducted routine low-level training in the areas at about the times stated on 10 August. No military helicopters were booked to low fly in the area at the time, and no notification was received under the civil aircraft notification procedure or by other means of any civil aircraft activity.
  524
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates, nationality, number and type of aircraft, host air base, and host unit for all exchange visits by foreign air force units to the United Kingdom over the last five years; and what was the minimum authorised altitude for low flying by foreign aircrew involved in each of the exchange visits.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost and effort.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications took place between Royal Air Force officers and the Canadian authorities between February and June 1990 concerning changes in the radii by which RAF aircrew deployed to Goose Bay for low-level training were required to avoid hunting and fishing camps.

  Mr. Hanley
  The local files containing details of this exchange have since been destroyed and the information requested is therefore not available. Any changes in flying regulations resulting from the exchange would have been reflected in the appropriate operations directives issued by the Canadian authorities at Goose Bay at the time.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary action was taken against the leader of the formation of Tornado F3 aircraft from No. 29 squadron Royal Air Force which was involved in an unauthorised overflight of the community of Rigolet, Labrador, on 12 April.

  Mr. Hanley
  Local action was taken against the individual concerned, but it is not our practice to give details of such action. Letters of apology were sent to the mayor of Rigolet by the leader of the formation and by the Officer Commanding No. 29 Squadron.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what numerical limits on US Air Force aircraft low flying in the United Kingdom have been agreed with the United States authorities since 1990 in order to accommodate increased low flying by aircraft from RAF Germany.
  525
  Mr. Hanley
  A limit of 18,800 low flying sorties by Third United States Air Force aircraft in the United Kingdom low flying system was agreed for 1991 in order to provide leeway for increased low flying in the United Kingdom by aircraft from RAF Germany. Since then, Third United States Air Force low flying has reduced as a consequence of the withdrawal of aircraft from the United Kingdom and it has not been necessary to impose any specific ceiling on activity.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the numbers of low flying sorties, by each specified foreign air arm, in the United Kingdom low flying system for each month from January 1992 to the latest date available; and how many of the sorties for each air arm were authorised to minimum heights of(a) 250 ft, (b) 500 ft and (c) 1,000 ft or above.

  Jan.

  Feb.

  March

  April

  May

  June

  July

  Aug.

  Sep.

  Oct.

  Nov.

  Dec.

  Total

  1992

  Netherlands

  —

  12

  115

  18

  139

  62

  74

  —

  106

  32

  2

  2

  562

  France

  —

  —

  106

  2

  9

  30

  26

  —

  194

  —

  2

  22

  391

  Italy

  —

  6

  4

  6

  86

  32

  54

  45

  6

  —

  —

  —

  239

  Denmark

  10

  —

  48

  32

  —

  19

  25

  —

  38

  —

  —

  24

  196

  USA

  —

  4

  76

  1

  16

  1

  10

  —

  52

  3

  8

  —

  171

  Germany

  —

  —

  72

  26

  42

  26

  —

  —

  58

  4

  —

  2

  230

  Belgium

  —

  —

  62

  —

  23

  16

  62

  —

  14

  2

  —

  4

  183

  Canada

  —

  —

  —

  2

  36

  2

  —

  —

  2

  3

  —

  —

  45

  Spain

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20

  Portugal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  2

  —

  —

  6

  Turkey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  TOTAL

  10

  22

  483

  87

  351

  208

  251

  45

  474

  46

  12

  54

  2,043

  1993

  Netherlands

  —

  137

  —

  8

  5

  —

  21

  15

  12

  —

  —

  —

  198

  France

  2

  88

  4

  2

  13

  —

  —

  12

  71

  —

  —

  —

  192

  Italy

  —

  4

  13

  —

  —

  24

  138

  43

  24

  —

  —

  —

  246

  Denmark

  —

  44

  6

  14

  4

  30

  8

  —

  82

  —

  —

  —

  188

  USA

  —

  24

  —

  21

  —

  51

  —

  35

  80

  —

  —

  —

  211

  Germany

  —

  —

  6

  —

  2

  —

  16

  6

  82

  —

  —

  —

  112

  Belgium

  —

  —

  4

  16

  —

  —

  —

  5

  34

  —

  —

  —

  59

  Canada

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Spain

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  Portugal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  27

  —

  —

  —

  27

  Turkey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  TOTAL

  2

  297

  33

  61

  28

  119

  183

  116

  412

  0

  0

  0

  1,251

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the crew of the three Tornado F3 aircraft of No. 29 squadron Royal Air Force which were involved in an unauthorised overflight of the community of Rigolet, Labrador, on 12 April, had confirmed in writing prior to their flight that they had read and understood the Canadian forces base Goose Bay flying orders.

  Mr. Hanley
  The aircrew concerned had not read the Canadian Forces Goose Bay flying orders as they were not planning to operate out of Goose Bay other than for transit in and out of the air base, en route for Alaska.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the(a) recorded height and (b) aircraft type of the military fast jet aircraft that overflew the village of Clayton-with-Frickley in South Yorkshire at approximately 1359 hours on 22 September; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  A Tornado aircraft from RAF Cottesmore was conducting a routine low-level training sortie in the
  526
  Mr. Hanley
  The numbers of sorties flown by aircraft of foreign air forces in the United Kingdom low flying system in each month from January 1992 to September 1993, the latest date for which information is available, are shown in the table. This flying is carried out under reciprocal arrangements which permit RAF aircraft to fly at low level in the countries concerned. The figures exclude low flying by foreign aircraft based in the United Kingdom.

  Information on authorised minimum heights could be provided only at disproportionate cost and effort. In general, sorties will not have been authorised below 500 ft or, in the case of German and Belgian aircraft, 1,000 ft.

  area at about the time stated on 22 September. We have no reason to believe the aircraft flew below the permitted height of 1000 ft.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the minimum authorised altitude for the flight by three Tornado F3 aircraft of No. 29 squadron Royal Air Force from Canadian forces base Goose Bay which overflew the community of Rigolet, Labrador, at approximately 2 pm on 12 April.

  Mr. Hanley
  2000 ft.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sorties by Royal Navy Sea Harrier aircraft in the United Kingdom low flying system at less than 250 ft were authorised in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Hanley
  The available statistics on operational low flying in the United Kingdom low-flying system do not distinguish between sorties flown by Royal Navy Sea Harrier aircraft and those flown by Royal Air Force Harrier aircraft. The Sea Harrier, however, carries out very little flying below 250 ft over land.
  527
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the crew of the three Tornado F3 aircraft of No. 29 squadron Royal Air Force which were involved in an unauthorised overflight of the community of Rigolet, Labrador, on 12 April received a briefing from Canadian forces personnel on the environmental restrictions in force for military flying from Goose Bay prior to their flight.

  Mr. Hanley
  The aircrews concerned did not receive a briefing from Canadian forces personnel before their flight, as the flight originated in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the required continuation training flying hours of Royal Air Force Tornado aircrew consisted of low altitude flying(a) before and (b) since 1991.

  Mr. Hanley
  Until very recently the Tornado continuation training syllabus has not specified any minimum requirement for low-flying training. The general principle which has applied and continues to do so is that aircrew should carry out the minimum necessary low flying consistent with acquiring and maintaining the necessary skills. This position did not change in 1991.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the bird strike incidents involving Royal Air Force fast jet aircraft operating from Canadian forces base Goose Bay since 1990, providing for each incident(a) the date, (b) the location, (c) the height and speed of the aircraft, (d) the species or type of bird involved and (e) the category of damage to the aircraft.

  Mr. Hanley
  There has been only one recorded bird strike since 1 January 1990. On 31 August 1993, a Tornado GR1 hit an unidentified bird species 130 nautical miles north west of the Goose Bay airfield. There was no damage to the aircraft, which was operating at 120 ft and 420 knots.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level sorties have been conducted from Canadian forces base, Goose Bay during 1993 by Royal Air Force Tornado F3 aircraft; and if he will indicate the dates during which Tornado F3 aircraft were deployed at Goose Bay.

  Mr. Hanley
  Royal Air Force Tornado F3 aircraft carried out two low-level sorties at Goose Bay during 1993. These aircraft were deploying to Alaska, but staged through Goose Bay, and were there from 12 to 15 April.

  Exercise Red Flag
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which RAF Tornado GR1 squadrons sent crews to participate in(a) the second two-week period and (b) the third two-week period of Exercise Red Flag 93–1; and where their pre-exercise work-up training was conducted in each case.

  Mr. Hanley
  No. 2 (Army Cooperation) Squadron sent crews to participate in the second two-week period of Exercise Red Flag 93–1, and carried out work-up training in the United Kingdom. No. 9 Squadron sent crews to participate in the third two-week period, and their work-up training was carried out at Goose Bay, Canada.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Tornado GR1 crews responsible for ferrying 528
  aircraft from Canadian forces base Goose Bay to Nellis air force base for Exercise Red Flag 93–1 in October 1992 also participated in the exercise; and where their pre-exercise work-up training was conducted.

  Mr. Hanley
  Yes. Pre-exercise work-up training was carried out at Goose Bay.

  B52 Bombers (Near Miss)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet received a report from the US Air Force on the incident in which two of its B52 bombers on a NATO exercise narrowly avoided a civilian helicopter near Aberdeen on 7 September; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  An initial report has been received from the United States air force and the joint air miss section is currently investigating this incident. The joint air miss working group's final report will be published in due course.

  Overseas Staff and Premises
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost for the current financial year of his Department having(a) premises and (b) personnel overseas; and what were the comparable figures for (a) 12, (b) 24, (c) 36 and (d) 48 months ago.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is not held in the form requested. We are, however, currently forecasting a sum of £2.27 billion for 1993–94 for the operating costs incurred in countries where there are significant numbers of permanently garrisoned United Kingdom military personnel. The comparable figure for 1992–93 is £2.34 billion and for 1991–92 £2.50 billion. Figures for earlier years are not available.

  Conservative Party Conference
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost to his Department for arrangements arising from the 1993 Conservative party conference in Blackpool.

  Mr. Hanley
  In response to a routine request from the Lancashire police, a small number of specialist military personnel were deployed to assist the police in searching the conference area for explosive devices and on standby for potential bomb disposal tasks. No readily identifiable additional costs to the defence budget arose from this operation.

  In addition, staff from Ministers' private offices visited Blackpool in order to deal with departmental work. Travel, subsistence and communications costs were incurred on defence votes.

  Officers and Other Ranks Ratio
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the ratio of officers to other ranks in each of the three armed services in 1980 and 1992.

  Mr. Hanley
  The ratio of officers to other ranks in each of the three armed services in 1980 and 1992 were as follows:
  529

  1 April 1980

  7 April 1992

  Royal Navy (including Royal Marines)

  1:6·1

  1:5·2

  Army

  1:8·3

  1:7·4

  Royal Air Force

  1:5·1

  1:4·7

  All Services

  1:6·6

  1:5·9

  Hercules Accident
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress being made in the investigation of the accident to Hercules XV 193; what is the expected date of completion of the accident investigation; and what is the expected date of publication of the military aircraft accident summary.

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

  Shackleton Aircraft
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Shackleton aircraft was first clear for carriage of nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Shackleton maritime aircraft was first certified for carriage of American nuclear depth charges in the mid-1960s.

  "Bridging for the 90s"
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make-a statement about the production order for the "Bridging for the 90s" equipment.

  Mr. Aitken
  I am pleased to announce that the "Bridging for the 90s" (BR90) production contract negotiations have concluded very satisfactorily. The production order was issued and accepted on 22 October 1993. The value of the order is approximately £140 million.

  The BR90 family of bridges is planned to enter service between January 1996 and June 1997 as follows:

  January 1996

  General Support Bridge

  November 1996

  Close Support Bridge

  May 1997

  Two Span Bridge

  June 1997

  Long Span Bridge

  BR90 will be deployed with Royal Engineer units in both Germany and the United Kingdom.

  This order will secure up to 250 jobs at the prime contractor, Thompson Defence Projects in Wolverhampton, as well as 50 jobs at Unipower in Watford and Tipton and many more at the other sub-contractors.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Sour Gas
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research his Department has carried out into the(a) toxicity and (b) inflammability of sour gas; and if he will make a statement.
  530
  Mr. Atkins
  None.

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the(a) gross and (b) net farm income in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Ancram
  The two measures of agricultural income published by the Department of Agriculture are net of all material and service input costs. The broader measure is total income from farming which gives the sum available to reward farmers, their spouses and family workers for their labour and enterprise and to provide a return on their own capital invested. The second, narrower, measure is farming income which is the sum available to reward only farmers and their spouses for their labour and enterprise and to provide a return on their own capital invested. Figures for the period 1983–92 are as follows:

  £million (current prices)

  Total income from farming

  Farming income

  1983

  130·3

  90·2

  1984

  163·5

  122

  1985

  125·4

  81

  1986

  106·9

  61·1

  1987

  161

  113·7

  1988

  184·1

  136·3

  1989

  212·8

  160·6

  1990

  155·3

  103·3

  1991

  180·3

  125

  11992

  224·2

  168·1

  1 Provisional.

  Land Ownership
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the Government's estimate of the acreage of land in Northern Ireland owned by foreign companies and trusts based(a) in the Republic of Ireland and (b) elsewhere outside the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Chief Electoral Officer
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the report of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland for 1992–93.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The Chief Electoral Officer's report has been laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

ENVIRONMENT

  Environmental Action Fund
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the launch of the 1994 environmental action fund announced on 16 August.

  Mr. Yeo
  Since the launch of the environmental action fund for 1994, applications have now been received and are
  531
  being assessed. I have asked the Civic Trust, which manages the local projects fund on behalf of the Department, to extend its remit to include the management of all new projects commissioned in 1994. The Department will continue to manage existing projects and strategic funding.

  Warehouse Racking Systems
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government will take steps to implement the Wood committee's recommendation that warehouse racking systems in England be removed from the list of rateable appliances in the Plant and Machinery Order.

  Mr. Curry
  We are currently considering all the Wood committee's recommendations as part of the preparation for the 1995 rating revaluation.

  Special Waste
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 15 July,Official Report, columns 587–88 in respect of special waste, when he will have the information available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Waste regulation authorities hold some of the information asked for, but we do not at present collect it centrally. We are, however, looking at ways of improving the coverage of our special waste statistics and are aiming to complete our studies and our consultations in the first half of 1994.

  Drinking Water Provision
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions exist for the provision of drinking water in public places; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Under section 14 of the Public Health Act 1925, local authorities may provide drinking fountains for public use in any convenient public place. With the consent of the local authority, any person may make similar provision. It is for each local authority to decide whether to provide such facilities, having regard to their own priorities and the availability of resources.

  Water Disconnections
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps the Government are taking to ensure compliance with section 63(1) of the Water Industry Act 1991; and if he will list the number of disconnections notified to local authorities under this section, broken down by local authority district.

  Mr. Yeo
  Breaches of compliance should come to the attention of the local authority on which the water company has failed to serve, within the required period, notice of its failure to reconnect, in the time specified, the service pipe to a house which it has earlier disconnected. Numbers of disconnections notified to local authorities under section 63(1) of the Act, broken down by local authority district, are not available centrally.

  The latest figures for domestic disconnections in the financial year 1992–93 in the area of each OFWAT
  532
  customer service committee region is set out in the following table. Each entry covers one of the privatised water and sewerage undertakers, together with figures for the water supply companies operating within that area.

  Region

  Number

  Central

  3,100

  Eastern

  926

  North West

  495

  Northumbria

  754

  South West

  300

  Southern

  4,800

  Thames

  3,665

  Wales

  2,448

  Wessex

  315

  Yorkshire

  1,833

  EC Funds
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the London Boroughs Association on the campaign to win European Community structure funds for London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have had no discussions with the London Boroughs Association on this matter.

  Lead Pollution
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to prescribe pollution control standards for lead.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government's long-standing policy is to reduce exposure to lead wherever it is practical to do so. This policy is currently implemented in a number of ways.. including setting pollution control standards for lead in air, water, food and drinking water.

  Minerals
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what plans he has to present safeguards for the environment through the revision of Mineral Planning Guidance 3; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when he intends to publish the results of the consultation on the revision of MPG3; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will publish the names of organisations and individuals who have made representations regarding changes to MPG3.

  Mr. Baldry
  A list of those organisations that responded to my Department's initial consultation exercise on the effectiveness of MPG3 was placed in the Library of the House in June 1992. My right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State announced on 25 March that we intended to proceed to consultation on revised planning guidelines which would reflect the Government's commitment to the protection of the environment. We will do this as soon as possible. The results of this consultation exercise will be published in due course.

  Countryside Stewardship Scheme
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his answer of 20 July,Official Report, column 99, on the countryside stewardship scheme, what is the cost of the additional payments for open access.

  Mr. Yeo
  For agreements entered into in 1991 and 1992, expenditure in respect of open access sites under the countryside stewardship scheme is expected to be £565,700 in 1993–94.

  Local Government
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost, to date, of the Local Government Commission's review of local government in England and the expected full cost of the completed review.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Local Government Commission incurred expenditure of £2.056 million in 1992–93. We are making available some £3.259 million to fund the Commission's activities in 1993–94 and have made provision of £3.300 million and £3.439 million for the two following years. These figures are being reviewed in the usual way as part of the public expenditure round.

  Disabled Facilities Grant
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will exclude works pensions from income calculations for disabled facilities grant;

  (2) if he will revise disabled facilities grant regulations to take account of average mortgage payments;

  (3) if he will encourage the use of disabled facilities grant in cases where rehousing effectively and economically meets the needs of disabled people;

  (4) what plans he has to amend disabled facilities grant regulations.

  Sir George Young
  The Department is currently reviewing options for change to the house renovation grant system in the light of responses to the consultation paper issued on 21 June. This review covers disabled facilities grants and will include the points raised by the hon. Member.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for disabled facilities grant have been(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful, in each year since 1990.

  Sir George Young
  The number of successful applications for disabled facilities grants for England and for Wales is shown in table 2.19 of the publication "Housing and Construction Statistics—Part 2". Figures for the number of disabled facilities grants paid out for individual local authorities is shown in the publication "Local Housing Statistics". Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

  The Department does not have any information about unsuccessful applications for the disabled facilities grant.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been undertaken to identify the number of disabled facilities grant claimants who have received financial assistance from local authority social services departments; and if he will make a statement.
  534
  Sir George Young
  The Department is not aware of any such studies undertaken or of any planned for the future.

  Private Tenants (Home Purchase)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce measures to enable private sector tenants to buy their homes; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  No.

  Extending the right to buy to the private rented sector would discourage landlords from letting their property. The sale of privately owned property to sitting tenants is a matter for negotiation between landlord and tenant.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total value of receipts from council house sales, to date, resulting from tenants exercising their right to buy.

  Sir George Young
  Figures for receipts resulting from council tenants exercising their right to buy from local authorities are not separately collected by the Department. However, between the introduction of right to buy in 1980 and the end of June 1993, the total value of council dwelling sales to sitting tenants, net of discounts, is estimated to be £17.7 billion.

  The number of sales to sitting tenants during this period was almost 1,240,000, and 92 per cent. of such sales resulted from tenants exercising their right to buy.

  Water Meters
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many and which water companies have installed pre-payment meters in the last six months.

  Mr. Yeo
  I understand that four water companies have installed pre-payment meters in the last six months. The companies are as follows:

  Bristol Water plc

  Mid-Kent plc

  North West water Ltd.

  Severn Trent Water Ltd.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many reported instances of self-disconnections there have been in the pre-payment metering trial being undertaken by Severn Trent water authority.

  Mr. Yeo
  I understand that to date there have been 113 instances of self-disconnection in the pre-payment metering trial undertaken by Severn Trent Water Ltd. The majority were reconnected within 48 hours.

  Lappel Bank
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has received from English Nature on whether the intertidal mud flats of Lappel bank on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, qualify on scientific grounds for inclusion within the proposed Medway Estuary and Marshes special protection area and Ramsar site.

  Mr. Yeo
  English Nature has advised that Lappel bank is a good quality roductive feeding and sheltering ground
  535
  for a range of bird species and is an integral part of the Medway estuary and marshes potential special protection area. I understand that the area of Lappel bank is less than I per cent. of the proposed Medway SPA.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reconsider his provisional intention to exclude Lappel bank from the Medway estuary and marshes special protection area following the judgment of the European Court of Justice in case C-355/90 relating to the Santona marshes in Spain.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Secretary of State is currently considering whether the Medway estuary and marshes should be designated as an SPA and whether Lappel bank should be included. The Santona marshes judgment is one of many factors which he will take into account before reaching his decision.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he has taken of the research into the hydrodynamic effects of port expansion in the rest of the estuary, carried out by the university of Hull and commissioned by English Nature; and if he will now consider the revocation of the extant planning permission on Lappel bank.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Secretary of State is currently considering whether the extant planning permission for the reclamation of 22 ha at Lappel bank should be revoked. The report on the "Medway Estuary Coastal Process and Conservation", produced by the Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies, is one of many factors which he will take into account before reaching his decision.

  EC Habitats Directive
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date the EC habitats directive will come into force.

  Mr. Yeo
  Member states are required by 5 June to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the EC habitats directive.

  Lower Severn Estuary
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the completion of his consultations with English Nature, the Countryside Council for Wales and private landowners and others on the preparation of the lower Severn estuary proposed special protection area under the wild birds directive, 1979.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government consider that co-operation with owners and occupiers is vital if wildlife habitats are to

  Housing Investment Programme (HIP) bids, allocations and gross housing capital expenditure in Lancashire

  £thousand/percentage

  HIP bids

  HIP Allocation1

  Allocation percentage of bid

  Housing capital expenditure

  Blackburn

  1991–92

  23,193

  7,558

  32·6

  11,937

  1992–93

  25,174

  6,684

  26·6

  211,467

  1993–94

  30,589

  8,093

  26·5

  314,915

  Blackpool

  1991–92

  4,326

  2,832

  65·5

  3,727

  536
  be protected. Detailed consultations are therefore conducted to ensure that any conflicts of interest are closely examined, together with the scientific evidence. The Severn estuary is included in the accelerated designation programme on which the Government are currently working. I am unable to say when consultations on this particular site will be completed.

  Integrated Pollution Control
  Sir Rhodes Boyson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes are to be made to the scheme of fees and charges for integrated pollution control operated by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

  Mr. Yeo
  Minor technical changes to the HMIP integrated pollution control fees and charges scheme 1993–94 take effect on 26 October 1993. They are necessary to ensure that the scheme fully reflects changes in the governing legislation made by the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1993, SI 1993/2405, which come into operation on that date. Copies of the amendment to the scheme are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to abolish the client contribution payable under the Government's home energy efficiency scheme.

  Mr. Yeo
  I have received many representations on the client contribution payable under the home energy efficiency scheme. To meet concerns that this contribution may deter some people from applying for a grant to have their homes insulated, I will shortly be laying before Parliament proposals to amend the regulations governing HEES which would remove the requirement for a client contribution.

  Housing, Lancashire
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the housing investment programme bids his Department has authorised in respect of each local authority in Lancashire over the last three years in relation to their bid; and what is the cash figure.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 22 October 1993]: The information requested is given in the table.

  The levels of local authorities' bids for housing investment programme resources reflect, in part, the competition for these resources and therefore often exceed the amount of resources likely to be available.
  537

  HIP bids

  HIP allocations1

  Allocaion as percentage of bird

  Housing capital expenditure

  1992–93

  6,127

  3,550

  57·9

  24,036

  1993–94

  4,915

  3,301

  67·2

  32,660

  Burnley

  1991–92

  11,701

  4,508

  38·5

  6,337

  1992–93

  12,915

  4,922

  38·1

  37,692

  1993–94

  12,213

  4,725

  38·7

  36,765

  Chorley

  1991–92

  4,055

  1,509

  37·2

  1,755

  1992–93

  4,233

  2,244

  53·0

  22,465

  1993–94

  4,762

  2,068

  43·4

  32,407

  Fylde

  1991–92

  2,282

  979

  42·9

  1,894

  1992–93

  2,341

  1,115

  47·6

  21,945

  1993–94

  2,225

  1,144

  51·4

  32,009

  Hyndburn

  1991–92

  9,717

  3,525

  36·3

  4,717

  1992–93

  13,572

  4,156

  30·6

  26,195

  1993–94

  12,528

  4,176

  33·3

  35,998

  Lancaster

  1991–92

  8,289

  2,853

  34·4

  4,152

  1992–93

  5,895

  3,673

  62·3

  25,568

  1993–94

  7,337

  3,220

  43·9

  35,566

  Pendle

  1991–92

  5,610

  2,468

  44·0

  3,381

  1992–93

  6,005

  3,420

  57·0

  24,429

  1993–94

  6,020

  2,954

  49·1

  33,447

  Preston

  1991–92

  29,567

  5,775

  19·5

  10,785

  1992–93

  15,478

  3,958

  25·6

  25,617

  1993–94

  9,847

  5,975

  60·7

  311,453

  Ribble Valley

  1991–92

  1,715

  545

  31·8

  1,292

  1992–93

  1,600

  1,156

  72·3

  21,974

  1993–94

  1,750

  1,150

  65·7

  31,209

  Rossendale

  1991–92

  8,245

  2,731

  33·1

  4,698

  1992–93

  7,890

  3,242

  41·1

  24,682

  1993–94

  7,916

  2,310

  29·2

  35,830

  South Ribble

  1991–92

  4,178

  1,494

  35·8

  3,083

  1992–93

  4,060

  2,301

  56·7

  23,657

  1993–94

  2,950

  1,597

  54·1

  23,006

  West Lancashire

  1991–92

  6,063

  2,908

  48·0

  5,042

  1992–93

  6,775

  2,510

  37·0

  24,744

  1993–94

  3,507

  1,650

  47·0

  35,220

  Wyre

  1991–92

  4,520

  1,266

  28·0

  1,763

  1992–93

  6,575

  1,738

  26·4

  24,227

  1993–94

  6,878

  2,350

  34·2

  23,919

  Notes:

  1 Under the new capital finance system, the HIP allocation is an assessment of relative need for housing capital expenditure. Borrowing approval is conveyed by the single, all service, basic credit approval. The allocation figures are the housing annual capital guidelines plus specified capital grants, issued prior to the start of the financial year. These figures do not include any supplementary credit approvals issued during the year.

  2 Provisional.

  3 Estimated.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give(a) the number of agreements, (b) the amount of money spent and (c) the length of

  539
  hedgerow affected in each county under the hedgerow incentive scheme in (i) 1992–93 and (ii) to date in 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: Under the 411 agreements made in the first year of the scheme some 600km of hedgerow will be restored over a period of five years. The Countryside Commission is currently considering new bids for the 1993–94 round of agreements.

  The information is not available in the form requested. Total spend in the financial years requested as at 25 October 1993 is set out on a regional basis. These figures do not include additional resources available under the scheme from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which account for an approximate addition of 15 to 20 per cent.

  Region

  Agreements

  1992–93 Spend £

  1993–94 Spend to date £

  Northern

  83

  58,104

  46,300

  Midlands

  70

  30,894

  29,382

  South West

  95

  28,054

  23,335

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  56

  36,279

  18,405

  North West

  31

  32,990

  2,757

  South East

  50

  17,592

  19,403

  Eastern

  26

  7,522

  13,816

  Total

  411

  211,435

  153,398

  Opencast Coal
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce the outcome of the review of guidance to planning authorities on opencast coal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: I intend to publish draft revised planning guidelines for opencast coal for public consultation as soon as possible.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment has been made by his Department in respect of new nuclear power stations of the risks of(a) turning out to be a poor performer, (b) major construction cost increases, (c) (i) retrofitting, (ii) power downrating and (iii) closure arising from the tightening of (1) safety standards, or (2) environmental standards resulting from a major accident or otherwise and (d) major increases in (i) spent fuel management, (ii) decommissioning and (iii) radioactive waste management costs;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the strategic benefits of nuclear power which have been identified in his Department's nuclear review;

  (3) what consideration his Department's nuclear review has given to assessing viability of new nuclear power stations to the delays and uncertainties in the development of a national radioactive waste repository; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what discount rate will be used in his Department's nuclear review in investment appraisal for new nuclear power stations;

  (5) what are the results of his Department's nuclear review in respect of tests to determine whether new nuclear power stations are commercially viable;
  540
  (6) what consideration his Department's nuclear review has given in assessing the future security of nuclear power to the economic, social and political impacts of a major nuclear accident; and if he will make a statement;

  (7) if he will list the (a) risks and (b) uncertainties associated with nuclear investment which have been identified as a result of the nuclear review; and what plans he has for determining who will be responsible for covering them;

  (8) if he will list the options being considered in his Department's nuclear review for financing new nuclear power stations.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  It remains Government policy that Nuclear Electric plc will not be granted capital expenditure approval for any new nuclear stations pending the outcome of a review of the future prospects for nuclear power in the United Kingdom. Options for the scope and format of the review are currently under consideration within Government.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Second Church Estate Commissioner
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what estimate has has made of the cost to the Church Commissioners in the last financial year in respect of his discharging his responsibilities in Parliament as Second Church Estate Commissioner.

  Mr. Alison
  There is no direct cost to the Church Commissioners in relation to my duties in Parliament as Second Church Estate Commissioner.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what was the cost to the Church Commissioners of answering written and oral questions to the Second Church Estate Commissioner in the last two parliamentary Sessions and in the present Session, up to and including 27 July.

  Mr. Alison
  A total of 79 questions were answered between 1 October 1991 and 27 July this year, but it has not been the Commissioners' practice to keep a record of the cost.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Ecclesiastical Matters
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what estimate he has made of the staffing costs incurred by House of Commons staff and officials in connections with work associated with the Ecclesiastical Committee or other parliamentary matters relating to the Church of England.

  Mr. Beith
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 25 March, column 663. The total cost is of the order of £2,000 per annum.

TRANSPORT

  British Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to involve non-metropolitan local authorities in the franchising of rail services following the privatisation of British Rail.

  Mr. Freeman
  We propose to incorporate in the Secretary of State's statutory guidance to the Franchising Director the following:Outside PTE areas you should consult such representatives of local government as appear to you to be appropriate about the pattern of services and the quality of services to be provided through franchising. In your consultations you should seek to agree practical arrangements which will provide for effective mutual communication between local authorities and franchisees. You should also include within franchise agreements a requirement for franchisees to take reasonable steps to keep the local authorities for the areas served by their franchised services informed of significant intended changes to the pattern of franchised services. These arrangements must be implemented in such a way as to place the minimum burden on franchisees. I would expect local authorities to consult you before formally adopting plans and policies dealing with the role of passenger rail services in their areas.

  Motor Rescue Services
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has yet concluded whether rights of access to motorway service areas similar to those currently enjoyed by the RAC and AA should be extended to other motor rescue services.

  Mr. Key
  My predecessor decided that the requirement on motorway service area operators to permit access at all times to the employees or agents of the AA or the RAC to carry out emergency repairs to members' vehicles should continue under the new regime announced on 6 August last year. I have now decided that similar rights should be extended to any repairer requested to carry out an emergency repair by the driver of a broken down or damaged vehicle.

  Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the differences in safety regimes between operator licence exempted vehicles and licensed vehicles;

  (2) if he will list by type the numbers of vehicles which are exempt from holding a goods vehicle operator's licence;

  (3) what studies have been carried out to determine whether operator licence exempted vehicles are more or less likely to be involved in accidents than licensed vehicles;

  (4) how many vehicles are exempted from goods operator licensing regulations.

  Mr. Key
  Applicants for operator licences must satisfy financial requirements and requirements of good repute and professional competence or fitness to operate. They must show that they have adequate maintenance arrangements, and operators of goods vehicles must also satisfy the licensing authorities that they have an environmentally acceptable operating centre.

  Whether or not they are covered by operator licensing, all goods vehicles, with some minor exceptions, are subject
  542
  to the same roadworthiness requirements, including annual roadworthiness tests and possible roadside enforcement checks. All goods vehicles, apart from certain specialised types, are also subject to drivers' hours and tachograph regulations, although drivers of vehicles which do not require an operator's licence are exempt from the need to keep records under domestic drivers' hours legislation.

  The classes of vehicles exempt from goods operator licensing comprise vehicles not exceeding 3.5 tonnes; Crown vehicles; and those listed in schedule 5 of the Goods Vehicles (Operators' Licences, Qualifications and Fees) Regulation 1984, as amended. The main categories are:

  tractors when hauling agricultureal and certain other equipment;

  dual-purpose vehicles and their trailers;

  vehicles used between private premises and not exceeding 6 miles by road in any one week;

  funeral vehicles;

  police and fire brigade vehicles and ambulances;

  vehicles used for fire-fighting or rescue operations at mines;

  vehicles used for test or trial;

  vehicles used under a trade licence;

  United Kingdom and visiting forces vehicles;

  trailers used for road maintenance or construction;

  road rollers;

  Coastguard and Royal National Lifeboat Institution vehicles;

  vehicles with certain fixed equipment;

  local authority weights and measures vehicles;

  local authority civil defence vehicles;

  steam-propelled vehicles;

  tower wagons or trailers;

  vehicles used within aerodromes;

  electrically propelled vehicles;

  showman's goods vehicles and trailers;

  certain vehicles first used before 1 January 1977 with a gross weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not 31/2 tons;

  vehicles used by a highway authority for weighbridge purposes;

  water, gas, electricity and telephone emergency vehicles; recovery vehicles;

  vehicles used for snow clearing or the distribution of grit, salt or other materials on icy roads;

  vehicles going to or from a test station.

  We have no information on the number of vehicles exempted from operator licensing, nor am I aware of any studies on whether operator licence exempt vehicles are more or less likely to be involved in accidents than those within the operator licensing system.

  Vocational Drivers
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on procedures available to vocational drivers in other member states of the European Community to appeal against the refusal of a licence on medical grounds.

  Mr. Key
  Our information on appeal arrangements elsewhere in the European Community is currently incomplete. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether appeals against refusal of LGV/LPV licences which are medically resolved at the DVLA are receiving an adequate level of consideration, of numbers of vocational drivers proceeding to the final level of appeal at magistrates courts and of the costs to the individual vocational driver of pursuing an appeal to the magistrates courts.

  Mr. Key
  Notifications of appeals which are resolved at DVLA are considered by the agency's medical adviser and,
  543
  if necessary, the legal adviser, who take account of any fresh medical evidence provided by the appellants or their doctors. Appellants are required to pay a small lodging fee plus the cost of their counsel or expert witnesses if used.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether representative numbers of appeals against DVLA medical decisions on LGV/LPV vocational drivers' licences are going to the magistrates courts; and whether sufficient advice is available to the courts on the medical issues involved.

  Mr. Key
  The number of appeals against medical decisions on LGV/PCV licences has remained fairly constant over recent years. From April 1992 to September 1993 DVLA's medical section handled 54,786 LGV/PCV applications/notifications. Of these 7,036 applicants/drivers were refused licences or had licences revoked. An intention to appeal against the decision was lodged by 257 individuals of which 15 proceeded to court.

  The court is provided with a report from the DVLA medical adviser, who also attends the hearing and will provide clarification on the medical issues involved if required. Appellants are also free to provide their own medical experts.

  Vehicle Operator Licensing
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list, for each traffic area, the number of goods vehicle operator licences revoked in 1990, 1991 and 1992; and what were the reasons in each case why the licences were revoked.

  Mr. Key
  The numbers of licences revoked are given in the "Annual Reports of the Licensing Authorities", copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. The reasons for revocation in each case could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each traffic area the number and nature of objections and representations received against the issue of goods vehicle operator licences in 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Key
  Information on objections and representations is published each year for the period 1 April to 31 March in the "Annual Reports of the Licensing Authorities", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many heavy goods vehicles exempt from goods vehicle operator licensing were involved in road traffic accidents in 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Key
  The numbers of exempt vehicles involved in road traffic accidents is not available.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether emergency vehicles operated by public utility companies are exempt from goods vehicle operator licensing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  A vehicle being held ready for use in an emergency by an undertaking for the supply of water, electricity, gas or telephone service is listed as exempt from goods vehicle operator licensing in schedule 5 to the 544
  Goods Vehicles (Operators' Licences, Qualifications and Fees) Regulation 1984, as amended. We keep all exemptions under review.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the organisations and individuals who have responded to his consultation paper on the deregulation of goods vehicle operator licensing.

  Mr. Key
  Comments were received from the following associations representing the interests of those in the transport industries:

  Freight Transport Association

  Road Haulage Association

  Bus and Coach Council

  Vehicle Builders and Repairs Association

  British Association of Removers

  National Farmers Union

  United Kingdom Agricultural Supplies Trade Association Ltd.

  Federation of Small Business

  National Association of Waste Disposal Contractors

  British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association

  Comments were received also from the:

  Council on Tribunals

  Transport Tribunal

  Traffic Commissioners

  There were in addition over 100 responses from individual operators, local authorities and others having an interest in the operator licensing provisions.

  Rail Franchising Director
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to appoint the franchising director; and how rapidly he would expect him to enter into discussions with the potential lessors of rail rolling stock.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Franchising Director will be appointed shortly after Royal Assent to the Railways Bill. The Franchising Director-designate is already involved in discussions about the establishment of rolling stock leasing companies and will be able to enter into substantive discussions with potential lessors of rail rolling stock once he is formally appointed.

  Buses
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the names and addresses of all bus companies which have been found guilty of operating vehicles which failed to meet the minimum requirements of maintenance standards; what assessment he has made of the operations of the vehicle inspectorate and traffic commissioners in this respect; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The names and addresses of the relevant bus companies are not readily available. The vehicle inspectorate and the traffic commissioners publish annual reports on their activities including the enforcement of maintenance standards. The Department maintains regular liaison with both the inspectorate and the traffic commissioners. An annual review is undertaken of the targets set for roadside checks and maintenance inspections of vehicles by the vehicle inspectorate.

  Tobacco and Alcohol Imports
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to check for overloading of private vehicles returning from France importing tobacco and alcohol products for personal use.
  545
  Mr. Key
  Privately operated light goods vehicles and minibuses are subject to weight checks by examiners from the vehicle inspectorate and local authorities and can be prohibited where they are found to be overloaded. Vehicles are checked at ports and other locations in the same way as are heavy commercial vehicles. Drivers can also be prosecuted for using a vehicle which is dangerously overloaded.

  Accident, Sowerby Bridge
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investigations have been carried out into the Sowerby bridge road traffic accident on 6 September.

  Mr. Key
  The lorry involved in the accident has been examined both by the police and by the vehicle inspectorate. I understand the operator of the vehicle is helping with further inquiries.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the heavy goods vehicle involved in the road traffic accident on 6 September at Sowerby bridge was(a) a motorway maintenance vehicle or (b) exempt from goods vehicle operator licensing.

  Mr. Key
  Neither. The vehicle was specified on a goods vehicle operator's licence.

  "A Guide to Making Representations"
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list where, other than traffic area offices, the publication "A Guide to Making Representations" can be obtained.

  Mr. Key
  The guide is also available from the traffic area co-ordination division of the Department of Transport, Room P2/029B, 2 Marsham street, SW1P 3EB.

  Traffic Area Network
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a decision on the possibility of agency status for the traffic area network.

  Mr. Key
  We are currently examining the scope for applying next steps principles to the traffic area network. I hope to announce a decision soon.

  Nuclear Safety
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the containers used to transport plutonium-contaminated materials from the Drigg nuclear disposal site to Sellafield meet current International Atomic Energy Agency regulations.

  Mr. Freeman
  No plutonium-contaminated materials have been moved from Drigg to Sellafield.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police Officers
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the number of serving police officers in England and Wales who are ethnically Romanic and gipsy by origin.
  546
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not collected.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the establishment number of police officers for each county in England and Wales; and what is the ratio of police officers to population for each county.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  With one exception, the information requested can be found in the appendix to the annual report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary 1992, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Since December 1992 the formal establishment of Kent county constabulary has been increased by 40 posts, all for policing the channel tunnel. These posts are subject to reimbursement of full costs, by the tunnel operator. The establishment of the force is now 3,136 and the ratio of police to population 1:491.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish life expectancy tables for retired police officers; and whether such information was provided to and examined by the Sheehy inquiry.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No. Aggregate data from which such tables would be derived are not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Cautions
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the current guidelines on cautioning, with particular reference to the categories of offences and persons who receive cautions.

  Mr. Maclean
  The current guidance to the police on the use of cautioning is set out in Home Office Circular 59/1990, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. I am about to consult interested parties on the content of some supplementary guidance which I have decided that it is now necessary to issue.

  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest available figures on cautioning; and what the figures were(a) 12 months ago and (b) two years ago.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information for the years 1990 to 1992, which is provisional, is given in the table. 1993 data will not he available until autumn 1994.

  Number of offenders cautioned and as a percentage of offenders found guilty or cautioned 1990 to 921

  England and Wales

  Offence/Year

  Cautioned

  Cautioning rate

  Indictable offences2

  1990

  166,300

  33

  1991

  179,900

  35

  19921

  216,200

  41

  Summary offences (excluding motoring offences)

  1990

  102,800

  18

  1991

  98,900

  18

  19921

  105,100

  18

  Total (excluding summary motoring offences)

  1990

  269,100

  25

  1991

  278,800

  26

  19921

  321,300

  29

  1 Provisional.

  2 Includes triable either way.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the highest award given in(a) Merseyside and (b) Liverpool by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board at the latest date.

  Mr. Maclean
  The board does not keep information on the payment of awards by locality.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of state for the Home Department what are his plans for putting the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board on a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  There are no plans to make the present criminal injuries compensation scheme statutory since, as previously announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the then Home Secretary, the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke), on 23 November 1992, column 457, it is to be replaced next year by a new scheme, based on a tariff of awards. Details of the new scheme will be set out in a White Paper later in the year.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long is the average waiting time for the settling of a case with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The board does not maintain statistics on the average time taken to deal with a case. However,

  Number of 15, 16 and 17 to under 21-year-olds sentenced to immediate custody by type of court, type of sentence and month

  England and Wales

  19921

  Type of court/type of offence

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  Total

  15-year-olds

  Magistrates courts Indictable

  37

  39

  37

  31

  27

  44

  27

  27

  34

  20

  24

  20

  367

  Summary non-motoring

  7

  15

  4

  12

  10

  6

  6

  5

  4

  3

  9

  —

  81

  All offences2

  44

  54

  41

  43

  37

  50

  33

  32

  38

  23

  33

  20

  448

  The Crown court

  Indictable

  5

  5

  4

  6

  14

  5

  6

  3

  3

  9

  5

  5

  70

  All offences2

  5

  5

  4

  6

  14

  5

  6

  3

  3

  9

  5

  5

  70

  All courts

  Indictable

  42

  44

  41

  37

  41

  49

  33

  30

  37

  29

  29

  25

  437

  Summary non-motoring

  7

  15

  4

  12

  10

  6

  6

  5

  4

  3

  9

  —

  81

  All offences2

  49

  59

  45

  49

  51

  55

  39

  35

  41

  32

  38

  25

  518

  16-year-olds Magistrates courts

  Indictable

  57

  54

  71

  56

  47

  53

  63

  49

  56

  48

  39

  60

  653

  Summary non-motoring

  12

  14

  16

  17

  15

  20

  11

  10

  8

  9

  7

  3

  142

  All offences2

  69

  68

  87

  73

  62

  73

  74

  59

  64

  57

  46

  63

  795

  The Crown court Indictable

  14

  14

  17

  20

  21

  13

  23

  15

  22

  8

  9

  7

  183

  Summary non-motoring

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  All offences2

  14

  14

  17

  20

  21

  13

  24

  15

  22

  8

  9

  7

  134

  All courts Indictable

  71

  68

  88

  76

  68

  66

  86

  64

  78

  56

  48

  67

  836

  Summary non-motoring

  12

  14

  16

  17

  15

  20

  12

  10

  8

  9

  7

  3

  143

  All offences2

  83

  82

  104

  93

  83

  86

  98

  74

  86

  65

  55

  70

  979

  17–20-year-olds Magistrates courts

  Indictable

  313

  305

  317

  299

  262

  245

  280

  260

  213

  142

  201

  200

  3,037

  Summary non-motoring

  140

  115

  139

  88

  77

  101

  98

  91

  88

  50

  58

  67

  1,112

  All offences2

  453

  420

  456

  387

  339

  346

  378

  351

  341

  192

  259

  267

  4,149

  The Crown court Indictable

  828

  752

  832

  708

  686

  6S0

  886

  553

  645

  586

  565

  469

  8,190

  Summary non-motoring

  21

  13

  24

  17

  10

  19

  36

  20

  17

  14

  12

  10

  213

  All offences2

  849

  765

  856

  725

  696

  699

  922

  573

  662

  600

  577

  479

  8,403

  548
  paragraph 6 of the 28th annual report of the board (Cm 2122), a copy of which is held in the Library of the House, does provide some information about the time taken to resolve cases.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total amount awarded by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board at the latest date.

  Mr. Maclean
  Appendix A to the 28th annual report of the Board (Cm 2122), a copy of which is held in the Library of the House, shows that in the period 1 August 1964 to 31 March 1992 a total of £757,244,992 had been paid out in compensation. Since then provisional figures indicate that a further £224.78 million has been paid out in the 18 months ending 30 September 1993. That latter figure is, of course, subject to audit.

  Young People (Custody)
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) 15 and 16-year-olds and (b) 17 to 21-year-olds were sentenced to custody in England arid Wales in each of the last 12 months.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information for 1992, which is provisional, is given in the table. 1993 data will not be available until autumn 1994.
  549

  Type of court/type of offence

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  Total

  All courts Indictable

  1,141

  1,057

  1,149

  1,007

  948

  925

  1,166

  813

  858

  728

  766

  669

  11,227

  Summary non-motoring

  161

  128

  163

  105

  87

  120

  134

  111

  105

  64

  70

  77

  1,325

  All offences2

  1,302

  1,185

  1,312

  1,112

  1,035

  1,045

  1,300

  924

  963

  792

  836

  746

  12,552

  All ages Magistrates courts

  Indictable

  1,341

  1,172

  1,255

  1,157

  975

  1,040

  1,067

  1,017

  1,035

  483

  609

  645

  11,796

  Summary non-motoring

  438

  359

  380

  314

  266

  336

  322

  300

  277

  143

  187

  164

  3,486

  All offences2

  1,779

  1,531

  1,635

  1,471

  1,241

  1,376

  1,389

  1,317

  1.312

  626

  796

  809

  15,282

  The Crown court

  Indictable

  3,622

  3,412

  3,742

  3,000

  2,960

  3,202

  3,637

  2,468

  2,889

  2.273

  2,538

  2,210

  35,953

  Summary non-motoring

  79

  54

  68

  52

  41

  52

  68

  43

  50

  36

  30

  34

  607

  All offences2

  3,701

  3,466

  3,810

  3,052

  3,001

  3,254

  3,705

  2,511

  2,939

  2,309

  2,568

  2,244

  36,560

  All courts

  Indictable

  4,963

  4,584

  4,997

  4,157

  3,935

  4,242

  4,704

  3,485

  3,924

  2,756

  3,147

  2,855

  47,749

  Summary non-motoring

  517

  413

  448

  366

  307

  388

  390

  343

  327

  179

  217

  198

  4,093

  All offences2

  5,480

  4,997

  5,445

  4,523

  4,242

  4,630

  5,094

  3,828

  4,251

  2,935

  3,364

  3,053

  51,842

  1 Provisional.

  2 Excluding summary motoring.

  Note: For summary motoring offences five 15-year-olds were sentenced to immediate custody in 1992, 23 16-year-olds, 769 17–20 year-olds and a total of 5,698 for all ages.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many 15-year-olds have been(a) remanded in custody and (b) sentenced to custodial terms, in 1993 to the latest date available; and, of these, how many were male and how many were female;

  (2) how many 15-year-olds were (a) remanded in custody and (b) sentenced to custodial terms in 1992; and of these, how many were male and how many were female.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answers 19 October 1993]: Information for 1992, which is provisional, is given in the table. 1993 data will not be available until autumn 1994.

  Remand and custodial data for 15-year-olds by gender 19921 England and Wales

  Males

  Females

  Receptions on remand into prison service establishments

  376

  —

  Sentenced to immediate custody

  519

  4

  1 Provisional

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) of those 15-year-olds (a) remanded into custody and (b) sentenced to custody in 1992, how many faced charges of committing or attempting to commit the offences of (i) theft, (ii) handling, (iii) deception and fraud, (iv) burglary, (v) taking without consent, (vi) allowing to be carried, (vii) aggravated vehicle taking, (viii) motor vehicle interference, (ix) criminal damage, (x) common assault and actual bodily

  Persons aged 15 years sentenced to immediate custody by offence and sex—19921

  England and Wales

  Offence description

  Magistrates courts

  Crown courts

  All courts

  Males

  Females

  Persons

  Males

  Females

  Persons

  Males

  Females

  Persons

  Aggravated vehicle taking

  Causing death by

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  Other (indictable)

  23

  —

  23

  1

  —

  1

  24

  —

  24

  Criminal damage of £2,00 or under

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  7

  —

  7

  1

  —

  1

  8

  —

  8

  Unauthorised taking of motor vehicle

  65

  —

  65

  —

  —

  —

  65

  —

  65

  Other Theft

  22

  —

  22

  2

  —

  2

  24

  —

  24

  Handling stolen goods

  11

  —

  11

  1

  —

  1

  12

  —

  12

  Fraud and Forgery

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Burglary

  174

  1

  175

  18

  —

  18

  192

  1

  193

  Causing danger

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  550
  harm, (xi) sexual offences, (xii) other offences of violence against the person, (xiii) possession of drugs, (xiv) possession with intent to supply drugs or (xv) other offences; and how many of the 15-year-olds in each case were (1) male and (2) female;

  (2) how many 15-year-olds (a) remanded into custody and (b) sentenced to custody in 1993 to the latest date available faced charges of committing or attempting to commit the offences of (i) theft, (ii) handling, (iii) deception and fraud, (iv) burglary, (v) taking without consent, (vi) allowing to be carried, (vii) aggravated vehicle taking, (viii) motor vehicle interference, (ix) criminal damage, (x) common assault and actual bodily harm, (xi) sexual offences, (xii) other offences of violence against the person, (xiii) possession of drugs, (xiv) possession with intent to supply drugs or (xv) other offences; and how many of the 15-year-olds in each case were (1) male and (2) female.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 19 October 1993]: The analysis requested of persons remanded is not available centrally because although some information on the use of remands during proceedings is collected, the amount of detail recorded is limited and does not identify separately every individual offence. Moreover the data which are collected are particularly subject to data quality problems.

  Information for England and Wales in 1992, which is provisional showing the number of 15-year-olds sentenced to immediate custody by offence and sex is given in the table. 1993 data will not be available until the autumn of 1994.
  551

  Offence description

  Magistrates courts

  Crown courts

  All courts

  Males

  Females

  Persons

  Males

  Femalesi

  Persons

  Males

  Females

  Persons

  Criminal damage

  Indictable

  16

  —

  16

  5

  —

  5

  21

  —

  21

  Summary

  8

  —

  8

  —

  —

  —

  8

  —

  8

  Common assault

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Actual bodily harm (ABH)

  23

  —23

  4

  —

  4

  27

  —

  27

  Grievous bodily harm (GBH)

  Wounding with intent to do GBH etc.

  3

  —

  3

  2

  —

  2

  5

  —

  5

  Wounding or inflicting GBH with or without weapon

  12

  —

  12

  3

  —

  3

  15

  —

  15

  Sexual offences

  —

  1

  1

  2

  —

  2

  2

  1

  3

  Other violence against the person

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Drugs

  Supplying or offering to supply

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  3

  3

  —

  3

  Possession of a controlled drug

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Possession with intent to supply

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other drug offences

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total indictable offences

  364

  3

  367

  69

  1

  70

  433

  4

  437

  Total summary non-motoring offences

  81

  —

  81

  —

  —

  —

  81

  —

  81

  Total summary motoring offences

  5

  —

  5

  —

  —

  —

  5

  —

  5

  Total all offences

  450

  3

  453

  69

  1

  70

  519

  4

  523

  1 Provisional

  West Yorkshire
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next intends to pay an official visit to West Yorkshire.

  Mr. Howard
  I intend to visit West Yorkshire when my diary permits.

  Wrongful Convictions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken to date in investigating possible wrongful convictions in each of the cases of which notice has been given to him; and in those cases where a person has already been released, what compensation has been paid.

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

  Prisoners (Court Transfers)
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for the Metropolitan police area, for the year to 30 June(a) the number of prison movements to and from courts, (b) the number of prisoner escapes from police and Prison Service custody in transit to and from courts, and from custody at court, (c) the number of deaths, including suicides, by prisoners at court or in transit to and from court, (d) the number of assaults on police and prison officers while escorting prisoners to and from courts and (e) the number of prisoners arriving at court more than one hour late.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) prison movements to and from magistrates courts—57,213.

  (b) prisoner escapes—12 from police custody, 5 from Prison Service custody.

  (c) deaths—I suicide.

  (d) assaults—56 police officers, 4 prison officers.

  (e) Information on the number of prisoners arriving more than one hour late for court is not available centrally.

  Rape
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the last five years and for the current year to date (a) the number of 552
  cases of (i) rape and (ii) attempted rape on males that have been reported and (b) the number of successful convictions that have ensued in (i) and (ii).

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information relates to the number of male offenders cautioned and convicted of acts of non-consensual buggery and is given in the table. Data for 1993 will not be available until autumn 1994.

  Male offenders cautioned and convicted at all courts of certain buggery offences 1988–92

  England and Wales

  Number

  Offence/Year

  Cautions

  Convictions

  Buggery by a man with a male person of the age of 16 or over without consent

  1988

  n/a

  18

  1989

  11

  15

  1990

  10

  13

  1991

  6

  14

  19921

  6

  15

  Attempt by a man to commit buggery with a male person of the age of 16 or over without consent

  1988

  n/a

  5

  1989

  n/a

  2

  1990

  2

  2

  1991

  n/a

  2

  19921

  2

  2

  1 Provisional.

  n/a = Not available.

  Miscarriages of Justice
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when C3 division expects to complete its current investigations into alleged miscarriages of justice; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  In each of the cases of alleged miscarriage of justice currently under consideration, we shall aim to reach a decision as quickly as possible. Some cases may take longer than others to decide, depending upon the nature of the representations and the extent of any police or other inquiries which may need to be made.

  C3 Division
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently employed in his Department's C3 division; and if he will list each individual employee's qualifications.

  Mr. Maclean
  A total of 69 staff, of whom 22 are engaged in considering alleged miscarriages of justice, are currently employed in C3 division of the Home Office. All are administrative civil servants in grades up to and including grade 5, having a variety of backgrounds, experience and qualifications.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases C3 division are currently investigating in respect of alleged miscarriages of justice; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  On 30 September 1993 179 cases of alleged miscarriage of justice were under consideration in C3 division of the Home Office.

  Mentally Disturbed Patients
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by regional health authority and by year for the last five years and the current

  Persons found guilty or cautioned for specified offences of unlawful sexual intercourse with a mentally disordered person

  Numbers found guilty (Cautions given in brackets)

  Code

  Description

  Act

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  11992

  19.2

  Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who is a defective

  Sexual Offences Act 1956 sec 7 as amended by the Mental Health Act 1959 sec 127

  26

  4(3)

  7(7)

  5(1)

  4(8)

  19.3

  Male member of staff of hospital or mental nursing home having unlawful sexual intercourse with a female patient

  Mental Health Act 1959 sec 128(l)(a)

  1

  1

  1(1)

  2(1)

  1

  16.5

  Male member of staff of hospital or mental nursing home committing buggery or an act of gross indecency with male patient

  Mental Health Act 1959 sec 128(1 )(a) as amended by Sexual Offences Act 1967 sec 1(4)

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  16.6

  Man committing buggery or act of gross indecency with mentally disordered male patient who is subject to his care

  Mental Health Act 1959 sec 128(1)(a) as amended by Sexual Offences Act 1967 sec 1(4)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  19.4

  Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with mentally disordered female patient who is subject to his care

  Mental Health Act 1959 sec 128(l)(b)

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1 Provisional date.

  2 Cautions data for 1988 offence sub-classifications is not available.

  Persons prosecuted for specified offences of unlawful sexual intercourse with a mentally disordered person

  Numbers prosecuted

  Code

  Description

  Act

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  11992

  19.2

  Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who is a defective

  Sexual Offences Act 1956 sec 7 as amended by the Mental Health Act 1959 sec 127

  9

  7

  4

  8

  14

  19.3

  Male member of staff of hospital or mental nursing home having unlawful sexual intercourse with a female patient

  Mental Health Act 1959 sec 128(l)(a)

  1

  1

  2

  1

  —

  16.5

  Male member of staff of hospital or mental nursing home committing buggery or an act of gross indecency with male patient

  Mental Health Act 1959 sec 128(l)(a) as amended by Sexual Offences Act 1967 sec 1(4)

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  16.6

  Man committing buggery or act of gross indecency with mentally disordered male patient who is subject to his care

  Mental Health Act 1959 sec 128(l)(a) as amended by Sexual Offences Act 1967 sec 1(4)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  19.4

  Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with mentally disordered female patient who is subject to his care

  Mental Health Act 1959 sec 128(1)(b)

  1

  —

  1

  2

  1

  1 Provisional data.

  554
  year to date the number of cases reported of (a) unlawful sexual intercourse with (i) a male and (ii) a female who is a defective under the terms of the Sexual Offences Act 1956, section 7, as amended by the Mental Health Act 1959, section 127, (b) a (i) male and (ii) female member of staff of a hospital or mental nursing home having unlawful sexual intercourse with a patient under the terms of the Mental Health Act 1959, section l28(1)(a) and (c) a (i) male and (ii) female having unlawful sexual intercourse with a mentally disordered patient who is subject to care under the terms of the Mental Health Act 1959, section 128(i)(b); and how many successful convictions have ensued in each category listed.

  Mr. Maclean
  The readily available information for England and Wales is provided in the tables.

  Information is available only for the numbers prosecuted and those cautioned or found guilty in the courts. These specific offences are not separately identified in the statistics of recorded crime. Statistics on courts proceedings are not available by regional health authority.

  The Mental Health Act 1959 refers only to males who have unlawful sexual intercourse with females.

  Drink Driving
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list significant changes in law, enforcement and sentencing relating to drink driving since 1979.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Transport Act 1981 introduced evidential breath testing in May 1983.

  A "high risk offenders scheme" under which certain categories of drink-drive offenders must demonstrate that they are not alcohol dependent before their licences are restored to them was introduced in 1982 and extended in 1990.

  A new offence of causing death by careless driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs was introduced in July 1992 under the Road Traffic Act 1991 to strengthen the courts' powers to deal with those drink-drivers who kill. The maximum penalty for this offence was doubled to 10 years' imprisonment in August 1993.

  The same 1991 Act also introduced an experimental scheme of rehabilitation courses for those convicted of drink-driving offences, designed to influence the attitudes of such offenders away from alcohol and driving.

  The Department of Transport runs at least one major publicity campaign on a drink-drive theme each year and in many years there have been two such campaigns.

  Taken together, these measures to which my hon. Friend made a significant contribution as Minister of State, have resulted in a reduction in the estimated number of drink-related fatalities on the roads from 1,550 in 1982 to 610 in 1992.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list as a ratio the number of drink-drive related deaths compared with the number of murder victims in each year from 1979.

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information on murder relates to the number of offences decided at court to be murder. Figures for the number of deaths in drink-drive accidents have been supplied by the Department of Transport. These figures, and the calculated ratios, are given in the following table.

  Offences decided at court to be murder, fatalities in drink-drive accidents, and the ratio between them, 1979 to 1991 England and Wales

  Year

  (a) Offences decided at court to be murder

  (b) Drink-drive fatalities

  (b)/(a)

  1979

  160

  1,640

  10·25

  1980

  126

  1,450

  11·51

  1981

  148

  1,420

  9·59

  1982

  160

  1,550

  9·69

  1983

  152

  1,110

  7·30

  1984

  165

  1,170

  7·09

  1985

  167

  1,040

  6·23

  1986

  204

  990

  4·85

  1987

  198

  900

  4·55

  1988

  178

  790

  4·44

  1989

  183

  810

  4·43

  1990

  179

  760

  4·25

  1991

  1124

  660

  5·32

  1 At the lime these statistics were compiled (September 1992), there were 204 court decisions pending on offences initially recorded in 1991. On past experience, about 65 further offences will eventually be decided at court to have been murder.

  556
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will estimate the number of crimes(a) excluding and (b) including drink driving in 1979 and in the latest year;

  (2) if he will estimate the number of offences and the proportion detected in 1979 and in the latest available year.

  Mr. Maclean
  Drink driving is not a notifiable offence and does not form part of the recorded crime series. The available information relating to drink driving is on findings of guilt at all courts for driving or being in charge of a vehicle after consuming alcohol or taking drugs. There were 67,000 findings of guilt in 1979 and 103,800 in 1991, the latest available year.

  The information relating to notifiable offences recorded and cleared up by the police is published for 1979 in tables 2.17 and 2.18 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1989" and, for 1992, in table 6 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 9/93; copies of both publications are available in the Library.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of fatalities associated with drink driving in 1979 and the latest year.

  Mr. Key
  It is estimated that in 1992 around 610 people were killed in accidents where a driver or rider was over the legal limit compared with 1,640 in 1979. The way in which these figures were derived is explained in "Road Accidents Great Britain 1992".

  West Midlands Police
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the West Midlands chief constable as to how many officers were disciplined as a result of the West Yorkshire inquiry ; what were the offences involved; and what penalties were imposed.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No. These are matters for the chief constable of the West Midlands.

  Police Reform
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had from the Greater Manchester police authority in regard to police reform; what reply he is sending; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Since the White Paper on police reform was published in June, we have received representations from the Greater Manchester police authority in the form of a letter dated 23 September from the clerk to the police authority. A reply was sent on 7 October. The points raised in the letter are being taken into account as work on developing the proposals for police reform proceeds.

  Anti-British National Party Demonstration
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of(a) policing the anti-British National party demonstration in Woolwich and Bexleyheath on 16 October, (b) the overall additional police costs arising out of protecting the BNP and (c) what contribution the BNP will be asked to make towards these additional costs.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Earl Ferrers will write to the hon. Member.

  Police, Plumstead and Greenwich
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received regarding the reduction in the number of police constables in the Plumstead division and the proposed further reduction before the end of this year; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will meet a deputation from the Greenwich police consultative committee to discuss their concerns about reduced policing levels in the Plumstead and Greenwich divisions.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Earl Ferrers will write to the hon. Member.

  Victim Support
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the level of funding for victim support in the current financial year; and which plan he has to increase this sum;

  (2) what is the expected level of funding for victim support in 1994–95.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 21 October 1993]: Home Office grant aid to Victim Support in the current financial year will amount to £8.375 million, an increase of 15 per cent. on last year's grant of £7.26 million.

  In November 1991, we informed Victim Support that the increase in funding it would be receiving over the next three years would be £7.3 million, £8.3 million and £8.6 million, respectively. We made it clear that it would need to devise budgets to operate within this level of funding and that there could be no expectation of further increases.

  Details of Home Office funding for 1994–95 will be made known as soon as possible.

  Young People (Remand)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many 15-year-old(a) males and (b) females, remanded into custody pending trial or sentence in 1993 to the latest date available, received custodial sentences at the conclusion of their cases;

  (2) how many 15-year-old (a) males and (b) females, remanded into custody pending trial or sentence in 1992, received custodial sentences at the conclusion of their cases.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 19 October 1993]: In 1992, of the 376 persons aged 15, all of whom were male, received into Prison Service establishments on remand, about 120 were recorded as subsequently received under sentence. I regret that information for 1993 is not yet available.

EDUCATION

  Chief Education Officer, Birmingham
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received concerning his remarks about the Birmingham chief education officer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Patten
  I have received a number of letters.

  School Numbers
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education on how many occasions since 1 January his Department has declined a local education authority application to reduce standard numbers.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Since 1 January my right hon. Friend has declined 43 applications from LEAs to reduce school standard numbers. Over the same period he has approved reductions at 312 schools, of which 215 were approved without modification.

  National Curriculum Council
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the costs of relocating and merging the National Curriculum Council and the Schools Examination and Assessment Council.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The estimated total cost of establishing the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority and winding up the National Curriculum Council and School Examinations and Assessment Council is £4 million. There will be recurrent savings, estimated at £1 million a year, arising mainly from a reduction of almost 50 in the total number of staff employed and from giving up the NCC's premises in York.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many OFSTED reports on grant-maintained schools have been published;

  (2) how many grant-maintained schools have received OFSTED inspections.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The arrangements for inspecting schools under the Education (Schools) Act 1992 are a matter for OFSTED.

  I have asked Professor Sutherland to write to the hon. Member.

  Primary School Teachers
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many comments he has received on his Department's draft circular on the initial training of primary school teachers; and how many expressed opposition to the circular.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has received about 4,000 responses to the draft circular on the initial training of primary school teachers, expressing a wide range of views on the various proposals it contains. My right hon. Friend intends to issue a substantive circular later this autumn which will take account of these responses.

  Student Unions
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many comments he has received on his proposals for the reform of student unions; and how many have expressed their opposition to the proposals.

  Mr. Boswell
  Since my right hon. Friend announced his proposals for student union reform on 1 July, he has received some 1,265 written representations in response to the consultations on implementation. Comments have also been received in meetings and visits. Many comments have questioned particular aspects of the implementation of the reforms, while passing others in silence; others have similarly expressed support for particular points and for the principles which underlie the reforms.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the sum of money that the Further Education Funding Council spent on special educational needs in 1992–93, by local authority area.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Further Education Funding Council did not assume its responsibilities until 1 April 1993. In 1993–94 the council has allocated the bulk of the funding for provision for students with learning difficulties and disabilities as part of colleges' recurrent funding. The allocations represent broadly stable funding and reflect the council's commitment to providing continuity of provision for these students.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he intends to respond to the third report from the Education Select Committee of Session 1992–93 on "Meeting Special Educational Needs: Statements of Needs and Provision".

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he intends to respond to the third report from the Education Select Committee of Session 1992–93 on "Meeting Special Educational Needs: Statements of Needs and Provision".

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend today issued the Government's response to the report "Meeting Special Educational Needs: Statements of Needs and Provision" by the Select Committee on Education. The Government welcome the report. The provisions in the Education Act 1993, including the draft code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs, published today, will improve the framework for special education.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he intends to consult about a draft code of practice on special educational needs under section 158 of the Education Act 1993.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend is today issuing for consultation a draft of the code of practice on the identification and assessment of children with special educational needs together with drafts of the regulations governing statutory assessments and statements. Copies will be placed in the Library. All maintained schools and local education authorities will have to have regard to the code, as will district health authorities and social services departments when they assist LEAs in their duties towards 560
  children with special educational needs. The consultation period will last until 14 January. Subject to the approval of Parliament, the code will come into effect in September 1994.

  Schools Technology Initiative
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many applications he has received from businesses willing to participate in his schools technology initiative.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Schools wishing to become technology colleges under the programe which the Government announced on 27 September will prepare a development plan backed by private sector sponsors. It is not for sponsors to apply direct to the Department for Education. Over 100 schools have already expressed interest in becoming technology colleges. Many of these have identified business sponsors and have begun to prepare their development plans. My right hon. Friend expects to announce in the new year the names of the first group of schools which will begin operating as technology colleges in September 1994.

  Student Finance
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has to compensate students in higher education to take account of the imposition of VAT on fuel; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what estimate he has made of the impact on student incomes of the imposition of VAT on fuel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  It is my right hon. Friend's policy to review annually the overall level of mandatory support available to students through the basic grant and loan, in the light of forecast cost movements. The rates for the 1994–95 academic year will be announced in due course.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the annual expenditure on discretionary awards for students attending further education college courses for each of the metropolitan authorities, for each financial year since 1990–91.

  Mr. Boswell
  Expenditure on discretionary awards for further education by metropolitan authorities for the academic years 1990–91 and 1991–92 is shown in the table. Data for later years are not yet available.

  Discretionary awards expenditure for further education in the metropolitan authorities in 1990–91 and 1991–92

  LEA NO

  1990–91 Expenditure (£000)

  1991–92 Expenditure (£000)

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  922·6

  1,298·6

  Coventry

  527·4

  558·4

  Dudley

  455·6

  393·0

  Sandwell

  496·9

  870·7

  Solihull

  128·9

  200·6

  Walsall

  1,450·9

  1,894·3

  Wolverhampton

  74·6

  34·6

  Merseyside

  Knowsley

  1,046·8

  1,368·8

  Liverpool

  5,696·6

  4,432·7

  St. Helens

  530·6

  678·3

  Sefton

  277·8

  224·4

  561

  LEA NO

  1990–91 Expenditure (£000)

  1991–92 Expenditure (£000)

  Wirral

  1,453·1

  1,652·9

  Greater Manchester

  Bolton

  536·1

  821·2

  Bury

  510·2

  642·3

  Manchester

  0·0

  1,835·6

  Oldham

  544·3

  459·5

  Rochdale

  490·2

  741·1

  Salford

  423·0

  314·4

  Stockport

  504·4

  691·2

  Tameside

  238·9

  352·5

  Trafford1

  n/a

  302·2

  Wigan

  418·1

  499·1

  South Yorkshire

  Barnsley

  1,269·5

  788·8

  Doncaster

  698·0

  685·0

  Rotherham

  669·0

  904·4

  Sheffield

  2,025·6

  1,930·6

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford

  1,612·0

  1,778·3

  Calderdale

  249·6

  310·3

  Kirklees

  1,402·9

  2,195·9

  Leeds

  2,117·1

  2,742·9

  Wakefield

  1,017·7

  1,048·2

  Tyne and Wear

  Gateshead

  454·3

  375·8

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  608·7

  770·4

  North Tyneside

  706·1

  1,023·8

  South Tyneside

  325·8

  450·4

  Sunderland1

  n/a

  933 3

  Total Metropolitan Authorities

  29,883·1

  36,204·4

  1 Discretionary data not provided in 1990–91

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Forestry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will give, for each of those forest areas in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Humberside currently for sale to the private sector, details of(a) how rights of public access will be maintained, (b) how the environmental code for forestry enterprise will be enforced, (c) what charges she will allow for access, (d) how many people are currently employed on these forests, (e) what percentage it is of the Forestry Commission's land in each county (i) in 1980 and (ii) at present and (f) what were the criteria for selection for privatisation.

  Mr. Jack
  The areas of forest land currently being offered for sale by the Forestry Commission in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Humberside are shown in the table.

  Area (hectares)

  Lincolnshire

  1—

  Yorkshire

  Cannon Park Estate

  194

  Gateforth East

  27

  Gateforth West

  47

  Hayton Wood

  51

  Hazelhead Wood

  94

  Hazelwood

  56

  562

  Area (hectares)

  Howsham Wood

  81

  Humberside

  Greenwickdale

  44

  1 =None.

  a. Access to Forestry Commission woodlands can be either by means of public rights of way or by permission. Public rights of way will not be affected by a change of ownership. Arrangements for securing continued permissive public access to Forestry Commission woodlands after sale, through prior agreements entered into between the Commission and local authorities, were introduced in October 1991. Of the forest areas listed above, access agreements have been concluded under these arrangements for Gateforth East, Hayton Wood and Hazelwood, and an agreement is currently being negotiated for Hazelhead Wood.

  b. The Environmental Code was drawn up specifically in relation to the management of the Commission's woodlands by its Forest Enterprise arm. Private woodland owners participating in the Woodland Grant Scheme are required to follow environmental guidelines published by the Forestry Commission. Grants are withheld if the guidelines are not followed.

  c. No charges are allowed for public access under the agreements described at a. above.

  d. These are small woodlands which do not have any staff assigned to them on a regular basis.

  e. The areas of forest land currently for sale in Yorkshire amount to about 2 per cent. of the total woodland area managed by the Forestry Commission in the county, both in 1980 and in 1993. The one area for sale in Humberside represents about 8 per cent. of the total woodland area managed in 1980 and about 12 per cent. of the current area.

  f. The main considerations to be taken into account in selecting properties for disposal were set out in 1981 by the then Secretary of State for Scotland in a letter to the Chairman of the Commission. That letter is reproduced at Appendix V to the Commission's 1981–82 Annual Report, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list all the pieces of Forestry Commission land in Yorkshire which have been sold in the last 10 years; and if she will list for each sale(a) the name of the forest or piece of land, (b) its area in acres, (c) the sale price, (d) the name and address of the purchaser and (e) whether the current owner provides a public right of access to the land.

  Mr. Jack
  Details of the areas of forest land sold by the Forestry Commission in each county, from the start of the disposals programme in July 1981 to December 1992, are given in lists held in the Library of the House. For all sales since June 1985 the commission has sought permission from the purchasers to disclose their names and the prices paid; where such permission has been given these details are included in the lists.

  Information about the sale of other categories of land, such as agricultural land, houses and gardens, is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The Government retain no direct interest in land which has been sold by the commission, so no official records have been collected on the provision of public access by the new owners. Public rights of way will not, however, be affected by a change of ownership.

  Cereals
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current world price of(a) feed wheat and (b) milling wheat.

  Mr. Jack
  There is no single definition of what constitutes millling wheat or feed wheat—considerable

  Wheat prices on world markets (£'000)

  Canadian Western Red Spring No. 1(fob Vancouver)1

  US Hard Red Winter (fob Gulf)2

  EEC Standard Wheat(fob Rouen)3

  1992–93

  120

  88

  82

  September 1993

  164

  87

  57

  1 Canadian Western Red Spring No. 1 is a premium hard wheat with a protein content of 14 per cent. or above. Because of its high protein content and quality, it is used for premium breadmaking.

  2 US Hard Red Winter wheat also has a high protein content (12–13 per cent.) and is used for breadmaking.

  3 EEC Standard wheat has a lower protein content (9.5–10 per cent. on an equivalent moisture basis) and produces a softer flour. It is used for Borne types of bread and gluten can be added to improve the strength of the grist. Depending on supplies and prices, this wheat may also be used for animal feed.

  Porcine Somatotropin
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information she has on the commercial availability of porcine somatotropin ; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Porcine somatotropin is not commercially available in the United Kingdom. I have no information on its commercial availability in other countries.

  Chemical Pollution
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what policy proposals she has developed as a result of the findings and recommendations of the second joint annual report of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment and the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment.

  Mr. Soames
  So far as the responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are concerned, the safety assessments carried out by these committees form an essential basis for all policies related to the safety of food. In the case of the second joint annual report, the conclusions of the committees were reflected in the policies pursued in EC negotiations on the approval of specific food additives, in the clearance of food use of a novel fat, and in the withdrawal from sale of certain comfrey products.

  Ostriches
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many consignments of ostriches have been flown in to the United Kingdom since January 1993; how many birds were involved; and how many birds died during transit.

  Mr. Soames
  Two consignments have been flown to the United Kingdom this year involving 107 ostriches. The Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1992 and EC directive 91/628 require all such transport to comply with standards of care laid down by the International Air Transport Association. One ostrich died during the journey.
  564
  quantities of miling wheat are used for feed—and prices and price differentials for wheat on world markets vary according to quality and other factors. Illustrative prices for 1992–93 and September 1993 are given in the table, but it should be noted that the current exceptionally wide divergence in prices reflects shortages of high quality wheat on world markets.

  The Department is monitoring this trade and guidance has been prepared for the authorities in other countries and importers on the additional welfare standards to be observed during air transport.

  Live Animal Imports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will give an estimate of the annual number of live animals arriving in the United Kingdom illegally ; what type of animals are involved; what countries are involved; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Comprehensive information on live animals imported into the United Kingdom in contravention of animal health import legislation, which is enforced by local authorities, is not held centrally.

  However, a number of importers are still failing to provide my Ministry with the required advance notification of their intention to import live animals and consignments have been imported with incorrect official health certification. In each case my Ministry has taken up the matter either with importer concerned or with the veterinary authorities in the exporting member state, as appropriate.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has received concerning EC legislation to protect the welfare of live farm animals during transport.

  Mr. Soames
  During the last 12 months the Government have received over 100,000 pieces of correspondence, and 81 petitions representing approximately 27,000 signatures, concerning the welfare of animals during transport, of which the majority concern our trade with the Community. New proposals to amend directive 91/628, on the welfare of animals during transport, were sent to over 500 interested organisations and individuals for consultation this summer. We have received 86 replies.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the proportion of consignments of animals imported from other EC member states from which blood samples have been taken since January; and what were the equivalent proportions for each of the previous two years.
  565
  Mr. Soames
  The state veterinary service is carrying out at places of destination a significant number of veterinary checks—which includes, if appropriate, the taking of samples for testing—on animals imported from other member states. The number of blood, or other, samples varies according to the species of animal being imported, the country of origin, and the perceived disease risk at the time of import, but precise figures cannot be published for operational reasons.

  Beta-agonists
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the use of beta-agonists in food animals.

  Mr. Soames
  Beta-agonists are a group of drugs which have been used for a number of years in both human and veterinary medicines. In the United Kingdom there are five licensed veterinary medicines containing clenbuterol, a member of the family of beta-agonist drugs. These can be used legally only on prescription from a veterinary surgeon and are used in the treatment of respiratory ailments in cattle and horses and as an aid to cattle at the time of calving.

  When fed to food-producing animals at high dosages, beta-agonists have been found to improve the lean content of the carcase. No beta-agonists have, however, been licensed in the United Kingdom or in any other member state for this purpose and any such use would therefore be illegal.

  Surveillance for residues of beta-agonists in meat is carried out in Great Britain under the national surveillance scheme for residues in meat. Under this scheme randomly selected samples are collected from carcases at slaughterhouses and from live animals on farms. No beta-agonist positives have been identified from samples taken under this scheme since testing commenced in August 1989.

  Separate surveillance arrangements directed at retail and wholesale premises, cover both imported and domestic supplies. Two clenbuterol positive samples were reported in 1992 (Official Report, 2 March 1993, column 78). Neither was likely to have posed any threat to human health, but it was not possible to establish whether the samples originated in Great Britain or elsewhere. No further positive samples have been reported in 1993 to date.

  Because of the evidence of abuse of beta-agonists outside Great Britain, surveillance has been increased under both schemes this year. In particular, as a result of the recent reports in the media following the finding by Somerset county council of traces of clenbuterol in samples of pig liver pâté manufactured in Belgium, sampling of pâté has been increased. Under the retail animal products survey approximately 70 samples of pig liver pôté will have been collected from retail outlets across the United Kingdom by the end of November. The full results of this survey will be published as soon as all the confirmed results become available. The confirmed results of the analysis of the first 25 samples taken during September have, however, shown no evidence of contamination with clenbuterol.

  Overseas Staff and Premises
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the cost of the current financial year of her Department having(a) premises and (b) personnel overseas; and what were the comparable figures for (a) 12, (b) 24, (c) 36 and (d) 48 months ago.

  Mr. Jack
  The Department has no overseas premises, nor does it have any personnel based overseas who are carrying out departmental functions. Staff on loan to work in the agriculture sections of British embassies are funded by the Foreign Office.

  RAF Aston Down
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the nature of the work carried out by the wildlife unit based at Royal Air Force station Aston Down; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The wildlife unit carries out badger removal operations to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis from badgers to cattle and advises farmers who have experienced a breakdown on methods designed to reduce the risk of further cattle infection.

  Peat
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make it her policy to promote the use of long-term set-aside for peat soil adjacent to raised bog habitats.

  Mr. Jack
  We have recently completed consultations on the introduction in England of a habitat scheme which will offer incentives to take selected agricultural land out of production for 20 years. There was general support for the priorities identified for this scheme, but land adjacent to raised bog habitats was not one of them. As a result, we do not plan to include such land in the pilot phase of the scheme.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans she has to produce a manual for professional horticulturalists identifying the available peat-free products and giving advice on their use in horticulture.

  Mr. Jack
  Advice on the range and use of commercial products is a matter for the suppliers themselves. The Horticultural Development Council is, however, undertaking research on peat alternatives and plan a seminar on this subject on 1 December. Currently I am not planning to publish a manual on this matter.

  Sewage Sludge Dump, Bristol Channel
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will place in the Library a map showing the boundaries of the sewage sludge dump in the Bristol channel.

  Mr. Jack
  All dumping of sewage sludge in the Bristol channel ceased in October 1992. The two designated disposal sites in use at that time were each circular areas of radius of 1 nautical mile centred at co-ordinates:

  51 22.5N 03 56.0W (site LU050) and

  51 24.5N 04 04.0W (site LU 160).

  567
  A map showing these areas has been placed in the Library.

  Stoke Park Wood
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans she has to sell Stoke Park wood in Bishopstoke, Hampshire.

  Mr. Jack
  There are no plans to sell this wood.

  Set-aside
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of land, and what amount in hectares, in rotational set-aside in 1993–94 she predicts will be put into non-rotational set-aside for the following year.

  Mr. Jack
  There has been considerable interest shown in non-rotational set-aside, but detailed figures will not be available until aid applications are submitted next year.

  EC Surplus Cereals
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the price charged at the most recent date for surplus cereals from the EC sold on the world market; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Export sales from intervention are made by weekly tender. In setting prices under these tenders, account is taken of factors such as the current market situation, demand for the grain concerned, the need to minimise intervention stocks and the need to obtain the best possible price.

  Details of the most recent sales on to the world market from EC intervention stores are as follows:

  Quantity (tonnes)

  Price(ECU/tonne)

  Member State

  Wheat (21 October 1993)

  192,867

  71·23

  Germany

  72,446

  73·10

  France

  Barley (14 October 1993)

  138,254

  55·58

  Germany

  34,540

  57·72

  France

  Maize (21 October 1993)

  27,700

  91·02

  France

  Rye (21 October 1993)

  7,131

  52·12

  Germany

  In the current marketing year, no cereals have been exported on to the world market from United Kingdom intervention stocks.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amounts of cereals are in storage in each of the 12 member states of the EC.

  Mr. Jack
  According to information supplied by the EC Commission, at 17 October 1993, the amounts of cereals in intervention in each member state are as follows:

  Member state

  Quantity (tonnes)

  Belgium

  252,211

  Denmark

  1,362,375

  Germany

  10,446,515

  568

  Member state

  Quantity (tonnes)

  Greece

  789,731

  Spain

  1,056,491

  France

  7,973,282

  Ireland

  235,792

  Italy

  2,459,037

  Luxembourg

  2,200

  Netherlands

  —

  Portugal

  44

  United Kingdom

  1,729,849

  Dairy Intervention Stocks
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the level of intervention stocks held in the United Kingdom in the dairy sector at the last date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Jack
  On 16 October 1993 there were 9,236 tonnes of butter and 1,200 tonnes of skimmed milk powder in intervention stores in the United Kingdom. This is down on the stocks held on the same day last year when there were 9,941 tonnes of butter and 1,700 tonnes of skimmed milk powder in intervention stores.

  Pig Slaughtering
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the number and percentage of pigs which have to be re-stunned at slaughter; and what steps she is taking to reduce this number and percentage.

  Mr. Soames
  There are no centrally held figures, although a MAFF-commissioned survey undertaken by Bristol university during the period 1989 to 1992 suggested that in the region of 13.5 per cent. of pigs were re-stunned. On 1 January this year two statutory codes of practice on the welfare of red meat animals at slaughter came into force and the requirement for supervision by official veterinary surgeons was extended to all licensed slaughterhouses. In response to the survey results we have recently issued new comprehensive guidance to pig slaughterhouse operators and enforcement authorities on the electrical stunning of pigs. In addition, veterinary officers from this Department have been asked to pay particular attention to pig stunning and slaughter practices during their monitoring visits, and to report on the standards observed.

  Novel Foods and Processes
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the members of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes indicating what sector or establishment each of them comes from.

  Mr. Soames
  The membership of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes is listed, together with details of the establishment to which each member belongs.

  Professor Derek Burke, BSc PhD HonLLD (Chairman)

  Vice-Chancellor of the University of East Anglia.

  Professor G. E. Adams, BSc PhD DSc FACR

  Director, Medical Research Council Radiobiology Unit, Oxford.

  Professor A. T. Atkinson, BSc PhD

  569

  Deputy Director, Public Health Laboratory Service, Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Potion Down.

  Dr. A. C. Baird-Parker, OBE BSc PhD

  Head of Microbiology Division, Unilever Research.

  Professor E. Cocking, BSc PhD DSc FIBiol FRS

  Plant Genetic Manipulation Group, University of Nottingham.

  Professor H. M. Dick, MD FIBiol FRCP FRCPath FRSE

  Department of Medical Microbiology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee.

  Dr. Michael J. Gasson, BSc PhD

  Head of Genetics and Microbiology Department, Agriculture and Food Research Council Institute of Food Research, Norwich.

  Professor W. P. T. James, MA MD DSc FRCP FRCP(Edin) FRSE

  Director, Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen.

  Professor V. Marks, DM FRCP FRCPath

  School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey.

  Mrs. H Millar, MA

  Adult Education Department, University of Glasgow.

  Professor B. E. Moseley, MSc PhD

  Head of Reading Laboratory, Agriculture and Food Research Council Institute of Food Research, Reading.

  Rev. J. Polkinghorne, MA PhD ScD FRS

  The President, Queens' College, Cambridge.

  Professor P. Richmond, BSc PhD DSc CPhys FInstP

  Co-operative Wholesale Society Technical Services, Manchester.

  Dr. P. J. Rodgers, MA DPhil

  Zeneca Bio Products, Billingham, Cleveland.

  Professor J. E. Smith, BSc MSc PhD DSc FIBiol FRSE

  Head of Applied Microbiology Division, University of Strathclyde.

  Professor D. A. T. Southgate, BSc PhD MIBiol

  Visiting Professor to the School of Biological and Nutritional Sciences, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

  Professor R. Walker, BSc PhD FRSD CChem FIFST

  Professor of Food Science, University of Surrey.

  Professor H. F. Woods, BSc BM BCh MRCP DPhil FFPM FRCP

  Head of Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield.

  Marine Mammals
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures she intends to introduce in order to meet the requirements to monitor and control incidental capture and killing of cetaceans as set out in the EC habitats and species directive article 12(4).

  Mr. Jack
  Article 12(4) of the EC habitats and species directive requires member states to establish a system to monitor the incidental capture and killing of certain animal species, including cetaceans. In anticipation of this obligation, in January 1992 the UK Fisheries Departments introduced a voluntary scheme for fishermen to report incidents involving the accidental capture of marine mammals. This scheme has not been successful and is currently being reconsidered. Separately, the Department of the Environment funds marine mammal strandings schemes for England and Wales and for Scotland through which post mortems on recovered carcases are carried out and particular stranding incidents investigated.
  570
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers her Ministry possesses to regulate fishing operations, including attaching conditions on the siting or the use of fishing nets, for the express purpose of conserving cetaceans.

  Mr. Jack
  The powers available to regulate fishing operations are in relation to sea fish as defined in the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967. This definition does not include cetaceans. Obligations on the United Kingdom in relation to the incidental capture and killing of cetaceans are set out in the EC habitats and species directive.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many reports have been received from fishermen of incidental catches of marine mammals under her Ministry's voluntary monitoring scheme; what assessment she has made of the extent to which this is a true reflection of the scale of incidental catches around the United Kingdom coast; and if she will make a statement on the adequacy of this scheme.

  Mr. Jack
  Since the scheme was introduced by the United Kingdom Fisheries Departments in January 1992 six reports of incidental catches have been received. These involved five common porpoises, three common seals, one grey seal and one common dolphin. Two of the common seals and the dolphin survived and were released. The scheme has not been successful as returns clearly fall short of the number of strandings from all sources recorded by the Department of the Environment's marine strandings co-ordinators. The scheme is currently being reconsidered.

  Weeds Act 1959
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans she has for the future of the Weeds Act 1959; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  After careful consideration by Agriculture Ministers of responses to consultations on the future of the Weeds Act we have decided to retain it. This was announced on 11 October by my noble Friend the Earl Howe.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Customs Searches
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what records are kept on the ethnicity of persons entering the United Kingdom who are stopped and searched by Customs and Excise officials.

  Sir John Cope
  HM Customs and Excise record the ethnic grouping of persons who, on entry to the United Kingdom, are selected for search of their person.

  Reading Material
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have to impose VAT on reading material in the Province.

  Sir John Cope
  It would be inappropriate for me to comment in advance of the Budget statement.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 2 April,Official Report, column 479, what is his most recent estimate of the number of taxpayers with gross and taxable incomes within specific income bands.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Latest estimates for 1993–94 are given in the table.

  Thousands

  Number of taxpayers by range of

  Gross income1

  Taxable income2

  Under 5,000

  2,100

  8,200

  5,000 to 10,000

  7,800

  6,800

  10,000 to 15,000

  6,100

  4,400

  15,000 to 20,000

  3,900

  2,400

  20,000 to 25,000

  2,000

  1,200

  25,000 to 30,000

  1,100

  630

  30,000 to 40,000

  940

  590

  40,000 to 50,000

  340

  210

  50,000 to 70,000

  250

  180

  70,000 to 80,000

  60

  40

  Increase in the lower rate band

  Revenue cost in 1994–95

  Revenue cost in a full year

  Additional numbers of taxpayers with a marginal rate of 20 per cent

  £

  £million

  £million

  Males (000s)

  Females (000s)

  100

  80

  100

  60

  80

  500

  400

  500

  310

  450

  1,000

  780

  980

  710

  860

  Mr. Cormack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what would be the estimated cost if the higher rate of income tax were levied only on those earning over £45,000 per annum;

  (2) what would be the estimated yield if the higher rate of tax were increased to 50 per cent. on those earning over £70,000 per annum.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Higher rate income tax is charged on taxable income—that is gross income for income tax purposes less those allowances and reliefs, which are available at the taxpayer's marginal rate— in excess of the basic rate limit.

  At 1994–95 income levels the estimated full-year cost of increasing the basic rate limit to £45,000 would be £3.4 billion compared with statutory indexation. The yield from the introduction of a 50 per cent. rate on taxable incomes over £70,000 would be about £1.4 billion. These estimates do not allow for any behavioural effect that might result from such changes to the tax system and do not include capital gains tax.

  VAT
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had from British Airways and other airlines in regard to VAT on domestic air fares; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  A number of such representations have been received. It would be inappropriate for me to comment in advance of my right hon. and learned Friend's forthcoming Budget statement.

  Mr. Cormack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the yield if VAT at 5 per cent. were levied on all items which are currently zero rated or exempt other than food.
  572

  Number of taxpayers by range of

  Gross income1

  Taxable income2

  over 80,000

  170

  140

  Total taxpayers

  24,800

  24,800

  1 Gross income is defined as total income for income tax purposes. It excludes income from certain social security benefits and some investment income such as National Savings Certificates.

  2 Taxable income is defined as gross income for income tax purposes less those allowances and reliefs which are available at the taxpayer's marginal rate.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 25 February,Official Report, column 683, what estimate he has made of the effect of increases on the lower rate band of tax, in 1994–95.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Estimated costs compared with the statutory indexation of allowances and with the lower rate band width of £3,000 announced in the March 1993 Budget are in the table.

  Sir John Cope
  The publication "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs" shows the cost of not applying VAT at the standard rate to those goods currently zero rated or exempt. Although such a calculation may be misleading, adding together the figures for 1993–94 for all items in these groups other than food comes to £17.8 billion. It is not possible to calculate pro rata the figure for exempt goods but 5 per cent. on zero rated items other than food would be expected to raise £3.0 billion. These estimates take no account of behavioural changes.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the revenue to be gained from imposing VAT on the footwear and clothing of women whose size enables their clothing to be free of VAT.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: The law provides that articles designed as clothing or footwear for young children and not suitable for older persons are zero rated. Although certain adults may be able to purchase certain items of zero rated clothing for themselves, we do not believe the VAT receipts forgone from these purchases to be large.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what calculation he has made of the effective transfer of resources from families of children aged 10 to 16 years in the top clothing size quartile to families of children aged 10 to 16 years in the bottom clothing size quartile arising from the present VAT provisions.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: None, as there is not the data on which to base a reliable calculation.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Matrix Churchill
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests for information on Government export control policy have been received from Lord Howe in connection with the Scott inquiry.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Like other witnesses before the Scott inquiry, Lord Howe has been given access to papers relevant to his evidence by the Departments in which he held office.

  Israel
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps he has taken to ascertain the whereabouts of the Israeli navigator captain Ron Arad.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We continue to raise the case of Ron Arad with those who might be able to help, but we have not obtained reliable information as to his whereabouts. We continue to believe that the best hope for a solution lies with the efforts of the United Nations.

  Science Museum
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of whether the trustees of the science museum are able to meet their obligation under the National Heritage Act 1983 and to discharge the museum's mission statement including care and research of the national collection; if the proposed reduction in staff will leave in post an adequate number of curators, conservation staff and librarians; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sproat
  Under the National Heritage Act 1983, the trustees of the science museum may generally promote the public's enjoyment and understanding of science and technology and of the development of those subjects, both by means of the board's collections and by such other means as they consider appropriate.

  In considering future policy for the national museum of science and industry the trustees are naturally aware of their fiduciary responsibilities to the collections and the care and research that attaches to them. They are concerned to ensure that the buildings that house the museums and the public displays presented in them meet the museum's stated mission. The current plans are being implemented in the light of those concerns in order that the museum can improve what it delivers to its various publics and play its proper role in promoting the public understanding of the history and—in particular—the contemporary practice of science, technology, industry and medicine.

  Works of Art (Export)
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the report of the reviewing committee on the export of works of art 1992–93 will be published.

  Mr. Brooke
  The reviewing committee's annual report 1992–93 has been published today, and copies have been laid before both Houses.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the completion of his Department's project, "Interaction of the Body with Radio Emissions from Hand Held Transceivers".

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The project, "Interaction of the Body with Radio Emissions from Hand Held Transceivers", is due to complete in December 1995. On completion of the project, a document summarising the results will be made public. I will review the need for a statement at that time.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what level of capital investment is required for building nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  It remains Government policy that Nuclear Electric plc will not be granted capital expenditure approval for any new nuclear stations pending the outcome of a review of the future prospects for nuclear power in the United Kingdom. Options for the scope and format of that review are currently under consideration within Government.

  Telecommunications
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to alter the wayleave regulations under the Telecommunications Act 1984 following privatisation to make them more suited to use by private companies laying fibre optic cables.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Any operator licensed under the Telecommunications Act 1984 may negotiate wayleaves freely for the installation of any kind of apparatus. In addition, licensees granted powers under that Act's telecommunications code may, in certain circumstances, ask the court to decide the terms of a wayleave which has not been freely agreed by the landowner. I have no plans to alter these arrangements.

  Pollution Control Equipment
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action has been undertaken by his Department to stimulate the development of pollution control equipment in industry in the United Kingdom following the Centre for Exporation of Science and Technology's report in 1991.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Since the publication of the Centre for the Exploitation of Science and Technology's report in 1991, the DTI has created, in association with the Department of Environment, the joint environmental markets unit. The main aims of the unit are to increase United Kingdom firms' awareness of the huge and growing markets for environmental goods and services and to assist United Kingdom companies to exploit such opportunities. In addition to the creation of this unit, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister launched, in March this year, the technology partnership initiative which aims to encourage appropriate environmental technology co-operation
  575
  between United Kingdom business and developing countries. These two initiatives mean that the DTI is developing a close working relationship with United Kingdom manufacturers and suppliers in the environmental field.

  Under a three-year environmental technology programme—DEMOS, ETIS and Euroenviron—grants amounting to £13.8 million have been made to a total of 77 projects involved with the development of innovative environmental technologies, techniques and processes, including pollution control equipment.

  Nuclear Safety
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make representations to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and Nuclear Electric requiring them to state what accident scenarios are considered during the planning and carrying out of defuelling and decommissioning of nuclear reactors.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate and Nuclear Electric plc. NE is required by nuclear site licence conditions to produce a safety case which demonstrates the safety of such activities to the HSE's NII. This includes an emergency plan to ensure that the public would be adequately protected in the unlikely event of an accident occurring during the decommissioning process.

  Exports to China
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the embargo on arms exports to China applies to the export of radar systems for use by military aircraft.

  Mr. Needham
  The terms of our arms embargo on China were announced to the House by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 6 June 1989,Official Report, column 30. The embargo applies to the sale of weapons as well as any equipment that could be used for internal repression.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what communications his Department has had with the International Plutonium Management Study Committee of the Japanese Science and Technology Agency about the THORP contracts; and what documents have been provided by the committee on the management of Japanese-owned plutonium at Sellafield.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department has frequent discussions with representatives of the Japanese Science and Technology Agency on a range of topics of mutual interest. The THORP contracts are a commercial matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc and its customers.

  Electricity Imports
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer 19 July,Official Report, column 13, what are the latest monthly figures for the amount of electricity imported via the channel interconnector; and what are the prospects for the remainder of 1993 and the first half of 1994.
  576
  Mr. Eggar
  Net imports across the interconnector in the five months from May to September 1993 were 6.75 TWh. As I said in my answer of 19 July, the future pattern of trade will depend on the operation of commercial contracts.

  Coal Imports
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 28 June,Official Report, column 371, what are the latest monthly figures for coal imports; and what assessment he has made of the prospects for the remainder of 1993 and the first half of 1994.

  Mr. Eggar
  Import figures for 1993 are still subject to revision, but estimates for the period January to August 1993 suggest that imports in 1993 will be about 10 to 20 per cent. below imports in 1992.

  Orkney Wind Turbine
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of hours of operation and the electricity generated, in kilowatt hours, by the Orkney 3 MW wind turbine at Burgar hill in each year since 1988 and in 1993 to date.

  Mr. Eggar
  Operating records of the Orkney 3 MW wind turbine at Burgar hill are described in the table:

  Year

  Hours run

  mKWh generated

  1989

  1,551

  1·926

  1990

  1,103

  1·549

  1991

  790

  1·135

  1992

  3,662

  5·152

  1993

  —

  —

  The machine has not operated in 1993 pending a decision on recommissioning it following completion of its experimental programme.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what estimate he has made of the costs of repairing the crack in the rotor in the Orkney 3 MW wind turbine discovered in December 1992; and when he expects the repairs to be completed;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the future operational programme for the Orkney 3 MW wind turbine.

  Mr. Eggar
  The turbine has completed its experimental programme and therefore its future depends on its viability as a generator of electricity. This is under consideration and my Department and Scottish Hydro-Electric plc hope to make a statement before the end of the year. The cost of repairing and recommissioning would be in the region of £50,000.

  Nuclear Review
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will announce the terms of reference of the 1994 nuclear review.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I made on Wednesday 20 October to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill),Official Report, column 245.

  Energy Review Panel
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will appoint members of the energy review panel, which he announced in the coal White Paper.

  Mr. Eggar
  I announced to the House on 20 October that I had asked Dr. Martin Holdgate to chair the energy advisory panel, and had written to other experts in the energy field asking them to serve as members. I will make an announcement of the full membership of the panel as soon as possible.

  Post Office Pension Schemes
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what access to the funds and assets of the Post Office superannuation and Post Office pension schemes will be afforded private companies who take over ownership in the event of privatisation of Post Office Counters Ltd., Royal Mail Ltd. and Parcelforce Ltd.;

  (2) what arrangements are planned in the event of the privatisation of Post Office Counters Ltd., Royal Mail Ltd., and Parcelforce Ltd., for any staff made redundant to take their current pension entitlements with them to alternative employment.

  Mr McLoughlin
  The Government are continuing their review into the future structure and organisation of the Post Office. Once the Government have decided on the future of the Post Office and its constituent businesses, they will be able to consider any implications for pensions in detail. Until then, these questions are hypothetical.

  Post Office Chairman
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what criteria he judges the performance of the chairman of the Post Office; when he will next review his performance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: I look to the chairman of the Post Office to lead the board and the Post Office as a whole in providing high quality of service to its customers, efficiently and effectively, particularly measured against the financial and efficiency targets for the Post Office and its businesses set by Government as detailed in the Post Office annual report and accounts, and against targets agreed for the quality of service provided by the businesses.

  Redirected Mail
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the percentage and actual increases in the charges for redirection of mail between 1991 and 1993, and what was the retail prices index increase over the equivalent period.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: Charges for redirection of mail service have increased between 1991 and 1993 as follows:

  Charge from:

  1 month

  3 months

  12 months

  16 September 1991

  £3·50

  £7 75

  £18·75

  13 September 1993

  £6·00

  £13·00

  £30·00

  Percentage increase

  71·4

  67·7

  60·0

  578
  The retail price index increase between September 1991 and September 1993 was 5.4 per cent.

  These increases bring the charges more closely into line with the costs of the mail redirection service and reflect the improvements recently made to these services.

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

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 21 October 1993]: My Department has no record of any contact with Mr. Patrick Doyle.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  R. v. Morris, Reade and Woodwiss
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will place in the Library a copy of Mr. Justice Garland's judgment in the case of R.v. Morris, Reade and Woodwiss.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have arranged for a copy of Mr. Justice Garland's judgment to be placed in the Library.

WALES

  Welsh Language Board
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his estimate is of the budget for a full year of the Welsh Language Board.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The budget for 1993–94 for the advisory Welsh Language Board is £400,000. Decisions about future provision for the statutory Welsh Language Board will be made in the context of the current and subsequent public expenditure surveys and will take into account the change in status, duties, functions and remit of the board brought about by the Welsh Language Act 1993. I will announce my decisions in due course in the normal way.

  Community Care Housing
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what level of increased capital funding has been granted to Tai Cymru to meet community care housing needs.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Housing needs of this type are provided for from within the gross resources available to Housing for Wales which for this financial year represent an increase of approximately 5 per cent. on 1992–93, excluding acquisition initiative funding.

  Special Needs Housing
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of Tai Cymru funding was allocated towards approved development programmes of new housing for(a) special needs groups and (b) sheltered housing for elderly people in each year since 1990–91.
  579
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Capital funding for new special needs projects as a percentage of the total programme was as follows:

  Per cent

  1990–91

  9·3

  1991–92

  7·2

  1992–93

  4·4

  Housing for Wales estimates that the figure for 1993–94 will be 8 per cent.

  Separate figures for sheltered elderly allocation are not available for the period in question.

  These figures are for new build only. They do not include the increasing number of homes being allocated to people in these groups from general needs provision.

  Morriston Hospital, Swansea
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by what date the new cardiac surgery centre will be completed at Morriston hospital, Swansea; and in what year 600 adult open-heart operations will be carried out there.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There is presently no estimated completion date, but the project board established to manage the development of cardiac services at Morriston hospital is drawing up a detailed timetable for the project.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dedicated intensive care beds will be provided at the new cardiac surgery unit at Morriston hospital, Swansea.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My announcement on 21 June gave the overall capacity of the unit—600 open heart procedures a year. Clearly, appropriate intensive care facilities will be needed to support this level of activity, but the detailed planning under way has not yet reached a stage where I could indicate the precise services to be provided.

  Dental Treatment
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library for each family health service authority area in Wales, the telephone number and contact name for use by any person not registered with a general dental practitioner who requires emergency dental treatment at night or during the weekends.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Non-registered patients requiring emergency treatment at night or at weekends should contact their nearest local dentist who may be willing to treat them. Alternatively, patients should contact their GP who will be able to provide pain relief and, where clinically necessary, refer the patient onwards to a local casualty department or appropriate hospital unit. Patients may also refer themselves to casualty departments.

  Local Government Boundaries
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure that the geographical boundaries of the proposed new unitary local authorities will be co-terminous with health authority and family health service authority boundaries.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Government propose, in consultation with the health authorities and the family 580
  health service authorities, to review their boundaries so that, as far as possible, they do not cross those of the new unitary authorities.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the dates by which he will require hospital trusts in Wales to publish their annual reports.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Except in the first year of operation, the statutory annual public meeting of NHS trusts must be held on or before 30 September to present the audited accounts, annual report and any report on the accounts.

  Diabetes
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales are diabetics dependent on insulin injections; and in what form and at what level of disaggregation the information is held.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Health Planning Forum's protocol on physical and sensory disability, which was published by the Welsh Office in November 1991, estimated that there are between 50,000 and 60,000 diabetics in Wales, of whom 30 to 40 per cent. are dependent on insulin injections. This estimate drew on the Welsh Medical Committee's report on diabetes, published the same year.

  Further information on the number of people with diabetes, their capacity to cope with everyday life and their views on the management of their care will be available in 1994 from a survey of the health of the people of Wales commissioned by the Welsh Office.

  NHS Trusts and Fund Holders
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the current official listed business address of(a) each NHS hospital trust and (b) each general practitioner fund-holding practice in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The list of addresses is as follows.

  NHS TRUST

  1. Pembrokeshire NHS Trust.

  Chief Executive

  Pembrokeshire NHS Trust

  Withybush Hospital

  Fishguard Road

  HAVERFORDWEST SA61 2PZ

  2. Glan Clwyd District General Hospital NHS Trust

  Glan Clwyd Hospital

  Bodelwyddan

  NR. RHYL

  Clwyd LL18 5UJ

  3. Wrexham Maelor Hospital NHS Trust

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital

  Croesnewydd Road

  WREXHAM

  Clwyd LL13 7TD

  4. Gofal Cymuned Clwydian Community Care NHS Trust

  Catherine Gladstone House

  Hawarden Way

  DEESIDE

  Clwyd CH5 2EP

  5. Powys Health Care NHS Trust

  581

  Unit Offices

  Felindre

  Bronllys Hospital

  Bronllys BRECON

  Powys LD3 0LS

  6. Glan Hafren NHS Trust

  Royal Gwent Hospital

  Cardiff Road

  NEWPORT

  Gwent NP9 2UB

  7. Gwent Community Health NHS Trust

  Grange House

  Llanfrechfa Grange Hospital

  CWMBRAN

  Gwent NP44 8YN

  8. Llandough Hospital NHS Trust

  Llandough Hospital

  Llandough

  PENARTH

  South Glamorgan CF6 1XX

  9. Bridgend and District NHS Trust

  Nurses Home Offices

  Quarella Road

  BRIDGEND

  Mid Glamorgan CF31 1YE

  10. Swansea NHS Trust

  Singleton Hospital

  Sketty

  SWANSEA

  SA2 0FB

  11. Llanelli Dinefwr NHS Trust

  Prince Philip Hospital

  Bryngwynmawr

  Dafen

  LLANELLI SA14 8QF

  12. Carmarthen and District NHS Trust

  West Wales General Hospital

  Glangwili

  CARMARTHEN

  Dyfed SA31 2AF

  13. Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust

  Bronglais General Hospital

  Caradog Road

  ABERYSTWYTH

  Dyfed SY23 1ER

  14. South and East Wales Ambulance NHS Trust

  South Glamorgan Ambulance Headquarters

  Ty Bronna

  St Fagans Road

  Fairwater

  CARDIFF CF5 3XP

  GP FUNDHOLDERS

  Clwyd

  Dr. W. B. Clarke & Partners

  The Health Centre

  Padeswood Road

  Buckley CH7 2JL

  Dr. C. W. Spencer & Partners

  The Health Centre

  Padeswood Road

  Buckley

  and

  83 Main Road

  Broughton CH4 0NR

  Dr. D. E. Jones & Partners

  Beech House

  Vale Street

  Denbigh LL 16 3AU

  582

  Dr. J. G. Thomas & Partners

  Bronyffynnon

  Bridge Street

  Denbigh LL16 3TH

  Dr. G. O. Jones & Partners

  Pendre Surgery

  Coleshill Street

  Holywell CH8 7UP

  Dr. E. W. Jones & Partners

  The Health Centre

  Regent Street

  Llangollen LL20 8HL

  Dr. G. W. Jones & Partners

  Cadwgan Surgery

  360 Abergele Road

  Old Colwyn LL29 9LW

  Dr. N. Evans & Partners

  Central Surgery

  Ffordd Pendyffryn

  Prestatyn LL19 9DH

  Dr. J. N. Taylor & Partners

  The Health Centre

  Pen y Bont

  The Roe

  St. Asaph LL17 0LD

  Dyfed

  Dr. R. W. Burns & Partners

  St. Thomas' Surgery

  Rifleman Lane

  St. Thomas' Green

  Haverfordwest SA61 1QX

  Dr. I. A. Davies & Partners

  Meddygfa Teilo

  Crescent Road

  Llandeilo SA19 6HL

  Gwent

  Dr. S. M. Telang & Partners

  Gray Hill Surgery

  Woodstock Way

  Caldicot NP6 4DB

  Dr. P. E. Jones & Partners

  Bellevue Surgery

  Courtybella Terrace

  Newport NP9 2WQ

  Dr. M. Thomas & Partners

  The Mount Surgery

  George Street

  Pontypool NP4 6YL

  Dr. A. C. Pugh & Partners

  Abersychan Surgery

  Old Road

  Abersychan

  Pontypool NP4 7BQ

  Powys

  Dr. E. J. Welton & Partners

  The Surgery

  Well Street

  Montgomery SY15 6PF

  West Glamorgan

  Dr. M. D. Edwards & Partners

  22 Mill Street

  Gowerton

  Swansea SA4 3ED

  583

  Drs. Davies, O'Kane & Partners

  Sketty Surgery

  De La Beche Road

  Sketty

  Swansea SA2 9EA

  Dr. D. G. Bromham & Partners

  Castle Surgery

  1 Prince of Wales Drive

  Neath SA11 3EW

  GP FUNDHOLDING SCHEME

  Dr. B. K. Shah & Partners

  The Surgery

  Oakfield Street

  Ystrad Mynach

  Hengoed

  Mid Glamorgan CF8 7WX

  Drs. D. S. B. James, Jones & Partners

  The Ashgrove Surgery

  Morgan Street

  Pontypridd

  Mid Glamorgan CF37 2DR

  Dr. W. A. Jerrett & Partners

  Old School Surgery

  School Street

  Pontyclun

  Mid Glamorgan

  Dr. D. Parry & Partners

  Gwlad y Mor

  45–47 South Road

  Porthcawl

  Mid Glamorgan CF36 3DG

  Drs. G. F. Morgan, Edwards & Partners

  Ely Bridge Surgery

  23 Mill Road

  Ely

  Cardiff CF5 4AE

  Dr. S. P. Jenkins & Partners

  Ty'r Felin Surgery

  Cecil Road

  Gorseinon

  Swansea

  West Glamorgan SA4 2BY

  Dr. B. F. Bracewell & Partners

  Clarence House

  14 Russell Road

  Rhyl

  Clwyd LL18 3BY

  GP FUNDHOLDING:

  Clywd

  Dr. D. Jones & Partners

  Plas y Bryn Surgery

  Chapel Street

  Wrexham

  LL13 7DD

  Drs. Alstead, Alstead & Williams*

  The Surgery

  40 St Georges Crescent

  Wrexham

  LL13 8DB

  Drs. Saul & Buchanan*

  The Clinic

  Beech Avenue

  Rhos

  Wrexham

  LL14 1AA

  584

  Dr. J. Tattersall & Partners

  The Clinic

  First Avenue

  Gwersyllt

  Wrexham

  Dr. R. Rouse & Partners

  Rysseldene

  98 Conway Road

  Colwyn Bay

  LL29 7LE

  Dr. D. Ryan & Partners

  The Surgery

  Gardden Road

  Rhos

  Wrexham

  LL14 2EN

  Dr. W. Jolly & Partners

  Shotton Lane Surgery

  38, Shotton Lane

  Shotton CH5 1QW

  Dr. S. B Patel & Partners

  Rhoslan Surgery

  4 Pwllycrochan Avenue

  Colwyn Bay LL29 7DA

  Dyfed

  Dr. R. R. E. Evans & Partners

  Furnace House Surgery

  St. Andrews Road

  Carmarthen

  SA31 1LW

  Dr. N. J. Lupini & Partners

  Ty Elli Surgery

  Vauxhall

  Llanelli

  SA15 3BD

  Dr. E. L. Anthony & Partners

  Avenue Villa Surgery

  Brynmor Road

  Llanelli

  SA15 2TJ

  Dr. D. E. C. Hurle & Partners

  The Medical Centre

  Westfield Road

  Saundersfoot

  SA69 9JW

  Gwent

  Dr. S. J. Thomas & Partners

  Isca General Practice Unit

  Cadoc House, High Street

  Caerleon

  Newport NP6 1AZ

  Dr. R. H. Jones & Partners

  The Health Centre

  Regent Way

  Chepstow

  NP6 5BS

  Dr. D. C. B. Bissett & Partners

  Glan Rhyd Surgery

  Riverside

  Beaufort

  Ebbw Vale NP3 5PB

  Dr. A. E. Gray & Partners

  Beechwood Surgery

  371 Chepstow Road

  Newport

  NP9 8HL

  Dr. D. W. John & Partners

  St. Davids Clinic

  Courtybella Terrace

  Newport

  NP9 2LD

  585

  Dr. A. W. Davies & Partners

  The Grange Clinic

  Westfield Avenue Malpas

  Newport NP9 6EY

  Dr. R. H. Jones & Partners

  Risca Surgery

  Church House Field

  St. Mary Street

  Risca NP1 6YS

  Dr. D. McPherson & Partners

  Chippenham Surgery

  Monmouth

  Gwent

  NP5 3EQ

  Dr. A. L. Calland & Partners

  The Wye Valley Practice St. Briavels Surgery

  Briavels

  Lydney, Glos

  GL15 6SA

  Gwynedd

  Dr. D. J. Bowen & Partners

  The New Surgery

  Longford Road

  Holyhead LL65 1TR

  Mid Glamorgan

  Dr. P. W. Jones & Partners

  Parc Canol Surgery

  Central Park

  Church Village

  CF38 1RJ

  Dr. B. Wookey & Partners

  Pontcae Surgery

  Georgetown

  Merthyr Tydfil

  CF48 1YE

  Dr. C. D. V. Jones & Partners

  The Medical Centre

  Duffryn Road

  Rhydyfelin

  Pontypridd

  Powys

  Dr. A. J. M. Cavenagh & Partners

  Brecon Medical Group Practice

  Ruperra House

  St. Mary's Street

  Brecon LD3 7AA

  Dr. A. R. W. Harriss & Partners

  Glandwr Park

  Builth Wells

  LD2 3DZ

  Dr. J. R. Waring & Partners

  War Memorial Health Centre

  Beaufort Street

  Crickhowell

  NP8 1AG

  Dr. E. T. Scrase & Partners

  The Health Centre

  Llanidloes

  SY18 6EZ

  South Glamorgan

  Dr. M. T. K. Wheeler & Partners

  Fairwater Health Centre

  Plasmawr Road

  Fairwater

  Cardiff CF5 3JT

  586

  Dr. D. W. Williamson & Partners

  Clifton Surgery

  151–153 Newport Road

  Roath

  Cardiff CF2 1AG

  Dr. D. A. Richards & Partners

  The North Cardiff Medical Centre

  Excalibur Drive

  Thornhill

  Cardiff

  CF4 9BB

  Dr. M. J. O'Kane & Partners

  The Health Centre

  Caebricks Road

  Cwmbwrla

  Swansea

  SA5 8NS

  Dr. D. G. Lewis & Partners*

  Fforestfach Health Centre

  Ravenhill Road

  Fforestfach

  Swansea SA5 5AA

  Dr. I. M. Millington & Partners*

  Fforestfach Health Centre

  Fforestfach

  Swansea

  Dr. A. L. Foulkes & Partners

  Llwynbrwydrau Surgery

  3 Frederick Place

  Llansamlet

  Swansea SA7 9RY

  Dr. M. K. Hopkins & Partners

  Manselton Surgery

  Elgin Street

  Manselton

  Swansea

  SA5 8QE

  Dr. B. Lervy & Partners

  The Surgery

  65 Sway Road

  Morriston

  Swansea SA6 6JA

  Dr. D. H. Gamage & Partners

  St. Thomas Surgery

  Ysgol Street

  St. Thomas

  Swansea SA1 8LH

  West Glamorgan

  Dr. R. B. D. Skidmore & Partners*

  The Health Centre

  Hunter Street

  Briton Ferry

  SA11 2SF

  Dr. C. S. Selby & Partners*

  The Health Centre

  Hunter Street

  Briton Ferry

  SA11 2SF

  Dr. D. M. Davies

  Dyfed Road Health Centre

  Dyfed Road

  Neath

  SA11 3AP

  Dr. T. V. Barrow & Partners

  The Health Centre

  Pontardawe

  587

  Swansea

  SA8 4JU

  Dr. R. R. Jones & Partners

  140 St Helens Road

  Swansea

  SA1 4DE

  Dr. A. Law & Partners

  The Surgery

  Trinity Buildings

  21 Orchard Street

  Swansea

  SA1 5EB

  Dr. J. R. Evans & Partners

  Tal y Boni Surgery

  Station Road

  Pontardulais

  Swansea

  SA4 1TL

  Dr. J. G. Williams

  48 Sketty Road

  Uplands

  Swansea

  SA2 0LJ

  and

  49 Queens Road

  Mumbles

  Swansea

  SA3 4AW

  Dr. G. H. Jones

  The Surgery

  78 Newton Road

  Swansea

  SA3 4BE

  *Group application

  VAT (Headquarters Buildings)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had in relation to the treatment of VAT on new headquarters buildings to be owned by(a) training and enterprise councils, (b) the Welsh Development Agency or (c) training and enterprise councils and the Welsh Development Agency jointly; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  None. North East Wales training and enterprise council and the Welsh Development Agency have taken account of, inter alia, VAT requirements in preparing their proposals.

  Urban Investment Grant
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 11 June,Official Report, columns 346–48, if he will list for each of the recipients of urban investment grant in Wales, both as regards Welsh Office direct payment and via Cardiff Bay development corporation, how much has been (a) agreed, and (b) paid in each quarter.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply my right hon. Friend gave him on 11 June and on 22 June at column 114.

  Details of projects approved in each of the quarters are given at table 1—Welsh Office—and table 2—CBDC. Payments are made in arrears and calculated on the basis of certificated measured work and, where appropriate, site acquisition costs.
  588

  Table 1: Welsh Office Approved Projects

  Quarter and Project and Developer

  Grant approved £

  April-June 1991

  Goat Mill Road, Merthyr

  Breamvalley Estates Ltd.

  315,000

  July-September 1991

  Llewellyn's Quay, Port Talbot

  Comfort House Investments Ltd.

  175,000

  October-December 1991

  Beacons View, Dowlais

  Comfort House Investments Ltd.

  100,000

  Quay West, Swansea

  Andrew Scott Developments Ltd.

  500,000

  St. David's Church, Aberdare

  R. A. & C. T. Davies

  43,000

  January-March 1992

  Harold Wilson Industrial Estate, Caerphilly

  G. A. Spacey (Management Services) Ltd.

  136,000

  Cromwell Service Station, Newport

  Sinclair Garages (Port Talbot) Ltd.

  245,000

  Cardiff Road, Aberaman

  Beazer Urban Developments

  328,000

  Letchworth Road, Ebbw Vale

  Barakat Property Developers Ltd.

  84,000

  Old Bus Station, Merthyr

  Redraw Homes (South Wales) Ltd.

  250,000

  Warnill's Foundry, Abertillery

  Safeway Stores plc

  150,000

  April-June 1992

  Blaenant Business Park

  Short (Bros.) Plant Ltd.

  25,000

  King Street, Mold

  MPH (North Wales) Ltd.

  70,000

  July-September 1992

  Clase Road, Morriston

  Castle Leisure Ltd.

  200,000

  Royal Opera House Scenery Store, Aberaman

  Macob Holdings Ltd.

  1,336,000

  October-December 1992

  Nil

  January-March 1993

  Former YMCA, Aberaman

  R. A. & C. T. Davies

  45,000

  Castle Court, Caerphilly

  Macob Construction Ltd.

  95,000

  Dimond Street, Pembroke Dock

  Peter Morris & Mewbeck Ltd.

  55,000

  Table 2: Cardiff Bay development corporation approved grants

  Quarter and project and developer

  Grant approved £

  January-March 1993

  NCM Offices, Capital Waterside

  Associated British Ports

  2,500,000

  North-east Wales Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had in relation to the development of a new headquarters for the North-east Wales training and enterprise council; what consent has been(a) sought and (b) refused for capital expenditure for such a purpose; what consent has been (i) sought, and (ii)

  589
  refused for a new headquarters for North-east Wales for the Welsh Development Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Representations have been received from those listed as follows about the proposed North East Wales business development centre which would include office accommodation for both the training and enterprise council and the Welsh Development Agency. Aspects of the proposal are still under consideration.

  Welsh Development Agency

  North East Wales Training and Enterprise Council

  Mr. John Bragg

  Dr. John Marek MP

  Mr. Barry Jones MP

  Mr. R. J. Dutton, Chairman, Wrexham ITEC Management Advisory Group

  Mr. B. Goodhall, Wrexham Maelor Borough Council

  Mr. Rhodri Morgan MP

  European Elections
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the advertising expenditure of his Department on the proposed new Euro-constituency boundaries in Wales; and if he will separately distinguish the sum spent on(a) television advertising and (b) newspaper advertising.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  The total sum spent on advertising the provisionally recommended boundaries for European parliamentary constituencies in Wales has so far been £5,336.23. This was all spent on newspaper advertising, in both English and Welsh in the following papers: Western Mail, Liverpool Daily Post, Evening Leader, Wrexham, Y Cymru.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the names and addresses of all the establishments in Wales where members of the public may view the boundaries of the proposed Euro-constituencies within Wales.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  The provisional recommendations of the European Parliamentary Constituency Committee for Wales were placed on public deposit on Monday 13 September 1993 at the following locations:

  Clwyd

  Council Offices, Russel House, Churton Road, Rhyl

  Council Offices, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin

  Council Offices, Glynne Way, Hawarden

  Delyn House, Chapel Street, Flint

  Guildhall, Wrexham

  Civic Centre, Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay

  Dyfed

  Council Offices, 3 Spilman Street, Carmarthen

  Town Hall, Aberystwyth

  Town Hall, Llanelli

  Cambria House, Haverfordwest

  District Offices, Llanion Park, Pembroke Dock

  Municipal Offices, Crescent Road, Llandeilo

  Gwynedd

  Council Offices, Cae Penarlag, Dolgellau

  Council Offices, Pwllheli

  Council Offices, Bodlondeb, Conwy

  Borough Council Office, Llangefni

  Town Hall, Bangor

  Mid Glamorgan

  Civic Offices, Angel Street, Bridgend

  590

  Council Offices, Talbot Street, Maesteg

  Municipal Buildings, Morgan Street, Pontypridd

  Council Offices, Ystrad Fawr, Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed

  Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil

  Municipal Offices, Llewellyn Street, Pentre, Rhondda

  Council Offices, Rock Grounds, High Street, Aberdare

  South Glamorgan

  City Hall, Cardiff

  Council Offices, Holton Road, Barry

  West Glamorgan

  Civic Centre, Penllergaer

  The Guildhall, Swansea

  Civic Centre, Neath

  Civic Centre, Port Talbot

  Gwent

  Municipal Offices, Civic Centre, Ebbw Vale

  Civic Centre, Blackwood

  Civic Centre, Pontypool

  Mamhilad House, Mamhilad Park Estate, Pontypool

  Civic Centre, Newport

  Powys

  Council Offices, Severn Road, Welshpool

  Neuadd Brycheiniog, Cambrian Way, The Watton, Brecon

  District Council Offices, Llandrindod Wells

PRIME MINISTER

  Overseas Journeys
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister what has been the total cost to public funds of his journeys abroad since 9 April 1992.

  The Prime Minister
  The cost to public funds of my journeys abroad since 9 April 1992 is estimated to be £1,979,000.

  Yasser Arafat
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet Mr. Yasser Arafat; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I hope to see Mr Arafat in London before the end of the year.

  Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Cyprus.

  The Prime Minister
  With my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, I attended the meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in Cyprus from 21 to 25 October. The final communiqué of the meeting and accompanying documents have been placed in the Library of the House.

  The emphasis of the meeting was on the practical and constructive work of the Commonwealth. Agreement was reached on a range of important subjects. The "Limassol Statement on the Uruguay Round" expressed the Commonwealth's strong collective commitment to a comprehensive, equitable and balanced conclusion of the round by 15 December 1993. Commonwealth Heads decided to send a mission of Ministers from Barbados, Canada, Ghana, Malaysia and Mauritius to call on the GATT Director General in Geneva, the European Commission in Brussels and selected capitals to press for

  591
  urgent progress in the trade talks. Nothing will do more to promote growth and jobs for developed and developing countries alike.

  The meeting called for additional measures to reduce the debt burden of developing countries to sustainable levels and, in particular, for the full implementation of the Trinidad terms. These discussions confirmed me in the view that the neediest countries, with a trace record of economic reform, should be offered early and sufficient reduction on their whole stock of official debt. We will continue to press for this.

  I secured strong support for my proposal that Commonwealth countries should strengthen their cooperation in combating the international menace of financial crime. There was agreement to work towards implementation of the 40 recommendations of the financial action task force set up in 1989 at G7 initiative. The United Kingdom is the current chairman. This means that Commonwealth countries will seek to adopt best international practice in this area. Law and Finance Ministers are following up in detail. This will also help Commonwealth work on drug abuse and proceeds of illicit trafficking. I encouraged all Commonwealth Governments not yet party to the relevant 1988 United Nations convention to do so as soon as possible and put in place enforcement mechanisms.

  We agreed that the Commonwealth observer mission to South Africa was making an important contribution towards helping to stem the violence and should remain there until after the election next year. We also agreed that a Commonwealth group should observe the elections as part of a wider international presence to build confidence in the electoral process. We looked forward to welcoming South Africa back into the Commonwealth at the earliest possible opportunity after democratic elections, if South Africa decides to reapply for membership. In lifting all economic sanctions still in place, we endorsed the appeals by President de Klerk and Dr. Nelson Mandela for foreign investment in, and increased trade with, South Africa to help overcome the social, and economic legacy of apartheid.

  The 1991 Harare declaration on good governance has proved its worth. Since 1991, five out of the nine Commonwealth members without democratic government then have held multi-party elections. The Commonwealth has sent observer missions to each of these countries and has provided technical assistance to help the process. Much work on fundamental political values remains to be done. We recognised that in this field the Commonwealth has its particular vocation. We mandated the Secretary-General to give it a high priority.

  In this context, the meeting considered Cameroon's application for Commonwealth membership. It agreed to welcome Cameroon to membership at our next meeting in 1995, on the condition that current efforts to establish a democratic system, consistent with the Harare Commonwealth declaration, were by then completed.

  The meeting discussed a wide range of international political matters, including Bosnia and the Cyprus problem, and agreed that the Commonwealth action group on Cyprus should continue to monitor developments.

  Commonwealth Heads accepted with pleasure the Canadian invitation extended to all governments to participate in the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia during 18 to 28 August 1994.
  592
  Commonwealth Heads also accepted with pleasure New Zealand's invitation to them to hold the next meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1995.

  Lockerbie Bombing
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will obtain for the library of No. 10 Downing street a copy of the book, the details of which have been supplied to him, relating to the loss of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 October 1993]: No. A copy is already available in the Treasury library.

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

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 October 1993 ]: I am unaware of any such contacts and have no plans to meet Mr. Doyle.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the sum in maintenance which should be paid by absent parents as a result of Child Support Agency assessments(a) in the agency's first year of operation and (b) in a full year on the assumption that the assessments are in operation at current levels.

  Mr. Burt
  It is estimated that the sum in maintenance paid by absent parents as a result of Child Support Agency assessments will be some £530 million in the agency's first year and £900 million in the long run.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the sum in maintenance payments resulting from Child Support Agency assessments which will go to the Treasury or which will benefit the Treasury by reducing income support payments in the agency's first year of operation; and what percentage this is of the total of maintenance payments assessed by the agency.

  Mr. Burt
  It is estimated that the savings to the taxpayer from reductions in income support payments in 1993–94 will be approximately £450 million. This represents 85 percent. of the estimated total of the maintenance payments which will be made as a result of assessments.

  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to trace absent parents who are now living elsewhere in the European Community and are not paying maintenance for their children.

  Mr. Burt
  The jurisdiction of the Child Support Agency does not extend beyond the United Kingdom. The Lord Chancellor's Department administers reciprocal enforcement agreements with many countries both inside and outside the European Community. These provisions
  593
  allow for the enforcement of British court orders abroad and of foreign orders in the United Kingdom. The Government have no plans to change these arrangements.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the operation of the Child Support Agency and in particular the financial formula for calculating the maintenance liabilities of absent parents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The new child support maintenance system is a major Government initiative and we are keeping its implementation under close scrutiny. We have no current plans for changes to the formula.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the sum that will be paid in maintenance as a result of Child Support Agency assessments in the agency's first year of operation which will be(a) retained by parents with care and (b) recovered through reduced benefit payments.

  Mr. Burt
  It is estimated that some £50 million of maintenance will be retained by parents with care and about £480 million will be recovered through reduced benefit payments.

  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effect of the Child Support Agency calculations on the level of maintenance required from responsible fathers already paying maintenance.

  Mr. Burt
  It is estimated that average awards of maintenance by the Child Support Agency will be about £45 to £50 per week, compared with awards of £25 to £30 under the previous arrangements. This increase is in part due to the fact that many awards under the old system have run for years without review. Awards by the Child Support Agency will be reviewed annually.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to undertake a review of the Child Support Agency's workings.

  Mr. Burt
  The new child support maintenance system is a major Government initiative and we are keeping its implementation under close scrutiny. We have no current plans for change.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration he has given to the extent to which the new maintenance arrangements for child support(a) penalise second families in respect of absentee parents partners have their income taken into account and (b) undermine the clean break principle by disturbing previously agreed maintenance arrangements.

  Mr. Burt
  Assessment of child support maintenance is based on an absent parent's own income and essential expenditure. A partner's income is taken into account only to assess whether the partner can contribute towards the support of any child of the couple themselves; and whether the amount the absent parent has been assessed to pay under the maintenance formula should be reduced to avoid his second family's resources falling below a prescribed level.

  The clean break principle is restricted to arrangements between couples who divorce and it has always been the
  594
  case that there can be no clean break between parents and their children. The child support maintenance formula takes account of the practical consequences of a clean break settlement by allowing the absent parent's housing costs in his exempt income.

  Independent Living Fund
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when his Department will provide guidance to local authorities concerning the administration of the independent living fund, and the consequent responsibilities of local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The independent living (extension) fund and the independent living (1993) fund are independent and discretionary trust funds. I am informed by the director of the funds that detailed guidance on the operation of the independent living (1993) fund was issued to local authorities on 6 September 1993.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what percentage of the cases in which a maintenance assessment has been issued and the parent with care is in receipt of income support that parent no longer will be eligible for income support as the result of the payment of the assessed maintenance.

  Mr. Burt
  The cost of establishing the number of such cases would be disproportionately high.

  However, it is estimated that in the long run about 30,000 lone parents will no longer be dependent on the taxpayer by requiring income support because they are receiving maintenance. This represents just under 10 per cent. of all lone parents expected to be receiving child support maintenance.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of his Department's current annual expenditure on single parents.

  Mr. Burt
  It is estimated that the total benefit expenditure on lone parents was £6.6 billion during 1992–93.

  Maxwell Pensioners
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what measures his Department has taken to secure the return of Maxwell pension scheme funds from Credit Suisse to the Maxwell pensioners;

  (2) what measures his Department has taken to secure the return of Maxwell pension scheme funds from Lehman Brothers to the Maxwell pensioners.

  Mr. Hague
  Responsibility for the recovery of missing Maxwell pension scheme assets rests with the trustees of the pension schemes and the joint liquidators of Bishopsgate Investment Management Ltd.

  The trustees of the Maxwell Pensioners Trust have taken an initiative to promote an overall settlement to the many disputes relating to missing Maxwell pension scheme assets. The Government welcome this initiative, which is being taken forward on behalf of the trust by Sir Peter Webster, a retired High Court judge.

  Maxwell pensions have been kept in payment while asset recovery work has continued, initially by means of

  595
  Government emergency funding amounting to £2–5 million. Assistance is currently provided through loans to the pension schemes from the Maxwell Pensioners Trust.

  Pensioners (Consumer Goods)
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest available information on the level of ownership among pensioners of(a) motor cars, (b) central heating, (c) telephones, (d) televisions, (e) personal computers or word processors, (f) housing, (g) washing machines, (h) dishwashers and (i) refrigerators; what were the figures for 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is in the table.

  Pensioner households—Ownership of goods

  Item

  1979 Per cent

  1992 Per cent

  Motor Cars

  23

  39

  Central Heating

  43

  78

  Telephones

  50

  90

  Televisions

  94

  98

  Personal Computers or word processors

  n/a

  1

  Year

  Local authority tenants

  All private tenants (a+b)

  Housing Association tenants(a)

  Other private tenants (b)

  1990

  22,507

  3,708

  —

  —

  1991

  23,581

  4,410

  —

  —

  1992

  24,780

  5,288

  2,560

  2,838

  Notes:

  1. The information covers benefit units, and not individuals; couples are counted as one unit.

  2. Discrete information on the numbers of Housing Association Tenants is available only from 1992. Prior to that date, the data is included with that of all Private Tenants.

  3. The source of the data is the Housing Benefit Management Information System quarterly caseload returns for February, May, August and November for 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  VAT on Fuel
  Mr. Cormack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the estimated cost of measures to relieve those in receipt of benefits from the effect of VAT on domestic fuel at(a) 171/2 per cent., (b) 8 per cent. and (c) 5 per cent.

  Mr. Burt
  The costs of compensation will depend on the measures taken and the benefits covered. Extra help will be given to poorer pensioners and others on low incomes. An announcement will be made later in the autumn.

  Among the points to be taken into account is the fact that domestic fuel prices, on average, have fallen by 17–5 per cent. in real terms since their peak in 1983.

  Medical Reports
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will require medical reports, undertaken on behalf of his Department for the purposes of benefit claims, to be typewritten in the interests of clarity; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  The provision of medical reports for benefit purposes is a matter for Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.
  596

  Item

  1979 Per cent

  1992 Per cent

  Housing

  43

  57

  Washing machines

  56

  75

  Dishwashers

  n/a

  n/a

  Refrigerators

  84

  99

  Source: Family Expenditure Survey

  Notes:

  1. Ownership of dishwashers is not recorded in the Family Expenditure Survey.

  2 Ownership of personal computers or word processors is not recorded for 1979.

  Housing Benefit
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people received housing benefit in Tower Hamlets for the last three years, broken down into local authority tenants, housing association tenants and private tenants.

  Mr. Burt
  The latest available information is in the table.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 25 October 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions raised about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security, asking if he will require medical reports, undertaken on behalf of his Department for the purpose of benefit claims, to be typewritten in the interests of clarity.
  I should explain that it is the responsibility of the Benefits Agency Medical Services (BAMS) to provide advice and written reports following medical examination to support the adjudication of benefit claims.
  Whilst some reports are already typed, in response to the stated requirements of their customers, BAMS are now piloting various schemes in different parts of the country to determine the most cost-effective way of providing typed reports for all benefits. They are committed to implementing this improvement in the service they provide as soon as is practically possible.
  Until the change can be implemented, all doctors working for BAMS continue to be reminded of the importance of writing clearly when they have to provide a handwritten report.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Disabilities Allowances
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for changes to the facilities available to right hon. and hon. Members in respect of the hotline service for the disability living allowance in Blackpool; and if he will make a statement.
  597
  Mr. Hague
  The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Andrew Miller, dated 25 October 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions raised about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security, asking if there are any plans for changes to the facilities available to honourable and right honourable Members in respect of the DLA hotline service.
  The hotline continues to operate in Blackpool and achieve a 48 hour call back service. There are presently no plans to alter these facilities. However, as the performance for handling DLA claims is now being sustained at a high level, we will have to consider at some point whether there remains a need for the service in the same form to be maintained in the future. Members will be advised of any changes if, and when, we propose such changes.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

EMPLOYMENT

  Overseas Staff and Premises
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cost for the current financial year of his Department having(a) premises and (b) personnel overseas; and what were the comparable figures for (a) 12, (b) 24, (c) 36 and (d) 48 months ago.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The figures set out in the table show the Employment Department's costs for premises and personnel overseas in 1992–93 and in 1993–94 to date. Information for the financial years 1991–92, 1990–91 and 1989–90 is not readily available.

  Year

  Premises costs

  Personnel costs

  1992–93

  —

  £979,585

  1993–94

  —

  £565,893

  (to end September)

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research has been undertaken by his Department on the job creation potential stemming from the development of energy efficiency programmes in the United Kingdom.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department has not undertaken any such research.

  Jobs, Birmingham
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new vacancies were notified to jobcentres in Birmingham in each of the last 12 months.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is given in the table and is also available from the NOMIS database in the Library.
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  Vacancies notified to Jobcentres covering Birmingham local authority district

  Date

  Number

  October 1992

  2,669

  November 1992

  3,134

  December 1992

  2,055

  January 1993

  1,556

  February 1993

  2,095

  March 1993

  2,041

  April 1993

  2,177

  May 1993

  2,433

  June 1993

  2,042

  July 1993

  2,309

  August 1993

  2,722

  September 1993

  2,390

  Jobs, Lancashire
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many vacancies are currently available at jobcentres in Lancashire offering jobs at(a) £3.10 an hour or less and (b) £3.50 an hour or less.

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

  Letter from M.E.G. Fogden to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 26 October 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 the number of vacancies currently available at Jobcentres in Lancashire offering jobs at (a) £3.10 an hour or less and (b) £3.50 an hour or less. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Unfortunately, I am unable to answer your question without disproportionate costs being incurred. There are 25 Jobcentres in Lancashire and it would be necessary for each to carry out a separate survey, as the information requested is not routinely collected. However, details have been obtained from a sample of four of the larger Jobcentres in the county namely Burnley, Blackpool North, Blackburn and Lancaster. On 22 October these offices held a total of 747 vacancies offering jobs at £3.50 an hour or less, including 511 offering £3.10 an hour or less. For each of the four offices some vacancies from adjacent offices have been included because of arrangements to circulate information within travel to work areas.
  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.

  Farm Accidents
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the number of people killed in farm accidents in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Deaths occuring on farms cannot be separately identified. The fatal accidents in agriculture and horticulture reported to the enforcement authorities in England and Wales under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrencies Regulations 1985 are set out in the table.
  599

  Fatal Accidents in the Agriculture and Horticulture Industry1 Reported to the Enforcement Authorities in England and Wales, 1987–88 to 1991–92

  Year2

  Employees3

  Self employed

  Members of Public4

  Total

  1987–88

  18

  24

  7

  49

  1988–89

  16

  20

  13

  49

  1989–90

  14

  21

  11

  46

  1990–91

  17

  16

  13

  46

  1991–92

  12

  24

  2

  38

  1 As defined by standard industrial classification 1980, class 01

  2 Year commencing 1 April.

  3 Including trainees.

  4 Killed as a result of someone else's work activity.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what standards are required of imported fireworks relative to those manufactured in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In deciding whether or not to grant an importation licence, the explosives inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive applies the same standards to those required of domestically manufactured fireworks.

  Sheltered Placements
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what considerations underlie the prohibition on local authorities which operate their own sheltered placement schemes from offering further placements where funding is available from Remploy Interwork.

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Eric Illsley, dated 26 October 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 local authority Sheltered Placement Schemes (SPS). This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  There is nothing to prevent a local authority which acts both as a sponsor and a host organisation of SPS from also having Interwork placements within their organisation.
  I hope this is helpful.
  As decided by the Administrative 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.

HEALTH

  Health Service Reforms
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the latest report she has received from the Guy's and St. Thomas' national health service trust relating to health service reforms in London.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Guy's and St. Thomas' hospital trust are currently exploring options for the siting of their services as required by "Making London Better". I expect to receive a report from the trust board by mid-November.

  Hospital Treatment
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on progress on pacing of treatment in hospital.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Early evidence indicates that, overall, hospitals are managing their workload effectively over the year. Guidance was issued by the National Health Service Management Executive to ensure that monitoring systems are in place so that local managers can identify problems early and take action to maintain a balanced activity throughout the year.

  GP Fund Holders
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will review the working of general practitioner fund holders; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The fund-holding scheme has been a remarkable success since its introduction in 1991. In England, one in four patients are benefiting from fund holders' services. From 1 April 1994, about one in three patients will benefit.

  The purpose of the scheme is to deliver better care for patients, to achieve better value for money, and to give general practitioners more influence in the service provided to their patients. There is clear evidence to show that it succeeds on all three counts.

  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many smaller family doctor practices are planning to join the fund-holding scheme in April 1994 by joining together; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  More than 350 small practices have expressed an interest in joining the fund-holding scheme from April 1994 by joining together as groups to hold a fund. This is the largest cohort of small practices coming forward so far.

  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners have expressed an interest in joining the fund-holding scheme in April 1994; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  More than 800 practices are preparing to join the scheme from April 1994. From that date about one in three of the population will be covered by a general practitioner fund holder.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in extending the range of services which can be provided by general practitioner fund holders.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  From 1 April 1993 fund holders have been able to purchase community health services from their patients, and can receive payment from the fund for performing secondary care procedures at practice level. We keep the range of services for which fund holders can contract under constant review.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision exists(a) to assess whether a fund-holding general practitioner practice was over-funded in its initial year of operation and (b) to recover funds from a fund-holding practice that has been overfunded.
  601
  Dr. Mawhinney
  Regional health authorities are responsible for setting fair budgets for general practitioner fundholders. If budgets are set incorrectly, for example because of data problems, regions agree with fund holders how to resolve the problem. Excessive surpluses can be returned at the end of the year and regions hold contingency reserves for cases where budgets are set too low.

  Occupational Health
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients the national health service treated in 1990–91 and 1991–92 for(a) occupational health related diseases and (b) industrial accidents.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Barnet Health Authority
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about the number of patients treated by the Barnet health authority in 1992–93 and 1982–83.

  Mr. Sackville
  Between 1982–83 and 1992–93 in-patient and out-patient activity both went up by approximately 5 per cent. to 42,906 and 226,317 respectively. Over the same period daycase activity trebled to 9,627.

  Treatment in Barnet from April 1992 is provided by the Wellhouse Trust, comprising Barnet and Edgware hospitals. Previously the hospitals were managed by Barnet health authority.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from representatives of residential care homes regarding assessments by local authorities.

  Mr. Bowis
  I have regular meetings with care home representatives at which we discuss various issues including local authority assessments.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to monitor the effect of the deregistration of residential care homes for vulnerable people upon service provision to their inhabitants.

  Mr. Bowis
  I am aware of a few homes in the drug and alcohol field which have been deregistered. These services have been and are continuing to be monitored by Goldsmith's college, whose first report was published on 28 July and a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Domiciliary Care Agencies
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will introduce legislation to require the registration and inspection of domiciliary care agencies.

  Mr. Bowis
  We have no plans to introduce such legislation.

  National Health Service
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to make the public aware of how they can help the national health service to provide a better service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Every opportunity is used to emphasise how important the public's help is to the national health service in providing a better service. When the patient's charter was launched two years ago it included a section on how patients could help the NHS. More recently the Department of Health has developed and issued throughout the NHS a "Help Us to Help You" information pack. This initiative will stimulate and encourage local campaigns.

  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the gross domestic product was spent on the national health service in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what was the percentage in 1978.

  Mr. Sackville
  Total national health service expenditure in the United Kingdom was equivalent to 6.1 per cent. of gross domestic product in 1992–93, compared with 4.7 per cent. in 1978–79.

  Harlow Wood Hospital
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the future plans for the Harlow Wood hospital, Nottinghamshire.

  Mr. Sackville
  No final decision has been made on the long-term future of the hospital. I understand that the North Nottinghamshire health authority is considering various options to secure orthopaedic services for local people.

  Patients Charter
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the patients charter.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Since the patients charter came into effect in April 1992, patients throughout the national health service have seen the benefits in terms of better services. The patients charter has stimulated many innovative ideas and much good practice at local level and the efforts of the national health service should be applauded.

  Health Information
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to improve the provision of information on health matters for patients.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Government are committed to improving the information available to patients and the public about the national health service and health matters. The patients charter emphasises that patients have a right to be given detailed information on local health services. The national freephone health information service was launched in January this year, providing a free and confidential service to patients on a wide range of health issues, including information on diseases, treatments, self-help groups and local services. The freephone number of HIS is 0800 66 55 44.

  The Government provide £36 million per year for the funding of the Health Education Authority, which

  603
  promotes a wide range of health education and advice, both directly to the public and through others. The Department also produces information on such areas as help with charges for prescriptions, optical and dental treatment and the costs of travel to hospital.

  Care in the Community
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received about the role of voluntary groups in care in the community.

  Mr. Bowis
  We have received a variety of representations from different voluntary organisations. We meet regularly with many of them and we greatly value the contribution they make to the care of individuals whether in their own homes or in community-based residential establishments.

  Mental Health Facilities
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in 1991–92 were retained in the hospital system under sections 2 or 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983 because(a) suitable accommodation outside the hospital was not available or (b) an alternative but less restrictive mental health facility was not available.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Child Care, Lambeth
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the delivery of child care services in the London borough of Lambeth; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  Following the social services inspectorate report of April 1992 into child protection services, Lambeth has been asked to provide regular reports on these services in the borough. The latest report covers the period up to 1 October 1993 and shows that, despite some work towards achieving improved standards in management and quality of services, there are continuing causes for concern, including an unacceptably high level of unallocated casework. Lambeth will be asked to send a further report by 1 March 1994. In addition, Lambeth is addressing recommendations in a recent social services inspectorate report on three of its children's homes.

  Charitable Trusts
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice she has offered or will offer district health authorities who now no longer manage patient services regarding the transfer of district charitable trust funds to hospitals for the benefit of patients.

  Mr. Sackville
  The administration of charitable funds is the responsibility of the trustees. We have given advice on the legal process required when trustees' responsibilities are transferred from health authorities to national health service trusts. The latest such advice (FDL(93)24) was issued in March 1993, and will be placed in the Library.

  Offenders (Mental Disorders)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will reply to Dr. John Reed, principal medical officer at her Department to his recommendations made 604
  last November in respect of improvements to the treatment of offenders with mental disorders; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, South (Mr. Yeo) gave my hon. Friend the Member for Teignbridge (Mr. Nicholls) on 27 November 1992 at cols.873–74.

  We have endorsed the guiding principles of the joint Department of Health/Home Office review, which point in particular to services being provided, as far as is compatible with public safety, in more local and less institutional settings. In addition we have reaffirmed the policy that, wherever possible, mentally disordered offenders should be cared for and treated by health and social services rather than in the criminal justice system.

  The implementation of these recommendations falls largely to the agencies concerned at local level. We have made services for mentally disordered offenders a first order priority for the national health service in 1994–95. This means that health authorities are required to work with personal social services and criminal justice agencies to develop strategic and purchasing plans for services for mentally disordered offenders, based on the recommendations of the interdepartmental review. Regional health authorities are currently carrying out an assessment of the need for these services which builds on an initial assessment last year.

  We have increased central capital funding for mediurn secure psychiatric services from £3 million in 1991–92 to £17 million in 1992–93, and have made available a further £22 million in 1993–94. We have also made a total of £422,000 available in 1992–93 and 1993–94 for pump-priming of local multi-agency initiatives to help mentally disordered offenders. We have received many imaginative proposals and have so far allocated funds to 61 schemes. The Home Office has provided funds to assist the development of Court assessment and diversion schemes. At least 60 of these schemes are now operating in England, of which 26 are receiving central funding this year.

  The committee which we set up to advise the Department of Health and the Home Office on action to follow up the review has been appointed and has held its first meeting. We fully recognise the importance of sustaining the development of these services and will take full account of the committee's advice in taking this forward.

  Warner Report
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current situation in respect of the Warner report.

  Mr. Bowis
  Following publication of the report in December 1992, local authorities were asked to improve methods of recruitment and vetting of staff responsible for children in residential care. On 1 July this year, local authorities were asked to address other recommendations in the report and to submit progress returns to the Department. On 22 July I announced the membership and the terms of reference for the children's residential care support force in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier) at columns 291–92.

  Life Expectancy
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to institute standard and objective means to monitor healthy life expectancy among the population aged over 50 years.

  Mr. Bowis
  We have recently commissioned research to help us to measure healthy life expectancy more accurately and to identify the factors we need to target to increase healthy life expectancy among older people. The results will be available early next year.

  Peripheral Nerve Damage
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will consider holding centrally information on the number of patients treated for peripheral nerve damage by(a) regional health authorities and (b) district health authorities; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information is collected centrally in the hospital episode system on the number of episodes of in-patient treatment for peripheral nerve damage, as well as those where operations are carried out. The latest England and regional data are published in "Hospital Episode Statistics. Volume 1: Finished Consultant Episodes by diagnosis, operation and specialty, England: Financial year 1989–90", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Drug and Alcohol Services
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement outlining the outcome of her departmental review of drug and alcohol rehabilitation services.

  Mr. Bowis
  The report carried out for the Department by Goldsmith's college was published on 28 July. I issued a press statement at the time of publication and my hon. Friend the Minister for Health wrote to local authorities to draw their attention to matters raised in the report which required their further action. Copies of the press release (H93/896) and the report are available in the Library.

  Tinnitus
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the current Government financial support to voluntary organisations dealing with tinnitus for the year 1993–94.

  Mr. Sackville
  Under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 the Government are providing £22,500 this year and for the next two financial years to the British Tinnitus Association.

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list central Government's financial initiatives with regard to the treatment of tinnitus for the year 1992–93.

  Mr. Sackville
  People suffering from tinnitus may receive treatment under normal service funding arrangements.

  Child Immunisation
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she can provide a league table of childhood immunisation take-up rates in regional health authorities and local health authorities.
  606
  Mr. Sackville
  The information can be found in table 7 of "Vaccination and immunisation 1991–92 Summary Information from Forms KC50, KC50A and KC51" produced by the Government Statistical Service. Copies of which are available in the Library.

  Optometrists
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if an agreement has been reached with optometrists providing general ophthalmic services on their remuneration for the year beginning 1 April.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Representatives of optometrists have been consulted about the national health service sight test fee and the fee for domiciliary visits. As yet no agreement has been reached about the level of fees for 1993–94.

  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the relationship between the functions provided for optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners in respect of general ophthalmic services; and to what extent they are subject to the same terms of service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners may be registered with a family health service authority to provide national health service sight tests under the general ophthalmic services. In this respect they are subject to the same terms of service.

  Schizophrenics
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has undertaken into the number of schizophrenics killing(a) themselves and (b) others.

  Mr. Bowis
  In 1991 the Department established the confidential inquiry into homicides and suicides by mentally ill people being conducted by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. This aims to cover all homicides and suicides by people who are currently in contact with the mental health services or who have been in contact within the last 12 months. Information is collected in respect of the various diagnostic groups, including schizophrenia.

  Long-term Medication
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the chronic medical disorders requiring long-term medication for which there is no exemption from the payment of prescription charges.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Medical conditions which attract exemption from national health service prescription charges are listed in leaflet P11, copies of which are available in the Library. No other medical conditions confer this entitlement.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision has been made in the current financial year and each of the last four financial years for research into myalgic encephalomyelitis; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is
  607
  the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The MRC has been funding a study at the Institute of Psychiatry for four years where researchers are attempting to find ways to help myalgic encephalomyelitis sufferers cope with their disease and regain their health. The estimated cost of this project is £91,000. The Department and the MRC are always willing to receive and consider soundly-based research proposals in competition with other applications. The Department also keeps in touch with research being funded by bodies such as the Linbury Trust.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current assessment of the number of people in England suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis; and how that figure is obtained.

  Mr. Sackville
  We are currently awaiting an evaluation of data from existing studies which is being undertaken by the myalgic encephalomyelitis task force with funding from the Department. A draft report is being prepared for discussion in early 1994.

  Diabetics
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are diabetics dependent on insulin injections; and in what form and at what level of disaggregation the information is held by her Department.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has linking the incidence of Creutzfeldt-Jakob syndrome with transmission of a virus at dental surgeries.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will investigate the consideration underlying the decision not to invite the General Dental Practitioners Association to attend the working group of the Dental Practice Board which prepared the publication, "Access to Information" held by the Dental Practice Board.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Membership of the working group which considered access to information held by the Dental Practice Board was kept to a minimum to enable it to work effectively. The dental profession was represented by members from the General Dental Services Committee.

  Year

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94 (Current allocation)

  Running costs (£)

  29,933,505

  29,402,541

  42,883,317

  33,922,969

  Capital (£)

  339,000

  483,712

  511,745

  6,415

  Child Supervision Orders
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many supervision orders with restriction requirements were made under provisions of the Children Act 1989 during each of the last two years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Children Act 1989 came into force on 14 October 1991. Information is not yet available about the number of supervision orders with restriction requirements.

  Ophthalmic Services
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria govern the settlement of the remuneration of contractors who provide general ophthalmic services; and what changes there have been in the criteria in 1993–94 relative to previous years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  National health service sight test fees are determined by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, following consultation with the profession, in such a way as to ensure that there are adequate general ophthalmic services, of the right calibre. In doing this, regard is had to recruitment, retention and motivation factors, within the amount that can be afforded. These criteria have been used consistently for several years, including 1993–94.

  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what amount(a) optometrists and (b) ophthalmic medical practitioners providing general ophthalmic services are remunerated for their practice expenses.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Optometrists are currently paid a fee of £12.75 for each national health service sight test they carry out, which covers both pay and expenses. These elements are not considered separately.

  Ophthalmic medical practitioners are paid a fee of £10.15. This contains a pay element of £7.53 and an expenses element of £2.62.

  NHS Management Executive
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the expenditure of the NHS Management Executive in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  Expenditure figures for the National Health Service Management Executive from 1990–91 onwards are as shown—figures are not available prior to 1990–91. Figures have not been adjusted for inflation and are not directly comparable from year to year because of organisational changes between the NHSME and the rest of the Department.

  Emergency Contraception Pill
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to investigate the deregulation and over-the-counter provision of the emergency contraception pill.

  Mr. Sackville
  The suggestion that emergency contraception should be available from pharmacies without a prescription was made in a recent article in the British Medical Journal on 18 September. The article and reactions to it are being studied in the Department.

  Junior Doctors
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many junior doctors have been working over the new deal target of 83 hours after 1 April in each trust or directly managed unit and by region.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The number of junior doctors and dentists in each region contracted for more than an average of 83 hours a week at 1 April 1993 is shown in the table:

  Number

  Northern

  0

  Yorkshire

  18

  Trent

  0

  East Anglian

  3

  North West Thames

  89

  North East Thames

  101

  South East Thames

  9

  South West Thames

  21

  Wessex

  4

  Oxford

  31

  South Western

  2

  West Midlands

  33

  Mersey

  0

  North Western

  59

  Total

  370

  Information for trusts and directly managed units is not available centrally.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average number of hours being worked by junior hospital doctors in the week of 18 October 1992.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally.

  Prempak C
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if Prempak C hormone replacement therapy treatment will be treated as a single prescription for charging purposes in the future.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A prescription charge is payable in respect of each quantity of a drug or appliance dispensed, unless the patient is entitled to charge exemption or remission. Prempak C contains two separate preparations differentiated by colour and two prescription charges are, therefore, due when these items are dispensed. The fact that for convenience and, as an aid to patient compliance, the two preparations are supplied in one pack does not alter the patient's liability for prescription charges. We have no plans to change these arrangements.

  Medicines Evaluation Agency
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the results of the survey of key pharmaceutical companies regarding their preference for the siting of the European Medicines Evaluation Agency.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Thirty-nine major pharmaceutical companies from within and outside the EC were asked to rate the seven cities which are bidding for the European Medicines Evaluation Agency against 13 different aspects that were considered to be crucial to the success of the agency. Responses to this poll, commissioned from NOP Consumer Market Research, are still being received.

  The interim results, based on responses from about half of the companies, reveal that for every aspect the total number of votes cast for the EMEA to be located in London was greater than for any other city. The degree to which London was the preferred location was, throughout, so overwhelming that the total number of votes cast for London exceeded the total of votes cast for all the other cities put together, by a factor of about four to one.

  Out of 12 additional factors which the companies themselves suggested were relevant to the siting of the EMEA, London was preferred on 10 of these.

  This shows clearly that the international pharmaceutical industry rates London the best place for the EMEA, by an overwhelming margin.

  NHS Dental Services
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about the future payment of fees for dental services within the national health service.

  Mr. Sackville
  We will announce proposals for the future system of remuneration in the general dental services in due course.

  Royal Free Hospital
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations she has received regarding the proposed closure of the renal unit at the Royal Free hospital ; and what proportion of them indicated that hardship would occur if it were implemented.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have received a large number of representations regarding the Royal Free hospital following publication of the renal specialty review group's report. This report identified University College/ Middlesex hospital as a preferred site for tertiary renal services in the north-central sector of London. The specialty review report's are independent advice to Ministers and not policy. Any major proposals to change services will be subject to full public consultation.

  Organ Transplants
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what latest conveniently available statistics she has on the shortage of donor organs for transplant.

  Mr. Sackville
  Increasing the supply of donor organs is a Government priority. The table shows the numbers of organs transplanted in 1992 and the numbers of patients awaiting organ transplants at 31 August 1993.
  611

  Number

  Transplanted in 1992

  Kidney

  1,641

  Heart

  301

  Heart and lung

  53

  Lung(s)

  89

  Liver

  501

  Awaiting at 31 August 1993

  Kidney

  4,610

  Heart

  244

  Heart and lung

  189

  Lung(s)

  116

  Liver

  100

  Note:

  Figures supplied by United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority.

  Regional Health Authorities
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on how she will advertise vacant chief executive and chairmen posts in regional health authorities before such authorities are reduced in number.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The selection of chief executives is a matter for each individual authority, although it is our general expectation that most senior national health service managerial posts should be advertised. We do not consider it appropriate or necessary to advertise for candidates for appointment as chairman of a regional health authority, as there are many suitable ones already known to us both in other NHS bodies and from outside the NHS.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest available figure in England and Wales for the number of two to five-year-olds in the population; what percentage of them have pre-school day nursery places provided by(a) local authorities and the public sector and (b) the private sector; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  The information available is shown in the table. Information is collected on the number of places in registered, private and voluntary, day nurseries but not the number of children attending.

  Day nursery provision and population data: England

  Amount

  Number of children aged 2 and under 5 at 30 June 19911

  1,926,000

  Number of children provided with a day nursery place2 by a local authority at 31 March 1992 as a percentage of all children aged 2 and under 5

  1·6 per cent.

  Number of places3 in registered day nurseries (private and voluntary) at 31 March 1992 as a percentage of all children aged 2 and under 5

  4·8 per cent.

  Notes:

  1 Estimated resident mid year population.

  2 All children under 5 on the register of local authority provision or placed by local authorities in registered provision.

  3 Includes places exempt from registration.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by wave and salary band the projected expenses of(a) trust chairs and (b) non-executive directors.
  612
  Dr. Mawhinney
  Chairmen and non-executive directors of national health service trusts are eligible to claim allowances for travel and subsistence costs necessarily incurred on trust business. The payment of such expenses is a matter for the appropriate trust: details of such payments are not available centrally.

  Wessex RHA Chairman
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the circumstances in which the chairman of Wessex regional health authority tendered his resignation; when it was accepted; and what were the details of the financial settlement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Sir Robin Buchanan tendered his resignation in order to concentrate on his role as chairman of the National Health Service Supplies Authority. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State accepted his resignation on 26 August 1993. The date of his departure has yet to be agreed. There has been no financial settlement.

SCOTLAND

  Children's Hearings
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he proposes for the organisation of children's hearings following the reorganisation of local government in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Government's proposals for the children's hearings system are set out in the White Paper on Local Government Reform (Cm 2267) and on Child Care Policy and Law (CM 2286).

  The only organisational change proposed is the establishment of a children's reporter service for Scotland. This will be managed by a chief reporter responsible to a part-time board appointed by the Secretary of State. Against the background of the reform we see that step as the most advantageous way of ensuring consistency and the highest standards of professional practice among reporters across Scotland. Children's panels will continue to be appointed for local authority areas, thereby maintaining their links with the local communities which they serve. Children's panel advisory committees, which nominate panel members and monitor their performance, will continue on a similar basis.

  Forestry
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Government expect to complete their forestry review; and when the findings of the review will be published.

  Sir Hector Monro
  My right hon. Friend and his fellow forestry Ministers expect to receive the advice of the forestry review group early next year. They will then require some time to consider it and come to a view on what the next stages in this work should be.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those persons and organisations that have submitted evidence to the interdepartmental working party on the future of the Forestry Commission.

  Sir Hector Monro
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 27 May at column 739.
  613
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to initiate a programme of public and parliamentary consultation on the recommendations of the interdepartmental forestry review group.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Forestry Ministers will decide what the next stages in this work should be once the advice of the forestry review group has been received in the new year.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current reporting time scale of the interdepartmental forestry review group.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Forestry Ministers expect to receive the advice of the forestry review group early next year.

  Winter Working Hours
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent farmers and building employers are subject to legal constraint on which hours to start work in winter.

  Mr. Lang
  There is no employment legislation governing the times when adult workers can be employed in the farming and building sectors. Environmental protection legislation concerning pollution and noise levels and health and safety at work legislation may, however, have a bearing on how early particular work can start.

  Water Disconnections
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider collecting and holding centrally information on the number of industrial water disconnections made by water authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  I have no plans to collect and hold centrally such information.

  Orthodontics
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the number of private practices in orthodontics; and how many practices are providing NHS treatment.

  Mr. Stewart
  No information is held on dental practices which provide private treatment only. According to health board information there are around 50 practices undertaking NHS treatment in which a specialist practitioner provides only orthodontic services to patients. In addition to these specialist orthodontic practitioners, other general dental practitioners may provide orthodontic

  Table B

  Orthodontists recruited to the NHS by health board

  Scotland

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Fife

  Grampian

  Greater Glasgow

  Lothian

  Tayside

  Year ending 30 September 1991

  11

  1

  —

  2

  2

  5

  1

  Year ending 30 September 1992

  7

  1

  3

  2

  —

  —

  1

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many patients are waiting for day care orthodontic
  614
  as well as other treatment, but these practitioners cannot be identified separately. NHS orthodontic treatment may also be available through the community dental service and the hospital dental service.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the practices within each health board which have opted out of providing NHS orthodontic care.

  Mr. Stewart
  Since July 1992 no practices which offer a specialised orthodontic service have opted out of providing NHS orthodontic care. Eleven general dental practitioners have, however, withdrawn from providing NHS general dental services and these may have included dentists who undertook some orthodontic treatment.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many orthodontists are currently in NHS hospitals, and in the community, within each health board area; and how many orthodontists were recruited to the NHS within each health board during the last four years.

  Mr. Stewart
  The number of orthodontists employed in the NHS at 30 September 1992, the latest date for which information is available centrally, is shown in table A. Information on the number of orthodontists employed in the community is not available centrally.

  The number of orthodontists recruited to hospitals in the NHS in the 2 years to 30 September 1992, the latest date for which information is available centrally, is shown in table B. Prior to September 1991, the specialties of orthodontics and paediatric dentistry were combined. Therefore, orthodontists can be identified separately only from that date.

  Table A:

  Orthodontists employed by health board, at 30 September 1992

  Number

  Whole-time equivalent

  Scotland

  54

  38·3

  Argyll and Clyde

  2

  2·0

  Ayrshire and Arran

  2

  1·5

  Borders

  1

  0·7

  Dumfries and Galloway

  3

  1·1

  Fife

  8

  5·9

  Forth Valley

  2

  2·0

  Grampian

  6

  1·5

  Greater Glasgow

  11

  9 1

  Highland

  4

  3·1

  Lanarkshire

  2

  2·0

  Lothian

  6

  5·5

  Orkney

  0

  0·0

  Shetland

  0

  0·0

  Tayside

  7

  3·9

  Western Isles

  0

  0·0

  treatment within each health board for (a) less than three months, (b) three to six months, (c) six to nine months, (d) nine to 12 months and (e) over one year;

  (2) what is the average waiting time for orthodontic treatment within each health board;
  615
  (3) what was the number of patients waiting for orthodontic treatment for (a) less than three months, (b) three to six months, (c) six to nine months, (d) nine to 12 months and (e) over one year for each year since 1988.

  Mr. Stewart
  The numbers of patients awaiting in-patient or day case treatment in orthodontics and paediatric dentistry are relatively small. At 30 June 1993, the latest date for which information is centrally available, the in-patient waiting list for Scotland totalled 14 and there were no patients on the day case list. The majority of orthodontic and paediatric dentistry patients treated outwith the general dental service are seen at consultant out-patient clinics and the average waiting time for new out-patient referrals is set out in the table.

  New outpatient referrals to orthodontics and paediatric dentistry

  Quarter ended 30 June 1993

  Scotland

  Health board of residence

  Number

  Mean wait1

  Argyll and Clyde

  1,330

  112·8

  Ayrshire and Arran

  615

  175·3

  Borders

  230

  43·8

  Dumfries and Galloway

  362

  122·7

  Fife

  1,212

  97·7

  Forth Valley

  498

  570

  Grampian

  992

  167·4

  Greater Glasgow

  922

  103·3

  Highland

  474

  104·1

  Lanarkshire

  941

  109·0

  Lothian

  382

  74·2

  Orkney

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  Tayside

  727

  94·7

  Western Isles

  1

  128·0

  SCOTLAND

  8,686

  111·6

  1 Days.

  Source: SMRO.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department is taking to monitor the performance of health boards, NHS trusts and individual hospitals in meeting the waiting time targets set for patients, in accordance with the patients charter for Scotland; and what action he proposes to take against any of these bodies failing to achieve the targets set for them.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: The monitoring of the performance of health boards in relation to their responsibility to secure treatment for residents within such waiting time targets and guarantees as may apply is an ongoing function of the management executive of the NHS in Scotland. It is for individual boards to ensure delivery of such targets and guarantees through their contracting arrangements with NHS trusts and other hospitals. The success of boards in tackling such matters is addressed at the annual accountability review meeting which the management executive holds with every board.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the waiting time targets set for Tayside health board, in accordance with the patients charter for Scotland, in each of the(a) general surgery, (b) orthopaedic surgery, (c) ophthalmology, (d) ear, nose and throat, (e) urology and (f) gynaecology specialties.
  616
  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: The waiting time targets for in-patient or day case treatment currently applying to residents of Tayside health board are as follows:

  (a) General surgery—90 per cent. within six months.

  (b) Orthopaedic surgery—90 per cent. within nine months.

  (c) Ophthalmology—90 per cent. within six months.

  (d) Ear, nose and throat—90 per cent. within nine months.

  (e) Urology—90 per cent. within 12 months.

  (f) Gynaecology—90 per cent. within three months.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guarantees of treatment within a set time has been given by Tayside health board in accordance with the patients charter for Scotland for(a) hip replacement, (b) knee replacement, (c) cataracts and (d) for any other treatments.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: The following are the current treatment guarantees applying to residents of Tayside health board:

  Hip replacement—within 12 months.

  Knee replacement—within 12 months.

  Cataract removal—within six months.

  Hysterectomy—within six months.

  Pelvic floor—within six months.

  Hernia—within six months.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what targets have been set by Tayside health board for informing patients of how long they will have to wait for an appointment at an out-patient clinic.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: As an added reassurance to patients about the length of time they may expect to have to wait for an out-patient appointment following referral by their GP all health boards introduced out-patient waiting time guarantees from 1 April 1993. The guarantees which apply to residents of Tayside health board are as follows:

  General surgery—within 12 weeks.

  Orthopaedic surgery—within 20 weeks.

  Ear, nose and throat—within 16 weeks.

  Ophthalmology—within nine weeks.

  Urology1—within 12 weeks.

  Gynaecology2—within nine weeks.

  1 Guarantee does not apply to referrals for infertility or impotence.

  2 Guarantee does not apply to referrals for infertility.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the longest length of waiting time for national health service patients at any trust hospital and for what operation or treatment.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information on current waiting times for specific operations or treatments (other than those selected on a national basis to which guarantees apply) is not centrally available.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct health boards to make accessible fast-track monthly waiting lists, similar to those made available by regional health authorities in England.

  Mr. Stewart
  No. Officials of the management executive of the national health service in Scotland, with officials of the information and statistics division of the Common Services Agency, are working with health boards and national health service trusts to ensure that the quarterly waiting times information is as up to date as possible.
  617
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the average waiting time for(A) private and (b) NHS (i) day-patient and (ii) in-patient (a) treatment and (B) operations at (1) Vale of Leven district general, (2) Falkirk and District royal infirmary, (3) Southern General, (4) Victoria infirmary, (5) Raigmore hospital, (6) Perth royal infirmary and (7) Stirling royal infirmary;

  (2) what is the longest length of waiting time for private patients at any trust hospital; for what operation or treatment; and for how many weeks.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information on waiting times for patients currently waiting for in-patient or day case treatment in NHS hospitals does not differentiate between NHS and private patients.

  Roads
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the volume of local traffic between East Lothian and Berwickshire on the A 1 trunk road; and what proportion of the traffic on the road at Dunglass bridge is attributable to such local journeys.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The average annual daily traffic on the Al between the Lothian/Borders boundary and the Al 107 junction at Tower Farm in 1992 was 6,300 vehicles per day. The volume of local traffic with an origin or destination in Borders region is estimated from junction counts and other surveys to be around 1,200 vehicles per day. It is not possible from the information available to identify the proportion of that traffic which is undertaking local journeys between east Lothian and Berwickshire.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of his plans to upgrade the A 1 trunk road to dual carriageway standard, giving the timetable for dualling each section and the target date for completion of dualling in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Proposals have been published for the dualling of the Al between Tranent and Haddington, and for local dualling schemes south of Dunbar and between Lemington and Howburn. Subject to the completion of statutory procedures, these three schemes which are valued at approximately £40 million could commence next year. The preparation of a further five dualling schemes valued at a total of £45 million is currently being progressed to take forward the Government's desire to dual fully the Al between Edinburgh and Newcastle. Further progress will depend on the overall availability of resources, the relative claims of schemes elsewhere and the other normal criteria for bringing schemes forward.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the volume of local traffic making journeys of 25 miles or less on(a) the Al trunk road at Meadowmill, (b) the former A 1 road west of Tranent and (c) the A198 at Meadowmill; and what proportion of the total traffic at these points is represented by such local traffic.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The traffic studies carried out as part of the Tranent to Haddington dualling proposals do not readily identify the volume of local traffic making journeys of 25 miles or less, nor did the studies include those roads west of Tranent.
  618
  The average daily traffic flow is of the order of 21,600 vehicles on the Al west of Bankton roundabout and 14,800 vehicles on the A198. On the A 1 at Meadowmill some 10,600 vehicles per day (49 per cent.) is traffic travelling from or to the surrounding area between Musselburgh and Haddington. On the A198 at Meadowmill, about 99 per cent. is local traffic.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the numbers of minor, serious and fatal accidents on the Al road in Scotland for the last five years; and if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of high-profile policing, speed cameras and enhanced road markings and signs in reducing serious and fatal accidents on the A 1 over the last two years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The numbers of personal injury accidents on the Al between Bankton roundabout and the National Borders for the past five years are as follows:

  Fatal

  Serious

  Slight

  Total

  1988

  9

  18

  35

  62

  1989

  6

  24

  40

  70

  1990

  7

  22

  47

  76

  1991

  3

  13

  39

  55

  1992

  8

  6

  29

  43

  It is expected that the route action measures taken on the Al will make an important and significant contribution to improving road safety on the Al. The reduction in the total number of personal injury accidents in 1991 and 1992 indicate an encouraging trend. The speed cameras on the route came into operation on 30 August this year. It is already clear from our monitoring that there has been a substantial reduction in vehicle speeds with the greatest reductions in speed recorded for the fastest 25 per cent. of drivers. This can be expected to result in further improvements in road safety.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many days the B6355 road between Gifford and Duns has been closed due to severe weather during the last 10 years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The B6355 is a local road and not one for which the Secretary of State has responsibility. Matters relating to the B6355, including winter maintenance, are the responsibility of Borders regional council, which is the local roads authority.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy for low-flow grade separation in planning for the dualling of trunk roads; and what is the relative accident rate at junctions with and without such grade separation on the Al and elsewhere.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The choice of junction type for new dual carriageways and where existing dual carriageways are to be upgraded will depend on traffic flows on the main and side roads and other local conditions.

  The only low-flow grade separation constructed to date is on the Al at Lamberton. This junction was opened to traffic in August this year and it is therefore not yet possible to compare its performance in terms of road safety with other junctions on the route.

  Gay Men (Health Services)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a list of the services provided by each health board targeted to gay men.

  Mr. Stewart
  Health board services generally are available to all, including gay men. Comprehensive information about particular services provided specifically for gay men is not held centrally.

  Heart Surgery
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the waiting times for each health board for coronary artery bypass grafting and angioplasty.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information on waiting times for coronary bypass grafts at 30 June 1993 is shown in the table. Information on patients currently waiting for coronary angioplasty is not available centrally.

  Average waiting times for coronary bypass grafts for patients on waiting lists at 30 June 1993

  Health board of residence

  Number of cases

  Mean wait (days)

  Argyll and Clyde

  68

  174

  Ayrshire and Arran

  54

  146

  Borders

  28

  172

  Dumfries and Galloway

  23

  110

  Fife

  52

  151

  Forth Valley

  56

  196

  Grampian

  61

  173

  Greater Glasgow

  260

  197

  Highland

  22

  117

  Lanarkshire

  82

  183

  Lothian

  122

  134

  Orkney

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  0

  Tayside

  66

  183

  Western Isles

  3

  84

  Outside Scotland

  9

  39

  TOTAL

  906

  170

  Environmental Protection Agency
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the responses he has received to the consultation paper on the proposed Scottish Environmental Protection Agency advocate that the agency should be given responsibility for the management of water catchments.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The responses advocated that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency should be given responsibilities relating to the management of water catchments in addition to those it will inherit from river purification authorities.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what duties the proposed Scottish Environmental Protection agency will have(a) in the conservation and enhancement of the natural heritage and (b) in aspects of water resource management other than pollution control.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Scottish Natural Heritage is the statutory body with primary responsibility for the conservation and enhancement of the natural heritage. Last year's consultation paper "Improving Scotland's620
  Environment—The Way Forward", made it clear that the Government also intends the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to have a statutory duty in relation to conservation of the natural heritage.

  SEPA will inherit all the responsibilities of River Purification Aurthorities. In the light of views expressed in response to the consultation paper my right hon. Friend indicated in his reply to the hon. Member for Kincardine and Deeside (Mr. Kynoch) on 25 February at column 722 that we intend to give the agency enhanced powers of control over water abstraction. The responses to the consequent consultation paper "Abstraction Controls: A system for Scotland' are currently being considered.

  Breast Cancer
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for(a) breast cancer care and treatment and (b) research into the genetics of breast cancer; and how much will be spent on each this year and is planned in succeeding years.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Scottish figures for morbidity arid mortality associated with cancer in general and breast cancer in particular are a matter of concern to the Government. It was with that specific concern in mind that we established the Scottish breast cancer screening programme in 1988. The primary target of the programme is to reduce mortality in the screened population in Scotland by 30 per cent. overall. By next year all Scottish women between the ages of 50 and 64 will have been invited for screening.

  This is only one strategy in the fight against breast cancer. The work of the Scottish Cancer Therapy Network established by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Office Home and Health Department is geared to the delivery to patients of the most effective and up-to-date treatment. The network will be setting up a working party to look specifically at breast cancer. Both the network arid the Scottish cancer co-ordinating and advisory committee are looking at service provision in relation to all types of cancer. The committee has established a clinical arid molecular genetics sub-committee to look at the possibility of identifying a gene responsible for the commonest forms of cancer, including breast cancer. The breast screening programme is organising a consensus conference in April next year on the treatment of small tumours. This will encourage dissemination of best practice in relation to breast and other types of cancer.

  Total funding of the breast cancer screening programme is £3.8 million in 1993–94. A total figure for expenditure on all aspects of breast cancer care and treatment is not held centrally.

  The Chief Scientist Office is funding a number of research projects concerned with the genetic aspects of breast cancer. Funding in the current financial year amounts to some £72,000 and in 1994–95 will total £95,000. A number of other projects are under consideration for future years, but no firm figure for funding is available at this stage.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what investigations have been carried out regarding the validity of creating breast cancer treatment teams operating in hospitals.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 22 October 1993]: The treatment of any condition is a matter for the judgement of

  621
  the clinicians involved. The team approach has evolved in all of the specialist breast clinics in Scotland as that which provides the optimum care of patients. I am not aware of any independent investigation of the validity of this approach. Both the Scottish cancer co-ordinating and advisory committee and the Scottish cancer therapy network are, however, considering service provision and can therefore be expected to examine this approach to treatment. A further opportunity will be provided by a consensus conference in April next year on the treatment of small tumours.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what funding is available for breast cancer research in Scotland; and if he will give details of each project and details of the funding of each since 1980.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 22 October 1993]: The Government are committed to encouraging research into breast cancer. The main Government agency for medical and related research is the Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology under my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. I understand that MRC expenditure into breast cancer was £2.7 million in 1990–91 and £1.6 million in 1991–92, the latest years for which figures are available.

  The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) of the Scottish Office has identified cancer services as one of its priority areas and has, since 1980, funded a wide range of research and development projects dealing with breast cancer at a total cost of £0.729 million. The projects funded by CSO are shown in the table.

  R and D projects on breast cancer funded by Chief Scientist Office (1980–93)

  Year and project

  £s

  1981

  Women's reasons for declining an opportunity for breast screening

  6,677

  1982

  Development of telediaphanography

  1,933

  An economic analysis of screening for breast cancer

  27,821

  The prediction of response to systemic treatment in patients with advanced cancer of the breast

  51,711

  1983

  Edinburgh Breast Cancer Screening Project

  123,783

  1985

  Maintenance of special pathological services for breast cancer screening pathology

  100,000

  Bile acids and bile acid metabolites in the serum of women with benign and malignant breast disease

  11,299

  Steriod receptor assays: current role in the therapy of breast cancer and influence of methodical developments

  30,920

  1986

  Economic evaluation of mobile breast cancer screening in areas near Edinburgh

  26,612

  A study of women's response to mobile breast screening

  10,338

  The relationship of cellular DNA to response in breast cancers treated with hormones

  14,702

  622

  Year and project

  £s

  1987

  Follow-up study to measure the impact of services for the early detection of breast cancer on breast cancer mortality

  7,728

  1990

  UKCCCR breast cancer screening trials

  139,000

  1991

  Potential of immediate specimen—slice ranography to optimise pathological data in breast-conserving cancer therapy

  13,361

  1992

  Molecular pathology of cytochrome P450 in breast cancer and other malignant tumours

  64,971

  Ultrasound imaging in the symptomatic breast clinic: diagnostic management and psychological impact

  4,775

  Second round mamographic screening: will tailored invitations increase uptake?

  14,588

  1993

  Genetic analysis in families with breast and/or ovarian cancer in the West of Scotland

  78,551

  Total

  728,770

  Infertility Treatment
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many couples received assisted conception treatment in 1991 at each of the Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh units.

  Mr. Stewart
  This information is not held centrally.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many seats are available for bus passengers between East Lothian and Berwickshire on scheduled weekday services, and how many passengers are actually carried;

  (2) how many seats are available for bus and train passengers between Musselburgh, Prestonpans and Wallyford and the rest of East Lothian on scheduled weekday services; and how many passengers are actually carried.

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

  Tourism
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of business members(a) of the East Lothian tourist board and (b) from Berwickshire on the Scottish Borders tourist board.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of business members of(a) the East Lothian tourist board and (b) from the Berwickshire area of the Scottish Borders tourist board is 310 and 150 respectively.

  Cystic Fibrosis
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on cystic fibrosis patients(a) being refused repeat prescriptions, (b) being refused drugs

  623
  by doctors on grounds of cost, (c) being refused appointments or home visits by general practitioners and (d) experiencing difficulties in obtaining community physiotherapy.

  Mr. Stewart
  I have no information about patients experiencing these difficulties. Any patient who has a complaint about their treatment should raise the matter in the first instance with their health board.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which hospitals offer levels I, II, II, and IV services for cystic fibrosis patients.

  Mr. Stewart
  There are two major specialist centres (Level I/II) in Scotland: at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow and the Western General, Edinburgh. A local specialist service (Level III) is provided by Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust in Aberdeen. General localised services (Level IV) are provided across Scotland by district general hospitals and clinics but specific information on these services is not held centrally.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Scottish Nuclear's application for consent to construct a dry store for waste nuclear fuel at Torness following the public inquiry in December 1992.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Secretary of State has received the Report of the Public Inquiry into Scottish Nuclear's

  Deaths from selected causes in each Health Board Area 1990

  ICD

  Cause of Death

  Health Board Area

  1990

  Scotland

  Borders

  Forth Valley

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Fife

  Grampian

  Highland

  Lothian

  Tayside

  Orkney

  Shetland

  Western Isles

  Argyll and Clyde

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Greater Glasgow

  Lanarkshire

  010–018

  Tuberculosis

  39

  —

  3

  —

  —

  2

  —

  3

  1

  —

  —

  —

  4

  3

  17

  6

  180

  Malignant neoplasm of cervix

  162

  6

  6

  8

  13

  12

  4

  19

  18

  —

  —

  —

  19

  10

  35

  12

  201

  Hodgkin's disease

  45

  —

  2

  2

  7

  5

  1

  8

  2

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  5

  9

  393–398

  Chronic rheumatic heart disease

  205

  3

  12

  —

  10

  21

  4

  34

  15

  —

  —

  —

  31

  13

  40

  22

  460–519

  Diseases of the respiratory system

  7,231

  184

  350

  189

  437

  605

  207

  989

  589

  30

  21

  51

  595

  556

  1,672

  756

  493

  Asthma

  148

  8

  8

  4

  9

  19

  3

  18

  13

  2

  1

  1

  9

  19

  24

  10

  540–543

  Appendicitis

  7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  4

  —

  550–553

  Hernia of the abdominal cavity

  62

  2

  4

  1

  2

  7

  3

  13

  3

  —

  —

  1

  8

  5

  9

  4

  574,

  Cholelithiasis and

  46

  1

  1

  1

  3

  7

  2

  7

  1

  —

  1

  —

  3

  2

  11

  6

  575.0,

  cholecystitis

  575.1

  630–676

  Maternal deaths

  4

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  Deaths from selected causes in each Health Board Area 1991

  ICD

  Cause of Death

  Health Board Area

  1991

  Scotland

  Borders

  Forth Valley

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Fife

  Grampian

  Highland

  Lothian

  Tayside

  Orkney

  Shetland

  Western Isles

  Argyll and Clyde

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Greater Glasgow

  Lanarkshire

  010–018

  Tuberculosis

  56

  —

  2

  1

  3

  3

  1

  6

  4

  —

  1

  1

  7

  4

  19

  4

  180

  Malignant neoplasm of cervix

  175

  3

  11

  6

  9

  15

  7

  21

  13

  —

  2

  1

  16

  14

  40

  17

  201

  Hodgkin's disease

  35

  —

  5

  —

  1

  5

  1

  4

  3

  1

  —

  1

  2

  4

  4

  4

  393–398

  Chronic rheumatic heart disease

  180

  5

  8

  5

  17

  7

  2

  36

  10

  —

  —

  —

  13

  9

  42

  26

  460–519

  Diseases of the respiratory system

  7,068

  175

  384

  225

  476

  625

  250

  927

  547

  27

  16

  48

  549

  576

  1,530

  713

  493

  Asthma

  161

  3

  9

  3

  11

  19

  10

  24

  15

  2

  —

  1

  11

  24

  20

  9

  540–543

  Appendicitis

  10

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  2

  —

  550–553

  Hernia of the abdominal cavity

  59

  3

  3

  4

  2

  7

  2

  9

  2

  —

  —

  —

  5

  4

  13

  5

  574,

  Cholelithiasis and

  57

  —

  4

  4

  4

  3

  2

  10

  4

  —

  —

  —

  7

  5

  11

  3

  575.0,

  cholecystitis

  575.1

  630–676

  Maternal deaths

  9

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  1

  —

  624
  application to construct a dry store for spent nuclear fuel at Torness. My right hon. Friend will announce his decision in due course.

  "A Partnership for Good"
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many telephone calls were received by the Scottish Office new central inquiry unit in the first three weeks of operation in connection with the Government's policy paper, "A Partnership for Good"; and what costs have been incurred by his Department in operating this scheme.

  Mr. Lang
  Since the launch of the Scottish inquiry line on Thursday 30 September the central inquiry unit has received 585 calls. Set-up operational costs amount to £26,871 and the annual costs of operating the scheme have been estimated at around £28,500. These figures exclude initial publicity costs of £150,000 necessarily incurred to make the new arrangements known to the public.

  Mortality Statistics
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of deaths each year since 1990 for(a) tuberculosis, (b) malignant neoplasm of the cervix, (c) Hodgkin's disease, (d) chronic rheumatic heart disease, (e) all respiratory diseases, (f) asthma, (g) appendicitis, (h) abdominal hernia, (i) cholelithiases and cholecistitis and (j) maternal deaths for each health board area.

  Mr. Stewart
  The figures requested are given in the tables:
  625

  Deaths from selected causes in each Health Board Area 1992

  ICD

  Cause of Death

  Health Board Area

  1992

  Scotland

  Borders

  Forth Valley

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Fife

  Grampian

  Highland

  Lothian

  Tayside

  Orkney

  Shetland

  Western Isles

  Argyll and Clyde

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Greater Glasgow

  Lanarkshire

  010–018

  Tuberculosis

  46

  2

  4

  2

  3

  1

  —

  5

  2

  —

  —

  1

  7

  2

  9

  8

  180

  Malignant neoplasm of cervix

  183

  2

  16

  9

  13

  11

  4

  30

  16

  —

  —

  2

  13

  13

  32

  22

  201

  Hodgkin's disease

  38

  2

  3

  3

  1

  4

  —

  9

  4

  —

  —

  —

  1

  4

  4

  4

  393–398

  Chronic rheumatic heart disease

  186

  —

  10

  6

  13

  15

  5

  37

  7

  1

  —

  —

  16

  7

  49

  20

  460–519

  Diseases of the respiratory system

  6,999

  149

  368

  182

  480

  609

  227

  936

  580

  28

  29

  58

  569

  480

  1,559

  745

  493

  Asthma

  115

  5

  10

  3

  5

  16

  4

  17

  10

  1

  —

  —

  4

  15

  16

  9

  540–543

  Appendicitis

  10

  —

  —

  1

  —.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  2

  4

  550–553

  Hernia of the abdominal cavity

  53

  1

  2

  2

  2

  6

  4

  5

  —

  —

  1

  1

  6

  2

  11

  10

  574,

  Cholelithiasis and

  49

  2

  1

  2

  1

  3

  5

  4

  4

  —

  —

  —

  8

  —

  15

  4

  575.0,

  cholecystitis

  575.1

  630–676

  Maternal deaths

  7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  2

  Special Waste
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider collecting and holding centrally information on the categories of special waste arisings; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Detailed information concerning consignments of special waste is held on registers kept by waste regulation authorities which, in Scotland, are district and islands councils. At present I do not have a need to collate this information centrally.

  Ethnic Health Unit
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will create an ethnic health unit along the lines of that established by the Department of Health.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so, but a working group has been set up to produce guidance on meeting the particular health needs of ethnic minority communities.

  Brain Injury Rehabilitation

  1992–93

  Scotcare

  Astley Ainslie

  Royal Edinburgh

  Total

  Board of Origin

  Number of Patient Weeks

  Per cent.

  Number of Patient Weeks

  Per cent.

  Number of Patient Weeks

  Per cent.

  Number of Patient Weeks

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  A and C

  55

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  55

  3

  9

  A and A

  0

  0

  0

  0

  95

  7

  95

  5

  7

  Borders

  0

  0

  63

  9

  39

  7

  103

  6

  2

  D and G

  22

  5

  20

  3

  0

  0

  42

  2

  3

  Fife

  6

  1

  78

  11

  52

  9

  137

  8

  7

  FV

  36

  8

  150

  20

  48

  9

  233

  13

  5

  Grampian

  27

  6

  0

  0

  61

  1

  88

  5

  10

  GGHB

  182

  40

  0

  0

  0

  0

  182

  10

  18

  Highland

  12

  3

  3

  0

  0

  0

  15

  1

  4

  Lanark

  24

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  24

  1

  11

  Lothian

  0

  0

  423

  57

  242

  43

  665

  38

  15

  Tayside

  92

  20

  3

  0

  26

  5

  121

  7

  8

  Orkney

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  TOTAL

  456

  100

  741

  100

  564

  100

  1,761

  100

  100

  Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of sampling points and the frequency of sampling in each islands and district council

  Brain Injuries
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients have been treated since the start of the Scottish Office national programme for the rehabilitation of the brain-injured at each of the three nationally designated brain injury units at Mondarstown castle, the Astley Ainslie hospital and the Royal Edinburgh hospital; what is the breakdown of patients from each referring health board for each unit; if he will list for each health board the total number of patients who have used the service since it started; and if he will express these numbers as a ratio per 100,000 of the population in the health board area.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information is not available in the form requested. The following table, based on 1992 figures, shows the number of patient weeks for which a central subsidy was paid to each individual health board. This is also shown as a percentage of overall occupancy at the unit concerned. The final column shows the proportion of patients originating in each health board area as a percentage of total patients in the three units.

  area where samples have been taken to test for the incidence of paralytic shellfish poisoning between 1 January and 30 September.

  Mr. Lang
  The information from commencement of the annual sampling programme in April 1993 is set out in the
  627
  table. The frequencies are normally weekly or fortnightly as indicated. However, when test results indicate that PSP toxins are present at a significant level the frequency of sampling is increased in the areas concerned.

  Site name

  Island or district council

  Frequency of sampling

  1.

  Eyemouth, St. Abbs

  Berwickshire

  Fortnightly

  2.

  Musselburgh

  East Lothian

  Fortnightly

  3.

  Elie; Pittenweem

  North East Fife

  Weekly

  4.

  Eden Estuary

  North East Fife

  Fortnightly

  5.

  Montrose

  Angus

  Fortnightly

  6.

  Aberdeen

  Aberdeen

  Weekly

  7.

  Fraserburgh

  Banff and Buchan

  Fortnightly

  8.

  Banff

  Banff and Buchan

  Weekly

  9.

  Lossiemouth; Burghead

  Moray

  Fortnightly

  10.

  Tain

  Ross and Cromarty

  Weekly

  111.

  Moray Firth Scallop Grounds

  Moray

  Weekly

  12.

  Wick

  Caithness

  Fortnightly

  13.

  East Orkney Scallop Grounds

  Orkney

  Weekly

  14.

  South Scapa Flow

  Orkney

  Fortnightly

  15.

  North Scapa Flow

  Orkney

  Weekly

  16.

  Kirkwall

  Orkney

  Weekly

  17.

  Stronsay

  Orkney

  Fortnightly

  18.

  Sanday

  Orkney

  Fortnightly

  19.

  Westray

  Orkney

  Fortnightly

  20.

  South East Shetland

  Shetland

  Fortnightly

  21.

  North East Shetland

  Shetland

  Fortnightly

  22.

  North West Shetland

  Shetland

  Fortnightly

  23.

  South West Shetland

  Shetland

  Fortnightly

  24.

  Kyle of Tongue

  Sutherland

  Fortnightly

  25.

  Kinlochbervie

  Sutherland

  Fortnightly

  26.

  Lochinver

  Sutherland

  Weekly

  27.

  Ullapool

  Ross and Cromarty

  Fortnightly

  28.

  Little Loch Broom

  Ross and Cromarty

  Weekly

  29.

  Loch Ewe

  Ross and Cromarty

  Weekly

  230.

  North Minch Scallop Grounds

  Ross and Cromarty

  Fortnightly

  31.

  Stornoway; Loch Erisort

  Western Isles

  Fortnightly

  32.

  West Lewis

  Western Isles

  Fortnightly

  33.

  North Uist

  Western Isles

  Fortnightly

  34.

  South Uist; Loch Boisdale

  Western Isles

  Fortnightly

  35.

  Loch Dunvegan

  Skye and Lochalsh

  Weekly

  36.

  Loch Harport

  Skye and Lochalsh

  Fortnightly

  37.

  Loch Eishort

  Skye and Lochalsh

  Weekly

  38.

  Scalpay

  Skye and Lochalsh

  Weekly

  39.

  Portree

  Skye and Lochalsh

  Fortnightly

  40.

  Loch Torridon

  Skye and Lochalsh

  Weekly

  41.

  Loch Kishorn

  Skye and Lochalsh

  Weekly

  42.

  Loch Hourn

  Skye and Lochalsh

  Weekly

  43.

  Mallaig

  Lochaber

  Fortnightly

  344.

  South Minch Scallop Grounds

  Lochaber

  Fortnightly

  45.

  Ardtoe

  Lochaber

  Weekly

  46.

  Loch Sunart; Loch Teacuis

  Lochaber

  Fortnightly

  47.

  Isle of Ulva

  Argyll and Bute

  Fortnightly

  48.

  Loch Spelve

  Argyll and Bute

  Fortnightly

  49.

  Oban; Loch Etive

  Argyll and Bute

  Fortnightly

  50.

  Loch Leven

  Argyll and Bute

  Fortnightly

  51.

  Loch Melfort

  Argyll and Bute

  Fortnightly

  52.

  Islay Scallop Grounds

  Argyll and Bute

  Weekly

  53.

  Loch Sween

  Argyll and Bute

  Fortnightly

  54.

  West Loch Tarbert

  Argyll and Bute

  Fortnightly

  55.

  Campbeltown

  Argyll and Bute

  Fortnightly

  56.

  Tarbert

  Argyll and Bute

  Fortnightly

  57.

  Upper Loch Fyne

  Argyll and Bute

  Fortnightly

  58.

  Kyles of Bute

  Argyll and Bute

  Fortnightly

  59.

  Loch Striven

  Argyll and Bute

  Fortnightly

  60.

  Cumbrae

  Cunninghame

  Fortnightly

  61.

  Ayr

  Kyle and Carrick

  Fortnightly

  62.

  Loch Ryan

  Wigtown

  Fortnightly

  63.

  Luce Bay

  Wigtown

  Fortnightly

  64.

  Solway Cockle Beds

  Nithsdale

  Fortnightly

  65.

  Kirkcudbright

  Stewartry

  Fortnightly

  628

  1 11. Moray Firth Scallop Grounds—Also bordered by Banff and Buchan, Nairn, Inverness, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland, Caithness.

  2 30. North Minch Scallop Grounds—Also bordered by Sutherland, Western Isles, Skye and Lochalsh.

  3 44. South Minch Scallop Grounds—Also bordered by Skye and Lochalsh, Western Isles, Argyll and Bute.

  NHS Trusts
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimate of the number of(a) day-patient and (b) in-patient private patients that will receive (i) operations and (ii) treatment this year in each trust hospital; and what proportion that will be of the total number of patients treated in each case.

  Mr. Stewart
  This information is not available centrally. It is expected that, as in the previous year, a record number of NHS patients will be treated.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the state of the sea discharge pipeline for liquid radioactive waste from AEA Technology's nuclear facilities at Dounreay.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: Discharges to sea from AEA Technology's facilities at Dounreay are regulated by means of an authorisation issued under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. Under the authorisation, discharges have to be within authorised limits and are required to be made through the main effluent pipeline. The authority is also required to maintain and keep in god repair the system by which the waste is discharged. Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate carries out regular inspections at the site and I am satisfied that these requirements are being met.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made by his Department in rectifying the environmental hazards posed by the Dounreay waste shaft, identified in the report commissioned by his Department from R. M. Consultants of Abingdon.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: The Dounreay waste shaft, as presently managed, does not present an environmental hazard. As regards the longer-term options for the shaft, R. M. Consultants were asked to examine a number of possible management options. However, an unequivocal best option has not been identified and studies are being continued by AEA Technology.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he commissioned the radiologocal research survey of the Solway coastal area from the Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre; how many copies of the report of the survey have been printed; to whom or to which organisations it has been distributed; and if he will publish a summary of the main finding of the survey.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: The survey was commissioned in December 1992. The final report from the contractors is expected in December 1993 and will be pubished in accordance with normal Scottish Office practice. The report will contain a summary of the main findings and a copy of the report will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Water Services
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the letter of the hon. Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) referred to in his answer of 27 July, Official Report, columns 963–64, regarding water disconnections, if he will list the six respondents to the consultation paper on local government reform who stated that they were in favour of allowing water service providers the power to disconnect supplies.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 22 October 1993]: Further examination of the responses has shown that two were wrongly classified. Of the others only two were unreservedly in favour of disconnection of domestic customers for non-payment. Of these responses one was almost certainly ironical and the writer of the other requested confidentiality. Copies of the relevant responses which are not confidential are available through the Library of the House.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the letter of the hon. Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) referred to in his answer of 27 July,Official Report, columns 963–64, regarding meetings with foreign-owned water supply companies, if he will give details of when the two meetings took place, which Scottish Office Ministers were present and which water companies were represented; and if he will make a statement regarding the involvement of foreign-owned water companies in the new water boards.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 22 October 1993]: Scottish Office officials met representatives of the companies concerned, at the request of the companies, on 17 March 1993 and 27 April 1993 respectively. The meetings took place under terms of commercial confidentiality. No Ministers were present.

  The proposed new water authorities will be wholly public bodies. The private sector will have a role, as now, in providing goods and services under contract. The negotiation of these contracts will be a matter for the new water authorities.

  Environmental Consultation
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on progress following the consultation on the document "Improving Scotland's Environment—The Way Forward".

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kincardine and Deeside (Mr. Kynoch) on 25 February at column 722.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those organisations who have submitted comments on the proposals contained in the document "Improving Scotland's Environment—The Way Forward"; if he will place the representations in the Library; and how many of the comments received have been favourable and how many have been adverse.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: Altogether 159 organisations responded. Copies of the responses which we were not asked to treat as confidential have been placed in the Library. While local authorities
  630
  and river purification boards did not, in general, support our proposals, most other respondents, particularly those from industry, were broadly in favour.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set aside the proposals contained in the document "Improving Scotland's Environment—The Way Forward" until after the proposed reform of local government in Scotland has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: No. Our proposals for the agency are fully consistent with the forthcoming reorganisation of local government.

  Sheep
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement providing details of the operation of the allocation of sheep quota from the national reserve; and when he expects to be in a position to accept applications from sheep producers for allocation of quota from the reserve.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: Details of the operation of the national reserve of sheep annual premium quota are currently being finalised. The statutory instrument authorising Agriculture Departments to invite applications to, and make allocations from, the national reserve will be laid before Parliament as soon as these arrangements have been settled.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what meetings took place about the proposed linkage of Berwickshire and East Lothian in advance of publication of the White Paper which involved local district councillors;

  (2) what meetings took place about the proposed linkage of Berwickshire and East Lothian in advance of publication of the White Paper which involved special or political advisers to the Secretary of State for Scotland and local representatives for either Berwickshire or East Lothian;

  (3) if he will place in the Library a list of those who made representations on the proposal to link Berwickshire and East Lothian in the context of local government reform in Scotland;

  (4) if he will make a statement on the reasons for the White Paper suggesting that Berwickshire should be joined to East Lothian; and who made the suggestion.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: In reaching their decisions on the proposed boundaries for the new single-tier authorities that were included in the White paper "Shaping the Future—The New Councils", the Government took account of the responses to the consultation paper "Shaping The New Councils", and to a wide range of other factors including costs, the efficient delivery of services, accountability, economic development considerations, population and geography. No meetings were held with local authorities or other interest groups to discuss specific boundaries relating to Berwickshire and East Lothian prior to the publication of the White Paper. Since publication, however, I and my colleagues have met with a number of individuals and organisations from Berwickshire, East Lothian and other

  631
  parts of Scotland. A total of 417 individual letters have also been received about the proposed Berwickshire and East Lothian council. I have placed in the Library a list of those who have made representations. In addition, local campaigns about the Berwickshire and East Lothian proposals have generated postcards, pro forma letters and petition signatures.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the transitional costs of the restructuring of local government; and if he intends those costs to be met from local or national resources.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Government's White Paper, "Shaping the Future—The New Council" estimated that transitional costs in the range of £120 million to £196 million would be incurred over a 15-year period. The Scottish Office has invited local authorities to submit estimates of the genuinely additional costs they expect to incur in the financial year 1994–95 and my right hon. Friend will be taking account of these in determining the level of the local government finance settlement for that year. Similarly the funding of costs in future years will be the subject of consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in the normal way.

  Farm Statistics (Miscalculation)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the reasons for the miscalculation in the statistics showing the amount of cereal production in Scotland for the years between 1989 and 1991.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: There has been no miscalculation in the amount of cereal production in Scotland between 1989 and 1991. The European Commission recently agreed that the original base areas, provided on 16 September 1992, for the arable area payments scheme introduced this year should be adjusted in the light of information from claims submitted under the new scheme. This technical adjustment, between the less favoured area and the non-less favoured area base areas, did not alter the total base area originally provided.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what are the estimated losses per hectare that will result from miscalculation of statistics from farmers in the non-less favoured areas for cereals, oilseed rape, peas and beans and set-aside land;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the increase in the amount of land to be set aside next year; and whether compensation is to be paid on the additional areas set aside.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: Officials are working with the EC Commission to determine the revised rates of payment under the arable area payments scheme. These revised rates result from the adjustment in the distribution of land between the less favoured area (LFA) and the non-less favoured area (non-LFA) and from the overshoot in cropping in the non-less favoured area.

  An announcement on the revised rates and on next year's additional set-aside requirement will be made as soon as possible.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to ensure that the 632
  European Commission is aware of the effects of the changes as a result of the miscalculation of statistics for cereal production in Scotland; and what assurances he has had that the EC will not seek to exact penalties by way of further areas of set-aside in the coming year.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: As soon as it became apparent from the claims submitted this year under the arable area payments scheme that an adjustment to the base area figures orginally submitted to the EC Commission was necessary, my right hon. Friend personally pressed the Commission to agree to a technical adjustment of the Scottish base areas. The Commission has now agreed to the necessary technical adjustment of the LFA and non-LFA elements within Scotland's total base area; and my right hon. Friend and I are most grateful to the Commission for agreeing to that re adjustment.

  There remains an overshoot in the non-LFA area which reflects an increase in cropping in that area. The EC regulations governing the arable area payments scheme stipulate that the effect of this overshoot is to reduce arable aid payments within the non-LFA area proportionately in the current year and to increase the set-aside requirement in the coming year by the percentage by which the regional base has been exceeded, that increase being uncompensated.

  My right hon. Friend and I fully recognise that any penalty will be unwelcome to arable farmers. We cannot, however, vary the total Scottish base area, which reflects data already formally submitted to the Commission; nor can we adjust the area base control regime in mid-stream. The Scheme is designed to penalise areas in excess of base areas on which aid is claimed; and we cannot simply wish away the problem of over-cropping and the resultant additional one-year set-aside requirement.

  Set-aside Land
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he expects to meet representatives on the Scottish National Farmers Union to discuss proposals to mitigate financial losses that may result from the increased amount of land set aside;

  (2) what proposals he has to compensate farmers who can prove they have suffered loss as a result of changes to the rules on set-aside.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: My right hon. Friend and I fully recognise that any special set-aside requirement will be unwelcome to arable farmers. The EC regulations governing the arable area payments scheme, however, stipulate such an additional one-year requirement where an overshoot over base area has occurred; and they make it clear that this additional requirement is uncompensated. As I explained to representatives of the National Farmers Union of Scotland when I met them on 13 October, we cannot vary the total Scottish base area, which reflects statistics already lodged with the EC Commission and to which each member state is committed. Nor can we adjust in mid-course the area base control regime to which the Government are committed. The scheme is specifically designed to penalise areas which are in excess of base areas on which arable aid is claimed.

  The additional set-aside requirement resulting from the overshoot should be seen in the context of the very significant continuing benefits to Scottish arable farmers

  633
  and to the rural economy generally of the arable area payments scheme under the common agricultural policy. Notwithstanding the penalty, farmers in the non-LFA area alone will receive some £80 million in arable area payments in 1993, with a further £12.5 million in payments in the LFA area. Moreover, the reduction in arable area payments to non-LFA farmers resulting from the overshoot in fact broadly equates with the global return generated from the additional land, over base area, brought into cropping this year.

  Mental Illness
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to continue the mental illness specific grant in 1993, 1994 and 1995; whether the funding of service developments in the treatment of those suffering from traumatic brain injury will continue as an eligible category ; what will be the sums of money provided for mental illness specific grant in the afore-mentioned financial years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: Following an internal review of the scheme, it has recently been decided to continue the grant for at least another three years until 1997. Projects to assist people with acquired brain injury will continue to be eligible for grant.

  In 1993–94, grant of £7 million supports projects worth £10 million. The level of grant for future years will be announced as part of the local government finance settlement for those years.

  The scheme will be subject to a further review in 1996, based on a full study expected to report towards the end of 1995.

  Pollution Appeals
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce the decisions in respect of the two appeals brought by the Inverclyde district council against H. L. Friel and Son Ltd. and Stephen Friel under the terms of the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 634
  1989 and the Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles) Regulations 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: I expect that the decisions in respect of the appeals by H. L. Friel and Son Limited and Stephen Friel against Inverclyde district council's refusal to register them as carriers of controlled waste will be issued soon.

  Arable Area Payments Scheme
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the amounts in hectares of the take-up under the arable area payments scheme in 1993 in Scotland for(a) cereals, (b) oilseeds, (c) protein crops excluding vining peas and (d) set-aside and the simplified scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: The areas claimed under the arable area payments scheme in 1993 in Scotland by commodity, and for set-aside, are as follows:

  Hectares

  Cereals

  317,621

  Oilseeds

  61,781

  Proteins (excluding vining peas)

  4,150

  Set-aside

  70,637

  Simplified scheme

  56,428

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of applications in each region in Scotland under the(a) main arable area payments scheme and (b) the simplified scheme in 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: The number of applications in each region in Scotland under the arable area payments scheme in 1993 is as follows:
  635

  Less-favoured area (LFA)

  Non-less-favoured area (NON-LFA)

  Combined claims (LFA and NON-LFA)

  Main scheme

  651

  3,205

  478

  Simplified scheme

  3,306

  1,687

  125

  Combined claims are those which include both LFA and non-LFA land.
  636

  MOTORWAY SERVICE AREAS: ACCESS BY VEHICLE REPAIRERS
  MOTORWAY SERVICE AREAS: ACCESS BY VEHICLE REPAIRERS
  RAILWAYS PRIVATISATION: LOCAL AUTHORITY INVOLVEMENT
  RAILWAYS PRIVATISATION: LOCAL AUTHORITY INVOLVEMENT
  LONDON TRANSPORT: EXTERNAL FINANCE LIMIT
  LONDON TRANSPORT: EXTERNAL FINANCE LIMIT
  STUDENT LOAN SCHEME: COSTS
  STUDENT LOAN SCHEME: COSTS
  OXFORD UNIVERSITY: SEXUAL HARASSMENT ADVISORS
  OXFORD UNIVERSITY: SEXUAL HARASSMENT ADVISORS
  FLOOD DEFENCE: COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS
  FLOOD DEFENCE: COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS
  LOWER WITHAM: PROPOSED FLOOD PREVENTION SCHEME
  LOWER WITHAM: PROPOSED FLOOD PREVENTION SCHEME
  MILK MARKETING BOARD REORGANISATION SCHEME
  MILK MARKETING BOARD REORGANISATION SCHEME
  COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING
  COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING
  MAASTRICHT TREATY AND THE ACT OF UNION
  MAASTRICHT TREATY AND THE ACT OF UNION
  FORESTRY COMMISSION: SALE OF WOODLANDS
  FORESTRY COMMISSION: SALE OF WOODLANDS
  MARKET TESTING: HIGH COURT RULING ON EC DIRECTIVE
  MARKET TESTING: HIGH COURT RULING ON EC DIRECTIVE
  GOVERNMENT OFFICE SPACE VACANT IN LONDON
  GOVERNMENT OFFICE SPACE VACANT IN LONDON
  INTEGRATED POLLUTION CONTROL: CHANGES TO SCHEME FEES AND CHARGES
  INTEGRATED POLLUTION CONTROL: CHANGES TO SCHEME FEES AND CHARGES
  HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY SCHEME: CLIENT CONTRIBUTION
  HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY SCHEME: CLIENT CONTRIBUTION