Written Answers of 9 December 1994

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Export Credit Guarantees
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of export credit guarantee finance contributes to arms sales; and what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of this funding as a means of overseas aid.

  Mr. Baldry
  ECGD supported guarantees worth £1.96 billion in respect of defence contracts in 1993–94. This amounted to 48 per cent. of ECGD's support for capital goods and projects in 1993–94.

  Export credit cover does not 'form part of the Government's overseas aid effort, nor is it funded from the aid budget. Export credit is provided as part of the Government's export promotion strategy.

  Death Penalty
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries of the British Commonwealth still retain the death penalty; and how many people in each country were under sentence of death on 16 November.

  Mr. Baldry
  [pursuant to his reply 28 November 1994, Official Report, column 502]: The death penalty in Britain applies only to acts of treason and piracy with violence.

  Rwanda
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are Rwanda's outstanding debts to(a) the World bank, (b) the International Monetary Fund and (c) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Baldry
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 December 1994, Official Report, columns 12D–21]: Rwanda's arrears to the World bank currently total $5.2 million.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Statistics
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) boys and (b) girls under the age of 16 years were being held in an adult prison in England and Wales on 10 October 1994.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  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.
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  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 8 December 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what was the number of (a) boys and (b) girls under the age of 16 years held in an adult prison in England and Wales on 10 October 1994.
  The provisional information for 30 September 1994 is the closest to 10 October that is available. On that date ten males and two females aged under 16 years of age were held in adult Prison Service establishments in England and Wales.

  Solvent Abuse
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the police greater powers to deal with glue sniffing and solvent abuse.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 makes it an offence for retailers to sell substances to a person under the age of 18 if they have reason to believe that the young person intends to use them for the purpose of intoxication. It is punishable on conviction with up to six months' imprisonment and/or a fine up to £5,000. In addition, under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 it is an offence for a person to use threatening, abusive, insulting or disorderly behaviour, a sanction which can be used against an individual who behaves in such a way while so intoxicated.

  The possibility of making volatile substances abuse a criminal offence was considered by the Government in 1983 in consultation with a range of statutory and voluntary agencies. The great majority of those who replied took the view that to criminalise VSA would be counter-productive, deterring misusers from seeking help and possibly burdening young people with a criminal record. There was also a fear that such a course might put young people in greater danger by making their activities more secretive.

  The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has recently undertaken a study into VSA, the results of which will be published next year. We do not expect it to recommend any changes in the law.

  We currently have no reason to believe that a change in the law would be beneficial and have no plans for such a change.

  Whitemoor Prison
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Sir John Woodcock's inquiry into the escape from Whitemoor prison will be completed; and when it will be published.

  Mr. Howard
  I will publish Sir John Woodcock's report as soon as possible.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of his correspondence with the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Lady Olga Maitland) concerning Whitemoor prison.

  Mr. Howard
  I shall place copies of the correspondence with my hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam in the Library once Sir John Woodcock's report into events at Whitemoor prison has been published.

  Vehicle Checks
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what priority he gives to the targeting of police resources for the purpose of vehicle checks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The priority given to the use of police resources for vehicle checks is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police.

  Operation Brink
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received from the West Midlands police force regarding Operation Brink; and what plans he has to recommend the adoption of the scheme by other forces.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand that this is a police initiative against those who have outstanding warrants for the non-payment of fines. No reports on this operation had been received prior to the tabling of this question.

  The allocation and deployment of police officers on initiatives of this kind is a matter for individual chief constables.

  M11 Link Road
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total cost of the policing of the M11 link road protest(a) in order to occupy the premises in Claremont road, Leytonstone and (b) for the project as a whole to date; and if he will estimate the continuing cost.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the cost of policing the protest in order to allow bailiffs to take possession of the premises in Claremont road was £1,014,060. Prior to the operation which commenced on Monday 28 November the costs of policing the M11 protest were £1,190,846 giving a total cost to date of £2,204,906. No continuing costs are expected.

  Overseas Domestic Workers
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce further safeguards for overseas domestic workers admitted to the United Kingdom with their employers.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I have been considering in consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Employment Department the arrangements under which overseas domestic workers are admitted to the United Kingdom. The Government believe that the majority of employers make satisfactory arrangements for the maintenance and accommodation of such employees while in the United kingdom, but we have been concerned about cases where employers have failed to do so. We have therefore introduced additional requirements at the entry clearance stage in order to ensure that there is no 380
  misunderstanding about employers' obligations to their domestic workers:
  —employers must give a written undertaking to provide adequate maintenance and accommodation—in particular, a separate bedroom—for their domestic workers;
  —employers must confirm that they have read and understood the note to employers and the leaflet for servants;
  —employers must set out in writing the main terms and conditions of employment in the United kingdom;
  —domestic workers must be given a copy of the statement of the main terms and conditions of their employment at the entry clearance interview, with an explanation of them, and must confirm that they agree to those terms and conditions;
  —the minimum qualifying age for domestic workers has been raised from 17 to 18.

  These measures build on requirements already in place that all domestic workers must obtain entry clearance before coming here; must have been in continuous paid employment with the employer abroad for at least the previous 12 months before coming here with a visitor, or at least two years in all other cases; and must be interviewed (at least on their first visit with a particular employer) by the entry clearance officer separately from that employer and receive and understand a leaflet setting out their legal rights and where to go to for help. We believe that the new measures will provide valuable additional safeguards for domestic workers entering the United Kingdom.

ENVIRONMENT

  Noise Policy
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff in his local environment quality division now work full-time on noise policy matters.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Four staff in the local environment quality division work full time on policy matters relating to noise and other statutory nuisances.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has undertaken or commissioned on the effectiveness of the current noise control framework in dealing with neighbour noise complaints.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  An inter departmental working party comprising officials from my Department, the Home Office, Lord Chancellor's Department, territorial departments and representatives of the local authorities and police, is reviewing the effectiveness of current neighbour noise controls and will be making recommendations to Ministers in the new year.

  The working party will consider available evidence on the effectiveness of current neighbour noise controls, including surveys by local authorities, voluntary bodies and research institutions.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State of the Environment what plans he has to set targets for reducing noise exposure as part of his sustainable development strategy.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Planning policy guidance note No. 24, "Planning and Noise" issued in October 1994, recommends exposure levels for new residential
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  development near transport and other noise sources. A copy of. PPG24 is in the Library.

  A number of EC directives ensure the progressive reduction in noise from road vehicles, aircraft and a variety of machinery and equipment.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State of the Environment what research he has undertaken of commissioned on the contribution of poor sound insulation to neighbour noise complaints.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department has commissioned the Building Research Establishment to study a small sample of complaints about poor sound insulation between dwellings. The research was carried out between 1992 and 1994. The information gained will form part of a continuing review of the regulations for sound insulation.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his estimate of the proportion of the population currently exposed to night-time noise levels of(a) more than 65 decibels, (b) between 55 and 65 decibels and (c) less than 55 decibels;

  (2) what is his estimate of the proportion of the population currently exposed to daytime noise levels of more than 65 decibels.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  From noise measurements carried out at 1,000 dwellings in England and Wales during the 1990 national noise incidence study it is estimated that at night(a) less than 1 per cent. of the population are exposed to noise levels 65dB LAeq (23.00–07.00), (b) 13 per cent. are exposed to levels between 55dB and 65dB LAeq (23.00–07.00) and (c) 86 per cent. to levels less than 55dB LAeq (23.00–07.00). It is estimated that 10 per cent. of the population are exposed to daytime noise levels of more than 65dB LLeq (07.00–23.00).

  Copies of an information paper reporting the findings of the study, which was carried out by the Building Research Establishment, are in the Library.

  Empty Property
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statistics the Government have regarding the reasons for private sector dwellings lying empty.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Some indication of the reasons for dwellings being vacant can be obtained from data about council tax exemptions, collected annually from each English housing authority. This information does not distinguish between dwellings in the private and public sector.

  Additionally, broader information on the reasons for privately-owned dwellings being vacant is provided by the five-yearly English House Conditions Survey. The Department will soon have results from a research project which has tried to identify reasons for long-term vacancy in the private sector.

  Single Regeneration Budget
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his statement of 6 December on the single regulation budget,(a) over how many years the total sum is to be spread, and how much in each year, (b) how much of the sum announced is top-sliced from other programmes, (c) how much of the sum announced is new
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  money and (d) how any money will be paid; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  As stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the member for Hayes and Harlington (Mr. Dicks) on 5 December,Official Report column 9–10, the resources available for projects successful in the first bidding round of the single regeneration budget (SRB) have been increased by £25 million in each of the three years 1995–96 to 1997–98.

  This brings the proposed funding for the 201 successful bids, announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 6 December, to £125 million in 1995–96 and to £225 million in both 1996–97 and 1997–98. The 201 successful bids are planned to have lifetimes varying from one to seven years. Over their lifetime they are expected to receive total SRB funding of some £1.1 billion, subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of resources.

  A second bidding round will be launched next year and will build up to a full spend of £200 million in 1997–98, with £40 million available in 1996–97 for early funding of successful projects.

  The resources—more than £800 million in SRB funding over the next three years—for new projects are being released from the provision for programmes which combined to form the SRB, as existing commitments are fulfilled.

  Government offices for the regions will be in touch with the successful bidders about arrangements for payment of the agreed funding. Successful partnerships have been informed that approval is subject to agreement of delivery plans and that the continuation of funding will be dependent on achievement of outputs and milestones identified in those plans.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for the Environment what criteria he uses to select successful bids for funds from the single regeneration budget.

  Mr. Curry
  The criteria used to select successful bids under the single regeneration budget are set out in the bidding guidance issued on 14 April. Copies are in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many single regeneration budget bids were submitted from the north-west.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government office for the north-west received 56 bids for funding from the single regeneration budget.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases the Child Support Agency is currently dealing with; what is the extent of the Child Support Agency's backlog; how long, on average, it takes for the Child Support Agency to deal with a case; and if the Child Support Agency will take on further cases before the backlog is cleared.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
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  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 9 December 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about outstanding cases at the Child Support Agency.
  At 30 September 1994 the Agency was dealing with over 766,500 cases; in up to 474,000 of which action had not been fully completed. It was originally expected that a straightforward case would take around 12 weeks to complete, and we would be likely always to have about 250,000 cases in action at any one time. The Agency has already implemented a number of management initiatives to improve performance and operations are kept under review to establish where further improvements may be possible.
  The Agency does not produce an average clearance time for maintenance assessments, but between April and September 1994 37 percent of assessments were cleared within 40 days; 14 percent between 41 and 100 days, and 49 percent over 100 days.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which company has been engaged by the Child Support Agency to advise the agency upon its administration structure and procedures; and what is the projected cost for this advice.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 9 December 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the consultants engaged by the Child Support Agency.
  The Agency is being advised upon current and planned service improvements by Andersen Consulting. I cannot provide you with information regarding the projected cost as this is confidential due to its commercial nature.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated cost per annum of the Child Support Agency proposals to provide DNA testing for fathers in cases of disputed paternity.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 9 December 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the estimated cost to the Child Support Agency of DNA testing.
  The contract for providing the DNA testing service has not yet been awarded, but it is being tendered on the basis that there will be no additional administrative costs for the Agency.
  Where paternity is established, the resulting payment of child maintenance will provide a continuing nett weekly gain to either the parent with care, or in certain benefit cases, the taxpayer.
  In the expectedly small number of cases where the alleged absent parent proves not to be the father and benefit is involved, the Agency will refund the test fees from within existing operating costs.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how much has been paid out by the Child Support Agency over the last 12 months in compensation for errors or inefficiency; and in how many cases;

  (2) how many compensation claims for inefficiency are under consideration in the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
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  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Helen Jackson, dated 9 December 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about claims for compensation from the Child Support Agency.
  Over the 12 months to the end of September 1994, payments totalling £900 were authorized in respect of four claims. A further 102 were under active consideration.
  I hope that this reply is helpful.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the numerical targets for Benefits Agency medical service doctors in respect of the number of medical tests in connection with applications for incapacity benefit(a) in Scotland, and (b) in Strathclyde and the Benefits Agency districts contained within Benefits Agency area directorates 4 and 5.

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

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 8 December 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about the numerical targets for Benefits Agency Medical Service (BAMS) doctors in respect of the number of medical tests in connection with applications for Incapacity Benefit in Scotland, Strathclyde and the Benefits Agency (BA) Area Directorates (ADs) 4 and 5.
  The planning of procedures to deal with referrals to the BAMS is not yet complete and, accordingly, the number of cases to be seen by each doctor is not known.
  It will be the nature of the cases to be seen which will determine the number seen each day by a doctor as opposed to the area in which the customer resides.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Benefits Agency medical service doctors will be employed in the medical examination centres in Scotland, Strathclyde and the Benefits Agency districts contained within Benefits Agency area directorates 4 and 5.

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

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 8 December 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of doctors to be employed by the Benefits Agency medical Service in the medical examination centres in Scotland, Strahtclyde and the Benefits Agency Districts of Area Directorates 4 and 5 of the Scotland and Northern Territory.
  In 1995, Scotland will have approximately 70 full time equivalent doctors, in addition to 19 full time medical advisers, all of whom will all be available to examine customers in the medical examination centres. The doctors will be available to examine where needed and will not be based rigidly in one specific location.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated benefit saving of the new test, including disability premium recipients in(a) Scotland, and (b) Strathclyde and the Benefits Agency districts contained within Benefits Agency area directorates 4 and 5.
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  Mr. Hague
  Estimates of benefit savings of the new test by region are not available.

  Estimated benefit savings in Great Britain from applying the new medical test to existing recipients of invalidity benefit, new recipients of incapacity benefit and both new and existing recipients of a disability premium in the income-related benefits are shown in the table:

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Savings from medical test
  (£ million)

  210

  700

  1,000

  Note:

  Estimates rounded to the nearest £10 million, expressed at constant 1993–94 prices. Estimates include income-related benefits offsetting costs.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of current invalidity benefit recipients are to be exempt from the new test for incapacity benefit by virtue of being aged 58 years or over, by virtue of being in receipt of disability living allowance higher care component; and what is the estimate of the number of exemptions being deemed under the prescribed conditions listed in the report, "Incapacity for Work".

  Mr. Hague
  We estimate that at April 1995, the number of invalidity benefit recipients aged 58 or over and in receipt of invalidity benefit continuously since 1 December 1993 will be around 738,000.

  It is not possible to make an estimate of the number of existing invalidity benefit claimants who are in receipt of

  County

  Weather Station

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Dorset

  Bournemouth

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Hampshire

  Southampton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Sussex

  Herstmonceux

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  West Sussex

  Gatwick Airport

  1

  —

  2

  1

  —

  Kent

  Manston

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Berkshire

  Easthampstead

  1

  —

  3

  1

  1

  In addition, cold weather payments were made on a national basis irrespective of recorded temperatures for the two weeks 1 February 1991 to 14 February 1991.

  Automated Benefit Payment System
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which suppliers have been invited to make proposals for the automated benefit payment system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 30 November, the automation of post offices and benefit payment will make a major contribution to our top priority fight against fraud. It will also act as a springboard for Post Office Counters Ltd. to gain new business. Nine companies, some of whom lead consortia, submitted formal procedures to act as prime contractors in the development of payment cards to replace girocheques and order books. The following five have been selected, by Post Office Counters Ltd. and my Department, to develop their solutions further: BT; Cardlink UK; EDS; IBM; ICL.

  Domestic Fuel
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average amount spent weekly by(a) single pensioners and (b) married pensioners on domestic
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  the highest rate of care component of disability living allowance.

  We estimate that around 293,000 existing claimants will be treated as incapable of work by reason of the exempt conditions listed in the report, "The Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit". Some of them will be aged 58 or over, but it is not possible to identify how many.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on how many occasions in each of the last five years cold weather payments have been made in the counties of(a) Dorset, (b) Hampshire, (c) east Sussex, (d) west Sussex, (e) Kent and (f) Berkshire.

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

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. John Denham, dated 8 December 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your parliamentary question about the number of occasions in each of the last five years when cold weather payments have been made in six counties of southern England.
  I have provided a list of the counties for which you requested, giving the number of times the weather stations returned temperature information which resulted in cold weather payments being issued. The information is based on the meteorological weather station that the Meteorological Office have advised broadly covers each county.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  fuel between and including the months from November to March.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information requested is not available.

  Back-to-work Scheme
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether, under the back-to-work bonus scheme, the bonus payment will be treated as income or capital for the purpose of calculating family credit or housing benefit entitlement.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  No decision has yet been made about the effect of a back-to-work bonus on a claim for family credit or housing benefit.

  Income Support
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his assessment of the average loss per home owner who starts claiming income support with mortgage interest payments, arising from the changes introduced in the Budget after(a) April 1995 and

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  (b) October 1995 compared with the arrangements prior to April 1995.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The average loss per home owner who starts claiming income support with mortgage interest payments, arising from the changes introduced in the budget between April and October 1995 is estimated at around 25p. This estimate is based on the 1993 ASE, uprated to 1995–96 levels, and is rounded to the nearest 5p.

  The proposed changes to be introduced from October 1995 will be subject to wide consultation. The financial effect will depend on the outcome of the consultation and the final detail of the scheme.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of current recipients of invalidity benefit in Scotland, Strathclyde and the Benefits Agency district contained within Benefits Agency area directorates 4 and 5.

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

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 8 December 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about Invalidity Benefit (IVB) recipients in Scotland.
  The following figures were obtained from a 100% clerical count of cases in the Benefits Agency's (BA) District offices on 31 October 1994 and are the latest available.
  The total number of IVB customers in Scotland at that date was 232,890.
  The numbers of IVB customers dealt with by each Benefits Agency (BA) District in Area Directorates (ADs) 4 and 5 of the Scotland and Northern Territory are provided at Appendix 1 and total 171,287.
  IVB customers in Strathclyde are those dealt with by the BA Districts of ADs 4 and 5, with the exception of the Forth Valley and Highlands and Islands Districts. Consequently, there were 150,730 IVB customers within Strathclyde at 31 October 1994.
  The figures provided include some customers who have claimed but are not actually receiving IVB. This is because there are circumstances in which, although there is underlying entitlement to IVB, because a higher overlapping benefit is in payment no IVB is actually paid.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Patient Complaints
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patient complaints were received per 1,000 patients treated in each year since 1989–90 by region.

  Mr. Moss
  There were 4.3 hospital-related patient complaints received per 1,000 patients treated in Northern Ireland during the period 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994. Information relating to patient complaints is not available for years prior to 1993–94.

  Information relating to patient complaints in the family health services is not available in the form requested.
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  Health Care Purchases
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by(a) district health authorities, (b) family health service authorities, (c) regional health authorities, (d) trusts and (e) general practitioner fundholders on health care purchases from non-NHS providers in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Moss
  In Northern Ireland integrated health and personal social services are supplied by health boards, trusts, general practitioner fundholders and the Central Services Agency for the Health and Personal Social Services.

  Health and social services boards' expenditure on the purchase of health and personal social services from non-NHS/HPSS providers was £5,777,349 in 1992–93 and £4,448,722 in 1993–94.

  The accounts of the health and social services boards were revised in 1992–93 to take account of the separation of the purchaser/provider functions and the information is accordingly not readily available prior to this date.

  The first health and social services trusts were established in Northern Ireland on 1 April 1993. Their accounts for 1993–94 indicated nil expenditure on purchases from non-NHS/HPSS providers.

  The accounts of general practitioner fundholders do not currently separately record expenditure on purchases from non-NHS/HPSS providers.

  Family practitioner services which are delivered by the CSA on a regional basis indicated nil expenditure on purchases from non-NHS/HPSS providers.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated cost per annum of the Child Support Agency proposals to provide DNA testing for fathers in cases of disputed paternity.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 9 December 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the estimated cost to the Child Support Agency of DNA testing.
  The contract for providing the DNA testing service has not yet been awarded, but it is being tendered on the basis that there will be no additional administrative costs for the Agency.
  Where paternity is established, the resulting payment of child maintenance will provide a continuing nett weekly gain to either the parent with care, or in certain benefit cases, the taxpayer.
  In the expectedly small number of cases where the alleged absent parent proves not to be the father and benefit is involved, the Agency will refund the test fees from within existing operating costs.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how much has been paid out by the Child Support Agency over the last 12 months in compensation for errors or inefficiency; and in how many cases;

  (2) how many compensation claims for inefficiency are under consideration in the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
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  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Helen Jackson, dated 9 December 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about claims for compensation from the Child Support Agency.
  Over the 12 months to the end of September 1994, payments totalling £900 were authorized in respect of four claims. A further 102 were under active consideration.
  I hope that this reply is helpful.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Nuclear Liabilities
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what liabilities exist, what contractual arrangements exist to express those liabilities, in respect of Government programmes carried out prior to April 1971 on sites now in the ownership of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. or the Atomic Energy Authority; which agencies of Government took part in settling those contractual arrangements; and on what dates such arrangements were concluded.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In correspondence between the Secretary of State for Energy and the chairman of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority in 1986 the Government confirmed that they were prepared to continue to accept responsibility in principle for the costs which the UKAEA incurred in treating and disposing of nuclear wastes and in decommissioning plant arising from programmes carried out by the UKAEA and its predecessors prior to 1 April 1986.

  In correspondence between the Secretary of State for Energy and the Chairman of BNFL in 1983 and 1988 the Government agreed in principle to accept responsibility for the costs which BNFL incurred in treating and disposing of nuclear wastes and in decommissioning plant, arising from programmes carried out prior to 1 April 1971, to the extent that Government Departments were responsible for those programmes.

  All of the work for which DTI has accepted financial responsibility, including that on BNFL sites, is funded by means of a conditional grant from DTI to the UKAEA and therefore is not subject to contractual arrangements between DTI and the UKAEA.

  The UKAEA has estimated that the total value of waste management and decommissioning liabilities for which DTI has accepted financial responsibility is £8 billion, within a range of £6 to £12 billion, undiscounted at present price levels. These figures include liabilities for which DTI has accepted financial responsibility that have arisen from programmes carried out by the UKAEA or BNFL on behalf of DEn/DTI since 1986 and 1971 respectively. £1 billion of this estimate relates to waste management and decommissioning at BNFL sites.

  The Ministry of Defence has also accepted responsibility in principle for some liabilities in respect of Government programmes carried out prior to April 1971 on sites now in the ownership of BNFL and the UKAEA.

  The principal Government Departments which took part in settling these arrangements were the Department of Energy, the Treasury and the Ministry of Defence.

  Insurance Company Act Notices
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many times notices were issued under sections 32 and 33 of the Insurance Companies Act 1982 in each subsequent complete calendar year.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Eighteen notices were issued under sections 32 and 33 in 1993; and 13 notices in 1994 to date. Figures for earlier years could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

  Company Remuneration Committees
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what analysis he has carried out of the composition of remuneration committees of United Kingdom plcs and the background of their members.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  None. However, research has been commissioned by the Cadbury Committee as part of its monitoring of its code of best practice. The code recommends that remuneration committees should be made up wholly or mainly of non-executive directors who should be independent of management and free from any business or other relationship which could materially interfere with the exercise of their independent judgment, apart from their fees and shareholding.

  Brewing Industry
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met members of the brewing industry which also included publicans to discuss the 1995 review by the European Union of the tied house system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I have responsibility for competition issues in the brewing industry. Since taking up post in October I have held no such meetings. However, my predecessor last met a group of publicans to discuss issues relating to the tied house system in June this year. The European Commission regulation 1984–83 under which the tie is permitted expires in 1997; the Commission has made it clear that it does not expect to begin its review of the regulation until early 1996.

  Mortgage Insurance
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his latest estimate of the additional cost per month to a house buyer of the requirement to take out insurance on a mortgage of £50,000.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The current average cost of mortgage protection insurance policies is about £7 for every £100 of mortgage payment per month up to a general maximum of £1,000 per month. The cost of insurance against a £50,000 mortgage would depend on the level of interest rates.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much he estimates an average householder will have to pay in monthly insurance premiums on a new mortgage when plans to limit income support help with mortgage interest payments come into effect.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The current average cost of mortgage protection insurance policies is about £7 for every £100 of mortgage payment per month up to a general maximum of £1,000 per month. Costs to householders will vary according to the prevailing rate of interest and how much they choose to insure.

  Future Large Aircraft
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received concerning the future large aircraft.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have received many representations from interested parties including several United Kingdom aerospace companies and from hon. Members.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State of Defence concerning the future large aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department keeps in close contact with the Ministry of Defence on the future large aircraft and other projects with significant implications for United Kingdom industry.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the impact on the aerospace industry if the future large aircraft is not procured by the Government.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department is considering the industrial implications of the future large aircraft with the Ministry of Defence and other interested Departments.

  Deregulation Task Force
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the members of the deregulation task force and their payments.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, East (Mr. Ainsworth) on 6 July 1994,Official Report, column 224, which listed the members of the deregulation task force. In addition, David Band of Barclays de Zoete Wedd has since been appointed. Individuals do not receive payment for their work as members of the deregulation task force, but the Department has agreed to reimburse their travel expenses.

  Soft Commissions
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to co-ordinate action by regulatory bodies in the United Kingdom, in United Kingdom dependencies and elsewhere to end the offering of soft commissions by brokers; and what steps he will take to ensure that insurance companies declare soft commissions offered to, or by, brokers and fund managers acting on their behalf.

  Mr. Nelson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Under the Financial Services Act 1986 "soft commissions" are closely controlled. They must be subject to formal soft commission agreements in each case and the range of benefits provided limited to those relating specifically to the fund manager's business. Fund managers are obliged to make regular and full disclosure to the fund trustees of all benefits provided to them.

  Action in the dependent territories and elsewhere is a matter for their regulatory authorities.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the special advisers employed by his Department in each of the last five years indicating when they(a) joined and (b) left his Department and the annual salary they received.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [pursuant to his reply, 5 December 1994, Official Report, column 16–17]: Miss R. Finlay was also employed as a special adviser in the Chief Whip's Offices from June 1985 to October 1991.

EMPLOYMENT

  Jobseekers Allowance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy under the jobseekers allowance in respect of claimants needing to show good cause for rejecting the offer of a part-time job of less than 24 hours a week.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Makerfield (Mr.McCartney) on 25 November 1994,Official Report, column 387.

  Social Affairs Council
  Mr. Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Social Affairs Council held on 6 December.

  Mr. Portillo
  I attended the Social Affairs Council on 6 December in Brussels, accompanied by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Deptartment of Employment. The principal items on the agenda were two draft directives, on part-time and temporary work, and on posted workers; a discussion of Commissioner Flynn's White Paper on the future of European social policy; and a presentation of the Commission's proposals for the Essen European Council to follow up the earlier White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment. There were no formal votes. The Leonardo training programme, a resolution on women and employment and proposals on the future of the handynet information system were agreed unanimously. The other 11 member states agreed a resolution, under their agreement on social policy, on future Community social policy.

  In discussion of the part-time and temporary work directive, I made it clear that the United Kingdom could not accept the measure proposed. The United Kingdom Government have always opposed its directive because we believe that this is not an appropriate subject for Community-wide regulation and that the directive would lead to a loss of part-time jobs in the United Kingdom, particularly for women. There are 6 million part-time workers in the United Kingdom—more than 30 per cent. of all the part-time works in the European Community. The vast majority of them wish to work part time rather than full time. With nearly 20 million unemployed, the European Community should not be making it harder for employers to create part-time jobs. The Commission

  393
  indicated that it would bring forward new proposals in this area under the agreement on social policy.

  There was an inconclusive discussion of the draft directive on posted workers. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State made clear our considerable difficulties, of both principle and detail. A number of other member states also had significant difficulties with the proposal. The Presidency announced that the Council would meet again on 21 December to discuss it further.

  The President of the European Commission, Mr. Delors, reported to the Council on issues to be discussed at the Essen European Council, following up the Commission's White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment, and on the Commission report on employment. No formal conclusions were drawn.

  There was a brief debate on Commissioner Flynn's White Paper on European social policy, again without conclusions.

  I took the opportunity at the Council to set out the United Kingdom view of how the social affairs agenda should develop over the next few years. I suggested five main subjects for the Council of Ministers in the social affairs field:
  —encouraging more effective policies to give the unemployed, particularly the long-term unemployed, the best chance of finding a job;
  —improving training, through Community support for member states' activities;
  —developing consistent standards for the implementation and enforcement of existing Community legislation;
  —further practical steps to promote the free movement of workers;
  — a re-examination of existing Community legislation to see whether it is still relevant and whether it stands in the way of job creation.

  A resolution on social policy tabled by the Presidency which focused on developing legally-binding minimum standards at Community level was agreed by the other 11 member states under their agreement on social policy.

  Final agreement was reached on the Leonardo vocational training programme.

  A resolution on women and employment and a decision on the continuation, until 1996, of the handynet information system for people with disabilities were agreed without discussion.

  The Council endorsed the conclusions of the Development Council about the world summit on social development which will take place in March 1995 in Copenhagen.

  Prior Options Review Group
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 2 December,Official Report, column 931, if he will indicate the results of the Ernst and Young examination commissioned by the prior options review group; and when it will be published.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The work carried out by Ernst and Young was commissioned to inform the work of the prior options review. There are no plans to publish the results of the consultants' work independently of the results of the review. The results of the prior options review will be announced in due course.

  Training and Education Expenditure
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron) of 2 December,Official Report, column 931, if he will provide estimates of expenditure or planned expenditure by the Department of Employment on training in each year from 1994–95 to 1997–98.

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 8 December 1994]: The table shows planned expenditure on the Department's training and education programmes:

  Planned Expenditure £ million)

  Year

  Cash

  1994–95 prices

  1994–95

  12,042

  2,042

  1995–96

  1,870

  1,809

  1996–97

  1,941

  1,831

  1997–98

  1,949

  1,797

  1 Forecast

HEALTH

  Radical Vulvectomy Procedures
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many radical vulvectomy procedures were carried out by the NHS in each of the last four years in each NHS region and in the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Death Statistics
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths occurred in(a) October to March and (b) April to September in each year since 1980 for (i) all ages, (ii) those aged 65 years and over, (iii) those aged 75 years and over and (iv) those aged 85 years and over.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information for England and Wales will be placed in the Library.

  Research
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson), 22 November,Official Report columns 88–89, from what budget head the £40 million for new research will be drawn.

  Mr. Malone
  The £40 million increase to the service increment for teaching and research will be drawn from general allocations made to health authorities out of hospital and community health services, vote 1.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sample of termination payments made to national health service trust chief executives and general and senior managers have been monitored by the national health service executive.

  Mr. Malone
  A sample of 18 termination payments made to trust chief executives, general and senior
  395
  managers has been monitored by the National Health Service Executive this financial year.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many termination payments have been made by national health service trusts to chief executives and general and senior managers; and what is the total amount for each trust to date.

  Mr. Malone
  Up to the quarter ending 30 September, 48 termination payments to national health service chief executives, general and senior managers have been notified to the NHS Executive this financial year. The total amount for each trust is as follows:

  £

  Broadgreen Hospital NHS Trust

  81,838

  Burton Hospitals NHS Trust

  42,888

  Cheviot and Wansbeck NHS Trust

  16,415

  Chorely and South Ribble NHS Trust

  28,749

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Learning Disabilities NHS Trust

  11,000

  Dudley Priority Health NHS Trust

  37,222

  East Surrey Learning Disability and Mental Health Services NHS Trust

  36,677

  Epsom Healthcare NHS Trust

  15,000

  Fosse Health NHS Trust

  19,500

  Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust

  122,689

  Herefordshire Community Health NHS Trust

  28,416

  Healthlands Mental Health NHS Trust

  25,008

  Hertfordshire Health Agency

  9,000

  Kings Healthcare NHS Trust

  56,578

  The Medway NHS Trust

  39,295

  Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  31,549

  North East Essex Mental Health Services

  26,188

  North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  30,000

  North Mersey Community NHS Trust

  11,300

  North Tees Health NHS Trust

  27,764

  Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust

  25,000

  Northampton Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  39,798

  Pilgrim Health NHS Trust

  7,864

  Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust

  7,865

  Queens Medical Centre Nottingham University NHS Trust

  77,715

  Royal Liverpool University Hospital

  47,355

  Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust

  18,466

  Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust

  19,343

  South Bedfordshire Community Healthcare Trust

  17,771

  South Kent Hospitals NHS Trust

  8,626

  South Warwickshire General Hospitals NHS Trust

  34,829

  Southend Healthcare NHS Trust

  80,840

  Teddington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

  18,750

  United Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  30,000

  Walsall Community NHS Trust

  35,000

  Walsall Hospital NHS Trust

  6,926

  West Herts Community Health NHS Trust

  4,909

  Wiltshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  27,314

  Worcester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  22,167

  Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust

  52,747

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the proposals of Heatherwood and Wrexham Park trust to introduce a midwife-led maternity service and a nurse-practitioner led accident and emergency service.

  Mr. Sackville
  Berkshire health authority is currently undertaking a public consultation exercise on the 396
  proposed changes. This is due to be completed by the end of January 1995.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 23 November,Official Report, column 216, (1) when 1993–94 data on trust surpluses and deficits will be available;

  (2) if she will now publish a list of which trusts failed to (a) break even, (b) keep within the external financing limit and (c) record a 6 per cent. return on capital, and by what percentage and sum in 1993–94;

  (3) if she will now publish a list of trust turnover for 1993–94.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested will be available shortly and will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 24 November,Official Report, columns 318–9, on NHS managers if she will now provide figures for 1991 and 1992 on the 1993 recalculated basis.

  Mr. Malone
  Overall figures on the numbers of national health service managers in 1991 and 1992 were presented on the 1993 recalculated basis in the "NHS Statistical Bulletin" published in October 1994, copies of which are available in the Library. It is not possible to provide more detailed figures identifying the number of managers in trusts alone on the recalculated basis.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about the plans of her Department to make information available on the Internet and the documents which she intends to be made available on the Internet over the next year which will be accessible via the world wide web server "open.gov.uk." or any specific departmental server.

  Mr. Sackville
  Use of the Internet as an additional method of disseminating information to the public via the world wide web server "open.gov.uk." is under active consideration by this Department in line with the Government's commitment to make more information available to the public and to make innovative use of telecommunications. Discussions are at an early stage and it is too soon to specify what documents will be made available. Officials from the Department of Health and Office of Population Censuses and Surveys are also working with the Central Statistical Office and other Government Departments to see what use can be made of the Internet to disseminate Government statistics.

  Fraud
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to combat fraud in the national health service.

  Mr. Sackville
  A recent Audit Commission publication, "Ensuring Probity in the NHS", stated that the level of proven fraud and corruption in the national health service was very low and the vast majority of people working in the NHS are honest and diligent. The Department has taken a number of initiatives including strengthening internal audit, the creation of audit committees in NHS bodies and a major review of the systems for collecting NHS charges and the scope of fraud by contractors is under way.

  Prescription Costs
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of prescription drugs costs less than £5.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of prescriptions cost less than £5; what is the(a) average and (b) median cost of a prescription item; how many prescriptions were issued by doctors in the last year; how many prescription items were dispensed by pharmacists last year, in total, and by the family health service authority area; and what has been the total revenue generated by charging for prescriptions in each of the last 15 years.

  Mr. Malone
  The available information has been placed in the Library. Figures for the number of prescriptions issued by doctors are not available centrally. The extensive arrangements for charge exemption and for remission of charges under the national health service low-income scheme, coupled with the prescription prepayment certificate scheme, ensure that no-one need be deterred from obtaining any necessary prescribed medication for financial reasons.

  Patient Complaints
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patient complaints were received per 1,000 patients treated in each year since 1989–90 by region.

  Mr. Malone
  Information on the number of written complaints relating to hospital services per 1,000 in-patient and day cases in each year from 1989–90 to 1992–93, by region, are included in the publication entitled "Written complaints by or on behalf of patients—England—financial year 1992–93", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Equivalent information about the number of complaints against family practitioners is not available centrally.

  Tinnitus
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much is being spent on specific tinnitus research; and what plans she has to increase the sums.

  Mr. Sackville
  The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The Medical Research Council is an independent body deciding what research to support on its own expert judgment.

  In 1991–2 the Medical Research Council spent £129,000 on research directly related to tinnitus and in 1992–93, the last year for which figures are available, it spent £131,000.

  National Capitation Scheme
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when she expects to publish the formula for the proposed national capitation scheme;

  (2) what factors are being considered for the formula of the proposed national capitation scheme.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Minister for Health,Official Report, 21 October at column 573. The results of the review of weighted capitation are included in the guidance
  398
  referred to in the statement. Copies of the guidance, FDL(94)68, are available in the Library.

  The result of the review of weighted capitation is a modified formula which takes account of new information and better statistical techniques. The three basic elements of the formula, ie age, need and cost, remain the same but each element has been updated and refined. Further details of the modified formula have been published in the form of a booklet entitled "Hospital and Community Health Services. Revenue Resource Allocation: Weighted Capitation Formula", and copies of this are also available in the Library.

  Life Expectancy
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total population of Great Britain aged 75 years and over; and how many of these are women.

  Mr. Sackville
  The latest available population estimates relate to mid–1993. It is estimated that there were 3.92 million residents in Great Britain aged 75 and over at that date. This figure comprises 2.59 million women and 1.33 million men.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average life expectancy for(a) males and (b) females in (i) 1978–79 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sackville
  Life expectancy at birth in England and Wales for males and females for the years 1978, 1979 and 1992, the last available year, are shown in the table:

  Year

  Males

  Females

  1978

  70.1

  76.3

  1979

  70.3

  76.4

  1992

  73.8

  79.2

  Junior Doctors' Hours
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new consultants have been employed by the NHS as a result of the new deal reduction in junior doctors' s hours.

  Mr. Malone
  Our task forces report that, in England, at 30 September 1994, 533 new consultants were employed in centrally funded posts to reduce junior doctors' hours. In addition, 72 posts had been advertised and were awaiting appointments' committees. Many of these were already in operation through the temporary appointment of locum consultants. A further 81 posts had been funded and were at the planning stage, these will be filled as soon as possible.

  Information on consultant posts set up specifically to reduce hours by individual trusts and authorities, and funded directly by them, is not available centrally.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the increased workload resulting from the reduction in junior doctors' hours.

  Mr. Malone
  It was recognised when the new deal on junior doctors was introduced that reductions in junior doctors' hours unsupported by other action could lead to an increase in the intensity at which they work.

  That is why a range of measures was put in place, focusing resources effectively so as to ensure that

  399
  reductions in hours were real and sustainable. These include the controlled growth of the medical work force, more effective working patterns, improved team-working, greater use of cross-cover between appropriate specialities, better skill mix—including more nurses and support workers—and site and service rationalisation.

  Paediatrics
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paediatric consultants there were in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Malone
  The information is shown in the table.

  Paediatric consultants—England at 30 September each year whole-time equivalent

  Year

  whole-time equivalent

  1989

  690

  1990

  710

  1991

  740

  1992

  780

  1993

  860

  Note:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many unfilled vacancies exist for paediatric posts; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Malone
  The information is shown in the table.

  Vacant paediatric posts by grade—England at 30 September 1993

  Grade

  Number of vacant posts

  Consultant

  42

  Staff grade

  12

  Senior registrar

  16

  Registrar

  15

  Senior house officer

  7

  Total

  92

  Note:

  This indicates the number of vacant paediatric posts notified to the Department as at 30 September 1993. As a snapshot of vacancies on a single date they may not fairly reflect the trend for the number of vacancies over the year as a whole.

  Consultants
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants there are per head of population in each EC country.

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Accident and Injury Departments
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the location of all nurse-practitioner led accident or minor injury departments in England, and of all proposed such departments.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Maternity Units
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the location of all existing and proposed midwife-led maternity units.
  400
  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Midwife and Nurse Practitioner Units
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been conducted into the efficacy, mortality rates, cost-efficiency, patient satisfaction and public perception of midwife and nurse practitioner units in England.

  Mr. Sackville
  A number of research studies, some funded by the Department of Health, address different issues concerning efficiency, cost-effectiveness, patient satisfaction and public perception in relation to nurse development units and nurse practitioners and the nurse practitioner scheme in England. The question of mortality rates is not generally applicable to nurse practitioners but will be covered in a study of NDUs.

  In August 1993, following an evaluative study funded by the Department of Health, the King's fund centre published "A Way to Develop Nurses and Nursing", a report on the four pilot NDUs funded by the King's fund. A further study is being carried out of the 30 Department of health-funded NDUs.

  Earlier this month Touche Ross issued a report, "Evaluation of the Nurse Practitioners"; this was initiated and funded by the former South East Thames regional health authority with a contribution for evaluation purposes from the Department of Health. The Department is also evaluating 10 nurse practitioner schemes set up in 1994 and has commissioned a literature review of role expansion with particular reference to nurse practitioners.

  Work is being done to evaluate midwifery group practices in three locations. The main areas of work include basic audit of midwifery care, economic evaluation, assessment of staffing issues, women's experiences of care and the use of local maternity information systems.

  Correspondence Costs
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of sending individual letters to blood donors about a proposed change to the blood transfusion centre; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The National Blood Authority estimates that the total cost of the consultation letter to the two million blood donors about the reorganisation proposals was £400,000.

  GP Lists
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 22 November,Official Report, column 86, when she will publish data for 1993–94 on patients removed from general practitioners' lists.

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 28 November at column 537.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 22 November 1994 Official Report, column 86, if she will now itemise the number of patients removed from general practitioner lists because of (a) registration with another doctor, (b) death or resignation of the doctor, (c) death or emigration of the patient, (d) removal at the doctor's request or (e)other

  401
  causes for 1992–93 and 1993–94 by family health service authority.

  Mr. Malone
  The available information will be placed in the Library.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 24 November, Official Report, column 322, when data for 1993–94 on general practitioner fundholders' end-of-year retentions will be available.

  Mr. Malone
  Information about fundholder efficiency savings for 1993–94 will not be available until final audits are completed in the new year.

  Disabled People (Cash Payments)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 30 November,Official Report, column 794, what assessment she has made of the compliance by Gloucestershire county council in the current year with its statutory duties to disabled people under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; what recent contact her Department has had with the county council on this matter; if she has received legal advice on the effect of section 2; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  We are aware that leave has been granted for a judicial review hearing involving Gloucestershire county council. This is a matter for the courts. Local authorities' duties under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 remain unchanged, and they were reminded of their legal obligations in December 1992. The social services inspectorate is in regular contact with all local authorities.

  Health Care Purchases
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by(a) district health authorities, (b) family health service authorities, (c) regional health authorities, (d) trusts and (e) general practitioner fundholders on health care purchases from non-NHS providers in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The total expenditure in the last three years of district health authorities, regional health authorities, national health service trusts and general practitioner fundholders on the purchase of health care from non-NHS providers is shown in the table. Family health services authorities do not purchase health care services.

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  District health authorities

  159,818

  187,335

  250,484

  Regional health authorities

  32,746

  21,421

  25,649

  NHS trusts

  12,204

  45,436

  51,322

  GP fundholders

  3,698

  13,127

  29,899

  Notes:

  The figures for 1993–94 are provisional: the summarised accounts for 1993–94 are subject to audit by the National Audit Office.

  Source:

  Annual accounts of FHSAs; regional and district health authorities.

  Financial returns of NHS Trusts.

  NHS Private Treatment
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 24 November 1994,Official Report, column 320, if she will update the tables on the number of patients treated privately in the NHS.

  Mr. Sackville
  Updated information on outpatient attendances is available in "1993–94 Outpatients and Ward Attenders England", copies of which have been placed in the Library and updated information on finished consultant episodes will shortly be placed there.

  Capital Projects
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the capital projects in the NHS with a works cost of over(a) £1 million, (b) £5 million and (c) £10 million that were completed in each of the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94, giving the total costs and a brief description of each project.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 30 November 19941]: Information which records national health service capital building works projects with a works cost over £1 million will be placed in the Library. The works cost is a surn for the construction of buildings which excludes fees for professional services, equipment, value added tax and land purchase.

TREASURY

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the administrative cost of introducing a system of taxing child benefit at the higher rate assuming that it is taxed as part of the woman's income if she is a higher rate payer and, if she is not, that child benefit is taxed at the higher rate as part of her husband's or partner's income.

  Sir George Young
  The cost of administration would depend on the form of the legislation and how it was administered.

  VAT (Fuel)
  Mr. Horam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of zero rating standard charges in domestic fuel bills assuming value added tax at 17.5 per cent.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 6 December 1994]: Zero rating of any item is not permissable under the sixth VAT directive once it has been given up.

  Manufacturing Trade
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the increase in the nominal and real exchange rate against the deutschmark and the ecu since February 1993 on the: balance of trade in manufactures; and what contribution that has made to the economic growth.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 8 December 1994]: The Government's most recent assessment of trade performance is published in chapter 3 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", in which it is explained that the United Kingdom's cost competitiveness has

  403
  largely been maintained as a result of British industry's success in controlling costs. Net trade accounts for about half the growth of gross domestic product in 1994 so far.

  Christmas Cards
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Attorney-General how many official Christmas cards he and other Ministers in his Department intend to send in 1994; how much those cards will cost(a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he intends to send this year.

  The Attorney-General
  The Law Officers intend to send approximately 150 cards this year at a cost of(a) £123 and (b) an estimated £18 to post. Cards for recipients within the United Kingdom will be sent either second class post or included in normal departmental deliveries. Information on the cost of staff time is not available but would be minimal. A sample of the card has been placed in the Library.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage whether he will list(a) the arts organisations, companies and projects, (b) the public libraries and (c) the galleries and museums he has visited since becoming Secretary of State.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The visits I have made to the relevant bodies since I became Secretary of State are listed in the table.

  In addition, I have had the opportunity to talk to many representatives of arts organisations at receptions I have hosted for the business sponsorship incentive scheme.

  Secretary of State's visits (Arts, Libraries, Galleries and Museums)

  1994

  A

  29 July

  Attended Stately Homes Music Festival —English Chamber Orchestra, Blenheim Palace

  A

  28 September

  Opened 20th Century British Arts Fair,Royal College of Art.

  A

  Attended Prudential Corporation Visual Arts Award, Serpentine Gallery.

  M

  3 October

  Opened exhibition to celebrate centenary of the Survey of London, Museum of London.

  A

  7 October

  Nottingham Regional Conference

  —visit to Nottingham Playhouse

  —Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,

  Royal Concert Hall

  —BSIS Reception, Nottingham Castle

  A

  12 October

  BSIS Reception, Lancaster House

  A

  13 October

  Visited Russell Coles Art Gallery, Bournemouth.

  A

  15 October

  Swan Theatre.

  M

  22 October

  Visit to Leicester Museum and Art Gallery.

  A

  24 October

  Attended Live Music Now Concert, Lancaster. House.

  M

  1 November

  Visit to Duxford Air Museum.

  404

  Secretary of State's visits(Arts, Libraries, Galleries and Museums)

  1994

  A

  8 November

  Opened Paolozzi Donation Box, Royal Academy.

  A

  15 November

  Addressed launch of Festival of Arts and Culture and London Arts Scene, Savoy Hotel.

  M

  17 November

  The Wallace Collection.

  A

  21 November

  Visit to Huddersfield

  —the Literature Centre (the Byram Arcade)

  —Lawrence BatleyTheatre

  —Contemporary Music Festival concert, St Paul's Hall

  M

  1 December

  Tate Gallery.

  M

  6 December

  Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester

  M

  7 December

  National Gallery.

  A

  10—12 December

  Birmingham Royal Ballet.

  Note:

  A=Arts, L=Libraries, M=Museums, G=Galleries.

TRANSPORT

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the surveyed values, book values and location of the properties and houses purchased by British Rail along the lines of putative, but now rejected, channel tunnel rail links, together with the total price at which they were transferred to Railtrack.

  Mr. Watts
  Information about properties purchased for previous rail link proposals should be sought from the British Rail Property Board whose responsibility they are. No such properties have been transferred to Railtrack.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the text of the agreement between himself and the consortia bidding to build the channel tunnel rail link especially as it relates to obligatory confidentiality.

  Mr. Watts
  The confidentiality agreements with consortia bidding in the channel tunnel rail link competition are strictly private and confidential documents and are not appropriate for publication.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his best estimate of the revenues to be derived from the European passenger services due to be transferred to the consortium chosen to build the channel rail link.

  Mr. Watts
  This information is commercially confidential.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the value of the financial assistance likely to be available from the European Union towards the cost of building the channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Watts
  The value of any assistance from the European Union for the channel tunnel rail link has yet to be determined. Potential sources of support are the trans-European networks programme, the European investment bank and the European investment fund.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the latest estimate of the value of the assets intended to be transferred to the successful
  405
  consortium in the competition to build the channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Watts
  The value of the assets to be transferred will be determined by the present competition to select the rail link promoter.

  Traffic Calming
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the designs of traffic calming measures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The design of traffic calming measures is the responsibility of individual highway authorities. The Department of Transport works closely with authorities, offering advice on planning and design aspects and collaborating on the development of new techniques. Information on good practice is published in the form of traffic advisory leaflets, which are sent to all local authorities. Over the last few months, for example, we have produced leaflets on design aspects of entry treatments, speed cushions, thermoplastic road humps and road narrowings and chicanes.

  Cyclists (Safety)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to increase the safety of cyclists.

  Mr. Norris
  As part of our efforts to achieve a one third reduction in road casualties by the year 2000 we will maintain our commitment to reduce cyclist casualties. Cyclist safety will be promoted through education and publicity measures, continued research projects, and the issue of technical advice to local highway authorities on the planning, design and construction of cycling facilities.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many parliamentary questions tabled in the last session of Parliament were not answered on the ground that the information sought was not held centrally by the Department.

  Mr. Norris
  Twenty-seven.

  Lorry Drivers
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many prosecutions have been taken out for each year since 1985 against haulage contractors and other firms employing long-distance lorry drivers for exceeding the permissible number of hours driving without a statutorily required break.

  Mr. Norris
  The information is not available in the form requested. The total numbers of drivers' hours prosecutions, including exceeding the permissable number of hours without a statutory break for United Kingdom and foreign heavy goods vehicle drivers/operators were as follows:

  Number

  1984–85

  212

  1985–86

  193

  1986–87

  249

  1987–88

  1,654

  1988–89

  1,893

  1989–90

  2,243

  406

  Number

  1990–91

  2,310

  1991–92

  2,385

  1992–93

  2,898

  1993–94

  4,4221

  1 There was a change in the method of recording drivers' hours prosecutions in 1993–94. In the previous years the numbers of prosecutions referred to the number of cases whereas the 1993–94 figures refer to the number of offences.

  Roll-on Roll-off Ferries
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many collisions have occurred involving roll-on roll-off ferries(a) in the Solent, (b) off the south coast of England and (c) in British coastal waters in each of the last 10 years.

  (2)how many incidents have occurred involving roll-on roll-off ferries (a) in the Solent, (b) off the south coast of England and (c) in British coastal waters in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 8 December 1994]: The figures shown in the table relate to accidents involving one or more United Kingdom registered roll-on roll-off ferries where it has been established that the accident happened in (a) the Solent/Southampton Water, (b) elsewhere off the south coast and (c) in other stretches of United Kingdom coastal waters.

  The figures are given only for the years shown as information relating to a particular sea area and type of accident can readily be obtained only from the marine accident investigation branch computerised accident database. The database contains data from 1991 onwards only. Information requested for the previous six years could be obtained only at disproportion cost.

  Year

  Number of accidents

  Collision

  The Solent/Southampton water

  1991

  Nil

  Nil

  1992

  1

  Nil

  1993

  1

  Nil

  1994 to date

  Nil

  Nil

  Elsewhere off south coast

  1991

  Nil

  Nil

  1992

  1

  1

  1993

  2

  1

  1994 to date

  Nil

  Nil

  Other stretches of the United Kingdom coastal waters

  1991

  18

  4

  1992

  12

  1

  1993

  11

  1

  1994 to date

  5

  Nil

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will include in Her Majesty's Government's submission to the International Maritime Organisation's investigation into roll-on roll-off ferries the recommendation that all roll-on roll-off ferries be fitted either with transverse bulkheads on the car deck or sponsons;

  (2) if he will take steps to require all roll-on roll-off ferries operating in British coastal waters to be fitted either with sponsons or transverse bulkheads on the car deck;
  407
  (3) how many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operation (a) in the Solent and (b) off the south coast currently conform to the Solas 90 regulations;

  (4) how many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operating off the south coast of England have fitted (a) transverse bulkheads on the car deck, (b) sponsons or (c) neither.

  (5) how many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operating the Solent have fitted (a) transverse bulkheads on the car deck, (b) sponsons or (c) neither.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 8 December 1994]: These are operational matters for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. John Denham, dated 9 December 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about roll-on roll-off passenger ferries.
  1. How many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operating off the south coast have fitted (a) transverse bulkheads on the car deck (b) sponsons, or (c) neither?
  Of the sixteen United Kingdom registered ships operating off the south coast (including Dover) one has been fitted with sponsons. The information on foreign registered ships is not readily available.
  2. How many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operating in the Solent have fitted (a) transverse bulkheads on the car deck, (b) sponsons, or neither?
  There are nine roll-on roll-off passenger ferries operating solely on the Solent. These vessels are not of the same design as ships operating on international voyages in that they do not have enclosed car decks spaces—the car deck is open at both ends of the deck—and as such the devices are not appropriate.
  3. How many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operating (a) in the Solent, and (b) off the south coast, currently conform to the SOLAS '90 Regulations?
  An assessment of all ferries operating to and from ports in the United Kingdom is being processed. As soon as all the information is available, a full list will be published and a copy placed in the library of the House.
  4. Will the Secretary of State take steps to require all roll-on roll-off ferries operating in British coastal waters to be fitted either with sponsons or transverse bulkheads on the car deck?
  The enhanced survivability standard of roll-on roll-off passenger ferries operating to or from ports in the United Kingdom is already in place. That standard may require the fitting of sponsons or transverse bulkheads on the car deck. further measures will be addressed when the report from the International Maritime Organisation's Panel of Experts investigating ferry safety is received.
  5. Will the Secretary of State include in Her Majesty's Government submission to the International Maritime Organisations into roll-on roll-off ferries the recommendation that all roll-on roll-off ferries be fitted either with transverse bulkheads on the car deck or sponsons?
  The results of the United Kingdom research which identified the fitting of sponsons or transverse bulkheads on die car deck as two of the means of increasing the survivability standard or ro-ro passenger ferries have already been submitted to the International Maritime Organisation.

EDUCATION

  Schools, Islington
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information she has on shortages of state or private secondary school places in the Islington area.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply today to my hon. Friend the Member 408
  for St. Ives (Mr. Harris). There were, 656 surplus places in maintained secondary schools in Islington in January 1994, 19 per cent. of total capacity. The Department does not collect information on the supply of independent school places.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will meet the leader of Islington council and discuss the extent to which the council has not provided the range of educational choice required by all Islington residents.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has no plans for such a meeting.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made of whether Islington council is meeting all the statutory requirements currently in force under the Education Acts.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has made no such assessment. She has no reason to believe that Islington is not meeting the relevant statutory requirements.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps she is taking to improve educational choice in Islington.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Government's White Paper of July 1992, "Choice and Diversity" (Cm 2021), set out a new framework for schools in England, opening the way to greater variety in education through the formation of new schools and by encouraging specialisation.

  The Government have also taken action to increase parental choice by enabling parents to express a preference for the school they wish their child to attend. Parents now have more rights, more information and access to a wider choice of different schools than ever before.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many ballots for grant-maintained status have been conducted in Islington state schools in the last five years.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Since grant-maintained status became available, to date no ballots have been held in Islington.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the state and private schools operating in Islington and within three miles of Islington and state for each state school whether it is grant-maintained.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department's records do not enable us to identify which schools fall within three miles of Islington. The list which has been placed in the Library gives all schools by type, excluding schools for pupils with special educational needs, in Islington and the neighbouring boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Hackney, Haringey, Lambeth, Southwark, Waltham Forest and Westminster.

  School Meals
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is(a) the cost per meal and (b) the price charged per school meal currently in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in each local education authority in England.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information is not collected in the form requested. Some details of local authorities' charging arrangements for school meals were published in "Statistics of Education: Schools—1993", a copy of which in the Library.

  London Oratory School
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many children from Islington have applied and been admitted to the London Oratory school during each of the last six years;

  (2) how many children have applied to go to the London Oratory school in September 1995; how many of these children came from the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham; and how many of these children come from each of the other London boroughs.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not collected by the Department.

  Examination Statistics
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the proportion of pupils in each school in Northamptonshire who obtained five GCSE grades A to C in each of the last five years, the national average during the same period, the shire county average during the same period and the average during the same period for(a) Northamptonshire, (b) Cambridgeshire, (c) Bedfordshire, (d) Buckinghamshire, (e) Oxfordshire, (f) Warwickshire, (g) Leicestershire and (h) Lincolnshire.

  Mr. Forth
  The table lists the proportion of 15-year-old pupils in each school, including the independent sector, in Northamptonshire, who obtained five GCSE grades A to C, in each of the last three years. Individual school data are not available prior to 1992, the first year in which school performance tables were published. The table also shows the national average during the same period, and the averages during the same period for maintained schools in shire counties and in(a) Northamptonshire, (b) Cambridgeshire, (c) Bedfordshire, (d) Buckinghamshire, (e) Oxfordshire, (f) Warwickshire, (g) Leicestershire and (h) Lincolnshire.

  Percentage of 15-year-old pupils achieving five or more GCSE Grades A1 to C in 1994 and five or more GCSE Grades A to C in 1993 and 1992

  Schools in Northamptonshire

  1994

  1993

  1992

  Beanfield School

  24

  19

  34

  Bishop Stopford School

  66

  54

  53

  Bosworth Tutorial College

  22

  —

  —

  Brooke College

  58

  —

  —

  Campion School

  50

  47

  42

  Chenderit School

  57

  49

  50

  Danetre School

  38

  39

  34

  Duston Upper School

  33

  34

  38

  Falcon Manor School

  28

  14

  —

  Guilsborough School

  48

  63

  47

  Henry Gotch Comprehensive School

  24

  20

  19

  Huxlow School

  35

  28

  27

  John Lea School

  20

  11

  50

  Kingsbrook School

  39

  53

  41

  Kingsthorpe Upper School

  39

  39

  42

  Latimer School

  31

  44

  48

  Laxton School

  96

  96

  —

  Lings School

  18

  17

  13

  Lodge Park School

  28

  35

  27

  Magdalen College School

  46

  54

  51

  Manor School (GM)

  47

  50

  47

  Mereway Upper School

  17

  25

  20

  Montagu School

  33

  30

  30

  Montsaye School

  54

  55

  42

  Moulton School

  51

  48

  42

  Northampton (GM) School for Boys

  31

  35

  33

  410

  Percentage of 15-year-old pupils achieving five or more GCSE Grades A1 to C in 1994 and five or more GCSE Grades A to C in 1993 and 1992

  Schools in Northamptonshire

  1994

  1993

  1992

  Northampton High School

  98

  89

  89

  Northamptonshire Grammar School

  66

  100

  77

  Oundle School

  95

  94

  100

  Our Lady and Pope John School

  39

  33

  24

  Parkside Independent School

  78

  60

  —

  Prince William School

  60

  49

  55

  Queen Elizabeth (GM) School

  17

  23

  18

  Quinton House School

  74

  71

  —

  Roade School

  54

  40

  53

  Rushden School

  26

  27

  22

  Sir Christopher Hatton GM School

  39

  31

  28

  Southfield School

  39

  48

  43

  Sponne School

  44

  45

  41

  St. Peter's Independent School

  50

  77

  —

  St. Peter's School

  60

  62

  —

  The Ferrers School

  48

  48

  36

  The Kingswood School

  32

  34

  37

  The Northampton School for Girls

  41

  29

  31

  Thomas Becket RC Upper School

  36

  36

  39

  Trinity School Northampton

  21

  29

  20

  Weavers Grant Maintained School

  42

  30

  25

  Wellingborough School

  88

  90

  —

  Weston Favell Upper School

  36

  42

  45

  William Parker School

  38

  38

  41

  Wollaston School

  49

  32

  38

  Wrenn School (GM)

  33

  45

  36

  Percentage of 15-year-old Pupils achieving five or more GCSE Grades A1 to C in 1994 and five or more GCSE Grades A to C in 1993 and 1992

  1994

  1993

  1992

  National Average (All schools)

  43.3

  41.1

  38.3

  (a) Northamptonshire

  38.9

  38.0

  36.2

  (b) Cambridgeshire

  43.3

  41.1

  39.5

  (c) Bedfordshire

  40.3

  38.1

  34.9

  (d) Buckinghamshire

  49.4

  46.8

  45.0

  (e) Oxfordshire

  46.3

  44.8

  41.3

  (f) Warwickshire

  42.6

  39.8

  37.0

  (g) Leicestershire

  39.3

  37.6

  33.2

  (h) Lincolnshire

  42.6

  38.9

  36.6

  Shire Counties

  42.7

  40.3

  37.8

  Graveny School
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what decision she has made on the application by Graveny school in Wandsworth to introduce a selective admissions policy.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend approved on 28 November the statutory proposals made by the governors of Graveny school, Wandsworth, significantly to change the character of the school by introducing 50 per cent. selection by reference to general ability.

  Surplus Places
  Mr. David Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the numbers and percentages of surplus places in each local education authority in England.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The tables set out the numbers of surplus places, by local education authority area, and the proportion that these represent of total capacity, as at
  411
  January this year. The data are drawn from the returns made this summer by local education authorities in respect of their schools and by the Funding Agency for Schools in respect of grant-maintained schools in stage 2 and 3 authority areas: data on surplus places in the 286 GM schools stage 1 authorities are not available. These returns indicate that there were just over 1 million surplus school places in England in January this year, representing 13 per cent. of the total capacity of 7.7 million places.

  The tables illustrate considerable variation in numerical and proportionate levels of surplus across the country. In some cases, combinations of pupil population growth and current rationalisation plans will probably reduce high levels of surplus to more acceptable levels. Where there is no indication of significant reduction in high levels of surplus, the Department will consult the authorities concerned about the extent to which any of that surplus is in practice removable. In the light of this consultation my right hon. Friend will decide whether surplus place removal targets should be set for any of these authorities.

  Table 1: Surplus places by local authority area (excluding GM schools in stage 1 authorities) at January 1994

  Primary (see note 1) Actual surplus

  Secondary Actual surplus

  LEA

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Avon

  7,342

  9

  11,596

  18

  Barking

  975

  7

  307

  3

  Barnet

  1,598

  7

  1,947

  110

  Barnsley

  1,496

  7

  2,611

  17

  Bedfordshire

  7,272

  15

  9,021

  117

  Berkshire

  5,946

  9

  7,754

  114

  Bexley

  1,799

  9

  2,005

  112

  Birmingham

  8,983

  9

  11,330

  115

  Bolton

  2,187

  9

  2,000

  111

  Bradford

  4,099

  11

  6,914

  113

  Brent

  2,291

  11

  2,383

  216

  Bromley

  1,442

  7

  891

  15

  Buckinghamshire

  11,457

  17

  3,231

  18

  Bury

  848

  6

  947

  9

  Calderdale

  2,722

  13

  2,221

  114

  Cambridgeshire

  7,978

  13

  2,837

  17

  Camden

  325

  3

  1,047

  19

  Cheshire

  14,860

  15

  7,983

  12

  Cleveland

  7,426

  12

  8,276

  19

  Cornwall

  3,005

  8

  2,601

  8

  Corporation of London

  22

  10

  —

  —

  Coventry

  5,133

  16

  4,236

  18

  Croydon

  2,442

  9

  1,716

  111

  Cumbria

  6,104

  14

  6,169

  117

  Derbyshire

  10,637

  13

  10,782

  116

  Devon

  9,032

  10

  4,160

  7

  Doncaster

  6,632

  20

  6,439

  23

  Dorset

  3,242

  7

  3,964

  19

  Dudley

  3,352

  11

  2,218

  111

  Durham

  8,368

  14

  8,144

  18

  Ealing

  4,358

  17

  1,056

  17

  East Sussex

  6,671

  12

  3,783

  10

  Enfield

  1,013

  5

  1,781

  19

  Essex

  17,814

  112

  18,008

  116

  Gateshead

  4,887

  23

  2,695

  19

  Gloucestershire

  6,234

  13

  3,417

  110

  Greenwich

  2,220

  11

  3,038

  18

  Hackney

  2,046

  12

  2,132

  23

  Hammersmith

  1,591

  16

  2,606

  131

  Hampshire

  18,287

  13

  10,114

  112

  Haringey

  1,240

  7

  1,515

  14

  Harrow

  998

  5

  278

  4

  Havering

  1,817

  9

  2,284

  113

  Hereford and Worcester

  6,505

  11

  7,851

  15

  Hertfordshire

  14,517

  16

  13,552

  117

  Hillingdon

  2,464

  112

  1,336

  9

  Hounslow

  1,656

  9

  435

  13

  Humberside

  11,612

  13

  10,912

  16

  Isle of Wight

  384

  5

  1,093

  10

  412

  Table 1: Surplus places by local authority area (excluding GM schools in stage 1 authorities) at January 1994

  Primary (see note 1) Actual surplus

  Secondary Actual surplus

  LEA

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Isle of Scilly

  67

  27

  223

  65

  Islington

  1,630

  10

  1,656

  19

  Kensington

  722

  12

  712

  118

  Kent

  14,638

  11

  18,000

  115

  Kingston upon Thames

  503

  5

  843

  110

  Kirklees

  2,714

  8

  3,160

  12

  Knowsley

  3,277

  17

  1,635

  16

  Lambeth

  4,060

  20

  3,142

  133

  Lancashire

  12,398

  9

  11,754

  13

  Leeds

  10,425

  15

  6,358

  13

  Leicestershire

  8,082

  10

  10,076

  15

  Lewisham

  999

  5

  1,587

  13

  Lincolnshire

  7,434

  113

  4,864

  112

  Liverpool

  11,436

  21

  7,687

  22

  Manchester

  5,657

  12

  12,294

  36

  Merton

  1,100

  8

  1,488

  17

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  3,704

  16

  4,421

  21

  Newham

  3,631

  14

  2,794

  17

  Norfolk

  7,383

  11

  4,041

  19

  North Tyneside

  3,020

  18

  3,101

  18

  North Yorkshire

  9,048

  14

  6,304

  13

  Northamptonshire

  4,410

  9

  5,423

  111

  Northumberland

  4,960

  21

  3,333

  111

  Nottinghamshire

  13,457

  14

  20,327

  25

  Oldham

  2,152

  9

  1,145

  7

  Oxfordshire

  8,237

  17

  6,858

  16

  Redbridge

  406

  2

  835

  6

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  686

  6

  288

  4

  Rochdale

  1,709

  8

  2,436

  17

  Rotherham

  3,423

  13

  2,875

  14

  Salford

  3,681

  15

  3,375

  23

  Sandwell

  1,857

  7

  3,445

  16

  Sefton

  2,884

  11

  3,956

  18

  Sheffield

  6,696

  14

  5,612

  18

  Shropshire

  4,902

  12

  4,947

  117

  Solihull

  2,443

  12

  1,144

  8

  Somerset

  2,487

  7

  3,486

  11

  South Tyneside

  1,710

  11

  2,076

  18

  Southwark

  3,980

  18

  2,296

  120

  St. Helens

  1,985

  12

  2,245

  16

  Staffordshire

  21,456

  20

  4,919

  7

  Stockport

  2,448

  9

  2,209

  12

  Suffolk

  4,559

  10

  6,000

  11

  Sunderland

  6,104

  18

  2,408

  11

  Surrey

  8,483

  11

  5,407

  111

  Sutton

  1,110

  9

  367

  13

  Tameside

  1,464

  7

  1,737

  112

  Tower Hamlets

  1,522

  7

  2,239

  17

  Trafford

  1,562

  8

  2,067

  115

  Wakefield

  3,924

  13

  4,728

  19

  Walsall

  3,556

  13

  3,565

  116

  Waltham Forest

  1,422

  7

  1,737

  113

  Wandsworth

  6,111

  30

  2,308

  121

  Warwickshire

  7,966

  15

  6,607

  121

  West Sussex

  6,951

  12

  6,051

  13

  Westminster

  621

  7

  938

  12

  Wigan

  5,734

  17

  2,969

  14

  Wiltshire

  7,604

  14

  5,812

  114

  Wirral

  4,398

  13

  4,064

  18

  Wolverhampton

  4,412

  17

  3,638

  119

  Total

  540,729

  12

  475,628

  14

  1 Stage two for planning purposes

  2 Stage three for planning purposes

  Note 1: Primary figures show surplus after taking account of any summer entry

  Note 2: Stage 1 = less than 10 per cent of pupils in the GM sector

  Stage 2 = between 10 per cent and 75 per cent. Of pupils in the GM sector

  Stage 3 = 75 per cent. or more pupils in the GM sector
  413

  Table 2: Distribution of surplus between LEA and GM schools in stage 2 and 3 authorities (all, figures refer to the secondary sector unless otherwise indicated)

  LEA

  GM

  Total

  Surplus

  percentage

  Surplus

  percentage

  Surplus

  percentage

  Barnet

  1,202

  12

  745

  7

  1,947

  10

  Bedfordshire

  8,126

  19

  895

  9

  9,021

  17

  Berkshire

  6,477

  14

  1,277

  15

  7,754

  14

  Bexley

  1,871

  15

  134

  4

  2,005

  12

  Birmingham

  9,796

  17

  1,534

  9

  11,330

  15

  Bolton

  1,599

  11

  401

  13

  2,000

  11

  Bradford

  6,683

  14

  231

  5

  6,914

  13

  Brent

  395

  12

  1,988

  17

  2,383

  16

  Bromley

  207

  4

  684

  6

  891

  5

  Buckinghamshire

  2,744

  10

  487

  5

  3,231

  8

  Calderdale

  1,606

  19

  615

  9

  2,221

  14

  Cambridgeshire

  1,840

  7

  997

  6

  2,837

  7

  Camden

  1,041

  12

  6

  0

  1,047

  9

  Croydon

  991

  10

  725

  11

  1,716

  11

  Cumbria

  3,881

  16

  2,288

  18

  6,169

  17

  Derbyshire

  9,071

  18

  1,711

  10

  10,782

  16

  Dorset

  3,154

  10

  810

  8

  3,964

  9

  Dudley

  1,891

  12

  327

  7

  2,218

  11

  Ealing

  784

  10

  272

  4

  1,056

  7

  Enfield

  1,403

  10

  378

  6

  1,781

  9

  Essex - primary

  15,754

  13

  2,060

  9

  17,814

  12

  Essex - secondary

  6,918

  19

  11,090

  14

  18,008

  16

  Gloucestershire

  1,511

  12

  1,906

  8

  3,417

  10

  Hammersmith

  2,606

  36

  0

  0

  2,606

  31

  Hampshire

  8,834

  13

  1,280

  8

  10,114

  12

  Havering

  2,266

  17

  18

  0

  2,284

  13

  Hertfordshire

  10,485

  18

  3,067

  13

  13,552

  17

  Hillingdon - primary

  2,340

  13

  124

  4

  2,464

  12

  Hillingdon - secondary

  560

  22

  776

  6

  1,336

  9

  Hounslow

  372

  3

  63

  3

  435

  3

  Kensington

  712

  22

  0

  0

  712

  18

  Kent

  10,697

  18

  7,303

  13

  18,000

  15

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  403

  8

  440

  14

  843

  10

  Lambeth

  2,466

  45

  676

  17

  3,142

  33

  Lincolnshire - primary

  6,761

  14

  673

  10

  7,434

  13

  Lincolnshire - secondary

  3,131

  13

  1,733

  10

  4,864

  12

  Norflok

  3,529

  10

  512

  6

  4,041

  9

  Northhamptonshire

  4,462

  12

  961

  9

  5,423

  11

  Shropshire

  4,820

  18

  127

  3

  4,947

  17

  Southwark

  1,907

  22

  389

  12

  2,296

  20

  Surrey

  4,122

  12

  1,285

  10

  5,407

  11

  Sutton

  175

  4

  192

  3

  367

  3

  Tameside

  1,709

  14

  28

  1

  1,737

  12

  Tafford

  1,711

  17

  356

  10

  2,067

  15

  Walsall

  2,673

  16

  892

  14

  3,565

  16

  Waltham Forest

  1,697

  15

  40

  2

  1,737

  13

  Wandsworth

  1,129

  33

  1,179

  15

  2,308

  21

  Warwickshire

  5,368

  21

  1,239

  21

  6,607

  21

  Wiltshire

  4,159

  17

  1,653

  11

  5,812

  14

  Wolverhampton

  3,278

  20

  360

  13

  3,638

  19

  Notes:

  (1) The GM column includes schools which became grant-maintained on or before 1 April 1994.

  (2) LEA and GM percentage columns show the actual number of surplus places as a proportion of total capacity within that sector.

DEFENCE

  Ceremonial Swords
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ceremonial swords have been bought or repaired and at what cost during the last five years; and how many such swords are now in circulation in the armed forces.

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency under the 414
  terms of his framework document. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Richard Kirby to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 8 December 1994:
  I have been asked by the Minister for Armed Forces to reply to your Parliamentary Question about ceremonial swords. Truly ceremonial swords are only issued to the most senior officers and are very few in number. In replying to your question I have assumed, therefore, that you required information on all swords.
  Our records indicate that, during the past 5 years 560 swords have been procured at a cost of £365,700 (including scabbards where appropriate). We have also had refurbished some 576 swords at a cost of £156,700. At present it is estimated that there are

  415
  approximately 2,500 swords in use or held in pools for use by the Armed Forces.
  These figures exclude the many swords which are procured privately by officers and regiments and for which we hold no records.

  Allied Rapid Reaction Corps
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the use of NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps for possible use in Bosnia in the event of a United Nations withdrawal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  NATO and the United Nations have undertaken contingency planning for a wide range of possible scenarios, including withdrawal. It would not, however, be appropriate to comment on the details of these plans.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what period of time is required for the NATO allied rapid reaction corps to be mobilised for operational use;

  (2) in what current state of readiness is the NATO allied rapid reaction corps.

  Mr. Soames
  The multinational allied Europe rapid reaction corps was established to provide NATO with a capability to respond quickly, drawing on an appropriate level of forces determined by SACEUR, to a range of contingencies. It will achieve full operational capability in 1995 although the HQ is already operational in Rheindalen in Germany. Details of the readiness states of the units assigned to the ARRC and the period of time required to deploy the ARRC for operations are classified for operational reasons.

  Departmental Cars
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many cars were(a) owned and (b) leased by his Department in each of the last five years;

  (2) what makes of cars were (a) owned and (b) leased by his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  SA80 Rifles
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost to his Department to make the necessary modifications to the SA80 rifle to bring it to operational standards.

  Mr. Freeman
  Following negotiations with Royal Ordnance plc on outstanding pricing, we now estimate the cost of the SA80 modification programme to be £13 million at long-term costing 94 prices, inclusive of VAT.

  Sergeant John Gilders
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department first learned of the location of the remains of Sergeant John Gilders of the RAF; if the family were duly notified once the information was known to the authorities; and what action is being taken to ensure that the remains of other airmen who died in action within the United Kingdom are located and given a proper burial.
  416
  Mr. Soames
  My Department was notified by the Coroner in Ashford, Kent on 22 April 1994 that what were believed to be the remains of Sergeant J.S. Gilders RAF had been discovered. My Department first notified Sergeant Gilders' family on 27 April and a letter of confirmation was sent on 3 May once the Coroner had confirmed the identity of the body.

  It is long-standing policy not to disturb crash sites where a member of crew is listed as missing, as such sites are considered an appropriate last resting place for aircrew killed in action. This is a view shared by ex-service organisations who agree that the digging up of wreckage after so many years could be upsetting for next of kin. There is also the possibility of a difference of view between next of kin over what action should be taken where more than one member of crew is listed as missing.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent to which the British troops who have recently returned from Rwanda had completed the task they had been sent to fulfil.

  Mr. Soames
  The British contingent was sent to Rwanda to provide specialist support for a three-month period in the initial stages of the United Nations operation. They were withdrawn having accomplished this task.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he had given to the replacement of the British troops recently in Rwanda and for what reasons he rejected that option.

  Mr. Soames
  The British contingent was sent to fulfil a specific role over a three-month period. That task is now complete. The United Nations has not requested a further deployment.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received, and from whom, against the withdrawal of British troops from Rwanda.

  Mr. Soames
  I am not aware of any representations received by my Department against the withdrawal of British troops from Rwanda.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if disclosure of allergies was required of British service personnel prior to their being offered chemical and biological warfare vaccines during the Gulf war; if severe asthma or hay fever was regarded as a contra-indication for vaccination; and what changes to guidelines to medical personnel about the administration of counter-CBW vaccines or preparations have been made since 1991.

  Mr. Soames
  The armed forces medical services, in line with Department of Health guidelines, regard a history of anaphylaxis as the only absolute contra-indication to vaccination. A previous severe reaction to the same vaccine may also be a contra-indication to be considered on its merits. The Department of Health guide on immunisation against infectious disease states that asthma, hay fever or a history of non-anaphylactic allergy are not contra-indications for
  417
  vaccination and consequently disclosure of allergies was not required prior to vaccination during the Gulf war.

  However, during the medical selection process for entry into the Armed Forces all candidates are required to disclose, by direct questioning, all aspects of their medical history. Among other things, candidates are required to disclose whether they suffer from "asthma or wheezing", "hay fever or allergies" and "any severe reaction to drugs or injections". A severe reaction to drugs or injections may indicate an anaphylactic episode, which is very rare, but is generally an absolute bar to employment in the armed services. Similarly, known asthmatics would not normally be accepted for service, and if already serving would be in a reduced medical category which would in general preclude operational service.

  Apart from routine updating to take account of new vaccines, no changes to guidelines for medical personnel regarding vaccine or drug administration have been made since 1991.

  Defence Industry
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to protect jobs in the defence industry by assisting in a transition from the manufacture of weapons to non-military manufacture.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Pollock (Mr. Dunnachie) on 22 November 1994,Official Report, column 462–63.

  Search and Rescue Helicopters
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current number of search and rescue helicopters in the Royal Air Force; and where these aircraft are based.

  Building

  Works

  Cost

  1991–92

  Cathays Park, Cardiff

  Partitioning for offices

  3,000

  Conversion of storeroom for fitness centre

  5,000

  Gelliwasted Road, Pontypridd

  Ingoing works at new medical examination centre

  110,000

  Golate House, St. Mary Street, Cardiff

  Structural alterations internally

  18,000

  Barn Street, Haverfordwest

  Alterations to rationalise accommodation

  18,000

  Picton Terrace, Carmarthen

  Upgrade toilet and washroom facilities

  19,000

  Trawsgoed, Aberystwyth

  Conversion of laboratories to offices

  25,000

  Various

  Energy efficiency improvements

  11,000

  1992–93

  Cathays Park, Cardiff

  Computer suite

  20,000

  Toilets for disabled

  8,000

  Library alterations

  4,000

  Energy efficiency improvements

  30,000

  Gwydyr House, London

  Energy efficiency improvements

  8,000

  Anti-shatter film to windows

  8,000

  Emergency lighting

  6,000

  Ventilation fans

  3,000

  Companies House, Cardiff

  Partitioning for offices

  6,000

  John Williams Building, Cardiff

  New ceiling

  5,000

  Picton Terrace, Carmarthen

  Energy efficiency improvements

  17,000

  Jobswell Lane, Johnstown, Carmarthen

  Energy efficiency improvements

  4,000

  Government Buildings, Llandrindod Wells

  Energy efficiency improvements

  3,000

  Trawsgoed, Aberystwyth

  Energy efficiency improvements

  52,000

  418
  Mr. Soames
  The RAF search and rescue helicopter fleet comprises 19 Sea King and nine Wessex helicopters. These are based at RAF Chivenor, RAF Leconfield, RAF Boulmer, RAF Lossiemouth, Wattisham airfield and in the Falkland Islands. Training is carried out at RAF Valley and RAF St. Mawgan and deep maintenance at RAF St. Mawgan.

  Empty Property
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to make use of his Department's empty residential property.

  Mr. Soames
  The majority of our empty properties are undergoing or awaiting major maintenance, held for future developments, or form part of the management margin needed to ensure that accommodation is available for entitled service families. Empty properties which are surplus to requirements, however, are sold. Properties which are not surplus to long-term requirements but which are not needed immediately for service families are leased to local authorities, housing associations or civilians.

WALES

  Building Refurbishment
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will itemise the refurbishment works undertaken on buildings housing departmental staff in the last three years, indicating the costs involved and the nature of the refurbishments.

  Mr. Redwood
  Refurbishment works undertaken and funded by the Department in its office buildings were as follows:
  419

  Building

  Works

  Cost

  cont.1992–93

  Penrallt, Caernarfon

  Energy efficiency improvements

  3,000

  Upgrade toilet and washroom facilities

  40,000

  1993–94

  Cathays Park, Cardiff

  Conversion of basement rooms for office use

  32,000

  Upgrade fire doors

  32,000

  Conversion for former recreation area for office use

  54,000

  Toilet for disabled

  32,000

  Partitioning for offices

  7,000

  Energy efficiency improvements

  81,000

  Picton Terrace, Carmarthen

  Partitioning for canteen

  5,000

  Government Building, Llandrindod Wells

  Structural alterations internally

  5,000

  Southgate House, Cardiff

  Ingoing works at new offices

  16,000

  Government Buildings, Llanishen, Cardiff

  Computer storage room

  2,000

  Government Buildings, Llanishen, Cardiff

  Improvements to air conditioning

  6,000

  Partitioning for offices

  8,000

  Trawsgoed, Aberystwyth

  Fire detection system

  11,000

  Upgrade canteen facilities

  19,000

  Long-stay Patients
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give figures for the numbers of NHS-funded long-stay patients being cared for in private nursing homes in Wales at the last convenient date.

  Mr. Redwood
  On 31 March 1993, the latest date for which information is available, there were 22 permanent residents in private nursing homes who were known to be funded by the NHS.

  Redundancy Payments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what have been the costs of redundancy payments to staff in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Redwood
  The cost of redundancy payments committed in each of the last five years was:

  £

  1990–91

  143,781

  1991–92

  Nil

  1992–93

  61,388

  1993–94

  157,618

  1994–95 (to end November 1994)

  37,906

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the plans of his Department to make information available on the Internet and the documents which he intends to be made available on the Internet over the next year which will be accessible via the world wide web server "open.gov.uk" or any specific departmental server.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mrs. Campbell) on 5 December 1994,Official Report, column 68.

  GP Lists
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will itemise the number of patients who have been 420
  removed from general practitioner lists because of (a) registration with another doctor, (b) the death or resignation of the doctor, (c) the death or emigration of the patient, (d) removal at the doctor's request and (e) other causes in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Richards
  The information is not held centrally.

  Health Expenditure
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by(a) district health authorities, (b) family health service authorities, (c) regional health authorities, (d) trusts and (e) general practitioner fundholders on health care purchases from non-NHS providers in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is as follows:

  1991–92 £000

  1992–93 £000

  1993–94 £000

  District health authorities

  4,384

  8,078

  11,261

  Family health services authorities

  11

  113

  657

  NHS trusts

  n/a

  0

  2,688

  Source:

  Health authorities and GP fundholding accounts

  NHS trust financial returns.

  Notes:

  (i) 1993–94 figures are provisional.

  (ii) There are no health authorities in Wales.

  (iii) Pembrokeshire NHS Trust was established on 1 April 1992. In 1993–94 a further 13 NHS trusts became operational in Wales.

  (iv) The figures given in respect of family health services authorities represent GP fundholders purchase of hospital services made via the family health services authorities.

  Patients' Complaints
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients complaints were received per 1,000 patients treated in each year since 1989–90 by region.

  Mr. Richards
  The available information, relating to hospital services, is given for Wales and each district health authority area in the following table. Information
  421
  on complaints per patient concerning community health services and FHSA services is not available centrally.

  Written complaints per 1,000 patients treated in hospitals1

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Clwyd

  3.6

  3.6

  3.9

  4.9

  East Dyfed

  3.0

  3.4

  3.5

  4.0

  Gwent

  1.6

  1.1

  2.9

  3.5

  Gwynedd

  4.4

  3.0

  5.6

  4.6

  Mid Glamorgan

  3.2

  3.9

  5.0

  5.2

  Pembrokeshire

  4.1

  3.1

  3.3

  5.3

  Powys

  2.0

  2.3

  1.3

  3.6

  South Glamorgan

  3.3

  3.9

  4.1

  5.2

  West Glamorgan

  2.4

  2.5

  2.0

  3.0

  Wales

  3.0

  3.1

  3.8

  4.4

  1The number of written complaints to the health authorities/NHS trusts concerning the hospital service per 1,000 in-patients and day cases treated. Figures for NHS trusts have been allocated to the health authority area in which they are situated.

  South East Wales Ambulance Trust
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the estimated date for commencement of construction of the South East Wales Ambulance trust's new headquarters;

  (2) what consideration he has given to the proposed new ambulance headquarters and allied communications infrastructure for South East Wales Ambulance trust.

  Mr. Redwood
  The South East Wales Ambulance trust submitted a business case for the leasing of an existing building and purchase of new communications equipment, supported by the South Glamorgan, Gwent and Powys health authorities. This has been approved and a start is due to be made shortly.

  Countryside Council
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has issued to the Countryside Council for Wales with respect to making grants to voluntary bodies; and if he will list those voluntary organisations which have received grants under such guidelines.

  Mr. Redwood
  The guidelines on grants issued to the Countryside Council for Wales are contained in the management statement and the financial memorandum. Lists of recipients of grants from the CCW are included in its annual report for 1993–94, which is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Countryside Council for Wales and other conservation bodies in Wales with respect to the purchase of land for the purpose of the maintenance of bio-diversity; what provision he has agreed with the council and the other bodies regarding the role of voluntary bodies in the field of conservation in the(a) purchase and (b) management of such land; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Countryside Council for Wales is guided in its role regarding the purchase of land by the management statement, which states that the council should not add significantly to its estate. Within the limits of available resources, the CCW may, however, grant aid others in the purchase of land where the council's objectives are met.

  Private Patient Income
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 24 November,Official Report, column 365, when data for 1993–94 on private patient income will be available.

  Mr. Richards
  The amount of income generated by private patient facilities in national health service hospitals in Wales in 1993–94 was £2.910 million.

  Source: Health Authorities' and NHS Trusts Annual Accounts.

  Notes:

  i. 1993–94 figures are provisional;

  ii. consists of money received from NHS patients paying for accommodation in single rooms or small wards (Section 63 NHS Act), private-in-patients (Section 65), private non-resident patients (Section 66) and accommodation and services provided under Section 58 of the NHS Act 1977.

  iii. Overseas visitors (Section 121 (not eligible for free treatment have been excluded as they are charged NHS patients).

  South Wales Valleys (Investment)
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he intends to achieve his aim of generating £1 billion of private sector investment in the south Wales valleys.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have met the local authorities covering the Valleys area together with the Welsh Development Agency, the Land Authority for Wales and the training and enterprise councils. I have discussed in detail the land availability, communication needs and development plans of each local authority area.

  On 13 December, at a lunch in the QEII centre with representatives of the business community, I will be issuing a brochure containing a selection of the development sites identified at the meetings that present excellent opportunities for attracting private sector investment.

  Copies, will be sent to Members whose constituencies fall within the Valleys' area and will also be placed in the Library of the House. From 13 December copies of the brochure will be available from the urban affairs division of the Welsh Office.

  The document will be incorporated in a new Government private finance initiative prospectus that I intend publishing shortly.

  In the new year I will be conducting a series of meetings with local authorities outside the Valleys to discuss their development plans and identify sites with good potential for attracting private sector investment elsewhere in Wales.

  Empty Property
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to make use of his Department's empty residential property.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have asked that all the Department's empty residential properties should be brought back into use as quickly as possible-either by re-letting where there is a justified need, or by disposal.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Energy Expenditure
  Mr. Mathew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total expenditure on energy for offices and buildings by(a) his Department and (b) his agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The figures are as follows:

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  (a)

  2,396,415

  1,912,241

  1,726,606

  (b)

  439,282

  472,000

  458,000

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total expenditure on energy for each property owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The figures for the only property concerned are:

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  1 Carlton Gardens

  16,077

  15,191

  13,091

  Rwanda
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made by Rwanda by UNAMIR in establishing a radio station that will broadcast reliable information to the refugee camps for Rwandan refugees in Zaire and Tanzania.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The radio transmitting equipment donated by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of Rwanda has arrived in Kigali and is being commissioned by a British radio engineer with the assistance of UNAMIR forces.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being planned by the permanent members of the UN Security Council to provide the necessary logistical support that would back up the Secretary-General's urgent request for a security force in the refugee camps of Rawandans in Zaire.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The UN Secretary General's report contained several options for action in the refugee camps. The Security Council has asked him to investigate the practicalities of the proposals and to seek the views of potential troop contributor nations, emphasising the urgent need for progress towards national reconciliation. We await his response.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to contribute to the retention of a small military 424
  logistics unit of about 150 personnel in Rwanda as requested by the UN Secretary-General.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have received no such request.

  Croatia
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the ability of non-Croat speakers to participate in elections in Croatia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Under article 45 of the constitution of the Republic of Croatia, all Croatian citizens who have reached the age of 18 enjoy the right to participate in elections. This right was confirmed in the electoral law promulgated on 15 April 1992.

  European Union
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what concessions were made to Spain in negotiations regarding Norwegian accession to the European Union.

  Mr. Baldry
  No concessions were made to Spain with respect to Norwegian accession to the European Union. Under the earlier agreement on the European Economic Area, Norway agreed to make additional quantities of cod available to the "cohesion" countries-for this purpose, Spain, Portugal and Ireland.

  As part of the EFTA accession negotiations it was decided that the terms for Iberian integration into the common fisheries policy would be agreed by 1 January 1995. This brought forward by 12 months the original agreement to this effect, reached at the time of Spanish and Portuguese accession to the Community.

  Caribbean
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will describe the relationship between the dependant territories in the Caribbean and the regional secretariat in Barbados, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The secretariat is responsible for co-ordinating and managing those aspects of our policy towards the Caribbean dependent territories which are best dealt with in the region. The secretariat liaises with and supports governors and chief Ministers on matters relating to the promotion of economic development and good government and manages FCO and ODA financial resources available to the territories.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration was given by the United Nations to declaring a safe area in north-west Bosnia to protect the dissident Bosnian Muslim population from attack by Bosnian Muslim troops supporting the Muslim Government in Sarajevo.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Nations has no plans to create any additional safe areas.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by the United Nations to disarm the Bosnian Muslims troops in the Gorazde exclusion zone.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  United Nations troops were deployed to Gorazde in April 1994 under Security
  425
  Council Resolution No. 836, to deter attacks against the safe areas, to monitor the ceasefire, and to promote the withdrawal of military units other than those of the Government of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  In the absence of any agreement between the parties to move towards demilitarisation of Gorazde, UNPROFOR is not mandated to disarm troops of either party.

  Colombia
  Mr. Llywd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received during the past two years on the subject of assistance, military or otherwise to the regime in Colombia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have received frequent representations. Our assistance has focused on the following priority areas which have been agreed with the Government of Colombia: renewable resources management, good government and help to counter the illicit production and trafficking of drugs.

  Gibraltar
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that border controls on Gibraltar's Spanish frontier comply with European Community legislation.

  Mr. Baldry
  Gibraltar's position outside the Community's common customs territory allows Spain to maintain normal customs checks at the frontier. We view the current level of controls as disproportionate. We have protested strongly, and are considering next steps.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to Spain about passport and customs delays on its frontier with Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  On 1 December, my hon. Friend the Minister of State summoned the Spanish ambassador to express our strong concern at these intrusive and disruptive checks, and made it clear that they should cease. Similar representations have been made on several other occasions and we shall continue to keep the position under close review.

  World Service
  Mr. Jim Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has agreed for the BBC World Service in the present funding triennium, 1994–95 to 1996–97.

  Mr. Baldry
  As stated in the recent White Paper, "The Future of the BBC" Cmnd 2621 of July 1994, the World Service will in future operate to targets and performance indicators agreed with the FCO. These will replace the detailed prescription of languages and hours of broadcasts. For the current triennium, 1994 to 1997, the following targets have been agreed for increasing overall World Service audiences and listenership among the better educated:426

  Audience Size1(millons)

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Global

  130

  134

  140

  Regional

  Asia-Pacific

  7.5

  8

  9

  South Asia

  52

  53

  54

  Africa

  31.5

  32

  33.5

  Middle East and North Africa

  11

  11

  11.5

  FSU and South-west Asia

  7.5

  8

  9

  Eastern and Central Europe

  5

  5.5

  5.5

  Western Europe

  7.5

  7.5

  7.5

  Americas

  8

  9

  10

  Audience among the better educated2

  1994–95 Percentage

  1995–96 Percentage

  1996–97 Percentage

  Global

  18

  19

  21

  Regional

  Asia-Pacific

  5

  7

  10

  South Asia

  30

  35

  37

  Africa

  68

  68

  69

  Middle East and North Africa

  40

  42

  44

  FSU and South-west Asia

  5

  7

  10

  Eastern and Central Europe

  5

  7

  9

  Western Europe

  12

  13

  14

  Americas

  1

  2

  3

  1 Number of adults listening at least once per week, excluding areas where measurement is not possible, e.g. China.

  2 Percentage of adults surveyed who have some tertiary education and who listen to the BBC at least once per week.

  Other key targets are to increase output in programme minutes per £1,000 spent from 33 in 1994–95 to 40 in 1996–97, and to increase the hours of output per member of staff from 31½ in 1994–95 to 46 in 1996–97.

SCOTLAND

  Operating Theatres
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many operating theatre sessions have been cancelled in each region in each of the last five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on cancellations of operating theatre sessions is not centrally available. The number of admissions which were cancelled by hospitals for the year ending 31 March 1994, the first year for which accurate information is centrally available, is shown in the table.

  NHSiS—cancellations of admission1 by health board area of treatment: year ending 31 March 1994

  Total cancellations

  Scotland

  6,170

  Argyll and Clyde

  274

  Ayrshire and Arran

  435

  Borders

  80

  Dumfries and Galloway

  65

  Fife

  418

  427

  Total cancellations

  Forth Valley

  19

  Grampian

  964

  Greater Glasgow

  1,429

  Highland

  403

  Lanarkshire

  188

  Lothian

  1,247

  Orkney

  4

  Shetland

  38

  Tayside

  605

  Western Isles

  1

  1 Cancellations by hospital of admission for inpatient or day case treatment in the following surgical specialties: general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, ENT surgery, ophthalmology, urology, neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery, plastic surgery, orthodontics and paediatric dentistry, oral surgery and oral medicine, restorative dentistry, paediatric surgery and gynaecology.

  Student Support
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of changes in the student support and tuition fee arrangements for Scottish domiciled students in session 1995–96.

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

  The support available to undergraduate students in 1995–96 through the main rates of maintenance grant and loan, taken together, will be 2½ per cent, higher than in 1994–95, thus maintaining its value in real terms. Postgraduate maintenance grants and supplementary allowances will be increased by a similar amount.

  Tuition fees will continue to be reimbursed to institutions through the student support system on behalf of eligible students. The rates will be the same as in 1994–95.

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

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by wave the start-up costs for each NHS trust hospital, by region.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Health board

  Trust

  Start-up grant £ thousand

  First wave

  Ayrshire and Arran

  South Ayrshire Hospitals

  270

  Grampian

  Aberdeen Royal Hospitals

  310

  Second wave

  Argyll and Clyde

  Royal Alexandra Hospital

  175

  428

  Health board

  Trust

  Start-up grant £ thousand

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Ayrshire and Airan Community Healthcare

  175

  North Ayrshire and Arran

  175

  Forth Valley

  Royal Scottish National Hospital

  175

  Stirling Royal Infirmary

  175

  Grampian

  Grampian Healthcare

  175

  Moray Health Services

  175

  Greater Glasgow

  Southern General

  175

  Victoria Infirmary

  175

  Yorkhill

  175

  Highland

  Caithness and Sutherland

  175

  Raigmore

  175

  Lanarkshire

  Monkslands and Bellshill

  175

  Lothian

  West Lothian

  175

  Tayside

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals

  175

  Third wave

  Argyll and Clyde

  Inverclyde Royal

  175

  Renfrewshire Healthcare

  175

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Hospitals

  175

  Fife

  Fife Healthcare

  175

  Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals

  175

  Queen Margaret Hospital

  175

  Forth Valley Central Scotland Healthcare (Merger)

  175

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary

  175

  Greater Glasgow

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary University

  175

  Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health Services Stobhill

  175

  West Glasgow Hospitals University

  175

  Highland

  Highland Communities

  175

  Lanarkshire

  Hairmyres and Stonehouse

  175

  Law Hospital

  175

  Lothian

  East and Midlothian

  175

  Edinburgh Healthcare

  175

  Edinburgh Sick Children's

  175

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

  175

  Western General Hospital

  175

  Tayside

  Angus

  175

  Dundee Healthcare

  175

  Perth and Kinross Healthcare

  175

  Fourth wave

  Argyll and Clyde

  Argyll and Bute

  175

  Lomond Healthcare

  175

  Borders

  Borders General hospital

  175

  Borders Communities Health Services

  175

  429

  Health board

  Trust

  Start-up grant £ thousand

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Dumfries and Gallowa Community Health

  175

  Greater Glasgow

  Glasgow Dental Hospital and School

  175

  Lanarkshire

  Lanarkshire Healthcare

  175

  Common Services Agency

  Scottish Ambulance Service

  175

  NHS Superannuation Scheme
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the report by the Government Actuary on his valuation of the national health service superannuation scheme in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  I have today placed copies of the report in the Library.

  The report concludes that the rate of contribution required from employers to meet the scheme's future liabilities, after taking account of employees contributions, should be set at 4 per cent. of pensionable pay, a reduction of 1½ per cent. on the existing rate of 5½

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Number of cases

  1,040

  480

  625

  759

  849

  A breakdown by grade and by reason of redundancy is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  430
  per cent. The scheme's liabilities do not include the cost of pensions increase. Most of the costs of inflation proofing pensions are borne directly by the Exchequer and are not reflected in the above contribution rates.

  I have decided to accept the actuary's recommendation and to reduce the employers contribution rate with effect from 1 April 1995. The rates of contribution paid by members of the scheme are not affected by this.

  The reduction in employers' contributions will release an additional sum of some £22 million towards the funding of the NHS in Scotland.

  Redundancies
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of redundancies among national health service staff(a) by grade and (b) by reason for each of the last five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Statistics on redundancies in the NHS in Scotland are not collected centrally other than in respect of staff who are both over 50 years of age and have at least five years' reckonable service for superannuation purposes where a benefit is immediately payable under the NHS (Compensation for Premature Retirement) (Scotland) Regulations 1981. The total number of such premature retirement awards for he last five years is as follows: