Written Answers of 15 April 1994

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Courts Service
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are his plans for privatisation in the courts service; what plans he has to achieve them within the terms of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill; and what plans he has to seek the repeal of section 27 of the Courts Act 1971 before the contracting out or privatising of the courts service.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There are no plans either to privatise any part of the court service in the sense of the private sector taking over responsibility for ensuring the provision of court services or to repeal section 27 of the Courts Act 1971. However, the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill would amend that section to enable the Lord Chancellor to contract with others to provide staff to carry out administrative work in the Supreme Court and county courts and hence enable him to market-test any such work where doing so was likely to improve the value for money of the services concerned and would not risk impugning the independence or probity of the judicial process. The Government have decided, however, that there will be no market testing in the courts service at least until it has been launched as an executive agency in April 1995.

  Defendants (Custody)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the recommended period that a defendant can be held in custody before Crown court trial; if he will indicate the trend in achieving this target; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Pursuant to the Prosecution of Offences (Custody Time Limits) Regulations 1987, the maximum period of time an individual may be held in custody between committal for trial and arraignment is 112 days—16 weeks. The table shows the trend in achieving the limit. In addition, the Department sets custody waiting time targets which are 12 weeks in London, 10 weeks in the south-eastern area and eight weeks elsewhere in England and Wales.

  Custody waiting times

  Percentage of defendants dealt with within 16 weeks

  Average waiting time (weeks)

  1989

  84

  10·1

  1990

  84

  10·0

  1991

  84

  10·0

  11992

  82

  11·1

  11993

  77·1

  12·59

  1 Provisional figures.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what rights of audience barristers directly employed by the Crown Prosecution Service have in the Crown court; and what plans he has to alter such rights.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Barristers employed by the Crown Prosecution Service have no rights of audience in the Crown court.

  The Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct is at present considering this issue, and no decision on the rights of audience of employed barristers will be taken until the advisory committee's advice is received. This is expected later this year.

  Principles of Justice
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what codification of the principles of justice has taken place since 1979; and what proposals he has for further codification.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No legislation of a purely codifying nature has been enacted since 1979. However, some legislation emanating from recommendations by the Law Commission, such as the Children Act 1989, has been drafted in the context of codification of the area of the law to which it relates. The Government are considering a draft codifying Bill on offences against the person and general principles, which was published by the Law Commission in 1993—Law Com. No. 218.

  Judges
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many judges were(a) barristers and (b) solicitors; and if he will make a statement on the trends in appointments.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  As at 1 April 1994 there were 509 circuit judges in office, of whom 449 had been barristers and 60 had been solicitors at the time of their appointment. There were 95 High Court judges of whom 94 had been barristers and one a solicitor. All other Supreme Court judges had been barristers and all Lords of Appeal had been barristers or members of the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland. By comparison, as at 1 October 1991, 46 out of the 446 circuit judges and none of the more senior judges in office had been solicitors at the time of their appointment. It continues to be the Lord Chancellor's policy to appoint to each judicial post the candidate who appears to him to be best qualified to fill it.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Compensation
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners how many(a) inquiries and (b) detailed applications have been made for compensation under the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993.

  Mr. Alison
  A total of 836 individuals have sought and received information about the Ordination of Women
  303
  (Financial Provisions) Measure. Very few have given any indication of their actual intentions; 177 individuals have resigned or indicated their firm intention to do so, with a view to receiving financial provision under the Measure.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Indonesia (Aid)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the aid and trade provision programme has been absorbed by Indonesia in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The table provides details drawn from "British Aid Statistics" for the calendar years up to 1990; and for the financial years from 1991 onwards.

  Indonesia percentage of ATP expenditure

  Per cent.

  Calendar years

  1980

  Nil

  1981

  Nil

  1982

  4·8

  1983

  8·8

  1984

  11·4

  1985

  46·4

  1986

  0·1

  1987

  3·5

  1988

  2·0

  1989

  2·2

  1990

  3·9

  Financial years

  1991–92

  10·7

  1992–93

  10·5

  Acer Engineering
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid-trade projects have been awarded to Acer Engineering since 1990; and in how many other such projects Acer Engineering acted as a subcontractor or consultant.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Acer Engineering has not been the lead contractor for any project supported with aid and trade provision finance since 1990. Data are not held centrally on subcontractors or consultants employed by lead contractors under aid and trade provision-supported contracts, and such information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Pergau Dam
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what payments of compensation have been made in connection with the Pergau dam project to the state Government of Kelantan and to local landowners; and by whom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We understand that Tenaga Nasional Berhad—the publicly listed Malaysian Electricity Company—agreed in 1992 to pay compensation to the Kelantan State Government for the use of land and water and loss of timber revenue. This amounted to just over M$121 million—£28 million. We understand that compensation has also been paid to local landowners although we are not aware of the amount.
  304
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make available the most up-to-date analyses of the environmental impact of the Pergau dam.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  ODA continues to monitor the environmental effects of this project. It is not our policy to publish advisers' reports but, following a recent monitoring visit by an ODA adviser, the main conclusions were that the Malaysian environmental management plan is being effectively implemented and that the Pergau project will not have an adverse long-term environmental impact.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost to public funds of the specialist consultants appointed by the Overseas Development Administration to monitor progress on the Pergau dam.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We expect to spend a total of £1·035 million up to the 1996–97 financial year on technical, financial and environmental monitoring of the implementation of the project.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he had over the military implications of the Pergau dam project.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: None.

  Iraq
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the consequences of the sanctions on Iraq on the food consumption of the civilian population;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the consequences of the sanctions on Iraq on the repair of water purification and sewage plants that were destroyed in the Gulf war;

  (3) what assessment he has made of the change in the incidence of water-borne diseases and other diseases since the imposition of sanctions on Iraq;

  (4) what assessment he has made of the change in the incidence of infant mortality since the imposition of sanctions on Iraq.

  Mr. Lennox Boyd
  We have made no assessments of our own. Iraq is continuing to refuse access to the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iraq and UN human rights monitors. We do, however, receive reports from UN agencies and non-governmental organisations with their assessments of needs in Iraq. It is on the basis of these assessments that we have provided some £66 million humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people since 1991.

  Burma
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent to which refugees are leaving Burma as a result of actions of the Burmese Government.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We understand from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that at present there is no significant movement of refugees from Burma into neighbouring countries.

  Somalia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the World Health Organisation's plan for the development of health services in Somaliland will be produced; and what plans exist to make it available for public scrutiny.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The World Health Organisation has informed us that the plan is expected to be made public by the end of April. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

PRIME MINISTER

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will seek to arrange for a senior official of the Foreign Office to visit the marshlands of Iraq, in the area where the Tigris joins

  Table 1: The average incomes of pensioners 1979/1990–91 (by quintile-quintile 1=lowest) Average income (£ per week January 1991 prices)

  Income source

  Quintile 1

  Quintile 2

  Quintile 3

  Quintile 4

  Quintile 5

  Total

  (a) Single Pensioners

  1979

  1990–91

  1979

  1990–91

  1979

  1990–91

  1979

  1990–91

  1979

  1990–91

  1979

  1990–91

  Earnings1

  0·4

  0·1

  0·1

  0·3

  0·3

  0·5

  3·5

  2·5

  23·2

  23·8

  5·5

  5·44

  Benefit Income

  47·2

  51·4

  54·8

  61·4

  57·5

  68·7

  57·1

  66·6

  51·7

  63·3

  53·7

  62·30

  Investment Income

  1·9

  2·8

  2·0

  4·0

  2·2

  4·5

  6·4

  15·4

  30·5

  81·2

  8·6

  21·60

  Occupational Pension

  0·6

  1·6

  1·7

  4·9

  3·1

  7·7

  7·3

  20·2

  34·3

  66·6

  9·4

  20·20

  Other1

  0·4

  0·2

  0·1

  0·5

  0·3

  0·4

  0·9

  0·7

  0·9

  2·2

  0·5

  0·80

  Gross Income

  50·5

  56·0

  59·0

  71·1

  63·0

  81·8

  75·0

  105·3

  141·0

  237·0

  78·0

  110·20

  Deductions

  5·2

  6·9

  4·0

  6·9

  4·0

  7·2

  7·0

  11·7

  27·0

  44·1

  10·0

  15·40

  Net Income BHC (mean)

  45·3

  49·1

  55·0

  64·2

  59·0

  74·6

  68·0

  93·6

  113·0

  192·9

  68·0

  94·80

  Net Income AHC (mean)

  34·8

  37·5

  43·3

  50·0

  46·9

  57·3

  54·4

  81·9

  97·9

  186·0

  55·4

  82·60

  Net Income BHC (median)

  46·8

  50·7

  55·7

  65·6

  61·8

  75·2

  68·9

  92·3

  98·2

  158·9

  61·8

  75·20

  Net Income AHC (median)

  36·7

  39·8

  43·3

  48·9

  47·6

  54·4

  54·8

  78·8

  84·8

  149·2

  47·6

  54·40

  (b) Pensioner Couples

  Earnings1

  0·3

  0·2

  1·2

  1·6

  5·5

  7·1

  25·9

  19·5

  88·5

  72·0

  24·2

  20·00

  Benefit Income

  79·1

  87·0

  86·2

  99·0

  86·1

  101·0

  81·5

  95·8

  72·9

  89·1

  81·2

  94·40

  Investment Income

  2·5

  5·0

  3·4

  8·2

  5·4

  18·8

  9·9

  39·3

  59·9

  154·6

  16·2

  45·10

  Occupational Pension

  2·4

  5·4

  6·8

  13·2

  17·7

  28·4

  35·5

  60·7

  89·1

  164·5

  30·2

  54·40

  Other1

  0·3

  0·1

  0·4

  0·3

  1·5

  0·8

  0·8

  0·9

  1·0

  2·7

  0·8

  1·00

  Gross Income

  84·6

  97·7

  98·0

  122·3

  116·2

  156·0

  153·7

  216·2

  311·5

  482·8

  152·5

  214·80

  Deductions

  5·7

  12·5

  5·2

  12·8

  7·8

  16·5

  17·0

  27·5

  74·8

  99·0

  22·0

  33·60

  Net Income BHC (mean)

  78·9

  85·2

  92·7

  109·5

  108·5

  139·5

  136·6

  188·7

  236·7

  383·8

  130·5

  181·20

  Net Income AHC (mean)

  64·6

  72·9

  76·0

  94·9

  91·5

  129·0

  117·8

  180·5

  209·0

  377·9

  111·6

  170·90

  Net Income BHC (median)

  79·1

  86·7

  91·8

  108·1

  106·5

  138·6

  134·7

  186·5

  204·6

  311·8

  106·5

  138·60

  Net Income AHC (median)

  64·7

  74·5

  75·2

  89·9

  89·4

  123·2

  117·0

  172·5

  180·9

  300·0

  89·4

  123·20

  (c) Pensioner Units

  Earnings1

  0·3

  0·8

  0·5

  0·7

  0·8

  1·7

  9·8

  9·2

  48·4

  42·7

  11·9

  10·90

  Benefit Income

  58·1

  64·3

  66·0

  74·4

  64·3

  76·7

  65·1

  81·1

  62·4

  74·6

  63·2

  74·20

  Investment Income

  2·1

  2·8

  2·6

  5·2

  2·8

  8·0

  7·8

  23·9

  40·8

  111·0

  11·2

  30·30

  Occupational Pension

  1·2

  5·9

  3·6

  7·1

  5·9

  13·4

  16·0

  34·1

  56·3

  107·0

  16·6

  32·90

  Other1

  0·4

  0·5

  0·2

  0·5

  0·5

  0·4

  1·3

  0·9

  0·8

  2·3

  0·6

  0·90

  Gross Income

  62·0

  74·3

  72·9

  87·8

  74·3

  100·2

  99·9

  149·2

  208·7

  337·5

  103·5

  149·10

  Deductions

  5·4

  4·8

  4·7

  8·8

  4·8

  9·5

  9·4

  17·7

  44·9

  65·8

  13·8

  22·20

  Net Income BHC (mean)

  56·6

  69·5

  68·2

  79·0

  69·5

  90·7

  90·5

  131·5

  163·8

  271·7

  89·7

  127·00

  Net Income AHC (mean)

  48·2

  56·6

  52·9

  58·2

  56·6

  80·5

  75·9

  123·1

  140·7

  263·0

  74·9

  115·50

  Net Income BHC (median)

  49·7

  63·3

  57·9

  69·0

  63·3

  79·5

  78·8

  119·0

  150·9

  226·9

  63·3

  79·50

  Net Income AHC (median)

  39·7

  48·5

  43·8

  50·3

  48·5

  62·9

  61·6

  103·3

  129·0

  213·2

  48·5

  62·90

  Notes:

  1Indicates that sample sizes are too small to provide reliable estimates. Figures are shown only to demonstrate how totals are arived at.

  1. All figures before housing costs (BHC) unless otherwise stated. After housing costs=AHC.

  2. All average amounts are means except where otherwise stated.

  3. Components may not sum to totals owing to rounding.

  4. Pensioner units are defined as single people over state pension age and couples in which the husband is over state pension age.

  5. Estimates of percentage growth are based on unrounded income figures and may not therefore be the same as those calculated from the rounded amounts shown in the table.

  6. Estimates of growth in total net incomes by quintile are based on medians. Estimates of growth of components of income and total incomes of all pensioners are based on means.

  306
  the Euphrates, to be accompanied by a medical officer experienced in water-borne malnutrition-related diseases and an expert in water filtering and pumping equipment.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 14 April 1994]: Many international organisations and humanitarian workers have sought to visit these areas to aid civilians. However, Iraq has consistently refused to permit access, despite the fact that this is in contravention of the United Nations Security Council resolution 688.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make an analysis for each quintile of pensioner incomes for single pensioners, pensioner couples and all pensioner units similar to that published on 7 May 1993,Official Report, columns 294-98, using the most recent family expenditure survey figures available.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is in the tables.
  307

  (d) Growth in pensioner income 1979 to 1990–91

  Average income change (per cent.)

  Quintile 1

  Quintile 2

  Quintile 3

  Income source

  Single Pensioners

  Pensioner couples

  Pensioner units

  Single Pensioners

  Pensioner couples

  Pensioner units

  Single Pensioners

  Pensioner couples

  Pensioner units

  Earnings1

  -67

  -33

  150

  183

  33

  35

  54

  29

  115

  Benefit income

  9

  10

  11

  12

  15

  13

  19

  17

  19

  Investment income

  48

  97

  35

  100

  141

  104

  102

  249

  184

  Occupational pension

  163

  124

  399

  181

  95

  99

  151

  60

  125

  Other1

  -50

  -58

  22

  265

  -15

  100

  49

  -50

  -2

  Gross income

  11

  16

  20

  21

  25

  20

  29

  34

  35

  Deductions

  33

  120

  -11

  61

  145

  88

  78

  112

  98

  Net income BHC2

  9

  10

  27

  18

  18

  19

  22

  30

  25

  Net income AHC2

  8

  15

  22

  13

  20

  15

  14

  38

  30

  Quintile 4

  Quintile 5

  Total

  Income source

  Single Pensioners

  Pensioner couple

  Pensioner units

  Single Pensioners

  Pensioner couples

  Pensioner units

  Single Pensioners

  Pensioner couples

  Pensioner units

  Earnings1

  -27

  -25

  -6

  2

  -19

  -12

  -1

  -17

  -9

  Benefit income

  17

  17

  25

  22

  22

  19

  16

  16

  17

  Investment income

  139

  297

  205

  166

  158

  172

  151

  179

  170

  Occupational pension

  175

  71

  113

  94

  85

  90

  115

  80

  98

  Other1

  -26

  11

  -32

  140

  162

  196

  51

  19

  37

  Gross income

  40

  41

  49

  68

  55

  62

  42

  41

  44

  Deductions

  74

  61

  88

  61

  32

  47

  62

  53

  60

  Net income BHC2

  34

  38

  51

  62

  52

  50

  339

  339

  342

  Net income AHC2

  44

  48

  68

  76

  66

  65

  349

  353

  354

  N.B. means given for total income growth.

  1 Indicates that sample sizes are too small to provide reliable estimates. Figures are shown only to demonstrate how totals are arrived at.

  2 Median.

  3 Mean.

  Notes:

  1. All figures before housing costs—BHC—unless otherwise stated. After housing costs—AHC.

  2. All average amounts are means except where otherwise stated.

  3. Components may not sum to totals owing to rounding.

  4. Pensioner units are defined as single people over state pension age and couples in which the husband is over state pension age.

  5. Estimates of percentage growth are based on unrounded income figures and may not therefore be the same as those calculated from the rounded amounts shown in the table.

  6. Estimates of growth in total net incomes by quintile are based on medians. Estimates of growth of components of income and total incomes of all pensioners are based on means.

  308 309

  Table 2

  Investment Income for Pensioner Units of all Ages

  Quintile (Q1=lowest)

  Percentage of units in receipt

  Average amount for those in receipt (£ per week)

  1979

  1990–91

  1979

  1990–91

  Percentage growth

  (a) Pensioner Couples

  Q1

  68

  7·3

  n/a

  Q2

  61·5

  75

  4·8

  10·9

  n/a

  Q3

  67·8

  84

  7·9

  22·4

  182

  Q4

  75·3

  91

  13·1

  43·3

  230

  Q5

  89·9

  98

  66·7

  157·5

  136

  All

  71·2

  83

  22·7

  54·1

  138

  Single Pensioners

  Q1

  49

  64

  3·9

  4·4

  14

  Q2

  49

  59

  4·1

  6·8

  67

  Q3

  45

  64

  5·0

  7·0

  41

  Q4

  62

  77

  10·3

  19·9

  93

  Q5

  78

  92

  39·0

  88·6

  127

  All

  57

  71

  15·2

  30·3

  100

  (c) All Pensioner Units

  Q1

  52

  65

  4·0

  5·5

  36

  Q2

  55

  64

  4·6

  8·1

  75

  Q3

  50

  71

  5·6

  11·3

  103

  Q4

  68

  83

  11·5

  28·8

  151

  Q5

  83

  95

  49·4

  116·7

  136

  All

  62

  76

  18·2

  40·1

  120

  Table 3

  Investment Income for Recently Retired Pensioner Units

  Quintile (Q1 = lowest)

  Percentage of units in receipt

  Average amount for those in receipt (£ per week)

  1979

  1990–91

  1979

  1990–91

  Percentage growth

  (a) Pensioner Couple

  Q1

  n/a

  Q2

  70

  12·8

  n/a

  Q3

  65

  6·6

  n/a

  Q4

  88

  37·5

  n/a

  Q5

  84

  100

  44·7

  152·6

  n/a

  All

  73

  83

  24·1

  56·8

  136

  (b) Single Pensioners

  Q1

  n/a

  Q2

  n/a

  Q3

  53

  4·6

  n/a

  Q4

  n/a

  Q5

  89

  57·7

  n/a

  All

  61

  72

  14·1

  39·0

  177

  (c) All Pensioner Units

  Q1

  Q2

  53·1

  59

  4·7

  8·7

  87

  Q3

  72

  13·5

  n/a

  Q4

  72·1

  87

  11·8

  27·8

  n/a

  Q5

  88·2

  94

  53·6

  107·4

  100

  All

  68

  78

  20·4

  49·9

  145

  310

  Table 4

  Occupational Pension for Pensioner Units of All Ages

  Quintile(Q1 = lowest)

  Percentage of units in receipt

  Average amount for those in receipt (£ per week)

  1979

  1990–91

  1979

  1990–91

  Percentage growth

  (a) Pensioner Couple

  Q1

  37

  14·7

  n/a

  Q2

  45

  62

  10·2

  21·4

  n/a

  Q3

  73

  74

  24·2

  38·5

  59

  Q4

  75

  82

  47·1

  73·9

  57

  Q5

  70

  88

  127·3

  186·7

  47

  All

  62

  68

  48·9

  79·4

  62

  (b) Single Pensioners

  Q1

  n/a

  Q2

  27

  12·0

  n/a

  Q3

  17

  44

  10·8

  17·4

  n/a

  Q4

  41

  61

  18·1

  33·2

  83

  Q5

  55

  69

  62·6

  96·1

  53

  All

  29

  46

  32·4

  44·3

  37

  (c) All Pensioner Units

  Q1

  25

  12·0

  n/a

  Q2

  25

  43

  9·7

  16·5

  n/a

  Q3

  35

  56

  17·0

  24·0

  41

  Q4

  55

  68

  28·9

  49·9

  73

  Q5

  62

  78

  90·3

  136·6

  51

  All

  40

  54

  41·1

  60·8

  48

  Table 5

  Occupational Pension for Recently Retired Pensioner Units

  Quintile (Q1= lowest)

  Percentage of units in receipt

  Average amount for those in receipt (£ per week)

  1979

  1990–91

  1979

  1990–91

  Percentage growth

  (a) Pensioner Couple

  Q1

  n/a

  Q2

  51

  23·8

  n/a

  Q3

  57

  23·3

  n/a

  Q4

  82

  64·3

  n/a

  Q5

  70

  87

  99·7

  184·0

  n/a

  All

  62

  70

  57·5

  82·2

  43

  (b) Single Pensioners

  Q1

  n/a

  Q2

  n/a

  Q3

  n/a

  Q4

  n/a

  Q5

  n/a

  All

  33

  49

  34·9

  24·8

  29

  (c) All Pensioners

  Q1

  n/a

  Q2

  36

  18·2

  n/a

  Q3

  42

  57

  20·2

  28·7

  n/a

  Q4

  76

  53·2

  n/a

  Q5

  62

  78

  83·3

  128·2

  n/a

  All

  50

  61

  51·2

  71·6

  40

  311
  Notes to tables 2 to 5:

  1. Pensioner units are defined as single people over state pension age and couples in which the husband is over state pension age.

  2. A Recently Retired pensioner unit is defined as a single pensioner aged less than five years above SPA or a pensioner couple where the husband is aged less than five years above SPA.

  3. Where boxes have been joined together this signifies that due to low numbers of sample cases, an estimate has to be given for a number of combined quartiles.

  4. All amounts are given at January 1991 prices.

  5. Tables 1 and 3 are based on the separate income distributions for single pensioners, pensioner couples and all pensioner units respectively. Tables 2 and 4 are based on separate income distributions for recently-retired single pensioners, pensioner couples and all pensioner units respectively.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration has been given to the publication of the collection and enforcement manual of the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  There are no plans to publish the child support collection and enforcement manual.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many youth training recipients have become eligible for top-up payments to bring them up to income support level and for welfare benefits since 11 April; and what will be the cost to public funds.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is not available. Many YT trainees have access to resources beyond their YT allowance—earnings from employers, for example.

  Police service strength by rank in England and Wales as at 31 January 1994

  Police force

  Deputy chief constable

  Assistant chief constable

  Chief superintendent

  Superintendent

  Chief inspector

  Inspector

  Sergeant

  Constable

  Avon and Somerset

  1

  3

  9

  31

  52

  160

  468

  2,306

  Bedfordshire

  1

  1

  4

  13

  15

  61

  161

  907

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  1

  2

  13

  25

  61

  203

  960

  Cheshire

  1

  1

  4

  18

  31

  107

  292

  1,436

  City of London

  1

  0

  5

  9

  19

  59

  127

  664

  Cleveland

  1

  2

  0

  11

  21

  88

  216

  1,083

  Cumbria

  1

  1

  6

  15

  21

  72

  187

  874

  Derbyshire

  1

  2

  5

  21

  32

  98

  266

  1,381

  Devon and Cornwall

  1

  3

  9

  36

  48

  142

  462

  2,219

  Dorset

  1

  1

  6

  16

  26

  69

  204

  972

  Durham

  1

  1

  6

  16

  20

  79

  215

  1,051

  Dyfed Powys

  1

  1

  3

  13

  20

  41

  157

  729

  Essex

  0

  3

  10

  30

  52

  140

  453

  2,252

  Gloucestershire

  1

  1

  4

  11

  21

  59

  170

  881

  Greater Manchester

  1

  4

  22

  77

  114

  418

  1,075

  5,311

  Gwent

  1

  1

  4

  11

  15

  46

  155

  761

  Hampshire

  1

  3

  5

  39

  42

  154

  504

  2,532

  Hertfordshire

  1

  1

  5

  20

  31

  90

  248

  1,289

  Humberside

  1

  2

  8

  15

  37

  104

  295

  1,571

  Kent

  1

  3

  10

  27

  46

  183

  450

  2,446

  Lancashire

  1

  3

  9

  33

  63

  172

  517

  2,345

  Leicestershire

  1

  2

  6

  18

  28

  106

  279

  1,403

  Lincolnshire

  0

  1

  4

  12

  22

  65

  193

  908

  Merseyside

  1

  4

  17

  60

  74

  263

  753

  3,503

  Norfolk

  1

  1

  5

  14

  23

  66

  210

  1,106

  Northamptonshire

  1

  1

  4

  15

  22

  69

  165

  903

  Northumbria

  1

  3

  9

  36

  59

  179

  517

  2,783

  North Wales

  1

  0

  7

  21

  26

  71

  227

  995

  North Yorkshire

  0

  2

  4

  12

  24

  72

  199

  1,015

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  2

  7

  22

  28

  126

  333

  1,813

  South Wales

  1

  3

  8

  32

  51

  168

  518

  2,356

  South Yorkshire

  1

  3

  12

  36

  46

  159

  458

  2,297

  312
  Without knowledge of such resources, it is not possible to say how many young people might now be entitled to income support.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he has had with the voluntary organisations specialising in halfway houses, hostels and supported housing for former residents of institutions catering for those with learning difficulties in relation to the future provision of housing benefit, inclusive of the cost of support and care.

  Mr. Hague
  In order to restore the existing policy intention, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently consulted the Social Security Advisory Committee and the local authority associations on a proposed change to the regulations relating to eligibility for housing benefit where rent includes the cost of general counselling and support.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police Force
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons currently hold the rank of(a) constable, (b) sergeant, (c) inspector, (d) chief inspector, (e) superintendent, (f) chief superintendent, (g) assistant chief constable and (h) deputy chief constable in each of the police forces in England and Wales other than the Metropolitan police.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is set out in the table.
  313

  Police force

  Deputy chief constable

  Assistant chief constable

  Chief superintendent

  Superintendent

  Chief inspector

  Inspector

  Sergeant

  Constable

  Staffordshire

  1

  2

  8

  23

  40

  120

  342

  1,655

  Suffolk

  1

  1

  6

  17

  18

  64

  184

  920

  Surrey

  1

  2

  6

  19

  18

  86

  269

  1,259

  Sussex

  1

  4

  5

  28

  36

  172

  463

  2,274

  Thames Valley

  1

  3

  11

  37

  46

  194

  516

  3,092

  Warwickshire

  1

  1

  3

  14

  17

  58

  159

  784

  West Mercia

  0

  2

  7

  24

  37

  131

  300

  1,541

  West Midlands

  1

  4

  21

  77

  101

  380

  1,057

  5,334

  West Yorkshire

  1

  4

  9

  49

  73

  272

  765

  3,828

  Wiltshire

  1

  1

  5

  12

  19

  69

  195

  970

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 30 March, if he will list the firms of consultants employed by his Department and the number of contracts they have undertaken.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The suppliers of the consultancies are as follows; figures in brackets indicate the number of contracts to that company if more than one:

  Supplier

  Beck and Politzer

  Capita

  Clayton Forde Associates

  Coopers and Lybrand (x5)

  DBI Associates

  D. Jenkins

  Dent Lee Witte plc

  David Matthews Associates

  Ernst & Young (x2)

  ER Consultants

  Ewbank Preece Limited (x2)

  G. Lister

  Grosvenor, Consult, Dew Limited

  Harrison Smith Associates Limited

  Hedra Limited

  IHSM Consultants Limited

  IRM (x2)

  J. L. Patterson

  Jones Lang Wooton

  Kensington Construction Centre

  Kingsley Lord (x2)

  KPMG Peat Marwick (x2)

  L. Massey (x3)

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist

  Lamb Business Management Services

  LEK

  M. Kenworthy

  MIRO Communications (x2)

  OCP (x2)

  Organisation Consul Hart

  PA Consulting (x5)

  Price Waterhouse (x5)

  R. Dewey

  R. Oliver

  REL Consultants

  Resource Evaluation

  Rethinking Recycling

  Shreeveports (x2)

  Strategic People

  The Institute of Counselling

  Touche Ross (x2)

  Tricon Catering Services

  Vector Corporate Directions Limited (x3)

  Wolsey Hall Oxford

  Yale Consultants

  Blasphemy
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many actions have been brought for the offence of blasphemy since 1964; and how many resulted in a conviction.

  Mr. Maclean
  Records held centrally show only one prosecution brought since 1964 for blasphemy offences. This prosecution resulted in a conviction.

  Overstaying
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 29 March,Official Report, column 612, if he will make it his policy to collect centrally statistics by country on the number of visitors to the United Kingdom who overstay.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Such statistics could be collected only if there were comprehensive records of all arrivals and departures of non-European Economic Area nationals, of whom about 6·5 million are visitors to the United Kingdom each year. Maintaining such a database would not be cost-effective.

  Firearm Certificates
  Sir Jerry Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total sum received in England and Wales for(a) firearm certificates and (b) shotgun certificates during 1993 or the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In 1992, the most recent year for which figures are available, the total sum received in England and Wales was £2,258,600 for firearm certificates and £2,730,200 for shotgun certificates.

  Racially Motivated Harassment
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentages of(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 in each year since 1987 were for racially motivated harassment;

  (2) how many prosecutions there have been under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 in each year since 1987; how many convictions there have been in each year since 1987; and what were the penalties for those convicted in each case.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information is not collected centrally as to whether an offence committed under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 was racially motivated.
  315
  The table shows the number of prosecutions, convictions and type of disposal given for offences under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 from 1987 to 1992. 1993 data will not be available until the autumn.

  Number of defendants prosecuted, convicted and type of disposal given for offences under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 from 1987 to 1992 England and Wales

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Prosecutions

  12,660

  32,493

  37,358

  36,632

  30,247

  27,796

  Convictions

  9,490

  24,079

  26,828

  25,193

  19,478

  16,541

  Total sentenced

  9,475

  24,056

  26,794

  25,206

  19,475

  16,541

  Type of disposal

  Absolute or conditional discharge

  1,249

  3,054

  4,009

  4,046

  3,801

  4,052

  Fine

  7,673

  19,647

  21,596

  20,091

  14,378

  11,746

  Community sentences1

  125

  283

  289

  251

  214

  148

  Immediate custody

  —

  —

  —

  16

  27

  6

  Otherwise dealt with2

  428

  1,072

  900

  802

  1,055

  589

  1 Includes probation orders, supervision orders, community service orders, attendance centre orders and from 1 October 1992 combination orders.

  2 Includes fully suspended sentences.

  Secure Training Centres
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if the sites for the new secure training centres will be well away from residential areas;

  (2) when he expects to announce the chosen sites for the five new secure training centres for persistent juvenile offenders subject to a secure training order.

  Mr. Maclean
  I hope to be able to announce a decision next week about the sites for the new centres.

  Detention Centre, Gringley
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the empty detention centre at Gringley near Retford, Nottinghamshire is still available for sale; and if he will consider selling the site to a consortium of local residents.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. The site was withdrawn from sale by the Prison Service pending an assessment of its potential use as a secure training centre.

  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the reason for the closure of the former Gringley detention centre, near Retford; how many inmates it held; and how many people were employed there.

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

  Letter from Mr. D. Lewis to Mr. Joe Ashton, dated 15 April 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the closure of the former Gringley detention centre.
  Gringley detention centre was closed in March 1988, as, following the discontinuance of detention centres, the site was too small and uneconomical for any alternative use by the Prison Service.
  When it operated as a detention centre, it had a certified normal accommodation of 72.
  It is not possible to provide precise details of staff numbers, as Gringley was operated as a satellite of Hatfield, then an open establishment for young prisoners. It is estimated that a total of about 35 staff were normally required to cover the shift system and support services which operated at Gringley.

  Prisoners, Northumbria
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently held in police cells in the Northumbrian police force area; and why they are not held in prisons.

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

  Letter from Mr. D. Lewis to Mr. A. J. Beith, dated 15 April 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners currently held in police cells in the Northumbria police area and why they are not held in prisons.
  On 12 April 1994, the latest date for which complete information is available, 23 prisoners were held in police cells in the Northumbria police area.
  Since 1 January 1994, the prison population in England and Wales has risen by over 3,000. This has caused considerable pressure on local prison accommodation, particularly in the North of England.
  Since 14 February 1994, there have been insufficient places available at Durham prison for all those committed to prison custody from courts in its catchment area.

HEALTH

  Health Care
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the financial savings of moving activity from secondary to primary health care.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The balance between secondary and primary care is for local decision taking into account local needs and resources, existing provision, and the views of local people.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what ethnic monitoring is undertaken by her Department within the national health service and within training providers associated with the national health service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information on the ethnic origin of nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff was first
  317
  collected in September 1993. Results should be available in mid 1994. Ethnic origin information for the remainder of the national health service non-medical work force will be collected in September 1994.

  Data on the ethnic background of doctors in the hospital and community health services is also collected by the Department. The NHS executive has just set up a central monitoring programme in England and Wales to examine the outcome of NHS consultant appointments in terms of gender and ethnic origin of applicants.

  From later this year, the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting will collect data from approved institutions offering nursing, midwifery and health visiting qualifications.

  Campaigns
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 14 February,Official Report, column 623, if she will list, for each campaign that does not include advertising, the objectives and mechanisms for assessing the effectiveness of the campaign and the results of such assessments.

  Mr. Sackville
  The additional information requested has been included in revised tables which have been placed in the Library. The results of assessments for 1993–94 are not yet available.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what medical facilities in Britain have recently been offered to victims of the war in Bosnia; and what plans she has to increase these.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Since the beginning of this year 17 casualties from Bosnia have been treated for a variety of medical and surgical conditions in appropriate national health service hospitals. To date, all placements have been arranged through regional health authorities in England but the Department has maintained liaison with the other territorial health departments.

  It is generally accepted that the overriding need now is to build up the capacity to provide sustainable health care within the former Yugoslavia. Nevertheless, we are continuing to respond to requests for individual cases to be treated here when special need arises because of a lack of the necessary facilities locally.

  Domiciliary Care Agencies
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received regarding the provision of legal powers for professionals to intervene where an abusive situation in a domiciliary care agency cannot be alleviated by other means.

  Mr. Bowis
  None.

  Departmental Office Space, Ipswich
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many square feet of office space her Department leases, rents or owns inside the boundary of the borough of Ipswich; and what was the equivalent area in June 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health has no office accommodation in Ipswich which it rents or owns.
  318
  Suffolk health authority and Suffolk family health services authority occupy office premises on the Saint Clements hospital site, leased from East Suffolk Local Health Services National Health Service Trust.

  Junior Doctors
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for the recruitment to the national health service of more junior doctors.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The new deal will further reduce hours worked by junior doctors. To help achieve these reductions, regional task forces have been given the freedom to increase senior house officer numbers where necessary, in consultation with postgraduate deans, to ensure that educational standards are maintained.

  The number of junior doctors will change as a result of the Government's acceptance of the recommendations of "Hospital Doctors: Training for the Future". This will introduce planned and structured training and increase the ratio of senior medical staff to junior doctors. Over the next few years, this should reduce the numbers in higher specialist training but increase the number of consultants and the proportion of care delivered by them.

  Copies of both documents are available in the Library.

  Ambulances
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to encourage the purchase and use of ambulances manufactured in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sackville
  The sourcing and purchase of ambulances by competitive tender is a matter for each individual ambulance service, having regard to operational requirements, availability in the marketplace, and best overall value for money.

  Birth Defects
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will seek a report on the relationship between the incidence of birth defects and the transmission of viruses carried by sea water contaminated with sewage effluent; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  There are no known links between viral infections of any type, including viruses transmitted through sea water, and limb reduction deformities at birth. There are therefore no plans to commission a study along the lines suggested.

  With regard to investigations into reports of unusual occurrences of babies born with limb defects, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) on 1 March at column 678.

  General Practitioners (Mobile Phones)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to subsidise calls made or received by general practitioners on mobile phones in the course of their duties when on call.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Expenses incurred by general practitioners in the delivery of general medical services are reimbursed to the profession in full.
  319
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines her Department has issued to general practitioners in relation to the use and charging of calls received on mobile phones from patients when on call.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  NHS Leaflet
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many typical modern health centres, as described in her Department's leaflet, "NHS Changes in London—Answers to the Questions You've Been Asking" have been established in London.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Health centres are managed by local health authorities and community trusts and detailed information is therefore not available centrally. Analysis of primary care development plans received from health authorities within the London implementation zone indicates that 24 capital projects involving health centres were established during 1993–94 and a further 33 building developments are planned for 1994–95. Seventy-four additional service improvement initiatives have been identified which will extend primary care provision by introducing dental, orthopaedic, occupational or psychiatric health care within a general practitioner setting. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 18 January at column 525. This provided a list of all the LIZ-funded primary care projects established in 1993–94.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new minor injury units there will be in central London, as described in the leaflet, "NHS Changes in London—Answers to the Questions You've Been Asking".

  Dr. Mawhinney
  At present there are two minor injury units in central London, the south Westminster centre and walk-in facilities at St. Charles hospital, Kensington. Plans are being developed to establish further units at St. Bartholomew's Smithfield site and also for Lambeth, Greenwich, Bethnal Green and Hackney.

  London Ambulance Service
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the latest figures for the London ambulance service's record in reaching patients charter targets for response times.

  Mr. Sackville
  The latest published figures are for January 1994 and are as follows:

  Per cent.

  14-minute response standard

  65

  8-minute response time

  12

  3-minute activation time

  34

  This performance falls short of the patients charter targets. That is why in this financial year the Government and the London regions will invest an extra £14·8 million in the London ambulance service, tied to specific improvements in performance.

  Health Workers
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health service workers have been made redundant in London since the Tomlinson report was published.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Separate figures for inner London have been held centrally only since April 1993. Between April and December 1993 around 750 redundancies were reported by inner London hospitals.

  Health Information
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have called(a) the health information service and (b) the health literature line.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A special trawl of the national health service regions shows that the number of calls received by the health information service in the period between April 1992 and March 1994 was 234,656.

  The number of calls received by the health literature line in the period between April 1993 to March 1994 was 223,346.

WALES

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) of 22 February,Official Report, column 144, if he will list the firms of consultants employed by his Department and the number of contracts they have undertaken.

  Mr. Redwood
  Since 1988–89, the Welsh Office has engaged the following firms of consultants:

  Firms

  Number of occasions employed

  Aldbourne Associates

  2

  Ampersand Systems Ltd.

  2

  Apple Design

  1

  Aspinwall & Co.

  2

  Aston Business School

  1

  Axis Consultants Ltd.

  1

  Babti & Dobbi

  1

  Bar Quas Ltd.

  2

  BASE

  1

  BIS Ltd.

  2

  Briar Associates

  5

  Bristol Business School

  1

  Butler & Young

  1

  Cambridge Scientific Ltd.

  1

  Capita Group

  1

  Cardiff Business School

  1

  Centre for Health Planning and Management

  1

  Clifford Talbot Partnership

  4

  Computer and Management Consultants plc

  1

  Coopers and Lybrand

  20

  Cousins Stephens Associates

  1

  CRG

  1

  CSL Group

  1

  DBI Associates

  2

  Drivers Jonas

  2

  ECOTEC

  1

  321

  Firms

  Number of occasions employed

  ERES

  1

  Ernst & Whinney

  2

  Ernst & Young

  1

  Feedback Communications

  1

  Finesse Corporate Functions

  1

  Frank Griffiths Associates Ltd.

  1

  George Courderoy

  1

  Gwent Management Consultancy Service

  1

  Consultancy Firm

  Number of Contracts

  HACAS

  2

  Hay Management Consultants

  2

  Henley Management Consultants

  1

  Howard Humphries and Partners

  4

  Hunters

  1

  IMC Management Consultants Ltd.

  1

  JAB Associates

  1

  KOALA

  1

  KPMG Peat Marwick

  13

  Lesley Hoys & Associates

  1

  London Economics Ltd.

  2

  Matt McDonald

  1

  MMM Consultancy Group

  1

  Mouncey and Partners

  1

  MVA Systematica

  1

  North West Regional Research Laboratory

  1

  Oscar Faber TPA

  1

  Owen Thomas and Co.

  3

  PA Cambridge Economic Consultancies

  1

  PA Consulting

  1

  PA Hutchinson

  1

  P-E Incubon

  2

  PEP Ltd.

  1

  Peter Stanley Associates

  1

  Phillip Sweet Associates

  1

  Pi Associates

  3

  PIEDA

  4

  Price Waterhouse

  7

  Prieda Plc

  1

  Prime Energy

  1

  Quo-Tec Ltd.

  3

  Rita Hale and Associates

  1

  SCA Ltd.

  1

  Segal Quince and Wicksteed

  1

  Social Information Systems Ltd.

  3

  Social Services Strategic Planning

  2

  Software Personnel

  1

  Soil Survey and Land Research

  1

  SRD Consultants

  1

  Studio 35 Ltd.

  1

  TACP Landscape Architects

  1

  Terry Darlington

  1

  Tony Ball and Associates

  1

  Touche Ross

  22

  University of Wales: Centre for Housing and Development

  1

  Victor Hausner

  1

  Wales and South West Regional Research Laboratory

  1

  322

  Firms

  Number of occasions employed

  Wallace Evans Ltd.

  3

  Warwick Business School

  2

  Welsh Development Technology Marketing

  1

  W. F. Atkins—Wales

  2

  William Battle Associates

  4

  Wilter Associates

  1

  School Buildings
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representation he has received from teachers' and head teachers' organisations regarding the condition of school buildings; and if he will meet the president of the National Association of Head Teachers in Wales to discuss linkage between social deprivation and low educational achievement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend and I have from time to time received representations on the condition of school buildings from teachers and head teachers organisations; responsibility for the repair and maintenance of school buildings rests with the local education authority. Any request from the president of the National Association of Headteachers in Wales for a meeting to discuss linkage between social deprivation and educational achievement will be carefully considered.

  Buckley, Local Facilities
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will visit Bistre community centre, Buckley, Clwyd; and if he will meet the voluntary bodies who use the centre;

  (2) if he will convene a meeting with Clwyd county council and Buckley town council to review local facilities and voluntary groups in Buckley; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will meet Buckley town council.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have no immediate plans to visit Bistre community centre or to meet Clwyd county council and Buckley town council to review local facilities and voluntary groups in Buckley.

  Milk Surpluses
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to allow dairy farmers in Wales who have exceeded their production quota to donate their surplus milk to third-world aid agencies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The European Commission has confirmed that, under the present EC regulations, using surplus milk for food aid purposes would count against producers' quota allocation. I have asked officials to review this matter in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Commission.

  Water Drainage, Llandudno
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the customer services committee for Wales investigation into foul and surface water drainage systems in Llandudno has been completed; and if he will put a copy in the Library.
  323
  Mr. Redwood
  The investigation by the Customer Service Committee for Wales of the flooding incident at Llandudno in June 1993 was primarily directed at the response of Dwr Cymru Cyf—Welsh Water—to the incident, in the light of a number of customer complaints received regarding possible compensation. Following investigation it was considered that none of the complaints could be upheld by the committee because the flooding resulted from very exceptional weather conditions. If the hon. Member requires a copy of Dwr Cymru's report on the incident as provided to the customer service committee, he should contact the company directly.

  Bovine Tuberculosis, Gwent
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek a report into the relationship between the outbreak of tuberculosis on a Gwent dairy farm last summer and the presence of infected badgers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  An investigation into the possible causes of an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis on a Gwent dairy farm last year continues to be carried out by the state veterinary service. No definitive conclusions have been reached.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what account he has taken of the figures for children's dental decay in the 1992 annual report of the chief medical officer at the Welsh Office in considering revisions to Welsh health circular (89)28 on requirements for the community dental service; and if the circular is still in force.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Welsh health circular (89)28 remains in force. It remains relevant to present needs and requirements and there are no plans to revise it.

  Year

  Average daily arrears at 31 March £ billion

  Net VAT collected in year ended 31 March £ billion

  Net average daily collections £ million

  Average daily arrears as a percentage of net VAT collected in the year

  1986

  1·4

  19·3

  53·0

  7·0

  1987

  1·2

  21·4

  58·5

  5·7

  1988

  1·0

  24·1

  65·9

  4·4

  1989

  1·1

  27·3

  74·9

  4·0

  1990

  1·2

  29·5

  80·8

  4·0

  1991

  1·6

  31·0

  84·9

  5·2

  1992

  1·9

  35·6

  97·6

  5·4

  1993

  2·0

  37·2

  102·0

  5·4

  The average daily arrears figure represents the average gross amount of value added tax outstanding on any one day during the year. It cannot be directly related to an average daily collections figure, as the first is a measure of average total cumulative arrears outstanding on any day. The latter relates to average receipts on a single day, and is not a cumulative figure.

  The percentages shown relate to the average daily arrears figure at the year end, expressed as a percentage of net VAT collected in the year.

TREASURY

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 17 March,Official Report, column 819, if he will list the amount of value added tax outstanding for each year since 1988, including 1993, as a percentage of total value added tax collected.

  Sir John Cope
  Information for the years 1988 to 1993 is shown in the table.

  The amounts outstanding shown in the table are the absolute gross cumulative amounts of value added tax arrears at 31 March each year.

  Year

  VAT arrears at 31 March £ billion

  Cumulative VAT arrears at 31 March as a percentage of net receipts for the year ended 31 March

  1988

  0·8

  3·5

  1989

  0·9

  3·2

  1990

  1·2

  4·0

  1991

  1·5

  4·7

  1992

  1·6

  4·6

  1993

  1·6

  4·2

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 17 March,Official Report, column 819, if he will list the average daily arrears of value added tax for each year since 1986, including 1993, as a percentage of average daily collections of value added tax.

  Sir John Cope
  Information for the years 1986 to 1993 is shown in the table.

  Inland Revenue
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many counter callers and telephone queries the Inland Revenue had in the period February to March in 1992, 1993 and 1994.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The numbers of counter callers and telephone queries dealt with by tax offices in the periods concerned are set out in the table. Data are not available for the smaller number of specialist and collection offices.
  325

  Counter callers

  Telephone callers

  Mid February to mid March 1992

  388,273

  1,980,322

  Mid February to mid March 1993

  342,917

  2,079,299

  Mid February to mid March 1994

  352,043

  2,354,400

  The earlier timing of the Budget has allowed all the consequential adjustments to employee codings to be made at the start of the year. In the past there would have been a recoding exercise following the Budget in March, and queries would have arisen after that.

  As in previous years, however, there has been a decrease in the aggregate number of counter and telephone callers in the reporting period to mid-March this year.

SCOTLAND

  Tourism
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take to strengthen the composition of the Scottish tourism co-ordinating group; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend announced on 29 June 1993 that, as part of the tourism review, the Scottish tourism co-ordinating group would be responsible, under my chairmanship, for supervising the preparation by the Scottish tourist board of a national tourism strategy for Scotland.

  I have concluded that it will be desirable, if widespread commitment to the national tourism strategy is to be secured, to strengthen the group with a wider range of tourist interests. I am glad to announce that the following members have agreed to serve:

  Serving members

  Scottish Tourist Board

  Chairman and Chief Executive1

  Scottish Enterprise

  Chairman and Chief Executive1

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  Chairman and Chief Executive1

  British Tourist Authority

  Chief Executive1

  COSLA

  President

  Scottish Confederation of Tourism

  Chairman

  Scottish Natural Heritage

  Chairman

  The Scottish Arts Council

  Chairman

  The Scottish Sports Council

  Chairman

  The Scottish Museums Council

  Chairman

  Historic Scotland

  Director and Chief Executive

  Scottish office Industry Department

  Head of Highlands, Tourism and co-ordination Division1

  1 Existing members of the group.

  The remit of the group will be to devise a national tourism strategy, to review that strategy annually, to ensure that it is implemented, to improve Scotland's tourism product, and to ensure effective co-ordination between Scottish tourist interests.

  The first meeting of the expanded group will be on 20 May.

  Aggravated Trespass
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received in respect of the aggravated trespass clause in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill with regard to Scotland; and if he will place these submissions and his replies in the Library.
  326
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 31 March 1994]: My right hon. Friend has received representations to the effect that the provisions of the clause will be used to obstruct lawful outdoor activity in Scotland, such as hill walking. There has also been some support for the clause.

  Replies to those who have expressed concern about the clause have made it clear that its purpose is to ensure that those engaging in lawful activities, whoever and whatever they may be, are provided with protection from trespassers who intend to intimidate them or otherwise intend to obstruct or disrupt those activities.

  The material in question is a matter for my right hon. Friend and those who have submitted the representations. It would therefore be inappropriate for arrangements to be made for it to be placed in the Library.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Jaguar XJS
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he was first made aware of the possibility that Ford was considering moving from the United Kingdom to Portugal the assembly of the next generation Jaguar XJS.

  Mr. Heseltine
  My Department was first informed in July 1993 that Ford was considering Portugal as a possible location for the manufacture of the Jaguar X100, which is the successor to the XJS sports car.

  CRAFT Programme
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which companies and technology centres are participating in the Co-operative Research Action for Technology programme for small and medium-sized enterprises under the framework programme for research and development; and what proportion of this programme has been spent in Great Britain.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  This information is not readily available in the form requested. Each CRAFT project must have participants from two or more Community countries and at the moment the United Kingdom accounts for 10 to 11 per cent. of the 640 participants in projects so far awarded grant; 15 United Kingdom-based organisations are engaged in research and development under the programme.

  STRIDE Programme
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the projects supported by the EU Science and Technology for Regional Innovation and Development in Europe programme.

  Mr. Heseltine
  A list of successful applicants under the STRIDE initiative has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Technology and Innovation
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library the list of the projects supported by(a) the advanced technology programme and (b) the support for innovation programme since the inception of the projects.
  327
  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the recent decision by the European Commission to delay the restructuring of the steel industry.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 13 April 1994]: I know of no such decision. Restructuring of the EC steel industry is essentially a matter for the companies concerned. The most important contribution which the Commission can make lies in the rigorous application of the European Coal and Steel Community state aid rules, including in particular implementation of the improved monitoring procedures agreed at the 17 December Industry Council.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many post offices and sub-post offices there are; what were the figures 20 years ago; what is their estimated profit in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 13 April 1994]: I understand from the Post Office that the numbers of branch post offices and sub-post offices were as follows:

  Number of offices

  February 1994

  March 1974

  Branch offices

  850

  1,607

  Sub-post offices

  18,968

  22,276

  In 1992–93, Post Office Counters Ltd., which is the subsidiary of the Post Office responsible for post offices, made a profit on ordinary activities before taxation of £24·9 million. In 1973–74, the Post Office was a very different organisation, covering telecommunications and Girobank services, as well as the constituent parts of the existing business. The accounts were not structured in a way which allows the profitability of what is now Post Office Counters Ltd. to be distinguished from other parts of the operation.

  Metal Recycling
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek the assessment of the British Bankers Association of the effect on the credit-worthiness and asset base of the metal recycling industry of waste management licensing.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: Under the Government's deregulation initiative there is a requirement for compliance costs to be assessed prior to the implementation of any new regulations, with special account taken of the impact on small businesses. In doing this the Government do, of course, take account of any views put forward by industry. I understand, however, that the British Bankers Association has not, as yet, produced an assessment of the possible effect of waste management licensing on asset bases. If and when it does so, the Government would be interested to receive a copy.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Authority Powers
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the functions of local authorities which provide them with a power or right of entry, search or seizure into or of any property.

  Mr. Gummer
  There is a large number of such powers, including those listed in the table:

  Acts of Parliament

  Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (c.65)

  Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (c.38)

  Public Health Act 1961 (c.64)

  Building Act 1984 (c.97)

  Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 (c.22)

  Control of Pollution Act 1974 (c.40)

  Public Health Act 1936 (c.49)

  Clean Air Act 1993 (c.11)

  Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 (c.10)

  Water Industry Act 1991 (c.56)

  Mines and Quarries (Tips) Act 1969 (c.10)

  Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 (c.56)

  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (c.9)

  Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c.8)

  Consumer Credit Act 1974 (c.39)

  Trade Descriptions Act 1968 (c.29)

  Consumer Protection Act 1987 (c.43)

  Cinemas Act 1985 (c.13)

  Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982

  Explosives Act 1875 (c.17)

  London County Council (General Powers) Act 1900 (c.cclviii)

  Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1973 (c.xxx)

  Statutory Instruments include:

  The Tourism (Sleeping Accommodation Price Display) Order 1977/1877

  The Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992/2037

  The Non-automatic Weighing Instruments (EEC Requirements) Regulations 1993/1579

  The Movement of Animals (Restrictions) Order 1990/760

  The Pleuro-Pneumonia Order 1928 (SR & O 1928 No. 205)

  The Cattle Plague Order 1928 (SR & O 1928 No. 206)

  The Poultry Meat (Hygiene) Regulations 1976/1209

  The Rabies (Control) Order 1974/2212

  Computer Systems
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Gummer
  The information is set out in the table. All systems are still in use.

  Year, System and Function

  Cost £ million

  1990–91

  Administration of European Regional Development Fund grants.

  0·3

  1990–91

  Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution (HMIP) Corporate Information system—to support the regulatory and office administration functions of HMIP.

  1·3

  1991–92

  Property Holdings Integrated Accounting System—to monitor and record Property Holdings costs and charges.

  0·1

  1991–92

  329

  Year, System and Function

  Cost £ million

  To support the regulatory and office administration functions of HMIP.

  3·4

  1991–92

  Administration of Derelict Land Grants.

  1·2

  1992–93

  To support the regulatory and office administration functions of HMIP.

  3·4

  1993–94

  To support the procurement of IT and other office machinery.

  0·2

  1993–94

  Security and Facilities Executive Common Accounting System.

  0·1

  1993–94

  Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network—to monitor levels of radioactivity throughout the United Kingdom.

  12·0

  1993–94

  To support the regulatory and office administration functions of HMIP.

  2·2

  Limehouse Tunnel Road Link
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer concerning the Limehouse tunnel road link on 23 March,Official Report, columns 277-78, what were the reasons for the demolition of 164 units of the St. Vincent estate not related to construction of the tunnel, stating the number of units related to each purpose; what is the approximate breakdown of the £45 million costs of rehousing 314 households and the cost of demolition of the 256 dwellings demolished; and what is the approximate percentage and acreage of the area now used for (a) tunnel purposes, (b) other current purposes and (c) future residential, commercial, or retail and other uses.

  Mr. Baldry
  The reasons for the demolition of the 164 units not directly related to the construction of the Limehouse link, were as follows:26 dwellings (St. Christopher House) received Dangerous Structure Notices served during construction.
  28 dwellings (Jamaica House) were demolished for the new bus only diversion/Limehouse Causeway junction improvement.
  110 dwellings (Cayman, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Nevis and Bermuda Houses) were unsuitable in terms of design, condition and location for refurbishment as family accommodation.

  The breakdown of the £45 million cost of rehousing the 314 households at the St. Vincent estate is as follows:

  £ million

  Rehoused with housing associations in the borough

  29·8

  Rehoused in existing borough stock

  6·5

  Assisted to buy own property

  1·9

  Moved to out of borough housing association stock

  4·4

  Other (disturbance/administrative/security

  2·3

  Demolition costs (164 units)

  0·24

  Total

  45·14

  Note: The demolition costs of the remaining 92 units form part of the overall tunnel construction costs and are not available separately.

  The approximate percentages and acreage of the areas used for the following purposes are:
  330

  Acres

  Percentage

  (a) Tunnel purposes: Limehouse Link works

  1·11

  22

  (b) Other current purposes: Bus diversion/junction improvements

  0·13

  57

  (c) Future residential/commercial/retail and other uses:

  Youth club

  0·43

  8

  Residential/open space/commercial

  2·72

  54

  Site roads

  0·63

  TOTAL

  5·02

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the leak of acid at the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield on 29 March; what investigations have been undertaken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; and what risk was posed to the Sellafield work force from the accident.

  Mr. Atkins
  The spillage of nitric acid, a standard industrial chemical, occurred in a room housing tanks supplying chemical reagents for use in THORP operations.

  The operator informed Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution about the spillage and initiated an investigation into its cause. The HMIP site inspector attended the plant on the same day and was briefed about the circumstances and the precautionary actions taken. HMIP is awaiting the results of the operator's investigation before deciding if any further action needs to be taken.

  The Health and Safety Executive is also investigating the incident and will include an assessment of any potential risk to Sellafield employees.

  Housing Investment
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the housing investment programme allocation for each local authority in each year since 1978–79.

  Sir George Young
  Information on housing investment programme allocations since 1978–79 for each local authority in England is available in the Library of the House.

  Rent Registration Service
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total sum of rents referred to the rent registration service for the last year for which figures are available.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: In 1992–93 about 275,000 fair rent cases were referred to the rent officer service, amounting to a total rental value of some £566 million.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hong Kong
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many right hon. and hon. Members of the House of Commons and the
  331
  House of Lords have visited Hong Kong at the invitation of the Governor of Hong Kong during the current Parliament.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Sixty-five, 53 of whom are right hon. and hon. Members of the House of Commons and 12 of whom are Members of the House of Lords.

  Malaysia
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Malaysia concerning the implications for human rights of the banning in Malaysia of the film "Schindler's List"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Malaysian Government lifted its ban on the film "Schindler's List" on 30 March in accordance with normal guidelines governing the screening of all local and foreign films.

  Indonesia (Arms Sales)
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy on the sale of arms to Indonesia.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Our policy on arms sales to Indonesia is based on the principle that all sovereign states enjoy the right, under article 51 of the United Nations charter, to defend themselves. This is a right we claim for ourselves and it would be inconsistent and discriminatory to deny it to others. All applications for export licences are, none the less, subject to strict controls and scrutinised on a case-by-case basis. For example, if we believe a prospective purchase is likely to be used for repressive purposes against a civilian population, the application is rejected.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what prosecutions have taken place in United Kingdom courts in respect of offences committed in Antarctica, under section 5 of the Antarctic Treaty Act 1967.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There have been no prosecutions under section 5 of the Antarctic Treaty Act 1967 since it entered into force.

  Somalia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the United Nations Operation in Somalia—UNOSOM—about the need to support efforts to maintain peace in Somaliland; and what response he has had.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In our regular contacts with the United Nations we have strongly supported efforts aimed at bringing peace and stability to all regions of Somalia. UNOSOM's mandate is to assist the Somalis in their efforts in seeking a peaceful solution to the tragic civil war. UNOSOM has given practical and financial assistance to these efforts.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he 332
  has about further disarmament in Somaliland; and what action the United Kingdom Government are taking to support this.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There have been no confirmed reports of further voluntary disarmament in north west Somalia. The demobilisation proposal currently being prepared by the local authorities in Northwest Somalia with assistance from the United Nations development programme includes provisions for disarmament. The recent declaration in Nairobi agreed by the 15 factions called for the implementation of voluntary disarmament in Somalia. We fully support this declaration.

  Liberia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what fighting is currently occurring in Liberia; who are the participants; and how this is affecting the peace process.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We understand that the Liberian Peace Council has been fighting against National Patriotic Front of Liberia forces in the south-east of the country. In March there were reports of fighting between the Lofa Defence Force and the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy in the north-east. None the less the three signatory parties to the Cotonou agreement appear to be continuing their efforts to implement the agreement.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the UN has asked ECOMOG—the Economic Community of West African States military observer group—to intervene to stop the current warfare in Liberia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Economic Community of West African States sent its military observer group to Liberia in 1990, for precisely this purpose. The UN military observer mission and ECOMOG are working to implement the Cotonou agreement and bring about an end to conflict in Liberia. The UN is not, however, in a position to give any specific direction to ECOMOG.

  Burundi
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests have been made by the Government of Burundi for an international intervention force because of the security situation in the country.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Following the assassination of President Ndadaye in October 1993, the Burundi authorities requested the intervention of an international force. This led to the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity observer mission which has now begun to arrive in Burundi. As far as we are aware no further requests have been made since the tragic death of President Ntyaramira on 6 April.

TRANSPORT

  Computer Systems
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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.
  333
  Mr. Norris
  The tables provide details of the main systems brought in over the last three years.

  In addition, smaller systems based on personal computers and small networks have been introduced to

  Business Area and System name/function

  Year

  Whole system cost (£x000)

  Still in use? Yes/No

  Driving Standards Agency

  1. Additions to driver test booking system.

  1992–94

  738·1

  Yes

  2. Additions to approved driving instructor register.

  1992–94

  452·8

  Yes

  3. IFCOS (Integrated Financial Control System) DSA Developments.

  1992–94

  138·2

  Yes

  Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency

  1. Medics System. Computerisation of the Drivers medical system.

  1990–91

  870·0

  Yes

  2. Human Resource Management System. Personnel and Absence management functions.

  1991–92

  200·0

  Yes

  3. Medics Vision. Enhancement of the medics system into an Image document handling system.

  1992–93

  877·0

  Yes

  4. Vehicles OCR System. Optical character recognition of completed Vehicle Relicensing Reminder forms (VII's).

  1993–94

  650·0

  Yes

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  1. Customer Accounts. Extension to the HGV/PCV system to allow prepayment for vehicle tests or any other VI service.

  1991–92

  340·0

  Yes

  2. Roadworthiness. Records details of vehicle roadworthiness enforcement checks at both roadside and Operators premises.

  1992–93

  352·0

  Yes

  3. Slot Bookings. Extension to the Test Booking system.

  1992–93

  210·0

  Yes

  Transport Research Laboratory

  1. MIS (Management Information System).

  1991

  471·0

  Yes

  2. Prime Computer Upgrade/Scientific Computing.

  1991

  88·3

  Yes

  3. Networks to provide Distributed Computing for TRL.

  1992

  456·0

  Yes

  Vehicle Certification Agency. No systems procured within the stated criteria.

  DOT (Centre)

  Central Services Directorate

  1. Core Business System. System to provide full economic costings of Accommodation and Office Divisions projects.

  1993-94

  107·0

  Yes

  2. Records Management Computer System.

  1992-94

  537·0

  Yes

  3. A.M.I.S. Accommodation Management Information System.

  1992-94

  123·0

  Yes

  4. Local Area Network in Hastings to provide Office Systems.

  1992–93

  250·0

  Yes

  Highways, Safety and Traffic Directorate (The Highways Agency with effect from 4/94

  4. Upgrades. Upgrade to existing systems.

  1990

  1,000·0

  Yes

  5. Purchase of Production Machine. New computer for HSTCC to provide extra capacity.

  1991

  1,900·0

  Yes

  6. Integrated Highways Maintenance System 1 (IHMS 1)Management of bid for funds and technical approval of maintenance schemes.

  1991

  575·0

  Yes

  7. Upgrades. Upgrades to existing systems.

  1992

  1,015·0

  Yes

  8. Skid. Provide facilities for planning, processing and analysing survey data.

  1992

  513·0

  Yes

  9. Highspeed Road Monitor. System for analysing Highspeed Road Monitor (HRM) survey data.

  1992

  320·0

  Yes

  10. Upgrades, Upgrades to existing System.

  1993

  345·0

  Yes

  11. Provision of Local Area Networks in six locations to provide Office System.

  1993–94

  570·0

  Yes

  Office of Privatisation and Rail Franchising

  1. Local Area Networks including Mail Gateway links to outside companies.

  1993–94

  124·1

  Yes

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

  Mr. Norris
  Since January 1992, the Department of Transport and its agencies have awarded commissions to 62 information technology consultancy companies. The tasks involved range from strategic analysis to system review and system maintenance. The cost of the commissions in this period is about £10 million. Earlier information is not readily available.
  334
  support a very range of administrative functions such as asset management, project management/costing, management information, text processing.

  Canning Town flyover
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made as to whether traffic flows by the alternative lower Lea crossing would be adequate to deal with current and future demands on the Canning Town four-lane flyover;

  (2) how the proposed works in respect of the scheme to widen the Canning Town flyover from four lanes to six will reduce existing congestion and delay;

  (3) when he expects the Canning Town flyover with (a) two and (b) three lanes in each direction will produce significant delays to traffic; and over what periods of the day.
  335
  Mr. Norris
  The questions relate to operational matters of the Highways Agency and I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Nigel Spearing, dated 14 April 1994:
  Steven Norris, the Minister for Transport in London has asked me to write to you about the three questions on the proposed improvement of the A13 from Ironbridge to Canning Town which you tabled for answer in the House by the Secretary of State for Transport.
  You asked when delays could be expected and how the proposed trunk road improvements would reduce existing congestion and delay. With the present four lanes, delays are expected to be significant for westbound traffic in the morning peak period from the year 2000 onwards. With the capacity increased to six lanes, three in each direction, the proposed improved capacity at the Canning Town flyover would match that of the A13 elsewhere and would remove the present constriction on the flow of traffic. Therefore, no significant delays would be expected at this location in the foreseeable future.
  You also asked whether the capacity of the alternative Lower Lea Crossing would be adequate to deal with the current and future demands on the Canning Town four lane flyover. The purpose of the lower crossing was to accommodate traffic between the development areas of the Royal Docks and the Isle of Dogs. Once these areas are fully developed there would be very little, if any, reserve capacity for use by trunk road traffic as an alternative route.
  I believe this is the information you want, but please let me know if there is anything further you require.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the salaries and principal conditions from 1 April of(a) the chairman of British Rail, (b) the chairman of Railtrack, (c) the Rail Regulator and (d) the Franchising Director.

  Mr. Freeman
  The salaries and principal conditions are in the table. Salaries are at 1993–94 rates, to be reviewed with effect from 1 April 1994.

  Name

  Salary £

  Time commitment and expiry of appointment

  (a) Sir Bob Reid

  131,663

  Three days per week —31 March 1995

  (b) Robert B. Horton

  121,800

  Three days per week—31 March 1997

  (c) John Swift, QC

  125,000

  Full time—30 November 1998

  (d) Roger Salmon

  100,000

  Four days per week—7 November 1998

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Government intend to privatisse Railtrack within the next three years.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government's aim is to transfer all parts of the railway, including Railtrack, to the private sector. Railtrack has been established as a Government-owned company which will adopt the commercial approach expected of successful private sector businesses. This will facilitate its privatisation, although it is too soon to say when that will be.

  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will be consulting the British Rail pension trustees and other interested parties on the Government's detailed proposals for railway pensions after privatisation.
  336
  Mr. Freeman
  Drafts of the initial pensions orders, the proposed trust deed and rules of the joint railway industry pension scheme, and associated documents were sent to the trustees and other interested parties on 31 March. Comments are requested by 25 April. Copies of these documents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Railway Employees (Substance Abuse)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many employees in(a) London Underground and (b) British Rail have been (i) tested for drugs or alcohol, (ii) failed such a test, (iii) been prosecuted following such a test and (iv) been convicted following prosecution under the Transport and Works Act 1992.

  Mr. Freeman
  During the period 7 December 1992 to 28 February 1994 the British Transport police acting under the Transport and Works Act 1992, carried out the following tests:

  London Underground

  British Rail

  Total number of tests administered

  57

  181

  Total number of positive tests

  12

  33

  Total number of tests refused or failed

  8

  7

  Total number of prosecutions in progress or completed

  16

  30

  Total number of convictions to 28 February 19941

  1

  15

  1 These figures relate to convictions currently registered on the BTP force computer system.

  Isle of Wight
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to provide signing to the Isle of Wight;

  (2) if he will provide signing to the Isle of Wight from the M27.

  Mr. Key
  After careful consideration I have asked the Highways Agency to provide a sign on the eastbound approach to the M27 junction 3 and one on the westbound approach to M27 junction 12. These will sign the Isle of Wight as a major destination and provide travellers with clear directions.

EDUCATION

  Books and Equipment
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much was spent by each local education authority outside London on books and equipment in 1992–93 prices in(a) 1979-80 and (b) 1992–93.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information is given in the table.

  Total expenditure on books and equipment by Outside London LEAs, in 1992–93 prices

  LEA

  1979–80(£000)

  1992–93(£000)

  Birmingham

  12,813

  17,895

  Coventry

  6,291

  15,116

  Dudley

  2,094

  3,027

  337

  LEA

  1979–80 (£000)

  1992–93 (£000)

  Sandwell

  4,056

  2,738

  Solihull

  1,899

  3,505

  Walsall

  3,177

  4,730

  Wolverhampton

  5,007

  2,975

  Knowsley

  2,058

  2,832

  Liverpool

  8,623

  4,921

  St. Helens

  1,745

  13,094

  Sefton

  3,068

  4,316

  Wirral

  3,706

  5,122

  Bolton

  3,385

  13,666

  Bury

  1,958

  12,593

  Manchester

  12,238

  7,904

  Oldham

  2,511

  3,891

  Rochdale

  2,394

  2,221

  Salford

  2,994

  1,316

  Stockport

  2,928

  5,586

  Tameside

  2,405

  3,120

  Trafford

  2,112

  12,884

  Wigan

  3,738

  5,723

  Barnsley

  2,476

  4,645

  Doncaster

  4,011

  143

  Rotherham

  2,453

  3,999

  Sheffield

  9,369

  7,397

  Bradford

  5,354

  8,422

  Calderdale

  1,915

  2,886

  Kirklees

  5,678

  9,193

  Leeds

  9,236

  9,499

  Wakefield

  3,137

  14,428

  Gateshead

  2,359

  2,797

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  5,464

  3,588

  North Tyneside

  1,973

  12,590

  South Tyneside

  2,820

  2,656

  Sunderland

  5,812

  5,422

  Isles of Scilly

  12

  5

  Avon

  10,140

  17,988

  Bedfordshire

  7,316

  12,347

  Berkshire

  7,949

  17,118

  Buckinghamshire

  6,236

  11,552

  Cambridgeshire

  7,250

  11,153

  Cheshire

  9,345

  12,276

  Cleveland

  7,111

  110,691

  Cornwall

  4,949

  8,311

  Cumbria

  5,002

  6,574

  Derbyshire

  8,907

  12,914

  Devon

  10,954

  18,741

  Dorset

  5,957

  9,024

  Durham

  5,283

  8,660

  East Susex

  10,103

  10,087

  Essex

  5,403

  20,296

  Gloucestershire

  5,318

  7,952

  Hampshire

  16,538

  26,957

  Hereford and Worcester

  7,163

  10,782

  Hertfordshire

  15,666

  7,030

  Humberside

  10,619

  21,141

  Isle of Wight

  1,629

  2,117

  Kent

  17,317

  7,088

  Lancashire

  15,343

  125,623

  Leicestershire

  12,910

  25,876

  Lincolnshire

  5,124

  9,693

  Norfolk

  8,474

  8,153

  North Yorkshire

  7,064

  15,476

  Northamptonshire

  6,205

  11,000

  Northumberland

  3,552

  4,113

  Nottinghamshire

  13,315

  15,973

  Oxfordshire

  8,080

  11,602

  Shropshire

  3,848

  1,110

  Somerset

  4,340

  8,400

  Staffordshire

  14,434

  17,330

  Suffolk

  6,115

  20,396

  Surrey

  7,714

  9,884

  Warwickshire

  4,532

  14,351

  West Sussex

  6,721

  12,693

  Wiltshire

  5,657

  11,709

  1 Indicates a provisional figure for 1992–93.

  General National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to divide provision of various levels of general national vocational qualifications between the further and higher education sectors.

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: General national vocational qualifications are currently available up to advanced level—broadly equivalent to GCE advanced level—and are not therefore regarded as higher education. Higher education institutions are, however, free to offer them and to seek funding from the Further Education Funding Council. The National Council for Vocational Qualifications proposes shortly, at the request of the Government to consult on the possibility of introducing GNVQs at levels above advanced level.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if it is his intention that general national vocational qualifications at all levels shall be available in each travel-to-work area via the further education sector.

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: The Government intend that all 16-year-olds should have the option of studying for GNVQs—at foundation, intermediate or advanced level—in their locality. More than 80,000 students in over 1,400 schools and colleges are already taking GNVQ courses. We intend that the number should continue to increase rapidly, consistent with securing quality and rigour.

  Further Education
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will bring forward proposals to allow students aged 16 to 18 years to be able to attend a further education college of their choice without incurring financial penalties from their local authority.

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: It is a condition of grant to the Further Education Funding Council that colleges in the further education sector should not charge tuition fees to home and EC full-time students aged 16-18. Assistance with the costs of part-time study,
  and with other expenses, is a matter for local education authorities, which are free to decide their own discretionary awards policies in the light of local needs and circumstances, their priorities and the resources available to them.

  Temporary Employment
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the reasons for ceasing to list separately those going into temporary employment in table 16 of his latest departmental report Cm 2510 regarding destinations of full-time and sandwich graduates on first degree courses.

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: The information on graduates in temporary or short-term employment, subsumed within table 16 of the departmental report Cm 2510 for reasons of simplicity and brevity, is shown in the table.
  339

  Destination of full-time and sandwich graduates1 on first degree courses, England

  Percentage

  Academic year

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Employment

  60

  58

  52

  45

  42

  Temporary employment2

  4

  5

  6

  6

  7

  Overseas employment3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Further education/training4

  19

  19

  20

  22

  23

  Overseas graduates leaving United Kingdom

  5

  5

  5

  7

  7

  Not available for employment

  4

  5

  6

  5

  5

  Believed unemployed

  6

  5

  8

  12

  13

  Total whose destination was known (thousands)

  85

  85

  90

  96

  104

  Not known (thousands)

  13

  15

  15

  16

  16

  Total (thousands)

  99

  101

  106

  112

  121

  1 Destination in the December following graduation. Excludes Open university students.

  2 Students reporting entering employment which will last for three months or less and due to end during the first three months of the calendar year following graduation.

  3 Home students.

  4 Includes teacher training.

  5 Includes not available because of having a fixed offer or acceptance of a place on another course, involved in portfolio preparation, taking time out, pregnancy/maternity/paternity, age past retirement, health and death.

  Sources: DFE survey exam results and first destination Universities' statistical record.

  Comparable data for graduates from Great Britain institutions were published in March 1993 in tables 4 to 7 of Statistical Bulletin 7/93, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, and figures for those graduating in academic year 1991–92 consistent with table 16 will be available shortly.

  The destination surveys conducted by the "Universities Statistical Record" and the Department are intended to collect the first destination of graduates at or around the end of the calendar year in which they graduate. In many cases those graduates reporting their first destination as short-term employment continue in employment at the end of that period.

  Full-time and sandwich higher education students in England enrolled on two year diploma and three and four year first degree courses 1988–89 to 1992–93

  (Figures in brackets are percentage of all students)

  (000s)

  1998–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Two-year diplomas

  20·6

  (12)

  21·2

  (11)

  25·0

  (11)

  30·0

  (12)

  36·1

  (12)

  Three-year degrees

  82·8

  (48)

  93·1

  (48)

  104·2

  (48)

  120·6

  (47)

  141·9

  (48)

  Four-year degrees

  38·6

  (22)

  46·1

  (24)

  51·6

  (24)

  61·7

  (24)

  70·2

  (24)

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of full-time undergraduates in English higher education institutions are on four-year courses.

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: In the academic year 1992–93, 24 per cent. of all full-time undergraduates, including sandwich students, in English higher education institutions were enrolled on four-year courses.

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Universities (Great Britain)

  10·3

  10·7

  11·3

  11·9

  13·3

  PCFC institutions

  —

  —

  —

  15·3

  17·1

  LEA institutions1

  12·0

  11·3

  11·8

  8·2

  9·1

  1 Includes institutions that transferred to the PCFC in 1989 for all years up to and including 1989–90.

  Sources: DFE surveys Further Education Student Record, Form 618G and Annual Monitoring Survey, Universities' Statistical Record, PCFC surveys PARISS and Staff Record.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the numbers and percentages of students in higher education undertaking two-year diploma courses and three and four-year first degree courses in each of past 10 years.

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: The information requested for the academic years 1988–89 to 1992–93 is shown in the table. I shall write to the hon. Member when the information for the earlier years has been collated.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will set out the numbers of students per academic member of staff in higher education in the latest six years for which he has information, stating any assumptions made in providing the information.

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: Information for the most recently available five years is given in the table. Comparable data for the sixth year is not immediately available and will take some time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy in the Library.
  341
  Assumptions made in the calculations include:

  (i) one full-time equivalent represents one full-time student or member of staff;

  (ii) part-time students and members of staff have been converted pro-rata to full-time equivalents;

  (iii) university staff with some teaching coimmitment are included, whatever their source of funding and;

  (iv) universities are on a Great Britain basis, other institutions on an England only basis.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the cost of restoring student grants to their 1989 levels in real terms, assuming current student numbers in higher education were maintained; and what percentage rise this represents.

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: My right hon. Friend has made no such estimate. To do so would require, in addition to assuming current student numbers, further assumptions about changes in his current policy on student support.

  Discretionary Awards
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information he has regarding local authorities which have ceased to offer any discretionary awards to students in further education.

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: The latest returns by local education authorities to the Department indicate that in 1992–93 the following six authorities made no further education discretionary awards: Haringey, Harrow, Isles of Scilly, Newham, Sunderland, Westminster. Six authorities have yet to make returns on their discretionary awards expenditure. The recently published Gulbenkian report stated that nine LEAs, not named in the report, planned to make no new discretionary awards in 1993–94.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information he has regarding local authorities refusing to consider granting discretionary awards to students in further education due to the college's being located outside the local authority area where the student lives.

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 15 April 1994]: Local education authorities are free to decide their own discretionary awards policies in the light of local needs and circumstances, their priorities, and the resources available

  15-year-old pupils in maintained schools 1992–93

  Number not attempting any GCSE

  Total number of 15-Year-old pupils

  Percentage not attempting any GCSE

  Number of schools

  Less than 60 pupils

  164

  4,386

  3·7

  96

  60–89

  1244

  25,375

  4·9

  330

  90–119

  3,303

  75,273

  4·4

  714

  120–159

  3,542

  88,396

  4·0

  654

  150–179

  3,981

  104,042

  3·8

  633

  180–209

  2,640

  73,477

  3·6

  381

  210–239

  1,425

  43,677

  3·3

  195

  240 and over

  1,867

  52,550

  3·6

  187

  Total

  18,166

  467,176

  3·9

  3,190

  342
  to them. My right hon. Friend has no power to intervene and does not seek information on their policies on a regular basis.

  Business and Technician Education Council Courses
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of staff teaching BTEC courses in(a) secondary schools and (b) further education colleges are known to have industrial experience.

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: This information is not collected centrally.

  Further and Higher Education Statistics
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what procedures exist for secondary schools catering for 11 to 16-year-olds to be systematically informed of the performance of former pupils in entering further and higher education; and if he will make a statement on his assessment of the desirability for parents of this information being made available when they are considering the choice of a secondary school.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: There are no procedures for secondary schools to be informed of the performance of former pupils in further and higher education. However, all colleges in the further education sector are required to provide local secondary schools with a breakdown of their results.

  GCSE Examinations
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information he has on the proportion of year 11 pupils in secondary schools who are not entered for any GCSE examinations; and what information he has available to distinguish between(a) small and large schools, (b) urban and rural schools, (c) schools in deprived and affluent areas and (d) schools with low, average and high unit costs.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: The proportion of pupils aged 15 in maintained schools excluding special schools in England at the beginning of the 1992–93 academic year who were not entered for any GCSE examination by the summer of 1993 is estimated to be 3·9 per cent. Information by size of 15-year-old age group in school is given in the table. Analyses by population density, by type of area or by unit costs are not readily available.

  Accredited Engineering Degree
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the higher education institutions which will be offering the accredited engineering degree in 1994–95 for which students will qualify for the £500 bursary.

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: Most United Kingdom higher education institutions offer accredited engineering degree courses. I will obtain and send to the hon. Member a copy of the latest Engineering Council list of accredited engineering degrees. Every United Kingdom student with AAB at A-level or its equivalent starting one of these degrees in autumn 1994 will be eligible for the bursary.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Cars
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cars were purchased by her Department in each of the last five years; and how many of those were of British manufacture.

  Mr. Jack
  The numbers of vehicles, including cars, purchased by my Department are as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1989

  86

  1990

  81

  1991

  74

  1992

  43

  1993

  65

  The policy is for the Department to buy the models necessary for the purpose intended where this provides the most cost-effective option. All purchases are made through central call-off contracts set up for that purpose.

  There are no centrally kept records according to manufacturer.

  Bovine Immunodeficiency Virus
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will authorise further investigation into the severity of the bovine immunodeficiency virus in cows at the Blything farm in Kelsall; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Veterinary officials from this Department have already put considerable efforts into detailed investigations at the farm in Kelsall where cattle with serological evidence of exposure to bovine immunodeficiency-like virus have been identified. We are continuing with these investigations.

  Dairy Surpluses
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make it her policy to allow dairy farmers who have exceeded their production quota to donate their surplus milk to third-world aid agencies; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The European Commission has confirmed that under the present EC regulations, using surplus milk 344
  for food aid purposes would have to count against producers' quota allocations. I have, however, asked officials to review the matter in consultation with the Commission.

EMPLOYMENT

  Computer Systems
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. Michael Forsyth
  Information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  European Social Fund
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what ESF funding is allocated to support youth training and training-for-work schemes; and what percentage of the cost of these schemes, or their forerunners, has been met by the European social fund in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information in the form requested is not available.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money his Department has received from the European social fund in each year since 1990; and to what that money has been allocated.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Figures for money from the European social fund handled by the Department over the years in question are as follows:

  £ million

  1990

  296·18

  1991

  367·75

  1992

  377·57

  1993

  624·01

  The figures for 1990, 1991 and 1992 relate to final amounts paid to applicant bodies, whereas figures for 1993 relate to amounts originally approved, since final claims for the programmes in question have not yet been submitted. Figures for Community initiatives between 1991 and 1993 are included in the 1993 figures.

  Over the period, the ESF has supported a wide range of vocational training schemes and employment measures run by a variety of bodies, including voluntary organisations, further and higher education colleges, Government Departments, local authorities, training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies and industry training organisations.
  345
  Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent changes there have been in the policy of the European Community Commission towards the provision of money for the United Kingdom under objective 3 of the social fund for training for the unemployed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In July last year the regulations governing the EC structural funds, including the European social fund, were revised. As a result, help for the long-term unemployed and young people are combined under objective 3, together with new priorities for others at risk of permanent exclusion from the labour market and promotion of equal opportunities for men and women.

  The Government submitted to the European Commission in early November 1993 a plan for objective 3 spending in Great Britain over the period 1994–99; a copy of this has been placed in the Library. We await a decision from the Commission on the plan.

  Departmental Office Space, Ipswich
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many square feet of office space his Department leases, rents or owns inside the boundary of the borough of Ipswich; and what was the equivalent area in June 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The total area of office space leased, rented or owned by the Employment Department group is 32,175 sq ft.

  The equivalent figure for June 1979 was 29,367 sq ft.

  Unemployment Measures
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider introducing a spectrum of unemployment measures similar to the U1-U7 classifications adopted by the United States Bureau of Labour Statistics; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information required to compile the U1-U7 measures is available from the labour force survey database which is publicly released each quarter. Any United Kingdom decision to publish such measures in their own right will be taken only in consultation with the relevant international organisations, and following consideration of the recent decision by the United States Bureau of Labour Statistics to suspend publication of all but one of these measures pending their review.

  Working Hours
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the total number of hours worked in the economy for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 31 March 1994 at column 928.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the objectives of the research commissioned by his Department from KPMG Peat Marwick regarding training and enterprise councils; what were the conclusions of that report; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

  Miss Widdecombe
  KPMG Peat Marwick was commissioned in June 1992 to explore the advantages, disadvantages and practical implications of moving to a higher level of output-related payments to training and enterprise councils for youth training and employment training.

  The consultants concluded that it was not feasible to move entirely to output-related payments without major changes to the systems when operating.

  New funding arrangements for YT and training for work are now being tested in a smaller number of TECs in England.

  A copy of the report from KPMG will be placed in the Library.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total expenditure by his Department on youth training in each of the last four years; and what is the expected outturn for 1994–95 in cash terms and in 1993–94 prices.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is given in the table. With fewer people in the age group concerned and more staying on in full-time education, we are now spending more per head on youth training than previously.

  Actual expenditure 1990–91 to 1993–94 and expected outturn for 1994–95

  £ million

  1990–91

  823·4

  1991–92

  746·3

  1992–93

  617·0

  1993–94

  640·2

  1994–95

  1676·5

  1994–95

  2650·5

  1 At cash prices.

  2 At 1993-94 prices.

  Notes:

  1989-90 relates to youth training scheme.

  1990-91 onwards relates to youth training and credits.

  Figures for 1990-91 are for Great Britain.

  Figures for 1991-92 are for England and Wales.

  Figures for all other years are for England only.

  Figures for 1993-94 are provisional.

  Planned provision for 1994-95.

  Training Expenditure
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total expenditure by his Department for employment training and employment action and then training for work in each of the last four years; and what is the expected outturn for 1994–95 in cash terms and 1993–94 prices.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is as follows:
  347

  Actual expenditure 1990–91 to 1993–94 and expected outturn for 1994–95

  £ million

  Employment training

  Employment action

  Training for work

  Total

  1990–91

  1,072·4

  —

  —

  1,072·

  1991–92

  737·4

  16·3

  —

  753·7

  1992–93

  629·5

  137·3

  —

  766·8

  1993–94

  —

  —

  709·9

  709·9

  1994–95

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cash

  —

  —

  693·3

  693·3

  Real terms

  —

  —

  666·7

  666·7

  Notes:

  1. Excludes administration/running costs.

  2. Figures for 1990–91 are for Great Britain.

  3. Figures for 1991–92 are for England and Wales.

  4. Figures for all other years are for England only.

  5. Figures for 1993–94 are provisional.

  Training for work and its predecessors are one of a 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.

  European Structural Fund
  Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether Her Majesty's Government are submitting proposals for European Community structural fund money under both objective 3 to assist those out of work and objective 4 to assist those who know they will lose their present jobs in the future.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, North (Mr. Heald) on 25 January 1994 at column 223.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his Department's estimate of the effects on the monthly claimant count of(a) the switch from sickness and invalidity benefits to an incapacity benefit in April 1995 and (b) the switch from unemployment benefit and income support to a job seeker's allowance in April 1996.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 14 April 1994]: The introduction of the new incapacity benefit is expected to increase the basic count progressively in 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98. It is too early to quantify this effect reliably but preliminary estimates, based on the Department of Social Security's published assumptions on the numbers of people who will be found capable of work under the new arrangements for incapacity benefit, suggest that it could reach 200,000 by 1997–98.

  The introduction of job seekers' allowance in April 1996 is likely to have a small downward effect on the count. Again, it is too early to give a reliable assessment of numbers, but preliminary estimates suggest that the effect could be around 30,000.

  Further study is needed to assess the feasibility of maintaining the consistent, seasonally adjusted monthly claimant count series.

  Works Councils Directive
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of companies and employees in the United Kingdom who will be covered by the proposed European Union directive on works councils.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 12 April 1994]: The proposed directive will not apply to any companies or employees in the United Kingdom. Research suggests that some 90 UK-owned companies have employees above the proposed threshold levels in the other 11 member states and will therefore be affected by a directive of the Eleven just as they are affected by the domestic law of those countries.

DEFENCE

  International Military Services Ltd.
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which years before 1990–91 contingent liabilities, whether statutory or non-statutory, in respect of International Military Services Ltd. appear in the Consolidated Fund accounts.

  Mr. Aitken
  Information on contingent liabilities in respect of International Military Services Ltd. prior to 1990–91 can be found in the Consolidated Fund accounts under the heading "Other Contingent Liabilities—Ordnance and Military Services Act 1984".

  Iraq
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau, Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 25 March,Official Report, columns 471-72, what were the sources, scope and content of the information from which it was concluded Iraq could manufacture biological weapons.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is not our normal practice to comment on such matters.

  Chemical and Biological Weapons
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what special laundering and working facilities are available to the armed forces in the event of their being subject to chemical or biological weapons attack.

  Mr. Hanley
  In addition to individual protection equipment for defence against nuclear, biological or
  349
  chemical attack, the armed forces possess, and continue to develop, collective protection equipment. This is deployed to protect medical facilities, aircrew and headquarters, as well as providing rest and recuperation for service personnel in an environment free from agent contamination. Her Majesty's ships and most armoured fighting vehicles have integral filtration-based collective protection systems.

  Contaminated clothing, including NBC protective clothing, is not intended to be laundered: it is either decontaminated by the wearer, or replaced.

  Strategic and Sub-strategic Strikes
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the difference between a strategic strike and a sub-strategic nuclear threat to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Hanley
  Our assessment of the intent and nature of any such threat would depend on the particular circumstances at the time.

  Mines
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to reviewing the use of mines and its relationship to developments in international law; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Protocol II of the UN weaponry convention contains strict rules governing the use of land mines. A review conference on the convention has been called for 1995, the main aim of which will be to consider strengthening protocol II. We intend to play a full part in the review conference and are already participating in the preparatory work leading up to it.

  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to receive a report on the recent loss and subsequent recovery of anti-personnel mines from Shoeburyness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  A committee of inquiry has been convened by the establishment to investigate the circumstances surrounding the loss of these mines. I expect to have a report shortly.

  Ninety of these mines remain missing and are expected to be widely scattered by now. They pose minimal risk to the public as they are without their detonators. Trials have shown that they would not detonate if exposed to heat or pressure. The emergency services are well aware of the situation.

  Ministerial Directions
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 175, about advice of accounting officers, what additional costs will be incurred over the next three years as a result of his decision to close part only of RNSD Copenacre.

  Mr. Hanley
  The costs that will be incurred over the next three years as a result of the decision to close part only of RNSD Copenacre will be lower than those estimated under the full closure option.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official
  350
  Report, column 175, about advice of accounting officers, what will be the general effects on the size and shape of the United Kingdom's shipbuilding industry of his decision to award the order for the second auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel on a single tender basis.

  Mr. Aitken
  The contract for the second auxiliary oiler replenishment ship, RFA Fort George, was placed with Swan Hunter on 18 December 1987. The ship was accepted from that company in March 1993. It is not possible to estimate what general effects this decision had on the size and shape of the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 174, what was the approximate date on which he decided to place an order for image intensifiers with English Electric Values; and what was the total value of the order, and the impact of his decision on (a) the operational capabilities of the armed forces and (b) the size and shape of the British defence industry.

  Mr. Aitken
  The decision to place an order for image intensifiers with English Electric Values was made in March 1992; the value of the order was less than £10 million. The decision had no impact on the operational capabilities of the armed forces and was essential in maintaining an United Kingdom source of specialised image intensifier tubes.

  Cost Study Teams
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 23 March,Official Report, column 337, if he will give the titles of the progress reports produced by the defence costs study teams he has seen to date.

  Mr. Aitken
  The reports received were either final or interim reports for studies listed in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Mrs. Knight) on 15 February at column 750.

  Russia
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has concerning a breach of security at a Russian intercontinental ballistic missile site at Barnaul in the Russian Republic on 10 March.

  Mr. Hanley
  We are aware that there was a breakdown in discipline leading to a shooting incident at the Barnaul nuclear missile site in Siberia on 10 March. We do not believe that this incident posed any significant security risk to the installation, nor was there any likelihood of a nuclear incident resulting from the occurrence.

  Performance Pay
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 173, regarding performance pay in the armed forces, what is the name of the management consultants appointed by the Air Force Pay Review Board; and when they are due to complete their work.

  Mr. Hanley
  The choice of consultants to assist the AFPRB is its consideration of performance pay, and the terms of their appointment, are entirely the responsibility of the AFPRB.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Northern Ireland Consumer Committee for Electricity.
  352
  Mr. Tim Smith
  Appointments to this committee are made by the Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland and I have asked him to write to the hon. Member giving details of current membership.