Written Answers of 13 April 1994

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Ritchie Report
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 18 March,Official Report, column 888, if he will implement the recommendations of the Ritchie report to standardise the documentation covered by section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

  Mr. Maclean
  As stated in the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health on 18 March, this recommendation is under consideration.

  Directorate of Telecommunications
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 March,Official Report, column 737, if he will make a statement on the automatic redundancy entitlement of DTELS staff who do not consent to a variance in staff severance terms; and how long is the period after the sale in which National Transcommunications has confirmed that it will not be seeking to discuss and agree changes to staff terms.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  If National Transcommunications Ltd. varies or attempts to vary staff severance terms without the consent of DTELS staff, the normal legal remedies will be available to those staff. I have no further knowledge of National Transcommunication Ltd.'s intentions regarding conditions of service. This is a matter for the company and DTELS staff.

  Local Government Legislation
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the Acts of Parliament and Consolidation Acts affecting local government that have been introduced by his Department since 1990.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The following Acts of Parliament that have an effect on local government have been introduced by the Department since 1990. The list also includes consolidation Acts in respect of which the Department has responsibility.

  Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c.53)

  Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (c.65)

  Charities Act 1992 (c.41)

  1Charities Act 1993 (c.10)

  Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 (c.23)

  1Probation Service Act 1993 (c.47)

  1Consolidation Acts

  Criminal Justice Act 1991
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what structures have been put in place to ensure effective monitoring of the implementation of 166
  section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991; and what information is available to show the outcome of its first year of operation.

  Mr. Maclean
  Section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 came into effect in October 1991. The matters with which it is concerned are kept under regular review by officials in my Department, assisted and advised by officials from the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Crown Prosecution Service. Separate publications dealing with race and gender issues were widely distributed in September 1992; and a booklet about costs received a similar distribution in January 1993. Additional material on race, prepared specifically for the Judicial Studies Board, was also published in 1993. Further information about race will be published shortly.

  Bail Hostels
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of places available in bail hostels; and what will be the number in 12 months' time.

  Mr. Maclean
  On 1 April, there was a total of 2,597 available places in approved bail and probation-bail hostels in England and Wales. Included in this figure are a number of approved hostel places scheduled for closure. The currently projected total of available places on 1 April 1995 is 2,560.

  Remand Prisoners
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated number of remand prisoners who have been awaiting trial(a) for more than three months, (b) for more than six months, (c) for more than 12 months and (d) for more than 18 months.

  Mr. Maclean
  The latest available provisional data are for 31 December 1993 and are in the table.

  Inmates recorded as being untried held in custody on 31st December 1993 by time on remand

  Number

  For over 3 months up to and including 6 months

  1,960

  For over 6 months up to and including 12 months

  1,020

  For over 12 months up to and including 18 months

  170

  For over 18 months

  190

  Not all these defendants will have been in continuous prison custody since their first remand. This period excludes any time spent in non-Prison Service establishments—for example, police cells—before reception on remand into a Prison Service establishment; it includes inmates who are awaiting trial and those being tried.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many remand prisoners were being held in police cells on the most recent date for which figures are available.

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 13 April 1994:

  167
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of remand prisoners being held in police cells.
  On 5 April 1994, the latest date for which complete information is available, 274 remand prisoners were held in police cells.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the ethnic composition of the remand population in prison at the latest available date.

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 13 April 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking what was the ethnic composition of the remand population in prison at the latest available date.
  The latest available information is for 31 December 1993 and is given in the table. The ethnic breakdown of the remand population is based on the Census of Population ethnic coding classification which was introduced in prisons in October 1992.

  Remand population in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 31 December 1993 by sex and ethnic origin1

  Ethnic origin

  Males

  Females

  Total

  WHITE

  8,654

  293

  8,947

  BLACK African, Caribbean, other

  1,245

  74

  1,319

  SOUTH ASIAN Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani

  275

  7

  282

  CHINESE AND OTHER Other Asian, other Chinese, not recorded2

  201

  14

  215

  ALL PERSONS

  10,375

  388

  10,763

  Number of persons remanded on bail

  Thousands

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Indictable offences

  277·2

  271·0

  304·6

  314·7

  321·8

  Summary (non motoring) offences

  48·7

  69·9

  76·0

  72·8

  71·0

  Summary motoring offences

  38·2

  51·7

  61·3

  65·0

  65·9

  Total

  364·0

  392·6

  441·9

  452·5

  458·7

  Persons remanded on bail as percentage of total remanded

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Indictable offences

  87

  87

  88

  88

  89

  Summary (non motoring) offences

  95

  93

  94

  94

  94

  Summary motoring offences

  96

  95

  95

  95

  96

  Total

  89

  89

  90

  90

  90

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Waiting Times
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average waiting time for trial at(a) magistrates courts and (b) Crown courts for defendants granted bail and those remanded in custody.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The readily available information for magistrates courts relates to proceedings for indictable
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  1 Provisional figures.

  2 Including refusal.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of people remanded in custody by magistrates courts in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is given in the table. It is also published annually in chapter 8 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Number of persons remanded in custody in England and Wales

  Thousands

  1988

  46·8

  1989

  49·6

  1990

  48·5

  1991

  50·8

  1992

  49·3

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the proportion of persons in each police force area proceeded against at magistrates courts who are remanded on bail for(a) indictable offences and (b) summary offences.

  Mr. Maclean
  The data available for each police force area are not reliable enough to be able to answer this question. Information on a national basis is given in the table. These figures are published in chapter 8 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  —including either-way—offences. Sample surveys during 1993 show that the average time interval from first listing to completion of such cases at magistrates courts was 7·3 weeks for defendants remanded in custody throughout proceedings and 10·1 weeks for those remanded on bail only. Provisional figures for the Crown court show that the average time interval from committal for trial to start of hearing for cases disposed of during 1993 was 12·6 weeks for those remanded in custody and 16·7 weeks for those remanded on bail.

TREASURY

  Taxpayers (Earnings)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers in(a) Lancashire and (b) the United Kingdom earn £64,000 or more a year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  There were estimated to be about 4,000 taxpayers resident in Lancashire and 260,000 taxpayers in the United Kingdom with income of £64,000 or more in 1991–92, the latest available year for which information can be provided below the United Kingdom level.

  Pension Contributions (Tax Relief)
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the yield from providing tax relief for pension contributions of higher-rate taxpayers at the basic rate only.

  Mr. Dorrell
  It is estimated that the full-year yield might be about £520 million at 1993–94 levels. This takes no account of possible behavioural effects following such a change.

  Income Statistics
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the equivalised disposable income, at 1992 prices, at the bottom, second and top decile groups, ranked by equivalised disposable income, in conformity with tables 3 and 7 of "Economic Trends" No. 483 for 1992 for(a) all households and (b) non-retired households with children for (i) 1979 and (ii) 1986.

  Mr. Nelson
  The figures are available only at current prices. Those given in the table, and those for later years, are not strictly comparable over time because of changes in classification of both income and taxation and because of changes in the family expenditure survey.

  Average equivalised disposable income by decile groups of all households in the family expenditure survey, ranked by equivalised disposable income of all households using the McClements equivalence scale with a household of a married couple = 1

  Current prices

  Decile groups of equivalised disposable income

  1979 £ per year

  1986 £ per year

  Bottom

  1,689

  3,094

  2nd

  2,179

  4,065

  Top

  8,664

  20,229

  Average equivalised disposable income by decile groups of non-retired households with children ranked by equivalised disposable income of non-retired households with children using the McClements equivalence scale with a household of a married couple = 1

  Current prices

  Decile groups of equivalised disposable income

  1979 £ per year

  1986 £ per year

  Bottom

  1,819

  2,991

  2nd

  2,474

  3,990

  Top

  7,706

  17,062

  Consultants
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the contracts currently being worked on for his Department by Coopers and Lybrand,170
  Ernst and Young, Price Waterhouse, KPMG Peat Marwick, Grant Thornton, Robson Rhodes, Levy Gee, BDO Binder Hamlyn, Hacker Young, Pannell Kerr Forster and Stoy Hayward.

  Mr. Nelson
  The table lists relevant companies currently working on contracts for HM Treasury, together with the type of consulting work for each company.

  COMPANY AND TYPE OF CONSULTANCY WORK

  Coopers and Lybrand—Market Testing

  Ernst and Young—Privatisation

  Price Waterhouse—Management Consultancy, Privatisation, Auditing

  KPMG Peat Marwick—Management Consultancy

  BDO Binder Hamlyn—Auditing

  Uganda
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total aggregate indebtedness of Uganda to the United Kingdom, by way of outstanding bilateral loans; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards easing the burden of this debt.

  Mr. Nelson
  Uganda's outstanding debts to the United Kingdom total £25£5 million, all of which are in respect of business insured by the Export Credits Guarantee Department. All outstanding debts to the Overseas Development Administration were written off in 1981 under the provisions of retrospective terms agreement.

  On 17 June 1992, Uganda rescheduled its official bilateral debts to Paris club creditors under a concessional, Trinidad terms agreement. This involved writing down by 50 per cent. the maturities falling due over the period of Uganda's International Monetary Fund programme. It also included a commitment by creditors to consider action on the whole of Uganda's official bilateral debt stock in three years' time, subject to Uganda maintaining a good debt servicing record and a satisfactory performance under an IMF programme.

  The United Kingdom is pressing the other Paris club creditors to improve the existing Trinidad terms. In particular, we should like the Paris club to increase the rate of debt reduction above 50 per cent. and to offer immediate stock of debt reductions for countries with a good track record of debt servicing and economic reform.

  Bank of England Governor
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish minutes of his monthly monetary meetings with the Governor of the Bank of England.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Yes. I agree with the recommendation by the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee that I should publish, with a lag, minutes of my monthly monetary meetings with the Governor. I believe that greater transparency has helped the operation of monetary policy and increased accountability.

  I am, therefore, publishing today the minutes of the meetings held in January, February and the beginning of March. Thereafter, the minutes of each meeting will be published around two weeks after the subsequent meeting has taken place. I have arranged for copies of the minutes to be placed in the Library of the House.

  I am confident that the minutes of these and future meetings will confirm the Government's commitment to sustained low inflation and sound monetary policy.

  Manufacturing, Midlands
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for manufacturing output in(a) the west midlands and (b) Coventry.

  Mr. Nelson
  Estimates of gross value added in manufacturing for the west midlands and Coventry are set out in the table. The latest available figures are for 1991.

  Gross value added in manufacturing—1991

  Area

  Gross value added £ million

  West midlands

  6,585·2

  Coventry

  1,311·4

  Source: Annual census of production.

  Information on published back data is available from table 15.3 of "Regional Trends", copies of which are available from the House of Commons Library. This information can also be obtained from the central shared data bank.

  Fuel (VAT)
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the effect of pre-payment by large-scale gas and electricity users to avoid value added tax on domestic fuel from 1 April; and what assessment he has made of the scale of pre-payment and its effect on (i) the revenue expected from the tax and (ii) the level of savings held in building societies.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: It is estimated that about 5 per cent. of domestic electricity consumers and about 4 per cent. of domestic gas consumers paid fuel bills in advance of the imposition of VAT on 1 April. No breakdown of the figures by size of user is possible. The effect of these prepayments on the revenue yield is estimated to be small in comparison with the yield from VAT on domestic fuel and power. It is not possible to quantify the effect of these prepayments on the level of savings in building societies.

ENVIRONMENT

  European Funding
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under which schemes local authorities have received European funding since 1979.

  Mr. Baldry
  The principal sources of EC funding that local authorities may receive are the European structural funds. Prior to 1989, applications for European regional development fund assistance for specific projects were submitted to the European Commission for approval. Since 1989, projects have been considered at regional level under Community support frameworks, agreed between the member state and the European Commission, for areas eligible under structural fund objectives 1, 2 and 5(b). Local authorities have also been able to apply for European social fund projects under objectives 3 and 4. Other funding from the structural funds has been available to local authorities through Community initiatives of which there have been a total of 14 in the period 1989–93.172
  Examples of these initiatives are Rechar for coalfield areas and Interreg for cross-border areas. New Community support frameworks, and European Commission proposals for Community initiatives, for the period 1994–99 are in the process of being established.

  Local authorities have also been able to obtain grants or loans or other awards from various other European sources. My Department does not have records of funding that may have been received in this way.

  Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total staff complement of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; how many of these are inspectors with responsibility for integrated pollution control enforcement at site level; how many site visits have been made to part A prescribed processes in 1991, 1992 and 1993; and what targets have been set for IPC inspection staff, enforcement activity and site visits for 1994 and 1995.

  Mr. Atkins
  As at 1 April 1994, the total staff complement of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution was 434.5. At that date, there were 122 complemented inspector posts with responsibility for integrated pollution control enforcement at site level. Data on site visits are kept by financial year. In 1991–92, there were 1,205 site visits to part A prescribed processes regulated under integrated pollution control·IPC; in 1992–93, there were 3,364 visits and in 1993–94—in the period to end of December 1993—there were 3,495 visits.

  The target is to maintain the complement for IPC inspection staff in 1994–95 at 122 posts. Enforcement activity is reactive, but resources will be made available for it as necessary. The target for site visits to part A prescribed processes in 1994–95 is 3,030.

  The actual number of visits is expected to be greater than this number because of additional reactive visits which will be made in response to complaints and incidents as they arise.

  London Docklands
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by local authority area, each London Docklands development corporation-owned site in the Docklands urban development area which is currently undeveloped.

  Sir George Young
  I have asked my Department to produce this information. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.

  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total spending that the London Docklands development corporation is committing to social projects in 1994–95; and if he will break this figure down into amounts to be spent on(a) training, (b) social housing, (c) Tower Hamlets accord, (d) Newham memorandum of agreement, (e) community grants and (f) health projects; and if he will make a statement on the future of the social programme.

  Sir George Young
  The London Docklands development corporation is proposing to spend £14,518,000 in 1994–95 on social projects. This allocation is due to be discussed formally with the Department in the corporate plan round currently under way.
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  The breakdown is:

  Category

  £ thousand

  (a) Training

  1,024

  (b) Social housing

  2,062

  (c) Tower Hamlets accord

  5,063

  (d) Newham memorandum

  2,979

  (e) Community grants

  2,542

  (f) Health projects

  303

  (g) Schools and education

  545

  The social programme continues to be a key area of the corporation's activities in its remit to assist regeneration in the docklands.

  Consultants
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information technology consultants his Department has employed, for what purpose and at what total cost for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information technology consultants have been used for a wide variety of purposes including facilities management, research, training, risk assessment, and data administration. The total cost for each of the last four years is as follows:

  Year

  £

  1990–91

  1,427,230

  1991–92

  4,029,342

  1992–93

  2,742,459

  1993–94

  1,794,048

  Assistance for Local Authority Leaseholders Bill
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Council of Mortgage Lenders in relation to the Assistance for Local Authority Leaseholders Bill.

  Sir George Young
  Ministers and officials have had a number of discussions with the Council of Mortgage Lenders about the difficulties faced by some leaseholders of local authority dwellings. We are currently consulting them and other relevant organisations about the possible revision of the standard mortgage indemnity agreement used by local authorities.

  Zoos
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which EC member states have no specific legislation on zoos; and what steps he takes to ensure the welfare of animals exported from the United Kingdom to zoos in such countries.

  Mr. Atkins
  According to our latest information, I understand that Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain do not have specific zoo legislation.

  Live animals must be transported in accordance with the International Air Transport Association's live animals regulations. The welfare of animals in zoos is a matter for individual member states.

  Single Regeneration Budget
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when draft guidelines were issued by his Department in connection with possible applications for assistance under the single regeneration budget; what response he received to those draft guidelines; on what date he expects to be able to publish final guidelines; by what date initial approval for applications under the scheme must be made; and what is the final deadline for approved applications.

  Mr. Baldry
  Draft guidance to those with an interest in bidding for funding from the single regeneration budget for 1995–96 was issued for consultation on 14 January, with responses requested by 25 February. Ten thousand copies of the draft guidance were circulated, 11 seminars held throughout England, and several hundred written responses received. Those responding to the consultation were broadly in favour of the budget, but made a wide range of detailed points.

  The final guidance, taking account of the responses to consultation, will be issued on 14 April, and copies will be placed in the Library of the House. The guidance will require applications for funding to be made to Government offices for the regions by 7 September 1994. Bidders will be encouraged to discuss their potential bids in outline with regional offices by the end of May 1994. It is intended that final decisions on the bid applications will be made known in early January 1995.

  New Forest
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received opposing the granting of national park status to the New Forest.

  Mr. Atkins
  Between 24 September 1992, when we published our consultation paper on our proposals for the future of the New Forest, and 8 April 1994 we have received 223 letters and a petition with three signatures opposing national park status for the New Forest.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations opposing the granting of national park status to the New Forest were initially mislaid by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department did not mislay any representations opposing the granting of national park status to the New Forest.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations opposing the granting of national park status to the New Forest he has received since January; and how many of these were printed pro-forma letters recommending an enhanced role for the verderers in the management of the New Forest.

  Mr. Atkins
  Between 1 January 1994 and 8 April, we have received 198 letters opposing the granting of national park status to the New Forest. Of these, 181 were printed pro-forma letters recommending an enhanced role for the verderers in the management of the New Forest.

  Retail Sites
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action he is taking to ensure that the recent policy guidance in respect of out-of-town retail sites is not being avoided by planning application for such developments which are proposed under misleading descriptions; and if he will call in all such applications;

  (2) what action he will take to prevent the further expansion of retail sites in South Yorkshire.

  Mr. Baldry
  Our revised planning policy guidance note 6 "Town Centres and Retail Developments" sets out clear advice on the issues that local planning authorities, including development corporations, will need to take into account when considering planning applications for retail developments. Local planning authorities have adequate powers to obtain all the necessary information to enable them to make a decision. The Secretary of State expects local planning authorities to use those powers where necessary.

  Local planning authorities must notify the Secretary of State, under the Town and Country Planning (Development Plans and Consultation) Direction 1992, of any applications which involve specified departures from the development plan. They are also required to notify the Secretary of State of certain proposals for retail development under the Town and Country Planning (Shopping Development) (England and Wales) (No. 2) Direction 1993. If any local authority failed to notify the Secretary of State of a planning application subject to either of these directions, its decision could well be challenged in the courts.

  Proposals for the development of retail sites in South Yorkshire and elsewhere continue to be monitored under the provisions of these directions. The Secretary of State will consider calling-in any application for retail development which appears to conflict with published policy on the development of retail sites set out in planning policy guidance note 6 "Town Centres and Retail Developments" or otherwise raises issues of more than local importance.

  Aggregates
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish minerals planning guidance note 6 on planning guidance for aggregates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  We are today publishing the revised mineral planning guidance note 6 on aggregates—MPG6—for England.

  To help achieve a more sustainable approach, we are reducing the landbank—the amount of land-won material, that is, sand and gravel, with planning consent at any one time—from 10 to seven years.

  An assured supply of aggregates for construction is a basic requirement of a healthy economy. But sustainable development means that we must reduce our very high dependence on primary aggregates and make more use of substitutes such as secondary and recycled material. We need to seek better patterns of supply and use of resources, and more environmentally acceptable ways of working mineral sites and restoring these sites once work has ceased.

  As a first step in achieving this, industry is being asked to reduce its dependence on land won aggregates from 83
  176
  to 68 per cent. by 2006. Provision of sand and gravel in the south-east will be 10 per cent. less than that envisaged for the same 15-year period in the current MPG6 guidelines, published in 1989. Industry is asked to increase its use of secondary and recycled materials by 100 per cent. To make clear that the Government are looking for early progress towards sustainable development, these guidelines will run to 2006 and not 2011 as assumed in the draft guidelines issued in January 1993.

  We are inviting industry to come forward with proposals on how these targets can be achieved and developed.

  We propose to establish, on a trial basis, a help line to provide practical advice to the industry on specifications and ways to increase the use of recycled and secondary materials in particular projects.

  As the construction and repair of roads consumes some 30 per cent. of all aggregates, my Department intends to conduct research, jointly with the Department of Transport, into how to increase the use of recycled and secondary materials in the construction and repair of roads.

  We will also be commissioning further research to enable monitoring and measurement of the progress towards the target set in MPG6.

  A copy of MPG6 has been placed in the House Library.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will lay before Parliament regulations to enable the introduction of waste management licensing under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, laid before Parliament today, will come into force on 1 May 1994, when the waste management licensing sections of part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 will be commenced. The 1990 Act will then have replaced and updated most of the last generation of controls on waste under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. In the case of the scrap metal industry, however, I propose that the new system should come into force on 1 October 1994. This is to give that industry further time to consider the implications of the new system and to make any representations; in the meanwhile, that industry will remain subject to the 1974 Act.

  The new waste management licensing system will bring real improvements and benefits, putting responsibility firmly on waste operators, empowering local authorities to act to prevent pollution, making more information available to the public and raising the standards of dealing with waste. At the same time, the new regulations are closely targeted on the potentially polluting operations that need control, and will remove unnecessary burdens and red tape from many small-scale activities and especially from many types of recycling.

  The regulations are the outcome of public consultations launched when draft regulations were published in August 1992 and continued since. In the light of those consultations, there has been extensive redrafting to meet the concerns and interests of industry, local authorities and the public. The regulations have also been revised to take account of European measures on waste regulation, including a new definition of waste consistent with the European definition.
  177
  The waste management licensing regulations will be complemented by the charging scheme, published on 24 March 1994, Official Report, columns 395–96, and by guidance in the form of a circular and two waste management papers. The guidance will, for the first time, be on a statutory footing. So this will give a clear signal to industry and to authorities as to the way in which the system is to operate.

  The new waste management licensing system will offer improved, clear, consistent, firm controls on waste. This will benefit the public, industry, local authorities and the environment. I know the waste industry welcomes this new system and I am confident that the waste regulators will use their stronger powers to secure environmental improvements.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further information he has made available to local authorities about standard spending assessments for 1994–95.

  Mr. Baldry
  A publication, "Standard Spending Assessment Handbook 1994/95", has been produced to provide details of the standard spending assessment of each local authority. Copies have today been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Copies are also being sent to every local authority in England, and to the local authority associations.

  Alexander Fleming House
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the floor area in square feet of Alexander Fleming house; and what proportion of this is currently in use;

  (2) what is the annual cost of upkeep of Alexander Fleming house;

  (3) what is the current market value of Alexander Fleming house.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: Alexander Fleming house was formerly occupied by the Department of Health and is now vacant following rationalisation of the Department's London offices and relocation of staff to Leeds. The building has a net internal
  floor area of 272,000 sq ft and future maintenance and security costs are estimated to average £500,000 per annum. The current rent is £313,157 per annum—£1·15 per sq ft—which is payable up to expiry of the lease in 1997. The offices are unlettable in the current market owing to their age and obsolescence and discussions have been held with the freeholder, with a view to early surrender of the lease. So far, however, it has not proved possible to reach agreement on acceptable terms.

PRIME MINISTER

  Child Migrants
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will now meet representatives of the Child Migrant Trust to discuss the British child migrants scheme and Government policy towards former child migrants.
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  The Prime Minister
  The Government's policy towards former child migrants was debated in the Adjournment debate initiated by the hon. Member on 22 November 1993,Official Report, columns 301-8.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Prime Minister which Government Departments hold personal files relating to individual child migrants and their families.

  The Prime Minister
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis), gave details of the policy files held by the Department of Health and the Public Record Office in the Adjournment debate on 22 November 1993,Official Report, columns 305-6. No Government Department holds personal files relating to individual child migrants and their families.

  Voluntary Bodies
  Sir Jim Spicer
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total amount paid in grants by central Government Departments to voluntary bodies in the financial year 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Central Government funding of voluntary organisations in 1992–93 amounted to £3,925 million. Of this, £3,362 million was payments to housing associations and £563 million went directly to voluntary organisations to support the provision of services and a wide range of activities and projects. The latter figure shows that Government funding of the voluntary sector increased in cash terms by 15 per cent. and in real terms by 11 per cent. over the level of provision in 1991–92—£490 million. Between 1979–80 and 1992–93, the level of Government support for voluntary bodies has risen by 172 per cent. in real terms.

  The amount spent under individual departmental programmes in 1992–93 was as follows:

  £

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  209,248

  Defence

  16,555,426

  Education

  7,337,719

  Employment

  Direct grants

  35,452,818

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  22,000

  Environment (including Energy Efficiency Office)

  Direct grants

  25,542,597

  Urban programme

  51,700,000

  Housing corporations

  2,862,000,000

  Countryside Commission

  1,242,000

  English Nature

  621,000

  Rural Development Commission

  4,595,000

  Derelict land grant

  317,000

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  2,697,820

  Overseas Development Administration

  147,426,026

  Health

  Direct grants

  52,138,716

  Health Education Authority

  2,450,755

  Home Office

  Direct grants

  50,596,492

  Commission for Racial Equality

  702,539

  National Heritage

  Direct grants

  566,808

  Sports Council

  14,535,000

  Northern Ireland Office

  Direct grants

  18,455,323

  Housing associations and societies

  57,404,589

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  658,037

  Youth Council for Northern Ireland

  1,357,803

  Scottish Office

  179

  £

  Direct grants

  25,674,985

  Urban programme

  46,618,000

  Housing associations

  260,000,000

  Scottish National Heritage

  1,360,000

  Highland and Islands Enterprise

  1,000,000

  Sports Council for Scotland

  1,527,694

  Social Security

  14,094,810

  Trade and Industry

  13,303,996

  Transport

  509,615

  Welsh Office

  Direct grants

  12,007,481

  Urban programme

  5,110,000

  Joint finance

  274,535

  Development Board for Rural Wales

  470,510

  Housing for Wales (Tai Cymru)—grants to housing associations

  182,323,223

  Sports Council for Wales and Play Wales Management Committee

  6,087,000

  GRAND TOTAL

  3,924,946,565

  I am placing in the Library of the House a list of voluntary bodies funded by the Government in 1992–93, other than those funded under housing programmes and the urban programme or via non-departmental public bodies.

  Ex-service Men
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Prime Minister what consultations he has had with ex-service men's organisations regarding the proposed participation of former axis powers ex-service men's representatives at the 1995 50th anniversary commemorations of the ending of world war II or Remembrance day parades; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 31 March 1994]: The commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the end of world war II will include a service in St. Paul's cathedral, a parade in central London, a lunch or dinner for visiting Heads of State and a number of other events throughout the country. Peace and reconciliation will feature strongly in themes for these events.

  The Ministry of Defence is leading the planning for the Government, but, at this early stage, no decision on the nature of the parade has been taken. The Ministry of Defence will consult a variety of appropriate organisations, including veterans' associations in the United Kingdom, over the content of the commemorations before final decisions are taken.

  There are, however, no plans for veterans' representatives from former axis powers to take part.

  Imports of sheep from Spain and Poland since 1 January 1994

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  (4)

  (5)

  (6)

  (7)

  (8)

  (9)

  Date of arrival at slaughterhouse

  Country of origin

  Point of departure

  Lairages on route

  Journey time1

  Number of sheep dead or recumbent

  Sheep deemed unfit for transit

  Carcases condemned:

  (a) Full

  (b) Partial

  17 February 1994

  Poland

  Sielinko, Brody, Paproc, Cicha Góra and Granowko

  Dover

  40¾ hours (25½ hours to Dover)

  3

  none

  none

  6

  8 March 1994

  Poland

  Cicha Góra and Gluponie

  Dover - several days stopover

  123½ hours (max 24 hours between staging posts)

  7

  4

  30

  39

  9 March 1994

  Poland

  Podale and Kielpino

  Belgium - several days stopover, and Petham, Kent

  Not determined

  none

  1

  18

  7

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Animal Transport
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the United Kingdom Government are taking to ensure the enforcement, within the European Union, of regulation 91/628, chapter 2, article 31B concerning the transport of live animals.

  Mr. Soames
  Each member state is required to bring into force the laws and administrative provisions necessary to implement directive 91/628 EEC. The directive is implemented in Great Britain through the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1992. In the case of contraventions involving trade with other member states, the Government take the matter up as appropriate with the authorities concerned.

  Live Animals (Imports)
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) of 18 March,Official Report, column 900, how many of the live sheep imported from Poland and Spain since 1 January were known to have given birth in transit or immediately on arrival in the United Kingdom;

  (2) how many sheep have been held back or destroyed at lairages as being unfit to travel onwards since 1 January 1994 after import from abroad.

  Mr. Soames
  Three sheep were found to have lambed in consignments imported from Spain and Poland and a further six were found to be close to lambing upon veterinary examination. A total of 32 sheep were detained in portal lairages as unfit to continue their journey. These were humanely destroyed.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if she will list the total consignments of animals destined for slaughter arriving from Poland or Spain since 1 January listing(a) the original point of departure of each consignment and (b) the points of lairage on route;

  (2) if she will give, for each consignment of animals destined for slaughter arriving from Poland or Spain since 1 January (a) the journey time for each stage of the journey, (b) the number of animals that were dead or recumbent on arrival in the United Kingdom, (c) the number that were deemed by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food veterinary inspectors to have been unfit for transit and (d) the total of carcases that were condemned by meat inspectors.

  Mr. Soames
  The information is given in the table.
  181

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  (4)

  (5)

  (6)

  (7)

  (8)

  (9)

  Date of arrival at slaughterhouse

  Country of origin

  Point of departure

  Lairages on route

  Journey time1

  Number of sheep dead or recumbent

  Sheep deemed unfit for transit

  Carcases condemned:

  (a) Full

  (b) Partial

  17 March 1994

  Poland

  Not recorded

  Belgium (several days stopover)

  14 hours (from Belgium)

  8

  none

  12

  16

  28 January 1994

  Spain

  Segovia

  Irun (Spain) and Southampton

  55½ hours (max 30 hours between staging posts

  1

  none

  3

  4

  15 February 1994

  Spain

  Segovia

  Bordeaux and Poitiers (France)

  57 hours (max 15 hours between staging posts)

  2

  none

  3

  4

  8 March 1994

  Spain

  Segovia

  Irun (Spain), Poitiers (France), Southampton

  66 hours (max 14 hours between staging posts)

  2

  none

  11

  23

  23 March 1994

  Spain

  Segovia

  Irun (Spain), Poitiers (France), Southampton

  78½ hours (max 11 hours between staging posts)

  4

  28

  11

  20

  1From place of departure, to destination, rest periods included.

  Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the recently established Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew conservation group; and what funding will be made available.

  Mr. Jack
  The centre for plant conservation at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew incorporates elements from the body's former economic and conservation section, the living collections department, the Jodrell laboratory and seed bank. The centre's conservation activities include research, advice, and support to field programmes worldwide. It is funded mainly from the grant in aid provided annually by the Ministry to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the present initiative being pursued for Mauritius by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

  Mr. Jack
  The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew was invited to collaborate with the Government of Mauritius and the Mauritian wildlife appeal fund to review the needs for plant conservation on the islands of Rodrigues and Mauritius. The intention is to develop a habitat restoration programme to ensure the long-term survival of threatened habitats and plant species on the islands. In addition, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a lead organisation in the production and editing of the "Flora of the Mascarenes" and is currently propagating a number of critically endangered species for future reintroduction.

  Lumpy Skin Disease
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of lumpy skin disease occurred in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Soames
  There has never been a case of lumpy skin disease diagnosed in Great Britain.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 28 March,Official Report, column 578, if she will list the 11 statutory
  182
  instruments affecting the food farming and fishing industries which have been rescinded and the 18 that have been retabled during the course of this Parliament.

  Mr. Jack
  The following statutory instruments rescinded or relaxed burdens imposed on the food, farming or fishing industries up to the end of February 1994:

  Revocations:

  The Sheep Scab (Revocation) Order 1992

  The Blue Eared Pig Disease (Revocation) Order 1992

  The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Dioxins) (England) No. 2 (Revocation) Order 1992

  The British Wool (Guaranteed Prices) (Revocation) Order 1993

  The Bananas (Interim Measures) (Revocation) Regulations 1993

  The Agriculture Act 1993 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1993

  The Diseases of Animals (Therapeutic Substances (Revocation) Order 1993

  The Poultry Laying Flocks Testing and Registration Etc. (Revocation) Order 1993

  The Foot and Mouth (Sera and Glandular Products) (Revocation) Order 1993

  The Specified Animal Pathogens Order 1993

  The Marek's Disease (Restrictions on Vaccination) (Revocation) Order 1994

  Relaxations:

  The Soft Drinks (Amendment) Regulations 1993

  The Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries Order 1993

  The Poultry Breeding Flocks, Hatcheries and Processed Animal Protein (Fees) Order 1993

  The Import (Plant Health Fees) (England and Wales) Order 1993

  The Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations 1993

  The Tuberculosis (Deer) (Amendment) Order 1993

  The Import of Bovine Semen (Amendment) Regulations 1993

  The Sea Fish Licensing (Variation) (No. 2) Order 1993

  The Fodder Plant Seeds (Amendment) Regulations 1993

  The Seeds (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) (Amendment) Regulations 1993

  The Food Labelling (Amendment) Regulations 1993

  The Local Fisheries Committees (Fees for Copy Byelaws) Order 1993

  The Specified Animal Pathogens Order 1993

  Sea Fisheries (Conservation of Sea Fish) The Undersized Lobsters Order 1993

  The Fresh Meat and Poultry Meat (Hygiene, Inspection and Examinations for Residues) (Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 1993

  The Common Agricultural Policy (Wine) (Amendment) Regulations 1993

  The Importation of Bees (Amendment) Order 1993

  183

  The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Radioactivity in Sheep) (England) (Partial Revocation) Order 1994

  Fisheries Council
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 12 April; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  I represented the United Kingdom at a meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers on 12 April in Luxembourg, together with my noble Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office.

  The major issue before the Council was a proposal arising from the Act of accession for Spain and Portugal. The Act requires that the provision for the Irish box must end at 31 December 1995. In addition, the Council can adopt any necessary changes in the light of a review of the operation of the provisions of the Act. Any changes decided on have to apply from 1 January 1996.

  As the House knows, the Council has been addressing the issues raised by the terms of the Act at successive meetings since June 1993. At its meeting yesterday, the Council concluded the first stage of this work by adopting by qualified majority a presidency compromise proposal on the procedure to be followed for amending the current arrangements applying to Spanish and Portuguese access to the waters of the other member states. It sets out in legal form the principles to guide the Commission and the Council in settling the detailed provisions.

  The regulation ensures that no changes can be made to the current rules governing Spanish and Portuguese fishing until the replacement arrangements have been set out and agreed by the Council. All the changes will have to conform to the key principles of relative stability and no increase in fishing effort. In formulating the changes, the Commission will also have to provide specifically for sensitive zones, in particular to take account of the need to balance resources and the fishing effort deployed. The area of the Irish box is noted as such a zone where fishing effort will need to be closely monitored and any necessary measures taken.

  Another issue which is of particular concern to United Kingdom fishermen is the position regarding areas in which Spain and Portugal are currently not allowed to fish, such as the North sea. There is no obligation on the Commission to make any proposals for access to these areas. But if it does, access can only be given to stocks not currently subject to total allowable catches and would have to be on the basis of track records in a recent and representative period. Spain and Portugal have had no track record in the North sea since the date of their accession. This is a satisfactory outcome which fully protects the interests of the British fishing industry and provides a sound basis for the detailed negotiations over the coming months.

  The Commission tabled a report on the ecological impact of drift netting, together with a proposal. The Council had a first discussion on the issues raised, including a suggestion that a derogation for use of drift nets longer than 2.5 km should be reintroduced. I made clear my firm opposition to this and the importance I attach to taking environmental implications fully into account. The
  184
  derogation was not renewed. These matters will now be considered by experts taking into account the scientific evidence.

  The Council discussed the current difficulties in the European fish market. Although no single factor was identified as the underlying cause, there was widespread agreement that an important part of the present difficulties is due to structural factors, notably the continuing imbalance between fishing effort and fish resources. The Commission has undertaken to prepare a full analysis of all the elements affecting the market for consideration by the Council at its next meeting in June.

  The Council agreed by qualified majority a regulation on direct landings by third country fishing vessels, subjecting them to the same rules as member states' fishing vessels, notably in relation to existing hygiene controls, and to some aspects of the market regime. The market regime provisions will not apply to fish for processing or to landings by European Economic Area vessels. The United Kingdom, Denmark and the Netherlands voted against the regulation because of reservations about its practicality.

  The Council also agreed autonomous tariff reductions for certain annual quotas of whitefish imports.

  Fruit
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what occasions and in respect of which companies and products the United Kingdom Government have not followed a directive from the European Community concerning fruit or fruit products.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 21 March 1994]The United Kingdom has not yet amended its national legislation implementing EC Council directive 93/77 to take account of EC Commission directive 93/45 concerning the manufacturer of fruit nectars without the addition of sugar.

  However, enforcement authorities are aware of the requirements of directive 93/45 and will take this into account in their enforcement action. The United Kingdom implementing legislation will be amended to take account of directive 93/45 at the earliest opportunity.

TRANSPORT

  Tamar Road Crossing
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his Department's policy on the second Tamar road crossing project; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The consultants who undertook a study of a feasibility of the new Tamar crossing advised that a new crossing is likely to be needed by the turn of the century if unacceptable congestion is to be avoided. Their report was published in June 1993 and comments were invited on the four possible routes which had been identified.

  I am considering the responses to the consultation before deciding if, when and how the proposal for a new Tamar crossing should be taken forward.

  Car Parking
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations apply to the parking of tax-exempt private vehicles on off-street local authority parking sites.
  185
  Mr. Key
  It is entirely for individual local authorities to decide which classes of vehicle may use any off-street car parks they provide, and to determine the terms and conditions under which they may do so.

  London Taxis
  Mr. Bendall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement about London taxi fares and fees.

  Mr. Norris
  The Secretary of State has made an order increasing London taxi fares by about 2·88 per cent. on average with effect from Saturday 23 April 1994. The new tariff will incorporate a minimum fare of £1—including an unchanged hire charge of 60p—for the first 564 yds or 114 seconds. The rate will then be 20p for every 282 yds or 57 seconds up to six miles and 20p for each 188 yds or 38 seconds thereafter.

  The Secretary of State has decided that there will be no increase this year in the fees for London taxi driver and vehicle licences, currently £87 and £78 respectively.

  A38
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now announce the line of his Department's preferred route for the A38 trunk road improvement between Saltash and Trerulefoot.

  Mr. Key
  I expect to announce our preferred route for this scheme shortly.

  Permanent Secretary
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide details of the basic salary of the permanent secretary within his Department and the performance pay arrangements under which he operates.

  Mr. Norris
  The permanent secretary is paid £95,051 per annum with effect from 1 April 1994. There is no performance pay scheme for permanent secretaries.

  Railway Station Staff
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are currently employed as station staff by British Rail; and how many were so employed in(a) 1990, (b) 1985 and (c)

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is not readily available in the form requested, but the number of staff employed in stations, yards and depots is as follows:

  Number

  31 December 1980

  25,148

  31 March 1985

  19,941

  31 March 1990

  17,039

  26 February 1994

  12,765

  Aircraft Movements (Cardiff)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the likely consequences for aircraft movements from Cardiff, Wales airport of the negotiations regarding access for American passenger aircraft to Heathrow.
  186
  Mr. Norris
  We do not foresee any material effect on aircraft movements at Cardiff, Wales airport arising directly from any changes which might be agreed in access for American passenger aircraft to Heathrow. However, it is possible that, as part of wider negotiations with the United States over liberalisation of air services, existing opportunities for United Kingdom and United States airlines to mount charter services between Cardiff and the United States and for United Kingdom airlines to mount a scheduled service could be supplemented by additional opportunities for United States carriers to offer scheduled services. It would be for the commercial judgment of the airlines whether to operate such services.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 30 March,Official Report, columns 761-62, if he will list the firms of consultants employed by his Department in each of the last five years and the number of contracts each has undertaken.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]I am placing the information in the Library.

  London, Tilbury and Southend Line
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 29 March,Official Report, concerning daily flows of rail passengers on the London, Tilbury and Southend line to Fenchurch Street what is (a) the approximate number of passengers carried in trains departing from Barking for Fenchurch Street on a normal weekday between the hours 0700 and 10.00, irrespective of their boarding stations, (b) the best estimate available of the number of passengers departing westbound on the District line from Barking, between those hours and (c) the numbers of passengers joining westbound District line trains between Barking and Bow Road between those hours; and what assessment he has made of the total effect of withdrawing all main line trains between Barking and Fenchurch Street between 22 July and 5 September next.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]The information requested is as follows:

  (a) The London, Tilbury and Southend—LT and S —line currently carries 22,000 passengers on all its services into London during the peak hours of 07·00 to 10·00.

  (b) London Underground Ltd.—LUL—says that in 1990, 4,300 passengers boarded westbound District and Hammersmith and City lines trains at Barking between 07·00 and 10·00 am each weekday.

  (c) The same survey showed that the number of passengers on westbound district line trains between Barking and Bow Road during the morning peak were as follows:

  Number

  Barking—East Ham

  14,900

  East Ham—Upton Park

  21,600

  Upton Park—Plaistow

  26,200

  Plaistow—West Ham

  30,400

  West Ham—Bromley-by-Bow

  30,600

  Bromley-by-Bow—Bow Road

  31,300

  187
  LT and S management have made the following assessments and arrangements.

  The temporary timetable, which will be in operation during the closure of Fenchurch Street will provide 16,300 seats into Liverpool Street. Although, due to limited track and platform capacity, it will not be possible to run extra Great Eastern trains into Liverpool Street, additional capacity will also be provided on Great Eastern services form Southend Victoria and Colchester, and it is expected that some LT and S passengers will travel from Upminster to Romford in order to connect with these services. Passengers at the eastern end of the route will be encouraged to use Great Eastern services.

  Passenger numbers are traditionally reduced by 13 per cent. during the summer period and LT and S management estimate that this will rise to 20 per cent. during the closure of Fenchurch Street.

  LT and S management estimate that the maximum number of passengers needing to transfer to LUL services for onward travel by tube is in the range of 1,300 to 2,800, and LUL has been advised accordingly. In addition to its normal services, starting in May, LUL will provide an extra four trains an hour during the peak period on the Hammersmith and City line from Barking.

  By diverting many LT and S trains into Liverpool Street, it is hoped that the effect of withdrawing mainline trains into Fenchurch Street will be minimised and every effort is being made to advise passengers of their alternatives before 22 July. Additional staff will be on hand at Barking to assist with passenger transfers, and LT and S management are continuing to work with local rail user groups to offer the best possible service during the closure.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Consultants
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information technology consultants his Department has employed and for what purpose and at what total cost for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sproat
  The Department of National Heritage, which was established on 13 April 1992, has contracted out operational support for the Department computer users and systems to Sema Group through open competition. The Department has employed consultants from Sema Group to support the development of Departmental information systems—IS—and assist in the procurement of a number of system solutions. Consultancy support from CCTA, the Government Centre for Information Systems, has also been used to assist in procurement and the development of the Departmental IS strategy. The cost of consultancy support was £140,000 in 1992–93 and £38,000 in 1993–94.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 25 March,Official Report, column 460, if he will list the firms of consultants employed by his Department in each of the last five years and the number of contracts they have undertaken.

  Mr. Sproat
  The consultants used and numbers of contracts awarded by my Department since it was established in April 1992 and its two executive agencies are listed in the table, together with the start date for each contract. My answer on 25 March did not include the 188
  number of consultancies awarded by the two agencies, although the costs given did include the agencies' expenditure. The total number of contracts awarded is 110.

  Consultant's name

  Number of contracts awarded

  Start date

  Accord Group—TYZACK

  1

  March 1993

  ADAS

  1

  December 1992

  AIBS

  1

  October 1992

  Ajax Health and Safety

  1

  April 1992

  Alan Rhodes Associates

  1

  October 1992

  Alter Ego

  1

  April 1993

  Baker, Wilkins and Smith

  1

  April 1992

  John Barnes

  1

  May 1993

  BDM Limited

  2

  December 1992

  April 1993

  Bedford Timber Preservation

  1

  January 1993

  BMRB International

  1

  June 1993

  Brenda White Associates

  1

  February 1993

  Capita Management Consultancy Ltd.

  1

  February 1993

  CCTA

  2

  June 1993

  August 1993

  Cluttons

  3

  January 1993

  March 1993

  Communication by Design Limited

  1

  September 1992

  Coopers and Lybrand

  1

  July 1993

  Crane Davies Limited

  1

  July 1993

  Cumbria Tourist Board

  3

  February 1993

  February 1993

  February 1993

  Drivas Jones

  1

  July 1993

  Engineering Surveys Limited

  2

  July 1992

  September 1993

  Ernst and Young

  4

  July 1992

  January 1993

  October 1993

  January 1994

  Derek Etherington

  1

  July 1991

  Feilden and Mawson

  1

  April 1992

  Fitch

  1

  June 1992

  P. Flaxman

  1

  January 1993

  Food Services Associates (Henley) Limited

  1

  December 1992

  GAH Limited

  1

  August 1992

  Lawrence Graham

  1

  1993

  David Greaves

  1

  June 1992

  Halcrow Fox

  2

  November 1992

  July 1993

  Heart of England Tourist Board

  1

  December 1992

  HH&S Limited

  1

  May 1992

  Humberts Leisure Limited

  1

  June 1992

  Institute of Manpower Studies

  1

  March 1993

  J. M. Consulting Limited

  1

  May 1993

  David Jacques

  1

  April 1993

  John Herbert Partnership

  1

  September 1992

  September

  Kennedy and Donkin

  1

  1993

  Korn Ferry International

  1

  March 1993

  KPMG

  6

  1992–93

  1992–93

  1992–93

  February 1993

  September 1993

  February 1994

  Land Use Consultants

  1

  April 1992

  Library and Information Co-operation Council

  1

  March 1993

  Light Projects

  1

  March 1993

  Lowe Bell Communications

  1

  January 1994

  Mason

  1

  August 1993

  MEW Research

  1

  June 1993

  Moon Communications

  1

  April 1993

  National Economic Research

  1

  April 1993

  Associators/Mercer Management

  Consultants/PA Consultants

  Naylor Conservation

  1

  December 1993

  North West Tourist Board

  2

  December 1992

  189

  Consultant's name

  Number of contracts awarded

  Start date

  February 1993

  Northamptoshire Archaelogical Unit

  1

  January 1993

  Number Market Research Limited

  1

  June 1992

  PA Consultants

  2

  July 1992

  July 1993

  William Page

  1

  1992–93

  Paper White Design Consultants

  1

  April 1993

  PE International

  3

  August 1992

  October 1992

  May 1993

  Peter Morley Associates Limited

  1

  March 1993

  Donald Piggott

  1

  October 1992

  Positive Solutions

  1

  August 1993

  Price Waterhouse

  3

  May 1992

  October 1992

  February 1993

  Pringle Brandon

  1

  December 1993

  Research International

  1

  December 1993

  RM Consultants Limited

  1

  December 1993

  RMJM and Caroe and Partners

  1

  April 1992

  Royal Fine Art Commission

  1

  February 1993

  Royal Fine Art Commission

  1

  February 1993

  Royston Brown

  1

  May 1992

  Search Training International Limited

  1

  December 1992

  Sema Group Systems Limited

  3

  All in 1993

  Stoy Hayward

  1

  December 1993

  August 1992 and August

  John Sumsion

  1

  1993

  Symonds

  1

  July 1992

  TA Consultancy

  1

  July 1993

  Tectus

  1

  May 1992

  The Conservation Practice

  1

  April 1992

  The Jenkins Group

  1

  May 1993

  Thesaurus

  1

  April 1992

  January and

  Touche Ross

  2

  June 1993

  Towers Perrin

  1

  January 1993

  University of Cambridge

  1

  January 1993

  University of London

  1

  January 1993

  Vital Statistics Limited

  1

  March 1993

  Warrington Fire Research

  1

  April 1992

  Phase 1—

  September

  1992 and Phase

  2—December

  Watts and Partners

  1

  1993

  WLF Pierce and Partners

  1

  July 1993

  Yorks and Humberside Tourist Board

  1

  February 1993

  Total

  110

  Computer Systems
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what computer systems his Department has brought in, for what function and at what cost for each of the last five years; and in each case whether the computer system is still in use.

  Mr. Sproat
  The Department of National Heritage, which was established on 13 April 1992, has introduced a personal computer-based office automation system, mainly for word processing, and a Library management system. The Department also uses computer services provided by the Accounts Service Agency and has introduced systems to support correspondence tracking, the handling of registered files, and responses to parliamentary questions. An on-line telephone directory has also been developed.190
  The cost of all computer systems was£730,000in 1992–93 and £950,000in 1993–94. All the computer systems brought in by the Department are still in use.

  Broadcasting Directive
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he has been notified by the Commission of the European Union of the action it intends to initiate in the European Court against the United Kingdom on the broadcasting directive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  We have been notified that the Commission has decided to open proceedings against the United Kingdom in the European Court of Justice over the way in which we have implemented article 2 of the "television without frontiers" directive. Under section 43 of the Broadcasting Act 1990, the criterion for deciding whether satellite television services fall within United Kingdom jurisdiction is the place where the broadcasting signals are uplinked. The Commission argues that the appropriate criterion is the place where the broadcaster is established. This difference of approach does not, however, appear to have been of any practical significance in terms of our ability to take action against unacceptable services.

  Central Council for Physical Recreation
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what proportion of the annual revenue of the Central Council for Physical Recreation is spent on salaries and running costs; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how much revenue the Central Council for Physical Recreation obtained in subscriptions from its member organisations in the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sproat
  The Central Council of Physical Recreation is not a Government body and I am not, therefore, able to provide this information.

EMPLOYMENT

  Dounreay
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement as to how the clothing of a German visitor to the nuclear power station in Dounreay in March became radioactive; what was the cause of this incident; what was the cost of supplying alternative clothing; and on how many other occasions this has occurred.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There was no such incident in March 1994. An incident was reported on 25 September 1985; a radiation monitor detected contamination on the clothing of a German visitor; this had resulted from spillage of radio-iodine in the visitor's workplace in Germany. This incident was fully reported at the time.

  Small Armaments Systems
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest employment figures for those manufacturing small armaments systems in the United Kingdom.
  191
  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest available information is from the 1991 Great Britain and Northern Ireland censuses of employment. Employment figures have been taken from the 1980 standard industrial classification activity heading 3290 which covers ordnance, small arms, ammunition and tracked armoured fighting vehicles. The estimated number of employees in employment in the activity in the United Kingdom at September 1991 was 13,500.

  Part-time Workers
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action the Government are intending to take to implement the House of Lords ruling that the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 is in breach of European Union laws in discriminating against women because of its treatment of part-time workers.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government are carefully considering this judgment to ascertain its full implications and will make an announcement as soon as possible.

  Training Providers Cost Survey
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the 1992 training providers cost survey commissioned by his Department from Coopers and Lybrand; and if he will state the reason for not publishing it at the time he received it.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The 1992 survey of training provider costs was undertaken to assess the costs to training providers of delivering youth training and employment training and to give the Government information about value for money achieved with taxpayers' money. The training and enterprise councils —TECs—and training providers which participated in the survey were given an assurance that all the information collected would be treated as confidential. As the information is commercially sensitive and could inappropriately influence negotiations between TECs and training providers it remains confidential to TECs and Employment Department management.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the expenditure on youth training in Great Britain, in cash terms and in 1993–94 prices in each year since 1989–90; and what is the expected outturn for 1993–94.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Youth training Actual expenditure 1989–90 to 1992–93 expected outturn for 1993–94, Great Britain

  £ million

  1989–90

  Cash

  976·0

  Real terms

  1,202·4

  1990–91

  Cash

  823·4

  Real terms

  938·7

  1991–92

  Cash

  846·8

  Real terms

  907·9

  192

  £ million

  1992–93

  Cash

  760·4

  Real terms

  785·1

  1993–94

  Cash

  772·1

  Note:

  1989–90 relates to youth training scheme, 1990–91 onwards relates to youth training and credits. Excludes administration/running costs.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the expenditure on training for work employment training and its predecessors and employment action in Great Britain in cash terms and in 1993–94 prices in each year since 1989–90; and what is the expected outturn for 1993–94.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Training for work, employment training and its predecessors and employment action

  Actual expenditure 1989–90 to 1992–93 and expected outturn for 1993–94, Great Britain

  £ million

  Employment training

  Employment action

  Training for work

  Total

  1989–90

  Cash

  1,096·6

  —

  —

  1,096·6

  Real terms

  1,350·9

  —

  —

  1,350·9

  1990–91

  Cash

  1,072·4

  —

  —

  1,072·4

  Real terms

  1,222·6

  —

  —

  1,222·6

  1991–92

  Cash

  830·8

  16·3

  —

  847·1

  Real terms

  890·7

  17·5

  —

  908·2

  1992–93

  Cash

  777·4

  148·9

  —

  926·3

  Real terms

  802·7

  153·7

  —

  956·4

  1993–94

  Cash

  —

  —

  907·8

  907·8

  Note:

  Excludes administration-running costs.

  Training for work is one of a wide range of options open to unemployed people. The Employment Department group offered a record total of 1·5 million opportunities in 1993–94 to help unemployed people back into work.

  Employment Schemes
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people have participated in work trials in 1993 in each region and for Great Britain as a whole; and how many participants have secured full-time or part-time employment with their sponsoring employer;

  (2) how many unemployed people have taken part in the job interview guarantee scheme in each region in each quarter of 1993; and how many secured full-time or part-time employment with their sponsoring employer.
  193
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Tony Lloyd, dated 13 April 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions to him about Work Trials and Job Interview Guarantee.
  You asked how many unemployed people have taken part in these schemes in each region in 1993 and how many participants have secured full or part-time employment with the sponsoring employer. The information is set out by region in the attached tables. The figures provided show totals of clients placed into full and part-time work as we do not collect this information separately.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Work trials—Number of clients participating and placed into jobs during 1993

  Number of participants January—December 1993

  Number of clients placed January—December 1993

  Northern region

  541

  322

  Yorkshire and Humberside region

  733

  441

  East Midlands and Eastern region

  1,088

  696

  London and South East region

  2,961

  1,589

  South West region

  618

  359

  Office for Wales

  568

  347

  West Midlands region

  773

  470

  North West region

  1,661

  1,091

  Office for Scotland

  1,457

  952

  National

  10,400

  6,267

  Job interview guarantee—Number of clients assisted and placed into jobs during 1993

  Number of clients assisted January—March 1993

  Number of clients placed January—March 1993

  Northern region

  2,811

  827

  Yorkshire and Humberside region

  4,330

  1,319

  East Midlands and Eastern region

  3,214

  918

  London and South East region

  15,259

  5,267

  South West region

  7,872

  2,514

  Office for Wales

  4,773

  1,663

  West Midlands region

  4,602

  1,759

  North West region

  5,051

  1,837

  Office for Scotland

  3,820

  2,557

  National

  51,732

  18,661

  Job interview guarantee—Number of clients assisted and placed into jobs during 1993

  Number of clients assisted April—June 1993

  Number of clients placed April—June 1993

  Northern region

  4,940

  1,490

  Yorkshire and Humberside region

  14,107

  3,806

  East Midlands and Eastern region

  4,954

  2,090

  London and South East region

  26,184

  10,421

  South West region

  7,434

  3,367

  Office for Wales

  5,884

  2,613

  West Midlands region

  5,156

  2,688

  North West region

  11,254

  4,874

  Office for Scotland

  6,058

  4,672

  National

  85,971

  36,021

  194

  Job interview guarantee—Number of clients assisted and placed into jobs during 1993

  Number of clients assisted July—September 1993

  Number of clients placed July—September 1993

  Northern region

  7,616

  2,344

  Yorkshire and Humberside region

  20,348

  6,137

  East Midlands and Eastern region

  5,744

  1,743

  London and South East region

  32,500

  12,916

  South West region

  8,746

  3,628

  Office for Wales

  6,696

  2,928

  West Midlands region

  9,926

  4,032

  North West region

  13,253

  6,278

  Office for Scotland

  7,697

  5,045

  National

  112,526

  45,051

  Job interview guarantee—Number of clients assisted and placed into jobs during 1993

  Number of clients assisted October—December 1993

  Number of clients placed October—December 1993

  Northern region

  4,824

  1,911

  Yorkshire and Humberside region

  17,134

  5,569

  East Midlands and Eastern region

  7,633

  2,951

  London and South East region

  28,916

  13,453

  South West region

  8,352

  3,190

  Office for Wales

  5,236

  2,687

  West Midlands region

  8,212

  4,828

  North West region

  11,324

  5,782

  Office for Scotland

  6,399

  4,828

  National

  98,030

  45,199

EDUCATION

  Computer Systems
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what computer systems his Department has brought in for what function, and at what cost for each of the last five years; and in each case whether the computer system is still in use.

  Mr. Forth
  Over the last five financial years, capital expenditure by the Department on computer systems has been:

  £ million

  1989–90

  2·0

  1990–91

  2·0

  1991–92

  1·8

  1992–93

  0·9

  1993–94

  0·3

  I am sending the hon. Member details of the systems installed, their function and current use.

  Consultants
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information technology consultants his Department has employed in each of the last five years; for what purpose; and at what total cost.
  195
  Mr. Forth
  Over the last five financial years, expenditure by the Department on information technology consultants has been:

  £

  1989–90

  685,416

  1990–91

  610,200

  1991–92

  518,887

  1992–93

  571,000

  1993–94

  674,690

  I am sending the hon. Member a detailed list of the firms of consultants employed and the purpose of the consultancies.

  Student Awards
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the expenditure by local education authorities in the United Kingdom on discretionary awards and any other forms of support for students in the further education sector in each of the years 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94; and what information he has on how much local education authorities are planning to spend for this purpose in 1994–95.

  Mr. Boswell
  Local education authority returns to my Department show that expenditure on discretionary awards for further education in England and Wales was £163·9 million in 1991–92 academic year and £169·3 million—provisional—in 1992–93. Their returns for 1993–94 are not yet available. It is for LEAs to decide how much to spend on discretionary awards in 1994–94: they do not provide the Department with information on their plans.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will state for each school for which he has approved for grant-maintained status since 1 January 1993 the(a) number of pupils attending the school at the time of approval and (b) the pupil capacity of the school.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information held by the Department showing the number of pupils on roll and the school capacity has been placed in the Library.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to publish or to instruct the Electoral Reform Society to publish the result of every grant-maintained ballot.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  No. It is for each governing body to decide how best to inform parents of the result and whether to publicise it more widely.

  Camberwell Child Guidance Centre
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which organisations will take over the responsibilities of the education staff of the Camberwell child guidance centre; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Education staff of the Camberwell child guidance centre were supported by the Southwark local education authority which decided, after consultations with schools, to discontinue the funding after March 1994. I am informed that the staff concerned took voluntary 196
  severance. These are matters for the authority: the Department cannot intervene. I understand that the psychiatric service for children and young people in the area is to be reviewed by Southwark's joint community care planning group for children over the next six months.

  Discretionary Awards
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his response to the report on local education authorities' provision of discretionary awards published recently by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

  Mr. Boswell
  I welcome this report. It contains much useful information. It is a matter of regret that LEAs were not able to provide more. The overall position is by no means as gloomy as some had predicted but there are striking differences between LEAs' policies—differences which it is hard to justify on general educational grounds. I will want to give the report careful consideration before deciding what action may be necessary. I expect LEAs will also want to consider what needs to be done.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he will lay before Parliament the draft code of practice giving practical guidance in respect of the discharge by local education authorities and the governing bodies of maintained schools of their functions under part III of the Education Act 1993.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and for Wales are today laying before both Houses a draft code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs, as required under section 158 of the Education Act 1993.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I signed last week the Education (Special Educational Needs) Regulations 1994 and the Education (Special Educational Needs) (Information) Regulations 1994. These regulations are also being laid today. They have been made under powers provided by part III of the Education Act 1993 and underpin the draft code of practice.

  Subject to Parliament's approval of the draft code, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education intends to publish a booklet entitled "Special Educational Needs: A Guide for Parents". This will give parents a clear explanation of how they can secure help if they believe their child has special educational needs. Copies of a draft of the guide are being placed in the Libraries. A similar guide will be prepared for issue in Wales.

  My right hon. Friend is placing in the Libraries illustrative mock-ups of the proposed final design of the code of practice and the guide for parents. All the documents presented to Parliament today—the draft code of practice, the regulations and the draft guide for parents —are being made available to the Education Select Committee, the all-party disablement group and the all-party children group.

  Consultation Documents
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list all the documents currently issued for consultation in the last year.
  197
  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 31 March 1994]The information is as follows. The list includes only those documents that have gone out to a substantial number of recipients as part of a formal consultation exercise. It does not include consultation documents issued by non-departmental public bodies on matters which fall within their responsibility.

  Schools Organisation:

  Circular 6/93 (Admissions to Maintained Schools);

  leaflet—"Your Child's Next School—A Guide to Secondary Admissions";

  1994 version of Code of Practice on Appeals for grant-maintained schools;

  The Education (Lay Members of Appeal Committees) Regulations 1994;

  draft Circular letter on the implementation of Section 260 of the Education Act 1993.

  School Performance, Inspection:

  Education (Registered Inspectors of Schools Appeal Tribunal) Regulations;

  contents of prospectuses as set out in the Education (School Information) Regulations 1993;

  Circular 4/93 (The Parent's Charter: Publication of Information about Secondary School Performance in 1993);

  Circular 5/93 (The Parent's Charter: Publication of Information about Primary School Performance in 1993).

  Schools: Special Educational Needs

  draft Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs (including draft regulations on assessments and statements);

  SEN Tribunal (Consultation Paper on draft regulations and rules of procedure);

  'Pupils with Problems' (draft Circulars on 'pupil behaviour and discipline'; the education of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties; 'exclusions from school'; 'the education of children by LEAs otherwise than at school'; 'the education of sick children'; and 'the education of children being looked after by local authorities');

  draft Circular on the organisation of special educational provision (including draft regulations on schools' policies on special educational needs and on provisions by LEAs of special educational needs support services);

  draft Circular on the development of special schools (including draft regulations on LEA-maintained special schools, grant-maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools, and independent schools catering for children with special educational needs).

  Schools funding and government

  Circular 2/94—Local Management of Schools

  The Education (School Financial Statements) (Prescribed Particulars etc) Regulations 1994;

  The Education (Financial Delegation to Schools) (Mandatory Exceptions) Regulations 1994;

  The Education (Significant Variations of Schemes for Financing Schools) Order 1993;

  The Education (Publication of Schemes for Financing Schools) Regulations 1993;

  The Education (Application of Financing Schemes to Special Schools) Regulations 1993;

  The Education (Acquisition of Grant-maintained Status) (Transitional Functions) Regulations 1993;

  Circular 18/93—Education Act 1993: Grant-Maintained Schools: Acquisition, transfer and Governance (and associated regulations);

  Guidance to promoters on establishing new Self-Governing (Grant-maintained) Schools under section 49 of the Education Act 1993;

  The Education (School Government) (Amendment) Regulations 1993;

  The Education (Grant-maintained Schools) (Initial Governing Instruments) Regulations 1993;

  198

  The Education (Governors of New Grant-maintained Schools) Regulations 1994;

  consultation paper on arrangements for calculating annual maintenance grant for self-governing (grant-maintained) schools;

  two consultation papers on the development of a Common Funding Formula for funding self-governing (grant-maintained) schools;

  The Education (School Inspection) (No. 2) Regulations 1993;

  Circular 17/93: Schools Requiring Special Measures;

  The Education (Schools Conducted by Education Associations) Regulations 1993;

  The Education (Grant-maintained Schools) (Loans) Regulations 1993;

  The Education (Special Schools Conducted by Education Associations) 1994;

  The Education (Schools Conducted by Education Associations) (Initial Articles of Government) (Amendment) Regulations 1994.

  Schools—miscellaneous

  The Education Assets Board (Transfers under the Education Reform Act 1988) (Amendment) Regulations 1993;

  draft Circular: School Transport;

  draft Circular on local authority Education Committees;

  draft guidance on Safety in Outdoor Education;

  draft Circular: the Use of School Premises and the Incorporation of Governing Bodies of LEA-maintained schools;

  draft Circular: Proceeds of Sale of Assets Taken into Account when Building Grant is paid to Voluntary-aided and Special Agreement Schools;

  two draft Circulars on sex education;

  School Attendance (Policy and Practice on the Categorisation of Absence);

  draft regulations on money following the permanently excluded pupil;

  draft regulations and Order on imposing time limits on exclusions procedures;

  draft regulations on Pupil Referral Units.

  Teachers and Teacher Training:

  The Government's Proposals for the Reform of Initial Teacher Training;

  draft Circular: The Initial Training of Primary School Teachers;

  Education (School Teachers' Pay and Conditions) (No. 2)

  Order, with School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document 1993 and draft Circular on School teachers' Pay and Conditions of Employment;

  Education (Teachers) (Amendment) Regulations;

  Education (School Teachers' Pay and Conditions) Order 1994;

  Science and Maths: a consultation paper on the supply and demand of newly qualified young people;

  draft Circular: the physical and mental fitness to teach of teachers and entrants to initial teacher training.

  Further Education

  consultation document on arrangements for publication by colleges of information about students' achievements and career routes;

  draft Charter for Further Education.

  Higher Education

  draft Charter for Higher Education;

  Proposals for the reform of student unions:

  Consultation Note 1: Core Services

  Consultation Note 2: Code of Practice for Campus Student Unions.

  European Union

  EC Commission Green Paper on the European Dimension of Education.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Angola
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current position with regard to the supply of humanitarian aid to Angola; which British-based relief organisations are working there; and if they are able to continue their work with reasonable security.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have now allocated almost £20 million of humanitarian aid to Angola since the United Nations international appeal in June 1993. This includes our share of comparable EC aid. Several British based non-governmental organisations—NGOs—including Save the Children Fund, CARE, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Concern and OXFAM are active in Angola and doing a very good job. We are providing £2 million of our assistance through NGOs. In spite of continued fighting in some parts of Angola, the NGOs are expanding their operations in relative safety. We are monitoring the situation closely.

  Somalia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he proposes to appoint a non-governmental organisations co-ordinator in Somaliland.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The ODA's non-governmental organisations liaison and support officer was appointed on 28 March. He is currently in Addis Ababa undertaking a briefing programme prior to moving to Hargeisa.

  Table 1

  Deaths from definite and probable CJD 1989 to 1993 (England and Wales)

  Region

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Total

  North East Thames

  2

  3

  2

  2

  —

  9

  North West Thames

  2

  —

  2

  3

  2

  9

  South East Thames

  4

  2

  2

  1

  —

  9

  South West Thames

  1

  2

  2

  1

  1

  7

  North Western

  2

  1

  3

  6

  3

  15

  Mersey

  4

  —

  —

  4

  —

  8

  South Western

  1

  2

  1

  4

  4

  12

  Northern

  1

  1

  1

  5

  2

  10

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  3

  4

  1

  10

  Yorkshire

  1

  3

  3

  1

  1

  9

  Trent

  2

  2

  1

  2

  2

  9

  Oxford

  1

  3

  4

  —

  3

  11

  East Anglian

  —

  2

  —

  3

  1

  6

  Wessex

  1

  —

  2

  2

  3

  8

  Wales

  1

  2

  2

  5

  2

  11

  Special Has

  —

  2

  3

  1

  1

  7

  Total

  24

  26

  31

  44

  26

  151

  Table 2

  Notification of definite and probable CJD May 1990 to 1993 (England and Wales)

  19901

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Totals

  Notified before death

  1-10 days

  5

  11

  4

  6

  11-20 days

  1

  3

  11

  3

  21 days

  3

  4

  14

  7

  Total

  9

  18

  29

  16

  72

  Notified after death

  6

  13

  15

  10

  44

HEALTH

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list by regional health authority how many people have died each year from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in each of the past five years;

  (2) if she will list by regional health authority the dates and locations of each death from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease over the past five years, and the respective date on which her Department's Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease surveillance units were first notified of each suspected case; and if she will set out the reasons for notification not being provided earlier in those cases where notification had not been given before death.

  Mr. Sackville
  Table 1 shows deaths from definite and probable Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease—CJD—in England and Wales from 1989 to 1993 by regional health authority. This includes sporadic, familial and iatrogenic CJD, but excludes the small number of cases of Gerstmann-Straussler syndrome.

  Dates and locations of death have not been given. CJD is a very rare disease, and this information could make it possible to identify individual patients.

  Reporting of CJD cases before death started in May 1990 when the CJD unit was established. Figures are given in table 2. The unit does not collect information about why some cases are reported after death.
  201

  19901

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Totals

  Total number of cases

  15

  31

  44

  26

  116

  1May to December.

  NHS Nursing Staff
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the numbers of unqualified NHS nursing staff joining the NHS in each year since 1990, who were(a) joining directly after completing full-time education, (b) aged under 21 years, (c) joining from other NHS units, (d) joining from other care sector employment, (e) joining from other employment, (f) joining from non-activity in the labour market and (g) joining from unemployment.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 21 June 1993 at columns 29-31 for the latest available information.

  1990

  1991

  1992

  31993

  a. Newly qualified student nurses with employed status

  Numbers

  n/a

  n/a

  11,610

  15,480

  WTE

  n/a

  n/a

  16,260

  15,690

  b. Newly qualified project 2000 students

  Numbers

  n/a

  n/a

  1—

  1—

  WTE

  n/a

  n/a

  1—

  1—

  c. Registered nurses entering the NHS after a period of unemployment

  Numbers

  n/a

  n/a

  2,050

  1,490

  WTE

  n/a

  n/a

  1,530

  1,220

  d. Joined NHS units directly after being employed by another NHS Unit

  Numbers

  21,600

  18,490

  2—

  2—

  WTE

  n/a

  n/a

  2—

  2—

  e. Joined NHS units directly after being employed in nursing

  Numbers

  6,790

  5,350

  n/a

  n/a

  WTE

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  1It is not possible to separately identify newly qualified staff previously with employed status from those who had been Project 2000 students.

  2It is not possible to identify these staff due to definitional problems regarding transfers. Figures appear inflated due to the recording (in some regions) of movements within the regions.

  3Where provided numbers for 1993 are based on returns from 11 regions whole time equivalents are based on returns from 12.

  Figures for 1992 are based on returns from 12 regions.

  Medical Negligence Claims
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the value of medical negligence claims involving national health service bodies for each year since 1990 in each medical specialty.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally.

  Invalidity Benefit Tribunals
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has given to family health service authorities or advice to general practitioners(a) who are requested to produce reports for invalidity benefit tribunals and (b) regarding charging patients for medical reports to be submitted to invalidity benefit tribunals.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Midwives
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the numbers of qualified or midwifery staff joining the NHS in each year since 1990, who(a) were newly qualifying student nurses with employed status, (b) were newly qualifying Project 2000 students, (c) were registered nurses entering the NHS after a period of non-employment, (d) joined NHS units directly after being employed by another NHS unit and (e) joined NHS units directly after being employed in other nursing, such as general practitioner nursing, nursing homes and independent hospitals etc.

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

  Special Hospitals
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement regarding the management of the special hospitals at Rampton and Broadmoor.

  Mr. Bowis
  The special hospitals are each managed by a hospital management team, headed by a general manager. The general managers report to the Special Hospitals Service Authority, which is accountable to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

  Leeds General Infirmary
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were on the waiting list at the Leeds general infirmary on 1 March 1992, 1993 and 1994.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information on waiting lists for in-patient and day case treatment by national health service trust is given in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England", copies of which are available in the Library. It is published twice yearly with figures for March and
  203
  September. Figures for March 1994 have not yet been published. Information on waiting times to first out-patient appointment is not yet collected.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many complaints were made by patients in relation to the treatment and care received at the Leeds general infirmary in 1991, 1992 and 1993;

  (2) what was the total number of cancelled operations in the Leeds general infirmary since March 1993.

  Mr. Sackville
  These are matters for the United Leeds Teaching Hospitals national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Tony Clegg, chairman of the trust, for details.

  Ambulance Response Times
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the proportion of ambulance calls to which a response time of(a) 19 minutes and (b) eight minutes has been achieved in each ambulance service area, for each of the last five years, giving the proportion for previous constituent areas where appropriate.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested may be found in the Library in the booklets of summary information on patient transport services published by the Department of Health statistics division.

  Child Migrants
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of placing and maintaining British child migrants during each year between 1964 and 1967.

  Mr. Bowis
  The information required was not collected centrally.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation she has made of the adequacy of current grant aid to the Child Migrants Trust.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Child Migrants Trust applied to the Department for a core grant in October 1993. An official subsequently visited the trust and evaluated their finances. The Department has recently awarded a grant of £30,000 per year for the next three financial years 1994–95 to 1996–97.

  Nursing Homes (Fees)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the relatives of nursing home residents may reclaim fees paid in advance if the resident dies; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  The ability to reclaim fees will depend on the terms of the contract for the provision of nursing home care. This is a matter for negotiation between the home owner and whoever pays for the resident's care. It is not for the Government to specify the terms for payment of fees.

  National Health Service Management Executive (Regional Outposts)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the dates and locations for the first board meetings of each of the eight regional outposts of the national health service management executive; and if the meetings will be held in public.
  204
  Dr. Mawhinney
  The regional offices of the national health service executive do not have boards.

  Redundancy Payments
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each year since 1990 the expenditure on gross redundancy payments for each health authority and national health service trust in England.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]Figures for redundancy payments for trusts are available only for 1991–92 and 1992–93. The information is shown in tables that will be placed in the Library. It should be noted that the figures for 1992–93 are only provisional and have not yet been validated. They are, therefore, not wholly reliable.

  The closure of psychiatric hospitals in connection with the "Care in the Community" programme and management restructuring throughout the national health service, as a result of the national health service reforms, are the main reasons for the increase in redundancy payments. This has delivered valuable savings and led to greater efficiency in the NHS, resulting in greater numbers of in-patient admissions.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Occupied Territories
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what were the major conclusions of the Palestinian-Israeli talks held in Cairo last week; and what British contribution is planned as a result;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the agreement between the PLO and Israeli Government about the deployment of a Palestinian police force in the occupied territories; what provision was made for the deployment of an observer team; what is its mandate; what is its national make-up; and what British offers of assistance were made.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to his written questions on this subject on 12 April,Official Report, columns 14–16.

  Iran (Dissidents)
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has made to the recent parliamentary human rights group reprt on alleged involvement by Iranian Government officials in the assassination of Iranian dissidents overseas; and what steps he is taking to raise the matter at the United Nations Security Council.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have written to the chairman of the parliamentary human rights group, Lord Avebury. We and our European partners drafted and co-sponsored a resolution at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, adopted on 9 March 1994, expressing concern at continuing reports of Iranian involvement in terrorism. The resolution urged the Government of Iran to"refrain from activities such as those mentioned in the report of the Special Representative against members of the Iranian opposition living abroad and to cooperate wholeheartedly with the authorities of other countries in investigating and punishing offences reported by them".

  Burundi
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on developments in respect of the Organisation of African Unity proposal to send a peace-keeping force to Burundi.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The first elements of the OAU observer mission have arrived in Burundi. On 6 April east African Heads of State and the Organisation of African Unity Secretary-General met in Dar es Salaam. They reaffirmed the vital role of the OAU in restoring confidence in Burundi and called for the strengthening of its engagement. We very much hope that despite the tragic death of President Ntaryamira the process of national reconciliation will continue.

  Angola
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the current position in the peace talks in Angola.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The peace talks in Lusaka have been stalled for the last month over the issue of UNITA's participation in Government. However, we understand that the gap between the two parties is narrow. The United Nations Secretary-General has urged both the Government and UNITA to show the flexibility needed finally to reach a comprehensive settlement.

  Iraq
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to urge for a review of the sanctions on Iraq and their effects on the civilian population of Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Sanctions are reviewed every 60 days by the Security Council. At the latest—the 18th—sanctions review on 18 March, the Security Council concluded that there were no grounds for lifting sanctions.

  Our quarrel is with the regime, not the long-suffering Iraqi people. Responsibility for the hardship of the civilian population lies with Saddam Hussein.

  Macedonia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the EU intends to take to counteract the Greek blockade of Macedonia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The European Commission announced on 6 April that it would institute infraction proceedings against Greece in the European Court of Justice on 13 April if by that date Greece had not revoked its decision to deny the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia access to the port of Salonika. We support this decision.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have recently been taken to improve the resources open to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
  206
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which had its annual session from January to March 1994, is adequately funded from within the UN regular budget.

  Sudan
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek assurances from the Sudan Government that the Nuba mountains area will now be accessible to international non-governmental organisations following the IGADD—Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development—meeting in Nairobi on 17 March.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The sub-committee established at the recent IGADD talks to implement the declaration of principles allowing free access of relief supplies and humanitarian assistance began work on 6 April. Representatives from the UN-sponsored Operation Life-Line are expected to participate. We shall be closely monitoring the committee's progress in advance of the next high-level IGADD talks in mid-May.

  North Korea
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if North Korea has yet agreed to International Atomic Energy Agency inspections of all seven nuclear facilities in the country.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 15 February, North Korea agreed to the IAEA's requirements for inspection at each of its seven declared nuclear facilities. However, on 21 March, the IAEA director general stated that the inspections, carried out between 3 and 14 March, had not permitted the agency to conclude that nuclear material had not been diverted for military use in North Korea since February 1993. Agency inspectors had not been allowed to carry out previously agreed inspection activities at one of the facilities. On 31 March, the president of the UN Security Council issued a statement calling on North Korea to comply fully with its safeguards agreement.

  Mercenaries
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) of 28 January, Official Report, column 468, on the possible recruitment of United Kingdom mercenaries by the Azeri Government, when he expects his investigations to be completed; and what further information he has received.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Officials have found no evidence to support the allegations of recruitment of United Kingdom mercenaries by the Azerbaijani Government. Any further information from hon. Members will be carefully considered and any evidence of illegal activity referred to the prosecuting authorities.

SCOTLAND

  Rent Review Service
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for how many private sector tenancies regulated under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 a fair rent has been set by the rent review service at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lang
  Fair rents for regulated tenancies are registered by the rent registration service under the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984. Fair rent registrations recorded on the rent register can date back to the 1960s and a high proportion will relate to dwellings which are no longer regulated tenancies, since changes in status are not reported to the rent registration service. As fair rents apply for a minimum of three years, unless there is a significant change of circumstances, the total number of fair rents registered during the last three years provides an approximate guide to the current number of regulated tenancies. The figures are as follows:

  Number

  1991

  15,554

  1992

  12,411

  1993

  12,163

  Education
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration has been given to re-organising the arrangements for assessment and certification of(a) vocational and (b) non-vocational education in Scottish schools.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The policy document "Higher Still: Opportunity for All" sets out plans to draw together Scottish Examination Board—SEB—and Scottish Vocational Education Council—SCOTVEC—courses into a single curriculum and assessment framework. There will be a mixture of internal and external assessment. All passes will be presented on a single certificate.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered instituting a points system to enable comparison between standard grades, highers, advanced highers and national certificate modules.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Our policy document "Higher Still: Opportunity for All" stated that we propose to consult those who use qualifications and awards about a possible points system to make clearer the compatibility and equivalences within the new system.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration has been given to merging the Scottish Vocational Education Council and the Scottish Examination Board; and what representations he has received from Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and other interested bodies on this matter.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Our policy statement "Higher Still: Opportunity for All" stated that we will be examining options for the best relationship between SCOTVEC and SEB for the administration of the new awards. During consultation on the Howie committee 208
  report on upper secondary curriculum and awards 73 respondents, including COSLA, commented on this matter.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which body will be responsible for assessing and issuing achievement certificates for the new highers, advanced highers and national certificate modules.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Arrangements for administering the new awards will be developed by the Scottish Office Education Department, SCOTVEC and SEB as part of the development programme for implementing the decisions announced in "Higher Still: Opportunity for All".

  Examinations
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration has been given to changing the time of year at which pupils in the upper secondary school sit examinations.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are no plans to change the time of year at which pupils in the upper secondary school sit examinations.

  Seal Cull
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to institute a seal cull; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to authorise a seal cull.

  Highlands and Islands Veterinary Service
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes he now intends to make to the Highlands and Islands veterinary services schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 31 March 1994]We are still considering what changes should be made to this scheme. Officials from my department hope to meet representatives of the British Veterinary Association soon to take matters forward.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the British Veterinary Association has yet responded to any consultation guidelines regarding the Highland and Islands veterinary services schemes.

  Mr. Lang
  The British Veterinary Association was one of the bodies which responded to our consultation exercise in 1991. We have since had further correspondence with the BVA.

  Special Conservation Areas
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the implications for existing economic and recreational activities of an area which is accorded special area of conservation status.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The implications for existing economic and recreational activities in an area designated as a special area of conservation will vary according to the conservation interest for which the site is designated and the nature and extent of the existing activities.
  209
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the Scottish Office will be taking to obtain local views on economic and social factors which might moderate the list of possible special areas of conservation prior to the list being issued for public consultation.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Government believe that when a list of candidate special areas of conservation has been drawn up, the owners and occupiers of those sites should be the first to be informed. In drawing up their proposals the Government will take account of available information on economic and social factors, including relevant local authority structure and local plans. Moreover, the Scottish Office would be interested in any advice which local authorities and other organisations might care to give about areas which they consider suitable or unsuitable for proposal as special areas of conservation.

  Skye Bridge
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on progress towards construction of the Skye bridge, with particular reference to reported difficulties encountered in respect of concrete poured atop the north pier; and if he will estimate what financial implications this will have for the project as a whole.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The particularly bad weather conditions experienced over the winter months have caused the construction of the main bridge to be not as well advanced as other parts of the scheme. The difficulty with the concrete at the top of the north pier has not been an obstacle to progress. The contractor is currently reviewing his programme and, given good weather conditions coupled with an improvement in output, anticipates completion of the bridge in autumn 1995. The financial implications associated with the construction contract lie with the contractor and the developer: there are no implications either for the level or the duration of the tolls, which remain as published in the made toll order.

  Lumpy Skin Disease
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of lumpy skin disease occurred in each year since 1985.

  Sir Hector Monro
  There have been no recorded cases of lumpy skin disease in Scotland.

  Ordnance Survey
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to his Department of the merging of the boundaries of local authorities proposed in the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill by the Ordnance Survey; and how much of this expenditure was attributable to the boundaries of the proposed East Renfrewshire authority.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]Final costs to the Department in respect of the use of Ordnance Survey services are not yet known since work on boundaries is continuing in response to commitments given to the Standing Committee considering the Local 210
  Government etc. (Scotland) Bill. The cost in relation to the mereing of the boundary of the proposed East Renfrewshire authority, prior to the introduction of the Bill, was £253.

  Tourist Boards
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library all submissions made to him concerning the reorganisation of area tourist boards in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]I have arranged for a copy of the submission which I commissioned from the Scottish tourist board to be placed in the Library. All other submissions were unsolicited and are not therefore covered by the understanding about publication applied to responses to formal consultation exercises.

  Local Enterprise Companies
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether a local enterprise company has absolute discretion, subject to Government guidelines as to who is on its management board.

  Mr. Stewart
  Government guidelines require that two thirds of a local enterprise company's directors, including the chairman, are drawn from senior members of the private sector and that all directors should either live or work in the local area. Subject to these requirements, and any others laid down in the company's articles of association, the selection of board members is at the discretion of the company's members.

  Scottish Enterprise
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Scottish Enterprise about skill shortages in the Scottish economy; and what he proposes to do about them.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has received no representations from Scottish Enterprise about skill shortages in the Scottish economy. It is an objective of Scottish Enterprise to improve the performance of new and existing businesses by increasing their commitment to plan and invest in training and development to meet business needs. Scottish Enterprise is also responsible for funding and co-ordinating the provision of training for young people and unemployed adults through local enterprise companies to meet the needs of the local labour markets.

  Students
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the numbers of full-time students in higher education institutions who are(a) home based, (b) living away from their parents' home and studying in London or (c) living away from their parents' home and studying elsewhere.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]For 1992–93, the number of undergraduate students receiving awards from the then awards division of the Scottish Office Education Department, now Student Awards Agency for Scotland, was(a) 30,553, (b) 809 and (c) 54,897.

  Home Helps
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what levels of charges are imposed by local authorities on persons not in receipt of income-related benefits for home helps.

  Mr. Stewart
  Local authorities have discretionary powers under section 87(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, as amended, to charge such an amount as they consider reasonable for adult non-residential care services, including domiciliary—home help—services, taking

  Number and percentage of three and four year olds attending nursery schools

  Education authority nursery schools and departments:

  Private nursery schools1

  Nursery departments of independent schools

  Number attending at September 1993

  Percentage of population2

  Number attending at March 1993

  Percentage of population2

  Strathclyde

  19,304

  32·3

  1,816

  2·6

  Scotland

  48,132

  36·9

  3,677

  2·5

  1Registered with local authority social work departments.

  2Provisional: based on the mid-1992 population estimates from the General Register Office (Scotland).

  Educational Support Services
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which education authorities offer educational support services for children suffering from autism; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Education authorities have a duty to provide for the special educational needs of children belonging to their area and they fulfil this responsibility through appropriate learning support.

  Centrally held records do not identify specifically the number of children suffering from autism or autistic tendencies, but it is likely that all education authorities in Scotland will have autistic children belonging to their area for whom they make educational provision.

  Housing Stock
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sum is required to bring the council housing stock in(a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole up to satisfactory habitable standards; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not held centrally. It is up to individual local authorities to undertake local house condition surveys of their stock to assess the state of their council housing and to decide how best to deploy the substantial resources available to them to improve the standard of their housing. I have asked all local authorities to give priority to tackling below tolerable standard housing and dampness and condensation in preparing their housing plans and capital programmes.

  Information on the general state of repair of public sector housing stock is quoted in the report of the 1991 Scottish house condition survey which is available in the Library.
  212
  account of individual financial circumstances. This applies irrespective of whether the client is in receipt of income-related benefits or not.

  Nursery Education
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many three-year olds and four-year olds are receiving nursery education in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole; and what percentage these represent of the total number of children of this age group in both Strathclyde and Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The latest available information is shown in the table.

  Mineral Workings
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet set a date for publication of the national planning policy guideline on land for mineral working; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I have today published the national planning policy guideline—NPPG—on land for mineral working. Copies are available in the Library.

  This is the first comprehensive planning policy statement on the working of minerals in Scotland. It seeks to promote economic activity without compromising Scotland's important environmental assets. In so doing, it introduces a general presumption in favour of properly assessed and controlled mineral extraction, cautions against such activity in particularly sensitive locations, and requires high standards of environmental care. It also commends a greater reliance on renewable and recycled materials, in line with our undertakings in the recently published "UK Sustainable Development Strategy", Cm. 2426.

  In addition, the NPPG provides explicit guidance on coastal superquarries. I have concluded that such developments have a potentially important contribution to make to the economy at both national and local level, but that their scale and potential impact require them to be controlled carefully. Based on previous research and a preference for a dispersed geographical pattern, I have therefore stipulated preferred search areas on the north coast of Highland region, in the Shetland isles and in the Western isles. In the first instance, I have also chosen to limit numbers, allowing for no more than four such developments, including the existing superquarry at Glensanda, over the 15-year period to 2009. Proposals will be notified to me accordingly.

  This will be subject to review in the normal manner. In the meantime, I believe it represents a realistic strategy that will allow a sensible balance to be struck between social and economic benefits on the one hand and environmental care on the other.

WALES

  Sheep Annual Premium
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by what date he expects all applications for sheep annual premium for this year in Wales to have been paid out; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Payments of the final instalment to 1993 claimants should begin within the next month or so, and be completed by June, except in those cases which are held up by queries or quota problems.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received within the last six months on the subject of the payment of sheep annual premium; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Between 1 October 1993 and 31 March 1994 I received about 100 representations. At 31 March some 90 per cent. of all valid claims had been paid.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the annual sums of money committed since the inception of the European regional development fund to each recipient local authority and the annual amounts paid to each from the fund.

  Mr. Redwood
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 29 March,Official Report, column 625, how many members of the public have written to him to (a) support and (b) oppose the inclusion of Pentyrch in the proposed new unitary authority of Cardiff; and if he will list their wards of residence.

  Mr. Redwood
  Since the publication of the White Paper "Local Government in Wales: A Charter for the Future" I have not received any representations from members of the public about the inclusion of Pentyrch in the proposed Cardiff unitary authority.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 29 March,Official Report, column 625 if he will list all the specific representations he has received in favour of the inclusion of Llanelly in the proposed new unitary authority of Powys, with the date on which each one was made.

  Mr. Redwood
  Since publication of the Local Government (Wales) Bill, I have received one representation from the chairman of Powys county council, in February 1994, supporting the inclusion of Llanelly in the proposed Powys unitary authority.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those specific representations that have been made to him opposing the inclusion of Wick, St. Brides Major and Ewenny in the proposed new unitary authority of Vale of Glamorgan, giving the date on which each representation was made.

  Mr. Redwood
  Since publication of the White Paper, "Local Government in Wales: A Charter for the Future",214
  I have received representations opposing the inclusion of Wick, St. Bride's Major and Ewenny in the proposed Vale of Glamorgan unitary authority from:

  Win Griffiths MP

  Ogwr borough council

  St. Bride's Major town council

  Ewenny community council

  Wick community council

  and 176 members of the public

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the specific representations he has had opposing the inclusion of Pentyrch in the proposed new unitary authority of Cardiff; and when each representation was made.

  Mr. Redwood
  Since publication of the White Paper, "Local Government in Wales: A Charter for the Future", I received one representation from Taff Ely borough council dated 6 April 1993 in opposition to the inclusion of Pentyrch in the proposed Cardiff unitary authority.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 27 January,Official Report, columns 322-23, if he will list the date of each specific representation that he has received favouring the inclusion of Wick, St. Brides Major and Ewenny in the proposed new unitary authority of Vale of Glamorgan.

  Mr. Redwood
  Since publication of the White Paper, "Local Government in Wales: A Charter for the Future", I have received representations from 13 organisations and individuals in support of the inclusion of Wick, St. Bride's Major and Ewenny in the proposed Vale of Glamorgan unitary authority dated as follows:Dates of representations expressing support for the inclusion of Wick, St. Bride's Major and Ewenny in the proposed Vale of Glamorgan unitary authority:

  7 March 1993

  9 March 1993

  11 March 1993

  21 March 1993

  23 March 1993

  29 March 1993

  31 March 1993

  20 May 1993

  10 June 1993

  7 July 1993

  12 July 1993

  18 July 1993

  26 January 1994

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 29 March,Official Report, column 625, if he will list all the specific representations that he has received in favour of the inclusion of Pentyrch in the proposed new unitary authority of Cardiff; and when each one was made.

  Mr. Redwood
  Since the publication of the White Paper, "Local Government in Wales: A Charter for the Future", I have received one letter, dated 26 January 1994, from the Leaders of Cardiff city council and Vale of Glamorgan borough council stating that they support"the proposals as outlined in the Bill".

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the specific representations he has received opposing the inclusion of Llanelly in the proposed new unitary authority of Powys; and when each representation was made.
  215
  Mr. Redwood
  Since publication of the Local Government (Wales) Bill, I have received the following specific representations opposing the inclusion of Llanelly in the proposed Powys unitary authority:

  Cllr. Bernard Assinder, leader of Blaenau Gwent borough council - December 1993

  Cllr. Bernard Assinder, leader of Blaenau Gwent borough council - January 1994

  Cllr. Bernard Assinder, leader of Blaenau Gwent borough council - March 1994

  Cllr. Bernard Assinder, leader of Blaenau Gwent borough council - March 1994

  Cllr. Bernard Assinder, leader of Blaenau Gwent borough council - April 1994

  Llanelly community council - December 1993

  Monmouth Conservative Association - March 1994

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 29 March,Official Report, column 625, if he will cite the precise reference and form of words in the representation he has received from Cardiff city council which indicates the authority favouring the inclusion of Pentyrch in the proposed new unitary authority of Cardiff.

  Mr. Redwood
  In a joint letter to me dated 26 January 1994, the Leaders of Cardiff city council and Vale of Glamorgan borough council said"We would, therefore, wish to re-affirm our support for the proposals as outlined in the Bill. The proposed new unitary authorities present by far the best solution for the people of our areas, best for the people of the wider region and best for the local government in Wales."

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  "A History of Salford Mining"
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to Lancashire artists, "A History of Salford Mining", to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 11 July to Friday 15 July.

  Ministerial Memoirs
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when the provision of compensation for Ministers who resign from office or are dismissed commenced; what factors occasioned it; how often it has been refused by any ex-Minister since 1979; and what representations he has received arguing that ex-Ministers should not publish memoirs of their time in office for a given period after leaving office.

  Mr. Newton
  Severance payments were introduced for Ministers in the House of Lords by section 13 of Parliamentary Pensions Act 1984, and extended to those in the House of Commons by the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991. These payments were introduced following recommendations by the Top Salaries Review Body; Reports No. 20, Cmnd 8881 of May 1983, and No. 26, Cm 362 of May 1988 respectively. They compensate for the abrupt loss of earnings which Ministers face immediately on leaving office. I am not 216
  aware of a severance payment ever having been refused. I have received no representations proposing a moratorium on the memoirs of ex-Ministers.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many statutory instruments were(a) made by Ministers and (b) approved by Parliament in (i) 1992 and (ii) 1993.

  Mr. Newton
  In 1992, there were a total of 3,359 statutory instruments made by Ministers; of these, 127 were laid before the House and approved. In 1993, the figures were 3,279 and 172 respectively.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Management Systems
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how much his Department's computer-aided facilities management systems cost; from whom they were purchased; how many person hours were required to commission them; what the estimated and actual saving has been from their operation; and to what extent the use of such systems accounts for the apparent rise in theft noted in his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) of 16 February,Official Report, column 774.

  Mr. Newton
  The Privy Council Office has no computer-aided facilities management systems.

  As to theft, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) on 16 February, which records that no equipment has been stolen from the Privy Council Office in the last three years.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many letters were received from, and written to, hon. Members by him in February.

  Mr. Newton
  I received 23 letters from hon. Members in February and wrote to 16.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioner Households
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's estimate of the number of households comprising individuals of pensionable age(a) living alone and (b) living with another individual or individuals also of pensionable age.

  Mr Hague
  In 1990–91—the latest year for which information is available—an estimated 3·34 million persons over pension age lived in households alone and 2·12 million households comprised persons over pension age living with one or more others over pension age.

  These estimates derive from the 1990–91 family expenditure survey.

  Consultants
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information technology consultants his Department has employed, for what purpose and at what total cost for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Hague
  The Department has employed IT consultants and contractors over the past five years to assist the permanent civil service IT specialists to provide IT services to the DSS group, Northern Ireland Social Security Agency, the Employment Service and Department of Health. All aspects of IT are covered including business analysis, development, implementation and service delivery.

  Details of these services, including expenditure for IT consultants and contractors, are in the table.

  Year

  Number of consultants

  Number of contractors

  Cost

  £

  1988–89

  1—

  1—

  47,730,354

  1989–90

  493

  131

  40,907,144

  1990–91

  553

  293

  78,094,010

  1991–92

  541

  245

  65,922,056

  1992–93

  334

  552

  92,179,112

  1Not available.

  Carers
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the proportion of the total social security budget which will be spent on the invalid care allowance and the carer premium in 1993–94.

  Mr. Scott
  Invalid care allowance represents 0·53 per cent. of the total social security budget, excluding administration costs, for 1993–94.

  Carer premium is not a benefit in its own right, but is a factor in the calculation of the income-related benefits—income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit. Reliable data on expenditure on carer premium alone are not available for 1993–94.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of national average earnings the current level of invalid care allowance represents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  In April 1993, the latest date for which figures are available, invalid care allowance represented 10·6 per cent. of national average earnings.

  It provides a measure of income maintenance and is not intended to be a wage for carers.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current annual cost of benefits for carers.

  Mr. Scott
  It is not possible to estimate the full cost of benefits which a carer may receive. Planned expenditure on invalid care allowance, which is specifically intended for carers, is £510 million for 1994–95.

  Source: Departmental Report 1994.

  War Pensions Agency
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for the launch of a War Pensions Agency.
  218
  Mr. Hague
  The War Pensions Agency has been formally launched today. The agency has developed a charter standard statement and a framework document which are both published today. I have arranged for these papers to be placed in the Library.

  Income Support
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates he has made of the effect of the removal of child benefit and additional income support from a full-time student on his or her 19th birthday.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Preston (Mrs. Wise) on 15 March, at columns 628–29.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cold weather payments have been made in(a) Doncaster, (b) Barnsley, (c) Rotherham and (d) Sheffield since October 1993.

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

  Letter from Tony Laurance to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 12 April 1994:
  As Michael Bichard is on sick leave at the moment, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many cold weather payments have been made in Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield since October 1993.
  The information you require is detailed in the table below.

  Benefits Agency district

  Number of cold weather payments made in the period 1 October 1993 to 30 March 1994

  Barnsley

  11,617

  Doncaster

  14,602

  Rother and Dearne Valley

  19,978

  Sheffield East

  20,270

  Sheffield West

  18,338

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many invalidity benefit awards for people in the Doncaster district of the Benefits Agency have been(a) reviewed, (b) disallowed and (c) reinstated on appeal in each of the last 12 months.

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

  Letter from Tony Laurance to Mr. Kevin Hughes, dated 12 April 1994:
  As Michael Bichard is on sick leave at the moment, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about Invalidity Benefit (IVB) awards in Doncaster District.

  219
  The information is not available in the exact format requested. However, I have provided such information as is available in appendix 1.
  The information provided, with regard to IVB awards disallowed, represents only those disallowed on review and does not include those disallowed at the start of the claim. To obtain those figures would incur disproportionate cost.
  The statistics provided are taken from clerical records maintained in the Doncaster District offices.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Appendix 1

  Month

  IVB awards reviewed

  IVB awards disallowed

  IVB awards reinstated on appeal

  March 1993

  82

  78

  Nil

  April 1993

  88

  82

  Nil

  May 1993

  81

  79

  1

  June 1993

  115

  106

  2

  July 1993

  90

  78

  1

  August 1993

  84

  78

  3

  September 1993

  79

  75

  5

  October 1993

  78

  75

  4

  November 1993

  68

  67

  10

  December 1993

  47

  46

  5

  January 1994

  76

  73

  22

  February 1994

  90

  84

  15

  March 1994

  140

  130

  24

  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications there have been for invalidity benefit in the last 12 months in the Doncaster district of the Benefits Agency.

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

  Letter from Tony Laurance to Mr. Kevin Hughes, dated 12 April 1994:
  As Michael Bichard is on sick leave at the moment, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about applications for Invalidity Benefit in Doncaster.
  The information is not available in the format requested. This is because, although Benefits Agency Districts record overall claims to incapacity benefits, claims to Sickness Benefit (SB) and Invalidity Benefit (IVB) are not recorded separately. Separate figures for SB and IVB could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  Statistics are maintained however, to provide information regarding the total numbers of applications for SB/IVB received in each Benefits Agency District.
  Between 1 March 1993 and 28 February 1994 there were 8,508 such applications received in the Doncaster District.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what number of people in the Doncaster district have been in receipt of invalidity benefit in each month over the last two years.

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

  Letter from Tony Laurance to Mr. Kevin Hughes, dated 12 April 1994:
  As Michael Bichard is on sick leave at the moment, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about Invalidity Benefit recipients in Doncaster.
  220
  I have provided the information you requested at appendix 1. The figures will include a small number of people who have claimed but are not receiving Invalidity Benefit because they are in receipt of a higher overlapping benefit.
  The statistics provided were obtained from a clerical count of cases within the Benefits Agency offices of the Doncaster District.

  Doncaster district invalidity benefit recipients

  Number

  March 1992

  13,973

  April 1992

  11,662

  May 1992

  11,933

  June 1992

  12,054

  July 1992

  11,941

  August 1992

  12,083

  September 1992

  13,307

  October 1992

  12,576

  November 1992

  12,935

  December 1992

  12,682

  January 1993

  12,694

  February 1993

  12,788

  March 1993

  13,091

  April 1993

  12,953

  May 1993

  13,026

  June 1993

  13,666

  July 1993

  13,729

  August 1993

  13,857

  September 1993

  14,177

  October 1993

  14,370

  November 1993

  13,966

  December 1993

  14,666

  January 1994

  14,728

  February 1994

  14,690

  War Pensioners (Deafness)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what representations he has received regarding audiological hearing tests for war pensioners in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what changes have been made in the method of dealing with war pensioners' deafness claims in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  This is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the War Pensions Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Peter L. Pike, dated 12 April 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about War Pensions claims for deafness.
  Claims for a War Pension in respect of deafness caused or made worse by service invariably require an audiometric test to be carried out to establish the extent of any hearing loss.
  To improve the service provided to those making such claims, the procedure of audiometric testing was changed in June 1993.
  At that time a contract was signed by General Healthcare Group PLC (trading as BMI Healthcare (Audiology Services)) to provide audiometric tests. BMI began arranging some tests from July 1993 and assumed responsibility for all such tests from August 1993.
  Throughout this change all those involved previously in providing tests were kept informed. There was also an exchange of correspondence which dealt with representations made by the two main recognised professional bodies in this field—British Association of Audiological Technicians Ltd and the British Association of Audiological Scientists.
  I hope you find my reply helpful.

  Bronchitis and Emphysema
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims have been submitted in the Seaham and Peterlee areas for assessment of chronic bronchitis and emphysema; how many have been successful; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from Tony Laurance to Mr. John Cummings, dated 12 April 1994:
  As Michael Bichard is on sick leave at the moment, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about the number of claims submitted in the Seaham and Peterlee areas for assessment of chronic bronchitis and emphysema and how many have been successful.
  Firstly, I would like to explain that there are two stages to the take on of claims for prescribed disease D12 (known as chronic bronchitis and emphysema), for which industrial injuries disablement benefit has been available since 13 September 1993 for people who have worked for at least 20 years underground in a coal mine.
  Stage 1 was restricted to claims from people who were aged 70 or over on 13 September 1993 or had an award of higher rate Disability Living Allowance care component or higher rate Attendance Allowance. Stage 1 ended on 28 February 1994; stage 2 commenced from 1 March and is open to anybody to claim. All claims are considered for payment from 13 September 1993.
  The information is not available in the format requested. This is because statistics are not available for specific areas but for Benefits Agency Districts. I have therefore supplied information for the Benefits Agency's North Durham District which covers the Seaham and Peterlee areas as well as Durham, Chester-le-Street and Stanley.
  As at 27 March 1994 the number of claims for chronic bronchitis and emphysema received by the North Durham District Office was 2,646. This is in respect of both stage 1 and 2 of the take-on of claims. Not all of the claims have been processed yet but of those that have, 186 have been successful and have resulted in an award of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Compensation Claims
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number of claims notified to the compensation recovery unit for the years 1991, 1992 and 1993; in how many cases in each year no recovery was made because the claim had a value of less than £2,500; and what was the total amount recovered in each year.

  Mr. Hague
  This is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend with such information as is available.

  Letter from Tony Laurance to Mr. Iain Duncan Smith, dated 12 April 1994:
  As Michael Bichard is on sick leave at the moment, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about the number of claims notified to the Compensation Recovery Unit, the number of cases settled below the Small Payment Limit of £2,500, and the total amount recovered in each of the years 1991, 1992 and 1993.
  The information requested is produced below for each financial year.
  222
  The number of claims notified to the Compensation Recovery Unit and the total amounts recovered are as follows:

  Period

  Claims notified

  Amount recovered £million

  1 April 1991—31 March 1992

  121,657

  25·3

  1 April 1992—31 March 1993

  158,996

  51·3

  1 April 1993—31 March 1994

  188,708

  81·9

  Compensators are not obliged to notify the Compensation Recovery Unit if the compensation award is settled at or below the Small Payment Limit. Of those notified 91,419 cases were settled at or below the Small Payment Limit between 1 January 1989 and 31 March 1993. For the period 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994 the number of cases notified were 48,655.
  1 hope this reply is helpful.

  Benefits Office, Highgate
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans there are for the Benefits Agency to relocate the Highgate benefits office; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  The relocation of the Benefits Agency office in Highgate is an operational matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Tony Laurance to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 12 April 1994:
  As Michael Bichard is on sick leave at the moment, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about plans to relocate the Benefits Agency office in Highgate.
  You will already be aware of the poor condition and design of the premises that house the Highgate office which have necessitated the need to relocate the office. We have identified suitable alternative accommodation at IA Elthorne Road London N19. The main work to refurbish these premises began on 31 January 1994 and the projected completion, including the installation of computer cabling, is expected by 7 October 1994. The intention will be to open to the public around 14 November but this may be subject to revision. Until that date customers will continue to be served from the existing premises in Archway Tower.
  The move from a very poor and inadequate building to modern office accommodation will provide improved quality services for customers and staff alike. It will mean increased privacy for customers, and improved access and service for people with disabilities and customers with children.
  The Manager, Steve Watson, Euston District, PO Box 1933, London NW1 2ED will be happy to provide you with any further information or progress reports should you require them.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Indonesia
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions there are on trade with Indonesia.

  Mr. Needham
  There are no major restrictions on trade with Indonesia. Some products require licences for export to Indonesia, and there are quota restrictions on imports of textiles and clothing into the EU. However, as a result of the successful completion of the GATT Uruguay round textile and clothing quotas will be phased out over a 10-year period under the ending of the multi-fibre arrangement. Indonesia's high tariffs will also be reduced.

  Embassies (Advice to Business Men)
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent initiatives he has taken to improve the standard of advice given to British business men via Her Majesty's embassies overseas.

  Mr. Needham
  I am in regular contact with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs about commercial work undertaken by FCO posts abroad. They are an integral part of our overseas trade services network. Recent initiatives, including the establishment of business links, the recruitment of export promoters and the preparation of market plans for our top 80 markets share the common objective of enhancing the standards of every part of the overseas trade services.

  Aerospace Industry
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received since last December's GATT settlement from the aerospace industry.

  Mr. Needham
  The Department of Trade and Industry has been in regular contact with the United Kingdom aerospace industry, both with individual companies and through the Society of British Aerospace Companies, about the continuing negotiations on a new GATT agreement on trade in civil aircraft.

  Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many companies have utilised the small firms loan guarantee scheme in the year following the changes made to the scheme in the 1993 March Budget; and what is the total sum guaranteed under that scheme during that period.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A total of 3,886 loans at a value of £155·01 million have been guaranteed under the small firms loan guarantee scheme in the year to 31 March 1994. This compares to 2,342 loans at a value of £52·01 million in the previous year.

  Exports (Stimulation)
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to stimulate local events to promote United Kingdom exports; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  To assist British companies to compete in world markets my right hon. Friend has created business links giving local access to a wide range of business advice and support services. In addition, numerous export-related events are sponsored by my Department across the country. The current language campaign, with more than 70 local events and initiatives from this week onwards throughout the United Kingdom and a special BBC television programme, is one example.

  National Consumer Council
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the effect on the service to consumers of the reduction in the funding of the National Consumer Council.
  224
  Mr. McLoughlin
  I am confident the National Consumer Council will continue to promote and safeguard the interests of consumers, taking into account the revised level of grant in aid.

  Local Markets
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received on the effect of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill on local markets.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  My Department has received some 120 representations from individuals, local authorities, trade associations and businesses on the Government's proposals to deregulate market franchise rights, of which 16 express support. Many of those who oppose the proposal do so under the misapprehension that it will abolish the right of local authorities to continue to hold markets and collect rents. Clauses 21 to 23 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill would remove rights of local authorities with market franchises to object to proposals to set up competing markets within six and two thirds of a mile of their own. Other opponents believe that removing market franchise rights will remove controls over other markets which may cause a local nuisance. Market franchise rights can only be used against rival markets held on the same day as the franchise market or where, if not held on the same day, it can be demonstrated that the owner of the franchise has suffered actual loss. A range of powers is available to local authorities to control any undesirable consequences arising from other markets.

  Exports and Inward Investment
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met business representatives to discuss exports and inward investment.

  Mr. Needham
  My right hon. Friend frequently has meetings with members of the United Kingdom business community which involve discussions concerning exports and inward investment.

  Shipbuilding Industry
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to support the shipbuilding industry.

  Mr. Heseltine
  My Department's sponsorship divisions maintain close contact with our shipbuilding industry. We provide the industry with assistance from the shipbuilding intervention fund and the home credit guarantee scheme. We provide the maximum level of support permitted by the seventh directive on aid to shipbuilding.

  Institute of Directors
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met the Institute of Directors to discuss matters affecting business including inward investment.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have regular contact with the Institute of Directors to discuss matters affecting business.

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the new map for objective 5b areas in England.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I consider it to be generally very satisfactory. The Government negotiated a trebling of England's objective 5(b) coverage, to 1·7 million people.

  I am particularly pleased that the Government secured designation of the whole of Cornwall. Newly eligible areas include large parts of Devon, parts of Somerset, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Lancashire, and large parts of Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, Northumberland and Cumbria. New areas in Shropshire and Hereford and Worcester now complement those retained in rural Wales and a new area in Clwyd.

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the level of provisions required by insurance companies to meet the compensation arising from the mis-selling of personal pensions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Department has written to life offices asking for an indication of their likely exposure to compensation in respect of mis-selling of personal pensions, and providing guidance on how the Department expects them to reserve for any such exposure in future Companies Act accounts and DTI returns. Individual responses must remain confidential as between the life offices and the Department, but where a life office considers that it is likely to have a liability, or a contingent liability, in respect of mis-selling of pension business, the Department expects this to be recognised in the published accounts. The Securities and Investments Board is seeking to determine the extent of mis-selling and the position will not be clear until that review is completed later in the year. It would be wrong to conclude, therefore, at this stage that evidence of procedural defects necessarily implies that the advice given by financial advisers was bad.

  Commercial Debt
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received on the issue of late payment of commercial debt; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has continued to receive representations from a variety of organisations and individuals proposing responses to the problem of late payment.

  On 30 November 1993, the Department of Trade and Industry published a consultation paper, "Late Payment of Commercial Debt", to seek the views of the business community on possible options to address the problem of late payment, including legislation for a statutory right to interest and a British Standard for prompt payment.

  Responses to the paper were required by 31 March 1994. More than 340 responses have been received and are now under consideration.

  Small Firms
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from industry about the availability of finance for the growth and development of small firms.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  We regularly meet representatives from industry and we receive many suggestions as to how small firms can be helped to obtain the finance that they need.

  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to publish his report to Parliament on the status of small and medium-sized enterprises in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department plans to publish the report small firms in Britain 1994 in June. A copy will be sent to individual hon. Members and a copy placed in the Library of the House.

  Utility Regulators
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will review the power of the utility regulators to limit charges and boardroom salary increases.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The utility regulators have sufficient powers to protect consumers' interests over a range of issues including prices. The remuneration of company directors is a matter for the company concerned and its shareholders.

  Postal Services (Privatisation)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many representations he has received on the subject of the privatisation of postal services in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Around 280 letters have been received on the subject in my Department since 1 April 1993 from hon. Members, interested parties and members of the public. A wide range of views have been expressed.

  Companies House
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effects of full or partial privatisation of Companies House on employees' pension and redundancy rights.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Any assessment would be premature in advance of a decision in principle on the future of Companies House. No such decision has yet been taken.

  Nuclear Energy Review
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the timetable and terms of reference of the nuclear energy review.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Beckenham (Mr. Merchant) on 16 December 1993,Official Report, columns 759–60.

  VAT Registration, North West
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many businesses registered and deregistered for value added tax in(a) Pendle and (b) the north-west in 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The figures for 1992 are as follows:

  Registrations

  De-registrations

  North West (Standard Region)

  19,262

  22,791

  Pendle

  254

  284

  Figures are not available for 1993.

  Shareholders and Creditors (Class Actions)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce proposals for legislation under which shareholders and creditors would be able to bring class actions against the recognised supervisory bodies.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I have no plans to seek to change the present state of the law.

  Auditors
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information plc auditors are required to file with the recognised supervisory bodies in relation to their own affairs.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  All registered auditors must provide their supervisory body each year with information relating to the following matters so that the bodies may discharge their statutory duties as set out in part II of schedule 11 to the Companies Act 1989:

  —the holding of an appropriate qualification;

  —being a fit and proper person(s);

  —professional integrity and independence;

  —the technical standards applied to company audit work;

  —the maintenance of competence;

  —the monitoring and enforcement of compliance with the supervisory body's rules;

  —eligibility for membership of the supervisory body;

  —the ability to meet claims arising out of company audit work;

  —the maintenance of the public register for company auditors by the supervisory body.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many(a) individual auditors and (b) auditing firms are registered with each of the authorised bodies under the provisions of the Companies Act 1989.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The latest available figures for those registered with the recognised supervisory bodies under the Companies Act 1989 are as follows:

  Supervisory body

  Individuals

  Firms

  Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

  19,473

  9,218

  Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland

  1,273

  742

  Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland

  829

  463

  Chartered Association of Certified Accountants

  3,959

  507

  Association of Authorised Public Accountants

  460

  425

  Audit Failures
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many instances of audit failures he has referred to any accountancy body; and what was the outcome of each referral.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the annual reports of the recognised supervisory bodies for company auditors for the years ended 30 September 1992 and 1993 respectively, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  Yorkshire Rider Bus Company
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received concerning the proposed takeover of the Yorkshire Rider Bus Company by Badgerline.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has received representations from the hon. Member. In addition, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House to a question raised by the former hon. Member for Bradford, South, Bob Cryer, on 24 March,Official Report, column 424. While the Director General of Fair Trading is still considering the proposed acquisition, all representations about it should be made direct to him.

  Deregulation
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will estimate the number of newsagents who are expected to go out of business following the current deregulation proposals;

  (2) if he will estimate the number of school children who will lose their delivery jobs following the current deregulation proposals.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Statutory consultation on the provisions of an order under the Fair Trading Act 1973, in relation to the wholesale supply of national newspapers to retailers in England and Wales, ended on 31 March.

  The proposed order, which follows a Monopolies and Mergers Commission report, would prohibit wholesalers from refusing to supply retailers on the grounds that an area is already adequately served; placing restrictions on the point of sale; preventing retailers from selling newspapers on to other retailers. I am prepared to consider as an alternative to an order any industry-led solutions that could lead to a substantial increase in competition comparable to that which would be achieved by an order. Until I have had a chance to consider fully the representations I have received I cannot say what precise form the changes I intend to introduce will take. Therefore, I would not wish to speculate about the potential impact of reform.

  Exports (Declaration of Interest)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidance is given to(a) members of the Export Credit Advisory Council and (b) the British Overseas Projects Board on declarations of interest; what such declarations have been made; and in what form such declarations are recorded.
  229
  Mr. Needham
  When members of the Export Credits Advisory Council are appointed, they are required to provide a list of their business interests and directorships to the Export Credits Guarantee Department on a confidential basis. These lists are updated from time to time as necessary and maintained by ECGD. Members are also required to declare where they have an interest when advising ECGD on particular issues.

  As a condition of service, Overseas Projects Board members are asked to declare their financial interests, including their directorships, to the Department of Trade and Industry and to keep the Department informed of any changes. This information is retained on file by the DTI's Overseas Projects Board secretariat and held in strict confidence.

  Companies Acts (Investigations)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many investigators and inspectors appointed under the Companies Acts have declared an interest in the matters of companies under investigation in the years since 1989.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  My Department would not appoint a particular inspector or investigator if there was a known conflict of interest. If a possible conflict arose during the course of an investigation, officials would discuss with the appointee the appropriate course of action. Instances of this occurring are very infrequent.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what interests relevant to terms covered in the report on the affairs of Astra plc were declared by the inspectors investigating the affairs of the company.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The inspectors disclosed no interests which conflicted with their appointment to investigate and report on the affairs of Astra Holdings plc.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he or his officials have had with Lord Justice Scott regarding the ways in which the papers and documents submitted to his inquiry could be retained as a collection and made available to public scrutiny.

  Mr. Needham
  There was correspondence in February 1993 alerting the inquiry to the provisions of the Public Records Act.

  Ice Cream
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make a statement on the effect on fair trade of the freezer monopoly in the ice cream industry;

  (2) what advice is given to small and medium-sized ice cream makers seeking to sell their products to high street retailers and corner shops; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what is his response to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on the Wall's freezer monopoly in the ice cream industry.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on the supply in the United Kingdom of ice cream for immediate consumption was published on 29 March. The MMC has concluded that, although scale 230
  and complex monopoly situations exist in the industry, the practice of freezer exclusivity does not operate against the public interest. The Government have announced that, since the MMC have made no adverse findings, there is no action which can be taken on the report. Ice cream makers and retailers operate in a competitive environment and can choose how best to meet the needs of their customers.

  European Funding
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to ensure that the Thanet travel-to-work area obtains the maximum possible European regional development funding and objective 2 funding for investment in infrastructure for central area initiative sites; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The Council regulations allow the member states three months from the date of the decision on eligibility, 20 January, to draw up and present to the Commission plans describing the uses to which it is intended to put the fund's grants. For this purpose the British objective 2 areas will comprise 13 plan areas. The plans are being prepared by Government Departments, with appropriate local consultation.

  The Government have divided the indicative allocation, for the purposes of their plans, as follows:

  Plan area

  Million ecu (1994 prices)

  North East England

  308

  West Cumbria

  25

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  313

  East Midlands

  79

  West Midlands

  371

  Greater Manchester/Lancashire/Cheshire

  329

  Greater London

  74

  Thanet

  14

  Plymouth

  29

  South Wales

  188

  Eastern Scotland

  121

  Strathclyde

  286

  Gibraltar

  5

  2,142

  The regulations allow a further six months to negotiate, on the basis of the plans presented, a Community support framework for each plan area. The frameworks will then govern the allocation and use of the fund's grants.

  Only after the Community support frameworks have been negotiated and adopted can detailed decisions be taken on projects to receive grant.

  Liquid Steel
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will make a statement concerning the level of production of liquid steel in the European Union.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Crude steel production in the EC increased from 132·2 million tonnes in 1992 to 132·5 million tonnes in 1993.

  Fuel (VAT)
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has of the number of people who have paid for electricity in advance to avoid paying VAT on fuel bills.
  231
  Mr. Eggar
  I understand that about 5 per cent. of electricity customers have made pre-payments.

  Business Conditions
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what reports he has received from(a) the Confederation of British Industry and (b) other business representatives regarding changes in business conditions in each quarter since April 1992.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade regularly receives reports from the Confederation of British Industry and other business representatives regarding business conditions.

  Export Share
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what reports he has received from companies on changes in the United Kingdom's share of(a) the European export market and (b) the Pacific rim countries.

  Mr. Needham
  The Department receives many reports from companies concerning their export successes. Examples of companies doing well in the export market are included in the "Overseas Trade Magazine", which is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what reports he has received from companies in(a) the west midlands and (b) Coventry regarding their exports to (i) Europe and (ii) the Pacific rim.

  Mr. Needham
  My Department has regular contact with firms in the west midlands and recognises their export successes in Europe and the Pacific rim.

  Maastricht Treaty
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures his Department is taking to make companies aware of the implications of the Maastricht treaty; and what representations he has received from companies regarding the implications for business of the Maastricht treaty.

  Mr. Needham
  We have had a number of requests for information on Maastricht from industry. Up to now, we have responded on an individual basis. In early May, we shall issue a new DTI booklet entitled "The Single Market —Making it Work for You", which will include material on aspects of the Maastricht treaty.

  General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from(a) individual companies in (i) the west midlands and (ii) Coventry, (b) the Confederation of British Industry and (c) local chambers of commerce, regarding the implications of GATT.

  Mr. Needham
  My Department has responded to a large number of inquiries from companies, trade associations and chambers of commerce about the results of the GATT Uruguay round.
  232
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the implications for the aerospace industry of the proposed GATT agreements; and when he expects the agreement relating to that sector to be reached.

  Mr. Needham
  Negotiations on a GATT agreement on trade in civil aircraft are continuing. The Government's objective for these negotiations is to conclude an agreement which covers the whole aerospace sector, and which includes strict and balanced disciplines on direct and indirect government supports. On 14 December 1993, members of the GATT civil aircraft committee agreed that these negotiations would continue for a further year, ending in December 1994.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the projected end date for the BCCI receivership; and what is the estimated total fee for the services of Touche Ross.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]My Department is not aware of any estimate of the likely duration of the liquidation of BCCI. The fees of Touche Ross as liquidators are a matter for the court and the creditors.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the total income in the BCCI receivership is estimated will be absorbed by the fee to the receivers.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]My Department does not have this information. It is a matter for the liquidators.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total cost of the BCCI receivership to 31 March.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]The total payments from the English liquidation of BCCI to 15 January, the anniversary of the winding up order, are approximately £215 million.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what employment costs of former BCCI employees may become the liability of the receivers.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]This is a matter for the liquidators.

  Fire Safety
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to consult with the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association about changes in fire safety legislation prior to publication of proposed changes.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]The Government will consult all interested parties before making any legislative changes. As part of their widespread consultations, the team undertaking the review of fire safety legislation and enforcement, announced by my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade on 17 January,Official Report, column 381, met representatives of the association on 28 March to hear their views on this important issue.
  233
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions his Department has had with the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association about fire safety legislation in the past six months.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]My Department solicited views from the association last year as part of the consultations on the review of the regulations on children's nightwear and foam-filled furniture. The consultation period expired at the end of October 1993, but the association did not respond.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a copy of the construction task force report on the future of fire safety.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]The working papers of all seven business deregulation task forces—including those of the construction task force on fire safety—were placed in the Library of the House on Wednesday 30 March.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Cryogenics
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what contribution Her Majesty's Government make to the research and development of cryogenics by British industry and academic research institutions.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Government, through the Research Councils, support a range of research and development involving cryogenics. This includes support totalling £1 million per annum for research by university groups on low temperature physics and chemistry, and a £5 million programme supporting work on superconducting materials. The research councils also fund the development of superconducting magnets and cooling mechanisms for 234
  use in a range of scientific equipment, including synchrotron radiation, neutron beam and nuclear magnetic resonance equipment, and detectors for particle physics, astronomy and space research.

DEFENCE

  RAF Carlisle
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement outlining Her Majesty's Government's response to the joint Whitley response to the equipment supply depot study consultation document on the future of No. 14 MU RAF Carlisle.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department is currently considering the proposals contained in the RAF Carlisle joint Whitley response to the equipment supply depot rationalisation study, which was received on 28 March 1994. I shall be taking full account of all representations before coming to final decisions.

  Greenham Common
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects, under the Crichel Down rules, to restore commoners' rights to those who previously held them at Greenham common.

  Mr. Hanley
  Crichel Down rules regulate the disposal of land where there are former owners with rights to re-purchase. The issue of commoners' rights attaching to land is a separate matter. It is my Department's view, based on legal advice, that the commoners' rights on Greenham common were extinguished when compensation moneys were handed over to the Committee of Commoners. My Department has no plans to restore commoners' rights there.

  FALKLAND ISLANDS: ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW
  FALKLAND ISLANDS: ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW
  ORGANOPHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS: RESEARCH
  ORGANOPHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS: RESEARCH
  ORGANOPHOSPHATE EXPOSURE: NHS DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITY
  ORGANOPHOSPHATE EXPOSURE: NHS DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITY
  PARAQUAT
  PARAQUAT
  CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY: BRAILLE
  CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY: BRAILLE
  LONDON TAXI FARES
  LONDON TAXI FARES
  ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: PENALTY FOR ASSISTANCE
  ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: PENALTY FOR ASSISTANCE
  LOCAL PRISONS: CNA AND OVERCROWDING FIGURES
  LOCAL PRISONS: CNA AND OVERCROWDING FIGURES